St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-02-15

he was always very friendly with me,
too. He would, it is true, abuse my
countrymen most numerically but he
was always particularly goOd-natured,
and whenever he found himself saying
a little too much, he would arrest him
self and apologize so heartily that |
never could be angry with him. was
alone in the French capital, and had
few friends there except Mrs. Rae, her
daughter Alice, and Paul and so it
happened that passed a good deal of
my time in 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 mine by
marriage, and that fact gave me good
excuse for offering my services as escort
whenever she and her pretty daughter
thought fit to go to the theatre or the
opera At such times Paul had a seat
in the stalls, and between the acts he
would come up to my bex, to the de-
light of Alice, who was in love with
him, and to the no small satisfaction of
Mrs. Rae, who herself had quite ma
ternal affection for the young French
man, and did not in the least discourage
his attentions to her daughter. If there
WcIo HO lOIilidl 0uSdSCuCuI oCI"OS4
the two, it was at least perfectly under
stood 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 l, though only few
years her senior, was to give her away.
One night the opera house was crowd
ed more than usual. A great singer
was to appear, and a new work by a
renowned composer was to be per-
formed. 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 direction of my box than in that
of the stage. Alice and her mother
were with me; and as the curtain fell
at the conclusion of the first act, Paul
came up to us. He 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 a few days
that his appointment had been signed
by the king. We congratulated him !;
and as he left us to return to his seat,
whispered to him: "YOu'll be "a happy
man in a month or two now, Paul"
He smiled, and shat the door.
We watched him as he threaded his
way to his place. 1t was in the centre
of the second row from the orchestra,
and he had left his opera glass on the
chair in order to preserve his right to
it but during his absence Il tall, mill
tary-loOking man had appropriated it
and had coOlly put the glasses on one
side. Paul approached the stranger
with the utmost politeness, and | sup
pose-fOr naturally | could not hear
requested him to move. The interlOPer
did not deign to answer, but sneeringly
looked up at Ferrand, lis though to ask
| him what he meant by his intrusion.
Paul pointed to the opera glasses; but
the stranger neither replied nor moved,
| but continued to appear as though he
did not hear. | saw that matters were
assuming Il dangerous complexion, for
in the new conner | recognized Victor
Laroquiere, an ex-Bonapartist officer
like Paul, IA notorious bully, and one of
the most celebrated dueists in France.
But what could do l could only sit
still, much against my will, and witness
| the inevitable consequences. thought
Alice would faint, when Laroquiere, i'll
the calmest way. rose before the crowd
ed assemblage and struck Paul in the
face with his glove; but she recovered
herself, aud like statue watched her
lover pick up his opera glasses, bow to
his insulter, and, without a word, leave
the building. There were some excla-
nations from the audience but the
duelist again arose, and with theatri-
cal air gazed round, mockingly imitat-
ing Paul's parting bow, and resumed
his seat. This was too much for poor
Shn
longer; she must go home and so
with some difficulty, got her and hel
mother to my carriage, told the coach
man to drive them home, and myself
walked quickly to Paul's lodgings.
He had arrived before me, and was
already writing when | entered his
room. "Of course" he said, as he saw
me, and came toward me with boil
hands Outstretched, ''you, my deal
fIiend, will assist me. 1t is impossible
to do anything but fight. Even Alice
could not make me alter my conviction
upon that point, the insult was SC
public"
"Suppose you leave the country ~
suggested.
"Then | should have to give up the
appointment and Alice too. No, my
dear fellow, am Frenchman, aud !
must fight and you must arrange mat
ters for me. If lie shoots me, it canno
be helped if shoot him, shall have
shot the biggest scOundrel in Paris.
beg you to call upon Laroquiere to-
night. l have already discovered hi,
address. Here it is"
But must you really fight? 1t i,
suicide to fight with a professional
duelist."
"Ah," he said, shaking his head, "a
am afraid it is suicide; but must fight
so please don't try and persuade me
that l need not. And will fight, too
as soon as possible. You can arrang.
everything for tomorrow morning.
must have the matter over. In day
OF two | might be a coward"
By his looks he implored me to go t.
Laroquiele; and constituted as Frencl
society was at that time, had no othel
course open to me than to do as he
wished
eff monsieur came from NJ Paul Fer.
rand" said man-servant when | in
quired whether could see his master
"M Laroquiere has sent to say that he
has not yet left the opera. He has
however, sent this penciled note, whicl
| am to give to the gentleman who
comes from M Ferrand."
tore open the missive. 1t contained
two cards, one bearing the name of the
duelist, and the second that of NJ Fer.
rand Delaraie, Rue Vivienue 1S. Ger.
tainly it was an Off-hand way of ac.
quainting me with the name and where.
abouts of Laroquiere's second but as
wished to pick no quarrel, walked OF
to the Rue Vivienne, and in few min.
utes was ushered into the presence O.
NJ Dalaraia himoaIf Tb;s