The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-08-17

appearance We were both anxious to be
thought brave men. He did not speak to
me- nor did l speak to him. Our seconds
conferred awhile together, and then Price
came to my side.
oMust this thing 90 on p he asked.
told him did not know how it could
be stopped. lied, for | did know.
He informed me that if | would make
the least overture of peace he felt sure that
Adams would accept it,
Il think, he said, that Adams is sorry
for what has happened. You struck him,
and he cannot retract.
And he called me a liar.
Il know he did, and know that he did
wrong. In fact, there was wrong upon
both sides. Offer him your hand, and |
think he will take it without word of ex-
PLANTATION.
No. | would not do it.
And why not? wanted to doit. My
heart urged me to do 1t. The spirit Of my
dear mother. speaking in those old lessons
of love aud blessing, urged me to do it.
And another spirit, clothed in a younger,
starry love. urged me to do it. God
speaking through His Son, urged me
To do it. The law of the land urged me
I 70 do it.
Aud yet l would not. was afraid that
men would say | was a coward, q, what
q precious coward | was.
aYou are both good shots, added Price,
'and if you FIRE together you may both
/ fall.
But dared not offer the hand of con
ciliatiou. | told him | was ready.
He went back to Watkins, and pretty
soon they measured of the ground-twelye
PAGES. We we're to stand back to back
those twelve PAGES apart. We were to
turn at the word one; we were To raise our
pistols at the word two; and at the word
three We were TO Ere | caught the eve Of
I.aban Adams as took nay position, and |
was sure that no angry passion dwclt
therein. For an instant the impulse was
with me to throw down my pistol aud offer
him my hand | was sure that he would
not rcfuse me Blu, had noi the courage
to do it. / would rather do the deep,
damaing wrong, than do tha, simple, Chris
tian act Of love
Our seconds hesitats,1, as though they
saw what was passing in our thoughts; but
We offered no word, and they proceeded.
The word one was given. cannos tell all
the feelings that came erowding upon me
al that moment | stood face TO face with
my brother. ia a moment morc We were to
offer our hands g. the internal stalu. ]
thought Of ms mother, in her distant
home, thought of the socnes Of my child
hooi. bright aud promising, thought Of
Inv college DAYS, when l.ahan Adams had
been nv friend and chnm ! ,h0ught Of
the hcly love which had bsamed upon me
since had grown 30 mans estate, and ]
Thought that, 10 oac short moment more,
the black pail might cover il al
Watkins was loug time IN prpnounciug
the wqrd Two. tie evidently hoPci that
one of u vSuull rrlent But hc hoped IN
vain
Only = breath held lack che last fatal
word. bat THAI worl Sas never spoken.
A. wc raised our pissols, sharp, agonired
cry, az from breaking heart, burst upon
the arr. and ia anOIhcr m0meni two slight
shadows ili,ied upon lhe scene. was a
prisoner Laban Aianss Ws- prisoner.
Oar pistols hy, un,isehargcd, upon the
sand
Two seusl,. u=iicns. who bowed Us better
than We love-l ourselves. aud whose luVe
had led them - deCp anxie,y IN Cur behalf,
had guessed our Secrc,- Love has sharp
syes. Clara wolcots knew l.aban's hot
temper when under st.ons exciictnrnt, and
sbe had feared ~lncghiug Of 'his kind fron
the first She had only ,o whisPeE her
su~picion- 70 Mary. and Two sleepis-ss ssu'i-
nsls were apou us
Those twe waru spirits. With Ihrir crivs
aud ,heir tears, melted shg icy cra,t, aud
our hearts found the suTfsoc.
20. ia tod maine, be eavmies no moTel
itaplored Clara
@By the love sou bear us--by the mrn-
ory of all you bold dear on earth, and all
yoa hope 20 uees ia heayen--east forth the
demon from your heart prayed Mary.
In an instant | resolved 10 be a man.
With the arms Of tuy beloved still eireliug
ms, stretched foTth MY hand; bat was
NOT in advance Of Labaa. As though one
spin, had moved us, our hands mct midEAy
Il have bcen ; fool. SAID Labaa
And / have bcon a fol and a coward,
aid |. Il was coward because | dared
not do right
AYE. cried Laban, ''we have both been
towards r
And. | added, had it not been for
these blessed angels, We might have been
something worse.
We returned from the dark ground just
As the day was s5ftenins into twilight, and
from that hour I.abau Adams and myself
were fas. friends, sud they who had saved
Us from the great crime entered upon the
life path with Us, aud have blessed rs ever
since