The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-01-04
THE FATAL DUEL.


want came in. and announced Mr.. Irving
and his son.
''Leave US, Amy, darling. for short
time, will you?'' said the doctor, to his
daughter.
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 sud-
denly when she heard the name "Walter
Irving" mentioned.
Bother business dear papai'' said will
ful 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. Goodbye,
you old dear.
When Amy latham bad left the room,
.he doctor turned towards the servant,
who still stood at the door.
ASK Mr.. Irving AID his son to walk
In. please, and DON t let me be disturbed
unless there is something very impor-
tant to be DONE
Mr.. Irving was a fne-looking old gen.
. tleman of the Colonel Newceme stamp !;
his son not so tall, or Of such command
ing presence, but intelligent looking, and
also geatlemanly. The father was about
sixty; the son twenty-five, but looking
evidently younger.
After commencing 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 this occasion, when he was stopped
by the doctor.
II beg pardon said he, "but may l
be allowed to interrupt you for mo-
ment. It would be absurd of me, to af-
feet ignorance of the object OF your visit.
Before, however. I can listen to what
either you or your son have got to say,
[ have something very important to d.
vulge. must take you into my conf
dence, and relate something which it is
necessary you should know-a secret
which l fearlessly entrust to YOU"
Walter. Irving rose.
The doctor appreciated the modest dit
fdence of the young man, as he showed
by the smile which played over his fea-
lures.
My dear boy said the doctor, 81
beg that you will remain. What l have
to say affects you more particularly than
any one else here. You have been a good
son, and | feel confident that you will
make an excellent husband. Your love
for my daughter is warm and generous
but promise me now-promise me, the
father of the girl you love and desire to
marry-promise me, as the gentleman
that you are, that you will religiously
keep my secret. Keep it; yes, even
from my daughter -
Mr.. Irving and his son were evidently
not prepared for so serious an interview.
However, they promised faithfully to
obey the doctors earnest request, and
waited patiently for him to continue.
The doctor looked round 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
'Elght-and-twenty years ago I was
studying medicine at German univer-
sity 1t was atsHeidelberg. I did not
take up this study until late in life, in
fact, considerably after l had taken my
degree at Oxford.
when first took up my residence in
Heidelberg, the somewhat absurd Gus
tom of dneling between the students was
in vogue
The students were mad on the sub
ject of dueling, and the slightest distur-
bance resulted in formal and hostile en-
counter. Hardly day passed that some
duel or other did not take place. The
students fought occasionally. with the
officers, with the townspeople, and need
hardly add, perpetually among them
selves.
Il was strong muscular fellow when
went to Heidelberg, and the love for
adventure and sports of all kinds, which
had Inherited at school and fostered at
college, was not easily to be got rid Of"
L was as wild and as headstrong as
any of them My strong and un1inch-
ing English spirit and determination
gained me reputation even among these
dare devil German boys, and very soon
| became noted as reckless fellow and
experienced duellist. l became the
leader of a clique.
"A very little way from where nv
lodgings were, lived 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 'milksop'
at school and yet, somehow or other, |
felt that I could not dislike the fellow.
Instinctively-I don't know how it was
but [ took to him. Ones likes are,
after all. as incomprehensible as our
dislikes"
Max Oppenheim for that was my
neighbor's name-was pale-faced stu
oious-looking young man, and perfect
model of a student. He was always be-
ing held up rs a pattern to rs. He was
never known to miss lecture he was
never seen at the gasthaus; didn't
smoke, drink beer-did nothing wicked,
fact"
i forgot to say that he lodged exact
ly opposite where was residing. so my
window commanded his