Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-04-28

conduct. | had removed Alice gilt from
the finger of my right hand, as | fancied
it interfered with the action of the trig-
ger of the pistol, and placed it in my vest
pocket. At the word, Markham, having
drawn the first shot, fired, and | felt a
sharp, quick pang, as though a lance had
entered my breast and staggered forward.
The sensation was momentary, however,
and | recovered myself. 1t was now my
turn, and bracing my nerves into a sin.
envy rightly, | fired, and saw my adyersa-
ry leap from the ground aud fall upon
his face. 1t did not take long to decide
that he was dead-shot through the brain.
| felt no computations Of conscience
about the matter, o do | even now ; but
as Markham was heir to a large estate in
England, my second, fearful Tor my per
sonal safety, insisted on my flight to the
continent, until the matter could be com
promised.
Hastily gathering together what few
valuables | possessed. | sought the near
est sea port in Ireland, but was unable
to find any means Of transit to my place
of d stination. Becoming alarmed at
the excitement occasioned by Markham's
death, | engaged passage for this coun-
try, and after a tedious voyage arrived
in the City of Baltimore.
The communications between the Old
and New World weresat that time few
and far between, and it was a long period
before | vas enabled to hear from my
father, counsellng he to remain in Amer,
lea. The same mail brought &. letter
Alice, commanding me to keep away from
Ireland. as my life would certainly be in
danger if | visited home again. For
years the same story, antil | grew weary,
and being thrown into new channels moi
only OF business, but Of a social character.
| found that living in America was not so
dlsagreeable a thing as had anticipated.
| married after ten years OF solitary life,
and strange as it may appear to you.
wore the same waistcoat-trom p;que at
Alice. perhaps-that | had on the event
full morning Of my duel with Markham.
The fact OF my having placed the ring in
one OF its pockets, never struck my mem
DRY Ill the excitement at the time, and |
had long before given up all thought Of
the subject, surprising III the haste of my
flight it had fallen from my finger. At
the altar | became somewhat nervous. and
involuntary placed my hand upon my
vest, and feeling a peculiar package
within its folds, drew from it, as ] re.
sponded to the ministerial questions. the
ring OF Alice Lawton.
Was it fate or was it to reproach
me for my infidelity to our pledge? SUI.
ice 1t that stammered through the cere
mouy, and at midnight was alone in nv
room. with the ring before me. | found
that the bullet from Markham's pistol
had struck upon the heavy edge of the
ring n made all indentation which time
and wear has nearly oblitel ated. In my
pocket | also found the hattened bulle.,
which but for the ring Of Alice Lawton
would nave sent me unannealed and un
anolntcd into another world. My wed.
ding night was anight of mental misery,
but time, the soother Of all earthly sor.
row, gently softened the recollections
which clustered around my youthful love.
aud l was happy and beloved in my new
sphere Of duty.
nave never visited my birth place
since my hasty departure, and years ago
my parents were gathered to the spirit
lana. vi my brothers but one remains
In the army. He has but little time to
correspond, and | seldom hear from him.
~Aiice-sweet, gentle Alice Lawton, is
sun llSlng, unmarried and in quiet repose,
acting inc true character Of u handmai-
den OF charity, beloved and respected by
her lew yet cherished friends. | am one
OF the number even in another land, and
The letters which you see come regularly
every steamer, directed in a female hand,
are from the loved one Of my ~boyhood,
Alice Lawton. | have told you, my dear
boy, the history of your grandfather's
ring, and | trust that you will prize it
with equal affection as myself"
Thu ended the story told by the FIRE
logs years ago, by my grandfather, aud
the charm OF history which is attached to
the relic makes it doubly dear to me.