Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-06

MS features, gave MIN an aspect almost
ludicrously feminine.
Colonel Bill Borlin gazed on this ap-
partition with ineffable contempt, and
whispered his comrades" We will
have it all our own way, as Houston has
kindly sent us Miss Nancy ?"
If the colonel had paid more atten-
tion to the man, and less to the cloth
ing, he would, perhaps, have been led
to different conclusion; for there was
a strange light in the vivid blue eyes of
the stranger-a light that went and
came at irregular intervals, like the
play of lightning in a summer cloud,
while the corners of his mouth wore
wild, resolute, sneering expression, be-
tokening the opposite of piancy and
fear
The grand jury being called and
sworn, the judge commenced his charge,
and at the sound of his voice everybody
started for the tones were shrill as a
trumpet-stern, ringing, imperious,
like the accents of a commander on pa
rade. Having glanced rapidly over the
legal definitions and penalties of crime,
he proceeded to descant on the respon-
sibility of juries to aid in its suppress
sion. His soul appeared to catch cleo
trio fire at the theme-his voice bor-
rowed the rich roll of fthunder-his vivid
blue eyes literally blazed with that
strange light-the wild expression grew
terrible on his writhing lips-and his
words few like volleys of burning ar
rows. He painted the horrows of law
less anarchy till the very heart sickened;
he described the beauty of regular gov
ernment as vision of heaven realized
on earth; and he finally closed with the
bold announcement-"I will perform
my duty. I will put down Lynching
wherever I have the honor of presiding,
or will myself be put in the grave |"
"Then, Miss Nancy, take care of your
eyes !" cried a hoarse. voice, louder and
more menacing than that of the Judge.
Every heart save one shuddered. The
sentence seemed like warning from
eternity-a revelation, as it were, from
the depths of hell.
"Who are you that thus dares to in
terrupt the business Of the court?" ex-
claimed Judge Evans, with the grave
majesty of king.
"My true name is Colonel Bill Bor-
lin ; but most persons call me Death
in the Eye =" was the answer.
"But in law you have another name"
reioined Evans, smiling.
"Tell me what it II; but take good
care of your eyes p retorted Borlin,
with unspeakable fury.
cit is murderer !" said Evans and
the smile on his lips, before pale sun
shine, was now wreath of lurid fire.
"You shall pay dearly for that word
within the week p fairly shouted the
duelist, grinding his teeth like raging
wild beast.
"There is no time like the present."
was the calm reply.
"NoaO ?" interrogated Borlin, as if
doubling the evidence of his ears.
eyes, nOaU! if you have the courage
to challenge me, said Evans.
" [ do challenge you," thundered
Borlin.
'And [ accept" answered Evans.
" Name your seconds"
We will fight without any,"
"The terms ?" asked Borlin, with
signs of ostonishment
On horseback, in the little prairie
west of the village, one half hour from
this, each armed with as many pistols
and knives as he can procure, or sees
fit to carry" said Evans, apparently
passionless, as if defending a motion in
court.
No one but the chief actor in this ex-
traordinary scene uttered a syllable, or
offered to interfere, for all saw that
such attempts would be unavailing.
perhaps dangerous to the meddler. One
half hour afterwards the parties met in
the little prairie, which was circular in
form, and about three hundred yards
in diameter. By tacit consent, both
actuated by the same purpose, they as
sumed their stations in the edge of the
timber on opposite sides. Both wore
strong belts literally stiff with knives
and pistols. Both were mounted on
powerful steeds, but of opposite colors,
that of the judge being white as a snow
cloud, while the colonel's was black
and glossy as the wing of raven. The
features of the riders in that race of
death presented very different types of
expression. The colonels brow looked
dark as the gloom of tempest-stern,
lowering, awful but the handsome
face of the judge was gay, smiling,
joyOus-brilliant as the sunbeam that
kissed it. The multitude stood around
in the grove, speechless, almost terri
fed with the scene about to open.
Suddenly the colonel waved white
handkerchief as the signal that he was
in the act of starting and swift as
arrows from the bow, terrible as balls
from the cannon's mouth, the two
horsemen, with pistols cooked and fin
gers firm on the trigger, shot towards
each other. When within fifty steps of
his enemy the colonel halted with sur
prising dexterity, and crying, in loud
tones, "Now take care of your eyes p
leveled, and fred.
At the instant, the Judge urged his
horse to an evolution, as if bounding
over a wall, and the bullet aimed for
his eye struck the silver pommel of his
saddle, and glanced off without harm.
Continuing his former velocity, he
passed the colonel within three feet,
discharging his weapon at the others
bosom, but inficting only a slight
wound and then both proceeded to the
opposite sides of the prairie and re-
newed their headlong course. This
time neither halted, but passed, almost
touching each other, and both fred as
they passed, each drawing from his foe
a stream of blood. The same charge
was repeated with like results half a
dozen times, till their firearms were
exhausted, save a small pistol in the
pocket of the colonel; and yet both
kept their saddle.
The last sweep of all was terrific. The
horses were bathed in foam, the riders
were covered with blood, and both