Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-05-23

/ OlhCi. luC COlOuJi, uh Oll SOlultT
bronzed by twenty-five years of cam
paigns, now deemed that the terrible but
necessary lesson had produced the effect
desired. 1t was now possible, without
the least blemish to military honor, to
check the reparation eXacted at its thir-
teenth victim.
The colonel went up to Jean-Louis,
who, in his bronze immobility, seemed
! like some antique statue of Fear.
Master he said, you have valiant
| ly sustained the honor of the regiment.
In the name of the whole Thirty-third, l
thank you But thirteen successive
duels must have almost snapped your
muscles aSunder. Withdraw now if
your fellow fencing mastFs choose to
finishtil. contest with the two remain
ing aa'e and fouiiiJg 10 So"
/ Jean-Loy., and car. aed-as though
the colouel's wa. Slu ca 4ed the intima-
tion of a doubt--or s0ugh he felt a
bitter pleasure in Civ. ] voice to the
overfulness of emotion Which oppressed
him.
"Now he shouted-''no! l will not
abandon the post assigned to me by the
confidence of the Thirty second regi-
ment; l will stay right here; and l will
fight just as long as can hold sword -
In uttering these words, Jean-Louis
made an energetic gesture. In the over
eXerted condition of his nerves, he had
not noticed that the circle of spectators,
encouraged by the colonel's Intervention,
was closing in about him. In gesturing
his sword described a swift half circle,
slightly wounding one of his comrades in
the leg.
Jean-Louis observed the accident be
fore the wounded man had even time to
utter a complaint; his feverish ardor
instantly left him. He sprang to his
friend; and tears were seen in the eyes
of the man who, without regret or weak
ness, had just shed the blood of thirteen
adversaries.
"Ah!" he cried" only one man OF
the Thirty second has been wounded to-
day, and that wound was given by me! /"
The colonel took advantage of the in
cident to terminate the encounter.
Jean-Louis," he said--"that is
warning! Enough blood has been shed.
All have acted like brave men-will you
not take my word for it as judge Of
military honorW
"Why, colonelW
Well, l declare that honor has been
fully satisfied and that only one thing
remains for the Thirty-second to do
namely, to shake hands Loyalty with the
first.n
An enthusiastic cheer arose. Only the
two remaining provosts of the First regl
ment remained motionless and silent.
The colonel, pointing to them, said to
Jean:
"You know they cannot be the first Is
come to you"
Jean. Louis felt himself conquered. He
threw down his sword, and advancing to
the two provosts, held out his hand to
them.
"Vive Jean-Louis !-vive Thirty Sec
ond p shouted ten thousand voices.
''Vive lie First reeiment" cried Jean
Louis-'we are all of one family. Vive
rarmeew
1t was the signal of reconciliation-A
reconciliation that was sincere and COM
plete. In a moment both friends and
adversaries had gathered about Jean
Louis, to compliment him, to dispute the
honor of pressing his hand. Much
affected, the fencing-master tore him
self away with difficulty, by reminding
them that it was his duty to look after
the wounded. This mark of sympathy
won all hearts to him. From that
moment all ill-fealing between the two
regiments ceased; and the treaty of peace
was celebrated the same evening with
many bumpers of Here's wine.
Thus ended this duel, or rather duel
brelan, which realized in the nineteenth
century the legends of ancient chivalry.