The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-04-01


ties, and took their places, awaiting the
word to commence. At the word
ready" they advanced toward each
other and each acted on the defensive.
Each carried in his left hand Panama
hat to use as a shield to ward off or re-
ceive blow. HOsmer pushed the fight
and struck Van Duke blow, thus draw
ing the first blood. Then Van Duke cut
Hosmer upon the right temple, and the
blood flowed down over his eye, par
TALLY binding him. Van Duke now APP
peared to fight upon the defensive,
while Hosmer grew more and more ag-
gressive. Suddenly Hosmer rushed
upon his antagonist and struck at him;
Van Duke tried to ward the blow with
the hat held in his left hand, but Hos
mer's dirk struck him in the left wrist,
going in at the point and breaking off,
leaving Hosmer perfectly defenseless.
His life could have been easily taken
by Van Duke, but the young Spanish
American tossed his dirk to his second,
saying: Il have done nothing to cause
this duel, but accepted it so that it could
not be said that | was a coward. If
you are all satisfied, [ am willing to
shake hands with Hosmer and let the
quarrel end for good"
Both sides could but admire the spirit
shown by Van Duke, and the principals
shook hands and declared the fight
ended. When the principals went to
physician to have thier wounds dressed,
Van Duke found it very difficult to get
the blade out of his wrist, but he sue
cceded in doing so, although his wrist
was lame for many months.
The story of this adventure could not
long be kept quiet, and as it was willis
pered around among the scholars, it
soon came to the ears of the teacher.
Ruth asked George Van Duke about it
and why his wrist was bandaged. He
replied that he had sprained it, and she
could get no further explanation from
him, nor could she learn anything about
it from the other scholars.
She went at last to Hosmer, and
learned the truth in regard to the fight.
Il there had been no rivalry between
the boys, there would not have been any
love in this story. 1t kindled the flame
in Van Dukes breast, and he laid siege
to the heart of his little teacher. and
when he proposed marriage to her, she
laughingly declined, telling him that
she was six years older than ne and that
he did not want an old woman for a
wife. But her ridicule, far from deter
ring him from pressing his suit, only
increased the ardor of his efforts and
made him all the more DESTROYS of win
ming her. Yetall his efforts seemed lost
upon her. In this crisis he went to his
parents, and succeeded in enlisting
their sympathy and assistance. This,
together with the strong love he bore
Ruth, soon overcome her opposition,
and he gained her consent to their mar
riage.
When the engagement was an
nOunced, the boys of the school envied
George his good fortune in winning so
lovely a bride. Their esteem for their
teacher and desire for her happiness
led them to purchase and present to her
upon her marriage suitable testimoni-
81, W I1il Vic DCSO w lSllCS VI al lut SCuOl-
ars. They were married at the Van
Duke residence, and the entire popula-
ton of Moraga valley attended the we'd
ding and the reception that followed
The honeymoon was passed travel
ing in the east, and was to be extended
by tour of Europe. While in New
York, George received telegram from
his father, recalling him to attend to
some most important business affecting
his material interests. 1t seems that
there had been litigation for several
years regarding the ownership of a
large tract of land in the valley, which
threatened the rights of all of the mem
bers of Van Dukes family as well as
of all the old settlers and grantees
| therein. These suits, brought by Hor-
| ace W. Carpenter, had just been de-
cided in the United States supreme
court against the settlers, and they
were compelled by the decision to move
Off the land, without any compensation
for their improvements. Thus at one
blow the entire fortune of the elder Van
Duke was lost. George and his bride
| returned, and as they had now no home
to go to and no independent resources,
they both resolved to commence at once
working for living. Ruth applied for
her former position in the valley school,
and was reappointed. George went to
San Francisco, and secured a position
as conductor on the California street
railroad. And so it happened that, after
three months of happy married life,
this young couple were separated by
stern destiny.
These untoward circumstances did
not daunt them or destroy their ambi-
ton to gain competency, and, in order
to do this, they saw that temporary
separation was necessary, and also that
in order to get start both would be
obliged to work while they were yet
young and in health. Young Van Duke
found it very hard to be confined Il
hours a day on a street car, after the
free life of the forest and mountains;
but, spurred on by love and ambition
he worked with a will and lived in a
most economical fashion.
When they had jointly saved up ST.
600, he started for the gold fields in
South Africa, where by energy and
jIdicious speculation, he rapidly ac-
rIIrn1Ito ta6 a forfuna He cont for h 10