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the flowers COUECTOM VOL. IV. J. H. &w B. SEALS. traoPHurroiis ATLANTA, GA., ATDRDAY, JULY 27. 1878. the little grave in the forest by bvelyh hope. There's a low little g^^eath the sycamore tree «rSB. w C'a SSS£S“;r^3ts-'E«.»’ Sweet, in the dim old forest. One year, since we pillowed the golden head So low In the lonely forest SsiSsIsrs- O’er that little grave In the foresi. We buried our darling, and journeyed on, B as u d ° ne Z e s“dlywe r fh nk n of hirVsfeeping alone, °>Cth the sycamore tree In the forest. t* is manv and many a mile away, I Vhi™ lone little grave in the forest, Tint all the long and sorrowful 1 1 • 1 y W^iereth'e'wfldhe^-'^^und'theb^ri^dn birds play O'er the little low grave in the lore, u THE "way — OF — the will, By Capt. Charles Howard. <ied Ak-itle Reft. . „ta His brother Goswald and wife, Hen- j SSik .nd . nil b»,d,d m.» oucu- pl 5da* Sk i, tb..t. »»' J i 5S | Krai»»v»” r-SskasMs i are the cloaked person who tried 8 night. ”oide». ward of the ho.p.«l^b. otb« o.g^ What bad you on your person i there at Duke-knife or poison . Ay ^ q oa are . -er cross its kks riu -«-sr ,h “ tbo wi* bt. f.c. buried bet.eeu .be erma of « in ” bioh brother triumphed. be CI j e d, when •I boldly proclauu it now n riddeE the i Robert Duke, the hired BPy’ce a (j lovg Marfa ) house of bis obnox ?.; t h 0U t a stain—whose ' Blew, '- b »“,.‘‘7,'e.“bS ekooereted »iue of father, on bis death b ao i d for money, guilt, and took ‘ p]ftce npoa I care not for tb b dwelHn the circles that are broken by ^be Jove of a poor girl. I .ball ,u?‘e”,S“.e B » ‘be b.u.e aud A.eido Rett and his brother were gone. bQ k„T“ b«Tt, /«. day Marfa Bl„ .» »• fal vr br l d rA a will Of bis own, and the way of that H l,d?h‘oogL Vhe love of ooeof aoo.e.y . on.- COMPLETE IN ONE NUMBER. CHAPTER I. V * T do not ear 0 fot tbe.idl^3^4Mr^ c4atxJ&Ji ' Lf o,„. t.HUMiff Ucl LaHO 'o-ilU * give this matter 1' ‘ Alcide ? ’ 'I repeat rov words ; Ido not care!” ‘ This beggared syren must have infatuated yon. She ” •A beggared syren, eh? Will you listen to « Xow, leave the House. k t next my heart It contains my Hie look aeemed «o..y : ‘ * b.i.b- do you j ^ b = =S^^ ££ I ft** -IMrU that the aariooufatued auob ! ^7% 22* ^ ^ % a paper,' Abide -b ,. „„ irSr'Afe: ^38^^ Wbol •i' sc j.-.w - v’t?S4ffep-®ik« wnm i th ,; w.«. m *-*» Am will casts—Marfa Blew. for£ . iven his brother, for tb.—hauu' S/e. are favorites ioupto»» “_ c, “ y ' -,.’50-: - j-L!-: ?}. test the consistency of L.s t-fe *•'• b „_ f :r r-to ere at- •A-*V i nv. Dies this please you Y'J^ u >wUU ^ {/J . norbf*|his city was found dead in his library. Our father and he were old foes. On tbe fatal night, father, at the enemy’s request, visited him. They settled all difficulties in the latter’s ! house. ‘ Three hours alter father's return home, Mr. Raynor was found dead there—murdered. He continued the practice of law until 1821 the story that fell from her wan lips last night But I am repeating a story that is old to you, while I watched over her couch.’ ‘In tbe hospital ? ' ‘ In the hospital ! Does it shock you ? ' ‘I have misjudged you, Alcide Reft. I ex pected better Jrotu you.’ A laugh cold, cutting, and sarcastic. ‘It seems, then, that you Lave let the gilded lights of upper tendom ruin your eyes. You seem to forget that we are brothers.’ Alcide. •Go on !' cried the younger Rett. ‘Of course father did not kill the moderate banker. Tell me how the confession fell into his hands.’ ‘ Nicholas Blew was father's enemy. He caused much suspicion to be attached to him. Father stood in au unenviable light ; but he re solved to demonstrate his innocence. He turned upon this man Blew, who had, I recollect, one 1 No ! no ! your action brings the matter pain- 'child,—a daughter with whom he lived over his fully to my recollects ‘ Painfully ? I am sorry ! ’ ‘ There, that will do, Alcide. You know my temper. I do not want to quarrel because we are brothers.’ ‘Neither do I, but ‘What?’. ‘But I do -stiy that some silly people have a wonderfuflftioLtroI over yon, Goswold. Is it business of theirs if I save the life of a poor girl by tearing her from beneath iron hoofs on the public street? 1 am jeered at already be cause I could not stand by e.Dd see her perish poor bank. He—father, Alcide—brought Nich olas Biew’s crime home upon him, and after wilting the confession which I have just read, hd fled taking with him his child, Marfa—who watched while he committed the darkest deed on orime's decalogue.’ Vleii'e Rt f: was silent. ‘This is the past life of the girl whose face has bewitched you,’ continued Goswold, as if deter mined to force an irresistible argument home upon his brother. ‘She is an accomplice to a dreadful crime which was thrown at your fath er's door. Now, Alcide, do yon not regret that when my arms were strong enough to arrest the ! you have saved the life of this woman ? ... ‘No career of the tierv horses. This is the verdict of s >ciety, Goswald : ‘I am a fool.’ Let the ver- •!u' be r corded, brother, and let the years con firm it -if the;, will.’ This speech softened the will cf the single auditor and he asked quietly. ‘ But who is this girl, Alcide ? ’ ‘ Her name is Marfa Blew.’ The eldest brother started. ‘The child of Nicholas Blew?’ ‘ I think she said that her father’s name was Nicholas ; but I do not speak positively on this subject. At all events, I think he used to be a feankf r on a limited scale—’ ‘ The same !' interrupted Goswald Reft. It was Alcide's turn to start and look excited. ‘Explain yourself!’ he cried. 'Ey and by you will make me believe that you know more about this Marfa Blew than I do, though I listen ed to her life's story but last night.’ Goswald Reft darted his brother a look of Diinpled score and contempt, and returned the confession to the iron pigeon hole in the count- mg-ioom and safe. You may punk headlong over the precipice of disgrace !’ he said, angrily, as he shut the door aud turned upon his brother. ‘Every word of that confession is true. I read it to save you.’ ‘And I ought to express obligations for your consideration,’ replied Alcide, with a sarcastic smile. ‘ Y'cu are inclined towards insult to-day. Has thin beggard syren—this lone: missing Maria Blew -so completely turned your bead?’ ‘ Who says that I have fallen in iove with her?’ demanded Alcide Reft. ‘She has infatuated mu.' 1 What if she has ?’ ' I know her as the little girl of seven when „„ iU u'Wimu trail lately tu millionaire banker’s oulV child, while it was supposed that Alcide would soon offer his hand to another hcress as fair and wealthy as his brother’s bride. 'Thus affiirs stood when occurred the accident which the reader has gathered from the conver sation which has passed between the brothers. Alcide Reft, young, warm-hearted, and impetu ous, was not the man to stand on the safe pave ment, and see a poor girl crushed beneath car riage wheels. No ! He snatched Marfa Blew from beneath the very hoofs of the horses, and watched over the couch of suffering in the city hospital, until daylight again rev aled the streets. Then he left the hospital to learn that the morning pa pers were scattering Lu courageous deed far aud wide. ‘ I don’t care who nor what Marfa Blew is !’ he muttered, when he had left his brother Goswald in the counting room. ‘I believe that I did my duty last night. I would do it again.’ The remembrance of kis act did net lash Al cide Eeft's mind. If you should be ill from this . ( theui-’ he said. kti""a' marriage with a he placed the writing behind his pieture. anal : i made me promise that I would not open itunti'* I was nineteen. Last night the time came, and I drew the locket forth. It is under my pillow. Will yon not get it. Mr. Reft?’ With gentle hands the young merchant lifted the pillow, and revealed the gold locket which he felt contained some great secret. ■Ton see I cannot open it,' Marfa Blew said, glancing at her bandaged arm. •I therefore commission yon to remove the piotnre, and then read what is behind it—fath er's last writing.’ neu uib i d cc’ k-t, after delivering a poem entitled Agnes wb \": iC/f Vbi K inni Society at Cambridge ‘*J£ow Could She Fancy Hiui.*’ With ej es brimful of curiosity, and wildly a trade. They say he isnot worth a cent in the world, and eyerybody knows his kin are poor enongk. Indeed, they say that he supports his parents, even now they are so infirm and badly off. She could not have married him for his beauty- to be sure, be looks well enough, but then he is not handsome—fine-looking, aud that’s all yon can say. They say, too that he educated him self; suppose he has a very fine education, but then, how did he get it ? Taught school— kept books—and they say he served his time at Goswald Reft did not vouchsafe an immediate - reply. He stepped to the private iron safe that she watched while her father committed ruur- filled one corner of the elegant counting room der—this is all.’ and opened the massive door. His brother, with eyes ablaze with curiosity, watched him narrowly, wondering what he was going to do. Into one of ike numerous iron pigeonholes Aitide’s reply was a contemptuous curling of the lip. ‘ Well, well, love or no love,’ he cried, 'I am going to be independent of this matter. If I revealed by the opening of the door, the elder cbost to marry this very Marfa Blew, why, I will brother thrust his band and grasped a tiny do it. The sneers and jeers of the whole world packet of papers. This he held up with an air could not turn me from my purpose.’ of :ii mph as he turned upon the almost bewil- j ‘ I relieve that. Y’ou are the impersonation dered Alcide. * Let.n • father died he placed these papers in my hande,’ Goswald said. ‘They tell something about the very girl for whom you risked yon/ life last night— risked it foolishly, you would say, it you could but read them.’ Alcide Reft, with eyes fastened on the packet, did not reply. ‘ Must 1 read them 7 ‘ Yes !' said Alcide, almost fiercely. His voice was defiant. With the air of a scheming man who has won a triumph, his brother Goswald loosened the blueish twiDe that encircled the papers and opened the first one that fell into his bands. ‘Now listen,’ he said, glancing over the top of the document at his brother, aud the next mo ment he was reading as follows : ‘Koow all men that Jasper Reft is not guilty of the crime charged ; that I, Nicholas Blew, struck John Raynor, the deceased, in his libra ry, and that 1 have tried to cause the conviction of Jasper Reft. 1 am the murderer. My little daughter Marfa, watched at the gate while I went in and committed the crime." Goswald Reft lowered the document and looked into his brother’s pale face. of ra-hress. Alcde Reft smiled, and picked up the hat and tl ue which he had evidently deposited upon he counting room desk. ‘IT going to the city hospital,’ he said to his i broth'a, and then passed from the room with a ' sniilelurking beneath his auburn moustache. ‘St'dent life in Germany spoiled him, as I fearec it would do,’ Goswald Keft exclaimed when he door cf the counting room had closed ! upon aik brother’s retreating form. ‘This gill, old BWs daughter—is back again in the city, 1 and h has probably saved her life. With a brides home, and believing that our bouse was to be dlied to tbe Brascombe’.s by Alcide's mar riage fo Miss Henrietta, this disgrace comes, and t rns summer to winter. I bate you, Marfa Blew the murderer’s child—and if my brother naarr-s you, I’ll brand you such in the face of the Vjoie city. I wish he hud been squares away when the horses struck you down. I wishou were dead!' Th speaker’s lace was flushed with emotion, and .is hands were tightly clenched as he stood in th middle of the counting room J and hurled the Qoicest maledictions upon Marfa Blew. He hatec the name which he feared—proud man CHAPTER II. THE LOCKETS SECRET. Beside a neat and narrow cot in the ‘accident ward’ of the city hospital sat the young end prosperous merchant. H\s face had grown pale j monev. and almost haggard with long watching, and great anxiety, and his gentle blue eyes were fastened upon the occupant of the cot—a fairy faced young girl who seemed to be sleeping as dreamltssly as the little babe. One of her arms, well bandaged and guarded by splints, lay upon her breast, and the head that rested lightly upon the pillow, was ban daged like the unfortunate arm. The faultless face was quite pale, aud the casual observer would have pronounced the girl dea 1. Aloide Reft was the only person at the bed. He seemed to have grown weary with watching; but his eye was not closed. He was dwelling, as it were, upon the spirituelle beauty of tfce face before him. At last the girl opened her eyes naturally, for the sleep had ended, and caught sight of the face that was smiling above her. For the young merchant was welcoming her return to life with a joyful smile. •Yon are getting stronger each day !’ he said to her. ‘Do you not feel better?’ •Yes, yes,’ she replied, with a wan but satis fied smile. ‘It was dreadful. I cannot shut it from my sight.’ ‘There M.trfa,’ Alcide said, with admon ishing tenderness. ‘Do not let it disturb vou. Let your mind go beyond that mad night. Where is your father?’ A look of surprise filled the girl’s blue orbs. •Father is dead !’ •Ah ! yes; you told me so that night; but I had forgotten,’ the merchant said. ‘Did you ever hear of a Mr. John Raynor?’ Alcide looked s^archingly into Marfa Bl6w’s eyes as the interrogative fell syllable by syllable from his lips. " • ‘I have heard cf him,’ the girl said, after a moment’s silence. ‘Did you ever see him ? T think not. You must know, Mr. Rtfc, that father and I left New Y'ork twelve years ago. I was bat seven then,’ and the girl blushed at the self-revealment of her age. ‘You did not know Mr. Raynor then ? was never at his house?’ ■No,’ and Marfa Blew appeared nonplussed at the young merchant’s singular interrogatives. After awhile she continued. ‘Somehow or other the name of Raynor sounds familiar to me, though I cannot think of any Raynors I ever knew. Bat I want you to do me a favor now—will you not?’ ‘Certainly, Marla,’ cried Alcide Reft. ‘Is not your head too low ? Must—’ ‘No, not that,’ and the girl smiled. ‘Yon are very kind. For eleven years I have been wear beating heart, the merchant opened the locket and removed the picture as Marfa bad bidden. A piece of paper was revealed. He laid the trinket upon the cot and proceeded to unfold the time-colored manuscript, watched anxiously hdd tearfully by the occupant of the ward. ‘Read it! she said, impatiently. ‘Tell me what father wrote just before he died in the Eternal City.’ Alcide Re ft’s bosom was heaving with emo tion, and Ite glance ! from the paper to the girl with nr, un! :gned expression of delight. •Thank God, Mirfal’ he exclaimed. ‘Now listen and I will read : ‘I want the world to know that I did not mnr- der John Raynor—that the confession now in Jasper Reft’s possession was purchased by I sold my honor for tbe gold of tbe man who was my enemy. Jasper Reft did not commit tbe crime; but he has relieved himself ot suspicion by my confession—a lie. a slander to myself and child. I write this as a dying , man, ebat the world may know that my dtiugh- i bespeak for him indomitable c ter Marfa is the child of a man, who, though he ! iug self-reliance and unfalterii has sold his good name, never imbued his hands in the blood of his fellow man. Nicholas Blew.’ Marfa Blew looked into the young merchant’s face a long time before either spoke. ‘I can face him now,’ the merchant said. ‘To whom do you refer?’ she innocently asked, for she had caught his words. His facsd flushed and he stammered a reply that confused him. He was thinking about his brother Goswald. Then the girl closed her eyes and her lips moved as if in prayer. Her face seemed to have assumed new loveliness sinoe the revelation so long kept imprisoned by the locket, and when she looked up again the impulse to touch his lips to her pale cheek was irresistible. •No stain against you, Marfa !’ he passionately exclaimed. ‘I can now boldly give the lie to every assertion flung at me by those whom I have offended.’ He said no more, for the ward surgeon was approaching, aud he left Marfa in his experi enced care. A load seemed to have been taken from Alcide Reft’s breast as he hurried towards the great mercantile establishment in which he was in terested with Lis brother. A week passed since his heroic action, and he had spent much of the time with Marfa at the hospital. A tinge of romance had thus been thrown over the accident, and already gossip was saying that the affair would end like all romances—with a wedding. EleuiitUa Biascombe, the heiress, to whom j rumor had engaged the young merchant, had : become the object of much conversation, and found her place in society quite unenviable. She listened to rumor until, maddened beyond farther endurance, she wrote a note that drew from Alcide one equally as terse and galling. She thought she saw it. The merchant had turned from her. Alcids Reft did not find his brother in the counting-room after leaving the hospital with the confession of Marfa Biew’s father safely ensconced in his pocket. From the store he hastened to tbe elegant uptown residence which he occupied in common with his brother Gos wald. Having entered with his key, he heard voices in the parlor, and a moment later surprised its Poor thing—she’ll have a hard life of it; she never knew what it was to want anything; her parents thought all the world of her, and they must feel mortified that she should have thrown herself away in that manner. It was not for lack of better chances, for everybody says that she once had an offer from the lion of the town —but she was so scrupulous about his drinking a little, that she refused him. She’ll regret it someday—no doubt she has many times already. Such is tha reasoning, and such are the con clusions of a foolish, proud, false—opinionated herd of money-worshippers. Such is the esti mate which the devotees of wealth and name, place upon real merit, and genuine worth. Bat tbe truly wise and good, the really virtuous, view things in an entirely different light. Those very traits of character which the devo tees to fashionable lollies affect to despise and contemn, are in fact the highest credentials which a young mad could possess—they are the nnmistake-tide marks of real exccdlence, they courage, unjield- mg seit-retiance aaa unmitering perseverance; traits which must of necsessity crown his lite- cHurts with unbounded success, and give,him a position which the proudest might envy. A position for which he has no one to thank, but bimself—no monied influence, or interested friends can claim the glory which his own hard toil has achieved. Wonder not, then, that a sensible, high-toned woman should fancy just such a character, and choose him, with his poverty rather than vast wealth unaccompanied with these inestimable traits. How to Tame a Woman. Yesterday morning, a man whose every look proved how hungry and penniless he was, hnlt- ed before an eating-stand at the Central Park to let his mouth w r ater for awhile. The woman knew his worth aud called out: ‘Come, be jogging along. You wont get any food here unless you have the cash.’ ‘My dear woman,’ he confidentially began as he drew nearer. ‘I am not hungry; I just left the breakfast-table, after the heartiest meal I ever ate. 1 was nor, looking at your beautiful meats, year lovely cakes, your rich and juicy pies, but at yourself.’ ‘Wbat you locking at me for?’ ‘I was wondering,’ he said, ‘if you were any relation to Lady Clare, of England. You have the same brown eyes,same beautiful hair—same sweet accent.’ ‘I never knew her,’ replied the woman, as her face began to clear up. ‘Didn’t eh! Well, I never saw two faces near er alike in their sweet expression. I wish I had your portrait painted on ivory—I really wish I had.’ She handed him half a pie and a piece of meat, and as he sauntered off she began hunting around for a piece of Broken mirror. Young mother, deeply interested in a novel, but preserving some idea of her duty as a moth er, to her oldest born—‘Harrietta, where is your little sister V Harrietta—‘In the next room, ma.’ Young mother, turning over a page—‘Go and see what she’s doing and tell her to stop it this , minute. q