The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-10
A TRAGIC DUEL.

daughter OF one OF tne "eaisniose anu oess
known families in the city and the affair
was most brilliant one. When we were
nbout quitting the table after the wedding
feast, felt a hand upon my shoulder I
turned. Before me stood a young captain
of Dragons handsome, dashing fellow,
with curly blond hair
"You do not recognize me-" said he,
smiling.
"In TRUTH" said I, besitating, 81 cannot
remember
81 am Gustave Raisant your old chum.
Why, remember well the first day you
came to the school. You advanced toward
mo as | stood in the playground and said,
Lend me some marbles. lent you some,
and we became fast friends at once, and
our 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 one 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 commits
sion rs major, lucky advancement for so
young man. When prepared to leave
he accompanied me to the station, and aft
er cordial farewell we separated.
Months passed, and heard no more oil
Gustave. Finally one morning l saw bis
name in the journal Oflciel and noted
with pleasure that he had received his ex-
pected promotion. With his commission
he had received orders detailing him to
garrison at Maubeuge ON the Belgian
frontier
One August evening l was taking
stroll in the Champs Elysees. 1t was a
little after 9, and around me was the usual
gay crowd of a summer 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 a cafe concert, its front hung with
colored lanterns, Before me the long Av
enue DIES Champs Elysees extended, its
hundreds of lights glimmering like glow
worms in the dark. Suddenly l saw
familiar face by the light of u street lamp.
1t was Gustave Raisant.
Hello, majorl" said I, extending my
hand "Well metl"
"Ah, is it your" said he languidly. Il
am glad to see you.
His tone struck me. | looked at him
attentively. He seemed to have aged much
since had seen him before. Already there
were gray hairs showing around his tenn
pies Linking my arm with his, l said
"Come, let's take a stroll.
Willingly"
After we had walked some little distance
gave up attempting to make him con-
verse. He seemed entirely destitute of in
terest in any topic that ] might bring up,
and plunged into melancholy.
Come, come Gustave, said /, "you
IN mind y
your"
He hesitated a moment, but finally re-
piled;
Eyes"
"a love affair, I'll be sworn
He was silent and l repeated my some-
what brusque romark There are some
wounds that will not bear probing.
Suddenly be spoke.
81 D. said he, land l shall tell you
the e OF my melancholy. Perhaps |
am wrong to chafc under it as | do; per
hat ; you may give me some good advice.
In any event, ssall tell you my story.
Since l last saw you there has been trag-
ical event in my life. Oh, you have heard
nothing Of it. Thanks TO the people at
headquarters the papers were silenced,
and l won't bore you-my story ism t
long and, he added bitterly, II think it
is interesting. But it is old-the old story
of the parents sins being expiated by the
ahildren.
He knocked the ash from his cigar, and
aeen he slowly told his story
"Last June, as you may know, the re-
serve forces We're ordered out for their
yearly service, We had some Of them at
Maubeuge, where had been stationed
xith the Fifty sixth for a month. One
7 g., I He
regimental business, in company with q
brother officer of my regiment. We stepped
into large eating house TO take chop
before the train left. 1t was a very large
establishment with marble tables around
the room, and ut one end was "a long bar,
where those with light purses were allowed
to take refreshments Our table was near
the bar and at the time we seated our
selves there was u long line of private sol
diers and laborers drinking there. We
TAXED of various matters, and my com
panion said;
- Have you the son OF any celebrity
among your recruits
/" Yes, said I, young Myrian, son of
the we'll known painter, is in my com
mand. And your?
"'Well have the son of q celebrity
too, but of different kind. 1t is young
George de Ferisset.
- What, not the son of Mime. de Ferisset
-pretty De Ferisset?
" The same.
Il laughed heartily as / said:
"'Nell, WE'LL So De Ferisset has a
grown up son, has sheS How the time
flies | was dreadfully in love with tho
woman once, but another fellow won her
not undivided favors.
land l, too, replied my companion,
Il was little spoony on her. But, then,
you know l always had scruples about
married women
"'Oh, you were wrong, l replied.
she was well worth the trouble. And,
then, poor De Ferisset! The type of an I'M
suspecting husband She had 90 lovers TO
my knowledge, and he never knew It,.
II had scarcely finished speaking when
STRIPPING soldier quilted his comrades
and advanced toward me. His face was as
white as sheet. His emotion was SO great
that he trembled as he walked, with his
saber Gathering Mt hts heels When he