The Ravalli Republican., 1898-11-09
POLlINET'S DUEL.

OlIlllN1 IL L ~ u Ill.
l was indebted to my good friend
Felix Depaille, professor Of music in
our town, for the following story,
which happened in those bad old
days when scoundrels who were ex-
pert with weapons terrorized over a
whole city because the insane code
of honor compelled an inoffensive
citizen to go out to meet certain
death at the hands Of ruffian who
had wantonly insulted him.
"Ah, those days, mon amir said
Depaille. So different f1om my life
now! You love not the duello in
England You laugh at us and beat
4 man with your brutal arms and
fists when he insults you. That re-
calls to mind the Englishman who
came to Dijon SO, 60 years ago and
fought a duel. All, but he was a
arole, that Englishmanl' ....
1t is good story, l can see, ]
said, glancing at Depaille's deep set
eyes, sparkling.
"You viii love it, mon ami, but
in those days | was furious against
your brutal ways. l have learned
better since. This Englishman, see
you, came to Dijon. He was great
and rich, and he was named Sir Eve
lyn Booth, baronet, but in those
days we did not understand your
English titles, and we called him
Milor Sir Lord Booth. He was
young and very rich, and he roam
ed about France with his attendant,
who was his secretary, perhaps re-
naming q day in one place, a month
in another. He was a great, tall
man, with powerful limbs, but he
WAS lazy--oh, SO lazy! When ho
seated himself, it was to sprawl on
three chairs He looked upon us as
an inferior race and was very inso-
lent and arrogant, but spent lavish
ly; also he disdained to speak our
language, which he called lingo, and
N. Pointon, his secretary, interpret
ed for him. Milor, assure you, was
we'll known in the city, where he
staid three weeks.
Now, at that time Pollinet, one
Of the most Infamous duelists, was
residing in Dion, where he had
made himself feared, but when Mi
]or Booth came to Dijon Pollinet, tc
the relief Of good citizens, was away
in Paris, and there were many who
hoped he might meet a better mar
than himself in the capital and new
er return, but they were disappoint
ed Pollinet returned, more insolen1
than ever.
You must understand this Polli
net professed to have the creates
hatred for the English, whom he de
cared were all brutal, ignorant an(
clumsy, unfit for association with ;
refined race and to kill whom was
duty and a service to humanity. A
that time you were not popula
among us--it is often SO, my frien'
and these sentiments were looke'
upon as highly patriotic and wer
applauded by his friends. Wha
more natural than that on his re
turn to Dijon he was told OF the ric
English milor who was-what yo1
call-swaggering about the city il
his insolent way?
''Ahl' said Pol1inet. One Of tha
accursed race in this city7 Well, W
shall see--we shall seel If it be pos
sible to force him to fight, the1
shall be one less of those insole1
fools. Bah, but doubt it They ar
towards and will lick the dust rat1
er than fight. Where is he to b
found2'
He is staying at the Hotel Liz
bon, but he is often in the cafes
said Braconnier, big bellied, lou
voiced fellow, who looked up to Po
lilet as his master.
Tonight, then, said Polline
with menacing smile This Poll
nc., must tell you, was great fe
low OF nearly 6 feet, broad an
plump and very good liver T
must have the best and plenty Of i
and he daily increased in embol
point, though he lost little of h
activity. With rapier or pistol /
was supreme, and it was said thu
he had already killed his twent,
first He had served in the army {
81 colonel, SO he declared, thoug
tinre were some who could take a
o;'5}' that he began life as a baker
alpantice and was afterward vail
t. lionel lie la Tournies
nat evening :s::-.:i:.,; auii Iurt
IT ,:ls trends out into the city
.tin news Of the Enolishmal