Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-06-11

forts numerous duels. Il do not won
der that you English amuse yourselves
with these comedies, which reflect
little honor on France. Nevertheless,
let me tell you that, when we please,
we can make of the duel something
very different; that is to say, an al
fair of life and death"
Without doubt" answered, toss
ing aside my own copy OF the Matin-
we were in the smoking room of the
CercIe des Etrangers-"but your press
should not give such Importance to
these farces."
The ambassador brushed this obser-
walton aside with a wave Of his hand.
1T is the too great facility with
which these affairs are arranged that
has involved them in ridicule," he said.
pursuing his own line of thought. ut
is when a crime has been committed
which is truly worthy of death, and
yet which, from its nature, is beyond
the reach of laws, that the duel be-
comes a sacred resource, indispensable
in the interests Of mankind"
And are there such occasions,
them" l responded, in order to see
what was in his excellency's mind.
4 have at all events known of one"
he returned gravely, as he began to
roll cigarette. 1T was the case Of an
Internal plot directed against one Of
the most illustrious personages in Eu-
rope-a plot to which innocent lives
were sacrificed, and yet one which
could never be dealt with by the coarse
machinery OF Jurisprudence"
"You arouse my interest, my dear
ambassador. Is it forbidden to ask
for the history Of this strange case?"
; Il will tell 1t to you, my friend. But
since the parsonage have referred to
10 still alive, and 10 a woman for whom
j have the most distinguished respect.
we will. II you please, allude to her
simply as the empress. You will, of
course, have no difficulty in recognize
Ding this lady before have gone very
far"
!. / hastened to accept this condition ;
and the ambassador, having lit his Gig
arctic with a match which handed
him, leaned back In his chair and be
gan:
Il cannot recall the exact date al
which / was accredited to the court
of st. James, but II must have been al
least twenty-five years ago. had
yeOme to Great Britain with sincere
e6esire to win the confidence Of tht
brave English people; and knowing
Irthat in your country even politics re
Sesiyes less consideration than VIVA
Uou call sport / resolved to Prov
myself q huntsman. Accordingly
bought myself horses and went out Il
hunt the fox.
{ "The hunt of which became a mem
der was at that time the most artistic
cratic in the world, made so by tn
patronage OF an illustrious personag
whose name shall not mention. He
Imperial majesty had formed the habi
tof coming over to England during tn
season Of the chase, under a strict II
-cognito, and attended by only a smal
suite, in order to take part In thi
sport. 1t was I'm this way that oil
Hained the privilege OF an Acquaintance
which shall always look back upo
as my most cherished remembrance.
Among the members of her ma
esty's suite at this time was certai
Baron Magratz. who filled the post {
private secretary and comptroller /
the household. You will understand
OF course, that my intercourse wit
the empress was on the most respec
full footing, but it was not long b
fore discovered that this baron,
whom saw a good deal, was dal
lgerous, insolent man, quite unworth
of the confidence reposed In him b
hfs august mistress.
$50 acutely did realize this thu
1t became a question with me wheth,
the favor extended to me by that mob
and unsuspicious lady did not ca
upon me the obligation of warnir
her against this mans presumptio
While was still In doubt an incidel
occurred. which rendered It unnece
sary for me to speak.
One morning, when we were e
gagged in waiting outside a small co
ert for the fox to appear. / observs
Magratz ride up to the empress nj
point with his hand, as II persuadiI
her that the beast was about
emerge from 3 point further on. 81
turned her horse. and they rode {
together round corner Of the WOO
Troubled by some vague presentime
of mischief, at once gave rein to n
horse and followed.
Il got round the corner just In tin
TO perceive what took place. II
baron had stopped forward, with
air of undue confidence. and w
apparently addressing some RENAL
70 the empress when all at on
I saw her majesty rein in her hors
lift up the riding whip she held In b
hand and draw It swiftly across b
face.
"Magratz started with a violen
which caused his horse to rear. Wh
ne would have done next I cannot "a
but luckily at that moment he caug
sight of me. The empress had aIreat
turned. and she rode back past N
the angry CLEAN in her eyes relaxiI
into q gracious smile as she aeknov
edged my respectful salute.
The baron followed at q walk, Al
as he came up TO me observed ,
Als face narrow streak OF red. cros
Ing from the right ear to the mout
4Stung. doubtless. by my indigna