Middletown transcript., 1869-06-26
An Affair OF Honor.

/
place in Lebanon, during its occupancy by
the French troops. Some of the Due de
Lauzun's aristocratic young subalterns,
not initiating the modesty Of their chief,
were disposed to be rather supercilious,
and to put on airs toward the young peo-
pie of the town, when admitted to their
informal parties and merry-makings. In
this way gay, handsome young captain
gained an unenviable social distinction
and finally came to grief. At rural ball,
to which he had managed to gain admit
tance, his rowing fancy was caught by n
rustic beauty, a merry little coquette, who,
not having "a soul above buttons" was
not well pleased with his ardent glances, and
gallant, broken English, and who was i'm
mensely amused by marking the effect
produced by his devotion on the counte-
nance and demeanor of a certain stalwart
young farmer present, and lowering darkly
in the background, to whom, if the truth
must be told, this naughty little maid was
betrothed At last the dashing soldier
grew little too bold in his attentions.
The lady became slightly alarmed, and her
lover quite furious. lie strobe up to the
Frenchman, with his eyes blazing and his
hands clenched but addressed him in
cool, steady tone, thus: "Look here, mon
seer, you French fellows come to America
to fight, not to make love. So none of
your fatterin', and palaverin', and parlez-
vousin' about here. This young woman
belongs to me ; and you may just make
yourself scarce, double quick time
The young woman in question turned
very white, Monsieur le Captaine turned
very red; but, seeing that his Yankee ri
val looked very black, and was altogether
an ugly customer to deal with on the spot,
he merely said very significantly: "Mon-
sieur, have raiSon. Cetainnent we come
to Amerique to fyht." Then, bowing
low to the lady, he strobe haughtily away,
''With his sword cling, clang"
The next morning, an elderly French
officer, who had grown grim and gray in
the service, yet had been engaged, as prin-
cipal or second, in more ducls than bat
ties, waited on the young farmer, whom
he found in his barn, threshing, and pre-
sentcd cartel. The farmer, laying down
his fail, very deliberately opened tho note
and tried to spell out its contents; but, as
it was in French, he was obliged to get
tho Frenchman to interpret it. Somewhat
to the surprise of that officer, who was ca
ger for some agreeable event to break the
monotony of long winter encampment,
he readily consented to a meeting The
second then reminded him that he, as the
challenged party, was entitled to the choice
of weapons.
II don't care button what he fights
me with. I'm ready for him." said the
Yankee, rather evasively, wiping the sweat
and dust off his forehead with a blue cot
ton handkerchief.
"Ah den, we prefarc de ropier, what
you call the small sword. Will dat please
monsieur, ch ?' said the officer, bowing
and smiling with overwhelming politeness.
go! yes, as well as anything-small
swords or horse-pistols; ain't particular"
replied the farmer, coolly. Then the time
and place were agreed upon.
The Frenchman bowed himself out of
the barn as out of the presence of royalty, |
the farmer took up his fail and went on
with his threshing-thump, thump, thump!
Both parties came punctually to the du-
elling- ground, over in the wood, very ear
ly on mild spring morning; the gay cap
tain in undress uniform, with the old ma
jor, his temtn bearing a brace of small
swords; the surgeon Of the legion, with
his ominous case of instruments, his lint
and bandages.; then the farmer, in yet
more undress uuiform-S.-te {. req flannel
shirt and gray homespun trowsers, tucked /
into cowskin boots, his "hired man" for
second, and for his weapon the good hiek-
ory fail he had been swinging the day be-
fore
Great was the astonishment and volu-
BILE the indignation of the Frenchman
when finally made to understand that the
rustic really intended to fight the duel
with this ugly rural implement But he
sturdily stood his ground.
g." don't know anything about your
toastin'- irons" he said q but l do un-
lcrstand fail, and I've just made up
my mind to fight this here duel with a
Hail. So, monsieur, begin lungin' and
ookin' at me just as quick as you please"
The perplexed captain then dropped
lown to little friendly remonstrance;
saying, very blandly.
Pardon, monsieur, you know not de
luel. Permit me to recommend de small
sword. lend him wis de most, most
great Tlaisir, monsieur. You no take
lim you fight wis dat ting? See you
cut wis my rapier dat leetle Gordon dat 7,
lold de two part togeddcr, tout de suite
md den where will you be, eh 2"
The farmer laughed carelessly, and a
title tauntingly, as he replied
&c Never mind me, cap'en. Tn oble-
red to you. / can look out for myself, l
guess. Keep your extra small sword to
'pit your frogs on. I'll stick to my fail.
And now let's to work I'm in suthim of
! hurry to get back to my other thrashing
OBJ"
Biea," said the Frenehman, shrug-
ying his shoulders. a If monsieur wills
Q die put myself at his service, tout
fat"