The Opelousas courier., 1895-06-29
was announced and tn. wedding day

was announced n the wedding Gay
approached.
Harding had been to New York; he
returned late in November, radiant
with happy aspirations, and took
rooms as before. but how III the st.
Charles. He brought some friends
VITA hifn, and his parents would be
coming a little later.
Ihate said that a lover is a fool.
His vanity, moreover, cannot be over
estimated, and the selfishness of his
passion plays him small yet irresistible
tricks. Harding had a desire to go
again to the old book store in Garcia,
on Royal street, and have his first
meeting ovef enee niofe id his in1agina.
ton. He slipped away from the hotel
furtively and with a foolish stir in his
blood
The morningAas like a summer.
dream, clothing the old city in films of
chastened s%plendor. Up and down tho
narrow streets clacked the h~igl-heeled
boots of the 1.-THE Creoles. Fruit stands
heaped with luscious oranges, bananas,
apples, dashed the air with a rich bou-
quet, and there were roses everywhere.
Harding held his head high and walked
swiftly.
When we GO to seek an illusion we
are pretty sure to find a reality. 1t Is
not the scheme Of Nature to humor us,
In luxuries. At Garcin's door Harding
came abruptly face to face with Fran
co.'s Rapin, whom he had not seen since
A.. ,f H. ~~o- ~,
tials. Somehow it wa a surprise, but
Rapin's face showed a quick smile.
Harding stopped short in his tracks,
and would have probably put forth his
hand in a friendly offer of salution; but
jr,,t then his hat was lightly tapped
from his head by Rapin, who immedi-
ately picked it up and handed it to him,
saying:
m. Harding will now remember his
promise to teach me the mysterious
stroke of Nj. Duval."
He bowed low and was gone, while
a card tluttered down at Harding's feet;
it bore Rapin's address.
At first Harding's heat of temper was
great, but reflection led him to consult
his friends, who ridiculed the thought
of a duel. He was glad to escape, for,
although a born lighter, this was no
time to be risking his life or to be kill
ing a man.
He had, however, consulted but one
side of that advisory board which
always exists in such cases. His north
ern friends were unanimously opposed
to the duels, but low he must be frank
and lay the matter before his fancee's
family.
You must fight him, sir" said Mont
martin.
'Of course there il but one way open
to a gentleman" sighed Marie, you
must challenge him."
The Montmartin household and all
the Montmartin circle were as a unit
on this point. No evasion was to be
considered, since Rapin smilingly re-
fused to apologize, and SO Harding
sent the challenge, which was promptly
accepted. -
They met at sunrise uhder the
''oaks" so well known to dueling his
tory. Merrily clinked their rapiers
for honor's sake, and Marie's. That
was but about forty years ago; and yet
what distance! What a far spin the
world has made down the groove of
change" since then! Farragut and
Butler have been in the city; the re-
construction terror has come and gone;
the reassertion of state authority fol-
lowed the victory Of the citizens over
the alien soldiers; the lottery is gone;
the city is rich once more; see the bales
of cotton. the hogsheads, the barrels,
the bags on the levee! And there are
no more duels.
Yesterday a white-haired man whose
shoulders dropped strangely and
whose two arms dangled half para
lyzed beside him walked down Royal
street.
That is Francois Rapin," said a Gre
ole to some friends. HE got that
wound in the celebrated duel with
Harding"
"Y-e-e-s," drawled another of the
group, with a queer little shrug,
''y-e-e-s, Mr.. Harding taught him the
stroke of ruin,' ha! IA! ha! c'est rrai,
nest &c past"
l followed with curious gaze the re.
treating form Of Rapin, recalling at
the same time that Boyle Harding and
his wife were now living in Nice,
where, in most comfortable circum.
stances and well loaded with fame,
Harding writes his novels and plays
with his grandchildren. His wife is
said to be still beautiful and very do
meStic.-Vanity.