The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-08-15

marks. LET him co. commanded
to the soldiers, and, rising, I removed
my cap and bow ed TO the young man.
II am at your service.'
Half an hour later I:stood in the room
of the general In command of our corps
and told him the whole story. He rep
rimanded me sharply and as I deserv-
ed the rebuke only too we'll, + had moth
ing to- say in my defense.
And now what are you going to do?"
he asked.
IT do not see any choice, general,
shall accept the young fellows chal-
lenge.'
''You are mad! A major cannot fight
a common soldier:' :.
II beg to point out, General, that
there are certain questions of honor to
which military regulations do not ap-
ply. I ask your permission to fight a
duel"
II have no right to give it,
Then the duel will take place in
Belgium, on the other side Of the Dor
der line -
"That is to say. YOU intend to de-
sert?'
Eyes, General, shall desert and sub
NIT to my punishment. I have pub.
licly slandered woman and will not
still further trespass 4the laws of hon.
or by refusing her son the satisfaction
he demands''
M. de Ferissets seconds called on me
| that evening. He had chosen swords;
the place was a Belgian village, and
the time nine o'clock the following
morning. I spent the night arranging
my affairs for I had firmly resolved to
let the boy wound me.
| Morning broke cold and rainy. We
Waded in mud up to our ankles. M
! de Ferisset and his seconds led the
way. Arrived at the appointed place.
we took up our positions, facing each
other. M. de Ferisset saluted me in
military fashion, and said in an I'M
steady voice: "Sir, intended tc
strike you in the face when we were
both in uniform. I have, therefore
sinned against military discipline. and
as a soldier, ask your pardon. And
now we fight"
| The length. of the swords was: meas
ured and one of my seconds said, BE
| gin, gentlemen"
did not STIR but looked at my op.
ponent. I saw the same flash in his
| eye that had been there before, then the
same hesitation. Suddenly he stepped
back, smiling bitterly. If I live for 9
hundred years shall never forget that
smile. He sprang forward, and threw
himself upon my sword, which pierced
his breast. With cry he fell back.
| ward, and red foam came from the
corners az his mouth.
! "A shiver ran over me-
When Gustave Hammer had finish.
ed his story he drew a deep breath
and said in a broken voice: IT know
that he took his own: life, and that ]
have paid my pen atty; in being obliged
to leave the armX;S3vbut nevertheless
feel. a. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ~ think O.
i OF the poor boy 9fhgs in the flower 9oj
i hts Youth! think OF fl slno her win
must be in the depths Of despair an6
| grief over the loss of the son whose
death she, more than anyone else, ha:
on her eonscieance!''
An hour had passed since our meeting
and the number of pedestrians: had. in.
creased. The. Champs -Elysees.. swarm
ed with people, and over the Who'll,
scene was the intense life and joy of {
Paris summer evening. AS we strollet
homeward my eye fell on a woman O
about forty-five years, still very beau
tiful, the center of a circle of fashiona
BILE men and women. She was in dee}
| mourning, made after the latest style
and smilingly enjoying the fragrance
| Of an enormous bunch of violets, whil
she listened to young man who whis
pered something in her ear. eth
heartless wretch" I exclaimed.
| "Who?'
"The woman in mourning"
I pointed to the woman in mourning
His mother"