Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-02-12

-Mademoiselle de Soucy," he said
"Sapristi they drank together for
two hours, Mademoiselle and the
prince. till both were tipsy. And he
Haunted himself so daringly, Mes
sieurs, in his English coat and his
patent feathers, yes, even to the dogs
head cane that all Paris has learned
to know He won all hearts, this
English prince. And then, just as we
were wondering whether or not he
would roll under the table, up steps
who do you think? Manuel of Por.
them"
"Ciel! What a meeting! And
hten?"
When Mademoiselle perceived him
she grew pale as death and rose from
the table with little cry Of fear, and
stood facing the ex-king with arms
stretched out as though to shield the
boy prince from his wrath. And the
prince rose, too and looked upon Man
uel with calm dignity-the dignity Of
a prince. an English prince, Mes
sieurs. And then Manuel walked up
to the prince and, taking off his gloves
in a leisurely way, folded them to-
gether and struck Prince Edward
across the face. And then men
sprang between them and-and-"
"A duel!" exclaimed the shaggy.
haired journalist. Mon Dieu! Where
will 1t be-"
"None knows. They went off with
their seconds In two taxicabs, leaving
poor Mademoiselle de Soucy alone
and half hysterical. But it is certain
that they will fight before morning"
Paul sprang to his feet in horror
A duel! Clothilde, in boys garb,
engaged in fencing bout with the in
furiated young man who had been
ruler Of Portugal!
He made his way drunkenly to-
ward the corner in which he and
Clothilde had sat. A scrap of paper
was lying upon one Of the chairs,
Paul opened 1t mechanically and saw
scrap Of writing upon it. He read:
"The little park in the Bois at five"
The blood tingled in his veins Clio
thilde, In the supreme moment Of the
challenge. had then, found time some
how to indite that note to him, know
ing that he would come back, and
trusting that he would discover 1t.
Paul knew the little park-an unfre-
quented glade, one Of the score and
more in which duelists met to settle
their differences
II was a quarter before four. He
had no time to go to Lord Tresham's
house He must decide Immediately.
If he set out at once he could reach
the duelling ground some fifteen min.
utes before the appointed time.
The pale light of the summer morn
ing had already begun to make the
trees and paths distingushable when
Paul arrived at the gate of the Bois
nearest to the dueling ground. 1t
was twenty minutes to five. He
quickened his steps, directing them
toward the little glade. At last he
reached it-thank God, 1t was empty
and. flinging himself down upon the
dewy grass, he rested. His limbs
ached and his head was swimming;
his eyes were heavy from want Of
sleep. He needed all his strength to
control himself. He must act wisely,
swiftly and say not one rash word.
Presently a fiacre ratified up and
halted in the middle of the nearby
carriage drive and two men stepped
out of it, Almost Immediately 1t was
followed by another, which, halting In
the identical spot, disgorged three
others. Through the bushes behind
which he lay concealed Paul could
see, In the rapidly increasing light
that the first two men were Manuel
and his second; the other three were
the supposed prince, his second, and
a man who carried little black case
and was evidently doctor.
The parties saluted formally. and
the man with the case stepped for
ward and communed for a while with
Manuels second. Then, being joined
by their parties, they stationed them
in chosen places, some fifteen PAGES
apart. And, as the man with the case
ror that the case did not contain
surgical supplies.
1t contained two pistols This was
evidently to be a duel a poutrance
And one Of the combatants would
fall, killed, or perhaps mortally
wounded.
That the duel was to be a serious
one was evinced from the fact that
the combatants were set facing each
other, and not back to back as is
commonly done in encounters when
only honor Is sought. The principals
raised their pistols; the seconds took
their stations. The man with the
case, half between the two, raised
white handkerchief.
"One!" he counted.
Suddenly Paul saw third carriage,
driven at a furious pace, dash down
the drive and come to halt fifty
yards away. A middle-aged gentle
man and a lady, primly dressed. de-
scended and, perceiving what was
taking place began running wildly to-
ward the combatants.
"Two!" shouted the man in the mid
die.
Paul bounded from the underbrush.
Put up your weapons!" he yelled in
French. And the five, startled by
this sudden appearance and still more
unceremonious command, obeyed.
"Monsieur!" exclaimed the man
with the handkerchief, as Paul STUN.
bled toward him, this Is most un.
seemly. If you-"
well done! Well done!" shouted
fhe mjddle.a ped man finding his voice