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

iar that brought misery, death, and
still worse than death,--imbecilitv.
Yet it was called tan affair OF honor"
1 will tell you of it, that you may
judge.
My father was a cotton-planter in
one OF our southern states, and I, an
only son, was INDUCED to an unusual
degree, and was early taught the use OF
firearms. Even at ten years OF age 1
was allowed to roam the woods at
will, with ali ght owing piece that had
been given me.
Often, however, ( had a companion
In my hunting excursions,--the son of
aneighbor OF ours, who was a year
older than I. He was fiery, and often
very unreasonable youth, qualities
which he had inherited from his fa-
Their; but we had never had any es-
arrangement or dispute till this of which
I am going to write.
Eustace had always claimed to be O.
better shot than was. This l was
not willing to concede. In our target
practice we sometimes had for umpire
a sister OF his, Ethel Halleck, who was
two years younger than Eustace; and
as she very frankly said she did not
accept her brothers opinion, l usual
ly yielded the point without contro-
versy.
Ethel and Eustace were the only
children OF their parents, who were
our nearest neighbours, and the man
sions in that part OF the South being
somewhat widely separated, We had
very few other associates She was a
spirited girl, and beautiful, to my eyes,
and had none OF the overbearing inn
petuosity that characterized her
father and brother, being, like her
mother, gentle in manner and speech,
and always reasonable.
The fiery temperament of the elder
Halleck had not unfrequently been the
cause Of trouble between him and the
gentlemen with whom he associated,
and he had been led by it in more
than one "affair of honor Eustace
frequently boosted of this, but Ethel
always deplored it, and in this fully
sympathized with her.
The last meeting Of this kind took
place the summer Ethel was. fifteen
years OF age. do notnow fully recall
the cause OF it, but it led to meeting
with rifles, at short range, in which
Halleck killed his man. I shall never
forget the expression of distress that
was on Ethel's face when I next met
her. She would not have spoken Of
the dreadful occurrence, but Eustace
could not forbear mentioning it.
"Of course you've heard OF that last
affair OF father's?" he said.
"Oh, yes" I answered.
'They'll find out after awhile that
it won't do to fool with him, Ireckon. u
II should think So" said l. "But
doesn't he feel badly at having killed
his antagonist"
II haven't seen him shed any tears, "
said Eustace, laughing. II guess he
can stand it, if the rest can. They'll
find out after awhile that his aim is
quicker than theirs, Ireckon. He's the
quickest man to take aim that you
ever saw"
30 Eustace, don't speak OF it!
Don't mention it any more, I beg Of
your implored Ethel.
"Why, it's nothing to be ashamed
Of. I'm proud that we have father
who can defend his honorn
To this Ethel only replied by a
plea ling look, and pltying her distress,
l remarked, quite thoughtless of what
the effect would be-
II don't see any reason, Eustace,
for taking pride in yourfather's killing
another man. think his honor would
not have suffered if the man had liv-
ed"
"You do? OF course you do. Why
shouldn't you, when you don't know
what honor is?"
"Stop,now! Stop, Eustace!" cried
Ethel, springing forward and claspine
her arms around him.
mot when we're insulted in our own
homel No, repeat it, he don't know
what honor is!''
"And shall have to 60 elsewhere to
learnt retorted, in spite Of my bet
ter judgment. ~ never saw any
honor yet in killing a man.
"You're O. coward, or you would
not say that to us here! He's a COW
ard, Ethel!'
II may be a. coward in your estima-
ton, for it's plain that our ideas OF
cowardice and honordon't agree But
I don't believe Ethel will call me a
coward
"No, Waltern' she cried. II know
you are not, and Eustace knows it.
He knows that he might not BIO living
now if it weren't for you. 0 Eustace,
you'll be sorry for this!" and the poor
girls eyes filled with tears.
l had come to keep an appointment
with Eustace for an afternoons hunt,
and not Wishing to prolong such a
scene, l said, turning to leave the
house, Judging from what you say, !
infer that you hardly feel in the mood
to hunt to-day, so III not remain
longer"
mo, sir! I'll never hunt with you
again until you have apologized for
what you have said"
Then for the future must hunt
alone, for I'm not aware that have
said anything that needs an apology;
no more, certainly, than have you"
"You have insinuated that my ia
Their has done something to be ashamed
OF. You shall apologize for that, or
--- You ought to know me by this
time"
The last words were uttered in a low
ana very decided tone.