The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-02-28

me capable Of 80 base trcachery as
-"
"Tut, tutl What words are these
my dear friendl Have wounded you
All, forgive me; | am overlooking you
with labor. There, go on with tho other
details, and drop this one from your
list. The bloody.minded Bourtou will
be sure to attend to it. Or / myself
yes, to make certain, | will drop note
to my journalistic friend NJ. Noir-"
"Oh, come to think, you may save
yourself the trouble, that other second
has informed Mr.. Noir."
Him! might have known it. II Is
just like that Fourtou. who always
wants to make display"
At half-past nine in the morning the
procession approached the field of Pies.
sis Piquet in the following order: First,
came our carriage nobody in it but NJ
Gambetta and myself; then n carriage
containing NJ. Fourtou and his second;
then a carriage containing two poet or
ators who did not believe in God, and
these had MSS. funeral orations pro
jecting from their breast pockets; then
carriage containing the head surgeons
and their cases of Instruments then
eight private carriages containing con
sulliug surgeons; then hack contain
lag tke coroner; thcai two hcarses; then
carriage containing the head under
takers; then train Of assistants and
mutes ON foot; and after these came
plodding through the fog long proces.
sion of camp followers, police and citi-
zens generally. II wasa noble turnout.
and would have made fine display il
We had had thinner weather.
The police noticed that the public
had massed themselves together on the
right and left Of the field; they there
fore begged II delay, whilu they should
place these poor people in a place OF
safety. The request was granted. The
police having ordered the two multi
tudes TO take up their position behind
the duelists, we were once more ready
The weather still growing more Opaque,
it was agreed between the other second
and myself that before giving the fatal
signal wo should each deliver n loud
whoop to enable the combatants To as.
certain each others whereabouts
! now returned TO my principal, and
was distressed To observe that lac had
lost good deal of his spirit. tried
my best To hcarten him. said: I'm
deed, sir, things are not ~ bad as they
seem. Considering the character of the
weapons, the limited number of shots
allowed, the generous distance, the i'm
penetrablo solidity Of tho fog, aud the
added fact that one of the comba'nnts
is one eyed and the other cross-eycdand
noar sighted, it seems To inc that this
conflict need not necessarily be fatal.
There are chances that both Of you may
survive. Therefore, cheer up; do not
be down hearted"
This speech had 70 good an effect that
my principal Immediately stretched
forth his hand and said:
81 am myself again; give ma the
weapon
laid it, nil lonely and iorlorn in the
center Of the vast solitude of lia palm
He gazed at it and shuddered. And
still mournfully contemplating it he
nurnurcd in n broken voice:
Alas, it is not death dread, but
mutilation."
heartened him once more with such
success that he presently said; LET
the tragedy begin. Stand at my back !;
do not desert me in this solemn hour,
my friend"
l gave him my promise. now as
sisted him to point his pistol toward
the spot where | judged his adversary
to be standing, and cautioned him TO
listen well and further guide himself by
my fellow-second's whoop. Then l
propped myself against NJ. Gambetta's s
back and raised rousing "whoop-eeP'
This was answered from out of the far
distance of the fog, and Immediately
shouted:
"One-two-three-.tireF'
Two little sounds like spitl spit! broke
upon my ear, and in the same instant j
was crushed to the earth under noun
tain of flesh. Buried as / was, | was
still able to catch faint accent from
above, to this effect:
~ die for for
perdition take it, what is it I die fori
Oh, yes-FRANcEl / die
that France may liver
The surgeons swarmed around with
their probes in their hands, and applied
their microscopes to the whole area OF
NJ. Gambetra's person, with the happy
result Of finding nothing in the nature
of wound. Then a scene ensued
which was in every way gratifying and
inspiriting.
The two gladiators foil upon each
others neeks, with floods, of proud and
happy tears; that other second embraced
me; the surgeons, the orators, the un.
dertakcrs, the police, everybody EN-.
braced, everybody congratulated. every
body cried, and the whole atmosphere
was filled with praise and with Joy un
speakable. 1t seemed to me then thai
! would rather be the hero of French
duel than crowned and sceptred mon
arch.