The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-06-13

ge'her--and may God have mercy on our
souls.
The Major sprang back
" ! protest against such murderous,
such an unheard Of mode"
4Well, you stand of and let me shoot
you"
The Majors face expressed the most
frightful passion. Death in either case
inevitable. Exasperation seized the wretch
ed man, The passengers stood watchfully
around. The Major stepped back.
"Come," said he.
The two took their stations under the
mast, pistol in hand as proposed. The
scene was one that will neverbe forgotten.
There stood the tenor-stricken Major,
stiff and upright, holding his pistol with
5xedness of despair, his eyes staring and
bloodshot.
Again there was an interruption.
Ida Greville rushed upon the scene. She
implored us for the love of Heaven, to put
a stop TO the dreadful act. She invoked
every merciful and compassionate emotion.
She knelt before Valmy-and he, as his
lip trembled slightly, and the smallest pos
sible tear glistened in his eye, answered
Miss Greyille, there was time when
you could have stopped this. It is too
late to stop now--it must 90 on. l, was
once immovable in avenging myself for
countless wrongs. No, your entreaties are
of no avail"
The lady rose and mournfully departed
Then the calmness of death came over all
the spectators of this tragic scene. Cap
tain Valmy stood calm, erect, self-possess
ed as much at ease as if seated at the head
of his table. The Kentuckian took his
stick and waved it in the air. Dropping
it slowly against the staff-rail, he cried out
"0ner
Our hearts beat--we could hear them
beating
"Twor
We held our breath
The Kentuckian's stick went up. An.
other moment and the inevitable word
would be spoken that would send two hu.
man beings writhing in blood, to the deck
9th"
/ cannot--I will not r cried the Ma.
jor. 1t is impossible for flesh and blood
to stand this !" And without another
word he rushed below.
Captain Valmy calmly ordered the boy
to pick up the pistol, and then firing them
both of he turned to us. At the noise Of
the Majors pistol striking the deck, and
himself running to the state-room, the Ia
dies pale and trembling, yet full of joy
came on the deck. The Captain then of
fered few explanations of his strange
conduct.
He had been, he said, good duelist,
and he had become SO much Of one thai
all his friends Stunned him. In sudden
passion he insulted his dearest friend, and
was challenged. They fought--and his
friend fell mortally wounded. Remorse
seized him. He implored pardon of hi.
dying friend, and over his body solemnly
vowed never to fight another duel, whatev-
er might be the provocation.
On board the ship he had been insulted
by the Major till he could stand it no Ion.
ger, and had punished him in the mos,
effectual way.
Most humbly he asked pardon of Ida,
who, to judge by her joyous and smiling
eyes seemed in no way disinclincd to for.
give, now that she heard his story.
The Major, whose courage had been put
to such tremendous test, rarely left his
stateroom during the remainder of the
voyage, while the Captain and Ida we're
almost always together.
Knowing looks passed from one passen.
ger to the other, as they saw the two con,
staptly together, and a marriage was
prophesied.
And this prophcsy proved true, for in a
week from that day, shortly after oul
arrival in New Orleans, we read in the
papers the marriage Of Captain valmy te
the fair Ida Greville.
But the papers did not say how they
were married by the French priest, and
how all the passengers, except the Major,
were invited to the wedding.