The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-10-22

always became intensified by stimulants
and that by the same process all sense
of humor was utterly eliminated.
"With the understanding that am
addressing myself coniidentially to men
of honor,n said the colonel, elevating his
chest above the bar-room counter of the
Prairie Rose saloon, II trust it will not
benecessary to protect myself from lev
ity, as was forced to do at Sacramento
on the only other occasion wheH | enter
ed into an explanation of this delicate
affair by-er-er-calling the individual
to personal accOunt-erl ] do not be-
lieve," added the colonel, slightly way
ing his glass of liquor in the air, with Q
graceful gesture of courteous depreca'
tion-"knowing what / do of the pres
ent company-that such course of ac.
ton is required here. Certainly not-sii
in the home of Hawkins-er-the
gentleman who represented Mr.. Bung'
starter, whose conduct good, sir, is wor'
thy of praise, blank mel"
Apparently satisfied with the gravity
and respectful attention of his listeners
Colonel Starbottle smiled relentingly and
sweetly, closed his eyes half dreamily
as if to recall his wandering thoughts
and began:
"As the spot selected was nearest the
tenement of Mr.. Hawkins, it was agreed
that the parties should meet there. They
did so promptly at halfpast six. The
morning being chilly, Mr.. Hawkins ex'
tended the hospitalities of his house
with a bottle of Bourbon whisky-oi
which all partook but myself The rea-
son of that exception is, believe, well
known. 1t is my invariable custom to
take brandy-a wineglassful in a cup oi
strong coffee, Immediately on rising. II
stimulates the functions, sir, without
producing any id arrangement of the
nerves"
The barkeeper, to whom, as an expert,
the colonel had graciously impaired this
information, nodded approvingly, and
the colonel, amid a breathless silence,
went on:
1--WE were about twenty minutes in
reaching the spot. The ground was
measured, the weapons were loaded,
when Mr.. Bungstarter confded to me
the information that he was unwell, and
in great pain On consultation with
Mr.. Hawkins, it appeared that his prin-
cipal in distant part of the field was
also suffering and in great pain! The
SYMPTOMS were such as medical men
would pronounce 'choleratic,' | say
would have pronounced, for on examina-
ton the surgeon was alss found to be
erin pain, and | regret to say, express
ing himself in language unbecoming
the occasion. His impression was that
some powerful drug had been admins
tered. On referring the question to Mr.
Hawkins, he remembered thatthe bottle
of whisky partaken of by them contain
eu medicine which he had been in the
habit of taking, but which, having failed
to act upon him, he had concluded to be
generally ineffective, and had forgotten
His perfect willingness to hold himself
personally responsible to each Of the
parties, his genuine concern at the dis
astrous effect of his mistake, mingled
with his own alarm at the state of his
system, which-er-failed to-er-re-
spond to the peculiar qualities of the
medicine, was most unbecoming to him
as a man of honor and a gentleman
After an hours delay, both principals
being completely exhausted, and aban'
doned by the the surgeon, who was un'
reasonably alarmed at his own condition
Mr.. Hawkins and / agreed TO remove
our men to Markleville. There, after q
further consultation with Mr.. Hawkins
an amiable adjustment of all difficulties
honorable to both parties, and governed
by the most profound secresy, was
arranged. l believe, added the colonel
looking around, and setting down his
glass. "no gentleman has yet expressed
himself other than satisfied with the
result"
Perhaps it was the coloneps manner
but whatever was the opinion of Five
Forks regarding the intellectual display
of Mr.. Hawkins in this affair, there was
very little outspoken criticism atthe mo
ment. In few weeks the whole thing
was forgotten, except as part of the nee
essary record of Hawkins's blunders
which was already a pretty full one
Again some later follies conspired to OBJ
literate the past, until a year later valu
able lead was discovered in the "Blazinl
Star" tunnel, in the hill where he lived
and large sum was offered him for {
portion of his land on the hilltop. Ac
customed as Five Forks had become t
the exhibition of his folly, it was Will
asfonishment that they learned that ht
resolutelv and decidedly refused thu
offer. The reason that he gave wa
still more astounding. He was about t
build!
To build a house upon property tina
was available for mining purposes wa
preposterons; to build at all with roo
already covering him was an act OF ex
travagance; to build house of the styl'
he proposed was simply madnessl
Yet here were facts. The plans wer'
made, and the lumber for the new build
ing was already on the ground, Will,
theshaft of the Blazing Star" was beinl
sunk below. The site was, in reality, ;
very picturesque one-the building itsel
of style and quality hitherto unknown
in Five Forks. The citizens, at frs
skeptical, during their moments of re
creation and idleness gathered doubt
ingly about the locality. Day by day, il
that climate of rapid growths, the build
ing pleasantly known in the slang o
Five Forks as "the Idiot Asylum" rost
beside the green oaks and clustering fir
of Hawkins hill as if it were part of tn,
natural phenomena. At last it was com
pleted. Then Mr.. Hawkins proceeded
tofurnish it with an expensiVeness anC
extravaganza of outlay quite in keeping
with his former idiocy. Carpets, sofas
mirrors, and, finally, a piano-the onl.
one known in the county, and brOugh
at great expense from Sacramento-kep
curiosity at fever heat. More than that
there were articles and ornaments whicl
few married experts declared fit onl.
for women. When the furnishing of tn,
house was complete-it had occupied
two months of speculative and curieu
attention of the camp-Mr. Hawkin
locked the front door, put the key in hi
pocket and quietly retired to, a NOR
humble roof, lower on the hillside.
1 have not deemed it necessary to in