The Opelousas courier., 1900-07-21
A WOMAN NEMESIS,
The Dramatic Way in Which She
Branded IL Coward.

The Dramatic Way I'm Which She
Branded "a Coward.
Nemesis often pursues with appar-
emily tagging steps, but sooner or
later she is almost sure to overtake
and punish the ma or woman who
has committed any cowardly Or dis
graceful act. At O large ball in Il Of
the prominent southern cities not long
ago the beautiful Mrs. M, q visitor
from a neighboring state, was holding
a miniature court. Men eager to be
presented to her crowded about, and
her hostess was literally b~esieged with
requests for an introduction.
Among those most anxious to meet
Mrs. M. was a young politician whose
career promised to be a most brilliant
one, as lie had already held important
offices in his Owl state and was just
then the leading candidate in his Con-
gress district. At his supplication
Mrs. R., the hostess, approached the
beauty, and mentioning his desire to
be presented to her she went on in
that Mandatory way peculiar to
southerners and mentioned his vari-
u claims to distinction.
81 should like to know Mr.. Z.;'said
the former, somewhat to Mr.. RS sur
prise. ~ have long wished to meet
him." Then as the young man ap-
preached she looked at him search
ingly as if to convince herself that
she had made no mistake, and said,
amid the general hush, in clear, thrill
ing accents:
81 have long anticipated this meet
ing, sir; I knew it would come sooner
or later. / am more glad than I can
say to have this opportunity of telling
you"-here she paused to give the
finale of her speech more effect
'that you are a miserable coward, sir,
and no gentleman!" Then, turning
around oher astonished audience, she
proceeded with slightly raised voice
that silenced the wholeroom and made
every word audible: 1.-TWO years age,
ladies and gentlemen, I took a state
room on a Mississippi steamboat ply
ing between Natchez and New Or
leans. This man was one of the pas
sengers. L overheard his name, and
became familiar with his appearance
although I never met him personally.
The night before we landed we were
all awakened by the awful cry of
'sFire!" and, rushing to the deck,
found that the captain had put on all
speed and was making for the shore.
But the fire was not our only danger
news quickly spread among the
passengers that there was a large con.
of gunpowder on board, and
the vital question of the minute was
whether the steamer could touch land
an explosion. The tension
was terrible.
"Let the women off frst!" shouted
the captain as the steamers bottom
touched q shoal of soft mud, pre-
sumably hear the banks, and the boats
were all ready, were hastily
lowered. Rank and precedence were
all forgotten in that supreme second.
The great hearted captain lowered
carefully down a poor Storage pas
senger with three young children.
"Let the mothers and children come
he again Numbered, and we
who were alone gladly stood back to
give place to the helpless. But a
group of angry, cowardly men crowd
ed forward, pushed back the frightened
creatures with oaths, obtained posses
of the boat (for it is needless to
say the captain was not prepared for
such dastardly conduct) and rowed
away from the seemingly
doomed ship. Ladies and gentlemen,
among those ours was that man!
"But, thank heaven, while these
creatures at such a moment followed
she instincts of their baser natures,
brave men were also following theirs,
md risking their lives to save us. As
loon as the extent of the fire had been
the second officer organized
! forlorn hope to cut an opening in
he hold. where the powder was
and get it overheard before it
gnited. Before this poltroon reached
he shore with his comrades q glad
'hout announced that the sailors had
accomplished their purpose, and that
We practically safe, for now there
plenty of time to keep the fire
Under control, while the passengers
we're sent to shore.
81 say this ma again, but I
lave heard of him from time to time,
nd made up my mind that if I should
'ver have the opportunity I would
'ublicaly brand him as a coward and
brute"