Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-03-10
MY FIRST DUEL.

"who is that pretty girl who bowed
10 your
"That Is Carmen Ellauri de Garcia"
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 az
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 a woman, sent her enough
flowers every day to adorn a church,
stayed awake all night to write few
lines of poetry to send her; danced With
her 80 often that every one said, 'Oh,
yes, they are going to be married. fought
duel for her, and then had that very
same woman pass you in the street with
cool bow and completely ignore you
otherwise"
"You fought duel, whyT' asked
Federico. IA
"It is long tale, and 1t happened
while you were in Paris studying medi-
cine. presume you never heard of it?'
"If did, l do not remember now"
answered DR.. Pinares. "Now, Carlos,
tell me all about it."
1T is nearly half past 8. Let us 60
to the Cafe de Paris and have dinner.
There, after dinner, will tell you the
story"
Thetwo 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 / 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 once were. but
when we both began courting Carmen
all our friendship few away upon the
wings of the wind.
Carmen certainly gave-me reason to
think that she was serious, and sup
pose she did the same to Frias, for many
people believed she would marry him.
"One night-it was really Q 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 80
saying he slapped Frias on the shoulder.
"Frias only smiled complacently, and
they continued their raillery until 1
could stand it no longer, inasmuch as l
had been on fire during all the converse
ton. so / lifted my head and said as
calmly as could:
".Gentlemen, it is in very bad taste to
thus use the name of lady, and any one
who does it 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 meT he asked. =
az care not what you understand, !
answered; 4 expressed my sentiment
".And do you know what my sent-
ment is? he asked. Il 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 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 1t on the "a
Bile and said: 4 hope that Senior Goozales
win not be coward enough TO refuse TO
meet me. Tomorrow, or rather today,
at 10 o'clock in the morning, win send
him my seconds
"'Mine will be ready TO meet those Of
Senior Frias,' oeremoniously answered.
"ewell, thought on leaving the club,
here am engaged In duel. but donI
care; / was defending her; besides shAu
have the choice Of wssPoQs, sna ~
tsinly I shAli chooss sxoEds