The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-10-07

Dlu0 eyes TO their! tull extent, and
could by no means make it out; but
the next moment classes were called
and and no q mora opportunity was s afford.
ed. for general: compensation till . the
school rose. - h. II @..',..'.
| At the first stroke Of the clock the
entire body, seniors and juniors, start
ed up, and with . wild shout, rushed
to the playground, Madonna yielding
readily to the common impulse, and
rather curious to see what was to fol-
low. 7: So. F. 4. s., i,
:" Arrived at the scene Of expected
action. his doubts were were quickly re-
solved, A1f himself .clulir'tly informed
him that according to the custom Of
the school, it was necessary to decide,
without an hours delay, which was
the better man, and entitled to the
position of junior cock. !
Madonna colored to the eyes.
Il cannot fight" he said.
"You admit" said Bathurst, 'that
can lick you, and may kick you al.
SO, if I pleaser
This was q mere formula; but Ma
donna took it differently.
"You have no right to touch me-"
said Madonna; *'but can't fight
and I won't fight
He turned away.
The eager crowd were, for mo-
ment, stunned with surprise. Won
der and incredulity were stamped
on every face. The boy who was
marking out the ring stopped as
though Petri6ed. The senior cock
himself betrayed as much emotion as
was consistent with his dignity. I
must not dwell upon this scene. It
was too true,-Madonna declined to
acknowledge ALT the better man, and
yet refused to 6ghssl. There was. but
one inevitable conclusion! He was a
coward !
At first it was hoped he was jest.
ing; chatting and remonstrance were
tried-both were ineffcacious fghthe
would not. In this dilemma, Robert
Lindsay stepped up to the still blush
ing Madonna, and taking him by the
arm led him few PAGES apart. The
two conversed eagerly in an under
tone, while we anxiously watched the
conversation. At last, Lindsay was
observed to give an almost convulsive
start. He carried his hand to his
forehead, gazed for a moment in his
companions face, burst into a wild
laugh, and turned upon his heel.
"Gehtlemen," he said, "Mr. Bright
persists in declining the contest" :"
(Bob Lindsay was always choice in
his expressions.) "But the reason he
assigns for it will hardly obtain cred
ence in an assembly Of British boys.
He has given his word of honor to
his mamma tobe careful of his gener-
al beauty (of which, it would appear,
that lady is justly proud); but espec-
tally of his eyes; and he is pledged
never to expose those cherished Or
gans to the chances of a fstic encoun-
ter.
Howls of derision followed this
speech, mingled with shouts of genu-
inc laughter; one chap throwing
himself on the ground, tearing up the
grass, and ainging it about him, in
ecstacies Of mirth. -,
II have" resumed the senior cock,
"pointed out to him the inevitable
consequences. He is unmoved. /
leave the matter in your hards, and
only regretthat should have been al
lured to the extremity Of the play
ground on the pretense of a fight
which was not to take place.
Coward! Mlksopl Send for
his mamma! Where's Hannah with
the pap-boat" &C., yelled the in.
censed and disappointed crowd.
Poor Madonna turned from red to
white, and looked as though he would
have cried, but for strange fire in
his eyes that seemed to burn up the
tears. It was a miserable sight.
But how could we pity him.? A fel-
low with wrist like the fetlock of a
thoroughbred, who almost admitted
that he could fight, and wouldn't
What was black eye, or mouse on
the cheek, compared with The horri-
bic scorn Of boys7
Alf Bathurst had a spice of the
bully. Thinking moreover to fall in
with the popular view, he walked up
to Madonna, and slapped him smart
ly on the face. Strange to say. the
latter seemed scarcely to feel this ad-
ditional insult. Some applause fol-
lowed : but Robert Lindsay sudden
ly reappeared in our midst, and made
another speech.
"Gentlemen," said Bob, "far be it
from me to condemn your honest in
dignation, but let us not stoop to be
bullies and prosecutors. To my mind,
a coward is an object of compassion,
not of recruitment. Nature dozed
over his composition, and omitted
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