, 1861-02-07


As to the place, a small island in the gulf Of
Kussnach was proposed and accepted
Alcide employed the interval between the
visit Of the second and the combat in making an
elaborate toilette for the occasion. When he at
length presented himself before me, he wore q
coat with bright metal buttons, striped panta-
looms, and o Crayat of black satin, surmounted
by white collar. p
7" Go right back" said, "and change your
costume entirely"
"What iors This is all bran new"
"7es, you are magnificent, l see; but the
stripes on your pantaloons, the buttons Of your
coat, and the collar Of your shirt, are so many
points to aim by. You Unjust put on dark dress
Of uniform tint; and as to your collar, you
must take it off altogether" N,t
But this will make US late"
"Be quiet we shall have time"
In Eve minutes he presented himself in pro-
per costume.
" Here am," be said, "just ct to direct
funeral only want Grape on my hat; but We
cannot stop for that now. l would not for the
world that they should arrive before us. But
promise me one thing before we start; that IL the
lot give us the right 70 regulate the conditions Of
the combat, you will accept mine"
Ipromsed him, and we entered the boat which
was to take US to the isle. We arrived q few
minutes before our adVersaries. Sir Robert had
expressly forbidden his second to make any con-
cessions, and there was nothing to be done but
to cast lots The first lot decided for pistols, in
stead Of swords; the second for the Englishman's
pistols which were familiar to him. in place Of
mine, which were equally unfamiliar to both ad-
versaries; the third gave us the regulations Of
the conditions Of the combat ! went to find
Alcide. N tlnN N iaftis,n., II
.Mell,TI said, @yOu asht with pistols
"sir Robert has the right to choose The pis-
tolls"
"Itis all the same to me"
Now it is for you 70 name the conditions Of
the combat" m e as M \
"Ahl' said Alcide, starting up, "now il will
be all right wish--do you hear ? remember
you have promised--I wish that we should march
toward each other with pistol in each hand,
and fire at will"
'tBut my dear friend" M W
"These are the conditions. will not accept
any other" ,s tssEf.
could say nothing was bound by my
promise. repeated the conditions 70 the ad-
versary's second, who went 10 find bis principal
After tie Interchange Of some words, Le returned,
and said $50 ~
Sir Robert accepts" ss g 1slla
We began to load tho pistols, when Aleidel
took me by the arm. Qe !
! "Lot the other one finish. he said; "I want
to speak to you"
We stepped aside. euas.gf
al have no relation in the world; and, II die,
there will be nobody to weep, unless It il poor
girl, who loves me with oil her heart"
Have you written TO herr" VA tWai
"Yes; here Is letter. She lives in t Is
place. If l am killed, you will give il % her;
IL am wounded, send for her 10 come to me-"
lie gave me her address, and returned 10
our adyersaries, who were now ready and wait
ing for US.
One Of the most poignant sensations which q
man can experience is 10 see two men, full Of
health and vigor who should have, both, long
years TO live, advancing toward each other, bold
ing death in each hand. In such cii iicumstances,
the part of actor is, believe, less painful than
that Of spectator; and am sure that the hearts
which in moment might cease 70 beat were
less violently agitated than mine. l could not
turn my eyes from this young man, 10 whom,
two days ago, saw vnly jester Of rather bad
taste, but In whom, at this moment ] felt the
deep interest Of friend. His hair was pushed
back his face had lost tho expression oi trivial
pleasantly which was hAbitual TO il; bis black
eyes, whose beauty remarked, even then, were
boldly fixed on his adversary; his half opened
lips showed teeth firmly pressed against each
other his s,ep had lost Its vulgar swaggeF; he
walked erect, his head high, and danger had
given him a dignity which had not suspected
as possible in him. The distance between them
rapidly diminished. They were at twenty PAGES
when the Englshman fired the first shot Some
thing like cloud passed over the iace Of his az.
versary, but he continued to advance. At If
teen PAGES the Englishman fired again, and stop
ped Aicide made movement as IL about to
stagger, but still advanced. As be approached,
his pale face assumed terrible expression He
stopped moment; then, as If not considering
himself neaf enough, he made another step ior-
ward. ltwas impossible to endure this any lon
ger. pe
Alcide, I" erred, care you going to assassin
ate hinI Fire in the air Good hcaycnsl
Fire in the air !" -,
at is very Easy for you to advise this" said
Alcde, opening his coat to show his bloody vest;
"you have not two bullets In your body"
AT these words, he extended bis arms to the
Engiishman's head, and blow out his brains
There" said he, sinking down upon the
ground, " believe have done II; aud il Is all
over with me, too. believe my accounts are
all right; but, at any rate, have killed one OF
those raseally Englishmen who murdered my
| Emperor"
| A dry old cOdger, connected with the railroad
interests, man who listens always, aud speaks
| little, and was never known to argue . hobby
with anybody, has lately been all mouth and ear
to very communicative spirit Of the ultra school.
| lie listened " and swallowed all sorts Of things
from the other world, with so much placidity Of
assent, that the spiritualst at last believed him
to be one Of the faithful. A few days since, the
spiritualst said to his pupil, "The spirito Of Brown
/ appeared 10 me last night and ordered me 10
borrow Eve pounds Of you" for a certain pnr.,
pose, which was named. "Yes, know it did,
he replied, "and isn't it strangeg The same
! spirit called on me half an hour afterward, and
told me not to let you have the money, as j. had
made mistake in giving you the order That
| spiritualist hasn't been to see the Old codger
! since.