The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-28
A FAMOUSsDUEL
BY RICHARD FKNwEK.

cold and unsympathetic throng, and
strolled forth languidly arm-in arm, and
calling for water-ices, disposed them
selves under some trees, and by the dim
light Of Chinese lanterns, followed the
prime impulse Of their respective ages
Go and 25) and began to fiirt
Chances. signs, soft tones, on the part
of the Maiden. r. '@i
Byron, satire, and stuff and nonsense
on the part Of the Captain. .!i&
The Maiden found the Captain hard
to manage. In fact she totally failed to
manage him asshe had been accustomed
to manage the others Of his sex who
dwelt in her universe, and she therefore
became piqued. 81.
Captain, pray let us return"
"But why, please 2 returned the i'm
movable man of Mars; "they are play
ing a waltz. You never dance that; you
know. The thermometer is eighty de-
grees, lift is ten, in the hall, and there
your shadow, the monstrous Major, ly-
ing in wait for you. / can see him from
where | sit. 1t is either the glow Of his
epaulettes or the morning sun, I'm not
sure which" . ....--..,,. ....-..
The fair Maiden sat down again and
pouted. She did it without thought,
and for moment or two was oblivious
of the meaning of her own act. But
suddenly it broke upon her astonished
senses that she had surrendered to the
wishes Of the Captain for the fifth or
sixth time within twenty.four hours, a
thing she had never been guilty of since
the stern age of school-mistresses. She
questioned herself: Was it love? No.
He was nice, had money, a grandfather,
a position in life and a mustache-but
no! it could not be love. II it was, she
mustn't endure it. She was not to be
snapped out OF the gleurious atmosphere
at belledom at twenty years-no, no
not She But she must subdue the
Captain for the sake Of her reputation.
He must be taken down. Her reckless
thoughts reverted to former converse.
ton with the selfsame Captain, in
which he arraigned comrade for duel
ing. That comrade was the self-same
Major of whom he had just spoken dis
respectfully. ... ,.,-r.-
Here would be rare novelty. A
duel about her. They needn't hurt each
other very much, Of course; ifthey only
"pinked" their individual opponents, it
would suit her very we'll. A sword
thrust through the forearm, which no
true man would mind very much, would
be so delightful. 1t would add so much
to her already widespread fame, and
then she would 60 further still and
marry the victor; that would soothe
him a hundred times over She deli.
cately and cheerfully laid her first par
allel.
Captain, please tell me, ar'n't you a
fencer p
"a little, very little Of a fencer."
Dear me, you always say a little.
You play chess a little, you ride a lit
tle,' you sing "a little you act theatrical
a little you dance a little, you make
negus a little, and all the wide world
knows that you do everything in the
most splendid way; and now you fence
a little. No doubt you could bring
your man down at twelve PAGES easily"
"You confuse swords and pistols, as
you will be likely to confuse your hu-
NANTES, if you allow yourself to speak
of bringing men down. 1t doesn't come
well from lips like yours.
This was severe, and the Captain was
not surprised to be instantly commanded
to give his arm to lead the rutfled Prin-
cess back to her congenial walters. He
did so, and retired to the garden again
in love.
1t was no new state for him. The
valorous Captain had fallen weeks be-
fore, though no one knew it, and he
was just beginning to discover it him
self. For her part, she was the most
enhancing creature Of the season, or
any season. Money he did not care
for, though he had a wage idea that she
wanted for none; but it was the never
diving sparkle Of her pluck and spirit
that consumed him. She was nearly
always brilliant, active, keen and alive
to the present world, and che always
dressed like queen. The Captain loved
taste and brilliancy. therefore he dream
ed of the divine Maiden, the diamond
dust of whose hair still powdered the
sleeve of his coat. 49,.
She, for her part, rested her languid
eyes upon the tall Major, who instantly
flew to her. He bowed and used his
valient heels to bring her flowers. her
fan, her partners for which he got
smiles. His military form swelled with
pleasure, and he regarded no one else
but the divine Maiden, and the divine
Maiden regarded no one else but him.
She took his arm and walked him to
and fro. ~. -.
"Ha" whispered the Captain to him
SELF, "this'is meant for me, as an offset
to the confusion Of humanities, tie
laughed, but began to have a scorn and
contempt for the Major, who smiled and
chatted and was happy. The Captain
toresaw that the morrow would bring
his turn, and it surely did. He basked
in the sunshine all the day. She was
cool to the Major, but was ardent to the
Captain, and the Major began to have a
scorn and contempt for the favored
man.
The lovely maiden had bosom
friend, minor star in her galaxy, in
whose ear she privately whispered her
intentions. The Minor Star screamed
with delight, but added with a serious
look: ..
But my love, the Major is fire
eater" .'. =
Indeed, he is brave fellow. But /
am sure the Captain would also eat fire
if he only had the chance. Tn infatu