The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-09-18

can imagine the situation better than
can portray it, and will readily agree that
many n man whose courage would have
carry him undismayed and even cheer
fully to storm a masked battery in open
day, might be pardoned for tremors of
unknown terror amid the silence and
conscious presence of an unknown foe,
whose stealthy approach might be first
announced by the fatal thrust or a bull
let through the brain.
For time that seemed terribly long
to poor t., not a sound was heard in the
chamber of ordeal. Every nerve in his
body grew tense with excitement, and
an underlined fear caused every hair on
his head to commence assuming per
pendicularity. Too engrossed with the
strange terror of his situation to act, his
busy thoughts were engaged in imag-
lining what his opponent would prob
| ably do to obtain the advantage of him,
until he became almost frantic. At
length slight creak ofthe foor-boards
flashed conviction that the enemy was
upon him, whether by intention or in
voluntarily he could never tell as he
afterwards recalled those. terrible mo
ments,) the pistol he was holding with
finger on trigger exploded, and instant
ly that of his antagonist, (whose expe-
rience had taught him to wait until he
could fire by the flash of his foe) fol-
lowed, the ball from which shattered
Us left arm. Another ominons silence
succeeded, during which t., agonized,
faint and bleeding, gradually sank down
beside the wall against which he had
been leaning, and holding his knife be
fore him, awaited the denouement which
for him presented no hope.
Pain and the loss Of blood, however,
soon compelled him to lie down, and he
felt his consciousness fast forsaking him.
lie could take no accurate note of time,
but it seemed awfully long, and he was
about going into obliviousness, when
he again heard the boards creaking be-
meath stealthy step advancing toward
him. Anon he perceived the hot breath
Of his foe upon his face. Summoning all
his remaining strength he made the final
lunge of desperation upward with his
knife, and swooned away. A fall, fol-
lowed by absolute stiffness, informed
the expectants below that the finale
had been reached, and mounting to the
aloft again with lights they found the
huge body of''the major" knife in hand,
lying across that of young T., whose
weapon, still grasped, was buried in the
heart OF his antagonist. Both appear
ed dead the major" really was so,
while I. was carried below. His re-
turn to consciousness revealed group
OF men who, acting under the direc-
ton of and aided by a gentleman whom
he had not seen before, were binding
up his broken arm and administering
restoratives. The latter arrived dur
ing the transactions in the loft, and had
waited to know the result. AS soon as
L. was measurably retored, he had him
placed in his carriage at the door and
carried him tenderly to his house some
four miles away. Then sending for his
family physician in all haste he babe
his patient give himself no anxiety, as
surfing him that he was among friends,
and that he would exercise 4 paternaI
care over him and explain all on It's
complete recovery.
Under the kind treatment he received
convalescence was rapid, and when at
length he began to speak ofleaving and
of cmunerating his generous host, he
was interrupted thus Don't mention
it, my young friend by your fortunate
destruction of that man you have rem
pie of this entire section, a service that
cannot be estimated by money. He
has been for three years the terror of
these parts. He dropped down here
from heaven knows where bought a
plantation with quite a number of ser
wants, in whose treatment he was per-
numbering at will. Lawless, reckless,
he
ridden over the adjoining plantations
hunting with his pack of dogs, regard
less of the rights of his neighbors, and |
when demonstrated with, answered with !
curses, threats, and the exhibition of
deadly weapons. We were all afraid of
him, but knew not how to get rid of
him, till your perilous encounter re
lieved us of the curse and imposed upon
my house shall be your home as long as
you may choose to stay ; or, if you
still desire to teach hereabouts, will
do my best to aid you in that behalf
Meanwhile be in no haste, but use
freely whatever l have as though you
were master here" But T. concluded
that he had had enough of of Southern
experience, and was resolved to try his
GilW u. vi duuOuIlC-
ing this to his host, he, with many re-
grets that he had SO decided, took him
in his own carriage to Charleston, paid
his fare by steamer to New York, and
when he babe him goodbye, gave him
a 500 bill, saying, Should you ever
venture South again, remember my
promise is a lifelong one of welcome to
yon or any of your friends" During
the days of success that eventually
crowned TBS efforts to aid himself else
where, the incident of the I" dark room"
REQUIRED to mind as hid
eous dream, the happy awakening from
which was as grateful as his after years
of prosperity.
A female scool teacher, in her advertise
ment, stated that she was &" complete mis-
tress of her own tongue" If that's the case,
said caustic old bachelor, " she can't ask
too much for her services"