River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-06-11

I0EEdulE income aul Only LEEftEAA a " A4t
70 complete his happiness
Miss Nellie Hawthorne, only daugh-
ter OF Judge Hawthorne, was the belle
Of the village. and among her score of
admirers it was plain she preferred Col
Ashley who had been devoted 10 her
since her return from school
Judge Hawthorne and Col Ashley
We're wHrn erSunal friends They
agreed on politics. attended the races
together and backed the same horses,
the judge always placing implicit con-
fidence in the colonels Judgment. The
Judge loved his pretty daughter very
dearly and he was Wei. pleased when
his dearest friend. Col Ashley, asked
and Obta ned his consent to seek the
hand and heart of Nellie. .But / can
not give her mp for a long time yet, "
said the judge, -'and f yen win her
love. Ashley, You must be content 70
wait nv lille before You ask for her
hand"
Col. Ashley pressed his suit at the
court of Cupid and won IL. Pretty Mel
lie Hawthorne blushiugly acknowl-
edged that she loved him very dearly
and would become his wife whenever
her father gave his consent
The colonel had promised to wait
awhile for the wedding, bat in a few
weeks the waiting seemed very long
and he determined 20 see the Judge and
if possible induce him % name the day.
a portion Of Col. Ashley's savings he
had invested in race horses. and he
owned small string of very fine flyers
He had purchased most Of his horses from
Col. Newton Harris. a veteran breeder
Of thOroughbreds. who kept a sale
stable in town. his farm being several
miles in the country. One day Col.
Harris brought in from his farm a very
promising young FLY, and he de
termined To offer her first 10 his friend
Ashley. who wanted to purchase two or
three more fast ones Meeting Ashley
ON the street col. Harris told him about
the tilIv. .-tio down 10 the stable any
time and tell the boys vow want to see
the bay filly. Nellie. You viii buy
her as soon As you have seen her good
points
Col Ashley promised to call at the
stable at the first opportunity.
The same evening the colonel called
10 see Miss Hawthorne. and the happy
lovers agreed that next dav the Judge
should be asked 10 name an early day
for the wedding.
On his way down town the following
morning Col Ashley stopped at the
stable 70 look at the hay illy- When
he arrived At his office he found he
must prepare brief in an important
ease at once. but before he went 10
work he wrote two notes and gave
them TO his office boy 10 deliver As
these two notes proved the beginning
of the correspondence which resulted
in a duel. they are here copied yer
batim. The first was 90 Judge Haw-
thorne, and read a. follows
NY DEAR SIR-I can wait 40 longer. Nellie
has consented 20 be nv wife. know how dear
she Is % you and how hard u will be for you 70
give her up, but shall call on y1u this after
noon. present my ease and plead with you %
sustain the decision OF the lower court and
name an early dag Tor our marriage. Remem-
Der eur future happiness depends on your an
swtr- A. ever, your friend
BEDFORD ASHLEY.
The other note was 10 Col Newton
Harris. and read as follows.
sly DEAR SIR 4 called this morning 20 loyk
a. your iavoritr My Nelly. and must say she
was disappointment Her legs are "a tride
heavy. she i narrow cEestcd AMI her neck is
too short. With al these detects aud the
doubtful retligrec o. her sire IL would be folly
% expect much 81 the nIIy. / do not care 20
a,id her % my string Thanking You Tor your
Offer I am your friend. BEDFORD ASHLEY
Two hours after sending these notes
Col Ashley was in his office busy pre-
pairing a brief The door opened sud
deuly and Judge Iawthorne's secretary
entered with letter in his hand \
emile Of pleasant anticipation was on