Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-10-23
A VIRGINIA DUEL.

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One of the most interesting features
in the Virginia campaign is Capt. Page
McCarty, the bachelor editor Of the
Richmond illustrated paper which IS
making such a sharp fight against Wise
and Malone. Captain McCarty is very
well known in Washington. He has
spent number of winters there. He
is now in the neighbOrhood of forty
years Of age. He is man slightly above
the medium in height, and has we'll
rounded figure. He is very quiet and
unobtrusive. His resh-colored face
and twinkling blue eyes have always a
pleasant expression. He has very low
voice, and the precise gravity of man
to whom elaborate pollteness is second
nature. His smooth-shaven, acquiline-
featured face is ornamented with a
dropping yellow mustache. He is one
of the leading political writers of Vir-
ginia. He has very keen sense of hu-
NOR, and is one of the most charming of
companions. He is believer in the
code, and has served as second in a
| number of duels and as principal in
one of the historical duels Of his time.
He is the reverse of quarrelsome. He
never could be an aggressor, but ten
thousand devils could not make him
bulge one inch to avoid a quarrel. He
has been at the front in nearly every
campaign in Virginia during the last
ten years. None of the Malone people
! have ever dared to seek quarrel with
this quiet-voiced, easy going, cultivated
gentleman. His reputation acquired IN
the celebrated McCarty-Mordecai duel
has made him shield against ambitious
duelists. No one has challenged him
since that fatal day.
The duel was one Of the most dra-
matte duels known in the history of the
code. Mordecai and McCarty were life
long friends. They were representa-
tives of two of the best families in Vir-
ginia. They had fought together dur
ing the civil war upon the Confederate
side. Both had regulations for the most
reckless and uDquestioned courage.
After the war they were bright par
ticular stars in the very best society of
Richmond. McCarty became engaged
one winter with one of the bellies of the
season. She was handsome, proud and
very high.spirited. For some slight
reason, not known, the two lovers quar-
relied. The engagement was broken.
Hardly had the news of this estrange-
mcnt gotten out, when the gossips were
startled by the news of the engagement
of the young lady to Mordeeai. This
was doubtless the result OF pique. A
deadly GOODNESS at once was established
between the two young men. This is
the prelude to the drama.
One night, not long after this, at
german given at one of the leading
houses in Richmond, the evolutions of
the figure danced brought McCarty and
his former betrothed together. She,
with naughty turn Of the head, left
him, refusing silently and peremptorily
to dance with him. This marked cut
naturally made disagreeable social
sensation. The next evening, at an
other house, there was also German.
Fate again brought the two-once low
ers, now enemies-to this house. The
same fate wove figure which was once
more to bring them face to face as part
ners. The leader of the german, an
amiable young man, saw that the two
were coming together again. he passed
near to the young lady liz the dance and
whispered in her ear:
"Dance with him this time, beg of
you. Don't make Il scene"
The young lady complied. The two
lover enemies, without a word, EN-
5raced each other coldly, and for the
last time, in the set figure, they for
moment waltzed together.
The next morning, there appeared in
one of the Richmond papers brief
poem. 1t described the bliss of lover
who holds his dearly beloved in his
arms US they are whirled about to the
passionate measure of flying waltz.
This poem was signed "P. McC." The
young lady read this poem, and thought
that she read between its amorous aud
glowing lines a caustic satire from her
! former lover, and that he had seized
upon the occasion of her dancing with
him the night before TO revenge himself
for her insulting refusal to dance with
him the previous night. She told Nor
deeal of the fancied insult. He, spurred
on by the indignation Of his lady love,
called upon McCarty and reproached
him in wild and violent language. A
challenge was passed. The seconds,
who were gentlemen, examined care
fully into the affair before taking their
men into the field. They found that
the poem in question had been written
! for long time, and had been actually
in type for more than week previous
to the affair Of the german.
AS matter of course, the seconds de-
clared that there was NO cause for a