National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-10-28
TIE FIRST III Ell.

II was scarcely dawn when my valet
knocked at my door. Two cards were IN
us hand. Drowsiy enough | cast my
eyes over them. and saw tine names OF
two members OF our ciup.
A discussion of the previous evening
with tine Marquis de- {. returned to my
mind. and although secretly wishing my
sell ont ot this luuusn affair." begged these
gentlemen to excuse my not receiving
them, and invited them 10 call that after
noon at three % clock upon George J..
one of my oldest friends, an officer OF
African claSsaurs, on leave at Paris. in
order to meet de B, my other
second, and range the conditions of the
Ime
lae,e gentlemen gone, Joseph made
my toilet quickly, and / hastened to
@ otgc 10 explain my affair.
" My dear friend, he said to me, "as
tli, lSa first duel, here Is my opinion
lou are very young, absolutely without
excuse, If you meet him, good II you
beat, better yet.
must write at once to de B, and
go to the smith about my swords.
No need of that. Go to the fencing
hall to get back your fighting hand ana
ieIs, Practice an hour, not more or You
VIII do too much | viii let de b
know, As Tor tine swords, there are mine,
winch are lucky
| smiled with constrained air, and
pressed his hand. \ significant grasp,
cnnNulslve energy, to be found only
under certain circumstances. Then
hurried TO the hail, and spoke to my
ieucmg-Gnaster. VINO, in view OF the i'm
ppridnce of the casc, exercised lac for an
hoar IN counter of quartz, retrratinp
VITA tcInts from the arm. | left the hal
m delight, armed with the bcucdletlou Oi
my irutln -maStcr, who pledged hl'
head that | should wound my adversary
'omg to DurHnd' $. | practlScd all tn,
way counters of quartz with my cane, t,
do honor to Cordelol's S teaching, | coul,
tmnk Of nothing but my duel. | wante,
to talk of 1t to everybody. Had the Mar
gus de g., against whom had no grudg,
"dered the fullest apologies, shoul,
ha'" refused them with spirit.
At DmmHds found George and d'
IL. We all three brcakiastcd to
g.thcr The whole talk was of ducls
OI course George rccouuted to me h
meetings III Algeria. from which 1t ap
peared that one Is very seldom killed II
cold blood with the sword. | coolly dc
rEtred that / would drink the blood q
Tine Marquis, at which George hughc,
outright asked myself II | should sen,
nun also a couple OF seconds. On th
whole, uo. He Wss very fond OF me
beside, | suspected was becoming
niue too much ol the bully
These gentlemen left me in order T.
meet my adNersary's seconds | wen
nome little nervous excitement
was short with Joseph, who did not kno'
what to make of It, | got ON my hors
AS usual, and went to the Bois De Bou
l9gnc, Every one spoke oi my due
winch began to bc noised abroad. | pa
on my me different air, and llstenc
politely kcd and bowed II grcu
ueal. Charming, the Bois. Magnhecu
weather Autumn toilct--the prettlcr
possible Two daHSo,scS of the ballc
troupe stopped their victoria
Tell me- said little v, care go
really going to fight the Marquis dc
tomorrow P'
le' Don't mention it it is NJ
public, Tomorrow morning, wit
swords"
All my poor Gnston Good luck,
Her Jet-black eyes smiled II carcss TIN
eharmcd and drew me. | followed IL
carriage Mt an easy gnllop. She rcgardc
ne Wltll n soitencd air The look turn,
my hend, and began to thinl, il u iil
t'lhg to have duel. Pcrceivlng Georl
1t, distance on his Arabian, | mode
""o the pace of my thoroughbrc
'corRc joined me.
, hou will fight tomorrow ut four
tilo nitrnoon, 1T Vcsinot The arrnng
uleills ARE all made. Keep cool durl
.ho ailhlr. Your antagonist is nothii
remarkable, but he has had three due
nld fences pretty we'll We will 20
tile hnll together tomorrow befo
breakfast"
VERY we'll, replied hconically.
HIS last words had somewhat damp