Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-14

bluff, consented. He doubtless ex-
pected after this to receive an apology.
| If this were so he was to be disap-
! pointed.
Fitz Hugh was not party to these
details, they having been attended to
by Langstaff under Instructions from
Mrs. Stewart The youngster had got
an inkling as to the real cause under
lying the affair, and his southern
blood was hot for the meeting. His
mother remained tranquil, neither at-
| tempting to encourage nor quiet him.
| The night before the duel was to
come off Mrs. Forshay after her son
| was in bed went into his room to bid
him goodby.
"Why, mother" he said, won't you
be up when l leave in the morning.
"Yes. dear boy; I'll be up before you.
but | prefer to say goodby to you in
case we are separated by this villain
now. But first l wish you to take
something to give you good nights
sleep. All depends on a Steady nerve,
and since you were a little boy loss
of sleep has made you nervous the
following day"
After much persuasion Fitz Hugh
! took the dose she offered him. She
held him Il long while in her arms,
then. giving him the farewell kiss, left
| him.
At o'clock in the morning Mrs.
Stewart arose, went into her sons
room and put on the clothes he had
/ lot IL, III,
Then she kissed him-she did not fear
to awaken him, for she had given him
an opiate-and went to the door to
meet Langs aft, who was riding up to
the house. Entering the carriage, she
was driven to the field where Forshay
and his second. with surgeon, stood
waiting.
Instead of mask Mrs. Stewart wore
blue veil, covering her face to the
chin and tied behind, so as to conceal
! her long hair. Langstaff, who was
| desirous to save one whom he sup
| posed to be his young friend, Fitz
Hugh, approached Forshays second
! with a proposition for settlement that
would clear all parties from any stig-
VERY WELL" said Langstaff; "if you
are determined to kill this boy prom
ise you that you will have to go back
! to the state you came from. for you
will not be welcome here"
When Forshay was convinced that
the five PAGES which were to separate
| the combatants was not a bluff he
made a protest through his second. in
| sisting that fighting at such distance
was murder or suicide. Langstaff re-
! ported the matter to his principal, who
| said firmly that they would fight at
five PAGES or not at all. Forshay re-
luctantly onsented-indeed, he must
either consent or be branded as n
| coward. This close range was intend
! ed by Mrs. Stewart to prevent the
meeting If that were possible. but il
| Forshay was not thus 10 he driven Off
! the field she had no idea of the con-
test being given up and had another
motive in being close to her antago-
| mist.
! The two seconds stood together on
one side and equidistant from the prin-
cipals. Langstaff holding handker-
! chief. He raised 1t and held II sus-
pended for a few seconds prior to Civ
ing the signal by dropping it. During
| this brief interval Mrs. Stewart raised
her left hand and lifted her veil. ex-
| posing her face on that side which
was farthest from the seconds. For
shay recognized her and changed col
| or Before he could determine what
action if any to take the handkerchief
floated down from Langstaffs hand.
Forshay sprang up on his toes and
fell dead with bullet in his heart
Mrs. Stewart walked with firm
step to her carriage and was driven
! toward her home, Walter Langstaff
beside her. For few minutes she lay
back in the corner of the carriage,
then, turning her face toward Lang
staff, raised her veil.
Great heavens!"
There was silence between the two
for time; then Langstaff asked:
"Why did you do thisT'
ut was the only way to save my
boy"
But was it necessary to kill your
{ enemy"
"Yes; after my expedient of insisting
on close range failed must kill him
"Why?"
"Tf had not the affair would have
| gone on till one of the two had killed
the other, and my son would have
been the one to die. As it is he will
consider himself demeaned that his
mother should have done the work
which should have fallen to him"
Langstaff was silent for a moment.
then said sadly:
"If | had known that you were to
fight this battle should have insisted
on taking 1t upon myself"
When Fitz Hugh Stewart awoke the
sun stood high. His mother approach
| ed his bed. He started up.
Lie down, my boy; it's all over"
And she told him what she had done,
To this day no one in that section
knows that it was a woman instead of
n boy that gave Forshay his death
wound. | got the story from that boy
when he was a man of sixty.
Encouraging.
a Philadelphia clergyman tells OF
an incident in connection with his