The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-06-04

a
Mentally deciding that it might not
prudent to have an alteration with sue
person, l hastened to assure my com
panion that it might have been an acci
dent.
"No," said she, very decidedly. "I
was not an accident. 1t was intentional
l wish you to demand an apology in m,
name."
"Don't you think it would be better,
said ], in great embarrassment, to trea
him with silent contempt"
SOphrOnia was by no means of tha
opinion. Accordingly approached tn
gentleman, who appeared still more for
midable on nearer view, and asked, il
what was intended to be resolute tone
"What he meant by insulting the lad,
under my charger
"Sir-r-rp he calculated, wheelin,
sharply around.
repeated my request in a fainter tone
and suggested that ! trusted it wa
accidental on his part.
Stroking his mustache very fiercely, h,
informed me that he had no explanation
to make that if l wished to hear from
him at any time, I should have an oppor
tunity, and forthwith presented me hi
card.
Without stopping to look at it, slunl
away in the crowd, and soon reached
home.
My companion intimated that she sup
posed l should seek satisfaction in the
usual way.
said something indistinctly--I am not
sure exactly what--and very thankfully
took leave of the fair Sophronia in the
entry.
Reaching my chamber, examined the
card which had been placed in my hand
and found inscribed thereon the name oi
Captain Achilles Brown, AstOr House.
Very probably he was distinguished by
the same qualities which characterized
his great namesake, and it made me shiver
even to think of conflict with him. Re
solving that I would at least take every
possible means to avoid it, l went to bed
and sank into slumber disturbed by
frightful dreams, in which 1 fancied my
self shot through the heart by the terri
BILE Achilles Brown.
Early next morning while in the mo-
mentary expectation of hearing the
breakfast-bell was startled by knock at
the door. Immediately afterward entered
tall man, bearded like a pard."
He introduced himself to me as cousin
of Sophronia, and intimated that, having
heard of my difficulty of the previous
evening, he had come to offer his services
as my second.
Thanking him for his kindness, I said
that had not, as yet, decided to call out
the gentleman in question.
"Not yet decided w repeated my visit
or, springing to his feet, causing me
thereby to recede two PAGES, in some per-
sonal apprehension "not yet decided |!
But perhaps 1 do not understand you? %
l intimated, rather uncomfortably,
that had conscientious scruples against
the practice of the duello.
Conscientious fddlesticks ~ inter-
rupted my visitor. "Sir you must fight.
There is no alternative. A lady has been
insulted while under your protection.
That lady is my cousin. Unless you
take notice of it, Imust."
But you have no quarrel with Cap
tain Brown" l said.
"You misunderstood me-" said he,
gravely. "Unless you challenge Cap
tain Brown, l shall understand it as per-
sonal disrespect to my cousin, and shall
challenge you. Choose which of us you
will fight"
This was said so resolutely that l sue
cumbed at once. / reflected that, while
there was equal danger to be incurred in
a duel with my visitor, there would be
less credit.
"Shall / write the missive ?' inquired
my companion, who called himself Lieu
tenant Eustace.
eyes" said 1, family.
He sat down at my desk, and in few
minutes produced the following:
",Sir You grossly insulted young
lady while under my protection, last
evening. As a man of honor, call upon
you either for an ample apology, or for
the usual satisfaction accorded in such
cases. send this by Lieutenant Eustace,
who is authorized to act as my friend.
"YOurs, ETC., PETER SMITH.
CAPTAIN ACHILLES BROWN"
Having signed this, with some mis-
givings, Inquired as to the character of
this Captain Brown.
"I don't know much about him." said
my friend, "but presume he is a regu-
lar fire-eater."
This was satisfactery---very.
"Suppose," said /, in a tremulous
voice, you erase the word ample before
apology shall consider the apology
sufficient"
"But shall not" was the Lieuten-
ants emphatic reply.
There was no more to be said. He de-
parted with his missive; and was left in
no very enviable frame of mind; on his
return, "Has he apologized % I in
quired, eagerly.
"Not Bit of it," was the reply; "he
vows that he will shed the last drop of his
blood first"
"What a sanguine monster he must
be-" was my internal reflection.
"The meeting is appointed for to-
morrow morning, an hour before sunrise"
resumed the lieutenant. 1T is to take
place at Hoboken; weapons, pistols;
distance fifteen paces."
"Isn't that rather nearw ventured to
remark.
"NearY OF course you want it near.
You will be more likely to hit your man."
And he will be more likely to hit
me-" / rejoined.
"Of course" was the careless reply.
"You must take your chances of that"
Ieould not help wondering whether he
would be so cool about it If he were the
principal, and 1 were the second. In
fact, Ihave always observed that seconds
are much more scrupulous about the
honor of their principals than they are
disposed to be about their own. Isup-
pose it is human nature. / think it alto
gether likely that should make a very
fierce second.
"Isuppose you are used to pistols 2" re-
marked my friend.
Used to pistols remembered once
having fired one at a boy, to the imminent
danger of my little sisters life. Since
then / have not had one in my hands.
AS strolled out into the streets in an
unhappy frame of mind, a newsboy
thrust into my hand daily paper, which
/ mechanically bought. Glancing over
the columns, observed that boat was
advertised as about TO start that day for