Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-09-15


tome If deep aud div. anger, which had ore then
srraileI many a stout heart. 'by The bones at
INV father. your donm i sealed! b. your
blood upon your own head. But said lie, 90
serving the youth. instead of covering, bore
himself more l"fiv, What folly is this -
Drink lad. and hurt the not! ! love thy gal.
liant bearing, and my game is not such as
thou
H. added this with wavering manner which
lad never before been vi messed in rim. f'r n"v
Of before had he been opposed So cau,y and So
t'rcey and for moment h" qnaiied beneath
the fiery glances daricd at him from one whom
he ruppos, d nrfker than The d re. But asham.
ed Of his transient tear, he added:
Come to the. poor child Bring with thee
thy goblrt--bend at nv Emi--qnaff il ~ ] have
said, and---out of PITY spare thy young
head.
| What was the astonishment Of the company,
on be!oliing Arnold, as if effrctually awed by a
inom outs reflection. and the ftrocouS pnnity of
$" celebrated and deadly a f,s, actually do rs
he WAS commanded. lie rose, took the cup.
slowly approached the seat of his fre--knelt and
raised the rim to his lips. MurInurs ri shame.
shame, poltroon, coward! came hot and thick
from the group OF spectators, who had arisen in
the excitement vt their cmrositv, and siNM ca
gerly bending forward, with every eye fixed up
on the object Of their contempt. A grim smile
Of savage triumph distorted tine features Of
Mentz, who shouted with hoarse and drunken
laugh
Arnold, however. only raised the rim TO his
lips, and waited a moments silence with an ex-
preston SO scornful and composed that the his
81 and exclaUiations were again qhellrd -
/ When every sound had ceased to dead silence
he said
Never shall I refuse to drink to the 81 ry of
name once loved and honnred--Gerrude.
faire>t of the f,ir Br,,' he added. suddenly
rising AMI drawing up his Il ure with dignity
that Spnced every breath. for thee. thou drunk.
en-, Dragging, foolish beast ! spit upon--I de.
fy thee ! and TINS be punished thy brutal ins"-
ence. and stupid presumption.
As he spoke. he dashed the contents 1T the
ample goblet full in the face of Mentz and then.
with all his strength he hurled the 'hassy goblet
At the same mark. Tie giant reeled and stag
gered a few PAGES hack and amid the shining
liquor ON his drcnched clothes and dripping iea-
tues Il stream Of blood was observed to trickle
down his face.
Never before was popular opinion more sud-
denly and violently reversed. The object If their
vllest pxecrainns flashed upon them With the
immediate brightness Of "a superior being. A
| loud and irrepres>ible burst "t applause broke
| from every lip, I'll the broad aud heavy raiers
above their heads and the very foundation ol
the fionr, shook and trembled. d 1t the peal ol
jnv and appr,, baton soon ceased; for though
this inspiring drama had SO nobly commenced
, it was uncertain how il mi ght terminate Be
fore the tyrant recovered from the stunned anC
A bew iiered trance int" which the blow. combined
with shame, griet, establishment and drnnkenes,
= hid thrown him. several voices. after the obSire
o porous calls for silence usual IN such occasions
, addressed to youth. who stood cool and erect
il with folded arms. awaiting tue course of events
4 Bravo. Arn"ld! Noble Arnold gallan
!, deed The blood Of true gentleman IN hi
=, veins =
If But canst ,hon fight ? cried one.
y Il am only simple student. and an artist b.
4. profession. have devoted myself to the penc
l.. not the sword
u But thou can.t use it a little-canst not
asked annlrr.
r Bat ndtirently.' answered the youth.
!. And how art thou with pistol , demande
r. +, third.
!. MY hand is nnfrec'ised,' replied Arnold. :
), have no kill in shedding hum ~ blood
, For Heaven! then, rash hoy, what ht
, cinp'eh thee To this fatal extremity?
'lInred of oppression replied the youth, Il
1 II it, tormS {: and a Willingness to die ratht
:. nan 10 submit To insult
, Die then thou shalt. and that ere tomorrow
i, sunset !! Numbered Menr', starting up in phrer
!, ~, and with hoarse and broken voice thai mad
| he hearts Of the hearers shudder. rs il at III
n, FOWL of dog or demon. challenge thee
Il Mortal combat
o. Aud accept the challenge
>, IT il for thee to name time, place and weal
m ; but IA thou Invest me, let il not be long.
4, han Tomorrow night, or shall burst with RAJ
and Impotence.
~. i 1--we thee not, base dog = replied Arnol
o. but thou shalt not die so inelorons death.
MI vii fight with thee, therefore tonight
Rs heaven hoy I! cried Meniz, more and moi
II, surprised hon Art in haste 10 sup in hell az
-, me ruth IN lowered III. voice Art thou mad
, Be- that my chance, answered Arnold
p. shall not he likely 20 meet even in hell. a con
p,nion ~ brutal as thou-unle-s which inca
81, shall no the ca 20, thou bear me company
i. To ni.at then he it, sid Menlz; though I
b,. night INV h ma is not steady TOR vine and Al
M, ger are NJ friends To the nerves.
nd - ,st thou refuse me, III M demanded Il
inn youth with "A sn'er.
BY the mass, no but tonight ia dark, u
ill moon is down. the stars are cl"nd.d, and q
len wind. 60 by in heavy puifs and gusts; hear
even now
Inv Therefore, said the youth. apparently m,
an, coldy composed AS his iierre rival grew M
~" percepiby agii,ted 'theref"re will we lay dc,
be our lives here, in this hail. on this spot, on Il
;.e instant. even a. thou standeSt new
.Tnere il M one here who will be- NV flien
~. said Mcnfz. 20 evidently sob'red and -ubined
viii the singular comp'sure and srl!-m'--s-lon
nm. his anita rnnist tn II all present held him in CT
tempt, and no one stirred.
Inc, No matter, cried Arnold, ] will myself 70
viii 20 the same privilege
ose And your weapon, I. said Meniz.
nan Are here replied Arnold, drawing tn
tron his hos m "a surer pair never drew bio
had The choice is yours
yht Tie CO np,ny now began to fancy that
han nnd had eQnvocated in d,sclalming skill n
his duelist aud, from hiI invincihle compost
irrn Thought him IN re fatal m ,ster of the veal
than the bully himself. The latter also parl'
9Th, of his opinion.
,n- Young man, said Msnfz in voice clou'
per- and low but he stopped and said no farther
u. your choice! said Arnold, presenting
pistols
-, M.n,z seized one desperately, and said,
lu' Now mana your distance
'Blood.tair-ty VOLT said Arnold, there Il
said be no distance lie then turned aud address
| art the company:
ind Gentlemen, said he. deem me not ell
ave sava ~ or in-an' =, that sacrifice myself and
and brutal wretch thus 'iore your eyes, and To
bull, tain and instant destruction. For m, con
have no value in life. Her whom love-
ely, have sworn to forget, and il existed "A thons
,na vears shonld nrohnh lv never see her again 4