The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-05-18


Lavallettc At this time the use Oh
side-arms had fallen into disropute
and such affairs were settled with the
pistol The papers stated that the an.
tagonist of Mons Malsherbes was Sc
riouslv wounded and | hurried to the
city to hear the true particulars.
was stopping at st. Cloud then and
soon reached the quarters of my
friend, who, in an agitnted manner,
gave me the following.
"a day before the duel 1 received a
cartel from the hands OF captain in
the navy in which the writer, who
singcd himself Lieutenant Layalette,
congratulated me upon my recovery
and imagining n desire for revenge
must actuate Captain Malsherbes, off
cred full opportunity to crafty that
revenge, If Nj. Malsherdes did not feel
himself unfit on account Of his wood
Ell leg The writer would meet him mt
any place appointed, the challenged
party to choose the weapons II CON
Guided ia this 7,aacr: "Tha spirit
and courage Of Mons. Malshclhes is
too well known to be doubted. but
the writer assures BIN whether he nc
cepts or refuses the offer now made.
he VIII be encountered until one or
the other fall
"Of course accepted; | could
do nau9ht else. Appointed the time
and place- Bois de Boulogue at five
O'Clock IN the morning; pistols for our
Weapons. An allusion ] was forced to
make to my wooden leg, waving all
inequalities on that score; but this
was received with a grim smile by my
polite friend. / am generally dead
shot with my pistol, but candidly,
felt that | bad serious misgiyings as
10 the result. | had alreadv three
strong reasons for not despising my
antagonist | selected my second, an
old military comrade, and we repairo q
to the Bois de Boulogne, and there |
wounded Ciel can say no more.
Another time / viii tell you the rest. "
| eazed at my friend in bowilder-
mcut His rapid uttcrance, his
flushed check, bis evident reluctance,
all ostonished me. and | hastened to
our mutual friend, the surgeon, who
attended him to the hostile meeting.
he told me these additional particu-
lars
"Wo met at the appointed hour.
Every formaiity was gone through
Mons Malsherbes was propped
against tree SO that his wooden in
trinity bore not 10 his disadvantage,
and to make all even, Lieut. Layalette,
who was in the full uniform of the roy
nj navy, was likewise backed by tree.
The main conditions OF the duel were
that AT the word each party was TO
deliver fire, and if neither were wound
ed, the seconds were TO reload their
pieces and ALLOW them TO commence
ne 1OrO. The combat was restricted
to three ahots-distance twenty paces
st the FIRST fire, l. yaleites cap was
carried away and MalshcIbes wound
odin the hesny part of the left arm.
They rejected the offer of release.
Each second reloaded their pistols
Both eyinced the greatest GOODNESS and
precision. The seconds, both vetcr-
ans, were perfectly charmed All
Was silent rs the grave. Ii was early
dawn; the swallows twitteled Though
the Park the fresh AIR OF morning
horc an incense of redolent leaves and
dew-washed flowers; the grey sky
above them frightened every moment
with the ascending sun, and looked
wohderngly upon these two madmen,
bent upon sending each other out of
tins beautiful world for what began in
folly and ended IN passion Never
dad this lovely Park look lovelier than
now. Nature upon all sides, spoke
more eloquently for peace and good
Will among men, than ever an angle
did. Nevertheless the duel went on
At the second lire both parties re-
celved Il flesh wound, but ms they were
mutually agreed upon renewing hos
ulties, again were the pistols re. load
ed. Upon this fire NJ. Malsherbes re-
ceiyed no further hurt, but Lavalette
iell as we thought at first, mortally
wounded. | FASTENED, assisted by
them all, to uniasten the throat-gea
and coat of the wounded man. The
delicate fair throat and neck betrayed
to our astonished gaze that Lava
lette's dress was but skillful dis
gulse. We We're all too paralyzed for
a few moments to even think. We
placed the lady in Q iiacre, her second /
OBTAINING the vehicle one moment TO
assure us on his honor that the dis
covery jast made was. as astounding to
him as to us. He had sailed for sew
eral years with Lieut.. Lavalette, who, /
as an officer of the navy, had of course
been regarded as man, and man,
he assured them, generous, skillful and
brave. Malsherbes was too Devil /
dered to exciaim aught but Madeline
and now all Paris Is ringing with this
last romance.
i listened, wonderingly. Knowing
Mons. Malsherbes as well as / did, |
the matter at q glance
The willful, high, imperious Madeline
Lavalette had thus sought to avenge
the scandal lie had placed upon her
That my friend was just the one to
like her the more for this spirit, well
knew, and fingered near to see the
denoumem that would follow. l was
called and assisted to extract the bull |