The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-07-07

fire-eater."
This was satisfactory-vcry.
"Suppose," said /, in tremulous voice,
"you erase the word 'ample' before
apology l shall consider the apolgy
sufficient.
"But l shall not, was the Lieu.enant's
emphatic reply.
There was no more to be said. He de-
parted with his missive and / was left in
no very enviable frame of mind; on his
return, "Has he apologized?" Inquired,
eagerly.
"Not bit of it," was the reply; "he
vows that he will shed the last drop of his
blood first"
"What a sanguinary monster he must
be, was my internal reflection.
"The meeting is appointed for tomorrow
morning, an hour before SUNRISE" resumed
the lieutenant. eft is to take place at
Hoboken weapons pistols; distance ff-
teen PAGES"
"Isn't that rather near p ventured to
remark.
"Near2 OF course you want it near.
You will be more likely to hit your man."
"And he will be more likely to hit me"
rejoined.
"Of course" was the careless reply.
You must take your chances of that"
could not help wondering whether he
would be so cool about it if he were the
,.,;,o;oo1 orJ xyaro tbo caoOpd Tn foot
/ have always observed that seconds are
much more scrupulous about the honor of
their principles than they are disposed to
be about their own. / suppose it is hu-
man nature. 1 think it altogether likely
that l should make a very fierce second.
"I suppose you are used to pistols P' re-
marked my friend.
" Used to pistols! l remembered once hav-
ing shot one when boy, to the imminent
danger of my little sisters life. Since that
have not had one in my hands"
AS l strolled out into the streets in an
unhappy frame of mind, newsboy thrust
into my hand daily paper, which me-
chanically bought Glancing over the COL
umns, / observed that a boat was adver-
tsed as about to start that day for Havana
The hour of departure was four in the af-
ternoon. A sudden thought struck me.
Would it not be much better to embark for
Cuba than remain behind to be shot "a
result which the state of my nerves and
my want Of practice with the pistol render
ed altogether probable.
With newborn alacrity, l Immediately
repaired to the boat, and demanded to see
the agent He informed me that the boat
would positively start at the hour indi-
Gated.
asked to see the list of passengers.
Running my eyes casually down the list
my heart beat quickly as they fell on the
last name. Could it be possible that my
opponent, Captain Achilles Brown, had
secured passage? What could be his mo-
tive?
"When did this gentleman book his
name as passenger ?" inquired.
Not half an hour since"
"Did he understand that the boat start
ed to-day?"
eyes; he made particular inquiries on
that point"
"Will you describe him to me? Is he
tall ?"
"Yes, quite So"
"And has black moustache?"
eyes"
GA dark complexion, and wears a large
cloakP"
Precisely. You know him then %
every slightly" said carelessly. "By
the way, don't think l shall be able to
get away for a week. l won't engage to-
day."
awe would give you good accommoda-
tions."
"No doubt of that. On the whole, you
needn't mention to Captain Brown that
any body inquired for him.
My heart bounded with exultation, as
with some difficulty l realized that my
opponent, whom had dreaded so much,
was about to leave the country from fear of
encountering me.
What a joke that was 1 laughed all
the way home, though endeavored to
preserve my gravity. On the way home l
purchased brace of pistols, which os-
tentatiously displayed on reaching my
boarding-place.
"To think you should risk your life for
me, 4" simpered the fair Sophronia.
"Miss Sophronia" said /, with suitable