The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-06-26

| ushereu upon tho scene, in the shape of
one whose only reputation consisted in
being professed duelist, and possessing
great wealth, suing for the hand of the fair
Alice, who was cntrcated, almost COM
manded, by her parents to accept his pro-
posals, and who represented to her that
Trevore was stranger, Of whom she knew
nothing; whereas her present lover stood
high in the ranks of the American army,
ana who had never made any serious over,
lures for her hand--he was accepted, but
| with she assurance that her heart never
| could be his. The parents appointed an
| early day for the marriage, as, in those
stormy times, it was impossible to know
when q regiment might be ordered to some
| distant post
| 'Thc tidings of the bctrothal fell like a
denth-blow upon the hopes of Marston
| Trcvorc. Hc left Dryburn with scarcely a
| moments notice; and repairing instantly to
camp. entered the tent of Colonel Boyd-
ton, his commander and successful rival,
and desired q commission for his resi-
| ment, as 1t was his wish to Join the main
army.
"'What is your hurry, Trcvorc2' said
the Colonel, in snecring tone, for he was
aware that he was addressing a disap-
pointed suitor; you probably know that l
am 20 be married in a few days, and cx-
pcct, OF course, to see my gallant lieutenant
at the wedding"
''rhis was too much for human forbear-
ancc. Trcvore seized a wine glass from
the table, and hurled it full in the face of
his commander, who, bending his head
in time to avoid the blow, drew his sword,
and rushed upon Trevorc, who stood pre-
pared to meet him. The clash OF their
weapons, as they came together, was
heard without; and several soldiers,
entered the tent, disarmed the combatants
| When he recovered his breath, BoYdtoa
| shouted:
"rrevorc, you shall suffer for this! Go,
| l will communicate with you IN a short
time"
t'Trevorc retired to his own tent, and
it was not long before he received note,
signed by Colonel Boydton, requesting
secret meeting on that day week, my
| wedding day as he said. The weapons
/ were to be pistols. I need not say any
more than that the challenge was accept
ed
| ''The days rolled on. The appointed
time, O'Clock in the morning, found the
adversaries at the place Of meeting. 1t
was calm lovely summers morning, SEEM
| inaly little fitted for deeds of blood. But
| little time was spent in measuring the dis
tancc; and, i'll a few moments, the rivafs
stood face to face.
Make yourpeacc with God, Trevore,'
said Boydton; for you will not live beyond
another hour. Look above"
A crow was flying along, high over
| head; Boydton raised his pistol, and fired;
the bird fell directly between them.
''Sce you that" said he; 'now, can YOU
| doubt the correctness of my aim 2"
'"rhc dying bird tapped its wing against
the foot OF Trevorc, as O replicd: 'Fool,
doubt it not-lIfe Or death is of little mo-
ment to me-"
''rhey raised their pistols, aud fired at
the same moment. When the smoke
| cleared away, Boydton was standing un-
hurt, while l'revore had fallen, shot through
the head. AS Boydton approached him,
he reused himself; his eyes slowly opened;
| and, recognizing his enemy, he uttered the
| words: Beware! beware! DEATH shuU
form no barrier to my revenge" The
rattle sounded in his throat, and he fell
back, dead! Boydton drew his sword,
and, with ticndish barbarsm, severed his
head from its body, and, tossing it asldc
hurricdly left the place.
''In Dryburn, pleasure ran high; for it
was night when Alice, the favorite daugh-
ter OF the proprietor, was to be wed. The
| designated time had come round the
| visitors had assembled, the priest was
there; but still the groom come not. The
wind without had increased to gale, and
was now raging fearfully. Peal on peal of
thunder rcvcrberatedalong the distant hills,
while lurid flashes of lightning revealed a
scene Of wild desolation. The hours wore
slowly on, till the large clock in the hall
tollcd the hour Of midnight, when horses
hoofs were heard clattering along the road,
until the sound ceased in front of the man
sion. The door was opened Assisted
no other than the groom) alightcd from
his horse and entered the house. lie took
notice Of none, but walking straight up to
the bride, threw off the covering which
had cnvclopcd and concealed his whole
form, and caught her in his arms She
screamed wildly, and fell back fainting.
The guests shrunk back aghast, for they
saw that he was hcadlcss? A hollow,
scpulchral voice was heard, rs though
from the horse without, and the fury of
the storm seemed to be stayed while 1t
spoke:
81 have come to claim my brdc-scpar-
ated on earth, we shall live together in the
gravel"
Gle paused not; but, bearing the sense
less bride in his arms, dashed over the
doorway, sprang on his horse, and rode
furiously away. 1t only remains tor nc
to say, that the next morning Colonel
Boydton was found dead in his tent, with
two purplc marks upon his throat.
MY story is over now. Popular tra-
dition has it, that to this present time, on
wild stormy nights at the hour of twelve,
hcadless horscman, carrying his head be-
fore him on his saddle bow, may be th,ln-
derng through the camp woods; while,
with the clattcr of his horses hoofs, a
woman's Shrek is heard, mngling with
the signing of the gale"
SponLe Underclothing.