Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1837-09-23

DUEL ON BILLIARD TABLL.-The doors
were closed, and they laid hands on the waters
and the proprietor of the cafe, who were going to
the police. The swords were then brought The
two adversaries cast lots for them, and then pgi
ed off their coats and waiscoats, and unbuttoned
their shirts to show that there was nothing under
Both then took then swords
The officer wrapt around his hand hahdker-
chief leaving both ends dangling, Alfonso neg
lecied this practice, the object Of which was TO
distract the attention OF the adversary by the per-
peiuaI tlutter of their two white points, thus TO
turn away his attention from the sword But Al
lonse had manner of fighting Of his own, and
cared little for these petty proceedings lie new
er looked at the steel, but fixing his eve on that
OF ms antagonist, anticipated every motion that he
made.
The two wresers, or elndators ! might say,
got on The table together, and according 10 the
terms or conditions agreed on between the par
ties, and their friends, rested their swords on the
toes OF their boots. A traveller from CONNER
claI house who happened to be present, and could
have no interest IN the scene other than what its
novelty excited, was fixed on to clap his hands
three tunes, and at the 'hird the swords were up-
raised IN the air, and the two combalans came to
guard.
terrible silence reigned through the room,
and for some seconds II was only broken bv the
cashmg OF The steel, for both parties as they
sklrmlshej, were well aware that single faux
pas was death. The slightest stepping back,
shrinking of the body, or leapmg on one side,
must inevitably prove fatal
Tho officer ans hYa,l n,1 .kn,,l
Alfonso, and looked as though he could crush
him; but he lule needed this advantage, il adyau-
tage II was, for he by degrees lowered his body
till he was right under the sword Of his Zoe, and
almost bent himself down upon the bed of the
table. No other change in his attitude then took
place.
All at once the officer, taking This posture for
the effect Of fear, made a furious lunge, which,
was paired with the greatest sang God and skill
and Alfonso allowed the officer to return to nis
guard without attempting to return it, His adj
| verSary was deceived by ms sort of timid de-
fence, aud, becoming more adventurous, attacked
him again with increased fuzzy, 50 much so, that,
thrown oft his guard, his left foot quilted the cush-
ION OF the table, against which ii had been fixed.
Then It was that Alfonso made rapid lungc at
the officers face, He cndeayored to regain the
ground he had lost, to resume his position. The
student would not give him time, and charged
with impetuosliy his Disconnected enemy, who
could only AVOID his TRUSTS by keeping his bod,
bent backwards. Alfonso forced him 10 the edo,
oithe table, when his foot ripped, and at that mo
mem. drove the sword up to the hit in his heart
The unhappy officer cned ont, "IIih ht!' the
he raised himself to his full height, and Tell back
wards from tho ton 81 ha 'oll~ - ~
Awful was the sound that the weight Of tia
tody made upon the boards of the room! Ther
was mixed up with it feeling, dread, lest III
dead man should hurt himself in falling! Neyc
did see, for | was present, so dreadful con
test Never did experience any thing so fright
iul as the silence Of those two men; as tho flash
inc of their swords by the light Of The lamps; a
the tall Of the yanqushed who, disappearing be
hind the table, seemed at once to have been en-
quilted in tomb that opened from behind to re
ceiye bm