Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-06-09
fellow Manners has done, can do. S,

the beam, and despite the remonstrances Of
his companions, was in the act of proceed
ing along it,when his arm was firmly grasp
ed, and low, deep-toned voice exclaimed
''My lord, do you court a horrible death
Do not thus risk your life for naught."
The individual who thus unhesitatingly
interfered, was evidently unknow to all
present, being casual visitor to the castle
who had just joined the group. With an
imprecation, the madcap youngster jerked
his arm away, and sprang forward along the
beam. Its surface was rough, rounded and
uneven; and as he ran along, swerving
from side to side, every instant in danger
of being precipitated downward, with the
awful certainty of being dashed to pieces,
his friends could hardly restrain themselves
from shreking with terror, though such a
course would probably have had the imme-
diate effect of discomposing the equilibrium
of their rash companion, and so induce the
catastrophe they fully anticipated without
the power of prevention. Had the adven-
turer's presence of mind one moment fail
ed-had his self possession and confidence
wavered or forsaken hirl-hac his brain
sckened, or his eyes turned dim for sim
ole secondhand he made the least false
step-had his footing slipped on the Shiny
surface of the beam-had he tripped against
any one of the knots projecting from the
rotten wood which had mouldered away a.
round them-at once would he have been
hurled into dread eternity.
But an unseen hand sustained him, and
safely he reached the extremely of the
beam, ruthlessly wrenched the trembling
owl from ITS perch, waved it aloft in tri-
umph, and then, with proud ejaculation,
began to retrace his steps, with it shrieking
and Auttering in lis hands. When he reach
ed the centre of the frail beam, which creak-
ed and bent terribly with his comparative
ly small weight, he paused, drew himself
up to his full height-air above, air beneath,
air all around, naught but air-and delibe-
rately tore the head of the owl by main
force from its body. Having perpetrated
this cruel deed he tossed the bloody head
among the breathless spectators, and sharp
ly dashed the wnthing body into the void
beneath his feet He coolly watched its
descent, until it lay ashapeless mass on the
stones below; then, with slow, bravado-
ing mien, he walked back to his terrified
party, and boastingly demanded of them
whether they thought Manners could beat
that :"
"My lord" solemnly said the stranger,
"you have not performed the act either of
brave or a sane man, and you have COM
mitted despicable deed on one of Gods
helpless creatures. You ought to thank
Him, my lord, from tie depth of your soul,
that he saved you from the penalty you in
curred.'
"What do you say p fercely demanded
Lord Swindon. "Do you dare to insinuate
cowaldice against me :" and with flashing
brow, he assumed threatening attitude.
II know not, my lord, whether you are
brave or not but what | have witnessed
was certainly not an exercise of true cour-
age" was the passionless reply.
"And yet I'll wager cool thousand that
you dareh't do it,
.'True, | dare not for am incapable OF
offering deadly insult to my maker"
Zine words!" Then, carried away by
the excitement of the moment, he added,
with an insolent look and gesture. You are
lying coward"
i'Listen, my lord" answered the person
thus addressed, and this time his tone was
even calmer than before. "One year ago,
YOU were walking at the midnight hour on
the pier at the seaport of Hull, and but
one other person was upon it, and was
stranger to you. You trod too near the edge
of the pier, and fell into tie sea. The tenn
pest was bowling, and the tide was higa
and running strongly; and, ere you could
utter one smothereJ cry, it had swept yop
many yards away, and you were sinking
rapidly. Except God, none but that s'ran-
ger heard your cry of agony and soon as
it reached his ear, he looked forth upon the
waters. and, catching glimpse OF your
struggling form, he instantly plunged III,
and, after much diving, eventually grasped
YOU at great depth. Long did he support
your helpless body, and stoutly did he buff
fet the sitting waves, and loudly did he call
for aid. At length help came ; and at the
last moment he and you were saved just
in time for life to be preserved in both, Is
not this true, my lordi''
luis, eiHpldllCdIiy iCePoiioN" 'iiS " .
nobleman "but what have you to do with
it? | don't know you-though it is not at
all wonderful" added he, with a sneer,
" that you should happen to know about
the matter, for the newspapers blazoned 1t
quite sufficiently"
"My lord, one question more. Did you
ever learn who that stranger was, who,un-
der God, saved your life 2"
"No when | recovered little, he lett
me at the hotel, where he was unknown,
and have never seen him since"
"Then my lord" was Che startling re-
ioinder, look well at me, for am that
stranger
"You?"
"Yes-I who you have branded as liaI
and coward, Little thought | that the
life | saved at the imminent risk of my own
would be madIy, wickedly jeopardlzed tol
no price whatever, as | have seen it this
hour. Mine, my lord was true courage
yours was false. Henceforth know the dit
/ ference between them. Farewell"
So saying the stranger bowed, and be.
fore another word could be uttered, had lei1
the astoundcd party.
Common Place Women.
Heaven knows how many simple letters
I co,. ,:.,,,>Io ,,,,,l al ,uop,nn bove bepn kiss.