The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-03-29
MANY YEARS.
AsToRY OF A FRoNIIER DUEL.

AD4A24 w - EANA %ALA OgLAs
We had been to Fort ~sedgwick, and woro
IN our return, when our party was increased
BY three men.who had been out hunting and
Joined rs about thirty miles from Julesburg.
Two were Western hunters, but the third was
lFrenehman, who spoke English very indif-
ierently,S he seemed to BE- a Jolly fellow,
however, and gave his name as Patrin. We
were camped on the Platte river when the
Itrangers came among us, and some Of tho
%boyswere absent looking up game, Louis Con
Ttlhtin being with ihsm,
Lonis was a fayorite with MI Of ms, because
be was SO ohhging, oonsil. n4t-. and kindly
disposed towards everybody. lie was Il very
peculiar fellow, neyerthai. IS, and not given 10
much conyen sation, and ev,riAst.uEly seemed
10 be brooding over somC iug that slcue Cd TO
worry him. Atfrst we thought h had been
disappointed in love, and once We limited our
Tuspicions as delicately as possible 10 him,
but he sDriled in his sad way, HEd replied
NO, boys, you arc mistaken. TN not in
love, and Dever was. but that which nils mo-
never expect to reveal. but it, here" (nut he
laid his hand upon his breast aud aoustimes
1t gnaws my heart asunder."
After that non of us ever alluded to the
matter, but went on growing more and more
attached to Louis.
Constantin was a man OF very excellent ed
%ocation, and game among MS for the iovo of
adventure: he WIS always we'll supplied with
money, and told us he regularly received it
from his family IN France. OF his carly life
be never hSd said much, except tlnt IL was
unhappy In many rgspugt-. and ho "a yer
wished to think fit. lie wl7,YsIy fond Of
bothny and gave US considerable instruction
and amusement by explaining Che various
grasses, flowers and herbs he used to galh.r
aud press ip his book.
The sun had gone down b-fora The boys re-
turned, and when they appeared We were bit
hng by the campfire, the Etugg rs ia our
midst and we were smoking Pipes, having
bnishsd our supper. II was almost too dark
TO dis inguish the features OF n person with
out the aid of the fire, 80 whon tn boys oauo
we told them OF the three new coInera. and I
incidentally mentioned to Louis TINT one Of
Them l thought was his countryslan.
The news did not seem to give him any
pleasure, for he usually avoided Frenc.msn.
He made no reply, hoRgytr, to my rgun.k.
but, taking q pot OF ooHre. sat down and be-
gan Lis supper in silence. The strangers were
seated q little distance from him, and, having
their backs to him, he did not observe their
faces.
After awhile he finished his coffee aud,
lighting b S pipe, tel into u train OF musing,
when one of the boys informed Patriu that
Louis was @ Frenchmnn As soon a. be heard
this, he arose from his seat and. approaching
Louis, remarked in a bland and polite tome:
AZ - NcAAAAl nun u NINE, i DC
heve. am happy to meet him. My name
ts Adolph Patrin, and he extended his hand.
Constantin made n step or two backward.
and gazed Of the speaker steadily. Something
had powerfully agitated him. for he did not
take the profered hand. and Patrin drew
himself up haughtily and said, Il await mon.
Gieur's explanation"
For q few moments the two men stood re-
garding each other: their counteLances ex-
hibited strange emotions. The fro Lad been
stirred up aud the light fell upon them. Pa
Tin face wore n calm, uurudlsd look. and he
played carelessly with his waLch-cLaiu Us he
awaited Louis scrutiny. ConstRntin's face
wore an expression OF curiosity and suspicion,
not unmixed with seorn. He appeared to be
trying toidentify the other. and seemed by no
means certain that he could do So. Atlongth
he spoke:
Are you the Pstrin that once was T. sous
officer in the doek-yari at Brcst =
Monsieur is quite correct, he replied with
Che utmost sangfroid. Il perceive that | am
remembered, although Id not know yhomI
have the pleasure of Addressing"
Pleasure" Kissed Constlut.E. between his
slenched teeth, pleasure, did you say 2"
Monsieur Patrin, 1 take you 10 be a man of
courage, If not of honor (thn other made a
r!o!ent gesture at this remark), and Iask YOU
TO pledge me your word that YOU will not
leave this camp unt.lWe have spoken again on
the morrow"
Il am not given 10 run away from any real
or implied danger, responded Patriu, ''and
as these good gentlemen have offered me the
hospitality of their camp, I purpose remain
ing with them rs long as they Gnd my society
no intrusion. Aud, monsieur, pay remark.
while ind them courteous and agreeable. l
discover you 10 DO the very reverse" aud.
with q defiant stare at Constnntin. he turned
away and, sitting down. joined n agane Of
cards.
The scene that had taken place threw n
brief chill over tine cuuversatj5a. bat rs III,
evening wore away, and card playing became
exciting, the matter appeared 70 be forgotten.
wandered to where Louis was sitting with
his head bowed down, and spoke to him.
Whats the matter, old boy - / said.
Come, you know lam your friend; can I
do anything for you!'
Nobody eau do anything for me" he r.
piled in a bitter tone. shaking his hend; but
can do something for myself, andI VIII do
st, too"
The last sentence was uttered with "a fierce
ness that astonished me.
well, l don't ask for ynur confidence. II
you do not bestoN it voluntarily / said
but l wander much at the way you have
behaved To the stranger"
You once asked ths cause of the iepres-
SION ! sometines feel he replied. II told
you l never expected TO reveal the cause Of
ny sofrow. Heaven knows l then thought
never should, but 1 take back the remark
for l 1 believe l shall tell all of YOU The secrgt
before the sun sets tomorrow. I have boned
and almost prayed for this hour through tbg
long years that have passed away. bpt I neyor
expected TO see it. Why should - Cold
there be ,Gnyhing more unlikely than tSot
which has come 10 pass? What a strange life
we lead How little do we know what dtv
will bring forth"
The boys spoke to each other in whigpers
as to what Louis intended to do on the NOR.
row, for we we've sure that we had not seen
the end yet. Lying on our blankets and
watching the bright stars we feel asleep. aud
some us perchance passed into the realm Of
dreamland.
The following morning was clear and warm.
and as soon as we had done breakfast, we har-
messed up. ready for q start. We were stand.