The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-12-03

I Some fffty years ago there lived in the
west of Ireland certain Captain Fenton
This nan bad gained an unenviable no
toriety in MS own and the neighboring
counties as successful dnelist- Not only
was he known-to make the most trivial
dispute pretext for a challenge, but il
was even reported that, on more than
one occasion, he purposely provoked s
quarrel The meeting, IN nearly every
! Instance, ended disastrOusly to his oppo-
nent. 49, AN
He had the reputation Of being an un-
erring shot Cooiiy and coIlectedly ne
stepped to his place, took steady aim, al
most invariably bringing down bis
man. @
/ twill, therefore, be readily conceived
that he was dreaded and Stunned by his
neighbors. He was bachelor, and liv-
ed alone in large, ancient country man
sion.
At that time there happened to be a
line regiment stationed in the neigh bor-
I ing town of Galway. Captain Fsnton was
on terms of intimacy with some of the
officers, and, though far from being gen
eral fayoriie, it not infrequently occurred
that be dined at the mess on guest night.
But whenever be was present an air Of
restraint pervzded the assembly The
dinner was sure to be spiritless affair,
and always lacked the tone Of -good-fel-
lowship which usually eharscterizes such
entertainments.
THfs s.2Ay Ia measure be sss-1aantad
| for by the fact that the captain was Of q
morose, hasghty disposition. His conver-
satiou generals displayed bitter sar-
casm. Moreover. all present were aware
hf his fame as duelist This knowledge
rendered them more cautious in speech,
lest a chance word or expression should
afford him sufficient grounds for picking
a quarrel.
About six months after its arrival in
Galway the regiment was joined by a
Junior suhzltefn- lie was a mere lad,
being still in his teens; yet, BY all -ae-
counts, he was a fine. soldierly young
fellow. He gave every promise of max
ing a splendid officer, and but a few
weeks sufficed TO establish him az ia
vorite.
Bot alas Only a short time elapsed
before he had the misfortune TO fall foul
Of Captain Fenton. Though have heard
the story from those who dweit in the
place who we're fully acquainted with eve
nv detail, yet have never been able to
ascertain the exact couse Of the Disagree
ment However. certain * that chal-
lenge was given and accepted. TIE affair
was kept as secret as possible, and at the
appointed time the meeting took place,
/ in the corner Of a meadow, half a mile
I from ths barracks
twas bright spring morning. The
peaceful aspect OF nature formed terri
BE contrast TO the awful business which
had brought those fne men 50 early to
this lonely spot Not,nuch time was lost
in preparations The eombatants were
placed. the pistols loaded, and the sec
onds retired. The young officer stood
with the full front Of bis body presented
to his opponent. He was novice in
such Affairs, poor boy Il is even said
that at the precise moment of firing he
insoluntArily closed his eyes. If such
was the case, he never opened them again
in this world His adversary's ball pass
ed right through his heart
The surgeon ran for y ard andraiSed the
fallen youth. A hasiy examination
showed him that he held corpse in his
arms. While he was thus engaged, Cap
tain Fenion was occupied in . very diff
ferent manner. lie. was carelessly cut
ting notch on the stoci of his pistol.
There we're seven other marks of simi-
lar description, and each enc represented
victim to whom that weapon bad dealt
death.
A stretcher vas brought from the bar
racks and the corpse was soaveyed there
without delay. The affair would doubt
less have created pround sensation,
but for obvious reasons those engaged
In ii wese careful to let Is er particulars
as possible leah out Tbefriends OF the
deceased were communicated with. There
seemed little likelihood d any unpleas-
ant consequences ensuing Captain Fen.
ian dined alone thai esenng. and after
dinner sat for over an hGir slipping his
claret with evident enpyment. One
more or less to the list of ais victims was
a matter of little account D him; it Was
certainly not of sufficient importance to
disturb his equanimity- -
But on the third day sartling change
took place in the aspect Of Affairs. A
youn man, trayel-stained, ale and bag
gsrd. arrived in theto He proceeded
at once to she barracks. md announced
himself as & brother oftheieceased. He
was conducted TO the room in which the
body was laid. They say be scene that
followed was Of the most extraordinary
description The strangerfrne himself
upon the corpse, and. as h'lay there. his
whole frame Was shaken " convulsiye
sobs-
1t quickly transpired tha the brothers
had been len orphans vhn mere lads.
They we're be.only ehiidrn of the fani-
ly. and fhroneh boyhood hsd ciusg to
| each other, fsehng that tey were alone