Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-02-25

The fact is, they were both hustered
with wine and passion, and scarcely knew
what they said or did-M. Dupont sp.
piled an epithet to the Queen of England.
which instantly brought glass of wine
full in his face from the hand of Captain
Starkey. They were all in an instant OF
their feet, and apparently sobered, OF
nearly so, by the unfortunate issue of the
wordy tumult.
Captain Starkey was the first to speak
His flushed and angry features paled sud
denly to an almost deathly white, and he
stammered out: "I beg your pardon
NJ. Dupont. 1t was wrong-yery wrong
in me to do::so, though not ine1cusable.
Pardon MlIs tonnerres /" shouted
Dupont, who was capering about in an
ecstacy of rage, and wiping his face with
his handkerchief. eyes, bullet through
your head shall pardon you-nothing
less %
Indeed, according to the notions o.
Cuban society, no other alternative save
the duello appeared possible. Lieuten.
ant Arguelles hurried at once into the
house, and speedily returned with case
of pistols. "Let US proceed" he said in
a quick whisper, "to the grove yonder
we shall be there free from interruption" F."
He took Dupont's arm, and both turned
to move off. AS they did SO, Mr.. Desmond,
the elder of the American gentlemen,
stepped towards Captain Starkey, who
with recovered calmness, and with his
arms folded, was standing by the table,
and said: "I am not entirely, my good
sir, a stranger to these affairs, and if l
can be of service, l shall'-
"Thank you, Mr.. Desmond" replied
the English Captain; but shall not
require your assistance. Lieutenant Ar
guellas, you may as well remain. am
no duellist, and shall not fight NJ. Du-
pont."
"What does he say ?" exclaimed the
Lieutenant, gazing with stupid 5eT;;!!ddeerr-
ment round the circle. "Not fight p
The Anglo-Saxon blood. saw. flush.
ed hotly in the veins of the Americans as
it did in mine At this exhibition of the
white feather by one of our race. b" Not
fight, Captain Starkey" said Mr. Des-
mond with grave earnestness after a pain
full pause: ''you whose name is in the
list of the British royal navy. say this
You must be jesting!
{" 1 am perfectly serious-I am opposed
to duelling upon principle"
GA coward, upon principle - fairly
screamed Dupont, with mocking fury.
and at the same time shaking his clench-
ed fist at the Englishman.
The degrading epithet stung like a SER
pent. A CLEAN of fierce passion broke
out of Captain Starkey's dark eyes, and
he made step towards Dupont, but res
olutely checked himself.
Well, it must be borne! was
wrong to offer you personal violence, al
though your impertinence certainly de-
served rebuke. Still, repeat will not
fight with you.''
But you shall give my friend salts
faction!" exclaimed Lieutenant Arguel-
las, who was as much excited as Dupont;
cor by Heaven. will post you as das-
tard not only throughout this island but
Jamaica 7"
Captain Starkey for all answer to this
menace, coolly rang the sonnettee, and de.
sired the slave who answered it to inform
Sonora Arguellas that he WAS about to
leave and wished to see her.
"The brave Englishman is about to
place himself under the protection of your
aunt's petticoats. Alphonso" shouted
Dupont with triumphant mockery.
almost doubt whether Mr.. Starkey is
an Englishmen, exclaimed Mr.. Des.
mond, who, as well as his two friends,
was getting pretty much incensed "but
at all events, as my father and my moth
were born and raised in the old country,
if you presume to insinuate that
Sonora Argusllas at this moment ap.
preached, and the irate American with
some difficulty restrained himself. The
lady appeared surprised at the strange
aspect Of the company she had so lately
left. She, however, at the request of the
Captain, instantly led the way into the
house, leaving, the rest of her visitors, as
the French say,aPIante'sId.
Ten minutes afterwards we were in.
formed that Captain Starkey had left the
house, after impressing upon Sonora Ar.
guellas that the Neptune would sail the
next morning precisely at nine o'clock
A renewed torrent of rage, contempt
and scorn broke forth at this announce
ment, and duel at one time seemed in
evitable between Lieutenant Arguella'
and Mr.. Desmond. the last named gen
tleman manifesting great anxiety to shoe
somebody or other in vindication OF hi
Anglo-Saxon lineage. This, however
was overruled, and the party broke up IL
angry disorder.
We were all on board by the appointed
time on the following morning. Captain
Starkey received us with civil inditter
ence, and l noticed that the elaborat'
sneers which sat upon the countenance
of Dupont and the Lieutenant did not aP
pear in the slightest degree TO RUNE o
affect him but the ayerted eye ant
seornful air of Donna Antonio as she
passed with Sonora Arguellas towards tn