Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-06-14
THE
DUELISTS
How They We're Punished
For Fighting
BY +. a. mitchell

/ desk ia his palace IN Paris attending
TO official business when an attendant
entered and said
please. your eminencc. "A woman
has been arrested for incorporating IN
/ mans apparel she desires 60 be
/ brought before your cmincnce
why should be troubled by mat
ter that pertains To the watch asked
the cardinal. looking up from his pa
perS
"'rhc young lady says. your cmi-
hence that she bas information 10 give
which you would value
"Of what nature"
"Dueling. She will give you the
names of two officers Of the army who
are 10 fight today
The cardinals manner changed al
once Another Of these affairs. ch.
despite my orders but just published.
II don't put Il stop to this practice
shall in time lose every officer in the
service will stop II if have To-
hang the whole army. Admit the
girl"
She came in. hlnshing for her ap-
parel, tall for woman and well form
ed. She stood before the cardinal with
bent head
"Why are you So attired:" he asked
Because intended 10 take the place
OF man in duel today"
''You fight duel" snarled his emf
nence "Shall have 10 bring the wo
,,,.,. - ,b., i.tu.Intn ~ th,. Ifn.fs ~
well ms the men,
Hear me. your emincncc. one OF
the hest Swor,lsmen in France is to
meet on the field Of honor one of the
worst learned Of the meeting IN
time sent for the latter and succeeded
In locking him Ia a room from which
he cannot escape intended TO fight
In his stead "
Their names"'
IL will die. your eminence. rather
than reveal them without your promise
that their lives shall he spared
The cardinal hesitated for moment.
then gave the required promise.
captain de Ia Tour the famous
swordsman. and Lieutenant Durant.'
said the girl.
On the cold visage of the cardinal
appeared trace ~ admiration for this
woman who was going 10 meet death
IN place OF another
"You are Mile. Remercier. I believe
one Of the queens maids of honor.
This nefarious ducling pest that IS kill.
Ing on every year hundreds Of the
kings best officers seems 10 be more In
vogue among persons ~ quality than
the lower orders wish you We're
man. would behead De In Tour and
| give YOU his commission. Why were
yon about 20 give your life for that Of
| Lieutenant Dnrant;''
"Bccause would rather die than
lose him
The cardinal paused moment In
| thought. "Sinsnlar." he said. half 10
! himself anu half 10 the girl. this thing
/ called love. ! can conceive Of all other
passions hut not this one. and q love
that will sacrifice life for the object
( loved Is to me rs great mystery ~
4 life itself" Then looking up. he ask
ed. "Where IS this duel to take place.;
"ln a wood on the outskirts Of the
city. on the bank of the Seine"
"When:"
al noon
cit Is now near noon"
ayes. your eminence | was going to
the ground when n gendarme Of keen
er eye than others suspected my sex
and arrested me-.
~ presume Captain de Ia Tour Is
now waiting for his victim"
"Douhtless he Is. and wondering why
he does not appear"
Something was running with cleo.
trio rapidity through the cardinals
brain Whatever II was. II came 10 n
head nj once Summoning an attend.
ant. he directed him 10 proceed 10 the
ducling ground and bring Captain de
Ia Tour 10 the palace. Then. turning
10 Mile Remcrsier he asked II she
had the key 20 the room where her
lover was confined She gave IL "a him.
and he sent another attendant for Du-
rant. Then he sent the girl to another
apartment to await the coming of the
would bee duclis;s.
The messenger who went for De Ia
Tour found him pacing back and forth
impaiientls waiting for his enemy. his
seconds standing together chatting &c
pass the time When the captain saw
n man coming wearing the cardinals
livery he turned pale.
"Mou pieu." he exclaimed. ''The
cardinal has got wind ~ the affair. |
am LOST"
Ills cmIinrnce desires your presence
at the palace" said the messenger.
De Ia Tour babe his comrades good
by he and they believing that they
would never meet again. Only few
days before two men had been behead.
ed for q like affar and with every
case the cardinal had grown more de
termincd Having pressed the hand OF
each Of them. he set out for the Palals
Richelieu. aftcrwarl called the palais
| Eovnle aud today occupied by shops.