The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-09-01

ton, hardened in the hot gore of dozen
murders.
81 will fight, if you wish it," was the
loud ringing answer. .-
Then you accept my challenged"
II do. Will any one present be so
good as to act as my second!" inquired the
lawyer, addressing the spectators.
For minute or two no one spoke, so
great was the dread of the arch duelist,
Mike Johnson.
"Will 10 one in such n mass of gencr-
OTIS men be my second!" repeated the
lawyer, in louder tone.
81 will" said shrill, trumpet-like voice,
on the outskirts of the crowd, and tall,
commanding form, with bravery written
on his brow, and the eagles eye beneath
it, made his way to the centre of the scene
OF contention, and stood close fronting
johnson, with a smiling glance, before
which the latter, for an instant, quaied.
The question "who is he! who is hc?"
circulated among the lockers on. But no
one could answer; no one had ever seen
him before, and yet cveryb body would have
then sworn to his courage, so bold yet
tranquil was his bearing.
"Who are you:" inquired the duelist,re-
covering his presence of mind.
"a stranger from Texas"
"But who will vouch for your respecta-
bilityl"
81 can give YOU vouchers sufficient" re-
piled the stranger, trowning till his brows
looked frightful; and then STOPPING for
wards, he whispered something in John
sons ear, audible alone to him.
81 am satisfied" said the duelist aloud,
and trembling pcrccptibIy. "CoI. Morton,
will YOU serve as my fricnd!"
The individual last addressed gave his
assent.
"Now, let us adjourn to some private
room to arrange the prcliminarics," re-
marked the stranger; and the principals
and seconds left the crowd, then incrcas-
ing every minute, and excited near to mad
ness by the thick-crowding events of the
hour.
The meeting took place the following
night, in dark room, with the door lock-
ed and tlle two seconds on the outside
The principals were placed m opposite
corners of the apartment, which was
twenty feet square, aud each was armed
with a large bowie knife--no more. II
was midnight-a night without moon or
stars. Black pitchy clouds enveloped the
sky, and a slight sitting mist rendered the
shadows of the earth more intense. Hence,
the room where the duel was about to be-
gin was wrapped in rayless darkness. The
combatants could not even see the blades
Of their own knives.
At first, they both stopped and stealth
lily united and took off their shoes, so as
TO make the least possible noise in walk
ing over the floor. The same thought had
struck them at the same time--to manoe-
uvre for the vantage-ground.
Thomas moved in Il circle, softly as a
cat, around the apartment, till he got with
in few feet of the corner where his enc
my had first been placed, and then paused
to listen. For four or five seconds he
could hear nothing in the grave-like sill
cncc but the quick beats of his own busy
heart. Presently, however there crcpt in
to his ear n scarcely audible sound AS of
suppressed breathing, in the corner of the
room which he had previously left; and
then lie knew that his foe was trying the
same stratagem. The ruse was repeated
thrice, with like result. At length Thomas
concluded to stand perfectly still and await
Johnson's approach. Motionless now him
self, he could distinguish soft rustIing
noise, like the dropping of flakes of wool,
circhng around the floor, and gradually
advancing towards him.
At last, when the sound appeared with
in about three feet of the lawyers posi-
ton, he suddenly made n bounding plunge
with his knife, aimed in the dark air,
where he supposed the bosom Jf his foe
to be. His blade struck against that Of
the other, and few sparks of fire rolled
at the fierce collision, and fell expiring on
the floor.
And then, for an instant, the seconds
without the door heard sharp ringing Of
steel, a groan, a fall, and all again was
silent rs the tomb! The duel midnight
had ended; but howl They were appall-
ed at the horrible question.
Waiting some minutes and hearing no
thing more, Col. Morton aud the stranger
prepared light, unlocked the door, aud
entered. The spectacle was most affect
ing. There lay the bieody corpse of the
duelist, johnson, manglcd dreadfully, and
above it stood the erect and imposing
form Of the lawyer, Thomas--unhurt, not
cnt on his skin or rent in his clothing,
but weeping as il his heart were broken.
He started back as the flashing light
dazzled his eyes, and, growing pale as the
dead at his feet, exclaimed, in accents of
immcasurable anguish" Oh, God! how
shall l endure to meet my dear Emma,
with this murderous gore on my hands!
Such stains would defile the very gates of
heaven, and blacken the floor Of hell it.
selfn
He did, however, afterwards meet En-
ma and her babe; but we shall not at
tempt to paint the scene. A week sub
sequently, he was shot to pieces in his
own office, while employed In writing af-
-