Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1889-05-30

from his pocket and reread IL. the
same as he had read il before. in the
cafe at a glance. and BY the light Of
every street lamp he had passed in his
cab OF the way home.
George Lami. 81 Rue Money"
Nothing more.
He examined each letter. which
seemed 10 him filed with vague. con-
fused meaning George LamiII Who
was this NAM What did he do9
What made him look At a woman like
that2 Wa il not disgusting that a
stranger. m unknown person should
have the power to upset ones life to
such an extent. all in an instant. be-
cause it had CHANGED to please him to
look i~n=oIentIy at a woman2 And the
Vicomte repeated aloud:
What a BRUTE
Then he stood still and thought. his
eyes fixed on the card Anger rose
slowly within him against that bit OF
paper, a hateful anger. mingled with a
strange feeling % uneasiRess.
What a stupid story IL was. He
took Il ~penknife that lay open under
his hand and drove it through the
printed name. a though be had
stabbed a human being.
so he must fight a dueli Would he
choose a sword or a pistol. for be con
sidered himself the insulted party.
There was less risk with the sword:
but with the pistol there was the
chance OF making his adversary give
ground Its very rarely that duel with
swords ends fatally. a reciprocal pru-
deuce prevents the ~combatants holding
themselves in guard. near enough.
each TO each other. for a swords point
10 penetrate very deeply With the
pistol. he risxei his life in earnest. but
then be might come out Of the affair
with all the honors Of the situation
He said aloud.
1T X necessary to be firm He will
be afraid The sound Of his voice
made him shiver. and he looked about
him He felt very nervous. He drank
still another glass o. water. then be-
gan undressing, preparatory To get
ting into bed As soon a. he was in
bed he blew out his light and closed
his eyes He thought.
Il have all tomorrow before me to
take care Of my affairs. Sleep first so
a. to be calm"
He lay very warm between his sheets.
but unable to get to sleep. He turned
over. turned back again. stayed i've
minutes fat on his back. then lay or
the left side. then rolled over 10 the
right.
He was still thirsty. He rose and
drank once more. Then an anxiety
seized him
Am | going 10 be afraidsf
Why should his heart beat 20 wildly
At each ~weIl-known noise in his
chamber When the clock was going
To strike. the tiny click Of the spring
~ It raised up, caused him to give a
bound in his bed. and he had 70 open
his mouth in order to breathe for sew
eral seconds. 80 oppressed was he.
He began arguing with himself on
the possibility Of the thing.
Shall I BE- afraidsr
No. certainly not. he would not be
afraid. since he was resolved TO 20 to
the very end, since he decidedly
wished 20 fight and not 70 tremble.
But he felt himself 50 profoundly
troubled that be asked himself.
tan a man have fear in spite OF
himself1 And this doubt invaded
him. this uneasiness. this horror. If a
force more powerful than his will. ruI-
ing him with irresistible strength.
were to obtain control OF him. wha
would become Of hima Yes. what
would happena Certainly he would
be on the ground. since he wished to
be- there Bot were he to falter2
Were he to lose consciousuesss And
he thought Of his situation. his repu-
tatiou and his name.
All at once he felt that he must get
up and look at himself in the glass.
He sreIighted his candle. When he
saw his face in the polished surface he
scarcely knew himself. II 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, thrusting his tongue out a.
II 70 test the state of his health. when
on a sudden this thought flashed
across his mind.
Day after Tomorrow. al this very
hour. may. perhaps. be dead" and
again his heart began to throb fu-
riousIy-
Day after tomorrow. at this very
hour. ! may, perhaps. be dead. That
human being in front of NE. that sell
which l see in the mirror gill no
longer Be in existence How can this
be- 1 am here. | see myself I feel
that | an alive, and in four and twenty
hours | shall be lying in this bed, with
closed eyes. cold. inanimate. disap-
peared
He turned toward the bed and saw
himself distinctly, stretched out on
his back in the same sheets he had
Just left He had the sunken-in face
OF a dead person and the pIiabIe hands
that are never to move again. He
grew afraid OF his bed. and 80 as 70
look at 1t no longer. he went into the
smoling-rOom. took a cigar mechanic
ally and lighted it and went again to
pacing up and down the room He
was eold-he vent toward the be-. 10