Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-08-11

'o'h "ooauiliIS cdCH OCner, now
Q ever, and amid the commotion | got
e Durand to retire. We went direct
u iy to our rooms, well knowing that
we should hear from Senior Merido.
t Sure enough, before the afternoon
passed, one of his friends bore a
D challenge, which he placed in the
: hands of Durand.
"Now. this is something like"
/. said the cbivalrous Frenchman
} ~ shall kill that reptile; that will
be a comfort at least"
: "And for doing which you will
have to leave the country" l re-
| piled.
81 don't know about that" re-
sponded Dnrand.
"But | do" replied. "Merido
is related to wealthy and influential
people. II you kill him, they will
either have you arrested or assas-
sinated; That is, II you don't hap
pen to run away"
81 must fight him /; that cannot
be avoided. Will you be my
friend 2" said Durand.
"Of course" I replied, "though
to tell you the truth, would not
do the same thing for any other
friend I possess"
II was In a grove of lime trees,
with the fruit still green on the
boughs, that Charles Durand met
Angel Merido to fight and kill him.
The spot selected was about a
league outside the city. The wea-
pons selected were pistols. This
was a source of regret to me, for
Durand was an excellent swords
man, but / never had heard him
speak of pistols, and I was quite
sure he had no practice with them.
Two friends accompanied Meri-
do. alone was with Durand. We
went out on horseback.
The ground having been measur-
I'd off, Merido won the first fire
My heart throbbed as l placed the
weapon in Durand's hand. He was
as cool as if he was going to play
billiards. He had been eating a
bunch of grapes.
When all was ready we took our
stations, and the word being given,
Merido fired, and I saw Durand
slightly start. I sprand forward to
his side and asked him if he was
hit. BE replied in low voice:
"The rascal has cut away part
of my ear. Don't you see it bleed
ing! But stand aside, his time is
now coming"
! stepped backward and watched
Durand as he took deliberate aim
at his antagonist. Then there came
a ringing report, and Merido, clasp
ing his hand to his side, staggered
forward few PAGES, and was caught
in the arms Of his friends, just as
he was falling to the earth. He
had been shot directly through his
lungs.
81 wish to see Durand," exclaim-
ed the dying man.
Charles went to his side, and Me-
rido gazed up into his face with a
look Of hatred.
"Stoop down to me-" he said.
Durand knelt close beside him,
when the Mexican, by strong eff
fort. raised himself on his elbow,
and spat in Durand's face.
Charles calmly took out his hand
kerchief and wiped his cheek. He
could not retaliate on a dying foe.
"Listen," cried Merido, gasping
even as he spoke. ''You have kill
ed me, but / have five brothers,
and my uncle is a Judge, so don't
think your days will be very long
on earth. II the law failed to con-
vict you, they would hunt you to
the death. And this is all for that
French girl. Hark, you French
man" he continued, "when you res-
rued your countrywomen by the
they were being carried
off by my contrivance. l have al
ways hated you for that interfer-
snce. All, II I had but the strength
10 stab you ere I die"
During this abuse, Durand knelt
with his arms folded, gazing upon
his dying foe, while the friends had
rome to farm house to search for
\ vehicle to convey him to the city.
I put my hand on Durand's
and whispered, "Come,
et us be off. You have no time 10