The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-01-25

the strain put upon it. He sug-
gested sixty-tive yards. I nearly
lost my patience. I said:
"Sixty-1ive yards with these in
strumonts? Pop guns would be
deadlier ut fifty. Consider my
friend, you and 1 are banded to-
gether to destroy life, not mako it
eternal"
But with oil my persuasions, all
my arguments, was only able to
get him to reduce the distance to
thirty-five yards; and even this
concession be made with relunct-
ance, and said with a sigh:
81 wash my hands of this slaugh-
ter; on your head be it,"
There was nothing for me but to
go home to my own lion-heart and
tell my humiliating story. When
I entered, NJ. Gambetta was laying
his last lock of hair upon the altar.
He sprang towards me, exclaiming
"rho weapon; the weapon
Quick! what is the weapon ?"
''This!" and I displayed that
silver-mounted thing. He caught
but ono glimpse of it, then swooned
ponderously to the floor.
When he came too he said,
mournfully:
The unnatural calm to which I
have subjected myself has told upon
my nerves. But away with weak
ness will confront my fate like
man and q Frcnchman.
He rose to his feet and assumed
an attitude which for subliinity has
never been approached by man and
has seldom been surpassed by
statues.
Aftor long silence, he asked:
"Was nothing said about that
mans family standing up with him,
as an offset to ray bulk? But, no
matter I would not stoop to make
such suggestion; if he is not
noble enough to suggest it himself
he is welcome to this advantage,
which no honorable man would
take"
"At what hour is the engagement
to begin?" "Half-past nine."
At $50 in the morning the pro-
ccssion approached the field of
Plossis Piquet in tho following
order: First came our carriage,
nobody in it but NJ. Gambetta and
myself: then carriage containing
NJ. Fourtou and his second; then
carriage containing two poet
orators, who did not believe in God,
and these had MS. funeral orations
projecting from their breast
pockets; then q carriage containing
the head surgeons and their cases
of Instruments then eight private
carriages containing consulting sur.
geons; then q hack containing the
coroner; then the two hcarses /;
then the carriage containing the
head undertaken then q train of
assistants and mutes on foot; and
after these came plodding through
the fog long procession of camp
followers, police and citizens gen.
orally. 1t was a noble turnout, and
would have made q fine display if
we had had thinner weather.
The weather growing still opa-
que, it was agreed between myself
and the other second that before
giving the fatal signal we should
each deliver loud whoop, to enable
the combatants to ascertain each
others whereabouts. I now return
ed to my principal, who immediate-
ly stretched forth his hand and
said 81 a,n myself again give me
the weapon"
I laid it, all lonely and for]orn, in
tho centre of the vast solitude of
his palm. He gazed at it and shud~
dered And still mournfully con-
templating it, he murmured in
broken voice "Alas, it is not death
I dread, but mutilation."
heartened him once moro, and
with such success that he presently
said Lot the tragedy begin. Stand
at my back do not desert mo in
this solemn hour, my friend"
7 gave him my promise. I now
assisted him to point his pistol to-
wards the spot where I judged his
adversary to be standing, and
cautioned him to listen we'll and
further guide himself by my fellow
seconds whoop. Then I propped
myself against M. Gambetta's back
and raised q rousing "Whoop"ee !"
This was answered from out the far
distance of the fog, and I immedi-
atalY shouted