The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-23

ing that they. would succeed as they had done always. His rage rose al- most to frenzy, therefore, when they returned bleeding. maimed and tremb- ling to report that Captain Fracasse was aL satan who had the strength of a dozen men.
 sYot are no better than so many calvesp' screamed the infuriated Duke. "Qet to your kennels hounds! I made A fine mistake when I rescued you from the galleys and the gallows be- lievinS that you were brave rascais.
 De kigogfiac returned home pleased with his battle. but not content with his victory. The actor had been aveng- e6, but the gentleman was not. Tie could not resist the voice that urged him to chastise the Duke in person.
 Among the noblement in Politiers ne had seen one whose estates ad1oined the poor remnants that belonged 10 the De Sigognacs. With quick deter imitation the Barone sought this man inc Nearrino de Bruyerns, and told his story. "You can vouch for my family and rank" said he. Will you carrs a challenge from me? The Marquis not only agreed readily but offered himself as his young neign- bor's second. De Sfgognac returned to his rooms and took his fathers sword from its case. Its beautiful Huish biaoe
  with the name of the most. celebrated apmorer of Tolsso. He kissed 1t and tested 1t, bending it nearly double. It bore the fierce trial faithfully. The Duke made no difficulty about ac- cepting the challenge when the Marquis vouched for the idenity of the man known as Captain Fracasse. They met next morning. and yaAAambreuse was astonished to find that De Sigognac was Co PQ- tired, though the young Baron's life had been, he had learned swordman- ship from an old retainer, who was one of the best in his day, and De Sigognac though he believed himself still pupil was we'll prepared to meet even as ac- complished dueiist as the Duke. vallombreuse became bewiijered as he tried attack after attack. trick after trick, without success, His failure made him angry He laid himself open and escaped only by throwing him. self violently backward.
 ExAsperated, he tried a thrust taught by Neapolitan master of fence. Never before had 1t failed. This time it did De Sigognac's sword gieamed like a thin tongue of blue lightning. and transfixed the Dukes sword arm. pass ing clear through 1t.
 The blood-letting did not improve
 
 cried in rage when he lay in bed at home. "that the contemplate lean stork who has flown from his old chateau to avoid starvation should have dared to pick 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 diedi"
 His friends tired in vain to console him. He suspected sneers and exulta- ton beneath their polite mien. His mor- tihcation was increased by the news that all Poitiers was talking of the de- feat that had come to him at, the hands of an actor. Though every body Knew that his adyersary must be a man of rank. no one knew liis real name and it maJe the proud Duke writhe when Ing to the theatre to see the Captain Fracasse who had vanquished the fa- nous swordsman.
 Meantime Captain F'racasse walked as if on clouds. In her first fright when she heard Of the duel. Isabelle had betrayed her love for him If. was wonderful revelation to the young man. whose ignorance of women was such that he had not dared to hope that his own passionate love for her might be returned some day. He kneeled be- fore her and begged her to marry him.
 'No," said Isbeile, weeping. You are the last of a noble race ad 1t Is your duty to build up your fallen house. If you made me your wife, you would be taunted some day with my stage ca resr.g e k
 All his pleading was in vain. Her resolution could not be shaken. De- Sigognac was dismayed, but only for . time. Then he tired, vowing 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 a race like his to take an actress to the halls of his fathers. But a greater and nobler emotion drove out the ingrained pre- judices of birth and breeding. He de- termined to give up all thought of rank rather than to lose her
 The success of the company was so great in Poitiera that the actors de- parted reluctantly, but they discovered that the Duke had hired men to ab- duet Isabelle, and the honest, good hearted creatures cheerfully sacrificed their bright hopes of profit to save their admired young protegee.
 After Poitiers disappeared behind them 1t seemed as if they had shaken off the pursuit of the vindictive and dangerous nobleman but when they entered Paris they found that Vallom- breuse had arrived before them and that they were in the midst of plots
 De Sigognac discovered that ill-fa- vored fellows haunted the hotel He re- mained awake that night, with his sword ready. in a room near that oc- cupied by Isabelle. When he heard footsteps approaching her door he staKted out to see four villianous ruff fans in front of it. At sight of him with his bright szword they rushed away In panic, but not before he had recoR- nlzed some of the desporadoes who had attacked him in Poitiers
 The next day De Sigognae was nearly embroiled in a sudden fight that sprang into being mysteriously when he en- tered a narrow. crowded street. He escaped the danger only to run into an- other, when Vallombreuse's coach charged Into the street and straight on him. Again he succeeded in avoid Ing the immident danger.
 The Duke of Vallombreuse was an- noyed, but not at all discouraged. His little failures only put him on his met tie. Resolved not to trust his own chicken hearted bravos, a again,. he hired a famous sworder and stabber, Jac- quehim Lampourde, who boasted that he had never met his match or missed his blow. T am a maH-slaying Hon." Lampourde was accustomed to boast, "and will kill any man. provided he Is fellow who will defend himself I cannot bear 6 coward. It Is like sticking 0 pig. It disgusts me-"
 You may rest easy on that score" said the Dukes efnissary. "In Captain