Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-08-31

] remembered what had transpired during
the previous night, / felt wrctched enough.
| cursed the wine cup and the whskey bot.
tie from the bottom of my heart, and in
wardly resolved that would touch the stuff
no more. Still ! was forced to take stiff
hot toddy to steady my nerves and after
had dressed myself l sat down to cup Of
coffee. | was thus engaged when our Ad
Iiutant, Mr.. Bowker, entered my quarters.
| babe him good morning, and asked him if
he would not take some breakfast with me.
Not now he said, shaking his head,
81 have called upon business. All, Cap
tain, this is bad affair." Do you remember
that you struck the Major last night 2"
"Yes-I remember it very well--rcmem-
Der it too well. "
"He expects you will make an apology
pursued the Adjutant.
And if do not?''
Then you must fight him"
',,lou were present, Bowker, during the
entire scene ?"
Yes"
Then Iwish you to tell me the truth,
for am free to confess that my brain was
on bit of a whirl last night. First; did ],
in my toast to Mrs. Farwe give him the
least occasion for i'll feeling p
81 could see none, Captain but you re.
member that he had been drinking"
"Exactly-and in that we were cvcn.-
And now-did he not, in the presence of the
whole company, threaten to kick me from
his quarters
And did he not lay his hands upon me
before ] struck him."
9 can not be positive, but | think he
did"
"Then," said /, drinking the last of my
coffee, Il shall make no apology"
"You willremember Captain, suggested
Bowker, that the Major is dead shot,
and that in handling the sword he has no
superior"
cared nothing at all about that. knew
the temper of our officers, and should be
held in light e,tecm if | allowed the Major
to back Inc down. Once more Bowker
asked if would apologize.
told him most emphaticaly NO"
Then, he added, Il have instructions
to deliver this note
He handed me an unsealed missive, which
found to be challenge and by it | was
informed that Adjutant Bowker was en-
powered to make all necessary arrange
ments.
My warmest friend in the regiment was
a first lieutenant named Walker, and sent
for him at once, desiring him to act as my
second. At first he tried to dissuade me
= from fighting; but when he found that
would not retract, he consented to serve
me, though | could see plainly that he liked
not the business. However he asked me if
had any instructions to give him.
Only two items, | replied. First;
will fight with pistols and second; as my
nerves are somewhat unstrung, | would like
that the affair be put off till tomorrow
morning.
Walker went out with the Adjutant, and
when he returned he informed me that the
. arrangements were all made- We were to
meet at O clock on the following morning
weapons, pistols-distancc, twelve PAGES
our two seconds to toss for choice Of po
sitions-to fire at the word of command.
After dinner | sat down alone to arrange
my affairs. | wrote several letters, which
| sealed and enclosed, in a single envelope,
5 to be sent off by my clerk in case | should
q fall My property | gave into Walker :
] charge, with instructions how to dispose of
it, When matters had been thus arranged,
it was well towards evening, and taking Il
lit e cane in my hand | walked out for a
| breath Of fresh air.
Not far from the camp were Morgan
e Falls, a wild romantic spot, where the watei
: of the river tumblcd over a huge bed oil
e broken rocks; and towards this spot bent
4 my steps. Just above the falls was bridge
o of logs, from which could be obtained ono
Of the grandest scenes that ever blessed the
# eye of an artist As reached the summit
II Of an emincnce near the falls, | saw wo.
h man and child standing upon the bridge
: but lost sight of them for while, as de.
e. sended into the shrubbery. | was just
emerging from the ticket, when sharp
Il piercing cry ofagony broke upon my ear
e sprang to the bridge, and there | saw the
d woman-alone. She was wringiug hel
: hands and shrieking like a crazy creature
IT | was not many seconds in comprehending
d the truth. Below the bridge, floating OF
the troubled waters, | saw the child, it,
s. spreading garments buoying it up and
g could hear the tiny voice calling: MAN
=, ma mamma
- There was not moment to loose. The
t child was going nearer and nearer to tn,
r. falls-nearer and nearer to its death /
ID was Il fearful risk to me; for the chances
were that ! should be taken over into thu
al kissing, boiling surge below the rocks. Blu
what was the risk to me then? If die il
~ the river ] should not stand in the way o
y Major FarwelTs bullet | had better t
IF thousand times give up my life thus thai
l. throw it away in the duel. The woman
y saw me, and appealed to me for help, bu
st my coat was off before she had discovered
g me, and in moment was in the water
l striking out with all my power.
" The child was half way from the bridg
y to the falls when | started but | swan
f. rapidly, and caught it just at the poin
id where the waters began to gather for tn
ot plunge. 1t was a girl, not more than thre
or four years old, with bright golden ringlets
to large blue eyes, and face like a cherub-
lr She casped her little arms about my nee
Id and called me Papa"
so, papa, papa-good papa-don't le
to Kitty 90 INTO the wicked place down there!
ne With all my might | held up the chilc
and struck for the shore; but it was not
en- be, | had been drawn into swift current
~ and memorial could have withstood it. Th
prospects of the morrow took from me a
is fears of the present, and | was more call
"a and collected than | might otherwise hay
IT been As soon as ] realized that | must 9
over the falls l turned every thought
lat saving the child, for even in those few m,
to mcnts, the little darling had won strange
va and deepv upon my love