The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-03-31

his blood first. !" ltf
What a sanguinary monster he must
be" was my internal reflection.
1.-THE meeting is appointed for to-
morrow morning, an hour before sun
rise" resumed the lieutenant. 1t is to
take place at Hoboken weapons, pistols;
distance, fifteen PAGES"
l" isn't that rather near 2" ventured
to remark.
"Near2 OF course, you want it near.
You will be more likely to hit your
man."
"And he will be more likely to hit
me-" rejoined.
"Of course" was the careless reply.
"You must take your chances of that"
/ could not help wondering whether
he would be SO cool about it were he the
principal, and the second. In fact, 1
have always observed that seconds are
much more scrupulous about the honor
of their principals than they are dis
posed to be about their own. / suppose
it is human nature. / think it alto
gether likely that / should make very
fierce second.
:" suppose you are used to pistols 2"
remarked my friend.
Used to pistols! remembered once
having fred one as boy, to the immi-
nent danger of my little sisters life.
Since then / had not had one in my
hands.
AS strolled out into the streets in an
unhappy frame of mind, newsboy
thrust into my hands a daily paper,
which mechanically bought. CHANGING
over the columns, observed that BOAT
was advertised as about to start that day
for Havana. The hour of departure was
four in the afternoon. A sudden
thought struck me. Would it not be
much better to embark for Cuba than re-
main behind to be shot "a result which
the state of my nerves and my want of
practice with the pistol rendered alto
gether probable.
With newborn alacrity, L Immediately
see the agent. He informed me that the
boat would positively start az the hour
indicated.
1 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. Gould it be possible
that my opponent, Capt. Achilles Brown,
had secured PASSAGE What could be
his motive2
"When did this gentleman book his
name MS passenger" Inquired.
"Not half an hour since"
"Did he understand that the boat
started to-day
eyes; he made particular inquiries
on that point"
"Will you describe him to mel Is
he tall 2"
eyes, quite so"
"And has black mustache9"
"Yes."
GA dark complexion, and wears large
cloak 2"
Precisely. You know him, then2"
every slightly" said I, carelessly.
"By the way, don't think 1 shall be
able to get away for a week. 1 won't
engage to-day"
"We would give you good accommo-
dations."
"No doubt of that. On the whole,
you needn't mention to Captain Brown
that anybody inquired for him."
Ny 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 joke that was! L laughed all the
way home, though 1 endeavored to pre-
serve my gravity. On the way home I
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 suita-
BILE ferceness, "no one shall with i'm.
punity insult lady while under my
protection.
During portion of the afternoon 1
practiced shooting at a mark. and was
never more lively than ct the tea table.
Lieutenant Eustace, who was present,
seemed considerably surprised at the
change in NY demeanor, and was evi-
IDENTITY puzzled to account for it,
After tea I invited the company to-
witness my will, which / had drawn up
for the sake of producing an impression.
1t proved quite Il master-stroke. L
noticed that Lieut.. Eustace treated me
with increasing respect, while Sophronia
TtDeuIeu several UlDlcS uuueI her DTedUu,
but loud enough for me to hear, Brave
man
All this enjoyed, and took the OPP
portunity to discourse severely upon
the sacredness 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 had
the pleasure of witnessing the falling of
the Ariel, Capt. Brown on board.
Whether this circumstance had anything
to do with inspiring in me these ele-
waited sentiments, 1 leave the reader to
judge.
The next morning at an early hour
/ proceeded to the field with my second.
Capt. Achilles Bre,On aDas nowhere
to be seen!
protested 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 dis
played under the circumstances, and
rendered their congratulations. The
affair even found its way into the pa
-pers, and found myself all at once ele-
waited into hero. / could not walk
Broadway without being furtively point
aI OH m, 4l.1 oa1aH,otaI .l,,aI,at