Newspaper Page Text
1 T
i
THE Dilf AFTER MY DEATH.
CROSSING THE 1UYERSTYX.
Charon and His Ferry-Boat.
,1
Startling Disclosures in the Iuler-
lial Kcttious.
CHAPTER IY.
THE PRISONS.
Our gnide had led ns out nearly into the cen
tre of the Court of the Sleepers, in order that we
might have a better view of the singular scene,
and as he uttered the last words he turned and
retraced his steps towards the door of the judge’s
private entrance, whence we bad issued trom
the Hall of Justice. He then skirted the wall ot
slightest danger or inconvenience.’
‘Bat surely, sir,’ said the poet earnestly, at
length mustering tip courage to utter what was
in ali our minds—‘surely sir,—I speak without
knowledge of the subject, and regret that our
legal friend is not here—surely our law is not so
inadequate to the protection of property that
many crimes of fraud are permitted to go un
punished ?'
Tne apparitor replied by pointing to the in
scription over the arched door of the ward which
we were about to enter. It ran thus: ‘AIercubi
ocs Ward;’ and underneath: ’promoters of com
panien (limited).’ The poet was silent. He had
dabbiea a little in speculation.
‘We will visit this ward first, if you pi ease,
gentlemen,’ said our conductor. ‘But stay; per
haps you would like to inspect the prison
register.’
As he spoke, he threw open with some diffi
cuity an enormous book which was placed upon
an iron lectern in the centre of the corridor,
and we crowded round to read the names ol the
ui fortunate inmates of the prison.
For a few minutes nothing was to be heard
the Court of the Sleepers for a few score yards,
and finally stopped before a T s “‘ ll [’ e 1 ^ lo d c "° e r d ’ | but our loud exclamations of surprise and hot
ror at the names which we discovered. ‘What 1
heavily barred and bolted,
and admitted us into a court-yard of much
smaller dimensions than that which we had just
left. This court-yard formed, as it were, the
connecting link between the Palace of Justice
and a wing of considerable height, and in length
stretching further than the utnuss limits of our
sight. At the opposite end of the court-yard
(which we immediately recognized as that which
we bad looked out ujon from theJudges’ private
room) was another door, also firmly secured, and
with a building like a small porter’s lodge or
guard-room, attached to it.
‘Now, gentlemen,’ said the apparitor, closing
behind us the door by which we had entered,
and locking it wish great eaie, ‘lam at your ser
vice. How would you like to spend your after
noon? These,’ he continued, pointing to the
vast wing of the building which I have men
tioned, ‘these are onr prisms. You would prob
ably like to pay them a visit before we go on to
the city.’
•The city ! exclaimed the Liberal M. C. in sur
prise. What city ?
‘What city!’ echoed the apparitor, ‘why, the
City of the Shades, to be sure. Where else did
you imagine that those spirits who on earth bad
been entirely engross' u m the pleasures anti
cccupatioi s of an urban hl<. would care to pass
their lives in a spiiiiual state?
‘But,’ enquirea the M. C. with growing aston
ishment,’ do you mean to say that it resembles
the cities of earth ?’
‘Precisely,’ answered our guide; ‘houses,
streets, maits, churches, theatres, trades, pro
fessions, everything complete. All the comforts
and appliances of ud earthly city, 1 assure you.'
‘What!’ exclaimed the M. C., ‘and all its sin
and misery and turmoil as well? All its vulgar
aims and mean aDxitties and paltry ambitions?
The apparitor stiragged his shoulders.
‘It has all the characteristics of a city,’he
said.
‘And are there, then,’ exclaimed theM. C, in
dignantly, ‘are there spirits of so gross and
earthly a temper—any who look back at the
wretched life of earth with so ignoble a regret
as willingly to take up their abode in this citv ?’
‘Its population, ’answered tbeapparitor coolly,
‘was 250 billions by the last census returns, and
it is inertasing now at the rate of thirty millions
a year.’
•But,’ interrupted the country gentleman,
‘Minos neter told us of the existence of spirits
psssing their lives in this wav.’
‘True, replied the other. ‘Nor indeed did be
mention any of the multitude of various pur
suits which are followed by the inhabitants ol
Hades. Your singular and noble unanimity in
selecting the highest life rendered it unneces
sary for their Lotdships to describe j>he otfeem.
* ' ” ‘ yon. You will now,
lives which w ere open to
however, Lave an opportunity of seeing them
for yourselves.’
•My intention,’ said the country gentlemau
with pride, ‘is, as you know, to solve the prob
lem of existence.’
•I am aware cf it, sir.’ replied the apparitor
with a slight smite ‘mu. ve ry creditable it is to
a gentleman in your pcsiiie u. The majority of
country gentleman sjor..s ake to tarming.’
•What!’ exclaimtu tne country gentleman,
eagerly, ‘is there any tanning to be had?’
‘Abundance,’ said the apparitor, -and very
high farming too.’
The squire turned away his bead, and those
near< st to him fancied that they heard him sigh
heavily.
‘But come, gentleman,’ continued our guide,
‘am I not right in supposing that you would
like to inspect our prisons?’
We readily assented to the proposal, and fol
lowing onr conductor through an arched door
way, we passed up a spiral flight of steps to the
great central corridor of the prisons.
: I am much interested on the sut ject cf pris
ons, said the M. C. a little pompously, ‘and
would not for a great deal have missed this op-
portnnity of observing your system. By-the-
bye,’ be continued, ‘what, on the whole, is your
opinion of ours ? Ho you find an improvement
of late years in the morale of the American con
vict? Do you meet with a larger proportion of
reformed cbareciers among them than was for
merly hi case ?
‘I have had little or no experience of them,’
replied the apparitor. ‘Such American convicts
as arrive here with their earthly sentences nc-
expired, and are not able,’ he added with a cov
ert smile,’ to prove their rt formation, ‘are con
signed to a house of correction in quite another
part of Hades.’
‘Whom have you here then ?’ I enquired.;
•Here?’ said the apparitor, carelessly, ‘oh, this
prison is reserved exclusively tor the undetected
criminals, or for these whom, though detected,
the short arm of human justice has been un
able to reach.’
We glanced in dismay down the vast corridor
in which we were standing, whose polished
floor and groined roof seemed to converge in the
dim distarce, while the myriad snails of its
slowly lessening arches wearied the eye which
strove in vain to separate them.
‘Exclusively reserved to criminals unpunished
upon earth ?' we faltered, alter a short pause,
‘Exclusively,’ replied our gnide, coldly. ‘But
I see, gentlemen, that you have not even yet un
learned what you will forgive me for calling
your provincial prejudices. You have been
throughout your lives accustomed to pride your
selves on the knowledge, the judgement and the
justice of the society in which you Lave live ',
in just the same spirit as that which leads Giles
or Hodge—pardon the comparison—to look on
his little country town as the centre of the uni
verse, to regard its corn exchange as the tii r
umph ot human architecture, its mayor is tbe
most awlui of eartly dignitaries, its sessions as
the most haired aLd accomplished tribunal in
‘he world. Ah, gentlemen, you little know
what hearty laughs we have in Hades as we ob
serve the iicffab’e contempt with which society
looi s ou‘ ot Ler^oue blurred, dim, distorted eye,
on the blind communities ot the savage.’
We all of us tell some irritation at this rather
rude speech, the country genthman especially;
bu; the lecclitetioD of the mortification we bad
exp«rienced in the judges’ reusing room was
slid :rtsn in opr m n s, and we ieit truly sure
flat onr guide bad abundant meats ot proving
ib<* truth cf his insinuations.
•Of wb&i cfleDt* s,’ erquired the M. C., ‘have
the prisoneis confined Lire been guilty ?’
‘Ol < ffencts oi fraud and crueity principally,’
replied the other, ‘of which many thousands
are committed daily in the most civilized com
munities without subjecting their authors to the
my old friend Johnson here? Impossible !
‘Good God ‘Major Brown a prisoner, and tor
fraudulent dealrng.’ ‘What's this? The'Rev.
NathaL iel Meek, tweDty-five years’ ill-treat
ment of wife. Why, I dined there only last
week, and a more united couple
But here the apparitor, who bad listened with
a bitter smile to cur exclamations, interposed.
‘Come, gentlemen,’ he said, ‘if you once begin
looking for your acqnaintarcis, we shall be here
all the afternoon. Let us go on now, if yon
please.’ And with with these words he un
locked the dooroi Mercurious Ward and admit
ted us. The wards are built out at right angles
to the vast central corridor, and are, of course,
of much smaller dimensions. Along each side
of this one in which we stood ran a row of cells,
with the name ol the occupant of each 1 .ffixed to
the door, accompanied by a short statement of
the crime'for which he was suffering. The ap
paritor paused opposite a door bearing the in
scription:
‘Mr. Plausible Gabb, Life Insurance Com
pany;' and selecting a key from the bunch at
his girdle, he admitted us to the cell. Its occu
pant was sitting moodily on a low pallet in one
coiner of the room. The cell was clean and
neat, but with the exception of the pallet and a
three-legged stool, completely unfurnished.
‘We adopt the separate system for this class of
offenders, you see,’said the apparitor. We do
cot, however, think it well to leave them with
out any intellectual occupation;’ and as he
spoke he pointed to a list of policy holders,
fiamed and hanging against the walls of the
c 11.
‘At stated periods,’ he continued, ‘these pris
oners are led out for punishment. But stay,
this ward looks out on the punishment-yard,
and I believe that punishment is just about to
begin.'
We followed our guide to one of the windows
of th9 ward and looked out. In the centre oi
the court-yard beneath was placed a large office
table, with a row of drawers set into each ot its
supporting pedes'als, while close to it stood a
wooden chair. The court-yard was untenanted
when we first looked out into it, but alter a few
minutes a bell rang, aid a portly, eminently re
spectable-looking shade emerged from one of
the cells beneath ns opening out into the court
yard, approached the table, and seated himself
in the chair.
‘That, gentlemen,’ said tbeapparitor, indice'-
ing him, ‘is an ex-director and principal pro
moter of the ‘Cucumber and Patent Sunbeam
Company, (Limited),’ which failed so disester-
ously some years ago. Observe him, if you
please.’ . w .
As he said these words, the spirit in the chair,
having looked cautiously around him, produced
from the recesses of a garment, whose character
I am forbidden to describe, a small key, with
which he unlocked the drawers of the two ped
estals, and proceeded to transfer their contents
to the surface of the table. These contents con
sisted of piles of gold and silver coin, bank
notes, bills, bondH, and valuable securities of
all kinds. In a short time the table in front of
him was completely covered with the glittering
and rustling mass, into which the spirit, bend
ing forward, plunged his arms up to the elbows,
while his eyes gleamed with an unearthly de
light. When at the height of his avaricious tri
umph the bell again sounded, and a crowd of
spirits thronged into the court-yard. With one
accord they rushed acroi-s the intervening space,
making towards the table at which the ex-direc
tor sat. A banker’s clerk, followed by eight
children, was the first (o reach it, followed by a
country clergyman with a mill larger family.
A host of other spirits, of various classes and
callings, followed behind. Petty tradesmen,
small farmers, needy professional meD, maiden
ladi*.s—all thronged and jostled each other
round the table, and began helping themselves
in Landfalls to the money which lay upon it.
Shriek alter shriek rang from the lips of the ex
director, but a mysterious power seemt d to par
alyze his motions and to, prevent h ; s stirring a
limb to resist his plundered. His arms were
outstretched over the table rigid and motionless,
a few inches only above his cherished goid, but
the strain in.? fingers could not lower themselves
even one inch to clutch it, and the hundred-
handed crowd swept the pieces unresisted from
beneath his palms. At last all was gone but a
scanty pile of notes and gold in one corner of
the table. A widow approached and carried it
off, apparently weli satisfied. The spell was
broken, and the wretched spirit flung himseil
forward upon the table in an agony of tears.
‘The punishment is concluded,’said the appa
ritor, who had been an unmoved spectator of the
scene, ‘that is for to-day. It is repeated peri
odically during the whole of the prisoner s de
tention.’
‘How often ?’ erquired the M. C.
‘Every Stock Exchange account-day,’ was the
reply. ‘This paiticular prisoner has undergone
it upwards of fifty times. There is a marked
improvement in his baaTing since the course
was first commenced. His shrieks, although
still somewhat loud, have lost much cf the
piercing shrillness which they once had. He
will soon hav9 learned to witness the removal of
his money with scarcely any emotion. Not,
however, until he voluntarily sends for those he
has wronged, and offers to divide his money
ratoahly amongst them, will his reformition be
considered complete enough to warrant his dis
charge from prison. But you have seen enough,
1 imagine, in this ward; let us pass to the next,
if you have no objection.’
We assented, and letrp.ced our stej s to the
central corridor, our guide careinily s -curing
behind him the ponderous door of the ward
winch we had h ft.
We proceeded a few yards further along the
corridor, and the apparitor again baited before
a ward on the right hand., over whose a’cbed
door Wd read tbe inscription: ‘Phalaihs Ward.
CRUELTY TO THE WEAK. ’
‘Tins dots, indeed, surprise and humiliate
Die,’ said the M. C. T thought that in America
least, w- restrained man from ill-treating his
Weaker broiler.’
His weaker broiler, possibly,’ replied our
guide cold: ; oa seem to have forgotten two
cl: sets of being* v ho, though not man’s broth
ers. are considerably weaker than he.’
‘You refer to —’
‘Women and animals, or animals and women,'
said the apparitor; ‘forgive me if I mistake the
order of precedence.’
‘Women !’ exclaimed the M. C. ‘Surely, 6ir,
the law at least protects them.'
■Protects them !' cried the apparitor, for the
first time moved, and speaking with a lo'ty in
dignation which overawed ns. ‘Be silent, sir,
for very shame. Do you think the shameful in
equalities of your law are unnoticed here? Do
yon think that when a poor man, guilty of a
petty theft, leaves one of your police courts with
a heavier sentence than the ruffian who bus
beaten his wife into a senseless bloody mass —do
you think, I say, that we in Hades look upon
such a spectacle unmoved?’
Silent and abashed we followed our guide into
the ward. This time he did not open the door
of the cells, but led ua directly to tlio window
and bade us look out into the punishment-yard.
Vile stuted in surprise at what we saw there.
The sole occupant of the yard appeared to be
a mortal! Yes, there was no mistaking the form
and t xture of that fleshy garment which we
had left behind us—it already seemed so long
ago. The being in the court beneath us was a
mortal, and, to judge by his brutal features, a
mortal cf the most degraded type,
‘I understand your surprise,’ said the appari
tor;’ ‘you are looking'at the punishment jacket;
it baa always to be used for prisoners of this
kind.’
‘The punishment jacket ?' we repeated.
‘Yes,’ was the reply. You don’t imagine that,
any punishment which we have could affect the
spirit of such a fellow as that. Why, you can
hardly even see his spirit, so mean and small is
it when it first arrives in Hades. No : we have to
send up to e: rth fer his body, and reclothe the
immortal spi: it,—iave the mark !—with the gross
earthly thell that contains tbe only feelings
which he ever possessed ; and then, and not till
then, are we able to apply any corrective agent.
Hence we spsak of his body here—r s the punish
ment jacket.’
At this moment a body of warders, armed
with stout canes,"hurried into the yard, and be
gan belabouring the prisoner with tbe heartiest
good-wili. The fellow reared and bellowed in
the niOEt contemptible fashion, darting here and
there to avoid the attacks of his tormentors,
who stuck to him like a swarm of bees, adminis
tering their blows the while with a strength
which I should not have believed their shadowy
frames to possess. At last the punishment was
completed, the warders retired, and the wretch
ed criminal sank whimpering down in the
centre of the yard, the large tears cf self-pity
trickling down his unprepossessing face.
‘The worst punishment is to come,’ whispered
our guide.
As he uttered the words the door of the yard
was thrown opeD. and the shade of a wOtnau
rushed towards the prostrate man, and began
to cover him -with the tenderast caresses and to
lavish upon him the most endearing expres
sions cf condolenoe.
Immediately the ruffian sprang to his feet with
a bittter curse, and fiercely reviling the woman
as the cause of his recent sufferings, aimed a
terrible blow at her face. It fell innocuous upon
her shadowy features. A volley of kicks and
cuffs followed, but the woman remained erect,
calm, unhurt, her arms still outstretched to
wards the late partner ot her joys and sorrows,
looking upon him with the same pitying smile.
At length, exhausted by his efforts, he sank
down, and again subsided into sullen tears,
and once more the woman drew near to him and
caressed him,
‘That,’ remarked the apparitor; is the part of
the punishment which this kind of prisoner
faels mest.’
Ah!’ exclaimed the poet, ‘you mean the wife’s
beautiful forgiveness of his past brutality.’
‘Not at all,' replied the other drily. ‘I mean
his exasperating inability to hurt her' It has also
tbe strongest reformatory' c-ffjct. It is net till
h« feels that sbympdronger thaD himseil that
he fits; begjfcfc-p 1 .• I'lftStfril©: idrbearaUce uC~
wards him. In time he will accept her minis
trations alter each beatiDg without resentment,
and even with gratitude. The process is ex
ceedingly slow with these prisoners, but we
have known them at last to express regret that
in a past state of existence they ever maltreated
their wives.’
‘And now,’ continued our guide, retracing his
steps to the central corridor, ‘you have seen as
much, perhaps, as you wouid care to see. The
other, and by far the larger portions of the pris
on—four-fiUhs, in fact, of the whole—are occu
pied by cases of that stamp;’ and he pointed as
he spoke to a door over which was inscribed the
words ‘Cabnifex Ward. Cruelty to the Dumb.’
‘The punishment of these criminals,' continued
he, ‘varies much in severity, as, indeed, do the
degrees of their respective guilt, embracing as
it does every shade of crime, from deliberate
barbarity to the thoughtless cruelty which is the
result merely of habit and example, and of a lax
popular moralty on thesubj ;ct of human amuse
ments;’ and he glanced lor a moemnt at the
country gentlemen.
‘But four-fifths !’ exclaimed the poet—‘four-
fifths of this vast building devoted to cases like
this? Surely you exaggerate.’
‘Exaggerate !’ cried the apparitor, deeply
moved. ‘You speak as a mortal speaks. What
man knows, or knowing, would dare to think of
that eternal tale of wrong and crueity which
i.sceDds night and day from the dumb creatures
to tbe dumb skies ? But draw near for one mo
ment, and look, if you can bear it, on the spec
tacle which is ever before the eyes of those im
prisoned here,’
We looked down from the window at which
he stood. A vast court-yard was spread below,
filled with dumb animals in every form and atti
tude of pain—overdriven cx=.n, dusty and stag
gering, faint and bleeding from tbe goad; over
laden horses, prostrate beneath their too great
burdens, wealed and quivering from the cruel
lash; the dog. stunned by the blows and kicks
of a brutal master, drawing breath painfully be
neath his broken rib's, yet ever looking round
with a wistful eye for the savage face he still
loved, his tongue ready to lick the merciless
hand; nearer to us and directly beneath, a crowd
of wiid things in the slow agonies of a lingering
death—the bursting flanks and glazing eye of
the hunted fox—the rumpled bloody mass of
feathers which was once a bird. A confused
mariner ascended constantly from the dying
crowd below—a murraer in which we ever and
anon distinguished the dull lowing of the tor
tured cattle, or the piteous whine of the dog, or
the childlike shriek cf the wounded bare. The
very air around seemed heavy and laint with the
fumes of suffering, y/e turned frem the win
dow sick with horror.
‘It is enough,’said the apparitor, whom not
all his familiarity with it had hardened to the
scene; ‘let us leave this place. And yon, sir,’
he added sternly to the country gentleman, and
pointing towards the wild animals below, ‘re
member and reflect upon what you have wit
nessed.’
The squire returned no answer, but appeared
wrapped in remois.fnl reflections.
(TO EE CONTINUED.)
ALMOST A FATAL STEP;
-OR-
The Heirs of the Mil
lionaire.
JP»
e :a ;h of the Church, and the
The Bible is
doetrib6 of the gospel shall never perish.
Are there rot sinners waiting on the depths
of despair to cay, who staggered at the example
of proftSoing Christians and were forever lost.
Set your standard high but never cut of reach
ing down to your fallen fellow man, to raise
him up from degiedauon into which Lis con
duct has plunged him.
Christian ! if yon need rest from the strain
of business, go to your seat in the prayer-meet
ing, and spend an hour in sweet communion
with your God, but to the theatre never !
Previous to the events last recorded a signifi
cant interview bad taken place between Evange
line and Theodore Earle.
Evangeline had just risen from a delightful
siesta, and was standing at the mirror, twisting
a pale pink and silver ribbon in and out of her
glossy black curls, when she heard a quick,
nervous step coming toward the door. A glint
of exulting light crossed the dark eye, a mock
ing smile for a moment wreathed h6r lips, but
there was no trace of it as she turned to meet
Mr. Earle, who bed come hastily into the room
with a face somewhat flushed, and disturbed
for a gentleman of his dignity.
‘Well, man pere, you come to congratulate me.
It is well, all 1 kings are auspicious. This is a
sudden dav in the estimation of Monsieur
Henri.’
Mr. E :rle looked into her fair unruffled coun
tenance, and smoothed away a little of thb heavy
frown hanging on his forehead, while he re
turned in a somew'hat mollified tone;
‘I did not come to talk about him. But I was
well pleased with your reception of him Evaisge-
line. Another circumstance surprised and I
admit disconcerted me. But I think there is
some mistake.’
‘What can it be?—nothing vexatious I hope,
nothing unreasonable,’ chimed Evangeline’s
sweet tones.
‘It. is indeed, very unreasonable, very imperti
nent, if one looked upon it as a serious move
ment. I think, however, it is nothing like that,
cnly a mistake or jest.’
He spoke tbe last word with a little doubtful
accent as he glanced at the composed, sedate
face beside him.
‘How long it is before you speak! You are so
bezarre this evening.’
"■•Well, I have just ceme from tbe banker’s.
The income quarter is due to-day. I went for it,
and I found that it had been drawn; and they
said by Mils Evangeline Earle.’
‘Ah ! that is faux pas. That is the actual truth
monpere I w»s out, you know, the other day
in town, and passing through their street, be
thought me the money was due, and at the same
time recalled how delighted I should be with
a new silk dress, just of the lovely pink shade
you have often pronounced irresistible.’
‘It was pink in muslin, not in silk that I rec
ommended,’ stammered Theodore Earle, taking
a furtive survey of the tranquil, beautiful face,
to obtain a hint for bis method of procedure.
‘Simplicity in dress is the most charming in
young ladies. So you actually took the money.
I will pardon the impertinence this time, but
I warn you against a repetition. I will take it
if you please.’
His tore wrs growing harsh and angry, but
the young lady only laughed, and held up her
two white hands in pretty arnez ;m»nt.
‘What could be more natural than being in my
banker’s street I should stop and receive the
money allowed me from the Allan estate!
jV imports! You will take it ? Ma fois : that
wilt be difficult !’
She tripped lightly acrosi the room, flung
open the wardrobe and drew out a glistening,
fairy-’.ike robe of that rich pink you find in the
very heart ot the rose. Little festoons of lace
ran hither and thither, and silver and pearl
buttons secured the airy, costly frivolty. It
required but a first glance Irom Theodore Eyrie’s
pructio d eye to serstWve that there was ncsferc-nr'
uere. Tup material was a firm, heavy web from
the adrou Lyons looms. The lace was a genu-
in j Malta The tiny pearl which glistened in
the silver rim of every button was one which
bad required some adventurous diver to bring up
from tne hidden treasures of the sea. Mr. The
odore set his teeth savagely. Like your sagely,
decorous, pompous natures, when he took fire
he overrun all reason and propriety.
Extrav gtnt minx!'ejaculated he.
‘See, heie is a art of , the money. And here
and here, aad over there the rest!’ warbled
Evangeline Earle.
She flitted, with charming unconsciousness of
his wrath from wardrobe to bureaus, and flung
open a casket showing an unostentatious but
very elegant set of genuine diamonds ; a pretty
Parisiau mouchoir box filled with fairy-like
webs ; a box of dainty slippers -black and white
salia. gold embroidered bronzes, rich creamy
velvets. Upon all of which her relative glared
as ferociously as a tigress upon the hunter who
has wounded her young.
‘Do you mean that you have spent all that
money upon thislfrippery ?’ gasped he.
‘Every sou, Monsieur.’
‘I wish you would spare me this odious French
chatting. We are in America, now.’ And then,
his tone growing hoarse with rage, he added, as,
quite beyond the control of his reason, he
seized her by the arm, and shook her fiercely.
‘You shall repent this, youDg woman. You
will be punished for this.’
•Remove your hand from my arm, Mr. Theo
dore Earle,’ said a clear, icy cold voice which
compelled him to yield instinctive obedience.
His face was purple. Hers bad grown deadly
pale, but all tne fervor, and life and passion
withdrawn from thence had leaped into her
eyes. How they glilt'red and snapped !
‘Sir,’ said she, ss she pusied up the white
sleeve and glanced at the swollen marjis of his
iron fingers, ‘I bore that as best I could wheE I
was a cuild. I am a woman now, and I bear
such treatment no longer. I give you this warn
ing.’
‘A woman ! I should think so,’ snarled Mr.
Theodore. ‘You have taken upon you a wo
man’s audacity very suddenly. 1 tell you, if > ou
do this thing again, 1 will horsewhip you, as I
would a headstrong, disobedient child.’
‘I intend to attend to my own affairs in future,
to save yon the trouble of meddling with them.
I made that arrangement with the bankers yes
terday. I am eighteen, and I alone am to claim
the payments for the future.’
•You did, did you ? A sharp, shrewd business
j t ou thought it no doubt. Well, Madame, I can
tell you ttat which will send you back to undo
that very pretty arrangement, which will bring
you to my feet suing tor pardon and help. It’s
quite time, my queenly young lady, that we
come to an understanding.’
‘Yes,’ replied the girl fixing upon him un-
blenchiDgiy those glittering, fiercely burning
ey es. To is quite time we had an understand
ing.’
Here Madame Seraphina put her head into
the doer, loektd in bonified dismay at the hos
tile attitude cf the pair, and wringing her hands
sunk dewn upon the nearest chair.
‘You do too guess the interesting bit cf infor
mation it is fn my power to bestow upon you,'
sneered Mr. Theodore.
‘I beg your pardon,’ returned the girl with a
calm cold smile. T do not need to guess. I
know all about it.’
•What? You know what?’
‘I know all that one Eugene Lameaux can cx-
plein,’ replied the undaunted girl. ‘I have
known it two years and more.’
Mr. Theodore fell back, his hostile attitude
unconsciously changing into a cringing one.
‘I knew all you can hold over my head as a
scourge to drive me to your wishes. But I am
likewise quite well able to see that if I am to be
scourged, yon must fall directly into the fire,,
/ I
she continued, triumphantly.
‘You have known it two years—’ said Mr.
Theodore, enunciated the words slowly, and in
profound astonishment, and turning sternly to
his wife he demanded :
‘Have you known of this too, Seraphina ?’
‘No, oh no, indeed, Theodore. I never sus
pected such a thing. bhe has never shown a
sign of her understanding the matter. I would
never nave believed it of her.’
The subject of these remarks was leaning
tranquilly against the bureau. Sue lilted the
diamond brooch from its satin bed, held it ad
miringly to the light, and only laid it back,
when Mr. Theodore, plucking up courage, re
turned to the charge.
“Well, young woman, if as you say, you have
heard the truth of the whole matter, which by
the way, proves you to be a perfect hypocrite—
you must understand that it behooves you to
secure my good wilt, to avert my aDger, and
yourself the ruin it lies in my power to iDfiict.’
‘Quite the contrary, my good sir,’ replied the
young lady with inimitable sangfroid. T pass
by your ungallant taunt, simply reminding you
it would scarcely be marvellous if 1 had l«arnt
hypocrisy in the atmosphere which surrounds
the worthy proprietor of Tanglewood Dell. I
kept my secret because there was no occasion
for using it. I had n» objection to dressing
and living simply, especially while I was the
recipient ot so many rich gifts from the dear
French friends. But now I am oider, I have
arrived at the proper place for t king up my
position in the world. It is suitable and be
coming for me to follow my tastes. I h ivo been
oontent hitherto with a nitre pittance from the
generous income allowed me.’
‘Shameless creature !’ burst from Mrs. Sera-
phina. ‘Oh, the ungrateful viper ! w hom we
have petted and raised to such a brilliant pros
pect ! to turn upon us now.’
There was an authoritative wav9 of the band.
The unruffled voice continued as if there had
been no interruption.
‘I need n >w to make quite a different appear
ance. I have come to be mistress of the situa
tion, and I am naturally unwilling to yield the
reins which I hold in my hand toanv one's else
guidance. As regards gratitude—Ma fois! a
cartful glance over the p.isi years when my in
come has been the sole support of the family,
crossed out I fancy all obligation. I think we
may start fair from this. I have no desire to
quarrel. I by all means prefer a compromise;
but I am firm iu refusing to be a child any lon
ger. I think you have neither of you under
stood my character.’
‘Curses upon the French wiliness. I should
think not,’ muttered Mr. Tneodore ; but he
stood black and sailen, making no other re
sponse.
Evangeline lifted a bracelet, clasped it around
her delicate wrist, and admired the effect.
‘I have a mind to give to the proud minx the
fate she deserves!’ exclaimed Air. Theodore,
stung again to fury by the sight of her non
chalance. ‘How quick I could dash her down
into the depths of despair and disgrace.’
The dark eyes giowered again, although a
mock’ng smile sat on her lips.
‘I think uot, Mr. Earle. You reckon without
taking my resources into account. I tell you,
of the three here, I am the surest mistress of
this situation, or any situation. You do uot
appreciate my character. I admire myself
hugely, I asiure you, when I consider of what
adroit coup d' etat l aai capable. It is an inheri
tance, I opine, for my education has taught me
nothing so valuable.’
‘You will be a bold, bad woman, deep in
intrigue, one can read from this lesson,’ said
the worthy guardian, contemptuously; ‘but
perhaps it is for my interest to put aside my
just indignation, and treat with you.‘
•That, is my opinion, biffti sntiii not urge it
upon you, ‘ replied she, coldly.
‘What will you agree to ?‘ asked Mr. Theo
dore, sullenly.
T will De magnanimous. I will give you one
half of my income with which to manage the
household expenses, provided I am let alone
and allowed my free will in other matters.
When I am married I will take care that you
receive a generous douceur, such as will yield
you a comfortable annuity,* replied, she gaily.
•Very well, the matter is settled then.* said
Mr. Theodore, moving slowly towards the door.
•It is hard npon me, but I will be forbearing. ‘
‘She smiled graciously, and held out that
lovely, symmetrically formed hand.
‘We are allies then. Let us shake hands.*
Somewhat reluctantly Mr. Theodore touched
his hand to the taper fingers, made a stiff’ bow,
and retreated, lollowed by the meek and some
what frightened Mrs. Seraphina.
Outside the door he clenched his hand, shook
it fiercely, and mattered between his teeth :
‘The little, artful huzzy! The treacherous
French Jczjbel!’
Within, the girl smilling a slow, singularly
disagreaable smile, for all the lovely face and
pretty lips repeated lightly:
‘So that is a successful Coup d" essai and the
enemy is kors du combat. Now that question is
comfortably, settled. ‘
TO BE CONTINUED.
c\
Example before precept ; When we tell men
to forsake their sins. Have we left all for Him ?
The work of grace is still progressing in the
First Presbyterian Church, Atlanta Georgia ;
God grant that the wall‘s of sin may all be bro
ken down.
Those who are trying to climb heavenward on
the failings of Christian's will never reach that
blest abode, for only in keeping the commands
of ‘God there is great reward.
Never criticise your preacher in the presence
of your children or strangers, or those who are
not Christians!
‘The longer we neglect writing to an absent
friend the less mind we have to set abiut it.
So the more we neglect private prayer and
closer communion with God the more sly we
grow in our approaches to Him. ‘
A young lady teacher in Soule Female College
Aluri'oeesboro, Tennessee, has signified her de
sire to become a missionary to China ; and the
young ladies of the same institution, we are glad
to eee, have organized themselves into a ‘Mis
sionary Society.*
Recent advices from Fiji announce that, with
the fall knowledge of the murder of their coun
trymen in New Guinea, twenty additional teach
ers had volunteered to supply their pieces, and
so be ‘baptized for the dead.* And yet writers
in evening papers speak of the missionary en
terprise as a failure.
Air Charles E Stowe, son of Harriet Beecher
Stowe, was ordained to the ministry a week ago,
Bishop Keener has now his three sons in tns
travelling ministre
Rev. Dr. J. R. Graves, the old Baptist war-
horse, is in San Francisco, and will deliver lec
tures in the Metropolitan Temple.
Air. Moody has closed lis work in the north
western section cf Baltimore. After preaching
daily for several consecutive weeks at theErdaw
Piace Baptist Church in the afternoon, and at
Grace Methodist Iu. Church at night, £e has
transferred his labors to the northeastern ao-
tion of tne city. r
As the mountain pierces the ekv, and offers
its massive peak to be the footstool of the
throne oi God, so the good man passes within
by T rt ? e * e8 ' int0 secret
place of the tabernacle of the Most Hie h where
he abides under the shadow of the Almighty.