The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-01-30

at d41OlucL tdDtC.
Pardon me, monsieur said Brain
ard to Thibadeaux. You do not seem
to remember me-
81 confess l do not" replied Thiba-
deaux.
LET me refresh your memory.
Twelve years ago / was on duty with
the army at New Orleans. At ball
you purposely insulted me. chal-
lenged you. We met In wood near
the city where such affairs are settled.
You fred before the signal and left
me bleeding on the ground, Fastening
away, excusing yourself by saying that
you were anxious to avoid the police"
when you say fred before the
signal you He!''
ITO give gentleman the lie calls
for satisfaction. This time shall be
better prepared"
Tomorrow morning 1 have another
affair on hand, after which I will ac-
commodate you"
In that case you are the challenger.
l dare say your adversary can be In
duced to give me first place.
Thibadeaux could not very well OBJ
ject to this, and messenger was dis
patched to Ringold to ask him If he
would step aside for another. Ringold,
thinking that he might appear brave
without risking anything, demurred,
whereupon Brainard called upon him
and represented to him that, having
been challenged by Thibadeaux, Thi-
badeaux had a right to withdraw the
challenge until after another encoun-
ter. Ringold, who was really much
relieved at the prospect of not having
to fight, hoping that Thibadeaux
would be prevented from killing him
by being killed himself, gave what he
endeayored to make appear reluctant
consent
Brainard having thus paved the way
for himself, meeting was arranged
between him and Thibadeaux. The
latter had not willingly acquiesced in
the new arrangement, for he had
hoped to put Ringold In an unpleasant
position without running any great
risk He knew a coward, or thought
he did. and fancied that Ringold would
show the white feather at the last mo-
ment. If not, Thibadeaux counted on
effecting a compromise without de-
tracing from his own reputation.
Ringsld could not but suspect that
Brainard had some reason for his ac-
ton, and that reason was to step in
between him and death. Ringold sent
a note to Virginia Hardesty informing
her that In his affair with Thibadeaux
he had given place to another. If Thi-
badeaux was not too badly hit in his
hrst encounter Ring01d would meet him
after it was finished.
When the clock struck the appointed
hour the next morning Brainard was
on the ground. Ringold was there. but
Thibadeaux did not appear. After
waiting some time for him the others
went away.
That was the last that was seen of
Thibadeaux In Virginia. Nor was he
ever heard of afterward. though sew
eral holders of his /. O. us tried hard
to find him.
No engagement between Virginia Har-
desty and Arthur Ringold took place.
Soon after Thibadeaux's disappear
ance Major Brainard received an
anonymous bouquet OF flowers. Then
one day he and Virginia Hardesty met
at hunt. This was the beginning Of
different treatment by her of her IN
couth sutton. At the hant bah at the
end Of the season Their engagement
was announced.
When the whole story came out 1T
appeared that Major Brainard had rec
ognized his former enemy as soon as
he appeared in WILLIAMSBURG. Then.
Brainard's neighbors began to hear
shots fred In the garnet of his house
and wondered what they meant. No
one knew that the ex-soldier was MAX
ing an expert of himself with the pis-
tol In order to meet his former antago-
mist. The matter was precipitated by
his hearing that Thibadeaux was about
to make victim of the man he had
reason to believe was to win Virginia
Hardesty.
Brainard became prominent citizen
Of Virginia, and though when the war
with Mexico came on he was some
what advanced in age he commanded
regiment.