The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-11-14

ouS nlltt COutu 90 cOulua Only 81
still, much against my will, and witness
the inevitable consequences. thought
Alice would faint when -Laroquiere IN
the calmest way rose before the crowded
assemblage and struck Paul in the face
with his glove but she recovered her.
self, and like statue watched her lover
pick up his opera-glasses, bow to his in
sulters and, without word, leave the
building. There were some exclama-
tions from the audience but the duel.
list again rose, and with theatrical aii
gazed round, mockingly initiating Paul's
parting bow, and resumed his seat. This
was too much for poor Alice. She could
not remain any longer she must go
home and 50, with some difficulty, !
got her and her mother in my carriage,
told the coaehman to drive them home,
and myself walked quickly to Paul's
lodgings.
He had arrived before me, and was al
ready writing when I entered his room.
/" OF course" he said, as he saw me, and
came towards me with both hands out
stretched, "you, my dear friend, will
assist mo. 1T is impossible to do any
thing but fight. Even Alice could not
make me alter my conviction upon that
point, the insult was so public.
"Suppose you leave the country" |
suggested. a....-
"Then l should have to give up the
appointment, and Alice, too. No, my
dear fellow, I am a Frenchman, and l
must fight. If he shoots me, it cannot
be helped; if l shoot him, I shall have
shot the greatest scoundrel in Paris. I
beg you to call upon Laroquiere to-
night. I have already discovered his ad-
dress. Here it is. ..lL1 Hf.
"Bnt must you really fight =? 1t is
suicide to fight with professional duel
ist." - i'm
"Ah, he said, shaking his Eead, "I
am afraid it is suicide; but / must fight!
so please don't try and persuade me that
l need not. And I will fight, too, as
soon as possible. You can arrange
everything for tomorrow morning.
must have the matter over. In day OF
two I might be a coward."'Ns
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 to do as he
wished.
" II Monsieur comes from NJ. Paul
Ferrand," said man-servant when /
inquired whether Icould see his master,
" M. Laroquiere has sent to say that he
has not yet left the opera. He has, how
ever, sent this penciled note, which J am
to give to the gentleman who comes from
NJ. Ferrand." g.
I tore open the missive. 1t contained
two cards, one bearing the name of the
duelist, and the second that of NJ. Fer
nand Delaraie, Rue Vivienne 18. Ger
tainly it was an of-hand way of &C.
quainting me with the name and where
abouts of Laroquieres second, but as l
wished to pick no quarrel, I walked on
to the Rue Viyienne, and in few min
utes was ushered into the presence OF
M. Delaraie himself. This worthy was
a young man, aged about three-and-
twenty, and dressed in tue very extreme
of fashion. His ruflies were immacu-
late; and most symmetrically arranged
his face handkerchief was stepped in
essences; his gloves, which lay on the
tableT-for'he had only Just returned, al
Laroquiere'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
He did not strike me as appearing par
ticularly warlike; but, nevertheless, after
formally saluting me, he at once touched
upon the object of my visit, and before
had been ten minutes in his company
had arranged to meet Ferrand and my
self at o certain spot, dear to duelists o
the time, and to bring Laroquiere will
him.
81 don't think we shall need sur
geon," he said to me quite affably a
paating !" but if you please you cal
bring one. In his last affair my princi
pal shot his man through the temples
and he died Immediately. I sincerel,
hope, Monsieur, that yotn. friend is a
clever.
Confound the fellow" I said to my
self as I left the house and sought tn,
residence of my own medical man. g.
am afraid poor Ferrand is not such
consummate murderer as Laroquiere.
After seeing the surgeon, to whom
briefly explained matters, + called upol
Mrs. Rae. She was doing her best t.
comfort her daughter, who was in tn
greatest possible distress. care the,
going to fight ?" she asked me. r
"My dear Alice" said, "they are.
have done my best to dissuade Paul
but he says, and ] am obliged to agree
that he must fight. Let us hope for tn
best He has q sure eye and a stead
hand, and he has right on his side. 1'h
other man is scoundrel. And yo
must remember that poor Paul is not a
Engishman. If / were he, I would nc
fight; but as it is, the matter cannot b
overlooked, and indeed everything is al
ranged
"You are to be with him 2" said Mrs
Rae, looking as white as sheet.
"Yes they are to meet to-morro'
morning, and by breakfast time Alice
suspense will be over. She must beH