The Ravalli Republican., 1898-02-23

some little distance and left her
He retraced his steps. trying to look
cool, but he was greatly depressed.
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 collectod and q meet
ing was arranged to take place the
next morning; weapons, pistols
When the boy had gone away,
there were many to 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 babe his friends to leave
him to manage his own affairs.
AT the next morning young Cou-
stans met his formidable antagonist.
He had spent a sleeplcss night in
writing letter to his mother, which
his seconds were to give to her IN
case he fell.
It 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-
earded as brute and fired into the
air, but that brought in the heart OF
the bravo only greater lust OF
blood, and while the boy stood wait
ing his fire with a 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 few seconds breathed bis
/ last after family murmuring: Ma
, mere Ma mere!'
The seconds had not the courage
s to break the news to the mother
but prevailed upon a priest, old II
j, years and sanity in character, tt
l relieve them The dead boys letter
o was infinitely pathetic. He imploret
6 his mother to think well Of him
t He knew the pain it would cause
$ her, but he would not be worthy o
G his fathers namo if he allowed ;
defcnseless girl to be wantonly in
IS suited. If fall, - he wrote in con
i clusion, II shall die happy, know
G ing, mother dearest, you Woul'
;, rather your boy were dead than liv
5, ing a coward. F"
/, The mother smiled on tho priest
ID my Henri is as his father-a kn]gh
II without fear said she Then sh
y laughed pleasantly and fell into
to swoon, and in the evening she wa
1t dead. u.-.. ...r
ID News travelled more slowly i
those days, and it was some tim
le before it reached the boys regi
S ment. The colonel raved then fe7
to sobbing like a child but Majo
. Belvois, harsh of feature, harsh O
I'd voice, a crossgrained old bachelo
j. who hid a heart Of flesh beneath
forbiddlng exterior and had love
le the boy like son-for he knew tn
lis lads father-said nothing, but late
n in the evening, with two compal
is IONS he was posting to AK as fa*
as the horses could drag him
t. He put up at the same hotel as tn
bravo and, introducing himsel
G made himself very pleasant
u, D'Aubigny In four days ho was 9
% terms Of great intimacy with tt
= latter The major lost 200 or 81
us francs to him at cards. Il mu
er have my revenge . he said laug
to ingly. Come to my rooms tn
at evening, and we will have qui
Id game with my two friends-a lit
ut square party. y
fright, said D'Aubigny, with
or smile, and at that evening he w
admitted into the presence of t
m major and his brother officers.
But produce the cards, NJ
tlIli, Se11e1 - ~ UDlSAJ dAlCA q ~
lse part Of an hour had elapsed.
I'M II rather think not, said t
It. major quietly My friends obje
to playing with cheat. >
ar Monsieur exclaimed the bra
am in an extremity Of astonishment.
ne ''Bad taste OF theirs, no doubt
'tl' said the major quietly
Al WHO says choat2" asked D a
AS i's bigny in menacing tone
y" II do, OF course, replied the Il
'hs jor Every one knows it except
my very innocent friends here !"
"a Monsieur, asked the bul
AK ~, starting up, do you mean to ms
1c' me?'
u!s "Oh, no. said Belvois, with
-, :, most irritating g1imace, Il he
po. .| attempt impossibilities
tne II do, then, cried D'Aubigny
- 's't rage as he struck the major a
! ~ rious blow
ll ~, The major bowed gravely. 'T7
~ is an insult, he said calmly
have a little skill with weapons u
5 t7 self, and monsieur has, knt
>1 | Shall we not let fate decide the
sue2'