The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1849-04-20

di sword thrust, IN healing broken
hearts, or of the short and easy method
Of patching up self respect ay a--pis.ol
shUt.
Some spoke of the chatac,er Of tile
youug Colonel, who, bu, twenty -twoy years
old, might be cold and stiff before an hour
wss gone.
Ard others ofhis antagonist-ofthesi
tues whicn bound him To the hearts Of
,nany dear fiiends-of the ties which held
him fast to life. Before an hour, very
possibly, that antagonist would be a.
corpse.
Our friend. the bluff Captain closed all
argument by the emphatic The Colo.
Planter said nothing, but smoked his c-
gar; maybe he was thinking Of his home,
aud calling to mind the NJ 'ther who might
hear of the Colone's death, ere the day
was two hours older.
AS for the Ensign, he had nothing to
say. 1t was his part to see that the weap
to rule. That was all he had to do with
the matter. Aud he waited for the hour
Of tho performance with commendabl
irnpa tience.
At last the Eusign pulled out his watch
aud announced the hour of 'sEvRN!
There was "a general movement, and at
| m txcn of tha
chamber were seddeniy opened.
4 Thrrugh the door opening into the hall,
came a very tall, slim genleman with
1 pistol case nnder his arm
Tie secoud Of Mr. Payue!' burst from
twenty topgaes,
Ani ihls tall slim gentleman, with the
! pistol case under his arm, was follow ed
by a gentleman whose short aud stout
| form we'll KNIT withal and no, unpe,s,
log features, Indicated the an' agaust Of
the Coluei, Mr.Payne himself who yess
tcrday lefe!led The popnlar favurite in the
dust
Y'he SECOND bowed aud laid hi, pistol
case 90 the table; vi. pAYne bowed abd
folded his srius. His courage was un-
questioned, but his face was Impressed
4 ,,fy'' asrr rxprgsslon or sefioosness--nayb b.
gloom.
The Coionel ia good with the rife.
good with tie plstol good With lhe small
swori!' So The waisper ran round the
room.
And hen wing his iaau, rather rudely
wh'spered the Captain.
The Ensign rose, bowed twice, once
TO Mr. Patns, then to the second and
then in low tones began to confer with
the second upor the arms 70 he u'ed, aud
tie form TO be observed in the approach
/ ing duel. Their whispers alone broke the
the breathlesa stiffness. With rifle or
with sword, or with pistol! Here in this
room, or in the open air! SAai fallen
kerchlef be the signal for them to begin?
How many thrusts, how many shots, how
mmch blood before satisfaction is given!
Such was the hurried conversation OF
the seconds oondnc,ed in animated
whjspe re-, now with bow aud again with
is the second Of duel.
Meanwhile Mr.. Payne stood alone
arms folded--his eyes now fixed on the
mantel-Piece. now wandering to the win
dow. Perchance lie fel, that his position
1 was rather awkward, or thougnt how
cheerful the sunshine looked. and how
gloomy it would seem, ii in an hour or
more, those beams would light up the cold
/ face Of corpse--or the cold faces OF two
corpsee.
Mr.. Payne awaited with great impa-
| tience for the end of the seconds conver.
sa,inn,and for the coming of his an,agonlsl
| We have forgotten the opening of the
| other door. Through ,ha, door the Col
onel ca4ne, at the very moment that Mr
/ Payne and his friend sirode through the
other. iia remained far momen, con.
cesled BY the shadow OF the bed, and
'hen stepped suddenly into view, before
the very eyes of Mr. PAYNE.
| That gentleman started back with in
voluntary surprise, as he caught first. a
| glimpse Of his antagonist's shadow, and
then that antagonist himself.
A murmnr swelled through the apart
men,, at the contrast presented by the
personal appearance Of Mr.. Payne. as
cumpated with The tall and imposing Jig
ure of the Virginia Colonel. Not that
Mr. Payne was al all an uDhsndsone man,
nor tiat he has firm features lack ex
preston, hui the Colonel was man whem
you wonld remark GOT ouh far the MAJ
ssti Of bis stature, but for the expression
Of bis face, among croed<ef lep thoais-
aud men.
Aud burning blush ovcfspsead Mr..
Payne's face, US he saw his antagonist