Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-01-16
MY DUEL.

AL l. - ~ aAs
A signal for the departure of the train
was given.
Travelling by express in France is not
especially PLEASANT. barely had time to
spring into tie first compartment came
to, when the brakeman closed the door.
"Be care. ul, you have hurt my feet"
exclaimed a large man, wearing the
decoration OF the legion Of hon r, who
was half asleep in a corner, ana did not
seem to think it incumbent on him to
arouse himself and draw in his legs to
allow me to pass.
ellis legs" say from habit, for one of
them, which was carefully crossed over
the other, vas only wooden su stitutc
for leg. 1t was stained black and was
polished.
Already annoyed by the rudeness of
the brakeman who had thrust me into
the compartment, and again irritated by
the brutal tone of my travelling COM
panion's exclamation, | answered in q
voice no less unamiable:
at would be difficult to hurt those
feet"
At these words the man Strengthened
up, It's face became purple, and, turning
on NE his eye, his only eye, tor the
other was blind, but frightful in its
aspcc shining with peculiar phosphores
cent ligut he exclaimed:
"lnsolcnt."
"Bul, Monsieur"
"There is no but! You have insulted
me. No one can insult me with impun-
ity. There is my card"
Examining my ticket, part of which
was visible above the band of my hat, he
said
You get out at Guingamp; so do l."
Then he fell back in his corner and
closed his olc eye.
Ipicked up his card, which had fall
len on my knee. 1t read:
GEoR les PERCErEAU, ::
Formerly Fencing Master of the Seventh ::
Dragons, ::
Governor OF the Military Prison of ::
GungaEp. {:
o..................... ................. 900
"Thc lcucem exclaimed. "a fenc-
inc master of the Seventh Dragons |!
NO" l said to myself, as those terrible
words danced before my eyes, mo, it is
not possible that | am to fight a duel
|, who have never used the foils; who
have never han He'd pistol more than
once or twice; who have never been in q
shooting gallery"
"Nionsieur!" / said in the softcst tones
could assume; Monsieurw l repeated.
gently touching the knee Of the sleeper
At last he opened his eye.
Gan apology, | suppose. never ac-
CT pit an apology-nevrr.
And again he closed his eye.
Turning to look about the compart-
luent. hoping to see the sympathetic face
If some one who would intercede for me.
found only three or four hussars, who
regarded me with q bantcring, jccring
air Evidently there was no aid to be
had in that quarter.
then began to study attentively the
person Of my adversary, and | soon per-
ceived that, Notwithstanding the loss of
his leg and the fact that the left sleeve
Of his coat was empty, he was, ncverthe-
less, stalwart and compact man.
At last l laid plan to escape, which
proposed to put into execution at once.
for we were rapidly approaching GUM
CAMP
Mounting the seat, at one bound
leaped over the outstretched leg OF my
enemy, and before the train stopped
was on the platform at the door.
Presently, however, there was violent
cutlery, and heard my enemy stumpng
along after me. He had perceived and
had spoiled my plan.
"Ah, you young rascal" he ev.
claimed, lyon will not escape that
way"
In the twinkling of TN eye 1 was sur.
rounded by sold ers, to whom my infu
rated adve sary explained tbs case.
was excusing myself when Young man,
whose faced showed that he had sympa
thy with me, cut my eloquence short.
ut is bad for you, he said to me. "to
have q quarrel with NJ. Pcrccpean. 1t is
of no use to talk with him. The ouly
way is to act. l will lie your second il
you wish.'
ave have talked too much already"
roared the unrelenting bully, as he
turned his back. There are my sec
onds," he added. pointing to two Off
GERS among his friends, and then he
disappeared in the crowd.
passed that night in great perplexity
and agitation. Let him who has passed
through his first ''atfair of honor" with,
out emotion accuse me of cowardice.
At last, toward morning, having
thought over all these events, and con.
sidered them from every point of view,
found that | had become cool, calm
and almost resolute.
My second congratulated me on my
self osscssion, aid gave me his inaI
counsel and encouragement. In les:
than half an hour we reached the place
of rendezvous, little weed in the