The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-11-09

There was no reply, and again he ,
raised his voice. This time there WAS |
au answering cell and shufiling of |
feet, which gradually became more !
distant. A little later n white haired
old colored man came into view.
"D'yo call, Marse Kunu'l?' he
asked, stopping at the edge of the
bushes and scraping with one foot
while he fingered battered straw hat.
"Yes." said the Colonel. You
know those pistols of mine in my
dressing case Fetch them to me =
"Yo' dewelin pistils?"
Eyes. Be quick,,oo
The colored man looked at the men
in turn. He noted the attitude of each
and the look in their faces.
"Yo' amt goin' { fight, Marse?' he
ventured anxiously, not moving.
That's none of your business, you
rascal" thundcred the Colonel.
$50 :"
An instant the colored man stood
nervously playing with his hat-brim
Then he turned and moved away.
The two men did not look n; each
other. Somehow they disliked to.
The Major stood his gun against the
/ fence. and took II long time to arrange
/ il to his liking. The Colonel stripped
the leaves from twig he broke from
n bush. Each had his back toward the
other The minutes went by. But at
last there was slow step and Israel
came up. He came reluctantly, rs If
he hoped that time would cause
them to change their minds. He
looked hopefully at them but saw no
encouragement. Both the Colonel
and the Major appeared as coolly de
termined n could be, though the
color had gone from their cheeks.
Israel could not prevent deep sigh
of despair, which the Colonel heard.
shut upl" he muttered savagely.
"Give me those pistols!" "Will the
grove suit you?' he asked, turning to-
ward the Major.
Perfectly !" said the latter and the
three took up their way, the Colonel
leading, the Major next and, Israel, Mt
his ID masters command, bringing up the
rear and dragging his feet as though
they were weighted. A few minutes
of walking, and they came to a small
open space surrounded by trees The
Colonel halted and faced about.
"Will this do?" he asked.
"Ies !" said the Major simply.
"There is no advantage in position,
] believe. The sun shines across the
glade?"
ssEonai"
"But We had better toss for posi-
tions anyhow" said the Colonel, and
he deftly tipped a coin into the air.
The Maj called "heads ;"and "heads"
il WAS
II will take the southern end" he
said. The Colonel bowed acluies-
cence.
81 presume you will be satisfied il
Israel attends to the loadiug?' the
Colonel remarked. "He has done il
before with the slightest OF smiles.
"Quite !" returned the Ma iCr, ignor-
ing the last words.
''Then, Israel, load those pistols,
aud do it carefully" commanded the
Colonel. "Do you hear me-" rs Israel
stood gaping ut him with terror
stricken face.
, picking up the weapons mechanically.
| He moved over to II nearby stump,
and for minute sat motionlcss witt
the pistols in his lap. The Colonies
thunderous tones brought him Il
movement. He glanced Mt the tive
men standing stiffiy at some distance
| from each other. Then sudden 3 he
began to load the pistols The Col
onel, seeing him proceeding with th'
| task, turned to the Major.
"ren paces?" he asked.
{ The Major nodded, an the other wa
irritated more than ever by his silence
but he went on. "We will put the
pieces under lsraers hat. Then W,
= will draw them Are you agreed?'
. He clipped off his words rs he con
q tinued, "Israel will count. On the
| three, we will fire?'
. This time the Major youchsafet
p agreement in words,
Z A minute more aud Israel came for
n ward slowly with the pistols, one IL
q either hand. At the Colohels order
he laid them on fallen tree-trunk ant
i placed his hat over them. The Maio
+ drew one his opponent took the other
4 The two men took position back 4
1 back, and then moved away five pace
X aud wheeled about SO as 10 face eacl
IS other.
v 'Israel, said the Colonel b:t husk
n lily, "Count one, two, three, and, IL
q am killed, see that l am decent.
e buriedl |"
The Major WINGED perceptibly a
(! this last order but the next instan
It was as calm and his face as impassiv
# as ever. Both men raised their pistol
d arms, and. strange to say, there was a
least a momentary tremor OF the hand
Y and nervous twitching OF the lips a
u they looked into each others eyes.
"Onel |" counted Israel. The pistol
n steadied and came into line with tn
7 - L..