North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-09-16

p was heard, Let them alone Let then
EIGHT IL out ~ A circle Yves now iorme,
T about the tvs eombaisnts the brother O
Margarita yocleraiing that whoever pre-
sumed To interfere should be responsible,
to him for the attempt. As Tor poor Mar
garits, without seeming TO be terfor-strncE
as young girl Of her age under such cir.
lcumsiances would naturally have been, she
was seen on her knees in corner of the
building, praying terven,ly 10 The Santa
Nirgen," not to separate the combatants,
but to preserve The life OF her cousin.
Sill it might be perceived, that this scene,
had il not been for the interest she ieit for
one oil the eombatants, would have caused
her no particular aslonishment or terror.
The daughter OF the inn-keeper was at
her side, endeavoriDg TO comfort her by
her caresses and from time To time turn
ing her head round with female curiosity
10 observe how the duel proceeded. With
that tact, which all women have, she
calmly perceived the cause of Margarita's
anxiety as to the Issue of the conflict, and
not conceiving that she could have any
other fear than that OF losing her lover,
kept calling out with wild and almost saw
age accents
Courage, my angel never fear my
dear little innocent ! The officer will he |
killed. Alvas will not have a hair of his |
head injured. have seen many affairs
of this kind. With good poinard man
has nothing to fear from sabre. Let him
say his last Ave Maria-the poor officer
If he knows it By heart. And yet it is
pity such handsome Don but AIvas is
handsome TOO and then he is a ChTistino.'
Whilst The women were thus engaged
The fight became more and more animated
The officer, who was an excellent iencer,
as well as swordsman, at first kept upon
the defensive, following with his eye and
the point OF his sword, every movement,
Of the young Maio but he rendered all
his science Of no avail by his manner OF
lighting. Now turning with the nimhe-
ness OF a cat round and round him now
standing motionless, or bending almost 10
the ground, his arm fell in front /: and I'M
rolling the ample folds of the mantle in
which he was enveoped, whist behind
his sort Of curtain, his right brandished ,
nvisibly this long and formidable poinard.
AL last impatient Of being kept so long 7
n check, the officer assumed the offensive, l
and pressed his adversary, attacking him
with fury.
"He is done for" said old Torres, as he
ooked con amore. "It's all over with AL
,as.''
Such, in fact, it would have appeared h
ut by ient, Alvas all of sudden let fall v
lis cloak The officer lifted his arm to cut ii
nm down, and Mt that instant fell TO the $
arth. One groan, and all was over. The 8
ropping OF the cloak was, as said, feint 6
n order to persuade his enemy 10 put Il
mself off his guard and with the rapid /
ly Of lightning he had run in upon him,
nd buried his poniard 10 the hilt in his %
tomacb. So great the force with which :
ne blow was struck, that AIvas' thick N
Ioak, transfxed by the dagger before it al
cached the side Of his adversary, was he
lnned TO the wound. al
May God have mercy on his sour' :"
lid the murderer, making sign of the te
'oss, and with look Of pity away from sp
is fallen antagonist. ha
Come Alvas," said the brother OIL :"
largarita -" what is done is done. IL
as glorious victory. And now, have a
re yourself ! see some carbneers at
e top Of the hill Take my horse.
ime presses. Take leave of Margarila,
ID away"
AT the name Of Mafgarita, Alvas made =
step towards her; but stopping of
dden-" No said he not with those
nds of blood. No. Adieu, adieu 4
argarita- dear Margarita! fare thee G..
,ll!.' ~ II,
S2ringing on his horse, he put his spurs lar
% its sides, and for some minutes the FIR
ofound silence kept by the witnesses GO GO
this scene OF blood was only broken by
, gallop of the horse, till lost in the {
tance.
At last the trot OF the carbineers was
ard, and the rafting Of their sabres.
le caravan was in motion. Margarta, A
i on her knees, thanked the "Santa IN
rgen." in tears for having given the tax
tory TO Alvas, including in her prayers o
) name Of the officer whilst the girl oil 6
inn related, Enthusiastically, all the
aiIs OF the struggle. The corpse was -
ced on a hurdle, and carried by the
dicrs 10 the nearest village for inter
ut. u
With Margarita and her brother, I soon the
,rtook the caravan. Ola
rea