The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-12

VlOchi anu l. - Hls Nolcc ialieu W
togethef.
"a duel ? Nonsense" / said. He
looked up. "Nonsense, | repeated;
"who fights a duel in these daysl The
thing can be put an end to at once"
stood up as | spoke and made step
toward the door, with don't know what
idea, since at that hour OF the night moth
ing could be done. lie stopped me, how
ever.
1T can't be put stop to-" he said, cit
must go on; Pm pledged on my honor
that it shall go on"
l faced round on him.
look here" ! said, IL know all about
il. saw that girl this evening / heard
about her. She leaves the house tomor-
row. But you've fallen into trap, my
dear fellow; your honor has nothing 10
say in the matter. give you my word
OF honor that the whole thing may be ar
ranged without the slightest difficulty"
"llow?" he said, with certain eager
ness, but checked himself Immediately.
1T must 90 on" he repeated, ''it is all
settled, | tell YOU. | don't know what
you mean about the girl. There was a
quarrel among lot OF officers downstairs;
Y
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,"
lie broke Off ~ the shivering seized him
again, and the pallor. A light dawncd on
me. IL was fear that held the boy ~ he
sat there, covering and trembling, before
me; the lad with his fresh complexion and
pretty girls face was coward; and as |
remembered the fact, contempt for him
rose in my mind. | had in those DAYS
the brutal stupidity OF n man to whom,
consttutiOnally, fear il unknown. had
never considered, rs have had occasion
10 do since, the tricks that vivid imngn-
nation may play with a sensitive organizi-
ton, and | looked at the trembling lad
before me with the amount of intelligence
bulldog might have brought 10 bear
upon the subject. Nevertheless | laid
my hand on his shoulder good.naturedly
enough.
Look here, said I,giying him friendly
shake-"takc some more brandy first,
though" got him to swallow another
mouthlul, Look here, my dear boy, :"
said I, "you don't like the notion Of fight
ing ! see. Well, don't give the thing an
other thought. Go 10 bed aud sleep
soundy, when you wake tomorrow morn
ing YOU will find il all arranged"
lie shook his head.
cit can't bet can't be-" lac said. He
sprang Ia his feet and paced the room
once or twice, his hands thrust deep into
his pockets. "lOu think I'm afraid" he
sad, standing in front OF me and speaking
rapidly. "Iou're right, am afraid, I'm
sick with fear"
lie dropped into his chair again and
flung out his arms across the table, bury
ing his face In them. In moment he
looked up.
I've been afraid all my life, he said,
speaking low and very quickly. 81 can't
help It; can't see things amy other way.
They used TO bully me ut school. Once
shirkcd something, and the boys 49,"
lie broke OFT only one fellow was good
TO me, he went on. lie was older than
] was, and lac made me promise III never
shirk thing through cowardice again:
aud | never will
looked NJ him with new sentiment.
"Whcrc is your friend now" | asked,
after pause.
Gle is dead, he answered. Gle was
killed last year. fighting in India"
lie buried his face again, and there was
silence for while. | heard the rain still
falling steadily outside; now and then the
candle ilickcrcd little Ia abruath Of night
air. Al last spoke.
That IN no reason; u In no reason at
all, ] said, rising and pacing the room In
my turn. THE thing is an ahsurdily, I
tell YOU no one fights ducls in these DAYS.
Why 10 begin with, do YOU oven know
what you are about Can YOU fire pistol,
II, ~ ] suppose, il Is with pistols YOU pro-
prusc a. antisc yourselves
lie answered, almost inaudibly II can
handle firearms hc said. 81 had 10
learn"
! sat down and contemplated him for n
moment. Look here | broke out again,
"thc whole thing is nonsense, sheer non.
sense, Il cant Ice allowed togo on. You've
no business. my dear hoy, 10 be- coming
abroad Tor your holiday aud getting YOUR
sell cnllnglcd In miscries oi this sort.
What would your family ay2 Think oi
them"
lie raised his haggard face. ~ can't
got out oi II, " Ice said, II can't: not with.
ont leaving them a. say that an English
man shirkcd aud lost his honor because lac
was afraid. Aud It would he true"
oh said, there are WAYS Of put.
ting things. Tell them that You We thought
better OF Il; that In England wc'p too civ
ilizcd Tor such harbarous middle age prac-
tees that when n man Is offensive We
kick him downstairs aud there IL an end
Of II. Anything would be- good enough
iot a set Of brutos Who would cntrap lad
like YOU into n duel"
had touched his dignity. perhaps. 81
was not cntrappcd be- said, then broke
into a sob. Don't" he cried. don't
tempt me. ! oughtn't 10 have told YOU
anything about II, suppose. but couldn't
help H. ! don't want to think Of H.
shall gvt frightened again and feel cant
face u all. Besides, there's something else
| want to say" lie began hurricdly
turning over the papers on the table. III
I'm Killed
"oh come" ! said, there's no question
here OF being killed. Ducls are fought
every day abroad. and no one II a biz the
worc. Tomorrow night you'll be- laugh.
ing At your fears"
II think shall bc killed" he said sim.
ply ~ began a letter 10 INV mother" he
went on quietly enough; ii don't Know
how 10 finish IT, think IN sign Il aud
git YOU 10 give II 10 her. am glad you're
hcw ! thought there would bc no ono
Tor mo to speak 10 again.
lie took q sheet Of paper with a half
filed page and wrote, then folding and Ill.
rccting u, put Il Ia his little writing case.
You will find Il there, he said. And
this p1rtmanicau. he continued, "can
10 ~ u H. There are some things In II Tor
my little sister Maggie. I've got them at
different places I've been 10, please see
INA, she has them, Aud there are some