The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-10-06
AN AFFAIR
OF HONOR
By THOMAS R. dean.
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.

Ill SVpyAA6AS W <AAA1SkACAA4 ASoo 00V III
citation. 1911.
The civil war gave those who par
ticipated in it all the fighting they
wanted for many a year to come-in-
deed, for the rest of their natural
lives-but it left its effects in a differ
emit way on many boys who were too
young to fight for the Union. Peter
Briton was seventeen years old when
the Confederacy collapsed, and he ever
after regretted that the fight hadn't
been kept up long enough for him to
get a smell Of powder.
When Peter was twenty-one this
spirit developed with a desire to take
part in q 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
aduel.
When this fad with him was at his
height he went abroad. Dueling has
always been more or less in vogue in
all the countries in Europe and is SO
on the continent today. Peter went to
London, but no one insulted 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.
The middle class Italians are a peace
full people, and Peter found himself as
far as ever from a duel. Fearing that
he would be obliged to return home
without a scrap. he resolved to pick a
quarrel with some one. In a restau-
rant in Rome he saw a man ut a neigh
boring table eating macaroni in q man.
ner displeasing to a well bred Ameri-
en-. Peter signiied his displeasure by
calling to the man not to make a pig
Of himself. The man. instead Of CIV
ing q verbal reply, tossed the contents
Of q lumber Of wine in Peters face
and went on eating his macaroni Pc
ter wiped away the wine with his
napkin and laid his card IN the maca-
foni eaters table. receiving one in re-
turn.
Picking up the mans card, Peter took
It 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-
lesged Castelli"
"And who is Casteln"
1.-THE principal Of the fencing school,"
Peters face fell. SRI
"He's not only that" Gunter went
on, ''he's a noted duelist."
Peter turned very pale.
"He's not only q noted duelist, but
he kills his man every time. There 10
q 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
find him a splendid teacher"
"But can't we 9 pistols?' asked Pc
ter. "I've done a 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. l didn't think Of that"
"Of course he'll choose foils or ra-
piers. though he is a dead shot with
the pistol"
81 don't like this FIX" said Peter. Civ.
ing a SILVER. "What can I do to get
out Of it,"
II don't see what you can do, but I'll
think it over and try to hit on some
plan. Since, you are the insulted party
you:don,t haveito fight unless you wish
IL. but yoa don't care to put yourself
in the position Of q coward. I suppose"
mo" said Peter. II don't wish to
do that"
.well stay here till you hear from
me-"
Peter passed q terrible half day; then
the door Of his room was thrown open
and two men entered and babe him 20
With them. They placed him In q car
riase and took him to.a large building
that. be; thonshtswas ? hpspita!. It was
a lunatic asylum. He was put into a
room-Ay himself with n iron grating
on the windows and locked In.
Peter ne-er experienced such jog
Of relief in his life 90 be now felt
locked up n a madhouse. where the
fencing master could not get at him.
He recognized in his imprisonment q
scheme OF his friend Gunter. who bod
doubtless taken out papers to have him
confined as q !unatic.
The next day Gunter came to Gee him
and admitted the plan as bis own.
Gunter told Peter- that he had seen
Castelli and advised him that Peter
was not responsible for his acts. Cas-
tell was very much disappointed at
not being able to add one more 70 the
list Of those be had killed.
Peter asked Gunter how long It