Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-07-17

nour OF noon he groaned He knew
his betrothed had locked him in. but
did not know that she had intended to
fight III his place Had he even suppress
ed this he would have we'll nigh gone
mad.
Presently. hearing step in the hall
| he listened intently. hoping for re-
lease and that he would not be too late
to keep his appointment The door was
unlocked and he was about to push
out into the corridor when he was
stopped by man. wh5 said:
Ihe cardinal desires your presence
at the palace"
Durant quailed. He could face death
IKE gentleman and soldier. but to
De executed in cold blood was not to
MS liking, and he did not doubt that
he would suffer the execution Of a
feion. AS he accompanied the messen-
ger to the palace he wondered if the
girl ne loved could have given away
the secret of the meeting. No; she had
locked him up to prevent his being
killed by De la Tour. She surely would
not TURN him over to another fate far
mcrs terrible. He was wondering how
the secret could have got out and
whether there was any hope for him
when he and the messenger entered
the palace. He was taken to cham
Der, where he was placed in charge of
a guard and notice of his arrival sent
to the cardinal.
Presently an attendant came for him
and led him to another apartment, and
as he entered by one door he saw De
la Tour ushered in by another. The
cardinal sat in an armchair at one side,
and near him stood Mile Remercier in
mans apparel. The two duelists adj
vanced and bowed to the cardinal But
what was most astonishing were a
headsman's block and ak at one end of
the ROOM There was no executioner
present, but the culprits expected to
see him enter at any moment.
Gentlemen" said the minister, you
are doubtless aware of the recent edict
against dueling, and. having conspired
to disobey 1t. your lives are forfeited"
Both men bowed low.
II have decided. however, to permit
this meeting and to witness it myself.
There is an unfairness about these
duels which in this one hope to coun-
teract. You. Captain de la Tour. are
accounted the best swordsman in
France. You. Lieutenant Durant. l
learn. are one of the poorest. To enable
you to fight equitably I have decided
that you shall continue the contest till
one kills the other. He who remains
alive will be dispatched by the heads
man."
But, your eminence." interposed the
informant, deathly pale, you promised
me that their lives should be spared"
"And my promise is not broken by
this disposition. But for you both of
them would be ordered to execution at
once. l cannot conceive more noble
part than that you have acted. Since
in this realm a practice exists by which
an expert swordsman may kill one who
is practically defenseless you were
about to suffer death to save the un-
skilled combatant Failing in this.
knowing that l alone had power to
prevent this injustice. you informed
me Of it, but not till you had received
my promise that the combatants should
not be punished by death. 1t is not my
intention to punish either of them for
disobeying the edict. but to render the
affair between them perfectly equita-
BILE. Gentlemen. there is ample room
for you on the floor of this apartment.
Take your positions and an attendant
will hand you your weapons"
AS the cardinal spoke the last words
the men were given rapiers. and at the
same time door opened. and masked
man in tight fitting garments entered,
went to the block. took up the AK and
stood ready for duty. The duelists.
who understood that this was mere
subterfuge of the crafty cardinal to
keep his promise to Mile. Remercier in
the letter and break it in the spirit
and that one was to execute the other
and the headsman the victor. stood
facing each other, awaiting signal to
begin the combat. They had been
friends. and their quarrel had been in
luSll cups. ANGlCuCI ulU Tue lululCSl
remembrance of it's cause. Realizing
that they were about to die. they step
ped forward and embraced each other
Meanwhile Mile. Remercier had
thrown herself at the feet If the cardi-
nal 20 beg for their lives. Her back
being turned to the combatants and
her head bowed. she did not see the
embrace. The cardinal raised her and
turned her toward them.
Look" he said. The affair is end
ed the way would have all such af-
fairs ended-in a reconciliation. Cen
tlemen. put away your swords. If you
supposed Richelieu to be so crafty as
thus to break his word to one whose
life is demanded by the kings well
fare perhaps you are right. but you
wrong him If you think he could act
such part toward this noble girl.
You. Captain de la Tour. go to your
quarters and be assured that ii you
offend again that masked person yon-
der will 500 that Won do NOT offend a