The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1881-02-05


inform you that the time has come
when You must answer for your
dishonorable conduct. Ii you have
any sense of honor left you will
readily accord to me the ouly salts
faction that | require. To be
plain, | DEMAND that you name a
time and place, without the limits
of the State, when and where we
can settle the matters of difference
between us. My friend Heartsell
is authorized to arrange prelimina-
ries with you, or any friend you
may choose to represent you.
Respectfully,
Il. WALLINGFORD."
"Mr. Heartsell," said |, endeav.
oring to keep control of my feel
ings, Gam to understand this as a
challenge to fight a duel?
"The language used is very plain,
sir, and such was the intention Of
my friend when he wrote it,"
"But am opposed to the bar bar
Gus practice of dueling. The laws
of the land prohibit it, public sen.
timent condemns it, and if | was
not opposed to dueling, could not
fight Harry Wallinglord. | would
not hurt him for every thing in the
world, and why should he wish to
take my life? | never injured him
Il love his sister as | do my life
she is my betrothed bride; and l
would as soon think Of killing my
self as him."
"That, sir, is a matter with which
| have nothing to do; but you are
mistaken when you say public SEN
timent condemns the code of hon
or. | think the very reverse OF
that is true; because it is consider
ed disgracefuI to back down when
challenged. The man who refuses
to fight when challenged is brand
ed as a coward, and honorable men
shun him as SUCH Did public SEN
timent copdemn Henry Clay, S. S.
Prentiss, Albert s. Johnson, Gen.
jackson and a thousand others
might nameE
Yes, but public sentiment has
) undergone a great change since
then; and our laws did not prohibit
dueling then either"
doctor Demar can you name
any one who has ever been punish
! ed for fighting a duel!"
II am sorry to be compelled to
answer in the negative"
81 dare say that you will admit
} that the reason is owing to public
sentiment; but to the polnt-what
: answer do you wish me to convey
+ TO my friend Wallingford"
! "Give me one hour to consider
0 on the matter, and to take the ad
e vice of my friends"
: "Oertainly; but it will be coASld
}, cred dlshonorable to mention the
r matter to more than one friend, anC
$ were you to do so, it might cause
| the civil authorities to get hold 0
: the affair, which you know woult
n serve to widen the breach between
!, vou and my friend, Wallingtord."
i "Mr. Heartsell, do you know
+ what has caused Harry Wallingforc
l. to become offended with me?"
e "Oh, yes, Doctor Demar; you
T. little secret Is out, and you mus
n face the music"
IS "What do you mean by my littl
/ secret being out?"
y "Pshaw, Demar, don't undertak
o to brass it out that way; but neve
Y mind, Ill call again at the end 9
o an hour and get your answer 3
! the way, Demar, you had better az
Of cept the challenge, as that mlgn
II be the shortest road to an adJus
e. ment of this business; because
le YOU refuse to meet Wallingford 0
u the field, he viii force you to figf
him on the streets. But it yo
consent to meet him, a few rount
may satisfy him, when the matte
er could be settled, bus if you declin
~ | dread to think of the consequel
ces. You know his fiery temper I
e. well as | do; he is very rash and j
ID considerate, and is very much e.
v ragged against you. Think OF tbe'
ye things when you are considerir
IN the proper answer to be sent: IT,, y
at the present, good morning; III ca
b. again for your answer.o
le, For full ten minutes, | sat silent
i, gazing at space, and ponderiT
m over the situation, perfectly az,
IN. loss as to what course woulu
en- best for me to pursue. One TIM
eel / had made up my mind thatl ne