Morris tribune., 1911-08-04

The colonel was by this time more
| than seventy years old His eyesight
was defective and his heart had not
| been improved by his sOjourn south.
| Besides, he was suffering from the
effect of wounds received in the late
j war. He was not proper person to
be pitted against IL young man in any
form of encounter Morrill, resolved to
continue to harass his antagonist If
the colonel insisted on satisfaction he
could decline to give it on the ground
that his challenger was not proper
adversary for one in the prime of life
Since he could not prove his charge he
replied to the cOlonel's note that the
colonel was not warranted in pre-
suming the article referred to him.
Several notes passed between the
two, in the last Of which the
colonel said that If they were in
northern territory he would sue the
Banner for defamation of character.
Such a course at the time in the south
would be impracticable. He therefore
felt obliged to settle the matter by
the prevailing custom in that region
the code duello. Would Mr.. Morrill,
kindly refer him to a friend?
Had Morrill, been anything but
prig and a fool he would have seen
that his adversary, though living
among a people still smarting under
the effects of a war in which he had
opposed them, was sure in the end to
get the advantage. Instead of having
such discernment his consummate ego
tism led him further in his idiotic
course. He conceived the idea Of get
ting rid of the colonel by ridicule. He
would accept his challenge and turn
the affair into mockery.
He succeeded in convincing some of
his friends that this was the best and
only way out Of the matter both for
Colonel Meredith and the town. He
persuaded one of his friends to offer
his services to his enemy on the ground
that he felt that the colonel was
right in demanding satisfaction and
should have fair play. The colonel ac-
cepted the offer, and in this way the
editor controlled both seconds so far
as making the affair a sham was con-
cerned, though the colonels second
had been assured that the plan was
merely to satisfy the colonel without
resorting to bloodshed.
The intention being to make the af-
fair an imitation duel. it was not hur-
vic
deed, some Of the Confederate veter-
ans, hearing that a duel between the
ex-Federal officer and the editor was
about to take place, went to Morrill,
and protested. Morrill, told them that
no harm was to be done the colonel
and the proposed fight with blank
cartridges was the best and only way
to settle the matter. The veterans
withdrew and held a consultation.
Finally one of their number, who had
become more friendly with Colonel
Meredith than the others and knew
more about him and his affairs, said:
Leave the matter to me-"
This was done, and as a body the
veterans took no further action.
On the morning the duel was to
come off Morrill, was in fine feather.
No one except the two seconds and
one or two of his intimate friends
knew that the affair was to be a
sham. The editor intended after it
was over to put himself right in the
matter of fighting an old man by pub
fishing a ludicrous account of the
meeting, announcing that there had
really been no fight at all. He had
written the article, into which he had |
thrown all his ability as comic |
writer, and had it locked in his desk |
ready for use.
At o'clock in the morning he |
arose, dressed himself. bid a mock !
heroic adieu to his aunts. to whom he |
told his secret, and in due time car
riage drove up with his second, and |
the two men went to the place ap- !
pointed for the meeting. Morrill,
showed his Indifference to danger-as
it was supposed by those who under
stood the fight was to be to the death
by laughing and joking with the Sec
Onds. The ground was being paced
off when a carriage was driven up,
and a young man in a dark blue un-
dress uniform alighted Making
straight for Colonel Meredith, he put
out his hand and said:
How do you do, uncle?"
The colonel not recognizing him, he
continued: Il am your nephew, Ed
ward Turnlee, just graduated from the
Naval academy. A Confederate vet
eran who knew all about my father
;elegraphed me that you were to fight
4 young man and suggested that l, a
young man, should take your place
am here for that purpose"
The change in the spirits Of the man
who was to be the hero of this sham
affair was instantar eous. He turned
white as a cloth and trembled like
eaf.
My dear boy" said Colonel Mere