The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-09-14
AN EPISODE
OF T'HESOUTH
BY JAMES BRAINARD

4
sister, Edith, orphans. settled in LoulsI-
ana.
Edgar Forsythe had recently been
graduated from law school, SO he hung
out his single as an attorney. His
sister, who was an accomplished musi-
clan, taught music. Between the two
they made a modest living.
One day Arnold La Elite, man of
the older Louisiana type, called upon
Edgar Forsythe and employed him to
collect debt from Antoine De -Four.
The amount was 500 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 1t. De
-Four colored, looked hard at the note
which Forsythe handed him and said
that he would pay 1t the next day.
In those days dueling was protec-
ton for all kinds Of knavery. De -Four
was fire eater, and La Fitte had hes
itated 20 press him for payment for
fear of offending him. De -Four went
to La Elite and asked him why he had
insulted him by placing the note in the
hands Of lawyer La Fitte apollo
gized for doing so and said that he
would withdraw the order for colIec-
ton. Instead Of doing so he took
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 demand Edgar
made a 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
NEEDLE with 1t. Edgar told him that
he had been employed to collect the
money due ON the note and If 1t was
not paid by a certain date be would sue
for IT, De Four was very angry and
replied that IL Edgar sued or bothered
him again about the matter he would
consider II personal Insult
One reason for De Fours (lispleasure
was that this second demand was made
in presence Of several Of De Four's
friends. This was unfortunate. for it
compelled him TO make good his threat
The day after the suit had been en-
tered De Fqlr called on Edith Forsythe
and statedrto 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
Using 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 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
Enclosed a challenge to Ed
gar in a note to his sister, stating that
his action gave him uncomfortable pain,
but that his word had passed before |
and II he did not make good |
ne would be considered henceforth as a
poltroon.
De Four was surprised and annoyed |
70 receive an acceptance of his chal- |
enge. II was purported to have been
written by Edgar, but had been forged /
~ his sister. There was nothing for
I now but to fight. De Four sent
friend TO the Forsythe home to make
for the meeting, and he
vas instructed to protest on the part
II the challenger against It, stating
hat he had no other means of saving
himself from being condemned by his
riends and acquaintances as COW
I'd
The emissary was received by Edith,
Who, her brother being absent, said
hat as soon as she could COMMUNE
ate with him she would send re-
'ly. Later IN the day she wrote that
he had heard from Edgar. He had
hosen pistols at thirty PAGES, tho time
0 be 8 o'clock the next morning, the
lace q certain open space near the
ank Of the Mississippi river.
De -Four was surprised at the early
our, for at o'clock It was barely
avn. He was very much disgruntled
/ the course the affair had taken, be-
ause he had been ON the eve OF pro-
csing marriage to Edith Eorsythe and
ow be was called upon to meet her
rother In mortal combat.
he walked the foor till after 2 O'Clock
the morning, when his second called
Or him and they proceeded to the
round. Shortly after reaching It car
age drove up, and young man alight-
] and handed out Edith Forsythe.
pproaching De Four and his second,
10 young man said:
"Mr. De Four, you will be obliged to
ccept me for an antagonist this morn
g instead Of Edgar Forsythe, who is
way and knows nothing Of your chal
nge. His sister, my fiancee, conceal
It from him, intending to meet you
his place. She called on me TO act