Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-03-16
MY FIRST DUEL.

"That is Carmen Ellauri de Garcia. y
As he spoke an amused smile passed over
the face of Carlos Gonzales.
This short conversation was held be-
tween two young men one afternoon as
they stood under the arcade of La Con
fiteria del Aguela, in Gale Florida, in
the city of Buenos Ayres.
Both young men belonged to the gilded
youth Of our city, and having very little
to do were amusing themselves by
watching all the pretty girls pass along
the Gale Florida.
"Why do you smile?" asked DR.. Fed
erico Pinares, who had been the first
one to speak.
"You would also smile," answered
Carlos, IF you had made fool Of your
self about d woman, sent her enough
flowers every day to adorn church,
stayed awake all night to write a few
lines of poetry to send her; danced with
her SO often that every one said, 'Oh,
yes, they are going to be married. fought
a duel for her, and then had that very
same woman pass you in the street with
a cool bow and completely ignore you
otherwise"
"You fought a duel, why?" asked
Federico
at is a long tale, and it happened
while you were in Paris studying medi-
cine. presume you never heard of it,"
eff | did, do not remember now,"
answered DR.. Pinares. ''Now, Carlos,
tell me all about it."
'It is nearly half past g. Let us go
to the Cafe de Paris and have dinner.
There, after dinner, I will tell you the
story"
The two young men proceeded toward
Piedad street and entered the brilliantly
lighted restaurant Of the Cafe de Paris.
After costly dinner, for in Buenos
Ayes everything is-eestly, they asked
lpr heir coffee and chartreuse, and Car
los Gonzales tommenced his story:
fighting iii'i winamirfs, NICK d sheappp;
worse, like Don Quixote, hsd any one
told me that Carmencita sEvauri was not
the prettiest girl in Buenos Ayres; but
for that matter l could name you half
a dozen men who thought the same
thing, and among them was Ernesto
Frias.
"You perhaps remember what great
friends Ernesto and ] once were. but
when we both began courting Carmen
all our friendship flew away upon the
wings Of the wind.
"Carmen certainly gave. me reason to
thinS< that she was serious, and sup
pose she did the same to Frias, for many
people believed she would marry him.
Zone night-it was really 2 o'clock in
the morning-we were playing cards at
the Club del Progreso, when between
two games one of the men remarked,
BY the way, Frias. when does the we'd
ding come OFF,
"'What weddingY he asked.
"'Why, your marriage with Carmen
cita Ellauri'
"'Now; don't be foolish Frias calmly
said; 'go on; give me my cards.
"All the men laughed, and one of them
said:
Silence gives consent, and SO we
may believe that you are engaged to her.
Well, let me congratulate you And 50
saying he slapped Frias on the shoulder.
"Frias only smiled complacently, and
they continued their .raillery until |
could stand it no longer, inasmuch as l
had been on fire during all the converse
ton, SO 1 lifted my head and said as
calmly as I could:
Gentlemen, it is in very bad taste to
thus use the name of a lady, and any one
who does it or allows it without resent
ing the insult is a coward
"Ernesto turned pale, and pushing
back his chair rose to his feet.
"'Am to understand that this insult
is directed to me? he asked.
az care not what you understand |
answered; 1 expressed my sentiment
"'And do you know what my senti-
ment is? he asked. 4 think that you are
the greatest coward for daring to take
that lady's name as basis for scandal
and quarrel
"Blind with fury, advanced toward
Frias, and with my open palm smote his
cheek lightly. Ernesto clinched his fists
and made a move toward me, but some
Of his friends held him back, as others
were holding me- Ernesto took out his
cardcase, and with trembling fingers
opened it, got card, threw it on the ta-
Bile and said: 4 hope that Senior Gonzales
will not be coward enough to refuse to
meet me. Tomorrow, or rather today,
at 10 o'clock in the morning, will send
him my seconds.
Mine will be ready to meet those OF
Senior Frias,' / tremendously answered.
"sWell, l thought on leaving the club,
here I am engaged in duel, but don't
care; was defending her; besides I shall
have the choice Of weapons, and Ger
tainly shall choose swords
"I was an expert with the sword, as
had taken lessons from the celebrated
italian professor, Signor Spadachini, 81
my mind was perfectly at peace
sWhen I reached home wrote two o.
three letters to friends of mine, who
knew would be my seconds, ordered my
servant to take the letters to their re
spective addresses as soon as it became
Light, and then went to bed and slept
calmly until o'clock.
CAT about 8 l saw my seconds ani
gave them my instructions. Twas rather
excited until I saw them again, nearly
four hours later, when they acquainted
me with the result Of their interview
We were to 60 to Montevideo to fight
for, as you know, dueling is forbidden
on Argentine soil The meeting woult
take place next day at o'clock p. m. il
the country house Of friend Of one o
my seconds.
'sIn the meantime the story. of on
quarrel had become public property ant
the afternoon papers were full Of it.