2 ljc imc0, New Bloomficto, Jau
MISS TREMORNE'S ELOPEMENT.
SEVERAL years ago, when I was a
rather raw youth of two-and-twenty,
just commencing tho cultivation of a
promising mustache, found myself sta
tioned near Donegal county, Kerry, Ire
land, in the capacity of Lieutenant of
.Revenue. My special business was that
of ferreting out illicit distilleries, and
contraband liquor. 1 generally had my
hands full, these seizures generally tak
ing place amid the lonely hills of Kerry,
where tho distilleries were carried on in
secret caves or hidden morasses by a set
of hardy and desperate Irishmen, always
ready to oppose the police, were not un
attended with danger ; but there was one
adventure which befell mc, of a more
peaceable nature than the rest, which at
the time affected mo more unpleasantly
than any amount of skirmishing or fight
ing would have done.
It so happened that, among the anony
mous " informing" letters that one morn
ing came to hand, was one giving infor
mation of two casks of spirits smuggled
from the hills on the night previous, by
order of Mr. Tremorne, agent of Lord
L , who was the great landed propri
etor of this part of Kerry ; and which
casks wero now securely reposing in
that gentleman's cellar. Accompany
ing the note was an order from the super
intendent of revenue, commanding the
immediate seizure of the liquor in ques
tion. Now it so happened that I was greatly
indebted to Mr. Tremorne (an English
gentleman) and his family, for various
kind and flattering attentions received
since my arrival at Donegal. Many a
sumptuous dinner had I partaken of at
his board, and often I had been invited to
a pleasant dance at his house, when his
pretty niece, Miss Montague, happened
to be staying there as was now the case.
In truth, I had been more impressed by
the bright eyes of Clara Montague, than
I had courage to show, especially as thoro
was a spice of mischief about her which
made me rather shy of her. L had gen
erally, therefore, sheltered my youthful
bashi'ulness beueath the wing of Miss
Cassandra Tremorne, sister of my host,
whom I found always extremely kind and
gracious. To her, some ten or twelve
years ray senior. I felt no timidity in of
fering those little attentions which to a
younger damsel would have appeared
more pointed such as escorting her to
church or promenading the piazza in tho
moonlight. True, I had observed that
she was very sentimental and that of late
she frequently sighed, and pressed my
arm when leaning upon it, and tho last
time I had seen her she -quoted poetry,
and remarked that life was desolato with
out some one to love. These signs and
tokens of sensibility I had in my own
mind referred o some early disappoint
ment in love, or otlicr sad recollections
of past more youthful days ; and I had
not thought it amiss to express my sym
pathy by a gentle pressure in return.
Such was my position in regard to the
Tremorne family ; and the reader can
now understand my embarrassment upon
finding this disagreeable business thrust
upon me. How could I go upon such an
errand to tho house where I had been bo
hospitable entertained? How could I
wound, and as it were, insult the fceling
of the family by accusing its head him
self a magistrate and a sworn foe to the
smugglers violating the laws which it
was his duty to enforce ? Mrs. Tremorne
in especial, a proud, sensitive, and ner
vous woman would particularly feel tho
outrage ; besides which, it would almost
be impossible to keep the matter a secret
from the public, in which case the repu
tation of Mr. Tremorne would bo ruined,
and might even risk losing his magisteri
al office.
In this dilemma, I summoned my ser
geant, Floyd, and to him freely explain
ed the affair, knowing ho was to bo trust
ed. " Very unpleasant," was his comment
when he heard mo through; " and I can-,
see but one way out of it."
" But one way 1 I confess that 1 can
see none."
" Why you might tip him the wink
give him a hint that you may have to
visit the Moor this evening at ten o'clock.
He'll know what to do hey ?"
"Capital! But suppose, after all, the
informer may be mistakou, and there are
no spirits there ? He'd never forgive my
suspicion and officiousness."
" Then try his wife instead 1" 1
" Mrs. Tremorno 1 She'd faint at tho
first word."
"The niece, then?"
" Miss Montague ! Good gracious ! I
she "
You mean that in that case you'd do
the fainting ? But come, excuse mo, lieu
tenant, and if you object to the young
lady, tho old one will do Miss Cassan
dra, I think she is called."
" Yes, upon consideration, I thought
this tho best plan. Miss Tremorne was
good-natured less nervous than her sister-in-law,
and more capable of acting ra
tionally than her girlish nicco. She
would know how to arrange matters; and
accordingly, the sergeant was instantly
dispatched to waylay Miss Cassandra in
her regular evening walk in the park,
and as privately and delicately as possible
to give the required " hint" nothing
coarse, nothing plainly stated, but tho
merest shawowing forth of tho business
in hand.
In an hour tho sergeant returned. He
had been successful in his mission, which
he thus related to me :
Concealing himself in the shrubbery as
he saw tho lady approaching, he stepped
forth when she was within a few paces of
him, and removing his cap, bowed pro
foundly by way of assurance that nothing
disrespectful was intended. She had
started back upon first seeing him, and
was evidently prepared for a scream.
" Madame," said tho sergeant, hastily,
" pray do not bo alarmed. Iam the bear
er of a message to you from Lieutcnaut
Charncy."
" Oh, indeed I From Lieutenant Char
ncy?'' " Yes madame. He requested mo to
see you as privately as possible, and say
to you that he will call at the Moor at
ten o'clock this evening, and hopes that
you will understand his business,, and so
arrange it that nothing unpleasant shall
occur."
Well she turned all sorts of colors,
and looked furtively around, as if fearing
some one might be in sight or hearing
a sure proof that she knew already about
the spirits.
' " Good gracious," said she, coloring,
" I had not expected this so soon. Will
not to-morrow do as well ?"
" I fear not, madame. The lieutenant
is anxious to have it concluded as soon as
possible, and has already engaged for
this evening, if you can be ready in time.
You can, I suppose, ma'am, find some one
to remove the the the things, without
the knowledge of tho family."
" Tho trunks, you mean ?" says she,
looking relieved, and clasping her hands
nervously.
" Trunks ?" exclaimed I, as the ser
geant here paused.
" Yes. Don't you see ? The agent's
a sly one, no doubt, and had the kegs
smuggled to tho Moor in trunks, like any
ordinary baggage.
" Oh, ah, to be sure ! Very cute that !"
And we both laughed.
" You thiuk, then, sergeant, that all
will be right ?" I inquired.
" Dog sure. She understood tho busi
ness at once, and though she looked ner
vous and excited, like all womankind,
when there's anything to be done, she'll
know how to act, depend on't."
At precisely five minutes of ten, ac
cordingly, I, at the head of my little par
ty of six men, was approaching the house
at tho Moor. Tho night was still and
clear; a new moon faintly illumining tho
scene, and scarcely a leaf stirring as wo
walked briskly up tho winding avenue.
Lights shono from various windows of
the mansion, for tho Tremorncs kept late
hours, and, the sound of a piano, and oc
casional shadows flitting across the cur
tains, told mo that they had visitors.
I resolved, therefore, to wait awhile,
until these had left; and accordingly
bidding the men remain amid the shrub
bery, I advanced a short distance, keep
ing in the shadow of a mountain laurel,
and stood reconnoitering.
Hardly had I occupied my station five
minutes when a tall, thin figure, dressed
in black, stole out of a sido door, and
came rapidly and noislessly toward me.
" Is is it you ?" asked a trembling
voice, which I recognized as that of Miss
Tremorne. ,
. " Lieutenant Charney," answered I ad
vancing a little into tho light.
Sho clasped her hands upon my arms,
and I saw that she was trembling.
" I I watched for you," sho faltered.
" I I am so nervous so frightened."
" My dear Miss Tremorne," said I,
sympathizingly, "don't, agitate yourself.
There is no cause for alarm if if you
have made tho necessary arrangements."
" Yes," she whispered, leaning rather
heavily upon me. " All is ready ; but,
oh, this is so sudden, so, unexpected
how can I help my feelings 'overcoming
me?"
" Yes," said I, soothingly, " I know, J
but ; but believe me, all shall be done as
delicately us possiblo, so as not to wound
the feelings of yourself and family."
" But it will be so public By to-morrow
all the country will know it, and
what will the people say ?"
" Trust me, that no one will blame
you. They will say that you did right;
that your affections had led you "
Here she pressed so closely to me, and
squeezed my hand, that I felt a little em
barrassed, and paused in my speech.
" I presume," I continued after a
pause, " that tho company will not re
main very long ?"
" Not long, and therefore must wo has
ten beforo I am missed. I had to bo very
artful, and pretended to have a headache,
by way of excusing my absence from tho
company this evening," sho added, with
a playful tender smile.
"And the the tho goods, you know.
Of course they are safe removed."
" Why, no. I had no one that I could
trust, and somehow they seemed to sus
pect something at least Clara did she's
so prying and so "
" Not removed 1" exclaimed I, in con
sternation. "Good heavens! what can
we do, with those things still here ? It
will spoil all."
" I concluded you would bring some
one with you to help, and the trunks, are
now in my own room, if you could only
get them out. There is no danger of
our being seen, for no one is in that part
of the house, and we can enter by a pri
vate door."
Thcro was no help for it, and directing
the sergeant to accompany me, in order
to assist in removing the trunks, I follow
ed Miss Cassandra to a sido entrance, and
cautiously along a dark passage to a door,
before which she paus-ed an instant.
" It is so strange," said she coyly, " to
admit a one of the other sex into my
own apartment."
" But circumstances," I observed, al
most as bashfully. " will excuse, will jus
tify "
" Hush !" said she, in a low whisper.
" Did you hear nothing ?"
" No. Let us hasten, or it will be too
late."
She softly opened the door, and I step
ped into tho room, faintly lighted by tho
moon shining through three largo win
dows! Sure enough, there was a large
sized trunk standiug near the door, ready
strapped, labelled, and presenting a very
business-like appearance.
" Is that all?" I asked.
" Except a valise, which I oan carry
myself."
"A valiso?"
" Yes ; containing a few light articles-"
" Oh, bottles, I presume."
She Jooked a little surprised, but made
no answer, except to say :
" Be quick with the trunk, or wo may
be interrupted, and "
" Hush 1"
It was I who now uttered the warning.
I fancied it might have been only a
fancy that I had caught a sound, some
thing like a suppressed giggle,at no great
distance from us.
But, as I would have turned to sum
mon tho sergeant to aid me in tho re
moval of the trunk, Miss Cassandra
again laid her clasped . hands upon my
arm and leaned against my shoulder.
" Oh, dear !" sighed she, " I feel so
dreadfully in taking this step."
" Dear madame, pray do not vex your
self about it, All will be woll, I trust."
" If you could appreciate the sacrifice
which I am now making !"
"Sacrifice!"
" For the sake of one I love, it is none,
certainly."
" Certainly not."
" You will remember," said she, ten
derly, " you will remember in our future
years all that I have this night under
gone for your sake."
" For my sake ?"
" For yours only, whom you know I
love most on earth."
" Good gracious ! Miss Tremorne I
I" A horrible doubt, a terrible suspi
cion flashed upon me. I withdrew a lit
tlo from her embrace, and with a pale
face faltered :
" May I ask what what is contained ;
whether the whisky is in the trunk ?"
" Whisky !" she exclaimed, starting
back.
" Yes, ma'am, the spirits which "
" Oh, I understand ; your feelings have
overpowered you, as myself. You need
some stimulant, of course ; but I never
carry such things in my trunk. Here,
take a little of this."
And she took from a 6hclf in a closet
a small flask, and pouring a portion of its
contents into a glass, anxiously presented
it to my lips. In the emotions which al
most rendered me faint, I took the glass
and drained it off without ceremony.
" Do you feel better, clearest ?" tender
ly inquired my fair compauion, passing
her hand caressingly over my forehead,
and bending her face alarmingly near my
own. " If so, we had better hasten with
out further delay, or wo may be discover- j
ed, and our plans of happiness defeated."
At this interesting moment, and before
I ld time to rise from tho trunk upon
which I had unconsciously sank in my
momentary weakness, a door opposite, by
which I had entered, burst suddenly
open. There stood Mrs. Tremorne, hold
ing a lamp in her hand, and relieved
against a back-ground of half a dozen
other faces, among which I only saw tho
laughing one of Miss Montague, and that
of Mr. Tremorne, black and threatening
as a thunder cloud.
" Villain 1" cried the latter, stepping
forward and seizing mo by throat. "Vil
lain ! What do you want here, in my sis
ter's chamber ?"
Cassandra threw herself forward to my
rescue.
" Let him go!" she shrieked. It was
I who brought him here !"
" You I and you dare tell mo this ?"
" Only to to take away tho trunk.
We are going away. He is my promised
husband !" she screamed, desperately.
" Your husband that boy. Your
grandson, you mean !"
" Brute 1"
" Fool ! and at that time of life, when
you ought to know better. But that I
am sure you must have led the boy into
this, I would choke him where he stands,
and"
He was cut short by a sudden and
strong grasp upon his own throat.
'' You would oppose His Majesty's offi
cers in the performance of their duty,
would you?" cried Floyd. "IIere,mon!
seize him, arrest him ! He's assailed His
Majesty's revenue officers while obeying
orders I"
The men in obedience to the first word
shouted from the window, now rushed
for the house. Some of tho assembled
party fled others stood still and shriek
ed, while others again, attracted by the
noise, rushed upon the scene.
" What does this mean ?" gasped Mr.
Tremorne, when the sergeant's relaxed
grasp enabled him to speak.
" It means that wo have come here
to make a seizure not of your sister,
but of two casks of contrahand spirits,
smuggled into the houso last night."
Mr. Tremorne turned pale.
" How do you know ?" he faltered.
" Good authority, hero's tho warrant,"
and he read it aloud.
" You did not then, Lieutenant Char
ncy," said Mrs. Tremorne, addressing me,
" you did not intend an elopement with
Cassandra ?"
" My dear madame, I assure you that
I never had such an idea. I merely
wishing to spare your feelings, requested
Miss Tremorne to have tho spirits re
moved or rather hinted to her that I
would call to-night on a special errand
and she, it seems most unfortunately mis
understood my meaning."
" I see," said Mrs. Tremorne, scorn
fully ; " and served her right."
Here Miss Cassandra fell down in a
violent fit of screaming and kicking.
" The wretch !" she shrieked. " He
has ruined my good name! He will
have to to marry me or expose the
family to disgrace ! I will sue him for
breach of "
" Take her away," cried tho master of
tho house, to tho servants ; and my fair
inamorata was borne kicking and sob
bing from the stage.
What need to explain further? My
readers can easily imagine all that follow
ed except my inexpressible shame and
mortification,notunminglcd with a spice of
resentment on witnessing the mischievous
delight of Miss Montague, who scarcely
attempted to restrain it on tho stern re
monstrance of her unclo. The last words
I heard as I left the houso were :
" Oh, dear, was ever anything so rich ?
Positively as good as a play, to seo him
sitting there on tho trunk as palo as a
lily, and trembling, with her arms around
his neck."
This nights adveuturo cured me of my
love, as I presume it did Miss Cassandra,
whom I never saw again. Sho went to
reside with a sister in England during
tho remainder of my stay at Donegal.
SSQf Some of the sums in tho mental
arithmetics havo about as much scuso in,
as the following : " If four dogs, with
16 legs can catch 29 rabbits, with 87 legs
in 44 minutes, how many legs must the
same rabbits have to get away from 8
dogs, with 32 legs, in 17 minutes and a
half.
BGf Leisure is sweet to those who have
earned it, but burdensome to those who
get it for nothing.
SUNDAY READING.
Responsibilities of Parents.
A pious mother, in her prayers with
her little son, was accustomed to lay her
hand upon his head. She died whilo
he was yet too young to realize the loss
he had sustained, lie grew up an un
curbed and wayward boy, whom none
seemed to understand, and few to love.
Yet in his most reckless and passionate
paroxisms, something seemed partially to
restrain and rule him. He said it was
a "hand upon his head, like the mother's
hand." Often ho yielded at its touch,
and wept bitterly. In tho flush and fe
ver of youth, ho traveled widely over
foreign lands. Vice tempted him, and
tho virtue which should have withstood
it, had but a frail rooting. Still, some
thing withcld him. It was the same
' hand upon his head," a soft, cool hand.
He dared not utterly cast off its con
trol. In his old age he said to some children :
" A hand is upon my head, upon my
few hoary locks. the same hand that
used to rest in prayer among tho fresh
sunny curls of my infancy; and if I am
ever saved, it will be by that mother's
hand, and my Redeemer's mercy."
Bad Bargains.
Once a Sabbath school teacher remark
ed that he who buys tho truth make a
good bargain ; and inquired if any schol
lar recollected an instance in Scripture of
a bad bargain.
" I do replied a boy. " Esau made a
bad bargain when he sold his birthright
for a mess of pottage."
A second said : " Judas made a bad
bargain when he sold his Lord for thirty
pieces of silver."
A third boy observed : " Our Lord
tells us that he makes a bad bargain who
to gain the whole world, loses his . own
soul."
I have seen a good many boys in my
time who havo made bad bargains. Some
change the Sunday-school for the street
and homo for wicked company ; and the
Bible for bad books ; and health for to
bacco. They always get the worst of it.
Boys, look out for these bad bargains.
Young Reaper.
Lazy Boys.
An exchango says, a lazy boy will
make a lazy man as sure as a crooked sap
ling will mako a crooked tree. Who
ever saw a boy grow up in idleness that
did not make a shiftless vagabond when
he became a man, unless he had a fortune
to keep up appearances ? The mass of
thieves, criminals and paupers havo come
to what they have, by being brought up
in idleness. Those who constituto tho
business part of tho community who
make our great and usoful men were
taught in their boy-hood to be industri
ous. Boy, take pipe out of your mouth,
and think of this.
What folly is it that with such
care about the body which is dying, tho
world which is perishable beforo our eyes,
timo which is perpetually disappearing,
wo should so little care about that eternal
state in which we are to live forever when
this dream is over ! When we shall havo
lived ten thousand years in another world
whero will be all the cares and fears and
enjoyment of this? In what light will
we then look upon tho things which tran
sport us with joy, or overwhelm us with
grief?
B"Man must havo occupation, or bo
miserable. Toil is the price of appetite
of health and enjoyment. The very
neccsity which overcomes our natural
sloth is a blessing.
IS?" Sinco the year 1S33, one hundred
and five missionaries have died in the
foreign field. Of the number 52 wero
males, and fifty-three were females.
655"" Tho Roman Catholio Cathedral
in l'ekiu, China, has been fired and total
ly consumed, and a number of tho mis
sionaries and converts murdered.
8S5 God writes tho gospel, not in the
Bible alone, but on tho trees and flowers,,
and clouds, and stars.
ZtsS" He who does his best, however
little, is always distinguished from him
who does nothing.
J6- If the best man's fault, were writ
ten on his forehead, it would make him
pull his hat over his eyes.
Bf There is no roal uso in riches, ex
cept it be in tho distribution ; tho rest
is but conceit.