The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1854-11-29
NY Duel with Capt. Elliott.

MY Duel with Capt Elliott.
my duel with capt. Elliott, y said the doctor
lighting fresh cigar, .stook place during th
war with Mexico But, before | proceed,
must give you a short account of my previou
history"
ELLIOTT and I had been rivals and enemie
from our boyhood We were educated at th.
same public school. Before i arrived, he wa.
the pet, the hero, the Napoleon, SO to speak, o
the school, the leader alike in study, in sport
and in mischief. He was a proud, imperious
overbearng boy, though with many endearne
qualities, and. out of school, his will was law
to the BOYS, as much as that Of the teacher in
school,
tsWhen arrived, however, being about his
own age, and lad of considerable spirit, | re-
fused to submit tohis authority and there being
many malcontents in the school, who secretly
disked him, they one by one enrolled them
selves under my standard, and we were thus
divided into separate factions Numberless
were the pitched battles which we had, as well
as the personal conflicts for supremacy, num-
berless the bloody noses and cracked crowns,
numberless the reprimands and even more tan
gble inhictions of the teachers Elliott and I
were, in fact always at variance, always cross
ing each other and agreeing in nothing except
in hating each othercordially
| 'sWhen we left school he went to West Point,
and to the medical college, and we lost sight
OF each other for some years. In due course
of time commenced practicing as physician,
but, finding it did not pay very well, and being
| besides of a somewhat rowing and adventurous
disposition, applied for and obtained the ap-
pointment OF army surgeon, and was immedi-
ately ordered to fort -
Il had been there but short time, when
the commandant, brave old Gurey whom some
of you doubtless remember, died of fever An
officer, of the name of Elliott, was appointed
to succeed him, and you may Judge of my NOR
/ tifcation when found that it was my old enc
my. Much as it CALLED my pride, Twas obliged
here to submit to his authority, but did it, |
assure you, with very bad grace.
*'Elliott had essentially changed since I had
last known him, the impetuous, overbearing boy
had become grave, quiet, reserved man, who
cot1d ifhe chose to, render himself very agree
able companion. but who seldom took the trou-
BILE to do it. Many of the officers, however,
and all the men, liked him very much, but
somehow, there seemed to be an impossible
barrier between him and me. dsliked his re-
serve, which attributed to pride, and he COM
planned Of my boisterousness, as he was pleased
to call it. He did, indeed make some efforts to
conciliate me at first but seeing repulsed them
he withdrew behind his entertainments and
treated me ever after with coldness absolutely
freezing.
'Thq1gs were in this state, when an uncle of
Eliott's, with his wife and daughter, stopped
for short time in the vicinity of the fort. on
their way to Washington. The daughter Miss
Eveline, was charming young lady, and every
unmarried man in the garrison Immediately fell
in love with her. 1t would weary you to enum-
crate the mics, the water parties, the drives,
the balls that were given in honor of her A
her preference, and bets were taken as to
whether Davis OF Jones, or the doctor, or the
commandant himself, had the best chance.
For myself, [ was, | do think, seriously in
love with the charming girl. TO be sure she
did not give me much encouragement, but
tried to encourage myself. rode with her.
walked with her, danced with her, and kept by
her side as much as possibly could. l saw
that Elliott scowled darker than ever upon me,
but did not care for that, in fact, ! was glad
of an opportunity of giving him pain, ,and show
ing him that his dislike for me was not shared
by all his connections.
con the evening before her intended depar-
ture, there had been farewell ball. I had
danced with her the whole evening, while Eli
Oft, who did not dance at all that night, sat
moodiy conversing with her father. l was so
fascinated with her, and so grieved at the
thought of her leaving, that before | slept that
night, resolved to see her in the morning and
make her tender Of my heart.
''Accor1inglySas early as decency would
permit, | called, and was, by the laundering
servant, shown at once into her presence, where
an extraordinary scene presented itself. On
sofa in the room, her face buried in the cushions,
her dress disordered, her beautiful hair, which
cured naturally, call in a tangle," and her
attitude denoting the very prostration of des-
pair lay the charming girl had parted from
last night in the exuberance of youthful and
light hearted Joy. On table beside her, and
on the floor, were scattered innumcrable letters
and portrait, locket, blue ribbon, and a
withered rose, lay carelessly among them.
''She rose on my entrance, and would have
denied herself; but it was, too late. Her eyes
were bloodshot with weeping, and her fair
cheeks swollen and discolored, | took her hand,
and with much solictude inquired the cause Of
sorrow. A fresh burst of grief was her only
answer, and it was some time before she was
sufficiently composed to give me an explana-
ton.
1T appeared that she had been long time
engaged to her cousin Elliott, and that he had,
iaa fit of mad jealousy, returned her letters and
tokens, and formally broken the engagement.
''Itwa my fault, said she, sobbing, 'all my
fault: l did wrong & play with his noble ma
ture.'
'His noble nature! said l, bitterly, for. as
you may suppose, l did not feel in the blandest
of humors at the discovery had just made.
"Oh, DIR. c. you do not know him. He
is the best, the noblest of men, and have lost
hinn-ost him by my own mad fol w. Here
she fell into such passion of weeping again,
that forgot my own disappointment in my So
licitude for her. | suggested that perhaps an
explanation could be made.
"Impossiblep said she, it was my flirting
with you, and Mr.. Jones, and Mr.. Davis, that
offended him-and how could that be ex- /