Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-10-16
not be IN a condition to enjoy IL As had

another and went out, some exeusing
themselves and then calling out the othera
The dinner had been finished when the
last man retired. Eland and Strong we're
sitting opposite each other over their
coffee Bland putting a cigarette, Strong
pulling on a cigar.
"Strong," said Bland, languidly, II wish
you wouldn't make that noise when you
sip your coffee"
Strong looked up surprised.
"Why"
at annoys me exceedingly"
al was not aware that l was making
any especial noise" said Strong, flushing
al suppose know how to bear myself like
q gentleman ut table"
A sneer was creeping over BANDS
usually pleasant face.
whats come over yon, Bland"
81 can stand anything but bad table
manners You'll be running your knife
down your throat presently"
"Do you mean to say that my manners
don't suit your extra refined and gentle
manly high mightiness~ said Strong,
| angrily.
~ shouldn't have ventured to thrust the
information on you as bluntly as you have
| put it, but to tell you the plain, unvar-
nished truth, they don't"
"I'm sorry" replied Strong, making an
effort to resume an indifferent tone; "but
since you're not pleased with them, We'll
choose another subject for conversation"
"You seem to think" continued Bland,
again calling up the sheer. that you are
at liberty to show your bad breeding by
rafting your coffee on your tongue, and
when | delicately hint that it is offensive,
you assume to choose what shall be the
topic of conversation"
IAN inferior should yield to his superior,
Isuppose," retorted Strong, ironically
Bland threw off the sueer and assumed
all the arrogance of a prince of the blood.
"There is certainly little vanity in claim
ing superiority in this case"
"See here, Bland, this must cease.
don't care to sit here and listen to it any
longer"
"Why don't you leave then"
II certainly will, if you don't cease your
disagreeable remarks"
mo" said Bland half musingly, "that
Isn't the reason why you don't CO."
"Well, what is ity'
"Some call it prudence, some fear. 1t Is
the same by all names"
you little villain, do you mean to call
me coward"
Come, Strong, don't get up on your
ear at the mere mention of what is COM
mon talk. You know very well the effect
of your permitting that fellow Hodge to
publicly insult you without resentng it. {"
"My course in that affair was approved
by all my best friends"
Strong spoke Indignantly, but with an
injured tone as well. He had till now
supposed that his action il the case re-
ferred to, wherein he had ms unanimously
apologized to a cripple. had gained him
universal commentator. Bland said moth
ing. He gazed at the ceiling with know
ing look, which implied, Il know better;
they deceived you; they were kind hearted
chaps and didn't want to wound you"
~ don't care for your opinion in the mat
ter" Strong went on impatently, though
he changed his position and knit his brows,
plainly showing that he did care great
deal for it. 81 acted as thought was right
and proper under the circumstances, and
that's all there is about it,"
Bland still continued to gaze at the cell
ing. When he spoke, Strong wished that
he would remain silent; when he was ST
lent, Strong trembed with irritation be-
cause he would say noting.
"If you mean that | was blamed why
don't you say SO, and not sit there looking
your contemplate, disgusting insinua
tionsf"
Bland lowered his eyes from the ceiling
and looked, with dropping lids, at his ad
versary. Then. blowing a cloud from his
cigarettes;
Fear always finds an excuse. When =
man is afraid to fight he usually gives out
that his conscience won't let him."
Strong's breath came short and quick
He raised a glass OF water to his lips witt
cnti
looking his tormentor full in the face;
"If you desire to test my sense of fear
you may rest assured my conscience won't
stand in the way"
Bland made gesture of assumed impa
thence.
''Do you suppose I want to make mysel
ridiculous? You'd never fight any one
There would be lot of buster but you'd
find way to get out of any serious work
Thanks. | don't care to be made laugh
ing stock"
81 dare you to go with me this minute
and have it out" cried Strong, rising from
the table.
"Oh, sit down. You had chance once
, to show your metal and failed. You cam
expect any one who knows of your conduc
then to favor you with another"
Strong sank back in his chair Ho
, tears burst from his eyes IN spite of his eff
forts to restrain them. To have acted tn,
part of true hero, TO be now denied VIVA
Bland termed another chance to show tina
he was not a coward, was the seyeres
, thrust that had been given him. "If yor
were not coward yourself" he moaued
you would not SO screen yourself"
! Bland leaned forward with an expression
which had now changed to assumed hate
and shaking mis- finger within an inch o
| his adversary's nose, Kissed:
There is another reason why i dom
fight you. Twas born of honorable parent
, in wedlock."
"Well, what has that to do with it' d.
, you-do you mean, you crawling serpent
to iuslnuate that-that-thaJ | was notI'
, 81 am a gentleman. | don't assert an.
| such thing"
DO you mean to cast n reflection ever
I by your fiendish. churlish, sneerng lool
| upon"-
, mo"
Then throw or that insnuating ex
, preston and take back the whole thing
or, by -, I'll brain youW