Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-09-29

the old Officer, casting contemptuous
glance at tehe Lieutenant.
Because dueling is opposed to hui
man Jaw, to divine law, and to common
selIse."
els that all ?'' the Colonel replied
Eyes, Colonel"
"Well, Monsieur FOntaine, If before
the end of the week you do not challenge
Tromllefou to duel, will expel you
from the regiment.
Fontaine remarked that only soldiers
guilty of some crime deserved expulsion.
The Colonel reioined that to stain the
uniform of regiment with cowardice
was a crime, and repeated his threat.
Fontaine left without fiinching his deter
mination.
The General then interviewed. AS he
loved the officer dearly, he entreated him
to fight for the honor of his regiment.
The Lieutenant firmly replied: ''Order
me to give up Life In behalf of my
country, of society, of religion, of any
noble cause, and [, will willingly
encounter death. But ask me not to
disobey the Gospel.
Fontaine, however, could not resist
the treatment of his comrades and sub
ordinates. He rendered his resignation.
The Minister of war replied that it could
not be accepted under the circumstances.
! He could only be dismissed lii disgrace.
That filed the measure. One evening
| Fontaine again walked into Cafe
/ Cambronne, where his comrades were
assembled.
"Gentlemen," said he, "you were
witnesses of the insult received from
Lieutenant Trouillefou. I intended to
forgive it, because my religion teaches
me to forgive. You will have it other
wise, and I obey you. God who has
witnessed the struggle of my heart, will
allot to each his share of responsibility
fight. I will fight. I make two con-
ditions. First, that all who were pre-.
sent at the outrage shall witness the re-
paration. Second, that the latter be
proportional to the offense. l want 8
duel to the death, with pistols, and only
one of them loaded, the distance to be
fifteen feet. Do you accept, Lieuten.
ant Trouillefou %
The latter hesitated, but finally STAN
mered, "All right"
Tomorrow, at in the morning, IL
the forest of Chavandiere, by the cross
road of the Trois- Towards, saiG
Lieutenant Fontain.
A roar of applause greeted his words
The officers crowded around him tC
congratulate him upon his determine
ton, and protest their friendship.
"Wait until tomorrow, gentlemen.
the Lieutenant replied. ''You have
suspected me of being coward. Be
fore protesting friendship, you had bet
ter see me on the ground;' and he with
| drew.
At the appointed time the officers O
the regiment were at the Trois-Louvards
The Colonel loaded one of the pistols
enveloped them in a silk handkerchief
and requested Fontain to choose a wea-
pom, as he was the insulted party
The contestants were placed fifteel
feet from each other. The officers 81
lently formed in two lines on the RICH
and left Of the duelists, and the Colone
gave the words.
Trouillefou was first to fire. His pis
toll carried no bullet. He staggered al
though already wounded. Fontain,
could now forgive. But the Christian
feeling had given away under the pres
sure of bitter sarcasm. He calmly
leveled his weapon, fired, and Trotail
lefou fell, with shattered skull Their
was cry of horror. The spectator
rushed toward the dead duelist. Blu
before they reached him, Fontain wa
at his side. He dipped his hand in tn
blood of the dead officer, and with tina
blood washed the cheek upon which h,
had been struck, exclaiming: "Wel
gentlemen, do you think the insult sui
ficiently washed away?" Then, run
ming like lunatic, he disappeared IL th
forest, andwas seen no more at Nantes
Thirteen years ago he was discovered il
a monastry at Rome, where, under tn
religious name Of Fra Pancrazio, he wa
still praying for the remission of his si1
and for the eternal salvation of the MAJ
whom he had killed.