The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-02-15

credulity.
Will you fight yourself with me, or
will you not? p roared the Count, goaded
to fury.
If Monsieur lie Comte will give him
self the trouble to accompany me to the
apartment which no doubt, is now pre-
pared for me" replied the stranger rising,
. l will satisfy him"
Good" said the other, kicking down
his chair [ am with you. waive the
usual preliminaries. only beg to OBJ
serve that | am without arms but if
you"
40, don't trouble yourself on that
score," said the stranger with grim
smile. Z" 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 toward the house
Was there no one to call police" no
one to try and prevent what to all seemed
imminent ? Not soul The dreaded
duelist had his evil fit on, and every one
breathcd 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 Of his coat and waistcoat, and
proceeded to move the furniture so as to
leave the room free for what was to fol-
low-the count standing with folded
arms, glaring at him the while The
decks being cleared for the action, the
stranger locked the door, placed the key
on the mantel-piece behind him, and
said:
l think you might have helped lit
tie; but never mind. Will you give NE
your attention for five minutes ?"
Perfectly"
Thank you. am, as I have told
you, Frenchman, but was educated in
England, at one of her famous public
schools. Had | been sent to one of our
own Lycees, | 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 le
Comte?"
/" cannot hatter myself that L do"
Ha. Then [ must be more explicit.
L learned, then, that one who takes ad-
vantage of mere brute strength against
the weak, Or when, practiced in any art,
compels one Impractical in it to contend
with him, is coward and knave. Do
you follow me now, Monsieur le Compe ?"
/" [ 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, for
the mere vicious love Of quarreling, goads
to madness a boy who has never fenced
in his life, and kills him, that man is
murderer; and more---a cowardly MUIR
derer, and knavish"
81 think l catch your meaning; but
if you have pistols here" foamed the
bully.
L do not come to eat Strawberries with
pistols in my pocket" replied the other,
In the same calm tone he 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, it would be considered
that man who had been guilty of such
cowardice and knavery as L 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
at the same disadvantage as he placed
that poor boy at"
Our seconds shall fix your own weap-
ons, Monsieur" said the Count; {" let
this farce end"
Presently. Those gentlemen whose
opinions L now venture to express, not
having that craze for blood which dis
tinguishes some-who have not had asim-
liar enlightened ducation-would proba-
bly, think that such a coward and knave
as we have been considering would best
meet his deserts by receiving humiiat-
ing castigation beftting his knavery and
l..