Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-03-26

term not having yet opened, note
was brought me, by a classmate named
Shipper, who was always foremost in
any college trouble. 1t proved to be
a challenge from Eustace. The terms
OF the note were curt and formal. I
must afford him satisfaction for dis
paraglng language used toward his
father, either by full apology or by
meeting him at such time and place
and with such weapons as I might
choose. Should fail to dc either, he
would brand me as a coward.
OF course I was greatly disturbed
and perplexed, but at once replied
that | would consult a friend. Going
Immediately to q student with whom
/ had always been on familiar terms,
and who had had some experience in
such matters, said,-
johnson, Halleck has challenged
me to fight him, and I need your assist
ance. What shall dor"
"What in the world, Tyson, has
happened to bring you two to such a
pass?"
told him in few words. "Ofcourse,
I cannot fire at him." Isaid. There's
no other way, as l see, but to give him
a shot at me, but / never can fire at
him.
THAT would be one:sided affair.""
he said, and then he unused for mo-
ment. "I'm sure you'll have to fire
at him." he added. There no other
way with such impulsive, determined
men as he. We all know Halleck.
Unless you apologize, you'll have to
fire at him; he'll be satisfied with moth
ing less.'
"Well," said I, ''if you know him,
you know me, too. can stand up to
be fired at, but I can't fire at him"
II understand your feeling in the
matter. Yes, I do know you, cid fell
low, and, Of course, understand; but
the only way to end it will be to apollo
giZe or to fire at him. Nothing else
will satisfy Halleck. Who brought his
note?"
"shippen," 1 answered; and then he
unused again.
"I'll see Shippen," he next said. ri
think we can arrange it-so that you
can fire at him; you must make up
your mind for that
was not convinced Still / could
not apologize truthfully, and I could
as soon fire a bullet into my own
heart as to fire it at Eustace Halleck.
But nothing more was said on that
point till we all met on the fatal field.
The weapons were rifles; the dis
tance thirty PAGES. The ground had
been stepped off, and we had been
placed, back to back, and then for a
moment only Johnson was with me.
"Fire at him Tyson" he said in a
low tone. "You must, you know or
you'll never end it,"
II can t." l said.
"You must. Do as I tell you! Fire
at him! You won't hurt him.
WHAT" I asked with a quick
suspicion that possibly there was no
ball in my weapon; but he was gone,
and stood alone waiting the fatal
signal, Ready! Wheel! Fire!" which
was to be given by third man whom
the two seconds had chosen.
l tried to be calm, but Johnson's
last words had made that impossible
My mind was in whirl. Perhaps it
would be better, after all, to make an
appearance OF taking aim; but before
| had decided, the words CAME
"Ready! Wheel! Fire!"
The first sent a painful thrill all
through me; at the second l turned
quickly, with half-levelled piece, when,
simultaneously with the third,
turned and fired. I heard the sharp
report and felt a sinking pain in my
left side, which caused my grasp to
tighten and the muzzle of nv piece to
fall. | had dim consciousness that
l was wounded as / sank down, then
darkness came over me, and all con-
seriousness was gone.
On it's return, | was lying on bed
and two doctors were by my side.
Other persons were in the room, and
there was a deeply serious expression
on every face. The doctors cautioned
me not to attempt to speak. I did
not rise from that bed for weeks, and
two months passed before I left my
room.
After the second day my mother was
with me constantly. But when I
asked her of Halleck, wondering why,
now that his honor must be satisfied,
he did not come to see me, she said,
with a look of anguish, that they had
taken him home.
II hope he has not been expelled"
I said.
"Wait, Walter" she replied, "till
you are we'll; it will only retard your
recovery to worry about that now"
| fully believed, then, that Eustace
had been expelled. But Ihad an eager
longing to meet both him and Ethel,
and expected to do so, as soon as l
could endure the journey home.
But when, at length, I was once
more under my fathers roof, and aft
er q nights rest, asked for informa-
ton about Eustace and Ethel, my
mother sat down by my side, and TAX
ing my hands gently in hers, said,
"Walter, l must now tell you,--Eus-
tace cannot come to YOU"
"Why, mother, what do you mean?
what has happened?" Icried, in alarm.
"Oh my SOM" and her eyes filled
with tears, lit seems as if Gods judg-
menu came upon him, and 1t has over
whelmed them all. Eustace was car
ried dead from that fatal field. The
news killed his poor mother, who, you
know, was still very weak from that
last illness. His father, overwhelmed
by the loss of both wife and child, IN
a fit OF insane despair died by his own
hand. 0 Walter, dreadful iudg-
ment has fallen on that housed"
'But Ethel, Ethel, mother!"
81 can hardly tell you, my child, my
heart is so sad. These horrible TRACE
dies so preyed upon ner that reason
fled; and she is now in the care of her
aunt, quiet and inotfensive, but she
can never be herself again."
This dreadful news brought me low
again. Spring came before recovered;