The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-04

who handed out his travelling companion, The
lady, evidently his daughter, was young. cir
Of about eighteen, and o. beauty Of the
rarest and most perfect type. Some fire-fiea
that the servant had caught for her, in The
course of The journey, glistened like diamonds
in her dark hair, and gave an Undine sort OF
character to her pale, sensitive and intellec-
tual face, and seemed to cast such sparkles on
her large, dark, italian eyes, as stray stars cast
upon river at midnight. She was dressed in
black; and that sombre color, so jarring with
beauty of her face and the delicate symmetry
Of her form.
s'Why, Clisson, it's that coloners daughter
you made love to at Guadaloupel" !" said the ell
der Of the men in the balcony. "May never
sweep the board again, il it isn't Miss Dolores
Massard o, you lucky dog Egad, you
must propose to her again; and il she won't
have you, carry her off, and we'll stand by
YOU"
ssYou are right, Johnson; it is Dolores" said
the younger man, leaning eagerly over the bal.
cony. eyes, it is; how beautiful she looksl
And there's that sour beggar Of father, whom
the General would not lei me fight with,
though he refused me Dolores. Now, III have
my revenge. He shall fight me now, or give
me his daughters hand. 1 know she still
loves mel know that"
''The colonel refused to fight members oi
our club at Guadaloupel" said the other say
agely. "He called us gamblers and assassins;
but we'll try him now. Hero, you men, come
here"
Clisson and johnson ran into tie other
room. The elder explained matters. The
younger laid down his cruel scheme In few
hasty sentences.
'"Ihe fighting member of the night has a
right to kiss from every lady that enters thus
house. He must demand his right-he will be
refused; he mnst then force his claims and
fight the colonel. shall pretend to interfere
to carry out certain plan Of my own against
the lady; but that is nothing to any OF you. Il
the colonel wounds the man OF the night, the
next member in rotation fights him. he will
not pass two Of US. Johnson's lunge at the
arm pit is pretty sure. killed man last
week; but 1 am the last on the list now. You
know don't fear fighting; bat we must take our
turns. You have ell sworn to carry out the
schemes of any of your brother members"
"We are ready" cried the men.
The fighting member-ths brave on the bal
cony-hesitated q moment as he took down his
cooked hat and sword from nail behind the
door.
s'I have taken rather too much bur
gundy," he said, "to be very steady; but
think could run house fy through the head
at the second pass. Come, let's feel the fel.
lows pulse"
The men put on their swords, and descended
in noisy body to the private apartments to
which the walters had just lishcred the colonel
and his daughter.
'sHot fools,n said Clisson to himself "they
little know that the colonel has On incompara-
BILE parry, and return thrust which he plants
Just under the left collar bone that no duellist
IN France who ever crossed swords with him
has escaped that thrust; and that two out OF
threo it las killed."
AS the deputation of the Deaths Head Club
pressed into the room, the colonel met them
sternly at the door.
''Gentleman, you mistake, this is private
room.'
Captain Johnson, the fighting member, ad-
vanced at once in an insolcnt manner to Colo
mel Massard and his daughter, who hnd come
from an inner room, and WIS now clinging to
his arm, alarmed at the nsenacing and disso-
lutte faces OF the intruders.
s'It is the custom at the Muscogee House,
said the bully, Gin our club for the fighting
member of the night to demand kiss OF every
lady guest who arrives here. For that we have
now come. am the tghSing member. My
dear mademoiselle, allow me-"
He laid one large red hand on the shoulder
of the shrinking girl. The next moment he 10y
half stunned upon the floor,
The Colonel stood with oIle foot on Johnson,
and waved his drawn sword in his hand. The
club drew back.
s'Kill him T. cried the prostrate bully.
Three or four men drew their swords and
advanced; but the Colonel struck one in the
arm, the lcst fell back before his furious
charge.
AT that moment, Clisson forced his way tc
the 'front.' =.
"Gentlemen," no said, with assumed indig
nation, 'sthis is unmanly, tlis is unworthy Of
brave men, you are Six to ono. The colonel is
no doubt, ready to give any one OF you salts
faction"
Dolores recognized him, and, looking up
thanked him silently with faint smile.
"Young man." said the colonel sternly, 81
can protect myself against even dozon such
rufians. have long ago lelrned how to guard
INV own head. 1 have heard before OF your
association OF murdercrs; j. vowed to check It,
as I did at Gaudaloupe. You have hurried on
your own doom. 1 did it there by the law
here " Ill do it by the sword. Iwill fight yor
one by ono, in your own order and in your OWE
place. II fall, there are friends in the town
who will take care OF my dfughtor.
Clisson advanced and offered his hand.
"No." he said; 81 remember you; you are 6
gambler and duelist. Irefused you Dolores
then, and I refuse you now. She needs NJ
protection CT yours. SEQ other old friends
here. too. less unwelcome 5han yourself Gap
tain johnson, drummed out OF his regiment
For selling information to the enemy; MIR
Thornton. detected gambler, sent TO prison
in New Orleans for using; loaded dice. Mr.
Clisson. YOU need give me- no other proof
your reformation; l see it by your compan
ions."