Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-09-20
THE PELLETS OF BREAD.


20 every one said. Thirty years old, per-
haps, a Partisan in every sense of the
word, with that courageous nature, lively
and a 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 il necessary for the very one whom
an instant before he had made the target
for his jests.
It was at 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 filled during the sum-
mer at least with o crowd of guests. Paul
md his friend Edouard Duchesne, were
at the same hotel and took their meals
together at the table d'hote, where they
had for a neighbor in front of them an
Englishman known to be very rich and
very eccentric, and whose life, they said,
wa but a series Of endless ~journeyings
around the world.
If Paul betrayed himself a Partisan in
every act and feature, so 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 eyes 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 visageo Sir Arthur jacobson,
for such was this rangers name This
evening. then, wbgn the events occurred
that | am going to tell you of. and, by
the way, the evening of departure Of the
two young men, as the dinner was draw
ing TO a close, exhilarated doubtless by
the champagne they had taken. Paul
amused himself while talking 20 Edouard
in rolling balls Of bread crumbs and
launching them between thumb and
finger, as school children launch balls Of
paper, at his nelghbor, the Euglishman.
It was a ~thoightless, not TO say rude, ex.
hibition on the part Of Paul, but then
Paul was not quite himself, and the
temptation was for the morleu ~irresist.
ible.
As the first pellet struck the arm of
Sin Arthur jacobson he slowly turned
his clear eyes upon Paul and his com.
panion, but his broad p~hysiognomy 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 morsel 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 a moment had
elapsed since the launching of the first
oellet when a second followed il, and,
raking 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
his systematic imperviousness, and GER
rainly for the time being blind to the in
sult and inconvenience that such pleas
antry had for its obiect, Paul believed it
his duty TO repeat his pellet for the third
lime. Il struck his Wis n Wis upon the
forehead Immediately between the eye.
brows. And still be received il with
neither a movement nor a sign, though
he walters at the table could scarcely
repress their hilarity on seeing him with
he same stoical gravity lift his hand, re.
move it and send it to join lis comrades
N his pocket.
This amusement, in bad taste as YOU
are bound 10 admit, had lasted long
anough, and as the guests were 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 a cigar
IN the terrace. Hardly, however, had
hey made their appearance there
han Paul found himself confronted
ly his recent victim. who regarded
linn full in the face and in excellent
french stated that he desired 10 speak
to him a moment.
"You must certainly understand, mon.
sieur, I" said he, 'that the play TO which
you delivered yourself a while ago con.
sututes a serious a%ffront, Of which | de-
Iland the reason. Moreover, as q gal
llnt man you also see that you must &C
cord me, without my forcing il, the
reparation that Is my right"
"Precisely, my lord; | see, and | am
It your service"
Tomorrow morning, then, monsieur
ut o O'Clock, behind the park"
1.-THE conditioner
"Pistols-thirty PAGES --au wise. In
in hour my seconds will wait upon yours,
4 have the honor, monsieur, 10 salute
YOU"
(which proves once more, my deal
Paul." said Edouard, when the stranger
lad turned on his heel, ''that IL does mol
10 TO trust TO appearance. Who would
lave supposed hat devil Of q little man
70 touchy on q point Of honor He takes
tho thing, in my opinion, too seriously
''Eh. par Dieu, he has reason" replied
Paul, In whose brain the freshness Of the
air had brought about n s~alutary reac.
ton. IL have committed a serious and
an offensive stupidity; IL is just that !
take the consequences. But a truce e
words; come with me 10 the house OF NJ,
D., whom Iknow slightly and whom
shall ask 10 bsmy second witness"
Promptly at the hour appointed mex
morning Paul and his seconds and Sil
Arthur jacobson and his seconds arrived
nc the spot indicated behind the park.
Paul was a commercial mah, peacefully
inclined, and nothing Of n sportsman,
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