The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-11-02

] Uut BduhGE. Will 10 50 dJ ONCE
1.-The usual mode in such matters,
as you are aware, is to refer me to your
friend"
g In good time, SIR answered the
banker; ''but first | would see the
Captain himself"
Every WE'LL" said the Major; g but
the usual course in such matters"
eyes, yesr' said the banker; g |
know; but l wish to see the Captain
himself
He will refer you to me-" said the
Major.
Every well! then l shall have the
pleasure of seeing you again." and he
bowed the Major politely out.
The banker went straightway to the
choleric Captain. "Sir," said he to
him, Z" am not at all ashamed to con-
fess myself in the wrong in having used
toward you the expression which has
given you offense. l beg to withdraw
it, and | apologize for it with all my
heart"
"Too late, sir, by Jove! too late"
said the Captain, twirling his mustache.
"1ou must meet me, sir; nothing
short of that will do. Had | knocked
you down on the spot, an apology might
have been accepted; but did not knock
you down, and your apology comes too
late. refer you to my friend, who is
authorized by me to settle all necessary
preliminaries. Name to him your time
and place, and go home and settle your
AFFAIRS
The banker was thunderstruck. He
considered with himself for awhile.
"Well, sir'' said he at length, eff it
must be so, meet me tomorrow at two
O'Clock, in the large field north of -
Lodge, in the - Road, with your
friend and pair of pistols"
Enough, sir" said the brusque Cap
tain; and they parted.
The parties were on the ground at
the time appointed. The Captain was
accompanied by his friend the Major.
The banker was attended by gentle
man in a suit of professional black-a
very unmilitary and most civil-looking
parsonage. AS they approached, the
Major suddenly stepped before his prin-
cipal, and addressing the banker sec
ond, said: "It was perfectly under
stood, sir, that pistols were to be the
weapons employed on this occasion;
but here, sir, if | mistake not, you
bring blunderbuss under your arm
81 beg your pardon said the other,
drawing the instrument forth; g it is
not blunderbuss, but telescope"
And what, in heavens name, is the
meaning of thisP | hope it is not
meant as an additional insult to my
principal?"
go! by no means" said the bank
er, who proceeded to inform the Major
of his previous and present readiness
to apologize, assuring him that he had
intended no offense to his friend the
Captain, and that he was now anxious
to explain. The apology was declined
as before, and an explanation was de-
manded.
"In the first place." said the banker,
81 earnestly beg that you, Captain, will
look through this telescope"
"What, sir, [? Look through tel
esoope? By heavens, sir, what foolery
is this?"
The bankers second claimed to be
heard. 81 insist" said he, that this
is most serious and important to my
eli to my friend."'
cit is such breach of all the Gus
tomary forms" said the Captain. ..Such
a proposal is quite intolerable.'
81 regret" said the banker to the
Major, "that | should have to urge
this request; but it is to me most
necessary preliminary. VIII you,
Major, do me the favor to apply your
eye to the telescope? Iput it to YOU as
a gentleman and officer, whether there
is any offense in the request?"
NAY, sir,' said the Major, 81 do
not say that but it seems to me so alb
surd-so contrary to the establish rules
in such cases."
Here, sir, said the banker, holding
up the telescope, "place your eye to
it for but one moment-there, in that
direction.'
Where?" said the Major, carelessly
applying his eye to the telescope He
looked for an instant "Egadr' said
he, 81 see very fine woman walking
about on grass-plat, with little trot
of a child in one hand, and two others
pranking around her. But what, /
should like to know, has this to do with
the matter in handP'
Everything" said the banker with
serious face; that lady, sir, is my
wife. Those children are mine and
hers; and. we are all mutually at
tached"
"Pshawr' said the Captain, "what
is that to me? You should have thought
of this before"
81 know that it is nothing to you,
SIR" said the banker, as you have no
wife or children. | believe | am cor
rect in saying that you have no wife
and children. Now then, ask, do we
meet on equal terms?''
"Why no, certainly not" said the
Major; but it is too late to think of
this on the very ground; it is quite in
formal-this discussion; it is really,
quite, quite" and hereupon the
Major took huge pinch of snuff to fill
up his simile.
81 warned you to settle all your af-
fairs" broke in the Captain, as if a
sudden bright thought had occurred to
him.
True" said the banker, pointing
to the distant family group, " but |
could not settle them. have settled
everything else" The bankers second
now ventured to observe, that as the
Captain second had admitted the par
ties about to contend were not on