Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1907-12-16
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His Visiting Cards.
IoriginaL

1 J.
Miguel was a young gentleman Of
Madrid whom every one loved. His
tastes led him to manly sports. and II
was said Of him that he had appeared
in the bun ring in disguise. He was
expert with all weapons, especially the
rapier.
Miguel loved Donna Anita, the
daughter Of a Spanish grandee, and
Anita loved him. Her family consent
ed 10 the match. and the pair were To
have been married within a very few
weeks when the Count de Barillou. u
wealthy Frenchman, appeared, took a
fancy to the girl and proposed for her
| hand Anita, whose father was dead
was under the guardianship Of an elder
brother. Felippo. Fclippo thinking to
benefit himself through his sister. ar
ranged scheme for getting rid Of
Miguel Then Anita married the count
This was their plan: A few days be-
fore the wedding appointed TO take
place between Miguel and Anita. Nj
guel was arrested for conspiracy
against the government and was car
ried before judge. Two men, Nunezand
Roderigo. whom Miguel had esteemed
his friends. bore false witness against
him. the judge convicted him and sen
fenced him 70 ten years imprisonment
He served his sentence, and while he
was I'm prison the Count and Countess
de Barillou were divorced. The count.
ess had discovered the conspiracy.
One day-it was eleven years after
Miguel's misfortune-the Count de
Barillou entered cafe in Paris. When
he was passing one Of the tables
man put out his foot and tripped him
The act was so plainly intended and
was seen by so many persons that the
count felt obliged 10 resent II. The
stranger simply replied that he would
not deny him satisfaction. BarillOu
could not choose but fight and met the
man who had insulted him the mex
morning at daylight The weapons
chosen 10y the stranger were rapiers
and the two men were scarcely IN pc.
sition when Barillou fell, pierced TO the
heart. The stranger disappeared, and
when the counts body was exposed
the wound instead of being a slit was
found to be a circular hole.
A few months later NJ Gautier, a
Partisan, appeared I'm Madrid. where
he spoke French badly and Spanish
very well One night at n ball at
which Nunez was present Gautier &C.
cidentally - so it appeared - spilled
.Io rot On Ntry,g'g ,,.,;r+,.,+ A-,,,,.-
was irritated and made a dlsagreeaBle
remark about the Frenchman's care.
lessness. whereupon Gautler threw the
remainder of the wine In the bottle over
him. The two men went from the ball
room TO the field Of honor. where Nunez
met his death. The surgeon on tearing
open his shirt was astonished to see
that the wound was crescent shaped |
Gantier was not seeu- in Paris again
The next spring a Moor came up to
Madrid from the south and achieved
considerable popularity socially. but
his stay was not long One night at a
club he accused Roderigo Of cheating
at cards They fought. and the mark |
left on Roderigo's body where his OPP |
ponents sword entered It was the |
shape Of n scimiter Roderigo died Of |
the wound. and the Moor left Madrid |
before he could be arrested.
After the duel an item appeared in |
a Madrid newspaper mentioning the |
marks left on the body of Count Barll /
lou, on that Of Nunez and on Roderigo.
the writer claiming that in each case
the unknown victor was one and the |
same person. This he proceeded to
prove from the character Of the
wounds and the fact that the mysterl-
Gus person always contrived 10 be the
insulted party and invariably chose
swords for the fight.
One night Felippo was smoking IN
his library when man whose face in
dicated that he was about forty years
old entered at the door leading from II
the yeranda.
"What do you wish. slgnor?" asked II
Fellppo. half rising and looking anx
iously at the stranger, who had thus
entered unannOunced.
Have you heard Of an unknown
man who killed the Count Barlllou in
a duel?"
q have"
''He left his mark in the wound"
Felippo stared at the stranger with
out reply.
Then there was N. Gautier. who
also left a mark on our mutual friend.
Nunez.
q remember" said Fellppo, almost
N a whisper.
"And the Moor"
Felippo sat with terror stricken eyes
liked Oh the stranger.
And now comes myself. Having |
eft my card with your three friends. /
nave called to leave one with YOU
Il do not know YOU, signor ! have
lever seen you before" c
you are mistaken. was once be. y
rOthed 10 your sister" r
At the moment the door opened and
he Countess de BariIlou stood on the
threshold
Miguel
The man had half drawn his sword. i
Ie stood looking at the woman OF a
yhofu ha had Igeu r,ITtaT gff.Dr |