Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-15
TIE PELLETS OF BREAD.


so every one said. Thirty years old per
haps Partisan il every sense OF the
word, with that courageous nature, lively
and little inclined To teasing, that is the
characteristic of the children of Paris.
Nevertheless, he had an excellent heart,
and was ready to throw himself into the
fire if necessary for the very one whom
an instant before he had made the target
for his iests-
1t was az R, that pretty little
neighboring city to Puy, that Paul found
himself one morning for pleasure and the
drinking Of certain healthful waters, for
R, as every one knows. is q charming
summer resort, and filed during the sum-
rner at least with n crowd Of guests Paul
and his friend Ed0uard Duchesne, were
at the same hotel and took their meals
together as the table d'hote, where they
bad for neighbor IN front Of them an
Engiishman known to be very rich and
very eccentric, and whose life, they said,
was but a series Of endless journeyings
around the world.
If Paul betrayed himself a Partisan in
every act and feature, 50 did the stranger
betray the nativity Of his melancholy
country. Short Of stature and fat. the
face broad and rudy, the skull bald and
shining, the beard blonde, the ewes blue
as corn flowers, he was truly the most
perfect type of an Englishman that it is
possible TO imagine. More than once
Paul had caught himself smiling at the
impossible visage of Sir Arthur jacobson,
for such was this strangers name This
i
. that am going 10 tell you of, and, by
the way, the evening OF departure of the
two young men, as the dinner was draw
ing to Il close, exhilarated doubtless by
the champagne they had taken. Paul
amused himself while talking to Edouard
in rolling balls OF bread crumbs and
launching them between thumb and
finger, as school children launch balls of
paper, at his neighbor, the Englishnan.
1t was q thOughtlesS, not to say rude, ex
hibition on the part Of Paul, but then
Paul was not quite himself, and the
temptation was fer the moment irresist-
ible.
As the first pellet struck the arm Of
Sir Arthur jacobson he slowly turned
his clear eyes upon Paul and his COM
panion, but his broad physiognOmy lost
nothing of its habitual placidity. One
would have supposed even that he had
seen and comprehended nothing, had it
not been for the fact that with an air of
the utmost indifference and phlegm he
lifted the nlorsel of bread crumb and
slipped it into the pocket of his vest;
still, however, without uttering a sylla-
BILE
The bearing of this man was well cal
culated to excite the teasing humor Of
the Partisan, and scarcely moment had
elapsed since the launching Of the first
pellet when a second followed it, and,
taking the same direction as the first,
went 10 flatten itself upon his shoulder,
and like the other to travel the road to
Sir Arthur's pocket. Angered a little by
this systematic imperviousnesS, and GER
tainly for the time being blind to the in
suit and Inconvenience that such pleas
antry had for its object, Paul believed it
his duty to repeat his pellet for the third
time. 1t struck his Wis a Wis upon the
forehead Immediately between the eve
brows. And stin he received it with
neither a movement nor sign, though
the walters at the table could scarcely
repress their hilarity on seeing him with
the same stoical gravity lift his hand, re-
move it and send it TO join lis comrades
in his pocket.
This amusement, in bad taste Us you
are bound to admit, had lasted long
enough, and as the guests We're quitting
the table Sir Arthur rose and followed
their example, and Paul and his friend,
their heads decidedly heavy with wine,
got up In turn and went TO smoke cigar
on the terrace. Hardly. however, had
they made their appearance there
than Paul found himself confronted
by his recent victim, who regarded
him full in the face and in excellent
French stated that he desired to speak
70 him moment.
You must certainly understand, mon
sieur," said he, THAT the play TO which
you delivered yourself while ago con-
stItuteS a serious affront, of which l de-
maud the reason. Moreover. as q gal
liant man you also see that you must ac-
cord me, without my forcing it, the
PREPARATION that is my right"
Precisely, my lord; l see, and am
at your service"
Tomorrow morning, then, monsieur,
at o'clock, behind the park
The conditioner
''Pistols-thirty paces-au wise. To-
an hour my seconds VIII wait upon yours.
have the honor, monsieur, 10 salute
you"
(Which proves once more, my dear
Paul, said Edouard, when the stranger
had turned on his heel, that it does not
90 TO trust to appearance. Who would
have supposed that devil of little man
SO touchy on point of honor? He takes
the thing, IN my opinion, too seriously"
''Eh, par Dieu, he has reason, - replied
Paul, In whose brain the freshness Of the
ar had brought about q Salutary reac-
ton. - / have committed q serious and
an offensive stupidity; it is just that /
take the consequences. But a truce to
words; come with me 10 the house of II.
D., whom know slightly and whom
shall ask to be my second witness"
Promptly at the hour appointed next
morning Paul ana his seconds and Sir
Arthur Jacobson and his seconds arrived
ct the spot indicated behind the park.
Paul was commercial man, peacefully
inclined, and nothing of a sportsman.
bur, in default OF knowledge of the duel
ing code and Of practice, possessed the .
natural and inherent courage Of a brave
heart, which enabled him under the
present circumstances to worthilv sustain
his part
The seconds meanwhile had measured
the ground. charged the pistols and /