The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-07-04

comnact between, the sloyerS--he vetoed
it-and rightly Judging that, as there were
but three parties to the affair, they might
nni,ify his decision by . two-thirds vote,
he forbade the young mans visits to his
house the young man went nevertheless,
and met the apple Of his eye and joy Of
his heart by moonlight alone.
When the obdurate old gentleman found
that his authority was deacd, he ravcd
furiously and sworc to watch for the in.
truding son Of Mars, and shoot him the
first time he set his foot upon his premises.
When the young lady, in great ter
ror, reported this to her lover, he, not for.
getful of the storm of lead and iron he had
often faced in battle, laughed at the idea
of being frightened away by an old fellow,
armed with blunderbuss or shotgun,
who had never fired at anything in his life
that could pull trigger in return.
He proposed an immediate elopcment,
and the lady, notwithstanding her per-
sistent declaration that her father would
kill them both. consented, moved thereto
more hy love than a sense of filial duty.
They fled by night on horseback, not
scrupling to take the two finest horses IN
the old planters pasture, crossed ked
river, and struck out for the Mississippi
over a wretched road, through pine forests,
swsmps, and canebrakes. They reached
the right bank of the great river in safety,
but while waiting for boat that was being
pulled from the opposite shore III answer
to the lieutenant's signal, the old planter,
accompanied by one of his negroes, made
his appearance on horse, splashed with
mud and fiecked with sweat and foam.
He drew up within twenty yards OF the
fugacious pair, and eyed them sternly.
The lieutenant sat motionlcss in hls sad
die, and, without moving muscle, re-
turned the uncivil stare. Suddenly the
irascible old gentleman raised his double
barrclled shotgun and fired at the lieutc-
nant, no word having been spoken on
either side except by the daughter, who,
as she saw the gun levelled, cried ont in
an aconized voice "Fathcr !" 1t was
probably the first time he had ever
attempted the life Of human being, and
in his anger and haste he missed his mark,
hi, charge, whether Of ball or buckshot,
whistled harmlessly past the lieutenant's
head but the old familiar sound reused
the lion in his nature, he forgot the merits
of the quarrel and who was his antagonist,
and, as the latter, with furious oath, de-
liberatcly cooked the other barrel, and
again lcvelled it, he whipped ont his long
revolver and fired with quick but deadly
aim, acquired by long practice. The old
man was shot through the heart. He
dropped his gun, threw up his arms, rec'ed
an instant in the saddle, and fell hcadlOng
to the earth, a limp, lifeless, and quivering
mass Of mortality.
With dilated eyes and nostrlls the I'M
happy girl gazed horror-stricken upon the
scene. The lieutenant offered words of
consolation, bnt she babe him BECOME and
never see or think Of her more. Rcmount-
ing her horse, she rode suddenly homcward
without turning to look back.
Slowly and sadly the lieutenant stepped
into the boat awaiting him, and made his
way to the eastern shore of the river,
leaving the negro gazing stupidity upon the
dead body Of his master.
lie is now in New Orleans, and / OBJ
tanned the particulars OF this story from
one of his friends. There is a sequel to
it. The lady of his love arrived here a
few weeks ago. Time had not only con-
soled her for the loss of her father, but
had brought back tender memories OF the
man she still loved; she was her own mis-
trcss, hciress of her late fathers estate,
and undoubtedly came here to seek him
out. She addressed q note to him, ex-
pressing the conviction that the death OF
her father by his hand was a neces ,ity that
could not have been avoided under the cir
cumstances, and imploring his torg 'cncss
for her own conduct on the occasion and
words of reproach she had spoken. What
reply he made, or whether he made any,
I do not know, but am told that, although
her love is still returned, he fears to make
her his wife lest the memory of the past
should forever rise between them and mar
their happiness.