The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-01-10
SAVED HER LOVER.

! SA tGD hIlC AO'V GAts
Jules S,uvestre was soon to marry MllA
Ladouner, one of the most beautiful and
refined gtrls In Lyons. One night at .
cafe chantant he rebuked Achille Emaux,
0 professional dueliss. for interrupting .
Singer and publicly derided him as cad
and a reviler of ladies'. A duel was in
stantly arranged to take place next morn
ing.
Mile. Ladouner was IN the theater with
her unole and witnessed the incident.
Jules, whom she loved with her whole
heart and soul, would be corpse before
another day had passed. That was the
one thought that filed her brain, and for
q time In her distress and agony she was
almost demented. But by degrees she
forced herself to be calm. At whatever
cost her lover must be saved. Half an
hour before midnight, when her mothse
had retired, she quietly stole out and made
her way as furtively as thief to Emaux's
residence
he had not returned, and she was oblig.
cd to wait. II was nearly O'Clock when
the bravo came In, humming funeral
march, az was his custom on the eve OF Q
duel.
"Good evening, mademoiselle, he said
as she rose on his entrance. "This Is an
unexpected pleasure, though regret to
say I do not recognize you, and my man
did not catch your name. Pray be seated,
mademoiselle, and tell me what I oan do
tor you"
She obeyed, and he seated himself oppo-
site her. She was trembling and CULVER
ing, and her throat was 30 dry that she
could scarcely speak. But. at the sight Of
him sitting there, gay, careless and groil-
Ing, and yet to be in q few hours the
butcher of her beloved, q tempest Of pas.
sion shook her, and her tongue was loosed
"Monsieur," she cried, rising again,
"you are Infamous beast-nay. chat 10
an insult to the poor beastsi loathe you'll
You defle the earthl Pahl you smell
of bloodi Even beast Is merciful q
dimes, but tyou---you-you"-
Emaux was utterly taken by surprise,
but he still preserved an unrufhed 'front.'. :,
"Mademoiselle, he said, "you arc very
good to come at this hour to pay me COM
pliments. What have done to desaxvo
thems"
"DoneP' shs cried. "What are you
about to do, houndi Jules Souvestrs ismy
betrothed, and you insult and intsnd 70
murder him: It shall not be, say. See,
will fight you in his stead. Get pistols,
and we will stand on either side the room.
have insulted you. insult you again.
You are viler than any living efeaturo
Gomez
A steely glitter came in his eyes, but be
still smiled. ...,-.....-
81 am truly sorry for you, mademoisslla
But that dog insulted me publicly, and
we'll, we fight at dawn" ~
"Insulted your Eecould not, monsieur.
But you shall fight me. Get pistols at
snoe, II you are not coward" .,
He still amiled. ... t =.
II do not fight women, mademoiselie-1
love them. am truly sorry, but unless
You can persuade him to an apology a.
public as the insult there is nothing moro
to be said. 1t 10 Late, naademoiselle. ]
will see You out" -
"You shall fight me, rufaanp
He shook his head, with an amused
smile. "Mademoiselle's best weapon 10
her tongue, and that fortunately does not
kill"
She looked at him with terrified eyes.
"Do you mean to kill him, monsieuIs"
"Yes" he said curtly. :.
She fell back into the chair with .
strangled CRY. horror in her eyes. For .
moment she sat thus, then she flung her-
self on her knees at his feet. :, l..
"Monsieur," she Dried, "have pity,
have pityl I love HIM. Monsieur, you
will Kill both Of us! Pity, pityp" shs
gasped. ~, \..
"Rise, mademoiselle, bog Of you," he
said. "You have just told mo have no
pity" N '.....
''Have you no heart, monsisws'' shs
moaned. =. ..-
'None when Q man has publicly insult
cd me. And" he went ON in q cynical
tone, "who knows but I may do made
moiselle favor. Men swear their vows
ns lovers, but thoy soon forget them. !
may possibly save mademoisalle from .
life of misery" ~. -. -
She flushed In momentary heat at that
"You do not know him, she cried
''His love is as great as the sea Gan you
exhaust the seap Has your heart never
known love, monsieuri" ,r~%+..
He frowned 1t recalled O. time tan
years before. c-
"Ah, I see. 1t hasI" she said quickly.
'tBy that love, monsieur, have pity. YEA
shall have my gratitude and prayers every
day. As long as live I shall remember
you and ask mercy for you, even a. you
had mercy on me-"
He did not answer. but gazed ON her
beautiful, pleading face. It was girl .
little younger than this one and quite a.
beautiful who had died ten years ago, and
all good influences had died with her.
"You have overcome, nademoisaile. ne
said. He shall live for your saka"
"You will spare himH
"Be comforted, mademoisells. meant
10 kill him, but he shall live. We shall
fight at dawn, but he shall not die. Coma
msdemoiselle, 10 Is time you were gone
Shall see you ssfely homer"
'No, no." she cried as he led her 10 the
door. "You win keep your oath, mon.
sieur-you will NOT forgett"
mo, msdemoiselle, and you will net
forget your prayers'" he said, with little
laugh. III you are right, need thsm.
Good night and fear nothing"
But she did fear. When she reached
home, 1t seemed to her almost impossible
TO believe that q man with such ruthless
reputation would forbear to kill the Iaan
who had insultsd him.
She went to bed, but she could not rest
and soon got up again and toward 3
o'clock stole toward the spot where the
duel would take place.
From behind shrubbery, in what state