The Opelousas courier., 1901-12-14
An Affair of Honor.

~ VAN
breakfast things removed, after MAX
ing a slight repast and then took VI
a book to while away the time unit
her husbands return. At / o'clock 6
visitor was announced-Capt. Pau
Reauregard, al officer in the French
Guards. He was an intimate friend Of
De Grantier, as well as of the lady
and scarcely a day passed without
their seeing him.
MY husband. Have you seen any
thing of him." she asked.
II 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 due1?"
Yes; and he has been wounded.
thought it best to prepare you for the
accident"
He is Dead" shrieked 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 rs 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 dropped 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
INFLOW could he have, for he never
wronged a human being"
That did not prevent his having an
enemy-a mortal foe-wbo last night
publicly insulted him and thus forced
a challenge from your husband"
lay, honor compelled Hector to draw
the sword. But the name Of that viii
lain-the murderer"
"Raoul Maltrayers."
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 /
had made you the happiest of men.
did you dream that I would givs
you death as well as love-"
i implore you, madam" said the
captain. mot to view this tragedy III
that light. An unforeseen calamity
has fallen on you, and my heart bleeds
at sight of your distress. But | a
DO more than pity; I can and will
Hector. Raoul Maltravers dies
oy my hand"
Hold" cried tho widow, with sud-
len and startling energy. 81 forbid
you to espouse this quarrel. / have
my own purpose of vengeance, and no
man, not even You, shall be permitted
20 stand between me and my predes-
lined victim. He has robbed me Of
more than life, but I will requite him
was a fond, weak, gentle. loving. |
aappy girl. They who know me hence
'orth Will know me as q tigfess thirst
ng for human blood. But no word of
his to others. Be my friend In this
Extremity, as you were his true and
oval friend to the last moment. and
'onduct the funeral rites. You see how
aim / I'M when / can speak these
words without commissions"
When Nictorire was alone with her
lead she had a wild outburst of pas
tomato grief, but 1t rapidly gave place
0 a calmness SO stern that 1t would
ave appalled, an observer had there
zen witnesses In the chamber of
cath.
Hector de Grantier," she said, ad-
ressing the cold clay, sif my Creator
pares my life, your son, whom your
yes were never to behold, shall be
our avenger. I will rear him strong,
aliant, skiIlful, and teach him to look
Or no happiness. no rest, no employ
rent, until he has slain the man who
as robbed you OF life, me of a hus-
and and himself OF q father"
Two months after the funeral the
siends OF the family were apprised
lat the widow lady was the mother or
Shortly after this event
he retired with her infant child 10 an
state In Brittany.
Sixteen years passed away and then
line. de Grantier. still wearing Wild
weeds, again resumed ner resi-
in Paris. She lived In a fashion
Die quarter, but In great privacy. Q
only relatives. making no &C
laintances. Her daughter, Claudine.
I'D grown up a beautiful girl, the pic.
ire OF health-a bright flower to
In the almost conventual gloom
her mothers house. 4
The only frequent visitor was the
oung Chevalier de Hauteville, q cou- I
n Of C1audine, and strange to say, q
srfect image of the girl-the same
eight, features and complexion. The {
,ssips Of the neighborhood said they i
ere born for each other and predicted ]
marriage between the parties. But /
g servants OF the family asserted that /
old lady would never, for some rea- !
u Of her own, probably that of near I
,ss OF blood, permit the alliance, and i