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

IL
ing through marshes; then came the narrow
neck of lake, which / crossed in a boat inge-
niously fastened to both banks by the same
rope, by hauling on which You ferTied yourself
over; after that it was all pretty steep hills.
Trying TO cut OF corner, lost the track; but
as II was perfectly clear day, without wreath
OF cloud or fog visible, that did not much mat
ter. had only 70 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 site of long deserted mine,
as was shown by shaft which had been sunk
directly in my path and shuddered as 1
peered into the unprotected abyss, and thought
that if clouds had settled dcwn upon the range
mere was nothing to have prevented my walk
ing right into It.
81 had taken a light lunch with me, and this
seemed good place TO rest and eat il in. So
sat under the shadow OF d 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 his chest, and regarding me in threatening
manner. need not describe him to you,
madam-it was your husband.
"'Your name is Peters? he observed.
1es,, said but, pardon me, you have the
az seek none he replied. you desire nv
death, and have followed You here to give you
fair and equal chance OF composing it. L
also desire yours
"'My dear sir said 1, 'you are Iaboring IN
der very great mistake; ] have DO affecting
towards you. Why should l wish the death Of
perfect Stranger
Z" Because you could marry his widow
"And Their, madam, ho mentioned you, and
said that he had been watching me for
month past. And he put most extraordinary
Interpretation upon our innocent scq uainttncs-
ship.
''when protested that he was in error, and
that had not even known till that moment
that you were a married woman, be said that
such cowardly evasion should avail me moth
ing, and, producing brace OF pistols, he chal-
leDged me to fight him.
aFy h 10 InI
of complaint against me, which was absurd he
had bis 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 q 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 his death? But the
safety of the survivor can be yet further Sc
cured; be 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 L am
here to fight, not to argue. Here is your pis-
tol-loadeds but not eapped-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 fatter yourself that your precau-
tlons Will avail, cried, in considerable trepi-
dation; Murder will out; and you will forfeit
your life for mine
"'Thst makes no odds to me- he replied.
h FGRs IKE you have made life an rnsufferabIe
Poor man! how he loved me-" sighed the
lady.
81 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 cai.cd ont
"'Hsve you capped your pistol?"
81 had not, but did so, mechanically. ] do
kr1nru uRry FnrT Spby had txxAap
firing at him. But, in truth, was like one in
a dream.
CATER 1 have counted five, it is lawful to
fire. he cried, presently.
"I had seen The Rivals performed, and
knew from Bob Acres how to stand so as to show
the smallest front to the adversary. also held
my pistol pointed towards him, covering my
body with it and my right arm as well as
could.
"At that moment remember that CLEAN OF
comfort shot across my mind-Was it all prac-
teal joke?
"'One, two, three, four, fYe!'
81 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. 1 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 ii might with duelsts. Only-oh,
hOrror!-he would come and drag me to that
awful hole, and thrust me over the edge. i
have far greater dread of falling from
as,t 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-
Perimented upon myself, and observed-on the
brink OF precipice, / lose my humanity and
become the most ignOble of reptiles. l don't
suppose there Is any meanDess, any crime,
would not swear TO commit to save myself from
being showed over. | determined to grapple
with my foe in good earnest when 1t came to
that. How / regretted that my pistol had gone
i ready
when he stopped over me.
"But he did not come When minute, sup
pose, had elapsed, OpeEed my eyes and glanced
rOund-he was not near. cautiously raised nv
head, so as 70 see in the direction where be had
last stood-te was not there. 1 sat up. Where
had he gone to-
"The blood was flowing rather freely from a
wound in my leg, just above the knee. | tied
my pocket handkerchief as tightly as | could
round the place, and got on II my feet. My
hurt did not, TO my surprise, prevent me from
walking, so advance & to the edge OF the shaft,
and ssw-bls pistol"
Gwen, we'll said the lady, "pray go on.
Here, take another glass OF sherry. Tnat is it.
Now, what next?'
''My first idea was OF relief, that il he was
ProwliDg in the neighbOrhOod, he was at least
unaTmed. My second-Oh, madam, you can
guess what my dread was, and, alas! is. My
pistol went of; 1t 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 Ih2ve never before uttered it
the thought that perhaps am murderer"
AND Mr.. Peters buried his face in his hands.
Then you never saw him again." the lazy
asked, when he was calmer.
"Neyer. i looked up and down the mountain,
and TO either side; but was alone. kicked the
pistol into the shaft, and threw the one still
held in my hand after II, aud 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, man WAS stoOping
over me with flask in his hand. In reply to his
questions, told him that had met with an
accident while pistol practieing, which was
literally true. With great difficulty, he helped
me to the top of SnowdOn, and there | 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 1 was lit to leave.
Glad enough was to get rid of him, for | was
always dreadlng lest he should ask how /
managed to iD1ict a wound with such a direc-
ton on myself but, happily, the idea never
seemed to occur TO him"
"why did you feel that dread ?" the lady
asked, soothingly. "Why did you attempt TO
conceal what b ad happened? Nv unfortunate
husband brought his fate upon himself. You
could not possibI y incur any blame"