Savannah weekly news. (Savannah) 1894-1920, July 30, 1896, Image 1

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RtTmes ■ A |6w WEEK VOL. 46. PRISCILLA, Or a Sympathetic Temperament. By L. B. WALFORD, Copyrighted, 18W. by L. B. Walford. PART I. Priscilla Davenant had what Is termed *a sympathetic temperament.” That Is to say in whatsoever place, or among whatsoever people my heroine found her self for /he time being, she caught the spirit of the hour. Supposing for example that her tempor ary abode chanced to be in some remote, old-fashioned spot, far from the madding crowd—and supposing that her sober-mind ed hosts devoted their leisure hours to cul tivating scientific pursuits—to astronomy, botany, or archaeology—who so profound ly Interested as Scilla in the revelations of the telescope or microscope? Who so keenly alive to the value of a new "find,” pr so ardent and untiring in exploring new fields to conquer? Not a flower—not an insect—not a crumbling wall or tottering ruin within reach, but she would pursue or investigate, with what>was for the mo ment an almost sacred enthusiasm. Or, again, did she find a passing perch in the temple of art, and did music or painting, or the drama fill the measure of the thoughts of'those about her, such a flame would be kindled in our little Seilla’s bosom as deceived even herself into the belief that she had found for all time her true vocation. She would perchance be accorded a small part in some forthcoming perform ance. How she would study that part! How unflinchingly would she rise betimes day after day, in order to secure an hour at the piano before breakfast! How un weary ingly would she attend rehearsals! With what unabated sest would she enter Into details and discussions, and with what genuine, unaffected sympathy hearken to the doubts and fears, hopes and apprehensions of all! It was the same with Sellla everywhere —and perhaps this was the reason why Scilla was wanted everywhere. People might say to each other that it was a charity to invite Priscilla Davenant—who bad but a poor home, a widowed mother, and few opportunities for displaying her charms—but the plain truth was that ths bright, responsive young creature, just op ening her eyes upon the world, full of good will towards it, and ready to meet it half way at every point, was a pleasant, use ful inmate of any house. Sellla could be reckoned upon to take a willing part in whatever was going for ward, end to assimilate with any sort of party gathered 'together. That was the right kind of young lady vlstor to have, according to Lady A. and Mrs, 8., and when these amiable hostesses ran over their list of names tor future house-parties . in the ears of their respective spouses, | and when the list concluded wl'h Scllia (as the rooms ended in Seilla’s, sure to be a tiny cupboard up a back stair), the rejoinder would be quick and ready— "Sellla Davenant? Ah, to be sure. A cheery little puss; and a kindness to ask her." Sellla was just eighteen; and for two years had been going about in this de tached fashion—having indeed been taken from school in order to accept an eligi ble invitation for the summer months. The visit over. Mrs. Davenant thought her daughter could do without any fur ther education. Perhaps this single fact win place Mrs. Davenant before our read e, Wlth half a do’xen younger girls to think of, to say nothing of school boys who In that house seemed to be ever coming home for the holidays, she could only see In any demand for the presence of th® eldest a source of congratulation. Sellla was her beauty, and—with a sigh—lt was hard she could be able to do so little for her; but Hcflla was such a favorite—with a smile—that no girl was ever in such luck with Invitations. That the storm and stress of daily life fell upon her own hard-worked shoulders was nothin# to the fond parent, so long as she could despatch her eldest daughter off creditably, and talk of her gaieties, of the admiration she excited, and the kind ness she met with; therefore, can it be wondered at that the open, susceptible nature thus trained, should have at any rate begun to reflect, back its training? It had seemed an even more than usual ly line oponiing in Mrs. Davenant’# eyes when a note had come summoning her pretty Beil)a to spend the Waster week at a country house in the west of Englund, where she was promised a gay time, and in particular her fill of riding and driving —delights beyond th® reach of a girl whose hbnw was In *t dusty suburb, where a station fiy was the only alternative to the use of her feet. Every friend and neighbor encountered upon her homely beat that day was told the news—tobi with Mrs. Davenant’# ad ditions and extensions—and laughed a lit tle behind the faded mantilla’s broad back afterwards; but indulgently, because the poor woman was, they said, u, "good soul,” and because, of course, it was a great matter to her to have one of her numer ous brood tak.Mi off her hands, especially during the holidays of th® rest; and only one oi two of the more thoughtful won dered whether Mrs. Davenant altogether rsnllsed what she was doing when thus cheerfully handing oyer the charge of a young, ainlabl®, and impressionable girl to anyone who chose to ask for it? But then it was nobody’s place to speak, and we may just add that no speaking would have been of any avail; Scilla. and her mother would conjointly have laughed the idea to scorn. There was a great mending, and atltching, and gathering to gether of small effects, and the youthful traveler was packed off to her destina tion on the appointed day, to sink or swim, as Fate chose. Towards 5 o’clock the train stopped at a small country station, and a few min utes afterwards Sellla, all joyful excite ment. found herself driving off in a high dogcart, through lanes and valleys, over hill am! down dale, on her way to Ab bott’s Hall. Os Abbot's Hall and It# owners she knew about as much or as little as could be gathered during a two days’ intimacy at another country house, where Mr. and i Mrs. Everslelgh had chanced to find, on i easy terms, a nondescript young la iy, whom they agreed would be an ornament al addition to their Easter party. They had divined that Scilla was to be had cheap—that no inconvenient appendages in the shape of parent, or guardian, or even maid, would have to be tacked on— and accordingly had been as eager to se cure her as she to be secured, "There, now. didn’t I tell you? Charm ing girl, and as good a figure-head tor the box-seat of the coach as Bny one nev«l want," cried the good-humored, jollv host, isl a perfectly audible aside, directly the new arrival had passed within, having Wen handed down from her high seat by three or four loungers hanging about <h* door. "Somehow we couldn't lay our hands on any more young ladies. ' They are scarce, it appears. just now. but little Belli* Davenant is n host in herself. She'll keep us old fogies going! Pity we have no youngster for her." "Your nephew is nut coming, then?" "Well, no; Bam * a foul. He will corn® tor Monday, of course, but won't prom- ( THE MORNING NEWS, ) •{ Established 1880. - - Incorporated 1888. > I J. H. ESTILL. President. I ■ IHI <S EOR OI ise anything else. Says it’s too soon to come to-day. Like the impudence of these young fellows—nothing is good enough for them. We’ll see, however, presently. He may turn up sooner than he says.” Meantime, Scilla was making friends all round. There was the old dowager in black, the two middle-aged matrons In gray and brown, and the tall spinster in heliotrope; but there was none like her self, in serge jacket and skirt, with pret ty pink blouse and sailor hat. She was, in short, the only really young member of the party, • But everyone was very youthful and vi vacious, nevertheless. No one looked cold ly or reserverdly at the newcomer, who was soon "au fond” with all that was go ing on; so that when it appeared that the hunt steeplechases, which were to take place on the following Monday at no great distance from Abbot hall, formed the sta ple topic of conversation, it needed but a few hours’ familiarity with it as a theme* to convince our little “impressionist” that nothing in the world was of so much im portance as that Mr. Eversleigji’s horse, Blue Moon, Should win the principal race, and that she should be there to see. Early and late she discussed the forth coming event with anyone who would dis cuss It with her, and before two days had elapsed knew, or thought she knew, as. much about th® horse and its rider as though the former were her own proper ty, and the latter—by the way, why did not the latter appear on the scene? “Sudh a nuisance Bam Is!” ejaculated Mr. Everslelgh, fuming over his share of the postbag. "Such a broken reed to de pend upon! Says he can’t be down until Saturday night, and ‘knows the horse,’ and has no fears, all will be right. Now, isn’t that my nephew Ambrose all the world over?" appealing So an elderly com panion. “Os course he knows the horse. Would I have asked him to ride Blue Moon if he didn’t? And it is just like his coolness to tell me it will be ‘all right.’ To tell me* forsooth! Me who have bred the horse, and have had him under my own eye from first to last! As If I didn’t know my own horse! But that’s Bam to the life! Just be cause of his work—work! what is it? Ad jutantlng a pack of Volunteers! Because these rascals can’t adjutant themselves, but need him to keep them from falling to pieces—he must needs''throw me and my poor old Blue Moon over.” "He throws you over, does he? Why not get someone else, then? You are not bound to Captain Eversleigh.” The other gave him a queer look. "I am not bound to any one, but I am bound to win if I can,” he replied, drily. "My nephew can ride; and it is a man who can ride that is wanted at West Merton Steeplechases next Monday.” “Oh," his friend understood. But Scilla was bitterly indigna/H. “I do think it is too bad of him!” she exclaimed, impetuously. "He must know how anxious you are—we all are. He might have got away from his Volun teers-/’ with fine contempt. (The previ ous year Scilla had been staying on the southern coast for the Easter maneuvers, and the Volunteers had received a differ ent accentuation then, we may be sure.*) Mr. Everslelgh, however, was pleased. "Ay, to be sure, he might, my dear. And, perhaps, if he had known there was a pretty girl like you in the midst of us, he would have taken more trouble. But to own the honest truth, Bam is like the rest of the young fellows nowadays; a pretty face attracts him no more than an ugly one. Get away from the petticoats, is the cry. Don’t you set your heart on Ambrose Everslelgh, Scilla, my dear, for he is air, fire and waterproof—and an ugly little fellow into the bargain. But he can ride; oh, Lord, he can ride," con cluded the speaker, with a chuckle, During the ensuing days Scilla could hear other comments of a like nature. She heard Blue Moon’s jockey termed stiff, si lent, reserved, unapproachable, cool as a cucumber, hard as nails, stubborn «s Ola Nick—on® and all, it seemed, had some choice epithet which fitted; and although there might be an occasional faint dis claimer or amendment, there was one Obvious universal sentiment, the new comer was not popular, but—he could ride. At length, and that not till late on Saturday night, a dogcart drove to the door. “There he is! That is he! That is Capt. Eversleigh! Did you think he would not come? Oh, he generally comes in the long run." . Such and such-like exclamations rang through the drawing-room and ante-cham ber, w’htlo host and hostess hurried to the door. Presently Mr. Everslelgh hurried back. "He won’t come tn,” announced he. with importance; "says he’ll dine in the library, and put off joining us till to-morrow morn ing. Anyway he’s here;" addressing the company generally: "he’s here, and look ing as fit as a fiddle. So that’s off my mind; and I can t*U you it’s a good deal to be off—a perfect load. Hey, Scilla, you may lay your money upon Blue Mloon now, my dear—his jock’s come; and what can be done. Bam will do w-hen the time comes. “What can be done Bam will do!" The words rang in Seilla’s ears as her eyes rested for the first time on the square brow, quick searching eyes, and full deter mined mouth which constituted ell Am brosg> Everslelgh’# claims to notice among ! his fellows. He had neither hight nor i beauty—but hi# alight well-knit frame scarcely seemed to miss the one, nor his sunburnt countenance the other. The only vacant place at the breakfast table was next net own; and the now i comer being the last to appear, must per- | force take It. Yes, there was Mr. Ever sleigh's voice saying loudly and proudly, "My nephew." and It was to herself Mr. | Everslelgh was nodding as he spoke; the nephew must be near at hand. She moved to look—and all but sent spinning the plate he was conveying to his place. Now if Scilla had been content to blush and apologise—and she did really blush naturally on provocation—she would have appeared the simple, charming girl she was; but unluckily flattery and folly had done their work, and, accordingly—“l am so sorry if I have shaken your nerves,” cried she, with ready pertness. "If Blue Moon loses the race to-morrow, pray don’t lay the blame at my door for this.” "Ha! ha! ha!" cried two or three near. “Scilla will never forgive you if you don't 1 ride Blue Moon to win. Bam. my boy,” I supplemented Blue Moon’s owner. “Will ; you. Scilla? Hey. Scilla?" encouragement in his voice, us though cheering on a lag ging hound. •‘I should think not, indeed." Again the sauey voice rose to the whip. "I have set my heart on it. Pray be careful what you eat and drink, Capt. Eversleigh. Do re member you must avoid too much tea, and coffe®. and—" “Ha! ha’ ha!" from one and ail within hearing. "You tei! him all about it, Scil la,” old Mr. Everslelgh again supplement ed the chorus. •'Scilla knows." with a wink round the table. "Now then. Scilla, what has old Giles been telling you about Capt. Everslelgh? Eh? What you told me yesterday, you know." jogging her memo ry, "About keeping hla wind, you know. Oh. well; if you are too delicate to say It out before company, I'll tell—Eh? What? —mustn't I? Ha! ha! ha!" All this time Capt. Everslelgh had not opened his Ups. He helped himself to what he wanted, and appeared to heed the give and take rejoinder# going on around him no more than if they were rain-drops scarce worth brushing off. "a ou must really not eat too much.” Scilla felt that if only left alone she would be capable of making her own way now, and the result was the above, deliv ered jocularly. Not eat too much! Capt. Everslelgh, ■with his mouth full, literally stared at the speaker. She was a pretty girl, and he would have had no objection to speak to a pretty girl—but he was really at a loss. He did not understand this kind of thing. “Remember the weighing scales at West Merton,” Scilla tried again. “I—l beg your pardon.” He could scarce ly believe his ears. This baby-faced crea ture and the weighing scales at West Mer ton! “I might have guessed the sort of girl they’d have here," he muttered beneath his breath. There were plenty of other, however, ready and willing to fill the silence which followed. A lively middle-aged bachelor on Seilla’s other side had addressed her almost before the last word was out of her mouth. He and she had been great friends during the preceding days, and as he had come down prepared to be "friends” with somebody during his brief holiday, and as there was only this one girl of the party able and willing to meet the case, he was by no means ready to give her up without a struggle. It had rather annoyed Mr. Sotherst to find that Miss Davenant took such an interest in the arrival of Blue Moon’s jockey; indeed, he thought the fuss made about Ambrose Eversligh altogether su perfluous; but, perceiving in the young man a different personage from that he had been led to anticipate, his good hu mor revived. He dashed, as we have said, into the conversation, and did not let go his hold of it during the remainder of the meal. ' It cannot be said that Scilla shone on this occasion. Mortified by the unrespon sive demeanor of her neighbor on the on® hand, she was led to be more foolish, for ward and encouraging than ever towards the other who had, as it were, stepped in to the breach. She had opened fire on Capt. Eversleigh with absolute confidence in her ammunition, for indeed it had never dawned upon her •that there was the slightest likelihood of resistance on his part. Hitherto, every one had liked to be talked to by her; and, being naturally of a lively turn, she had heard her sayings and doings applauded, and passed on from one to another as "clever” and “so amus ing," till her poor little head was com pletely turned by flattery and compliment, and the real Scilla was as entirely dis guised beneath this mask of an audacious, chattering, flirting girl, as her bodily pres ence would have been beneath a hood and domino. And it may here be explained that the party assembled at Abbot’s Hall on this particular occasion was, if not precisely the last into which a careful mother would have thrown a daughter entirely left to her own resources, at least one utterly unsuited to an Inflammable dam sel of eighteen, easily Influenced, and pe culiarly susceptible to her immediate at mosphere. In a more sober-going house no one would evei‘ have thought of making a fool or a plaything of Priscilla Davenant, in whose undeveloped nature there lurked quite sufficient good sense and good feel ing to have prevented any idea of she kind; but unhappily, a contrary impress ion had'been produced at the very out set of her visit to Mr. and Mrs. Ever sleigh. She had arrived in the highest o? spirits and (tiey had been charmed with her spirits, charmed and amused with everything she said and did. There was no one to whisper a gentle warning in her ear, no one to look a quiet check across the table when vivacity degener ated into freedom, and pertness passed for wit. On the contrary she basked in the light of universal indulgence, and her hosts, in particular, were eager to show off the pretty pet whom they had so oppor tunely secured. Having no children of their own Scilla, they vowed, must be their child for the occasion. Mr. Ever sleigh, who was fond of young people, addressed to her the principal part of his conversation, because it was so very easy to make the kind of conversation sup posed to suit his young guest’s age and requirements—conversation made up of teasing and chaff, and boisterous laughter. It was a standing joke to pretend that Scilla was still a schoolgirl: to rally Tier about her heighth, and the length of her frocks; and to treat her asseverations with mirth and ridicule, while at the same time she was given the best of everything, and petted and pampered all day long. And she really had no time to think. She was always in a hurry to dress, in a hurry to set off for a ride or drive, in a hurry to scramble on her evening frock for dinner. At night she was tired out, and bad per haps as little strength left as inclination, to reflect upon the events of the day. Perhaps the result of this was never more manifest than at the Sunday morning breakfast table, when, if she had been at home, Scilla—a very different Scilla—would scarcely have been seen for the flock of little brothers and sisters, surrounding her depending upon her for their Sunday treats, pouring into her ears their hopes and desire®,and hanging on her lipa, a# on the oracle which had the power to grant or refuse the various small matters of llfe-and-dea,th-importance in their little minds. What would they have thought of their Scilla, their own dear, darling Be’lla (who was to them a far greater personage it must be confessed, than ev®n their »wn mother herself), had they now beheld her, metamorphosed Into the butterfly of Ab bot’s hall? Scilla herself felt vaguely uneasy be cause it was Sunday. But then no one else seemed to remember anything about Sun day—except that Mr. Sotherst would Insist upon it that he meant to take her to church, implying that the expedition was a hardship, and something altogether out of the way, and not likely to be entered upon by anyone else. "Good little girls—go to Sunday school first," quoth the barrister, jocosely, “with their prayer books and hymn-boooks all nicely packed away in satchels, and their neat little bonnets tied under the chin. I hope you have a Sunday bonnet, Miss ■ Priscilla? That hat and feathers in which you bewitched us all yesterday would be altogether too much for any poor parson’s nerves in this remote spot. No, you hav en’t? Bless my soul, the poor parson will have to run the risk. then. But anyhow I shall not desert you. young lady; I'll see you through. What time snail we start? It will be quite idyllic to walk across th® fields to church when the bells are ring ing. So if there is no Sunday school to be got through first—Eh? Shall we meet at the front door in a quarter of an hour?” “What is that? What is he saying?" Mrs. Everslelgh from behind her tea-tray caught the last words. "Scilla wanting to go to church? But, my dear Scilla, it I is a dreadfully hot walk over the fields— I no shade anywhere—and a long hill at th® end. And I’m afraid I can't offer you a carriage, because we are saving up the horses for to-morrow. We do generally have something out; but you see both men and horses will have such a long day—” “Cruelty to both man and beast to work them both days,” Mr. Sotherst blandly bowed to the lady. “Mrs. Eversleigh is the last person-in the world to be guilty of such barbarism. I am offering myself as Mies Seilla’s escort.” “You really want to go, Scilla? Quite right; if you are equal to it; but don’t go because you feel obliged, my dear. No one is obliged to do anything in thia house. And church is so very fatiguing, I always think. And cotintry service# are so unattractive. Besides, think of a walk of a mile and ahalf in the heat of the day.” "To say nothing of sunburn and trick les." The jocular Sotherst pulled a face "I really cannot think it is necessary' Mr. Goodrich® would not expect it.” pro ceeded the hostess, looking round. "He knows we Jo—some of us—generally go when the weather permits.” SAVANNAH, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1896. "That’s to say she goes—when she has nothing else to do—and when we have somebody with us who wants to be tak en," sotto voce from the lady’s husband. "I don’t pretend, to favor Mr. Goodriche with my company. Can’t stand psalm singing. No offence to you, Scilla, my dear; it’s all right for you to .like it; but it makes me feel like a toad under a har row, when those little squalling brats (who I know are trespassing and bird nesting all the week) set up their little screech-pipes all out of tune, and with an accent—but Sci.Ua vows she likes the Som ersetshire accent. There’s no account ing for tastes. All I can say is, anyone who’s going will have to look sharp It is nearly eleven now. You will be in time for the sermon, Scilla,” nodding at her “but I’m hanged if you’ll catch up with my ’dearly beloved’ before that.’’ "Oh, Miss Scilla will be quite content with the sermon,” protested SciDa’s mouth-piece with a grin; “she only wants to show up at the church door— to do the civil—to ease her conscience, and enable her to meet the parson without a blush to-morrow. We’ll tell him we lost our way, Miss Scilla—and by Jove! it would not be a bad notion to lose it altogether But still, if you are bent on maintaining your respectability, you have only to say so, and here I am; you shan’t be able to reproach me for going back from my word." All this time Scilla had been quite silent —a most unusual thing for her. The truth was a struggle was going on within her bosom, and the bantering voices on either side of her were confusedly ming ling with the whisperings of another which soft as it was, refused to be stifled’ In all her previous experiences she had never met with anything quite like this; even when the day had not been specially reverenced, it had been suffered to pass quietly, and its holy hours had not been mocked at. But here was even gentle Mrs. Elversleigh protesting that church was "fatiguing,” and country services “unattractive,” and as they rose from the table another lady observed that to her mind the only thipg Sunday was good for was because one could get professional people to eome to one’s parties, it being ■their only day for amusement—while yet another remarked that she utilized the Day of Rest strictly according to the Sab bath law, for she made a point of sleep ing through it as much as she could, and felt refreshed for the week by such an in valuable specific. "Well, are you coming or not?" de manded Mr. Sotherst turning to Scilla. "Really it is too late now,” Scilla rallied her spirts, and retorted saucily. "While you have been talking about it, the time has passed. I hear the stable clock strik in 11;” and she prepared to follow the other ladies from the room. “Suppose we go in the evening instead?" suggested the barrister, w-ith a happy thought. “ 'Pon my soul, It would be much better to do that. It would be quite jolly then; and it would be all right, you know. One time is as good as another. Shall we make it this evening for our ex pedition?” To be sure, Scilla was immensely re lieved. She did not, truth to tell, feel any very over-mastering inclination either for the walk or for Mr. Sotherst’s sole com panionship—and since he was kjnd enough .to propose taking her in the evening— and perhaps some others might be induced to go in the evening—she was not only aeqyies-’»r.t hut f.tai--’*:!. tier dr-art she thought, “We m?y make up quite a party in the evening. I may get Capt. Everslelgh to go—who knows?" In the meantime she was delighted to accompany -the men round the stables, and pat the horses, and hear the last re port of Blue Moon. When that was end ed, one or two extended the stroll to a point whence there was a famous view; and when they came in from the stroll, they idled about till luncheon was ready. A great deal was made of luncheon, and Scilla, for one, was sorry it was over. A couple of chairs remained vacant, . and one of them was next hers. She would try if she could not fare better with Am brose Eversleigh on this occasion than on the previous one, having thought out va rious small pleansantries wherewith to ac cost him; but the meal passed, and the late comer did not appear. "Bam is not a luncheon man.” Some inquiry had been made of the host, and thia was the rejoinder. "He and Col. Pratt are off for a twenty-mile walk. You won’X £fee them till dinner time.” Nor was anyone seen much of till din ner time. One by one the ladles, oozed away from the drawing room and bou doir (as Scilla shrewdly guessed to drowse within their separate sanctums), and she was left to pursue her own resources, since she could not invade the billiard room, whence issued the continuous click of balls, and now and again the rattling of cues upon the floor in token of vigorous applause. By « o’clock she was quite ready for Mr. Sotherst and church. "We shall get in comfortable before din ner,” quoth that gentleman, consulting his watch; "half-past six to half-past seven. We must sit near the door, and slip out if the parson exceeds his ten min utes. No parson has the right to ex ceed, and 8 o’clock is everybody's dinner hour. But I doubt not that this Mr. Good riehe is a gentleman, and will be careful. Do you know the way, Miss Soilla?” Scilla did not, and he undertook to show her. A little after 8 the two made their re appearance, and were ushered straight into the dining room. "Did’t wait for you, you see.” cried the host good-humor edly. "Didn't know when you might be back, and Pratt and Bam were hungry. They tramped in half an hour ago, and have had a glorious walk. Everyone to his taste, as I said before; and if yours is church, Scilla- " “But—but”—Scilla reddened, then laugh ed, and finally adopted her latest man ner. "But dear Mr. Eversleigh,” she cried affectionately, “we have a confession to make, Mr. Sotherst and 1. We have not been to church." “Not been to ehurch! God bless my soul! And you come in after everyone is at dinner, and the soup gone round, and you haven't been to church after all?” “We missed our way, my dear air," quoth Sotherst, blandly. “We oould not find the church," avowed Scilla in a breath. And then the latter rattled on. "Mr. Sotherst said he knew the way—and he didn't. And he said we should be in plenty of time—and we weren’t. And he pretended that I didn't want to go—and I did. And he vowed and declared—he said he would’ take hts oath we should get back before you had gone in to dinner— and here we are! Oh, he has behaved shamefully,” cried she, gaily dropping in to a seat. “I never knew such a man such a tease. Mr. Eversleigh, you will protect me from him. won't you? I will never believe in him again as long as I live,” and she continued in the same vein, which met with its full measure of re sponse, throughout the meal. “He is a sad deceiver I am afraid, in deed," quoth Mr. Eversleigh gravely, in conclusion. “Quite right not to put any more faith in him. my dear; stick to me. I eoukt have told you he never meant church-going, not he; it was only for the pleasure of your sweet company, eh Sotherst?” and the speaker winked know ingly. Scilla was just about to make some nonsensical reply when everyone rose, and she turned to meet a look of which she could never afterwards think with out sharp pain. For this look on Capt Eversleigh’s face was the first glimpse the poor child had of herself In the mirror of Truth. (To be Concluded.) Xeece Is Renominated, Quincy. 111., July 28.—The democratic congressional convention of the Fifteenth district met here thia afternoon and nom inated ex-Congressman William H. Neece. • ONCE, A MAN; TWICE, A FOOL. MEN ARE NOT DECEIVED TWICE BY THE SAME THING. A Strong Speech From Czar Reed Delivered Before u Large Gather ing in Hia Native State—He Hits Us Hard, But Gives Us Good Logic on the Money Question. • Alfred, Me., July 29.—The republican county convention was held here this af ternoon to notify county officers. The oc casion was made unusually interesting from the fact that the county committee secured the presence of Hon. Thomas B. Reed and Curtis Guild, Jr., of Boston, and the convention ended in a great ratifica tion meeting, Messrs. Reed and Guild ad dressing a gathering of several thousand people, who came from all quarters to hear the first public utterance of Mr. Reed since the national convention. The speakers were greeted with great enthu siasm. Mr. Reed spoke in part as follows: "Two months ago no man of any stand ing would have risked his reputation as a prophet by hinting the slightest doubt of republican success. Now there are those who tell us that all things have changed. This may be so, but to me it does not seem probable. It would be un wise, unjust and senseless to confound the democratic organization with individ ual democrats. “When Stephen A. Douglas declared, af ter Sumter was fired on, that thenceforth there could be but two parties, patriots and he won the respect even of foes and an imperishable place in history. We shall certainly all welcome all such men to-day, not that they are to be re publicans for they will not be, but be cause they are patriots, for that they must be. “There are some political orators who think if they can draw a rose colored pic ture it ought to convert a continent. What a rosy picture we hud painted for us in 1892. What millions we were to expect. We were to sell in the dearest and buy in the cheapest market. We took their word for it, and here we are and now the least credible part of these same gentlemen are smearing the canvas With another picture for which they want us to pay another four years, or perhaps ten of this nation’s life. Men deceived opce are human; men deceived twice by the same men are fools. I am bound to say that the evil which has come to us by an unwise revision of the tariff has been greatly aggravated by one of its consequences, our loss of revenue. The constant drain of the deficit, contin ually confounded with the redemption of gold, has so afflicted the imagination of our people that confidence cannot com mence to be restored until our revenues equal our expenses. “Det its see what is proposed by those gt-ii*lem'.-jj who.' v/l.hln last- two months, have t ilscovered a new cure for all the ills flesh is heir to. Their remedy is the coinage of silver at 16 to 1. What does that mean? Heretofore whenever gold and silver stood together it has been at the market value. When we tried to make gold and silver circulate together we have always married them according to their market value. To-day we find them, not 16 to 1, but 31 to 1, and we are going, they say, to lift silver to twice its value,not by the universal sense of man kind, which alone makes values, but by the statute of the United State* single handed against the civilized world. Why should the United States try to do this alone? If the demonetization of silver is a disease at all it is a world disease. How can it be reached except by a world rem edy? International bimetallism, I can un derstand, but this driving out of gold and substitution of silver is only silver mono metallism for the United States. It is shifting from gold currency and civilized Europe and going over to silver and Mex ico, Japan, India and China. “If we are going to have a dollar in ferior to what we have to-day, what will be the effect of it? Higher prices, they say. Not for everytTnng. If you have SIOO in the savings bank to-day, you can get SIOO gold dollars from the bank. If this wild project succeeds and you are paid in silver, you will get the SIOO, but they will be 60 or 60 or 70-cent dollars, If you have a pension that must be scaled down. If you have a bond, that goes down, too. What you buy will go up. Will wages go up, too? Wages during greenback times measured in gold did not go up as other things did. They went part of the way, but not all the way up, and were very slow about that. What this country needs is capital from abroad. In the United States are millions of square miles and 75,000,000 of people, and undeveloped richea without sjjnt. But here it not capital enough to' keep the 75,000,000 people who are at work. We are most prosperous when the 75,000,- 000 are all at work, and when that hap pens we borrow of the rest of the world thousands of millions of dollars. “Now, just as soon as this election is over, and the future position of the money and as to the employment of our people—capita! is ready to come to us from abroad and from our own people, and we shall again be prosperous. "We have been through all this once before. The greenbackers of 1878 were not bad men. They were sincere and had a better case than the silver men of to day. We must have an artificial infla tion and cheaper money, they said, or blackest ruin awaited us. Prices were low and work was scarce: taxes were high and debts hard to pay, bat we presevered and resumed specie payment. From that moment the capital of the world was at our disposal. We had a good tariff, which made us do all our own work, and from 1879 to 1893, fourteen years of prosperity, which placed the United States in a great position in the world. If we (Jo the like thing to-day, like things will follow. With revenue equal to our emergencies, undue export of gold will cease. With the cer tainty that the dollar paid will be equal to the dollar lent will come credit and confidence. With that other certainty that we are all to work, will come the earning of wages steadily Increasing, which is the basis of that prosperity, Which is alone worthy of this great na tion, the prosperity of the whole people. GOLD MEN ENCOURAGED. They Find a Strong Sentiment lor Sound Money. Philadelphia, July 2».— John C. Bullitt and George F. Baer were to-day appoint ed a committee of the Philadelphia sound money democrats to attend the conference in Indianapolis on Aug. 7, when the ad visability of placing a third ticket in the field would be considered. It was stated to-day at a meeting of the sound money democrats that the gold sen timent has spread strongly throughout Bucks. Berks and other eastern counties* in fact, Mr. Bullitt says it far exceeds the most sanguine expectations of the committee. Bryan Club in Birmingham. Birmingham, Ala., July 29.—A Bryan club of a thousand business and prot- s slonal men of this city, with Hon. John W. Tomlinson as president, has been or ganixed here. ( WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-WEEK $1 A YEAR J < 5 CENTS A COPY. 5- I DAILY. A YEAR. J DON’T LIKE THEIR MEDICINE. Colorado 'Republicans Have a Dose Like Ours—Woman In Politics. Denver, Col., July 29.—The republican state central committee, by a vote of 48 to 37, 'to-day adopted a resolution en dorsing the St. Louis platform, and the nominees, McKinley and Hobart, and urg ing the state convention to select presi dential electors pledged to vote for the candidates of the national republican party. This result, however, was not ob tained until three hours had been con sumed in the most bitter debate, replete with personal abuse and displays of pas sion. Irving Howbert, chairman, retired from the chair when this vote was an nounced, he having previously indicated a desire to resign from the office, and J. W. L, Hodges was elected to succeed him. The new chairman announced as a rule to be observed, that all members of the state committee who did not intend to vote for McKinley and Hobart would not be recognized, and he asked them to leave the room, adding that should they decline ■to do this he would neither recognize them nor permit their votes to be record ed. This was a firebrand which caused an instantaneous explosion, and personal violence seemed imminent. A woman member calmed the angry men by secur ing the floor and begged the committee to listen to her. Then she asked the chair man to give the bolters time to repent. This sally quieted the men considerably, and after protests had been made by many of the Hodge's supporters, he with drew the ruling. A motion to delegate thrf powers of the committee to a sub-committee of five, with full executive power, was presented, but underjterotest it was amended to the extent that the sub-committee report its action to the whole committee. WILL SUPPORT WATSON. Forty Thousand Xegroe« in North Carolina for Him. Raleigh, N. C., July 29.—Senator Butler was here to-day. He says he has not yet selected national populist headquar ters, arid that it will be several days be fore he decides. He says he has invited several prominent populists to go to Ala bama and enter the campaign, now nearly closed, in that state, and that he will bring some to North Carolina during the campaign. He spoke of the proposed fu sion on presidential electors in North Car olina. between populists and democrats, and said that the matter will be settled on Aug. 13 at the populist state conven tion here to-day. James H. Young, a member of the re publican state convention, has created a sensation by announcing in his paper his support of Bryan and Watson, and call ing on the republican committee, which meets here Aug. 11, to take down the Mc- Kinley electoral ticket, as otherwise the people will take it down. He says 40,G00 negroes in North Carolina will vote for Bryan and Watson, and that the McKln ipy ticket cannot set THICK AS THREE IN A BED. Mlverites, Populists and Democrats Unite in Michigan. Grand Rapids, Mich’, July 29.—There will probably be a fusion of the free silver men and the populists with the democrats at the democratic state convention to be held at Bay City next month. After the date of the convention was fixed yester day by the democratic state central com mittee, invitations were extended to the silver party and populists, who also held their state conventions in Bay City on the same date. The plan is to hold a joint convention, and put a united silver ticket into the field. It is said the state central committee of each party has agreed to this, ajid that the scheme will undoubtedly be suc cessful. EACH TO ITS OWN FIELD. Democratic Committees Will Not Be Consolidated. Washington, July 29.—At a conference this morning between Senators Stewart, of the sliver committee, and Faulkner of the democratic congressional committee, it was decided that while the two com mittees would work in harmony they would not be merged, for the reason that the silver committee would know best the needs of their own people. Silver headquar ters will accordingly be opened In this city, and rooms 82, 83, 84 and 85 in the Cor coran building have been engaged for their use. It is thought George P. Keeney of Cali fornia, who has long been connected with the silver movement will be placed in charge of the headquarters. DON’T ALL COME AT ONCE. Buffalo Can’t Entertain the Demo crats on Sept. 10. Buffalo, N. Y,, July 29.—1 tls a question whether the democratic state convention can be held here on the date selected, Sc.pt. 18, owing to the lack of hotel ac commodations at that time. Buffalo is entertaining a spore or more of conven tions this summer, and two of the larg est, the National Builders’ Association and the American Public Health Associa tion, are programmed for the same date as the democratic convention. When State Committeeman Cunneen vis ited the hotels this morning he was in formed that about all the accommodation the city could offer was engaged for Sept. 18, and he at once began telegraphing the other members of the state committee to arrange a postponement for one week. Silver Men Fill the Vneanclei in Their Executive Board. Washington, July 29.—Charles D. Lane of California, chairman of the national committee of the national silver party, to day designated Messrs. G. P. Keeney of New York city, G. S. Nixon of Nevada, B. O. Flower of Boston, W. H. (Coin) Harvey of Chicago and C. J. Hillyer of Washington members of the executive committee. These appointments complete the mem bership of the committee, as I. N. Ste vens of Denver, Col., was elected vice chairman, W. P. St. John of New York treasurer and Mr. R. E. Diffendeifer of Philadelphia secretary, at the meeting of the committee held in St. Louis last week. PEACE A MONG THE~POPt LISTS. They Refer Their Disputes to a Com mittee of Thirteen. Indianapolis, Ind., July 29.—The wrangle in the populist convention ended at 1 o’clock by the adoption of Johnson’s mo tion referring to the matter of electors to < committee of 13 with power to act* MONDAYS! AND I THURSDAYSI WAS SMITH SNUBBED? IT LOOKS THAT WAY TO THE WASHINGTON FOLKS. The President Ignores the Secre tary in an Appointment That Fnlla Under His Department, and It Im , Thought That Mr. Smith Will Be Forced to Leave the Cabinet—The Gentleman in Question Talks Not for Publication. Washington, July 29.—One of the most interesting unsolved problems in Wash ington to-day, is the question whether Mr. Hoke Smith of Georgia, has resigned, or is about to resign as Secretary of tha Interior. There is a widely prevailing impression that the President’s action in selecting a West Virginia man at the request of Postmaster General Wilson for Union Pa cific railroad director, an office under the control of the interior department was intended 1 as a direct snub to Secretary. Smith, and was meant to be so regarded by him, especially as there does not ap pear to have been any pretense made by the President of asking the advice of the Secretary of the Interior on the matter, Mr. Cleveland’s known views against the free coinage of silver were entirely in accord with those expressed by his Sec retary of the Interior in his recent Joint discussion with ex-Speaker Crisp in Geor gia. But the fact that Mr. Smith’s news paper, the Atlanta Journal, has since come out in favor of Bryan and Sewall and free silver, and the further fact that Mr. Smith himself is advertised to open the campaign in favor of Bryan and free sil ver at Augusta, Ga„ on the 12th of Au gust next, have naturally revived the ru mors that Mr. Smith’s resignation as a member of President Cleveland’s cabinet will either be requested or enforced with in a very few days. Secretary Smith being asked this even ing whether it was true that he proposed to go to Gray Gables for consultation with President Cleveland prior to enter ing upon the Georgia campaign, declined to make ary statement for publication. AUGUST 12 THE DAY. Bryan’s Nomination to Be Officially Announced Then, Lincoln, Neb., July 29.—Mr. Bryan was informed officially by telegraph to-day that Aug. 12 had been selected for the date of the democratic nomination meet ing at Madison Square Garden, New York. This arrangement is agreeable <tp him, and he will make his plans accord ingly. What those plans are Mr. Bryan will not tell until they are fully settled, but it is understood that he will make sev- JB eral speeches at big cities »n rente to A® “•New York. The democratic nominee had a quiet dav. He is catching up bn his correspondence with the assistance of several clerks, and will probably have his desk cleared by the time he starts east. Among his visitors to-day were three Misslsslppians, who have been on a hunting trip west of Lin coln, and who stopped over here to as sure Mr. Bryan of their support. They were Dr. W. H, Baird of Oxford, J. 3. McDonald, president of the Delta Bank of Greenwood, and Hon. G. A. Wilson of Lexington, formerly state senator. Mr. Wilson has been a gold man, but ha joined with his companions in promising to work for the democratic ticket. WATSON OPENS THE BALL. A Norik Carolina Candidate, Nat “Our Tom.” Winston, N. C. ( July 29.—Hon. Cyrus B. Watson, democratic candidate for gov ernor, made his opening campaign speech, at Wentworth, Rockingham county, to day. A. large audience greeted him. He discussed the present condition of tins country, and argued strongly in favor of bimetallism, along the line of the demo cratic platform. Mr. Watson will make his next speech at his native home, Ker nersville, on Saturday. He is anxious to divide his time with his republican com petitor, Judge D. L. Russell, but the lat ter is debating the question whether or not he will take part in a joint canvass* of the state. MAINE’S DEMOCRATS. They Will Accept Sewall Platform and Name a Sllverite. Augusta, Me,, July 29,—A meeting of tha democratic state committee here thia evening, decided by a vote of 11 to 5, to reconvene the old convention, and by a vote of 4 to 2, it was decided to hold the convention 11 at Waterville. Hanson and other prominent free silver men favored Bangor, but compromised on Waterville. But six of the sixteen members of the committee were present, the others being represented by proxies. Th date of the convention was fixed for Aug. 6. The general impression seemed to be that it will nominate a sliver candidate on the national platform. THEY PUT IT OFF. New York’s Democratic Club Won bl Nat Indorse the Platform. New York, July 29,—A special meeting of the democratic club was held to-night. The meeting had been called by ex-Gov. Roswell P. Flower, president of the club, over the signature of twenty-five mem bers, to see what action the club would take in reference to the democratic plat form and ticket adopted at Chicago. After an hours’ discussion, that at time* was very warm, the meeting adopted a resolution that practically shelved the matter until after the state convention. ~~OHIQ’S GOLD MEN? They Will Allign Themselves With the Bolting Faction. Columbus, O-. July 29.--T. P. Linn of this city and 8. H. Holding of Cleveland have called a mass meeting of the gold demo crats of Ohio to meet at the Nell House in this city next Saturday to organize and arrange for representation in the national gold democratic convention at Indianap olis next month. Y ELLOW JACK IN CUBA. Quite a Number of New Cases He* ported. Washington, July 29.—Reports received by Surgeon General Wyman of the marine hospital service show that for the week ended July 23 there were sixty new cases of yellow fever in the city of Havana and twenty-four deaths. At Sagua Lagrande for the week ended July 18 sixty-five new cases of yellow fever were reported, with eight death* NO. 60.