The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-02-28
A STRANGE DUEL.


STRANGE DUEL.
Seventeen years ago was student
! at the University of Paris. We were a
cV set, who frequented the restaurant
Fl nv esteemed friend Adolphe Bau-
leau. who has now been dead some five
& years. ...-..-.- . e
Poor .Adolphe! The politest of
Frenehmen and most obliging of land
lords; his wines were always good and
his dishes unexceptionable. Peace to
bis ashes! | well remember the last
dinner took at his house, not so much
from the delicacy of the viands and the
perfeetion of the cookery, which latter
exceeded,sssE thing in the Quarter La
J3n, as frossgs an occurrence of which l
rsas an unwilling spectator, and to
certain extent q participant in,
as Ifwas the last day of my university
life; and in commemoration of three
years of companionship with some OF
8 NE noblest hearts had ever met, gave
m entertainment to my intimates, and
Bauleau's was the place selected for the
+ meeting. Our party consisted of but
! Twelve, myself included, and 6 O'Clock
vas the hour named for sitting down to
Il the table. - .s.s..-.t
Il Ats :30w we were mostly all assembled,
ssI had specially insisted on punetu-
Il ality, and no one wished to dfsappoint
n me- The intervening moments passed
quickly away in pleasant chat concern
ing the manifold incidents of our stu
r al.t
ii the hours of the clock proclaimedthe
hour appointed, at which instant the
head-waiter entered the apartment and
a6nounced dinner. Upon counting
noses, we found there was but one ab-
fsentee, VictoriLemoyne; and as he was
generally behind hand in every thing, [
vas not much surprised, although a lit
lie veyed. @,-,4 ..4.f
"Well," said Jules Laroque, s'are we
to wait for Lemoyne until the soup gets
coldPn tii
"By no MEANS" replied Maurice
Delavigne. "Victor Lemoyne merely
stays away to be consistent. We're he to
rriye in time his reputation for tardi-
ness would be lost.o
There was general laugh at this
ally, which, however, had hardly died
sway when the door opened, and in
zalked Lemoyne, and with him a
sranger, ayoung man of about his own
ge, whom he introduced as the Count
Dc Vautrin. There was no necessity for
1 tarther delay, and we Immediately adj
burned to the dinner table, which I had
q Gdered to be set in the second-story
back room overlooking the garden,
where our festivity would not be inter-
4 npted by the noise and hustle of the
street. We reached the room, and had
oil taken our seats, with the exception
Of Maurice Delavigne, who remained
7 sanding, and with good reason, too
every place was occupied.
q "how, now, waiter,n exclaimed he,
with mock gravity; "am to eat on my
4 feet?'' ~ b ~, .-Tsr4
u !" A mistake of mine, monsieur re-
4 ponded the worthy funetionary. 81
n thought had covers for twelve. y
Il $50 you did," answered Maurice,
abut there are thirteen of us.nas
h The fresh cover was brought. Della
N ngne ensconsed himself snugly upon
n my left; the dinner then proceeded
n Frenchmen are the most companions
ole fellows in the world, and, by the
anne the second basket of champagne
had been opened, no happier party
n could have been found within the walls
Paris. AS the liquor began to take
u Meet, the fun became fast and furious
N AT hrst we contented ourselves with
n singing and shouting; but gradually be-
4 omlng more and more reckless, we
n arew the fruit, of which Adolphe had
4 rovided a plentiful supply at the pic
ares which adorned the walls. Finally
nelavigne leaped upon the table with a
nampagne bottle in each hand, and
semmeneed a wild, extravagant dance
g which he was joined by several 9th.
mawhile the rest indulged in the same
ialtasile gyrations upon the floor, yell
h all the time at the top of their voices
FL Was At this moment that Bauleau
81 sae landlord) entered. He said nothing
aaout the destruction of his china ane
pictures, for which he knew he would bt
q Paid, but he besought US. in the mos
aeartrending tones to moderate oul
gee The gendarmes, he said, woul(
ss N a The hoase in five, minutes, and
ai'er arresting US, would revoke his Ii
The poor fellow was actually pal
sHh righs; heated as was, deemed
amy duty to second his exhortation
anu had already hao71n Yrhan Manria