Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-10-07

a ssss'sd laundering crash and rattle, and then
fePealed, IN a voice husky with rage
~ .ihere IS cup, full: by St. Anthony! /
ifsll make the owner swallow its measure Of
molten lead, if it remain thus one instant Ion.
ger!' - '''9''''' 80
s'Dnnk 1t, Arnold---drink it. bow: keen thv
hand out Of useless broils,' WHISPERED q stn.
Gent near him, rather advanced in age.
4 s'Drlnk, friend!' muttered another. drvlv
prhe VIII not be slow in doing his threat. i
IHomise thee
4 Enpty the cup, mane cried third; snev-
Isl irown and turn pale, or thy young head will
IN lower than thy feet ere to-morrow's sunset
i tsltfis Mentz, the duellist,' said fourth.
Islbst thou not know his wondrous skill. He
VIII Eli thee as If thou were deer, If thou OBJ
lpose him in his wine. He is more merciless
than wild boar. Drink, man, drink
these good natured suggestions were ut
Tered in hasty and vehement whispers; and,
while the students Were thus endeayorinr to
Ipalliate the bloody catastrophe, the furious
beast again struck his giant hand down yio
Iienty on the table, as if words were too feeble
for his rage.
During this interesting scene, the youth had
remained mctionless, cool, and silent. A slight
lpallour, but evidently more ofindignation than
fear, came over his handsome features; and
his eyes dilated with emotion, resting full and
firm upon Mentz.
Shy the mass, gentleman!' he said at length,
am stranger here, and ignorant Of the man
rers prevalent in universities; but if yonder
person be same. and this no joke
Hip. ~
81 must tell you that come from part of
the country where we neither give nor take
such jokes, or such insults
blast thou taken leave of thy friends?'
said Menlz, partly hushed by astonishment;
and art thou tired Of life that thou hurriest on
so blindly to bloody pillow! Boy! drink, as.
have told thee, to Cert b fairest Of the fail ss
And his huge round eyes opened, like those of
a bull, upon daring victim.
''That Gertrude de Saale is fair and lovely
cried the youth, raising, may not be denied
| by me. But--I demand by what mischance
find her name this night common at board of
rioters, and polluted by the lips of a drunkard
and ruffian?'
''By the bones Of my father said Mentz,
in a tone of deep and dire anger, which had
ere then appalled, many stout heart-.-by the
bones Of my father, your doom is sealed! Be
your blood on your own head. But said he,
observing that the youth, instead Of covering,
bore himself more loftly, 'what folly is this!
--Drink, lai, drink! and hurt thee not! ]
lloye thy gallant bearing, and my game is not
sucn as thou!
sHe added this with wavering of manner
which had never before been witnessed in him,
for never before had he been opposed so calm
| ~ and SO fercely; and, for Ipauent, he quail
ed beneath the fiery glance d eat him from
one whom he supposed meekSl lan the dove.
/ But, ashamed of his transient fear, he ad-
s'Come to me, poor child! Bring with thee
thy gobiet---bend at my foot---quaff il as have
said---out of pity, spare thy young head
sWhat was the establishment of the compa-
ny on beholding Arnold, as if effectually aw-
ed by moments reflection, and the ferocious
enmity Of SO celebrated and deadly a foe, ac.
tually do as he was commanded. He rose,
took the cup, slowly approached the scat of
his insulter--.knelt and raised the rim 10 his
lips.--Munmurs Of shame, shame, poltroon,
coward! came hot and thick from the group
Of spectators, who had arisen in the excite
ment Of their curiosity, and stood eagerly ben
ding forward, with every eye fixed upon the
object oftheir contempt. A grim smile ofsa-
wage triumph distorted the features of Mentz,
who shouted with hoarse and drunken laugh:
s.Drink deep---down with it-.-to the dregs"
tArnold, however, only touched the rim to
his lips, and waited moments silence, with
an expression SO scornful and composed that
the Misses and EXPLANATIONS were again qucil-
led; when every sound had ceased to adead
lsilence:--- aa0s s2S
to the glory Of name Or q and honor
added, suddenly raising 5.J drawing up Ills
figure, with dignity thai silehced every breath,
for thee, thou drunken, bringing, foolish beast!
scorn---I spit upon---I defy the! and--thus be
FURNISHED thy base, BRUTAL insolence, and thy
stupid presumption
'As he spoke he dashed the contents Of the
ample goblet full into thslace Of Mentz; and
then, with all his strength hurled the MASSEY
. goblet at the same mark. The giant reeled
and staggered few PAGES back; and amid the
shining liquor on his drenched clothes and
dripping features, a stream Of blood was Oh
served TO trinkle down his forehead.
'Never before was popular feeling more sud
|, denly and violently reyersed.---The object 0
their vilest cxecrations flashed upon then
8 being. A loud and md essible burst Of ap
Q plause broke from every iii till the broad ant
J, heavy rafters above their heads, and the yer.
q foundations Of the floor, shook and trembled
: But the peal Of joy and appreciation soon ceas
9 ed; for although this inspiring drama had 9
9 nobly commenced, il was uncertain how
9 might terminate. Before the tyrant recovere
: from the stunned and bewildered trance int
8 which the blow, combined with shame, gric
!, establishment and drunkness, had thrown hin
several voices, after the obstreperous calls f.
j. silence usual on such occasions, addresse
= the youth, who stood cool and erect, with fold
! ed arms, waiting the course ofcvents.
n ssBTave Arnold! Noble Arnold! Agallar
b deed! The blood Of a true gentleman in hi
d lveins!'
is ..But, canst :hou fglIE' cried ore. !.