In beautiful ringlets her dark auburn bair, Fell over a neck than marble more fair; Ah? yes it was! The luxurious bloom of her roseate mouth Was finer than nectarines, raised in the South; I guess it was! Or jet, they were. The radiant glances her lovers beguile; And crowds of them, wooing, were seek- ing her smile; I'll bet they were! 1 told of my love,and I begged her to speak, And one glowing kiss I pressed on her cheek; She fainted. The color had fled from a circular spot; I thought it was nature; alas! it was not; She painted. REIT ar — LOVE AMID THE SMOKE WREATHS. It was a rarely beantiful May morn- ing; a poem in bine and green and gold, who were singing gleefully iu the tops of the green old trees at Secarcely a breath of air was stirring, and the merry chant of the mating songsters mingling with the sabdued and melaucholy hum of the distant city, instead of soothing my wounded feelings, fell on my ear with a saddening and irritating effect. shadowy years between then and now, it seems the greatest piece of folly nonder the sun. It was only a lover's mad despair, ferent—1t was everything! tions: and I, jealous and exacting, brooded over it, until I came to believe myself the most injured, wronged aod suffering man in existence. — Alma Meredith was far wealthy; but she was fair and sweet, and 1 loved her, oh, heavens! loved her! night and day at my profession. then but a sti” daily press, snaiol what available time I could for the study of law, Perhaps I lived too mueh in the I was ing striving to embody my dreams in some supreme effort which would bring me the fame and fortune that I courted. Alma was young and beautiful, and care-free, loving to mingle with her gay companions. She was a great svorite: no merry-making was complete without her; she was the life of her circle of friends, while I kept to myself as much as possible, buried among wy books and papers, at all times, It was my custom, daring the beauti- ful spring mornings, to take long walks throngk the suburbs of the city, and I geuerally manage on these occasions to pass the pretty house of Miss Meradith, at Oakland, There was to be an excursion up the Allegheny and Alma urged and begged me to accompany her; but I was greatly ocoupied by my work and persistently declined. “Then 1 will go with Fred Archer,’ she said, half poutingly, *‘bui, oh Dave, I think you might come! It will do vou good to get away from those musty old books and papers for a few hours!” “You must not go with Archer!” I returned, dictatorially. *‘I desire you to give up that idea, Alma, I do not like Fred Archer, and you know it! He is a flirt—and-—" “And you expect me to remain at home, just to gratify au uoreasonabie whim of yours?” she demanded spirit- edly. “1 think you ougbt not to go, unless iI can sccompany you!” I returned, “gince you have no brother or anyone to take my place!” “And yet—you refuse to accompany me!" she cried. her blue eyes flashing indignantly, a red spot burning like a tiny fire on either cheek. ‘‘Dave, you are not only unreasonahie but you are downright selfish!” Perhaps 1f was my accusing con- science that stung me to retort, with a show of anger, though I knew I was wrong. +Neolfish or not, Alma, it is my desire that you remain st home in preference to allowing Fraud Archer to accompany you!” She wheeled about suddenly, facing me with flashing, angry eyes: “1 have found out your true nature in good time, Dave Carlton!” she wanted; ‘I see now how jealous,” ex- soting, selfish, tyranmecal you can be, and I release you from your engage- ment to me,” nght. Poor little Alma! She drew the pretty diamond soli- feet; I stepped forward, set my boot heel upon it, and ground it nto the olay beneath my weight, suppressing the oath that gurgied in my throat, “Good-bye!” she eried, angrily, and was gone, It scemed to me an ebullition of temper, in very bad taste, at the time; now, I can y say 1 deserved it all, and more, I turned on my heel and strode back to the city through the odoriferous pre- cinots of Soho. The dark, murky pall of rolling smoke clouds rising up before me and hanging overhead, seemed to have a new, portentous relationshi that I had nevet before experien which added to my sombre raminations, Wall, she went to the excursion; even drove down Fifth avenne past my window, at Fred Archer's side, in the etty pony phmion. She looked a ttle pale, I imagined, (peeping sur. reptitiously at her through my closed blinds.) but, all the same, she was eharmiog fo her pretty white costume, with a broad-brimmed, white-plumed hat, resting on her golden ourls; her saucy, piquant face peeping forth like a flower. hoard afterward bow she flirted that and the know! os A An of Hote ons I met Grace ls, an heiress, oat deal, and before 1 was aware of it 1 was paying her marked attention. Well, why shouldn't I? Alma had ceased to love me. I might as well marry the spint, of which, in my sane moments 1 felt heartily ashamed, T devoted myself to Miss Jerome, and ere many months I met Alma occasionally, She had | a way of glancing to my face that troubled me; very pitiful was the look which the sweet blue eyes gave me; then immediately she would avert her head with the coldest of salutations, She continued to be very gay and ap- parently happy—the life of every as- semblage—a reigning queen; singing and sharing the honors with Miss Je- rome, my beautiful Grace. Strange that I knew no more the rapture that had ever been mine when Alma and I had belonged to each other! ambition; I was | of my beauty. I did not really love her; I was only actuated by pique and I loved | She came to my side one evening at Mrs, Harrington's reception—lovely | little Alma! “Dave,” she said softly for the first hear you are betrothed to Miss Jerome, My heart grew numb and coid, then “It is true,” I answered. She grew very pale, “I congratulate you,” she said sim- | ply; and ere I could utter another word was waltzing with Fred Archer. My **She does not care,” I muttered un- | der my breath; ‘she has no thought for any man but that fop.” I sought my lady love that very even- | ing to urge a speedy marriage, Some- thing told me it was best over with as soon as possible, Sbe listened gra. ciousty, and ere we parted, a day—our wedding day—was appointed, We were married. The wedding was quite a grand affair; and as soon as it was over, and my fetlers securely on, 1 would have given five years of my life more, Dat it was too late. I was bound by all the ties of honor; shut away from Alma Meredith forever. I bad chosen my own course, and must abide by it, We sailed for Earope, my stately Grace and I, and there we remained for several months, Life had grown to be very dull and insipid to me. I was unhappy and sad. snd my heart yearned for my lost one in the Smoky City. The cloud that had risen before me on that beanteous morning in Oak- land had gathered in density; the rays | of love and joy that had lighted my life before were stifled in its dark fmpene- trable folds, and, as I felt the blighting shadow hang heavy on my soul, 1 realized that I still loved Alma with ali my heart, We came home at last, and on the evening of our arrival we went to the Opera House to see Jefferson in “Rip Van Winkle,” My wife and I occupied a box on the right, and I was proud of the admiring eyes aud the number of glasses leveled in her direction. How regal she looxed in her rich dress of amber violet, with diamouds glittering jike stars on o frosty might; a cold smile lit up her proud, handsome face, her beanty was siatuesqne, Suddenly I turned my eyes to the ovposite stage box, uttering a low cry of surprise avd delight, for Alma Mere- dith was sitting iu the box with a party of gay friends, as in times past, among i whom I recognized Mrs, Chatterton, For a time I sas stariog (I could not help it) at the sweet, dainty face bLefore me. Very pale was Alma, there was some- thing in her beauty which made me think of heaven, even there in the midst of that gay assembly—the low, soft added to my speli-bound enchantment as I gazed on that lovely form once more. She was dressed all in white— some soft, flowing material-——and a white cloak was draped gracefully about | her figure;her sunny hair fell in a mass of wavy brightness over her shoulders, | and she wore a knot of violets in her | corsage. Isat drinkiog in the exquisite beanty of the pale, sweet face until I| could keep silent no longer. Exousing | myself to the party in our box, [ arose aud made my way straight to the one opposite occupied by Mrs, Chatterton My greeting was perhaps a little un- | I seized Mrs, Chatter. | ton’s hand unceremoniously, and panted | hastily. “Where is Alma? She was here at your side a moment ago, but the instant I appeared she vanished, Tell me, Mrs. Chatterton, does Alma hate me so bitierly that she will not receive me as a friend?” Mrs. Chatterton’s face grew as pale as death. as she gazed in astonishraent on my excited features and yearning ayes full of unshed tears. “My dear boy!” she said sadly, *‘do yon not know--have you not heard? Aus; dons; sweet little Alma is—dead! She died nearly a month ago.” . - - - - * When I came to my senses alter that from The smoke wreaths that roll from the flery furnaces on every hand can add no ‘more gloom" to the withered heart, whose rivalets of love are dried up by the smouldering furnace of remorse; nor ean the black elouds of despair ef- face the violet eyes that keep beckon. ing me from the darkness, while a soft low voice seems whispering: “ie path of sorrow, and thal alone, Leads to the land where sorrow is unknown,” SPETEA, EE Oriental Detectives, The Orientals are good detectives, Some of their measures for ferreting out a criminal are as singular and ef- fective as any ever devised by a mem- ber of the Russian secret police. An Agha, or chief magistrate of the Cairo police, once found out a ‘“‘confidence’ woman by a device worthy of that He- brew king who discovered the mother The story, which “Arabian Nights,” is thus related in Lane's “Modern Egyptians: Agha. “Sir,” said he, “there came to ment), and let it remain in your posses. dred pilasters ($25,00.) “1 took it from her, sir, and gave her away. When she was gone kurs;’ and I looked at it, and benold, it there i8 no on tell thee, man. Take whatever and when thou hast opened thy shop, Then take in thy hands two clods, property of others! matter with thee?’ do thou answer, “The property of others is lost a pledge that I had, belonging to a woman, 18 lost; if it were my own, 1 should not thus lament it.’ affair.” As he went about the city, beating himself with two clods and lamenting that he had lost a pledge belonging toa woman. she who had given him the kurs heard him. Discovering that he was the man she had cheated, she said “Go and bring an action against him!" She went to his shop, riding on an ass to give herself consequence, and said to him, **Man, give me my proper- tv that is in thy possession.” He answered, “It is tongue be cut out!’ she cried: “‘dost thou lose my property? I will go to the Agha and inform him of it.” she went and told her case. The Agha sent for the man, and when he had come sald to his accuser, ‘What is thy property in his possession?’ to herself Ls Fe lost, tian gold.” “Woman,” said the Agha, “I gold Eure here: I should like to show it thee.” and he untied a handkerchief, and taking out of it the kurs which she had given in pledge, said **Look!"’ She looked at it and hung down her head. “Raise thy head,” said “and say, where are the plasters of this man?" “Sir, they are in my houses, swersd, The money was found and given te the man, and the woman was ordered to be beheaded. corn A AAI the Agha, five hundred ”" she an sutro‘s Student Library. Adolph Satro has been quietly at plans which will place him, in the his- tory of public benefactors in Califoruia. This man intends to establish public library and to erect a handsome building, and when all is completed <0 use, broks in the Cooper Institute, be a library after the fashion of those in the German university towns, such as Gottingen, Heidelberg and Leipsic, students and scholars. It is the aim of such institutions to have on their shelves every work, ancient and mo- dern. on the leading subjects in science, philosophy or literature. ion of making a beginning, The 60, 000 volumes now arranged on the third floor of 107 Battery street is the result and China, and later, while in India, Mr. Sutro bought Oriental works of great value, Whenever he found a manuscript or an old coin that threw light upon the history of religion or philosophy of the East he bought it and bad it shipped to this port. He rin- sacked Egypt, Jerusalem and Greece for old and rare works. When he war- rived in Western Europe he employed agents to buy books in Madrid, Lon- don, Berlin, Munich, Vienna, Leipsic and Gottingen. His collection of works purchased in Western Europe consists of three kinds, which mark thgee pe- riods of book-making. First are the old manuserip®, 24, the incunabula, or books published before the fifteenth century, and third, the books issued from the press since that time. Mr. Sutro’s idea was to collect At the Seashore, “But how can I help feeling neg- lected and miserable Ned? near. You walk with her, you sing with her, you drive with her, you dance with her, and it, makes me very wretched.” “Now, Mollie, if you're going to be jealous’ “I'm not jealous, Ned. If I thought you didn’t care most for me I don’t think I'd remonstrate with you at all, I would just take off this,” touching the diamond on her hand, *‘and hand 1t back to you.” “My little pet, you do not see things as I see them. One owes something to society, especially when one is at the If you would only remember that I love you too well to find fault with anything you can do, and if you would become a little more of a society character yourself, I would be perfectly happy. Now, dear, kiss me, I am to drive on the beach with Miss Lovel “Not jealous, Ned, and Dos kiss he asked for. the pretty, straight figure going from the nook in which he fou the waves were rolling, and presently caught up with his her blonde head, was looking very beau- at the beach. “Where now, Tremaine?” called out. you later; and Ned had gone by. Mr. Stone smiled a little and spoke a to Mollie, She colored and half an hour later, when Ned and Miss Lovel met the pretty, light car- took his daily dnive, they received a pleasant nod from pretity Mollie, wi ' 20 though she was thoroughly enjoying his society. half in surprisé; “‘and she has evidently {ound the society of Stone anything but coring." “What a handsome couple they gleam in her steady gray eyes. Ned colored suddenly; why. **Perhaps you Ames is my promised wife,” be said, a trifle coldly. “Oh, but s0 many engagements are broken in a summer at the seaside; one never minds that very much,” guid belle said, indifferently. That night’ there was a hop at the hotel. and Ned bad made up his mind to be a little more attentive to Mollie; but to his surprise he didn’t find her ander ber mother’s wing as had Leen the lan- A number of her old friends had sides, Lee Stone was quite pronoun ved in his attentions to her, and while she dis. tance he found it quite difficuil to get near her: then a light tap on his arm informed him that Miss Lovel was ask- as Mollie and Stone were ciurclidg by, with Miss Lovel. “A rather pronounced firtation,” Lee laughed later, when he and Mollie moonlight on the sea strand, and oue Both knew who they were, Ned Tremaine place that pale punk Level, as he led her across the terrace, too much engrossed in his task, it would seem, to notice Mollie or Ler compan- “Oh, everybody flirts more or jess at do, you know,” Moilie answered. ‘Lee face, spoke to her, “It is a cowardly pastime for a man," he said; eruel one,’ “And you--is it plessaht to know that you agg cruel of cowardly?’ she #eYho 18 said to count his conquests Am 1 too plain? “I forgive you freely—as 1 would I may seem a tnfler, but as hers, no presence half so dear.” “Do we all wrong you, then?" she asked, gently, “Have you failed in your wooing? Can you not win where you love?” His face flushed a little at her words, and she, watching it, was struck by his strength and beauty. How did It chance that she had never noticed either before? “I am not left the chance to woo or win her.” he said slowly; ‘‘she is another's promised wife.” “Ah, she said, pityingly, and she gave him her hand in a sweet, womanly sympathy, never for an instant connect. ing his words with herself, He hfted small hand reverently to his lips and, drawing it through his the beach. As he did so he it: t E 5 ff om looked up and found her eyes filled with tears, And now, in her own room, she was asking herself how it was that purpose of annoying Ned, had, in one brief week, slain all her old resentment against Miss Lovel, and made her Tremaine, who was her affianced hus- band, but to Lee Stone, who was termed the greatest male flirt at the beach What was changing in her life? A servant broke her ponderings by bringing her a note from Lee, asking her to go for a drive with him by moon- light, and a few angry lines from Ned, asking it she remembered that she was betrothed to him while she allowed her flirtation with Lee Stone. **I have been patient, waiting an op portunity of speaking to you,” he wrote, *‘but you will not give me one, 80 | write to ask if you wish our engage- Sue trembled a little as she read, and but she went to her desk, drew from iL every letter he had ever sent her, formed them and his ring In a package, and him the following note: “It was I who was [rst patience, while my exislence was gotten for one who was what you bade me become—‘a society character.” Why an in- terview with me of late? It not 80 long since you could not spare a moment from Miss TLovel. Do I wish our engagement broken? Perhaps we both wish it, Ned; at least let us break it since I so displease you, Isend you your letters and ring.” taught i= note to Lee: “I will be pleased to go with you.” that he told her of his love, and that she listened silently, believing, with a strange that when they drove back, sobbing ocean, AIA ——————— Will Power Cures. has much to do with the cures that ‘he late Isaac inder President Buchanan, and pre- will power, and ran away. He was thrown out and dragged along the street. Two or three of his ribs were broken, and he was bruised all over and injured internally. Surgeons from the city were sent out Apparently his injuries fatal. But **No,” he whispered, “1 shall recover.” He did recover, and tits will power carried him through. A physician of Hartford, Conn., not now were 10%. that he once had a peculiar case. An elderly lady was remarkably nervous her heart, lungs and liver were all disordered. Yet he found them sound. She had no organic dis- ease except nervousness, and that was enough. *‘I can cure you,” physician, “1 understand the case, He medicine in them, of will be dangerous, But by following my directions precise- ly you will be entirely well when ali the in him, and she got well, as he had pre- dicted. Wasn't this a “faith cure?” It certainly was not the dough rolled much to do with one’s health, or ili- health, if the imagination runs that Way. ——— I —— Growth of Our Post Offiee, In the year 1792 there were only 264 post offices in the United States, and so light were the duties of Postmaster General regarded that President Wash- in the Cabinet. Now there are H0,- 000,000. Ninety years ago the Depart. ment looked with unconcealed disfavor on the project of admitting newspapers to the mails, and not until the intro. entirely relax. Nowadays hundreds of transported daily. When Thomas Jef ferson and Timothy Pickering endea- vored to expedite the service between New York and Washington s0 as to at tain a speed of 100 miles in 24 hours, rights pretension which semporasily de- feated the enterprise, for New Jersey insisted on exacting her °° e and tavern’ tax of $400 from the Federal mail coaches. The world bas moved a great deal since the beginning of the century. Booksellers, in Germany it is the custom for book- fH Hi g : i Wiowers of History. ——— Beyle, who was with the French army during the whole of the Russian cam- paign of 1812, ridicules the notion of speeches on battlefields, and declares that he once saws French colonel lead s gallant charge with a piece of ribaldry, adding, that it suswered the purpose perfectly well, It is certain that most of those reported by historians were pever made at all, The Duke of Wel lington did not say, *‘Up guards and at them 1” at Waterloo ; be never took refuge 1n & square, and his ** What will they say in England if we are beaten?” was addressed to some officers of his staff, not to a shattered regiment. The general, relates that, in the batlie of | the Niyelle (November, 1813,) the duke | in his (the subaltern’s) hearing : *‘ You must keep your ground, my lads, for there is nothing behind you,” | Follow my white plume,” the tradi- | tional rallying ery of Heury IV. is | quite consistent with Brantome’s des- | eription of him st Coutras, ** With long | and great plumes.” Voltaire makes Conde throw his baton | of command over the enemy's palisades | at Fribourg. Other accounts say ** his | marshal’s baton,” He was nol a mar | shal ; he did not earry a baton; and | what he threw was his cane, A fine | trait is told of Douglass, who on his | way to the Holy Land witn Bruce's | heart, took part with the Spaniards | against the Moors, and lost his life in a | skirmish : | “When he found the enemy pross | thickly round him, he took from his | neck the Bruce's heart, and speaking 0 {it as he would have done to the king | had he been alive, he said : ¢ Pass first | in fight as thou wert wont to do, and Douglass will follow thes or die,” He then threw the king's heart among the enemy, and, rushing forward to the | place where it fell, was sian. His body | was found lying above the eilver case, For more thas a century the suthen- | ticity of the pithy dialogue between the | spokesmen of the French and English guards at Fontenoy was generally al | lowed. Lord Charles Hay, bat in hand, | steps forward and says with a bow, » Gentlemen of the French guards, fire.” AL 4&'Auteroche advances fo | meet him, and saluting bim with the | sword, says, ‘* Monsieur we never fire | first, do you fire,” Unfortunately for | this story, a letter (first brought to light by Mr, Carlyle) from Lord Charles Hay | to his brother, Lord Tweeddale, writ- ten or dictated less than three weeks af- ter the battle, has been preserved, 10 which he says: *‘1t was our regiment that attacked the Freneh Guards, and when we came within twenty or thirty | paces of them, I advanced before our regiment, drank to them, and told them we were the English Guards, and hoped they would stand still until we came up to them, and pot swim the Scheld a8 they did the Mayn st Dettengin. Upon which I immediately turned about to our own regiment, speeched them, and made them huzzah—I hope with a will, | An officer (d'Auteroche) came out of the | ranks, and tried to make his men huz~ | gah ; however, there were not above | three or four in their brigade that | did.” This certainly puts a different compléxion upon the matter, by oon. verting a chivalrons mitercourse of courtesy into * chaff.” Lord Macauley tells an anecdote of Michael Godfrey, the deputy governor of the Bank of England, who was stand- ing near King William and under fire at the siege of Namur. *‘Mr, Godfrey,” said William, * you ought not 0 run these hazards ; you are not a soldier ; | you can be of no use to us bere,” | “Kir.” answered Godfery, “‘1run no | more hazard than Your Majesty,” “Not 80.” said William ; “I am where 1t is my duty to be, and I may without pre- sumption commit my life to God's keep- ing; but you—-" While they were talking a cannon ball from the ramparts laid Godfrey dead at the king's feet. Napoleon stated at Si, Kelena that Desaix fell dead at Marengo without a word. Thiers makes kim say to Bou- det, his chief of division: * Hide my death, for it might dishearten the | troops,” —the dying order of the Con- stable Bourbon at the taking of Rome, The speech ordivarily given to Desaix, | and inseribed on his monument, is con- fessedly a fiction, What passed between him and Napoleon, when they first met upon the field, has been differently re- jated. One version is that Desaix ex- claimed, * The pattie is lost ;" and that Napoleon replied, * No, it is won ; ade vance directly.” Thatof M. Thiers is that a circle was hastily formed round | the two generals, and a council of war beld, in which the majority were for retreating. The First Consul was not | of this opinion, and earnestly pressed Desaix for his, who then, looking at his wateh, said : ** Yes, the battle is lost ; but it is only three o'clock ; there is | time enough time to gain ome.” For | this again a parallel may be found. The | Baron de Sirot, who commanded the French reserve at Roeroy, was told that the battle was lost. ** No, nc!” he ex | claimed, “it is not lost ; for Sirol and | his companions have not yet fought,” | Desaix, it will be remembered, bad | turned back without waiting for orders | on hearing the firing; and M, Thiers thinks that if Grouchy had done the same at Wateriop, the current of the | world’s history might have been revers- ed. Hels welcome to think so; but the Hero of a Hundred Fights thought differently. A drawn battle and a short respite were the very utmost Grouch timely arrival could have gained for Imperial master. Cattle Men, In Humboldt county, Cal., the cattle