A QUEER DUEL IN PARIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10407, 3 April 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

A QUEER DUEL IN PARIS.

A duel has just taken place in Paris which Mark Twain would have delighted to describe. To say cliat it broke the record of French single combats to emitherhaens, shattered bones and buttons, and justified for once the scientific theory of probabilities, is to state the case very moderately. But, then, it was a tailor's "affair of honour," and that, of course, accounts for much. Gherchez Iα femme wae the beginning of tho trouble. It. was a beardless youth who sought her—Buyeno Guerry by name—and he found her at a bal Musette, in the Place Cambronne, where she was dying to dance. Eugene was fascinated when he saw the lovely laundress, who smiled provokingly as he passed up the room on pleasure bound. "She's beautiful, and therefore to be wooed; she is a woman, and therefore to be won," thought the youth as he made his bow, and asked for the next dance. The lady emiled assent, and soon they were tripping it merrily on tho light) fantastic toe to Che envy of the bystanders. Just as Eugfcne began to whisper airy nothings into the delicate ear of his graceful partner, a good-looking tailor with a Fra Diavolo moustache caught her eye and her fancy. Sailing up, he shook hands with the beauty, and a second later was whirling up and down the hall with her to the accompaniment of one of Strauss' waltzes. Then the ructions began. Eugene said his honour was wounded, and nothing but a deadly encounter could heal it. Leon Homy, the sartorial artist, wns ready. Seconds were chosen then and there, and as they were making arrangements for a " meetiug" nexi day, Eugfene insisted that now was tho accepted time. Then they set out for the Avenue Lowendell. This was tho second scene of the drama. The heavens weve hung with black when the third commenced. The principals being unskilled in the uae of rapiera, tried their lianda at piatols. As it was a serious quarrel, the conditions were severe. Five shots were to be exchanged unless a dangerous wound should be inflicted before. Ana they were duly exchanged, all live, both rivals standing as safe and sound after the last as before the 6rsfc. " Thrice is he armed that hath hie quarrel just" was part of the text illustrated by the result. He was iuked who had no quarrel at all, was the remainder. For one of the unfortunate seconds foil heavily to the ground with a bullet in his side and a grievance in his heart. Mais himself, when wounded by Diomed, did not shout louder than Joeeph Koning when he became sensible of the painful turn things—especially the bullethad taken. Thereupon the tailor and his friends and rival, fearing developments, fled from the field, carrying the wounded second along with them. But, unluckily, they left hia hat on the battlefield, and his peculiar headgear served as a clue to the police, who, hearing the wild screams, ran to the assistance of the gallant gentleman, who then and there poured his complaint) into their ears. Nobody could say for certain from which pistol the bullet had swerved around in that loose way, bub the tailor received the benefit of the doubt, and his adversary was thrown inside the four walls that "do a prison make."