Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1870-08-12
The Three Chcrry-Stoncs.

Whom was schoolboy, more than thirty
years ago, remember to have read story
which may have been a fiction, but which was
very naturally told, and made deep impress
sion upon me then. will cndcavor to draw
it forth from tho locke, of my memory, and
relate it as nearly as I can rccollcct.
Three young gentlemen, who had finished
tho most substantial part of their rcpasts were
lingering over their fruit and winc at tav-
ern in London, when man Of middle age and
middle stature entered the public room, where
they were sitting, seated himscfat one end Ola
small uuoccupicd table, and calling the waiter,
ordered simple mutton chop and glass Of
ale. His appearance, at first view, was not
likely to arrest the attention of any one. His
hair was beginning to be thin and grey /; the
expression Of his countcnancc was scdatc,
witch slight touch perhaps Of melancholy;
and he wore grey surtout, with standing
collar, which manifestly had scon service, if
the wearer had not-just such thing as an
officer would bestow upon his serving man.
He might be taken, pIausibly enough, for
country magistrate, or all attorney of limited
practice, or q schoolmastcr.
He continued to mesticatc his chop and sip
his ale in silence, without lifting his eyes from
the table, until cherry y-stone, sportively snap
ped from the thumb and finger Of one of the
gentlemen at the Opposite table, struck him
on the right ear His eyes was instantly up
on the aggrcssor, and his ready intelligence
gathered from the ill-suppressed merrimcnt
Of tho party that this petty impcrtincnce was
intentional.
The stranger stopped, and picked up the
chcrry-stone, and scarcely pcrccptiblc smile
passed over his features, as he carefully wrap
ped it up in piece Of paper, and placed it in
his pocket This singular procedure, with
thei. preconceivcd impressions of their Gus
toner, somewhat elevated as the young gentle
men were by the vino they had partakcn of,
capsized their gravity entirely, and burst Of
Irresistible laughter proceeded from the group.
Unmoved by this rudeness, the stranger
continued to finish his frugal rcpast in quiet,
until another cherry stone, from the same
hand, struck him upon the right elbow
This also, to the infinite amusement of the
other party, he picked from the floor, and
carefully deposited with the first.
Amidst shouts of laughter, third cherry
stone was soon after discharged, which hit
him upon the left breast This also he vory
deliberately took from the floor, and deposited
with the other two.
AS he rose, and was engaged in paying for
his ropast, the gaicty of these sporting gentle.
men became slightly subducd It was not
easy to account for this. Lavater would not
have been able to detect the slightest evidence
or irritation or resentment upon the features
Of the stranger. He seemed little taller,
to be sure, and the carriage of his head might
have appeared to them rather more erect
He walked to the table at which they were
sitting, and, with that air Of dignifcd calm
ness, which is thousand times more terrible
than wrath, drew card from his pocket, and
presented it with perfect oivilty to the often.
der, who could do no less than offer his own
LIN return. While the stranger uncloscd his
surtout, to take the card from his pocket, they
had glance at tho undress coat CT a military
man. The card disclosed his rank, and a
'briefinquiry, ut the bar was suflicint for the
rest. ie was captain, whom ill-hcalth and
Iong service had entitled Is haif-pay. In
earlier lifo he had been engaged in several af
fairs of honor, and, in the dialect of the fan.
oy, was dad shot.
Z The next morRing note arrived at the
iaggressors residence, containing challenge,
10 form,and ono Of tho cherry-stoncs. The
truth then flashed before the challenged par
5ty---it was the challengcrs intention to mako
three bites at this cherry three seperate af.
fairs out of this unwarrantable frolic The
challenge was accepted, and the CHALLENGED
party, in Difference to the ohallengor's repu-
ted skilIwith the pistol, had half decided
with the mallswords but his friends, who
lvysre on tho alert, soon discovered that tho
captain, who had risen by his merit, had, in
ahe sarlierdays Of his necessity, gained his
bread as an, accomplished instructor in tho
uso Of that weapon.