The Cairo bulletin., 1910-07-20

A young girl sat at the feet of q wo-
man of ninety. The tender curves in
the face of the one contrasted strongly
with the wrinkles OF the other, who
was her great-great- grandaunt The
one was of the early twentieth cen
fury, the other of the early nineteenth.
when l was your age" he old wo-
man continued after pause, General
Jackson was president He was a
great fighting man, and since he not
only fought the enemies of his coun-
try. but his own enemies. his example
affected every one. He fought duel
with and killed young married man
who said something disagreeable about
his wife. | always thought she was
no saint. but the romance of it fired a
young friend of mine, Albert Steven
son, and be was constantly looking for
some girl on whom TO practice Jack
sons knight errantry.
Il was accepting the attention of a
young VirInian. Fitz Hugh Fairfax.
He was remarkably handsome man
and full Of real chivalry, not the spuri-
Gus kind affected by many others. He
was devoted to me, and loved him
desperately.
But our southern girls had the same
romantic ideas as the young man. We
thought it a fine thing to tiirt with
two or three men and ut last give our
selves to some sutton who was ready
TO play Don Quixote in our defense
was at the time playing a game with
both Albert Stevenson and Fitz Hugh
Fairfax. | had one other string to my
bow. but have forgotten his name.
And yet at one time ! thought should
marry him. Oh, DEAR how ones mem
Dry fails after so many years!
"One day was walking in the gar
den with Fairfax. We sat down on
bench under tree. Stevenson called
and they told him l was in the gar
den. saw him leave the house and
come toward us. Fairfax was turned
away from him. am sure Fairfax
was about TO propose to me He was
bending over me with his face near to
mine. Suddenly jumped up, assum-
Ing an offended appearance At the
same time Stevenson joined US.
lie asked Fitz Hugh what 1t all
meant Very red in the face. he told
Stevenson to ask me. Stevenson turn
ed to me, and ]. acting under the guild
ance of the spirit of deviltry that was
in me, said never word, but walked
10 the house.
u was no sooner on the gallery than
1t occurred TO me that some real trou-
BILE might come out OF my freak, and,
returning to the young men, | told
them that there was nothing Of mo-
ment between Mr.. Fairfax and me
and they were to consider the matter
as not having happened. Then when
Fairfax gave me that cold, contemptu-
Gus look. which | can see at this very
moment, my blood ran cold knew
he bad loved me. that loved him and
that had lost him.
Neither of the young men spoke. As
had nothing more to say and in1u
rnccd by the look F'itz Hugh had given
me, went away, leaving them togeth-
er. | made second mistake IN doing
this. but couldn't remain where Fitz
Hugh was after that look. wished
10 20 TO my room and weep. There
was more TO weep for than the loss OF
his respect. aud no man can really love
4 woman without that. 1t did not oc-
cur to me that after had exonerated
him there would be any trouble be.
tween him and Stevenson
II lay awake that night till dawn and
then fell asleep. awoke late in the
morning and went downstairs into the
dining room.
LAS a MASSEY, Missy Imogen, said
our table servant, have yo' heerd de
news?
mo, said What is III?
Mars Stevenson and Mars Fitz
Hugh fought a duel dis mawnin' befo'
sunup. an Mars Fitz Hugh killed
Mars Stevenson
Il sank on the floor In swoon.
ut was a long time before j recover
ed from an attack Of brain fever. re-
covered from the fever. but that's all
have recovered from to this day
"t'itz Hugh never came to see me or.
az far AZ | could learn. asked for me
knew hat in my needless act aud
its result ! had fixed great gulf he
tween him and me. He went back to
virginia. lie never married, nor did
/. But VIC never met again
"A friend Of both parties told me
what had happened after | left the
two young men Stevenson assumed
that | had eyonerated Fitz Hugh be.
cause | was magnanimous aud did not
wish to make trouble. He posed as
my defender and sent a challenge to
the man who had insulted me. In
suited me, In another moment he
would have asked me to be his wife.
They fought with pistols. and at the
first shot Fitz Hugh had fred in the
air. Stevenson then made some iIri-
tatinG remark. whereupon Fitz Hugh
on the second shot had sought TO wing
his opponent BY this shot he unin-
tentionaly killed his antagonist
by that one act lost the only man
ever loved made him murderer
with sting upon his conscience, caus-
ed the premature death Of one who