New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-03-24
Yes; but / have to thank God for

& don't think He'll destroy mine,
when it comes my turn, !" was the bias
phemous reply. 'At any rate, I'll not
be an assassin; | went fire at him
without giving him a chance, too"
"Eustace! Eustace'' cried Ethel,
clasping her arms more tightly about
him, and bursting into tears.
With great difficulty l restrained
my anger. My first impulse was to
strike him to the ground. Then, re
memhering his really generous nature,
and that when under the control of
his frey temper he was not himself, 1
said,-
"You do me great injustice. and I
feel sure you will realize it some day."
and then bidding Ethel good-by, l left
them.
Two weeks later I returned to col
lege. Eustace was already there, and
| found that he had taken another
room. We had been such fast friends
that this caused comment. He had
given no explanation of his conduct,
and when asked by my classmates the
cause of his estrangement, merely
| replied that if there was any aliena-
ton, it was on Halleck's side. and
must therefore leave it for him to give
an explanation.
The day after my arrival, the college
term not having yet opened, note
was brought me, by classmatenamed
Shipper, who was always foremost in
any college trouble. It proved to be
a challenge from Eustace. The terms
OF the note were curt and formal. l
| must afford him satisfaction for dis
paraging language used toward his
| father, either by a full apology or by
meeting him at such time and place
and with such weapons as might
choose Should fail to dc either, he
| would brand me as a coward.
OF course | was greatly disturbed
and perplexed, but at once replied
that | would consult friend Going
Immediately to student with whom
| had always been on familiar terms,
and who had had some experience in
such matters, I said,-
"Johnson, Halleck has challenged
me to fight him, and Ineed your assist
ance. What shall do?"
"What in the world, Tyson, has
happened to bring you two to such a
pass?"
told HMM few words. ''Ofcourse,
cannot fire at him." Isaid. There's
no other way, as see, but to give him
q shot at me, but | never can fire at
him"
"rhat 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's 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 l, elf you know him,
you know me, too. can stand up to
be fired at, but l can't fire at him"
II understand your feeling in the
matter. Yes, | do know you. old 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,' l answered; and then he
unused again.
''pll see Shipper" he next said II
think we can arrange it-so that you
can fire at him; you must make up
your mind for that
/ was not convinced. Still I 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. "Iou must, you know or
you'll never end it."
81 cam t." / said.
"You must. Do as 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! FiFep' which
was to be given by third man whom
the two seconds had chosen.
| 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
l had decided, the words came
Ready! WHEEL Fire!"
The first sent a painful thrill all
through me; at the second turned
quickly, with half-levelled piece, when,
simultaneously with the third, I
turned and fired. heard the sharp
report and felt a sinking pain in my
LETT side, which caused my grasp to
tighten and the muzzle of my piece to
fall. Ihad dim consciousness that
l was wounded as sank down, then
darkness came over me, and all con-
seriousness was gone.
On its return, was lying on a bed
and two doctors were by my side.
Other persons were in the room, and
there was deeply serious expression
on every face The doctors cautioned
me not to attempt to speak. did
not rise from that bed for weeks and