, 1882-07-14

In this way matters went on for
some weeks. John WAS the known
contidantc of both men, Il post not
half SO difficult as it appears at first
sight, For Fontaine often wanted
to say something about Duval that
he did not care to say to Daval'S
face, He therefore made the remark
to John, hoping that he would be his
mouth-piecc, and it is needless 10 say
that Duval followed the same plan.
John smiled. and smoked, and
listened, and kept very quiet, u thing
easy enough to do, for both lovers
only cared to hear themselves com
plain, That they kept up so long an
appearance Of friendship was entire
ly due to Johns wise reticence, and
charitable rendering of such scraps
of conversation as he felt obliged to
report
But smouldering fire cannot always
be controlled, and one night when
Imogene had been very naughty and
cross both to Duval and Fontaine.
they unfortunately met on the piazza
of their hotel. Duval was despond-
ent and prostrate. Fontaine angry
and scornful, and Duvals air natur-
ally irritated him.
How ill-tempered Miss Inogene
was to-nightr' he said. fretfnlly.
tlinging his half-smoked cigar into
the street
Miss Imogene is never i'll tenn
pered,' said Duval, warmly. Il will
not allow you to say such thing"
You won't allow me? Understand
l shall say what / like about that
young lady, l do not recognize your
right to defend her"
Nor l yours to blame her"
Perhaps 1 have more right than
you know Of"
THAT is lying insinuation; you
are no gentleman to make it."
DO you dare to say it is a lie?"
"Yes; and l don't mind saying it is
a solid lie."
You know the consequences of that
speech, supposeW
II know them very well. / am not
afraid of you"
"Duval. Duval! I'll"
"Oh, keep cool, Fontaine, Send
your second to me to night. If your
valor holds till morning I'll give you
a chance to prove it."
VERY well, sir. Understand, this
goes to the bitter end. Twill receive
no apology not the most abject
one"
''No apology will be offered you"
Then Duval flung his hat on his
head, united his horse, and rode rap
idly up the street He went, in fact to
John Winthrop, to ask him to make
the proper arrangements for meet
ing between Fontaine and himslf the
next day. After a little persuasion,
John ageeed to do so; but ere Duval
left, Fontaine tapped smartly on
Johns door and made the same re-
quest. The two opponents bowed to
each other, but left all speech to
John, who, in truth, seemed admir-
ably adapted for the part he found
himself almost obliged to play
He tried first to effect a reconcilia-
ton. but, finding that impossible,
made the strange proposition to act
as second for both. "Gentlemen,"
he said, with a winning courtesy, you
are both equally my friends, and /
am honestly disposed to do equal
justice to each. Fix on some place
and hour, and 1 will bring my friend
DIR. Allen and see everything as pleas
antly and honorably settled as posi-
ble."
Both Duval and Fontaine bowed to
this proposal. Perhaps neither Of
them was in his heart as bloodthirsty
as he pretended, and a peaceably in
clined second had a good deal in his
power So a little wood about two
miles out of town was fixed upon, and
sunset the following day was the
the fated hour. John had insisted
on this delay partly, he said, because
he hoped the principals might change
their minds, and partly because it
would allay any suspicion which their
quarrel and late visit to himself
might arouse.
So both Duval and Fontaine We're
at their usual desk in the morning,
and their evening horseback ride was
SO common and natural, that no one
attached any unusual meaning to it.
Both men arrived at the designated
spot by different roads, but within
two minutes of each other. Duval
bowed, leaned against a tree, and
smoked what might be his last cigar.
Fontaine passed nervously up and
down, waiting with great impatience
Johns arrival with the appointed
weapons, which both men had en-
trusted to him. The sun set. The
little wood got darker and darker
so dark at last that Duval's cigar
made a distinct glow. Still, John
did not come.
Neither liked to make the first re
mark, yet it was evident that for