Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-11-24
4 DUEL AND ITS SEQUEL.

4 DUEL AND ITS SEQUEL.
AS the boatman pulled in toward the
shore we perceived a few =,
yards off group of persons standing
whom we soon recognized as our op-
ponents. Charley" said the count,
grasping my arm tightly as l stood up
to spring on the land; Charley, al
though you are only boy, as l may
say, l have no fear for your courage.
But still more than that is needful
hele. This Bodkin is a noted duelist
and will try to shake your nerve.
Now, mind, you take everything that
happens quite with an air of indiffer-
ence. Don't let him think he has any
advantage over you, and ."oI u see how
the tables will be turn ri i'll yonr
favor"
Trust to me, colonel, said ]; III
not disgrace YOU"
Twenty minutes late, Mr.. Con
sidine" said a short, red-faced little
man, with a military frock and forag-
ing cap, as he held out his watch in
evidence.
Il can only say, Capt. Malowney,
that we lost no time since we parted.
We had some difficulty in finding 4
boat; but, in any case, we are here
now, and that, Opine, is the important
part of the matter"
"Quite right-very just indeed. Will
you present me to your young friend
very proud to make your acquaintance,
sir; your uncle and I met more than
once in this kind Of way. / was out
with him in '92-was it? No, think
it was '93-when he shot Harry Bur
goyne, who by the bye was called the
crack shot Of out mess
While Considine and the captain
walked a few PAGES apart from where
stood 1 had leisure to observe my
antagonist, who stood among group
Of friends, talking and laughing away
in great spirits.
AS the tone they spoke in was not of
the lowest, could catch much of their
conversation at the distance I was
from them. They were discussing the
last occasion that Bodkin had visited
this spot, and talking of the fatal
events which happened then.
Poor devil" said Bodkin, lit wasn't
his fault; but you see some Of the-th
had been showing white feathers be-
fore that, and he was obliged to go out.
In fact the colonel himself said. Fight
or leave the CORPS
We'll, out he came. 1t was a cold
morning in February, with the frost
the night before going off in a thin
rain. Well, it seems he had the con-
sumption or something of that sort
with a great cough and splitting blood,
and this weather made him worse, and
he was very weak when he came to the
ground.
Take off your greatcoat Ned" said
one Of his people when they were 60
ing to put him up. Take it off, man."
he seemed to hesitate for an instant,
when Michael Blake remarked, 'Arrah,
let him alone; it's his mother makes him
wear it for the cold he has
''They all began to laugh at this, but
/ kept my eye upon him. And l saw
that his check grew quite livid and a
kind of gray color and his eyes filled
up. II have you now said to myself,
and l shot him through the lungs"
And this poor fellow" thought I,
was the only son of a widowed
mother" I walked from the spot to
avoid hearing further and felt, as did
SO, something like spirit Of vengeance
rising within for the fate Of one so
untimely cut off.
Considine took my arm and walked
forward
Charley" said he, II am to give the
signal; I'll drop my glove when you
are to fire, but don't look at me at all
I'll manage to catch Bodkin's eye do
you watch him steadily, and fire when
he does.
II think that the ground we are leav,
ing behind us is rather BETTER" sale
some one.
$50 it isl said Bodkin, ''but it
might be troublesome to carry the
young gentleman down that way. Here
all is fair and easy"
| The next instant we were placed
and l we'll remember the first thought
| that struck me was that there could
be no chance of either of us escaping
Now, Them said the count, I'll
walk twelve PAGES, turn, and drop this
| glove, at which signal you fire-ant
together, mind. The man who re
serves his shot falls by my hand"
| This very summary announcement
seemed to meet general appreciation
and the count strutted forth.
Notwithstanding the advice of m.
| friend could not help turning m!
I, eyes from Bodkin to watch the retir
| ing figure of the count.
At length he stopped-a second Of
two elapsed-he wheeled rapidly rount
and let fall the glove Ny eye glanced
toward my opponent; I raised my pts
tol and fired.
My hat turned half round upon m!
head, and Bodkin fell motionlesS to tn
learth.
I saw the people around me rush for
ward; I caught two or three glance
thrown at me with an expression o
revengeful passion; I felt some on
grasp me around the waist and hurr
me from the spot, and it was at leas
ten minutes after, as we were skin
lining the surface Of the broad Shannon
before I could well collect my Scattere