The Worthington advance., 1879-03-27
THE THREE CHERRY STONES.
An Old. Mans Reminiscence.

When was 'schoolboy, more than
fifty years ago, 1 remember to have read
d story which may have been fiction, but
was very naturally told, and made deep
impression upon me then. I will en-
deavor to draw it forth from the locker
Of memory, and relate it as near as I can
recollect. '~''
Three young gentlemen, who had fin
ished the most substantial part Of their
repast, were lingering over their fruit
and wine, at tavern in London, when a
man of middle age and middle stature
entered the public room where they were
sitting, seated himself at one end Of a
small unoccupled table, and calling 'hc
waiter, ordered simple mut,pn-c' or
and glass Of ale. His Appearance, a.
first view, was not likely to arrest Il { Al
tcn,ion Of any one. His hair was begin
ming to be thin and gray; the cxI r,:s'nn
OF his countenance was scdatr. with !.
slight touch, perhaps, of asyh"iy; an''
he wore gray surtout, with Il sian''iny
collar, which manifestly had seen service,
if the wearer had not-just such a thing
as an officer would bestow upon his serv-
ing-man. He might be taken, plausibly
enough, for country magistrate, or an
attorney of'limited practice, or school
master.
He continued to masticatc his chop
and sip his ale in silence, without lifting
his eyes from the table, until a cherry
stone, sportively snapped from the thumb
aud, finger Of one of the gentlemen at the
opposite table, struck him upou his right
ear. His eye was instantly upon the ag-
gressor, and his ready intelligence gath.
cred from the Unsurpassed merriment
of the party that this petty impertineace
WIS Intentional.
The stranger stopped and picked up
the cherrv-stone, and a scarcely percep-
tible smile passed over his features
as he carefully wrapped it up in piece
of paper and placed 1t in his
pocket. This singular procedufe, with
their prcconceived impressions of their
customer, somewhat elevated as
the young gentlemen were by the wine
they had, partaken Of, capsized their
gravity entirely, and burst Of irrcsisti-
bic laughter proceeded from the group.
Unmoved by this rudeness, the strang-
er continued to finish his frugal repast in
quiet, until another cherry stone, from
the same hand, struck him upon the
right elbow. This also. to the infinite
amusement of the other party, he picked
from, the. floor and carefully deposited
with the first.
Amid shouts and laughter third cher
ry stone was soon after discharged, which
hit upon the left breast This also he
very deliberately took from the floor and
deposited with the other two.
As he rose, and was engaged in paying
for his repast, the gayety Of these sporting
gentlemen became slightly subdued. It
was not easy to account for this. Lavater
would not bavc been able to detect the
slightest evidence Of irritation or resent
ment upon the feturcs of the stranger.
He seeme3 little taller, to be SURF, and
the carriage Of his head might have ap-
peared to them rather more erect. He
walked to the table at which they were
sitting. and with An air of dignitied calm
ness, which is a thousand times more ter
rible than wrath, drew card from, his
pocket. and presented it with perfect ci-
Witty to the offender, who could do no
less than offer his own in return.
While the stranger unclosed his surtout
to take the card from his pocket, they
had glance at the undress coat of a
military man. The card disclosed his
rank, and brief inquiry at the bar was
sufficient for the rest. Hc was captain,
whom ill health and long service had en-
titled to half-pay. In early life he had
been engaged in several affairs of honor,
and, in the dialect of the fancy, was a
dead shot.
The next morning a, note arrived at tic
aggressOr's residence, containing chal-
lenge In form, and one of the cherry
stones. The truth then flashed before
the challenge party--it was the challeng-
er's intention to make three bites at this
cherry=-three separate affairs out Of this
unwarrantable frolic! The challenge was
accepted, and tho challenged party, in dc.
ference to the challeneer's reputed skill
with the pistol, had half decided upon
the small sword but his friends, who were
OH the alert, soon discovered that the
captain, who had risen by his merit, had
in the earlier days of his necessity, gained
his bread as an accomplished instructo.
in TIL Use Of that weapon.
They met, and fired alternately, bv lot
The young man had selected this mode
thinking he might win the first fire; he
did-tired. and missed his opponent. The
captain levcllcd his pistol and fired-the
bali passed through the flap OF the right
car, and grazed the bone, and, as the
uyo,p1oI ,>,,A I,:x, H.,
to the place, he remembered that it was
on the right ear OF his antagonist thai
the cherry stone had fallen. Here endcJ
the first lesson. A month had passed
His friends cherisl ed the hope that he
would hear nothing more from the cap
tain, when another notc--a challenge ot
coursc-and another of those accurscd
cherry stones arrived, with the captains
apology, On the score Of ill-heaith, 70,
not sending it before.
Again they met fired simultaneously
and the captain. who was unhurt, shat
tered the Ri ght elbow of his antagonist
the. very point upon which he had been
struck by the cherry stone; and here
ended the second lesson.
There was something awfulIy imprcy
sive in2tlie modus opeyandi and cxq,,isitt
! kill of his antagonist. The third cher.
'yustone was still in his. possession, AM,
he ;aggressor had not forgotten that i,
had struck the unoffending gentleman
upon the left breast.
A month had passed-another and
another, of terrible suspense :;bnt uoth
ing was heard from; the captain. Intelli.
gence had been received that he was con
tined to his lodgings by illness. !,
= At tlength the gentleman who had been
his aec94d Ill the former duels once more
presented himself, and rendered another
note, which, as the recipient perceived or
taking i, contained the last Of tue cherry.
stones: The note was supefscribed in
the captains well-known hand, but !;
s'the writing evidently of one who
wrote feebly. There was an unusual
solemnity also in the manner of him who
delivered it! ,{'-- :7..l~> :t,.: ,..-:''