Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-07-29

WI INR.9lllE : :s8s& at the
~ A worn and
siue-stained copy of the viclSsburg
Daily Citizen of April 6. 1858. lies be-
fore ne. After the occurrence of GER
tain events with which future chapters
will deal, took the trouble to secure
this paper, aud have ever since pre-
served il. In it's columns is q brief and
rather unsatisfactory reference to an af-
fair which had excited large interest 10
that part of Mississippi was not a
witness of it: and the description after
ward given to me by one of the actors
in it was so much more in detail than
the newspaper account that ] prefer
to adopt the former in setting this
landmark at the outset of the story.
If you follow the fsft bank of the
river down TO point where the Vicks-
burg bluffs sink to the ordinary level
of the river banks, you will come out
upon beautiful grassy glade over
hooking the water. Some small elms
and cottonwoods made a pleasant
shade bordering the road; a wide strip
of land, possibly thirty rods across,
lay between the highway and the river
bank.
49,
Sd OF that April that the sun had
not vet shown his rim above the trees,
three horsemep came at n brisk trot
down the road, stopped at this grove
dismounted, and tied their horses.
"The other people are not here yet,
one of the men observed. There's
time enough. Ali there they are"
Three more horsemen approached
from the opposite direction. They AIS
halted here, and fastened their horses
All OF the six were dressed in whit
duck suits, for the weather of tina
spring had come on hot Two of then
carried each one a case of mahogan
wood, and these two. after salutin
each other, came together in earnes
conversation. Two of the others ais
approached and shook hands, and tn
prefix doctor" was exchanged betwee
them
"A disagreeable business" one oil
served.
Indeed it Is. hope we sha
neither of us be needed"
II hope so-but fear it will be othe
wise. They say both are good shot
You brought your instruments2'
YES; carry them in a large peck
In my saddle-fap."
"All right; nay darby is on the ";
with mine. Now what are Dorion al
BasneI about?"
These two, each with his mahogan
case under his arm, had drawn off o
of hearing But as my account of I
whole affair came from one of the
their conversation may be stated he
''Bas this thing really got TO go on
az suppose so-unless your man W
withdraw his challenge"
HE can't do that. To do it wol
be TO confess that he never had q
grounds for it,
And, do you know. Mr.. Castex 81
that he never did have any ground
the challenge. But Bostocl put
affront on him in such a public IN
ner. and in his own house, too, that
swears he'll fight, unless the challeI
is absolutely withdrawn, without
PLANTATION"
-'XYell, it's an absurd thingi Due
have been concerned in, have fou
three or four myself. but never BET
was engaged in one where nob'
but the principals knew what the pl
ocation was; and one of them ms
that there was none. 1t seems
boys play"
LOOK dI your uldus nc 0CJS do OAAO
he were TOO angry this minute to
tain himself"
The principals to this meeting
bowed in the most distant mar
upon reaching the ground. Then
Caster sat down, propped his
against tree, lit cigar, and smc
1t as lazily as though his spirits
perfectly unrufied by the prospeC
the coming encounter Mr.. Bost
on the contrary. walked nervo
about, switching at the grass will
cane. and occasionally turning
his nonchalant antagonist g
that was decidedly savage.
The seconds resumed their con:
ton.
lis it worth while to try to g
explanations"
Not in the temper your man
II should say; not without shot.
will stand them up once, and TIN
exchange may lead to an arr
iment."
IF it don't put one or both of
beyond the reach of arrangern'
imuttered the other. "Well, CONF
Messrs. Basnet and Dorion CT