Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-03-04
THE UND0INC
GA DBELISI



One evening 1T the close Of the eight
esnth century young man stopped at
a tavern in New York and was sitting
in the taproom dreamiIy looking at
the embers In the great open fireplace
when one OF a number OF men drink
ing and smoking at the tables fell
low with a bad eye and a crafty look
on his face began to make remarks
about him in so loud tone that he
could not fail to hear them. Neyerthe-
less the stranger endured them for Z
time without retort, then got up and
started to leave the room, whereupon
the man who had insulted' him sud-
denly put out his foot and the stranger
fell sprawling on the floor. The fallen
man, still apparently unwilling to mo-
dee the offense, arose and proceeded
on his way to another. ROOM
He had not been there long before a
young man Of pleasing appearance en-
tered and addressed him:
"You are apparently stranger here,
he said, ''and need friend The man
who has insulted you is notorious for
picking quarrels, and when he finds
his antagonist one who Is likely to get
the better OF him he invariably finds
some adroit method OF getting out OF
the difficulty. / am anxious for pre-
text to fight him. Why. l don't care
to explain, except to say that it is
matter of the heart. / have recently
returned from q long absence In that
part of Louisiana lying weA Of the
Mississippi, and. though Immediately
recognized this man Amos Stringfel-
low The doesn't recognize me. On ac-.
count of the lady in the case would
not like to quarrel with him on my
own account. nor would he permit me
to do so. Your affair is my opportu-
nifty. You seem to be ayefse to fight
ing him yourself. Therefore I would
ask your permission to act as your
champion"
The speaker drew forth a card, on
which was printed his name, Horace
George Herriek. In return he received
one from the stranger, Henry Pinck-
ney.
II am not averse to fighting the fell
low Pinckney said. I'VE of the south
usually settle such matters under the
code. But in my case there is reason
why / should not My father killed
friend In duel and suffered SO from
remorse that he extracted a promise
from me never to engage in one my
, SELF
Herrick pleaded with Pinckney for
permission to represent him. Pinckney
was unwilling to stand in SO unpleas-
, ant light, but, at last consented, de-
claring that in case Herrick fell he
would throw aside his scruples and
take up the quarrel on his own ac-
! count Herrick returned to the tap
room and after berating Stringfellow
for being SO inhospitable as to insult
an inoffensive stranger took 1t upon
himself to yindicate the good name Of
New York and demanded satisfaction.
Stringfellow demurred on the ground
that the challenger was not New
Yorker, whereupon Herrick informed
him that he had been born in New
York and of his identity.
Stringfellow saw at once that he had
|
| fallen into his own trap, but relied, as
usual, on some subterfuge to preserve
| his reputation for courage and at the
!, same time keep out of harms way. He
accepted the challenge and, as the chal-
lenged party had the right to name
the conditions, chose pistols in dark
| room.
Before entering the apartment Her
rick took Pinckney aside and said to
him.
III fall go to Harlem and find
| katherine Van Gaasback. Tell, her
| that her former playmate returned and
heard that she was about to marry
Amos Stringfellow; that chance gave
me the opportunity to defend the good
name Of New York against her lover
i and fell in the cause of hospitality"
Pinckney, much dissatisfied with the
course the affair had taken, made the
/ required promise, and the two princi-
pals were put In the room from which
| all light had been excluded. and took
their positions. Each was provided
with two pistols, and the men were
/ permitted to fire on a signal given
without, few notes on bngle.
| Ten minutes elapsed after the signal,
when two shots were fred in rapid
succession, and moment later knock
was heard on the door from within.
It was opened. and Stringfellow was
discovered in the fireplace across a
pair Of andirons, while Herrick stood
looking at him, white as sheet
''What does it mean?" asked one Of
the entering party.
''Meang exclaimed Herrick st
means that as soon as the door was
closed was seized with remorse at de-
priving Kate Van Gaasback Of the
man she had chosen to we'd Feeling
my way around the ROOM came to
) the fireplace. It occurred to me to dis
charge my pistols up the chimney that
they might surely do no harm. I did
so, and what was my surprise to hear
groan. and heavy body came tum-
bling down
Stringfellow, who had climbed the
chimney to be out Of harms way, was
examined by a surgeon. One ball had
pierced his leg, the other had cat on .
thumb. Beyond this he was uninjur-
cd. The same day the wounded man
/ disappeared and was never heard Of
again in New York
Kate Van Gaasback heard Of the at
fair and Its ridiculous termination. She
accepted Herrick for a husband. first
exacting promise that he would ney-
er again engage In duel. Pinckney
was Herrick's best man.
!, A Problem In Etiquette.
4 A-arnd facnd a1rlr ward rnr1nu man