Smyrna times., 1896-02-26
WHEN VIRTUE LOST.
q STORY TO PROVE THAT RIGHT DOES
NOT ALWAYS COME UPPERMOsT.


NSToRYTO PROVE THAT RIGHT DOES
! NOT ALWAYS CONE UPPERMOsT.
= Remarkable Tale of Love and Tragedy
In Southern TOwn-The Fatal Work
of Two Bullets Fired by Enraged Rivals.
Tho End of Foolish Girl.
Star reporter was one of group in
a hotel lobby the other evening and a
New York drummer had Just finished a
story ON the old line of virtue triumph
ing and the villain of the plot getting
his just dues this side of the hot place.
when Kentucky congressman took the
floor.
THAT sort Of thing" he said. els
well enough in books and ON the stage
rnd am willing to agree that it han
| pens III actual life, but not always Let
me cite an instance to the contrary"
There being no objection to the cita-
ton, the Kentuckian, after casting his
eye over the company, proceeded:
Years ago, i'll a southern town. " he
said, there lived a pretty girl with a
lot OF mOney-a combination nomau can
deny the power Of-and she had sweet
| hearts galore, but two Of her devotees.
one quite reputable man and the other
quite as disreputable, and after her more
Tor her money than herself, led all the
rest, and both Of them were nervy men
and quick on the trigger. Any sensible
person would have thought that the pirJ
would have decided very early as be-
tween the good and the bad but everv
one knows that women don't do that
way in matters of the heart.
VIII say for her, though, that her
preferences were for the decent man and
he stood the best chance of WINNING
among all Of the contestants. His dis.
reputable rival, however, received more
or less encouragement and he was max
ing a hot fight-so hot, in fact, that ON
on1 or two occasions the men had come |
10 blows and once, at least, pistols had |
been drawn. The girl was foolish. as |
other women have been under like cir
cumstances, and rather enjoyed the DO.
sltlon she occupied, and felt flattered bv
the dangerous rivalry for her hand and
heart. One day, though, it eliminated
traglcally, and the girl didn't regret it.
that anybody ever heard her mention. II
was III the afternoon and a pleasant dav
and the two rivals met unexpectedly.
just across the street from her house.
and each on his way to call on her.
The girl lived on a corner and tbev
were approaching from different streets
and almost butted into each other at the
crossing. That was hardly the place to
have it out, but they were hot blooded
and young and on the instant two men
jumped back from each other few feet
two pistols flew from two hip pockets.
TWO sharp reports rang out upon the
air, and one man fell to the sidewalk.
dead. And it wasn't the bad man.
either. On the contrary, it was the repu-
table one, and there was bullet hole
straight through his forehead. The had
man s shot had preceded the other inst
enough, and the decent mans pistol
went off as he threw mp his hands. Five
minutes later the whole street was in an
uproar, and the bad man was in custody.
The other man was carried over TO the
girls house, for it was not known then
that he was dead, and a physician was
called. Half an hour later the dead body
was removed to an undertaker's. and
that part of the tragedy was over.
During all the excitement. the GIRL
had not made her appearance, and as
soon as the air quieted little search
was made for her, because it was known
that she had been in the house shortly
before the shooting Her mother went
alfectly to her room, and when she
opaned the door, she saw her daughter
sitting at the window, or rather leaning /
npon flower shelf on the window sill. ,
and her first thought was that the girl
had seen the shooting and had tainted.
She ran to her and lifted her up and as
she did SO she found her face bloody and
the girls body almost stiff. She ran.
screaming, out, and when the doctor {
came he found dead girl with a bullet
Bole in her head
Further examination showed a hole 4;
N the glass of the window, and the !
whole story was told. The girl had been
Suing there, and had no doubt seen the 8
meeting OF the two men, and the builet I
from the killed mans pistol had reached e
lef there and ended her life at the same Il
lime the life Of the man she wonld have
married went out. OF course It was self
iefense in the case Of the man who
escaped his rivals bullet, and it was
me rlyals bullet which killed the girl.
md the rival was beyond any earthly
jurisdiction. The affair ended there.
with nothing good in triumph, except a
public sentiment which compelled the
Llller to stay away from the town for
i've or six years. -
Didn't he even meet a violent death
u something like that?" inquired the
drummer, thirsting for some trace of
he usual in the tale"
No, " replied the Kentuckian. "not
wen that. His nncle died and left him :
fine farm, and he found very nice z
'irl who was willing to marry him. I" i
The drummer sighed and didn't offer y
Q cap the Kentuckiap's story with a !,
'etteF one.--W Washington Star. n