El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-27
BY viggo Toepfer-


kbTTIs grace, the MARQUIS of Ronda.
FL regrets that it is impossible
= for him to receive the lieu
tenant in person, but hopes to have the
pleasure of paying his compliments to
YOU at the banquet tonight.
What banquet?"
His grace celebrates his birthday
today. and according to his usual GUS
tom he has invited all his neighbors
and their ladies to the castle tonight.
please give my compliments to the
marquis and tell him 1 shall be de-
lighted to come as soon as 1 have re-
moved the dust of travel from my uni
form and made myself look as decent
as oossibbIe under the circumstances.
at will return for you in an hour,
then. if it suits you, lieutenant, SAID
the marquqis' majordomo, and lett the
room with a deep bow
Jieutenant Louis de Ballette Of En-
peror Napoleon's Hussars. en- route
from Rayonne to Madrid in command OF
reenforcements of 100 troopers, was
delighted with the magnificent room
placed at his disposal by Marquis de
Ronda. who had also begun TO dress
and when he had finished he picked up
the gift he had received from his IL
ancee. when about to leave France.
If was a small double barreled pistol OF
excellent workmanship
ePromise me to carry it always, IT
NAV come in handy some time, An
toinette had said, when she handed II
20 him. and he readily gave the prom
Use Having seen that both barrelS
were loaded, he now put 1t into MS
pocket.
a few moments later the majordomo
returned and through endless corridors
he conducted the French officer into
large hall full of ladies and gentlemen
dressed in the picturesque costumes OF
the Spanish country aristocracy. "A
tai dark gentleman introduced himself
to the lieutenant as marquis de Ronda
cave him the tips of his fingers and
asked him to follow him into the ad-
| Joining dining hall. Here he was CIV
| en- the place of honor opposite the hosi
and found the most beautiful Of all the
ladies' present seated at his right She
received his first words with such an
expression of unspeakable contempt
that there was nothing left for him &C
do after that but TO ignore heI pts
ence absolutely.
He had not chosen his own seat, and
was thus not responsible for their
meeting.
Rut not only his neighbor, at the ia
BILE the whole company stared at MIN
| with unconcealed hatred and contempt
! en- he concentrated his whole attention
] on the excellent dishes and choice wines
and was just about to raise his glass OF
| champagne to his LIPS, when his host
who had been staring at him for some
| time. leaned across the table and asked
! .eWell. senior, how do you like my sim
pie little dinner?"
-.It is excellent, marquis. l have sell
dom enjoyed a better dinner than to-
night"
AZ am delighted to hear it, and hope
| YOU will do justice to my table, 1ol
who knows if you will have any chance
! Of ever enjoying such a meal again
/ Lieutenant de Ballette expressed the
/ conviction that he would. for among
his friends in Paris were many gour-
NETS who set an excellent table. bu
the marquis said with a malicious
smile:
Il do not know, senior. if you have
heard that Gen. Xavier Nina has barred
| the road from here to Madrid
~ never heard of any Gen. Xavier
Nina" the lieutenant replied. but
know of a bandit of that name, and i
he has dared bar the road am sure
the soldiers of the emperor Will soor
| drive him off,
you think so, Senior" A contemptu
Gus smile played about the marquis
| Inns what do you think will harper
| to Xavier Nina if he falls into thu
hands of your comrades?"
| arJa Mill he nlaced before cOur