Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-06-27
Creole Duel.

the tables of old BaTleduc'S gambling
saloon out there, the jetmeSSe dOree of
| New Orleans of that day, managed
quite comfortably to while away many
"a leisure moment. Possibly no two
young gentlemen enjoyed the quiet hos
pitality of Barleduc more than AlphOnSe
Riviere and Henri Delagrave; III fact
most of their afternoons were spent i'll
the dimly-lighted saloon of the old ga
meSter, at whose shrine all the card
loving element of the city paid homage.
There was 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 iii a
repIeSSed voice as if he feared TO dis
tuTb the quiet. The faint "clickh of
the ''chipsn as eager players dallied
with them, was perhaps the lOudest
sound to be heard there, and even that
came ts the ear i'll Subdued way. On
the floor a bright covering of mating
hushed the footsteps, while at the win
doWS dark yellow curtains let i'll only
just enough light for the illumination
of the gaming tables. The place was
the resort of large number of gentle
men, and Oh some occasions plantations
and negroes have changed hands over
the green cloth of this then famous eS-
tdblishment.
RivIere was a daShing fellow of y,
with "A large estate in the parish of st.
James, and a round account in the old
Union Bank. He had passed success
| full = 40 A.h
| in France, had taken Il bout III Algeria
and returned To Louisiana as accOmp-
lished and companionable a gentleman
as one could wish to chat with. He
was fond of his horses, his wine and
quiet game of cards. Refined in his
manner and dignitied in his deport-
ment, he was a warm tavOrlte wher-
ever he went, and his entry into Old
Barleduc'S establishment WAS always
the signal for "A cordial greeting from
all who might be present.
On this particular June afternoon Ri
were, with the activity of "A gylnnaSt,
leaped from his buggy III front ot sd
loon, and throwing the relnS To the
negro servant, told him To drive the
horse into the shade of the pecan trees
in the yard. Switching a delicate,
lVOry-hedded cane with nervous, Jerky
motion, he crossed the broad gallery,
and unanmOunced entered the gamD-
ling room. Most of players were
wrapped i'll attention to their game, but
one there was who turned his head at
the entrance of the last conner. This
was Delagrave. He felt that crisis
was at hand, but even with this know
ledge he did not strive TO elude its COM
| ing. That morning he had been ac-
cepted as the betrUthed lover of Nine.
| Ceiestin, one Ot the most beautiful and
wealthy widows of the lower coast, and
| Riyiere, who had been for the past
| year her most devoted admlrer, was left
TO nurse his disappointment Us an un-
successful sUItOr. RIVIere had had no
| heSltancy III letting the world know
that he wanted to marry the coquettish
little widow and, further, he, III very
PLAIN way, gave people the information
that he dld not want lnterlOpers paying
their deVUlrs at the same shrine. These
matters are hard TO arrange exactly as
one would wish. One finds much diff
Guilty in closing all avenues OF approach,
for love Is not unlike light which the
photographer III his dark room finds 50
much difficulty III keeping out. 1t
steals i'll under doors, through nail
holes and even down the chimney. At
least 80 II had been the case at Nine.
Ceiestln's, for Jealous and wdtchtul OF
rivals rs RIyIere was, Delagraye had
made the conquest under the very eyes
of the enemy and the widow had that
day 50 informed the unsuccessful sui
tor.
Riyiere was very pale as he ap-
preached the group of men around the
table. What with the yellow light
shining through the curtains and his
blUOdleSS appearance, he seemed rather
a ghastly corpse than living body, but
there was motion and voice in nm,
which soon dISpelled such an illusion.
As he nedred DelagIaye, the latter
turned tu confront him, When Rlylere,
with Voice that seemed To come from
behind the door of "A tomb, said, DE
ldgIaye, We cannot live on tins globe
together; II Is not large enough
Deiagrave, quietly putting MS cigar
cite, IN a cold and impressive tone re-
Piled: y t.; You annoy mt. 1t would
be better II YOU were dead.
RNiere's face flushed, and reaching
forward land the back OF his hand gently
against Dclagrayc's cheek. The game
Was at once interrupted. The slap,
which Was 80 light IL did not even Grim
son the young man cheeks, was enough
10 call Tor blood, and leaving the house
he sought al intimate friend; 10 him
he opened his heart. 1t must be a
battle q l'OutruHce. such WAS the ell
NIFTY between himself and RIyIere, only
lie could wipe Il Out. The old doc
tor, who had grown up, II might bv
Sud, on the heid, Snugged his shuui-
dvrs ami demonstrated hut at last
acguie,ced, and said; Very well, then;
II shall be To the death
rev people knew what >prt of party
II Was driving down the shell ROAD
bordering Bayou ~. John. Two car
rldges stopped Just uu the bridge lead
lug 10 the Island formed there hy The
hIiuTcdtIou uI the bayou and tuuI gentle
men aligAtud. >dydlie, a Weil-huowu
| character here 10 years ago, dccompdu-
led RIvIrre, and old Dr. tocVrt Wa,
with DeiagTdye. The seconds had met
previously and arranged everything.
DclagTaye. a, he stepped from Tie car
rage, looked fur,Neiy around foe the
cases Of pistols, but, seeing none, he
Was "a little Disconnected. After walk
| ug about Loo lagis from the carriages,
Tie party ,,oliyd and the doctor mo-
TONED them % approach clu-eI. " lien
they had done So, Le called them uy
name and >tIl. ~Gvuiiemeu, We have
ldI-cl,-,d tll, matter urdr.y all ot llsl
sight, and bUiu u. >.iydiic and lly sell
ye. satisfied liat there = uo solution
tu tie differences between you but the
death uf one. Tie world Is So formed
ItLat both cannot live iu % 40 the same
Itmy. The tWu men nodded. "Ihere-
fore, the doctor went on, I'VE have
Iagreed tn make The drbitrament a, idIr
as 70 j, pu,slb.e, aud iet Fate decide.
lie touk Out "A black morocco cs>e, and
from ii produced a pill-boN containing
four Pellets "Oue uf tAess, be- said,