The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-07-19
How a Duelist 2
Was Eliminated
By ELlNOR MARSH

ii BY ELIINON MANOE1 III
During the reign Of Louis XIII.
France was one vast dueling ground.
Dueling was especially in vogue In the
army. A practice Of this sort is. Of
course, sure to be abused. A good
swordsman who desired to be rid OF
one who stood in his way would pick
quarrel with him and kill him. Then,
too, there were men who had pas
sion for killing other men. -
Mile. Louise dAlger. girl OF that
period, very beautiful, much beloved.
was a resident Of Paris. One of her
relatives, a young man Of great prom
Use, was killed in duel, and his death
rendered her very bitter against the
custom. She could not understand
why when a man was challenged by
q 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 man who
had been "out" a great many times
and always killed his antagonist.
Scarcely week passed but 1t was an
nounced that some man prominent so
cially had fallen before his sword. A
terror fell upon mothers, sisters ana
lovers lest one whose life was precious
to them would be added to his victims.
For time It was hoped that some
man more skillful 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 ne
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 murderer.
"But," she replied, "he commits muir
der all the WHILE .,.-.
"True, but there is no law to 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 ostra'
ciscd by his friends" .y....
There seemed no justice. but great
Injustice, in this to Mile. D'Alger, and
she could not divert her mind from a
feeling that such an enormity was SUI
| fered to exist merely by opinion. She
| brooded upon it till 1t 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 a fortune
| and, though she was not noble. held
a high position in Paris society. One
| day the elite received invitations to
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
a hint to some man of the family about
to entertain that he~would like one.
Then the bid was Forthcoming, for a
refusal would be regarded as an in.
suit and would cost a life. The
Scourge was much fattered 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. D'Al.
gers guests every one was astonished.
The hostess had no man relative
through whom he might have forced
an invitation, and It was not to be
4 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
u the hostess, and every one marveled at
her cordial reception of him. A..
The Scourge was beside himself with
pride and arrogance at 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
: pie. Mile. DAlgcrs views with regard
to dueling were well known, and nc
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
err he possessed through his sword?
When in the dance the Scourge tool
his partners hand in his he felt some
thing prick his finger. He paid no at
tention to it. Indeed, he could not vel
/. do so under the circumstances: Then
he was seen to stagger and raise his
hand to his head. Instead Of conduct
ing lhis partner to another locality If
the room lie tottered away by himself
but before he had gone dozen steps
sank down upon tho floor. A circle
formed about him, all wondering wha,
could have happened to him.
Mile. D'Alger called for lackeys and
directed them to carry out the faller
man who was already dead. The1
!. turning to her guests said:
"Let not this episode interfere will
your amusement" i
She gave sign to the musicians
who Dlaycd another dance, IT,