Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-03-14
Earl drew back, and quietly folded his

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 'I trust, my lord, that nothing-that anything unpleasant which may have occurred inconformity with the discip- line of the service, will, in your lord- ships snew position, be graciously over- | looked"
 "So be it, then," replied the Earl. "Whatever occurred in conformity with the discipline of the service, am willing to overlook"
 sWe arc about to dine. May I re- quest the honor of your lordship's com- pany?'
 "You will excuse me. sir answered. the Earl, with serious and bitter smile. q have duty to perform that will prevent my acceptance of your in- vitation. Captain Moore, as l said be- fore, I will overlook your tyranny over me, upon your plea of the observ- ancc of ships discipline. l will not call you to account for the scars upon my back, for the agony of mind and body that you have inflicted upon me. But for your cowardly and brutal at tempt upon the honor of my wife, for that will call you strictly to account "Your wife! knew not" "And what ifyou knew it not? You knew that she was a woman, defence l less, and under your protection; under the protection of the flag that you pre- tend to serve, and that you have dis graced. It was my marriage with her that provoked the displcasure of my father, and led to that rupture which, in my boyisll folly and resentment. tempted me to abandon home and friends, and to enter her Majesty's ser vice as a nameless and obscure outcast. It was her love for me that tempted her to assume. without betraying my rank, disguise that she fOndly hoped would enable her to share my wander ings; disguise that you saw through from the first; and when you should have dissuadcd her from the impru- demce, you encouraged her, with the expectations of gratifying your pas sions. If you had succeeded-if you had accomplished her dishonor, l would have killed you as l would vii per that had stung me. Asit is, l will l inflict upon you such chastisement as l think you deserve. Not for your cru city to me: not for the pain and dis grace of the public whipping that you gave me but for the insult to my wife, l will chastise you. And as my pun ishment was public. so shall yours be. Here. before your fellow officers; be- fore these gentlemen, who, am sure, will applaud the act of rctribution, the Earl of Riverdale will avcnge the wrong done to the poor sailors wife" He drew from his jacket thick and heavy leather thong, and with bound like that of a tiger, leapt upon the Cap tain and caught him by the throat.- Purple with rage, the object of this sudden attack attempted to draw his sword. Powerful as he was, in the more powerful grasp of his young and active assailant, he was whirled from his feet and thrown violently on the floor. The astonished guests of the house gathered around. In vain the two subordinate officers of the En- glish frigates sought to interfere. With lightning rapidity the heavy thong descended, here, there, upon the face, the head, the back, the breast of the prostrate man, as he writhed and struggled in the iron grip that, fastened and twisted into the strong silk around his throat, chokcd him into helpless ness. In less than alninutc the work was done. The two officers had drawn their swords, but were prevented from using them by the bystanders; and when these, at last, shocked by the se- verity of the punishment, cried out, Enough! enough!" and ventured to interpose, the chastisement was con- plete. Bleeding, panting, his clothes torn to shreds, his face discolored, liv- i'd, gashed as with hatchet, the whip ped man was released, and the Earl threw his thong on the floor.
 Captain Moore had not strength enough to rise. He lay there like a log, and groancd with mingled wrath, and pain, and shame.
 "Now sir" said the Earl, "we are quits. Or, if you imagine have over- drawn, there is my address for the next ten days"
 He flung card upon the table, ad- justed his clothing, picked up his hat, bowed to the company, and quietly walked out of the house.
 Of course the profession and rank of Captain Moore forbade the affair should end thus; nor would his own feelings permit him to forego further settle ment. At daybreak, the next morning, party of six assembled at secluded spot beyond the Turkish cemetery There was no mistaking their business; the place, the time, the grave demeanor of those present, the two mahogany boxes on the ground, the earnest but quick preparations of the seconds, and the patient and silent apathy of the principals, plainly betrayed the nature of the work on hand. Captain Moore was reclining on the grass, leaning up- on his elbow, and nervously pufling a cigar. Perhaps he felt q little sore af- ter the events of the previous evening. The Earl stood with folded arms lean- inc annin st a tree.