Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-04-11
CHAPTER ".
"Hochi The American!"


Of the principals necessitated by their
armament, and both men handled
their rapiers in tierce and guard with
: sleverness that would have brought
ant cheers from an American audience
70 make the very rafters ring, while
| three score Of Germans sat or stood
| around, watching every move, with
| grim silence that was only broken by
the clash of steel upon steel, or the
sharp cries of the umpire directing
the affair.
Those lights had never shone upon
a more gallant fight. and each student
Rugged himself with delight because
fortune had been kind enough to
| make him a witness to it.
Those most experienced in such
matters saw, however, that when ten
minutes of this terrific work had pass
ed by with but few slight cuts on
either side, Hoffman was gathering his
forces and preparing to end the duel
with one of his hitherto invincible
| tactics. and they trembled for the
brave American.
TO karl's eager inquiries during an
interval between the bouts, Paul only
gave q short laugh and assured his
second he was but playing with his op-
ponent.
Again the rivals faced, but this time
Paul was in deadly earnest, and amid
q clash OF steel it was seen that Hoff-
mans face was covered with blood.
Then the sonorous voice of the UNI
pire was heard calling a halt while
the surgeons ascertained just how
serious the Prussian's wound might be.
Hoffman seemed to be wildly pleading
with him to tell the battle to 60 on
it was his first defeat and unusually
bitter-but the doctor, realizing the
gravity Of the wound, was memorable.
"Abfuhr!" he called out, signifying
that the Prussian should be allowed to
fight no more.
The umpire repeated the word, and
in loud voice declared the result in
tine stereetyped phrase:
"Saxo-Prussian is led away"
Then something occurred that had.
perchance, never been heard upon
similar eccasion--the glorious result,
the signal downfall of the proud duel
list who had lorded it over them so
long, was too much for the students
! to witness without giving relief to
their pent-up feelings.
"Hoeh, hoch, hoch the American!
they shouted. And ''hoch, hoch, hoch"
1t was while they bore Rhinelander,
bloody as he was. into the ante-room
to resume his street dress.
Paul had received a few slight
scratches, but fortune had been very
kind to him in this respect, for none
pf them were more than bagatelles.
AS he, dressed again for the street,
vas about to break away from the ad
hiring groups that surrounded him, he
kaw tall figure pressing through the
hrong, and recognized the Englishman
Eho had been assisting the surgeon
no attended his bout. His eyes, blue
the summer skies, beamed with good
AZURE, and Paul was drawn to him I'M
onsciously. "
Then. too, the impulsive clasp of his
and, how hearty it was after almost
primal congratulations Of the Ger
bans! Well, blood seems thicker than
kater, after all, and the day is surely
oming when these cousins may stand
boulder to shoulder for peace
throughout the whole world.
"A thousand congratulations, my
lear boy 1t was beautifully done,
less to your victory. ] hope we may
heet again. Sir Noel Travers is my
lame and I anl probing into the col
eges and. hospitals of our German
ousins."
Paul was dragged away by his COM
AIDES at this juncture, but he had
angular premonition that he would
un across this big, frank Briton again
It some uncertain future date.
To Paul's lodgings they rode. The
lay passed as had others, but Paul dis
overed what he had not known before,
hat he had many warm friends in the
University. -
And, of course, he was by courtesy
ompelled to accept their invitation
be a guest Of honor at the grand
heeting in the Kneipe or korps drink
hg all that night, where the famous
alamander with its chorus and pound
be- Of empty beakers on the table
pened and closed the festivities.
Still he was glad when the end came
nd he could leave the hall without
living offense, for other matters of
ore personal nature demanded his at
ntion.
One Of the objects that had brought
m to Europe--to Germany-gave
Fomise Of being attained.
He had seen the one he sought, the
ster who had for so many years been
st to him.
How the memory Of her thrilled him.
"a what agony swept through his
ind as hs remembered in whose
mpany he had seen her.
The name of Hoffman, what curse
had been to his father. Was the
fated to perpetuate his sire's In
my?
CHAPTER V.
A Serpent in the Dovecote. ..
It was night again in Heidelberg
hen Paul wandered about the streets
the classical city. Rhinelander was
aimlessly wandering. The little
"a Cupid had to do with his wander