Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1872-01-10

lDclC WIS q IRISH VI SCL4GLAluE AlhC
pride in his eyes, and s toue Of dignity
In his voice, as lie gave me the follow
ing explanation.
! Last night my wife was very anxioui
20 see the masqueraders 90 10 the ball.
I didn'tgue much harm IN this simple
wish, and said that had 40 objection
to take her. We took up our position
under the trees, away from the crowd
where [ imagined We should be able to
see everything, without being il any
way disturbed. il may appear strange
but fancied somehow that all would
not 20 we'll. One has these odd present
iments at time, you know; and, il
iitis no use denying that they do occur.
Net doubt of it, said ].
: party Of students, rs iil-iucA would
have it, passed by the very spot where
/ we were standing, and recognized me.
They surrounded Us. I suppose they
had been dining 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 believe that
they were ignorant that she wGs my
wife.
/ lam sure they must have been, said
/ consuling him, for there was wild look
apout his eyes when he alluded to bis
wife, which rather frightened NE,
Hell, informed them Of this relation
ship in which we stood 10 enc another,
told you the same Mr.. Tatham, you
may remember, and, like a gentleman
you believed me. These young ru11ians
simply laughed IN my face. I had to
defend my poor wife against their coarse
and cowardly attacks, and to compel
I their silence as bestI could. By degrees
they left he, one by one. One solitary
/ individual remained. He was the ring,
leader, the most offensive, the most I'M
pardonablc. Swapping his fingers in
my face, he said, I consider have been
grossly insulted by you, Mr.. Max OPP
peuheim. ! should expect satisfaction
Eto-morrow, if there is an atom Of pluck
/ IN your composition.
Well, what then2
/ I have told yea ali, Mr.. latham. The
/ thought struck me once or twice during
the night that such foolish and triyi-
al affair would bc allowed to drop as
hastily as it began. l thought, perhaps,
the morning would bring with It sober
reflections, and that, happily, an apollo
gy might be offered me for the gratuit-
Gus insults [ received st the hands Of
my fellow-students However, this
morning, almost at daybreak, receiv-
ed Z ffEtt II ffft,I.a tlFsgf them, stiII n tbeir
| fancy breasts. They came TO ask me If
I had made any preparations. They as
sured me that my adversary-hesven
knows bear him no malice-was de-
termined not to rest until he had OBJ
iained satisfaction for the injuries inffct-
ed on him.
Poor Max. think see him now, US
he stood talking to me in the cold, gray,
morning light, so frankly, 50 earnestly,
and with such charming modesty. But
was a young fool then, and never al
lowed my heart to be broke. How this
young, promising fellow, stood at my
bedside, eonfiding to my care his hap
py, brilliant life and prospects, and all
his pretty wife's hope, and love, and
heart.
If you know the fellows as we'll as 1
do, Oppenheim, and understood their
mad enthusiasm for dueiling, and
strange notions Of honor, you would
believe that this man spoke the truth.
Do you know who it is mean? said
Max, nervously.
] know them all. What is his name?
Ferdinand Rohler.
A most experienced swordsman.-
What practice have you had?
II am ashamed to say that I have
hardly ever had a sword in my hand.
You don't mean 10 say so?
AT this time of which am speaking,
1 don't believe that there could have eI-
listed two students at that, or, indeed,
i'll any university, who would have
made such confession.
If yoI think, Mr.. latham, that it is a
point Of honor fer me TO fight this man,
I am prepared to meet him, come what
may.
To this courageous and plucky speech,
without thinking Of its consequences, I
said, Bravo, Oppenheim! That's spok-
Ell like man!
He didn't quite jook all the courage Of
his word, so tried to encourage him.
Why, this will bo Il splendid opening
for you, said. You will never become
a swordsman without practice; and to be
ignorant 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.
Here are the gentlemen, most PROB
ably, said he. Hoping indeed, know
ing, that you would not refuse your as
5istanee. begged them TO await u in
the street. Shall open the door?
Certainly. Let them in.
There they stood, flushed with wine,
careless, and excited--GermaR students
to the life. We all went out together.
There = u picture Of Geromes which
I saw once in Paris, and OF which see
photographs in the shopwindows in
London, which makes me shudder
again. II is called lie Duel di Pierrot.
On just such spot Max Oppenheim and
Ferdinand Kohler met.
It was just such a bleak, dreard land
scape, just the same snow thickly strew-,
ed on tie ground.
/ never lool, Al the pictures, or im-
asime the seene, without seeing Max Op.