The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-09-04
A FRENCH DUEL.

EdENCH DUEL.
The morning was cold and rainy, and see
ing before him ''chalet," through whose
windows shone glorious fire, and whose Gu
rious external stairway descended even to his
feet, as if coquettishly inviting him to share
mountain hospitality, Dupont did not h6si-
tate to mount to this door; he found the key
in the lock, opened and entered. A man was
seated at a desk with his back to the 'door-at
the noise of the opening he turned his head,
and recognizing the intruder, cried 1o
-" All is it you, Dupont We will take a
turn immediately;
1t was Fournier who thus spoke. "
Faith, | am ready" said Dupont.
Fournier took his sword from the corner OF
lof the room they fell into position, they cross
ed weapons. All this passed in moment
to see, recognize, and provoke, and attack each
other, was as natural and spontaneous as to
breathe. 1t was only between the passes that
they conversed. r IfT Ii.
g [ thought you were employed In the inte-
rior' said Fournier.
The minister gives me the fourth division
Indeed, how fortunate | command the
cavalry there. So you have just arrived b'
This instant"
" And thought of me the first thing-how
amiable you are !''
Ln-"No, really. / did not know you were
here seeing fire through these windows, as
was about to pass, | stopped to warm my
self"
" This exercise Will warm YOU sufficiently" !"
The fight became efiercer-Fournier hazarded
a pass, which Dupont taking advantage of
pushed him so vigorously, that he was forced
to give back step by step. ,.., ....
Dupont advanced steadily within distance,
crying: o
"Aha! You run! You run J" ss1soais @
% Not at all. only retreat. Do you think
l am going let you spit me like sparrow p
The room is small ! shall drive you to
the wall p
"We shall see - 2 rler-r
''See then !" and as Dupont said this he
pressed Fournier literally into the corner, and
his sword piercing the muscles of Fourniers
neck, pinned him to the wooden wall like a
family portrait; badly hung.
"The devil p cried the spitted General.
g You did not expect this !" said Dupont.
"On the contrary; it is you who do not ex-
pect what will happen p
"Indeed, what is about to happen then @'
"Why the moment you draw out your
sword, | shall thrust mine into your stomach,
and you will fall p
with great force into the logs of the cottage
wall
"Well, what the devil are you piercing the
the wall for p
am taking precaution against your lunge
in my stomach" a9E
"You cannot avoid it !; the moment you
withdraw, you die!'' l. s..
81 shall not withdraw till you throw down
your sword.''
at is impossible for you to keep your arm
thus strained for ten minutes it must drop,
and you receive my thrust"
"YOu are unreasonable, your blood is flow
ing, in ten minutes your eyes will close"
"We shall see."
Very well. | am not inpatient
Nor |. We will abide the result p
This contest would probably have been pro
longed to a fatal termination, had not the noise
of their dispute at length been heard by some
officers in another part of the house, who, com
ing hastily upon the scene, separated with much
difficulty, the obstinate combatants.
When parted, they each claimed the victory,
and finally demanded, with great gravity, to be
replaced exactly as they were when separated.
Dupont promising to refix his sword through
Fourniers throat without increasing the wound
They were finally obliged to force the latter
to bed, and the former out Of the chalet