The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-05-19


treat. What are you excited now Yet
once before, knew an act Of violence was
committed towards me, and a challenge
was given. Why did you not interfere
thenP Is his life so precious that you seek
to preserve itP'
The Captains voice was very mournful.
Ida turned pale. She knew not what to say.
She saw in that strange being power be-
fore which she was perfect weakness.
81 deem it my duty, gentlemen, to pro-
test ~ cried the able; "in the name of
these ladies, and in the name of that
great Being, whose laws you would desc
crate ~
"a sacred protest - cried the Captain.
"And why did you not seek to stop this
before it had assumed an importance which
blood alone could satisfy? ! appeal to
these other honorable gentlemen. You
heard the challenge of last night Shall I
be allowed to have satisfaction? ?"
"YesP" cried all present. in one loud
response.
l6S JuO
You shall, you shall p
"Major Folsom--to fight a duel under
ordinary circumstances would be unfair to
you. will choose a new mode Of combat,
in which no seconds will be needed You
will then stand on even terms with me-"
The Major was silent-his legs shook.
"I am the challenged party. / have the
right You take this pistol and 1 will take
the other"
The Major took it, He recovered from
his agitation, and braved it out.
"Now come" cried Captain Valmy.
"Place the muzzle Of your pistol to my
heart, and 1 will place mine to yours. We
will stand till the gentleman from Ken
tuck counts three then we will both fire
together-and may God have mercy on our
souls"
The Major sprang back.
"I protest against su ch a mmderous,
such an unheard of mode"
"Well, you stand off and let me shoot
you"
The Majors face expressed the most
frightful passion. Death in either case
was inevitable. Exasperation seized the
wretched man. The passengers stood
watchfully around. The Major stepped
back.
.'Come," said he.
The two took their stations under the
mast, pistols in hand, as proposed. The
scene was one which could never be for
gotten.
There stood the terror-stricken Major,
stiff and upright, holding his pistol with
the fixedness 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
stop to this dreadful act-she invoked
every merciful and compassionate emotion.
She knelt before Valmy-and he, as his
lip trembled slightly, and the smallest
possible tear glistened in his eye, as he
answered
" Miss Greville, there was time when
you could have stopped this. 1t is too late
to stop it now-it must go on. I, who was
once immovable in resisting and enduring
insults, am now immovable in avenging
myself for countless wrongs. No. your en-.
treaties 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 his ease as if seated at the
head Of his table. The Kentuckian tool
ping it slowly against the taff-rail, he cried
out
"One p
Our hearts beat-we could hear then
beating.
"TwoP"
We held our breath.
The Kentuckian's stick went up Anoth
er moment, and the inevitable word woult
be spoken that would send two human be.
ings writhing in blood, to the deck.
9th"
The Major dashed his pistol upon th,
deck
II cannot-I win not % he cried. al
is impossible for flesh md blood to stant
thisW And without another word he rush
ed below.
Captain Valmy calmy ordered his boy t,
pick up the pistols, and then firing then
both off he turned to us. At the noise o
the Majors pistol striking the deck, and
hirnsnlf rnshinn 70 the skain rnnnn Ah.