The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-20
THE FRIENDLY FOE.

ite pressed ray hand.
There followed one OF those awkward
Dauses EhiUh are apt TO follow on a SUI
preme Goment He had Just informed
me that Die did not for am instant sup
pose thar 2 preferred amy conzidera-
tiun before honor. The wind was dr.v-
ing the rain AGAINST nay wind w as If #
were a human being that must be ch.s-
ed from The wide world without. The
flames were leapinE up the chimney. as
If they owned some daship with the
wind aad were rushing a. meet him
wanted - be alone he enjoy the uproar
IN peace How To get rid 0t The count
uia moi KNOW As he WAS going to shoot
me. or } WAS going Ia shoot him. AT S
O'Clock The next morning, il seemed 10
NC thar Jl-s was waste Of TIME. hut you
cannon mako "a remark Of thai KIND 10
guest and inc happened TO be in my
room
LET me ask you one thi.E?" sail tn
count You arc a EcCarass enemy.
Though NOT in your mrs. youth. you are
younger t3aan J am. and yaH have not
been aut before I yould take you al a
disa1E Vantage. DO you believe in the
souls iuturp2
"A most unnecessary question" said
lightly I'm a few hours one OF us u.,t
have answered ii for one and all"
Iio fToWnrd.
You do lot believe IN it, am re-
ducee To Il most unpleasant extremity.
Unless you can reassgTc me upon this
point i IS impossible fer me to @-h-
You Unless I fight YOU / am di-lvsa8r-
Cd.
WHY should 81 be impozsibIee' 7 ask
ed buJ that the count was by birth ana
breeding perfect gentleman. / might
have suspected his courage.
III gives me an unfair ADVANTAGE he
said gazing steadily al me out Of his
ueePStt eyes. ''Nou fight believing death
IS death I fight. believing death is birth
kn9U some thing Of ngUr ChiValTGUS na-
ture. II & lill you, I. in my own opinion.
set free soul. If yeu xiii me. You. in
Nour opinion. commit murder. ] would not
have you tortured In after life by this re-
Election. Once more 7 ten you it is i'm
possible for me 10 fight unless You give
me some assurance. once more 7 ask you
DO You believe in eternal ffa2"
i am l-3ly ensibIe Of your kind CON
sideratu: for my feelings: but permit
me 10 observe THAI ] do not see what
right yau nave 10 ask that question"
'lou decline 10 answer it?'
Il do"
Then our affair is settled. I also de-
cline 10 fight
He bowed and walked towards the door.
Stay-' / cried. ny hat are you going
10 40:
lie laid his hand upon a pistol.
NO" I said. Why
You leave me no other choice
III was absurd Of me 10 object TO his
shooting himself when ] had no objection
whatever 10 shooting him with my own
hand. il ] could. But il was lust this one
phrase. II ] could. that made differ
ence- The alternative was too cold-blood-
ed. ] felt bound 10 prevent it
Gould il not be arranged-?'' ] spoke
ncryorsly, only to gain time, in the con-
fusion Of the moment.
Or are not the man I took you for, %
he said
This Jine he did not bow as he turned
towards the door
You DO not seem TO be aware I re
marked, that you are exposing me TO q
sense - Elood-suilriness far more oRerous
than thar which YOU 6eprecate. II am
- b. 2 murderer, at least allow me to feel
llar ] did the deed myself. not that ]
compelled someone else 10 do IT,. DO YOU
tEllk -aar you are treating me fairly?
h1u put q premium upon lies. You leave
n3 other course open TO me. Iy all that
is held most sacred, swear 70 you that
] believe I'D eternal life"
AND, rising. I laid my hand upon my
,heart
Sir" said the count, sternIy. would
You die with falsehood on your lip?
You Go not believe it
'1(o 7 said; y DO not. ] merely wish
cd n show you to what extremes you
are driving me. But you are right Be
tween gentlemen this sort Of thing is a
mistake. even in jest You do not leave
his room til YOU have promised 10 fight
me tomorrow and 7 threw myself across
the door was The younger and the
stronger man.
With perfect gravity the count sat down
fn an armchair. The wind was bowling
more loudly than before; the flames had
sunk lower.
became conscious Of the absurdity Of
the situation. Nothing shcrt of food.
fire OF earthquake could put an end 10
81 in fitting manner. There we were
bound 20 stay till We died Of starvation
unless one or the other would compro-
mise his dignity. As the little ] knew
Of the count made me feel certain that
nothing would ever induce him 10 com
promise his. 7 compromised mine
Count" Z said. this Is ridiculous 20
siti9l for both n us. Ny presence causes
Eou al intolerahle gene, and yours. the
whole night through, would scarcely be
agreeable 10 me. Let US consider the
thing lispazsiuuately, You VIII not fight
me because ] DO not hold an opinion
which ygE. rightly or wrongly. hold 10 be
necessary Tor nay future happiness. II /
liEet !. o.. sou do rot object 10 XIII me.
because -ou think TO one can die but
you a5 object 10 poison the remainder Of
mE mortal existence. II you do not fight
me- 300 WtL shoot yourself. for you
woatl ae unable 10 survive your honor.
That Is The case on yaur side Now for
mine, ] have aH Instructive dislike Of
suicide, either for myself or FOR anyone
else ---lau I respect il may br a mere
prejudice. b-t 50 ii Is. f. therefore. you
Blow out -gur brains. il viii seriously
affect nay peace 20 mind, inasmuch as ]
shall consider myself 10 q certain ex-
tent responsible. But fair fight is another
iAtHE i-EtH-stlgT. il Is now clock
According 10 our agreement we meet Al
8 tomorrow morning. ] shall need al least
five hours sleep beforehand. or ! shall
not take steady aim Allowing full time
10 dress. breakfast and get 10 the rendez-
Eols. J ought not to 20 10 bed later than
. Between . o clock this evening and
tomorrow morning there are nine hours
Now. these nine hours, I VIII promise you
ou ms word ~ honor as a gentleman. %
spend GA the investigation Of "a question
that does not interest me in the least, and
on which. but for you, / should never. In
the whole course Of my life. have spent
nine minutes If you, on your part Will
promise 20 meet me II 5 tomorrow. IT, by
that time. I can answer your question IN
The atilr1la tiye-aUd ] know already that
81 is la- by words alone that you will
judge whether I speak the truth-we.l
and good, Let us fight Whichever way
the duel ends. you win have the satisfac-
tion Of thinking that ! have gained a be-
Ilef which. but Tor you. ] should not even
have wished 20 gain. IT, on the contrary
retain nay present skcptcism we vii
shoot ourselves instead Of each other
Ola tout. il is q pity, the country vii
lose Two possible defenders instead Of one
but do not see how that can be helped
Us IL q boud2 VIII you meet me al So
l-Ln L.I-rl rnsa lrnrll his Oh. II. Lis eve.