The Van Buren press., 1876-01-25

ugTcctlenl, Stllllltl W Wills.
IA fight shall be arranged whenever
the parties are within thirty leagues of
one another.
2.-There shall be no excuse from
fighting except illness, or military duty.
3-Pistols shall not be used except by
mutual consent.
4,-Death, surrender. or mutual agree
ment, shall alone terminate the fight
Fournier objected to the third clause,
as he expressed himself anxious to try q
pistol fight once more, but Dupont insis
ted upon it. as he knew that the tigh,
would be unequal with that weapon.
That night Captain Dupont, with his
company of hussars, was ordered to Beau
vais. He went to see his sweetheart Ma
rie, before his departure lie asked her
to marry him then and there, but she re-
fused
No. she said, "you have duel on
hand with Captain Fournier, and | will
not marry you until the duel is ended"
"Alas, my dear Marie" answered the
captain, I'VE havej just drawn up an agree
nent to fight at every opportunity, until
We ule VI SuTTeHueT,
Heavens cried Marie, "the duel
may never be ended -
Hope better than that, Marie" he an.
swered. 1t may be ended the next
bout
But she was disconsolate, and he went
away to his quarters with heavy heart,
He wrote the following note to Captain
Fournier:
"Sir am ordered with my company
to Beauvais, Address me in case you
should be in that neighborhood.
Yours, etc,
"ALExts DUPONT"
The next day the company departed,
to the unexpressible regret of Marie HUI
ton and Captain Fournier.
"Ah," said Marie, in tears at her win
dow," what hateful is this duelling ~
"Ah,h said Captain Fournicr, in his
sick chair on the balcony, "what an cx-
quisite duellstp y
Six months passed, and the combat
ants were still separated One day, Four
nier was ordered to carry important dis
patchs to Paris. He was accompanied
by two .chasseurs, and, while laboring
a tangled forest path he met Dupont.
My dear Dupont" he cried, L have
been almost dead to see you"
My dear Fournier,' responded Dn-
pont, ~ am quite glad to meet you.
Shall we fght2"
4" Heavens said Fournicr, Il have
no time l am carrying important dis.
patches to Paris But you-"
IL have short leave of absence for
Rouen. but, if you wish, l will ride with
you to Paris"
my dear, good Dupont cried Four
nler, in exstacy. "you give me new life.
Come, then"
" And Dupont, turning his horse, sped
onward with the party. They stopped
late at night at a quiet little hostelry,
where, after hearty meal, Fournier and
Dupont retired to the same room to sleep.
Fournier awoke before daylight, and dis,
covered Dupont sitting at the fire, with
his head in his hands
"My dear Dupont said Fournier,
yawning, why are you so distracted ?"
+" To tell you the TRUTH" said Dupont,
Z" l am vexed. My leave of absence was
for the purpose OF seeing my y6nancee at
Rouen. and she will not cherish me more
highly for prcferring duel with you. to
a chat with her"
"Then you wish to return. We can
arrange it. | shall show you that | can
be as generous as yourself Well fight
now, and you can return to morrow"
" But" interposed Dupont, "suppose
something should happen by which your
dispatches are delayed p
There is where my generosity comes
in" answered Fournier, rising and pre-
pairing to dress himself
"My dear fellow said Dupont, "you
are not phlosophic. If your dispatches
were to miscarry, it might be a matter of
considerable detriment to France"
"And | might be court -martialled, y
said Fournier, "and then l couldn' t
fight you any more. will give them to
one Of my chasseurs.
NO." said Dopont, I" ] will carry them
if you fall"
They stirred up the fire. to give them
better light, and then closed again in
deadly combat. The fight wss long, for
Fournier had learned to be cautious, and
Dupont had long been so. While their
rapiers were still twining and twisting,
without scratch having been received by
either, the day broke into the room, and
the sun struck fairly into Captain Du
points eyes, binding him for an instant,
In that instant he felt, for he could not
see, sthe pressure of Fournier's sword
against his own relax, and, on stepping
from the sunlight, he found that Fournier
had withdrawn SO that Duponts back
would be partly to the sun. The two,
standing thus on opposite sides of the
narrow strip of sunlight, stopped mo-
ment and dropped the points of their
swords.
Captain" said Dupont, tenderly, 81
have to thank you for very graceful
courtesy"
Captain returned Fournier, with
feeling, "you taught me the lesson"
With that they again took position,
and were about to renew the fight, when
knock came at the door, and ohasseur
entered He salutcd in military style,
and said " Breakfast and the horses are
ready, captain
The two captains hesitated moment,
when Dupont said al think this comes
undpr the head of military duty, CAPTAIN 2"