Plymouth weekly banner. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1856, 1855-06-28
From PeterSon's Magazine.
HOWARD STANHAOPE.
4 Tale of Life.
By WELL Gun NNINGHAM.
CONCLUDED
CHAPTER ".


"I accent" said Stanhope. cheerfully
60 Brac,on, who hal been the bearer Of
challenge to him from Irvine. the NOR
ming succeeding TIE brilliant party al
Mrs. Bclmont's. The time | would ap-
point at ten in the moruing-weapo pons
rifles at forty paces-but Of these Morti
sner will confer with you"
"Ail right! the sooner the affair is over
the BETTER" responded Bracton. profes
sionalIy-and bidding polite good NOR
ming to Stanhope, he departed.
An hour afterward Charlie Mortimer
was sitting in the little CELL as he
called it. in close conversation with our
hero. In the event that you fall. How
ard. is there nothing can do for you?
Perhaps you have some message Of kind
ness 10 send TO yonr kindred!'
Thank you" feelinely answered his
companion. whose heart seemed melted
by MortimeI's genuine sympathy, Il have
no kindred. Like Logan mot drop OF
my clood runs in any human veins and
if fall. none are left to mourn the
stormy closing of my brief career. Yet
/ have one boon 10 ask. In that trunk 10
the left you will find a copy of Shelly. in
whose leaves is pressed flower. When
this body shall be wrapped in the shroud.
and the grave worm shall batten on my
flesh, now vigorous with life, instinct
and energy; when the sepulchure shall
hold this heart and the proud hopes il
has cheri she'd. take that nower-bear It
20 Miss Denham, and tell her it is the dy-
ing legacy Of one who found her too soon
or-too late
II WILL" said Charlie. in low tone.
and soon after took his leave TO prepare
FOR the morrow. On his return from
Stanhope's Office he called upon Mrs.
Belmont, with whom he was quite a ia
vorite.
81 heard this morning." said she, "that
a duel is anticipated between Harry Ir-
vine and the young Kentuckian. Is it
so2'' Now Mortimer was in honor
bound to keep his friends secret, and
was on the point OF sta m mering out some
awkward answer which the lady perceiv
ing, with the shrewdness of her sex di-
~ined its cause, and continued, "if. as
fear, these two young men design enga-
ging in mortal combat-in case your
friend Stanhope is wounded. | wish you
to promise me that you will bring him
here and allow me TO be his nurse. Do
you promise?' and she looked anx:ously
In his face.
"Stanhope is so proud" said he, ",hat
I fear he will refuse aid from any one
but if necessary and possible it shall be
as you DESIRE" and they parted.
The hour appointed for the meeting
found Stanhope. Mortimer. Irvine and
ground ready for the work of destruction.
The seconds had arranged every thing
such as measuring the distance, chOos-
ing stations for their principals. &C.. and
il only remained to "toss up" for the
word. II is difficult to imagine mare
interesting and thrilling scene than that
which now presented itself. The sec.
onds were "tossing up" for the word; the
surgeons with grave. serious countenan.
ces. looking toward the expectant COM
batants, stood few PAGES off beneath
shady oak. And Irvine and Stanhope had
''iaken their places" and were leaning
on their rifles. awaiting the signal for
action. Irvine's face looked pale, his
brow was dark with hate and lowering.
and his eyes flashed like burning Goals
yet at times his thin, white lips trembled
and quivered convulsively. His antag
onist's bearing was lofty. calm and COM
manding. expressing neither fear. hate.
nor triumph. For moment he was OBJ
served to look full at Irvine. and then
Withdrawing his gaze. he took slip Of
paper and pencil from his pocket. wrote
few lines. and as Mortimer advanced
and bade him God speed, handed it to
him. with the injunction not to read il
until after the duel was over. It had
fallen to Bracton's lot to give the word.
Having asked each of the parties if he
was ready, and the answers of both be-
ing in the affirmative. silence as of
death for moment succeeded. Then
with slow. distinct utterance came toe
words. "tre.-one-two-" ere he had