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

Let me write down another Of my
grandmother's tales as she related it
to me. II il not betraying her conf
dence in me to do so now after these
long years Again it is my grandmoth-
er who speaks:
Doubtless thou dost wonder why it is
that 30 seldom speak Of my mother
80 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, re.
firing spirit, quite overshadowed by the
masterful nature Of my father. So gen.
tie and quiet was she that no one--least
Of all properly valued her worth un-
til she slipped out Of our lives My ia.
ther openly despised her, though he had
married her for love. think he blamed
her because she had never borne him a
son to take his name
There il romance connected with
her marriage to my father such as the
women Of nowadays could scarcely COM
prehend. Icould never learn the details,
but only hints Of the story. It seems
that she, while quite young girl, be-
came enamored Of 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 be-
ing 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 mother S
home Her father was slowly dying 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, in
deed, but with some little money. My
father most unjustly became suspicious
Of my mother and would no longer al
low her the control Of any money, even
forbidding her to visit her fathers
house. Now comes the most touching
part Of the story. My mothers parents,
deprived Of the support rendered them
by my father. sank into poverty. When
he discovered their condition, Mr. Lang.
ley took them into his own home and
adopted them for his own parents,
maintaining them in comfort until they
died, after which he again left the
neighborhood
My mother accepted her lot with res.
ignation. I used to think. when I waf
young, that she showed lack Of prop.
er pride in thus bowling to my fathers
will. but now I think she was moved
by true piety She understood my ia.
theirs nature better than did. She
knew the impossibility Of making him
change his course Of action by entreat
lea She knew that to have reproachet
him for his ungenerous action woul6
not make him repent Of it. but woulG
have widened the breach between them
10 abe bent before the storm and con
soled her heart by unoeasing prayer.
The beauty Of my mothers NATURE
has been revealed to me by reading hel
Journal which she gave to me, wherein
are set out the doings Of each day, to
gether with her thoughts thereon. It i
beautiful volume. and thou mayes
we'll contrast it with my own poor jour
nal, which thou shalt have ere long.
will read one entry, made abou
three years after my sisters marriage
Of which have told thee. which shall
serve for a text for story. It run
thus: "This day duel was fought be
tween Mr.. Spencer and Mr.. Walling
ford. 'Tis said they quarreled over
play at cards, but fear that Theodor
was the cause, which God forbidi'
Then followed some of the details O
the encounter and my mothers thought
upon the subject I have read this mucl
to show that, though my mother took n
part in what was going on around he,
abe yet observed closely enough to b
able to see below the surface and rea
the hidden workings Of the hearts @
others
Twill first describe the principals il
, this affair. beginning with him wh
, proved himself the hero Of it Mr.. Speu
Ger was q gentleman Of the neighbo,
hood-a short, slight man, with reddis
hair and somewhat prominent blu
, eyea He was distantly related 10 th
famous English General Wolfe. whoz
be Q little resembled in appearance, {
! which fact he was very vain and di
} what he conld in the matter Of dress
heighten the Likeness Personally b
ives Q most agreeable gentleman an
possessed Of considerable talent. q
would often entertain the compsn
/ with recitations from the poets. but b
1 favcsits piece was description Of th
. death Of the hero Of Quebec since b.
. come historic. This piece he would d.
: liver with dramatic effect whepevt
called upon to do 90, until one occasion
J, Of which will tell thee. after whic
!, he could never be induced to recite it.
A party was gathered at the house ,