The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-09-30

JIG GUILTY. Ff-SluohluS uy lOudEo8
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
carriage lie the swords, light, with their
curved guards, large, fitting the hand
well, not too long, not too flexible, so
that they will not bend if they strike a
rib. I feel childish pleasure in un-
sheathing them in the carriage. They are
bright, freshly ground and sharpened
from the evening before. pass my fin
ger over the point as gourmand might
pass the tip of his tongue over his lips,
and cannot help thinking within N.Y.
self that they are very sharp indeed.
Here is the end of the route; we turn
to the left. see the railing of the park
there is 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. I 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 up the shady alley, preceded by the
gate. keeper, holding his cap in his hand.
No one speaks. The alley is narrow and
heavily shadowed 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 a funeral cortege passing
through cemetery. / bend over and
whisper into the doctors ear with the
greatest sang froid:
sDo you know whether the family
vault is very far away?"
He looks at me with puzzled express
sion for moment and then bursts into
a roar of laughter.
Georges head suddenly appears at the
window.
''Step down." he says to me.
De B. takes the swords. We Jump out.
I still smoke my cigar mechanically, be-
cause I feel that it is now an absolute
assistance to me. The carriages halt q
few yards away. The four seconds meet
and chat together for few seconds
They are discussing the ground. / looI
at the doctor with smile.
'sBahr' he says-s'that will be al
right"
look at my adversary out of the cor
ner of my eye; he is also smoking, and
seems to be quite Indifferent. The wit
nesses throw up some pieces of money il
the air
George strides back TO ME.
"You have lost the sun, he Gays.
"Why," says I, with my ill-luck yor
might as well have thrown lots for the
moon. I would lose all the stars of th,
armament to day, one after the other"
And you have lost the swords. Th.
duel will have to be fought with you.
adversary's weapons. Quick, nowi of
with your coat; and don't forget wha
told you. And above all things, keel
scool"
All my sang froid has come back t,
me; my heart beats little fast, but
walk very deliberately to my post
lighted by few slanting sunbeams, an,
fling away my hat, coat and vest. NJ,
adversary and myself find ourselves fac
y
measuring each other with our eyes
This is certainly the most trying momen
| of all.
With as much outward GOODNESS q
possible, l stoop to turn up my pants
looms at the bottom; then / tighten tn
| strap as much as / can SO as to keel
them well above my hips and pull u
the shirt little all round, SO as to pu
| it out about the chest, in order that th
| sword might catch and be entangled in
without penetrating the wearer.
/ George steps forward and hands m
| one of the two swords, which he and on
of the other seconds have been measurin
then, crossing one blade over the Other
| he utters the sacramental:
''AlleZ messieursl'
Like an experienced duellist, accus
toned to the surprise of the first fe'
| minutes, my adversary retreats steI
The swords were hardly engaged. Gu
of the corner of my eye / look at Sain
VS. red gloves which seem to CLEAR
under the sun. The marquis advance
two PAGES and executes a rapid Olsen
gage. parry, retreating quickly, an
| give him repost which forces him ut
retreat in his turn. Then there is n
sound but the rubbing of steel upo
steel; in the silence our painting become
audible; we are both soon exhausted;
feel terrible palpitation of the hear
and my irregular breathing makes m
think of the effect of those first two Q
three terrible minutes of submersiol
when one is learning to swim.
All of sudden the marquis leaves hi
shoulder exposed-for perhaps half
second; thrust my arm forward an
feel feeble resistance; the blade had on
tered the flesh. drop the sword as
its hilt had burned my hand.
''Ohi excuse me sir!" exclaim.
The first impulse-and very invol.
untary impulse it isis to beg pardon
| just as when one inficts hurt witlou
intending it. The feeling is just th
same as when you step ON somebod
else's foot by mistake or inadvertence
The blood gushes out through rathe
large cash, the flow is rather strong, th
shoulder and arm are forthwith cor
gested; the marquis smiles sadly as the
lay him down under tree. slip ava
to dress myself; confess that feel
certain pleasure IN putting on my col
agnin while / watch the group, formed
my friend the doctor, who sounds th
wound and sponges the marquis wit
fresh water as he lies upon his side, an
Saint v. leaning over him, with his Ii
separable red gloves that look like th
inside of new boot-legs.
George wipes the blades and sheaths
them. Then he walks over to me. ii
black moustache hides the smile he ha
the good breeding to keep down his eye
laugh with pleasure.
/ Bravo! my little CASTOR. 2 he muttel