The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-02-07
could bear no moro; Billy fell TO che
ground stupnef1. fIss - .isc,s & ~ I,

l ground stunned. 81 So Z js.t
After such an insult, to remain il
the service anc not to accept Billy
challenge, was II apostolic. Theyme
the next day, and the colonel'a sor
fell dead at the first shot. Belfont
fed-his brother officers compelled
him knowing that although cour
martial would have acquitted him o.
Intentional murder. the persecu
ZION ne would suffer at the hands o.
the colonel, would have rendered hi
life in the service both intolerable
and dishonorable. From that fata
pay till the late unfortunate duel,
neither saw or heard of my poor
friend.
Indeed" said I, "I now believe
the poor fellow has, even in this las
affair, been the victim of circum
stances"
81 would swear it," said Crawford
warmly.
But" + said, "was it ever disco
vered what became of the sonora, OF
who murdered Captain Gray?'
Stay, will tell you" Before
however, Crawford could satisfy my
curiosity, he was summoned to the
George" to the MD of man who
had just been taken out of the river
into which he had, either by accident
or design, fallen. So as 1T was late
and L had to leave town by an early
train, 1 shook my friend by the
hand, and went home and to bed.
After q months absence, during
which I had been so importantly
engaged that the deep impression
made upon my mind by tho ddueIistt'
story had become effnced, I returned
to town. L Immediately called upon
Crawford, and finding him in deep
mourning, exclaimed, "You are in
mourning, my dear fellow! I trust,
however, it is for a patient only, not
for friend or member of your fami
ly."
''For both patient and friend" he
replied, adding gloomily, ''for poor
Belfont."
Good Heaven! then you have
heard of him." and L turned aside
my head, with the false shame that
most Of us have ut the lit e good in
us, for my eyes were filled"
bah! this is womnnly; bnt I cant
help it," he said, brushing his own
eyes with the cuff OF his coat sleeve
and so, in accordance with the code
of civilization, brushing the outward
symbols of human feeling. He con.
tinued: lyon remember your last
visit to me-"
Il do, full well, and the impress.
sion left upon my mind for some days
by the story of Belfont."
"And that L was called away &c
visit a half-drowned patient"
Eyes" L said. eagerly.
"Is it not extraordinary, that pa.
iient should have been the man we
had been speaking of-Belfont?"
"Can it be possible. Then he
committed suicidev'
"Well, will tell you" snid Craw
ford.
Upon reaching the public honse,
found the case worse than 1 had ex
pected. My patient, when taking his
dread leap, had fallen into lighter,
ut that moment passing through an
arch. His frame seemed completely
shattered, and he was senseless. A
minutes examination told me the
case was hopeless; alas, it told me
also, that the attennated, miserable
being before me was my old friend
George Belfont. Fortunately, how
ever, service i'll the field teaches one
to act first and feel aftcrward; SO, or
the instant, 1 had the poor fellow
taken to my own house, and placeG
in the bed from which myself anG
wife turned out, while he remained
with us.
Afraid of the shock that the sigh
of an old friend might cause, l asked
n medical acquaintance to attend him
| Ha did CO for n xvoab u,har olfhDnuI 4