Year: 1879

to Frank and congratulated him on MS
successful attempt TO chastise man
who had done him such sn injustice.
of the other more serious matter no one
spoke, for something in the young mans
face forbade it. He received their ex-
pressions Of respect and good feeling po-
iitely, but rather haughtily, for be felt
Indignant that they shOnld have lis
tened so eagerly to scandal from man
whose moral character was so vile a.
the whipped Captains. He soon turned
away aud proceeded homeward, but WAS
presently Joined by one Of his friends
whom he had just left.


81 say, Stoddard, did the Captain
challenge you at ali ?" said he.


'Yes," said Frank "but wouldn't
crafty him in that way. I never
thought dueliug right, and he is not
worthy OF even the treatment gave his
tool, Green. Nothing but the disgrace
of the hOrsewhip is fit for a shameless
wretch like that, who dares to besmirch
the name of a pure woman with his
filthy lips-the low, degraded debau-
chez ~ and the young mans eyes
flashed with angry scorn as he recalled
once more the words to which he had
been an unwilling listener.


"Well, Stoddard, believe you are
right" said his friend, "for a fouler-
mouthed man than that l never saw;
but how did you know he had been tell
ing Us his lies ,"


"Why, I knew it by your looks, Of
course" said Frank.


"Iou were not mistaken, at any rate"
said his friend, "aud, If you had heard
him, / expect you would have killed
him"


81 am very glad did not, then" saiG
Frank, grimly. 81 have heard all l
could bear, l think" and he set his
teeth hard at the remembrance, but
went on: 81 warned him yesterday to
stop his lies; but suppose he thought
he could get me out of the way easily,
and then do as he liked. do not know
whether this will be enough for him or
not"


mo" said his friend. Talbot is
such a revengeful man, be will never
forgive you. would not be surprised
at anything he might do; so you would
DO we'll to prepare yourself for the
worst.n


"Oh, don't think I need fear him,
myself" said Frank, carelessly. "My
only dread is that he may persist in his
villainous ISLANDERS, and that may not
be able to refute them everywhere, nor
to punish him as he deserves; for fear
he will be careful 70 manage so | cannot
learn Of them hereafter"


"Well," said his friend, AZ think you
may rest easy on that point; for, after
what we all heard and saw, and after
that other scamp's confession, it would
not do him much good to go about lying
any more. He hoped to destroy your
credit in the dueling affair, but your
prompt action has beaten him there, in
more ways than one. He will scarcely
venture to call you a coward again, any
more than lie will permit you to hear
him seandalize you or yours"


Franks heart stood still at that last
word, and then gave a great bound.
Might not this trial give him his be-
loved, after all? Would she not think
it her duty to receive his protection, if
she knew what perils beset her way
from brutes like the one he had scourged
Tor her sake? He knew, from her whole
modest, retiring, gentle life and disposi-
tion, that such a shameful attack as this
had been would pierce her soul with
anguish. He felt that he could almost
see the dear head bowed with shame,
that such things could have been said.
In fancy, he saw the golden sunbeams
playing softly upon the gold-brown hair
he loved so well to watch, and so longed
to caress. He saw the shapely, delicate
hands crossed patiently IN her lap-no,
they were tightly clasped, as he had
seen them once before, as though cling
ing to some invisible support. He
started at this thought, and felt that the
deep, mOurnfuI eyes were fixed upon
him in sad, mute reproach that made
his own fall guiltily. Then suddenly it
flashed upon him that he was inexpress-
ibly mean and selfish to even think Of
allowiug the painful knowledge to reach
her he loved. He felt miserable to think
he could dream of using so cruel a
weapon to turn her from her path-the
path of right to her pure soul. And
like a dream it seemed, too, so far away
and unreal, as if another aud not himself
had entertained the thought so hateful
to him now. He felt as though it must
have been long ago that lie was tempted.


No word had been spoken, and but a
few moments had passed since the
magic word was uncousciously uttered
that caused our friend to build the frail
castles in the air, which, soon tottering,
fell. aud left him enveloped in a cloud of
gloom. He did not feel that he could
converse any more, so great was his de-
pression aud WEAKNESS, which now be-
gan TO make itself felt; and his friend,
soon perceiviug this, left him near bis
own door and went home, thinking to
himself that Stoddard was a very queer
fellow, but brave as Richard Lion
Heart. and true and pure as Sir Gala
had. This opinion he was not backward
I Il, o.-.,-os.i,c, naxt day. and uhanaver