Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-11-14

The red-faced man shrugged his shoulders,
and went into the travellers room, saying to
me
"Don't dine here. We can do better at the
cafe."
'"I'll wager you the value of the watch
that the watch is worth nothing, and If you
win you receive what you will not find it
worth your while to take" said the gentleman
with the moustache, following US. =,
"I did not address my remarks to you, sir. Z"
"I'll bet you that you did," said the other,
with the most provoking GOODNESS.
The little man, amazed by this persecution,
touched his forehead to signify that the gen.
tleman with the moustache was mad.
"Ill bet you don't prove that I'm mad"
said the other.
There was pause. They looked like two
dogs waiting to be slipped for fight.
"Upon my word" said the red.faced man,
II know nothing of this fellow. He is a most
impudent rascal, whoever he is and / have a
good mind to make him march off,"
"I'll make you any bet you like you don't
make me march off," exclaimed the other,
pulling his moustache, "and I'll further bet
anything you like that I 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 married"
"One hundred Napoleons you do not mar
ry!' =,
"sir, you are an impertinent scoundrel, and
I will pull your nose" 70"
"I'll make you any bet you like you lie J"
The little man stamped with rage. He
glared around him for some moments IN 81
lence, then exclaimed:-
"Do you want me to shoot your"
"I'll bet you don't shoot me-
"Where can we procure pistols ?" exclaimed
the red-faced man, breathing very short.
"The landlord will accommodate us" an
swered the other.
He hurried into the house and reappeared
with box containing brace Of pistols.
had hitherto treated the affair as joke,
laughing in my sleeve at the red-faced mans
rage, and the others cool insolence. But l
thought it was time now to interpose.
"Gentlemen."
But the moustached man turned upon me
with frown.
81 believe this gentleman to be coward,
sir" said he, "and ifyou interfere, | shall con-
clude you are conspiring to prevent him from
proving himself coward"
said no more, but followed the two men
to lonely spot in the park, where the cigar
hero was saluted by an officer of the garrison,
who expressed willingness to become his
second. &c..
Having loaded the pistols, we placed the
men. 1t was agreed I should give the signal,
which was to throw fve-franc piece into the
air.
My position was peculiarly disagreeable
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 ex-
cited to follow this adventure to its conclusion,
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, II believe Master Jacques to be an
honest man; but though I can vouch for his
wine, can't vouch for his pistols. Before
that gentleman and I make target of one
another, be so good as to throw that fve-franc
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 a pistol, and the piece
of money fell indented.
"Bet," said the man with the moustache,
"that pierce that leaf vibrating at the ex-
tremity 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 coolness "that l 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 ghost
II believe you," he said, trembling from
head to foot, and throwing his pistol down.
81 guess your motives and admire your STRAIT
agem, and, as I am not prepared to die, l
shall take the road back again to Marseilles." !"
In fact, we saw him deposit himself in the
imperiale of the diligence.
turned to the moustached gentleman for
an explanation. He invited me to take a
glass Of wine with him in the travellers room,
and with great good humor proceeded to solve
the enigma.
He was friend of the young lieutenant,
and famous as the most deadly shot in
France. He had received letter the day
before from his friend, begging him to come
to F. and he to carry out ruse which
he trusted would enable him him to marry the
girl he was passionately in love with.
The moustached gentleman complied, left
Paris and reached F. in time to receive
from his friends lips particulars of the STRAIT.
agem he and the young girl had concerted
between them.
That stratagem was perfectly successful.
The little red-faced man, as I afterward heard,
on his reaching Marseiles, wrote to the father
of his intended bride, apologizing for not
having been able to keep his promise to 60
down to them. You may believe he took
good care not to inform the father of the real
reason that had prevented him from paying
his devoirs to his betrothed.
The red-faced man, however, had no inten-
tion of breaking off his engagement, until he
was accosted one morning in the streets OF
Marseilles by the moustached gentleman, who
asked if be still persisted in his intention to
marry the young lady.
"Certainly," was the reply.
"Then," said the other, 'if you want to
reach her hand you will have to mount first
on my dead body, and, secondly, on the dead
body of the lieutenant. Are you prepared to
scale these fortressesw
Certainly not"
Then 60 home; write to the young lady's
father that circumstances compel you to aban-
| don YOUR promise to we'd her. | shall know
by the day after tomorrow if that letter has