The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-03
AN EPISODE
OFTHESOUTH
By JAMES BRAINARD

In antebellum days Edgar Forsythe.
. young man from the north, and his
sister. Edith. orphans. settled in Louisi-
ana.
Edgar Forsythe had recently been
graduated from law school, SO he hung
out his shingle as an attorney. His
sister, who was an accomplished musi-
clan, taught music. Between the two
they made q modest living.
One day Arnold La Fitte, a man Of
the older Louisiana type, called upon
Edgar FOrsythe and employed him to
collect debt from Antoine De Four
The amount was $25 and was Of very
long standing.
Now, De -Four had taken a fancy to
Edith Forsythe and was beginning to
show his liking when her brother
called upon him, stated that a note of
his had been placed in his hands for
collection and asked him when 1t
would be convenient to pay it. De
Four colored, looked hard at the note
which FOrsythe handed him and said
that he would pay it the next day.
In those days dueling was a protec.
ton for all kinds Of knavery De Four
was a fire eater and La Fitte had hes
itated to press him for payment for
fear of offending him. De Four went
to La Fitte and asked him why he had
insulted him by placing the note in the
hands Of a lawyer. La Fitte apollo
gized for doing so and said that he
would withdraw the order for collec-
ton. Instead Of doing so he took a
steamboat that passed early the next
day for New Orleans, thus getting out
Of the fire eaters way and leaving the
lawyer to bear the brunt Of De Four's
displeasure.
The day after the first demacd Edgar
made second one. This time De Four
was very wrothy. He told Edgar that
he had seen La Fitte and the matter
was between creditor and debtor and
there was no occasion for a lawyer to
meddle with 1t. Edgar told him that
he had been employed to collect the
money due on the note and II it was
not paid by certain date he would sue
for 1t. De Four was very angry and
replied that IL Edgar sued or bothered
him again about the matter he would
consider 1t personal insult.
One reason for De Four's displeasure
was that this second demand was made
In presence Of several Of De Fours
friends. This was unfortunate, for it
compelled him to make good his threat.
The day after the suit had been en-
tered De Four called on Edith Forsythe
and stated to her the position in which
he was placed and begged her to per-
suade her brother to withdraw the
suit before It should be known, prom
iHng to settle the matter out of court
as soon as this had been done.
, When Edgar came home his sister
said nothing about the visit Of De
-Four, but urged him to attend to some
law business that had been put into his
hands requiring a visit to the county
seat. He consented and left early the
next morning. Soon after his depar-
ture Edith sent word to De Four that
her brother would not withdraw the
suit.
De Four. hoping to accomplish by
threat what he had failed to effect by
persuasion, inclosed a challenge to Ed
gar IN note to his sister, stating that
his action gave him inconceivable pain,
but that his word had passed before
witnesses and If he did not make good
he would be considered henceforth as a
pOltroon.
De -Four was surprised and annoyed
to receive an acceptance of his chal-
lenge. 1t was purpOrted to have been
written by Edgar, but had been forged
: by his sister. There was nothing for
1t now but to fight. De Four sent a
friend to the Forsythe home to make
arrangements for the meeting, and he
was instructed to protest on the part
OF the challenger against it, stating
that he had no other means of saving
himself from being condemned by his
friends and acquaintances as a cow
ard.
The emissary was received by Edith.
who. her brother being absent, said
that as soon as she could communi.
cate with him she would send a re-
ply. Later in the day she wrote that
she had heard from Edgar. He had
chosen pistols at thirty PAGES, the time
to be 3 O'Clock the next morning. the
place a certain open space near the
bank Of the Mississippi river.
De Four was surprised at the early
hour. for at o'clock 1t was barely
dawn. He was very much disgruntled
at the course the affair had taken. be-
cause he had been on the eve of pro-
posing marriage to Edith Forsythe and
now he was called upon to meet her
brother In mortal combat.
He walked the floor till after 2 o'clock
In the morning, when his second called
for him and they proceeded to the
ground. Shortly after reaching il a car
riage drove up and a young man alight
ed and handed out Edith Forsythe.
Approaching De Four and his second
the young man said: