2
had come over his fnco when, ttto or
three times, she had spoken of the pine
grove. And then this sudden wealth
that had come to him by speculation,he
said. Poor Uncle John! coming home
with his heart full of joyful anticipations.
And how near she had come to being a
murderer's wife! Now tlio tank of bring
ing the murderer to justice devolved up
on her, and how terrible the task ! How
little proof sho had I Would any body
believe that what sho hnd heard was any
thing more than the raving of an insane
woman 1
The wall paper had started oft' in one
place, and Syl moved the bed away from
it, taking care to mako no noiso, and then
pulled it up ; there was a faint dark stain
on the plastered wall. She tore the pa
per off the whole length of the roll, and
under it, spattered over tho wall, almost
to the ceiling were stains of blood. Some
one hnd evidently tried to wash them out,
and finding that vain had papered over
them. A faintness and trembling seized
Syl when bIio paw them, and a sudden
terror. To pet away from that house,
never to see Derrick nor his aunt again
was all sho cared for. Sho dressed her
self hastily, determining to get away be
fore they were awake. When he saw tho
torn paper, would not Derrick know why
.sho had gone? A sudden thought struck
her. Sho would show him that sho
knew, and then, if it were true, he would
never come near her again.
Afterwards Syl thought that her brain
must have been turned by that dreadful
night's experience, or sho should never
have dono so wild a thing, never have
had courage cuongh to do it, after what
she had heard and saw. l!ut then she
did not stop to think after the idea came
to her. Sho took a piece of charcoal
from tho smouldering fire, and drew ou tho
plastering from which she had torn tho
paper besido those dark-red stains, a
sketch tho edge of the pino grove, and
the old well. Sho could boo them in the
window, and she drew them, even with
her rough materials, with almost startling
accuracy. The work had a strango fas
cination for her ; sho put her whole soul
into it, exulting in her ability as she had
never dono before. Was not her talent
of some use, to her, in spite of Aunt
Jane's sneers? Amidst tho heap of
stones around the well she drew a skull,
grinning and ghastly. Ucforc she had
put the finishing touches to her picture
she heard footsteps overhead. Slio stole
out, unbarred the great front door softly,
and ran Bwiftly, breathlessly, without a
backward glance toward homo.
The sun was shining brightly; there
were no trace of the storm eavo in the
drenched fields and muddy roads. Syl
had put on her hall attire of the night
before, and it was soon wet and draggled,
but sho flew on never heeding it, fancy,
ing continually, in her terror, that she
heard footsteps following her, Derrick
Hurst's voico calling her.
A mile away from home her path cross
ed the railroad track ; it ran over a steep
ascent that was hard to climb, and Syl
was forced to pause to take breath. It
was well that she did so, for just then a
puff of smoke through the trees told her
that a train of cars was coming around
tho curve the morning train that was
due at Densboro, at Ecven o'clock. Her
eyes wandered carelessly along the track
as she waited, till suddenly they fell up
on something that mado her spring for
ward with a cry of alarm. Only a few
rods from where she Btood the track had
been torn up two or three yards, and
thrown down over the embankment ! Her
frantio cries were unheard ; the train
came rushing along at lightning speed.
Syl Bhut her eyes. There came a terri
ble crash, and then cries of terror and
pain rang In her cars. All around her
crushed and mangled forms were lying ;
one had fallen almost at her feet. She
sank down beside it, with a cry that
rang above all the others, when her eyes
fell on tho upturned face. For it was
Stephen Lawrence's face !
" You here, Syl ? you come down to
meet me?" he murmured, with a gleam
of gladness in his eyes. " My darling !
I was sure you must bo ill or dead, from
your long silence ! I would not believe
that you were false to me. I could not
endure the suspense any longer, and so
I came down. Why didn't you write ?"
" 1 haven't hoard from you for mouths,
Stephen; only two or three times since
you wont away 1 I thought it was you
who was false," said Syl. And then
there was no more time for ezplantions,
and Stephen had no more strength to
speak. Help had come from the villago,
and they were caring for the sufferers, as
speedily as possible. But it seemed ages
to Syl before Stephen was safely at her
own home.
He was badly hurt, hut he would live,
was the doctor's verdict, and Syl's joy
and thankfulness knew no bounds when
she thought, shudderingly, of what might
have been, of four or fivo houses in Dens
boro' that had been made desolate by the
railroad accident. But, except by the
sufferers, that was soou almost forgotten
in a new sensation.
Derrick Hurst and hi Aunt Joanna
had disappeared, leaving not the slightest
clue to their whereabout, and old Mrs.
Hurst bad wandered into the village,
telling to everybody she met the story
she told to Syl. At first the people
treated the story as insane folly, but the
disappearance of Derriok and his aunt
put a new face upon the matter. The
house was examined, and the stairs and
the strange picture found upon the wall,
and then Syl told of her night's stay
there, and it became evident that the
picturo had driven Derrick Hurst away
When the well was searched and a skele
ton found in it, there was no more doubt.
Largo rewards were offered for his appre
hension, but all in Tain, and at last his
property was all mado over to Aunt Jano,
to whom there was no doubt that it
rightfully belonged.
Years afterward a story found its way
to Densboro' that Derrick Hurst had
died in California, and, dying, had "con
fessed his crime, and also that ho had
caused tho railroad accident, learning
that Stephen Lawrence was on the train,
through his letters to Syl, which he had
intercepted.
5ut tho news mattered littlo to any
body, now, except that perhaps Syl Law
rence may have felt a littlo relief at know
ing ho was no longer in tho world. Her
husband is growing famous as an artist,
but since that night Syl can never bear
to touch a pencil, nnd Aunt Jano persists
in saying that" the only good Syl's talent
ever did was to help a murderer to get
rid of his just deserts ;" but Syl answers
that but for that bIio might never have
come in possession of the wealth she so
values and enjoys, for Derrick Hurst's
guilt might nover have been proven if
sho had not frightened lnm away.
A SCARED DUELIST.
VN a certain occasion since tho begin
J ning of 1871, in the little town of
Ouachita City, La., on tho banks of the
Ouachita Kiver, about twenty-five miles
abovo tho city of Monroe, two gentleman
(Johnson and Jones) concluded to play
a gamo of " seven-np " at $3. They
took their time, and interspersed the
game with several drinks. Tlicy finally
finished the game. Johnson, being win
ner, raked in the money.
Jones studied about it a while. Ho
made up his mind that it was not right
for Johnson to tako the money, as they
were neighbors not gamblers, any-way
and were only in fun. He said :
" You are not going to tako that
money, are you ?"
" Yes, indeed, I am," said Johnson.
" Well," said Jones, "you had as well
take it out of my pocket."
" Now, Jones, tako that back."
" I shall not take that back; and if
you aro not satisfied, help yourself in any
way you choose."
" 15ut, Jones, I insist that you tako it
back, because I don't steal, myself."
" I shall not tako it back ; and I now
repeat that you might have stolon that
money out of my pocket. If you wish a
difficulty, you can have it any way you
like."
" Well, then, we will shoot it out,"
said Johnson.
" Very well, sir," said Jones, " mention
your time and place.,'
Without further ceremony, all the
arrangements were made for the duel to
take place that evening. Many of tho
neighbors were there, and concluded at
once to have tho fight como off. They
knew Johnson, who proposed the shoot
ing, would back out unless ho could be
encouraged. They knew, on tho other
hand, that Jones would stand up without
flinching. The seconds loaded tho pistols
with blank cartridges, and informed
Johnson of tho fact, hut did not let Jones
in the socret. They did this to make
Johnson stand, which, of course, made
him fearless. He went to tho appointed
place, and Jones was there, cool and calm.
The moment for action arrived, and all
parties took their positions the distance
being ten spaces. The pistols were
handed to Johnson and Jones, in death
like silence every one being as serious
as death. Tho count commenced : "One!"
" Stop !" said Johnson, " It is under
stood by all parties that there ain't no
bullets in these pistol!"
Jones, hearing this, and knowing noth
ing of it before, rather staggered forward
reeling, looked into the muzzle of his
pistol, and cried out, ' I'll bo hanged if
there ain't bullets in mine !" and at the
same time pulled down on Johnson,
This was two much for Johnson. He
broke for the nearest house, which was
about two hundred yards, and they say
he doubled up like a four-bladed knife,
and has not been Been since, but sunt word
back that all might " thoot it out" who
chose, but he wanted none in his. Jones
won the field against all odds.
"AInt Got Ein.
Three of the dirtiest, most rugged lit
tle ragamuffins in this city entered one
of our magnificent drug stores. Marching
up to the counter, one said :
" I want a cent's worth of rock
candy !"
"Get out, you ragamuffin ! we don't
sell a cent's worth of rock candy !"
Slowly and sadly they Gled out of tho
store. ' On the sidewalk a consultation
took place. They re-entered the door.
" Mister, do you sell throe cents worth
of rock candy ?"
" Yes !"
"Well, we ain't got 'em !" and the
procession moved out again !
HOW LANE PAID HIS NOTE.
HARRY LANE, a young farmer was
in the office of Dr. Mctcalf, for the
purposo of settling his account, nnd not
having the money, he had just given a
noto for tho hundred dollars found to bo
duo the doctor. As ho left tho office the
physician had suggested to the young
man that if he would furnish him a sub
ject for dissection, it would bo an easy
method to cancel tho 'note. Rather indig
nantly this offer was refused, and Harry
Lane left for his home, where ho did not
arrive until after it was dark.
When ho reached the gate, his wife,
a pretty littlo woman, met him ' with a
lantern.
" I'm so glad you've come, Harry,"
she said, in a relieved, overjoyed tone.
" And why, my littlo puss?"
" I've been afraid all tho time."
" Afraid ?"
" Yes, but do como nnd havo supper
before you unharness, Harry."
'' And of what wcro you afraid, Kin ?"
" Well, I'll tell you. Georgo Morris
came here a littlo whilo after you left.
Ho came and sat down beforo tho fire,
and acted dreadful strange. Pretty soon
I found out that ho was about half
drunk."
" And what did ho do ?"
" Nothing, only drink nnd talk and
drink, and I was so afraid of him. I've
heard so much of people being killed by
drunken men, and ho was so dreadfully
drunk, Harry. Well, ho stayed until
near dark, and then he emptied tho jug
that he had with him and fell over dead
drunk."
" In the house?"
" Yes."
" And is ho thcro now ?"
, "Yes."
"Perfectly insensible ?"
" Yes, as insensible as a log."
Harry Lane gave a sudden leap into
the house and a wild hurrah, and quite
startled his quiet littlo wife. Ho had
nearly unharnessed his team, but he rot
placed the harness as quickly as possible.
" What aro you going to do, Harry ?"
" Hitch Ponny and fleet to the sled
again."
"For what?"
" Never mind. You are quite sure
that Georgo Morris is insensible ?"
" Yes, and has been so for half an
hour."
" Ha, ha, ha !" laughed tho young
man. " Whoa, Ponny, stand still, Fleet,
my man ha, ha !"
" Why what does ail you, Harry ; are
you crazy ? What aro you doing, for
pity sake ?"
Just wait and seo, Mrs. Em."
Harry fastened tho horses to tho bars,
and run up tho well-trodden path to the
house, followed-hastily by his wife.
" Get mo a sheet, quick, Em !"
" What for ?"
" Never mind there, that's it. Help
mo to wrap this fellow up in it. He'll
make a capital subject ha, ha."
" What are you going to do ?"
"Nevermind just take hold of his
feet, Km ; steady, now, that's it. Don't
think me crazy, I'll tell you about it
when I get back. Have supper Teady
when I como."
Georgo Morris was placed on tho sled.
Shortly afterwards, Harry Lane knock
ed at the back door of the doctor's office.
The worthy Doctor Motcalf presented
himself.
" Where shall I take the body ?" he
questioned, in a low tone.
" Right through into the dissecting
room and lay it on the tablo. There I
thought you'd think better of it, and
you've been quick, too. Stopped at the
graveyard as you went along, didn't
you ?"
"And tho note?"
" Here it is, you are wclcomo to it,
Mr. Lane. You're a good hand at such
little matters, and I shall have to call on
you again."
" If you like tho subject, I may bo ablo
to furnish you more of tho same kind,"
replied the young man, tearing tho note
into strips, and closing the door with a
" good eveuing, doctor."
Doctor Motcalf chuckled to himself,
well pleased with his bucccss. For half
an hour, perhaps he sat in his office chair
whiffing a fragrant Havana. At the end
of that time he took up the candle and
went into the dissecting-room, to see what
kind of a subject had been brought for
his class to work upon tho next day.
He held the candle in his loft hand
and turned back tho sheet with his right.
The fumes of liquor met his nostrils.
He started with a ludicrous combination
of anger, surprise and amazement upon
his countenance. " Georgo Morris, by
all that's evil !" he ejaculated, "Druuk !"
Now, Georgo Morris had married doc
tor Metcalf'a sister, and for a long time
the doctor had been trying to get her to
leave her husband, as he had become bru
tal and abusive, but she, with a woman's
tenderness, still clung to him.
Doctor Frank Metcalf saw that ho had
been sold, and to the tune of one hun
dred dollars, too. His first determination
was to give Harry Lnno a piece of his
mind his Became! to have tho value of his
money at any rate. Students are gener
ally in fur sport, and those in the institu
tion superintended by Dr. Metcnlf, were
no exception to the ueneral rule. Sever
al choice spirits among them were sought j
out by the victimized dootor, and in
structed in the subject under considera
tion, and the part they were required to
perform. Everything was in readiness
about the time George Morris awoke
from this drunken stupor.
He looked around ghastly skeletons,
horrid grinning skulls, fleshlcss bones,
met his gazo on every side ho tried to
move ; he could no more havo raised an
arm or a foot than ho could have flown.
A dim light revealed all this to his aston
ished gaze a moment more ho was in
impenetrable darkness.
Suddenly right before him in flaming
characters, ho saw the word Perdition I
Ho trembled, he groaned, ho shriekod
in terror I Was ho in the abode of tho
lost? Again a dim light revealed by his
side a horrid figure, that might have rep
resented tho Prince of Darkness.
" Mortal one," spoko a ghostly voico,
"you havo come to this dreadful nbodo
for tho sin of drunkenness."
" Mercy, mercy !" shrieked tho trem
bling man.
" Mercy 1 That never enters here. Re
hold you have brought your own ruin up
on yourself."
Again all was darkness. Groans, hor
rid yells and shrieks fell upon his ear,ice
cold fingers passed over his face, and
dreadful pinchings wcro inflicted on vari
ous parts of his body. He shrieked
aloud ho gave vent to his agony and
terror, in groans'and cries for mercy.
" You wore a drunkard when living,"
said an unearthly voice.
" Oh, yes ! yes 1" groaned tho unhnp
py man.
" You had a good wife and interesting
children."
" Oh, yes, dear Satan, the very best of
wives, tno loveliest ot children.
" And you left them to suffer and
starve. O, you incorrigiblo man !" said
the unearthly voice.
" Alas, yes !"
" And therefore receive your reward I"
And the pinchings and burnings were
coutinucd, and an almost intolerable odor
of sulphur besieged his nostrils. Again
ho shrieked and pleaded for mercy.
" 0, mercy, mercy."
" You had no mercy upon the wife who
loved you, or tho children who cried for
bread," said tho unearthly voice, "yet
upon ono condition you may return to
them."
" And then, what is that? Any con
dition." " And remember I shall watch you,
and if you ever cause that noblo wife of
yours a tear "
" Oh, I never will !"
" Then, remember," said tho ghostly
voice again, " remember I"
Chloroform rendered tho miserable man
insensihlo. In that condition ho was con
veyed to a barn near by, nnd placed in a
manger, there to recover himself as best
ho might.
George Morris never again drank of
spirituous liqour. Ho becamo a sober
man, a tender nnd provident father. Ono
day he told his wile in confidence, that
the reason ho had reformed, was becauso
ho appreciated her generous dovotion,but
we know better.
For a whilo Harry Lano was a littlo
shy of tho doctor, and when ho did meet
him, tho worthy doctor shook him warm
ly by the hand, saying that he did not
particularly wish for any more subjects,
ho thanked him very much for tho one
he had brought him, as by that means a
most inveterate drunkard has been re
formed, and a broken-hearted wifo res
cued from the very brink of the grave.
Harry Lano asked no questions, but
when the name of George Morris was
proposed a few years afterwards for the
nomination of county judge, he gave a pe
culiar whistle, and said, in a low tono,
" Well, it all comes of being the doctor's
subject."
feS There was u jolly old captain in
tho 18th Missouri regiment of mounted
infantry. He was every thiug good and
efficient as an officer, a friend and a
gentleman, but lie never deemed a close
study of tho dictionary s essential to
getting a living or subduing a Southern
rebellion. Ono hot day tho captain, float
ing around, sat down under the arbor in
front of a fellow-officer's tent, and picking
up a late paper, commenced to rend aloud
tho heading of the telegraph column as
follows :
" Repulse wf a sortie at Char
leston." Says he, after musing a moment:
"Sortie? Sortie? A Sort iff Cap,
have the rebels any general by the name
of A Sortie ?'
" Certaiuly I've heard of old Sortie
frequently."
" Well, I guess I have," said the cap
tain. " Come to think now, I've heard of
his being repulsed very often."
A Good Retort.
Some years ago, as a Scotch clergyman
was walking one summer uftornoon, two
young beaux took it into their head to
break a jest upon the old parson. Walk
ing briskly up to him, they linked him
if he could tell them the color of the
devil's wig. Tho worthy clergyman,
surveying them attentively for a few
seconds, Hindu the following reply :
" Truly, here is a most surpris ing case
two men huve served a muster all tho
days of their life, and cun't tell the color
of liis
wig!
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