Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-02-20
A Fathers Revenge.

Major Buford. called by the way; eth
Major" was one of the most noted due
lsts of the day. A dead shot, q perfee
master of fence, and In his enn1ities ul
terly relentless, his name had become
jsterrOr to all who knew him. 80
I In tie midst of admiring friends on
tday, the Major was discussing his las
Atfair," and complacently explainin,
th0w It came that he mortally wounde,
fhis adversary without killing him OF
3thespot when one of two men advances
land struck him In the face. The specta
ttors stood aghast. What could hav,
tempted the stranger to rush thus mad
u on to his fate. He was an old man
Already to appearance had three scor'
and ten Jears passed over his head. III,
must, indeed, have been weary of life
whose other remnant he was ready tt
cast away 30 recklessly.
The Major was sstonished. The very
audacity of the act struck him with
Nmazemsnt.
Is thi8 provecati0n snfilcient, or mus
Irepeat it p inquired his assallant.
The Majors first impulse was to re
turn blow for blow. But, fierce and
violent as were his passions. he school.
ed himself to complete mastery ovel
them, and q moments reflection told
him how bootless, under the clrcum-
stances, would be public brawl. The
indignity he had received would admit
OF but one reparation, and that he de-
termined to lose no time in SEEKING.
The insult ts sufficient he answered
with forced calpness. 'Oblige me by
naming friend.s
And the two strangers took their leeve
together.
At sunrise ON the following morning
the principals and their seconds made
their appearance on the ground selected.
NO one else was presept-pOt a surgeon.
The Major, In his own past experience
never had needed one and his opponent.
1t was plain, was careless of the conse-
quences.
There was no necessity of delay. The
preliminaries had been settled. The
parties were to fight with nistcls ct ten
PAGES, the combat to continue until one
or both had fallen.
One condition had been insisted on by
the stranger, which called an indignant
blush to the Majors cheek, as it seemed
to imply an imputaIion on his honor,
though he submitted With the best grace
he could. It was that before placing the
comhatants the bodies of both should be
inspected to see that no secret protective
device was employed by either.
The ground was measured and the
men placed. There was a marked con-
trast between the two in more respects
than that of years. The old man, erect
and R0tioniess as 8 statue his whitened
locks floating In the breeze, never once
looked at his antagonist, though his side
was turned. His face was stern and
determined, but nothing malignant in
it. The Major. on the other hand, glar-
ed fiercely Ct his fas-ssemeq even to
grudge him the few moments f life vet
eked out to him.
Were he my own father I would kill
him. he answered audibly to some
whispered expostulation touched by the
old mans venerable appearance.
The pistols were put in the hands of
the principals, and the giving of the
word explained.
Gentlemen, are you ready?'
Ready both answered.
Still the old man moved not. nor did
be direct single glance at his adversary.
His eyes waye fs4ed in 'front.' His at
stitpde was one of rapt attention. He
seemed like one listening intently.
'Firev
Without changing the direction of his
gaze or other movement than that of his
arm. which arose with the precision of a
nicely adjusted machine, the old man
brought his pistol 10 the level Of his
enemy's breast. For an instant he held
it there. Still the same appearance of
eager listening.
The Major was in no hurry. He sauld
afford 90 take his own time with man
who held his pistol at random without
looking whitherward. He was determin-
ed to make sure work. If his ball miss
ed his adversary's heart, even fraction
of an inch, he would never make any
pretensions to skill again.
The sharp report of the strangers pis-
tol was followed by convulsive jerk of
the Majors arm, causing the discharge
OF bis weapon far wide of h!s mark,
Whlle he, staggering few PAGES back
ward, fell heavily to the ground.
Conduct me to him. said the man to
his friend.
The latter took his principals arm and
led him to the PROSTATE form of the Ma
jor, whose second, knealing by his side,
had torn open his garments. sx xposing to
view the fatal wound in his breast, made
by the strangers bullet.
Is your friend seriously hurt q inouir.
ed the latter. coolly.
You can see for yourself, SIR the sec
ond answered.
There you are IN error,i replied the
other. I am totally blind
The wounded man who by this time
revival little, and his second looked at
the stranger in establishment. There
was no visible defect in his organs of
vision, but there was fixity of look
that, blending of eyes on vacancy"
which 50 unnistakably evinces the ab-
sence of sight.
Who are you, and what is your mo.
tive in seeking thisencounter? p the Ma
jor family murmured.
.First are you in condition to renew
it p inquired the stranger.
There is no use. am dying.'
When have told you who am,' , the
stranger resumed, syou will scarce re-
quire my motive for what have done.
No wonder you have forgotten James
Merton he continued, for he has great
ly changed, no doubt.
The dying man started and groaned
bitterly.
But I have not forgotten you, Rich
ard Buford, nor the injuries you have
done me. A cherished daughter, the
pride of my eyes and the Joy of her
mothers heart, you enticed from her
home, deceived by sham marriage, and
then abandoned her to die of broken
heart. My son and only remaining child,
in rash attempt to revenge his sisters
wrongs, fell victim to your accursed
skill. You even robbed him fthe ordi-
nary chances of combat, unequal as they
would have been, by encasing your
cowardly body In concealed armor. The
loss of both our children unsettled my
wife's reason, and she died in a mad
house. Could have found you then 1
would have given you no chance for
life; but valiant as you always profess
to be, and coward as you are, you evad
ed me. Yet knew we would some day
meet again. and registered vow when
we did meet would offer you asacrifice
to your Internal art.
TO this end L studied to become an
adept at it and I succeeded. And when
at length blindness cast its shadow over
me and seemed to render hopeless the
fnlflment of my VOW, instead of aband-
oning it betook myself to new species
of practice. sought to make hearing
take the place of sight. Again succeed
Qd I loo N od fC fuk nj xy,;th ~, On =