Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-02-15

the officer a blow that nearly felled
him TO the ground.
He who has. mol experienced, can
scarcely conceive what terrible effect
a blow produces. That flesh, grating
against your flesh, seems, as. it were, TO
tear your heart out. You. feel the
blood curdle within you-the fire. of
shame consumes you. The stain of
such degradation can only washed
out with blood. =. I.
Several ofthe party-now got Up and
separated the. infuriate pair
Tomorrow, nutiered the officer,
grinding his.teeth. :
Tomorrow be il, repeated Aivas.
Silence was-again resorteds only in-
,1rupted BY. the snoring ofsshe guests,
that formed concert on all sides,-
Whether AEGs andthe offices joinedin
1t I know mol; bit the recollection Of
the scene have described. ofthe blow
and the reply, might we'll disturb their
slRmbers. a. ..:'r- -, - g,
AT day-brsak, as the carayan was
preparing, in maritime phrase, to get
under weigh, / observed, The officer
paradIug backwards oDd forpuardss be-
fore the inn, in the midst ofthe mule
teers busiIy engaged in 'saddsi1g the
horses and loading the beasts Of, bur.
then. He was at times. munering to
himself curses against 1.-The Christhos.
He was waiting for AItas, sword in
handj and the whole of the company at
the inn, after the line was formed, were
talking in groups, and. Iingeeing ia exl
pectation OF the duel; which they. knew
10 be inevitable. ANes soon made
ms appearance, accompanied by Mar
garcia and hsr,brother Phe tilaid and
frightened, gir! was cliaging to her.loy-
er. But as soon as. he saw his adverl
-saty he threw her off. (.
Black, girlp he said. Hold her.
Then. turning 10 the officer, he said to
hiln,HWe kaVesh account to senEe.-.
Make a circle, said he to The cabal-
leros. Every one his. own arms -
With these Yofds he.tIirew his.rhan-
tie from off his sho6lder, and rolling
il around his le(t'arm, the poiniard in
bis right, he rushed at Ills. antagonist.
Theroficer. eeuid not sblt.be aware
how critical was. the situat on in which,
he stood. Whenever he formed his
eyes he saw nome but hostile faces and
threatening. looks. ~
Being an .inhabitanr Of Ancalusia,
where he had served for some years ,he
was known to several Of the pariy,
among re re+t,to the ro her 6IMarga-
rita, as having shown great.aciwity IN
theappreheHsion Of smuggIers and ban.
dts; and consequently, was NOR. de-
tested on that account than as a parti-
san Of Don Carlos. Ii might lie sup
pose that one who had declared OPEN
ly,an enemy to the Constitution, and
the existing Government, would have
incurred risk 10 lis personal---very. in
declaring such political opinions; bui
as the civil xar / al only just brgken
out, and the priests were There. were
several aueEg ~ assembled travel.
lers) secreIly' il not openly, friendly IT.
notgOpenly TO the cause he esnoused, l
and advocates for the ancient state Or
things, on grounds existed for such an
apprehension. He ran mnchsmore
danger, even if victor in tie strife,
iromHle dagger Of the kinsman Of Mr. 1
garIta, But no such thoughts dill he
entertain, or ifthey for moment cross.
ed lis min !, the recoll,c ion. of-his
singing Insult, loyalty to his soyer-
elgn,in whose NE had received it, and
tie disgrace and Shame of submitting
10 the indignity, and Leaving it una
yenged, nerved his arm with resolu-
ton to abide the conflict. ~.
An old friar made an attempt to stop
the effasiou Of blood; but on all sides
a,cging was heard, Let them alone!
Let then. fight it out! 'NIargarita vocit-
Grating that whoever presumed to. in
.ieriere should be responsible TO him
Ior the. attempt. AS for poor Marga.
rita, without seeming TO be terror
struck, as a young person Of her age
nndeF such Circumstances would natu-.
raAy'haVe been, she was seen on her
kHeesiA a corner Of the building. pray
ing ferveHtly to the Santa Eirgen,'
not TO separate the combatants, but
tO.Preserxe the LIE Of her cousin. Sill
itsnight be perceived, that this scene,
bad 1t aetbeen for the interest she felt
,lot. one Of the combatanls, would have
caused her no particular aslonis hment
of'terror. s. p a.. .f
The daughter Of the iankeeper:was
atber side. endeayorings to comfort'her
by her cHpesses; and. fr9uYlipei TO time
turning her head found with female
curiosity 70 observe how The dueKpro-
caeded. Wththat tact, which all wo-
men bavesl she calmly perceived the
Cause Of MsTgarita's aaxietyAs to-the
issue Of the conflict, and not conceiv-
iOg that she. could have any other fear
Than that oflOsing Der lover, kept cal
hing, out with wild and almost. savage
Accents p
:, Courage my angel!zReVef fear, my