The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-07-29
KirWan's Duel.

Few affairs Of honor have been sur
passed in real Irish fun by one which
took place in Dublin, in which the
celebrated fire-eater and champion Of
the Dublin Corporation, D'Esterre,
afterward shot by O'Cornell, came out
In "a new way to pay old debts" and
had his overstrained notions of chiv-
airy turned into successful ridicule by
an honest, plain-dealing mans moth
er wit and common sense. D'Esterre
used to put his name to paper without
thought Of payment. One day Billy
Kirwan, q well-knOwn bill. broker,
was offered a bundle of bills for dis
count. 1t was Mr. Kirwan's boast
that he instinctively knew tad "Pa-
per" by the feel Of il.
"There's bad paper in your lot, /
can perceive, sir, without taking the
trouble TO look over it seri dh tim ct
Eite-rdh tinl," remarked Billy, who
had been originally intended by his
pious Galway parents for the Church,
and had, in his boyhood, a decent
converse with the preliminaries of
the classics. "FdenlII7l hdbet IN cOr7alG, "
he continued, "as a body might say OF
a spawned horse. You had better re-
move it, IL you playse sir, before /
have anything to say to you for
wouldn't touch it with pair Of kitch-
en- tOngs, much less dirty my hands
with it."
81 am astOnished to hear you say
so, sir" said the merchant, "and
would you be pleased to mention what
it is In my hand that encounters your
objection ?"
"Why, a certain acceptance signed
II. DESterre, and, if you must know
my opinion, would not advance the
value Ofa brass button on all that a
jackass cOuld draw on the same Sc
curity."
"Good heavens and why not ?"
"FOr rayson have; and nobody
knows it better than Mr.. D'Esterre
himself" answered Kirwan.
AS Mr.. Kirwan was sitting alone
after dinner the same evening, enjoy
ing his pipe and his glass of punch
over one of McGhee's late leaders in
the Evening Post, or, Just as probable,
one Of Dan OiConnell's earlier speech
es in favor of Catholic emancipation,
the servant came in with a card from
Col. Henry.
"Who's Col. Henry ?' demanded
KirWRn.
Faith and it's meself doesn't know
him from the man in the mOon."
"Rowl in the Colonel, and lay an
other tumbler," said the master of the
house.
Col. Henry, a tall and gentIemanly-
looking man of middle age was usher
ed in. -t-I.
mighty glad to see you, Colonel,
whatever you've come 'bOut,D said
our host "but before you begin I
would advise you to mix q tumb bier OF
that excellent J0lIlHy ROl0er that's
forenent you. II you take it off at
once, 1T will pull you through the
opening part Of your business pleas
sntly and comfortably and then you
can mix second at once TO prepare
you for contingencies"
Colonel Henry having taken Kir-
vans advice so far as mixing, but not
suddenly absorbing, the liquor, Open
ed his business with ali the grandeur
of perfect Sir Lucius, as in days long
gone by Jack johnson used to enact
the part, not Tyrone Power.
The Colonel very much regretted
that it fell to his lot to have to deliv-
er hostile message 10 q gentleman
OF such respectability as Mr.. KirWan
from one equally respectable and es-
timsble as Mr.. D'Esterre. He repeat
ed the injurious and insulting express
sions which the gentleman whom he
had the honor Of addressing had made
use OF in speaking of his friend during
the day to certain merchant in the
Commercial Buildings, and which had
Travelled the rounds of the city before
nightfall. He pointed out, moreover,
the utter impossibility of Mr.. D'Es-
terre's allowing such an outrage on
his name and character to be uttered
and sent forth to the world without
demanding the satisfaction of a gen
tleman.
''Then, Colonel, honey, come to the
point, and just tell ms what is it that
you want" demanded Kirwan.
"An apology or the alternative."
(which means that must eat nv
words or fight ?''
"Most decidedly"
"It can't be done for the monev.u
''For the money ?'
"Yes, for the money. I'd be glad %
accommodate you, my dear Colonel,
in any way in my power; but the
money stands in my way most COM
pletely and entirely"
Colonel Henry looked beWildered
Kirwan's GrglfBlesltlEnl dd crunlezan,
was evidently beyond him. "Whai
money =? whose money ?" he exclaim.
ed.
"Why, my money, to be sure; tht
money that your respectable friend
Mr.. DEsterre, owes me this las
couple Of years-nOthing more no
less than a cool hundred, Independent
Of interest and expenses. Ilent II {,
him at first not as a matter of bust
ness, but on his pledge word Of homo
that bed return it to me st the timt
be promised and upon my homo
and soul, he hasn't done so from ths
day to this"
The Colonel doubted what ne had b
do with the money question.
Everything" said Kirwan, 'fl
the regard OF your not having Tia
ghost of an argument on your cid