Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-28

u, Mass.
under tho table. Every day there wer,
duels in our regiment. Every day
played my part as second or principal
My comrades veneratod mo, and our gu
perior officers, who were CONSTANT,
being changed, looked upon mo as
scourgo of which they could not got rid
AS for me, l was following my career
TRANQUILITY, or rather tumultuousiy
when rich young man of distinguished
family was sent to our regiment. Neve,
was there man gifted with more in
solent happiness. l will not mention
his name. Imagine to yourself youth
Intelligence, a handsome face, bravery
careless of danger, u fine name, ms much
money az he wished and which could
not lose; and now imagine what an
effect no must have produced among us.
My domination was shaken. At first,
dazzled by my reputation, he sought
my friendship. But received his ad
vances coldly and he gave me up with
ont seeming in the least mortified. / was
exasperated. His success in the regi-
ment and with the ladies made mo de-
spair. l wanted to quarrel with him.
TO my epigrams he replied by cpigrams
which always appeared to me more
piquant and unexpected than nine, and
which at any rate were much gayer. He
made jokes. | hated him. At last one
day, at a ball at tho house of Polish
proprietor, seeing that he was the OBJ
ject of the attention Of several ladies,
and particularly of the mistress of the
house, with whom l was on very good
terms, whispered in his car some insi.
pid filth. He fired up and struck mo. We
sprang to our sabros tho ladies tainted;
We were separated and we went out at
once to settle thedflerence. Day dawn
cd. ! was at the rendez .vous with nv
three seconds, waiting for my adver-
sary with unspoakable impatience. The
summer sun rose, and the heat was al
ready beginning to roast us. saw him
from distance. lie was coming along
in his shirt sleeves, his uniform on his
saber, and accompanied by single
second. We won't to meet him. Ho an
preached, holding his cap full of black
cherries. Our seconds placed us at
twelve PAGES. 1t was my turn to fire
first; but passion and hatred had such
hold Of me that feared lost my hand
might not DO steady, and in order to
gain time to calm myself ! yielded my
privilege to him. Hc refused. 1t was
agreed that we should draw lots, 1t
fell to his lot to fire first. He fred and
pierced my cap. 1t was my turn. At
last | had his life in my hands. I looked
at him greedily, ondeavoring to discern
Oh his features at least shadow of
No, he was under my pistol
picking tho richest cherries out of his
cap and blowing the stones out of his
mouth. His sangfroid made mo furious.
What shall GAIN I said to myself, by
robbing him of his life, when he makes
80 little of it? A terrible thought
crossed my brain. unlocked my pis-
tolls. 1T seens,' said, that you are
not in a mood to die at tho present mo-
ment. You prefer to breakfast. As you
please, have no desire to disturb YOU
Do not concern yourself about my af-
AIRS he replied, and be good enough
70 fire. However, as you please; you
nave still your shot to fire, and l shall
always be at your service withdrew
with my seconds, to whom said that
or the moment had no desire to shoot
md so the matter ended. l resigned and
'etired to this village. Since that mo.
nent not day has passed but | have
thought of my vengeance. Now, my
hour has Gomez
Silyio drew from his pocket the letter
10 had received that morning and gave
t to me to read. Some one evidently