Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-12-11
ATaLE or,raE.FurukI


I. n A .ATaLE orraE.FuiJk
.@..y'apse,y never BET. On,e,, .'psll epsly i s
. did mske bet for . large snns. p
ln~, that in such . bumiiasiae g y
! registered vow. NOT 70 Be bates -.
n. i an Old story. nov; bot / ! 1,
y"a into the secret Of my dislike y
The time I speak Of is some tuc y
i've and twenty years ago. when 6 1.
pine Ciab was still in its fsll n
There was to be an annual dinne J
Eelab held at the Crystal ri lse3 4
cerisin day 10 Nay. soon sf3tr u
taked my university degree. ~
/ meg Hh=4k 80 A-.sA Ax<---~s{ -
when The afternoon. OF the dSf xrrised
l received a letter from some coun.rv
cousins saying that they we're coming ur
to town that day. and begging me to
meet them nj the train. endeavored 20
calm my ruffled temper. and SO far sue.
ceeded that I vas not actually rude to my
relatives while escor,ing them across tow.
When had thus done my duty. I began
to consider what to do with myself. and
what particular establishment I should
favor with my custom for dinner that eve-
ming. just as | had settled this imror.
tapt matter. who should meet coming
around a corner. but my friend Jack
liil,ar The very man. Of all others / should
have wished TO come upon at tia, n.nn,en.
jack was as good fellow as ever one
wished 10 hect-pleasant AMI light-hear,.
ed but With plenty of stuff in him Tor all
tha,
We arranged to have a qnie, little
dinner together and good cha, in the
smokins-rcom afterward. We had fin
ishrd the second course. and were Discus
ing the wines and dessert. when a s,rar.
ger entered the roo,r and seated himself
AT the table next 10 me- The very mo.
mrnt the stranger entered the room,
where We sat conceived an intense dis
like 10. him-a fes ling that that man If
he ever were 20 cross my path. would
prove determined and formidable foe
At a glance we could see that he was nm
American. Putting three chairs together
he stretched himself along them andsei him
self to stare calny and persistcntly at Jack
and myself We were partly amascd
and partly annoyed at the insolence Of ,hc |
uan; but. as We had finished. We adjoarn. !
ed to the smoking room.
''Soon after the American followed ps
into the other room. aud reared his,self
up against the mantel-piece. .nhile he !
gave out. for tho benefit Of kesrzs.a
Who had GOT ~; thin r = .ass .S1ssr- i.as. 1&x4
gust. seemed highly to enjoy tse mans
and to wish to draw him out
as much as possible. Soon he grew tired
of this amusement. so we resumed the talk
we had been engaged in on the subject Of
the Alpine Club. Jack was thinking of
joining it. and in reply to his quesii,ss I
gave glowing description Of all its glo-
lee. The harsh voice Of the American
broke upon our ears with the remark. Il
calc'late the Alpine Club is hunlug.
Jack looked delighted. and giving sly
glance at me, proceeded to draw out our
friend once more.
...l hope. SIR. be rcjoined. in most
polite tone. that you will give your rea-
sons for that opinion. as had thought Of
becoming member; but of course. would
not do SO if convinced that the whole con-
ccrn was humbug'
"'Wall stranger. you could not do
knowinger thing than to stay as you air.
I guess they've named the thing wrong.
1t should be the 'Brag Company. Lmi-
ted Some 'tarnal duffer that calls him
self an A. c. goes up mountain that all
the folk near have known for years. and
then writes to all the European papers to
say that he has made first ascent. I
r, exon they've raised the prices Of every
thing in Switzerland close on sfty per
cent. Don't do it. stranger-don', do it ,
While this was going on. sat BY
silent. but rapidly losing my temper =
At last could stand j, no lohgcr. aud
burst nut with. This is mere vagse abuse.
sir. I will bet you any s'im Of money
you chose to name that | will select a
better nnuntaineer from the mcmbers Of
the club than any nan you can name.
l. tha, a fair "ffer 7 The Alpine Club
against The werld.' ..s-s
The Yankee looked me. over from
bead to foot. aud then drasled out. Wall,
stranger. l guess I'll take yanE-let, i
You'll. let the mountaineering be bet ween
Won aud me. lay you $40 900 that
before this time three years LII have cu'
yeu out is tall ciin,biag.' rsr 4,
II had spoken har,ily. and was perfect
" taken shack at bsing closed With -
saicklys ni However. was in for Il nos,
and coald not ge back on my wsrd Al
coely as could sail just as you like
Let the Bet be- between zen and me-- Th,
sum you name will be ~ good ss any 9th
er. but OF course mus. be lodged By botl
parties before the matter is finally ar
ranged
:. Il calc'la;e you're right. stranger
II won't be leng before yca hear from M
abeut It, What do you s.y year nsm
isT sa.a
Forbes Henry Forbes
...Nline is Zaehsriah Johnston. of Nc'
York City. Wall. l guess we're to NEE
here ON this day three years. aud which
ever has hrst done the ssllest aud harde,
mountain is TO have the stakes Shak
hands ON il. stranger-shake hands Q
is-.. o,s.ssa .,si =. E.sxs a as-
The whole AFFAIR had not taken MOI
than Eve miaatss. % that jack had u
! had time TO. ;aserfcre- His face. ~ d
1sfs L.