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


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
nv friend George to explain my s1tua-
tion.
"My dear fellow" he observes, "this
is q first duel-this is my opinion. You
are very young, and you are absolutely
in the wrong. Ii you wish to acknowl-
edge as much, well 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"
"No; there is no need of that. Just
in and make your legs supple. Fence
for an hour-not more. it would do you
no good. TIL go and see De B. myself.
AS for the swords, you can have mine
here, which will bring you good luck"
smile with a 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.
7 hurry to the fencing-school and have
quiet talk with my fencing master, who
Immediately puts on his old plastron,
considering the emergency of the situa-
tion, and forthwith makes me practice
the counter of quartz for a whole hour,
parrying with half-longes at the arms.
I leave the fencing g-school highly pleased
with myself, and fortified with the bless
ings of my fencing master, who offers to
wager his head that I shall wound my
adversary. I start for Durand's, prac-
ticing the counter of quartz with my
cane all the way, in style serried
enough to do honor to Corde elois. / can
think of nothing else except my duel.
had told everybody about it. Had the
Marquis de c., against whom I had
no real grudge whatever, offered me the
fullest and frankest apologies, would
have energetically refused to accept
them.
At Durand's I met George and De B.
We breakfast all three together. There
is q 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
| coolly talk about drinking the blood of
| the marquis. George begins to laugh at
| me. [ ask myself whether / shall not
also send witnesses to him. No, think
it would be carrying things too far. Be-
sides, he is really very fond of me.
find that am becoming little too much
of swash buckler.
| My friends leave me to attend the
meeting of the seconds. I return home.
| I find myself over-excited and nervous.
l jostle Joseph roughly; he does not
| know what to make of it. / order my
horse saddled, and ride out to the Bois
de Boulogne. Everybody know comes
to me to talk about the affair, which has
begun to be noIsed abroad. / assume
the most careless air / can put on, and
listen to them with secret pleasure.
bow to great many people. The Bois
is charming! A delightful sun-not toe
hot. Autumn toilets; the prettiest of all
Two pretty dancers of the ''corps de
ballet stop their phaeton to speak
| to me.
"Tell me-" asks little ", sis it true
that you are going to fight tomorrow
with the Marquis de C.?"
eyes; but don't say anything about it
it is private affair. Tomorrow morn
ing-swords."
"Ah! poor CASTOR! trust you will
have good luck"
| feel the caress of her jet-black eye
as [ sit upon my horse. follow ths
little carriage at al easy canter. She
looks at me with tender aud sad look
Then / try to show off before her, anl
find that am quite delighted to have al
affair of honor on my hands. I Sc,
George on his Arab at distance.
check my thoroughbred; George ride
up to me.
You fight tomorrow at four o'clock il
the afternoon at LIE Vesinet. hav,
made inquiries. You must not los
your temper upon the ground. You
adversary is not very strong or skillful
: but he has fought three times, ant
j knows little fencing. We shall visi
the fencing school together tomorrow
morning before breakfast"
"Goodw answer, laconically.
His last remarks have cooled my ardo
considerably. I am not quite a, wei
satisfied as was little while before
Nevertheless [ do not show it,; and
maintain show of gayety. / try to b
very witty. [ make some very poo
! jokes puns. George is seri
Gus and thoughtful. Nevertheless I SO
| smile passing over his lips from tim
to time. I think that he knows just hoy
much my show of gayety is to b. relie'
i upon.
II We return. T dine with George an,
/ B. / secure in advance a front seat a
the Bouffes; and we.are all to go to th
theater together. Same conversation a
| in the morning but little more per
sonal this time.
Il .sYour adversary is taller than you,
! says George. In retreating you mus
! keep your point in as much as possible
and If Jon see an opening thrust withou
making the full longe. "
ssBaht' I cried laughingly, ''let us ga
our supper now and talk Of something
else. [ want to have some fun on my las
night.
i It was the fourth or fifth time I hal
talked about my last night, my last even
ing, my last dinner-allusions of NOR.
/; or less questionable taste.
You will do me the favor, 7 reso
lutely observed George, TO do nothing
foolish tonight, and TO go to bed early
We are going-De b. and Ito chat al