The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-06-24
THE DUELIsT's REVENGE.

The bitter animosiiy existing in France be
tween the roys;ists aud imperia lists, found II
elimination on the restoration Of Louis XVIII
and ipuumcrable quarrels aud bloody duel
were the results. In Paris the two faction
met more punerously at the Palais Roya
than any other given point, and here the in
suit, the challenge, and its acceptance, follow
ed each other in rapid succession, and boil
parties, Immediately adjourning to some con
venient locality in the vicinity, not unfrequ
emily settled the whole affair within the hour
In this state of affairs it behooved every
man Of mark 10 be a good swo'dsman and q
dead shot, as about the only means Of pro
longing his life-for if known 10 be inferior
in the use Of deadly weapons, be was almost
certain to be involved in quarrel with som e
skillful antagonist, who would take both pride
and pleasure in sending him out Of existence
Wherever dueing is fashionable, there are
always more or less professed duelsts-meu
who have trained themselves to fight with
deadly weapons, who know all the nice points
Of advantage, and how TO obtain them, who
have schooled their nerves 10 an iron rigidity
and their features, manners and language TO
express perfect confidence 10 their success,
and who boas Of glory IN their individual
prowess, and the number OF victims they have
murderously sent out of the world. Yet these
same apparently bold, daring, reckless and
bl< ody minded men are generally towards at
heart and have really as much fear Of danger
as those whose timidity is made glaringly
manifest; but, like the professional gambler
they have been trainAd 10 calculate the chan
ces for and against themselves, and seldom
venture on what gives promise Of doubtful
issue, 30 that to save your elf from the annoy.
snce Of these gentry, it is only necessary to
have il generally known that in an affair OF
honor you would be quite as likely to kill as
get killed.
There were many Of this class 10 Paris at
that day who actually made living by duel
ing-they have their price, ike the Italian as.
sassirs OF former period, for getting rid Of
persons obnoxious TO their mpoyers-tbougb,
as we have al eady stated, they generally took
good care TO know all the fighting qualities
and ldiosyDcrasIes Of the proposed victim be-
fore actually closing the bargain of blood, and
IL they discovered too much danger in the,
case, they readily in ented such an excuse as
would save both their lives aud credit-for
who would dare question the motives and
courage Of men so famous f6r bloody deeds
Sometimes, however, they made serious mis-
takes, notwithstanding all their nice calculs
tions and then the world became n triae bet
ter for suddenly getting rid Of human curse.
There were Others who fought for the mere
love Of fighting, because their conba,ive and
destructive organs would never let them rest
in peace, and these were always ready for any
body anc any mode il being immsterial to
them whether they were to fire at their an.
tagonist at ten PAGES, cross swords with him
at cne, or be tied to him for quick settle
ment with dirks. Then, again, there were
others who fought to revenge Sights, both
real and fsDcied, or to settle personal or 10.
litical aDimosities, or because they were EN-
bitIered by dlsappointmeDts, or because they
were tired Of living and did not care 10 com
NIT suicide. And, Of course, 10 all this range
Of character, there We're many eccentricilies
displayed-f"r where dueling was go common
that ordinary meeting would scarcely be
mentioned op the following day, certain per.
sons we're sure to seek to make themselves re-
membered by some popularity that could not
fail to be long talked Of for its novelty.
Most Of these duels, as we have intimated
and impcrialists and where they met at the
Palais Royal, the great headquarters Of Paris.
the mode OF insult was simple and easy. A
ssucy look, grinmsce, or smile Of con
tempt, was frequently sufficient to draw forth
a challenge; but if these failed, jostle, a
push, or a tread on the foot, was always Ger.
tain to be success.
Oue day an imperialist eficer, one Captsin
Houitan, who was suffering from gvut, WAS
slowly bobbing along under the famous wood.
en- gallery Of the palace in question. when, be
spg somewhat pressed 10y the crowd, and fear.
ful Of being injured in bis suffering limb, he
took sudden step sside, aud accidentally
trod on the foot Of an officer Of the Royal
Guard. Quick rs ligh ming the latter, young
man Of spirit and fire, selzed the former by
the nose. and then cuffed him on both sides
Of the head. The face of the imperialist turn
ed deadly pale, as be said, quite calmly and
politely, evidently controlling his passion bya
master effort of the will:
II would have spo'ogized for what was re
ally an accident, had not Monsieur put il ou'
Of my power"
n do not wart an apology from such as
youP was the insulting reply.
"Your nameT demanded the other.
"Lieutenant Duvais, Of The Royal Guard, at
your service"
al shsll remember!" rejoined Captain Hon
itan, as he turned TO depart.
"Prsy do not forgetl" said the Lieutenant,
at the same time ,reading heavily upon the
gouty foot Of the Captain, aud thus drawing
from him an involuntary cry OF pain.
Duyais then walked away with proud and
baugLty air, leaving the other suffering fear
fully from pain and rage. As soon a, be could
eItricste himself from the crowd, the Captain
called for carriage, and was quickly driven
out Of sight.
For whole week Lieutenant Duvas re-
manned in momeptary exp citation o' cbal
lenge from the man be had 80 grossly insult
ed-but none came. Another week passed
away and the imperiaist was not heard from.
''he was q coward, and unworthy of my
no,icep said the dsshing young officer, with
P proud smile Of contempt.
"Why, what could you expect ot q man
who doubtless sgrsced himself at Water
looP rejoined one Of his brother officers with
z sneer. bah! this coues OF pebisn blood,
Henrp
Months passed away, and Henri Duvais,