The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-11-25

messed IN him, Tor never before had
he been opposed so calml y and so fierce
y; and for moment he quailcd be-
meath the fly glanccs dartcd at him from
one whom he supposed meeker than IA
dove; but ashamed of his trans ent fear,
he added:
4" Come to me, poor child /; bring with
thee thy goblet-bend at IN feet-quaff
it as | have said, and out of pity spare
Thy young head. "
What was the astonishmont Of the
company, on bei,oIiing Arnold, as if
ef ctuaIly aw d by a moments rchec-
ton, and the terocious cnmity Of so eel
ebrattd and deadly foe, actually do as
be wa, commanded He ros took the
cup, slowly approached the seat of $
insultcr, kn 1t and aised the rm to his
lips Murmurs OF : shame !" " shame -
+" paltroou ~ coward !" came bot and
thick ii ON til spectators, who had arisen
in til exc tement of their curiosity, and
stood eagerly bending forward, with
every eye fixed upon the obi ct of their
co tempt. 4 grim smile Of savagr trl-
umph distorted tn: features of Mentz
who shouted with hoarse and drunken
laugh, " Drink deep--down with it to
the dregs -
Arnold, however, touched the rim 70
b lips, and waited a N moments silence,
with an expression so scornful and com
,.o.,J ~, IL l;..e ,,,l ,-.1, n,,t ;,ru
were again quelled. When every sound
had ceased to dead silence, he said
" Never shall | refusa to driuk to the
glory If a name | once loved and honor
ed Gertrude faircst of the fair But
h add, ID suddenly Using, and drawing
up hi> figure with u dignity that >ilenccd
every breath, " for thee, thou drunken
b, aging, foolish beast--I scorn-l spit
upon-I defy thee-and thus be punish
I'd thy base, brutal insolence and thy
stupid presumption 10
AS he spoke, be d,shed the contents
of the ample goblet full in the face Of
Nentz. aud then with ali his strength,
hurled the mas>y goblet at the same
mark The giant rreled and stage ed
a few PAGES back, and amid the shining
liquor on his drrnched clothes and drip,
ping features, a stream blood was OBJ
served to trickle down his forehead.
Never before was popular feeling more
suddenly aud violently reversed. The
object their vilrst eXccrations flashed
upon tn IN with the immediate bright
ness of a sup rior being. A loud and
pr}ssible burst of fapplause b, oke from
every lip, till the broid and heavy raft
ers above their head and the very found
ations os the floor shook and trcnlb! d
But the peal of joy and appreciation
ceased, for although this inspiring drama
had so nobly commenced, it was unc n
tain how it would terminate. Is fore
the tyrant recovered from the stunned
and b wildered trance into which 'hn
blow combined with the shame, pain,
and Drunkenness had
thrown him, several voices, after the
obstroporous calls for silence, usual on
such occasions, addressed Ii youth who
stood cool and erect, wit folded arms,
waiting tn, course of events
Brave Arnold noble Arnold-a
gallant d ed the blood Of Il true gen.
tlaman is in his veins"
''But cans't thou fight" cries one.
"I am only mple student aud an
tist by profession. have devoted
myself to the pencil. not the sword " O..
But thou cans't u.s. 1t little, canst
not Z" asked another.
But inoifferently," answered the
youth, 4 .s q. t...t
{" And ..ow art thou with the pistol ~
demanded third.
"Nly hand is unp-actisrd," replied
Arnold, "I have no skill in shedding
human blood"
Fore CAD, then, rash boy, what has
tempted thee to this fatal xtIcmity -
:" Hatred of oppression y replied th'
youth, {" in all it's forms and willing
ncsi to di, rather than sublit to insult.
Dic-die, ,hnn thou shalt, and ere
,n-morrow sun shall set,' thundeicd
Nleutz, starting up in a frenzy, aud with
a hoarsc and broken voice that made tue
hearts of the hearers shudder as if the
howl of dog or demon. " l cballtngc
thee to mo tai combat" p"
And | acc pit the challenge"
at Is for thee to name time, place
and apon, but, as thou lowest me. let
il not be longer than to morrow night,
or | shall burst with lage and imPa
tience" :. :,
II love thee not, base dog" replied