Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1854-06-28
N6m the knickerbocker Magazine
Ny Duel with Captain Elliot


sMy duel with Captain Elliott. said the Dr.
lighting fresh cigar, ito TX place during the
war with Mexico. But before proceed. must
give you short account ofmy previous his
tory.
Elliott an ID had been rivals and enemies
from our very boyhood. We were educated at
the same public school. Before arrived, he
was the pet. the hero, the Napoleon, so to speak
Of the school the leader alike in study. in
sport and in mischief He was proud, impe
rious, overbearing boy though with many gen
erous and endearng qualities; and, out Of
school lis word was law with the boys as
much as that Of the teacher was in school.
When arrived, however, being about his
own age, lad Of considerable spirit. refuse
to submit to his authority and there being
many NAL l.contents in the same school, who Sc
cretly disliked him, they one by one enrolled
themselves under my standard. and we were
thus divided into separate factions. Number
less were the pitched battles which we had
as the personal confiicls for supremacy mum
berless were the bloody noses and cracked
crow ms numberless the reprimands and even
more tangible infections by the teachers. Ell
liott and were, IN fact always at variance, al.
ways crossing each other, agreeing in nothing
exec pit in hating each other cordially.
When he left school he went to West Point
and to the Medical Col ege, and We lost sigh,
of each other for some years. In due course
OF time, commenced pract;eing as pbysi-
clan but finding it did not pay very well
and being besides Of a somewhat rowing and
adventurous disposition, ! applied for and OBJ
tanned the appointment OF army surgeon, and
was Immediately ordered 10 Fort--,
had been there but short time. when the
Commandant. brave old Gurley, " hom some of
you doubtless remember. died Of fever An
officer of the name of Elliott was appointed to
succeed him aud you may Judge of my NOR
tification when found it was my old enemy :
NJ Mach as it CALLED my pride. was obliged here
to submi, 10 his authority: but did it'll assure
you with a very bad grace
El lott was essentially changed since had
last known him the impetuous. overbearing
boy had become grave, quiet, reserved man,
who could if he chose. render himself very
agreeable companion, but who seldom took the
trouble to do it. Many of the officers, however.
aud all the men, liked him very much but
there appeared to he an impossible barrier fix
ed between him and me. disliked his reserve
which l attributed to pride and he complain
ed of my b0sterousness as he pleased to call
it. He did indeed, make some efforts to con
c,liate me at first. but seeing repulsed them,
he withdrew himself behindthe enlrenchments
and treated me ever after with coldness ab-
solutely freezing.
Things were IN this state, when an uncle Of
Elliott's with his wife aud daughter. stopped
for short time in the vicinity oi the fort on
their way to Washington The daughter. Miss
Eveline. was charming young lady. and eve
ry unmarried man in the garrison Immediately
fell in love with her 1t would weary you "a
enumera'e the pic-nics, the wster- parties the
drives and balls that were given il honor OF
her. good humored rivalry prevailed among
US for her preference; and the bets were taken
as to whether Davis or Jones or the doctor had
the bt st chance.
For myself was, ! do think seriously in
love with the charming girl. To be cure 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 IS much as ! possibly could. 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 his connections.
On the evening of her intended departure
there had been farewell ba l. had danced with
her the whole evening, while Elliot, who did
not dance at all that night. sat moodily con
vrrsing with her father. was SO fascinated
with her, and so grieved at the thought Of her
leaving, that before l slept that night resolv-
ed TO see her in the morning and make her a
tender Of my heart.
Accordingly. as early as decency permitted,
called and was by the blundering servant
shown At once into her presence; where an ex-
traordinary scene presented itself. On sofa
iu the room, her face buried in the cushions,
her dress disordered. her beautiful hair, which
corled naturally. al 10 tangle. and Ger att
tuds denoting the very prostrs.ion Of despair,
i.y the charming girl had parted from last
niaht in .he exuvsc:.anee ct youthful snd light.
hearted JOY. On table beside her and on the
Hoor, were scattered innumerable letters and
portrait. . iocket. blue ribbon, aud wlther'
I'd rose lay careless,y among th sm.
She rose on my entrance, and would have
denied herself. but il was LOO late. Her eyes
were blood shot with weeping, and her tair
cheeks swollen and disc.lored. ] took her
hand, and with much soljcitude inquired the
cause Of her sorrow. A fresh burst Of grief
vas her only answer. and il wss some time be-
fore she was sufficiently composed TO give me
~ explanation.
It appeared that she had been for long
time engaged to her cousin Elliott. and that he
had in Z 6t Of mad jealousy. returned her TO
kens and formally broken the engagement
"Itw my FAULT" said she. sobbing.:: call
my fault. ! did wrong to play With his noble
nature.