The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-03-07

the abode that makes life agreeable. !"
''Then," said /. in an attempt at COM
pliment, ..life should be agreeable to
you for you have more mind-than--
more mind than"
''Abode?'i sho Immediately sug-
gested.
Finding that I could not finish the
sentence as I had intended. l dropped
it; and catching up handful of little
nothings, discussed them. While we
were talking, footstep aroused Jassa-
mine, and l fancied she changed color.
She went to the door and said ''good
evening" in cordial voice. A man
entered. She introduced him as DIR.
Gray. did not like him. / thought
that he rather overdid the work of smil-
ing. Every time Jassamine said a word,
he would turn to her and smile. He did
not smile at me but two or three times,
for / frowned at him. After this he
grinned at me in cold, merciless way.
'.Have you been here longP" he
asked of me when Jassamine had left
the room.
"No."
'.Sort of lawyer, ehp"
81 am student of the law"
Il am kind of a Doctor" said he.
IF you ever need my services, call on
me-"
II hope that shall never need you"
Probably not, but in country like
this smart chap never knows how soon
he may need physician"
"Sir!" said /, arising.
'Be seated. Supper is not ready.
No, he doesn't know how soon he may
need doctor. Such peculiar atmos-
phere in this country" and turning his
face full upon me, he grinned like a
'possum.
s.The other day." he continued, 81
had to fill smart young man full of
stitches. Lawyer, too, / believe. Kept
foolin' around knife. Yes, sir, they
need a doctor every now and then.
Don't forget me, sir, in case you should
get hurt. !"
''Sir, am not ruffian."
.Oh, no, of course not. The ruflians
don't get hurt. Only the smart young
men-lawyers, mainly. Strange, isn't
| it?"
II do not care to talk to you, SIR
''It's only through politeness that /
am talking to you. The physician s
business is to carve rather than to court
a FOOL
sprang to my feet in a rage. Just
then Jassamine entered.
''What is the matter, gentlemen
she exclaimed.
.Oh, nothing" replied the doctor.
'sThis young Bacon wants TO fight. /
have not thought much of the subject,
but 1 will consider it. Chancellor, "
turning to me, my friend will call on
you"
For what purpose?"
ITO make suitable arrangements, my
dear Chancellor"
''To fight duel?"
Eyes, to arrange mild encounter. -
81 will not accept" exclaimed.
81 am no shot, while you doubtless
are.'
II will give you time to practice
or, perhaps You prefer the sword. The
choice of weapons, you know, my dear
Chief Justice, will be left entirely with
yourself"
Il will not accept. Twas taught to
iooh uPou tlS CouO do aiA I'll an s5CnuCut
of murder"
''Then it will be my painful duty to
post you as coward. :"
You are right. 1t win be a painful
duty"
"What will the jurist do?"
eff you refer to me, can tell you.
He will beat you with his fist-beat you
within an inch of your life"
THAT is the way towards fight"
''It is the way towards meet with just
punishment.
Jassamine, without excitement stood
regarding us. "You certainly do not re-
fuse to fight him?" she said, turning to
me.
81 will fight him in civilized way"
I replied.
Yes he suggested, "and with the
weapons of a brute.'
could no longer stand his taunts.
With blow which he did not expect,
/ knocked him down. Jassamine
screamed, but by the time the Judge
and his wife had run into the room,
had given the doctor what the men in
the East would have called sound
threshing.
CHAPTER III.
|. soon learned that the doctor bore
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