Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1910 — A WATER DUEL. [ARTICLE]

A WATER DUEL.

Near the border which divides Siberia from Russia Lived Count Arkadyevich. a country gentleman. His daughter. Marya Alexandrov na, an attractive girl of eighteen, was sought In marriage by many of the sons of the neighboring landed proprietors, hut seemed to prefer Ivan Mikahailof. a lusty but lazy young fellow who bad never been known to take an interest in but one thing—the town fire department, which he bad organized and drilled. A battalion of troops came to the town commanded by Major Nikolai Levin. a middle aged man whose private fortune was large. From childhood he had been accustomed to having his own way. He had studied and practiced the use of every known weapon, and when any man stood in his way be would insult him, challenge him and. if necessary, kill him. All kinds of weapons had been tried against Levin, from a Turkish scimiter to a mountain howitzer, and he had handled every one with perfect skilL He had no sooner set eyes ot> Marya than he fell, violently in love with her Marya. though she accepted his attentions, could not be completely won over from her atbietic suitor Iran. Levin at last concluded that with fvan in the way be could never win the giri. so be made up his mind to kill him. He soon found a pretext for considering himself insulted by the young man and sent him a challenge. Marya heard of the intended assassination and was much troubled. In her extremity she sent for a former schoolmate. Kostia Sanin. in whose Ingenuity she placed great confidence, and asked him to help her. “Well. I will offer him my services, and if he accepts them 1 will see what I c-an do for him." said Sanin. A few hours later Major Levin received a visit from Sanin. “1 am to arrange this affair between yon and my friend Mikahailof.” he said. “and. since he is the challenged party, choose for him the weapons, the time and the place of meeting.”' “That is your right. It is immaterial to me- with what weapon 1 fight, and 1 beg jpn will choose that with which the young man is most skillful.” “You show a magnanimous spirit, major, and I shall meet your wishes. The only weapon with which Ivan Mikahailof has any skill whatever is the uozzle of a hose: I therefore choose this weapon.” v ’ “If you think you can turn the affair into a jest you are mistaken.” “I propose no jest. The terms are that yon and your adversary are to go into an unheated room, wearing no clothing whatever, each furnished with a hose, and play upon each other till you are satisfied." “What an absurdity!" “Nothing of the kind. You know that the temperature here at this season is never above zero, and the water Is icy cold. Neither of yon will be able to endure the torture more than half an hour without dying a terrible death, and in any event there is great probability of pneumonia setting In after tbe combat,”

Santa tliea named the time and place and took his departure. The major submitted tbe case to the officers of bis battalion, wbo. after long deliberation, decided that be must accept the terms. At tbe appointed time be and bis antagonist stood stark naked in a large room, each armed with a half ineb nozzfe. At a given signal tbe water was earned on by tbe seconds and] the contest begun. Ivan had always lived in that northern region. while (be major bad been born in tbe south. Ivan was hardy, while the major was delicate and sensitive from having led a luxurious life. At tbe first stroke of the icy water be was shaken by a terrific chill, wbile tbe sturdy Ivan, wbo bad bathed in water as cold that very morning, braced himself against tbe shock and stood nprigbt and firm as a rock. One of Up seconds stood with a watch in bis hand, while tbe other kept a band on tbe water cock. At the end of two minutes time was called and tbe water turned off. Tbs principals were permitted to move about for two minutes to recoup and break the ice forming on their bodies, when they were required to take theii positions and the water was turned on. At the end of tbe next round Levin was sbivering terribly, his skin was livid, and bis lips were blue, wbile his opponent bad readily restored circulation. At tbe end of tbe next round the major was informed by those of bis officers wbo were present that be might give up tbe unequal contest without sacrificing his honor, and he declared that be was satisfied. He was taken into a warm room, dosed with hot liquor, rubbed and put between blankets. Nevertheless be was stricken with pneumonia, from which be nearly died. Ivan polished himself with a crash towel, pot on bis clothes and took a brisk walk.

Kostia Sanin went to Mary a and gave her an account of what bad occurred. “You are now free to marry either of those men yon choose. 1 presume from your interest in Ivan that your choice will fall on him.” “No; It will not fall on Ivan.” “Then it is the major.” “Xo, nor the major. “Well, then, 1 should like to know what all this trouble has been about” “To change tbe subject, bow shall 1 reward yon for beiping ns out of this difficulty r “Well, you might Jet me kiss your band.” “What do yon say to my lips?” A light broke in upon Kostia. He went fif* Msryn. look her fn hi* arms and kissed her. bat when he had kite ed her once there whs no stopping