Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1864-09-30
vi | - & T. IL NY.
AN AMUSING DUEL

Alrciandl some sixty OF seventy years AGO
Albeit = vild locality. 80 far as natu-al
FEATURES % thc landscape were concerned.
yet the vicinity % Barnagore. a.. for the
double reason % conceslaent and euphonv.
shAii eali i. wAs a tolcrably peaceful place
vievcd With respect % its inhabitants.
Barring the occasional beating % title
proctor. or ducking Of sheriff. officer. the
country for miles around the village which
gave Il a nanc ~as singula-ly free from
agrArIan outrage. The land vas divided
into rnoderately-sirei estates. Each support
ing the hospitable mansion % country
gentleman. ~ith his good-aaiured ~ife. and
sbcir handsome frohcking progeny. Dur
Iug long series - year various iutermar-
risgcs had taken place between the several
families; 80 that. AZ the time write of.
therc vEs scarcely Al individual % note IN
the country Who could not claim eousinship
Nth each and every one % his neirhbors.
One gentleman there va. however. Who
wAs ~hoily uncounected 18th the naayua.-s
q The district He uasa Mr. Fooks. a
rich old BACHELOR residing in a very pretty
cottage close 90 thc boandary hedge q a
large estate which hal lain f1r. some time
unoccupiet The dueliirg a Mr. Fooks
stood Ia the midst ofa beautifully eultiva-
tel pleasure ground. avllderuess ofswcets.
~Aerc the emerald turf ofthe la-n was son.
ard rich. ard smiling. a. thourh /; law in
the heart % Engiand-s sunny Hampshire.
\ kind mar vas Mr Fooks beloved bv the
sIuircs. With whom he never qaarrc uel.
when in The heat - The chase. f5iio~inc the
hounds In fan cry Afier Reyuar,l. they tram
pied his harvcs, fcids. II ~as beloved BY
them. say. not-ithstAnding has uniform
desertion 81 the dining room after The frst
magnum q clArrt lad gone il. rounds, a
griesious dereEction from the rules Of good
fellowship. ~hieh -oald not have been casi-
y Partoned On any one else. bat Mr.. Fook.
sAs 4 Prisiied<cd man. and. A. ths laI1es
we're ~oni o. remark. " ii "a really a COM
fort 10 feel sure - having one gentleman
steady on his legs IN the drawing room. 90
that one might venture 70 give hiua Of cofiec
~ithos, The chancc ~ having half 0f it spill-
"a on ones best satin
WIth The young people b. uAs an especial
fssouts. No bettsr parto.r m '' SIR Roger
Dc CoVsriy. or uerrier opponent in the
game Of '' MatriBony.- could be iosnd in
the eniIrc country whiie his skii IN making
% harieys- for tb- boys. ard carving wood
en- babies for the girls. secured for hin a
vide .pread popularity among the ri.ing
generation b. common consent he uas
kno~n 10 the neighborhood a. Holy
fooks and this epithet ~as bestowed not
in riiicule. but a. sincere ackno~ledge-
nent Of his sinsshry biamolcss and sseiul
iIie. Perhaps 10 as also meant % com-
nemorate Pecaharify in has charac;er-bo
"a never knosn % fght. From The title-
proctor. -hom be bospitabiy entertained
ard regularly PAID an unprecedented line
q coutuct. Which caused that much cndur-
ing aan O. eSclsim. " sure Banagoro
woald be a heaven upon earth Il every nan
in q vAs Ike Holy Fooks--irom the titlc-
prOctor do~n b. The urchins ~h0m BE- oiten
caught suAring hares OF cutting sticks in
his vood. b. never abused or quarreicd
18th any 0uc. Yet Holy F00ks was 90
covard. thg the poor uidou AZ tho M ill
could testify. uhosc iair-haired boy Dc sas-
ed irom dr0Sning. by Jumping inio the
miii-rond at thc imminent risk Of hls Eic
And ~hen Ton Maloney's house ~as burn.
I'd, -ho bai Holy Fooks could Jc found o.
trcat the fil.ng foor and while vith one
hand oiinging o. the backcncd rafters.
9Th ihe other to seize in sucocssion three
cLdren. and hand them safely to i.losc out
aic' Mr Fooks. ia .i.-t ~h. fat.
. sricyc t8 sar. l-.ra..l. rhars-i,r in l--.
f isr4-a t-s-s ai.f yalf r,1a rio rsuil ~
fsH
+ Ihe estate vh,,h bounded iis bal lain. |
have SAL. for some tme lnpcrlpiel. ba'
a. length . tenant for &c appeared in OBJ,
. person of profes.cd dlsllist from Upper
ary. vho having made hat 6sry lo-aI,v Oh,
bo, io bold h.n. and posscs.lnr a. mael
money a. .mpaieuce. resolved o. settle a
. Barnag1re. ard break fresh ground anon.
iis qu.et inhabitants. Ton Maeenni.. 81
such sas his name. had not long been a.,
tici in h.s re- rcsiicncc ere bc managed ..
establish several scry pretty quarrels
uitl h,s ncighion He uas an uuorrn,
sl.ot. scilom failing to kil h.s man at a..
namher u pace. anl - a. pronc to tak,
oferso a. the iniamols f.-iting FIfzgcraid
IT, chal.enged one youug gent.emal for o.
c.dsnia.ly touching hm uith De- ai.p q
tLey serc icaping Together across s,rcau
shio following The hounds al aurmpt