The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-11-24

vanced to shoot him, had not the Virginian,
with friendly remonstrance and gentle violence
detained him. All were now on their feet,
and crowding around. e
The Colonel swore terrible that he would
cut out his - Yankee heart for him, IN
less he would meet him like man.
"You mnst light, said one Of those disin-
terestcd gentlemen whom we see in Congress.
on such occasions, vastly more tender of other
peoples honor than their own, and ready to
cry est boy y at every chance of quarrel
"Mr. Hard don't see how as a man of honor
YOU can avoid it. I shall be very happy to
stand your friend"
VI don't want men for friend that advi-
ses me to fight" replied John.
"Pon my life; said another, in the same
confidential way, II don't sec how you can
avoid it. How can your"
~Just as easy as winkcn," said John, "by
not fghtin.'' E.-.4..-
"A duel is inevitable, Mr.. Hard" said the
first speaker, eager for bloodshed; "Col. Waite
is eager on a duel"
Hell have to wait for some time before he
makes duelist of John Hard. amt such
plagy fool as to stand up and let q man make
hole through me; guess amt such cold
blooded heather as to deliberately take aim at
a human critter, as if he was squirrel or
mush-squash, instead Of Gods image with q
soul to he saved"
"Pshawv' cried the COL, Who from the
midst of circle of friends had ever heard his
remarks, "yOu are q coward"
Coward" echoed the would be friend, che
called you coward, Mr."
"Well, am coward" replied John, with
a smile; Il never set up for brave man, am
a coward, at least am too much of coward
either to attempt to take his life, or let him
take mine. l amt prepared to die, and dout
believe he is; and morn that l didn't come
here to be shot; and l amt got no time to
shoot him, nuther."
This provoked laugh. and the feelings of
the crowd were clearly on our friends side. 4
I'D like to know continued John, who
was inclined to argue the matter, "what sense
there is in any duel? I've read somewhere
that the custom began in the old fudal times.
Them was the dark ages. They called it the
age Of chivalry; and many of southern folks
are dreadfully attached to some O. the fudal
notions. This duelling business was one on
em. God, they said, watched the combat and
fought invisbly for him who had right on his
side. But dye spose right was on the side of
that pesky sarpint, Aaron Burr. when he kill
ed Alexander Hamilton in a duel and put q
whole nation into mournin? Not by a long
shot y
'Thats fact !" cried one of the auditors.
$50 it is " cried another. f.
"Fre away, Mr.. Hard said third.
"Any mean, miserable backlog" said John,
"may become good shot though bad man:
The lynx-eyed rascals see target WELL and
bo thov &ho Et.otx, 70,
cause its man not bird or bear. The man
certain never to practice with shooting irons
the purpose O. taken human life; and you don t
suppose that Gods goin suddenly to steady his
nerves and help to take aim, if in moment
of folly he's drawn or urged into duel, do ye?
No, the best man of the two will have the
most compunction and the most unsteady aim,
and perhaps fire Intentionally into the air;
| while the worst one will do his pooticst to
make hole through him. Amt it 50 gentle
men p
1T is-it is" responded several persons,
and several applauded with their hands,
~ poor excuse is better than noncr'' said
the loIOncl, with sneer but less positively
! than before, for he felt the force of the So
Yankees logic" though he would not own it.
'"What did you mean by the insalt you Of
trcd the southern horse?'
IL don't know one horse froar tle other" re-
piled John, "Never heard tell of them till this
mornin' and don't remember either Of their
names"
THAT old blackcy, yonder, kept me waitin
for my steak till was SO hungry l eos!d cen
most swaller jackasS and a anniCr @ green
! and when he sent it in, and the teller asked me
my opinion of the southern horse, was mad as
hornet, and blasted out somethin didn't care
what And when you said, make him take ii
back I thought you felt indignant too, and
wanted me to send him back with it."
Here the remembrance of the contretemps
and equvoque elected another round of laugh
ter, and the man from Virginia Ito use our in
fOrmant's own Ianguage.) roared ready to split
himself. Our agricultural friend could laugh
as Justify as he could kick, joined in with peel
that made the welkin ring again. The colored
walters had to join in, out of pure sympathy
with the sound, and the applause was gene
raj. ....
II am very sorry, gentlemen" said John
when he had his laugh, IF l said anything to
offend any body, didn't intend to do it,"
"That is satisfactory" said the Virginian
"IA venture to say for every Southern man
here, that your explanation is perfectly salts
factory. Eli Colonel "
81 suppose so," replied thegentleman little
su1kily, for he remembered the boots.
"If l ripped out anything shat sounded per:
sonal to the Colonel, hadn't Oughter and
didn't mean to- said Mr.. Hard; land l think
he must have kind of twisted my remarks, Oh
else Numbered; which is just as likely as not
| l did"
II accept your apology, sir" said the Colo
mel, haughtily extending his hand.
1T is not an apology, Colonel" interposed