, 1862-08-07
Strange Wagers.

The diligence stopped at the WhitehOrse inn. II
the. principal street Ct FOntainbleau. Fatigued
and oppressed by the heat on the road, we slowly
stretched ourselves and descended the steps Of to
vehicle as lazily as possible Smiling at the vacant
appearance which sleep, broken by our sudden an
rival had stamped upon the visages Of some Of
our iellOw-travelers. The 5aggage was dismolnied
and dinner ordered. SOme Of he country loIks
were eagerly pressing forward to gaze % theneWly-
arrived, together with their packages blfd-cag1s.
and children. In the midst Of this bustle hti
red-iaced man about thrtyyears q age, an insipid
babbler, who bad favored us the whole length Of
the journey with The hiatstS 81 Bis good speculas
hOns at FOntainblean, and Of bis marriage, which
he was at the present time there 10 consummato,
drew out his watch and exclamed-
" Already four o'elockg'
Bet that It is fot y said gentleman IN ilippeTa
who was smoking cigar beiOge the door q the
lOw-r0oled apartment. ...-.ff.
"Tis one Of Briquets watches" proudly an
swered the rubicund-laced gentleman, At thiI b.
terruptiOn. De,.
I" Ten louis that it is not one Of Bfiqaetsi1 70
piled the smoker ...-g-...f. g i..-~ .lf,
The Other gave him a loO, Of pity, and ventinto
the travellers room, saying 70 me,
Don't dine here y and. with touch d lb6
elbow, " we will 60 10 cafe, where we canedo
betterp ~. a.
an wager anything you choose that ne watch
Is worth nothing" persisted the one IN siippeTa,
fOlloRing after. f .l
IL did not address my conversation tOyou'
sir" 81. ..l ,., s..s,s =. a i 80
q Bet that YOU did" retorted Tie other
My iellow-tTayeler, ccslounded At this pelsecu.,
tion, raised bis hand pointing to bis forehead sig
niiying that the intruder was deranged.
" defy you % prove IT, continued his pelss-
cutOr; and with this parry and thrust the two
regarded each other with the most snarling looli5
il Is possible to conceive, just like two dogs about
70 be let loose at one another.
"Upon my word said tie traveller 70 me. q I
know nothing Of the fellow, bot ! have great n,
clination to make him march Of"
As to that, wager yOu do Hot,n answered th9
obstinate intruder. I" Moreover, win bet that ]
make you take the route back again 20 Paris, and
that. too, without much delay
" That will be no easy matter for yOu, as Ieams
here 70 get married"
"0ne hundred louis that you do notw
8 Sir, you are an iHpertinent scoundrel, and /
will box your ears.r BOG ~
a bet It's q lien
Upon this DE ruddy2heea gentleman slnmped
with rage, and passed before the fellow, making :
sign iog him . f0ll0E,
"fess my love- said the Other, talih5 aiIh bin
q box containing q brace o., pistols. =. !.
| n Hieuu lnteipo5eu DetHeen tnem 10 STOP INC
joke, but ii was no longer jesting matter, and
representations were useless. They reached solf
tary spot in the park, where the cigar hero Was
saluted by an officer Of the garrison, who was VIII
ling to become bis second. A fve-ifanc piece was
thrown into the air as a signal, The report of q
pistol followed, and the piece Of money isll, 10
dented.
"Bet" said tbe never-ceasing and imnoyabla
parksman that pierce that leaf trembling az
the extremity Of the bOugh," and II vas piercid
Wager that kill you, added he, cooly regard
ing the asionished traveller.
+" Tis probable7 replied ne other. changing
from the ruby to ghastly huei and since Il
probable, It's useless. Consequently I take again
the road back to Paris, Ind have the indnie honor
to be your very humble servants
10 fact. he deposited himself upon De impeIiala
Of the diligence. II turned odt ,fhat this vas 4
rival to whom the fair lady had given description
Of her intended and by this means he won the lady
in question. After the honeymoon. the dead shot
encountered the crest-faeh suitor n Paris, d1d
said to him: atIsiill
II wager that you return 10 Fonialnbleaa."