The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-26
HIS ONLY DUEL.


~ was young fellow of 81 and u sub in
8Spne OF the crack regiments the --th.
was as vain and conceited at that time
Pnd as convinced of my Importance In the
&osmic scheme ms any youth present. My
&Hather, General Moevcr, was n personal
ri riend of his majesty. and was free of the
5Pest society. l Ind ample means. and
$ wed tho life of n butterfly and exhibited
about as much brains to an admiring
EfTorld. There was multitude of ladies
all degrees who were pining and sigh
&ng FOR my smile, so it pleased me to be-
4lcVc, ana my days were spent in the emp
EHlcst Irritation. But at last l met Lady
Il icradinc Bond at one of the court balls
1 Ind for the first time learned what love
&8neant was much struck with hcr-shc
$$was the rcigning beauty of that season
B8got introduced to her and danced with
&aher several times that evening There
latter l was always to be found where she
twas. The intimacy ripcncd day by day,
H8and rs ! was good looking fellow in
S1thosc days | fancicd had impressed her
e#as much rs she had mo After knowing
f1hcr for few weeks proposed, and to my
e&delight was accepted
~ My affection for her was genuine and
= the engagement sobercd me somewhat /
$ left OFF some of my foolish habits and
&3things that could be called by n worse
II Fortunately the parents on both sides
fHwcre In favor OF the union, and was uni
- vcrsally congratulated. AT the next lcvce
his majesty spoke kindly to me about it.
81 Perhaps things were running too smooth
- ly for II happy issue into mntrimony, and
8disastcr soon acknowledgements about by
= my own foolishncss and conccit, as you
- will hear
q The doctor of the regiment 1 adorned
"a Iri "a Ix..ft
= and soul of the mess. He could toll the
s most ridiculous story without u smile or
y SO much as u twitching muscle. He did
a not spare the follics and foibles of tho
II youngsters of tho mess, and We dreaded an
q encounter with him, for we were certain
= to come off second best. AS soon as my
81 engagement became known, knew the
a doctor would ainusc the mess at my OK
81 pcnsc. And SO it proved, and proved me
81 fool
Dear, dear" he said, as if to himself,
"engagcd so young L know the Lady
q Geraldine. Not the one with a squint and
q frccklcs. No. no. of course That is Ger
& trude. 1 knew Geraldine when she was q
4 girl OF IL aud used TO climb trees. a
Il sweet mouth she had. I've kissed it many
time"
4 A laugh went round, and blushed
4 nightly.
5,
4 said arrogantly, but you will please not
q discuss the young lady ut this table
4 You must find another subject for your
u jokes"
Jokes? 1t is not II joke my boy. 1t is
really pretty mouth, as you ought To
4 know. haven't seen her for two years,
4 but it was us sweet as ever then"
And again Il laugh went round.
There was nothing In this for sane
man TO object to, but was idiot enough
to consider that my tcndcrcst feelings
were being made a subject of moclicry and
the woman loved insultcd Could be a
man, l asked myself and allow 1T? And
my brain, heated with wine, answered.
mol Il demand DIR. Mulcns. " said
THAT you withdraw your offensive re-
marks and ut once
Don't be Il fool, said Major Gregory
from the head of the table. Surely you
are not idiot enough to resent little
harmless pleasantly of that kind?"
This is my affair. l believe" an
swercd him, with what I meant to be Il
whitening look of contempt. Il demand
IN apology for your offensive remarks" l
added, turning to the doctor.
''That's right, insist, insist!'' said the
younger officers to me. They scented fun
from my ridiculous behavior though at
the time L took it for sympathy
Very well, said the doctor, with ii
mock timid air, IF you will sit down l
will withdraw, Mr.. Molcvcr."
sat down, and the doctor rose Gen
tlemcn and Mr.. Molcvcr, am sorry to say
that Lady Geraldine Bond has not a pref
ty mouth
There was burst of laughter, and I lost
all control Of myself. poured out glass
of wine and lung it in his face There"
l said, If you are not a coward you can
take the proper means of satisfaction for
that
Mullcns was brave man. as we all
knew, and had shown his courage many
times. Al he did was quietly to take his
handkerchief from his pocket and wipe
his face. The older men were very inClig.
nant with me. You have behaved dis.
gracefully, said Major Gregory who was
the chief officer present.
With show OF dignity, which must
have looked nightly ridiculous, left the
room, pausng to remark at the door:
Il shall expect you to name your friend
DIR. Mullens. Mr.. Gorcly there will act
for me-
who had urged ME on
went to my rooms with the air "
Athanasius contra mundum and waited
there for Il couple of hours. Then sent
note to Mulcns which ran:
If you do not choose to seek the salts
faction of n gentleman, give you notice
that shall publicly horscwhp you on the
first opportunty-that is, if you do not
choose to tender n full apology"
About midnight Gorely came to my
room, with grave face. II have arranged
it all" he said. Gregory will be his sec