Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-07-30
How She Was Won
torlginst

several times sought 20 take a life for
a liie hut they had all been wounded
or killed. The truth was that Normin
din was SO skilled in all weapons. so
especially lifted with eyes. delloacy OF
touch and nerve. that he was inyinci-
BILE
one evening Normindiu was sitting
with friends In cafe adjoining a han
where masked ball was I'm progress
| n man dressed 90 represent Mephis-
! topheles aud wearing mask entered.
walked straight mp TO the table where
Nommdiu was seated. took up glass
1t wine standing ON the table before
The ducliSt and threw it In his face
Normindin pNled. This was the FIRST
time in his life that he had been thus
/ deliberately inSultpd Wlplug the wine
ott his face. he half arose aud asked:
"Who are you, STRIP
"'rhc devil"
"rake or yanr mask"
THAT viii do when I have killed
Tou You shall look upon my face as
you pass below 60 my Kingdom"
Il do not light with unknown per
sons"
you shall do so now or will kin
you where YOU sit"
"Aud II nghtT
81 will Kill YOU anyway"
Those sitting about noticed that Nor
mindlu was not his usual self At.
tempting To look unconcerned. he nut
his thumb and finger on the stem of a
wlneglass aud raised Il 20 his lips.
His hand trombled
when aud where can my seconds
ind your" lac asked OF his enony.
Now aud here" Turning to two
CAplem9u In evening dress who had
entered with him, ko added. These
VIII accommodate you" Then he
went aud sat down at table I'm "A
corner of the room while the arrange
ments were being made Normindin
wished delay. but the stranger said
NOW Nomindin, however. though
the challenger. was allowed the choice
Of weapons for his enemy said that
since he was going TO kin him II
made no difference with what weapon
he did the deed. This added 10 Nor
mlndin's loss OF nerve. He had In
tended TO choose n short sword. with
which few persons were prnctlced and
with which he was an expert, but ho
had never before known "A case where
the challenger had been given the
choice of weapons. This was supreme
Indifference.
Within an hour after the insult had
been given the principals were nght-
Ing I'm large unfuruished room form
Ing the whole top story OF "A dwelling
house lighted 10y lamps Tho STRANGER
still wore his devils dress and was
masked. Short swords were I'm the
hands Of both 0dversHries The struu-
ger showed skill I'm fencing but not
extraordinary skill Normindln was
plainly out OF nerve This mado m
even contest pf IT, They fenced for
some time without either getting the
advantage But there was certain
spring I'm the stranger which increased.
while Normndn was henvy and grow
Ing heavier There was something
uncanny In the devils costume. Tho
mouth OF the mask was cut TO repro
sent n lecr, ana through two holes
above IA poir OF gllttering eyes looked
out, II seemed 10 Normindln. In ma
liciOus triumph.
you can't XIII me. nor / you" said
Normiudin presently ct IL n draw"
Normiudin's seconds looked at each
other In surprise
II shall Kill you" replied tho other
confidently.
"WhcnT
"Now"
Gathering his strength. he made a
iungo ana showed his sword up TO tho
hit In NOrmmdiu's breast Az Nor
mindin fell the stranger took off his
mask
- am the friend" he snid. "of young
Alphonse Mcrcler. the last OF your vie.
Tins La killing him you broke the
heart of the young girl 10 whom he
was engaged. ] determined to a,cuge
her knew you to Doe only vulnerable
through your nerve. have attacked
your nerve and have beaten you. ana
but fair swordsman"
Normindin made no reply FOR no
was dying Iie ,DuUH". % fare NJ
the speaker t1l his eyes became rlaz-
ed Then the latter. handing his
weapon To- hs second. got into car
riage md was driven away
This was neither che first nor the
last act in a drama Of which IL was a
part The first U.s. th's
hluhOusc Ncrcicr 90 Young man who
bad Just come OF age w0Ord aud won
Eugcule Icfcrrc. tho daughter of "a
wealthy cotton broker OF Sew Orlcnus.
Another sutton was Captain Roswell
Tracy of the United states engineers.
ON duty ln thc Crescent CITY and or
tcru years older thuu N1rsi2r When
Tracy beard that he sueesasfu rival
? hHd fallen 20 victim thGs kormIuH I'D