The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-07-03

fancled 1t, breath of that exquisite
!; violet perfume which had boon haunting
[ Hnrding's memory for days and nights
[ together.
"Who is she-the young lady in the
box where you've bccn?"
| The abrupt inquiry and certain tim
brc of Harding's voice betrayed his
| emotion to the quick creole.
"Oh. sho--that is, Mile. Marie do
Ilontmartiu. Lovely, isn't she? You
might envy INC, N. Harding. She Is my
betrothed
"Ah"-IIarding hcsitated and q pal
jsh change passed over his face. Then
lie coolly added: 81 do envy you. Yes.
the is the most beautiful girl that have
ever seen. She is the one met in tho
old book store door. You arc quick to
find"
The next day Rapin came to Hard
ing's room for his initial lesson, but the
young man begged n postponement. He
was not feeling in good form, he said,
and was averse to exercise.
And now Harding's powerful letters
OF introduction came into play. The
only son of General Stanope Harding
had the key to open even the exclusive
gate of the mansion wherein the ancient
family traditions of Montmartin were
kept in an atmosphere of their own.
We must acQuit him. He did not de-
lNerately seek to gain her GTectious
Indeed there was no need to SEEK. She
claimed him at sight, and tho way was
loves sweetest path Rapin wins forgot
ten.
So. in due course of time, the engage
mcnt was announced and tho wedding
day approached
Harding had desire to 20 again to
the old book store of Garcia, on ROYAL
street, and have his first meeting with
Marie over once more i'll his imnginn-
tion.
At Garcia's door Harding came alb
ruptly face to face with Francois Rapin,
whom he had not seen since the an
nouncement of the coming nuptials.
Harding stopped short in his tracks
and would have probably put forth his
hand in q friendly offer of salutation,
but just then his hat was lightly tapped
from his head by Rapin, who immedi-
ately picked it up and handed Ii TO him,
saying:
IN. Harding will not remember his
promise to teach me the mysterious
stroke of M. Duval"
AT first Harding's heat of temper was
great, but reflection led him to consult
his friends, who ridiculed the thought
of duel. His northern friends were
unanimously opposed to the duel, but
now he must be frank and lay the mat
ter before his fancee's family.
"You must fight him, SIR" said
Montmartin.
"Of course there is but one way open
to gentleman" sighed Mario, "you
must challenge him..
They met at sunrise under the "oaks"
so well known to dueling history. Mer-
rily clinked their rapiers for honor's
sake and Marie's.
That was but about 40 years ago
and yet what distance! What far
spin the world has made down the
groove of change" since then!
e
Yesterday white haired man whose
shoulders dropped strangely and whose
two arms dangled half paralyzed beside
him walked down Royal street
That is Francois Rapin," said
creole to some friends HE got that
wound i'll the celebrated duel with Hard
ing"
"Y-ec-s." drawled another of the
group, with queer little shrug,
"y-c-c-s, Mr.. Harding taught him the
Stroke of ruin. Ia, ha, ha 1t is true,
is it not?"
Boyle Harding and his vito live in
Nice, where. i'll most comfortable cir
cumstanccs and well loaded with fame
Harding writes his novels and plays
with his grandchildren. His wife is said
to be still beautiful and very domestic
-Mauria Thompson in Vanity.