The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-04-08
A Bayou That Was Larger
"A Than the Mississippi.
copyright, 1903, by American Press Asso
ciatiOn.l

ciation.l
There is a part of the present City |
Hall park in Now Orleans which was
formerly called the Oaks and was a
famous dueling ground. Lying on the
noted shell road to Lake Pontchartrain,
not far from the city. yet deserted, it
afforded convenient spot for the du
els so frequent among the creoles.
Often when two rivals wished tc
conceal the cause of their quarrel they
would invent reasons. usually absurd.
For instance. one would declare tnhi
the others hair was red when it was
raven black or that the sun revolvcd
around the earth instead of vice versa.
1t was during a winter somewhere
about 1850 chat Miss Caroline Dickin-
son. visiting her aunt. Nine. La Tour,
in New Orleans. took the place social
ly by storm Though beautiful, her
character set so to speak. in her
charming manners, won the hearts of
many of the young bloods of the
Crescent City. Among them were
Castor L'Iommedieu, recently from
Paris, and Eliot Whtford, whose ia
Their had originally gone there from
Virginia. Neither could feel any conf
dence in having secured the lady's ia
vor, but each was jealous Of the other.
The truth was that Miss Dickinson
preferred Mr. Whitford
| One morning about o'clock Nine.
La Tour entered her niece's bedroom.
| They had been to some entertainment,
had sat up late talking it over and had
a few minutes before parted for the
night. Miss Dickinson had begun to
disrobe.
My DEAR said her aunt your I'M
Gle has just come in from the club
with some news which may interest
you. NJ. L'Hommedieu and NJ. Whit
ford are going to meet at o'clock
dawn-at the Oaks, and you are the
cause of the meeting"
"The news does interest me" re-
piled the girl with dismay. Suppose
one of them should be killed.
at would facilitate your making a
choice between Them, replied her
aunt
"They shall not fight on my ac-
count" replied Miss Dickinson. I'm
going on to the ground to stop them"
"Alone?"
"No. aunt: you are going with me-
An hour later a caleche driven by
Nine La Tour, containing the two wo-
men, was speeding along the shell road
The moon, which was three-Quarters
full, rendered the road less difficult to
follow at night though. being white
it was dis,inguishabe at any time
Just as faint streak appeared in the
east the calcche entered the Oaks and
pulled up near what had often beer
pointed out to Nine. La Tour as tho
dueling ground. Presently Il carriage
rolled up to the historic spot. followed
by another and by the early twilight
two parties Of men were seen confer
ring as to the placing of the principals
in the coming fight.
"Who'S the man with the box under
his arm?" asked Miss Dickinson.
OR. Jules Rubidoux. He is Away:
called upon Oh such occasions"
Heavens, How horrible. Wha
abominable customs you have here
And the man with the bundle o
sticks-who is he:"
"ThoSe are not sticks: they are Ia
piers. See. the principals are takin.
position
The two women alighted and wa!ket
cautiously toward the duelists. TIL
oaks still cast sufficient shadow t.
conceal their advance. Suddenly a
there was a clash of steel Miss Dick
1nSon, walking in advance of her aunt
appeared on the scene Both contest
ants lowered the points Of their ia
piers and stood looking at her with as
constituent
Gentlemen" she said. "may as
the occasion of this meeting?'
There was no reply for a time; the
one of the seconds stepped forwar
and. bowling profoundly, said:
an. LHommedieu, mademoiselle, ha
asserted that the Seine is larger tina
: the Mississippi This NJ. Whitford cor
q Sldered an insult to our noble rive
. and replied that the Bayou Iafourch
: is larger than the Seine. Thereupo
. NJ. L'Hommedieu In defense of Ia bell
= REVERE Of France challenged NJ. Viii
. ford
. Il am astonished,' said Miss Dickii
: son, that two gentlemen should qua
. rel about such an absurdity Q
: course the Seine is not larger than til
. Mississippi
= "Mademoiselle," said LHommediel
. II accept your decision. If you ais
= decide that the Bayou Lafourche
: larger than the Seine, will apologize
= to Nj. Whitford"
!. "And if I decide that the Seine
q larger than the bayou?"
81 "That, mademoiselle, should COZ
q slider great blessing"
B "And this affair will cease?"
81 "That Is for NJ. Whitford to say"
3 "And how would you decide that
81 asked the lady, turning to Whitford.
q "How would | decide that? Why.
= should then feel obliged to enforce m