New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-03
and began joking him about the fair appari-


alt was Madame Oppenheim, tell you,
SIR said the pale-faced Max, getting irri-
tated: and l beg that her name may he
treated with respect
Il was half inclined to treat the matter as
Joke, and fully believe should not have
been inclined to let the conversation drop 40
suddenly with anyone else, but as told
you just now. in my heart esteemed Max
thoroughly and knew him to be by no
means "a bad fellow. Between you and me,
really liked him, only did not like to own
1t. we are all desperately weak, some
times
This little alteration of ours was trivial
enough, but it had its ill effects, notwith-
standing.
'Betore it happened we were in the habit
OF shaking hands and exchanging few
friendly words wlren we met. This was all
knocked on the head after it. We bowed
coldly to one another when we met, and in
time even the bows became few and far be-
tween.
And then the months slipped away, and
the winter came, and with it-at least, not
very long afterward--the carnival.
''Of course | went to the carnival ball,
and in costume. l remember it WE'LL it was
a Pierrot dress. danced all night. and got
back to my lodgings at some unearthly hour
in the morning.
IL threw myself on the bed, dead tired as
l was: too sleepy, i'll fact, to take OH scrap
of my costume.
IL had fallen asleep outside the he'd, but
was awakened bv a loud knocking at my
door. | had heard the knocking tor some
minutes. and it mixed itself Enthusiastically
enough with my dreams.
"StIil The Knocking went on; but when |
heard NV Fame repeated two or three times
! II fart .l m suddenly
."Cone income III 7 | cried, still con-
fused aud very sleepy.
The door olcued, and a man walked into
my room.
1T was Max Orpenhcim.
lie seemed very much agitated, and was
as pale as death
"Why. Oppenheim, what on earth can
yon want with me at this hour OF the morn
ing!' said |. rubbing my eyes, and looking
couiical enough, L should think, IN my
tumblrd Pitrriot dress.
MIR. Tatham.' said he. hesitatins little;
and with broken voice, you have shown
me kindness before now: | have come to
ask you to do me great favor
by all means; what can l do y
Max Oppenheim took two or three turns
up and down my room, hesitated once or
twice but at last commanded himself and
said. in nervous, anxious manner, GU
can not conceive how sorry l am to put you
to any trouble or annoyance, Mr.. latham;
but. to deal honestly with you, let me say
YOU are the only man know how to appeal
to in my present unhappy condition i
have heard, and believe / am correct in
believing, that in affairs of honor, as they
are called here, you are somewhat expert.
my dear fellow replied l. now thor
oughly surprised, you don't mean to tell
me that duel is on the cards! z
Yes
""And you intend to fght.'
'He looked me steadily in the face.
There was flash of something like pride
in his eyes, and tone OF dignity in his
voice, as he gave me the following explana-
ton
LAST night my wife was very anxious
to see the masqueraders 60 to the ball.
didn't see much harm IN this simple wish,
and said that l had no objection to take
her. We took up our position under the
trees. away from the crowd, where l i'm
agned we should be able to see everything
without being in any way disturbed. 1t
may appear strange, but l fancied some
how that all would not go well. One has
these odd presentimcnts at times. you
know: and. although it is perfectly impos-
sible to account for them, it is no use deny
ing that they do occur.
mot doubt of it, said l.
So A party of students, as i'll luck would
have it, passed by the very spot where we
were standing. and recognized me. They
us. | suppose they had been
drinking freely At any rate. they insulted
me grossly: but this could have endured.
They heaped their insults upon her who was
with me. | will do them the justice to be-
lieve that they were ignorant that she was
my wife.
80. am sure they must have been. said l,
him for there was wild look
about his eyes when he alluded to his wife
which rather frightened me.
"'Well, | informed them OF the relation
ship in which we stood to one another. l
told YOU the same, Mr.. latham. You may
remember, and. like gentleman. you be-
lieved me. These young rutfians simply
laughed in my face. L had to defend my
poor wife against their coarse and cOwardly
attacks, and to compel their silence as best
could. BY degrees they left me one by
He was the ringleader, the most offensive,
the most objectionable. Swapping his
fingers in my face, he said, Il consider l
have been grossly insulted by you, Mr.
Max Oppenheim; shall expect satisfac
ton to morrow, if there is an atom OF pluck
in your composition
well, what them!
81 have told you all, Mr.. latham. The
thought struck me once or twice during
the night that such a foolish and trivial
flair would be allowed to drop as hastily
as it began. thought, perhaps, the morn
ing would bring with it sober reflections.
and that happily an apology might be
offered me for the gratuitOus insults | re-
ceived at the hands of my fellow students.
However. this morning, almost at daybreak,
| received visit from two of them, still in
their fancy dresses. They came to ask me
if | had made any preparations. They
assured me that my adversary-Heaven
knows l bear him no malice-was deter
mined not to rest until he had obtained
satisfaction for the injuries inflicted on him.
He never liked me. this man. and bears me
some strange malice. He is clever fellow,
but idle and / think he is little bit jeal-
,us of nv success in the univ ersity.
Poor Max think l see him now, as he
stood talking to me in the cold. gray morn
ng light. so frankly. so earnestly, and with
such charming mOdesty. But was young
fool then. and never allowed my heart to
break How this young, promising fellow
stood at my bedside, contiding to my ear
his happy, brilliant life and prospects, ana
all his pretty wife's hope and heart: Like
a fool that was. I understood nothing OF
this. | thought like a fool, and like a fool
answered.
''If YOU knew the fellows as well as do.
Oppenheim, and understood their mad en-
thusiasm for dueiing, and strange notions
of honor, you would believe that this man
spoke the truth. He will not rest until he
has bad satisfaction
"'Do you know who it is mean , said
Max. nervously.
"I know them all. What is his name ?
"'Fcrdinand Koher
"a most experienced swordsman What
practice have you had !!
IL am ashamed to say that have
hardly ever had a sword in my hand
You don't mean TO say SOP"
"At this time OF which | am speaking l