The Fort Valley mirror. (Fort Valley, Ga.) 1871-188?, June 18, 1880, Image 1

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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