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THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH.
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" SECOND PART.
PAGES 9 TO 12.
PITTSBURG, .SATURDAY, MAT 4, 1889.
A SERIES OFSHORT STORIES
By J. Marsden Sutcliffe,
ENTITLED
THE ROtfMCE OF jLN" INSURANCE OFFICE,
Beiko Passages rsr the Expeeiekce op Me. AUGUSTUS "WILLIAM "WEB
BEE, Formerly General Manager of the Universal Insnrance Company.
ALL BIGHTS RESERVED.
An Did Man's Darling.
It was the close of market day, in the
early autumn, at Chelderton Magna, a
thriving little town in the "West of En
gland. Most of the farmers had already set out
for their homes, -while those who still re
mained behind were either looting to their
saddle girths or seeing to the yoking of
their horses preparatory to their departure,
well satisfied with the day's business. For
In this year of which we are writing, crops
had been above the average, and the war
with Bussia had sent prices up to a figure
that in these days of foreign competition and
cheap food provoke a sigh in the breast of
the agriculturalist, Trho looks back npon the
period as a veritable Golden Age that has
vanished, leaving no prospect of return,
time? And then, too, there was the trans
fer of Mr. Bobson's account from Matthe
son's bank to Englefield's. That also re
quired an explanation. Light was.thrownon
the question at last, and it came from the
oracular lips of Mr. Pringle, who, as editor
of the Chelderton Times, was supposed to
know everythinc.
"You have grown silent all at once, Mr.
Pringle," said old John Lovatt "I do be
lieve that yon could clear up things a bit
if yon tried."
"Perhaps I could, if I tried, bnt there is
no knowing," answered Mr. Pringle, with a
laugh.
"Come, out with it," said old John Lov
att adding, with a wink at the company,
"I can see you know something."
"JSb no," jaidMr. Pringle deprecatingly,
"you are wrong, John. I really cannot say
I know anything at least, not to call know -ing
you understand," glancing around at
the company. "I just heard a whisper the
other day, and tnough x laughed at it at the
time the thing was so very absurd I be-
Notwithstanding the general exodus, the I gin to think now there must be something in
At UUIJtUVlUJ nuU)Jbl IU1UUI
"But you don't tell us what the whisper
is," said Mr. Meekin, who had sat open-
snug little parlor of the Golden -Lion was
well filled. It was the hoar when the local
tradesmen were accustomed to meet to dis
cuss the news, which they took good care to
have well flavored with the odors of steam
ing pnnch and fragrant tobacco.
There was Meekin, the draper, Pringle,
the editor of the Chelderton rimes, Ham
lin, the jeweler, Higgs, the miller, Missel
ton, the job master, and that well-known
disciple of jEsculapius, Dr. Badcliffe, with
several others, all comfortably settled in
their places under the smiling presidency
sf honest old John Lovatt, who, as he was
wont to inform new comers, had "lived in
Chelderton, man and boy, for 70 years, and
had kept the Golden Lion more'n 40 years."
A hale old mac, and an honest fellow to
boot, was old John Lovatt.
Such gatherings as the one going forward
in the little parlor of the famous hostelry
were of nightly occurrence. Bnt it was on
the evening of market day that the inn par
lor was to be seen in all its glory; forthen the
company was not only more numerous, bnt
the kindly feelings springing out of com
mon interests that inspired the band of con
vivialists would come uppermost as the
day's transactions fell under discussion and
questions were asked each man of his neigh
bor touching the trade that had been done
that day.
Sometimes it would happen that the
financial embarrassments of some among
their customers would form the staple of
their conversation, and many a hard-pressed
farmer, who wondered a few days after one
If these meetings how it came about that
, vll his creditors began simultaneously to
dun" him, might have found a clew to the
ystery that perplexed him in these fo
rmal gatherings in, the inn parlor-of the
HuenXiion.
The tenor of the conversation on the even
. .g Is question, since it bears on the story,
may be gleaned by the reader himself if he
will condescend to be a listener.
"I was obliged to threaten him with pro--'
ceeumgs it ne didn't pay up," Jlr. .Meekin
was saying. "We agreed npon that last
market'day. "Well, when he came in to
day, I quite expected a new version of the
old tale: that he was holding his wheat and
did not care to sell till the top price was
reached, and then I should have it down in
a lump. Bnt no, he came in blustering hot.
and witba great oath flung down his check
and told me he would see me . But
there, it is no good repeating all the bad
language he used. He is a terrible man to
swear, is Martin Bobson, when he is put
out."
"Was it much?" asked Higgs doubtfully.
He was not one of Mr. Martin Bobson's
creditors, but he was as much interested in
the discussion as though he were.
"It was a hundred and twenty odd
pounds," replied Mr. Meekin, looking con
templatively at the ceiling, and watching a
ring of smoke that hehad just projected from
his mouth eddving upward till it broke.
and trying to look as unconcerned as though
checks for "a hundred and twenty odd
pounds" were an hourly occurrence at his
establishment
"Have you presented it?" asked Mr.
Pringle, joining in the conversation for the
first time, with his curiosity as the local
news purveyor suddenly roused.
"Trust Meekin to do that," said Dr. Bad
cliffe, with a merry twinkle in his little fer
rity eyes.
"I sent it round at once," said Mr. Meek
in loftily, accepting the doctor's covert sar
casm as the highest praise that could be
passed on his business habits.
"And it was honored?" asked Mr.
Pringle, still pursuing his interrogatories.
"They took it like a baby takes milk,"
answered Mr. Meekin.
The conversation at this point became
more general, and it soon appeared that
something like a meeting of Mr. Bobson's
creditors was assembled at the Golden Lion.
All had the same tale to telL In accord
ance with the agreement arrived at last
market dav. they had written to Mr. Martin
Bobson, of the Bed House farm, demanding
payment, and the debtor had called upon
them that day, one by one, and discharged
every claim in full, flinging out terrible
oaths withal at the heads of "a set of beggar
ly tradesmen," as he described them, who
had shown themselves so "suspicious of the
honor of a gentleman." A rough calculation
was made on the spot by Mr. Meekin, assist
ed by the assembled tradesmen, which end
ed In Mr. Meekin astonishing the company
with the information that Mr. Bobson, of
tne xteo. nouse larm, had paid sway that
"Y.i
evpri and orjen-mouthed. looking at Mr.
Pringle wim growing astonishment as he
delivered himself of this exordium with
pompons slowness and deliberation.
"Cannot yon speak out plainly?" said
Dr. Badcliffe, who knew Pnngle's way of
making a communication, and judged that
he had really something to say. "Man
alive, yon are as slow as one of your own
leading articles."
There Was a general laugh at this shaft,
which had the effect of putting Mr. Pringle
on his mettle.
"Well, if von will have it" he said. "I
heard that Mr. Englefield is going to marry
"Mr. Englefield going to marry Madeline
Bobson!" said John Lovatt slowly repeat
ing the astonishing communication in a puz
zled, distracted tone.
"I ridiculed the rumor when I heard it,
exclaimed Mr. Pringle, "bnt what I have
heard to-night lends some color to the state
ment" "Going to marry Madeline Bobson!" cried
John Lovatt again, still unable to take in
the news.
At this moment the door of the parlor was
suddenly thrown open, and a young, showily-dressed
man entered, and, exchanging
salutations with the company, took his seat
and called for a long clay and "whisky cold,
if you please."
The conversation tbat had centered round
the affairs of Martin Bobson, of the Bed
House larm, suddenly ceased with the ar
rival of the newcomer, and the talk veered
round to the all-sorbing topic of the war.
The latest arrival in the inn parlor was
familiarly known in Chelderton Magna as
"Tom Leyton, the vet" Mr. Leyton had
settled down in Chelderton Some two years
before his introduction to the reader and
though it was an up-hill fight with him -at
first he was reported to be doing well in his
profession. He possessed that hail-fello--well-met
air that seems in some mysterious
manner to link itself on to men who affect
the stables, and was hichlv ponular with
.1.1.... t.
me uneiaertonians as well
all in a minute, to the tune of quite a
thousand pounds, and Englefield's honor his
checks, why you see it is as simple as the
multiplication table. People will talk."
"But Mr, Bobson does not bank with
Englefield's," exclaimed Mr. Leyton, con
temptonsly. "He banks with Mattheson's."
"Did bank with Matthesons, you mean,"
said Mr. Pringle. "But he has been paying
his bills to-day with checks on Englefields.
He has paid a thousand pounds to-day to
gentlemen present in this room. How much
more he has paid no one knows."
"Am I to understand, Mr. Meekin," said
Mr. Peyton, "that Mr. Bobson is no longer
indebted to you?"
"Neither to me nor anyone else in Chel
derton that I am aware of."
"Then he has paid everything?" said Mr.
Leyton, unable to suppress his astonish
ment "That is so, and with checks on Engle
field's." Mr. Leyton was fairly nonplussed. He
was not ignorant of Mr. Bobson's embar
rassments, seeing that on several occasions
he had lent him money to meet his weekly
wage bill, which sums "were still owing. He
knew of no way by which Mr. Bobson
could have satisfied the claims of his cred
itors, and the more he pondered upon the
problem the more puzzled he became; The
transfer of Mr. Bobson's account from
,Mattheson's bank to Englefield's added to
the mystery. What could it all mean?
People will talk, as Mr. Pringle had ob
served, and the young veterinary was much
too shrewd not to perceive that Martin
Bobson's apparent accession to something
like fortune had supplied the gossips of
Chelderton with a choice morsel. Once the
news got abroad that Mr. Bobson had liqui
dated all claims, paying with checks on
Englefield's, and the local busybodies would
not be slow to jump to the conclusion that
the banker had become enamored of Miss
Bobson's beautv and was about to
marry her. And raok his brains as he'
the bright light of the moon when the rest of
the household were in bed.
Bnt when Mr. Leyton arrived at his own
house he found a visitor awaiting his arrival,
who for the timepnt all thought of Madeline
ont of his head.
"Bless my life, Osborne, Is It you?" he
cried, with a touch of schoolboy manner in
the cordiality of his greeting. "I am
awfully glad to see you. Xou have come to
make a good long stay, of course."
"Only till Monday." Osborne replied.
"The fact is I have sold my practice, and
offered mv services to the Government I
leave for the Crimea next week."
There was a tinge of sadness in Osborne a
tone as he spoke, and Mr. Leyton, scanning
his friend's face closely, could see that his
month was tremulous with emotion difficult
to control. It was clearly impossible, he
thought, to ride over to the Bed House
farm to-night The projected interview
mmt stand over till a more convenient op
portunity. Mr. Levton at once connter-S
manded the order he had given to have his
horse saddled, and made arrangements for
the comfort of his guest
There was no man for whom Mr. Leyton
entertained so warm a regard as for George
Osborne, and the impending departure of
his friend for the East, while it added anew
cordiality to the welcome he extended to
him, filled his mind with strange and unac
countable forebodings. For, though it is
not in the nature of youth to take a gloomy
outlook npon the future, Leyton knew that
it was among the contingencies of "glorious
war" that he might never look on the face
of his friend again.
"'After supper was dispatched, and the two
men had lighted their pipes, and were
snugly ensconced before the brightly burn
ing fire, Osborne broached the errand which
had brought him down to Chelderton.
"You know, Leyton, he said, "that the
only ties I have to life are my old father,
and my little Emily, who is now a sweet
bonnie little thing of 5. I may return all
SV & If t ' V m "dSs ylf
Sttf&t. if"! Jr r"W I A .rffWtSMtiSwffT' ? " jtt
. iAiiii ' I1J 1 IHJimii - "Jin 1ll "f
"nigh on a thousand rjonnoV
'Where on airth can he hare pot itfmm?"
demanded old John Lovatt, eagerly. "Higgs
do you know anything about it?"
But the miller could throw no light on
the knotty problem. He had made Mr.
Bobson an offer for his wheat at the begin
ning of the week, bnt the offer had been de
clined; Mr. Bobson declaring his intention
to "hold" until prices went up still higher.
"Not that his wheat was worth 1,000,"
added-Higgs in explanation.
"What puzzles me is this," said Mr.
Meekin; "he has paid us all by checks on
Englefield's bank."
"That is true," mnmmred Hamlin, "and
we all know he used to bank with Matthe
son's." t ,
"Perhaps he has come into a little
fortiu'," said Higgs, laughing softly at his
little joke. All Chelderton Magna knew
that Martin Bobson had been going steadily
downhill for years past, having succeeded
in dissipating the considerable means to
which he succeeded on the death of his
father, known in all the country-side for a
careful, saving man. Itwas known, more
over, that the tenant of the Bed Honse
farm had no expectations, so that the
miller's remark produced the effect
he intended. There was a general
laugh, which soon subsided, however,
in face of the problem that was so mightily
exercuing the minds of the gossips. If Mr.
Bobson had not been blessed with a lucky
tylnnrall lj. La J t-m. .&.....&. ! !...
Jng Ms creditors at bay with ail kinds of
acpccioBi excuses tor months past, to come
iintO- Chelrlfrtnn Kiiru nnrl u-ttW 1,1
tcbecks tout.. Jikg the leave from their
fTtvtrees were bUg shodiw
as well as with the
farmers, among whom his practice chiefly
lay. lie was tall, well-built, with a fair
skin, and features that would be best de
scribed as more striking than handsome or
pleasing. The rumor ran that he was the
accepted suitor of Madeline Bobson, of the
Bed Honse farm, which may perhaps ac
count for the sudden silence that fell on the
room when he entered.
"What is this you were saying abo
Miss BoTjson?" suddenly asked Mr. LeytonT
addressing himself to tjie host of the Golden
Lion, when he had lighted his pipe and
taken a preliminary sip of his whisky. "I
heard you saying something about her mar
rying as I came in. "Who is she going to
marry?"
John Lovatt shitted uneasily in his seat
at this sudden challenge, bnt contented him
self with puffing more vigorously at the
long churchwarden that he held in his
hand, while beating about in hi mind for
an answer to this unlooked-for demand.
"Plague the pipe," he said, recovering
his tongue at last; "it won't draw."
"Hav6 a fresh one, and then answer my
question," said Mr. Leyton, coolly.
Bnt John Lovatt was not in the mood to
be hurried into a repetition of the remark
tnat tne young veterinary had overheard.
"He's a deal too peppery a fellow for me to
put my head into that noose without think
ing over it first" Lovatt remarked after
ward. "As Mr. Lovatt does not seem inclined to
be communicative," said Mr. Leyton, when
the awkward panse continued, "perhaps
some other gentleman will kindly oblige "
embracing several members of the company
with a swift eager glance as he spoke.
"I do not know why there should be anv
concealment about it," said Mr. Pringle.
"We were not talking treason, though yon
happened to overhear a remark that was
not meant for yon. To cut the mattershort,
some of us have heird that Mr. Englefield
the banker, is going to marry Martin Bob
son's daughter, and Mr. Lovatt was express
ing his astonishment as you entered. That
was alL"
"Yes, that was all," exclaimed John
Lovatt iu a burst of admiration at Mr.
Pringle's dexterity in rescuing him from
wnat ne leit was an awkward dilemma.
"Who has set this about?" demanded Mr.
Leyton, speaking with greater heat than the
occasion seemed to warrant.There was a heavy
cloud of anger on his brow, which boded ill
for the author of the rumor in the event of
its being traced horn.
"Haven't you been in the market to-day
that you have not heard it yourself?" re
sponded Mr. Pringle evasively.
"No, I have not," said Mr. Leyton, hotlv.
"But that is neither here nor there. Miss
Bobson is my promised wife: and I should
like the man who says that she is going to
marry anyone else to say it to my face."
"Well, you ought to know if anyone
does," said Mr. Meekin in a soothing tone.
"So I ought and so lN3o for that matter "
replied Mr. Leyton. "It Is a lie, and you
may tell your informant so."
fJust so " said Mr. Meekin, still bent on
pouring oil on the troubled waters of the
young man's passion. "I was just about to
say when you ..came in that if anybody
knows everything that goes on at the Bed
House farm it is yourself, Mr. Leyton."
"Xhatis all nonsense," cried Dr. Bad
cliffe. " JTou utedn't make a fool of vour-
t V a T)...1- 11, ... . .
fieii, JL4CVUJU. .
aa Mr. Bobson
the Bed Honse
about"
"But I don't see what Mr. Bobson's diffi
cnlties have to do with Miss Bobson marry
ing Mr. Englefield," said Mr. Leyton. "I
think ier name might be kept ont of it"
"You see It is in this way," said Mr.
Pringle, who was not disposed to leave the
lead In the conversation to the doctor. "We
all know that Mr. Bobson has been in his
time a very embarrassed man. No unkind
ness is meant, bnt we all know It"
"Go on,"aid Mr. Leyton, "I am listen
ing. What of It? "What has Miss Bobson
got to do whh it?"
"Well von jsee. when Mr. "Rnhsnn lm
fa their head over ours in debt comes: to market to-, I
ftis, MtBssB day, srtrfteewybedy's rf srwise pays trntCl
hMSt&L. ii i i MIHIIin I Win I in a -FiSwFTJi vrF' '
might, Mr. Leyton could not prevent the
suspicion rising in his mind that for once
the'gossips might be right Martin Bob
son's windfall perplexed him sorely, and
nrrlv thnuph he beat about for an ex
planation, he could find none more probable
than that Mr. Bobson had bartered Made
line's hand away in consideration ot re
lease from his financial difficulties.
This thought maddened him, as he sat
ruminating upon the strange news in the
inn-parlor, and he resolved that he would
have his doubts laid to rest by riding over
to the Bed House farm and seeking an in
terview with Madeline Tierself at onoe. Hav
ing armed himself with this resolution he
hastily gulped down the contents of his
glass, and made for the door without the
lormality of waiting to wish his neighbors
good night ,
"Going?" asked Mr. Pringle, observing
the hasty movement
But the lond slamming of the door behind
the retreating figure was all the answer that
Mr. Leyton youchsafed to give.
"A hot-headed youth, that," exclaimed
John Lovatt, as the sound of footsteps died
away on the street
"It is easy to see that he believes it,"
added Mr. Pringle, laughing at his own
discernment; ana. then, added, jocosely,
"Miss Bobson is not the first who has
thought it 'better to be an old man's darling
than a young man's slave.' "
II.
Mr. Englefield, the bare suspicion of
whose rivalry in the affections of Madeline
Bobson had exercised so disturbing an effect
on Mr. Leyton, was an 'elderly widower of
0 odd years.
The late Mrs. Englefield, who had died
soon after Mr. Leyton settled in Chelderton,
had been an ailing woman since the birth of
her first child, which had only survived its
birth a few hours. Other children had fol
lowed; but the poor mother had the un
speakable sorrow of bearing her maternal
anguish in vain. "When the last hope of
presenting her husband with living off
soring died away, a deep and settled mel
ancholy brooded ever her gentle spirit, and
weakened her already frail constitution.
She blamed herself for their childless state,
and she passed away at last, dying less from
the encroachment of disease than from a
heart that was broken by the shattering of
its main ambition.
These facts at least in their broad out
lines were known to Mr. Leyton; and when
once the possibility of a marriage between
the elderly banker and Madeline Bobson
found a lodgment in his mind it toot root
rapidly. There was a feasibility about the
idea that filled him with alarm.
Madeline Bobson was dowered with great
beauty, of thesort that might tempt an even
graver man than Mr. Englefield into the
indiscretion of marriage with a woman who
was socially his inferior and nearly 40 years
his junior. She was well-educated and pos
sessed of ladylike manners, qualifying her
to grace a higher position than would tall to
her lotas the wife of an insignificant veter
inary surgeon. But that which would
probably constitute her chief charm in
Mr. Englefield's eyes was her rude
health, and the probability that she
would become the mother of
healthy children to 'whom would pass the
Englefield wealth. Tom Leyton had no
reason to doubt Madeline's affection for
himself, but he was not so confident of her
firmness of purpose, when the double
temptation was brought to bear upon her
of rminin? for herself the hllh nnnitinn
that Mr. Englefield could give her, and of
lifting her family, and particularly her
father to whom she was passionately at
tachedabove the reach of the cares of sor
did poverty of which she had had much
bitter experience. Mr. Leyton believed
tbat Madeline was capable of making any
sacrifice for the sake of her father, and
when that sacrifice came to be eilded with
the splendors of Oakhlll, where the banker
lived an prince, he feared that the bait
might prove too strong.
It was this fear tbat caused him to quit
the Golden Lion in hot haste to ride over to
the Bed House larm, that he might learn
the truth witbont delay. He knew that
long before he could reach the farm, which
lav some distance out the household would
have retired to rest; but he also knew that a
handfnl of gravel thrown at the window of
the room where Madeline Slept would bring
her to his side. Often in the long summer
nights, when returning from a distant visit
had he tried the same expedient, and tasted
the sweetSvpf a stolen interview, as they
waaaerea arm in armaown tueiane that led
to the heaetead. It Tiad seemed to iim
that' these kisses were sweetest that were ea-
right please God I shalb But there is no
knowing."
"I hope so, most fervently," Leyton cried.
"Indeed there is no doubt of it Come,
George, you were not wont to be hipped.
There h no good looking at the dark sloe of
thincrs. But why have you sold your prac
tice? You were doing well, were you not?
"res, I was doing well, so far as the prac
tice was concerned. I have sold it for a good
long sum. But since I Tost my wife 12
months ago, the house, the work, the whole
thing, has grown hateful to me. Everything
reminds me of her. I must go Bomewhere
do something not to forget, for that is im
possiblebut to ease the continual pain of
remembrance." And his eyes grew misty as
he spoke, and for some moments silence
reigned in the room, while Osborne strove
with the feelings which nearly mastered
him. Presently he spoke again.
"I have made my will and appointed you
sole executor. "Will you act?''
"Of course I will, if the need Bhonld ever
arise," said Leyton. "Bnt this is uncanny
talk. Cheer up, you will come back ail
right"
"I have a premonition otherwise," said
Osborne, earnestly. "Don't attempt to
argue about it I have a presentiment that
evil will come of it; I cannot define it; it is
too vague, bnt there it is."
"Then why go?" asked Leyton.
"Because I must Say no more, old fel
low. I don't expect you to understand me.
I scarcely understand myself; only I cannot,
utuuu us xuHve ueea jiving ine past 1J
months. Something impels me to go to the
war. There I shall find If not forgetful
ness and peace at least distraction, and I
may do some good. At the same time, I
cannot rid myself of an uncomfortable feel
ing that something terrible is going to hap
pen if I go. Yet I must go. I don't feel as
if I were a free agent. I mnst go, and that
is an aooui it. '
Leyton looked what he felt astonished
and perplexedj but he knew his friend well
and how vain it would be to attempt to turn
him aside from his purpose.
"Onlv tell me in what way I can serve
you and send you awav with an easv mind,
and it shall be done,'' he said, filling up a
pause in the conversation, as Osborne sat
with his gaze fixed on the glowing embers
in the grate and his mind abstracted from
his surroundings, wrapped in moody reflec
tion"!. "I forgot to tell you." he said, suddenly
waking ont of his trance, "that I have
placed little Emilv and mv ftW in a
pretty little cottage at Sonning. Poor old
gentleman! his mind is nearly gone. He
scarcely knows me nowl They will be two
children together. I want you, Leyton, if
you will, to keep an eye on them both while
I am away. "Will you go -and see them
sometimes?"
"Certainly I will," replied Leyton, heart
ily. "Command me in anything."
"God bless you, old fellow," said Osborne,
grasping his friend's hand, while the tears
.rushed to his eyes.
"Will you go to Sonning with me on
Monday?" he asked again. "I would like
to introduce little Emily to you myself.
She will take to you better in that wav."
Then he added, huskily, 'If anything sho'u Id
happen, she will trust you as she would
me."
"Make no Jnore words about it, I will go
with yon with pleasure."
And Leyton kept his promise. "When
Monday came he accompanied his friend to
the quiet little village in Berkshire, staying
there two nights. On "Wednesday he went
uuwa wim iiis inena usDorne to Portsmouth
and bade him farewell, and, after seeing the
Aa1 ms 11 J CHI I'l R
,," " "u opiiaeaa, ne returned to
Chelderton.
Eor the first time since Saturday Levton's
thoughts were now tree to return to Made
line Bobson. And yet with the mental
pictures he was weaving of the beautiful si
ren who had won his heart another face
would obtrude itself on his mind. It was
the face of George Osborne's father the face
of an old man who had entered on the last
stage of senile decay. Where had he seen
that face before? His memorv wnnid nnt
serve to help him to an answer to the ques
tion that persisted in forcing itself upon his
attention. The face continued to haunt him
until he reached home, where ;he found a
dainty little note awaiting him from Made
line. He opened the missive with eager,
almost trembling hands, as if he dreaded to
learn its contents. But there was nothing
In the note to breed fresh alarm, or to give a
ircou lease kj me oia tears. j.t was couched
in Madeline's habitnal style of restrained
affection, and simply announced her father's
intention to give a harvest home supper,
followed by an impromptu dance, on Thurs
day, and expressed Madeline's anxiety that
her lover would not fail to be there.
Leyton thought that Madeline had never
looked more ravishlngly beautiful than she
appeared on the night ot the harvest mnwr.
and though she seemed a little careworn,
there -was nothing tin that circumstance to
excite his few; lor wilfcVtfce" sordid anxie-
Eed House farm, Madeline had too often
had good reason for losing the natural
sprightliness of her disposition. A sudden
pang smote Tom Leyton's heart at the
thought of losing her, and he found himself
wondering how he"could bear it, if he were
compelled to surrender so much loveliness.
Eor Madeline Bobson was more than a
beauty; she was a handsome woman of a
brunette type. Her features, though not
absolutely faultless in their contour (human
features rarely are except in novels), were
good, and when lighted up with the anima
tion imparted by a warm heart and an act
ive intelligence, they appeared incapable
of improvement She had the commanding
presence of a tragedy queen, which her
lully developed figure and the proud poise
of.a queenly head on magnificent shoulders
enabled her to sustain with natural grace.
She wore a rieh dress of dead gold silk,
simply trimmed, with a low-cut bodice,
that harmonized admirably with her dark
skin.
when Leyton arrived at the Bed House
farm she gave him her cheek to kiss, be
neath which the warm color glowed like the
sun-ripened blush that burns in the velvety
skin of the peach. Bnt Leyton's jealous
fears were stirred anew, as he noted the
luxurious prodigality with which the Bob
sons had made their preparations for the
evening's entertainment He found him
self again confronted with the old question
that had tormented him when he heard of
the rumor connecting Madeline's name with
thit of the wealthy banker. To what sonrce
was Martin Bobson's sudden prosperity to
be ascribed? The more he pondered the
question the more feverishly anxious he
grew for the hour of explanation.
The opportunity came at last At the
close of one of the dances Madeline put her
arm in his and proposed an adjournment to
the garden. Leyton went in search of a
shawl, which Madeline lightly threw over
her shoulders, that glistened like old ivory
polished to great brilliancy, and then they
went forth into the balmy air of a warm
autumn night
"Let us sit here," said Madeline, when
ihey reached the summer honse, in a dis
tant part of the garden.
"My own 1" said Leyton, fondly, as he
seated himself by her side and leaned for
ward to kiss her oheek. But with a quick
movement Madeline's lips met his, and she
nestled closer to him until she lay with her
head upon his breast, while the rich mellow
light ot the harvest moon bathed her face
and neck in soft effnlzenceof rforions llirht
The air was still, save forthe sounds of
revelry within the old farmhouse, which
bounded faint like the strains of far-off
mwic so still that they could hear the
beating of their own hearts.
"Ohl Tom, if this could only last" Mad
eline cried, after they had remained for
some time in a silence more eloquent than
speech. And a heavy, weary sigh broke
from her.
""Why should it not last?" Leyton asked
caressingly.
"Why are you so poor, Tom? And why
must the heart go one way and the hand be
given where the heart loves not?" And
Madeline burst Into a stormy passion of
tears at the prospect she had thus conjured
up.
Then it was true! The gossips of the
Golden Lion were rieht after all! Mr.
Englefield had sought Madeline Bobson for
his bride, and she had been promised to
him I
Madeline had often rehearsed this scene
with her lover in her own thoughts, study
ing what she would find to say when the
time came to make the disclosure, and how
she would gather courage to sav it and how
Tom would take it. But when the time
came all her prearranged plans broke down.
The overmastering sense of love, and the
pacg at her heart as she reflected that these
were the last moments she would ever pass
with her lover, the last moment of peace
she would ever know, prompted her to
speak as she did. The pain at the woman's
heart taught her to make the disclosure in
the only way that could soften the blow to
her lover and win some measure of his sym
pathy, even while she felt that in his
heart he mnst despise her for her pusillan
imity. Madeline continued to weep convulsively,
and it was long before Leyton could calm
her sufficiently to learn the story from her
lips. She told him t length amid many
sobs and tears, while her bosom recked
nothing of the night air that played upon
it, and heaved wildly with the violence of
her emotions. It was the old story, more
often enacted in real life than many readers
will perhaps be disposed to think a mar
riage of convenience; redemption from all
the sordid cares of novertv at the Rftrrifinn
of a daughter's happiness.
Not at first had Madeline consented. Mr.
Bobson had reasoned persuasively, com
manded, threatened and wept by turns: but
not until the oldraan went on his knees be
fore his own child, had Madeline faltered
in the firm negative that she had 'given to
her fnther's proposal. Then at the sight or
the old man, with his long snowy loots
waving to and fro in the agitation with
which he besought her, while the tears
rained down his cheeks, to step in between
him and despair and earn his lasting grati
tude and his dying blessing, had she suc
cumbed and give'n her word at last Even
then her consent was made conditional: that
Mr. Englefield should be told that she was
already plighted to Tom Leyton, and that
she should be allowed to tell him herself.
"And you did tell him?" asked Leyton,
hoarsely.
"I did, indeed, Tom. I told him that I
loved yon and tbat I did pot and could not
love him, for I should love you always."
"And what did he say?" said Tom.
"He said that he thought more highly of
me lor the confession, and that he was quite
aware ot the sacrifice I was making, but
that he didn't doubt that so good a daugh
ter would make an excellent wife."
"Anything else?" asked Tom bitterlv.
"Oh, Tom, I don't deserve your anger,
though I must seem in your eyes very
wicked. Believe me that I have stood out
against it as long as coma, out tnere is no
help -for it none. Oh, why was I ever
born?" And Madeline's tears broke forth
afresh while she covered the hand of her
lover with passionate kisses.
Leyton rose at last and made as thouzh
he would go. Madeline flew to his arms
with a bitter cry, and as the light shawl
that she was wearing fell from her, Tom
gathered her to his breast and kissed her
kissed her on brow and cheeks and lips,
kissed her shoulders and neck and then
tore himself away. With one powerful
wrench he had released himself from her
embrace and flung her aside and was gone.
The still evening air heard the sonnd of a
bitter, mocking laugh as he went. Bnt
Madeline heard it not.
An hour afterward search was made for
her, and she was lound where Tom had lelt
her, too stunned to think or to realize what
had happened, conscious only of a dull,
dead pain at her heart
A month later Madeline went t forth from
the fine old church at Chelderton Magna on
the arm of her husband. Madeline Bobson
had become Madeline Englefield.
As the joy bells rang out their merry peal,
Tom Leyton gnashed his teeth in bitter
despair and savage anger, vowing to him
self that the dav would coma fnr vnnirpnnox
later. But, as it turned out, Tom Leyton,
in his schemes, of vengeance "reckoned
without his host" Eor, though circum
stances so far favored him, that within 12
months of her marriage to the wealthy
banker at Chelderton, Madeline Englefield
became Madeline Leyton, the Higher Ven
geance that sometimes seems to sleep was
not slow to avenge the sin; and partly by
tbat activity displayed by that enterprising
private inquiry agent, Mr. Doggett,and
partly by a curious network ot circum
stances, jnttice was enabled to take count
of a heartless and cruel crime.
A HEROINE IN PETTICOATS.,
ITo be Concluded Xezt Saturday.
PULLING SNAKES' TEETH.
How
Skillful Dentists KeraoTe Hie Fans
of Polionon Serpent.
"An odd phase of animal dentistry," said
a chemist to a New York correspondent, "is
the removal of the fangs of poisonous snakes.
Formerly these were broken off by using a
piece of wood and a hammer. This gave
satisfaction in most Instances, but not al
ways. On several occasions cobras whose
fangs had been broken off have struck
keepers r neighboring animals with serious
and even fatal results. The reason lies In
the fact tbat the glands which secrete the
virus are separate from the fangs. They are
pratically little poison bags situated in the
gum and connected with the fangs by short
tubes. The fangs are channelled so as to be
half hollow, when not in use they are
folded back, and close the tnbes by their
position. "When the reptile employs them,
they are thrown forward, the tnbes are
opened andtheglands excited to the utmost.
It was found that when the fang is ex
tracted, it pulls away with it the tubes and
the glands in whole or in part The present
practice is based upon this fact
"The serpent is securely fastened, the
best method being to hang him up by a
stout cord tied around the neck. The waist
is fastened to a bar to prevent squirming.
The month is forced open, or when the
snake opens it in rage is held open by a
piece of wood placed far back between the
jaws. The dentist clutches the fangs with
his forceps as far down upon the roots as he
can possibly reach, andpnlls slightly, twist
ing the instrument The fangs come out
without much difficulty, and with them are
always the poison tubes, and almost always
large pieces of the poison glands. The
wounds thus occasioned heal in about four
days, leaving a small, smooth scar. The
glands seem after this to become absorbed by
the reptile's system. The cobra is the easiest
snake to operate npon, being heavy, slow
and stupid: the fer du lance of the "West
Indies is 'the most difficult being light,
quick and very fierce. The rattlesnake,
copperhead, moccasin, adder and viper
come in between the two extremes. It is
wonderful how similar all these snakes are
so far as their death-dealing apparatus is
concerned. They all seem to have been
turned from the same general model."
Remarkable Experiences of a Pittabbrg Lady During tbt
War Adventures in Field and Prison Pen.
'Jmr-f7:1Xl!fl'i ,&& feof the
seK that the day would come for vengeance
on the man tbat had robbed bint of his
promised bride.
'When that day comes I will have my
vengeance, and will not spare," he mut
tered to himself. "He has won her, bnt he
shall not keep-her. He is as prond as Luci
fer, and I swear before God to bring his
pnde low. 'An eye for an eye and a tooth
for a tooth,' as the old law says. All that I
suffer now he shall suffer too and more
for to his suffering shall be added shame
shame!" he added, fiercely.
Even as bespoke his sternly rigid mouth
relaxed into' a sinister smile, as a light
broke across his mind, kindled by the re
viving tonch of memory.
He saw before his mental vision the
worn, aged face ofGeorge Osborne's fathere
anu iaai otner iao "o strangely like. xn.
, resemblance had baffled him before, but h
knew it now. and in the bare aet of memo rv
he saw the gsm'idsa ofjpettible veBgeMwe,
THE AMEEICAH A.
A Glob Formed for the Promotion of Its
Proper Pronunciation.
Charles Dudley Warner In Harper's.i
In an intellectually-inclined city (not in
the Northeast) a club of ladies has been
formed for the cultivation of the broad A in
speech. Sporadic efforts have hitherto been
made for the proper treatment of this letter
of the alphabet with individual success,
especially with those who have been in En
gland, or have known English men and
women of the broad-gauge variety. Discern
ing travelers have made the American pro
nunciation of the letter A a reproach to the
republic, that is to say, a means of distin
guishing a native of this country. The true
American aspires to he 'cosmopolitan, and'
does not want to be "spotted" if that word
may be used in society by any peculiarity
of speech, that is by any Am'erican peculi
arity. It is in vain that scholars have pointed
out that in the use of this letter lies the
main difference between theEnglish and the
American speech; either Americans gener
ally do not care if this is the fact or fashion
can only wort a reform in a limited number
of people. It seems therefore necessary
that there should be an organized effort to
deal with this pronunciation, and clubs will
no donbtbe formed all over the country, in
imitation of the one mentioned, until the
broad A will become as common as flies in
summer. "When this result is attained it
will be time to attack the sound of IT with
clubs, and make universal the French
sound.
In time the American pronunciation will
become as superior to all others as are the
American sewingmachines and reapers. In
the Broad A Club every member who mis
behaves that is. mispronounces is fined a
nickel for each offense. Of course in the
beginning there is a good deal of revenue
from this source, but the revenue dimin
ishes as the club improves, so that we have
the anomaly of its failure to be self-supporting
in proportion to its excellence. Just
now, if these clubs could suddenly become
universal, and the penalty be enforced, we
could have the means of paying off the
national debt in a, year.
HE WOULDN'T BAI DEABEST.
Little Tiord Fanntleroy Bpnnked by His
Mother for a Qnoer Reason.
Boston Letter to Chicago Tribune,
The envious, whose howls are always
elicted by other people's success, assert that
Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett is affected.
It is quite true that she has her oddities.
A lady here in Boston tells of an occasion
when she chanced to ocenpy rooms at a
hotel it was several years ago immediate
ly adjoining others tenanted by Mrs.Burnett
and her family. She had scarcely taken
possession of her apartment when phe heard
a scampering of small feet through the
partition wall, and then came a child's cry
of "Mamma Mammal"
"Whereupon ensued a series of audible
slaps and squeals, and finally a woman's
angry voice, saying: "How often shall I
have to tell you to call me 'Dearest,' and
not 'Mamma?'"
The humor of this lies in the fact that
according to Mrs.. Burnett's account so
often repeated to her friends, the boys fell
of their own accord into a prettv way of
balling their mother by their father's pet
name lor her. It will be remembered tbat
Little Lord Eanntleroy himself copied,
so Mrs. Burnett says, after her son Yivan
does likewise. One cannot help wonder
ing if the youthful nobleman of the romance
was likewise spanked into calling his mam
ma "Dearest"
The Bight Man In the night Place.
Washington Post
The appointment of Mr. Dennis T. Elynn
to be postmaster at Guthrie, Oklahoma, has
greatly increased our respect for the politi
cal sagacity of the present administration.
"Webclieve there could be no more graceful
recognition of the great body of settlers in
Oklahoma than the appointment of a man
whose name is Dennis.
Boiled Into the Moss.
Kansas City Globe.
G. "W. Miller, an Arkansas City gentle
man, fell from the first Santa 1'e train as it
pulled into Guthrie. He rolled over once
or twice and was the possessor of the first
Guthrie town lot For once a rolling man
gathered 160x10 feet of moss.
AFIELD OF GLORY ftfSk
number of notable prize fighU have taken
place,-U praohicalto detcribed oy O. -if. B. in
an illuttratcd article tn to-morrew't Dis
patch.
Carpenter' t tetter in to-morrow DISPATCH, n
U!?T!A oraifrwerfw and man in the heart
ig-yronmata jmuhnhw
rWBITTSS VOB THX SISr.lTCB.1
If you are not built that way you do well
sot to aspire to situations where you are
forced to play the hero or heroine situa
tions that cause nations to boil. Dumas'
hero, the Count of Monte Christo, gives
thrilling experiences sufficient to make the
reaaer uncomtortaoie, inongn conscious mat
the creation is a figment of the imagination,
but a lady in Allegheny City, Mrs. Lottie
McCaffrey, known to old-time newspaper
men as Mrs. Lottie Becgough, and previ
ously as Miss Lottie Biley, can tell a story
that with little embellishment would rival
Dumas', leaving the diamonds and improb
able situations out, for hers is a story of
sober fact and not fiction, attested not only
by herself, but by documentary evidence
and that of living witnesses in this city and
in various parts of the Union.
But before telling Mrs. McCaffrey's story,
it may be well io introduce her to the
reader. Her maiden name was Biley. Her
father's name was "William Biley. She
has a sister living in New Castle, Jane
Biley Graham, distinguished for scholar
ship acquired under the tutelage of Dr.
John Black, father of Colonel Sam Black.
A brother, Harvey Kiley, began active life
under General Albert Sidney Johnson,
when he went to Utah to suppress Brigham
Young, Amelia & Co. Harvey subsequently
served in various capacities, semi-military
and civil, and was at one time in charge of
a street railway company in New York.
Of the military bent in the family and in a
great measure elucidative of Mrs. McCaf
frey's narrative, it is pertinent to remark
in this place that of brothers, brothers-in-
law and other immediate relatives, there
were 14 enlisted in the Union army during
the Civil War.
When quite a young girl, Hts. McCaffrey
enlisted jbr three years, or "during the war,"
to serve an apprenticeship to the art of
typesetting, and she speaks feelingly and
animatedly of her associates, many of whom
have laid down the composing stick here
and may now be scrambling for fat takes
upstairs, "where the wicked cease from
troubling," and where, it is supposed, none
are ever under the necessity of "carrying
the banner."
Borne Here, Other Over Tender.
As a compositor, Mrs. McCaffrey's asso
ciates were the Hon. Bussell Errett,
James M. McEweb, William Anderson,
"Judge" "William Bamsey, D. B. Fergu
son, B. B. Hunnecutt, Bartley Campbell,
Captain Smith, David L. Fleming and
others well known 23 years ago, but gener
ally out of harness now. Mrs. McCaffrey
says the happiest period of her life was the
time she spent as a compositor working
among 33 to 35 men, who always treated
here with the deference dne a woman. She
was the only woman in the office, and says
she extorted fair treatment simply because
she never presumed on account of her sex
to ask for privileges not accorded to all.
She states that she never scrambled for fat
takes, but took the lean with the fat, and
set manuscript or reprint as the case might
be. Once when asked to help break a strike
she agreed to work if paid the wages de
manded by the Typographical Union,
and her persistence broke the strike
the other way. Mr. McEwen tells of
a time when a strike was made against her
simply because she was a woman. He was
a strenuous member of the union himself,
bnt, s foreman at Haven's, demanded
something more specific than an objection
on account of sex. He states that Lottie
had been black balled on her application
for membership in the union, and as no
member thereof would file charges against
her he refused to discharge her, and a spirit
of gallantry finally won the day in her be
half. As a newspaper compositor Mrs. Mc
Caffrey states that she made as much money
as tne average compositor, $2uio$zo a week,
and Bhe evidently took, better care of her
earnings than the average printer, as she
owns considerable real estate and her name
would go a considerable distance on paper
where she is known. Mrs. McCaffrey says
her experience proves that women can get the
same compensation as men for work, tint to
do it they must do the work as men do, and
if they neglect to cultivate the necessary
physique, they will fail. Many times, she
states, she was 18 hours out of 2i on her
feet and at times they were so swollen that
she stopped with Hughey, on the Sixth
street bridge, and taking her shoes off
walked over barefoot Frequently when
some male compositor felt "tuckered out,"
she took his cases and snbbed for him, and
when Josiah Copely finally asked her to set
type for 33 cents a thousand, because other
women would' do it for that money, when
45 cents was paid to men, she walked out of
the office and finally fell In with Mr. Mo-
Ewen, at Haven's, and there formed a
friendship with him that is likely to subsist
until mortality puts on immortality. She
got $18 a week thcre,and remained two years
with Haven's, when she was enabled to
fix herself so as to be able to work for her
self and has been her own employer since.
Married Into the Profession.
"When 18 years of age Miss Lottie Biley
married John T. Bengougb, an old-time city
editor, and this union was the occasion of
her forming the acquaintance, not only of
many notable people in this State, among
others Simon Cameron, with noted officers in
the Union army, but also with the chiefs of
the Southern Confederacy, and it came
about In this wise: Governor Plerpoint, of
"West Virginia, saw a chance to change a
Democratic paper to the Btpublican side of
the fence, and Induced Bengough to buy it
It was named the Fairmout National. By
and by Bengough's military ardor got the
better of him, and he enlisted in theTwellth.
Virginia Begiment, and was stationed at
Winchester. Mrs. Bengough took charge of
the paper, putting a man named Boyd, irora
Weeellng, next in line. About
this time her tribulation began. The
women of Fairmont ruled that it wasn't the
thing for a woman to thus run business and
she" lost caste. Soon after that the foreman,
Joseph Powell, said: "Mrs. Bengough,
here is a printer who would like to get
work, but he is a Democrat and a rebel."
Mrs. Bengough said, jokingly: "I don't
know that it will look well to employ him,"
and he didn't get work. A lew evenings
later Mr. Boyd Invited Mrs. Bengongh to
spend an evening with his family, about 300
yards irom where she lived. She remained
until 10 o'clock, when Mr. Boyd offered to
escort her home. Her orevions mVnthnwt-
experience made her slight the ofter,
but as the nfght was inky dark
and 'times were unsettled, she took
the middle of the street, trusting
to her trained ear to hear anv
thing suspicious In order to escape it Pres
ently she thought she heard something at
the side of the street, and looking that way
thought she saw a white-faced cow. She
quickened her pace and noted that the white
patch did so also, and soon she divined, that
it was the white shirt front of someone who
Was taking more interest in her movements
than she appreciated. She knew she conld
run, and she broke for home with a thorough
acquaintance of the route. The white patch
followed, and with such celerity that he
stumbledagainsther door just as she turned
the lock. When she had him safely leaked
out she demanded to know what he wanted,
lawyers, she learned that her pursr
was the printer who had been re
fused work and he had pnrsaed
her with a sharp knife in his hand, stating
that he intended to cut her throat The
next morning she asked the Federal au
thorities for a-gnard, and it watched over
her outgoings and incomings as long as she
stayed in Fairmont. Her newspaper night
wandering saved her life.
Some Border Hie.
Soon after this the rebels blew up the B.
& O. Boilway bridge, and the courthouse
bell was rung to call the people to the hilL
Encumbered by a baby and the care of aa
aged mother, Mrs. Bengougbs experience
for a time was a trying one, as she had
lsarned that the rejected compositor wrt
still thirsting for her blood. She finally
found refuge in the house of a man named
Showalter, where a considerable number of
Unionists' had collected for mutual safety.
She made arrangements to leave Fairmont,
and pnt her mother under the care of Col
onel Bichey while she went to visit her
husband at "Winchester. It was the last
time she saw him alive. She found
him ia the woods in the command of
General Milroy. There had been a sword .
presentation to General Milroy, and ia
company with her husband, Mrs. Bengough
wcut u see it at wa uenerai s neaoqttarters.
Here she transgressed the rules of military -etiquette
in a manner that gave her husband
much nneasinesi she was only a girl la
years but General Milroy, learning that
she was a compositor and. consequently not
afraid of greatness, not only forgave her
but commended the frankness and spirit
with which she conducted herself in his
presence. Colonel Northcutt assigned her
quarters in a deserted mansion owned by
one of tht chiefs of the Confederacy.
Coming back to Fairmont Mrs.' Ben
gough closed her business affairs and left for
Pittsburg. She state's that it was a rather
doleful experience. The people were hot
overly friendly, and the only one to bid her
goodby was Lieutenant Parkinson, who"
paid her $10 he had borrowed of her and
lent her a revolver, so that she might re
press unfriendly curiosity. In return she
mended his uniform, and after parting
never saw him again. The country around '
Fairmont was laden with blackberries,
and Mrs. Bengough made herself a favorite)
with the soldiers by baking pies for them.
They would save their fat pork rations, and
she rendered them into lard. The Unioa -soldiers
had made quite free with her house
in her absence, bnt she thought them too
sociable when she found it full of them, "
with their feet sticking out of the windows.
After receiving from her a lesson in eti
quette, they desisted and the entente cor
dials was restored. She only remembers
the names of two Johnston and Gump.
Mrs. Bengough's loyalty was only once
questioned, and that was when she pleaded
lor a man who was captured as a bush- "
whacker, bnt she finally prevailed on the ".
men not to narm mm, and hiring him to
the chin with blackberry pie, she sent him '
away, exhorting him to take the Unioa '.
side thereafter. She never knew what
effect her exhortation had, but she says he
was too miserable to afford any comfort ia
his killing. ,
On a gloomy day in March, 1863, amid a
driving snow storm, Mrs. Bengough left
Fairmont and came to Pittsburg, and some
months later learned that her husband had
been killed on- the Bomney road, during
the three days' fight at "Winchester. He wa
ft Lieutenant '"nuiier 6ac,e.ral .Mflroy.. He "'
was killed by a sharpshooter, having, with
his command, lain down to sleep, and was
killed as he lay.
Her Bonmnce Begins.
Accompanied by a sister of her husband,
Miss Celia Bengough, principal of the Hi?a
School in Toledo, Mrs. Bengough went to
"Winchester to recover her husband's body
and bury it, so that it could be subse
quently identified, and from thenceforward
she and her companion met with vicissi
tudes that only "the love that kisses the
lips of death" can support Arriving at
the headquarters of General Mulligan, on
New Creek, Va,, the ladies were assigned
4uuura m a uig omiamg, wnicn they sub
sequently discovered was occupied as a bar
racks bjr the soldiers, and they awoke dur
ing the night to find the large room filled
with men. Celia was greatly excited
by the situation, but Mrs. Bengough's
previous contact with the sterner sex, as a
compositor, came to her aid and she suc
ceeded in calming her companion, and with
heads under the quilt, they managed to get
along without incident until the soldiers
had filed out in the morning. MulUgaa
furnished them with a pass into the rebel
lines and assured them he had personal
friends among the Confederates who would
see that they were respected and properly
treated. After walking a few miles night
overtook them and they pnt up at a house,
the proprietor of which engaged to take
them to Winchester in a wagon for J20.
Food was scarce with him and they started
before breakfast On the wav. in a. rn In
the mountains, they heard something like
distant thunder and were astonished, aa
there were no signs of rain in any direction.
Months afterward they learned in Castle
Thunder that the sound was that of cannon
at the battle of Gettysburg. Their
escort went as far as he thought it
safe to be seen in company with.
"Yankee" women, and after they left him
they finally found their way into the pres
ence of two noted chiefs of the Confederacy.
General B. E. Lee and G. T. Beauregard.
General Lee gave them a pass, which ii
still in Mrs. McCaffrey's possession. He re
quired them after they had accomplished
their work to report at his headquarters, .
and disobedience in this respect caused
them much subseanent suffering and m. ..
prisonment in a rebel prison.
Woman's Betonrce laTrdable. '
Starting along the Bomney road, the
women met with more rebuffs than sympathy
in their mournful errand, and finally near
nightfall did what many a woman has deae
under less trying eirenmstances sat dowa '
and took a good cry which they found a
great relief.- The rebs had taken pofseesdea
of the quarters lately occupied by Unionists
and.theyhadtosleepin barracks occupied
byconfeds. They paid a fancy prioe far
a breakfast of salt junk, but
were allowed to pursue their missioa.
Surgeon McCandless had buried Bengongh
and had sent Mrs. Bengongh a letter ot in
struction as to the place, and they found it '
after traveling over a hill littered with the '
bodies of horses, mules, nnexcloded stalk ''
and thousands of letters the slain soldiers
had gotten from home Thirtr eanaos bi
Ignging to Early's command had been lelt ..Of
on the field, and they sEt a gun that the ,li
reoeis naa noisted oy meaner Diock aaa -
lac&ie niga up on a crag in a gap in oiuer
to repel tne union advance, and n&tt. never,
found it convenient to remove it They
lound tne Doay ouried near ;ariy s ao gun.
Two rebel officers prowling in the viciaity
were very inquisitive, but the wotae
bluffed them, and While Celia sat oa tM
crave Mrs. Benzough gathered flowers, aed.i
thev acted as nnconcernedlr as powIbIl' .'
After all their trouble they learaed tfcet.
the railway between Winchester and Mar- j
tlnsbnrg had been torn up and the bedy
could not be shipped. Going back to Ww
boarding house, they fouhd a sonrwoBMin
charge, who refused to give them anytWaj :
teeac. a. man wua x eaerst unnom ei
seemed desirous of cultivating their ae-l
quaintanee, bat they treated him coldly m
kept him at a distance, having beeeme m
pleioas ot their surroundings. He fJiisMy 1
waikes ctees pa toes aaa aroppee a aeeaj
and be told herto open the dW and he I at their feet statiasr that hewaenssul
-would tell heK BM rfae4; aed imMW I MeAdowj. of some Pennsylvania.
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