The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-07-05
THE LOTTERY of DEATH,
A Duel Forty Years Ago.

lv-burE oflife. seems to have passed into
oblivion.
In 184l, outside of the city proper,
there was, perhaps, no more delightful
place of resort than at the Bayou bridge.
It;was par excellepce: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 jeunesse doree of New Or
leans of that day managed quite comfor-
tably to while away many a leisure mo-
ment. Possibly no two young men en-
ioyed the quiet hospitality of Barleduc
more than AIphonse Riviere and Henry
Delagrave, in fact, most Of their after
haons were; spent in the dimly' lighted
saloon Of the old gamegter, at whose
shrine all the card-loving element of the
Riviere was dashing fellow of %,
with large estate in the parish of st..
James, and round account in the old
Urion bank. He has passed successful
ly through the Ecole Polytechnique in
France, had taken bout in Algeria and
returned to Louisiana as an accomplished
and companionable gentleman as one
could wish to chat with. He was fond
| ofhis horses, his wine, and quiet game
| of cards: Refined in his manner and
dignified in his department, he was a
warm faverite wherever he went, and
his entry into old Bar!educ's establish
| meiAt was always the signal for cordial
| greeting from all who might be present.
ON this particular June afternoon
k}vieS5e ,, with the activity ok gyl1lIns +
Saxon, and, throwing the reins to his
! negro servant, told him to drive: to the
shade of the pecan. trees in the yard.
Switching delicate, ivory-headed cane,
with anervous, jerky motion, he crossed
the broad gallery, and unannounced en-
tered the gambling room. Most of the
players were wrapped in attention to
their game, but one there was who
turned ta1 his head at the entrance of the
felt that crisis was at hand, but even
with this knowledge he did not strive to
elude its coming. That morning he had
been accepted as the betrothed lover
Of Nine. Celestln, one Of the most
6f the loWet coast, and Riviere,, who had
been for the past year her most devoted
admirer, was left to nurse his disap-
pointment as an unsuccessful suitor. Ri
Were bad had no hesitancy in letting the
world know that he wanted to marry the
coquettish little widow and, further, he,
in very plain way, gave people the in
formation that be did not want inter-
lopers paying their devoirs at the same
shrine. These matters are hard to ar
range exactly as one would wish. One
finds much difficulty In closing all aye
nues of approach, for love is not unlike
Hight which tie photographed in his
dark room finds SO mulch j, difficulty in
keeping out. 1t steals in under doors,
through nail holes, and even down the
chimney. At least SO it had been the
case with Nine. Ce]estin's for jealous
and Ratchful of rivals as Riviere was,
pela$<uve had made the conquest under
widow had that day so informed tho un-
successful sutton.
Riviere was very pale as he APP
preached the group Of men around the
table. What with the yellow light shin
less Appearance, he. seemed rather
CHASTITY corpse than q living body, but
there was motion and voice in him, which
soon dispelled such an illusion;
As he neared Delagrave the latter
turned to confront him, when Riviere,
with voice that seemed to come from
behind the door of a tomb, said, "Dela-
grave, we cannot live on this globe to-
gether; it is not large enough"
Delegraye' quietly pulling. his CT
garette, IN q cold and impressive tone
replied: eyes, you annoy me. 1t would
be better if you were dead"
Riveriere's face flushed, and reaching
forward laid the back of his hand gently
against Delegrave's cheek. The game
was at once Interrupted. The slap that
was so light that it did not even crimson
the young mans cheek, was enough to
sought an intimate friend. TO him he
opened his heart. It must be battle
outrance. Such was the enmity be.
tween himself and Riyeite. only life
could wipe it out. The old doctor who
bad grown iip, it might be said, on, the
field, shrugged his, shoulders and re-
monstrated, but at last acquiesced and
said: Every well, then it shall be the
DEATH"
Few people knew what sort Of a party
it was driving down the she'll road
bordering Bayou St. John. Two car
riages stopped just on the bridge lead
ing to the Island formed there by the
bifurication of the bayou, and four gen.
tlemen alighted. Savalle, a we'll known
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 furtfvely around for the
cases of pistols, but seeing none, he was
little disconnected. After walking about
100 yards from the carriages, the party
stopped and the doctor motioned them
to approach 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 Mr.. Savalle and myselffeel satisfied
that there is no solution to the differ
ence between you but the death of one.
The world is so formed that both can
not live in it at the same time" The
men nodded. 'Therefore.''. the doctor
went on, 1--WE have agreed to make the
let fate decide" He took out black
Morocco case and from it produced a
pill box containing four pellets. Zone
of these" said he. contains positively
fatal pose of prussic acid, the other three
are harmless. We have agreed that
each should swallow two of the pills,
and let destiny decide" Savalle in
clined his head and said, as the repre-
sentative of Riviere he agreed.
The two men were pale. almost blood
less, but not nerve trembled or muscle
contracted.
''Gentlemen," said the doctor, 1--WE
will toss for the first pill" Savalle cried
"out tails" as the glittering gold piece
revolved II the air. It fell in a bunch
of grass, the blades of which being sep
aratcd, showed the coin with the rever-
ed head 81 the Goddess of Ii erty up
permost. I'M. DeIagrave, 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 difference. Ma
ture alone, through the physiological
alenhjeN stomach, can tell
of In their rests the
pall axuggle for breath,
the 4he panorama Of
year itant through the
mind Deace of sleep for
ever nts, the burial
case, Is and the close
noisoI The, grave. All
these ~ one of these
little having won
the FL 6 forward and
took 4 less which was
i TifS ! ! 'fSai ge sy s ne
aess ssa laid III. doc.