THE TIMES, NEW BLOOM FIELD, PA.. OCTOBER 12, 1880.
An Old-Time Duel.
IT was In 1P03 that Captain Foumler
of the Chasseurs, and Captain Dupont
of the Hussars, commenced a duel whloh
lasted nearly five years. Foumler Ivas
the most famous duellist In the French
army at the time, He wa9 a skillful
swordsmen, and even more skillful with
the pistol. When quarrels were scarce,
lie would frequently smash with his
pistol-bal the pipes In the mouths of
soldiers, who snt unsuspectingly thirty
paces away. Ami quarrels, of course,
became lamentably scarce with such an
expert ns Foumler, and the soldiers,
becoming wary, would not Bit out-doors
as usual, nor In fact at their windows,
with their pipes In their mouths. While
matters were In this strait, young
Rlumni, a wealthy burgher, who had
lieen roistering around Fournier's quar
ters In Rouen, one evenlug, was fouud a
corpse the next morning, with a rapier
thrust In his throat. Blumm belDg in
experienced, some indignation was ex
cited among the citizeus against Four
nier, who was believed to have dis
patched him. Foumler, however, never
replied to the Indignant murmurs that
reached his ears, except by a shrug of
bis shoulders. "A ilght," lie would
pay, "Is too precious to lose."
On the night succeeding Blu nun's
funeral, a ball was given at the Grand
Opera, the finest ball that It was probable
llouen would would see for many a day.
It was reported the Foumler had ex
pressed an Intention of coming. This
following so close on the disastrous duel,
public decency was shocked at the sug
gestion. The general said that It must
be prevented. He sent for the captain
of the guard, who happened to be young
Captain Dupont.
" Captain," said the general, ' Four
nier proposes to come to the ball to-night.
You see It is plainly Impossible that he
'should be admitted."
" Yes general."
" You will, therefore, prevent his
entrance, captain."
. " Yes. general."
Captain Dupont knew Foumler by
sight and fame alone. The two could
not be intimate friends, for Dupont
detested duelling and duellists. He was
a good swordsman, a man of honor, and
had a brave heart. He loved Marie
Huton, a lovely lady of Itouen, and the
i.l ay just before the ball she had consent
ed to become his wife. Now he felt that
he must be a better swordBman than
Fournier, if he won her. Not that
Foumler loved her, or even knew her,
but Dupont saw that a duel was Inevita
ble, and he must kill or be killed.
The ball opened, and Dupont was at
his post. Late In the evening, Fournier
arrived.
"Captain," said Dupont, "It would
aeeni somewhat indecorous for you to
attend a ball on the night of young
lllumm's funeral."
" I presume," answered Fournier,
' 'that I alone have the right to judge of
that."
. "Apparently not," replied 'Dupont,
"the general has decided that you should
not attend.
" Has the general directed you to pre
vent my entrance
" Yes."
" I suppose you are willing to answer
at the sword's point, for impertinences
that you retail second-hand."
"I am willing to answer at the
sword's point." .
" Early In the morning then, captain,
at the usual spot," said Fournier, eager
ly ; " so, bon noir ; I assure you I do not
egret the ball."
The parties met at the appointed time
aud place, and, after a few well-contested
thrusts, Dupont was wounded in the
shoulder. As he fell, he exclaimed ; " I
claim another light."
Then he Bank into insensibility.
" Perhaps you will claim it when you
recover, and perhaps you will not,"
said Fournier and, leaving Dupont in
the care of surgeons, he withdrew.
Within two weeks Dupont was well
again, and he sent word to Fournier
that he claimed his privilege.
The code of honor in those days guar
anteed a fight until death or surrender,
but a cessation when either party re
ceived a wound sufficient to incapacitate
him.
Fournier was gratified at Dupont's
demand for another fight.
" One man for two or three fights,"
.said he, "is economy."
They met again, and Fournier this
tJuie received a thrust in the shoulder,
" Ah," said he, in anguish, as he fell,
" I claim the privilege."
They met a third time, and Fournier
was again wounded, and again claimed
the privilege. AVhen he had nearly
recovered from his second wound, he
sent a note to Dupont asking him to
come and see him. Dupont went..
" My dear captain," .said Fournier,
'we have had three bouts, and I hope
we shall have many more. I therefore
I repose that we draw up a convention
by which to govern our future com.
lata."
"Iliad hoped, captain," responded
Dupont, "that we would not have more
than another fight at the farthest, but I
heartily subscribe to your Idea of a con
vention." And between them they drew up an
agreement, similar to this :
1. A fight Bhall be arranged when
ever the party are within thirty leagues
of one another.
2. There shall be no excuse for not
fighting except Illness, or military duty.
3. Pistols shall not be used except by
mutual consent.
4. Death, surrender, or mutual agree
ment, shall alone terminate the fight.
Fournier objected to the third clause, t
as he expressed himself anxious to try a
pistol-fight once more, but Dupont In
sisted upon it, as he knew that the fight
Would be unequal with that weapon.
That night Captain Dupont, with his
company of hussars, was ordered to
Beauvais. He went to see his sweet
heart, Marie, before his departure. He
asked her to marry hlui then aud there,
but she refused.
" No," she said, "you have a duel on
hand with Captain Fournier, and I will
not marry until the duel is ended."
"Alas, my dear Marie," answered the
captain, "we have just drawn up an
agreement to fight at every opportunity,
until we die or surrender."
" Heavens I" cried Marie, "the duel
may never be euded."
" Hope better than that, Marie," he
auswered. " It may be ended the next
bout."
But she was disconsolate, and he went
away to his quarters with a heavy
heart.
He wrote the following noteto Captain
Fournier:
"Sir: I am ordered to Beauvls. Ad
dress me in case you should be in that
neighborhood.
Yours, etc.,
Alexis DuroNT."
The next day the company departed,
to the inexpressible regret of Marie
Iluton and Captain Fournier.
"Ah," said Marie, in tears at her win
dow, "what a hateful thing is this duel
ling!"
"Ah," said Captain Fournier, In his
sick-chair on a balcony, "what an ex
quisite duellist 1"
Six months passed, and the combat
ants were still separated. One day
Fournier was ordered to carry Import
ant dispatches to Paris. He was accom
panied by two chasseurs, and, while
laboring through a tangled forest-path,
he met Dupont.
" My dear Dupont," he cried, " I have
been almost dead to see you."
"My dear Fournier," responded Du
pont, " I am quite glad to meet you.
Shall we fight?"
" Heavens !" cried Fournier, " I have
no time. I am carrying important dis
patches to Paris. But you"
"I have a short leave of absence for
Rouen, but, if you wish, I will ride with
you to Paris."
" My dear, good Dupont," cried Four
nier, in ecstacy, "you give me new life.
Come, then."
And Dupont, turning bis horse, sped
onward with the party. They stopped
late at night at a quiet little hostlery,
where, after a hearty meal, Fournier and
Dupont retired to the same room to
Bleep. Fournier awoke before daylight,
and discovered Dupont sitting at the
fire, with his head in his hands.
"My dear Dupont," said Fournier,
yawning, "why are you so abstracted ?"
"To tell the truth," said Dupont, "I
am vexed. My leave of absence was for
the purpose of seeing my fiancee at
Rouen, and she will not cherish me
more highly for preferring a duel with
you, to a chat with her."
" Then you wish to return. We can
arrange it. I shall show that I can be
as generous as yourself. We'll fight
now, and you can return to-morrow."
"But." Interposed Dupont, "suppose
something should happen by which
your dispatches are delayed V"
" There Is where my generosity comes
in," answered Fournier, rising and pre
paring to dress himself.
"My dear fellow," said Dupont, "you
are not philosophic If your dispatches
were to miscarry, it might be a matter
of considerable detriment to France.
"And I might be court-martialed,"
said Fournier, "and then I could not
fight you any more. I will give them
to one of my chasseurs."
"No," said Dupont, "I will carry
them if you fall."
They stirred up the fire, to give them
better light, and then they closed again
in deadly combat. The fight was long,
for Fournier had learned to be cautious,
and Dupont hud long been so. While
their rapiers were still twining and
twisting, without a scratch having been
received by either, the day broke into
the room, and the sun struck fairly
into Captain Dupont's eyes, blinding
him for an instant. In that instant be
felt, for he could not see, the pressure of
Fournier's sword against his own relax,
and, on stepping from the sun light, he
found Fournier had withdrawn so that
Dupont's back would be partly toward
the sun. The two, standing thus on
the opposite sides of the narrow strip of
sunlight, Btopped a moment, aud drop
ped the points of their swords.
"Captain," said Dupont, tenderly,
" I have to thank you for a very grate
ful courtesy."
" Captain," returned Fournier, with
feeling, " you taught me the lesson."
With that they again took position,
and were about to renew the fight, when
a knock came at the door,aad a chasseur
entered. He saluted in military style,
and said : " Breakfast and the horses are
ready, captain."
The two captains hesitated a moment,
when Dupont said: "I think thlscomes
under the head of military duty, cap
tain." " True," returned Founder, and the
two sheathed their swords. The chasseur
wltlidwsw.
" I presume you will now return to
Rouen," said Foumler, as they proceed
ed to fully enrobe themselves.
" Yes," returned Dupont, "we have
had our bout, and although neither has
been wounded, I for one do not feel the
less satisfied."
They mounted their horses, and part
ed at the door, Foumler going toward
Paris, and Dupont toward Rouen.
" Wait for me if you can," Bald
Fournier, as they shook bauds on their
departure.
On reaching Rouen, Dupotit reported
to the general, and called upon Marie.
He again urged marriage upon her.
" No," she said. " You cannot doubt
my love, Alexis, but I will surely doubt
yours if you urge marriage upon me
while this terrible duel Is pending."
The very next day, Dupont received
orders from the general to return im
mediately to his company and prepare
for the campaign. The great Napolean
was again about to take the field.
Dupont left his regrets with Fournier.
"Itsejems," he wrote, "that fate is
against us as is the general."
Fournier returned answer: "It is
hard but we must have patience."
Over two years had elapsed, and, at
Austerlitz, Dupont found Fournier al
most overborne by an attack of Austrian
cavalry. With his good company at
his heels, he dashed to the rescue, and
brought Fournier, badly wounded, from
the hands of the foe.
"Is it you, Dupont?" he asked,
faintly, as he opened his eyes. " How
shall I thank you ?"
"By getting well again, my poor
friend," said Dupont.
These two enemies now termed each
other "friend," Dupont, too, who had
detested duelists.
When Fournier was almost well, a
month later, he rode ten leagues to meet
Dupont. The latter was overjoyed to
see him looking so well.
" We have not had a fight for over
two years," said Fournier. " Is it not
sad?'.'
We will have one now.'
With that their rapiers again sprang
to the work. Dupont seemed abstracted.
He laid his guard open freely, but
Fournier did not notice that be was play
ing his best. At one of these unlucky
moments, Fournier pricked him un
mercifully in the right breast. Dupont
fell almost without a groan. Fournier
sprang to him, and raised bis head.
" My friend, my friend 1" he cried,
"look up."
He tore open his breast, and discover
ed there a parchment commission as
colonel of hussars for gallantry at the
battle of Austerlitz, where he had reB
cued Fournier.
"A colonel 1" he cried, "and yet he
consented to fight me, a captain. Good,
generous friend!"
He gave Colonel Depont into the
hands of his servants and his surgeon,
and withdrew with a bowed head and
an aching heart, thinking of the modest,
generous demeanor of his friend and
enemy.
Two battles took place soon after that,
and Fournier displayed such consum
mate daring that Napoleon himself
conferred the cross upon him, and made
him a colonel. Ilia first step, after re
ceiving his colonelcy, was to ride over
to Dupont. Alasl Dupont had been
made a general of brigade.
"The fates are against me," said
Fournier.
" It is hard," said Dupont, "but have
patience."
Four years and, a half had elapsed
since Dupont had barred Fournier's
entrance to the ball-room at Rouen.
Fournier had recently won his promo
tion to general, and several bouts had
taken place, with varvlnir results. At
least ten duels had been fought by the
two in this time, and at least five
wounds were recorded on each one s
body by the other's rapier. Fournier,
being of the opinion that dueling was
the normal condition of man, was de
lighted. Dupont was despondent, for
Marie remained firm to her purpose.
He asked her again to marry him
" This duel," he repeated, "will proba
bly never end."
"Then I will never marry," she said
firmly.
" It can only end by my surrendering
to Fournier," said he, as he turned bit
terly from her presence.
This woman, who loved him so dearly,
gazed after him with flashing eyes.
Did he say surrender ?" she murmur
ed. That night, as General Dunont
rode at a slashing gait past her house,
in the direction of Beauvls, where Four
nier was now stationed, she muttered a
short prayer, and rested her liead on her
hands, in her heart or hearts she said i
" He surely will not surrender."
Dupont reached Fournier early the
next morning. They embraced like old
friends, as, Indeed, they were, for Four
nier, about a month previous, had
proved his friendship by pricking a
young fellow who had said something
derogatory of Dupont's sweetheart.
"At least," he said, in telling Dupont
of the circumstance, " I thought it
might have been your sweetheart, for
she lived in Rouen, aud he called her
Marguerite."
" My dear fellow," Dupont had re
sponded, " there may be many Marguer
ites in Rouen ; but my sweetheart is not
one of them. She is Marie."
A shade of gloom overshadowed Four
nier's countenance. "I was wrong,
then," he said. " I pricked the poor
fellow for no cause at all."
When Dupont and Fournier had em
braced, Dupont entered immediately
upon the business that had brought
him.
" I have come Fournier," he said, "to
compromise the whole matter between
us."
"Compromise it? Impossible."
" Listen first. We have been fighting
for nearly five years, and for what ?"
"Cielt I do not know."
" You surely remember the cause of
our quarrel?"
"Not a bit of it."
" My dear Fournier," said Dupont,
" when we were both captains at Rouen,
I, by the general's order, debarred your
entrance to the grand ball, on the night
of the funeral of young Blumm, whom
you slew."
"My dear Dupont," said Fournier,
coolly, " I never slew young Blumm.
He was a burgher, and I would not have
condescended to fight with him. I
remember now that you debarred my
entrance to the grand ball ; but you had
your premises all wrong."
" Why, then, did you not say so?"
asked Dupont.
Fournier shrugged his shoulders.
" That was not for me to do. Duels
were scarce in those days, and my cause
of quarrel had nothing to do with
Blumm. He was probably killed by.
some roistering blade of his own rank,
while I received the credit of it, as I did
of every wild act occurring in Rouen at
that time."
" Then the whole thing has been a
mistake," said Dupont. " Is there any
reason why we should continue our
quarrel?"
"Ah I yes, general," said Fournier,
with a smile. " You see it was not the
killing of Blumm that constitutes our
cause of quarrel ; it was your barring
my entrance to the ball."
" True," said Dupont, with a sigh.
" Then, I have come to propose a com
promise."
" Why, my dear general, do you wish
to wind up our pleasant interchanges eo
summarily ?"
" Because," replied Dupont, in a low
tone, "my betrothed will not marry me
until this duel is ended."
"Ah I" said Fournier, rising, " have I
been doing you such a wrong as that ?
Come, then, lets hear your proposition."
" It is this : We will fight with pistols,
As you have greatly the advantage, we
will each take our two pistols, and enter
the private park of M. La Tour, in the
suburbs, at opposite gates. Then we
will fire when we like."
" The idea is a good one," said Four
nier : but he was apparently not enthu
slastio over this duel with pistols, which
he had been so long craving, tie was,
in fact, abstracted.
The two separated and repaired to the
nark. As Fournier entered the northern
gate, he saw Dupont waving his hand
to him in the southern entrance. They
advanced a short distance, and Fournier
took refuge behind a tree. Dupont,
seeing this, did the same. They were
still at lone ran ere : but Fournier, step
ping from behind his tree, fired one
shot, which struck against Dupont's
tree, a foot above the roots. Dupont
then moved forward to another tree, and
the two were thus brought in closer
range.
" One of his shots Is gone," said
Dupont. " It is bad shooting for Four
nier. Let me see if I can draw his other
one."
He thrust his hat cautiously from
behind the shelter of the tree. Fournier
plainly saw the ruse. Nevertheless he
fired at the bat, which, he knew, was
not on Dupont's head. The ball went
through It. ' Dupont, having drawn his
adversary's tire, stepped out, and ad
vanced upon him with his two pistols
still loaded, in his hand. Fournier, with
pale face, stepped eavlv out from
behind his tree, took off his hat with a
bow. opened the brpiit.
said, "Shoot!" .
Dupont dashed his pistols to the
ground. " I will not," he cried.
Then," said Fournier. "mv Ufa la In
your hands. Make your own terms."
1 Fournier." said Dunont. Uklnir hnth
his hands, and looking into bis eyes,
"our duel is no longer a duel. We do
not fight to kill, but to show generosity.
Your two pistol-shots were Intended,
not to kill me, but to miss me. I can
fight you no longer, and I give you your
life without terms."
I take It," responded Fournier. "onlr
on condition that I may be your friend.
and not your antagonist, and that, if we
evertignt again, you shall hold the
right you now have, to two shots
first."
The terms were accepted, and the two
friends were no loneer antagonists. On
returning to Rouen, Dupont claimed
Marie s hand, and told her how the duel
hid ended.
"Then," she said, "you did not sur
render?"
"No."
Then that woman, who loved him so,
fell Into his arms, and whispered la his
ear:
"Ah! dear, if you had surrendered, I
would have neverspoken to you again."
GIVING HIM A LESSON.
THE Vienna correspondent of the
London Globe writes : Your cor
respondent was suddenly called to Pesth
for a few hours last week. The carriage
which he entered contained two fero
cious-looking Magyars booted, braided
and pomatumed. The other occupants
compartments were a well-dressed, good
looking youth, a German, who appeared
dreadfully sleepy, and an innocent-look
ing old gentleman of, say sixty, the pat
tern of benign and paternal mildness a
sort of Maygar Mr. Pickwick. A mo
ment later we started. The old gentle
man addressed several remarks to the
young one, who, however, vouchsafed
but scant reply between mighty yawns
and sighs of fatigue. In a very few
minutes the youthful German was snor
ing hard. The old gentleman then turn
ed to us and proved very communica
tive, telling us how the youth opposite
was his son, deploring at the same time
his carelessness in money matters. ,
"There he goes to sleep among strang
ers with a whole pocketful of money ; is
that not careless ?" inquired he with
more candor than flattery.. " Just to
give him a fright and to teach him a les
son for the future, I shall take it away
from him."
Mr. "Pickwick" hereupon quietly
lifted the flap of the youth's coat and
took out a bulky pocketbook, which be
placed in his own breast-pocket, with a
knowing smile. Soon after this the
train stopped at Pressburg. The old
gentleman begged us to. look after his
son, his son's hand luggage and his own
overcoat while he was absent. He got
out and returned no more ; in fact, he
vanished completely. - The train once
more started, and we awoke the tired
Teuton and informed him how his fa
ther had been left behind, and how he
had taken the pocketbook with him, a
piece of Intelligence which produced the
most startling results. The . sleepy
one began to use the most unfiilal
language, felt frantically for his pocket-book,
and uttered a howl of rage.
He remained unintelligible for some
time, but at last be managed to gasp out
that he had no father and bad never in
his life seen the innocent old gentleman
before that night. " There were three
thousand florins in the pocketbook,"
shouted he wildly, " the wretch must
have seen me take it out at the station."
This is one of the most impudent cases
of robbery which has happened here for
some time, for it required an amount of
deliberation, coolness and daring which
would have sufficed a general to win a
great battle. Needless to say that the
mild old gentleman has not since been
heard of.
A Nice Point.
Samuel Wallace was before Magistrate
R. R. Smith, in Philadelphia, to answer
the charge of having married hla niece.
Counsel for the accused read the law
upon the subject, which forbids a niece
to marry her uncle, but says nothing
about the latter marrying the niece.
Therefore he claimed that his client was
entitled to a discharge, as the prosecu
tion should have been brought against
the woman. The magistrate held Wal
lace in his own recognizance to appear
again if wanted.
Living Witnesses.
The hundreds of strong, hearty, rugged
and healthy looking men, women 'and
children, that have been rescued from
beds of pain, sickness and well nigh
death by Parker's Ginger Tonic, are the
best evidences in the world of its ster
ling merit and worth. You will find
such in almost every community.
Read of it in another column. 41 4t