Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-09-30
CHAPTER XVIII.
VIM TIN a IIEs
THE DUEL BY MOONLIGHT.

The plantation of Silas Craig, at
lberyille, was situated. as we have al
ready said, upon the borders of a wood;
a luXuriant forest, stretching for miles
upon the banks Of the Mississippi,
varied every here and there by undu-
latlng dellS and pools of water. living
hidden beneath the shadow of giant
trees, whose branches had waved for
centuries above solitude, broken only
10y the fleet foot of the Indian.
1t was III this forest that tie unhap-
py and martyred quadroon Francilia
lay in her quiet grave-a grassy mound.
marked only by the rude wooden cross
erected at its head by the faithful mu-
latto, Toby.
Here. at least, the lovely child of an
accursed and trampled race was free
Here no master dared modest her tran
quill Slum3er. Death sets the slave and
the pris ,ner alike at liberty.
The red sun sank in crimson Splen-
dor beneath the purple waters OF the
mighty river; upon every f0reSt-treG
cleaned golden reflections of the dying
light: upon the bosom Of each quiet
pool the last SunbeamS faded and lick
cred III the ShadoWy twilight, while,
calmly beautiful, the moon rose in her
tranquil glory, bathing forest and river
In Il flood Of slvery radiance.
The last glimmer of crimson light
was slowly fading as two men advanc-
ed through one of the PATHWAYS Of the
WOOd-a pathway sc oVerarcheu by the
rich spreading branches Of the trees,
that it seemed one verdant arcade.
Each of these men carried a carbine
upon his shoulder. and a powder flask
slung at MS side.
The first was William Bowen, the
aln al I,
panion was Augustus Horton. They
emerged from the arcade into an open
piece of turf, around which the trunks
of the giant trees formed species of a
wall
Where, in the name of all that's dia-
bollcal, are you leading me, Biil?" said
Augustus, looking about him.
L guess you don know your way in
this here wood by moonlight, Mr. Hor-
ton" answered Bill Bowen. laughing;
but we re all right for all that. This
is the spot where we appointed to meet
that young Englishman and your pre-
ciouS cousin. Mr.. Mortimer Percy, who
ought to be ashamed of himself for TAX
ing Il Britisher part against his own
countryman, and against his own flesh
and blood, too, as far as that goes"
Curse him" muttered Augustus be-
tween his teeth.
Curse him, and welcome. sir. for my
part-out this is where we promised to
meet him and his friend. We're close
against Craig'S plantation. You could
See the niger hutS beyond the trees if
the leaves were not SO tarnation thick"
"Hark!" said the young planter;
what that"
The rustling of the leaves announced
the arrival OF the two men for whom
ftn{ h.a
the same pathway as that bv which
Augustus and Bill had come
What 5 that?" echoed Bow ven: "why
it S your cousin and his friend, | guess;
SO keep Your powder dry"
Mortimer Percy and Gilbert Mar
grave drew near them as William Bow
en- spoke. The four men bowed stildy
To each other.
q fear that we have kept you wait
ing" said Mortimer. I'VE lost our way
in the dusk, and have wasted ten mln-
uteS IN finding 1t"
Bowen ami [ have only just ar
rived" answered Augustus. Have YOU
brought Your own WeaponS.'
we couldn't get pair of dueling
pistols in the neighborhood," replied
Percy; but I have brought case Of
| revolvers."
"Revolvers be hanged," cried Bowen,
| advancing between Augustus Horton
and his cousin. I'll tell you what it is,
! gentlemen; the best thing that you can
| do is to fight with these here carbines-
neither OF which has ever missed hre
| since they came out of the gunmaker S
hands. See yonder," he added, point,
ing to a circular dell. shut in by the
trees which sheltered it, and light as
day in the broad moonbeams; see
there. gentlemen. Wonder bit of ground