Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-16
A MIDNIGHT DUEL
End of Romance on the Top of q Spur OF
the Blue Ridge,


End of n Romance on the Top of q Spur OF
the Blue Ridge.
There is no doubt" said an old SOL
der yesterday, ''that many 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: 81 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 march? The road winding
with the beautiful river, and overhung
with a majestic chain of Blue Ridge
mountains, while across the crystal
water the magnificent valley. with its
charming cottages dotting the bounte-
Gus land with white-like balls of snow
robed in flowers But the most engag-
ing and lovely objects paled into insig-
nifcance beside the peerless women of
this blessed country, and you may well
believe that when the camp was struck
the soldiers lost no time in making their
way to the surrounding cottages. Soon
the music of the violin was heard and
the shuff1ing feet kept time to the music
while, for time, the soldiers face was
lit with old-time Joy. At one of these
cottages the belle of the valley reigned
supreme, while several Southern SOL
diers We'd with each other in paying
homage to the queen. Among others
Georgia and the other from Mississippi
who were especially energetic in
their attentions, and so marked had
this become that those present watched
the play with constantly increasing in
terest, fully believing that both ex-
hibited a case of love at first sight.
This surmise on the part of those
present was only too true, as the tragic
event which followed 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 a place
in the set. At this point the Mississip-
plan was seen to approach the couple
and heard to claim the lady's hand for
the dance. An alteration ensued, but
both were cool, brave soldiers-two OF
the best shots in the army-who did
not believe in war of words. So it
was ended by the Georgian dancing
with the lady and the significant re-
mark of the Mississippian that Il Will
see you after the set
when the dance was over the Geor-
gian was seen to seek the Mississip-
plan, and together they called each a
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 the night
was any thing but pleasant. No argu-
ment. however, would avail with these
men, so it was arranged that the duel
should take place on the 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 at or between the
words lone, two, three" firing to con-
tinue until one or both were dead.
1.-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 lone"
the report of two pistols rang out on
the midnight air, but the two princi-
pals maintained their respective posi-
tions. The Georgian's left arm was
seen to drop closer to his side. but the
Mississippian was Immovable, and still
held his pistol to the front. Again
pistol shot was heard. coming from the
Georgian, and the Mississippian 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 Mississip-
plans second approached his principal
and found him dead, shot through the
eye on the first discharge of the weap-
on. Death, it seems, had been instan-
taneous, so much so as not even to dis
turb his equilibrium. l may forget
some things. but the midnight duel on
the top of spur of the Blue Ridge,
with its attendant circumstances, is
not one of them.-Detroit Free Press.