Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-06-22
Galts a1to Skttfbfs.
FROM AN OLD MANUSCRIPT.


But conjecture only wore ITSELF out; all
was dark and impcns trable uncertainty
the beginning and the end were alike lost
in the deepest mystery.
Exactly 80 years after the duel-that is
to say, in the year 182O-when was 60
years Of age, and Vicar Of Waterman,
was asked by q very dear friend to take
his place as special preacher in aid of the
Society for Promoting Christian Knowl-
edge, at the parish church of Keldon, in a
distant part Of the county, Of which the
Rev. Desmond Hiffernan was the Vicar.
The date of the approaching Sunday,
found. was the 18th Of July, date only
too well remembered by me.
duly arrived at Keldon vicarage the
previous Saturday afternoon, and was re-
ceived by the vicar with the utmost cor
diality. He was an Irishman by birth,
and man of genial, polished manners.
He led the way at once into . lofty and
handsome drawing room, which / had no
sooner entered than my eyes and attention
were alike instantly riveted on a beauti-
fully executed oil portrait which occupied
the end of the room. It represented a
cavalry officer of tall and elegant proper
tons, standing by his horse. He wore the
uniform OF half century before. namely,
a gold-laced, three-cornered cooked hat, a
scarlet cloak, jack boots. and long, heavy
sword. looked earnestly at it. while
busy memory carried me back Just half
century to bright moonlight night, and
the bowling green of little country inn.
and the terrible tragedy there enacted.
Yes; the more looked the more con-
WINGED felt. There we're the finely-cut.
aristocratic features. the tall. grand figure.
nay, the identical uniform. 1t must be he
was recalled from my reverie by the
vicar. who, observing my fixed and earn
est gaze, said, with sigh, looking at the
picture:
my Uncle Dennis-Captain Dennis
Hifer1an. He was aide-de-camp to Cen
eral Montgomery. and was killed, poor
fellow, with the General, at the attack on
Quebec, in $780,
"Was he not a tall and finely built
man ?' l asked.
''Six feet four and half without his
shoes. and don't know how many inches
across the chest, and perfect Apollo in
shape and figure
ut is very striking likeness. surely"
I said.
"Oh, yes" replied the Vicar. "admira-
BILE. II is considered one of Gains
borough's happiest efforts. But, may
ask, did you ever see him, that you seem
20 much interested ?''
Yes" replied, speaking very slowly
and with my eyes still fixed upon the
portrait. II certainly did see him once.
and only once-for am sure cannot be
mistaken-exactly fifty years ago-to-
morrow will be the very day-and under |
circumstances so peculiar and romantic,
that, if you like. will relate them.
To this the Vicar, who expressed him.
self deeply interested, readily agreed, and
seating ourselves near the open window
gave him detailed account of the duel
and all that followed it; and then | in
quired whether he had ever heard of the |
occurrence.
IF my father" said the Vicar, 1.-THE |
late Colonel Hiffernan had been alive, he,
no doubt. could have told us all about it,
for he was always in his brothers conf
denee. My Uncle Dennis, I'm afraid,
was terrible fellow, always in scrapes or
mischief Of some sort or other, but warm
hearted, noble and generous to a fault"
After pause, during which the Vicar
looked meditatively at the portrait, he
said:
1NOW yOu nave mentlOUeu tnc cIFCum-
stance, you seem to have awakened a sort |
Of indistinct recollection of my having
heard my father speak of duel fought |
by great friend OF my uncle's York
shire squire, in which my uncle assisted
as second that the adversary was killed
and that his dead body was LETT just where
it fell. but against the strong remon-
strances of my uncle. II am not mixing
up several of Uncle Dennis's questionable |
adventures-for they were only too nu-
merous. am sorry to confess have an
idea that the opponent was French
West Indian, man of great wealth,
but an unprincipled libertine, and an in
veterate gambler. One thing very wei, |
remember often to have heard, and that
was that my uncle's friend had beautiful |
but Eighty wife; but whether it was the |
lady or cards. or politics that occasioned the
quarrel, cannot pretend to say; but from
your account of the papers taken from the |
mans breast. should be inclined to think |
it was the lady; and that probably these
were letters Of hers which the husband
had discovered, and of which he desired
to gain possession. Being West Indian
- supposing this to have been the man
and possibly having no friends in Europe,
would account for his being wholly I'M
known at the embassies, or indeed. any
where else"
After another pause, the Vicar, speak
ing almost to himself, added .sAh! poor
Dennis; I'm afraid you were very sad
and foolish dog IN your day. Had your
brother been here he would have told us
ALL"
After dinner. when the ladies had re-
tired, and the Vicar and were alone, he
again referred to the subject. saving that
he had just called to mind circumstance
which he should otherwise have probably
entirely forgotten. as Of little moment. had
not my story awakened in his mind an
idea that this circumstance might prove
sort Of connecting link and sequel to my
narration.
"A young naval officer" continued the
Vicar, 1.-THE son of one Of my old parishion-
ers, was ct home on leave few months
ago. He was most pleasant and chatty
companion. and full Of anecdotes. He
casually mentioned that. while serving or
the West India station. he had more than