The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-03-18

% You won't allow mep Understand
| shall say what choose about that
lady. / do not recognize your right 10
defend her."
"Nor l yours to blame her."
Perhaps 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 lieo"
'' Yes, | don't mind saying it is solid
lie"
You know the consequences of that
speech, l suppose?"
." | know them very well. am not
afraid of you"
"Duval! Duval! I'll"
"Oh, keep cool, Fontaine! Send YOUR
second to me at midnight If your valor
holds till morning, I'll give you chance
to prove it"
every well, sir. Understand this
goes to the bitter end. Twill receive no
apology-not the most abiect one"
"No apology will be offered vou.n
Then Duval flung his hat on his head.
united his horse, and rode rapidly ND
the street. He went, in fact, to John
Winthrop to ask him to make the proper
arrangements for meeting between
Fontaine and himself the next dav.
After little persuasion, John agreed to
do so; but ere Duval left, Fontaine tanned
smartly at Johns door, and made the
same request. The two opponents bowed
to each other, but left all speech to
John, who, in truth, seemed admirably
adapted for the part he found himself
almost obliged to play.
He tried first to effect reconcilia-
ton, but finding that impossible, made
the strange proposition that he should
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 L will bring my friend DR.. Allen,
and see everything as pleasantly and
honorably settled as possible"
Both Duval and Fontaine bowed to
this proposal. Perhaps neither of them
was in heart as blood-thrsty as he pre-
tended, and a peaceably inclined second
has great deal in his power. So lit
tie wood about two miles out of town
was fixed upon, and sunset the following
day was the fated hour. John had in
sisted on this delay, partly he said, be-
cause he still 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 were at
their usual desks in the morning, and
their evening horseback ride was so
common and natural that no one at
tached 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 tree and smoked what
might be his last cigar. Fontaine
paced nervously up and down. waiting
with great Impotence Johns arrival
with the appointed weapons, which
both men had intrusted TO him. The
sun set. The little wood got darker
and darker-so dark at last that Duvars
cigar made distinct glow. Still, John
did not come.
Neither liked to make the first re.
mark, yet it was evident that for some
cause or other their wounded honor
would have to endure another twelve
hours wrong. Yet Duval was Just
lighting another cigar, when little
negro boy came running through the
wood.
" Done found you at last, Mas'r jeff.
Thought you'd done shooted each other
for sure. rs been a-lookin' all round
var since shutdown"
"What have you come here for?"
"Mass'r John Winthrop send desc
two letters-for sure he did, now"
"Where is hep''
done gone"
"Fontaine," said Duval, "will you
have a match to read yours byP"
THANK you, Duvai, | will"
So by the light of a succession of
lucifers both gentlemen read the fol-
lowing words:
My friend, l am opposed to duels on prin-
c1ple; so is my dear bride, who hopes you will
both remember her too kindly to stain her
name with your blood. Your little foolish
quarrel hurried our arrangements, which had
been made for month later. You will see
now the wisdom of the advice | have always
given you both. JOHN WINTHROP"
There was moments dead silence,
then Duval said: "Fontaine, we have
no quarrel now; and if we have, we
have no weapons. Suppose we 90 back
to the hotel and have supper?"-Har-
perS Weekly