The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-02-11

resolution. No man could have fc
more strongly convinced than dia ths
nothing could justify thu courss he WI
taking. My circumstances were oou
pletely thrown away. He was deaf Z
sense and reason from the moment vhe
he had heard an imputation on his oou,
age suggested as possible result q
any affair in which he was concerned.
"With your views." he said, "I won
ask you to accompany me to the ground
can easily find French seconds. And
mind this, il you attempt 10 prevent tn,
meeting. the duel will take place else
where, and our friendship Is 1t an enc
from that moment" ''' . - -
After this, I suppose IL is needless te
add that I accompanied him TO the
ground the next morning Is his second
That night he made his will--in prep.
arstion for the worst that could happen.
What actually. did happen wa
equally beyond his anticipation and
mine.
III -li..i = q
.f. -' f. .
We vste punctul to The. appointed
hour-eight O'Clock. ..:a.f
The second who acted with ma wa. :
French gentleman, relative of ons oi
sne officers who had brought the ohaI.
ienge. Al his suggestion, We had
chosen tho pistol ss our weapon. Ro.
maype, like most Englishmen at ths
present time. knew nothing Of the use
Of the sword, He was almost equally
inexperienced with the pistol. fl'..-
Our opponents were late. They kept
Us waiting for more than ten minutes.
It was not pleasant weather to wait In.
The day had dawned damp and driz-
cling. A thick white fog wss slowly
rolling In on rs from the sea. '.
When they did appear the General
was not among them. A tall, we'll.
dressed young man saluted Romayns
with stern courtesy, and said To ssran.
ger who accompanied him; "Erplsin
the circumstances
The stranger proved to be surgeon.
He entered ct once on the necessary
explanation. The General wAs too III to
appear. He had been attacked that
morning by fit-the consequences OF
the blow that he had received. Under
these circumstances his eldest son
(Manrice) was now on the ground 10
fight the duel. On his fathers behalf,
attended by the Generals seconds, and
with the Generals full approval.
We instantly refused to allow the
duel to take place, Romayne loudly do
claring that be had no quarrel with the
Generals son. Upon this. Maurice
broke away from his seconds, drew Oh
one Of his gloves, and. stepping closs
up to Romsyne, struck him on the lace
with the glove. ''Have yon no quarrel
with me nows" the young Frenchman
asked, "Must I spit on you % my
father didf" His seconds dragged him
away, and spologised TO us for the ous-
break. But the mischief was done,
Romayne's fiery temper hashed in his
After the insult publicly offered to him,
and the outrage publicly threatsnsd,
there was no other course to take. r II b.
1t had been left to US to produce the
pistols. We therefore requested the
seconds Of our opponent to examine and
to load them. While this was being
done. the advancing sea-fos so com.
pletely enveloped Us that the duelists
wers unable to see each other. We were
obliged TO wait for the chance Of par
tial clearing in the atmosphere. Ro.
mayne's temper had become calm again.
The generosity Of his nature spoke In
the words which he now addressed to
his seconds.
"After ALL" he said, sths young
man Is good son-he il bent on no
dressing what be believes TO be his
fathers wrong. Does his dipping his
glove In my face matter to me ? I think
I shall fire In the air." a., g., r, i.
"f'ahal refuse to oct ~ your sscoud
II you do answered the French gentle
man who was assisting us. "Ths
Generavs son 10 famous for his s4ill
with the pistol. If you didn't see it In
bis face Just now. ! did -he means to
kill you. Defend your life, sirl- I
spoke quite ~ strongly to the same
purpose when my turn came. Romayns
yieldsd-he placed himself uaresatv.
sdly in our haads. 1880. .i..
In quarter Of an hour the fog ufteo
. little. We measured the distance,
having previously arranged tat my sug'
gestion) that the two men should both
Gre at the same moment. at Q given sig
nal. Romayne's composure, - they
faced each other, was. in man OF hi
irritable nervous tempera mens. rssn,
wonderful. Iplsoed him sideways, In
position which in some degree lessenst
his danger. by lesssning the surface ex
posed to the bullet. Ny French col
league put the pistol into his hand. sna
gave him the last word Of advice Ls
your arm hang loosely dowa. with tn
barrel Of the pistol pointing straight .
the ground. When you hear the sigma
only lift your arm as far as the elbow
keep the elbow pressed against Jon
side-and fire." We could do no NOR
for him. Al we drew sside-I own n
my tongue was like cindss In NJ
mouth. and Q horrid inner cold Greg
through me to the marrow Of my bore'
The signal was given. and the tw