The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-29
THE CHALLENGE.

olive.lik complexion indicated Ions
residence in tropical climes.
"When l first received my com
mission as ensign in the British army
l was gazetted to the til regiment
then in India; and as the p. and o
company did not exist in those days
l took passage via the Cape of Coco
Hope"
''In due course of time l arrived
at Madras and joined my regiment
in which | remained only three years
however; for at the expiration o
that period l purchased my lieuten
ancy, and exchanged into the ID
which was stationed up country.
"Until man gets thoroughly used
to it, there is nothing so monoto
nous as an officers life in an isolated
locality in India. There is routine
in everything; in lounging, eating,
smoking, sleeping, reading and bill.
liards or card playing, and this is
only varied if, by lucky chance he
happens to be in a district where pig
sticking, elephant or tiger hunting is
obtainable. At times, too-especial.
ly if ladies are with the regiment
amateur hops are in favor, and
occasionally 'hop' is improvised /;
but the climate is SO enervating that
neither officers nor men of any regi.
ment, that had been a considerable
length of time in the country, felt
very often disposed to exert them.
selves to provide amusement for their
comrades.
"The ID had been six years in
India, and in consequence, all the
members of that corps were afflicted
with lassitude that had almost be-
come chronic. There was a great
dearth of female society-that sine
que non of pleasurable existence
and the hunting had been pronounc-
ed by those old stagers, who con-
sidered themselves genuine shikar-
ries, to be internally bad; therefore
when it was announced that a new
collector had been appointed to
succeed the liverless old curmudgeon
who, for seventeen years had held
office in that district. and a nOta 6e'ae
was added, asserting that he was the
fortunate possessor of an extremely
beautiful wife, every one was on the
qui yiUe to receive him. Much to
our disappointment, however, he ar
rived alone, having left his spouse
to enjoy the society of her friends in
Calcutta for week, after which she
was to follow him with their only
child.
"Mr. Norman Fraser was a man
about thirty-fve years of age, tall,
muscular, and pre- eminently hand
some moreover he was highly edu-
Gated, and possessed such power of
pleasing as won his way to all hearts,
and soon became a universal fav-
orite.
"He infused new life into our little
CT terie, and many were the lamen.
tations whenever his genial counte.
nance did not beam across our mess
table. Our colonel's two hard featur.
ed daughters-regular garrison girls,
who had firted successively with
every sub whom they had met dur
ing the last ten years-were enchanted
by him, and openly lamented that he
was already Benedict for, though
he was 'only civilian they would
have been glad enough to have had
the ghost of a chance to ensnare him
in the silken meshes of matrimony.
cit was custom in those days for
officers to remain over the mess tabls
long after the cloth had been remov-
ed, and unless man possessed a
very strong head he was pretty Ger.
tain to retire to rest in lamentably
befogged condition. One night,
when we all had been indulging
pretty freely, the conversation turn
ed to billiards-an interesting topic
for most of us were good players.
"Have you seen Fraser play? He
beat Webb easily, to-day, and I'll
back him against any man in the reg
iment," said Captain Raper, who
considered himself an authority or
matters connected with games o.
skill.
81 always give Webb points, and
/ won't shirk measuring cues with
the collector, though he certainly
plays very good game" l replied
"Fraser, old fellow, Lieut.. Holroy(
thinks he is your equel at billiards
Will you let me back you for
game ?" Raper cried, across th'
table.
The collector, who was half.sea
over, promptly expressed his viii
lingness to at once engage with me
so 1 registered bet of hundred
rupees with Captain Raper, and W
adjourned to the billiard room. l ha
practiced a great deal in my leisur
hours, and knew myself to be
steady player, while from what
had seen OF Fraser's play, l judge
that he became nervous and irritable
if luck went against him never so lii
tie; therefore, / did not hesitate t
accept few other bets offered b
admirers of my opponents brillian
style.
"We had got about half wa
through the game, and our score
were nearly equal, when l mad
three most palpable fiukes in on
break, and this so annoyed my sem
inebriated antagonist that he playe
wildly, missing most easy shots, an
all the while denouncing my style {
execution in no very measured terml
When sober, he was the mos
courteous aud urbane of men, br
when excited by wine, he was il
clined to be insolent and ovel
bearing.
81 was more than thirty poin,
ahead when shot presented itself
me that was very difficult of accom-
plishment. 1t was a straight carou
but in order to make it, the objec
ball had to be very finely grazed, il
deed. My ball scarcely moved tn
object ball, though it undoubtedl
touched it, and went on the red, m;
king the carom. A dispute aros
instantly when / claimed the shot.
"You never hit the first ball, sir,
cried Fraser, loudly"
81 know / did not, but my ba
did," / replied carelessly.
"'Its false! There was no ca
om.'"
edo you insinuate / lie sir p"
| "s You are both liar and