The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-11-08

hlhlseis. 1ni5 worthy TtaS @ young man,
aged about %, and dressed in the very
extreme of fashion. His .uffles were
immaculate, and most symetrically. ar
ranged; hislace handkerchief WIS stepped
in essences; his gloves, which lay on the
table-for he had only Just returned, at
Laroquire's request, from the opera
were small and delicate; his fingers were
covered with valuable rings, and the
bunch of gold seals depending from his
fob was unusually heavy and brilliant
lie did not strike me as appearing par.
ticuiarly waY-like; but nevertheless, after
formally saluting me, he at once touched
upon the subject of my visit; and, before
had been ten minutes In his company.
bad arranged to meet Ferrand and my.
self at certain spot, der 20 duelists of
the. time, at an early hour next morning,
and to bring Laroquire with him. "
Il don't think we shall need a sur.
geon," he said to me, affably, at parting
but, If you please, you can bring one.
In his las: affair, my principal shot his
man through the temples, and he died
Immediately. sincerely hope, Mon
sieur, that your friend is as clever"
"Confound the fellowl" said to my
sell, as left the house, and sought the
residence of my own medical man. II
am afraid poor Ferrand is not such q
consummate murderer as Laroqaiere."
after seeing the surgeon, to whom
briefly explained matters, called upon
airs. Rae. She was doing her best to
comfort her daughter, who was in the
greatest possible distress. care they
going to tight7' she asked me.
"My dear Alice" said, "they are.
have done my best TO dissuade Paul = but
he says, and am obliged to agree, that
ne must fight. Let us hope for the best.
He has sure eye and q steady hand,
and he has right on his side. The other
man is d scoundrel. And you must re-
member that poor Paul is not an Eng
iishman. If were he, would not fight,
but, as it is, the matter cannot bo over
looked, and indeed everything is ar.
ranged"
"You are to hs with him 2" said Mrs.
Rae, looking as white as sheet.
"Yes; they are to meet tomorrow
morning, and by breakfast time Alices
suspense will be over. She must D.ar
up"
"You must prevent the duel" sobbcd
the half heart-broken girl. Cannot
Paul let the insu!s pass? But no; &.
Was eo puoAlC.
"You can only hope," 1 said. 81 will
see you in the morning; but now must
60 back to him, and see that he gets some
sleep"
''Tell him." cried Alice, "that if he is
killed shall die. Come here directly it
is over. Come, even If he falls; you
must tell me about it. must hear
everything" She buried her face in her
hands aad I, escaping from the unhappy
girl, hurried to Paul. i5.t4.''
He was still writing, and his hair w.as
in disorder, and his face pale when he
said but ! am saying goodbye to her,
MY dear fellow" exclaimed, "you
will shoot Laroquiere, and be married
next month. You must finish your writ
ing at once and go to bed. I will sieep
here tonight, for must see that You
turn out in time tomorrow morning.
He wrote for another half-hour, ad-
dressed tn document to Alice Rae.
placed lock of his hair within it, and.
after sealing it up, gave it 10 me.
"Give that to her." he said, "if Laro-
quiere kills me outright-and I know he
will. If it we're not for Alice, declare
that should be quite glad = -ee. him.
Now for bed"
He undresseG, while lay down on the
sofa in the next room and lit cigar. for
] could not afford to slesp myself. Soon
all was quiet, and stole in to see Paul
lying as quiet as q child, with smile on
his face. Probably, nay, assuredly, i
passed more uncomfortable night than
he did. Only with the greatest possible
difficulty could I keep awake, and the
houis seemed to linger for ever. At last
however, daybreak dawned, and I called
Ftrrand, who woke refreshed and in
comparatively good spirits. After hur.
ried breakfast we mufiled ourselves up !:
1 placed q flask Of brandy, some powder
and bullets and brace of pistols in nv
pocket, and we sailed forth in the cold
morning air. Scarcely any one was
abroad except few sleepy Watchmen,
who seemed to make very shrewd guesses
at the object of our expedition; and
through the silent streets we went for a
mile or 80, until we reached the meeting
place.
Laroqniere and Delarale were there
before US, and my friend the surgeon,
arrived Immediately afterwards in his
carriage, which waited near Eat hand.
The pistols were produced and loaded.
Laroquiere chose one, and I gave the
other to Paul !; and then the two men
took up positions at distance of twenty
PAGES from each other, and waited for
Delarale to give the signal to fire.
"Stayi" cried the bully, as his second
stepped back; ''let the young hound
listen to this. I am not trihing with
him. shall shoot him only who're :hs
wishes, for am generous, par6leu i", a. =
:.li / Do not XII you," said Paul. nni-
city, Il prefer 60 die" g III, ~
"Then shoot him through the heart p
coolly observed Laroqniefe. "It will
teach Others not to challenge me-"
There was something to me unspeakg-
bly, horrible In the way in which these
last words were pronounced. I siiud.
dered and looked at Paul. He'smiled at
me, and at the same instant Delarale
gave the signal. -,
= There was but one report, for Ferrand's
pistol flashed in the pan. The poor fell
low turned round toward me with fixed
eye and pale face, aud, with the name of
Alice on his lips, fell dead. Laroquiere
turned on his heel and departed quickly
in company With Delarale, while aided
the surgeon in his brief examination of
PaRfs body, Sufeiys enough thes buIlet
hadpassed through hid heart. He mu9b
have died almost instaptaueously, for he
did not move after he fell, and the last
smile with which he had looked at me
was still upon his face. 1t was q melap,
choiiy business in every respect I BAD
to break the. sad news to Alice and her
mother; and the two ladies' vere an terri.