The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-07-04
H
DUELISTS
How They Were Punished
For Fighting
By +. A. MlTcHEL

Cardinal Richelieu was sitting at his
desk in his palace In Paris attending
to official business when an attendant
entered and said:
"Please, your eminence. a woman
has been arrested for masquerading in
mans apparel. She desires to be
brought before your eminence."
why should l be troubled by q mat
ter that pertains to the watch:" asked
the cardinal. looking up from his pa
pers.
1.-The young lady says. your emf
nence. that she has information to give
which you would value"
"Of what n%ature!"
"Dueling. She will give you the
names of two officers Of the army who
are to fight today"
The cardinals manner changed at
once. Another Of these affairs. eh.
despite my orders but just published!
II I don't put a stop to this practice !
shall in time lose every officer in the
service. 1 wilt stop 1t IL have to
hang the whole army. Admit the
girl"
She came in. blmshing for her ap-
pareI, tall for a woman and well form
ed. She stood before the cardinal with
bent head. '~.
why are yon so attired?" be asked.
Because l intended to take the place
of a man in a duel today"
"You fight a dnel!:" snarled his emf
nence. "Sball I have to bring the wO.
men Of the Kingdom to the block as
well as the men?"
Hear me, your eminence. One Of
the best swordsmen in France is to
meet on the field of honor n Of the
worst. ] learned of the meeting in
time. sent for the latter and succeeded
in locking him in a room from which
he cannot escape. intended to fight
in bis stead"
Their names"
II will die. yonr eminence. rather
that their lives shall be spared"
The cardinal hesitated for a moment.
then gave the required promise.
Captain de Ia Tour. the famous
~swordsman. and Lieutenant Dnrant."
said the girl.
On the cold visage Of the cardinal
appeared q trace of admiration for this
woman who was going to meet death
in place of another.
"You are Mile. Remercier. ! believe.
one Of the queens maids Of honor.
This nefarious dueling pest that is kill
ing of every year hundreds Of the
kings best officers seems to be more in
vogue among persons Of quality than
the lower orders. I wish you q
man. I would behead De Ia Tour and
give you his commission. Why were
you about to give your life for that of
Lieutenant DurantT
"Recause l would rather die than
lose him"
The cardinal paused a moment In
thought. singular" he said, half to
himself and half to the girl, "this thing
called love! l can conceive Of all other
passions. but not this one. and a love
that will sacrifice a life for the object
loved is to me as great a mystery as
life itself" Theu. looking up. he ask
ed. "Where is this duel to take placer
"ln a wood on the outskirts Of. the
city. on the bank Of the Seine"
"When!
AT noon"
ut 10 nov near noon."
"Yes. your eminence. ! was going to
the ground when q gendarrne Of keen.
e. eye than others suspected my sex
and arrested ms"
n presume Captain de ID Tour 10
now waiting for his victim"
Doubtless be Il. and wondering why
he does not appear"
Something was running with cleo
hic rapidly through the cardinals
brain. Whatever Il wa. Il came toa
head at once. 9ummoning III attend.
ant. be directed him to proceed 10 the
dueling ground and bring Captain de
Ia Tour to the palace. Then. turning
to Mile. Remercier. he asked. II she
had the key to the room where her
lover was confined. She gave It to him.
and be sent another attendant for Du-
rant. Then be sent the girl to another
apartment to await the coming. OF the
would be duelists.
The messenger who went for De Ia
Tour found him pacing back and forth
impatiently waiting for his enemy. his,
seconds standing together chatting t.
pass the time. When the captain saw
q man coming wearing the cardinals
livery he turned pale. !.
"Mon Dieu!' be exclaimed. ''The
cardinal has got wind Of the AFFAIR. !
am lOst!s
.His emfplnee desdrss your prssence
at the palace raid the messenger
10 10 Tour bade his comrades good
By. 10 and they believing that they
would never meet again. Only . few
days bsfors two men had been bshsad-
"a for . IKE AFFAIR. and with every
eass the cardinal had grown mors ds-
tsrminsd. Having pressed the hand Of
each of them. b set ont for tho ralais
Il RAUelaSaAmS affar1A ca1lnA thA pnlAias