Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-31

might be further lrrltated. Before the
day was done he had decided on his
course. He wrote her as follows:
1t is not by receiving your fire ruy dear
sir, that can atone for my fault, but by
hunting down the perpetrator OF this scan
dal. ! received Il from woman and am
confident IL originated IN woman II
within three months do not hrinl; You
retraction from Its originator Z viii not
deny you the satisfaction YOU demand. I
shall look for your reply at the same hour
tomorrow.
The next afternoon Thihadeaux
watched Miss Lemoinc'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. I'm pleased to notice
that the third finger is unOccupied."
The note had evidently been written
in an exuberanCe Of delight and was
consequently a dead give away.
Your proposition Is accepted You have
shown yourself TO be a noble man. II l
were a woman I'm sure l should fall In
love with you.
Thank you" remarked Thibadeaux.
That's exactly what l wish you TO
do"
After writing one more note. stating
that he was leaving for New Orleans
and hoped within the specified time
10 bring the vindicntion. he made
ready for his departure.
But two Of the three months had
ELAPSED when Miss Lemoinc received
the following note from the man who
was to quash the SANDER or fight:
hand you herewith an acknowledg-
ment from Miss LemoInes traducer that
there was no truth in the story she cir
cuIated. I am sorry. however. 20 admit.
my dear sir. that your good opinion or
me expressed in a letter written before
my departure was misplaced 1 acquired
this retra elton by dishonorabie means.
made love 10 the woman who wrote II.
accused her OF r1isr representing the facts
IN this case and agreed TO forgive her
only upon her written confession. am
yours unworthny.
CHARLES =. THTBADEAUX.
Having dispatched this self accusing
epiStlc. the writer waited impatiently
for reply. 1t was this:
assure you. sir. that by your conduct
you have not only relieved me and the
subject OF tho confession OF burden. but
YOU nave snow II AOAleflls upl - lAAlF tAllNllth
your own opinion OF your act. too honor
able too lovely. for anything Your De
Ception was perfectly eXcusaole. l shnl.
always respect and admire you for II. II
ia needless for me to add that nay chal-
lenEe Is withdrawn.
Thibadeaux chuckled over this letter
with its manllke beginning and its
feminine ending. He was anxious 20
get glimpse OF this lady who had sent
him n challenge to mortal combat and
thus declared that she respected and
admired him for an act upon which hi
sensitive conscience was not quite
clear So ne wrote another note. beg
ging that he might meet Mr.. Renard
and apologize in person for the wrong
he had done IN reporting a SANDER.
Thibadeaux had resided In Charles
ton but a few days before receiving
the challenge, and after sending Il 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 young girl,
whether comely or homely. Therefore
he was much relieved and pleased At
receiving a note that Mr.. Renard would
be happy 10 receive "A call from Mr..
ThibadeauT on the next afternoon at
O'Clock" They could drink cup Of tea
together. and Mr. Renard could express
his sense e obligation 10 Mr.. Thihu
deaux for tine viudicatlon he had pro
cured
Since Mr.. ThibadoauK never dram
anything weaker than wine. the Offer
of tea was not as alluriDg as the IN
ticipatpd vision Of the woman who had
brought about the approaching &c
quaintance by proposing 20 Kill hin
on the appointed afternoon he callc'
on MIR Reua-d and sent in his card
He had prepared himself TO feign
surprise on seeing woman instead o:
a man, bur when the queenly Marga-
ret came into the room there was no
need of pretense The spleudor Of her
presence quite took his breath away
u did not dream you would be 50
beautiful" he exclaimed
What" CHE replied. starting. Did
you know me to be a womanT'
Not TIL | saw n ring sparkle on the
hand that dropped the challenge. For
heavens sake. what did you mean hy
taking such a coursef'
Il meant TO fight you disguised as
man"
"If you hid made no better pretense
n mans clothes thai in writing
mans letter you would not have de
.ciycJ me"
did | give myself away In that
She asked. colJring.
"CaTtafrly' II y-as first ynur hand
hen YOUR heart that gave you away.
Wen do not write with the same feel
ny az women"
"'AIl's veil that ends Well" she
aid, smiling.
a few months later Charles Thiba.
ieauZ slipped On the third finger of
lar left hand the ring ne mad prom
ssd himself be would put there