The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-05-21
lis gaze fixed on the face orthe suppos.

OHe VI HeT SuitOrs, tlo hdtlueoA
was Charles Elton, the son of
a neighboring farmer, and she loved
him, and him alone, as only such true
and noble women can love, and when
he asked her to become his wife, she
laid her head on his breast and told him
she would.
1.-THE other young man alluded to was
Henry Bardwell, of st. Louis. He had
prosecuted this young girl with his at
tentions for many months, notwith-
she had rejected his offer of
marriage, and told him that she could
never care for him more than friend.
Well, when he heard that she was soon
to be married to young Elton, he grew
madly jealous, and swore that she could
never be the wife of any other than him
selfn
"What have / got to do with all this?"
asked Sparks, growing pale, as Brown
made short pause.
81 will tell you in a moment: you
must hear me through" was the reply,
"the story will soon be ended. The
night on 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 faith
er'5 house, to find his intended wife a
corpse! Yes, she had been murdered
by the hand of Henry Bardwell, while
going to spring not fifty yards from
the house. Her father saw the deed
done from the window of his room
where he was confined by sickness.
"The murderer fled 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 I, and well you may, for
am Charles Elton, AMI not green Jim
Brown, of Arkansas, as you supposed
me to be, and you"-he bent his head
forward and hissed the words through
hi 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 whiskers from his face, and dis.
closed handsome 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
Pm Henry Bardwell-what of it?"
"Why," Missed the other, "both of III
will never leave this boat alive, that's
all. 1 haven't tracked you through {
dozen States, and followed you near tel
years to let you slip through my finger
No, Henry Bardwell you know me to-
we'll to think that; but l will give yo,
fair play. You have knife and so hav
I. They are as near alike as 1t is posi-
bic to get knives, so come up on tn
hurricane deck, and We'll settle the al
+ fair at once"
The two men assembled to the uppe
deck of the steamer, followed by nun
ber Of passengers, and stopped, facin
each other just aft Of the smoke stacl
, The captain appeared, and tried to dis
suade the men from their purpose, bu
his words had no effect whatever.
"Now, murderer, "hissed Elton as HI
raised his knife, "defend yourself. Tn
thirst for revenge is consuming me"
5 Their knives were raised above thei
? heads, and then they descended, flash
| ing brightly ia the mOonlight,a and the
l clashed together with sharp sounl
| Both the men were skilled in the use ,
= the Bowie, and it was evident to til
spectators that the contest, as far a
/ strength and skill was concerned, W,
l equal.
Fiercer and fiercer grew the fight; tn
knives flashed up and down, and clash
ed loudly together. Each man kept hi
eyes fixed on the face of his antagOnis
and neither moved from the positio
he had first taken.
At length, Elton, by fierce dowI
, ward cut, knocked the knife from Bare
Wells hand, but the same blow brok
his own. They clutched each other in
stsntly, their eyes glowing with passion
and their respiration hard and quicl
Back and forth they struggled wit
q | each other over the steamers deck, ne
ther getting the better off the other. A
a last, holding each other by the thros
with vicelike grip they struggled to til
railing that ran around the edge of ii
I deck. They struggled with each othe
more fiercely; and their eyes starte
from their very sockets. They thre
5 themselves against the railing, as the
4 struggled to throw each other to tn
| deck, and the frail barrier with SUI
den crash gave way and the combatan
d still holding each other tightly, wen
It overheard!
u There was quick cry, sudde
splash, and Charles Elton and Hem
J. Bardwell disappeared forever benea,
S the bosom of the Missouri.
G The Mercury was stopped and backe
q and fruitless search made for the tv
men. When it was over, she steamt
:. rapidly away from the scene of thi
}, dark double tragedy, and arrived at 5
v Louis at sunrise.
= | ~-
|