Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-03-02
lEONARDTOWN. MD. THURSDAY MO- EG. MARCH 9 1871

KING the earcn. A dispute instantly
arose when I elainsd the shot.
You never bic the 6rss BAH. sir r.
crisd Fraser loudly.
az know I did nst, but ny ball did. ;
| replied, csrclsssly.
"'It is false | There vas no e.rom .
" Do you insinuase I lie. sirr
Yes! You are both . liar and I
chea.r a
Human nature could not ssaad that
l slapped my traducsf's face. Mr.. s3h-
sr oficers interfered. Snd whsn my rem.
per cooled, found myself walking on the
versndah with my intimate friend. Ned
Howson.
Come, Holroyd. let's get some soda
water. aud then turn in. You must get
your hand steady. for Fraser is sure to
challenge ycu Tomorrow he said
81 took his advice and the beverage he
recommended. and was up bright and
early the following morning. About ten
o'clock. Captain Raper came to my quar-
ters. He took seat and peg before
be explained his mission As had ex-
pectcd, he was the bearer Of cartel from
Mr. Fraser.
This is devilish unpleasant busi-
ness altogether, Holroyd but I suppose
you perceive there is no alternative. Will
you name your friend. for don't suppose
you intend to apologize said the captain,
who bore the reputation of being fire.
eater.
Il told him should leave everything
in the hands of Lieutenant Howson, and
he went to that gentleman in order to ar
range the preliminaries
"About midday my friend came to me,
and told me that he had agreed with the
second of Mr.. Fraser as to the place. time
Of meeting. and weapons to be used in the
forthcoming duel He also limited that if
| had any letters to write. in case of acci-
dent. it would be as we'll to do them at
ence; said he would call to accompany
me to the rendezvous at dawn the next
morning; and when l thanked him. and
promised to prepare myself for slaughter,
left to hunt up the doctor, leaving me to
reflect upon my position.
Duelling was much in vogue at that
period. but had never before been
principal in an aHairc d'honneur. and. /
confess, my feelings upon this occasion
were not pleasant ones
I'm the first place. liked Mr.. Fraser
very much. and I knew full we'll tha. he
would never have provoked me to strike
him had he not been under the influence
Of liquor. Butsthc blow had been given,
and nothing could avert hostile meet
ing, unless I accorded him an ample and
atjcct apologize DO which would have
required far more courage than to fight,
for should have been stigmatized as a
coward and completely ostracised by my
brother officers.
1T was the rainy season and tolerably
cool. so when had finished putting nv
house in order as Howson had advised,
set out for long walk, thinking that
exercise would steady my nerves. which
were somewhat uns.rung by the effects of
the potations of the previous night
"As | s,rollcd leisurely upon my way.
pondercd upon my past life Thought
Of how. barely four years before. I had set
out from home full of hope and ambition.
the hope Of winning name and fame in
the profession / had chosen earnest in nv
heart; and now. before had ever feshed
my maiden sword. before l was even fair
ly launched upon my career. had placed
myself in such position that it was more
than probable my hopes. my zeal. ambi-
tion. and my life, would be cut down like
a flower! l cursed the enemy man puts
in his mouth TO steal away his brains :
| thought Of the happy home in Father
land that would be made desolate BY my
death; thought of the dear loved ones
who would mourn me there. and nv heart
was filed with bitter anguish misery
that was not decreased when I reflected
that. even If l was spared and my adver-
sary fell. it would be by my hand that
would plunge his widow deep into . sea
Of grief, and leave fatherless his innocent
,hild.
Il was aroused from this bitter train of
thought by the hollow .hud of ofrapidly ad-
RANGING hoofs. and on looking up. saw n
lady. whose face was totally unfamiliar to
me. vainly endcavoring to restrain met
tlesome horse she was riding The first
glance told me that she was q skillfrl
equestrian, the second that she was unac-
quainted with the locality. for she seemed
evidently bent upon taking the fire out of
her steed by urging him forward. and to
20 forward l knew full we'll meant TO rush
hea1'cns to destruction. for right in that
direction lay. half concealed BY bushes. a
deep nullah. or water course, down which
4 torrent. swollen By the recent rains. rol-
led in rushing casaracts over the rock
strewn bed.
Turn, madam turn far your life.
there is danger aheadv I cried. as 1
rushed toward the point for which she was
heading.
The lady turned her face. and I saw
it was fair as an angels; her symme:ri-
cal figure showed TO full advantage as she
used her utmost efforts to curb her horse
and her hair, which had escaped from the
ribbons that had bound it. fcated. wave
Of gold, far in her wake. was near
enough to see the bloom of excitement
fade from her checks when she heard nv
warning near enough to see tha. the barb
was now beyond her control. and that .
catastrophe was inevitable.
"A swift runner. started forward at
fall speed. and gained the brink Of the
nullah just in time to see the horse and its
rider disappear from riew in the boiling
ncod that surged At my feet For Q few
seconds stood paraivxnd th-n Ts-w Al.