The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-08

they continued their railiery until l oonld
stand it no longer, inasmuoh as l had been
on fire during all the conversation. So l
lifted my head and said as calmly IS ]
could: sg
"'Gentlemen, it is in very bad taste to
TINS use the name of q lady. and any one
who does it or allows it without resenting
tho insult is q coward
"Etnesto turned pale, and pushing back
his chair, rose to his feet.
Am ! to understand that this insult is
directed to me?' he asked.
~ care not what you understand /
answered; I expressed my sentiment
land do you know what my sentiment
is?' he asked, I think that you are the
greatest coward for daring to take that
lady's name ~ the basis for a scandal and
a quarrel
Frias, and with my open palm smote his
cheek lightly. Ernesto clenohed his fists
and made n move toward me, but some of
his friends held him back, as Others were
holding me. Ernesto took out his card
case. and with trembling fingers opened it,
got Il card. threw it ON the table and said:
i hope that Senor Gonzales will not be
coward enough to refuse to meet me. To-
morrow'-or rather to-day-at 10 O'Clock IN
the moaning / will send him my seconds
'Mine will be ready to meet those of
Senior Frias, I tremendously answered. ~
"'Well,' thought on leaving tho club,
'hsre l nm. engaged in a duel; but l don't
care. / waa defending her; besides, ! shall
have the choice of weapons. M certainly !
shall choose swords 4ss H..
II was nm expert with the sword, az l had
taken lessons from the celebrated Italian,
Professor Sianor Spadachini. SO my mind
was perfectly at reace.
when | reached home / wrote two or
three letters to friends of mine who l knew
would be my seconds ordered my servant
to take the letters to their respective ad-
dresses as soon as il became light, and then
went to bed and slept calmly until eight
o'clock.
: about nine I saw my seconds and
gave them my instructions. ] WAS rather
excited until l saw them again. nearly four
hours later. when they acquainted me with
the result of their interview. We were to
go to Montevideo 10 fight, for. ns you
know, dueling ia forbidden on Argentine
next afternoon at two O'Clock at the coun-
try place of a friend of one of my seconds.
I'm tho meantime the story of our quar-
rel had become public property. and the
afternoon papera were full OF IL. l a
aged to eluds all the reporters, and, safe
from annoyance, took the steamer bound
for Montsvideo that evening. Next morn
ing LANDED In that city, very much the
worae for q terrible storm that We had en-
countered in crossing over.
II slept nearly all the morning, and at
noon they called me to dinner. could not
cat n mouthfui of anything. and by n quar-
ter past one l stepped into the carriage that
was to convey mo to the meeting place.
w arrived there all too soon, 1t seemed
to me, but no. Ernesto Frias, with his SEQ
onds, was there. and also a physician, ready
for whatever emergency might arise.
when all the usual formalitiea had been
observed we began our duel.
"Ernesto ia u good swordsmsn. and 30 am
l. We both went through tho forms of IT.
tack and defense with such skill that il
would have made glad the heart of our
teachers had they seen us.
"One mortal hour elapsed, and not Q
scratch had either OF us received. The
thing was getting to be, to say the least.
slightly monochrome. and 40 I began TO
charge more impetuously. Frias defended
himself in u masterly manner. l began to
lose my head. Presently l felt something
cold and sharp pierce my upper arm. In