The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-07-21

had just risen. For moment he sat without speaking, gazing fixedly be-
 fore him; then turned his head, as though to address me. But any words
 he might have spoken died away in a
 fit of shivering. He grew even paler
 than before, his teeth chattered, he
 looked at me helplessly, as child might as he sat there grasping the table with both hands, in a vain effort at self-control. I 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" said, contemplat-
 ing him.
 He did not at once answer. His lips trembled little, as he sat look
 ing 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. "I didn't think I should see any one , here that would care about me-"
 "My dear lad" I said, "what's your
 difficulty? I saw you down stairs
 last evening I saw that you were in
 trouble of some kind. Tell me about it. If you have got yourself into scrape, it will be hard if between us ) we can't pull you out, whatever it may be-"
 "It's no scrape," he said, with diffi- culty, and paused. His face grew white again. dts no scrape," he said at last. "I've got to fight duel to- morrow morning at six o'clock, and I T." his voice failed altogether. "A duel? Nonsense" I said. He looked up. "Nonsense," I repeated "Who fights duel in these days?
 The thing can be put an end to at , once."
 stood up as l spoke, and made
 step towards the door, with don't : know what idea; since at that hour , of the night nothing could be done. He stopped me, however. 'It can't be put stop to-" he said
 "It must go on. Pm pledged on my } honor that it shall go on."
 faced round on him. "Look here," I said; "I know all , about it. saw that girl this evening
 heard about her. She leaves the
 house tomorrow. But you've fallen !, into trap, my dear fellow; your , honor has nothing to say in the mat
 ter. give you my word of honor that the whole thing may be arranged without the slightest difficulty"
 "How ?" he said, with a certain eagerpess, but checked himself i'm
 mediately. ct must go on," he re-
 peated; Git is all settled, tell you. I don't know what you mean about the girl. There was quarrel among a
 lot of officers dows stairs, got mixed
 up in it, like 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 shiveripg seized him again, and the pallor A
 light dawned on me. It was fear that held the boy as he sat there, covering and trembling, before me; the lad with his fresh complexion and pretty girls face was coward, and as l recognized the fact, something of contempt for him rose in my mind. had in those days the brutal stupidity of a man to
 whom, constitutionally, fear is un-
 known. had never considered, as
 have had occasion to do since, the
 tricks that vivid imagination may
 play with a sensitive organization, and I looked at the trembling lad before
 bulldog might have brought to bear
 upon the subject. Nevertheless laid
 my hand upon his shoulder good
 naturedly enough.
 "Look here," said, giving him a friendly shake. "Take some more
 brandy first, though" got him to , swallow another mouthful. "Look here, my dear boy," said, "you don't , like the notion of fighting, see. We'll, r don't give the thing another thought. , Go to bed and sleep soundly, when l you wake tomorrow morning you'll
 find it all arranged"
 He shook his head.
 "It can't belt can't be-" he said. He sprang to his feet and paced the room once or twice, his hands thrust f deep into his pockets. "You think Pm ! afraid" he said, standing in front of
 me and speaking rapidly. "You're right, I am afraid, Pm sick with
 fear"
 He dropped into his chair again, and flung out his arms across the table, burying his face in them. In a a moment he looked up.
 "Ive been afraid all my life," he said, speaking low and very quickly. 7 "I can't help it. I can't see things any
 other way. They used to bully me