The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-05-22

to carry out MS resolve IN Trying 10 DrlnS dDouU
a reconciliation without resorting to the use of
arms.
"None whatever, sir" answered Bancroft,
with a contemptuous smile, evidently misin-
terpreting Ramps meaning in asking the
| question.
"Then you are resolved upon this duel"'
eyes, sir; nothing short of that will satisfy
me-"
"NIr. Cumming" said Hamp, twill you
! please step off twenty paces?"
That gentleman Immediately measured the
! distance.
Hamp then stepped up to Bancroft, and
extending his hand, said:
"Mr. Bancroft, wish you WE'LL"
Bancroft started perceptibly at this, and
muttered something under his breath
| Gentlemen" said Mr. Cumming, II will
count three at one you raise your weapons, at
two you take aim, and at three you fire! Do
you understand the arrangements"
Both nodded affirmatively.
| Bancroft's second was standing at safe dis
lance, trembling like an aspen.
A deathly stiffness pervaded the whole
mountain. The stiffness was painful. Cum
ming took his stand midway between the
dueists and in a steady, ringing voice, said:
Gentlemen, take your stands"
They both took their places.
A moment more of silence, and Cumming
said, with slow, steady accents:
"One!"
"Twor'
"Three"
There was a report as if one weapon had
been discharged, but both men fell Bancroft
falling heavily, as if he had been killed
instantly, while Hamp Harper tottered,
| grasped at limb for support and sank grad
ually to the ground.
Cumming hurried over to Hamp to ascertain
the extent of his hurt
go to Bancroft, said Hamp quickly, che
| is badly hurt, think
Upon examination it was found to be as
Hamp had surmiscd. The ball had entered
| just below the left eye and came out behind the
| right ear. Looking around Cumming called
| Bancroft's second, but he was nowhere to be
seen. A thorough search failed to reveal him.
He had gone Immediately after the duelists
had taken their stands, and was then perhaps
a mile from the dueling ground.
81 am mortally wounded" said Bancroft
feebly. $50 for Helene Immediately; want
to see her once more before 1 die"
"But I can't leave you here by YOURSELF"
said Cumming.
"My second, where is hep"
"Gone," replied Cumming. "He left di-
rectly before the duel"
"The coward!'
"Come and assist me to rise, Cumming"
said Hamp. "I'm able to wait on Bancroft
I'm only shot through the arm"
After getting him on his feet he appeared to
be all right, with the exception of his right
arm which hung limp by his side.
True to his word, Hamp proceeded to attend
on Bancroft, getting him as comfortable as
possible by putting his head on his coat which
he pulled off and folded up for him to use for a
pillow.
Cumming started to L. for assistance,
with which he returned in an hour, consisting
of two physicians, who after hurriedly exam
ming Ramps wound and finding it slight
turned their attention to Bancroft, who was
moaning piteously. 1t took them only a
moment to decide that his was fatal, and turn
ing to Cumming, said:
HE cannot possibly live moro than an
hour"
'Did Helene Gomez" feebly asked Ban
croft.
''SLe viii be here directly" answered Cum
ming, accompanied by her father"
'Her father?"
"Ies. lie came last night, and they are &c
leave for his home tomorrow
"She will be too late" moaned Bancroft, "ii
she does not hurry, for I'm dying"
AT that moment voices were heard few
feet away, when Helene, her father and Mrs
Lathrop were seen coming toward them.
They approached slowly until within q few
feet of where Bancroft lay, and then Mr.. Mon
Grief, taking look at the deathly white face
before him, gave a despairing scream and fell
PROSTATE beside the dying man, exclaiming:
"My son my long lost son!"
"NIy fatherl' gasped James Bancroft
en-then--Helene-"
ooh, my darling brother" cried Helene
throwing herself down by the side of Bancroft
and putting his head in her lap; "why didn't
you tell me?"
"Because" -feebly- "I-I-d didn't know itr'
ooh, my boy! my boy!" moaned Mr. Mon
Grief, chow comes this?"
"God forgive me" answered Bancroft, ''for
1 did not know, "but-I-was-in- love
with-my--sistcr!" and he gave one last con-
vulsive gasp and turned over in his sister
} Heleno's lap, corpse.
"But 1 do not understand" said Hamp
show Helene Moncrief can be your daughter
while James Bancroft is your son?'
81 will explain. Directly after my son left
me, fifteen years ago, l married again, my
second wife living only six weeks. Her maiden
name was Moncrief, She became greatly
attached to little Helene, and on her dying
bed requested that let Helene take the name
of Moncrief in lieu of Bancroft, and | con
sented AT three years of age put her il
; Mrs. Lathrop's charge, under the name o.
Helene Moncrief, and from that day until thil
moment Helene and myself have been known
to her by the name OF Moncrief."
James Bancroft was buried the next day a
,, l., large crowd attending, and among tht
chief mourners at the grave was Haml
! Harper. His grief was genuine and the sym
! pathy of the whole village seemed to so out t.
him.
Six months after the events recorded above
Hamp Harper and Helene Bancroft wer
taking what was understood TO be their las
A walk together, for the next day Helene was t
: accompany her father to his old home, wher
: they hoped to forget the terrible ending o
4 their son and brother. Though secretly, tn
) young lovers were as deeply attached one t
$ the other as ever, yet Hamp had never had tn
i courage to mention his love for Helene sine
y that terrible duel. Neither had spoken fc
!, several moments, both doubtless thinking {
/ the parting on the morrow, an event to whic
g Han, ,,,,1l 1or3lxr 1O,l- with ANYTHING iii,