Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-09-20
CHAPTER |.
The Last Lesson.

"By St Girls, 1t is a case of the river
rising higher than it's source! Come.
m'sieur."
had pinked my fencing-master in
the groin in a manner to have rem
dered him hors de combat had not our
foils been buttoned. ! felt clated. We
crossed weapons once more, and
Mseur Ledare seemed 10 throw his
whole soul in the effort to show that
his pupil was not yet his equal, his
quick eyes glnting through the wires
OF his mask For a matter of three
minutes we fenced in silence and
then came the climax.
Theoretically he wounded me in the
shoulder by thrust en- quartz. 10
which instantly responded by calling
into play most difficult passage of
arms and. also, in theory, ran him
through the heart. The Frenchman
stepped back, threw his foil and mask
to the) floor. and embraced me after
the fashion of his country. ..
my own DAM" he cried, his face
alight with mingled emotions Of Joy
and chagrin. Where got YOU that
0ounter-stroke?" .......... .
Il had worked IT out, msieur."
replied, with becoming modesty. II
exchanges a wound for my opponents
life.n S,G, Ar- -t,.'srr.- '".-a .-'
TT was magnificent! 1t is invinci-
BILE! And it is the first time in the six
year that you fence that you have
killed. me, though am scared with
many wounds! Thou art my pupil no
more, for, by st. Girls, thou art my
equal, There is. but one man in
Eurupc, and none in America, who can
iacelyou and hope to win! All. Dieu!
Were but younger, that / might see
your future." f-s--
The future! How little either
guessed 1t! can close my eyes and
see The genial old maitre.d' 'armes rs
he stood in the plainly furnished room
in BaslSinridge, fine smile lighting
his old face. / did not dream that the
next day would be looking down the
DIM Nistas Of danger. Even then the
GIcadS WAS gathering around us both.
.HMlsieur Ledare," said, you
speak of one man" f~- -
III Forgot. There is also woman,
nsipair." ...-r 1.,.'s.s.
"a mistress OF the sword?" ~
"a wonder. M'siear! taught her
While she was in Paris for two years.
a slip of maiden with a wrist of
stcef AN eye-of fire. She returned 10
the Colonial before the war, or al
;1toSt The time when YOU, my friend,
syt od me from a Paris mob, and for
Wl!fh / promised to make YOU a
,Wcipsman. Eth bien! Have i not
dong so?' have forgotten her name
my lmemory fails. But the man!
q slperb fencel'-a maitle d'armes,
iiGel myself ] regret 10 say, m'sieur,
ihat lie Is my cousin and hates me.
fH1 We once fought with bare TIA.
E;,F,s N,.cG - '1''rh Veftth ~
si'What was The fesult?" asked.
tiListen.. m'sieur! it was about an
estate lef, by my aunt" continued The
qhi man, his face becoming grave as
he gitw reminiscent. "She loved me
and left me all OF her property save Il
InOroe au for my cousin. He 10 a chev
hiier ld'mdustrie, man OF no princ
PIE. When my aunt died he came tC
me with his heart arlams and accused
me of using influence against him
though God knows ! WAS suiltless. He
dared me 10 fight; aha! he challenged
me- tell him cannot fight with m,
own kinsman, and offer him half In,
nrorcrty. And knew had greatel
skii.> He stoUd by 'the table 'anl
looked me in the eye, his rapier al BIZ
hip where gentlemans should be-
"'You would buy me off!' he cried
You dare not iight!'