The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-10-12

agreement, similar to this:
Ia hght shall be arranged when
ever the party are within thirty leagues
of one another.
2.-There shall be no excuse for not
fighting except Illness, or military duty.
3.-Pistols shall not be used except by
mutual consent.
4.-Death, surrender, or mutual agree
ment, shall alone terminate the fight.
Fournier objected to the third clause,
as he expressed himself anxious to try
pistol-fight once more, but Dupont in
sisted upon 1t, as he knew that the fight
would be unequal with that weapon.
That night Captain Dupont, with his
company of hussars, was ordered to
Beauvais. He went to see his sweet
heart, Marie, before his departure. He
asked her to marry him then and there,
but she refused.
" NO" she said, "you have a duel on
hand with Captain Fournier, and 1 will
not marry until the duel is ended"
"Alas, my dear Marie, answered the
captain, tive have just drawn up an
agreement to fight at every opportunity,
until we die or surrender"
Heavens - cried Marie, "the duel
may never be ended"
"Hope better than that, Marie," he
answered. at may be ended the next
bout"
But she was disconsolate, and he went
away to his quarters with heavy
heart.
He wrote the following note to Captain
Fournier:
"Slr: am ordered to Beauvis. Ad-
dress me in case you should be in that
neighborhood.
Yours, ETC.,
ALEXIS DUPONT"
The next day the company departed,
to the inexpressible regret of Marie
Hutton and Captain Fournier.
"Ah," said Marie, in tears at her win
dow, "what q hateful thing is this duel
ling!"
"Ah," said Captain Fournier, in his
sick. chair on balcony, "what an ex-
quisite duellistl''
Six months passed, and the combat
ants were still separated. One day
Fournier was ordered to carry import
ant dispatches to Paris. He was accom-
panied by two chasseurs, and, while
laboring through tangled forest path,
he met Dupont.
"My dear Dupont" he cried, " have
been almost dead to see YOU"
MY dear Fournier," responded Du-
pont, 4" 1 am quite glad to meet you.
Shall we figbtp"
Heavens ~ cried Fournier, 81 have
no time. 1 am carrying important dis
patches to Paris. But you"
81 have short leave of absence for
Rouen, but, if you wish, L will ride with
you to Paris"
"My dear, good Dupont" cried Four
nier, in ecstacy, "you give me new life.
Come, then"
And Dupont, turning his horse, sped
onward with the party. They stopped
late at night at a quiet little hostlery,
where, after hearty meal, Fournier and
Dupont retired to the same room to
sleep. Fournier awoke before daylight,
and discovered Dupont sitting at the
fire, with his head In his hands.
my dear Dupont" said Fournier,
yawning, "why are you so abstracted ?"
"To tell the TRUTH said Dupont, "I
am vexed. My leave of absence was for
the purpose of seeing my .fancee at
Rouen, and she will not cherish me
more highly for preferring duel with
you, to chat with her."
"Then you wish to return. We can
arrange it. shall show that can be
as generous as yourself. Well fight
now, and you can return to morrow"
"But." interposed Dupont, Suppose
something should happen by which
your dispatches are delayedp"
"There is where my generosity comes
in" answered Fournier, rising and pre-
pairing to dress himself.
"My dear fellow" said Dupont, "you
are not philosophic. If your dispatches
were to miscarry, it might be matter
of considerable detriment to France.
"And might be court-maftialed, y
said Fournier, "and then 1 could not
fight you any more. will give them
to one of my chasseurs.
NO" said Dupont, 81 will carry
them if you fall"
They stirred up the fire, to give them
better light, and then they closed again
in deadly combat. The fight was long,
for Fournier had learned to be cautious,
and nunAlat hnd lnIarr hao,a 4Mlail1