The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-03-07
The Three Mellon Seeds.

Iue Inret mellOH DetuS.
TN August, 1909, three young gentle
Il men were dining at Crockford's, in
London. 1t was getting late. They had
sat long over their wine, and were bois-
ferrous in their mirth as they discussed
the merits Of watermelon just set be-
fore them In the midst of their talk
stranger-an elderly man, wearing a
gray surtout closely buttoned up to the
throat, and shabby hat-entered the
room, and seating himself at the end of
an unoccupied table, ordered a mutton
chop and glass Of ale. There was
nothing sufficiently peculiar about him to
attract observation. He might have been
taken for country magistrate or coun-
ty attorney. The expression of his
countenance was serious, his manners
were quiet, and his bearing that of gen.
tie breeding.
As he was eating his chop and slipping
his ale, apparently unconscious of the
rather boisterous merriment of his neigh
bors, melon-seed struck his right ear
Raising his eyes, and seeing that the
seed had been purposely though sport
lively snapped, and that no apology was
made for the petty impertinence, he pick
ed up the seed, and wrapping it in paper
put into his pocket. Resuming his re-
past, second seed shortly struck him on
the right elbow. This was followed by
shout of laughter. With scarcely
change Of the grave expression of his
face, the stranger stopped, picked up the
seed, and carefully deposited it with the
first. A third followed, with some deri-
sive word, as it sped from the halfdrunk
young blood, which, striking the stranger
on the breast of his coat, was also picked
up and put with the first two, when ris-
ing, walking calmly toward the offender,
and unbuttoning his coat, he laid his card
on the table. He had on an undress mil
itary suit. His card showed his rank
Of course, there was no room for retreat.
A lieutenant colonel in the British army
requires no certificate of gentle blood
No words passed, the young gentleman
offered his own card in exchange, the Of
ficer returned to his meal, and the young
men, somewhat sobered, shortly with
drew.
The next morning a note arrived at
the agressor's residence, conveying chal-
lenge in form, and one of the melon Seeds
The truth then flashed upon the chal-
lenged party, that his unwarrantable
frolc was likely to be somewhat serious
affair. The code, however, admitted on
ly duel or disgrace. Accepting the chal-
lenge, naming pistols as weapons, and
gaining by toss the first shot, the young
man fred and missed his opponent The
officer leveled his pistol in return, and
sent the ball through the flap of the Of
tenders ear-the place the first melon
seed, snapped the previous evening, had
actually hit.
A month passed. Nothing more had
been heard from the Colonel. He had
satisfaction for an insult which however
unprovoked, was thoughtless, and which
it was hoped he had forgiven. Not so.
Another note, presented by the same
friend, conveying in courteous phrase a
second challenge, with another of those
accursed melon-seeds, arrived with the
Colonels apology on the score of ill-health
for not sending it before They met
again. This time the fire was simultane-
GUS The aggressor's shot failed The
Colonel, on the contrary, shattered with
his ball the right elbow of bis antago-
mist.
This was terrible The romance of
exquisite skill was turned into drama of
slaughter. The third melon seed was to
come, and it was that which aimed at
the breast of the unoffending stranger,
had struck, amid cheers of derisive
laughter, directly above his heart. What
instructor ever taught good behavior
like this The note arrived at last. 1t
contained the melon-seed, but no chal-
lenge.
"And what, sir" asked the young
man OF the messenger, IAN l to under
stand by this?'
" You will understand sir, that my
friend forgives you. He is dead !"