Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-06-29

regiment too hot to hold you in less than
no time"
"Well, shall book the bets" suggested
Macleod blandly.
''No; won't bet ON certainty"
"Are you sure" inquired Macleod, with
an air of doubt, THAT it isn't that you
don't feel-quite-up-to drawing Old
PATTI
.You may book the bet," cried Fan
Shave, haughtily. and his cheek flushed
with anger. "And if you lose you will
have no one to thank but yourself"
"Quite so," said Macleod calmly, and he
made the entry in his pocketbook in the
most businesslike way. And if lose
well, at any rate shall afford you some
amusement"
And SO it came about that that same
evening after dinner when the wine was
circulating pretty freely and mellow
glow was beginning to make its appear
ance Oh the colonel's ripe visage, young
Fanshawe, to the CONSERVATION of the
mess, proceeded to introduce the subject
of a certain deceased Irish politician.
s'What scoundrel that fellow wase
said young Fanshawe, apropos of poth-
ing, and dragging the dead leader into the
conversation precisely as Mr.. Dick used to
hoist King Charles rs head into the "Me-
mortal"
The other subs looked at young Fan
Shave with an expression of amazement.
Had he gone out of his senses, or had the
wine got into his head? Closer inspection,
however, showed that he looked unnatu-
rally sober and unusually intelligent.
Then there must be some game on-some
game at the colonels expense. This
would probably be good sport, and it
would be as we'll to be in at the death.
Every eye was therefore fixed on the
colonel. Old Pat was not to be drawn by
q young Fanshawe. He snorted indig
nantly, but reserved his steel for worthier
foes.
The circle of watchful eyes now turned
to Fanshawe. What would be his next
move?
''My pater has just bough hogshead of
the finest Scotch whisky" said the
youth. coming up to time with commend
able alacrity and a cheerful smile. He
launched out into some details on the sub
ject and his intentions thereto, concluding
with the following significant remark:
81 hate Irish whisky. 1t is such sickening,
soapy stuff. / think Scotch is much the
best"
A joyful CLEAN shone in the attentive
optics. This was getting interesting.
Young Fanshawe was actually of malice
prepense "going for'' Old Pat. "Hoorayl
Yoicksl Tallyhol Go it, young Fanshawel"
were the sentiments reflected in the breasts
of that hopeful youths brother subalterns,
while even the major, who certainly ought
to have known better, grinned with intense
enjoyment.
Don't you think so Macleod?" said
young Fanshawe to the Scotchman, who
was cracking walnuts with the utmost
insouciance.
''Don't think what?" he replied
''That Scotch whisky is better than
Irish"
"Why, of course. Can there be any
doubt? Does any one dispute it?"
This sally was too much for Old Pat.
He plunged ut once into the fray, and
heated discussion ensued. At least it was
heated on his side, for Macleod retained an
appearance of judicial calm which would
have put Job himself in bad temper.
Young Fanshawe, it may be added, at once
seized the opportunity to retire from the
forefront of the BATTLE and took up the
safe position OF an interested spectator.
In a comparatively short time a great
deal of unpalatable information was shot
upon the colonel. He was told that not
only was Scotch whisky far more pleasing
to the taste than Irish, but it was less in
furious to the health, and there was less
of illicit distillation in Scotland than in
Ireland. Warming apparently to his sub
ject, and totally regardless of Old Pats
passionate and profane defense. Macleod
tok 4 - k..1I J.
was really good and great in the Irish ma
tion was English or Scotch in origin, that
the Irish colonies in English towns formed
the most criminal and degraded portion of
the population, and that there was actually
something in the climate or soil of Ireland
which deteriorated the physical and moral
character of the inhabitants. He said this
with the calm utterance of u lecturer who
demonstrates facts. There was even softer
undertone perceptible now and then, as if
he pitied the advocate of SO miserable a
cause.
The colonel became almost incoherent
with rage. His face assumed deep pur-
pie hue He manifested an inclination to
foam at the mouth.
''For proof of this" continued Macleod,
sit is quite enough to refer to well known
and incontrovertible fact. Whether it is
due to the potatoes which they eat or the
bog water which they drink, don't know;
but it is quite enough for my purpose that
every Irishman of anything like ancient
descent has black roof to his mouth. You
will bear me out in that, colonel, ain
sure"
The mess in vain endeavored to preserve
a dignifed demeanor. They were nearly
choking with suppressed laughter. Young
Fanshawe contrived to upset decanter in
order to hide his emotion. Another young
scapegrace was obliged to 60 to the side
board, where he gurgled subterraneously
for several minutes with his back to the
company.
"It's lie!" roared the colonel, whose
eyes were nearly starting out of his head.
IAN Internal lie''
"How? A lie, colonel? Do you mean to
deny what have stated?"
81 mean," shrieked Old Pat, ''that the
Powers of Ballycoran are one of the Oldest
families in Ireland; that they were on inti-
mate terms with Brian Boru and that
when the blissid St. Patrick came that
way twas me own ancestorr that gave him
the Cead mile failtae to Ballycoran, and
If you can find a single black roof in the
mouths of the intire family may the divil
fly off with the soul of the dirty varmin."
And with these words the colonel struck
the table blow which made the glasses
ring
"This is very interesting, indeed" re-
piled Macleod, gazing at the colonel as if
that dignitary were the Missing Link or
new form of butterfly. II had no idea that
any one-even an Irishman-would dispute
1t. Now, dare say that you never thought
of examining your own mouth?"
The colonel's reply was of nature that
would have been an expensive one had he
made it in the presence of magistrate
who piqued himself on enforcing the pen
alties against swearing.
''Strange, very strange" said Macleod,
who was still quite calm. "Now, think
will lay you two to one In ten pound notes
that am right"
A wolfish light shone In the colonePs
eyes, but he held back with the most
praiseworthy self control. 1t would be I'M
dignified to bet with mere sub-and es-
pecially on such a subject.
81 will make it five to one in twenty
pound notes." continued Macleod, with an
air of great confidence, ''that you yourself
have black roof to your mouth"
II will take that bet," spluttered the
colonel, who was now in white heat of