Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-09-19
THE MAJORSGOOD- NIGHT STORY

THE MAJOR S GOOD MIGHT STORY
[ had brother who settled in Mississippi
None OF US had the capacity for business he
possessed. | had the least of all [ sup
pose that is the reason | went into the army
1t was not many years after he went South
that he was reckoned wealthy man He
married there, espousing the daughter Of
one Col. Angler. The colonel was plan
ter, pretty well off in the world, with two
daug hters and three sons. It will only be
necessary to speak of the youngest boy,
whose name was Luke. He had Only been
home few weeks on college vacation
when he got into an alteration with a
young physician by the name of Barnl Y,
and shot him dead in his tracks. The
Barnleys, were very popular in the neigh.
borhood, and as Luke Angler had acted
with very little discretion in the matter, be
found it necessary to fly the country. for
there were several Of Barnley's relatives
cunning after him Where be went, his
family alone knew, but years passed and
Luke had not been seen in Mississippi /;
but the death of Barnley had never been
forgotten.
It was just before the Seminole war be-
gan that l, having three months leave,
went dewn to Mississippi to visit my broth
err [ had never seetl his wife | fouad
him well; with lot of young cubs about
him his wife was just the sort Of woman
l would have selected for wife, if I ever
could have induced myself to try matri
mony
Shortly after nv arrival I went with my
brother to visit Col. Angle, finding him to
be a plain, worthy and hospitable planter
one of those kind of men that make you
feel, that you are a welcome guest, and
loves to see every person about them hap
py. | saw much of the Angler family dur
ing my stay in Mississippi, and the more
frequently | came in contact with them the
better | was pleased with the family. Il
was evident, however, that the good planter
had something which was weighing sorely
on his heart Alter you had known him a
little while, you could detect the sad ex.
preston which his face frequently assumed
Que day remarked to my brother that l
did not think his fatIler.in-l law was alto
gether happy.
'Tis no wonder replied my brother. =
That man s thoughts are never off his son
Luke. He dare not bring him into the
country again, for there are numbers oil
Barnley' relatives that are sworn to kill hin
on sight, and they II do it, too, it they ever
find him hereabouts.
YES answered musingly, I remem
Der your writing me somethi g about that
unfortunate affair, but | have really forgot
ten the circumstances
The case was briefly this, responded my
brother Doctor Barnley (who by the
way, was most estimablc gen leman) was
engaged to be married to Col Angler
youngest daughter The Barnley tam y
are as good as any ID Mississippi, and the
match was considered eligible on both sides
Luke came home on vacation, and [ teal
his habits were not very regular ; anyhow
be didn't seem tn. same as [ remembered
him. He had not been here very long be
fore be commenced to take a violent dislike
to the doctor. don't think be ha any rea
sonaole cause for this pref udice, but BIZ
had grown hot~headed and obstinate. One
| day tuere was horse race. and the doctor
and Luke where present, when the latJel
became involved In quarrel with some ons
present regarding bet While nigh word
were passing DR. Barnley approached Luke
and laying his hand upon his shoulder, at
tempted to draw him away in hope OF paei
flying him. 10 the surprise of those pres
ent, instead Of approaching the doetor' mo
tive, Luke Angler ST. uck nim violent blos
in the face. As the Doctor was in the act @
raising his cane to resent the attack, Lux
drew revolver and shot him through tn
heart.
Jumping on horse he rode rapid
home, and In an hour afterward was max
ing his way out OF tue State. He did nc
| escape too soon, for by shutdown an arme'
party called at the colonel's and demande
the body Of his son. As soon as they dis
covered that he had fed the hunt began :
They didn't find him, however, as he ha
the good luck to get off Now you hav
the whole story. The colonel dotted on tina
boy, for be was talented and gave promis
of being fine man.
HAS he never returned p I asked. IA
brother lowered his voice. About yea
ago he came back one night, SO disguise
that didn't recognize him He staid
couple Of days and then lett imagine h
business was for the purpose OF discoverln
if it were possible for him to return.
/ The family were in trepidation durin
the time he was present, for the Barnley
are not the people to forgive or forget
1t truly was dreadful act that be CON
mitted,' I observed but you Souther
people are, I believe, accustomed to thes
things.
!. That's very true to certain extent"
observed, ''but matters of this kind don
pass without retaliation. II a man shoe
down another here, without justification, b
must be poorly related if there is no ore
ayenge him. 10 fair duel the result
frequently accepted, but in 10 other case
As the time slipped along my hour i
} departure drew near, and went accordlr
to promise, to make a visit to Col Angler
house.
/ One night I was sitting alone with t
colonel. the family having all retired to re