The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-07-24

ed one of the two leaders In the war
with Mexico in the presidency was
coming on. Carr supported Lewis Cass
and Dabney entered the field for Zach
airy Taylor. There was nothing in this
to antagonize the rivals. but. both want
ing the same woman, 1t helped to do 30.
One evening at q social club when
politics was being discussed Dabney
cast an dispersion on Cars motives In
supporting his candidate. and Carr
gave him the lie.
In those days to call a a a liar
was to receive a blow in return. But
these two men understood each other.
both knowing that Dabney's aspersion
upon Cars political status was a mott
fication to him that If he wanted Miss
Conway he must fight for her, not with
monty used among gentlemen in those
days, a Derringer pistol. Dabney made
no reply to Carr calling him a liar, but
later sent a friend to him demanding a
%retraction and an apology for the in
suit. Carr refused either to retract or
apologize. and a meeting was arranged
between the two men.
The political discussion that had TAX
en- place between her two suitors and
the insult one had given the other soon
came to the ears Of Belle Conway. for
it was public property. Indeed. it was
commented upon by every newspaper
in the county. No one but the principals
in the affair knew the zeal cause of the
difficulty behind the one that was put
forward to the world. There was no
mention in the journals of a probable
duel between the two men. but there
was an expectation Of one.
Miss Conway saw a mention Of the
trouble in print, but had no idea Of its
purport. She neither realized that so
slight an affair would lead two men to
try to kill each other nor had the faint
est suspicion that she was the real
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 she
considered fitted only for a rowdy.
Nevertheless she knew enough of
southern customs to realize that no
gentleman there could call another a
liar without serious consequences.
During the morning a carriage was
driven up to Colonel Rathbone's house,
and a lady alighted. A few minutes
later q cOlored servant came to Miss
Cnnuyov vvhn vvoS Of u,nrEy with tho
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 hurriedly? 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
yo' aware of the cause underlying this
quarrel between my son and Mr.. Ca'?"
Il am aware of no cause except a
political difference"
That is merely a pretext. Yo' are
the real cause"
"I?"
Yes, yo'. Had yo' shown a prefer
ance TO- one or the other this unfO'tu
nate affair would not have occurred"
why is it SO ~unfOrtunate?" aske,
Miss Conway a%nxiously.
MY son and Mr.. Ca are going to
fight a duel"
Fight a duel? When-where?
II don't know
Il must see these men, and together.
| will decide between them at once"
1t would be impossible for Miss Con
way to e them together. There was
but n way for her to act in the mat.
ter. Mrs. Dabney promised to find out
II possible when and where the affair
was: to take place, and Miss Conway
was to be there and make an effort to
stop it. .:y
The next morning at sunrise in HI
open space in 4 wood neal Murfrees-
boro, while seconds were pacing of
the ground for their principals to fight
on, a carriage containing Miss Conway
drove up, and the lady stepped out.
She was greeted with establishment by
the dueling party: +. ,
Gentlemen" she said, you men Of
the south are men Of honor. As such
l ask to know If I in any way enter
into the cause Of this affair."" -.
The question was received in silence.
II have the word Of one whom
neither Of you would question. that If
I had shown a, decided preference for
either OF you this affair would not have
occurred. If my informant Is correct
and you will drop this quarrel ! will
decide between you" -: =" i
Though there was no reply 1t was
evident that both principals assented
to the proposition.
DO you promise?' asked Miss Con
way. .
Both men bowed an assent.
Every well. l would not on any DC
count ally myself with either one of
two men who would fight for me in