TK HH OF PDBJJMTION.
THK REPORTER is published every Thurs
day Morning, by E. O. GOODRICH, Rt $2 par
".nnnm, in advance.
ADVERTISEMENTS, exceeding fifteen
ii.ies are inserted at TEN CENTS per line for
first insertion, and FIVE CENTS per line for
subsequent insertions. Special notices in
serted before Marriages and Deaths, will
fie charged ri: IKES CENTS per line for each
insertion. All resolutions of Associations ;
communications of limited or individual
interest,and notices of Marriages or Deaths
, X, ceding five lines, are charged TEN CENTS
a_ r line.
1 Year. 6 mo. 3 mo.
i me Column, $75 $4O $3O
Half " vt , 4 !® 2 ®. !£
)ne Square 10 74 o
Estrav,Caution, Lost and Found, and other
advertisements, not exceeding 10 lines,
three weeks, or less, $1 50
Administrator's & Executor's Notices. .2 00
Auditor's Notices 2 50
Business Cards, five lines, (per year) 5 00
Merchants and others, advertising their
business, will be charged $2O. They will
he entitled to i column, confined exclusive
ly to their business, with privilege of change.
sf Advertising m all cases exclusive of
subscription to the paper.
JOB PRINTING of every kind, in Plain
and Fancy colors, done with neatness and
dispatch. Handbills, Blanks, Cards, Pam
phlets, Ac., of every variety and style, prin
ted at the shortest notice. The REPORTER
OFFICE has just been re-fitted with Power
Presses, and every thing in the Printing
line can be executed in the most artistic
manner and at the lowest rates. TERMS
INVARIABLY CASH.
(fiarDs.
RNILOMAS J. INGHAM, ATTOR-
X SF. Y AT /.AW. LAPORTE, Sullivan
County, f*.
( t EORGE P. MONTANYE, AT
YJ 7" iiSFY A T I.A IF— Office in Union
Block, formerly occupied by JaMact *Ki.asfc.
\\T T. DA VIES, Attorney at Law,
VY • Towanda, Pa. Office with Wm. Wat
kins. Esq. Particular attention paid to Or
phans' Court business and settlement ot dece
dents estates.
If ERCUR & MORROW, Attorneys J
jfX at I.air, Towanda, Penn'a,
The undersigned having associated themselves j
together in the practice of Law, offer their pro- j
i>-siunal services to the puWlic.
ULYSSES MERCUR. P. D. MORROW.
March 9,1865.
DATRIOK & PECK, ATTORNEYS AT
X LAW. Offices :—ln Union Block. Towanda, !
Pa., iormerly occupied by Hon. Wm. Etwell.aud
in Patrick's block. Athens, Pa. They may fie
consulted at either place.
u. w. PATKICK, apll3 v. A. PECK. '•
ÜB. McKEAN, ATTORNEY &
• COUNSELLOR AT LAW, Towan
da, i'a. Particular attention paid to business
in the Orphans' Court. July 20. 1866
HENRY FEET, Attorney at Law,
Towanla. Pa. jun27,tlti.
U H - CARNOOHAN, A TTOR- i
l' A'FY AT /.AH', Troy, Pa. Special i
attention given to collecting claims against the 1
G verument tor Bounty, Back Pay and Pensions.
Office with E. B. Parsons. Esq. June 12, 1865.
DR. 11. WESTON, DENTIST—
Office in Patton's Block, over Gore's D ag .
and Chemical Stors. Ijan66
LID WARD OVERTON Jr., Attor-
JLinri/ at /.air, Towanda, Pa. Office in Mon- j
myes Block, over Frost's Store Jniy 13,1865. |
JOHN N. OALIFF, ATTORNEY
tl AT LAW, Towanda, Pa. Also, Govern- i
iaent Agent for the collection ol Pensions, Back j
Pay and Bounty.
**■ No charge unless successful. Office over |
the Post Office and News Room. Dec. 1,1864. j
OD. STILES, M. I)., Physician and
• Surgeon, would announce to the people of
Rome Borough and vicinity, that he has perma- j
.nently locate at the place lormerly occupied by |
Dr. G. W. Stone, for the practice of his p ofes- j
siou. Particular attention given to the treat- ,
ment oi women and children, as also to the prac- |
tice of operative and minor surgery. Oct. '2,'66. j
DR. PRATT BUS removed to State
street, (first above B. S. Russe : A Co's :
Baok). Persons from a distance desirous t con- j
suiting him, will be most likely to find him on
Saturday of each week. Especial attention will [
be given to surgical cases, and the extraction of
teeth, 'las or Ether administered when desired.
July 18. 1866. D. S. PRATT, M. D.
DOCTOR CHAS. F. PAINE —or
fice in (long's Drug Store, Towanda, Pa. j
Calls promptly attended to at all hours.
Towanda. November 28, 1866.
LU)YV'D MEEK S—AUCTION EE R.
i i All letters addressed to him at Sugar Run,
BradioidCo. Pa., will receive prompt attention, j
I 'RANCIS E. POST, Painter, Tow
anda, Pa, with 10 years experience, is con- ;
Stent he can give the best satisfaction in Paint- !
ing, Graining, Staining, Glazing, Papering, Ac. j
sr Particular attention paid to Jobbing in the
country. April 9. 1866. j
JK. VAUGIIAX Architect and
• Builder —All kinds of Architectural de
signs furnished. Ornamental work in S'one,
Iron and Wood. Office on Mam street, over
Russell A Co.'s Bank. Attention given to Ru- ■
fa! Architecture, such as laying out of grounds,
Ac.. Ac. April 1, 1867 ly. j
J J. SEWE LL ,
COUNTY SURVEYOR,
Orwell, Bradford Co. . Pa., will promptly attend
to all business in his lioe. Particular attention
given to running and establishing old or dispu- j
ted lines. Also to surveying ol all unpattented !
lands as SOOD as warrants are obtained. tn>l7 !
YR HKRSEY WATKINS, Notary\
If i Public is prepared to take Deposi- !
uns. Acknowledge he Execution of Deeds, j
Mortgages, Power of vttorney, and all other !
instruments. Affidavits and other pipers any
be sworn to before me.
Office opposite the Banking House of B.S. j
Russell A C., a few doors north of the Ward '
House. Towanda, Pa , Jan. 14, 1867.
JJ D. KNA PP,
Watch Maker and Dealer in Gents and Ladies I
Wat-hes Chains and Finger Rings.Clocks, Jew- j
Hry, Gold fens, Spectacles, Silver ware, Plat ,
td ware, Hollow ware, Thimbles, Sewing Ma
hines, and other goods belonging to a Jewel- I
ry Store.
Pertieular attention paid to Repairing, at i
his old place near fhe Post Office, Waverly. N. j
Y. Dec. 3. is 6 tf.
I OHN MORAY;
ARTIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER.
Will promptly attend to all business in bis line. •
Sp> cial attention given to Landscape and Stere- I
nscopic Photography Views of Family Resi- j
deuces.Stores. Public Buddings, Animals. Ma- 1
bines, etctaken in the best manner.
Particular attentiou given to the novel and
beautiiul stere copic representation of objects. ;
Orders received at W..od A Harding's Pb oto- 1
graphic Art Gallery. Towanda.
Towanda, April 2.!. 1667 yl.
R P H E UNDERSIGNED HAVE
A opened a Bunking House in Towanda, un
der the name r. G. F. MASON A CO.
They are prepared to draw Bills of Ex- j
hange, and make collections in New York, I
Philadelphia, and all portions of the United
■states, as also England, Germany, and France. !
"lo Loan money, receive deposit - , and to do a
general Banking business.
G F. Mason was one of the late firm of
i-aportc, Mason A Co., of Towanda, Pa., and
his knowledge of the business men of Bradford
-nd adjoining Counties,and having been in the
banking business for about fifteen years make
this house t desirable one, through which to
make co llections.
G. F. MASON,
Towanda, Oct. 1, 1666. A. G. MASON.
DRA D F ORD COUN T Y
REAL ESTATE AGENCY.
H. B. McKEAN, RKAI. ESTATE ARENT.
\ a'.uable Farms, Mill Properties, City and
town Lots for sale.
Parties having property for sale will find it
to their advantage by eaving a description of
the same, with terms of sale at this agency, as
parties are constantly enquiring for farms Ac
H. B. McKEAN,
Real Estate Agent.
Office Montanyc s Block, Towa> da, Pa.
Jan. 29, 1807
A CHOICE SELECTION OF MlS
cellane.ua and Juvenile Books at
RIDOWAY'S DRUG A BOOK STORE,
| Wt IA Jf-rm £i |•'
E. O. GOODRICH, Pub Usher.
VOLUME XXVII.
Cjotels.
YY AKI) HOUSE, TOYVANDA, PA.
On Main Street, near the Oo•.lr , House.
C. T. SMITH, Proprietor.
Oct. S, 1866.
IJYMEII IU A N HOTEL,"
T O W A X D A , PA.,
Uaving purchased this well known Hotel on
i Bridge Street, 1 have refurnished and refitted
it with every convenience for the accommoda
tion of all who may patrouize me. No pains will
be spared to make all pleasant and agreeable.
May 3,'tifi.—ti. J. S. PATTERSON, Prop.
Y'DEK HOUSE, a four story brick
t— edifice near the depot,with large airy rooms,
elegant parlors, newly furnished, has a recess in
new addition lor babes use, and is the most
convenient and only first class ho e! at Waverly.
N. Y. It is The principal office for stages south
and express. Also for sale of We-tern Tickets,
and in Canada, on Brand Trunk Rail-way. Fare
to Detroit troui liufialo, #4, is cheaper than any
other ronte. Apply for tickets s above to
C. WARFOBD.
W Btat.iing and care ot Horses at reasonable
rates.
Waverly N. Y , Oct.tt, 1866.-3 m. C. W.
HOTEL,
v ■
SMITHBORO. N. Y .
I Uaving rented aud Refitted this well known
Hotel, I am ready to accommod ite all who may
favor me with a call. 1 irava a la ge Hall ai
tached, suitable for lectures, dances. Ac. Pass
:■ :;t rs , iiiied to any point fiy applying at the
Hotel. No pains wtii be spared to make every
thing agreeable and comfortable for the r ravel
i iug public. J. B. VAN WINKLE.
i Jau. 10. 1867. Proprietor.
fUillincrg am) Dress Making.
.
YJ ISS GRIFFIN,
Would respectfully ask the ladies to call and
examine her stock ot Spring Millinery Goods,
just received from New York. Every thing
beautiful and new. in the line ol Bonnets, Hats,
i Trimming-, etc She takes pleasure in offering
to herlrieuds and the public generally.
Ol her work, those who have patronized her,
are the best judges, and to ihem -no reters.
Towanda, April 23. 1807. fiw*
MISSES WOUGHTER A SHIP
4 AN,
DRESS JAKERS.
Rooms over Bramhall & Lowell's Store, Main
i Street. Second Door below Beidleman's Block.
I Towanda Pa., April sth 1867 —3m.
ILLIX b R Y .
MRS. J. 0. PIERCE,
Would announce to the citizens oi Towanda,
and the public generally, tbat she has just re
turned from New York with a well selected as
sort meut of Goods, and opened a
MILLINERV STORE,
Over Sklam's Clothing Store, in the front room
formerly occupied by W. C. Bogart, Esq.,
where she will be pleased to see the Ladies of
T< wanda and vicinity, being confident that with
a varied and well-selected assortment she can
supply their wants.
Having procured the services of one of the
best Milliuers rom the City, she believes that
she can give entire satisfaction. Particular at
tention given to STRAW WORK.
tr Come and see us. Don't forget the
place, over Shhm'sCl >thiug Store, next d"or to
Mercur's Store.
Towanda, April 8, 1807.
M. A. BUFFINGTOX,
Would announce to the ladies ol Towan da and
vincinity, that she is now prepared to give her
time and attention to
DRESS MAKING,
And solicits a share of their patronage, Ali or
ders will be promptly attended to. Rooms at
the residence of N. J Keeler, (up stairs) two
doors east of Dr. Pratt's office, on State street.
Towanda, April 15, l-> .7. E
E W M ILLINERY
AT MOXROETON.
Miss EMMA SILL A Miss MAHION S. RIDGWAV,
Having just returned from New York with a
fine and well selected assortment of
MII.L/XERY AXD FAXCY (iUOI)S,
Would inform their friends, and 'he public gen
erally. that they would be p'e.isd to receive a
call from them a' iheir rooms formerly occupied
by Mrs. H. M. Trscy.
wParticular attention given to Straw Work.
April 17. 1867.
miscellaneous.
T O. OF O.F.—BRADFORD LODGE
1. • No. I*7, I. O. of O. F. dice's a' Odd Fel
lows Hall every Monday eveumg from the first
Mondaj in April to the first Monday in October
at 74 v. m., from October to April at 6* p. m.
J. K. CAREY.Sec y.
April 23, 1867.
1 N'STRU MENTAL MUSIC.—Miss
A STELLA HALL would inform the public that
she proposes giving instruction upon the Piano,
and th-t bavingpaid especial attention to the
principles of Music, she feels confident of giv
ing entire satisiacCon in the advancement in
musical attainments of any who may be placed
under her charge. Terms—'24 lessons aad use
of instrument $l2; without use of instru
ment $lO. Residence two doors north of Dr.
Ladd's.
Towanda, Dec. 3,1666.—ft.
PJBLIC DRAY.—The subscriber
has had mace a new and convenient DRAY
and will hereafter be preptrcd to do hauling tor
all persons desiring his services
His Dray will stand in front of Patch's store,
when not engaged and all orders may be left at
that store.
The patronage of the public is respectfully
solicited, as by prompt attention to orders, and,
by punctuality and low chaiges, he i 3 determ
i ed lo merit a share 01 custom.
FRANK STEPHENS.
Morch 2*. 1567. —•'lm*
GRIST MILL. —f have purchased
the grist mill known as the Hale Mill, sit- ,
uated near the mouth of Towanda Creek, and
about two miles south ol Towanda Borough.
I take this method of no'itying my old friends ;
of my location, and am in hopes to gan many j
new triends and j>atrons by strict attention to |
my business. All I ask is a fair trial, as lam
well satisfied that I can suit my customers .
WM. BAiia.
South Towanda. April 23, 1597.
1 TWENTY FIVE YEARS EXPERI
. ENCE IN DENTISTRY.
J. M. SMITH. M. D., would respectfully inform
the inhabitants ot Bradtord County that he is
permanently located in Waverly, N. Y., where
he has been in the practice ot his profession for
the past lour years, fie would say that from his
long and successful practice of 25 years duration
he is familiar with all the different styles of
work done in any and all Dental Establishments
I in city or country, and is better prepared than
any other Dental operator in the vicinity to do
work the best adapted to the many and different
case 3 that present themselves oftentimes to the
Dentist, as be understands the art of mak ng his
own artificial teeth, and has laeilities lor doing
the same. To those requiring under sets of
l teeth he would call attention to his new kind of
i work which consists of porcelain for both plate
and teeth, and formings continuous gum. It is
more durable, more natural in appearance, and
much better adapted to the gum than any other
kind of work. Those tu need of the same are
iuvited to call and examine specimens. Teeth
filled to last for years and oitentimes for life.—
Chloroform. Ether, and " Nitrous Oxide " ad
ministered with perfect safety, as over four hun
dred patients within the last lour years can tes
tify
i will 1-e in Towanda from the 15th to 30th of
every month, at the "fib-• ot W. K. TAYLOR,
(formerly occupied by Lb 0. H. Woodruff)—
Having made arrangements with Mr. Taylor, I
am prepared to do all work in the very best
stvle, his office Apri123,1897.
JMtftril fortrjt.
THK ItVSEKJf.
About us float the odorous gales
That kiss the eternal hills of day ;
Oh ! that the chilling fog would lift,
And show our waiting feet thf way !
We grope about us—seeing not
The waiting ones outside our sight,
Whose viewless hands are clasping ours,
To leafl us up the shining height.
We may not know the cords we touch,
That, glancing 'long th' electric line,
Flash back upon our sodden lives,
Some hints of peace and love divine.
As clefted mountains sometimes hide
Behind the vapor's gurgli g drift,
Till, pierced by Sol's directer ray,
Their girding shadows slowly lift.
So we grope on, ueath fogs of doubt.
Our hearts in solemn silence bowed ;
While God's eternal verities
Are hidden from us by a cloud.
When lo ! a kindling glory throws
A sudden splendor o'er our w.iv,
And, slowly lilting, 10, appear
The whitely shining hills of day '
And yet not oft—not yet to all,
These prophecies and hints are given,
Only as signals sparsely set,
Along the battlements of lit even.
Yet some day. every waiting soul.
Shall see the mists slow rolling back,
And, freed from clogs of earth and sin,
Walk calmly up the shining track !
Sale.
THE PAINTER'S WIFE.
" But you have not told me yet,
Cynlla, what incident the picture is
intended to represent."
"It is intended to illustrate the
story of ' Ginevra/as told in Roger's
Italy. I dare say you recollect the
poem in question ?"
" O yes : I remember ail about
Francesco Doria and his youthful
bride ; and how the latter hid him
self in an old chest on her wedding
day, and wa< smothered, uud her
L><>dy not fouud for ever so many
years afterwards."
"That is just the point—where
Ginevra is about to hide herself—
that Theodore is trying to illustrate.
1 have sat to him I don't know how
many times already."
"And a very good likeness it is ol
you, my dear. And the chest in
wiiich she is about to hide herself is
painted Irorn that real chest in the
corner there 1 It looks hundreds of
years old. Dear, dear ! it's quite
wonderful. But I thought painters
always invented such things out of
their own heads."
The speakers were auut and niece
—tire latter a fair and slender girl of
twenty, with a singularly youthful
expression of face for one who was
both a wife and mother. The time
was half-past nine on a certain au
tumn evening some hall a dozen
years ago ; and the place was a
pleasant home-like room in a small
villa in one of the westerly suburbs
of London.
" The mention of those Italian
names, Cyrilla," said Mrs. Reese
presently, " puts me in niiud of au
old admirer of yours, Signor Pietro
Fastini. By the by, do you know
where he now is ?"
" No. Where?" said Cyrilla quick*
"In a luuatic asylum. He went
crazy about a year ago, and has
beeu under restraint ever since. I
don't think you treated him well, Cy
rilla, to encourage his attentions, and
then to cast him off in the way you
did."
Cyrilla's cheek paled suddenly ;
she sank into a chair, and did not
speak for a minute or two. " You
have been misinformed, aunt," she
*aid at last, rfignor Fastini never
received the slightest encouragement
from me. I was attracted towards
hiin by his great musical talent ; but
it was his own presumption that
drew him on to speak to me as he
did. Nevertheless, lam truly griev
- d to hear of the affliction that has
overtaken him."
Cyrilla sat thinking deeply for
some time after her aunt's depai -ure;
going, in memory, through all tiio.se
phases of her lite in which the young
Italian had been an actnr. Her re
verie was brought to an end by the
clock on the mantle piece chiming
eleven.
She got up from her scat with a
little sigh, and went into her dress
ing room, which opened out of the
room in which she had been sitting,
and bathed her hands and face ; and
changed her evening dress for a com
fortable white wrapper ; and un
bound her yellow hair, letting it fall
in a rich sheaf down her shoulders ;
for Theodore had gone out to-night
to a supper-party given bj T a brother
artist who was about to enter the
holy state of matrimony, and she had
promised to sit up for him ; and The
odore, on his part, had promised to
be home soon after midnight.
Going back into the sitting-room,
Cyrilla rang the bell, and presently
nurse came in with baby, who, being
a well behaved young gentleman,
was happily fast asleep at this late
hour. He was deposited in a pretty
little cot close by his mother's side.
" You can go to bed, nurse, and the
other servants can do the same,"
said Mrs. Thornhurst. " I will sit up
for master myself. See that the doors
and windows are a 1 fastened before
you go up stairs."
When the woman was gone, Cyril
la stirred tip the low tire on the
hearth into a fitful blaze, and then
took np the first volume of a novel
which had been brought her that af
ternoon from the library. Theodore
would t> li in • in an hour at the fur
thest, and the time would pass plea
santly and quickly away.
REGARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY q CARTER.
TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., MAY 2,1867.
A pleasant, cozy, home-like picture
—the gretty, girlish wile coiled up
gracefully in her husband's huge easy
chair ; the sleeping child ; the room
itself, with its walls half hidden with
sketches, prints, and water-dolors,
with the easel in one corner, and the
piano-forte in another ; with (Jyrilla's
work basket on a side-table in com
pany with a meerschaum, big and
brown, aud a tobacco jar after the
antique. A pleasant picture, aud
niie which Theodore Thoruhurst, art
ist lrorn the top of his head to the
sole of his feet, would not fail to note
when he should come stepping lei
surely in through one of the three
French windows opening on the lawn
which had just heeu draped, ready
lor winter, with curtains of crimson
dauiask, in glace of the muslin oues
which had shaded them thiuugh the
summer months.
Cyrilla read on undisturbed for
about half an h.mr, at tlie end of
which time baby began to grow rest
less ; so she laid down her book, and
! began to rock the cot with a slow,
j gentle motion, and at the same time
to sing, in a minor key, the exquisite
j cradle song from The Princess :
Sweet and low, sweet and low,
Wind of the western sea ;
Low, low, breathe and blow,
Wind of the western sea!
Singing thus, she lifted the child
tenderly out of its cot, kissed it fond
ly, and carried it through the dress
ing room into the chamber beyond,
. and there laid it suugly in bed.—
I Presently, she came back, still bum
ming the music of the song under her
breath, and leaving the door of the
dressing room half open behind her,
so that she might the more readily
hear her darling, shoulk he awake
and cry out. Then she sat down
again in her husband's easy chair,
and went on with her novel. Hut
the undercurrent of her thoughts was
with her husband ; and presently she
glanced up at the time piece on the
mantel-shelf, only to discover that it
had come to a dead stop some ten
minutes previously, for wautof wind
ing up. tihe put down her book, and
rose at once to perform the necessa
ry duty, for the voice of the little
clock sounded like that of a friend
in her lonely watching. How the
words of that song haunted her mem
ory :
Sweet and low, sweet and low,
Wind of the western sea.
She was winding up the time piece
slowly and carefully, and humming
the song to herself, and as she did so
—what woman would not have done
the same ?—she glanced at the rejec
tion of her own pretty face in the
glass over the chimney piece. She
saw her blue-eyed face with its set
ting of yellow hair, and the same
moment she saw something else by
no means so pleasant to look upon—
something that for one brief instant
caused every pulse of her being to
stand still in silent horror.
There was some one in the room
beside herself. What she saw in the
glass was the rejection of a hand
grasping the crimson damask cur
tains that draped the French window
opposite tte fireplace. Only a hand
—but whose hand ? It was very
small and very white, but unmistak
ably the hand of a man, and just as
surely not the big brown paw of The
odore Thornhurst.
Cyrilla's eyes dilated as she gazed;
the murmur of the song died off her
lips ; hei fingers ceased from turning
the key of the clock : she stood like
one changed to stone. She durst not
turn her head to glance at the dread
reality which she knew was behind
her ; she kept her gaze fixed steadily
in the glass, watching with a sort ot
horrible eagerness for some sign or
token of life in those white, death
like fingers, which looked as if they
belonged to a corpse. Suddenly,
while she was looking like one l'asci
uated, there was a slight movement
of the curtain, the white fingers re
laxed their grasp, opened, and for
an instant were withdrawn. Next
moment they were there again,
grasping the curtain as before ; aud
as they reappeared, Cyrilla's heart
thrilled with a fresh terror ; she felt
—by instinct, and not by the action
ol any more positive sense—that,
from amid the dim folds of the cur
tain, two eyes, unseen by her, were
watching her every movement.
The dread inspired by this discov
ery—for she felt sure that her in
stinct was not playing her false—
was almost more than she could bear.
Her senses seemed as though they
were about to desert her ; a dimness
crept over her eyes ; a numbness be
gan to steal through every limb ; and
it seemed to her as though the room,
herself, and even that terrible hand,
were all fading into unsubstai tial
shadows, and that nothing could ev
er trouble her more when all at once
her fading senses were pierced by a
laint sound—a sound that went
straight to her mother's heart, and in
one brief moment stung all her fad
ing senses into vivid life. It was the
voice of her child that she had heard
just as she was about to sink faint
ing to the floor. He had turned over
in his sleep, and had felt for her in
j the dark, and had given utterance to
I a low plaintive cry at not finding her
beside him. To a feeling of life the
most vivid aud intcuse, that weak
voice had recalled her. " For my
child's sake," she murmured in her
heart, " let strength be given me !"
Her hand was steady enough now,
and she went on with the winding up
01 the little clock, winding slowly,
that she might have more time to
think what her next move must be.
She was strangely calm now, with
that calmness which is induced in
some natures by the presence of a
great peril. As she kepton winding
her eyes seemed to be fixed intently
on the little clock, but were at the
same time watching the hand with a
covert half look that might or might
not deceive the hidden eyes which
she felt sure were just a* intently!
watching her.
There 1 the clock was wound up
at last—never had it taken so long a
time before—aud the question was,
what to do next ? If she could only
get away—get away into her dress
ing room, and put the door between
herself aud her hidden visitor— she
ielt that both she aud her child would
be safe. It was iheir only chance of
escape. The effort must be made,
and that at once ; for to stay in the
room much longer, watched by those
unseen eyes, would be enough to
drive her mad.
Sweet and low, sweet and low,
Wind of the western sea.
How she contrived to get the words
out she could never have told after
wards, but she found herself hum
ming them over, and sidling across
the room with an elaborately careless
air, towards a little table placed half
way between the fireplace and the
dressing room door. The table was
reached in safety, aud Oyriila ven
tured to breathe again. A photo
graphic album lay on the table, and
she took it up aud began to examine
it with the deepest apparent interest.
While in this position, the hand was
behind her. She would have given
much to be able to glance over her
shoulder and see whether it was stiil
visible, but the effort was one that
required more courage than she had
to spare just then. Perhaps, even
now, her unknown visitor was steal
ing out from behind the curtain—was
creeping stealthily after with the
view of surprising her, say by put
ting hiß hands over her eyes, or by
seizing her suddenly round the waist!
His footsteps would be noiseless on
the thick carpet. She could bear the
horror of her situation no longer ;
she let the book drop lrorn between
her fingers, and made a rush for her
dressing room ; but just as she had
got witliiu a yard of the door, she
stumbled, aud came down on her
knees. Before she could make even
one effort to rise, she was grasped
by the right wrist from behind, a cold
hand was placed over her mouth, and
a stern voice whispered in her ear :
" Make the least noise, and you are
a dead woman !"
Next instaut, her mouth was un
covered, and Cyrilla founi herself
| lifted somehow on her feet. She
turned to look at her assailant, and
as her eyes met his, she shruuk away
i from him as far as the iron grasp on
her wrist would allow, and gave ut
terance to a low cry of terror : "Sig
uor Pietro Fastini !"
" Even so, carissinia mia," he said.
" You du not seem pleased to see me.
But pray resume your seat aud
still holding her by the wrist, he led
her back to the easy chair, into which
he inducted her with a profouud bow.
A tall aud elegant looking man,
this Signor Pietra Fastini ; olive
complexioned ; with black beard and
moustache, thin and silky ; and large
dark, melancholy-looking eyes. But
iu those eyes there was now au ex
pression such as Cyrilla had never
seen in them before—an expression
that made her shiver with affright.
He was dressed in full evening cos
tume, except that he was without hat
aud gloves ; while his long black
hair, all blown and tangled by the
night-wind, lent a touch of iucon
gruity to his appearance, which no
one could have failed to detect.
" Certainly, you do not seem pleas- j
ed to see me," he repeated, loosing
his grasp ot Cyrilla'B wrist" "That, ;
however, was hardly to be expected j
Let us put it that I took you too |
much by surprise, and not that I am ,
au uuweicome guest."
He gave utterance to a low, sneer
ing laugh ; then he drew up a chair
close iu front of Cyrilla, and sat
down on it, and seemed to devour
her with his large black eyes. " Cy
rilla Thornhurst," he said, " do you
know with what purpose I am here
this evening."
Poor Cyriila's lips formed " So,"
but no sound issued from theui.
" I am here to kill you," he said,
speaking with the slightest possible
accent.
Cyrilla pressed ber fingers to her
eyes, aud seemed to shriuk back still
further in the easy chair. The Ital
ian twisted the ends of his mous
tache, aud watched her in grave si 1
lence.
" Oblige me by removing your
hands from before your face," he re
sumed after a pause. " Thanks : that
is better. Remember, I am here to
kill, but not to torture. Wheu the
proper moment shall have come for
carrying out my purpose, one brief;
pang will end everything."
He spoke in solemu, unimpassioued
accents, without any trace of excite
ment either in manners or words,
aud almost as though he were the
minister of some stern Fate, whose
behests it was his duty to cany .jut, :
without having the power to alter
them, and against which was
no possible appeal.
"Do yon remember wheu and
where we parted last ?" he weut on.
" 1 know that you do, for such occa
sions are never forgotteu by women.
For mouths before that day, you led
me on, little by little, till at la>t I
was foolish enough to think that I
had only to ask and to have. I did
ask—with what result you kuow as
well as I. You laughed at my love,
and dismissed me forever with a fool
ish jest. I went away and strove to
forget you, and to a certain extent I
succeeded ; for at that time I was
just.beginniug to work out the de
tails of my Grand Scheme, and all
my time and attentiou were needed
to perfect it. My grand scheme I"
he went on, with a sudden change of
tone, and an added brightness iu his
dark eyes. "It would have revolu
tionized the wor'd, if only the world
had been wise enough to receive it.
But, like all great discoverers, I am
a century before the age."
He began to pace the room rapid-
' I
08 per Annam, 111 Advance.
ly, with knitted brows, and the fore
finger of one hand pressed to his
cheek, while his lips moved inaudi
bly ; but always with a covert eye
on Gyrilla, to see that she did not at
tempt to escape.
" Strange, strange !" he mnrmured.
" No sooner did I begin to advo
cate that project, than I was set
down as madman ; and because I
would not forswear my ideas, they
shut me up with mad people—me,
me !"
He burst into a fit of laughter,
louil and shrill ; and then drawing
from one of his pockets a small box
full of those acidulated drops of
which children are so fond, he placed
two or three of them on his toDgue,
and swallowed them like so many
pills ; and with that, he went and re
sumed his seat close by Cyrilla.
"It was while I was living among
the mad folks," he went on, "that I
made the acquaintance of my frieud
the Mandarin, a gentleman twelve
inches in height. Sometimes he would
come into my room through the key
hole, sometimes down the chimney,or
as often as not he would hop in at the
; open window, carrying his head un
; der his arm. He used to perch him
self on my table, and sit and nod at
i me by the hour together, and favor
; me with his advice 011 every conceiv-
I able subject. Ob, he was a most
learned mandarin. It was he who
1 persuaded me to come to this place,
and kill you—and kill your husband.
1 Aud I have sworn to do it ! There
i was to be a grand party to-night at
the place where I have been residing
for so many mouths. 1 dressed for
it, of course, just to please the foolish
; creatures—you know what strange
1 whims those poor crazy wretches
have sometimes—and in the confus
ion I escaped. See ! I bought this
as I came along ; the handle is de
signed after the antique, and pleased
me hugely."
As he spoke, he drew from the
pocket of his dress coat a slender
cased poiiaird of dull bluish steel,with
a haft of bronze. Having extracted
it from its case, he 'proceeded to wipe
it carefully, almost tenderly, with his
cambric handkerchief ; while Cyrilla,
coiled up iu the easy-chair, watched
his every movement with bright,
quiek-glaucing eyes—the eyes of an
animal brought to bay—that nothing
escaped.
The little clock on the chimuey
place chimed the quarter before mid
night.
"When that clock strikes twelve,
Cyrilla Thornhurst,you will have lived
your life."
Lie spoke with the quiet, unhesita
ting conviction of tone of one who
sees before him a foregone conclusion,
from which it is impossible that he
eau swerve iu the slightest degree.
"What have I (lone to deserve so
terrible a fate at your hands ?" burst
out Cyrilla
"You have wrecked the happiness
of my life," said the Italian—"wreck
ed it utterly and irretrievably. That
1 might have forgiven you ; but I
have promised my friend the manda
rin—for state reasons,which it would
be a breach of confidence in me to
reveal—to kill you, to kill your hus
band, and to kill your child. It is
sufficient to state that your lives are
required by the great Dog star,whose
hierophaut I am. Ask me no further.
The initiated would understand me
at once ; for there is a transcenden
talism in these matters which is as
the language of Fi Fo Fuir to those
whose eyes have been anointed with
grease from the Great Bear. Your
time in this world is reduced to ten
ounutes and five seconds."
With the putting away of the pon
iard for a time, Cyrilla had taken her
eyes off the Italian, aud now sat with
her chin sunk on her breast, and her
bauds tightly clasped, brooding over
what she had just heard. To kill her
husband and her child ! That would
be a thousand times worse than death
to herself. Theodore might come any
minute now—come stepping jauntily
in through the French window, to be
sp ung upon by this madman, and
stabbed before my eyes. "If only 1
could steady my mind to think," she
kept repeating to herself. What was
it she had heard anu read about the
pecuii .rities of mad people ! If she
could only bring it to miud !
The Italiau was watching her nar
rowly from under his beut brows.—
Suddenly,with that abruptness which
marked all his movements, he got up,
and striding to the easel, iluug back
the sheet with which it was covered.
He started at sight of the picture ;
but next moment, his poniard was
out, and the canvas stabbed through
iu a dozen different piaces. "Out !
out ! cursed likeness of a alse-heart
ed fiend !" he exclaimed. "Oh, that
a soul so vile should lodge in a husk
so sweet !"
If she could only bring it to mind !
All at once, something seemed to
catch her breath, and she pressed her
hand to her heart for a moment,while
a strange expression crept over her
face, which subsided presently into
one of her swt etest smiles. Then she
half rose from the easy-chair, and
turned her large soft eyes full on the
young Italian. "Pielro tnin ," she
said ; and there was a world of mean
ing in Iter way of saying those two!
little words.
The dark frown vanished like a
cloud from the face of the youug Ital
ian, and the light of passion faded
from h s eyes when he heard himself
addressed thus ; and he turned on
| Oyrilla a look half bewildered, half
i suspicious, and felt with one hand for
the haft of his poniard. She was stan
ding with her head a little on one
side, smiling at him ; and while he
was looking, her rosy lips whispered,
"€ome !" and HB if were a command
! impossible for him to disobey,he came
; towards her—timidly, cautiously,and
; suspiciously, but still step by step
nearer. As she sank back in her easy
I chair, still with the same fixed smile
NUMBER 48.
on her face, her finger pointed to a
low footstool a yard or two away.—-
He understood her gesture, and push
i|ig the footstool across the floor, he
seated himself ou it close by her
chair. Again the same strange ex
pression swept over her face as the
sleeve of his coat touched her dress
as he sat down ; but the smile was
back again next moment, and her
voice took an ac eat as low aud ten
der as that of any love lorn Juliet
when she next spoke to him
"You naughty, boy I" she said,and
she pinched his ear playfully as she
spoke ; 'I vow you nearly fright
ened me to death, creeping into the
room in that stealthy way, for all the
world like the villain in a melodrama.
How was I to know it was you that
was behind the curtain ? Aud then,
when I did see you, I declare you
gave my nerves quite a shock. I
had heard such strange stories about
your beiDg mad, and all thai, yuu
know, so that rny fright can hardly
be wondered at. My Pietro, what
you must have suflered !"
Every nerve and fibre in the Ital
ian's body seemed to thrill under the
influence of those loving words aud
that angelic smile : bt his eyes were
still full of bewilderment, and his lips
moved inaudibly for several moments
before he spoke. "Why do you pity
me ?" he said at last. "How can you
be glad to see me, wbeu you know
that I am here to take your life !"
Cyrilla sighed. "Can you not un
derstand, my Pietro," she said, that
when life has become a burden, it
does not seem such a difficult thing to
quit it
"Your life a burden !" he said iu
creduously. "In this pretty nest,aud
mated with the husband of your
choice, life ought to be very precious
to you."
"The opinion of the world !" said
Cyrilla, with a mournful ling in her
voice —"ls there not such a thing,
Pietro, as being wedded to a man
with whom you have nothing in com
mon t You have read Lock sky Hall,
and you know what I mean without
my saying more. Once I had a treas
ure within my grasp,but not knowiug
its value, I threw it carelessly away.
Do you think that life to such a one
can be a thing of mucli value ?"
She turned away her face, and
buried it in her handkerchief. Fas
tini on his knees before her, "Cyrilla,
Cyrilla, ! say that you love me," he
cried. One of htr hands was lying
carelessly by her lap ; he seized it,
and covered it with passionate kisses.
She did not repulse him ; she only
said gently : "You must not do
that; you know that you have vowed
to kill me."
"No, no!" be cried passionately,
starting - to bis feet. " You shall not
die ! I will intercede for you with
the mandarin. The Dog star him
self shall hear your story, and pity
you. riouie other life shall be sacri
liced in place of yours : you shall
live. Together, we will quit this
hateful England ; together, in my
own sunny clime, in Italy the beauti
ful, we will—"
The clock on the mantle-piece
chimed miduight.
" There sounds the knell of doom!"
said Cyrilla with a mournful smile.
"It is the signal that summons
you to a new life—to a life of love,
aud freedom, and happiness !" said
the Italian. "It tells rne too," he ad
ded, "that I have other work atill left
to accomplish." He laid a finger
lightly on her shoulder. " The man
who calls you wife, the child who
calls you mother, they must die !"
Cyrilla's eyes confronted those of
the madman steadily : not the quiver
of a nerve betrayed the feelings at
work within her.
Fastini began to move towards the
door of the dressing-room ; Cyrilla
caught him by the button, and held
him. He turned on her in an instant,
a wild devil of fury glaring - out of
his eyes. "Do you—dare—to say—
that you care the leasf in the world
about those two?" he snarled out.
He had her grasped firmly by the
shoulder with one hand ; bis other
tmud was behind her, and she felt the
sharp point of tire poniard prick
through her dressing-robe into her
flesh, as he asked the question.
" Care for either of them !" ex
claimed Cyrilla, with a contemptuous
laugh. "Whyshould I care for them,
Pietromio ? It is not that. It is this,
as regards the child : 1 do not thiuk
—nay, I am sure—that I could uot
love you 60 well as I do now, if I
knew that you were guilty ot shed
ding the blood of that innocent."
" No blood, Cyrilla," he whispered
—"only the pillow."
"No !" said Cyrilla loftily. "The
man I love must be above a dastard
ly deed like that. To be the murder
er of a smiling babe ! Faugh !
You can go, Signor Fastini," she ad
ded coldly, stepping from before him.
"The child is asleep in yonder room
When you have killed him, come
back and kill me, if you don't wish
to see the unutterable contempt with
which I should then look upn you !"
She pointed to the open door of
the dressing-room as she spoke, and
drawn up to her full height, stared
steadily into the lunatic's eyes. He
i quailed under that fixed, stern gaze ;
| he wavered ; he whispered something
'to himself ; and then with the air of
1 a beaten hound, he slunk up to Cy
| rillo, aud taking her hand humbly, he
I lifted it to his lips, and kissed it once
1 or twice.
" Your pardon, Cyrilla,'' he said,
"for having misunderstood you. The
child, truly, is beneath my notice.
Let him live.''
"Spoken like my own Pietro,'' said
Cyrilla thawiug suddenly into a very
May day of love and sunshine. " You
were only jesting with me, I know."
" But he—the man who lias caused
you so much misery—your husband ;
you will not intercede for him," said
Pietro gloomily. "He—he above all
men must die."
"So be it* said Oyrilla with a little
shrug of supremo indifference.
Ten minutes past twelve ! Theo
dore could n< tbe long now. llow
her ears strained, how her heart h >!
at the slightest sound from wi
If he were to come now, 1 i' I
hardly escape with life, a
Cyrilla, weie to sacrifice her oa io
in the endeavor to save his
was quite prepared to dotir.t t.
said to herself.
" But pray, tell me, wiiat plan >
intend to adopt for carrying rm y>'"
scheme of vengeance," she ask'-d
"As soon as I hear his footstep-, !
shall hide behind those curtains,
said the madman. "As he steps
across the theehold, 1 ahull make a
rush for him, and strike him d-a i
with my poniard "
" A pretty scheme—a very prett\
scheme !" said Cyrilla encouraginglj*
" But I thiuk I know one still b. 11
—one that will avoid all bloodshed,
which isobjectionalde in lady's room
"Tell it to me," saik the Italian,
quite e igerly."
"When he comes in,' said CyrilU
"he will ask for a cup of coffee—he
always does. Into his coffee I will
put a few drops out of a certain vial
which I have in my dressing-room.
He drink the coffee, and five miu
utes later he is a dead man !
" Good, good 1" said the madman,
rubbing his hands gleefully. " And
then, when he is dead, I will cut oil
his head, and carry it to my friend
{'.<• mandarian, and he will give rne
his magic ring—his cat's-eye-ring,
that is worth a king's ransom ; and
we will sail across the seas, you aud
i together ; and you will be mine,
my owd, for ever ! Say, shall it not
be so ?"
"It sbail, ray Pietro !" answered
Cyrilla boldly. "Ah! you don't
know how much I shall love yon
But we have no time to lose ; Thorn
hurst will be bere presently, arid I
must bide you at once."
" Yes —yes ! behind the curtains !'
said Fastini eagerly.
" No, not behind the cu'"tains,
said Cyrilla, "because the first thing
Thornhurst will do alter coming in
will be to draw back the curtains,
and fasten the windows. Let mi
consider ; where will be the >
place to bide you ?"
She paused, and, with her tiuger t
her lips, looked round the room, a ii
in search of a hiding-place. Fasti n;
was holding her other hand, anil
pressing it now and again to his lips.
" I have it ?" she said. " Nothing
could be better. You shali hide
yourself in this old chestaud sir
ran across the room, laughing gaily,
and dragging the Italian alter her,
and flung open the lid of the carved
chest. It might have been put here
on purpose," she said, still laughing
" See—you will have plenty of room:
and there will be this advantage in
hiding here, you will be able, y m
self unseen, to witness the whole 1
my little drama from beginning!
eud—from your private box, you
know. (A little pun that, is it Ll< : ;
I really won't let you kiss my hand
any more.) You must keep the lie'
open about a quarter of an inch —n
more ; and presently you will sc
Thornhurst come stepping in throng!
one of these windows. You wili
see him kiss rue—for the last tin: ■
you know, so you must not bo an
gry. Then he will go rouud and las
ten the windows ; then ho will yawn
and stretch himself; and then ho
will seat himself in his easy chair,
aud ask for his meerschaum and a
cup of coffee. But you must no!
stir till you see his eyes close, and
his head drop back on the chair.—
And now, sir. to your hiding-place
It you love me,don't delay, lor Thorn
hurst may be bere any moment. No.
not a single kiss now, but as many
as you like afterwards. Why can't
you tie those lanky limbs of yonis
into a knot ? A little lower, please
So—that is better."
She was just lowering the lid ot
the chest gently over him w hen he
struck it up suddenly with his arm
"Cyrilla, he said," "something whis
pcrs to me that my friend, the mau
darian would like me to do this dee I
myself. Perhaps the Dog-star"—
" Hush 1" exclaimed Cyrilla with a
start. " The king of the pelicans it
coming this way. I hear his foot
steps. Hide—hide J" She tried i
press the lid down on him as she
spoke; but his suspicious, even on
the alert, were roused in an instant,
and with all his strength he strove
to keep himself from being shut in .
but his strength was of little avaii
in the position in which he then was
Cyrilla flung herself bodily on to the
chest, and in spite of all the mad
man's efforts, little by little, inch by
inch, the lid came down upon hint
his power to struggle against it i
decreasing in proportion the clos- i '
shut him iu. Suddenly he changed
his position, aud before he could rc
cover himself, the lid had shut him
in completely, and the same instant
the iron staple iu the body of the
chest shot up through a slit iu tin
lid. The moment she saw it, Cyrilla's
instinct pointed out to her the only
method by which Fastini could b
retained a prisoner, for her bodily
strength was all but exhausted.
The iron bar should have passe 1
through the hole in the staple, and
have kept the chest fast shut, w.m
broken away, aud all that Cy i
cmid now do was to push her thnm'
through the staple, and use it
the bar had been heretofore used
The footsteps on the gravel ouf
side were coming nearer ; and pres
ently, Theodore with a cigar in his
mouth, and with a merrier twinkle
than usual iu his eye, stepped int
one of the French windows.
Not one moment too soon. 'Saved!
saved !" cried Cyrilla as her eyes nit t
those of her husband, and then she
sank fainting by the side of the chest.
The painter was a cautious as well
as a brave one ; he had heard strange
noises proceeding from interior of the
chest,and at the moment of releasing
Cyrilla's poor bruised thumb, he slip
ped his pocket knife into its place.—
Then lifting his wile into his arms, he
carried her into another room, and
summoned the servants to her assis
tance. Armed with a revolver, L
then went back to the chest, and lilted
up the lid ; but Fastini was hall suf
focated by this time and was dragg< -1
out by Thornhursf more dead than
alive.
Ultimately, the Italian was i ag
nized at the place from which he had
escaped ; but a long time passed be
fore the painter's wife recovc.e-1 thor
oughly from the effects of that terri*
ble hour.— Chambers? Journal.