The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-11-10
dy for moment, and ordered the pie
beian, like hound, to his kennel.

beian, like hound, to his kennel.
Captain" said the cornet, and the
mans cold icy manner threw chill
over them all, "we are equal here. To-
morrow shall horse-whip you in the
barrack- yard. Tonight either of these
is at your service - he pointed then to
the naked swords and the brass bound
case.
+" Choose for yourself, SIR" answered
the captain, for he saw now the conse-
quence of his conduct, and he had no.
bic nature, too, but it wanted training
No man doubted his courage-and in
other hands lie would have risen at once,
and made frank apology to the man he
had so bitterly insulted. 1t was then too
late. Before the whole mess what had
occurred could not be pardoned, so the
devil, my dear, took up his quarters in
that room, and saw it all out quite after
his own heart
:" will not, captain" said the cornet.
The captain snatched up the naked
sword. "This will do''
They cleared away the tables, and
among the party of young men, hot with
wine and excitement, there was not
warning voice. Those things were com
mon enough in barrack rooms. then, too.
So they fought, fought, my dear, and the
cornet ran his sword through that eldest
brother, dying its blade with his life's
blood. Some were terrified, others only
more terribly excited, reused by his nor
rible offering to an offended prejudice
The younger brother tore away the sword
from the hand of the dead man-for
dead he NASHVILLE the cornet took the
key of the door and laid it on the table.
=" appeal to you all, gentlemen. for
verdict on my conduct. One death is
enough - and cool as he was during
the danger, he was greatly moved then.
You are coward, sir" cried the
younger brother.
" God knows, perhaps it were better
that was But they raised howl at
him. They goaded him, pushing that
younger brother in to the danger, and
there was no wise head to counsel or con
troll but the cornet was still immovable.
/" You have murdered my brother"
said the young man.
:" might -" The cornet did not
finish the sentence, but all noticed pc
culiar hard line forming about his mouth.
Even very cold men can be goaded up to
anything. "Come, sir, you shall have
no excuse"
/" Pistols-letit be pistols" cried some
one.
The cornet bowed, and the brass
bound box was opened. The pistols in
1t were taken out, examined and loaded.
l don't know anything, my dear, about
duellng, how they place the men, or any
of the requisites, so | can't describe this
to you. But both were at last put in po-
sition. They fired, and the cornet shot
that young brother through the heart
through the heart She said this very
emphatically and slowly, slightly rocking
her body for moment or so, and then
falling again into her original position.
Some minutes more she remained silent.
Lucille half shuddered. She thought the
history was the life of the narrator. She
began again, or rather resumed her mar
rative.
This was the second offer to preju-
dice. Two murders. my dear, and a
brave mans life periled They were all
quiet enough you may be sure. after that
scene. The cornet had sunk down in a
corner of the room, and the others stood
aghast over the two dead bodies. They
had lifted them and placed them on
chairs, and sober they all were, sober
and terrified ; SO they just sat there or
stood without word. Suddenly the COR
net rose and walked over to them. They
shrunk away, young and middle aged,
until he stood face to face with the dead.
He was then cold, immovable-
rather than anything else. Long he
looked on the dead faces, then turned,
with ferocity in his eyes. upon the men
near him.
You, you did this. That blood was
shed by you. You are all noble-from
Dukes down you represent all the pride
of your class. BE still every one of you.
Blood enough has been shed, and you
did it. You thoughta man who had no
thing aristocratic about him would bear
with you forever, and you see the end
now, for peasant can draw a sword or
pull trigger with any of you. The
4 l.