Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-12-24


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 rurnor.
ttarted one evening. had by the follow.
ing morning grown. as such runors
will grow. Every body heard II. and.
last of all. the wronged husband. He
did what any other man would have
done in his place-challenged the yourg
German TO duel with pistols. The
baron. who was unable 10 explain TO his
cwn satisfaction how he had been cap
I,vated by the graces Of Mrs. Parker,
found himself in a lamentable guam
dairy. A challenge from Mr.. Parker he
well knew was equivalent TO q death
sentence. or at least n very close shave
Should The EngIiS1man INSIST on the
duel there was no doubt as to the re.
suit. lie thought the matter over very
carefully. and was suddenly filed with
great concern as to the effect which
his death would have upon hiswidowed
mother, and, being DESTROYS above all
things of sparing her, he persuaded 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 a
nan of the world. a
~Gentlemen," said Mr.. Parker. cold
". In French, Il really fail to under.
stand the object of your visit. Surely
tie details of this matter have been
discussed at sufficient length, Nothing
more remains 10 be said"
You are right. sir" replied the elder
OF the two ambassadors, "but we have
come trusting TO your tenderness of
heart, ana we are sure you will not be
able to turn deaf ear to our plea. We
Fave come 10 appeal to you, not on be.
BALI OF the baron. but for the sake of his
mother, to whom he is all in all. and
who will certainly die of grief if any
thing happens to her ideal. We ask Won
to agree to other terms. Would you poi
son and curtail the life of n weak WON.
an? Think of your own mother
Then the speaker explained at length
10 Mr.. Parker that the baron was the
last male representative of his line. the
last OF a famous house. and that the
iumor. even, of the approaching duel
might cause the mothers death.
MIR. Parker listened with quiet dig
nifty, and when the gentleman closed
wiz warm appeal to his goodness Of
henrt. the Englishman rose, and with
odt losing any of his dignity, or relax
ing his severity of expression, said:
u will not have the death of the
mother on my conscience; Just give me
time TO think of some way out Of this.
1 viii write TO you tomorrow"
The two callers took leave, after hav-
ing overwhelmed Mr.. Parker with
words OF gratitude for his magnanim-
ity. Their thanks seemed to embarrass
him, for as he held out his hand his ewes
modestly sought the floor.
Next morning the gentlemen received
the following letter;
"Dear Sirs-
"You appealed to my sympathy. As
I said to you yesterday, L will not be
guilty of dspriving the mother of her
son, and ] do not think that in HON.
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. i withdraw the
challenge. In return for this expect
the baron TO pay over to my orphans
such q sum as he may himself deter
mine At the same time take it for
granted that he values his young life
at, at least 1000. VIII you have the
goodness TO make this known to the
baron?
'Fipally, 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
of the duel. I trust to your fairness to
Justify me wherever and whenever you
shall find it necessary or advisable"
On the following day Mr.. Parker re-
ceived from the baron q letter of regret
and apology, and a check for c 1900.
The promise was also made to send
more as soon'as the writer should be in
q position TO do so. The e 1,20O sent
was all that he had in hand at that mo-
ment
~'AAs HAA0 Nj >. Il dJ OBCC lclJ
Homburg, and on the following day q
new scandal occupied the minds and
wagged the tongues of the visitors.
The baron, 1t is scarcely necessary to
say, speedily quilted Homburg, as he
had no wish to keep alive the story of
his misfortune and of Mr.. Parker's
magnanimity. He succeeded, strange
as it may seem. in hiding all knowledge
of the affair from his mother. The
{ 1900 with which he had bought his
life was pretty nearly the amount he
had won at the gambling table
He did not forget his promise to Mr.
Parker, and few years later. when he
came into possession of his estates. he
sent check for c 300 to the trustees.
orphanage of HaTnarby. York, Strange
TO say. the letter came back unopened,
but the envelope was covered with notes
which gave the following informatio
The sO-called Parker orphanage at
Hamar6y had formerly consisted of q
tumbled-down hovel inhabited by an
old woman and cripple. but at the