Newspaper Page Text
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OL. XIX.
—
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, SUXDAY, JULY 22, 1877.
NO. 173
OXLY A RIXU.
BY ALEX. DALSHEIMEB.
1 Only a baUered ring—
l »a>l nn nQd grace leu tU<ng;
1 Le* ; it still, and my col*** thrill
Iha wtkiurd iItmidi that around it cling.
Only a haul-1- wrought—
hi© a trifle bad bought;
it hnuga a glow of tha long ago,
I claitn»<l a throne in n maiden's thought.
Only lastr« l*u gold—
tj-elei-a and ugly aud old;
tri^titer to io« thau geiu* of tha see.
Intiliaut glt-ama of the darkling world.
Only a mem’ry now
ol> and hurird vow;
ju il b) tha lay ot an alder day,
ihobc like a alar ou a eieinlaaa brow.
Only a tok- n cast
by tlia prodigal past,
sating to ma what never ahall be
changiug akies in ocean are glasted
Only a broVeu toy,
eareea, like a boy,
i the weary play of a hoiiJay
] him to dream ol his vanished Joy.
Only a type of tears
in tli bosom of yeirs,
ou me like heraidly
i lightning writes on tha riven spheres.
Only asbatteied rl ng—
* diamond ey es of tue trembling skies
aed in Identity's echoing,
—A. 0. Picmyune.
ALO.\i:,
ItY W. P. IlKTNOLDS.
While sitting upon the wharf bench
Watclnug the hiids so free—
liiuming above the waters
H h.ch parted you and me,
envied • lit-in their pinions
1 longed like tbcn to soar
• r the rippll.tg waters,
Tu lose whom 1 adore.
E Called unto the rea gulls
■ft irtling on ,«»>ou» wing
beggetl that from my lovod ones
■M U lln^* >hey ftsU bring—
ov r arouud their ramblijg,
Match their every smile,
ii I bring to tueon«* gentle word
Aly lone beat l to beguile.
'J tell roe are they b*ppy,
I Free Ironi grief and t aref
Uid il > IlMf <->er think of me
[ Aud wiah that 1 whs ther t
me cruel li.rds uumlndiul
fuf u y tender, pleading tone,
flew away and Idl me
1 Ju sad mas auJ alone.
'
ANCE OF A LODGING.
In Two Chapters.
niAerKit
-re to, ma'am':' inquired cabby as
loj the door of bis vehicle to a
I borHou who bad just arrived by
king train at Viotoria Station.
It apartments somewhere in the
>od of Chelsea; drive on until
them; they are procurable, I sup-
le lady replied as she took her
hope we may find a lodging, she
i to her companion, after they
driving what appeared to her a
^g time. The lad made no reply,
a pblegmatio temperament, that
ch an exertion unless distinctly
FJ-
ktenesa of the hoar, together with
Bx of visitors, owing to the Lon-,
on being then in full swing,made
rch a difficult one; they were
i give up its continuance and go
el when the cabman good natur-
jiposed making one more attempt,
re down a fresh street. Stopping
ker s shop on the way, he invited
stance of those serving, as it was
; too dark to discern the cards of
ement.
|directed him to a private house
ot adjoining, but added: “The
are they are let; still yon might
pell try, as Mrs. Onffith has a
iger who allows her to sublet
perhaps he is away now.”
i we chance it, ma'am?" inquired
tin.
I am so weary. She may be
give us a corner for the night at
they reaobed the house, Mrs.
-late cook in a nobleman’s
rho had married the footman—
1, aud in answer to the appeal,
sitatingly: “For how long?"
bould take them for • week, of
I Baid the lady.
knot let for bo long,” she replied,
risf calculation; “but I can ao-
ate you for a couple of days, if
o: that will give yon time to find
pus.”
; you very much,” said the wea-
eler, gratefully, aa she followed
ady into & good sized room on
I of the entranoo-hall, and beg-
pights and tea as soon as Mrs.
oou d make it convenient to
“Mrs. Arlington; and the yonng gen
tleman is my son. ’
Mrs. Griffiths glanced at the tall,elegant
woman in widow's weeds, and thought
to herself: “She looks more fit to be his
sister than his mother; and is a sweet
looking lady anyway, whoever she is;”
and she was glad she had taken her in and
her son, if snch be were. And then she
bustled out- of the room to prepare her
meal.
As soon as they were alone Mra. Ar-
ingtoo gazed around the room indiffer
ently. It was cf the usual stamp of
lodging house apartment, furnished ac
cording to the taste and means of those
who take to letting for a livelihood. A
dismal horse-hair snit were the chief arti
cles of furnitnre, snpplimented by,others
which stood oat in oontrast against the
borse-bair hack-ground, a good piano, an
harmonium, a book- case with glass doors
filled with a choice selection of the best
works, and an easel. On the walls hung
several good paintings, one of which was
the portrait of a beautiful yonng girl.
“Some artist must live here, I imag
ine,” said the lad, as he went from pic
ture to piotnre examining them, finally
stopping before tbe portrait of the young
girl that bung immediately over tbe ohair
in which Mrs. Arlington sat.
“I dare say,” she replied weariedly,
aa though it were a speculation which
could not possibly concern her, and too
glad of repose to be roused to any sense
of cariosity on the sabjeet.
“Just look at this, mother; it is so pret
ty.”
“I cannot Fred; I am too exhausted to
turn ronnd. I cannot possibly think of
or look at anything until I have had a cup
of tea. Ah! here it oomes. Go and pour
it ont for me,and never mind tbe picture,
lint 1 forget. I am unfeeling and unnat
ural to tell you not to mind, for you are
just at an age when yonng girls are be
ginning to possess a powerfnl attraction
for yon; bnt yon mast put the pleasing
delusions out of your head until you have
passed your examination for Sandhurst;
that is tbe move in chief toward which
all your energies must now be directed. I
long to see yonr poor father’s wishes ful
filled, and shall not feel qnite contented
until you are gazetted into the army;
then my trust will have been accomplish
ed. How many years is it now, Fred,
since you first became my child?'’
“Ten.”
“Yes; you were a little fellow when I
first took you in hand as your governesss,
and yon learned to love me bo well that
your father asked me to be your mother.”
“Was that why you married him?” in
quired the lad, as he brought her a cup
of tea. “Didn't you care for him for his
own sake? Y’oo always seemed to.”
“Yes, since you could observe; but not
at first, Fred—not at first. I had no heart
for auy one or anything jost at that time
bat mayhap for a little child like yourself
wto was motherless and needed lender-
ness. It was just such an nncared for
fiower which alone could have saved me
then, for I had gone through a bitter sor
row, born of my own caprice and foolish
ness; and through it I lost what never
oonld be mine again. I mast have died
of despair had I not set myself the task
of working out of my wrong doing in
atonement, if not to the person—that was
impossible—at least to some one of God's
creatures who might need me; and it was
at that very time I took up the paper con
taining yonr father's advertisement for a
governess. It served me for a suggestion
and a field wherein I might find that for
which I sooght. I had never been a gov
erness; but I determined to become one,
notwithstanding the opposition of my
family, who could not comprehend, and
strongly disapproved of my takiDg such
step; but I carried my point through
onr doctor telling my mother she was
wrong to oppose me, as my mind needed
distraction after all I had gone through,
and that my choice, so far from being
reproved, ought rather to be oommended,
sinoo I had preferred it to tbe injurious
remedy of a ronnd of amusements, so
invariably prescribed for distraught spir
its which need instead the healthy
medicine of some reasonable duty to re
store them to their former mental com
posure. Thus I became free to answer
your poor father's advertisement,and was
accepted by him for the post odly enough.
And that is how I became yonr mother,
Fred. I have tried to fulfill my trust;
perhaps that has atoned. ”
“Atoned for what?”
“Ah, never mind! I as only a young
girl then, vain and imperiouo, because I
found I possessed a most dangerous pow
er—the power of making whom I wonld
love me—a precious gift, which I did not
kqpw how to value rightly until
| very fortunate we are to have
Right's lodging," she said to the
Bow joined her. “I think I see
^air in the corner; what a com-
I she sat down to rest, removing
her heavy wraps as she spoke,
least we shall have breathing
[insider what is best to be done
fcr examinations are over. lean
rch of rooms to-morrow while
kt them. I wish she wonld hts-
j the light and lea; this darkness
sive. Where are you Fred ?"
1 he replied, from the opposite
tie room. “Can I do anything
I've seen to tbe lnggage and
abuian, and now am quite ready
lliee to some tea.’’
re re soon pot out of their dis
hy tbe entrance of the landlady
handsome lamp wbioh gave a
^ight.”
brought you my gentleman's
k'am; he is away just now; that
pave been able to accommodate
he's moat obliging, and don’t
siting his rooms—this one and
aide behind the folding doors,
rith the one I have given the
Btlauian up stairs, which belongs
Mey I ask what
nan servant.
Bam?"
But never mind. I hate recalling by
gones. Life is such a perpetual stum
bling up hill with most of us, it is no
use retarding onr journey by useless re
trospection: so when I am inclined to
indulge in vain regrets I always think
of that heart-stirring line of the poet's,
‘Act, set in tbe living present,' sod there
fore, Fred, please to cut me another slice
of bread and butter and give me another
cup of tea. my child,” and she laughed
at the application she had given to her
words, which was commonplace enough
to destroy all their poetry.
Tbe way in which the boy watched and
waited on her, and the look of quiet
amusement and interest on hia face as
she spoke, showed how thoroughly she
had won his heart, and was indeed hiB
mother, sister, friend, all in one. Yes;
whatever might have been the fault of
her girlhood, her subsequent years had
fully atoned for it; she had used her gifts
rightly in the case of her stepson, and
his father, who had died about a year
ago, blessing her for her unwearied de
votion and the happiness she had given
him, and leaving her the undisputed
guardianship of hia only ehild-
Aa soon aa their meal was concluded
she went into the adjoining room, divi
ded by folding doors from the one in
wbioh they had been sitting. It bore no
traces of a previous occupant like the
other, save a few perfectly executed pic
tures which hung above the mantel-piece.
She had her traveling bag in her hand as
she entered, which she was about to de
posit upon a table, when her eye caught
sight of one of the pictnres, and the bag
fell to the gronnd as she started forward
to examine the penoil sketch.
“Impossible!” she exclaimed, and she
gazed around the room helplessly to see
if she oonld by any means find aaght
therein that wonld throw a light npon the
mystery before her; bnt all was void; ta
bles, chairs, wardrobe and dressing ap
pliances were what met her gaze ; while,
like one fascinated, she continned stand
ing before the sketch aa if spell-bonnd.
“Are yon coming soon ?" inquired
Fred, knocking, who, notwithstanding
bis disinclination to free converse, oonld
never bear her long out of his sight when
they were together.
“I will be with you iu a moment,” ahe
returned, recalling herself with no alight
effort.
“What is the matter?” he exclaimed as
soon as she joined him. “Yon look as
white as a ghost; yon are overtired, I sus
pect; had you not better go to sleep aa
soon as yon can?” he inquired with con
cern, as he noticed that she was suffer
ing from an amonnt of nervous exhaus
tion that alarmed him.
“It is nothing,” she returned; “the
journey was fatiguing;” and then her eye
stole round the room with suppressed in
terest.
“Is that the pretty girl you wanted
me to admire, Fred, just now when I was
too hungry to oblige you?”
“Yes. Is she not a picture. What I
should oall a ‘stunner !”
“When shall I ever knock the sohool-
boy out of you, Fred?” she cried laugh
ing. “Y'ou are a long way off from tbat
refined phraseology I am laboring to ic-
clulcate. Bat yon are right in this case.
It is a beantitul picture of what I should
oall a detestable character. She is, as
yon remark a ‘stunner.’ There is not
the least soul in her face; nothing bnt
proud self-oonsoiousness, as if sho were
saying: *1 am a beauty, and I know it.’
Poor thing ! she is to be pitied if that ia
a true picture, and it looks as if it were.”
“How is she to be pitied? I don't see
that at all.”
“Because yon can’t see yet, Fred, from
your brief study of her face, that a girl
like that may learu to Jeel at some time
or another, and when she does, the lesson
is generally such a painful one that few
have the courage to rise above it. The
artist who drew her was in no lenient
mood; he could detect nothing in her bnt
the stern facts which possibly made him
suffer,” she added in an undertone, ac
companied by a long drawn sigh. “I
wish we had a book to read; try the book
case; it may be unlocked.”
He did as she bade him; and shook his
head negatively as ho went first to the
bookcase and then to tbe piano.
“ ‘The gentleman,’ as onr landlady calls
him, is a cautious man evidently,” said
Mrs. Arlington. “Well, we must not
find fault with him, for his amiability to
ward his landlady has secured ns a night’s
repose. I wonder if he is the artist of
these pictures? I am ashamed of my cu
riosity, but I have a wish to know. Could
you be diplomatic, Fred, and find out for
me?"
“Why not ask the landlady straight
out ?”
“I dislike to appear so inquisitive, as it
is of no moment to ub who he is.”
“I don’t know that. If he is an artist,
he would, no doubt, be much obliged to
us for asking. Act on that presumption.
Y'ou admire the pictures, and may possi-
sibly wish to order some, or to sit for
your portrait.”
“How magnificent you are, Fred! We
look a likely pair—don’t we?—to order
pictures or sit for portraits! A hundred
guineas or so are nothing to ns, are they,
my poor boy? Rein in your fancy. I
am afraid of yon in this respect, when
yon are once fairly launched on your own
resources, as I cannot always be at your
elbow, to control your lavish ideas, and
our means are not Urge.”
• “Well, I was only snggesting, you
know, a ready mode of solving yonr diffi
culty about finding out who is the artiat
of these pictures, "said the boy as he wish
ed her good night.
Aa soon as he was gone,Mrs. Arlington
went cantionsly round the room.making a
minute survey of every article, with a
look of intense interest in her faoe, as
thongh she were searching for a cine she
could not find. Every vase on the man
tel-piece she subjected to a close scrutiny
to see if, possibly, a card or old envelope
lay concealed therein. Bnt everything
was dumb and refused to bear the least
witness as to the name or calling of the
previous occupant. Quite foiled, she sat
down and fell into a profound reverie,
which continued until tbe landlady knock
ed at tbe deor, and entered to inquire if
there was anything more she wanted, and
when she wonld like her breakfast in the
morning.
“Thank you; nothing more to-night;
and breakfast at nine. By the way, have
yon any other lodgers in the house?”
“Yes, ma'am; the first floors are taken
by a lady and gentleman for a month;
leastways so they told ms when they came
—but .the lady has got a maid who U tbat
vexing tbat I can't abear her; and I
would be glad to give them notice to go
if I oonld be snre of another party for
the same time; but you see, ma’am
we who live by letting can’t afford to
have our rooms empty.”
“Yon oannot let me have these rooms,
yon say beyond a couple of days?”
“No, ma'am. Mr. Meredith—the gen
tleman—takes them by the year on the
condition that they are always to be ready
for him whan be writes; and only this af
ternoon he sent me a letter to say he
wonld be here on Wednesday.”
“Mr. Meredith, did you Bay, waa his
name? An artiat, I suppose, if I may
judge by tbe pictures and tbe
“Dear, no, ma'am!" exclaimed the
landlady, aa if a discreditable imputation
had been cast upon the ebaraeter of her
lodger by the question. He'* got no call
to earn his living, not be! He’s got a
plaoe in the oountry, which he has let for
I don’t know bow many years, and he
keeps himself free to oome and go aa he
likes. Snch a fine, noble-looking gentle
man as he is! He took these rooms of
me some eight years back, when I first
married and set up house-keeping, be
cause he said he liked the quiet of the
place; and he keeps them by tbe year;
but he lets me take in lodgers when he is
away, so long as I don't bring children
into the rooms. He has been here for a
whole year at a spell; and then again he
is off, and maybe we won't see him for
months at a time. He ia a most excel
lent lodger as ever waa, and hia man a
nice, civil, handy fellow, with none of
them airs and graces as these minxes of
girls igive themselves; but theD, ‘Like
master, like man,' say I, and I’ve always
found it so. ”
“And your first floors, you tell me,'you
would be glad to relet were you sure of
another tenant?”
“Yea, ma’am.”
“Very well, theD; as I have no maid
likely to disturb you, I will take them for
a mouth certain, if I can have them on
Wednesday morning; and I will farther
pay yon the week’s rent you will have to
forfeit by giving the present lodgers no
tice to quit summarily; bat remember, I
only take them on this one condition. It
is now Monday night, and I must move
in on Wednesday morning.”
“I'll manage it for yon, ma’am, even if
I get a summons for it.”
“You shall be no loser in any case; I
will pay all expenses.” And she drew ont
her purse to deposit a week's rent in ad
vance.
“Never mind it ma'am; yon look a lady
as one may trust, and I’ll see that you are
in tbe rooms on Wednesday morning. I
can easily pat the blame on Mr. Meredith
if they become very unpleasant, by say
ing he takes the rooms by the year; they
are not to know whether he may not want
the first floors this time.”
Mntnally satisfied with their bargain,
landlady and lodger parted for the night.
On the face of the latter oonld be dis
cerned a compression of the lips, whioh
bespoke a sadden resolve she was bent
npon carrying ont. even thongh it failed
in the end to prove successful.
CHAPTER il.
“Well, Fred, what will you say to all
my sermonc on extravaganoe, when I tell
yon that I have actually taken the land
lady’s first floor rooms for a month; and
tbat without any view to your advantage,
which has hitherto aotuated my move
ment? Yon will say it is only a prelimi
nary step to my employing the artist--
who, by the way is not an artist after all
—to take my portrait! ”
Thus did Mrs. Arlington announce her
plana next morning at breakfast to Fred,
who offered no remonstrance. It was
enough for him that she chose to do .it;
he was too well satisfied and accustomed
to her guidance and good sense not to
fall in readily with everything she did,
as the beBt possible that conld be done;
and so he assented without a remark.
“Yon don’t Bcold me, Fred! T expect
ed your reproaches, but they will come
later; you are too engrossed at the pres
ent moment with the prospeot of the ex-,
amination before you to day; but I have
no fear for yon; so have none for your
self.”
“What will yon do while I am away?”
“Stay where I am; stndy the pictnres;
read the backs of all tbe books through
the glass doors of the bookcase, and think
what a chnrl tbe owner is to have locked
them up. And this amusement over I
shall go in-search of a piano; we cannot
live for a whole month withont one; can
we? So I shall order it to be sent on
Wednesday morning to onr new quar
ters.”
“Suppose the ‘gentleman’ unlocks hia
and sets up an opposition tnne; the jum
ble of melodies will ba the reverse of
harmonious.”
‘Possibly; but then, you phlegmatio
“Thank yon. I wished to know posi
tively before I ordered a piano. I Bap-
pose there is no objection to my having
one, Bince there is another in tbe house?”
“None whatever, ma'am. Leastways
Mr. Meredith is mostly playing and sing
ing when be isn’t reading or pointing, or
at his meals; so that I am well accustom
ed to the sound by this time. I like it
when be plays lively music. But dear
me, ma’am! there are times when hia
spirits are low, or go I take it to be, and
then he plays snch dreary, do!eful tunes,
it is for all the world as bad as the ‘Old
Hundred’on them barrel organs.”
“Hi is not married then?”
“O my! no, not he; nor never likely to
be,” she exclaimed, repudiating tbe idea
of losing her lucrative lodger ander such
unfortunate circumstances. “His man
James says as how he once painted tbat
there lovely-faced young creature to re
mind him that women were one and all
as false as I wouldn't like to of
fend your ears, ma’am, by naming the
unholy gentleman as he likens them to;
which I took to be no great compliment
to myself, seeing as I a woman as was
never false to none, wbioh is saying a
good deal, seeing how selfish and tire
some men are, as a role, that it needs ns
women to be born saints and angels to
put up with them.”
“I am afraid I can't quite agree with
you there,” said Mrs. Arlington, smiling.
“I rather think we give as much trouble
as we get, and a little more sometimes.”
Wednesday morning saw her installed
in tbe rooms above, which she bnsied
herself in arranging tastefully, with a
view to making their lengthened sojourn
comfortable. Toward evening the piano
came, and she was jnst about to try it
when an nnnsual bnstle below stairs an
nounced the arrival of the gentleman,
Mr. Meredith. He was evidently a per
son of consideration in the eyes of the
household; such hurrying to and fro and
up and down to have everything as he
wonld like, had not before been experi
enced.
“Glad to see you home, sir," said Mrs.
Griffiths, courtesying, and beaming with
pleasure.
“Thank yoa. Have the rooms been
occupied?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I should sav you ought rather to be
sorry I have oome, then.”
“Not at all, Sir. I've been able to ac
commodate the lady up stairs; and right
glad I was tbat she came when she did,
for she has got no troublesome hussy of
a maid to oome bothering abont my
kitchen.”
“The same old story, Mrs. Griffith!”
he remarked, as he Bmiled pleasantly at
her inability to hide her ruliDg mania;
“and now please let me have dinner as
soon aa you can, as I have an engagement
this evening.”
He walked round the room, placing his
desk and other articles he bad Dronght
with him in order, examined hie piotnres,
to see that they had not undergone ruth
less treatment at the hands of deputy
lodgers during his absence. After look
ing at them all, be paused opposite the
portrait of tbe young girl, and exclaimed
mentally: “Yes, there you are still,
heartless mocker, just as you looked
when you defied me and flung back my
love in scorn. And yet—and yet—per
haps had I but been a little gentler, I
might have softened you!” he cried in re
morseful thought, as he turned ahray;
and tbe look of genuine regret he wore
showed how deep bad been the wound
tbat had the power still to call up a thrill
of pain. “Yes, I tried to break her proud
Bpirit and make it subservient to mine,
and I broke my heart instead. She was
but young; I ought to have known bet
ter. But I was hard and determined, aud
could brook no opposition to my will. I
.had studied life and established my views
on most points, until I grew intolerant—
a disease natural to culture as well aa to
creed—and could ill bear to have my
opinion questioned, especially by those
who aspired to my friendship or affection
—it interfered with my visions of harmo
ny. Harmony! It was but a monotonous
dreary unison I was cultivating to foster
my intense 6elf-lovo. Bitter delusion!
, ... . Aud irom her above all others,! denaand-
yonngster, you woman t keep me without _
1 D J r e d a lavish bending of her will to mine.
sooh a resource, for fear of an occasion
al discord. Let us hope the gentleman
in question will give place to the ladies,
and be amiable enough to listen without
creating a discord; or he may decamp
altogether, if he does not approve of onr
performances.”
“Bnt tell me whet has pnt it into yonr
head to stay a whole month in London?
I thought you said we had only funds
for a week.”
“Well, my dear boy, it is jnst this: I
have been thinking that we may as well
wait and hear the issue of the examina
tion; as in tbe event of yonr being among
the successful candidates, of whioh I
have very little doubt, you would be
ready to go to Sandhurst without having
to incur the doable expen se of the jour
ney home and back again. Besides I
should like to see tbe last of you before
I sink into my future oblivion, with no
farther call in the world upon my time
and attention beyond writing to yon.”
“What nonsense yon can talk, mother,
when yon once begin! I suppose you
expect me to believe you are ooe of the
sort that is allowed to go into oblivion. I
bet you ten to one some fellow will be
wanting to marry yon when I am at col
lege ! ”
“Hush,Fred!” she said with a solemnity
of manner she knew well how to assume,
that effectually quenched any conversa
tion, the subject of which she did not ap
prove. “It is time you started."
I was jealous of her possessing an indi
viduality or free right of being or thought
apart from me. I was not content with
her affection; I wanted her blind worship.
No wonder her proud spirit revolted at
such a prospect of bondage, and flang me
and my lore far from her. She was wise
and right and I was too headstrong to
humble myself to sue for her forgiveness,
or seek to win her by a nobler coarse. My
heart waa a flint, which it needed her loss
to soften, for I have never seen another
Hke my darling. Yes, my poor girl, I was
unjust and cruel, and Providence was
kind to you in leading yon to resist.”
In such a strain did his thoughts me,
*s he sat waiting for dinner, of which be
partook in no Very slated' mood, When
the spirit wanders in the sad lone land of
irreparable regzet, and surveys with tbe
light of experience how different all might
have been, had our hearts and our wills
-been differently tuned to action, it is
then our footsteps Unger, painfully borne
down -by a weight, well nigh fatal to that
courage which bids us bury our dead out
of sight, and wander no more amid the
graves of the past, but Uve afresh m the
light of a new and better day, with high
hope and stern resolve.
Something of this he had done, bat
not all, for the torment of self-reproaoh
as at times powerful to waste his
•on is fruitless action or torpid reve
rie. He was abont to sink into the latter
membered it. It was on < be bad written
and composed for her cf whom he had
been thinking; and whe n she sang it to
him, he oonld soarce res rain his tears;
bnt there came a little “ -ift in the late"
one day, that soon “mad a all the musio
mute.” Some alight alt< ration that she
had asked for, jarred n; on his sense of
its perfection—and his < wn—and he re
fused half haughtily, whit h she resented;
words succeeded words until that was
said which could never be forgiven or
undone; and then she asl .ed to have her
freedom back, and he pave it; yes, be
gave it! and had never se aa or beard of
her after, until now—he jeers the echo
of the melody; but the vi ioe—“Can that
voice be hers?” be crit s passionately.
Starting np in bis chair lie listens, with
every nerve vibrating to t ia sound, until
it is finished. ‘’My own song!” he ex
claims aloud: end then h< rings the bell
nervously and summons the landlady.
“Who is your new lodgei?” he inquires
with assumed calmness.
“Mrs. Arlington, Sir.”
“Arlington? Arlington: ’’ he matters.
“Never heard of her. Wuat is she like?’’
“A tall, sweet-looking lady, Sir; I was
that taken with her I h dn’t it in my
heart to tarn her from the door the night
she come here, so I gave b at your rooms
for a couple of days for ht r sou and her
self.”
“Son! did you say? He w old ?’’
“About sixteen, I should reckon; be
has oome np for his examii ations.”
“No, it is not Bhe,” be bought sadly;
“she could never have had a son so old. i
But it may be some friend of hers. How
else came she by that son 3 I must find
ont. Thank you, Mrs. Gri fiths,” be said
aloud; “you did quite right to let the
rooms, and since she is t ich a favorite
with yon, you are welcome to tbe news
papers for her. Perharpa - ou had better
take tbem to her every day with my com
pliments.”
“Thank you, Sir; I am sure you are
most kind, and I’ll tell her what you
say.”
“I never will believe, ma im, half these
good gentlemen say, who j rofess so loud
against womankind. Here Mr. Meredith
down stairs, as James says, swears
against a petticoat even if he sees it
hanging in a shop window, whioh is most
unfeeling-like to say the least of it—
here's he been a begging I’ll bring you
the newspapers every day, with his com
pliments !”
“Indeed! That is very thoughtful of
him,” said Mrs. Arlington, miiing at her
landlady’s enthusiastic sen ie of victory.
“Pray give him my complicients, and say
how very much obliged I teal. What did
yon tell me his name was! ”
“Meredith, ma’am.”
“Of what family, do you snow?”
“That’s more than I can say, ma’am.
Families, to my mind, is line flowers—a
great lot all alike, but d: vided into so
many branches, it were alwt ys a pnzzle I
stopped at. I call a pink 1. pink, and a
carnation a carnation; thougl the gardener
where I lived in service could tell you they
weredifferent branches of on 3 family, with
long latin name,as I never oould see not
the least bit of good to rem amber. So I
just follow the same plan vith families,
call them by the names as they hold at
birth and baptism; and I only know my
gentleman by the label on bi 1 box: ‘Mr.
Firman Meredith.’ But f yon were
pleased to wish to know, I’U ask his man
James.”
“Not on my aocount,” slid Mrs. Ar
lington; “I am not in the lei at curious; I
merely asked for asking’s sal e. Give my
compliments and thanks, no bing more.”
The newspapers paid their regular daily
visits for a week, during wh ch time Mrs.
Arlington never once touohe 1 the pimo
when she knew tbat Mr. Mt reditb was at
home; although he had purposely re
mained in doors, hoping he might again
hear her song which so ronse 1 his memory
on the evening of his arriv .1; bnt- after
seven nights of waiting and disappoint
ment, and ineffectual efforts to catch a
glimpse of tbe lady, who did not once go
out daring that time, be gre w so restless
and impatient that in desperation he
summoned the landlady once more to his
assistance.
“Well, Mrs. Griffiths, is your lodger
gone or dead? She is a van silent per
son.”
“Oh dear, no Sir,” Baid Ale landlady,
smiling. “She took the rooms for a
month oertain; bat she’s be in suffering
from cold; and the young gt ntleman has
keen away most days at his • lamination:
but he's that quiet you’d never know he
was in the house but for his loots.”
“Forgive me, and good-bye,” he said, r at the eloae of dinner, as, left aione with
with a smile, as he prepared to go.
Wishing him God-speed, she saw him
depart, and then rung for the landlady.
“There is no difficulty, I hops, about
the rooms,” she ask ad.
“None whatever, ma'am. I’ve told the
lady, and they leave to-night.”
his coffee and cigar, be sat meditating
on the past which he had invoked, when
be was startled by the sound of music
and the strains of a melody whioh seem
ed to float to him across the distant yean
and reawaken hie heart’s sweetest and
bitterest memories. Ah! how well he rea
She bad been planning all the way np
the stairs how she might best introduce
snch a delicate topic with due acceptance,
for Mm. Arlington was a lady, abe felt,
who was not to be taken liberties with;
bnt impulse overruled discretion, and she
burst cut plumply witb the question:
“Would you please to like tbe gentleman
to call? “I think ma’am, for all he feigns
to hate us, he’s about dying to come np. ”
Mrs. Arlington fairly langhed aloud at
the partnership in the oomphment as
sumed by her good-natured landlady.
“What do yon Bay, Fred?” she inquired,
appealing to her son, as thongh declining
the matter for herself.
“By all means have him up. We should
be Goths to aocept his papers, and say
‘No, thank yon,' to himself.
“Y’ou oan tell him, then Mrs. Griffiths,
that we shall be happy to see him this
afternoon.”
“You will, you mean,” said Fred. “Y'ou
know I promised Cathcart to go ont with
him, at yesterday’s exam., and spend tbe
afternoon upon the Serpentine, after onr
week’s fag.”
“Very well; then I will reoeive him.
Tant mieux. I can jndge if he is likely
to prove a desirable friend for yon,Fred.”
Witb the afternoon earns Mr. Mere
dith’s servant with his master's card, re
questing to know if Mrs. Arlington could
receive him.
Having granted the permission, her
face betraying unwonted agitation, which
it required all her nerve to control before
the door opened and he entered. He had
advanced half way np the room to where
she stood waiting to receive him, when
their eyes met and flashed one mutual
heart-stirring glance of recognition,
which she was the bravesfr-to bear, as he
started exolaiming:
“Gertrude Bancroft!”
“Firman Meredith!” she cried, bnt
with calmness, for she at least was in a
measure the more prepared of the two.
They shook hands; nay more, they met as
we meet tbe loved and tnonrned after
years of parting; and then she whispered,
as she held his hand, “I am Gertrnde,
but not the prond, soulless, imperious
girl, whose portrait you have so faithfully
preserved. I am now Gertrude Arling
ton, whose life I hope has not been alto
gether spent in vain. And yet mine was
not the whole wrong, was it Firman?”
“No, my poor girl; Good knows it was
not. To myself alone I take all blame.
“Nay, I cannot allow that.”
“Bnt it is the troth all the same,” he
sighed. “Had yon yielded to my will, I
might have slain yon with my crnel,stony
heait; when yon resisted, as yon must
have done, matters might have ended I
know not how. Indeed, I might have de
stroyed yon, as snrely as he who takes
weapon or steel or drops of poison to rid
himself of her of whom he has wearied!
A merciful God saved you from such a
fate, and me from the worse one of oaus-
ing it.”
“You judge yourself too har-hly, Fir
man; I have no snoh thought abont^you.”
“Not so, Gertrude, believe me. There
are mauy gone to their rest who, if they
could return, wonld tell you ‘he speaks
truly;' poor souls who have gone to their
graves thanking God for their release
from a life whioh left them nothing to
hope for but death! ’’
“Then, Firman, there is nothing to re
gret between us; for aorosa the gulf of
precious years, wherein we have each
learned so much, we oan olasp hands
faithfully as truest friends. May I tell
you it was for this I remained; for I re
cognized the sting I had left in your heart
when I saw the penoil sketoh of the por
trait you had made, and I thought that if
we could meet once more, and leave hap
pier impressions than those remaining, it
would be wise and right to thus overcome
past evil with future good. And now onoe
more we are friends are we not?"
“And nothing more? Ah, Gertrnde,
have you no dearer name to promise me,
after all these years of sorrow and loneli
ness without you?” he pleaded.
“Yes; my whole life shall be yours, if
you think I oan make you happy,” she
murmured, “but not unless—have no
misgivings, Firman. ”
“Happy! That is a poor word to ex
press the intensity of my gratitude for
this meeting, and yonr promise that we
shall never part again. Oh! I too have a
past to repair, of whioh I hope yonr fu
ture life may be the witness! Y’ou are
my Gertrude; and yet, now I look well
at yon, you are not mine, for your face
has altered, and wears a softened look,
different from the old Gertrude.”
“Let us forget her altogether, and paint
“Had she any visitors tbe ::rst evening l me afresh as I am—a woman, who for
she arrived?”
“None, Sir. She hasn’t old any of
her friends, I imagine, thft she is here;
as it ia not to be supposed as how such a
well-to-do lady as Bhe seems s without a
whole score of friends as wc aid keep me
bnsy at the door if they only knew where
she was.”
Do you thiuk she objects to visitors,
then?”
“How can I Bay, Sir? Wei 9 you pleas
ed to wish to call?" she inq lired some
what slyly. “I’ll speak to tie lady, and
find ont if it would be agree able, if yon
like, Sir.”
“Please yourself abont taat,” here-
turned. with feigned indiffer ince. “If I
oan be of any service to her or her son,
beyond tbe newspapers, I shell be happy
to call.”
“Yon are very good, Sir, I im snre,and
I’ll tell her. She waa most grateful for
the newspapers.”
With a glow of triumph < n her face,
Mra. Griffiths next morning appeared be-
foreMrs. Arlington.lt was no: her settled
oonviction that her theories concerning
the unreality of the enmity of certain
men for women was as “true as gospel,”
to use her own phrase; aud as there is
nothing dearer to human n Jure, from
the deepest philosopher even to a specu
lating landlady, than to fee. that they
have hit upon an infallible v >in of truth,
: her rejoioing waa vary natural.
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Sold evei^rwhere. Price 25 cents.
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Gray hair i, changed to a gloeey black by a
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Price $1.00. Office^ Murray Street,
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Doctors.
UK. C. E. ESTES.
Office Over Kent’s Drug Store.
jttsiy
Lawyers.
ALONZO A. DOZIER,
Attorney aud Counsellor at Eaw.
Office Over 128 Broad Street.
Practices in State and Federal Courts In
both Georgia and Alabama.
mh!8’77 ly
CHARLES COEEJHAN,
Attorney-a t-I.aw.
Up stairs over C. E. Hochstrasser’s store.
[febll,’77 tfj
BENNETT H. CRAWFORD,
Attorney and Counsellor at Law.
Office over Frazer's Hardware Store.
Jal4>77 ly
BKBBB CBAWrORD. J. M. M’NBILL.
CRAWFORD A JlcSlUM.,
Attorneys aud Counsellors ai law,
128 Broad Street, Columbus, Ga.
janl8,’78 ly
CF. E. THOMAS,
Attorney and Counsellor at law,
OmoB:
Over Hochstraaser'sStoie, Columbui, Georgia.
[jaoO,78 lyj
Mvrk H. Blamdkoed. Louis F. Gaera.ro
BLANVFORD A UiKRAKO,
Attorneys and Counsellors nt Law
Office No. 87 Broad street, ovtr Wlttich A
Klnsel’s Jewelry Store.
Will practice In the State and Federal Court!
!ep4 ‘7:
Piano Tuning, &c.
E. XV. BLAU,
Repairer and Tuner of Planoa, Organs and
Accordeons. Sign Painting also done.
Orders may be lett at J W Pease & Nor
man’s Book Store.eepdflb
Watchmakers.
C. H. LEffUIN,
Watchmaker,
134 Broad Street, Columbus, Ga.
Watches and Clocks repaired in the best
manner and warranted. jyl»’76
Tin and Coppersmiths.
WH. FEE,
Worker in Tin, Sheet Iron, Copper
Orders from abroad promptly attended to.
jyl,’7fl No. 174 Broad Street.
REAL ESTATE ACENTS.
JOHN BLACKMAB,
Georgia Home Building, next to Telegraph
Office, oo.umbus, Ga.,
Real Estate, Brokerage and Insuranoe
Agency.
LAND WARRANTS BOUGHT.
Reler, by permission, to Banks of this city.
[nov3.’75 tf |•
J. H. SANDERS,
ISON AND BRASS FOUNDRY.
The Georgia Iron Works,
{FORMERLY J. C. PORTER),
MABrnPACTtmEii
Cane Mills, Syrup Evaporate
years has prayed for naught else bnt what
is born of a bamble,tender, loving heart.
If yon find I possess it, then, Firman,onr
long parting has not been in vain. Bnt
now we have mnch to tell each other of
past lives.”
“I shall feel more interested in plan
ning oarfntore,” he remarked, smiling.
“Ah, well, whatever we may arrange
about that, I shall oonsiderit a point of
honor not to rob Mrs. Griffiths of her pet
lodger! It wonld be base of me to re-
auite tbe good Samaritan by running off
with the ass!” she added merrily; “so
we mast keep her rooms for the present.”
, “I’ll take the whole if that is
all, and then you will be obliged to stay
altogether, for where I am there you mubt
be also.” ,
“And I leave It to you to tell Fred, my
boy,” she added, with a pretty blush,
“for I feel a guilty oheat toward him; he
has looked upon me aa bis mother, I may
say, for so many years, I shall seem like
a deserter.”
“Say rather you have been one, and
ate now returning to your oolora.”
“Strange to say, Fred waa atruok with
the portrait, bat found no resemblance to
the originiaL”
‘ ‘Because you are no longer the same
woman; the original haa gone.”
And thue were happily reunited for life
two who, thongh. aa vexed for m while, bad
been all along intended for each other—
this waa the Romance of tha Lodging.—
[Chamber*'* Journal.
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Office Over Enquirer-Sun Office,
COLUMBUS, GA.,
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All work at reasonable prices and guaran
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PHI CARRIAGE f OR|S.
HERRING A ENGLAND,
East of and opposite Disbrow’s Livery Stable,
OGLETHORPE STREET,
A RE PREPARED with Com
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In all its various branches In the best style,
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GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL,
Hot Springs, Ark.
FIBBT-CLASS IN EVERT RESPECT
This House baa Bath-Room, under
same roof, supplied from the Hot Spring*.
D. BALLENTINE.
mhlT dim Proprietor,
