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hr* m IYOL. XYIIL ATLANTA, GJL, TUEfeUAY toUKNJLNGr, MAY 18, 1888. PRICE FIVE CENTS THE 'CELLO PLAYER. BY ALLEN O. BIGELOW. iCcpyright, 1880, by B. |3. KcCtore.l "yritXB DID TOO OR it oilixit?'' My friend Gilbert ut on the organ bench, hi. back to the manual* hA loft knee clasped In both hil hand* and • medltatlvo look in his fine, expressive brown eyes. I stood (he- inn him with my back against the gallery rail, my two elbows resting npon It and an equally meditative look in my eyfs of no particular fineness of color. I know how Gilbert looked because I could gaae directly into his face. I know bow I looked beoanse I conld glance beyond Gilbert into the looking, glaas over tho keyboards, and between the looking-glassandthe keyboards lying open at the last pagoupon the moslc(iack,l«Mtlhathad thrown both Gilbert and mo into this modi* tative silence. Itwasapiece of manuscript music, written In an exquisitely neat hand, dear as copperplate, yet full of character, and as unlike the soulless work of the profession, al copyist as possible. The mnslc was defaced by stains, had been tom and patched, was thmnbwoni at the lowac. content and -alto gether showed hard nsage. The reason that GUbertand I thus faced each other in meditative silence was that he had jut been playing this composition whilo I listened. Bad yon heard it, yon too wonld have sunk into silence as we did; and I am mnch mistaken if yoor eyes wonld not have held, beside a meditative look, a perceptible moisture. Either Gilbert’s organ mirror was abamcfolly btclondedd with dust, orelss my fkce looked indistinct in the ghus. I had never beard the piece before: bnt Gilbert played it, hardly glancing at it, though turned the leavea u ha went along. It wae a requiem, evidently composed for Use in the Roman Catholic service—a sad yet noble work that filled the arches of the grail empty chnrch with the very spirit of woe as the minor harmonies flowed up the nave, and seemed to surge against the very altar itself, u if seeking solace where alone It might be found. My heart swelled mere and more u It neared the cleee. After the final ohord, and When the team within me were trembling on the divide, not Knowing which way to Dow, I glanced at the last page of the music. There, after the heavily-ruled double bar at the end, written between the staves in the tame odd, yet beenttfiil hand, were the words: “Do proftindia clamavi ad to, Demine.” It m then that my tears refused to go back Whence ihty cooe. As we thus Steed each other the afternoon Sun suddenly sank below the eaves of the church roof and shone directly through a win* dow Into the organ loft, staining Gilbert’! thee and hands. Ho quickly got down from the bench, turned and leaned hfi elbows npon it, and looking at the manuscript in an odd sort Of way, said: ‘Til tell yon when.” At first I did not understand him: bnt in a moment I remembered that after he had stop, ped playing I had asked: “When did yon get it, Gilbert? and that he had not answered me or spoken a single word till now. I ut down in a chair and Gilbert began his story. “I bad been engaged to direct tho spring festival of tho Northleld Mutual association In 1870. The festival was to last tbreodsys, and tho closing performance to consist entire ly of Mendelssohn’s oratorio, ‘XlUah.’ I must Bay that the Northficld association wai one of tho best choruses it bu boon my fortune to conduct. It was composed of the beet singers In five towns, end numbered seme awvoicos. When I tell yen that they were all good, bel* anced sack other perfectly, and that they had their 'Elijah' music well learned when I first met them, three days before its performance, yonwill otdjr understand that It wae a pleasure "The committee had spared no expense In asking their arrangements. Meta wae to ring to ’Elijah'—and when all is said and done I wonld rather hear Mets sing that part than any other man in the country. The other sola Voice* were capital, end I had annrehaura nicked for the occasion. "Everything went tlong smoothly till the last ahearsUof ‘Elijah.’ Then Metz, whose singing I love, whose disposition I hate, began his tantrums. I had selected Groxxi to play the solo ’oello, well knowing that Kate weald I at all unlessTt lien lu it should be. Now< can play the ’cello obligato to 'It la enoegh' • nearly as well as Hete himself can sing It. Bnt for some reason Meta found fanlt with the wey Uroisi played the obligato, and the whole re- heatsal cams to a standstill. Wa tried three done, before I would have cnbaiUed te Mete's childishness, tad I told the committee so. “After the rehearsal the committee came to mo in great dlatreu. 'Elijah' was the chief attraction of the three days' session. Every seat in the house had boon taken, they said, end only'Elijah'would do. The people would not put up with anything else, and yet there wu Mels smoking a cigar on tho verandah of tho hotel—a hotel, by tho way, already over crowded by thou who had oomo from a die- tance to hear ‘Elijah’—the obstinate bauo evi dently determined not to sing a note. Not one of the committee dared beard tho lion In his den; would I try him and mo If I could pacify him? No,I eaid, very emphatically. I would not condescend to pacify Mots. But 1 would uako him sing, If tho committee desired me to. ‘The committee were delighted. "But I should need the hacking of tho com mitter. ‘The committee were chtrmed. "But possibly it might become a question for the lawyers. “Thu committee were iu eootaclos; throe out of thu five were lawyers. "By tbls time it was half past six, Tho performance was to begin at eight. I walked to the hold, the committee tomato- lag at tho halt by my request. Aa I stepped upon the verandah Slots threw away his cigar and lighed a fresh Havana, He offered me one I I declined/ Hn pushed n choir toward me with one foot. I coolly oat down on the rail of tho verandah. Mots changed color, but ‘I have just ten minutes to went on smokii " 'Metz,' sold . giro to yon. They will bo devoted to allow ing you to make up yonr mind whether or not yon will dng tonight. You can do just as you choose. It la a matter of supremo iudHfereaca to mo. If yon don’t sing, I shall simply change the programme and toll the audience why Tt is dunged. And you will retain home without a cent of your salary for your three days here, paying yonr own hotel bill and railroad fare into the bargain. I only come to yon on behalf of tho committee. Take yonr time; yon have eight minutes left to decide In.' 1 continued looking at my watch. Then I drew oat my own a*M one lighted a cigar. ‘‘Now If Mets had beenpoor and proud ha would have spumed my olered pardon. Be ing rich and mean it only needed three min utes’contemplation of hia threatened loss to decide him. " ‘111 dng, Gilbert,' he uld; ‘coma and take a glass of wine.’ “ ‘No, thank you,’ I answered, taming on my heel and leaving him, to go back to tho anxious committee with my news. “The hall would not have held another per* son when I entered the dreasing room at a quarter before 8. The chores was seated—a mass of white, edged with blaek and aflutter t Alio hotel, .author an post hutot_ in tie building, u usher was dispatched post imsto, for when the ushor esmo back bo was breathless from run ning and almost speechless with bad nowi. Grant! had paid his bill and taken the 7 o’clock train fbr home. 'Here was a pickle! I must confess I was nearly floored this timo. The sensitive Ital ian violoncellist, offended, outraged by Mate'i insult of the afternoon, had thought only oI revenge, and had certainly taken a most ef fectual way of having Ik Ho knew well enough that the other 'cello, Iiollcs, would no more play ‘It la Enough' with Motx than ho wonld cut bis hand off. So there we were. The committee looked at me, and I tamed and looked in tho mirror to see If my hair was taming grey. Just then tbn breathless tuber harried in from tha ataga door. “ ‘Mr. Gilbost,’ said he, ‘then’s a man at the door asking for yon. Ho says his business is immediate and important, but hs won't come In.’ Mechanically I followed the usher and left tho committee alono In thalr woo. The man at the door wu shabbily dressed. His clothes bad once been good, bnt were now S ue to tba extreme of seedincu. Ho wore a II beard, not long, bnt somewhat gray. Ho bad large, dark eyes and dollcate hands. He said In a low, diatlnct voice: ” ‘Mr. Gilbert, I understand that yonr solo ‘cello player haa left yon suddenly, and that yon and the committee are In distress. I have eentforyontooflhrmyaorvieoa. I assure you that I am perfectly competent to play the port, though I admit that the time U too short to prove It by previous trial. If yon are willing, however, I shall bo glad to serve yon.’ “He looked me straight In the eyes as he •poke, and I felt that he wu competent. I glanced downward at hie attire. “ ‘I know I’m not fit to appear In tho orches- tra,” said he, without a touch of ambaraus- ment In his manner, ‘bnt if a dress salt could bo borrowed— 1 ’ "I walked into tbo dressing room, dragging the stranger with mo. “‘Franklin,’ I said to the chairman, 'tell tho people that the delay will bo but a few he .aid quietly: ‘I am very glad.’ That ‘Talman cams in with one of the choral I herso* and bv the time tho stranger wu ar rayed lu hie drees suit, and tho basso, wrapped iu overcoat* had sent for another, the usher eud Dr. Ellsworth entered with the ‘oello la e gnenbeg, Ae the good doctor oarefdlly took it out end handed it to the player, he said: "l ake good care of it; I love It next to my ellv.’ 1 ‘The stranger suddenly straightened up and fixing a piercing glanoo upon the minister, sold quickly, ‘So muon as f “ “ ‘Ye*.’ said the doctors " ‘Well, then,’ replied the ’cello player, ‘I love it more than you do.’ Then taking the precious instrument "The performance of Mendelssohn's master- THE ALDEH MURDER. By B. K. TREMAINE. “Then I suppose yon’B go, Jack?" 'Tea, I'll go,” my friand replied slowly. 'Til go, of course, though I hardly see what good I am to do except to pocket tho money. I’ll admit that to bo a great consideration In these hard times, but I almost hate to take it, knowing how amatl tho retara 1s likely to be.” “The return? Nonsense! You’ll dear up tho mystery In no time, my boy, and retam from Michigan with an additional suooees to hdp your already brilliant reputation.” My friend smiled a little sadly. “Yon are probably thinking of ono of those alleged detective stories now,” ha mid, “where tbo detective always wins—right triumphs in thu end and the curtain goes down with red fire and slow music.” I brushed soldo tho smoko from my cigar and turned lordly in my chair to look ut him. Ho Was staring ut vacancy and hts handsomo Ace wore an unusually grave expression. “Yon are not generally so hopeless,” I said at last. "I Urn not hopeless,” he rcpltod quietly. “I ahull go to Detroit and close up the ease If poerild* If I do not succeed 1 will at loust try honestly. That la if— 1 ” “Wellr” I inquired, “if whet?” He itartcd front hia cast chair with anoaual blaownnoommendationtoplajitsatthorola I energy: “Fred, old l>oy. u be mid, almost apparent oblivion. There wae, howevor, not I sternly, >1 may be wrong, but I somehow leal an instant to loao. I lifted my baton and tha | aa If I bad bean employed by tha wrong side, sobbing accompaniment began. I kept my and I don’t like it. Mind.” ho added, atop- eyes on tho ‘cello player, andthe moment his plug in bis mold walk np and down tha roam, time came to play he raised hia head, glanced I “it may beaJl rlght—if Italu't I can drop It! piece was excellent from the very beginning, and nothing occurred to dietarb tho smooth progress of tho oratioro until we came to' the great solo that Mata had stopped on In the afternoon rehearsal. I glanced tho btrange 'cello player and ala - f> and that wo were npon the point of • break- down. His eyes wo fixed neither upon me ncr his music. Ho sat with his right hand grasping bis bow, end resting upon his T his heed bent slightly forward, end the of hie 'cello pressed against Us cheek, while his eyes gazed intently at noth ing, end seemed veiled In a tort of reverie. Such a loot of ineffablo sadness I have seldom soon on tho Aoo of a man, I did not know for an instant what to do, I did nut want to rap for attention, yet I hardly dared begin the Introduction, with its lovely 'cello solo, while the nun whom I had taken on mechanically at my moving baton, though without apparently taking any notice of m* end drew nA bow screes tha string: “ Met*” I laid, “ if yon All to sing when yonr rime comes, I shall atop the srholo per formance, make a speech to the andtenee and place tho blame where It belongs.' And I atop- ‘ and grasped my baton. chorda—and Mata sang, I have never 1 that brief Imt Impressive recitative to impres sively rendered, before or since. “I cannot describe to you how hs played that melody. Its ovary note wont straight to my soul. It la only eight measures long, yet into that eight measure! wu crowded a burden of sorrow, a lifetime of despair inch M no strings over vibrated with before. Even Mets turned J In astonishment end looked first at thu itran- rrr and tbon at me. The 'cello player still looked not at bis mnalo, but at something for But you mark my words—something wifi ... cur iu connection with this css ■ tbit will af flict my life or reputation." I laughed softly. Jack Wilt" - rth wssnot generally superstitious. “Wli.n -a you sus pect?” IsikitL Ho dropped lislly back Into I is obalr and bis Ace mtimod its ucaal Impassive expres sion. “I suspect,” ho replied coolly, ''that I am employed in behalf of Charles Alden'i murderer." .- "Then why do yru go?" “A detective would bo i callosity,” ho repllad with o qalot lough, “and I have got my blood up. I'm going to find out all about It.” "I wish 'em luck with yon,” I rqjotnod, "Only don’t proceed to extremes, my dear boy. If you don't toko tho caso I dare soy they can find plonty who will, and I snnpose the mc.noy is worth as much to you us it is to anyone olie?” “I suppose you would rocommond mo to ac cept^, right or wrong?” ho Inquired-earns. J bAf"ot?P^YflltTtne c fstnokc, bat made nc answer, “Bab, you hypocrite,” ho sabl Indignantly. Ton wonld as soon think of robbing tho bonk.” I mode no reply. Jack "was always so terri bly to earnest, and so, after,a raw bantering remarks, my friend set to work packing hia satchel and loft mo alono. W# had boon frlonds for many years, Jack Wllmarth and I, and our friendship had boen light lunch. I set ont all I could find In it and than turning on tho gao aud drawing tbs blinds dose, I turned and watohod him while he ate. That's good,” be said at last pushing hie chair bark from the table and lightings cigar “And now, Fred, what have wo got to drink?* "Nothing but whlskv,” I replied. "I would have done bettor had I known you were com ing. bnt then I can brew aomo punch.” “Splendid for story-tollUg, punch Is." cried Jadk, merrily. “Fix It an, Fred, and then alt down; I want to talk with yon.” 1 soon had a steaming jug on the table, and then lighting my plpol satdown ou the other •Ido of the open fire and prepared to listen. But still Jerk wia silent, “well?" I eald at last Interrogatively. Its looked up thoughtfully and repeated the word, “Well?” "What about tho story?” laid Ij “did you tolve tho mystery?” Ho nodded. “Do you know who committed tho mur der?” . He nodded again and took a sip of punch. "Yes,” lie said, thoughtfully, "I know nil about it, and I won’t keep you to suaponso any lon ger.'* Ho puffed a moment ut hia cigar and took another noil at the punoh, and than squared himself In front of me to toll the story. "Yon remember, Fred,” he eald, "that when I loll hers I was to nine doubt aa to which side had employed mo? l’rublbly you will remem ber my fear that I was to be employed to ehiold the assassin?” 1 nodded. "tVell," ho continued, "that Is Just what I have done.” I stared at him, hut made no reply, "Ye*” ho repotted, "that la just what I have dona, Yon eco, on my arrival at Detroit, I coiled at once on Mrs. Morton. 8ho la a widow, Fred, and just os—hut sphaw, there la no uso to my trying to describe her. Any way, I called on her and found ont why she bad em ployed me.” "You eeo,” ho continued, “at tho time of the murdera certain poraou—ono Isaac Share- lay—was found bending over tho body. Ho submitted to arrest and was detained until af ter the inquest. Claire—that Is Hr* Morton —remembered that a messenger had oomo from the station for her husband, and that Ur. Morton bad called on Sharploy to bis coll, but aa they wore well acquainted with both him and tho murdered man, she paid no attention to it at the time. “Alter her hnsband’e death, however, which occurred tome mouths tator, she found among her hnsband'a papers proof that Mr. Morton hud paid this Sbarpler flO.OOn. This aroused her suspicion that all was nut right, and with out waiting to consult her frlend*>ho.had sent for mo. 'I asked lier If Mr. Morton bad ovor bad business dealing with Sharpli “HE WAS SHABBILY DkltUD.” away, beyond tho hall, tho town, tho world itself. Ills gaze wu unearthly. At fbr mo I ceased to conduct, though my baton contlnnod to move, lit was not I, bnt tha'cello player, who controlled it. osmented Ire many kindly acta and sacrldcoa In those old days when wo were togator striv ing for a foothold to the world. Wo had known poverty together, hod Jack and I, and bad mot our share of hoart-breaking disap pointments. Bnt we had stood togotber through It all, with a loving care for each other to sicknoas and sorrow. And now Jack Wllmarth wu a famous detective, and I—well, I bad plodded along until I had plodded my way from an Insignificant clerkship to tho poet of cuhier in "Our Bank.” It wu not so many yean after all, for we ware both young men yet. But they had been buy years fur b >th of us, SO busy that ws bad never fuund ll ns to All to love trith nny bnt ounelves. A ad now wo wervllkely to stay u wo were, baohelore, both—too much to love with etch otbor to care Ar other ties. The com that provoked our u resent discus sion wta rather peculiar. Net- ▼ a year be fore this s brutal murder had - u perpetra ted to one of our western clt A young '"oor,‘ she replied; 'in far, be bod hardly been able to support bis Amffy.' ' |“Wna he still living heart bom? ■‘•‘No. IIo bad loft tho city Immediately after hie discharge, and his Amlly had fol- owed him shortly alter. I "It wm evident that the suspected Hharoley, I end it becamo my first dnty to find him. Luckily tbo police bid kept some track of I him, and from them I learned that ho had pnr-| chased a ticket for Chicago. I went thereat once and commenced niy search, bnt without convinced that he bit that this la the ntually incredulous Jack WilwHrtli? I thought lu i There waa alienee for oomo time. At last I uld almost angrily: "Well, what did you do then?" "Nothing mnch. I returned to Detroit Mi threw up my job.” “Without exposing tho murder?” I demand ed. Jack nodded without looking nil. I arose and paced the floor Impatiently. This wu not like my friend—and It hart mo. “Why did yon do it, Juki” I cried at last. “Why did you not tell mo all yon know?" "What far?” demanded Jack to retorn. The boy wu dud, and there wu none of his Amlly that could profit by tho knowledge. The man who had profited by Us guilty knowledge—wu dead—hit death was nilura- ble enough. The nun who committed tho murder wudeod, and hia widow—’’ “Well, his widow?” I cried impatiently as ho paused. IIo are—. to ths fire, i light of tho iu. “I am going to msrry hts widow," he said quietly. "So I thought it but to uy nothing to her about It." A LETTJtlt FROM RICHMOND. „ - . . , I tea tn one or our western ell A young „e I V* • noa * 1, I now take away my I men, scarcely more than a lm- ,r.i been shot Ife; for I am not trotter than my father* It downattbe door of hl« I,.,urn. It wu atlll la enough. It la enough. Thus nng Hot* I eerly In the evening, ou. a crowd collected at In a way that I had never heard him eiog bo- once, hut no clue lu-t been found to convict tho assassin. True, one man had been de tained by the coroner, but be stood his estmi fore. He, too, teemed under thetpell. And nil tbo time that sobbing accompaniment of the rioline and the mourning of tho’cello I nation weir and wu discharged. Noceuso ‘k* Ufa-weary for tbo murder had boon found. Elijah. The allegro, wherein he with burn- Charlee Aldco, tho murdered man, tog Indignation reomnte the avU and wicked- had toon universally beloved M<* thu tbo enemies of God hod don* wu and. oo Ar u known, had not nn enemy In the bnt a brief’relief, and again thadeepalrfug cry I world. Tbo local police had done what little broke forth: It la enough; now let mo die. O, Lord, now toko away my lift,’ and died away interwoven with the vibration) of thooo sob- stock still as non u Grezzi had played tbo In- Sredoctfon, and dumbly refused to go on. I wu angry. The whole chares gaud down at the actors to this absurd drama mnch u they might have looked npon a dog fight from the . raised scats of an amphitheater. I uw that ‘ unices i aaserted ray authority there wonld to „ total demoralization. Tho poau after tho third stopping wu but momenmiT. I rappe l sharply lor attention, turned too lures or my peer* announced tho next nnmhar, skipped thotreobliuns eato entire, and away wo all west, leaving Mata standing with hu book in Ms hand livid with tag* Presently he ait down in bis chair, fined hie eyes on the chan- Seller to tba canter of the hall, and did not move until too totezmArion, wo skipping ■rcrythlng In Elijah's part “At too intermission Hetx arose aud left tho kail. Where ho want I did not care. Iwu thoroughly mad, ud I would hero abandoned the whole oratorio ud given a aonsertofse- tccted mule, which wo could readily hare 1ST. LTOHTED A PBESH HAVANA, minutes longer. Talman, run and borrow s drew salt for this man—toko one right off from of tho chore* If necessary r “ ‘Bnt what about a 'cello?' asked too low voioa of toe stranger. “Bure enough. Is my anxiety about his ap- peerance I had forgotten what ha wu to do. ‘“Iter. Dr. Ellsworth ku on*’ suggested toe waiter, who had now began to regain Us breath. ‘“Good!’ I shouted, 'and it A a splendid one, too. Ho showed it to me yesterday. Ths doctor la to tha ondlanco now. Ran ud uk him to get it for us. He lira only s block tho nshsr rnshed off a loud ronnd ef ap plause from tho hall told that Franklin's speech of explanation had tool satisfactory. My spirits had now revived, and I tamed to the struger and hold oat aoy hamL “Yon have uved tha oratorio,'I uld. "Hardly a stalls stirred hi* serious Are u bing 'cello player wu duo. "The rest of the oratorio wu like odium. It went, and went well, bnt I nomore controlled It than tf I bad satin tbo audience. It might have bun five minutes or five hours for all that my sensation told mo. v "As soon as the final chorda had ceased Metz rushed up to me. 'Who is be? Where did ycu get that 'cello player? Como, introduce me to blm. He A tho greatest artist I ever nng witb.’ •Then I remembered that I had neither asked tha stranger's name ner made any terms with him for hA services. I tamed to where be bid ut, but he wu not there. I battened into the dressing-room, bnt ho bad already touted hA clotbes ud left. “Wa hunted the town Ugh ud low. Not o hotel or bonding-house escaped; yet ths 'oello player conld not bo found. Ho osrtolnly was poor, ud did not appear like ono who hod , money enough to travel. HshadaotragAtered I mentioned, and ■t uy hotel nor ban ran by anyone before I user that he at hie mysterious appearance at the concert hall. At lest we gave H up, ud about midnight I went to my hotel. At I applied at toe office for my key the clerk uid: “By the way, Mr. GRbort, here A a roll of music that I guess you must have dropped on they conld to unravel tha crime. But they bad only sucoaedod In adding to the fog of mystery that surrenndod the case, and to, after a time, the excitement had died out, end tbo cau wu almost forgotten by the public. And now*, after tho la poo of a yoor, my friend had been retained to ulre toe Alden mystery, if possible. First, ho bad rralved a latter In quiring tf ho wu at liberty. Beplylng in the affirmative, he received a second letter, con taining a large retaining fa* and requesting hA immedAto presence. With this came a bulky parcel containing clippings from tbo local paper* report of tho coroner’s inquest, and a tall description of all person* mentioned as connected to any way with the cam. But— and here wu the first mystery—both of the letter* end tho check aocompuying the sec ond ue, were in a womu’a hand-writing— rather pretty writing, too, It wu. They were ell three signed "Claire Morton," ud then wu no mutton of any such person as being connected with the cau. Jtck wu puzzled. He went over the papers •gala and yet again, but the name wu not ‘ Tt waa with a tatting akin to tbo afreet. A v edy-looktng tramp brought it to hra jnat aft - r too portannuee tonight and asked me to gi\e It to you wbu yon should come in. He would not watt, ud wont right away, seeming in a hurry. “I unrolled the music. It wu that requiem which I bare just played tar you. 1 hove never ran tha 'oello player since; bnt that composition A worthy of tho mu who conbl pity Tt A enough,’ u bo aluc could play It." As Gilbert ceased speaking he tamed to the orgu ud taking down the munocript looked long ud tbugbtfally at tha last peg* A* we left the now derkenlng church I heard him re- prat to himself the Latin word* written at tba clow of tha 'cello player's requiem: “Do profundi* clumari ad to Domino." Tho Hama u In 1M4. From the Savannah, o*. Nows. Blaine s personal friend* are uld to hare conftrtuos that he will be the neat president. It Aset stated wbat kind of confidence they hare, but to Judge by the pastil must be some ofihs mis placed confidence that haa bom tatrnd and A being iger that be started at last, but I could sec a gleam in bis dusky eye* when wo parted that •bowed a determination to solve the mystery If pweible, end I felt that tba Air Claire wu likely to get Into trouble if she undertook to ploy with my friend Jock. Jock wu not given to writing mnch while on daly, so I wu not disappointed to blaring nothing from Mm at first, but tt tha monthi went by, bringing me nothing bnt u occa sional poets], aatoring me that no wu to good health, I begun to feel snouy, and tar too first time I doubted the loyalty of Mt friendship. It wee vis months altar he left New York before I beard from blm to my uttefioctlon, ud thu tt was to hA usual odd way, for walk ing Into our room me flu evening I found my friend Jack comfortably rated to h A our choir, with bis feet on the window rill. Ho wm smoking jplacJdlyud looked ss uncon cerned m if no had bon gone hot a nek. "Why, Jack, old mu!” I exclaimed, "when did you come? bow ere you? Why didn’t ym write to me?” “Ono nt a Urn* Fred, mo at a tin*” ha laoghtd, (baking bunds merretically. “I Jostgotin. I’m hungry. And I didn’t write he cause I wsntod to tell you all about It. And now, ay dear boy, tf there A anything oat- tbte an undjast call it out, will you?" Wa hrd a neat little cupboard to eranacUow avail, and I at lait hoconio had not gone to Chicago at all.’ Returning to Detroit, 1 took a fresh start This time I un dertook to tallow bis ftmily. After consider able tronble I fonnd that they had left Detroit tar Sulnaw, and u they had taken some of their household goods with them, I thought it pretty turn that they could bo easily taund. “Before riartlng after them, however, I had another Interview with Claire-with Mr* Morton I mean.” Jack limbed a little at thft point! Ho soon recovered I linatlf, however, and continued u etcsdlly u before: “ttold her,”jhe uld, That I mutt know more about her late hutband. Had hs been good to her? “She looked at me teartally. ‘Can’t yon do without thli?’ iho niked softly; ‘ho Is dead now.’ ‘‘I bated myself tar penAtlog, bnt myths osy of the cau wu formed,sod I could not help it. So after some trouble I found ont that her late husband had been very unkind to her at times! Sbe A very bcsutltal, and be was Jeal ous—not of any ono penon, but of every one that urn* nesr her. Even members of her own Amlly were not osempt. He bid been pueloDSta and unreueonabl* bnt still very very fond of her and wu liberal to everything that pertained directly to her. "With this additional Information I started for Saginaw, and, without difficulty, located my man to a little town near by. It wm an. other com of a ‘beggar on horeeback,’ for I fonnd Bbarpley to tho last itagea of drunkon. nn* "Ho wu to a delirium whon I got there, and it reqolred time and some skill to opes Ms mouth. Probably I should not harenc. cccded at all if ha had not met with an accl- dent. For It wu only when he knew that he conld not live that I could Induce him to talk. Then I foond that uy theory wu the right on*. "TbA man had witneaaed tha mnrder of Charles Alden, ud had bam willing—for a consideration—to throw the officers from the "Ho had been lying under s tree on tha op posite side of the (treat, walling till tho cool air of tha evening tamld sober him np before ho went bom*. Aldm wu atendlog at hA door, bare-headed sod with slippers on bA feet, when a man came down the eldowalk and rpoko to him. At first they seemed to emve-ra pleasantly together; then they spoke with -reetcrexcitcment, until at laet ho heard Aldsu call tha man a brnte. Then there wu a dub and tha report of a pistol, and young Aides reek to the sidewalk a corps* “ I i derstandlng the situation, Sharpley had rush'd screes tba street, and so wu found orer tho l.dy when ths crowd gathered. At first, It sppcire, he btd Intended to denounce the sue,' n, but seoeod thoughts showed him how b* n. Id turn tbs knowledge to profit Mmulf, ud be kipt silent. “T., A much I got Mm to tall m* bnt no more. He would not divulge Us* name of tho in. I did cot tell Mm that it wm nnnec- , tot Deft the b< tbo ume of tool Alden." “ It wu Morton, of coarse?” I hazarded. “Yes.” sold Jack, slowly, “tt wu Morton, of coo me." "Well," I uld, sftor a slight pom, “go on old man—tell the net of It!” "There A not mnch more to tell,” replied Jock quietly. “Morton bid killed tho boy to s It ornoreaeontog Jealousy.” “Perhaps b* had aomo etna*” uld I cynic. *"^No.” replied my friend to tha tone* “Ho bad no cans* tha boy kind to u unhappy woman—that wm all.’ “How do yon know that?” I demanded. Jack looked np at mo from tho other elds of the fire place, and answered limply, “she told maao!” Completely stunned by tMs reply from my clever friend, I remained tiloa* Alt ..imply Itemlnl»crnrcM—Why the OUjr U Proeperotu —Workof the Methodlit Conference. Biciihomd, V*. May 12.—[HpecAl Cor.]— Richmond on tbo Jemeo hu ohangod wonderfully •luce I came hero twenty-five yearn ago, with tbo Troup- Artillery, from Athens. Handsome brick residences hare gone up all over the city. We camped at that Ume near the reservoir, where LU lian Madison wu drowned afterward* Instead of vacant loll and hold* for drilling, ym now find dwellings in every direction, with parks bom aud there tar (be enjoyment ot too people. TbemoetfeiillUrlookirgpleccstomewcre the Kzebzege hotel, ths old market and the Gordons- vllle depot. Tbra look Jiwt u they did when toe boys to gray were here. Wbat memories came to « '1 walked Main strict I Twenty- are yean ago I marched up tbls street at toe head or u salient a band u ever went to wu. That band Illustrated Georgia on nearly every battle field In Vligtnlu. Mtuyol them ere buried In Virginia's coll, having sealed Ith their lives tbelr devotion to toe conMeracy. Richmond A mo of tha handsomest cities to tots country. Us drives are superb. Monumental eaurcb, on Broad street,tUUstands to tell the sad story of to* burning or to* Rich mond theatre, win re so many of Vlrgtola'isons and daughter* lost tbelr lives to 1SU. 1 vlrited tit. John’s cbnrob, which Is preserved as tt wu a hundred jean ago. I had the pleasure of stuffing on tba spot where Patrick Henry llood soil ultotvd ttio-o memorable word-: “Give me liberty or sire me death!” The stone home on Main street which was once the hud. quarters of WeibluBton, la ettUthe little old quaint building that It wa, a century ago. >y prison la still standing, although a few Says too tbo floor*tail In, it dose not look half u large to me a, 11 did during tho war when It wu tall ofbluocoatprlsmora. Every corner aud every* street Is tall of Interest tome. J visited Hollywood cemetery. Tho contaderelo monument A a pyramid of stones end will stand forages. General J. K. II. Btcwart hu a beautiful monument erected to Ms memory. Three It no monument to All whan General A, p. Hill Is sleeping. Tho grave of John Randolph, ot Itoanoke, A her*, with a handsome monument, HA lolls only tmarked-with u border of stones on one of which his name A inscribed. This gallant Vlrglnlu ought to bare a monument erected to hA memory. Georgians remember Mm us might Ibnt wu u gallant and bravo u the whlto-plhmed Henry of Nave rre. President Tyler's grave A only a green mound. Why A U that Americans ar* given to neglecting Uwlr honored aead? The fold Ant' home A a piece of interest to alt strangers. UAlathasoburimof Richmond and A a beautiful situation. As I drove by and saw too gal Ant old ooafedcrates sluing happy and cam* forUDAln front of Ibetr homo* 1 couldn't help [Using my hat to these bsince aud thanking my Maker tost on* stele at least appre ciated the men who wore the gray. May toe Ume soon oome when every southern elate will hare a boms for to* dAabled confederate veterans. IMchmood A prosperous, and tbs owes her pros perity to the railroads. 1 am told that Use freight oo a barrel ar flour from to* west A onto twenty- lira cent* That magnificent system, tba Btek- mond and Danville, stretches tar Into to* south and girts tha Richmond mere hauls such reasonable rates that they can ship goods to At An te's rery door. If Atlanta bad ooly one auoh road, no oils to tbA country would equal her to pma- perlly. Tha Methodist general conference moves slowly •long. The body A entirely loo largo and un wieldy. There A a movement to reduce the num ber or members. Bishops McTyrire, Keener, Wilson, Cranberry snd Hargrove are all present and are looking well. Dr. McFerrtn, who bu been attending tho gener al conference for toe lest fifty yean, A ou bund, •ml bu a real near too bAbop* The old man A fee ble lu hcellb, but bu not tort a particle of bit Intellectual power, He elweya makes a goad Speech, and hu the attention or the conference wU naver he speaks. The subject of moat Importance before the con ference Is ike election or bAbope. The college or bishops recommend (hat tore* he .Acted. A Argo number of tbo members think that number A not sufficient. The most prominent tar toU office are: Dr. Hendrix, of MAeouri: Dr. Joseph Lewis, of Missouri; Dr. Young, ltev. Cbarlu Galloway, Rev, Joreph Key, of Georgia, end Dr. flugeratd. Dr. A. G. llsygood A very popular with to* oou- .jrence, and tf ha would give up too aganey of tba Bister fund be would be cal Ad to be one of tho toe fkiben of to* church. Ue aqre that he cannot give hup. Tbe conference yesterday set down on evangel- AA. During tho debate It cropped out tost mom- ben from other statu do not approve of Bam Jones' coming into tortr bounder Ae and taking up a col lection tar ths support of to* orphans' home st De catur. Then will be a committee appointed to revise toe hymn beak. New end poeuler hymns will ‘udaeme that are never rang will be ttriclien oat* There A seas* talk of electing a musical editor who shall taka chart* of the music Tor the Sunday w liuclv *1 hi two.Iitcgmtlon, from Georxlaart pres ent and tolhtA Place* They have been distrib uted oo all of Urn committees and are at work. TheoonfrrancewtUbe to session about four weeks. The Virginians are tally euriatolng their old reputsUoo be heeptulltr. w. A. H. The Same Old Story. From the FhlladelphA Free* ItA seriously* related of Him ChunborAto, tot^eUbrated,Cleveland beauty, that whiA shop- Eton to New York to* other days rudely curious woman whipped ouTber bendterehAf and rubbed U roughly soma tha bcauly’s peachy cheek, to find ont, as aba afterward expAinad by war of apology, whether tha complexion wm gsauin* It wu a presumptuous rr*—"« undoubtedly, but wa trust Mlm Cham Mr Ain wu not greatly shocked by 1L gha merely paid ooo of tho tensities of lovell- ness. Beside* tost, we remember reading that airs ranttrr had precisely cue same cxperieuoe; a hid Adelaide Nellsoa and haul; Starr Anaataea snlleredaslmllartndignitjr and lou of other beau tiful women—thatls, provided the arcounm wwv> oormt Is A a dreadful thing, to be roue, hut A seoma to he a way that peopA MT* m INDISTINCT PRINT