The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-09-30


an hour, and the gentlemen coolly de-
part. leaving me all alone-alone with
myself and the prospective of the to-
morrow.
Classically, wish to arrange my
affairs.
Scarcely have commenced to exhume
papers, stamped and unstamped, invento-
ries, correspondence, etc., when l find
tumble the whole mass back into the
drawer again, pellmell, feeling that I
could not have the courage to persist.
! simply write one short letter-as
lovingly as I can express myself-to my
mother. and leave it duly addressed
upon my bureau. Then I go to bed and
manage somehow or other to go to sleep
against my will. The dominant idea in
sleep is this: "Who knows if shall see
this room again tomorrow evening?
Who knows if 1 shall have the pleasure
of lying down in this bed again?"
Then utter mental adieu to every
thing about me, and close my eyes COM
pairing myself to Turenne and his famous
cannon.
AS 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 sort
of gripping at my heart. Then, after a
cordial bandshake, examine Georges
toilet. Black dress-coat, light pantaloons,
pearl-gray gloves. feel so grateful to
him for having eschewed the lugubrious
costume usually worn on such occasions.
He notices the favorable impression.
My dear fellow" he says, cit is not
now fashionable to go cut to sIich affairs
as if one were going to funeral; it is
nothing more than promenade"
l ring for my .valet-de-chambre.
Joseph, says George, ''go and pick
out for your master the most stuffy
starched shirt he has, with turned
down collar. Then bring me the oldest
pair of his shoes you can find It doesn't
matter much what they look like
Joseph locks surprised, and returns
moment after with the articles..designated.
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 off these heels about one tenth of
an inch from the sole. RUM and come
back as soon as you can.
I allow him to do as he pleases without
understanding his motive in the least.
ut is very important" says he, that
your heel will not stick, or catch in the
ground and cause you to lose your
balance with the sword in your hand.
Moreover, while we need shoe that
supports the foot, you must not have one
that will press the foot tightly. Do you
know that it is superb day and that you
are really lucky? You can fight in duck
pantaloons, which is far the most COM
Portable thing you can wear on such oc-
clsions.
Decidedly, my friend George begins
to assume gigantic proportions In my
eyes. 7 submit to all his directions
without the slightest objection and dress
myself according to his Instructions
black frock coat, black vest, white duck
rive at the encing-school. We fence
and George seems very well satisfied.
He renews his advice of the previous
evening. I listen with all my ears.
"Goodi-tha is it! Thrust at the arm
in advancing. Now!-in retreating.
Good! that was very good! The mo-
ment you see your adversary leave the
line to attack, then disengage and thrust
under! So! That is it. We have
fenced enough now-you must not tire
yourself for nothing"
We call in at the doctors mutual
| friend and old school l-fellow. A regular
"bon vivant," with a frank and happy
face and jovial eye-delighted to be able
to please US. He takes his case of surgi
cal instruments and slips it into hi:
pocket slyly, so that may not see it
there are linen bandages, lint, few
microscopical phials and bottle of pure
water, which he hands to the coachman
| We all breakfasted at De BIS. Til,
| breakfast is merry, but nevertheless JUS
q little more solemn than usual. Despit,
natural confidence of my character,
feel greatly afraid that may seem to b.
showing off. When nobody is looking
at me, steal an underhand look at the
| clock. It is evident that this waiting i.
making me nervous and thoughtful a
| the same time What I fear most is no
a wound or death; it is the Unknow d; ii
short, it is the emotion that is insepara
BILE from ones first debut and has be
come proverbial. I feel the need of 10
comotion, of some moral or physica
companion-every once in while I fine
myself giving a sudden start, making al
involuntary nervous gesture, bursting
into strident laugh. And, neverthe
less, I am not afraid. We chat Ever,
time that the conversation manifests
tendency to depart from the palpitatint
question of the occasion, some one in
voluntarily leads it back to the old sub
ject again.
ssTell me-" said I to the Esculapias
"do you think that four o'clock in tn,
afternoon is a good time to fght?"
.Most assuredly," replied l.. will
great tranquility; land at that time yor
are not annoyed by the uncertainty anc
nervous trembling consequent upon to,
early rising; you feel at ease; digestion
has been effected and that readers i
tion in safety.
That surgical phrase perform an op
Grafton" pronounced with such facility
makes me shudder in spite OF myself.
7 take my seat at the piano in the hop
of distracting myself. The "valet d
chambre" enters to announce that on,
landeau is ready.
.aCome, -eomai' exclaims George; "w,
have not got any too much .ime TO lose
We have still to call for those othe
| gentlemen; they are going to introduc,
us into st. VS.. park; the duel is t,
be fought on his grounds; We will no
be disturbed there by anybody. Come
En- rontei"
seize my hat. { make it point o
honor to be ont first; but within myself
think that my friend George would mak'
an accomplished torturer.