The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-02-07
- sFRAsGE DUEL.


lords; his wines were always good an
his dishes unexceptionable Peace {
his ashesi j well remember the ia:
dinner | took at his house, not so niue
from the delicacy of the viands and tn
perfection of the cookery, which latte
exceeded any thing in the Quarter La
tin, as froEi an occurrence of which
was an unwilling Spectator, and to
certain extent a participant in.
1t was the last day of my universit
I life; and in commemoration of tire
years of companionship with some o
the noblest hearts had ever met, CAV
an entertainment TO my intimates, AM
Bauleau's was the place selected for tn
meeting. Our party consisted of bu
twelve, myself included, and o'cloel
was the hour named for sitting down +,
the table. aaae
Ats $50 we were mostly all assembled
as | had specially insisted on punctu
ality, and no one wished to disappoin
me. The intervening moments passed
quickly away in pleasant chat concern
ing the manifold incidents of our stu
dent life-foreYer past on my part-un
til the hours of the clock proclaimed The
hour appointed, at which instant the
head-waiter entered the apartment and
announced dinner. Upon counting
noses, we found there was but one alb
sentee, Victor Lemoyne; and as he was
generally behind hand in every thing,
was noe much surprised, although lit
tie vexed.
Well, said Jules Laroque, 'tare we
to wait for Lemoyne until the soup gets
cold?''
"By no MEANS" replied Maurice
DelaEigne.,z-ssX ieter=hemoyne. merely
stays away to be consistent. We're he to
arrive in time his reputation for tardi-
ness would be lost"
There was a general laugh at this
sally, which, however, had hardly died
away when the door opened, and in
stalked LemoyHe, and with him a
stranger, young man of about his own
age, whom he introduced as the Count
de Vautrin. There was nonecessity for
further delay, and we Immediately adj
journed to the dinner-table, which had
ordered to be set in the second-story
back room { overlooking the garden,
where our festivity would not be inter
rupted by the noise and bustleSof- the
street. We reached the room, and had
all taken our seats, with the exception
of Maurice Delavigne, who remained
standing, and with good reason, too
eyerylplace was occupied. 4
GLOW, now, WAITER" exclaimed he,
with mock graIity; 50 am to eat on my
feet?n
ga mistake of mine, MONSIEUR re
sponded the worthy functionary. 81
thought I had covers for twelve"
$50 lyon did, - Canswered Maurice,
=" but there are thirteen OF us"
The fresh coveriwas brought. Della
vigne -epseonsed, himself snugly upon
my left the dinner then proceeded.
Frenchmen are the most companions
bic fellowship the world, and, by the
time Che second basket of champagne
had been Copened, NO happier party
could have been found within the walls
of Paris. AS the liquor began to take
effect, the fun became fast and furious.
At first we contented ourselves with
singing and shouting; but gradually be-
coming more and more reckless, we
threw the fruit, of which Adolphe had
provided plentiful supply, at the pic
turs which adorned the walls. Finally,
Delavigne leaped upon the table with
champagne bottle in each hand, and
a wild, extravagant dance,
in which he was joined by several 9th
ers, while the rest INDUCED in the same
fantastic gyrations upon the floor, yell
ing al the lime at the top of their voices.
1t was at this moment that Bauleau
(the landlord) entered. He said nothing
about the destruction of his china and
pictures, for which be knew he would be
paid, but he besought US in the most
tones to moderate our
glee. The gendarmes, he said, would
be in the hoEse in five minutes, and,
after arresting us, would revoke his Ii
cense.
The poor fellow was actually pale
with fright; heated as | was, deemed
it my duty to second his exhortation,
and had already begun, when Maurice
Delavigne, with an air of drunken gravity
perfectly irresistible, advanced to the
side of the trembling Boniface, and,
Selling him by the ear with firm hand,
led him to the door, and having placed
him outside, locked it, and put the key
in his pocket. Poor Adolphe murn1ured
about his wife aud children,
as he was being elected, but it ayailed
him nothing. ~
The little episode which have Just
described had the effect of momentarily
arresting our frenzy, and when Della
vigne returned to the table, and de
mauded our attention, there was a pro
found silence.
Gentlemen, said he, g are you
aware of the superstition which attaches
itself to dinner-party of thirteen ."
No one-spoke, and he continued:
80 1t is this, that before the year is out,
one of the number will die a violent
DEATH
The silence seemed to grow more in
tense, and after short pause he spoke
again: al propose that we adjourn
from this apartment to the nearest bill
lard saloon, ands there pair off in
couples for the purpose of playing. At
the end of the first series of games there
will be six losers. Let them pair off
and play again, and so continue in the
same manner until only one is left, who
shall play the final games with the odd
man and the loser, whoever he may
chance to be, shall challenge some
to fight him a duel this very
night. BY so doing we give Destiny
chance to settle the affair at once; and
if she. fails to do SO, Why,it's, her fault,
not ours. = What say you, gentlemen, to
the proposition?" ~ lam
Agreed :, agreed " reseGnded on ev-
cry side, and we sprang at once for our
hats.
"Open the door, Maurice" shouted
a dozen voices; "'syou have the key"
Gentlemen" responded he, "have
you no regard for the feelings of our
host? What! would you rush down
stairs fer-ske1ter, at the imminent
risk of disturbing the virtuous slumbers
of Madame Bauleau and her charming
For shameii Observe me,
and profit by my example, amr.
Even as he spoke, he rushed to one of
the windows, tore down the curtains,