The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-04-20
LYNcHDuRe, TUESDAY, APRIL 90, 1924.

VI i'N hVuiSf WIN tue tA1ftssion ol
perfect Willingness on bis part To give ME
all the satisfaction my rage could desire,
aud concluding with u haunting threat, that
should "meet The chustisentai my iaso-
fence deserped."
+" did not sleep much that night for
must confess had begun 10 repent some-
what of my lashness. | saw that | had
elected fearful change IN my condition.
had made my bosom friend my open enc
nay had turned myself in burning wrath
against him, whom had before loved with
the warmest affection; in short, | had, thru
my own imprudenee, lost the playmate of
my childhood, the compassion of my ripper
years, my best and only conidant. Con
science loudly declared that an apology
might restore bun, and that IL was
my duty under all the circustanees of the
case, 10 make one but pride stepped in
. and whispered that had been insul,ed---
That an apology on my part would be
degradation-and that nov had entered
upon the business, there was no letreating
with honour, and must go ON. SO dis
charged conscience from her duty, and dc
iheraiely resolved to murder my dearest
friendl
After right ofrestess agitation, The
fatal morning came and though IL arose
IN It's usual brightness, with all its dewy
softness and beauty, yet ii was a morning
of gloom to me for | was going to the
commission OF deed which my heart
could not warrant nor my conscience ap
prove. dressed myself with an agitated
hand ,-put my pistols into my pocket, and
slipping quietly out of the house, FASTENED
to the appointed spot. Albert was alrea
dy waiting with his second, and mine had
also preceded me. scowled darkly on
my opponent, but thought he looked as If
he ptied me. Why should he do so -
did not want his pity The pity of an
enemy Oh no ! ! hated him the worse
that he should look compassionate. The
seconds examined our weapons, aud ten
PAGES were agreed on as the distance. -
We took our stations, back to back--mea
snred the grolind--reaehed tie point
turned--and fred ALI pistol was
first discharged, aud ere had time to
know that was uninjured, mine had taken
its effect. The first thing that beheld
after the awful momcntary siiudder had
passed was the victim oil my revenge
stretched insensble on the ground Shall
lpretend to describe my sensations at this
moment ? o! no were | to make the
attempt, should doinjustite ioleelings, for
which language has no parallel. lie was
wounded ia The breast, and the crimson
stream Of life was pouring forth IN torrents.
With the first gush, my hatred died away.
| now felt that loved him more than e
yer but IL was too late ! threw myself
on my knees beside hm} | clasped his
cold hand, and sat watching in mute and
GREATNESS agony fcI the appearance ol that
animation, which feared would rover re-
turn. How long | remained In this sltua
lion | cannot tell for insensibility came 10
my relief, and when recovered | found
myself lying at home on my bed. ] saw
the anxious faces of my friends about me,
but4he memory Of what had passed, was
confused, dim and indistinct. ] was IN
state of high frryor, and twas necessary
should be kept quiet. Ali my friends lett
me but my mother, and slle sat slle1iiy
watching al my bed side. There lay
fearless and sleepless--and the remem
brance of the dreful incidents--came upon
me, one by one; in thoughts Of agony. |
tossed and turned and turmoiled on my
couch, but there was no rest, and IL seemed
as ii my whole body was wrapped in one
sheet of flames o. that eonld forget
the horrors ofthat dreadful night ! that |
coii.d cast Them for ever into the depths of
oblivion, where they should be remember
ed no more After while they gave me
40 opiate, and slept-but sleep was orse
than wakcfulness, for il brought with it
dreams SO terrific, thai the ,ery recollection
OF them is anguish. Methought was in
some place of wild unreality, such as We
often traverse in our night visions, and was
standing there alone, with naked poign-
ard in my hand ;-presently there came
one whom ] knew TO BIZ my friend, aud he
smiled upon me; but was full ofstrong pas
lions, & bis smile was like poison,and seem
ed hurried forward by some invisible power
which struggled to resist, until my dag
ger had pierced the heart of the phantom
before me. Then as drew it away,
thought the blood barsted forth and cover
ed me with shower AT length he van
ished, and thought there arose in his
place, frightfll demon, who seized me
ere was aware, and dragged me 10 the
end of dreadful prt.ciDict.. made me look