Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-03-31

6shpond. | have becn there before.
While VIC wait | viii gohnd order din
nor. Do you like ducki
VERY much,n said Glousssux, "but
suppose they arrive while you are gone
'The ducksy'
"No, our principals"
They can begin without me. Do you
prefer them roasted or fricasseedG How
would cells so with onions? Do you like
selsg'
Il adore thcm,r said Monpate; "but
you can hardly get back in tise, end
you viii certainly be needed"
do you %apprehend serious conse-
quencesY' asked the doctor in Burprise.
"Are.the %combatants very fiery
"HaTdly that" replied Glousseux
slowly, but my principal is a man Of
honor
And mine is fun Of pluck" added
Monpato.
Very well! Fish, cells a Ia m~atelotte,
roast duck, said tho doctor. II shall
not be gone long" and he hurried away.
Tho hour fixed for the arrival Of the
principals approached.
"Your watch is fast" said Glousseux,
and after waiting a1ittlo he announced,
"Ir five minutes they will be here" but
they were not.
Glousseux paced up and down impa-
tiently and Monpate smoked q cigar in
sullen silence. Ten minutes passed, ff-
teen, twenty-five, and yet the combat
ants did not come. Glousseux looked
at his watch, held it up to Monpate and
said in q Elightly i%ronical tone:
your man has not arrived"
"NOr yours, " retortcd the other.
"He.has been detained, that is all. Be
quitcs sure he viii explain satisfactorily"
$50 will mine"
at is hardly probablet that both should
meet with a delay" muttcred Glous-
seaux.
Very true, but why not NJ. Peignoty'
And why not NJ. Ramonety'
Chow do l know that he intended to
come at allf"
"sir2 / can answer for my friends
honor"
"But not for his couragel Very likely
he is now seated in his armchair at
home"
"And where is your friend, may I
askf'
your tono is insulting, sir, and I do
not brook insults any more thGn my
client does
IF you arc not moro ready to resent
them than he is
IN. Monpate, it is enough. demand
satisfaction"
Certainly, you shall have it-whcn-
ever you wish"
Il wish it now!'
The next instant they had thrown oil
their coats, seized the swords and begun
to fight. Just then Ramonet and Peg
not appeared on the scene. They were
walking arm in arm and conversing
ch~eerfully, and when they caught sight
Of the combatants they exclaimed in
surprise: "Stopl Stopg'
At the same momen DR.. Roussellc
arrived, b%reathlcss but radiant. 1T
will be delicious" he began, and then
added in dismay; $50 they have begun
it without waiting for me!'
'Stop them!" cried Ramoret and
Peignot, and the combatants, hearing
them, left off brandishing the swords.
''Ah, here is the man you suspected
of cowardice," cried Clousseux, and
Ramonet exclaimed, absurd, with IN
air Of great dignity.
"Here is lie whose honor you as
sailed" said Monpate.
''He was speaking in Jest" observed
Peignot calmly.
The two seconds looked at each other
for a minute and burst into a peal Of
laughter.
What is the ure of our fighting with
each other in defence Of these two cow
ards?' cried Gloussoux.
Permit me- began Peignot, but
Monpate interrupted him with:
Il viii permit you to do nothing ex-
cept pay for the dinner"
1.-The ducks are roasting, and the
matelotte is excellent" said the doctor.
Come, let us go, or everything will be
spoiled. Eyerybody's honor is vindi-
Gated, l am sure"
ernest, are you satisfedT' asked
Ramonet.
Perfectly SO, Alfred" was Peignot's
reply.
Then the whole party shook hands and
went Off in high spirits. -Translated
from the French Of Jules Moinaux by