Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1866-05-23

rs my second 1t first be tried TO dis J.
suade me from fighting, but when he saw
l would not retract, he consented to servo
ME, though coad see very plainly that
/ he liked not the business However. he
! asked me If had any instructions to give
! him
! Only two items replied First, !
+ Will fight with pistols md second as nv
/ nerves are somewhat unstrunr. I would
ike tie affair put OF till tomorrow morn
/ ing"
| Walker went off with the Adiutant, and
| when he returned he informed me that
| the arrangements were al made We
were to meet at seven o clock the follow
/ Jug morning, weapons Observation-Disclosures
twelve paces-our seconds TO toss for the
choice Of 2ositions-to fro at tho word Of
/ command
/ After dinner sat down to arrange my
! affairs. ] wrote several letters, which |
scaled and enclosed in single envelope.
! t. be sent of by my clerk in case | should
] fall. My property | gave into Walkers
/ charge, with instructions how to dispose
! Of 1t. When matters had been thus ar
ranged, it was we'll toward evening and
! taking a light cane in my hand, walked
out for breath Of fresh air
4 Not far from the camp were IorCan's
i Falls, Il wild romantic spot. where the
water of the rirer tumhlcd over n huge
/ bed OF broken rocks, and toward that spot
! | bent my steps.
just above the Falls was q bridge Of
/ logs, from viii h could be obtained one Of
the grandest scenes that ever blessed the
| eve Of an artist As | reached the sum
nit Of an eminence near the Falls, ! saw
n woman and child standing, as ascend
cd into the shrulbery. | wns just emer-
+ cinr from thicket, when a sharp pierc~
ing cry of agony broke upen NV ear.
sprang to the bridge, and there | saw the
woman alone.
She was wrinxirn her hands. and Shrek
! ing ike n crazy creature I was not many
minutes in con'prehending the truth =
| Below the bridge floating on the troubled
waters, | saw the child It's spreading gar
mcnts huovinr it up and could hear the
! tinv voice CRYING, Mammal Mammal"
/ There was not n moment to he lost
/ The child was going nearer and nearer 70
! the falls-nearcr and nearer 90 death 1t
was n fearful risk for me. for the chances
we're that should be taken over into the
kissing, boiling surge beneath the rocks
/ But what was the risk to me then2 If |
! died in the river, I should not stand in
1 the way of Major Farwclls bullet, had
/ better a thousand times give up nv life
/ thus, than throw it away IN duel The
woman saw me. and franticalv appealed
/ I , me for help. but nv coat was off before
/ shc discovered md in II moment I was
in the water, striking out with all my
power.
The child was half way from the ridge
/ to the falls when I started but m
rapidly. and caught il Just Mt the point
/ h T., Z
plunge II was girl not more than three
or four years old, with bright golden ring,
/ lets, large Inc ewes. and face ike
cherub. She clasped her little arms about
my neck, and callod me "pana"
/ 40! papa-gooi paTa-dou't let little
Kitty 90 into that wicked place down
/ there
With all nv might held mp the child
/ and struck for the shore hut it was not
/ to be. had been drawn into the swift
current, aud no mortal could have with
stood it. The prospect Of the morrow took
/ from me all fears for tho present, and |
+ was more calm and collected than | might
/ otherwise haze been.
/ Well, az soon as | realized that must
t 20 over the falls. 7 turned every thought
( To saving the child, for even in those few
short moments the little darling had won
strangely and deeply upon my love.
Nearer and nearer sUiftcr and swiftcr,
tho roar oF the mad waters growing loud
or and louder until Mt length tho edge
was reached. Close 10 my bosom bore
. the child, shielding II - we'll as | could
and in a moment NV ewes we're closed be-
meath the boiling flood. Down--down-
down-arouuni like n top-then away
over the bead Of smooth rocks and when
| finally opened nv ewes ! saw tha shore
no. far OF, and quickly discovered that |
could stand upon my feet, " tn ny head
out Of water.
reached the shore Just az three or four
soldiers came down the mule path. and
they helnad me to a bed Of moss, and took
the child from my arms.
Was the child safe !
They told me yes looked MP and saw
the child smile and then nv brain whirl-
ed as 1t had whirled in the food, and then
sank into the strong arms Of one Of my
men. quite dizzy and faint.
Whose child was it?
The nurse took it away" raplied ny
Orderly. 'and ii Is alive and we'll
But neither knew. Tho woman who
had it in charge was 4 stranger, m anxi-
ETY. on my account had prevented their
asking many questions
L was now o clock and had bccn in
my quarters IN hour | arose. feeling
qpite sore, and my left arm was so lame
that could not lift it. | took a little
warm vine, ate light supper, and by &c
o'clock | felt quite strong.
In the morning fsIt sore and stiff, aud
was forced to hang my left arm in sling
Walker when he came, suggested that the
duel be pat of, but | would listen to nc
such proposition.
A few glasses OF wine made ne fee
better, and / believed my right hand
would be steady enough.
~ half past six We took our pistols and
, started for the place which was in Sc
cluded spot on the river, about half a milf
below the falls felt so omewhat fatiguet
= when ! reached the place, and was forced
> n call on my second for his whiskel
flask
In Ii:.ie while the Major and Adju-
T tlnt made their appearance, and ! sug
: cestei to Walker that woGi ike 10 haT
!. the affair over as soon - possible. Wa
growing weak and shaky, Though diC
no. tell him 80 He had opened the pis
tol ca-e. and was taking out the weapons
. when Mr.. Bowker approached Us
"Gentlemen," be said Major Farwe
= wishes to speak before we proceed an
= further
II r.sdv 10 listen" I replied "oul