The record-union., 1897-12-15

in the first quarter Of the century. his
face was frank and open, and his bear
ing as be rode UP perfectly easy and
natural. He wished my grandfather
and General Jackson good morning in
a clear and good-hunnored voice, calling
each by name. My grandfather return
ed the salutation promptly, but General
Jackson waited a. moment to collect
himself. and when he did speak it was
in the steady, restrained, low-pitched
tone he never adopted except when in
tensely angry-too angry for the out
break which generally relieved him
and put him in good humor.
General Sevier!" he began.
Colonel Sewer, if you please, Gen
eral Jackson. 1 prefer the title had
at Kings Mountain to any higher one
given in these days.
If this yelled concealed meaning it
did not appear in the speakers voice,
for he spoke good d-naturedly as before
but it was evident that General Jack
son was still further disturbed by the
interruption.
Il beg your pardon, sir! Colonel
Sewer, I am informed on good author
ity that you said publicly at Jonesboro
week ago, sir, that General Jackson
had thrown away the valuable lives of
more Tennesseeans in dislodging
handful of dirty Creeks from the
Horseshoe Bend than it had cost to
drive the Cherokees from the State, al
though they were the bravest and most
intelligent Indians in North America,
and though it took thirty battles to do
iti''
My dear General Jackson said Sc
Vier with increasing suavity, though
l am perhaps misrepresented by your
informant, / am not at all disposed to
dispute your assertion that he is re-
liable nor is this a suitable occasion
for questioning his accuracy as tale
bearer"
Colonel Upton" said Jackson, turn
ing to my grandfather, 81 will ask you
to ride to one, side and witness that
what occurs between Colonel Sewer
and myself is perfectly fair. Colonel
Sewer, l have two pistols in my hols-,
ters. l assume that you are similarly
provided. If it suits your convenience,
sir 1 will ride twenty or thirty yards
down the road and when / have fairly
turned you will be at liberty to fire"
My dear General Jackson" said
Sewer, in the same even tone, but with
a very heightened color. Il must say
that this is sudden, and, even from you,
somewhat surprising, but you are en-
tirely warranted in taking it for grant
ed that what suits your convenience in
the matter suits mine Colonel Upton,
although our families have not always
been as friendly as l could wish, l will
ask you to do me the favor to tell my
friends, if it should be necessary for
you to take such action on my part,
that everything which occurs here to-
day was arranged in good order and
to my satisfaction. as well as to that
Of Genera al Jackson"
He had barely ceased speaking when
General Jackson rode very deliberately
to the north, loosening his pistols in
his holsters as he rode. The meeting
had occurred where the road skirted
strip of open woodland, and into this
my grandfather rode for some ten
PAGES. When he turned his horse, Cen
eral Jackson was already in position,
and was waiting to be sure that he
was taking no possible advantage.
When he saw that Sewer had drawn
his pistol and was leveling it, he fired
suddenly, without stopping to take
aim. Sewers pistol was discharged
almost in the same instant, and his
badly trained horse SHE'D at the re-
port, his cooked hat fell off. as it seemed
then from the effect of the horses
spring to one side, but, as it appeared
later, with some help. from General
Jackson's bullet. AS Sewer reined in
his horse and brought his second pistol
to the level Of his eyes Jackson fired
again. AS he did so Sewer lowered his
arm suddenly, and my grandfather
thought at first he was hit. He soon
saw he was mistaken, however.
Colonel Upton" he said, General
Jackson has spoiled my hat and inter-
rupted my enjoyment of a beautiful
morning. He has emptied both his
pistols at me, as he was entitled to do
under his own arrangement Of this
affair. Under this arrangement. / am
entitled to use the one shot l have left
ct my leisure. l call you to witness
that my revenge is fair and in perfect
order under the agreement
During this harangue, delivered in
voice intended to make it perfectly
audible to General Jackson. my grand
father shifted uneasily in his saddle,
and felt. as he confessed to me. the
strongest inclination to draw his own
pistol in the effort to prevent murder
But the rules of the road" were
stronger than his impulse, and he
could only reply:
IF it suits Colonel Sewer to use his
remaining shot in such a way, it is his
privilege. l beg to inform him, how
ever, that I have two pistols in my
holster, both loaded, and one of them
will be at his service as soon as he has
discharged his at General Jackson"
Sewer laughed, and without waiting
to reply. discharged his pistol in the
air Thank you for your kindness,
Colonel Upton" he said, as he replaced
it in his holster, but / will not trouble
you. / have had quite enough shooting
for one morning.
Disnounting, he picked up his hat
brushed 1t, rearranged it into correct
triangular shape, and bowling first to
General Jackson and then to my grand
father replaced it carefully on his
powdered wig-an old-fashioned ele-
gance which Colonel Sewer had not
thought it necessary or convenient to
assume in the days when he was Noli-
chucky Jack, and more familiar with
the feel of buckskin than of good blue
~. I