Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-03-01
ALEXANDRIA, PARISH OF RAPIDES La 91I

: Heavens sake let me enjoy the society O
my comrades for the last time. Nothin.
can make my shooting scorse than it is
, therefore, what matter?'
"We sat up until after eleven, drinkin,
and playing whist. AS the clock strucl
! the half-hOur to midnight, l took ou
guests arm and mildly compelled him Il
retire.
"'Take care,' I whispered on tn,
threshold Of his chamber, don't over
sleep yourself ih the morning.
80 Pshaw, MANI he replied, 'you
needn't be so cautious my wife knows al
about this quarrel, and she'll see to it thai
I'm up in good time never fear.'
"He spoke little bitterly, as if his con
sorts tender care for his honor was 9
Characteristic which, under the cir.
cumstances, he would have preferred tC
dispense with.
"The morrow dawned through a driz-
ely, cold, uncomfortable mist. Never in
life had 1 felt so savage and gloomy-feel-
ings by no means sOftened, when, stand
ing on the appointed ground, which over
looked cemetery, | 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
''The doctor grinned, evidently with
professional satisfaction, as his eye dwelt
demurely upon the man, whose body he
would soon, doubtless, be engaged in
carving, unless he fell dead at the first
shot, which might happen.
"Gillis, with his second, reached the
ground few minutes after us. He rode
up in a magnificent landau, drawn by a
pair of blOod-horses, and looked so dia-
bolically cool, tranquil, and assured of
victory, that yearned 10 trounce the ar
rOgance out of him with a stout manila
cane.
There was little time, however. for
these idle longings. l approached our ad-
versary's second, and we tossed up for
positions and the word.
"He won them both-which was a
charming omen, l thought and we then
proceeded to station our principals at the
regulation distance of ten PAGES, which,
owing to Wilson's height and bulk, had
never seemed so fearfully short to me be-
fore.
"Out came the pistols next, but, in load
ing the weapon designed for Wilson.
found trifiing impedfment in the barrel,
which occupied me some minutes in re-
moving. While thus engaged, Gillis adj
dressed his second impatiently, 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 told you must be in Charleston
by three this afternoon and see
pulling out his watch, it's growing
cursed late,'
'''Mr. Phillips said, If your princi-
pal 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 par
ties confronted each other before firing,
saw the devil in the scamp's eye as plainly
as have detected it in the eyes of vicious
stallion.
"'Gentlemen,' said Phillips, clapping
his hands sharply, gentlemen, prepare to |
receive the word! Are you ready? Fire
One -
ave never heard the second or third |
and scarcely think they were |
ICpcdtcu, iOT, DelWeen II re and 'One,' |
Wilson had blazed gallantly away, an
his enemy's shot by just the
fraction of second.
simultaneously with the report of his
own pistol we saw Gillis 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 yet! Don't you hear me,
fool, the other pistol!' In uttering these
words, the wounded wretch blundered |
and stumbled about the ground, but he |
had got his quietus, and in short time
was stretched once more upon the earth,
never, by his own efforts, to rise again!
"In less than twenty-four hours, ellis |
was dead mani While being carried to |
his home, he raved and blasphemed hor-
ribly, and such were his sufferings before
insensibility came to his relief that. as / |
was told, none but the attending physi-
clan could muster up the nerve to remain |
at his bedside !"-Pdul II. Hayne, in Ap- |
3teton's Journal.