Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-11-28
A SINGULAR COMBAT.


p,-is ,lc two factions met more numer-
,,.I, az the Palais Royal than at any other
.iysr roInt and here the insult, the chal-
. i,,a and It's acceptance followed each
,bsr in rapid succession, and both parties.
Immediately adjourning TO some conven-
srr locality in the vicinity, not unfre-
.r.rfIy settled the whole affair within the
| lNr.
IN ,h.. state Of affairs it behooved every
man ofmtrN TO be n good swordsman and
,5s,I shot, ~ about the only means of
r-rourin. his life, for if known to be in
| is-ior IN thr use Of deadly weapons he was
,'r,,r certain 70 be involved in quarrel
With some sh.lifUl antagonist, who would
,,se both pride and pleasure in sending
Linn out a.! existence.
Wherever ducliug is fashionable, there
,ra.way- more Or less professed duelists-
mon who have trained themselves to fight
with deadly weapons, who know all the
MA. puil-- of advantage, and how TO OBJ
tin them. who have schooled their nerves
| Bar iron rieidity, and their features, man.
| rsrs aud language to express perfect con-
fjrnce 20 their success, and who boast of
,o.y IN their individual prowess, and the
.s9t ont OF the world.
", cheese same apparently bold, daring.
| reckless and bloody minded men are gem
| ERALS towards mt heart, and have really as
much fear Of danger rs those whose tim
ility Is made glaringly manifest; but, like
tie Professional gambler, they have been
trained 10 calculate the chances for and
| against themselves, and seldom venture on
waat gives promise of Il doubtful issue, so
tbs. to save yourself from the ANNOYANCE
Cthese gentry it is only necessary to have
| generally known that in an affair of
tngr you would be quite as likely TO kill
ST, killed.
Iasre were many of this class in Paris at
tisi day who actually made n living by
ile.ilg-they had their price, like the
Italian assassiEs of former period, for
getting rid Of persons obnoxious to their
nplOyers-though, as we have already
stated, they generally took good care to
know all the fighting qualities and idio-
.!ncrtsles OF the proposed victim before
sdnaly closing the bargain of blood; and
Athey discovered too much danger in the
case they readily invented such an excuse
aswOuld save both their lives and credit.
iOrwho would dare question the motives
add courage Of men so famous for bloody
deeds: Sometimes, however, they made
serious mistakes, Notwithstanding all their
nice calculations, and then the world be-
cane tritc better for suddenly getting
I'd Of human curse.
There were others who fought for the
mere love Of fighting, because their COM
aave and destructive organs would never
d them rest IN peace; and these were al
WAYS ready for anybody and any mode. it
oeins immaterial TO them whether they
were 10 hre at their antagonist at ten
PAGES cross swords with him at one, or be
va 10 him for quick settlement with
4'ks Then again there were others who
9lgh, to revenge Sights, both real and
nlcled, or TO settle personal or political
aainoslties, or because they were embit-
Nied by disappointment, or because they
were tired Of living and did not care TO
"nm, suicide. And of course in all this
i4ageot character there were many eccen-
".''iea displayed, for where dueling was
common that an ordinary meeting
"0l.d scarcely be mentioned on the fol-
OWING day certain persons were sure to
SeA 10 make themselves remembered by
''ne popularity that could not fail to be
0ls talked of for it's novelty.
NosJ OF these duels, as we have init
mated were between partisans-between
"'!a'.stS and lmperiRlists-and when they
-s. d. tne Palais Royal, the great head
t-aUeFs 81 Paris, the mode of insult was
'."P'e ana easy. A saucy look, a grimace,
"'"'d' OF contempt was frequently suf-
.''ut I'd draw forth Il challenge; but If
,-s &C. ''''fu Il Jostle, a push or tread on
ZOO. "t7 always certain to be a success.
o.' gay an Imperialist officer, one Cap
"a" H1uiian, who was suffering from
WV, wa, slowly hobbling along under the
l4l'as wooden gallery of the palace in
~ "Heu, being somewhat pressed
''. crowd, and fearful of being injured
. -N suffering limb, he took sudden
o''4., and accidentally trod on the
.. r' VI. .'.. officer Of the Royal guard. Quick
.-'.a.a- the latter, young man Of
.." a.o ilrn, seized the former by the
u. '.' 'Hru cutled him on both sides of
T.. "."I. The face Of the Imperalst
','s' D7aA pale as he said, quite calm
' .'asr.y, evidently controlling his
III" "s q master effort of the will:
p. 'N''l have apolOgized for what was
g' 's d.. accident, had not monsieur put
' .y %. mg power"
r,'. "', want an apology from such as
81. 'l' B. insulting reply.
~ hiWe. demanded the other.
q. 1.'"tni Duyais, of the Royal guard,
Hon. 'l remember" rejoined Captain
ID - 10" turned to depart.
r,r IN VI. .9- forget, >" said the lieutenant,
g5p,,. ,.''''' time treadiug heavily upon the
5ot, 'o'. OF the captain, and thus draw
D,r.' MN auinvoluntary cry of pain.
and t'- uheh walked away with proud |
ign. ar, leaving the other suffer
a, h 'ut'y from pain and rage. AS soon
Cow .I1'- eXtricate himself from the |
aud w., 'e captain called for a carriage,
For quickly driven out of sight.
hahn Ho'e week Lieutenant Duvais re- |
Cdals,,." inomentary expectation of u
ils1lt.G rom the man ne had so grossly |
Oa,.a5 o't none came. Another week |
Aear , a""5 and the Imperialist was not
toe" soi1 coward :, and unworthy of my no
IproD5 ''u CHe dsshing young officer, with |
wv SmiIe Of CONTEMPT.
sbO d I,' what could you expect of a man
OO,n rs;ss e"s disgraced himself at Water
With 'u'u one of his brother officers, |
HsDHm 'HIS comes of plebeian blood,
- @NtnS DaSSed a,.... ~