The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1889-05-30
ENvoL
THE VICOMTES DUEL.
A Romance From the French of
Guy De Maupassant.

te Goutran Joseph de Signoles.
Being an orphan and master OF a
large fortune, he was very much OF
swell, as they say. He had good
figure, carried himself well. talked
well enough to be thought clever, had
certain natural grace of manner, an
air OF nobility and pride which. with
his fine mustache and soft eyes, made
him attractive to women He was
asked about great deal, being much
sought after for his good dancing.
lie had been suspected of several
love affairs, capable of giving very
good opinion Of young fellows abili-
ties in that direction. He lived, peace
full and happy. in state of perfect
moral well-being. 1t was known that
he was a fine swordsman and an ex-
celent shot
when l fight" he. would say, Il
shall choose a pistol; am sure to kill
my man with that"
Now. one evening, having taken two
young married women, friends of his,
to the theater with their husbands),
he asked them after the play to go and
take an ice at Portoni's.
They had been there but few mo-
ments when he noticed that gentle
man seated at a neighboring table was
staring persistently at one of the ladies.
She seemed annoyed and disturbed,
bent her head, and finally said to her
husband:
There is man here staring me out
Of countenance. | do not know him.
Do your"
The husband had noticed nothing,
but he looked at the man, and an
swered, emphatically:
mo. not at allr'
Then his wife said. half-amused, half
vexed:
at is really.very embarrassing; that
man spoils my ice for me-"
Her husband shrugged his shout
ders.
BAH never mind him. II you be-
gin by paying attention to all the inso-
lent people you meet there's no know
ing where you will stop"
But the Yicomte had risen abruptly.
He would not permit this unknown to
spoil an ice which he had offered. The
insult was addressed to him, since it
was through him that his friends had
entered the cafe. That made it entire
ly his affair.
He crossed over TO the man and said:
''You have sir, fashion OF looking
at those ladies which will not permit.
! beg you to be so kind as to cease
The answer came sneeringly:
why, you are making game of me,
you are"
The Vicomte said sternly. through
his shut teeth:
Take care, sir; take care not to try
my patience beyond endurance"
The man answered with one word a
vile word. which rang from one side
of the cafe TO the other. All the peo-
pie at the tables started as though
Jared by an electric spring. All those
whose backs had been turned looked
around-the others raised their heads;
three walters whirled around like so
many tops with their heels as pivots;
ihe two women at the desk jumped,
then twisted their whole bodies as
though they had been two automatons
worked by the same crank.
A silence had fallen on every thing.
Then all OF sudden sharp, dry
noise struck on the air. The Vicomte
had struck his adversary. Every one
rose to interfere. Cards were ex-
changed.
When the Vicomte had gotten home
he paced up and down his room with
rapid strides He was far too excited
10 reflect op any thing He bad vague
idea OF one thing, "a duel" but as yet
the idea awoke no emotion in him of
one kind or another. He had done
what he ought to have done, he had
shown himself to be what he should
be. They would talk about it, praise
him, compliment him. He repeated
aloud, speaking as one docs in great
mental troubles: What brute that
man isn'
Then he sat down and began to
think. lie must as soon as ii was
morning, find two seconds. Whom
should he choose? He searched his
memory for the most swell and most
noted men Of his acquaintance. At
last he decided on the Marquis de la
Tournoire and Colonel Bourbon, a
great Lord and soldier That was
doing very well. The names would
have weight with the journals. Then
he noticed that be was thirsty and he
drank one after the other three glasses
OF water, then turned to pacing the
floor again. He felt full Of resources.
II he showed himself fun OF nerve, re
solved to have bis way. eXactiug strict
and dangerous conditions, demanding
serious duel, very serious one,
why, OF course. his adversary would
in an probability withdraw and m axe
his apologies.
He took the card up from the table,
where he had thrown it on taking 1t
from bis pocitat. and reread IL. the
same as he had read it before, In the
cafe at u glance, and By the light Of
every street Lamp he had passed in his
cab on the way home.
George Lnmil, 81 Rue Money"
Nothing moro
ia examined each letter when