The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-09-19
,.,r nuEL IN THE DARK.

During the flnanclal cohSuieio ~
1891 the heavy firm Of T. d Co, OF N;
v. was completely ruined. A son OF
one of the partners, about % years
Of aee had received a liberal education,
but the expectancy of a large fortune ss
had dulled the stimulus to healthlul
mental exertion, and since his gradual
tion he had played the gentleman al
1a v ENGAGED only in occupations be,
fitting wealthy man OF leisure, ana
pursuing pleasure with the characters g1
tic ardor of fast young nabob. Inc
changed and unfortunate state OF ms
fathers affairs interrupted this mode OF
life. and threw him upon his own re-
sources for a livelihood. Fortunately
he had energy and resolution, ana EN-
blowing 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 We're
Unknown. he took letters of recommen-
dation. as a matter fpossible 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
oion in furtherance of his object.
1t SO happened that one day ne was
travelling on foot, and being overtaken
bva 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 mon one of few broken chairs in
a corner of the wretched room, L. wait
ed the abatement of the rain to resume
his road. Scarcely was he seated, when
with oaths mingled with the barking OF
dogs gigantic fellow dlsmounted at
the door. and throwing his bndle-reln
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 ne received
with a 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 a
full glass and dislodging huge quid
of tobacco from his densely-bearded
cheeks, the newcomer proceeded leis-
urely to swallow the potion, mean
while scanning the several occupants OF
the room with stare which bespoke a
boor, bully, and despot. When his
eye reached young T., it rested with a
contemptuous leer upon his fashionable
dress and equipments, and studied him
from hat to boots in 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 commonplace blurted out
with profane adjuncts and the emphasis
of one who defed contradiction. Hav
ing finished his glass and replenished
his mouth with another of fine-cut, he
commenced walking the floor to ano
from the corner where our hero was sit
ting. Presently he discharged mouth
full of saliva so as to rake the toe OF I.'s
enameled leather boots. The latter
unwilling to provoke so unequal an an
tagonist, withdrew his foot and quiet
ly, 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, Die
you intend to do that ?'' "Of course
Idid," was the sneering reply. "Wha1
do you mean to do about it p G That,
answered T., accompanying the wore
with 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 ant
fury, drew a large knife, and rushed to
ward T., when a simultaneous move
ment of all the company between tn
combatants could scarcely prevent a re
suit which must have left T. a gashet
and mutiliated corpse. Astonished a
his own audacity and imprudence, tn
latter stood bold, but unarmed AM
helpless before the infuriate, who tow
cred above and glowered like tiger a
him, while endeavoring to push asid
those who stood in the way of hi
revenge. "Fair play, major" erie,
they all, "the stranger is unarmed AM
is no match for you. He has insulte'
you and must fight but let it be on a
even footing" "Well, fix it someho1
and that shortly said the brute "bu
his hearts blood I will have befor
quitting the premises" It was accord
resolved that this matter should be sci
tied by the sdark room,n as it is called
which is managed thus the parties ar
placed diagonally opposite each othe
in the corners of an entirely dark apar,
ment, furnished with knife and PHI
= tol each, and then left alone to operat
as the choose. To nervous man n
situation can be more trying, and poe
Us predicament was pitiable in the e,
IRENE, for, besides his naturally ne
vous temperament, he had the addition
al Encouragement of being strange
ina strange land, among arufianly here
whose sympathy with him seemed t
be limited to the security for him {
g fair rlouD in tho rond;no. onoo,,,o+,