Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-07-14

that Is ALL We shall ilght WIN pistols, SO II
doesn't natter
Arrangements were made without lelay
and it was decided that the duelshould be fought
at sunset of that very day, in the great valley
just beyond the town towards the mountains
During the afternoon Edgar Bishop was in
lis office busily engaged in arranging his bus
iness. lie was sober and pale. thoughtful
airminded friend called upon lin, and sought
to dssuade him from the unholy work he had
in hand. But the lawyer would not listen. lie
was sincerely sorry for what had happened, but
| it could not now be helped.
Brandy did 1t" cried the friend; and will you
be so foolish as TO appeal to such fatal arbtra-
ment for what brandy didP'
No, no. said Bishop, with a shake OF the
head; I'VE Cannot lay that flattering JUNCTION to
| the soul. The man who toys with edged tools
must not blame them when they cut him.
! Whatever influence liquor may have had in this
business, am wholly responsible for my share
in It, drank the brandy Of my own free will,
and must abide the consequences. | aui busy
and would be alone
This same friend next called upon Lucius
I Fernleigh whom he found alone in his count
| ing-room, and 10 whom he spoke as he had
spoken to Bishop.
The merchant shook his head sadly, but de-
cisvely. With beseeching motion Of the hand
1 he sad,-
! 1T is too late. No power on earth eau avert
the meeting. We must fight. Every principle
| OF honor demands it,
'And in your heart you desire to fight this
| duel, with the man who has been your constant
friend?'
In my heart?-No! don't look down into
my heart. We shut the heart up OH such cca-
sons. The affairs of this busy world won't let
the heart speak always. cannot be called
coward, cannot live, and have the finger OF
scorn pointed al me by those whom Iprofessed
a nau in mol iraI, A. 7
am busy. l have no time to waste
An hour later Lucius Fernleigh went to his
home. 1t lacked an hour of sundown lie
thou ,ht that, in the solitude Of his home he
would write n letter to his wife; but when he
reached his home he found his wife there-his
wife and his golden haired little cherub of
daughter-ius, arrived and eager 10 greet him.
His wife hung upon his neck in her ecstacy of
gratitude, and his child claimed nesting place
upon his bosom.
Safe! safe! Thank God. murmered Fern
leigh. "Were you not injurcdf
Only slightly. Dut-O.-l grew old in the
horror of the the time till our preserver came!
Shut up i'll that prison of tire-no possible way
| OF escape-the dead and the dying all around
me-the broken fragments of two or three cars
piled above us, and all in flames. o, my soul . ii
was dreadful
And your noble preserver, Mary--who was
hep
The wife looked up in surprse-and then
shadow Of terror fell upon her beautiful
face.
HAS he not reached home' Have you not
seen Edgar Bishop?'
Edgar Bishopl What of him.
It was he who saved lis. He knew that we
were beneath the burning pile.
section Of the metallic roofing of one of the
/ cars covered us: but it could not have shielded
lis long. They told him he would rush to his
al nQt I'm To Il
atterward. lie answered that he would not so
home alive if he must leave the wife and child
how they shouted lis praises Wien he b5roohghtHss
forth out of the fiery death . And he was both
burned and bruised. That is the reason why
will bless that man always! God bless and
preserve him.
"Aye," murmured the husband, "God bless
and preserve him!"
The sun was sinking behind the mountains,
and in the valley party Of five men were as
sembled-the principals of the duel, the seconds
and surgeon. Other men were at hand
friends of the parties thus engaged--who stood
at a respectful distance, silent and thoughtful.
The pistols were loaded; twelve PAGES were
measured Oft, and the principals placed in posi-
| ton.
Lneius Fernleigh cast his weapon on the
ground, and folded his arms upon his breast.
When, in ast0nishment, both the seconds asked
why he did so, he answered:
81 will not be SO dishonest as to face death
with a lie in my last act. will not invite my
antagonists fire by the show Of AN intent winch
| do not mean to perform. Since cannot tire
upon that man, / will have no Use f.r the pis
tol,"
"Not fire ?" cried Bishop, who had listened in
amaze. "Do you refuse to fight"
"No, Edgar, refuse nothing. | am here, u
mark Tor your pistol. | challenged YOU, and
answer with my body for your satisfaction
ami my life, ii you will. Are you still iu the
| dark"
"Completely SO. What is it,"
San hour ago." answered Fernleigh, ''my
wife and child were given to my embrace, safe
and well; and my wife told me who had saved
her; and from the depths ol my heart prayed,
GOD BLESS AND PRESERVE HIM Aud so i
will pray while live. May my tongue cleave
to the roof OF my mouth, and my right hand
wither ere by speech or deed ever knowingly
offer harm to thee!'
Edgar Bishop cast aside his pistol and hasten
ed forward; and the hands which had erst beer
ready for the bloody fray were now clasped in
the embrace of friendship warm and cndur
ing.
And the friends of both parties, when they hat
heard the story, would not have had it other
wise Deep down in their hearts, beneath tn
+ passions of the hour, a power had been evoke,
3 before which empty honor went to the wall.