The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-08-26

"My young friend, you are insulting a
stranger without provocation you are
foolishly guilty of a great impertinence,
aud your conduct with that of your ap
plauding comrades, begins to disgust
me. beg you will pursue this foolish
joke no further"
The Baron, with his companions, ac-
cordingly adjourned to a neighboring
room, and commenced playing cards. To
Judge from their numerous jokes, fol
lowed by loud peals of laughter, it would
seem that the young officers folly and
imprudence were already forgotten. An
hour passed away, all was mirth and
jolity, the Baron had gained consid-
cradle sum, and his spirits were proper
tionately buoyant, when the little man
in black entered the room, and slowly
approaching his chair, tapped him gen
tly on his shoulder, and requested to
speak with him in another apartment
The Baron regarded him with look of
iisdain over his shoulder, uttered an i'll
timed jest, and laughed in his face.
Sir" said the man in black in deci
ded and manly tone, ''you labor under
tritling mistake, which must take the
liberty to correct. am neither tailor
nor schoolmaster. | have the honor
to be a post-captain IN the English navy,
very much at your service. You
have insulted me- and | demand salts
faction. Tomorrow morning, at seven
o'clock, | shall await you here. Bring
pistols with you"
The astonished Baron, who during this
| address had risen from his chair, changed
countenance more than once, and then
answered only by low bow of acqui-
escence he dared not trust himself to
| speak, lest his tongue should betray his
terror. The captain politely saluted the
rest of the company, and left the house.
With him departed all the gayety of
the lieutenant. He became thoughtful
and taoiturn his mind wandered from
the game, and he soon lost more than he
had gained He was unnerved with
terror, while rejecting on the consc
quences of his folly, What an adyan
tage must an adversary possess over him
who could bear with so much calmnesS
a series of degrading insults, and who
could propose duel with such impertur
bable sang troid! Such an antagonist
must be singularly endowed with cour
age and skill Such were the ideas that
continually passed through his mind.
When the company separated, they
all agreed to meet at the same place at
the appointed hour But it is not sup
posed that all slept equally well during
the night. When they assembled next
morning at the Coffee House, they found
the Englishman before them at the rem
devious but he was now dressed in n
splendid suit of the naval uniform of his
nation. He was attended by valet,
who carried case under his arm.
He requested the officers to accept of
some refreshments and they entered
into conversation, when the Englishman
gave indications of possessing cultva-
ted mind and good breeding.
About eight o'clock he rose from his
chair, and begged the Prussian officer to
select the spot where their quarrel must
be decided, adding that he was stran-
ger in the city, and that all places were
alike to him. The Baron named the
open pastures lying between Hamburg
and Altoona.
Whenithey arrived on the ground, the
Englishman asked the Prussian what
distance he would prefer. lie answered
'Fifteen PAGES"
THE distance is too great" resumed
the Englishman 'you will miss me
Call it ten, if you please
And this proposition was accepted
The major now made the observation
, that the captain had no second.
Il "This is of little consequence" sai'
, the Englishman. IF fall, my vale
has my orders"
! The major represented that such pro
ceeding was contrary to the usage in At
fairs of this kind, and that if such Il fol
mality were neglected the duel could no
take place, but he politely offered to as
. sst in that capacity.
a When the ground was marked out
and each of the principals had taken hi
| station, the captain asked his antagonis
g significantly if he had good pistols for
c said he, 81 have a pair which | often usC
and which never miss their man. | Wi
4 give you proof of their excellence,
). lie then called his servant, and ol
G dered him to throw something in the ali
f The man took handkerchief from hi
!. pocket.
;, ''This is too large" said the captain
"ind something else lie took froI
n his pocket dried prune. ''rhat wi
t do exclaimed his master.
i The fruit was thrown in the air, ii
q pistol was fired, and the prune was sha
tered into pieces. AT this eXtraordinar
g proof of address, the spectators wel
G struck with astonishmeut. AS to I'll
Y poor lieutenant, he was more dead tina
alive.
The captain than resumed his station
l. and requested his antagonist to fire bl
:, the major interposed, stating that it WI
+" contrary to the custom of their country
d that the offended party had an undoubto
, right to make the first essay and aft,
J. his fire was returned, the rest should |
decided by chance.
/. ''My friend, replied the captain, "if
e should suffer myself to be Influenced |
o your opinion, this young gentlema
| WbuN' h'''i 'h'S ''' w "
the quality of his pistols. | must ha'
d my own way in this particular and a
n ter have settled the affair with this ge
n tleman, each of his companions wi
: amused themselves last evening at II
l. expense, and who, instead of restraint
the impertinence of their friend, laugh,
T. at his ridiculous follies, must one aft
y another front the muzzle of my pist,
r Now, sir, | am ready, Take good ali
y for if you miss me you are dead man
o The lieutenant presented his weapo
d drew the trigger, and the ball pass,
s. through the Englishmans hat.
n Snow, sir, it is my turn, +" said the ca
tain 81 was last evening "A butt
your railleries and your sarcasms. Wit
y out prov ocation, you insulted me, cove
D. cd me with humiliations l was scho,
* master, "a tailor, village babbler. VIII