The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-25
THREW THE BOOK
The Tragic Story Of New Yorks
Society Library.
How the Transference Of Young Girls
Love Resulted in a Duel and Two
sad Desths-A Strange
Meeting.

There is an odd little story connected
with the New York society library,
which. as related by the Mail and Ex-
press, is fully as interesting as the per
sonality Of its patrons The charter OF
the institution was granted in I772 bv
George III, and IN those DAYS At was a
place OF resort by the fashionable peo-
pie OF the town. Some time after the
war had ended q young Englishman
who had been an officer N the British
army and attached to Gen. Howe's
star visited 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
20 he was followed 20 the door and
tapped on the shoulder.
Pardon me, said the stranger, but
We're you not q soldier in his majesty's
army some years ago, and were Won not
engaged in hand-to-hand encounter
with an American whom you left for
dead on the field OF hOnor?7
y remember the circumstance per-
fectly," was the reply. What do you
know OF it?'
lam the man with whom you fought,
and I have TO thank you for this, -
pointing to an empty sleeve.
''One of us had TO suffer-" was the
reply.
Il am aware Of that" answered the
other, and l 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 at
famed wife"
The story may be briefly told. The
American was engaged to be married
to beautiful girl, the daughter of one
of New York's most prosperous mer-
chants. She was good and true and
the day for the marriage had been set.
One day her lover qusrreled with the
Englishman in 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
rapiers. The American went home to
arrange his affairs and in the evening
usual seriousness aroused her fears and
she begged to know the cause. The
young man, after much entreaty, told
what he was to do or the morrow. The
young woman swooned, and when she
recovered found that her lover, fear
ing that he might be dissuaded,
had left her. She at once dispatched
public houses-for there weren't many
of then-and learn, if possible, the
place of rendezvous. The quest was
successful, and at seven the next morn
ing, after a sleepless 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 Englishman at
a social gathering. She did not know
him, nor did he know her. The young
man fell desperately in love. In less
than a 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 50
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 carried a book which he had picked
up unwittingly with him. and, over
come by the remembrance of his
wrongs, dashed il into the face Of the
ensmv. The assault was so sudden
that the Englishman lost his balance
and fell. His head struck the wall
and he became unconscious. The con-
stables came and took him away.
When the attendants rushed out 70 see
what was the matter they picked up
book. One Of them looked at the title
page and saw that it was called The
Fate Of the Inconstant,' and its author,
whose name was not unknown. was
the mother Of the girl who Tilted the
American. The English officer was 80
seriously injured by the fall that his
mind became impaired, and he died
some years after IN private retreat for
the insane.