St. Mary's beacon., 1862-06-12

Thomas Colley Grattan, the well-known
Irish auafor, has recently given to the
public . new work. entitled "Beaten
Paths, aad Those Who Trod Thean. p
1t conass of series of desultory sketch
| Is, one ii uhich we take pleasure in
lransfesxse 10 our columns. During a
faass ,sroiangszl |. rsssdfnse sat .Bor-
sleau.k. soF,e years since, chiefly devoted
to literary pursuits, and to an extraor-
dinafy plunge into revolutionary society,
which 6nally led to hasty abandon
ment of the neigborhood, Mr.. Grattan
made . visit to Bagneres, where he was
witness to the following extraordinary
incid eut = 81
An Irish scntlenisn. whose name.
like my own, began with G and ended
with n. was certainly one of the most
aniabls and least quarrclsomc among tile
visitors. He neither drank nor gambled,
nor talked politics nor scandal, the
great prorocatves to diSpu,ation and i'll
blood, AM he led most quiet aud do
mestic life with young and pretty help
mate, as unlikely as her husband to excite
any feeling that might involve him in dan
ger.
Mr.. G-n one day strolled into the
public billiard-room with a friend Of bis,
lieutenant in the British navy. They
found table disengaged, took up their
| queues, and began to play. Sarccly
had they commenced their game when
two or three Frcnchmcn of good appcar-
ance came in; and enc of them, a
young man Of military air, placed HIM
| self close to Mr.. G G-n, stared hard
at him, followed his different movements,
and watched every stroke he made with
marked and most troublesome atten-
ton. The player did not know what to
make Of it, but smilingly said something
to his friend as to the strangers be-
h"vior. The other thought it equally
odd i; and as it was persevered in for
some minutes longer, Mr, G. - felt ir-
ritatci, stopped, turned short. and begged
his friend (for he did not himself speak
Frcncl) to ask the meaning of tbs con-
duct, now evidently intended as person
al insult. The lieutenant, fortunately a
| iai1cs' ts---s-est ooslness, All, s ----.a
pericncI in such affairs, fulfilled his
mission with politencss, tellinr the French
man that he was convinced he had mis-
taken Mr.. G-tor some other per
s"n. as be could have 40 reason f1r par
suing SO offensive lae Of conduct to .
gentleman who had never before seen
him.
"Parlnn. monsieur" rrpiici the French
'nsn. with perfect sqrG t'o;i, ""d 4.
Air OF provoking po,!t,I~s>. -! am NJ
at all mistaken know who Meu.i.;;r
G--n is quite well, and lcr vor
will DO me the honor to tell him dc n,r
coquin aud there is my card, 50 that
be may know whore to find Elc in tt.
minutes from this tiric--anl these two gen
tlenIcn are my friends"
1t was not easy to translate al his to
G--n without rousing him to knock
down his unknown insultcr with the
queue which he still held in his hand
for mild and humane mru are at times
very subject to an excess Of rage OF
great provocation. lie WAS astounlcd.
lie knew tie III, ar:ns cf The two cpl
thcts evidently applied TO HIM. Bat Ike
still believed, as his friend had done,
that lie had been mistaken for some one
else
Let us 60 ont and think what is to
be DONE" said he to his friend. They
took their hats aud went out on III"
prominade q forget its namc) in which
the C-fc- Billiard stood. Iialf the beau
monde Of Ragnercs were walking or
lounging about, ladies and gentlemen
together. The two friends, arm-in-arn,
took q couple Of turns, discussing the
strange and embarrassing occurrence,
when suddenly the three Frenchmcn mot
them and stopped: erd the one whose
behavior had SO outraged Mr. G G---n
deliberately sPat iii his facc-a bcas.!ly
form Of insult then rather national ir
France (and very lately rcsortcl II At !
scientific meeting in London by tray
c!cd foreigner, and to his own great dis
grace saying:
Il aope you understand that. if | was
not sufficiently explicit just now. That
requires no interpreter"
G-n rushed at the fullow-hc had
disinhelited himself of his title if he
was a gentleman born-but before he
could strike a blow the two conpan-
ions and seine other persons inicrfer-
rcd.
There is nothing for it now but an i'm
mediate 'neeting-exp!anation or uTo!ogy
arc out Of the question. Lc;s follow them
exclaimed u G-n, as the Ireuclmen
walked away.
stop a bit," replied the Lieutenant
III settle the matter il minute A:.l
he stepped after the party IL returned
almost Immediately to Tn. Its
ali arrangea-they are gone to the old
burying- g-grounl-cone to my lodgings
my pistols are there-you must shoot
him cad
The few words struck willy on g i-n
They fell with an on,inous sound on -.
mind. lie had never fr.d pistol III L.>