The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-08-12
AN ODD LITTLE STORY
A ROMANCE THAT ENDED IN TRAGEDY
IN OLD NEW YORK.

ing In tho Society Library and the Coin
cidenoe of a Books Title and Author.
There is an odd story connected with
the New York Society library, which is
fully as interesting as the personality OF
its patrons. The charter of the insti-
tuition was granted in 1772 by George
III, and in those days it was place OF
resort by the fashionable people of the
town. Some time after the war had
ended o young Englishman, who had
been an officer in the British army and
attached to General Howe's staff, visit
ed the library to while away an idle
hour. He became absorbed in his book
and did not notice that he was being
closely watched by man who sat near
him. When he arose to go, he was fol-
lowed to the door and tapped on the
shoulder.
Pardon me- said the stranger,
'sbut were you not soldier in his maj
esty's army some years ago, and were
you not engaged in q hand to hand en-
counter with an American whom you
left for dead ON the field Of honor?"
81 remember the circumstances per-
fectly,'' was the reply. "What do you
know Of it,"
81 am the man with whom you
fought and l have to thank you for
this" pointing to an empty sleeve
Zone of us had to suffer, was the
I reply.
81 am aware of that" answered the
other, land 1 can forgive it, but can
not forgive or forget that you took
from me something more precious than
my arm. You robbed me of my aiflanced
wife. -
The story may be briefly told. Tho
American was engaged to be married to
q beautiful girl, the daughter Of one
Of New Yorl1's most prosperous mer-
chants. She was good and true, and
the day for the marriage had been set.
Ono day her lover quarreled with the
Englishman in q place OF public resort.
The men were strangers to each other.
A challenge followed, and it was agreed
to meet the next morning at daybreak
On the Jersey shore and fight with ra-
piers. Tho American went home to ar-
range his affairs and in the evening
called on his intended bride. His un
usual seriousness aroused her fears, and
she begged to know the cause. The
young man, after r1uch entreaty, told
what he was to do on the morrow. The
young woman swooned, and when she
recovered found that her lover, fearing
that no might be dissuaded, had left
her. She at once dispatched worthy
servant to visit the various public
houses-for there weren' t many of them
and learn, if possible, the place of
rendezvous. The quest was successful,
and at the next morning, after a sleep
less night, the girl was at the meeting
place, but too late TO interfere. The
duel had already taken place, and her
lover lay wounded nigh unto death. He
was taken home and nursed back to life
and strength. Some months later the
young woman met the Engishman at a
social gathering. She did not know
him, nor did he know her. The young
man fell desperately in love.
In less than o month the maiden's
heart had changed, and her affections
were transferred. When she gave up
her engagement ring and told the old
lover the name Of the new one, he
shocked her by the statement that the
Englishman was the man who had so
nearly killed him. There was great
revulsion of feeling. The girl became
i'll, brain fever ensued, and she died
This was what the American referred
to when he met the Englishman in the
old library building. In his excitement
he had carried book which he had
picked up unwittingly with him, and
overcome by the remembrance of his
wrongs, dashed it into the face of his
enemy. The assault was SO sudden that
the Englishman lost his balance and
fell. His head struck the wall, and he
became unconscious The constables
came and took him away When the
attendants rushed out to sec what was
the matter, they picked up a book. One
of thon looked at the title page and
saw that it was called 1.-THE Fate of
the Inoonstant, " and its author, whose
name was not unknown, was the moth
er of tho girl who had Tilted the Amer
lean. The English officer was SO serious
ly injured by the fall that his mind be-
came impaired, and he died some years
after in u private retreat for the insane.
New York Mail and Express.
Tho Mountain Laurel.
1t is certainly strange that Ameri-
can gardeners have paid so little atten-
ton TO tho moulHtain laurel, Kalmia
latifolia, as decorative plant Probably
there is not one laurel planted in this
country for every Thousand rhododen-
drons and azaleas, although the flowers
OF the laurel are not less beautiful. In
deed some good JUDGES consider them
moro beautiful than THE flowers Of any
other American shrub. 1t is, moreover,
an easier plant to ealtivate and much
less particular about soil and exposure.
One OF tho reasons why it has been neg
lected no doubt is that it is a common,
native shrub, and another is that it is
not always an easy matter to procure
well grown plants. Young plants can
be dug up in the woods, but they require
some care and cultivation in the nrrs-
cry before becoming we'll established.
Now, however. small plants covered
with flower buds can be obtained from
Dutch nurserymen by the thousand at
what seems ridiculously low price Al
this time OF the year no other shrub lie