Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-04-10
frowned at him. After this he g1nued

81 am student of the law
i am kind of DOCTOR" SAID he.
eff you ever need my services, call on
me-"
II hope that shall never need you. y
Probably not, but in a country town
like this smart young chap never
knows how soon he may need physi-
cian.n
"Sirp said I, arising.
''Be seated. Supper is not ready. No,
he dosen't know how soon he may need
a doctor. Such a peculiar atmosphere
in this country" and turning his face
fall upon me he grinned like pos
snm.
"Thc other day." he continued, ~
had to fill a smart young man full Of
stitches Lawyer, too, believe. Kept
fooling around a knife. Yes, sir, they
need doctor every now and then. Don't
forget me, sir; in case you should get
hurt"
"Sir, I am not rufian."
ooh, no, of course not. The ruffians
don't get hurt. Only the smart men
Lawyers, mainly. Strange, isn't
it?"
II do not care to talk to you,
SIR"
'Tt's only through politeness that ]
am talking to you. The physician's
business is to carve rather than to court O
fool"
sprang to my feet in rage. Just then
Jassamine entered.
"What is the matter, gentlemen" she
exclaimed.
"Oh, nothing" replied the doctor
"This young Bacon wants to fight.
have not thought much of the subject,
but l will consider it. Chancellor, >
turning to me, my friend will call on
you."
"For what purpose7"
''To make suitable arrangements, my
dear Chancellor.n
''To fight duel?"
eyes to arrange a 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 deal
chief JUSTICE, will be left entirely with
yourself"
81 will not accept. I was taught tc
look upon the code as an arrangement Of
murder"
"Then it will be my painful duty to
post you as a coward"
"You are right. 1t will be painful
duty"
"What will the jurist do?"
eff you refer to me, can tell you. He
will beat you with his fst-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
refuse to fight him2" she said, turning
to me.
81 will fight him in civilized way
1 replied.
Eyes, he suggested, "and with the
weapons of 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 woulC
have called sound thrashing,
I soon learned that the doctor bore thu
name or desperate character. He had
fought several duels. l expected tina
he would post me as a coward, and ht
did so, but he kept out of my way. The
people, saw, attached great Importance
to what they termed the defense o
honor. No matter how promptly. a man
resented an insult and knocked the
other down, he was not to he taken intC
the fold of brave men until he haC
shown his willingness to burn danger
Gus powder. When anyone reproachet
me for not fighting the doctor, l at
tempted to laugh it off, but to my sor
row found it was serious matter.
Gle would have killed me-" l sale
one day to an acquaintance who sat il
my office.
"Presumably," he replied.
"Well, then, do you suppose I wan
to be killed"
"Of course not, but what is life unles
it is honorable?"
"Do you mean that since I have re
fused to fight duel with that desperate
man, my life is no longer honorable?"
"The fact that people do think yol
have acted dishonorably, you canno
deny"
81 don't believe that Judge Blak
thinks So"
\ "But l warrant you that Miss Jas
samine does"
My blood tingled; my face burned
"Why should she pay any attentions t.
the unfortunate affairG"
Il don't suppose she pays any NOR
attention to it than she can help
Gray loves her, and regards you as
rival.n
''But she cannot love him2"
81 don't know. Stranger surmise
have proved to be true. Miss Jassamin
is rather a peculiar girl. You canno
tell her by her actions. Once, l though
could. l thought she loved me
When asked her, though, she told m
confdentially that she did not. AS
rode home, tried to recall Jassamine'
looks and expressions since the docto
had challenged me, but comparing ther
with her previous actions, l could de
tect no change. could disguise j
from myself no longer l loved tn
girl. AS neared the house, saw he
walking along the path toward larg
spring that flowed from the foot of tn
hill. tied my horse and joined hel
shall never forget the golden light c
that evening, falling on her hair.
made numerous experiments in trying t
work myself to point where l coul
suddenly break off and make declars
tion of my love, but my tongue was nc
, eloquent. My mind was afre, but il
fues were choked. Finally, with dc.
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