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J. H. ESTILL, PROPRIETOR. vr / SAVANNAH. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1868 No. Ill Bay Street. Largest Circulation in City and Country. " TERMS: Daily $10 00 Tri-Weclily 6 00 Weekly 3 00 OOHNTSY BOBSOHIPTIOS3 PAYABLE IS ADVANCE. All communications most be addressed to the pro- prietor. . ' : Persona wishing the paper furnished for any time ,888 than one year will have their orders promptly at tended to, when remitting the amount for the time de sired. All papers by mail are stopped at the expiration of the time paid for without further notice. Xo ’tty subscription discontinued unless by positive order left at the office. iTS” Correspondence containing important news, from any quarter, solicited. We cannot undertake to return rejected communications. To Advert! secs. A SQUARE is ten measured lines of Nonpareil of The Mousing News, z First insertion, $1 00 per square; each subsequent insertion, 75 oents per square. Advertisements for one month or longer will be in serted at special rates, which can be ascertained at the office. Advertisements outside of the city must be accom panied with the cash. BY TELEGRAPH — TO — THE MORNING NEWS. FROM WASHINGTON. Proclamation of Amnesty and Pardon. Washington, December 24.—The dispatch telegraphed last night from the New York Tribune, was not authorized by Senators Kel logg or Harris. It is stated that Gen. Grant expressed him self in favor of the commencement of the next Congress on 4th of March, and opposed f arther grants of lands or bonds to the new Pacific railroads or branches to present roads. Admiral Davis writes from Montiveido that he will proceed to Paraguay with Minister McMahon on the Wasp, the Pawnee, Tnenne-. bung and Kansas, will ascend the Parana river, rendezvousing at Dramanhe Pass, where they will command the river, and await orders. The he^Jth of the sqnadron is good. It is stated that Creecy, the Revenue Su pervisor, uses the Express Company instead of the mails in communicating between New Orleans and Washington. The following is the proclamation of the President: A Proclamation—Whereas, the President of the United States has heretofore set forth several proclamations offering amnesty «nd pardon to persons who had been or were con cerned in the late rebellion against the law ful authority of the Government of the United States, which proclamations were sev erally issued on the eighth day of December, 1863, on the seventh day of March, 1864, and on the twenty-ninth day of May, 1865. on the seventh day of September, 1867, and on the fourth day of July, in the present year, and, whereas, the authority of the Fed eral Government having been re-established in all the States and territories within the ju risdiction of the United States, it is believed that such prudential reservations and excep tions as at the dates of said several procla mations were deemed necessary and proper, may now be wisely and justly relinquished, and that an universal amnesty and pardon for participation in said rebellion extended to all.who have borne any part therein, will tend to secure permanent peace, order and prosperity throughout the land, and to re new and fully restore confidence and frater nal feeling among the whole people and their respect for, and attachment to the National Government designed by its patriotic foun ders for general good : now, therefore, I, An drew Johnson, President of the United States, by virtue of the power 1 and authority in me vested bv the Constitution, and in the sove reign people of the United States, do hereby proclaim and declare unconditionally and without reservation, to all and to eveiy per son who, directly or indirectly, par ticipated in the lato insurrection or rebellion, a full pardon and amnesty for the offence of treason against the United States dr of adhering to their enemies during the late civil war, with restoration, of all rights, privileges and immunities under the Constitution, and the laws which have b6en made in pursuance thereof. In testimony whereof I have signed these presents with my hand, and have caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto af fixed. Done at the city of Washington this twenty- fifth day (tf December, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the ninety-third. By the President. Andrew Johnson'. F. W. Sewabd, Acting Sec’y of State. FROM NEW ORLEANS. Nbw Orleans, December 24.—Lieutenant- Governor Dunn denies having sent a dispatch to the Louisiana Senators about apprehended troubles upon the meeting of the Legislature, as is attributed to him by the Tribune's Wash ington special. Dunn says he has sent no such dispatch, or any others, to them or any one else; but some time ago, writing to a Sen ator, mentioned, incidentally, that there were vague rumors of apprehended troubles; bat he attached no importance to them; had for gotten the circnmetanc e. p./'lj. Secretary McCulloch leaves northward to night and returns Tuesday. Hartford,CDeo. 24.—'The SL John’s Episco pal Church at Waterbary was burned. Lobs one hundred..thousand dollars. FROM WASHINGTON. Washington, December 24—-Noon.—A gen eral Amnesty Proclamation is expected .to morrow. The Alabama Claims.—it appears these claims are as far from settlement as ever. After Lord Stanley had agreed to a mixed commission, •which Lord Rnssell and Lord Clarendon heretofore refused, Mr. Seward in-; sistod on the commission meeting in Wash ington. That was grented. Then Mr. Sew ard peremptorily refused to let English claimants come before the commission. Lord Stanley could not quite stand this; so he left the matter unsettled to his successor, -We shall see what the Radicals will make by hav ing their Radical friends in * power on the other side of the water.—Richmond Whig. ► «♦■*-■< The highest court in Maryland that even if the legal-tender act tional, contracts’ to pay in gold enforcible according to their tenr ment must be rendered on them in coin. [WRITTEN FOR THB MORNING NEWS.] A CHRISTMAS CAROL. ily assented to the truth of his Hark 1 the merry bells are ringing— Calling all the world to prayers; Hark! the Angel choirs are singing Glad and joyous Christmas lays. *Tis the day a Christ was given Sinful, erring man to save, And today, enthroned in Heaven, Re will grant each boon we crave. Though deprived of earthly riches, 8till I would his praises sing; For oft times oar dearest wishes Only pain and sorrow bring— Though from my loved wife I wander. Needful of her tender care. On thy mercies Lord m ponder— Thou to me will lend thy ear. Fell disease with cruel arrows, Often pierceth flesh and bone; I on Thee, “thou man of Borrows,” Can rely for aid alone. Hark I the Christmas hells are ringing Through the cities of the earth; And ten thousand voices singing Welcome to Thy day of birth. The bright star in glory beaming, Pointing where Thou once had Iain; We oft eee through Bin’s foul loaming, Pointing to the Lamb that's slain. Z. N. W, THE BLUE CABINET. A. CHRISTMAS STOEY. “ I do not see why you object to taking the situation." “Because I prefer the post of governess to that of companion. The duties are more Settled, and the position is better defined, Moreover, I have been a governess for some ten years now, and have been very successful and very happy. Why should I relinquish an occupation to which I am accustomed, and which suits me, to take up another and an untried one, because Edith Arlington has grown up, is about to be married, and conse quently needs a governess no longer?” “ Simply because no other equally eligible situation as governess has been offered to yon. Edith Arlington, spoiled heiress and only child though she be, is a very lovely and loveable girl, and your future pupils will pro bably not prove as charming,” TBJtoPSKbI: remark. ‘‘And you will not even listen to what I have to say. You are provoking, Margaret” And Dr. Bentley took up his hat pettishly, as if about to go. I only laughed. Dr. Bentley was an old friend and a distant relative of mine, and his quick temper and warm heart were both tho roughly well known to me. “Sit down, dear, hasty old friend,” I said, “andlet us talk this matter over. Who is the lady who wishes to engage a companion, and why have you selected me as an eligible person for the post?” The doctor put his hat down again and his brow cleared. “Now you begin to talk a little more sen sibly,” he said, “ and I will tell you all about it Yon have often heard me talk of Abbots- mere, the splendid estate near the town of Kendon, where I reside, and of its owners, the Damerel family, whom X have attended professionally for so many years. The pres ent owner of the estate, and the sole surviv ing member of the ihmily, is a maiden lady, now nearly sixty years of ago —Miss Caroline DamereL She is troubled with a nervous af fection, which often prevents her from sleep ing ; and she is anxious to find a person well acquainted with the modem languages who who will be willing to read with her and aid her studies at night, sometimes sitting up all night when she is seized with one of these at tacks of sleeplessness. Such a post requires a person with a good constitution and strong nerves, as well as one well versed in German, French and Italian. You are the only woman I know who possesses all these qualifications; you are one of the sleepless order yourself, and yon are extremely fond of foreign litera ture. I have not yet forgotten how yon once set up all night to finish Noire Dame de Paris, and how you confessed to never retiring to bed till three o’clock in the morning while you were reading Soil und Uaben Your du ties in other respects will be merely nominal, and your salary will be large.” And he named a sum doubling in amount the very liberal stipend which I received from Mr. Arling ton. I pondered seriously for some moments. “Do answer in the affirmative, Margaret,” said the doctor, after a long pause. “I have a great respect and sympathy for Miss Dame rel, and I am anxious to secure tor her the companionship of a sensible and intelligent woman like yourself. Besides, your life will be a comparatively easy and pleasant one, and Miss Damerel is a high-minded and in tellectual lady, whom you cannot fail to ad- mire.” “Well, then, I consent,” I replied at last. “And if—’’ “Bravo!” interrupted Dr. Aontley, spring ing up with an alertness wonderful to con template when his sixty-five years were re- memberfed. -“I knew you would listen to reason at last I will go at once to write Miss Damerel a line informing her of my success. And now what day shall I tell her to expect you? Will yon be ready to leave London next Wednesday? I must go home on that day, and will be happy to act as your escort if you can go so soon.” . “Certainly I can,” I answered; “and 1 will very thankfully accept your proffered companionship.” He drew a Bradshaw from his pocket and consulted it carefully: “Meet me at Euston Square Station at twenty minutes past eleven, then—not a mo ment later. Antftiow good-bye till Wednes day. I shall not have time to call again.” And, shaking my hand warmly, he departed. I pass over the events of the next week, the brilliant marriage of. iny pupil Edith, who became Viscountess Annesley two days before that fixed for my departure, and my subse quent parting with kind Mr. and Mrs. Ar lington, who, though my services were no longer needed, seemed loth to let me go. The morning that we started from London was bright and beautiful. It was early in June, and the sun shone as only the summer sun ever shines in England. We were so for tunate as to be the only occupants of the compartment in the train which we had cho sen, and Dr. Bentley was completely in his element as he bustled about, attending to my wants and arranging my parcels. As soon as he had established me comfortably in a cor ner, had satisfied himself of the safety of my little basket of biscuits and sandwiches, and had provided me with a railway novel and the limes, he at once proceeded to do his best to make these supplies of literature of no use by settling himself beside me and commenc ing a long narration about my future home and its mistress. Finding his story more in teresting than the columns .of the Tunes, I laid aside both newspaper and novel, and lis tened attentively and with as much interest L he could, have wished. I give his rerital in a connected form, unbroken by my fre quent questions and comments. “Abbotsmere is a fine old place, ho began. “The main building is very old, and was p monastery till Heniy the Eighth disposed the monks and bestowed the abbey aud its ■broad kinds on Sir Guy Damerel, his good knight and faithful servant, as a letter from the royal Bluebeard, still preserved in the family archives, styles him. The ^“ot, un willing to survive the suppression of his or der, drowned himself in a small, deep hike which exists in the lower, part of the park, and from which the estate now takes its name. It is said that his £host haunts the west drawing-room, which was formerly the chapel of the monastery; and if so, you may chance come of a family renowned d ghost- been a id to dis- a court was just mother’s p unfortunat left the po' and it was event of “It;is now more than forty years since Ralph Damerel died, leaving two daughters. His wife, who had been a beauty aud an heiress, had died some six years before. Rig eldest daughter, Harriet, according to the terms of the entail, inherited the estate. She was at that! time a little over thirty years of age, and (Jaroline, the yonngest daughter,. ixteen. Caroline inherited her iperty, which wp-3 very large; but, ly, the terms of the settlements er of bequeathing it to her father, [eft to her so tied up that in the br marrying without her sister’s consent she would forfeit every, penny of it. Avery shameful mesalliance on the part of a distant relative of the family took, place just before Mr. Damerel’s death, and doubtless influenced him to make so strange and un just a will. jBcsides, he had an exaggerated opinion of jhe good sense and strength of character of jhis eldest daughter, which was unfortunately unfounded. Harriet Damerel was doubtless a very intellectual woman, but her temper Was contradictory and domineer ing to the last degree, and at tlW same time was extremely violent. She was a con firmed invalid, and suffered terribly from a spinal complaint caused by a fall from her pony white she was quite a child, aud doubtless her physical ailments aided toTender her temper so utterly insup portable. Caroline possessed all her sister’s strength of character and intellectual ac quirements, and was, besides, of a far more amiable and affectionate disposition. She was extremely handsome, too, in her girl hood, and all Harriet’s ambitiou'was centred in her and in the brilliant marriage she hoped to see her make. So suitor after suitor for Caroline’s hand presented himself and was rejected, without any opposition on the part of that young lady. I was a daily visitor at Abbolsmere in those days, as I was Harriet’s physician, and so saw all that transpired there. “About ten years after Mr. Damerel’s- death, Harriet deemed it expedient to invite her consin Hugh, who would inherit the es tate in the event of both sisters dying unmar ried, to spend the Christinas season at Ab- botsmere. He was then a fine, spirited boy, about sixteen years of age. He accepted the invitation, and shortly after arrived, accom panied by his tutor, Mr. Lisle. Gerald Lisle was a young man of good family, though he was poor, being that unfortunate creature, the younger son of a younger son. He was a splendid specimen of manhood; and ns ac complished and intelligent as he was hand some. Before he had been a week in the house, Caroline - and he were desperately in love with each other; and ere the month ap pointed for his pupil’s stay had expired, he had declared his love and had received the assurance that he was loved in return. “ 1 cannot pretend to describe to you, Mar garet, the rage of Harriet on finding that Gerald Lisle, the penniless tutor, had dared to love, and, worse still, to win the love of her sister and heiress. His suit was rejected with every variety of insulting language which her sarcastic aud irritating disposition could suggest; and after she had had a stormy scene with her cousin, who was extremely attached to his tutor, Hugh Damerel and Mr. Lisle quitted Abbotsmere; not, however, before the lovers had contrived to have one last inter view, iii which, doubtless, they exchanged vows of unfailing constancy. “Harriet probably hoped to swap Caroline as easily to her will as she had ever before been able to do. But Caroline loved—loved for the first time—and as fervently and as en- duringlv as those do to whom the grand pas sion of their lives comes when the fervor, the fickleness and the unreason of youth have passed. To all Harriet’s wrath she opposed one declaration. ‘I shall marry Mr. Lisle,’ she said; and nothing conld induce her to swerve from this determination, Biinply and quietly expressed. She equaled her sister in resolution and force of character; and I have seen her bear, apparently unmoved, a torrent of sarcasm and invective from Harriet’s lips that would have tried the temper and ex hausted the patience of a saint. There wore terrible scenes in those days, which were of coarse -ftitnessed and talked about by the servants, but I never beard of any display of temper on Caroline’s part Probably her silence and self-command were more irritating to her sister than reproaches and anger would have been. “ On the 18th of February, 1833 (I have canse to remember the date), my assistant came to my study to tell me that the Damerel carriage was at the door, and that Miss Caro line woulcl bo much obliged to me if I would give her her sister’s medicines, as Miss Dam erel was buffering very mneh. The medicines in question had been ordered from London for her me, and had arrived only the day be fore. Tliey comprised an opiate draught of unusual Strength, and a concentrated prepa ration to! be used in external applications, and whidh was a powerful poison. I took them myself out to Miss Caroline and placed the phials in her hands. She was looking very ill; the was deadly pale, and the hand Bhe extended to greet me shook sadly. I heard afterward that Harriet had inflicted upon her that morning an unusually long and violent sfcene, and that she was suffering from its effects. “ ‘ Tefi Miss Damerel,’ I said, ‘that there are jnstitwo doses of the opiate in this phial, and on ho account to take more than one dose before I see her again, as it is of unusual strength And tell her, for Heaven’s sake, to be careftl of the other, as it is a deadly poi son. T n drops of it would kill any one.’ “Miss Caroline promised to deliver my message] and the carriage drove off. I learned afterward that she repeated my exact words tojher sister, who only answered by snatching the phials rudely from her. “ ‘ Yoa need not tell me to be careful,’ she said, snteringly: ‘I mean to live—ny, and to marry: You and your beggar lover shall never rule at Abbotsmere.’ With these words she swept np stairs and retired to her own room, double locking the door. “She did not make her appearance the next morning, and after some hours ot anx iety and suspense, the door was broken open. She was found seated in her large arm-chair, still in thie dross which she had worn the day .t dead and cold. She must have je for some hours before she was 'he bottle which had contained the opiate lay empty beside her. I suppose she took one dose and dropped asleep, was wak ened by a spasm of pain, and, bewildered and stupefied by what she had already taken, had swallowed the second dose mechanically.” “What became of the other phial, the one containing the lotion?” I asked. “Could^she have taken a portion of that by mistake ?” “ No; that was hardly possible, warned as she had so lately been of its deadly nature. Unfortunately, however, in the confusion and flurry attendant upon the discovery of her death, a small table which stood near the door was overturned—by Caroline herself, I think, as she, entered. The phial of lotion had been placed upon the table, and was bro ken to pieces by the fall. But the fact that the bottle containing the opiate was empty, convinced me that an overdose of that had caused her death,and that she had never me<L died with the lotion at alL And such wa3 Hie testimony which I gave at the inquest A post mortem examination was not considered ne cessary. And so the funeral took place, matters settled down quietly, and Abbots mere had a new mistress. ‘ And a pew master it will have soon,’’ we all thought But man proposes and God disposes. Harriet Da merel’s hist words came strangely true. Gerald Lisle wps not fated to be master of Abbotsmere. A few .days after the funeral I received a letter postmarked Rome from Hugh Damerel, begging me to break to his cousin Caroline the news of the death of Mr. Lisle. He had died of typhoid fever in Rome the day before that on which Harriet Damerel had expired, • , _ “ It was a fearful task—to seek out and tell that loving, hoping woman that hope and love and suspense were-over, and that she was waiting for one who wonld come no more. I shall never forget that interview. When iny dreadful story was told at last (T gqt it out somehow—Heaven knows how), she spoke no word, uttered no cry, but fell heavily at my feet in a dead faint, which was succeeded by one of the mpst terrible con vulsions-I ever witnessed. For weeks her life hung on a thread, and months elapsed before, 1 been a ci found. before she left her room. In that ilhnww every trace of bloom and brightness and youth departed. Caroline Damerel to-day looks but little older than she did at the age of twenty-six.” “I do not wonder now at her nervousness and her delicate health! ” was my involantary ■ exclamation. “ Yon were sure to.hear all this story some time or other—from the old family servants, probably. So I thought it heat to tell you the facte exactly as they occurred. Do you wonder now at my desire to procure for her the solace. and comfort of your companion ship? And if, sometimes, your duties are a little irksome, remember what a long tragedy her life has been; bear with her, sympathize with her, pity her. Yes, pity her. Yon, Mar garet Bruce, the governess, are more to be envied than Caroline Damerel, the lady of Abbotsmere.” And with these words Dr. Bentley set tled himself back in his corner and closed his eyes, fatigued probably by the length of the story he bad told.' AndL with my novel ty ing unopened on my lap, looked at the scenes^ that flitted past the car-window with vague, unseeing eyes, absorbed as I was in meditat ing about what I had just heard. The soft twilight of the June evening was darkening into night when I bade farewell to Dr. Bentley at the Kendon station. A gray haired, solemn-looking servant-man was wait ing for me, with a wagonette for my accom modation and a car for my luggage. Ab- botsmere was but four miles from Kendon, and I enjoyed greatly my drive in the warm, flowerrscented air, and nnder the silvery light of the moon, which was jnst rising as we started from Kendon. We reached onr des tination all too soon, it seemed, and I was warmly received by a pleasant-looking elderly woman in black silk, who introduced herself to me as Mrs. Deane, the housekeeper. “Miss Damerel is not at home,” she said: ‘ ‘she has gone to dine with Lord and Lady de Cressyngham at the castle, and will not re turn till late. Will yon have dinner now ? or wonld you prefer taking tea with me in my parlor ? I expressed my preference for the latter meal. “Then come np stairs and I will show yon' the room Miss Caroline wishes you to have,” So saying, she led the way np the wide oak staircase, and along several passages, till she reached a door, which she unlocked and threw open, saying, “This is your room,” as she did so. I entered and surveyed it curiously. It was a spacious apartment, the walls paneled with dark, venerable-looking oak, and the low, carved ceiling formed of the same wood. The furniture was massive and handsome, though the dark-red mask with which it was covered was faded and somewhat worn. A number' of antique porcelain jars. Chinese mandarins, quaint, old-fashioned boxes, etc., were scat tered here and there on the mantel-shelf and the oddly-carved tables, and adorned the tops of two tall cabinets, which were placed, one between the two large windows, and the other in a comer by tile door. Altogether, it was a handsome and comfortable apartment, though somewhat antique-looking and gloomy, and was far more elegant than the quarters which ara usually assigned to a gov erness or a companion. “The next room to this,” said Mrs. Deane, “is Miss Damerel’s library, and yonder door will give you access to it. She has caused a bell to be put up in her dressing-room, which lies jnst beyond, so that she can summon you at any time. Would you like to see the li brary now?” I assented, and she at once opened the door and preceded me, holding aloft the light she carried that I might be batter enabled to in spect the moon. It was not large, but was extremely elegant in all its appointments.' The exquisitely carved bookcases, Ailed with volumes in costly and well-chosen bindings, the bronzes and busts, and the few choice paintings that filled np the vacant spaces on the walls, were all perfect in their way. A writing-table of carved oak occupied the cen tre of the department, and I took np one or two of the books with which it was covered. A volume of Les Rayons el les Ombres of Vic tor Hugo, Dante’s • Vila Nuooa, and Paul Heyse’s charming tale. An der Tiber, at tested to the variety and nature of Miss Damerel’s studies. I purposelylingered as long as possible over the abundant and cheerful meal provided for me in the housekeeper’s room. I was anxious to be presented to Miss Damerel before I re tired, and by dint of startling theheusekeper to relating some old legends connected with the estate, I managed to attain my wish, as Miss Damerel returned earlier than usual, aud at once expressed a desire to see me. She received me in her library, and I was surprised at the elegance and dignity of her appearance. Instead of the frail, sickly- looking being I had pictured to myself, I saw beforetme a tali, stately woman, thin and pale, indeed, but with no apparent evidences of ill health visible in her conntenance or form. Her features were fine, and her large blue eyes retained much of their lustre. Her hair was thickly sprinkled with silver, it is true, but as it had been originally very light, it presented the appearance of having been powdered, and the effect was decidedly becoming. Her mouth was the only unpleas ant feature in her face. The lips were thin, and in repose were closely compressed, while decision and fixedness of purpose were visi ble in their every curve and line. Her teeth, however, were perfectly beautiful, and her smile was sweetness itself. She was attired in a violet satin dress, with a coiffure and collar of .old Venetian guipure lace, while a mantle of the same costly and exquisite fabric was thrown over her shoulders. A brooch and ear-rings oi magnificent diamonds (the Damerel diamonds were celebrated, as I afterwards learned) completed her toilette, which was superb, and yet was proper and appropriate to her age. The perfect grace and courtesy with which she greeted me charmed me at once. “You will find your duties somewhat irksome, I fear,” she said, “but I will do all that lies in my power to moke them a3 easy to yon as circumstances will permit.” The next few days passed as pleasantly as possible. I usually read aloud to Miss Da merel for an hour or two every morning, after which we read German or Italian together for some time. The rest of the day she generally drove, or paid visits, or received company, so that I was at liberty to wander in theppik, to admire the garden or to explore the recesses, of the great library, whioh was on the ground floor, Miss Damerel’s pretty room being but' a recent arrangement, and scored to her UBe along. That contained only the modem and fighter authors, while Froissart’s Chroni cles and Sir Philip Sydney’s Arcadia were the most frivolous reading which the grand old Gothic library afforded. One night, about a week after my arrival, I was aroused shortly after midnight by the sound of the bell. I rose at once, dressed T-sfily and in a few minutes entered Miss Damerel’s library. I found her pacing the Toom with hurried steps. Her brow was knit, her hands clenched, and a strange, wild look had replaced her usually calm and serene 1 ex pression. As soon as she saw me she paused in her walk, and placing a chair beside her own at the writing-table, she motioned to me to take it, seating herself at the same time. I would lain have made some inquiry re specting her evident suffering, but she im posed silence on me by a slight yet imperi ous posture. Taking a volume of_Goethe's works from the table, she opened it at ’the second scene of Faust. She then produced a manuscript, which proved to he an attempt of her own to translate the most untrans latable of poems in'the metre and rhythm of the original. My superior knowledge of German enabled roe to suggest various alter ations and corrections as she read aloud, now from the manuscript and now from the original, consulting me, as she did so, re specting the more obscure and difficult pas sages. After some two hours passed in this manner, Miss Damerel lighted a spirit-lamp nnder a large coffee-urn which. stood on a side table, and in a few minutes she placed a enp of hot, fragrant coffee before me. I took it thankfully, but she refused to share it with me. “I need no coffee' to moke ms wakeful,” she said with a hunt smile. After I had partaken of the coffee, she took a volume of tragedies of Alfieri from one of the bookcases, and we we occupied with In Congiura deiPazzi till the red morning sunshine streamed through the curtains, and onr long night was over. “Well,” thought 1, as I re-entered my room and commenced my preparations to retire to rest, “I cannot say that I find this midnight work so very unpleasant Many a time be fore have I studied all night, and then merely for-my gratification. And if only the nights do not come too close together—” Bat here I lost all recollection of my toils in a pro found slumber, in which Mephistcphiles and Lorenzo di Medici haunted my dreams in be wildering companionship. I found that my services were thus required sometimes as often as three times, seldom less than twice, a week. But every arrange ment which kindness and consideration could suggest was made to render these duties as easy and as little wearisome as possible. My hours of daylight repose were never infringed upon, nnd orders were given that my meals should be prepared at any hour I chose to or der them. I possessed a good constitution and an unfailing delight in literature, so that I took great pleasure in our midnight studies. And, moreover, as time passed on, I became much attached to Miss Damerel. ' Her bril liant intellect and her extensive acquirements filled me with admiration, and the invariable kindness and courtesy with which she treated me won my affection, while all my womanly sympathy was aroused by her evident suffer ings and by my recollection of the sorrow the mombry of which still overshawed her lonely life. And now I am coming to the'most singular part of my story. I do not expect that any one will believe it: I can only vouch for the truth of what I relate. I had been some months at Abbotsmere when the following incident occurred. One cold November evening I retired at an unusually early hour , to my room. Being in expectation of a summons from Miss Damerel I did not go to bed, bat changing my dress for the loose wrapper which I usually wore daring our studies at night, I threw myBelf on a small sofa that’stood near the fire, and fell asleep almost immediately. I suppose I had slept about an hour, when I was awaken ed suddenly by some one pronouncing these words: “Look in the Blue Cabinet” I started at once to a sitting posture and looked round. The fire was blazing brightly, and by its light I saw a woman standing at, the foot of the sofa. I thought, at first, that Miss Damerel had rung for me, and finding that the sound of the bell failed to aroose me, had come herself to awaken me. Bat a second glance dispelled the idea. The figure before me bore no resemblance to Miss Dam erel. She was not nearly so tell, and, as well as I could judge by the flickering firelight, was pale and had very black hair. She wore a gray dress, made with the short skirts and gigot sleeves which were fashionable some thirty years ago,' and a black shawl, bordered with bright-colored flowers, hung loosely around her. I saw the figure for one moment qnly, for the flame suddenly sank down and left the room in almost total darkness. I sprang np instantly, seized a candle and light ed it at the glowing embers, bnt the woman was gone. I was alone: both doors were locked and bolted as they were when I first lay down. I searched the room thoroughly, but there was no one there. I retired to bed, and being a woman of strong nerves, I managed to fall asleep. Bnt what broken, uneasy slumber, what fearful dreams, haunted my pillow that night, I need not describe. Morning came at last, and I was glad to rise and seek some refreshment from a walk in the wintry morning air. Dur ing my stroll I pondered seriously over the propriety of telling any one of what I had seen, but I finally decided not to speak of it at alL “It may have been all a delusion,” I argued to myself, “and Miss Damerel might think I was threatened with some disorder of the brain.” And so I said nothing; hat I must confess that I approached my room on the following evening with considerable ap prehension. I saw nothing and heard noth ing, however; and as (he days passed on, I gradually came to look upon the whole affair as a dream. About two weeks after this occurrence Miss Damerel announced to her household her in tention of going to spend some days with her cousin and heir, the Hugh Dramerel men tioned by Dr. Bentley, who was now a mid dle-aged gentleman with a numerous family. He resided on his estate, a small but beauti ful place called Elm Grove in the adjoining county. I was not to accompany her, and she loudly expressed the hope that I wonld find the perfect qoiet and repose of the pe riod of her absence beneficial to me. The third night after her departure I was again awakened by the words: “Look in the Bine Cabinet.” JL started np, and by the light of the night- lamp, which I had burned ovexy night since my former adventure, I saw the same pale, black-haired woman in gray standing beside my bed. I sprang out instantly, bnt the figure retired backward till it was concealed from view by the bed-curtains. I drew the curtains back: there was no one there. I tried the doors, and found the bolts undis turbed, and the windows were inaccessible. Terrified, trembling and utterly unnerved, I wrapped myself’ in my dressing gown, and snatched up my night-lamp, hurried through the dark passages and up the echoing stairs till I reached the housekeeper’s bed-room. I soon ronsed her from her Blmnbers, and tell ing her I had been troubled by a frightfnl dream, I prevailed upon her to let me pass the remainder of the night with her. I re turned to my own room as soon as broad day light, but my toilet was performed. hastily and with trembling hands. As soon as breakfast was over I went in search of Mrs. Deane, determined, if possi ble, to find ont something respecting the identity and purpose of my mysterious and spectral visitant. I found her in the linen- room, busily engaged in examining and ar ranging its snowy, lavender-scented stores. I offered to assist her in some delicate needle work which was found necessary in the way of repairs—an offer which she gladly accepted, and we adjourned with onr work' to her cozy. little par lor. She was a chatty, agreeable old person age, and I easily contrived to lead the con versation to the various specimens of curious amVantique furniture which the house con tained. After talking some time abont the .'Venetian mirrors, the old tapestry, the carv- execufed by Grinling Gibbons, etc., I held up the dress for my iuspectiona rptrtr. a?-.-,, . she had taken bnt her death ? It though the in that sealed letter, one, what had caused all a mystery, and - - me could not prevail upon thepaper. It contained a stick of red seal- myself to open it. Mvfaiher, wise old Scotch- ■ ■ ’!■ T<-b ! ' man as he iris, used always t uig-wax. 1 i “ I forgot that I had this, ” she said, wrap ping it up again carefully. “This stick of sealing-wax was fonnd-clenched in Miss Har riet’s hand after her death; so I always Keep it with the dress and shawl.” “Does Mies Caroline look like her 6ister?” I inquired, whilst aiding Mrs. Deane to fold and replace the articles. “Not a bit Miss Harriet was pale and sallow, and had very dart hair. Miss Caroline. man as he was, used’always to impress upon me, in my meddling and mischievous child hood, the importance of never interfering in other people’s business. And, clearly, the private affairs of the late Harriet Damerel were no concern of mine. If a crime had been committed, if the paper and the phial contained any dark evidences of poison and murder, what good would it do were I to break the seal, which, as the finder of the letter, I supposed I was entitled to do by the had a lovely color when she was young, direction written upon it? “No,” I said to J3 L.. L„; 1* Li. PI _ _ ..1 mttoatf ((T NT-ill VlHrdon TT1V cr»nl Trifh HO snen and her hair was very light She is a real Damerel : Miss Harriet took after . her mother.” “Is there no portrait of Miss Harriet in the house?” “There is no large picture of. her, but the next time yon go into the picture-gallery, look at that case of miniatures which hangs under the picture of Colonel Guy,- who. was killed in the American war. The centre miniature in the third row is Miss Harriet" As soon as my share of the needlework was finished, 1 proceeded to the picture-gallery, which was quite a large one, occupying the whole of the second floor of the east wing. I easily found the case ot miniatures, and drew aside the green silk curtain which covered it with on eager hand. My last lingering doubts were at once dispelled. There, in red velvet and with pearls twined among the elaborate pnfls and bowB of her black hair, bnt pole, sallow and forbidding- looking, I beheld my nocturnal visitor. I had seen the spectre of Harriet Damerel. “Well,” thought'I,'as I drew the curtain again before the case, “the task the ghost has imposed upon me is certainly an easy one, and I trill look in the Bine Cabinet; *that is, if I can get Miss Damerel’s permission to do so.” For governess though I had been, paid companion though I was, the instincts of a lady were too strong within me to permit me to pry, secretly, into the closed drawers of the article in question. Miss Damerel returned at the. appointed time, and the day after she arrived I asked her if I might be allowed to use the Bine Cabinet as a receptacle for my papers. She assented readily. “Yon will find it almost empty, and so quite ready for your use,” she said. “There may be some few things in it, but I removed everything of importance or of valne some years ago. One of the drawers sticks first and cannot be opened, bnt I trust that yon will find space enough in the others for your purpose.” myself, “I-wRl burden my soul with no such responsibility. ATiaa Damerel is evidently the person in whose hands these* discoveries. ofmSie should be placed.” And, stifling a fearful suspicion which began unbidden to obtrude itself, I hastily took up both, bottle and letter and went in search of Mias Da- meraL i round her in her library, engaged in tum- Is there not a piece of furniture in the house called the Blue Cabinet?” “Certainly there is," was the answer: “ where did yon hear about it? ” “ I have heard some one mention the name since my arrival here,” I replied. “ Yes, it stands in your room—the tall cab inet between the windows, with, the blue china panels on the doors. Miss Harriet used to keep her knick-nacks and curiosities there, but it is empty now, I believe, and has been ever since her death.” “ Then the room I now occupy was former-* ly Miss Harriet's ? ” The housekeeper looked disturbed: “ I had not meant to tell you, for fear yon might feel nervous abeut sleeping there. Bnt it teas her bed-room, and she died iq it. - Now I’ve told yon the whole tenth, and I hope you. will not feel worried about it.” I reassured the kind-hearted woman, and she went on: “ Yes, she was found dead there pearly one winter-morning: She had not even undressed herself the night before. I was her own maid in those days, and though I was not iover fond of her, still I whs sorry when she. was taken off so sudden. Miss Caroline gave me the dress und shawl she had on when she was found, but I’ve never worn them. If you like, Til show them to you, for I’ve always kept them very carefully.” I eagerly assented, and, rising, Mrs. Deane selected a key from a hunch which hung at her side and unlocked an old-fasliioned press which stood in one comer of the room. From one of its compartments she drew out a dress ot gray gros de Naples silk, and a shawl of black Canton crape, with a border of bright- colored flowers embroidered on it—a costume the very counterpart in hne and fashion of that worn by my ghostly visitor, As she Miss Damerel was in no mood for reading or studying the next morning, so I went at once from the breakfast-room to my apart ment to commence my investigations. As 1 closed the door, I glanced half fearfully around the room, in the vague expectation of seeing some ghostly, spectral form. Bnt the room was in quiet and empty as ever. I was its only occupant; so, smiling at my own nervous fancies, I unlocked the doors of the Bine Cabinet The cabinet was high but not very wide. It was made of some very dark, unpolished wood, and the doors were paneled with .Chinese tiles of blue and white porcelain. The centre portion of the interior was oc cupied by a niche, lined with faded blue silk, in which stood a little clock of tarnished gilt representing a female figure seated in . a chariot the wheel forming the clock-face. The rusty works emitted a feeble tick, or two as I touched it, and then were silent again.— On each side of the niche were rows of small drawers, six on each side, and below it were four larger drawers, extending across the entire width of the cabinet 1 commenced my researches with these. There was nothing in the uppermost one bnt dust and some dried rose leaves. The second and third were empty. In the fourth and lower one, I found a broken tan of carved sandalwood, and a ’ knot of faded purple velvet ribbon, Cm: broidered with discolored seed pearls. I then opened the top drawer of the row on the left side of the niche. It was filled with papers, which I took out with a thrill of expectation and examined carefully, but they proved to be entirely unimportant. Some receipted bills of the years 1831 and ’32, a few old in vitation cards, and a yellow, crumpled copy of verses, beginning ‘ ‘Fair Harriet with storey eyes,” signed “Edward,” and bearing date June 12, 1813, alone rewarded my investiga tions. All the other drawers on that side were empty, as were also the two uppermost drawers of the other row. In the third there were a few rare foreign shells. The fourth drawer stock fast and resisted all my efforts to open it The fifth contained two small landscape drawings in pencil, and a pocket- book covered with faded red merocco, and with H. D., 183% stamped on the side in gilt letters. This lost I took ont and opened. Its various pockets and compartments were empty.bnt at-contained a few leaves covered with memoranda, written in a delicate female hand. My hopes of a discovery were again aroused, bnt a careful persnal elicited noth ing more momentous than various lists of purchases and commissions, of which the fol lowing may serve as specimens: “March 3d—Sent to Celestine for a bibib and a cottage bonnet. Most have my’Polish willow plume exchanged for a plume frima- lee. “March 8th—Sent by Mrs. Wardour to London for “ A lemon-colored challis dress,” “ A coronet comb, “ Six pairs of long white kid glovea “ Also sent my blonde scarf to be cleaned” I opened the sixth and last drawer. It was eihpty. I was about to close the cabinet and retire, when I remembered the closed drawer. “ I will fulfill the ghost’s injunction to the very letter,” I said to myself! “ Let me see if -I cannot open this refractory drawer, and then my search will be definitely at an end” I pulled and shook the little ivory knob which served as a handle, but in vain. The drawer was fast and wonld not stir. Looking narrowly at the crack between it and the ledge above, I saw that something was wedged in there, which probably prevented it from moving. Going to my work-box, I took out a penknife, and, opening’ the broad blade, I passed it carefully along the crack till it‘.en countered the obstruction; I-worked at it for some moments without effect, but at last it gave way, and with some difficulty I pulled tiie drawer open. I found that a drop of sealing-wax had fallen on the edge of the drawer, and as the drawer had been closed while the wax was still warm, it had: been thus, as it were, sealed in its place. Within it lay two objects—a small bottle and a' letter. 1 took out the phial first; and examined it with some curiosity. It was one of those small, thick bottles of cut glass once so much used to contain smelling salts. It waS" stop pered with glass, and was nearly filled -with a dark, thick-looking fluid. To the neck was attached a slip of paper, on which was writ ten, “Part of my medicine. To be analyzed.” The letter was folded in the style common be fore the introduction of envelopes, but very, irregularly, and as if -done in haste. .It lay. with the seal uppermost—a large, splotchy- looking seal of red wax—and several drops of wax spotted its surface. I took it np and looked at the other side, where the direction would naturally be. Itborethte superscrip tion, written in a tremulous, irregular hand: “To be opened by the finder, in case of ray death. Harriet Damerel. February 18, 1833.” These, then, were the articles for which I had been so strangely told to look in the Bine Cabinet And I felt my blood run cold as I: realized the weight of this evidence of the reality of’ the spectre I had seen. “It was. then no dream, no vain delusion," I thought. I shuddered as I pictured to myself the dying woman, with the fatal lethargy already steal ing away her senses, rousing herself to strug gle against it and to write—what ? ■ Could it the letter, the latter with its uppermost, before her. “Here, madam, I said, “is a scaled paper and a little bottla which I found in that drawer of the Blue Cabinet which has remained unopened for so long.” . , She was absorbed in her occupation, and \rithont youclisafing more than a casual glanco at the articles in question, she opened a drawer in the table, laid them in and turned the key. She then proceeded to question mo resnecting some of the books, and wo con versed together for some minutes. I soon left her, and os ^closed the door I heard her unlock the drawer. . _ , I never slept again in the Oak Chamber, as my late apartment was called. At my request I was transferred to less elegant but more tranquil quarters. I remained with Miss Da mme! till her death, which event occurred a little more than a year ago. She died of pneumonia. She never alluded in anyway to the paper found by me in the Blue _ Cabi net. She left me five hundred pounds in her will, and also a beautiful little miniature of hereelf, set in pearls, and with a lock of her hair at the back. Hugh Damerel is master now of Abbotsmere. His eldest son and heir Caroline Damerel’s godson, is named Gerald Lisle. So, after all, Gerald Lisle Damerel will probably one day rule at Abbotsmere. - I have been married now for some months to Dr. Hill, the partner and probable succes sor of Dr. Bentley. I shall never forget my Trmdand befotfStf-mistress, and I shall never ceate to mourn her loss, But often and often I find- myself asking mentally that now un answerable question, “What teas in that let ter?” And, worse still, when a suspicion as to the -huim of Harriet Damerel’s death crosses my mind, another question persistently oc curs to me—the old legal one : “CVd bemo ?” For whose benefit ? Lucx Hamilton Hoofer. REDUCED PRICES. GRAY, O’BRIEN &~CO., No. 131 Broughton Street, ARE NOW OFFERING Figured ABMURES (all colon) at 25 eta. per yard. Changeable CAMLETS, at 35 eta., worth 50 eta. Double width Caznelion ALPACAS, at 30 eta., worth 50 French POPLINS, at *20perDr«ra, reduced from *30. French POPLINS, at *16 26 per Dress, reduced from *25. Black ALPACAS, at 3T£ cts., worth 60 eta. Black ALPACAS, at 50 cts. worth 75 cts. Double width Choice POPLINS, reduced from 75 cts. to 50 cts. A lot of TCry Talnable Brocbo SHAWLS, at greatly re- (Inept! prices. And the following standard brands of SHUTTING, at “Semperldem,” "HatTis.” “New Tort Mills,’’ “Lmurii "Fruit of the Loom,” “IXHtfdlle," “ffiru sntta, ’* Ac. Attention is also called to the following new GOODS jnst received: Gents' English HALF HOSE (super, stout and medi um) from Ne. 9 to No. 11. Gents* Grey and Drab Merino HALF HOSE. Full lines of Ladies'. Cotton HOSE, from 12 X eta. and upwards. Full lines of Misses’ and Boys’ English HOSIERY. Misses UNDERVESTS. Thompson's Glove-fitting CORSETS. Thompson's “Twin Spring" and ‘‘Empress Trail’ J HOOP SKIRTS. French “Duchesse" Kid GLOVES. French “Vldette” Kid GLOVES, at $1 26 per pair. Real Lace COLLARS, from 50 cts. and upwards. dec21-it THOSE RETURNING TO THE CITY AND WISHING TO REPLENISH AND THOSB Commencing Housekeeping, CAN BUT, TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE, AT.T. KINDS OF nOUSE-FURNISIHNG GOODS, CHINA, GLASSWARE, Toilet Sets, Fancy Articles, &c. FROM J. W. STANSBURY 4. GO,, 100 BROUGHTON STREET, AX THE OLD STAND OF K. D. SMYTHE Sc CO. Notice. 0 BIG INAL FEEM OF E. D. SMYTHE & CO. _ waa suddenly dissoteud on the Slat of March last. All debts due the late firm are directed to be paid to HENBV D. LAW only, or Mb attorney, JOSEPH W. 8TANSBUBY. aep28 -4. WM. H. TISON. W5L W. GORDON. TISON & GORDON, COTTON FACTORS —-AND- COMM1SSION MERCHANTS balmkeetJ Sava L iberal advances mexts. MADE ON - SUI5—D CHRISTMAS SPORTING! 03 BROUGHTON STREET. PISTOL GALLERV WILL BE OPEN Day and Evening. Also, the BOWLING AL- I connected with it, where poultry will be put up for the best marksmen aud rollers during the holi days. All are ia-ritod to call and get a turkey. be any directions about her property, any last wishes for her successor to fulfill? Then why was not the paper directed to her sister? And if, as Dr. Bentley had surmised, she had died in consequence of taking a double dose of the opiate, what did the phial contain, and what was the meaning of the inscription it bore ? Yet, as seemed probable, if the phial contained the second dose of the opiate, and TEACHER WANTED. 4 MIDDLE AGED, UNMARRIED MAN, WHO IS J\ Fully competent to teach the English brand ia wanted to take chirge of a small School in country. References required. Apply to LAWTON, HART & CO., dcc22-3t WANTED. MATURE AGE AND EXPEBIENC er of Latin, F A LADY OF as a Teacher sic, desires a situation as Family. A comfortable home is Good references given. Address dec21-TuASalm Kentucky Mules FOR SALE. fTTE ARE m RECEIPT OF A FINE LOT C W Kentucky MULES and HORSES, which « tale at low price*. dec21*6t WILSON A d;