The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-05
FU III.

Gentlemen, MI your glasses for n toasi
| know Won will all drink right willingly
Mist eas Fuphpmia Wnlwyn, the boast OF
the West cOuutrvl"
The toast was drunk with enthusiasm bv
the party, most Of whom we q rat or
flushed with wine; only ono man allowed
his glass scarcely to touch his Inns IN honor
OF the ladv; that man wis Lord wexford
For Mis- rcss Walwyn had refused MN,
and he hated her with n mean. base hatred
TINT could only have existed III the breast
Of bad man. 1t WIS hardly week since
he had ridden away from Wnlwyn Manor,
vowing vengeance on the girl who Ia
dared to reject him, aud ever since he Ind
been plotting and planning scheme Nv
which to wrcak his rae upon her; II was
matured now. lie had read whit she her
sclf hardly knew Other love for william
Templeton-and II was through her heart
that he had determined 10 strike his blow,
but his time was not yet come; aud with
n bland smile he lifted his glass TO his lips,
setting II down again with the VINE UNI
tasted.
The scene WIS the largest room IN the
chief inn of Exeter, the time T. NJ, and
the COMPANY most OF the gentlemen who
dwelt within twenty miles of the City, and
who had met NJ the Bell 10 drink bowl,
or rather II good many bowls or punch,
and indulge II n cast or two of tho dice be
fore proceeding to the assembly that va.
held that night Mt the iOwn hall. 10 Judge
from their faces. many of the gentlemen
would be quite unable to quit their pres
eut position, except 10 assume humber
one.
william Templeton was there, but he
la been more temperate than most. The
idea of appearing before his mistress
flushed and heated with WINE would have
Disguised HIM. and he let the bottle pass
h,n again and again TIL his friends rallied
hun ON ms abstinence. lie had reason TO
be glad Of II soon: for he heard Lord Wre-
ford, IN his low, snecring tone, utter some
blsc 80 'ech against women, that II spoken
now before party OF gentlemen mlsht
cause the offender TO be kicked out OF the
room. but then was considered rather II
mark 81 high breeding.
Not. however. by all the company. The
veins in NJ. TcmplctOn's forehead swellei.
and his hands were clcnchcd rs though in
anger. Lord WrcfOrd cast one keen glance
at HIM, then continued:
" For myself | have ever been pro-
fessrd ndorpr Of the seN. ana love flne
womin better than any hing the worli
can show; but as to believing in her truth
or honor. | won Il Us soou believe that the
wind VIII stay forever IN the west, or that
a soap bubble will never burst
THIS remark my lord made IN n low but
perfec ~ clear tone, apparently speaking
To his ight-hand ne ghbOr-a small Devon
sh re SQUIRE. as utter "a toady, and rs low IN
morals AMI nature, n man conld Wei De
but from time to time glancing at Mr..
Tcmpleton.
Does Your lordshir speak OF the sex in
general. or OF one woman in phrticulnrf
inquired the former worthy, leerlng hide
ouSly.
His lordship shrugged his shoulders, and
took pinch OF snuff, an action that dis
played his white, delicate hand to adinira-
ton.
"Of both. sir. All wits from the
time the world began have declared wo-
mans nature to he as changeful as the
wind her boosted virtue frail and hollow
hill Inn IA ~ .tftfr
my belief in their knowledge of woman
as whole, add my experience OF women
in particular rs perfectly agreeable TO
their conclusions"
This speech W.T. item down seems some
what studied and lengthy; IL needed the
airy grace OF my lords manner the slight
curl OF his finely-cut lip, To make its point,
and these gave II the sharpness Of poi
sOned arrow.
None heard II but the squire and Will
liam Templeton. Most OF the company
were too tipsy to understand any con-
versation not relating To themselves; aud
those who were not were engaged IN a
noisy discussion rs to the character OF Mr..
Wilkes. under cover OF which Lord Wre-
ford's remarks passed UNDECIDED. His lord
shin went on:
"Your Western beauties, sir. are ndora-
bic. Nothing was ever seen so fresh and
far as they; they STIR even my h art.
They know not the snareS OF town llfe,
they have never felt the temptations and
dangers OF London, that Mr. Addison de-
scribed thirty years ago, ana that assured
ly have not decreased since then; vet let
mo ask you il even in this quiet Devon the
breath of scandal is quite unknown? Is Il
fair ones fall "a thing unheard Off III so,
| have found Arcadia. If not, why. SIR,
what shall we say OF wolnens honor
They can all be subdued, 'us but matter
of time; even that falr ana proud beauty
whose health"
"stop my lord not n word OF that lady.
What you have already said IS "A lie, an III
suit 10 every gentleman thar has or had
mother; but you touch not her name
while can prevent II"
William Templeton had started up, his
face crimson, his eyes blazing with rage,
but his voice so clear and stern II reused
the general attention, and caused all eyes
To he turned on him. wondering what had
caused this sudden Outburst.
Lord Wreford's hands trltied with his
gold snuii-boX, but there was dangerous
CLEAN in hls eyes as lie looked up, saying
quietly:
Ill Mr.. Templeton chooses to take upon
himself the command OF my words, he
must give me "A sufficient reason for SO do
ing, or an apology for meddling. II he
says have spoken lie, the same course Is
open to him.
>" And |, my lord, repeat what I have
said-that your words contained coward
" lie; aud that you shall not in my pres
ence or 10 my knowledge, utter word
against the lady whose humble servant
have the honor to be-
THAT is enough; we need handy nc
more words: il only remains to fix tht
time and place of meeting"
There is no time like the present,
said william.
There dffer from you, I am afraid
| should be very glad to meet your wishes
were not engaged Tor several mlnuets to-
night. You, sir Will perceive that mus
not break my engagements, and tins liltl,
| encounter might prevent me from makinl
| my appearance at the assembly. Th'
| same reason will doubtless apply to YOU
| continued my lord, with a slightly sar
| castle smile after the bah il will be too
| late; aud tomorrow morning ! am sorry
| to say am engaged till near eleven, bu
by that time shall be nj your service
our seconds will hnd a spot where we shall
he secure from interruption. VIII thu
suit your
Ii must, my lord" returned Mr.. Tenn
| pleton, with grave bow.
| Then all IL settled; and now, gentle
men, do YOU not think IT Is time Cor tn
| assembly,
:" | think MANAGED that rather neatly,
said Lord WrciOrd to himselt rs he stepped
| into the char that was to convey HIM Il
| the ball room,
Ii was rather late when the party from
! the Bell arrived ut the assembly. TIT
| third country dance was just over, and th'
first face that met william TempleIon'
! eyes as he entered was that OF MisirCs
Il.