The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-12
THE STORY OF A DUEL,

thOuku ~ htfHthNu ieSNi'"f' ""N
youngster then; am getting to be an old
man now, but shall never forget il, never
Poor lad, poor lad"
i was about fve-and-twenty, and on my
travels for the first time. In leisurely fash
ion, had traversed France and Belgium
and crossing the German frontier had
reached and taken up my abode fol
twenty-iour hours in small town with q
river and bridge; confused mass Of
red-roofed houses, with sheltering forest.
covered hills that favored and shut in It's
remoteness from the common highway. II
was one OF those places whose antique air,
inherited straight from the middle ages,
charms and invites the passer-by; the inn
charmed me also, the gabcd house on the
old market-place, with a fruitful garden
reaching down to the river at the back,
The town was not unknown TO tourists,
but lying apart from the usual track, IL
was little frequented; and for one reason
or another, the inn, when | arrived, was
almost empty. II depended for its pros.
pertv, however, less on the custom OF
passing strangers than ON its clientele Of
commercial travellers, and on the excellent
ordinary il provided for the townspeople
and the officers of the small town-garrison.
The table d'hote, | found-ior my stay
was prolonged from the one day had pro-
posed TO four or iive--was always dull. The
guests came dropping in one by one, hang
ing each his cloak and hat ON a peg 10y the
door, and with a friendly greeting TO one
and another, took each his accustomed
seat at the liberal board. Each tucked a
napkin under his chin; men and maids
flew round the table; clatter OF plates
and tongues began. The scene amused
me. ! don't know why, thought It's nov.
city, lsuppose.
On the evening OF the second day, re-.
turning from some excursion in the neigh
borhood, too late for the public meal, my
supper was served in small room adjoin-
ing the salle-a-manger. A door communi.
Gated between the two apartments; II was
closed, but n sound Of talking acquainted
me that though the table Il hotc might be-
over, the guests were not yet all dispersed.
Some dispute was apparently in progress,
j could distinguish no words, the speak.
ere rs ! judged, were ut the further end
Of the long adjoining room but the raised
and vehement voices, sort of angry
clamor rising and falling argued quarrel
OF some kind. Presently the clamOr fell;
the voices died away amid a scraping OF
chairs on the wooden floor; silence sue.
ceeded. had nearly finished my supper.
coilee had been brought and | was prepar.
ing TO light cigar, when the door he.
tween the rooms was thrown open and
young man entered Without noticing
IA L.. 4 "a -.
against the wall and sat motonlcss.
lie was a mere lad, not above twenty,
decided, ON considering him moro atton.
lively, boy with light, shining hair affair
complexion, and n girlish delicacy Of feat.
urei faint yellow mustaChc alone testified
u his manhood. lie was dressed in a light
colored tourist suit; there was nothing re-
markable IN his appearance, nothing TO
distinguish him especially from any other
fresh young fellow abroad on his travels.
but something in his attitude rs he sat
without movement In the chair into which
he had flung himself, arrested my attcn.
zion. lie sat with his legs stretched ont,
bis hands thrust into his pockets, his head
dropped on his breast. His face which
should naturally, ! imagined, wear the
pink and white complexion proper 10 fair
haired youth, was empty Of even tinge
Of color, his brows were drawn together.
lie looked miserable, overwhelmed, DIES.
pera,e, l could not tell how lac looked. lie
might, l conicc,urcd, have been losing
money In some bet or game OF chance, a
ynan who has left his fortune ut the gam.
bling table might wear Just such am en-.
preston. Twice i thought of addressing
him, but ] was deferred 10y his complete
INCONSISTENCIES Of my presence and by
my ignorance oi his nationality; for | had
20 better skill IN languages than an imper.
feet knowledge Of French aud still more
stumbling acquaintance with German |
] finished my coffee, therefore, in silence,
and a. he still made no sign took up my
Ia, and silently left the room
On my way through the hall accosted
the gray haired head waiter. an old man.
grown old In the service OF the inn, aud
asked him II lac knew anything about the
youngiellow He was an Englishman, the
man answered, aud opened the visitors
book 10 show me his name. His name
was there, Charles Holmes, Of FoHholme,
kuucy, England, and Magdalcn college,
Oxford, he had arrived the previous night, |
he was come from Frankfort, he was on
bis way 10 hrusscls--all this inscribed |
with boyish love OF detail In a round |
boyish hand lie was a fellow country. |
man then, aud alone apparently; for with |
the exception OF my own name, none |
other Of English nationality appeared on |
the list Tor many days back His pale |
look ~ he dropped into his chair passed |
before my eyes. Almost ! turned back |
Into the little parlof To speak 10 him. and |
wish had wish 10 heaven | had |
oil might have turned out differently. |
tjut the indomiiablc stupidity and reserve |
Of an Englishman stood In my way, and
Instead oi going back | addressed the
walter again. Had there been any QUAR-.
Jol, ! inquired, among the guests at the
supper table that evening. lie shrugged
bis shoulders "Possibly--possibly." lac
taid; "hc had heard raised voices hc hal
not been In the room. These gentlemen
tmeaning the oniccrsl often had disputes
among themselves. No one thought
much about u Il was NO ones concern
but their own"
left the man and started ON an evening
walk through the town before retiring 10
rest. II was already dark, a warm and
ttarless August night; the sky, heavy with
one cloud that spread from hill 10 hin.
seemed 10 weigh upon ones head. nov
and then a drop Of rain fell. | could see
the sulfy splash ON the dusty paving
stones by the light Of m occasional I'll
lamp Pickering here aud there. A street
led from the old market place down 10 a
steep one archcd bridge that spanncd the
river, and connected the town with tho
opposite nights | crossed the bridge.
then returning ON my steps, stood leaning
on the pappct looking down upon the
river revealed through the darkness by It's
slow onward rush and hy the rare lights
reflected on lie black surface. A bclatcd