Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-05-17
A TRAGIC DUEL.

Last year 1 went to Besanoon to attend
. friends wedding. His bride was thu
daughter of one of the wealthiest and hes,
known families in the city and the affail
was a most brilliant one. When we were
about quitting the table after the wedding
feast, I felt a hand upon my shoulder. ]
turned. Before me stood a young captain
Of dragons, a handsome, dashing fellow,
with curly blond hair.
"You do not recognize me- said he,
smiling.
"In truth, said I, hesitating, "Icannot
remember''-
II am Gustave Raisant, your old chum.
Why, I remember well the first day you
CAM to the school. You advanced toward
me as I stood in the playground and said,
Lend me some marbles. I lent you some,
and we became fast friends at once, and
u friendship lasted for three years."
/ grasped his hand warmly, and we at
once began to talk over old times together.
1t Is always with a certain degree of pleas
ure that n meets an old chum Of school
or college. So we exhausted the subject
of school days and took up our present
prospects. Gustave told me that his were
excellent; he would soon have q commits
sion as major. q lucky advancement for so
young a nan When I prepared to leave,
he accompanied me to the station, and aft
or q cordial farewell we separated.
Months passed, and I heard no more Of
Gustave. Finally one morning I saw his
name in the Journal Oficiel and noted
with pleasure that he had received his OK.
pected promotion. With his commission
he had received orders detailing him to a
garrison at Maubeuge, on the Belgian
frontier.
One August evening l was taking q
stroll In the Champs Elysees. 1t was a
little after 9, and around me was the usual
gay crowd of q summe night-prome-
naders by the hundred; merry people seated
at the little tables in front of the cafes,
smoking, drinking and chatting; to the
right q cafe concert, it's front hung with
oolored lanterns. Before me the long Av-
enue des Champs Elysees extended, its
hundreds Of lights glimmering like glow
worms In the dark. Suddenly l saw q
familiar face by the light of a street lamp.
It was Gustave Raisant.
"Hello, major!' said /, extending my
hand. swell metr
"Ah, is 1t your" said he languidly. 81
am glad to see you"
His tone struck me. I looked at him
attentively. He seemed to have aged much
since I had seen him before. Already there
were gray hairs showing around his tenn
pies. Linking my arm with his, I said:
"Come, let's take a stroll"
"Willingly."
After we had walked some little distance
I gave up attempting to make him con-
verse. He seemed entirely destitute of in
terest In any topic that I might bring up,
and plunged into melancholy.
"Come, come, Gustave, - said I, "you
have something on your mind, haven't
your"
He hesitated a moment, but finally re.
piled:
eyes"
"a love affair, I'll be sworn"
He was silent, and I repeated my some
what brusque remark. There are some
wounds that will not bear probing.
Suddenly he spoke.
"Listen," said he, land I shall tell you
the cause Of my melancholy. Perhaps I
am wrong to ohafe under 1t as I do; per-
you may give me some good advice.
In any event, I shall tell you my story.
Since I last saw you there has been a trag,
lcal event in my life. Oh, you have heard
nothing of it. Thanks to the people az /
headquarters, the papers were silenced, |
and I won't bore you-my story isn't
long, and" he added bitterly, ~ think 1t
interesting. But 1t is old-the old story
Of the parents sins being expiated by the
children"
He knocked the ash from his cigar, and |
then he slowly told his story:
Last June, as you may know, the re-
forces were ordered out for their
Yearly service. We had some Of them al
where I had been stationed
With the Fifty sixth for q month. One
morning I wa about to start for Lille, on
'e%gimental business, In company with a
brother officer of my regiment. We stepped
INTO a large eating house to take a chop
before the train left. 1t was a, very large
establishment, with marble tables around
he room, and at. one end was a long bar,
where those with light purses were allowed
take refreshments. Our table was near
he bar, and at the time we seated oNr-
there was. q long line of private SOL
and laborers drinking there. We
;alked of various matters, and my cont
said:
"'Have you the son OF any oelebrit
among your ~recruitss'
eyes said I, young Myrian, son o.
he we'll known painter, 10 In my com.
nand. And your
well, ! have the son Of q celebrity,
but Of a different kind. 1t Is young
3eorge de Ferisset.'
What, not the son Of Nine. do Ferisset
De Ferissetp
"'The same
II laughed heartily a. I said:
"'Well. WE'LL so De Ferisset has a
Irown- mp son, has ahef How the time
liesl I was ~dreadfully In lovs with the
woman once, but another fellow won her
lot undivided favors.'
"'And I, too replied my companion,
! was q little spoony on her. But, thcn,
know, ! always had scruples about
women.
"'Oh, you were wrong I replied.
She was well worth tho trouble. And,
hen, poor De Ferisseti The type Of an un-
Inspecting husbandi She had 30 lovers to
ny knowledge, and he never knew IT,
~ had scarcely finished speaking when
STRIPPING soldier quilted his comrades
nd advanced toward mi. His faos wa A.
vhite ~ q sheet. His emotion was 10 great
hat he trembled n he walked, with his
absr olattering at his heels. When he
our table, he glared ut me for q
with wild yet indicative syes and
hen raised bis hand 10 strike M. There
no 3 hurried movement, nm outcry, and
everal Of the soldiers around leaped upon
Inn and held his hand. He struggled Tor