Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-04-03
IRAsBURGH. VERMONT, FRIDAY, April 8. 1851

volumes of sinews about his joints, that
looked like bundles of steel fibres from
their firmness and elastcity. His coun-
tenance was concealed BY perfect jun
Gle of black hair-an save the dagger
like blazing dark eyes, and long nose,
crooked as the beak of an eagle. Wher-
ever his gaudy dress would allow it to be
seen, the sable bsistling hair showed it
self all over him, even fo the ends of his
fingers. In fire, he reembled wild
beast, clothed in the costume of a
Frenchman.
The proprietor of the saloon whispered
something in the ear Of the savage, and
uttering half stiaed eryaos mingled as
tonishment and rage, he turned his eyes
towards the marble table where the young
ranger sat reading, apparently in a state
of profound abstraction. Mulderous pas
sions shook the bosom of the bully like
an electric storm, as he walked with a
tread like that of an elephant across the
floor, and seated himself opposite the in
truder at his usual place. He then
snatched the newspaper from tho others
hand, and glanced round at the spectators
with triumphant look, which implied
You see how l insult him, and how he
takes itp'
| Ben Cullum looked at him with a smile
of imperturable tranquility, but spoke not
a syllable.
What can he mean ?" mdrnlured
Hays to Henderson. 81 never saw him
before receive a voluntary wrong so
calmly"
French Bill then jerked the Mexican
blanket from the shoulders of the youth,
and, throwing it down, put his foot upon
Fit, dttering at the same time a low
chuckle, that sounded hoarse as the thun-
der.
/ The stranger slightly colored, and ga
zed with the same singular smile into the
eyes Of the duelist, as if he would van
quish him by look.
" Coward and villain ~ suddenly vocif
Grated the bully, "if you have spark OF
manhood in your poltroon's heart, show
US how they resent insults in Texas p
Then, quick as a fash of lightning
from the thunder cloud, Ben Cullun
nose with one hand and his long blacl
beard with the other, opened his jaws
and discharged a volley of tobacco juice
into his mouth and Immediately hurled
him upon the floor as easily as if he haC
been an infant.
+ In a moment the dueIist arose, foamins
at the lips, grinding his teeth and howl
ing for the satisfaction of a gentleman.
"You shall have the satisfaction of
devil, as you are Illuminated the ranger
" Let US cross the lake and settle the issu
with bowie knives P
Bowie knives !" repeated the French
man, with countenance of unmitigate
horror" Bowie knives are not weapon
t recognized by the code of honor
Bowie knivesT' echoed the satellite
: of the Jenny Lind saloon, for ladies an
gentlemen. "Bowie knives are th
a weapons of savagesp' ~
"Are they so, indeed?" exclaimed th
: Texan, with terrible laugh. "The
: this is the right sort of crowd to Try the
r steelp' and he drew from his bosom
t glittering blade nearly two feet in lengtl
e and rushed towards his foes.
n But none of them thought it advisab
!, to wait for the result of the experimen
With pale lips and frightened cries, Il
d entire throng took to their heels, Frenc
r, Bill leading the rout, and calling for Il
: police in Mortified accents. And fro
that day forward the bullies and gamble
i of the Crescent City have manifested q
u utmost respect for the rainbow tints of
stl Mexican blanket.