Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-10-09
MiscellamenMs.
A TERRIBLE DUEL.

A fatal but rather novel duel occurred
in New Orleans over forty years ago.
The young men were Henri Delagrave
and Alphonse Riviere, and the cause of
the duel was the success of the former in
wooing Nine. Celestin. Rivicro sought
out Delagrave and found him in u gam
bling saloon, AS he ncared Delagrave
the latter turned TO confront him, when
Rivierc, with voice that seemed TO
come from behind the door of tomb,
said "Delagravc, VIC cannot live on
this globe together it is not large
enough" Delagrave, quietly putting
his cigarette, in cold and impressive
tone. replied Eyes you annoy me. It
were better if you were dead" Riviere's
face flushed, and reaching forward, he
laid the back of his hand gently against
Delagravc's check The game was at
once interrupted The slap, which was
SO light did not even crimson the young
mans cheek, was enough to call for
blood, and, leaving the house, he sought
an intimate friend f; to him he opened
his heart :"It must be a battle TO the
death" Such was the enmity between
himself and Rivicrc only life could
wipe it out. The old doctor, who had
grown up, it might be said, on tho 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
is was driving down the shell road bor-
dering Bayou 81 John. Two carriages
stopped just on the bridge leading to the
island formed there by the bifurcation
of the bayou, and four gentlemen alight-
ed. Savalle, well-known character
here forty years ago, accompanied Ri
Were, and old DR.. Racquet was with
Delagravc The seconds had met pre-
viously and arranged everything. Della
grave, as he stepped from the carriage
looked furtively around for the cases Of
pistols, but seeing none he was little
Disconnected. After walking about one
hundred yards from the carriages tho
party stopped and the Doctor motioncd
them to approach closer When they
had done so he called them by name
and said: "Gentlemen, We have discussed
this matter nearly all Of last night and
both Mr.. Savalle and myself feel salts
fed that there is no solution TO the diff
ference between you but the death Of
one" The two nodded Therefore"
the Doctor went on, "wc have agreed
to make the arbitrament as fair as pos
sible and let fate decide" He took
out black morocco case and from ii he
took pill box containing four pellets.
Zone Of these" he said, contains n
positively fatal dose of prussic acid, the
other three arc harmless. We have
agreed that each shall swallow two Of
the pills, and let destiny decide" Sa-
vale inclined his head, and said, as the
representative Of Rivierc, he agreed. The
two men were pale, almost bloodless,
but not nerve trcmbled or muscle con-
tracted
Gentlemen" said the Doctor, "we
will toss for the first pill" Savalle
cried out tails" as the differing gold
piece revolyed in the air. It fell in
bunch Of grass, the blades Of which be-
ing separated, showed tho coin with tho
reversed head Of the Goddess Of Liberty
uppermost. "Mr. Dclagrave, you have
the first choice" said the Doctor. Re-
posing in the littlc box, tho four little
globes seemed the counterpart Of each
other. The closest scrutiny would not
develop the slightest difference Nature
alone, through the physiological alcmbic
Of tho human stomach, can tell Of their
properties. In one there rests the pail
Of eternity, the struggle for breath, the
failing Of sight, the panorama Of years
rushing in an instant through the mind,
the silence and peace Of sleep forever
more, the cercmcnts, the burial case, tho
solemn cortcge, and the close, noisome
atmosphere Of the grave. All these
were contained in one Of these little pei
lets Dolagravc, having won tho first
choice, stepped forward and took pill.
With u calmness which was frigid he
placed it on his tongue, and with cup
Of clarOt, handed him by the Doctor,