The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-11-02

| knew that Adams was q good
shot; and he knew that I was the
same, for we had practiced much to-
gether so thore was no advantage to
either party in the weapons.
After dinner Price came to me and
told me all was arranged. Every
thing had heen fixed as | had plan
ned, and Adams and his second
would ho a2 disappointed ground at
the appointed time.
After Price had gone I sat down
and wrote two letters. What cow.
ard ! was to write them. One was
to my mother, ana the other to the
gentle being who promised to be my
wife. As l sit now and think Of that
hour | shudder with hOrror-the
hour when [ wrote to my mother
ana to- my betrothed. What was /
'H'out q ,.,5.. H10 Yafy them Of all
earthly joy forever. And for what =?
Aye, for what? Because | had not
the courage 10 hp Il bold, frank man :;
to obey NV God and the laws Of my
country. 1t was to bow hcfJre a
wicked spirit-to offer my blood to
folly and my hand to murder.
White-IIeart Lodge was a high,
perpendicular walt of granite rising
abrVe the river, the top crowned
with dark spruce trees. 1t received
its name from peculiar mark,
where "A mass of white quartz ap-
pcared half way up the ledge, in the
form of heart.
Late in the afternoon l was upon
the sandy shore beneath the ledge !;
and almost at the same time L1han
Adams made his appearance, We
were both ANXIOUS to be Thought
brave men. lie did not speak to me,
nor did speak to him. Our seconds
conferred awhile together, and then
Price came to my side.
Must this thing 90 on ," he ask
ed.
| told him I did not know how it
could be stopped, | lied, for | did
know.
He informed me that if l would
make the least overture Of peace he
felt sure that Adams would accept it.
81 think" he said, "that Adams is
sorry for what mas happened. You
struck him, and he cannot retract.
"And he called me liar"
II know he did, and | know that
he did wrong. In fact, there was
wrong upOn both sides. Offer him
your hand, and | think he will take
it without word Of explanation.
No. l would not do it.
And why not? | wanted to do it.
Ny heart urged ne to do it. The
spirit of my dear mother, speaking
in those Old lessons OF love and hlps-
sing, urged me to do it. And an
other spirit, clothed in a younger,
starry i, We, urged me to do it. God,
speaking through His son, urged me
to do it. The law Of the land urged
me to do it.
And yet | would rot. / was afraid
that men would say 1 was coward.
o. what a precious coward I was.
"You are both good Shots" added
Price, "and if you fire together you
may both fall"
But l dared not offer the hand of
correlation.
| told him / was ready.
lie went back to Watkins, and
pretty soon they measured of the
ground-tweIve PAGES.
We were to stand back 10 back
those twelve PAGES apart. We were
to turn at the word one; we were to
raise our pistols at the word two, and
at the word three we were to fire. |
caught the eye of Lahan Adams as
took my position, and | was sure
that no angry passion dWeit therein.
For An instant the impulse was with
me to throw down my pistol and
offer him my hand. | was sure that
he would not refuse me. But l had
not the courage to do it. l would
rather do the deep, damnin2 wrong
than DO that simple, Christian act Of
love.
Our seconds hesitated, as though
they saw what was passing in our
thoughts. but we offered no word
and they proceeded, The word one
was given. ] cannot tell all the feel.
ings that came crowding upon me at
that moment. / stood face to face
with my brother; in moment more
we were to offer hands to the infer
nal stain. I thought of my mother.
in her distant home; I thought of
the scenes Of my childhood, bright
and promising ! thought of my col
Iege days. when Laban Adams had
been my friend and chum I thought
of the holy love which had beamed
unOn mo cipna T had Urour, IN MANI.