Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-03-20
NV Duel with Captain Elliott.

N the doctor, lighting a fresh cigar, TOT
) place during the war with Mexic
N But before / proceed, | must gi'
u you short account Of my preyiol
e history. ss
e Elliott and / had been rivals an
e enemies from our boyhood. W
were educated at the same publ
school. Before / arrived, he was th
: pet, the hero, the Napoleonso to spea
of the school; the leader alike i
study, in sport. and in mischief 81
was proud, imperious, oyerbearinl
boy, though with many generou
and endearing qualities; and out o
ischool, his will was law to the boys
as much as that of the teacher was il
school.
When I arrived, however, being
about his own age. and a lad Of con
siderable spirit, | refused to submit tc
his authority; and there being many
malcontents in the school, who certain
ly disliked him, they one by one en-
rolled themselves under my standard,
and we thus divided into separate
factions. Numberless were the pitched
battles which we had, as well as the
personal conflicts for supremacy;snum-
berless the reprimands and even more
tangible in1ictions of the teachers
Elliott and ! were, in fact, always at
variance, always crossing each other
and agreeing in nothing except in
hating each other cordially.
When we left school, he went to
West Point, and l to the Medical
College, and we lost sight OF each
other for some years. In due course
of time l commenced practicing as a
physician; but finding it did not pay
very well, and being besides Of a
somewhat rowing disposition, / sp-
Piled for and obtained the appoint
ment of army-surgeon, and was imme-
diately ordered to Fort.
/ had been there but a short time
when the Commander, brave old
Gurley, whom some Of you doubtless
remember, died of fever. An officer
IF the name of Elliott, was appointed
% succeed him; and you may judge
IF my modification when | found
t was my old enemy. Much as it
CALLED my pride, I was obliged here
TO submit to his authority; but |
lid it, ! assure you, with very bad
grace.
Elliott was essentially changed
,ince had last known him; the impe-
uous, overbearing boy had become a
srave, quiet, reserved man, who could
{ he chose, render himself a very
agreeable companion, but who seldom
ook the trouble to do it. Many Of
he officers, however, and all the men
liked him very much; but, however,
here seemed to be an impossible !
,arrier fixed between him and me.
lisliked his reserve, which | attrib.
tied to pride; and he complained OF
ny boisterousness, as he was pleased
o call it. He did, indeed, make
ome efforts to conciliate me at first
,ut seeing repulsed them, he with
rev himself behind his entrench-
nents, and treated me ever after
Fith a coldness absolutely freezing.
Things were in this state, when an
ncle of EIliott's, with his wife and :
stopped for some time in
be vicinity of the fort, on their way
o Washington. The daughter, Miss
Iveline, was charming young lady,
nd every unmarried man in the gar ]
ison fell in love with her. 1t would {
7eary you to enumerate the pio-nics;I J
be water-parties, the drives and balls {
iyen in hornor of her. A good I
umored rivalry prevailed among US
II her preference; and bets were ta- !
en- as to whether Davis or Jones, or
be Doctor, OF the commander himself !
ad the best chance. l I!
For myself, | was, / do think, Sc !,
ously in love with the charming glrl, ]
o be sure she did not give me much Is
but | tired to encour-l
ge myself / rode with her, walked g
ith her, danced with her and kept a
Y her as much as I possibly could I
saw that Elliott scewled darker /
IAN ever upon me, but / did not 9
IRE for that; in fact / was glad Of an
pportulnty of giving him pain, and t
nowing him that his dislike for me
as not shared by his connections, If
On the evening before her depart {
re, there had been a farewell ball. '