The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-03-16

| - nave no cause OF quarrel Will
you,.. said, unless yousc choose to max
one.'
L choose to discover one,' he replied
Ihls gentleman is my recognized asso
clate and friend. Therefore your asper
SION OF him reflects. directly on myself
disclaim any such reflection. !.
returned.
our disclaimer cannot alter th,
fact he fsjoined with sometime O
hoteur. insist on your meeting eithe
MN or me-unless, indeed, pr,tde,stia
motives should decide you to decline
was already too much irritated t.
be conciliatory.
S.Very wen,'s said, sbe it as fvoa,
will 80 '''
" At that moment l saw gentleman
standing near with whom L had partial
acquaintance, and beckoning him to me
explained what had occurred, requesting
mm TO represent me in the affair, which
he consented to do. Kfsf - - ST Z
| A whispered consultation, held apart
between this gentleman and one selected
by the challenger, resulted in an ar.
rangement for an immediate meeting
with pistols. This was thought prefera.
bic to deferring the affair till n1orninp
as the publicity of the alteration at the
card-table might. lead to official inter.
| rt1ption; and in the clear MOONLIGHT 81
that bright Southern night duel with
flre-arms le-a 7I was as practicable as in the
open day. ! LIS To
"a surgeon. also, was secured; and
quiet by this time having been restored,
we withdrew separately to evade obser-
vatior, and started for the rendezvous
agreed upon, my friend and Iswalkinp 4
little behind the others.
"IfrI fall, heard my adversary say
to his friend, L want you to write to-
81 fell back to avoid hearing what was
evidently not intended for other ears.
81 would gladly omit the recital of what
followed. Let me hasten over it as rapid-
ly as possible.
sat retired spot near the river we
took our places. The word was given
and We fired together g@ at
"a quick, sharp, burning pain shot
like flash athwart my temple. raised
my hand involuntarily, and felt the
roughened ridge left on the abraided
skin by the bullet that had so nearly
pierced my brain.
An exclamation drew my attention
to my adversary. He lay stretched upon
the ground, the surgeon and his second
bending over him. ..s.
INSTANTLY every feeling but that of
solicitude for his condition was banished
from my mind. i hurried to his side. A
deadly pallor had already oyerspread
his face, and the, blood was slowly trick
ling from a wound in his uncovered
breast. .nA .4.snss ~ Us ~
!" Forgive me, said, STOPPING to take
his hand; i should have more firmly re-
sisted being drawn into a quarrel with
one against whom / bore no grudge.'
:" i was wrong to force it on YOU, he
replied, speaking Slowly and with diff
Guilty. f-s1 .r-,>,g.s -.
with a smile he feebly. returned the
pressure of my Hand. Then Els fingers
stlffened, the upturned eyes became
CLASSY, and the pale features, fixed and
rigid. knew had thenceforward to an
swer to my conscience for fellow-crea.
ture's life.' 80 3 afsI2 sfFfu
1T was with very different feelings /
approached my home from those with
which | had left it two months before.
Then was looking forward, with buoy
ant Hopes and spirits, to the end Of the
brief period to elapse before my wedding
with Alice Lockwood. I was returning
now to claim the fulfi1lment of herprom.
lse. [ ought to have felt ltsupremely hap
py-avoud have done so but for tineeyer
haunting thought that the hand about to
clasp hers at the altar was stained with
blood.
Il resolved that Alice should be the |
irst to whom I would unburthen nv
'roubled conscience. IF any one could |
'oothe and bring it peace, it would be
The.
''They told me she was lying ill-very
H-when reached the door.
"'Tell her I have come,' I said-it |
vas all Icould articulate. aNiA
The messenger soon returned and |.
conducted me to her bedside, by which a +
,roup of anxious, weeping friends were
ssembled., And, oh! how like were her.
'allid features to those I had looked up
n in the moonlight on that fatal night.
"She lookedup at my approach, smiled
weetly and reached out her hand, which
took eagerly.
.'.sI must leave you. Richard,' she
aid, family I must go7t to my poor,
ear brother. They will tell you how.
raelly he was murdered. You never
aw him; but here is his picture that /
ave kept by my pillow. Take tit
I'LL help remind you of me, for we were
like. But hark!-he-ealls
must gor
"And the gentlest, purest spirit that
yer animated mortal clay took its Heav-
inward fight!
From the dear face, still beautiful in
le repose of death, my eyes wandered
, the picture in my hand. A half sup
ressed cry rose to my lips. Itwas that
the fair youth the voice of whose blood
crying from the ground was neyermore
cease ringing in my ears! as ia
9" Thank Godr rose the prayer from
y anguished SOUL she died without
moving whose was Che cruel hand that
'ushed her tender, loving hearth W .
. Ledger. L,
-stsAyoung naturalist writes as to
l. Il Il e