The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-09-03
From Trial and Triumph" new novel
A STORY ABOUT PREJUDICEs.

lAAo4 -iiai III" AriunPn, new novel
A STORY ABOUT PREJUDIcEs.
The old lady lay back in her chair, her
eyes half closed, and one hand resting on
the arm of the chair, the other holding her
glasses. The cat was above, purring as
usual, and chewing up her great, soft paws
into balls, which she rolled out and in as
she pleased, while Vesta, whose life seemed
a perpetual doze, was lying at Lucille's
feet, to whom she evidently had fancy.
Lucille sat up, looking towards Mrs. Lums-
den and waiting for sign. 1t came at
length.
" / said, listen, my dear, didn't II" She
began thus: "Pll tell you history-tbe
history of a prejudice You can remem-
Der | once warned you against prejudice.
Here then is one 1t wrecked and ruined.
That was natural. Most prejudices do
that. Fifty years ago there was a very
beautiful girl in Suffolk. She was beauti-
full You wouldn't know that if you saw
her now, for she had trials, and they chang
ed her. She had father and mother,
whose love for her knew no bounds, but
had failing. 1t was prejudice. They
were of old family and high name, and the
pride of this was their prejudice. 1t ruin
ed that young girl. She had two broth
ers. They were amiable accomplished
young men, but this prejudice was in them
too. They had both entered the cavalry
regiment, and in tat time such admis-
sions were rare enough-was the son of an
army contractor. He was plebeian, but
| suppose had all the true instincts of his
origin, for while the aristocratic corps al
ways tabooed him, he simply contented
himself with prophesying the coming doom
of their order, and he did this so mildly
that they began to think they might carry
the insult of abuse still further. The cid
est of the two brothers, on one occasion,
heated with wine, said more than he should.
He could not even keepwithin the licensed
bounds of previous displays, and how could
her 1t was the daily lesson of his youth,
that pride of birth, drilled into him as the
virtue that hid and CLOSED overevery vice;
so it was entwined with his being, and as
the cornet had no huge shield with its doz
IN OF absurd quarterings, he was fair game
The words ran high, and that eldest broth
er threw glass of wine in the comets
face. have heard this story from an eye
witness, and can vouch for its truth. The
plebeian had blood and spirit within him.
lie was calm and collected, too, on this
occasion, for he rose very cool while thew
we're all excited, and went over to the
door. There was a loud laugh, and he
went out OF the mess-room; so they all sat
down and continued drinking their wine,
thinking for minute no more about it, I'M
til the cornet walked in again, closed the
door after him, locked it, and put the key
in his pocket They looked up at him
He had brass-bound box in one hand,
and two naked swords in the other. You
may think, my dear, that this appearance
rather startled them, and so it did. He
came over to the table, and laying down
the box, whose contents they all knew, he
placed the two swords on the top of it,
He was very pale looking, but quite cool,
and he had taken his place next to that
elder brother. There was an empty glass
beside him. He filled it up with water
and flung it calmly into his face.
"The plebeians," he said, shave not
robbed enough to be able to commence
their quarrels with wine"
The eldest brother sprang to his feet, all
eyes ON him. He was dizzy and giddy for
a moment, and ordered the plebeian, like a
hound, to his kennel
"Captain," said the cornet, and the mans
cold, icy manner threw chill over them
all, I'VE are equal here. Tomorrow I
shall horse-whip you in the barrack-yard.
Tonight either of these is at your services"
he pointed then to the naked swords and
the brass-bound case.
Choose for yourself, sir" answered the
captain, for he saw now the full conse-
quences Of his conduct, and he had no.
BILE nature, too, but it wanted training.
No man doubted his courage-and in other
hands he would have risen at once and
mad frank apology to the man whom he
had SO bitterly insulted. 1t was then too
late. Before the whole mess what had oc-
Cured could not be pardoned, so the devil,
my dear, took up his quarters in that
room, and saw it all out, quite after his
own heart.
:" l will not, captain said the cornet.
The captain snatched up the naked
sword. "This viii do"
They cleared away the tables, and
amongst the party of young men, hot with
wine and excitement, there was not warn
ing voice. Those things were common
enough in barrack rooms then, too. So
they fought, fought, my dear, and the cor
net ran his sword through that eldest broth
er, dyeing its blade with his LIES blood.
Some were terrified, others only more ter
ribly excited, reused by this horrible offer
ing to an offended prejudice. The young
er brother tore away the sword from the
hand OF the dead man-for dead he was
while the eornet took the key of the
door and laid it on the table.
appeal to you all, gentlemen, for a
Verdict nv cnnd,,ct Ono daath 70