Sharp County record., 1885-06-18

the long, lank figure of Ananlas. His
countenance wore look of mingled
ferocity and melancholy.
Cap said he, Il has come to
you fer some disyice."
l. showed my writing materials aside
and motioned him to a chair. Then |
lit a cigar, the brand l particularly af-
fect-O. P.-(other people's), and said:
"Proceed.'
He Shutfled awkwardly to the chair,
took position on the extreme edge of it,
and began his monody:
"Cap'pen, has been courtin' Miss
Sophy Giggles gwine onter two years.
| has boughten her lots OBJ candy,
pinderS, an sech like truck, kerried her
to feStibules, camp meetin's, an
'scurshins, an OBJ course was 'spectin'
to ask her to marry me, but Yesterday,
which was Chuseday, she went an
promise to marry dat black no count
nigger, Jerusalem. l don care so
much about dat, Cap pen, but dis morn
ing he stuck out his tongue at me, an
| nebber lows no gentleman ter do
that ter me, so 1 axes you what | mus
do"
1t is the principal weakness of my
many weaknesses never to allow an op-
portunty to pass for fun. Here was a
brilliant chance. | embraced it.
"Nias" | said, you are a gentle
man, are you Eot?"
"Yes, sah," said he, "a Souf Car
liny gentleman, sah."
Then" l replied, "you must chal-
lenge him."
"What is dat, sah?'
"You must send a note to him, saying
he must meet you on the field of honor
In other words, you must fight him."
A smile played over his gentle coun-
tenance. Lord bless you, Cap pen"
said he, 'sen' dat note right of; l kin
butt dat niger ter pieces. "
THAT won't do" said |, sternly; "as
a gentleman you must fight him with a
gentleman's weapons. You must chal-
lenge him to fight you with pistols" "
His face turned a shade paltr and he
hesitated. l turned on him quickly,
drew my chair close to him and said
impressively: "'Nias, there is tide in
the affairs of love-sick niggerS, which,
taken at the flood, leads on to mar
riage. know Ju well. He Is a terri
bic coward, and will run just as soon as
you present your pistol at him, Miss
Sophy will hear of it. All women
despse towards. She will kick him
and you will carry oil the cake. | will
90 with you, act as your friend and
See that all goes right. VIII you leave
the matter to me?"
"Is you sure he won't fight, Cap 'pen?"
"Certainly | am. Now you 60 home.
Keep quiet | will see you through
this matter, and when you marry Miss
Sophy, will dance at the wedding"
"All right, sah," he replied, and with
buoyant, smiling face, left the office.
Half an hour afterwards | was in the
WddtdHIfe sl11d|l a1d On my way to my old friend
Whole affair and biR3 besohiRg3nt repeated HPisa the
Ju and act the part of second for that
meeting. On my return to my Office
wrote formal challenge to Ju in the
name Of Ananias and quietly awaited
! results.
Ju, through his second, Major Swiv-
els, accepted the challenge, pistols were
named as the weapons and the follow
ing Friday as the time.
Thursday afternoon the Major and
met and perfected all the details That
night for fear Mas might lose courage
and desert me, | made him sleep in my
office and fastened doors and windows
on him. About five a. m. the next
morning l harnessed my roam mare
Nelly to the buggy, took MAS in, and
started off. The boy was badly fright
ened, his teeth chattered, and | could
hardly control my risibles. With a
careless movement of my foot | dis
lodged the cover of box in the front
part of the buggy and allowed him a
glance at its contents. These consisted
of hand saw, a long, glittering prun-
ing knife and an ordinary butchers
cleayer.
"What's dem fer Cap'pen?" he said.
"They are surgical instruments" [
replied. "You may be badly wounded,
and may have to cut off your arm or
leg to save your life. "
'Lord-a-massy, Cap'pen, let me git
right outen dis buggy He kin hab dat
gal if he wants, an sides dat forgot to
feed de mule dis mornin'.'
Silence" l said, peremptorily,
" You have got to fight now, and if you
try to escape Ill blow the top of your
head of"
The poor young fellow was almost
paralyzed with fright, and becoming
somewhat uneasy at his condition, |
pulled out flask Of brandy and gave
him a pretty stiff drink. After the
liquor had partially restored his facul-
ties | said to him: Now, Mas, brace
up and be man. | tell you that Ju is
an awful coward and will run just as
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