The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-05-26

band on the field Of honor. Whether
this were trumped up reason or not
never came out.
Langstaff bore the challenge and, re-
turning, reported that Forshay only
objected to his antagonist fighting
masked. Langstaff had told him that
if he did not consent to this he would
call the affair off and make public the
reason. Upon this Forshay gave way.
and, having the right as the chal-
lenged party to choose the weapons.
he chose pistols, Langstaff was sent
back to say that the distance must be
five PAGES. Forshay, thinking this was
a 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 LangstaT under instructions from
Mrs. Stewart. The youngster had got
an mixing 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 | 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 a good nights
sleep. All depends on 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 a long while in her arms.
then, giving him the farewell kiss, left
him.
At 8 o'clock in the morning Mrs.
Stewart arose. went into her sons
room and put on the clothes he had
laid out to wear in the duel-all black.
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 Langstaff. who was riding up to
the house. Entering the carriage, she
was driven to the field where Forshay
and his second, with a 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
DESTROYS to save one whom he sup
posed TO be his young friend, Fitz
Hugh, approached Forshay's second
with a proposition for settlement that
would clear all parties from any stig-
ma. Forshay declined to accept it.
Very WELL" said Langstaff; "if you
are determined to kill this boy prom
Use 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 protest through his second. in
sisting that fighting at such a 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 consented-indeed. he must
either consent or be branded as a
I'd This
ed by Mrs. Stewart to prevent the
meeting if that were possible. but If
Forshay was not thus to be driven off
the field she had no idea of the con-
test being given up and had another
motive in being close to her antaCO-
mist.
The two seconds stood together on
one side and equidistant from the prin-
cipals, LangStaff holding handker-
chief He raised it and held it 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 LangStaff'S hand.
Forshay sprang up on his toes and
fell dead with Il bullet in his heart.
Mrs. Stewart walked with a firm
step to her carriage and was driven
toward her home, Walter Langstaff
beside her. For a few minutes she lay
back in the corner of the carriage.
then. turning her face toward Lang
staff, raised her veil.
Great heavensr
There was silence between the two
for time: then Langstaff asked:
why did you do this?"
at 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"
"If | 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"