Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-06-19

: 7
h l felt its superiority; but, you eannr
d convert The world and reform the arm
: soon enough to answer your own ends
4 and you must submit to its rules, or b.
$ driven from il In disgrace. / homo
your principles, forI understand then,
but you cannot maintain them.'' d.
Our hero's reflections that night mus
be left to Imagination. The dificultie,
3 which surrounded him, can be know
: only to those who have been teapte,
!. and tried TO the utmost, with the world
7 and :heir own necessities against them
In the merning he accepted the ehal
u Having the right to choose the wea
pons, he named the small sword.-
When the Colonel heard this, with (,
touch of feeling which all his bitterness
could not quito extinguish, he said
"Does the moth know that he is futter.
ing into the fame?" The second an.
swered, 81 told him that you are reputed
the best swordsman in the army, and
begged him TO, choose pistols, which
would give him some chance Of equal.
ty in the fight, but he declined. In fact
! l. don't know what to make of this
young fellow-like the sword that he
has chosen to fight with, he is so timber,
and vets elastic and mettlesome some
times; he is such mixture of Metho-
dist, mule, and madman, that cannot
make him out. And, Colonel, he is
not light bargain, either, for anybody.
1t seems to me that you were making
nothing off him yesterday, when the
General interfered. The fellow actu-
ally stood up handsomely, and made
very pretty play with his weapon. To
tell the truth, I'm beginning to like him
little, and feel sorry that he, must
be disposed Of in your peculiar way"
The Colonel muttered, grimly. "If
| must kill the rascal I'm glad he
shows sound pluck and capacity in the
business; | don't want TO be boy-butch-
er.'' rIf
The next morning, at early sunrise,
they met on the field of honor.
When the ground was prepared, and
the champions stood armed and ready,
the Ensign suddenly lowered his sword
point, and addressing his antagonist,
said: "Sir, / am here under compul-
sion. merely, do not consent to this
practice. To me it is as absurd as it is
wicked. # settles no right, and it re-
dresses no wrong. Let me say, then,
that if my patience is given way under
my prosecutions, and have by hasty
word or act, justly offended You. | am
willing to retract 1t. What is your COM
plaint?"
"Young man, | came here not to
preach, but 20 fight. / came here not
TO confer with you about nice points in
casuistry, but to punish your impu- !
dence; but, if you have no relish for
that, will spare your life, on condition |
that You leave the anny-take Your
choice" -r
The Ensign's answer was prompt and
firm: @ gu
"You will have itso--I am guiltless,"
and the fencing began. n
The seconds and witnesses had neY-
er seen such display of skill, and they
never dreamed of such result In five
the Colonel was disarmed, and
at the mercy of the insulted and out
ragged boyl
Heated by the struggle, and excl
ted by the imminent peril and bloody
bitterness and fury of his enemy, he
turned from him somewhat hautiIy,
have taught you a lesson
in sword play, and now | will set
you another, which you need even
example of moderation in
success"
The Colonel's modification and
rage seemed 10 know no bounds.
al accept no favors from such
canting, phrase making sentimental
ist-such a mere fencing MASTER
such a trickster, and conjuring
sword-plsyer as you are," the Colo.
mel burst out through his grinding
teeth. "You knew we'll what you
were about when you chose these
toys TO play tricks with. If you
have sentiment Of homer left in
you, let me have pistols. / tell you
his quarrel is not made up. ! will
rot have my life at your gift. You
hall take il, orI will take yours /
The quarrel is to the death, and there
S a blow to clinch it," striking at
he Ensign in transport Of passion,
which he avoided with equal cool
less and dexterity. eaieaup eeE
The seconds inteIiered, and then
he spectators cried shame; but il
vas clear enough that blood must
low before the parties should quit
he ground. The Ensign's second,
.arried away by the excitement, :
lrged him 10 accept the new chal- ),
enge on change of conditions, for :
Ie despaired OF any other adjust :
nent. ~ !
@WiII nothing satisfy this mad : :
nan but my 1ifeI" said the young .
ficer deeply agitated. -sYou have y
made him mad" said the second,
and there is nothing left for it but a h
ltal issue. You have the right TO
a