Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-02-13
Wf1tten TOT tne CLAHkBYILLE CHRoNIcLK.
ESTES CONFESSION.


| w hCu esO SAaaS ACoShco tuctS IOoul
Este said:
do pray, Virgin, tell me why Mr.,
Nelson did not come home with you
I am bursting with curiosity"
Virgin tried at FIRST to evade direct
answer. but Este pressed her so close.
ly that she was compelled to give hel
an exact account of what happened.
"It was mean in him. wasn't it, Vir-
gin? Do you really love cousin Al
bert?"
Why should /. Este? he does moi
love me"
II believe he does, at any rate he
never treats any other girl like he does
you. Of course he is polite to all but
to you he is more than that"
Early the next morning Dick started
out for a walk: atthe gate he was
met by a gentleman, who asked
if he was Mr.. LeMays, being answered
in the affirmative. ne said:
II am the friend Of Mr.. Howard
Nelson. doubtless you are aware of
why l call upon yon."
"Yes sir, be SO kind as to walk to the
house and see DR.. Leigh, he will act as
my friend"
Dick took short stroll down the
street, when he returned he met AL
bert and inquired il he had met the
gentleman who called for him. AL
bert replied that he had arranged the
affair; st is to come off this evening at
sundown just across the river. There
will be but five persons present-him-
self, surgeon and second, you and 1.
The weapons are pistols at twenty
PAGES. If you have any writing to do
you had better go and do it, then we
will take a walk"
Dick went to his room and wrote
letter to Albert, telling him of the
challenge, and closed by saying: cal
bert could not decline this duel
(Which 1 most certainly would have
done if it had been me he was trying
to injure,) and remain as true to you
as know you would have been to me.
Duels l abhor, but when they involve
the happiness and honor of my best
friend, and probably his life-for who
knows to what extent Nelson might
carry his hatred toaccomplish his pur-
pose-my sense of the obligations l
owe you compelled me to accept the
challenge. Albert look kindly upon
me and forgive me all the pain | have
ever caused you, and tell Este Lynn
that loved her so deeply and purely
as man ever loved woman. By Miss
Virgin I hope to be remembered kind
ly, and Albert whenSou and she shall
have united your destinies in holy
wedlock, and are journeying together
through life as happy as hearts like
yours only know how to be, then give
an occasional thought to my memory.
1 have written Mr.. Cashall full in
structions about my affairs. Good
bye"
"To Este he wrote long and ten
der letter, telling her he had loved
her from the FIRST, and had some day
hoped to call her his own-Estie
think of me kindly, it wrings my
soul with anguish to bid you goodbye,
but in Heaven, dear, will wait for
you"
Dick folded his letters and put them
in his pocket, then went down to meet
Albert. He dared not trust himself
with Este, so hurried by the parlor
door when he heard the girls talking
and laughing gaily in there. When he
reached the street Albert joined him.
I'VE will not return until the affair
is over, Dick. l have told them that
we would be away at supper, and as an
excuse pleaded an engagement"
"Thank you, Albert" replied Dick.
They then went leisurely down the
street, as they passed store Howard
Nelson came out, Dick bowed to him
and Nelson returned the salutation.
The friends went to hotel where AL
bert left Dick and went for a carriage,
he soon returned with it; they entered
and we're driven off. Dick took his
letters from his pocket, and said as he
handed them to Albert:
Here IS one for you, it will explain
everything-deliver the others if L
fall"
Drink some of this brandy, Dick,
perhaps it will help you"
mo, Albert, do not need ii"
When they reached the ground they
were met by the other party, the princi-
pies raised their hats to each other, the
ground was measured off, and they were
placed at their respective stations.
Dick was as cool as if nothing unusual
was to happen, Nelson was also coo,
Albert Leigh advanced and said:
"GentIemen, before this goes any
farther, Iwould like to know the
cause of this, if compatible with your
feelings, you have both been friends of
mine, and am sorry that l have been
called upon to witness this"
"Dr. Leigh, we did not come here to
make explanations, so We will proceed
if Mr.. LeMays is not afraid, replied
Nelson.
Dicks GOODNESS had irritated him,
and he wished to taunt him till he was
excited, but Dick paid no further at
tention to it than to say:
II am ready"
They confronted each other as the
word fire asgiven there was but one
report heard, yet each pistol had been
discharged as could be seen by the
clouds of smoke that ourled upward
from their muzzles. Nelson clutched
his side reeled and fell into the arms
of his second. Albert hastened to
Dick who turned to him and smiling
ly said:
81 am hurt"