Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-03

over; alter that il was sill pretty steep hills
Trying to cut OFF corner, lost the track; but
Of cloud or fog visible, that did not much mat
Ter. had only to keep on going up, unless
the ascent led me away from the principal
summit, which was visible nearly all the way.
"At midday, came to gap in the side Of
the mountain, the rite of 3 long deserted mine,
az was shown By shaft which had been sunk
directly IN my path and 1 shuddered as
that II clouds had settled down upon the range
there wss nothing to have prevented my walk
ing right into IL.
al had taken a light lunch with me, and this
seemed good place to rest and eat it in. SO
sat under the shadow OF rock and refreshed
myself.
al was interrupted in this pleasant employ
ment by foOtstep; and looking up / saw
man standing before me, with his arms folded
on bus chest, and regarding me in threatening
manner. need not describe him to you,
madam-it was your husband.
"'YOur name is Peters, he observed.
ives, said | but, pardon me, you have the
" Il seek none, he replied. You desire nv
death, and have followed you here to give you
q fair and equal chance OF comprising it. L
also desire yours
"'My dear sir said I, 'you are laJoring I'M
der very great mistake; have no ill-fselin2
towards you. Why should l wish the death Of
perfect strangerP
"And Their, madam, he mentioned you, aud
said that he had been watching me- for a
month past. And he put most extraordinary
Interpretation uponour innocent SCI uaintsnce-
ship.
"when protested that he was in error, and
that had not even known till that moment
that yOu were a married woman, he said that
such cowardly evasion should avail me moth
ing, and, producing a brace Of pistols, he chal-
leDged me to fight him.
al explained to him that if he had any cause
of complaint against me, which was absurd, be
had his remedy at law; that the practice of
dueling was foolish, unchristian, and obsolete;
that no one had fought with deadly weapons in
this country for quarter of century; that ii
we now revived the custom, the survivor would
be hung.
"'Not so,' said yeur husband; I'VE are alone,
and in a desolate part of the mountain. The
one who falls might lie here for months before
his skeleton WAS discovered; and who would
suspect how he came by bis death? But the
safety of the survivor can be yet further Sc
cured; he has but to drag his defeated enemy
to the blink of yonder mine shaft; little force
would suffice to tumble it into the gulf; and
then, what trace would be possible? But ana
here TO fight, not to argue. Here is your pis-
tol-loaded, but not capped-and here are caps.
Stay where you are, and will take up my posi-
ton near the edge of the shaft, which will save
you trouble If luck attends you.'
"'Do not hatter yourself that your precau-
tlons will avail, cried, in considerable trepi-
dation. Murder will out; and you will forfeit
"'That makes no odds to me- he replied.
,FoPs Ike you have made life an Insufferable
Poor man! how he loved mel" sighed the
lady.
ST could hardly believe that he was in earn
est" continued Mr.. Peters; "but he retired to
the spot he had mentioned, near the mouth of
the hole, thirteen or fourteen yards of, and
presently csi,cc<H. out
octave you capped your pistol?"
81 had not, but did so, mechanically. / do
not know why, for think | had no intention OF
firing at him. But, in truth, was like one in
a dream.
".After have counted five, it is lawful to
fire > he Cried presently.
knew from Bob Acres how TO stand so as to show
the smallest front to the adversary. 1 also held
my pistol pointed towards him, covering my
body with it and my right arm as well as
"At that moment remember that CLEAN of
comfort shot across my mind-Wasi it all prac-
teal joke?
"'One, two, three, four, fvel'
VI felt sharp pang in my right leg, which, /
suppose, caused me TO clutch the weapon held
convulsively, for it exploded as fell to the
ground. knew that was hit, and determined
to lie quite still, and pretend to be insensible.
had heard that such plan answered with bears
and thought it might with duelsts. Only-oh,
awful hole, and thrust me over the edge.
have far greater dread of falling from
a height than OF any other kind OF
and Illogical, for such an ending must be
painless; but it is not matter Of reason. The
cause is purely physical, and has something to
do with the brain or stomach. Ihave often ex-
Perimeuted upon myself, and observed-on the
brink OF precipice, / lose my humanity and
become the most ignoble of reptiles. | don't
suppose there is any meanness, any crime,
would not swear TO commit to save myself from
being showed over. / determined to gFapple
with my foe in good earnest when it came TO
that. How regretted that my pistol had gone
OF j was quite ready now to shoot him with IL
when he stopped over me.
"But he did not come. When minute, 1 sup
pose, had elapsed, opened my eyes and glanced
rOund-he was not near. / cautiously raised nv
head, so as TO see in the direction where he had
last stoOd-he was hot there. l Eat up. Where
had he gone to?
"The blOed was flowing rather freeIv from
wound in my leg, just above the knee. | tied
my pocket handkerchief as tightly as | could
round the place, and got on ID my feet. My
hurt did not, to my surprise, prevent me from
walking, so l advance d TO the edge OF the shaft,
'Weli, we'll" said the lady, "pray 90 on.
Here, take another glass OF sherry. That is it.
"My first idea was OF relief, that If he was
prowling in the neighbOThOod, he was at least
unarmed. My second-oh, madam, you can
guess what my dread was, and, alas! is. NV
pistol went of, it was pointed in his direction;
he was standing on the edge Of the pit. Oh, the
thought has been wearing me to death ever
since, though Ihave never before uttered 1t
the thought that perhaps am a murderer"
And Mr.. Peters buried his face in his hands.
Then you never saw him again?" the lazy
asked, when he was calmer.
and to either side; but was alone. kicked the
pistol into the shaft, and threw the one still
held III my hand after il, AMI listened; but
never heard them fall. Then L went on my way,
and struck the proper path; but before had
got thousand yards higher, pain, the loss of
blood, and horror, caused me TO faint. When
came TO nv senses again, a man WAS stOoping
over me with Il ask in his hand. In reply to his
questions, told him that had met with an
accident while pistol practicing, which was
literally true. With great d1fficulty, he helped
me to the top of SnOwdOn, and there l got
pony, which had carried up some lady who
kindly consented to walk down, and was taken
To Llanberris, where a surgeon dressed my
wound, and ATTENDED me till was ii to leave
Glad enough was to get rid of him, for was
always dreadlng lest he should ask how |
managed to indict a wound with such direc-
ton on myself; but, happily, the idea never
seemed to occur to him"
why did you feel that dread 2" the lady
asked, soOthingly. "Why did you attempt to
conceal what sd happened? Nv unfortunate
husband brought his fate upon himself. You
could not possibi y incur any blame"
could not, though 2" replied Mr.. Peters
All, madam, you know little OF the English
law, which would never enter into the rights OF
the matter. Two men met and had a duel;
one was xii led-therefOre the survivor must be
hung. 1t would not take into account that this
unfortunate survivor was forced into his I'M
lawful position against his will. He must trust