The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-06
TOM TURNER'S DUEL
A Story of College
Life.
CHAPTER w.
AN AWKWARD DILEMMA,

dennick before. l must have seen some
one like her, thought, but who? and it
had just struck me that if Fairchild,
whom / met few evenings before, had
been six feet high, Miss Tredennick was
the kind of girl one might have expected
his sister to be, when suddenly our game
was brought to close.
A piercing shrek came from the next
room. We started to our feet and looked
at one another. Then there came an
other and another.
Good heavens, what has happenedT
exclaimed Tredennick.,,
Then we all rushed into the next room.
There we saw Miss Tredennick fallen n
the sofa with her face buried in her
hands, and evidently in hysterical con-
dition. Turner was standing beside her
trying to raise her up. a
"What in heavens name is thisP'
cried Tredennick "What has happened?
What is the matter, Lucyf Tell me-"
There was no answer.
"Lucy darling" he asked again, "can't
you speak? What is wrongf O, tell
me-"
Then, in voice choked with sobs we
heard her saw
"Ask Mr.. Turner; he can tell you."
"What is it, sir!" said Tredennick, ad-
dressing our unfortunate friend. "What
is the meaning of this? What have you
done? Tell ME Mt once"
an a moment" answered Turner.
"Just allow me to explain"
"Let NE, at any rate, be spared your
explanation, sir" Miss Tredennick, ris-
ing from the sofa. "Take me. away,
Fred" and Tredennick led his sister into
the room we had left, saying to Turner
az he passed:
"You shall hear from me, sir, about
this" And the door was closed.
awkward business, this" said Bull
finch. "What in the world, Turner, have
you been diongf"
II am sure I don't know" he answered.
Awkward indeed" said Duke. "You
have evidently grossly insulted Miss
Tredennick, however you did it. | would
not have believed it Of you, Turner, in
deed I would not; it's too bad. OF
course there must he no dueling, or any
nonsense of that kind. You will make
an ample apology, Turner. You must
say that you deeply regret what in a mo-
meut of infatuation you have done, and
all that sort of thing. Tredennick is a
frst-rate fellow; and if the apology is
such as gentleman ought to offer in
case of the sort, I'll answer for it, he will
accept it."
"Well, but just hear me-" said Turner.
II did nothing, positively nothing. I'd
be the last person in the world to insult
Miss Tredennick. There has been some
mistake" .
"What, did you not attempt to--ah,
ahem--to kiss herr" said Duke.
"Most certainly not" cried Turner.
"Nothing of the kind. l give You my
honor as a gentleman.
go, then it's all right" said Duke. M
shall 60 and speak to Tredennick, as
you see there has been some mistake,
and few words will explain all"
Saying this he knocked at the door
and vent in. As we stood silent by the
fireplace, some very strange but indis-
tinct sounds came from the next room.
"Whats thatw said Turner.
20, that's the noise," said Bulfnch,
"that Tredennick makes when he has lost
control over himself. He must be in a
frightful rage"
In about five minutes Duke returned.
"I can't understand it ALL" he said.
"Miss Tredennick is deeply offended, and
evidently thinks you have given her good
cause to complain of your behavior, and
her brother is furious, simply furious!
Well, now, it's rather an awkward ques-
ton to put to you, Turner, and you must
quite understand that dom wish to in
terfere in the matter; but the fact is
that lady says, or imagines, or-ah, we'll
that in fact you pressed her hand, or
wrist, or something of the kind. Well,
now, may I ask, is that the case%
"Yes, it is" said Turner. "You see
she asked me to feel her pulse"
"Wheww exclaimed Bulfnch, his
eyebrows going up. "That's odd, any
how"
"Well, but" continued Duke, speak
ing with some hesitation, "thars not all :,
you see. You really must excuse me,
Turner; I'd like to have this matter SET
tied. satisfactorily, if possible. Might |
venture to ask if-if, ah-pray pardon
me, it's not curiosity on my part, as
sure you-if, ah--in fact Miss Treden-
nick is right ia supposing you went so
very far as to put your arm round her
waistT
"Well," said Turner, rather confused,
"not exactly; that is to say-well yes,
in kind Of q way I did. ALLOW me to
explain"
10. certainly" said Duke.
"What I mean is" he continued
"well, in fact she asked me to feel how
her heart was beating"
"By Georgep said Bulfinch, and he
thrust his hands into his pockets, and be-
gan to whistle softly.
Duke remained silent.
Il am afraid this is worse than l
thought it," he said, after few minutes
consideration. ~ really never knew
anything so awkward