Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-02-13

w us yOu Sto ttiiit ~
ing upon the green sward, weltering In
! This story seemed too improbably
even for the men who knew the speak
err; they curled their lips; and Belfont
was handed over to the provsots quad.
An inquiry took place. The evidence
of Billey, who swore he had seen Belfont
wiping the blood from his sword, might
have been fatal, but from the evidence
of nlyselfand several other medical men,
who upon examination found that 1t
was not possible for the sword-a heavy
saber, given to him by deceased friend
in the cavalry-to have inflicted the
wound, which was small and triangular,
and as such evidently the effect Of q
bayonet-thrust. This, Belfont's known
chracter, the want of motive for assas-
sinating a man with whom he had not
quarreled, and some hesitation upon the
part Of Billy, sufficiently exonerated
him; the charge was dismissed.
Believing in my friend, enraged with
the malicious young scoundrel who
would have sworn away his life, could
not help exclaiming, although had no
! foundation for my suspicion, "Do you
know, George, L believe Lying Billy
himself was the assassin"
"Why-where(ore 1t is scarcely pos
sible. "
"They might have quarreled about the
sonora, who, after all, may have been
taken away by Gray"
at IL not possible, Crawford; Dragon
was not the man who killed Gray. We
must bide our time, he will yet be found"
"If so, nothing will excuse your call
ing out and shooting the little reptile
who would have sworn away your life"
Nothing shall induce me to fight a
duel,n he said, 'solemnly. i have prom
ised, have sworn to one whose beloved
father fell in duel, and whose love
would be'chsnged to haze. To please a
woman many man has fought. To
please a woman / refuse to fight, a wo-
man who hassuffered in her. deepest af-
fections from this cursed code of honor,
and who, did ] break the pledge, would
hold me accursed, and the meanest thing
on earth. Have / not reason for my
refusal?"
Enough, my dear friend; and I am
not the less pleased to believe that your
refusal is after all less based upon your
promise than upon Il settled principle or
| amidst such temptations as exist here
you could never have sustained it,"
After this sad affair Belfont became an
altered man, and, although his brother
officers endeavOred by every attention to
show their entire beliefin his innocence,
he became dull and gloomy, was seldom
to be seen at mess, and never among the
billiard or monte players where we pass
ed our leisure time. Indeed, his health
was becoming so visibly injured, that
even Old Dragon, the Colonel now thor
oughly unpopular from his.son's conduct,
besought him earnestly to 90 to England
upon sick leave; but neither the entreat-
les of friends or enemies could prevail
upon him to leave the service before the
assassin had been discovered, or until he
had proved by his gallantry in some we'll
fought field that he was not actuated by
shameful motives in his repugnance to
duelng.
At length the opportunity he sought
for came. The terrible 5th OF May, when,
by the cowardice of the Spaniards, who
left the bruntof the action to the English,
the majority of our officers were shot
down like partridges.
Throughout that day Belfont fought
like a madman; wherever the cannona-
ding was the heaviest, or the fire of mus
kerry the hottest, there he was to be
found cheering and leading on his men;
the major, the captain, the lieutenants
were all shot down, leaving the COM
mand of the decimated regiment to Bel
font-in fact he madly sought death, but
seemed to bear charmsd life, and by
his terrible bravery did no little to turn
the balance in our favor.
After this action he moved among his
surviving brother officers more proudly,
the fancied stain upon his honor seemed
to be wearing away, and he might have
regained his happiness but for another
insult that wore into his proud heart
Many were the decorations distributed
for that days work, but neither cross,
medal, or promotion to the bravest man
in the service. The Colonel had been
empowered TO recommend to the General
u given number of officers and men. Bel
font was purposly passed over that dec
oratlon might be given 20 Billy o. Dragon.
This was too much; his passion boiled,
the two met Mt mess, Billy wore his dec
orntlon and covertly bullied Belfont.-
The officers sided with Belfont, warmer
words followed-the young scoundrel
again accused him of stabbing Gray
Human nature could bear no more; Billy
fell to the ground stunned.
After such an insult, to remain in the
service and not accept Billy's challenge
was impossible. They met the next day,
and the Colonel's son fell dead at the |
first shot. Belfont fled--his brother Off
GERS compelled him-knowing that al |
though court martial would have ac-
quilted him of Intentional murder, the |
persecution he would suffer ut the hands |
ofthe colonel would nave rendered his |
life in the service both intolerable and |
From that fatal day till |
the late unfortunate duel neither saw
or heard of my poor friend.
Indeed" said l, ~ now believe the |
poor fellow has, even in this last affair,
been the victim of circumstances"
~ would swear it," said Crawford |
warmly.
"But," said, "was 1t ever discovered |
what became of the sonora, or who muir |
dered Captain GrayI"
"Stay, will tell you.n Before, how |
ever, Crawford could satisfy my curiosi-
ty, he was summoned to the George" |
to the aid OF II man which had Just been |
taken out of the river, into which he had, |
either by accident or design, fallen. So |
as 1t was late, and / had to leave town /
by an early train, shook my friend by |
the hand, and went home and to bed
After q months absence, during which !
l had been 80 Importantly engaged that
the deep Impression made upon my mind |
by the duelist's story had become efiaced, |
returned to town. / Immediately call |
ed upon Crawford, and finding him in |
exclaimed, "You are In
mourning, my dear fellow trust, |
however, 1t is for a patient only, not for |
a friend OF a member OF your family.n
"For both patient and frend,n he re- |
piled, adding gloomily, for poor Bel
font"
eGood Heavenl then you have heard |