Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-07-24
How She Was Won



II was about 1890 that Alplonsc Nor.
mlndln came to New Orleans from
Paris. He had fought sixteen ducls
ana had Killed nine OF his antagonists
Friends or relatives of his victims had
several times sought to take II life for
allie, but they had all been wounded
or killed The truth was that Normln-
din was SO skilled IN all Weapons. 80
especially fitted With eyes, dclicacy of
touch and nerve. that lie was invlncI-
bic.
one evening Normn1ln was sitting
with friends In cafe adjoining IL hall
where masked bail was In progress.
~ man dressed TO represent McphIs-
tophelcs and wearing mask entered.
walked straight up to the table where
Normlndin WINS seated, took up glass
OF wine, standing on the table before
the ducllst and threw 1t In his face.
Normndin palcd. This wns the first
time In his life that he had been thus
deliberately insultcd. WipIng the vino
OIL his face, lie half arose aud asked.
WHO are YOU, slrf"
The devil"
Take or your mask"
mat l VIII do when | have killed
YOU You si-all look upon my face as
you pass below to my kingdom"
i do not fight with unknown per
sous"
You shall do so now or Will Kill
you where you sit"
'Nnd lf flghti"
II Will kill you anyway"
Those sitting about noticed that Nor
mindin wns not his usual self. At
tempting to look unconcerncd, lie nut
his thumb and finger on the stem of n
wineglass and raised II TO his llps.
Ills hand trcmblcd.
when and where can my seconds
lind your" lie asked OF his enemy.
Now and here" Turning to two
gentlemen In evening dress who had
entered with him, he added. "Thcsc
VIII accommodate YOU" Then he
went and sat down Mt table I'm n
corner of the room while the arrange.
mcnts were being made. Normlndin
wished delay, but the stranger said
Now" Normndin. however. though
the challenger. was allowed the choice
OF weapons. for his enemy said that
since he was going to kill him 1t
made no difference with what weapon
he did the deed. This added TO Nor.
mindin's loss of nerve. He had In
tended to choose n short sword, with
which few persons were practiccd and
with which lie was an expert but he
hau never before known case where
uie challenger had been given tho
choice of weapons. This was supreme
Indifference.
Within an hour after the insult had
been given the principals were fight
/ Ing In lnrge unfinished room form
Ing the whole top story of dwelling
house. lighted by lamps. The stranger
stu wore his dcvira dress anu was
masked. Short swords were IN the
hands of both adversaries. The stran-
ger showed Skill In fencing. but not
extraordinary SIKH. NormIndIn was
plainly out of nerve. This made an
even contest of II. They fenced for
some time without either getting the
advantage. But there WINS n certain
spring IN the stranger which Increased
while Norl'' innin was heavy and grow
Ing heavier There was something
uncnnny In the DEVILS costume. The
mouth of the mask was cut TO repre-
sent lccr. and through two holes
above pair of glittering eyes looked
out. 1t seemed TO Normindln, In ma
llcious triumph.
You cant XIII me. nor you." said
Nornindln presently. at is draw"
Norm!ndin's seconds looked at each
other in surprise.
II shall kill you" replied the other
confidently.
"Whcn?"
"Now"
Gathering his strength, he made
lungc and showed his sword up to tho
hllt In Normindin's breast. AS Nor
mlndin fell the stranger took off his
mask
II am the friend" he said. "of young
Alphonse MERCER. The last of your vic
Tins. In killing hin you broke the
heart of the young girl to whom he
wns engaged. | determined to avenge
her. knew you to be only vulnerable
through your nerve. have attacked
your nerve and have beaten you. am
but n fair swordsman."
Normlnlln made no reply. for he
was dying. He continued to stare Mt
the speaker till his eyes became gnz-
ed. Then the latter, handing his
weapon TO his second. got into car
rlage and was driven away.
This was neither the first nor the
last act In drama of which 1t was n
part. The first is this:
Alphonse MERCER, young man who
had just come OF age. wooed and won
EugeTlc Lefcvre. the daughter OF
wealthy cotton broker of New Orleans.
Another sultor was Captain Roswell
TrnpI. nf fbn J-nItoJ Stotoa nuutnnars