The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-04-23
A QUESTION OF HONOR.

The student world at Heidelberg a
large desired particularly to learn VIII!
Karl Won Lanenberg, a man known tt
have some Of the best blood of Bava
; ria in his VEINS so tameIy endured the
covert affronts repeatedly offered hin
by a disappointed rival in lecture
room, restaurant and theater. AND
when, covert affront passing into frank
insult, Hahn finally met Lanenberg'
courteous "Good morning at the Cafe
Muller with. a sneer and an audible
nutter Coward" the smoldering fires
of suspicion sprang at once into flame
The small body of his fellow stu
dents which still chung to belief in
Lanenberg, the most brilliant students
of his year, crowded around him with
eager EXPLANATIONS of 'You must pun
ish this!' "You will' You'll send
him challenge instantly" "I'll carry
1t gladly "And l." "And I -" a
dozen voices clamored at once.
Gentlemen, my good friends" Ian
enberg in the midst, spoke with white
lips and dilated nostrils, II am infinite
ly obliged to you. But / cannot avail
myself at present of your kind ser
vices. My life, for the next year to
come is not my own"
The crow d fell back. On every face
was CONSERVATION mingled with half
incredulous disgust
"This passes belief" Otto Mayer, an
acknowledged leader among his fell
lows, muttered. "Have you conscien-
tious objection to duellng?"
sNo."
SIS he mad or drunk, Rosenhem ?"
Poor Rosenheim shook his fair head
ruefully. "Or-only afraid? Thunder
and lightning Lanenberg. Explain
yourself, mani"
Lanenberg mostened his dry lips. II
have explained. This is question Of
honor with me. If you are not salts
fled
" 'Satisfied?' They caught up the
word and flung it to and fro to an ac-
compartment of derisive laughter.
satisfied"
Out of the Cafe Muller Karl Won
outer darkness. Thence forward the
sons of the university which had been
SO proud of him knew him no more.
He walked the streets of Heidelberg an
outcast, whom no man might salute by
the way. Rosanheim indeed, perplexed
but faithful, would have walked by
his side, but Karl brusquely declined
the boys company.
"A bad reputation is contagious he
said. "You must think of your de-
gree"
A few weeks taught Fritz the cogen-
cy of his reasoning. The university au-
thorities were popularity supposed to
ignore students prejudices," but it
was clear that they had no mind to
support lecturer whom his pupils
considered socially taboo" They al
lowed it to become known that Lanen-
berg would not be appointed to his
present office
80 be it, Who cares what they do
at the end of the year?" Lanenberg
told himself, as he STROBE to the poor |
lodgings he shared with widowed |
mother Just on the doorstep he paus-
ed to give thanks that his mother went |
abroad SO seldom. Only the needs OF /
her little household drew her now and |
then from her hiding place.
Returning from one of these enforced |
expeditions into town, she descended |
upon her son with the stern inquiry:
What is this I hear of a quarrel be-
tween you and some man called Hahn? |
Have you forgotten your pledge?"
Karl raised a haggared face from his
papers. NO have not forgotten
Till that pledge is redeemed" the
mother continued, almost fiercely. her
thin cheeks Flushing, her tall figure
trembling with suppressed passion,
you have no right to run risks"
Make your mind easy. mother. /
run no risks till my task is done"
He continued to work hard-as hack.