New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-03-20

matter
"We sat up until after eleven, drinking
and playing whist. As the clock struck the
half-hour to midnight, 1 took our guests arm
and mildly compelled him to retire.
"'Take care,' | whispered on the thresh-
old of his chamber, don't oversleep yourself
in the morning.
"'Pshaw, mani he replied, you needn't
be so cautious; my wife knows all about this
quarrel, and she'll see to it that I'm up in
good time; never fear.'
''IIe spoke q little bitterly, as if his con-
sorts tender care for his honor was char
acteristc which, under the circumstances, he
would have preferred to dispense with.
"The morrow dawned through a driZzly,
cold, uncomfortable mist. Never in my life
had | felt so savage and gloomy-feelings by
no means softened, when, standing on the
appointed ground, which overlooked GEM
eterv, L watched our friends elephantine
person, looming bigger than its wont through
the gloom.
"'Doctor,' | muttered to the surgeon,
have your instruments ready. They'll be
needed
''rhc doctor grinncl, evidently with pro-
tessional satisfaction, as his eye dwelt de-
murely upon the man, whose body he would
soon, doubtless, be engaged in carving, UNI
less he fell dead nj the first shot, which
might happen.
"Gillis, with his second, reached the
ground a few minutes after us. He rode up
in magnificent landau, drawn by pair of
blOod-horses, and looked so diabolically cool,
tranquil, and assured of victory, that l
yearned to trounce the arrogance out of him
with stout MANILA cane.
"There was little time, however, for these
idle longings. approached our adversary's
second, and we tossed up for positions and
the word.
"He won them both-which was charm
ing omen, thought-and we then proceeded
to station our principles at the regulation
distance of ten PAGES, which, owing to Will
sons height and bulk, had never seemed so
fearfully short before.
"Out came the pistols next, but, in load
ing the weapon designed for Wilson, 1 found
a trifling impeachment in the barrel, which oc-
cupied Inc some minutes in removing. While
thus engaged, ellis addressed his second i'm
patiently, and, in voice loud enough to
reach us all
"'What's the matter now?' he cried.
Come Phillips, hurry up, and don't keep me
waiting here the whole morning. Havn't l
this afternoon? and see, quilting out his
watch,) tits growing cursed late!'
Mr.. Phillips | said, : if your principal
violates the rules by speaking in that way
again, we shall retire from the field
"'Quite right, SIR Mr.. Phillips replied,
who really seemed exasperated at the others
conduct. Another word Ito Gillis,) 'and
I'll leave the ground myself
'This incident did not improve Gillis's
temper you may be sure and so when, all
preliminaries duly arranged, the parties con-
fronted each other before firing, saw the
devil in the scamps eyes as plainly as / have
detected it in the eyes of a vicious stallion.
Gentlemen said Phillips, clapping his
hands sharply, gentlemen, prepare to re-
ceive the word! Are you ready? Fire
One -
1--WE never heard the second or third num-
bers, and scarcely think they were repeated, |
for, between Fire. and One Wilson had |
blazed CALAMITY away, anticipating his enc
my's shot by just the fraction of second.
simultaneously with the report of his |
own pistol we saw ellis leap into the air. |
and then drop heavily on his side. Yet, |
wonderful to relate, before anybody could |
reach him, he had partially recovered HIM
self, and, staggering to his feet, yelled |
hoarsely out: The other pistol, Phillips,
quick, the other pistol. Blast his soul I'll |
bag him vet. Don't you hear me, fool, the |
other pistolr In uttering these words, the
wounded wretch Numbered and stumbled
about the ground, but he had got his quietus,
and in q short time was stretched once more
upon the earth, never, by his own efforts, to
rise again!
''In less than twenty-iour hours Gillis was
a dead man. While being carried to his
home, he raved and blasphemed horribly,
and such were his suiierings before insensi-
bility came to his relief that, as was told,
none but the attending physician could mus
ter up the nerve to remain at his bedside ~
Appiefon's Journal.