The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-11-07

consummate murderer as Laroquiere.' |
After seeing the surgeon, to whom I
briefly explained matters, called upon |
Mrs. Rae. She was doing her best to
comfort her daughter, who was in the !
greatest possible distress. care they
going to fght?" 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 he must fight. Let us hope for the
best. He has sure eye and steady
hand, and he has right on his side. The
other man is a scoundreI. And you
must remember that poor Paul is not an
Englishman. If 1 were he, would not
fight; but as it is, the matter cannot be
overlooked, and indeed everything is ar
ranged"
:" 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 Alice's
suspense will be over. She must bear
up"
" You must prevent the duel" sobbed
the half heart-broken girl. "Cannot
Paul let the insult pass? But no, it was
so public"
"You can only hope," said. 81
will see you in the morning; but now 1
must go back to him and see that he gets
some sleep"
"Tell him, " cried Alice, "that if he is
killed 1 shall die. Come here directly
it is over. Come even if he falls; you
must tell me about it. I must hear
everything" She buried her face in her
hands; and 1, escaping from the un-
happy girl, hurried to Paul.
He was still writing, and his hair was
i'll disorder, and his face pale when he
turned towards me. "I am no coward, 4"
he said, "but l am saying goodbye to
her, for 1 shall die to-morrow
"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. will sleep
here tonight, for L must see that you
turn out in time tomorrow morning 80
be as quick as possible"
He wrote for another half hour, ad-
dressed the document to Alice Rae,
placed a lock of his hair within it, and
after sealing it up gave it to me.
"Give that to her." he said, eff La
roquiere kills me outright-and know
he will. If it were not for Alice I de-
clare that should be quite glad to meet
him. Now for bed"
He undressed. whilst 1 lay down on
the sofa in the next room and lit cigar,
for could not afford to sleep myself.
Soon all was quiet, and stole in to see
Paul, lying as quiet as child, with q
smile on his face. Probably, nay, as
suredly, passed a more uncomfortable
night than he did. Only with the great
est possible difficulty could L keep
awake, and the hours seemed to liuger
for ever. At last, however, daylight
dawned, and called Fearand, who awoke
refreshed and in comparatively good
spirits. After a hurried breakfast we
mutfied ourselves up, and sailed forth
in the cold morning air. Scarcely any
one was abroad, except few sleepy
watchmen, who seemed to make very
shrewed guesses at the object of our ex.
pedition and through the silent streets
we went for mile or so, until we reached
the meeting-place.
Laroquiere and Delarie were there be-
, fore us, and my friend, the surgeon, ar.
rived Immediately afterwards in his car.
riage, which waited near at hand. The
pistols were produced and loaded. La.
roquiere chose one, and gave. the other
to Paul ; and then the two men took NJ
positions at a distance of twenty PAGES
from each other, and waited for Delarait
{ to give the signal TO fire.
"Stay !" cried the bully, as his second
stepped back; "let the young hound
q listen to this. 1 am not trifing witt
him 1 shall shoot him only where h,
wishes, for am generous, parbleu I"
I, "If do not kill you," said Pau
q quietly, 81 prefer to die"
4 "Then l shoot him through th
heart" coolly observed Laroquiere
a 1t will teach others not to challenge
a me-"
S There was something TO ME unspeaka
!. bly, horrible in the way in which thes
:. last words were pronounced. shud
II dered, and looked at Paul. He smilec
d at me, and at the same instant Delari
e gave the signal.
v There was but one report for Fer
= rend's pistol flashed in the pan. Tn
If poor fellow turned round towards m
il with fixed eye and pale face, and wit
the name of Alice on his lips fell dead
l. Laroquiere turned ON his heel and dc
at parted quickly, in company with De