The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-10-02

persuasions OF his friends, he threw himsel
upon the retreuting Colonel, and gruspinI
him in his urms, cried,-'You are a coward
you fly, and you are coward . ...
Dufay in vain endeavored to free himsel
from the iron grasp of Raoul, and ferc,
struggle took place for a moment, in tn
presence of on increasing number of curl
Gus idlers, until the Colonel was released
with his face covered with blood. --
'You ,oM fghtr he furiously cried, 'ver!
well be it SO, but woe to you! woe to you!
The friends of Raoui Immediately pro
ceeded to settle the preliminaries OF tn,
combat with Colonel Dufoy, and to reques
the names OF his seconds.
'You shall be both his seconds and mine
said Dufay, 'ond these gentlemen, also,' ad
ded he, pointing to the spectators, will nj
doubt like to join you; we will fight by tn,
light Of The first lantern hung in a seclude'
street; you have witnessed the injury, AM
you shall assist at the vengeance; had pitt
on his youth, aud would have spared him
but he has wilfully sought his fate, and hi
death shall be on his own head!'
The obligation of the immediate duel i,
not recognized in the Code One night, a
least, according 10 the established rules
must elapse between the injury and the sat
isfaction, and this custom does not lack wis
dom, for the solitary hours thus given to re-
Election, calm the feelings of excitement
moderate. the anger, and tend to place be-
fore the mental eye, the saddest phases oI
the terrible act about to be accomplished -
Most Of the concessions indeed that are
made at the place OF meeting, are the result.
of night of ugitated thought, and mournfu
forebodngs. r
The night watch of their arms by thu
Knights of old, was an institution based
upon a profound knowledge Of the human
heart. '.- '...
1t needed remarkable degree of firm de-
cision of character to escape the influence
of night spent amid enbIems of death, III
nrreal panoplies, and the solem buria
chants Of the church.
The seconds of duel counted upon The
sedate and salutary effect of nocturnal medi
tatons, with reason, and were, therefore
right in prohibiting the instant combat
which would afford no chance for reconciii
alton; but, in the case Of Raoul and Dufay
the injury was deemed too grave 20 admit 9
any compromise, and the rules were suspen
ded without argument, when the Colonel
pointing to his ensanguined cheek, exclaim
ed
Il have made every concession; ever
offered apologies and gave way before hi:
yontl', and my sympathy for his youihfu
courage: but he treated my good feeling
with contempt, and attacked me from be-
hind. He thirsts for my blood, and has al
ready shed it. Think you that can retair
any pity for him, and that his life is too
great forfeit for his audacity!'
They obtaned two weapons at an armor
er's in the gallery of Valois, and proceeded
in silence towards the labyrinth of deserte,
streets around the Louvre
we shall be we'll here,' said Dufay, stop
ping under one of those gothic lamps, whose
Pickering light had not yet been replaced
by the brilliant jets OF gas that now illumi'
nate nocturnal Paris.
In moment they had stripped and cross
ed swords. The complete ignorance o
Raoul was Immediately apparent in the
manner of holding his weapon, and Quay
dsarmed him at the first pass.
The young man picked up his sword, apt
returned to the charge, was disarmed, ant
again resumed the fathless steel with the
same result.
Il cannot strike him so,' cried Dufay, il
despair; 't would be an assassination! ane
yet must kill him.
The Colonel seemed in perfect despera
ton at not being able to find an honorable
means of avenging himself on Raoul, ant
wished he could give him share of bis owl
skill, that he might kill him conscientiously
Pistols were out Of the question in thu
streets of Paris, and they set their imagna
ton to work to invent some terrible alter
native, but all in vain. Dufay even offere'
to fight Raoul and his four friends all II
once, but this was of course rejected b,
Raoul. .a . tt
Suddenly the rattle of carriage wheel
was heard, and from its slow and monoto
nous pace, it was evidently hack. Al
idea seemed to strike Duiay all at once. an
he cried to one of the seconds-'Run am
stop that carriage! Then, addressing on
of the others, you, sir, go to the Palal
Royal, to the armorer of the Valois Gallery
tuke back these swords, and ask in exchang
two poignards, strong and Of equal length
if he makes any objection, say they are 70
Colonel Dufay; he knows me; but frs
gentlemen, lend mee your handkerchiefs
your crayats and your rutfies, and quickly
If you pleaset
'What do you propose to do? aske'
Raoul, beholding these preparations.
ITO equalze the chances between u.s. re
piled Dufay in sinister tone, at the SAM