The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-03-16

seemed TO SIMMER ana glance like a
fairy robe. as with winning smiles and
gracious, graceful manners she fitted
to and fro among the guests.
John Winthrop was among them. He
did not dance, and he did not sing, and
he smiled queerly at the very idea of his
reciting poetry; consequently neither
Duval nor Fontaine felt uneasy about
his influence. Indeed, he seemed only
to be able to converse on two subjects
property and politics.
Still, nc had one great advantage
staid in the same house with Imogene,
and could see her in many favorable
moments forbidden to less happy NOR
tails. But Duval, who watched him
closely, was soon convinced he was in
different to this immense favor; for Du-
val had found opportunities of putting
very clever leading questions to Mr..
Winthrop, and that gentleman had an
swered them with the greatest candOr.
Indeed, he was so much more polite
and sympathetic than he expected that
Duval, who really longed for a conf
dant, poured out his whole soul to him,
and asked John candidly what was his
opinion about his own and FOntaine's
chances. Did he really think that Fon-
tame would win Tmogene?
John said he knew very little of wom-
en-, but he thought FOntaine would not
win Miss ImOgene.
It is a comfort to have "a confdant,
and Duval frightened so much under
the process of pouring out his hopes to
John that Fontaine noticed the change,
and began to fear that his rival had COM
fort and encouragement of which he did
not know.
He was bordering this question very
gloOmilY one night when he met John
Winthrop. How it happened he never
could tell, but in five minutes the two
men were talking of Imogene, and Fon-
tame had told John ALI his hopes and
fears with regard to her. John listened
with interest, and even encouraged the
conversation, though he tried to moder-
ate FOntaine's complaints of Duval
" For" said he, sit is only right to
tell you that l am also DuvaTs conf
dant. | must say the affair is full of
interest to me, and l can partly under
stand how it fills and colors all the
hours of your two lives. For me, things
are different If should fall in love, |
could not afford to lose either an
hours time or an hours sleep about any
woman" ~
In this way matters went on for some
WGChS- OOnAl WAS tllG kIlOWH COnIuduJ
of both men, a pOst.nOt half as difficult
as it appears at first sight. For Fon-
tame often wanted to say something
about Duval he did not care to say to
DuVaPs face. He therefore made the
remark to John, hoping that he. would
be his mouth-piece; and tits needless
to say that Duyal followed the same
plan.
John smiled, and smoked, and list
ened, and kept very quiet--a thing easy
enough to do, for both lovers only cared
to hear themselves complain. That
they kept up SO long an appearance of
| friendship was entirely due to John S
wise reticence, and his charitable rem
dering of such scraps of conversation as
hefelt obliged to report.
But smouldering fire cannot always be
/ controlled, and one night, when ImO-
/ gene had been very naughty and cross
to both DuValand Fontaine, they unfOrt-
unately met on the piazza of their hO-
tel. Duyal was despondent and pros
trate, Fontaine angry and seornftIl, and
/ DuYals air uncOnsciously irritated him.
''How ill-tempered Miss ImOgene was
to -nightr' he said, fretfully, finging his
| half-smOked cigar into the street.
"Miss Imogene is never ill-tempered,' -
answered Duval, warmly. ~ will not
! allow you to say such thing"
. Y0W won't allow me? Understand
shall say what choose about that
lady. l do not recognize your right TO
defend her.
" Nor yours to blame her. ..s
" 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 lie?''
a Yes, L don't mind saying it is solid
lieu
g You know the-consequences of that
speech, 1 SUPPOSED" sAt
g know them very we'll L am not
afraid of YOU
'Duval! Duval! I'll .-........
ooh, keep cool, Fontaine! Send voul
second to me at midnight. If your vaiOl
i holds till morning, TIL give you a chance
to prove it.
every well, sir Understand thi.
goes to the bitter end: Twill receive ne
apology the most abjeet one"
No apology will be offered you"
Then Duval flung his hat on his head
united his. horse, and rode rapidly VI
the street. He went, in fact, to Joh1
Winthrop to ask him to make the propel
/ arrangements III d IAICCbtI2 UGbW GCA
F0ntaine and himself the next day
After a little persuasion, John agreed Il
do so; but ere Duval left, Fontaine tapped
smartly at Johns door, and made thu
same request. The two opponents bowed
to each other, but left all speech tt
John, who, in truth, seemed admirably
adapted for the part he found himsel
almost Obliged tOplay.
He tried first to effect a reconcilia
ton, but finding that impossible, made
the strange proposition that he shOulC
act as second for both. Gentlemen, >
he said, with winning courtesy, ''yor
are both equally my friends, and an
honestly disposed to do equal Justice t.
each. Fix on some place and hour
and | will bring my friend DR.. Allen
and see everything as pleasantly anC
honorably settled as possible"
Both Duval and Fontaine bowed t
this proposal. Perhaps neither of then
was in heart as blood-thirsty as he pre-
tended, and a peaceably inclined seconC
, has a greet deal in his power. So lit
? tie wood about two miles out of towr
, was fixed upon, and sunset the followin!
day was the fated hour. John had in
, sisted on this DELAY, partly he said, be
cause he still hoped the principals nigh
5 change their minds, and partly becaus
it would allay any suspicion which thei
quarrel and late visit to himself Nigh
| arouse.
: So both Duval and Fontaine were a
5 their usual desks in the morning, an,
/ their evening horseback ride was S
5 common and natural that no one at
| tached any unusual meaning to it
Both men arrived ut the designate
= spot by different roads, but within tw
2 minutes of each other. Duval bowed
/ leaned against tree and smoked wha
E might be his last cigar. Fontain
r paced nervously up and down. waitin
9 with great Impotence Johns arrivs
/ with the anDOinted wpaDODS Nvhip