The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-07-17
At last eyervlhine Was arranned Tb

and that OF the other forward towards the
pilots cabin, while tho seconds stood close
to the sides, so us to keep rs far as practi.
cable out Of the line of fire, provided the
weapons should be discharged by skilful
inarksmen. AL was ready. And never
was there more extraordinary spectacle
witnessed since men learned to settle their
differences by force of arms. The vessel was
urging her way rapidly up the great river
uhder q powerful pressure of steam, with
out delay, without pausing for the cousum-
nation of the dreadful deed about to be
performed. The sunshine was glorious, the
blue sky of summer, without even wisp of
snowy cloud, aud the very air seemed an
ocean OF perfume from the musk of wild
flowers that grew in natures unfenced gar.
dens on either side Of that magnificent
stream. Birds of brilliant plumage war.
bled their gay minstrelsg from thousand
iree-tops, and all the world of land and
shining water, the green woods and the
boundiess blue Of heaven, looked happy.
as on some celestial holiday which Deity
himselfh had ordained. And here were two
brothers Of the same exalted species that SO
often mars the beauty of tho universe Of
which it proudly claims to be monarch,
prepared and eager to shed each others
blood!
The fatal word was at length given, and,
with the word, the two pistols cracked to.
gether. AT the report, young Thornton
fell backwards and rolled into the river be.
meath, whore he disappeared under the
rushing water. The bullet from his enc.
my's weapon had penetrated his right eye,
and gone directly through the brain. Nor
did the arch hduelist Turner fare much bet.
ter. The lead of his adversary passed
through his lungs; and with the wild,
wailiug cry, any mother! Oh! my motLerv'
he fell upon the deck corpse.
And did he, too, this man of ofcruclty and
blood, once have a mother! Was this head
OF iron obstinacy ever cradled to sleep up.
|;on bosom that beat with undying fond.
spess, and she sung for his infant ears the
lullaby tender as the melting love of her
own heart, and soft rs sighs of the evening
wind.;;Did she kiss with MANY PRAYERS
these sGeering lipsswhich have since grown
black with cursesE Did she toy with these
hands, that tllenshad never given ablow in
anger, but which learned afterwards 10
play with the horrible dice OF death, until
his arm grew red to the e!bowl But
away away with all sucl, questionsl We
have all had mothers; and yet, If they
could have foreseen, at our birth, all the
sins and sorrows that should hunt us like
hounds of hell into our graves, they might
have been tempted to strange us in our
cradlesl
In the combat there were also more vic.
Tins than two. At the instant when the
double report Of tho pistols sounded, there
rose an appalling shrek from the cabin be.
low, so mournful, so despairing, so full Of
unutterable anguish like the wall Of some
lost soul, that all those who heard it dream.
ed about IL for months, and never could
forget it till their dying dag! Alasl beau.
tiful Eva, there is one more broken hear,
in the world! Bu. except this fearful cry,
she did not manifest any strong signs Of
bereavement. She continued on the boa,
10 st. Louis, remained on board while IL
was in port, and returned on the downward
trip. Her conduct evinced the ciearesi
sense of proprety, She gave brief but cor.
rect answers to any one who chose to ques.
ton her, and then relapsed into continu.
Gus silence, which she never broke, save in
response 10 the intorrogations of others
She appeared 10 live in revery that had
fallen upon her, rs ii were from some far-off
sphcre-ouc of bliss and beauty; for sho Of.
ten smiled with subdued and seraphc.
like sweetness AT the images created bv her
own wandering thoughts. Yet, still she
did not show aIy indications of mind
diseased, unless the unnatural and wild
briIliancy of her dark bearing eyes might
be so considered.
At last, however, one rayless and stormy
night, when they passed over that por.
ton of the stream where the duel had oc-
CURED, she disappeared from the boat. and
was never heard OF again. She had doubt
less thrown herself into the water, for the
purpose of reunion with her first, her last,
and only love. Poor Eyal widowed almost
before she was wife! May she sleep veil
beneath tho great liquid highway of west.
ern States, that soon must be nations; but
never shall even tho wide regions of the
dew-dropping west produce being more
beautiful than unfortunate one who lies
buried under the waves Of that mightiest
river ever iitumined 10y the light of sun or
star
TERRIFIC COMBAT BETWEEN UoAsEs
Late English papers give an accoun, o.
most singular but terrible combat between
two horses in the streets OF Portsmouth, in.
mcdiatcly opposite the George Hotel. 1t
seems that as the Dragons stationed there
were walking their horses TO tire different
billcting houses, black stallion attacked a
bay next TO him with the most savage fero-
city The dragoon was speedily thrown,
and the bay, nothing 10th. returned tho at.
tack with equal determination. The scene
was without parallel: the animals fought
like bulldogs, struck out with their fore.
legs, seized each other by the chest and
neck, rolled over and over again, groaned
snorted, and sayagely continued The extra
ordinary encounter for upwardi Of seven
minutes. The tradeSmen shut up their
shops, for the inturiated animals seemed