The Wilmingtonian., 1824-05-13
WILMINGTON, DEL. MAY 13, 1924

he height OF my anger, 10 VT te an acceptance,
when the letter which l now hold was brought
me BY a servant. 1t was sent to me by friend,
who had been bitterly taught in the school ofex-
pcricnce, and who having casually heard OF my
quarrel, considered it duty to prevent what
night have been the fatal consequences. To it l
owe the change ofmy vicws-my peace-my hap.
piness-perhaps my life. shall therefore read
it to you without further preface"
Iheard, my young friend, that you have re.
ceived challenge, and have further understood
that your intention is to accept il. Permit me to
request before the die is cast, that you will pause
one moment, and listen 10 The story of one, who
like you was once happy, and might still have
been so had the voice Of friendly admonition been
sounded before him. How miserable he has been,
how wrctched he no,o IS, tongue cannot tell.
at is not my intention TO enter into argument
with YOU on the subject Objections to duellins |
| have been often repeated. and your own good
sense will suggest them all shall merely offer
you recital of my sufierings, and leave you 10
feel for yourself
Gone of my earliest friends and associates, was
Albert Harding. We had known each other
from niancy-we had conned our tasks. and play
ed our games, and shared our grievances togetli-
Grand we had grown up like two twin trees,
that cling closer as they advanced in size Ma
ny is the hour Of unalloyed bliss that winged its
lmnobserved fight over us, in that sweet season o'
Innocence, when our sports had no pleasure, un-
less they were mutually partaken Would ma'
| had sunk into death at that blessed period, tor
then should have been spared the pain OF tina,
dreadful reverse, which have since experienced
But must not dwell upon that period; for it
makes my heart ache, and my eyes fearful Wien
ever look back into the past, and see thnse
! happy days. like bright constellation, shining
through the darkness Of succeeding years. Sui
fee it to say, that childhood passed serenely
away, amidst the interchange of more than ira
fba 1ap n A.
cen years. gave us the signal Of approach to man
, hood. We now both entered into the world-but
: it was not capable Of changing our hearts we
: had not indeed the opportunity OF meeting so ire
quenty as we had before done, but our friend
: ship remained unbroken. AT length. however
an incident occurred which was destined to mar
our peace for ever.
81 had casually discovered that Albert was at.
: tacled to an amiable young lady in our vi.int,
: with whom also had some acquaintance; but
did not the know that his affections were so deep
y ly engaged, as had afterward reason to believe
e they were. undertook to rally him on the sub
iect, and at first he bore with me calmly and pa
tienty. was in most mischievo'is h,lmor al
the time, and pursued my raillcry with little mer
e Icy. Still he continued TO take my inpertinenct
in good part urged the sege, until at lengtl
| fairly ran down his good nature, and lie lost M
e equanimi,y, dcnouncing me in round terms as al
/, absolute fool. told him that was an expr' ssoI
had not expected frnm him, but still continued
J to tesZe him, and left little unsad that coult
J. make him and the object bf his attentions appes
- ridiculous. All this was done in spirit OF goo'
Q humor on my part, but ought to have know
d that it was trifing too much with an cary AM
y plant temper One bitter word led to another
:, till we both became fairly irriated, and forge
: what we owed 10 each other as fellow creature
y and as friends. vague and hasty Insnuation a
G ganst my character, which he threw out in III
y height Of his anger considered as an unpardon
y able offence. old him fercey that he shoul,
3t repent the words he had uttered, and flung Fl on
him full of the inspiration of revenge.
81 Immediately went home, and in the extac
'e of my rage, wrote and despatched him challeng
10 TO meet me the next morning. 1t was briefly az
swered in the course Of few hours. with the es
Is preston of perfect willingness on his part {
of give me all the satisfaction my rage could desire
n and concluding with taunting threat. that
V should "meet the choStiScmeat my insolence dt
is SCrtc6."
IL 81 did not sleep much that night; for mus
9. confess had begun TO repent somewhat OF m
rashncss. I saw that l had effected a fear
y change in my condition. had made my bosor
e. friend my open enemy; had turned myself i
l., burning wrath against him, whom had befor
'e loved with the warmest affection; in short, had
J :: through my own mprnence, lost the paymat
n of my childhood the companion ofmy ripper year
!: my hest and only confident. Conscience loud
- ly ueclareu tnat an apology iniRnl rtStoic hi'
le and that il was no more than my duty, under a
the circumstances Of the case, To make one; bii
pride stepped in and whispered that had bee
c. nsulted-lhat an apology on my part would b
,f ldegradation---an that now l had entered upo
the business, there was no ratreatlng with hono1
and must go on. So | discharged con'cenc
from her duly, and deliberately resolved TO mur
der my dearest friend
"After night of restless agitston. the fats
ic morning came; and though it arose in its usua
ly brightness, with all its dewy sotness and beauty
a. yet it was morning Of gloom to me; for wa
going to the commission of deed, which m
IN heart could not warrant. nor my conscience aI
d. prove. dressed myself with an ag taied hand
= put my pistols into my pocket, and slipping quiet
III y out Of the house, hastened TO the appointe'
re spot Albert was already waiting with his Sc
ri contl, and mine had also preceded mel scowle
darkiy on my opponent. but thought he Looked
as if he pitietl me. Why should he do so IL dit
not want his pity THE pity Of an enemy Oh
no! hated him the worse that he shnuid i"ol
compassionate. The seconds examined our wca
pons, and ten PAGES were agreed on as the dis
tance. We took our stations, back TO back
measured the ground--reached the point-turne'
and fred 4! Albers pistol was first discharg
cd, and ere had time to know that was unin
iured, mine had taken its effect. The frs, thin.
that beheld after the awful momentary shudde
oi had passed, was the victim ofmy revenge stretc
N Isl ~ hall 4