Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-11-10

will draw them Are you agreed?'
He clipped off his words as he con-
tinued, Tsrael will count. On the
three, we will fre?'
This time the MAJOR vouchsafed
agreement in words.
A minute more and Israel came for
ward slowly with the pistols, one in
either hand. At the Colonels order,
he laid them on fallen tree-trunk and
placed his hat over them. The Major
drew one his opponent took the other.
The two men took position back to
back, and then moved away five PAGES
and wheeled about so as to face each
other.
'1srael, said the Colonel bit husk-
ily, Count one, two, three, and, if ]
am killed, see that am decently
buried!'
The Major WINGED perceptibly at
this last order; but the next instant
was as calm and his face as impAssive
a, ever Both men raised their pistol
arms, and, strange to say, there was at
least n momentary tremor of the hands
and a nervous twitching of the lips as
thev looked into each others eyes.
"One!" counted Israel. The pistols
steadied and came into line with the
breasts of the men.
1.-TWO - Israel pronounced the word
distinctly, so that it cut sharply on
the sense OF hearing.
An instant's pause, then: Three -
The pistols cracked together, and a
cloud Of blue smoke curtained the men
and then drifted lazily before the
slight draft of air.
The Colonel, as erect as ever, quick
" bent to one side and peered past
the smoke at his opponent. His eyes
fell upon the Major, apparently nm
touched also. For a moment neithe.
spoke; but there was flash Of Joy III
the face of each, as quickly succeeded
by one of seeming modification. The
Major stepped forward.
"That was an inexcusable miss OF
yours. Colonel Beebe!" he exclaimed.
"No worse than yours, Major Haw-
kinsl" retorted the Colonel Ten
PAGES and a good light. You should
have hit to a certainty
"The trigger Of this confounded p'"
tol pulled too hard. :" explained the
Major, with haste.
"And Israel startled me by iumpil-
Just as we fired returned the Colonel.
The Colonel thought ne heard a
smothered laugh at this. He turned
like flash upon Israel, sudden Sis
picion coming to him.
Israeli 70 he fairly shouted; what
was the matter with the loading Of
those pistols? There was something
wrong! Confess it, YOU rascal ~
"Ob. Marse Kunn1. don't be killing
dis po man; but l didn't put no balls
in dose pistilsl 1 didn't want de
Major and yo' KILN each oder -
GIVE q good mind to horsewhip you
within an inch of your life began
the Colonel.
"But you WON'T" broke in the
Major.
Then the Colonel looked at the
Major, and the Major at the Colonel.
A smile appeared on the formers lips,
and the latter returned it. A moment
more, and the Colonel extended his
hand impulsively. The Major adj
vanced and grasped it firmly.
They stood there, holding each
others hands for on instant, and then
the Major observed slowly and en-
phatically, as if he were stating an in
disputable fact which he had inst dis
covered:
'Beebe, 7 think We are couple Of
old foolsl'
81 quite agree with you, Hawkins ~
returned the Colonel quite MS posi-
lively, and, as if by one impulse, the
two locked arms and walked of.
Israel stood watching them for n
minute. Then he picked up the pis-
tolls. and remarked sagely, but with
lust the slightest of quiyers in his
voice: "a coupr o ole fools l'-Ro-
nance.