River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-06-06

I
printed name, as though he ha,
stabbed human being.
So he must fight a dueli Would h,
choose a sword or a pistol. for he con
sidered himself the insulted party
There was less risk with the sword
but with the pistol there was tn,
chance OF making his adversary give
ground. 1t is very rarely that a duel will
swords ends fatally, a reciprocal pru
dence prevents the combatants holding
themselves in guard, near enough
each to each other, for swords poinr
to penetrate very deeply. With the
pistol, he rislxed his life in earnest. but
then he might come out of the affair
with all the honors or the situation
He said aloud:
ut is necessary to be firm. He vii
be afraid" The sound of his voice
made him shiver. and he looked abou
him He felt very nervous. He drank
still another glass of water, then be
gan undressing, preparatory to get
ting into bed. As soon as he was il
bed he blew out his light aud closed
his eyes. He thought.
Il have all tomorrow before me Il
take care of my affairs. Sleep first 81
as to be calm"
He lay very wa m between his sheets
but unable to get to sleep. He turned
over. turned back again, stayed five
minutes fiat on his back. then lay or
the left side, then rolled over TO the
right.
He was still thirsty. He rose and
drank once more. Then an anxiety
seized him.
Am l going to be afraid?"
Why should his heart beat so wildly
at each well-known noise in hi.
chamber. When the clock was going
to strike, the tiny click of the spring
as it raised up, caused him to give q
bound in his bed. and he had to open
his mouth in order to breathe for sew.
eral seconds, SO oppressed was he.
He began arguing with himself OF
the possibility of the thing.
''Shall / be afraid?"
No, certainly not; he would not be
afraid, since he was resolved to go to
the very end; since he decidedly
wished to fight and not to tremble.
But he felt himself so profoundly
troubled that he asked himself:
Can a man have fear in spite Of
himself2" And this doubt invaded
him, this uneasiness. this horror; if q
force more powerful than his will, rul.
ing him with irresistible strength,
were to obtain control of him. wha,
would become OF him? Yes, what
would happen? Certainly he would
be on the ground, since he wished tC
be there. But were he to falter:
Were he to lose consciousness? And
he thought of his situation, his repu-
tatiOn and his name.
All at once he felt that he must GET
up and look at himself in the glass.
He rrelighted his candle. When he
saw his face in the polished surface he
scarcely knew himself 1t seemed as
though he had never seen himself be-
fore His eyes were enormous, and he
was pale; yes, certainly he was pale,
very pale. He still stood in front of
the mirror. rusting his tongue out as
if to test the state of his health. when
on sudden his thought flashed
across his mind:
DAY after tomorrow, at this very
hour. | may, perhaps. be dead" and
again his heart began to throb fu-
riOusly.
Day after tomorrow, at this very
hour. L may, perhaps, be dead. That
human being in front of me, that self
which | see in the mirror will no
longer be in existence. How can this
be? / am here, / see myself feel
that am alive, and in four and twenty
hours l shall be lying in this bed, with
closed eyes, cold, inanimate, disap-
peared.n
He turned toward the bed and saw
himself, distinctly, stretched out on
his back, in the same sheets he had
just left. He mad the sunken-in face
of a dead person and the pliable hands
that are never 10 move again. He
grew afraid of his bed, and so as to
look at it no longer. he went into the
smoking-roOm, took a cigar mechanic
ally and lighted it and went again to
pacing up and down the room. He
was cOld-he went toward the bell to
waken his valet, but stopped. his hand
raised 20 the rope.
That man will see that am afraid. a."
He did not ring, but made up fire
himself. His hands twitched nervous
" when they came IN contact with any
thing. His brain grew bewildered;
hiscoufused thoughts were now vague,
now harsh and now sad.
CeaseIessly he asked of himself:
What am | to do? What is TO be-
come of me?n
His whole frame shook in cOnvul-
sive trembliugs; he rose. crossed TO
the window and threw open the cur
tains.
Dawn was coming. The rosy heaven
tinged the roofs and walls of the city
with its own hue. A great mass OF
light enyeloped the waking world like
a kiss from the rising sun, and, with
this light. a cheerful. swift and brutal
hope filled the heart of the Vicomte.
What "A mad idiot he had been to be
so mastered by fear before any thing
had been decided on. even before his
seconds had seen those of George
Lamil, before he really knew if he
werr going to fight He bathed,
dressed himself and went out with a
firm step.
He said over and over to himself
whilst walking:
=! must show great deal of energy
about this-a great deal. must give
proofs | am not afraid
His seconds. the Marquis and the
Colonel. put themselves at his disposal.
and after Paving shaken hands with
him vigorously, discussed the cOndi-
tious.
The Colonel said:
You wish this duel to be IA serious
one9-'
Very serious" the Vicomte replied.
Then the Marquis took the word.
do You desire especially that pis-
tolls shall be used?"
Yes.
..You leave NJ fraa =, sattIa the