Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-06-24
A STORY OF A DUEL.

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 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 q 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 I-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 is 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 a 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 Ill, 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 OF, and the
stress Of poverty was felt in my mothers
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 nain-
tain her parents, and she had her chill
dren, my sister and myself, but by de.
grees rly fathers passion for her grew
cold. Then Mr.. Langley returned to the
neighborhocd, not with q fcrt1no, in
deed, but with sossle little money. My
father most unjastly became Suspicious
of my mother and would no longer al
low her the control Of any money. even
house. Now comes the most touching
part Of the story. Ny 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 aud
adopted them for his own parents
maintaining them i'll comfort until they
rot, I,o Lea %t,r
neighborhood.
My mother accepted her lot with res
ignation I used to think, when I was
young, that she showed lack Of prop
er pride in thus bowling to my fathers
will, but now I think sic was moved
by true piety. She understood my IA
theirs nature better than I did. She
knew the i,npossibility of making him
change his course Of action by entreat-
les. She knew that to have roproached
him for his ungenerous action would
not make him repent Of it, but would
have widened the breach between them,
so she bent before the storm and con-
soled her heart BY unceasing prayer.
The beauty of my mothers nature
has been revealed to me 10y 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
beautiful volume. and thou mayest
we'll contrast it with my own poor jour
nal, which thou shalt have ere long.
| will read one entry, made about
three years after my sisters marriage,
Of which have told thee, which shall
serve for a text for story. It runs
thus: ''This day duel was fought be-
tween Mr.. Spencer and Mr.. Walling-
ford. 'Tis said they quarrelod over a
play at cards, but l fear that Theodore
was the cause, which God forbidr'
Then followed some Of the details of
the encounter and my mothers thoughts
upon the subject. I have read this much
to show that, though my mother took no
part ID what was going en- 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.
will first describe the principals in
this affair, beginning with him who
proved himself the hero of it. Mr.. Spen-
Ger was a gentleman Of the neighbor-
hood-a short, slight man, with reddish
hair and somewhat prominent blue
eyes. He was distantly related to the
famous English General Wolfe, whom
he a little raselnbled in appearance, of
which fact he was very vain and did
what be could in the matter Of dress to
heighten the likeness Personally he
was a most agreeable gentleman and
| possessed cf considerable talent. He
would often entertain the company
with Rotations from the poets, but his
favorite piece was a description of the
death of the hero Of Quebec, since be-
come historic. This piece he would de-
liver with dramatic effect whenever
called upon to do so, until one occasion,
of which 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 heights Of
Abraham were scaled; General Wolfe
| lay dying or the ground; the last words
! were waited for in breathless silence.
:, Mr.. Spencer described the advent of a
messenger: ''They run! They run!''
cried the messenger. "Who orun?' asked
the dying general. ''Three blind
! mice!' interrupted voice in the com
pany. The uproar which followed this
sally prevented the continuance of the
piece. Nj. Spencer took his seat, with
flush of anger on his cheeks. He was
often made the butt Of joke and usu-
ally took it good naturedly, but this in
suit 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 inyeterate
! 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
sincere apology, Mr.. Spencer accepted
| it generously, and they two became the