The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-04-02
A LUCKY DUEL.

this district. Apply to George Van Duke.
president Of the board OF trustees
BY order of the board of school trus-
tees the above advertisement was pub
lished in the county newspapers, and
from the many applicants the daugh-
Yer of an ex-judge of the superior court
6f the county was chosen.
Judge Mallory had been noted for his
legal knowledge and honesty Wills OH
the bench; but, like many old Cali
fornians, he liked good living and the
bottle too well for his own good. Ruth
Mallory, his only daughter, had had NJ
experience in school-teaching, nor, in
deed, in any kind of labor. She was the
spoiled child of fond father, her moth
er having died in her infancy. Ruth
had acquired the greater part OF her
education at Mill seminary. but she had
continued her studies in music anu
painting after her graduation from that
institution. Upon these studies her IA
thet spent money with a lavish hand,
having teachers up from San Francisco
twice a week to instruct her. These
studies had been continued up to the
time Of the judges death, which hal
come suddenly and without warning
After his death, his affairs were found
to be in very demoralized condition;
he had lived far beyond his means, and
in order I'd pay his funeral expenses and
liquidate his debts, II was found neces-
sary to sell his magnificent residence
at the county seat. When his affairs
had been settled, Ruth found that she
| had but few hundred dollars left, and
| she saw that It would be necessary for
her to do something immediately H.,
| which to gain living.
Now, although Ruth Mallery had
| given d great deal of time to the ac-
ouisition Of her fayorite studies, draW-
ing and painting, she found that Size
was not competent to earn livelihood
by these arts, as she had pursued them
F.! in an amateurish manner, and did not
possess the requisite professional skill
to itnpart them to others. She there
fore decided to apply herself to such
studies as would enable her to teach ip
a district school. This she did with
1
abled to pass an examination and obtain
first-grade teachers certificate. This
secured, she applied for ard received
the appointment to the seh'sl, as previ-
ously stated.
At this time Ruth was o6 years OF
age, slight and delicate in appearance.
but possessed Of usdaunted will. She
took up her chosen tftFesalbt' With a
determination to make of it a grand
success. She found board at the home
of Mr.. Van Duke. the president Of the
board of trustees. Ruth thought her
self quite fortunate in her chiite 5f q
boarding-place, as the Van Dukes were
one of the most influential families ii
the valley, Mr.. Van Duke having mar
ried one of the Moraet eirls, Il de
scendant Of an old Spanish family after
whom the valley had been named anc
whose possessions at one time had in
Guided nearly the whole Of Contra Costs
county.
Ruth's success IN teaching the sum
mer term was so pronounced that The
trustees employed her for the ensuing
winter term, which had heretofore
been taught by a male teacher. WheI
the winter opened, she found that sh
had among her scholars number o
boys OF 2Syears of age, among them on
of the Van Dukes, a son of the trustee
During the previous summer, Georg
Van Duke had paid Ruth great deal .
attention, and this led him to act Al
though he had some proprietary ciain
upon her. This soon bred trouble witt
the older boys, who wished to div:d
attentions with Van Duke and some
times to escort Miss Mallery TO the win
ter gayeties of the valley. This feelin!
9 increased among the young hleh of til
school until there was race fivar:
: started between the boys Of Spahis
end Mexican descent and the boys o
American birth. Henry Hosmer wa
the leader of the Americans, and Gn9tg
Van Duke led the Spanish faction. Eut
was not aware of this strong feciin
] among her scholars. She did not II
} tend to receive the exclusive attention
of any one of the boys, and had been es
corted by several of them to various ell
; tertniunents, although it had halpcne
: that. owing to her living at the Va
T. Dukes home, George had attended he
: more frequently than had the other
They therefore accused him Of takin
Undue advantage Of them by reason {
Ruth's residence at his fathers home.
This fsctional jealousy grew unit
Ill Of the larger boys were ranged III
der the leadership Of Hosmer or Va
Duke, and it increased in intensity III
til Hosmer challenged Van Duke. III
latter accepted the challenge, namin
dirk-knives as the weapons. The fe
lowing Saturday afternoon the du
took place. The spot selected was 1
the foot of a ravine. north of the eel
brated Fish Ranch"
7. The place was we'll chosen. as 1t w,
an open fat, inclosed by thick gro
Of oaks, where there would be no ris
of interference by passers-by. S
BOYS on each side were there when Ho
mer. with his second, made his appea
nnce. A few moments later Van Du
and his second arrived. They took {
their coats, hats, waistcoah and nee
ties, and took their places. waiting
word to commence. AT the wo
"ready" they advanced tor ard ca
other and each acted on the defensi'
Each carried in his left hand Panar