The Princeton union., 1882-04-06
bnt he thought Fontaine would not win

bnt he thought Fontaine would not win
Miss Imogene.
y e . comfort TO have 5 confidant, and
sDuval Frightened so much under the
process ct pouring out his hopes to John
|ethat Fontaine noticed the change and be- 4
] gan to fear that his rival had comfort and
/ encouragement Of which he al not know.
He was pondering this question very
H el0omily one night when he met John Vim.
/ throp. How il happened he could never
L tell, but IA five minutes the two men were
\ stslkiDg OF Imogene. and FoLtaine had told
| Al bus hopes and fears with Ieeara TO her.
/ John listened with interest, and ;eyen en-
|scouraged the conversation, though he tried
g moderate Fontaine's complaints Of
Duval. 80
For, said he, 1t is only right to tell you
that am also Duvals confidant. must
~ that the affair is full Of interest to me.
and can partly understand how it fills and
o0lqrs all the hours Of your two lives. For
me. things are different. IL Il should fall
n love, / could not afford to loose either
anIihour,s time or an hours sleep about any
woman. & '3F
in this way matters went on for some
ws6ks. John was the known conf dant Of
bpth men. a post not half SO difficult as it
appears at first sight. For Fontaine often
wanted to say something about Dnval he
did not care to say to Duval's face. He
therefore made the remark to John, hoping
that he would be his mouth piece, and it is
needless to say that Duva1 followed the same
plan.
John Smiled, and smoked and listened.
and kept very quiet thing easy enough to
do, for both lovers only cared to hear them =
selves complain. That they kept up so
long an appearance OF friendship was en-
/ hfely due to Johns wise reticence, and his
charitable rendering of such scraps Of con-
yersation as he felt obliged to report.
But smouldering FIRE cannot always be
controlled, and one night, when Imogene
had been very naughty and cross to both
Dpval and Fontaine, they unfortunately
met on the piazza Of their hotel. Duval
vas Respondent and PROSTATE. Fontaine
angry and scornful, and Duyal's air uncon
sciously irritated him.
tonight" he said, fretfuIy, finging his
half smoked cigar into the street.
Miss lmogene is never il-tempered, !"
answered Duval, warmly. will no. allow
you to say such thing"
IaYou won't allow, mep Understand. I
shall say what chose about that lady. / do
not recognize your right to defend her. !"
Nor yours to blame her."
Perhaps I have moro right than you
| know Of. !"
That is . lying insinuation; you are no
gentleman to make it"
Do you dare to say it is lie?@
Yes; / don't mind SAYING it is'a solid
lis.n
You know the consequences Of that
! speech, I suppose?"
II know them very we'll. I am MT afraid
Of you"
@Oh, keep cool, Fontaine! Send your
second to me at midnight. If your yalor
holds till morning, I'll give you chance to
prove it."
.Very well, sir. Understand that this
goes to the bitter end. I will receive no
apology not the most abject one.
sNo apology will be offered you."
Then Duval flung his hat on his head, un-
tied his horse, and rode rapidly up the
street. He went, in fact to John Winthrop
to'ask him to make the proper arrangements
for meeting between Fontaine and him
self next day. After q little persuasion John
agreed to do SO; but ere Duyal left. Fon-
tame tapped smartly at Jyhn's door and
made the same request. The two oppo-
nents bowed to each other, bat left all
speech to John, who, in truth, seemed ad :
mirably adapted to the part he found him
self obliged to play.
Ha tried first tc effect reconciliation, but
finding that impossible, made the strange
proposition that he should act as second Tor
both. Gentlemen. he said, with win
ming courtesy, you are both equally my
friends, and ! am honestly disposed to do
hour, and I will bring my friend DR.. Allen,
and see everything as pleasantly and hon
orably settled as possible.
Both Duval and Fontaine bowed to this
proposal, perhaps neither Of them was in
his heart as bloodthirstv as he pretended,
and q peaceably incline d second has good
deal in his power. So little wood about
two miles out of town was fixed upon, and
sunset the following day was the fated
hour. John had insisted on this delay,
partly, he said, because he still hoped the
4 principals might change their minds, and
partly because it might delay any suspicion
j which their quarrel and late visit to himself
might arouse. .
i So both Duval and Fontaine were at their
usual desks in the morning, and their even
ing horseback ride was SO common and nat
i ural that none attached any unusual meaning
4 to it. Both men arrived at the designated
spot by different roads, but within two min
i utes Of each other. Duval bowed, leaned
1 sgainst tree, and smoked what might be
his last cigar. Fontaine paced nervously
up and down, waiting with great impatience
Johns arrival with the appointed weapons,
i which both men had intrusted to him
The sun set. The little wood got darker
and darker $50 dark at last that Duvals
cigar made distinct glow. Still, John did
not come.
Neither liked to make the first remark.
yet it was evident that for some cause Or
other their wounded honor would have to
endure another twelve hours wrong. Yet
Duyal was just lighting another cigar when
q little negro boy came running through
i the wood.
aDone found you at last, Mas'r JEFF,
Thought you a done sh0oted each other Tor
sure. Use been a-lookin' all round yer
since sundown.
What have you come here for?r
sMas'r John Winthrop send desc two LETT
ters for sure he did now.
sWhere is he2
Done Rone.
@F Foqntsins. said Duysl, will you have q
match to read yours by
Thank you, Duval, / will.
2n hv tho 1inI,k ~ - e,, oooc~sn,, - 1,,n;