The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-09-14
AN EPISODE
OF THE SOUTH
BY JAMES BFlAINARD

oAoeci, 41uith, otphaiin, ntltieu III l>OuISl-
ana.
Edgar Forsythe had recently been
graduated from a 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 modest living.
One day Arnold La FItte, 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 note of
bis 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 knayery. De -Four
was n fire eater, and La Fitte had hes
itated 10 press him fof 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 a lawyer. La Fitte apollo
glzed for doing so and said that he
would withdraw the order for collec-
ton. sInstead 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 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 lawyer to
NEEDLE with 1t. Edgar told him that
he had been employed to collect the
money due on the note and If It was
not paid by certain date he 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 u personal insult.
One reason for De FoHr's iispleasure
was that this second demand was made
in presence Of several of De Four's
friends This was unfortunate for it
compelled him 10 make good his threat,
The day after the suit had been en-
tered De FgIr 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 1t 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 i.ut 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
inclosed challenge to Ed
gar In note to his sister, stating that
his action gave him uncomfortable pain.
but that his word had passed before
witnesses and II he did not make good
he would be considered henceforth as a
peltroon.
De Four was surprised and annoyed
to receive an acceptance OF his chal-
lenge. II was purported to have been
written by Edgar, but had been forged
by his sister. There was nothing for
II now but to fight. De Four sent
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 commune
cate with him she would send 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 8 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 disgrmtled
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 It oar
rlage drove up, and young man alight-
ed and handed out Edith Forsythe.
De Four and his second,
the young man said:
'Mr. De -Four, you viii be Obliged TO
accept me for an antagonist this morn
Ing instead Of Edgar Forsythe, who Is
away and knows nothing Of your chal.
enge. His sister, my fiancee, conceal
ID It from him, intending to meet you
N his place. She called on me to act
Is her second but l insisted in taking