Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-06-17


woke, the first assault, when one blow of his
bowieknite usually settled the controversy, and
senced his rivals wuoing forever.
In the month of September, 1852, the Dis
trict Court was inaugurated in the town Of
Laredo, and grand fandango was given on the
first night in Lunor of the new judge, and &c
the boundlcss delight Of the lawyers in atten-
derce. The multitude assembled in the public
square, and the full moon, in cloudless splendor,
rendered the night 50 luminous as To require
no lamps or torches. The entire Mexican popu-
laton cut, besides the nIelnbc Of the bar, and
all the young officers OF tile army from the
ncighboring fort.
A scene of greater gaiety or animation could
not we'll be pictured, as the merry dancers
hoated like fairies in the moonlight, and every
lace seemed radiant with smiles of love and
happiness. But all did not enjoy themselves
thus lnnocently. Near one corner Vt the old
stone church, which occupied the centre Of the
square, gathered large circle of both sexes
around that altar Of Mexican worsGip-the
monte table. ,s,',...
Juana Palacios was dealer Of the cards, while
her husband raked down the money won, or
paid the lost BETS And never did a stronger
contrast present itself than that which stood
revealed in the appearance ef the couple jus,
mentioned. lie was 4 man of Herculean mould,
with dark, lrowning, ierocious features, mostly
concealed by coarse masses Of black hair and a
long, bushy beard Indeed, little of his viSagc
could be seen, save pair Of sinister, flashing
eyes, and nose resembling the beak of hawk.
His clothes were costly: and adorned with gilt
tering jewels, while the silver handle OF lis
bowie shown conspicuously above the snowy
;,llilcs of his shirt bosom.
FS;s;ss sNSps@sSsiFy aaais sSa4 4sseasaas gshsr
alike full cl gracc-wlth;stiinins sT1nelets black
as the ravens hue, face beamy and. beautiful
rs a star, and eyes so large, dark. dreamy, and
nrcrtowing with fire, that tLey seemeacver,y
moment melting with the warnest emotions o
nnutterable love. And tins look Of tendercst
passion constituted the magic Of her power
the indclinablc and resistless CHARM which en-
chained the gazer's heart, and fettered every
thought to the tootstool of the mightysenchan-
tresS.
Several officers wearing the uniform of the
Cnited States, and q young attorney, esteemed
tue most handsome man in Texas, one Elbert
Wallace, approached the monte table, and ut
tered, simultaneously, eXclamat:0nS OF surprise,
when they beheld the lovely vision presiding as
dealer at the game.
"She is an angel ~ added Lieutenant Tucker.
The black whiskers of the jealous husband
curled with ire, like those Of an infuriate tiger
and surh terrible CLEAN shot from his daOoli-
cal dark eyes, that dozen Of the spectators
grew pale with fright, and several retreatcd
from the circle in anticipation Of an immediate
explosion.
But the young lawyer, Ebert Wallace, who
was himself of q most fierce and rr;scible dis
position, and who felt insultcd by the scornful
glances Of the gambler precpitated the catas-
tropl.e by all act OF reckless audacity. Taking
two steps forward, lie thrust his finger, playf
" into the slower of raven ringlets, and ad-
dressing tie beautiful Jrana in tender toles,
he said;
"Pretty ore, come leave that ugly lie gras-
sier, and 20 hone with me 10 Brownsville. l
will make YOU mistress Of 4 fine mansion, and
that will be letter than following such q. mon
key-lllse ragaLond as the wretch beside You p
She smiled and blushed look of nameless
fascination; and he was Oh tie point of urging
his request in perhaps warmer and wilder
words, when the mpeuouS husband snatchcd
up a handful of silver from the table, and dash
ed it in his face with such fury us to brils
blood from his lips and nose, crying out ut the
same time
"Therc, take that as an insult from the ugly
greaser, and fight about it if you dare"
Wallace returned the blow, and the men
clnched; but-the struggle, though desperate,
proved brief for, the attorney seemed powerle>s
as an infant in the herculean hands of Poiacus !;
The foes were soon separated, yet far from be-
ing satisfied. The lawyer considered himself
forever diSeraccd by the humiliation of his de-
feat, ard shouted III accents of thunderA
''I!cs OF a Mexican! defy you to mortal
! combat. One Of us two shall never quit this
ground alive
"Do you challenge nc?' inquired the gam
bier, in tones of savage triumph.
"Yes yes ," replied Wallace in a wild phren'
Nv of unsovcruable passion.
~ accept" said tho other with fcroc;ous joy.
Z" choose bowie knives a:.d will settle the affair
as soon us you like
"Lct it be now, then--this instant cried
, Wallace.
"Oh no my friend, demonstrated Capt. Brew
ton. "Surely you will not meet a Mexican
gambler. and half negro ut that on equal tern!s1'
+ ';What else can do?'' demanded the lawyer
fcrccly. NO gentleman would advise me to
endure such shame p
fake pistol and shoot the rascal down like
wolf!'' said Lieut.. Tucker.
"Ycs that is the way to serve him. echoed
twenty tongues together
"Ncvcr!', exclaimed the hgh.soulcl attorney
"never Will shay a human being, Whatever may
be the provocatiun, without giving him 4 f.il
chance for his life. would die myself a thou
! sand times rather than murder the meancs
wretch in Mexico"
In vain the judge and all the members Of tho
'bar essavei to shake the young mans iron reso
luton. heprehnlnaries were speedily arranged
aud the two mortal antagonists assumed thci
stations at the distance OF ten feet apart, waiting
ior the wnrl to rush upon each other with up
lifted knives Or advance slowly as pleased tLeu
bost - -.s '''':- e
t,.c = - ,9tis: q, ~ . ) ).