Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-03-30

I =
before his seconds had seen those of
George Lamil; before he so much as
knew whether he would have to fight at
all. He made his toilet. dressed. and
walked ont with firm step.
His witnesses, the marquis and colonel,
put themselves at his disposal. The
colonel asked do you insist upon a
serious duel!"
The viscount replied Very serious
The marquis asked: You wish pis.
| tois 2"
yes"
well. we leave you free to regulate
the rest"
The viscont rticuated in dry,
| ierky voice:
Twenty paces-to fire at the word
| to fire ON the rise instead of the fall:
balls to be exchanged until one or the
other be seriously wounded"
The colonel exclaimed, in tone of sat
isfaction: These are excellent condi-
| tions. You shoot well, and all the
chances are in your favor"
And they departed ON their errand.
The Vlscount returned home to wait for
their return. His excitement. tempo
rarily appeascd now began to increase
every minute. He felt all along his legs
and arms, in his chest. a sort of sinking
"a continual quiyering; he found him
self unable to remain quiet, whether sit
ting or standing. His mouth felt drv.
He could not eat He ordered decanter
of brandy brought in. from which he
helped himself to six small glasses, one
after the other.
A heat. as of a burn. passed through
him. followed by a sort of mental numb
ness. He thought: Here's the remedy.
Now | am all right"
But at the end of an hour he had emp
tied the decanter, and his excitement be-
came intolerable. Evening came. A sud
den pull at the door bell gave him such a
sense of suffocation that he could ont
find strength to rise and receive his sec
onds, He did not even dare to say Good
evening" through fear that they might
discover everything from his voice
The colonel said:
Everything has been arranged accord
ing to the conditions you stipulated
His seconds are two military men"
The viscount said: Thanks
The colonel asked: "Weii, you feel all
right: YOU are cool?"
Yes; very cool, thank you"
The two men retired.
When he found himself alone again he
felt as if he were going mad When his
servant had lighted the lamps he sat
down at table TO write some letters.
After having traced, at the head of a
blank sheet of note paper. the words:
This Is my last will and testament" he
rose with sudden start feeling in
capable of putting two ideas together.
As he walked up and down, he stopped
before the little round table on which
lay pistol case. He took out one of the
pistols placed himself in the position of
a man about to fire. and raised his arm
But he trembed so that the barrel of the
pistol quivered and pointed in all direc-
tions.
Then he said to himself; 1T is simply
impossible. shall never be able to fight
as | am now"
lie looked down the muzzle of the bar
rel. into the little deep, black hole which
spits out DEATH He thought OF the dis
honor, of whisperings in the salons, of
laughter at the clubs. of the contempt
that women can show, of allusions in the
newspapers, of the open insults he would
receive.
Still he stared at the weapon, and,
pulling back the hammer, he suddenly
observed "A cap shining under it. like a
tiny red flame. The pistol had remained
loaded by some chance some forgetful-
ness. And the discovery filled him with
a confused and ineXpicable Joy.
If he could not maintain before the
other man the cool and dignified deport-
ment which behooyed him, then he would
be ruined forever. He would he stained,
branded with the stamp of infamy--
driven out of society! And that calm,
fearless attitude he would not be able to
have; he knew it. Yet he was brave
enough since he wanted to fight He
was brave. since. Suddenly opening
his mouth wide. he thrust the muzzle of
the pistol in and pulled the trigger
When the valet de chambre ran in, he
found his master lying on his back dead.
ellsh of blood had spattered over the
white paper ON the table and formed a
great red blot Immediately underneath
the words:
This is my last will and testament"
Translated from the French of Guy dc
Naupa SSant.