Louisiana capitolian., 1879-08-09

The next day Rendeau IIillaire dis.
patched q friend to the place men.
toned in tho card, with a sarcastic
note, saying that as Monsieur Della.
vignes had stood in his way on many
occasions he should be happy to have
him stand in the way of any weapon
whose use monsieur understood, ut q
certain time and place, to be arranged
by their friends.
This note brought an answer In
duo time, presenting Monsieur Rem
dcau Hillaire, and saying that meet
ing with small swords would be
agreeable to him, although he did
not quite understand the cause OF
quarrel between them, rs he was not
aware that he had ever had the honor
Of Monsieur Rendeau Hillaire's ac-
quaintance.
70 this tho last-named gentleman
replied in another note that he had
been grossly insulted by Monsieur
Dclavignes, but if he was too drunk
at the time to know what he was
about, al apology would be accepted.
Delavignes replied in turn that he
did not get drunk, and had insulted
no one. Furthermore, that the stigma
of intoxication thus put upon him
allowed him tG listen to no further
explanation.
The result of all this correspond
ence was that the affair.was arranged
to come off OH tho morning of the
Thursday following, in meadow on
the country estate of one of the Sec
onds, not far from Paris.
On the morning designated, the
parties met at the meadow and COM
menced to make preparations.
The two principals did not look at
each other until all was in readiness
but when led forward by the seconds,
an exclamation of surprise burst from
the lips of Rendeau Hillaile:
"Heaven bless mo! This is not
the mani"
He recognized tho pale, handsome
face and black moustache of the young
man who had thrown the ruffian in
the majo's costume down stairs at
Count Vendiron's ball!
"What do you say, sir p asked
Delavignes.
81 say that you are not the person
that insulted me-"
"What do you meant"
81 mean that l was insulted by a
man at masked ball, and that you
threw him over the balustrade, there
by saving me from being thrown by
him. Instead of fighting you wish
to tender you my most sincere thanks,
and so beg your pardon for this awk
ward mistakew
"But you challenged mo-my name
is Delavignes."
"Stay! Is that your card ~
It is."
1t was given me by the man you
threw down stairs y
"Ah, la F! there is some strange er-
ror here"
"Give me your hand, and let us
seek the solution of it together as
friends"
And the two young men gave each
other a friendly hand-shake, and bu.
ried the deadly feelings with which
they had first met, in the natural
good fellowship which is common to
all who are brave and good-natured,
"Now," said Delavignes's second,
whose meadow had SO providentially
escaped being stained with blood,
"now let us dine here, at my chateau,
and return to Paris together in one
carriage
The invitation was accepted, and
at a late hour the four returned in
excellent spirits and on excellent
terms with each other.
AS the carriage entered the suburbs
of Paris, Monsieur Dolavignes started
in his scat.
"Herc, driver, stop. / have duty
to perform !"
"What now n choruscd the rest.
"Do you see that man ~ pointing
toward a richly dressed butvillainous.
looking fellow, just issuing from q
gaming-house.
ayes, that it is the Marquis dc Re.
villac dc Brizy. He is a professional
gambler, but having his entree o.
many respectable salons, has made
almost fortune by playing unfairly
One night etected him in cheating
and denounced him before the whole
4 company as a swindler of tho wors
kind, whose title and ancient famil,
gave him all the better opportunitiel
to fleece unsuspecting gentlemen. HI
said he was insulted, aud VIC OK
changed cards, but have heard moth
ing of him since. Coachman, give III