Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-01-23

"I could see none. Captain; but remember
he had been drinking"
Exactly-and in that we were even.
And now-did he not, in the presence OF tne
whole company, threaten to kick me from Dis
quarters 2"
EYES,"
"Aud did he not lay his hand upon me be
fore struck him ?"
81 cannot be positive, but I think he did"
"Then," said l, drinking the last OF my
coffee, =" | shall make no apology"
:" You will remember, Captain" suggested
Bowker, that the Major is dead shot, and
that in the handling of the sword he has no
superior" >,
1 cared nothing at all about that: knew
the temper of our officers, and l knew l
should be held in light esteem if allowed
the Major to back me down. Once more
Bowker asked if l would apologize.
I told him most empEatically, "No."
"Thcn," he added, 81 have instructions to
deliver this note"
He handed me an unsealed misSlve, winch
I found to be o challenge, and by 1t was In
formed that Adjutant Bowker was empoW-
cred to make all necessary arrangements.
Nv warmest friend in the regiment was
First Lieutenant named Walker, and 1 sent
for him at once, desiring. him to act as my Sc
cond. At first he tried TO dissuade me from
fighting; but when he found that would not
retres be consented to serve me, though L
could see very plainly be: liked not the busl-
ness. However, he asked me if had any
instructions to give him.
"Oaly two items" 1 replied. First, l
will fig ght with pistols; and second, as my
nerves are somewhat unstrung, would like
that the affair be put Oft till Tomorrow
morning"
Walker went out with the Adjutant, and
when he returned he informed me that the
arrangements were all made. We were 10
meet at o'clock the following morning j;
weapons pistols; distance, twelve PAGES; our
seconds to tuss for choice OF position; to lire
at tie word OF command.
After dinner ! sat down TO arrange my al
fairs. wrote several letters, which sealed
and enclosed in single envelope, to be sent
off by my clerk in case should fall My
property gave into Walkers charge, with in
s,ructions how to dispose Of it.. When mat
ters had been thus arranged it was we'll to-
ward evening, and taking Il light cane in my
hand, walked out for breath otsfresh air
Not far from the camp was Morgan's Fails,
a Wild romantic spot, where the waters Of
the river inmb!cd over q huge bed Of broken
r,cks; and toward this spot bent my steps.
Just above the falls was bridge Of logs,
rr IN which Gould be obtained one cf ths
yr,rdest scenes tEat ever blessed the eye Of
an artist. AS reached the summit ol IN
cmincrce near the falls, saw woman,a and
chill sarliIng op tho BRIDGE but klost
si.ht. of them for tmo as descended into
tie shrubbcyy. was Just emerging from the
thickGt when a sharp, piercing cry of agony
broke upon my ear. sprang to the bridge,
and there I-saw the,woman--alone -[-5I.s,
She was wringing her hands and sarickIng
like o crazy creature was NOT many seconds
in comprehcntiirg the truth. Below the
bridge, floating on Tie troubled waters. saw
the clill, lis spreading garments buoyiug it
up and could hear the tiny voice crying,
:. Mamma niamma =
There was no; moment TO !cse. The child
was going nearer ard nearer t" the falls
nearer and nearer to its death 1t was Far
full risk for me- for the .ch1nces were that
should he taken over into lhe Kissing boiling
surge below the rocks But what was :. risk
70 ne them If died in the river ! Should
rot atana in the way of Maj'- FarwclPs bu!-
let. I had better a iioaaahd iilnes GiYe pp
nv life thus than throw ir away IL Tic duel.
The woman saw Tie: and appealed to ne or
help: but my coat Was cir before size di>coy.
Il "a nt | in hoy fer
striking out with all my power.
The child was half way from tie bridge To
the falls when started, bat sHam rapidly.
and caught it Just at the point where the VA
ters began to gather tor The plunge. 1t was
a gil, noe ;4o.e :A:n three Or four years Oh,
with bright golden ringieis, large Llge eyes,
and face like cherub. She .clasrcd her
little arms about my neck, and called me
Papa"
rOh papa-good papa-don't let Kitty 60
into the wicked place down there !"
With ell my might held up thc child, and
struck for the shore; but it was not to be. l
had been drawn in the swift current, and no
mortal could have withstood it. The pros
pects for tic morrow took from me all fears
iyr tie present, and ! wag moro calm and
collected than ! might otherwise have pccn.
As soon as realized thEt must go over the
falls I turned every thought to. saving tie
child, for, even in those few short moments.
the darling had won strangely ard deeply
upon my love.
Nearer and nearer! swifter and swiftcr!
the roar of the mad waters growing louder
and louder. until at length the edge was
reached. Close to nay beson, ! bore he child
shielding it as we'll as / could, and in a mo:
ment my eyes were closed beneath the boiling
flood. Down, down-down, around like top
then away over bed of smooth rocks !;
and when l finally opened my eyes l saw the
elorn not far off, and quickly discovered that
/ Could ssaad on my FEET With ny bead out Of
water.
| REACHED the shore just as three Or four
soldiers came down the mule patti, and they
helped me to a bed Of moss, and took the
child from my arms.
Was the child safe?
They to,u me 100 . lnoked up and saw
the cheruh smile, and then my brain whirlcd
as it had Hhirled in the flood, and l sank into
the strong lrms Of one of my men, quite diz
w and faint When came to myself was
npon my own bed, and Walker and my order
ly were by my side. started up and looked
around, and was not long in remembering
what had happened. My very first inquiry
was for the child had saved.
"The nurse tooki way" replied my order
", "and it was alive and WELL"
I" Whose Child was itR'
But neither knew. The woman who had
it in charge was q stranger, and anxiety on
my account had prevented their asking many
questions.
1t was now 8 O'clock, and I had been in
my quarters an hour. l arose, feeling quite
SORE and my left arm was so lame l could not
lift it. I took little warm wine. and ate o
light supper, and by 10 o'clock l felt quite
strong.
In the morning 1 felt sore and stiff, and
was forced to hang my left arm in sling.