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

analr OF h0n0r on my nan0S. see
George on his Arab at distance. I
check my thoroughbred; George rides
up to me.
You fight tomorrow at four O'Clock in
the afternoon at Le Vesinet. have
made inquiries. You must not lose
your temper upon the ground. Your
adversary is not very strong or skillful;
but he has fought three times, and
knows little fencing. We shall visit
the fencing-school together tomorrow
morning before breakfast"
"Goodp answer, laconically.
His last remarks have cooled my ardor
considerably. 1 am not quite a. well
satisfied as I was little while before.
Nevertheless I do not show it; and /
maintain show of gayety. I try to be
very witty. make some very poor
jokes counterfeit puns. George is seri
GUS and thoughtful Nevertheless see
O smile passing over his lips from time
to time. think that he knows just how
much my show of gayety is to b, relied
upon.
We return. 1 dine with George aud
B. l secure in advance a front seat at
the Bouffes; and we are all to go to the
theater together. Same conversation as
in the morning-but little more per-
sonal this time.
"Your adversary is taller than you"
says George. "In retreating you must
keep your point in as much as possible,
and if you see an opening thrust without
making the full longe."
"Bahr' cried laughingly, "let US eat
our supper now and talk of something
else. l want to have some fun on my last
night"
It was the fourth or fifth time had
talked about my last night, my last even
ing, my last characterization of more
or less questionable taste.
"You will do me the favor" reso-
lutely observed George, ''to do nothing
foolish tonight, and to go to bed early.
We are going-De B. and Ito chat an
hour with you, put you to bed, and to.
morrow at ten o'clock shall come to
take you with me to the fencing-school.
try to rebel against this injunction;
but it is positive, and Immediately after
leaving the theater we all return to the
house. Cigars are lighted; we chat for
an hour, and the gentlemen coolly de-
part. leaving me all alone-alone with
myself and the prospective Of the to-
morrow.
Classically, I wish to arrange my
affairs.
Scarcely have commenced to exhume
papers, stamped and unstamped, invento.
ries, correspondence, etc., when / find
everything in SO disorderly state that I
tumble the whole mass back into the
drawer again, pellmell, feeling that I
could not have the courage to persist
simply write one short letter-ss
lovingly as can express myself-to my
mother. and leave it duly addressed
upon my bureau. Then go to bed and
manage somehow or other to 60 to sleep
against my will. The dominant idea in
my mind at the moment drop off to
sleep is this: "Who knows if I shall see
this room again tomorrow evening?
Who knows if I shall have the pleasure
of lying down in this bed againa"
Then utter mental adieu to every
thing about me, and close my eyes COM
pairing myself to Turenne and his famous
cannon.
- As wake up in the morning
the first face see at the head of my bed
is Georges.
In one second the thought of the first
duel rushes to my mind, and / feel sort
of gripping at my heart. Then, after
cordial bandshake, I examine Georges
toilet. Black dress-coat, light pantaloons,
pearl-gray gloves. l feel SO grateful to
him for having eschewed the lugubrious
costume usually worn on such occasions.
He notices the favorable impression.
my dear fellow" he says, cit is not
now fashionable to go cut to snch affairs
as if one were going to funeral; it is
nothing more than q promenade"
1 ring for my "valet-de-chambre."
Joseph" says George, Ego and pick
out for your master the most stuffy
starched shirt he has, with turned
down collar. Then bring me the oldest
pair of his shoes you can find! It doesn't
matter much what they look like"
Joseph looks surprised, and returns q
moment after with the articles. designated.
George examines the shirt with the most
scrupulous care.
"Good! that is stiff enough. Now
run over to the shoemaker and get him
to cut of these heels about one tenth Of
m inch from the sole. Run! and come
back as soon as you can"
/ allow him to do as he pleases without
understanding his motive in the least.
1T is very important" says he, that
your heel will noe stick, or catch in the
ground and cause you to lose your
balance with the sword in your hand.
Moreover. while We need . shoe that
supports the foot. you must not have one
that will press the foot tightly. Do you
- "a a = a