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VOL. 45.
DR. NARROWSCISSORS,
BY. G. B. BURGIN.
Author of "His Lordship,’’ «A Romantic Voyage,” "Beset with Lions,” "The Boldero
Diamond,” Rte,
Copyrighted, 1885, by G. B. Burgin.
| CHAPTER I.
For the last five years of her life, Miss
Marcia Jones has seldom missed spend
ing part of the evening at least with her
old friend and admirer, Dr. Narcissus,
more commonly known by the village
boys in Puggleton as "Narrowscissors.”
There was no reason that he should
be called so, except that his thin legs
and attenuated frame,' and the upward
turn of his long coat-tails, did rather con
vey the suggestion of a pair of scissors
on end. In the summer, middle-aged Miss
Marcia and her middle-aged lover met
under a pear tree in the orchard; in the
•winter, they sat on opposite sides of the
fire, looking fondly at each other across
the hearth rug, despite the furious glan
ces of Miss Marcia's father, who did
not approve of "Narrowscissors” as a
wooer for his daughter, and chuckled
with delight whenever the doctor was
suddenly called away to attend a patient.
Indeed, he had even been known to as
sert in "The Club” (“The Club” met at
the Puggleton Arms every evening to leg
islate for the nation) that "Narrowscls-
Bors” hired a boy to call him out of
church every other Sunday for imme
diate attendance bn imaginary patients.
He carried his enmity to such an extent
as to wink at "Narrowsclssors” in a de
risive and disrespectful manner as that
gentleman went down the aisle, even
though the rector had reached for the
fifth time, "And again, my dear breth
| ren, I would remark in passing.” But
I "Narrowsclssors” bore Mr. Jones’ dislike
I very patiently. There was no reason why
■ he should not have married Miss Marcia
Idong ago, had It not been for her father’s
■determined opposition to the match. Miss
Marcia was far too dutiful a daughter
t'J marry without her father’s consent.
Sometimes, In the night-watches, when
she heard the rumbling wheels of “Nar
rowßclseors' ” gig departing toward va
rious outlying patients who had need of
his services, she sat up in bed with a
shf wl around her shoulders and wished
it could be her privilege to provide him
with hot coffee on his return. It was so
sad that there should be no one to wel
come him except the servant. Hitherto,
she had only succeeded in getting Dr. Nar
cissus Into hot water. The tears rolled
dqwn her plump, pretty cheeks, as she
thought how Jocob served for Rachel
only to wed Leah, and then find another
•even years of probation before him. She
could no t lu i u jfcPP der Ing what were Ja
cot>® V toward Leah, uni
lu.w they got on t •v. The doctor,
however, did not appear to be discourag
ed. He had already “done his five years.”
As they said at th® dub, "Done it on his
head,” the club thereby meaning that the
doctor’s staying power was so great that
waiting didn’t trouble him in the lead.
Miss Marcia knew differently. She re
gretted the unhappy passage of arms
which had once taken place between “Nar-
Towscl-sßors" and her father, on some
burning political Question of the day; but
sh« did not regret the way in which her
lover had gently yet firmly proved her
belligerent parent to be hopelessly in the
wrong. Mias Marcia also knew that the
doctor was thinner than of yore; that his
hair was beginning to turn Kray; that he
seldom smiled In his old gefiial fashion.
Whilst sh» loved him for his constancy,
•he felt he wanted a good shaking for
not blustering about the whole affair. The
very Idea of "Narrowsclssors" ever at
tempting to blueter was absurd; he was
much too gentle for anything of the sort:
Besides, such conduct would be unprofes
sional in the extreme. When he told his
love to Marcia, she informed him that her
father would never consent.
“My dear lady,” said Dr. Narcissus,
fondly surveying her beautiful eyes, “I
don't want to marry your father.”
“Do you know how old I am?" queried
Miss Marcia.
"J have never had the presumption to
give the subject a thought,” said Dr.
Narcissus, ' with old-fashioned courtesy.
Moat of his actions smelt of lavender.
“My own age is 48, and I have published
a little brochure on toxicology which has
been very well received in the medical
world."
"Well, I am 40." said Miss Marcia. "You
are good enough to say that you admire
my beauty. If we have to wait for my
father's consent, these cheeks will be wrin
kled and shrivelled, my form bent and
shrunken, my sight dim, myself an old
woman. And, day by day, as we wait
our hope will grow less. I love tny fa
ther very dearly. Sometimes, however, I
think the price exacted by a parent is a
heavy one to pay. Love forgives much,
hopes for much; and 1 have promised
hitn not to marry without his consent. Oh,
yes, you will cease to love me us I grow
old, and my hair turns gray with grief."
Dr. Narcissus gazed fondly at Miss
Marcia's beauty. She was a tall, mnjectic
looking woman, with a sweet simplic
ity of carriage which prevented her bear
ing from seeming proud. Miss Marcia
generally wore spotless apparel of light
gray or lavender, with soft folds of lace
at the neck and wrists. Her auburn hair
crinkled and gleamed almost riotously
round her shapely head, though she did
her best to subdue its rebellious tenden
cies. But a soft west wind would bring
her elaborate precautions to naught. This
gleaming mass of gold broke out into lit
tle ripples and waves, and utterly defied
any attempt to restrain It within the
bounds of ilwonim. Her eyes were blue,
»we«t, and expressive, her complexion
fair, with a soft glow of color on the
cheek.*. There was perhaps Just a little
too much determination in the square
ness of th milk-white chin, but the se
verity of her cfiln was overcome by Mias
Marcia's pretty lips, which, parted in a
half smile, displayed beautifully white,
If somewhat Irregular teeth. She hud
had many admirers, although none of
them found anything but gentle pity in
hor Sight. She would thank them very
sweetly for their goodness In loving her,
and retain them us life-long friends. Her
father claimed most of iter care. So ut
terly heartless, so Irrepressible an indi
vidual would have been beyond the care
of most people, but Miss Marcia loved
him fondly, and obeyed his slightest wish.
There had never been u shadow of dis
cord between them until Dr. Narcissus
laid his heart at her f«*et. Mr. Jones had
forbidden Miss Marcia to pick up the doc
tor's heart. After careful deliberation,
however, she had come to the conclusion
that she loved the doctor. His quiet,
gentle ways accorded well with her own
tastes; they loved the same books; thev
attended the same church: and the doc
tor was very lonely. Mr. Jones regarded
him as a nuisance, treated. him with ig
nominy, and refused to receive him for a
son-in-law. And this attitude of hit had
never varied for five years. As th® doctor
gated fondly at Miss Marvin it occurred
to him, for the hundredth tlm<*. that Mr.
Jones* attitude was becoming 1 monoto
nous.
"Madam. " he said, laying his hand on
his heart, "when God gße® us something
to love ; the passage of time only makes it
Miss Marcia, in return, made him a prim
old fashlomMl curtsey, the flame of their
love burnt very brightly and purely, al
beit somewhat formally'. In the solitude
( THE MORNING NEWS }
4 Established 1860. - - Incorporated 1888. >
I J. H. ESTILL, President/ J
of her chamber, Miss Marcia sometimes
allowed herself to wonder what her sen
sations would be like if Dr. Narcissus
were to attempt to kiss her. And the doc
' tor, in the seciuslon of his study, some
times permitted his thoughts to stray in
the same direction. But they were both
too punctilious and shy ever to get be
yond dreaming over tne matter. Once
indeed, at Christmas, Miss Marcia had
suspended some mistletoe from the lamp
in the hall, under which the unconscious
doctor stood for fully five minutes, with
out being aware of the reason which
called a blush to her peach-like cheeks.
Indeed, he would never have discovered it
at all, had not Mr. Jones hastily dragged
him away from beneath it, and brought
the berries to the gr<x<lid with an indig
nant sweep of his oak stick.
“Now, look here, Narrowscissors, said
Mr. Jones, who always prided himself on
being a self-made man. (There was no
need to question the truth of this, said his
enemies. He was so very badly put to
gether). "Don’t you get any of this non
sense in my girl’s head, or I’ll shut my
doors against you altogether. I won’t
stand it.”
The doctor calmly repudiated any guil
ty intention with regard to the mistletoe,
inwardly wondering at the difference be
tween Miss Marcia, who was a lady, and
her father, who was a very vulgar old
man indeed, especially when he had par
taken too freely of a mysterious bever
age called "dog's nose,” the component
parts of which were known only to him
self, and failed to bear the slightest re
semblance whatever, to any canine nasal
organ. On festive political occasions,
Mr. Jones was wont to brew what he
called a "Jorum” of this mixture, and stir
it all up together with a redhot poker.
The result would have undermined the
constitution of an iron-clad.
“I’m getting tired of this nonsense.”
said Mr. Jones, angrily. “Very tired! I
tell you what it is, Narrowscissors, don’t
you come dangling after my girl here any
more. I won’t stand it.”
“Be calm, my dear sir,” said Dr. Nar
cissus, all his professional instincts
aroused at the sight of the other's apop
lectic visage—“Be calm, or I shall have
to bleed you."
“You’ve been bleeding me in coals and
candles for the last five years,” said Mr.
vulgarly, “and I’m tired of it. I
don’t want to see you about the place
any more.”
“Papa,” said Miss Marcia, very quiet
ly and sweetly, “you forget you are talk
ing to my betrothed husband.”
“Now, don’t you interfere, Marcia,
'tween man and woman,” said Mr. Jones.
“I’m a ’asty man myself, there's no de
nying of it, and I don’t want to deny it;
but I’m a man for all that, and not a
long, narrow tallow candle like Narrow
scissors. When he can give up contra
dicting his betters—men as make politics
the study of a life time—and come round
to my views, then perhaps, I’ll forgive
him.”
Miss Marcia looked at Dr. Narcissus.
Dr. Narcissus regarded her reassuring
ly. "My dear sir,” he said, quietly, "as
you are the honored parent of the lady I
Jove, I am unable to express in plain Eng
lish ,all I should like to say h+khjl you' -
fatuous obstiuaej. If i were to do so, yotl
would probat.lv go oft in an apoplectic
fit. You can, therefore, Imagine the con
trol I am putting on myself when I do
not say It. For five years you have in
sulted me: for five years you have made
this dear lady live a life of sorrow. It is
time you behaved better to both of us.
I honor her filial obedience, and would be
the last person in the world to weaken
it.”
"You can’t,” said Mr. Jones, rather Im
pressed by this plain speaking from the
usually reserved Dr. Narcissus. “You
can’t. She promised never to marry with
out my consent."
“Very well, then, my dear sir,” said Dr.
Narcissus, softly. "I am afraid I shall
have to resort to other measures to ob
tain it. You have robbed you daughter of
all happiness for "
"Hasn’t she got me to look after? Isn’t
that happiness enough?”
"I might like a little more variety In
it, papa," suggested Miss Marcia. "For
instance, suppose you looked after me a
little more.’ r
“What!" Mr. Jones was amazed.
"Haven’t I given you a comfortable home?
This Is what comes of sending you to a
Quaker «ehool where they teacn people to
think for themselves. What do you mean
by thinking, Marcia?"
“I have been taught to honor my fath
er,” said Mist Marcia; "and this discus
sion is exceedingly painful to me. You
have a right to rob me of the sweet hap
piness of being an honored wife, but you
have no right to insult my future hus
band."
Dr. Narcissus bowed tenderly, and Miss
Marcia made him a gentle curtesy, which
Involved a low backward bend and grad
ual uprising in his direction. Miss Mar
cia’s curtesy was famous in Puggleton.
The vicar pronounced It quite Chester
fieldlan. Then she gracefully glided out
of the room, a deeper color than usual
upon her beautiful cheeks.
"Now I will prescribe for you," said
Dr. Narcissus, as he shut the door after
Mias Marcia.
"There’s nothing the matter with me,"
said Mr. Jones, angrily.
"Pardon me, but there is. You have
'dogs's nose’ on the stomach and the
nerves. If you go on as you are doing
now, you will be dead in a year.”
“W-w-what?”
“Perhaps sooner. There's something
preying on your mind. I should say that
you were naturally an active man, and
since you retired from business—by the
way, what was your business? I have
often been asked the question?”
“Never you mind." said Mr. Jones, re
covering himself. "Never you mind. It's
no business of yours.”
"That’s perfectly true," returned Dr.
NgrclMUa, suavely. "What I was going
to say is that enforced idleness Is very
bad for you. You can't work off what
Burton calls the 'gross humours of the
body.’ "
“What’s he know about my body?”
demanded Mr. Jones. “He’s never seen
it. ( don't drink his ale. I call It very
disrespectful of him."
“No, he's dead; wrote a book called
the 'Anatomy of Melancholy.’ ”
“Well, there ain’t an atom of melan
choly* about me.” returned Mr. Jones.
“I'm a plain, blunt, ’ealthy man I am,
and don't you dart* go and say different.”
“Oh, very well. I had intended serving
seven years for your daughter’s hand, if
we could not be married sooner. 1 have
already watted five. Let me see. If you
go on as you are doing now, you will
' last almost a year, perhaps a little less,
i That will, make it six years; and there
I will be the customary year of mourning
' for you, to complete the seven. You see.
It doesn’t make any difference to me
whether you live or die. except that your
| death would cause intense grief to the
' gentle lady you have the honor to call
; daughter."
Jones was impressed. He had hitherto
. regarded Dr. Narcissus as a weak, irrtso
■ lute fool. "I didn’t know you’d so much
I backbone in you,” he said, grudgingly.
"I love rour daughter: the responsibility
: for her happiness maaes me patient.’’
| said Dr. Narcissus, quietly. "Many men
I without conscience, out possessing my
special knowledge of toxicology, would
1 have removed you from your present
! sphere of Inutility long ago. But I have
> a conscience and couldn't do it.” He took
i a little bottle from his pocket—a little
i bottle with tightly-tied up glass stopper.
"For instance, this bottle contains the
celebrated Aqua Tofana," he said, in a
matter of fact voice. "If I were to take
I out the stopper and hold it under your
nose whilst you are indulging in one of
your afternoon dinner naps, you would
never wake again.”
Mr. Jone® grew purple. "I'll send for
the police," he said. "What do you mean
by carrying poisons about in fhis mur
derous way?”
“Oh, I am an expert in toxicology.”
“What’s that got to do with poisons?”
“It means the same thing.”
“Take it away. I can’t breathe easy
with it in the house. It might fly at one
or be spilt. J can’t breaths, -I tell yop.”
“That isn’t, the effect of poison; it’s
'dog’s nose,’ and conscience. I mean to
continue my visits as usual, arid I shall
do all I can to prolong your life for your
daughter's sake, although I’m convinced
you can’t live like this for more than
another year, possibly ten months. I
think if I were you I would go away to
the seaside from Saturday to Monday
every week. The arguments with rail
way porters, rows with cabmen, and run
ning after trains may do you good, give
you something to live for. I shall make
a point of calling on Miss Marcia when
you are absent. Aren’t they waiting for
you at the club?” And -without exactly
knowing how, Mr. Jones found himself
walking down to the Puggleton Arms,
leaving Dr. Narcissus in possession of the
field.
Half-way in the direction of she Pug
gleton Arms, Mr. Jones paused irreso
lutely and wiped the perspiration from
his brow.
“If he only finds out I’ve been a butch
er,” he said, with blanched cheeks, “how
they’d all laugh at me down at the club.
There’s Porkins would give a fiver to
crow over me about it. He thinks I’m
descended from Griffin Ap Jones of
Wales. Most of the Welsh Jones’ squint
and have red hair; that’s what made
me think of it. Now, I’ve only got red
hair. Wish I could squint.”
He leered so hideously at a-dog in the
road that it put its tail between its legs
and ran howling away.
’’That fellow Narrowscissors is right,”
continued Mr. Jones as he waddled to
wards the club. “I’m pining to death
here. I've stood it eight years, but I
can’t stand it much longer. I'm glad I
never let Marcia know, though. She al
ways was a lady, and always will be, but
I’m not going to give her up to Narrow
scissors for all his poisons and things.”
Mr. Jones was almost opposite the Pug
gleton Arms, when a brilliant idea struck
him. He stopped in the middle of the road
and grinned widely. This time, a baby at
the doorway of neighboring cottage, be
gan to yell with terror. “I'll do it,” he
said, excitedly. “I'll do it. It’s the one
thing to keep me alive. I’ll
give up ‘dog’s nose’ and have
the laugh at Narrowcissors, and
his aquey toffey stuff yet. It’s a
great risk, but he’s right. I’m dying by
hinches here! By hinches! If he ever
does find it out I’ll have to give in, but
he never will. He never will.”
He turned round and went home again,
greatly to the .disappointment of Porkins,
who was waiting for him with a crushing
argument in favor of a republican form of
government and the painless doing away
in a lethal chamber of hereditary peers.
When he reached home, he went Into
Marcia's sweetly old-fashioued parlor
and said abruptly: "I’m going to Brigh
ton to-morrow to stay till Monday.”
“I trust you will find the sea-air invig
orating, papa,” said Marcia, a little cold
ly. “I will prepare your linen at once.”
“Hinvigorating!” said Mr. Jones, with
a roar of laughter. “Hinvigorating! I
beg your pardon, my dear; my aitches
will fly about sometimes when I’m ex
cited. There’s no hair—l mean air—like
it. No air like it. It’s the breath of life—
full of the loveliest smells; the air's thick
with ’em.”
Marcia regarded him sorrowfully as she
moved toward the dooi. Jones motioned
her back. v
“There ain't anyone else but Narrow- ,
scissors you could take a fancy to/’ Is
there, my dear)?” he asked, anxiously.
“Your mother picked me out of half-a
dozen. None or ’em were a bit like me.
She said they were all alike, but she’d
never seen anyone like me before.”
“Papa,” said Miss Marcia, in shocked
tones, “we are betrothed.”
“That ain’t being married,” said Jones,
“(.here's nothing binding in that. I was
betrothed (I called it ‘keeping compa
ny,’) several times before I met your
mother. It helped to pass the time,
though it came rather expensive in pho
tographs.”
Miss Marcia felt disgusted. “I have
been accustomed to regard a betrothal as
sacred,” she said. “Don’t you think, papa,
you could overcome your dislike to Dr.
Narcissus? I shouldn't have a care in
the world if you two only liked each
other.”
“No, I can’t like him,” said Jones, dog
gedly. “He’s a murderer—a tallow-faced
poisoner, that’s what he is.”
Miss Marcia’s beautiful cheeks paled.
She almost turned from her father in hor
ror. “Papa, you say you love me, yet
you make me very-unhappy. What would
you have done if any one had come be
tween you and mamma?”
"Punched his head,” said Mg. Jones,
promptly.
Miss Marcia smiled. "Oughtn’t Dr.
Narcissus to—to punch yours?” she
asked and escaped from the room.
"That ain’t what comes of going to a
Quaker school," said Mr. Jones, ruefully.
“They will teach ’em to think, though,
they won’t teach ’em to fight or to swear.
She had me there. Now for the seaside.
Ho! ho! ho! The seaside!”
Miss Marcia heard him roaring with
laughter as she stood in the solitude of
her spotless chamber, with its snowy
hangings and dainty surroundings. “Poor
papa,” she said. ‘ r lf the sea air makes
him laugh more than that, he will break
a blood vessel.”
She woke up at three in the morning
aroused by her father, who was chuckling
in his sleep about! the sea-air. She began
to think his mind was affected, especi
ally when he went up into the garret
next morning before starting, and re
turned with a mysterious bundle in his
hand.
“What is that for, papa?" asked Miss
Marcia, wonderingiy.
What?” said Mr. Jones, gaily, as he
went down the gravel path. "Oh, that's
to keep off the sea air, my dear.”
CHAPTER 11.
When Mr. Jones returned from Brigh
ton without the mysterious bundle, he
looked as jolly as the sand-bov of prov
erbial philosophy, although history is si
lent with regard to the special induce
ments which contributed to swell the ab
normal well-being of that much-quoted
Individual. In the early part of every
week he was far more amiable to Miss
Marcia, and tried in a thousand ways
to atone for his previous harshness. She
noticed, however, that when she intro
duced the subject of Brighton he inva
riably turned the conversation to local
topics. There was one thing in which
he remained terribly consistent; he would
not welcome Dr. Narcissus. On the con
trary, he was more embittered against
him than ever, and carefully got out of
that worthy gentleman’s way. Three
months of solitary week ends at Brighton
made a different man of Mr. Jones alto
gether. He became rosily good-natured,
and conducted his political disputes with
more anemity. Miss Marcia hoped that
time would soften his heart, but the
spring came round again with dancing
daffodils and twitter of swallows be
neath the eaves, without Mr. Jones show
ing any disposition to relent. Poor Miss
Marcia had suffered for so long that en
durance was now part of her being, but,
as she listened night after night to the
departing gig-wheels of Dr. Narcissus,
through th® darkness, her gentle heart
swelled with indignation at her father’s
tyranny. About Wednesday he became Ir
ritable; grew worse on Thursday;and only
recovered tone when the time came for
him to pack up on Friday night in read
iness for Saturday mornihg. Whilst her
father was away. Miss Marcia had the
pleasure of two visits from Dr, Narcis
sus, who always came to tea on Sat
urday evening, and escorted her to church
the next day. Sometimes, the doctor
would be called away before he had done
justice to his first pikelet. Miss Marcia
was always in a hurry to get tea over
lest he should be interrupted in the mid
dle of it. Saturday being Puggleton mar
ket day, generally resulted in tavern
brawls or drunken frolics wherein heads
were broken which had to be bound up
and mended as speedily as possible. Each
fleeting second possessed a fearful joy
SAVANNAH, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1895.
for Miss Marcia, and brought home to
her the truth of the old couplet,
“Every moment dies a man,
Every moment one is born.”
If the whole evening passed without
interruption of any kind, she thanked
heaven on her knees. It was so much
sweeter to have Dr. Narcissus all to her
self without the risk of his being forced
to quarrel with her father. But when the
doctor was called away and she sat bv
the blazing fire (the evenings were chilly
still) seeing his face in the flames, her
heart felt very sore. By the time he re
turned to his own home the servants
would have gone to bed, and let the fire
out altogether. She wondered if they ever
thought of airing his things, and was
sure they never mended his wristbands,
for the edges were frightfully frayed. As
for buttons on his collar, he seemed never
to be aware that such things were worn.
But so fine were the doctor’s serious,
earnest features that she felt sure people
would never think of collars and cuffs
when they could look at his eyes. And so
she would sit by the fire dreaming of
happy days to come until the flames grew
dim, the cricket’s cheerful chirrup died
away, and all the world was given over
to darkness. Then she would hasten to
place a candle in the window for the doc
tor to look at on his return, and go slowly
off to read her Bible before retiring to
rest.
On Saturday morning Miss Marcia had
seen her father off from the station, and
was returning to the house when Dr. Nar
cissus' gig overtook her in the High street
and the doctor got dut.\ He seemed very
much annoyed about something. “I am
so sorry,” he said, “bpt my old friend
Brander of the London Hospital has an
ominous case under his care and wishes
to consult me about it. I’m afraid I must
go up at once. He thinks the man has
been slowly poisoned.”
Miss Marcia felt forlorn. After a mo
ment’s inward struggle, however, . she
recognized the situation and accepted it.
“I need hardly say how great the disap
pointment is to me,” said Dr. Narcissus.
“I consider myself very patient, but we
are wasting the best years of our lives. I
would not for one instant endeavor to
persuade you to break your promise, were
it not that all this suspense is telling on
you. You will have to go away for
change of air soon. What shall I do
without you?”
Miss Marcia smiled bravely, although
her blue eyes filled with tears. “We have
been patient so long—so long,” she said.
“Surely we can be patient for a little lon
ger. . My father will give way one day.”
Dr. Narcissus lost his self-control for
once. “I suppose we must wait,” he said.
“You can’t realize how fair my life would
be with you to brighten all its selfish lone
liness.”
“Don’t make me give way, too,” she
murmured. “You have been so brave;
and there will be all the sad evening and
to-morrow. London seems so far away.”
Dr. Narcissus left Marcia with a feeling
that something must be done speedily; he
could not hold out for an indefinite period.
The struggle was telling on his nerves.
Why had he ever embarked on political
discussions with Marcia’s father? Poli
tics didn’t Interest him in the least. The
only reason he had interfered was be
cause he could not stand tamely by and
listen to old Mr. Jones’ dogmatic non
sense. And yet there were certain things
which a man with any good in him could
not stand tamely by and listen
to with seeming acqulscence. All
the way up to town he pon-
dered over the situation. Once at the
acquiescence. All the way up to town he
pondered over the situation. Once at the.
London ' hoapif al. however. ms thoughts
v . given to the eA.» which he h-"<d co..*,
to die gnose, and he soon discovered the
poison from which the man was suffering,
after eliciting the fact that he had lived
close to some lime kilns. The poisonous
gases from the kilns bad forced their way
through the crevices in his hut, and
slowly taken hold of their victim.
About 10 o’clock that night Dt. Narcis
sus strolled into the ever busy Commercial
Road, Whitechapel, resolving to take the
early train home on Sunday morning, and
surprise Miss Marcia by his unlooked-for
appearance in the afternoon. He had not
been in the Commercial Road for years,
and found it more interesting than ever.
There was the same motley crowd, large
ly dominated by persuasive gentlemen of
Hebraical descent, who sold penny arti
cles on the curb, or gave away receipts
for making one’s fortune with heroic gen
erosity. He lingered awhile among the
old book-barrows vainly hoping to find a
prize. It seemed to him that all the
theological literature of the century had
found its way into these dirty barrows.
Sermons were sold at a penny a volume,
or seven volumes for sixpence, one en
terprising vendor, with reckless extrav
agance, also offering to throw in a pair
of braces and a bloater. Most of the bar
rows containing second-hand tools and
vegetabdes—vegetables which had
spent the week In the Commer-
Road and aged years in that
time—were lit by huge naptha
cressets. Young ladies with feathers, so
gorgeously dyed that the parent ostrich
would never have recognized them (the
feathers, not the young ladies) wandered
up and down sucking barley sugar, or
danced with characteristic East End
abandon the steps peculiar to that region.
As the night grew late, the industrious
poor came from neighboring alleys in or
der to purchase their Sunday provisions
at tbe innumerable butchers’ shops
which run along one side of the Commer
cial Road. Each butcher had two brawny
assistants who kept up a continual shout
of “This way, this way, lydies. Cheapest
shop In the trade. ‘Ere ye are, lydies,
this way, this way. Block ornaments
thrown in.” Dr. Narcissus discovered
that “Block ornaments” were the little
odds and ends of meat trimmed from off
the purchases of opulent buyers. If a
poor woman bought something, she was
given a handful of "Block ornaments”
from the block, in order to encourage
her to come to the same shop on another
occasion. The butchers who did the most
business were those with the loudest
voices. Presently the doctor’s attention
was attracted by a huge crowd in front
of one shop from which resounded a voice
loud enough to be heard twenty yards
down the street.
Dr. Narcissus strolled up to this shop
full of idle curiosity to see a man who
could draw such a crowd. Suddenly some
thing in the tone of the butcher’s voice
struck him as familiar. The next mo
ment he brushed hurriedly through the
crowd and made his way to the owner of
the stentorian voice.
“I'll trouble you for a few ‘block orna
ments,’ if you please. Mr. Jones,” he
said, quietly addressing a fat man in a
blue blouse, who was, literally speaking,
ail over the shop at once.
Mr. Jones let fall his cleaver on the toe
of an intending purchaser and stared as
if he had seen a ghost. Then he hero
ically recovered himself, wrapped up some
fragments of meat, as purple as his own
visage in a piece or newspaper, and hand
ed the parcel to the doctor, shouting out
from force of habit at the same time,
“This way, lydies—thia way. The best
meat in the market. This way.”
When Mr. Jones returned to Puggleton
on Monday. Brighton did not appear to
have agreed with him nearly as much as
usual. He could not eat anything at
lunch, and wandered furtively about the
village for the rest of the day, as if not
daring to enter the Puggleton Arms. At
last, he could bear the suspense no long
er. and went in. The landlord was as def
erential as usual. Porker immediately
assailed him with volumes of statistics oh
the Irish question; and everything went
on just as customary until Dr. Narcis
sus’ tall form darkened the doorway.
Jones groaned. The doctor had evidently
come to expose him. and blast forever his
social aspirations in Puggleton. But the
doctor did nothing of the sort. He nodded
in a friendly way to Jones, bowled over
Porker in five minutes, chatted for half
an hour with the local vetennarv, and
then got up to go.
Jones followed him anxiously through
the inn yard. "I should like a word with
you.” he said, in an anxious whisper,
"where those fellows can’t hear.”
"Certainly.” said Dr. Narcissus, with
his usual bland politeness. “I’m quite at
your service. Mr. Jones."
“In course you've got me in your pow
er,” said Jones, as they walked along.
“I couldn’t help it. It’s in my blood. If
I couldn’t bave got into my old apron and
blue sleeves again, and shouted at the top
of my voice I’d have died. That’s what
hurt me more than ‘dog’s nose.’ ”
‘T can quite understand and sympathize
with your feelings,” said the doctor. -
“If I hadn’t kept my old apron,” re
sumed Jones, “I might have got over it,
but I kept it hid up in the garret. Marcia’s
often wondered whj' I went up there so
often. She thought it was because I
liked to smoke near the roof. Why, I’ve
been nearly froze to death sometimes," he
added, “and yet I had to go there.”
“We are all creatures of habit,” said the
doctor kindly. “I haven’t thanked you for
those excellent ‘block ornaments,’ Mr.
Jones. I had them for breakfast this
morning.
Jones groaned aloud. “I’ve been hard
on you,” he said. “Now you’ve got your
revenge. What are you going to do
about it?”.
Dr. Narcissus stopped abruptly in the
middle of the road. “Nothing,” he said,
shortly, and walked on.
Jones followed him with little tottering
steps. “D’ye mean it? Really mean it?”
“Certainly. It’s saved your life.”
“But Marcia?” said Jones, shame
facedly.
"I have no wish to cause either you or
her pain,” said the doctor, quietly, “and
I will not take an ungenerous advantage
of my discovery. Let us drop the mat
ter.”
“No,” said the impulsive Jones; "we will
not drop the matter.”
They had reached the house by this
time, and Miss Marcia stood awaiting her
father in the porch.
Jones took the doctor by the arm and
hurried him up the walk. “Marcia,” he
said, manfully, though the words stuck
in his throat, “I’ve brought you a present
from Brighton. He’s a better fellow than
I am. Take him.”
And Marcia, with a little cry of joy, took
him.
(The End.)
■ t
POPE LEO AND THE SOCIETIES.
Another Hostile Decree Expected.
Tide Pope’s Health.
Washington, Nov. 27.—Archbishop Sa
tolli, the apostolic delegate, has had no
intimation from Rome of another anti
secret society decree, but is not in a posi
tion to declare that none will be forthcom
ing. The last one, issued just a year ago,
forbade membership in but three organi
zations—Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows
and Sons of Temperance. The decision of
the holy office in July last removed all
questions as to the scope of the decree
and made the condemnation absolute,
without the slightest chance for equivoca
tion, also insisting upon its immediate
application. Nothing could make this
more sweeping in its effects as far as
these three organizations are concerned.
But it is possible that the holy office has
determined to condemn other‘societies.
Os this, the delegation at Washington, is
without knowledge. It has transmitted
no complaint against other societies, but
such complaints may have gone forward
through other channels.
The delegate and ‘the attaches of his
office here are deeply concerned in the
pope’s physical welfare and expressed
much gratification at the United Press
cablegram announcing that a consistory
had been called, at which the pope would
be able to preside. .Thoeo who are famll
ids: with Uw popes habii.-., corroborate
the report that he loses sleep at night
through his desire to record thoughts
that he considers worthy of preservation.
Rome, Nov. 27.—The pope recovered his
normal health yesterday and issued in
vitations to the cardinals to attend a con
sistory to-morrow.
The congregation of cardinals has is
sued a new decree couched in strong terms
against secret societies in the United
States.
London, Nov. 27.—The Rome correspond
ent of the Pall Mall Gazette is informed
by a prelate, in intimate relations with the
pope, that the recent illness of his holi
ness is due to lack of vitality, which con
dition is increasing. There is no cause
for immediate alarm, he says, but it is
difficult to keep the pope in good health
owing to his habit of getting out of bed
nights when some Latin couplet comes
to his mind which he wishes to record.
In addition to this the long audiences
which he gives daily fatigues him greatly.
ALEXANDRE DIMAS DEAD.
t J ’
A Sketch of the Work* of the
Yoiinger French Author.
Paris, Nov. 27.—Alexandre Dumas is
dead.
Early in the evening M. Dumas rallied
enough to create a belief that he would
live at least several hours. About 7
o’clock he asked for tea, which was given
to him. He then had sufficient strength
to raise the cup to his lips without as
sistance. Shortly after he had a nervous
convulsion, and died very suddenly. A
number of relatives were present.
Alexandre Dumas, the younger, son of
Alexandre Davy Dumas, novelist and
dramatic writer, was born in Paris in
1824. and received his education in the
College Bourbon. At the age of 17 he pub
lished a collection of poems, “Les Peches
de Jeunesse,” a work of small literary
merit. He traveled with his father in
Spain and in Africa, and on his return
wrote “Les Adventures de Quatre Fem
mes d’un Perroquet,” published in 1847.
An English biographer classes him as be
longing to the sensuous school of French
writes. His principal work of fiction,
“La Dame aux Camelias,” became one
of the best known productions of the day.
A dramatic version of it was played as
early as 1852. after having been interdict
ed by the censor of the drama. It was
played in New York recently. The story
is repeated in Verdi’s opera, “La Tra
vlata.” Dmas wrote a great
matic pieces, and was considered to be
one of the greatest delineators of the
character of the demimonde. One of his
most widely known works is “The Cle
menceau Case,” which.has been produced
on the stage in this country. He was in
stalled a member of the French Academy
in 1875. Some of his works were based
on the novels of his father, notably the
drama, “Joseph Balsamo,” being a sequel
to the elder Dumas’ romance of “Cagli
ost.ro.”
MISS GORMAN MARRIED.
Tbe Senator's Daughter Becomes
Mrs. Richard Johnson.
Washington, Nov. 27.—The marriage of
Miss Daisy Gorman, daughter of Senator
A. P. Gorman of Maryland, to Richard
Johnson, son of the late E. Kurtz John
son, occurred at the residence of the
bride’s father at noon to-day.
The ceremony was a quiet one, only the
relatives of the contracting parties being
present owing to the recent death of Mr.
Johnson’s father. There were no brides
maids or ushers.
The ceremony was performed by Cardi
nal Gibbons, who arrived from Baltimore
this morning for that purpose. The wed
ding took place in the drawing room,
which was beautifully decorated for the
occasion, the principal flowers being
white chrysanthemums.
The bride was dressed in white duchess
satin, trimmed with lace, and carried a
bouquet of orchids. She entered the draw
ing room on the arm of her father, and the
bridal party took position in the front
bay window, which was a bower of flow
ers from floor to ceiling. Mr. Johnson was
attended by his brother. Perry Johnson.
At the conclusion of the ceremony an
elaborate wedding breakfast was served,
after which the yoking couple left tor a bri
dal tour, the direction of which was not
made known.
HAWAII’S NEW MINISTER.
Mr. Hatch at New Orleans En Route
to Waßhlngton.
New Orleans, Nov. 27.—F. M. Hatch,
the minister of Hawaii to this country,
arrived in this city this morning at 6
o’clock by the Southern Pacific, on his
was to Washington. He stopped over
here to-day and left to-night, via the
Louisville and Nashville railroad, for
Washington.
In an interview, Mr. Hatch said: “I
will say that the condition of Hawaii at
the present time is fairly prosperous de
spite the fact that the recent price of
sugar has retarded commercial advance.
I am coming to Washington to present
my credentials to the government of the
United States as the duly accredited min
ister to it from the republic of Hawaii. I
shall remain at your capital for an in
definite period.
“The ex-queen is residing quietly and
without guard. She is nothing more now
than a private resident of the country.
1 think that all the royalist aspirations
have been extinguished thoroughly. Any
way, none is discovered, and it looks as
though the people were -quite satisfied
with an existence under a republican form
of law. The Dole government, is a stable
one and unforseen circumstances ex
cepted, will last some time.”
San Francisco, Nov. 27. —Correspondence
of the The United Press, per steamer Aus
tralia, from Honolulu, under date of Nov.
20, says: “Everything is quiet here. Bus
iness is active. The rainy season has fair
ly set in, together with cool winter tem
perature.
“Since the declaration made by the new
Japanese commissioner, Shimamura, on
the day of his arrival, that he intended to
actively prosecute the discussion with
this government regarding their failure to
fulfill their engagements in their immi
gration treaty with Japan, he has remain
ed silent. It is now believed that he was
once cautioned by Consul Shunjdsu in obe
dience to instructions from their legation
at Washington not to take any aggressive
attitude such as would give color to the
allegation of Minister Castle that Japan
had designs on Hawaii that would not be
found desirable at the opening of the ses
sion of congress in which the Haw’aiian
question would come up.
“President Dole stated this morning that
it was no secret that the executive did not
consider favorable the proposition to re
lease any of the white political prisoners
except T. B. Walker, who had been very
friendly to the government. Probably a
majority of the few remaining natives will
soon be released.”
DRIVEN TO SUICIDE BY DIVORCE.
A Bold Board of Trade Operator Ends
His Life in His Bath Room.
Milwaukee, Wis., Nov. 27.—About 10:30
o'clock this morning Peter McGeoch, who
lived * opposite the National Soldiers'
Home, in an elegant mansion, ordered his
carriage to go to the city, and then went
upstairs. He was not seen alive after
that. As he did not appear, the servants
became alarmed, and instituted a search
for him. Miss Annie Beese, who has been
a servant in the house'for aboutjl year,
looked through the key hole of bath
room door, which was locked, and saw
McGeoch lying on the floor with a revol
ver in his hand. He shot himself through
the mouth and death was probably in
stantaneous. The servants immediately
notified Maj. W. W. Rowley, quartermas
ter of the soldiers’ home, an intimate ac
quaintance of Mr. McGeoch, who at once
sent for Mr. McGeoch’s son, Arthur, who
resides in the city. When found Mr. Mc-
Geoch had on his business suit, and was
apparently ready to start for the city.
Tpe servants noticed nothing peculiar in
hip Actions before the time.
Mr. McGeoch’s suicide is taken to be
the result of divorce proceedings begun
last Monday by Mrs. McGeoch, on the
ground of incompatibility of tempera
ment.
Mrs. McGeoch was Mrs. Libbey of Ken
wood, a suburb of Chicago, when she met
Mr, McGeoch. They were married about
eight years ago at the Leland hotel, Chi
cago. Since their marriage, they have
lived at the National avenue homestead
of Mr. McGeoch. Mr. McGeoch had three
children, a son and two daughters, who,
after his marriage, occupied a house on
Grand avenue, which their father pro
vided. Since Mrs. McGeoch left the resi
dence, one of the daughters, it is under
stood had been keeping house for her
father.
No man was for years better known on
the Chicago and Milwaukee boards of
trade than Mr. McGeoch. He was a dar
ing speculator up to the disastrous deal
of 1883, when he attempted to corner the
lard of the country, which scheme failed.
Dan Wells, Jr., of Milwaukee was inter
ested with him in the deal, and a long
and acrimonious law suit followed.
FRANCE AND MADAGASCAR.
The New Ministry Repudiates the
Treaty of the Old Ministry.
Paris, Nov. 27.—M. Berthelot, minister
of foreign affairs, read in the Chamber of
Deputies to-day a statement prepared by
the ministry in regard to Madagascar,
which, he declared, was henceforth, a
French possession. This declaration was
received with prolonged applause. How
ever, he continued France would respect
any engagement which Madagascar had
contracted toward certain powers, and in
cases where the Hova government had
contracted obligations, France would re
spect the rules of international law appli
cable thereto. The government, he said,
would preserve the internal administration
of the island and would also modify the
original treaty with Madagascar which the
queen had signed. The amended treaty
would shortly be submitted to the cham
ber.
Ex-Premier Ribot declared that the
statement read by M. Berthelot was tanta
mount to a repudiation of the ireaty con
cluded between France and Madagascar
under his (Ribot’s) ministry which he pro
ceeded to defend.
A stormy debate followed.
M. Cavaignac, minister of war, in reply
to a question from different members
Save various details of the campaign in
ladagascar. He said in substance that the
expedition had been ipismanged. but that
the bravery of the French troops and the
conduct of the general in command were
unexceptionable.
The truth was that France did not have
a proper colonial organization. The demo
cracy might rely that the colonial force
would be organized in future.
The chamber, by a vote of 426 to 29, ap
proved the government's declarations
M. Grousset, republican and radical so
cialist, moved that the late ministers be
impeached for concealing the truth regard
ing the condition of affairs in Madagascar
and demanded the urgency of the motion’
By a vote of 417 to 48, the house rejected
the motion.
SCHLATTER MUST HAVE DOUBLES.
The Denver Healer Reported in Two
Places at Once.
Chicago, 111., Nov. 27.—A dispatch from
Jennings, Kan., says that Francis Schlat
ter, the Denver healer, arrived yesterday
and is at a hotel in that place, but. Is
keeping to his room, and few persons have
been able to see him.
Denver, Col., Nov. 27.—Schlatter has
been positively identified at Green Horn,
Coio. He is on his way to Albuqurque
where he will fast forty days.
< WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-WEEK JI A YEAR )
< 6 CENTS A COPY. t
I DAILY. $lO A YEAR. p f
STEAMER HORSA NOW SEIZED.
THE GOVERNMENT TAKES HER IN
CHARGE AT PHILADELPHIA.
Violation of the Nentrality Laws tho
Charge on Which the Seizure is
Bused—One of the Steamer’s Fire
men Makes Affidavit That She
Landed a Filibustering Expedition
on the Coast of Cuba—The Captain
of the Vessel Rather Non-Com
mittal.
Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 27.—The Danish
fruit steamer Horsa, over whose reported
seizure for Cuban filibustering in Kings
ton, Jamaica, there has been considerable
talk, arrived her to-day and discharged
her cargo at the wharves of her agents,
the J. D. Hart Company. The officers of
the steamer denied that she had been,
seized at Kingston and complained of un
true stories having been written about the
vessel. It was the intention of Capt. WJ
borg to clear either to-day or to-morrow*
but Collector of the Port Read, at the
instance of the district attorney, secured
the ship’s clearance papers. It is under
stood that the district attorney is acting
under instructions from the department
of justice at Washington, and the Spanish
government is the complainant, on the
ground that the vessel is violating the
neutrality laws. Until the matter shall
be adjusted, the Horsa will be obliged to
remain at this port.
The Horsa carried one cabin passenger,
William Dougherty, a railroad contractor,
who returned to his home in Pennsylva
nia, frorii Port Antonio, Jamaica. Thera
were also seven deck passengers, all la
borers.
In speaking of the detention of the Hor
sa, P. Gray Meek, surveyer of the port,
expressed himself very decidedly on the
affair. He said: "There is entirely too
much seizure of vessels on suspicion.
Every ship that has left this port bound
for Cuban waters during the summer has
been closely watched, and everything has
been all right when they left here. The
Horsa was cleared on the 9th Inst., by In
spector Edward F. Egan, and there was
not a suspicious article in her cargo. If
any offense has been committed, It was
done outside of the capes and not in the
jurisdiction of this office.”
United States District Attorney Ingra
ham was asked about the detention of ths
Horsa and said: “I have been instructed
by Attorney General Harmon to detain
the steamer Horsa on charges of having
broken the neutrality laws by landing a
band of insurgents, arms and munitions
of war in Cuba. An investigation of the
case will be made at once.”
Oapt. Wiborg, the commander of the
Horsa, was shown a copy of the affidavit
made by the fireman. Emit Fredericksen,
who swore to the landing of filibusters
with arms and ammunition on the Cuban
coast. After reading it through, he said:
"I shall swear to the correctness of the
entries made on my log book when called
to do so before a court of inquiry. Until
then I have nothing to say. The vessel
was searched at San Antonio and nothing
contraband was found on her. The offi
cers even overhauled the coal in her bunk
ers. . \ ‘
“T had ? fireman cn board when I left
Philadelphia, whose name «i>pears on her
papers as E. Fredericksen. I suppose he
is the one who made this affidavit. On my
return voyage I stopped at. six ports on the
Jamaica coast.”
The Danish’consul says that under the
neutrality laws, the United States gov
ernment has the right to hold a vessel of
any nationality if charges of this charac
ter can be made.
The Danish consul at this port, has call
ed a naval court of inquiry to meet to
morrow morning to investigate the charga
against the Horsa.
Ship brokers and others interested in!
the commerce of Philadelphia are prepar
ing a protest to be presented to Secretary
Carlisle and Attorney General Harmon
against what they deem the unwarranted
detention of the steamer by this govern
ment at the instance of the Spanish min
ister. They claim that the action of the
government in seizing vessels under sus
picion is driving ships out of the Wes»
Indian trade and injuring the commerce
of the country.
Attorney General Haman declined to
discuss the matter of the seizure of the
Horsa. It is understood here that t;ha
detention was made on the request of the
Spanish minister, Senor De Lome. The
treasury department was advised by Col
lector Reed of his action in seizing tiho
vessel and stated It was done at the in
stance of District Attorney Ingraham of
Philadelphia. Outside of this information
treasury officials profess to be ignoran#
in the matter.
SPANISH GUERRILLAS SLAIN.
An Insurgent Band Wreaks a Terri
ble Vengenace.
New York, Nov. 27.—A cipher dlspatcM
received at the Cuban headquarters in thia
city yesterday from Col. Rios, the insur
gent commander in Medialuna, Cuba,
stated that on the 14th inst., Lieut. CoL
Salvador Rios, with 600 mounted men over
took and surrounded Col. Lolo Eenitze and
his band of Spanish guerrillas, numbering
in all 150 men. These men, it was assert
ed, had been committing atrocities north
of Manzanillo and Rios had been instruct*
ed to find and exterminate them. After
surrounding the band Rios ordered a ma
chete charge and the cavalry rode down
on the doomed men with cries of ven
geance, scarcely a third of the guerrillas
escaped alive. One hundred and six were
killed with machetes.
Madrid, Nov. 27.—A dispatch from Ha
vana to the Correspondents says the in
surgents have captured a fort at Guinea
Miranda, which was defended by forty
Spanish soldiers.
Havana, Nov. 27.—A sniall fight has oc
curred in the district of Cienfugoa, in
which the leader of the rebel! band en
gaged, Victor Acea, was killed. The gov
ernment had no men killed. The rebel
commander, Antonio Maceo, is still to the
eastward of Ciego de Avila.
Two hundred rebels attacked seventeen
soldiers, near Manicargua, province of
Santa Clara. They were defeated, leav
ing on the field one dead and taking with
them some wounded, among them their
leader. During the fight several horses
belonging to the rebels were killed. On
the Spanish side one soldier was killed.
The garrison of Las Lajas, led by Gaspar
Cantero, a civil guard, defeated the rebel
party commanded by Aniceto Hernandez,
in the Aluncinda, who left on the field
six killed and took with them many
wounded. The troops followed them until
they could not be seen.
It is said here that Maximo Gomez’s par
ty is surrounded by several Spanish col
umns in the district of Sancti Spirltus. It
is impossible for Gomez to return to Ca
maguey, as it was his intention to do.
Madrid, Nov. 27.—N0 official confirmation
can be had here of the report that the Cu
ban insurgent leader Maceo, has been kill
ed in an engagement near Cienfugoa. The
report is believed to be untrue.
SWEETHEARTS AT THE ALTAR,
John Skelton Williams Marries Miss
Lillie Isaacs.
Richmond, Va„ Nov. 27.—John Skelton
Williams of the banking house of J. J«
Williams & Sons of this city, and presi
dent of the Georgia and Alabama rail
road, and Miss Lillie Isaacs were mar
ried at the home of the bride’s father, in
Ashland to-day. The bride is grand
daughter of the late William B. Isaacs,
who was known throughout the entire
country in Masonic circles.
NO 91.