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

| told you. And above all things, keep
All my sang froid has come back to
me; my heart beats little fast, but 1
walk very deliberately to my post,
lighted by few slanting sunbeams, and
fling away my hat, coat and vest. My
adversary and myself find ourselves face
to face at distance of three yards,
measuring each other with our eyes.
This Is certainly the most trying moment
of all.
With as much outward GOODNESS as
possible, stoop to turn up my panta-
looms at the bottom; then tighten the
strap as much as 1 can so as to keep
them we'll above my hips and 1 pull up
the shirt little all round, so as to puff
it out about the chest, in order that the
sword might catch and be entangled in it
without penetrating the wearer.
George steps forward and hands me
one of the two swords, which he and one
of the other seconds have been measuring
then, crossing one blade over the other,
he utters the sacramental:
"Allez messieurs"
Like an experienced duellist, accus-
toned to the surprise of the first few
minutes, my adversary retreats q step.
The swords were hardly engaged. Out
of the corner of my eye I look at Saint
VS. red gloves which seem to CLEAN
under the sun. The marquis advances
two PAGES and executes q rapid olsen
gage. parry. retreating quickly, and
give him repost which forces him to
retreat in his turn. Then there is no
sound but the rubbing of steel upon
steel; in the silence our painting becomes
audible; we are both soon exhausted; l
feel terrible palpitation of the heart
and my irregular breathing makes me
think of the effect of those first two or
three terrible minutes of submersion
when one is learning to swim.
All of sudden the marquis leaves his
shoulder exposed-for perhaps half Q
second; thrust my arm forward and
feel feeble resistance; the blade had en-
tered the flesh. drop the sword as If
its hilt had burned my hand.
"Oh! excuse me sir" / exclaim.
The first impulse-and o very invol-
untary impulse it isis to beg pardon,
Just as when one inflicts hurt without
intending it. The feeling is just the
same as when you step on somebody
else's foot by mistake or inadvertence.
The blood gushes out through q rather
large cash, the flow is rather strong, the
shoulder and arm are forthwith con-
gested; the marquis smiles sadly as they
lay him down under tree. slip away
to dress myself; confess that 1 feel
certain pleasure in putting on my coat
again while watch the group, formed by
my friend the doctor, who sounds the
wound and sponges the marquis with
fresh water as he lies upon his side, and
Saint v. leaning over him, with his in
inside of new boot-legs.
George wipes the blades and sheathes
them. Then he walks over to me. His
black moustache hides the smile he has
the good breeding to keep down; his eyes
laugh with pleasure.
bravo! my little CASTOR" he mutters
in low voice; nov, my dear boy, go
over there and shake hands with himw
little group just as the marquis is in the
act of saying to Saint ":
''See here, Saint w., with queen of
spades second, and two trumps, what
would you do with four aces in your
hanoi"
"Why, my dear fellow, there could be
no question what to do-you must play
In such case?"
"Then it is all right. I made mis-
take, but couldn't help it. Well, it is
strange, my dear Saint w., I would have
wagered"-
At this moment break with:
Monsieur, will you permit ne to offer
you my humblest excuses?"
Don't mention it, my dear fellow"
he answers, taking my hand, "you were
perfectly right; you had to play"
I must acknowledge that in returning,
I think the colors of the sunset were un-
usually exquisite. I feel that my heart
is full; feel An inexpressible esire of
self .expansion--A gayety even more arti.
fetal, perhaps, than Whist had felt on
the way out. George moderates me,
keeps me down with side glance. They
talk about the details of the duel.
doctor, do you think that the mar.
quis will be laid mp for any length OF
timer"
''Pooh!-have TO keep his arm in
sling for q fortnight or three weeks
that's all"
'Did you notice." George asks me,
chow Awfully serious st. v. WASP"
my dear fellow, I saw nothing Of
him, except his red gloves"
Well. since that day, I have often had
Q visit early in the morning from
couple Of gentlemen, who came TO awake
me- With Q cartel at that hour whom only
washer women and servants ere mp.
But I never again experienced the