Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-06-19

eyes, sab" said he, ga souf Car'liny
gentleman, sah."
"Then," 1 replied, "you must chal-
lenge him."
"what is dat, sah."
"You must send note to him, say
ing he must meet you on the field of
honor. In other words, you must fight
him."
A smile played over his gentle coun-
tenance. "Lord bless you, Cap'pen,"
said he, "sen' dat note right off; kin
butt dat niger ter pieces"
"That won. do" said |, sternly; "as
a gentleman you must fight him with
gentleman's weapons. You must chal-
lenge him to fight you with pistols"
His face turned a shade paler and he
hesitated. | turned on him quickly,
drew my chair close to him and said
impressively "Nias, there is tide in
the affairs OF love-sick niggers, which,
taken at the flood, leads on TO marriage.
| know Ju well. He is a terrible cow
ard, and will run just as soon as you
present your pistol at him. Miss Sophy
will hear of it. All women despise
towards. She will kick him and you
will carry of the cake. will go with
you, act as your friend, and see that all
goes right. Will you leave the matter
to me?"
"Is you sure he won't fight, ,Cap'penS"
"Certainly am. Now you go home.
Keep quiet. | will see you through
this matter, and when you marry Miss
Sophy, will dance at the wedding"
"All right, sah," he replied, and
with a bouyant, smiling face, left the
office.
Half an hour afterwards was In the
saddle and on my way to my old friend
Major Swivels. To him repeated the
whole affair and besought him to seek
Ju and act the part OF second for that
meeting. On my return to my office |
wrote formal challenge to Ju in the
name Of Ananias and quietly awaited
results.
Ju, through his second, Major Swiv-
els, accepted the challenge, pistols were
named as the weapons and the follow
ing Friday as the time.
Thursday afternoon the Major and !
met and perfected all the details. That
night for fear Mas might lose courage
and desert me, made him sleep in my
office and fastened doors and windows
on him. About five n. m. the next
morning l harnessed my roam mare,
Nelly, to the buggy, took Mas in, anG
started Of. The boy was badly fright
ened, his teeth chattered, and | could
hardly control my risibles. With a
careless movement of my foot dis
lodged the cover of box in the front
part Of the buggy and allowed him a
glance at its contents. These consisted
of a hand saw, long, glittering prun-
ing knife and an ordinary butchers
cleaver.
whats dem fer, Cap'peni"
"They are surgical instruments" /
replied. "You may be badly wounded,
and l may have to cut off your arm or
leg to save your life."
"Lord-a-massy, Cap'pen, let me git
right outen dis buggy. lie kin hab dat
gal If he wants, an sides dat forgot to
feed de mule dis mornin'."
"Silence," l said, peremptorily.-
"You have got to fight now, and If you
try to escape I'll blow the top of your
head off,"
The poor young fellow was nearly
paralyzed with fright, and becoming
somewhat uneasy at his condition, /
pulled out flask OF brandy and gave
him a pretty stiff drink. After the
liquor had partially restored his facul-
ties | said to him: "Now, Mas, brace
up and be man. 1 tell you that Ju is
an awful coward and will run just as
soon as you point pistol at him. Just
do as say and all will be we'll"
When we got 10 the appointed place
the Major and his protege were already
there. Ju was sight. His eyeballs
were rolling, his cheeks were as ashen
as they could get under the peculiar
pigment of his cuticle, and no wonder,
for in the Majors buggy were two huge
pistols of revolutionary origin, with
flint locks, half gallon syringe, a
monkey-wrentch and pair Of horse
clippers, The Major saluted me in
grave, formal manner. returned 1t
as gravely and formally. Tying our
horses to convenient saplings and leav-
ing our respective charges seated, with
strict injunctions not to stir, the Major
and / retired some little distance for
consultation.
Chow is your man ?" said he, almost
choking with laughter.
"Scared to DEATH" replied. 81 had
to brace him up with brandy"
$50 did mine," said be, "and now
let's have the circus. have loaded
the pistols with powder only, of course,
but so heavy that the discharge will
knock the deuce out Of them at the first
fire."
We gave the heroes another drink
aud placed them in position, ten PAGES
apart, pistol in hand. The Major won
the word, and gave it sonorously:
"One-two-three fire."
There was a terrific report, vast
amount Of smoke, and both men lay
prone upon the ground. | rushed TO
Ananias and raised him up. The huge
horse.pistol recoiling had struck his
nose. and IL was bleeding profusely.