The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-09-02
TIE PoSOev-
Of a Cu1
tOriEinal.l

tOTlElnul.l
My grandfather. Il veteran of the
Mexican war, told mo this story to H.
lustratc an axiom that opinion is more
powerful than law:
1t was back In the first half OF the
last century, when the regular army of
the United States wnS IL little family.
so to speak. tina II young artillery Off
Ger was ordered to report at the then
frontier post, Fort l.. Manton Bur-
net was ono OF those fellows whom cv-
erybody loved. Tail, massive, with light
hair ana blue eyes that formed Il pleas.
Ing contrast with II pair of round, rud-
dy checks, he struck the fancy of every
one at the III Of meeting and i'm
proved on acquaintance.
The belle of the post was Colonel
Iloughton's daughter Edith, whose fir
tationS had commenced with cadets at
West Point and continued with officers
or all grades and ages, though she was
still only twenty-five or three. At the
time Burnct reported Mt the fort she
was engaged in Il mild nffu with Ma
jor Stoddnrd, II native of Mississippi
n n man of forty. He confirmed the
adagc "No fool like an old fool' by be-
O'h'i ihIib''iith Nlln II XIII VINO WAS
only enjoying what she considered an
innocent amusement. AT any rate, to
firt was as natural to her rs to breathe.
AS soon as Burnct appeared on the
scene she dropped Stoddard, took up
with the newcomer and found an en-
perlcncc entirely new to her by falling
violently in love with him.
Stoddard was furious. IT Is question
able whether he was more malignant
toward Burnct or Edith Houghton. 1t
Is said Hell hath no fury like n woman
Scorncd.' Here was an instance where
q scorncd man was tho fury. Stoddard
was so unable to conceal his feelings
that hc o o had the whole garrison
laughing at him. He determined to
show them that 1t was no laughing
matter.
IN the army, especially Mt frontier
posts, all the officers play poker; Mt
least they always did i'm the good old
times. One evening Il party Of officers,
including Stoddard and Burnett, were
engaged at the game when Stoddard
suddenly turned upon Burnct and nc
cuSCd him of cheating.
You lying scoundrci.' said Burnet.
what do YOU mcan?"
THAT will do" replied Stoddard, rls.
ing. \ moro play tonight. We have
another matter of more Importance to
attend to-"
Some OF those present demonstrated
with Stoddnrd, while others turned
Their backs upon him contomptnously.
All knew he would challenge Burnett,
and he did, though he found it impossi-
bic to find any one of the officers TO
bear his message and act as his second
until Burnct requested one of them to
ilo so.
The meeting took place early the next
morning Il mile from the fort on the
river BOTTOM" Just before il occurred
furnct told his second that he intended
TO pulposcly miss his man, giving as n
reason that, as the two had been suit
ors for the same girl, she was interest
cd in the affair and he was uncertain
which of the two she preferred. BE.
sides, TO kill a brother omiccr I'm n duel
would mar his life and his military ca
rccr. His second protested against this,
but was unable TO move his resolution.
w%horoupon he declined to serve, and
Hurnct selected me, but kept from me
his intention. At the first fire Burnct
fell with Il ball In his right side. Stod-
dard WAS unhurt.
1t was II melancholy party that car
ricd the wounded man back TO the fort.
FOR the surgeon pronounced the wound
fatal. The affair put an end to any un-
certainty as TO Edith %IIoughton's pref
crcncc, for she was wild with grief ms
soon MS she learned what had happened.
However, after her first giving way to
her feelings she nursed Burnet 80 ten
dcrly that he pulled through. At that
umc the effect of tho mine on the sys-
TEN was not understood as II is now, but
even then 1t WAS apparent that the men
tai stimulant Burnct experienced I'm
Edith lIoughton's love turned the scale.
The colonel made no comment OH the
affair till Burnett was pronounced out
OF danger. Then he sent for S%toddnrd,
with whom he was closctcd for an
hour in his private office. After the
interview 1t leaked on that the colonel
had demanded %Stoddard's resignation.
imtimating that IL 1t were not forth
coming he would prefer charges.
Stoddnrd refused 10 resign, asserting
that he would stand trial, taking q
changc OF II to another post, whore
the feeling was not prejudiciai to him.
IA colonel, not desiring that his
daughters name should be mixed I'm
the affair, felt constrained to let the
matter drop.
1t was ut this point that the rest of
lis intcrfered. We called q meeting of
the officers of the post and unanimous.
ly decided to give Stoddnrd "thc cut"
IL next time any one of us met him
we walked by him with the salute, but
with no other recognition. Stoddard
had not counted on this, and 1t affect
ed him mt once. He bore 1t for awhile
without any action, then applied to be
ordered elsewhere. For two months
while lie was waiting for q change he
lived with Il dozen brother officers. not
one of whom would speak to him I'M
officially. Now that his i%nfatuation
for the gii. was somewhat cooled by
her action, our treatment broke him
down, and whom he went away he
locke. like an old man. But this wa
not the last Of it. No class of men are
so hard on each other In case of wrong
dAinr nd collation..