The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-05-11

from Charleston. She was also a beau
tiful creature, this Miss Hanton. and
she had a brother, cold, naughty and
supercilious, who lived a life OF luxury
and ease.
He, too, was in love with the pretty
Mary. although his cousin.
Before many weeks a bitter rivalry
sprang up between Laftte and the
young man. Both were together at
the same house, and very frequently
met To complicate things the other
young lady, Miss Hanton, fell over
whelmingly in love with LATTE. too.
st was an embarrassing condition
of affairs for the future pirate, but
with all the ~gallantry of his ardent
nature he remained faithful to the
young lady who had been his nurse.
THE rivalry between the two men
became more intense and finally ended
in a duel.
81 have often heard my father tell
of the meeting between the two men.
He used to tell it in such a way that
you could see them fighting, almost.
at was late at night. Hanton called
at the room of LATTE and walked in.
He was received politely, but his over
bearing and insolent manner became
in~tolerable.
After a cold salutation was passed
Hanton turned to the door and locked
it.
"'Now, he said to LATTE, L demand
! 70 lynn,- the raaSnn Of pr1r a-fap,nt 70
ingratiate yourself into the affection of
Miss Mornton.'
"Laitte told the man that his lam
guage vas insulting and unwarranted.
81 do not want to be trified with,
said HantOn. What / want is an
apology, and I must haveit or you will
never leave this room alive
81 am unarmed,' said Laitte. You
have the privilege of numbering me.
Here's my breast. shoot'
81 again say that you, or n of US,
will not leave this room alive repeat
ed the enraged man. Here's a brace
of pistols. Take your choice
LATTE took the pistol. He turned
to walk to the other side of the room.
He happened to cast his eyes around
and saw Hanton in the act of firing.
at was too late. Before he could
! speak the young man had fred, but
the ball missed its mark and lodged in
the side of the wall. That was not in
the days of revolvers, and seeing what
he had done Hanton, in a frenzy of
rage, threw his pistol with all his
o,1rl+ - H. r;-,1'- laoI S.;1l T,E++n
had not fired, but his enemy's pistol
struck him on the hand in which the
cooked weapon was held. The shock
caused the hammer to fall, and Hanton
dropped to the floor a dead man.
From hat moment the fate of La
ftte was changed. He was TO be no
longer the quiet. love-sick swain. The
report of the pistol had alarmed the
house. The girl and her father rushed
into the room. She was in Mysteries.
The old man sympathized with Lafitte.
but the matter could not be bettered.
The public would accept no explana-
ton. He was 4 stranger in the cOun-
try and the friends of the dead man
would call for his blood.
He must act quickly. The coast was
not far. \ vessel wa to sail hat after
noon for Cuba. A nasty farewell with
the girl he loved and the young fellow
was off.
ale sailed not far from mere and got
away to the seas.
The story goes that the craft he
sailed on was captured by the pirates
of the gulf and Laitte taken prisoner
to one of the keys that line the coast
of Florida. In this retreat he was held
captive for two years He learned the
ways of these sea serpents. His prowess
and bravery commanded their respect.
In the desperation of despair he
consented TO be their captain. lie had