The bee., 1883-08-11

| his shoulders and demonstrated. but at
last acquiesced and said: "Very well,
! then; it shall be to the DEATH
III.
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, well know
character here forty years ago, accom-
panied Riviere, and old DR.. Rocquet
was with Delagrave. The seconds had
met previously and arranged every
thing. Delagrave, as he stepped from
the carriage, looked furtiyely around
for the cases of pistols, but, seeing
none, he was a little disconnected.
After walking about hundred yards
from the carriages, the party stopped
and the doctor motioned them to ap-
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 black morocco case, and from it
produced pill-box containing four
pellets. Zone of these" said he, "con-
tains 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 glittering 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. IN. Delagrave,
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
siological alembic of the human stom-
ach can 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 ST.
lence and peace of sleep for evermore,
the ceremony, the burial case, the sol
emn cortege and the close, noisome at
mosphere of the grave. ALI these
were contained in one of these little
pellets. Delagrave having won the
first choice, stepped forward and took
pill. With calmness which was
frigid he placed it on his tongne and
with cup of claret, handed him by
the Doctor, washed it down.
"And now, NJ Riviere," said the
doctor. Riviere extended his hand and
took pill. Like his opponent he
swallowed it.
The two men stood looking one an
other in the face. There was not a
culver to the eyelid, not a twitch to a
muscle. Each was thinking of himself
as well as watching his adversary. One
minute passed. Two minutes passed.
Three. Four. Five. "Now, gentle
men, said the doctor, in solemn tones,
''it is time to make the final drawing"
This was the fatal choice. Both men
were ready for the cast of the die. Sa-
vale tossed the gold piece aloft, and
the doctor cried out: Heads"
Heads it was, and Delagrave took a
pill from the box, leaving only one.
''Now," said the doctor, "the remain
ing one is for you. You will please
swallow them together"
The two men raised their hands at
the same time and deposited the pills
on their tongues and took draught of
claret.
One second passed, and there was no
movement. Two seconds, and neither
stirred. Then-"Good God!" exclaim-
ed Riviere, his eyes starting from their
sockets. He turned half round to the
left, raised bis hands above his head
and shrieked long, wild shrek, that
belated travellers, even to this day. saw
Il 4 ~