Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-02-18

so I registered bet of one hundred
adjourned to the billiard room. had
practised n great deal In my leisure
hours, and knew myself tn he a steady
player, while, from what j had seen
Of Fraser's play, / Judged that he
became nervous and irritable, II luck
went against him ever so little there
fore, did not hesitate to accept n few
other bets offered by admirers Of my
opponents brilliant style.
We had got about halfway through
the game, and our scores were n, arly
equal, when I made three most pal
pable fiukes in one break, and this so
annoyed my semi-irebriated antago-
mist that he played wildly, missing
most easy shots, and all the while
denouncing my style of execution In
no very measured terms. When So
ber he was the most courteous and
urbane of men hut when excited by
wine, he was inclined to be insolent
and ovcrbcaring.
! was more than thirty points ahead
when shot presented itself to me
that WAS very difficult of accomplish
I tltnt. IL Mhr ~ SotNtit p''
in order tn make 1t, the object ball
had 10 he very finely grazed indeed.
My ball scarcely moved the object
ball, though It undoubtedly touched
It, and went on the red, making the
carom. a dispute instantly arose
when / claimed the shot.
"You never hit the first ball, sir: :'
cried Fraser, loudly.
Il know did not, but my ball did,
] replied, carelessly.
Tt's false! There was no carom.
DO you insinute I lie, sir"
YES. You are both u liar and a
cheat =
Human nature could not stand that
I slapped my traducer's face. My
brother officers intprferre,l, aud when
my temper cooled, l found myself
walking ON the verantlah with my
intimate friend, Ned HOwsOn.
Come, HOlrOyd, let's get some
Soda water, and turn In. You musl
get your hand steady, for Fraser u
sure to challenge you Tomorrow he
said.
took his advice and the beverage
he recommended, and was up bright
and early the following morning
/ About ten o'clock, Capt. Raper came
To my quarters. He took II seat and
IA peg lief IRE he explained his miss
ion. As had expected, he was the
bearer of IA cartel from Mr.. Fraser.
This is q devilish unpleasant busi-
ness altogether, Holroyd; but sup
pose you perceive that there IL u, al.
tentative. Will you please name YOU
friend, for don't suppose you intend
! to apologize said the captain, wht
bore the reputation of being fire
eater.
/ told him l should leave every
thing in the hands of Lieutenant
Howson, and he went to that gen
tleman In order to arrange the pre-
lliminaries.
About midday my friend came t'
me, and told me that he had agreed
with the second Of Mr.. Fraser rs tt
the place, time of meeting, and weap
ons to be used in the fOrthcomin,
duel. He also limited that If hat
any letters to write, In case of acci
dent, IL would be as well to do then
at once; said he would call to accom-
pany me to the rendezvous al dawn til,
next morning; and when thanked
him, and promised to prepare mysel
for slaughter, left to hunt up the doc
tor, leaving me to reflect upon IN,
position.
Dueling was much in vogue at tina
period, but had never before been {
principle in an affair d'honneur, and
confess, my feelings upon this occa
siOl We're not pleasant ones.
In the first place, ] liked Mr.. Fra
ser very much, and | knew full wei
that lie would never have pro
r voked me to strike him had he no
been under the influence of liquor
But the blow had been given, an,
nothing could avert hostile meet
ing, unless | accorded him an ampl,
and a1ject Apologize do whicl
would have required far more courag
than to fight, tor IIshOuld have beeI
stigmatiZed rs II coward and com
pletely ostracised by my brother OIL
7 GERS.
1t was the rainy season, and tolera
bly, cool, so when had finished "put
ting my house In Order" rs Hawsoi
had advised, / set out for a long walk
thinking that exercise would stead,
my nerves, which We're somewhat uii
strung by the effects of the evenin,
previous.
As l strobe leisurely upon my way
| pondered upon my past life.
thought of how, barely four years be
fore, l had set out from home full G
zeal and ambition, In the hope q
winning name and fame In the pro
frssion | had chosen earnest In m
+, heart; and now, before l had eve
flashed my maiden sword, before
, was even fairly launched upon my ca
reer, had placed myself In such
position that 1t was more than proba
, ble my hopes, my zeal, ambition an
my life, would be cut down like
flower! | cursed the enemy ma
puts ain his mouth to steal away hi
+ brains"; thought of the happy HON
/ in " Fatherland" that would be mad
desolate by my death; | thought q
the dear loved ones who would mour
, me there, and my heart was iille
with bitter anyuisl,-misery that wa
not decreased when reflected that
. even II was spared and my advers
AIRY fell, 1t would be my hand tina
, would plunge his widow into dee
/, sea Of grief and leave fatherless hi
/ innocent child.
was aroused from this bitter trail
. of thought by the hollow thud {
rapidly advancing hoofs, aud ON lool,
! ing up, | saw lady, whose face wa
, totally unfamiliar to me vainl
, endeavoring To restrain met
f tlesome horse she was riding. Tn
first glance told me she was II skim,
a. q l.. II.