Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1857-03-26
ynttrtsting Stotg.
DUELIST.
A THRILLING SKETCH
OF
SOUTH WESTERN LIFE.
BY CHARLES SUMMERFIELD.

At midnight about twenty five years
ago, solitary youth steered his slender
canoe across the Arkansas river from the
lett towards the right bank, whence at
least one pair of eyes, from clustering
shrubs, watched intently all his move,
ments. For Notwithstanding the hour,
every thing was visible in the clear light
of cloudless May moon, which turned
the tide water into plane of the richest
silver, smooth as a mirror, save where
the quick ripples sparkled at the touch of
the rower's flashing paddle
have called him youth, but he was
more properly boy of sixteen with a
beardless face, and countenance radi
ent with chil-dlike innocence. although
his form seemed manly. and his large blue
eyes had that luminous, piercing look
which always reveals soul unaccustom,
ed to both guile ard fear. Indeed his en-
tire appearance would have delighted the
gaze OF a true artist. The spacious white
brew eEvironed with wreath of glossy
oroEn curls, that strong yet stately neck,
with Its aristocratic carriage, that form so
massive for It's age, but still so statuesoue
In It's symmetry, the beaming eyes, the
blooming visage, and with the buckskin
dress so fine in its Indian ornaments
composed together s,f:sir hurneR shane
as ever enamored moon embraced since
she stepped from Heaven to kiss the sleep
ing Endymion. But no words can pro-
duce the masculine graces of that beard
less boy, then the pride of central Arkan-
sas Wade Thompson.
What! Wade Thompson! That name
so terrible from the SHOWS of Iowa to the
fiery sands of the Mexican gulf-from the
levee at New Orleans to the harbor of
San francisco. The same-not as he
has been for years, the wandering Jew of
wild, unrest and pitless passion-but as
he was in the golden days Of the morning
Of life, the light of that old clerical faith
er's eyes, the elective magnet of sanity
mothers heart, the admiration Of all that
knew him. And am about to tell what
changed him, what made him the merci-
less man he is.
As the canoe glided through the middle
OF the stream, the youth paused, raised his
paddle, dripping with liquid pearls, and
scanning the shore eagerly, murmured
with sigh.
:" / must be too early-there is no one
there"
lie glanced up with that half reproach
ful expression at the calm, unsympathising
moon and signing again, 1T is the hourl''
dashed his paddle into the water, and shot
to the shore like an arrow.
Then drawing his canoe partly on the
sand he assembled the bank, peering over
the clustering vines, separated the wild
flowers, and called out in a soft voice
trembling with an infinite tenderness Of
| desire:
ITALIA, dearest Thalia!"
My own beautiful Wade" replied a
musical, laughing voice, as tall dark
eyed woman emerged from a natural bow
er OF rose-bushes, and cast herself into his
arms.
Then followed the tender embrace, the
kiss with lips of fire. the brief question
and answer Of blended tongues, and all
the nameless beautitude of love that has
never known sin. The JOY of the woman
revealed itself in smiles sweet as starlight
and bushes burning like the tints of an
evening cloud, while, by a singular con-
trast, the passion of the youth found vent
IN rain of delicious tears.
The first cestatic transport of the re-
union being allayed, the young man mur-.
INJURED:
Come, dearest Thalia, let us 90 yon.I
der and sit down. l want to talk to Won
a long while.
He took her electric hand, and led her
few steps mp the river to large heap
OF wood where the boats occasionally
landed to take in fuel,
There he arranged as comfortable a 30
sition as possible for the charmer, and
throwing himself On his knees at her feet
SO as to look fully into that bewitching
face, he gazed up into those dark eyes as
if worshipping some inefable divinity. 1t
was, too. divinity we have all worship
ped at some time or other in our skeptical
lives, perhaps the first one ever adored at
the sacrifice of the souls virgin purity
but ah me! for how often in vain.
A concealed spectator would have re-
marked a striking, if not painful con-
trast between the lovers. As have all
ready said, in all but form, he was a mere
boy; while she appeared the proud snowy
handsome woman of twenty summers
Her love seemed that of the half passion
ate coquette but his was all fame