Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-11-14

seat, and sank himself into the one from
which be had Just risen For moment be
sat without speaking, gazing fixedly before
him, then turned his head, as though 10 nd.
dress me But any words he might have
spoken died away In fit of shivering. He
grew even paler than before, his teeth chat
tered, he looked at me helplessly, as child
might, as he sat there grasping the table with
both hands, in a vain effort at self control
felt In my pocket for my travelling flask,
and going up to him, got him to swallow
some brandy. The effect was good; the shiy.
ering ceased, some color returned TO his cheeks
and lips
THAT is BETTER" | said, contemplating
him.
lie did not at once answer. His lips trem-
bled little. as he sat looking at me, the tears
rushed To his eyes.
You are an Enelishmau,n he said, hold
ing out his hand with an affectionate gesture
that touched me deeply II didn't think |
should see any one here that would care about
, men
MY dear lad" said, whats your diff
cultyf saw you down stairs last evening: 1
saw that You were in trouble of some kind
Tell me about it. II you have got yourself
into scrape, il will be hard IL between us
we can't pull you out, whatever it may be"
Its no scrupe," he said with difficulty.
and paused. His face grew white again.
ITS no scrape.' he said at last. 1--WE got to
light duel tomorrow morning at o'clock,
and I-F-his voice failed altogether.
"a dueli Nonsense | said He looked
up. Nonsense" repeated who fights a
duel these daysf The thing can be put an
end to at once"
\ n Il.
wards the door, with don't know what idea
since at that hour of the night nothing could
be done. He stopped me, however.
ut can't be put a stop to- he said: sit
must go on I'm pledged on my honor that
1t shall go on
faced round on him
Look here | said: II know all about IL
! saw that girl this evening; heard about
her. She leaves the house tomorrow But
you've fallen into n trap, my dear fellow;
your honor has nothing To say In the mat
ter give you my word OF honor that the
whole thing may be arranged without the
slightest difficulty
"Howf' he said with a certain eager.
ness, but checked himself Immediately. ut
must go on he repeated; ''it is all settled. I
tell you. don't know what you mean about
the girl. There was quarrel among a lot
OF officers down stairs; ! got mixed up in it.
like fool; but there were some good fellows
among them, and they'll see me through
After all, " he went on, trying To smile, what
Ii a dneli Hundreds of men have fought
and no great harm come of it,
He broke Off as the shivering seized him
again, and the pallor A light dawned ON
me IL was fear that held the boy as he sat
there, covering and trembling, before me:
the lad with his fresh complexion and pretty
girls face was coward; and as recognized
the fact, something OF con empt for him rose
In my mind. had in those days the brutal
stupidity Of a man 10 whom, constitutionallv.
fear is unknown. | had never considered. as
l have had occasion to do since, the tricks
that a vivid Imagination may play with a
sensitive organization, and looked at the
trembling lad before me with the amount Of
intelligence a bull dog might have brought to
bear upon the subject. Nevertheless, laid
my hand ON his shoulder good naturedly
enough.
Look here" | said, giving him friendly
shake Take some more brandy first.
though ! got him To swallow another
mouthful Look here, my dear boy |
said, '.you doa't like the notion of fighting, |
see. Well, don't give the thing another
thought Go to bed and sleep soundly when
you wake tomorrow morning you'll find it
all arranged
He shook his head
at can't be-it can't be- he said. He
sprang TO his feet and paced the room once
or twice. his hands thrust deep into his
pockets ''You think I'm afraid" he sad
standing In front OF me and speaking rapidly,
"You're right. am afraid, I'm sick with
fearn-
He dropped into his chair again and flung
out his arms across the table, burying his
face in them In a moment he looked up.
''l've been afraid all my Iife,n he said,
speaking low and very quickly. 81 can't
help 1t. | can't see things any other way
They used to bully me at school Once
shrieked something. and the boys lie
broke of. "0nly one fellow was good TO
ms,n he went ON. HE was older than was
and he made me promise Id never shirk
thing through cowardice again; and never
wiIin
/ looked at him with a new sentiment
"Where is your friend nowf' | asked after q
pause.
HE is dead, y he answered. "Hs was killed
last year, fighting in India.n
He buried his face again, and there was
silence for while. ! heard the rain still
falling steadily outside; now and then the
candle fiickered "A little in the breath of
night air. At last spoke.
THAT Is no reason-it is no reason at all. -
said. rising and pacing the room in my
turn. .The thing rs an absurtity tell
you, no one fights duels in these days Why.
10 begin with, do YOU even know what you
are about Can you fire pistol, IT, as sup
pose. It Is with pistols you propose 10
amuse yourseivesf'
He answered almost tnandibly. 81 can
handle tirearns,u be said II had 10 learn. y
sat down and contemplated hin for a
moment Look here,n | broke out again,
''the whole thing Is nonsense, sheer non.
nense; IL can't be allowed 10 go on. You've
no business, my dear boy, TO be coming
abroad for your holiday and getting your,
self entangled In misaries Of this sort What
would your family sayi Think OF them.n
He raised his ha9gard face. Il can't get
out OF It," be said, II can't; not without
leaving them 10 say that an Englishman
shirked, and lost his honor because he was
afraid. And ID would be true"
"oh,H | said, there are ways Of putting
things Tell them that you've thought better
of it, that In England we're too civilized for
such barbarous Middle Age practices; that
when man l. offensive, we kick him down
stairs and there Is an end of it, Anything
would be good enough for set Of brutes who
would entrap a lad like You into duel"
| had touched his dignity. perhaps al
was not entrappsd.s he said, then broke into
sob Don't he cried, :, don't tempt me.