Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-02-05
type of an unsuspecting husband
She had 20 lovers to my knowledge,

His face was as white as a sheet. His
emotion was so great that he trembled
as he walked, with his sabre clatter-
ing at bis heels. When he reached
our table, he glared at me for a mo-
ment with wild yet indecisive eyes,
and then raised his hand to strike me.
There was q hurried movement, an
outcry, and several of the soldiers
around leaped upon him, and held his
hand. He struggled for moment,
then was calm. Still gazing at me, he
said, in choking voice:
"'She is my mother
SIN a moment realized the hideous
insult I had offered him. lingled
with shame. What could have pos
sessed me that morning do not know.
No officer or gentleman would ever
speak ill of woman-least OF all in
public.
"sLet him go!' I cried to the SOL
diers. 1 rose, removed my cap, and
bowling, said:
"'Sir, place myself at your dispo-
ton"
"At this moment the whistle of the
approaching train was heard. My
friend grasped my arm, and dragged
me to the station without, where we
took the train for Lille.
"As soon as could do 80, 1 hasten
ed to the general commanding our di-
y;s;on Told him all. As YOU NAV
imagine, he reprimanded me severely.
"sWhatp said he, ian officer of your
rank to bahble thus in public, like a
raw boy just out of the military
school? It is the fault of the war de-
partment. They should not promote
men so young as you to positions OF
Importance ,
III privately thought that if 1 had
been a general, the affair would have
been the same. But so richly merit
ed his severe language that 1 did not
reply:
you propose to do"
"'There is but one course open to
me, general I replied. Il have griev.
ously offended this young man. |
have therefore placed myself at his
disposition. We must fight
asA duel! You are mad A major
cannot 20 upon the field with pri-
vate soldier
"'General, you must allow me to
saw that there are certain insults so
grave that military usage must yield
to them. Grant me permission TO DO
this
"tBut cannot-I haye no right to
do
"sThen telegraph the minister of
war;
"'He will refuse
"tWell, if that be the case, shall
notify George de Ferisset, and we will
fight in Belgium
"'Then you desert?'
ayes, general, 1 will desert, and
then return for my punishment. l have
once dishonored myself in publicly
insulting woman shall not again
do so in refusing satisfaction to her
son.
"The generals perplexity and anger
began to pass away; he seemed NOV
ed. He strobe up and down the room
for some moments, and finally, turn
ing to me, said:
"'Be it so. Do as you will. Bear
in mind, though, that know nothing
of this affair this conversation has
not taken place.
"I thanked him, and repaired to my
quarters. That evening, De Ferisset's
seconds arrived. They were civilians,
as were also the two friends whom
named to arrange matters with them.
The weapon chosen was the sword !;
the hour, 6 o'clock the following morn
ing; the place, a little village just
within the Belgian frontier. l put my
affairs in order that night, for l had
determined to offer but slight defence.
"At the appointed hour the next day
we were there. 1t was raw, drizzly
morning, and the mud was ankle deep.
De Ferisset appeared in uniform. One
Of nv seconds remarked that he, like
the rest of US, should have come AS a
civilian. He replied that he had been
insulted las man and soldier, and that
reparation was due to him as such. |
made sign to my second, and he did
not insist.
awe took our places. 1t was cur,
ious spectacle-a private soldier in his
uniform facing his superior officer in
multi.
"The swords were crossed. The
word was given. I watched his face
with a feverish curiosity. In his eyes
there was the same glare of the day
before, the same indecision. Suddenly
a strange smile appeared upon his
lips-the smile of broken heart-a
smile shall never forget though l live
100 years. Quick as flash, he
abandoned his guard, and grasping my
sword with his left hand, he hurled
himself upon it. 1t ran him through
the body. Uttering hoarse cry, he
fell backwards; a bloody foam tinged
his pale lips. A convulsive shudder
ran over his body-another-then a
groan. He was dead"