The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1889-12-25

my uauSnler natn leLler lrOIl hlCudru
Hexel, who was on beard the Hampton
Court and engaged in the fight"
"What7 Dick Hexel hath smeit gun
powder, then, in a real battle? Hurrah
for old England and beloved Sc. 1vesT'
"Amenr' cried Capt Trenwith, who
came stumping into the room. Eyes,
friends, tbs all true. Here is a copy Of
The Daily Post, dated March 20, wherein
is an account Of the battle, writ by a gen
tleman on board the Burford. the ad.
miral's own ship. Fill the glasses, and
John Tackabird shall read out the mar
rative"
Under the combined attractions Of the
punch and the newspaper, all eagerly
drew round the table, and the barber,
clearing his throat, commenced:
''On the afternoon of the 21st, about
o'clock, we came up with PortobeIlO
harbOr, where the Spaniards had hoisted
upon the Iron castle the flag Of defiance.
They welcomed us with terrible volley,
which, being at so short a distance, took
place with almost every shot. One struck
away the stern Of our barge; another
broke large gun upon our upper deck;
a third went through our fOretOpmast,
and the fourth, passing through thearm-
ing within two inches Of our mainmast,
broke down the barricade Of our quar-
ter deck very near the admiral, and
killed three men in a moment, wound
ing five others who stood by them. This
looked as If we should have bloody
work, but was far from discOuraging
our brave fellOws7-
The barber continued TO read how the
Spaniards were driven from their guns
| and the English landed: zone man set
himself close under an embrasure whilst
another climbed upon his shoulders and
entered under the mouth Of a great gun.
This so dismayed the Spaniards that they
threw down their arms and fed for their
lives"-
II would give a guinea to know twas
a Cornish man who did that" cried Capt.
/ Trenwith; "'twas brave action"
"Set your heart at rest, then, captain"
said Peter Hexel; twas Richard Hexel
/ who did it. have a letter from my son
wherein he recounts this very same adj
/ venture"
Then your son is a credit to Cornwall,
and Wen drink his health, my friend,
and the captain got up and heartily
/ shook Peter Hexel by the hand. Com
pound us another bowl Of punch, John
/ RenOwden, and see that it be worthy Of
the occasion"
That night the rafters Of the Golden
Lion rang with the cheers which greeted
the toasts of 1.-THE British Navy" and
'"The Hero Of st. Ives''-as Capt. Tren-
with was pleased to call Richard Hexel.
1t was doubtless the darkness that
I made it so difficult for the mayor and
the captain to find their way home that
night, though they were escorted, as
usual, by the black servant with lighted
lantern. The mayor accounted to his
wife for q headache which oppressed
him next morning by she extreme exer-
ton he had been obliged to use in sup
porting Capt. Trenwith, who. poor mani
having only one leg, could not be ex-
pected to walk as firmly as other people
You may be sure the heart Of Mary
Renowden was gladdened by the news
that had come about her lover; but
months passed away, and nothing more
was heard Of him Atlength there came
a letter, stating that ne had been severely
wounded in an action with a Spanish
ship in the West Indies, had been dis
charged, and was then lying in hospital
at Falmouth. Old Hexel at once started
for that place, and found poor Dick pale
and thin from wounds and fever, but in
good spirits and anxious to return home.
The doctors, however, would not hear of
it, and ordered the patient to lay up a
week or two longer, and then, perhaps,
he might be allowed to 60. His father
was, therefore, compelled to leave him
and return to st. Ives. where he was
eagerly expected by John RenOwden and
his daughter. When two weeks had
passed, they all three went over to Fal-
mouth, when the finishing touch was
put to Dicks recovery by the embraces
of his happy sweetheart
''Time, though old, is strong in flight,
says the old song; and he has brought us
once more to Christmas eve. The club
is assembled at the George and Dragon
there is Trimming punch bowl on the
boards, and the silver ladle with the
golden guinea is in active operation.
The talk is of the war, and John Tack
abird has been reading aloud an account
of a battle in the Bay Of Biscay, where a
large Spanish ship had been taken, and
where the name of Tom Champer figured
among the killed.
The mummers, having finished Their
Christmas play, have departed on their
rounds; but suddenly they are heard re-
turning, with cheers and shouts. The
clatter Of horses hoofs is heard on the
paved streets.
"'Tis Dick Hexel come back" cries
the barber, looking out Of the window.
"Lct US give him welcome" said Capt.
Trenwfth. HE is a brave Lad, and hath
fought and bled for the British hag"
''HurrahF' cried the crowd outside
"Hurrahl hurrahF' shouted the cap
tain and his companions as they hurried
to the door, and there, sure enough, was
Dick Hexel, on horseback, with Mary
Renowden seated on a pilliOn behind him,
while Peter Hexel and John RenOwder
.
going vigorous handshaking among the
crowd. The club sat late in session that
night, and Capt. Trenwith would fair
have had Dick in to tell how he had
scaled the ramparts OF Portobello; bui
Dick excused himself on the plea Of
fatigue, and he spent the evening much
more to his liking IN the company Of
Mary sRenowden. II do suppose" said
Will Nance, aDick Hexel win have 4
considerable sum in the way Of priz.
money coming to him?
eff he lives to be an old man It may
perhaps. come to him." said John Tacka
bird; ''but the tyrannical abuse Of powel
under an oligarchy"-
''D-n your hard wordsI" cried Capt
TrenWith; "they would break any mani
jaw but yours. I tell re, a true MAJ
viii do his duty whether he Is r-id for i
or no; and may never live 10 see tn
day when a British tar viii think NOR
Of profit than Of honor"
This sentiment Of the good old captain
ought, according to the usual custom o
the stage, to bring down the curtain o.
our little drama; but, 70 satisfy the reader
we beg to state that In the early sprinl
Richard Hexel espOused Mary Renow
den in the parish church Of St. Ives, an'
Capt Trenwith proposed the health o
the young couple in the parlor Of tn
/. Golden Lion, which ancient hos6elE5
still standing in evidence Of the entir
Z / 18th - tf,f- ~,o--,kr--o n n Tlfrrr