Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-08-01
AN ODD LITTLE STORY
IN OLD NEW YORK.

IN OLD NEW YORK.
A Duel, a Girls Transferred Affections and
Two Sad Deaths-The Accidental Meet.
cidence of 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 a young Englishman, who had
been an officer i'll 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,
but were you not soldier in his maj
esty's army some years ago, and were
you not engaged in hand to hand en-
counter with an American whom you
left for dead OH the field of honor?"
81 remember the circumstances per-
fectly," was the reply. ''What do you
know of it?''
fl,a xr-l,A
fought, and 1 have to thank you for
this pointing to an empty sleeve.
Zone of us had to suffer-" was the
reply.
81 am aware of that" answered. the
other, "and 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 affianced
wife. -
The story may be briefly told. The
American was engaged to be married to
a 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 quarreled 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 ra-
piers. The American went home to ar
range his affairs and in the evening
called Oh his intended bride. His un-
usual seriousness aroused her fears, and
she begged to know the cause. The
young man, after much entreaty, told
what he was to do on the morrow. The
young woman swooned, and when she
recovered found that her lover, fearing
that he 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 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
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 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 see what was
the matter, they picked up book. One
of them looked at the tf*le page and
saw that it was called ''The Fate of
the Inconstant," and its author, whose
name was not unknown, was the moth
er of the girl who had Tilted the Amer
ican. The English officer was so serious
ly injured by the fall that his mind be-
came impaired, and he died some years
after in private retreat for the insane.
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