The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-01-07

he said Write your note while go and
speak with young Joncs-a very honest
and trustworthy young fellow.
Shortly after this the gallant old man
took his departure.
Everything came off as arranged. True
| hy was dispatched across the country.
The military gentleman made disappear
arcc punctually at Z o'clock. There was
n slight d,murer ut choice of weapons.
but then. remembering, 40 doubt that
lli~ principal was held almost as deadly
with the lapicr rs the pistol, no peima-
ncut objection was made, aud it was
! agr, Cd tuat each IMAM should br at the
| place ui rendezvous punctuaIly at 10
o'clock. and alone. Arrangements were
made rs to length of wCapons-in 'ced,
| the Major had sent down pair. of
which Curtis desired his opponents en-
miSsaiy then AMI there TO select the one
he peiprrcd; IN fact. although by no
means Of Il hloodthIstv nature. the
whole soul ,f our young Lieutenant was
i'll arms aud has'y to aycnge many gal
lant youth. and. above all n dastardly
act Of at mpt,d villainy. which he could
not even think of without burning with
a righteous anger.
And so the minutes glided on. Con
| tliving rs best he could to conceal the
weapon he carried the Young sailor pass
ed quietly along the village, and as the
| chimes from the iyy-clad tower of the
old church struck the hour, he appeared
at the fatal spot Almos, at the same
moment his enemy appeared from the
opposite direction. 1t was no part oi his
Plan to daily. H. therefore walked Iii
rect to his man and said to him:
'Rcuben Carr. have pocknbook of
yours lou will ird it in the coat | am
about to lay aside. You are an urtter.,
able villain, and ! mean to Kill VOID
DIaw your weapon.
He had. even while speaking, divesfed
| himself Of his coat and stood on guarsl,
waiting till his opponent should do the
same. He showed no purpose of fol
lowing Curtis example, but simply drew
his sword, aud in ON" moment their
Ibladcs were crossed While manoeuyer-
ing for vautag ground. and to place his
! oppo ZEN; q ~ site the sun, the bravo eX-
posed himself to the point of his enemy's
weapon He rctreatcd 70 his surprise
Curtis dil the same His surprise was
| but Of mum"ntary duration. In the fol
| lowing moment he was Il dead man. The
young sailor. whose wonderful agility
was equal to his enormous power of
wrist. made one sudden, irresistible
spring of four yards, and passing his
weapon through his adversary's throat,
at once severed the spine where it joined
the brain. AS he stood gazing on the
quivcrimg form of his former school-fel-
low, Il double report rang through the
air He felt hot, scorching sensation
along the check, and on looking up saw
the man from whose weapon the foul
shot had come spring high in the air and
fall back n corpse
The Major and young Jones at the
same momou' appeared through the en-
closure while the figure of another man
mounted on horseback was seen rapidly
scuddine across an adjoining meadow.
Nor was this the only surprise. The
sound of horses hoofs urged to their ut
most speed was heard on the distant
dusty Highway, and iii another minute
Trueby and a female rider drew up theii
iaded horses outside the enclosure.
The mans story was short. He haC
: met the young lady fleeing by nigh
- from an attack of which she had beer
, forewarned, and they had ridden in th'
= hope. on fair Rosess part, of intercept
, ing duel which she had been malicious
E ly Informed beforehand should eventu
e ate fairly or foully, in the death of he
= lover
e She had ovcrtasked her strength. He
+ excrtous, added TO the fearful emotion
+ of suspense and fear, now proved to
+ much for her, She sank from her hors
e but only to fall into the arms of the 10y
5 er whom she had expected to see
e corpse.
g That was wonderful pass of your
l. Curtis. But why did you aim at tn
e throatg
1t Il will whisper When my swor
point touched him ! felt hard substanc
1 When stood over him | caught sigl
of tie cause. You will find the felon
felon to the last. He wore chains,rm
under his shirt.