The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-02-20


II have seen one duel in my life, - he
said. 81 do not believe in dueling. of
course, but since that duel have not
had the horror of it which / felt before.
1t did not seem like murder; il did not
seem even brutal to me.
Il was in New Orleans and was sit
ting late one night in the hotel corridor
interested in a discussion ably con-
Quoted by both sides. 1t was on that
subject which then hung upon every
mans lips. Both men were handsome,
middle-aged. aud refined-looking. The
conversation became more and more
heated until one of the men said stern
ly:
.You have insulted my State and
me. sir
- have spoken what l believe to be
the truth. said the other man calmly,
and cannot change my sentiment
".Then you offer to give me satisfac-
tion?' said the other.
...In what way. sir?'
...As gentlemen give satisfaction
II do not fight duels. said the other
paling slightly
Not when you have insuIted a
man?'
NO
..Yoa are not a coward, answered
the other. That is plain to see. ask
you as gentleman to give me satisfac-
tion.'
The man from the North looked at
him steadily.
~ cannot kill a man. he said.
The other gave him look which
was almost one of appeal.
'''H you do not give me satisfaction.
E,s, a II
not do that, / shall feel like a hound
Very WE'LL answered the other,
simply. when shall it be?'
''.As soon as possible
The Southerner excused himself to
find second. The Northern man
turned to me-
81 am a stranger here be said
viii you act as my second?'
~ don't believe in duels, / answer
ed. feeling ashamed to refuse him.
mo more do /. he replied coldly.
II hesitated and consented. The
four of Us were driven below the city.
/ shall not forget the place where the
duel was fought We turned into a
plantation at point of the road where
stood a majestic pecan tree which
seemed TO bow gravely as the wind
rustled softly through its branches and
the trailing moss swayed gently. Dawn
was breaking and over the Mississippi
hung a low mist The distance was
paced off by the second of my new
friends adversary. for was absolutely
useless
For some reason my principal took
off his coat and waistcoat, and the
other man did the same thing. They
both seemed at their ease. In the
gravness of the morning the white of
their shirts was beautifully clear and
| pleasing They took their positions
| quietly. No one had spoken q word
since we had entered the field. Ny
| friend raised his hand and looked care
lessly at his revolver.
Gentleman, he said. calmly. i
have never shot at a man in my life.
| This is not of nv doing
Il looked at the Southern duelist.
His face whitened at this but he was
cool and graceful in his bearing.
4 forgot my principles There was
nothing brutal. uncivilized. or cruel
about this. 1t was beautiful. The
| calmness of the scene was exquisite.
Both men faced each other as If they
were paving compliments. There was
grace about their posture which
| charmed me. At that moment il
seemed to me that to kill man in so
delicate way was the refinement of
courtesy.
"'Gentlemen, are you ready? Onef
Two white-sleeved arms was all that
saw. did not hear the rest, not even
the shots. / saw the arms 60 up slow
| IL. straighten out sharply, something
like released springs. and the Southern
man was in the damp grass, bright
stair on his white shirt. NV friend was
leaning over him. peering anxiously
into the wounded mans face. When
ran up the one who was shot was very
white.
Henry he said to his second. take
every care for this geutleman's safety,
and he tainted.
i Perhaps this was one of the most
remarkable duels ever fought. /. an
unwilling second. did not know the
name of the principal whom assisted.
did not even know the cause of the
duel. Each principal was ignorant of
the name of the other. The only two
men who knew each other were the
Southern man and his second. But L,
who believed dueling to be murder.
found it. when forced to play part in
duel. fascinating pieture,the like OF
which / have never before -or since
seen. IN Y Tribune.
How a Trout Gets His Color.