The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1861-02-28

he said" Pretty one, come, leave That
ugly he-greaser, and go home with me to
Brownsville. I will make you mistress OF
fine mansion, and that will be better
than following such u monkey-lille vaga-
bond as the wretch beside you'll"
She smiled and blushed look of name
less fancination; and he was on the point
of urging his request in perhaps warmer
and wilder words, when the impctuous
husband snatchcd up handful of silver
from the table, and dashed it in his face
with such fury as To bling blood both
from his lips aud nose. crying out at the
same time" There, taRe that as an insult
from the ugly grcascr, and fight about it
if you dare!"
Wallace returned the blow, and the
mon instantly clinchcd; but the struggle,
though desperate, proved very brief, for
the attorney seemed powerlcss as an in
flnt in the Hcrculcan hands Of Palacios.
The foes were soon separated, yet far
from being satisfied. The lawyer consid-
cred himself forever disgraced by the hui
initiation of his defeat, and shouted in ac-
cents Of thunder-"Dog of a Mexican, I
defy you to mortal combat! One Of us
two shall never quit this ground alive !"
"Do you challenge me?" inquired the
gambler, in tones Of savage triumph.
eyes, yes /" replied Wallace, in wild
phrcnzy of ungovernable passion.
"I accept" answered the other, with
fcrocious joy, II choose Bowie knives,
and will settle the affair as soon as you
like"
"Let it be now, then-this instant!"
cried Wallace.
"Oh, no, my friend!" demonstrated
Capt. Brewerton. "Surely you will not
meet Mexican gambler, and half negro
at that, on equal terms!"
"What else can I do?" demanded the
lawyer, fiercely. "No gentleman would
advise me to endure such shame !"
"Take a pistol, and shoot the rascal
down like wolff" said Lieutent Tucker.
eyes, that is the way to serve him"
echoed twenty tongues together.
"Ncvcr~ exclaimed the high-souled
attorney; "Ncver will slay u human
being, whatever may be the provocation,
without giving him a fair chance for his
life. I would die myself thousand times
rather than murder the meancst wretch
in Mexico"
In vain the Judge and all the members
of the bar cssayed to shake the young
mans iron resolution. The prelimina-
ries were speedily arranged, and the two
mortal antagonists assumed their stations
at the distance of ten feet apart, waiting
for the word to rush upon each other with
uplifted knives, or advance slowly as
pleased them best.
The countenancc of each presented o
very different appearance. The fair fea-
lures and vivid blue eyes of Wallace cvin-
ccd calm, collected, ~chivalrous bravery
the ideal Of honor and lofty heroism, with
out touch of malice or token of revenge.
But the bearded visage of Palacois, with
those icndish sinister eyes, so cruel and
cleaning, and then those thin snecring
lips wrthing in murderous smile, look
cd absolutely internal in its lurid rage
and unutterable hatred; while the naked
knife of each glittered in the clear moon
beams like o blade of FURNISHED silver as
a thousand spectators stood hfodnd in a
great circle TO witness the horrible strife.
At last Captain Beaverton, as friend
of Wallace, gave the signal; and the
young lawyer lcaped like lion towards
his foe, and aimed an awful blow at his
bosom, which the other as rapidly parri-
cd, and returned with thrust like light
ming. 1t was the true Mexican stab
one, only one, that needed not repetition
for it penetrated the heart of the attor-
ney, who fell upon the earth, and expired
without a groan!
Then Palacios held up the reeking
knife in the moonlight, and uttered a
loud laugh, SO wild, fearful and unearth-
ly, that it sounded more like the battle
cry of devil than any intonations OF
mere human organs! But it proved to
be his last laugh; for at the moment the
pistol of Texan ranger roared on the
night air, and the Mexican dropped down
on the corpse of his enemy, with blue
4l.,,o..e.L tho nnnt1n of his