Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-11-15
DUEL THAT WAS NOT FOUGHT.
How a Brave Girls ChidinEs Prevent
ed a Hostile Meeting Between
... Lawyers.

Lawyers.
A Baltimore lawyer tells this story
under the promise, says the Baltimore
Sun, that his identity is not revealed:
"When I was young and a bigger
fool than am now I conceived the
idea that dueling was fine thing. I
had read great deal about it and
talked more. considered the code
the proper recourse for q gentleman.
l was then practicing law in my ma
tive village, where l deemed myself
easily the greatest lawyer in town
if not in the state as well. 1t was
necessary to be aggressive, thought.
l had taken Lord Thurlow as my
model and 1 fancied myself like him.
Only two men stood in my path to
eternal fame-one was an old lawyer
Of our village, who had always scotfed
at my pretensions, and the other was
edi1r of the village newspaper, who
had long been my avowed enemy.
"The old lawyer appeared to take
kind of fiendish delight in humiiiat-
ing me and would rub it in on every
occasion when in court together. At
last l decided to endure it no longer,
and, selecting what I considered an
unusually glazing affront, selected
two young fellows in the village as
my advisers. One was said to be
great authority on the code and
felt that he would be a very desirable
second.
"The only point upon which we diff
fered was as to whether I should give
my enemy chance to retract. l
maintained the code demanded it:
but my seconds insisted that my en-
envy was such coward that he would
do almost anything to avoid fight,
and so spoil the fun
1T was decided that my colleague
should convey the challenge, and,
after lengthy discussion as to the
proper way to word it, he was finally
dispatched with the message to the
despised Wilson-for that was his
name. After an absence Of an hour
or more he returned to my office and
reported that he had seen Wilson
and delivered the message. The 'fel-
low had read it-frst with amuse-
ment, my friend Jim thought; then
with anger or fear, he could not tell
which.
"'Did you tell him where to send
a reply?' asked.
"'Of course he said. 'And he as
good as kicked me out of the housed
"While we sat there discussing the
coming tragedy there came modest
tap at the door, followed by wom-
ans voice-a sweet, soft, yet firm,
tone, requesting admttance. l hest
tated minute and then admitted
Myra Wilson, daughter of my pros
pective antagonist.
"I should like to see you alone, if
you please she began in hesitating
voice, casting glances toward my COM
panions.
Il bowed politely, although my
heart was futtering like leaf in the
wind. Miss Wilson was one OF the
handsomest girls in the community,
and, to tell the truth, we mad once
been lovers, but something had oc-
Cured to part us. I escorted Jim and
his companion into private room adj
joining this and after I had closed
the door turned to Miss Wilson, who
was standing in the center of the
room, her small hands clinched at her |
side and her big black eyes flashing
fire.
"'Mr. A. she began, catching |
her breath while the color fitted |
through her cheeks in dashes of red,
is it true that you wish to fight
my father-that you have challenged
him to duel?'
81 never felt so mean in my life as
I did at that moment. don't know
what I said to the young lady, but
do know that she began by upbraid-
ing me for wanting to fight man
old enough to be my father. She
ended by saying that if I ever as
much as harmed hair of his head
she would load the family shotgun to
the brim and fill me so full of buck
shot that I wouldn't hold Ohio river
water. She also said that if 1 would
call at their house at once her father
would make any apology due me.
"Well, to make long story short.
I called upon the old fellow that even
ing and was treated like prince
They insisted that 1 remain for din
ner, and after the meal I was treated
to some excellent music by Miss Will
son. The father detained me until
nearly midnight, and when finally
tore myself away it was with express
sions OF warmest friendship and re-
spect on my part, which, I was as
sured, were mutual land which had
probably been augmented, as it were.
by the excellent things that flowed
from the Wilson cellars).
s'That's about all there was of it.
except that I married Miss Wilson