, 1889-05-16
A MIDNIGHT puEL
On Top OF the Blue Ridge-A Romantie
Story of the Late War.

On Top of the Blue Ridge-A Romantie
Story of the Late War.
There is no doubt that many singu-
lar things occur as we Journey
through life, and he looked as though
memory was struggling with some
sad feature OF his existehce. He sigh
ed as he continued; l remember as
though it were yesterday the march
Of Hills corps along the winding
Shenandoah up 10 the famous Luray
gap. Who could ever forget that
marchf The road winding with the
beautiful river, and overhung with a
majestic chain of Blue Ridge noun
tains, while r the crystal water
the magnificent valley, with its
charming cottages dotting the bounte-
GUS land with white like balls of snow
roped in flowers. But the most en-
gaging and lovely objects paled into
insigniicance 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 in
making their way 10 the surrounding
cottages. Soon the music of the vio-
lin was heard and shutting feet kept
time TO the music, while, for O time,
the soldiers face was lit with old time
~ 80 M VI ScAIlkSo IDO DCAlS
of the valley reigned supreme, while
several southern 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-who were
specially energetic in their attentions,
and SO marked had this become that
those present watched the play with
constantly increasing interest, fully
believing that both exhibited a case of
love at first sight This surmise on
the part of those present was only too
true, u the tragic event which follow
ed fully proved. The Georgian seemed
TO have the lead on the Mississippian,
and when the dancers were called to
take their places, he led the belle of
the valley TO u place in tho set At
this point the Mississippian was seen
TO approach the couple and heard TO
claim the lady's hand for the dance.
An alteration ensucd, but both We're
cool, brave soldiers--two of the best
shots in thearmy-whodid not believe
in a war of words. So it was ended by
the Georgian dancing with the lndy and
the significant remark of the Missis-
sippian, Il will see you after this set"
When the dance was over the Geor-
gian was seer TO seek the Mississip-
plan, and together they called each q
friend from the crowd and departed.
When outside both claimed that an
insult had been passed which could
only be wiped out in the blood of the
other, and that q duel to the death
should be arranged at once. A full
moon was just appearing above the
tops OF tho surrounding forest, and /
tell you this talk of blood in the 81
lence of the night was anything but
pleasant. No argument, however,
would avail with these men, so it was
arranged that the duel should take
place IN top of Blue Ridge, near
the center of the road that passes
through the gap; that tho weapons
should BIO pistols at fifteen PAGES, and
TO fire Mt or between tho words, lone,
two, three" firing to continue until
one or both were dead.
The point vas reached, the ground
measured off, and the men took their
positions without a tremor. The moon
shed its pale light on a scene never TO
be forgotten. A moment or two, and
the silence was broken by the signal:
"Ono, two, three" At the word 'one"
the report of two pistols rang out on
bIlc InlullSIL ulT, DuL Ino principals
maintained their respective positions.
The Georgian's left arm was seen TO
drop closer TO his side, but tho Mis-
sissippian was immovable, and still
held his pistol TO the front Again a
pistol shot was heard, coming from
the Georgian, and tho MissiSsippian
still held his position, but did not fire.
The Georgian protested that he had
not come there TO murder him, but
no answer was returned. The Mis-
sissippian's econd approached his prin-
cipal and found him dead, shot
through the eye on the first discharge
of the weapon. Death, it seems, had
been instantaneous, SO much so as not
even to disturb his equilibrium. Imay
forget some things, but tho midnight
duel o the top Of a spur of the Blue
Ridge, with its attendant circum-
stances, is not one of them.-Detroit
Free Press.