Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-12-08
NJ | S c Il l. l. A N Y
SATISFACTION;
OR,
THE FATAL EFFECTS OF DuELLING.
CHAPTER I.

HENRY, dear Henry, how late you are YOU
promised 10 be here an hour ago." exclaimed Hen
rleita Sanford, as she ran down the garden walk
| to meet her intended husband, lieutenant in the
army. ''What has detained you Come, pray
make haste, or we shall lose that splendid sunset
from the top of St. Marthas hill, which we have
so often talked about, and which you promised to
take me to this EVENING"
II have not forgotten my promise, my dear girl :,
nor do | think we shall be too late, if we walk
little faster than common" replied Henry. Il
am ready to accompany you, soon as have had
word or two with your brother Is he within ?''
''He is you will find him in the drawin. ROOM"
AT the expiration of about ten minutes, which
seemed almost an age To the impatient girl, Lieut..
Cowley again made his appearance, and they i'm
mediatey proceeded on their walk, where we shall
! for the present leave them.
Oar heroine, Henrietta SANFORD, was the only
daughter OF a gentleman of independent, though
by no means large property. She had, at the time
our tale commences, just completed her eighteenth
! year no pains had been spared in her education
and she had done credit to her teachers she play
ed and sang beautifully, could speak several Ian
| guageS and was what Is generally termed an ac-
| complished young lady. These, however were
not her only qualifications; the kind-hearted girl
was not stranger to the wants of others. Many
blessing had followed her from the cottages OF
the poor in the vicinity of her fathers house, whom
she had succored in time of need many heart
felt prayer had assembled for her to the skies from
some poor sufferer n bed of sickness, to whom
she proved "mnstering angel" She was beau
tifu and amiable, as well as virtuous. Her spr-
its too were remarkably good hitherto trial had
cast its shadows upon her path, and she looked
| forward to the future as to day without cloud
| Henry Cowley was, as before Observed
lieutenant in the army, and about three years tho
senior OF Henrietta he tall, welookng
young man, and every way worthy of her. TO
him was she attached with an ardor of affection
seldom equalled and for him, in a few more
months, she was about to leave perhaps forever
the scenes of her childhood and the companions of
her youth. Preparations were indeed already in
progress for this event, and to all appearance
thing else was wanting to consummate her happi
ness
But how painfully verified, in the experience Of
Henrietta, was the language of Divine inspiration,
"Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest
not what day may bring forth" Bright and IN
clouded were the prospects of this light-hearted
! girl, they were doomed to be soon withered and
disappointed.
eyes leaves the greenest will decay
And flowers the brightest fade away,
When autumn's winds sweeping;
And be the household ne'cr so fair,
Sorrow death will soon be there,
And turn the scene to weeping"
II was on the morning Of the ill fated day with
which tale commences, that the unfortunate
| occurrence took place which was so soon to make
| Henrietta a mourner. Lieutenant Cowley was
| informed, few moments before the hour Of pa
rade, that on the previous evening, officer, who
had the character Of being notorious lbertine and
professed duellst had nsinuated, at mess time,
something which ne considered derogatory to the
character of Miss Sandford, and which was appa-
rently disapproved of by all present. High spirit
ed as Cowley was, he could not brook the indigni-
/ ty thus offered to one who dear to him as
life itself, and in which his own honor likewise
was so dearly concerned he therefore, as as
parade was over, wrote to the offender demanding,
if he was not destitute of every gentemany feeling,
an instant Ietraction of the offensive remarks which
he had understood he had made informing him,
that as they had been publicly promulgated,
they must be publicly retracted If he did
not, he must submit to the consequences. This
letter he placed in the hands of friend to de-
liver, who in the course of an hour brought back
the following answer:
&C. Regiment, -- Barracks,
"Juno 18th, 1S-.
"Sir,- beg 10 acknowledge the receipt Of your
letter, and, IN answer, permit me to say that feel
rather surprised at the rnpertuence you manifest
| in calling upon me to retract any expressions which
! may have used on the occasion alluded to.
! "I have the honor to be, Sir,
| ''Your obediont servant,
EDWARD LANDoY.
! ''To Lieut.. Cowley, - Regiment"