Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-03-27
THE THREE CHERRY STONES,
An Old Mans Renaissance,

recollect.
Three young gentlemen, who had fin
ished the most substantial part Of their
repast, we're 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 unoccup1ed table, and calling the
waiter, ordered simple mutton-chop
and glass of ale. His appearance, at
| first view, was not likely to arrest the at
tention of any one. His hair was begin
ming to be thin and gray; the expression
Of his countenance was sedate, with a
slight touch, perhaps, of melancholy; and
he wore gray surtout, with a standing
collar, which manifestly had seen service,
if the wearer had not-just such 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 masticate his chop
and sip his ale in silence, without lifting
his eyes from the table, until a cherry
stone, sportively snapped from the thumb
and finger of one of the gentlemen at the
opposite table, struck him upon his ri ght
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
was Intentional.
The stranger stopped and picked up
the cherry stone, and scarcely percep-
tible smile passed over his features
as he carefully wrapped it up in a piece
Of paper and placed it in his
pocket. This singular procedure, with
their preconceived 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 irresisti-
Bile 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 a 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 have been able to detect the
slightest evidence of irritation or resent
ment upon the fetures of the stranger.
He seemed little taller, to be sure, 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 dignified calm
ness, which is thousand times more ter
rible than wrath, drew card from his
pocket, and presented it with perfect CT
Witty to tue offender, who could do no
less than offer his own in return.
While the stranger Enclosed 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 a brief inquiry at the bar was
sufficient for the rest. He 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 note arrived at the
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 frolicl The challenge was
accepted, and the challenged party, in de-
ference to the challenger's reputed skill
with the pistol, had half decided upon
the small sword; but his friends, who were
on 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 instructor.
in thu use of that weapon.
They met, and fired alternately, by lot.
The young man had selected this mode,
thinking he might win the first fire; he
did-fired, and missed his opponent. The
! captain levelled his pistol and tired-the
bail passed through the flap of the right
ear, and grazed the bone, and, as the
wounded man inveluntarily put his hand
to the place, he remembered that it was
on the right ear OF his antagonist that
the cherry stone had fallen. Here ended
the first lesson. A.; month had passed.
His friends cherisl ed the hope that he
would near nothing. more from the cap
tain, when another note-a challenge of
course and another of those accursed
cherry stones arrived, with the captain s
apology, on the score of ill-health, for
not sending it before. .:.
| Again they met fred simultaneously,
and the captain who was unhurt, shat
tered the right 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 awfully impress
sive in the modus operandi and exquisite
kill of his antagonist. The third cher
l.y stone was still in his possession, and
he aggressor had not forgotten that it
had struck the unofending gentleman
upon the left breast. ::=1.4.4t
/ A month had passed-another and
another, of terrible suspense: bnt moth.
ing was heard from the captain. Intelli-
1 kOuOC A0A OOOA 1VNOAS1 AA0S uO was NO0~
fined to his lodgings by illness. So.
/ At length the gentleman who had been
his second In the former duels once more
presented himself, and rendered another
note, which, as the recipient perceived on
taking it, contained the last of the cherry
stones. The note ftwas superscribed in
| the captains wel1-known hand, but j:
was the writing evidently of one who
wrote feeblY. There was an unusual
solemnity also in the manner of him who
delivered it. .z is SCI .:.=s: ..2s5,. s
The seal was broken, and there was
the cherry stone in q blank envelope.
| t.And what. Sir, am te understand by
this2" inquired the aggressor. s.
~"You will understand, sir, that my
friend forgives you-he is dead"