The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-01-29
BY HA.rrl. Dicksons

Wen, now, comrade, 9I@ your OWL
,intrigues. You were saying-.-
Nay, nothing Of that kind. I iour-:
ney to Paris simply for my own pleas
'ure.' Levert. who half listened al. a
distance, knew I vas going to heed his
advice, though l misdoubtedshis mos
tive, and again took up his pacing to
and fro. .,a
AYE, my lear captain, but it's along
trip for such an errand?".. y
Eyes, quite a. long trip. but I weary.
of the life at Biloxi, and w~ouldFanuse
myself for a while in France"
But the garrison at Biloxi; Is. that
strong enough to spare SO good d sol
der? thensthe Indians. do you not fear
them"
I glanced at him quickly, only half
t~betraying my thought. but replied non-s
chalantly:
NO, the Indians are quiet, at least
SO our. scouts tell us, and as for the
state of the garrison, you were long
enough ashore to know we are strong
"Ah, then, there is another motive; a
woman. Come. is it not true? Con-
fess 2"
! blushed in spite OF myself; 1t was
an idle way I had. for I had seen little
of women. My confusion threw him
completely off the track; had I only
guessed it, would have taken refuge in
that device sooner.
Mo, no. comrade; you are
u still somehow my color came and
went like a novice out Of the convent.
His good-humored raillery continued
until became annoyed In earnest, yet
was glad he took the matter so serious
his walk I spoke to him.
NOW, my dear Levert, we will try
U fortune with the foils If 1t pleases
you"
No. my humor is past. Do you try
with Broussard; methinks he had rath-
er the better of you yesterday. You
agree, Broussard?"
Yes, yes he replied, eagerly, '1et
us at 1t"
He fenced. rather worse than usual,
solshad no trouble in touching him as
l pleased. This begat an Irritation Of
manner, n noticing it I suggested we
leave off.
He would not hear to it; I saw the
olo slowly leave his face; his thin
lips curled back and showed his teeth,
until, fearing a serious outbreak, I
stepped back as If I would lay aside
the foil. He pressed me close, 50 close
indeed I could not If I would drop my
guard. He touched me once or twice.
i call the bout a draw" declared
Levert, who had himself observed
Broussard's unusual energy.
Nay, not SO, not So; he gives back.
I've much the better" and he lunged
at me so vigorously I was forced to
act with more aggression. The button
snapped from the point Of his foil; I.
cared not. and. he affected not to see 1t,
though something made me sure he
realized his advantage. I determined
now to show him a trick of my own.
From my youth I had the peculiar
facult OF using n hand quite as well
as the other, and had often practiced
changing my sword swiftly from right
to left; It was a simple feat. much
more snowy tina difficult, yet exceed
ngly bewildertng to an adversary. In
this Instance 1t afforded me an easy
means of reaching his u~ndefended side.
So ! feigned to be driven back, and
watching for a more headlong and
careless rush, my weapon was appar-
emily twisted from myehand and for an
instant seemed to hang suspended In
the air. I caught 1t IN my left Andsbe-
fore he recovered his footing. had
thrown his foil from him, sending it
Wh1zz1ng overheard. It took but an
instant to press my point firmly against
his chest, as he stood painting md dis
prised.
"Bravely done" cried Levert-
"A most foul and dishonorable trick"
Achille snarled.
Not so."f Levert corrected him
grayely, looking at me to observe the
effect OF the insult. I stood still at
guard, but made nc move.
"Broussard, Q are angry low, and
I'll take no heed Of your heated words.
But tomorrow you must make q gem
tleman's amends"
flush, tush," Levert interposed; otis
the quarrel Of a child. He means moth
ing"
surly and Ill pleased. I was secretly
elated at the success OF my coup
against such a skilled swordsman, and
only remarked quietly:
"Broussard, when your anger has
passed I trust o will do me the honor
OF an apology"
Behind 1t all I cared little, for I felt
myself his master with his chosen
weapon n could afford to be gen
erous. He came up in very manly
fashion,, after q time, and craved my
forgiveness. but we played at foils no
more.
The lookouts were beginning to
watch for land. I growing more and
more impatient as the end of cur
voyage drew near. And now I had
much leisure to contemplate. and Won
der at the strange turn Of fortune
which had called upon me to play a
part In the affairs Of state, though
what the drama was, and what my
lines might be, l could only guess. The
story Of Colonel D'Ortez. too, furnished
me much food for reflection these long
starlit nights, when I sat in my favor-
lite seat In the very prov of the vessel.
There would l sit night after night,
watching the phosphorescent waves
ripping against the vessel, cleaning
fitful in the gloom; there observe the
~steadfast stars, n seem alone with
darkness and with God.
One wet morning, pacing the slip
perry deck. the sailing master called to
me-:
See, sir, yonder dim outline to the
noreast7 Ills the Norman coast; this
night, God willing, we sleep in
Dieppe."
My errand now consumed my entire
attention. SO I thought no more Of my
companions OF the y bidding
them both good night before we had
yet landed.
CHAPTER ".
THE ROAD TO VERSAILLES.
At the break Of day, rumbling out
OF the little fishing village. l was sur
prised to see both Broussard and Le-
vert astir as early as myself. each In