The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-05-25


asked her to become his wife, she laid
her head on bis breast and told him she
would.
The other young man alluded to was
Henry Bar lwell, of st. Louis. He had
prosecuted this young girl with his at
tentions for many months, notwithstand-
ing she had rejected his offer of mar
riage, and told him that she could never
care for him any moro than a friend -
Well, when he heard that she was soon
to be married to young Elton, he glew
madly jealous, and swore that she should
never be the wife of any other than
himself
What have l got TO do with all this .
asked Sparks, growing pale. as Brown
made short pause.
Il viii tell you in moment you must
hear me through was the reply, the
story will soon be ended. The hight en-
which Charles Elton was to make Lizzie
Stanley his wife, arrived, and with
light and happy heart he mounted his
horse and rode to her fathers house, to
find his intended wife corpse. Yes,
she had been murdered by the hand OF
Henry Bardwell, while going to spring
not fifty yards from the house. Her IA
ther saw the deed done from the window
of his room, where he was confined by
sickness.
The murderer fed soon as the bloody
work was accomplished, and since that
hour have never ceased to hunt for
him. You start when you hear me use
the pronoun l, and well you may, for l
am Chas. Elton, and not green Jim
Brown, of Arkansas, as you supposed
me to be, and you'-he bent his head
forward and Kissed the words through
his teeth-'you are Henry Bardwell, the
murderer of Lizzie Stanley"
His late opponent remained motion
less and speechless, and Elton, as he
will be called hereafter, continued:
Perhaps you doubt my word, but l
will soon dispel your doubts. Look at
me now, and see if you don't know me /?
AS he said this he pulled the false whis-
kers from his face, and disclosed hand
some countenance.
At this Bardwell stepped back, but
instantly recovering himself, he clutch
ed his knife tighter in his hand, and
said:
well, suppose this is all true, sup
pose you're Charles Elton, and suppose
I'm Henry Bardwell-what of it?'
Why hissed the other both of US
will never leave this boat alive, that's
all 1 havn't tracked you through a
dozen states, and followed you near ten
years to let you slip through my fingers.
No, Henry Bardwell, you know me too
well to think that; but will give you
fair play. You have a knife, and so
have l. They are as near alike as it is
possible to get knives, so come up ON
the hurricane deck, and we'll settle the
affair at once
The two men assembled to the upper
deck of the steamer, followed by num-
Der of passengers, and stopped, facing
each other just aft Of the smoke stack
The captain appeared, and tried to dis
suade the men from their purpose, but
his words had no effect whatever.
Now, murderer Kissed Elton as he
raised his knife, defend yourself The
thirst for revenge is consuming me"
Their knives were both raised above
their heads, and then they descended,
flashing brightly in the moonlight, and
clashed together with sharp sound
Both the men were skilled in the use OF
the Bowie, and it was evident to the
spectators that the contest, as far as
strength and skill were concerned, was
equal.
Fiercer and fiercer grew the fight; the
knives flashed up and down, and clashed
loudly together. Each man kept his
eyes fixed on the face of his antagonist,
and neither moved from the position he
had first taken.
At.length, Elton, by fierce down.
ward cut, knocked the knife from Bard
wells hand, but the same blow broke
his own. They clutched each other in
stantly, then their eyes glowing with
passion, and their respiration came hard
IN quick.
Back and forth they struggled with
each other over the steamers deck, nei-
ther getting the better of the other
At last holding each other by the
throat with a vice-like grip, they
struggled to the railing that ran around
the edge of the deck. They struggled
with each other more fiercely; and their
eyes started from their very sockets
They threw themselves against the rail-
ing, as they struggled to throw each
other to the deck, and that trail barrier
with sudden crash gave way, and the
combatants, still holding each other
tightly, went overheard!
There was quick cry, and a sudden
splash, and Charles Elton and Harry
Bardwell disappeared forever beneath
the bosom of the Missouri.
The Mercury was stopped and backed
and fruitless search made for the two
men. When it was over, she steamed
rapidly away from the scene OF that
dark, double tragedy, and arrived at st.
Louis, at sunrise-Balhmore Home
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