The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-08-30
What is the matter?''

Yes, what of that?''
''Well, he is bloodthirsty, and this is to
be duel to the death. protested against
the dastardly business, but there is no
choice. You must go on or apologize, and
warn you he will take nothing less than an
abject apology" And Gorely hid his face
in his hands, and as I thought, groaned.
s'You have no need to fear, - said calm
", though my hair felt as if it were rising,
Il shall not apologize. I"
"What weapons do you think the doc
tor has chosen?'
stPistols9'
mo, pillsi"
siPills? Is this fresh insult?''
IT wish it were. Two pills are being
prepared exactly alike, one harmless, the
other of strychnine. You are to take one,
Mullens the other.
''Is-is this allowable?' stammered,
slmost sick with horror.
sit is. The whole mess has been con-
suited, and Gregory has even been to
Brookes' to see Sir James Ington, who is,
as you know, the first authority on the
| duello. He says it is vindictive, but per-
fectly lawful. think, Mo1ever, should
| apologize
Never, never!" I cried, while nature
BILE as thought of all, for I did not doubt
that should be the victim.
At Gorely's suggestion made my will,
but with such trembling hand that am
afraid it would have puzzled an expert to
| decipher it. Next I wrote a note to Ger
| aldine, to be delivered in case OF my death,
| telling her in high flown language that I
| died to save her name from insult.
| Gorely advised me to sleep. I could
more easily have flown. All through that
wretched night I was pacing YEARLY up
and down, cursing myself for my folly and
| vowing, if came scatheless through the
affair, I would be less arrogant
At 5 Gorely called me. took cup Of
| coffee with brandy, but it did little for
me. The field of honor was to be the mess
room, and thither we went. 1t was but a
| few yards but had the greatest difficult
ty in walking there.
The room struck a chill to my heart.
All the blinds were drawn, and there were
only two solitary candles to light the vast
room, which looked funereal. All the
mess were assembled, DR.. Mullens look
ing quite as perky and cheerful as usual.
He gravely saluted me, and then we all
| sat down at the table, the doctor opposite
me. l was glad we were seated, as my
trembling legs were under the table and
could not be seen. I was shown the pills.
/ To all appearance they were exactly SINH
| lar.
| 'sYou are to have first choice, Molever,"
said Major Gregory, land the doctor will
take the other" bowed. My throat was
| SO dry that could not speak.
The pillbox was placed before me. My
fingers trembled so much that I suppose
/ sL~ G.-.-~
BILE one out. Then the box was passed to
the doctor, and he took the other.
| 'sNow,'' said the major, "both Of you
place them in your mouth and swallow
them when I give the word"
I got mine in my mouth, and, with a
| great effort, got at down. ''Swear on
| your honor you have swallowed them, :"
| said Gregory 81 swear I have swallowed
it, almost shrieked for that pill burned
my throat and gullet as it went down. A
| glass of wine was handed to each of us,
and then Mullens rose.
''Molever," he said, II am truly sorry
the luck is against you. know from the
taste of my pill it is the harmless one.
should like to have your pardon while
there is Time Let us shake hands,
But shake hands could not. While
he was speaking the agony began. My
throat was burning, and could trace the
| passage of the pill by track of fire.
There were awful pains in my stomach,
and could feel the poison was running
with my blood over my body. My brain
was on fire. could not see. I fell from
my chair and rolled in agony. "Save me,
save me! O-h-h'' groaned as writhed
and rolled on the floor. Since then have
seen war in all parts of the world and
been wounded three times, but the pain
was nothing to what felt then. I could
not see my comrades to distinguish them,
only I know they were standing round
watching my death struggles.
Good heavens, is it a mistake, Null
lens?" heard some one ask and Mullens
answered, 'sOf course not. Tt is just what
told you it would be- Fetch my stomach
pump, Fletcher, and be quick about it. y
And then he knelt by my side. 'sPoor fell
low, does it hurt so very 1nuch?"
II am dying-dying-d and my
voice rose in Shrek, and writhed and
rolled again.
| The doctor knelt and felt my pulse, and
his face became very grave. Then he
rose and whispered something to the 9TH
ers. Instantly there was a great shout of
laughter that came peal on peal for about
three minutes.
Dying as was, raised myself on my
elbow to look at the inhuman wretches
who could look on and laugh while a COM
rade lay dying in agony. That look, I
thought would haunt them throughout
their lives. But there came louder laugh
than ever.
"By Jove, Mullens, couldn't have be-
lieved it, although you were SO confdent!"
said Gregory. 1.-The best thing ever saw.
Ha, ha, hal'' and the whole room roared
again.
''Get up, for goodness sake, - said Gore
ly to me. "I've heard of bread pills be-
fore, but I did not know they were SO
deadly. Why, man, both pills were made
Of bread, and you have been acting like
that
| Contempt and disgust would not let him
finish.
''It was near being serious matter,
though" said Mullens. HE had all but
killed himself with fright" And they
rolled this time in laughter.
Ii look could have done murder, I
should have slain them all where they