The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-06-04
boat would positively start at the hour

indicated.
asked to see the list of passengers.
Running my eyes casually down the
list, my heart beat quickly as they fell
on the last name. Could it be possible
that my opponent, Captain Achilles
Brown, had secured passageY What
could be his motive?
"When did this gentleman book his
name as a passenger" Inquired.
Not half an hour since"
"Did he understand that the boat start
ed to-dayY"
Yes; he made particular inquiries on
"Will you describe him to me9 Is he
"Yes, quite So"
"And has black moustache?"
eyes"
"A dark complexion, ,..and wears large
cloak?"
Precisely. You know him, then ?"
every slightly" said I, carelessly. "By
the way, don't think / shall be able to
get away fora week. l won't engage to-
day"
"We would give you good accommoda-
tions."
"No doubt of that. On the whole,
you needn't mention to Captain Brown
that any body inquired for him."
My heart bounded with exultation, as
with some difficulty realized that my
opponent, whom had dreaded so much,
was about to leave the country from fear
of encountering me.
What a joke that was! / laughed all
the way home, though endeavored to
preserve my gravity. On the way home
purchased brace of pistols, which l
Ostentatiously displayed on reaching my
bOarding-place.
"To think you should risk your life
for me-" simpered the fair Sophronia.
"Miss Sophronia," said I, with suitable
fierceness, "nO one shall with impunity
insult lady while under my protection
During portion of the afternoon
practiced shooting at mark, and was
never more lively than at the tea-table.
Lieutenant Eustace, who was present,
seemed considerably surprised at the
change in my demeanor, and was evil
IDENTIFY puzzled to account for it.
After tea l invited the company to
witness my will, which had drawn up
for the sake of producing an impression.
Itproved quite masterstroke. noticed
that Lieutenant Eustace treated me with
increasing respect, while Sophronia re-
peated several times under her breath,
but loud enough for me to hear, Brave
mani"
All this / enjoyed, and took the oppor-
tunity to discourse severely upon the sa-
credness of honor, in defense of which l
asserted that any man ought to be willing
to lay down his life.
In the course of the afternoon 1 had
the pleasure of witnessing the sailing of
the Ariel with Captain Brown on board
Whether this circumstance had any thing
to do with inspiring in me these elevated
sentiments, leave the reader to Judge
The next morning, at an early hour, /
proceeded to the field with my second.
Captain achilles Bro,on acas mo achere to
be seen!
I professed great deal of disappoint-
ment, and insisted on waiting three hours
to allow him time to appear. OF course
it was in vain. All, however, testified to
the remarkable courage which displayed
under the circumstances, and rendered
their congratulations. The affair even
found its way into the papers, and l
found myself all at once elevated into
hero. could not walk Broadway with
out being furtively pointed out as the
celebrated duellist. Among the ladies,
particularly, l became an object of great
attentiOn--a circumstance that may well
excite surprise when it is considered that
my only claims to their regard lay i'm my
having been implicated in an affair which
the moral sense of the community pro-
fesses to condemn.
Soon afterward ! left my boarding
place, to the great regret of the fair So
phronia. / afterward learned that, had
Ishown the white feather, it was arranged
that Lieutenant Eustace should force me
into a marriage with his cousin, on pain
Of duel with himself. The extraordi-
nary show of courage which I exhibited
imposed upon him to such an extent that
he did not think it advisable to offer the
alternative, lest I should accept the duel.
have heard nothing of Captain Achil-
les Brown since the memorable day on
which he did me the service to sail for
Cuba: Had he possessed little more
courage, shudder to think what might
have been the result.