The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-08-15
rived, for the Frenchman arose from. his
seat and sta rtad

rived, IOf tn6 Frenchman arose from. his
seat and started. f tssl..
sHallo there,' exclaimed Tom, as he ap-
preached the passage between the ,hero's
table and the wall syou can't pass here, SIR
sEh What n calculated the officer, per-
fectly astounded at what he had. heard.
Il say you can't pass here, SIR coolly
answered Tom. .
Il don't understand exactly what you
mean,' said the Frenchman, who had some
what recovered fom his surprise; sbut be-
lieye these passages are free.' ~
just about as free as the waters of your
harbors are, replied Tom, whose lips began
to culver little, tand now if you pass this
table I'll give you the same compliment that
you gave me this morning. at the same time
seizing the large water pitcher in his hand.
The Frenchman stood for moment ir-
resolute. He recognized Tom as the person
whom he had washed down in the morning,
and he felt sure he would resent it; but q
number of brother officers were present,
whom he did not wish should witness any
thing like cowardice on his part; so he boldly
stepped forward; but Tom was true to his
word, FOR no sooner was the Frenchman OPP
posite his table than he was deluged by the
contents of the Yankees pitcher. For a
moment dripping man assumed death-like
hue, and turning to his tornentor, he hissed
between his clenched teeth as III
ssWe shall meet again, SIR -z,s, e-..ss. s ..-
There's not the least need Of that re-
piled Tom. You grossly injured and insult
ed me this morning, without provocation.
We are now square, h.sa s.
4 tell you we shall meet again., repeated
the Frenchman in a deep tone, and then
turning away left the cafe. .-..... zg.
In the evening our hero concluded to go
to tho opera. Accordingly, at the proper
hour he entered the building, and after q
vast deal of patient waiting, he got his turn
at the ticket window, through which he
showed fye-franc piece. # =. ,..r ...-..s-, -.
Bon ton?' asked the clerk-a word fire.
quently used to designate the first class of
boxes. s .-......s .... ...rs -, <-sa...,..
'Oui,' answered Tom; he knew thus much
Of French, though he was totally ignorant
Of what the ticket-seller meant, and cared
less. .... -....s. .......-...r w., .......
'Boate> en- apant,' shouted the crowd
behind, and seizlng his ticket our Yankee
pushed on to the entrance. .. .. ...
Tom passed ON from one guide to another,
until he at length found himself in the midst
Of the most superlatiye sets of perfumed and
flizzled men monkeys that it had ever been
his fortune to meet; but he put bold face
On the matter, and quietly took his seat
near thcsfront tier. He soon found himself
in hot water, for no sooner had he become
comfortably seated, than he noticed that
every opera glass was broght too bear upon
his sunburnt face, and he began to vince
beneath the steady aim of those insolent
artificial optics. While he was deliberating
within himself the e1pediency Of vacating
the premises, he noticed an old gentlemen
upon his right, who held in hand an opera
glass of the most enormous dimensions-a
pair of regular twin telescopes-and as said
individual possessed a very benign counten-
ance, Tom thought he would venture a
question.
Comment reus porteS-rouse?' said Tom,
with very bad pronunciation.
'Ah, yo'd talk English much BETTER re-
piled the old gentleman, with smile.
'Good' exclaimed our hero, feeling quite
relieved to find himself so near an English
man. 'Would you be so kind as to let me
take that glass of yours?"
Certainly" answered the Englishman,
as he passed the instrument over with a pc
culiar twinkle which seemed to indicate that
he understood the others object.
Tom deliberately placed his elbows upon
the rail in front Of him, and raising the
glass, he hid his face behind the capacious
barrels, and then levelled it upon the impu-
dent puppies who were still qnizzing him.
One after another of the offensive glasses
were lowered beneath the determinate gaze
OF the Yankee, until at length he eau ght,
as he took sweeping survey ofsthe boxes,
the form of the French officer who had left
him in such passion at the cafe. Said
otheer was gazing intently upon the victim
OF his mornings operation, and as his fea-
lures were plainly revealed by the power
full lenses of Toms glass, our hero dis
covered that they wore anything but pleas
ing expression, and he saw at once that he
was most seriously angry.
Don't you know who that man is, that
regards you so sharply?' asked the owner of
the opcra-glass, as Tom returned it.
Il know be belongs on board the steamer,
that's oil, replied Tom.
THAT is Jean Mardelot, Lieutenant,
commonly called le Acier Jean, the great
est swordsman in Marseiles; and if | am
not mistaken, he has something against you.'
well, there has been something passed
DetWteH US, anu tutu he went On anu re-
lated what had occurred. 1864 g."
sPretty good, pretty goodr said the Eng
lishman, laughing heartily at our hero's ac-
count of the affair. Butt he continued,
while his countenance assumed serious
aspect, She will never forgive you for the
manner in which you returned his comph-
ment, and you had better leave the opera at
once.' .
'Never forgive me?' repeated Tom, 'Why
but paid him off in his own coin, and
should not suppose he would wish to carry
the matter any further.
sAh!, you do not know Jean Mardelot,'
returned the old man. ...
"Well, it can't be helped now.'
Eyes it cam 49,"
sHow?" .. r. '.. 90
leave the house at once" r.
sA,,d run array from a Frenchman?' ex-
claimed Tom, while his eyes actually flashed
FIRE. is that countryman of yours:"
continued he, as his eyes rested on militia
ry looking man who sat next to the old
gentleman. #. SO ~ ~. ..
Il am an Englshman,' replied the man
alluded to, as he leaned forward.
'Would you flee from n French oficer?'
Me- iterated the gentleman. sNo, sir.'
sNor will 1. II he wishes to trouble me,
let him come" so sf sssaa H
The two gentlemen exchanged few whis-
pered sentences, and at length the elder
turned to our hero and remarked,- #
captain Clinton will serve you, sir, if
you desire.' a
THANK you sir, replied Tom, sbut l have
no desire to fght.' .E
The English Captain would have made
some answer to the remark, had not their
attention been at this moment attracted by
the approach of the French officer, and in
a moment more he entered the box where
sat our hero.
'American,' replied the Frcnchman. lay
ing his hand upon Toms shoulder, 'will you
give me little conversation
Certainly replied the Yankee, as he rose
from his seat and followed the other to one
of the lobbies. stssa1f ~
sNow, sir,' uttered the Lieutenant, as he
closed the door behind him, 'syou have CIV
en- me one very bad insultp
1T was you who insulted me- replied
Tom, nothing daunsed by the occasion which
began to manifest itself IN the others coun-
tenance. 6
sYou mistake me, sir. You insult me very