Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-08-02

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As he neared Delagrave the latter turned
TO confront him, when RiViere with voice
that seemed % come from behind the door
Of tomb, sid: "DsIagave, VIC cannot
live on this globe together; IL Is not large
enough
DelagFave quietly putting his cigarette, Ia
q cold and impressive tone replied: "Yes,
y0u annoy noe. IL wOslld be better II you
were dad" RivieEe's face flushed, and,
reaching forward, he laid the back Of his
hand gently against Dslagrzvs's cheek.
The game was at once Interrupted The
slap, which was % Reht Il did not even
crimson the young mans cheek, was enoHgh
70 call for blood, and leaving the house he
sought an intimate friend; 70 him be opened
his heart. ut must be q battle 70 the death"
Such was the enmity between himself and
RivieEe, only life could wipe il out.
The old doctor, who had grown up, Il
might be said, on the field, shrugged his
shoulders and demonstrated, but At last &C.
quiesccd and said: Every well, then; it
shall be 70 the DEATH"
Few people knew what sort Of party It
was driving down the shell road bordering
Bayou Sc. John. Two carriages stopped
just "a the bridge lesaiing 70 the island forflei
there BY the bifurcasiOn Of the bayou, and
four gentlemen alghted. Savalle, we'll
known character here forty years ago, ac-
cOmpanied Riviere, and old DR.. Rocquet
was with Delagrave. The seconds had
met previously and arranged everything.
Delagrave, as hs stepped from the carriage,
looked furiively around for the cases Of pis-
tolls, but, seeing none, he was little discon-
ceEaee. Amer walking about 100 yards from
the carriages ths party stopped and the Doe
tor motioned them TO approach elOseF. Whea
they had done ., he called them BY name and
said: 'iGentlemen, we have discussed this
matter nearly all Of last night, and both Mr.
Savalle and myself feel satisfied that there &
no solution 70 the difference between you bat
the death Of One." The two nodded. There
fore" the Doctor went on. tive have agreed
to make the arbitramsnt a. fair az possible,
and let fate decide" He took out black
morocco case, and from II prOdsced pill box
containing four pellets. tone Of these" said
be, 'sdnlAius : positively fatal dose Of prus-
sic acid, the other three are harmless. We
have agreed that each shall swallow two
Of the pill, and let destiny decide" SayaIle
inelined bis bead, and said, as the representa-
tive o. Rlviere, he agreed.
The two men were pale. almost bloodless,
but not nerve trembled or muscle c0nIFac-
ted.
"Gentlemsn," said the Doctor. eve viii
toss for slle Grss pill" SavAlle cried OOt
'lAiIa,' rs the glitiering gold piece revolved in
the sir. II fell in . bunch Ofgrass, the blades
Of which. being separated, showed lhs coin
with thereVersed head of The Goddess Of Lib
erty UPPermOst. ''Mr. DrlagFave, you have
the first chOiee." said the Doctor.
Reposing In the little boz, the four little
globes seemed the counterpart Of each other.
The closest scrutiny would not develop the
slightest difIerence. Nature alone, through
the physiological alembic Of The human Stonl-
Sch, can tell Of their properties, In one there
rests the Pall Of eternity, the struggle for
breath, the falling Of sight, the panorama Of
years rushing in an instant through the mind,
ihe silence aud PeACe OF sleep fOrevermOre, the
Ceremenls, lhe burial case, the soleusn eorIsge,
and the close, noisOme atmosphere Of thegrave.
All these were contained in one Of these little
pellets. Delagrave, having won the first
choice, stepped forward and took n pill. With
n cAlmneSs which was rigid he placed it on
his tongue, and with a cup Of clarei, handed
him By the Doctor, washed IL dOwn.
"And now. u. Riviere," said the Doctor
Riyiere extended his baud aud took pill.
Like his opponent, be swallowed IL.
The two men stood looking one another In
tHs taee. There was not culver to the eye
lid, not tWilch to q muscle. Each was
thinking Of himself - well 90 watching his
adversary. One minute passed. Two min
utes passed. Three. Four. Fise. "NOw,
gentlemen"
THIS was the the fatal choice. Doth men
were ready for the cast Of tie die. Savalle
tossed the gold piece aIOft, and the Doctor
cried out ''heads." ''IIeads'' IL was and
Delegrave took pill from the box, leaving
only one. tNOw," said the Doctor, ''Nr.
Rivisre, the remaining one is Cor yOu. You
will please swallow them together"
The two men raised their hands At the same
time and deposited the pills on their tongues
and took . drAught OF elares.
One second pissed, aud there was no move
meat. Then-"Good GodP exclaimed
RiViere, his ewes starting from their sockets
He turned hall around 10 the left. raised his
lads above his head, and shrieked long,
wild shrek thai Related travellers even TO
this day say they heard on the sheIled road,
n, ar the island.
lie fell prone 70 the earth, aud, save q ner-
vOas eOasFaeaioa Of the muscles Of the face,
there was no movement.
Delgrave took him By the hand as he lay
On the damp grass. and said, ia tender
voice. ''I resIee il, hnt il was 10 be-"
The funeral was one % the largest ever
seen in New Orleans, and for weeks the cafes
were aRog with the storE Of the duel. The
Geaatisal widow, hOFFifiea ~ the affair. would
never SIC DelRgrave afterward, aud is now a
happy grandmere on Bayou IAIouFehs, hav-
ing married wealthy planter lwO yeals amer
tine fatal event,
DeiSgrave, weighed down with the trials of
an unhappy life, wrinkled and lOtiering,
s'Folls along Canal street ola warm afternoon.
assisted by a negro servant. Having bare
competency, be has never actually suffered
from wanti but he shows evidence Of grea,