Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1913-01-24


favorite officer
Kerchival approached step nearer.
"lou dare to suggest
IF accept your challenge" sneered
the other, IL shall do so not because
you are her protector or the protector
of her husbands honor, but as my RI
val. We stand on even ground"
Cur. you listen to me now"-and
Kerchiva emphasized his words with
a slash Of his riding whip full in Thorn
tons face.
81 think you are entitled to my at
tention, SIR" responded the other, re-
covering himself quickly.
"NIy time here Is short, as you
know" Kerchival said.
Long enough for my purpose, l
reckon. The bayou-up the Ashley
mile or so-is a convenient place. In
an hour from now it will be light
enough to sight our weapons"
IN be there in half an hour with a
friendw cried KerchiYal.
Nobody in Charleston slept that
night of April 11l2. At the Ellingham
house, as at Pinckney's, and at many
another home of luxury and pride there
were festive or other gatherings which
kept people up and about until long
past midnight
Then in the early hours Of that fate
full Friday an exchange Of rocket sig
nails between Forts Johnson and Moul-
trie began. Every one knew what that
meant. The men. some Of them with
out stopping to change their evening
clothes, disappeared with strange, ST.
lent, ominous alacrity. The women
huddled in whispering groups or
brought spyglasses and from outdoor
points of vantage watched intently
across the dark waters to where the
flagstaff Of Sumter. like q warning fin
ger, pointed solemnly to the stars In
the balmy dusk Of the southern spring.
time sky.
The abrupt departure Of Thornton
and Lieutenants West and Ellingham,
accompanied, as it appeared, by DR..
Ellingham and one or two Of the young
men in uniform, had not failed to at
tract attention and excite comment.
Mrs. Haverill by discreet inquiry
among the household servants, obtained
q startling hint or two which she hast
ened to communicate in confidence to
Gertrude-none else.
There are tears In your eyes, Ger
trude," said Mrs. Haverill sympathetic
ally.
'@They have no right there" returned
the girl, with a pitiful flash Of the osd
spirit that contrasted with the scared
look on her unwontedly pale face.
~ am afraid / know-not what has
happened to Lieutenant West i'll those
last few minutes, but-forgive w".
man who has had more experience than
you have, dear, and who IS fond Of you
what happened between you and him
when you were together for the last
time, maybe. in-who knows how long:
Let fate part you. If it must. but not
quarrel What Is pride or coquetry at
such q moment?"
Another rocket cried Madeline
West, fitting from somewhere in the
outer darkness. Does any one know
where Rob- mean where Lieutenant
Ellingham is? He excused himself for
q minute and he has been gone an hour
and q half He promised to be here
before
$50 did Lieutenant West" Mrs. Ha-
verill joined in with undisguised anx.
iety.
Boom, came loud, sullen, reverber-
ating report from over the bay.
"Look!w screamed Gertrude Filing
ham, jumping up In frenzy of excite,
ment. :'Did you see that line Of fire
against the sky. That was no rocket
that was a shell. 1t has struck the
fortr'
At the same instant there was a loud
clatter Of horses hoofs outside and
Bob Ellingham dashed up the front
steps. 4
"Rufin has fred the shotr' he cried,
throwing his cap into the air. "Hark!
there goes another one. They have
opened fire on Sumter, sure enough"
where Is Mr.. West? Mr.. Thorn
ton? The doctor?" demanded the
three women, all in breath. 4
"They are-Anderson doesn't reply
That's what I rode back ahead to tell
you. It's all right. The second shot
hit Thornton, and Kerchiyal hasn't q
scratch. He'll be along with the doc
tor directly. Ruff1n swore he would
fire the first
"For heavens sake, Robert, what are
you talking about?" pleaded Gertrude,
Selling him by the arm. DO try and
compose yourself and tell US what has
happened. You say that
"Kerchival and Thornton have had 1t
out, I tell you. Beauregard has sou
or 1000 men under arms, and It's a
chance If Anderson can muster q hun
dred. Well, as was saying, they met
in the gardens down at the bayou.
Sam Pinckney and myself loaded the
weapons, pair of regulation navy
SKIES. Then we tossed up silver dol
lar for choice of position at ten paces'
and Thornton won. But that made no
difference, for the sun wasn't up yet
"Mercy! Was It a duel?" Mrs. Ha.