The morning call., 1890-09-06
A DEAD SHOT.

81 ZONE fifty years ago there lived in the
&% West of Ireland a certain Captain
~ s Fenton. This man had gained an
uuenyiab'e not0riety in his own and the
aeinhboring counties as successful duelist.
Not only was he known u make the most
rival dispute preteXt for challenge, but
Il was even reported that on more than one
occasion lie purIosely provoked quarrel.
The meeting, in nearly every instance, ended
iisastrously 10 his opponent.
He had the reputation Of being an unerr-
ing shot. Cooily and collectedly he stepped
TO his place. took steady aim and almost III
voriably brought down his man" II Will,
therefore he readily conceived that ne was
dreaded and stunned by his nelghbors. lie
was bachelor and lived alone Ia large
country mansion.
al tia; time there happened 70 be lire
regiment stationed in the neighborlng town
Of Galway. Captain tent0n was on terms
If intimacy with some OF the officers and,
though far from being general talorlte, II
not infrcquently occurred that he dlned at
the mess On guest nights. But whenever lie
was present an air Of restraint peryaded the
assembly The dinner was sure to be
suiritlesS affair and always lacked the tone
4 a gOOd-felloWShip which usually chaIae-
cries such entertainments.
This NAV in a measure be accounted for
nv the fact that the Captain was OF morosc.
naughty disposition. His conversation gen
orally displayed bitter sarcasm. More
aver. all present were aware OF his fame as
4 duclist This knowledge rendered them
more cautious in speech. lest chance word
IT expression should afford him sufficient
grounds for picking quarrel.
About six months after its arrival in Gal
way the regimeut was joined by junior
subaltern. He was mere lad. being SUI ID
MS teens; yet by all accounts he was fine,
soidierly young fellow. He gave every
promise OF making a splendid officer, and
few weeks sufficed 10 establish Lin as a
favOIlte.
But, alas, only a short time elapsed before
be had the misfortune 10 fall foul of Ca tain
Feuton Though | have heard the story
from those who dwelt in the neighborhOod,
and who were fully acquainted with every
detail. Yet | have never been able 10 asceT-
tain the exact cause Of the disagreement.
However certain ii is that challenge was
given and accepted. The affair was kept as
secret rs possible, and a the appointed time
the meeting took place in the corner OF a
meadow about half a mile from the barracks.
1t was a bright spring morning. The
peaceful aspect OF nature formed terrible
contrast to the awful business which had
brought those fine men so early to tAiS lonely
spot. Net much time was lost III prepara-
tons The eOmbatants were placed, the pls-
tolls loaded. and the seconds retired. The
body presented TO his opponent. lie was
novice in such affairs, poor boy! 1t Is even
said that ( the precise moment OF trlDg lie
invUluntarily closed his eyes. If such was
the case he never opened them again in this
world! His adYersary's ball passed right
through his heart.
The surgeon ran forward and raised the
fallen youth hasty examination showed
him that he held aCOTpse in his arms. While
he was thus engaged Captain FentOn was
occupied IN very different manner He
was carelessly cutting a notch on the stock of
his pistol. There were seven other marks OF
4 similar description, and each one repre-
scented a victim to which that weapon had
dealt death.
a stretcher was fetched from the barracks,
and the corpse was conveyed thlther with
out delay. TIE affair would doubtless have
created profound sensation, but for Obvi-
Gus reasons those engaged in ii were careful
TO let as few particulars as possible leak out.
The friends Of the deceased were commune
Gated with There seemed little likelihood
OF any unpleasant consequences ensuing
CAPTAIN Fenton dined alone that evening,
and after dinner sat for over an hour slipping
his claret with evident enjoyment One
more or less to the list Of his victims was q
matter of little account TO him; it was GER
tainly not of sufficient importance to disturb
his equanimity.
But on the third day startling change took
lravel-stained, pale and haggard, arrived in
the town. He proceeded at once to the bar
racks, and announced himself as brother of
the deceased He was conducted to the room
in which the body was laid. They say the
scene which followed was of.the most extra
ordinary description. The stranger flung
himself upon the corpse, and, as he lay
there, his whole frame was shaken by con-
vulsive sobs
1t quickly transpired that the brothers had
been left orphans when mere lads. They
were the only children of the family, and
through boyhoOd had chung to each other,
feeling that they were alone in the world.
Their love was like that which bound David
and Jonathan together 1t can, therefore,
be scarcely conceived with what feelings of
dismay the elder heard of the death of the
younger.
When the first paroxysm of grief was
over the young man raised himself from the
corpse. Then, in voice half choked by
ematiOn, he uttered a VOW to take speedy
vengeance upon his brothers slayer. With
this object in view he retired from the apart
ment, and instantly dispatched challenge
to Captain Fenton. The officers endeav-
ored 20 disSgade him from such a rash step,
pointing out that instead of aveDging the
slain, he was himself sure to fall a victim to
bis opponents skill. But remonstrance was
in van. To one and all be replied simply.
My brother is dead; / do not care TO live. y
Under these circumstances itSeemed hope
less to prevent this second duel. Some, in
deed, thought Of appealing to Captain Fen
ton in order TO persuade him if possible into
refusing the challenge; but none were very
eager TO undertake such an unpleasant duty,
especially as there appeared little likelihood
Of their efforts being crowned with success.
Nevertheless there was one who ventured
upon the disagreeable task This was an