The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-10-12
MY FIRST BUEL.

just about dawn my valet de chambre
raps gently with his finger nails on my
door. He has two cards in his hand.
With my eyes full of sleep I look at
them and distinguish the names of two
members of our club.
The discussion of the evening before
With the Marquis de G. suddenly comes
to my mind, and although secretly
blaming myself for that silly episode, I
send word to the gentlemen, begging
them to excuse my inability to receive
them for the moment, and making new
appointment with them for three o'clock
in the afternoon.
As soon as they are gone Joseph
dresses me in all haste, and hurry to
my friend George to explain my sltua-
zion.
my dear fellow" he observes, "this
is first duel-this is my opinion. You
are very young, and You are absolutely
in the wrong. If you wish to acknowl-
edge as much, we'll and good; but if you
make up YOUR mind to fight, that will be
. great deal better under the circum-
stances"
81 must write to De B., and get my
swords at the store"
s'No; there is no need of that. Just
go to a fencing school, to ge. your hand
IN and make your legs supple. Fence
for Al hour-not more, it would do you
NO good. I'll go and see De B. myself.
As for the swords, you can have mine
here, which will bring you good luck.
/ smile with somewhat forced smile,
and shake hands with George, giving
him significant grip, one of these ener-
getic hand-clasps such as we only have
strength to give upon certain occasions.
I hurry to the fencing-school and have o
quiet talk with my fencing master, who
Immediately puts on his old plastron,
considering the emergency of the situa-
lion, and forthwith makes me practice
.he counter of quartz for a whole hour,
parrying with half-longes at the arms.
leave the fencing highly pleased
With myself, and fortified with the bless
ings of my fencing master, who offers to
wager his head that shall wound my
adversary. 1 start for Durand's, prac-
ticing the counter of quartz with my
cane all the way, in . style serried
enough to do honor to Cordelois. can
shink of nothing else except my duel. I
had told everybody about it. Had the
Marquis de c., against whom / had
no real grudge whatever, offered me the
fullest and frankest apologies, would
have energetically refused to accept
them.
At Durand's met George and De B.
We breakfast all three together. There
is great deal of duel talk. OF course,
George has to tell me about his duels in
Algeria. The moral of his narration is
that it is very seldom that any one is
killed in duel with swords, so long as
he can preserve his sang froid, and 1
eoolly talk about drinking the blood of
the marquis. George begins to laugh at
NE. ask myself whether / shall not
IL would be carrying things too far. Be-
sides. he is really very fond Of me. l
find that l am becoming little too much
Of sWash buckler.
Ny friends leave me to attend the
meeting of the seconds. / return home.
/ find myself over-excited and nervous.
jostle Joseph roughly; he does not
know What to make Of it. order my
horse saddled, and ride out to the Bots
de Boulogne. Everybody know comes
% me W toik SOout tue huAAr, WulC0 0A8
begun 10 be nolsed abroad. / assume
HE most careless air I can put on, and
listen to them With secret pleasure.
bow to . great many people. The Bots
Is charming! A delightful sun-not too
hot. Autumn toilets; the prettiest of all.
Two pretty dancers of the "corps de
ballet" stop their phaeton TO speak
- me.
Tell me-" asks little ", sis it true
That you are going to fight tomorrow
With the Marquis de CT"
"Yes; but don't soy anything about IL;
IL 10 private AFFAIR. Tomorrow morn
ing-swords."
"Ahl poor Gastonl I trust you will
1--we good luck"
feel the earess of her jet-black eyes
- / sit upon my horss. I follow the
Ett1e carriage ct "a easy canter. bbe
looks 4 ne with tender end I'D look.
1hsn / Try 70 show Of beloEs her, and
I'D that I sm quite dslighSsd 70 have a