The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-09-18
rHE duel IN THE DARK.

Y. was completely ruined. A son of
one of the partners, about 25 years
of aee. had received a liberal education,
but the expectancy of large fortune
had dulled the stimulus to healthful
mental exertion, and since his gradua-
ton he had played the gentleman at
large, engaged only in occupations be,
fitting wealthy man of leisure, and
pursuing pleasure with the characters
tic ardor of fast young nabob. The
changed and unfortunate state OF his
fathers affairs interrupted this mode OF
life, and threw him upon his own re-
sources for livelihood. Fortunately
he had energy and resolution, and EN-
ploying these, he determined to make
his education the means of his support.
Teaching was the profession he resolv-
ed to practice, and thinking it more adj
vantageous for him to commence where
both his circumstances and himself were
unknown, he took letters of recommen-
dation, as matter ofpossible necessity,
to certain prominent Southern mer-
chants and pushed for South Carolina,
intending if possible to secure small
school of planters children in the lnte-
rior of the State. Landing at Charles
ton, he set his face toward Columbia as
his ultimatum, but DETECTED from the
regular route, and by means OF such
conveyances as he could obtain called
at the scattered plantations OF that re-
gion in furtherance OF his object.
1t so happened that one day he was
travelling on foot, and being overtaken
by sudden shower, made an asylum OF
shanty beside the road, kept by
"poor White" who obtained his sup
port by doing out whiskey, crackers,
and cigars to passers-by. Seating HIM
self upon one of few broken chairs IN
a corner of the wretched room, L. walt
ed the abatement of the rain to resume
his road. Scarcely was he seated, when
with oaths mingled with the barking OF
dogs a gigantic fellow dismounted at
the door, and throwing his bridle-rein
to a negro who was accompanied him
on another horse, entered the shanty,
booted, spurred, gun in hand, and fol
lowed by pack of hunting hounds
The few occupants of the establishment
Immediately gave place to the intruder
with timid Difference, which he received
with curt superciliousness as the SUI
perior man while the obsequious host,
who seemed afraid of his guest, fawn-
ingly inquired what " the MAJOR would
have for his retreshment, at the same
time placing bottle and clean tum-
bier upon the counter Pouring out
full glass and dislodging a huge quld
of tobacco from his densely-bearded
cheeks, the newcomer proceeded lels-
urely to swallow the potion, mean
while scanning the several occupants OF
the room with a stare which bespoke
boor, bully, and despot. When his
eye reached young T., it rested with
contemptuous leer upon his fashionable
dress and equipments, and studied him
from hat to boots in q manner anything
but pleasant to the subject of his inten-
lions. The few words which he design
ed to utter to the covering men around
were blunt common-places blurted out
with profane adjuncts and the emphasis
of one who defied contradiction. Hav-
ing finished his glass and replenished
his mouth with another of fine-cut, he
walking the floor to and
from the corner where our hero was sit
ting. Presently he discharged a mouth
full of saliva so rs to rake the toe Oils
enameled leather boots. The latter,
to provoke SO unequal an an
tagouist, withdrew his foot and quiet
", as though regarding the occurrence
as an accident of an uncultivated clown.
A repetition of the same act, however,
shortly after, overcame his prudence,
and springing to his feet with his blood
boiling he faced the giant with, -" Did
you intend to do that ?" OF course
did" was the sneering reply. What
10 YOU mean to do about it % {" That"
T., accompanying the word
with a quick, nervous blow of his fist,
planted Just beneath the lower jaw,
which laid the recipient upon the floor.
He rose very volcano OF oaths and
fury, drew a large knife, and rushed to-
ward T., when a simultaneous move
nent of all the company between the
,onbatants could scarcely prevent re-
suit which must have left Z. gashed
md mutiliated corpse. Astonlshed at
lis own audacity and imprudence, the
after stood bold, but unarmed and
helpless before the infuriate, who tow
,red above and glowered like tiger at
lin, while endeavoring to push aside
hose who stood in the way of his
'evenge. "Fair play, major" cried
hey all, "the stranger is unarmed and
S no match for you. He has insulted
you and must fight but let it be on an
wen footing" &C Well, fix it somehow
md that shortly said the brute 'sbut
lis hearts blood I will have before
quitting the premises" 1t was accord
'esolved that this matter should be set
led by the clark room," as it is called,
which is managed thus the parties are
placed diagonally opposite each other
n the corners of an entirely dark apart
nent, furnished with a knife and pis-
ol each, and then left alone to operate
is the choose. To a nervous man no
situation can be more irving, and poor
rs predicament was pi,iable in the ex-
RENE, for, besides his naturally ner-
7ous temperament, he had the addition
i encouragement of being a stranger
n strange land, among ruffianly herd,
whose sympathy with him seemed to
'e limited to the security for him of
fair play" in the pending encounter
3ut he lacked no COURAGE and deSDer-