The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-02-06

you anything further to sugge-t?"
Nothing, except that the head un-
dertakers shall ride together, as is usual
The subordinates and mutes will go on
foot, as is usual. / will see you at eight
O'Clock in the morning, and we will then
arrange the order of the procession.
have the honor to bid you good day.
1 returned to my client, who said
"Very well; at what hour is the engage.
ment to beginf'
"Half-past miner" s1
Very good, indeed. Have you sent
the fact to the newspapersP'
Sri II, after our long and init
mate friendship, you can for a moment
deem me capable of SO base treach.
cry" t,
"Tut, tuti What words are these,
my dear friendf Have I wounded you
All, forgive me; 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 I my
self-yes, to make certain, I will drop
a note to my journalistic friend, NJ.
Noir-"
"Oh, come to think, you may save
yourself the trouble; that other second
has informed M. Noir." .o
"H'ml | might have known it. 1t
is just like that Fourtou, who always
wants to make a display"
At half-past nine o'clock in the morn
ing the procession approached the field
of Plessis-Piquet in the following order !:
First came our carriage-nobody in it
but M. Gambetta and myself; then a
carriage containing M. Fourtou and his
second; then carriage containing two
poet-orators who did not believe in God,
and these had MS. funeral orations pro-
jecring from their breast-pockets; then
a carriage containing the head surgeons
and their cases of instruments; then
eight private carriages containing con-
sulting surgeons then hack containing
the Coroner; then the two hearses; then
a carriage containing the head under
taker; then train of assistants and
mutes on foot; and after these came
plodding through the fog a long pro-
cession of camp followers, police and
citizens generally. 1t was noble turn
out, and would have made fine display
if we had had thinner weather.
There was no conversation. l spoke
several times to my principal, but I
judge he was not aware of it, for he al
ways referred to his notebook and NUT
tered absently, 81 die that France may
live"
When we arrived on the field, my fell
low-second and I paced off the the thirty
five yards, and then drew lots of choice
of position. This latter was but an
ornamental ceremony, for all choice
were alike in such weather. These pre-
liminaries being ended, I went to my
principal and asked him if he was ready.
He spread himself out to his full width,
and said in a stern voice: Ready
Let the batteries be charged"
The loading was done in the presence
of duly constituted witnesses. We con-
sidered it best to perform this delicate
service with the assistance of a lantern,
on account of the state of the weather.
We now placed our men.
At this point the police noticed that
the public had massed themselves to-
gether on the right and left of the field
they therefore begged delay, while
they should put these poor people in a
place of safety. The request was
granted. The police having ordered the
two multidudes to take positions behind
the duelists, we 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 a loud
whoop to enable the combatants to as
certain each others whereabouts.
I now returned to my principal, and
was distressed to observe that he had
lost good deal of his spirit. l tried my
best to hearten him. ] said: Indeed.
sir, things are not as bad as they seem.
Considering the character of the wea-
pons, the limited number Of shots al
lowed, the generous distance, the i'm
penetrable soidity of the fog, and the
added fact that one of the combatants
is one-eyed and the other cross-eyed and
near-sighted, it seems 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-hearted."
This speech had SO good an effect that
my principal Immediately stretched
forth his hand and said: 81 am myself
egain; give me the weapon"
laid it, all lonely and forlorn, in the
center of the vast solitude of his palm.
He gazed at it and shuddered. And
still mournfully contemplating it, he
murmured. in a broken voice:
"Alas, it is not death I dread, but
mutilation."
heartened him once more, and with
such success that he presently said
g Let the tragedy begin. Stand at my
back; do not desert me in this solemn
hour, my friend"
l gave him my promise. I now as
sisted him to point his pistol toward the
spot where I judged his adversary to be
standing, and cautioned him to lister
well and further guide himself by my
felow-second's whoop. Then l proppeC
myself against M. Gambetta's back, anG
raised rousing "Whoop-eep Thil
was answered from out the far distances
of the fog, and Immediately shouted
"One.-two,-three,-fre"
Two little sounds like spit spit! brok,
upon my ear, and in the same in
slant l was crushed to the earth under .
mountain of flesh. Buried as 1 was,
was still able to catch a faint accen
from above, to this effect:
81 die for for =. per
dition take it, what is it | die for
Oh, yes-FRANCE! l die tina
France may livep slh.
The surgeons swarmed around wit
their probes in their hands, and applie'
their microscopes to the whole area O
M. Gambetta's person, with the happ
result of finding nothing in the nature Q
a wound. Then scene ensued whic
was in every way gratifying and II
spiriting.
The two gladiators fell upon eac
others neck, with floods of proud an
happy tears; that other second en-
braced me; the surgeons, the orator
the undertakers, the police, everybod
embraced, everybody Congratulated, e.
erybody cried, and the whole atmo
phere was filled with praise and wit
Joy unspeakable. -
1t seemed to me that would rathe
be the hero of a French duel than
crowned and sceptered monarch.
When the commotion had somewhs