The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-02-09

prospect of being the cause of the
elimination Of the man she was think.
ing Of accepting for husband was
dreadful. She sent for Ringold, took
back all she had said about admiring
bravery and asked him to withdraw
from the quarrel
Ringold told her that she had moth.
ing to do with 1t and he could not
withdraw without being considered q
poltroon and a coward. Nevertheless
he showed by his manner that he
would gladly withdraw. having no
stomach for being sacrificed by an ex.
pert. Virginia offered to ask Thiba-
deaux to accept an apology. but Rim
gold convinced her that his doing so
would put him in worse position than
before.
Ringold endeavored to gain time,
hoping that some arrangement might
be made to let him out Of the affair.
He succeeded in having the meeting
put off for twenty-four hours after
1t had been appointed. The evening
after the fracas occurred Major Brain
ard strolled into the tavern. sat down
at a table and called for julep. Thi-
badeaux and a couple of friends were
at another table.
Pardon me, monsieur" said Brain
TO remember me-"
81 confess I do not" replied Thiba-
deaux.
Let me refresh your memory.
Twelve years ago l was on duty with
the army at New Orleans. At a ball
you purposely insulted me. l chal-
lenged you. We met in a wood near
the city where such affairs are settled.
You fired before the signal and left
me bleeding on the ground. fastening
away, excusing yourself by saying that
you were anxious to avoid the police"
when you say I fired before the
signal you lie!,"
ITO give gentleman the lie calls
for satisfaction. This time I shall be
better prepared"
Tomorrow morning I have another
affair on hand. after which will ac-
commodate you"
I'm that case you are the challenger.
| dare say your adversary can be in
duced to give me first place."
Thibadeaux could not very well OBJ
ject to this. and messenger was dis
patched to Ringold to ask him If he
would step aside for another. Ringold.
thinking that he might appear brave
without risking anything. demurred.
whereupon Brainard called upon him
and represented to him that. having
been challenged by Thibadeaux. Thi-
badeaux had a right to withdraw the
challenge until after another encoun-
ter. Ringold. who was really much
relieved at the prospect Of not having
to fight, hoping that Thibadeaux
would he prevented from killing him
by being killed himself. gave what he
endeavorcd to make appear reluctant
consent
Brainard having thus paved the way
FOR himself. meeting was arranged
between him and Thibadeaux. The
latter had not willingly acquiesced in
the new arrangement. for he had
hoped to put Ringold in an unpleasant
position without running any great
risk. He knew coward, or thought
he did. and fancied that Ringold would
show the white feather at the last mo-
ment. If not. Thibadeaux counted on
erecting q compromise without de-
tracing from his own reputation.
Ringold could not but suspect that
Brainard had some reason for his ac-
ton, and that reason was to step in
between him and death. Ringold sent
a note to Virginia Hardesty informing
her that in his affair with Thibadeaux
he had given place to another. If Thi.
badeauX was not too badly hit in his
first encounter Ringold would meet him
after it was finished
When the clock struck the appointed
hour the next morning Brainard was
on the ground. Ringold was there, but
IhiDadeaux did not appear. After
waiting some time for him the others
went away.
That was the last that was seen of
NHip"uSouA III NHSluld. NOT was lie
ever heard Of afterward, though sew
eral holders of his I. o. us tried hard
to find him.
No engagement between Virginia Har-
desty and Arthur Ringold took place.
Soon after Thibadeaux's disappear-
ancc Major Brainard received an
anonymous bouquet of flowers. Then
one day he and Virginia Hardesty met
at hunt. This was the beginning of
n different treatment by her of her I'M
couth sutton. At the hunt ball at the
end Of the season their engagement
was announced.
When the whole story came out it
appeared that Major Brainard had rec
ognized his former enemy as soon as
he appeared in Williamsburg. Then
Brainard's neighbors began to hear
shots fired in the garrett of his house
and wondered what they meant. No
one knew that the ex-soldier was max
ing an expert of himself with the pis-
tol In order to meet his former antago-
mist. The matter was precipitated by
MS hearing that Thibadeaux was about
to make a victim of the man he had
reason to believe was to win Virginia
Brainard became a prominent citizen
If Virginia, and though when the war