The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-11-30

ct don't think we shall need sur
geon," he said to me quite affably at
parting: "but, if you please, you can
bring one. In his last affair my princi-
pal shot his man through the temples,
and he died Immediately. 1 sincerely
hope, monsieur, that your friend is as
clever"
"Confound the fellow r. said to my
self as left the house and sought the
residence of my own medical man. ST
am afraid poor Ferrand is not such a
consummate murderer as Laroquiere."
After seeing the surgeon, to whom /
briefly explained matters, L called upon
Mrs. Rae. She was doing her best to
comfort her daughter, who was in the
greatest possible distress. care they
going to fight ?" she asked me.
"My dear Alice" i said, "they are.
I 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 scoundrel And you
must remember that poor Paul is not
IN Englishman. III were he, L would
not fight but, as it is, the matter can
not be overlooked, and, indeed, every
thing is arranged"
"You are to be with him 2" said Mrs.
Rae, looking as white as sheet.
eyes 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 80 public"
"You can only hope" / said. 81
will see you in the morning; but now
must go back to him, and see that he
gets some sleep"
"Tell him" cried Alice, "that if he
is killed / shall die. Come here direct
ly it is over. Come, even if he falls;
you must tell me about it. l must
hear everything" She buried her face
in her hands and 1, escaping from the
unhappy girl, hurried to Paul.
He was still writing, and his hair was
in disorder, and his face pale when he
turned toward me. 81 am no coward, E"
he said, "but am saying good-by to
her, for shall die tomorrow.
"My dear fellow" L exclaimed, "you
will shoot Laroquiere, and be married
next month. You must finish your writ
ing at once and go to bed. L will sleep
here tonight, for L must see that you
turn out in time tomorrow morning SO
be as quick as possible.
He wrote for another half-hour, ad-
dressed the document to Alice Rae,
placed lock of his hair within it, and,
after sealing it up, gave it to me.
Give that to her," he said, ''if Laro-
quiere kills me outright-and know he
will. If it were not for Alice declare
that / should be quite glad to meet him.
Now for bed"
He undressed, while l lay down on
the sofa in the next room and lit cigar,
for l could not afford to sleep myself
Soon all was quiet, and l stole in to see
Paul lying as quiet as n child, with a
smile on his face. Probably, nay, as
suredly, passed more uncomfortable
night than he did. Only with the great
est possible difficulty could / keep
awake; and the hours seemed to linger
forever. At last, however, daylight
dawned, and L called Ferrand, who
awoke refreshed and in comparatively
good spirits. After hurried breakfast
we muffied ourselves up; L placed flask
of brandy, some powder and bullets and
brace of pistols in my pockets, and we
sailed forth in the cold morning air.
Scarcely any one was abroad except q
few sleepy watchmen, who seemed to
make very shrewd guesses at the object
of our expedition; and through the silent
streets we went for mile or 80, until We
reached the meeting-place.
Laroquiere and Delaraie were there be-
fore us, and my friend the surgeon ar
rived Immediately afterward i'll his car
riage. which waited near ut hand. The
pistols were produced and loaded. La
roquiere chose one, and L gave the other
to Paul; and then the two men took up
positions at distance of twenty PAGES
from each other, and waited for Delaraie
to give the signal to fire.
"Stay !" cried the bully, as his second
stepped back "let the young hound
listen to this. 1 am not trifiLg with
him; shall shoot him only where he
wishes, for L am generous, parbleu -
eff I do not kill YOU" said Paul,
quietly 81 prefer to die.
"Then shoot him through the heart, 4"
coolly observed Laroquiere. 81 will
teach others not to challenge me-"
There was something to me unspeaka-
bly, horrible in the way in which these
last words were pronounced. L shud-
dered and looked at Paul. He smiled
at me, and at tie same instant Delaraie
gave the signal
There was but one report, for Fer
rand's pistol flashed in the pan. The
poor fellow turned round toward me with
fixed eyes and pale face, and, with the
name of Alice on his lips, fell dead.
Laroquiere turned on his heel, and de-
parted quickly liz company with
Delaraie, while aided the surgeon in
his brief examination of Paul's body.
Surely enough the bullet had passed
through his heart. He must have died
almost instantaneously, for he did not
move after he fell, and the last smile
with which he had looked at me was
still upon his face. 1t was melancholy
business in every respect. L had to
break the sad news to Alice and her
mother; and the two ladies were so ter
4