The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-05-10

from Charleston. She was also a beau.
tiiul creature. this Miss IIanton. and
she had brother. cold naughty and
snpercilious. who lived a life OF luxury
and ease
Me, too, was in love with the pretty
Mary. although his cousin.
l..fore many weeks bitter rivalry
srrang up between Lafitte and the
young man. both were together at
the same house, and vcr,' frequently
met. To complicate things the other
young lady. Miss uanton. fell over
whelmingly in love with LATTE. too.
1T was an embarrassing condition
OF affairs for the future pirate. but
with all the gallantry Of his ardent
nature he remained faithful 10 the
young lady who had been his nurse
The rivalry between the two men
became more intense and finally ended
in duel.
II 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
1T was late at night. Hanton called
nj the room OF LATTE and walked in.
lie was received politely. but his over
bearing and insolent manner became
| in.olcrable.
After a cold salutation was passed
llanton turned to the door and locked
it.
Now he said TO LATTE. i demand
| to know the reason of your attempt to
, ingratiate yourself into the affection of
Miss Mornton.
LATTE told the man that his lam
guage was insulting and unwarranted.
~ do not want 10 be trifed with.
said Hanton. What / want is an
apology, and must have IL or you will
never leave this room alive
Il am unarmed.' said LATTE. You
have the privilege of numbering me.
Here's my breast. shoot
" Il again say that you. or one of us.
will not leave this room alive. repeat
ed the enragei man. Here's brace
OF pistols. Take your choice
LATTE took the pistol. He turned
TO walk to the other side Of the room.
lie happened TO cast his eyes around
and saw Iianton in the act OF firing.
1T 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. Tha, was not in
the days Of revolvers. and seeing what
he had done llanton, in a frenzy of
rage. threw his pistol with all bis
might at his rivals head. Still Latitte
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 lianton
dropped to the floor dead man.
From that moment the fate OF La
fitte 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 sympathizei with Lafitte.
but the matter could not be bettered.
The public would accept no explana-
ton. lie was 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. A vessel was TO sail that after
noon for Cuba. a hasty farewell with
the girl he loved and the young fellow
was off.
"He sailed not far from here and go,
away TO the seas.
The story goes that the craft he
sailed on was captured by the pirates
of the gulf and Latitte taken prisoner
TO one Of the keys that line the coas,
Of Florida. In this retreat he was held
captive for two years He learned the
ways of these sea serpents. His proves
and bravery commanded their respect
''In the desperation of despair he
consented to lie their captain. He hat