The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-07-25
A DUEL WITH PILLS.

I.
Yesterday, intently gazing into =
show-window on Canal street, a feeble,
white-haired old gentleman recalled
memories of tragedy which, in the
hurly-burly of life, seems tohave passed
into oblivion.
In 1s41, outside of the city proper,
there was, perhaps, no more delightful
place of resort than at the Bayou Bridge.
Ii was par excellence the great subur-
ban 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 COM
fortably to while away many leisure
moment Possibly no two young gen.
tiemen enjoyed the quiet hospitality of
Barbecue more than Alphonse RIviere
and Henri Delagrave; in fact, most of
their afternoons were spent in the dimly
whose shrine all the card-loving ele-
ment of the city paid homage.
There was quiet air about the place
that seemed almost religious, and even
the parchment faced old man, who me-
chanically handled the little ivory ball
in roulette, called out the numbers in q
repressed voice, as if he feared to dis
turb the quiet The faint click of
the "chips" as eager players dallied
with them, was perhaps the loudest
sound to be heard there, and even that
came to the ear in a subdued way. On
the floor q bright covering of mating
hushed the footsteps, while at the win
dows dark yellow curtains let in only
Just enough light for the illumination of
the gaming tables.
Riviere was q dashing fellow of twen-
ty-two, with large estate in the Parish
of st. james and q round account in the
old Union Bank. He had passed sue
cessfully through the Ecole Polytech-
nique in France, had taken bout in
Algeria, and returned to. Louisiana as
accomplished and companionable q
gentleman as one could wish to chat
with. he was fond of his horses, his
wine and a quiet game of cards. Re-
fined in his manner and dignified in his
department, he was a warm fayorite
wherever he went, and his entry into
old Barleduc's establishment was al
ways the signal for q cordial greeting
from all who might be present.
On this particular June afternoon
Riyiere, with the activity of a gymnast,
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 trees
in the yard. Switching delicate, ivory
headed cane with a nervous, jerky mo-
ton, he crossed the broad gallery and.
unannounced, entered the gambling.
room. Most of the players were wrapped
in attention to their game, but one there
was who turned his head at the en-
trance 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 he had been accepted as the
betrothed lover of Mime. Celestin, one
of the most beautiful and wealthy wild,
ows of the lower coast, and Riviere
who had been for the past year hel
most devoted admirer, was left to nurse
his disappointment as an unsuccessful
suitor. Riviere had had no hesitancy in
letting the world know that he wanted
to marry the coquettish little widow
and, further, he, in a very plain way
gave people the information that ht
did not want interlopers paying theil
devoirs at the Same shrine. These mat
ters are hard to arrange exactly as one
would wish. One finds much difficulty
in closing all avenues of approach, fol
love is not unlike the light which the
photographer in his dark room finds SC
much difficulty in keeping out. /
steals in under doors, through nail hole!
and even down the chimney. At leas
so it had been the case at Mime. Celes
tins, for jealous and watchful of rivals
as Riviere was, Delagrave had made tn,
conquest under the very eyes of tn,
enemy, and the widow had that day 81
informed the unsuccessful suitor.
Riviere was very pale as he ap
preached the group of men around th'
table. What with the yellow light shin
ing through the curtains and his blood
less appearance, he seemed rather
ghastly corpse than living body, bu
there was motion and voice in him
which soon dispelled such an Illusion
As he neared Delagrave, the latte
turned to confront him, when Riviere
with voice that seemed to come from
behind the door of tomb, said: ''Dela
grave, we can not live on this globe to
gether; it is not large enough.
Delagrave, quietly putting his cigar
ette, in cold and impressive tone re
piled: "Yes; you annoy me. Itwoul'
be better if you were dead"
Riviere's face flushed, and reachin.
forward he laid the back of his hanI
gently against Delagrave's cheek. Th
game was at once interrupted. Th
slap, which was so light it did not evel
crimson the young mans cheek, wa
enough to call for blood, and leavin,
the house he sought an intimate friend
to him he opened his heart. 1t must b
a battle Foutrdnce. Such was the en-
nifty between himself and Riviere, onl,
a life could wipe it out. The old Doc
tor, who had grown up, it might b
said, on the field, shrugged his shoul
ders and demonstrated, but at last &C
quiesced and said: Every well, then;
shall be to the death"
II.
Few people knew what sort of pal
| ty it was driving down the shell-roa
bordering Bayou st. John. Two cal
riages stopped just on the bridge lead
ing to the island formed there by biful
cation of the bayou, and four gentle
men alighted. Savalle, well-know
character here forty years ago, accom-
panied Riviere, and old DIR. Rocque
was with Delagrave. The seconds ha
met previously and arranged every
thing. Delagrave, as he stepped fror
the carriage, looked furtively aroun
for the cases of pistols, but, seeing none