The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-02-11

There, after dinner, 1 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 a costly dinner, for In Buenos
Ayres everything is costly, they asked
for their coffee and chartreuse, and Car
los Gonzales commenced his story:
"Three years ago would have gone
fighting windmills, flock of sheep, or
worse, like Don Quixote, had any one
told me that Carmencita Ellauri was not
the prettiest girl in Buenos Ayres; but
for that matter l could name you half
dozen men who thought the same
thing, and among them was Ernesto
Frias.
"You perhaps remember what great
friends Ernesto and l 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
think that she was serious, and l sup
pose she did the same to Frias, for many
people believed she would marry him.
zone night-it was really 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.
"An 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 Aud 30
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
tion, 80 / lifted my head and said as
calmly as could;
Gentlemen, it is in very bad taste to
thus use the name of "a lady, and any one
who does 1t or allows it without resent
| ing the insult is coward
"Ernesto turned pale, and pushing
/ back his chair rose TO his feet.
"'Am to understand that this insult
is directed to meS he asked.
al care not what you understand
answered; i expressed my sentiment
"'And do you know what my senti-
ment isP he asked. 4 think that you are
the greatest coward for daring to take
that lady's name as basis for scandal
and a 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, rs 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: i 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.
"'Well, thought on leaving the club,
here am engaged in duel, but don't
care; was defending her; besides shall
have the choice Of weapons, and GER
tainly shall choose swords
81 was an expert with the sword, as
had taken lessons from the celebrated
Italian professor, Signor Spadachini, SO
my mind was perfectly at peace.
when reached home wrote two or
three letters to friends of mine, who
knew would be my seconds, ordered my
servant 10 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.
"At about l saw my seconds and
/ gave them my instructions. Twas rather
excited until / saw them again, nearly
four hours later, when they acquainted
me with the result Of their interview
We were to go to Montevideo to fight,
for, as you know, dueling is forbidden
on Argentine soil. The meeting would
take place next day at o'clock p. m. in
the country house of friend of one Of
my seconds.
''In the meantime the story Of our
quarrel had become public property and
the afternoon papers were full Of it. /
managed to elude all the reporters, and,
safe from annoyance, took the steamer
bound for Montevideo that evening.
Next morning l landed in that city
very much the worse for terrible storm
that We had encountered IN crossing
over.
Il slept nearly all the morning, and
at noon they called me TO dinner. !
could not eat a mouthful Of anything,
and by quarter past stepped into
the carriage that WAS Ia convey me TO
the meeting place
I'VE arrived there all too soon, it
seemed 70 mel but no, Ernesto Frias, with
his seconds, was there, and also physi.
clan ready for whatever emergency
might arise.
when all the usual fornalities had
been observed We began our duel.
"Emestp Is good swurdsnan and 90
am l. We both went through the forms
Of attack and defense with such skin
that it would have made glad the heart
Of our teachers had they seen us.
zone mortal hour elapsed and not a
scratch had either Of us received. The
thing was getting 20 be, 10 say the least,
slightly m0notonous, and so began 10
charge more impetuousy Fras de
tehded himself IN d mastefly manner. /
began 20 lose my head. Presently felt
.ansshiRg sold aRq& & &seaFR VlsEol NY