The record-union., 1892-10-08

fOieSSOT d ulSdSr6edDle reminder that
the tenure of human life is as precarious
as that OF the silly moth which allows
itself to be lured to destruction by shin
ing promises of bliss.
Upon my soul, Professor, am very
sorry" said Freeman. You have no
idea how formidable you looked: and
you could hardly expect me to imagine
hour
And why not, / should like to know"
shouted the Professor, towering with in
dignation. WAS / doing anything to be
ashamed of? And what are you doing
here, pray, with loaded revolvers in your
hands? Halo! who's this?" he ex-
claimed. as Don Miguel advanced doubt
1uIIy out OF the gloom. ''Senor De Men
doza as Pm sinner! and armed too!
wen, really. Are you two out on a muir
derlng expedition? Ohou' he went on,
III changed tone, glancing keenly from
one to another. ''Methinks 1 see the bot
tom of this mystery. You have ridden
forth like the champions of romance to
do doughty deeds upon each other. Is it
not SO, Don Miguel" he demanded,
turning his fierce spectacles suddenly on
that young man.
Don Miguel, ignoring a secret gesture
from freeman, admitted that he had been
on the point OF expunging the latter from
this mortal sphere.
AZ 1OIOSSOI CuuChl0u SdTCdStlcdlly. Y.
II see! Blood! Wounded honor! The
code! But, by the way, don't see your
seconds! Where are your seconds?''
My dear sir,' said Freeman, ''I as
sure you it's all mistake. We just hap
pened to meet at the gen-er-happened
10 meet, and were riding home togeth-
err
"Now, listen to me, Harvey the Pro-
fessor interrupted, holding up an expos
itory finger. "You have known me
since some ten years, 1 think, and | have
known you. You were a clever boy in
your studies, but it was your foible to
fancy yourself cleverer than you We're.
Acting under that delusion, you pitted
yourself against me on one or two occa-
sions, and leave it to your candid recol-
lection whether you or l had the best of
the encounter. You call yourself man
now, but L make it bold to say that the
discrepancy let US call it-between you and
me remains as conspicuous as it ever was.
see through you, sir, much more clearly
than, by this light, l can see you. | am
fond OF you, Harvey, but l feel nothing
but contempt for your present attitude.
In the first place, conscious as you are of
your skill with that weapon, you know
that this affair-even had seconds been
present-would have been, not a duel,
but an assassination. You acted like a
cowardl l say it, sir, like cowardi and
ashamed of yourselfas am now ashamed
for you. Secondly, your conduct con-
sldered IN its relations to certain persons
whom will not name, is that of boor
and blackguard. Suppose you had ac-
complished the cowardIy murder-the
cowardly murder l said, sir-that you
were bent upon tonight. Do you think
that would be grateful and acceptable
return for the courtesy and confidence
that have been shown in that house?-a
house, sir, to which / myself introduced
you, under the mistaken belief that YOU
were gentleman, or, at least, could feign
gentlemanly behavior! But l WON'T
my feelings won't allow me to enlarge
further upon this point. But allow me
to add, in the third place, that you have
shown yourself purblind donkey. Ac-
tually, you haven't sense enough to
know the difference between those who
pull with you and those who pull against
you. Now, | happen to know-to know,
do you hear?-that had you succeeded in
what you were just about to attempt, YOU
would have removed your surest ally
the surest, because his interests prompt
him to favor yours. You pick out the
one man who was doing his best to clear
the obstacle out of your path, and what
do you do? Thank him? Not you! You
plot to kill him! But even had he been,
as you in your stupidity imagine, your
y y
ed would have promoted your advantage?
Let me tell you, sir, that you don't know
the kind of people you are dealing with
u ou never would have been permitted to
cross their threshold again. And you
may take my word for it, if ever you
venture to recur to any such folly l will
see to 1t that you receive your deserts.
Well, l think we understand each other.
noW?o
Freeman's emotions had undergone
several variations during the course of
the mighty Professors harangue. But
he had ended by admitting the force of
the argument, and the "reminiscences of
college lecturings aroused by the incl
dent had tlckled his sense of humOr and
quenched his anger. He looked at the
Professor with a sparkle of laughter In
his eyes.
II have done very wrong, sir" he said,
land Pm very sorry for it. If you won't
give me any bad marks this time I'll
promise to be good in future"
"Ah, very smooth! To begin with,
suppose you ask pardon to Senor Don
Miguel De Mendoza for the affront you
have put upon him."
TO soul really fearless, even an apol-
ogy has no terrors. Moreover, Free
mans night ride with Don Miguel,
though brief in time, had sufficed to give
him the measure of the Mexican's char
acter, and he respected it so little that he
could no longer take the man seriously
or be sincerely angry with him. The
Professors assurance as to Don Miguel's
lnoffensiveness had also its weight, and it
was therefore with quite royal gesture
of amicable condescension that Freeman
turned upon his late antagonist and held
out his hand.
''Senor Don Miguel De Mendoza" said
he, II humbly tender you my apologies
and crave your pardon. My conduct has
been inexcusable. L beg you to excuse
1t. deserve your reprobation. / en-
treat the favor of your friendship. Senior,
between men of honor, a misunderstand-
ing is misunderstanding, and an apollo
gy is an apology. lament the existence
OF the first; the Professor, here, is wit
ness that / lay the second at your feet,
May L hope 20 receive your hand as a
privilege OF your good will?"
Now, Don MiguePs soul had been
grievously exercised that night. He had
been insulted, he had shivered beneath
the shadow Of death, he had been prey
to superstitious terrors, and he had been
utterly perplexed by the Professors elo-
quent address, whereof (as it was deliv-
cred in good American, and with a rapid
ity of utterance born of strong feeling)
he had comprehended not a word. and
the unexpected effect of which upon his
late adversary he was at loss to under
stand. Although, therefore, he had no
stomach for battle, he was oppressed by
| misgiving lest the whole transaction
had been in some way planned to expose
him to ridicule, and for this reason he
was disposed to treat Freeman's peaceful
overtures with suspicion. His heart did
not respond to those overtures, but neith-
er was it stout enough to enable him to
reject them explicitly. Accordingly, he
adopted that middle course which, in
spite OF the proyerb. is not seldom the
least expedient. He disregarded the
proffered hand, bowed very stiffiy, and.
saying, 'Senor, | am satisfied stalked