Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-21
TWO STRANGERS IN A DUEL.
A story of n Meeting ON tho Field OF Honor
I'm the Days Before the War.
Now York Tribune.i

Now York Tribunei
81 have seen one duel IN my life" he
aid. II do not believe IN duelling, OF
coursc. but since that duel have not had
the horror Of il when ] felt before. IL did
not seem like murder: 1t did not seem even
brutal 10 me.
II was m New Orleans and was sitting
late one night in the hotel corridor. inter
Gated in a discussion ably conducted by
both sides. II was on thet subject which
then hung upon every mans lips. Both
men wore handsome, middle-aged, and re-
fined-looking. The conversation became
more and more heated until one Of the men
said stcrnly:
sir
~ have spoken what believed to BIO
the truth. said the otherman calmly, and
| cannot change my sentiment
Then you offer TO give me satistac-
tom said the other
"' In what way, sirl'
"As gentlemen give satisfaction
al do not fight duels, said the other,
paling slightly.
80 Not when you have insulted man p
"'No.i
You arc not n coward answered the
other. That is plain 10 see ] ask you as
a gentleman 10 give me satisfaction
The man from the North looked az him
steadily.
~ cannot kill n man. he said.
THE other gave him look which was
almost one Of appeal.
"'If you do not give me satisfaction
he said, or Tetract, and | see you Will not
do that, l shall feel Ikea hound
VERY we'll answered the other simply,
when shall IT bef'
"'A As soon az possible
The southerner excused himself to
find a second. The northern man turned
to me. .,,
you act az my secondE
80 don't believe in duels, | answered,
feeling ashamed TO refuse HIM.
"'ho more do ]. ne replied coldly.
81 hesitated and consented. The four
of us were driven below the city. shall
not forget the place where the duel was
fought We turned into plantation at a
point Of the road where stood majestic
pecan-tree which seemed 70 bow grayely
a. tine wind rustled softly through Its
branches. and the trailing moss swayed
gently. Dawn was breaking and over the
Mississippi hung low mist. The DISTANCE
was paced of by the second of nv new
friends adversary, for | was absolutely
useless.
For soma reason my principal took OF
his coat and waistcOat, and the other man
did tho Same thing. They both seemed
at their ease. In the grayness OF the
morning the white of Their shirts was
beautifully clear and pleasing. They
took their positions quietly. No one bad
epokeu "A word since we had entered tho
field. My friend raised his hand and
looked careleesly nj his revolver.
Gentlemen he said. calmly, 1 have
never shot at man IN my life. This Is not
"Tlooked at the southern duellist. His
face whitened at this. but he was cool and
graceful IN his bearing.
Il forgot my principles. There was
nothing brutal, unclvillzed; or cruel ABOUT
this IL was beautiful. The calmness OF
the scene was exquisite. Both men faced
each other as If they were paying compl-
ments. There was grace about their pos
ture that charmed me. At that moment II
seemed TO me that TO kill man in so
delicate q way was the refinement OF cour-
tesy. O.,,
=" Gentlemen. are you ready? OneP
Two whlte-slceved arms was all that saw.
| did not hear the rest-not even the shots.
| saw the arms 20 up slowly, stralghten
ont sharply. something like released
springs. and the southern man was In the
damp grass, bright stain on his wnlte
shirt. Nv friend was leaning over nm,
peerlng anxiOuslv in the wounded mans
face. When / ran up the one who was shot
was very white.
80 Henry he said TO his second take
every care for this gentleman's safety and
he tainted.
Perhaps this was one OF the most re-
markable duels ever fought. i, an unwlll-
inc second. did not know the name OF the
principal whom assisted. / did not even
know the cause of the duel. Each prlnci-
pal was ignorant of the name Of the other.
The only two men who knew. each other
were the southern man and his second.
But |. who believed duelling to be muir
der. found 1t, when forced TO play part IN
a duel, fascinating picture. the like OF
which | have never before or since seem"