The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-23


 looking up Quite carried away. the Duke tried to adjust patch on her cheek. Isa- belle shrank away, terrified at his ef frontery. He pressed nearer. Then hls arm was seized from behind in clutch that held him immovable. He turned and looked into the masked face of Captain Fracasse.
 "Mademoiselle is In no need of assist anoe from you" said the actor calmly and relaxed his grip as Isabelle vanished.
 The Duke grasped the hilt of his sword but dropped it again immediately. You lmpertinent scoundrell" said he 'I will have every bone in your body broken with cudgels by my lackeys'
 Captain Fracasse looked disdaintully at the nobleman and turned on his heel. Be- side himself with fury. Vallombreuss hastened away and sent for four braves who were in his pay. Beat him with cudgels tonight" said he, '.til he is in sensible, but be careful not to kill him outright Cry with every blow, This from the Duke of Vallombreuser
 The Duke waited impatiently for the re- turn of his ruffians never doubting that they would succeed as they had done al- ways. His rage rose almost to frenzy. therefore, when they returned bleeding, maimed and trembling to report that Cap tain Fracasse was a Satan who had the strength of a dozen men.
 You are no better than so many calvesl9 screamed the infurated Duke. fn del fine mistake when l rescued you from the galleys and the gallows believing that you were brave rascals.'
 De Sigognac returned home pleased with his battle but not content with his vic- tory. The actor had been avenged but the gentleman was not. He could not resist the voice that urged him to chastise the Duke in person.
 Among the noblemen in Poitiers he had seen one whose estate adJoined the pocr remnants that belonged to the De sigog- nacs. With quick determination the Baron sought this man, the Marquis de Bruyeres. and told his story. You can vouch for my family and rank" said he. Will you carry a challenge from me?'
 The Marquis not only agreed readily, but offered himself as his young neigh bor's second. De sigognac returned to his rooms and took his fathers sword from it's case. It's beautiful bluish blade was marked in faint gold characters with the name of the most celebrated armorer of Toledo. He kissed it and tested 1t, bend ing 1t nearly double. It bore the fierce trial faithfully.
 The Duke made no difficulty about ac- cepung the challenge when the Marquis vouched for the identity of the man known as Captain Fracasse. They met next morning and Vallombreuse was as- tonished to find that De Sigognac was not easy prey. The fact was that, retired though the young Baron's life had been, he had learned swordsmanship from an old retainer. who was one of the best in his day, and De Sigognac, though he believed himself still a pupil was well prepared to meet even so accomplished a duelist as the Duke.
 Vallombreuse became bewildered as Re tried attack after attack. trick after trick, without success. His failure made him angry. He laid himself open
  violently backward.
 Exasperated, he tried thrust taught | by a Neapolitan master of fence. Never | before had 1t failed. This time 1t did. l De sigognae's sword gleamed like | thin tongue of blue lightning, and | transhxed the Dukes sword arm, pass ing clear through 1t.
 
 Vallombreuse's temper. ITO think. he | cried in rage when he lay in bed at l home that the contemptible lean stork | who has flown from his old oh hateau to | avoid starvation should have dared to | stick his long bill Into me! Into me, | who have conquered the best men in | France and never got so much as a scratch while my adversary always | bled or died'
 His friends tried in vain to console him. He suspected sneers and exulta- tion beneath their polite mien. His modification was increased by the news that all Poitiers was talking of the de- feat that had come to him at the hands i of an actor. Though everybody knew y rank, no one knew his real name, and 1t made the proud Duke writhe when he learned that all Poitiers was flock ing to the theatre to see the Captain Fracasse who had vanquished the fa- nous swordsman
 Meantime Captain Fracasse walked as | if on clouds In her first fright when she heard of the duel Isabelle had be- derful revelation to the young man, whose ignorance of women was such that he had not dared to hope that l his own passionate love for her might | fore her and begged her to marry him.
 "No," said Isabelle, weeping. You are the last of a noble race and it is your duty to build up your fallen house. If l you made me your wife, you would be taunted some day with my stage ca reer."
 All his pleading was in vain. Her res olution could not be shaken De Sig ognac was dismayed, but only for | time Then he retired yoWing that since she loved him. he would make her his before long.
 The voice of caste and heredity spoke, telling him that Isabelle was right and that 1t did not become one of race like his to take an actress to the halls of his fathers. But a |