The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-01-15

me. You shall hear from me to-mor-
row."
Expostulation was out Of the question.
The gentleman was peremptory and
Blinlerman, forced to give his card,
found himself alone in moment more,
card in hand.
Well, If ever A duel in prospect!
Ethan Allen Gray Got good name.
But 1t will be no satisfaction to me to be
shot by a man with good name. Dear
me never thought that Ethan Allen
would ever have shot at me, or that /
should wait till 1 was sighted, be-
fore i was called upon to fight duel.-
Never mind hope, if do fall, that he
will hit me in the eyes, for they have
caused all the mischief. 1t appears to
me, since L came back, that almost
everybody is either avoiding or rebuking
me. What have doneY 1t never was
so before. 1 must have been sandered
while abroad. 1t is true that have not
always been circumspect. But they
didn't know. Besides, was no worse
than others. / wonder what kind of
challenge the fellow will send. I'll re-
fuse it at first, at any rate; even if his
name is Gray, with an Ethan Allen
to it,"
On the following day he received
challenge, briefly worded, for offering an
audacious, unmstakable, premeditated
insult to two young ladies', the offense
being aggravated by being committed in
the presence of their protector That
protector now demanded the satisfaction
due to gentleman.
He wrote an apology, refusing and ex-
planning that he was near-sighted.
He was answered that his subterfuge
was useless. He must come to the field
of honor.
" WON'T / won't be fool It's too
bad to lose ones life because ones got
confounded near-sighted eyes. !"
Accordingly, in great anxiety, he
called at the residence of Ethan Allen
Gray and rang.
The gentleman who chanced to come
to the door was the chosen second of
Gray; and Blinkerman imagined him
to be an apothecary and old friend of his
and claimed both his acquaintance and
intercession on the spot, as soon as he
entered.
The man denied all knowledge of him,
and thought he was timid, and trying to
tamper and humbug him. " He had
never been an apothecary, and his name
was Bludge. He was prepared to settle
the preliminaries. Mr., Gray felt it in
delicate to appear"
Settle the !" exclaimed Blink
erman, exasperated. "Are you deter
mined to force me to fight, after have
explained that am near-sighted !"
6 Ha, ha ~ laughed Bludge.
"Don't laughl" said Blinkerman, in
dignant at this implied doubt of his
courage. "I'll accept"
g If you don't, prepare for disgrace"
g Pistols, them" cried the near-sight-
ed man, desperately.
Time and place were agreed upon, and
Blinkerman promised, without further
ceremony, to bring his second along
with him-and then left.
" Murdered for my eyes," he muir
INJURED, as he passed along the streets.
On the way, fate and his eyes would
have it, he fell in with another imagin-
ed old FRIEND" and asked him if he
would favor him with word in private.
Certainly
/
Blinkerman explained that he had
been challenged for an unintentional in
suit to two ladies, and, apology being re-
fused, he hoped his friendp would be
his second. He said nothing about his
near-sightedness.
"Only mistake of mine ~ said he.
"Will you be my second ?"
"Noln said the man gruffiy. 81 don't
know you. III have you arrested. Pm
judgeln
Blinkerman looked at him in dismay
and then darted off, like ''an arrow from
Tartar's bow"
1.-TWO troubles now,p groaned he. " l
must avoid the officers, and must not
avoid the duel else my character will
be worth less than my eyes-confound
them both! hope shall not shoot at
the wrong person !"
Procuring the pistols, and keeping
shy, he determined to repair to the field
without second. And he did so. 1t
was at sunrise. The opposite parties