The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1870-11-01

SoAA io6O hOOAs
''Get out" he said to me.
De B. took the swords, and we
jumped out. / still smoked my cigar
mechanically, because 1 felt in abso-
lutte need of the occupation. The car
riages remained at a little distance.
The four seconds greeted each to other
and talked together some moments.
The ground was measured,-I looked
at the doctor with smile.
"Bah !" he said to me, at will go off
we'll enough"
With stealthy glance / observed
my adversary. He seemed exceeding
ly indifferent, and was also smoking.
The seconds tossed up some pieces of
money.
George came toward me.
"You have lost the sum-" he said.
"With my luck, you might as we'll
have tried for the moon; l should
have lost all the stars of the firma-
ment, one after the other"
"And you have lost the swords. You
will have to fight with your antag-
onist's. We'll, take off your coat. and
don't forget what 1 have said. Above
all, keep COOL"
All my selfpossession returned my
heart beat rather hard, but l deIibe.
rately took my place, lit up by some
rays of sunlight, and threw, off my
lat, coat and waistcoat. My adver-
sary and l stood face to face, three
PAGES apart, measuring each other with
the eve. Tha: is certainly the most
trying moment of cll. ..tf
Perfectly cool, / stopped to turn up,
one after the other, the bottoms of my
trowsers; then | frightened the waist
band so as to support my hips, and,
pulling up the shirt, pufed it out
around the breast, in order that the
sword might catch there without enter
ing. . ,..
George came up and extended to
me one of the swords which he and
another of the secones had just
measured, then, crossing the weapons,
he uttered the preparatory.
"Begin, gentlemen"
Like man accustomed to the sur
prise of the first moments, my adver-
sary retreated step. The blades be.
came somewhat engaged. With the
corner of my eyes l regarded Saint
VS. red gloves, brand-new ones,
which dazzled in the sun. The Mar
quis advanced two steps. and then at
tackled me with a rapid disengage-
ments. parried, rctreating quickly,
and sent him a riposte which made
him in turn retreat. There was no
other sound than the clashing of steel;
in the silence was heard the gasping of
our laboring breasts; We were both
exhausted. AS for me, my heart beat
terribly, and my profnse perspiration
gave the effect of complete submersion
in learning to swim.
All at once the Marquis exposed his
shoulder for perhaps a second; /
stretched out my arm and felt slight
resistenc ,; the point entered. drop
ped the sword as if it had burnt my
hand.
20, pardon me, sir" l exclaimed.
The first moment, quite involuntary,
to, is too beg pardon, as of some one
whom you have accidently hurt. The
sensation is very like that caused by
treading on gentleman's foot. The
blood gushed freely from pretty deep
wound; the shoulder and arm stilEed
the Marquis, supported under tree
smiled rather gloomily.
l put ON my things a little apart
| must own to certain pleasure in re
suming my coat while contemplating
at Il distace the group formed by my
friend the doctor, probing the wounC
and bathing it with fresh wafer, thu
Marquis reclining on one side, anC
Saint " bending over him witt
those eternal red gloves which kept VI
shining like the morocco of top
boots.
George carefully wiped the sword
and sheaIhed them. Then he came VI
, to me, his mustache biting in smil
which he had the good taste to swal
, low; his his eyes sparkling with plea
sure.
"Bravo, my little Castor p he said
= in low voice; now, my boy, go ant
shake hands"
, l made no objection, and approach
} ed the group just as the Marquis d
C. was saying to Saint v:
) 81 leave it to you Saint v, wit
| o,aan of anadaa sacon6 and Evy