Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-26
TOSSING UP FOR A LIFE.
A Story Of Creole Daysin Louisiana
Swords and Pistols Ignored BY
Two Young DusliSts,
And a Pill Containing Prussie
Acid Adopted Instead.

men we're Yenri Delsgrave and Al
phonse Riviere, and the cause Of the
duel was the success of the former in
Wooing Mime. Celestin Riyiere sought
out Delagrave and found him in q
gambling saloon. Riviere was very
pale as he approached the group OF
men around the table. What with
the yellow light streaming in through
the curtains and his bloodless appear
anoe, he seemed rather a CHASTITY corpse
than a living body, but there was mo
ton and a 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 a tomb, said: Del
agrave we cannot live on this globe
together; it is not large enough"
Delagrave, quietly putting his cigar.
cite, in a cold and impressive tone
replied: Yes; you annoyme. 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 oucs 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 sOughtan intimate friend
to whom be opened his heart: at
nust be q battle TO the death Such
was the enmity between himself and
Riviere only life could wipe it out.
The old Doctor, who had grown up,
1t might be said, on the field, shrugged
his shoulders aud demonstrated, but at
last acquiesced and said: Very well,
then, il shall be to the death"
Few people knew What sort Of a
party It was driving down the she'll
road bordering Bayou St. John. Two
carriages stopped Just on the bridge
leading to the island, formed there By
the bifurcation Of the bayou, and four
gentlemen alighted. Savalle, a we'll
known character here forty years ago,
accompanied Riviere. and old DR..
Rocquet was with Delagrave. The
seconds had met previously and arr
ranged everything. Delagrave, as be
stepped from the carriage, looked fur
lively around for the cases Of pistols,
bat, seeing none, he was a little dis.
concerted. After walking about 100
yards from the carriages the party
stopped and the Doctor motioned them
o approach closer. When they had
done so he called them by name and
said Gentlemen, we have discussed
the matter nearly all of last night. and
both Mr.. Saville and myself feel salts
lied that there is no solution to the
difference between you but the death
Of one. The world is so formed thai
both cannot live in it at the same
lime The two nodded. There
lore the Doctor went on, I'VE have
agreed TO make the arbitrament as fal
as is possible, and let fate decide
He took out a black morocco case
and from it produced q bill box con
tanning four pellets. Zone Of these
said be, contains a positively fata
dose of prussic acid, the other tbre,
are harmless. We have agreed tina.
each shall swallow two of the pills
and let destiny decide" Savalle in
elined his head, and said, "As III,
representative Of Riviere, be agreed,
The two men were pale, almos
hloodless. but not a nerve treubled OF
muscle contracted.
"Geatlem en-" said the Doctor. "w,
will toss for the first pill" Savall,
cried out tails" as the glittering QolC
piece revolved in the air. 1t fell on F.;
bunch Of grass, the blades of which
being separated. showed the coin with
the reversed head Of the goddess Of
liberty uppermost.
Mr.. DelAgTave, you have the first
choice. said the Doctor.
Reposing in the little box. the four
little globes seemed a counterpart Of
each other. The closest scrutiny
would net develop the slightest differ
euce. Nature, alone, through the
physiological alembic Of the human
stomach, can tell Of their properties,
10 one there rests the pail Of eternity.
the struggle for breath, the failing 81
sight, the panorama Of years rushing
IN an instant through the mind. the
silence and peace of sleep forevermore.
the cerements. the burial case. the
solemn cortege, and the close, noisome
atmosphere OF the grave. All these
were contained in one Of these little
pellets. Delagrave, having won the
irst choice, stepped forward and took
a pill. With a calmness which wa,
rigid be placed on his tongue. and
with a cup Of %claret, handed him by The
Doctor, washed it down.
And now, NJ. Riviere," said the
Doctor. Riviere extended his hand
and took a pill.
ed it.
The two men stood looking one in
the face There was not a culver il
the eyelid, not a twitoh 70 the muscle
Each was thinking of himself as wei.
as watching his adversary. One min.
ute more passed. Two minutes passed.
three; four; FIVE.
"NOwtgentlemenl T.
This was the fatal choice. Both
men were ready for the cast Of the die
Ssvalle tossed the gold piece aloit and
the Doctor cried out "hesds ;
Heads it was, and D~elagraye took 4
pill from the box, leaving only one
Now, said the Doctor, IN. Riyiere
the remaining q is for you. You
will please swallow them together"
The two men raised their hands al
the same time and deposited the pill.
on tongues and took a draught Of ella.
ret.
One second passed, and there wa.
no movement. Then - GOOD Godri
exclaimed Riviere, his eyes startipQ
from their sockets. He turned half
around to the left, raised his hand,
over his head aud shrieked A long
wild shrek that belated travellers ave.
to this day say they hear on the shell
road, rear the island.
He fell prone to the earth, and gav.
a nervous contraction Of the muscles
OF the face there was no movement.
Delagraye took him by the hand as
be lay on the damp grass, and said In
a tender voice: II regret II bpt /,
was TO be-
The funeral was one of the largest
ever seen in New Orleans, and for
weeks the cafes we're agoq with he
story Of the duel The beautiful wild.
ow, hUrIi6ed at the affair, would new.
or see Delagrave aftorward, and is now
q happy erandmere on Bayou La
fourche, having married a wealthy
planter two years after the fatal event.
DeIagraye, weighed down with To-
trial OF an unhappy life, wrinkled and
lettering strolls along Canal street OF
a warm afternoon, assisted by a negro
servant Having a bare competency,
he has never actually suffered from
want, but he shows evidences of great
mental anguish The sight Of a pill
box makes him shudder and the taste
Of claret throws him into convulsious.
NJ