The National tribune., 1881-11-12

| off his shirt also if Lyme had not stopped him.
. call you to witness" exclaimed Jones' when
the sword was in his hand and all was ready for
the fray, that if I kill de Slecal it will not be
my fault, because if it had been question for my
consideration you wouldn't have caught me fight
ing in a hurry, and if he kills me it will be the
! cleareSt case of murder since Cain killed Abel"
CalOnbert looked indignant, the doctor aghast,
! de Slecal frigid Even Lyme felt that this was
not quite as it should be, but he utterly
at sea that if they had taken to blackening each
! others eyes there would have been no objection
/ on his part. But Calonbert knew his business
! better.
! Il would state that the remark Of Monsieur
Shoones is improper; his affairs are in the hands
of Monsieur Lyme. If Monsieur Shoones refuses
satisfaction (waving his arm there is all the
country for him to run away"
Come on! come on" cried Jones. waving his
weapon so near the Generals nose that that gal
liant officer sprang at least three feet backward !;
if de Slecal wants to fight, anybody else, you
will find George Jones is not the one to balk his
wishes"
This, it appeared, was equally Irregular Mr.
Jones had no more right to issue indiscriminate
attack the party all round. Lyme tried to i'm
press upon him, as well as he understood it him
self, that everything must be arranged by the
seconds, and that gentlemen kill each other with
courtesy and good breeding. At last the prin-
cipals were got into position, and Calonbert gave
the signal to commence.
Jones's attitude was study. He stood broad
side, not sideways, to the enemy, holding his
sword over his shoulder somewhat in the fashion
the woodman his hatchet when he chops down
trees. De Slecal an old duelist, skilled in every
trick of fence, looked astOnished. His attitude
was as it should be, only there was no sword to
cross his own. But by no law of dueing can
you compel your antagonist to fence as you like
and not as he likes, especially when that antago-
MIST is as ignorant in the present case so Jones
followed the bent of his own sweet fancy.
1t was the old story told over again. The
skilled boxer is beaten by man who never put
on gloves; the trained swordsman is nonplussed
by novice. So with NJ. de Slecal and George
Jones. This ones ignorance made useless the
others science Jones cut and hacked and
slashed in every direction, rushing round and
round de Slecal making him whirl round like
a teetotum. How it happened in the confusion
he could hardly tell. They saw de Slecars sword
snap, saw Jones strike him somewhere, saw him
throw up his arms and fall down on his back.
"Is he dead?" asked Lyme, suddenly remem-
bering that if be were it would be awkward for
seconds as well as principals.
He is not dead" said the doctor, examining
the PROSTATE de Slecal, "but Monsieur Shoones
had better return to England
The answer suggestive. SIR ZONES >.es.
as ore in dream, his sword, "a. -.e t-p, s-.l
in his hand, staring at the littI roE round ms
fallen foe. Mr.. Lyme turned t. .i < hiu
bestir himself and prepare for departure.
He is not dead !? " he asked, as though he had
not heard the question and the answer
"No, he is not dead, but with shrug of the
shoulders-''it's On the cards.
Mechanically Mr.. Jones dropped his sword
put on his waistcoat, coat, and hat, suffered Lyme
to put his arm through his and lead him off the
field
"Supposing he's dead" groaned Jones, as they
hastened toward the town.
"Let Us suppose nothing so unpleasant. The
best thing you can do is TO pack your trunks, and
cross by next boat to the other shore. / shall 90
probably to Paris. / had intended remaining
anOIneF week, DuU II ) not WOrIu TlSk1Dg. III lie
does die the scarcer we make ourselves the better
for our convenience"
Jones made no answer. He had prepared for
tragedy, but tragedy in another direction. This
took him aback. The stain of blood was upon his
hands, not upon anothers. This was so COM
petely surprise that as yet, he was not able to
realize what it would mean to him if the worst
ensued. He only aware Of one thing, that
the sooner BOulogne and he parted the better it
would be.
When they arrived at the boarding-hous his |
friend hurried him upstairs, leaving him-with |
the brief reminder that the boat left at midday
to his own reflections. Instnctively he locked |
the door, and sat down upon his bed to think. |
BY degrees consciousness returned, and he saw |
things palmer.
:" If he dies-ifhe dies murdered him. That's |
a comfortable thing to know. And what becomes |
Of Agnes and all my dreams? What shall I seem
to her with his blood upon my hands? What to
myself? What to all the world? Oh, Jones
Jones! what fool you are!"
He buried his face in his hands, trembling as |
with the palsy Another thought came to him.
He started up finging his hands from him. his |
white as death
MY God! VIII they hang me?"
Hang him? Would they? 1t was question |
to which his imperfect knowledge of the law en-
abled him to give no answer But the thought !