The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-02
4 SURPRISED FENcER.
TIC Lesson Taught Young American
observation-disclosures

NNDffssiD1D-- Dt,-fussN.
A Young bank clerk in Albany is wiser
than lie vas a year ago In the bank
where he was a clerk new man was
given n somewhat Inferior position. The
newcomer was a small. slight framed
Frenchman, whose English was decidedly
lame. but who so seldom spoke that !,
made little difference. The senior clerk
had decided pcnchant for fencing. and
compared with most fellows q his age
G-d iosition was unoncstionabiy Cooc
swCrdsman IL addition 10 this lie was
most insuiTerable bFaKgart. and his mill
tary accomplishment was his one iJnic OF
thought and conversation lie had about
hirn very paironizing ar. which he pro
ceeded - iufict upon the inoicnsivo
frcnchran. and his familiar slaps On the
back evidently dispieascd the stranger.
Finally particularly emphatic 'hump be
tween the little Frcnchman's shoulders
produced as response q singing slap IN
the face, which left the red mark q
small hand sharply prominent against the
Otherwise deaihly pale face Of the young
American.
Spccchlcss with rage. the young mar
found his desk. ard shortly afierward.
through Q friend, challenged the French
man 10 Mortal combat The latter apollo
gized. IN fact did ali in Lis power go undo
the mischief of his hasty blow, in vain
Nothing but blood can wipe out that IN.
suit, .he young man said haughtily. Tie
details were arranged tho Frenohman as
tie challenged party, choosing rapiers.
Greatly TO the surprise If the hot blcOdcd
Young challenger, tho cashier Of the bank,
who srcw tho frcnchman well. acted as
tne laiters second The day cane and
the Aour. Tic principals stepped 10 POSI-
tion. s..luicd. aud the blcc blades crossed
with tlat E.00,L. gliding sound vhr-h Is
nai.-ic - the c1T IL the true swordsman.
Tic lrcnchLan. whose familiarity with
his weapon was evident az tie start. con
fined himself ~ first entirely 90 defense
turning lis opponent point vi.h q grace
f movement and absence Of fear or Lcrv-
CGsne.a which were poetry in action. The
young man grew boder, his thrustS TO-
gan TO have an air Of ierocity which
seemed 10 anger the Freedman a triiic
and turning aside his opponent thrust
he made quick lungc, and the young
American barely parted.
Another quick thrust and turn Of the
wrist verc too much Tor him, there was a
sharp snap and the top button Of Lis coat
few across the room. Angry az this eyi
dent trifing tho buttOn's owner made
sriteful lunge, which was quickly parted
Sad the next button was snapped away.
One after another the shining buttons on
lis natty blue braided jacket were cut off
b. the Frenchman's ready point. De
cidedly ratified at bis opponents skill
aud the irreprcssiblo 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 raPior through the
body Of the cool Ironchman. while the
little nsn, quietly parrying with the
sharp point Of Lis weapon stripped the
iroat Of the young mans jacket TO NIB
bons
M contest had lasted some twenty
minutes when Suddenly the frenchman
caught ihe swiftly advancing point Of ms
oppoaeDt. turned IL aside, slipped his own
sword quickly down along the others
blade turning it with quick wrist mo
tion 20 hat it partly wound around H.
aud nth q sharp wTcuching motion tore
tie weapon away ami sent IL flying across
the i,10r Then he saluted, threw hls
weapon down and left the rOom. It SUB
soquently tfauspired that the foreigner
wcs-aul is-a member If o once noble
Wrench family, captain in tho French
army. aad his teachers have bclu some OF
The best sworismCn in france. Tie
yonug American BIAS not challenged any
miscellaneous foreigners since, au4 is less
Inclined 90 talk oi Bis experience or skill
-AlDanI lgarn.l