The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-21

"All eyes We're fixed on Barnet. He
was making a serious charge I looked
at Haughton. The proud blood man
tied his face for a moment, then re-
treated, leaving him as pale as marble.
AS I am the only spectator, de
mand an explanation the calmness
with which the words were uttered was
in striking contrast with his blazing
eyes and bloOdless lips
g Demand sneered Barnet Haugh-
ton said nothing; he was not the man
to handy words like a woman
p" What do you mean, BarnetE SAID
the senior captain
:. I mean that Haughton directed a
player by a glance.
f" Nonsense, Barnett exclaimed the
whole board as one man. You are mis-
taken
..Haughton smiled at the hearty un-
animity of the chorus. Then his eyes
flashed like those of tiger as ne turn
ed on Barnet.
g Barnet. you have spoken what
you know to be as false as he'll, ne
hissed,i and, turning on his heel, he left
the room.
''I don't know how you manage these
things now, but in my service days we
laughed at regulations. A man went
on a hunting expedition, and was
brought home dead, or perhaps he was
found in his quarters with a bullet in
his head. Nobody asked inconvenient
questions.
to talk the matter over with him. 1
found him examining his pistols. I
never thought to turn them on a COM
rade,' he said. I tried to hope that
Barnet would not fight. but my heart
told me that he thirsted for his rivals
blood. Any doubt I had on the matter
was set to rest next morning. Barnet
came to me, and with the utmost sang
froid detailed plan for meeting. l
said something about not liking the
hr4zfrlare q launched and 1aQTn(7 and
in the end SO exasperated me that l
wanted to shoot him myself. And it
ended by my agreeing to second
Haughton.
Next morning we drove from the
station to the completion Of this. my
life's tragedy"
George paused a while, apparently
overcome by emotion. Then he con-
tinued:
THE meeting place was a few leagues
distant and when we arrived Barnet
was awaiting US alone. though he had
promised to bring with him a friend
But I might have guessed that no officer
would go out with him under the Cir
cumstances.
7 mentioned. the matter to him. Obi
he replied, purposely raising his voice
that HaughtOn might hear, when gen
tlemen want to fight they don't stick at
trifles of that sort 1t was then made
the fatal mistake. I should have refused
to bear alone the responsibility; but boys
are so afraid of appearing cowardly-
'HaughtOn saw me hesitate. Never
mind he said: I don't care. Then he
gripped my hand moment and conIln-
ued, BE her friend George, for my sake.
Goodby.' Then he took up his place.
Il can recall as though it were but
yesterday those two men standing face
to face in the depth of the trackless jun
gle, with the fiery Indian sun beating
upon the handsome, fearless face of the
younger, while his foe stood with low
eritig brOws and eyes cleaning with
deadIiest hate calmly measuring the
gallant, soldierly form outlined against
the tangled shrubs with their network
of luxuriant cree pers.
AT the word three they were to
fire
AT the word one I trembled in ev-
cry limb as my own husky voice lnten-
sif1ed the grim reality of the scene. but
Haughton stood as calmly erect as
though on parade.
'' -Two!' The ponies looked I'D lazily
from their browsing and gazed with
wondering eyes upon the strange spec
tacle My tongue cieaved to my palate
and the Precipitation stood in large, cold
beads upon my forehead.
=" "Threel'
IT scarcely recognized my own voice
as the word fell on my ear. Both pistols
flashed simultaneously. Haughton stag
gered forward a few PAGES and fell into
my arms, shot in the throat The blood
and ears. Ignorant as I then was of
such matters, I felt that he was done
for. I laid him upon the ground and
looked into the depths of his frank
blue eyes, and they turned to meet mine
with the old loyal look, and he tried to
smile bravely.
.sHis lips stirred, but no sound es-
capped them. The film of death dinmed
his vision. his heart that had but a
short while before throbbed SO gayly
with the vigor Of a young. joyous life
fiuttered a moment and then while the
graceful, supple limbs stifened ceased to
beat forever
Barnet stood apart, smiling disdain-
fully, while his steely eyes gloated upon
the rigid. lifeless form and the pale,
girlish face which would never again
brighten at a woman's smile nor win a
maiden's heart.
" Coz I said. and he turned away
with the brand of Cain upon his brow.
I never saw him again. He obtained
six months leave. and, prudently TAX
ing a mint from the colonel, he did not
rejoin his regiment
Duty has often found me tough work
to do, but God knows would prefer to
face a battery of artillery to delivering