The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1869-09-01
THE TEXAN DUEL.

aPut down that knife, or the
consequence be up"n Your own
head. Put it down, | say, lId
the hand of the speaker slowly
and deliberately raised a revolver.
It was very anxious moment
for the lookers-on. One of the
combatants was brawny rnftian,
upon whose face was stamped al!
the evil passions of the human
race. Black haired, black heard
ed. black eyed, and strong enough
to fell an OK with single blow OF
his fist, The other was a pale,
slender, intellectual looking young
man, boy almost, with light curls
and complexion, and blue eyes.
The scene was in the little town
Of Washington, on the Rrazos
River, and the time midnight.
p "Do yer know who yer are
talking to, boy?" was the coarse
and uneducated answer OF Luke
Bouton, than whom no gaEnester
in the vicinity was more detested
and, feared. a ...e,-......
A man to whom (and not with
out reason) was imputed every
crime-even that of murder; VIII"
was an unfailiug shot with the
pistol and rifle, and unmatched in
skiiI with that strictly border
weapon the bowie knife. a
short residence in that locality
had given him a reputation as q
duelist, for the long grass OF the
tempas covered the forms OF two
who had fallen by his hand
Where he came from no one
knew, and he WAS particularly re-
tieent about his former life. Still
it was whispered - behind his
back. for no one was fool hardy
enough to say it to his faee-that
he was one of the very few who
escaped from the terrible justice
Of .Natchez under the hill when
the outraged citizens awoke in
their wrath and took speedy ven
; oeance in their own hands. BE
: that as it might, he had already
earned a name sufficiently bad t"
need no additions even where the
majority of crimes were looked
upon lightly-making Texas, in
its infancy, the paradise Of the
evii.
: sOf the other, his boy antagon-
ist, even less was known. 1t WAS
but two days since his arrival,
and. he had come on horseback
and alone. OF his business he
had nothing to say, but his sauve
manner and qaiet gentlemanly
department z had alrea'fy made
Him friends among the better por-
tion ofthe sparse population.
Very. much to, their surprise.
therefore, was it that they had
seen him enter into a contest At
cards with the professional game
ster, Bouton, confident that he
would either be cheated or hnll!ed
ont of his money, in ease he
should be successful, which was
qalmest beyond the range Of pos
sibiIity. 3
Z. But for two hours the game had
besR progressing, the gambler
getting more angry at every deal
and the youth Keeping perfectly
cool and breathing taunting words
IS if his object was still further to
!: provoke him. lflt was his pur
:, pose to do 40, he was more than
successful, for Boaton had sudden
ly sprung to his feet, and drawn
his heavy knife, with oaths upon
his lips and murder flashing from
his eyes.
sPut down that knife" agar
repeated the young man, Maj /
Whiteman. as he had given all te
understand was his. name. 'Pu1
it down.. No one but coward
and a cheat would attempt to uSt
such fatal arguments in a simple
game Of fchanee."
-s,HEr cheat ! coward" thundereG
Bauton, with all his wrath aroused
-"By heaven, I'll make yer ea)
yer words. r' +..
asFor fear you do not fully un
derstand, T viii repeat them"
t.Yer dare notr was Kissed from
the more than tightly compressed
Ips.'~.. ,s...- 4. ~. .-.
Coward! cheat! I dare say any
thing to one like you" ...
Coward .er gin y and his knife
flashed still more wildly around
In vain: the others interfered
They cared little for Bouton. but
they did care for young White
MAN and conld NOT huT ha snr