Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-08-30


you will surely be hit, general,
5 said OvertOn, rather testify.
Beyond a reasonable doubt,
replied Jackson; 'but what of that
| shall wing him, too, never fearP
'Pye been thinking said Oyer
ton, 'that perhaps it would be best
for you to let him fire first
you mean to receive his fire and
reserve miner
Yes general. If you should try
to FIRE simultaneously on the sig
nal. aud he should hit you second
before you pull the trigger, that
might spoil your aim. Better lei
him fire hastily. You take de-
liberate aim. Your will can con-
troll your pain, even if hit. What
think your
Il think you are right said Jack
son, 'and | will do as you say
That night, at the inn where
they stopped near the chosen
ground, Jackson ate a hearty sup
per, smoked his cOrncOb pike and
conducted himself like an ordinary
geuIal traveller, the landlord, how.
ever, divining his errand and wish.
ing hlm a safe return.
RemOunting early next morning
they found themselves compelled
to swim their horses across the
ford, as no ferryman vas visible to
convey them. Iuto the open heart
of poplar forest they came and
found Dickinson with his second,
surgeon and friends awaiting them.
The usual civilitIes of polite
blood spilling were duly performed,
coins were tossed for choice of
position, which was won by Dick.
lnsOn's second, aud the giving of
the word, which he especially
valued, tell to General Overton.
AS the sun was yet quite low in
the cool heavens, position could not
have counted for much in the way
of Jackson's having a sun dazzle
in his eyes, which has happened to
some duellsts, but 1t Is easy to un'
derstaud that Dicklnson's second
posted his man so that no tree
trunk should make special line
behind him as a guidepOst to Jack
sons aiM. Eight PAGES were
measured off and the men were
placed.
Are you ready, gentlemen
cried Overton.
Il am ready replies Dickinson.
Il am ready replies jackson.
'Fertp
Overton shoots this word from
his mouth with the old rustic
pronunciation coming back to him
in his intense excitement, it beng
common phenomenon that Sec
onds are often not so cool as their
principals.
Hardly had the word lett his
lips, when ball left Dlcklnson's
pistol. OvertOn's keen eyes noted
a tiny puff of dust on the left
breast of Jackson and saw the LETT
hand 90 slowly to the breast, bot
his man stood firm as one of The
neighboring poplars. Dickinson
recoiled a few steps IN amaze
ment and angry despair.
'Hsye | missed the scoundrelP p
he calculated, vlndictively.
Probably that cry of quenchless
hate cost him his life. Jackson
was the klud of man who often
suffers from the temptation to be
magnanimous. But magnanImity
with Dickinson would have forced
another fight, perhaps a street
affray.
Back to the line, sirp shouted
G neral Overton, laying his hand
on his pistol.
Dickinson recovered his courage
though not his color. Pale as
paper, with naughty, flashing eyes
he walked with facIle grace forward
to the line and stood up to be kill
ed like a gentleman.
Pltifully the torture to his false
pride aud his Jared nerves wa:
prolonged by the whim of accident
as Jackson's unusually tall figure
seemed TO tower over that OF
! Dickinson.
r When Jackson raised his pisto
slowIy-it having been agreed al
the start that the weapons should
be held downward-the pisto
snapped and caught at half cock
{ To resdjust it took, Of course, an
} other awful moment full of murder
Then came the fash aud the crash.
], Dickinson's white face grew still
3 more ghastly, shadOwy, shostly
He reeIed aud fell backward with
I a smothered shrek. j ackson'i
holIet had struck him below the