The Penn's Grove record., 1888-12-08
A rEscEn.



A young bank clerk In Albany. New
York Is wiser than he WAS u year ago.
n the bank where he was a clerk anew
nan was given a somewhat inferior
POSITION. The newcomer was q small,
light framed Frenchman, whose Eng
ish was decidedly lane, but who 10
eldom spoke that 1t made little differ
.nce. The senior clerk had o decided
',enchant for fencing, and compared
With most fellows OF his age and po-
iition was unquestionabiy Q good
In addition to this he was
l most insuflerable braggart, and bis
me topic Of thought and conversation.
IL had about him q very p~atr0nizlng
tIr, which he proceeded to inflict upon
he in~ofiensive Frenchman, and his ia
nlliar slaps on the back evidently dis
)leased the stranger. Finally Q par.
.iculariy emphatic thump between the
title Frenchman's shoulders produced
IS response q singing slap IN the face.
which left the red mark OF q small
land sharply prominent against the
otherwise deathly pale face Of the
young American.
Specifies with rage, the young man
.ound his sc.,s, AMI shortly afserward,
through q friend, challenged the
Frenchman to mortal combat The
latter apologized, in fact did all in his
power to undo the mischief of his hasty
blow, in vain "Nothing but blood can
wipe out that insult, the young man
said haughtily. The details were mr.
ranged, the Ffcnchman, as the chal-
Ienged party, choosing rapiers. Greatly
to the surprise Of the hot FLOODED
young challenger, the cashier Of tfe
bank. who knew the Frenchnnan we'll,
acted as the latter's second. The day
came and the hour. The principals
stepped 10 position, saluted. AID the
blue blades crossed with that fmooth,
gliding sound which Is music tp the ear
81 tho true swordsman. The French
man, whose familiarity, with his
weapon was evident at the start. con-
lned himself at first entirely to defense,
turning his opponents point with q
grace OF movement and absence Of fear
or nervousness which were poetry In
action. The young man grew holder,
bis thrusts began to have an air Of fe-
rocity which seemed to anger the
Frenchman q txile, and turning aside
his opponents thrust he made Q quick
lunge, and the young American barely
parted.
th6 wrist " ere too too much for him;
there wasAa sharp snap and the tor
button OF pis coat few across the room.
Angry at Chs evident triding. the but
toms owrler made . spiteful lunge,
which was quickly parted and the
next bjltton was snapped away. One
after another the shining buttons on
hl!s, natty blue braided Jacket were cut
of by the Frenchman's ready point.
Decidedly "rattled" at his opponents
skill and the i~rrepresaIble smiles of the
seconds and surgeon. the young clerk
now. with greater rapidity and less
caution, made fierce lunges, any one of
which would have driven the sharp
1zyfer through the body Of the cool
Frenchman, while the little man,
quietly parrying, with the sharp point
of bis weapon stripped the front Of the
young mans Jacket to ribbons.
The contest had lasted some twenty
minutes when suddenly the Frenchman
1caNGht the swiftly advancing point OF
AiS0pponent, turned 1t aside, slipped
his own sword quickly down along the
others blade, turning 1t with q quick
wrist motion SO that it partly wound
around It, and with a sharp wrenching
motion tore the weapon away and sent
1t flying acros the floor. Then he
saluied, threw his weapon down and
left the room. 1t subsequently, txAn3s
pizedrixs tny foreigner was=znd is
. member Of a once noble French
family. q captain in the French army,
and his teachers have been some Of the
best swordsmen IN France. The young
American has not challenged any mis-,
c~ellaneous foreigners since, and is less
inclined to talk Of his experience OF
skill.