Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-04-14


two madmen were able to meet they fought
and the most extraordinary correspondence
in the second person, too, the most familiar
form Of French speech, was exchanged be
tween them.
81 am invited to dejeuner by the officers
of the Regiment of Chasseurs at Luneville,'
wrote one of them II expect to take jour
ney there, to accept this polite invitation
AS you are on leave of absence there, we vii
take the advantage if you like, of my short
stay. to have poke at each other"
Or again:
"Dear Fyiend--I shall be passing through
stratsburg the 5th of November next about noon
You will wait for me at the Hotel des Postes; We
will have little fencing"
Sometimes the promotion of one Of these
dueists pue a temporary stop to the regular
course of their encounters. The third article
of the treaty enjoined respect for the militia
ry hierarchy. There is letter from Fournier
to Dupont, as follows:
| "My Dea7. Dupont-I am informed that the
| Emperor had done justice to your merits, by pro-
noting you to the rank of General of Brigade.
Accept my sincere congratulations on an advance
inent which is no more than the nataral conse-
quence of your knowledge and your courage.
FOR mySell, Cnere IS uOuDle HlOIlNe
at your nomination. In the first place, the salts
faction given by circumstance so fattering to
your future prospects; and, secondly, the per-
mission which it gives us of having turn to-
gether at the first opportunity"
The singularity of this affair, lasting, as it
did, many years. attracted in time the public
attention Dupont and Fournier strictly ob-
served the clauses of their treaty. Their per-
sons were marked with numerous scars; they
continued, all the same for that, to cut and
slash at each other in most enthusiastic style
and General Fournier used to observe, now
and then, 1T is really astonishing that 1, who
always kill my man, cannot contrive to kill
that devil Dupont"
By-andby, General Dupont received the
order to Join the army of the Grisons. Du-
pont was not expected and no preparations
had been made for his reception. There was
no inn on the spot occupied by the staff:
The General was in vain trying to find a
lodging, when he perceived before him a
chalet, through whose windows the light Of a
fire was cleaning. Dupont did not hesitate
to 60 and ask shelter and hospitality of the
fortunate inhabtant of the wooden cottage.
He knocked at the door he opened it; he en-.
tered. man was sitting writing, in front
of 4 bureau; he turned his head to regard
his visitor. Recognizing the unexpected
guest who came to interrupt his correspon-
dence, he said, before the other could cross the
threshold:
"Ah q! that's you, Dupont. We will have
little bit of fence"
"By all means with all my heart" said
Dupont to Fournier, who chanced to be the
occupant of the chalet. And they set to
work chatting between the passes.
II thought you were employed in the inte'
rior," said Fournier
The minister has put me in the fourth
corps"
"Really! What curious coincidence.
command the cavalry there. And so you are
just arrived p
81 got out of the carriage FIVE minutes ago"
"And your first thoug hts were devoted to
me. How very kindw
At last, General Dupont's sword, after
traversing General Fournier's thrust, struck
the wall.
"Sacre, die~ shouted Fournier
"You did not expect that?'
eyes, / did. Directly left my guard. l
saw that I was caught. But It's you who
don't expect what is going to happen"
"The moment you stir. shall give you a
thrust in the belly. You are dead man."
81 will ward -our thrust"
"Impossible.''
II won't st my sword an inch. I will
keep you pinned until you throw down your
sword"
"Do you know that this is very disagree
able position p said Fournier.
For you, especially. Throw down your
sword and will allow you to quit it"
"No l intend to kill you."
Fortunately the noise which the two gener'
ais made was heard by the officers, who came
and separated the combatants.
Dupont, the more reasonable Of the two
now and then thought of the absurdity of q
quarrel, and still went ON after so many strug
giles, and asked himself whether he would moi
be right in killing Fournier, to make an enc
of the matter. Besides that, he was to gel
married. One morning he called on Four
nier.
"Are you &C ne to fix a day for the match ?
inquired the la ter, on seeing him enter.
"Perhaps m but first of all, let US talk
little. Listen to this ; l intend to get mar
ried and before enter the serious state o.
matrimony, should like to have done with
you"
"Oh ohw
"Our quarrel has now lasted for nineteer
years. do not wish to continue style O
life which my wife might consider not exactly
comfortable; and therefore by virtue of tht
fourth aricle of our treaty, am come up tt
propose change in the mode of combat, anc
so have final meeting, the result of which
shall be decisive. We will Gght with pis
tolls"
"You don't think of such thing" criec
Fournier in astonishment
II know that that is your strong point
but, to equal chances, we will do this, if yol
like. One of my friends has, at Neuilly, al
inclosure planted with trees, and completed.
surrounded with walls there are two door
to it, one at each end. On day, and at al
hour to be agreed upon, we will 60 to the EN-
closure separately, armed with two hostile
pistols, ready loaded, to take single sho
with each. We will try which can find tn
other, and whoever catches the sight of tn
other, shall fire"
"That's droll idea"
"Does it suit you ?"
"Ten o'clock on Tuesday morning-wil
that do p
"Thats it agreed. Adieu, till Tuesday"
The hour and the day determined on, the,
we're punctual at their rendezvous. AS sool
as they we're inside the inclosure, the tw'
antagonists sought after each other cautious
ly, halting to listen to every step. They ad
vanced slowly, with their cooked pistols il