San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-18
The Daily Eight.
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SATURDAY, AUGUST, l8, 1888.
waited.


of the room was Immediately apparent. |
heard a chair pushed back, with a movement
as of some one suddenly springing to his feet;
then silence. knocked again. This time a
hesitatinC footstep crossed the floor, the bolt
was withdrawn, the door was opened an inch,
then throwu back entirely; the young Eng
lishman stood before me.
He was dressed as had seen him the pre-
vious evening, except that he had removed
his necktie and exchanged his boots for
slippers In his hand he held candle that
feebly lighted up the sparely furnished room,
the bel standing in dusky corner, the
painted wardrobe and half dozen chairs, the
small table set near the window. 1t illu-
mined his white face also, and hair hanging
loose and damp over his forehead There
was something disheveled and miserable in
his whole appearance, and scared look in
his eyes as they met mine that made rf1e
hasten to explain my appearance there
81 beg your pardon" | said, for in
truding 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 moment
in silence, then, standing on one side that
might enter, he closed the door, bolted it,
and advancing to the table, set down his
candle among litter Of papers and letters
with which it was strewn. A chair was
pushed back from the table; close by, propped
np against another chair, was an open port
manteau. The young fellow motioned me to
q seat, and sank himself into the one from
which he had Just risen For a moment ho
sat without speaking, gazing fxedly before
him, then turned his head, as though to ad-
dress me. But any words he might have
spoken died away in a fit of shivering. He
grew even paler than before, his teeth chat
tered, he looked at me helplessly, as a child
might, as he sat there grasping the table with
both hands, in a vain effort at self control
/ felt in my pocket - my travelling flask,
and going up to him, got him to swallow
some brandy. The effect was good; the shiv-
ering ceased, some color returned to his cheeks
and lips.
"That is BETTER" I said, contemplating
him.
He did not at once answer. His lips trem-
bled little, as he sat booking at me; the tears
rushed to his eyes.
"You are an Englisbman," he said, hold
ing out his hand with an affectionate gesture
that touched me deeply. ~ didn't think
should see any one here that would care about
me-"
"My dear lad, said, "whst's your diff
cnlty2 l saw you down stairs last evening;
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-"
sits no scrape," he said, with difficulty,
lie N1yhi in
'sIt's no scrape," he said at last. 1--WE got to
fight duel tomorrow morning at o'clock,
and I-F-his voice failed altogether.
"a duel? Nonsense" said. He looked
up. "Nonsense," repeated. "Who fights
duel these daysl The thing can be put an
end to at once"
stood up as spoke, and made step to-
wards the door, with don't know what idea:
since at that hour of the night nothing could
be done. He stopped me, however.
l. SIT can't be put stop to-" he said; sit
must go on. I'm pledged on my honor that
It shall go on"
faced round on him
"Look here" I said; II know all about it.
I saw that girl this evening; heard about
her She leaves the house tomorrow. But
you've fallen into a 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"
.'Howf' he said, with certain eager
ness, but checked himself Immediately. 1T
must go on" he repeated: sit is all settled,
tell you. don't know what you mean about
the girl. There was quarrel among a lot
of officers down stairs; got mixed ~ 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 duel3 Hundreds of men have fough
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 fear that held the boy as he sat
there, covering and trembling before me:
the lad with his fresh complexion and prpttY
girls face was a coward; and as | recognized
the fact, something Of con empt for him rose
in my mind. had in those days the brutal
stupidity OF man to whom cOnstitutionalIy
fear is unknown. had never considered as
have had occasion to do since, the tricks
that a vivid imagination may play with O
sensitive organization, and | looked at the
trembling lad before me with the amount OF
intelligence bull dog might have brought t
bear upon the subject. Nevertheless, | IaiC
my hand on his shoulder good naturedly
enough.
''Look here" 1 said, giving him 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. Well, don't give the thing anothe
thought. Go to bed and sleep soundly: whcl
you wake tomorrow morning you'll find i
all arranged."
He shook his head.
at can't bet can't be-" he said H