The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-05-31

And others Of his antagonist the vir
tues which bound HIM to the hearts Of ma
ny dear friends the ties which held hin
fast to life. Before On hour, very possibly
that antagonist would be a--corpse.
Our friend the bluff captain closed al
argument by the emphatic colone
has been struck and must fight Tn
Planter said nothing but smoked his cigar
may be no was thinking of his home On,
calling to mind the mother who might hea
Of the colonel's death ere the day was ,w,
hours older.
A for the ensign he had nothing to say
Il was his part 10 see that the weapons a
murder were fairly prepared, and ,ba, tn
murder itself was done according TO rule
That was all he had to Go, and he waite,
Tor the hour Of tho performance with com
iDendable impotence.
At last the Ensign pulled out his watcl
and announced The hour Of SEVEN
There vas general movement, and a
the same moment tho two doors Of th,
chamber were suddenly opened.
Through the door opening into the bal
came very tall, slim gentleman, with
pistol case under his arm.
The second Of Mr.. Payne" burst from
twenty tongues.
And this tall, slim gentleman, with th,
pistol case under his arm, was followed b,
a gentleman whose short and stout form
we'll knit withal-and not unpleasing fea
lures, indicated the ant sgonist of tho colo
osl, Mr.. Payne himself, who Yesterday lev
elled the popular favoriie in the dust.
The second bowed and laid his pisto
case on the table; Mr.. Payne bowed ant
folded his arms. His courage wos unques
toned but bis face was impressed with Of
expression Of seriousness be o
gloom.
THE Colonel is good with the rifle, coot
with the pistol, and good with the small
swordn So the whisper ran round the
room.
And he'll wing his man. rather rudcly
whispered the Captain.
The Ensign rose, bowed twice, once {.
Mr.. Payne, then to the second, and then il
low tones, began to confer with the SECOND
upon the terms 10 be used, and the form I,
be observed in the approaching duel Their
whispers alone broke the breathless till
meas. With rife or with sword or with pis
tol? Here in this room, or in the open air
Shall fallen 'keschief he the signal fo
them to begin? How many ,hrus,s, how
many shots, how much blood before ssaiis
faction 10 given?
Such was the hurried conversation o
the seconds, conducted in animated wills
pers. now with bow and again with ,
smile. The poliiest man in the world j,
the second of q duel.
Meanwhile Mr.. Payne stood alone-hi'
arms folded--his eyes now fixed on thu
mantle piece, now wandering to the win
dow. Perchance he felt that his position
was rather awkward; or thought how very
cheerful the sunshine looked, and how
gloomy i would seem, if in m hour or two
those beams would light up the cold face ol
corpse-the cold faces Of two corpses.
Mr.. Payne awaited with great impa
tience for the end Of tho seconds converse
ton. and for the coming Of bis antagonist.
We have forgotten tho opening Of ,he
other door. Through that door the Calouc
came, II the very moment thst Mr.. Payne
and his friend strobe through the other. II.
remained for . moment concealed by The
shadow Of the bed, and then stepped eud
denly into view before the very eyes Of Mr.
PAYNE.
That gentleman started back with inyol
untary surprise, - ho caught first, q
glimpse Of his antagonists shadow, ant
then full view Of that antagonist himself
A murmur swelled through the apart
ment, Al tho contrast presented by the per
sonal appearance Of Mr.. Psyue, rs com
pared with the tall and imposing figure Of
the Virginia Colonel. Not that Mr.. Payne
was 1t oil m unhandsome man, nor thu,
his firm features lacked expression, but III.
Colonel was . man whom you would re
mark not only for the majesty Of his stat
ure, but for the expression Of his face
amongst crowd Of ten thousand men.
And . burning blush overspread Mr.
Payne's face, a. he saw his antsgonis
standing before him, looking into his face
wearing the very uniform which he hat
worn yesterday-bearing upon his brow
the livid scar Of that fatal insult.
But Mr.. Payne had no time Cor thought
We haze arranged the prelim;narics,
exclaimed the seconds, turning suddenly
round, and starting with surprise rs the,
behsId their principles slsnding face 4
face.
Again Mr.. Payne bloshed as he saw IN.
eye ofthe Colonel fixed upon him, and the,
folding bic arms, b knit his brow and gag
Cd siernly into bic antagonists face.
The gentlemen present rose With on.
movement. You might have heard III.
beating q your own hesrt, all was d