The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-02-14

appTOchcu Dy lhau auu mas seldom Deeu
surpassed by statues.
After long silence he asked:
"Was nothing said about that man S fam
| lily standing up with him, rs an offset to
my bulk? But no matter; would not
stoop to make such suggestion if he is
not noble enough to suggest it himself he
is welcome to this advantage, which no
honorable man would take"
cat what hour is the engagement to be-
gin p
"At halfpast o"
Every good indeed Have you sent the
fact to the newspapers ?"
"Sir II after our long and intimate
friendship you can for a moment deem me
capable Of So base Il trcachcry"--
"Tut tut What words arc these, my
dear friend? Have | wounded yon p
All, forgive NE; am overlooking you
with labor. Therefore go on with the other
details, and drop this one from your list
The bloody minded Fourtou will be sure to
attend to it. Or [ mysclf--ycs, to make
certain will drop note to my journalistic
friend, NJ. Noir"--
'Oh, come to think, you may save yeShs
self the trouble that other second has in,
formed vi. Noir.
"II'm! | might have known it. 1t is
just like that Fourtou, who always wants to
make a display"
At half past 8 in the morning the pro-
ccssion approached the field of Plessis Pi1.
uct in the following order: First came our
carriage--nobody in it but Nj. Gambetta
and myself; then carriage containing NJ
Fourtou and his second then carriage
containing two poet orators who did not
believe in God, and these had MS. funeral
oratious projecting from their breast pockets;
then a carrier containing the hcaG surgeons
and their cases Of instruments then eight
private carriages containing consulting
surgeons then Il hack containing the coro-
'ner; then the two hcarscs; then carriage
containing the head undertakers then Il
train Of assistants and mutes on foot; and
after these came plodding through the fog
a long procession Of camp-followers, police
and citizens generally. 1t was noble
turnout, and would have made a fine dis
play if we had had thinner weather.
The pnlion nntiaaa that thA r..hl;n L--3
masssd themselves together on the right
and left of the field they therefore begged
a delay while they should put these poor
people in a place of safety. The request
was granted. The police having ordered
the two multitudeS to take position behind
the ducllSts, VIC were once more ready
The weather growing still more Opaque, it
was agreed between myself and the other
second that before giving the fatal signal
we should each deliver 4 loud whoop to en-
able the cOmbatants to ascertain each 9th.
cr's Whereabouts.
Inow returned to my principal, and was
distressed to observe that he had lost good
deal Of his spirit. tried my best to heart
eli him. [ said : "Indccd, sir, things arc
not as bad as they seem. Considering the
character Of the weapons, the limited nam
Der Of shots allowed, the generous distance,
the impenctrablc soldity of the iog, and
the added fact that one of the combatants
is onc.eycd, the other crosscycd and near
sighted it scenes to me that this conflict
need not necessarily be fatal. There are
chances that both Of you may SURVIVE
Therefore, cheer up; do not be down-hcart
cd"
The speech had so good an effect that
my principal Immediately stretched forth
his band and said, II am myself again
give nc the weapon"
l laid it, all lonely and forlorn, in the
centre Of the vast solitude Of his PALM
lie gazcd at it and shuddcrcl. And still
mournfully contemplating it, he murmured,
in broken voice:
'Aas it is not death dread, but mu-
tilation."
| hcartcncd him once more, and with
such success that he presently said, 'Lct
the tradcgy begin. Stand at my back DO
not desert me in this solemn hour, my
friend"
gave him my promise. / now assisted
him to point his pistol toward the spot
where Judged his adversary to be stand
ing, and cautioned him to listen well and
further guide himself b. my lcllow.sccond's
whoop. Then | proppcd myself against
NJ. Gambctta's back and raised rousing
"Whoop.cc :" This was answered from
out the far distance Of the fog. and imme-
diatcly shouted
Observation-Disclosures" :"
Two little sounds like spit! SPIT! broke
upon my ear, and in the same instant was
crushed to the earth under mountain Of
flesh. Buried as ! was, was still able to
catch a faint accent from above to this ci.
feet
II die for for pcrdi-
Il. - :, \ Il