New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-03
THE FATAL DUE Il.

THE FATAL DUEL
Old DR.. latham was sitting costly with
his daughter. one morning, when the ser
want came in and announced MIR. Irving
and his son.
Leave us, Amy, darling, for a short
time, will your said the doctor to his
daughter III will send Walter tic you di-
rect1y. but wish to speak few words to
him first"
Amy latham was charming girl, in the
fresh bloom of youth and beauty. l don't
think 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 Irving men
toned. Walter Irving was certainly very
lucky fellow, and l think, if the truth be
told, when old DR.. latham kissed his
daughter, preparatory to her fulfilling his
sentence of exile, think he thought so, too.
Bother business, dear papa" said willful
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. Goodby, you old dear
When Amy latham had left the room the
doctor turned toward the servant, who
still stood at the door.
"Ask Mr.. Irving and his son to walk in,
please and don't let me be disturbed un-
less there is something very important to
be DONE
Mr.. Irving was fine looking old gentle
man: his son not so tai or of such com
handing presence. but intelligent looking.
After commenting on few ordinary
topics of conversation, Mr.. Irving was
about to come to the point, and explain
more particularly the object of his visit on
thin occasion, when he was stopped by the
doctor.
'.I beg pardon" said he, ''but may l be
allowed to interrupt you for moment. 1t
would be absurd of me to affect ignorance
of the object of your visit. Before, how
ever | can listen to what either you or
your son have got to say, have something
very important to divulge. l must take
you into my confidence. and relate some
thing which is necessary that yOu should
kuow-a secret which | fearlessly entrust
to YOU"
Walter irving rose.
The doctor appreciated the modest diff
dence of the young man, as he showed by
the smile which played over his features.
He motioned him, however, to lis seat
again.
MY dear boy said the doctor, Il beg
that YOU will remain. What | have to say
affects you more particularly than anyone
else here. You have been good son, and
l feel confident that you will make an excel
lent husband. Your love for my daughter
is warm and generous; but promise now
promise me, the father of the girl you love
and desire to marry-promlse me as gen
tleman that you are, that you Will re-
Ggiously keep my secret. Keep it-yes,
even from my daughter
The doctor said these words in strange
" excited manner.
Mr.. Irving and his son were evidently not
prepared for so serious an interview. How
ever, they promised to faithfully obey the
doctors earnest request, and waited pa
tiently for him to continue.
The doctor looked round in his chair. to
assure himself that they were alone, and
then, clearing his throat and addressing
himself more particularly to young Walter
Irving, spoke as follows:
Eight and twenty years ago was study
ing medicine at IA German university. 1t
was at Heidelberg. | did not take up this
study until late in life: in fact, considerably
after l had taken my degree at Oxford l
was intended originally. as you may know,
scruples, l shirked orders and devoted my
self, among other things, to the study of
medicine in a small way.
''When | first took up my residence in
Heidelberg, the somewhat absurd custom
of duelling between the students was in
vogue. OF course, | need not tell you that
these duels are not necessarily such serious
matters as WOulu SEEM Natural W us from
the term. At that time, however, they
were more serious than they are now, the
custom of swathing the combattants, with
the exception of a small portion of the face,
being then almost uuheard OF.
..The students were mad on the subject
of iueIpg, and the slightest disturbance
resulted in a formal and hostile encounter
Hardly day passed that some duel OF
other did not take place. The students
fought occasionally with the officers with
the townspeople, and, neeo hardly auo'
perpetually among themselves:
II was a strong, muscular fellow when L
went TO Heidelberg, and the love for adyen.
ture and sports of all kinds, which l had
inherited at school and fOstered at college,
was not easily to be got rid Of. >.
"A little way from my lodging lved
voung studeut, who was as unlike me, or
anv in nv set, as black is from WHITE. lie
was the kind OF a fellow we should nave
called ',nlksop' at school; and yet, some
how or other, felt | could not dislike Inc
fellow.
81 will candidly own. however, that was
heartily ashamed of my secret plclerehG!,e
for my neighbor, and took every aVaii-
able opportunity of sitting II. ,
"Max Oppenhcim-for that was my nelgh-
bor's name-was a pale-faced, stuaions
looking Young man, and perfect modGi Oh
a student. He was always being held up
as a nattern to u.s. He was never known To
miss a lecture: was never seen at the gast-
haus: didn't smoke. drink beer-did nothing
wicked. in fact. Max Oppenhelm was our
"Outside the university he never joined
his fellow students. and was never Known
to invite them home.
Zone morning, as was smoking cigar
cite on the balcony outside any slVtinsiooii,
l saw, to my surprise, over the way. pretty
fair head peeping out OF Oppenhelm WIZ
dow. The head popped back Immediately
| was detected.
81 laughed to myself, and thought WHAT
a good story would make out OF 1t fof the
benefit of my friends.
"That evening before l had an opp0rtu-
nity of doing this, happened to meet Max