The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-12-25
EAVED HER LOVER.

Jules Souvestro was soon to marry Mile.
Ladouner, one of the most beautiful and
refined girls in Lyons. One night at q
cafe chantant he rebukod Achille Emaux,
q professional duelist, for interrupting q
Singer and publicly derided him as cad
| and a reviler Of ladies. A duel was In
stantly arranged to take place next morn
ing.
Mile. Jadouner was in tho theater with
her unclo and witnessed the incident.
Jules, whom she loved with her whole
heart and soul, would be u corpse bcfore
another day had passed! That was the
one thought that filled her brain, and for
timo in her distress and agony she was
almost demented. But by degrees she
forced herself to be calm. At whatever
cost her lover must be saved. Half an
hour before midnight, when her mother
had retired, she quietly stole out and made
her way as furtively as thief to Emaux's
residence.
He had not returned, and sho was oblig-
ed to wait. Il was nearly 1 o'clock when
the bravo came in, humming funeral
march, as was his custom on the eve of q
duel.
"Good evening, mademoiselle, he said
as she rose on his entrance "This Is an
unexpected pleasure though regret to
say lido not recognize you, and my man
did not catch your name. Pray be sented,
mademoiselle, and tell me what can do
for YOU"
She obeyed, and he seated himself oppo-
site her. She was trembling and CULVER
ing, and her throat was so dry that she
could scarcely speak. But at the sight Of
him sitting there, gay, careless and smil-
ing, and yet to bo in few hours the
butcher Of her beloved, tempest Of pas
sion shook her, and her tongue was loosed
"Monsieur, sho cried, rising again
"you are Infamous, beast-nay. chat is
an insult to the poor beastsl loathe you
You deflle the earth Pah! you smell
of bloodl Even a beast is merciful at
times but you-you-you''-
Emaux was utterly taken by surprise,
but he still preserved all unrufied front.
| "Mademoisclle, - he said, you ore very
good to come at this hour to pay me COM
pliments What have I done to deserve
them9"
"Donep' she cried. "What arc you
about to do, houndp Jules Souyestre lslny
betrothed, and You insult and intend to
murder him. 1t shall not be, I cay. See,
will fight you in his stead. Get pistols,
and we will stand on either side the room.
I have insulted you. I insult you again.
You are viler than any living creature
Gomez
A steely glitter came in his eyes, but he
still smiled.
II am truly sorry for you, mademoiselle
But that dog insulted me publicly, and
well, we fight at dawn
"Insulted you? He could not, monsieur.
But you shall fight me. Get pistols at
once, If you are not a coward"
He still smiled.
81 do not fight womei-, lnademoiselle-1
love them. I am truly sorry, but unless
you can persuade him to an apology as
public as the insult there Is nothing more
to be said. 1t is late, mademoiselle. 1
will SEQ you out"
"You shall fight me, ruffian!"
| He shook his head, with an amused
smile "Mademoiselle' best weapon is
her tongue, and that fortunately does not
| kill"
She looked at him with terrified eyes.
"Do you mean to kill him, monsieur?"
| Yes, ne SalQ curGly.
| She fell back into the chair with a
strangled cry, horror in her eyes. For o
moment she sat thus, then she flung her.
self on her knees at his feet.
Monsieur" she cried, "have pity,
have pityl I love him. Monsieur, you
will kill both of usl Pity, pityl" she
gasped.
"Rise, mademoiselle, bog Of you," he
said. "You have just told me have no
| pity"
"Have you no heart, monsieur" she
moaned.
| "Nono when man has publicly insult
ed me. And" he went on in a cynical
tone, "who knows but may do made
moiselle q favor. Men swear their VOWS
as lovers, but they soon forget them. I
may possibly save mademoiselle from a
life of misery"
She flushed in momentary heat at that.
"You do not know him." she cried.
''His love is as great as the sea. Can you
exhaust the scar Has your heart never
known love, monsiourF'
He frowned. 1t recalled a tiIne ten
years before.
"Ah, SEQ it has!" she said quickly.
| "By that love, monsieur, have pity. You
shall have my gratitude and prayers every
day. AS long as 1 live shall remember
you and ask mercy for you, even as you
| had mercy Oh Inc"
He did not answer, but gazed on her
beautiful, pleading face. 1t was girl q
| little younger than this ono and quite as
| beautiful who had died ten years ago, and
| all good influences had died with her.
"Xou have overcome, mademoiselle. he
said. 'He shall live for your sake
"You will spare himf"
"Be comforted, mademoiselle. I meant
to kill him, but he shall live. We shall
| fight at dawn, but he shall not die. Come,
mademoiselle, 1t is time you were gone.
Shall see you safely homer"
"No, no." she cried as he led her to the
door. "You will keep your oath, mon
sieur-you will not forget2"
mo, mademoisello, and you will not
forget your prayersH" he said, with little
laugh. "If you are right, need them.
Good night and fear nothing"
But she Gid fear. When she reached
home, it seemed to her almost impossible
to believe that man with such ruthless
| reputation would forbear to kill the man
who had insulted him.
She went to bed, but she could not rest
and soon got up again and toward 8
O'Clock stole toward the spot where the
duel would take place.
From behind shrubbery, in what state
of mind may be imagined, she saw both
parties arrive on the field, she saw the
formalities goae through, but she lost con-
IN ,ip,, yuha
pistol in hand facing one another.
Wien she recovered and could raise her
eyes, the doctor was binding up the arm OF
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