The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-01-07

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was my equal, for, in truth, | never ap-
piled myself over closely to task work
When left school, which did at an ear
lier age than most, to enter the navy, !
lost sight of my friend The last | re-
member OF him in the old village was as
the coach passed his mothers cottage,
He was leaning against fence, and as
we ratified by | noticed a curl on his lip,
an expression on his face and look in
his eyes which ! can only call diabolcal.
All this was seven or eight years ago
and only ever saw. though ! have con
stantly heard Of him, once between then
and now, my old and unpopular school
fellow, Reuben Carr, till this evening,
when had the pleasure of depositing
him in the High street of Watley, for |
need not tell you that am only rcviving
this long yarn because the hero is your
troublesome guest. What can have
brought him hithcr and through what
stages of infamy he must have gone ere
associating with such set of Doors ]
cannot guess. That there is reason for
it and that the reason is bad and wick
ed one. | don't doubt The last time,
however, had heard of him was on the
occasion of his having sold or been dliv-
en- from the -th regiment ! mentioned
to you that he was not, and, | believe, is
not coward. On the contrary, both at
home and abroad, more especially the
latter, he has been engaged in many at
fairs, as duels are called. From none of
these, as it is said, has he emerged with
| l., I 4 l,, l,n., l.1
his man, though that has been the case
on several occasions; but if what is said
is true, relying on his consummate skill
with almost every weapon, both often
sive and defensive, he has traded III his
capacity of gambler and voluptuary on
his known deadliness at his weapons,aud
has not only outraged the honor but
swindled the fortunes and taken the life
of many young men and women of good
family; in fact, his name was one of ter
ror.
The single occasion on which saw
this man was at Naples about two years
since. \ party of us had just gone
ashore, and were about returning to our
boat when the sharp report of firearms
attracted our attention to retired spot
on the suburbs of that beautiful city.
On turning aside, we suddenly came
upon gronp of three men. Two of
these were raising the body of third,
while Fastening away in the direction
which brought them close to our own
party, were two others, in one of whom
! had no difficulty in recognizing, fresh
from his latest fatal affair of honor, Reu-
ben Carr, then Lieutenant in the --th
Regiment of foot. The story learned
in connection with this tragic affair was
very sad one indeed, and so black were
some of the circumstances i'll connection
with it that | was not surprised to learn
shortly afterward that the survivor on
that occasion had ceased, after an inqul-
ry. to be a member of the gallant corps
which he had, as was said, so disgraced.
At this stage of the naTative,a knock
ing was heard at the hotel door, and ON
young Jones going to inquire wha,
might be the business of the person
knocking, an entire stranger replied that
he had business with Mr. Frank Curtis
which admitted of no delay.
; a rather gentlemanlike person with &
hot unmilltary air made his appearance
and on his requesting few words Of
private conversation, Frank rose from
his seat and desired the stranger to fol
low him into the little flower garder
with which the conservatory communi
Gated
After a few minutes conversation h'
returned to his friends, saying;
You will, then, be so Obliging as t.
;, call for my answer to your friends rath
T er extraordinary demand by 8 o'clock to
I ! morrow morning. At present | neithe
i assent to nor decline to accede to it. Nh
> Jones, be so kind as to conduct this
hem gentleman TO the door.
The honest young fellow eyinced
much greater alacrity in executing thi
: latter commission than had been the Cas-
II when required to admit the suspicion
/ messenger On his return he put poch
!, etbook into Curtis hands.
4 think you must have dropped
!, when you pitched that Unlocking fello'
II into the road, said he.
Nay, it is non of mine, nor will hav
J.. aught to do with it. Keep it for tn
II rightful owner
e Certainly, sir. but to find out who
u the owner | must cen examine the col
tents
This he proceeded to do forwith. c
= his two companions our Lieutenant We
{ the only one who appeared not the lea'
, interested in the matter he being deepl
i buried in thoughts of his own.
At After q short interval of silence, scare
p ly broken by subdued whispering b
T. tween mother and son, the latter said:
" This pocketbook may not be yol
Sc property, sir but unless | am very muC
~ mistaken you are grayely concerned
its contents. See here are three letter
II II, one of which is addressed to yourself.
y What addressed to me, my go(
~ young Mr. Jones ? You are joking,
u Look at them. Here they are. p,
" haps YOU may know the handwriting.
u. Know the handwriting Could tn
W be the smiling, good-humored count
nance, those the frank untroubled ey
on which his friends loved SO much
look, those haggard features, that lo
no of horror Could this be Frank Curt
'd the ever smiling, popular beau ideal OF
or British sailor
IN Good heavens! he groaucd fort
- rather than uttered, after closely peri
er a. ing the letters which had been placed
n his hands. The base, hearless scor
be drel Did you not tell me that the pr
- ty little cottage outside the village W
le occupied by retired officer I?
Iv Yes, sir Major Beresford,
- What sort of man is he 2
ur lie is 4 man. suddenly interrupt
ed young Jones, whom everyone loy
Sc Just the man | should like for frie
,st in matter of life or death.
at So saying he looked the young sal
,rt full in the face.
by The latter evidently understood
ra- meaning
N. Thank you, will ask you to ia
a note to him in half an hour,
ly The Major is an early man, sir,
full Il understand you 1t is now $40