Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-04-22

Threw himself before them, his figure eff
feetually preventing their exit.
This violence helped to restore Jessie's
presence of mind. Without dropping MUIR
rays arm, she looked steadily up. and said
in voice that :rembled little, but was
quite distinct
am very sorry gentlemen !; / must have
made some mistake ; but as am very tired
Will not dance any more to night. Cap
tain Murray, / will trouble You to help
me hud mama, who must be ready to 90
home"
With a slight and rather naughty bow
she stepped forward, and Wentworth could
do no more than let her pass. He drew
aside, and for the first time Murray Looked
at him. There was something so cool and
proyokingly triumphant in the clear glance
OF his gray eyes, that Wentworth, in a
towering rage, vowed vengeance as he
turned away.
Capt. Murray had known Jessie before
and Major Wentworth had been only in
troduced that evening. Il was no wonder
then, thatdisgusted With bis siAlenee, she
had chosen rather an Old friend, than
new acquaintance as her escort. But she
was 80 startled and overcome at what bad
happened, that she scarcely knew how she
got through the crowd to her mother rs she
hung pale and trembling on his arm
Capt. hurry liked that gentle pressure,
and was very sorry, when at last they
found Mrs. Curtis, who, still handsome
woman, was chatting pleasantly with some
| older officers
On the way to the carriage, Capt. Muir
| ray contrived to convey TO Jessie his regret
at what had passed, and asked if he might
call the next day to ascertain that no i'll
effects had llowed this agitation. Jessie's
reply, with bright llush and SMILE was
| very favorable, and as the carriage drove
away, the captain looked after it full Of
! bright fancies. For a second Il fair Young
head crowned with llen curls leaned out
I IN the moonlight, but that was enough
/ Jessie was thinking of him, and with last
| graceful! bow, he turned happily away
| The smile of JOY was yet on his lips, " hen
/ at the top of the steps heavy hand was
| laid on his shoulder With a start, he
turned and met Major Wentworth's black
| eyes flashing angry defiance
well, SIR !" exclaimed Murray, shaking
| off the touch, and drawing himself away
proudly.
What apology now have you to offer for
| your conduct?" he demanded, in a voice
thick with anger, and perhaps with the in
! tlueneo Of the wine.
APOLOGY ?-none sirr' replied Murs
! raw.
But insist upon having one, and be-
fore those who saw the insult, too"
MAJOR Wentworth" said Murray cool
! ly, 81 am not aware of having insulted you
in any way; have done nothing for which
/ can or will apologize"
Done nothing?" roared Wentworth
"Did you not carry that girl away from me
"SFeak more cautiously of Miss Curtis,
( if you please" cried Murray, his eyes
| cleaning with suppressed excitement
"I'll speak as | choose of her, or any
other woman" Wentworth shouted, "and
you shall beg my pardon for this as well
as the other impertinence."
major Wentworth" said Murray, calm
! ly. "you are excited now to morrow will
hear what you have to say on this subject
you will find me with my battery at Fort
| r., any time after ten o'clock. Now, will
you let me pass ?"
"No, will not" and Wentworth planted
himself squarely in his place.
Murray looked like slight man, but he
was practiced gymnast, and now by a
sudden exertiOn of strength he quietly put
cut both hands and turned Weutworth's
huge frame out of his way without heed-
ing the curse he hurled after him he went
Oh, and quietly rejOining brother officer,
went out with him as If nothing had hap
pened.
The next day as Capt. Murray was writ.
ing letters in his tent, an orderly looked in
and handed him card.
Lieutenant Colonel Raymond, the cav.
airy !" said Murray; Il don't remember
him :" then added to the orderly-"Show
him in"
A tail, soldierly man stepped into the
tent, and very shortly explained his bust
ness. lie was the bearer of challenge
from Major Wentworth to Capt. Murray
} 1t must be confessed this took Murray
entirely by surprise. lie had regarded the
} last nights adventure as merelya drunken
bravado, and had quite forgotten it in his
pleasanter memories Of Jessie but here
was a peremptory demand. either for an
} apology or fight. Now, Murray knew well
enough he had nothing to apologize for, and
so after a moments thought, he ted Lieut.
Col. Raymond that he would that evening
send him his rely, and then went on tC
turn the conversation into other and more
pleasanter channels.
When his unwelcome guest was gone
Captain Murray slowly. and lost in though
walked over t. his friend, Capt FaifchiId'
tent, and to him related the whole story o.
what had occurred. Long and earnestly
, the friends discussed this untoward event
but on one point Murray was immovatle.
81 must fight john" he said. Il have
never had but one opinion about duels
sometimes they are necessary in this case
one certainly cannot be avoided. Tha
Wentworth is a wretched bully, but am Z
pretty good shot.
There was a CLEAN in Murray's eye a
he spoke that argued i'll for the ahtagou-
list.
Before the friends parted, an answer t
the challenge was written, and FarchilC
had his orders to settle the preliminaries
But 10 one would have thought who saw
Capt. Murray that evening as he loungeC
into the parlor at Wi lard's-so exquisite
, in Dress SO calm in bearing-that he haC
what might be desperate duel in prvspec
for the morning.
Then Captain Murray drew his chair
nearer hers. A moment after, the Ions
swell Of the music of band serenadins
some notabiIity, stole in through the clOse(
blinds, and with delight Murray seized thu
opportunity to ask Jessie If she would g
, into the balcony to hear it better. 1t wa
a warm night in November, the moonligh
, was lovely, and as he stood there with Jes
, sic at his side, looking fair aud fragile a
an angel in the soft white shawl she haC
wrapped around her, it was very hard fo
Murray to resist the wild inclination b,
felt to avow his long cherished passion
But he felt in view Of the uncertainty 0
J his fate, he had 20 right to ask any woman
to link her happiness with his life; onl!
r after a while he said
Miss Jessie, if were in q hospita
/, wounded, would yon come to see me!
Jessie started visibly at the abrupt in
quiry, and answered-"Certainly, Captain
Murray, but why do you ask such ques
ton? There is no talk Of an advance, j
, there ?'