Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-11-29

the evening had little advanced; "a toast
Come-drink it all and he who refuses is
poltroon and q coward. qusf this
goblet filled to the brim-to the health and
happiness of Gertrude de Saale-the fairest
of the fair! Who says he knows fairer is
black liar, and will write the word on his
forehead with red bot brand
Every goblet was emptied but one,
which stood untasted-urtoucbed. On
perceiving this, the rufian leaned forward,
fixed bis eyes on the cup, struck his Draw
ny hand down 6ercely on the table, which
returned a laundering crash and rattle,
and then repeated, in voice husky with
rage
There is a cup full: by St. Anthony
| will make the owner swallow it's measure
of molten lead, if it remain thus one instant
longer
Drink it, Arnold-driuk it, boy; keep
thy hand out of useless broils,' whis.
pered student near him, rather advanced
in age.
Drink, FRIEND muttered another, dryly,
sor he will not be slow in doing his threat:
l promise thee
Empty the cup mani cried third,
snever frown and turn pale, or thy young
head will lie lower than thy feet, ere to.
morrow's sunset
lit is Mentz the duelist,' said the fourth
sDost not know his woDdrous skill. He
will kill thee as if thou vert deer, if thou
oppose him in his wine. He is more
merciless than wild boar. Drink, man,
drink "
During this interesting scene, the youth
had remained motioness, cool, and silent.
A slight palor, but evidently more of In
dignation than fear, came over his hand
some features; and his eyes, dilated with
emotion, resting full and clear upon Mentz.
by the mass, gentlemen ! be said at
length, Il am stranger here, and ignorant
of the manner prevalent in universities;
but if yonder person be sane, and this is no
joke
Joke + thundered Mentz, foauing at
the lip.
i must tell you that came from part
of the country where We neither give nor
take such jokes, or such insults
Hast thou taken leave of thy friends ?
said Mentz, partly hushed by astoDisbment,
sand art thou tired of life, that thou bur.
riest on so blindly to q bloody pillow
Boy drink, as have told thee, to Gertrude,
fairest of the fairv And his huge round
eyes opened, like those Of bull upon
darling victim.
That Gertrude de Saale is fair and love-
ly, cried the youth, rising, 'may not be
denied by me. Butt demand by what
mischance | 6hd her name this night COM
mon at board of rioters, and polluted by
the lips of drunkard and rufiaD?'
by the bones of my father said Mentz,
in tone of deep and deadly anger, which
had ere then appalled, many stout heart
'by the bones of my father, your fate is
sealed Be your blood upon your own
head. But said he, observing that the
youth instead of covering bore himself
more loftily, 'what folly is this! Drink,
lad, drink and l hurt thee not! I love
thy gallant bearing, and my game is not
such as thou
He added this with waveriug manner
which had never before been witnessed in
him, for never before had he been opposed
so calmly and So 6ercely; and, for mo-
ment, he quailed beneath the fiery glauces
darted at him from one he had supposed
meeker than the dove. But, ashamed of
his transient fear be added:
Come to me, poor child bring with
thee thy goblet-bend at my foot-quaff it
as 1 said, and-out of pity-I spare thy
young head
sWhat was the astonishment Of the com
pany on beholding Arnold, as if efectually
cowed by a moments reflection, and the
ferocious eDmity of so celebrated and dead
ly foe, actually do as he was commanded.
He rose, took the cup, slowly approached
the seat of his insuter, knelt and raised the
rim to his lips. Murmurs of shame, shame,
poltroon, coward 2 came hot and thick from
the group of spectators who had risen in
the excitement of their curiosity, and stood
eagerly bending forward, with every eye
fixed upon the object of their contempt.
A grim smile of savage triumph distorted the
features of Mentz, who shouted, with
hoarse and drunken laugh.
Drink deep-down with it to the
dregs'
arnold, however only raised the rim to
his lips and waited moment in silence
with an expression so scornful and composed
that the Kisses and EXPLANATIONS we're again
queled when every sound has ceased to
dead silence.
Never he said, shall I refuse to drink
to the glory of name once loved and
honored- Gertrude, fairest of the fair
But, he added, suddenly rising and draw
ing up his figure, with dignity that sien-
ced every breath, for thee, thou drunken,
Dragging, foolish beast! I scorn-I spit
upou-I defy thee and thus be pun
ished thy base, brutal, iusolence, and thy
stupid presumption
'As he spoke he dashed the contents of
the ample goblet full in the face Of Mentz,
and then with all his strength. hurled the