George Washingtons Last Duel | Page 9

of this fact. If the juries were composed of women perhaps it
would be impossible.

The ocular demonstration of a man's arm around a girl's waist is
difficult to explain on more than one hypothesis.
After this Margaret treated Jeff with a rigor which came near
destroying the friendship of a lifetime; and Jeff became so desperate
that inside of a week he had had his first quarrel with Lawrence, who
had begun to pay very devoted attention to Margaret, and as that young
man was in no mood to lay balm on a bruised wound, mischief might
have been done had not the Major arrived opportunely on the scene just
as the quarrel came to a white-heat. It was in the hall one morning.
There had been a quarrel. Jeff had just demanded satisfaction;
Lawrence had just promised to afford him this peculiar happiness, and
they were both glaring at each other, when the Major sailed in at the
door, ruddy and smiling, and laying his hat on the table and his
riding-whip across it, declared that before he would stand such a
gloomy atmosphere as that created by a man's glowering looks, when
there was so much sunshine just lying around to be basked in, he would
agree to be "eternally fried in his own fat."
"Why, I had expected at least two affairs before this," he said jovially,
as he pulled off his gloves, "and I'll be hanged if I shan't have to court
somebody myself to save the honor of the family."
Jeff with dignity informed him that an affair was then brewing, and
Lawrence intimated that they were both interested, when the Major
declared that he would "advise the young lady to discard both and
accept a soberer and a wiser man." They announced that it was a more
serious affair than he had in mind, and let fall a hint of what had
occurred. The Major for a moment looked gravely from one to the other,
and suggested mutual explanations and retractions; but when both
young men insisted that they were quite determined, and proposed to
have a meeting at once, he changed. He walked over to the window and
looked out for a moment. Then turned and suddenly offered to
represent both parties. Jeff averred that such a proceeding was outside
of the Code; this the Major gravely admitted; but declared that the
affair even to this point appeared not to have been conducted in entire
conformity with that incomparable system of rules, and urged that as

Mr. Lawrence was a stranger and as it was desirable to have the affair
conducted with as much secrecy and dispatch as possible, it might be
well for them to meet as soon as convenient, and he would attend rather
as a witness than as a second. The young men assented to this, and the
Major, now thoroughly in earnest, with much solemnity, offered the
use of his pistols, which was accepted.
In the discussion which followed, the Major took the lead, and
suggested sunset that afternoon as a suitable time, and the grass-plat
between the garden and the graveyard as a convenient and secluded
spot. This also was agreed to, though Lawrence's face wore a soberer
expression than had before appeared upon it.
The Major's entire manner had changed; his levity had suddenly given
place to a gravity most unusual to him, and instead of his wonted jollity
his face wore an expression of the greatest seriousness. He, after a
casual glance at Lawrence, suddenly insisted that it was necessary to
exchange a cartel, and opening his secretary, with much pomp
proceeded to write. "You see--if things were not regular it would be
butchery," he explained, considerately, to Lawrence, who winced
slightly at the word. "I don't want to see you murder each other," he
went on in a slow comment as he wrote, "I wish you, since you are
determined to shoot--each other--to do it like--gentlemen." He took a
new sheet. Suddenly he began to shout,--
"George--George Washington." There was no answer, so as he wrote
on he continued to shout at intervals, "George Washington!"
After a sufficient period had elapsed for a servant crossing the yard to
call to another, who sent a third to summon George, and for that
functionary to take a hasty potation from a decanter as he passed
through the dining-room at his usual stately pace, he appeared at the
door.
"Did you call, suh?" he inquired, with that additional dignity which
bespoke his recourse to the sideboard as intelligibly as if he had
brought the decanters in his hand. "Did I call!" cried the Major, without
looking up. "Why don't you come when you hear me?"

George Washington steadied himself on his feet, and assumed an
aggrieved expression.
"Do you suppose