Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-08-17
UNDER THE CODE.

and generous 20 fault. Asa natural con-
sequence, our intimacy soon became such
ehat each made a confidant OF the other.
Oneevening, on returning from the opera,
whittier ! had gone alone, found him
walking slowly up and down the room,
looking very pale and evidently more dis
turbed In mind than he wished to have ap-
pear.
"My friend, what Is the matteri" was my
first eager question.
~ fear have some unpleasant news for
you." he said, throwing himself into large
armchair.
"Speak, Jules" I cried. "What is iti"
"Over the card table tonight had an al
tercation with Adolph Bergner."
"Wellf"
"His friend has called upon me since, and
have referred him TO you. / did not know
what hour you would return, but requested
him to drop in at ll:3o."
"Can the matter not be settled by mu-
tual friends" asked.
~ fear not. He accused me Of cheating,
and ! called him liar. Until his charge is
withdrawn, mine must hold good"
"But, my dear friend, you must not
fghtr I persisted. think how much
more you stake than he. He Is mere adj
venturer, while you have character and
high hopes, which will be blasted by this
one act, even should you escape with life.
You know our college regulations will ex-
pei you, and the criminal law will have
you at its mercy"
"Still, what am to dor II decline to
fight, shall be branded as a coward"
''It Is a hard case" groaned. EITHER
horn of the dilemma is bad enough, heaven
knows, but still, let the result be what IL
will, must insist that you do not give
your adversary meeting. You must sum-
mon up all your moral courage and refuse
to go outp'
Jules Langheim started up, and with
pale cheeks, knitted brows and clenched
hands rapidly paced up and down the room
some eight or ten times. Then hastily seat
Ing himself at his writing desk he seized
pen, dashed off few lines and folded,
sealed and superscribed the note.
"There, Fred, you have your wish
granted to you only of all men on earth.
shall not be disgraced by duel-there will
be no hostile meeting between Bergner and
myself. When his friend calls, give him
that note as your answer, and with that
your part in the affair will cease"
He turned away. and at the same mo-
ment there came tap at the door
at is Sweitzen, Bergner's friend" he
said. II will 20 out"
With Sweitzen my business soon ended.
handed him the note for Bergner, and
told him the decision Of Langheim would
be found in that. He replied that such
proceeding was irregular. / rejoined that
| believed had nothing further to say or
do in the matter, and the interview abb
ruptly closed.
After Sweitzen had gone / anxiously
looked for the return OF my friend. One,
two, three hours passed, and still he did
not come remained up all night, but he
did not return.
took long walk through the city TO
cool my fevered brain and was returning
to my room an hour or so later when some
one hurried up behind and tapped me on
the shoulder / turned and confronted
stranger in the plain garb Of peasant.
BEG your pardon" he said, but might
you be student in the college yoni"
"Yes."
"Perhaps you might tell me, then, how
quickest l can find gentleman named
Frederick Delormep
at is my name," exclaimed.
"It's curious" returned the countryman,
beginning to unbutton his coat, "that
should have run upon the very gentleman |
wanted. Well, at daylight thYs morning,
Just as was coming out of my house,
gentleman rode up on painting horse and
handing me a letter and 10 thalers made
me swear to deliver 1t before night, and
here / be-"
siezed the letter, tore it open and read
the following with feelings better imagined
than described
Oct. IL, 4 o'clock a. In.
MY DEAR FRIEND-Forgive me for paining
your noble heart, for, having once concealed
from you my real design In declining to fight
my adversary, l felt that honor demanded
from me proposition requiring at least AS
great a risk of life, IL not of reputation. You
remember you said you would permit the risk
of life, providing character were not involved.
acted on this and wrote Bergner | would not
fight him, but would decide by lot which of the
two should put an end to his own existence. |
followed his friend TO his lodgings, and we
speedily agreed TO the terms. We drew lots.
and II was my misfortune TO be doomed. Ac-
cording to the compact, am TO die today be-
fore sunset In the little village of Neuf, 30
miles from the capital. You win probably find
my body at the only Inn the place contains
Your dying friend, JULES LAsoiEtM.
On reading this was so shocked that for
some minutes could not act. Ny brain
swan, and the letters before me seemed to
lake the color of blood. j reused myself at
length with the hope of being yet in time
Do save my friend and darted off like mad
man, leaving the countryman staring after
me. / hurried to the proper authorities
and got permission to use the government
post horses In few minutes more was
on the road to Neuf. the position urging
the beasts forward at the extreme speed al
lowed by law.
Fatal miscalculationl In my terrible
anxiety to reach Neuf before my friend
should put an end TO himself, | overlooked
the fact that, II living, my arrival in such
o public manner would attract his atten-
tion and hasten him TO the commission OF
the deed, since IL was not his design or de-
sire TO have 1t prevented.
On reaching the inn, with a laundering
clatter that drew the whole village out TO
look at us, / leaped to the ground, seized
the astonished landlord and demanded To
know II there was q stranger from Berlin
under his roof.
"Yesp' he answered quickly, catching
some Of my excitement, "a handsome
young mana thief or robber, maybe
or,-
"Quick, quickp interrupted, "show me
to his roomp'
We rushed away together. ] espied an
az and seized II as / passed. On arriving
ht the room door and finding it fast,
shouted:
"Jules. for the love of God do nothing
raahi 1t ItisI-yopr friend, Delormel Come