Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-08-29
The Cardinal S
Edict
Il Was but Lamely Enforced
TIL an Example Was Set
By F. A. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

+ Copyright by american Press Asso-
| + citation, 1911. II
frs-si-i-s-s-s-s-s-i-s-s-i-s-i-si-ss-ii-siissssss
Cardinal Richelieu while prime min
lister was virtually king Of France.
During his administration dueling be-
came so common among the higher
classes, especially the officers Of the
army, that 1t was evident II the prac-
tice were not checked these two classes
would become depleted. The cardinal
issued an order against such fighting.
but 1t was not obeyed. In order to
show that he was In earnest In the
matter he made an example Of the
Count de Bouteville. member OF the
exalted house Of Montmorenci. who
had disobeyed the edjct. The count
was beheaded. This had a wholesome
effect, but not sufficient to eradicate
the evil.
There was at this time young lieu
tenant in the army, Jean de 10 Tour.
married to won. lovely young wOm-
an of twenty-four, who had borne him
two children. Jean was poor swords
man, and his wife realized that If COM
PEELED to fight according to the code
she would probably lose him. She
urged him to practice. and when he
excused himself on the ground that he
had no one to fence with she offered
to be his opponent.
Jean was much pleased at the idea.
and hts wife at once procured q suita-
BILE costume. She was about the same
height and weight as her husband. and
1t was apparent from the first that she
would make a very suitable adversary
for practice purposes. While DE la
Tour was naturally sluggish In his
movements. madame was remarkably
quick. He started III Us her instructor.
but 1t was not long before he was
worsted by his pupil.
Bat Yvon knew very well that she
was not capable Of bringing him up
to standard that would make him a
match for accomplished swordsmen.
Unknown to her husband. she took les
sons of the most skillful fencing mas
ter in Paris, pledging him to keep the
matter secret. He had good rea-
son to observe his pledge. for his pupil
soon became more proficient in his art
than himself.
The inevitable was not long in COM
ing. Jean de la Tour one day, during
drill, stepped In a puddle Of water and
bespattered comrades newly polish
ed boots. Yvon 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 10 Tour returned to bis
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. Yvon 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
In the door and his wife going down
the staircase. He was prisoner.
In q few minutes Francois came up
and told his master that Nine. de la
Tour desired that her husband should
remain In seclusion for few days.
and she hoped be would not worry.
He would be given whatever he wish
ed for. De Ia Tour, at loss to know
the cause Of his Imprisonment. was
thunderstruck.
Mime. de la Tour, returning to Paris,
sent word In the name Of her husband
that In view of the cardinals order
he would only meet Lieutenant de
Fontayne on the promise Of all con-
cerned not to divulge the affair and
would insist on fighting masked.
A 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. In
reply to this word was sent that De
la Tour, fearing a second might be-
tray him to the prime minister. would
trust no one with his interests. He
would appear at dawn the next morn
ing ut the village Of ", few miles
from Paris. ready to fight De Fon-
tayne with rapiers. The reason given
| for this unusual course was that De
| la Tour was more afraid OF losing his
life by the cardinals ak than De Fon-
tayne's sword. An assent to this was
received by Nine. de la Tour. and the
preliminaries were closed.
The next morning Yvon. dressed In
suit of clothes belonging to her
husband. was driven to ", arriving
on the ground just as day was break
ing. She found not only De Fontayne
but two seconds attending him.
Pardon. monsieur" said one OF
these men. "but 1t Is not usual for az
fairs like this to be fought out alone
by the principals. Since you have nc
seconds. in case you disable Lieuten
ant de Fontayne 1t is expected that
you will fight with me. and If you dis
able me you will have to fight my
confrere"
Yvon. not daring to speak lest he'd
voice betray her. simply nodded an as
sent. She wore her husbands rapiel
at her side and. rawing 1t. put herself
In a position Of defense.
Now, Nine. de In Tour, though she
expected to meet skillful .swordsmen
knew that II she showed her own pro
ficiency she would give herself away
for these men all knew that De Ia Toul
was a bungler Being q woman. a
first her nerve failed her, and she came
very near losing her life by a slngl'
thrust Of her adversary. The though
| of her two innocent children. wh'
would be rendered m0theriess II sh'
did not control herself. made her per
fectly cool. aud. though she did not d