Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-06-10

1
practiced player, my luck seemed
| quite marvellous Weakly assisted b,
Erskine, easily won the first three
games.
| AS the deal was made by Rivers al
the beginning of the fourth game,
happened carelessly to glance toward
his face. 1t was one Of those mobile
faces on which the. passions or emo.
ton of the sinner man are easily por
trayed. l read there, to my intense
surprise, the profoundest contempt
mixed with an apparently almost un
governable. anger. He returned my
glance with a fierce expression i'll hi
deep black, Spanish sort ofeyes thai
was far from pleasing me. 1t was the
kind of look which no gentleman cares
about receiving from another.
NY blood rose on the instant Was
it possible that he suspected me of foul
play =? What could I have done to
merit this most singular indignation
tacitly expressed, it is true, but none
the less evident.
''Oblige me by explaining" l said,
in voice that thoroughly controlled
the annoyance l felt, ''the cause Of
your somewhat peculiar demeanor to-
ward me, Mr.. Rivers. I am 10th to
believe that any misunderstanding
should have occurred between us, but
TO my CONSERVATION, he interrupted
me with sheer and a contemptuous
wave of the hand in my direction.
'sAIr. Sternforth need not assume
with me the manners of an injured par
ty. l have played whist too often not
to detect swindling, especially when
so palpable and open as his. The
manners Of low gambling houses have
heen up to the present time, | believe,
wholly foreign to the card tables Of the
L--Club, I regret that one whom l
believed to be gentleman should
have introduced them this evening"
was on my feet now with clinched
hands, face that must have been
white and CHASTITY with halfrsmothered
rage.
"Do YOU dare to assert" | be-
gan; but passion choked me, and the
cold sneering tones of Rivers continu-
ed:
81 dare to assert, Edward Sternforth,
that you are a swindling card shar-
perl"
answered him with a blow this
time not damaging blow, however,
for the quick hand of Erskine thrust
mine aside before it had time to more
that Craze the cheek Of my insulter.
Then there was a great nose of rushing
feet, and before | could well realize my
position, fully fifty men stood between
Rivers and myself.
at was an outrageous insult" said
the voice of Erskine, who stood close at
my side amid the throng; ''and you
returned it bravely or would have done
so, had I not prevented you.
(Which I greatly regret, Erskine,"
My GOODNESS was beginning to return
now.
"Why regret =" continued Erskine.
"Gentleman should find other weapons
than their fists, Sternforth, A blow Is
a blow, however, no matter how light
ly dealt l suppose Rivers will chal'
lenge you"
He had hardly finished speaking be
fore Holmes, the gentleman who hae
been Rivers partner at whist, made hiE
way toward the throng
IL am requested by Mr.. Rivers he
said, ito demand immediate satisfaction
from you for the insult you have in
flicted."
Immediate satisfaction" I said COO
ly. "EIow is that possible. Although
the age of duel1ing in past -
s'Ah. ah! you hesitate!" exclaimed
twenty voices.
I looked about me. 1t seemed as il
the eyes of every man present were
Fixed intently upon my face.
''You are mistaken, gentlemen" ]
said, with the greatest GOODNESS of mans
ner I could assume. 81 do not hest
tate. I merely desire to know what is
expected of me in this matter.
To fight answered the twenty vol
ces
81 then do not refuse Mr. Rivers
challenge. I am skillful at no weapon
but the pistol and as have, | believe,
the choice of weapons addressing
myself now exclusively to Holmes
81 shall of course choose that. Any
further charge, in the matter of time
and place, will, / trust, be assumed by
| my friend, Mr.. Erskine."
Erskine bowed assentingly. A few
moments of conversation took place
between himself and Holmes. when
farming to me, he at length said: