Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-04-11

ing. A push, unlntentional, Of course.
You'll understand, made him miss a
fine shot. He accused me OF pushing
him on purpose. l did not think 1t
worth while to assure him Of the con-
trary, it would have sounded too
much like an apology. VOLTA, the re-
sultr
With the enthusiasm of youth &C
cepted the post. and Hans left with
the request to meet him at the Casino
that night, ana the parting injunction
to accede to every stipulation made by
the other slde. 1 demurred, but he
was obstinate, and my entreaties were
useless. About ii o'clock Blessing
called, and the duel was soon arranged.
Nv friend was to meet the Count next
morning at dawn in little strip OF
wood about three miles from the city.
The duelists were to fire at the word
three,' and to continue firing until
one of them was killed or disabled, or
the weapons were emptied. The lat
ter stipulation | knew was superHuous,
as both were crack shots.
At o'clock my servant awoke me
out of restless slumber. By the time
I had finished hasty breakfast of
coffee and rolls the carriage arrived
which was to take me to the scene OF
conflict. | saw Hans and DR.. Meyer
seated IN the vehicle smoking cigars
apparently with the utmost unconcern.
NV greeting was not effusive. time
had dampened my ardor, and as took
nv seat beside my friend serious ap-
prehensions arose in my mind. The
GOODNESS of my companions, who chat
ted pleasantly together, and the nat
ural buoyancy of youth soon dispelled
the gloomy veil from my spirits. The
journeys end was soon reached, and
when the carriage stopped the first
streaks of dawn were just visible on
the horizon. AS Hans expressed his
surprise at the non arrival of the
Count and his party, the sound of
wheels was heard in the distance. |
removed the pistol case from under
the seat where Hans had placed it, and
lust then the second carriage drove
up, and from 1t alighted the Count,
Blessing and DR.. Spuhr. The mutual
greetings were formal and polite
Blessing and I soon measured the dis
tauce, examined the weapons and
completed all the preliminaries. The
principals held aloof, quietly convers-
ing with their respective medical
friends.
The spot was aptly chosen for such
meeting. 1t was located in the CEN
ter of the little woods in an open
glade, surrounded on all sides with
somber trees. whose shadows cast
their grotesoue shapes on the green
sward, and the scene is indelibly
stamped on my memory. Just as the
sun rose above the neighboring hills |
handed the weapon to Hans, and Bless
| ing did the same service for the Count.
| His hand was steadier than mine as he
took the weapon. A faint s-ile
played on his finely chiseled lips as he
said: 'Karl, if anything should hap
pen you will find letter in my left
breast pocket addressed to you; and
now--good- by
could not reply My heart was
too full. A pressure of the hand was
nv only farewell The adversaries
now took their positions. Blessing
stood 1. ready : to give i the !: word = ~
| 'One.'
1t rang with the dlstinctness of
cannon shot.
/ Two
felt nv senses leave me.
Three"
Two simultaneous reports. l saw
the Count totter, then fall. | looked
} toward Hans and my heart leapee
r with Joy. There he stood, calm ant
immovable as if cast in bronze. Th
next moment | saw him raise tn
smoking weapon against his owl
breast. l leaped forward, nut ha'
S scarcely taken Two steps when | say
= him pull the trigger. A puff, sound
and he fell to the earth. | stood root
r ed to the spot. DR.. Myer was besid
;, him almost as soon as his body touche
j the ground. dragged and almo'
3 threw myself upon the bleeding breas
of my friend. DR.. Myer pulled m
!, away.
sYour friend Is dead, said he, gen
b ly. His aim was true in both cases
e my dear Karl began the letter h
e had left me, whichever way this alta
n ends 1t must end disastrously for M
n If fall under the Counts fire. u
h object of this meeting will be attaine'
n but fall | must, and. it it must be, /
a nv own hand. That you may undel
e stand the causes which lead to such
d result, ! must 60 back some years
is the history OF my life.
le Il was born in Bavaria near sms
d village where our estates we're sit
le ated. My father and his father b
- fore him wasted an immense lnher
,t tance, and when | reached my major