The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-05-16
A KENTUCKY DUEL.

true Kentucky gentleman, loved last
horses and pretty women. At the
age of 40 Colonel Ashley was prose-
cutting attorney in his native town,
stood at the head of his profession in
estimation, enjoyed q COM
Portable income and only needed a
wife to complete his happiness.
Miss Nellie Hawthorne, the only
daughter of Judge Hawthorne, was
the belle of the village, and among
her score of admirers it was plain
she preferred Colonel Ashley, who
had been devoted to her since her
return from school.
Judge Hawthorne and Colonel
Ashley were warm personal friends.
They agreed on politics, attended
the races together and backed the
same horses, the Judge always
placing implicit confidence in the
Colonels judgment. The Judge
loved his pretty daughter very dear
ly and he was we'll pleased when
his dearest friend, Colonel Ashley,
asked and obtained his consent to
seek the hand and heart of Nellie.
But / cannot give her up for long
time yet," said the Judge, land if
you win her love, Ashley, you must
be content to wait awhile before
YOU ask for her hand"
Colonel Ashley pressed his suit
at the court of Cupid and won it.
Pretty Nellie Hawthorne blushingiy
acknowledged 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, but in a
few weeks the waiting seemed very
long and he determined to see the
Judge and if possible induce him
to name the day.
A portion of Colonel Ashley's saw
ings he had invested in race-horses,
and he owned small string of very
fine flyers. He had purchased most
of his horses from Colonel Newton
Harris, veteran breeder Of thor
oughbreds, who kept a sale stable in
town, his farm being several miles
in the country. One day Colonel
Harris brought in from his farm
very promising young filly, and
determined to offer her first to his
friend Ashley, who wanted to pur-
chase two or three more fast ones.
Meeting Ashley on the street Col.
Harris told him about the filly,
"Go down to the stable any time
and tell the boys you want to see
the bay filly, Nellie. You will buy
her as soon you have seen her good
points"
Colonel Ashley promised to call at
the stable at the first opportunity.
The same evening the Colonel
called to see Miss Hawthorne, ane
the happy lovers agreed that next
day the Judge should be asked te
name an early day for the wedding
On his way down town the fol
lowing morning Colonel Ashley
stopped at the stable to look at ths
bav filly. When he arrived at hi
office he found that he must pre-
pare a brief in an important case
at once, but before he went to worl
he wrote two notes and gave then
to his office boy to deliver. AS thes'
two notes proved the beginning o
the correspondence which resulted
| in a duel, they are here copied yer
batim. The first was to Judge Haw
thorne, and read as follows:
Nv Dear Sir: I can wait no Longer
Nellie has consented to be my wife.
know how dear she is to you and ho'
hard it will be for you to give her VI
but / shall call on you this Afternoon
present my case and plead with you t
sustain the decision OF the lower coui
and name an early day for our marrias.
Remember our future happiness depend
on your answer. AS ever, your friend,
BEDFORD ASHLEY.
The other note was to Colone
Newton Harris and read as follows
Hv Dear SIR: I called this morning
J look at your favOrIte filly, Nellie, an
must saw she was disappointment. He
, legs are a tr,fle heavy, she is narro
chested and hel neck is too short. Wit
al, these defects and the doubtful ped
, gree of her sire it would be folly to e.
peut much of the ally. do not care
add her to my string. Thanking you &c
your offer am, your friend.
BEDFORD ASHLEY.
Two hours after sending thes
notes Colonel Ashley was in n
office busy preparing a brief. In
door opened suddenly and jude
Hawthorne's secretary entered wit
a letter in his hand. A smile OF rlea
ant anticipation was on Colon
Ashley's face as he opened the lie
ter. but as he glanced at it's col
tents his countenance underwent
. great change. The letter was fro'
> Judge Hawthorne and read:
.Sir:: shall not ask or accept any e
planation of the outrageous insults Col
tained in your letter Of this date.
demand that YOU at once make tull ape
ocy, both to my daughter and myself."