Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-11-21
The Co1vaYd

/ III Society lHCy uSGu " olCcth " hiAh
as .'ths handsome Signolles.' His IL
| tie was Viscount Gontran, Joseph de
/ Signolles.
Orphan and master of large for
| tune, he made conspicuous figure IN
| the fashionable world He had fine
appearance, a good department, fac
ulty of speech sufficient to gain him
the reputation of wit, some natural
grace, an air of noble reserve, brave
| mustache and soft eyes-just what
women admire.
He lived happily, quietly, in the
most absolute good moral standing.
It was known that he was a good
swordsman and a better shot.
when | have to fight he would
say, Il choose pistols. With that
weapon / am sure of killing my man."
Now, one evening, after having ac-
companied to the opera two young
married ladies of his acquaintance,
with their husbands. he invited the
whole party after the performance to
take supper at Tortonis. They had
been there only few moments when
be observed that gentleman at
neighboring table was staring steadily
at one of the ladies in the party. She
seemed annoyed. At last she said to
her husband:
ct is very annoying. That man
spoils my supper
The husband shrugged his Shout
ders. Nonsense; pay no attention to
him. If we had to worry ourselves
about all the insolent people we meet
there would never be an end OF it.
But the viscount had suddenly risen.
He could not permit the individual TO
destroy the enjoyment which he had
offered. The insult was to him, as 1t
was through his invitation the party
had entered the cafe.
He approached the man, and said to
him: Sir, you are staring at those
ladies in a manner which | cannot toll
crate. Will you be Good enough to
cease this staring at oIce?"
The other replied; You keep your
mouth shut, will your"
The viscomt, setting his teeth, ex-
claimed: Take care, sir! You may
compel me to violate politeness.
The stranger uttered only one word
one filthy word, that resounded
from one end of the cafe to the other,
and made every one in the house start.
There was a great silence. Then
sudden dry sound clacked in the air.
The viscount- had slapped his adver-
sarys face Everybody jumped up to
interfere Cards were exchanged.
After the viscount returned home
that night he began to walk UP ana
down his room with great, quick
strides. He was too much excited to
think about anything. One solitary
idea kept lowering in his mind-a
duel-although the idea itself had not
yet awakened any special emotion. He
had done just what he ought to have
done He repeated aloud:
What vulgar brute the fellow isl"
Then he sat down and began to
think. He would have to procure Sec
onds in the morning Whom would he
choose? Finally he selected the Mar
quis de la Tour Noire and Col. Bour-
din: a great nobleman and a great
soldier-that would be just the thing.
He suddenly discovered that he was
thirsty, and he drank three glasses OF
water. one after another; then he be-
gan to walk up and down again lie
felt full of energy. He showed hlm-
self to be plucky, ready for anything,
and by insisting upon rigorous ana
dangerous conditions-by demanding
a serious, very serious, terrible duel
his adversary would be probably
scared and make apologies.
He took up the mans card, which
he had drawn out of his pocket as he
entered and flung on the table, and ne
read it over again: George Lamll,
81 Rue Money" Nothing more.
He remained standing motionless,
thinking, keeping his eyes still liked
upon the card. A rage rose within
him against that bit of paper-a fury
of hate mingled with a strange sense
of uneasiness. 1t was stupid mess,
all this affair
So he would have to fight! With
nistols his life would be seriously en-
dangered: but, again, he might be able
to extricate himself from the difficulty
with honor, and yet without an ACTUAL
meeting. He exclaimed:
Il must be firm. He will show the
white feather
The sound of his own voice made
him start, and he looked around MIN.
nln of
began to undress.
He felt very warm between the
sheets; and still he could not sleep.
He cot up for a drink. Then a new
anxiety came over him.
'Ts it possible that l could be
afraid?'
Why did his heart start to beating
so wildly at the least little familiar
noise in his room? When the clock
was about to strike, the click OF the
little spring caused him a violent
start. He began to reason with him
self:
Am | really afraid?'
No, certainly how could he be
afraid since he was firmly resolved to
carry out the affair to the very end
since he was fully decided to fight,
and not to tremble?
Can a man become afraid in spite
of himself?"
A strange desire seized him to look
at hiaiself in the glass. He relit his
candle When he saw his visage re-
fected in the mirror he could hardly
recognize himself His own eyes
looked enormous, and he was pale. He
stood there in front of the mirror. He