viper that stung her, still breathes. I
loved her--I love her yet--and I will be her avenger!' Saying this, I
rushed away, heedless of the matron's half-uttered entreaties to
remain and to desist from my plan of vengeance.

"There was a young student of my acquaintance, a brave, chivalrous,
noble Virginian, to whom I imparted Laura's sad story. He frankly
agreed with me that the venomous reptile in the human shape that could
beguile an unsuspecting and lovely girl to minister to his unhallowed
desires, and then, without hesitation or remorse, abandon her to the
dark, despairing shades of a frowning world, while he crawled on to
insinuate his poison into the breasts of new victims, should be
pursued, hunted down, and exterminated. Yet there was but one way for
me to punish Wold. The ignominy of the act, and the indignation of a
virtuous community were to him matters of indifference. The circle in
which he moved would smile at the misfortune of his victim, and
applaud his address, were the affair published. I resolved that he
should answer it to me alone. I had sworn in my heart to be Laura's
avenger.

"I penned a message which was delivered by my young Virginian friend
in person. Wold said he had no quarrel with me, and strove to evade
the subject. He sent me a note, demanding wherein he had ever wronged
me, and stating that he was ready and willing to _explain_ any thing
that might have offended me. I returned his note, with a line on the
same sheet, informing him that I was the friend of Laura; and that he
must either meet me in the manner indicated in my message, or I would
publicly brand him as a dastardly scoundrel. He bit his lip, and
referred my friend to one of his companions in iniquity, a Mr. Knabb,
who lived by the _profession_ of cards and dice. It was arranged that
we should meet on one of the islands near the city, and that it should
be the next morning. This was what I desired, and I had urged my
friend to effect as speedy a consummation of the affair as possible.
All the tumult and perturbation that raged in my bosom on parting with
Laura had returned, and the throbbing of my brain was almost
insufferable. It was with difficulty that my young friend prevailed
upon me to embrace the few intermediate hours before the meeting to
practice with the pistol. I heeded not his declaration that Wold was
an excellent shot, because I felt convinced that justice was on my
side. I thought that the criminal must inev