Huntsville gazette., 1884-12-27

the Christmas of 1880, Herbert Trafton
Esq, and his family started for their
country seat as usual. Time was deal
ing very leniently with the head of the
house, though the sadness which had
80 long occupied his heart was now
sometimes visible on his face. Once
he mad told his wife that he would
gladly. give one-half of his fortune for
the privilege of seeing his brother once
more, and she replied with sigh: HE
would be welcome to it. y
r. Christmas came cold and sharp, but
the sun shone bravely and all nature
seemed to smile welcome. During
the forenoon Herbert and John
started off down the road, Herbert
straight as young sapling, John some
what delicate in appearance and trifie
bent. Their father, watching them out
of sight, was reminded of that Christ
mas morning when he and John walked
off together. Something in their man.
ner toward each other suggested the oc-
casion most vividly. Mr.. Trafton i'm
pulsively started for his hat and coat,
but the, absurdity of the action struck
him Immediately, and he laughed at
himself for an old fool.
sThe ideal" he said John and l
quarreled about Elizabeth. Those boys
have no love affair or | should have
known it So he occupied himself
with piling great logs in the open fire
place of the sitting room, and oh,
haunting thought, what had become of
his brdt1fere In the meantime the
young men had walked rapidly and
without speaking for mile or more.
Then they halted suddenly and sur
! yeyed each other. Herbert was the first
20 speak. -.
lis there any use in asking you to
postpone your decision?" he said.
-i"You talk like fool.'' John an
swered, with quivering lip. II decided
long ago to marry the girl you have
been trying to get away from me for
over year, and l never will give her
up"
+ :sCan it be possible that you want to
marry a girl who has confessed her love
for another man?'' Herbert inquired,
with. sneer.
-.,"It is lie!r She has done no such
thing!" John replied. But, oh, my
if she has it is because you have lied to
her, you contemplate sneak, you dast-
ardly coward, you thief!'
Herbert stepped back a pace. and
with-a face as pale as death, drew two
pistols from his pocket and handed one
to his companion.
1--WE will settle this affair here and
now,n he said. "You are as good a
shot as am and these pistols shall de-
termine which is the favored one. If
you survive ne, win her if you can, but
| tell you she will despise you in exact
proportion as she has loved me-" With
this the young man measured off few
I PAGES, and then added:
: {. You shall do the counting. Iswear
to you will wait for three. You do
the same" .r .4
They took theirplaces. Johns hand
was trembling and his whole body
seemed in a cold perspiration. Herbert
was.as cool as when adding up column
of figures in his fathers counting room.
!. Qne-two-threeh Just as the fatal
number was about to drop from John
|, t,Irafton's. lips an old tramp suddenly
appeared upon the scene. With sharp
cry he rushed between the young men,
and just in time to receive the bullet
from Johns pistol square in the shoul-
der. He had meant to lower his weap-
On. but.insthe, added excitement of the
new arrival he had lost the remaining
yestige Of his self-possession and the
poor tramp was his victim. Herbert
stepped up coolly to see what damage
had been done.
Never, mind me, y said the stranger,
Al am thankful to God that the bullet
found mo- worse lodging place" and
then looking pityingly at the young man
who had wounded him, he said: Poor
John! just such another unfortunate
as your miserable uncle. Boys, your
father and separated after something
such an exploit rs this, and we have
never met since. / am on my way to
him, for my heart yearns for my kim
dred. I haze ,no.doubt yeur quarrel was
about'a woman. Let the fellow have
the girl --whem the girl loves best.
That's the way to fix it. Don't be life
long enemies on account of a woman,
shoys. Come, take me home.'
Uncle joint said his namesake,
and then the poor fellow burst into
tears. @..s..
.'U9ele Johnr' Herbert repeated. and
though his face. was shade paler there
was no other sign of emotion. But
they. took him home and in no house
was there greater Christmas rejoicing.
Herbert, senior, manifested all the
affection that had been so long pent up
in his heart, and after the doctor had
been sent for and the wound attended
to the festivities proceeded. Uncle
John had Knocked round the world too
long to be disquieted by bullet. No,
the boys never attempted duel again,
but Herbert got the girl, of course.-E.
K: .Arnes, in Philadelphia Times.