The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-08-12
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
A DUEL In 1880.

had just arrived at MarseiIles with the dr.
ligence, In which three young men, apparently
merchants, or commercial travellers, were the
companions of my journey. They came from
fans, and were enthusiastic about the events
which had lately happened there, and in which
tney boosted as having taken part. / was, for
my part quiet and reserved; for thought il
much better, at time Of such political excite.
ment in the south of France, where party pas
sions always rise so high, TO do nothing that
would attract attention; and my three fellow
travellers no doubt looked on me as a plain,
common place seaman, who had been to The
luxurious metropolis for his pie, sure or on bu.
siness. My presence, it seems did not incom.
mode them, for they talked on as if had not
oeen fnere. Two of them were gay, merry,
Dut rather coarse boon companions; the third.
an elegant youth, blooming and tall, with lux u .
rlant oiack curling hair, and dark soft eyes,
LII the notei where we dined, and where sat
a little distance of, smoking my cigar. the
conversation turned on various love adventures.
and the young man, whom they called Alfred,
snewed ms comrades a packet of deiicately
peHumed letters, and q superb lock Of beau,i.
ful fair hair.
He told them, that in the days of July he
had been slightly wounded, and that his only
fear, while he lay on the ground, was, that ifhe
died, some mischance might prevent Clotilde
from weeping over bis grave. But now all is
WE'LL he continued. am going to fetch a
nice little sum from my uncle at Marseilles.
who is just at this moment in good humor, on
account of the discontinue of the Jesuits and
the Bourbons. In my character of one Of the
heroes of July, he will forgive me all my pre-.
sent and past folles: shall pass an examina.
ton at Paris, and then settle down in quiet,
and live happily with my Clotilde.' Thus
they talked together; and by and by we parted
in the court yard of the coach office.
Close by was a brilliantly ilumined coffee.
house. l entered, and seated myself at iltle
table in distant corner of the room. Two
persons only were still in the saloon, in an op.
posie corner, and before them stood two glass.
es ofbrandy. One was an elderly, stately, and
portly gentleman, with dark red face, and
dressed in quiel colored suit; it was easy to
perceive thar he was p clergyman. But the
appearance of the other was very striking. He
could not be far from sixty years OF age, was
tall and thin, and his gray, indeed almost white
hair, which, however, rose from his head IN
luxurious fulness, gave TO his pale countenance
a peculiar expression that made one feel un-
comfortable. The brawny neck was almost
bare: a simple, carelessly knotted black kerr
chief alone encircled it; thick, silver gray
whiskers met together at mis- chin; blue frock
coat, pantaloons of the same color, silk stock
ings. shoes with thick sOes, and dazzling
white waistcoat and lineD, completed his equip
ment. A thick stuck leant in one corner, and
his broad brimmed hat hung against the wall.
There was a certain cOnvulsive twitching OF
the thin lips of this person, which was very
remarkable; and there seemed, when he looked
ixedly, to be smouldering fire in his large,
CLASSY, grayish blue eyes. He was, like my
self, a seamen-a strong oak that fate had
shaped into a mast, over which many a storm
had clustered, but which had been too tough
to be shivered, and still defed the tempest and
the lightning. There lay gloomy resignation
as well as a wild fanaticism in those features.
The large bony hand, with its immense fin
gers, was spread out or clenched, according to
the turn which the conversation with the :er.
gyman took. Suddenly he stepped up to me.
| was reading royal newspaper. He lighted
his cigar.
You are right, sir you are quite right moi
70 read those infamous Jacobin journals
looked up, and gave no answer. He continued:
8 A sailor 2
Yes, SIR
sand have seen service?'
'Yes.'
You are still in active service?'
no. And then to my great satisfaction,
for my patience was well nigh exhausted, the
examination was brought to conclusion.
Just then an evil destiny led my three
young fellow travellers into the room. They
soon seated themselves at table, and drank
some glasses OF champagne to Cloiilde's health.
All went on well; but when they began to
sing the MarseiUes and the Pdrisienae, the
face of the gray man began to twitch, and il
was evident storm was brewing. Calling to
the waiter, he said with a loud voice: Tell
thuse blackguards yonder not to annoy me with
their low songsn
The young men sprang up in fury, and
asked if it was TO them he alluded.
Whom else should mean said the gray
man with contemptuOus sneer.
But we may drink und sing il we like, and
to whom we like said the young man. Vire la
Repubiique ct riue Ct0tilde"
One as blackguardly as the olhern cried the
gray beard tauningly; and wine glass, that
flew at his head from the hand of the dark
haired youth, was the immediate rejoinder.-
Slowly wipiug his forehead, which bled and
dripped with the spilled wine, the old man
said quite quietly Tomorrow at the Cap
Verdi and seated himself again with the most
perfect composure.
The young man expressed his determination
to take the matter on himself; that he alone
would settle the quarrel, and promised to uP-
pear on the morrow at the appointed time
ney all departed nOisiiy' Ahe oiu mau
rose quietly, and turning TO me said: Sir, you
have been witness to the insult be witness also
to the satisfaction. Here is my address:
shall expect you at FIVE o'clock. Good night,
Monsieur PAbbe Tomorrow, there will be
one Jacobin less. and one LOST soul the more
Good night!' and taking his hat and stick, be
departed. His companion, the Able, followed
soon after.
now learned the history Of this singular
man. He was descended from good family
Of AlarseiIles. Destined Tor The navy while
still young. he was sent on board ship before
the Revolution, and while yet OF tender years.
Later, he was taken prisoner /; and after many
siraHge adventures, returned in 1893 to France;
vas about to marry, but having been mixed up
with the disturbances ofToulon, managed 10
escape by a miracle to gland and learned
before long that his father, mother, one brother,
u sister OF sixteen years OF age, and his be-
trothed, had all been led 10 The gnilloiine TO
the tune of the Marseillaisr. Thirst for re-
venge, revenge on the detested Jacobins, was
now his sole aim. For a long time he royed
about in the Indian seas, sometimes as pri-
vaieer, at others as slave dealer and was