The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1901-03-28

Ueo WltHOut iutcTEuptioh- ~ uAu ho'
incommode him in the least when the
visitors crowded around to witness his
skill. OF their applause he took no no
tice, nor did he allow himself to be
drawn into anything approaching an
exhibition.
A certain trifling service which a
young baron had the opportunity Of
rendering to Mrs. Parker gave the
youthful nobleman the chance Of max,
ing the acquaintance Of the beautiful
Englishwoman. Three weeks before,
The baron in question has arrived in
Homburg. accompanied by his mother.
Ibe object of his visit was to restore
his health. which had been completely
undermined by his fast life. His
mother, prematurely aged woman.
was absolutely devoted to her boy. and
slowed her devotion most touchingly.
but the son had a by no means agree
able time. In the first place the diver
sions in Homburg were not. according
10 his ideas, numerous. and besides.
under the watchful eye Of doting
mother. he found himself considerably
quiet to play little, and that with sue
cess. and in quarter of an hour he had
won q sum which to such young fell
low was a small fortune. Only Mrs.
Parker, to whom at the second meet
ing he had, boylike, opened his heart
knew how much he had won. The
whole affair was carefully kept secret
from the mother.
The baron was most devoted in his
attention to Mrs. Parker, and showed
quite plainly that he had fallen "A vic
tim to her charms. The lady herself.
who took not the slightest interest in
her husbands pistol shooting accepted
the advances of the baron very readily.
She was seen with him great deal. and
his elegant Ollendorf English seemed
10 afford her much pleasure. Az she
was rarely seen with her husband. the
rest of the ladies became scandalized in
A very short time. The admiration
which Mrs. Parker had at first excited
gave place to mild contempt. and there
was much Struggling of shoulders
among the women. The men. instead
Of referring to Mr.. Parker as devilish
nice chap, began to say: "a most re
markable husband" for he alone
seemed to have no suspicion of what
was happening. and quietly continued
his pistol practice.
The catastrophe followed sooner
than was generally expected. In the
eyes of Homburg Mrs. Parker had com.
promised herself. An ugly rumor,
started one evening, had by the follow
ing morning grown, as such rursors
will grow. Everybody heard it, and.
last of all, the wronged husband. He
did what any other man would have
done in his place-chalenge the young
German to duel with pistols. The
baron. who was una bic to explain to his
own satisfaction how he had been cap
t'vated by the graces of Mrs. Parker,
found himself in lamentable guam
Diary. A challenge from Mr.. Parker he
well knew was equivalent to a death
sentence, or at least a very close shave
Should the Englshman insist on the
duel there was no doubt as 10 the re-
suit. He thought the matter over very
carefully. and was suddenly filled with
great concern as to the effect which
his death would have upon his widowed
mother, and. being DESTROYS above all
things of sparing her. he persuaded two
Ct his friends. who happened TO be in.
Homburg at the time, to seek out and
try to pacify the offended husband.
Mr., Parker received the gentlemen
oil -, 4
Han of the world.
Gentlemen" said Mr.. Parker. cold
ly. in French. II really fail to under
sland the object Of your visit Surely
the details OF this matter have been
discussed al sufficient length. Nothing
more remains 10 be said"
"fou are right. sir" replied the elder
Of the two ambassadors. but we have
come trusting to your tenderness of
heart. and we are sure you will not be
able to turn deaf ear to our plea. We
have come to appeal to you. not on be-
half of the baron. but for the sake of his
mother. TO whom he is all in all, and
who will certainly die Of grief il any
thing happens to her ideal. We ask you
to agree to other terms. Would you poi
son and curtail the life Of q weak wom-
an? Think OF your own mother"
Then the speaker explained at length
70 Mr.. Parker that the baron was the
last male representative OF his line, the
last OF famous house. and that the
lumor. even, Of the approaching duel
might cause the mothers death.
Mr.. Parker listened with quiet dig
nifty, and when. the gentleman closed
with warm appeal to his goodness OF
heart, the Englishman rose, and with
out losing any of his dignity. or relax
- ~.