St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-10-12

"Well. I'll swear" said my second,
with evident admiration. you've 60,
the finest grit I ever saw"
An interval Of silence succeeded,
which was interrupted by me: II have
made my will and left it in my trunk
with some other papers II should
die. you must tell my parents that
was game to the last There are sew.
eral letters from my sweetheart-they
are-tied with-a little red ribbon.
Her name is on the back OF one oil
them-send them-t0 her-and tell her
- died with her name-upon my
lips"
My companion was profoundly
touched. and promised to do as ]
wished; but tried to console mo will,
the hope that the affair would turn out
all right
We rode the rest Of the way in silence
over the winding road. and into the
somber forest to the glade where the
duel was to be fought 1t was q grue-
some, dreadful kind Of . place. far
away from the sound OF human voices.
The silence was depressing in the ex-
tremc.
We hitched our horses to small trees
and began to survey the ground. my
adversary and his second not having
arrived. We INDUCED in fragmentary
conversation for few minutes. when
a noise informed US of the probable ap-
proach of Douglass. As the two men
came up my second scanned them close
ly. and said to me; He looks as cool
and resolute rs you"
''Yes." said /. indifferently. Tho is
evidently a brave fellow"
Neither Of you fools is lacking in
courage"
! smiled grimly.
Douglass and his second dismounted.
and the usual preliminaries of duel
were gone through with. The seconds
examined the pistols and saw that they
were in proper shape. Then they SOL
EMMY measured of the correct dis
lance. while Douglass and l went
through what little preparation was
required OF US. There were a few hur.
ried handshakcs. a last glance on my
part at the glorious day that was un-
folding its golden splendOr above us,
and we took our places.
1t is hard to describe ones feelings
under such dreadful circumstances.
Long years after I recall that awfully
quiet meeting in the forest glade. with
the two seconds standing seriously and
anxiously at one side like the chron-
iclers Of doom.
Are you ready?" we were asked.
Yes"
lone, two three-frer'
Two shots broke sharply on the
air. Neither OF us was hit
My second approached his colleague
and asked if Douglass was satisfied.
and when the matter was referred tc
my brother journalist he replied. with
\ violent oath. that he was not So we
again took our positions. Again we
heard the dreadful lone. two, three
lire!" Again we missed. Douglass
second now came to mine. and said that
his principal was satisfied If l was
sent back word that the quarrel was
not Of my seeking. but that rs long as
| had gotten into it l was not ayerse &c
seeing it through. We got into posi-
lion for the third time, sho: and missed.
The seconds held a nervous consulta-
lion. and came to Douglass and myself
and begged US to let the matter drop.
Both of you," they said. shave
proved your grit and we don't want to
zee either Of you hurt"
We. however. were obdurate. and
faced each other for the
'ourth time. fired and missed. Again
he seconds made an appeal to us to
lesist, but we stood firm, and took our
places for the fifth time, with the same
harmless result
Cant we persuade you blamed
ools to stop?" said one Of the seconds
o me.
mo. sir" I replied. with dignity;
Il didn't come here for nothing"
Douglass. It seems. took the same
rev as did. The seconds consulted |
gain and made an announcement te
ZACH Of us: "You have now had five
hnAo ~ oooh nthor. uuI IN oocD,,o,
4 the limited supply Of ammunition.
My one more shot is possible. II you
all to hit this time we will be COM |
'eled to terminate the duel and decide
hat Mr.. Douglass honor has been vim
licated."
To this Douglass and reluctantly
greed. It was an awful momem-to
he seconds-just before that last shot;
nd there was feeling OF great and
relief when it was fired
nth the same old result The next
ay the duel was the talk Of the town
nd public opinion decided that we
'ere 1.-The gamest fellows and the
'orst shots" in the State.
You don't understand it? Well. YOU
&c. in the long interview ! had with
the night before the duel.
,und that he was frightened to death.
nd was as eager to have it postponed
me die as was. 1t was only ques-
on rs to how we could get out of 1t
and a bogus duel. in which
9 were not to fire at each other. was
greed uron. 1t was suggested by
lat sense OF humor which my mother
ave me.-Belford's Magazine.
Stammering and Deafness
Stammering has hitherto been sup