The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-08-27

ton ~
"Where!" said the major, carelesslv
applying his eye to the telescope. lie
i looked Tor an instant. "Egsd!" said he,
i see very fine woman walking about
on grass plot, with little ,rot of child
:" one ha"d and two others playing round
ner' But what, should like to know.
mas tn's to do with the matter in hand ,n
Everything," said the banker, with n
serious Sc race; that lady, sir, is my wife,
Those children are mine and hers onI
we are all mutually attached"
Ishaw !" said the captain " what is
mat to me? You should have ,houcbt
OF this hefore?"
know 1t is nothing to you, SIR" said
Tue anEer, Gas you have no wife or chill
Lren. believe l am correct in SAVING
that you have no wife or children. NoS
then, ask, do we meet on equal terms? 2"
why no-certainly not" said the ma
)or; but 1t is too late to think of this on
the very ground; it is quite informal
'''s discussion; it is really quite-oui,e;
- aud hereupon the ma jor took huge
pinch of snuff to fll up his simie.
81 warned YOU to settle all your of
iairs;' broke in the captain, us if a sudden
bright though, had occurred to him.
Irue," said the banker, pon, to the
distant family group, "but | could no,
else" ''''S
lhe bankers second now ventnrcd 70
observe, that as the raptaiu's second had
dniit.d the parties about to cort nd
were not on equal terms, ,hey should be
made equal, or as near rs possible so, be
lore the ac'ual commencement Of hos till
lies and he appealed to them to do hi,
a' men Of honor and gentlemen"
Well, there is certainly show of,ea.
son, and that sort Of thing. in what Won
say" observed the major. But how,
IN the name Of goodness, is that to be ef.
fectcd"
Nothing easier" exclaimed the gen
t'cman in black. "Your friend the can.
tam has an independent income of fifteen
hundred per annum, and no family
whereas the income of my frie nd-thouph
some little propery-mainly depends
upon his own exerlions; and he has wife
and three children. Now, if the captain
should shoot him, he ought TO make over
five hundred year to ms family, and
thus the parties would be upon equal
terms"
Putting affection out Of the question"
added the banker.
The major, at this, looked blank and
puzzled; the captain all astonishmen,.
" 1t would only be putting down your
handsome phaeton and pair" rcjoincd the
bankers second, calmly.
"Oh, sir al yes, indeed " calculated
the captain, reddening up to the ears.
But supposing | acceded to this most
irregular proceeding" said the major
"ti ere is no time for it now, as / cannot
consent to withdraw my principal from
the field without an exchange Of shots"
That is not at all necessary" said the
banker. This gentleman is my a,,or
ney'" Nhercat, on the instant, the little
man in black whipped from beneath his
coat deed on parchment, ready filled up
and wanting nothing nothing but the ut.
tachment Of the signatures.
The captain and the major exchanged
looks Of blank rage. They saw that in
common Parlance, it was "a sell :" and
they began TO storm.
" "A most a bsurd proceeding !--merce.
may proposal !'-eiaculated The captain.
" Put down my phaeton, indeed I WHY,
sir, this is beyond joke"
" 1t is, indeed, most serious matter.
slrs," said the banker. "Do YOU think
sir, whether would not be Justified in
considering it as something more than an
absurd proceeding and pretty Joke
to bc pat do'cn dead here, and leave nv
vile and children to penLryi know very
well, sir, you are a rare shot, and snuff n
candle with pistol bullet. That dexter.
ity can't pretend to, so in any case | ron
the greatest risk. Yet | am ready to Dit
my life against your phaeton and pair"
The major looked more perplexed than
ever. The captain more foolish and puz.
zled.
Again, gentlemen, if | should be kill.
ed, my wife and children will absolutely
need the money but il kill the captain,
his property is abs olu,ely Of no sort of use
TO him. after his funeral expenses are paid.
Nor is my proposal without precedent
Upon such occasions. men Of ofrefined honor
and high courage have thought they
could never do enough. When Best shot
Lord Csmeford, his lordship, on his death
bed, LETT his antagonist, who was in very
poor circumstances. handsome income,
rejoicing, no doubt, that he had lived long
enough TO do such an act OF magnanimty
and finished honor. never fired at q
man as mark in my life; am sure to
be shot. So you see my proposal is only
fair one; and as make it to men Of
honor, expect it to be acceded to-"
"oh, buti--yes, but l-you, sir!" ex.
claimed the captain. "Really, :" interrupt
ed the major, biting his lips, 81 really
think that, as men Of finished honor, we
must accede to the proposal"
The banker now flatly refused to fioht
on any other terms, putting it directly to
The major as the most Relied point Of ,du.