The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-13
\ FATAL DUEL.

a Parisinn Experience of To-day.
It is not the upper ten thousand, but
the upper one hundred thousand, in
Paris, who constitute the exclusive
class, and whose ranks are recuperated
annually from all parts # the contl-
nent. It is only occasional glances
which the public obtain of the domestic
career of these people, men and women
who live within the peculiar and
charmed circle Of aristecracy but
when the true Incidents relating to, and
the private experiences of the class OF
the community become known to the
world at large, they frequently present
pictures of scenes as trSgic and revolt
ing as occur among the most depraved
and abandoned residents of the me-
tropolis. Whatever the arbitrary rules
of this or that rank in life may be, hu-
man nature Is the same in high or low,
rich orpoor. A mock respectability lR
often thrown over deeds enacted by
titled individuals which would lead the
perpetrators, were they born in an
other class of society, either to the gal
lows or transportation for life. In no
other city on the face of the globe can
so many titled pleasure seekers be
found as in the French capital. Like a
well-charged magnet it draws all to it.
self, and thus a curious and most
heterogeneous community is formed, as
varied in its character as it is in its
nationahties.
Among the gay and aristocratic So
ciety, during the last winter, there were
to be met two prominent members, who
we're Wallachian mobiles, Prince Ghika
and Prince Sontko, both men of refine
ment and culture, and who were much
sought after-the former especially be-
ing very popular. Prince Ghika was
an exceedingly handsome young man of
twenty-four years, almost a universal
favorite, rich, generous, and a devoted
lover of art and literature. By the
death of his mother he had recently in
herited large fortune. and with few.
If any, known vices, his future career
ga promise of exceptional happiness.
He might be met almost any day at the
Louvre, ithe Luxembourg, and the
public sal bons of art, or at the opera in
the evening, for he not only had an ar
dent passion for music, but was himself
an accomplished performer upon more
than one instrument. Indeed his ac-
complishments, which were many, were
of class to render him the most agree
able of companions.
Prince Sontko was in many respects
the opposite of his fellow-countryma
He was a man of some thIrty-five years
and married, though his domestic re-
lations were by no means of happy
character, for at the period which we
write his wife was engaged IN treating
either for an amicable or a legal divorce
from him. Though by no means with
out ample pecuniary resources, yet
Prince Spntko was characterized by
many of the peculiarities which attach
themselves to the professional adj
venturer, the soldier of fortune. He had
been in the French military service
during the late war, was a famous
swordsman, and dead shot with the
pistol. He had, previous to the open
ing of this sketch, fought two duels,
and was a man who enjoyed the init
mate friendship of scarcely any one.
Between the two families of Ghika and
Sontko there had been deadly feud for
many years, as inveterate as that be-
tween the Montagues and Capulets,
though Of late these hostllltles had
been merely of a negative character.
A party of four individuals sat over
their wine after dinner on a Decemb er
evening at the Maison Doree, chatting
over the gossip of the hour, the races,
the opera, the last new premiere dan
seuse, spiced with an occasional politi-
cal opinion, now and then touching up
on the trial of Bazaine, the dictatorship
Of MacMahon, or the pretensions OF the
Count Chambord, when one OF those
mischief makers who are the bane OF
every society, drawing his chair near to
Prince Sontko, who seemed to be the
host of the occasion, said:
"Have you heard the last bit of gos-
sip, mon prince ?"
II have not. What is it ?" answered
the WaIlachian, as he carefully blew
out in heavy wreaths the smoke from
his lips.
s.WelI. it is said that if Madame
Sontko succeeds in her divorce suit, she
intends, as soon as she is at liberty, to
marry Prince Ghika," was the sinister
reply.
tv, who overheard the remark.
THAT is the gossip, replied the first
speaker.
Prince Sontko merely shrugged his
@ shoulders with assumed Indifference,
but was observed to turn pale, and IN
stantly to change the conversation to
some other subject. Indeed, his COM
panions found that the gossip, as thus
reported, had hit him hard, and that,
although he did not refer to the subject,
yet it seemed to rankle in his mind.
causing intense irritation, until even he
Who had conveyed the intelligence re-
gretted having done 80. However, the
party, over which a chill had thrown it.
self, soon separated, and the prince,
tbeckoning to him who had whispered
this unwelcomea gossip in his ear, said
Win you walk down the boule-
vard?"
With pleasure, f" was the response.
tha ana ID so these two came down toward
the Place de POpera arm in arm, the
prince evidenfIv sfrivincr tn SI1pprese
MS inward excitement.
VIII you tell me who spoke of that
natter?' he asked, as coolly as possible,
th Mhen they had passed out of hearing Of
the rest Of the party.