The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-11-08

"Yes, Colonel we have been most inti-
mate friends from our youth upward" said
Lord Vellum, "and we respect each other
very sincerely but we have had dispute,
aud our wounded honor must be satisfied"
Then presume that something very ser
ious must have occurred, gentlemen, to make
the only remedy for it a recourse to the pis-
toll"
at is indeed very serious matter, Colo
mel, replied Ensign Warbottle; "and it is
this After you had left the table last night,
we chatted over what you had told us about
the doings in London lately and, in the
enthusiasm Of the moment, remarked that |
| should like to be there, riding at the head !
Of a troop of Life Guards, aud escorting the |
Prince Regent, with my silver helmet gilt
tering in the sun and my drawn sword in my
| hand. Whereupou Lord Veium said with |
q sneer that | was a feather-bed soldier, and !
that leather helmet would be quite good
this remark; but | was annoyed and excited
aud when ne further asserted that the Off
GERS of the Lille Guards wore brass helmets,
human nature could stand it no longer, and
| gave bin the lie. lie retaliated by strik-
ing me on the face, an insult Colonel A,
which ius.ifi- me, think in demanding a
hostile meeting The last words we're said
in "a mauner~which admitted of only one
mcari0g, au1 tle two young officers *
changed glance. Of mutual hatred and de-
tunc4.
at is indeed grave, gentlemen sentcp-
'iou.ly remarked the Colonel; "the helmets
worn by The otlicers of His Majesty's Life
Guards are neither silver nor brass but
white metal acquered with siver.gilt; but
this information will not, | presume, alter
the position Of affairs. Do you still wish to
fight the question out?"
"Ccrtainly, sir !" exclaimed the two off.
GERS
Very WELL 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 benefits so impor-
tant question as Life Guards helmets and
not an affair resulting in mere scratch, ~
| am given to understand is generally the
case in these .quarrels. Remember that you
are British officers, and not Spanish braves
and that the honor of British officer can
only be viniicated by the death of his oppo-
nent. Co. gentlemen, and fight your duel,
, and | will meet the survivor on his. return.
The two young men saluted the Colonel
and retired. A few minutes afterwards they
, | tha;r Il bpr
to the place Of meeting-a spot which is
known in the garrison to this day as Duel
Avenue.
Three hours later Colonel A. went
down into the parade ground to inspect the
, regiment aud he was surprised to see both
Lord Vellum and Ensign Warbottle
l amongst the officers who approached him
to give their morning salute. The latter had
his arm in sling and to the stern irqui-
, ry of Colonel A as to whether the duel
had yet taken place, he replied with forced
A smile lighting up his face, Yes, Colonel
his lordship has given me nasty scratch
in the arm
"A scratch in the arm = exclaimed tb(
Colonel contemptuously. And do you cal
t that fghtng-do you call that fight
ing? And for so important question a~ tc
the helmets of his Majes,y's life guards
0 Bah 1t is nothing This matter must D,
) fought over again. under pain of instant dis
/ missal from the service il my order is disc
5 beyed.'
e 'But-began Lord Velum, attempting
: go express his satisfaction at the repar lliIr
d his wounded honor had received,
: But me no but4, gentlemen !! excaimo.
y the Ooone! angrily I have the Princes in
e slructinna ON this point, and it is for you t,
" vindicate your own honor in proper man
d ner, or retire dlsgraccd from His Majesty'
II rvire
= This alternative was not to he thought oi
. and it need scarcely be said that the youu:
fire eaters chose rather to fight again than b
u ct.hi.r-I, Thr duh was fought again, thi
" time Lori Vnlum vas SHOT through the b =
"A und which had lad him on a SIC.
=, bed Ior twr months.
- Daring thi, long period many quarrel- ha
-, taken place at the mrs, table, some
~ of which lat been settled by the Coloue
acting a Arbitrator and .othert stood owe
- for his permission to iiSht-a permission
n which he refused 10 grant until the resul. o
- Llrl Vellum's illness should become known
In the meantime Colonel A. had com
:. muncatel with the Duke of Wellington
from whom he received explicit instrctiou
n to carry the matter cut to the bitter end, &
s. the only means of putting stop to a mat
" ter which was fast becoming a world Mid
d scandal
l. Lord Velum was carefully attended t
It during his illness by his ''fiend aud enemy
If Ensign Warbottle, to whose efforts he NJ
k only owed his life but was enabled at tn
N end Of two months to take a short wal
l. every morning, His recovery then proceed
ell rapidly, and he soon became enabled t
e walk without any support whatever,
e The two friends were walking togelhe
- one morning, when they suddenly foun
r themselves face to face with Col. A.
% "Ah, gentlemen, good morningw eS
&c claimed the latter. 81 am delighted to Sc
his lordship out again, especially as it wi
u now enable you to finish your afaire dhon
u neur in more satisfactory manner"
y The young officers scarcely believing thei
- own ears, were for time struck dumb wit
N astonishment, and they gazed at each othe
h and at the Colonel with looks of bewildel
ment aud despair
=, "You see, gentlemen" said the Colone
a gravely, that this question the Life Guard
helmets is of such importance that deeme
it advisable, sigce his orciships illness, {
write to the Duke Of Wellington on tn
subject; and have hear his Grace's order
IS that the duel should be renewed again an
y again until tue life of one of the combat
u ants has been forfeited" As he spoke, Go