The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-07-23

IN the midst Of the gamesters, who stood
in circle around him and Harry Drake,
who had violent quarrel. and [ heard
MELVIN say, quietly: I'D you consider
yourself slapped ia the face?"
eyes said Drake. "And here is my card
| McElwin took the card in the tips of
his fingers, Corsican turned rale. NY
heart beat violently After an IL termin-
able interval MELVIN glanced at the card
Harry Drake' he roared, In terrible
voice You! You! You'll"
myself, Captain McElwn." replied
his rival calmly
We were not mistaken. If McElwin
had not thus far learned brakes name, he
had not been ignorant that MELVIN was
his old rival, and had quargeled with him
pur?osely.
4 X
The next day. little afternoon, Captain
Corsican came, with an anxious face, to
say that MELVIN had sent Brakes Sec
onds to him to arrange duel.
"How did the quarrel begin?' asked l.
"a gambling dispute "a mere nothing
said the captain. Drake had recognized
McElwin, and the sight Of that unhappy
man was constant rcmorse for him; he
longs to kill him."
"Shall we take DR., Pitferge with ia az
surgeon:''
"By all means. Here they are."
The last words had reference to Drake 8
seconds, who approached and saluted us.
They We're men Of Brakes own stamp,an
Captain Corsican and myself made very
stiff bow in return for their forid saluta-
tions.
One of them plunged into wilderness
OF words about brakes ''high tone," the
grleyous insult he had received, and much
other fine talk, which Corsican endured
as long as he could, and then interrupted
the speaker by asking what arms Mr..
Drake had chosen, and what time they
had fixed upon.
The result was shat meeting with
swords ON the Great Eastern, at 6 O'Clock
In the evening. was agreed upon as the
result of our conference.
La the afternoon, we came in sight of
Long Island. The day grew warmer; the
sky darkened; the southern horizon was
full OF clouds, which slowly approached
the zenith, the air felt heavy, and suffa-
catingly hot, as in July.
'Doyou want me to astonish you?" said
DR.. Pitferge, seating himself On deck by
my side.
"Astonish me, if you can, Doctor" re-
piled l.
Every WE'LL" said he; eve shall have
storm-a tempest, maybe-before the end
of our journey"
ain April!' exclaimed |. II admit that
the sky looks threatening, and three
months later would believe your ! .e-
diction my dear Doctor; but not now.
"The wind is southwest; the barometer
has fallen rapidly. and to a low point; and
see signs all around that betoken TEN
pest. The month of April makes no diff
ference; we always have thunderstoms.
here in America, in mild winters"
"Well, Doctor, we shall see You are
not afraid of thunder, hope?'
X
The storm was overhead; a thick wall
of clouds was closing III around us; the |
dull atmosphere had cottony look. Ma
ture was evidently abnnt to fulfil! the
predictions Of DR.. Pitferge, The ships
speed was slackened; the wheels made but
three or four revolutions a minute, and at
last stopped. The pilot found, that, MS
the tide was ebbing, it would be impossi
BILE TO enter New York harbor till the
next morning. The anchors were let go,
and the great ship came to a full stop.
At six o'clock. the steward gave the sig
nal for the final dinner; a dinner on which
the charterers of the ship were to lavish
in abundance upon their
guests. All parts of the ship were at {
once deserted, except the dining-room;
and the space in the rear of the main sa-
loon was entirely at our disposal. At
twenty minutes after six, after having
kept us waiting ten minutes, listening to /.
the growing of the thunder, and watch ;
ing the sky grow dark, Harry Drake and ,
his seconds joined us. Both parties sa-
luted. Drake did not utter word, but
cast upon McElwln look full of hatred
and vengeance.
Corsican took the swords from Brakes
second, measured them, bent and tested
them, chose one, and, in a moment more,
he yun dnnlicto xuoro charnlr annnrkod |