The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-03-11

cnaritaoie rendering OF such scraps
of conversation as he felt obliged to
| report.
But smouldering fire can not ale
ways he controlled. and one night,
when lmogene had been very haugh-
ty and cross to both Duyal and Fon.
taine. they unfortunately met on the
piazza of their hotel. Duval was
despondent and PROSTATE, Fontaine
angry and scornful. and Duyal's air
uncOnsciOuslv irritated him. a.
"How ill-tenpered Miss Imogene
was Tonight I" he said, fretfully.
ainging his half.smoked cigar into
the street.
miss IInOgene IL never ilI-tem.
pered," an-wer d Duval, warmly.
II will not allow you to say such a
thing"
"You won't allow me? Under
stand shall say what 1 choose about
that lady. 1 do not recognize your
right to defend her."
"Nor yours to blame her."
"Perhaps have more right than
you know Of"
"That is lying insinuation you
are no gentleman to make it,"
"Do you dare to say it is a lie ?"
Eyes, l don't mind saying it is
solid lie."
"You know the consequences OF
that speech, I suppose ?"
II know them very we'll. I am
not afraid of you"
"Duval! DuvaI I'Il-"
"Oh, keep cool, Fontaine! Send
your second to me at midnight. If
your valor holds till morning, I'll
give you chance to prove it,"
VERY well, sir. Understand this
goes to the bitter end. I will re-
ceive no apol0gy--not the most alb.
ject one"
mo apology Will be offered YOU"
Then Duval flung his hat on his
head, united his horse, and rode rap.
idly up the street. He went in, in
fact, to John Winthrop to ask him to
make the needful arrangements for a
meeting between Fontaine and him.
self the next day. After a little per-
suasion. John agreed to do so: but
ere Duval left, Fontaine tapped
smartly at Johns door, and made
the same request. The two oppo-
bowed to each other, but left all
speech to John. who, in truth. SEEM
ed admirably adapted for the part he
found himself almost obliged to
play.
He tried first to effect reconcilia-
tion, but finding that impossible,
made the strange proposition that he
should act as second for both. "Gen-
tlemen," 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 1 will
bring my friend DIR. Allen, and see
everything as pleasantly and honor
ably settled as possible"
Both Duyal and FOntaine bowed
to this proposal. Perhaps neither of
them was in his heart as bloOd-thirs.
ty as he pretended. and a peareably
inclined second mas great deal in
his power. So little wood about
two miles out oftown 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 principals might
char &c their minds, and partly be
cause it would alIay 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
one attached any unusual meaning
to it. Both men arrived at the des.
ignated spot by different roads, but
within two minutes of each other.
Duval bowed, leaned against q tree.
and smoked what might be his last
cigar. Fontaine paced nervously up
and down, waiting with great i'm
patience Johns arrival with the ap.
pointed weapons, which both men
had intrusted to him. The sun set.
The little wood got darker and dark
er-sO dark at last that Duyal's cigar
made a distinct glow. Still John
did not come. .rt
Neither liked to make the hrst re
mark, yet IL was evident that for
some cause or other their wounded
honor would have to endure anoLher
twelve hours wrong. Yet Duval
was just lighting another cigar, when
a little negro boy came running
through the wood.
"Done found you at last, Mas'r
JEFF. Thought you'd done shooted