Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-02-25
From Chambers Magazine.
THE POINT OF HONOR.


THE POINT OF HONOR.
One evening in the autumn of the year
l942, seven persons, including myself,
were sitting and chatting in state of
hilarous gaiety in front of Senor Arguillas'
country house, mile or so out of Santi-
ago de Cuba, in the Eastern Intendencia
of the Queen of the Antilles. and once it's
chief capitol, when an incident occurred
that as effectuslly put an extinguisher up
on the noisy mirth as il bombshsll had
suddenly exploded at our feet. But first
brief account of those seven persons,
and the cause of their being so assembled
will be necessary.
Three were American merchants
Southerners and smart traders, extcn-
sively connected with the commerce Of
the Columbia Archipelago, and design
ing to sail on the morrow, wind and
weather permitting, in the bark Neptune
-Starkey, master and part owner-for
Morsnt Bay, Jamaica one was lieuten-
ant in the Spanish artillery, and nephew
of our host; another was NJ. Dupont, a
young and rich creole, of mingled French
and Spanish Parentage, and the reputed
suitor for the hand Of Donna Antonia--
the daughter and sole heireIs of Senor
Arguellas, and withal graceful and
charming maiden of eighteen-a ripe age
in that precocious cline the sixth guest
was Capt. Starkey of the Neptune, gem
tlemNnly. fine-looking English seaman, of
about thirty years of age the seventh
and last was myself, at that time mere
youngster, and but Just recovered from a
severe fit of sickness which twelve
month previously had necessitated my re-
moval from Jamaica to the much more
temperate and equable climate of Cuba,
albeit the two islands are only distant at
about five degrees from each other.
was also one of Captain Starkey's pas.
sengers, and so was Senor Arguellas,
who had business to wind up in King
ston. He WAS to be accompanied by
Sonora Arguella, Antonia. the young lieu
tenant, and NJ. Dupont. The Neptune
had brought . cargo of sundries, consist
ing of hardware, cottons, ETC., to Cuba,
and was returning about half-lAden with
goods. Amongst these. belonging to the
American merchants, was a number of
barrels of gunpowder that had proved
unsaleable in Cuba, and which, il
was thought, might find . satisfactory
ulaThSG IN JdIudlCh 1uSIG was cACellcut
cabin accommodation on board Captain
Starkey's vessel, and as the weather was
fine, and the passage promised to be .
brief as well as pleasant one-the wind
having shifted to the northwest, with the
intention it seemed Of remaining there fol
some time-we we're all, as I have stated
in exceedingly good humor, and discussed
the intended trip, Cuban, American, and
European politics, the comparative merits
of French and Spanish wines, and Havana
and Alabama cigars, with infinite glee
and gusto.
The evening, too. was deliciously
bright and clear. The breeze, pronounc-
ed by Captain Stsrkey to be rising to 9
FIVE or six knot one at sea, only suff
ciently stirred the rich and odorous vege'
tation of the valleys, stretching far away
beneath US. gently to fan the heated face:
of the party, with its grateful perfume
and slightly ripple the winding rivers
rivulets rather, which every where in
tersect the irrigated island, and which
! were now glittering with the myriad
splendors of the intensely lustrouS star
that diadem Cuban night Nearly al
the guests had drank very freely of the
wine, too much SO, indeed; but the talk
/ in French, which, all could speak tole
t rably. did not profane the calm glory o
, the scene. till some time after Sonora Ar
guellAs and her daughter had left us
| The Senor, should state, was still de
r tanned in town by business which it wa
, necessary he should dispose of previou
: to embarking for Jamaica.
; "Do not 60 away" said Sonora Argu
elias, addressing Captain starkey, as sh
> rose from her seat, till see you again
, When you are at leisure, ring the sor'ett
, on the table and servant will inform me
l wish to speak further with you relativ
. to the cabin arrangements"
t Captain Starkey bowed. had never
3 thought, seen Antonia smile so sweet
, " and the two ladies left US. ! do nc
! precisely remember how it came about
or what first led to it, but it was not YER
long before We were all conscious ths
I the conversation had assumed q disa
greeabls tone. II struck me that N. Du