The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-11-08
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND,
A GrandHather's Story.


About sixty years ago Twas in Paris
for the frat time in my life. Bonaparte
still fingered ct ST. Helena, and the ad-
venturers, good, bad and Indifferent In
character, who had served in his armies.
had not yet lost all hope of the return of
their IDOL, and, consequently had not yat
tboug 1t il .eor:h while TO settle down
insS thorough peace and quietness.
Young Paul Ferrand, whom i fire.
quentiy met at the cafe, and who had
served as captain at Waterloo, was sure
that the Little Corporal would come back
again soon. "You have not ye, beaten
him.. he would tell me laughing. "You
sent him to E!ba, but he returned: Won
have sent him to st. Helena, and he wili
return again. Wa shall PEE"
Ferrand was Ga exceedingly nice fel-
low; and, although he professed to cher.
ish an unquenclable hatred for England
anu everything English, he had, by some
means or other, become attached to Alice
Rse, . young English lady of my nc.
quaintance, and who had been living
with her mother since the conclusion OF
peace at Paris, not far from the abode of
the ex-captain. And he was always
very friendly with me, too. he would,
II 10 true, abuse my countrymen most
numerically, but he was always particu-
larly good natured; anu: whenever he
found himself saying little too much,
!.e would arrest himself and apologize so
heartily, that l never could be angry with
him. 1.Was alone in the French capital.
and had few friends there except Mrs.
Rae, her daughter Alice and Paul; and
so 1T happened that passed u good deal
Of my time in the society of these three.
The mother, woman still in the prime
of life and the widow of kings messen-
ger, was connection of mine by mar
riage, and that fact gave me good e1-
cuse for Offering my services as escort
whenever she and her pretty daughter
thought - to go to the theatre or the
opera. At such times Paul always had
seat in the stalls, and between the acts
he would come up to my box, to the de-
light of Alice, who was in love with him,
and to the no small satisfaction of Mrs.
Rae, who herself had quite a maternal
affection for the young renchman, and
did not in the least discourage his atten-
tions to her daughter. If there were no
formal engagement between the two, 4
was at least perfectly understood by all
parties that as soon as Paul should get
an appointment, for which at the time
he was candidate, he was to marry
Alice; and, I, though only few years
her senior, was to give her away.
One eight the opera-house was crowded
more than usual. A great singer was to
appear, and new work by renowned
composer was to be performed. But
Paul Ferrand, sitting in the stalls,
seemed scarcely to listen to the music or
to notice the acting, and much more often
were his eyes turned in the direction of
naT beg than In that OF the stage. Alice
and her mother were with me, and, as
the curtain fell at the conclusion Of the
first act, Paul came up to "a. He was in
high spirits, for he had heard that the
Minister had decided to give him the
coveted post, and he expected to hear in
a few days that his appointment had
been signed by the King. We congratu-
lated him, and, as he left us to return tn
his seat, whispered to him: "You'ii
be happy man in month or two now,
Paul." He smiled and shut the door.
We watched him as ne threaded his
way to his place. 1t was in tho center of
the second row from the orchestra, and
he had left his epera-glasses on the chair
in order to preserve his right to it; but
during his absence tall, military. ..ook-
ing man had appropriated it, and had
coolly put the glasses on one side Paul
approached tie stranger with the utmost
politeness, arG, l suppose, for naturally
could not hear, requested him to move.
The interloper did not deign to answer,
but sneeringly looked up, at Ferrand, as
though to ask what he meant By his in
trusion. Paul pointed to the opera
glasses; but the stranger neither replied
nor moye3, but continued. to appear as
though Ne did not hear. L saw that mat
tiers were assuming dangerous complex
ion, for in the new conner I recognized
Victor Laroquire, an ex-Bonapartist Off
Ger like Paul, a notorious bully, and one
of the most celebrated duelists in France.
But what could do2 1 could only sit
still, much against my will, and witness
the inevitable consequences. l thought
Alice would faint when Laroquire in
the calmest way rose before the crowded
assemDlage and atruck Paul in the face
with his glove; but abe recovered her
self, and, like statue, watched her lover
pick up his opera-gfassess, bow to his in
cutter, and without word leave the
Lnilding. There were some excIamations
from the audience; but the duelist again
rose, and syith astheatrical iair gazed
round, ,mockingly initiated Paul's part
Ing bow, and resumed his seat. This was
too much for poor Alice. She could not
remain any; longer; she must go home ;
and so, with some difficulty, l got her
and her mother to my carriage, told the
coachman To drive them home, and my
self sgalked quickly to Paups lodgings.
lie had arrived before me, and was
already writing when entered the ROOM
"Of cDurse,p he said, as he cav nae, and
came, towards me with both hands out
stretched, "you, my dear friend, will as
sist me. Il is impossible to do anything
but fight. Even Alice could not make
me alter my conviction upon that point,
the insult wasso public" -
lsSuppose you leave the countrgq" 1
suggested. 50
gaThen should have s0 .sizs5 up the
appointment, and Alice, too. No, my
dear fellow, am s : -.s,.oamap, and I
must fight; ait. g;.j .asIsti afFaljge mat
ters for me. IF he shoots me, it cannot
be helped if shoot him. shall have
shot the biggest scoundrel in Paris.
n5s s Jo;: &C &C ell ..;,cn Iasnnnire t.,-nieht
I have already discovered his address.
Here it is."t <ae
"Br.. a,,,sl you really fight2 1t lie
snicide to fight with q professional duel
ist." .,,,, -s.as..at i'le r..t.,si.
"Ah," said he, shaking his head, II
am afraid it is suicide; but must fight.
SO please don'ttry and persuade me that
/ need not. And l will fight, too, as