Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-04-17
AL.npST-A DUEL.
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FROM the New Orleans PieayuGe.Jt

ALnpST~A DUEL
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From the New orleans ris.yrs.jE
Some ten. or twelve years before thu
cropping oaztsofs the late unpleasant
mss.o there came to New Orleans .
very remarkable specimen Of the genus
= yclepf in French therdltcr -findustrie
His name, or at least the name he went
by. was De Sard. He sported q huge
mustache, and gave himself generally
the airs and-bea1ing Of > ha1-pay mill
tary officer. He wa1a man Of piauSi
bic address, rather wen educated, and
was endowed with an unlimited supply
Of "brass.n Having wormed himself
into the good graces Of the highly re
spected and intelligent, but somewhat
ovcr-contiding proprietor OF the Fropa
qateur Catalogue, he became cher cdl
Tor and general manager Of that infiu.
entail Catholic journal. From that
moment DE Sard-stil preserving his
fierce mustache, LOwevcr-assamed a
link Of semi-clerical garb, although nc
continued to live as bon ricdnt, and
10 frequent on the sly great many
places not fit to be mentioned to ears
polite.
came a member Of the journalistic fra.
tcrnity of New Orleans he had a DIN.
,,Y,x win u r rcHs;lI ttlltUF, WHO IL HOW
no more. and with whom he had some
monetary transactions, the upshOt OF
which was an outstanding claim OF
about $500 against his late associate.
Instead of resorting to the courts, Dc
Sard wrote a very insulting letter to
his unfortunate debtor, which letter,
we believe, he even went so far as to
publish. T., the recipient of the
ferocious epistle, Immediately called
upon two members of the New Orleans
press, whom we shall designate here
as X and Y, and requested them to
bear challenge to De Sard.
The mission was accepted, 4 and \
made their appearance at De Sard's
Office. and were at once admitted into
q luxuriously fitted up room, looking
more like fashionable lady's boudoir
than the editorial sanctum of news
napcr. De. Sard wore red Morocco
slippers, a Turkish cap, a gorgeous
robe de chambre with gold tassels, and
sat in a well stuffed armchair, inhaling
the fragrance of an unmistakable Hav-
ana cigar. Being informed by x and
Y of the nature Of their GRAND, he at
once gave each Of them hearty shake
of the hand, and before proceeding to
business, insisted upon their partaking
Of some choice Madeira wine he pro-
duced from a liquor case, and accept
Ing fragrant purOs from his authentic
siempye fel cigar box.
"Gentlemen," said the clerico- bellig-
erent editor, "the occasion which pro-
cures me the honor Of your visit is one
which appeals to the highest instincts
of q gemtilhoMn,e' nature, and am truly
happy that you should have been Sc
lected for the purpose. But, gentle |
men, permit me one single remark be-
fore we 60 any further. Mr.. l.
owes me 1900. That, i believe, is not !
K and Y. nodded assent. |
+" Hence, gentlemen" pursued the;in-
domitable Dc Sardf <s1Ou, with the |
fine sense of honor Of true cavaliers,
will at once perceive. how unequal
mortal combat between o. and my
self would he under the circumstances.
Should / kill him-and it is highly
l will shall lose the last
chance Of ever getting back my money.
Should he kill me- barely possible
event, adnit-he at once wipes out
his enemy. With due Difference to
your decision, it. appears to me that |
L first move shOtA have been to |
settle that little bin.n cry
X ard. Yy box ID taE. De- Sard, and
then at each other, and finally broke I
out into q laugh. frey conceded the
point raised by De Sard, however, and
retired to report to their principal.
The next morning L., having |
the required amount, handed
it to his friends, who once more pro-
ccedel to De Sard's office, and tender
cred Payment of LIS debt, renew
ing at the same time his demand for
De Sard was as grand
and cllivalric as before. His choice
wine and cigars were again produced, Il
and receipt in due form was written
out by him and gracefully presented
10 LIS seconds. s!T
uNow, sir" said x, the senior Sec
ond, "will you please indicate to us
the friends with whom We are to ar.
range the terms Of the dueli" Il
De Sard's face was a picture at that
A genial smile OverSpread
his features. He rose, bowed with dig
ailied elegance, and said: "Gentle-
men, now that the real cause of the
Unfortunate misunderstanding between
Nr. L. and myself no longer exists,
feel bound, as q gentilhomme' and q
ival chevalier, to tender to him my
lumblest apologies. Pray dictate the Il
erms and they are adopted by me at ,
'nce.o liz
At this unexpected solution Of the [
KS risible faculties could no /,
Onger be constrained, but his younger {
md more i,nlHslsive colleague Y did &
lot see it IN the same light, and, walk !
ng up to the ever-smiling De Sard: Il
"LOok herci" said he, You d i'm
'udent scoundrcl, to you think Won
an make use of us to collect your {
ill?n II
~ beg MOnsieurs PARDON replied I
ne still unmoved knight Of the quill; {
Monsieur, / am sure, is too much Of q | 1
cntilkOmnse to insist on forcing me in I
n Il fUlpk shan 4 an ,.oo<y., ~ - 49, =