Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-02-09
dow commanded his.

room, saw TO my surprise, pretty Ialr
head peeping out of Oppenheim's window.
The head popped back Immediately was
detected.
~ laughed TO myself and thought what
a good story would make out of 1t for the
benefit of my friends.
"That evening, before had an oppor-
tunity CT doing this, 1 happened to meet
Max, and began joking him about the fair
appartion had seen.
"He stopped me in an instant.
ar am married. said he, rather proud
ly. THAT was Madame Oppenheim that
you saw
81 ain afraid must have perperated an
incrodulous whistle.
"'It was Madame Oppenheim, l tcllyou,
sir said the pae-faced Max, getting irri-
taied; and beg that her name may be
treated with respect
"I was half inclined to treat the matter
still as a joke, and I fully believe ! shou =
not have been inclined to let the CONVERSE
ton drop so suddenly with any one else I;
but as told you just now, in my heart l
esteemed Max thoroughly, and knew him
confess that really liked him, only did
not like TO own it. We are all desperately
weak sometimes.
"This little alteration Of ours was trivi-
al enough; but ii had its i'll effects, not
withstandng.
"Bcfore it happened we were in the hab-
it of shaking hands and exchanging few
al
knocked on the head after it. We bowed
coldly to one another when we met, and in
time even the bows became few and far be-
tween.
"And then the months slipped away, and
the winter came, and with it-at least not
very long alterward-the carnival.
"Of course l went to the carnival ball.
and in costume. I remember it well; it
was Pierrot dress. I danced all night
and got back to my lodgings at some un-
earthly hour in the morning.
81 threw myself on the bed, dead tired
as I was; too sleepy, in fact, to take off a
a scrap of my costume.
~ lad fallen asleep outside the bed, but
was awakened by loud knocking at the
door. l had heard the knocking forsome
minutes, and it mixed itself fantastically
enough with my dreams.
'Stil the knocking went on +; but when
1 heard my name repeated two or three
times, l started up suddenly.
"'Come Income in y cried, still con-
fused, and very sleepy.
The door opened, and man walked in
to my room.
at was Max Oppenheim.
"IIe seemed very much agitated, and was
as pale as death.
"Why, Oppenheim, what on earth can
you want with me al this hour of the morn
ing ?" said rubbing my eyes, and look
ing comical enough / should think, in my
tumbled Perrot dress.
mir. Tatham,' said he, hesitating lit
tie, and with broken voice, you have
shown me kindness before now; have
come 10 ask you to do me very great fa-
vor.'
"'By all means. What can I dol?
"Max Opperheim took two or three
turns up and down my room, hesitated
once or twice, but at last commanded him
self, and said in nervous, anxious man
ner: You cannot conceive how sorry am
to put you to any trouble or annoyance;
but to deal honestly with you, let me say
that you are The only man I know how to
appeal to in my present unhappy condition.
have heard, and l think l am correct in
believing, that in affairs of honor, as they
are called here, you are somewhat expert
"'My dear fellow replied /, now thor
oughly surprised, you don't mean to tell
me that a duel is on the cards 7?
eyes.
"'And you intend 10 fights?
"He looked me steadily in the face.
There was a flash of something like pride
in his eyes, and tone of dignity in his
voice, as he gave me the following expla-
nation:
"'Last night my wife was very anxious
TO see the masqueraders go to the ball. l
didn't see much harm in this simple wish,
and said that / had no objection to take
her. We took up our position under the
trees, away from the crowd, where | imag-
ined we should be able TO see every thing
without being disturbed. 1t may appear
strange, but ] fancied somehow that all
would not go well. One has these odd pre-.
sentiments at times, you know; and al
though it is perfectly impossible to account
for them, it is no use denying that they do
occur.
"'A party Of students, as i'll luck would
have it, passed by the very spot where we
were standing, and recognized me. They
,l,1, \
dining freely. At any rate, they insulted
me grossly but this l could have endur-
ed. They heaped their insults upon her
who was with me. | will do them the JUS
tico to believe that they were ignorant that
she was my wife. l informed them of the
relationship in which we stood TO one an
other. told you the same, Mr.. latham,
YOU may remember, and, like a gentleman,
you believed me. These young ruffians
simply laughed in my face. / had to de
feud my poor wife against their coarse and
cowardly attacks, and to compel their si-
lence as best could. By degrees they left
me one by one. One solitary indiy idual
remained. He was the rngleader, the
most offensive, the most objectionable.
Swapping his fingers in my face, he said,
Il consider have been grossly insuted by
you, Mr.. Max oppenhem. shall expect
satisfaction tomorrow, if there is an atom
of pluck in your composition.
"'Well what then?'
"'I have told you all, Mr.. latham. The
thought struck me once or twice during
the night that such foolish and trivial af-
fair would be allowed to drop as hastily as
it began. l thought, perhaps, the morn
ing would bring with IT sober reflections,
and happily an apology might be offered
me for the gratuitous insults | received at
the hands OF my fellow students. Howev-
er, this morning, almost at daybreak | re-
ceived visit from two of them, still IN
their fancy dresses. They came to ask me
if had made any preparations. They as
Sured me that my advprsarv- IInavan