Newspaper Page Text
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m t J« e*fe AW/ j A & A 4
S. B. Burr, Proprietor.
“FOR PITY’S S/KE.”
‘Fred, Miss Houghton is to ar
five this evening. Would you
mind going down in the carriage
to meet her ? I can not get off my¬
self, and it will seem forlorn enough
to find only' an empty carriage
awaiting her.’
A prolonged whistle jn-oceedec!
from the depths of the luxurious
arm chair into which the young man
addressed (pretty little Mrs, Veres
bachelor-brother) had ensconced
himself.
He was a handsome man of the
blonde type, enjoying a few week’s
furlough from his army duties in
his sister's house.
The laziest man in the regiment
he was called, but the bravest as
well, with now and then a sudden
light in his clear gray eyes which
lent a momentary in-sight into the
hidden strength and meaning of
his real nature.
‘Miss Houghton ?' he now drawl -
ed out, somewhat interogatively, in
response to the demand made up
on him. ‘You mean the children’s
new governess, 1 suppose—a de¬
mure spinster of forty or there
abouts ; or^ worse still, a young,
gushing creature, bereft, in one
fell blow, of fortune and friends.
Seriously, Nannie, it’s an awful
bore, and considering that my Cap
tain’s pay will not admit of any
matrimonial schemes, I think per*
haps, it would be as well not to
put false ideas in this young (?) wo¬
man's heart by sending me to greet
her.’
‘Don’t go, Uncle Fred,’
in the children, aged
six and eight. ‘W« do not want
any goverhess. ’
‘Hu,h, children! Don’t worry
me, Fred! Do go, like a good fel ¬
low ! I assure you, from all I hear
of Miss Houghton, she is a charm¬
ing medium between your two ab¬
surd comparisons, and will proba
ably give you no second thought.
Here comes the carriage to the
door. Now, Fred, do not miss
her.’
‘No hope of that,’ he-groaned, as
ho lifted himself to his six
statute, and moved leisurely to the
door.
A half hour later, the Eastern
train came piaffing and. snorting
into the station. Only a few pas¬
sengers had this point for their
destination. He watched them
descend with calm indifference,
when suddenly he started. A
young . lady, quietly but richly
dressed, passed him, the light from
the lamps falling full on the clear
cut features, and . revealing their
faultless beauty. In her arms she
carried a little dog. She directed
her course to the station master.
‘Can J get a vehicle here to take
me to Mrs. Vere's?’ she question
ccL
‘Mrs. Yerc's own carriage. is in
waiting. Her brother, Captain Os
good, came down, expecting some
friends.’
‘Then I will not intrude upon
them.’
‘But at this instant the young of¬
ficer stepped to her side.
‘The carnage is at your service,
Miss. Pardon me, and allow me
to introduce myself as Captain Os¬
good, Mrs. Yere’s brother.’
‘I have heard of you,’ she answer
ed,. smiling, and disclosing two
rows of • white, even teeth. 'I’m
very glad to meet you.’
And, in proof of the words, sire
extended one tiny, perfi et y gloyed
hand.
‘Cool for a governess, upon my
word, and doesn't answer much to
Nan’s description/ thought Mr.
Fred.
But notwithstanding, he- felt
quite warranted in meeting the
frank advance very cordially, and
soon, in their homeward drive, af¬
ter first disposing of what seemed
to him an unwarrantable amount of
baggago, they were chatting away
like old friends.
When the house was reached,
Capt. Osgood withdrew. Ho would
let the women meet alone, and not
betray tho momentary weakness
iuto whieh ho had been beguiled,
‘Mrs. Vere is in the library, miss,'
proclaimed the butler.
The young la’dy followed him to
tho door indicated.
‘Well, Fred, you were disap¬
pointed, after all,’ began the mis¬
tress of the room, without turning
her head, as her quick ear detected
the opening of the door. ‘Miss
Houghton’s letter, apprising me
of her sudden illness and conse
quent detention, arrived just after
you left the house. It was—’
But her sentence remained unfin¬
ished as some one stole softly be¬
hind her. and clasped two tiny
gloved hands close over her eyes.
‘Who can it be ?’ she questioned.
The hands were withdrawn.—
She looked up.
‘Flossie!’ she exclaimed, andiap
tuously clasped the girl in her
arms. ‘Where did you come from?’
was her first question, when she
found breath.
‘Straight from Paris dear. When
I reached New York, I heard that
yon were up in your country home,
and so I determined to come im¬
mediately up and take you by sur¬
prise. I intend to spend at least
a fortnight with you, ma chere, so
you must make the best of it.’
‘A fortnight! I shall hold you
garrisoned for the summer. But
tell me— did you see Fred, and
introduce yourself V
‘My deal-, he seemed to know me.
I found your carriage .waiting; he
presented himself in duo form; I
accepted the goods the gods gave,
and asked no further questions.’
Mrs. Vere burst into a rqiple of
‘Flossie,’ she exclaimed, ‘ho. has
mistaken-^--a« for- -tho ehildraft’n
governess. What will ho say when
he learns the truth ?’
And she repeated the conversa¬
tion as it had occured before his
leaving the. house. A sudden idea
seemed to seize upon his listener.
‘Lot us keep it up, Nannie,’ she
proposed gleefully. ‘We can tease
him to our heart’s content. I will
sink my identity in that of Miss
Houghton, and prosecute him with
my attentions.’
For a moment the sister's heart
misgave her, but after all what real
harm could it do her? and so it
was agreed ; and next morning the
children were duly presented to
their new governess.
They had anticipated her advent
somewhat as a reign of terror.—
They now wondered, as the days
wore on, why they had always here¬
tofore been deprived of such a lux”
ury.
For two hours they were closited
each morning in Miss Houghton's
own pretty morning room; the
prettiest room in the house mamma
had given her; but, strange to say,
brother Fred seemed to consider
it quite the proper thing under
the circumstances.
For two hours, then, it was their
daily prison—but such a prison !
Candies and story-books were gen¬
erously distributed, with but one
prohibition, that when Uncle Fred
questioned them about their stud¬
ies, they should not divulge to him
the fact that they were growing
fat and lazy.
But Uncle Fred was too absorb¬
ed in his own thoughts to watch
the children. For the first time in
bis life, he began to make serious
calculations as to bow far a cap¬
tain’s pay might go, and whether
by any amount of stretching, and
any improbable bachelor sacrifices,
it might be enabled to supply two,
when heretofore it had been con¬
sidered whoily inadequate for
one.
‘I have sworn I would never
marry an heiress/ he said to him¬
self, when the household had glid¬
ed, on without changing for some
three weeks, ‘lest tho world would
consider me that despicable thing,
a fortune-hunter, or that tho wo¬
man h'ersolf might one day mis¬
judge me; and I liavo sworn
never te marry ft poor woman,
because it would entail too much
mutual s:vcrlfice k And yet, aud
yet, I wonder if she loves mo
—I woihW if I could make her
happy ?
FORT VALLEY, GEORGIA, FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1880.
Ilediad found, in these three
weeks, the two morning hours of
the children's tasks the longest of
the day.
He had insisted that the govern¬
ess looked pale, and prescribed for
her a daily ride. She had had no
opportimity, as she had laughingly
declared, to persecute him with her
attentions, but rather, as time wore
on, to show them with a certain
shyness new and foreign to the
girl’s n itnre.
Meantime the conspirators sat
in the library, scanning, with per¬
plexed brows, a letter open before
them.
It announced Miss Houghton’s
arrival on the evening of that day.
What was to be done ? The arch¬
conspirator solved the question.
‘Say you are displeased with me,
and I will return to New York to¬
night. The now governess will ar*
rive. His leave expires in a week.
After he goes I will return.’
‘Very like Victor Hugo my
dear,’ retorted Mrs. Vere, ‘as to
tho pithiness of your sentence;
but I fear it won’t flow as you im
magine.’
‘What does this mean?’ qnes
tioned Captain Osgood, a few hours
later, of his sister. ‘I hear the car¬
riage is ordered for the seven
o'clock train to take Miss Hough¬
ton to the depot.'
■She is not quite my. idea of a
governess,’ meekly and trembling¬
ly answered Mrs- Vere, quailing be¬
fore his palo face and flashing
eye.
He cast upon her tho first look
of contempt he had ever given her,
and turned away just in tune to
catch TKa flatter of a white dress
upon tho Ifiwn. Straightway ho
went toward it.
‘I did not mean to be abrupt,
Miss Houghton,’ he began, when,
with quick strides, he had gained
her'side,‘but I hear that you must
find a new home. Would you ac«
cept one if offered to you—very
unworthy your beauty and your
grace, but guarded by a man’s bon
est love? I love you, darling!
Will you bo my wife, and share a
soldiers life—a soildier’s fortunes.’
The rich color flushed into tho
girls cheeks, ns,she mot the clear,
frank gazo of the soul-lit eyes.
Ah, she had meant only to play,
but she, too, had been burned by
the fire’s fierce flame!
‘You offer me this from pity,
Captain Osgood,’ she said, in low-,
trembling tones. ‘I appreciate
your noble generosity, but I must
not accept it-’
‘From pity?’ he questioned. jDo
men pity thus ? Look in my eyes,
do you read pity there? Listen to
my voice—is it pity moves it 9 Let
my past speak for my future. Has
pity actuated it? Oh, my love,
tell me that you love me, and you
shall never more luiow .. what it is
to stand alone in the world.’
‘Your sister has not discharged
me, Captain Osgood. I have dis¬
charged myself,’ she said with sud¬
den resolution.
And then, standing before hint,
she told him all the story. His
face, as he listened, grew deathly.
When the last word had left
lips, be turned and strode toward
the house, leaving her standing
motionless and alone. His sister
met him in the doorway.
‘Who is she?’ ho questioned in
harsh tones—‘this girl whom you
called Miss Hougton?’
She know then that ho would
have the truth.
‘It is Florence Maxwell,’ she an¬
swered. ‘Fred, forgive me.’
He laughed, a jarring laugh.
“Miss Maxwell, the heiress, eh—the
girl whom all men seek for her
beauty and her gold. Tell her for
me, it was Miss Houghton that I
asked to becomo my wife, awl not
Miss Maxwell, who lias made my
honest love her .sport.’
As ho strodo out of the house
again, and tumod up the road*, all
unconscious of the little figure
fallowing him.
He had thrown liiuiself down un¬
der the shadow of a great oak,
when sho overtook liiimjk»
‘Pardon uiel’ sho said.
And at the sound of her voice,
he raised his haggard face with a
groan.
The sight, the soitnd, over
came her scruples. She fell on her
knees beside him.
‘You loved m6*TSP myself,' sRo
said, “Oh, Fred, I am so alone
in tho world! You said, dear, it was
for love’s sake, not for pity. Now
for pity’s sake give me the
Without which, I have learned, all
my life would be poor and barren,
but with which I shall bo alone
nevermore!’
Then for pity’s sake—only for
pity’s sake--but with a great joy in
his eyes, he opened wide his arms
an&iook her in.
The Hip Pocket.
What is known among tailors as
the ‘hip-pocket’ is exclusively a
characteristic of the American spe¬
cies of man.
Mr. Withers is not a Western
man, and is wholly unacquainted
with whisky; but his recent exper¬
ience of the incompatibility of hip
pockets and glass bottles was very
painful and embarrassing. He had
returned t:> his Orange comity home
from a brief vis’t to New York, and
had brought with him, a prfesent
for Miss Wilson—to whom he was
betrothed—a bottle of that remark¬
able cement which is sold by side¬
walk merchants, and which is by
them represented as being much
stronger than wrought iron. It had
occurred to him that this cement
would be a very nice thing to have
in his future house, since with it all
sorts of broken chinas and glass
caukl be mended, nndqperv-oue
knows that children will break a
great deal of china. On the oven
ing of his arrival home ho put the
cement in.his hip-pockot and called
on Miss Wilson, intending to effer
it to her as soon as he entered the
house.
Mr. Withers was ardently attach
ed to the young lady, and when ho
saw her before him, he not unnatu
rally forgot all about such merely
earthly matters- as cement. The
old people welcomed him pblitely
and after a few,.moments of conver¬
sation, withdrew with a discretion
which is to be wished that old-peo¬
ple would emulate. Being of a
frugal mind, and knowing that the
merciful young • man should be
to his intended father-in
law in point of kerosene billv, Mr.
Withers promptly turn ed down the
and proceeded to mike him¬
self at homo.
The bottle Was a stout one, and
perhaps have withstood any
pressure, but as Miss Wil¬
son weighed fully 140 pounds, and
as the back of the small rocking
chair was of hard wood, it is not
strange that the bottle yielded.—
Withers was so much interest¬
ed in the weather and other sub¬
such as usually absorb the
of young men in his po¬
sition, that he did not notice the
breaking of the glass, and it was
not until an hour later a falsadlarm
of ‘father in the front hall,’ induced
Mies. Wilson to fl oe to the sofa, and
suggested to Mr. Withers the ad¬
visability of turning up the lamp.
flChe cement had done its work
and Mr. Withers did not get up to
the light, but requested the yortng
lady to discharge this duty for him.
She did so, and then noticed his
painful and pre-occnpied express¬
ion. To her anxious inquiries he
admitted that he felt a little faint
and would like a glass-of water.
Miss Wilson hurriedly went for tho
water, reproaching herself for be¬
ing so heavy, and accusing Jiei'self
of selfishness and want of consid
oration. In her absence &e youug
man made superhuman efforts to
wfeucli hitnself loose, hut tho cc
ment refused to yield. When
MigsWi son returned with the glass
of water, ho looked so much worse
that sho was really frightened, and
ho was compelled to toll her the
roal state of the case.
She was a practical person, and
sho promptly proposed to gut in a
tin-kottlo of hot water and dissolve
the cement, but desisted when lie
explained to her that his system
would not bear the application of
water at tho boiling point- She
then timidly suggested that if she
were to call ‘pa’ perhaps pa might
lend you a pair; but Mr, Withers
said no; he could not bear the mor¬
tification of being found in such a
situation by any father. It was
finally agreed that he should wait
to a later hour, and should then
take the chair home with him. This
was accordingly done, and had not
the unfortunate young man been
arrested by a local constable, who
only discharged him when a severe
test proved that his possession of
the chair was purely involuntary,
his misfortune might never have
become generally known. When
disasters such as this are liable to
happen to the wearers of hip-pock
ets it becomes too hazardous for
general use. In fact, good author¬
ities maintain that the hippocket
is positively detrimental, and that
an earnest a.nd united effort should
bo made to secure its extirpation.
No Use for the Guards
In the spring of 1875, when
Shei-idan’s cavalry moved up the
Shedandoah valley to have a last
wrestle with Early's troopers, a halt
was made by a portion of the Union
force near Waynesborough. Guards
were thrown out to protect proper¬
ty, and among others the house of
a lono and aged widow received
such protection. Two dismounted
cavalrymen were stationed at the
front door, and it was half an hour
or so before any sti» in or around
tho house gave token that it was
inhabited. Then the widow limped
to Tim door on a snitch and {Jailed
one of the guards to her and ask
ed:
‘What are you doing here 9 ’
‘We are guards here to protect
you and your property,’ was the re
1%
‘Well, you needn’t fool away any
time here. Early he come and took
our hay. Then Sheridan he come
and he took our corn. Then Mosby
he stole our hams and ‘tutor's. Then
Sheridan took our flour and cider.
Then Early'run off all our horses.
All I had left this morning was an
old siek mul(f and meal euottgh for
one hoc-cake. The mule ho died
two hours ago, and I've just eaten
the last of the cake, and if yoiV can
find anything worth guarding
around hero you may have it and
tote it off.'
‘But some of the Soldiers may
disturb you.’
‘I guess not.,’ she said, as she
pointed ho the spot where a can¬
nonball had torn through the house,
Tho day that hole was shot
through theie I was rocking and
singing the ‘Pilgrim’s Hope,’ and I
didn’t miss a rock nor drop a note!
I don’t hardly think one brigade of
liorse-sojors can distnrbe me very
much. ’ You’ll obleege me by jog
gin’ along!’—Detroit Free Press.
Rescuing Her Lover
A romantic rescue is reported
by the Leesburg (Fla.) Advance:
An ardent lover boarded his frail jT
bark on Lake Eustis to visit
kearts’s idol. Tho young lady stood
upon tho veranda watching lug ap¬
proach. She saw, toe, a dark cloud
rising in the southeast. Soon the
angry looking clouds o’erspread
the blue conopy of heaven, the wind
rapidly increased to a storm, and
seeing her lover’s danger she brave*
ly entered a boat to go to his res¬
cue. As she pushed out from the
shore she saw his boat make a lunge,
as if maddened by the resistance o!
the waves and wind, and go over.—
No time was to be lost; the danger
ahead seemed to gire her the
strength the desperate occasion re
quire!, and after rowing for a mile
against wind and tide she reached
tho disaster, took her lover on board
whom sho found perched upon the
upsturned boat, and rowed hack to
shore.
■Then, 1 supooso, Miss Strong
mind, you and Mr. Sparrow arc
soon to bo inado man and wifi) ?’ ‘No,
sir, woman and husband.'
A lino coat may cover a fool, bill
never conceals one.
An Editor's Affecting Note of Grati
tude,
A Philadelphia editor thus relieves
his mind on a subject familiar to
&11 newspaper offices, the inevitable
pub doc:
‘We owe our thanks to Judge
Kelley for the latest patent office
reports. We already have 1.600 of
these interesting volumes in our lit
tie library, but they have been read
and re-read so many Limes that we
know every page of them by heart.
This new volume came opportunely
and gratefully on Christmas morn.-,
iog, and we gathered our little fam¬
ily around the fire and read it
ihrjugh to them. The atiecting
little tale entitled, ‘Improvement in
Monkey Wrenches,’ seemed to touch
every heart, and when we came to
the climax of the little story about
‘.Reversible Pieboard?,' there was net
a dry eye bet ween the front door
and the stable. During the reading
of the piteous narrative entitled Gum
Washers for Carriage Axles, the
whole family gave expression to bois¬
terous emotion, and the, hired girl
was so muc-h excited that she lost
her presence of mind, and went
around to her mother’s inadvertently
with six pounds of sugar and a but*
ter kettle full of flour, and came
home at midnight intoxicated. We
can never sufficiently thank Judge
Kelley for the innocent amusement
ikus.furnishec us. The memory of
that happy evening will linger in
our minds very much longer than
the hired girllingers when she lights
on a lot of* substance which she
thinks will suit the constitution ot
her aged parent.’
pf the late Bishop Ames the fol¬
lowing anecdote is related: While
presiding over a certain confer¬
ence in the west, a member began
a tirade against universities, edu
eition, etc , thanking. God that he
had never been corrupted by con
tact with a college. After proceed
ing thus for a few minutes, the bis¬
hop interrupted him with the ques¬
tion: ‘Do I understand that the
brother thanks God for his igno¬
rance?’ ‘Well, yes,’ was tlia answer.
‘Yon can put it that way, if you
want to.’‘Wall, all I have to say,’
saidthc bishop in his sweot, musical
tones, ‘is that the brother has a
great deal to thank God for.'.
A down-town man went fishing
the other day and caught three
small trout, lie carried them
through rfrtTe street boldly, and
when asked if they were all .he
caught, frankly admitted that
they were. Tho neighbors gave
him a surprise party last night and
presented him the beautifully carv¬
ed motto; “An honest fisherman is
the noblest Work of God.’
The question before a darkey de¬
bating society was, which is the
most useful planet to mankind, the
sun pr the moon. One old fellow
said: ‘De sun, lie ain't no account.
He only shines in d3 daytime when
folks kin sea ail) how. De moon
shines at night when it’s dark, and
gives us light to see how to dig ‘,a
ters and hunt ‘posSfims. Ob course
de moon’s more use dan de sun.’—
That settled the question.
Ilo was a plain old granger, aud
when his son informed him that he
had determined to go to college
ami learn something, the old gen lie
man looked straight at him and said:
“Now, look-a here, John, you may
learn readin/ ritin, spellin,’ ‘rithrac
tic and a little jography, but if you
grapple 'any of tho dead laug
wiugges, I’ll kill you when you come
home, so’s they’ll do you some
good/’
A woman in New York accident¬
ally went to church with two bon¬
nets on her head— one stuck in dde
the oilier—and tho other women in
the congregation almost died of cu
vy. 'l’hey thought it was a new kind
of bonnet and just too swuot furauy
(liiug.
—♦
‘Were arc you going, my lit tie
nnm?’ ‘Tu school,’ ‘You learn to
rend f. ‘No.’ ‘To con ,l!’ ‘No.’
‘What do you do:’ ‘1 wait lor school
to lot out.
Vol.-g No. 49
The Southern Farmers Monthly,
The abowe’bamed favorite maga
zine for June is out, and we have 1
received a copy. Like all its p ie -
deeessors, it is filled with matter
useful to the farmer and. interest¬
ing to the- family. Its table of
contents comprises articles,- origi¬
nal and selected, on agricultural,
horticultural, household, scientific;
literary and miscellaneous subjects,
while that ever popular- feature,,
tho fashion department fully- im*
forms our farmers’ wives and dangh-
ters, regarding the latest styles.-—
In a word, the monthly is a pub¬
lication which, besides being a wel¬
come visitor to the household i»
invaluable to the farmer; Once
let its merits be tested, and we feet
as-uredit will not be willingly
Sgain dispensed with, Send- $$
to J. H. Estill, Savannah, and get
it for a year.
What He Was. —I heard a good
story the other day of a yeomanry
regiment in the eastern counties.
After the annual review the inspec¬
ting office ordered! the regiment
to do some outpost duty. The
day was cold and -wet, and soma
time had elapsed before the dis¬
positions were made and the in¬
specting officer could make his tour
of the outposts. Riding up a hill
he and his staff came upon a soli¬
tary vidette shivering in the eold.
“Now, my man,’ said the inspec¬
ting officer-, “what are you?’ “What
am I?’ said the man; “why I’am a
—fool. I’ve been here three hours
in the rain, and have had enough of
it’
If the republican party of tho
North and West cares anything for
the negroes they would honor those
in their midst. Not a colored dele¬
gate to their ccnvention las been
appointed from Northern or Wes¬
tern State. Without tho negro
vote in Ohio, that State would be as
uniformly democratic as any State
at theSoiitb.
Feed My Horse.— “Boy, extri¬
cate that quadruped from’ the vehi>
cle, aud stabulate him, donate him
adequate supply of nutritions ali¬
ment, and when the aurora of
morning shall illuminate the eas ■
tern horizon I will reward thee
with a pecuniary compensation for
thy amiable hospitality.’
The boy ran and told his master
that a Dutchman wanted him.
A city missionary was asked the
cause of his poverty. “Principally
because I have preached too muck
without noths,” he said.
Says a French critic: “I like a
girl beforesho gets womanish, and
a woman before she gets girlish, ”
Good nature is more amiable than
beauty and more agreeable than
wit.
The lion must be *drawn soma •
where, viz., in the circus proces¬
sion.
-- -mm.. m m -*,
Politeness costs little, but avails
much.
In ancient Mexico it WaS iha
.
custom to sacrifice human beings
to the gods. This Was a case Where
soveral wrongs made a rite.
An Indian’s experience with the
liquor of the palo face is calculated
to shake bis belief in the Great
Spirit of the Fathers.
‘Hero’s a letter,’ Said Pat Malon*
ey yesterday, “from mo gitrr', and
would ye ploaso bo readin’ to me
wid yer ize shut that yo Can't be a •
lamin’ my secrets.-'
A traveler in Soitth America re
ports a monkey with two tails,
Now wo have tho Darwinian pro-
gonitor of the man who Stands in
a stoelapen coat near iho door at
the opera and say8, “BraVab-ll!”
A party that moved last Satflr
day hung a Brussels carpet ort the
clothes line for art airing, and a
came along and ate a couple
of yards of it before he made the
discovery that its flower’s weVO not
natural. The remarks of the own
or on making the discovery are not
o' i itab'o