The True Stroy Of The Altercation

ouuaior oprague uas aDsolutely refused to inake public the history of his dotnestic diffieulties, but an intímate friend of bis who feels that Mrs. Sprague's ropeated letters and statements are unju.it to the governor, has given to the public through the Boston Globe Mr. Sprague's versión of the affair, as learned trom him in conversation. He (Gov. Sprague) bad been down in Muiiiö on a business trip expocting to be absent until Saturday night. He fiuisbed his business boforu he expeefod to und returned late Thursday night, but did not seo Mrs. Sprague, although he knew alie was present in the house. On Friday morning he learned for the first time, and down at the Pier, that Senator Coukling was up at his house, and had been there a day or two. The governor was angry beyond measure, and the cause of his anger, he said to his frieud, was the intímate relations between Senator Conkling and his wife, which had long been higbly obnoxious to him. The existence of these relations was no secret to him. He had seen the scandal growing and becotuing more and more public, and he spoke bitttrly of the conduct of Senator ConkHng towards his wife at Washington. Bitter words had often been spoken between his wife and himself beca use of that intimacy. She was fully awaro how obnoxious to him was that iutimacy and what were his feelings towards Senator Cunkling. But, in spite of this, f aid Mr Sprague ; in spite of all the scandal and the violonce to his feelings, that sht ahould invite Senator Conkling to be a guest at his house during his absence, and that Oonkliagshould have the brazea effrontery to come there at all, iucensed him beyond all measure. As he expressesit Senator Goukling was trying to do for his home in lihode Islaud what ho had already done for his home in Washington, and he had deterinmed to put an end to it at once and forever. With this delibérate iutentiou he hurried back to Oanonchut as soon as ho heard Conkliug was thore. Near the house he met Linck, tho Germán professor, but he declared positively that he had no row with him and had no idea of shooting him. He did uot even have his gun with him at the time. Ho did order Linck to leavo the house, and was opposed to his being there, not, however, because he had auything against the man himself, but because he could not afford to have such attachment to his establishment, and he feit that the display of such txtravagance at Caiionchet was injuriug bim in his efforts to save tho wreek of his vast property interests und to get on his i'eet aj;aiu ünancially. But ho hardly gave Linck a thougbt. Probably he did speak augrily, he said, for ho wus very angry; but hisindignation was against Conkling and not against Linck. He found Conkling in the house nlone, and ordered him out on the instant. - Conkling refused to go. A few words ensued, and then he (Sprague) went up stairs to get his shot-gun. He found that ho had no percussion caps for his weapon, and went oif to the villago to get some. As soon as he could procure them he hurried back, and Conkling was still there. He again ordered him to leavo, and Conkling refused to go and tried to mollit'y Sprague and excuse himself frotn leaving so suddenly on the ground that hehad no carriage for himself or his baggage, which was not even packed. Thereupon Mr. Sprague drew out his watch and tol-i Conküug that he would give him 30 seconds to get out, and that if he was not out by that timo he (Mr. Sprague) would blow his brains out. At that moment a carriage appeared in sight, which had evidently been sent for while Senator Sprague was absent in his search for the caps. At any rats Conkling immediately got into it and drove away, lea ving his baggage bobind him. What happened afterwards in the house is not related, excppt that Conkling's luggage was hustled out of the house at short notice. Not satisfied tb at Conkling would quit hanging around H.; ulano, fin3 "" "iSd to malro him tully understand that he (.ftprague) was thoroughly in earnest, and that it was not a mero passing fit of rage, tho goveruor, as soon as ho had said his say at the house and had ordered Coukling's luggage out, jumped in his own wagon, and drove off towards tho pier to tind Conkling, and he oarried his gun with him. He found Conkling pacing upand down in front of n cafe. Jumping from his carriage he beckoned Conkling to come to him, and said curtly : " I want you." Conkling carne, and another scène ensued. Conkling spoke low and mildly, evidently seeking to avoid attracting observation, and tried again to pacify the governor. This only enraged Mr. Spragufr the more. He donounced Conkling violently, and told him plainly that he had had enougb. of his intimacy with Mrs. Sprague, and did not propose to have any more of it. The governor reminded Mr. Conkling that he had broken a promise he once made in Washington to give up hisacquaiiitanoe with Mrs. Sprague. Pinally, the governor out Conkling short in an attompted reply by asking him abruptly if he was armed. Conkling, bristling up, replied that he was not; that if he was he (Sprague) would not go on as he was going. Without noticing this threat, Sprague replied : "Then go and arm yoursolf and hereafter go armed. I don't intend to shoot an unarmed man ; but 1 teil you now that if you ever cross my path again I will shoot you at sigbt." With this threat Governor Sprague jumped into his carriage again and drovo off, and Mr. Conkling returued to the cafe. This is uudoubtedly a substantially correct story of what actually happenud between Senator Coukling and ox-Senator Sptague.