SHie Columbian,
AN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL,
11 M'nl.isttr.D tvenv RATunnAY, in
lllooiiMbmBi Columliln County, P
Tiiiom.
Two Dollarn n year, In advance. If not nald In
ndranco, Two Dollars nml Fifty Cent,
Address nil letters to
CH'OltaK It. MOOIlti,
Editor of tho UoMJMlttAtt,
lUooimburg, Columbia County, I'u.
TOO LATE.
hY jeau i.NOKUm".
At, I wiw her, wo Imvo met
Married eyes how nwect they be.
Am you happier, Mnrgnrel,
Tlinn you might havo boon with m?
Hllencol innltn no morondol
Did she tlilllk t tdiould forget ?
Mutter nothing, though 1 knew,
Margaret, Marnarot.
Onco thoo oyes, full (tweet, full shy,
ToM nccrlnln thing to mine;
What they told mo 1 put by,
O, no carcle of tho ftlgn.
Huch an oniy thins to tnko,
. Awd 1 dirt not want It then ;
l-'noll I wish my heart would break,
Bcorn In hard on hearts of men.
Kcorn of clf In bitter work,
Euch of us bus felt It now,
Bluest fkles Khn countetl mirk,
Kclf-bctraycd of eyes mul brow J
A" for me, I wont my wny,
And ft better mnn drew nigh,
l'aln to earn, with long essay,
What tho winner's bnnd threw by.
Matters not In deserts old,
'What was born,nud wased, and yearned,
Year to year Its meaning told,
I nm como Its deeps nro learned
Come, but thero Is naught to say
Married oye with mine have met.
Hllcnco I O, I had my day,
Margaret, Margaret.
MELTING UNCLE INGOT.
" If over you or yours got five pounds
out of mo, madam, beforo I die, I prom
iso you, you shall have ilvo thousand ;
nnd I am a man of my word." So spoko
Mr. Ineot Hcardmorc, drysaltcr and
common councilman of tho City of Lon
don, to Dorothea Elizabeth, his widow
ed slstcr-in-law, who had applied to
him for pecuniary succor about threo
months after the death of his younger
brother Isaac, her husband. There were
harshness and stubborn determination
enough in his reply, but there was no
niggard cruelty. Mrs. Isaac wanted
money, it is true, but only in tho sense
in which we all want it. She was only
poor In comparison with the great
wealth of this relative by marriage.
Her incomo was largo enough for any
ordinary Mr. Ingot said "legitimate"
purpose, but not sufficient for sending
iter boy to Eton, and finishing him oil'
nt tho Universities, as it was the mater
nal wish to do. Mr. Ingot hated such
genteel intentions; Christ's Hospital
had been a fashionable enough school
for hlni, nnd ho had " finished oil'" as a
clerk at forty pounds a year in that very
respectable house in which ho was now
senior partner. With tho results of that
education, as exemplified in himself, ho
was perfectly satisfied, and if his neph
ews only turned out half as well, their
mother, ho thought, might think her
fcclf uncommonly lucky. Her family
had given themselves airs upon tho oc
casion of her marrying Isaac " allying
herself with commerce," some of litem
called it and Ingot had never forgiven
them. He gloried in his own profession,
although Government had never seen
lit to ennoble nny member of it, and
perhaps all tho moro on that account;
for he was one of those radicals who tire
jiot "snobs" at heart, but rather aristo
crats. He honestly believed that noble
blcnicn and gentlemen were tho lower
orders, and those who toiled and strove
tho upper crust of the human pie.
When ho was told that the former classes
often tolled and strove in their own
way as much as tho others, ho made a
gesture of contempt, and " blew" like
an exasperated whale. It was n vulgar
sort of retort, of course, but so eminently
expressive that his opponent rarely pur
sued the subject.
He rather liked his sister-in-law, in
splto of her good birth, and would have,
doubtless, largely assisted her had .she
consented to bring up her children ne
cording to his views; but since sho pre
ferred to take her own way, ho with
drew himself moro and more from her
society, until they saw nothing at all of
ono another. Ho had no intention of
leaving his money away from his broth
er's children ; ho had much too strong a
sense of duty for that; mid as for mar
riage, that was an Idea that never enter
ed into his hard old head. He had not
made a fool of himself by falling In lovo
in nilddlo age, as Isaac had done (In
youth he had not thuo for such follies),
nnd It was not likely that at sixty-five
ho should commit any such imprudence,
So his nephews nnd nieces felt confident
of being provided for in tho future. In
tho present, however, as time went on
Jind tho education of both girls and boys
grew moro expensive, Mrs. Isaac's In
come becamo greatly straightened. Her
own family very much applauded the
oxpensivo way In which sho was bring
ing up her children, and especially her
-independence- of spirit In relation to her
tradesman brother-in-law ; but they
ft mover assisted her with a penny. Tho
jS .young gentleman at Cambridge was
& .kept upon very short allowance; and
'3 Uho young ladles, whoso beauty was
K tsomethlng renuirkuble, affected while
muslin, nnd wore no meretricious jew
dry. Their pin-money was very limited
poor things, nnd they mado their own
clothes at homo by tho help ot a sowing
machine. If Undo Ingot could hnv
seen them thus diligently employed his
heart would perhaps havo softened tow
nrd thorn ; but, as 1 have said, they now
never got that chance. Julia, tho elder,
hud been but six years old when ho bail
last called at their highly-rented but
diminutive- habitation in .Miiyfalr, mid
now who was eighteen, and had nover
heen him since. Although she had of
course grown out of tho old mini's rccol
' lection, sho remembered his figure-head
ns sho wickedly called his rigid feature
r uncommonly well ; and, Indeed, noboii
', who had over seen It was likely to for
,,got It. Ills countenance was not so
.'iiiudt human its ligneous; mid his pro
file Xophew Jack had actually seen upon
VOL. I.-NO. 3.
a certain nobbly tree In the lime-walk
of Claro Hull, Cambridge much moro
like- than any sillhottotto over cut out
of black paper. They had laughed at
tho old gentleman In early days, and
snapped their fingers at his churlishness;
but it had become no laughing matter
now.
The remark of Uncle Ingot's, "If you
or yours ever get llvo pounds out of me,
madam, before I die, I promise you,
you shall have Hvo thousand; nnd I
am a man of my word," had become a
very serious sentence, condemning all
tho family to, If not poverty, nt least
very urgent want. What Is meant of
course was that ho was resolutely deter
mined to give them nothing. In vain
the young ladles worked for Unclclngot
slippers and book-markers for his birth
day, and sent to him their best wishes at
Christinas In lllminel's highly-scented
envelopes; In vain Jack sent hlni n
pound of the most excellent snuff that
Hacon's emporium could furnish, at the
beginning of every term, lie nlways
wrote back n civil letter of thanks, In a
clear and clerkly letter, but thero wits
.never any lnclosure. When Mrs. Isaac
asked him to dinner ho declined in n
caustic manner avowing that ho did
not feel himself comfortable at tho aris
tocratic tables of tho West End and
sent her a pincnpplo for tho dessert, of
his own growing. Ho had really no i II
feeling toward his relatives, although
ho kept himself so estranged from them;
but I think this sort of conduct tickled
the old gentleman's grim sense of hu
mor. If he could have found some le
gitimate excuse for "making it up"
with his sister-in-law, within tho first
year or two of their falling out, perhaps
ho would havo been glad to do so; but
time had now so widened tho breach
that it was not to bo easily repaired.
What he had satirically written when
he declined her invitation had grown to
to true ; he rarely went into society, and
almost never Into tho company of ladies,
tho elder portion of whom he considered
frivolous and vexatious, nnd tho young
er positively dangerous. He had a few
old bachelor friends, however, with
horn he kept up a cordial intercourse,
and spent with them various festivals
of tho year as regularly as they came
omul.
On tho illst of December, for instance
he never omitted to go down to Head
ing, uud "wee the old year out and the
new year in," in tno company oi Mom
Whallles, with whom ho had worn the
yellow stocking In thososchool-days that
had passed away moro than half n cen
tury ago. Tom nnd Isaac had been oven
reatcr cronies its bovs than Tom and
Ingot; but the latter did not like Tom
the le.-s upon that account; secretly, J
think he esteemed him the moro highly
as a link between himself and that luck
less family whose very existence he yet
hose to ignore. Mr. Whallles had ulti
mate relations with them still; they
.une down to stay with them whenever
his sister paid them a visit, and could
act as their hostess ; but this never hap
pened in the last week of tho year,
Tom was nover to speak of them to his
old friend that was not only tacitly un
derstood, but had even been laid down in
writing, ns the basis of their intimacy
On the .'list of December last Mr. Ingot
Tteardnioro found himself, as usual, at
tho I'addlngton station, looking for an
empty compartment, for his own com
puny had got to bo very pleasing to him.
Having attained his object, and rolled
himself up in the corner of the carriage
in several great-coats, with his feet upon
a hot tin, and his hands clothed In thic
mittens, and looking altogether like a
polar bear who liked to make himself
comfortable when everything was ar
ranged, I say, to the old gentleman's
complete satisfaction, who should in
vade his privacy, just as tho train was
about to start, and tho whistle- had
sounded, but ono of the most bewitch
ing young ladles you over set eyes on !
"Madam, this carriage is engaged,'
growled he, pointing to the umbrella
urpet-bag, and books, which ho had
distributed upon all the seats, in order
to give it that appearance
Only engaged to you, I think, sir,'
replied the charmer fiippautly. " Hap
iy carriage! I wish I was. Isn't that
pretty?"
Mr. Beardmoro had nover heard any
thing half so shocking said to hlni in all
his life, and if tho train had not been
already set in motion he would hnv
culled upon tho guard for help, and left
tho carriage forthwith. As it was, he
could only look at this shameless young
perron with an expression of tho sever
est reprobation. At the same time hi
heart sank within him at tho rellectloi
that tho train was not to stop till ho
rcuehedhlsdestinatlon Heading. What
Indignities might ho not havo to suffer
before ho could obtain protection ! Shi
was a modent-looklng young lady, too.
very simply dressed, mid her voice wa.s
particularly sweet and propo-sc-slut
notwithstanding tho very drcadlul re
marks In which sho had Indulged. Per
haps sho was out tif her mind and at
this idea Mr. Tngot Hoardmoro brok
out, notwithstanding tho low tenipom
turn, into n very profuse perspiration.
Now, what will you glvo me for
kiss, you old you old polar bear-
asked tho fair stranger playfully as the
train Hew by Ealing,
"Nothing, luaduni, nothing; 1 ainn
tonlsht'd at you," answered Mr. Heard
more, looking unIotiIy round the car
ringo in the desperate hope of finding
ono of tluiso newly-patented Inventions
for nllbrdlng communication with th
guard.
" well, then, I'll taue one, mid leavt
It to your honor," continued the young
BLOOMSBUllG, SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1866.
lady, with n peal of silver laughter'
and with that sho lightly roso, and be
fore tho old gentleman could freo him
self from his wraps, or ward her off with
his nitiirctoes, sho had imprinted a kiss
upon his homy check. Mr. Hcnrd
morc's breath was so utterly taken away
by this assault that ho remained speech
less; but his countenance was probably
more full of expression than It had ever
been In his life. "Oh no, 1 am not
mad," laughed she, In reply to lt" al
though I havo taken a fancy to such n
wonderful old creature. Now come, if
1 kiss you again what will you glvo
me?"
"I shall glvo you in charge to tho
police, madam, tho Instant that I ur-
rlve in Heading."
" Give me In charge I What for, you
curious piece of nntlquity?
" For nn assault, madam ; yes, for an
sault. Don't you know that you havo
no right to kiss people without their
consent In this manner?"
Hero tho young lady laughed so vio
lently that tho tears came into her eyes.
" J)o you suppose, you poor old dot-
ng creature, mat anybody, win over
bclievo such a story ns that?" Do you
use such a thing as a looklng-glnss, you
poor dear? Are you aware how very
unprepossessing your appearance is,
even when you don't frown, as you nro
doing now in a manner that is enough
to frighten ono? You have, of course,
perfect right to your own opinion, but
if you suppose tho police will agree with
ou, you will find yourself much mistn
en. The idea of nnybody wanting to
iss yon will reasonably enough appear
to them preposterous."
" What is it you require of me, you
icked creature?" cried tho old bache
lor, in an agony of sliamo and rage.
"1 want payment for my kiss. To a
gentleman at your time of life, who
scarcely could expect to be so favored,
surely it is worth what shall I say?
five pounds. What I not so much
Well, here's another for your other
cheek." Like a Hash of lightning sho
suited tho notion to her words. " There,
then, live pounds for tho two, and I won't
iko n shilling less. You will have to
ivo it to tho poor's box at the police sta
tion, if not to me. Fori intend, in case
ou are obstinate, to complain ol your
raceful conduct to the guard at the
rst opportunity. I shall give you Into
custody, sir, as sure as you are alive.
You will bo put upon your oath, you
now, and all you will dare to say will
bo that I kissed you, and not you me.
What ' roars of laughter' thero will be
n court, und how funny it will nil look
n the papers!" Hero the young lady
egan to laugh again, as though she had
already read it there. Mr. Honrdnmro's
rlni sense of humor was; as usual, ac-
ompanied by a keen dislike of appear
ntr ridiculous, m rue, lie tinted to lie
imposed upon; still, of tho two evils,
was it not better to pay five pound-
than to bo made tho laughing-stock of
lis bachelor friends, who are not the
ort of people to commiserate one in a
misfortune of this kind ?
In short, Mr. Ingot Heardnioro paid
the money. Mr. Thomas Whallles found
tis guest that evening anything but
ilkntivo. There was a select party of
tho male sex invited to meet him, by
whom the rich old drysaltcr wa.s accus
tomed to bo regarded as an oracle ; but
upon this occasion ho had nothing to
iiy; tho consciousness ol having been
done" oppressed him. Ilis lips were
Ightly sealed ; his cheeks were still glow
ng from the audacious insult that had
been put upon thorn; his fingers clutch
d the pocket-hook in which there was
ii five-pound noteless than there ought
to be. Hut when his host and himself
were left alone that night, "seeing the
ild year out, and tho now year in," his
iciirt began to thaw under thegonial in
lluences of friendship and gin-punch
mil lie told his late adventure to Tom
Wliafiles, not without some enjoyment
of his own mischance.
"I could really almost forgivo tho
ade," said he, " for having taken mo in
so cleverly. I dare say, however, she
makes quito a profession ot it, nnd that
half a score of old gentlemen havo been
coerced before now Into ransoming the
good niimo as I did. Anil yet sho was
as modest and lady-liko looking a glr
as ever you saw."
"Was sho anything liko thhf" In
quired Mr. Whallles, producing a pho
tograph.
" Why, that's tho very girl !" exclaim
cd the guest. "Ha, ha! Tom; socm,
too, have been ono of her victims, hav
you ? Well, now, this Is most extraor
dinary."
"Not nil, my dear fellow. I know
her very well ; anil her sister, and her
mother, and her brother too. I can in
troduce you to her If you like. There'
not tho least harm In her; bless you
she only kissed you for a bit of fun."
" A bit of fun I" cried Mr. Heard more,
" Why, sho got a five-pound nolo out of
mo!"
Hut sho does not mean to keep It,
am very sure, would you iiko to sco
her again ? Come, 1 Yes' or No ?'
" If sho will give me luck my money
'Yes.'"
" Very well," returned tho host
"iniiid, you asked for her yourself;
nod ho rang tho bell pretty sharply
twice.
"Hero sho is; It's your niece, MI
Julia. Her mother and sister nro now
staying under this very roof."
" Yes, uncle," said tho young lad
demurely. "Hero is your five-pound
note; please to glvo ino that llvo thou
sand which you promised mamma
civr flit or hem got Jice jmumU out of
you i or yuu uro man nj your tconl,
know. Hut what would ho better still
would bo to let mo kiss you once more,
In tho character of your dutiful niece;
anil let us all love you as vo want to do.
It was an audacious strntftgcin, I admit,
but 1 think you will forgivo mo come."
"There go the church-bells, 1" cried
Tom Whallles. " It U tho new year,
nndn fitting time to forgot old enmities.
Give your uncle u kiss, child."
Undo Ingot mndo no resistance this
time, but avowed himself fairly con
quered ( and between ourselves, although
he made no " favorites" ul innghlsnow-
ly-reconclied relatives, but treated them
with equal kindness, I thlfik ho always
liked NIeco Julia the best; Who had been
the cause of healing a quarel which no
one perhaVs had rcgrettcij-'iioreut heart
than Undo Ingot himself.
EVENINGS AT HOME.
A wutTiui in the Ladlw' Hmository
tells tho following pleasant story:
The huband, greatly to tho nnnoy
mice of his young wife, hud acquired
the habit of spending his evenings away
from home, and her earnest protest
gainst this practice resulted in his
agreement to stay in every evening for
week, and allow her to bo absent. The
result might bo expected, as In every
case where true and strong affection ex
ists between the husband and the wife.
Monday evening came, and Georgo
Wilson remained true to his promise
His wife nt ou her bonnet and shawl,
nnd ho would remain at homo nnd keep
house.
' What will you do when I am gone?"
Emma asked.
"Oh, 1 shall read and slug, and enjoy
myself generally."
"Very well," said Emma; "I shall
bo back early."
Tho wife went out, and tho husband
was left alone. He had an Interesting
book, and lie began to read it. Ho read
till eight o'clock, and then began to
iwn, and looked frequently at tho
lock. The book did not interest him
is usually. Ever and anon ho would
come to a pas.-age which he knew would
please his wife, and instinctively he
turned as though he would read it aloud
but there was no wife to hear it. At
nilf-ptist eight o'clock ho arose from hi
chair, and began to pace the Uoor and
whistle. Then he went and got hi
Utile, and played several of his favorite
ilrs. After this he got a chess-board
and played a game with an Imaginary
partner. Then he walked th-i lloor, and
whist led iwiln. I'inully tliactiookutrnck
nine, nnd his wife returned.
" Well, George," said she, " I am bad
n good time. How have you enjoyed
yourself?"
"Capitally," returned the husband
I had no idea it was so late. I hope
you havo enjoyed yourself."
Oil, splendidly !" said tho wife;
1 1
had no idea how much enjoyment there
was away from home. Homo is a dull
place, after all, Kn't it?"
" Why, no, I can't say that it is," re
turned Georgo carelessly. "Indeed, ho
lidded, " 1 rather like it."
" I am glad of that," retorted Emma
for wo shall have a nice comfortable
week of it."
George winced nt this; hut he kep
his countenance, and determined
to
(and it out.
On the next evening Emma prepared
to go oil' again.
"I shall be back in good time," she
said.
" Where are you going, Emma?" her
husband asked.
Oh, I can't tell exactly; I may go to
several places."
So Georgo Wilson was left alono again,
mil he tried toanuiso himself ns before;
but ho found It a difficult task. Ever
and anon ho would cat his eyes on that
empty chair, and the thought would
come, " How pleasant It would bo if sho
were here!" Tho clock finally struck
nine, and he began to listen for the steps
of his wife. Half an hour mora slipped
by, and ho becamu very nervous and
uneasy.
"I declare," ho muttered to himself,
after lie had listened for soino time in
vain, "this is too bad ; she ought not to
slay out so kite."
Hut ho happened to remember that
ho often remained uwtiy mudilater than
that ; so ho concluded to make tho best
of it.
At a quarter to ten Emma camo homo.
"A little late, am I not?" sho said,
looking up at tho clock. Hut I fell in
Willi some old friends. How havo you
enjoyed yourself?"
" First rate, returned Georgo bravely;
I think homo Is a capital place."
" Especially when n man can havo It
all to himself," added tho wife, with a
sidelong glance at her husband. Hut ho
mado no reply.
On tho next evening Eninia prepared
to go out as beforo; but this tiniosho
kissed her husband beforo she went, mid
seemed to hesitate about leaving.
" Where do you think nbotit going?"
Georgo asked In nn iindertono;
"1 may drop In to seo Undo John,
replied Emma. -" However, you won't
bo uneasy. ou will know I'm safe."
"Oh, certainly," said her husband
Hut when left to his own reflections, ho
began to ponder seriously upon the easo
thus presented lor consideration.
Ho could not rend, ho could not enjoy
himself In any way while- the chair wits
empty. In short, ho found that home
had no real comfort without it wife.
Tho ono thing needful to mako Georgo
Wilson's homo pleasant was not present
" I declare," he said to lilmsdr, " I did
not think it would bo soilonewue. And
an it bo that sho feels ns I do when sho
Is hero nlono? It must be so ; It Is Just
its sho says. Heforo wc were married
situ was happy in her childhood's home.
Her parents loved her, and they did all
they coutd to mako her comfortable."
After this ho walked up nnd down tho
room several times, and then stopped
again and communed with himself.
"I can't stand this," said he. "I
should die In a week. If Emma were
hero I think I could amuse myself very
well. How lonesome and dreary It Is!
ind only eight o'clock! I declare, I
have mind to walk down its far us Un
cle John's, and see if she Is there. It
would benrclief If 1 Could only see her.
I won't go In. She shall not know yet
that I hold out so faintly."
Georgo Wilson took another turn
ncross tho room, glanced onco moro tit
the clock, and then took his hat and
went out.
Ho locked tho door after hlni, nnd
then bent his steps toward Undo John's.
It was a beautiful moonlight night,
and tho nir was keen anil bracing. Ho
w.ts walking along with his head bent
upon tho pavement, when he heard a
light step approaching. He looked up
and saw his wife.
Ills first impulse was to avoid her;
but sho had recognized him.
"Georgo," said she In surprise, "can
this bo you?"
" It Is," was tho response.
"And do you pass your evenings at
homo?"
"This is the first time I have been
out, Emma, upon my word; and even
now I havo not been absent from homo
ten minutes. 1 merely came out to take
the fresh air. Hut where are you going?'
" I am going home, Georgo; will you
go with mo?"
" Certainly," returned George.
Sho took his arm, and they walked
home in silence. .
When Emma had taken off her things
ho sat down in her chair and looked at
tho dock on tho wall.
"You are at home early to-night,"
remarked the husband.
The young wife looked up Into her
husband's face, and with an expression
half smiling and half tearful she said:
" I will confess tho truth, George. I
havcgivenyotithoexperiinent. I man
aged to stand it last evening, but I could
not bear it through to-night. AVhon I
thought of you here all alone, I wanted
to bo with you. It didn't seem right.
I haven't enjoyed myself at nil. 1 have
not nny homo but this."
"Say you so?" cried George, moving
his chair to his wire's side, nnd taking
one of her hands. " Then let me make
tnv confession. I have stood It not n
whit better. When I left the house this
evening I could bear it no longer. I
found that this was no homo for me
while my wife was absent. 1 thought I
would walk down to Uncle John's nnd
seo your face If possible. I had gazed
upon your empty chair till my heart
ached."
The next evening was spent at home
by husband and wife, and it was a sea
son of much enjoyment.
In a short time George began to real
ize how much comfort wa.s to be found
in a quiet and peaceful home, and the
longer he enjoyed this comfort tho more
plainly did he seo and understand tho
simple truth that it takes two to make
a homo happy, nnd If the wife is one
party the husband must be the other.
THE WOMAN I LOVED.
HinniAi's my story is a common one
In the annals of the world, yet It seems
to me a very strange experience. I can
not recognize it as in any way Just, or
right, or good forme. 1 loved her so!
and I have long been so in need of lov
ing deeply, purely, fervently. I thought
her a truo woman. Why could I not
havo been allowed to believe that there
was one true woman inthoworld? Hut
I forget Mary, my sister. Ah! I am a
bitter, cynical old man, perhaps; but I
was thwarted so cruelly in my youth !
It is a romance, as I have hinted. 1
look in tho mirror at my wan old face,
and I think the romance ended almost
with a tragedy.
I am not a poor man. I walk on vcl
vet carpets; dlno off silver; have the
most luxurious house; the handsomest
carriages; tho surest 11 nauclal resources
of any man in tho city. Yet, out of my
life, I never was happy but ono half
year. Contlbrlablo I had been before
that time; but never in my whole life
was I Imppy but ono short half-year.
Once I wits a poor man. At twenty-
five I had an Incomo barely sufficient to
support mo decently. I'erhiips it was
because I had neglected the study of
my profession to take care of my invalid
sMer; but In thoso days I was very
poor Indeed. We rented a liltlo house
hi tho suburbs of tho city. I walked
Into town to tho olllco of Hlack and
Sterns every day. Thero I wits clerk.
I read law with Mr. Sterns, but wits not
permitted to practise, not being well up
In professional knowledge. For I had
never studied very hard, not being nat
urally ambitious and energetic, and hav
ing no incentive to exertion while Mary
declared all her wants supplied.
My sister and I lived very plainly,
yet nicely, tit Hiookslde. Sometime In
tho future I planned to buy tho house;
but tho execution was very remote.
Mary went quietly about our littlo
home, making It comfortable and pret
ty. She, poor girl, had no aim In life
but to minister to me. I nm nfrnlil I
never sufficiently valued her. It was
her choice to perform herself our littlo
housekeeping, for she did not liko to
havo any third pcr.ui dwell with uj
PKIOE FIVE CENTS.
Hut at last another person did enter our
home, and my henrt.
One night Mary nnd I sat together by
tho hearth ; it wits Winter weather. I
remember that there Wits no sound In
the room but the snapping of tho coals
In tho grato anil the rattle of tho hall
against tho wlndoW-panes. My sister
was silently reading ; I sat with my book
on my knee, gazing at u beautiful faco
which I saw among tho yellow coals,
that looked like a pllo of gold.
Suddenly I heard the garden-gate un
latch. I listened, nnd heard a footstep
on tho walk. Hay lug down my book I
prepared for the summons to tho door;
but there was none. I listened, think
ing 1 detected, Instead, a faint cry; but
tho next moment 1 believed I was mis
taken, mid took up my book again. All
the evening I sat reading.
On preparing to retire I went to lock
tho hall-door as usual. Heforo doing so
I opened it, and looked out into tho
night. A cry of surprise broke from
mo.
The dark, mufiled figure of a woman
lay across the step.
1 culled to Mary to bring a light. Lift
ing tho woman I brought her in. As tho
hood fell back from her face we thought
sho was dead ; but soon wo found that
sho was only senseless. Sho had a beau
tiful face why did 1 ever look upon it?
Her name wits Cecilia Montalgn; sho
was n poor sewing-girl, anil was return
ing from tho city with work, when,
blinded by the storm, sho lost her wny.
After wandering about for hours, be
wildered, sho turned to our lighted cot
tage to ask for the road, nnd fell, ex
hausted, at tho door. So sho told us
when sho could speak, and lift up to
my faco the loveliest eyes I ever saw.
She had no home or friends, nnd sho
stayed with us. My sister liked her; I
loved her.
May camo. The sunsliino looked to
mo like liquid gold as It fell on mo ns I
camo homeward nt night. The birds
mo an argosy. Tenderest breezes
camo to woo me to tho beautiful faco
which nwulted me. And one of those
towelled May days I told her that 1
loved her.
" And I love you," she said simply.
"And will you bo my wife, Cecilia,
when I can take care of you?"
"1 will."
1 looked into her eyes. I think sho
loved me then.
I had but one relative besides my sis
ter a wealthy bachelor uncle, who had
once offered to favor me if I ever wished
to mako a decided start hi tho world.
Planning for my future, I resolved to
apply to him for counsel nnd assistance
to render my circumstances thriving.
I'roud of her beauty and sweetness, I
asked Cecilia to accompany me when I
visited him.
He welcomed mo cordially, and oven
politeness could not conceal his surprise
and admiration as ho observed Cecilia.
He showed us every attention, conduct
ing us over his superb house to display
its latest improvements, ordering luxu
rious refreshments to be served, and dis
playing a hundred objects, rare and cost
ly, to our admiring eyes. I talked with
him in private, and he promised me
every assistance I needed.
The next day he camo to our house,
nnd brought my sistcrand Cecilia a gift of
costly books. I did not see him ; but he
mndo them promise, I learned, to como
and spend a week with him. 1 was flat
tered by tho recpiest, saw them go, and
took up a week's abode in the city.
1 did not seo them during that time,
and every lonely evening seemed un
sttpportable. Hut upon the seventh day
1 received a note from my sister bidding
me como directly to my uncle's house
in Lennox. When I met her sho was
fearfully agitated.
" Mary, what is the matter?" I asked,
with a terrible pang of fear.
"Cecilia hits gone away," sho said.
" Heforo going shogavo me this package
for you. Sho kissed mo and hade ine
good-by, and oh, Weston, 1 fear"
I tore open the package. It held my
gift tho engagement-ring of chased
gold, some books and notes, and u curl
of my hair.
"Where is my undo?" I asked
hoarsely.
"Ho hits gone top. He went away
with her in the carriage."
I waited a moment, holding in my
hand the ring.
"Sho is false," 1 said then calmly.
" May God forgive her ! Mary, dear, let
us go home."
Wo returned Immediately to Hrook-
side. Tho chanting birds and gay llow-
ers welcomed us. God! what a mock
ery they were!
I went about calmly for weeks. I
nover wept nor cursed. Hut ono day,
when I camo ncross n scarlet ribbon
which had tied her hair, all tho tenso
chords of my heart seemed to snap, and
I fell down senseless with tho pain. 1
was terribly ill for months.
I returned to my business nt last.
Soon I heard of my uncle's beautiful
now wife; but no one who commented
on her before mo knew my secret. My
employers asked mu about the marriage,
mid I replied that 1 had seen Mrs. Wal
ton, and that sho was very handsome.
Two years afterward I met Cecilia In
ono of the city parks. Sho was strolling
leisurely, richly dressed, and a servant
walked behind her, carrying an Infant
for Its airing. I watched her, unob
served, until she sat down beneath ono
of tho shade-trees of tho park. Look
ing up suddenly sho saw mo beforo her.
"Cecilia," 1 said, "tell mu why you
were faKo to me."
i:ho turutd pule, bui poke calmly.
mm tf dt'crii!iin0.
One Pqunrr.niip or thrr-0 Insertion il fid
Ilach sutwouent llikertloti less than thirteen. M
ono Hquaro olib month..'. !'. l i m
Two " " i .-. I .1 M
Threo " ,l .i t 00
l-'our " " n (1
Halfeolumn " :
Ono eolupin " " "1
Kxeeillor'll nml Administrator's Notices 00
Auditor's Notice 2 M
IMItorlal Notices twenty cents ief line.
Other ndvcrtlsciilclltsllisctttd according lb ro:
clat contract:
" Uccuuso wealth was offered lne," sho
answered. I looked steadily Into her
dark bytvsi Thero was that In their
ttepths which avenged mo a hundred
fold; and 1 turned awtiy In Bllenco and
left lien
I HVcd On ninny ri Vcnry year froni
that day. struggling for wealth: tho
strife mado nio forget niy heart: I tvoji
riches, and mado Hiy sister happy for
many years beforb sho died; sweet saint!
I haye loved but th'o tincei The woniail
1 loved sdhl herself for gold;
A WORD FOR CLERKS.
U.VDouiirniii.Y lllo working man is
the social pet of to-day. Wo nil talk
about him, write about hlni, pralso him;
lecture hint, scold hint; In u thousand
expressive ways give hlni clearly to un
derstand that he Is tho most Important
personage In society. Working men
have their "unions," "societies," their
"strikes," etc., and receive n great deal
of sympathy from the public. This is,
perhaps, all quite right; but it would
seem to be almost all ouo-sldcdt Very
littlo Is said for tho clerks a eiass of
young men who pass a largo part of tho
twenty-four hours behind counters, and
In stores. A London paper comes to
tho rescue of this latter class, and com
paring them with tho former says:,
"Often tho 'working man,' ns ho Is
par excellence designated, gets better pay;
almost nlways ho Is in it position moro
favorable to economy, if he only chooses
to practise it. Heslde that his class nro
looked after by the public, and their lii-
t crests always treated as public interests ;
ho nnd his fellows nro banded together
by n system of organization which places
them Inn position to defend their rights
and their customs against unrensoilablo
encroachment. Look at tho differenco
between tho clerk and tho working man t
Tho former must dress like a gentleman;
Ills employer would not keep hlni very
long if for economy ho were to wear a
fustian jacket and paper eilp. Jlti can
not havo his dinner brought to him by
his wife, in a tin can. Ho cannot put
his daughter out to service-. He must
conduct himself after certain fashions,
which, ns society prescribes them, his
employer would assuredly insist upon.
II would hardly do If his wife were to
take In washing or go out ehnrringi Ho
is, in plain words, a poor gentleman;
and is expected, however poor, to con
duct himself accordingly. An economi
cal workman can make a pound a week
go much farther than ho can. Well, ho
works for this sum say from nine to
seven, In ordinary cascyt But who does
not know that in many branches of bu
siness tho clerks are expected, and com
pelled, when the slightest pressure
comes, to extend the working hours ac
cording its tho exigency may require?
How many a clerk lias frequently to
stick to his i wist for twelve, or even four
teen hours a day, without getting an
extra penny for Ids extra work! Of
course n regular working man has his
set hours of labor, and If you want him
to do more work for you, It Is a matter
of necessity that you pay him accord
ingly. Hut tho clerk's time is com
monly understood to bo wholly at tho
service of his employer. If ho Is want
ed ho must come. You turn hlni on
liko tho gas or the beer; but, unlike tho
gas or the beer, you pay all tho same,
however much of his services you may
consume. And to inauo Ins easo still
worse, ho has not anything liko tho same
facility for getting a new place, if ho
glyos up or loses tho old one, which a
Killed artisan or operative ot almost
any kind enjoys."
A COCOANUT PLANTATION.
A cocoanut plantation lias altogeth
er a singular appearance. Tho trees.
being of one age, aro of a uniform
height, thickness of trunk, and spread
of top; jjlieyaro planted In horizontal
lines,
at equal distances,, and growing
up straight nnd perpendicular, present a
series of long, tall, thin, gray columns,
roofed over by green feathery foliage.
The trees nt maturity attain a height
of forty feet, unbroken by a leaf or
branch, and rarely inclining moro than
two or three degrees from tho perpen
dicular. Tho tops havo a spread of
about twenty-five feet In diameter ; and
us the trees are seldom planted further
apart than thirty feet, their foliage
forms nearly an unbroken canopy, shad
ing tho ground below.
Tho nuts grow In clusters between tho
roots of tho leaves or branches at tho
top, In all conditions of ripeness. If not
picked when ripe they drop; and even
with careful picking many nuts aro lost
by dropping and being broken on tho
ground.
Indeed, In a largo plantation iho
nolso of tho falling nuts and tho dead
old branches strangely breaks tho si
lence that reigns around. The force
with which they fall is considerable
sufficient, if they alight on tho head, to
kill a man of ordinarily thick skull;
and wo havo thought It remarkable- that
no deaths should havo happened from
this cause at least, wo havo never heard
of a slnglo case.
This Is especially remarkable among
tho native villages, which uro thickly
crowded with cocoantit-trees, under tho
shade of which t lie huts repose, and tho
littlo black children play about from
morning to night.
It Is sad to think that tho meed of
fame, of power, and of uuccoss Is moro
frequently assigned to tho action of
strong passions than to tho operations
of great intellect.