The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-07-14
a Creole Duel.

Bridge. 1t was par excellence the great
suburban attraction at that time. and
between boating parties on the waters
of the bayou and card reunions over
the tables OF old Barleduc's gambling
saloon out there, the jc,ncsse dorec Of
New Orleans of that day. managed
quite comfortably Sto while away many
leisure moment. Possibly no two
young gentlemen qljoyed the quiet hos
pltaiity of BarleduS more than Aphonse
Rlviere and IIenrii Delagrave; in fact
most Of their AFTERNOONS were spent in
tho dimly-lighted saloon of the old ga
nester, at whose Shrine all the card
loving element Of tGf city paid homage.
There was u 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 a
reprcSsed voice as il he feared to dis
turb the quiet. The faint ''click' of
the "chipS" as eager players dallied
with them, was perhaps the lOudest
sound to DE heard there, and even that
came to the ear in a subducd way, On
the floor Il bright covering of mating
hushed the footsteps, while at the win
dows dark yellow curtains lot in only
just enough light for the illumination
of the gaming tables. The place was
the resort Of large number Of gentle
men, and on some occasions plantations
and negroes have changed hands over
the green cloth Of this then famous cs-
tabliShment.
Rivlere was dashing fellow of %,
with large estate in the parish of st.
James, and Il round account in the old
Union Bank. lie had passed success
fully through the Ecolc Poly technique
i'll France, had taken Il bout in Algeria
and returnedtO Louisiana as accOmp-
llSheu and cOmpanionablc Il gentleman
us one could wish to chat with. lie
was fond of his horses, his wine and a
quiet game of cards. Refined in his
manner and dignticd in his deport-
meDt, he was a warm .favorite whcr-
ever he went, and his entry into old
Barleduc's establishment was always
tho signal for Il cordial greeting from
all who might be present.
On THIS particular j une AFTERNOON Ri
were, with the activity Of II gymnast,
leaped from his buggy in front Of Il sa-
loon, and throwing the reins to tho
negro servant, told him to drive the
horse into the shade of the pecan trees
Ill the yard. Switching deicat.:.
ivory-headed cane with Il nervous. jerAv
motion, he crossed the broad gallery
and unannOuncGd entered tho gamb-
ling room. Most OF players were
wrapped in attention to their game, but
on" there was who turned his head at
Iie ontran"e Of th" l>ot cnmor. IhiS
was Delagrave. lie felt that Il crisis
was ut hand, but even with this know
ledge he did not strive to elude it's COM
ing. That morning he had been ac-
cepted as the betrouncd lover Of Nine.
CelcStin, one OF the most beautiful and
wealthy widows of the lower coast, and
Riviere, who had been for the past
year her most devoted adnircr, WAS left
10 nurse his disappointment aS an un-
successful suitor. Rlyiere had had no
heSltancy in letting the world know
that he wanted to marry the coQuettish
little widow and, further, he, in very
plain way, gave people the information
That he did not want thterloprs paying
their devOirS at the same shrine. These
matters are hard to arrange exactly as
one would wish. One finds much diiii-
Guilty in closing all avenues of approach,
Tor love is not unlike light wi,cii tho
photographer in his dark room finds 50
much difficulty in keeping out. 1t
steals III under dOUrs, through hail
holes and even down the chimney AT
least SO it had been the case 1T Nine.
Celestin'S, Tor jealous and watchful OF
rivals as Riviere was, Dclagravc had
made the conquest under the very eyes
OF the enemy and tho widow had that
day 80 informed the unsuccessful sui
tor.
Rlvicfc was very pale ,S he APP
proachc,l the group Of mon around the
table. What Will the yellow light
shining through the curtains and his
Dloodless appearance, he seemed rather
Il ghastly corpse than living body, but
there WAS motion and voice III nm,
which soon dlSpellcd such an illusion.
as he neareu Dclagravc, tho latter
turned to confront him, when Riylere,
with voice that seemed to come from
behind the door OF IL tomb, said, "Du-
lagravc, We cannot live on tins globe
together; it is not large enough"
Delagrave, quietly putting his cigar
ette, III Il cold and impressive tone re.
piled: Yes; you annoy me. 1t would
Dc better If you were dead"
NlflclcS lace HuSIlcu, ana reaching
forward laid The back of his hand gently
against DcIagravc's cheek. The game
was at once interrupted. The Slap,
which was 50 light it did not even Grim
son the young man 3 cheeks, was enough
to call tor blood; and leaving the house
nc sought an intimate friend; to him
he opened his heart. 1t must be Il
battle q toutrdncc. Such was the en-
NIFTY between himself and Rivlcrc, only
lie could wipe it out. Ths Old doc
tor, who had grown up, it might bc
sand, ON the licld, shrugged his shoul-
dcrs and demonstrated but ut last
acquicsccd, and said; every well, then;
it shall be TO the DEATH"
Fcw people knew what sort of Il party
it was driving down the shell road
bordering Bayou ST. John. Two car
rlages stopped just OH tho bridge lead
ing 10 the island formed there by tho
bllurcation of the bayou and four gentle
men alightcd. SavalIo, u wcll-Known
character here 40 years ago, accompan-
led Rlvicro, and old DR.. Kocquct was
with Delagravc. The seconds mad mot
previously and arranged everything.
Delagrave, as he stepped from the car
rlage, looked furtivcly around for the
cases OF pistols, but, seeing none, he
was little disconnected. Aftor walk
ing about 100 wards from tho carrjapes