Newspaper Page Text
Only A Silk Thread.
ST K. DI H.
Trom Clara to Annie.
Chateau de Belle Vue, June, 20.
I must tell you first, that it will not be easy for
you to read my letter. I am very nervous this
morning; my pen trembles between my fingers, and
my thoughts are crowding in my head. 1 will try
to Now! do you see a tear under the o of
to and a blot above the t T I made the latter
while trying to wipe out the former. I’ll begin
•gain. But no.
• • • I opened my window and took my ros
ary. A little prayer and fresh air did me good. I
am calm now. When I came here, two weeks ago,
the intendant who had brought me from the son-
vent led me into my aunt's small parlor. You do
not know my aunt, the Countess of Yermillac. She
is a pleasant littie woman of seventy, gay, witty,
with not even the mildest rheumatism. She is a
widow, but the date of her widowhood is beyond
memory. She never had any children. One can
not see her without being struck by the whiteness
of her beautiful hair, her waxy rosy complexion,
keen eyes, sharp nose, and her lips always in mo,
tion like those of a rabbit. Summer and winter-
she always sits by the window in a large arm-chair,
with a pillow to rest upon. Provided she can, by
extending her arm, reach to her spectacles, snuff
box, knitting work, dog, cat and canary bird, she is
satisfied.
The parlor is neat and always kept in good
order, and is possessed of a perfume of old time.
As soon as you enter it you feel like going back to
the last century.
My aunt was very glad to see me, and after I
had kissed her on both cheeks, she pointed to me a
seat which 1 brought near to her’s. Then she
took off her spectacles, folded her knitting work,
petted her cat, scolded her dog, teased her canary
bird, opened her snuff-box, and said to me :
‘My darling, it’s a good thing that you came.
The house is full of gentlemen. Every year 1
invite all the hunters living in the neighbornood,
and not one ever fails to come, for the game is
abundant on my lands. I never neglect to have
a niece here at that season of the year; four ol
them have got married that way. 1 have three
more. Now is your turn; don’t lose the opportun
ity. When a girl is not wealthy it is hard for her
—especially in our society—to get married except
that way. Take myself as an example. 1 laugh yet
when I think of it. We were twenty-five in a
large country stage; the horses ran away, and
taking to a field by the roadside, they upset the
vehicle, throwing us all pell-mell on a big pile of
hay. Two hours later, when we entered home,
your uncle asked for my hand. He was in the
last stage of consumption, but he had the kind
attention not to give up his soul before we got
married. I appreciated that delicate attention,
which was not the only one he did. for he left me
by will all his property. What became of it ?
Such a question ! I spent it, of course. You see,
darling, I have been coquettish, and coquettry is
the gormandise of women. 1 own nothing now
but this property, and when I die it shall be
divided tmong my three pets and my seven nieces,
so you understand, darling, that your share will
be very small. You know too, that Job was a rich
man compared to your parents, and that you are
eight children. So thank your good old aunt, who
gives you this chance of making your way in this
world at nobody’s expense. Kiss me again, dear,
then go and make yourself pretty before dinner.
Don’t waste your time, and be Bharp, Mademoi
selle.’
You may judge, dear Annie, the effect of such a
substantial speech on your friend’s mind ; l ate
very little at diner, and did not sleep at all at
night. I dreamed—or rather thought—of Octave,
with his fine mustache, silken , and his nice
vests. He appeared to me on his beautiful Arabian
horse. For a long time I looked at him, and then
I sighed so deeply and so loudly that the vision
disappeared. After a while, I found myself think
ing that it would be pure folly to me to entertain
any feeling for a young man who has already lost
a fortune at gambling, that a girl of our rank must
hold her position in this world; that my aunt is
right; that I am twenty-two years old. and if I
lose this opportunity, the sixth niece will next
year take my place here. In that case I might
become an old maid, unless I marry some old man,
a thing my friends of the convent would disap
prove—you first of all—is it not so ?
‘Don’t waste your time, and be sharp, Made
moiselle.’
According to that advice I dress myself up soon
every morning. Now you will laugh at me. Ten
days after her arrival, your friend Clara had not
made a choice yet. It is easy enough to choose
between two or three, but they are twelve, good
Annie, twelve I Who is the right one ? That is
the question. I’d like to see you in my place.
I looked first for one who would favor Octave, 1
would have immediately chosen him; but'it is
useless, not a single one is near as good looking as
that young man. The worse of it is that they did
not help me at all in my perplexity. They are all
very polite with me, but ne more. After a few
compliments, they gather in groups and talk about
their horses and hounds.
Do you understand now how it is that I stand on
the tenth day just as I did on the first? You know
me, and you may well imagine the present state ot
my nerves. My aunt unconsciously keeps up my
nervous exoitement instead of soothing it, for every
night she invariably asks me:
‘Darling, how are you progressing? What is
the prospect ? I listen but don’t hear a single
word in the right direction; I open my eyes but
don’t see anything to built a hope upon. Hide
your play as much as you please, but be careful 1
Don’t waste your time, time is precious, especially
for girls.*
Don’t you admire my aunt? She seems to
believe that country stages upset every day on a
pile of hay.
One day—at last—now lend me your attention,
Annie— Mr. Adolphus took a seat by my side and
began praising my embroidery. I answered the
compliment, and, we engaged in conversation. In
the evening we had become very good friends.
Mr. Adolphus is neither pretty nor ugly. By
using a little cosmetic, his mustache could almost
compete with Octave's. In my situation I cannot
ask any more. So I have now a little start. Had
you have seen me during the last three or four
days you would have been satisfied. I was watch
ing for an opportunity to blush, but lo ! he never
gave it to me. That was provoking. He is of a
fair complexion, and I remembered your opinion
on that class of men ‘if you stay with them on the
defensive, you will spend a lifetime at it.’
Day before yesterday, while we were all in the
parlor at night, a gentleman spoke of an old gothic
tower, situated on the river, about twenty miles
off, and I said I would l : ke to see it. Aunt told us
that it was very easy to go there and back in one
day, provided we set out very early in the morn
ing.
‘Let us start by day-light 1’ I exclaimed.
My proposition was accepted, we had only to
appoint a day.
‘Why not to-morrow?’ saidI.
It was agreed upon, and my aunt gave orders
to that effect. 6
Mr. Adolphus was near me, playing with my
, skeins of silk this has been his occupation for
about a week.—This early start did not please him
Silk Morning Dresses.
Out Door Costumes for December.
much. He never had risen so soon and would not
be ready in time.
Depend on me to wake you up,’ I told him.
II.
From Adolphus to Charles.
Chateau de Belle Vue, June, 20.
[Fragment.]
* * * ‘Depend on me to wake you up,’ she
said, ‘at the c invent was always up before day
light.’ i .
I must tell you that our rooms are opposito to
each other and open on the hall.
‘This is what I propose,’ she added, taking from
my hand a skein of silk, ‘you tie this en< *
to your wrist and you slip the other end under
your door; I slip it under mine, and when time
comes I’ll jerk it as a bell rope. If you don t
wake up then, it will be your own lault.’
I accepted the proposition, strange as it is, but
we are in the country !
When bed time came, every one retired to his
room. We went up last, and when at our respect
ive doors Mademoiselle Clara ^kindly tied the
thread herself. Her fingers trembled a little
around my wrist; I looked at her, and she
blushed.
‘Good night, mademoiselle.’
■Good night, sir,’
She closed her door and locked it up. I left
mine ajar and went to bed ; but I could not sleep.
That silk thread took in my imagination the pro
portions of an iron ring too narrow for my arm. I
am awake now for the balance of the night. What
an idea to visit an old ruined tower!
* * * She is really pretty, I assure you. Her
black hair is dazzling; her large eyes envelope
you from head to foot and keep you completely
under their charm. For several days after her
arrival, I did not pay any attention to her; I was
absorbed by the chase. But one day, in which 1
had not killed any game the other hunters teased
me with their jokes, and I determined never to go
hunting with them any more. That day I looked
at Mademoiselle Clara; her beauty struck me
then, I took a seat at her side, and we went into
conversation.
Did you know, Charles, that the silk 'was a good
conductor of electricity ? No; neither did I. But
it is so, my dear. The looks, the words, even the
little white hand of Mademoiselle Clara did not
produce upon me one half of the sensations that
traversed that thread and came to pierce me like
so many needles.
My clock is striking twelve then one. Night
is dark ; all is silent. I shut my eyes. When
half asleep, I dream that my hand is leaving me
and slowly makes its way towards my neighbor’s
room. I must run after it, but I can’t move. My
hand and arm are certainly out of the bed; the
magnetio power of the thread is drawing them. I
resist. The thread yields a moment but Boon to
pull again.
* * * I cannot doubt any more, dear friend,
I am completely awake ! I cannot express my
feelings; the electric influence of the silk had
taken me unguarded, and I lost my self-control.
True, I first opposed some resistance, but let not
my morals be proud of it, for I was unconscious of
my doings. My blood ib boiling, my temples are
vibrating and it seems to me that the thread is in
communication with mysterious sounds. I listen;
but do not question me; some music, you know, is
intoxicating 1
* * * What is this now ? The thread seems
to get impatient and pulls so hard, that it makes a
mark on my wrist, causing a slight pain, the effect
of which is to bring a shadow of reason to my
brain. I took advantage of it to reflect upon the
possible consequences of all that. No ! a thousand
times no!
Having uttered that exclamation, I resolved to
get up, take scissors and 1 uttered a second
exclamation—of pain this time—my forehead had
struck some very hard object. Ah! dear Charles,
it was only then that I realized I was already up
and standing by my door, which I had left ajar.
1 jumped backward, seized the scissors, and hear
ing some noise in the hall, I listened a while. Some
one was there, and the thread began pulling
again.
* • * * The scissors have fulfilled their duty
I heard some one going off with a long sonorous
sigh, but I did not remain there to listen to it, 1
went straight back to my bed.
III.
End of Clara’s Letter to Annie.
•* * •* Twelve o’clock, and I do not sleep
yet. My clock strikes one and I close my eyes,
thinking of that famous labyrinth, out of which
no one could go unless he had a thread to guide
him. Was it a silk thread ? History does not
say.
I woke by daylight, dressed myself in a hurry,
and went to my bureau, upon which I had left the
,»v .... ... - [ j,ad wound
my wonder
the drawers,
— , s , „ . under my
bed; but the thread is not to be found. Had any
body stolen it ? I examined the window, it was
closed; the door, it was locked. Am I a somnam
bulist? I began to get scared, and seated myself
on an arm-chair, Looking to the floor I saw,
right by the door, the King of Hearts, on which d
had wound the silk thread. Some one had dare
to draw it to the very end; and who could it be
but Mr. Adolphus, who had the other end tied
around his wrist? A man whom I supposed to
be timid ! Did he imagine that I went to bed with
the other end of his thread in my hand, so as to be
in readiness to his call ? What opinion has he of
a lady ? Shame and anger made my blood rush to
my heart, I looked at the card on the floor, and it
seemed to me that the king was growing larger
and was the veTy picture of that insolent man. In
an instant, I had picked it up and torn up into
pieces. But to destroy his effigy was not enough
for me, I wanted to pull out his very eyes. Full
of this not very Christian thought, I opened my
door. Mr. Adolphus was just opening his. so we
found ourselves in presence of each other. We
were alone in the hall and I looked at him as if to
crush him down to atoms.
‘You may have such opinion of me as you
please, mademoiselle,’ he said, with a slight tint
of irony, ‘after while, you will certainly render
me justice, and appreciate the delicacy of my
conduct.'
‘Your conduct, sir, need not long meditation to
be judged as it deserves. What I think of it to
day 1 will always think it.’
‘So you disapprove me ?’
‘ Do you wonder at that ?’
‘No, mademoiselle, and still I would do again
what I have done.’
‘Where have you learned, sir, that a gentleman
has ever acted that way ?’
■ ‘In the Bible, mademoiselle, I have followed th6
example of an honest young man of Jewish race.
‘What do you mean? I don’t understand you
any more. Had you imitated the poor young man
you speak of, you would have spared me the in
sult you inflicted upon me last night.
‘I must now ask you myself what you mean.
You speak of an insalt; what insult, great heav
ens ! explain yourself, if you please!’
I was about to answer him, but—
•Plague on the little girls I’ exclaimed my aunt,
who was entering the hall, ‘plague on the little
girls who leave their things everywhere. Can t.
you be more careful to put up your silk skeins
when you are through working? A little more,
my poor cat would have been choked to death !
I looked at the animal which she carried in her
arms, and saw that the silk was entangled all
around his legs, neck and body. I turned to Mr.
Adolphus ; he burst in a laugh. I imitated him
to the great wonder of my aunt, who did not un
derstand.
We had a delicious time in our visit to the old
tower; Mr. Adolphus has been with me all the
time. He has been pleasant, gallant, even some
thing more. The company talked, looking at us,
and made teasing allusions; but he did not
pay any attention to it, neither did I.
If my aunt’s cat is not the innocent cause of my
marriage, I am greatly mistaken.
Au revoir, dear, remember me.
A gentleman entered a grocery store at North
Vernon, Indiana, tbe other day and asked lo r a
gallon of molasses. Having drawn it, the store
keeper asked him what he would take it home
in. “In my hat,” promptly replied the cus
tomer, calmly bolding out a new silk hat, into
which the grocer, not to be outdone in saw"
froid, poured tbe fluid. Then the custome.
jammed the hat on the grocer’s head, and, hav
ing thus occupied his attention, teok what
money there was in the till and departed.
Daniel McGonigle. of Jeffersonville, Ind.,«ged
78, challenges any man in the country to wriatle
with him.
.... PE4
17. K It 2
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
All communications relating to this department of the
paper mhould be addressed to A. F. Wurm, Atlanta.Ga.
Chess headquarters. 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.
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM NO. 72.
| 1 K Kj
1 BXB+
2 QXP, etc
PROBLEM NO. 74.
By Adolf Anderssen,
black, m
WHITE.
White to play and mate in 3 moves.
CHESS BY CORRESPONDENCE.
(French Defence.)
WHITE, BLACK,
Jno. A. Belcher,
Providence, B. I.
1. P-K 4
2. P-Q4
3. PXF
4. Kt—K B 3
5. B—Q.3
6. 0—0
7. Kt-Q B 3
8. K Kt—K 5
o P—KB4
10. Q Kt—K 2 (a)
11. BPXKt
•-O B3
;t-KB4
O-K sq
$-Ul z
17. KtXB
18. K—K *q
19. 0 BXP
20. RXR ^
21. BXK B P (b)
22. White resigns.
NOTES BY THE VANQUISHED CHESSER
(a) Kt—K B 3 was much better.
\b) Q B—K R 4 was the right move here, but this
capture stirred up such a bumble bee nest, that the
author put both hands over his face and ran away
as fast as his legs could carry him.
CHESS IN NEW YORK.
Game played Mr. C. Mohle and Captain Landrup,
in the tournament now in progress at the Manhal
tan Chess Club.
KVAMS’ GAMBIT—RICHARDSON’I ATTACH-
12. P-
13. Kt-
14.
15.
16.
A. L. Grutten,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
1.
P-K 3
2.
P—Q 4
3.
PXP
4.
Kt-K B 3
5.
B—Q3
6.
B-K3
7.
P-Q B 3
8.
Q Kt-Q 2
9.
Q-Q Kt 3
10.
Q KtXKt
11.
KBXP
12.
B—Q3
13.
Q—QB2
14
K-Q2
15.
Q R—K B sq
16.
P—K Kt 4
17.
BXKKP+
18.
PX Kt
19.
Kt-K Kt 5
20.
RXR
21.
Kt—K B 7+
HO. B B 0
17. Q Kt 5
( 18. B Q 3 and wins.
(gl Forced. If 1{ to K sq, mate follows in two
moves, or if P It 3, B tks R P. Arc., wins offhand.
(h) 17. B B 6, followed by B Q 3, is yet more to the
purpose.
(i) He has nothing good, but P Q, 1 gives him a
chance of surviving a move or two longer than the
plan lie adopts.
(j) A pretty ending. —T. F. & Farm
OP£BA BGITSS.
JOHN T. RAYMOND,
The Great American Comedian, in
COL. MULBERY SELLERS,
Monday, December 2d, and in
[Risks or Insure your Rife
Tuesday, December 3d.
MISS LOUISE POMEROY,
The Most Charming Actress on the American Stage
Wednesday, December 4th, in
THE ADIRONDACK^,
One of the most beautiful plays of modern times,
made lor Miss I’oniery. and represented for
the first time in this city.
Thursday, December 5th,
CAMILLE,
Alexander Dumas’ Great emotional Play.
OFEEJi HOUSS.
NICK ROBERTS
-GREAT—
HUMPTY DUMPTY
Combination, with Grimaldy and a host of
completely new feature*, and extraordinary
ATTRACTIONS 1
Friday and Saturday, December 6th, A 7th:
Grand Matinee Saturday After
noon.
Prices as usual. Tickets for reserved seats for
sale at Phillips & Crews' without extra charge.
White,
Mr. M.
1.. P K 4
2.. Kt K B 3
3.. B B 4
4.. P Q Kt 4
,..PQB3
6.. Cast lea
7 ..P Q 4
8.. Kt tks P
9.. P tks Kt
10.. Q « O
11.. Kt tks B
12.. Q K B 3
P K R 3 (g)
P Q Kt 4 (i)
KR2
J>n Kt3
Black. White. Black*
Cant. L. Mr. M. Capt. L.
p K4 1?..KKt3 QK2(c)
Kt Q B 3 14..B K R 6 (d) P K Kt 3
8 1)4 15..B Kt 5 )e> Q B4
B tks P 16..Q B 4 (f)
B R 4 17..Q R B (h)
Kt K B3 18..B B 6
Castles 19..BK2
Kt tks Kt 20..B tks R K Kt
(tt ) 21..Q R 4 P Kt 4
Kt tks K P 22..b Kt 6 ch K tks B
BtksP 23..Q tks P ch KR2
Kt tks Kt 24..Q R 5 mate
Kt B5 (b)
NOTES.
to.) Kt tks K P is doubtless very much stronger.
The moves made gives Black an uncomtortable po-
sition. ls the on jy move here.
After this move W bite’s uttack becomes over-
w «'.mtng K R sq was his best resource.
overlooks the lact that had this Bgone
tnk'tiioim he could have won sooner. The Bis
much stroBuer at B 6 than at B 6.
le> He properly prefers this to taking the R.
m Had lie played B B 6 at once instead, the reply
would still have been P K R 4, followed by K R 2. But
we think White would nave accomplished his end
quicker had he taken that course, eg:
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GEORGIA RAILROAD COMPANY, )
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