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

hkened my friend George to the most
accomplished of tortures.
We got into the landau. The other
gentlemen were all ready, and went on
before us. The way was long, too long.
70 me 1t seemed intermlnabie. From
the back seat | gazed ut the landscape,
smoking all the while with an absent air
Opposite me was Georges pale face, his
black mustache emphasizing his manly
countenance. His eyes never lost sight
OF me, and now and again his hand ener-
getlcally pressed nine.
Beside Inc sat the doctor good com
Portable figure In the bottom of the
carriage were the light swords, with
curved guards and large hits, easy III
hand, not too long, nor so flexible rs
easily to Jurn the edge. | felt childish
delight III unsheathlng them as we drove
along, and seeing how they ghttered
after the grinding and sharpening OF the
evening before. Isen / passed my
finger over the point, as an epicure passes
his finger over his lips, and, III spite OF
myself, | secretly found them little TOO
well pointed.
At last the end Of our route appeared.
As we turned to the lett | perceived the
park railing at which something seemed
| to tighten suddenly about my heart.
But | lit another cigar, and went on
| smoking with the greatest apparent tran
guilty.
The carriages stopped. We had ceased
to talk, lk,-lnvoluntarly our voices had be-
come hoarse and hollow. / put my head
out of the door, and George jumped
down. The other gentlemen parleyed
with the porter, who opened the gates.
Not "a soul was about the chateau The
first carriage proceeded slowly along the
alley, conducted by the porter, cap i'll
nand. No one spoke. The alley was
narrow and shady. The gates had been
closed again. Nothing now was heard
save the wheels turning slowly and graf
ing with sharp sound on the gravel OF
the garden. We turned to right then
to lett, with frequent stoppages, rs if
/ following funeral procession. l bent
/ down to the doctor ear, and whispered
with the greatest GOODNESS,
DO you know ii the family vault is
still some way OFF,
He looked at me III astonishment and
burst into peal of laughter.
George, head had appeared at the
carriage door,
d" Get out, he said to me.
De b took the swords, and we
jumped out. | still smoked my cigar
mechanically, because | felt III absolute
need OF the occupation. The carriages
remained at little distance. The touI
seconds greeted each other and talked
. ] Ft,a Il
was measured, Il looked at the doctor
with "A smile.
+" Bah ~ he said to me, "it will go of
well enough.
With stealthy glance | observed my
adversary. He seemed exceedingly in
ditiereht, and was also smoking. The
seconds tossed up some pieces Of money
George came toward me.
You have lost the sun, he said.
"Wlth my luck, you might as wei
have tried for the moon | should havt
lost all the stars OF the armament, one
after the other.
And you have lost the swords You
will have to fight with your antagonist 5.
Well take of your coat, and don't for
get what | have said. Above all, keel
cool.
All my self-posession returned my
heart beat rather hard, but deliberately y
took my place lit up by some rays ot
sunlight, and threw of my hat, coat INC
waistcoat. My adversary and | stood
face TO face, three PAGES apart measur
my each other with the eye. That Is
certainly the most trying moment o
all.
Perfectly cool, | stopped to turn up
one after the other, the bottoms OF my
trowsers; then ! frightened the waistban,
SO rs to support my hips and, pulling
up the shirt, pulled it ont around til,
. breast, III order that the sword NIGH
catch there without entering.
George came up and extended to ln'
one OF the swords which he and anothe
OF the seconds had just measured, then
crossing the weapons, he uttered the pre-
{ partory.
, Begin, gentlemen y
\ Like man accustomed to the surprls
OF the first moments, M adversary re
! treated ii step. The blades became some
1 what engaged With the corner of IN.
eyes | regarded Saint VS. red gloves
. brand-ncw ones, which dazZled in 'th
D sun. The Marquis advanced two steps
and then attacked me with rapid dis
d engagements. | parried, retreatlni
/ quickly, and sent him II ripostc whlcI
i made him in turn retreat. There was n
. other sound than the clashiug Of steel
:, in the silence was heard the gasplng q
| our laDorng breasts We were both *
"A hausted As for me, my heart beat TEL
q ribly, and my proluse prrsplratlon gay
10 the effect of complete submorslon i
learning to swim.
q All ut once the Marquis exposed hi
j. shoulder for perhaps second, | stretche
e ont my arm and felt II slight resistance
$ the point entered. | dropped the swor
IA as IL IT had burnt my hand.
q 80, pardon me, sir y | exclaimed.
+ The first moment, quite involuntary
Il too, il TO beg pardon, as of some on
e whom You have accidentally hurt. Tn
b sensation is very like that caused b
G trending on gentleman's foot. TIA
!, blood gushed freely from pretty dee
| wound the shoulder aud arm stiiiened
3, the Marquis. supported under II tre'
~ smiled rather gloomily.
Il | put on my things little apart
l. must own TO II certain pleasure IN feSnn
l. ing my coat while contemplating ut
y distance the group formed by my iricn
the doctor probing the wound and batl
T. ing IT with fresh water the Marquis r.
II clining on one side, and Saint V
bending over him with those eternal re
Y; gloves which kept up II shining like IL
Il morocco of top-boots
1t George carefully wiped the swords aiI
1t shcathcd them. Then he came up
y me, his mustache biting in smile whic