Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-08-22

VI WOluuu tcAI uupSoC0SGCo " oSA
husband"
A brief silence marked this throwing
down the gauntlet, after which the
lady turned the conversation into 9TH
er channels. A few minutes later Ge-
thart bowed himself out. and the bar.
oness indicated to Manteufel that she
would prefer to be alone. As soon as
he had gone she called In q manserv.
ant and said to him:
"Heinrich. have a very delicate job
for you"
What is 1t, baronessT
"Count Gethart and Captain Manteu-
fel are about to fight a duel u wish
you to inform me as to the time and
place of the meeting"
II could not well do that, baroness.
except that the valet Of Count Won
Gethart is my friend. This may help
me out"
AT IL midnight Baron von Hilder
schoff returned and found bis wife
waiting to greet him.
"Well." he said after exhausting or
dinary matters that had occurred dur
ing his absence, ''how about this Won
Gethart? Has he been offensive In his
attentionsT
"Not at all. but your friend Captain
Manteufel has been more loyal to you
during your absence than has been
necessary"
"How so?"
"He evidently knows that you don't
like the count and has assumed to
keep him away from me-"
$50"
Eyes. They met here this evening.
Manteufel insulted Won Gethart. and
they are going to fight"
"So?" repeated the baron. opening
his eyes very wide.
"Yes. The affair will be the talk OF
Berlin"
"Great heavenr' exclaimed the bar.
on.
1--WE must interfere"
"HowT
T have sent Heinrich to discover
the time and place. am expecting
him back every moment"
"Himmel. may be be successful"
It was 2 o'clock when Heinrich re-
turned. and all he knew was that a
carriage had been ordered by Count
Won Gethart to be at his door at 4
o'clock in the morning. But this was
not enough. The baron and his wife
ordered their own carriage to be ready
at half past 8. drove to point near
the counts residence. saw him leav"
and followed him to grove near
the city. where his carriage stopped
and he and q companion alighted
Another carriage had Just arrived The
baron and baroness alighted some dis
tance from the others. The day war
breaking when they saw two men tai
ing positions for duel. Then they ad
vanced.
Gentlemen" cried the baron. "will
you kindly inform me as to the cause
Of this quarrel"
Both men. astonished. stood mute.
II have been informed by the bar
oness," continued Won Hilderschof
"that there has been trouble between
you two. If my wife has anything to
do with 1t beg you to put up your
swords. Neither Of you need be con
cerned about her. alone assume to
defend her."
Both the men addressed looked as II
they wished the earth would open and
swallow them. but 1t was Manteufel
who seemed especially crushed He
had gone on the field believing that
he was protecting his friends wife
but cherished hope that knowledge
Of the quarrel might never reach his
friend.
"Gentlemen." said the baroness with
a certain sweetness that never de
serted her. 1--WE should be pleased to
see you both at dinner this evening"
"You are very kind. butt began the
count.
"Really. baroness. you must eX
cuse"- began the captain. But the
lady simply put them both in the po'
sition Of being ungallant II they de-
clined. and both gave reluctant ac'
ceptance.
The party left the field in the con
veyances by which they had come.
After a brief nap the baron. at his
wife's request. called upon Gethart
and Manteufel and persuaded them to
meet as friends at her house.
Something of this may leak out
he said. land II you two men NEE,
ut dinner under my roof the story will
be nipped in the bud"
This was IN argument that struck
home with both the men addressed.
and in the evening they met ut the
dinner under at least the guise OF or
dinary friendliness.
The next day the baroness sent Cap
tain Manteufel the letters he had
written her during her husbands alb
sence. and. reading them over. he was
astonished to see that he had shown
every evidence Of jealousy and infat.
uation for his charge.