Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-11-19


in two hours at this address" llinging him
q card.
i shall not trouble myself to seek
Monsieur lie Comtc,p replied the. straw
berry eater, calmly tearing the card in
two.
"Then shall say of Monsieur what he,
permitting himselfto lie, said just now of
me-" ..--...-.-.. ...,
"And that isg" at ..t.
That he is a coward" ,I..... I..|
"You may say what you please, Mon
sieur lie Comte. Those who know me
would not believe you, and those who do
not-my faith what care l what they
think ~ f r..... ....... .r..r
"And thou-thou art a Frenchmanr
No one 6W q Frenchman could have
thrown so much disdain as he did into the
'Ut0upr r.r. .f..'.... .ar O..
The strawberry eater made no reply, but
turned his head and called" "Garcon !" The
poor trembling creature came up again,
wondering what new dilemma was pre-
pared for him, and stood quaking some ten
yards of. r-- r~-r----.r-.r I'D
"Garcon," said the stranger, "is there a
room vacant in the hotel?"
without doubt, Monsieur" .ur .Tn
"a large one?"
But t. Certainly 3, They are all large
"Then engage the largest for me for to-
day, and another--no matter what-for
Monsieur lie Comte."
4" Monsieur, give my own orders when
necessary" said the Count, loftily.
II thought to spare you the trouble.
Go, if you please" (this to the waiter,)
land prepare my rooms"
Then the strawberry eater returned to
his strawberries. The bully gnawed his
lip. He could not make head or tail of
this phlegmatic opponent The circle
| grew a little wider, for a horrid idea got
abroad that the Count had not found one
who was likely to suit HIM, and chat he
would have to seek elsewhere what he
wanted.
The murmur that went round reused
the bully.
Monsieur" he hissed, "has presumed
to make use of word which among men
of honor"
"Ibeg your pardon?"
(which among men of honor"
| "But what can Monsieur le Comte pos
sibly know what is felt among men of
honor?" asked the other, with a shrug of
incredulity.
"Will you fight yourself with me, or
will you not, roared the Count, goaded to
| fury. II
If Monsieurie Comte will give himself
the trouble to accompany me to the apart
ment which, mo doubt, is now prepared for
me" replied the stranger, rising, " 1 will
"Good," said the other kicking down
his chair; "I am with you. waive the
usual preliminaries. l only beg to observe
that am without arms; but if you"
60, don't trouble yourself on that
scorc," said the stranger, with grim
smile. If you are not afraid, follow
me-"
This he said in voice sufficiently loud
for the nearest to hear and the circle
parted right and left, like startled sheep as
the two walked towards the house.
Was there no one to call "police," no
one to try and prevent what to all seemed
imminent Not q soul The dreaded
duelist had his evil fit on, and every one
breathed freely now that he knew the
victim was selected. Moreover, no one
supposed it would end there. ~
The count and his friend (?) were ush-
cred into the apartment prepared for the
latter, who, as soon as the garcon had left,
took off his coat and waistcoat, and pro-
ceeded to move the furniture so as to
leave the room tree for what was to fol-
low-the count standing with folded arms,
glaring at him the while. The decks being
cleared for action, the stranger locked the
door, placed the key on the mantel-piece
behind him, and said
81 think yon might have helped a little
but never mind. Will you give me your
attention for five minutes ?"
Perfectly"
"Thank you. am, as have told you,
Frenchman, but was educated in Eng
land, at one of her famous public schools.
Had been sent to one of our own Lycees,
l should, perhaps, have gained more book
knowledge, but, as it is, have learned some
things which we do not teach, and one OF
them is, not to take mean advantage OF
any man, but to keep my own head with
my own hands. Do you understand me,
Monsieur lie Comte?"
"I cannot flatter myself that I do"
"Ha Then l must be more explicit
learned, then, that one who takes ad-
vantage of mere brute strength against
the weak, or who, practiced in any art,
compels one unpracticed in it to contend
with him, is coward and knaye. Do
you follow me now, Monsieur le Comte ~
| came here, Monsieur"
"Never mind for what you came, be
content with what you will get. For eX-
ample-to follow what / was observing
if man skilled with the small-sword, Tor
the mere, vicious love of quarreling goads
to madness a boy who has never fencedin
his life and kills him, that man is fnur-
derer; and more-a cowardly murderer,
and knayish."
~ think l. catch your meaning; but
If you have pistols here" foamed the
bully.
II do not come to eat strawberries with
Ipistols in my pocket" replied the other, in
the same calm tone he had used through
out, ALLOW me TO continue. At that
school of which have spoken, and in the
society of men who have grown out of it,
and others where the same habit OF
thought prevails, 1t would ber considered
that d man who had been guiltysof such
cowardice and knayerY as have men
TONED, would be justly punished if, some
day. he should be paid in his own coin by
meeting some one who would take him al
i the same disadvantage as he placed that
poor boy at"
"Our seconds shall fix your own weap-
ons, Monsieur" said the Count; slet this
farce end
Presently. Those gentlemen whose
| opinions i now venture 10 express, not
] having that craze for blood which dis
; tinguishes some-who have not had sim.
liar enlightened eduoati0n-would proba.
bly, think that such coward and knave
as we have been considering would best
meet his deserts by receiving humiliat.
ing castigation behtting his knayery and
his cpW9rllce.iol Esn1 rhE G4W
"Ahl / see / have a lawyer to deal
with, y sbeered the, COupt - =
sWYes.LI have studied a little law but
/ regret " say i am about 10 break one o.
I its provisions"
"You will fight me thenS'
yes At the school we have beer
, speaking OF, learned, among other things
, the use Of my hands; and if l mistake not,