Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-09-05
TIE Case Of
Nine. Dumonf.
[Original.]

den inclosed in one of those high
walls with which the antebellum peo-
pie of New Orleans were used to sur
round the rear parts of their dwellings.
Fabian Marchand had just returned
from Paris and was telling his friend,
Edgar Brossian, of the French capital.
Il say there" he said, "a very beau
tiful woman, Nine. Dumont. Though
she was middle aged, she had more
attention than most Of the young girls.
But there was a special reason for
this besides her beauty"
certainly it could not have been n
d~iscreditable reason. Nine. Dumont
has lived in New Orleans, and we new
er had q more respected woman in So
ciety here"
what she may have been here l
do not know; what she is in Paris l
do know. If she had a good reputa-
ton, she has lost it"
A smothered exclamation came from
an upper window of a house extending
back into ar 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 a moment his eyes were fixed
on Marchand; then he disappeared
from the window.
"Great h%eavens!" cried Brossian.
what is IT'D" asked the other eager
~. "Who is he?"
"Ernest Dumont."
IA relativeT
"Her son. Let us go In"
mo; l will wait here. In addition
to the pain I 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:
II am the bearer of q 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 a long
while with the young man in the hope
that amends might be made. But In
such q case amends are impossible. A
meeting between the two principals
was arranged for the next morning in
a 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
word was given to advance and fire
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 a 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 If his enemy
would fight or stand up to be killed,
and when Informed that he would act
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. 1t
was a doubt that Marchand's words
were false, a doubt that when it once
fastened itself upon the sons brain he
could not shake it off.
One day-tt was some months after
Marchand's departure = Dumont re-
ceived a note from his mother, who
was a widow, that she was in New
Orleans and wished him to come to
her. For a time he refused, but since
she was gently persistent he finally
consented to an interview. When he
was ushered into the room where his
mother received him he was astonish-
ed to see Marchand with her.
"The tables are turned said Mar
chand. Il am o your mothers de
fender. There were two Nine. Du-
monts III Paris. l did not know that
there was but one. 1 have made every
reparation in my power"
els this to comfort me, or is it the
truth?" asked the young man. trem.
bling.
"That / have perfect. confidence iii
your mothers purity l ask your con-
sent that she shall become my wife,"
The young man stood staring at the
pair. Nine. Dumont made no motion.
Presently her son staggered forward,
and she caught him in her arms.
Fabian Marchand as soon as he had