Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-11-07

shall look for your reply at the same hour
tomorrow.
The next afternoon Thibadeaux
watched Miss Lemoine's window
through a pair Of glasses and saw the
hand much more clearly than before.
This time the note was thrown by the
left hand.
"Not married and not engaged" the
watcher remarked to himself with
satisfaction. "Im pleased to notice
that the third finger Is unoccupied."
The note had evidently been written
in an exuberance Of delight and was
consequently dead give away.
Your proposition is accepted. You have
shown yourself to be noble man. II
were q woman I'm sure I should fall IN
love with you.
"Thank you," remarked Thibadeau1.
That's exactly what I wish you to
do"
After writing one more note, stating
that he was leaving for New Orleans
and hoped within the specified time
to bring the vindication, he made
ready for his departure.
But two of the three months had
elapsed when Miss Lemoine received
the following note from the man who
was to quash the slander or fight:
hand you herewith an acknowledge
ment from Miss Lemoine's traducer that
there was no truth In the story she cir
culated. I am sorry, however, to admit,
my dear sir, that your good opinion OF
me expressed In letter written before
my departure was misplaced. / acquired
this retraction by dishonorable means
made love to the woman who wrote II,
accused her Of misrepresenting the facts
In this case and agreed to forgive her
only upon her written confession. am
yours unworthily.
CHARLES F. THIBADEAUX.
Having dispatched this self accusing
epistle, the writer waited impatienty
for reply. 1t was this:
assure you. sir, that by your conduct
YOU have not only relieved me and the
subject of the confession Of burden, but
you have shown yourself. notwithstanding
your own opinion Of your act, too honor-
able, too lovely, for anything. Your de-
ception was perfectly excusable. l snail
always respect and admire you for 1t. II
Is needless for me to add that my chal-
lenge Is withdrawn.
Thibadeaux chuckled over this letter
with its manlike beginning and Its
feminine ending. he was anxious to
get glimpse of this lady who had sent
him challenge to mortal combat and
thus declared that she respected and
admired him for an act upon which his
sensitive conscience was not quite
clear. So he wrote another note, beg
ging that he might meet Mr.. Renard
and apologize in person for the wrong
he had done in reporting slander.
Thlbadeaux had resided In Charles
ton but q few days before receiving
the challenge, and after sending 1t Miss
Lemoine had kept herself very dark.
Then he had left Charleston, and upon
his return his enemy had gone again
into hiding. Consequently he was still
In ignorance as to whether she were
an aged spinster or q young girl,
whether comely or homely. Therefore
he was much relieved and pleased at
receiving note that Mr.. Renard would
"be happy to receive call from Mr..
Thibadeaux on the next afternoon at Q
o'clock" They could drink cup Of tea
together, and Mr.. Renard could express
his sense Of obligation to Mr.. Thiba.
deaux for the vindication he had pro-
cured.
Since Mr.. Thibadeaux never drank
anything weaker than wine, the offer
of tea was not as alluring as tho an
ticipated vision Of the woman who had
brought about the approaching 'ac-
quaintance by proposing to kill him
On the appointed afternoon he called
on Mr.. Renard and sent In his card.
He had prepared himself to feign
surprise on seeing q woman instead OF
q man, but when the queenly Marga-
ret came into the room there was no
need of pretense. The splendor Of her
presence quite took his breath away.
"I did not dream you would be SO
beautiful" he exclaimed.
what" she replied, starting. Did
YOU know me to be woman|
"Not till saw ring sparkle on the
hand that dropped the challenge. For
heavens sake, what did you mean by
taking such q course?"
81 meant to fight you disguised as a
man."
eff you had made no better pretense
| IN mans clothes than in writing q
mans letter you would not have de
ceived me-"
"Did I give myself away IN thatT'
she asked, coloring.
Certainly! 1t was first your hand
then your heart, that gave you away
Men do not write with the same feel
ing as women"
"Alls well that ends we'll" she
said, smiling.
A few months Later Charles Thiba'
deaux slipped on the third finger OF
herreft hand the ring ne mad prom,
ised himself he would put there.