The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-03-07
The Fatal Duel.

ne dtdi Uuel.
Old DR.. latham was sitting costly with
his daughter one morning. when the ser
want came in, and announced Mr. Irving
and his son.
'Leave us, Amy. darling. for a short
time, will you2" said the doctor to his
daughter
Amy latham was charming girl in
fresh bloom of youth and beauty don't
| thing she quite liked being sent away Just
At that moment. and it is quite certain
that she raised her head very suddenly
when she heard the name "Walter Irv-
ing mentioned.
Bother business, dear papa" said will
full Amy; "but remember YOU have
! promised not TO keep me away long, and
if YOU don't keep Your word. | shall come
in and surprise yOu. Good-by, You old
dear"
When Amy latham had left the room,
the doctor turned toward the servant, who
still stood at the door.
TASK Mr.. Irving and his son 70 walk
in, please, and don't let me be disturbed
unless there is something very important
to he done
Mr.. Irving was a tine-looking old gen
tleman of the Colonel Newcome stamp;
his son not so tail, or Of such command
ING presence. but Misunderstanding and
also gentlemanly. The father was about
sixty; the son twenty-five, but looking
| evidently younger.
After commencing on n few ordinary
topics of conversation, Mr.. Irving was
about to come to the point, and explain
| more particularly the object of hi, visit
on this occasion, when he was stopped by
the doctor.
Il beg pardon said he. "but may be
allowed to interrupt You for a moment.
II would be absurd 81 me To affect igno-
rance OF the object of Your visit Before,
however, ] can listen to what either you
or your son have got to say, have some
thing very important to divulge. must
take You into my confidence, and relate
something which il is necessary You
should know-a secret which tearlessly
! intrust TO you.N
\ Walter Irving rose.
I The doctor appreciated the modest dif-
tldence Of the Young man. As he showed
by the smile which played over his
features
| MY dear boy, sald the doctor. Il beg
that You Will remain. What have to
$4,000
one else here. You have been good
son, and teel conndent that YOU Will
make an excellent husband. 1oul love
but promise me, the father OF the Girl you
as the gentleman that you are, that You
/ VIII reilglou>lY keep my secret, Keep 1t
| yes, even from my daughter"
Mr. ITTIOp and his O don't lV
! nor prepared Tor so serious an interview.
/ However, they promised faithfully to obey
/ the doctor earnest request, and waited
1 patiently tor nm to continue.
/ The doctor looked around in his chair,
to assure himself That they were alone,
and then. clearing his throat and ad-
dressing himself more particularly to
| young Walter Irving, spoke as follows:
ght-andtwenty years ago | was
studying medicine at a German university.
1t was at heidelberg. | did not take up
this study until late in lite, in fact, con
| Siderably after | had taken my degree at
Oxford.
'When | first took up my residence in
| Heidelberg, the somewhat absurd custom
of dueling between the students was in
vogue.
nv 7tuNphto Ncit lleii Cli tiIt SuyIcbl
of dueling, and the slightest disturbance
resulted IN ormal and hostile encounter.
Hardly day passed that some duel or
other did not take place. The students
fought occa ssionallv with the officers,
with the townspeople, and, need hardly
add. perpetually among themselves.
II was a strong. muscular fellow when
| went to H, idelberg, and the love for ad-
n,,I - a., ,.L |
had inherited at school and fostered at
college, was not easily to be got rid Of
Il was as wild and headstrong as any
Of them. Nv strong and untlinching
English spirit and determination gained
me reputation even among these dare
devil German boys, and very soon | be-
came noted as a reckless fellow and an
experienced duelist. | became leader
Of clique.
"A very little way from where nv
lodgings were, lived a young student, but
who was as unlike me, or any in my set,
as black is from white. He was the kind
of fellow we should have called milk
sop at school, and yet, somehow or other,
felt | could not dislike the fellow. In
stinctively-I don't know how it was-but
| took to him. Ones likes are after all
as incomprehensible as our 'dslikes.'
"Max Oppenheim - for that was my
neighbor's name-was pale faced, stu
dious looking Young man. and perfect