The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-08-06


braggadocla, /, nevertheless, fell that had
moral courage enough TO resent positive
insult, and was ready, III good cause,
TO submit to what society considered an
honorable mode of redressing an injury
still abored under suspicion until at
length person who was net a politician.
was determined to ascertain whether there
was good and sufficient ground for this
opinion, and picking Il small quarrel with
me, or upon some trilling cause, he sent
me challenge to meet him, coupled with
the very cheering intelligence that he
would neither accept explanation nor "a
pology. So, here was challenge Of the
most positive characler-there was no e.
Yading it under existing circumstances
the challenger was person Of no conse-
quence, still he was OF good family and
possessed good character. All those
who wanted fight, assured me he was ii
gentleman, although | wished from the
bottom of my heart that nature and habit
had made him oaicr of the first water;
neither the cause nor the man were Of
sufficient importance for the risk; no po-
litical eclat could possibly arise from such
a meeting, still there was no getting rid Of
it, and accepted the invitation.
The dear public vas all agog again;
there mas to be fight after all. My
friends, who had hitherto stood sponsors
for my bravery, surrounded me with I'M
abated confidence. Ny opponents sneer-
cd and prognoslcaled that should yet
''creep out Of it," felt cool and deter
mined; would submit to no irsinuations
of such character, and made all requisite
preparations. was rather Indifferent to
the result. ] had no property to leave,no
will to make, no family to provide for-l
might be cut off, it is true, at.an early pc
Rod; and full Of promise, but it was not
Of my seeking. Come what may, this
meeting was to take place. My friend
Governor Geddes lent me his carriage and
horses, and a case of fine hair triggers
My surgeon was engaged, and the whole
city was on the qui rirc for the duel
slept that night at the house of friend,
and several acquaintance had assembled
there 10 sit up with me, talk over the mat
ter, and make arrangements for the morn
ing. Sitting up with person about to
fight duel is something like sitting up
with dead man; all was serious, solemn
and grave; no witticisms, no attempt to
Keep up fictitious spirits. They all talked
as if sGme important event was on the
tapis. | threw myself on 'ha bed to take
short repose, and fell into apertarbed sleep.
| was restless and uneasy; tossed to and
fro; hldeous dreams and specifies noaied
III my imagination; was awoke by hear
ing the servant below grinding coffee. My
irends were whispering together in the
alcovc. felt wretched-my lips were
parchcd, and my head leversh, and con-
luscc-l arose at dawn and took cup Of
strong coffee, and all things being ready,
we got into the carriage and set off for the
field of honor! 1t was a beautiful morn
mg-lhe air was pure and balsamic-thc
eastern sky was streaked with orange
tlnis, and the mist was fading from the
hills the birds were singing, and the tall
pines were waving gently i'll the morning
Dreeze-the world never looked mere
beautiful.
"'Thc morn in russell mantle clad
Walked Ger the dew of yon high eastern hill"
Shakespeare.
And was probably about to quit this world
so fresh and gay and beautcous-in the
season of youth, with every bright and
encouraging prospect before me; not by
fell disease or decay of nature, or sudden
visitation of Providence, but victim to
what was called hOnor was either TO
kill man who had never wronged me,
or meet my death at his hands without
having ever wrongcd him. What madness.
FOLLY, and Infatnatlon yet tyrant custom
had stamped the impress of chivalry upon
such appeals, and they could not be eva
ded. | pulled from me several heavy
signs as these and similar thoughts passed
through my mind, felt no foar-I felt
sorry for myself felt the same regret
that should have felt for another person
IN my situation. The carriage drove on
rapidly, and my friends regarded me with
an interest that was quite painful, and
wished the afiairwas over. AT length we
reached the appointed spot; twas a beau
tiul valley on fine level piece Of ground,
in the neishborhood Of two or three cot
tages-every thing looked green, fresh,
and beautiful. On alighting from the car
riage found large party Of gentlemen
present; some had arrived in gigs, and
some on horseback, and some pedestrians,
together with few colored gentlemen,
and many miscellaneous persons, drawn
from the neighboring cottages, having I'M
derstood that something OF importance
was going on. In few minutes my
antagonist and his friends made their ap-
pearance, and the necessary preparations
commenced. As was the challenged
person had the choice of weanons. dis