Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-04-29
Then YOU accept my chollenre 2,

d" | do. Will any one present be 50 good
as to act as my second ~ inquired the law
yer, addressing the spectators.
For minute or two no one SPOKE, so great
was the dread of the arch-duelist, Mike
johnson.
VIII no one in such a mass of generous
men be my second - repeated the LAWYER,
in louder tone.
| will, )" said shrill, trumpet-like voice,
on the outskirts Of the crowd, and a tall,
commanding form, with bravery written on
his brow, and the eagles eye beneath it.
made his way to the centre Of the scene Of
contention. and stood close fronting johnson.
with smiling glance, before which the lat
ter, Tor an instant, quailed.
The question - W no is he? who is he?''
circulated among the lockers on. But no
one could answer, no one had ever seen him
before, and yet everybody would have then
sworn to his courage, so bold and yet tran
/ quill was his bearing.
d" Who are y'uY' inquired the duellist,
recovering his presence Of mind.
e 4 stranger from Texas.
" But who will youch for your respectable
ity?"
D
/ piled the stranger, frowning till his hrows
/ looked frightful and then STOPPING forward,
/ he whispered something in J0hnson's ear,
audible alone to him.
.' | am satisfied said the duellist aloud. and
trembling perceptibly. Colonel Morton
will you serve as my triend2'
The individual last addressed gave his as
sent.
"a Now let us adjourn to some private room
+ TO arrange the preliminaries, remarked the
/ stranger and the principals and seconds le!,
/ the crowd, then increasing every minute, and
excited nearly to madness by the thick crowd
ing events Of the hour.
The meeting took place the following
night, in a DARK room, with the door locked
and the two seconds on the outside. The
/ principals were placed in opposite corners OF
I the apartment, which was twenty feet square
and each was armed with a large bowie-knitt
no more. 1t was midnight night with
out moon or stars. Black pitchy clouds en-
veloped the sky, and slight sitting mist
rendered the shadows Of the earth more in
tense Hence. the room where the duel wai
about to begin, was wrapped IN rayless dark
ness. The combatants could not even see
the blades Of their own knives.
At first they both stopped and stealthiiy
united and took of their shoes, SO as u
make the least possible noise in walking oyel
the floor The same thought had struck then
at the same time-to manpuvre for the van
tage ground.
Thomas moved in a circle, softly as a eat
around the apartment, till be got within
few feet Of the corner where hIs enemy Aa
first been placed, and then paused 70 listen
For four or five seconds he could hear moth
ing in the graye-likc silence but the quic
beats Of his own busy heart. Presently
however. there crept into his ear a scarccl
audible sound, as OF suppressed breathing,
the corner of the room which he had prcvi
ouslv left and then he knew that his to
was trying the same sJratagem. The Trts
was repeated thrice, with a like result. \
length Thomas concluded % stand perfect
still and await Johnson approach. Motion
less now himself, and al car, soon Ae coul
distinguish soft rustling noise, like th
dropping OF flakes Of wool, circlIng aroun
the floor. and gradually advancing towar
him.
At last, when the sound appeared within
about three feet of the lawyers position. b
suddenly made a bounding plunge with h
knife, aimed in the dark air where he -uI
posed the bosom Of bis Zoe to be. His hiad
struck against that Of the other and ie
sparks of FIRE rolled at the fierce co.li-leI
and fell expiring on the floor.
And then, for an instant, the seconds viii
cut the door heard a sharp ringing Of steel,
groan, a fall, and all again was silent as IL
tomb The duel at midnight had ended
but ho,c? They were appalled, at the horr
bic question.
Waiting some minutes, and hearing noti
ing more. Col. Morton and the stranger pr
pared light, unlocked the door, and cntere'
The spectacle was most affecting. There Ia
the bloody corpse of the duellist. Johus17
mangled dreadlully, and above 1t stood til
erect and imposing form Of the lawyei
Thomas -unhurt, not a cut on his skin or
tent in his clothing, but weeping as If b
heart were broken.
He started back as the flashing light da
lied his eyes, and, growing pale as the dea
at his feet, exclaimed, in accents Of immea
urable anguish. Oh, God how shall | el
dure to meet my dear wife, with this murde
ous gore on my hands Such stains wonl
defle the very gates Of heaven. and hiacke
the floor of hell itself"
He did, however, afterwards meet Emu
and her babe; but we shall not attempt
paint the scene 4 week subsequently,
f was shot to pieces in his own Office, whI
employed writing after night. The as7ass
was not known, but supposed to be young
brother Of the duelist, johnson.
The stranger who acted in the combat
the second Of Thomas, was indeed. as
said. from Texas, and then travelling thrOug
Mississippi, and was the brayest man. Ie
hars, that ever drew the breath OF lie-Jaml
Bowie, who fell only with the fall Of tt
Alamo. when his red knife was drunk Wit
the blood of Mexicans.