The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1883-08-04
A DUEL WITH PILLS.

t.
Yterday, intently gazing into a
shotwindow ON Canal street, feeble,
viii haired old gentleman recalled
me4ries of a tragedy which, in the
hurtburly of life, seems to have passed
intoblivion.
hl841, outside of the city proper,
therwas, perhaps, no more delightful
placof resort than at the Bayou Bridge.
1t WI par excellence the great subur-
ban TRACTION at that time, and between
boatg parties on the waters of the
bayq and card reunions over the tables
of oil Barleduc's gambling saloon out
there the .jesSpeSSe doree of New Or
leansof that day managed quite COM
fortaIly to while away many a leisure
momnt. Possibly no two young gen.
TENN enjoyed the quiet hospitality of
Barlduc more than Alphonse Rlviere
and Henri Delagrave; in fact, most of
theirafternoons were spent in the dimly
Lighted saloon of the old gamester, at
Whose shrine all the card-loving ele-
ment of the city paid homage.
There was a quiet air about the place
that seemed almost religious, and even
the parchment faced old man, who me-
chanically handled the little ivory ball
in roulette, called out the numbers in q
depressed voice, as if he feared to dis
turb the quiet. The faint s'click" of
the '.chips" as eager players dallied
with them, was perhaps the loudest
sound to be heard there, and even that
came to the ear in a subdued way. On
the floor bright covering of mating
hushed the footsteps, while at the win
dows dark yellow curtains let in only
just enough light for. the illumination Of
the gaming tables.
Riviere was a dashing fellow of TWEEN
tyztwo, with a large estate in the Parish
of St. james and round account in the
old Union Bank. He had passed sue
cessfully through the Ecole Polytech-
nique in France, had taken bout in
Algeria, and returned to Louisiana as
accomplished and companionable a
gentleman as one could wish to chat
with He was fond of his horses, his
wine and quiet game of cards. Re
fined in his manner and dignified in his
department, he was warm fayorite
wherever he went, and his entry into
old Barleduc's establishment was al
ways the signal for cordial greeting
from all who might be present.
On this particular June afternoon
Riviere, with the activity of gymnast,
leaped from his buggy in front of the
saloon, and throwing the reins to his
negro servant, told him to drive the
horse into the shade of the pecan trees
in the yard. Switching delicate, ivory
headed cane with a nervous, jerky mo-
ton, he crossed the broad gallery and,
etnannoupced, entered the gambling
room. Most of the players were wrapped
in attention to their game, but one there
was who turned his head at the en-
trance of the last conner. This was
Delagrave. He felt that a crisis was al
hand, but even with this knowledge he
did not strive to elude its coming. That
incoming he had been accepted as the
: hetrothed lover of Nine. Celestin, one
: of the most beautiful and wealthy wild
oWss of the lower coast, and Riviere
who had been for the past year hel
most devoted admirer, was left to nurse
his disappointment as an unsuccessful
sutton. Riyiefe had had no hesitancy il
letting the world know that he wanted
TO marry. the coquettish little widow
and, further, he, in a very plain way
gave people the information that h
did not want interlopers paying thei
devoirs at the same shrine. These mat
tiers are hard to arrange exactly as on,
would wish. One finds much difficulty
in closing all avenues of approach, fol
love is not unlike the light which tn
photographer in his dark room finds s,
much difficulty in keeping out. /
steals in under doors, through nail hole
and even down the chimney. At leas
so it had been the case at Mme Celes
tins, for jealous and watchful of rival
as Riviere was, Delagrave had made tn
conquest under the very eyes of tn
enemy, and the widow had that day S
informed the unsuccessful sutton.
s Riviere was very pale as he ap
preached the group of men around tn
table. What with the yellow light shin
ing through the curtains and his blood
-,l less appearance, he seemed rather
] CHASTITY corpse than living body, bu
there was motion and voice in him
which soon dispelled such an illusion
As he neared Delagrave, the latte
turned to confront him, when Riviert
with voice that seemed to come froI
behind the door of tomb, said: 'DeIs
grave, we can not live on this globe t.
T. gether; it is not large enough"
Delagrave, quietly putting his cigal
cite, in cold and impressive tone n
piled: Yes; you annoy me. Itwoul
be better if you were dead.
Riviere's face flushed, and reachin
forward he laid the back of his han
gently against Delagraye's cheek. tt
game was at once interrupted. tt
Slap, which was SO light it did not eve
crimson the young mans cheek, W;
enough to call for blood, and leavin
the house he sought an intimate frien'
10 him he opened his heart. 1t must
a hattla q roMtrance Such was the e.