450 j^TlfE UNPORTUNATE LOVER. 



sons, one of whom I chose for niy friend : my adversary did the same 

 with the other. 



I was anxious, in the heat of the moment, to fight my oppo- 

 nent at once ; but the darkness of tlie night precluded all possibi- 

 lity of that. We appointed an early hour next day for carrying into 

 effect our mortal intents — the place an adjoining barn. The reason 

 why we chose the barn as the scene of our duel was that, if we went 

 to an open field, those officious gentry called police officers would 

 have had a chance of discovering our object, and consequently have 

 prevented both of us from displaying our courage, and me from 

 vindicating the character of the adored and immaculate Letitia. 



I cannot describe my feelings on my return home after having 

 given the challenge. I shuddered at the idea of killing a fellow 

 being; but, to speak a truth, I shuddered more at the idea of being 

 killed myself. Powder and shot, I had always a strong aversion to 

 from my infancy. Now, that I had foolishly exposed myself to botli, 

 I absolutely sickened at them. I thought of the perilous predica- 

 ment into which I had stupidly brought myself, and I trembled from 

 head to foot. Never did my frame so shake before. Stand I could 

 not; sit or lie I could not. I tossed myself alternately in my bed, 

 and rose and staggered through my apartment. O the horrors of 

 that night! A thousand times did I think of sending an apology to 

 my opponent for having challenged him, and begging there might 

 be nothing further done in the business. But then I knew if I did I 

 should for ever be held up to public ridicule as a coward, and most 

 likely offend and lose Letitia into the bargain. Death, bad as it is, 

 would have been nothing to this. I resolved, therefore, whatever 

 should be the consequences, to meet my antagonist. 



Morning came ; so did the hour appointed for the duel. We were, 

 seconds and all, punctual to the moment. We entered the barn, 

 shut, and locked the door. A pistol — O how I hated the sight of 

 the deadly weapon ! — was put into my hand ; so was another into the 

 hand of my adversary. The ground was measured, or rather guessed 

 at at random, and, the word " fire !" having been pronounced by one 



of the seconds, we both levelled our pieces. My one snapped * * 



* ********** 



For most of the information which follows I am indebted to my 

 second. The pistol of my antagonist went off" — I fell, uttering, as I 

 embraced the cold stone floor, a strange unearthly sound, clearly 

 under the impression that I was mortally wounded. In my fall I some- 

 how or other caused the barrel of my pistol to come in forcible con- 

 tact with my nose, whence the blood gushed in a copious stream. 

 Dreadful spectacle to my adversary ! He imagined I should not sur- 

 vive a moment. His imagination conjured up to him the hangman 

 and gallows, with all their attendant horrors ; and he stood as mo- 

 tionless as if he had been a block of marble. The seconds raised me 

 from the ground, and were most exemplary and earnest in their ef- 

 forts to convince me that I was still alive. They succeeded, but not 

 without first spending a world of eloquence on me. My joy and 

 that of my antagonist at learning T was still living, and likely to 

 live, was about equally great. 



