Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-03-06
PIAQUEA1INE, 4, OF IBERVI1LE MARCH g. 1850

effort mustered the spirit to return he found
the customers helping themselves with
vengeance, and thought to overawe them by
the assumption of heroic airs. He snatched
his revolver from his pocket, and pointing it at
Warhawk's breast, ordered him to leaye his
house.
IF that's what you're artcr," shouted Jack,
unsheathng his big bowie, and springng back
over the counter, "here's what will give you
ladle-fulL'
Meyers still kept his revolver presented;
but his hand shook like leaAet in tempest,
his very lips grew white with terror, and his
trembling feet ivoluntarily retreated backwards
by short quivering steps. The two feelings,
physical fear and moral courage, were strug-
Cling for the mastery He was endeavoring to
act bravely. His will was brave buthis nerves
refused their concurrence, and, he remained, so
to speak, equipoise totally incapable of acting
at all. He was impotent to fight, and as
powerless to fly.
There was no such hesitation in the conduct
Of Jack Warhawk Brandishing his great
knife with his right hand, he seized the flowing
locks of Meyers in his left, and roared at the
top of his lungs
"Down, coward down on your marrow
bones, or, by the blue blazes, I'll cut out your
heart" EA
Incredible as it may seem, Meyers, still
holding his deadly revolver, loaded with six
rounds, covered to the floor like beaten
hound, and begged most piteously for his life
a prayer which the mocking half-breed granted,
on the condition that the other should treat the
crowd for whole week. .zz
From that hour the unfortunate Meyers was
subjected to every species of insult and out
rage. The loafers would pull his nose for
mere amusement the halEbreeds would spit
in his face to make him treat, and Gen. Cole,
when intoxicated, would strike him with his
cane, to cure him Of cowardice, as he said
The poor grocery keeper brooked all those
gross indignities with the patience of a
martyr, and would sometimes meekly remon-
strate- @ s.@
tGentlemen, it is ungenerous to abuse me
thus, for confess have no courage cannot
fight"
This continued for whole year, when
change occurred that caused the insulters of
Meyers to rue their ignoble prosecutions. He
had young and beautiful wife, whom he loved
with the tenderest passion. One day when the
husband was absent, the hideous halfbreed
Jack Warhawk, instigated to the damning deed
by General Cole, went to the grocery-keeper's
private residence, and maltreated his lady in the
most shameful manner.
Meyers returned home to find his beloved one
drowned as it were, in tears. He heard the
narrowing tale without any external manifesto .
tons of extraordinary emotion.
His face, it is true, became somewhat pale;
his lip quivered an instant, and then settled to
an expression rigid as mouth Of iron; and his
wild black eye, it may be, shot a few more
beams Of penetrating fire, buthe did not rave
or mutter curses. He uttered not "a whisper Of
menace; he did not even condole or sympathise
with his afflicted wife. He only armed himself
with bowie-knife fourteen inches in the blade
from hilt to point, and started for the village.
He came within sight Of his enemy, then
promenading the public square and boasting of
his villainous achievement At this vision
Meyers lip curled into horrid smile, and his
dark eye melted into stream Of tears. He
approached till he stood nearly touching the
half breed, and then said, in 4 shrill, hissing
whisper &&I#HHs "a @ aa -s',5af7s s
D @Wretch, be-quick! Draw, for on this spot
one Of US must die" a8s sa@ - t
And he waited till the other should be ready
for the strife on equal terms. He did not have
to wait long, for Jack, understanding that cold,
glittering, snaky smile, and those hot gushing
tears, as the certain tokens Of murderous mad
ness, immediately unshesthed at the same
moment with his adversary, and they began the
dreadfulcomb which indeed was soon decided.
Meyers parried three furious blows Of the half.
breed, and then, grasping his foes clothing with
his left hand. with his right plunged his knife
up to the hilt IN his heart.-T Cherokee
expired without . groan. sss sals
And now the inward and terrible passions Of
Meyers found vent ID appalling explosions.
His curses were fearful to hear; he spurned hh
fallen enemy with his foot and wished aloud
that he had hundred lives, % that he might
enjoy the pleasure Of killing him 8 hundred
times over. His wrath waschaDgsd ohis other