The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-11-09


ly judged that no very searching in
quiries would be instituted in regard
to her antecedents or mode of life.
The first step in carrying out this
plan was to provide a home for the
young lady with a respectable family
of his acquaintance, upon whom he
readily imposed plausible tale. Next,
he represented to her that he was com,
PEELED to absent himself from the city
for several months; furthermore, that
while he should willingly provide for
her, it was necessary for them to sep
arate permanently Before going aw ay,
he took occasion to introduce to his
fair chamer young man, friend OF
his, named Henry Grantham, whose
many noble qualities of head and heart
he extolled in fattering terms. 10
Grantham, Nelson represented the
young lady as gifted and virtuous,
but unfortunate in having a reckless
and dissipated father. The result OF
this introduction was as Nelson de-
sired. Grantham became smitten with
the beautiful Nellie He proposed,
was accepted, and the marriage came
off without delay. 1t was wholly un-
necessary in those days to announce
"No cards." for none were expected.
Courtship. wedding and honeymoon
were all wonderfully matter-of-tact at-
fairs in California of 1901.
Shortly after Grantham's marriage,
rumor whispered in his ear naughty
things in connection with the former
history Of his fair young bride. He
tried to hear them not, and refused to
believe. She was to him loving, gen
tie, tender and true. The few months
of their welded life had famed the
flame of love within his breast He
would not, could not, believe that she
was, or ever had been, other than the
pure, good woman who now lavished
upon him the tenderness of her young
hearts love- At last report reached
him to the effect that his quondam
friend Nelson, the man by whom he
was introduced to his wife, publicly
boosted of the illicit relation he had
sustained with the lady prior to their
marriage. This was too much for hui
man patience especially fer one of the
fiery and impetuous nature of Henry
Grantham. He was quite young
man, scarcely more than boy in years,
and small and effeminatc as a woman
His manners were modest and gentle,
yet subsequent events proved that the
lion was not more fierce and deadly in
his rage than this slender and delicate
youth Nelson was Immediately hunted
up, and bitter words passed, but out
side parties interlered and prevented
an aflray for the time being.
Both were desperate men, and
bloody rencounter "on sight" was
agreed upon. They met few days
after near the Union Hotel, OH kearny
street; pistols were drawn instantly,
and the firing commenced. Nelson was
much the larger man, and he advanced
boldly on his insigniticant-looking an
tagonist. His first shot took effect in
Granthem's left arm, innicting a pain
full wound. To add to the latter's mis-
fortunes, his foot struck against some
thing in taking a step backward, when
instantly Nelson was upon him, and
placing his pistol to Grantham's mouth,
fired. The shot appeared to be mortal.
The little fellow was picked up sense
less and bleeding, carried into a house
close by, and medical aid summoned.
Strange to relate, the wounded man
recovered, although minus numerous
teeth and a portion of his tongue.
Stranger still, his desire to fight was
by no means quenched. So soon as
able to get out again, he wrote per-
emptory challenge to Nelson to meet
him in mortal combat, according to "the
code" The cartel was accepted, and
they met in an adjoining county-Sola-
no, if we mistake not. Several gentle
men, who have since become distin-
guished public characters, officiated in
that noble "affair of honor" One is
now, or was during the recent war be,
tween the States, General in the
United States Army; another is we'll
known and justly celebrated physician
and surgeon of San Francisco; and
still another has Toured prominently in