San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-06-28
A DUEL WITH PILLS.

Yesterday, intently gazing into a
show window on Canal street, fee
ole white haired old gentlemen re-
called memories OF tragedy which
in the hurry burly of life, seems to
have passed into oblivion.
In 1941, outside of the city proper,
there was, perhaps, no more delight
ful place of resort than at the Bayou
Bridge. 1t was par excellence tie
treat suburban attraction at that time,
and between boating parties on the
water of the bayou and card reunions
over the tables of old Barleduc's gam
bling saloon out the,e, the tennessee
iorec of New Orleans of that day
managed quite comfortably to while
away many leisure moment. Pos
sibly no two young gentlemen enjoyed
the quiet hospitality of Barbecue more
than Alphonso RiUere and Henri De-
lagrave; in fact, most of their after
Moons were spent in the dimly lighted
saloon of the old gamester, at whose
shrine all the card loving element of
the city paid homage.
There YVES quiet air about the
place that seemed almost religious,
and even the parchment faced old
man, who mechanically handled the
little ivory ball in roulette, called out
the Numbers in repressed voice as
if he feared to disturb the quiet. The
faint "click" of the "chips' as eager
PLAYERS dallied with them, was per-
haps the loudest sound to be heard
there, and even that came to the ear
in subdued way. On the floor a
bright covering of mating hushed
the footsteps, while at the windows
dark yellow curtains let in only just
enough light for the illumination of
the gambling tables. B..
Riviere was dashing fellow of 20,
with large estate in tho Parish of
st. James and round account in the
old Union Bank. He had passed sue
e2ssfully through the Ecole Polytech-
nique in France, had taken about in
Algeria, and returned to Louisiana as
accomplished and companionable
3 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 dignifed
in his department., lie was warm
favorite, and his entry into old
Barleduc'S establishment was Away
tue signal for a cordial greeting from
all who might be present.
On this particular June afternoon
Riviere, with the activity of a gym
mast, 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
tree in the yard. Switching a deli
cate, ivory headed cane with nerv-
Gus, jerky motion, he crossed the
broad gallery and, unannounced, en-
tered the gambling room. Most of
tue players were wrapped in attention
to their game, but one there was who
inrued his head at the entrance of the
last conner. This was Delagrave. He
felt that crisis was at hand, but
even with this knowledge he did not
strive to elude its coming. That
morning lie had been accepted as the
betrothed lover of Mme. Celestin,
one of the most beautiful and wealthy
widows OF the lower coast, and Ri
were, who had been for the past year
her mos: devoted adnirer, was left to
nurse his disappointment as an I'M
successful sutton. Riviere had had
nohesitercy in letting the world know
that he wanted TO marry the coquet-
tish little widow, and, further, he, in
a very plain way, gave people the In
formation that he did not want inter
loper5 paying their devoirs at the
Same shrine. These matters are hard
70 arrange exactly as one would wish.
One finds much difficulty in closing
all avenues of approach, for love is
not unlike the light whichthe photog-
rapher in his dark room finds so
much difficulty in keeping out. 1t