The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-03-31

personal HARM"
At this moment the valet of the noble.
man appeared aud whispered something
in his ear.
Il will be down directly" was the an
swer of the master, turning a shade paler.
What is it. George?' eagerly demand.
ed his sister.
"Only a gentleman to see me on some
private business"
"Oh, you must not fight with that base
mani" cried Lady Emily, at once divin.
ing the fearful secret, ''for you will be
killed, and | shall be left without a pro.
tector!'
Have no fear!" was the evasive all.
swer of Lord Hardinge as he hurriedly
quilted the apartment.
AS he expected, he received a formal
challenge from M. Vauldemar, demanl
ing satisfaction for the insult of a blow,
the note explicitly stating that no apol
ogy would be received.
The nobleman at once declared his
readiness to meet his adversary, but not
in the ordinary way. He Immediately
sent for an English officer of his &C
q%uaintance, Major Bassett, of the til
light infantry, and their conference re.
suited in the decision to give the French
man a meeting, provided he should &C.
cede to the terms and conditions which
the challenged party claimed the right tc
propose.
AS monsieur the captain was known tt
be a dead shot who had already killed
several antagonists, and as Lord Har.
dinge had never fired a pistol a hall
dozen times in his life, these terms and
conditions accordingly were that the par.
ties should meet on the following morn.
ing at 8 o'clock at a place designated in
the Bots du Boulogne; that two d%uelinA
pistols should be then and there selected
by the seconds, and one, and only one, OF
these be loaded; that these pistols should
then be effectually concealed under a
handkerchief and be drawn by the prin-
cipals according to lot, and that when Sc
drawn each should be placed to the breast
of the other and both triggers pulled at
the word.
"We shall see," said Major Bassett,
with a grim smile, eff this redoubtable
hero will have the courage to fight with
an equal chance against him."
Somewhat contrary to his expectations,
however, the captain consented to the
arrangement, and Lord Hardinge spent
most of the night in making his will and
giving his friend instructions to be car
ried out in case of his fall.
Atthe appointed time all the different
parties appeared upon the ground, the
nobleman with the solemnity due to an
occasion involving life and death, but
Vauldemar with the nonchalance, either
real or assumed, of one who believed
himself the favored son of fate.
The lot fell to monsieur the captain to
draw the first pistol, and as he weighed
them both with his hand before deter
mining his choice he remarked with a ear-
castle smile:
eff l can't tell by the weight which
has the ball for the heart of this accursed
Englishman, deserve to die" Immedi-
ately after he drew his pistol and added,
81 have it now-all right"
"God shall judge between u.s." said
Lord Hardinge solemnly as he lifted
the remaining weapon.
The principals were now placed face
to face only three feet apart, and the
seconds took leave of them with tremu-
lous agitation.
Immediately after came the dreadful
words:
Are you ready, gentlemen? Fret"
Both triggers were pulled together.
There was only one explosion, and mon.
sieur the captain fell dead without a
word, shot through the heart.
This singular duel is no fiction. Only
the M of the parties have been
changed.-Exchange.