The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-11-03

corner, the painted wardrobe and
half dozen chairs, the small table set
near the window. 1t illumined his
white face, also, and hair hanging
loose and damp over his forehead.
There was something disheveled and
miserable In his whole appearance,
and a scared look in his eyes as they
met mine that made me hasten to eX-
plain my appearance there:
II beg your pardon" | said, ''for
intruding at this hour, but | feared
you might be i'll. WANTED to know
if could be Of any use to you"
He gazed at me uncertainty for q
moment in silence; then, standing on
one side that might enter, he closed
the door, bolted it, and, advanc-
ing to the table, set down his candle
among a litter of papers and letters
with which 1t Was strewn. A chair
was pushed back from the table;
close by, pr0pped up against another
chair, was an open portmanteau.
The young fellow motioned me to a
seat, and sank himself into the one
from which he had just risen. For a
moment he sat without speaking,
gazing fixedly before him; then turned
his head dis though to address me.
But any w6rds he might have spoken
died away in d fit 81, shivering; He
grew evefi paler than before; his teeth
chartered, he looked at me hopeless
ly, as child might, as he sat there
grasping the table with both hands,
in vain effort at self-control. | felt
in my pocket for my travelling flask.
and, going UP to him, got him to
swallow some brandy. The effect
Was good; the shivering ceased,
some color returned to his cheeks and
lips.
"That Is better" 1 said, eontem.
plating him.
He did not at once answer. His
lips trembled little as he sat looking
at me; the tears rushed to his eyes.
"You are an Englishman,' he said
holding out his hand with an affec
tionate gesture that touched me
deeply. II didn't think Ishould see
any one here that would care about
me-"
"My dearlad," said "what's your
difficulty? ! saw you down stairs
last evening; saw that you were in
trouble of some kind. Tell me about
It. Ifyuu have got yourself into a
scrape it will be hard If between lis we
can't pull you out, whatever it may
be-"
cts no scrape," he said, with diff
Guilty, and paused. His face grew
white again. Its no scrape," he
said at last: T've got to fight a
duel tomorrow morning at six
o'clock and H.. his voice failed
him altogether.
ga duel? Nonsense" said. He
looked up. 'Nonsense,"1 repeated,
"who fights a duel in these days?
The thing can be put an end to at
once"
stood up as spoke and made a
step toward the door, with l don't
know what idea, since at that hour
OF the night nothing could be done.
He stopped me, however.
at can't be put a stop to-" he
said, ''it must go on. I'm pledged
on my honor that it shall go on"
81 faced round on him.
Look here" l said, 81 know all
about it. l saw that girl this eve
ming; heard about her. She leaves
the house tomorrow. But you've
fallen in trap, my dear fellow.
Your honor has nothing to say III
the matter. give you my word OF
honor that the whole thing may be
arranged without the slightest diff
Guilty"
"How?" he said, with a certain
eargerness, but checked himself i'm
mediately. ''It must go on" he re-
peated; cit is all settled, 1 tell you. I
don't know what you mean about the
girl. There was a quarrel among a
lot of officers downstairs; | got mix
ed up in it, like a fool; but there were
some good fellows among them. and
they'll see me through. After all :"
he went on, trying to smile, what is
a duel?" Hundreds of men have
fought, and no great harm come OF
it"
He broke off as the shivering seized
him again, and the pallor A light
dawned on me. 1t was tear that
held the boy as he sat there, covering
and trembling before me; the lad with
his fresh complexion and pretty girls
face was a coward; and as recognized
the fact, something of contempt for
him rose in my mind. had in those
days the brutal stupidity of man
to whom constitutionally fear is un-
known. had never considered, as l
have had occasion to do since, the
tricks that vivid imagination may
play with sensitive organization,
and looked at the trembling lad be-
fore me with the amount ofintelligence
a bulldog might have brought to
bear upon the subject. Nevertheless,
laid my hand on his shoulder. good
naturally enough.
"Look here" | said, giving him q
friendly shake, "take some brandy
first, though" / got him to swal-
low another mouthful. "Look here,
my dear boy" l said, ''you don't like
the notion Of fighting, I see. "Well,
don't give the thing another thought.
Go to bed and sleep soundly; when
you wake tomorrow morning you'll
find it all arranged"
He shook his head.
cit can't bet can't be-" he said.
He sprang to his feet and paced the
room once or twice, his hands thrust
deep into his pockets. "You think
Pm afraid" he said; standing in
front of me and speaking rapidly.
you're right, l am raid, Pm sick
with fear"
He dropped into chair again, and
flung out his arms across the table,
burrying his face in them. In mo-
ment he looked up.
1--WE been afraid all my life" he
said, speaking low and very quickly.
81 can't help it; l can't see things
any other way. They used to bully
me at school. Once | shirked some
thing, and the boys" He broke off.
"Only one fellow was good to me,
n II