Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-11-14
An Affair of Honor.

was IN the habit or rising without
| disturbing her, dressing, and then talk
| ing a ride on horseback. But he al
ways returned to breakfast, which was
served punctually at II o'clock in the
forenoon. When, therefore, it came &c
| be nearly noon, and he did not make
| his appearance, she was naturally un-
| easy His horse was very spirited and
| might possibly have thrown him, she
| thought But, on inquiry, it appeared
| that the animal was in his stall, and
| that M. de Granthier had left the house
| on foot
Nine. de Granthier ordered the
breakfast things removed after max
| ing a slight repast and then took UP
| book to while away the time until
| her husbands return. At 1 o'clock a
| visitor was announced-Capt. Paul
| Beauregard, an officer in the French
| Guards. He was an intimate friend of
| De Grantier, as we'll as of the lady
and scarcely a day passed without
their seeing him.
MY husband. Have you seen any
| thing of him?" she asked
81 have been with him all the morn
ing. madame"
Where is he? Why did he not re-
turn with you? How has he been en-
gaged?"
Capt Beauregard replied to the last
question::
I'm an affair of honor, madame"
"a duel?"
"Yes; and he has been wounded. l
thought it best to prepare you for the
| accident
"He is dead" shrielled the unhappy
lady, as she fell back in commissions,
for she had read the truth in the cap
tain's face.
Beauregard rang the bell and left
her in charge of her maid, while he
went into another room. 1t was agony
bitter as the pangs of death to listen
to her walls and sobs and shrieks; but
in an hour Florette, the waiting maid,
rale, frightened, with swollen eyes,
for she, too, had been weeping bitter
ly came to say that Madame de Gran
tier was calmer and desired to speak
with the captain.
The officer found the lady white as
marble, but strangely quiet and col
lected.
Hector is dead?" she half asked,
half asserted
Her friend drooped his eyes. The
answer was sufficient.
Now tell me how this happened
said the lady. Hector was kind and
gentle and courteous. He had no enc
my-how could he have, for he never
wronged human being"
THAT did not prevent his having an
enemy-a mortal foe-who last night
publicly insulted him and thus forced
a challenge from your husband"
GAY, honor compelled Hector to draw
the sword. But the name of that viii
lain-the murderer"
'Raoul Maltravers."
"He the man whose hand I rejected?
Oh. my poor, dear murdered Hector.
Why did we ever meet? Fatal was, the
hour in which you saw and loved me.
Often have your lips told me that |
bad made you the happiest of men.
Little did you dream that would give
you death as well as love-"
Il implore you, madam" said the
captain, not to view this tragedy III
| that light. An unforeseen calamity
has fallen on you and my heart bleeds
at sight of your distress. But can
| do more than pity; l can and will
avenge Hector. Raoul Maltravers dies
by my hand"
'Hold." cried the widow, with sud-
| den and startling energy. 81 forbid
| you to espouse this quarrel l have
my own purpose of vengeance, and no
| man, not even you, shall be permitted
| to stand between me and my predes-
| tined victim. He has robbed me of
more than life, but will requite him
l was a fond, weak. gentle, loving.
| happy girl They who know me hence
| forth will know me as a tig.ess thirst
| ing for human blood But no word of
| this to others. Be my friend in this
| extremity, as you were his true and
| loyal friend to the last moment. and
| conduct the funeral rites. You see how
| calm l am when | can speak these
words without commissions"
When Victorine was alono with her
sionate grief, but it rapidly gave place
| to calmness SO stern that it would
| have appalled, an observer had there
been witnesses in the chamber of
| death.
| Hector de Grantier" she said, ad-
dressing the cold clay, 'if my Creator
| spares my life, your son, whom your
eyes were never to behold, shall be
| your avenger. l will rear him strong,
| valiant, skillful, and teach him to look
for no happiness, no rest no employ
ment, until he has slain the man who
has robbed you of life, me of hus-
band and himself of a father"
Two months after the funeral the
friends of the family were apprised
that the widow lady was the mother of
a-daughter. Shortly after this event
she retired with her infant child to an
estate in Brittany.
|