Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-02-13
IMPULSE
[Original.1


possible for us who live In this com
mercial age to understand how much
of the cavalier spirit at that time re-
NAMED though 1t fiickered like can
die before going out.
1t was in the tfties that Helolse
Thbadeaux. II young creole OF Lou
lsiana. while attending garden party
in New Orleans lost a fan that some
one of her ancestors had received as q
mark of favor from the king of France,
A diligent search was made, but the
fan was not. recovered. Miss Thiba-
deaux. was very much exercised over
the loss AMI in a moment of impulse
said to several gentlemen who stood
about her discussing the probable
whereabouts of the fan, 81 will give
to whoever finds It'll will give
"Yoursclf?" asked one of the men.
Yes, and my fortune"
The words were no sooner uttered
than the lady regretted them as fool
ish. Besides, in those times they were
more liable to be taken seriously than
they would now be, and lady would
feel 1t to be more incumbent upon her
to stand by them. The man who had
made the suggestion. Albert Mason,
was Il sutton of hers-a sutton she had
no intention of accepting-and among
the men in the group was Henry Du
Pont. whom she felt very much in
clned to accept. The reason she had
not done SO was because he had not
asked her, md the reason he had not
asked her was because she owned by
Inheritance several sugar plantations,
while he was poor Possibly she had
fallen in with Mason's suggestion In
order to give Du Pont chance to win
her by finding her fan. There would
at least be an exciting rival search be-
tween him and Mason.
When the next evening Du Pont call
ed on Miss Thlbadeaux, she, supposing
he had come to bring her fan, met him
with throbbing heart. When he fail
ed to speak of the matter she said i'm
patiently:
"My fan--has it been foundf"
at will be found" he replied SEN
tentiously.
A servant entered with the fan and
a note from Mason saying: Il claim
the first part Of the reward. The sec
ond, your fortune. do not claim"
Miss Thibadeaux was vexed. Hav-
ing done one foolish thing. she proceed
ed to reinforce it by doing another.
81 will give myself" she said excit-
edly, Ito the man who will prevent my
having to break and yet not keep my
promise"
And then" said Du Pont, you will
give yourself to the man who will en-
able you to break honorably with the
new winner"
''rhe next winner shall receive the
reward. and it shall be given willing
ly"
1t was the averted face rather than
the words that gave him her meaning.
lie understood it perfectly, but with
out word OF reply left her and went
to the rooms of Albert Mason.
Mason" he said. you certainly are
not going to take an advantage of Miss
in the matter of her fan"
Mason looked surprised. what is
that to you?" he asked.
"rhis: saw Miss Thbadeaux drop
her fan and saw you pick it up. You
had it when you suggested the re-
ward"
Mason pa,ed Il certainly shall not
cannot force Miss Thibadeaux to keep
her promise he said.
you should release her from it."
THAT suggestion should come from
her"
"She is just the person it should not
come from.
And suppose refuseW
IL shall make known the fact that
you have taken an unfair advantage
Of lady"
Have you witnesscs?"
None that | know Of"
Then it is your word against mine.
But it is not necessary that the lady
should be brought into the affair. Yon
have accused me of dishOnorable act
suppose you will not refuse me salts
faction
Certainly not"
Very well. after we have settled the
matter between ourselves you are at
liberty to 90 TO Miss Thibadeaux with
-FOUR accusation against me-
This was equivalent to saying that
Du Pont would be prevented. for Ma
son had been out several times and
lad always killed his man. The ac-
would die With the accuser.
The next morning at sunrise the two
principals were being placed at a
point short distance up the Missis-
,ippi under the ievee when clatter
If hoOfs was heard, and Miss Thiba-
leaux. mounted. dashed in between
hem.
Gentlemen she said, Il know
as to the cause of this af-
'air; can infer something. and of the
est am ignorant. Last night lady
zane to me and said that she had seen
you, Mr.. Mason, pick up my fan soon
after had dropped It,"
There was silence for a moment
Then she continued;
IF this affair has to do with the
inding of my fan beg that it be dis
Mason handed his pistol to second
md, making q low bow to the lady,
went to his carriage. Then the party
returning to the city, Du
Point walking beside Miss Thlbadeaux,
who in the nick of time had saved
him from almost certain death.
Mason left New Orleans never to re-
urn. He was killed on the Confed
crate side during the civil war. Du
Point received the promised reward,
he hand of Miss Thlbadeaux.
SILVIA LEWIS BALDWIN.