The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-05-13

TO you Tor you have more mind-than-
more mind than"
"Abode 2" she Immediately suggested.
Finding that could not finish the SEN
tence as had intended / dropped it,;
and catching up handful of little moth
ings, discussed them. While we were
talking, footstep aroused Jassamine,
and l fancied she changed color. She
went to the door and said ''good even
ing, in a cordialvoice. A man entered.
She introduced him as DR.. Gray. did
not like him. thought that he rather
overdid the work of smiling. Every
time Jassamine said word. he would
turn to her and smile. He did not smile
ut me but two or three times, for |
frowned at him. After this he grinned
at me in a cold, merciless way.
"Have you been here longl" he asked
Of me when Jassamine had left the
room.
"No."
"Sort Of a lawyer, eh ~
81 am student of the law"
81 am kind of DOCTOR" said he.
'Tf you ever need my services, call on
me-"
81 hope that | shall never need you" !"
"Probably not, but in a country town
like this a smart Young chap never
knows how soon he may need physi
cian."
"Sirn said l, arising.
''Be seated. Supper is not ready. No,
he dosen't know how soon he may need
a doctor. Such peculiar atmosphere
in this country" and turning his face
fall upon me he grinned like a pos
snm.
"The other day." he continued, 81
had to fill a smart young man full Of
stitches. Lawyer, too, believe. Kept
fooling around knife. Yes, sir, they
need doctor every now and then. Don't
forget me, sir; in case you should get
hurt"
'Sir, amnot a ruffian."
ooh, no, of course not. The ruffians
don't get hurt. Only the smart men
Lawyers, mainly. Strange, isn't
it9"
81 do not care to talk to you,
SIR"
'Tt's only through politeness that 1
am talking to you. The PHYSICIANS
business is to carve rather than to court
fool"
l sprang to my feet in a rage. Just then
Jassamine entered.
''What is the matter, gentlemen she
exclaimed.
"Oh, nothing" replied the doctor.
''This young Bacon wants to fight. l
have not thought much of the subject,
but / will consider it. Chancellor, :"
turning to me, my friend will call on
you"
''For what purposeI"
"To make suitable arrangements, my
dear Chancellor"
"To fight duell"
''Yes to arrange mild encounter"
al will not accept" | exclaimed. 81
am no shot, while you doubtless are"
III 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"
~ will not accept. l was taught to
look upon the code as an arrangement OF
murder"
'Then it will be my painful duty to
post you as q coward"
"You are right. 1t will be painful
duty"
''What will the jurist do?"
"If 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 himP' she said, turning
to me.
81 will fight him in civilized way"
I replied. -,
"Yes, " 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 would
have called a sound thrashing.
l soon learned that the doctor bore the
name or a desperate character. He had
fought several duels. l expected that
he would post me as coward, and he
did so, but he kept out of my way. The
people, saw, attached great Importance
to what they termed the defense Of
honor. No matter how promptly man
resented an insult and knocked the
other down. he was not to he taken into
the fold of brave men until he had
shown his willingness to burn danger
GUS powder. When anyone reproached
me for not fighting the doctor, at
tempted to laugh it of, but to my sor-
row found it was a serious matter.
"He would have killed me, f" said
one day to an acquaintance who sat in
my office.
presumably, :" he replied.
"Well, then, do you suppose | want
to be killed."
"Of course not, but what is life unless
it is honorabie?"
"Do you mean that since I have re-
fused to fight duel with that desperate
man, my life is no longer honorable2"
"The fact that people do think you
l.ol.ror,n