Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-09-08
WOMAN DUEL|ST.
BY HAROLD OTIS.


when dueling was not only more COM
mon but more serious there than now,
prepared the way for the killing of
many men by teaching his art to the
Parisians. 1t was generally under
stood that a pupil Of Serane was sure
to kill his man. If his lessons were
really so valuable it must have been
partly owing to a special confidence
given the pupil and a corresponding
loss Of nerve on the part Of the oppo-
nent. At any rate, those whom Serane
had taught usually had little trouble
in settling their disputes without re-
course to the foil.
One evening Serane was sauntering
down the boulevard and on reaching
the opera concluded to go in and at
tend the performance. One of the
singers on the stage was a woman
named Maupin. Though she was not
singing an important part, Serane's
gaze was constantly fixed upon her
Why one woman's personnel will ap-
peal to one man when another woman
is the chief attraction for other men
is an insoluble problem. We only know
that the fact exists. In Maupin, Sc
rane saw that which appealed to him
strongly. At the close of the perform
ance he sent his card to her and re-
ceived an invitation TO call upon her
behind the scenes.
IN. Serane," she said as soon
as he appeared. Il deem myself for
tunate in your desiring to make my
acquaintance. You are we'll known to
me by reputation as a splendid teacher
of fencing, and l wish you to give me
lessons"
Serane found the singer as fascinat-
ing in the greenroom as on the stage
She was young, fairly good looking,
and about her was certain abandon
which when not too pronounced is at
tractive to men. Serane fell desperate
~ in love with her, and she permitted
him to love her in order that she
might get out Of him all the skill in
fencing he was capable of imparting.
She was an apt pupil and, taught by
a lover, became the most skillful fencer
that had ever been turned out from
his academy.
No sooner had Maupin acquired the
art than she began to attract atten-
ton as a duelist At first her affairs
with the sword leaked out as mere
rumors. One report was that young
nobieman who had been devoted to
her had fallen by her hand; that, dis
guised in mems apparel, she had in
suited him and killed him without his
knowing of her identity. Again it was
rumored that she had fought and killed
another woman. That she was apply
ing her skill in affairs of this kind
there was no doubt, though some that
were attributed to her had no founda-
ton in fact.
She liked to have Serane with her
both on account Of his devotion and
because his presence gave her addi-
tional eclat as a swordswoman. But
he came to understand that she craved
blood or the excitement Of taking 1t,
and he endeavored to dissuade her
from her course.
One night Serane and Maupin were
dancing at a students ball in the
Latin quarter when Maupin jostled
the belle Of the evening, and upon the
girls looking at her resentfully Maui
pin was rude to her. The insulted
girl was dancing with an intimate
friend Of Serane, Gustav Grammont
Grammont, supported by two other
men, ordered Maupin to leave the
room. She said that she would do so
provided they would go with her. They
did so, and before morning she had
killed them all.
Serane in this affair refused to sup
port Maupin Indeed. she was obliged
to call on another man to act as her
second The day after she had killed
Grammont and the others Serane re
ceived a note from her accusing him
of cowardice in having deserted her In
the hour Of need and challenging him
to mortal combat. Stung to the quick
by her ingratitude, he sent hasty
reply accepting the challenge.
The man who had been a lover and
had taught the object Of his love to
kill people, filed with a mad remorse,
resolved to kill her, thus Furnishing her
and stopping her career Of bloodshed.
They met in his academy. the doors
of which had been bolted and the win
dows screened. Maupin stepped out
on to the floor with as much composure
as a mother would administer food to
a babe. She looked at Serane with a
stony stare and said:
"Serane's pupils always kill their
opponents"
There can be no doubt but the wom-
an said this to fill her antagonist with
a superstitious dread that would take
away his nerve If it had any such
effect, Serane gave no evidence of it..
A revulsion of feeling had come over
him. Had this not occurred, had he
opposed Maupin as a lover. as she had
presumed he would, there would have
been no chance for him. AS 1t was it
was fair fight between them.
But with Serane in full possession Of
his faculties there could not be a fair
fight between them. AS soon as Maui
pin saw that she had lost her power
over him she knew that, if he chose,
her punishment had come. The mo-
ment they crossed swords she saw in
Serane's eyes not only determination
to kill her if he could. but a perfect
confidence of being able to do so.
Singularly enough, this woman who
had conquered men with mems weap,
ons no sooner discovered that her wom-
anly influence over the man who had
furnished hor with bar OOTvar had
ceased than every particle of her con-
fidence deserted her. She gave her
opponent a mute look Of appeal. He
answered 1t with o sword thrust to
the heart.
The Hammerstein educational opera
..I..s,. tI,., 1,a11s.ic InL.ors