The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-17
A PRACTICAL JOKE.


a farmhouse near by, he made eyes to
girl on the veranda, and her father, see
ing it all, ordered his daughter into the
house
Harry came on into camp aglow with
excitement and was soon telling US what
had happened. He admitted he had be-
come smitten with the lady's charms and
was satisfied she was desperately in love
with him.
we all deeply sympathized with him,
and one Of us suggested to him that If he
wished to write to the girl he would con-
trive in some way to deliver the letter and
get reply If possible. Harry jumped at
this at once, and off he went to write the
letter, with which he returned in a couple
of hours. We begged to be allowed to
read it, but no, no, he could not do that.
He wanted the messenger to start at once,
SO impatient was he, but was told great
caution had to be exercised and favora-
BILE opportunity present itself, SO he had
to be content.
In day or two another letter was writ
ten by Harry and soon as possible deliver
ed and a reply received. In the course of
ten days some four or five letters were sent
and replied to- In his last he insisted on
a meeting, if only for few minutes
begged her to arrange one Immediately.
In her reply the lady said she was willing
eager in fact-but her father and broth
ers were suspicious and watched her very
closely. However, for his sake she would
take great risks. At 9 O'Clock that night
she said she would try to slip away from
the house and go to certain peach tree
that was in the field back of the house
and for him to meet her there.
To say that Blanton was happy does not
describe it. In the meantime we had in
duced young soldier who was small,
slim and beardless to help US. He was
great Wag and full of fun and eagerly
Mt "a fry
secured, and a woman's dress and sun
bonnet secured and all preparations made.
A short time after dark Blanton was no
ticed to slip out of camp and move toward
the field. The night was dark, and he
went slowly, but he finally reached the
designated tree, and sure enough after a
few minutes waiting his beloved came
tripping to the trysting spot. They were
so glad to meet, and Harry was disposed
to be very loving and afectionate, but his
ladylove was coy. The conversation was
carried on in whispers, and they were
having sweet time, when a gun was sud
denly fired near them from the direction
of house, and mans voice angrily ex-
claimed: "Oh, you scOundrell intend
to kill you"
The pair were terrified, and the girl fell
to sobbing, telling Harry her father would
nearly kill her, and it would be torment
for her to live at home after that, and,
oh, she was SO miserablei Blanton broke
out in cold perspiration. What was to
be done? He had an ideal And after
whispering few words to the girl cling
ing to him the pair turned and sped across
the field toward the camp, the brother fol-
lowing as best he could in the dark and
swearing loudly what he meant to do when
he caught them. Harry and his girl
reached the fence, cleared it in a second
and hurried on to camp. just before
reaching there they ran upon several of
US taking a walk, just by accident, of
course, in that direction. An explanation
followed. Harry asked US to help him
and what was best to be done.
After talking it over hurriedly it was
decided that the only course left was for
Blanton to marry the girl, and at once to
which the pair agreed. A proper soldier
was hunted up to act as the minister, and
Blanton and the girl, who had been car
ried into tent, were now brought out,
told to join hands and stand in front of
the minister, and by the dim light of the
campfire the marriage ceremony proceed
ed 1t proceeded SO far as to secure Har-
rvs affirmative response, but no further,
for at that point a shout was heard and
up rushed the brother of the girl, shout
ing and swearing, hunting for Harry
Blanton, whom he meant to kill on sight.
The half married couple were hurried
into tent by some of the boys, while the
rest of them gathered around the half
brother-in-law, explained matters to him
and tried to pacify him. But nothing
would do. His feelings had been too much
outraged, and have satisfaction he would.
He meant to kill Blanton. He consented,
however, after much argument with him,
to give Blanton a chance by fighting a
duel with him then and there. Blanton
was not spelling for a fight, but we told
him it was better to fight the duel than to
be shot down like dog without chance.
With great reluctance he consented. He
was brought out, placed near the campfire
and pistol put in his hand. His opponent
stood opposite him with pistol ready also.
The word "ReadyI' was called, and
then ''FireP' There were two reports, and
the half brother in law fell to the ground,
and some one told Blanton he was shot
through the breast and was dying. Blan-
ton was Mortified At his query of what to
do he was told to leave for the upper
country, otherwise he would probably be
court martialed and shot The heartbro-
ken wife babe him a sorrowful goodby, and
he lit out, horribly bewildered. There,
only in few hours, he had been hurried
through a marriage duel and a murder.
Now, his only and direct way out was
to cross Johnson's bayou at bridge about
IA miles distant. At this bridge was sta
toned a guard-a fact Blanton was not
aware of-fOr the purpose of OBTAINING
deserters, spies, etc. About daylight the
guards discovered a man approaching
whom they promptly arrested. 1t proved
to be Harry Blauton, and forlorn look
ing captive they had-tired out, wet and
half frozen. AS the guard knew nothing
of the affair and as BlantOn would give
no satisfactory answer concerning his ap-
pearance he was at once sent with a small
detail back to the fort, where he was tax
en- before the colonel and report made.
Then he realized that his position was
more serious than ever. He had been
TTc In he
guardhouse, and we, hearing of it, knew
AZ.