The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-09-26
AN AFFAIR
OF HONOR
By THOMAS r. DEAN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
By THOMAS R. DEAN


xicipated In it all the fighting they
fwanted for many year TO come-iD-
decd, for the rest of their natural
l5ves--but it left its effects in differ
ent way on many boys who were too
young TO fight for the Union. Peter
lBriton was seventeen years old when
the Confederacy collapsed, and he ever
after regretted that the fight hadn't
lbeen kept up long enough for him to
sEet a smell Of powder.
When Peter was twenty-one this
spirit developed with a desire to take
part In duel. He maintained that
affairs among gentlemen would better
be settled by the code than by bloody
noses, though why blood coming from
a place where there is little or no dan
ger rather than one where death may
be instantaneous did not appear in
Peters logic. He mistook himself.
The reason he believed in dueling was
because he rather fancied getting into
duel.
When this fad with him was at his
height he went abroad. Dueling has
always been more or less in vogue in
al the countries il, Europe and Is SO
on the continent today. Peter went TO
London, but no one insGlted him there,
and he continued ON TO Paris. Even
In the French capital he saw no
chance to participate In his hobby, so
he went on down into Italy.
~. ItuI
ful people, and Peter found himself as
Far as ever from a duel. Fearing that
he would be obliged to return home
without scrap, he resolved to pick a
quarrel with some one. In a restau-
rant In Rome he saw man at neigh
boring table eating macaroni in man
ner displeasing to well bred Ameri-
en- Peter signified his displeasure by
calling 70 the man not to make a pig
Of himself. The man. instead Of CIV
ing verbal reply, tossed the contents
of tumbler of wine in Peters face
and went on eating his macaroni. Pc
ter wiped away the wine with his
napkin and laid his card on the maca-
roni eaters table. receiving one in re-
turn.
Picking up the mans card, Peter took
II to an American friend of his, Gun
ter, and told him the circumstances.
'Gunter looked at the card and ex-
claimed:
Good gracious, man, you've chal-
lenged Castelliv'
"And who Is Castellif"
1.-THE principal of the fencing school"
Peters face fell.
Hes not only that" Gunter went
On; "he's n noted duelist."
Peter turned very pale.
Hes not only noted duelist, but
he kills his man every time. There is
n great deal of prejudice against him
in Rome, but he finds all the pupils
he cares TO have among the young
Roman swells who may possibly some
time need TO use his instruction. They
'1nd him splendid teacher"
"But can't we use pistOlsI" asked Pc
TER. 'I've done lot OF good work
with the pistol"
you, having challenged the follow,
will have TO fight with any weapon he
may select"
-'That's so. didn't think OF that"
'''Of course he'll choose folls or ra-
pliers. though he is dead shot with
dhe pistol"
II don't like this fix" said Peter, CIV
ing a shlver what can / do TO get
ont OF ltY'
II don't see what you can do, but I'll
think II over and try TO hit on some
plan, Since you are the insulted party
yoU don't have TO fight unless You wish
10, but you don't care TO put yourself
In the position Of coward, / suppose"
'No," said Peter, 81 don't wish to
DO that"
"Well. stay here iii you hear from
me"
Peter passed a terrible half day; then
the door OF his room was thrown open
and two men entered and bade him go
with them. They placed him IN car
riage and took him to Il large building
that he thought was Il hospital. II was
n lunatic asylum. He was put into II
room by himself with an iron grating
on the windows ana locked In.
Peter never experienced such JOY
of relief I'm his life as he now felt
locked up In madhousc. where the
fencing master could not get at him.
He recognized In his imprisonment n
scheme OF his frleud Gunter, who had
doubtless taken out papers to have him
aGonfined as q lunatlc.
The next day Gunter came to see him
and admitted the plan as his own.
Gunter told Peter that he had seen
Castelli and advised him that Peter
was not responsible for his acts. Cas-
&eIll was very much disappointed at
mot being able 10 add one more to the
'SRt OF those he had killed.
Peter asked Gunter how long II
wonid be necessary for him TO remain
u maniac and could get no definite
response But one day Gunter brought
1im letter OF apology from Castelll.
Peter. greatly surprised, asked how he
had secured II.
II circulated a report" replied Gun
Iar ssamnpu naatallI,g ,untIa tI,a4 ~