The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-02-15
A STRANGE DUEL.


Seventeen years ago was studen
at the University of Paris. We were
gay set, who frequented the restauran
Of my esteemed friend Adolphe Bau
leau, who has now been dead some tiy,
years.
Poor Adolphe The politest O
Frenchmen and most obliging of land
lords; his wines were always good ane
his dishes unexceptionable. Peace &
his ashes! | well remember the las
dinner took at his house, not so much
from the delicacy Of the viands and the
perfection of the cookery, which latter
exceeded any thing in the Quarter La.
TIN, rs from an occurrence of which
was an unwilling spectator, and to a
certain extent a participant in
II was the last day of my university
life; and in commemorative of three
years OF companionship with some Of
the noblest hearts had ever met, gave
an entertainment to my intimates, and
Bauleau's was the place selected for the
meeting. Our party consisted of but
twelve, myself included, and 9 o'cle K
was the hour named for sitting down to
the table.
Al 80 we were mostly all assembled,
as had specially insisted on punctu-
ality, and no one wished to dsappoint
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--m-
I'll 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 not much surprised. although lit
tie vexed
"Well," said Jules Laroque. ssare we
to wait for Lemoyne until the soup gets
cold?-
..By no means" replied Maurice
Delavignc. victor Lemoyne merely
stays away to be consistent. Were 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 X
stalked Lemoyne, and with him a
stranger, a young man Of about his own
age, whom he introduced as the Count
de Vautrin. There was no necessity for
further delay, and we Immediately adj
journed 10 the dinner-table, which had
ordered 10 be set in the second-story
back room overlooking the garden,
where our festivity would not be inter-
rupted by the noise and hustle Of the
street. We reached the room, and had
all taken our seats, with the exception
Df Maurice Delavigne, who remained
and with good reason, too
every place was occupied.
How, now, waiter,- exclaimed he,
With mock gravity; IAN to eat on my
eetP"
"A mistake Of mine, monsieur" re-
'ponded the worthy functionary. ~
bought had covers for twelve.-
:. SO YOU did," answered Maurice, |
: but there are thirteen Of us
The fresh cover was brought. Della /
'igne ensconsed himself snugly upon
ny left; the dinner then proceeded.
Frenchmen are the most companions I
lie fellows in the world, and, by the Z
lime the second basket Of champagne {
lad been opened, no happier party |
'ould have been found within the walls d
4 Paris. As the liquor began to take
fleet. the fun became fast and furious. 1
AT first we contented ourselves with o
inging and shouting; but gradually be- H
oming more and more reckless, we n
hrew the fruit, Of which Adophc had h
provided a plentiful supply, at the pic \
urvs which adorned the walls Finally,
)elavigne leaped upon the table with r
bottle in each hand, and \
commenced wild, extravagant dance, 4
q which he was joined by several 9TH |.
r., while the rest INDUCED in the same \
antastic gyrations upon the floor, YELL
ng all the time AZ the top ofthcir voices. q
IL was at this moment that Bauleau
the landlord) entered. He said nothing 4
bout the destruction Of his china and Il
/ nres, for which he knew he would be Il
hi'i, but he besought us Ia the most
eartrending tones 10 moderate our II
lee. The gendarmes, be said, would 4
9 10 the hoHse in five minutes, and, Il
fter arrcsting rs, would revoke his III ii
cnsc
The poor fellow was actually pale n
18th fright heated AZ | was. | deemed j.
my duty 10 second his exhortation. n
nj had already begun, when Maurice G.
'elayigne, with an air Of drunken gravity II,
erfectly irresistible, advanced "a Tho =,
de Of the trembling Bonifacc, and. n,
'lzlng him BY the ear with firm hand, ii,
q him = the door, and having placed
i'm outside, locked it, and put the Key "
his pocket. Poor Adolphc murmured ~
'mething about his wife and children, M