The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-02-01
THE PRICE or A FAN.
Love Story Of the Days Before
the War Of Rebellion.

With tho abolition OF slavery the
cavalier type OF tho higher classes In
the south has passed away, IL Ia i'm.
possible Cor us who live M this com.
merelal age to understand how much
OF tho cavalier spirit at that time rc'
mained, though II ilckered like can
die before going out,
II was III The fltties that Ielolse
ThihadeauS. young creole OF Lou.
islana. while attending garden party
In New Orleans lost fan that some
one OF her ancestors had received as u
mark OF favor from the king Of France,
A diligont search was made. but the
fan was not recovered. Miss Thlha,
deaux was very much exercised over
the loss and In moment OF impulse
said to several gentlemen who stood
about her discussing tho probable
whereabouts OF the fan. II will give
to whoever finds It'll win give
"Yourselfg" asked one OF the men,
"Yes. and my fortune"
The words were no sooner uttered
than the lady regretted them as fool
lsh. Besides. In those times they were
more liable to DO taken seriously than
they would now b., and lady would
feel II to be moro incumbent upon her
to stand by them. The man who had
made the suggestion, Albert Mason,
was a suitor OF hers-a suitor she had
no intention Of acccptlng--and among
the men In the group was Henry Du
Pont. whom she felt very much In
clined to accept. The reason she had
not done so was because he had not
asked her. and 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
oil on Miss Thihadeaux. she. supposine
he had come to bring her fan, met him
with throbbing heart. When he fall
ed to speak Of the matter. she said I'm.
patiently:
"My fan-~has II been found?"
''lt will be found" he replied son
tentlously.
A servant entered with the fan aud
= note from Mason saying: II claim
the first part OF the reward The soc
ond. your fortune. do not claim"
Miss Thibadeaux was yexed HAY
Ing done one foolish thing. she proceed
ed to REINFORCE 1t by doing another.
Il will give myself" she said exelt
edly. ito the man who win prevent my
having to break and yet not keep my
promise"
And. them 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 shalt receive the
reward. and 1t shall be given willing
iy."
II was the averted face rather than
the words that gave him her meaning
He understood II 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 Misa
Thlbadeanx In the matter OF her fanY'
Mason looked surprised. What IL
that to you?" he asked.
This: saw Miss Thlbadeaux drop
her fan and saw you pick II up, You
had II when you suggested the re
ward"
Mason paled Il certainly shall not
cannot-forc Miss Thlbadeaux to keep
her promise" he said
"You should release her from H."
THAT suggestion should come from
her"
'She is just the person 1t should not
come from"
"And suppose ! refusef"
II shall make known the fact that
you have taken an unfair, advantage
Of lady"
Have you witnessesT
"None that know Of"
Then 1t Is your word against mine
But 1t Is not necessary that the lady
should be brought into the affair. You
have accused me of a dlshonorable act.
l 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 80 to Miss Thlbadeaux with
your accusation against me-"
This was equivalent to saying that
Du Pont would be prevented, for Ma
son had been out several times and
had always killed his man. The ac
cusation would die with the accuser
The next morning at sunrise the two
principals were being placed at
point short distance up the Missls-
sippi under the levee when a clatter
Of hoofs was heard, and Miss Thiba
deaux. mounted, dashed In between
them.
Gentlemen" she said, II know