The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-29

the sword was such, / knew, that IL would
BE- little more than suicide TO challenge him
then. / had little means, but / went to
the best maitre d'armes in all Paris. telling
him wanted to know all he himself knew
ABOUT fencing In six months. He promised
To teach me- went to work under his in
ssruction, and worked like mad man with
the foils night and day. When 1 not
Sleeping or eating 1 was practicing. From
an old Italian / picked up a few tricks
after the Italian school. At the end of six
months / knew the napier better than my
master: he informed me with shrug,
half of pleasure half Of regret.
when 1 was perfectly ste of my own
ability 1 went to cafe on the boulevard,
ST. Michael, where / knew would find my
fine gentleman with others of his profess
SION, drinking white wine and ogling the
ladies as they swept by. IL was summer.
1 found him seated at a little table on the
sidewalk, laughing uproarcusly at what
must have been a prime joke narrated by a
little monkey of a man in the Spahis. I
took seat at adjoining table and
ordered bottle of light wine. My colonel
cid not recognize me, IL was apparent at
cnce. After drinking part OF a glass OF
wine made a face as If the wine had
teen bitter of taste, raising my glass at
the same time and throwing the contents in
the air in a direction / felt sure would
bring the colonel's face into contact with
the flying fluid. My aim was excellent.
Face, mustache, shoulder knots and bril-
liant uniform were literally sprinkled with
the wine Of the south Of France.
THE CHALLENGE GIVEN.
MY colonel sprang to his feet with a
below of rage. demanding that / apologize
tumbly for my gross carelessness. at once
apologized in laughing, contemptuous
fashion that drove him into a storm OF
rage. 'Ah. my fine fellow he roared like a
mad bull, 4 will make you give amends In
more fitting style 1 tossed him my card.
1t was quickly arranged. as these things
! usually are, or at least they were in those
Gays.
1--WE met at dawn In a pretty little spot
Before proceeding further 1 requested per-
mission to speak with my opponent. He
welcomed IL, thinking was 10 beg of from
sword thrust 1 simply asked, Monsieur
! lie colonel, do you recognize the young man
whom, six months ago you previously In
suited in the presence OF a young lady.
making him butt for your laughter and
/ hers?' He replied after a moments scrutiny
/ Of my face that he did. i simply bowed
and withdrew TO my seconds. When we met
lit was laughable, that meeting-I played
| with my fine colonel like cat with
| mouse. Once, twice, three times, twisted
| his rapier from his hands and sent 1t flying
into the thickets surrounding the sward
upon which we fought. The colonel could
not believe that 1 was his absolute master
He refused to apologize for his conduct OF
six months previous. and insisted each
time on renewing the unequal contest My
| fine came again. Parrying vicious lunge
| for my neck, 1 sent my rap!er through his
shoulder, the firm steel cutting through
/ 1esh and bone like a butchers ny
colonel fell, the blood gushing from bad
wound. He became senseless and with
| drew. amply satisfied with the result OF
my six months arduous labor and the sad
depletion of my slender bank account
After that / seemed to take 10 the foils
as a matter of course became a maitre
| d'armes and have had reasonable success"