The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-05-19
HER LOVER.

JULIUS oJuSSSIlO NdS DULL w "oAA
1adouncr. one of the most beautiful mi
refined girls in Lyons. One night ats
cafe chantant he rebuked Achille Emaux,
q professional duelist, for interrupting q
singer and publicly derided him as q cad
and q reviler of ladies. A duel was In
stantly arranged to take place next morn
ing.
Mile. Jadouner was In the theater with
her uncle and witnessed the incident.
Jules, whom she loved with her whole
heart and soul, would be u corpse before
another day had passed. That was TIE
one thought that filed her brain, and for
q time in her distress and agony she was
almost demented. But by degrees she
forced herself to be calm. At whatever
cost her lover must be saved. Half an
hour before midnight, when her mother
had retired, she quietly stole out and made
her way as furtively as a thief to Emaux's
residence.
He had not returned, and she was oblig-
ed to wait. It was nearly 1 { o'clock when
the bravo came in, humming a funeral
march, as was his custom on the eve Of
duel.
"Good evening, mademoiselle. " he said
as she rose on his entrance. "This Is an
unexpected pleasure, though I regret to
say I do not recognize you, and my man
did not catch your name. Pray be seated,
~mademoiselle, and tell me what I can do
for you"
She obeyed, and he seated himself oppo-
site her. She was trembling and CULVER
ing, and her throat was SO dry that she
could scarcely speak. But at the sight Of
him sitting there, gay, careless and smil-
ing, and yet to be in a few hours the
butcher of her beloved, d tempest of pas
sion shook her, and her tongue was loosed.
Monsieur" she cried, rising again,
you are Infamous, a beast-nay. chat Is
an insult to the poor beasts! I loathe you'll
You defle the EARTH Pahl you smell
of blood! Even a beast is merciful at
times, but you-you-you'-
Emaux was utterly taken by surprise,
but he still preserved an unrufled front.
"Mademoiselle, he said, ''you are very
good to come at this hour to pay me COM
pliments. What have I done to deserve
themP" - "
"Donel' she cried. "What are you
about to do, houndf Jules Souvestre is my
betrothed, and you insult and intend to
murder him. It shall not be, SAY. See,
I will fight you In his stead. Get pistols,
and we will stand on either side the room.
I have insulte6 you. I insult you again.
You are viler than any living creature
Gomez ..
A steely glitter came in his eyes, but hs
still smiled.
81 am truly sorry for you, mademoiselle.
But that dog insulted me publicly, and
well, we fight at dawn"
"Instlted you? He could not, monsieur.
But you shall fight me. Get pistols at
once, If you are not q coward"
He still smiled. r.,4
~ do not fight women, mademoiselle-I
love them. I am truly sorry, but unless
you car persuade him to an apology as
public as the insult there is nothing more
to be said. It is late, mademoiselle. I
will see you out" .
'SYou shall fight me, ruf1anl"
he shook his head, with an amused
smile. "Mademoiselle's best weapon Ia
her tongue, and that fortunately does not
kill"
She looked at him with terrified eyes.
"Do you mean to kill him, monsieur"
"Yes," he said CURLY.
She fell back into the chair with q
| bGIduRl6u CEy, uOIIOE LIZ ~ Oycos w.
moment she sat thus, then she flung her.
self on her knees at his feet. =
Monsieur" she cried, shave pity,
have pityI I love him. Monsieur, you
will kill both Of usi Pity, pityl" she
gasped.
"Rise, mademoiselle, I bog Of you" he
said. "You have just told me I have no
pity" o..
"Haye you no heart, MONSIEUR" she
moaned. =
"None when q man has publicly INSULT
Ell me. And" he went on in q cynical
tone, "who knows but I may do made-
moiselle q favor. Men swear their vows
as lovers, but they soon forget them. I
may possibly save mademoiselle from .
life Of misery"
She flushed In momentary heat at that.
"You do not know him., she cried.
"His love is as great as the SEA. Can you
exhaust the scar Has your heart never
known love, MONSIEUR" q.
He frowned. 1t recalled q time ten
years before.
"Ah, I see it hasl" she said quickly
"By that love, monsieur, have pity. You
shall have my gratitude and prayers every
day. As long as I live I shall remember
you and ask mercy for you, even as You
had mercy Oh me-" ... ....
he did not answer, but gazed on her
beautiful, pleading face. 1t was a girl q
little younger than this one and quite as
beautiful who had died ten years ago, and
all good influences had died with her.
"You have overcome, mademoisene." he
said. HE shall live for your sake"
"You will spare him2"
"Be comforted, mademoiselle. I meant
to kill him, but he shall live. We shall
fight at dawn, but he shall not die. Come
mademoiselle, it is time you were gone
Shall I see you safely homer"
"No, no." she cried as be led her to tho
door. "You will keep your oath, mon
sieur-you will not forgets"
mo, mademoiselle, and you will not
forget your prayersf" he said. with a little
laugh. "If you are right, I need them.
Good night and fear nothing"
But she did fear. When she reached
home, 1t seemed to her almost impossible
to believe that a man with such a ruthless
reputation would forbear to kill the man
who had insulted him.
She went to bed, but she could not rest
and soon got up again and toward s
o'clock stole toward the spot where the
duel would take place.
From behind a shrubbery, in what state
of mind may be imagined, she saw both
parties arrive on the field, she saw the
formalities gone through, but she lost con-
seriousness for q minute when they stood
pistol in hand facing one another.
When she recovered and could raise her
eyes, the doctor was binding up the arm OF
her lover. Emaux's bullet had Inflicted q