Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-12-24
HILLSDALE, DEC. "a, 1850.

/ Gentlemsn's Club; all lhose who are 10 favo,
Of this proposition, will signify the same by
saying aye There was not voice In The
/ room but echoed the word.
Those opposed to the proposition, will
sieniIy the same by saying 'no.'
There was no response, aud the President
declared Henry Roberts a membe, of the
/ GeademeD's Club.
! Henry now began 10 form an idea &c The
circumstances. AS ] seized his hand aud gave
il hearty shake OF congralulsiiou aud vel
come.
Forgive me- sad I. 'if for mnment
doubted your good qualify Ii is the deep
interest that felt in you tina, made me fear
Il am the coward
'Whai is The meaning of il allP he 'iuquir
! ed with undisguIsed curiosity.
'NoibiDg, bot that you have passed The or
deal with honor. replied.
DO understand lheu thar this is the form
! Of inIlisIionP
'Cerainly.'
But he traduced your sister,
1T was believed TO be the nearest way 10
your feelings. and il has proved SO r0y boy,
said The M ajor stepping forward and good hu-
moredly taking his hand. you will find that
have not the repulau0n 81 being a rfadu-
Ger of ladies'. Allow me t0o add. hat have
seen many brave entries into the Club, but
never saw braver one than yours. You
will sustain the motto Of the Cub, know
never TO brook an insuIi without an apollo
gy or satisfaction
'And this said Jack, winding off his yarn,
is all the world knew OF the Genllemen's
Club-tbat It's members never brOoked an
insult, aud l can assure you II Was seldom
offered To any one who was Known as mem.
ber.'
Well said the first lnff, Il suppose by
your nephew's name, that young Roberts
married your sIster--he fairly Won her al any
rate
He did. The marriage tonk place about
a month afterwards. aud | believe happier
couple never lived. could hardly resist The
temptation. aud pair ut black eyes drove me
TO The verge OF melrlmony myself. Howev-
er, sm living monument ot the benefceuI
lnIefpOsitIon at 4 Lieutenant : cOmmis ission.
accompanied with an order To JON the Jolly
old Warspite "a
Il believe you mentioned, Jack, that the
Club was broken up, and alluded TO an Incl
dent connected with a.
why, yes, and thrilling one il was TO
me, for ] Witnessed it by chance. had run
up 10 London on atWO weeks liberty. while
the ship lay at Portsmouth, ard on ihe 81
or 4rh night u my auiysl an lDitialion was
lG take place.
The applicant was a cadet in the Eas, Ia
dIs service, young man who had been chsr-
ged with an offence relative Ia pecsuiary mat
ters. but who had been houorably acquitted
by the accidental discovery Of the real cul-
priI. This subject was however made tho
cause Of quarrel; under the monetary
excitement il elected challenge.
The prelminarirs we've. OF cause, made
to lead TO immediate action. aud he man,fes-
ted extreme nervousness as the affair adyan-
ced. While the chances were bis, he man
aged TO sustain arrIficia! courage, aud upon
winning his throw, as rs usual, with loaded
dice, he appeared To regain comparsive
degree Of composure lie raised The pistol
with an unsteady hand and pulled he trigger
there was a simple fash in the pan, HIS
step was feeble ss he turned and placed the
faithless weapon on the table; yet neverthe.
less, though pale As \ corpse. aud expecting
to be shot the next minute. he tetnrDed to
his position before his adversary.
The powder had beeo secretly shaken |
from the pan of The second pistol as il was
a fixed gaze upon the muzzle - il was level /
ed at his heart. The flint struck lew sparks
from the steel. aud IN an Id~spt Ihe question |
was put by the presiden'; there were few
negatives, but mach more than Two thirds |
voted him elected. The President uttered |
his name aud gave him welcome He took |
no notice "f IL. and upon touching him to
call his attention To the chaW he moved his
gaze and II fell vacant on those around him
He was an IDIOT! In about year afterwards |
he died. Many Of the members then fell OH
in their auendsnce-the bravest had fell The |
warning on the person of ano'her--an incl |
dent that never could be elficed from the |
memory. The President also died shorty |
after this event, and the club gradually de-
clined, until at length il ceased TO exist 10 |
form though many OF It's members are yet a
live.