The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-09-13

rup6on; and i'm the clear moonlight of
that bright Southern night duel with
firearms was as practicable as in the
open day.
"a surgeon, also, was secured; and
quiet by this time having been restored,
we withdrew separately to evade obser-
Syatipn, and started FOR. the rendezvous
agreed upon, my friend and walking a
little behind the Others
:. IF / fall 1 heard my adversary say
to his friend, Il want You to write to
/ II fell back to avoid hearing what was
evidently not intended for other ears
.'Iwould gladly omit the recital of what
followed. Let me hasten over it as rapid
ly as possible.
cat retired spot near the river we
took our places. The word was given
and we fired together.
ga quick, sharp, burning pain shot
like flash athwart my temple. raised
my hand inyoluntarily, and felt the
roughened ridge left on the abraided
slzih the bullet fhatf 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.
''Instantly every feeling but that of
solicitude for his condition was banished
from my mind. hurried to his side. A
deadly pallor had already overspread
his face, and the blood was slowly trick
ling from wound in his uncovered
breast
Forgive me, said, STOPPING to take
his hand; 4 should have more firmly re-
sisted being drawn into a quarrel with
one against whom bore no grudge.'
II was wrong to force it on you,' he
replied, speaking slowly and with diff
Guilty.
'With smile he feebly returned the
pressure of my hand. Then his fingers
stiffened, the upturned eyes became
CLASSY, and the pale features fixed aid
rigid. knew had thenceforward to IN
swer to my conscience for fellow-crea-
ture's life.
at 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. was returning
now to claim the fulfllment of her prom
Use. ought to have felt supremely hap
py-1OouLd have done so but for the ever
haunting thought that the hand about to
clasp hers at the altar was stained with
blood.
al resolved that Alice should be the
first to whom / would unburthen my
troubled conscience. If any one could
soothe and bring it peace, it would be
she.
"They told me she was lying ill-very
i11-uhap 7 raaahad the door
Tell her 1 have come said-it
was all / could articulate.
''The messenger soon returned and
conducted me to her bedside, by which a
group of anxious, weeping friends were
assembled. And, OIL how like were her
pallid features to those had looked up
on in the moonlight on that fatal night.
"She looked up at my approach, smiled
sweetly and reached out her hand, which
l took eagerly.
"'I must leave you. Richard she
said, family. L must go to my poor,
dear brother. They viii tell you how
cruelty he was murdered. You never
saw him; but here is his picture that j
have kept by, my pillow. Take tit
will help remind you of me, for we were
very-very like. But harklLhe-calls
me!-I-I must gop
"And the gentlest, purest spirit that
ever animated mortal clay took its Heay-
onward flight!
From the dear face, still beautiful in
the repose of death, my eyes wandered
to the picture in my hand. A half sup
pressed cry rose to my lips. Itwas that
of the fair youth the voice of whose blood
crying from the ground was never more
to cease ringing in my earsi
"'Thank Godr rose the prayer front
my anguished soul, she died without
knowing whose was the cruel hand that
crushed her tender, loving hearth ~
Y. Ledger.