Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-08-09
The Case Of
Nine. DumOnS.
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[OHginal.l

this besides her beauty
3 Certainly it could not have been
discreditable reason. Nine. Dumont
has lived in New Orleans, and we new
err had a more respected woman in So
ciety here"
what she may have been here |
Go not know: what she is in Paris |
do know. If she had a good reputa-
ton, she has lost it.
A smothered exclamation came from
an upper window of house extending
back into an adjoining garden Both
men looked up. A young man about
twenty years old was staring down
upon them with an expression of hor-
ror For moment his eyes were fixed
on Marchand: then he disappeared
from the window.
Great heavens" cried Brossian.
what is itY' asked the other eager
Iy. "Who is hep
Ernest Dumont."
"A relative?'
'Her son. Let us go in"
mo: | will wait here. In addition
to the pain l have given him, l will
not put him to the trouble of hunting
for me-
The men had not long to wait. An
intimate friend of young Dumont was
in the same house with him. and pres
emily this friend came into the garden
through a front gate and back toward
where Marchand and Brossian were
sitting. He presented his card, bear
ing the name Sidney Mason, and said:
81 am the bearer of a message from
Ernest Dumont to- He looked from
the one to the other.
"Mr. Marchand drew a card and
handed it to him. "This is Mr.. Bros
sian. You will represent me, Brossian,
will you not?"
Brossian assented, and Marchand
withdrew. Brossian chatted long
while with the young man in the hope
that amends might be made. But in
such a case amends are impossible. A
meeting between the two principals
was arranged for the next morning in
q wood above the city on the Missis-
sippi river.
Marchand, as the challenged party,
had the choice of terms. He chose pis-
tolls, the two principals to be stationed
fifty PAGES apart, then to advance, FIR
Ing at will. At the meeting when the
Marchand stood still. He never raised
his pistol. Dumont, white as a sheet,
advanced firing, but sent three bullets
at his mothers traducer before hitting
him. On being struck Marchand fell,
dangerously wounded. Then both
parties left the field.
For long while Marchand hung be-
tween life and death. Then he recov-
| cred, As soon as he was able to stand
he sent word to Dumont that he was
able and ready to give him further sat
/ isfaction. Dumont asked II his enemy
would fight or stand up to be killed
! and when informed that he would act
2! as before the matter was dropped
! Then Marchand left New Orleans to
/ go no one knew where.
The cause of the duel was kept Sc
cret. Sympathy went with Marchand
who was universally beloved. 1t was
considered that it was a case of the
hot blood of youth touching upon the
good sense, forbearance. of middle age
Young Dumont shut himself up from
society, and it was generally believed
that the blame attached to his action
was killing him. 1t was not that. Il
was a doubt that Marchand's words
were false, doubt that when it once
fastened itself upon the sons brain ht
could not shake 1t off.
4
Marchand's departure = Dumont re
ceiyed a note from his mother, whC
was widow. that she was In New
Orleans and wished him to come tt
her. For time he refused. but since
she was gently persistent he finally
consented to an interview. When ht
was ushered into the room where hi
mother received him he was astonish
ed to see Marchand with her.
"The tables are turned" said Mar
chand. II am now your mothers de
fender. There were two Nine. Du
monts in Paris. l did not know tina
there was but one. have made ever.
reparation in my power"
''Is this to comfort me. or is 1t thu
truth?" asked the young man. trem
bling.
THAT 1 have perfect confidence II
your mothers purity ask your con
, sent that she shall become my wife"
The young man stood staring at tn
pair. Nine. Dumont made no motion
Presently her son staggered forward
and she caught him in her arms.
Fabian Marchand as soon as he haI
recovered from his wound and furthe
satisfaction had been declined ha,
started for Paris with a view to hunt
Ing for evidence that Nine. Dumon
was not so bad as she was painted
r He found that the Nine. Dumont b
: had referred to was infamous. but dis
covered that there was another Nine
T Dumont in Paris. a lady much esteem
ed. Both women had lived In New
Orleans; hence the mistake. Thi
: lady's acquaintance he made withou
r4,vooIipez bipaenIr aAI e. -