The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1898-12-16

poAhCh, hC iOunQ
trammeled. He had managed on the
quiet to play little, and that with sue
cess, and in quarter Of an hour he had
won q sum which to such young fell
low was a small fortune. Only Mrs.
Parker, to whom at the second meet
ing he had, boylike. opened his heart,
knew how much he had won, The
whole affair was carefully kept secret
from the mother.
The baron was most devoted in his
attention to Mrs. Parker, and showed
quite plainly that he had fallen a VIC
tim to her charms. The lady herself,
Who took not the slightest interest in
her husbands pistol shooting, accepted
the advances of the baron very readily.
She was seen with him greo. deal, and
his elegant Ollendorf Ers.ish seemed
20 afford her much pleasure. As she
was rarely seen with Eer husband, the
rest OF the ladies became scandalized in
a very short time. The admiration
which Mrs. Parker had at first excited
gave place to mild contempt, and there
was much Struggling of shoulders
among the women. The men, instead
of referring to Mr. Parker as devilish
nice chap. began to say: "a most re-
markable husband" for he alone
seemed to have no suspicion Of what
was happening. and quietly continued
his pistol practice.
The catastrophe followed sooner
than was generally expected. In the
eyes of Homburg Mrs. Parker had COM
promised herself. An ugly rumor.
started one evening, had by the follow
ing morning grown, as such rumors
will grow. Everybody heard it. and,
last of all. the wronged husband. He
did what any other man would have
done in his splace-challenged the young
German to a duel with pistols. The
baron, who was una Bile to explain to his
own satisfaction how he had been cap
tivated by the graces of Mrs. Parker,
found himself in a lamentable guam
dary. challenge from Mr.. Parker he
well knew was equivalent to death
sentence, or at least a very close shave.
Should the Englishman insist on the
duel there was no doubt as to the re-
suit. He thought the matter over very
carefully, and was suddenly filed with
great concern as to the effect which
his death would have upon his widowed
mother, and, being desirous above all
things Of sparing her. he persuad ed two
CT his friends, who happened to be in
Homburg at the time. to seek out and
try to pacify the offended husband.
Mr.. Parker received the gentlemen
with all the polished politeness of
Han of the world
Gentlemen" said Mr.. Parker, cold
ly. in French. II really fail to under
stand the object of your visit. Surely
the details of this matter have been
discussed at sufficient length! Nothing
more remains to be said"
"You are right, sir" replied the elder
OF the two ambassadors, "but we have
come trusting to your tenderness of
heart. and we are sure you will not be
able to turn deaf ear to our plea. We
have come to appeal to you, not on be-
half OF the baron, but for the sake Of his
iuother, to whom he is all in all, and
who will certainly die of grief if any
thing happens to her ideal. We ask you
to agree to other terms. Would you poi
son and curtail the life Of weak wom-
an? Think of your own mother"
Then the speaker explained at length
20 Mr.. Parker that the baron was the
last male representative of his line. the
last OF famous house, and that the
iumor, even. of the approaching duel
might cause the mothers death.
- arl< ls-x
nifty, and when the gentleman closed
with warm appeal to his goodness of
heart. the Englishman rose, and with
out losing any Of his dignity. or relax
Ing his severity Of expression, said:
Il will not have the death of the
mother on my conscience; just give me
time to think Of some way out of this.
| will write to you tomorrow"
The two callers took leave, after hav-
ing overwhelmed Mr.. Parker with
words of gratitude for his mapnanim-
ity. Their thanks seemed to EN- mbarrass
him, for as he held out his hand his eyes
modestly sought the floor.
Next morning the gentlemen received
the following letter:
Dear Sirs-
"You appealed to my sympathy. As
1 said to you yesterday, will not be
guilty of depriving the mother of her
son. and do not think that in Hem
burg there could be two opinions as to
what would be the outcome of the duel
which was to have taken place between
the baron and me. / withdraw the
challenge. In return for this expect
the baron to pay over to my orphans
such sum as he may himself deter
mine. At the same time | take il for
granted that he values his young life
at, at least G 900. VIII YOU have the
goodness to make this known to the
baron?
Finally. gentlemen. / must lay par
ticular stress on the fact that. as |
leave Homburg tomorrow morning, |
shall have to lay upon you the condi-
ton, as men of honor, to clear up any
Misunderstanding which may arise as
to the cause of my having backed out