Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-02-13

cious, qrarrelsome, and mischievous
Billy soon established q few chronic
misunderstanding with his brother
officers, Notwithstanding which, he had
never been "called out, for regarding
him as an insolent boy, who by his in
power to make them miserable, the OFF,
GERS ridiculed, rathe than took offence
at his petty impertinence.
Contrhsted with this whelp, was George
Belfont, whose good nature, gentleman
ly bearing, unflinching steadiness at
fatigue duty, made him great favorite,
to the disgust of Little Billy, who lost
no opportunity of offenring him every
little petty annoyance. He did so, too,
without much apprehension, for George
had publicly declared his adherence of
duelfng to be so great, that no insult
should compel him to go out, except it
might be with the quarter staff.
Taking advantage OF this resolution,
Billy accused George ofcowardice, where
upon the latter, to prove the contrary,
soundly belabored him in the presence
of several of his brother officers. The
little fellow Immediately challenged him,
and being refused, ran TO his papa, when
the fire. e-eating old Dragon praised his
boy fol. exhibiting the family pluck, and
| intimated to George that after having so
grossly insulted his cub, he must either
Ego out" or Ego Off" /. e. leave the regi-
ment. George accepted the latter alter
native, and would have resigned, but
| there was n chance of fighting, the ene-
| my were making advances, and so he
remained till he should have proved be-
fere his brother officers in the field that
his objection to dueling was based upon
principle, and did not arise from cow
| ardice.
| Sop,o vyoolye orso- N rtor tI;. -,,,.> ,,,oro
| ordered to take up position in a village
not far from the town of San Sebastian,
and as ill-luck would have it, myself
! Belfont, and Billy were billeted at the
house of the Alcaide, with Grey at
the next house, forming, as you may
imagine, anything but the happiest
family party.
1t was while at this billet thatan event
I happened which led to the ruin of Bel
font. The Alcade had avery pretty black
eyed daughter with whom Billy chose
to fall in love, but WHO, loving the Brit
ish uniform generally, rather than any
individual wearer in particular--at least,
so thought at the time-coquetted and
flirted sometimes with Billy, sometimes
with Gray, and frequently, although
could see greatly to his annoyance, with
Belfent. AS to the fiirtations with Gray,
that worthy not wishing to offend Billy,
for fear Of getting out Of the coloners
good book, carried on so silly that the
whole Of Billy's jealously fell upon the
man who had thTashed him. Billy,
therefore, set to work with his papa, and
got Belfont moved to the headquarters
of the regiment in town.
1t was late in the evening, George had
left the billet, and i was pacing before
the door, meditating upon those misera-
blepettinesses which produce hegreatest
miseries Of life, when Billy O'Dragon's
servant ran against me.
..'Halloa you scoundrel, exclaimed,
turning sharply around.
"Faith, an axes yOIr honor's pardon,
but it's looking after the master L am,
your honor" said the fellow, touching
his cap.
ais he not the officer OF the guard for
the night?" said.
"Faith an he may be, your honor,
but he's gone raving mad all the same
for that, for here's the devil to pay and
nobody to take the rikoning
What the duce do you mean, you
scamp said l."
"Mane, your honor, why the big-wig's
daughter, the Sonora Marina, has just
run away thin, and nobody knows
where y
Astonished as was ut this infor-
nation, / still said, "but what in the
world can this have to do with your
oillcer?"
Faith, then, it's all to do with the
masters honor, for he's just run after
Mister Bellont, whose done the dirty
trick or chatting him out of his toopooty
black eyes. "
"Belfont run away with the glsl i
pshaw, 1t was too absurd, and turned
away TO make inquiries about her. First
and formOst | went to Gray's billet; to
my su rprise ! found he was absent upon
night leave however the story of the
girls abduction soon proved true enough,
for the Alcalde, the old lady who filled
the Office of Duenna and the servants
were running about in the greatest eX-
element, vowing yengence upon the
ravisher, Belfont and Billy, both of
whom, for some unacountable reason,
seemed alike to share their suspicious.
AS i could do nothing in the matter, l
turned in. and after vainly endeavoring
10 unravel the mystery, made up my
mind to sleep until rol-call.
Scarcely, however, had [ closed my
eyes than was awakened by my servant
believing an my ear that IN officer had
been found murdered In the little wood
outside the town. Hastily throwing on
my undress and cloak, i mounted my
horse, and In quick time was in the
town, when, imagine my horror, upon n
table surrounded by officers laid the body
of Gray pierced through the lungs!
God in heaven, gentlemen, how came |
this?" | exclaimed.
ASK your friend, Belfont, who al !
though too cowardly to go out can
quietly run n comrade through the !
back, /" said Billy O'Dragon.
Liar, this is not possible! 1 exclaim-
ed.
Mr.. Crawford, you must answer
this, said the whelp.
Gentlemen, this Is too serious mat
ter for squabbleing," said the major
adding, TO my friend, who stood sternly
gazing upon the body.
"Mr. Belfont, you are under arrest un-
Oil this charge Is answered. u
Good Heaven do you then charge
me with murder?p exclaimed the AS
tonished Belfont.
Billy Outrageous character was too
we'll known for the officers to credit any
statement of his against man with
whom he was known to be at enmity
still the case was fearful, His evidence
seemed incontestable. To wit: Upon
missing tho sonora, he had hastened to
the town TO charge Belfont with the
abduction, when entering the before
mentioned wood, he had seen the body
of Gray PROSTATE aud weltering in blond,
and Belfont standing over him with his
sword drawn.
"Llar how Is this possibla? Sec NV