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' COLUMBUS ENQUIRER. sTJisriD^^r. |VOL. XY1. COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1874. NO. 215 The Home Amour the Hllle. BY HABKIET M’ltWlV KIMBALL. Midway between those towering hills, One lonely human dwelling ; The circling acres, culture swept, Its little history telling! On either hand the meadow land .Makes fair the mountain spaces, with golden reach of buttercups And silver drift of daises. Behind, the massive forest wall; lietore, the r.ver running ; And close about the little oot The signs of human ouniting. The signs so homely and so sweet That uraw us to eaoh other. And make the dally life of man Familiar to his brother. We know the band at early morn, That cottage hearth-fire kindling ; We watohedthe dropping of this corn ; Wo wait Its purple spindling ! ▲ part, have wo in all the tolls Of those our mountain neighbors ; A portion In the presclous gain He.ivon winnows from their labors. We taste tlolr trials, share their feasts, And, with a passing wonder, Wo linger even while we go, Their choloe, their lot to ponder. Amid the grandeur and the gloom On every hand abiding, A flower of human blossoming This little home Is hiding. What tender wind of Providence The small seed hither drifted, Where yet these shadows vast may fall On village spires uplifted 1 Loss awful seem those hills august, Less lone the valleys glooming, Since in this wilderness the rose Of human life is blooming ! A DARK NIGHT’S WORK. BY MUR. UA8XXLL. Arranged from the Engl lets. (continued.] C HAPTER Till. Still youth prevailed over all. Ellinor i well as I have said, even when she onld fain have died. And the after* on catne when she left her room. Miss _|anro would gladly have made a festival if her recovery, und havo had her con* ▼eyed into the unused drawing room. But Ellinor begged that she might be ta- kin into the library—into tho school* u—anywhere (thought she) not look ing on the side of the house on the flow- •rgardeu, which she had felt in all her illness as a ghastly pressure, lying with in sight of those very windows through Thick tho morning sun streamed right gnoS her bed—like the aoousing angel, Mating all hidden things to light. And when Ellinor was better still, when the Bath chair had been sent up for her use by some kindly old maid out of Hamley, she still petitioned that it might be kept ou the lawn or town side of the house, uway from the flower gar den. One day she almost screamed when, as a s was going to the front door, she saw xon standing reudy to draw her instead gf Fletcher, the servant who usually Bat she checked all demonstra- t of feeling, although it was the first ne she had seen him since he uod she jid one inoro had woiked their hearts _fc iu hard bodily labor. He looked so stern and ill! Gross, too, Which she had never seen him before. As soon as they were out of immediate £v.’j(4gbt of tho windows she asked him to |op, forcing herself to speak to him. “Dixon, you look very poorly,” she g^d, trembling as she spoke. “Ay!” said he. “We did na’ think fetich of it at the time, did we, Mias Nel- r far ? But it will be the death of us, I’m lurked tho sting. He was all astouish- rnent and indignation at Air. Duuster's disappearance, or rather flight lo Ameri ca. And now that she was growing stronger, he did not scruple to express curiosity respecting the details, never doubtiug but that she was perfectly uo- i ^ quainted with much that he wauted to : down the river, making ripples on the know; although he had too much delioaoy j glassy opal suifuce of the water. They to question her on the point which wan md not talk very much, Ellinor seemed most important of all in his eyes, namely | disinclined for the exertion; and her lov- how far it h-id effected Mr. Wilkins’ | er was thinking over Mr. Wilkins’ beha- worldly prospect**; for the report preva- | viour, with some surprise and distaste of lent in Hamley had reached London, that j tbe habit so evidently growing upon him. They cauio home looking serious and tLinki liking. It has aged me about a bit, AU my fifty years afore were but aa a forenoon of child’s play to that night, lfeeater, too. I could bear a good deal, but soeaster cuts through tbe stable-yard, And past me, wi’out a word, as if 1 was poison, or a stinking toumart. It is that ns |> worst, Miss Ntlly, it is.” Aad the poor man brushed some tears fiom his eyes with tho back of his with nred, furrowed hand. Ellinor caught the infection, and cried outright—sobbed like a child, even while she held out her little white tbiu hand to his grasp; for ai noon as he siw hor emotion he was peni tent for what he said. “Don’t now—don’t,” was all he could think of to Kny. “Dixon!” said she, at length, “you ■oat not mind it—you must try not to Bind it. 1 toue ho does not like to be re- minded of that, even by seeing me. He i tries never to be alone with me. My poor old Dixon, it has spoiled my life for me; for I don’t think he loves me any ^She sobbed as if her heart would break —and now it was Dixon’s turn to be com- ^“Ab, dear, my blessing! he loves you •bove everj tbiug. It’s only he can’t bear the sight of ur, as is but natural. And if he duuuot fancy being alone with you, there’s always one as does, and that is a •omfuit at the worst of times. And . ye fret abrout what I said a minute Igo, I were put out because measler all hilt pushed mo out of his w - '** 1 “ . |ng, without never a word. an old fool for toiling ye. And I ve rcal- - Sr forcottou why I told Fletcher I d drag ,, A git about to-day. The gardener is hiflinninu for to wonder as you don t want toMe the annuals und bedding out things ■•you were so particular about in May. AM I thought I d just have a word wi’ y#f and (hen if yon r d let mo wed go to- Btther just once round the flower gsr- just to sny you’ve been, you know, Sd tociva them chaps a bit of praise. You’ll only have to luok on the beds my pr«tty, and it must be done sometime, bo ^He began to pull resolutely iu the di rection of the flower garden. Ellinor hil her lips to keep in tho cry of repug nance that rose to them. Aa Dixon stop* pad lo unlock the door, ho said, not hardness, nothing like it; J have waited till I hoerd you were better; hut it’s iu for a penny in for a pound wi as all: and folk may talk; and blesH your little keart, you’ll stand a deal for your father's sake, aud so will I, though I do • fgei it above u bit when he puts out bis hand as if to keep me off, and I only go ing to speak to him about Clipper’s knees; though I’ll own I had wondered many a day when I was to have tho good morrow never missed sin' be were a boy till— Well! and now you've seen the beds, and enn say they looked mighty pretty, and is tloue all ns you wished; aud M*ve goi out ogam, and breathing lresh- BT air than yon sun-baked hole, with its ■celling flowers not half so wholesome to an off at as good stable dung.” Bo the good man chattered on—not without the purpose of giving Ellinor flqM to recover herself; and partly also drown his own cares which lay hesv- • * i heart thau he oonld ssv. But t himself rewarded bv ElUnor’s 1 warm pressure of his hard i got out at the front door and days of weary monot- •few ooMtMfttly xeceiv- veft few» agftip Mr. Duoster had made way with, or car ried off trust property to a considerable extent, for all of which Mr. Wilkius would, of course, be liable. It was hard work for Ualph Corbet to keep from seeking direct information on this head from Mr. Ness, or indeed from Wilkius himself. But he restrained him self, knowing that in August he should be able to make all these enquiries per sonally. Before the end of Long Vaca tion ho had hoped to marry Ellinor; that was the time which had been planned by them when they had met in the early 'spring before her illness and all this mis fortune happened. But now, as "he wrote to his father, nothing oould be definitely arranged until he had paid bis visit to Hamley and seeu the stato of affairs. Accordingly, one Saturday in August he came to Ford Bank, this time as a vis itor to Ellinor's home, instead of to his old quarters at Mr. Ness’s. The house was still as if asleep in the full heat of the afternoon sun as Mr. Corbet drove up. The window blinds were down; tho front door wide open, great stands of helitrope, aud roses and geraniums stood just within the shadow of the hall; but through all the silence his approach seomed to excite no commo tion. He thought it strange that he had not been watched for, that Ellinor did not come running out to meet him, that she allowed Fletcher to come and attend to Mb luggage, and ushered him into the library just like any common visitor, any morniug caller. He stiffened himself up into a moment’s indignant coldness of manner. But it vanished iu an instant when, on tbe door being opened, he saw Ellinor holding by the table, looking for his appearance with almost pauting anx iety. He thought ol nothing then but her evident weakness, her changed looks, for which no accouut of her illness had irepured him. For she was deadly white, ips and all; aud her dark eyes seemed unnaturally enlarged, while the oaves in which they were set were strangely deep and hollow. Her hair too, had been cut off pretty closely; she did not usually wear a cap, but with Borne faint idea of making herself luok bettor iu his eye, she had put oue on this day, and the effeot was that she seemed to be forty years of age; but one instant after he bad come in her pale face was flooded with crimson, and her eyes were full of tears. She had hard work to keep herself from goiog in to hysterics, but she iustinctively knew how much he would hate a scene, and she checked herself iu time. “Oh,” she murmured, “I am so glad to see you, it is such a comfort, such an in finite pleasure!” And bo she went on cooing out words over him, and strokiog his hair with hor thin fingers. While he rather tried to avert his eyes, he was so much afraid of betraying how much he thought her ulterod. But when she came down dressed for dinner, this sense of her change was di minished to him. Her short brown hair had already a little wave, and was orna mented by some black luce; she wore a large blaok lace shawl—it had been her mother’s of old—over Rome delicate col ored muslin dress; her face was slightly flashed, with the tints of a wild rose; her lips kept pale and trembling with invol untary motion, it is true; and as the lov ers stood together—hand in hand by the window, he was aware of a little oonvnl- sive twitching at every noise, even while she seemed gazing in tranquil pleasure on the long, smooth slope of the newly- mown lawn, stretching down to the little brook that prattled merrily over tbe stones on its merry course to Hamley- town. He felt a stronger twitch than ever be fore; even while his ear, less delicate than hers, cold distinguish no peculiar sound About two minutes after Mr. Wilkins entered tho room. He came up to Mr. Corbet with warm welcome, some of it real, some of it assumed. lie talk ed volubly to him, taking little or no no tice of Ellinor, who dropped into tbe back ground aud sat down on the sofa by Miss Monro; for on this day they were all to dine together. Ralph Corbet thought that Mr. Wilkins was aged; but no wonder, after all his anxiety of va rious kinds. Mr. Punster’s flight and re ported defalcations, Ellinor's illness, of the seriousness of which her lover was now convinced by her appearance. Ho would fain have spoken more to her during tbe dinner that ensued, but Mr. Wilkins absorbed all his attention, talking and questioning on subjects that left tho ladies out of the conversation al most perpetuully. Mr. Corbet recogniz ed hi« host’s fine tact, even while his per sistence in talking annoyed him. He was quite sure)that*Mr. Wilkins was anxious to spare his daughter any exertion, beyond that to which indeed she seemed scarcely equal, thnt of sitting at the head of the table. And tbe more her father talked— so fine on observer was Mr. Corbet—tbe ruoro silent and depressed Ellinor seem ed. But by-aud-by he accounted for this inverse rutio of gayety, as he perceived how quickly Mr. Wilkins had bis glass re plenished. Aud hero again Mr. Corbet drew his conclusions from tbe silent way in which, without a word or a sign from Mr. Wilkins, Fletcher gave his master more wine continually; wine that was drained off at once. “dix glasses of sherry before desert, ” thougbl Mr. Corbet to biiuself. “Bad habit—no wonder Ellinor looks grave.” And when the gentletnon were left alone, Mr. Wilkins helped himself even yet more freely; yet without tho slightest ef fect on tbe clearness and brilliancy of his conversation. He had always talked well and racily, that Ralph knew, and in this power he now recoguizud a temptation to which he feared that his future father- in-law hod succumbed. And yet, while be perceived that this gift led into tempt ation, be coveted it for himself; for he was perfectly aware that this fluency, this happy choice of epithets, was the one th ug be should fail in .when he began to enter into the moie active career of his profession. Bnt after some time spent in listening, aud admiring, with this little feeliug of envy larking in the back ground, Mr. Corbet became aware of Mr. Wilkins’ increasing confusion of ideas, and rather unnatural merriment; and with a sudden revulsion from admiration to disgust, he rose up to go into the library whete Ellinor and Miss Monro were sit ting. Mr. Wilkins accompanied him, laughing and talking somewhat loudly. Was Ellinor aware of her father's state ? Of that Mr. Corbet oould [not be sure. Bhe looked up with grave, sad eyes as I oould find*help in his strait, they came into tbe room, but with no i rebuked and humbled. stairs to put on her things t' »r a stroll herself that she had litlle idea how quick- through tha meadowh ! y the uver side. J ly and easily some people can peueirate They wi re Homotim-s sauntering along ! motivts aud combine disjointed seu- iu the lovely summer twilight, now rest- I tences. She began to speak to Ralph on iug on some grassy hedge-row bank, or | their slow, sauutering walk homeward standing still, looking at the great barges I through the quiet meadows: with their crimson hails, lazily floatiug | "Suppose, Ralph, that a girl was en gaged to be married—" “I cun very easily suppose that, with yon by tne,” said he filling up her pause. “Oh ! but I don’t meau myself at all,” replied she reddening. “I am ouly think ing of what might happen; and suppose thnt this girl knew of some oue belonging to her—wo will call it a brother—who had done something wrong, that would bring disgrace upon the whole family if it was known—though indeed, it might not have been so very wrong as it seemed and as it would look to tho world—ought she to break off her engagement for fear of involving hor lover in the disgraoe?” “Certainly not without telling him her reason for doiug so.” “Ah! but suppose she could not—she might not he at liberty to do so?” “I can’t auswer suppositious oases. I must have the facts—if facts there aro— more pluiuly before mo before I oau give an opinion. Who are you tbiuking of, Ellinor?” aaked he, rather abruptly. “Oh, of uo one,” she auawered in af fright . “Why should I be thinking of uuy one ? I often try to plan out what I should do, or what I ought to do, if suoh and finch a thing happened, just as yon recollect I used to wonder if I should have presenco of mind in case of fire." “Then, of ter all, you yourself are the girl who is engaged, and who has the im aginary brother who gets into disgrace?'' “Yes, I suppose so,” said she a little annoyed ut buying betrayed auy personal interest iu the affdr. He was silent, meditating. “There is nothing wrong in it, said she, timidly, “is there?” “I think you had better tell me fully out what is in your mind,” be replied kindly. “Bouiotliing has happened which has sug gested these questions. Are you put ting yourself in the pUce of anv one about whom you have been hearing lately? I know you used to do so formerly, when you were a little girl.” 'No ; it was a very foolish question of tired; yet they could not account for their fatigue by the leugth of their walk; and Miss Monro, forgetting Autolycua’s song, kept figetiug about Ellinor, and wonder ing how it wus she looked so pule, if she had only been as far as Ash-meadow. To escape from this wonder Ellinor went early to bod. Mr. Wilkins was gone, no oue know where, and Ralph and Miss Monro were left to a half hour’s tete-a- tete. He thought he could easily account for EUinor’s languor, if indeed she had perceived as much us he bad done of her father's state when they had come into the library after dinner. But there were many details which ho was anxious to bear of from a comparatively indifferent person, and as soon os he could passed on from the conversation about Ellinor’s health to inquiries as to the whole affair of Mr. Dunster's disappearance. Next to hor auxiety about Ellinor, Miss Munro liked to dilate on the mystery con nected with Mr.iDnnster'K flight—for that was the word she employed without hesi tation as she gave him the acaouut of the event universally received and believed by tbe people of Hamley. How Mr. Dunstcr had never been liked by any one; how everybody remembered that he could never look them straight iu the fuec; how be hud always seemed to be hiding something thnt ho did not want to have kaown; how he had drawn a large sum (exaot quantity unkuown) out of the oounty bank ouly the day before he left Hamley, doubtless iu preparation for bis escape; how some one had told Mr. Wil kins he had seen a man just like Duoster lurking abont the docks nt Liverpool, about two days after he had left his lodg ings, but that this some one, being iu a I mine, aud I ought not to have said any hurry, had not cared to stop and speak to the uma; how that the affairs in the of fice were discovered to bo in such a sad state that it was no wonder that Mr. Dun- ster had absconded—that ho hud been so trusted by poor dear Mr. Wilkins. Money gone no uno know how or whore. “But has he no friends who can explain his pioceedingR, aud account for the mhsing money iu some way ?” asked Mr. Corbet. “No, none. Mr. Wilkins has written everywhere, right and left, I believe. I know he bad a letter from Mr. Dunster’s nearest relation—a tradesman in the city —a cousin, I think—and he could give no information in any way. He knew that about ten years ago Mr. Dunster had had a great fancy for going to America, and had read a great many travels—all just what a man would do before going off to a country.” “Tea years is a long time beforehand,” said Mr. Corbet, half smiling; “shows malice prepeuse with a vengeance!” But then, furniog grave, he suid, “Did he loave Hamley iu debt.” ‘No I ntver heard of that,” said Miss Monro, rather unwillingly, for she con sidered it as a pioco of loyalty to the Wilkinses, whom Mr. Dunster had injur ed (as she thought,) to blacken bis char acter as much as wus consistent with any degree of truth. “It is a strange story,” said Mr. Corbet musing. “Not at all, she replied, quickly; “I am sure if you had seou the man, with one or two side-locks of hair combed over his baldness, as if ho were ashamed of it, and his eyes that never looked nt you, aud his way of eating with his knife when he thought he was not observed—oh, and numbers of things!—you would not think it strange.” Mr. Corbet smiled: “I ouly meant that he seems to Lave had no extravagant or vicious habits which would account for bis embezzle ment of the money that iH missing—but to bo sure, money in itself ia a tempta tion—ouly he being a partner, was iu a fair way of making it without risk to him self. Has Mr. Wilkius taken any’steps to have him arrested in America. He might easily do that.” “Ob, my dear Mr. Ralph, you don’t know our good Mr. Wilkins! He would rather bc-ar the loss, 1 am sure, and all this trouble and care whioh it has brought upon him, than be revenged upon Mr. Dunster.” “Revenged! What non-tense! It is simple justice—justice to himself aud to others—to see that villainy is so suffi ciently punished ns to deter others from eutcr<ng upon such courses. But I buve little doubt Mr. Wilkins has tukcu the right stept-: bo is not tbo man to sit down quietly under such a loss.” “No, indeed! He bud biui advertised iu tbe Time» und in the county papers, and offered a reward of twenty pounds for information concerning him.” “Twenty pounds was loo little.’’ “Bo I said. 1 told Ellinor that I would give twenty pounds myself to have him apprehended, und she, poor darling. tbiug about it. See! here is Mr. Ness overtaking ns.” The olergymau joined thorn on tho broad walk that ran by the river-side, and the tnlk became general. It was a relief to Ellinor, who had not attained her end, but who had gono far toward betraying something of her own individual interest in tbe question she had asked. Ralph had been more struck even by her manner than her words. He was sure that some thing lurked behiud, aud had an idea of his own that it was connected with Dim eter's disappearance. But ho was glad that Mr. Ness’s joining them gave him leisnre to consider a little. The end of bia (reflections was that the next day, Monday, be went into the town, aud art fully learned all that he could hear about Mr. Dunster’s character and mode of go ing on; and with still more skill he ex tracted tho popular opinion as to the em- barravHed nature of Mr. Wilkins’ affairs —embarrassment which was generully at tributed to Duustor’s disappearance with a good large sum belonging to the firm in bis possession. But Mr. Corbet thought otherwise; he had accustomed himself to seek out the baser motives of men’s con duct, and to call tbo result of those re searches wisdom. He imagined that Dunster hod been well paid by Mr. Wil kins for his disappearance, which was an easy way of accounting for the derange ment of accounts and loss of money that arose, in fact, train Mr. Wilkins’ ex travagance of habits and growing intem perance. Ou the Monday afternoon he said to Ellinor: “Mr. Ness interrupted us yester day in a very interesting conversation. Do you remember, love V Eiliuor reddened, nnd.kopt her head still more intently bent ovor a sketch she was making. “Yes; I recollect.” “I have Inen thinking abont it. I still think she ought to toll her lover that such disgraco hung over hitu—I mean over tbe family with whom be was going to con nect himself. Of course tho only effect would be to make him Htand by her still more for her frankness.” “Oh! but, Ralph, it might perhaps be something who ought not to tell, whatever came of her silence.” “Of course, there might be all sorts of cases. Uuless 1 knew more 1 could not preteud to judge.” This was said rather more coolly. It had tbe desired effect. Ellinor laid down her brush and covered her face with her hands. After a pause she turned toward him and said: “I will not tell yon this; and more you must not ask of me. 1 know jou areas safe ns can be. I om the girl,you are the lover, and possible shame hangs over my father, if something—oh, so dreadful!”— here rho blenched—“but not so very much his fault—is ever found out.” Though this was nothing more than he expected—though Ralph thought that he was aware what the dreadful something might be—yet when it was acknowledged iu words, his heart contracted, and for a moment ho forgot the intent, wistful, beautiful face creeping close to his to fell a tromb-ing, aud said *1 would J read his expression aright. But after that bis presence of mind came in aid. He took ber in bis arms and kissed her, mur- mnriug fond words of sympathy, and promises of faith, nay, even of greater love than before, since greater need she might have of that love. But aomehow he was glad when tbe dressing bell rang, and in tbe solitude of biH own room be could reflect on what he bad hoard; for the intelligence had been a great ahock to him, although ho bad fancied that his inorniug’H enquiries had piepared him for give all I have—I would give life.’ And then she was in such distress, and sobbed ho, I promised her I would never name it to her again.” “Boor child—poor child ! she wants change of scene. Hor nerves bove beeu sadly shaken by ber illness.” Tbe next day was (Sunday: Ellinor was togotoohurih for tho first time since ber illness. Her father bad decided it for her, or else she would fain have staid away—she would hardly acknowledge why, even to herself, but it seemed to her as if the very woids and presence of God must there search her und find ber out. She went early, leaning on tbe arm of ber lover, and trying to forget tbe past in the present. They walked slowly along between the rows of waving golden corn ripe for the havest. Mr. G’orbot gathered blue aud scarlet flowers, and made up a little rustic nosegay for her. She took it and stuck it in her girdle, smiling faintly as she did so. Hamley Church had in former days been collegiate, and was in consequence much larger and grander thau the ma jority of county town churches. The Ford Bank pew was a square one, down stairs; tbe Ford Bank servants sat in a front pen iu the gallery, right before their master. Elli nor was “hardening her heart” not to lis ten, not to hearken to wbat might dis turb the wound which was just being skinned over, when she cuught Dixon’s face up above. lie looked wtrn, sad, it. Ho found it a very difficult thing to keep down bis curiosity, as to all that El linor knew, during the next few days. It was a miserable tbiug to have this unspo ken secret severing them like a pbnntom. liiu be had giveu her his word that be would make no further enquiries from ber. Indeed, bo thought be conld well enough make out tho outline of post events; still there was too much left to conjecture for bis mind not to be always busy on the subject. He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins, in their after dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lox enough on many subjects. But once touch on the naino of Dunster, and Mr. Wilkins sank into’a kind of suspicious depression of spirits—talking a little, and with evident caution, aud from time to time shooting furtive glances at his inter locutor’s face. E'.liuor was resolutely impervious to any attempts of his to bring bis conversations with her back to tbe subject which more and more engrossed Ralph Coi bot’s mind, hhe bad douo her soured*, and anxious to a miser able degree; ' duty as Bhe nuderstoodit, and bad receiv- but he was straining eyes and ears, heart 1 ed assurances wbich she wan only too glad and sonl, to bear the solemn woids read | to behove fondly with all tbe tender faith from the pulpit, as if iu them alone bo , of her heart. Whatever came to pass, Ellinor felt Ralph's love would still be hers; nor was ; be nnwarned of what might come to pass apparent sensation of surprise, annoy- Bhe was in a tumultuous state of mind in some dread future day. Bo she shut ance or shame. When ber glanoe met j when they left church; she wished to do | her eyes to what might be in store for her deep feeling either ou bin own or auy oue cIso’h part—that few peep's weto aware of his changed tuood. Ellinor fait them, though she would uot acknowledge them; it was bringing her too much face to face with the great terror of her life. One oioruiug he anuouuoed the fact of his brother's approaching murriage; the woddiug was hastened ou aooount of soiuo impending event in the duke’s fam ily; aud the home letter he had received that day was to bid his presenoe at Btoke- ly Castle, and also to desire him to be at home by a certain time, uot very distant, in order to look over the requisite legal papers, and to give his assent to some of them. He gave mauy reasons wby this unlocked for departure of his was abso lutely neoessary; but no ono doubted it. He ueed not have alleged suoh reiterated excuses. The truth was, he was rostruiu- ed and uncomfortable st Ford Bauk ever sinoe Ellinor's confidence. He oould not rightly calculate ou the most desirable oourse for his own interests, while his love for her was constantly being renew ed by her sweet presenoe. Away from her he could judge more wisely. Ndrdid be allege any false reasons for his de parture, but the sense of relief to him self was so great at his recall home just at this time, that he was afraid of having it perceived by others; aud so took the very way whioh, if his compan ions had been as penetrating as himself, would have betrayed him. Mr. Wilkius, too, had began to feel the restraint of Ralph’s grave, watchful presence. Ellinor was not strong enough to be married; nor was the promised money forth-coming if she bad been. And to have a fellow dawdling abont the house all day, sauntering into the flower g ardeu, peering about everywhere, and aving a kind of right to put all manner of unexpected auestions, was anything but agreeable. It was ouly Ellinor that clung to his presenoe—dung as though some shadow of what might happen be fore they met again bad fallen ou her spirit. As soon as he had left tbe house she flew up a spare to bedroom window, to watch for the last glimpse of the fly whioh was taking him into the town. And then she kissed the part of the pane on whioh bis figure, waving an arm out of tho carriage window, bad last appeared, •ud went down slowly to gather all the things he had last touched—tbe pen he had mended, the flower he hod played with, and to lock them up in the little quaint cabinet that had bald her treasures sinoe she was a tiny ohild. Miss Monro was perhaps vory wise in proposing the translation of a difficult part of Dante for a distraction to Ellinor. The girl went meekly, if reluctantly, to the task sot for her by her good govern ess, and by-and-by her mind became braoed by the exertion. Ralph’s people were not very slow in discovering that something had not gone on quite smoothly with him et Ford Bank. They knew his ways and looks with family intuition, and oould easily be certain thus far. But not even his moth er’s skillfuleet wiles nor his favorite sis ter's coaxing could obtain a word or a bint; and when his father, tbe squire, who had heard tbe opinions of the fe male part of the family on this head, be gan, in bis honest, bins'ering way, in their tete-a-tetes after dinner, to hope that Ralph was thinking better then to run his head into that oonfouuded Ham ley attorney's noose, Ralph gravely re quired Mr. Corbet to explain his meaning which he professed not to understand so worded. And when the squire had with much perplexity put it into the plain terms of hopiug that his son was think ing off breaking of his engagement to Miss Wilkins, Rulpb coolly asked him if he wus aware that iu that ease he should lose ull title to being a man of bonor,and might have an aotion brought against him for breach of promise of mArriage ? Yet not the less for all this was the idea in his mind as a future possibility. Before very long the Corbet family moved en masse to Btokely Castle for the wedding. Of course Ralph associated on equal terms with the magnates of the county who were the employers of Elli- nor’s father, and spoke of him always a* “Wilkin«,” just as they spoke of tbe but ler as “Bimmon8,” without the prefix of bis Christian name or title. Here, too, among a class of men high above local gossip, and thus unaware of his engage ment, he learned tbe popular opinion re specting his future fatber-in-luw—an opiuion not entirely respect ful, though intermingled with a good deal of person al liking. “Poor Wilkins,” us they call ed him, “was sadly extravagant for a man in his position; had no right to speud money, and act as if he were u man of independent fortune;” aud then his hab its of life were criticised, and pity, not fro A from blame, was bestowed upon hiiu from the lossos ho had sustsined from his late clerk’s disappearance and defalcation. But what different oould be expected if a man did uot choose to attend to bis business, and so on. [Tu be continued.] From the Burlington Hawkey*. After tbe Confeealon — A Btary Tea Bay*. Th*re is a man living ou Pifthstreet who is a good man, endeavoring to train up bis children iu the way they should go, aud as his flock is numerous aud two of them are boys, he has anything bur a sinecure iu this training busiueas. Only d.y or two ago, tbe elder of the*, male olive branches, who lias lived sb nit : nuieeu wicked years, out iced his younger brother, who has only had teu ye .iV * xocrieuceiu boyish deviltry, to go ou. on the river a boat, a species of pastime whioh their father had many h time forbidden. But the boys went this timo, trustir.g to luck to conceal their depravity from the knowl edge of their pa, aud in duo time they re turned and walked around the house, the two most inuoceut looking boys in Bur lington. They separated for u few mo ments, and ut the expiration of that time the elder was suddenly confronted by the father, who requested a private interview “Well, that’s all right; but ooine down behiud the oow-ahed and look at my hack." Aud when they got thoie* * * * * SCIENTIFIC NOTES. Biz* or Waoon Whkklh. — Experi ments recently made iu Knglaud indioate that wagons are most easily drawn, ou all kiuds of roads, when the fore aud bind wheels are of the same size, aud wheu the pole lies lower thau the axle. Mixtubk or Plabtkr or Pams with Mauhu-M allow Root.—Addition of two to four per cent, of powdered marsh mallow root to plaster of paiis affords a mass that seta in about an hour and be comes so hard when dry that it mav be Hawed and turned, aud which is used for the manufacture of dominoes, dice, An. With eight per cent, of tho root a still harder mass is obtained. U msy be roll ed iuto thin leaves, and be painted, varn ished or polished. Dxstbuotion or Niohi-Flyino In sects.—Millious of iuReots injurious to trees may be destroyed by keeping up numbers of small fires from twilight to midnight aud surrounding them with cir cles of 20 to 80 tarred stukos, not more thau six inches apart. Although few in sects will be found burned to death, sinoe they soon seem to acquire a dread of the fire, many will be caught in the Ur while moving about in the wurmud strutum of air or to and from the lire. Tbe Use or the Divining Rod.— Messrs. Pass A Towney of Bristol, Eng land, ooinmuuioatod to the Naturalist’s Booiety the results of an investigation made by them into the curious supersti tion attending the use of the divining rod. As the use of this instrument ia by no means obsolete in our own coun try, it may be worth while to state that Messrs. Pass A Towney were successful in obtaining tho attendance of two repu ted operators, and both expressed them selves willing aud able to fiud the money whioh the authors were to conceal. Tho conjurors maintained that the iustrmuont was available not only in the fluid Imt in the mine, aud that they could by it detect metal wherever placed. Au English shil ling being placed under some oue of a series of objects, such aH hats aud hand kerchiefs, lying ou the floor tbe master of the divining rod or “dowsing fork,” guaranteed to fiud it if there were uo dis turbing causes. When asked what the latter might be, ho stated springs of wa ter or minerals under the house. IIo was, therefore, first to explore the room as a preliminary matter, and ascertain that there were no indications of water or minorals under the house. Tbe first attempt to diaoover,the location of the hidden ooin was suooesafnl, but under such oircumstanoew as to show that it was a matter of acoident, and the operator refused to repeat the experiment a sec ond time, even for a sovereign. The other diviner, a less expert person, seems to have failed in three suooeasive cases, and when he flually succeeded the condi tions were suoh as to show the whole of bis audience, most of whom were igno rant men and professed converts to the belief iu the divining rod, that the oper ator waa guided by no oocult iufluenoss, but was merely guessing his way along. It was evident, in fact, that there was no mystery in the whole matter, and that there is as mnoh deoeptiou in tbe use of the divining rod as was ever practiced by the medicine men of savage tribes. The use of the forked rod for tbs purpose of finding minorals, springs, and iu fact ev ery possible variety of desiderata, seems to have been handed down to us from the middle ages. French E**a An impression prevails in some quar ters, says the Pail Mall (Jueetta, that by dipping a hen in a pail of water and then cuusing her round tbo poultry yard with a stick, she will be induced to lay two eggs a day. Consul Rothum, on the other hand, in his commercial report ou Calais for last year, lately printed, expresses his opiniou that the whole secret of liberality of egg-laying displayed by French hens lies iu tho quality ol tho soil of those dis tricts in which hens are renowned for their laying qualities. Attempts huve, he says, been uot uufrequently uisde to in troduce French poultry into England, under the impression that with prompt care aud management those fowls may become a fair source of profit, so far at least, an eggs are concerned. The Freuch hen, however removed from her native land, does not, ss a rule, bebAve herself with that productive alacrity which dis tinguishes ber in mauy, though not in all parts of France. This ia accounted for by tho fact that in tho neighborhood of Oaltiis, as well as near Boulogne, there exists a marked quantity of silex iu the soil, highly favorable for egg-laying pur poses, and wheu the fowls ure removod from this particular soil there is a marked diminution in thoir egg-jayiug propensi ties. At Amiens again, this same quali ty of soil is found, aud the poultry of that district are remarkable for thoir lay- ing qualities; they are, indeed, perhaps the most celebrated layers in France. If, therefore, the same brood lay bettor in oue part of France than anoth er—as for iustance, the fowls iu the neighborhood of Culais—it is uot unrea sonable to suppose that the change pf soil is ihe principal cause of the attempts having hitherto failed to transplant French poultry into Eugland for commer cial purposes. Otherwise, as Consul Ho- tham points out, it surely would be worth our while iu this eouutry to turn our attention seriously to the subject, instead of importing hundreds of millions of eggs yearly from France. The reason sometimes given of our climate not be ing suitable for poultry is more fuuoiful than real, for there are districts iu the south of England, which, without Lawyers. JOSEPH F. POU, - At tor any at Law* and Judge of Oouaty Court. I'racilCM in *11 other Courts. Ottioe over store of W. U. kobsrts k 0o., drool 81 K-* SAMUEL U. HATCH Kit. Attorney at Law. JtOO Oflle* ovor WltticliJI Kiuaol's J. M. MflMULL» Attoraey aad Oouaeellor at Law. Practices ta courts of Georgia and Alabama. Po»tat laasAH. Mabvim J. Caawroaa. dfc CRAWFOBM, Attorneys at LAW, Will preotleo In tho Stats and Patera! Courts of Georgia. >w over Prear. ttljss ft Co.’s store, northwest corner llroad and 8t. Clair Sts. Jett A. A. BOB1IH, Attoraay and Caw altar at Law, Practices in Stats aad federal Courts la Georgia and llabaat. Ofloe 1M Broad fc t., Oolnabn*, Qe. jaS Mask U. Bunroaa. Leon P. GaiOAia. HLANHFMH dfc GAKBABO, Attorneys aad Coaaaetlara ai Law. Office Mo. ST Broad street, aver Wlttlch A Kin tal's Jsw.lrj Store. Will preotleo in ths Stats and Federal Courts. Jea. M. ftussBU.. Cues. J. Swift. BOIIBLL * SWIFT, Attorneys and Oouneellove at Law. VtU practice iu tbe Court* of Georgia ((•* — • * aud Alabama. Offioe over 0 broad street, Columbus, Ga. L T. BOWNIBG, Attaraoy aad dallafltar. U. 8. tWr aud Register Iu Baakvuptot. Office uoviM I over brooks’ Drug ritore, Columbus, PEABODY d MAMMON, *ric« ovaa J. Kaaia A Co.’* Stoas, Baoe* 8t., nor IS] Was* Siaa. B. J. MOM MM, Attorney aad CaisaHer at Law, Georgia llama lusuranoe Company building, sec ct7 ly|ond story. Doctor*. n*. J. A. VeeUHAKT, Office removed to tit* Drug Biota of E. U. the comer ol Randolph end McIntosh street*, opposite the reildvnoe of Mr. Wn. Beeeh. sept DB. COLBBY. Residence aad Office ooraer of St. Clair and Ogle< thorp* sts. Office hours—7 to S a. M., IS to S r. Plano Tuning, So. DA. S. e. LAW. Office corner Broad and Randolph streets, Burras' bulldlag. Residence on Forsyth, three doors below St. Clair. Ja8 DB. I. €. HOOK, I Commission House, Druggists. J. I. OBIFFIN, Imported Drage aad Chemicals, Prescriptions carefully prepared. JalM No. 10* Broad strsst. JOHN L. JOBDAM, Draggles, Two doors below Oeo. W. Brown’s, broad Street, Columbus, Ga. If Night Bell right of south door. sepft A. H. B BAN NON, West Bibb, Bmad Btbirt, Colombo*, Ga., Drwge aad Madlataaa, Tolled Artleleu aad Pcrfamary. Cotton Factories. doubt, might compare favorably with the uorth const of France, and, as to tho ex- to . wood.h P .d. .here, J,„ bri.f but | highly-spirited perform mces, in which her father’s, Mr. Corbet noticed that it seemed to sober the Utter immediately. He aat down nohr the open window, and did not apeak, but sighed heavily from time to time. Mise Monro took up a book, in order to leave the young people to themselves: end after e little low mar* Mured conversation, Ellinor wsnt up her duty, yet could not usoertain what it (and after ail the ohanoea were iuimess- waa. Who was to help her with wisdom urably iu her fAVor) and she bent herself and advice ? Assuredly bo to whom her I with her whole strength iuto enjoving tbe future life waa to be trusted. But the | present. Day by day Mr. CorbetM* spirits case must be stated iu an impersonal ' flagged. He was, however, so generally form. No one, not even her husband, I uniform in the tenor of bis talk—never most ever know sovthing against her very merry, and always avoiding on prin- fatber from her. Ellinor was so artless | oiple, any subject that might call out tbe boy appeared most succeasfiilly am “heavy villain,” aud his father took ia favorite role of “first old uiau,” tbe oor- taiu went down and the boy, considerably mystified, Bought bis brother. “John,” he said, “who do you suppose told dad ? have yon been licked ?” John’s face will not look more peaceful and resigned when it ia in his coffin, than it did aa be replied : “No, have you ?” “Have I ? Come down to the cowshed and look at my hack. ” John deolined, bnt said : “Well, Bill, I’ll t«U you how father found us out. I am tired of acting in thin way, and I ain’t going to run away and j come homo and lie about it any more. I’m going to do better after this, and ao wheu I saw father I couldn’t belp it, and went right to him end confessed.” Bill was touched at this manly action on the part of his brother. It found a ten der place in the aad boy's heart, and be was visibly affected by it. But be aaked: “How did it happen the old man didn’t lick yon ?” “Well,” said the penitent yonng re former, “you see I didn’t confess on my self, I ouly contested on you; that was the way of it.” A strange, cold light glittered in Bill’s ^“Only oonfeaaad on me,” ha a the fowls run about und pick up they please in the fields and hedgerows The difference in the quality of tbe soil might possibly, Consul Hothaui suggests, be made up to the Frenob fowls iu Eng land by artificial moana. HIDES. Important to Merchants. IUY your WRAPPING PAPER AND PAPJtt I BAii8 »t Lomu, *t Now York rstu*, Croat M. M. HIRSCH, Corner Bridge and Oglethorpo «tro«te. Important to the Public. S BLL 1HDE8, KUKF, BEESWAX, RAO*, etc, at highest ca»h price*, to M.M. HIRSCH. Bheetlufa, Shirtings, mad flowing aad KmltUmg Thread. Curd. Wool *u<t Grlud* Wheat aud Coro- Offlce in rear of WlUich A Kiuaul'e, Randolph *1. JhI* H. II. CJI1ILT0M, President. NUNCOBIR MANUFACTUBINU €0. Manufacturer* of 81IKETING8, SHIRTINGS, YARN, ROPB, Ac. OOLUMBUB, GA. G. P. SWIFT, Precidfut. W^jnVirT^ecrjtar^AYnm*ur#r^^2aiJl|r. Watchmakers. U. MCllOMMUJMi, Practical Watchmaker and Jeweler, buccuMor to L. Gutownky, C. tf. LKfJUIN, Watchmaker, 134 llroad afreet, CuluoiLu*, <Ja. I Clocks repaired iu the brat man- r and warranted. Jail Tobacco, Cigars, lie. MAIEB DOBN. If you want to eujojr a go ol amoks, gu t» hi* iigar Manufactory, Butvreen Geotgla Ibnuo aud Muscogee llomo. €. LOPEZ, Dealer la* and Maaswraetarer «f Fine Ulgara, Je0 Near Brood Street Depot. Barber Shops. LOUIS WELLS' BHAVINO SALOON, (8uccee*»r to II. Ilem *,) Undt-r Georgia Hume laaurance building. Prompt and polit* tarter* lo atl.miauca. Jak6 ALEX A NAM, BAsauta, Hr. Claib Pram. ED. TEBBY, Barker, Crawford 8t., under Rankin IIoum, Columbus, fla. Dress-Making. MIMA m. A. USLUXatWaHTII, Dress-Making, Cutting aud Pitting. Trruiscbsap Residence audshop lo Brouruevtll*. E. W. BLAU, Repairer auil Timer of Pianooi. AccordeniiM. HIku l'uiiitlug i)U<> di Orders may be bo left nt .1. W. P Organ* a done. A Norma Hotels. PLANTERS' HOTEL, Next to Golumbua Baak Building. Porter* at all tho train*. laia MRq. W F. PNirtElt. ProprVr Builders and Architects. J. U. CHALMEBM, House Carpenter and Builder. Jobbing done nt Miori wUw, Plaus and specifications furnlfthed for all styl*. •f building* « Broad Street, uoxt to U. W. Drown'*, faff Ootnmt.ii* Ga. Dentists. Feed atom. JOB* riTMIMOM, Wholesale aud Retail Dealer Iu U»y, Oat*, Corn Bacon, Ac., OgUthorp* it., opposite MILLIWtWY. 8PRINC MILLINERY. ilNO AMD BLKAGHINO ton. I. lb. latest styles, at th* shortest notice. Neat uoor below th* N*w York Btor*. MRS. OOLVIN aad oalMf and NIBS DONNBLLT. Confectioners. I. G. MTKUPPKR. Candy Manufacturer AND OfALta m All klada mt Coafbetlouory auil Fruit*, Stick Caadj IS eeuta. Full weight guarautssd la each box. JaX4 Boots end Bhoos. WUU * CUKTII. No. IS Brrad Drat, If... .lw»jra . full Itoek or Boot. Had ahoM. Vpptt, S*l> nd H.r- M. Lwktlur ud Hatjlaa. of .11 klada. kallatil. food. I N. I.-IHM .lu.Ua. U Mdam k, *■*•■, o. o. p. • jf« W. F. T1GNGK, Dentist, Opposite Strapper'* building, Randolph ftt. flpoctal attention given to ti»e Insertion of A.UU Ocial Teeth, as woll as to Oporatlvo Deutlstry. ftbaa daw T. W. HKNTZ, Dnntlat. Ovsr Joseph A Jlrother's ntoro. jjglt W. T. POOL, Dentist, noYtS] 101 Brotid HI., Columbus, Ga^ W. J. FOULE, Dentist, **p&] Georgia Home Building, Ooiumbu*. Qe. Livery and Sale Stables. SOBEKT TlIO.1lPHON, Llverjr, Bale and Evebange Stable*, OaunrHoar*, North or Ranuolph 8ts., ocQO Columbus, Oq. _ A. OAMMEL, Llverjr and Male Viable*, OoLimoar* St , Colombo*, Ga. Particular attoutlou given to Feeding and Hsln by ths oot 20 Restaurants. HASaiN COUNTY KENT A CHANT. No. til Broad ffitrcel. The best of Foreign and Domentlc L!i|iior.i uud Fresh Meats. J. W. PATRICK, Stalls No. 9 and 18, Market House. Froah Meats of every kind nnd best quality, J. T. COOK, ■•ate or All Binds, HUM* Now, ir, nnd 17. Gun and Locksmiths. PHILIP E1FLEB, Gun aud Idockswith, Crawford street, uox Johnson'* corner, Columbus. <<*. J WILLIAM 8CHOUUR, Qun aud Locksmith and dealer In Gunning Ma terials. Opposite Enquirer Oillco. Grocers. DAN'L B. BIBE, Dealer in Family Groceries, on Bryan street, be tween Oglethorpe A Jackson streets. •B- No charge for drayugo. doc7 J. H. HAMILTON, Wholesale and Betnll Grocer, Tailors. O. A. KCKHNK, Merchant Tailor and Gutter. A full stock of French und English Broadcloths, HENRY BELLMAN. Gutting, Cleaning aud Repairing Done iu the best ntyle. aprB4] Corner Oruwford and Front Hts. Boot and Shoemakers WM. MEYJCK, Boot and Nhoomaker. Dottier In Leather ami Flndlnge. Next to 0. A. Dodd A Co.’s. Prompt uud strict attention glvou to order*. jail Tin and Coppersmiths. WM. FEE, Worker In Tin, Sheet Iron, Copper. Orders from abroad promptly Attended to. Ja7 No. 174. Broad Street. Painters. WM. SNOW, JR., A CO., House nnd 8tgn Painters, Old Oglethorpe corner, (Just north of postoffice) Columbus, Oeorgla. Will contract for Uonno und Sign I’aluttng ut reasonable prices, and Kuuruiiteo sHtinfaction. Refer to Wu. Know, Hr. faprft LAWYERS. _ CU\*. U. WtLLUUH. W. F. WlUttHH. WILLIAMS' & WILLIAMS, Attorneys at Law, VOLIiaUIW, UA. 09“ Office ever Abell’s store. Jy 17 8m W. A. Farley, Ittornejr-nt (JU88ETA, UHATTAMOWIIMl Uo., Oa. A^Sp.ol.1 .tteotloo given to r-nll.rtlopl HINES DOZIER, Attorney at Law, HAMILTON, GA., W ILL practice In tho Chattahoochee Circuit or any whore eh “’ ’-‘~ J poshed. ”P*y tne «>r r Cotton Factory. A. CLEGG A CO., Columbus, Ca., • A RB prepared to supply merchants grceiptly A and Iu a satisfactory manner wjth the best quality or Cotton Chocks, Ginghams and •tripes* til of wklob An hi fMt oolor*. ..<* °fWWit aad neaft affected patlorn*. Factory oorner of Bt Oklr and Jo*AMU ■treat. Offie* on Jaeksoe street. JMMBn