The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-06-25


I had risen, and now slipped out Of
the room, but paused at the door to lis.
ten. "You came here to dog mel" cried
MI. wAllineford.
LET us 60 and play cards, replied
Mr.. Spencer. I'VE can easily find cause
for quarrel in our play--if you play as
you played last night, when you won
30 heavily from young Sutton"
The last words were uttered clearly
and deliberately. It was the deadliest
insult that could be offered in those
days, short Of calling q man a coward,
to accuse him of cheating at cards. I
waited with bated breath for the an
swer.
"Iwill break every bone in your body
for this" roared Mr.. Wallingford.
There was bullying swagger in his tone,
not the righteous indignation Of an in
nocent man wrongfully accused.
''Nr. Marriott will receive any mes
sage you send" replied Mr. Spencer.
HE shall have ii" cried Mr.. Wal
lingford, without delay. I have long
wanted to smash you'll
"You are perhaps stronger than I,
returned Mr.. Spencer, yet the battle
is not always to the stronger, especially
when the weapons are pistols, with ten
PAGES between. Now let us join the
others. Will you precede me9"
Upon hearing these words fed away
to my own room, and passed the night
in an agony Of tears and self reproach.
knew that nothing now could prevent
the meeting dared not tell any one
that I knew about it, or else the whole
story would come out, and, moreover, l
had discovered that my idol was not
gold, nor even brass, but clay Of the
basest kind
The meeting was arranged for the
following morning. The details soon
became common gossip. Two seconds
were present on each side besides sur
geon, in case Of accident. 1t seemed a
foregone conclusion that Mr.. Spencer
would lose his life, for he was not cred
tied with much courage, and he was a
most Indifferent marksman. Mr. Spen-
Ger and his friends were first on the
field, followed soon after by the oppo.
site party Mr.. Wallingford looked
pale, but walked with his accustomed
swagger, until he happened to meet his
opponents eye, when he seemed te
cover.
The preliminary arrangements were
soon made, the men stood opposite eacf
other, and at the word both fired to
gether. Mr.. Spencer remained standing
but Mr.. Wallingford was seen to stag
ger and fall upon his face. All the spec
tators crowded round the prostrate man
and the surgeon turned him over to dis
cover the, wound, but could find none
Presently Mr.. Wallingford opened hi
eyes, and they asked him where he wa
hurt. He looked puzzled for a moment
then muttering, II am not hurt, h
got up, and walked off the field alone
His coward heart had failed him befor,
the calm courage Of his opponent.
Not many days afterward Mr.. Wal
lingford found business to take hin
away from the neighborhood. We heard
some months afterward, that he wa
married to wealthy widow in Boston
but we never saw him in our part Of tn
country again.
Mr.. Spencer was, Of course, the her
Of the hour, lionized and honored by ev
cry one. If he had chosen, he coul'
have had the pick Of the bellies Of tn
country, even myself, if he had aske
me again Thou wilt not betray my con
fdence9 have told thee things tina
even my locked journal does not know
I have lived heart to heart with m
husband for over 80 years, and kno1
his every thought, but yet there ar
some little things with which I hav
not thought At to trouble him. Thi
was the only duel fought for me. 1t
dreadful, even now, to reflect that tw
men took their lives in their hands fo
my sake. Il either had died, I think
would have entered q convent, to spen
the rest Of my days in prayer.
Mr. Spencer and I remained goo
friends until his departure for tn
south, which journey he took in tn
spring following the duel. His chiva
rous soul would not allow him to prof
by the advantage he had gained by b
display Of bravery. Instead Of renewin
his suit to me he treated me as brotl
er, nor could ! desire a dearer brotht
than himself. He perceived that WI
interested in the Saxbys, and usual
led our talk to his friends
He told me a curious legend abo,
them, which will repeat 1t seen
that the Saxbys had been Quakers ev'
since the sect was first established, a
ways intermarrying with Quakers. Fl
a number Of generations there had on
been one son in each generation to tai
the name. Daughters had been borl
but only one son. The legend, Mr.. Spel
Ger told me, was that witch had put
curse upon the family, to the effect TIL
the male line should never wax create
and that the family would die out f
want Of an heir to take the name il ev
a Saxby married any but Quaker. M
Spencer says it is a coincidence, and II
coincidence has given rise to the legen
and my husband says it is the will
God, but I-these witches have strani
powers, and have never had q son!