Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-08-08
A PUT Up JOB.

One Of our men, Harry Blanton, was q
vain fellow and very crcdulouS. Passing n
farmhouse near by, he made eyes TO girl
on the veranda, and her father, seeing it
all, ordered his daughter into the house.
Harry came on into camp aglow with
excitement and was soon telling us what
had happened. He admitted he had be-
come smitten with the lady's charms and
was satisfied she was desperately in love
with him.
We all deeply sympathized with him,
and one OF us suggested 70 him that if he
wished to write 10 the girl he would con-
trive in some way to deliver the letter and
get reply if possible. Harry jumped at
this at once and off he went TO write the
letter, with which he returned in n couple
of hours We begged to be allowed TO read
it, but no, no, he could not do that. He
wanted the messenger to start at once so
impatient was he, but was told great eau
ton had to be exercised and favorable
opportunity present itself, so he had to be
content.
In day or two another letter was writ
ten by Harry and soon as possible deliy
cred and reply received. In the course Of
ten days some four or five letters were sent
and replied to. In his last he insisted on a
meeting, if only for few minutes-beggcd
her to arrange one Immediately. In her
reply the lady said she was willing
eager in fact-but her father and brothers
were suspicious and watched her very
closely. However, for his sake she would
take great risks. At 8 O'Clock that night,
she said, she would try to slip away from
the house and go to II certain peach tree
that was in the field back of the house and
for him TO meet her there
To say that Blanton was happy does
not describe it, In the meantime we had
induced young soldier who was small,
slim and bcardlcss to help US. He was n
great wag and fun of fun and eagerly
went into the scheme The country was
secured, and u woman's dress and sun
bonnet secured and all preparations made.
A short time after dark Blanton was no
ticed to slip out of camp and move toward
tho field. The night was dark, and he
went slowly, though finally reached tho
designated tree, and sure enough after
few minutes waiting his beloved came
tripping to the trySting spot They wcro
so glad to meet, and Harry was disposed
TO be very loving and atTcctionate, but his
ladylove was COY. The conversation was
ing sweet time when gun was sudden
ly fired near them from the direction of n
house, and mans voice angrily OK
claimed: "Oh, you scoundrcl! | intend to
kill you!"
The pair were terrified, and the girl fell
to sobbng, telling Harry her father would
nearly kill her, and it would be torment
for her to live at home after that, and, oh,
~. l.
in n cold perspiration What was to bo
done? He had an ideal And after whis
pering fcw words to the girl clinging to
him the pair turned and sped across tho
field toward the camp, the brother follow
ing Us best he could in the dark and swear
ing loudly what he meant to do whcn he
caught them. Harry and his girl reached
the fence cleared it in II second and hur-
ried on to camp. Just before reaching
there they ran upon several of us taking u
walk, just by accident of course, in that
direction. An explanation followed. Harry
asked us to help him and what was best to
be done.
After talking it over hurriedly it was
decided that the only course left was for
Blanton to marry the girl and at once, to
which the pair agreed, A proper soldier
was hunted up to act as the minister, and
Blanton and the girl, who had been car
ricd into u tent, were now brought out,
told to join hands and stand in front Of
the minister and by the dim light of the
campfire the marriage ceremony proceed
ed. 1t proceeded SO far rs to secure Harry $
affirmative response, but no further, for at
that point shout was heard, and up
rushed tho brother Of the girl, shouting
and swearing, hunting for Harry Blanton,
whom he meant to kill on sight.
Tho half married couple were hurried
into tent by some of the boys, while the
rest of them gathered around the half
brother in-law, explained matters to him
and tried to pacify him, But nothing
would do. Hrs feelings had been too much
outraged, and have satisfaction he would.
He meant to kill Blanton. He consented,
however, after much argument with him.
to give Blanton u chance by fighting II
duel with HIM then and there. Blanton
was not spelling for fight, hut we told
him it was better to fight the duel than to
be shot down like a dog without a chance,
With great reluctance he consented. He
was brought ont placed near the camp
fire and pistol put in his hand. His op.
ponent stood opposite him with pistol
ready also.
Tho word Ready" was called, and then
"Firo!' There were two reports, and the
half brother-in-law fell to the ground, and
some one told Blanton he was shot through
the breast and was dying. Blanton was
Mortified At his query Of what to do he
was told to leave for the upper country,
otherwise he would probably be court
martialed and shot. The heartbrokcn
wife bade him sorrowful goodby, and he
lit out horribly bewildcred. There only
in few hours, he had been hurried
through marriage. II duel and murder.
Now, his only and direct way out was to
cross Johnson : bayou at a bridge about IA
miles distant Al this bridge was sta
toned a guartl--a fact Blanton was not
aware of-for the purpose Of detaining de
serters, spies, etc About daylight the
guards discovered u man approaching
whom they promptly arrested. II proved
to be Harry Blanton, and a forlorn look
ing captive they had-tired out, wet and
half frozen. As the guard knew nothing
of the affair ana as Blanton would give no
satisfactory answer concerning his appear
ance he was at once sent with small de-
tail back to the fort where he was taken
81 Ia