George Washington's Last Duel by Thomas Nelson Page

As the afternoon had worn away, and whilst the two principals in the / affair were arranging their matters, the Major had been taking every / precaution to carry out the plan for the meeting. The effect of the / approaching duel upon the old gentleman was somewhat remarkable. He was / in unusually high spirits; his rosy countenance wore an expression of / humorous content; and, from time to time as he bustled about, a smile / flitted across his face, or a chuckle sounded from the depths of his / satin stock. He fell in with Miss Jemima, and related to her a series of / anecdotes respecting duelling and homicide generally, so lurid in their / character that she groaned over the depravity of a region where such / barbarity was practised; but when he solemnly informed her that he felt / satisfied from the signs of the time that some one would be shot in the / neighborhood before twenty-four hours were over, the old lady determined / to return home next day.

It was not difficult to secure secrecy, as the Major had given / directions that no one should be admitted to the garden.