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


thoughtful and silent. From time to
time, however, | saw smile cross his
lips. imagine he understood my flow
Ol spirits.
On returning dined with George and
de B, and afterward, when L pro-
posed taking box at the Bouties, we all
went to the theatre together. The con-
versation was the same as III the morning,
though even more personal
Your adversary Is taller than you,
said George to me. You shall retreat,
but keep your sword aimed at his body
as much as possible, and ii you see an
opening, stretch out your arm, but don't
lunge."
. Bah y said /, laughing "let us
have supper, and talk of something else
Tomorrow will be time enough for all
that mean to ENJOY my laso night,
That was the fourth or 1ifth time that
had spoken OF my last aight, last even
/ ing, l0St dinner, in question
able taste.
" You viii oblige me by committingno
/ folles, and taking yourself of to sleep
early tins evening. DE h and are
] gong to talk awhile with you. aud see
] '
come for You to 60 to the fencing
room.
/ demonstrated, but to no purpose, and
after the play We all went to my apart
ments We lit cigars. chatted an hour
ana then my friend went away leaving
me alone, face to face with myself, and
the prospect of the morrow.
Naturally | desired to set my atairs in
0rIr.
Hardly had begun to take out the
various papers, bills, inventories, and
etters, when | saw them III such disorder
that pushed them all back pell-mell III
TO the drawer, without the courage to
examine Iarther
so | simply wrote short letter, in the
most tender terms, to my mother, sealed
and addressed it carefully, and left it on
my bureau. Then | went to bed and,
contrary, to my expectations, was able
to sleep. My last conscious thought was
TINS; Who knows if tomorrow evening
/ shall see this chamber once Jre :?
Who knows ii shall ever again lie down
upon TINS bed
On waking the first thing | saw was
Georges head beside my pillow. In IA
second the thought OF my first duel
flashed across me- and | felt IA sort Of
oppression at the heart Then, after the
first hand-cla,p, | examined his dress, -
black coat, hight trowsers, pearl-gray
gloves. | was sure he had Intentionally
avoided the lugubrious toilet common on
such occasions. He perceived my I'M
preston.
My dear fellow, said he "it is no
longer the custom to 60 to such "A meet
ing as TO a burial 1t is IA simple prone
made
rang for my valet.
Joseph, said George, bring your
master the stiffest starched shirt you can
= find, with turned-down collar. Then
get me his oldest pair Of boots, no mat
= ter what
} Joseph seemed surprised, butreturned
moment later with the objects desIg-
mated. George examined the shirt with
scrupulOus care
Good That will do Now take
| these boots to the shoemaker, and tell
him to cut off the heels close to the sole
like tins. TO, and be quick. y
listened in bewllderment while this
{ was passing.
1t is important, he explained, not
l to have the heel catch and make You
b lose Your balance when You are handling
, a sword. Beside, yOu want your foot
firm. but not pressed too hard 1t Is
superb weather lou are really tortu-
nate. You can fight i'll linen truwsers,
) which is much the most convenient
dress.
' Decidedly my friend George toob
gigantic proportions III my eyes. With
! out word put ON the Things he showed
Z me black coat. black walstcoat, white
j linen trousers. 4 few minutes more auo
1 We were at the hall. George appeared
: very wcll satisfied with my fen ny, bu
. renewed his recommendations of the da,
e before Ia which | listened with all III,
u ears.
1 That's it, stick him in the arm rs yot
Il advance. good, capital When yol
'- quit your adN.rsalY'S sword To attack
q disengage. and luuge below his hand
i Wen done There, that's enough, II,
need to fatigue yourself for nothing.
G. We went for the doctor: IL common
- friend and old college commde. \ goo,
). liver with frank, merry lHcc ana IOvla
S eye. and ready to do anything Tor us all
) He took his ease OF surgical instruments
u slipping it into his pocket aside that
Pc might not see. Lint some bandagcs,
If few little phials. and II bottle of pur
Il water, which he gave to the coach
Il man.
IL All three of us brcakiasted with Il
b The meal was gay, with occa
u sional moments Of unusual gravity SPIT
of the carelessncss of my character, ! wa
% afraid of making fool of myself. Whc
1t no one saw me, stole glance ut th
clock obviously the waiting ut once eX
" cited and cneruted me. What drcadc
'c was neither wounds nor death, but tn
l. unknown IN II word that UiSebUdb,
|, em1fion Of first debm, which has becom
II provcrbal. felt the need of locomutior
d Of occupation, mental or physical
At gave way tO abrapt, nervous movements
1t hard bursts OF laughter And yet | WI
1t not afraid We talked great dead, an
T. 1t was noticeable that whenever the cot
vcrsatiOn wandered away from the palp
III tatiug present one of ia involuntarll
{ recalled it,
Tell me, Doctor" said to Escuh
Ut Plus. "Do you consider four o'clock /
th the afternoon u good time to fight p
"Assurcdly, replied IL, tranquil,
9" "you have none OF the uncertainties IN
ut trGmors of too early rising You are I
he your ease digestion IL effected, aud TIN
nd allows the performance of AN oper'
I'd tion."
ne Against my will shndderod at TIN
ge phrlse, performance IF an operation, u
~ tered with 40 much placidity
ii. 70 turn II oil | went To the plan'