The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-04-05

2 W ulC uiS bNbpfN bthA"aNo '-fN 80
prospects. and all his pretty wlies
hope, and love and heart.
! VII you knew the students as well
rs I do, Oppenheim, and understood
their mad enthusiasm for duelling, and
strange notions of honor, you would
believe that this man spoke the truth:
ado YOU know who 1t Is mesln!' 2
said Max, nervously.
~ know them all. What is his
name!'
Ferdinand kohler.'
IA most experienced swoldsman.
What practice have you had!'
"'l-I AM ashamed to say that |
have hardly ever Ind u sword in my
hand.'
"'You don't mean to say so?'
''At the time of which am speak
ing, don t believe there could have
existed two students at that, or, in
deed, in any university, who would
nave made such a confession.
IF you think, Mr.. latham, that
it is n point Of honor for me to fight
this man, am prepared to meet him,
come what Inay.'
10 this courageous and plncky
speech, without thinking Of its coilse-
qrWnees, | said, Bravo, Oppenheim.
That spoken like Il man.
"lIe didn't quite look all the cour-
ace of lis Wopl, 80 | tried to encollr-
age him.
Why. this will he a splendid
opening for YOU, said. 'Iou will
never become a swordslmn without
practice; and to own yourself igno-
rant OF the weapon, is to own your
self no student, or, indeed, gentleman,
according to the present idea.
There was another knock at my
door.
"'lIere are the gentlemen, most
probably. said he, 'Iopiiig--indced,
knowing. that you would not refuse
your assistance, begged them to
await us in the street. Shall open
the door,
Certainly. Let them in.'
There they stood, flushed with
wine. careless. and excitcd-Gernlan
students to the life. We all went out
together.
x s'Thee i a picture Of Geromp'S
which | saw once in Paris, aud Of
which see photographs in the shop
windows in London. which makes me
shudtler again. 1t is called lie Duel
di Pierrot.f On just such spot Max
Oppenheim and Ferdinand kOh!er met,
1T was Just such winters morn
ing, Just such a bleak, dreary lantl-
scape, Just the same snow thickIy
strewed on the ground.
II never look at the picture, or i'm
agine the scene, without seeing Max
/ OppenIeim's blood.
For Max Oppenheim fell that
morning mortally wounded, Oh the
snow.
I'VE saw at once that he was utterly
ignerallt of the sword, and ulrlni-
mo,gly begged Ferdinand to be gen
tie with him. 'Iust give hima scratch,
we said. and that will do | have no
doubt. in my own mind, that Ferdi-
nand lad no intention Of acting other
wise. Poor Max brought about his
own death. lie fought like a young
lion. wildly, and without a bit of head.
Ferdinand gave lunge to defend his
own life, and it was a fatal thrust for
Max Oppenheim.
There he died, where he had fought
so desperately. twas an awful thing
for all of us; and we would, one and
all, haze cut off our right hand sooner
than it should have happened.
''The last sad and painful duties
connected with Max's unfortunate
death deyolved upon myself. The
Worst part was vet to come for, be-
fore he had breathed his last, he Ell
trusted a letter to my care. aud whis-
, pered only one wortl-"Marier ~
Il had to meet, the young widow
, face to face.
"How | blamed myself for my folly
as fastened on my sad mission
How far was not accountable for the
young mans death? How easy ii
. would have been for ME to take his
part and patch the matter up! But,
no! Because a few headstrong fools,
excited with wine, had insulted the
woman he loved more than any one
else in the world--his wife. whom he
was bound to protect to the last-be-
, cause he Ind resented these insults,
and an absurd quarrel ensled, had
lent myself to a meeting between the
principal 0fIeuder, an old and expert
, enced swordsmaii, and poor Max. who
: hardly knew one end Of the sword
from the other,
"At last I arrived at the house. but
went up the stairs very slowly, and
after much hesitation, knocked.
"Marie herself came to the door.
directly she saw me she shranh
back. For some time she stood there
immovable and trembling like an as
, pen leaf. She dared not ask me on
what account ! had come there. Their
she stood, with her long, fair llail
fl,atiDg down her shoulders. S,
young, and 50 very beautiful !Ttfji
!, .'And there Istooti before her. gaz
ing into her sweet, pale, terI'iblyrstar
ing face, and did not dare to moye 81
speak word. Isse words stuck il
my throat, aud nearly cloked me-
And then she fixed me with lIel
eyes. and that look Of fear burnt int
me like melting lead. p gtt
, 10 Terrible was that look, that
was compelled to take my eyes Of
her, and look upon the ground.
I 9.. Max istle:ftf?' she slIrieked put
ting her hand to her heart, as ii tla
one effort had made it cease TO beat.
II said nothing. There wasa wild
stphystcfical sob. and tIien. filling upol
/ her knees, she moaned outa prayer
!, After that She fen apparently lifeles
to the ground. 4 sa b'6
, II shall nefcr forget that scene b
tho day of n,v death Mailing I hav y.