T()WA N D A : — ♦ ■ saturimn /Horning, (Pctobcr 28, 183 JWtddr IJoctqi. BEYOND THE RIVER. Time is a river deep and wide ; And while along its banks we stray Wc see our lov'd ones o'er its tide Sail from our sight away, away. Where are tbey sped, they who return No more to glad our longing eyes 1 They've passed from life's contracted bourne To land unseen, unknown, that lies Bej-orid the river. *Tis hid from view; but we may guess How beautiful that realm must be; For of its loveliness, In visions granted, oft we see. The very clouds that o'er it throw Their veil, unrais'd for mortal sight, With gold and purple tintings glow, Reflected froin the glorious light Beyond the river. And gentle airs, so sweet, *o calm, Steal something from that viewless sphere; The mourner feels their breath of balm, And soothed sorrow dries the tear. And sometimes listening ear may gain Entrancing sound that hither floats, The echo of a distant strain Of Larps' and voices' blended notes, Beyond the river. There are our lov'd ones in their rest; They've cross'J Time's river; now no more They heed the bubbles on its breast, Nor feel the storms that sweep its shore. But there pure love cau live, can last, They look for us their home to share ; YVhen we in turn away have pass'd. What joyful greetings wait u? there, Beyond the river ! §■ c I r r ff h Sale. IDLE WORDS I was visiting a surgeon's family in . and as lhe house was large, and the master independent rnd hospitable, and the country attractive, several persons besides myself were assembled, and among litem, an old gentleman, long since retired Iroui the prac'ice of the law, and some young people, rela tives of ths host. These young folks, like most others of their age, were thoughtless and hasty,rath er than deliberately wicked, and talked a great deal more, and used a great deal stronger language than they had any idea of. If it is true that slanders by see more than those who play, it certainly may be supposed that lis teners hear and understand more of the merits of eager, silly talkers, than they suspect, and that in doing so, they often hear what vexes and mortifies them exceedingly. And this was name and Mr. Falconer's lot, one day. during our visit to Mr. Lin desay, when playing at chess, we overheard the conversation of the group of young people, who knitting, netting, crocheting or drawing, filled the recess of a great bay-window in the break las room; The subject of their gossip was an application which had been made in the morning to Mrs Lin desay, by a young girl of the most winning and pre possessing manners, fur her interest with the la dies' committee of one ol the neighboring chariy schools, lor the situation oi teacher, which was just then vacant. Now, although my cood friend Mrs Lindesay i? a kind hearted, well di'posed person, on the whole she has a fair share o! the leaven of osten'a'ion in her composition ; and therefore, instead of granting the applicant's request for a private interview, had her shown up into the room where we aii sat, and where ten pairs of inquisitive woman's eyes were raised to stare at her when she came in. Certainly, this was very had taste, if not qoile bad feeling ; for the poor girl, taken aback by the audden and unexpected introduction to so many strangers, colored painfully, scarcely seeming bo know whether to retreat or remain. Still,confused and bewildered as she was, she was not ungrace ful ; but, recoveting her courage, commenced her business in a manner that convinced me and Mr. Falconer that her present position, as a candidate for the post of a charity school teacher was very different to what she had becen accustomed. And, unfortunately for her, Mrs. Lindesay— not nsuafly very discerning or imaginative—quickly suspected the same, and subjected her to a cross examination, which was not either peculiarly lady like or kind, seeiug that it had, for its sole end and torn, tiie gratification of an essentially vulgar pas sion—curiosity. The young girl, however, bore it well. That iite was mortified and hurt, was evident; but nev ertheless. her answers were frank and dignified Her father had been a merchant at C , she said had failed and died, and her step mother was flow in ill health, and broken spiri!s < wholly de pendent upon her. Circumstances had made the pOMtion of governess in the charity school most desirable ; and being informed that Mrs. Lindesay's influence was very great with the committee, she had ventured to call and seek it. "You can bring testimoaußs, of course," said hie patroness, flattered by the power ascribed to her. " i really have so many applications for my -a.e;est in this matter, and is an affair of so much 'mpo,tance, that I cannot consent even to name cne unless their references are first rate. And t'Ht.kr iptK, y OU know, pray excuse me, 1 would t Lurt your* feelinrjs for the world—but when a u emislt attaches to one member of a family, peo c.e ate are so sadly apt to consider it as extending 10 all. Your testimonials, however—" Shall be respectable madam. Of my qualifi ca:' Qns > 'he committee may judge for themselves, 45 1 am perfectly willing to teach the school gra tuitously lor a week, which will give them an op r hunity 0 f learning if I am competent to fulfil the ' --L'cs 'hey requite '' : 'I will consult my mother, and call again this evening." And raising with a graceful curtesy, but crimson ed cheek, Ehe left the room. " Poor girl !" said Mr. Falconer, in a low voice when the door closed, " she has drank a bitter cup this morning." The remark was unheard by every one but my self, for the rest were chattering altogether very much after the fashion of'a nest of magpies, so that it was difficult to distinguish any thing in the din. At least we heard our hostess say— "lt certainly was strange. One would have thought that, knowing reference must be required, she would have been prepared with them, instead of having to consult her mother. Yes, now you mention it Miss Lowther, it does look strange; I don't like it." " Nor I; but then Ido not like her manner throughout. Her story, too, stiuek mc as being a lame one. II she is respectable, why doesn't she get a better place than this charity school ? A resi dent governess in a good family, for instance. The salary would be quite as good, I daro say, and the situation much more respectable." " Yes; but I understood that she had a sick step mother. Perhaps site requires attendance and nursing, and the house and firing ottered to the charity school governess, therefore may be of great importance. She alluded to some particular cir cunisiatices, if you remember," said Mr. Falconer. " Oh, yes, I remember," replied Anna Lowther, witli a pert laugh. " She made nothing but allu sions, I think." " Pardon me, young lady ; I thought her infor mation respecting herself very honest, and quite as explanatory as strangers had a right to expect." " Strangers ! Why il people go to ask favors of strangers, they must prepare to explain and satLfy them. I know I should." "Certainly. But Miss Raynerdid not, I think come to a>k favors from u, only from Mrs. Linde say ; and probably il she had seen Mrs. Lindesay alone, she would have been as explicit as even your heart could wish." " My heart could wish? Indeed, Mr. Falconer, my heart has no wish about her. I dare say she is somebody we are al! a great deal belter for know ing nothing at all about. Even ifshe is what she says, bankrupt's only daughter are not likely to be great acquisitions to one's acquaintance. Extrava gant, giddy things ! tbey are olieuer the cause ol their father's ruin than people fancy." "So they are, Miss Lowther. I must be careful how f act; for it would not do to recommend her to the committee until I am perfectly satisfied.— They all think so much of whai I say." " Of course ; and therefore you ought to be doub. ly particular. By-the-bye, does not Mrs. Ford ham corns from C ? II the gill's father was anything of a merchant, she would be certain to know something of her." "To be Pure. Thai never struck me beiore. It will be a capital way to find out all 'about her What a pity Mrs. Fordham is out. I wonjer if she will return to dinner. But just now, you see, she is so uncertain in her movements ; and she said, when the went out, that if the new drawing room paper enrne, she might not gel back until tea. How very tantalizing it is. And now that you have excited my suspicions, I shall be quite fidgety un til they are satisfied. What a goed thing it was 1 promised nothing. I might,very likely, if she had stayed longer, and your looks had not put me on my guard. Well, we must wait until Mrs. Ford ham comes back." And co they did. And now Mis. ForJliam had come back, and every body was talking to her, and telling her of Miss Ray iter's visit, and asking her whether she knew anything o! her, and what? " For it's rather a remarkable name," said Anna Lowther, " and if there aie, or wote such people at C , you must know them." " Oh, 1 don't know half the people at C ; and the Hayner6 were quite out ol my way." " How ?" asked Mrs. Lindesay. . " Oh J don't know ; for.noparticular reason tliat I am aware oi." "Now that's only an excuse; only your good nature. Mrs. Fordham. You are not the sort of person to Jo things without a reason." " Wei!, perhaps uot,' : returned the lady, half flattered, halt bored. " But in this case I am afraid I did ; for I certainly never had any particular rea son for avoiding the Rayners." "Oh, then you did avoid them ?" " No, not exactly. I met them occasionally— but they were a good deal talked about at one time. And then Mr. Rayner's bankruptcy, and "Oh, I see, I see," replied Mrs. Lindesay, look iug very wise. "Thank yon. I quite understand." " Do you?"said Mr. Falconer, in a subdued and sarcastic voice. " Then you must be a greater gen ius than 1 took you for." At this moment a servant entered with a letter for his mistress ; after perusing it, Mrs. Lindesay exclaimed " Well, how strange. Talk of a certain person, and he's sure to appear, they say. Here's a note from Miss Rapier, written quite in a lady-like manner, and referring me to Mr. Bentley, a solici tor at C ." "Bentley! Oh, he was Mr. Rayncr's lawyer; and at one time it was said but, good gracious! what is the use of repeating all the tales one hear? ? 1 dare say it was a fabrication." "No doubt. Still let us hear it, and judge for ourselves, Mrs. Lindesay ought to know all she can ; and you remember the old saying, "No smoke without some fire." " But really it is so long ago, and he i 6 marriej now." Qh, dear, dear, wha} a very liltle spark will kin dle gunpowder! At these words, a significant glance of intelli gencc passed around the circle; and Mr. Falconer who had Been very busy making some memoran -1 dum in his pocket book, looked up too. PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY AT TO WANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA GOODRICH. " REGARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER." Unluckily, however, for the gratification of our curiosity, some late visitors arrived; and under the full impression that Miss Rayner was no better than she should be, and that Mrs. Lindesay had had a narrow escape of being taken in, the subject dropped. Not entirely, though, for Mr. Falconer and 1 recurred to it marry times during the evening; and more than once he used the term we had so often discussed, " idle words—idle words." Now ithappeneJ that tire next was a rainy day; a real downright English rain, without half an hour's pause, or one moment's break in the dull, leaden clouds—and therefore we were alloompell ed to resign the hope ol our usual walks and rides, and content ourselves at home. I said all; but I ought to have made an exception in the case ot Mr. Falconer,who went ouUdirectly alter breakfas', and did not return until luncheon, when we saw him, galooned, coated and umbrellaed, turn into die drive Irom the London roads, and walk bifikly up to the house, nodding to us as he passed our window. With the itincheon tray, however, became in, and, rather more silently than usual, took his cus tomer)- place. Like all luncheons, it was a gossiping meal. All sorts ot nonsense was talked, and more than one smart ill matured thing said, more to make the hearers laugh than to gratify any real malice in the speaker. In the middle of one of these sharp speeches, Mr. Falconer said— " What have yon done about your charity school governess, Mrs Lindesay ? Are you going to have Miss Ilayner ?" " Oh, dear, no, certainly not. Alter what Mrs. Fordham said, I couldn't think of such a thing." " Indeed! I understand Jim. Fordham lo say that she knew but very little about the young la dy." " But that little was quite enough. I perfectly understood what Mrs. Fordham meant. It is not always necessaay to be explicit in such matters." " Do you think not? Now in anything affecting a person's character or credit, it appears tome that those who ask and those who answer questions can scarcely be too explicit." '• Ah ! you are a lawyer, Mr. Falconer." " Y'es, and therefore I know so well what is the real value ol hall sentences and insinuations, and how very often terrible hints come to nothing when iliey are investigated. During the time 1 was in practice, more than one case came to my knowl edge, wheie irreparable mischief was done, and ru in caused by idle words. The false witness God has forbidden us lo bear against our neighbor, in polite society is spoken daily." "Oh, Mr. Falconer, what a shocking accusa tion ! Nobody bears witness except in a court of justice, and nobody even then bears false wit ness." "No ; because why ? Those who framed the laws knew the danger of idle words : and although they could not stop their currency in society, they could in a witness box, and therefore resolved to punish all spoken there. No IT MI can go into a court of law and hint away his neighbor's life, fafne or credit. What he says there he must vrovc ; and il he wilfully speaks lalse, he is punished. It would be well lor us all if the same rule prevailed in private life; we should hear no ruinous slander then." "Slander! Oh, Mr. Falconer, what a hard word." •" Yes ; and it describes a hard, thing; for what else but slander is the gossip which shatters away reputation, and insinuates falsehoods it has not the courage to speak openly." " Well, whatever I think, I am sure 1 shail at ways have the courage to say," replied Miss Low ther, fancying that the lawyer's keen eye fell up on her as lie spoke; " and as for this Mis Kayner or Hailer. or whatever her name is, that you chain pion so iudelatigably, Mr. Falconer, I think Mrs. Lindesay has done very wisely in having nothing to do with her." " And why " Why?" answered the young lady with a toss " Oh, there arc plenty of reasons." " Are there ? Then pray give mc one." There was a pause which nobody seemed dis posed to break ; and Mr. Falconer said — " O.ice in my life, Miss Lowther, when 1 was not much older and wiser than you are now, a circumstance happened in the family ola relative, which mado so 6trong an impression on my mind that I resolved ever after, not only to keep a strict guard upon my own words, never speaking idly or thoughtlessly that which, if taken seriously, would injure others, but never, if I could coulJ help it, to suffer such words to be spoken in my presence, without making an eilorl to have them explained ai the time." Over and over again, sinc3 that resolution was made, it has been sorely tried, lor I am naturally flippant of speed), and the temptation to say a sharp contemptuous, or littie things, lias often been al most irresistible. Still, God helped me, I have re stated ; and therefore, knowing what ;nay be done —1 can never pardon or excuse the heartless indul gence of so greal a sin in other people. You think this strong language, Miss Lowther; and so it is— but when I give you the heads of the sad story which justifies )t,you will IJhopc and believe, agree with me that no language can be too strong to re pudiate a practice which may involve such eonse quences. " Many years ago, my cousin, whoso name I shall call Alice Hay,formed an attachment to an of ficer oi dragoons, whom she knew Irom childhood, but wham, she loved most sincerely, her father would not receive as a suitor, because he disliked the army, and the lover was poor. ' " Time however, 'and Alice's unfailing obedi ence, added to a severe illness which threatened her life, softened Mr. Hay at last, and he consent although reluctantly, to the engagement; not gra ciously though, tior without many hard words, among which was a tirade against gambling, " the soldier's vice," as he called it, and a warning to Alice that, if ever lie had the slightest reason to suspect Major Ilydal of playing, even at the al tar, the marriage should be broken off. " This threat was very painful, as showing the ill feeling which still existed in Mr. Hay's mind : but as Alice knew that her Jover never played, it soon ceased to vex her, and she began, with gieat joy aLd eagerness, to make preparations for her marriage. '• Now, whether it was that, Alice being his fa vorite child, he could not bear the prospect of part ing with her, and so repented the consent he had given, I cannot tell ; but certainly my uncle grew more morose and strange in his manner, especially towards Major Ridal, who being a very proud mari —could scarcely brgok die way in which lie was received. Sdll, however Mr. Ilay might regret his compliance, he was too much a man of honor to withdraw it, except in the event he had fairly warn ed them ot, and which Alice lelt certain could nev- er arise. " I ought, perhaps, to have said that my uncle was a very unpopular person, especially with yourig people, who thought he had used Alice and Rjdal very cruelly; and many knowing his horror ol gamblers, but neither the threat to Alice, nor the miseiy that would accrue to her in the case her father su-pected Major Rydal ul playing, would have gone to almost any extremity to torment him. Well, in certain circles, this aversion of Mr. Hay's was talked of so much that at last it began to as sume a dangerous shape ; and from being spoken ol as a dislike of his, came to be whispered about as a habit of his intended son-in-law. !l No one o| course asserted it, because no- one could trace whence or how the rumor had risen, but every one hinted it: and at !at, one day after a large public dinner, that report reached Mr. Hay. "Ail that was said was vague and idle enough; but, heated with wine, it was sufficient to enrage and decide a prejudiced man like my uncle, who went home, commanded his daughter to break oft all communication vith the Major, and then wrote to him, withdrawing his consent to the marriage, and forbidding him not only to enter the house again, but to hold any correspondence with his be trothed. (i As you may suppose, this was a teirible blow to both Alice and her lover; the happiness oi each was bound up in the oilier; and proud though he was, the Major made every effort to soften and conciliate Mr. Hay. But in vain; my uncle had never liked the handsome soldier; never forgiven himself lor the consent ha had vouchsafed ; and be lieving a!! the while that by this inflexibility he was consulting his daughter's welfare, sturdily refused to listen to a word. For a long lirr.e this was car ried so far that neither of the parties most deepfy and neaiiy interested, knew the cause of the sad and sudden change which had fallen like a blight upon their happiness: but at last Major Rydal did learn the reason, his indignation was boundless.— Positively and haughtily he denied the charge, de manded the names ofhis accusers and their proofs ; and when Mr Hay refued to give either, urged Alice, with ail lhe vehement passion of which he was master, to fulfil an engagement so uniustly and wickedly broken, and keep her pledge, even il her father violated his. " But Alice, although she loved her betrothed with nil the truth anil faithfulness of her nature, was too gentle anil dutiful a child to seek even her hap piness at the expense ofher lather's. And there fore, although her heart was breaking, and in part ing with him she had so long looked upon as her hu-band, she knew that she was bidding farewell to all earthly joy, she did part, and listened to the Major's passionate upbraidiugs and prayers un shaken, though, ns the event proved, not unmoved. " Frantic with rage and disappointment, unable to di-cover his enemies, or disprove reports which were even at the worst but vague and shadowy, i\l tjur liydal exchanged with a regiment under or ders for India, and within a week of his landing lei I a victim to yellow fever. 11 From the day the intelligence reached Eng land, Alice who had never rallied from the shock of pir'ing, drooped visibly ; arid at last even licr father, to whom she was as the apple of his eye, c tuld i.ot but see that she was dying. "Still, agonized and miserable as fie was, his conscience seemed Irep from any self-reproach, for believing rftot thoroughly that Major Kydal had been guilty of that sin which above all others, was inexcusable in his sight, my uncle persisted in maintaining that he had but done a parent's duty in preserving his child from a marriage with a gam bler : and that, sad as was her fate now, it was in finitely preferable to that which, by his means, she bad escaped. '• Ti was strange, seeing how completely his dar ling's happiness depended upon it, that Mr Hay had never, afier that first passiona'e night, either investigated the accusation made against the sol I Jicr, by those, if fie had been candid and unpre judiced, he must ha7e seen talked idly and af ran dom, or suffered Alice to know their names tuat she might do so. Hut now that she was dying, and implored him, by her constant dn y and obedience, to gratify Iter lasl request, end give her the melan choly satisfaction of at least attempting to exoner ate the memory of her lover, M Hay could hold QUI no longer; and the words so idly uttered, so terribly remembered were repeated to the dying git!, with the names of those who had spoken them. "At this crisis i was sent for. My cousin and 1 had been friends from infancy, and now thai 1 had returned to settle near her, she sent for me, and telling me all, entrusted to me the inquiry which was to exculpate or condemn the dead. Ah! young lady, what an inquiry that was.— One half the men whose idle words had done such horrible mischief, had utterly forgotten that they had over used them ; unfounded, and almost in vented at the moment, they had been forgotten as soon as the impulse of fun, which they had served, had passed; and the other half amazed and sheck- Ed at results nevpr anticipated or suspected, sor rowfully acknowledged the idle words they had spoken were mere gossip—completely, entirely without foundation ; that the whole thing had arisen from a wish to teaze Mr. Il.ty, and passing from mouth to mouth, had been iepeaied by some who knowing nothing of the case or its merits, choose to imagine a gossiping supposition a fast; and so at last, wh it was at the onset but mere fancy and sug gestion, became rr.agni{jed and exaggerated into reality, " 1 wish for ail your sakes, young people, that 1 could describe the remorse, not only of those who had borne thus idly " false witness against tneir neighbor," but the wordless grie; of the rash old man who had been misled by it. B th were terii ble, because all repentance and sorrow v.ere una. vailing. A brave man been done to death by scandalous tongues; and now his gentle, faithful, unofietuling betrothed, was following him to the grave. " Over that grave, soon opened for both father and child, I took the solemn resolution with which 1 began my tale, never either to be seduced into speaking idle words, which if constructed literally or unfaithfully, might work sorrow or wrong to others; or sutler such to be spoken in my hearing, without at least striving to obtain that explanation, which would deprive them of power to do harm. " For neatly forty years i have kept my vow, and 1 hope I have done some good by it. It has made me some enemies, and thwarted some mis chief ; but for the sake of the last, I am content to accept the first, and to go on. Say, Miss Lowther, am I right V' " Perfectly." " Frankly said, young lady, " replied Mr. Falco ner, holding out his hand. " You will not con demn me then if, taking you at your word, 1 en treat that the " idle words,"—nay, do not flinch— which have deprived M;ss Rayner of a situation, may be repeated, scruiitii/.ed and explained." "Oh!" replied Miss Lowther, with an embar rassed laugh, "this is taking me at my word, in deed." " Yes; and let rne hope that the result may be good—" idle words," meaning to my fancy noth ing ; and as the equally groundless inferences there from have, in our circle at least, ruined a girl's character, and prevanted, as far as the influence ol auy one in this house goes, her earning her living; now it is not lair and just that these words should be explained i" " Y'es 1 dare say it is; but I have forgotten them . only the impression remains." " But 1 have not," said the old man. " In here," and he drew forth the memorandum book in which I had observed liirn writing, " I took down short hand notes ail of that Mrs. Fordham said ; all the half sentences and unmeaning phrases ol which so much was made. " 0!i, Mr. Falconer," cried Miss Lowther and Mrs. Fordham together; " what a teriible compa nion you are ; it's not safe to he with you. 1 had no idea you were an Inquisitor. Private con versa lion—-- " Should never be carried to dangerous lengths. You must forgive me il l use plain words. I would not willingly otieiul you ; but the practice and re solution of forty years must not be broken now. I hope to make converts of jyou both ; and as a first step, I must ask Mrs. Lindesay what nnpiession your remarks, Mrs. Fordham, and the comments of Miss f.owther, made upon tier." " Gh, i don't know. Nay, don't bring me in ; f detest fending anil proving." Nay, Mis Lindesay, you are not doing your self justice ;. your are too good hearted to detest anything that may do a fellow creature service, and put honest bread in tiro mouth of an orphan." Ob, yes of course, I hope so. But all these in vestigations are so dreadfully unpleasant." "So they are, and so is scandal; and, to escape the one yon must avoid the other. But that we're all agreed upon ;so trow to business. Why have you refused your interest to Miss Uayner?" " Well, ready—upon my word, Mr Falconer," said our hostess, half amused, h:\lfatironted, " one would think Miss Uayner had retained you as her counsel." "Alee Hay did in behalf of all mankind," was Uie solemn reply. '• But mv question is why did yon refuse your interest to Miss Uayner?" " Because—because—t really can't define why o exactly. 1 had an unpleasant impression." '• From what ?" '' Oh, | can't say precisely ■ the tono of the con vcrsatinn—the remarks." " I though so,land now to analyze these remarks Mrs. Fordham's are those you allude to 1 suppose." " Yes, and Miss Lowthei's ; of course, no one else knew the girl." '•'Oh, I know nothing about her," Juried Anuc ; f { pray don't involve me deeper, Mrs. Lindesay. I only judged from what Mrs. Fordham said." " And what did Mrs. Fordham say?" asked Mr. Falconer, tproing to his book. " Why, first, than slie didn't know hall the people in C , and that the liayners were quite out of her way. Both of which are very common circumstances, and perfectly compatible with the respectability oI each party. However, as this was the key stone of the whole, 1 will ask Mrs. Fordham to be so good as to explain what she meant by these expressions." " Nothing. Ido not know a quarter of the C—, people; and Mr. and .Mrs. Uayner were quite out of my way, as they kept a great deal of expensive and fashionable company, which I could not atford to do. consequently we seldom met." " Very well. Now the next thing I find down is (hat you say '• yog had no particular reason for avoiding the Hayners; and upon this mysterious remark being seized hold, of, as evidence that you did avoid them ; but they were a good deal talk ed ol." " Yes, they were. Mr. Uayner's partner died suddenly, having involved the firm very much, and the people said that the Rayttcrs were very foolish to live i.i such style as they did—they ou B ht to retrench." " AP.J they did not?'' " < >h, yes, they did at last; they sold their house at J P u ' down their carriages, and come intq the town." Ila! Well, to goon. The next remark was on Miss Rayner's reference, whom you slated " ta have been Mr. Rayner's lawyer, and that at one lime it was said—" what you did not state. May I ask for the conclusion ol the sentence?" " I don't quite remember what I meant when ( said that; but I suppose it was that there was a tu mor of Mr. Bentley being engaged to Mr ftaynar'a younger sister." " Oil ! then were there any peculiar circumstan ces which prevented the match, and of which you thought when you said, " that the tale might be ali a fabrication—that it was long ago, and that he had married since V—all sentences which to very ima ginative people, wouliiconvey the idea that some thing rather disgraceful was attached to the broker, courtship " " Oh, dear no—at least, nothing at ail disgraoe fn! to the lady or the Rayners quite the contrary.— Simply that Miss Churion gave up her fortune to assist her brother-in-law to meet his creditors, and that Mr. Bentley's father refused his consent to his sori's marriage with a portionless and romantic girl. There was a great deal 6aid at the time, a great many rumors, and I dare say a great many stories , but none that i remember as injurious to Miss Churton." "Thank you. Then, on the whole, you know nothing in any way detrimental or derogatory to Miss icayner }" , " No: except that people said they were an cx travnsant, dashing set." " That ia they lived up to the fortune thpy sup posed they had ; and when they lost it relinquished their house, carriages, and style, and were assisted to pay their debts, in which others had involved ihem, by a relative, whose generosity had cos! he: a husband V " Yes." " Well then, Mrs. Lindesay, as we have now repeated the whole of the conversation, I must ask for which of ail these sins you discard Miss Ray ner; and in which parts of all that Mrs. Fordham fias said, do you, Miss Lowther, find a ground fo: the inference that she is unworthy of notice?" ",I do not say that she is unworthy ; but I main tain that \ was fully justified in supposing her to be so, from the tone of Mrs. Fordham ! s remark yesterday." " I agree with you. Anne : though I must con fess, as I said at the time, that if you had not arous ed my- suspicions by pointing out the ambiguity of Mrs Fordham's— " Oa ! spare me," cried Mrs. Fordham, earnest, ly. " Sorely lam not at all to blame. You were prejudiced against Miss Rayner when I cams home ; anil hall the disjointed sentences, to which so much meaning that I never intended was given, sere broken by yourselves. If they had been fin ished—" There was a storm gathering in Anne Lowther's angry eye at this implied accusation and to di vert it, Mr. Falconer said— Lot us not waste lime now in determining who had hr-en most or least to blamo. That idle, thoughtless words have been spoken, we all agree and lament, but happily (or our future peace, their worthlessness had been discovered before the mis chief they have done haJ time to be accomplish? Ed : tor satisfied in my own mind from what you all said yesterday, and what I saw of Miss Ray ner myself, that she was innocent of any sin except poverty, 1 went la her residence this morning, saw and interrogated both hpr and her mother, and an ticipating the present result, have not only taken tiie liberty of requesting her to come here to mor row, but have actually gone sc far as to promise her the reward of your best interest, Mrs. Lindcsay. Nay, don't frown;l know that in your heart you commend me, and I expect not only praise, but thanks, when 1 tell you that on my way home I met two men from C , who knew the Raynets in their palmy days, who have promised a sub scription of rive guineas a year to the funds of the school, so long as F.llen Rayner is governess there.'' Two men !" repealed Anne Lowthcr in a low significant voice. The tone caught Mr. Falconer's car. Flo turned !ia-iily round ; and the look, half hall pity, which he gave the incorrigible scandal mon ger, brought even a flush to her check. Then ho said slowly and sternly " Yes, Miss Lowihcr, two men. Mail in Iho highest sense ol the world—men who can feel for iho fatherless and widow, and who think the knife of the assassin far less infamous and cowardly than the slander which, without foundation, foals away a woman's credit and good name. " Hut lost the fact of these gentlemen's subscrip tion should be tortured into mischief, I beg to pay that-* one of them is the rector of C and the other your good old grandfather; both of whom are, 1 trust, even safe from IDLE WORDS 1" A SCOTCH RECOGNITION —A Scotch woman, when en her way to Glasgow, met two young sai tors, ono of whom abruptly accosted he— " How arc you, good woman 7 How have you been this long time ! ' Looking with surprise at the young man, whom she did not remember to have seen before, she said: " I canna say I ken you, sir." " Not know me, olj woman ! 1 am the devil's sister's son." " Are yc the devil's sister's son , hech, when I take a better look of you, tnon, but you are hko your uncle." REVENGEFUL —An liisliniuii lost his hat in a well and was let down in a bucket lu recover it , the well being deep, his courage failed him before he reached the water. In vain did he call to those above him . they lent a deaf ear to all he said, till at length, quite in despair, he bellowed out, "By St Patrick it you don't be af er diawiu' me up suit, I'll cut the rope." HpSEISSg
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