The Press., 1884-01-03
4 DUEL WITH PILLS.
A TRAGIC INCIDENT OF CREOLE LIFE.

A strange story of duel is thus told by a writer ifl the New Orleans Times Demo- crat. It was between two young men of the Crescent City, and occurred over forty years ago. The young men were Hen1i Delagrave and Alphonse Riviere, and tie cause of the duel was the success of the former in wooing young lady. Riviere sought out Delagrave, and found him in a gambling saloon. As he approached Della grave, the latter turned to confront him, when Riviere said "Delagrave, we can- not live on this globe together; it is not large enough.
 Delagraye, quietly putting his c garette, in a cold tone, replied Yes, you annoy me. It would be better if you were dead. y
 Riviere's fac flushed, and reaching for ward he laid the back of his hand gently against Delagrave's cheek The game was at once interrupted The slap, which was so light that 1t did not even crimson the young mans cheek was enough to call for blood, and leaving the hous he sJu.y al intimate friend; to him he opened his heart ''It must be battle to the death. " His frield, an old doctor, who had grown up, 1t might be said, on the fed, shrugged his shoulders and reconstructed, but at last acqui.seed and said "Very well, then, 1t shall be to the death" .I
 Few people knew what sort of party 1t was driving down the shell road bordering Bayou St. John. Two carriages halted on the bri lge leading to the island formed t,l by the bifurcation of the bayou, and tour mca alighted. Savalle, a we known character forty years ago, acc ompanled Rivie,e, aud Dr. Racquet was with D grave The seconds had previously ar- ranged everything. Delagrave, as he step ped from the carriage, looked furtive y around for the cases of pistols, but seeing none he was little disconcerted. After walking about 100 yards from the carriages, the party stopped and the doctor motioned them to approach clos r. When they had done so, he called them by name and said "Gentlemen, we have discussed the matter nearly all of last night, and both Mir. Sa- valle and myself feel satisfied that there is no solution of the difference between you but the death of one. The world IS so formed that both cannot live in 1t at tie same time." The two nodded. "There- fore" the doctor went on, "we have agreed to let fate decide" He took out black morocco case, and from it produced a pill box containing four pellets. ''One of these" said he, ''contains positively fa- tai 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 representative of Riviere, he agreed.
 The two men were pale, but not a nerve trembled or muscle contracted.
 "Gentlemen," sad the doctor, i've will toss for the first pill" Savalle cried out "tails,' as the glittering gold piece revolv- ed in the air. It fell on a bunch of grass, the blades of which, being separate d, show ed the coin with the reversed head of the goddess of liberty uppermost.
 "Mr. D-lagrave, you have the first choice" said the doctor
 Exposing in the little box, the four little globes seemed the counterpart of each oth- CT. The closest scrutiny would not devel- op the slightest difference. Delagrave stepped forward and took pill. With calmness, which was frigid, he placedit on his tongue, and with cup of claret hand ed him by the doctor, washed it down.
 ."And now, MT. Riviere, said the doctor. MT. Riviere extended his hand and took pill.
 Like his opponent he swallowed it.
 The two men stood looking at one an- other in the face. There was not quiver in the eyelid, not a twitch to the muscle Each was thinking of himself as well as watching his adversary. One minute more passed. Two minutes passed. Three. Four. Five.
 "Now, gentlemen.
 This was the fatal choice. Both men were ready for the cast of the die. Savalle tossed the gold piece aloft and the doctor cried out 'heads."
 Heads it was, and Delagrave took pill from the box, leaving only one. "Now," said the doctor, 'Mr. Riviere remaining one IS for you. You will please swallow them together"
 The two men raised their hands at tie same time and deposited the pills on their tongues and took draught of claret.
 One second passed and there was no movement. Then-"Good Gud P exclaim- ed Riviere, his eyes starting from thu i, sockets. He turned half around to the left, raised his hands above his head, and shrieked long, wild shriek that be- lated travellers even to this day 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 face, there was no movement.
 Delagrave took him by the hand as he lay on the damp grass, and said in tender voice ''I regret it, but it was to be-" l
 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, mortified at the af- fair, would never see Delagrave afterward, | and is now grandmere on Bayou Lafourche, having married a wealthy planter two years after the fatal event
 Delagrave, weighed down with the trials of an unhappy life, wrinkled and tottering, strolls along Canal street of warm after noon, assisted by g negro servant. Hav- ing bare competency he has never actual ly suffered from want; but he shows evi- l dences of great mental anguish. The sight l of pill box makes him shudder, and the | taste of claret will give him convulsions
 SAVE YOUR EYEsIeHT.-Nothing is more trying to the eyes than the fickering which is |