The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1858-09-16
.fMEssess5ssT,T,AMY' u /.
[From the Sunday Delta. ]
THE DUEL;
OR. A BROTHER's REVENGE.

As the steamer swung from the land
Ing, surveyed with a careless eye the
group of passengers who, like myself,
were bound on business or pleasure TO
the great metropolis Of the Southwest,
New Orleans. There was the portly
planter from Mississippi, with his good
looking, benevolent, and yet command
ing features the hunter from the wilds
of Arkansas, with his long rife, buckshin
leggins and keen black eye; the -mer-
chant from the river towns bound on bis
annual visit to take up his notes for last
years purchases, and replenish bis stock
hestudcnis frpp collegs making a Christ
x t home All these a. more
',i,Bs there
y From boy | have been in the hasit
of making human character study wher
ever go, and had already settled TO my
own satisfaction the mental qualities and
abilities, good and bad, and the worldly
occupation of half score of worthy in
dividuals. But presently came to one
who was not so easily defined. He seem
ed lost in mental abstraction. Al times
his clear blue eyes would wander list
lessly over the faces of those present; or
he would suddenly wheel his chair around
with an expression of mental pain and
disouietude on his face, as though he was
pursued by thoughts he wished himself
rid Of AS | did not like to be thwarted
of my favorte amusement, and being,
moreover, somewhat interested in bis ap-
pearance, determined on cultivating
closer acquaintance.
After dinner he sauntered out on the
guards, where | soon followed and TAX
ing seat near, offered him cigar, which
he accepted, with rather a cold "1bank
you, sir" lie was very reserved at first,
but by dint Of perseverance, | succeeded
in drawing him into discussion on tie
river scenery. He was year or two my
junior, but possessed a mind well culilva-
ted and of no ordinary caliber; and when
the gong sounded for tea, we found our
selves still sitting on the guards.
During the night the boat arrived at
the levee, aud taking a cab, ! drove to
the ST. Louis, thinking no moN OF my
companion Of the evening AchFeak-
fast, however, the next morning, ! was
little surprised to find that his room was
next to NINE This, together with our
steamboat acquaintance the day before,
and the fact that we were both strangers
in the citv. led to a further intimacy.
As usual with strangers, we strolled
around the city for the greater part OF
the day. When evening came 1t was
proposed that we should go to the thea
ter, and the ST. Charles was chosen.--
The play was "The Tempest" | had
Just become interested in the scene, when,
Miranda uttered the words:
There nothing i'll can dwell in such temple !:
If the i'll spirit have so fair a house,
Good things win strive to dwell within it.
Iwas interrupted and startled by an
exclamation from my companion. Ills
face was filled with agony ana surprise,
lnstinctively following the direction OF
his gaze saw in its object young anu
beautiful woman. BY her side sat q
,hanghty. dark skinned man,
His eyes were keen and glitterng' ana
at the first glance attractive, but TO a
close observer their light soon became
repulsive. 1t was the expression Whicl
lies in the eyes of the rattlesnake--
charming, but dangerous. The lady
slowly turned, surveying those present
until her eyes fell upon her brother. lhe
was seated at my side,) when, with Q
sudden start, she fell, pale and swoonlng'
into the arms Of her companion. lie ol
the glittering eyes rose and bore her out
m5 friend sprang after them, and / fol
lowed, We overlook them just as h