San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-11-13
An old major, whose embroidered

An old MAJOR, whose ehnoroiuereu
coat was decorated with military or
ders, and on whose German physiog
nomy was depicted frankness, true
courage and loyalty, who entered the
coffee-house with these hair-brained
youths, now addressed the baron in
a low voice, but which notwithstand-
ing could be heard in all parts of the
room: "My young friend, you are in
sulting q stranger without proyocation;
YOU are foolis6ly guilty Of q great i'm
pertinence, and your conduct, with
that Of your applauding comrades,
begins to disgust me. / beg You will
pursue this foolish joke no further
The baron, with his companions,
accordingly adjourned to neighbor'
ing room, and commenced playing
cards. To Judge from theirnumer
Jokes, followed by loud peals of laugh
ter, it would seem that the young OF
ficer's folly and imprudence was al,
ready forgotten. An hour passed
away, all was mirth and jollity, the
baron had gained q considerable sum,
and his spirits were proportiohately
buoyant, when the little man in black
entered the room, and slowly ap-
preached his chair, tapped him gently
on his shoulder, and requested to
speak to him in another apartment.
The baron regarded him with a look
of disdain over his shoulder, uttered
an i'll timed jest, and laughed in his
face. a.erl
"Sir," said the man in black, in a
decided and manly tone, '.you labor
under a trifing mistake, which 1 must
take the liberty to coraect. l am
neither tailor nor schoolmaster. l
have the honor to be a post,captain in
the English navy, very much at your
service. You have insulted me, and l
demand satisfaction. Tomorrow
morning, at 7 o'clock, I shall await you
here. Bring pistols with you %
The astonished baron, who during
this address had risen from bis chair,
changed colntenance more than once,
and then answered only by a low bow
of acquiescence; he dare not trust him
self to speak, lest his tongue should
bctray his terror. The captain polite
ly saluted the rest of the company
and left the house.
With him departed all the gayety OF
the lieutenant. He became thought
full and taciturn; his mind wandered
from the game, and he soon lost more
than he giined. He was unnerved
with terror, while rejecting on the
consequences Of his folly. What an
advantage must an adversary possess
over him, who could bear with SO much
calmness - series of degrading insults,
and who could propose duel with
such imperturbable sang troid! Such
an antagonist must be singularly en-
dowed with courage and skill. Such
were the ideas that continually passed
through his mind.
When the company separated they
all agreed to meet as the same place
at the appointed hour. But it is not
supposed that all slept equally well
during the night When they assem-
bled next morning at the coffee-house
they found the Englishman before
them at the rendezvous; but he was
now dressed in splendid suit OF the
naval uniform of his nation. He was
attended by valet, who carried a case
under his arm.
He requested the officers to accept
of some refreshments, and they enter
ed into conversation, when the Eng
lishman gaveindications of possessing
a cultivated mind and good breeding.
About 8 o'clock he rose from his
chair and begged the Plussian Officer
to select the spot where the quarrel
must be decided, adding that he was
a stranger in the city and that all
places were alike to him. The baron
named the open pastures lying be,
tween Hamburg and Altoona.
When they arrived on the ground
the Englishman asked the Prussian
what distance he would prefer; he az.
swered "Fifteen PAGES 1.-The distance
is too great resumed the English
man, you will miss me. Call it ten
if you please" And his proposition
was accepted.
The major now made the observa
ton that the captain had no second
THAT is of little consequence, said
the Englishman. If l fall my valet
has my orders" The major represen'
ted that that such proceeding was
contrary to usage in affairs of this
kind, and if such formality was neg
lected the duel could not take place
but he politely offered to assiat in that
capacity.
When the ground WIS marked ous
and each of the principals had taker
his station, tho captain asked his an
tagonist significantly if he had good
pistols: afor," said he, II have pan
which often use and which never
miss their man l will give YOU Z
proof OF their excellence.
He then called his servant and
ordered him To throw something Il
the air. The man took handker
chief from his pocket
This is too large. said the captain
find something else. he tool
from his pocket a dried PRIME. 'IhE
viii do. exclaimed his master. Th'
fruit IVES thrown into the ar, the pis