The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-10-12
THE TIMES, NEW BLOOMFIELD Pa. OCTOBER l2, 1880

II can only end by my surrendering
to Fournier," said he, as he turned Bit
terly from her presence.
This woman, who loved him so dearly,
gazed after him with flashing eyes,
"Dld he say surrender 7" she murmur-
ed. That night, as General Dupont
rode at slashing gait past her house,
in the direction of Beauvls, where Four
nier was now stationed, she muttered a
short prayer, and rested her head on her
hands. In her heart of hearts she said
" He surely will not surrender
Dupont reached Fournier early the
next morning. They embraced like old
friends, as, indeed, they were, for Four
nier, about a month previous, had
proved his friendship by pricking
young fellow who had said something
derogatory of Dupont's sweetheart.
"At least" he said, in telling Dupont
of the circumstance, 81 thought 1t
might have been your sweetheart, for
she lived in Rouen, and he called her
Marguerite
{" My dear fellow" Dupont had re-
sponded, " there may be many Marguer-
ties in Rouen /; but my sweetheart is not
one of them. She is Marie"
A shade of gloom overshadowed Four
nier's countenance. "I was wrong,
then," he said. "I pricked the poor
fellow for no cause at ALL"
When Dupont and Fournier had en-
braced, Dupont entered Immediately
upon the business that had brought
him.
I" have come Fournier," he said, ''to
compromise the whole matter between
us.'
Compromise itY Impossible"
Listen first. We have been fighting
for nearly five years, and for what 2"
"CSeL! do not know"
"You surely remember the cause of
our quarrel 7"
"Not bit of it,"
Z" My dear Fournier," said Dupont,
"when we were both captains at Rouen,
1, by the generals order, debarred your
entrance to the grand ball. on the night
of the funeral of young Blumm, whom
you slew"
"My dear Dupont" said Fournier,
coolly, 81 never slew young Blumm.
He was a burgher, and would not have
condescended to fight with him.
remember now that you debarred my
entrance to the grand ball but you had
your premises all wrong.'
Why, then, did you not say so ?"
asked Dupont.
Fournier shrugged his shoulders
That was not for me to do. Duels
were scarce in those days, and my cause
of quarrel had nothing to do with
Blumm. He was probably killed by
some roistering blade of his own rank,
while received the credit of it, as did
of every wild act occurring in Rouen at
that time"
Then the whole thing has been a
mistake" said Dupont. Z" Is there any
reason why we should continue our
quarrel 7"
"Ah yes, general" said Fournier,
with smile. "You see it was not the
killing of Blumm that constitutes our
cause of quarrel; it was your barring
my entrance to the BALL"
True" said Dupont, with sigh.
"Then, 1 have come to propose COM
promise"
"Why, my dear general, do you wish
to wind up our pleasant interchanges so
summarily ?"
Because replied Dupont, in a low
tone, "my betrothed will not marry me
until this duel is ended"
"Ah ~ said Fournier, rising, "have
been doing you such q wrong as that ?
Come, then, lets hear your proposition. "
cit is this: We will fight with pistols.
As you have greatly the advantage, we
will each take our two pistols, and enter
the private park of M. La Tour, in the
suburbs, at opposite gates. Then We
will fire when we like"
"The idea is good one," said Four
nier; but he was apparently not enthu-
siastic over this duel with pistols, which
he had been so long craving. He was,
in fact, distracted.
The two separated and repaired to the
park. AS Fournier entered the northern
gate, he saw Dupont waving his hand
to him in the southern entrance. They
advanced short distance, and FournieI
toolr rafi1oa hehind n free Dnnont