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

1t ceased entirely.
A few minutes after 10 the door was
thrown open by servant, and the
lady stepped Into the apartment. Every
man rose.
The woman who was entitled to q
place among these duelists was about
twenty-five years old, of medium
height. a willowy figure and very dark
hair and eyes. She wore a cloak,
which she handed to the servant who
had admitted her. 1t was evident that
she had been beautiful and that her
beauty had been lost by sorrow, for
her face bore unmistakable signs OF
having suffered. She advanced to the
vacant chair at the end of the table
opposite the host, and as she seated
herself the others resumed their chairs.
Meanwhile the expression on the
counts face changed to one of serious
and eager curiosity. He was the first
naturally the first since he was the
last-to speak.
Your face is familiar to me, madam.
May ask whore have met you?"
The answer came icy cold:
"On the field. It's to my encounter
with you that | am entitled to the
honor of Il place among you here"
Pardon me; have never fought a
woman"
You fought one you thought to be
beardless boy. l was that boy"
The count started. y slight pallor
overspread lis face. The woman con
tinued:
The duel you fought before that,
count, was with my husband the day
after our marriage. offered my for
tune to any man who would Kill YOU.
One tried to oblige me. but lost his
life in doing so. Then felt that it
was my own time to act. Personatlng
the brother of this man who tried to
avenge me, challenged you and was
carried off the field, as it was sup
posed, mortally wounded"
There was a pause. The clock on
the mantel licked loudly in the other
wise silent room. Then the woman
continued:
LAS you see, l recovered. l was plan
| ming further effort to punish you for
| your many crimes when | heard that
| you were about to retire from the duel
! ing field. l secured an invitation hero
in order that you might grace your re-
tirement with one more victim. have
proposition"
The count continued to stare at his
| only woman guest, but did not speak.
Gentlemen" continued the lady. 81
have no formal challenge for our host.
| simply request that we be furnished
| with pistols and that some one of your
| number will give us a signal. We can
do so as we sit and with a large num-
! Der Of expert witnesses to see fair
play"
! No one spoke for a few moments:
then the man on the hosts right said:
Gentlemen. you hear the lady's prop
osition. 1t seems TO me that we are
in honor bound to accord her the oppor-
tunity she asks provided our host con-
sents to her terms"
II will not fight a woman" said the
| count, almost with a groan.
You shall fight woman" said the
lady, cor l will post you as a coward
! all over the capital"
All iOOhNu lON dlu lHC NOhIl. IL
seemed that he read the hand of fate
! in the coming of this woman whose
! life he had wrecked. He sat irreso-
| lutte, as II trying to make up his mind
! what to do, whether to sacrifice her
or himself. There were too many wit
nesses for him to act any other part
| than that Of n man. He could not kill
a woman before them, especially one
! he had so injured. If he did not kill
her she would kill him. He must ac-
| cept one or the other of these alterna-
tiveS.
Come count" said his friend on
his right. what is your decision?"
Bring the pistols" be replied in a
scarcely audible voice.
| A smile OF triumph lighted the face
/ of his adversary.
| One of the guests who was to stand
as second In an affair to come Off in
the early morning had case of duel
ing pistols within reach. They were.
brought. The count appointed one Of
his guests to act for him, and the lady
| appointed another to act for her.
But such action was superfiuouS.
| The count knew that he was doomed
and 1t mattered not whether he was
or was not properly served. AS for
the lady. she cared not for her life
provided she could XII the man who
had slain her husband almost ut the
/ very bridal.
The pistols having been examined.
| one was handed to the count. the
other to the lady. One of the guests
rose from his chair holding hand
kerchief in his hand.
"Are you rendy?" he asked.
Ready" said the lady I'm a firm
voice.
The count gave the speaker look
to signify that he was ready.
The handkerchief futtered to the
table. A single shot rang out The
count fell dead His weapon had neti
been discharged.