The Opelousas courier., 1883-09-01

crimson the young mans cheek,
was enough to call for blood, and leav-
ing the house he sought an intimate
to him he opened his heart. 1t
must be a battle q FoutTance. Such
was the enmity between himself and
Riviere, onlya life could wipe it out.
The old doctor, who had grown up, it
be said, on the field, shrugged
his shoulders and demonstrated, but at
last acquiesced and said: "Very well,
then; it shah be to the DEATH"
L. 5-t Of Gz ri s.
Few people knew what sort of a
party it was driving down the shell
road bordering Bayou St. John. Two
carriages stopped just at the bridge
leading to the island formed the BIZ
~furcation of the bayou, and four gentle
men alighted. Savalle, a well know
character here forty years ago, accom-
panied Riviere, and old DIR. Racquet
was with Delagrave. The seconds had
met previously and arranged every
thing. Delagraye, as he stepped from
the carriage, looked furtively around
for the cases of pistols, but, seeing
none, he was a little disconnected.
After walking about a hundred yards
from the carriages, the party stopped
and the doctor motioned them to APP
proach closer. When they had done
so, he called them by name and said:
Gentlemen, we have discussed this
matter nearly all Of last night, and both
NJ. Savalle and myself feel satisfied
that there is no solution to the differ
ences between you but the death Of
one. The world is. so formed that both
cannot live in it at the same time"
The two men nodded. Therefore"
the doctor went on, eve have agreed
to make the arbitrament as fair as pos
sible, and let Fate decide" He took
out a black morocco case, and from it
produced a pill-box containing four
pellets. "One of these" said he, sseon-
tains a positively fatal dose of prussic
acid, the other three are harmless. We
have agreed that each shall swallow
two of the pills, and let Destiny de-
eide" Sayalle inclined his head, and
said, as the representative of Riviere.
that he agreed.
The two men were pale, almost blood
less, but not a nerve trembled or a
muscle contracted.
Gentlemen, we will toss for the
first pill,'' said the doctor sayalle
called out 'tails, 'as the g~littering gold
piece revolved in the air. 1t fell in a
bunch of grass, the blades of which,
being separated, showed the coin with
the revered head of the Goddess Of
Liberty uppermost. I'M. Delagraye,
you have the first choice" said the
Doctor.
Reposing in the little box the four
little globes seemed the counterpart OF
each other. The closest scrutiny
would not develop the slightest differ
ence. Nature alone through the ply.
Biological alembic of the human stom.
ach a tell Of their properties. In
one there rests the pail Of eternity, The
struggle for breath, the failing Of
sight, the panorama of years rushing
in an instant through the mind, the 81
lence and peace of sleep for eyermore
the ceremony, the burial case, the sol
emn cortege and the close, noisome al
mosphere Of the grave. All these
were contained in I'M of these little
pellets. Delagrave having won tht
first choice, stepped forward and tool
a pin. With a calmness which wa
frigid he placed it on his tongne AMI
with a cup Of claret, handed him b.
the Doctor, washed it down.
"And now, n. Riviere," said tn
doctor. Riviere extended his hand ant
took a pill. Like his opponent b
Il H &HEG4W MME4& EW&t$ I|HE# 8+3
swallowed it.
The two men stood looking one an
otner in the face. There was not
CULVER to the eye1id, not a witch to ]
muscle. Each wa thinking of himsel
as well as watching his adversary. On
minute passed. Two minutes passed
Three. -Four. Five. Nov, gentle
men," said the doctor, in solemn tones
ssit,is time to make the final drawing.
This was the fatal choice. Both mel
were ready for the cast Of the die. Sa
vale tossed the gold piece aloft, an!
the doctor cried out: Heads.
Heads It was, and Delagraye took
pill from the box, leaving only one
Now said the doctor, s'the remain
ing d is for you. You will pleas
swallow them together"
The two men raised their hands d
the same time and deposited the pill
on their tongues and took d draught 8
claret.