Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-02-10
THE WHITE.
DEATH
BY WILLIAM CHANDLER

.
named for the III fated queen of France
who lost her head on the guillotine.
was one of the most attractive of the
younger girls of New Orleans. The
Crescent City was in those days one of
the gayest cities. IL not the gayest, in
the United States. Being city Of the
French, 1t contained number Of en-
igres of the revolution whereby the
Bourbon kings lost the throne and
they were Of the noblesse. some Of
them having the right to titles that
they did not use. New Orleans social
ly was delightful. but more foreign
than any other American city.
Edwin Wentworth. a young north
erner from the state of Maryland, went
to the Crescent City to spend winter.
attracted thither by the reports of the
unique social life. Having letters to
the best people. he was invited ev-
erywhere. He met Mlle GARNER, and
love affair ensued. 1t was arranged
that when the spring came on they
should be married and both go north
to the groom's home
In those days there was frequent in
tercourse between New Orleans and
France. While desirable persons came
out to the new world to make homes
for themselves. occasionally one would
come whose absence would have been
preferable. Among these was Antoine
LIE Voisier, a duelist who had killed
so many opponents that he had ac-
Quired the sobriquet of the White
Death.
One evening at a cafe young Went
worth saw him, asked who he was and
on being told remarked in voice loud
enough for lie voisier to hear that the
authorities of Louisiana should ship
the fellow back to France. The result
was challenge If Wentworth had
come from Massachusetts or any north
ern state he might have declined 1t.
But. hailing from a border state, In
which dueling had not entirely died
out he felt compelled to fight. He
was rash to have made the remark in
the White Deaths hearing and rash
to so on the field with one who had
fought twenty duels and killed ten
men. Wentworth was entirely unskill-
ed in the use of weapons. and there
was no time to learn how to use them.
The result was that he went out to
meet his antagonist and another muir
der was done.
Mile. GARNER was so crushed by the
tragedy that for awhile her life seem
ed to be in danger and as she recover
l y
mental arrangement. The social world
saw her no more. and so rapid are the
changes in the world of fashion that
in a few months her place there seemed
to have been filed and she forgotten.
1t was not long after Wentwcrths
murder that the cholera visited Ameri-
ca, and New Orleans was not immune
from its devastations. But it seemed
that nothing could even temporarily
obliterate the peoples desire for
amusement. masked ball was given
in large hall. and. although it was
not an affair to call out fashionable
society. especially at such time, many
of the bon ton went there to divest
themselves of the gloom surrounding
them.
The contrast within and without the
hall was a fearful one. Within was a
dance of life. without dance of death.
But the death from without broke In
among the merrymakers. A figure en-
tered the hall dressed in white flowing
robes. the mask as white as chalk. with
great hollow eyes, a grinning mouth
and rotten teeth. 1t advanced to one
wearing Louis XIV. costume and
stood staring at him. The merriment
ceased, and all eyes were bent on the
two figures The Louis XIV. figure
took off his mask and displayed the
features of lie Voisier.
The reason for his unmasking was
apparent He had seen himself con-
fronted BIZ one dressed as the White
Death and was DESTROYS to avenge the
insult.
Whoever you are who has offered
said.
II am the White Death"
Meet me in an hour in the wood"
replied lie Voisier. referring to wood
on the outskirts of the city where
dues Were fought
Not without reason. For me the
White Deathi to confront you. the
White Death, is~no insult. Take that.'
He struck lie Voisier with the back
of his hand. drawing a drop of blood.
which seemed to come from a ring he
wore on his finger lie VOisier paid
no attention to the blow other than to
say that if his antagonist was satisfied
he was; that he would expect to meet
the person who had insulted him as
toon rs they could reach the wood;
then. turning, he started for an exit,
1t was noticed before he had taken
Il dozen steps that he staggered, and
before he reached the door he fell.
The specter followed him and stood
ID. I a