Show O' O NOT ALL DEOSS ' J I I i ' f had ironically given him the title of General Among these who were liis match in age size and wealth was young Richard Courtney son of one of the richest baronets in England The Eton boys were playing a cricket match one day and Herbert Blakely wTas at the wicket and young Courtney was bowling against him Herbert in a cricket match was undoubtedly a leading man as he was also in a boat-racor in any athletic game or exercise In the noble game of cricket he had but one equal in the school and that was “ Dick ” Courtney who was now bowling against him “Dick” was a splendid bowler and in this was more than the other’s match who depended upon himself more as a batsman At this match it had so happened that Herbert had in the first innings been bowled out by “ Dick” before he had made a run Twice had Herbert in his second innings struck at and missed the ball which each time passed the wicket making it fairly tremble Evidently the batsman was jiervous and thrown off his His reputation as a first class player was at stake and the game was watched by both sides w ith more than common ex“ Dick ” entered into the ancitement tagonism with great zest and displayed more than his usual coolness and skill It could be easily seen that he was doing his best to bowl the other out a second time if possible without a run while it was also evident that from a loss of his usual assurance from his mishap in the first innings Herbert was not himself in the game Away flew the ball for the third time and smash went the wicket while the batsman more bewildered as he saw the force and directness of the ball struck wildly and was again put out without a run Many a man in the various games and battles of life have lost not from the lack of skill or courage or power to win but by losing confidence and coolness through some bad hit Herbert at the next match would doubtless have redeemed his reputation and as it was most of the boys well appreciated the cause of his disadvantage but the fellow instead of accepting his defeat goodna- turedly grew pale with rage and mortification and swore that it w as a foul ball and given before he was ready The cricketers w ere excited and of course divided but young D’Lacy who wras um-ir- e being appealed to ruled that the all was fair and that the batsman had ' given the sign of readiness “Liar” shouted young Blakely his rage and mortification completely carrying him away “You lying aristocratic beggar!” Fred turned haughtily upon his heels “What” the other continued follow“Will you dare to lord your ing him thread-bar- e Norman house over me ? My father has the D’Lacy lands in his iron chest and I will have them in my possession some day when if I catch you trespassing bnt a foot I will have you whipped from the estate as a beggar Ha! ha! It would be rich to see a D’Lafrom the lands which cy for generations belonged to the beggars ! ” he said taking do it I’ll race by ah oath too profane to write When the young ruffian called him liar excepting in the flashing of his usually mild eye and the proud curl of his lip Fred answered not the insult further than haughtily turning away but when the other following in savage triumph threw at him the broken fortunes of his family he turned and confronted his ene- my It could be seen that Fred was fear fully agitated and shamed by the allusion to the mortgage of his family estates to the wealthy general but when the son of the man who held the inheritance of his race in his iron chest gloatingly anticipated the pleasure of having him horsewhipped from the D’Lacy lands Fred impulsively sprang a step towards the insolent youth “ Oh Oh ! you little bantam shall I give you a foretaste of that whipping?” “Shame!” cried the boys around as the enraged Herbert gave the last insulting wound to young D’Lacy and it could be seen by the threatening manner and warlike countenances of those who felt themselves a match for Herbert that champions were ready to step in to the defence of Fred The proud boy however gave no sign of willingness to allow another to do battle for him His face was very pale and its expression stern and determined more than one would have thought possible from his usual gentleness Slowly walking up till he planted with his antagonist and looking him in the eye with scorn and a power that but for his confidence in his own superior strength would have made the other fear he had raised a lion where he had ((expected a lamb Fred interoga- -' gated with a quiet sternness that added fuel to his enemy’s wrath : “ You would give me a foretaste Herbert Blakely I believe you said ?” “ I did” answered Herbert turiously “ and will also repeat my promise of the future if you wish it” “ Dick v Courtney at this stepped between the two antagonists who ' seemed unequally matched and haughtily and threateningly said : “Herbert Blakely you must answer to me for your cowardly outrage of Frederick D’Lacy As the quarrel originated between you and I you and I sir will fight it out” “ I will not have it so !” proudly interrupted Fred “ The dispute wTas yours Courtney I grant but the insults are mine I will however accept you1 as my second right willingly but prefer to chastise the bully myself!” “ Take that” shouted the furious Herbert aiming a blow at Fred whose calm imperious manner maddened his enemy Fred saw the coming blow and sprang to the left avoiding it then quick as lightning he struck the other between Herthe eyes sending the bullock-lik- e bert to the ground wTith such force that head his laid him full length and made rattle as it struck the earth The bully arose bewildered and astonished while those who were disposed to interfere for a more equal match were scarcely less so The tact was Fred had been much underrated for though he was comparatively slender he was well made with powerful limbs and ’iron sinews He possessed in reality great physical development and prowess but not of that showy kind as seen in Herbert and though Fred was meek and gentle as a lamb he had in him much of nature of his race The lion the lion-lik- e was now aroused — the lamb slept ! and that quiet unshowy physical force with which nature had endowed him but which had never manifested itself more than in the distance which he could strike a ball for the first time attracted the Eton boys They saw in a moment that the match was not so very unequal backed with the courage and cool resolution of Fred even though he was three years the junior of Herbert With one accord the boys formed themselves into the orthodox ring and Dick Courtney stood prepared to second Fred One of the “ General’s ” men did the same for him and then commenced k reguhu set fight which after a half an hour’s Juration ended in the discomfiture of the bully He slunk away amidst the derision of the crowd bearing many signs of having had “ enough ” — such as ajmir of black eyes and a well battered face cov- ‘ ered with blood and cuts from the sharp knuckles of Fred From that day Frederick D’Lacy found a warm admirer in Richard Courtney and he in turn equally admired his noble friend “ Dick” to whom he looked up as an elder brother Indeed the youths became brothers in soul and love They left school together and together traveled throughout Europe and a portion of Asia They visited the classic lands of sunny Italy and intellectually luxuriated with each other at Rome drinking the same draughts of poetry revelling in the same scenes of exquisite beauty and gushing into each others souls youth’s fresh rich feelings and strong floods of sensibility as they together revelled in the architecture music painting sculpture and the endless scenes of historical fame grandeur romance and superstition with which the fair Italia’s realms abound At the same altar they stood and by their sides the -- brides of their youth At the door of the village church where they had together entered into Hymen’s holy bonds of love they separated to spend their honeymoon each on his family estates and in the house of his ancestors But from this Eton pugilistic episode came events of a different kind which covered much of the future history of the lTLacys up to the opening chapter which showed the dying Fred making his last earthly journey to the ancestral hall of his friend Dick now Sir Richard oue of the richest baronets Courtney in England From the day that Herbert Blakely slunk’ discomfited away muttering vengeance upon the head of his youthful victor Fred had an enemy as bitter and vindictive as his friend Dick was fond and faithful and that enemy was far more to be feared than the proud boy Indeed he scarcely made a imagined note of his threat but considered it mere bombast and ere many days had fled it had passed from his memory to give place Now to more pleasant recollections this underrating of his enemy’s threat proved a calamity for it kept Lord Reginald and his son blind to the plot that consummated the wreck of the D’Lacy house On the same day of the fight Herbert went home to his father the General and returned to Eton no more He related to his father what had transpired but artfully insinuating as the cause of his defeat the combination of Ered’s aristocratic friends against him on account of the General’s own low birth This was gall and bitterness to the wealthy plebeian whose pride was morbidly sensitive upon this point and father and son joined in vows of a fitting vengeance and humiliation upon the D’Lacy race Soon after the events above related 'General Blakely paid a visit to Lord Reginald and so consummately did he play the part which he had taken for the complete ruin of the declining fortunes of the D’Lacys that he most successfully ingratiated himself into the good graces of Lord Reginald and won his entiro This was a great part of tho confidence game won for the noble lord had previ- ously felt towards the wealthy mortgagee ? r ' p 5 |