The St. Johns herald., 1899-07-29
THE DUEL ON THE
 MOUNTAIN.
URING a visit to Ireland, was

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 M URING a visit to Ireland was u one of a very jovial party at the hunting lodge of my cousin, Mir, Farrel, whose generous and social dis position was we'll known in the neigh borhood of Hollow Glen"
 It was in September; the shooting season had just set in, and the entire party, with single exception, and that myself, was composed of Irish gentle men devoted to the gun.
 Among those assembled was Capt Conan, who, I learned during the con- Versation of the evening, was about leaving in few days to join hls wife and daughter, then at Castlerock. UnrestraiIed by the society of the fair sex, we enjoyed ourselves exceed lngly, and indulged rather freely in the contents of our hosts wine cellar.
 The last thing I remember of that night is my making an effort to respond to ''our visitor" The next knew was, when aroused by the cheery voice of Jenny O'Neill, my cousins man-of-all- work, found myself on the sofa in the smOk1ng-room, whither 1 had been car | ried some hours before.
 Here's a letter for ye, sir" said Jemmy.
 "All right" I replied, reaching my hand for it.
 lie gave me the letter, then left the room.
 l felt must have slept long time, as the sun was streaming in at the windows; and, as the light seemed to aggravate my headache, 1 merely glanced at the superscription, and, lay Ing the letter on a chair, proceeded to draw down the blind My next thought was to take bath; but, seeing the let ter as turned from the window, con- ] cluded would read it first.
 l sank into a chair and tore 1t open. throwing the envelope on the table. What was my surprise on seeing 1t begin:
 My Beloved Husband"
 The next instant Capt Conan walked In and passed me in the direction of the fireplace. As he did so, his eye caught the letter.
 You miserable, ill-bred puppyr' he exclaimed. How dare you have the Impotence to open my letters?" snatch Ing 1t rudely from my hand as he spoke.
 Smarting under his insulting words, l sprang up and replied: 1 "In justice to myself, I deny having opened your letter Intentionally. Fur ther," continued I, trembling with pas sion, you prove yourself ill-bred and no gentleman by your vile language" "What!' he screamed; mo gentle man, do you sayY Retract instantly, sir! Refuse at your peril" and he ad- vanced with uplifted arm.
 'I never retract," cried I; "but re- peat-nO gentleman would speak as you | do."
 T say you shall, though, else I'll choke the life out of you" springing toward me as he spoke.
 How this would have terminated know not, for at this moment MT. Far rel rushed into the room in time to catch him ere he reached me.
 "Hold, Capt. Conanw cried MT. Far rel, MT. Morton is here as my guest, and as such l consider 1t my duty to protect him from violence"
 The captain seemed to see the justice of this observation, but his fury was not abated. Turning to my cousin, he said:
 Perhaps you will also consider 1t your duty to teach him some manners. He had the impudence to open a letter addressed to me, and instead of offer ing an apology, added to his misbe- haviOr by saying was no gentleman. Here Is the envelope" taking it from the table, plainly addressed to me, and I caught him in the act of reading its contents"
 However that may be-" replied my cousin, "aS a relative and friend of mine. I demand that you treat him as gentleman"
 "Out of respect 10 you and as your relative, he shall be treated as a gentle man," replied the captain, hotly. "So I will begin by demanding an apology from him for opening my letter; also for saying l was no gentleman, and that he shall retract that remark"
 Regarding the letter." said I, 'I will say opened it by mistake for my own. Regarding the remark, shall not re- tract it, and repeat-nO gentleman would use your language, and not apol- ogize for so doing. It Is from you an apology Is due. and, If given, will be accepted"
 Enough" said he. MT. Farrel says you are a gentleman. I will soon prove him either right or wrong, by treating you as one. You will hear from me during the day." and he strode from the house without another word.
 "A duel wi bout doubt" said my cousin: nothing less will satisfy him. How did this all happen?"
 I then told my cousin how the mis- take had taken place. left my letter on the chair and had taken up the cap tain'S, which Jenny had left there for him, bel:eving it to be my own.
 On learning what the captain had said to me- he thought me very moder- ate in my resentment of the insult, and agreed with me that it was from the captain an apology was due.
 ''The devil of it ls." said he, ''the cap tian is such good shot he generally pops his man every time."
 Pops his man!' said I. What do you mean?"
 "F mean that he will challenge you to a dnel and if Yon do not accent it 1