Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-02-16
A STRANGE
REVENGE.
AN"NNNNNN


"Ycs," seid the old colonel. slowly.
~ have seen a few duels, both as sec
ond and principal. but there is nothing
TO tell unless you fellows care to hear of
lie Moyne's left banded shot- that, ]
admit, was rather peculiar.
at was in She days OF the old south,
before the late unplchsantness, rs you
northerners call it. and the coloncl's
eyes had Il peculiar glow in hem. "My
home was on a lacge plantation in
Louisiana, and. with a number of young
fellows. my time WIS spent in sports Of
all kinds-cards, horses and sometimes
worse Our plantation adjoined that Of
Judge Graham. whose daughter Polly
was the belle Of the country, and, let
me tell you. that Was Il boast in those
days.
"All the boys were dead in love with
Polly. bat none could boast Of any IA
vor unless it was Victor lie Moyne,
who. perhaps, was o~ftcnest with her on
her rides. lie Noyne Was n handsome,
naughty fellow. lie rode snperbly, aud
half the gifls around would have given
a finger for the homage at which Polly
Graham laughed
'Brt all this charged when Stuart
Hilton came hcme. Elton had been
graduated from q northern college. and
for two years had been seeing Europe
He lived ten miles frcm rg. and before
be went 10 college had been my especial
chum. Consequently. on his return. his
first cnll was on me. and. after we had
,-gk.-.yr1 1~wfnf.nnarre rFa rpHa IN
Judge GTaham's.
"Ridiug up The long avenue which
led TO the hcuee. we could hear talk and
laughter. and lonrd half q dozen of the
boys grouped around Miss Polly. who
was exchanging her bright remarks for
their duller ones and getting them more
hopelessly in her tolls every moment. On
our arrival she rose, and with a bright
nod ana a laughing word TO me. held
ont her hand and gave Hilton a vel
come so cordial that saw lie Moyne's
face darEen %angrily. although the next
second he was greeting Stuart smiling
ly. as were all the rest,
From tEat day it was apparent,( to
me, at least) that the rest Of rs had no
chance at all with Polly Graham. Hill
ton was constantly with her. Even LIE
Moyne was no longer favored, although
he was as assiduous as ever in his at
tentions. Between Eilton and lie Moyne
everything seemed peaceful, but / was
constantly on the lookout for a quarrel,
knowing as I did 10 Moyne's fiery tenn
per. although he was a generous. manly
fellow enough.
THE clash came one night. AboHt a
dozen Of us were coming home from a
dance at a neiGhhoring plantation. and
lie Moyne was riding beside Miss Polly.
when ONE one in the PARTY struck his
horse n smart cut, making il plunge so
that it threw the rider heavily to TIE
ground. n
we dismounted and found lie Moyue
with whole bones, but so badly bruieed
that we had to carry him home, while
Hilton took his place 1T Miss Graham's
side and rode home with her.
1.-THE next morning found lie Moyne
all right. but furious against Hilton,
whom he accused of Intentionally strik.
ing his horse in order 10 secure the po-
sition beside Miss Graham. Meeting
Hilton that day. he charged him with
the act, and on Hilton's prompt denial
gave him the lie. Hilton'a eye flashed
dangerously as he sprang forward, but
we stepped between them OF course
there was no alternative now but a
meeting, and the next morning at day.
break saw a small party Of us on the
smooth sward by the rivera famous
meeting ground. by the way.
81 was Hilton's second. and won the
toss. which gave him the first shot. At
tine word he fred. and we saw lie Moyne
give a slight start and drop bis pistol
The bullet had struck his right arm
above the elbow Returning the shot
WIS now out of the question. and when
he realized this lie Moyne turned to
Hilton and said mockingly. i shall
claiu i MY revenge some other time, Mr.
Hilton.
Whenever you please. replied Hill
ton. as We ioit the ground.
''Le Moyne left the country soon aft
er the affair. Hilton pursued his wooing
with Miss Graham and they we're mar
riod 0 after. at which ceremony /
acted as stuars's best man, although it
nearly brose my heart to do It, Hilton
E bought q place about 30 miles up the
river and With bis lovely wife proceed
ed TO enjoy life.
Wen % shogsen ny story, II was