Sill " l ! l ? !! 5 ! N ' "g !l? Ulll
TOT"J7crj AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. f'JttSJZS?'
"Vol. VI. Now Bloomflcld, Tuondny, January S, 1872 . IVo. 1.
IS PUBMBUED EVERT TUESDAY MOIMINa, BT
FEANK MORTIMEB & CO.,
At New Bloomfleld, Terry Co., Ya.
Belnfr provided with Stenin Tower, anil large
Cylinder mid Joli-Presses, we nre prepared
to do nil kinds of .lob-Print Inn In
good style and at Low Prices.
Lost and Found !
A NEW YEAK'S STORY.
IT was lato afternoon of a chill Novem
ber day. Miss Laura Winterglado had
just got homo from a (shopping excursion,
cold, weary and cross. Even tho tropical
warmth and pcrfumo of her own elegant
Iwudoir where her ever-devoted French
maid sat waiting her coming, tho dinner
dress of shining silk displayed upon the
bed, and tho cut-glass goblet of mulled
wine on the tablo, failed to coax the volca
nic temper of this petted child of fashion
into anything like the winsome softness
she knew so exquisitely well how to assumo
whenever occasion required.
But occasion did not require just then.
Her father was dozing over his library fire,
perfectly at ease, in dressing-gown and slip
pers, waiting for dinner, and Maxwell Fay,
the only man living whom bIio cared to win,
had been and gone in her absence. So, sho
was quite frco to give vent to her unavail
ing wrath without the slightest danger of
being overheard, and she threw about her
pearl combs, spilled cologne, and scolded
Lisette to her full satisfaction.
"A pretty confidant you are, indeed! A
nice person for one to trust I Did I not
charge you over and over again to send that
girl up stairs with her sewing, in caso Mr.
Fay should call during my absence? I
would rather have given a thousand dollars
than to havo had him sitting there in the
parlor alone with her half the afternoon.
You could have prevented it easily enough.
You can do anything you choose in the ma
nceuvreing lino, and I never yet saw a
French woman who could not. Don't tell
mo it was not your fault. I dare say you
had your magpie head, all tho while, cither
in the wine-cellar or in my bureau draw
ers. I'll make you suffer for it though."
Poor Lisctte would no doubt have found
herself utterly wretched and inconsolable
under tho weight of her mistress's displeas
ure, if a shining gold piece, given her that
afternoon by Maxwell Fay, had not lain, all
the while, like balm in her pocket. True,
' there was a half-worn rose-colored silk,
long coveted and long promised, hanging in
Miss Winterglado's closet, and she felt her
chances of possessing it growing beautiful
ly less, but consoled herself with thinking
that money was the best friend, after all,
and new diessos a deal nicer than old ones.
' While cunning Lisette was seeking vain-
lyto chatter her mistress into something
akin to good humor, a young girl sat close
. to the window of a luxurious littlo room,
off the spacious parlor, straining her Ore-tian-blue
eyes over a snowy cashmere robe
sho was embroidering in a trailing pattern
of convolvuli. Thoroughly interested in
her work, and eagerly happy in thinking
of a tempting glass of jelly and cluster of
grapes sho would bo enabled to purchase
for an invalid mother, Amber Gray hooded
not that it was past her usual hour for leav
ing work, until a rustle of silken garments
mo along the dim silent parlor, and Lau
ra Winterglado stood just within tho room,
her cold graj eyes glittering like steel, and
nugcr glowing in her cheeks.
Innocent Amber, just finishing tho last
delicate bud, could think of nothing but
her completed work, that was to bring her
the means of furnishing sorely needed
comforts to the dear ones tit home. Shame
upon tho cruel revengeful woman who
could so relent lessly disappoint l-r I
So you have ilnished my dross, at last,"
said Miss Winterglado, without ono atom
"f approbation in her icy voice.
The young gill looked up with it vague 1
"Surely, Miss Wlntorglade, you must Ikj
aware that this working in silk and chenille
is extremely diflioult, and that it is impos
sible to hurry without spoiling it. Just
wee how lovely it is. Such au exquisite
blending of leaves and blossoms t One
must bo very happy in wearing such beau
tiful things."
Still her employer stood staring at her us
though she would fain have turned her to
stone.
"Do you think, Amber Gray, that I am
going to approvo either you or your work ?"
she, said, raspingly ; "let me tell you that
I shall never wear that dress. I would
rather dio than wear any garment your
hands have touched, and I would not give
you another days work to save your life."
The white robo, fair and stainless enough
for an angel to wear, dropped slowly from
the limp cold hands of the grieved, insulted
girl. In her utter purity of heart and in
tegrity of purpose, no suspicion of the true
cause of this sudden outbreak dawned upon
her.
"Miss Winterglado," she said, with
gentle dignity, " your words and mannor
surprise and distress me. If you are really
in earnest, and in your sober senses, tell
me, I entreat you, what I have done to
causo you to denounce me with such in
tense, vehement bitterness."
Laura Winterglado would, no doubt,
have struck her in the face, had she dared,
but fortunately sho did not dare. She
heard a door open and shut, and the belief
that some one of the servants was near
restrained her from anything more blasting
than words.
" You play injured innocence excellently
well," she said, tauntingly ; " You haven't
the shadow of an idea, of course, what
you have done to make me despise you.
Perhaps indeed, you have such an over
whelming estimate of your attraction as to
imagine that I hired you out of the street
to entertain my lovers in my absence."
Quick angry tears gathered on the fring
ing lashes of Amber Gray's beautiful eyes,
and scarlet blushes dyed her fair oval face.
"You are cruel and wicked! Jealousy
is making you utterly unjust and unreason
able ! I should be deceiving, indeod, if I
pretended not to understand you. Your
fears are groundless. It is true that Mr,
Fay called whilo you wore away, and came
through the parlor to ask mewhattimoyou
would probably return. He seated him
self uninvited on tho sofa opposite, and
chatted pleasantly half an hour or more. I
am ashamed to remember how cool and al
most uncivil I was to him."
" Do not seek to impose any of your
false-hoods upon mo 1" said Miss Winter
glado, sternly. " This afternoon was not
the first time you havo entertained him in
my absence. I understand it all. You do
pond upon your beauty to win you a rich
husband. Let me enlighten you a little.
Aside from tho income earned by his pro
fession, Maxwell Fay has nothing. Ho is
an orphan, and has been for years. His
mother had no fortune, and supported her
son by teaching musio until she married
tho rich banker, Morris Vanstono, of this
city, and unless his stepson, whom he loves
very dearly, should ofl'end him by some
metallianee, it is quite certain he will come
into possession of an immense property.
Now let me warn you. A greater tyrant
a more relentless, cruel and unforgiving
man than old Morris Vanstono does not
live. People say he grows more and more
unbearable every day. He had once a
daughter, the only child ever born to him ;
her mother, whom he idolized, died in giv
ing her life. My mother know her well,
and often speaks of tho exquisite beauty of
the girl, as sho grew to womanhood. At
seventeen she married secretly, and her
father came near murdering her when cir
cumstances revealed the truth to him. It
was a Now Year's ve, bitter cold, with a
northeast storm ahead. I have heard tho
old housekeeper, who sometimes comes
here, tell the story, and sho never tells it
without orying. Nobody ever know who
Helen Vanstono man-led, for the old man
asked her no questions, and allowed hor to
make no explanations. Ho just thrust her
down his doorsteps with a bitter curse, and
from that day till this ho never saw or
-heard from her. Tell me, now, do you
think that Maxwell Fny, knowing the tem
perof his adopted father, will ever bo so
insane as to oiler honorable marriage to
such as you?"
Miss AVintcrgludo had remained stand
ing during her long recital, and at tho last
sentence her scornful voice echoed mock
ingly among the shadows.
"You seem strongly impressed with
tho idea that Mr. Fay is in lovo witli me,"
answered Amber Gray, hardly less scorn
full ; " ho has, it is true, been very kind
to, me on several occasions when I needed a
friend ; and I will tell you now, what you
have never guessed, that I know him long
before I came lioro to sew for you. Ho is
tho soul of honor, the truest of gentlemen,,
and the kindest of friends. But, believe
me, Miss Wiulergladu, I shall never stand
either in his light or yours. Let us discuss
him no more. It is growing dark, and my
mother is ill and nervous. Please pay mo
and lot me leave your house forever."
But there were lengths and depths of
sordid meanness in Laura Winterglado's
nature, of which Amber Gray had no con
ception. It would require a very whito
robo, indeed, to mako an angel of her.
Sho opened hor pocket-book and drew
out a bill.
"Here aro five dollars," sho said, coldly;
" had you proved what you pretended to bo
an honest and innocent girl, I should pay
you what I promised. No earthly power
can ever convince me that you are a respect
able person. Take your money and go ; it
is all you will ever get from mo. If you
fall short, I advise you to apply to your
long-tried and valued friend Maxwell Fay."
And before Amber Gray's dumb cold
lips could frame an answer, Laura Winter
glade had swept from the room. She
could have sworn that sho heard the street
door shut softly as she stepped across tho
mossy carpet into tho hall, and sho went
up stairs, wondering if it was possible she
had boon" overheard. Fear lurks in the
shadow of guilt.
Amber Gray wrapped hciself in her
shawl, and made her way out of tho great
house with a chilly numbness in her limbs
and a dull despair at her heart. Never in
all her years of toil and privation, had sho
felt such a crushing sense of her lonely and
desolate position.
" Only flvo dollars for twelve days of pa
tient and unremitting toil I Weeks may
elapse before I find another situation, for
that dreadful woman will doubtless do all
she can to injure mo. The weather, too,
is growing bitterly cold, and we oro need
ing fuel, provisions and winter clothing.
Alas, too, for my holiday surprises ! I
meant to buy so many things. Delicato
food for mother, and a bright plaid dress
for dear littlo Myrtle. But all that is hope
less now ; Christmas and the Now Year,
that should bo crowned with peace and
plenty, can bring nothing but misery to our
dwelling. And to think I must suffer all
this wrong and injustice just bccauBO I hap
pen to be pretty. I wish thoro was some
invention of the toilet warranted to produce
red hair and freckles. But lot mo be pa
tient. I cannot think that God has quite
forgotten us. Mother says ho never makes
mistakes, aud perhaps after all, ho is lead
ing us in ways wo know not of."
Crushing back the tears that wero blind
ing her, she walked on rapidly, and, turning
a corner, she slipped and would have fallen
on the icy pavemont but for tho strong arm
stretched suddenly out to uphold her.
" Poor tired child ; escaped like a dove,
wounded and bleeding, from the very talons
of a vulture. Ah, my child take courage.
All women are not Laura Winterglados."
She knew the kind voice instantly. Just
then, too, the light from a gas-lit window
streamed across his face Maxwell Fay's
face that always beamed upon her liko a
benediction.
" O Mr. Fay. I did notthink any ono could
have been so bitterly cruel, so meanly dis
honest. But how came you to know?
Did you hear all sho said ?"
"Every word; and to think I should
have allowed my preference for your socie
ty to betray me into causing you so much
pain ! But I did it ignorantly. I never
dreamed of her being such a tigress of
jealousy and revenge. A. sweet wife she
would mako, whould sho not ?"
" I am tempted to wish some Bluoleard
were living, to woo and win her," said Am
ber. " But how camo you to hear her ?"
" Fate ordained it, I think. On reaching
my office, after my call this afternoon, I
missed a business letter from my coat pock
et, and fancied I might have dropped it
on the parlor Hour. Arriving, I found the
street door ajar, the hall shadowy ; I heard
voices, too, yours nnd hors. Well you
know how almost impossible it is to refrain
from listening whon we hear own names.
But, Miss Gray, forget that which Miss
AVinturglade has said. Sho will prove but
a feeble enemy, and shall nevor injure or
insult you again. No doubt you are won
dering how I over came to be a constant
visitor there, and, iudoecd, I never was
very constant, until tho certainty of seeing
you drew me daily. The truth is, I made
Miss Winterglado's ucquaiutauce solely
to please Mr. Vanstono, my stop-father.
Ho saw hor sumo where and admired her
extremely. He is getting old and childish,
and wishes to see me settled in life," .
He had one of Amber's littlo chilled
hands clasped in his own, now, as ho walk
ed close beside her, and his voice and pi es
ones m emed to waiiu Bud comfort her like
wlno.
"So you aro really Mr. Vanstone's pro-
tcgo, tho probable heir to his millions? Ah,
my friend, I had rather have gone on be
lieving you simply Lawyer Fay, an ordina
ry mortal struggling up life's steeps alone
and unaidod like myself. But now thcro is
a great gulf between us."
" Not unless your too sensitive prido fixes
it thoro, my friend. Mr. Vanstone has, it
is true, been the kindest of fathers to me,
but I have little taste for dead mon's shoes
and wish for no fortuno other than the one
I am carving out with my own hands. But
I have not the shadow of a claim upon
Morris Vanstone's money. Singular as it
may seem, I never knew, until I overheard
Laura Winterglado's tirado this afternoon,
that Mr. Vanstone had once a daughter.
It is very strange that the story should not
sooner have como to my ears. Though her
father does not, it seems even know her
name or place of abode, I cannot believe her
imago is quite dead in his heart. There
is, there must bo, a great wrong to be set
right. With all his riches, a lonelier, more
desolate man than Mr. Vanstono does not
live ; and I have como at last upon the so
cret of his misery. That long banished
daughter, deeply mourned, too, I believe,
may yet be living, and she is surely tho
solo rightful heir to her father's estates."
Tho two had como now into a dark and
narrow street, into whoso gloom no friendly
gaslight penetrated. Amber stopped sud
denly, and said, with a littlo vexation in
her voice :
" There, Mr. Fay, how forgetful I have
been. I waB so interested in listening to
you that quite neglected to get mother her
grapes. How very long this day must havo
seemed to her. I must go back."
But her companion drew her on towards
her own door.
" Plcaso don't bo angry," ho said, deprc
catingly, " or if you are, do not bind me
under any promises not to repeat my of
fence. Tho fact is, I took tho liberty to
send a fow trifles to your houso this morn
ing. You know I promised Myrtlo an or
ango as largo as her head, to pay for pulling
her curls tho last timo I was there. Seri
ously, Amber, I wish you were not so
proud. What, indeed, is tho uso of living,
if wo may not have tho privilege of making
happy those wo lovo best ?"
Grateful tears fell on Maxwell Fay's hand,
as the young girl took it ia a good-night
clasp at her own door. Watching his tall
graceful form till it disappeared in the
darkness, she sent up a thankful prayer to
neaven for so true a friend.
It was no unpleasant scene that greeted
the girl's eyes, as sho opened the door of
her mother's littlo sitting-room.
Mrs. Gray sat in her rocking-chair by the
fire, and looked up, as her daughter en
tered, with a glad smilo of welcome. She
was a slight, fragile woman, very youth
ful still in appearance, and though just re
covering from a long illness, there wero in
her face traces of what must onco havo
been unusual beauty. Her dress, a wrap
per of dark gray with a littlo trimming of
scarlet, was neat and lady-like ; altogether,
the simple yet tasteful appointments of tho
rooms and the snowy cloth and bright
dishes on tho nicely laid supper-tablo,
showed plainly enough that nothing could
ever sink Mrs. Gray and her daughters into
vulgarity or degradation.
1 " Dear child, I am so glad you havo coino !
I was beginning to be anxious- Myrtle is a
good little nurse, but when sho is t school
I can't help fueling very lonely. Indeed,
Amber, I shall not bo sorry whon you are
through at Miss Winterglado's. I am al
ways happiest when you have work you
can do at homo."
" Then you can commence being happy
immediately," her daughter said, smiling
aud kissing her tenderly. "I finished
thoro to-night, and I nm not sorry either,
mother, for I much prefer sewing at homo
with you." And tho generous, self-sacrificing
girl flitted abotit and poured out tho
tea as cheerily as though she had not a sor
row in tho world. Littlo Myrtle, whoso
tongue was quiet only because her Bister's
entrance had caught her in tho middle of a
dreadful Bum in long division, looked up at
last with her pretty blossom of a face alight
with pleasure.
" O Amber ! I do want you to begin, tho
very first thing to-morrow morning, and
make my dress. I havo got just thu love
liest dress a real Prince Charlio plaid
and such a pair of button boots ! And
mother will tell yon what else candy, and
tigs, and oranges, and"
"Mercy, child I do take breath. Havo
we a fairy godmother among us?" asked
Amber, glancing up to her mother.
" Ono would think so really," answered
Mrs. Gray. " A black man wrapped at tho
door this morning and handed in a basket
'For Mrs. Gray," he said, and before I
could find my roice ho was down stairs liko
a flash. The basket was loaded with dain
ties. Such grapes ! real Black Hamburgs ;
and three varieties of rich foreign jellies.
But the wino was best of all. I never saw
anything like it. It seems to go straight
to that faintness that has troubled me so
long. I believe I feel bettor already. And
then Myrtle's present came in good time ;
the poor child needed a new dross. You
should havo seen hor eyes shine when sho
caught sight of the package directed in her
namo. Of course, Amber, you can guess
whom we aro to thank for the good gift."
" Possibly, mother. But enjoy it, I pray,
all you can. I am getting over somo of
my pride in regard to accepting favors, at
least when they come from truo hearts.
Why should we refuse mercies wo would
ourselves so lavishly bestow, if it had plead
ed God to give us the maons ?"
" True, my daughter. I hope I am not
ungrateful ; I know I am proud, but O
Amber, I was born to bestow, and not to
beg."
" Ah, well, mothor darling said tho girl,
brightly, " let us accept our adversity, and
make its uses sweet. At least we need
not grow sour aud bitter under tho dispen
sation. Be sure that whilo I have' health
and strength to work, you shall never bo a
beggar."
Mrs. Gray, who had been sitting up all
day, for tho first time since her illnesf
grew weary soon after tea, and after seeing
her comfortably in bed, Amber sat down
to rest and look over an evening paper.
An advertisement in tho column of
"Wants" attracted her. It ran thus;
" Wanted, a patient, even-tempered
young lady to read to a cross old gentleman
three afternoons every week. Apply in
person, at 10 Montague Square."
Amber laughed aloud. "I should say
tho old gentleman is as honest as ho is ir
ritablo," sho said, half aloud.
" What aro you saying, sis ?" asked Myr
tlo, who was rollling ovor the rug with her
kitten.
" Nothing to you, my dear ; but bo care
ful ; you are getting that orange juice in
kitty's eyes ; just seo hor wink."
"I must seo about this," she said, men
tally ; " something seems to draw mo to
wards this cross old gentloman, who, per
haps, has no daughtor to read to him. . I
rather admire old nconlo. and I alwava en
joyed reading aloud. I could sow at homo
an uio morning, anrt going thoro would bo
much excrciso. It is just possible I might
suit his lionship, and I will certainly apply
to-morrow ; but I wont mention it to moth
er, sho has such a peculiar and nervous
dread of my going among strangers."
Concluded next week.
V5T To arrive at perfection, a man must
havo very sincere friends or inveterato
enemies ; because ho would bo made sen
siblo of his good or ill conduct, either by
tho censures of the one, or tho admonition
of tho others.
3ST If you aro disquieted with anything,
you should consider within yourself Is
tho thing of that worth, that for it I should
so disturb myself and loso my peace and
tranquility ?
K VI(1 MA DBPA It T SI E N T .
Kiilgnia.
No mortal can my powers withstand,
I conquer all by sea and land,
Tho fair, aro smitten by my charms,
And yloldlng fall into my arms j
The great and good of high degree,
Submit, and own my storn decree ;
Proud Cato, I havo oft ensnared,
No age or sex I ever spared i
Oft times lu dungeons I am found
Healing the prisoners bleeding wound;
Orim death Itself cun't frighten me, .
I've conquered thousands more than he;
All o'er the Oloho my name is known,
Vet noao cau rob me of my throne.
Answer next week.
Wk have been much amused by the let
ters we have received telling how much the
boot maker lost in tho caso stated in last
weeks Timich. One letter says that $95 and
tho boots was lost, whilo another as firmly
believes that f 50 and tho boots, is tho, cor
rect answer, and yot another putting the
loss at (5.1 and tho boots.
Tho actual loss was just what tho Call-
fornian carried off, which was $43 received
in chango and the boots ; or f 30 less the
profit on the boots, was what tho boot
maker lost.