The morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, October 04, 1891, Image 10

The morning news., October 04, 1891, Page 10, Image 10

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Newspaper Page Text10 . M OCTAYE OE SHORT STORIES By Famous Novelisis. No. 2. THE DOVER EXPRESS, BY FLORENCE WARDEN, Author ol “THE FOG PRINCESS,” “THE HOUSE ON THE MARSH,” “PRETTY MISS SMITH,” ETC. Now First Published.] [All Riums liserved. CHAPTER I. DOWS IS THE WOBLD. Everybody knows how high stands the reputation of thit eminent firm of solicitors, Messrs. Link & Pogsun. Everybody knows, too, that old Mr. Link be-: now been dead nearly a decade, and that two years ago the senior partner was old Mr. Pogson. Avery good lawyer, but not so entirely satisfactory as a m in. Samuel Pogso 1, cold, practical nnd autocratic, "as a hard master, feared aod disliked by bis subordi nates as much as he was trusted by his clients. Young Mr. Link fwbo was not so very young, but whose iron-gray hair looked juvenile beside the senior partner’s white locks) fretted a little under Samuel Fog eon’s iron rule. He was little more than a clerk indeed, so far as the management of the film’s affairs was concerned. And if ever he raised his voice against any action of the senior partner’s which seemed to him hard and tyrannical, old Pogsou, who did not care what means ho used to gain any object he had in view, would lean back in his chair, like the old fox he was, and beg Mr. Link to remember that in his delicate state of health he could not stand contra diction. Mr. Link began to think that “delicate state o£ health” a fraudulent deception. He knew that old Pogsm was supposed to suf fer from a weak heart, and was accustomed to hear it suggested that, the old man’s real malady was the want of one. But as the Bonior par.ner had arrived safely at tho age of fid, aud still seemed to enjoy life very thoroughly’, there seemed some reason for Mr. Link’s suspicions. At. last an event occurred whioh caused the junior par ner to throw asme some of his accustomed deference to the old rnau’s judgment. Aiiuug their clerks, and quite the best of them, was a young fellow u smed Clifford Semple, who had gained Mr. Link’s interest and respect by the streuuoumess of his ef forts to kiep a wife and family in comfort out of his modest salary of £3103. per week. This would have been comparatively easy if he had not been a man of edu ati-.m and refined tastes, anil if he had not h id the un pardonable imprudence to marry a girl of his own class. These two creatures had the ridiculous excuse to olUr that they loved each other. Two simple-minded, single-hearted beings, young, handsome, devoted, brought ut> in the improvident luxury characteristic of so many English middle-class homes, they dared to face life together on a total in come of £2!15 a year. This magnificent total was reached by tho addition t Ciif ford’s earoiugs of Blanche’s iticomo of £2O a year. At first, of course, they found little diffi culty in making it sufficient. They had to live, certainly, in whi, their old friends would have called an “impossible neighbor hood,’' they t ad to 3ave candle ouds, and eke cut a small supply of cheap furniture with iogenius ma.,e-shifts. But in the inorniug glow of a hanpv marriage these things teamed triliesludeed. Blanche, too, proved upon trial to be clever with her needle; so that her pr >ud husband often ex pressed a belief, which was luckily not put to the test, that she could have made him a court suit if he had wanted one. The young wife managed to gut u few pupils for music, whose level of refinement and in telligence was as low as the remuneration of their teacher. And for the first year things wont merrily indeed. But when ltie banes came; when a little boy Geoffrey was s icceeded by u little boy AVynno, and he again by a tiny girl, then it was that the pone; sof the parents’ mod est means were stretched to the utmost, anil that the po r in ther’s face began to look worn, and a gray tint, the sign of insuffi cient. nourishment, to spread over Clifford’s red-brown co plexi n. The i for cheapness they went further and further out of town; and Clifford entered into abstruse calcula.iois as to whether it wes best to save twponcu by walking two miles of the way to and fr.in the office, or ■whether tho extra wear and tear of his shoe; did not more than eat up Cue sum saved. . They managed to be happy still, in a wav ; but there gre v up a bitterness at tho bottom of the heart of each, a rebellion again- the severity aud hopelessness of the struggle, winch found vent sometimes on in gloomy si ence on tho part of husband, fretfu n‘vs on th > part of tuo wife. Luckily the cause of their and (Acuities brought its consolation. Ihe children were healthy ana happy, jest as pretty in the r home made clothes hs a rich man’s cuiiiircn are ia costlier ones, just ns delighted witn sim ple t ys of pup i’s munulae.ure as t.iey would have b en with tho handsomest dolls nr.,l r c-ir.g ho.ebb in Hagen, street. And, hoe ever bad y the ta no -n and mot .or r.iigh i uve f< the po eb of poverty, they succeeded for vuurs in krepi g its cruel fiu- K< ■rs from the liny throats '. the Lab's. But iu the year when t-e eldmt child reached tho ago of 5, a terrible misfortune fell upon them. Clifford Hemple tell ill of scar.at fever, and to his wife’, ge it gri-f he v-as wis< enough io go straight to tne hospital. Tli. ough tlie kindness of the jun ior m ml or of the firm, a ..I much against tbei clinatio i of t-arau-1 Fogs n. Cliff >r i’s salary was paid to his wife during the wr ole of t:ie time that his illness lasted. This, however, p ovod to be o.fly the ue ginning of his troui 10. Ou his recovery he went t > the soaside bv himself for a short time, hoping ngni st hops that a certain consequence of the fever, which now be came apparent, v. #ll p ss away. At the end of u fortnight's holiday, which had brought him neither rst nor p!ea:uro, the unhappy man returned to town, and once more met his children. Hia wife, who bad had one brief iniervicw with him on his leaving the hospital, noticed his gloomy looks, the bagganiness of Lis lace, tne ex pressiou of feir in his eyes. She hung about him tenderly, f/ut he reomed to resent tho anxiety he sa w in her face, and tried to dis engage himself from her caresses. “You are not strong enough to go back to the office yer, Cl.ffurd,” Bho s.ud. “Let me go up to town and speak to Mr. Link about yea. He is always kind aud cou id erate. He will understand; he appreciated your vaiue: and he will persuade Mr. Pog son to keep your post open for j ou anothur weok or t wo. I am sure.” But Clifford, who was holding babv Maude on his keen, took o notice of her suggestion. Blanche, who saw that hir husoand was in an irriteel* mood, did not at that eo.-.at press point. ::tie thought he wauled to forgot his fears ab >ut Ids health in tho society of his recovered children. Uoff and Wynne, however, were not long In discovoring that “papa was different;” even baby Maude, popularly known as “the corn-crake,” Oil account of her peculiarly piercing scri-ams, liegau to <-x-rci*e her fa un us ecc mpliehment before (be had ix-eu long on bis knee, and was removed, shriek ing, by her mother. She. too. felt that “p pa was different," that tli pa.e, thin, grav-effaced man was not the merry play* teUow ut a few weeks bef re. The hoys lie gau to play by themselves, for they got no auswars to the questions they put to their i father; Blanche took up her needle work with tre nbluig fingers. A gloom fell upon tho whole faiuuy: the boys mode no en treaty for “another ton minutes” when their badtime came, but kssod their father con strainedly and followed their mother up stairs. “What’s the matter with papa, mamma?” a-ked Leoffiev, tue elder and rao o obsirv ant. “lie isn’t not a bit like wiiat he was before he went away. When I asked him to come ands le ray wabhits he didn’t move, and h; d.dn’t answer. He isn’t not so nice as he was before ho went away.” “,-j’h-sh! you musn’t say that, Geoff. Poor pane has been very, very ill indeed, aid he isn’t quite well yet even. Don’t you see how palo he looks? Whe i he is quite well again he will be just the same as ever.” But though Blanche tried to believe tins hersdf her mind was harrassed by doubts and fears. There was something wrong about bin, something which trouniod him, something which he would not confess to her. When the children were in bed she went down-stairs, resolved to try to gain his confidence and share his grief, whatever It might be. He was sitting by the table, pouring over the evening paper, when she ro-entered tho dining-room. His back was toward the door, and he neither moved nor looked up when sue came in. With one yearning look at him, full of doubt and fear, she decided not to disturb him, and drew a chair t i the eppo ito side of th * table. He started up with an exclamation as bo first caught sight of her; then with n curious, hang-dog look, as if ashamed of himself, he bent his head again over his paper. Blanche’s eyes filled with '.ears. Unable longer to restrain herself she rose, put her arms round his shoulders, and entreated him to tall her what wa3 tr< übling him. “I can’t Lear to see you shutting your self up against me like this. You are h ood ing over something. I see it. Why don’t you tell me what it is? Why don’t you trust me to help you to bear it? I know I could, O, I know I could. Haven’t wo always borne everything together! I was so gin i to think that you were coming back that my heait felt bursting with happiness. And now—and now—O, won’t you tell me? Won’t you tell me? Perhaps I evea guess and yet—” Indeed the poor wife thought, as she noticed Cliff ord’s wand-ring looks and his apparent ne v and startling indifference to the children and herself, that his mind was unhinged. This imorvssion gained confir mation by his answer. •‘l’m all right dear,” be said. “At least I’m nearly ail right. Don’t worry your self. I think I'll go to liod now; I’m iired; ad I want to be up at 6 o’clock in the morning. At 6. do you hear? Shake me, rouse me, make me get up at (>, mind; i’vo an appointment to keep before I go to tho Office And don’t you worry yourself, dea ; there’s in thing to trouble about.” lie added again, kindly, as he left her aud went up stairs. But his wife’s face grow white with a grave fear, wblou began to taae a definite snapo la her mind. Next morning she roused him at tl o’clock, said very little to him before be (Ported,and preserved as cheerful a demeanor as she could until he, without a iv furt or confi dence, ami without oven the farewell peep at bis children in their beds, which lie had never before omitted, and left the house. At Died o’clock Clifford Semple, haggard, anxious, downcast as a convicted felon, presented himself at the office of Messrs. Liuk & Pogson, and hastened to seat him elf at liis old desk with some w rx which was given to him, after oi lv the hriefejt of greetings to his fellow ciorks. He did not got on very well: he had ;o have something explained to him in connec tion wish his work, and ha did not seem to pr. fit muoh by the exolmation. The other clerks exchanged significant no 1 1 and glances. However, he was left to himself uut.l 10:3;), at whica time, punctual to tho minute, old Samuel Pogsou arr.ved at tho office. He frowned as soon as lie caught sight of Clifford, who took no notice of nis outran e, being apparently too much absorbed in his own work to s?e or heu ■ anything that was going ou around him. Mr. Link was away, and rismael Pogson, who ha i bitterly re sented having t > pay the salary of an r.b sent clerk, resolved to visit Clifford’s sin upon him with severity now '.hat his part lie.- was not present to stay his hand. “Well, sir, aud so you uro buck again, I see.” he began in an omi iou.lv dry tone. Clifford, however, took n > notice. He did not evea turn round, u til a fellow clerx managed, unseen, to kick hir foot. 'I heu the unfoi t mate young man jumped off his stool, reddening violently. “Wonderful aba rption!" said Mr. Fog. son s u rustically. “I am much obi ged to y u, sir, for your kindi.e s to us duri g my illness,” began Cl ffurd in a low v. ice “I ail cml to near it. IVhat are you doiiiz now?” Cliff rd >as nervously watol ir.r; his em ployer's lips. He dul nut ans.ser. • "Well, what are you —d urg—now? Can’t you understand a nlai.i question?” The clnrx who sat nearest" t> C lifford moved uneasily, bit he could u >t make up Lis ini dl l '..are to int >rpo..o, being afraid of making matters worse for his unlucky neighbor. Clifford made nervous m've ments vrith his hand-, hu still ho made no reply. A confidential attendant, a nnr i faced man na.ntd Page, who acc unpanioj Mr. Pog-oa wherever ha want, fell called upon, at this stage, to venture a romon stranco. “Mr Pogson is not very well this morn ing, Mr. Semple. I’rav' don’t keep him standing here.” he said, in his low, cold, re spec/ful voice. Bt.t st.ll Cliffo-d appeared to take no heed. “Go into my office. I wish to speak to you i rivately, Mr. Semple,” said his em ployer. He had to repeat his words before Clf ford, s 'eming suddenly to awaken to com prehension. followed the direction of the old man’s eyes, and hnslily ob-yed. He ■too l, with dull eyes and a bewildered man ner, before the senior ; ar ner, who entered, followed by tho obsequious Page. “I should like to have some explanation of your extraordinary behavior tuis moru iug.Mr. Semple,' began old Pogsou, ma jesiicaily. Cliffoid lojked up at him, grow red and white again, and thou asked in a low voice: "Could I speak to Mr. Liuka moment, sir!” “Not at present, certainly. Mr. Link is at P uitre ina.” Clifford followed tbs motions of the old man’s lips attentively. Noting the shake of the head with which tli“— words were ac companied, ho hung his head and grew de jected again. "ro your explanation, if you have one, must bo given to me.” went on Samuel Pog son, as he allowed his attendant to take off the oveicoat, which, even iu suinm'*r, ho always wore. “Well, what have yon to soy?” he asked, testily, ns he still received no ros|/0n.,. Thou, raising his voice in in tiig./Ulion, he couuuued, in a high tone, “I expect uu explanation, I av. Are you dsnff’ Clifford look#! up des’ airingly, “Yes. sir.” he answered, having just caught the last word, “1 am deaf—since my illness—a>m t U-ue deaf.' bainuel Pogsou looked turj rwod, hut not TIIE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4,IB9I—TWELVE PAGES. displeased. Now tie had an excuse for gate t ug rid of a man against wuoiu his en forced go orositv h id given him a grudge. “In that on-h slid, coming n-arer to the young mm, a id sneaking loud y in his car, “iff course wus Sana have t dispense with your services. Ia n sorrv, exceeding ly s Try, so no lount will Mr, Link be, but u deaf clerk is not of the slights. t use in this office. 1 will give yon a week’s salary-. You sna i not have the -lightest reason for ibink i. g yourself ill-used, but you need not eo:re here araln.” “but sir,' summered Clifford, who had heard enough of tins speech to understand its whole import. “1 consulted a physician this m rniug, and ho says this deafness will Le only temporary —only temporary, sir. I can bring you his written opinion.” “I don’t want his opinion. Waal’s his opinion to mi l” “Only, sir, that you might give me an other c nance. 1 know the work of your office so well that I cau be of almost as much use as eve. - . When you speak loudly, you see, I cau hear quite well.” “We couldn’t keep our voices always for your benefit at the pi c i 1 am kooping mine now. We should all be hoarse in a week.” “Won’t you keep mo on, sir, for suoh work as I cau do, at any salary yoti think I am w irth, until my hearing gets all right again?’ “No. You can come back when it is all right.” “But, sir, in the meantime no one will take on a deaf clerk.” “Then why should If’ “I’ve bean here save u years, sir—” “(dotting a good salary, which has been raised mo. e than once. Paid your salary, too, for weeks while you were away.” Clifford could bear no more. “For which I am very grateful—to M-. Link,”ho said. Old Pog on, who gave himself as many airs as an elderly beauty, sank back in his armchair, as if exhausted by the interview. The attentive page ordered Clifford to leave the room, and the poor fellow was bustled out. The head clerk gave hnn a passionate hand-squeeze as he put into his hand the lit tle pacxat containing his week’s salary, which Fog-on had sent out. “Mr. Link will bo back in six weeks,” said the head clerk in his ear, “I’ll take care to tell him all about it as soon as ho comes, and he’ll have you back, never fear.” “Six weeks!” murmured the unhappy man as ha left the office, and opening the little packet io his hand. Those four sovereigns would not go far, aud the savings he had been able to make on his salary were very small. Perhaps, too, even Mr. Link’s infla mes would not suffice to reinstate him, iu the face of Pogson's prejudice. As for getting work elsewhere to bring him anvthing near £2OO a year, that, with his present disadvantage, was, he felt, impossible. And so it proved. Day after da7 he answered letters, he male pars mal applica tion for situation after situation. Day af ter day he went through the same weari some round, meeting shrug, head-shaking, refusal Only the brave, hopefulness of his wife, who had guessed what his misfortuue was before he would confess it, saved him from utter despair. He made a little money l>y law-copyinz, and these slender means HI niello supplemented by various efforts, not disdaining tho humble aud unremunera tive ulain sewing when it came in her way. Tney had even to let rooms in their misera ble little jerry-built homo, a resource which hurt Clifford’s pride more than aay of the rest. But the sum total of their meager earn ings was insufficient for their bare expenses, and presently both husband and wife saw with affright that, under this regiino of en forced economy, the children were begin ning to s iffer. By this time the winter was approaching, an l the thought cf tho priva tlon his wife and children would have to suffer, with insufficient f )Od and warmth, brought Clifford to the verge of mainoss. Blanche was shocked one evening on com ing into tho little apartment which now did duty for di hwmg-room, dining-room and study to find Clifford examiug, with an air of the deepest interest, some object which he held In bis hand. Although he bad not ree verod his hearing, he generally know by some instinct when his wife came into his roo n. On this occasion he turned abruptly to meet her, trying to hide what it was which engrossed his attention. But she, wi:h w iit eager face, being alw ivs on the alert for fresh misfortune, would not bo satisfied until sho had seen it. Aud it was a revolver. Her oyes raei his, aud saw a stealthy look of shamo-facod avoidance which filled her with horror. Sho could not soeak coherent ly ; her utteranco was ctv'ko j. “Clifford, you would never—think of the children, of me,” shegulped. And the poor thing throw herself into bis arms. He laughed loud and boi-ts.ously. Ho could always hoar, or at least, understand her. “Nonsenso, nonsense, dear, what are you thinking about?” cried tie, witn a miserable attempt at assumed amusement. “fuis is young B .relay’s; he brought it in for mo to e>. It’s a first-rate o ie; lie bought it sec ond-ha d—a great bargain.” “Let mo take it bock to him then. I don’t know hat ymn g tne i "ant with such things,” said his wife, tartly. She took it almost by force from his hind, and put it back in the lodger’s room; nnd sho dll not forget the next lime she spoke, to the young fello v to reprove him saarply for having such nasty, dangerous things .about—in—iu a house wbero there were oiii'.dre i. Thu weary weeks dragged on until ti e mi idle of Onto; or. when thoerm; came at las;. Clift ml could bear no In gor the pinched 1 ok ho began to son |u the fsc s of ins child, ei. One last, lies wrute attempt h i :nu>t unxo t i s'< Mr. L nk. The junior partner must, ho know, have re.urue 1 to E (gland lung before Ibis; but on the two ocean ms when he had tried to see him he hau been told at the office and >or, nut un kindly, but firmly, by t e ohi head clerk, that Mr. Link was r.oc there. A letter ha ha i sent, detailing his misfortune and ask ing if tncro was any eba ice of reinstate ment i or him, received n > answer. On this occasion, however, he present" 1 himself at the office with a dogged resolve to get at least a hearing. By ill-luck the moment >•( his arrival was the most unnro pitious po Bible. Half-past five was the hour at which the junior partner was in the habit of leaving the office; and at half- past five, therefore, regardless of tbo assurances pf tne clerk - tlwu Mr. Link wes not there, Cliff rd insisted in placing him elf in iho outer office in sunh n pla e that the junior partner could not fail to see him when, as lie expected, that gentleman should open the door of the inner office to corao out. Tho clerks did their best to dissuade him from his purpose; but they dared not raise thsir voices high enough to make him hear, for fear of tho autocrat in toe adjoining room. At last, h lwevcr, tbo head clerk seizdi him by the arm, and said quickly iu his ear that -Mr. Pogson would be c uiing out in a mo ment; thatlis was going to start for tho coutme it bv the 8 o'ol ick express, and that surely he knew >lr. Pogson better than to worry him with expostulations on the eve •>f a journey; for on these occasions anxiety for his own safety always made the old gentleman "specially testy." Even if Clifford had consented to retreat ho had no time. At that moment the door of the inner office opened, aud iSamuel Pog son stood before him. The old gentleman Btopped short, with an exclamation which was eloquent to the experienced ears of thus > pr-sent. “Oh, so you’ve turned up arain, hrve you ?’ he cried, not forgetting to raise bis voice so that the afflicted min should hear. “You’re not conteut with the snubs you have received here already? You wish [>erha s to drive me to get i rotectioo from the nuisance through the police court!” “I've come, sir, to nsk you a tain to give me another chance.” He spoke out firmly, almost loudly, being past caring for the uuuitwr of witnesses to his humiliation. “I’m sure you know, sir, that I would not have erais here again to a-k anything of you if I could help it. But 1 cannot earn enough to—to keep going. yon coul 1 afford ts pav me more than I can earn anywhere rise, and yat be no 1 mar. I undirstand the work, as you know, air, aftar seven years. There is only my deafness against me; in evorv other respect I am just the man I was.” But this was not true. The sunken eyes, the hollow cheek”, the pitiful air with wruch the poor follow trieu to earn off bis tallo is ate betrayed him. ‘‘if you would only try me, sir, for a work,” he went on, “my children—” He stopped short. On tr.at subject he could not have gone on without some dem onstration which his remaining self-respect forbade. Thero was scarce y another mac in the room who ha 1 not a lump in his throat when Cliff rd stopped. O and Pogs >u alone, and hi < obsequious attendant, Pago, seemed unmoved except to further indigna tion. Page, who was laden with rugs and small luggage frowned at G.iff /rd and held out ins hand warmngly. The senior part ner gave a sarcastic grunt. “Childieu!” said h-. “People have no business to bring children into the world when they haven’t a safe income to k>ep them on. If you choose to saddle yourself with such responsibilities it is your look out, nut mine.” With an instant’s pauso for breath to give greater emphasis to bis con cluding words, tie wenten: “Understand, I don’t want a deaf clerk. No; and Mr. Link doesn’t want a deaf clerk. So it will not be of the least urn for you to come sneaking up here to-morrow, thinking that when the old man’s gone tho coast will bo clear, for I’vo left explicit instructions upon tliis point, which wid bo cirried out if l’.n in Jarnnita. Jamaica, do you hear!” “Yos, s r,” said Clifford. The old man had not finished his harangue. But the young one had heard enough. A now infirmity seemed to have come upon him. Ho turned, and stumbled against the table on his way to tho door. Without an other word, either of entreaty or farewell, he s aggorei au ckly out, and rau down the stairs into the sirret. For once Samuel Pogson was disconcerted. He was a cross-grained, overbearing, tyran nical old brute, who lined his own w ay, and would have it. But he was not heartless, he was uot iuseusibie to suffering, though he liked to see a little of it in tho faces of those whose who bad crossed his will. The manner in which Clifford Semple had taken his departure gave hnn an exceedingly un pleasant sensation. He had meant to bully him for another ten minutes; aud then, having rendered his victim utterly abject, to have extended to him the clemency with otherwise his partner would get the credit of on the morrow. And now the hot-headed young idiot had gone off, leaving a very un comfortable Impression behind. Old Pogson affected to Ignore this, how ever, and turned with extra sharpnoss to his attendant. “Send me a cab, quick,” he said. “This young cub’s insolence uus upset me—excited me. I feel quit3 ill.” "Yes, sir. I don’t wonder, sir. I’m sur prised Mr. Semple, after all these years of your kindness, didn’t know better what he was about, sir." Samuel Pogson, under pretense of taking from the man’s hand one of his numerous wraps, looked sharply into his face to see whether this was a touch of unaccustomed rai cas.m. For his conscience was not clear. But Page’s conscience was. It was part of his duty to flatter his m aster and to humor his whims; and an opinion of his own was a luxury no never allowed himself. ‘'l shall just have time to dine comfort ably at the Holburn restaurant, or' one of those places near, and catch the 7:55 train at the viaduct,” said Pogson. And he grunted a farewell to the head clerk, without deigning any notice of the rest, and went down-stairs. His mind, however, grew so uneasy in the course of dinner that he sent for pen and paper, and wrote a note to his partner. In this he began by complaining vehemently of the i ifamous conduct of that fellow Hemple, who had forced his way into the office, and bullied him, Samuel Pogson, un til he had made him feel seriously ill. He went ou to say tlm* it was not his custom to allow even such a miserable c enure as this Be nple to consider himself ill used, so be advised his partner to take him on, if he could find an opening, at such a salary as his services at the present, time were worth. Old Pogson felt easier in his mind when this letter had been posted by Page before his very eyes, but he told his attendant plaintively at the very same time that an other interview with that impudent beggar he had tu .on down that afteruoon would be tho death of him. In tbo meantime Clifford went straight home, with it noise in his head like the clang of a steam hammer. No hope there, no hope theie, no nope anywhere! That was tho c.y w ich rang in his brain. He walked t ,e "hole way, from Lincoln’s Inn Fie.ds to llerne Hill, without slackening speed once, yet without knowing why be walked so last. But when lie drew near his home he would not eater. What should he •• ei! Those blue, anxious eyes of his wife’s, which had grown so large, so bright lately, that one noiiced nnthi g else in her face, the little children, with the youthful rouud ness disappearing day by day from their features. He could not soo worn again with nothing 1 1 101 l but disappointment, dospa r. Ho stopped short non- tho railway line, and a thougut struck him which turned him into a savage. o.il Pogson would bo passing within au hour oyer these very metals, on his way to to oa limn ons liohdav b the Mediter ranean. OU P igson, who had neither wife ior child to si,are tho money he lavished upon himself and his comf >rts. Oil Pogson, who bud coca starvation in hi. face th ;t day, and who ha i refused him, insultingly r - fusod him, the means of earin g enough to keep tlir mg .out too wniter the life in his ch.l iron’i bodies! By the 'i ..c thi* last bitter thought had ea'en i to the man’s mind, lie was sea cely sane. Another iuca flashed iuto bis mind, giving him a sort of electric shock. Tne tmi i would stop at Herne hill at eight minutes pust S. Suddenly his limbs ceased to shake, and bis Irani seemed to clear. A frenzied resolve, some imes vague, sometimes for a mo cent more defined, took the place of his despairing thoughts. 110 stood for a long time watching the gradual fall of night over the houses, n and then he wont rapidly back , iu the direction of his borne. He let Himself iu without noise. Blanch ) was putting t 1 e children to bed, he beard a querulous little voice asking for a biscuit, and tho poor mother’s quivering answer that there wero no biscuits to-night. Toey were “all gone.” Then ho went into tho lodger’s bedroom, and with unshaking hand , scorched until he found tho revolver. He loaded it aud went out. (TO BE nOVCLCDKD.) LEMON' ELIXIR. Fleasant, Hlagaut, Reliable. For bili u <nes3 and constipation take Lemon Klixir. For fevers, chills and malaria take Lemon Elixir. For sleeplessness, nervousness and palpi tation of the heart take Lemon Elixir. For indigestion and foul stomach take Lemon Elixir. For all sick and nervous headaches take Lemon Elixir. Lad es, for natural and thorough organic regulation take Lomon Elixir. Ur. llozley’s Lomon Elixir will not fail you in any of the above-named diseases, all of which arise from a torpid or d’.s ased liver, stomach, kidueys or b *weis. Prepat oi only by Dr. H. Moz.ev, At’anta, (ia. 5Jc. and $1 00 per bottle at druggists. A Fromineut Miniator Writes: After ton years of great suffering from indigestion, with groat nervous prostrati n, biliousness, disordered kidneys, and consti pation, I have brain cured by Dr. Moxlsy’g Isemon Elixir and am now a well man, Itev. C. C. Davis, Bid. M. K. Church South, No. 38 Tat noil street, Atlanlu, Ua. Lemon Hot Droce Curas all coughs, cold*, hoarseness, sore throat, tiToncftitU, temorrhage and ail throat and lung diseases. Elegant, reliable. 35 cents at druggists. Proeret uc jy by Dr. U. Motley, Atlanta, Ua. —Aid. DUMPLINGS AND OTHE .1 THINGS. Some Jnterrotinsr Foints Ab-ut Hygi enic Undargarments. Brooklyn-, N. Y., Oct, 3.—Scores of li ters have boon received at this office asking for information concerning Mrs. Annie Jenness Miller. “Is the magazine bearing her name still published, and has she roaily failed iu business,” etc., ole., etc. I have not seen Mrs. Miller, nor have I lead a single fine from her. From the daily papers I read several accounts of her fail ure. and I now observe that she has changed the style of her magazine. Tho present oue is called the Jennets M-lle.r Illustrate,i Quarterly, aud is uot so pretentious a peri odical iu appearance as tho one formerly published, called Dress. It is, however, to mv way of thinking, exactly as useful and quite as full of points as the other. I presume that Mrs. Miller met with serious revere < and was perhaps obliged to “fail,” ns thou sands and thousands of men have done before her, and will continue to do. I don’t see why there fhould be such a hui and cry about a woman’s failing in business. She has just as good a right to fail as a man. Mrs. Miller Is a plucky, progressive, wide-awako and culture! woman, aud has done more to bring ab ut a tasteful dresr reform tha i any other woman in this coun try. Those who have beeu taught and be ped by her should now rally to her sup port, and by every means in their power show tueir npprcc.ation of her efforts ia their behalf. To Mrs. Miller we are indebted 'for the gown-form, one of the most practically hygienic substitutes for the old fashioned waist and skirt tbut has ever been thought of. She also gave us the divided skirt, a style of po ticoat which has been a blessing to thouiands of women. Thero are a few who do not like this skirt, but for those who must Lave frills and puckers it is a splendid compromise. For my ow n use the equestri enne tigots are preferaLle, though where thin dresses are worn, and a sun t is neces sary, there is nothing so desirable as a di vided -kirt. Bands around tho waist are all wrong. It is impossible to arrange them with a view to comfort and unimpeded circulation at all times. There bands are fastened in the morning and seem quite loose and com fortable. After lunche >n they are snug and af.er dinner they make great welts in the flush. Such an aggravation seams too slight to notice, and so the binding process continues until bed time. Not long ago I received a letter from a lady signing herself “Georgia Invalid.” The wruer complained that she had adopted the reform dross, but it did not seem to give her any special relief or comfort. On in quiry I found that she had not taken the pains to adjust the different pieces. In other words she had not fastened her divi ded skirt to her waist so that the weight would rest where it was intended, ou the shoulders, and so had a girting band and a sagging petticoat besides the pressure of the band of her drawers. The only truly hygienic undergarments are the combiaation’suits. These should be of soft, warm wool and sufficiently large to allow of possible shrinking. Many ladies protest against long sleeved suits. It svorns to mo that iu this matter much depends upon the climate and the health of the piers in. In most cases tho sleeves that cover the upper part of the arm are sufficie it protec tion. Any thing that rasps the nerves, as long flannel sleeves aro opt to do, are cer tainly inimical to health. There are so many excellent authorities for canning, preserving and pickling frm t! at my correspondents must pardon mo for not complying with their reques's in this matter. There is oue subject connected with the culinary department, however, that is very near my hoirt, as rqy readers must know by this tims, and that is good bread. This is very seldom found at tho baker’s and l"ss often in the family. lam r.o friend to dumplings, because I am sure that wads of dough are entirely indigesti ble, and are ruinous to the system from the tiino of swallowing. Material that oaunot be digested cannot beaisnnilated, aud the wear and tear of tne sy tem in tho first process, though differing in different in dividuals, can s-arcely bo exaggerated. Now I confes. to a fondness for dumplings, notwithstanding ail 1 have written against them. But I rarely ever indulge this appe tite, and only v. hon these fascinating things are made as bygieuically as p- ssiblo and halted brown. Then Ido not fear to per taxo ia a slow and modest manner. An editor of a New York newspaper wrote tue the o:her day as follows; “If you will make, or cause to bo made, a pcs'-h dumpling as big ns my hat for my special delectation, I " ill dine with you any evening next woek. Bu; mind—no baked and ugh. Lot it bo boilod and white, with little holes in it, mar be, a id if a trifie s g gy so much tho better. Give mo some sauce of cr am and sugar fritbed ai.d frothed and flavored with tho brandy yon keep for sick folk'— o corner grocery stuff, mind—and kindly spare me > our own sauce —for heaven knows I have had onough of t int. And no a word a/out dyspepsia, cither. That is ray busiuus', and"vou will not be called upo i to rear the nai i.” He got tho dumpling "boiled aud white,” and he had the cream sauce and t;,ou -hr, lie hud the H )-yoar-old brandy. But lie ai.lu’t. It .a< only vanilla. Aid how ho 1 and cruise it. I; had the lovelies: flavor, and w hat a difference in the brandy of then a id now, etc., etc., etc. VYhi-n hi loa'U tuis Itt rhe wifi li iiou ; ids mistake. 1: mizh; be as well fir me to loivo town, but 1 cuuldn’t give him drspnpx.u and rii i liu risk of iu toxi -aruou at tho i a-no time. titr.ung ly enough this morning’s mail brought a req ie t for baked fruit dump lings iron a Baltimore hoilsekeep:r and a rrciue fur baked pencil du / pliugs from n lady in N" rbdk. It is as follows, aud my cudnarv ra-tinct rolls me that i; is g>od: "Peoi e:i rqe peaches ad balvo them; crack tho stones and remove tho pits, put ting the latter baclt into the peach and join ing the halves. Ton dumplings are about rigut f r six persons. Tho covering must bo made of a pint oi sifted flour, aud a great spoonful of swot butter, a yeast cake dissolved in enough warm milk to make a soft and ugh. Putin warm place to rise. When very light roll out thin and wrap around the p aches. Lot t :em stand ten minutes in worm pluco ami then bake brown in a quick oven. For a sauce beat one cup of granulated sugar, ot.e quarter cup of butter aujj oue -gz to a cream. Aid to this a cup of warm milk if soft sauce is desired.” Eleanor Kirk. SHOT TUB KING OF PANTHBfiS. A Brave Cnifornian 12-yaar-old Bags Seme Big Game. From the Chiciyo Inter Ocean. Phh.liburg.pUal. ,Eopt.2C.—Yeiterday, Stephen Fleming, aged 12 years, killed one of the largest panthers ever Brea in this soction. The toy had a pnung hound with which he was ir. the habit oi toirg out. into the woods for game, and as he had a Win chester rifle and was a good shot he w as not afraid to try his skill on any l eant he found. While out in the woods the dog star ed something in the brush mid c ,asad it about 230 yards, when it stj and at buy. As the boy c une up he found that tne gamo was a wickedlooking panther, which had taken to a leaning tree ami was growl ing at toe dog in a vicious manner. \oung Fleming hardly knew whether to sh' ot or not, but being a brave lad he raised his gun, and, taking deliberatj aim, Are' 1 , Tboihot paaed through the iau tber’s neck, and with blood eti earning from the wound and from his mouth, with an un earthly growl he started and .wn the tree. The toy was in a perilous position, but bn dotermi od not to run, and he kept bring at the enraged animal, and got two shots into him lefo.e he reached the ground. This rendered hnn harmless, and the dog grap pled with tb. beast who i he struck ground, but the lusuther having been shot nearly through tne heurt was too nearly g ne to do any damage, ami the couiageoin boy sent home to get help to bring in ills game. Pavlina Mos, the widow of H. T Yasv, the Coy it- weroor*’ of Mi. higan. i now pmo tioiig medicine m Ton!o. She tcl*res tbit *he U a grandniece of tips Lnipo. or Paul ot iXUOAO. MEDICAL,. IlM' TMJfI Nature should be assisted, when the system is changing from the full habit of the winter months, to the lighter diet of the warm season. Swift’s Specific (S. S. S.) stimulates the sluggish blood and rids you of that fedir.~ of heaviness and languor. S. S. S., beautifies the skin and makes the complexion rosy and healthy. S. S. S., gives elasticity to the step and buoyant spirits. S. S. S., makes the feeble end delicate strong and robust. S. S. S., is a tonic to the whole body and increases vitality. S. S. S., is a simple vegetable medicine. * If there is poison in the blood, it generally shows itself in the spring, and this is the season to help nature to drive it out and be cured. Nothing does this as well as S. S. S. It is harmless to the most delicate, yet so powerful as to cleanse the system of all impurities. Rooks on and Skin Rifnace- Pre-v TWF owr' nr, „. 1T „ r|| CHICHESTER'S ENGLISH, RED CROSS V'-U DIAMOND tIRANO J\ * rUiViS A - u THE ORi&inal AMD GENUINE. The oij Safr, Kr, and reliable Pi >1 for (..u**. —1 ask l>niggwt for Chichester* I'nqluh Diamond Brand in Kol and Gold mor.i'iir \ / fjJ Ih>*or ***led with blue rihhen. Take* no other Li;d. Brftuie Subefitutirms and Imitation*. V nk All pills in paercboard pink wrajjpers.ar 4ii,,t rou *ußtcrf-lu. At Draughts n r *-nd ai M 40. n stamps f. r parcicnlars. toatiraoulula, and **U* f lor lml >•,” in letter, 1. r ,. !l rv y. u 1/ 10.0410 Jestininniala. Same Paper. CHICHESTER CHEMICAL Cos.. Mndi-.tn V r Sulil by all Lot?! UrnirsiMi. I’lllLA DELPHI VP* 1 p 6 p e Fo PimpeSS PRICKLY A3H, POKE ROOT Blotches AND POTASSIUM Makes ~ „ , „ Old Seres Marvelous Cures —— n,i iinai n ■■■mini Prickly Ash, Poke Kootnnd PotaESium, tho greatest blood purifier on earth. m Pnlqnn PS2 LM WU W 8 UivUil poison, and all other impurities of tho i t mm ii- Elood arc cured by P. P. P. Bnndall Pope, the retired drufortat of 8 • Madison, Fla., sars : P. P. P. is tho best Sti IniQl!4BOftl alterative and biood ir.cdieine on the BHHSG&fIISSoIEtS?2I market. lie being a druggist and hav- BBBBWi4lunia*aßt a ai insr sold all kinds'of medicine, his tin- iimn solicited testimenial is of great Impor tance to the sick and suffering. and Sfirofula 13 M Waifl 6* 5 great pleasure in testifying to tho effl- i—i■ i ■ cient qualities of the popular remedy for eruptions of tho sMu known as P. P. P. (Prickly Ash, Poke Root and P. P. P. purifies tho blood, builds up Potassium.) I suffered for several the woak and debilitated, years with an unsightly and disogro to weakened nerves, expels diseases, ©able eruption on my faro, and tried giviugthe patient health and happiness various remedies toroinoveit, none of who jo sickness, gloomy feelings and which accomplished tho object, until lassitude first prevailed. this valuable preparation was resorted In blood poison, mercurial poison, *°- After taking three bottles, in ao* malaria, dyspepsia and in nil blood and cordanee directions, lam row en akiu diseases, like blotches, pimples, tiroly cured. J. I). JOHNSTON, old chronic ulcers, tetter, scaidliead, Of tho firm cf Johnston & Douglas, wo may say without fear of contra- Savannah Ga ‘ 3 tU ° bOSt blood ™-nry Wictcr, gnperlrtcwlmt cf tho piu ..u i.‘‘ ao Id. Savanna!; Brewery', atys : ho has bad bodies whom systems aro poisoned rheumatism of tho heart for several and whoso blood is in an impure con- years, often unable to walk his pain wus dition, duo to menstrual irregularities, ao incense: ho bed professors in Pl.iln aro peculiarly benched by the won- dolphin, but received no relief until ho derful ionic and blood cleansing pro- camo io Favannah and tried I*. p. >\ perties of I*. P. I*.. Prickly Ash, roka Two bottles mode him a well man and Root and Posassium. ho renders thanks to P. P. P. All druggists sell it. LIPPMAN BROS., Proprietors, Lippman’s XJlools, Savannah, C-cw nAir.RotPs, Florida Csntral and Peninsular Railroad. FLORIDA TRUNK LINE-TIME CVRD IN EFFECT JUNE !0, istsj. GO!NtTsoui'mntßAl) 1> ' A N GOING NOitTH—RE\i 7 f' Daily | Daily. Daily. Daily. It '1 p • I T:o>mt jl-v Ssvan-iah Ar 7:sopm 12:14 pm 62} run ] 11:25 am jLv Callahan Lv 1:43 pm 7:40 am 11 51 pin 2:23 pm Ar Hawthorne Lv 10:44 am . 3:74 act ... | 3:3tpm;Ar Silver Snrings Lv iam ' iit I:l*.a:u j 3:11 pm Ar ...Ocala Lv I*:24am I:l3am 4.1 am j .’:! tpml Ar Leesburg T.r B:o3an' .. 0: if) pm 6:53 am I 5:40 pm Ar 'lavares Lv 7:Wam B:sopiu 7:11 am j J 8:41 pm|.\r Apopka Lv <1:37 am 0:36 pm £:4oamj j 7:15 pin! Ar Orlando Lv 6:03 am 5:30 pm |Ar Kissimmee I.v 4:3Sam . 6:07 pm j3r Dade City Lv 7:loam o:37pm s:u 7:2< pm [Ar FiantCity ..Lv 5:37 am t:2oi>n 7:43 am 8:35 pm Ar Tampa Lv 5:00 am ... 7:10 pa t:"ipm I 8:30 pm jA r Tarpon .Springs Lv 7:llam | :':'3 [iii: 0:33 pm|Ar M;fherlanil Lv 6:~ am 5:30p.i 9:46pm|Ar St. Petersburg Lv s:47)nm|! ! *N:4I sin *7:74 pm Ar Punellon.. .s ,Lv *8:30 am 3:08 pm *S-oSpu *!0: *)aui *.;:oopm Ar Ilomusassa Lv *8:34 am 2:00 pm *2:00 ya > i VANN A* i AN 11 I'V.KNANDI >A. ~ 7:‘5 pm | 7:04 am jLv Savannah Arl 7:50 pm I 5:45 am 9:4' am | 2:7sspm|Ar Feraaudina f.v| 10:1,1; m | 7:0.1pm •f nil:- K.'.ppl Suptsy. +Dinno*. " Solid trains Callahan to Tampa and Orlando. Close connection at Tampa with So Fla & R. for 1’ irt Tampa, Key West aud Havana. Close connection at Ow nsbOro with So Fla. R. & for La- viand and Bartow. (lose coonfdior. at Tavaros with J T. and K. W. Ev. for Sanford ad Titusville. Pullman F-ufTet sieeping cars on night trains. Through short line Jacksonville f> N't* Orie.uis, Jacksonville to Tbom.'vsvia;-. Montgomery aud Cincinnati. Tickets sold and bi -ta?* chec e l through to all p Mats in the Uni ed States. Canada and Mexico. Sand fo- best map of Fl&ri la pul is .o i, aud for any information desir'd, to D. L. 31AXWr.I.U b. X. A. O. MACDONELL, O, P. A., Jacksonville, I’Ll .Minat AND (iAa FITTER. ESTABLISHED ISvA JOHN NI COLSON, 30 AND 32 DRAYTON STREET. Practical Plumber, Steam and Gasfitter. All sizes of IRON AND LEAD AND OTHER PIPES AND COCKS. A full line of Valves and Fittings, from '-5 to 6 inches. Everything necessary to lit up Steam, Hydraulic and Windmill power. Civil a id Steam Engineers will flod it to their advantage to call. BATH TUBS, WATER CLOSETS and WASH BASINS. CHANDELIERS, CLASS GLOBES, And other articles appertaining to a first-class honest establishment always in stock. CARRIAGE WORKS. TOG WEATHER HAS NO EFFECT ON OIR BUSINESS We are still hard at work Repairing, Paint ing. Trimming Carriages Buggl -and IVagona. Trucks and liraya lot the fa.l trade. Don't forget to lave tours put in order m time, and not wait uuld it is too late. Send to, or ring up NO. 451. T* -W-A-RD, HE IS THE MAN. FI.OUII. SELF-RAISING FLOUR MERITS THE POPULARITY IT ENJOYS. V,TI()LE> VLB GitUl tits. VAN DEVEER 4 UOLSII —celebrated ft CRACKERS —ARK best- Tiade Supplied by Henry Solomoa <S Soi