Morris tribune., 1882-08-31

| tories, correspondence, etc, when | find
| everything is in so diSOrderly state
that | tumble the whole mass back in
the drawer again, pellmell, feeling that
| could not have the courage to persist
l simply write one short letter-as
lovingly as | can express myset-to my
mother and leave it duly addressed up
on my bureau. Then go to bed and
manage somehow or other to go to sleep
against my will. The dominant idea in
my mind at the moment that drop off
to sleep is this: "WhC knows if | shall
see this room tomorrow evening? Who
knows if | shall have the pleasure of ly-
ing down in this bed again?'
Then | utter a mental adicu to every
thing about me; and close my eyes, COM
pairing myself to Turenne and his fam
Gus cannon.
As l wake up in the morning
the first face | see at the head of my bed
is Georges.
In one second the thought of the first
duel rushes to my mind, and feel 4
gripping at my heart. Then, after Il cor
dial handshake, | examine Georges
toilet, Black dress-coat, light panta-
looms, pearl-gray gloves. feel grateful
to him for having eschewed the lugu-
| briOuS costume usually worn on such oc-
casions. He notices the favorable i'm
| preston.
My dear fellow he says, ''it is not
now fashionable to 90 out to such affairs
as if one were going to a funeral; its
nothing more than promenade"
ring for my valet-de-chambre.
"Joseph", says George, go and pick
out for your master the most stitflv
starched shirt that he has, with turned
down collar. Then bring me the oldest
pair of shoes you can find. 1t doesn't
matter much what they look like"
Joseph looks surprised, and returns a
moment after with the articles designat-
ed. George examines the shirt with the
most scrupulous care.
Good! that is stiff enough. Now run
over to the shoemaker and Get him to
cut OFT those heels Qne-tenth of an inch
from the sole. Run! and come back as
| quick rs you can"
l allow him to do as he pleases with
out understanding his motive in the
least. "1t is very importantly says he,
that Your heel should not stick or catch
in the ground and cause you to lose
your balance with the sword III your
hand. Moreover, while you need shoe
that supports the foot, you must not
have one that will press the foot too
tightly. Do you know that it is a SUI
perb day, and that you are really lucky?
You can fight in duck pantaloons Which
is far the most comfortable thing YOU
can wear on such OCCASIONS"
Decidedly, my friend George begins to
assume gigantic proportions in my eyes,
l submit to all his directions without the
least OBJ eCtiOn, and dress myself accor-
ding to his instructions-black frock
coat, black vest white duck pantaloOns.
! Two minutes later we arrive at the fenc-
ing school. We fence, and George
seems to be very we'll Statistic |. He re-
news his advice of the previous evening.
l listen with all my ears.
"Good!-that is it. Thrust at the arm
IN advancing. Now!-in retreating.
Good. that was very good! The moment
you see your adversary leave the line to
attack, then diSengage and thrust-un-
enough nOW-you must not tire Yourself
for nothing"
We call in at the doctor's-a mutual
friend and old school-fellow. \ regular
bon vivant, with a frank and happy face
and a lOvial eye-delighted to be able
to please us. He takes his case of sur
glcal instruments and slips it into his
| pocket siyly, so that I may not see it;
there are linen bandagcs, lint, few mi
croscoplcal phials and bottle of pure
water, which he hands to the coachman
We all breakfast at De BIS. The
breakfast Is merry, but nevertheless just
a little more solemn than usual Despite
the natural confidence of my character,
teel greatly afraid that | may seem to
| be showing off. When nobody is look
ing at me, steal an underhand look at
the clock. 1t is evident that this waiting
is making me nervous and thoughtful at
the same time. What | fear most is not
a wound or death; it is the unknown; in
snort, 1t IS that emotion which is insep-
arabic from ones first debut and has be-
! come proverbial. l feel the need of To-
| comotion, of moral Or physical occupa-
| tion-every once in while | find myself
| giving a sudden start; making an lnvol-
untary nervous gesture, bursting into a
strident laugh. And, nevertheless, am
not afraid. We chat. Every time the
conversation manifeSts a tendancy to de-
part from the FACILITATING question Of the
occasion, some one involuntarily leads it
back to the old subject again.
Tell me" said l to the Esculapias,
do you think that four o'clock in the
afternoon is good time to fght?"
great tranquility; lat thattime YOU are
not annoyed by the uncertainties and
nervous trembling consequent upon too
early rising; you feel at ease; digestion
has been effected and that renders it
much more facile to perform an opera
ton in safety"
That surgical phrase perform an op-
Grafton. pronounced with such facility,
makes me shudder in spite of myself.
take my seat at the piano in the
hope OF dlstracting myself. The valet
dc-chanbre enters to announce that our
landau is ready.
"Come, comew exclaims George; "we
have not got any too much time to lose.
We have still to call for those other GEN
tlemen; they are going to introduce us
into st. VS. park; the duel is to be fought
on his grounds; we will not be disturbed
there by anybody. Come! En- routev'
seize my hat: | make it a point of
honor to be out first; but within myself
Ithink that my. friend George would
make an accomplished torturer.
We get into the landau. The other
gentlemen were already waiting for u.s.
They go on in advance The Journey be-
gins; it is long; long-too long. 1t seems
! to me absolutely iEterminable. From
my seat at the back of the vehicle l ex-
anime the country-smoking my londres
with thoughtful mien. Before me |
have the face of George, whose eyes
never leave me. His black mustache
seems to cut his stern face in two; and
from time to time he gives me an ener-
getic grasp of the hand.
Beside me is the doctor, with his good
natllred face. In the bottom of the
carriage lie the swords, light,
with their curved guarda,
large, fitting the hand well,
m Inn ~ 30 u
they will not bend if they strike rib.
I feel q childish nlaasnre In unShaathinn