Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-07-07

eglnvfnr 10 = stem Of deer grass; the
stem. 10. was slightly tinged With
red. but on The other side we're two
more leaves Is green and juicy e
they were IN the spring The cold
that had interTened had not chilled
nor ~ithered them. The ephemeral
life Of the tender summer blades had
been preserved and prolonged % the
vivifying hearts blood of 3 strong
man.
Mr.. BieDvenu took bis position
next 20 the incarnadined shrub and
awaited the word.
Twas given md the men fired.
0nickly the seconds and surgeons
rushed - each, but there was no need
Of assistance. Neither had been
touched.
A leok Of disappointment came
over the faces Of two or three, but
1.-Two or three others were glad that
the bullets bad sped vide Of their
mark.
The seconds conferred and were
inclined to bring about an amicable
settlement.
No" vehemenlly exclaimed Mr..
Bienvenu. II have net come here
for fun, nor for an apology. / came
here to fight-fo kill him II / could,
and ] insist upon another shot.
Judge Phillips declared he was
not anxious, nor did be care what
was done; he was in the hands Of
his friends.
The excifable creole was gesticu.
lating and declaring to his seconds
that conferences were useless; they
had agreed to act for him. and be
desired that the duel should be TO q
/ finish
0nce more the accommodating Mr..
Nudge measured bis powder and
weighed his bullet. This time there
was 10 be no mistake. Life was in
the balance and blood should flow.
The men stood with the stocks Of
their guns on their hips. the muzzlei
at an angle Of forty-five degrees and
the hammer at full cock. Before
''oner had been called, the quick
creole had pulled the trigger. sDd tbs
sound Of two was lost In the re
port of Judge Phillips weapon.
Mr.. Bienvenu fell, raised his hand
and died.
1T is no use-he is shot through
the heart, sorrowfully said the sur
geon. and they bore him away.
His wife had lost q husband, bui
be had avenged what he had pleased
to term an insult with his life.
When the duelists left the ground
the two green leaves Of the deer
grass were no longer 50. The dead
man had fallen 70 the left Of The
sprig, a1d the leaves had dipped into
| his blood and taken its color.
-Four years AFTER, the writer visit
ed the spot when attending another
duel, which was fought in the vicin
| ity, and which ended by one Of ths
combatents receiving a Colichmard
thrust through the arm. The season
was winter. and everything around
seemed dead but the orange trees
with their yellow fruit, and the mag
nolias. The surroundings looked
lEtOolitl tuaH tuCy oHCI Otus 0uA u
seemed as If the stranger was tread
ing on unholy ground.
An undefnable something impell
ed him to search for the sprig Of
deer grass. There 1t was. keeping
guard over the ghosts of Cooley and
Bienvenu. Its color was then a deer
red, and its appearance that Of I
trusted wire. Il was petritied, bu
cemented by blood; its leaves wers
as fast to the stem as when at ma
lturity The winds from the Gull
had blown the Sound into storms
and havoc had been made with ths
giant oaks and pines in the back
ground; but the stream which hac
made human hearts beat, had KEEP
the little shrub erect and firm.
Two years more and the tree o.
blood had disappeared. Inquiry de
veloped the fact that an old negress
a voodoo woman, had stolen it, anC
was using it piecemeal in her fettisl
work. How many innocent head
slept over that murdered blood nj
one win ever know; old Celestine i
dead.