"In but one! This man has dishonored me in the dearest relations
of my household."
"Ha! can it be?"
"Too true! There is no help for it now. I am dealing with him
still as a man of honor. I should have been justified in shooting
him down like a dog--as one shoots down the reptile that crawls to
the cradle of his children. I give him an equal chance for life."
"It is only what I feared!" said Kingsley, looking at Edgerton as
he spoke.
The latter had staggered back against a tree. Big drops of sweat
stood upon his brows. His head hung down. Still he was silent. I
gave the weapons to Kingsley, who proceeded to charge them.
"I will not fight you, Clifford!" exclaimed the criminal with husky
accents.
"You must!"
"I can not--I dare not--I will not! You may shoot me down where I
stand. I have wronged you. I dare not lift weapon at your breast."
"Wretch! say not this!" I answered. "You must make the atonement."
"Be it so! Shoot me! You are right! I am ready to die."
"No, William Edgerton, no! You must not refuse me the only atonement
you can make. You must not couple that atonement with a sting.
Hear me! You have violated the rites of hospitality, the laws of
honor and of manhood, and grossly abused all the obligations of
friendship. These offences would amply justify me in taking your
life without scruple, and without exposing my own to any hazard.
But my soul revolts at this. I remember the past--our boyhood
together--and the parental kindness of your venerated parent. These
deprive me of a portion of that bitterness which would otherwise
have moved me to destroy you. Take the pistol. If life is nothing
to you, it is as little to me now. Use the privilege which I give
you, and I shall be satisfied with the event."
He shook his head while he repeated:-"No! I can not. Say no more, Clifford. I deserve death!"
I clapped the pistol to his head. He folded his arms, lifted his
eyes, and regarded me more steadily than he had done for months
before. Kingsley struck up nay arm, as I was cocking the weapon.
"He must die!" I exclaimed fiercely.
"Yes, that is certain!" replied the other. "But I am not willing
that I should be brought here as the witness to a murder. If he
will fight you, I will see you through. If he will not fight you,
there needs no witness to your shooting him. You have no right,
Clifford, to require this of me."
"You are not a coward, William Edgerton?"
"Coward!" he exclaimed, and his form rose to its fullest height,
and his eye flashed out the fires of a manhood, which of late he
had not often shown.