The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-03-05

GIT WAS ONLY A SLIGHT SCRATCH"
and whom he had not seen for many
years.
Hello, Fritz! How are you coming
on?"
~ am all right, but about a month
ago l had very close CALL" replied
Fritz, looking serious.
"Yon don't say so? How was that?"
ga great big fellow, twice my size,
insulted me on the street. cuffed his
ears so you could have heard 1t on the
next block. Of course challenge was
the result After the first few passes
he weakened, and begged my pardon
on his knees. What could do? Ire
luctantly accepted his apology but
made him give it me in writing"
"Why, Fritz, you are regular FIRE.
eater" said the friend Of his youth, who
was much surprised at this unexpected
trait in Fritz character, for at school
he was regarded as rather tame sort
Of boy.
A YEAR LATER.
One evening Fritz attended social
gathering and happened to get into
aged gentleman of conservative tenden-
cies.
"Have you read the evening papersp"
asked the elderly gentleman.
80, yes, read them" replied Fritz.
"Did you read about that duel on the
frontier between two oficers?"
Certainly read about it. One of
them is not expected to recover from
his wounds" remarked Fritz, with as
sumed Indifference.
1.-THE duel is relic of barbarism,"
said the other party; 'it should be abol-
ished as blot on our civilization"
"That may be So" retorted Fritz, with
q knowing smile; "but there are certain
cases when a gentleman is obliged to
assert his manhood"
"What! Is it possible that You have
fought duelP"
"There was no other course left open
to me-"
"And what was the result?"
my opponent was thoroughly In
earnest. parried two desperate lunges,
and sent his sword flying through the
air. He was entirely at my mercy, and
was so exasperated that had It. not
been for my second would have
plunged my sword into his heart
was angry at the time for being
thwarted; but, after all, 1t was proba-
bly, for the best. I am glad now that
his blood is not on my hands,"
"You did well to spare his life. How
reckless young men are nowadays"
said the elderly gentleman.
THREE YEARS LATER.
Fritz was spending few days in the
country at the residence of his pros
pective father-in-law. After dinner,
while the wine and nuts were being dis
cussed, the old gentleman said, in q
bantering mood:
"My dear son-in-law that Is to be,
these are nice stories hear about youl"
'To what stories do you refer?"
asked Fritz, as innocent as spring
lamb.
'It Is rumored that you are regular
flre-brand; that you always go around
with chip on your shoulder looking
for fight. heard all about it."
about what, my dear sir?"
''That you had duel"
"Since you know all about it, I sup
pose must own up" said Fritz.
''Great Heavens! then 1. is true?" ex-
claimed Miss Fanny, the young lady to
whom Fritz was engaged, turning
away from him with counterfeited in
dignation.
~ knew l was right" said the father,
triumphantly. sand you were wounded
In the encounter, were you not?"
ION the contrary" replied Fritz,
proudly, my opponent was wounded,
but 1t was only q slight scratch. AS
soon as the seconds saw that blood had
been spilled they interfcred, and had
to be satisfied with an apology"
The prospective father>in-law laugh
ingly warned the young rufian, as he
called him, to abate his warlike ardor
as soon rs he became q married man,
and the prospective bride felt proud
that she was about to acquire such
courageous husband, although she
made out that she was displeased
DURING THE HONEYMOON.
Fitzeud his young wife are out TAX.
Ing walk.
my dearest Fanny, l. was Just such
. lovely spring morning ns this said