The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-06-24
A Unique VindiCatiOn.
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[Original.1

ginian, went to study at the Univer
sity Of Heidelberg he promised his
mother that he would never fight a
duel. But Bancroft did not consider it
necessary to refrain from joining the
fighting corps and engaging in harm
less encounters. Indeed, there was
plenty Of fighting 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;
while another had been shot attempt
ing to defend prisoner from mob.
These shafts Of death, striking so near
her, caused her to brood and induced a
fear that her only son should fall
through a similar cause.
Bancroft at Heidelberg proved so
handy with all sorts of weapons as to
distance all competitors save one, a
young Ikglishman named Horcut.
The two held the record for being the
best swordsmen at the university, and
there was a desire among the students
that they should fight for the cham
, pionship. Bancroft made no obiec-
ton to friendly encounter, the vital
! parts of each disputant being covered
according to the corps rules But in
truth he did not relish even a friendly
/ fight with the Engishman, who was
! an avowed hater of Americans.
When the tqms of the fight for the
! championship came to be arranged
I Ia al toi IL, i'm
rendering the affair dangerous. 1t was
| suspected by few that he considered
Bancroft the better swordsman and,
{ judging him to be timid wished to
force him to decline the combat. This
would give Horcut the championship
without fighting for it or risking to
lose it. He would then return to Eng
land to enjoy his honors.
Whether or no this was his object,
it was accomplished. Bancroft de-
clined to fight except under the rules
for friendly contests. Horcut accused
him of cowardice, and there was now
nothing for him to do but challenge
the Britisher to an unprotected"
fight or be cut by the members of his
corps. He declined to fight either for
the championship or to vindicate his
courage, but he wrote his mother the
facts and begged her to release him.
She declined to do so. Besides, friends
at home assured him that she was in
critical physical condition and If
anything happened to him it would
kill her.
Bancroft neither cared to give his
true reason for not fighting nor be.
lieved that it would be accepted. II
would have been accepted and he
would have been respected for it If he
could have satisfied the students of
its truth. In no country in the world
are parents more beloved and respect
ed than in Germany. But to convince
couple of thousand Of young men
that he was not hiding behind his
mothers skirts was out of the ques-
ton.
So Bancroft finished his university
career cut man, though he was burn.
ing to meet his adversary. When he
went home to Virginia, finding that
the story had preceded him and pref.
udiced some people against him, he
went to the farther west and engaged
in sheep raising Soon after this his
mother died.
Several years passed. One day Ban,
croft was treading his way on a patti
barely foot wide around the side of q
precipice. While doing so he saw q
party of tourists coming. Persons
meeting on the path must pass care
fully, the one taking the outside, the
other the inside. Bancroft was ex
pecting to take the outside when sud
denly he recognized in the leading
man in the line of tourists his old
enemy at the university He was also
recognized
wait there" said Horcut, pointing
to place where the path widened a
little. II pass inside" He spoke
with his old domineering tone. Ban
croft stepped to the spot indicated
saying as he did so:
II pass inside"
''You pass outside, say" growled
Horcut, remembering that Bancroft
was coward
Are you armedT asked Bancroft
quietly.
mo"
Bancroft took a revolver from his
hip and flung it over the precipice. II
struck 500 feet below.
'What do you propose| asked Hor
cut, blanching.
ITO settle feud of long standing
We are about the same build. Let one
Of US throw the other over. If am
victorious I win pass inside the rest
Of your party"
Horcut stood aghast. MY God, man
that would be certain death for both OF
usr'
at would prove us both brave men,
But
1--WE are keeping your friends wait
ing"
The friends were as terrified as the
principals. Th1 begged Horcut not &c
accept such n fearful challenge.