Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1913-06-13
THE FORCEOF
CONSCIENCE
By DONALD CHAMBERLAIN

Il
| This man Veilners. ! understand.
eleventh notch he has made on bis
| stick"
"What vietim1"
'"This time It is q countryman Of
yours-one Arthur Whitney,"
Arthur Whitney,
This brief dialogue occurred In Paris
between Partisan and South Caro-
linian named Louis Glenwood The
time was before the middle of the nine
teenth century. when dueling was more
common than now throughout the
world and far more in earnest In
France. where a semblance Of the Gus
tom still fingers. Glenwood had no
especial acquaintance with Whitney,
| only knowing him as the afflanced hus
band Of Muriel Ellison, an American
girl whom he. Glenwood, secretly
adored
Some one must stop these murders"
he said with intense emotion.
'.That cannot b DONE" replied the
other: AT least, not in any ordinary
way-not by the duel. because Veilliers
Is SO skilled in all weapons that he can
defeat any antagonist There is but
through his nerve II one could find
way to break through that Veilliers'
skill would not be available"
A few days later Veilliers was din.
ing at cafe on the Champs Elysees
when a man entered who attracted at
donic look he wore on his face. He
strobe straight toward the table where
Veilliers was sitting and deliberately
slapped him on the cheek.
Veilliers. who had noticed the man,
looked up into the face of one whom
he had never seen before and whose
expression startled him.
What means this insult monsieur7'
he asked. II do not know that have
any quarrel with you"
you are used, monsieur." said the
other, ITO offer these insults. ! choose
W VACA kAAS VAA0 NY BULL
"Who are your"
II am the united embodiment Of an
your victims, and have come to make
you my victim"
While the speakers eyes showed DIFF
ferent emotions. his face retained the
same invariable sardonic expression.
VERY well, monsieur" he said
"Will You kindly refer me to any friend
Of yours who will receive a message
from me in your behalf"
Friend? Are not we-those you
have killed-La Tour. Desmoulins.
| MERCER. La Rogue and the others, in
GLIDING your last victim. the American
all my seconds1 Come, monsieur; have
arranged for a private room in the fenc-
ing academy Of N. Neydieu. Let N
proceed there"
BET there Is the selection Of weap-
oos, besides other terms TO be settled
A tho challenged party you have the
right to choose
''Termsi Weaponsl Do the dead
need to dispute about such things3
They are for you to decide. not uA"
''Us9"
''Yes; you are to light a representa-
tive, not an Individual But we will
not waste worda Come: let Us be or
veilliers rose, and the stranger slip
ped his arm through that OF his an
tagonist keeping his face turned to-
ward him all the while. veilliers
shook him OF, but the stranger walked
beside him, those who had been dining
with the latter following, to the fenc.
ing academy. where they were shown
into a private room Veilliers chose
| foils, and the tight began.
BY this time the duellst showed signs
| Of unsteadiness. The strangers con-
,dence, his indifference a. to terms
and weapons, his talk about represent
ing veilIiers' victims. and. above all.
his sardonic smile. had produced an
effect. The duelist, az soon a. be be-
gan to fence. strove not to look at his
opponent But he must keep his eye on
that Of his antagonist and ~ could
not do this without thu smile being
constantly before him Indeed, DO
what b would u drew his dght from
that feature on watching which his
life depended The unknown, observ'
ing this, waited till his snemy's gaze
was diverted. then made quick lunge
and ran him through the breast
The next morning all Paris knew
that the famous veilliers had been
killed in duel by an American named
Glenwood- But few knew that Glen
wood had relied almost entirely on
breaking down his antagonists nerve
through his conscience. The South
Carolinian's face had been painted BY
Z skilled artist and 20 delicately done
that the paint could not easily be dis
covered. II was assurance backed BY
this device that enabled Glenwood t.
rid the world Of the duellst
Mss UIlison. who had gone into
mournine Tor her lovsf. was one Of the
Art = bar Of thu remarkable duel
Xheu she learned the name Of tn
eoneuseue hse surprise was great n
I'D. He had long ben he friend-
= soge of bcothsg but she wUulA nd
Il - expoe)o1 - - on1anGe ~ ID
3 49, ~ ~ - - - =