The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-12-30
A Tragedy.
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

In public park In Rio de Janelro
q lady handsomely dressed walked
alone. The fact Of her being unat-
tended caused those who saw her to
wonder, for 1t is not usual for one
of the higher class to be out alone.
When she deliberately took seat at
one end Of bench, at the other end
Of which sat man, the surprise was
even greater, for she appeared to be
lady. She had been sitting but
few minutes when two gentlemen
walked by.
Gentlemen" she said, this man
who is sitting near me has insulted
me. May l ask you to get his address
that my natural protector may demand
satisfaction
The two men stopped, lifted their
hats and offered their services. The
accused man denied that he had offend
ed the lady. She begged one Of the
others to call upon her at her hotel.
He did so, sending up his card, bearing
the name Of Roger Stone, Denver. Colo.
II am fortunate" she said. lin not
only finding a countryman to assist me
In this affair, but one from the chival.
rous west am travelling with my
twin brother. He is not with me this
evening. but will be in later. VIII you
be the bearer for him Of challenge
under the code for tomorrow morn
ingW
Mr.. Stones surprise at this singu
before. He asked the name of the
man for whom he was to bear the
challenge and was told that it was
Harrison-Frank Harrison. He en-
deavored to learn something Of the
manner in which the lady had been i'll
treated, but she appeared to be so
averse to going over the disagreeable
details that he did not press the mat
ter. What added to the mystery was
that the man who had offended the
lady was also an American named
Mathews.
The next morning the two parties
| met on the ground chosen. Mr.. Har
rison, who was the image of his sister
| and looked equally feminine, was at
tended by Mr.. Stone, the other princi
pals second being a Brazilian. His op-
ponent protested against the proceed
ing, for which he said he was I'M
able to account. He disclaimed any
intention Of interfering with Miss Har
| rison, and If he had unwittingly done
so he would apologize. The ladys de-
fender refused to accept an apology
and preparations were made for the
encounter, which was to be fought
with pistols.
When the two principals were placed
face to face at thirty PAGES interval
and the signal was about to be given
to fire Harrison made a signal for de.
lay. Then. addressing his opponent,
he said:
"Jim Mathews, you don't know me-
for you have never seen me before. |
am not Frank Harrison. | am Eugenia
Phillips, widow of the man you ruined
er our marriage. | have followed you
| all the way from Virginia City for the
express purpose Of killing you. found
you yesterday and took measures for
| this meeting"
A deathly pallor spread itself over
the face Of the man addressed. His
| enemy nodded to the man who was to
give the signal He hesitated. The
woman raised her pistol, and her ad-
! versary followed her act A white
handkerchief fluttered to the ground
The mans hand trembled: the WON.
| ans was steady as rock. Two shots
rang out. and the man fell with bul.
| let in his heart
The woman stood for few moments
looking at him who had blighted her
life and on whom she had taken re-
venge, then sank in swoon.
The finishing of this tragedy. occu-
plying as 1t did but minute or two
did not give the seconds any time to
| prevent it. Indeed, they were para
| lyzed with surprise, When the woman
fell her second ran forward. took her
| up and bore her to the carriage In
which she had come onto the ground
| He took her to her hotel and called
for doctor. for she was hysterical.
Meanwhile Mr.. Stone busted himself
to prevent the affair from getting out
and by pledging the few persons in
volved to secrecy and bribing the po-
lice he succeeded. Had it not been for
the burial of the slain man the bride
would not have been necessary.
| AS soon as the lady was able to
travel she sailed for the United
| States, and on the same steamer was
her second in the duel
| From the time Of that episode Roger
| dy at which he had assisted, the
wrecking Of woman's life, affected
| him materially. It's not easy for a
man to witness a woman's sufferings
without being strongly drawn to her
| On reaching the United States Stone
and the widow both sought the west,
where they lived. Stone visited Mrs
| Phillips frequently and in time begged
her to permit him to devote the rest Of
his life to her. Though grateful for
LIS syHpdtuy anu the oeINiSe ue uuu
rendered her. che told him that 1t
would not be right for one whose
nerves had been shattered to burden
ono who seemed to have pleasant
career before him. Besides. she had Ii
life on her conscience. TO this latter
statement he said that II he had had
| time to gain correct understanding
| of the case the life would have been