The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-04-07
No. $40.

marked out his course, and had resolved TO pur-
sue it, regardless of difficulties existing in his
own imperfect nature. Was not here chance
to prove himself, to test his resolutions, to try
his strength?
Thus he wrestIed through the night with
himself, and in the morning early, when he un-
locked the door between the two rooms he
kissed Ruth and kissed his mother, saving,
gently, "Wife and mother, have resolved not
to fight this duel. l would rather be called
dishonorable, than have the blood of a muir
dered man on my hands"
He had fought has duel with himself, and
conquered
While they were at breakfast, old Digest en-
tered, and accosted Jasper abruptly:
You shall not fight that fellow, Jasper"
why not, sir?" asked our friend, smiling.
For this reason" replied Digest, handing
him the forged check, which we have seen SO
we'll used on previous occasion.
Jasper looked at it seriously, even sadly,
and then said
ri have always heard that he vas very poor.
Is anybody aware of the existence of this, be-
sides yourself?" 5a. ..
" No one, except Cinquant. keep him in
order with it."
" You must give it to me, them
OF course. If you fire that of at him,
there is but little danger of his shooting YOU"
Perhaps not" said Jasper, "he will not
shoot me, any how. / have resolved not to
fight"
!" You are right. Who would fight man
whom he could prove to be forger?"
had resolved before knew of this"
" All! conscientious scruples, eh?"
" Are not these grounds enough for not fight.
ing?" said Jasper, with a smile, and pointing to
Ruth, who was hanging about him caressinglv.
as If she could not thank him enough for set
ting her heart at rest, and to his mother whose
great brown eyes watched him ever and told
him ever how she appreciated his motives.
When the parties met on the ground at the
hour appointed, that afternoon, Jasper stepped
right UP to Olinquant, and said:
" Mr., Clinquant, you have injured me in more
Ways than / can forgive, and hope that hence
forth our walks will keep us separate regret
the occurrences of yesterday, and herewith offer
you my apologies for the violence l used to.
wards you then. have resolved not to fight
with you. ] find, on thorough selfexamination
that my principles are sufficiently strong to en-
able me to support myself under any contumely
likely to proceed from this declension, and, con-
sequenty, will not fight. Put your own con-
struction upon the action, and allow me to con-
strue as think proper"
steely tones of his, "and am Obliged TO YOU
for saving me the annoyance of having YOUR
blood on my hands. could not kill coward"
Nor i, MIR. Clinquant-Ra additional reason
for not hghting Yau, since "tis conscience makes
towards at us ALL
"Uther causes operate in the same direc-
ton" remarked Clinquant, in that calm sar-
castle voice, that tortured one like a ead.fy-
"tor instance, pistols and ten PAGES. C,'ede
Erperto."
Jasper smiled. You cannot provoke me,
Mr.. Clinquant. The struggle was over, and the
consequences fully calculated before | came
upon this ground. To show you how little
regard what you have said, or what you can
and will say, will present you with something,
that, permit me to say, should never have passed
your hands" And he handed Clin9uant little
t9ldsd RteGs, bud ST 1aaaperi Chnnnsnt onenea ii
f" No one knows what it is said Jasper
And this is why you would not fight me :"
asked Chnquant, glaring upon him.
" BY no means. | had resolved not to fight
before | ever saw or heard of that
"Ah!" said Clinquant, looking at him with
eyes in which wonder and mistrust were strange
ly blended,
You had better destroy it, said Jasper
And what do you expect from me in re.
Cuiht o"hCu Niihquditi dl tHp SdAic tilue
ing match, burning the paper and setting his
foot upon the ashes with sigh of satisfaction
| such as a criminal would heave on hearing he
was repreved.
You Judge others by yourself, sir. One
lesson in life you have yet to learn. Acquire
it quickly, Mr.. Clinquant. Not every man is
mercenary. gave you that paper which was
| given to me this morning to be used in com
| pellipg you 10 withdraw from this duel; gave
il 70 you, simply because | am not afraid my
| self, of you or any man, and because | scorn
to have you or any other man in my power
and at my beck. | know your malice and
your means, but will not try to disarm you
in any such underhand fashion | have done"
"Mr, Fleming" cried Clinquant, springing
iarward, and holding out his hand, "pardon
me. Let us be friends"
"No," said Jasper, " | cannot take the hand
that has shed Gilbert Congreve's blood. | can.
not take your hand, for do not respect you"
$50 be it," cried Clinquant, unahashed; (" at
least, you shall not have 1t 10 say that Aulicus
Clinquant never had a grateful moment, never
did a generous deed. Here, gentlemen" said
he to the seconds and physicians, who stood
apart, wondering spectators of this dialogue,
Here | call you to witness that Jasper Elem
ing rejects my proffered friendship, and denies
me his respect. | call you TO witness that |
deserve it all, call you TO witness that he has
! Just done lae favor for which ! would have
forfeited half my life, and will not let me thank
| him. / call you to witness that, in refusing to
| fight me, and in acting as he has done to-day,
he has proved himself to be the brayest as we'll
as the noblest man | know, And yet, damn
him, hate him. added he, laughing. eco
your way Fleming, and will go mine. We
| oannot get along together. will not trouble
| you any more, in remembrance of what you
| have Just DONE"
| Thus did Jasper become ruler in his own
| household.
! And this was no SLIGHT victory, both in itself
| and its consequences, which Jasper gained over
| hinself; 1t had cost him very severe struggle,
| and it brought him reward proportionately
| great. Here was almost the first time that he
| had been able to subjugate an impulse to the
rule of reason; and it was very palpable and
violent impulse, brought Wpder the influence
| and dominion Of q very severe, stern, and for
| bidding reason. So much the more valuable
was it to him. To know that we are able to
| control our passions, when duty indicates tho
propriety Of such a restraint, is to make great
advance towards that most desirable end. 1t
gave him also additional aeiEeonhdence. "Ce
nest que le presase, pas gun cOute," in progress
towards mastery of self as well as in other mat
tiers. The fact of being once victorious induces
strongly towards the habitude of victory. Aus
terlitz was to be anticipated after, nay, to be
argued from, Marengo-
TO BE CONTINUED.
JEEFERsoN's Charlottesville story attrib.