Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-09-19

the sun, and my drawn sword in my hand.
Whereupon Lord Vellum said, with sneer,
that was a feather-bed soldier, and that a
leathern bonnet would be quite good enough
for such as I. took no notice of this remark,
but was annoyed and excited and when be
further asserted that the officers Of the Life
Guards wore brass helmets, human nature
could stand it no longer, and I gave him the
lie. He retaliated by striking me on the
face an insult, Colonel A., which justi-
fes nae, think, in demanding hostile meet
ing" -
! The last words were said in a manner
which admitted of onl one meaning, and the
two young officers exchanged glances Of mu-
tual hatred and defiance.
"It is indeed grave, gentlemen" senten-
tiously remarked the colonel; "the helmets
worn by officers of His Majesty's Life Guards
are neither silver nor brass, but white metal
lacquered with silver gilt; but this informa'
tion will not, presume, alter the position
of affairs. Do you still wish to fight the
question out ?"
Certainly, sr?" exclaimed the two off,
GERS
Very WE'LL" replied the colonel, gravely !;
'far be it from me to interpose any obstacle to
your meeting gentlemen but this duel must
be a serious one, as BELTS 50 important
question as the Life Guards helmets, and
not an affair resulting in mere scratch, as
am given to understand is generally the case
in these mess quarrels. Remember that you
are British officers and not Spanish bravoes,
and that the honor of a British officer can on
" be vindicated by the death of his opponent.
Go, gentlemen, and fight your duel; and l
will meet the survivor on bis return"
The two young men saluted the colonel and
retired. A few seconds afterwards they and
their seconds were seen hurrying off to the
place of meeting-a spot which is known in
the garrison to . this day as "Desf = Avenue" 3
Three hours later, Colonel A--went down
into the parade ground to inspect the regl.
ment, and be was surprised to see both Lord
Vellum and Ensign Warbottle amongst the
officers who approached him to give the morn
ing salute. The latter had his arm in sling;
and to the stern inquiry of Colonel A IT, as
to whether the duel had yet taken place, he
replied, with a forced smile lighting up his
face: Eyes, colonel his lordship has given
me nasty scratch in the arm"
"A scratch in the arm" exclaimed the
colonel, contemptuously. "And DO you call
that fighting, gentlemen-do you call that
fighting? And for so important question
as the helmets of His Majestys Life Guards
Bah it is nothing! This matter must be
fought over again, under pain of instant dis
missal from the service if order be DISC
beyedP
But" began the Lord Vellum, at
tempting to express his satisfaction at the
reparation his wounded honor bad received.
"Give me no butts, gentlemen" exclaimed the
colonel, angrily. II have the Princes in
struction on this point, and it is for you to
vindicae your own honor in proper manner
or retire disgraced from His Majesty's SER
vice"
This alternative was one not to be thought
of; and it need scarcely be said that the young
fire eaters chose rather to fight again, and
this time Lord Vellum was shot through the
body-a wound which laid him on sick bed
for two months.
During this long period many quarrels had
taken place at the mess. table, some OF
which had been settled by the colonel acting
as arbitrator ;" and others stood over for his
permission to fght-a permission which he
refused to grant until the result OF Lord Vel
lum's illness should become known. In the
meantime Colonel A--had communicated
with the Duke of Wellington, from when ne
received explicit instructions to carry the
matter to the bitter end, as the only means of
putting stop to a matter which was last
becoming worldwide scandal.
Lord Vellum was carefully attended to
during his illness by his "friend and enemy"
Ensign Warbottle, to whose efforts Lord
Vellum not only owed his life, but was ena-
bled at the end of two months to take short
walk every morning. His recovery then pro.
ceeded rapidly, and he soon became enabled
to walk without any support whatever.
The two friends were walking together one
morning, when they suddenly found them
selves face to face with Colonel A..
"Ah, gentlemen, good-morning exclalm-
ed the latter. II am delighted to see his
lordship out again, especially as it will ena'
BILE you to finish your ofasre dhonnsur in
more satisfactory manner"
The young officers, scarcely believing their
ears were for time struck dumb with aston
ishment, and they gazed at each other and at
the colonel with looks of bewilderment and
despair.
''You see, gentlemen" )" said the colonel,
gravely, "that this question OF the Life
Guards helmets is Of such Importance that l
deemed it advisable, since his lordship's illness,
to write to the Duke of Wellington on the
subject and l have here his grace's orders
that the duel should be renewed again and
again until the life of one of the combatants
has been forfeited" As he spoke, Colonel
A. drew from the ast-pocket of his
coatee large letter, bearing on its envelope
the words "On His Magesty's Service in
large black letters, and in one corner the no.
tice in red ink, Every Urgent"
"But," said the young ensign, "his lordship
has not recovered yet besides"
"When one can walk" interrupted the
colonel, zone can also fire off pistol and it
is not conducive to the interest and dignity OF
the service that so importanta question as the
equipment of his majesty's guard should any
longer be left undecided"
The two young officers, who had cemented
their friendship anew during the period of i'll.
ness here took each others hands and gazed
long and silently into each others face. COL
onel A. turned away to hide his emotion;
for being really possessed of kindly disposi.
ton, he began to regret the stern and nbend'
ing part he had been called upon to perform.
Brushing the signs of his weakness away
from his eyes, he turned once more towards
the young officers and said:
"Gentlemen, l have orders from England
to supersede you in the regiment to which we
II L L.,o, holonp opd T onlv