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THE 01 CEDI! CUFFS. An Autobiography. By Rett HVinwood, Author of 'Nobody’s Wife,’ ‘The Broken Mar riage Bond,’ 'Ethel Dreeme,’ 'The White Spectre. 'Sweetheart and Wife,’ 'The Chilton Estate.’ ‘The Wronged Heiress,’ etc., etc. CHAPTER X. A PERSISTANT WOOEB. I must acknowledge that Colonel Franshawes own incomprehensible words bad first set the demon distrust at work in my busy brain. Had he left them unspoken, I might have gone on longer vet in happy ignorance of the tragic ele- that overshadowed us all. Did you ever observe what awful consequen ces sometimes result from a single idle remark? A thousand dormant passions are kindled into life, and suspicion, distrust, jealousy or hate, as the case may be, rises up full-armed in the twinkling of an eye, perhaps never again to slumber. . , , Anxious and heartsick, when my strength had partiaily come back to me, I threw a light scarf over my head and ran out of the house in a state of mind bordering upon frenzy. I thought the air would do me good. . Heedless what path I took, I plunged into the thickest of the shrubbery and presently ap proached a secluded summer-house thickly screened by bushes aud quite remote from the mansion itself. The sound of voices reached my ears. Scarce- Iv knowing what I lid, I rushed up to the near est entrance and looked in. There was a sti fled exclamation, a scamper of feet, and some body rushed out of the opposite door just in season to avaid me. In one of the wicker-work chairs reolined Richard Vann, with a cigar between his teeth. He looked flashed and just a little frightened, I thought, at my sudden appearance. But he got up and held out his hand with a ready smile. ‘This is 8D unexpected pleasure, Miss Pal- grave,' he said. •Who has beon here with you ? I demanded, quite overlooking the discourtesy of the ques tion. and the fact that I had no*right to ask it ‘No one, I assure you.’ ‘I certainly heard voices as I came up,’ I re turned, looking him straight in the face. ‘Oh, I had forgotten; it must have been the gardener. He did come in to ask my opinion of some bulbs he was planting.’ Nothing could have been easier or more nat oral than this explanation. And yet, I did not credit it I was sure it was a woman's voioe I had heard mingling with his musical bats. Happeniag to look down at this instant, I dis covered a knot of scarlet ribbon lying on the floor of the summer-house. Richard saw it, too, and would have covered it with his boot had I not pointed it ont too quickly. ‘Who dropped that?’ I asked. ‘I did.’ He picked it up, and carefully put it away in his pocket. ‘I’m glad you saw it. I wouldn’t lose it for the world. It’s a love token.’ •You have a great many of them, no doubt,’ was my sarcastic response. He gave me an odd look and smiled. ‘Not so many but I w ould like to add to the number—if they came from the right source.’ •Indeed. You are very candid in your ad missions.’ . •1 merely ai swered an implied question. ‘Trne,’ I said, beginning to see how foolish I had been, ‘I had no right to feel angry with you.’ •Yon are not angry with me now ? ‘No.’ ‘Convince me you are not by taking a turn with me in that shady walk yonder.’ He offered lr's arm and I wss insane enough to take it. The anxiety and distress under which I wt‘s laboring, left my mind lets active than usual; otherwise, I must have seen at once that he wanted a tete-a-tete with me and chcs9 the walk in preference to the summer-house be cause the opportunities for eaves-dropping would be fewer. We walked on in silence for sometime. Even in mv preoccupation, I couii not help seeing that Richard was unaccountably agitated, and that ho kept glancing into the shrubbery from side to side as we advanced, as though half ex pecting to And somebody hiding there. ‘I have been waiting all day long to see you alone,’ he said, at. last, ‘and now propitious hea ven hf-s sent, you directly to me. ‘I doubt if heaven had anything to do with my presence h«re,’ I returned, sharply. 'What then ?’ ‘I was tired of the house—my head ached and I wanted a breath of fresh air. ‘No matter about your motives in coming—it is sufficient for me that yon are here. I scarcely noticed his remark, my mind was so fuiiy absorbed with other things; and sud denly, before I was aware of his intention, he had oauglit up my hand and pressed it passion ately to biB lips. ..... ‘What do you moan?’ I cried indignantly, stepping away from his side, fully aroused. ‘You ought to know, Marion; you must have seen before this, that I love you. Why have you shunned mo so—and why do you nowfeigp such charming ignorance of the passion that is consuming me ?' I put up my hand to stop him, rendered quite speechless by surprise. ‘1 loved you from the first moment my eyes rested upon your face,’ be went on. ‘I felt in stinctively that we were created for eaoh other. My whole soul went out alter you. I resolved to woo and win you.’ ‘Stop!' 1 cried, finding voice at last. ‘You quite take away my breath. This is so sudden —so unexpected. You distress me beyond mea sure.’ ‘W'aat is there distressing in the knowledge of my love ?’ ‘Everything. We are strangers, almost. And —and— ‘Go on!’ he oried fiercely. ‘I do not love you in return. I never could. Do not continue this conversation, it would be useless. Besides, I am sure you are mistaken in thinking that you care for me in that way.’ A dreadful pallor crept over his face; there was flame and fnry in his shining black eyes. ‘I ask you to beoome my wife/ he said, in a hard, metallic voice. ‘In plain words, do yon intend to decline the honor ?’ ‘I do, emphatically. ‘Consider. I can better yonr condition; I can shield yon with my love; I oan take you away from this unoongenial life with all its drudgery, and yon shall fare as sumptuously as a queen.’ 'Oh, pray be silent,’ I said, faintly. ‘You pain me and hnmble yourself to no purpose. Only love oonld win me, and for you I do not feel a particle of affection.' ' •Only try to love me,‘ he pleaded, 'and time will make the task an easy ‘ I shook my bead. He started towards mewith a muttered cry of rage and disappointment, as though he would fain have compelled submis sion to his will. _ . •You don’t know what you are doing when yon decline my love,’ he said m a low, hoinble tone that sent an ioy terror through all my veins, am not used to being baffled, and mine is one of those natures that cannot pnt up with oppo sition. I will never give you up. I mean to win yon by fair means or foul. Yon see I am can did. You had better submit. It will be pleas anter in the end, if no unequal war has been waged between ns.’ ‘Silence !’ I cried with a stamp, growing very angry at his insolence—so angry, indeed, that I forgot to be afraid of him. ‘How dare yon ad dress such words to me?' ‘They are words you ought to hear—the soon er the better.’ ‘Permit me to be the judge of that.’ ‘I decline to do so. Here is my hand. You know what it means if you take it—you are mine. But beware how you despise it.’ He held out his hand, all of a tremble with the intensity of his emotion, and his burning eyes glared straight into my own. I deliberate ly turned my back on him. There was a low, faint laugh, a moment’s si lence, and then he changed his position in the walk so as to confront me once more. ‘You scorn my love,’ he siid, turning very pale, again. ‘Very well. We will not talk of that. You shall feel niy power, now.’ ‘Do you threaten me ?’ ‘I warn you. Nothing shall come between me and the fulfillment of my desires—of that be assured. Yon do not know my strength, now. You shall, ere long. ‘You can not compell me to marry you.’ •I can break your spirit so that you will be glad to do so ! Please bear that in mind. I mean every word of it. If you are wise, you will see the folly of opposition, and chango your tactics.’ With those ominous word3, he swung on his heel and left me. What did he mean ? Would he have dared use such language to me unless sure of the ground he walked on? There were so many to whom I could appeal for protection—so many to shield me from his insolence. Wore there, really? I stopped to reflsot. One person, and one alone, in that house I oould trust implicitly—its master. But he was ill— too ill to be burdened with my troubles. I knew nobody in the neighborhood. The circle of my friends was a narrow one, after all. I began to be dreadfully afraid, I scarcely knew why. But a chill reeling of foreboding pressed like angiron hand upon my heart. A ieverish anxiety beset me. After an absence of more than an hour, I re turned to the house. A gentleman was just at that moment descending the steps—Dr. StsBley. I knew from his professional air, though I had never seen him before. I stopped him, with mntterod apology, and asked eagerly after Coi. Fanshawe. ‘His disease seems to be more of the mind than the body,' was the answer, after a long look at me frem a pair of shie vd, gray eyes. ‘He is not dangerously ill ?’ ‘Oh, no ; he ought to be up again in a few days.’ ‘I heasitated a moment, then drew nearer, and dropped my hand upon his arm. ‘Doctor,’ I said, in a very faint voice, ‘take care how you deceive me, now. I ask you, plain words, if you observe anything particular in yonr path nt’s symptoms.’ I don’t know what he saw in my face, bnt his own grew ghastly. ‘For God’s sake, what do you mean, young lady?' he burst out. •Nothing ; answer my question, if you please,’ ‘Then, in plain words, his symptoms are pe culiar. I have puzzled over his case ever since coming to the house, and it troubled me all the morning. I tell you oandidly, 1 don’t under stand it.’ ‘But this is only your third visit.’ ‘True. But I have been Colonel Fanshawe’s physician for years, and know his organization as well as I do my own.’ ‘Have you any idea what could have caused his illness ?’ He dropped his bead and reflected a moment. •Whatever may have been the original cause, it has been augmented by mental trouble of some sort.’ ■Yes, I think it has.’ ‘What do you suspect—what have you discov ered ?’ he demanded quite vehemently, ‘You have not stopped me without a purpose.’ *1 have said more than I intended, already.’ ‘You have said too much, or too little. Speak out, joung lady. You can trust me. I am Col. Fanshawe’s friend ; and so, I take it, are you.’ Should I trust him ? There seemed to be no choice in the matter. The awful fear that wes upon me would not suffer me to remain silent. Ridiculous as my suspicions might appear to a third person, I could not keep them hidden in my own breast. Mentioning no name3, I merely said that I believed Colonel Fanshawe had enemies who would rejoice to see him dead. ‘I can read the thought in your mind,’ said Dr. Stanley, looking very much startled. ‘You think the master of Cedarciiffs has been poisoned !’ I don’t know what I think !' I cried, clasping my hands. ‘But this uncertainty is dreadful!’ Hush !‘ he said in a whisper. ‘Pray compose yourself. If there are just grounds for your suspicions, yon have need of all your fortitude. ‘ ‘Do you. think I have just grounds?' He shook his head thoughtfully. 'I can judge of nothing save my patient's con dition. Bat I fully admit there are subtle poi sons known to scienoe that might produce the very symptoms I deteot in him. ‘ 'The words turned me cold all over. Save him, doctor, oh, for God's sake, save him, ‘ I gasped very hysterically. ‘Hash ; this will never do. If yonr fears have any foundation, it is you who mast save him. 1 Me?‘ Yes. Yon are here in the house ; you can watch over him—prevent the poison from being administered. It is the only way, unless yon ODenly aocuse the persons you suspect. ‘ ” I will watch. ‘ Do so; and you may rest assured that I will render you all the assistance in my power. I know there are people in this house who are un principled enough to do anything wicked.' With these words, which he whispered close to my ear, Dr. Stanley ran down the steps aud was gone. CHAPTER Xf. EAVESDBOPPING. I staggered into the house, deathly faint, and had barely reached the chair in which I had rested before going out, when I was compelled to sit down again. The readiness with which Dr. Stanley had listened to my suspicions, and the credence he had given them, took away the last remnants of my fortitude. I think I must have lost consciousness for a few moments, for presently I started up, as one rouses from a dream, with a sickening sense of dread at my heart, and the sound of voioes in my ears. The voioes oame from the dining room. They were suppressed, but the door happened to be slightly ajar, and my ohair stood olose by it. 1 reoognized them at onoe as belonging to Mrs. Vann and her daughter. •I hate the girl !• Mrs. Fanshawe was saying in a low, angry tone. < wish ahe had never oome to Ced&rolilb,' 'You were the means of getting her here.' *1 know it. Bat I would give anything if ahe were away again. The meddling fool I' They were talking of me ! If, in the first place, I had felt some oompunotions about lis tening, they spoedily vanished. Here was just the opportunity for which I had been wishing, in order to comprehend more fully the plans of the treacherous people with whom I bad to deal. ‘Hush, dear, ‘ said Mrs. Vann. ‘Keep cool, I pray you. It is not worth while to work your self into a passion about Miss Palgrave.' ‘J oould choke her !' ‘Ha, ha ! And you pretend to be so fond of her. I am afraid, Louise, you are something of a hypocrite. ‘ ‘If I am, mamma, ‘ was the retort, ‘I ought to be a clever one, with the example that has been set me. * ‘Humph. Don't air your wit at my expense ; it would be a waste of material. ‘ ‘What a hardened old sinner you are !‘ •Complimentary, as usual. But I don't mind it iu the least. We were speaking of Miss Pal grave a moment since. I can tell you one rea son why you dislike her so much.* ‘Why don't you, then?’ was the sneering an swer. ‘I will. You hate her because she found out you were biding Louis Remington in the house; and because she took the stand she did in re fusing to let yon visit him.‘ ‘And so you have learned that secret!‘ cried Mrs. Fanshawe, in a startled voice. She seemed as much surprised as I was at Mrs. Vaim‘s knowledge of what had transpired. ‘Certainly. Did you expect to keep it ironi me?- If I did, I shall know better ,than to keep any secret from you in the future.‘ ‘I hope you will, Louise. There ought to bo perfect frankness between U3 We are playing too desperate a game not to be honest with each other. ‘ •That's true. But I would like to know how you found out that Louis was here, secreted in house ?’ ‘By keeping my eyes and ears open, in the first place. As for particulars, Mrs. Hulks con fided those to me.’ ‘She promised secrecy,’ '.She made an exception in my favor. But, seriously, Louise, you've played a fool's role. It was very nnwise to briDg your old love to this house. I have wished to tell you this be fore. I*m surprised at you.’ 'You are always preaching discretion, mam ma,' was the sullen answer. ‘Just think of the risk you run! It, would be utter ruin if your husband were to discover Louis hiding-place. I dont know what to think of such folly—such madness.' •You may think what yon please,' said Mrs. Fanshawe, in a vexed, impatient tome. ‘Am I to be deprived ot every pleasure in life just be cause of my husband's silly jealousy, and your worldy wisdom ? It is shameful—monstrous!' ‘Can't you wait ?' cried Mis. Vance, in a hiss ing whisper. ‘In a little while you will be free to— ‘Hush!’ ‘Let us go back to Miss Palgaave, my dear. Do you think she suspects anything about— about—‘ ‘That old business, do you mean, mamma ?‘ ‘Yes. ‘ ‘I am sure she does not. Why should she ? I doubt if she ever connected our names with the affair in any manner.’ What did they mean ? I was utterly at a loss, unless they were refering to my father's dread ful death, and that seemed improbable. ‘Her suspicions might be aroused at any mo ment,' resumed Mrs. Vann* ‘If they should be, nothing could ome of them. ‘ ‘She might give us trouble—none the less.' Mis,, r—.u we broke into a. low, sneering laugh.' ‘That child,' she cried. ‘I'm not afraid of her. Besides - did you know it, mamma ?— Dick is sweet or her.' ‘Dick ? I dont believe it!' ‘He is. He has told me so. I wonder you haven't seen it for yourself. It‘s a case of real love, too! I never saw the wretch so much iu earnest. ‘ There was a moment’s silence, and then Mrs. Vann said: ‘You surprise me. But I'm glad after all. Dick shall marry the girl.' •You don't mean it, mamma ?' '1 do. Caa't yon see the advantage of such a marriage ? It would remove forever the awful dread that hangs over all our lives like the sword of Damocles. Once Dick's wife, no mat ter what discoveries she might make in the fu ture, Mies Paigrave, for her own sake would re main silent. She would not dare do otherwise. Yes, she shall marry Dick. ‘ At those words, hissed out in an a sneering tone that had something unspeakably malig nant about it, fear gave way before my kindling spirit. Scarcely knowing what I did, I arose, and stepped into the drawing-room. ‘Mrs. Vann,‘ said I, in a voice so strange as to astonish myself, ‘you are sadly astray in your calculations. I shall not marrv yonr son.' There oame a simple sharp cry of consterna tion and rage, and then the wretched woman turned upon me two scared, dilating eyes. •You here,'she said, between her clenched teeth. -Little tool; yon have been listening! ‘Yes, madam, I have been listening outside the door.' A swift pallor swept over her face. For some seconds, herhandc worked convulsively. She looked as if tempted to spring upon me like some furious wild beast. Bnt she checked her self, brought her color back by a powerful effort, and said, sneeringly. ‘What have you heard, Miss Palgrave ? Pray tell me.' ■Everything.* That is too indefinite.' The scorn and con tempt expressed in the glance sh6 gave me was superb. ‘I should really like to know how much you have gained by descending to the meanDess of eavesdropping.' The taunt stung ws as she evidently intended it should. Wnat have I g>jned, madam ? A truer in sight into yonr ohiaeter than could have been obtained in any 'her manner. And I know thers is a secret of *me sort, in which I am con cerned. Teat sect makes you afraid of me, and so you are go/nj shut my mouth by marryl ing me to your soo.‘ Her lips curled its disdainful smile. ‘What a singularteiusionl' she exclaimed, anti glanced back uttrs, Fnushawe, who stood' tremoli g behind ht. ‘I dont know what to make of it. ‘ •I'm sure I do »t,‘ said Mrs. Fanshawe faintly. ‘My dear,' tarninto me again, and speaking in the same low, saistic tene, 'your hearing is oertainly defectiv We have not mentioned yonr name. It was quite another person that Louise and I were s^king. ‘ *1 am sure madam-* •We will end this on venation here, if yon please, ‘ she interrupt. ‘It is too absnrd to be continued. Bnt, sis yen were led into such a ridiculous error, I all not mind telling yon who was the subject onr conversation. * ‘It is unnecessary, said hotly. •We were speaking my maid, Boae Yer- loraie * she went on, if J had not spoken at all. *Diok has a silljmohant for her, and wo were just discussing <matter.' •It is false, madamjr 0 ried, quite bwide myself. ‘Mr. Vance d BO t lovo Bose Ver io rme. He has propoato me.- I oonld have bit my off the next in stant. for making suchposA . bnt the words were already gone beyot* 0 ^ With all her ontward show of composure, any words gave Mrs. Vann a start. She glanced quickly and half apprehensively at her daugh ter. ‘Indeed!’ she said, catching her breath sharply. ‘I was not aware Dick had so soon 'forgotten Rosalind whom he loved so dear.’ Pray, pardon the quotation.’ Mrs. Fanshawe came up tome, just then, and touched my arm. ‘What did you say to him ?’ she asked. Yes,’ cried Mrs. Vann, her eyes flashing vin dictively, ‘do tell us if we are to be honored by recieving a governess as a member of our fam ily.’ The sneer wss too palpable to be overlooked. I felt my face flush hotly. ‘Madam,’I said, with a haughtiness equal to her own, ‘the governess declined the honor! Poor and hnmble as she is, she felt that such a marriage would be degrading.’ With these words, I left them. A few hurried sentences were exchanged by mother and daughter while I was crossing tt.e hali. Then Mis. Fanshawe came tripping op behind me. ‘Marian,’she said, in her sweetest tone'. ‘I can’t let you go away feeling angry with ns. Don't mind mamma. She did not realize what she was saying. She will be very sorry when sire comes to her senses, and thinks it all over. My df&r, will you not forgive her ?’ ‘I doubt if she would really care for my for- givnes-, I answered, and passed on. The whole scene had been a perplexing one. I was glad of the privacy of my out 1 room, that I might think every particular of it wer again, undisturbed. One fact was evident enough—that Mrs. Vann was not prepared as y et, to deal with me as an open enemy. Her plot was not sufficiently de veloped for such a step. (To be continued.) LETTER FROM FLORIDA. ^farooniny: on the coast of South Florida— Dram-fix]!—Loans—Roaches—Preacher's Children — Breakfast — Terraxilla Bay — Lauding' Ladies —The romantic couple living under waving palms. BY SILVIA SUNSHINE. Mabch 20tb, 1879. What dors a sailing voyage iu a coastinar ves sel from Manatee to Key West imply? Some may suppose a kind of pleasant skimming over the waves, like the ssa gull of these bright waters. But those who have tried the experi ment find it quite the reverse. It means a little good sailing, with an ocoasioDal fine breeze, but many disagreeable things thrown in. For in stance, the first night after leaving nnder fa vorable auspices, the wind usually dies ont; the mainsail hangs as flabby as a beggar's rags in a s.crm ; the sailors lower the canvass pnt out the anckor, and all retire. Numerous drum- fish select the hull of the vessel for their ren dezvous, where they serenade us all night with a peculiar drumming noise, while the loon on shore catches the refrain and utters its unearth ly screams, banishing repose or inducing hid eous drsams. The mattress is as hard as Pha raoh’s heart; bilge water keeps the cabin sup plied with an odor resembling a sulphur spring’s suiroundings; fleas draw rations from our perishable humanity, ran races and practice acrobat exeredses on onr bodies ; roaches, as long as one’s little finger, look at ns as if medi cating a grand ...i— a Lt, if nveented, would almost result in annihilation; three chil dren, lying close by, are screaming alternately from having their slumbers interrupted by the insect tribe. Their father, who is a Methodist preacher, applies hand-plasters, which silenoes the batteries temporarily. This will be found a charming place for the exercise of patience. Day dawns and with it comes breakfast. Strong coffee, seasoned with highly colored sngar, the mixtnre stirred with a knife, and drank from a tin cup, together Owith wel.'-mited meat, fried •ggs and hard tack furnish the repast. Unpal atable as it may seem to an epicurean taste, the sailors eat it,with great relish. The morning wind is fair, although light, and we are sailing again towards Terrasilla Bay, which is a portion of Tampa, bearing another name. The sugar crop is waiting for shipment to Key West, and onr invoice not being full, we stop for freight. Numerous bars line this Bay, where oysters of a delicious flavor and clams of immense size, are obtained without dredging. For the benefit of those who may travel this way, and have never been borne in arms since they were children, we can tell yon there are no wharveB here ; no gangway planks ; no stopping places between water and land. The vessel sails near the shore as possible without ground ing, then the passengers on board are carried to the shore. This is done by two sailors who make a kind of seat by clasping their hands to gether, after which they receive their living freight. Yon put out each arm and clasp your improvised sedan around their necks to keep from falling. Sometimes one of the sailors is black as tar, bnt this makes no difference, ‘civil rights’ is not the question at issue now ; yon cannot wade and wet your feet- and year bearers will carry you safely, this being a portion of the duties for which they are employed. Terrasilla Island is one of those charming ■pot we see here, that all admire but none oan desoribe. The principal settler is Maiam Job, a German lady celebrated for her hospitality, ahe oame here with her husband after the Flor- ida Indian war to occupy lands given them by the Government Nature then lavished her beauties unseen; the forests were the same prime- 7~ growth that had echoed the war whoop ot tee Indian, the janger’s howl, the screams of the catamount, and the growl of brain. Madam Joe s rough hands, stalwart frame, and nut Drown faoe, indicate a life to which ease and idleness are unknown. Her home has b en transformed from a wilderness to a place which rose miles fairyland. You feel here constantly as though you were enjoying some beautiful oream, and almost fear that some external di version may break the spell. How delightful to anyone who has a constant warfare with life to (iT i T-?, master of the situaticn is a visit.to this beautiful, peaceful island where only the winds and waves strive for viotory, and the ex cesses practiced in refined sooiety are unknown; where orange trees grow as tall as Lombardy poplars, and are hnng with delicious fruit, it is now February; new Irish potatoes, to- atoes, green peas and egg plants are abundant. ^uif 8 immense size are opening, together with verbenas of varied hues ; geraniums, sal- ▼ms. pernwukles and corkwood trees, all ex- nutng their fragrance in the open air Here, in seolusioD, Madam Joe, after the flay ■ duties are done, walks with the moon beams shining on her head,singing those German patoiotio melodise ao dear to the heart of every wanderer from the historic shores and vine olad river Rhine. Her songs form a ■ymphony with the mormon of the eb- “2f surrounds her domains. Th * J®*®** ot Masons in South Florida is im perceptible. In mors northern slimes, when autumn, with stately treed end 'Tyrian dyed her sway, her fruits of aoarlst gathered in baste for fear the rude Waate will freeze out their juioy qualities : hot M no oesaation of vegetation bora. Many times daring the winter months a soft haze, accompanied by a more tender and less glaring light, overspreads the land and sea, and the sun shines like Indian summer. It is daring these halcyon days, when earth appears transfigured into an abode fit for angels, that one may set and mnse upon the lovely scene with feelings too sacred lor utterance, and yearn ings too pare for earth. Many tourists in traveling expect their schemes to roll on electric wheels, without rocks or roots, or other obstacles to impede them; but we must all remember, patience is a plant that flourishes in a pure atmosphere, with its petals fanned by the breath of Heaven, while its roots are nourished by the great moral principles that radiate from a pure heart. As the motive power which takes visitors through and about this country bears no resemblance to a ‘lightning ex press, ‘ many exclamations are made by these who have to endure these irregularities inci dent to a new country that would read badly in print. Off the coast of Saresota Bay fishing smacks are engaged at all seasons in obtaining suppiits for the Havana market. These little vessels contain a well where the water can be changed, and the fish kept alive until sold. The most delicious fish of all found in these wateis is the pompino, which resembles the Cal ifornia salmon both in color and flavor. It is only taken at night by striking with lines. Mangrove thickets also abound, which in some plac(S form an almost impassible barrier to nav igation. This tree resembles the Banyan, of India, in throwing out branches besides theleaf- beariDg limbs, that incline downward, thus tak ing root and producing other plants which grow into tre(S. They are only natives of a (ropical shore, where they root in the mud and form a dense thicket to the verge of the ocean. Oyster shells and sea lichina attach themselves, which hang iu clusters, thus forming an unapproach able defense. There Is a young couple stopping here from Alabama, who have come with the intention of settling. Romance hts never pictured anything more rural than the real life which this pair lead. He had lost an arm while battling for his country, but his courage has never failed him. With a little assistance he has built a palmetto and pole hocss, which serves the purpose of sit ting room and bed room. The white sand blows iu sometimes during the day from the beach cn the bed, converting the pillows into friction brushes, and irritating the young wife’s temper. She cooks their food ’ nnder rustling palms, while h) reals to hi r run in iuteied'ng book She accompanies him in his hunting expeditions to carry home the game, which is their princi pal subsislance. Adam andJEve when first place 1 in the Garden of Eden, were not much less so licitous about what withal they were to be fed, than this conple appear to be, in their present rustic home. Mexican Women. as an assertion that here. There are >o plants, and are '• cine s of their ot tils fiist fauii- alone, and they [City of Mexico Corr. Inter Ocean.] The stranger visiting here-especially if he has read the martial romances of Capt. Mayne Reid—wili be astonished at the very small pro portion of pretty women to be met with on the streets. Most of the ladies have fine forms while under 30, bnt after that period they have a tendency to stoutness, which spoils their fair proportions. In nearly all Latins the eyes re deem the rest of the countenance, but where the Indian blends^with the Castilian it is very dif ficult for even brilliant orbs to redeem the re pulsive swarthiness of the complexion. The olive of Spain is very weil, but the clay color of Mexico would never meet with favor in the eyes of Childe Harold. The graceful rebosa, or black }?« e with the hair and falling over the shoulders, is a common heaadroxa the better class ot ladies. They are all fond of black —a color that does not try their charms to anv dangerous extent. I am not, perhaps, as good a judge of what real beauty is as some Chicagoans I could name; but I have no hesitation in sav ing that I have not seen half a dozen good look- mg Mexican women on the street any day that I have been here. J Yet, this is not to be take-: there are no beautiful plenty, but they are h forever almost wi'h.u :s. ■, homes. Few of the c ..ighiei lies appear upon the street seldom go on toot. There i? always, or nearly always, a duenna, or an aunt, or a mother, or some other obstructionist female along, that flirtauons are ont of the question, and our Chi cago maidens, accustomed to home freedom and an army of beaus, would, if planted here, soon organize a revolution against the existing order of things as regards their sex. Hyou want to gaze upon Mexican loveliness -chiefly of the pure Spanish type-go to the Paseo on Sunday afternoon. Th»re you will see two strings of ourriages, some drawn bv horses and some by mules, extending for miles, all kept in their places by derails of the rural guard, who s'nctly prohibit fast driving. Rid ing beside onr, front of the carriages von wiil have an opportunity of seeing ail the young bucks of tne capita-, the fellows who have mon ey to spend, anxious to display their lino points m horsemanship to the bewitching senoritas, who, under stern guardianship, occupy the ve- hmles. The cavaliers are dressed chiefly in tha brilliant and dashing Mtxioan erstnme. butoo- oasionally you will see a few exquisites who af fect French and English styles, none of wbioh become them. The Mexican in his sombrero and bediztned jacket looks like a picture. The Mexican in a silk hat and small clothes resem bles a mercantile Hebrew on a spree. I have heard the men were handsome —at least the fashionables. I have seen only a few who might be called so, though a majority are p ,ss- To go back to the ladies. Standing on the sweep of the Paseo, near the monument of Co- Iambus, I had a fair opportunity for passing them in review. Some were wonderfully blonde 8 with exquisitely black eyes, while not a few had dark hair and eyes of deep szure. The greater part were dark eyed and sallow, with mustaches wuich, in a boy, would be called ‘incipient ‘ I noticed a fow with features molded in the per feotion of lovelidess, but they were in th« W dawo of youth, „d had not ni touSS? tern of powdering, which renders all the more conspicuous the faulty complexions of the worn en o. this capital I also noticed that in their carriages the ladies generally wore such hats and cloaks as iare common among our own Chi ° ag0 , Thej \ are ohie& y iniportations—I mean the hats and cloaks—from France onu manufactured by French artists, who are quite numerous in Mexico. quite a Pinafore expedition came to grief in Stamfars multitude had assembled to witness the craft, which pretended to hail from a Fifth A “uw dock, but was really a piratical scrow manuld bv an unwashed captain, a beerv Fircf t ., a by lam Ralph Rackstraw, and a mesmerizi’n d " A half barrel, a clothes-line, the “TnTof a d .lw?/’ room, aud a great deal of blue constitute! *i W g * bombard the "Pinafore” and it- 10 successfully well-defined odor. A serious T Cr * W WUh eggS ot