Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-06-05
THE FRENCH METHOD.
a Thrilling Dueling Scene from Daudet's
Novel, L'Immortel.

THE FRENCH METHOD.
a Thrilling Dueling Scene from Daudots
Novel, LImmortel
pass on ahead" said an arrogant,
nasal voice, the voice of the P ince
d Athis.
HE is right" said Paul Astier;
'they are going to prepare way for
u.s."
The wheels touched on the narrow
clans exchanged fraternal smiles.
Then. as the coupe passed, there could
be seen behind the clear glass, raised
in spite of the heat, morose, immov-
able profile, the Prince d FAITHS, pale as
q corpse.
He'll be paler yet in an hour, when
they bring him back with his body
pierced" thought Paul, and he clearly
imagined his play, feint the second,
then straight down between the third
and fourth ribs.
Did the Prince d Athis. whom the
doctor was assisting to roll up his
sleeves, hear these wordsp Was it tho
sight of that supple, 1.-the and vigor-
Gus fellow who advanced. his round
arms and neck uncovered, pitiless
determination in his eyeP The fact is
hat the whole face of tho Prince
faiths suddenly changed, took an
earthly hue, and showed under hi
beard, which dropped as if his jaw
were unlocked, the hideous grimace
of fear. Nevertheless he stood up and
came valiantly enough to time.
Ready. gentlemen!"
Yes, we suffer for our sins. The
Prince Athis had the innate convic-
ton of this before that implacable
point which sought him, met his at a
distance and seemed to ease him here
and there only to strike him more
surely. Paul Astier was trying to kill
him. that was evident. He felt the
pressing danger envelop him. the at
mosphere about him seemed upset by
the light of a dream, the great sky
seemed to fly from him; he saw the
frightened silhouettes of the witnesses,
the doctors, even to the wild gestures
of the two stable boys frightening
with their caps some bounding horses
who wanted to draw near and look on.
Suddenly violent, brutal voices:
Observation-Disclosures
What has happened? The danger is
past, the sky has stopped moving,
things wear their natural colors and
Of in boi, iohf r,1o R11f of iC
feet upon the furrowed and upturned
soil there extends a large pool of
blood. which black ems the yellow
earth and within in lies Paul Astier,
bleeding like pig, his naked neck
pierced from side to side In the
the shrill noise of insects sounds from
the distant meadows, and grouped at a
little distance the horses elOngate their
noses in curiosity toward the still body
of the vanquished.
And vet the defeated man knew
good dea. about the sword. His fin
gers. solidly set against the guard,
made splendid play with the shining
blade; while the other one. standing
befo him, twirled like a frighte ned
turnspit.
How did it happenp They will say.
and the evening papers will repeat it
after them, and tomorrow all Paris
will repeat it after the papers. that
Paul Astier slipped in making feint
and impaled himself; they will tell it
with the most exact details. But, in
the events of life, is not the precision
of our words in inverse ratio to the
exactness of our knowledge. For both
| spectators and combatants somethin g
vailed and confused always surrounds
the decisive minute-that minute when
destiny came in and struck final
blow contra y to all expectation and
all logic-destiny hidden in that same
dark cloud that always enveloped the
denouement of Horleric combats.