Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-03-18
EVENING STAR.
MY DUEL WITH CAPTAIN RLL1orr.

L
"My duel with Captain Elliott" said the
doctor, lighting a fresh cigar, " took place
during the war with Mexico But, before
| proceed, must give you short account of
| my previous history.
| Elliott and L had been rivals and enemies
! from our very boyhood We were educated
at the same public school. Before L arrived,
! he was the pet, the hero, the Napoleon, so to
| speak, Of the school the leader alike in stu
| dy, in sport, and in mischief He was proud,
| imperious, overbearing boy, though with
macy generous and endesring qualities; and
| out OF school, his will was law to the boys, as
much as that Of the teacher was in school
When l arrived, however, being about
| his own age, and lad of considerable spirit
| / refused to bmit to his authority; and there
| being many malcontents in the school who
| secretly disliked him, they one by one CO.
rolled themselves under my standard, and we
| were thus div ided into separate factions. Mum
berless were the pitched battles which we had
| as well as the personal conflicts for supremacy;
numberless the bloody noses and cracked
| crowns; > numberless the reprimands and even
more tangible infections Of the teachers FL
| liott and 1 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 to the Medical College, and we
lost sight of each other for some years. In
| due course Of time, L commenced practising
| as physician but finding it did not pay
| very we'll, and being besides of somewhat
rowing and adventurous disposition, appliei d
| surgeon, and was Immediately ordered to
| Fort -.
81 had been there but short time when
| the commandant, brave old Gurley, whom
| some of you doubtless remember, died of fe-
yer. An officer of the name of Elliott. was
| appointed to succeed him and you may Judge
of my modification when found it was NV
old enemy. Much as it CALLED my pride, /
was obliged here TO submit to his authority
but did it, assure you, with a very bad
grace.
Elliott was essentially changed since /
had last known him the impetuous, over
bearing boy had become a grave, quiet re-
served man, who could, if he chose, render
himself a very agreeable companion, but who
seldom took the trouble to do it. Many of the
officers, heweVer, and all the men, liked him.
very much but, however, there seemed h
be an impassable barrier fixed between him
and me. L disliked his reserve, which at
| tributed to pride; and he complained Of my
bOisteIousness, as he was pleased to call it
He did, indeed, make some efforts TO concili-
ate me at first, but seeing repulsed them, he
withdrew himself behind his entrenchments,
and treated me ever afterwards with a cold
Things were in this state, when an uncle
Of ElliOt's, with his wife and daughter,
stopped for some time in the vicinity of the
fort, on their way to Washington The
daughter Miss Eveline, was a charmin,
young lady, and every unmarried man in the
garrison fell in love with her. 1t would weary
you to enumerate the pic-nics, the water-par-
ties, the drives, the balls given in honor of
her. A good -humored rivalry prevailed among
US for her preference; and bets were taken as
to whether Davis or Jones, or the Doctor. or
the Commandant himself had the best chance
" For myself, l was, l do think, seriously
in love with the charming girl. To be sure
she did not give me much encoura cement
but tried to encourage myself. L rode with
her, walked with her, danced with her and
kept by her as long as 1 possibly could. L 4
saw that Elliott scOwled darker than ever
upon me, but l did not care for that; in fact
was glad of an opportunity Of giving him
PAIN and showing him that his dislike for
me was not shared by his connections.
"On the evening before her departure.
there had been farewell ball. L had danced
with her the whole evening, while Elliott,
who did not dance at all that night, sat moodi-
ly conversing with her father. L was so fas
cinated with her, and grieved at the thought
of her leaving, that before L slept that nj ght
l resolved to see her in the morning and make
her tender of my heart.
Accordingly, as early a. decency permit
ted, called, and was by the blundering ser
want shown into her presence, where an ex-
traordinary scene presented itself On sofa
in the rOon her face buried in the cushions.
her dress disorjsred, her beautiful hair which
curled naturally, all in a tangIe,' and her
attitude denoting the very prostration Of des-
pair, lay the charming girl L had parted |
with last night in the eTubcrance Of youth
ful and lgLt-hsarted JOY. Ga a table beside |
har Srd IN tho A.
rable letters, and portrait locket. a blue
ribbon, and 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 1 took her |
hand and with much solicitude enquired the |
cause OF her sorrow. A fresh burst of grief /
was her only answer, and it was sometime be- |
fore she was sufficiently composed to give an |
explanation.
at appeared that she had been for long
time engaged to her cousin Elliott; and that 1
he had In fit Of mad Jealousy, returned her |
letters and tokens, and formally broke the |
engagement.
my fault. did wrong TO play with his noble /
nature"
His noble nature" said I, bitterly; for,
as you may suppose, l did not feel in the \
blandest of humors at the discovery 1 had |
just made.
"Oh, Dr.. c. said she, "yOu do not
know him. He is the best and noblest of men; |
and have lost him-lOst him BY my own |
mad folly" Here she feel into such a pas |
sion of weeping again, that forgot my own |
disappointment in my solicitude for her. I |
suggested that perhaps an explanation could |
be made.
impossible said she. at was my |
flirting with you, and Mr.. Jones, and MI |
Davis, that offended him-and how could |
that be explained L am sure it was not |
that cared a cent for one of you," fancy
my feelings y "but L am naturally fond of
admiration. 1 have tried to cure myself of
it, but cannot. Oh DR.. c., my heart is
broken. Here-read this note %
She gave me a piece of crumpled paper,
with her burning hand, and wet vita her
tears, on which L read as follows:
"MADAM: In returning you the letters and
tokens which L have had the honor to receive
from you, wish you to understand that the