The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-01-04
THE STROKE OF RUIN

Bowie Harding leaned back in an easy
chair on the iron rallied gallery which
overhung the sidewalk and smoked slow
", with half closed eyes He was await
ing and expecting the arrival Of his
young friend. Francois Rapin. who had
lately interested him to . singular de-
gree.
Even at the moment, up the uncarpet-
ed stairway. came the active creoles
feet, two steps at q time, along with
lively tune sung almost breathlessly
through curving black mustache.
We'll, and what is it," demanded
the New Yorker. What have you found
out?"
Maybe she went to the French opera
Go with me. / have box Come
but haven't You yet seen herr"
seen her How should know? N.
Harding forgets the conditions. He
laughed in his atrociously frivolous
French way.
"Ibeg pardon. said Harding quick
". Il had indeed forgotten that did
not know her name, her place Of resi-
dence. nor yet even the color Of her eyes
Yes, will go with you to the opera
Everybody goes, eh?
He had come south q fortnight past
with letters Of introduction to influen-
tial people. but he was not seeking go
ciety. A quiet sojourn in New Orleans
with his eyes and ears open suited him
better.
What was perhaps just the thing he
would have most desired came to him
UNEXPECTEDLY one day. He suddenly met
a beautiful young woman face to face at
the door Of Garcia's old book store.
Harding was electrified and impulsively
lifted his hat. She passed him with a
haif smile. leaving a breath Of violets
and the rustic of gown quietly elegant
in the air round about.
A lover is great fool, but he is the
only man who knows what song it was
that the stars sang, and to him you
must go if you would learn the secret OF
heavenly happiness and the value OF
dreams as nutriment for the magma
ton. A lovers soul will treble it.
stature by feeding one moment on &
smile.
In fact, Boyle Harding had felt thii
sudden growth within. 1t had quicken
ed, broadened and sweetened his spirit
ual vision, while affording a fine an'
richly mysterious increment to his en-
joyment of his new surroundings.
This was midway in the fifties, whel
New Orleans had reached the splendi
zenith Of her wealth, and when the pc
culiar color of her social life was mos
dazzling and romantic.
As they went along Rapin was pratt
Ting ON the subject Of fencing, Away
q great vogue with the jeunesse dore
Of New Orleans
But you III ust be interested in swor
play-in fencing. 1t is the noblest Of al
exercises for gentlemen, and your phys
ique is precisely made up for it. 70
must be a master, or You could be.
II have had good masters" Hardin
replied, in an evasive tone, "but ar
losing interest in it. 3"
Your masters were in New York;
mo; Paris l had NJ Duval fo
three years.
"Ah, what fortune He, and he only
teaches the stroke Of ruin,' the pas
which pierces across from shoulder
shoulder, disabling the victim for life
yet never killing himl
"And you learned his stroke! Oh, br
am overjoyed, and you will teach N
to do it. All, monsieur, shall be yoI
lifelong debtor l have dreamed Of tn;
incompatible thrust, have made tw
journeys to Paris to learn it; but, yc
must know, NJ. Duval is an ancient el
envy Of my fathers could not go
him"
A great curve Of splendor, fash
faces, threats, bosoms, jewels, lace
eyes, fans-a bewildering horizon
corsages, coiffures, necklaces. bracelet
rings; a foam Of airy gowns sinkil
and swelling gently, like surf fro
against a beach Of fairyland. Hardil
gazed in half blinded stupidity. SO
felt, and could see no details, could ma
GU. no individual face distinctly.
1--WE will begin the lessons tome
row." murmured Rapin- Il shall be
apt scholar. monsieur.
Yes said Harding absently.
was gazing along the great sweep
beauty and light
But excuse me q moment or two
the creole added after awhile, when
curtain was down II am going to C
at the box Of friend"
Harding continued his survey, VIII
now that his eyes had somewhat acc
toned themselves to the glamour, beca
more real and absorbingly interesting
Presently he saw Rapin in box
magnificent one. near the center, ia
ing with tall young woman. and
was she There could be no doubt 70
moment.
Harding's eyes were fixed The tral
Of that old tine love which men u
to acknowle ledge was upon him And
the very central moment she turf
from Rapin and looked straight at hi
The prosy fact was that Rapin in
enthusiastic way had been telling Nj
Marie dc Montmartin - that was
name-about his good fortune in find
q master to teach him the ''stroke
ruin" and he had directed her attent
70 the young man in his box
But for Mile Marie dc Montmart
we may Us well say that she CLAN,
mechanically. then looked again
Rapin presently returned " the b