The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-11-10

He would have to fight, he knew.
and he was thinking Of his mother.
The bravo, beside himself with
anger, had come to meet him and
aimed a blow at him with his cane.
A crowd had collected, and meet
ing was arranged to take place the
next morning; weapons, pistols.
When the boy had gone away,
there wszs many 10 demonstrate
with the duelist, and even some of
his friends, Drawing his displeasure,
pleaded for one who was at most
only boy and the only son Of his
mother, but it was all in vain. He
roughly bade his friends to leave
him TO manage his own affairs.
At s the next morning young Cou-
stans met his formida BILE antagonist.
He had spent "a. sleepless night in
writing letter to his mother, which
his seconds were to give to her in
case he fell.
1t was with evident reluctance and
only after remonstrance that the
two seconds performed their duties,
but at last the word to fire was
given. The boy disdained to point
his weapon at one he rightly re-
garded' as a brute and fired into the
air, but that brought Il the heart OF
the bravo only a greater l,,st G.!
! blood. and while the boy stood wait.
ing his fire with. refinement of
brutality he raised his pistol with
the greatest deliberation twice,
thrice and then, with the Internal
skill that never failed him, shot the
( boy through the lungs. Henri fell,
and in a few seconds breatLed his
last after family lnurmuring: ma
mere! Ma mereP'
The seconds had not the courage
to break the news to the mother,
but prevailed upon a priest, old in
years and saintly in character, to
relieve them. Tire dead boys letter
was infinitely pathetic He implored
his mother TO think we'll of him.
He knew the pain it would, cause
her, bUt, be; Wau1d: NOT ia worthy Of
ahis7fa6heNs name sif che allowed q
4 d9esfense1egs s girlt9, ]. lbe wan ya tHg! i;
ssultea, cd S1S j fall ~ he wrote Sncon.
clusion, II shall die happy, know
ing, mpthsg. dearest. you would
EatherNyour boy we've dead; than liv-
ing a toward" 4sns, ~ ~
: The mother, smiled ON the priesst.
,s'My Henri s.as his fatherIa Knight
without fear" said she. TEen she
laughed pleasantly and fell into @
swoon. and in the evening she was
dead. 50 t2,a.s t2sa.s
News travelled more slowly in
those days, and it was some time
before It reached the boys regi-
ment. The colonel raved, then feIl
to sobbing like a child, but Major
Belvois, harsh Of feature. harsh of
voice, a crossgrained old bachelor
who hid heart of flesh beneath
forbidding exterior and had loved
the boy like a son-for he knew the
lads father--said nothing, but later
in the evening, with two compan-
ions. he was posting to AK as fast
90 the norses could drag him.
He put up at the same hotel as the
bravo and, introducing himself,
made himself very nlaasant 10
D'Apbigny. In four daye hs wes Oh
terms of great intimacy with the
latter. The major lost 300 or 800
francs to him at cards. .'I must
have my revenge, " he said laugh
ingly. "Come to my rooms this
evening, and we will have a quiet
game with my two friends-a little
square party"
Right Right . said n'Aubigny. with al
smile, and ass g that evening he was
admitted into the presence Of the
major and his brother officers.
"But produce the cards, mon
si;, ami" said D'Aubigny after good
part Of an hour had elapsed.
~ rather think not seid the
major quietly. my friends object
to playing with cheat"
"Monsieqri'' exclaimed the bravo
in an extremity Of astonishment.
Bad taste of theirs, no doubt"
said the major quietly.
"Who says I oheata'' asked D'Au-
bigny in a menacing tone.
Il. do, Of course" replied the ma
jor. Every one knows it excepting
my very innocent friends here"
Eonsieur, 8 asked the bully, !
starting ups do you near to insult /
me9,
"oh. no. said Belvois. with a
most irritating gsimacs, 3 never i
attempt impossibilitiesl''
"I do. then.s' cried D'Aubigny in |
. rage as he struck the, major fu.
:ious blow. IS ..,.; 1..,.
The major bowed gravely. s.'That
D an insult, !" ne said calmly. II
nave 8 little sKili with weapons my /
lelf. and monsieur has, / know.
Shall We not lei fate decide the is
juag',s i. Il :sSs
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