Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-01-16

cpltnet, demanded, with smile OF muir
derous meaning
"Fool and scoundrel! what have you
to say?"
Nothing" replied Thomas, and
coolly knocked the villain down.
Rayburn rose with a cry awful as the
yell of some wild beast and attempted to
draw his pistol. But the enemy proved
too quick for him, snatched the weapon
from his hand, hurled it into the river,
and again measured his length on the
floor.
With blood running in streams from
his nose, the bully sprang to his feet and
vociferated in accents nearly inarticulate
with rage
"Sir, you shall give me mortal salts
faction for this ?"
81 shall do no less" was the tranquil
answer.
Here-now this very minute !"
roared Rayburn, grinding his teeth and
foamiag at the mouth.
Whenever and wherever you like"
responded Thomas, in the same careless
manner.
"Not so fast, gentlemen" remarked
the commander of the steamer, with a
stern countenance; 81 will permit no
hostile interviews on my vessel, so you
must wait till we stop to wood"
II am in no hurry" said Capt. Thorn
as, with smile, and the duellist himself
was forced to yield.
When the supposed Texan returned to
the cabin, his eyes Immediately sought
the unintentional cause of this sudden
quarrel. She was seated near the door
of the drawing room, white and culver
ing with fear, while the light of her
dark eyes looked dim with tears. As
soon as he appeared, she beckoned him
to a chair beside her, and addressed him
in imploring acccnts:-
" Stranger, am not uugrateful fol
your bravery and kindness in the defense
Of friendless girl; but l entreat you
not to throw away your life in a comba
with that dreadful man. / have hearC
of him often, and know his aim to b,
death w
The challenge has been passed ant
accepted, and, of course, | cannot nov
decline without eternal Disgrace" wa
his proud answer.
"Oh accursed code of the duellist ?
she exclaimed with a startling emphasis
''what internal fascination lives in thy
bloody jaws-charm Of hell that nc
heroism can resist We'll have / right
to hate thee p
Have you personally suffered from 0
particular occurrence of the kind in your
own family 2" inquired Thomas, in a kind
tone.
"Oh God how much" she murmur.
ed through her tears. my father fell
on that fatal field and last year, my
only brother had bosom friend They
differed on the race-track about some
tride the lie passed between them they
were both high-spirted they fought OF
the spot, forgave each other when too
late, and died in each others arms"
What was your brothers name ?
asked the young man, with pale lips, il
voice almost suifocated with unutterabl,
emotions.
Eugene Giraldin."
"And you are his sister Emily-onc,
the child that | played with SO fondly il
the bright days of my boyhood, before
wandered from home and friends y h,
said, selling her fairy fingers with con
vulsve clasp.
You and myself are now orphans
and without relation in the wide world. ,
she murmured, in accents sweetly tender
as an angels whisper by the pillow of I
dying saint. 'Iet me be your sister
and as such pray you not to fight tina
monster / will speak to the captain 0
the boat aDd have him put ashore !"
Gin the meantime, GEORGE Rayburn
having solaced himself by numerou
fiery rotations at the bar, sat down to
game Of four. handed poker, and sool
became absorbed in the chances Of th,
game. Being in a desperate mood, h,
staked enormous sums on every suit o
cards he received, and strange freak o
fortune smiling upon him for hours h,
reckoned his winnings by thousands.
At length he proposed that each gam
bier of theparty should risk his cntir,
capital on the feat of cutting the highes
card in the pack, and this being ABSENTEE
to, he commenced shutting the pieces O
pointed paper; but at the moment tn,
bell rang, and the boat stopped to wood
Instantly Rayburn threw down the card
and cried in q voice Of thunder
"Come, Captain Thomas, the sigma
has sounded for your death or mine p
His foe sprang to his feet for the pur.
pose of going on shore, but Emily Grar
din, the dark-eyed girl, chung to his arm
and prayed him TO decline the bully
challenge.
She gazed in bis face with bewilder
ed look, and gasped--
"Can it be possible? Yes, you mus
Indeed be Morton Thomas, the brother
OF my brothers murdered friend p
"The same" faltcred the other, weep
ing in spite Of the utmost exertions Il
master his feelings.
Come" shouted the desperate, with
a diabolical laugh; "come, or ] will
shoot you down by the side of your par
amourp' and he drew revolver and
took two steps towards his adversary.
But a more APPALLING enemy than man
met him by the way. He stood imme-