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TAKE CARE WHOM
YOU TRUST.
BY COMPTON READE.
CHAPTER XXL
It wm evident that Theodore Lovett’s affairs
were nearing a crisis. Mr. Brown had not with*
drawn from the negotiation in regard of Cold-
hole advowson, hut his solicitor advised that
there were difficulties in the way of presentation;
hence there appeared no prospect of Mr. Brown's
money being available just yet. In the mean
while the liability to the Lingeville bank was
imminent, and banks have a hard-and-fast rule
of requiring payment at the date named in the
bilL They are in fact compelled to act on gen
eral principles, and, if a customer violates his
engagement, are bound by every law of good
ffiith to treat such a man as a rogue, be they nev
er so fully convinced of his integrity.
As a precautionary measure he took the liber
ty of calling on Mr. Petifer to enquire whether
his principals would grant an extension of time
until the sale of the advowson was complete.
To this not very unreasonable request Mr.
Petifer declined to listen with patience. He
really couldn’t say how the bank would act His
own opinion, formed, he might say, long since
from bitter experience, was that the clergy as
a body were most atrocious men of business,
and utterly unreliable into the bargain. How-
over, his directors had thought otherwise. Had
fte been consulted he should never have reco-
mended a loan on the title-deeds of leasehold
prope,
Lovett bad no alternative but to bear this
impudent tirade with patience, for tne great
soul would not suffer interruption. At length
the subject-matter having exhausted Mr. Peti-
fer’s wind, an opportunity occurred for a rejoin
der, that the point at issue was not the ques
tionable conduct of the clergy, but how to solve
an unforeseen difficulty. Mr. Lovett waxed
wrathy, for his opponent was utterly impassible
to all argument, and a determined and wilful
ignoratio elenchi is the very highest form of ag
gravation.
The upshot of this interview was that Mr.
Petifer shelved the responsibility of action on
the manager of the bank, to whom he insinuated
application by letter. Accordingly Mr. Lovett
wrote a clear and concise statement of his posi
tion, offering the fullest apologies, and praying
that an exceptional case might meet with excep
tional consideration.
In reply to this the manager, a very courteous
gentleman, wrote that he should be quite pre
pared to sanction removal for one month longer,
provided that the one hundred pounds over
drawn were refunded at once, otherwise he re
gretted extremely that his positive instructions
were to refer him to the bank’s solicitor, Mr.
Petifer.
As for that limb of the law, it could prove in
action most muscular. Petifer sliming a duke,
and Petifer on to a creditor, might equally be
considered a moral spectacle. He was doing his
duty. Therefore, as soon as his superiors in
vested him with authority, he began to use it
in the terrific »nd vindictive style. He threat
ened proceedings, not merely civil but criminal
(on a charge of obtaining money under false
pretences), and in the end so successfully
alarmed the Lovetts as to drive them out of
Lingeville. The law of imprisonment for debt
was still in force, and poor souls who were una
ble to pay were liable to be fettered from work.
Adine wished her husband to demand this
hundred pounds from Horace Blakeley. How,
she argued, could he ever expect to oocupy a po
sition in Lingeville if it were to get wind that
he had to bolt in order to escape arrest ? Mr.
Blackley, in common decency, could not refuse
this request; and if her husband would not
write to the man, she would.
Mr. Lovett shook his head. He was cowed at
Petifer’s violence. A man who has lived a free
life, i. e., unencumbered by debt, if suddenly
he should be placed in the position of defaulter,
is utterly lost. His judgment becomes distor
ted by fear and disgust; for, it must be remem
bered, the better a man is the greater is his
horror of disgrace. He declined to write to
Horace Blackley, or to ask a favor, which he
knew would be rejected with cool insolonce,
nor could he tolerate for a second, that his wife
should beg where he was ashamed. Not so
opined Adine. She was so thoroughly convinced
of her own influence with Hoiaie Blackley as to
believe that he would treat a reqnest of hers as
a command to be loyally obeyed. Accordingly
she secretly despatched him a letter, which, if
he were to answer substantially by return of
post, would just save their removal trom Linge
ville.
Needless to say, this false step was productive
of no good. Horace Blackley chuckled over her
touching appeal to his “old friendship,” put it
quietly into his pocket and vouchsafed no reply
whatever.
The necessity of flitting being now beyond a
doubt, Ralph was put in requisition t< jecure
suitable apartments for them in London—the
metropolis being a bundle of hay, where a poor
needle is least likely to be found—and he accord
ingly selected a sufficiently out-of-the-way quar
ter, viz: Portobello Park, the new suburb lying
north-west of Notting Hill, and on the wrong
side of the metropolitan line of rail, where
houses being new and clean, and, the neigbor-
hood being not much in repute, lodgings are
cheap. For this destination the Lovetts pre
pared to travel forthwith, and Adine with the
nurse and baby were already seated in a fly,
which was to carry them to the rail, when the
lodging-house girl, touched perhaps by a some
what larger tip than she had anticipated, and
aware that no time was left for a row, produced
from beneath a very adipose apron a letter,
which she confessed to having “forgot” to de
liver yesterday.
How guil.ily Adine’s face reddened ! Could it
be from Horace Blackley ?
In a trice her husband was by her side, and a
glimpse of the handwriting relieved her appre
hensions. The letter was not from Horace
Blackley, but from Mr. Brown’s lawyer, and its
purport ugly enough. It appeared that Mr.
Brown had received several anonymous commu
nications, advising him to have nothing to do
with Coldhole advowson on the ground of the
sale being tainted with simony, and the title
being unsatisfactory. The lawyer did not quar
rel with the title, but he regretted to say that
his client felt so nervous about the matter that
he declined to risk his money. The letter was
so worded as to preclude all hope of further ne
gotiation. Evidently Mr. Brown had finally
made up his mind.
( “Heaven help us !” cried the poor man, as the
fly dashed up to the Btation only just in time for
the London express.
Adine was too much occupied in looking after
the nurse, whose efforts to bring the baby’s face
into collision with the luggage were very nearly
successful, to remark her husband; when, how
ever, he took his place by her Bide in the rail
way carriage, and the train had emerged from
darkness into the full light of day, there was
that in his countenance which startled her.
“What is the matter, Dore dear?” she enquir
ed tenderly, clasping his dull hand, which
seemed to have lost its use.
“Nothing. At least, nothing much,” he
gMped.
Nevertheless, before the train was a mile away
Lingeville, the heart of this great broad
man had played him traitor, and he lay stretched
in a dead faint
On his recovery he fumbled in his poeket,
and counted his assets. Notes were less than
fifty pounds, there was a stray gold piece, and
some silver.
Thus, sad and sorry, these two people with
their sleeping little one, journeyed towards a
city of refuge, eruelly conscious of the fatal
crisis; having lost, too, the small comfort of an
ignis fatuus which until now had lightened their
path.
CHAPTER XXII.
A telegram from Horace Blackley preoeded
the voyagers to London, and its purport in
fused, far the moment, new courage into Adine.
He appointed to meet Mr. Lovett on the mor
row, at the offices of Plumley and Smith, Bed
ford Row. One o’clock sharp. Plumley and
Smith were the professional advisers of the
Rev. Horace.
Impatient Mr. Lovett arrived nearly an hour
too Boon, but was, nevertheless, promptly ac
corded an interview by Plumley, the senior
partner, an elderly man with the blandest of
smiles, and the cruelest eye conceivable. This
gentleman appeared much concerned about the
failure of the negotiation with Mr. Brown. He
affected to attribute it to Mr. Brown’s relations,
who objected to Essex, as a place of residence.
Mr. Lovett shook his head; he had his sus
picions. Mr. Plumley, remarking his look of
incredulity, attempted to reassure him. A
scene between the two clergymen, would be as
disagreeable as useless.
“We shall be able,” he said, “to plaoe before
your professional adviser, Mr. Lovett, such a
proposal, as—”
“But I haven’t got a professional adviser, in
terrupted Mr. Lovett.”
“Not? My dear sir, respectfully, but firmly,
I must ask you to permit your interests to be
duly protected by a solicitor. It is, I assure
you, most necessary for yourself, and indeed
for our client, that you should be duly advised.”
“Can you give me the name of any clever
man ?”
“Mr. Plumley hardly desired to take such a
responsibility on his shoulders. He might
say that in Bedford Row alone, there were doz
ens of most able lawyers. In fact, the law, as
a profession, might contain a few knaves, but
indisputably very few fools.
Mr. Lovett reflected for a moment. “Can
you tell me the London agents of Mr. Chowner,
of|Blankton ?” he enquired.
Mr. Plumley referee! to the law list. “Col-
qnhoun, Rider, and Priest, Bedford Row,” he
said, adding “just across the way- most first-
class firm. My clerk shall show yon.”
Colquhoun he found engaged; Rider was at
Westminister; Priest was devouring an early
lunch.
This important affair ended, Priest condescend
ed to give audience to Mr. Lovett.
He was quite a young man, perhaps fieve-and-
twenty, of a very nonchalant aspect, and a
distinctly dissipated appearance. Not the slight
est attention did he pay to Mr. Lovett’s rapid,
but succinct, statement of his case. He seemed
on the contrary, deeply interested in his waist
coat and inexpressibles. As soon, however, as
Mr. Lovett had talked himself out of breath, be
ing conscious that Horace Blackley must now
be waitiDgfor him in Plumley’s office, Mr. Priest
turned from him abruptly, and rushing to the
door shouted desperately, “Dawkins !’’
A very seedy man appeared in answer to this
summons.
“Get me the call book,” said Mr. Priest
sternly.
Mr. Lovett tried to feel patient,
In a trice a dirty volume was brought, which
Mr. Priest perused by means of tearing open
leaf after leaf.
“ Dawkins,” at length he murmured, “Daw
kins, did Sir Pounceby Ugglethorpe inquire for
me yesterday ?”
“ Day before he did,” grunted Dawkins.
“Dawkins ”
After which adjuration followed a solemn
pause, occupied by Mr- Priest in picking his
teeth—nastily.
“ Did Lord Asnapper send for his title-deeds?”
“ They’re gone back to the bank," responded
the fnneticnary.
“Oh—ah! to be sure. Then, Dawkins, if
Colonel Juggins sends round his cab at four,
tell the man to wait.” This in a sort of half
whisper.
Dawkins, with a look of weariness unutter
able, right-about faced.
“ Oh, hie ! I say, look here, Dawkins, tell him
to say that I’ll run down to Richmond by train.”
Mr. Priest then turned to Mr. Lovett. “I beg
pardon; you were saying, sir ?”
“Time is an object,” replied Mr. Lovett
angrily. He was excessively nettled at this
specimen of town manners.
Mr. Priest, no way disconcerted, stared an un
ruffled and imperturbabl |;tare. “Who introduc
ed you to us ?” he enquired.
“ I came to you as being Mr. Chowner’s
agent’s.”
“ Chowner—who the deuce is Chowner?”
“ My solicitor at Blankton.”
“Chowner of Blankton. Dawkins!”—this for
tissimo— il Ao you know anything of Chowner of
Blankton ?’’
At this query the face of Dawkins exhibited
signs of alarm. He took Mr. Priest aside, and
whispered a few words, which had the effect of
magic. At once Mr. Priest's whole manner
changed.
“ I must apologise for my apparent preoccu
pation of mind Mr.—Mr.” looking at the card on
the table—“Mr. Lovett, but business is really
overwhelmingly confusing. You country peo
ple can have no conception however, not to
delay, you said something about a consultation
at Plumley and Smith’s. Eh?”
“At one o’clock,” suggested Mr. Lovett “It
now half-past.”
“ Unfortunately, my dear sir, very. We must
trust to the good nature of the other side. Ha,
ha !” And without ado, Mr. Priest led the way
to the office of Plumley and Smith.
They found Mr. Blackley evidently in a very
evil temper. Plumley preserved his bland de
meanor—it was his best capital, producing
marvelous interest In fact very friendly and
jooular were both the lawyers. The greeting
between the two clergymen was simply antago
nistic.
“ Coldhole is unsaleable,” began Mr. Lovett
abruptly.
“Gubbins has offered six thousand five hun
dred for it,” retorted Mr. Blakeley with a grim
sarcastic smile.
“ I've nothing to do with Grubbins, or any
one else,” cried unlucky Mr. Lovett “ I at
tempted negotiation with Mr. Brown, and if I
had met with fair play ”
“Quite so," interrupted Mr. Plumley; fair
play. That's the rub, my dear sir; we feel it, I
aosure you.”
“Mr. Lovett,” sneered Mr. Blakley, “is not
much concerned about anybody except himself.”
“Pooh 1 There is no reason why I should
think of you. I am the loser. You promised
me in so many words St. Mary’s Chapel in re
turn for my living, and I ask you to fulfil your
promise. As for your precious advowson, that
surely is your affair not mine."
“Look here,” said Mr. Blackley, turning to
address the two lawyers, “am I to be held ac
countable for the depreciation of my property ?
This gentlman has been hawking about my living
for the last month, the result being that people
imagine it’s to be had for a song. Gubbins told
me only the other day that he should purchase
at 6,50(H., and refused in consequence to ad
vance a shilling.”
“It was you who advised me to advertise,”re
joined Mr. Lovett
“I didn’t eome hereto indulge in recrimina
tion,” grunted hiB opponent
Whereupon, as by a wizard’s wand, judicious
Plumley waved everyone to a seat; the atmos
phere was waxing too hot to suit his views.
Said he senteniously, “ Gentlemen. I think our
wisest course will be to regard this business
from a practical point of view. The question
arises what is best to be done under present cir
cumstances in the interest of all parties ?”
“Just so,” added Mr. Priest, who opinied
that he must say something. “In the interest
of either side.”
“The living evidently,” continued Mr. Plum
ley, “if sold to the only purchaser in the field
at present—namely, Mr. Gubbins—will be sold
at a loss. Eh ?”
“At a decided loss,” echoed Mr. Priest, as if
he knew all about it.
“Now our side is not prepared for loss,” and
Mr. Plumley enunciated this news benevolently
and sweetly.
“Qnite so,” replied Mr. Priest, beaming gra
ciously and somewhat vacuously. Facts, figures,
everything were to him a terra incognita. It was
enough, so far, to agree to all that Mr. Plumley
said.
But Mr. Lovett was not quite so complaisant.
“Excuse me, Mr. Priest,” he said, “I too am
equally unprepared for loss.”
“Oh, exactly !” cried Mr. Priest in a tone of
virtuous indignation; “we cannot consent to
forgego our j ust claims. ”
“Nor do we desire, my dear sir,” rejoined
saponaceous Plumley, “that you should. Do we
Mo. Blackley ?”
Horace Blackley shrugged his shoulders as if
all the world were fools, more especially a con
siderable section of the company present.
“What course do you suggest ?” enquired Mr.
Priest by way of a feeler.
“A very simple expedient. You, Mr. Priest,
are aware that this firm have capital at command.
We are, in fact, the managers of the ‘The Pe
culiar Advance Co.’, and as such can practically
dispense funds to our clients for short periods.”
Mr Priest bowed significantly as if he knew
all about that. It was in reality a bit of news to
him. Mr. Lovett pricked up his ears attentive
ly-
“The case as regards Mr. Lovett is as follows,”
continued Plumley. “He has purchased the
Chapelry of St. Mary in Lingeville for sixteen
hundred pounds. The Lingeville bank holds
upon the title deeds an equitable mortgage for
nearly twelve hundred pounds, and the vendor,
Mr. Bulps, has a further lien of six hundred
pounds. Now, as matters stand, the bank can
sell to recover their capital. We may presume
that they will adopt that course. In that case
Bulps will bring an action for the amount of his
lien. Under the circumstances he could obtain
a judgment with costs, and would act upon it.”
Mr. Lovett winced: the alternative of prison
or the Court of Bankruptcy seemed horrible
enough.
“That,” said Mr. Plumley With emphasis,
that is one side of Lovett’s case. On the other
hand, Mr. Blackley, having accepted Mr, Lov
ett’s benefice of Mudflat, is naturally desirous
that he should receive in some shape its equiva
lent. Unluckily Coldhold advowson, which was
to have yielded that equivalent, is still unsold,
and time is now of paramount importance.”
There was an acquiescent silence in the prem
ises, so Mr. Plumley proceeded:
Mr. Blackley has asked me to interpose, or
rather to make you the offer of interposition by
means of ‘The Pev'iite Ad#e.nce Co.’ The course
suggested I may briefly' state thus. We shall
leud you the sum required to extricate the title
deeds of St. Mary’s Chapel from the Lingeville
Bank, and we shall retain those deeds as our se
curity. Further, we will advance you five thou
sand four hundred pounds, which sum will en
able you yourself to purchase Coldhole avow-
son from Mr. Blackley, which at your leisure
you will be able to recall; and I am advised that
it ought to fetch eight thousand pounds. There
with you can repay us, and redeem St. Mary’s
Chapel.”
Mr. Plumley paused to avoid laughing; Mr.
Lovett looked so ridiculously delighted at this
proposal. To get rid of Petifer and that terrific
bank appeared alone delicious. Present difficul
ties always are reckoned worse than future ruin.
Mr. Priest did not regard this method of
“plunging” with so much favor. The mind of
a lawyer is quick to realize the folly of borrow
ing to pay debts.
“How long would the advance be for?” he en
quired.
“Three months," replied r. Plumley.
“And who is to present to Coldhole? Formal
ly you cannot transfer the advowson during a va
cancy, Still, I imagine that an arrangement
can be made; but we ought to have some sort of
guarantee. Eli ?”
Mr. Plumley frowned—unwittingly.
Mr. Blackley’s father is patron of Coldhole,
and will duly present your nominee. You may
draw an agreement if you like to that effect.”
Mr. Priest reflected
“And if,” said he, “the sum borrowed be not
repaid within the three months?”
“Then,” answered Mr. Plumley, “the proper
ty would of course be forfeited.”
“Hum! I don’t know. Yes, it looks well.
What do you think, Mr. Lovett ?’’
Now Mr. Lovett felt the greatest contempt for
this whimper-snapper young lawyer. Oblivious
of the fact that he had been clever enough to get
himself into a serious mess, he was still vain of
his own judgement. He therefore at once si
lenced the lawyer's hesitation by stating posi
tively that he was quite prepared to accept with
gratitude Mr. Plumley's terms.
At once, Mr. Blackley, who during this dis
cussion had been singularly taciturn, rose from
his seat exclaiming with a sigh of relief:
“Thank Heaven, this worry is over ! I never
knew such a disgusting fuss about a little mat
ter. Perhaps, Lovett, now you are satisfied ?”
Mr. Lovett, however, although very much
happier, did not feel himself equal to owning
that he had been well treated. He sought refuge
in a cold bow.
Then Mr. Plumley took up the oudgels for
his client
‘ It is, sir, of the greatest importance to Mr.
Blackley that you should express yourself satis
fied with his honorable action in this matter.
If you recollect, supposing that Coldhole advow
son sold at the minimum price, namely, seven
thousand pounds, Mr. Blackley would have
taken five thousand four hundred. You six
teen hundred. That was the agreement between
you at Lingeville, was it not ? ’
‘ I must admit that such were the figures ar
ranged, but ’
‘Yes?’
‘ But I still think that I never ought to have
had anything to do with Coldhole advowson at
all. I agreed to exchange for St. Mary's Linge
ville, and I *
' My dear sir;’ interrupted Mr. Plumley, smil
ing with an air of somewhat offensive patronage,
‘ Mr Priest will tell you that nobody except a
country clergyman could expect a negotiation
to involve no difficulties.’
‘Say rather risks,’ observed Mr. Priest.
* Risks, if you will. Observe the risks my
cliont has run. His property depreciated; a
large private debt, and dilapidatiop money still
undischarged; bis good name staked on acting
fairly by you, Mr. Lovett; yet for all that dis
playing singular intelligence, combined with a
bright sense of honour.’ And Mr. Plumley
bowed gracefully to his client.
Mr. Blaokley, however, had his little word to
put in.
'Lovett, I insist en a written acknowledge
ment of my fair dealing by you. If you accept
Mr. Plumley’s proposal, I retire from this nego
tiation with simply a minimum. Do I or do I
not retire with clean hands ? I want to know,
for I’m not going to be pitched into again
through Canon Grabbe, I can tell you. ’
Mr. Lovett flushed. So his letter to the canon
had transpired. Awkward !
* I’ll write what you wish,’ he said.
‘Perhaps,’ added cautious Mr. Priest, ‘we
will defer this letter till the completion of the
arrangements. ’
‘ That will be satisfactory to us,’ remarked Mr.
Plumley. ‘To ease your mind, Mr. Lovett, I
will write by to-night’s post to the Lingeville
Bank, so you need be under no apprehension
in that quarter. Let me see. We can oomplete
in the course of a week. What do you say, Mr.
Priest ? ’
‘I shall leave everything to you,’ jauntily re
sponded the young lawyer. ‘ Forward drafts for
perusal, yon know, and all that sort of thing.’
Mr. Plumley smiled assent.
And thus the meeting broke up, everyone
feeling satisfied, Mr. Lovett especially in high
glee. He had won ample time to sell Coldhole,
and comparative peace of mind into the bargain.
He was quite irritated by Adine declining to
adopt his sanguine notions. She could view the
matter all the more dispassionately, because her
last hope of Horace Blackley’s honour was at an
end. She perceived now how cleverly he had
shifted all responsibility from his own should
ers, and how completely entrapped her poor
husband was.
* How are we to live ? ’ she enquired.
‘ We must borrow on our furniture stored away
at Blankton, and I must try for Sunday work in
or near London,’ was his reply.
She sighed forth, • Heaven help us ! ’
At which he looked decidedly angry, and bit
his lip.
‘ Adine,’ he grumbled, • little women don’t
understand business matters.’
This was the first snub he had ever had the
folly to bestow on his pet.
The pet’s eyes filled with tears.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Amusements
Puzzles, Kinks, Charades, Prob
lems, Chess, Conundrums, etc.
Puxzles and Problems are omitted from this
issue in the great hurry of getting up the paper
this week.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
All communication* relating to thi* department of the
paper should be addressed to A. F. Worm, Elberton, Os.
Chkss Hradquarteiw—Young Men’s Library Associa
tion, Marietta street.
Original games and problems are cordially solicited for
this column. We hope our Southern friends will re
spond.
Exchanges and Correspondents Please Notice.—All
matter for tain department should be addressed to A. F.
Wuse, Elberton, Oa,
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM NO 44.
1 QQ R1
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From the “ Boys and Girls of the South.”
TALES OF ROBIN HOOD.
How
Robert Fitzliooth Came to
Known as Robin Hood.
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2 BE B 2+ etc
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Other variations are obvious.
PROBLEM NO. 46.
“Look before you leap."
By J. W. Smith, Atlanta, Ga.
TOLD BY JOHN MABCHMONT.
“I do hate history !” said Frank Moore, and
he threw his book on the floor. The frown on
the face of the little boy, made him look very
cross and ngly. His mother looked up from
her sewing and said gently:
“Do you not know, my son, history tells us
stories of all the countries of the world, and of
the great and distinguished men and women
who have lived for ages past ? I am sure you al
ways say you like true tales the best, and you
never seem tired of having your auntie tell
them to yon.”
“Yes, mamma; but auntie tells us beautiful
ones about Greece and Rome; this old English
history is as dry as a chip !”
“Pick up your book, Frank !” said his auntie,
who at a table on another side of the room, had
been writing, but nevertheless, beard all that
had transpired. “Go to work with a good will
and get your lesson, and I will see if there is
not something in it to remind me of some
stories you will like to hear.”
Frank needed no second bidding, but indus
triously went to work, and very soon went with
his book to his annt, for her to question him on
it, to prove he had learned it well.
His auntie glanced over it, and then asked :
“What can you tell me of Richard I. of Eng
land?”
Frank replied: “He was the third son of King
Henry, and when his father died, became the
King of England. He was a brave man, loving
feats of adventure, and spent a great deal of
time and money on the Crusades. These cru
sades were called holy wars, and were made by
Christian princes to get Jerusalem out of the
hands of the Turks. Richard was called “the
Lion-hearted,” on account of his courage, but
he was not a good sovereign, for while absent in
the Holy Land, the poor were much oppressed
by the Monks and nobles, and the poorer classes
sought redress in highway robberies until it
was unsafe to travel without a strong guard
anywhere in the Kingdom. Among these rob
ber bands, none have lived in tradition so
strongly as Robin Hood and his merry men of
Sherwood.”
“That will do, Frank,’’said his anntie. “Now,
I will tell you a story every day for some weeks
about Robin Hood, if you will bring home each
day a perfect mark for your history lesson. I
have just been reading an old book called ‘Rit-
son’s Robin Hood,’ and it is full of old songs,
telling of different exploits of Robin Hood and
his men; I will tell them to you in my own lan
guage, as they are written in old English, and
that would be hard for you to understand.
This evening I will tell you how Fitzhooth
changed his name to that of Robin Hood. ”
King Richard was in Palestine and sent back
for a large amonnt of money to carry on the
crusade, a tax was levied by the nobles on the
farmers that amounted to three times the sum
they usually paid, and great distress prevailed
among the people. On the lands of the Abbey
of St. Mary’s lived a good man named Fitz
hooth, his elder brother was an Earl, but they
were all poor, and he tenanted lands from the
Abbot of St. Marys, and made good crops by
his steady industry. His favorite nephew was
called Robert, and he was known as the best
archer for many miles around. This was before
tiie use of guns, and it was a great accomplish
ment to shoot well with a bow and arrow, and
the long-bow men of England won many a bat
tle from the French, and Scots by their supe
rior skill. The Clergy, in the days of King
Richard, were a very wealthy and powerful
class. They lived together in brotherhoods,
owned lands, buildings, money, jewels, line
clothes and horses; kept numbers of servants,
and many soldiers to guard their treasures.
They were very hard on the poor and very mnch
hated; when they travelled about they went
with great pomp; rode fine horses, beautifully
caparisoned, dressed in velvet cloaks, fastened
with jeweled brooches, and embroidered with
gold. On fine, strong mules they would pack
their gold and silver plate, money, etc., for they
were too proud to eat or drink out of anything
but silver or gold; these mnles were called
sumpter mules, from the sumptuous loads they
skill to win the gold. He found his uncle in
sore trouble about his tax, lor he could see no
way in which to raise such a sum of money as
was required of him in so short a time.
“Cheer up, uncle !” said Robert, “I am going
to St. Mary’s to the archery meeting to-morrow,
and I do not fear but I can outshoot any there;
if so, I’ll give the purse to thee, and so with the
hard old Abbot’s own money, tLou mayest pay
the tax.”
The old man was a little comforted with this
thought, for he well knew his nephew’s skill.
The next day Robert dressed in a suit of bright
green, called “Lincoln green,” went to St
Mary’s. It was a pretty sight to look on the
archery ground; there were twenty handsome
(Continued on 7th page.)
CHESS IN GERMANY.
Played in Cologne, August 16, 1877.
{Ray Lopez)
Hammacher.
White.
Block.
Kockelkorn.
11 Q B 3
P Q B 4
Lefimann.
Zukertart.
12 P Q B 3
Q Q 2
Wemmers.
13 Kt Q 2
Kt Kt 3
White.
Black.
14 K R K
P Q 5 ? (b)
1 P K 4
PK 4
15 PK6
PXK P
2 K Kt B
f> Kt B 3
16 RXP+
B K 2 ( c)
3 B B5
FOR 3 117 QB 7+1
K Q
4 B K 4
Kt B 3
18 kxb
KtXK
5 Cas
KtXK P 19 RK
KRK
6 PQ4
P Q Kt 4
20 B K 6
QQ3
7 B Kt 3
P Q 4
21 B K Kt 4
P K R 3 (d)
8 Q PXP
q l.'t ir n’t * <
Kt K 2
22 DxKt f
OQ A D a i
RXB
10 BXKt
B Kt 2
And Black resigns.
(a) A late invention. White can gain no advantage if
this move is met correctly by the defense.
(b) A fatal blunder. He undoubtedly should have
played P K R 3, and if 15, P K 6. PXKP; 16 Q R 5, Q K
B 2; 17. B Q B 2, PX ’->> and the combination is a failure .
for White.
(c) If QXR; 17. QXB, Q Q B; 18. mates.
(d) Black has uo better move, do what he may, B 04
then 22. BXKt f, RXB; 23. Q E 8+ and wins.
MATCH GAME.
Between I. Edward Orchard, of Columbia, S. C„ and
A. F. Warm, ol Atlanta, Ga., played in Atlanta, April,
1877.
Warm.
1 Two Knight's Defense.)
Orchard, i Warm.
Orchard.
1 P K 4
P K4
; 10 Kt K 5
QQ5
2 Kt K B 3
KtQB 3
11 Kt Kt 4 (c)
KtxKt
3 B B4
Kt B 3
12 BXKt
P K 6
4 Kt Kt 5
PQ4
113 P K B 3
BXB
5 PxP
Kt R 4
114 PXB
Caa, Q R
6 B p (a)
P B 3 (b)
tl5 Q K 2? ?? (w)PxP+
7 PxP
PXP
16 BXP
Kt Q B S
8 B K 2
P K R3
117 P B 3? ?
9 Kt K B 3
PK5
118 B B 4
And Black announces mate in eight moves,
(a) P Q 3 is a better move, (b) The correct play,
(c) Zukertort, and other fine players, prefer 11.
B 4.
PI
CHESS BY CORRESPONDENCE
Between Prof. R M iicl., Dalton, Ga„ and A. F. Worm,
Atlanta, Ga.
(Philidor’s Defense.)
Warm.
McI.
( Wurm.
McI.
White.
Black.
White.
Black.
1 P K 4
PK 4
12 Q R Q
Q Kt 4
2 Kt K B 3
PQ3
.13 QQB7
QBXP
3 P Q 4
PKB4
‘14 yxKt P
P K6
4 PXK P
PXK P
115 P K B 3
Q K2
5 K Kt 5
PQ4
|16 QXR
K K B2
6 P K 6
Kt K R 3
17 R Q4(a)
B Q B (b)
7 Q Kt B 3
P Q B 3
18 Kt K 4 (c,
B K B 5
8 K KtxP
PXKt
119 Kt Q B 5
QXKt
9 QR5 +
P K Kt 3
120 KXB+(d)
K Kt
10 Q K5
R Kt
121 B Q 3 (e)
QQR4+(f>
11 BXKt
BXB
22 P Q Kt 4
QQB 2
And White answered: “I resign the game, as it is no
longer tenable.”
Notes bt Pbok, mcI.
(a) Thus far the game agrees precisely with one adopt-
• l by Mr, Staunton, in his analysis oi “Philidor’s De-
tense.” as the best illustration of the opening; he de
votes unusual attention to it, and, after a very elaborate
analysis, discovers that this move 17 K Q 4must win; the
game for the first player, bee ••Praxis” pp. 71 and 87.
(b) A move that seems to have been overlooked by Mr.
Staunton and other standard writers; yet, in our judg
ment, when properly followed up, it demolishes all of
their theories, and must bring victory to the secoud
pl»yer. The credit of this discovery is due to A. F.
Drown, Esq., a very fine amateur chess player, of Holly
Springs, Miss. He used it first in a game that has been
examined aud approved by some of the best living au
thorities. among whom we may mention Mr. Gossip, of
London, autuor of the ‘-Chess Player’s Manual,” one of
the best books we ever saw on the subject.
(c) Better than 18 B 8 4, for Black could then reply
with 18 BXB, and force White to sacrifice his Rook in
order to extricate his Queen, aB follows: 18. B B 4, BxB;
19. RXB, Q Q 2; 20. Kt K 4, B B; 21. RQ 4, QXB, and
Black must win.
(d) Evidently a mistake, for at this point he could cer
tainly liberate his Queen, aud probably win the game by
playing: 20. Q Kt 7-t-
(e) The following would be mnch better: 21. R K 4, Q
XP; 22. RXP. Q B 8 + ; 23. K B 2. QXP + ; 24. B K 2, Q
Kt 3; 25. BQ Kt, QXR: 26. RXB, which forces nearly
or quite au equal game.
(f) i good move; intimating victory ci et amis,
CHESS INTELLIGENCE.
We see it rumored in our exchanges that the “Ameri
can Chess Journal” has been purchased by Samuel Loyd,
and will soon appear again under his control and editor
ship in New York Oity. We know it will meet with
gratifying success under such au able and stable m m
agement.
Do Youk Duty.—Raskin says, and well says,
that “it is no man’s business whether he has
genius or not; work he mast, whatever he is bat
qaietly and steadily; and the natural and un
forced results of such work will be always the
thing God meant him to do, and will be his
best. No agonies or heart-rendings will enable
him to do better. If he is a great man, they
will be great things, but always, if restlessly
and ambitiously done, false, hollow and despi
cable.
“Come, pa,” said a youngster just home
from school, “how many peas are there in a
pint?” How can anybody tell that, you foolish
boy?” “I can, every time. If you don’t believe
it, try me.” “Well, how many are there, then?” ^
“Just one p in every pint, pa.”