Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-06-18

"But canst thou fightf" cried one. B
81 am only simple student, and an ar.
fist by profession. have devoted myself
to the pencil, not the sword" "
" But thou cans't use it a little, can'st
notf' asked another.
"But indflerentIy," answered the youth.
"And how art thou with the pistol2" de-
manded third.
" My hand is unpractsed," replied Ar
nold,s 81 have no skill in shedding human
blood"
"Fore God, then, rash bow, what has
tempted thee to this fatal extremitvi"
"Hatred of OPPRESSION" replied the
youth, sin all its forms; willingness TO die
rather than submit to insult"
"Die-die then, thou shalt, and ere to-
morrow's sun shall set" Numbered Mentz,
starting up in phrenzy, and with hoarse
and broken voice, that made the hearts OF
the hearers shudder as If il were the howl
Of dog or demon. g. challenge thee to
mortal combat"
Sand accept the challenge"
4" 1t is for thee TO name time, place, and
weapon; but, as thou lowest me, let it not
be longer than tomorrow night, or shall
burst with rage and Impotence"
Z" love thee not, base dog replied Ar
mold, "but thou shalt not die so lngorious
death. will fight thee, therefore, to.
night"
sBy the mother Of heaven, boy" cried
Mentz, more and more surprised, '.thou art
in haste to sup in hell" and the ruffian low
cred his voice, START thou mad?"
Be that my chance" answered Arnold,
"I shall not be likely to meet even in hell, a
companion as brutal as thou, unless. which
mean shall be the case, thou bear me com.
pany."
" Tonight then be it, said Mentz, 'tho'
tonight my hand is not steady, for wine
and anger are no friends to the nerves."
Dost thou refuse me, them" asked the
youth with q sheer.
by the mass, no! But tonight is dark,
the moon is down, the stars are couded,
and the wind goes by in heavy puffS. Hear
! it, even now!'
Therefore, said the youth, apparently
more codlv, as his fierce rival grew more
perceptby agtated- therefore will we
lay down our lives here, in this hall, on this
spot, on this instant, even as thou standest
now"
"There is no one here who will be my
| friend" said Mentz, so evidently sobered
| anu SuDuueu ny Tic olllSuldI COIIpoSuIO
self.possession Of his antagonist, that all
present held hun IN contempt. NO one
stirred.
Ono NATTER" said Arnold, 81 will myself
forego the same privilege"
"And your weapons?' inquired Men:z.
" Are here," replied Arnold, drawing
them from his bosom, sand a surer pair of
pistols never drew blood. The choice is
yours"
The company now began to fancy tina,
Arnold had equvocated in disclalming skill
as duelst, and from his composure, tho't
him more fatal master OF the weapon than
the bully himself. The latter also partook
of this opinion.
Young man." he cried, in voice clou-
ded and broken, but he stopped and said
no farther.
Your choice" exclaimed Arnold, pre-
senling the pistols.
Mentz seized one desperately and said:
Nov name your distance"
Arnold now turned and addressed the
company:
Gentlemen he said, "deem me not Ell
Their savage or insane, that sacrifice myself
and this brutal wretch here before your
eyes, to certain and instant destruction.
For me, | confess have no value in life;
she whom love, have sworn to forget,--.-
and if existed a thousand years, should
probably never see her again. This rutfan
us a coward, and fears to die, although he
does not fear daily to merit death. have
long heard OF his baseness, and regard him
as an assassin-the enemy of the human
race, and of God-whom it will be mercy
and virtue to destroy. My own life
would be well rid OF, but | would fling it
away idly when its loss may De made SUBJ
servient to the destruction of vice, and the
relief of humanity. Here, then, yield my
breath; and here, too, this trembling and
shrinking craven shall close his course OF
debauchery and murder. My companions,
farewelI:.- and should any one hereafter
chance to meet Gertrude de SaaIe, tell her
have flung away life which her falsehood
made me despise. And now, recreant," he
said, in a fierce tone, turning towards
Mentz, "plant thy pistol to my bosom---l
will place mine to thine! Let one of the
company tell three and let the third number
be the signal to fire."
With an increased palenesS, but with even
more Ierocity and frmness, Arnold threw
off his cap, displaying his high brow and
glossy hair; his lips were compressed
his eyes which gistened with deadly glare
were fixed on Mentz. He then fixed him
self in an attitude Of firing, broadened his
exposed chest full before his face, and with