Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-03-30
5fGsttllautolrs,
Thc Fatal Oath.

1t was only six years a?o, that two listin-
guisbed citizens of Washington county, Ky.
whom will call Messrs. Borland ami Har
land, both running for high political place:
met at barbecue to argue their claims Lc-
fore the people. Between thcm-as it had
been--a bitter hate existed, dating back, ]
believe, to quarrel about tue time Of the
revolution, or prior to it, when in Virginia
one family claimed and held attachment to
the king, while the other clung to liberty,
even while it was nursing in the hands of
Patrick Henry, waiting strength, to be placed
under the guardian care of Washington.
At this barbecue both Of these men-grcy-
haired they were, too-appeared on the
stump, without arms upon their persons, so
pursuaded by their friends, who knew Of
their hatred to eacn other, and had no wish
to have their party candidates cut off,-at
least until they knew how the election would
turn.
But when fresh fuel is heapcd upon old
embers blaze is sure to rise. The speech
of Mr.. Borand bore hard upon the party of
Mr.. IIarland, yet harder still upon himself
The latter, when it came to his turn to reply,
spoke with scathing bitterness and person.
atty, which fairly inaddened Borland. lie
bore it, though chatting like Gagged tiger, for
time; but ut last lie broke over all restrain.
ing bounds and pitched into hisoppunent with
on argument more so-iiat-ical than philosophi-
cal. Tue consequence was free fight, which,
though it lasted hHt o few moments, gave
good grounds for a challenge between the
principals.
1t passed., and o meeting with rifles at
tweuly PAGES wa+ tho reault, At the first
fire Burland fell ,leatl, with ball through
his head. 1larland also fell mortaIly wound.
ed, but fingered through the night, with his
faculties su retained that he prepared his will
and other documents, and conversed with the
only living one Of his family who was near
hirn-aLout his affairs.
Before dying, he prepared package, and
had it sealed carefully, and then calling for
his son, said:
"Wlliam, my will is open and can be read
as soon as pas away. But this package
contains private matter, and no one but
you can attend to it, for you are the only
male Of my race"
81 will attend to any request you make,
my dear father" replied the unhappy son.
7" You must swear to me, boy, to fulfill this
request! Tho seal must NOT be- broken until
| have laid in my grave one week, when you
will have regained cumposure and strength
for your work. Swear to mo to fulfill my
wish !"
81 swear, my father" replied the youth.
Harland uttered bitter curse against the
Borlands, and fell back on lis pillow dead.
Young Harland had his fathers remains
carried home, and on the same day two fu-
neral professions entered the graveyard at
Spring field where both had resided. The
enemies at the same hour were buried. Yet,
though mourning families were there, past
hatred seemed to be buried with those who
had fallen, for the lnourners were young and
knew not yet the feelings Of hatred, which
had so strongly influenced their parents.
Two were there, who, unknown to those
parents, had long cherished feelings most op-
posite to hatred. One was William Harland,
the Other Flora Borland, who had just enter
ed her eighteenth year. Her brother-whose
age vas the same as that ofWilliam Har-
land--.and the two younger sisters sere all