The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1916-04-29
How a Duelist
Was Eliminated
By ELINOR MARSH

l.
Dueling was especially in vogue in the
army A practice Of this sort is, Of
course, sure to be abused. good
swordsman who desired to be nd Of
one who stood in his way would pick
quarrel with him and kill him. Then
too, there were men who had a pas,
sion for killing other men.
Nile. Louise d'Alger. a girl Of that
period, very beautiful. much beloved,
was resident Of Paris. One OF her
relatives, a young man Of great prom
ise, was killed in a duel, and his death
rendered her very bitter against the
custom. She could not understand
why when a man was challenged by
a person who was perfectly capable Of
killing him and intended to kill him
the victim should be considered bound
In honor to accept the challenge. New
ertheless such was the custom Of the
times, and the challenged party had to
choose between death and social ruin.
At this time in Paris was a man who
had been "out" a great many times
and always killed his antagonist
Scarcely a week passed but 1t was an
nounced that some man prominent SO
cially had fallen before his sword. A
terror fell upon mothers, sisters and
lovers lest one whose life was precious
to them would be added to his victims.
For a time 1t was hoped that some
man more skiIlful than he would put
him out of the way. But not one Of
the most admirable fencers In Paris
seemed disposed to tackle him. and he
did not trouble any Of them.
Louise d'Alger declared that any
means Of getting rid Of the Scourge,
as he was called, would be excusable
and wondered why some man did not
stab him in the back She was told
that one who would do that would be
regarded as a murderer.
"But," she replied. 'he commits muir
der all the while ..,...- .,...-.
'"True, but there is no law 10 punish
him. Should any one stab him in the
back the person doing so would fall
under the ban Of the statute covering
murder. Besides, he would be sostra-
cised by his friends"
There seemed no justice. but great
injustice, In this to Mile. D'Alger, and
she could not divert her mind from
feeling that such an enormity was suf,
fered to exist merely by opinion. She
brooded upon it till It seemed to her
that she must do, something to stop the
Scourge's murders, just as Charlotte
Corday at later period rid France
Of Marat
Mile. D'Alger possessed q fortune
and, though she was not noble. held
high position In Paris society. One
day the elite received Invitations to a
ball to be given By her. What was
the. Scourge's surprise to receive an
Invitation. He was not accustomed to
receiving invitations unless he dropped
q hint to. some man Of the family about
to entertain that he weuld like one
Then the bid was forthcoming, for
refusal would be regarded as an In
suit and would cost a life. The
Scourge was much nattered at receiv-
ing Mile. D'Alger's invitation without
any action on his own part Then, too,
he inferred that possibly she had fallen
in love with him.
When he appeared among Mile. DIAL
gers guests every one was astonished.
The hostess had no man relative
through whom he might have forced
an invitation, and 1t was not to be
expected that she would invite him Of
her own free will. All eyes were
turned upon her when the duelist on
entering the ballroom stepped up to
her to make the formal greeting due
the hostess, and every one marVeled at
her cordial reception Of him.
The Scourge was beside himself with
pride and arrogance &C having been in
vited to the house of lady Of prom
inence in face of the prejudice. as he
called it. of all Paris. The first few
dances he chose for partners some
lady who had a brother, well knowing
that she would not dare refuse him.
Later he made his bow to the hostess
She smiled upon him graciously and
took position on the floor beside him.
Every eye was turned upon the cou-
ple. Mile. D'Alger's views with regard
to dueling were well known, and no
one knew of any way by which he
could force such cordial treatment.
Could it be that she had been fascinat-
ed by this man on account of the pow
er he possessed through his sword?
When in the dance the Scourge took
his partners hand in his he felt some
| thing prick his finger. He paid no at
tention to it. Indeed, he could not well
do SO under the circumstances. Then
he was seen to stagger and raise his
hand to his head. Instead Of conduct
ing his partner to another locality IN
the room he tottered away by himself.
but before he had gone a dozen steps
sank down upon the floor. A circle
formed about him, all wondering what
could have happened to him.
Nile. D'Alger called for lackeyB and
directed them 10 carry out the fallen
man who was already dead. Then
turning to her guests said:
aTof MT fhjw o0iSOda inforforM Nth