The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-09-18
saaneyysa.i;'',.n.,.a :'.nsnY.a:aas.,aaas
The Edge of the Abyss
Boncroff'S Vnigus Vindicaffon


city or Heidelberg he promised his
D mother that he would never fight q
dueL But Bancroft did not consider il
necessary TO refrain from Joining The
nghting corps and negaging in harm.
Tess encounters. Indeed. there was
plenty OF lighting material In him in.
Herited from his progenitors. and this
was why his mother had exacted the
promise. Her father had been killed
IN duel. one OF her brothers through
reckless exposure in the civil war
Whlle another had been shot ATTEMPT.
ing 10 defend prisoner from a mob.
hese shafts OF death. striking so near
her' caused her TO brood and Induced
rear lhat her only son should fall
through similar cause.
Bancroft at Heidelberg Droved so
mandy with all sorts of weapons as 10
distance all competitors save one
young Englishman named Horcut
! Inc two held the record for being the
pest swordsmen at the university. and
there was a desire among the students
that they should fight for the cham.
plonship. Bancroft made no obiec-
tloh 70 friendly encounter. the vital
par's or each disputant being covered
aScorulns 10 the corps rules. But in
ruin ne ala not relish even friendly
Hsht win The Englishman. who was /
an aVowed hater OF Americans
Nnen the terms OF the fight for the
championship came TO be arranged
horcut insisted on certain Innovations
rendering the affair dangerous. II was
suspected by few that he considered
bancroft the better swordsman ana
Judging him TO be timid. wished RI
force him TO decline the combat This
would give Horcut the CHAMPIONSHIPS
without lighting for il or risking 10
lose II. He would then return 10 Eng
land TO enjoy his honors.
whether or not this was his object
~ was accomplished. Bancroft de- /
clined 10 fight except under the rules
iIoI nendiy contests. Horcut accused ,
MIN or cowardice. and there was now
uotnlng TOT him 10 do but challenge q
SuS brltisher 10 an unprotected" ,
nsnt of De cut by the members OF his ,
III ps, ne declined 10 fight either for T
the championship or to indicate his
courage but he wrote his mother the
facts and begged her to release him ),
She declined TO do so. Besides. friends Z
~ nome assured him that she was i'm
critical physical condition and n !.
my thing happened to him il wouId !,
dll her. "Ouiu y
bancroft neither cared 10 give his
rue reason for not fighting nor he =,
leNed mat 1t would be accepted II :,
'ouid nave been accepted and he n
'ouIu nave been respected for il If he
qua nave satisfied the students Of .,
= truth. In no country in the world !,
,e parents more beloved and respect- =,
q than in Germany. But TO convince .,
couple or thousand OF Young mon
nat ne was not hiding behind his =,
lothers skirts was out of the oues. y,
on. tueS- ~
20 bancroft finished his university n
treer a cut man, though he was burn.
Y 10 meet his adversary. When ba a.
eht 70 home to Virginia, finding tina, -
lie story had preceded him and nreiu. 80
ced some people against him he -
eht 70 the farther West and engaged ~
sheep,raising. Soon after this his ",
other died ms va
several years passed. One dav Ran. nj
OIL was treading his way on q natb
leiE IoOt wide around the side Of a no
eclplce. While doing so he saw 4 ne
- OF tourists coming Persons
I,. On the path must pass care go
,ny, ,ne one taking the outside. the ter
her the inside Bancroft vas az -,
citing TO take the outside when "a
My he recognized in the leadina ia
an In the line of tourists bis niS -, 40
emy az the university. He was aIso en-
cognized "'So Sii,
Wait there" said Horcut noin,ir. II
a place where the path widened a AZ
Ne pass inside" He snola to
IN his old domineering tone nan. /
oit stepped to the spot indicated usa
wing as he did so: -
! pass inside" 49,
You pass outside. / saw" growloa I
'rcut, remembering that pancrns, ~
IS coward Nioie ~
etly. eu bancroft III.
No"
5ancroft took a revolver from bis lea,
and flung it over the precinica +, how
uck 600 feet below A. ~ ~
what do you propose asked tIo-. T
. blanching. nut GO,
TO settle a feud OF long standing thai
are about the same build. LET ono alor
us throw the other over. n 7 am cut
torious ! will pass inside the rest "
your party ome
iorcut stood aghast. MY God. man ford
would be certain death for both cum
u.s." ~ "oen 80
y "ouiu prove us both brave men" "
But" -" -,
We are keeping your friends wait. save
, will
ne friends were as terrified as the b,
lcipals. They begged Horcut no, frier
lccept such fearful challenge wor
Do-do understand" faItered Hor. conf
that you will pass inside those I'll
ind me-" -,
That Is my intention" good
And you will permit me TO mass Won Thin
The outside in safety" grim
You have only the word OF a COW. n
80 ."ae pre-
1ousehteu win a hanging soak
d. and the passage was made earlv
lie OF the tombstone had been q arIso
lent at Heidelberg during Ran. NJ,
Us disgrace-retlrned 10 Eurona faars
the story got TO the upiyersitv aro,,s
croft was invited there. and when rnsbi
vent was enthusiastically greeted = mol
IN he told Of his pledge To his inc !
her he received N ovo.su.. -