Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-12-05

He had arrived before me, and was
already writing when entered his room.
"Of course" he said, as he saw me,
and came toward me with both hands
ontstretched, "you, my dear friend,
will assist me. 1t is impossible to do
anything but fight Even Alice could
not make me alter my conviction upon
that point, the insult was SO public"
-u" Suppose you leave the country |
suggested.
"Then I should have to give up the
and Alice, too. No, my
dear fellow, | am q Frenchman, and
must fight; and you must arrange mat
tiers for me. If he shoots me, it can
not be helped; if l shoot him, shall
have shot the biggest scoundrel In Paris.
| beg you to- call upon Laroquiere to-
night | have already discovered his
address. Here it is. !"
'But must you really fight? 1t is
suicide to fight with professional
,duelist,' 80 ,ttE IaE.EE
All" he said, shaking his head 81
am afraid it is suicide but / must fight;
so please don't try and persuade me
that | need not And | will fight, too,
as soon as possible. You can arrange
everything for tomorrow morning l
must have the matter over. In day
or two I might be q coward. " RF
By his looks he implored me to go to
Laroquiere; and, constituted as French
society was at that time. had no other
course open to me than TODD as he
wished.
eff monsieur came from M. Paul
Ferrand," said a man-servant when [
inquired whether | could see his master,
" NJ Laroquiere has sent to say he has
not yet left the opera. He has, how
ever, sent this penciled note, which |
amto give the gentleman who comes
from NJ Ferrand,s U'E
/ tore open the missive. 1t contained
two cards, one bearing the name of the
duelst, and the second that of M. Fer
maud Delaraie, Rue Vivienne Is. Ger
tainlv it was an otf-hand way of ac-
ouainting me with the name ard where
abouts of Laroquieres second; but as
I wished to pick no quarrel, walked
on to the Rue Vivienne, and in a few
minutes was ushered into the presence
of M. Deleraie himself This worthy
was young man, aged about three and
twenty; and dressed in the very ex-
IRENE of fashion. His rutf1es were i'm
maculate, and most symmetrically ar
ranged: his laced handkerchief was
stepped in essences; his gloves, which
lay on the table-for he had only Just
returned: at Laroquiere's request, from
the opera-were small and delicate
his fingers were covered with valuable
rings, and the bunch of gold seals de-
pending from his fob was unusually heavy
and brilliant. He did not strike me as
appearing particularly warlike; but
nevertheless, after formally saluting me,
he at once touched upon the object of
my visit and before l had been ten min
utes in his company, had arranged to
meet Ferrand and myself at a certain
spot dear to duelists of the time, at an
early hour next morning, and to bring
Laroquiere with him. e
II don't think we shall need sur
geon," ne said to me quite affably at
parting I" but, if you please, you can
bring one. In his last affair, my prin-
cipal shot his man through the tenn
Piles, and he died Immediately. l sim
cerely hope, Monsieur, that your friend
is as clever"
:. Confound the fellow !" I said to my
self as [ left the house and sought the
residence of my own medical man:
am afraid poor Ferrand is not such
a consummate murderer as Laro-
quiere."
After seeing the surgeon, to whom /
briefly explained matters, called upon
Mrs Rae. She was doing her best to
comfort her daughter who was in the
greatest possible distress. Are they
going to fight? ?" she asked me.
my dear Alice" [ said, "they are.
[ have done my best to dissaude Paul;
but he says, and am obliged to agree
that he must fight. Let us hope for
the best. He has sure eye and a
steady hand, and he has right on his
side. The other man is a scoundrel.
And you must remember that poor
Paul is not an Englisman. If I were
he would not fight; but as it is the
matter cannot be overlooked, and in
deed everything is arranged"
+" You are to be with him ?" said Mrs.
Rae, looking as white as a sheet.
Yes; they are to meet tomorrow
morning, and by breakfast time Alices
suspense will be over. She must bear
up"
" You must prevent the duel" sob
bed the half heart-broken girl. "Can-
not Paul let the insult pass? But no;
it was SO public
i" You can only hope" l said. Il
will see you in the morning; bat now [
must go back to him, and see that he
gets some Sleep"
"Tell him." cried Alice, that if he
is killed | shall die Come here direct
ly it is over. Come even ifhe falls; you
must tell me about it. [ must hear
everything" She buried her face in
her hands; and I, escaping from the I'M
happy girl, hurried to Paul.
He was still writing, and his hair was
in disorder, and his face pale when he
turned toward me II am no coward
he said, "but [ am saying good-by to
her, for I shall die tomorrow"
my dear fellow" [ exclaimed, "you
will shoot Laroquiere, and be married
next month. You must finish your
writing at once and go too bed. I will
Sleen here tonight for T muSt SEQ that