Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1877-10-31

IVA oosuSoty COOiO uOb ueAr, 10
quested him to move. The inter
loper did not deign to answer, but
sneeringly looked up ut Ferrand, az
though to ask him what he meant
BY his intrusion. Paul pointed to
the opera glasses, but the stranger
neither replied nor moved, but con.
tinued to appear as though he did
not hear. / saw that matters were
assuming . dangerous complexion,
for in the newcomer I recognized
Victor Laroquiere, an o.. Bonapartist
officer like Paul, q notorious bully,
and one of the most celebrated
duellists in France. But what could
dot I could only sit still, much
against my will, aud witness tho in.
evitable consequences. l thought
Alice would faint when Laroquiere
in the calmcst way rose before the
crowded assemblage and struck
Paul in the face with his glove; but
she recovered herself, aud like O
statue watched her lover pick mp
his opera glasses, bow to his in.
suffer, and, without q worl, leave
the building. There were some OK.
CARNATIONS from the audience; but
the duellist again rose, and with a
theatrical air gazed round, mock.
ingly initiated Paul's parting bow,
and resumed his scat. This was too
much for poor Alice. She could not
remain any longer; she must 70
homo and 80, with some difficulty,
1 got her and her mother to my car.
riagc, told tho coachman to drive
them home, and myself walked
quickly to Paups lodgings.
He had arrived before, and was
already writing when l entered his
room. "Of course" he said, as he
saw me and came towards me with
both hands outstretched, "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 80 public"
"Suppose you leave the country p
l suggested.
''Then l should have to give up
the appointment and Alicc too. No,
my dear fellow, l am o Frcnchman,
and must fghtj and you must ar-
range matters for me. If he shoots
me, it cannot be helped; if shoot
him, shall have shot the biggest
scoundrcl in Paris. l beg you to
call upon Laroquierc tonight. l
have already discovered his address.
Here it is.'
"But must You really fighti IL
is suicide to fight with q professional
duellist.n
"Ah," he said, shaking his head.
~ an afraid it is suicide; but must
fight; 20 please don't try aud por-
suade mo that need not. And ]
will fight, too, as soon as possible.
You can arrange everything for TO-
morrow morning. must have tho
matter over. In o day or two
might be q coward"
by his looks no implorcd me to
60 to Laroquiere, and constituted as
French society was at that time, /
had no other course open to me
than to do as he wished.
"If Monsieur come from M. Paul
Fcrrand,' said n n-scrvant when
1 inquired whether I could SEQ his
master, an. Laroquiere has sent to
say that he has not yet left the
opera. He has, however, sent this
peDcile4l note, which 1 am to give
to tho gentleman who comes from
M. Ferranj."
l tore open the missive. It con.
tanned two cards, one bearing the
name of the duellist, and the second
that of M. Fcrnand Delaraie, Rue
Vivienne 18. Certainly it was an
off-hand way Of acqlainting me with
the name and whereabouts of Laro-
quiere's second, but a. l wished to
pick no quarrel l walked on to the
Rue Vivienne, and in Q few minutes
was ushcred into the presence of M.
Dclaraie himself. This worthy was
q young man, aged about three and.
twenty, and dressed in the very ex.
treme of fashion. His rufiles were
immaculate and most symmetrioally
arranged; his lace handkerchief was
stepped in essences; his gloves,
which lay on the TABLETOP be had
only just returned, at Laroquiere's
request, from the opera-were small
and delicate; his fingers were GOV.
cred 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 particularly wariike, bat,
nevertheless, after formally saluting
me, he at once touched upon the
object Of my visit, and before had
been ten minutes in his company
ko6 oR0nnOo6 "a vvnook Rnpeond ou1