The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1907-06-15
The Case of
Nine. Dumonf.
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she was middle aged, she had more
attention than most Of the young girls.
But there was a special reason for
this besides her beauty"
"Certninly 1t could not have been q
d%iscrcditable reason. Nine. Dumont
has lived in New Orleans, and we new
er had a more respected woman in So
ciety here"
what she may have been here I
do not know; what she is in Paris l
do know. If she had u good reputa-
ton, she has lost it."
A smothered exclamation came from
an upper window Of n house extending
back into IN adjoining garden. Both
men looked up. A young man about
twenty years old was staring down
upon them with an expression Of hor-
ror. For n moment his eyes were fixed
on Marchand; then he disappeared
from the window.
"Grent heavensl" cried BrOssinn.
"What is itY' asked the other eager
ly. "Who is he2"
"Ernest Dumont."
IA rclativeW
"Her son. Let us go In"
mo; 1 will wait here. In addition
to the pain 1 have given him, I will
not put him to the trouble Of hunting
for me-"
The men had not long ITO wait. An
intimate friend of young Dumont was
in the same house with Him. and pres
emily this friend came into the garden
through a front gate and back toward
where Mnrchnnd and Brossian were
sitting. He presented his card, bear
Ing tho name Sidney Mason, and said:
II am the bearer Of a message from
Ernest Dunont to- He, looked from
the one to the other.
"Mr. Marchand drew Il card and
handed it to him. "Thislis MI Bros
sian. You will represent me, Brossian,
will you notY
Brossian assented, and Marchand
withdrew. Brossian chntted a long
while with the young man,in the hope
that amends might be made. But in
such a case amends are impossible. A
meeting between the two principals
was arranged for the next morning in
a wood above the city ION the Missis-
sippi river.
Marchand, us the challenged party,
had the choice Of terms. He chose pis-
tolls, the two principals to,be stationed
fifty PAGES apart, then to advance, fir
Ing ut will. At the meeting when the
word was given to advance and fire
Marchand stood still. He never raised
his pistol. Dumont, white us q sheet,
advanced firing, but sent three bullets
at his mothers traducer before hitting
him. On being struck Marchand fell,
dangerously wounded. Then both
parties left the field.
For a long while Manhand hung be.
tween life and death. Then he recov.
cred. AS Don IS he was able to stand
he sent word to Dumont that he was
able and ready to give him further ,sat.
isfaction. Dumont asked II his enemy
would fight or stand up to be killed,
and when Informed that he would ACT
as before the matter was dropped
Then Marchand left New Orleans to
go no one knew where.
The cause Of the duel wns kept BE-
cret. Sympathy went with Mhrchand,
who was universally beloved It was
considered that it was a case Of the
hot blood of youth touching upon the
good sense, forbearance, Of middle age.
Young Dumont shut himself up from
society, and it was generally believed
that the blame attached to his action
wns killing him. It was not that. 1t
was a doubt that Marchand's words
were false, a doubt that when 1t once
fastened itself upon the. sonss brain he
could not shake 1t off.
One day-it was some months after
Marchand's departure -.Dumont re
ceived a note from his mother, who
was a widow, that she was in New
Orleans and wished hint to come t.
her. For a time he refused, but since
abe was gently persistent he finally
consented to an interview. When he
was ushered into the room where hil
mother received him he was astonish
ed to see Marchand with her.
1.-THE tables are turned" said Mar
chand. II am now your mothers de
fender. There were two Nine. Du
monts in Paris. I did not know tina
there was but one. havesmade every
reparation in my power"
lis this to comfort me-, or is 1t til,
truth7" asked the youngS man. trem
bling.
.sThat I have perfecttsconfdence II
your mothers purity I ask your con
sent that she shall become my wife,"
The young man stood staring at tn
pair. Nine. Dumont made no motion
Presently her 0 staggered forward
and abe caught him In her arms.
Fabian Marchand us soon as he ha,
recovered from his wound and furthe
satisfaction had been declined hn
started for Paris With a view to hum
ing for evidence that Nine. Dumou
was not 30 bad as sha was painted
He found that the MIME. Dumont b
had referred to was infa nous, but dil
covered that there was another NM
Dumont In Paris. q lady much esteem
Cd. Both women had, lived In Me-
Orleans: hence the mistake. III
lady's acquaintance he made witho,
revealing himself and fell In love Wit
her. Finally he con6e4s ed the part
had taken. Of whichss1 unknowingl
had been theicause.
Newfoundland hisesta ,son became !
~separable. TURNER O. HOYLM.
Acommercial club was organize
Az sKAdoka last weak. II. N. Han