The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-29
The DUEL IN THE DARK.
story of a Southern Thanksgiving in
Buck Forest.


500 my dears, said Miss Pepper, who
was like a sweet faded old rose in the
group of eager young women about her,
o,bs trouble with Jack Brice was this:
He was heels over head in love with my
cousin, Margery Lee, but he was too poor
to marry,
He lived with his uncle, Tom Brice of
the Mansion House-old Squire Brice, as
all the country called him. though he
wasn't more than so; and naturally when
they both came counting Margery, her
father favored the squire's suit most
But Margery favored Jacks and showed
it openly.
"A man may be as rich as Croesus, but
when he's choleric and up in years-none
TOO good in the bargain-he needn't ex-
pect to make much Roadway with a love-
sick girl of 20. Long-legged Jacks good
looks outweighed the squire's gold, but
when her father found out which way the
wind was blowing he forbade Marcy to
see him again. She said nothing, for she
was not a girl to talk. But every night she
wrote him a long letter, that she would
hide in a hollow tree stump, and that
Jack would come and take away.
Sometimes, too, in the early morning,
hardly daylight she would jump on her
bay mare, Hornet, and dash two miles
down the river to the ford, where Jack
would be waiting, and would swim his
horse over from the other side, just to
have five minutes talk with her.
All but they were in love, l can tell
YOU, And l never saw a better matched
pair-both so good looking, both so full
Of life!
Whether my uncle ever heard of their
goings on I don't know. But he stopped
talking against Jack and urging the
sources suit. He only told us, Marcy and
me both, for l lived with them, that old
Tom had him in his power and could ruin
A him and now that she wouldn't marry
i him. he was going to take his revenge.
Then he fell sick and seemed likely to
die and my poor cousin was in terrible
"A quandary.
she loved Jack, but she loved her ia
"A Their too. And she felt it was worry that
was killing him.
"One terrible night, when we were al
most expecting my uncle to breathe his
last, Margery fell on her knees and prom
ised she'd marry the squire, and he at
once began to get better with astonish-
ing quiCkness.
"A
y cold letter. that she sat two days over
that he tore in half and sert back to her,
n and then left the country on top of it.
This left the field of love open to the
N squire, and he made the most of it, coming
every afternoon to our place, .spruced up
f like a young man, in a light black suit,
and with his hair combed over his bald
n spot
He would send Marcy elegant presents,
& too. And sometimes a love letter, fine,
81 proper love letter, calling her red rose
with the dew on it. a black-eyed gypsy,
or some such prettiness, all of which
you may be sure, though, only l ever
read
n Meanwhile the wedding arrangements
were going on with wicked hurry. My
Il uncle seemed like one possessed to have
n it over with. And Marcy, numb with mis-
cry and worn to a shadow with longing
for Jack, said nothing. Perhaps she was
afraid if too long put off she would lose
courage for the sacrifice; perhaps she
d was all the time hoping and praying
as women can pray sometimes-for the
VERY daring thing that did happen.
vi That night, remember, - stormed
IA The wind howled. and all along the coun-
III try road the big oaks swung their arms
and creaked as if ready to fall on our
rumbling old carriage.
'It was Thanksgiving night, festival
not in favor in the south in those days, and
& We were going to the mansion house TO
8 a family dinner. The wedding was only
FL Three days off now, and the Squire had
taken fancy to keep it in honor OF his
coming happiness.
III When we rolled up to the open doorway
There he was, magnificent in rosebud
Saun waistcOat, and with flower in his
bp'tonhole, for all the world like be-
oecEed old turkey cock!
\ Welcome to the mansion house he
Ad gayly as 1 bundled up the stairs
First
And then to Marcy, though quite loud
Aough for me to hear: In three short
meaning, of course, the marriage
may was to leave her in his home forever.
\ one WINGED as if he had struck her,
lace as white as her muslin frock,
n4 ! verify believe that if he hadn't
"aHel her into the dining room on his
4 I'D She would have fallen.
\ h., nat sort Of dinner did they have?
4 Wy, the best in the world, you may be
. me mansion house was the finest place
ue eounty-for that matter, in all
oIn Carolna-and the Squire knew
ol nVlnE and the big mahogany table
ny sloaned under cutglass and silver.
\ lhcle and l were at each side and
- was at the foot in the place OF
N 'N'I Where, three times a day she was
4 W." 10 lace old Tom, until death should
Il 'IiuIy take one or the other of them
Vi the world. None Of us talked
" none, even my uncle, who was
rlllhs goblet after goblet of wine to
AVN his thoughts. And when the
,Ie stood up suddenly with his cham,
-'J"e glass TO toast the bride-a frozen
mat looked ready for the tomb
3ilowed NP''0''
y 40 the brider repeated the squire,
h .aIiul laugh
( o, me deyil you mean; to the devil,
n I'd. ~ NNlaln' said a voice. He gave
n oa., money enough 10 buy a wife, 80
him deepr
4 .i mere IN the middle OF the floor.
.r.,, 10Y jump through the flung up
t was Jack his clothes covered
.t'. ana Satan IN his eye
'. love poisoned by wounded van
t .oe. my dears. may sleep druFged
d. ...' hni the time viii come when n
IKE O. tiger for what lt feels ~
H. ..F had been ihe case with Jnck.
..... now almost mnddened with
over ihe comiuE wedding
.., 'lhs PUPPY roared the squire.
OH. ..N hpH MOI 40 come here uraiuW