The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1902-06-12

stood. It was Monsie ar. Montigney.
Moved bys foreboling Of ~. I stols
nearer. The Frenchmah held q couple
of light rapiers in his hands. He went
quickly up to my master and touched
him on the shoulder. My lsrd turned
with an exclamation of surprise. The
Frcnchman's face was white as death
in the light of the moon. He began
to speak, in q slow, distinct way,
and 1 could hear every word.
''You told me your story once, my
lord" he said, now 1 will tell you
mine. You loved Madelon Deschap-
pelles; 80 did I. All, you may well
start. I have sought you out and
won your confidence for purpose.
do not acknowledge any dishonor
attached to this. You deceived her
and broke her heart; for her sake I
have played you false. You did not
tell me all of your story, but know
it all-from her. And I have sworn
to avenge her. This night, two years
ago, you left her, with what vows
you know. In this hour you or 1
shall die. I have seen you use the
foils; have fenced with you. We
are well matched. Defend yourself!"
Ny master had not uttered a word.
He took Che sword and o. slow smile
lit his, face. i do not think, in that
hour death held any terror for him,
his life had become of. so little mo-
ment to him. It was strange
scene; the grove of arching trees,
the soft moonlight; there the glanc-
ing river, here the two men, face to
face, their coats thrown on the
ground, heads barred, standing with
swords. in position. Then. there was
q clash 81 steel and they fought. My
Heart stood still as I watched them.
I had seen them fence many times
before, and, as the Frenchman had
said, they were well 11atched. But
this was different-that was. play,
this was real. Back and forth, back
and forth across the grass they
moved. Even above the ripple, Of the
steel could hear their heavy breath
ing. As watched them, it seemed
to me my master was gaining the
advantage of his adversary, when on
a sudden, the Frenchman's weapon.
leaped out Ikea tliingSofI life. After
that was easily seens that my mas
ter was ii Mortigneys power.
think my lord :, knew it, too: He
looked surprised swhen The I man
showed his real skill, and set his lips
grimly, and, fought doggedly, las q
man win, in the face Of death, even Ell
though it be plain that in the end he
must fall. sBuddenlY the sFrenchmani
laughed, and, in another moment, my
master stood defenseless,s disarmeds
Montigney set his footSon the fallen
sword, and, for. the space of, a. mo-
ment, they stood facing one another
still, breathless. Then Il saw the
Frenchman lift his hand to his head
and drop something to the ground.
heard my master cry out, and then
Montigney made step forward and
ran his adversary through the body.
Sir Lionel fell backward like log.
Issprang up, infuriated at the cow
ardly turn things had taken, but,
before I could move forward, the
Frenchman had placed the point of
the rapisr against his own heart and
thrown himself upon it.. He fell
prone beside the body Of Sir Lionel.
As bent over my master 7 saw. his
eyelids flicker. There was still q
little life left in his body and ihis
bloodless lips were sraii iing s.s se- !,
AS I leaned over him the eyes
opened for an instant. s'Madelon!"
he whispered. Then he died.
The Frenchman had fallen face
.,downwards:a in my grief I had
scarcely noticed him. Now I raised
one Of his: hands: it was cold. He
was quite dead.
At first thought it was a beard
less boy,3but nssI looked upon the:
beautiful dead facet saw again the
old, sweet smile of Madelon Des-
'cl,appelles. Beside HERON the grass,
lay the wig, the little waxed mus
tachios, and the pointed beard Of
Monsieur Neutrality-suspicious. and
Country. y %3tfg
The Letter r in Massachusetts.
One Of the things westerner mis-
uox, ~ Rioeeo ,b,,,o<%. q, a. 1.4l.. N