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

lOr tue auudcity Vi us llaNlllS duuIesoeu
his mistress. 1t had not appeared that
Arnold knew anything of Menrz's char
acter, for he sat checlfully and gaily at
the board, with SO much the manners OF
a high born gentleman, that every one
admitted at once bis goodness, his in
telligence, his grace and his beauty, and
regretted the abyss on the brink of which
he stood
What, no !" at length shouted
Meniz, as the evening advanced, and the
wine began 10 mount "a toast com ,
drlnK 1t, all and he who refuses it is a
paltroOn AMI coward. quaf this
goblet full to the brin, to the health and
happiness Of Gertrude de Saale, the
faircst OF the tair-who says he knows a
fairer, is black liar, aud | viii write
it on his forehead with red hot brand -
Never had Mentz befo b T. ayed his
brutal soul so openly III words; but the
guests who knew that he was h ated with
wine, passed over this coarse insult with
shouts of laughter, and ank with IA
lrlotous confusion 10 q crtiude. fuirest OF
the fair. AS the cleaning gobl,ts were
emptied, and dashed ratrling down again
upon the table, Meniz a. ose, and with
the bloated Importance of despot
glanc round to 5 c that all present had
fulfilled his orders. Evcly gobl t was
tempted ut onn, which stood untast d ,
untouched. On pe,ceiving this, the
rufiian leaned forward, fixed his eve on
the cup, struck hi, bFawny hand down
6ercely on the table, which returned a
a laundering crash aud rattle, and then
repeated with voice husky with rage ::
=" There is one cup full. BY St. An
thony, will make its owner swallow its
measure of molten lead, ii it remains
thus one instant longer
Drink it, Arnold; drink it boy
keep thy hand out of useless broils, y
) whispered student near him, rather
advanced in age. .f..
"Drink, friend" muttered another
drily, "or be viii not b. slow in per-
forming his threat, promise thee, +"
Empty the cup, man, cried third
g never trown and turn pale, or tn,
young head will lie lower tuan thy feet
ere Tomorrow sunset"
I" 1t is Mentz, the duelist," said a
fourth, " dost thou not know his won
drous skill He Will kill thee as if thou
vert deer, if thou oppos, him"
Fear came over the handsome features
of Arnold, and his eyes dilatcd with
emotion, rested full and firm upon
Menu.
" By the mass, gentlcmcn," said
another at length, " in his wine, he is
more merciless than wild boar. Drink,
man, drink"
Thcse good naturcd suggestions were
uttered in hasty and vehement whispers /;
and while the students were thus en-
deavoliug to avert the bloody cata,tro-
phe, the fuli us beast again struck his
giant hand down violently on the table,
without speaking, as if words were too
feeble for his rage.
Duling this Interesting scene, the
youth had remained motionleSs, cool and
silcut > slight palor, but evidently
more of Indignation than fear oversprcad
his face, as he said, :" am stranger
here, and ignorant of the manners prev
alent in universities, but ii yonder person
be sane, and this no joke
"Joke - Numbered Mentz, foaming
at the lips. / must tell you that
came from part OF the country where
We neither give nor take such jokes or
insults" s-..
Hast thou taken leave of thy
, friends" said Mentz, partly hushcd by
his astonshmcnt, and art thou tired
of life, that hurriest on so blindiy to u
bloody pillow, boyi D.ink, as have
told thee, to Gertrude, the f.irest OF the
fair ~ and his huge ound eyes opened
like those of bull upon victim
"That Gertrude dc Saale is fair and
, lovely" cried the youth rising, +" may
. not be denied by NE. But 1 demand
|, b what mischance | find her name tins
/ nirht common to board of r,ote,s, and
. polluted by the lips of dru kard and a
c ruihan :"
by the bones of my father" said
Q Mcntz, in tone OF deep aud dire anger
!. which had ere then appalled, many a
stout heart, by he bones of my father,
your doom is sealed. BE your blood on
E your own head but" said lie observing
4 that the youth, instead Of covering, borc
e himself more lofty, " what folly is this
e Drink. lad, drink, and hurt thee not.
: love thy gallant bearing, aud my game
Q is not such a man."