Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-11-17

10 Cali lOT uIOON, anu ieaNAHS INV "VH''N
he sought an intimate friend. To him he
opened his heart. 1t must be 4 battle
a omrance. Such was the enmity between
himself and Riyiere, only life could
wine 1t out. The old doctor, who had
grown mp, 1t 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
it was driving down the shell-road bor-
dering Bayou St. John. Two carriages
stopped just on the bridge leading to the
island formed there by bifurcation Of the
bayou, and four gentlemen slighted. Sa-
vale, well-known character forty years
ago, accompanied Riyiere, and old DIR.
Roquet was with Delagrsye. The seconds
had met previously and arranged every
thing. Delagraye, as he stepped from the
carriage, looked furtively around Tor the
case of pistols, but, seeing none, he was
little Disconnected After walking about
one hundred yards from the carriage the
party stopped and the doctor motioneG
them to approach each other. When they
had done so, he called them by name, ami
said: "Gentlemen, we have discussed
this matter nearly all Of last night, and
both NJ. Sayallc and myself feel satisfied
that there Is no solution to the differences
between you but the death of one The
world is so formed that both cannot live
III it at the same time" The two men
nodded. "Therefore," the doctor went
on, eve have agreed TO make the arbitra-
ment rs fair rs it is possible, and let fate
decide" He took out black morocco
case and from 1t produced pill-boX con-
tanning four pellets. cone of these
said lie, contains a positively fatal dose
of prussic acid, the other three are harm
less. We have agreed that each shall
swallow two of the pills, and let destiny
decide" Savalle inclined his head and
said, as the representative Of Riyiere, he
agreed.
The two men we're pale, almost blood
less, but not nerve trembled or muscle
contracted.
Gentlemen" said the doctor, ''we will
toss for the first pill" Sayalle called ont
"tails," as the glittering gold piece re-
volved in the air. 1t fell in bunch OF
grass, the blades Of which, being separat-
cd, showed the coin with the reversed
Goddess of Liberty uppermost. "M. Della
grave, you hayc the first choice" said the
doctor.
Reposing in the little box, the fourlittle
globes seemed the counterpart OF each
other. The closest scrutiny would not de-
velop the slightest difference. Nature
alone, through the physiological alembic
of the human stomach, can tell Of their
properties. In one there rests the pail Of
eternity, the struggle for breath, the fall
ing of sight, the panorama OF years rush
ing in an instant through the mind, the
silence and peace of sleep for evcrmore,
the ceremony, the burial-case, the solemn
cortego and the close, noisOme atmosphere
of the grave. All these were contained In
one of these little pellets. Delagrave hav-
ing won the first choice, stepped forward
and took pill. With a calmness which
was frigid he placed it Oh his tongue and
with u cup Of claret, handed him by The
doctor, washed it down.
"And now, NJ. Riviere, B." said the doctor.
Riyiere extended his hand and took pill.
Like his opponent, he swallowed 1t. .
The two men stood looking one another
in the face. There was not a culver to
the eyelid, not twitch to muscle. Each
was thinking of himself as well rs watcl-
ing his adversary. One minute passed.
Two minutes passed. Three. Four. Five.
"Now, gentlemen said the doctor Ia SOL
emn tones, sit is time to mako the final
drawing" .,,~.., .-.-sr
= This was the fatal chance. Both men
were ready for the cast of the die. Sa-
vale tossed the gold piece aloft, and the
doctor cried out "hea1s." "IIcads" 1t
was, and Delagrave took pill from the
box, leaving only one. "Now," said the
doctor, "thc remaining one is for you.
You will please swallow them together"
The two men raised their hands at the
same time aud deposited the pills on their
tongues and took a draugbt Of claret.
One second passed, and there was no
movement. Two seconds, and neither
stirred. Then-"Good God!' exclaimed
Riviere, his eyes starting from their sock
cts. lie turned half around 10 the left,
raised his hands above his head and shrek
ed long, wild shrek that belated travel
ers even to this day say they hear on tho
shell road, near the island.
lie fell prone to the earth, and, save a
nervous contraction Of the muscles OF the
face, there was no movement.
Delagrave took him by the hand as he
lay on the damp grass, and said, in n ten
der voice: 81 regret it, but it was to be-"
The funeral was one Of the largest ever
seen in New Orleans, and for weeks the
cafes were agog with the story Of the
duel. The beautiful widow, horrriied mt
the affair, would never see Delagraye af-
terward, and is now happy grandmere
on Bayou Lafourche, having married
wealthy planter two years after the fatal
event. ........ .-
Delagrave, weighed down with the
trials Of an unhappy life, vrinkled and
tottering, strolls down Canal street Of
warm afternoons, assisted by negro ser
want. Having bare competency he has
never actually suffered from want; bu. he