Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-02-22
MAsHINGToN STANDARD
A DUEL IN THE
OLDEN TIME
Original |

fort is more beautiful than Mile. de
I.afayetteY'
Il maintain that Mile. de Houtefort
Is far more beautiful than Mile. de
Lafayette"
Every we'll There" And the first
speaker drew his glove gently across
the face of the second.
Gentlemen" said n youth standing
by. II wish to be one of the seconds In
this meeting"
"Bah-a STRIPPING like YOU
you know of the cardinals edict
and remember the execution of the
Count de Bouteville and his second for
fighting a duel. Well, If you don't ac-
cept my services l will inform on you,
and you will go to the Bastille instead
OF to the dueling ground"
Put him on the list"
This was preliminary to one Of thou
sands Of duels so prevalent In France
In the early part of the seventeenth
century. Indeed. they were so preva-
lent. SO fatal, that Cardinal Richelieu,
virtual ruler. fearing all the gentlemen
in the kingdom would be killed, pro-
mulgated an edict against dueling and
when it was broken by De Bouteville
Of the famous family Of Montmorenci
made an example of him at the block
Neither Of the speakers, two officers Of
the army. cared anything for the
beauty Of the two young women men-
toned, the one the deposed, the other
the incoming. favorite OF the king.
They simply wished a pretext.
The youth was a cadet, CASTOR Re
nadot, who had Just entered the army
and was affected by the dueling craze.
He went straight to his sweetheart,
Mile. LeOnora de Rueil, a girl of sew
enteen, and told with great delight and
pride that he was to be second at Q
duel. which at the time meant that in
all probability he would fight the same
rs his principal and, fighting, would
either kill or be killed by his adversary.
Now. Mile. de Rueil was at an age,
seventeen, when love Is liable to alb
sorb girls very existence. 1t was so
with her. To lose her lover she dread
ed far more than losing her life. She
paled at his announcement, but, recov-
ering herself. pretended to rejoice with
him. The thought of his retiring from
the affair did not once occur to her, for
she knew that he had far better die
than suffer the odlum such a course
would involve. Besides, she knew 1t
would be impossible to persuade him
to desist.
"When does the meeting occur" she
asked.
Tonight at o'clock. We fight by
the light Of torches In the wood near
the bridge two miles up the Seine. The
cardinal has spoiled open meetings."
Every well: let US have a parting cup
together"
She went for wine and, returning.
urged her lover to drink. One bottle
after another was brought ON until the
clock struck IL: then Renadot en-
braced the girl and staggered away.
At the door he was seized by two serv-
ants belonging to the house, bound and
gagged and carried to an upper room.
At o'clock the two principals to the
duel and their seconds were on the
ground except CASTOR Renadot. They
stood waiting in the glare Of torches
held by attendants. Presently a coach
was driven up. and Renadot. masked.
stepped out.
pardon my delay, gentlemen" he
said. II have met with a detention.
My sweetheart strove to keep me-"
"Why are you masked"
ITO enable you all to say you did
not see me here. The lady has gone to
the cardinal to procure my temporary
arrest. l would advise beginning at
once. or we may suffer an Interrupt
ton"
The advice was needed, and the prin-
cipals fell to with rapiers. 1t was not
long before two of the seconds entered
the fray, then two others and at last
the third pair. One Of the principals
and two of the seconds were killed.
The rest were severely or slightly
wounded, Renadot among the latter.
As soon as the affair had ended he
entered his carriage and was driven
away to the house Of the De Rueils.
Reaching 1t, he entered and climbed to
the room where he had been taken by
the servants. Entering, there were
two Renadots He who entered threw
away his mask and stood before the
other as Mile. de Rueil.
Els it you who have disgraced me?
Here, run your sword through my
heart"
Il have not disgraced you. You
know how my father has taught me
to fence. Well. I went to- the dueling
ground as you. only I wore my broth
er's clothes. They asked why I was
masked. and told them a pretty story
Of your sweetheart having reported
your intention at the Palais Cardinal.
VIZ OSSVAOo WSA0 OOOA Cu8o8COS !
against an awkward fellow. whom I
disarmed and gave him his life. All
Paris will be talking tomorrow Of your
magnanimity."
II shall tell all Paris how I have
been treated" moaned the boy.
"And get laughed at for your pains"
The young man thought intently for
. few moments and then asked:
And no one suspects that you in
stead Of foughtT
mo. and no one will know It unless
you tell"
His face wore a curious expression
- he stepped forward and embraced
her. ANNIE STONE SYKES.
They Didn't Tally.
THAT society newspaper published
some very dattering remarks about
me-" began Miss Devane.
"Yes," replied her best friend; but
It was horrid Of the editor to 60 and
spoil 1t In the way he did"
"Spoil 1t, indeed! Why. he said I
was beautiful belle Of the younger
set and
eyes, and then he put your photo