Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-01-31
"OH, MAMMAL

Antoine ana Alphonse were the sons Of
wifeless father, to whom in his age and
bereavement they were great comfort
The belle of the village in which they
lived was the pretty Toinette, and as sho
bloomed into womanhood the two broth
ers began dreaming dreams of her and
making plans for future in which Toi-
nette was to be the center and the circun-
ference.
OF course the reader will understand
that 1t was not possible for Toinette to be
the center and circumference Of two flu
lures at one and the same time. She could
be those for only one.
But which one? On that hung the
hearts and hopes of two brothers.
Everybody loved Toinetttc and she was
the especial favorite of the wealthy old
colonel, the father of Antoine and AL
phonse. 1t was because he was SO fond of
her that she could not find it in her dainty
little heart to DO unkind to either of his
SONS.
Thus it was that each felt he was the
chosen one, and each one dreamed his
dreams of the future, with Toinette as the
center and circumference.
But one day Antoine felt flash of jeal-
Gus anger when Toinette bestowed pretty
flower ON Alphonse, and two days after
ward Alphonse turned away with dread
full feeling in his soul when he saw Toi-
nette and Antoine coming along the bank
of the river hand in hand.
Within a month of the first doubt and
suspicion the brothers had of each other
they had declared open war, and the sweet
~ no 70
almost torn asunder.
They determined that the only way to
decide whose future she was to be the CEN
ter and circumference of was by the sword,
and they secretly arranged to fight duel
to the death, the survivors, future to have
Toinette as its center and circumference
Notwithstanding the secrecy with which
the brothers enshrouded their determine
ton to shed each others blood for Toi
nette's sake their shrewd old father be-
came appraised of it and at once consulted
the fair cause of this fratricidal strife.
They had soon decided what to do, and
they separated with smile which was
pleasant to look upon when bloodshed was
so imminent, and the blood, too, of those
SO near and dear to them.
The brothers had determined to meet at
retired spot near the village at sunrise,
and at the appointed hour they were pres
emit, and the sight of each other seemed to
make them eager for each others blood.
They had completed all preparations and
had taken their places when Toinette, at
tired in gown Of the purest white burst
upon them.
''Stay your bloody hands!" she cried,
throwing herself between them.
.Alphonse essayed to lift her to her feet.
Antoines essay was similar. 1t was like
pouring oil ON fire. Once more they swung
their swords, and over the person Of the
dainty Toinette they would have settled
their quarrel, only she would not have 1t
II beseech YOU" she pleaded, 'stay
your bloody hands!"
"We will notl' they shouted in unison.
She wrung her hands, but they did not
they could not hear 1t.
why do you fight thus9" she asked in
trembling tones
For you," they answered. "You, and
you alone, must be the center and cir
conference of the future of one of us, and
by this means only can it DO decided which
one. Stand aside and let the fight 60 on
to the finish"
She held up her soft white hand, that
soft white hand with ring on it, and 1t
was as a flag of truce to stay the combat.
"And Is that why you thus do battle at
the rising of the SUM-" she asked. 1T is
too late You should have got up two
hours earlier. I cannot be the center and
circumference of the future Of either Of
you Two hours ago married your ia
ther and he has sent me here to ask you
to join us at the wedding breakfast.
Come, hurry up now, my sons before ev-
erything gets SO cold it won't DO fit to
eat"
"Oh, mammal" shrieked Antoine and
Alphonse, and Toinette smiled. Detroit
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