Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-06-09
!" | accept the challenge


I'll is for thee 70 name time and place,
and weapon; but. as thou lowest me, le,
it no. be longer than Tomorrow night, or
| shall burs. with rage and Impotence
Il love thee not, base dog!' replied
Arnord; but thou shalt not die so inglo-
rious death. will 6gh. thee therefore
to>night.'
by the mother Of Heaven, boy y re-
piled Mentz. more and more surprised,
thou art in haste TO sup in hell 7 and the
ruffian lowered his voice. Art thou mad 2
:" Be that My chance answered Arnold !;
Il shall not be likely to meet. even in hell,
companion SO brutal as thou-unless,
which mean shall be the case, thou bear
me company
"To-nignt then be it, said Mentz !;
though to>night my hand is unsteady ; for
wine and anger are no friends TO the
nerves.
Dost thou refuse me. then = deman-
ded the youth, with sheer
"By the mass. no! but to night is dark !;
the moon is down; the stars are clouded !;
and the wind goes by in heavy puffs and
gusts. Hear it even now
"Therefore' said the youth, apparently
more composed as his fierce rival grew
more percep.ibly agiialed-'thereior will
we lay down our lives herein this hall
ON this spot-on this spot-on this in
stant-eyen as thou stands now
"There is no one here who will be my
FRIEND said Men,z: SO evidently sobered
and snbdued by the composure and self
possession Of his antagonist, that all pre-
sent held him in nontempt, and no one
stirred.
mo NATTER cried Arnold; l will my
self forego the same privilege
"And your weapons 2 said Mentz.
care here cried Arnold. drawing them
from his bosom, "a surer pair never drew
blood. The choice is yours
The company began now to fancy that
Arnold had equivocated in disclaiming
skill as duellisl; and from his invincibIe
composure thought him more fatal mas
ter Of the weapon than the bully himself.
The latter also par,ook of this opinion.
'.Young man. he cried, in voice
clouded and low; but stopped, and said
no further.
"Your choice . said Arnold, present.
ing the pistols.
.Men,z seized one desperately, and
said
Now name your distance
BLOOD thirsty wolff said Arnold,
there shall be no distance = lie then
turned and addressed the company:
Gentlemen he said, deem me not
either savage or insane. that l sacrifice
myself and this brutal wretch thus before
your eyes, and to certain and instant de-
struc,ion. For me, | confess l have no
value in life. Her whom l loved have
sworn TO forget; and if existed ,hous.
and years should probably never see again.
The rul1ian is coward, and fears to die !;
though he does not fear daily 10 merit
death. have long heard Of his baseness,
and regard him as an assassin--the enc
my of the human race and Of Coda dan.
gerous beast-whom it will be mercy
and virtue 10 destroy. My own life |
would well be rid of. but would not fling
i. away idly when its loss may be made
subservient 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 compan-
ions. farewell: should any of you hereaf-
ter chance TO meet Gertrude de Saale. say
| nobly flung away life which her false.
hood had made me despise. And now.
recrean,,' he said. in fierce tone, turning.
suddenly towards Men,z, 'plapt THY pis-
tol TO my bosom, as l will plant mine y
thine. Let one of the compa1y.c cry three.
and the third number be the signal to fire.
With an increased paleAess in his
countenance, but with even more feroclty
and firmness. Arnold threw off his cap,
displayed his high,brow and glossy ring
lets. His lips were closed and firm: and
his eyes. which gIistened with deadly
glare, were fixed on Mentz. He then pla.
ced himself in an attitude of firing; broad
ened his exposed chest full before his foe;
and with stamp Of fury and Impotence
raised the weapon. The brow>beaten
bully attempted TO do the same; but the
pistol, held loosely in his grasp, whether
by accident or intention, went oil before
the signal. Its contents passed through
the garments Of Arnold, who, levelling the
muzzle Of his own, cried camly-'On
your knees, base slave! vile dog down !!
or you die!'
9 Unable any longer to support his
frame, the unmasked coward sunk on his
knees, and prayed for life with RICH: ear.
nest vehemence. Again wild shouts OF
applause and delight, and peals OF rio'ous
laughter, stunned his ears. AS ne rose
from his humiliating posture. Arnold
touched him contemporary with MS 1901
- I: ,,,u horau IN he MING