Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-22

, fcation to him that II be wanted ~
, Conway be must fight for her. NOT us.s
his fists, but with the weapon co.
monty used among gentlemen in tbo..
days, a DerriDger pistol Dabney rosd.
no reply to Carr calling him liar. b..
later sent friend to him den1snding !,
retraction and an apology for the e.
suit Carr refused either TO retract ].
apologize. and a meeting was srrsupss
between the two men.
The political discussion that had al
en- place between her two suitors an
the insult one had given the other 800.
came to the ears of Belle CONWAY so-
it was public property. Indeed, It wa,
commented upon by every newspane-
in the county. No one but the princinsI,
I'm the affair knew the real cause OF ths
difficulty behind the one that was nm,
forward to the world. There was M
mention in the journals of a probabss
duel between the two men, but there
was an expectation OF one.
Miss Conway saw a mention of tba
trouble in print, but had no idea Of H.
purport. She neither realized that A.
slight an affair would lead two men IA
| try to kill each other nor had the faint.
est suspicion that she was the real
cause of it She could not understands
how so gentlemanlike a person as Dab
ney could accuse another gentleman OF
| impure motives or how the other could
fling back the accusation In a way shs
considered fitted only for a rowdv
Nevertheless she knew enough Of
southern customs to realize that M
liar without serious consequences.
During the morning a carriage was
driven up to Colonel Rathbone's house
and a lady aIghted- A few MINUTES
later a colored servant came to Mis-,
Conway, who was at work with the
children, and said:
missy Belle, Missus Dabney down IN
de parlo' and wants to see yo' right
away"
Miss Conway looked at the messen.
ger with establishment. Why should
the mother Of Archibald Dabney wish
to see her and SO hurrfedly? Leaving
the children and their lessons, she went
at once to the parlor. There she found
the caller evidently moved by a great
emotion
Miss Conway" said the latter, -are
20 aware of the cause underlying this
quarrel between my son and Mr.. Car
81 am aware OF no cause except
political difference"
THAT is merely pretext Y0 are
the real cause"
Up
Eyes, yo'. Had yo' shown a prefer.
ance fo' one or the other this unfo'tu-
nate affair would not have occurred"
why is it SO unfortunate?" asked
Miss Conway anxiously.
my son and Mr.. Ca are going to
fight a duelP'
Flight duel? When-wherer
81 don't know"
81 must see these men, and together.
I will decide between them at once"
1t would be impossible for Miss Con-
way to see them together. There was
but one way for her to act In the mat
ter. Mrs. Dabney promised to find out
IL possible when and where the affair
was to take place, and Miss Conway
was to be there and make an effort to
stop it.
The next morning at sunrise IN an
open space in q wood near Murfrees-
boro, while seconds were pacing or
the ground for their principals TO fight
IN, carriage containing Miss Conway
1rove up. and the lady stepped out
She was greeted with astonishment BY
the duelfng party.
"Gentlemen," she said, you men OF
he south are men Of honor. AS such
ask to know If 1 in any way enter
nto the cause of this affair"
The question was received in silence
az have the word of one whom
ieither of you would question that IL
had shown a decided preference for
ither of you this affair would not have
occurred. If my informant Is correct
nd you will drop this quarrel / viii
ecide between you"
Though there was no reply 1t was
vident that both principals assented
D the proposition.
do you promise?' asked Miss Con-
ray.
Both men bowed an assent
VERY well. I would not on any ae
punt ally myself with either one or
vo men who would fight for me In
tead of making me the sole arbiter
etween them"
She turned and re-entered her car
age.
Neither OF the men helped her into
each giving way to the other. When
lie lady had gone Dabney said to
arr:
Mr.. Carr, as the aggressor in this
larrel I feel it incumbent upon me
recall what l said to you at the
1b."
1t was subsequently announced that
plantations and apologies had passed
tween Messrs. Dabney and Carr
After this affair there were no dnes
tween persons OF prominence in the 4
nth The custom died as it had died
the north. But Dabney after tine
1ewed his suit with success.