The Osceola times., 1879-02-08

!titude which for sublimity has neve
been approached by man and has seldom
been surpassed by statues.
| After lorg silence he asked:
4" Was nothing said about that man
family standing up with him, as an ofi,e
To my bulkY But no matter; l woul,
not stoop to make such q suggestion
be is not noble enough to suggest it him
self, he Is welcome 10 this advantag
which no honorable man would take.
"At what hour does the engagement
begin ?"
"Hsltpsst nine"
every good, indeed. Have you sen
the fact to the newspapers
"Swi II, after our long and intimat,
friendship, you can for moment deem
me capable of 30 base q treachery-'
"Tut, tut What words are thes,
my dear friend! Have wounded you
All, forgive me; ! am overlooking yor
with labor. Therefore, 20 on with th.
other details and drop this one from
your list. The bloody minded Fnurtou
will be sure to attend to it. Or l myself
Eyes, to make certain, will drop mote
to my journalistic friend NJ. Noir-,
"Oh, come to think, you may save
yourself the trouble that other second
has informed NJ. Noir."
"H'm might have known 1t. It i,
just like that F1urtou, who Away,
wants to mske q di.play."
At balf-past nine In the morning the
procession approached .he field Of Piesris
Piquet in the following order: First
our carriage In 1t but NJ. Four
tou and his second then carriaxe con.
tanning two poet>Orators who did not
believe in God, and these had Ms. funeral
orations projecting from their breast
POCKETS; and then carriage containing
the head surgeons and their cases of in.
struments; then eight private carriage.
containing consulting surgeons; then q
hack containing the coroner; then the
two hearses then . carriage containing
the head undertakers; then . train of a..
sistants and mutes on loot and after
these came ploddipg through the fog a
long procession OF camp-foDlowers, police
and citizens generally. 1t was Q noble
turnout, and would have made q fine
display II we had had thinner weather.
The police noticed that the public had
massed themselves together on the right
and left OF the field they therefore beg,
ged delay, while they should put these
poor people in place Of safety. The
request was granted. The police having
ordered the two multitudes TO take POI
sitions behind the duelists, We were onc<
more ready. the weather growing still
more opaque, 1t was agreed between
myself and the other second that before
giving the fatal signal we should eact
deliver loud whoop to enable the com
batants to ascertain each others where
abouts
now returned TO my principal, and
was distressed to observe that he had los,
good deal Of his spirit. tried my bes
to hearten him. I said Indeed, sir
things are not ~ bad as they reem
Considering the character Of the weapons
the limited number OF shots allowed, the
generous distance, the impenetrable
solidity of the fog, and the added fact
that ore of the combktants il one-eyed
and the other cross,eyed and near
sighted, it seems to me at the conflict
need not necessarily bo fatal. There are
chances that both of you may survive.
Therefore, cheer up; do not be down.
hearted"
This speech had so good an effect that
my principal Immediately stretched fort b
his hand and said: +" am myself again /;
give me the weapon"
l laid il, all lonely and forlorn, In the
center OF the vast solitude OF HE palm.
He gszsd at it and shuddered. And
still mournfully contemplating it, he
murmured in broken voice:
Alas 1t Is not death dread, but
mutilation."
] heartened him once more, and with
such success that he presently said |:
Let the tragedy begin. Stand at my
back do not desert me in this solemn
hour, my iriend."
| gave him my promise. ] now a.
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
'ellow>second's whoop. Then prupped
myself against M Gambetta's back, and
raised rousing Whoopee" This was
answered IRON out the far distance Of
the tog, and l Immediately shouted:
"Oae--two--three-fire
Two little sounds like spit spit broke
upon my ear, and in the Mme instant |
VAS crushed 10 the earth under noun.
tain of flesh. Buried 60 / was, l was
still able to catch a faint accent from
above, To this effect:
II die for-tor-perdition take It, what
is IL die fort Oh, yes-Frxnce!
die that France may livei" "
The surgeons swsrmsd around with
their probes In their hands, and appl led
their microscopes to the whole area OF
M Gambetts's person, with the happy
result OF finding nothing in the nature OF
wound. Then q scene ensued which
WAS IN every way gratifying and in
spiriting. h 4tI
The two glsdiators fell upon each
others necks, with foods OF proud and
hsppy tears that other second embraced
me the surgeons, the orators, the under,
takers, the police. every body embraced
every body congratulated, every body
cried, and the whole atmosphere wa
filed with praise and with Joy unsy eak,
bic. 1t seemed to me then that woulc
rather be the hero Of a French duel thai
a crowned and sceptred monarch.
BuRDErrR, In bis letter to the Hawk
eye, magnanimously allows the palm h