Democratic messenger., 1911-12-02
picked up the note and. returning TO
his room, read it:

done WITH impunity. therefore insist on
satisfaction
Thihld,aux after much thought
threw the note down. saying to him
self:
"The satisfaction will give you.
dear lady. II ! find yon as attractive
as my Imagination paints you. is an
other ring 10 lie worn on the third
finger OF your left hand"
The young man mused on, consider
ing every possible method OF pro-
ccdure. At first he was inclined to
meet his challenger on the field and
there make II known that he knew
her sex. But he feared that she
might he further irritated. Before the
day was done he had decided on his
course. lie wrote her as follows:
II is not hv receiving your FIRE. my dear
sir. that can atone for my fault. but by
hunting down the porpetrator OF this scan
dal l received II from woman and am
confident Il originated In woman. II
within three months do not bring you a
retraction from lis originator | Will not
deny you the satisfaction you demand. I
shall look for your reply at the same hour
tomorrow.
The next afternoon Thibadcaux
watched Miss I.cmoine's window
through 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 rcmarscd 10 himself with
satisfaction. I'm pleased to notice
that the third tin..rr Is unoccupied.'
The note In evidently been written
In an exuEcgancc Of delight and was
consequently II dead give away.
Your proposl ion is accepted You have
shown youicaif o be n noble man II |
were wo.aan I'm sure | should fall In
love with YOU
THANK you." remarked Thibadeaux.
'.That's exactly what | 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 10 quash the SANDER or fight:
hand you herewith an acknowledge
ment from Miss Lemoines traducer that
there was no truth In the story she cir
culated. am sorry. however, to admit,
my dear sir that your good opinion or
me expressed In n letter written before
my departure was misplaced. / acquired
this retraction by dishonorable means. !
made love TO tie woman who wrote IL.
accused her Of misrepresenting the facts
In this case and agreed TO forgive her
only upon her written confession. l am
yours unworihily.
CHARLES +. THIBADEAUX.
Having dispatched this self accusing
cpistle. the writer waited impatiently
for reply. II was this:
assure you. sir that by your conduct
you have no: only relieved me and the
subject Of the confession OF a 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. ! shall
always respect and admire you for 1t. II
lengc Il withdrawn
Thibadeaux chuckled over this letter
with its manlite beginning and its
feminine ending. He was anxious to
get .-iiinps" of this lady who had sent
him challenge to mortal combat and
thus declared that she respected and
admired him for IN act upon which his
IN
clear. So he wrote another note. beg
ging that he might meet Mr.. Renarl
and apologize In person for the wrong
he had done in reporting n slander.
Thihadeaux had resided in Charles
ton hut 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 rs 10 whether she were
an aged splasier or young girl,
whether ccincly or homcly. Therefore
he was much relieved and pleased at
receiving nor that Mr. Renard would
"bc happy to receive call from Mr..
Thibadeaux on the next afternoon at .
o'clock" They cou'd drink cup Of tea
together. and MI kcnard could express
his sense Of obligation TO Mr.. Thlha.
lcaux for the vindication he had pro
cured.
Since MIR. Thibadeaux never drank
anything weaker than wine. the offer
of tea WIS not as alluring as the an.
ticipated vision of the woman who had
brought about the approaching ac-
quaintancc by proposing 10 kill him.
On the appointed afternoon he called
on Mr.. Renard and sent in his card.
lie had prepared himself TO feign
surprise on seeing woman instead Of
man. hut when the queenly Marga-
ret came into the room there was no
need of pre,ersc. The splendor Of her
presence qu.,e took his breath away