Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-03-20

Sn8WG you COu&aofBeo, Nfs W8ab
would be the inevitable result Of such
meeting on thls ~
"WelI, for instance. what would II
be :"
"E3ioodshed 90
That's about the sire ofii," ! said.
"Now, IL it's fair question. what was
your side proposing 70 shed ~
had him, there. He saw he had
made blunder, 60 he fastened 10 ex-
plain n away. re said he had spoken
ieetingly. Then he added that be and
rs principal wpsld enjoy axes, ard To-
deed prefer them, cut soeh wespon8
were barred by the French code and 30
] must change my proposal.
walked the floor. turning the thing
over in my mind. and finally Il occurred
10 me that GatIsng guns NJ filleen PAGES
would be likely way to get verdict
on the field Of honor. So / framed this
idea into proposition.
But IL was not accepted. The code
was in the way again. ] proposed re
fles; then, double-barreled shosguns;
then, Colts navy revolvers. These
being all rejected, | reflected q while,
and sarcastically suggested brickbats al
three-qusrters offs mile. ] always hate
10 fool away humorous thing on per-
son who has no perceptions Of humor:
and IL filed me with bitterness when
this man went soberly away to submit
the last proposition to his principal.
He came back presently, and said his
principal was charmed with the idea Of
brickbats at three-quarters of a mile, but
must decline on account Of the danger
to disinterested parties passing between.
Then / said
"Well, am at The end of my string
now. Perhaps you would be good
enough TO suggest weapon ! Perhaps
you have even had one IN your mind
all the time :"
His countenance frightened. and he
said with alacrty-
"Oh, without doubt, monsieur I"
So he fell TO hunting in his pockets,
pocket after pocket and he had plen-
ty Of them--muttenng all the while,
"Now, what could have done with
them -
At last he was successful. He fished
out Of his vest pocket couple of little
things which carried to the light and
discovered 10 be pistols. They were
singIe-barreled and silver mounted, and
very dainty and pretty. was not able
10 speak for emotion. ! silently hung
one Of them on my wstch-chain and re-
turned the other. My companion in
crime now unrolled q postage-stamp
containing several cartridges, and gave
me one Of them. ] asked il he meant
to signify by this that our men were to
be allowed but one shot apiece. He
replied that the French code permitted
no more. / then begged him 20 60 on
and suggest q distance, for my mind
was growing weak and confused under
the strain which had been put upon It.
He named sixty-five yards. | nearly
lost my patience. ! said:
"Sixty-five yards, with these instru-
ments1 Pop-guns would be deadlier nj
City. Consider, my friend, you and !
are banded together 10 destroy life, not
make IL eternal"
But with all my persuasions, all my
arguments, was only able TO get him
to reduce the distance to thirty-five
yards; and even this concession he
made with reluctance, and said with q
sigh:
"I wash my hands Of this slaughter;
on your head be It,"
There was nothing for me but to 90
home 10 my old lion-heart and tell my
humiliating story. When entered, NJ.
Gambetta was laying his last lock Of
hair upon the altar. He sPrang toward
me, exclaiming-
"You have made the fatal arrange
ments-I see il in your eyes 7"
"I have"
His face paled triie, and he leaned
upon the table Tor support. He breathed
thick and heavily for moment or two,
so tumultuous were his feelings; then
he hoarsely whispered
"The weapon, the weapon Quick
what is the weapon :"
"This :" and | displayed that silver
mounted thing. He caught but one
glimpse Of Il. then swooned ponderous-
ly TO the floor.
when he came 10, he said sncurnful-
":
"The unnatural calm TO which have
subjected myself has told upon my
nerves. But away with weakness I /
will confront my fate like q man and =
Frenchman."
He arose to his feet, and assumed an
@A@s4s,1@ whsnh Foe ss,hlss sw,;fxy has s.nwnr
been approached by man, and has sell
dom been surpassed by statues. Then
he said, in bis deep bass tones:
"Behold, ! am calm, / am ready; re-
veal to me the distance"
"Thirty-five yards"
could not lift him up, Of course, but
I rolled him over, and poured water
down hls back. He presently came TO.
and said:
"rhirty-five yards without a rest
But why ask /: Since murder was that
mans intention, why should he palteT
with small details But mark you one
thing; in my fall the world shall see
how the chlvalry Of France meets
DEATH"
After a long silence he asked:
"Was nothing said about that mans
family standing up with him, as an or
set 10 my bulki But no matter; Iwould
not stoop 10 make such q suggestion: II
he is not noble enough to suggest it him
self, he il welcome to this advantage,
which no honorable man would take. y
He now sank into q sort Of stupcr oi