The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-12-01
The Duelist's Praying wife.

In years that a.c gone there lived IN
Southern CITY a fine looking man, OF
wealth and old family, His vile was
from a family IS old, and wealth almost
MS great as his own. But bis family
was one Of the gayest III the city; hers
me of the n.0st actively and trucly
Christian. The theatre, the opera, the
dancing party, were his delight. To
read the Bible and pray with her servants
each morning, 10 cure for their NE
needs and soul needs, to sit by their
sick beds and poipt their souls heaven
ward. were her pursuits. 1t l. SAID inat
if any one have walked in Spice Islands
the aroma of their garments Will tell 1t:
So not words. but the gentle doipgs and
not doiugs cf her daily life, told that her
walk was with God. Aud her religion
was so a part Of herself that no time,
place or circumstance could part her
from it, aud her husband idolized her
in this very unlikcness to himself
The little watering place that had
struggled vainly 20 get recognition. even
though it stood on high land, in fact, on
n spur Of the Alieghanies, became, By
the war. q centre of fashion. In its lit
tie log cabin, IN the long, unpa4tered
dining room. on rude benches, by plain
board tables. covered with common, but
clean sheeiing, snt the wealth and style
and elegance and culture Of the South
glad, even with thesc drawbacks. to
breathe the highland air in summer
days. 4 Sabbath came no minister
few men we're there.
This Lordsday mus. not pass unno.
ticed," said the sweet, firm Christian
woman. Let us ladies meet in the par
lor and read the Episcopal service"
All were ,herc-the gnycst and the
staidest, the youngest and the oldest. She
read the service, with n grace so refined,
a voice 80 sweet and gentle, and n cheek 20
flushed, that all felt that in pure love
and obedience 10 her Lord she WAS bear.
ing cross; and the sweet influence of
that half hour toned the Sabbath Of the
whole crowd.
q bcvy Of smoker heard the singing,
and one said to the husband:
"Your wife is TOO good for YOU
"Yes with an onih) she is She is
the sweetest, purcst woman on this
earth"
"Shc must enjoy your swearing!
"Swear TO her. Why ! never think
M oath where she i. -
Her mother told me-and il is for that
that I write these recollec.ions at this
time that, after high words, her sonino
law was chalicned by notorious duelist
and unfailng shot. II was fancy feat
of his to snuff candle at long range.
His friends told her son it WAS cert..in
death TO accept the challenge, and his
wife, with her arms around his neck, i'm
ploro him, for her sake, for his chill
dren'l ..nke, and for his own souls sake
to refuse the challenge. But he talked
abou, the code, aud his honor and the
like.
"Will you give your worst enemy n
pleasure, your dearest ones q life of suf.
fering?" she asked.
"I'li give him sorry pleasure; I'll
give him :. bullet. I'll send him to n
bad place"
"Will you meet your judge, with II
murdered man us II passport 10 heaven"
''Do hush, dear wife. You unncrve
me-"
But she could not hush, until he
pledged his honor that, if God spared
his life, rs eoon Us he had his break fast
he would refuse ever to fight n duel. It
was IL subterfuge which shc did not un.
derstand ut the time, but she did under
stand it when little after break Of day
b lISNt tOuCIl WI ilei iVItittu
bands farewell kiss ss-madc her Opeu her
eyes and find gone. The noise OF wheels
Mt that unwounted hour made her fly to
window, only to see the back of the car
riage rs it moved i.st way, speeding her
husband to eternal death.
She fell on her knees in an agony.
One-thc God, the holy God-whose
justice he was daring, could save him
from the eternal, eternal doom he was
courting. But Father spare him
Fatherl spare him |" was her heart ~
to God, unheard by mortal, but heard in
heaven. She took no thought Of time,
she took no note sounds, for more than
two hours She did not move till his
voice, CHEEKY and clear. rnng out with
II knew your were praying for me J"
She sprnng up and stnggered toward
hin, sii;i hia cnigili hcr in close EN-
brace. and to the questioning Of her eyes
answered:
mo! did not hurt him. fired into
tho air."
Alter her heavenly smile" rs he
called it, he added:
HE had the first fire, and took dc
liberatc aim, and didn't touch me, Though
have seen him snuff candle At that
distance. He declared some one hit his
elbow knew then. you were praying
and fired in the air. His craven soul
was not worthy of my bullet, but he
would have had IL but for your sakc."-
Me,V Yo,k Observer.