The Marshall republican., 1909-04-09

tAN ~ nov . SOuih ~ AoAi wv
and wept.
Our men were placed 20 PAGES apart,
with their backs to each other. At
the word "one" they were to turn, ad.
vance and fire between the words
two" and three" This seemed to
me the most murderous arrangement |
had ever heard Of.
The stories | had 80 lately heard
about Overton's proficiency with the
pistol made me think, even II he did
not kill Giles Intentionally, he would
attempt some expert trick with the
pistol, which would do the business
equally well. I knew Giles TO be a
very poor shot, and concluded that
he, through awkwardness. would prob.
ably put IN end to Overton, and l re-,
garded them both as doomed men,
shall never forget my feelings az
we were placing our men, or after Mr..
Buxton and | had retired to a place
under the hedge. Just as we had Sc.
lected our places, Giles, looking over
his shoulder, said In his usual cool
soft voice:
Don't you think, gentlemen. you
had better two or three furlongs
on? Mr.. Overton may grow excited
and fire Wild"
thought this a most dangerous as
well as foolish speech. and calculated
to irritate Overton; and for the first
time saw a CLEAN OF anger in his
eye, which had hitherto been mild, and
eve sad. For / believed then, and
knew afterward, that his mind was far
from easy on the subject OF dueling. |
wish to say here that I also believe,
had he been fully convinced that duel
ing was wrong, he would have declined
to fight, no matter what the conse.
quence had been; for l never knew a
man with more moral courage. But at
the time, although his views were
changing on the subject, they were not
wholly changed.
Mr.. Buxton, without noticing Giles
speech, coushed once or twice, and
then waited two or three minutes be
fore giving the word.
The summer sun shone brilliantly
turning the distant river to q silver
ribbon. A thrush rioted unsteady in
the hawthorn hedge. All things spoke
OF life and hope. but to my sinking
heart insensate Nature only Knocked
US. / heard, as In a dream, the words
"one. two, three" slowly uttered by
Mr.. Buxton. and saw, still as in q
dream, both men turn and raise their
pistols.
Overton's was discharged first;
then, as he stood like a man In marble
waiting for his a~dversary's fre, Giles
raised his pistol and, taking deliberate
aim at the bird still singing in the
hedge. brought 1t down. It was a mere
lucky shot, but Overton took OF his
hat and bowed to the ground, and
Giles responded by taking of his hat
and showing a hole through the brim
you see, Mr.. Glyn," said Overton
II have done according to my prom
Use. II was not my intention to kill
Mr.. Vernon. but only to brighten him.
which speech Mr.. Buxton and / con,
sidered as q set-off to Giles speech
Just before shots were exchanged.
The two principals remained where
they were. while Mr.. Buxton and I re,
tired behind the hedge to confer-or
rather, for Mr.. Buxton to say to me:
Another shot would be damned
nonsense. My man Is satisfied, OF
shall be, else ! am a Dutch trooper.
Certainly you have nothing TO com
plain Of"
was only too happy to accept this
solution. but more out OF objection "a
being ~browbeaten by Mr.. Buxton than
anything else, | said:
we shall require an explanation oil
your principals observation Just now
sir"
Shall your" angrily asked Mr.. Bux
ton. exactly in the tone he used wheI
the carpenters mate complained thai
the jack-o'the-dust had cribbed his
best saw. Then | shall call your mar
to account in regard to his late obser
walton, and we can keep them pop
ping away at each other all day. But
this is no slaughter pen, Mr.. Glyn, nc,
am | the ships butcher, and I shall
take my mar back to town and give
him a glass OF spirits and some break
fast, and l advise you to do the same
You are very young. Mr.. Glyn. ant
you still need to know a thing or two
Then. advancing from behind the
hedge. he said In the dulcet tone h,
used when the admiral asked him I,
have wine:
Gentlemen. Mr., Glyn and myself
after comforting. have agreed that tn,
honor OF u principals Is fully estab
lished. and that the controversy 4
completely at an end. Allow me :,
congratulate you both"--and Their,
was q general hand-shaking all around
! noticed that the coachman, who wa
attentiyely watching the performance
looked slightly disappointed Mt thu
turn Of AFFAIRS.
S~traightway. we all climbed into tn
chaise. and l think / shall be believed
when I say that our return to tow
was more cheerful than our departur
had been.
w LL