Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-08-11


made his way to the centre of the scene OIL
contention, and stood close fronting Johnson
with smiling glance, before which the lat
ter, for an instant quailed.
The question "who is he who is heF
circulated among the lockers on. But no
one could answer; no one had ever seen
him before, and yet everybody would have
then sworn to his courage, so bold yet tran
quill was his bearing.
Who are youl" inquired the duelist, re-
covering his presence of mind.
A stranger from Texas"
But who will vouch for your rcspecta-
bility {"
q" can give you vouchers sufficient" re.
piled the stranger, frowning till his brows
looked frightfnl; and then stopping forwards,
he whispered something in Johnson's ear,
audible alone to him.
"I am satisfied" said the duelist aloud,
and trembling perceptibly Y. "Col Morton,
will you serve rs my friend =
The individual last addressed gave his as.
sent.
"Now, let US adjourn to some private
room to arrange the prcliminarics," remark.
ed the stranger; and the principals and Sc.
conds left the crowd, then increasing every
minute, and excited near to madness by the
thick. .crowding events of the hour.
The meeting took place the following
night, il dark room, with tho door locked
and the two seconds on the outside. The
principals were Pladed in opposite corners
of the apartment, which was twenty feet
square, and each was armed with large
bowie knifc-no more. 1t was midnight
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 begin was wrapped in rayless
darkness. The combatants could not even
see the blades of their own knives.
At first, they both stopped aud steathily
united and took off their shoes, so al to
make the least possible noise in walking over
the floor. The same thought had struck
vantagc-ground.
Thomas moved in circle, softly as n cat,
around the apartment, till he got within q
few feet of the corner where his enemy had
first been placed, and then paused to listen.
For four or five seconds he could hear no
thing in the grave.like silence but the quick
beats Of his own busy heart. Presently,
however, there crcpt into his ear a scarcely
audible sound as Of suppressed breathing,
in the sa5aasu fs
viousIy Iett;; ana f.fesf s''ae 7oe'
was trying the same stratagem. The ruse
was repeated thrice, with like result. At
length Thomas concluded to stand perfectly
still and await Johnsons approach. Mo.
tionless now himself. he could distinguish
soft rusllng noise, like the dropping OF
flakes of wool, circling around the floor, and
gradually advancing towards him.
At last, when the sound appeared within
about three feet of the lawyers position. he
suddenly made bounding plunge with his
knife, aimed in the dark air, where he sup
posed the bosom of his foe to be. His blade
struck against that Of the other, aud few
sparks of fire rolled at the fierce COLLISION
and fell expiring on the floor.
And then, for an instant, the seconds with
out the door heard a sharp ringing OF steel,
a groan, fall, and all again was silent MS
the tomb! The duel at midnight had ended; :;
but howl They were appalled, at the nor
riblc question.
Waiting some minutes and hearing no.
thing more, Col. Morton and the stranger
prepared light, unlocked the door. and en-
tered. The spectacle was most affecting.
There lay the bloody corpse of the duel'st,
Johnson, mangled dreadfully, and above it
stood the erect and imposing form OF the
lawyer, rhomas-nnhurt, not cut on his
skin or rent in his clothing, but weeping
rs if his heart were broken.
lie started back us the flashing light daz.
zled his eyes, and, growing pale as the dead
at his feet, exclaimed, in accents OF mmea.
surahle anguish-"Oh, God! how shall
endure to meet my dear Emma, with this
murderous gore on my hands! Such stains
would deflc the very gates of heaven, and
blacken the floor of hell itself y
He did, however, afterwards meet Emma
and her babe; but we shall not attempt to
paint the scene. 4 week subsequently, he
was shot to pieces in his own office, while
employed in writing after night. The assas
sin was not known, but supposed to be
Younger brother Of the duellist. Johnson.
The stranger who acted in the combat a:
the second of Thomas, was indeed, as he
said, from Texas, and then travelling throusr
Mississippi, and was the bravest man, per
haps, that ever drew the breath of life
james Bowie, who fell only with the fall o
the Alamo, when his red knife was drunk
with the blood of Mexicans.
Rcader.-But the moral You promised
US a moral.
Writcr.-The same moral which lies a
the bottom of all true stories, if they be rea'
rightly. give you this, and can give M
more that the circumstances which max
men make also their actions, as the histor.
of MANY a New Englander besides poo
Thomas, in the South, can attest. There
fore, never strongly condemn the deeds O
your brethren of tho common humanity
until YOU shall have realized their materia
and sniritual situation in all its mathematics
and moral dimensions. This lesson, studle
well, may render you wiser aud probabl
happier men.
THE FurunE-It has been beautiful
said. that /" the veil which covers the face q
futurity is woven by the hand of Mercy
Seek not to raise that veil, therefore, for sad
} ness might be seen to shade the brow tha
, fancy had arrayed i,rsmiles and gladness." !"
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