Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-03-02

alton; my fortune was then and IS nov
very large. MypaTents, and only sister
had passed from earth, and left me, a.
far as relatives are concerned, alone il
the world. Aside from Henry Clay anC
Young CrawtOn, had no love for any
mortal. Respect and friendship I o
course had for many acquaintance o
both sexes. Large as my fortune was
felt that I could part with it all fOl
CrawtOn's sake.
CrawtOn's situation, in some respects
was like my own; he had no family kiT
living except very distant relatives
with whom he was entirely Unacquaint
ed. He was not rich, but possessed
means sufficient to insure him eOmpe
tence throUghalife. The deep feelings
entertained for him were sincerely re
turned. possessed the affections of hi!
noble heart, and that knowledge afford
ed me as much satisfaction and happi
ness as any bachelor has a right to ex
pect on earth.
CrawtOn accepted my proposition fOl
him to accompany me in my travels
in fact we agreed to mingle our fortunes
and remain together until separated by
a decree Of death. He had accomplish
ed a great deal in his chosen profession
He certainly possessed a great talent
and skill and genius and originality o
no mean order, but the death of his
friend seemed TO have blasted his ambi
tiOn for fame. The only picture he pain
ted after the fatal duel was a copy of &
portrait of Mons. De Shatturn; and hi!
frequent study-Of that picture, together
with the fatal suspension of work, caus
ed me about the only concern and Un
happiness I ever experienced in his
company.
CrawtOn had the body of his frienC
embalmed and sent to America for bur
ial, after which we quilted Paris and
pursued our travels.
For two years we kept constantly on
the move, visiting all the noted place;
of the Old World, and perhaps no two
travellers ever accomplished 80 much IL
the way of sightseeing in the same
length of time.
All last we returned to Paris. Mons
De Shatturn had preceded US at many Of
the places visited by US. We were 'of
his heels at Rome; we heard of him al
Milan, at Padua, and atVenice; and also
at Jerusalem, both at Jerusalem and Da.
mascus and other places. / made nc
inquiry concerning the man; with me
gotten as its result was to be deplOred
It has always been part of my phiIoso-
phy TO Danish from my mind the rec
objection of misfOrtunes for which there
existed 40 remedy. 1t did not occur to
my mind that CrawtOn was engaged in
determined and untiring search for
Mons. De Shatturn until after our return
to Paris, He had studiOusly avoided all
references to the duel, and only men,
toned the name of Mons. De Shatturn
to say that 'he has been here in places
the duelist had visited previous to our
arrival.
On the evening Of the tenth day after
our arrival at Paris, we attended the
opera. I had gone there much against
my desire, as the Bohemian Girl sug-
gested rather unpleasant recoIIections.
Two years before we were listening to
that opera, and appraised of the duel
which had taken place at Paris. / felt
a strange apprehension that something
deplOrable was going to happen. I am
not at all inclined to superstition, and
have no recollection of having had such
feelings before in my life. I naturally
paid more attention to Orawton than to
the music of the opera; in fact, was in
no frame of mind to enjoy the best OF
music. With the exception of an al
most impreceptible palOr, the cOunte-
nance of CrawtOn wore its usual calm,
beautiful and impressive expression,
until D. Arle1G rGBlDlentdti was being
sung, when / perceived the big tears
dropping from mis- eyes and trickling
down his cheeks, which he made no ef-
fort to conceal or to brush away. He
seemed to be unconscious that his eyes
were exposing the fullness of his heart.
Before the song was ended, a slight COM
motion in one Of the private boxes at
tracted our attention, CraWtOn seemed
to be suddenly startled; and gFasping
his Opera-glass, he leveled it upon the
group in the private box, and gazed
steadily at the ladies and gentlemen
therein. Then handing me the glass
he remarked:
There is Mons. De Shatturn; watch
him for a moment. will soon return
to you
So saying, he rose and left the theatre
I began to suspect that CraWtOn meant
mischief, and regretted I had allowed
him to depart. I became very uneasy;
still I kept my glass fixed upon Mons
De ShattUrn. There could be no mis-
take. Just as I was wondering how il
cO1ld be possible for CrawtOn to paint
so perfect a Likeness. of the man, he ap-
peared at the box, and by the side of
Mons. De Shatturn. saw him address
the Frenchman. The ladies stared at
him as an Intruder.
After the two men had exchanged a
few words, saw CTawton slap Mons.
De Shatturn in the face, hand him his
na-N hrar f~ hn l,1
box.
] never before experienced such deep
feelings Of concern and regret. We
proceeded in silence to our hOtel-both
of US seeming to understand each others
feelings. Words in such a crises were
useless. The honor of my friend would
nOt.permit any effort to avert q collision
between him and the sOrely-Offended
De Shatturn and my deep affection pre-
vented any desire, inclination, or power
on my part, to aid or abet in the matter.
I knelt that night, and prayed that the
threatening calamity might pass away.
An appeal to heaven seemed to me the
only one I could make. The morning
came, bringing with It a fierce ehal-
lenea from Mons, De Shatturn which
CTaWtOn Immediately accented. Being
the challenged party, Crawton wrote
out the manner, time and place of the
encounter, which In substance was 10
o'clock P. NJ, I'm the Old Mord Hall, in
the Rue de RivOli; naked, in the dark,
and armed with the American Bowie
knife. They were to meet and fight un-
til one or both were killed.
Mons. De Shatturn was surprised at
the terms of the duel, and considered
that the conditions proposed by CrawtOn
could only emanabe from an insane
mind. He at once sent a friend-an
eminent French physician, familiar
with the eccentricities OF madmen-tO
confer with CraWton upon his sanity.
Mons. De Shatturn was again aston
ished on being informed that CrawtOn
was not only perfectly sane, but that he
was besides 2 refined and accomplished
and withal most SERIOUS and
determined as to the terms he had deci-
ded upon.
The physician informed Mon De Shat
turn that CrawtOn was Thoroughly con-
versant with his career; that he knew
him 10 be a cruel and uufeeling duelist
and murderer, who had per force of SUI
Derior skill slain eleven young men, and
severely wounded as many more; that
be was familiar With The particulars OF
every duel fought by De Shatturn, both
as to the cause and the result; in every
instance De Shatturn had either wan
.Opiy offended or presumed offence,
when none was really intepdad or giY-
an he had on every occasion magnitied
and pressed matters TO desperate results
for no other apparent reason than to sa-
5inte q brutal mania for blood and MUIR
Tarf