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TOfi FLOATING l.ttYK-bBTTER:' Tftey bad been boarding togctlcrMt tme farm, Jane Ileth and Annie Concern ; itnd all that autumn Mr. Craig had been fishing and shooting in the vicinity, and making the /arm, which was rcuuamd for iWigovd |\Jtay l\jp headquarters. Aad Mr. Cnflg was a handsome ami dashing young wid ower. ami Jane lfeth hid mude up her mind that to be Mrs. Craig was her des tiny. Indeed it might have been, for perse verance can accomplish wonders, had not Annie Conyers brought her trunks, her crotcheting. her sketch-book ami her blue parasol to the farm for the summer. Annie was not prettier, nor younger, nor better dressed, nor more accomplished than Jane; but a man loves one woman and does not love another, and who can explain why? Amongst those hills and on that lake the Colonel gave his heart to little Annie and she gave hers to him. Hut on the day that called him home, nothing had been said that could have been construed into an engagement; but he had asked her if he might write to her, and she bed said “ Yes," and Jane had heard the request and permission. Jane did not love Mr. Craig, but her vanity was piqued, and she had greatly de sired the position which she would have held as mistress of his handsome house. Her ficart was very bitter as she turned away, for he had not asked her to write to him; and, if their acquaintance dropped, as it seemed about to do, her hopes of ctenching the nail when they again met in the city the coming winter, as they would be likely to do, would be quite futile. As she stood watching the stage drive away, she felt that summer had been wasted, and that there was nothing left to do but to pqck up and return to the city at the end of the week. Meanwhile Annie had run away to her own. room. She fancied she knew what would be in the letter which he would send her, and she felt what her answer would he. She wanted to be alone and think it over; and until teatiine she hid herself from Jane, and from hospitable Mrs. Wilton herself. U lam, however, she came down to tea, she looked so bright and happy, that Jane felt like wreaking vengeance upon her. Three days had passed since the Colo nel's departure, and one evening Jane stood loaning over the gate, when a wagon drove up the road and stopped beside it a mo ment. From beneath its covers peeped the white head of an old fanner. “Good even’, miss,” said ho, ” I’ve been to the post-office. and they said there was letters for Wilton’s folks, and 1 fetch ed em over. A’hit got my glasses with me. so I don’t know who they are writ to; but you can see. AH wells' That’s right. Good even’.” away he drove, leaving Jane with two letters in hand, one for herself and one for Annie Conyers. Her own was from her mother. She knew the writing; the other—well she knew the hand that directed that, also. It was from Mr. Craitr. “ And am 1 to give it to her?” muttered Jane, between her teeth—“ I !” And then, with an impulse which seemed to her unconquerable, she hurried away towards a wood, hiding both letters in her pocket. At least she would delay her rival’s hap piness ; she would not carry it to her at once. Then alone in the green shadow she took the letter from her pocket and looked long and curiously at the superscription. Yes, it was from Craig, and what had he said? Perhaps, after all, he was not in earnest. Could she but read what ho had written, she would know. She took a pin from her dross, and drew it along the edge of the envelope. It opened a littlo space, btit the rest clung as closely as before* Impatient at this, she forgot all prudence, and drew the pin across the paper with a sudden push. It cut its way through, and the mischief was done. Jane's heart beat hard and fast with terror, but she had gone too far to stop. 1 shall know the truth.” she said; “ and letters are always being lost in these country post-offices; i'll read it, since I've torn it.’’ Then she pulled awav the en velope, spread the sheet of paper on her knee, and read the following words : “Dear Miss Conyers: It seems odd tlni£ a man of thirty should be afraid to stand face to face with a girl of twenty, and tell her that he loved her; but T could not summon courage to do so, nor to ask the question that follows such a confession. So, far from you. I commit my hopes to this„paper, and having in plain words said I loYo you, ask you in plainer words still do you love me enough to be my wife ? If you do, write to me at once, I pray, and •make me the lirtppiotft man 01T eartTi l>y telling me so. If yoflf do not, then pain neither of us by a refusal; simply leave my letter unanswered. I can hear it bet ter so. But 1 shall pray for the letter, for I love you better than my life. Harry Craig.” Jane drew a deep breath. “So it lias gone as far as this,'’ sije said. “ What fools men are ! She will be glad enough to say * yes,’ but if 1 should destroy this bit of paper, he would never know it; and then—well, then lie would do his best to (111 her place. Men's hearts never break, and there is no one whom I know suits me better. That ohl’inan who gave the let ters never read the address. There can be no inquiries made. It would be safe to de stroy it, dangerous not to do so now, even if I bad not read it.” Then Jane tore the letter in two, thrust it into its envelope, and looked about her. It would be dangerous to tear it to bits in the wood. Its white fragments might at tract some eye among the greenness of the grass. But hard by a pretty stream bab bled away over stones ami pebbles. Once thrown’into the water, that was the end of it. Jane hurried to the water-side, and looking over her shoulder, as one might who expected to see a ghost, tossed the little package in. It fell with the closed side downward, and distended by the torn note, which was roughly thrust into it. The surface was hard and highly finished, and shaped so as to resist the water. A little breeze that had just sprung up fa- vored it, and away it ttoated like a little boat, deftly clearing the shore and tacking and turning as it passed the dark, half hidden breasts of the little rocks over which the water played. “ Good-bye,” said Jane, laughing, as she watched it. ‘‘l have set a vessel, freighted with the hopes of Harry Craig, afloat in fine style. 1 am afraid it will make shipwreck, hut all the better for someone else. It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.” And, turning, she tripped toward the house. At this moment, farther along this same stream where, m a little cove, lay hidden a great tangle of water-lilies, Annie Conyers sat in a rough little boat, rowed by Mrs. Wilton's son Peter, a shock-headed boy of twelve. Little Fannie Wilton sat beside her, and the two girls drew up the dank, dark green stems of the great, beautiful white flowers. . ” If any one could only carry them to the city,” said Annie ; “but they always die. How greedy 1 am, I can never get enough. Hut we'll leave the buds until they open—and there comes one down the stream to us. Let us try to catch it. Peter.” Peter, in obedience to the mandate, rowed his boat into deeper water, and An nie leaned over the side with her hand out stretched to catch what she fancied was a lloating lily. ” Pshaw !“ she cried, with a laugh, as it came nearer, “ it’s nothing but paper ! Hut it seems to be dodging me ! I'll catch it, whatever it is 1” And with these words her white fingers closed on an envelope, not yet soaked through, and within which lay, torn and crushed, paper still dr)'. “Why, it has my name on the back!” cried Annie. “ 1 never destroy a letter when I am away from home.” Then her face changed, and the children saw her pale and Hush as she pieced the torn letter together and read it through. “Is anything the matter, Miss Annie?” asked Fanny. “ What should be?”said Peter. What a little goose you are. Fan.” “ Nothing is the matter, children,” said Annie; “only as the adage says, ‘Truth is stranger than fiction !' ” “ Eh 1” cried Peter. “ So odd for a letter of mine to float to me on the river." said Aunie. ” 11a, ha. ha ! Aint it?" roared Peter. And it was stranger than Peter knew, for it was Craig’s love-letter that Annie had just read. She was a wise little woman, and kept the matter to herself, hut Fannie did not. “Wasn't it funny, ina?” she cried. “Miss Annie found one of her letters float ing down the stream, just like a boat, when we were getting water-lilies.” “0 1” cried Mrs. Wilton, for at this mo ment the teacup Jane had lifted to her lips dropped from her hand and dashed to pieces on the Hoor. “ How careless of me?” cried Jane. “ Hope you haven’t spoilt your dress?” said Mrs. Wilton ; hut as Jane lifted her crimson face from the fragments of the broken cup, she met Annie Conyer's eyes. Women sometimes talk to each other with their eyes; two did then. But Annie was generous in her triumph. She never told Craig, and she sent Miss Heth an invitation to her wedding, which, ! Miss Ileth, with many regrets, declined. I llitrf County IHroclnry . ecu'tty nmerte*. Ordinary —Vmd. C. k>(<tj>hiu**m. Clerk Superior Court— C. A. TVebb. Sheriff— .l. Robert Myna, 1 Taj- J/errirrr —if- M. Thornton, Tar Collett*r—U imrt 1,. ./ohti>ii, Treasurer — J. O. Holm. Surveyor —Alim S. Turner, Coroner —K. l*hilli|m. School CuiMnistioner— Chan. W. Seidel. TOWN OF KICK IIS. Jfayor—Jdha Povk. X Secretary aid Tmt. itrer —W. K. Sti pliemmn. f’hinirlluien —K. IV lh-n*ott. .lame* TV. VC illmm*. W. 11. .Ste]ihcii<m. K. U. Sumler*. TV. It. SteplienHon Hurt County Itellyimis IMreetiiry. >t KTHODRST. Rev. TV I*. Smith. Pastor. ltethrxda —l*l Sabbath in eiieli Mouth. Hartnell— ml " juul Saturday -before. Mi in.l •* at l it. m. Cokeelairy— 3r and Sabbutli ill eaeb imuitb. I’roritlnice —-till “ Rev. .Tolls fJm.I.AX. l’a-stor. I’eUaietthip— Kitbbulli ill earh mouth. Ifni trine — Maeedouia — “ at I p. ui. HAITI ST. Rev. Tf. M. Rakto.V Pastor. Sardis—\ at Salihath and Saturday before, niontbly. Hartwell —ll li “ Rev. .T. T. TV. Vkiixox, Paator, Milltoirn— 2d Sabbath ami Saturday before, monthly. Rev. 1., TV. STKI'HK\s. J’astor. Hendry't —2d Sabbath ami Saturday before, monthly. Rev .1 imi.s 11. Mi Mi ll ta Pastor. I.ine —llril Sabbath uipj Saturday before, monthly. Heed Creek —4tli “ Rev. T. H. floss. Paator. Cross Hoads —4tlt Siibhulli aud Saturday before. Rev. .loiix I). Aha ms. Pastor. Cannon'k —Sd Sabbatli and Saturday befoiv, monthly. Rev. J. It. Kaui.k. Pastor. Sardis —2d Saliballi in eueli limntli. Rev. Thomas Ciivmks. Shoal Creek —2d Sablialli ami Sutunlay lielore. mo ly. Pit ESBYTKK TAX. Rev.. John It. Moutox. Pastor. Plea rant Hill —did Sabbatli in eaeli month. I ~ff All white ministers in the County, of every deuouiinatioii. are !c(|iiested to send in tiieiriip]ioint meiits for jmblieatidn. Xo charge whatever. Ayer’s Sarsaparilla fyffr For Scrofula, and all JfX, scrofulous diseases, Erysi- JrcE pelas, Rose, or St. Antho iEFTlWa ny’s Fire, Eruptions and Ifcfcgg Eruptive diseases of the skin, Ulcerations of the IB] |ij| Liver, Stomach, Kidneys, ■O,l Kg _ Lungs, Pimples, Pustules, cmirl ra|- % Boils, Blotches, Tumors, n|‘ Tetter, Salt Rheum. Scald Head, Ringworm, Ulcers, Sores, Rheumatisyj. Neuralgia, Pain in the Bones, Side and Head, Female Weakness, Sterility, Leuconhoca. arising from internal ulceration, and Uterine disease, Syphilitic and Mercurial dis eases, Dropsy, Dyspepsia, Emaciation. General Debility, and for Purifying the Blood. This Sarsaparilla is a combination of vegetable alteratives Stillingia, Man drake, Yellow Dock —with the lodides of Potassium and Iron, and is the most efficacious medicine yet known for the diseases it is intended to cure. Its ingredients are so skilfully com bined, that the full alterative effect of each is assured, and while it is so mild as to be harmless even to children, it is still so effectual as to purge out from the system those impurities and corruptions which develop into loathsome disease. The reputation it enjoys is derived from its cures, and the confidence which prominent physicians all over the coun try repose in it, prove their experience of its usefulness. Certificates attesting its virtues have accumulated, and are constantly being received, and as many of these cases are publicly known, they furnish convincing evidence of the superiority of this Sar saparilla over every other alterative medicine. So generally is its superi ority to any other medicine known, that we need do no more than to assure the public that the best qualities it has ever possessed are strictly maintained. PREPARED BY Dr. J. C. AYER & CO., Lowell, Mass., Practical and Analytical Chemists. SOLD BT all DRUGGISTS EVERYWHERE. E. B. BENSON & CO., Agents, lIAimVKLI,, Ga. 8881888111 To the W ork iii{j Glass— Woiiiv now prepared to furnish all chi.sacs with constant employment at home the whole of the time or tor their spare moments. Business new. light and profitable. Persons of either sex easily earn trout 50 cents to $5 per evening, and a proportional stun by devoting tlielr whole time to the business. Boys and girls earn nearly as much as men. That all who see this notice may send their address, and test the business, we make this unparalleled offer: To such as are not saps tied we will .semi one dollar to pay for the trouble of writing. Full particulars, samples worth several dollars to commence work on. and a copy of Home and Fireside, one of the largest and Itcst Illustrated Publications, all sent free by mail. Header, if you want permanent, profitable work, ad dress, George Stinson & Cos., Portland, Maine. C:t PUDOMfIC Large and small, for Dealers, Tea onnumuoi Stores, Agents, etc. Twenty 9xll Chromos for 81.00. rAUGEST ASSORTMENT in the world. Ot<orge J and Martha Washington. Pwtie Pins IX. Comic Subjects. Magnificent Crosses. Mints. Children. Fruit Flowers, Landscapes, etc. Two samples by mail. 20 cents. Scud stamp for superbly illustrated catalogue. .T. LATIIAM A CO.. lleapoi artehs for Foßkicn x A MKRicAN Chromos, 111) Washington Street. Bos 3,154. (14) Boston, Mass. TJEAUTIFUL BUILDING LOTS, Sold at LOTI' FIGURES to persons wishing to improve them. Apply to | 1-tf E. B. BENSON & CO A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY MADE. We will send Thk Si n—usual price $ I.so—and the ! Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, I Weekly edition—usual price fri.OO— nostace prepaid on both papers, one year, for ft-. 53. A. K. CHILDS. H. NICKERSON. Y. U. WYNN. CHILDS, SICKERSON & CO., No. 15 Franklin lions*; Iliiililiny, Alliens, Ca„ WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALERS IN HARDWARE, JR OX, STEEL, NAILS, HORSE and MULE SHOES, HORSE SHOE NAILS, AG 111 CULTURAL IM 1> LE MEN TS, Leads, Oils, Glass and Varnish, Harness Leather, M IL B UJR N WAGONS, COTTON, MANILLA ANI) JUTE RODE, Carriage and Saddlery Hardware. Felloes, Hubs. Spokes, Buggy Wheels, Axles, Springs, etc.. Rubber and Leather Belting, Mill Saws, Mill Findings, Anvils, Bellows, Vices, Hollow M are, etc. Manufacturer's agents for the sale of FAIRBANK S STANDARD SCALES, WINSHIP AND SAWYER’S CELEBRATED COTTON 6INS, Cider Mills, Syrup Mills anil Evaporators, "Watt Plows, Farmers’ Friend Plow. Pumps, Circular Saws, etc. {Sri?" Ant/ article in our line not in stock, trill he ordered when desired, with the least possible delay. CALL AND EXAMINE OCR STOCK AND TRICES. 11 HARWELL HIGH SCHOOL. r r . XHE Spring Session for 1877 will open on Monday 29th of January, and con tinue for Five Scholastic Months. RATES OF TUITION PER SESSION OF FIVE MONTHS: Fourth Glass—Spelling;-, Heading:. Writing: SIO.OO Third Glass— Arithmetic. Grammar, Geography, (Commenced) 15.00 Keeoml Class- I"tjrlior English ISram-lies 20.00 First Class —Glassies, Higher Matlteinaties. 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