Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-06-14
A MIDNIGHT ,.A'.L.
On the Top OF the Blue Ridge
A Romantic Story O. ne Late

~ oN'fJ w IosO
War.
There ia no doubt" o.. an old
soldier yesterday "that singular
things occur as we journey through
life, +" and he looked as though memory
was struggling with some sad feature
of his existence. He sighed as he con-
tinued: Il remember as though it
was yesterday, the march OF Hills
corps along the winding Shenandoah
up to the famous Luray gap. Who
could ever forget that marchP The
road winding with the beauti full river,
and overhung with IA majestic chain of
Blue Ridge Mountains, while across the
crystal water the magnificent valley,
with its charming cottages dotting the
bounteous land with white-like balls OF
snow ROBBED in flowers. But the most
engaging and lovely objects paled into
insignificance beside the peerless wo-
men of this blessed country, and you
may well believe that when The camp
was struck the soldiers lost no time III
making their way 10 the surrounding
cottages. Soon the music of the violin
was heard and the shutting feet kept
time TO the music, while, for
a time. the soldiers face was
lit with old-time JOY. At one of
these cottages the belle of the valley
reigned supreme, while several south
ern soldiers We'd with each other in
paying homage to the queen. Among
others were two young soldiers One
from Georgia and the other from
Mississippi were specially ener-
getic in their attentions. and SO mark
ed had this become that those present
watched the play with constantly in
creasing interest, fully believing that
both exhibited "a case of love at first
sight This surmise on the part OF
those present was only to true, as
the tragic event which followed fully
proved. The Georgian seemed to have
the lead on the Mississippian, and
when the dancers We're called To take
their places. he led the belle OF the
valley to place in the set. AT this
point the Mississippian was seen TO APP
proach the couple and heard to claim
the lady's hand for the dance. An
alteration els.cl, but both were cool,
brave soldiers two of the best shots
in the army-who did not believe in Il
war Of words. SO it was ended by the
Georgian dancing with the lady and the
significant remark of the Mississippian
that Il will see you alter this set
when the dance was over the
Georgian was seen TO seek the Missis-
sippian, and together they called each
friend from the crowd and departed.
When outside both claimed that an in
suit had been passed which could only
be wiped out in the blood of the other,
and that duel TO the death should be
arranged at once. A full moon was
just appearing above the tops OF the
surrounding forest, and | tell you this
talk of blood in the silence Of night was
anything but pleasant. No argument,
however, would avail with these men.
so it was arranged that the duel should
take place on top OF Blue Ridge, near
the center of the road that passes
through the gap; that the weapons
should be pistols at fifteen PAGES, and
to fire between the words, zone. two,
three" firing TO continue until one or
both were dead
The point was reached, the ground
measured off. and the men took their
positions without "a tremor The moon
shed its pale light on scene never TO
be forgotten. A moment or two, and
the silence was broken by the signal:
Zone, two, three At the word one
the report of two pistols rang out on
the midnight air. but the principals
maintained their respective positions.
The Georgian's left arm was seen to
drop closer to his side. but the Missis-
sippian still held his position, but he
did not fire. The Georgian protested
that he had not come there to murder
him, but no answer was returned.
The Mississippian' second approached
his principal and found him dead, shot
through the eye on the first discharge
of the weapon. De lth, it seems, had
been instantaneous, so much so as not
even TO disturb his equilibrium. Imay
forget some things, but the midnight
duel on the top OF "a spur of the Blue
Ridge. with its attendant circumstances,
is not one of them. Detroit Free
Press.