Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1899-10-07
OVER THE WINE.


~~<$<$&@& 49,
/ 1t happened many years ago, mes
/ sieurs. In those days young blood
ran warm and men were wont to hold
honor high and life valueless in com
parison.
Since that time 1 have fought many
| battles with the little CorsIcan, and
| have stood before many men in the
] gray dawn while the mists crept in
! from the sea.
! Mayhap L was ever quick with the
| quarrel. 1t is the fault of youth to
act on the impulse, messieurs-
! The time L am minded of was before
these hairs were white and this form
was bent.
/ 1t all came from a game-a word
over the dice, a sword thrust. L was
necessiated to leave the city for
awhile and took lodgings with
/ bourgeois who raised plants and stuffs
for the kitchen at his home near
Avignon.
/ All, messieurs, you should have
seen the little cottage with the vines
creeping over the windows; and the
roses in bloom at the doorstep and the
landlords daughter, Hortense-the
fairest rose of all. Singing through
the summer days, with a voice like
bird, she gathered the lovely bios
SONS, and each morning in my room
| placed a fresh bouquet-sweet as the
| Maytime.
1 kept to myself very closely, so
knew little of the town; but l learned
from the landlord that the gentlemen
of the country were accustomed to
ride in and to pass the evenings with
the cards.
One night, feeling restless, I walk
ed out-down the main street and
thence along the path by the river.
Inc hour was enchanting-a fit time,
messieurs, for those who love to
find pleasure in Gods beautiful
world
\ man and maid We're in the dis
lance. The moon shone upon him.
/ saw the face. Dark and cruel, l
thoughC, yet possessed of some fasci-
mating spirit-beaute du diabie, we
say in French, messieurs. AS they
drew near the woman spoke and L
knew her to be Hortense. l thought
| little of the occurrence-it is not
strange that a young and pretty girl
| should have a lover.
| Weeks passed by. / made a few
friends during my exile and was
| charmed to receive an invitation from
one-Du Barry-to pay visit to his
country house. I accepted and spent
two weeks there.
| But the time came for me to say
the brilliant coterie who had assem-
bled at the mansion. / was riding
homeward when l saw a gathering of
people upon the river bank. Drawing
rein / inquired the cause of the ex-
/ element
An old man responded to my ques-
ton: "A young girl was tired of this
world, monsieur, and sought another.
! The good God forgive and grant her
rest
Leaving my horse, I joined the
throng, just as a figure was drawn
from the water. Long golden hair
half yelled the white throat and still
features, but instinct, rather than
vision, told me that it was the lovely
Hortense.
1 could not realize that one possess
ed of such youth and beauty had such
a grief in the heart, messieurs.
/ read the note which was fastened
to the breast of her gown: Il have
pleaded in yain-I can no longer en-
dure the shame-God viii requite."
While I stood there man pushed
his way through the people. / saw his
face change and his hands tremble as
he read the words. | knew him at
once. He it was whom | had seen
with Hortense that moonlight night.
Finally a look of relief overspread
his counteDance. Turning to his COM
panions-three young blades like him
self, he said, with a sheer: Here is
river-rat who believed in God"
I felt my blood through my veins
like fire; and as the four men quilted
the crowd / followed and trod upon
the heel of him who had caused such
tragedy
He turned sharply. ..what do you
desire, monsieur2''
Nothing less than your displeas-
ure,'' was my quick retort-
He flashed with anger and was
about to strike me when one of his
associates spoke: BE calm. Each
wears a sword-let US walk short
way down the glade"
I saw friendly face near by /
called for the gentleman and begged
his service We retired to an opening
in the forest, and l crossed swords
with my opponent He handled his
steel well for rustic messieurs,
rather in the Italian manner, knees
bent and wrist curved
He attacked me as if it were but an
affair of the moment. and had even a
naughty smile | played with him
until his breath grew short and his
g.