San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-06-28

L
Nine. Celestin's, for jealous and
watchful of rivals as Riviere was,
Delagrave had made the conquest un.
der the very eyes of the enemy, and
the widow had that day so informed
the unsuccessful suitor.
Riviere was very pale as he ap.
preached the group of men around
the table. What with theyellow light
shining through the curtains and his
bloodless appearance, de seemed rath-
er CHASTITY corpse than living body,
but there was motion and voice in
him, which soon dispelled such an
illusion.
AS he neared Delagrave, the latter
turned to confront him, when Riviere,
with a voice that seemed to come
from behind the door of tomb, said,
"Delagrave, we cannot live on this
globe together; tits not large enough"
.Delagrave, quietly putting his ciga-
rette, in cold and impressive tone
replied: Eyes; you annoy me. 1t
would be better if you were dead"
Riviere's face flushed, and reaching
forward he laid the back of his hand
gently against Delagrave's cheek. The
game was at once interrupted. The
slap, which was so light it did not
even crimson the young mans cheek,
was enough to call for blood, and
leaving the house he sought an init
mate friend; to him he opened his
heart. 1t must be a battle outrance.
Such was the enmity between him.
self and. Riviere, only life could
wipe it out. The old doctor, who had
grown up, it might be said, on the
field, shrugged his shoulders and re.
monstrated, but at last acquiesced and
said: very well, then; it shall be to
the DEATH" --
Few people knew what sort of a
party it was driving down the shell
road bordering Bayou st. John. Two
carriages stopped just on the bridge
leading straight to the island
formed there by bifurcation of the
bayou and four gentlemen alighted.
Savalle, a well-knoEa character here
forty year. ago, acco ,pcnied Rivie-e,
and old DR.. Rocquet was with Della
grave. The seconds had met pre-
viously and arranged everything.
DelaglAve, as he stepped from the
carriage, looked furtively around :'or
the cases of pistols, but, seeing none,
he was lit g disconcer I'd. After
walking about 100 yards from the
carriages, the party stopped and the
doctor mo- Toned item to app ,oach
c. -~.. When they had done so, he
called them by name and said: Gen
tlemen, we have discussed this matter
nearly all of last night, and both M.
Savalle and myself feel satisfied that
there is no solution to the differences
bojween you but the death of one.
The world is so formed that both can
not livein it at the same time" The
two men nodded. 1.-THE .o~e," the
doctor went on, 1--WE have agreed to
make the arbitrament as fair as it is
possible, and let Fate decide" He
took out black morocco case and
from it produced a pill-box containing
four pellets. Zone of these" said he,
"contain a positively fatal dose of
prussic acid, the other three are harm
less. We have agreed that each shall
swallow two of the pills, and let Des-
tiny decide" Savalle inclined his
head, and said, as the representative
of Riviere, he agreed.
The two men were pale, almost
bloodless, but not nerve trembled
or muscle &C. :racted.
"Gentlemen," said the doctor, "we
will toss for the first pill" Savalle
called out "tail," as the glittering gold
piece revolved in the air. 1t fell in a
bunch of grass, the blades of which,
being separated, showed the coin with
the revered head of the Goddess of
Liberty uppermost. "M. Della
grave, you have the first choice" said
the doctor.
Reposing in the little box the
the four little globes seemed the coun-
terpart of each other. The closest
scrutiny would not develop the slightest
difference. Nature alone through the
physiological alembic of the human
stomach can tell OF their properties.
In one there rests the ball of eternity,
the struggle for breath, the failing of
sight, the panorama of years rushing
in an instant through the mind, the
silence and peace of sleep for ever
,nnre- the ceremony. the hnrial case.