The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-01-16


His poorer brethren to enrich withal,
Doth his little kindnesses by stealth,
Nor should Know Ss Virtues GSch hath
Save for the brightning looks that mark his humble
patti --..
The Plebeian's Revenge-The Deeper
ate Double Duel.
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 glowing 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
he'd fancy. Lucille sat up, looking
towards Mrs. Lumsden and waiting for a
sign; it came at length.
II said listen my dear, didn't II" She
began thus; "Tll tell you a history--the
history of prejudice. You remem-
Der | once warned you against preju-
dice. Here then is one. 1t wrecked
and ruined. That was natural. Most
prejudices do that Fifty years ago
there was very beautiful girl in Suffolk
She was beautiful You wouldn't know
that if you saw her now, for she had trials
and they changed her. She had father
and mother, whose love for her had no
bounds, but had failing. 1t was a
prejudice. They were of old family and
high name, and the pride Of this was their
prejudice. 1t ruined that young girl.
She bad two brothers. They were amiable,
accomplished young men, but this preju-
dice was in them. They had both enter
cd the cavalry regiment and in it--at
a time such admissions were rare enough
was the SOD of an army contractor
He was plebeian, but | suppose had all
the true instincts Of his origin, for while
the aristocratic corps always taboed him,
he simply contented himself with prophe-
sying 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 eldest of the two brothers, on one
occasion, heated with wine said more
than he should. He could not even keep
within the licensed bounds of previous
displays, and how could he? 1t was the
daily lesson Of his youth, that pride of
birth, drilled into him as the virtue that
hid and CLOSED over every vice; SO it was
entwined with his being, and as the cor
net had on huge shield with its dozen
Of absurd quarterings, he was fair game.
The words ran high, and the eldest
brother threw a glass of wine in the cor
nets face. | have heard this story from
an eyewitness, and can vouch for its
truth. The plebeian had blood and spirit
within him. He was calm and collected,
too, on this occasion, for he rose very
cool, while they were all excited, and
went out Of the mess room; so they all
sat down and continued drinking their
wine, thinking for moment no more
about it, until the cornet walked in again,
closed the door after him, locked it, and
put the keys 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
50 it did; he came over to my table and
laid down the box, whose contents
they all knew; he placed the two swords
on the top of it. He was very pale look
ing, but quite cool and he had taken his
place next to the elder brother. There
was an empty glass beside him.-He filed
it up with water and flung it calmly into
his face.
"The plebeians," he said, "have not rob.
bed 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 moment, and ordered the plebeian,
like hound to his kennel.
"Captain," said the cornet, and the
mans cold, icy manner threw chill
over them all, 1--WE are equal here. To-
morrow / shall horsewhip you in the bar
backyard Tonight either of these is at
your service" he pointed then to the
naked swords and the brass bound case.
Choose for yourself, sir" answered the
captain, for he saw now the consequence
of his conduct, and he had noble ma
ture too, but it wanted training. No man
doubted his courage-and in other hands
he would have risen at once and made
frank apology to the man he had so bit
terly insulted. IL was then too late. Be-
fore the whole mess what had occurred
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. s
81 will not, captain" said the cornet.
The captain snatched up the naked
sword "This will do"
They cleared away the tables, and
among the party of young men, hot with
wine and excitement, there was not
warning voice. Those things were COM
mon enough in barrack rooms then, too.
So they fought fought, my dear, and the
cornet ran his sword through that eldest
brother, dying its blade with his life's
blood. Some were terrified, others only
more terribly excited, reused by his hor-
rible Offering to an offended prejudice
The younger brother tore away the sword
from the hand of the dead man-for he
was dead-while the cornet took the key
of the door and laid it on the table.
II appeal to you all, gentlemen, for
verdict on my conduct. One death is
enough" and cool as he was during the
danger, he was greatly moved then.
"You are q cowdfd, sir" cried the
younger brother.