Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-08-03
A Terrible Duel.

Ihlhl Out Ihtntr novel duel occurred in
New Orleans over forty years ago. The young
men were Henri Dalagrave and Alphonse
Riviere, and the cause of the duel was the sue
cess of the former in wooing Nine. Celestin
Riylere sought out Delagrave and found him
in a gambling saloon. As he neared Delagrave
the latter turned to confront him, when Riv-
iere, with voice that seemed to come from
behind the door of tomb, said; "Delagrave,
We cannot live on this globe together it is
not large enough
Delagraye, quietly putting his cigarette in
cold and impressive tone, replied "Yes you
annoy me. 1t would be better if you were
dead" Riviere's face flushed, and, reaching
forward he laid the back of his hand gently
against Delagrave's cheek. The game was at
once interrupted. The slap, which was so
light it did not even crimson the young mans
cheek was enough to call for blood, and leav-
ing the house he sought an intimate friend
to him he opened his heart: 1T must be a
battle to the death" Such was the enmity
between himself and Riviere, only life could
wipe il out.
The old doctor, who had grown up, it might
be said, on the field, shrugged his shoulders
and demonstrated, but at last acquiesced and
said: Very well, then it shall be to the
death"
Few people knew what sort of a party il
was driving down the shell road bordering
Bayou St, John. Two carriages stopped Just
on the bridge leading to the island formed
there 10y the bifurcation of the bayou, and
four gentlemen alighted. Savalle, a we'll
known character here forty years ago, accom-.
panied Riviere and old DIR. Rocquet was with
Delagrave The seconds had met previously
and arranged everything. Delagrave, as he
stepped from the carriage, looked furtively
around for the cases of pistols, but, seeing
none, he was little disconnected. After
walking about one hundred yards from the
carriages the party stopped and the doctor
motoned them to approach closer. When
they had done So he called them by name
aud said
Gentlemen, we have discussed this matter
nearly all of last night and both Mr.. Savalle
and myself feel satisfied that there is no solu-
tion to the difference between you but the
death of one" The two nodded. "There-
fore, the doctor went on, 1--WE have agreed
to make the arbitratement as fair as possible,
and let fate decide" He took out black
morocco case and from it produced pill
box containing four pellets. lone of those,
said he contains 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 decide" Savalle
inclined his head and said, as the representa-,
tive of Riviere, he agreed.
lue bWO Ll0H hVio paw nilhbaE bloout 81
but not nerve trembled or muscle contracted.
"Gentiemen," said the doctor, I've will
toss for the first pill" Savae cried out
tails !" as the glittering gold piece rovolved
in the air. 1t fell in bunch OF grass, the
blades of which, being separated, showed the
coin with the reversed head of the Goddess
of Liberty uppermost. "Mr 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 difference. Nature alone, through
the physiological 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 silence and peace of sleep forever
more the cerements the burial case, the sol
emn cortege, and the close, nosome atmos-
phere of the grave. All these were contained
In one of these pellets Delagraye, having
won the first choice, stepped forward and
took a pill. With calmness which was
frigid he placed it ON his tongue, and with
cup of claret, handed him By the doctor,
washed IL down.