The Dawson journal., 1883-07-26

ana looked furtively around fo1
the cases of pistols, bat, seeino
meme, he was little Disconnected
After walking about 1000 wards
1rom the carriage, the party stop
ped and the doctor motioned them
to approach closer. When thew
mad done SO, he called them by
name and said: Gentlemen we
nave discussed this matter nearly
al OF last night, and both Mr.. Sa-
vile 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
tune. The two men nodded
therefore" the doctor went on,
we have decided to make the ar
bltrament as fair as possible, and
Fate decide" He took out a
Morocco case, and from it produc-
ed a pill box containing sour pei
lets. Zone of these" said he,
contains a positively fatal dose of
prussic acid, the other three are
harmless. We lave agreed that
each shall swallow two Of the pills,
and let destiny decide Saville
inclined his head and said that as
the representative of Riviere, he
agreed.
The two men were pale, almost
bloodless, but not a nerve trembled
or muscle contracted.
Gentlemen" said the doctor.
I'VE will toss for the first pill"
Saville cried out "tails," as the
glittering gold piece revolved in
the air. It fell in bunch of
grass, the bladesUf which, being
separated, showed the coin with
reversed head of the Goddess of
Liberty uppermost. IN. Dele
grave, you have the first choice"
said the doctor.
Reposing in the little box the
counterpart of each other. The
closest scrutiny would not develop
the slightest difference. Nature
alone, through the physiological
alenibic of the human stomach,
can tell of their properties. In
one there rests the pail of eterni-
ty, the struggle for breath. the
failing of sight, the panorama of
years flushing in an instant through
the mind, the silence and peace of
sleep for ever more, the cerements
the burial case, the solemn cortege
and the close, noisosae atmosphere
of the grave. All these We're con-
tanned in one of these pellets.
pelegreve. having won the first
chose, stepped forward and took a
pill, with oalmness which was
frigid he placed it on his tongue
and with a cup of claret, handed
him by the doctor, washed it
down.
"And now, M, Riviere," said the
doctor. Riviere extended his hand
and took a pill. Like his oppo-
aent swallowed it.
The two men stood looking one
another in the face. There was
not a culver to the eyelid, not
twitch to a muscle. Each was
thinking of himself as we'll as
watching his adversary. One min
ute passed. Two minutes passed.
Three, four, five. "Now, gentle
men," said the doctor in solemn
tones at is time TO make the final
drawing
This was the fatal choice. Both
men were ready for the cast of the
die. Saville tossed the gold piece
aloft. and the doctor cried oft,
'.lieads." Heads it was, and Dele
grave took pill from the box,
leaving only one. "Now," said
the Doctor IN. Riviefe, The re-
maihing one is for you. You will
pleace swallow them together"
The two men raised their hands
at the same time ard deposited the
pills OF tl,sif tongues and took
draught of claret.
One second passed and there
was no movement. Then-'Good
Godp' exclaimed Riyiere, his ewes
starting Fl N their sockets. He
turned halt around to the left,
raised his hands above his head
and shrieked a long wild shrek
that belated travellers even to this
dav say they hear on the shell
road near the island.
He fell prone to the earth, and,
save nervous contraction of the
muscles of the fate, there was no
movement
Delegrave took him by the hand
as he lay on the damp grass, and
said in tender voice: 81 regret
it, but il was to be-"
The funeral was the largest ever
seen in New Orleans, and for weeks
the cafes were agog with the story
of the duel. The beautiful widow,
Mortified at the affair, would never
see Delegrave afterward, and is
now a happy grandmere on Bayou
Lafourche, having married a veal
thy planter two years after the
fatal event
Delegrave, weighed down with
the trials Of All unhappy life,
wrinkled and tottering, strolls
along Canal street Of warm after
| - ...,l, ca,