Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-12-11

and'freshed myself.
'Lyas interrupted by footstep, and
lOOkg up saw man standing before me,
will his arms folded on his chest,
and garding me in Il threatening manner.
| ne not describe him 10 you. madam
it W. your husband.
'Hnr, name is Peters ? he observed.
'I3.' said L {; but pardon me, You have
the ayantage of me-
'Ieek none,' he replied. You desire
my doth, and have followed you here to
give yu fair and equal chance Of COM
passin:it. also desire yours
'M.dear sir, said ], you are laboring
under very great mistake have no i'll
feeling owards you. Why should | wish
the deah Of a perfect stranger 2
Because you could marry his widow
'Andthen, madam, he mentioned you,
aud SAID that he had been watching me for
month past. And he put a most extraor-
dinary Interpretation upon our innocent ac-
quaintancoohip.
When L protested that he was in error,
and that / had not even known till the
moment that you were married woman,
be said that such cowardly evasion should
avail me nothing, and producing brace of
pistols, he challenged me to fight him.
Il 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, unchris-
tan and obsolete that no one had fought
with deadly weapons in this country for a
quarter Of 4 century that if we now re-
vived the custom the survivor would be
hung.
''Not So said you husband we are
alone, and in desolate part of the noun
tain. 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 secured he has but to drag
his defeated enemy to the brink of yonder
mine shaft ; little force would suffice to tum-
BILE it into the gulf; and then, what trace
would be possible? But l am here to fight
not to argue. Here is your pistol loaded
but not capped--and here are caps. Stand
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 pre-
cautions will avail, cried, in considerable
tripidation. Murder will out, and you
will forfeit your life for mine
THAT makes no odds to me, he replied.
-'Fops like you have made life an insufie-
rable burden to me-
Poor man how he loved me = sighed the
ady.
Il could hardly believe that he was in
earnest continued Mr.. Peters but he re-
.iIed to the spot he had mentioned, near
he mouth of the hole, thirteen or fourteen
yards of, and presently called out
''IIave you capped your pistol ?
4 had not, but did so, mechanically.
10 not know why, for l think had no in
ention of firing at him. But, In truth,
vas like one in a dream.
AFTER l have counted five, it is lawful
o fire. he cried presently.
4 had seen The Rivals performed, and
;new from Bob Acres how to stand SO as
o show the smallest front to the adversa-
y. also held my pistol pointed towards
lin, covering my body with it and my
light arm as well as could
AT that moment I remember that q
,leam of comfort shot across my mind.
Vas it all a practical joke ?
One, two, three, four, five =
1 felt a sharp pang in my right leg,
which, suppose, caused me to clutch the
Weapon held covulsive!y, for it exploded |
s fell to the ground. knew that was
lit, aud determined TO lie quite still, and |
,reten to be insensible. l had heard that !
uch a plan answered with bears, and /
houghl it might with duelists. Only oh /
Iorror he would come and drag me to :
hat awful hole and thrust me over the |!
Gge. l have a far greater dread Of falling /
rom height than of any other kind Of /
cath, even that by fire. 1t is very foolish !
nd Illogical, for such an ending must be /
,ainless but it is not matter of reason. (
The cause is purely physical, and has some /
hing to do with the brain or stomach. l /
ave often experimental upon myself, and ,
on the brink Of a pricipice, lose ,
ny humanity and become the most ignoble .
f reptiles. I don't suppose there is any
leauness, any crime, | would not swear to
Ommit to save myself from being showed
yer. determined to grapple with my
De in good earnest when it came TO that. /
low regretted that my pistol had gone
#? was quite ready now to shoot him
With it when he stopped over me.
But he did not come. When minute, /
suppose, had elapsed, | opened my eyes
nd glanced round-he was not near. |
autiously raised my head, so as TO see in
he direction where he had last stOOd-he |
vas not there. sat up. Where had he .
one to 2
The blood was flowing rather freely .
rom 4 wound in my leg, Just above the
nee. l tied my pocket-handkerchief as
lightly as l could round the place, and got !
N to nay feet Ny hurt did not, to my
urprise, prevent me from walking, so /
dyanced to the edge of the shaft, and saw
his pistol
We'll, well,' said the lady, pray, 90 on.
Icre, take another glass of sherry. That /
S it. Now, what next = !
My first idea was one Of relief, that If
e vas prowling in the neishborhoOd he
vas ut least unarmed. My seCoud--0h, ,
madam, you can guess what my dread was,
nd, alas is. My pistol went off, it was
,ointed in his direction ; lie was standing
n the edge of the pit. Oh the thought
as been wearing he to death ever since,
hough have never before uttered 1.-THE /
Al, rIo I ,,,,,r,JorarF y