The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-21

nave struggled on against varied fortunes
birth and for reasons more or less serious
whose real identities have remained Sc
crets from their dearest friends and even
their own families.
II the love of money is the root of all
hail; the IS tragedy w9sstn 4 'It Was IS g g when vine 'G the first st
great episode 81 MY life changed the whole
course of my destily-ihat age of dangerous
petuate into eternity. Nobly born in a coun-
try where the nobility were fairly wor-
SHIPPED. impetuous. ambitious and counting
reared in Castle Dernbach. in Tfhurinsia,
destined to fill q high estate. My father
was Count William Charles Won Larish. my
mother Il famous beauty of, her, time.
Countess Antoinette Won Heinecic, who be-
came heiress of vast mining properties in
Siles!a.
When I was a lad OF Il years my
mother died, and from THAI time the Girec-
ton of my education devolved upon my
mothers most intimate friend. the Grand
Duchess Sophie Of Weimar.
After several years at both the universi-
ties of Heidelberg and Pom l became an
officer in one of the finest regiments Of the
land. the Fourth Uhlans, al the officers of
which We're. like myself. noblenien. After a
years service / was promoted TO tlTst Lieu-
tenant and stationed at S~alzwedel. in the
Province of MagdeburS. The commander
of the garrison was Major Count Won Poni-
ia, a man of great force of character, but
selfish. domineeriug and headstrong. The
Major lived in the neighborhood, and his
estates adjoined those of the noble FANNY
of the Won ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. with whose
laughter and heiress-one OF the most beau-
tiful women I ever beheld-half the garrI-
son was in love, and none more, dare
say, than the commander and myself.
THE INSULT, AND
THE FATAL DUEL.
1.-THE officers We're In the habit OF IRE,
cuenting IL certain casino at Salzwedel ana
exchanging pleasantries, GARRISON chatter
and theories about war. for when we We're
ever eager. On one Of these occasions. May
30. 1856. jor Won Ponita uttered q remark
rejecting upon the Countess. My young
blood warmed to the boiling point. but |
was restrained.
After a s~ieepless night, 1 resolved to
make Count Won Ponita eat MS "efus'
took half a lifetime.
.'The drill was long ana severe, my
commanding officer constantly goaalLls, re-
proving and harassing me. But when II
came to an actual blow with the nat or mis-
sword. rank was thrown aside, ana iacihs
each other only as man TO man. sMeps
my glove across his face with a curse %
.Roth were mounted, and both were ex-
pert horsemen and good swordsmen. and it
was but the twist Of a WI wrist tbe 10 fe grl"s AZ
though it was my intention only to disable
my adversary. l saw in his iivid cou me-
nance and the green ngft OF ms eye tnae
the Major meant to kill me then and there.
and that it was a duel to the death; HIS
first terrific lunge was parrled' aithouSn
the point Of the sword struck me III she ifh.
temple, all but gouginS out my eyes. Ills
second. aimed for the throat, struck hish,
passing through both my cheeks ana cut
ting away part of the lower Jaw. VIII Tna my
fash of lightning I drove my sword clean
through him Just below the heart. where
upon he lunged forward Wltaout a groad'
the noint OF nv broken sword cleaning red
through his back.