The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-03-21

officers ln'erterred anG, when my temper
cooled, found myself walking on the
verandah with ,dy intimate friend, N ed
| HOWsOn.
"Con,e, Holroyd, let's get some soda
water. and then turn In. You must get
YOUR hand steady, for Fraser is sure to
challenge you tomorrow he said.
81 took his advice and the beverage he
recommended, aud was up bright and
early tbs following morning About ten
O'clock, Captain Raper came to my quar-
tiers He took seat and peg before
he explained his mission. AS had ex
pectcd, he was he bearer of cartel from
Mr. Fraser
This is devlish unpleasant business,
altogether, Holroyd but suppose YOU
perceive that there is no alternative. Will
you name yonr friend, for don't suppose
yon intend to apologize, SAID the Ca lta Z,
who bore the reputation of being fire
eater.
81 told him [ should leave everything
in the hands IF Lieatenant Howson, and
he went 30 that gentleman In order to
arrange the prclim nares
about midday my friend came to me,
and told me that he htsd agreed with the
second of Mr.. Fraser as to the place, time
of nesting and weapons to be used in tue
| forthcoming duel. He also limited that
| If had any letters to write, lB case of
accident, it would he as well to do them
At once and lie would call To accompany
me to the rendezvous at dawn next morn
ing; and, when [ thanked HIM, and
promised ta prepare myself for slaughter,
left to hunt up the doctor, leaving mo to
reflect upon my position
"Dueling Was much in vogue at that
period but had never before been prn.
cipal IN an affhlre d'h0nneur, and, [ con
TESS, my feelings upon this occasion were
not pl, a>ant ones
"In tue first place, liked Mr. Fraser
very much, and | knew full we'll til It lie
would never have provoked me to strike
INN had he not been under the influence
Of liquor But the blow had been given,
and nothing could avert hostile meet
IDg, unless | accorded him ali ample and
hiect apology do which would have
required far more courage than to fight,
for should have been stigmatlzed as a
coward aud completely ostracised by my
brother officers.
1t was the rainy season, and tolerably
cool so when | had finished putting my
house In ORDER as Hnwson had advised, |
set out for a long walk, thin lug that ex
erclSe would steady my nerves, which
were somewhat uustrung by the effects of
the PRIV '1us night.
LAS strolleN Ieisurely upon my way,
pondured upon my past life thought
of how, barely four years before, I had set
out from home full of zeal and ambition,
the hope OF Winning name and fame in
the profession had chosen earnest in my
heart; and now, before I had even flesh
ed my maiden sword, before I was even
fairly launched upon my career, l had
| placed myself In sucn a position that 1t
Was m re than probable my hopes, my
Zeal, my ambltion, and my life, would be
cut down Ike u flower [ cursed the en-.
envy man puts in his mouth to steal away
his brains; thought of the happy home
IN 'Fatnerlaud' that would be made desc
late by my death: thought of the dear
| | we'd ones who would mourn me there,
and my heart was filled with bitter an.
gulsh-miserY that was not decreased
when [ reflected that, even if | was spared
aud my adversary fell, it would be my
hand that would plunge his widow deep
into sea of grief, and leave fatheIless
his Innocent child.
Il was reused from this bitter train OF
thought by the hollow thud of rapidly
advancing hoofs, and, on looking up, |
saw lady, whose face was totally unta-
miliar to me, vafnly endeavoring to re-
strain mettlesnme horse she was riding.
The first glance told ne she was skillrul
| equestrian, the second that she was unac-
qnsinted with the locality, for she seem.
ed evidently bent upon taking the fire
out of her steed by urging him forward
and to go forward knew full well meant
, t" rush headlong to destruction, for right
ia that direction lay, half concealed by
bushes, deep nullah, or water course,
down which torrent, swollen by the re.
cent rains, rolled in rushing cataracts ov-
er the rock strewn bed.
'TurlG, madam turn for your life, there
Is danger a1ead" / cried, as I rushed to.
ward the point for which she was head
ing.
"Tho lady turned her face, and I saw
| it was fair as an angels her symmetrical
figure showed to full advantage SO she
used her utmost efforts to curb in her
horse. and her hair, which had escaped
from the ribbons that had bound it, float.
ed, wave Of gold, far in her wake.
was near enough to see the bloom of ex
element fade from her cheeks when she
heard my warning-near enough to see
that the barb was now beyond her con.
troll, and that catastrophe was inevita-
BILE.
"a swift runner, started forward at
full speed, and gained the brink of the
nullah just in time to see the horse and
its rider disappear from view in the boil
incr HOoA hot ro1 r 10. IN. i.