Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-31
A WEIRD SUICIDE

0igDusB. be called kin1a8 ~ v1co1oD ION
tran-Joseph d Hizno1sA Naster Of . con
sidesat5s fcrtana. - euf, - you may say.
quite figure in sndIsey. bin bright and At
tr.ctivs manner, certain natural grace and
pair Of handsoms eyes captivating ths 10
soen and rendering him In great GanADd IN
al the salonA Known 70 b an excel'sns
swordsman and still hseter shot With .
pistol. he lived the peaceful life of we'll to
do bachelor Though when do fight, said
be. Il shall undoubtedly select the pistol;
with that weapon am sure a killing my
man.
Wei, one evening b accompanied two q
his friends and their wives to tbs theatre.
and after the spectacle sskad them to join
him in an Ire at TortouiA They bad bsen in
this famous restaurant but . momss,t or two
when be perceived that . gentleman seated
at al adjoining table obstinatsiy kept his
eyes upon one Of the ladies Of biz party. 10
her Great annoyancs and embarrassment Ae
last she said TO her husband:
@Ghat man who Is watching me 70 ciosaly-
do you know himi l do not"
mo, not at all" replied the husband, who
ha,in't noticed him until shs spoke.
1T is very unpleasant" she continued, half
TESTING. halt serious; -he positively spoib my
iceS-
-yonsense," said the husband, struggling
his shoulder. PAY no attention 70 him II
We were to notice all the in,olsnts We meoe
We should never end"
cut the vicomts had risen brusqueIy. II
was out of the question to allow IN irnperti-
ncnt unknown to spoil an ice that be had Of
.eied to lady. Besides, it was to him tho
cult was directed. since it was through him
ed for him that his friends had entered tho
cafe. It was decidedly his affair.
Cir" said he, approaching the table and
addressing the starer, you have q manner OF
regarding the ladies Of my party that l can
not tolerate. l beg that you will at once
cease your rlileness."
Go away. go away" the other answered;
1lave me N peace"
Take care, monsieur take care" De Sig
noles nurlnurcd; "you will force me 70 ex
treme measures"
Tho man responded only by q word-an OBJ
scene wori-thnt sounded from one end OF
Tho hall TO the o. her, and acted like spring,
causing the coIsonfnataurs to turn abodt,
tho waters to pivot on their heels like whirii-
fi;s, and tho cashiers at the counter to drop
their change and give u simultaneous twist,
IS IL they, too, were autonntons obcying tho
same screw For moment there was oniin-
OTIS silence broken sulienly by the sound Of
Il blow; tie ,icomte hal slapped his adver-
say in the face. Every body rushed to in
terpose, ind cards were exchanged.
OAce more at home Contran dc Signoles
ycon,enaa,cd for a while up and down his
chamber too agitateI and excited to reflect
upon anything One idea alone possessed his
soul--the duel; beyond that he thought Of
nothing lie had done what he ought; every
ono said lie could have done nothing else.
The first thing to be done WIS to secure bis
seconds; he must 60 sool as it was morn
in aud attc.id to it. But whom should he
nsl,! lie thought over all tho people OF his
acquaintance OF high position and celebrity,
Gnd finally decided upon the Marquis dc Ia
Tour Noire and Col. Bou-din, great noble
man end O brave soldier The choice was
capital, their names wouil look well in the
lxireis. Thea he perceived that lie was
thirsty and, draining glass after glass Of
@;ter, began to promenade again, full Of
strength and energy. Indifferent to conse-
Qucncps and resolved upon all, lie would ex-
nc the most rigorous and dangerous conGi-
tio:is lie would demand a serious duel. a
terl'isly serious one; his adversary would
doubtless withdraw and forward him an
apology.
lie took up the card that he had drawn
f.. IN hi, pocket and thrown upon the table,
and read it again, as if he had not already
real it oncc in the cato Mt a G.n;ice, and a Sec
ord time in the fiacre by the Ii, lit of the gas
lal4;,s: "Georso LAM, 81 TT, Monce"
No. ming more. He e.: ni;..,d :,cw the as
sernbled letters, to Lin tui. OF :. ran,e ard
CONFUSED meaning. l.cp w.; . 10, man!
ka 1,g
friends wife in that m 3. i:c i. waya
For while he rem {! in-..os.o!e, up
right and thinking, , fazs always bent
upon tho card. Ar. awakened in him
against that morsel q lspcr-a furious
hatred. mingled with a ic...a IT uneasiness
The whole Thing was Dor, a. he took up
knife lying open under his lI;i:,l and dashed
it through the printed name u. ii i..unging it
to the heart Of an enemy There was no
doubt Of it; he had to fight. Should he
choose the pistol or the swordi As the in
suited one the choice was his With tho
sword he risled little; but with the pistol.
dangerous as it was, he had chance of max
ing his adversary withdraw. 1t was very
rare indeed that dueIs with swords resulted
disastrously. reciprocal prudence holding the
co,ubatants Oh guard the one against the
other; the wounds were never deep. With
tho pistol he rsked his life seriously but
also. as already stated. had the chance tn
withdraw from tho affair with all the bonors
of the situation and without arriving at an
encounter
II must be firm, he said aloud: III am
fir,,, he will be frightened
The sound of his voice made him trsmb,e
and be looked about him. He was growing
nervous hut he drank another glass of vater
and began to prepare for bed
AZ have all dav Ia. morrow y he said IN him.
self a, he blew out the light II must slaep
now. in order to be CALM
II, wa. verv .omfortable betve.r HI.
sheets. but nevertheless found il impos,ible
even to doze. He turned and twisted laid
mo, his hack awhile. rolled npon bis right
side then upon his lefs. hut all in vain. He
was thirsty again. and got up to drink.
ut is impossible that am afraid, he said
at last. Then why should his heart beat so
wildly at every noise in the chamberl Whv
when the clock was about To sound. did the
grating of the spring startle him till he was
forced to open his mouth to breathe. the op
preston of his chest was so preati He began
TO reason with himself upon the possibility Of
the thing. Was he afraid No. certainly
not. since he was resolved to 70 to the end
even had he the power to prevent the duel
Neither did he trembIe, but he felt himself
profoundly moyed-so troubled that he asked
himself ovsr and over again. aCould il bs
possible that he was afraid and in spite Of
| himself,n
This donbt this dread this ;noniet,ds MIR.