The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-04-28

"Pshaw !" nj length continue" A|uko
Bcuton, IL mn fool to take any no.
ijcc of er boy who could crush DO.
tween nv thumb aud fingers. Take
ycr money, Ct yer such er sneak; 80
hack ermopy the women and mover
dare TO show ser face crmong mon
crgaiu.'
81 curc nothing for the money" was
still the calm response. "lt's nothing
10 me-"
What do yer want, thcn" -.
"To prove that yoa are o coward a.
heart"
mo man ever lived that could
prove such er thing"
Simply because You murdered
them. Luke Benton"
Murdered? But, no, Ill not fight
er boy"
Because you daro not. But YOU
shall have no excuse" and Mark
Whitcman spat full IN the face Of tho
;blood.stsincd gambler.
In an Instant all was confusion.
Bcuton sprang forward with his knife
upraised, md would have cut down
his insulter with blow. But others
did tho same. They realized that
blood must be shed. but they insisted
upon fair play" Even In the horri-
bic code Of Texas ducling they de.
mamdcd that the rules OF honor ~
should be strictly adhered to.
| III you must fight said al old ram
yer, land l acc no way 10 avoid It
now, it shall be all open and above
board. It's your choice, Benton. Pick
your weapon and stand up and fight 1t
out like men," ~
"PistolS thcn-tcn paces-word: -
was tho grutf answer.
Are YOU satistied?' was asked OF
Whitcman.
"Ycs-pcrfcctly. Let him take his
rcvolvcr-l have mine. We will COM
mcncc tirin. at the word. and continue
/ to advance 70 do 80 until ono or both
! fall"
A few steps from tho house brought
! them to n spot where the green grass
aud bright flowers Ind more than once
been stained in auch encounters. The
men were placed. tho weapons pre-
pared, and tho fatal word was about TO
DO given, when Whitcmsn called the
Ranger (who was acting rs his second)
and, taking his hand within his own,
whispered: :,
You appear to be n truc.hcartcd
man, aud | wish TO ask n favor Of yOM."
speak OH. Anything / can 10
shall be done. Just say the word ana
III take Your place" -
No, not that. But If | should
chance 10 fall promise that you will
sec inc buried rs | am. DO not let my
dress be disturbed in the least. Roll
me up in Il blanket and let no one pry
around nc after am dead. Will you
promise me that"
ut is n strange thing to ask, but II
do it,"
"Then am ready
"Ycs. III do It." repeated tho Ran
ger, muttcrins to himself, 'nud IL you
do fail III send n bullet through the
skull Of him that kills you, and may
tho good Lord forgive me II 1t is muir
DER
Now, Luke Benton" continued
Whitcman. II am ready. Yet one
word" and he stepped to his side and
handed him q miniature. III | die,
look at this"
"Ill doi.now; and " ith trembling
fingers he undid tho clasp-then let II
drop from his hands as ifit had been a
serpent. exclaimins, No, III not fight
you. Take him away, some one-tASe
him away, for Gods sake"
Not fight! then you will die like
dog; :" and Whiteman raised his weap.
ON and lnotioned for tho word 10 bc
given.
It was some time, however, before
his request was complied with. The
sinewy frame Of the gambler trembled
like a dry leaf in the autumn wind ;
all the color had lcfl his face; his lips
were like ashes his pistol was point.
ed downwartls and shook IN his hand.
At length he succeeded, by q mighty
effort, in calming himself He braced
HE nervcs-glarcd wildly around, and
with all tho calmncss Of despair, stood
upon his guard. =.
"Are you rcady-both ready" was
asked.
"Yos," came simultaneously from
two pair OF lips.
| Observation-Disclosures
Tho report Of the pistols cut the last
word In twain. The seconds rushed
forward aud lifted the men up again,
for both had fallen. Ono, however,
would never breathe more. Luke
Benton had fought his last duel-had
gone to his Anal account with bis heart
ISullet-cleft. Whitcman, too, was dan.
yerously wounded. With his breath
bubbling forth through blood he called
1.-THE ranger to him aud asked him for
tho miniature. It was given him-thc
fair face Of = young man. Iic covered
Iit with bloody tingers-whispered,
Bury It with me-" and he, too, Ind
ceased to live.
+ With fearful eyes that form was pro-
rared for the grave, the ranger Insist.
Ing that bis promise to the dead should
be fulfilled TO tho letter. But all saw
snfscient 10 satisfy them that he who
teaIIed himself Whiteman was . youn8
woman. s. And years later they found q
| cline to tho mystery. It was . wife
who had then revenged the murder OF
her husband-murdcred for saving her
nom dishonor From bloody grave
| in the chapparel, she had gone to join,
h;m ahe had loved 80 well in tho land
that lies beyond the dark river.
Was her last act one Of sin? It is
not, for us TO judge Of such thing:
We know nothing Of the maddened
heart and iasane brain-know notnlns