The record-union., 1896-05-24
THE STORY OF A DUEL.

Let me write down another of my
grandmother s tales, as she related il
to me. 1t is not betraying her conf
dence in me to do so now, after these
long years. Again it is my grand
mother who speaks:
Doubtless thou dost wonder why it
is that L so seldom speak of my mother,
so seldom even mention her in my talks
with thee? The reason is that she had
no part in the life that was led around
her. She was of a modest, retiring
spirit, quite overshadowed by the mas
terful nature of my father So gentle
and quiet was she that no one, least
Of all L, properly valued her worth until
she slipped out of our lives. My father
openly despised her. though he had
married her for love. l think he blamed
her because she had never borne him
a son to take his name
There is a romance connected with
her marriage to my father, such as the
women of nowadays could scarcely
comprehend. l could never learn the
details, but only hints of the story. 1t
seems that she, while quite a young
girl, became enamored of a young man
named Langley, who returned her love-
but on account of his poverty they
were not to be betrothed until he could
properly provide for her, and he went
away to seek his fortune. During his
absence my mothers father fell i'll, and
not being able to attend to his business,
his family were brought face to face
with want. About this time my father,
young, rich, handsome, offered mar
riage. My mother, however, declined
his suit. The time went on, and the
stress of poverty was felt in my moth
er's home. Her father was slowly dy-
ing for want of proper treatment, and
when my father renewed his offer it
was accepted.
For some years my mother was hap
py, believe. She was allowed to MAIN
tain her parents, and she had her chill
dren, my sister and myself, but by de-
grees my fathers passion for her grew
cold. Then Mr. Langley returned to
the neighborhood, not with fortune,
indeed, but with some little money. My
father most unjustly became suspi-
cious of my mother, and would no
longer allow her to control any money,
even forbidding her to visit her faith
er's house. Now comes the most touch
ing part of the story. My mothers par
ents deprived of the support rendered
them by my father, sank into poverty.
When he discovered their condition,
Mr.. Langley took them into his own
home and adopted them for his par
ents, maintaining them in comfort un-
til they died, after which he again left
the neighborhOod.
My mother accepted her lot with resig-
nation. I used to think, when l was
young that she showed a lack of proper
pride in thus bowling to my father S
will. but now / think she was moved by
true piety. She understood my father S
nature better than 1 did; she knew the
impossibiiity of making him change his
course of action by entreaties; she knew
that to have reprOached him for his un-
generous action would not make him re-
pent of it. but would have Widened the
breach between them, so she bent be-
fore the storm, and consoled her heart
by unceasing prayer.
The beauty of my mothers nature has
been revealed to me by reading her
journal, which she gave to me, wherein
are set out the doingS of each day, to-
gether with her thoughts thereon. 1t
is a beautiful volume, and thou mayest
well contrast it with my own poor
journal, which thou shalt have ere long.
1 will read the one entry, made about
three years after my sisters marriage,
of which I have told thee, which shall
serve for q text for a story. 1t runs
thus: ''This day a duel was fought be-
tween Mr.. Spencer and Mr.. Wallingford.
Tis said they quareled over a play at
hut I lof 40
cause. which God Forbid Then fol-
lowed some of the details of the en-
counter, and my mothers thoughts on
the subject I have read this much to
show that though my mother took no
part in what was going on around her,
she yet observed closely enough to be
able to see below the surface, and read
the hidden workings of the hearts of
others.
l will first describe the principals in
this affair, beginning with him who
proved himself the hero of it. Mr..
Spencer was a gentleman of the neigh
borhOod, a short, slight man, with red
dish hair and somewhat prominent eyes.
He was distinctly related to the famous
English General Wolfe, whom he a little
resembled in appearance, of which fact
he was very vain, and did what he could
in the matter of dress to highten the
likeness. Personally he was most
agreeable gentleman, and possessed of
considerable talent. He would often en-
tertain the company with recitations
from the poets, but his favorite piece
was description of the death of the
hero of Quebec, since became historic
This piece he would deliver with dra-
matte effect whenever called upon to do
SO, until one occasion, of which 1 will
tell thee, after which he could never be
induced to recite it.
A party was gathered at the house of
a Mr.. Triver, and Mr. Spencer, being
called upon to entertain the guests
commenced his favorite piece. He had
nearly reached the end; the nights of
Abraham were scaled; General Wolfe
lay dying on the ground; the last words
We're waited for in breathless silence;
Mr.. Spencer described the advent of a
messenger: They run! They runn
cried the messenger. Who run?' asked
the dying General" Three blind
mice! interrupted a voice in the COM
pany! The uproar which followed this
sally prevented the continuance of the
piece. Mr.. Spencer took his seat with a.
flush of anger on his cheeks. He was
often made the butt of a joke. and
usually took it goodnaturedly, but this
insult was more than his pride could
brook. In vain our host entreated him
to proceed. He would not be moved.
1t was Mr.. Marriott, an inveterate
joker, who caused the interruption. and
it was thought that Mr.. Spencer would
demand satisfaction, but on the con-
trary, Mr. Marriott advancing with a