The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-11-29
friends there except Mrs. Rde, lsiEsr
aahghter Aliee, and Paul; ind sd.ki

eS-~e~ ~
happened chat I passed a good deal Of
my time Ing the society Of these three.
The mother woman still in the prime
Of Life, and The widow Of Kings mes.
senger, was a connection Of lmise
by marriage, and .thatsafact gaze ti1e~a
good excuse ogsoferilAgg n "A servioes as
escort whenever she and her pretty
daughter thought fit to go to the theater
or opera. At such times Paul always
had seat in the stalls, and between the
acts he would come up TO my box, to the,
| delight Of Alice, who was in love with
hin, and to. the no small satisfaction OF
Mrs. Rae, who herself had quite ma
ternA affection for the young French
man, and did not in the least discourage
his attentions to her daughter. IF there
we're no formal engagement between the
| twq,.it 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 a few years
her senior, wasstp give her away.
| One night the opera house was crowd
ed more than usual. A great singer was
I appear, and q new work by. a. re-
nowned 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 direc-
| ton of my box than in that of the stage.
Alice and her mother were with me; and,
las the curtain fell at the conclusion Of
1.-THE first act, Paul came up to us. He
t 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 q: few days that his appoint
! ment had been, signed blythe King. We
congratulated him; and as he left us to
return to hisfseat, Ikwhispered to him:
You'H besa happy man In a month or
two now, Paul" He smiled, and shut
! the door. if@e} ~Y ~ ~.r eT As
We watched him DIS he threaded his
way to his place. 1t was lin the center
OF the, second srow from the orchestra,
and he had left his opera-glasses on the
chair in orderto preserve his rightto it,
| but during bis absence'a tall, military
Hooking man appropriated it and had
tt"coolly put the glasses on one side. Paul
approached the stranger with the ut
T most poiteness, and I suppose-for nat
Il urally I could NOT hear-requestedx him
to move. The interloper did nat deign
TO answer ,ibat s1ee finglN bokeanp at
Fefrand. as though TO ASH him what he
meant BY h1s 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. I saw Ethht matters were assum-
ing a dangerous complexion, for in the
newcomer, I recognized Victor Laro-
Equiefe,, an ez.Bonapartist officer like
Pau, q notorious bully, and one Of the
most celebrated duelists in France.
But what could I do? =. T. could only sit
still much against-nay viii, and witness
i the inevitable consequences I thought
Alice would faint when esLaroquiete in
| the calmest way rose before the crowded
! acknowledgement. struck. Raul 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
suffer, and, without 8 word, leave the
building There were some exclama-
Iftions from the audience, but the duelist
! Lag again rose, and, with theatrical air,
| gazed round, mockngly Initiated Pau1's
j parting bow, and resumed his seat.
j This was too much for poor Alice. She
could ndt. remain any longer; she must
go home, and so, with some difficulty, I
got her and her mother to my carriage,
told the coachman to drive them home,
and myself walked quickly to Paul's
lodgings.
He had arrived before me, and was al
ready writing when entered his room.
COZ course, he said, as he saw me, and
came toward me with both hands out
stretched, "you, my. dear friend, will
assist me- It 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 country2" I
Esuggested. ! Iyf FYF {9Gf}
"Then 7 should have to give up the
! appointment and Alice, too. No my;
| dear fellow, I am q Frenehman, and I
must fight; and you must arrange mat
ters for me- If he shoots me. it cannot
be helped; if I.shoot him, I shall have
shot the biggest scoundrel in Paris. I
| peg you TO call upon LarOqu1ere to-
night. I have. already discovered his
address. Here 1t lis. $3.50 :.a.
But must you really fight? It is
suicide to. fight with d Professional
duelist." It IS IS SS 81 81 III
'fAh," he said, 'sh taking Nhishead ct
4 am afraid it is suicide; but T mast fight;
SO please don't try and persuade me that
I need not. And 7 Will fight, too, as
soon as possible. You can arrange
everything for tomorrow morning. I
must have the matter over. In day or
two /. might be a coward,
/ By his looks he i1npiored me'torgo to
Laroquiere; and, constituted as French
society was at that time, 7 had no other
course open to me than to do as he
wished.
elf Monsieur come from M. Paul Fer
rand, said man-servant when I in