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gone, that the choice for Mr*. Elliot Fane lay
l>etwixt Miss Conwnv and Miss Richmond, and
looked upon the matter as a most tit close and
outcome of a rivalry begun when each was in
black niamuer's arms, and piquantly kept np to
this present day. As to which was the prettier,
that lay altogether with the gazer, some eyes
preferring Bertha’s sea-green orbs and pale,
plump fairness to all Florida's lissom grace and ' of some exasperation : “
darkling fire; others setting the tintless, flaxen She has vanished."
beauty quite at naught beside the peach and “Only into the next room. Yon can easily
pearl hues and dark, swift, lightning eyes of follow her, and I beg that yon will do it,"—a
h'-r rival. To both of these classes, by turns, 1 speech which showed how thoroughly Miss
belonged Mr. Elliot Fane. Yet, for all that, he Conway knew her man.
had no mind to sing —
tleinan: then more quickly : “ I wish I dared |
tell her to make them less conspicuous—and j
not to forget her gloves again."
“But you don’t dare,” said Miss Conway. “It |
would be worth —”
“My hope of success with her, you would ■
say ? Perhaps—but I’ve a mind to try it, ”
turning from her as he spoke ; then with a voice ;
'Too late, of course, i
“ It i9 admirable—being s once elegant, pe
culiar and artistic.”
He slipped it upon her ting-.
“You will take it?” a tint of recklessness in
his tone.
She turned
above her head
night—
Lead ns not into temptajn."
sharply away clasped her hands ' bright sum
1, and whisperv to the star-lit outer I ^^aaav
•• How ’.appy I could be with either.
Were t’other dear charmer away.”
Indeed, so delightfully enhancing was the con
trast, that it is at least questionable if he did
not at times incline to a mild Mormonism that
would have let him enjoy it in perpetuam. So,
'or the space of two years, he had hovered about
the two in a way that gave the public a delight-
lie caught the words, low* they were spoken, , form lrtv itm ln de9tll
and after a minute or two owlence. stud: j tier last touching word
“ That is no answer, Mis Florida, and 1 want Her earthly home she wa
an explicit one.” ' f,,,irit ,ound a fairur abIdin - plac
Still Florida did not spet. Bertha Conway s
fatalist, and never run after nor away from the : s ! ia * tln g han< ? 8 b “ ld ^ad a vvotnan’s
- - - - - ------ | cipher once giveu, a woman eyes read a woman s
Bertha Con
“I hardly understand,” replied the jottng
man.
“I suppose not,’’ sneered the stranger.
| “ I should like to say, sir, before we go any
| farther," said George, impatiently, “that if you
came here on matters of business, mv father is
vision of grace ami beauty, flying about in her 1 absent,
white dress, with floating carls and eyes aglow with lit - ; “ So I have heard, laughed the man.
; and health; the next, an oil can exploding, had wrapped I “And that I myself am very busy."
; the bright figure lndovonriuir flumes and in a brief time ■ Portions unease " sutnrested the Klrnnrrtu-
I the lovely life was quenched, and the sweet, glancing ! 1 ertiaps uneasj, suggested the strangei.
(for the Sunny South.)
YOU I MI ST GO HOME.
JIT DR. A. 1.. H \Mil,TON.
Little Marietta Bennett was the joy of every eye in that
summer, at Ited sulphur Springs, (in. One hour.
‘No,” he said with a slight shrug. “I'm a
“What do you mean ? ” asked George quickly,
cere “ Now I must go home." fts be tvjroerd and faced bis visitor squarely,
never to see again, but her | ,, Well, to come to the point, I’m here this
i morning to speak about your father.”
\h ! ” exclaimed George, looking suspicious-
Foir, lairv child, I see thee no\v»< wlien
With floatin'; curls and cheeks agiovc with hcaltl
good the gods provide. I’m tired of this corner, i ,
and the piazza is delightful by starlight. We ll : hear f bk ® the clearest prtn page-
take a turn or two, and then-” "V lr,v f J » ber ow , n de ?P® the n .' aa hll , ,ot f “ I
Pr. Warner had left the window a minute be- i —loruii\ luchmoml only is station anc posses .
fore, and stood idling in a recess of the hallway, s, ° n8 - *^ ie saw clearly wbre lay the rig 11
when a little woman, whose garments were j the wrong was so much ester, and in it lay her
heavy with crape and jet, and who had glided | only escape front the gallig imputation of defeat. ,
to the piazza in Miss Conway’s wake, made a ' As *o love, her life bad bea barren of it since her
tt-king the only man she can get.” Men even ! ...... . . . „
“eligible” were scarce hereabout: bow much 1 hen, as that lady almost instantly appeared :
more so “catches” the worth of Mr. ElliotFane, | . ‘ ‘ « -l ust J‘ s f tol(i Y°«- ri ? rida - Lvery one
whoso lineage and looks were quite equally irre- i ?.'? t,l ^ in 8 »h^nt you. lour hands are so red.
proftchable, and theligureof whose fortune ran • -lh° se bracelets make them so. It passes my
Well on to a million. What the recipients of i comprehension why you didn t buy yourselt
bis very deliberate and vacillating favor thought : S0D1 ° gloves, when you knew you hadn’t a de-
on this’head, was a point never canvassed, most cent pair.
.ikely from lack of data, for both were supreme- I It was Mrs. Wayne’s habit to comment upon ‘
“ ‘ Will I take it ?’ Yef-npon one conditior.”
“What condition?”
“Of doing with it as - please."
“ That goes without *ying.”
“Mr. Fane, you wond rather marry a woman
who loved you than otb who did not?"
“ Yes—unless the w»i»-ui who did not were
iy well-tired women—by consequence, Mr. El- every deficiency of Florida’s wardrobe, as though | yourselt."
dot Fane was to each only a gentleman whose i it were due solely to bad taste, or niggardliness, “Yon do
. . t 1 ! . ..... _* ... - mnrtoKvt I
e proud,” with a little mocking
attentions must be graciously received, with no j expenses being something for which she had 0 f ] courtesy; then, wavinj her hand to a pair within
tzrrkre- pensee as to his intentions. That the j right no sort of consideration. That she enjoyed the hall, “Bertha . con^here a moment, please,
popular judgment was wrong, I cannot con- 1 t,j ie process, and consequent vaunting of her own
scieutiously affirm. Certainly, the odds are that ; sense of style and fitness, nobody could doubt after
it was right, Y\omen, even the best, arc rarely ; listening to her rapid recital of all she had lieanl.
indifferent to the distinction of being chosen of
rank and wealth, not to mention the supreme
gratification of winning the purse over a con
sciously equal rival.
Last summer, when Miss Richmond's days
and nights were given to her sickly namesake,
tittle Florida Wayne, it was thought Miss Con
way's success was assured, and so it is likely it
would have been, but for the over-anxiety of the
aunt she dwelt with, Mrs. Peyton, who gave
Mr. Fane* such impossible opportunity that,
umn-like, he declined to embrace it. Bertha
was vexed enough over it. but aunt Sarah had a
way—and will—of her own. Action and reac-
Thy twinkling feet flew o'er the grassy lawn.
Thy rinsing voice I hear, thy birii-likc laugh.
Fair wag thy race: blight as a star thy mind;
A radiant creature, crowned witti hope and love.
And purity. No ray of morning light.
No wing of scented breeze surpassed tliy form
ln graceful lightness, or e’er shadowed forth
A purer, sweeter spirit. l*et of all:
Beloved by friends, thy parents' fondest hope;
Say. was it well the fierce and cruel flames
Should sear this lily i
“Now 1 must go home."
Aye, loveliest home—heaven's home is made for such
Pure lambs as thou; too pure and fair for earth.
Heaven chose thee for itself—an unstained bride.
To sit beside the Savior on His throne.
Shaded by golden palms of peace and love.
And live in joy for ever.
(For the Sunny Soutnj
UNDER A CLOUD;
-on,—
The Trail of Crime.
BY E. C. WALRAVEN,
Author of “The Two Orphans,” “A YVo-
niau’s l»evotion,” “A Game H ith
Death,” etc.
At the close, pausing for breath, and finding that
Florida did not speak, she added :
*' 1 sec you’re as sulky as a bear over it, but
you needn’t get mad with rue. It’s all your own
fault—and they did say it, though 1 know you
don’t like to hear it.”
I don’t like to hear of your playing eaves- j Florida vanished
ly at his visitor.
“You seem to be astonished,” continued the
stranger.
i “ I certainly am,” rejoined the young man,
coldly. “Ido not see what possible relation
can exist between you and my father.”
■ “No matter about that,” was the sharp reply:
; “you must take things as they are."
After Laving delivered this bit of philosophy,
i our old friend Logget—for it was he, as our
; readers have probably divined—drew up a chair,
i and seating himself near George, said, in a con-
j fidential tone:
“Can I say something to you without being
overheard ? ”
“ ’Yes,” replied the young man, shortly.
“I'll tell you beforehand,” said Legget, con-
! fideutially. “that I am lit re in your own inter-
! ost."
“About nty father?"
i “Exactly.”
“Explain yourself, please.”
“ Have patience, young man. Y ou know the
j old adage, ‘the more haste the less speed.’
. Well, now listen: Last night your father lost
i hiuiself in some quarter of this great city; and
i this is not surprising, as New York is no vil-
| luge. Unfortunately, Mr. Huntington will re-
main lost until he is able to pay a certain little
i debt that he has contracted. Here, now, is the
whole thing in a nut-shell; your father has com-
and as that lady drewnear, slipping the glitter
ing bauble from her ofrn finger and deftly, yet
without a word, fittingit upon that of her long
time rival, then, with it little laugh, “The figure
ought to be ‘Ladies, change,’ if it isn’t. I know
Mr. Fane is tired of nl?, so, I>r. Wurner, please
tako rue back to the ball-room.”
Miss Conway saw It all, but Mr. Fane wus i concern, nowerer, n im ; „ • . .
equal to the occasion. He drew her—all one j Mr. Huntington was occupied with outside ! • B A how nm I to
tremor now—close 1o his breast and said, as j business, and the clerks proceeded with their j R 8 “• vol , Jneakib« the truth and that
work, satisfied in their own minds that nothing i know ^at you are speaking the truth, and that
CHATTER YI.
THE BAXKEB’s HOME.
On the following morning, the clerks in Mr. , . . „ „
Huntington’s great banking-house down town i uiisHtonecl me to obtain from you the small sum
were surprised at not seeing the head of the 1 of five thousand dollars, upon the payment ot
concern. However, it was not improbable that which he will return to his home.
Mr. Huntington was occupied with outside
dropper. As to what was said. I don’t mind it one j “She’s the real grib. as true as steel, and as
thousandth part as much as I would Frauky and | hard, and I owe he{ more than anybody, for
Flora waking to empty stockings in the morning,”' j giving me hope of winning the woman I love—
Mi«s Richmond said, unclasping her bracelets as ! my darling Bertha Conway.”
she spoke. • j As Dr. YVarner pit Miss Richmond in her i and nothin
of unusual importance had occurred. ! y ou come from my father ? ”
But towards eleven o’clock, it was rumored j “Here is a little piece of paper that will assure
that something serious bad taken place. , you ot the truth ot what I say.
What could it be ? Curiosity at its height, j , Legget handed the young man the note which
was offered to sutisfy its cravings. 1 and Lube had compdled Mr. Huntington to
Richmond to think steadily and to a purpose.
She had the certainest possible conviction that
the ball a week hence was to settle it all, and
her pride thrilled at thinking it wonld likely
ue hers to fake, or to leave the heir of Elliots-
-ion and his wide possessions,
Florida laughed outright. “ Maybe she did ; at
any rate put them away for me. As to Mr. Fane,
he must care a deal more about me than I thought
he did, if he lets such a trille as my appearance
mar his sublime serenity.”
Mrs. Wayne moved a step on her errand, than
father, whom they had not'seen since the pre- ! lainy, sir, is apparent. What! yon dare to hold
vious evening. His prolonged absence was to | my lather in your infamous clutches, and at the
them inexplicable. George was too
well ac- I same time have the assurance to address me,
ransom ? Sconn-
Oh, well! 1 suppose it's none of my a flair,— j carriage he said: At Mr. Huntington’s residence, oh l’ark j 8, S“- . , , .. OVPr e-arefnllv and then an-
tion are equal; so the scale of possibilities now j but that’s all the thanks 1 ever get from you—and : “I've told John that I’m dead tired, and it’s a j avenue, everything was in a state ot confusion. | red 0 b( . tween hjs tightly closed teeth-
dipped decidedly Florida-wards, and this, too, [ you know as well as I do that Elliot Fane was ! very dark night, audit’s ten miles to Y\ indham, ; George and his sister were greatly astonished j • : D . fc ja Ri d b | * father; bnt yonr vU
tipon the home-stretch ; for, coine Christmas, it j your only chance of a rich husband—and you’ve i an( i I want a holiday besides, and still he won t ; and mystified by the non-appearance of tn ’ * * *
was but three months until the day, when, if « lost him certain. Give me those trumpery things;” : ask me home with him. ^ hat am I to do
Elliot Fane were not a married, he thenceforth (taking the bracelets); “l believe Cousin Anne just ! about it? ’ ... .
l>ecame a poor man—a thing all knew he wonld : sent them to you to make you look ridiculous.! “ Revenge such inliospitality by an }‘
most strenuously avoid. She knew they were too small.” ' wa y>” laughed Florida, while John added:
And now yon know why it behooved Miss - Florida laughed outright. “ Maybe she did ; at ■ “Fd haveasked vou forty times. only I thoaght
- ------ e J twas useless, and I do hate to waste good breath.
Come along, and I’ll keep you until half Wind
ham is in hysterics over your mysterious dis
appearance. ’’
Perhaps Dr. Warner was very tired, but his ! change to this terrible situation. After striving
1 - i to keep his patience some time longer, George
- * " ‘ Huntiug-
quainted with his father’s character to imagine j his son, in order to obtain a i
that a mere accident kept him away. While ! drel! you have come to he wrong person, as
- - - - 1 you will learn to your cost.
Thus saying, the young man sprang towards
doing his best to reassure bis sister, he felt a
secret uneasiness steal over him like the pre
sage of coming misfortune.
Another hour passed without bringing nuy
ons For the man j 8t0 ‘ q f0 say in indication of her aggrieved dig- | no , t 80 dee P 88 t0 b f undisturbed by ! ^ lengtVtTquesUon Ylr.
e. II& was clever, i b ° the mornings scampering patter of little feet, * aeteimineo a* leu^iu io jue n.u ^
it, like Ethel New- ..R,- ... .. . , i ea^er to show to everv eve “ what Kiss Kringle , s Vft * e t, Josepn.
few. she Mull nnt ! 0t cour8e 1 11 F ut them a ' va ^' 1 m .! us ‘ y°" r wSLhi mA ’ '«leen.” T.ono before ! He knew this latter to be in every
S imself she cared but little,
well-bred and amusing, but.
ome with regard to Lord Kew, she could not
heip feeling herself the Oilier of the two—and I
know nothing better fitted to arouse womanly
irreverence than this sense of masculine short- ...
•t*ss, mental or physical—but for the ease and ! ,“ c “' , , 1
white slender
waiting-maid
for.’
-at least it’
grace L
-Mre »
:lirfn la
his wealth might give her life, she
them above lier head till their normal
erness was regained, then turned to
coed deal, and for the defeat implied i. find herself face to face wiibBr. Warner
'..hSn is at an consistent with the amount of i»n«xz— - tn.in.imi
gelhood proper to all women. . . o *
That Miss Conway's sentiments were in the ' b' n K time before I was born. ’
main a reflex of her own, Florida never doubt- j “ Not quite—remember you are twenty-five.’
ed. “If there wereany heart on any side of the
matter, I would wash my hands of it ; but
there's none all around,” she thought, with a
smile that was grim. “He is impelled by neces
sity, propinquity and passion, and has tho
M-nse to see how lie stands with us. Only last
week, at Mrs. Wheeler’s, he said to me;
“ ‘I'm glad you and Miss Conway are not
friends.’
“'Why?' I answered. ‘And isn’t that very
■unchristian lor a pattern young man like your
self Y
“ ‘Very—and selfish as well; for you see, it is
just this enmity which makes me dare so often
inflict myself on you. You musn’t—and doubt
less don’t-care for me, but appear to do it,
just to plague one another.’
“ ‘What should yon do should we sign a truce,
and mutually ignore you ? ’
"He looked at me hard, os if to see whether
there was any covert significance in tho query,
then, with a slow laugh :
“ 'Heaven forbid ! I should be forced to give
myself up to fate and Miss Ellen LeClerk.
She’d take care of me, fast enough.’
“She certainly would, unless repnte is a liar,
being by that notoriously ‘ fast’ in everything.
She would like nothing better than to queen it
at Elliotston, bnt she never shall. It is worth
respect a
.11 think I’m 6. ; | Worthy nt.ut, tutd Mint his «« to be
Florida save her freed hands a quick, disgustful rt 0 “S > «q a ,SnJ’wlt?t£'ntSSeTOSp > e^ , *‘^S«nph/«nid qeorge. ns soon as the servant
sona«e. Mamqilfsaid he “wasn’t nobody,” and hud entered his private room, I have till now „
- 1 “ was “dead broke,” but ; refrained from calling you, supposing that my ; matters,
lit what t.bev most panted J lather would soon make his appearance. Imt
gh this year he had left a you to tell me anything you may know about ]
lo stockings telling that his
reindeer were lame, so Franky’s little real wagon
and Flora’s walking doll had been left to await
uncle John tta Jkhe was
_ -. Mr; •»- n • Atmtic ElO-fOfl®
latigiatcru, virxjpjtiuTJ hi.-.. ■ proioanu colt ^ay. ; forget to cornet 1
Why, I thought you left off nil manner of folly a 1 pretty note in t
“ And you are one of those charming people j the recovery of hiJjteam. Dr. YVarner smiled
who keep inconveniently long memories for the | softly over* tho loling subterfuge, and when
torment of their friends j “Auntie Flo”came to her late breakfast, he
“ 1 could not, if I would, forget you—the wil- said, sipping hie coffee as though it were water:
fulest child that ever kicked and clawed away j “Was my name put in the letter to Kriss
from her nurse, screnmiug the while ‘ I won’t, I | Kringle? I think he might have brought me
wo-on’t! I wo-o-o-on’t!’ Has your temper im- ! something.” .
proved any since that interesting episode?” ‘ “He did—and here it is,” she said, loosing a
“ Not a whit. My claims to the atJgelic are of j knot of delicate blossoms from the lace-tangle
the slenderest possible order, I’m happy to say." I at her throat, and handing it to him with “I
this strange affair.’
“ Mr. George,” answered the man, “ 1 am very-
anxious myself, and I am glad you called me.”
“l)o you know anything about my father’s
absence?” asked George nervously.
“I think so.” . v _
“Then speak quicklv: do hot conceal the ; wards the man, while his eyes flashed with rage,
smallest detail. Where is my father ?" | “ Now, keep your temper,” said Legget coolly;
Ah ! sir," replied the man, respectfully,
I i “ there’s no use in making things worse than
do not know any more than yon do. All I know i they are already. You must understand that
Let’s go to the ball-room—I mean to dance
to-night, though I haven’t tried it for fifteen years,
and 1 want you for a partner—that is, if you have
an unengaged dance, and don’t think it would
make you look ridiculous.”
“ I think it would make me look distinguished,
and I’d break engagements with any man here for
the sake of dancing with my papa's friend—and
mine,” she said, lifting frankly-cordia! eyes to his
face.
“ Are you right sure of that ?” pressing close
the hand upon his arm, then taking her ball-book.
I won't ask for the next dance, as it is Mr.
have a malicious pleasure in seeing a man get
possession of flowers under such circumstances
that he can’t indulge his normal impulse of
throwing them away,”
Dr. YVarner’s face took a preternatural gravity
as he turned to John.
“ What have you^been doing, sir ?” he said.
“ You must have been misbehaving dreadfully
to give your sister sujh an opinion of U3.”
Mrs. Wayne made Haste to remark:
“I tell Florida often she o".ght not to say such
things. They do make a girl so nnpopular with
gentlemen." >-
Evidently, Miss Richmond’s was a lawless
about the affair is that master went ont last night
at eleven o'clock. Before going he sent me for
a hack and told me to wait for him some three
blocks away. He seemed to be excited about
something, and I did my best to find out what
the matter was; but it wasn’t any use. He did ! Lame Rube, “you’re a sensible young fellow,
not say a word; but I had a suspicion.” |and you may as well be prudent. The best
Fane's. Ah ! here he is now—doubtless in search j humor, for she said very demurely ;
saving, if its master is not. Such insolence in
him! I wonld rather he had said plainly : I
“ ‘Either will take me,for fear the other should 1 wrotc h,m down for a quadrille.
of you. Miss Conway, 1 know you respect the
age which this wicked girl has been throwing in
my teeth, so 1 hope there is a place for me on your
tablets.”
Miss Conway bowed a smiling acquiescence, and
Generally her
get me. ’
“ Heigho ! I really wish I loved him.
the other day,
*• He who for love hath undergone
The woret that can befall,
Ik happier, thousand times than one
Who never loved at all.”
“I wonder how it wonld seem to feel that you
didn't belong to yourself. Control would be a
new sensation to me. Boor papa never attempt
ed it, and John thinks I don’t need even advice,
calligraphy was smooth as her tones, and round
I read I as ber fi S ure > and Florida, accidentally glancing
i over her shoulder, was startled by the sight of a
! hieroglyphic combination in place of Dr. Warner’s
! name, by comparison with which her own nervous
! scratch was most seemly and legible writing. Was
i it possible that Elliot F&ne's light words, “ Miss
Florida, do me the kindness not to dance our set—
I want to talk to you,” spoken fairly in Miss
Conway’s hearing, had set the pale beauty’s firm
nerves a-quiver? And if so, what did it signify
bless him for it; and as to Mildred, I’ve felt Miss Richmond paused full in front of her rival,
more <jrou>n than she was ever since I could
walk.
^ “Well, upon the whole, I think I’ll marry Mr.
Fane. It's odd, but I’m sure were he woman
and looked so intensely into the blue-green eyes,
that once again the white hands shook like leaves,
and Miss Conway made her first impetuous move-
. went since entering society in escape of that tin- !
&od I man, I could love him very dearly—at j endurable scrutiny.
any rate, dearly love what I’m certain to get by . , r ,, , ... , . . , , ,,
such a marriage, to-wit: namely, money-and j L Aa . Mr ' F « e “ d M| ss Richmond slowly trod !
jnv own way ” , l“ e piazza length, it were very hard to tell whose
Mrs. Peyton's ball, albeit so Ion" looked and ! iJeas ' teelin & fl ' &nd P ur P 09es were in the knottiest ;
prepared for, was a surprise party? after all, to tangle—a state of things quite odd when you re- ;
most of those with whom this veracious chroni- j f,ect ‘hat they lwd come together with each a well -!
cle has to do. The first startling incident was : defined intention—his to offer himself, hers to (
Dr. YVarner's appearance —a thingas little count- ! accept him—and should therefore have been in |
ed on as frost in July. Coming rather late, he ' marvelous accord. That was only three hours |
got his first sight of it all through the wide i back of this decisive minute, yet that space had j
open windows, which the April-soft air and > sufficed to work chaos in each soul. Mr. Fane
huge Christmas fires made necessary to comfort i had a lively sense of honor, and two days before
Florida was full in view, her face radiant, her i he had spoken lo Miss Richmond, what, without
attire perfect, save that her hands were bare; ■ being a set proposal, was an irretrievable com-
for after all, tho old gloves had not done. She j miital. So, having now a sense that he must go
coaid not bear to mar her perfect toilet with j further, lie lacked all inclination to do it. l»e-
their creased surface and inharmonious shade, sides, to-night, as never before, Bertha Conway’s
i ot even the cross-lights from card-room and I white loveliness had stolen through his senses
w h°se dividing arch she j with irresistible appeal, anil her baflling calm of
■ ne>r f'f n * .y. e outline of her , pride had given him a mad longing to wake its
perfect face, or show stain or flaw in its exquis- I marble melt its ice with a lava-clow of kisses
ite color. Bertha Conway, looking at her from , elt ,,. c ’ u ..u • A
the window recess - Dr Warner could ha“ 1 ^ , he ™ uld ba ? e tbr0 ™ h ° n< ? r t0 ‘ he , wmd9
x „ v i * i •. , VUUIU Lilt Vo ariil mailo I Vtn trial hn t for l«lnriiln’a mniftTll Pftrft.
touched her plump, white shoulder—did not,
Never mind, Milly; I only say them to the
ineligibles.”
“ Florida!!!!!"—exclamation points are quite
inadequate to Mrs. YVaj 'e’« tone—“Dr. Warner
isn’t—not—not—that wl at all! You ought
to be ashamed. He is stopping, staggered
by the enormity.
Florida laughed gleefully.
“To your mind, most eligible—is that it,
Milly? Dr. Warner, ‘bwareofvidders.’ Shall
I order your horses? Yon know, ‘Discretion,’
etc., etc." she said, as Mrs. Wayne sailed awuy
in high dndgeon.
YVhen, at a much later hour, Dr. Warner’s
horses were ordered, and he stood ready cloaked
for the drive, he took Florida’s hands in his and
asked;
“ Did you moan what you said this morning ?
Am I really ineligible ?"
“Ask your own—vanity. But why do you
want to know?”
What was it ?
1 “You see, mnster received a strange letter
during the day. I saw the envelope, but that
didn’t give me any information. I judged that
the letter contained something of importance,
because, after reading it, your father grew ter
ribly pale, and I noticed that his hand trem
bled.”
“ The letter must have been from some one
who asked for an interview,” said George, half
to himself.
“So I thought; but that’s not all.”
“What else do you know?”
“ Then master came to the hack. I was wait
ing for him, and as soon as he saw me he told
me to go home. But I was almost frightened
by his appearance, and I was sure something
had happened, though I could not guess what.
Well, to make a long story short, as I was about
moving off I heard him tell the driver where to
j go, and where do you think it was, sir?"
I “ Where, where !"
j “To one of the worst parts of the city; over
j there in the neighborhood of the Red Inn.”
“ Good heavens!” exclaimed George, in aston
ishment; “are you telling me the truth?”
“Nothing but the truth, sir,” replied the ser
vant, in a tone which carried conviction with it.
“What business could he hare there?" mused
George.
j “That’s the question,” replied the servant,
who—now that his tongue was loosened by
George’s familiarity — grew garrulous, “and i trouble yourself to set any one on my track
! after I am gone. If you are foolish enough to
woman to love me?"
“Because I t.nnk of—of marrying. j that’s what puzzled me. Y’ou see, I was afraid | after I am gone. If you are foolish enough to
“ I he day of miracles is clearly not passed . J tQ say nny tbing about it to you at first, because have me followed, the old gentleman may find
it who is she ? . .. | r I if my master returned, he might be angry at me. j himself in a bad fix. Just let me go in peace,
‘‘ D « yo«_ t _ hin Jf. , t. WOUld l> ° ,m * >0SSlbte for ft ! But now perhaps he is in trouble, and it would and all will be well."
1 be wrong to keep still.” j NV ith these words, Legget bowed, opened the
! “ The letter you spoke about was evidently ; door, and crossed the threshold,
j a decoy,” said George, thonglittully. At tho same time a gentleman stepped forward
“Likely enough,” assented the servant. J to enter, and the two men ran against each
| “Bnt ray father—an honorable gentleman—i other.
j what can it mean? Great heavens ! if ” j Their eyes met, and Legget gave a cry of sur-
1 1 never could decide hypothetical cases.”
‘Well! Can you?” r
1 I'll tell you— u year from to-day. ’
A year from that day Dr. Warner, snug by his
own fireside, told a story that seemed of great
interest to its one auditor. When it was fin
ished she said, after a little space of silence:
“ So that’s how you came to love me. Good
old Miss Martha, you little dream that your in
discretion has given color to ali my life.”
“And what is the hue, madame?”Dr. Warner
had the vanity to ask.
Why, my lord,” running pearly fingers
after the manner of women generally in stories)
feel her heart sink and glare and grind her
teeth over the marvellous fairness, bnt instead,
with the calm confidence of being thoroughly
well dressed—a confidence none other earthly
can equal—drew Mr. Elliot Fane’s attention to
the lissom figure opposite, saying in the slow,
cooing voice that somehow always made one ex
pect a sediment of malice:
“ Did Florida Richmond ever look so beauti
ful or so happy ? From her face, her mood must
be altogether colueur de rose."
t “As much so as her hands? Their tint is
)most unquestionable," demurely from the gen-
and made the trial, but for Florida’s radiant care
lessness, and the caressing accent with which Dr.
Warner spoke her name. As regards women, all
men are more or less the dog in the manger.
There is no such spur for a lagging lover as the
knowledge that what may be his own for the tak
ing is coveted by another. So, after a space of
silent pacing back and forth, Mr. Fane halted be
neath a swinging lamp and handed Florida a ring,
saying carelessly:
“ Is that good style ?”
A solitaire of extra brilliance flashed from a
field of jet. Florida turned it slowly about with
an air purely critical, then held it towards him
with—
for, at that moment, a knock was heard at the
door. |
Joseph hastened to open it, and George was !
surprised to see a stranger upon the threshold.
Tho new-comer was dressed in scrupulously i
bad taste, and was, in fact, an eccentric-looking ;
individual. His face was anything but pleas- j
,, . . . ~ j ... , ant, and his ges.nres were coarse and ludicrous. ;
through his heavy fleece of beard and smiling , What do b wLjb sir y demanded George, !
softly as she did it, “ of course, the distressful | baugb tilv 1
tint that my hands wore that memorable Christ-| T j^ J' et screwad his form into what i
mas Eve, namely, coideur de rose. , might be termed a bow, and replied:
* * * *• * * . ! “ Y r ou must excuse me, sir, but I have a few |
Mrs. Elliot Fane is duly grateful to Florida j words to say to you in private; may I see you j
for not taking her husbaud, but if she lived a ; alone?”
thousand years she never would forgive her for ! While he was speaking, the stranger looked I
The young man did not finish the sentence, j prise. He recognized Philip, and George did
r at tw mnmnni « tneek was liftnrrl at th& ; u,,t fail to notice the circumstance. As soon as
having had the chance of him.
A Se.vseeess Expression.—We know of no ex
pression more silly than that oft-quoted line,
“Death loves a shining mark." Do not all die?
Do the simple, the humble, or the poor escape
the shafts of the destroyer any more than the
learned, the proud, or the wealthy ? Ah ! it is
human flattery that “ loves the shining mark,”
which carves not a line for Lazarus, be he never
so worthy, bnt hastens to lay poems of praise
on the tomb of Dives, who has j ust ended a life
of oppression and selfishness.
Legget had disappeared, he turned to his friend
and remarked :
“Lo yon know that man, Philip?”
“Know him?” stammered the young sailor ;
“ it seems to me that I’ve seen him somewhere."
“Do you know where?"
“Don’t i/on know him ?"
“ No.”
“ That’s strange.”
The two men were about communicating their
impressions, when Joseph returned and an
nounced a second visitor.
George ordered that ho should be admitted
at once, while Philip stepped into an adjoining
room. In a few moments a man entered the
room.
He was of medium height, quiet in his movo-
earnestly anil meaningly at Joseph.
George, who could not imagine what such a
person desired with him, motioned the servant j meats, and possessed a face ’in which sharpness
to retire, and then, closing the door, turned to I and real intelligence were strangely blended,
his visitor and asked: J There was something peculiar in his whole ap-
“ Now, sir, what do you wish ? pearance which struck the young men as uu-
“Aro you Georgo Huntington? asked the 1 usual.
ma Vu b !; Uptly ' »• “Mr. Huntington,” began the new comer,
fn at • 8 i!? y . n v ame i'* - • , .u ... “I have learned some of the events of which you
“ All right, then, rejoined the man with a are the victim, and 1 come to place mv services
smile of satisfaction. “ Yon see there’s nothing at your disposal.” J
like being sure to whom you’re talking, young “ Who are yon, sir?” inquired the young man,
man, and I don t want to make any mistake. in surprise. ‘
thing for you to do is to give me my money and
let me go.”
George reflected. YVhat was he to do? His
father’s safety evidently depended upon his
course, and he felt only too well that Legget was
speaking the truth, and that if any violent meas
ures were resorted to, the banker’s life might bo
endangered.
After debating in his mind some time longer,
he saw the necessity of complying with the
villain’s demands. So turning to his visitor, ho
said, coldly:
“I will give you the money. Now, what
guarantee have I that my father will be libera
ted ? ”
“My word, young man," replied Legget.
As George still hesitated, he continued:
“You may rest easy. There’s honor even
among thieves, yon know. Mr. Huntington
will be free before six o’clock to-night, I prom
ise you."
“Well, I suppose I must believe you.”
With these words, George sat down and wrote
an order, to be delivered to his father’s cashier,
and handed it to Legget.
“Is it all right?” asked the latter, suspi
ciously.
“Certainly.”
“ I shan’t be touched, eh ? ”
"No.”
“ In that case, many thanks for your kindness.
One word more, however, before I go. Don't
the bell rope, and was about to pull it. At tho
same time Legget said, in a laughing voice:
“ YVhat are you going to do, my young fire
brand ? ”
“ Don’t you see? I am about to call for help."
“You intend to have me am-sted, then?
“ Like a wretch that you are ! Y'es."
“Pshaw!” said Legget, carelessly. “YVhat
if I am a wretch '? That’s not the question for
us to discuss at present. Y’ou had better think
twice before acting, or you may compromise
The menace contained in these words startled
“YVhat do von mean ? " v ’~'
“Y’ou read the note, didn't von ? "
“Yes.”
“Perhaps you noticed the words: ‘ Ji is n
matter of life and death.’ Let me say, aiso, that
your father's honor is at stake.”
“His honor?” cried George, springing to-
all my measures are taken, and that if I have
come here alone, your father’s life will answer
for mine.”
George grew pale and sank into a chair.
“Now,” continued the worthy partner of
mvy
