The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-04-03

IN prove to YOU YOUR words are
false she said. 'But this quarrel i.
disgraceful now tomorrow we will
settle it,
'To-morrow :" repeated Julia. Will
trembling lips. mo; tonight :" anC
she dropped back a pace
Then Aurora set her teeth tight, and
turned again to the target Once more
she raised the rifle to her shoulder, and
adjusting it carefully, shot her third
ball as unerringly to the centre as the
two first. Cheer after cheer announced
her victory. Julia, with face dark a.
Mem sis, witnessed her success, and saw
Charlie drop on his knees before Aurora
and present her the box containing the
chain.
Aurora was once more all smiles and
/ bushes, her momentary anger seeming
~ forgotten. Julia could endure no
more, and with a heart full of almost
despairing envy and jealousy stole
! away.
Neither of the young men had heard
/ enough of the dispute between the two
/ girls to know how serious it was. Char
/ lie liked Aurora so well that he was
heartily glad of her success, and this
/ time Hugh was not jealous, for he saw
I how Aurora's bright eyes had looked
/ first towards him amid the triumph, and
/ lac offered her his arm to lead her away
IA proud and happy man When the
/ cXcitment had q little subsidized, Charlie
turned to look for Julia; but She had
disappeared, and q good deal ANNOYED
at the neglect ne felt must have seemed
very pointed, he went off in search of
her.
Meantime Aurora walked home with
Hugh TO change her dress for the even
ing. He fingered moment at the gate
OF the cottage, and then babe her good
by, with the promise TO rejoin her in an
hour Aurora started up the little Dor
dered path to the door, but was arrested
which started out from behind the BUSH
C..
Julia Dalton :" She exclaimed, ''What
brought you here >"
Revenge - said Julia. and her ewes
glistened d she spoke with a fierce fire
You told me my words were false this
afternoon; ! have come to prove them
true.w
You said | was a coward replied
Aurora, with sudden anger, 'and you
know that was lie.n
"a lie' Kissed Julia. prove it, then.
Aurora Field. We are two women, and
so the world would say we must not
fight; but dare you to stand before me,
and let us two try which Is the best shot
in a struggle for life and Death
You want TO fight duelin exclaimed
Aurora.
YES; ! want to end this long contest.
| hate you, Aurora Field, and you hate
me. she went on, passionately Il will
not live any longer to suffer from your
insulting Successes. | viii either Kill
you or die in the attempt"
ooh, but its absurd for Us two girls to
fight duel, urged Aurora.
''Ah, then you are afraid - sneered
Julia. You are a coward :"
Aurora 5 cheek flushed at the word
with ready anger.
II am not coward but, Julia, re-
member. ann a better shot than you. ~
so you boast but | viii prove that
false. tool
All, you think to frighten me but |
had better die than endure this life an
other day, and ifyou viii not fight with
me viii denounce You throughout he
village for a coward and a liar -
Aurora'- wild prairie blood was on fire
now.
''Well let Us end this at once, them
She said, Il do not know why | should
endure such insults more than a man.
Your blood oc ON your own head -
Come then, WAS ali the reply that
Julia made I'VE cannot of course
have any seconds; we must fight it out
alonen
go on. " replied Aurora, in resolute
voice; choose the place yourself-our
weapons we have with lS.n
Julia went out of the little gate, and
Aurora followed in silence. The sunset
was beginning TO fade, but it was still
light enough for their purpose, as they
walked rapidly away from the village,
and soon reached spot screamed from
view bya little cOpse. Here Julia halted
when she come 10 an open space, shell
tered by trees, bat smooth enough 10
mark ont a rifle range. ~ she paused
she said
IF we each turn and walk off twenty
steps il viii make it about fair
Nv my, Julia - exclaimed Aurora.
AT orr rate ofwalking that will hardly
be thirty PAGES"
II know it, retorted Julia; "but
am in deadly earnest ifgoU are afraid,
YOU can go home"
Aurora shrugged her shoulders.
Lead Off
"But one moment" said Julia, and
came close UP TO her antagonist. her
dark eyes glittering, and herwhite teeth
set. Whoever loses this duel, gives up
Charlie Walton
"Ah cried Aurora, ''that then is your
real reason. You want To fight for the
love of that fair-haired stranger"
Yes" replied Julia; ~ care not if
you know il now. | Will not endure a
rival he shall be yours or mine this
night, wholly aud forever"
''You shall see" and faint smile
curled Aurora's lovely lips. 1t eXasper- /
ated Julia intensely.
eco in :" said she, the village clock
viii strike seven in few moments, at
the fourth stroke | shall fire, and we
will see if at last your pride will not be
Again Aurora smiled, but she looked |
earnestly at Julia, and said:
won't you shake hands l never |
fought a duel before, but | have heard |
hat antagonists do it.n
Mop retorted Julia angrily, 81 de- |
test you, and will not pretend TO be |
friends with you. l will kill you, if L |
Fan or you may kill me-its no use to !
inger here.n
And without another word, she |
turned her back and walked reSOlutely |
1ffthe twenty PAGES Again swift flash /
swept over Aurora's face, and then she, /
100 measured of the distance, and turn
ing at the agreed point, the two rivals
laced each other.
They each wore the hunting costume
hat had won admiration from Charlie
early in the day. Julia's was of dark
blue cloth, short dress and trousers to
match, straw hat and bule feathers.
Aurora's was her favorite dark green
with gilt buttons, pink ribbon under her
white collar, and a black hat and feath-
n on her shining curls, while Charles
watch chain CLEANED from a button OF
ler jacket. Julia watched the light shine
IN it in the moments of waiting, and
,et her heart to her deadly purpose.
Sothese twogirls stood there, the shad-
Nv of the trees brooding over them on
me side, ON the other the vast stretch or
he prairies, overhead the browning sky
cleaning brightly with the vanishing
lues of sunset, and no sound disturbing
he quiet but the faint sigh of the wind
through the trees, or the cry of some
bird flying low towards its nest. The
minutes seemed to drag themselves out
lowly to the two figures standing there
notionless leaning on their rifles; but
on the still air came the first
ilver stroke of the Rocktown clock. In
IN instant both girls were on the alert,
ba two rifles wore hrOuphf tn the ShOul-