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THE FORGED LETTER.
In Madame Langdon’s beautiful rooms
were gathered a choice assembly of about
fifty ladies and gentlemen of the aristocracy
of Brooklyn. Among these were Grace
Conway, and her cousin, Ethel Clair. Both
were the daughters of wealthy merchants,
but in nothing else were they alike.
Grace looked exceedingly beautiful, as
she stood by a large bay window, her gar
net silk harmonizing beautifully with her
clear olive skin, while amid the heavy coils
of her raven hair gleamed a tiara of gold,
richly set with diamonds.
Ethel was leaning on the arm of Roy
Graison, and was just entering the conser
vatory.
She was unlike her Cousin Grace, though
not 1 ess lovely. She was becomingly arrayed
in a dress of blue silk, her long, golden
curls hanging unrestrained over her shoul
ders, and around her snowy neck and arms,
and in her shining hair, were strings of
exquisite pearls, fastened together by tiny
threads of gold.
When Ethel went home that night she
thought she had never been so happy in her
life. For did not a true, noble man love
her? And had he not that night told her so?
*****
Six weeks had passed. In the elegant
parlor of the Conway mansion sat Grace,
trying to read; but she could not. Iler
thoughts were with her fair cousin and her
handsome lover. Ever since that morning,
five weeks before, when Ethel had come to
her as she would to a sister, and told her
how happy she was in Roy’s love, she had
hated her with a deadly hatred. For she
loved Roy Graison.
Finally she laid down her book, and lean
ing her head upon her hands, tried to think.
In this manner she sat for half an hour,
when suddenly a bright thought seemed to
strike her. Rising, a triumphant smile
played around her beautiful lips, and ex
claiming, “ I will do it!” she left the room.
An hour after, she might have been seen
seated in her own room, busily engaged in
trying to imitate the delicate handwriting of
a little note which she had that morning
received from Ethel.
Roy Graison sat thinking of her whom he
loved best. A servant entered, handed him
a dainty perfumed note, and retired. Roy
smiled as he recognized the writing, and
quickly breaking the seal, read the follow
ing:—
“ Mr. Graison, —Sir:—You will probably
be surprised, after what happened last night,
to know that I wish our engagement to con
tinue no longer. You need not seek an
interview, as it will not be granted; suffice
it to say. that I promised my hand when my
heart belonged to another. Your ring, notes
and gifts await your order.
“Respectfully, Ethel Clair.”
Roy paced his room hurriedly for a few
moments, while a multitude of thoughts
crowded his brain; then, going to his wri
ting-desk, he took from within a small pack
age of notes, and, gathering together all the
little gifts Ethel had given him, reserving
only one lock of her beautiful hair, he put
them into a small box, together with a short
note, releasing her from her engagement,
and sent the box to her.
One week after, Roy was on the broad
Atlantic, on his way to sunny Italy, there,
amid the scenes of olden times, to forget his
sorrow.
*****
Two years have rolled away. Again we
see Ethel Clair, but not as we saw her last.
She is seated before a piano in the drawing
room of one of the most elegant mansions
in New York, but not as the mistress of the
house. Oh, no! She is simply the gover
ness. It was the old story of speculation
and failure, and Ethel, too proud to be de
pendent on the charity of others, had ob
tained the situation of governess.
She had just finished giving little Lulu
Howard her music lesson, and as Lulu left
the room, she sat there, forgetful of every
thing except the old times when she was the
daughter of wealth, petted by every one;
then running her fingers over the keys, she
commenced singing, in a low voice, fa
vorite song.
Meanwhile, Grace had written to Roy,
confessing her fault, and even then, he was
in New York, making his way as fast as
possible Io Mrs. Howard’s abode, where he
was a welcome visitor. As he drew near
the house he recognized the voice of Ethel,
singing. He entered the house softly, ami
walked noiselessly to the door of the music
room, where he stood as if transfixed, while
his heart thrilled as he saw her again, for
the first time in two years. As she finished
singing, she leaned her head on the piano
and burst into tears. Roy stepped quietly
behind her, and laying his hand on her
shoulder, said, gently, “Ethel!’ and the
next moment she was in his arms.
Ethel is now Mrs. Graison, and a little
Willie and Aileen call her mother.
change of cars between Baltimore
and New Orleans by the Kennesaw Route.
T1 IK KENNESAW ROUTE GAZETTE.
l>o THEY MISS ME AT HOME !
Do they miss me at home—do they miss me ?
’Twould be an assurance most dear
To know that my name was forgotten,
As though I had never been there.
To know that the tailor and landlord,
And the hanks where my paper is due,
And hosts whom I now cannot mention,
Had banished me quite from their view.
Do they miss me at home—do they miss me ?
When the market for money is light,
And collectors in haste are pursuing
Their debtors by day and by night?
Do the friends who once loaned me a “ fifty,"’
And the others who loaned me a “ ten,”
Heave a sigh of regret as they miss me,
And wish they could see me again ?
Do they miss me at home—do they miss me?
When no longer I’m seen upon’’Change?
And do those who were won’t to assist me
Say, “ His conduct’s infernally strange”?
Does the Shylock who loaned me his money,
To bear me to regions unknown.
Look in vain for occasions to dun me,
And wish I again were at home?
Hut 1 know that my memory lingers
Around the dear’place as I roam:
And while I’ve my wits and my creepers
They'll miss me —they’ll miss me at home!
FLORIDA FOR PLEASURE SEEKERS.
It has been well said that no part of the
United States can furnish a more exciting
and agreeable winter hunting ground than
Indian River and the Gulf Coast. Turkeys,
ducks, squirrels, deer and bear are to be
found throughout the State. The hunter
in the Indian river region “ may comforta
bly camp out, month after month, with a
single blanket, taking as he needs his sweet
potatoes from the ground, and the orange,
lemon and banana from the plantations
along the route, and in the continuous sun
shine of an unending spring surfeit himself
with the pursuit of game.”
In the rivers and bays of Florida, the lover
of angling will find his real paradise. They
literally swarm with valuable fish. Mullet,
Bass, Sheepshead, Trout, Perch—salt water
and fresh —and innumerable other varieties
abound. The fish caught in the Lower St.
Johns will run from one to forty pounds in
weight. Lakes Harney and Jessup are
abundantly stocked with fish of excellent
quality, which are easily caught with nets,
hooks or spears.
Alligator hunting is a sport peculiar to
these southern latitudes and can be enjoyed
to perfection along the rivers, lakes and
lagoons of Florida. It takes a practiced
eye to detect an alligator, for it closely re
sembles a rotten log, half-submerged and
motionless. Shooting the alligator from the
decks of the river steamers is a common
enough custom, but the real alligator hunt is
to be had on the upper lakes, where they
swarm in almost countless numbers. Hunt
ing parties for Lake Harney are made up at
Enterprise, on the Upper St. Johns. The
expense is not much, and the amusement
prodigious.
The antiquarian and enthusiast in histor
ical research will find abundant material of
interest in the visible traces of the Spanish
occupation of two and three centuries ago.
Remains of ancient cities, forts, breastworks,
churches and roads may be found, sometimes
when least expected, in the midst of dense
forests which have grown up and covered
the vestiges of the early civilization. St.
Augustine the oldest city on the North
American continent, is unsurpassed in inter
est to the antiquarian. The battle fields of
the later Indian wars also have a peculiar
attractiveness. Here the tourist may study
the historic spots illustrated by the valor and
genius of Jackson, Taylor and Worth.
The State of Florida offers rare opportuni
ties for study to the students in Geology and
Botany. The former have an interesting
an important subject for investigation in the
extraordinary coral formation of the penin
sula; the latter, in the wonderful and varied
growth of floral and other vegetation. Sev
eral professors of natural history, from
Northern institutions of learning, were in
Florida last year, collecting specimens of
insects, birds, fishes and beasts. There are
several excellent taxidermists in Savannah
who make a business of preparing specimens
for naturalists.
There are those to whom field and water
sports are uninteresting. They travel for a
love of change merely, or to behold the
beautiful and novel in nature, or to enjoy
idleness— as a relaxation from severe and un
remitting labor. The soft, balmy air, the
clear, blue sky, the genial, though never
enervating warmth, the tropical richness of
the verdure, the bright-plumaged birds fill
ing the forests with their music, the placid,
transparent lakes and river scenery of un
surpassed loveliness, fulfill all the conditions
required by this class of tourists. No Amer
ican need seek an Italy across the waters
when one lies here, almost within a day’s
travel.
A paragraph is going the rounds of the
newspapers, to this effect: “There is one
good wife in the country and every man
thinks he has her.” Old Brown who lives
on Olive Street, who is bald, and whose
wife has red hair and a wicked eye, read
this and murmured as he meditatively pass
ed his hand over his head, “ I dunno ! I
dunno ! ”
LOOK OUT FOR REPORTS.
The fond mother is anxiously waiting the
time when the Signal Service Bureau shall
also keep track of disease, and telegraph
along the line what sort of sickness may be
expected on the morrow.
If the Bureau gets the matter down as
fine as it has the weather, the dispatches
will prove invaluable to every head of a
family. When the morning paper is left on
the step the mother will turn to “ Sickness
Dispatches,” and read:
Cheyenne, 14th. —Measles passed here
this morning, going east at the rate of twen
ty-four miles an hour. Don’t let your chil
dren smell of anybody’s breath.
Omaha, 14th.—Pulse stands at 84; Omaha
slightly hectic; but digestion good and slept
well last night; tongue slightly coated, but
the lake region will probably escape.
Milwaukee, 14th.—Rheumatism settling
I over the lower lake regions; expect flying
j pains in the back and knees; get trusted for
{ new boots.
Pike’s Peak, 14th. —Whooping cough
turning somersaults over the signal station;
get ready to whoop; gas works open 8 a. in.
to sp. m. Also indications of a stratum of
bilious colic; will centre somewhere in Illi
nois.
Chicago, 14th.—In the Upper Mississippi
and Lower Missouri valleys expect the
toothache and a good deal of cussin’ around.
Good time to argue political questions and
I make up old feuds.
New York, 14th. —Lame leg and chills
I predicted for the New England States, with
I gripe and such in the Adirondack region.
Don’t go huckleberrying.
Savannah, 14th.—Rush of blood to the
head is predicted for the Gulf States, with
I occasional rushes forth? camphor-bottle.
May clear up after noon and dropsy set in.
i Use Fitznoodle’s pills for all dropsical com
i plaints. They cure like magic. Only twen
’ ty-five cents per box; for sale at all respect
: able drug stores.
Cincinnati, 14th.—Slight convulsions
along the Ohio; look out for jaundice; seems
to be making south from here. Sage tea
' has advanced to a dollar per pound; beware
I of the dog; liberal discount to editors and
| clergymen.
Memphis, 14th.—Palpitation of the heart
i is predicted for this region, but she’ll get
over it; a disposition to lie in bed until the
j old man builds the fire will also be apparent;
good day for shooting your mother-in-law.
Washington, 14th. —The old Harry’s to
pay all over the country, and no pitch hot.
Old pioneers who can thread a needle with
out the aid of spectacles, are going to be
knocked higher than Gilderoy’s kite, to
morrow! Bad day for comic lectures; keep
fat meat away from the children; telegraph
your mother-in-law not to come; if it clears
off before noon expect nervous prostration
and no supper ready.
Atlanta, 14th. —Clear weather; heavy
mountain breeze along the Kennesaw Moun
tain; large majority of people leaving by
the Kennesaw Route for New York and the
Springs; perfect rush for Sleeping Car ac
commodations; 4 and 5 Through Sleepers
on each Express Train from Atlanta. Fever
raging, i. e., Traveling fever. The attrac
tions for traveling are so great that mothers
in-law forsake their- “ devoted ” sons-in-law
to seek repose at the Springs.
A CLERGYMAN IN A QUANDARY.
“ Come in here, you black rascal! ”
That is what the young lady said. The
young lady, you see, was closing the window
blinds at the twilight hour, and, seeing her
little black dog sitting out on the stoop,
wagging his tail, and wistfully looking up
at her, her heart was moved with an impulse
of affection toward her pet canine, shiver
ing in the cold, and wagging out his mute
appeal. So she hastened to the door, and,
throwing it open, gave vent to the loving
expression we have quoted.
“Come in here, you black rascal! ”
So far as the dog was concerned, he
seemed to understand the terms of endear
ment addressed to him, but when the young
lady’s pastor, dressed all in black from top
to toe, stepped forward from the shady side
of the doorway, he wore a curious expres
sion on his countenance. The young lady
looked at the reverend gentleman and
blushed. The dog wagged his tail as if
willing to divide the honors.
We don’t know exactly hoxv it came out.
But report has it that the good man regarded
doubtfully the ebony beast, glanced at his
own broadcloth, concluded it was all right,
and accepted the young lady’s declaration
that:
‘ ‘ I— I —meant the other—the other—come
in and see ma!”
“Sally, what time do your folks dine?”
“Soon as you go away that’s missus’
orders.”
FLORIDA FOR INVALIDS.
For more than a century Florida has been
a resort for invalids from all parts of the
world, and particularly for those afflicted
with pulmonary complaints. The dryness,
evenness and salubrity of the climate are a
most delightful and health-restoring change
from the piercing winds and frigid tempera
ture of the Northern, Middle and Western
States in the winter. That many consump
tives who have come to Florida die of the
disease, is true, but it is equally certain that
they had postponed their visit until it was be
yond the power of any climatic change to
effect a cure. But there are thousands of
persons, threatened with the consumptive’s
death, who have recovered their health in
Florida, or at least have lengthened their
days not unpleasantly.
It is estimated that at least forty thousand
people visited Florida last winter, of whom
about a fourth were invalids. The many
beautiful villages and landings on the St.
Johns River, as far up as Enterprise, were
crowded with these seekers for renewed life
and health. St. Augustine and the Indian
River country, on the Atlantic coast, were
also filled with visitors of the same charac
ter. Among these were not only people
troubled with lung diseases, but those who
were suffering from nervous complaints and
from physical and mental prostration.
Many were overworked business men from
the great cities of the North and West, who
sought this delicious and invigorating mode
of recuperation.
The mildness of the atmosphere in winter
permits much exercise in the open air. It
is not uncommon for the native ladies to
walk late in the moonlight evenings, cov
ered, as to the head, only with a lace veil.
Some nights are damp and chilly, particu
larly in the northern parts of the State, and
a little fire is- comfortable ; but usually,
throughout the winter, the inhabitants sit
without a fire, and with open doors and
windows. These remarks are not intended
to convey the idea that caution as to cloth
ing can be neglected by the invalid. A
writer on this point says: “As a rule, in
valids should not expose themselves to the
night air nor be tempted on warm, bright
days to lay aside thick shoes and comforta
ble clothing. The invalid should always be
clad in woolen clothing, and the robust do
not require a linen suit except in the sum
mer months.”
Statistics testify to the healthfulness of
Florida. Notwithstanding the fact that so
many thousands of consumptives resort to
the State for relief, the proportion of deaths
from pulmonary complaints in it is less than
in any other State in the Union.
The census of 1860 showed that these
deaths were as follow’s:
Massachusetts,.. one in 254 .
Maine. “ 289
Vermont, “ 404
New York,. “ 473
Pennsylvania, “ 530
0hi0,... “ 677
California,. “ 727
Virginia, “ 757
Indiana, “ 792
Illinois,.. “ 878
Florida, “ 1,447
There is a wide-spread misapprehension
respecting the malarial character of the in
terior of Florida. It is supposed that in
some parts the air is charged with the most
poisonous and noxious vapors arising from
the swamp lands, and that fevers are com
mon in consequence of it. It is true that
there is much swampy land in the State, and
that wherever there is a dense vegetable
growth accompanied by decomposition, ma
larious diseases arise, but in this case, the
magnificent breezes, which sweep across the
country, clear the atmosphere and purge it
of its evil humors. All fevers in Florida
assume a much milder type than in other
sections where they are prevalent. Surgeon-
General Lawson, of the United States Army,
in his report explicitly asserts this. He says
that statistics show “ that the ratio of deaths
to the number of cases of remittent fever
has been much less among the troops serv
ing there than in any other portion of the
United States. In the Aliddle Division the
proportion is 1 death in 36 cases of remit
tent fever; in the Northern Division, 1 in
52; in the Southern Division, 1 in 54; in
Texas, 1 in 78; in California, 1 in 122; in
New' Mexico, 1 in 148; while in Florida it
is 1 in 287.”
BAKED BEANS AND SENTIMENT.
At a city market the other day, a pale
faced, solemn man took off his hat, smoothed
back his hair, and said:
‘ My friends, we know not how soon we
may fall by the wayside. We stand here
to-day—next week we may sleep with the
dead. I feel that I have only a few days
more to stay, and I wish some of you would
lend me fifteen so that 1 can get a
dish of baked beans.’
I'he crowd at once moved away.
Travelers between the North and the
South should see that their tickets read—
by the Kennesaw Route.