Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-03-04

HTatlOUS, STbNClIl jan
and fro among the guests.
John Winthrop was among them.
He did not dance, and he did not sing,
and he smiled queerly at the very idea
of his reciting poetry; consequently
neither Duval nor Fontaine felt uneasy,
about his influence. Indeed, ne seemed
onlyto be able to converse on TWO SUD-
jects-property and politics.
Still, he had II great advantaSe--he
staid in the same house with lmoSene,
and could see her in many favorable
moments forbidden to less happy. NOR
tails. But Duval who watched him
closely. was soon convinced that he was
Indifferent to this immense favor; for
Duval had found opportunities OF put
ting very clever leading questions to
MIR. Winthrop, and that gentleman
had answered them with the greatest
candor. -,
Indeed, he was so much more polite
and sympathetic than he expected that
Duval, who really longed fora cOntidant,
poured out his whole soul to him, and
asked John candidly what was his
Orinion about his own and FOntaine's
chances. Did he really think Fontaine
would win ImOgene?
John said he knew very little of wO-
men, but he thought that Fontatne
wouid not win Miss ImOgene.
Ii is a comfort to have a cOntidant,
and Duval frightened 50 much under
the process of pouring out his hopes to
John that FOntaine noticed the change,
and began to fear that his rival had
comfort and encouragement ofwhIch he
did not know.
He was bordering this question very
gloomily one night when he met John
Winthrop. How it happened he never
could tell, but in five minutes the two
men were talking of ImOgene, and Fon-
taine had told John all his hopes andfearS
with regardto her. John listened with
interest, and even encouraged thec0nVer-
sation, though he tried to moderate
FOntaine's compliments to Duval.
"FOr," said he, sit is also rightto tell
you that l am also Duval's confident. l
must say that the affair is full of
interest to me and l can partly under
stand how it fills and cOlOrs all the
hours of your two lives. For me, things
are different. fl should fall i'll love, L
could not afford to lose either an hours
time or an hours sleep about any
woman"
In this way matters went on for som :
weeks. John was the known confident
of both men, O post not half as difficult
as it appears at first sight. For FOntaine
often wanted to say something about
Duval he did not care to say to DuvaPS
face. He therefore made the remark u
John, hoping that he would be his
~mOuthpiece; and it is needless to say
that Duval followed the same plain.
John SMILED, and smoked, and
listened, and kept very quiet-a thing
easy enough to do, for both lovers only
cared to hear themselves complain.
That they kept up so long an appear
ance of friendship was entirely due to
Johns wise reticence, and his charlta-
BILE rendering o fsuch scraps OF conVer-
satiOn as he felt obliged to report.
But smouldering fire can not always
be controlled, and one night, when
Imogene had been very naughty and
croSstO both Duval and FOntaine, they
unfortunately met on the piazza of their
hotel. Duval was respondent and
PROSTATE. FOntaine angry and scorntul,
and Duvals air unsciously irritated
him.
GLOW ill-tcmpercd Miss ImOgeae
was tonight" he said, fretfully, fling
ing his half smoked cigar into the
street. -,
"MisS Imogcnc i, never ill
tempered" answered Duval, warmly.
IL will not allow you to say such L
thing" :,
"I0u won't allow me? Understand
.L,u ,,, H. 7 nl,nngn obnut that loiV.
/ do not recognize your right to defend
her"
"NOr | yours to blame her"
perhaps l have more right than you
know Of"
"That is a lying insinuatiOn; you are
| no gentleman to make it."
"DO you dare say it is Il lie?"
"Yes, l don't mind saying it's Il
solid lie"
"You know the consequence of that
speech, 1 SUPPOSE"
al know them very well. am not
afraid of YOU"
"Duval. Duval. Fl-"
"Oh, keep cool, FOntaine! Send yOul
second to me at midnight. If your ralol
holds till morning, I'll give you Il chance
to prove it, 49,.
Every well, sir, Understand this
goes to the bitter end. | will receive
| no apolOgy-nOt the most abject one"
"No apology will be offered YOU
Then Duval flung his head, united
his horse, and rode rapidly up the
| street. He went, in fact, to John Win
throp to ask him to make the proper ar
ragementS for a meeting between FOn-
- ...l Is,,.,lrt l,n ,,nSt lnv a ffnT
a little persuasion, John agreed TODD 50;
but ere Duval left FOntaine tapped
| smartly ut Johns door, and made the
same request. The two opponents
bowed to each other, but left all speech
to John, who, in truth, seemed admira-
bly, adopted for the part he found HIM
self almost obliged to play.
He tried first to effect reconciliation,
but finding that impossible, made a
strange proposition that he should act
as second for both. "Gentlemen," he
said, with a winning courtesy, you
are both equally my friends, and l am
honestly disposed to do equal justice to
each. Fix on some place and hour,
and l will bring my friend DR.. Allen,
and see everything as pleasantly and
hOnorably settled as possible"
Both Duval and Fontaine bowed to
this proposal. Perhaps neither of them
was in his heart as blOOd-thirsty as he
pretended, and a peaceably inclined
second has q great deal in his power.
So a little wood about two miles out of
town was fixed upon, and sunset the
following day was the fatal hour. John
had insisted on this delay partly, he
said, because it would allay any
suspicion which their quarrel and late
visit to himself might arouse.
So both Duval and Fontaine were at
their usual desks in the morning, and
their evening horseback ride was so
common and natural that no II
attached any unusual meaning to it.
Both men arrived at the designated
spot by different roads, but within ten
minutes of each other. Duval bowed,
leaned against a 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, which both men
had intrusted to him. The sun set.
Tho little wood GOT darker and darker