Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1899-07-05
THE DUEL ON THE
MOUNTAIN.
sy sy 0 ss sx ex sxeg

~ URING visit to Ireland, l was
llJ one Of very joyial party 1t the
hunting lodge of my cousin, Mr..
Farrel, whose generous and social dis
position was we'll known in the neigh
borhood of Hollow Glen
1t 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, learned during the con
yersation of the evening, was about
leaving in a few days TO join his wife
and daughter, then at Castlerock.
unrestrained by the society of the
fair sex, we enjoyed ourselves exceed
ingly, and indulged rather freely in the
contents of our hosts wine cellar.
The last thing | remember of that
night is my making an effort to respond
to our visitor" The next | knew was,
when aroused by the CHEEKY voice of
Jenny O'Neill, my Cousins man-of-all-
work, found myself on the sofa in the
smoking whittier | had been ear
ried some hours before.
Here's Il letter for ye, SIR" said
Jenny.
"All right" l replied, reaching my
hand for il.
He gave ME the letter, then left the
room.
| felt | must have slept a long time,
as the sun was streaming in at the
windows; and as the light seemed to
aggravate my headache. | merely
glanced at the suparscription, and, lay
Ing the letter on II chair, proceeded to
draw down the blind. My next thought
was to take "A bath; but, seeing the let
ter as | turned from the window, | con
cluded | would read it first.
| sank into chair and tore it open
throwing the envelope on the table
What was my surprise on seeing ii
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 puppy.' he
exclaimed. How dare you have the
impudence to open my letters?' snatch
ing it rudely from my hand as he
spoke.
Smarting under his insulting words,
l sprang up and replied:
'In justice TO myself, | deny having
opened your letter Intentionally. Fur
ther," continued |, trembling with pas
sion, you prove yourself ill-bred and
no gentleman by your vile language"
'Whatt' he screamed; mo gentle
man, do you say?' Retraet instantly,
sir! Refuse at your peril" and he ad-
yanced with uplifted arm.
Il never retract,' cried l; "but | re-
peat-no gentleman would speak as you
do"
81 say you shall, though, else I'll
choke the life out of YOU springing
toward me as he spoke.
How this would have terminated l
know not, for at this moment Mr.. Far
rel rushed into the room in time TO
catch him ere he reached me.
"Hold, Capt. Conan," cried Mr.. Far
rel. MIR. Morton Is here as my guest,
and as such | consider it 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
Ing an apology, added to his misbe-
havlor by saying | was no gentleman.
Here is the envelope" taking it from
the table, plainly addressed to me, and
| caught him in the act of reading its
contents"
However that may be- replied my
cousin, "as Il relative and friend of
mine, | demand that you treat him rs Il
gentleman
"Out of respect 10 you and as your
relative. he shall be treated as gentle
man" replied the captain hotly. 80
| will begin by demanding an apology
from him for opening my letter; also
for saying | was no gentleman. and
that he shall retract that remark
Regarding the letter. said |, Il 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. 1t Is from you an
apology is due, and, If given, will be
accepted
Enough" said he. "Mr. Farrell says
you are n gentleman. | will soon prove
him either right or wrong, by treating
YOU as one. You will hear from me