The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-04-26

During the period Of the occupation Of
France by the allies Of Louis NVIll, inl8l6,
this System was pursued extensively lily the
French officers, Patriotism and u deep sense
Of injury perhaps palliated its ntrocity. Day
after day, English and Prussian officers would
be grossly insulted by Frenchmen, would send
d cartel, fight, and be carried OH rcgularlyat 10
Pere Ia Chaise. Some Of Napoleons maitres
darmes made . business Of killing their mah
regularly each day.
a. story is told Of one Of them-~an sold
Cnpitaine nncroc--who had slain hissUores,
and was never known to have met his f1atCh
with the sword. lie never sent II challenge,
was always the aggressor, and p~itilessly insisted
on tho right Of choosing his ~fsavorite weapon.
When he had moi found mn adversary in the
course Of tho day, he would enter the Cate IF0y.
at Paris, towards six o'clock. for dinner ; and
the walters could tell by his face, and the why
he twirled his mustache, that lie was on the
lookout for n quarrel. Woe. to him who gave
him the least chance. One evening, there
Glanced TO drop into the same cafe an Englsh
officer named Gwynne. He belonged to the
army Of occupation, but had only Just returned
to his regiment from his home, where he had
been kept a close prisoner by a wound received
ut Waterloo. During his absence, HIS brother
had the misfortnne--so he heard-to quarrel
with Capitainc Ducroc, and be killed by him
in n duel.
Gwynne entered the Cafe Foy, o few minutes
before six, and sat down at q small vacant to-
BILE. a waiter started at the sight, and run
ming to the Iinglishman, observed, with some
agitation, that that was tho Captains table,,
" What captain, my friend ? = asked the Eng
lisltman. "Ohi 10 Caritaine Ducrocl " m
/; swcred the waiter, pronounciDg the terrible
meme almost with u feeling of awe. Gwynne,s
check flushed at tho name, batSmerely observed
I that " this table was like oil the others, seem
8 ingly still " he said, If the Captain insisted
3 upon it, he would doubtless satisfy him. On
: which he took up the newspaper and began to
1 read.
Almost at the same instant the door opened
i and u heavy tread of spurred boots Was shenru
y approaching the table. When at d few feet
distance, le Capitaine stopped, and surveyed
d the usurper with an insulting smile. Gwynne
9 looked calmly at him, but did not speak. The
Capitaine sat down at q table close by, and
3 began to twirl his Inoustacle. People who
= knew him understood the meaning OF The
y gesture, and gathered closer to the rcdoubtable
. champion Of France. They had not long II
wait before he commenced operations.
Stretching across suddenly, be seized Thu
lamp on the Englislman's table, and snatchet
it away while with the other hand he plucket
the newspaper out Of Gwynne's grasp, Their,
p was q buzz in the cafe at this gross insult, ant
one or two Englishnien present sprung to tIiei
IN feet and moved toward their co~nntryman. Blu
a. he did not speak nor move his face did no
y even show any apparent notice Of the ajifon,
10 Capitaine read for q moment! " twa
then turning his chair SO as to bring Il close
the Englishman's table, he suddenly stretche
7" out his leg, and brought down TIC heetofh
ow heavy boot on Gwynne's foot. There N,
ct another buzz and mursnur among the tossct
Der mateurs but Gwynne contented himself Wi
his drawing his foot up and folding his arms II
ify- couptrymen gathered round him. evident
CALLED at his seeming Indifference to the insul
it but he took no notice. At last 10 Captain
pom after q long loos at bis antagonist, called