The Van Buren press., 1876-01-25

VII Icituiup iNoutH, bup@Hb itHpit'l
to the general, and called npon Mari
He again urged marriage upon her.
No she said. g Yhu cannot doui
my love, Alexis, but will surely doul
yurs if you urge marriage upon me Will
this terrible duel is pendnc'
Tne very next day Dupont received OF
ders from the general to return immedi
ately to his company and prepare for tn
campaign. The great Napoleon was agai,
about to- take the field
Dupont left his regrets with Fournicr
+" 1t seems he wrote, -" that fate is agans
us as well as the general
Fournie: returned answer " 1t is har,
but we must have patience
Over two years had elapsed, and a
Austcrlitz, Dupont found tournier al
most overborne by an attack of Austrian
cavalry With his own good compan,
at his heels, he dashed to the rescue, ant
brought Fournier, badly wounded, from
the hands of the foe.
"Is it you? Dupont" he asked faintiy
as he opened his eyes. How shall
thank yos2'
by getting well again, my poo
friend.' said Dupont
These two enemies now termed eacl
other " friend dupont, too, who ha,
detcsted duelling and duellists.
When Fournler was almost we'll,
month later, he rode ten leagues to mcc
Dupont. The latter was overjoyed tc
see him looking SO we'll
We have not had fight for over two
years. said Fournier d" Is it not sad 4
ave will have one now
With that their rapicrs again sbrang tc
their work Dupont seemed distracted
He laid his guard open freely, but Four
nier did not notice that he was not play.
ing his best At orc of these unlnck,
moments. Fournier prcked him unmer
cifully in the right breast. Dupont fcl
almost without Il groan. Fournier sprang
to him, and raised his head
My friend, my friend" he cried,
"look up"
He tore open his breast, and discover.
ed there parchment commission as col
onel of hussars for galantry at the battle
of Austerlitz, where he had rescued Four
nier,
A colonel!' he cried, and yet he con
sented to fight me, a captain. Good
generous friend.
He gave Colonel Dupont iuto the hand:
of his servants and his surgeon, and with
drew with "A bowed head and aching heart
thinking of the modest, generous demean
or of his friend and enemy.
Two battles took place soon after that
and Fournierdisplayed such consummatt
daring that Napoleon himself conferred
the cross upon him, and made him col
nnnl- lie hrst stop, after receiving his
eolonelcy, was to ride over to Dupont
Alas Dupont had been made genera
of brigade,
The fatcs are against me- said Four
nier.
1t is hard said Dupont; but have
patience
Four years and half had elapsed
since Dupont barred Fournier's entrance
to the ballroom at Rouen. Fournier had
recently won his promotion to general
and several bouts had taken place will
varying results At least ten duels hat
been fought by the two in this time, ant
at least five wounds were recorded or
each ones body by the others rapier
Feurner, being of the opinion that duel
ling was the normal condition of man
was delighted. Dupont was despondent
for Marie remined firm to her purpose
He asked her again to marry him
This duel he repeated, will probab,
never end
'Tnen will never marry she sat
firmly.
1t can only end by my snrrcnderins
to Fournier, said he, as he turned bit
terly from her presence.
This woman. who Lowell him so dearly
gazed after him with flashing eyes. Die
he say surrender 7 she murmurcd. That
night, as General Dupont rode at a slash
ing gait past her house. in the direction
OF Beauvais, where Fournier was now
stationed, she mnttered short prayer
and rested her head on her hands Ii
her heart of hearts she said He surely
will not surrender
Dupont reached Fournier early th,
next morning. They embraced like ole
friends, as, indeed, they were, for Four
nier, about month previous, had prov
ed his friendship by pricking young
fellow who had said so nothing derogato
ry of Dupont's sweetheart
AT least, he said, in telling Dupont
of the circumstance, . thought it might
have been your sweetheart
My dear fellow Dupont had respon
ded, there may be many Marguerites ir
Rouen but my sweetheart is not one o
them, She is Marie
A shade of gloom overshadowed Four
nier's countenence. | was wrong, then
he said. / pricked the poor fellow fol
no cause at all
When Dupont and Fonrnier had EN-
braced, Dupont entered inmediately up
on the business that had brought him.
Il have come, Fournier,' he said, : tc
compromise the whole matter between
US
Compromise il +? Impossible
Listen first, We have been fighting
for nearly five years, and for what?'
Ctel | do not know
You surely remember the cause of oul
quarrel j?
Not bit of it,
NY dear Fourner,' said Dupont
when we were both captains at Rouen
|, by the general order, debarred YOU