Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1880 — THE MYSTERIOUS CADET. [ARTICLE]

THE MYSTERIOUS CADET.

A College Kemini&cence. BY CARL. This evening as I was seated on the veranda, with my feet elevated upon the railing and leaning back in an armchair, listlessly watching the passers-by on the street, one of them attracted my attention and caused my thoughts to drift back down the long corridors of time, and bring up vividly to mind scenes and faces long buried in the past. lie was only a boy, this individual who had thus suddenly stirred up old memories, and a casual observer would have noticed nothing peculiar about him except that he was dressed in a suit of cadet gray, heavily bespangled with glittering buttons, and wore upon his head a cap of the same color—the uniform of some military college. But as he turned his head for a moment toward me I saw the letters “A. C. C.” on his cap, surrounded by a glittering wreath. In an instant I knew that he was a cadet of the University of . Some of my readers may remember that in the catalogue of that university for the year of 18- the name of Leslie Barton appears as a student, and opposite the name there was a blank where the residence of the cadet should have been. As I have the time at my disposal, I* will gratify the morbid curiosity that any may have upon the subject. It was at the age of 18 that I entered the university, and it was upon the day of my arrival that I first met Leslie Barton. I was standing near the entrance of the college, watching the groups of cadets out upon the parade ground, and, being unacquainted with any one, I was feeling decidedly homesick and lonesome. I had been standing there some time, trying to devise some plan of getting acquainted with the boys, when my attention was directed to a youth who was standing a few yards from, me, leaning against the corner of the building. My attention was called to him bv an exclamation which he had, seemingly, unconsciously let fall from his lips, and as I turned toward him I heard him mutter: “Yes, it is ho. It is impossible for me to be mistaken in that face.”

And as I followed the direction of his eyes I saw that he was intently watching a cadet who was approaching the college from the direction of the entrance to the grounds. As he came nearer I saw that, though rather small of stature, he was a man of at least 25 years of age. Had it not been for his smoothly-shaven face and the badge of the Clautonian Society which he wore upon his breast, 1 should have supposed him one of the professors. As he passed I looked into his face and met a pair of as wicked, devilish eyes as it is possible to conceive of. It had always been customary with me to read a person’s character by the eyes, and I had found that during my brief experience I had seldom been mistaken in my estimate ; and as this man passed into the building I decided that he was one cadet whom I did not care to become ultimately acquainted with. As I turned from w’atching him, I found that the boy I had first noticed had moved up quite close to me, and, seeing that I was observing him, he raised his cap from the cluster of crisp, black curls that covered his head, and asked, in a voice that struck me as being uncommonly low and soft: “Do you know the gentleman that has just passed?” “No,” I replied, “I am a stranger here ; this is my first day, and I am not acquainted with any one?’ “ Then we two should become acquainted by all means, for we are in the same fix. My name is Leslie Barton,” he said, holding out his hand, which, I noticed, was white, soft and shapely. “ And mine is Carl ,” I said, as I took the proffered hand. Just then the cadet I had before observed entering the college came out and brushed against Leslie Barker in passing. Such a look of mingled hate and disgust as came over his face I hope never again to see on a human countenance. I saw his small white hands clinch till the nails were buried in the flesh. He stepped back as suddenly as though some loathsome reptile had touched him, and I heard him mutter between his clenched teeth : “Curse him, he does not" recognize me, and it is well for him that he does not.” But, remembering that I was standing near and must have heard his remark, he turned toward me, and, seeing the look of surprised inquiry upon my face, he said : “ That fellow reminds me very much of a person I once knew. ” “ The remembrance is not a very fileasant one, I should judge, from the ook you gave him as he passed,” I replied, laughing. To this he made no reply, and in a few minutes bade me good evening and walked into the building. My curiosity was excited. I felt assured that Leslie Barton knew this man, and that he had some reason for hating him with all the strength of his fierv nature. I wondered why it was that he hail endeavored to lead me to believe that he had only recognized a resem-

blance to some one he had once known. The more I thought about it, the more deeply interested I became. What puzzled me most was that the stranger had looked directly into Leslie Barton’s face as he passed him, and I could detect no sign of recognition on his part. There was a mystery about these two, I was satisfied, and I determined, if possible, to discover what it was. During the following day the different classes were organized for the term, and the cadets assigned to their rooms. Two boys occupied each room, and, as every boy had the privilege of selecting hrs room-mate, I sought out Leslie Barton, and, on the strength of our slight 3cquaintance, asked him if he would occupy the same room with me. He seemed surprised at my proposition, and informed me, rather naughtily, that he had made arrangements with Col. W—, the commandant, to have a room entirely to himself. “ Very well,” I replied, turning away, but he laid his hand upon my shoulder, detaining me for a moment, as he said : “ I am sorry I cannot room with you, but I always prefer a room to myself. We’ll be good friends, though, won’t we ? ” “ Certainly,” I replied, for I had taken a strange interest in this pale-faced boy. I was assigned to a room with Edward Walton, an overgrown, good-natured sort of a fellow from Mississippi, who had attended the two previous ' sessions at the University. He knew everyone connected with the college, from the head Professor down to the old negro who attended to the building. One day, about a week after my arrival, I was standing in the hall, in company with Ed, when the cadet who had so excited my curiosity on the day I first met Leslie Barton passed. “Do you know that fellow, Ed?” I inquired. “ Oh, yes ; that’s Oscar Phelps.” “How long has he been attending school here ?” “He came in at the beginning of the last ses-ion. Why?” “ Nothing, only he seems pretty old to be attending school. Do you know much about him ?” “Very little. He’s from New Orleans, I believe, and from the way he spent money when he was here last year he must be pretty wealthy. That’s about all I can tell you of him. Fact is, he is a queer kind of a cuss, who has very little to do with the rest of us fellows.” And that was all I could learn about Oscar Phelps. I made inquiry of several other boys, but none of them seemed to know more about him than I had already learned from Ed. The more I saw of Leslie Barton the better I liked him. He was of a modest, retiring disposition, and while he had no intimate friends among the boys, yet they were all ready to declare him “a real good fellow—a little queer in his notions, but a good one, nevertheless.” There was one thing that struck me as peculiar, and that was tha the never received or wrote any letters, or ever spoke of his home or relatives. One day I asked him winch State he was from. He replied that he had lived in so many different States that he claimed any and all of them as his home. And, as I saw that he was very reluctant about conversing upon the subject, I never referred to it again.

I remember distinctly the first time I saw Leslie Barton and Oscar Phelps speak. It was just after our class in French hild recited, one day about two months after the beginning of the term. We were leaving the recitation-room, and were just without the door, when Oscar Phelps walked up beside Leslie Barton and addressed him in sneering tones. “ I say, young what’s-your-name, you always seem to know your French pretty well; I think I’ll give you a dollar a week to post me up in all the difficult translations. ” Leslie Barton turned toward him with an angry light in his bright, black eyes, and, regarding him with a haughty stare for a moment, asked in a voice which he in vain attempted to make sound natural : “ Did you speak to me, sir?” Oscar smiled in a most sarcastic and tantalizing manner, as he replied: “ Yes, did it hurt you ? ” “You will please remember, then, sir, that my name is Leslie Barton, and unless you can call me by that name and be more respectful in your manner when addressing me, I would infinitely prefer that you would not speak to me at all. ” And, as he finished speaking, he walked away to his room. Oscar looked after him for a moment, then, turning to me, he asked : “Who the devil is that fellow, any way ? One would think from the way he acts that it was necessary to remove one’s cap when speaking to him.” . “His name is Leslie Barton, as he has just informed you,” I replied, “and that is all I know of him.” “Know where he’s from ?” “ No.” *‘ It strikes me I have met him somewhere before, but curse me if I can recollect where it was. Well, no matter. I’ll learn him before he leaves this school that it is better to have Oscar Phelps’ friendship than his enmity.” ***** Months passed, and it was drawing near the close of the term. I had never heard Leslie Barton and Oscar Phelps exchange a word since the occasion previously mentioned. They seemed to avoid each other by mutual consent, and, though I had been unable to fathom the mystery that I was satisfied connected these two, yet I hoped that they would separate at the end of the term without having had any trouble with each other. But I was disappointed, as the sequel will show.

One Saturday, just before the commencement, Leslie Barton met me as I was on my way to my room, and asked me if we could have a few minutes’ private conversation together. I replied in the affirmative, and invited him to accompany me to my room, secretly wondering what he could want of me. After locking the door to preclude the possibility of an intrusion, we seated ourselves, and I waited impatiently to hear what his business was. After a few moments, during which time he appeared lost in thought, he suddenly looked up and asked : “Carl , are you a friend to me? ” “ Certainly, Barton,” I replied; “ but why do you ask ? ” “ I have a favor—a very great favor—to ask of you. You are the only one I have been on anything like intimate terms with since I have been here, and yet I hardly think our acquaintance has been of sufficient length to justify me in expecting the favor I am about to solicit.” “ Anything I can possibly do for you will be done cheerfully, Barton,” I replied, anxious to know what it was he wished me to do. Again he was silent for a brief time. At length he spoke : “ Carl, I am to fight a duel this evening-” “The devil you are!” I exclaimed, springing up from my chair. “ Yes,” he replied, “ this evening at 5 o’clock. ” “ With whom ?” I asked, having somewhat recovered from the astonishment his words had caused. “With Oscar Phelps. The arrangements are all made between us. We are to fight in the cedar grove just beyond the college grounds, with pistols at ten paces distance. What I want is for you to act as my second. Will you do it ? ” “But, Barton,” I asked, “have you thought of what the consequences may

be ? I have heard that Phelps is a dead shot with a pistol.” “I have thought of everything,” he replied. “You will be surprised, Carl, when I tell you I came here to hunt this man. Oscar Phelps he calls himself, but that is not his real name ; what his name is, no matter. For two years I have been seeking him, and only accidentally found that he was here under an assumed name. He has wronged me so deeply that only his life can atone for the injury. My name is not Leslie Barton, and lam not what I seem. I might tell you the story of my life, but it would do no good, and it better rest untold. Phelps has no idea that lam the one whom he so foully wronged in the years gonb by, and I have no wish that he should know it. One of us, perhaps both, may fall; for, as you say, Phelps is a good shot, but he has none the advantage of me in that respect.” “ Now, Carl, knowing what yen do, will you act as my second in this affair ? If you refuse, I must fight without one. ” What could Ido ? Leave this friendless boy to fight that man, without a single friend near to see fair play ? It was against my nature, and I did what I think most boys of my age would have done under similar circumstances—l agreed to act for him. “Thank you, Carl,” he said, taking my hand “If you are ever placed in a position like this, I hope you may find a friend as true. I have only one request to make; should I fall, have me buried in the cedar grove where the fight will take place, and in the same clothes I am then wearing. You will find sufficient money in the hands of the President of the college to defray all expenses. I deposited it with him when I paid my tuition. ”

And with that he again pressed my hand, and left the room. At twenty minutes to five, I arrrived at the grove and founa Leslie Barton already there, walking back and forth beneath the tall cedars, whose thick boughs were so closely interwoven as to almost entirely exclude the rays of the setting sun. As I approached, I noticed that he had discarded the college uniform, and was dressed in a neatly-fitting suit of black broadcloth, and wore upon his head a narrow-brimmed white hat. He did not observe me until I was quite close to him, and then, glancing up with a smile, he said : “You are the prince of punctuality.” “Phelps has not arrived yet?” I asked, looking" around. “No ; but he will be on time,” he replied. ‘‘ I never heard of his being late on an occasion like the present. ” “Then this is not his first? ” I asked, in surprise. “No; Oscar Phelps has made more than one vacant chair in what, but for him. would now be happy homes.” “ What kind of pistols will you use ?” I asked. He s'epped to the foot of a large tree, and picked up a black ebony case, which I found, upon opening, to contain a pair of gold-mounted'pistols, the finest I had ever seen. They were Colt’s latestimproved patent, 38 caliber. Such a weapon in the hands of one skilled in its use would easily kill a man at forty yards, and they were to fight at ten paces. I shuddered. “They are coming,” said Barton, interrupting me in my examination of the pistols. I looked in the direction indicated by him, and saw Phelps, accompanied by a cadet named Mumfee, with whom J had but a very slight acquaintance. They raised their caps politely as they cam'? up; Barton acknowledged the presence of Mumfee with a haughty salute, but did not deign to notice Phelps.

“We are on time, I presume? ” said Mnmfee, looking at his watch. “ Yes,” I replied, “and have several minutes to spare before th® time appointed.” “Then let me see you a moment,” he said. And we walked apart from the others. “Do you know how this trouble originated ? ” he asked, when we were out of hearing. “No,” I replied; “don’t you? My principal did not consider it necessary to tell me.” “ Just the case with mine. I say, this is going to be a bad business for us, I’m afraid. They say Phelps is a sure shot.” “Yes, and, from what I can learn, Barton is no indifferent hand with a pistol.” “ I presume those are the weapons to be used,” he said, pointing to the case I held in my hand. ‘ ‘ Let me see them, please.” I handed him the pistols, and saw by the way he handled them that he was familiar with such things. He examined them closely for several moments, and then said : “One or the other of those boysis doomed. ” Before I had time to reply Phelps called to us : ‘ ‘ Gentlemen, time’s up. ” We walked back to where he and Barton were standing, a little apart from each other, and, having selected suitable ground, Mumfee measured off ten paces. We then carefully loaded the pistols, after which I walked to where Barton was standing. “Is everything ready?” he asked, as I came up to him. ‘ ‘ Yes. Is there anything you want to say ?” “Nothing, except to thank you for your kindness to me, and to ask of you to see that my instructions of this morning are carried out. Don’t try to discover what my real name is, for it would be useless.” And without another word he took his position. Phelps was already in his place with his pistol in his hand. I handed Leslie the pistol selected for him, and walked off a few steps to his right. A moment’s silence, and then Mumfee, who was to give the word, cried out: “ Gentlemen, are you ready?” “Ready,” came from both. “One !” They both raised their pistols, and the sharp, metallic “click, click,” of the locks resounded upon the evening air. “ Two! ” I looked at Leslie Barton. Not a muscle moved. His face was hard and stern, and there was that same light in his handsome black eyes that I had noticed on the day that Phelps addressed him in the hall of the college. “Three!” Simultaneously the reports of both pistols rang out—-so near together were they that it seemed that but one pistol had fired. My eyes were fixed upon Leslie, and at the crack of the pistols I saw him stagger for a moment, drop his pistol and clasp both his hands over his left breast, and, before I could reach him, he had fallen backward to the ground. As I raised his head upon my knee he gave one or two gasps, a convulsive shudder passed over him, and he was still. Unclasping his hands from his breast, I saw where the ball had entered, just over his heart, and I knew that the spirit of Leslie Barton had taken its flight from this world. Laying his head gently back upon the ground, I turned and saw Mumfee bending over the prostrate form of Phelps. Approaching, I asked : “ Is he badly hurt?” “Badly hurt! the devil. Why, he was dead before he touched the ground. Look at that,” and he pointed to a bul-let-hole just between the eyes. “How about Barton ?” “He is dead, too. Shot directly through the heart.” For a time we were both silent. Mumfee was first to speak. “Well,” he said, rising, “something must be done—one of us must report this at the college. Will you go ?”

“Yes,” I replied, and, without a moment’s delay, hurried to the college. Jl found CoL W—— in his room, am&KfL ported the affair to him. At first he seemed to think I was drunk, orcipizy. but when I told him that Caddto£Barto| and Phelps were lying dead thecqdar grove he sprang from his And you assisted these two in murdering each other ?” . “ I acted as Barton’s second, replied. “ Then go to your room and consider yourself under close Arrest. You will, answer to a higher coiirt than a college court martial,” and, seizing his hat, he hurried from the room. . - I went up to my room, self into a chair. My state of' mind can more easily be imagined than described. In a few minutes I heard footsteps as-s cending the stairs, and theta the My Midturned in my door, from the the steady tramp of some one back and forth before my door told that.* sun» tinel was on guard there»' 1 w» ' The hours dragged just as the clock in the hall tola the hour of 10, the door was opened and n cadet came in with orders for nie to repdrt 6/ Col. W immediately. He fallowed me down the long hallway,; down' the stairs to the door i room. I entered, but the" guard remained on the outside. I f<£ind Colt W excitedly walking; tlie**dUMr| J Turning to me, he asked, fiercely 11 < “ What did you know of Lehhe Bfri ton?” “Nothing, Colonel, until to-day, whan he told me liis name was not Leslie Barton,” I replied. “Did he tell you what his name was ?” “ He did not, but he told me something else. ” And I told him of the conversation I had with Barton, and what he said in reference to injuries received at the hands of Phelps, and that his only object in attending the college was to seek out Phelps, and be revenged. “ Then I can tell you something that you did not know,” he said. “Leslie Barton was a woman. No one ever dreamed of it until since her death. I have not the slightest idea who she w’as, or where she came from, for she declined to give any place of residence when she entered. But why I have sent for you is this : You will be arrested to-morrow if you are here, and my advice to you is to leave to-night, and the further you are from this town to-morrow morning the safer you will be. There is a train leaves in twenty minutes ; when it goes out, be sure that you are among its passengers. Don’t bother about your baggage ; you cau write back and have it shipped to you. ” The advice -was too good not to be fpllow’ed. I went to my room and changed my uniform for a plain citizen’s clothes, hurried to the depot, boarded the train just as it w’as pulling out, and before daylight the next morning I was in another State. A week afterward I read an account of the affair in a newspaper, but so different was it from what really occurred that, had it not been for the names, I should have failed to recognize it as the same. The.mystery was never cleared up, and in the cedar grove where she tell and was buried there stands a marble shaft, erected by the cadets of the college, with the name of Leslie Barton upon it, and underneath the Latin injunction, Nil mortuus nisi homing Prattville, Ala.