Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-09-25
" Then YOU don't care about her

now easily 1t IS cOunCer1e1UeQ. !
have ring at home, with paste stone
IN it, I declare to you it flashes like
a diamond, and is thought as costly as
the best of the real stones [ wear So
with love. The counterfeit passes for
/ the real ninety-nine times in the hun
dred, and though I'll own [ would rath-
er have the real, if [ can't get it I
should be just as we'll satisfied with
! sham"
He then branched off into some very
| cynical remarks on the nature of love,
which, however [ am ashamed to say,
[ do not remember. as [ fell sound
asleep very shortly after he had COM
menced them.
I was awakened by the diligence
stopping at the Golden Lion inn, in
the principal street of F..
The fat, red faced babbler, who 1t
seems had been awake through the
whole journey, and had been boring q
mild looking gentleman who sat op-
posite him when he had found me
asleep, got out, and [ followed him.
He pulled out his watch, which
sparkled most gorgeously as it took
the suns rays, and exclaimed, turning
to me-
GA quarter to four, sir. Half an
hour after time"
''I'll bet you that it is not, said a
gentleman, with very fierce NOUS
tache, who stood smoking cigar be-
fore the door of the lsw-roofed apart
ment.
" [ should know" retorted the little
redfaced man, turning sharply upon
him, 6 for this is one of Leroy's best
watches. 1t cost two thousand francs.!'
"I'll bet you ten Louis that it is not
one of Leroy Watches" said the NOUS
tached smoker, coolly.
/ The red-faced man shrugged his
! shoulders, aud went into the travellers
room, saying to me-
"Don't dine here. We can do bet
| ter at cafe"
ETH wager you the value of the
watch that the watch is worth nothing,
and if you win you will receive what
you will not find it worth your while
to take, said the gentleman with the
mcustache, following us.
&C did not address my remarks to
you, SIR
"I'll bet you that you did, said the
other, with the most provoking cool
ness.
The little man, amazed by this per-
secution, touched his forehead to sig
Nifty that that the gentleman with the
moustache was mad.
I'll bet you don't prove that I'm
mad said the other.
There was a pause. They looked
like two dogs waiting to be slipped for
a fight.
"Upon my word" said the red-faced
man, 6 I know nothing of this fellow.
He is most impudent rascal, whoever
he is and have a good mind to make
him march off. D."
"I'll make you any bet you like you
don't make me march Off" exclaimed
the other, pulling his moustache, land
I'll further bet anything you like that
7 make you take the road back to Paris,
and that, too. without any delay"
The little man, whose face was now
deep crimson with rage, blurted
out
:" You won't find that very easy
matter, for [ came here to get mar
ried"
Gone hundred Napoleons you do not
marry p
Sir, you are an impertinent scound-
rel, and [ will pull your nose"
I'll make you any bet you like yoa
lie !'
The little man stamped with rage.
He glared around him for some mo-
ments in silence, then exclaimed:
& Do you want me to shoot you 2"
I'll bet you don't shoot me !"
"Where can we procure pistols 2"
exclaimed the red faced man, breathing
short
"The landlord will accommodate
us, " answered the other.
He hurried into the house, and re-
appeared with box containing a brace
of pistols.
[ had hitherto treated the affair as a
joke, laughing in my sleeve at the red
faced mans rage, and the others cool
insolence But [ thought it was now
time to interpose.
Gentlemen"
But the moustached man turned up
on me with frown.
" [ believe this gentleman to be a
coward, sir" said he, g and if you in
terfere, [ shall conclude you are con-
spring to prevent him from proving
himself a coward"
/ said no mora, but followed the two
men to lonely spot IN the park, where
the cigar hero was saluted by an officer
of the garrison, who was willing to be-
come his second.
Having loaded his pistols, we placed
! the men. It was agreed [ should give
the signal, which was to throw five
franc piece in the air.
My position was a peculiarly disa-
greeable one. Up to the last moment
[ had believed that the whole business
was only rather cruel practical joke
on the part of the man with the
moustache, and as my curiosity was
excited to follow this adventure to it's
conclusion, I had volunteered to be the
red-faced mans second but it seemed
now that one or the other, or both,
must be killed.
'Sir," said the man with the. cigar,
turning to me, " [ believe Master
jacques to be an honest man, but
though [ can vouch for his wine, L can't
vouch for his pistols. Before that
gentleman and [ make target of one
another, be so good as to throw that five
france piece in the air, to see how my
pistol carries -
/ [ did as he desired, and tossed the
money about seven yards high.
[ heard the report of pistol, and the
piece of money fell indented.
Bet" said the man with the
moustache, ''that [ pierce that leaf
vibrating at the extremity of yonder
bough."
And before the other could answer,
the trigger was pulled, and the leaf
was pierced.
"Bet," continued the man, with the
most ridiculous GOODNESS, =" that shoot
you clean through the pupil of the left
eye, and lay you dead, and that you
miss me.
The other was as white as a ghost.
81 believe you," he said, trembling
from head to foot, and throwing his
/ .a;rtol domn g nneSs Nnur motives