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ipft' HWi ft HOrK ' /H ■ ■ oco : vW Oil AWA tfjM XIX. SI,OOO in Christmas Presents. (See last column or sixth page.) sV hen YOU SUBSCRIBE TO The CONSTITUTION YOU GET THE BEST AND CHEAPEST PAPER IN AMER ICA. ON ITS MERITS AS A NEWSPAPER IT HAS GROWN FROM 9,000 TO 112,000 CIRCULATION IN THREE YEARS. In TAKING IT YOU GET THE Best and Cheapest Paper. Besides this, YOU GET A SHARK IN OUR “CHRISTMAS BOX” of Presents or §I,OOO cash. If you sub scribe NOW YOUR NAME GOES IN THE BOX, WHICH IS SHAKEN UP ON JANUARY 1, AND ONE NAME DRAWN OUT BY OUR AGENT. THAT NAME GETS SSOO, THE NEXT S2OO, AND SO ON ‘THROUGH THE LIST. Some subscriber will get the SSOO on January 1. Why not YOU? Out of the box of subscribers’ names, one name will come first. It MAY be yours. If so, you GET SSOO AS A PRESENT. THE NEXT GETS S2OO, and so on. Subscribe at once. For every NEW’ SUBSCRIBER YOU SEND IN YOUR NAME GOES IN AGAIN. GET UP A CLUB. WHT “Good-bye, little boy; kiss papa good-bye,” Baid my husband, as he held our ten-months old child aloft in his strong hands, kissed his fair face, and rings of silky hair, while baby cooed and clenched his small fingers in his thick brown beard. “Take good care of mamma till papa comes back.” This, as he laid the little fellow back in my arms, and giving me a parting kiss, eprang lightly to the seat of a huge covered wagcn that stood at the door. The span of powerful horses started off at a brisk trot, as he picked up the lines and whistled to them, the cumberous vehicle rat tling at their heels over the green sward for, ns yet, there was only a trail across the prairie to the settlement, twenty miles away, whither he was going to procure supplies for our winter’s use. With baby crowing in my arms I stood and watched the wagon’s white top till it grew a lessening speck on the broad breast of the prairie and was lost in its billowy grass and trilling shadows. Three months previous to the late October morning of which I write, we left our home in a sleepy seaport of the old bay state and turned our faces westward. From Omaha, the then terminus of western railroad travel, we performed a tedious and perilous wagon journey to the great plains that stretch away unbroken except by occas ional belts of timber to the foot of me Black Hills. Just within the edge of one of these timber bolts, throifgh which a noisy creek tumbled along its rocky bottom, my husband, with e true New England thrift and foresight, de termined to “locate.” Here was an abundant forest growth, mighty oaks and beeches, a fine water power, miles and miles of fertile soil, and eastern capitalists becoming excited over the project of a railroad through this region. Already in our dreams we saw arise the sciiool ‘house walls, the church spire, the nucleus of a fair city. While our cabin was building we had’ sub sisted on stores we brought with us and game with which the woods and prairie abounded; but now it became necessary io make some preparation for the long drear}' mouths of winter, and while my husband made this very heedful journey, I must stay alone for at least two days. Up to this time, since the completion of our <eabin, we had not si en the face of white men or Indians, and 1 hail not greatly dreaded his absence, but when I had watched the white topped wagon otit of sh'it, and turned t> my empty cabin and missed the cheery pees; neo of its master, I realized as I had never before the solitude of my situation, the vastness and wildness of theregion roundabout, and thought with a shudder of the hours of approaching darkness. Late in the afternoon of that long day I was 'iittiug in the open doorway, with sewing on jny lap, while baby, and Brownie —a small dog wo had brought from tie cast—roiled on the Bhoit, soft grass at my ■ et. For some hours a flmoky haze had steadily i rent over the land scape. hiding familiar points and gradually dimming the light of the sun, which. dnJl and .lurid, sank slowly to its prairie bed. Some times, as the wind freshened, I fancied it brougi t on its wing a rimed of lire, but on the unbr >i. n horizon no banner of smoke ar-sse to War i as of impendin'.: d::n:;r:r. Suddenly, as I raised my eyes a moment from my work, my gaze became fixed on a small object, a mere speck in the far distance; soon other forms a; p sred, and steadily gr. w on the sight. 1 ran for it p werful field gla-s, and soon made them out to be a party oi horse men. traveling slowiy, their horses’ heads 'drooping as though very tired. Evidently they had made a long march. ’ The level rays of tiie sun were in my face: every moment the l.ize deepened, and i could not determine whether their rider, were white .men or Indians. In either case there was Tnueh to fear. My heart rose in my thi o: t end mv hands trembled so I could hardly steady the glass. Within a mile of us they halted and draw (together as if in consul tar ion. One < f their num'” r, turning in i. ss . ir-, H. '.; .1 l.i .gl in our direction. With a cry, I r ■ rli: my .wondering babe in my arms, lied into the. Cabin and carefully f ibened both door and . windows. Through a Icop-hole 1 v a. :hed th’ in Still. Again they moved forward; bat instead of ■coming straight along the trail, l. my relief ifchey diverged to their left and disapnean I in the' timber. Carefully I oxamin I the fastt n ings of the door, drew heavy shnttr; a r s each window, screened them'with shawls and blankets that no ray of ii ht p t ho seen from without, and soon a lire cm •■ ■’ up the chimney, filling the rude npannieiit v.ith a cheerful glow; but as night ci.me <;n a deep sense of loneliness settled dor.:. i:,on my spirit'’, a realisation of uf't- ln.lpb s'uc s should danger threaten in any form. With my babe asleep in his cra< • and B.i.wme treich ed comfortably before the tii 1 at .1 list ened with shivers of ucivou- dread to the rising wind and the • r of <irj lent < - as they were borne along on tl. v.i'.e. \\ th strained ear I listened to every sound, fancying at time-that 1 ~ nd hoar-" shouts borne i n the gu ,ts. l.nt cr.lim dmy i . with the 11. might tha’ it ’■ m■■ only the i.'.-’.int ry of a i.oy itc or the howl of a wolf. Tim c: v of tiie'"* animals is alv. ■ a sv. <et lullabv to the I lonely se tiler or tri. : ron Um j Jam ' f. ■ io | know- as long a- lie. ' bowki." am ids • Other i.nm.in prow ■ ..’m vicinity . F. ~y i regiil <1 with their m from Stm tlUKar : B’in: :;thatldid !.'■,■ t ”, i no v v.,:h ' ceit’itT.y was r.n : • ■ n,..i cause of anxiety ■ ami .. ■! I n ■• 1! I ” • wi'” d 1 ting '■■■ Again the sound <■ of a ' .u.d’pa’-s d ■ ( b?At'about’tlm dm..'? 7iui.h’ .i. < ' ieet, every hair bii tH .g along his :.,.luc a..1 faced the door with glaring eyes; with smoth ered growls ho flew from door to windows as though we were surrounded by enemies. A light rap now sounded on the.'door, followed by a volley of barks and growls from the dog that made baby spring in his cradle. I hushed him, and waited with bated breath for the next move. Not long was I kept in suspense. A thundering blow was delivered on the dour, and a rough v oice shouted: “Hello! the house! Open the door and be quick about it.” This order was followed by a violent shaking and pounding of the door, and another voice shouted: “Oho! you needn’t play ’possum! Open the door!” Then in a tone meant to be reassuring: “We only want suthin’ to eat; then we’ll go along.” Above us was a loft, to which we ascended by means of rude steps made from unshaven boards. Taking my sleeping child in my arms, I flew to these stairs as the first blow from some heavy missile fell upon the door. Hastily drawing the steps up after me, I placed them across the ipertiu’e, and rolled a barrel half filled with something heavy upon them. At the same moment, the door cracking and splint ering, under terrific blows, gave way,' and several men with shouts, and coarse laughter, pressed into the room. They were evidently surprised at finding it vacant, and for a mo ment stood silent, then a glance at the open ing, and my preparations for defense, revealed my hiding place. “Come down old woman,” called one, “and get us some supper.” “We met your old man ont’n the parary,# yelled another, “and we’ve only come to call on ye.” This sally was received with a burst of laughter from the bandits, for such I doubted not they were. A horrible thought seized me. They had met my husband, murdered him, and come here 'to complete their dreadful work. One of their number mounting a chair caught hold of the ladder. Standing near me was a shot gun. whether loaded or not I did not know. With hands that no longer trembled, I thrust the muzzle in his face, ordering him to “leave, or I would site!” Ho darted quickly aside and a whispered consultation was heard below. Then one said : “if ye won’t come down, old woman, toll us wharto find yer grub.” I directed them where to find food, and soon the contents of my small larder was spread be ing as they devoured my white loaves, sample preserves, and such tid-bits as the cupboard contained, and a more vicious, wild looking company I never saw before, and hope never to meet, again. Sun-browned, roughly dressed, pants thrust into their boot-tops, wide belts filled with pistols, and ugly looking knives, which were used by some in hewing oil their portion of food. A hardened, villainous lot of fellows, that I felt certain would not hesitate at any crime. Tiie one addressed as “cap’n” was a small, wiry built man, quick, nervous in manner, with close curling, yellowish-brown hair, slightly gray about the temples, eyes gray, keen, restless and cruel, that seemed'to follow every movemiut of his followers. His mous tache of a reddish color, the long, pointed ends swept back aerpss his cheeks, gave 1 look so like a tiger iha?, with a shiifhlqAT with drew my eyes and covered them with my hands. “My husband’s murderer and my own!’’ £ groaned, while my heart grew sick with fear. “Madam,” spoke a smooth, even tone that I knew belonged to him with the tigerish face, “have you anything good to drink in tiie house? We would be glad to pledge your health.” “And his’n out’n the parary!” yelled another, followed by a peal of uproarious laughter. “Yes,” I answered; “you will find a small flask where you found food.” A rush was made to the cupboard, the bottle soon found, and passed among them, eliciting numerous witty comments on tiie qualities of Yankee nun. I remembered at this moment that in a med icine chest in the loft where I crouched at bay were two bottles of home-made wine, brought from the east and intended only for sickness. In order to gain time, and possibly some thing of their good will, I resolved to pass this down to them. Softly creeping to the box in which it was kept, I raised the lid and took out tiie bottles. As I raised them a small bottle with a dark liquid fell over with a crash that made the vil lains below cease talking and listen attentive ly. liaising this to put it in place I read “Laudanum” on its label. With the sight of that word came an inspira tion—a wild hope that set my heart beating tumuliuously. Would it succeed? Mine was a dequ-rate ci.se; it was worth trying. Quickly I poured off a little of the wine, turned half the laudanum into each bottle, shook them vigorously, replaced the stoppers, covered them with the labels, drew up the wires, am! creeping to the stairway, said : “Here are two bottles of blackberry wine, if you would like to have them.” There w:.s a rush to the opening. “Sti-nd back!” I commanded, presenting the of the gun. . “Plucky, by Jove!” growled one as they hastily made a retrograde movement. The leader camo forward ami I carefully passed them down to him. I waited in an agony <-f terror, lest at the first taste the drug would be detected. “Ta ■ a lee;!e queer, don’t it?” queried one, smacking his lips. “Oil, that’s nothing.” replied his mate; “home-made, you know.” Gia .s were brought, and round tlio bottles were passed, the noise as the wine flowed growing more fast and furious; coarse jokes, snatches of song, and allusions to deeds that made my flesh creep. At last, to mv great joy, the drug began to tell. “ Infernally hot here,” remarked one, “makes a f”l!ow sleepy as the devil.” By degrees all became quiet: some folded their arms on the table and laid their hea l upon them. The captain dropped his head comfortably on the back of my willow rocker; another threw himself at full length on the bed, and soon their sonorous breathing told they were sleeping heavily. Kneeling in the semi-darkness, I thanked God for present safety, and implored His fur ther guidance and ‘protection. Ilai-ing my eyes I was startled at seeing a glare of red light on the wall before me. In awe, not un mingled with fear. I gazed on this flaming beacon. Now paling, now glowing, again burning with a steady light. I crept to the solitary pane that composed the window, at ti e farther end of the loft, ami looked out upon the night. Around us the tree ; were bending before the blast, which had now increased alm< st to the violcm e of a hur ricane. Afar, the sky was illumined with a fierce glare that grew each moment higher and brighter. The prairie va, on fire, and the conflagration sweeping down upon us with re sistless fury. There was no time to lose! It mattered not now whither the ruffians below awoke or not. Quickly the ladder was thrown into place, and ' clasping iny child, now beginning to waken and cry, to my breast, I t iambereil down. Hushing to the di or I flung it wide open. | Tin’ tire was i crceptibly imari r the air filled I witii smoko and c : n;l , and I could plan !y see the leaping, r<’ar.flumes. I pam d on . the threshold. Should 1 lea.'- these im n to I iierish, or give then, acbani cfor their lives? | Mercy won. Springing to the side of the i nearest man, I shook him with all my might, | “i i"•! fire! the prairie is burning! Fly for I lb- Sj rng to hi feet, glaring r -und in a be v il.lered m n.et. ’1 ' no time to do I more. I rushed out into .h . ;.n Irm for my life—no! aw y • n tl.e 1/ .•■,.} flames but directly toward tiiraii. Out on the praiiie.; t cyou l the jaitcltiuap I ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18,1887 of scrub-oaks, was a piece of plowed ground, a half acre or so; only the day before had my husband turned over the long lines of black mold. Could I reach this spot, we would be saved. Several times was I compelled to change my course to avoid patches of flame kindled by the cinders that fell in a fiery shower around us. The thickening smoke hid from my sight the spot of bare earth—our haven of safety. I could only guide my living feet by the position of the above mentioned trees, and when I struck its edge and felt its rough clods beneath mv feet, the tiro was half way down on either side. Into this furna'e I plunged and threw myself prone up< t the earth in its center. On swept tiie mighty whirlwind of Qre; volumes of smoke roiled over our heads, ’bug tongues of flame leapt toward us, but hai med us not. Baby, wailing, threw up his little hands and gasped for breath. A yell of mortal agony and fear, thru another, told that two of tlio band had fallen victims of the fire fiend’s breath. In a few mo ments the wind had blown away the smoke, and by the light of our blazing home I looked abroad over the blackened plain. The logs of which our cabin was built were comparatively green, and did not burn as freely as an older structure would have done, and till nearmorn ing I sat with my babe on my lap, watching the play of flames among the fallen* timbers; then placing the grassy side of a clod for a pillow, I slept and forgot both danger and sorrow. I was awakened by the whining of the dog and his cold nose touching my cheek. I rose to my knees and gazed wildly in every direc tion, for nis action told plainly of some new danger. Away across the fire-scorched prairie against the red light of the rising sun, biack objects were moving. They came nearer and nearer, grew larger and larger upon the sight. Then a horrible fear assailed my heart. Oh, God! they were Indians! Had I escaped two dread ful perils only to fall into their merciless hands? Between me and the still smoking ruins of my Imine stood the blackened stump and f sllen trunk of a tree. Crawling on handsand kiiecs— for I dared not rise for fear of being seen—l crept behind them, lying prostrate upon tiie ground, soothing my child as best I could. Calling the dog to me, I grasped him firmly by his collar, bidding him be quiet, lest he should betray my hiding place. • On came the cavalcade and halted within a few yards of us. With a wild yelp the dog broke from my detaining hand, and with joy ful barks bounded toward them. I rose to my feet, and saw, indeed, a band of Indians, and in their midst, with blanched cheek and compressed lips, my husband. The next mom mt I lay fainting in his arms. In the settlement he had seen the fire and knew his home was in its path. Well mount ed, and accompanied by a friend, lie rode all night guided by the light of Ins burning home. Near morning they camo upon the camp of friendly Indians, and they witii fresher horses were the first to dawn on my startled vision. A few rods from the house tiie charr*.l, bodies of two mon were found, and among tfe ruins 'bo feenca of their comrades. Aft n *.J>t. was aeawtuined that these, men were of noted desperadoes, whdhad long been i.t terroi to tiie frontier, and to their door was many a foul murder and deed ol violence. A few days of quiet with our good friends in the settlement quite restored mysliakcn nerves, .".nd soon the white-topped wagon again sheltered us while the logs were being hewn and fashioned for another cabin, and before tiie first blizzard swept down from the Rockies we were snug and warm in our new home. Rolling years have brought mighty changes. The railroad came; the city rising around us is fairer than the city of our dreams. Long ago we left the log cabin for a handsome adobe mansion. In the peace, plenty and brightness of the present, the dangers and privations of pioneer life are remembered only as “waters that pass away;” but when bright-eyed chil dren gather about my knee to listen to talcs of that early time I often tell them the story of my Night of Peril. ONLY A DREAM. The Graphic Story Told by Colonel Frank Flynt, and What Led to It. From the Griffin, Ga., Sun. It will be remembered that onrcolt reporter, Colonel Frank Flynt, was down with the rheu matism several month last winter, and during that period time pressed heavily upon him. It was during the early part of hi- sickness that the little incident occurred which wo are now about to relate. We have the story from Colonel Flynt’s own lips, and can vouch for it, every word. “During the early part of my sickness,” says the colonel, “I took great quantities of quinine and dovers powders to break up my cold. In a short while my head began to ache and throb, together with n'ocaselcss roaring like the echoes of distant artillery or the eruption of some volcano, all of whicii tended to make mcabout ns miserable abeingas one would care to look upon. Every noise ■'■i.’i nicd to magnify ten fold, while the passing of vehicles outside would send their echoes fox-chasingcach other through my brain in such rapid succession as to make the whole tiling seem a veritable in ferno. On the afternoon of the third dav, when this pandemonium was at its height, and just as I had resolved to do something desperate, sweet sleep came to my aid. Just how long I slept I don’t know, but I remem ber 1” anng someone say: ‘Well, Ifncle Tom, don't Jail to bring me that rabbit, as. promised.’ I tell you, it was as pl in as life. Visions of rabbit stew and fry floated before my vision, mid it seemed that'c,on then my nostrils wero greet! <1 by the savory smell." Here Coli.no! Flynt stooped to 'i : plain that Uncle Tom Harper was a noted rabbit cab I.er in this section, mid that he generally sujqJii d the town in season. Continuing with ids fcto.yr, the colonel said : “Afti r that I dropped back to siauul sleep again, but how long I slept I don’t know. 1 was awakened by the opening of a gato, and looking around T found myself in an unfa miliar place. '£h'- one was beautiful beyond description, and I had just begun to think that I had been transported to sonic fairy land when 1 hi ard a voice i ay, ‘Enter, Um ie Tom. and welcome,’ and looking around 1 b-held my old friend, Tom Harper. With his face wreath'd in smiles he was just about to enter the pearly gates wlien a rabbit jumped from its hiding place and skipped down the pathway. Forgetful of his mission, Uncle Tom started in hot pursuit of the rabbit, but whether he caught him or not I could not tell. The gates were closed witii a bang, a baud rudely pla' cii on my shoulder and a -oice said: ‘Come, Frank, old follow, take tbit quinine capsule—there’s only ten mon- left.’ For the first time I realized that I had not been to heaven, but had only been in dream land.” + The Dogs of War. From the New York Tribune. One of the latest freaks of military science Is th'.-training of watch dogs for sentry duty. The Frcn’eh va minister has given 0.-d-ri that dugs nt.-: taught tota k at the npp.oieb of a 1 '.‘iieuiy < : I Etra:i L er. - --ul l. ■-out , and if they jkovc ir-nfi.d arc to b(j tvta'- 1 -< 1 ‘on’] the line f<:, .in d -ruboned double po-.'iii'C.-. t. h ..vc a liteml well os u metaphorical Johnny’s Memory* From the Ej ocdi. “( an you and Johnny mo to the grocer’s for me, J in tiß. and rejnernber to ask for three pounds Ol < oCfl .' “V e.i, I lw # T < a iTcrnembcr three pouruh,” on swer- d .-u-r J-in ik. deliberately, if Jyhuny will rcmemlx i cocoa. ' AMEWpraiUIIE From Youth’s Companion. Mr. Edgar Wood had two thousand silvo r dollars in ten dollar rolls nicely packed in a valise with a few toilet articles, and twelve thousand dollars in bank notes and bills of ex change snugly sewed into a thin belt worn about Iris person. In an outside belt, elegant ly embroidered, he wore a superbly jewelled revoh er,warranted to be useful as a wcanon at long range in the hands of a self-collectd man resting under safe shelter. As to other personal furniture, his comforta ble figure was adorned with a fine gold watch possessing a national reputation for beauty and throughout the republic of Mexico, and a hat covered witii gold lace and bangles that made it the envy of all the beaux in town. Under these conditions Mr. Edgar Wood en tered the ten-mule stage, that stood in the patio of the Hotel Iturbide. for a trip down the country to pay off three thousand laborers a ninth’s wages. The stage started out amid the usual hub bub. The driver gathered up his lines, shouted at all the mules together and at each mule by name. The a sistant driver seized tiie whip and added its resounding crack to his vo ciferous entreaties and denunciations. Tiie two outriders ran along the sides of the team, shouted and swore ami pelted the mules with stones, while ton bows of cow bells suspended above the ten collars added tlmir clangor to <hc confusion, ami tiie whole cortege rolled over tho roughest cobble-stone pavement on the Ameri can continent, awakening an angry city from its comfortable slumbers. The wealthy contractor was alone that morn*- ing. and he occupied every corner of the stage in such rapid succession and varied positions that, if the City of Mexico hail bi » n twice us broad as it was, he must have been a disagreeable jelly before reaching the suburbs. As it was, how ever, the grand exhibition of style and enter prise was soon over, and the team settled down t<» the comfortable habit of the country, a very slow trot on rather soft roads, while the pas senger settled himself in the corner, lighted a Vera Cruz cigar and began to indulge in tho pleasures of imagination. “This month,” he considered, “will cost me twenty tbousad dollars, for which outlaj* the government j ays mo one hundred thousand dollars, whicii is eighty thoa.-and dear g. in. In two more I shall be in good trim, and then 1 shall ask old Juarez for bhnilia. 1 think sb<- admired me last night when 1 said my adien anil ho looked at his pistol, h'S line watch and elegant hat and—a rille-ball whistled through the coach-window, followed by a command of “jrararse'” (halt.) There is no discussing such an order given under such circumstniie.es. It was not possible for Mr, Wood to say just how Jic looked, but he, felt veiy pale, when a at the window in- “llave t the honor of addressing-fcjenor K-iigaro Wood ?” “That is my r.anip, sir.” “ Ah, Don I'dgaro, T am so scMy tn have to molest you in your journey, but Won't you do Lie the favor to alight for a moment?” Now, if there was one quality on which that gentle man prided himself more than on anoth er, it was the superiority of manners. He was known as the polite. American of Mexico, and so, when addressed a simple request in such courteous, terms he was fain to comply. He therefore alighted and tried to do so promptly, but his motions wore not so graceful as usual; there seemed a tremulous ex<.dt<‘- ment, almost a stagger, in his movements, when he looked about him. Four men armed with cutlasses, rilles and revolvers stood ready to receive him. The up per half of each face was covered with a black mask. They were evidently natives save one, whoso head Lroadcr than t he others at the tem ples and ruddy face below the mask ending in a thin, frouzly, tow-colored goalee seemed to indicate an Englishman. Mr. Wood, noting him carefully, thoAighthe had seen him before, but failed in every attempt to place him. “Senor Wood,” said the sj>okesman advanc ing, “J am |»leascd to meet, you and regret that .you are not able to reciprocate the, cordial sen timents I entertain for yon. J must say, Amiguillo, you wear a charming hat, and such things are so common to you that I am sure there will be no obstacle to an exchange. See what a poor thing I wear, and so unsuited to my years and position in society! it fits well, too. Ami also. Senor Wood, you are said to possess an excellent watch ; that, sir, would be an extreim ly convenient article to have in my profession t hat 1 may bo prompt in meeting the stage and thus avoid tiros* me watching. 1 will accept it with permission.” Mr. Wood was rapidly learning to adapt him self to circuinstanceE. He knew be must sub mit to being stripped, so, handing over the watch with the best grace possible he said, with :: amilc and a bow. “.May J pre« nty<m with a pistol, as good as there is in the repub lic, except your own.” “Ah, Senor! now you flatter mo; I accept it in your name, Amiguillo.” “And al o, Senor, 1 admire your coat; lot us exchange. Your trousers, too, will fit me nicely, and your boots, cv< n if a little large, will be bettortban those. Have the goodtm-s to be seated on my old coat and we will assist you in removing them; we arc experienced valets.” To have observed the face of .Mr. Edgar Wood now you wood have thought he was engaged in i frolic. J have beard him say, in ti lling this story, that he, Pdt. all through the perform ance. as ii lie were being joked by a friend. “And now,” continued the ladron, “we will trouble you, Senor Wo -d, to pa s out your va lise, if .you will be so obliging.” Mr. Wood hesitated for the first time and looked around, but tin re was no mercy; the muzzle: of three pieces looked ipto his eyes, while he r- plied, “Very well, gentlemen, if you insist.” He handed out the heavy valise, whicii was taken aside by the Mexicans, while tin, EnglisJi looking thief kept guard at the stage door. Wlicii tin- precious cargo was removed to a short distance from it > owner, the sentinel muttered to him in English, “If you will give me two thousand dollars unseen, from your belt, you ran save the rest; otherwise, I’ll fix every dollar you’ve got.” Mr. Wood felt sure he had somewhere Bern the fare, of which the mouth and chin were exposed, butif he suspected the truth, he kept, it to lf, and quietly handed over the momy to the man. Jn a few rninntes, the nearly empty valise was rrturned, and the party hade the traveler adic and wished him a »f" journey. In his disa. r' cable fix be could only ride till he met the return stage, and go with it to the capital, under the shelter of a Jiawl lent him by a sym pathetic lady among the passengers, with ♦ bom, at noon, hr < nt< i» d the patio, from wbirh be bad so • xultmgly -a!li‘ d in the early morning. The idle populftcc, as usual, rushed in with the stage, and witnrs.ed the discomfit ure of the American, as be darted across the pavement to the nearest r ntrance of the hotel, and made his way to his room. When Mr. Wood rim rpl therefrom, ho made his way to tin English bank, to deposit the papers gaved in his belt , ami there cnconn tered the second surprise of the day. 'Fir-. t<d- j Jcr, who received and ci edited him with the amount, was the countmpart of the English robber of the morning; bet ho had no beard, nor could Wood recall that he had overseen him adorned with that symptom of manhood, ft M'as impossible that he should be a ladron • his position in tbe bank, his easy, seif-nofisg‘sse<l manner, not brazen, but natural and innocent. No, it was a mistake. The next day, there being several Mexican merchants to start for Vera Cruz, Mr. Henry Yorke, of Wood & Co., was dispatched with them in the morning stage. Ho wont well armed, and had tho name of being a lighting man. But as yet no crowd of Mexican passen gers has frightened a band of robbers from its enterprise, at sunrise, Yorke discovered two small squads of horsemen bearing down on the stage from opposite directions. “There are six of them,” he said, “and wo are nine men, with only one woman. Are we to light, gentlemen, or shall wo surrender?” “Mexicans never surrender,” cried one of them, “We will tight to tho last drop of blood.” “Yes, always,” answered the other eight. “I shall be killed; oh, I shall bo killed!” shrieked tbe frightened woman. “We shall defend you, Sonora,” they de clared. The horsemen drew near. All were masked and armed. One party passed tho coach, wheeled and instantly returned. Mean while. Yorke sprang from the stage, which had been stopped, and calling to his fellow-passen gers to join him. tired his rifle at the nearest ol the gang and killed him. Ho then began discharging his revolver, as they closed in on him, and looking about for his companions, discovered them all in their scats, pallid spec tator of his recklessness. In another instant a pistol-ball struck him down. Evidentlly, tho ladronos had only contempt for tho Mexican pa sengers, for they rode direct ly forward to the fallen American, whose body they mercilessly hacked in poices with their sabres, for a warning to all those who resisted their ioh bevies. 'The entire treasure of Wood & Co. was ta ken from tho person of Yorke and his valise; and the pisscmgcrs, the lady not excepted, were robbed of every article they possessed, even to their outer clothing. When the la drones left, their captain o| emul an embroider ed jacket, revealing the form of a woman, and cried out with a sneer, “You arc men. Adios.” When the stage, returning, entered the patio of the Hotel Iturbid, with the body of Mr. Yorke, it was mot by Mr. Wood, to whom tho lady passenger declared that his part net had born killed by an Englishman of tbe I and, whose lower face was ruddy, narrow anti thin, ending in a little shadowy beard: that ho had reached into the coach, and shot Yorke in the back, through the open doorway of the op posite side, as ho was tiring rapidly at the gang, and that, as he withdrew his head, his beard dropped from his chin, and she had secured it. At ten o’clock that morning be went to the English bank with the woman, and presented a chock fur payment. As the idler laid down tho money, he saw the little wad of board on the counter, picked it up and looking at it cu riously, said, “\V hat is this?” At. tho game moment Mr. Wood discovered that liis com panion trembled violently and was becoming alarmingly pale, and lost no time in leaving the bank. Thewomanwassr.ro of tho identity of tho man, and would listen to no possibilly of her mistake. As for Mr. Edgar Wood he was con founded, but. he did the customary thing, and set.-an English detective on the track of Mr. Carlo» Watfils, the teller of the English bank of Mexico. The next payment wont to th6 line In charge of a paymaster and a mounted guard, of whom the cliicf was ohcl<H the most successful la drones ol Mexico; and who gave safe conduct to the treasure, for which he was well paid. Twc months passed. No outward sign indi cated any depravity on t he part of Mr. Watfils. Ho lived modestly, and seemed a retiring, rath er studious man. His sole dissipation was his horseback ride each morning and night. Tiie time had come for another payment to the men of the contractor, and again no deter mined to go in person with the money, and by si age. This time, lie selected a day when a fair complement of Mpxican men, having commer cial relations with Vera Cruz, would travel, and went accompanied also by two Americans armed with rilles and revolvers. Tho English detective with a companion, both well armed, rode out in the same direc tion a half hour after the stage, left . The road had not been so infested of late, but the Amer icans understood the, danger to which they were exposed in the transportation of treasure, snd made their disposition accordingly. Mr. Wood and one companion < ccupied tho front scat of tbe coach looking to the rear; the third man of the party sat with the driver, as being aci jck shot with a W r inch stcr rifle. W’hen they stopped for coffee, at eight oclcck, no one had appeared to molest 1 he stage or ci' ate suspicion. As they left the little inn the detective ap|>cared in sight, but tho stage made no delay, and the party were again on their way. Suddenly the inside passengers detected the effort it the driver to stop his cumbrous t am, and heard tho, \ui<o ol the American by his side shout to him, “If you stop, I’ll kill you ; drive on and drive hard.” Then a rifle shot ami another shout as he passed down his rifle, and called for a fresh one, which he re ceived :»f once. Air. \V< od and his comjianions, looking fnmi tho co; * h, saw they w< r.; pursued by eight hor cm n, who were now within two hundred yards at the rear. Leaning from the coach window he cried out to the driver, “If those fcl'ow >c d« b us, you are a de;ul men!” threat told wonderfully on tho speed of the team, Menawhile the l end approached, and tho three. Americans tired together, throwing the ladrones into confusion and forcing a halt; but they rallied nt once and six horsemen of the vigl.i were drawing near when the driver’s companion by another shot brought a man to the ground. At this moment the detective and j,;. guard appeared in the rear of the hand and Mr. Wood ordered the driver toslowdown. The robb<r.i di-woven d the trick, for turning I hey sa w the roinforecmunt in their rear and lost no time in leaving tiie road and making off across the, valley towards the mountains. The stage met no further adventure, and .’Jr. Wood was able to return to Mexico in a we»:k. 'J’he afternoon of his arrival he accompanied the English bank malinger and the deieciive to the hospital of (laiidalupe and found there, to the, .tirpi' <• ol the mn.tgir alone, the teller. Mr. Carlos Watfils, suffering from a shattcreu leg. It is not my int' ntion’to mystify the render nor to prolong uncertain conditions in this little sketch. I may therefore say, without more ado,that Mr. Watfils’ character had been known to the detective who had followed him to Mexico to get possession of his person, if possible, for uttering counterfeit Bank of Eng land notes. And nowan opportunity offered by which the Mexican government eotild ria itself of a rogue, ami do a courteous act toward a nation whose good will it desired, although diplomatic n iations between the two countries were suspended. If Watfils w< re tried in Mexico it was by no mean >< < j ';>.;n that a conviction could be se cured under those laws. It was, indeed, a < banco ii the Americans might not be made to suffer for killing men who had not attacked them. In this view of the case Mr. Watfils was sent acro'S the water with the English of fieef, and having been convicted in London of the crime of counterfeiting, was sentenced to twenty years’ penal servitude. Cholera hi Chili. From the New York Times. The reappearance of Asiatic cholera in three Chief- of chili hn« e i ;S7-1 ft revival of the rigid quur antlne regulations by which other South American countries o.q the west coast excluded the disease last winter. Although the mortality in Chili was large during the j.n vulem eof tho f:r.-1 epidemic, tho d!s oi-e was W' ll handled by the government and tl e health authorities, am! it probable that tl e expt r cneo then gained will be effectively used in sup pressing the plague now without > rie .61 mos life. Ownpan/on? One of the “country week” gfrls exclaimed upon sc.dng a watermelon growing: “My! 1 always s a. d watermelons grew lu the water.” PRICE FIVE CENTS. By Elize Beattie. “When Rob comes back from camp, Eliso, ami it it is pretty, fair,” said Captain Boaltie.i one morning, “ho shall take you and Mabel on* Mount Washington.” Rob is my uncle's nephew and book-keeper,: just returned from Eastman college with hi« diploma under his arm, and into whoso erudite parchment Mabel is very much afraid the moths will enter. So we watched with assidu ous eyes tiie cloudy sky, and tho road to Gran by, for that is where Rob is, in that mysterious lumber camp about which I have been hear-,, ing all summer till 1 can almost see tiie great piles of spruce logs being hauled through the snowdrifts, and the burly Frenchmen chatter-, ing their patois. Rob camo before tho fail weather; but final ly. on the morning of Thursday, tho 6th >f Oc tober, wo dared to venture out, both early and dark, for the hour was half-past six, and th* Pilot Rango was swathed in gloom. A pleas ant ride of twenty miles brought us to tho Wing toad, whcie we changed cars for Fabys an. All along this road tho scenery is very line, a foretaste of what we are scon to have. We reached the Fubyan House at half-paat eight , and betook ourselves to tho large office and sitting hall combined. At otic end of the long room, a great, big wood fire burning in a great, big old fashioned lire place, threw iW warmth and radiance upon the people. At 1!) o’clock, wo took our seats in a wide, open car, filled with chairs, and very soon also with people, and wore borne along’swiftly to the base of the mighty granite bridge. Hi re w« entered tiie Mount Washington railway train, and were soon on our way up an ascent that seemed al-most straight, am! there seemed to be no way for us but to bo dashed backward to death. All tho others, however, appeared'calm aud contented, and so. after a little, I, too, teased to watch that dizzy plane with : nch fascinated eyes, and looked off to tho gloomy forests about us. Tho clouds that, once gave promise of break ing away, now only gatlicred f.r iter in volume end blackness, anil bent sombrely over the dull green of tho stunted hemlock and the pale, fluttering yellow of the brick. Just such a day as tliis must Poo have seen when he wrote: "The skies they were ashen and sober, Tiie leaves they were crisped mid sere, Tiie leaves lay wee nllUertng mid sere, 'Twas n diiy In the lonesome ' tetoher. of mv mo t immemorial year; It was Ih.t I by the. dim lake of 'Auber, In tbe misty mkVregtotr ol Weir, It was i!or, n by the liark turn of Auber, In the ghoul-haunted woodland of Wolr.'* And surely ’twas just here in thia shadowy gloom that tiie poor lovers saw Astarte, treach erous and fair, float to them the mist, "To io’nt them the path to the vkluj, To the letlieau ponce of tl.o skiiur Cinne sip throwvhth6 !alr of th"-lfrvn, With love in bur luminous eyes.” And still on and up we went, and it seemed u : if we ought to gs*t out and walk avid help the poor, little broken-backed engine as with labored breaih it pushed us un among the clouds. Wo have passed the place where we can put our hands mid touch tho top of the dead pines; mid now if we wanted to touch the growth on Mount Washington, we should have to bow upon our knees, for the stately spume of tho valleys has here become :v low bush, but a sow inches from tlio ground. For some little time I had taken note of little bit* of foams between the rocks, and thought they wore the eddies from some swift mountain stream, wlien Mabel leaned over and said, “Se« the snow." “See the what,” I cried, turning on hpr in horror. “Why, Iho snow; don't you see it?” she and Roll both answered with a laugh. And sure cnogh, in a little while they did not need to tell me off ii, for there it lay before us, a great, white carpet over the. barren rocks. About fl) rods Irem the summit an irregular cairn of rock marks tho spot where Miss Bourne of Kennebunk, Maine, perished on tlio ■lth of September, 1K55, in sight of warmth and shelter. A’’few more pants, a fe.w more efforts, and the dear little engine landed us on tho highest mountain top cast of tiie rocky mountains. Rut the monarch had done, as monarchs often do, hidden himself from the view of common mortals, ami a veil of mist envel oped his august face. We did not relish stand ing iu the .snow, mid nt every stop wo took the New Hampshire breezes fanned our faces pretty roughly. Some id the gentlemen forced mi entrance Into the closed summit house, mid we followed in great, delight. A more dreary room can hardly bo imagined, but it gave us cover ing; and it gave mo three good laughs. The first was a notice stu -k up on the 'Jerk's desk, reading, “Arrival-, will please ask for their mail," ami I thought it nr t bo litters from Boiens to the Snowking that were, delivered on Mmmt \V'.' liinij si that day. Ami a second was win n I naw a woman wrapped in a huge, r d plai'i shaw l, with a veil tied over her head, imbistrhiusly penning postal cards. “Tim awfulness of it,” Mild Mabel, “when wo could not keep our lingers decently warm!’' And t he last was the sight of a straw hat quiet ly reposing on a shelf, where the owner had doubtless hurled it when lie “wqnt for” hi* furs. As w* w< re making the descent, I heard the guide telling of atmospheric, phenomena. “Very seldom,” said he,‘ have I known it to ruin above Mount Wm.liington. I have seen the lightning Hash, ami beard the thunder roar, mid behold the rain fall in torrents in tho valleys below, while up here it would tx» bright., star light.” And so I saw we could mount above the Storms of life, am! ■■:iin for our souls tho star light of I eaven’s peace, if wo only climbed high enough. “The little birds sang ea; i, and ti e little birds saug v.e t. And I -rnlled to think God's greatness Flowed mom: I our i.u osipleleness. Hound our restb. .lie-. . Hisn t. ’ ' - Phenomena) Precocity, Tld Bits. “O George.”* cried young Mrs. Merry, run ning to bn i ’ her hu’-banil t -.he door. 'I ve Burna tl Itbe best t ) tell you.” “No?” bald George. “What i» it?” “Why, don't you ihlnk-the baby can talk! Yet, eir, actually talk! H Bald ever and ever '■o many things. Come right, into tiie nursery r,n ll ca him.* George went in. • Now, baby,” said mamma, persuasively, “talk Borne for papa. Hay, ‘Bow do you do, papa?' ” “Goo, goo, goo, goo,” say i baby. “Bear him!” says maurum, c statically. “Wasn't that as plain »s plain can be ” George laya it is and tries to think so too. “Now ‘l'm glad to see you, papa.’ ” “Da, da, b jo, I ce, boc,” “Did you ever?" crle I mamma. “He can just say everythin;.! Now you precious little honey bunny boy, s.iy, ‘Arc you well, yaDa” ” “800, bade, goo, goo.” “'j, re ft Is,” sai l mamma. ‘ f'l 1 you ever know a child of his age who could really talk ns ho doew He can Just say anything be wants to: can’t you, you, you own dear little darling precious you?” “G'-o, goo, fl'.e, di, to< ’ “Hear that’ H. ‘Of course I can,’ just m plainly as anybody c »ul l say it. Oh, George, 1 really worries me to have him so phenomenally' bi/-Lt. These very brilliant babies nearly aulwx die young."