Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-04-10

while, a duel fell upon him all of a sud.
den, and most ugly.looking duel too,
with an American, one Mr.. Democritus
o. Turf, of Petroleumville, U. s. Mr.
Tuff had come TO Paris to amuse himself;
he met M. Pistache at the club to which
they both belonged, and forthwith pro-
ceedcd to poke fun at him. There were
some who said that poking fun was sec
ond nature with Mr.. Tuff, and that his
choosing M. Pistache for the butt of his
pleasantries was an accidental circum
stance; but then the knowledge that he
must be cautious for fear of ofimprisonment
had perhaps developed an extra-sensitive-
ness in M. Pistache, so that he took 1t
very, very badly when, on arriving at
midnight last Shrove Tuesday at Marshal
MacMahon's residence, disguised as a Co
chin-China fowl, he learned that the invi-
tation which he held in his talons must be
a hoax, for his Excellency was giving no
ball that night. Yet the invitation had
been signed in the name of Viscount
d'Harcourt the Presidents secretary, and
had conveyed in express terms
that no guests would be admit
ted without fancy costume, more
over, Mr.. Turf and his friends Prince
Casino and the Marquis de Rigodon had
each pretended to have similar invita-
tions, and it was at Mr.. Tufts suggestion
that M. Pistache had arrayed himself like
a Cochin China fowl, "for," said the
American, 1--WE had better ali four go as
poultry, and make quadrille of it." Ii
is true that farces are permissible in car
nival time, and M. Pistache should have
been on his guard; but there are farces
which exceed all limits, raved NJ Pistache,
as he rolled back to Paris in his ruffled
plumes; and such was his wrath that he
screamed to the coachman to drive straight
TO the club instead of first going home to
change his things. The truth is that the
thirst for vengeance made him forgetful,
but perhaps the yellow feathers that
coated his legs and body and the cocks
head, which he carried under his arm as a
Prussian officer does his helmet, some
what detracted from the outraged dig
nifty of his countenance as he bounded up
the club staircase and plunged toward the
card room. All M. Pistache's tormentors
are present-Prince Casino, who stops
halfway in his deal to roar; young Rigo-
don, who sinks on to sofa in spasms
and that diabolical American, who buries
his sallow face in his handkerchief and
screams like hyena.
"Ah, you taught" howls NJ. Pistache,
whose plumage seems to bristle upon end
with fury, and, making a dart toward MIR.
Tufts glass of mintjulep, he dashes that
beverage with rageful hand ever the
Americans elaborate walstcoat. There is
no retracting now, the deed IL done.
NJ. Pistache is hurried downstairs into
his brougham by the astounded bystand-
ers, and he is vaguely conscious as he
speeds homeward that he has mentioned
two hussar officers-the Marquis de
Muguet and Count Mirliflol, both specta-
| tors of the scene-to act as his friends
| Then an hour passes, and after that another
hour, and M. Pistache, divested of his
fancy costume, robed in a dressing.
gown and feverishly smoking a cigar, sits
| by his fireside as the two hussars enter to
| give him an account of their mission.
If NJ. Pistache had caught them outside
the door he might possibly have observed
that they were tittering and had humor.
Gus twinkle in their eyes; but as it is he
notes only an aspect of the utmost seri-
business on their features.
at is gloomy business, my poor
Pistache," begins NJ. de Muguet, and he
unfolds how that American, being a
sanguinary character, and having as the
insulted party the choice of weapons,
had stipulated for nothing less than that
the two principals should be let loose in
the Bois de Vincennes, each with a rifle
and fifty cartridges, and do their best at
each other from behind the trees. But
we explained that this was impossible be-
cause the shooting season is over and the
forest rangers might wonder" adds the
Marquis feelingly; land then he was for
o Corsican duel-foot to foot with two
daggers apiece"
ht,t IN 10 q
BRUTE" falters NJ. Pistachc, experiencing
something like Jumps VI ice running down
his spine.
ayes, he's downright BRUTE" answers
the Marquis, "but we have obtained rea
sopable terms at last; you are each to
have a pair of doubled barreled pistols
| to stand at ten PAGES apart, and to fire al
will, walking toward each ether"
"Ten paces-four bullets" answers nj
Pistache, with eyes starting, and huge
lump rising to his throat; but he can add
no more, for this is mere murder-one OF
those unnatural, baIbarous combats
which, as abovesaid, are unworthy of a
Frenchman, and M. Pistache sees that his
doom is sealed. "Thank you, my
friends.n he says, recovering deadly
| calm aIter NV nIst ----..anf'a amntinn
"Thanks, shall be ready;" and the pail
of hussars, wringinr his hands in silence
promise to be with him at seven, and
withdraw. 1t is thc.i five o'clock, anc
when the friends reap car at seven, hav
ing a box of pistols in their brougham be
low. a heap of sealed envelopes are lying
on M. Pistache's tabi >. NJ Pistache has
made his will and lden a pathetic bu
! untrembling good-b! to all his kinsfolk'
and acquaintance.
A golden sun, a bl e sky, an open ex
panse of turf for a clear mile to north anC
south, and the Grand Stand OF the Vln
cennes race-course acting as shelter Il
the east-such is the smooth, glad spo
where NJ. Pistache and Mr.. Tuff are &c
ing to exterminate one another. There
no waste of time in iormaliLies, for tha
glass of mint,julep must be obliterated il
gore without delay; so the principals ant
seconds coldly bow, the ground is mea!
ured, the pistols are loaded, and then M
Pislache solemnly finds himself with
deadly weapon in each hand, waiting TO
the fall OF Prince Casinos handkerchle
He feels no rancor, only heroic resigns
tion; but he glances at the Prince, and
the handkerchief flutters to the earth tw
rapid bangs are heard and then ghastl
spe stacle appears, for the American, ute
ing fearful wall, tosses his arms alof
: and bites the grass.
,"You've killed himl" exclaims Prime
/ Casino coldly.
"Yes, and it was we'll shot," adds M.
/ Rigodon; "but you must fly the the coul
/ try, and so must we, for there's prison an
/. perhaps hulk in this deed"
4 The heartlessness of these men astount
| NJ. Pistache, who stands dumb and he
4 ror stricken. He has killed a fello'
/. creature; he has shot the life out of mi
/ at whom he had first thrown mintJule
a which was surely insult and inlu
:. enough in all his conscience; But let
n draw curtain over these hideous feelin
# of remorse. nj. Pistache is pushed
r. the shoulders; he finds himself runnil
y over turf, painting through strip ofwoo
!, stumbling down road, and his 10
a callous friends, who have left the bo.
!, behind them, are scurrying along wi
d him, affrighted and breathless, seeiI
. pursuant gendarmes in every twig viii
" the wind blows after them. How mu
d of this stampeding was done by M. +