THE AMERIC A'N
A TANK ttttAMA.
(PtBfHMU tVrftlm)
A ltitl
Tl'on Mm liuinlilil Wrtlerj
A tiief Yotltilf InlUt
Of itntdeut I'Ihm,
An old iuhu's po-ity ilmtgliUr.
(Tim Action of tlml'lsy.)
A wlill !i i-mw
'MiiM lamlii'iit (dew.
Alotiit 1 1 Unihlitir, lT.
lie Itiiu llif lioii
Awhlln, Mild limn
lie ling, the old nmn'iiiliiHi:li!rr,
Outing.
A DKAI) SHOT
In the summer of 1871, when Mart In
U. Heott wns a much slimmer, more
dandified looking mnn t linn ho is now,
there were pouted at one of tlio littlu
marblo round tables before (ho Onfo
Kicci. in tho lloulovtrddes Italiens, in
Paris, two young Frenchmen, tho
cheeks of out) of whom bore a red
mark, as it some oim had brought
his hand sharply against it. In an
inner room of tho cafe tho person who
had dono this was engaged in wiping
away from his shirt front stains of
some rod wino which In hi fury tho
recipient of tho slap had hurlod av.ro
tlio table. The man with tho rod
chock wa tho young Adolphs Ferrier,
the son of Ibo celebrated artist of
that luuno, Tho man with tho soiled
shirt front wan Martin (1. Heott, of
MoIhIo, Ala.
There had been an exchnugoof card
and Heott mid his friend, loo run V
Wainwrigbt, twelve hours latter
found themselves with a largo sized,
healthy French quarrel on their
hands to be sol tied, as most of those
matters are in France, under tho
code,
When It came to Iherholeo of weap
ons, Heott had wisely chosen pistols;
for, while be was a notoriously bad
shot, tie was totally ignorant of the
uso or too rapier.
Tho affair was to come of! at An
vergno, a, 111 lie villain distant about
nine miles from I'aris, In forty-eight'
liours time. The parties were to go
out on the early Ira in.
I doubt If Keutfc was so tiiucli tint
about, ibo alTair as Walnwrlubt, even
thouth he fully expected to be killed.
Waiiiwrlght kept on blaming himself
for ha ving let his friend got Into such
a sera fie, It was to be no child's play.
They were to lire at twelve paces arid
to continue lirintf until one of tho
parties was disabled.
Tho more Wninwrlht thought ovr
tho affair the more he realized what
an awkward job he had on his hands,
"Come,"' he said to Heott," wo
haven't too much lime before us, We
must go down to Maupassant's gal
lery and uet some practice, You stay
hero and have some breakfast, I
don't earn to eat so early. I'll run
down there and see If we can't get the
gallery all to ourselves for a couple
of hours,"
"That will le pretty costly, won't
it?" hazarded Heott.
"Mot more than a decent colliu and
all the other funeral lixlurea," re.
plied Walnwrlubt, with some little
sarcasm, "If possible I want to
throw those expenses on tho other
fellow." ,
Walnwrlubt jumped around and
dashed oft I o tlio (lallery Maupas
sant, where for upward of hall an
hour he remained cloei ed with its pro
prietor. "Iis agreed, then," Mid Wain
wright, at, l bo eoncliiHion of th In
terview. "Mow, then, M. Maupas
sant, theronre '.'oil francs down. Tho
remainder of I bo fiOO you uet If tho
duel doesn't como ol?.
" Aiiii.,,,1 " un iil I lia liYfnf'bmn. find
!be sat down and wroto at least
twenty let ters like tho following:
"M, Maupassant requests tho pleas
lire of your company tomorrow aft
ernoon at li O'clock to wltnos tho
jjhonomeiMl.KhQotlngof (Jio American
Itfhlleinitn who hs kindly tonscntcd
lo give ntt r-Onbil tun ol liU skill et
Uotl hour."
While M, MrtHpH,ut wss thus fit
ppd Wntiiwiighl put lit lialf flit hour
ni'tkini! sundry punhit'tn, fi'luiuing
Willi lln lit In lln Roller)', rthetit I he
tiext hour ttrtt j.tnHtnhly employed
by him in eoniptny with nit iutjeniou
tins bonii',
Meantime, ns Ibo Men if few upon I ho
mind of M. Mituptowtnt, he I buckled
Slid wrote, extending bis invllal nun
until, if one half ol them ero n pl
ed Ibo question was would Ibeielie
standing room In I be gallery.
"Wo must ceilninly no down and
see this American shoot," snid Mr.
Ferrier's seconds, "Von may Hud
soma of his tricks useful to you at
Auvortrno to -morrow."
M. Ferrler, whoso conrnuo was not
of tho n-o'clock-in-the-niorninu kind,
shivered sliuhtly, though tho wontlior
was decidedly warm.
"I wish thoso fellows hod chosen
rapiers," he muttered. "These Amer
icans ars such dentoni with tho
pistol."
It was B o'clock in tho afternoon.
M. Maupassant's uallery wnscrowd
d. M. l''errler had an excellent seat.
Ho sat talkinu with bis friend and
second. He had been drinking some
what to keep his couraeo up, and his
voice could bo beard nil over tlio
room. With a Frenchman's lovo of
KOssip, his second had talked freely of
tho meetinu of tho morrow.
As tho American bad not yet como
a dozen voices called on 1'orricr to
step down and u(,t some practice and
Hliiuso I ho company at tho same t iine,
Ferrler, who was really nuood shot,
was not lil tie proud of it, and with
such an audience ho was not slow to
avail himself of the opportunity thus
afforded of displaying his skill.
'Ibrowinu oil bis coat ho stepped
down on to tho lloor of tho uallery,
and, pick ilia up a iimlol, marked two
bull's eyes In rape! succession,
Tho third bullet was a little above,
howeveran inch at leisttotbe richt.
"Your pistol Is a litt le heavy on the
trlwr, rutfustair," suit! lbk be
hind lii . , ,
Tiirrilnu quickly, ho recognized
Wainwril.t. who wasstandinuquietly
by, asmilefull of menninu in his bhm
eyes, as Ferrier, quite disconcerted
now, fired auain and missed for tho
second time,
At this moment a side door in tho
Uallery opened, and, scrupulously at
tired and holding In either hand a
lonu duelinu jdstol of American manu
facture, came Heott, who, bcinfj intro
duced to the audience, bowed, while
M. Maupassant said;
"Monsieur Hcotthas kindly consent
ed to ulvo us an exhibition with tho
pistol,"
Mr, Heott bowed nunlu, and so much
was the attention of tho audience
riveted upon him that no one noticed
Walnwrlubt standimt quietly auainst
tho wall, feelinK cautiously with bis
hands behind him for a small round,
whito Object,
Mr. Heott bowed onco morn pro
foundly to his distinguished audiene.!.
Especially did ho extend ids saluta
tion to that portion of the room
where, pale as death, now sat tho
thoroughly alarmed M, Ferrler, who
In tho redoubtable American marks
man had recognized the man be bad
Insulted at tlm I'afe Kuccl,
"I will now give you an Imitation,"
said Heott, In an offhand manner of
a Western cowboy practicing on the
head of a ten penny nail at fifty paces,
I will first at the largo bull's eyo so as
to get my hand In."
Ifo lifted the two long dueling
pistols and H red from them alternate
ly, pulling the triggers liko lightning.
Above the noiso of (ho explosion
could tie lierird t he tinkling of I lie
bells as each bullet struck fair and
square in ( he center,
When the smoke cleared away not
a mark was visible on the while
portion of the target, Jfo had bred
twelve shots and every shot had
struck the bull's eye.
Heott turned and bowed modestly
to liis niidieifco in acknowledgement
of ft vociferous round of applause,
A boforo, ho ulaiieod over to th
enl iMvtipied by M. Ferrler. Th
I riiichuutit' f ' hke hinte
noxious limn rir, nnd he et hii(e.
hurried whtspeis with his ennd.
"I'll now show you. pnllrnii'tt,"
continued Hcntt, "nsotnewhtil mote
diuVnlt f.-tt."
He took a pistol and Ihiew It to
ward the reiliuif, end rati lung It In his
hand as it dew ended, pulled Iholrig
Iter.
Aloud ring of tho bell nnnoinueit
that the bullet had again struck the
bull's eye.
"Mn dieli!" whispered Ferrler, whit
was now In a clammy sweat lhionih
fenr. "lie will drop me at Ibo lirst
slu.t."
Heolt now look a small Winchester
rifle from the hands of M. Mtupas.
sanl, and, placing itover his shoulder,
turned his back to tho target and
faced a large mirror where tho same
was reflected,
Starting from I he llreing point and
walking slowly toward t he mirror he
fixed his eye steadiest ly upon the re
flection of Hie target, and rapidly
turned Ihecrank of the Winchester.
As before, every one of Ibo sixteen
indicts struck the bull's eye and t ho
bell was ringing almost continuously,
A perfect hurricaneof appla use now
shook tho gallery. M. Maupassant
nulled nil over and several French
gentlemen left t heir seat s and crowded
around the American, offering their
congratulations at the marvelous
Ik ill which be had displayed.
Among t ho bit l et' was I he second of
M. Ferrier.
"Of course, we shall meet yon, Mon
sieur Heott," ho added, but 1 trust
you will spare us. Nobody has a
t-hanco who stands up before yon,"
lie wasevidently as much frightened
as Ids principal,
Now was Wainwright'sopportunity,
He stepped forward and said to
the little uroup!
"Oenflcmen, can't this matter bo
patched nil in some way? You see
Hie kind oia shot my friend Is. He
bates to lake life,"
"I'll see w ha t I ca n do," said M.
Ferrier's second eagerly, and ho dived
over to liis principal.
"Well, if you won't a pologi.o you're
an Idiot, This time to morrow you'll
bo in the bauds of the undertaker, t
tell you, I'll bavo nothing to do with
this murder,"
This settled poor Ferrler, Mioklng
down his humiliation, .ho stammered
out:
"Well, yon may apologize for mo If
you like. It's a dreadful thing to do,
but I suppose f must, f certainly
can't afford fo die at my ago and
with my prospects. Hut f shall never
bold up my head at tho club again,"
Ferrier's second then tendered a
handsome apology to Heott, who
with a magnanimity which provoked
applause, thereupon Immediately"
fliiologized also, wjiich so affected M,
Ferrier that, offer the fashion of his
countrymen, he would bavo thrown
himself on M, Hcoft's breast and wept,
And thus was Ibo duel between M,
Heott and M, Fen ier averted by tho
Ingenuity of Mr, Wainwrigbt,
M. Maupassant was a distinct gain
er by the hoax for in addition to tho
splendid reputation it uave bis gallery,
be Immediately received Ihe remain
ing 250 francs from Mr, Wainwrigbt,
The electric, bell, wire and batteries
which Wainwrigbt bad purchased
that morning, and, with tho aid of
the ingenious mechanic, bad put In
such admirable working order, wero
also given by Wainwrigbt to the
worthy proprietor of the gallery, who
instant ly disposed of the whole onflit
for cash, even to Ibo littlo button
which Wainwrigbt l-ad pressed so
efficiently every time bis friend Heott
fired off his blank cartridges,
Whlla ihm IIm 'Worn IMrm
Chrtfit(d,
First Conductor -That is a mighty
nice man, that newsuperintendent; be
fired Mediums last night for knocking
down, and then thanked him.
Hecotid Conductor, What did hi
thank him for?
First Conductor-For bringing th
ear bock.-Fuck.
rON N01HINO.
SHnl4 tfc tluno M.xttrr tk M
frlttn Nt MipII.
8df stii'illlee conies mttut'nt In wi
hut) h I bit pel's He 'iir, Much of II
Is Ihi n In lliein, and what Is lint U
ground lulu tliein front Ihelr rhlhlhund
by eibiertllnii. l or Hie siilui of her
hnmn rtiith's it girl gives up amuse
tlieiil ntnl pill lieges which her blnlli
er wniihl never bit ix peeled In furet'o
fin thrt like I'eiisiut. An she grows old
er, this spirit grows, encouraged hy
nil tisilllloit niel ntitxlilo Inlhiciice,
Often Its power uiiihters her altogether,
iiml b r I ifo becomes one long ilevet luil
to endleMS Intuit ii ml eeeeplniiee of tin-
plellMIOlt tilings, Hint, (lie pleiiKiuit pin t
of living uuiy bo kept niered lor tint
rout of tlm fiiinlly.
The purely uselnHS slilo of this eiillro
Self llbliegiilinii must smtieibnes slrlloj
Hie beholder, Hindi effacing of In
illvliluallty N imt uueoiiiitinii, Ami U
gives ii n llltle reel benellt tu Uet fiiinlly
lis It thins to the linlivlibial.
rutting asliln Itiu iiinnil effect on
tho younger meiiilinrs of a family
brought up to regeril their mother as
i machine run for the fiiinlly servlcn,
does the women who so given herself
for tho well-being of her family really
liecoiiipllHlnm all sho desires? If shu
works without pause, or sliieloinliig dey
In find day out, does sho always fuel
satisfied, wlih admiring on lookers,
that It is the noblest way to so spend
her health and energleM? If she re
nounces nil reereiitlon and higher life
fur herself, nml gives up all coiniiuui
loii or mind mid spirit with her hus
band and children, Is the reward ado
quefi! that Is paid to them In a better
kept house, a more bountifully sap
piled larder, or handsomer elothen?
If over-fatigue cause her to becomi
petulant or complaining, I not tlm
atmosphere of homo morn greatly In
jured Minn tho added cleaning imd
cooking can repair? If she Is too worn
out to glvo sympathy and help to the
children's Joys and sorrows, what do
tho finer clothes and funlfiire obtained
avail? And If, as It sometimes hap
pens, outraged iiaturo gives way, and
others must step Into too breach, do
their own work and tho played-out
woman's as well, and tako care of her
Into tho bargain, what has she gained
by her effort' that she has not lost by
tho break-down.
A llfo laid down In a worthy cause Is
not lost, but gained) but Is this cans
worthy?
IN LIFfc'8 KALKIDOtCOf'B.
"Jself, Met lak Winger, " Is stfioel In
Krooklyn.
An fndfuni wtsn Iff. M whhUt-r im
I' ml, Imt let 'fd Ids l"t, U"lag right, off Vi
l,li Imrlmr's and Imvleg Ids Imnrd r
KC'ved, TUm$ Is a ieo In Wleidod, t'oee , who
hnUmu. tit twhaty four wwl societled,
four volaateer llrs orgsilMtlons, nias
ndltliry cotiqaoifeii und Uirm chnrchim,
"Wo liv been ofl'ef, d :;o to liv tie
tewri," my H Mrgln editor, "It's th
first eliir ieoay w Iim-Vm niele la six
yexis, m ninka tis llauikfid for what
w r shout to receive,"
A biruifeg fid., eonstwblo areuted two
vgroits, who w-ro tried and (Iveo $'i or
flvi days ''h, They lm1 no money, hut
tliey eoeld hold pliy llet pleno, so lli
Jndgs siigg'tst.Md thsfc Maty g'it iifi n dioi'-M,
wlih-h whs rtoat sed cnougl) money win
rulwsd to psy hoth flae,
Tb (frt teirqmi-MeiM iontl, fatlmr
Ml'liew, wl eldr-isliig (in wndleacH of
Irish er drivers, sad laid told i hem Unit
Hifty should lesrn s li tmon from Met hrutu
crsiitlon, "If," sold h, "f were i,o xet
ti.fors on lit your horn" n ,ii k'-t of
wf'r sad Imeliet of vhinUf yon know
which Mi wU U'Hxi would lnU." Wlii'in
n (ion on of Mi qntek wlio-d irae-a r
pl(d; "Wsll, fuller, If I Wf to ilc
he for rnf horns I rem of ly wed sir
loin of linef yon know which th win
t,M,Hl, WOllfd Chooeft, llllt (I'lli It follow
Mint Mi hsy l lu xt fo'r mi '
Th butfonwood ti'in in which Mnitf
Msrlow, of Mi hl K'enl, l'ih'-d llni enl
WhI th first settle; Inndud St liiirhng
too, N, J,, la 17, Is still siioeliag on Mi
rlvr bank.
