Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1889-10-19
The Two towards.

| was coward !! We were both
towards
So spoke our old law-tutor, Moses
Drake. And thus he continued
We had graduated from Harvard
Laban Adams and myself-and had
commenced the practice Of law. We
were neither of US married, though we
were both anticipating that event. We
had case in court-a case of trespass.
Adams was for the plaintiff, and for
| the defen dant 1t was weak, foolish
complaint, and Adams should not have
taken it up, 1t was clearly a case of
extortion. The plaintiff held rod
over the back Of the defendant in the
shape of bit of knowledge concerning
private misstep Of former time
and the present complaint was only a
seeming legal way in which that other
power was to be used for the purpose
of opening the poor mans purse. At
the trial 1 exposed the trick, and OBJ
tanned ruling out, by the court, Of d
lot of scandal which Adams had
planned to introduce as testimony. Of
course | was severe, and as my OPP
ponent had entered upon very bad
case, my structures cut home. | gained
the verdict for my client, and people
laughed at the foiled plaintiff, and
spoke lightly of his lawyer.
Thus it commenced. Adams could
not forgive me for the chagrin l had
caused him. He laid it up against me,
and told openly about being revenged-
This was on the first of August. A,
month afterward we met at party
where the gentlemen drank wine. Late
in the evening Adams and l met, and
third person made some remarks
upon the old trial, whereupon fourth
person laughed, and said had done a
great thing. At this Adams flushed,
and made an imprudent reply. The
reply was addressed to me, and | an
swered it. The two outsiders laughed
at the hit | made, and Adams said
something more severe than before. /
replied to him. He deliberately told
me that | was liar
| had been drinking wine, and my
blood was heated AS that harsh,
hard, cowardly word fell upon my ear,
my passion overcame me. | struck
Laban Adams in the face, and knocked
him back against the wall. 1t was a
cowardly thing for me to strike him
there, in that company, but was too
much excited to reflect. [ expected
that Adams would strike back, but he
did not l WAS stronger than he,
though this consideration may not
have influenced him. His friends drew
him away, and | went out into the
open air. AS soon as the cool breeze
tanned my brow, and eased the heated
blood away from brain, | was sorry
for what | had done, but it was too
late to help the matter. / might have
gone to Adams, and ask him to over
look the wrong had done, but had
not the courage for that.
On the following morning a friend,
named Watkins, called upon me, and
presented note from Laban Adams.
| opened it, and found it to be chal-
lenge. was requested to give salts
faction for the blow | had struck. Ii
was gentleman | would do so. If
| was willing, | might designate the
time and place, and select the wea-
pons.
What should ] do?
What ought to do was very plain.
The lessons Of life which my fond
mother had taught me did not leave
me in doubt | ought to have gone 10
Adams and made such offer Of conci-
liation as one gentleman may honor
ably make to another; and if he had
rejected that, could have simply tur-
ned from him, and refused to do a
further wrong to right the wrong
already done. But | had not the
courage to do that. l was a coward.
feared that my friends would laugh
at me, and that the special friends of
Adams would point at me the finger of
scorn.
80, IN the cowardice OF my heart, |
thought would be brave before the
world, and | accepted the challenge
"The sooner it is over the better"
remarked Watkins. And with this
sentiment | agreed.
Certainly" | responded. Let it be
on this very day. at sunset; upon the
rivers bank, directly beneath the
White Heart Ledge. / will send a
friend to you to make further arrange.
ments.
"And the weapons ?"
"Pistols."
And so it was fixed.
An hour afterward / found John
Price, a young physician, who agreed