New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-19


BLOOD FOR BLOOD!
Lucy R., in widows weeds, was sitting in
her drawing room the gloom Of twilight &C
corded with her I" SOULS sadness" for the
period was approaching when 8 being, orphaned
long before it saw the light, was to claim q
mothers care Her past was frightful to re-
call--her future fearful to look forward to-.
What should she be, were her hour Of trial
safely over, A widowed mother at twenty
Wrapped in sombre meditation, she did not hear
the opening door, until, moving across the light,
tall figure arrested her attention, when stand
ing within two yards.
who are YOU ~ demanded the startled
nourner.
William Halligan, lady, come to bid you an
eternal FAREWELL"
"A deep, low voice responded:
Brother Of him in whom every feeling OF
this Young heart was centered, and ever will be,
I give you widows welcome; sit down, Will
liam
Lady, / dare not, for time is precious"
How often have sent for you, William!a
. And think you, lady, that whisper from
you would not have brought me here at mid
night Bound, however, by a secret VOW, I
dared not see you until came tonight to say
farewell
6 Where are you going. William? -
ssThat Heaven and accident only can decide
The money which he whom we both lament be-
queathed me was, months ago, transmitted to
America, and there l shall sail to claim it,
6 need protection, William. That hardened
wretch-he who robbed me Of my husband, rode
past my window yesterday. :
he will never repeat the offense,'' returned
Lone William, calmly But time hurries for
ward, and upon few minutes, with me, life and
death may depend. Should the promised infant
be a boy, give him this as q dear memento, and
he took gun from beneath his great-coat, and
laid it on the table Tell him that a cross is
fled deeply in the barrel that sped
ssWhom, in the name of heayen?" exclaimed
the lady, in alarm
sThe slayer q his father. And now farewell,
for ever ~
He fell upon his knees, caught the lady
hand in his, and covered it with kisses. And q
low, shriH whistle was heard below the window.
eft is the signal May Heaven bless and
comfort you'll Lady, farewell, for ever!"
Before the words we're heard distinctly, he
had vanished as he entered.
ALI knew that the homicide Of George Penn
berton was Liaume Vaddagh, and in wild COM
munity,
with whom revenge is virtue"
his memory is still handed down as one who did
q the State some service He sought the back
woods of Illinois, led q hunters life, and died in
an Indian wigwam.
1t is only necessary to add that the family of
the unscrupulous duelist have been extinct for
thirty years, while the descendant of the VIC
timized bridegroom is prosperous in worldly
circumstances.
The circumstances under which / witnessed
this fatal encounter were purely accidental. l
had been stopping at the same inn where poor
R was passing his honeymoon, and had often
admired couple whom nature, it would seem,
had created for each other. The evening when
the wicked deed took place, for Pembertons
friend gave the false signal, and R was shot
before he raised his pistol, was in my bedroom
making a trifing change in my toilet, prepare.
tory to an excursion along the cliffs. when with
out the customary knock upon the door, in
rushed the chambermaid-
g Sir ! sir !" she exclaimed in a voice Of wild
alarm ssrun down stairs, for Gods sake +!
They're going to shoot the handsome gentle
mani"
Before ! could ask o question, or comprehend
what the frightened girl meant pop went a pis
tol in the garden. jumped to the window-it
overlooked the bowling greenland there, up
held by the gardener and boy, saw gentle
man in the agonies of death. Half undressed, l
hurried down stairs, and saw the two men mount
their horses and ride coolly from the yard,
and on reaching the scene of action, found that
with poor R. suffering was at an end, and
life was extinct.
Thirty years after the sad event, I was march
ing wing of the ID through Johnstown, where
we were to halt for the night, when I received o
visit from the squire, to invite me to dinner and
offer me 8 bed. Both we're willingly accepted
for the village hostelrie was ill-kept and sadly
overcrowded. On inquiry, found that the
gentleman to whose hospitality was about to
be indebted, was the son Of poor R, whom
had seen shot at East Port; and, as the remin-
ar,aiNh ha ant In
was most kindly entertained, and after sup
perm those times fayorite meal in Ireland
was conducted by gray haired attendant to
my sleeping chamber.
Have you been long in the family ~ in
quired.
81 have lived in JohnstoWn under three gen.
erations"
ssThen you remember some family changes in
your time, John %
sAh, many" said the man &C some for the
better, and others for the Worsen
!" You lived with the father of Mr. R--?"
g lived with the best master and the hand
soonest man that ever fell III a wicked duel"
81 saw him shot, "z
The old man started, crossed himself deyoutly
and poured out o supplication for mercy to the
departed.
I. May ask your name, sir'"
told it,
remember it we'll. You were the young
officer who held the poor master in your arms
when you sent the gardener and his boy to fetch
the doctors.
6 am that person, and would have acted as
your masters second, could have reached the
bowling-green in time. But they made short
work Of it,
aAh, they did, indeed" said the old man
IS but the vengeance of the Almighty has pur.
sued them hard"
6 Did he who killed your master come to an
untimely end % demanded
s'Come into the next room and will tell you
SIR
He lifted the candles from the table, and lee
me into an adjoining apartment. It seemed {
sort of private room or study. There were
couple of book cases, whose shelves were tolera
bly, filled, collection of stuffed birds, and
glass press above the mantle piece, to which
when he had placed the lights on the marbl
slab, he selected and applied key, and fror
two pegs within lifted down an Anticipated wea
pom. took the gun and examined it carefully
In its day, it was, no doubt, held in high est
nation. The pans and touch-holes were bushe
with gold, and the mountings of the stock wer
deliberately finished, the tinishings being silver
But the barrels were shortened by foot.
stWhy, John, these barrels have been raced
How short they are!"
g They were found long enough to do the wor
Of vengeance !" returned the old man drily
sssee ye, sir, this CROSS ~
ayes; the file has deeply indented it,,
Sc Through that barrel a summons to eternit
was carried to ruthless heart. May God b
gracious to his soul, Lidnnie Vddddghi Yo