The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1896-07-02

The old editor tad the inside track and
was doing be talking.
never had more than one duel, he be
gan.
You speak as il one we're not enough, in
terruptei listener.
1t was an ample sufoiency, continued
the editor with = smile. was at the
time OF its occurrence % years OF age and
the editor Of the SuusvilIe Vindicstor. ]
was also hot headed youth with yssrn
for gore and glory. Ia the county sdjoin
ing was q 'losthesome contemporary OF
mine. built on about the same lines was,
and it wasn't more than year after We
had been contemporaries until we were 10
a ne row. He would write scsthlng edi
torisls, and so would |, and finally we
dropped our pens and took mp pistols
that is, we agreed to fight duel
Fortunately for US we had friends who
were more sensible than we were, who
took charge Of all the arrangements for the
bloody afiray 1t was decided by them that
the duel should take place and that we
should FIRE two shots at each other, the
weapons being double barrel sbotguns and
the distance ten PAGES. That suited us Ell
sctly for we were extremely bloodthirsty
and wanted each Others gore 10 large
quantities The fight was to take place si
6 o'clock 10 the morning in . secluded
spot, aud we we're there promptly with our
seconds Our instructions we o TO FIRE the
fret sbot after counting three, and il one
OF both survived smother shot might be Il
ed as quickly as the principal could get
bis gun ready,
That made 1t = regular rough and tnn
ble for hsli the hlht, aud also made l.
more interesting. 1t isn't necessary foi
me to 40 into The details OF what thought
Just before the battle, mother, suili SO it 20
was preferable 10 shotguns At a, m. How
ever. We kept our nerve and took ont places
ready I business. And think we meant
business, for we took aim right at each
other. Then came the counting, and flo
ally the deciding three, aud bang wen,
both guns at once felt as IL had caught
su entire carload OF shot from my lace
down. and | tum bled over on the grass.
What bad become OF my opponent did
DOT greatly concern me at that supreme
moment ior | was wondering Why wa
cot dead.
10 bali minute the doctor was feeliup
me, and siters minute or two more he
said had been mirscuously saved, and !
pulled me to my feet Evidently my op
ponent bad slso been mirsculously saved. |
for he was standing about ten feet sssy
from me With bic doctor, and The sight be |
presented made me forget oil about The /
duel and break inio roars OF laughter. ! /
appeared to bsve the same ff ct m bin. |
for be bessn laughing at me. Then We
both got mad, and 10 FIVE minotes We had
licked seconds. doctors and every body eIse
on band and Iun them clean cut Of The /
woods.
This b'ing accomplished. W. shook |
hauds aud took lcok ., ourselves IN 3 /
glass, witch bad evidently been brnu.bt I
for our bep,f,. Permit me to omit 81
elaborate description Of uh,t we looked .
Ike Those ooniouBded seconds bad losd /
ed our suDs to the uuzzls wilh printefs
ink, aud The ~sy 1t wss spi.ttered over
us vss enough 10 hsye msds us lAu.h a.
first and thfn 10 liek the crowd ihst put
the lob up on us However vs hsd SHOW
ed We hsd s.bd sud the i9kers kept 10
hiding until We announced ia our rsspec
i've papers that .lI vas forgiven, and the