The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-06-16

were a hundred eyes looking on, but not
", Wel s," " only suppressed groan arose |
c,r an instant among my par'isans.
III :. .,as now Meagher's turn 10 play, and II
~ .I,,ost impossible for him to strike Ell
H. hall without winning the game, IN |
hitch case we were ruined. He did not
ses,n at ALI disturbed, bat lowered his cue
to play. thought he'would take the only |
conrse omen to him. and make foul stroke |
;os,ead OF that, he drove his ball sheer be- /
tween the other two, without touching ell
thar NJ than and ran "coo' in tue rock- |
ct, thus losing the game. Il
A fleeing the utmost horror at what he had |
dome he dashed down his cue, and began
soaring his hear aud disappearing. | OF
course knew that he had done il on pur-
nose: but the thing was 30 difficult, so APP
parently impossible, that the spectators
did not suspect foul play-none of them,
with the exception Of Mortier, who, having
already his suspicious aroused, was now
convinced of the justice Of them, AZ well as
enraged to madness at the heavy losses he
Inc had incurred. With couutenance livid
with fury, he rushed towards Meagher,
and yelling desperate oath, dealt him
savage blow on tho face.
A horrid scene ensued. The lrishman
few at the aggressor's throat, and would
have strangled him on the spot but for the
interference Of dozen strong arms, which
tore him away. Frenzed beyond all con-
troll Of himself, he burst out with torrent
OF invective, abuse, and rabid curses, and
leaping on the table, called heaven and earth
TO witness that he would not move thence
alive without the hearts blood Of the villain
that had struck him. Mortier at first re-
sponded only by a sarcastic sneer, and
turned his back upon them Bnt Irish blood
was not to be 30 appeased. Branding his
patron as coward, and heapiug on him the
the foulest charges, keagher continued to
denounce him as robber, assassin, traitor,
and foreat and called on the company to
listen while be gave them the veritable his
tory of the monster.
Norter, who had started at the word for
cat, again WINGED, and turning sharply
round, Let US have weapons, he said !;
{ the fool shall have his way Springing
on the table, be folded bis arms, and await
ed the issue with a suppressed eagerness
which showed how deep would be his re-
venge.
Rapers were brought; it was notified to
both the combatants, that if either of them
Quilted the table, he would be instantly dis
armed, held to be defeated, ana incapable
of resuming the strife. Then N. Florian
drew a chalk-line across the centre of the
| cloth-the weapons were then delivered to
each, and the duel began.
Meagher, to whom the delay had afford
| ed moment for reflection, which he had
| wasted in Tuning and stamping, ad-
Ill tho Anptin
| who was the shorter by nearly head in
stead of opposing him in the usual attitude,
stood bent forward in half-circle, with his
rapier point quivering above his head
Some rapid passes took place, and Mortier
was seen to be bleeding from two slight
wounds; but he was cool and wary in pro-
portion to the peril-parried the deadly
lunges Of his tall foe with unvarying GER
tainty, and at length, springing forward
within his guard, instantly shortened his
weapon, and thrust it sheer through the
breast of the poor Irshman, who leaped
with n wild cry into the air, and fell on
the table a corpse.
Paralysed at the sight, l was gazing
horror-struck at the lifeless body, when |
felt hand grasping my shoulder: it was
Crannel. I'VE must to cover, be said; the
police will be here in a minute, and you
will gain nothing by their courtesies, you
may depend upon it,
That was the last game ofbiiliards | ever
played to the profit Of Louis Crannel, who,
at my request, paid me off the same night.
giving me to understand that he knew
played him false, but that having taken his
measures accordingly, | had not injui ed
him, though had intended to do so. re-
preached him in my turn with his system
attic and cold-blooded rascality and selfish
uess-and we parted.
Mortier got sentence of years impri
sonment for the duel, one month Of which
he actually suffered. Poor Meagher was
buried as a Russian officer, and was regis
tered at Pere la Chaise under the name of
MearowitZ. NJ. Florian and | divided his
effects between US, and had seven thousand
francs for my share of Mortier's losses, all
which had paid. How this sum and much
more which had gained over the devils
back, was subsequently, dissipated under
another part Of his bersoEs, ii boots not the
reader TO know. Poverty, the ultimate lot
of nearly all gamblers, has been mine for
many weary year. With mature age
came dyspepsia and nervousness, and then
all reliance on my skill as billiard player
vanished. OF all embellishments, this is
the one that requires the most perfect condi-
ton Of the physical faculties, aad no man
who is conscious that he possesses either
nervous system or yentral organs, need ex-
pect to excel in it.
Ny Confessions may well end here.