Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-02-03


tagonist the pnciliatory disposition of the sec
onds-the teariu consequences to his soul, if he /
should fall, anl the whitening remorse which must /
ever follow hin if he should kill the young man.
He evidently hirsted for the blood Of his antago-
mist; but observing that his friend and the surgeon
seconded my easOning, he replied, with undls-
sembed reluctance, that he gave the challenge for
sufficient rcastls, and that if those reasons were
removed he night recall it, but not otherwise.
passed to dc other. admonished him of the
sin he was about to perpetrate. referred to his
probable dome,tic relations, and the ausion touch
ed his heart He suddenly wiped tear from his
eye. Yes sill" said he, " there are hearts that
would break i'they knew was here" refer
red to my conversation with the seconds and the
other principal, and remarked that nothing was
now necessarylo effect reconciliation but re-
traction of the language which bad offended his
antagonist. "Slr,' replied he, planting his foot
firmly on the ground and assuming look which
would have been sublime in better cause-'' Sir,
| have uttered nothing but the truth respecting
that man, aud though sink in the grave, | will
not sanction his jlanous character by any retrac-
lion"
reasoned with increased ychemcnce; but no
appeal to his Judgment or his heart could shake
his desperate tinucss, and left him with tears,
which doubt not he would have shared under
other circumstances. What could do farther? ]
dppEocu ILL., 10 Tie NtSt lilHHlpd, nut nc Spurn-
cd me "itITAklS\ a''ile. few to the seconds,
and cNlreateK :, aAGsA any terms to adjust the
matter and save the shedding of hlood.-But they
had already measured the ground and they were
Irc0dy to place the principals. "Gcntlcmcn,"
said |, " the blood Of this dreadful deed be upon
your own souls. have acquitted myself of it,
then proceeded from the area towards my horse
What were my emotion5 as turned away with
despair? WHAT thought |, must the duel pro-
l. mo- ttI.,t,t e L.,
few minutes ONO or both of these men may be in
eternity, accused with blood outlines? Can |
Net pluck them as brands from the burning? Nv
spirit was in a tumult of anxiety; in moment,
and just as the principals were taking their posi-
tons, was again on the ground. Standing on
the line between them, exclaimed, 6 in the name
| Of God adjurc You to stop this murdcrous work.
! 1t must not, it cannot proceed" "Knock him
down." cried the elder dueliSt with fearful i'm
precaton. D." Sir" exclaimed the younger, &C APP
precatc your motives, but demand Of you to in
tertere no more with our arrangements" The
seconds seized my arms and compelled me to
retire But Warncd them at every step. Never
before did feel so deeply the value and hazard OF
the human soul. My remarks were without effect
except on one of the friends of the younger prn-
cipaI. g This is horrible place." said he, can.
not endure it," and he turned with me from The
scene.
" Now then for it." cried one of the seconds, al
they returned. "Take your places" Shudder
ngly FASTENED my pace to escape the result.
Onc--tWo'-and the next sound was lost il
the explosion Of the pistols! go God" shrekct
a voice in agony! turned round. The younge
principal with his hand to his face, shrcked again
quvcred, and fell tothe ground! Irushcd to him
With one hand he clung to the earth, the finger
penetrating the soil, while with the other he grasp
ed his left jaw, which was shattered with horriC
wound. turned with faintncss from the sight
The charge had passed through the left side o
the mouth, crossed the teeth, severed the juguIar
and passed ont at the back part of the head, lay
ing open entirely on side Of the face and neck
In this CHASTITY woupI amid blood and shatcrc
teeth, had ha fixed kgrasp with tcnacity whic
) could not be removed. Bleeding profusely an
conyulsjve with agony, he lay fOrseveral minutes
the most frightfu spectacle had ever witnessed
The countenanccs Of the spectators expressed
conscious relief when it was announced by tn
surgeon that death had ended the scene Mean
while the murderer and his party had left til
| ground.
One Of the company was despatched on m
: horse to communicate the dreadful news to tn
family. The dead young man was cIeanscd frol
his blood and borne Immediately to his carriage
accompanied it, 1t stopped before small BIT
elegant house. The driver ran to the door an
raped. An elderly lady opened it, with frant
y ghaStly remains from the carriage. She gazed fl
a moment, as If thunderstruck, and fell faintin
! in the doorway. A servant removed her into til
u parl0r, and as we passed with the corpse into
= rear room, | observed her extended on a sofa,
: pale as her hapless son.
f We placed the corpse on table, with the sitter
4 ed hand still graSping the wound, when a voun
a lady, neatly attircd in white and with fac
dclicatey beautiful, rushed trantcalIy into tt
room and threw her arms round it, weeping wit
r uncomfortable emotion, and cXcIaimug with an az
ony Of feeling, ems brother! my dear, dear brotl
=, cri Can it be-O, can it be?'' The attendan
:; bore her away. shall never forget the look {
utter WrctChednesS she wore as they led her ava
! her eyes dissolvng in tears, and her boso
. stained with her brothers. blood.
The unfortunate young man was of New Ens
, land origin. He had settled in the town of N
+ where his business had prospered SO we'll that h
T. had invited his mother and sister to reside wit
4 him. His home, endeared by gentleness and, low
J., and every temporal comfort, was a scene of una
n Logged happiness, but in evil hour he yielded
G Il local absurd pre- udce-a sentiment of hone
Y falsely called, which his education taught hil
= to despiSe.-He was less eXcusahle than his mail
cious murderer, for he had moro light and bette
= sentiments. This UHe =tep ruined him and h
!, happy family. He was inferred the next day wit
e the regrets Of the whole community.
His poor mother never left the house till sh
: was carried to her grave to he laid by the side
+ her son. She died after a delirious fever of tw
a weeks duration, throughout which, she ceased nc
# to impore the attendants, with tears, to preserv
: her hapIess son from the hand of the assassn
u who, she imagined, kept him concealed for the