LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1614, 23 April 1879, Page 3

LITERATURE.

TWO FAIE DUELLISTS.

(From the * Danbury Nows.’)

(Concluded ) ‘I have ordered you to dance with me, captain,’ she exclaimed, addressing Koltoff, ‘ and you have dared —’ she could not proceed ; anger choked her utteran e. I am obeying an earlier command from Mademoiselle de Narischkin,’ answered Koltoff, coldly. ‘ Tt.en the princess must give way before this creature, this adventuress !’ cried Lubin, beside herself with anger ‘ You f »rget yourself ’ interrupted Koltoff, while Sophie, pale as death, confronted the countess.

‘ I want satisfaction for this insult which I have not deserved,’ stammered the brave, deeply wounded girl. ‘There you have satisfaction,’ cried the countess and forgot hers o lf so far that she ra ; sel her fan to strike the other but looker’s, indignant at Lubina’s inexcusible rudeness, separat -d them ; the public scandal was consummated ; the empress ordered both ladies to leave the saloon.

They obeyed. The countesa was escorted to her couch by Count Koltoff, where she burst into tears and wept convulsively, M ademioseilo de Narischkin however, clinging to her mother and weeping, had turned to Koltoff and said naively.’ I caonot help you, you must marry me now.’ Koltoff, in ecstacy of bliss, forgetting the place and surroundings, strained the beau tiful, insulted eirl to his bieast, and when she left the Winter Palace, she had introduced the captain as her future husband. But the matter did not end here. On the following day, Sophie do Narischkin, without the knowledge of her patents or the captain, sent Madamsoil'e de Heduig Niewclinski to Countesa Lubina Mentsehikoff with a challenge, and the latter accepted it ‘ with pleasure.’ In an hour the seconds of the two parties. Lieutenant Heduig de Niewelinski of the Tobolsk Regiment and the Counte s Soltikoff, Major in the Finnish Guards, were in consultation. It was agree i that pistols were to be the weapons and that the adversaries were to sho-t at thirty paces, at the word of co amaud They were to fire three shots each, and if it resulted without injury to either, the demands however were to bo considered satisfied and the duel ended. Chapter X. THE JUDGMENT OF THE EMPRESS. The following morning the parties met in a secluded wood in the vicinity of St. Petersburg, It was a beautiful but very cold winter day. As the snow lay deep on the ground it was necessary to clear sufficient space for the duellists and witnesses. When ail propara tions had been made, Sophie de Narisohkia

airU’<d in a pbautastij sleigh, representing a great white swan i the countess came soon after.

Both ladies threw off the bear skins which envel >ped them, and faced each other, in the coquettish Amazonian attempt of the period; they saluted politely, The Countess Lubina Mentschiffoff wore high, black cavalry boots, and over the rich green velvet robe an overcoat of the same mat 'rial, bearing the insignia of the Simbriski Regiment, and bordered with a deep fringe of sable. The toilette of Mademoiselle de Narischkin was designed after the Cossack uniform, then in high favor with the Empress, It consisted of semi boots of red saffian, a short red velvet gown descending to the ankles, a tightl fitting jacket of the same material with a wide trimming of ermine, and a high r und ermine hat.

The two ladies eyed one another with looks that plainly showed how impossible reconciliation between them was; the Becomes, as was their duty, made an attempt to effect a compromise but without success. The countess had just learned of the engagement between Mademoiselle de Narichkin and Koltoff, and she was determined to kill the girl. Thirty paces werem easured off and the positions of the contestants marked with stakes. The seconds loaded the weapons and the two ladies faced one another, pistol in hand.

The witnesses took their stations and gave the command, ‘ Heady!’ Neither of the two amazons showed the least trepidation or nervousness; on the contrary they were as cool and collected as old professional duellists. ‘ One —two —three!’ A flash and a report. The seconds sprang to the assistance of the duellists Neither was wounded. The weapons were reloaded. Again the command wa« given, and again the pistols flashed ; this time Mademoiselle de N'arischkin’s hat was pierced. She removed it, looked at it wish a smile, and replaced it. But before the pisfols were loaded for the third time, two horsemen dashed in, and at the same a sleigh was visible in the distance

The two horsemen were Koltoff and Lapinski. They sprang from their steaming horses and Koltoff attempted to separate the antagonists. He begged, he entreated, he threatened them, but without success. Sophie de Narischkin stamped her foot and angrily demanded an apology from the countess ; the beautiful widow repulsed all attempts at a compromise with haughty indifference Both demanded that the ground be cleared, that they might exchange a final volley. During this harangue the sleigh, which h'ld approached from the direction of St. Petersburgh, halted near the scene, and two ladies, wrapped in precious furs, and deeply veiled, descended and approached the party. The first, in imperial ermine, stepped majestically between the two duellists and commanded them to desist, at the same time throwing back her veil It was the Empress Catharine, and her companion the Princess Daschkoff.

Iha Empress had heard of this unusual dufl and had hurried to the spot to prevent blood shed if possible. She asked if the contestants would abide by her decision, with a look that admitted of no negation. The fair duellists bowed in silence.

The Empress then inquired into the cause of the encounter, but did not restrict her investigations to the two ladies ; observing Kolteff she turn to him, and he was honest or indiscreet enough to state every circumstance bearing on the matter. Catharine, the second, smiled.

‘My decision is, 5 said the empress ‘ that this duel be considered at an end ; the demands of honor have been satisfied, and as far as this young officer is concerned, he must marry the one of you who loves him most.’

‘Then he belongs to me!'exclaimed the countess.

‘No, to me!’ contended Sophie de Na riachkin.

Both swore that they could not live without him.

Catharine the Second smiled again

‘You make my task a very difficult one,’ she said, shrugging her should-rs, ‘Vut I have foind a solut on. Koltoff is the sole cause of this difficulty, and it is proper that be should suffer the consequences. As you both seem to have equal claims to his person, and as it is impossible to divide him into two portions, I command him to place himself against yonder tree, and yon, mesdames, must shoot at him until your bloodthirst is fully satisfied.’ ‘ But that is impossible!’ stammered Mademoiselle de Narischkin.

* Impossible, when I command it!’ re turned the Em'ress, with a haughty frown, ‘ Forward, Koltoff, to the tree ’

The young officer had become pale, but he obeyed. The Countess boltikoff loaded the pistols. ‘ Now fire, ladies !’ commanded Catharine. The countess cocked her pistol and stepped into position. ‘I love him so much,’ she exclaimed, trembling with excitement, ‘ that I would rather see him dead at my feet than in the arms of another,’ and she aimed the weapon at Koltoff.

But at the same moment, Sophie de Narischkin, with a cry ef despair, clutched the pistol in the hand of Lubina; the shot flaw into the air.

‘No, no,’ she cried, ‘he must not die. Take him, my love for him is too great. I would rather lose him than see him die!’ The countess exulted. ‘Now vou are mine Koltoff,’ she exclaimed, ‘ my slave.’ ‘ Enough,’ said the Empress, laying her hand on the countess’ shoulder. ‘ Mademoiselle de NarLchkin has shown that she loves him more than you do He belongs to her ’

In two weeks Koltoff was married to Sophie de Narisobkin. Enough when said that he never made a second attempt to destroy himself