The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-03-02
He Stopped 1t
BY ciIAUNcEY WARDWELL
Copyright 1910, BY American Press
Association

hthu blm Nhen no heard hn Aheml
spoken IN d soft voice.
Looking Up, he saw just above the
wall face II was q young. round
rosy face incased in curly chestnut
locks and visible from chin to crown.
BUT below the chin was only a stone
wall The body was invisible
Pardon me, your majesty said q
girls voice. Il have something 20
ask your majesty. and # / had taken
the proper steps Il would be too late
20 serve the purpose"
"What is Il. child" asked the king.
II have heard that your majesty Is
greatly opposed TO the practice Of duel
ing. 80 much IN vogue just now
surely you do not wish permission
70 kill any one"
"oh. no your majesty | wish you
TO stop a duel"
Between whomg"
Captain Fritz Guenther and Lieu.
tenant Carl Hoffman"
"What interest have you 10 these
men7"
"No interest whatever n Captain
Guenther He Is a protested duelist
lie picked q quarrel with Carl on my
account Guenther is fne swords
man and would doubtless Kin Carl"
"Hmn grunted the king. noticing a
tremor IN the girls voice. "This Hoff
man IS doubtless either your brother
or your lover"
"He is not my BROTHER said the
girl blushing.
= see. Wen, / shah send word 70
them both that they cannot 6ghr with
out my permission"
The girls head disappeared, and the
king went into the palace. There he
directed that a royal order be sent 70
the duelists that they should not eight
without his permission. for which they
must apply in person.
THAT evening It was announced to
the king that Captain Guenther and
Lieutenant Hoffman asked for ain audi
ence The king directed thar they be
admitted
well young men" he said when
they came before him. what can 90
Tor sour
please your majesty" said Captain
Gueniher eve wish 20 fight q duel"
And do you Join IN the application
asked the king 81 Hoffman
Il do. sire
VERY well. The application is grant
ed on two condltions-I must choose
the ground and be present az the en-
counter
80 high an honor / surely did not
expect" said Captain Guenther much
elated
Nor + said Lieutenant Hoffman
~Wlll your majesty graeiousIy ap-
point the hour Of meetlngF asked the 4
captain.
@Fen o'clock tomorrow morning" re-
piled the king
"And the placer asked the lieuten.
ant
eIn The square directly IN the rear Of
tile palace"
The dueists thought such place
very public. especially AZ 40 hour
when many people would be passing
but neither dared object So they
went away. Captain Gnenther delight
ed that he was TO teht m the pres
ence Of his king and Lieutenant Hon
man quite sure that bis opponent
would take all the more pleasure at
killing him IN the presence Of so az.
gust a witness
The next morning the regiment. act
ing as the kings bodyguard. surround
ed the open square ii the rear 81 the
palace where the meeting was to take
place, A few minutes before 10 o'clock
two carriages drove up to the square
each containing one Of the principals
and his seconds An office Informed
them that they could not enter the
square until after the arrival Of the
king so they waited Ia the carriages
the king. who had been m
specting since early morning, rode nr
to The square on horseback. The troops
made ali opening FOR him. md, return
ing their salute, he rode On @ the duel
Ing ground
When a few minutes later the duel.
lists were admitted the first thing that
their attention was gal
lows 10 the center Of the square, be
hind which sat their sovereign on his
horse, They were puzzled When they
came near to the king both uncovered
and Guenther asked
MAY Il please your majesty TO tell
as what this meansT
'.It means said the king grimly,
athat the man who survives win be
hanged as high AS Hannah % that Glib
bet"
It was not only evident that the
king was not favorably disposed to
ward dueling but that be would keep
bis word In the present instance The
TWO officers retired and spoke to theit
seconds while The King waited. Imme
iiately the seconds went 70 bis maj
ssty and informed him thar the two
officers would not think 81 doing that
which their sovereign disapproved
Then the king rode away.
Frederick directed that the name
Ind residence Of the girl who had
spoken to him over bis wall be learn
"a and sent her a letter thanking her
.or giving him an opportunity TO read
/ lesson to his army She was soon
litter married 10 Lieutenant Hoffman
md the king not only sent her a sub
itantial wedding present, but attended
he wedding IN person.
After that dueling II Froderick's
lominions was rarely praeticea and