Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-02-03

this his twelfth adversary or the cir
cumStance OF that adversary's fighting
TO avenge his brother or some super
stition no one knew, but Mennerzek
showed an extreme distaste for killing
the boy, intending to pink him. But
the youth fought so desperately that
the count was finally obliged to run
him through to save his own life. The
youth did not die, but it was said that
he would never recover from his
wound.
All these facts and encounters were
the talk of Vienna. and never was
there so much interest manifested in
any function as "the immortal's" ban
quet celebrating his retirement from
the field in which he had so long held
the most conspicuous place. For two
months the committee examined Gre
deutials. Among the applicants was
one woman, She had been out only
once, but claimed that for woman to
light duel with n man was equivalent
to the record of the immortal" him
self. She declined To appear before
the committee. but sent certificate
Of Il physician who had attended hcI
after her encounter in which she had
been wounded. The committee. all OF
whom We're gallant gentlemen, unaIi
mously voted to admit the applicant.
When the evening for the banquet
arrived Count Mennerzeli received his
guests IN an anteroom communicating
with the banquet hall. lie looked
about as If for some one and said:
But l have been told that | am to
entertain lady. don't see her"
"She wrote, count" said one Of the
invitation committee, that since
woman would be out Of place among
so many men she would merely APP
pear for few minutes after coffee
is served"
The host led the way into the ban
quet room and stood at his seat at the
head of the table fianked by man on
his right who bad fought the next
greatest number of duels-thirteen-
and on his left by one who had fought
the next number-eleven. The others
were arranged in accordance with
their records. One seat was not oc-
cupied-that at the end of the table
opposite the count. 1t was reserved for
the lady.
For three hours there was the hum
of conversation, naturally about the
encounters of the conversers. while
the popping of corks represented those
contests wherein pistols or rifles had
been used. In several cases men met
men who had been aGversaries. 1t
was singular to hear them discuss in
a friendly way combats I'm which they
had tried to kill each other. Then
there were those who had fought and
had never been reconcied. Despite
the injunction of the host that every
man should be every other mans
friend some of these glared at one an
other as though they would like to so
out again and settle their quarrel. One
couple attempted to leave the room
for such a purpose. but found them
selves locked in. The count had fore
seen that the meeting of so many men
who had so often fought might kindle
anew some smoldering fame and had
taken the necessary precautions.
Coffee had been brought on and had
been drunk and still the one guest
in whom was felt more interest than
in all the rest together did not appear.
Mennerzek, whose spirits were at the
highest, called out to the committee
man who had told him the lady would
join them at coffee to know why she
did not appear.
81 told her. count" was the reply,
"that | could not name the exact time
coffee would be served, but I thought
it would be at II o'clock. She will
be here at that hour"
There was something In this fight
ing woman connected with the witch
ing hour of night that added to the
zest of her expected entrance. A clock
resting on a mantel over a broad fire.