Putnam patriot., 1911-08-25
The Cardinal S
 Edict
l. Was but Lamely Enforced TiH an Example Was Set
By F. A. MITCHELL
,.ovrisht by American Press Asso- citation, 1911.


 csrdinal Richelieu while prime min .,a, was, virtually king of France nrripg his administration dueiing be-
 ma so common among the higher .,.sses, especially the officers of the army, that it was evident if the prac- .,.n were not checked these two classes 1.'rls l.ecome depleted. The cardinal ,ssned an order against such fighting, -. # WAS not obeyed. In order to .sorr that he was in earnest in the ~.,,er he made an example of the ,,opnt de Bouteyille. member of the .rolted house of Montmorenci. who sod disobeyed the edict. The count
 ..s babpaded. This had wholesome asact but not sufficient to eradicate tbe evil.
 There was at this time a young lieu ..nonf in the army. Jean de la Tour. a,orried to Won. a lovely young wom- ., of twenty four. who had borne him .,,ro children. Jean was poor swords man and bis wife realized that if con- DalIpd to fight according to the code lho would probably lose him. She ,rqed him to practice. and when he o1cused himself on the ground that he had no one to fence with she offered te be bis opponent.
 loan was much pleased at the idea. and his wife at once procured a suita- ble costume. She was about the same hsight and weight as her husband, and ii was apparent from the first that she ,vonld make very suitable adversary far practice purposes. While De Ia Tour was naturally sluggish in his movements. madame was remarkably oniek. He started ill as her instructor. but if was not lone before he was vorsted by his pupil.
 Byt Won knew very well that she WAS not capable of bringing him up ta 4 standard that would make him 8 match for accomplished swordsmen Unknown to her husband. she took les sons of the most slillful fencing mas ter in Paris, pledging him to keep the matter secret. He had good req son to observe his pledge. for his pupil soon became more proficient in his art than himself.
 Tue inevitable was not long in com ing. Jean de Ia Tour one day. during drill, stepped in puddle of water and besnattered q comrades newly polish ed boots. Won was in her chamber, engaged with her maternal duties. when an officer called and asked for her husband She told her caller that Jean was not at home. and the officer left with her challenge for him from Lieutenant Jacques de Fontayne to mortal combat for having bespattered his boots. Madame promised to deliver the message. and the officer withdrew
 When De la Tour returned to his quarters his wife asked him to drive with her to their country place near Paris to assist her in laying out some changes she wished to make. Jean consented. and the two drove to a house and grounds near St Cloud. Jean was surprised to see several servants there. including Francois. whom his wife had brought with her from her own family when she was married. Won took her husband to a room on the top story. with but one window near the ceiling. and, while telling him of the change she proposed to make in it. suddenly stepped into the hall Jean heard the key turned iD the door and his wife going down the staircase. He was q prisoner.
 h few minutes Francois came up and told his master that Mme. de la Tour desired that her husband should remain in seclusion for .a ifew days. and she hoped he would not worry. He would be given whatever he wish cd for. De la Tour. at a, loss to rhnow the cause of his Imprisonment. was thunderstruck.
 Mme. de La Tour. returning to a'aFis, sent word iD the name of her husband that in View of the cardinals order he would only meet Iieutenant de fontayne on the promise of all con eerned not to divulge the affair and would insist on fighting masked.
 4 reply came consenting to the Terms and asking that De la Tour would name his seconds in order that the terms might be agreed upon. ID reply 10 this word was sent that De Ia Tour fearing a second might be fray him 10 the prime minister. would rust no one with his interests lie would appear at dawn the next morn Ing at the village of V.. few miles rom Paris. ready to fight De Fon- jayne with rapiers. The reason gwen Tor this unusual course was that De Ia Tour was more afraid of losing hls hfe by the cardinals ax than De Fon- tavnes sword An assent to this was received by Mme. de la Tour. and the pfellmlnaries were closed
 The next morning Won, dressed in suit of clothes belonging to her hhsband. was driven to ". arriving oh he ground just as day was break ilg She found not only De Fontayne' pat two seconds attending him.
 fardon. monsieur" said one ol these men, but it is not usual for af- .aifs like this to be fought out alone oy the principals. Since you have no seconds, in case you disable Lieuten- ahf de Fontayne it is expected thai you will fight with me. and if you dis. que me you will have to fight my eonfrere..
 iSon. not daring to speak lest hFf