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

friend and old school-fell0w. A regular
"bon vivant," with a frank and happy
face and jovial eye-delighted to be able
to please us. He takes his case of surgi
cal instruments and slips it into his
pocket slyly, so that I may not see it;
there are linen bandages, lint, few
microscopical phials and bottle of pure
wat,r, which he hands to the coachman.
We all breakfasted at De BIS. The
breakfast is merry, but nevertheless just
little more solemn than usual. Despite
natural confidence of my character, l
feel greatly afraid that may seem to be
showing off. When nobody is looking
at me, steal an underhand look at the
clock. 1t is evident that this Waiting is
making me nervous and thoughtful at
the same time. What fear most is not
a wound or death; it is the Unknown; In
short, it is the emotion that is insepara.
BILE from ones first debut and has be-
come proverbisl. j feel the need of To-
comotion, of some moral or physical
companion-e once in while l find
myself giving a sudden start, making an
involuntary nervous gesture, bursting
into strident laugh. And, neverthe-
less, am not afraid. We chat. Every
time that the conversation manifests q
tendency to depart from the palpitating
question of the occasion, some one in
voluntarily leads it back to the old sub
ject again.
'"Tell me-" said to the Esculapias;
edo you think that four o'clock in the
afternoon is q good time to f1ght?"
"Most assuredly," replied L. with
kun, ~v~sl nj hok
are not annoyed by the uncertainty and
nervous trembling consequent upon too
early rising; you feel at ease; digestion
has been effected aud that readers is
much more facile to perform an opera
ton in safety"
That surgical phrase perform an OPP
Grafton, pronounced with such facility,
makes me shudder in spite of myself.
take my seat at the piano in the hope
of distrscting myself. The wallet de
chambre" enters to announce that our
landeau is ready.
"Come, comet exclaims George; Eve
have not got any too much slime to lose.
We have still to call for those other
gentlemen; they are going to introduce
us into st. VS.. park; the duel is to
be fought on his grounds; we will not
be disturbed there by anybody. Come!
En- reuter-
I seize my hat. 1 make it point Of
honor to be out first; but within myself /
think that my friend George would make
an accomplished torturer.
We get into the landeau. The other
gentlemen were already waiting for us.
They go in advance. The journey be-
gins; it is long too long. 1t seems to
me absolutely interminable. From my
seat in the back of the vehicle examine
the country-smoking my ''londrea"
with thoughtful mien. Before me I
have the face of George, whose eyes
never leave me. His black moustache
seems to cut his stern face in two; and
from time to time he gives me an ener-
getic grasp of the hand.
Beside me is the doctor, with his jolly,
good natured face. In the bottom of the
lie the swords, light, with their
curved guards, large, fitting the hand
we'll, not too long, not too flexible, so
that they will not bend if they strike
rib. I feel childish pleasure in I'M
sheathing them in the carriage. They are
bright, freshly ground and sharpened
from the evening before. I pass my FIN.
ger over the point as gourmand might
pass the tip Of his tongue over his lips,
and I cannot help thinking within my
self that they are very sharp indeed.
Here is the end of the route; we turn
to the left. 1 see the railing of the park
there is q little gripping at my heart
again. light another cigar and smoke
with the most apparent indifference.
The carriages stop. We stop talking;
when we do speak cur voices sound deep
and hollow in spite Of us. / put my
head out of the window. George jumps
down. The other gentlemen talk with
The gate-keeper, who opens the iron
gates. There is not soul visible near
The chateau. The first carriage slowly
rolls mp the shady alley. preceded by the
gate keeper, holding his cap in his hand.
No one speaks. The alley is narrow and
heavily Swallowed by trees. The iron
gates shut behind us. There is no sound
audible except the slow grinding OF the
wheels on the fine sand of the carriage
drive. We turn to the right. then to the
left, stopping often enough to make one
think of Q funeral cortege passing
through . cemetery. l bend over and
whisper into the doctors ear with the
greatest sang froid:
do you know whether the family
vault 10 very far sway?"
He looks ct me with puzzled express
ZION for . moment and then bursts into
. roar Of laughter.
Georges head suddenly appears at the
"Step down." he says to me.