l)c hues, Nctu Blaomftcfo, Pa,
His Only Chance.
iT DON'T see why It would be very
wronir for me to know what is in
I
the will."
The speaker was a bright, handsome
girl of seventeen Rena Crocker the
grand-daughter of old Steven Crocker,
whose doath a day or two before had
brought sorrow to few hearts. Two grand
children Horaco Wharton and Rona
were his only relatives and constituted his
family. Horace was as mean of act and
disposition as the old man himself. Rena
was a beauty, and an nmlablo girl when
she chose. There certainly were intorvals
when pride and disdain were her more
marked characteristics, buRenit's eyes
were her irrand irresistibility. Talk of
diamonds! The flash and play of those
wondrous living gems offered something
infinitely more lustrously changeable. It
was, however, a brilliancy as restless, as
little to be caught and fathomed, as the
bright vagaries of a Jack-o'-lantern on a
wall. Young as she was, Rona was a
worldly-minded coquette to the very core
already. She had inherited all the disposi
tion and qualities of hor mother, a cele
brated beauty in her day. In other respocts
Rena Crocker was docidedly a young lady
of the period. Very certainly sho bolonged
to her times in her resolution to get well
married, that is to say, to some person of
wealth and Btation. Roth together if pos
sible, but the former- preferably. And
then to enjoy herself at the utmost swing
of fashionablo dissipation and luxury for
the remainder of her existence
"I don't see how it would bo any harm"
continued Rena, "as I wouldn't do any
thing but read it, and there's no knowing
how it might be tampered with by that
rascally cousin of mine before it is road
next Saturday. I imagine grand-father
left the bulk of his property to mo, but
there's no telling what notion the old fool
may have got into his head."
Rena was alone in her chamber. To
think was to act with her. Sho know that
a will, drawn up and signed by the old
man a year before his death, was in a desk
in the dingy old library. She had often
seen it, and wondered what were the con
tents so closely scaled from her eyes. It
was dusk, and as she stole along through
the dreary hall she half relented, and finally
paused on the very threshold of the room
she was Booking. Then chiding herself
for hor weakness, she stole in, got the key
of her grandfather's desk, and opened the
drawer. There lay tho will, sealed as sho
had often seen it.
" But I'm no better off than before,"
she muttered. "I can't open it."
It was useless to peep into its fold
only detached words could bo seen. Rut
Rena was not inclined to be bullied in her
curiosity. And she was as fertile in ro
sources as tho wildest of her sex. Light-
ins a gas jot site warmed the largo wax
seal. Then with tho blade of a pocket kuife
she carefully loosened it. It was done
The document lay open boforo her ! Her
eyes rapidly devoured its contents, and
her cheeks paled with anger.
"The miserable old dotard 1" she
cd . ,
' Tho causo of her displeasure was tho
unpleasant and surprising fact that her
grandfather had not left her a solitary
cent. Every particle of his amplo fortuno
went to Horaco Wharton. Her first motive
was to destroy tho will; but a second
thought detained her. Sho feared tho
consequences of such au act. , Again
slightly heating tho seal she rcaflixed it in
its place, replaced tho will in the drawer
and went back to her room.
After tho first gust of rugo had some
what subsided she sat down to quietly
think the matter over. There seemed but
one way to retain any portion of tho for
tune, and that was by marrying her cousin
Horace. Sho hated him heartily ; yet her
vanity had always told her that he admired
her. She know her beauty, and over-csti
mated its effect upon her stolid kinsman
" But five days remain before tho open
ingof tho will," she mused, "beforo that
time I must luro Horace into an oiler of
marriage."
About tho time that Rena was gaining
her surreptitious knowledge of the con
tents of the will, her wealthy cousin Hor
ace was socking after prociselyjsimilar in
formation. Betaking himself to the office
of Harmon Neebir, the lawyer who had
been intrusted mainly with the legal busi-
ness of his grandfather, he found that gen
tleman alono. He knew comething of the
lawyer's character, and at once proceeded
to business.
" You drew up my grandfather's will,
did you not?" he asked
Yos."
" How long ago?"
" About six months. He hod prepared
one a year ago, but this makes nu entirely
different disposition of the property."
" And what is that disposition ?"
The lawyer smiled.
," I have no right to tell you," he said.
" But you would tell me If sufficient rea
sons were advanced ?
" If the reasons were convincing enough,
yes.1
" Would two hundred dollars convince
you?"
" No."
"Five hundred?"
"Yes."
Horace counted out the sum from his
pocket-book, which he had filled for ex
actly this contingency, and the lawyer
took It, carefully counted it, ond transfer-
rod It to his own wallet. ,
Now," ho said, "you may prepare
yourself for tho worst possible news. You
are, by this will, cutoff from every dollar
of your grandfather's estate."
" You are certain of this?"
"Of course I am. I drew the will, and
Baw it signed, l no previous win icicau
to you, but your grandfather was whim
sical. There came a change in his feel
ings, caused by somo real or fancied mis
conduct of yours, and so ho left all to your
cousin Rena."
Horaco was angry. Ho cursed his dead
relative roundly, until tho lawyer remin
ded him that curses were useless.
But what can I do but curse?" he
asked. t
" I'll toll you. The will is to be read on
Saturday five days from this. In the
meantime ask Rena to marry you."
' But she wouldn't do it, sho hates mo."
" It's your only chanco, and is worth the
trial."
" Couldn't you destroy this last will ?"
" No, it is not in my posscsssion. The
old man had it anions his papers some
where ; and, besides, there were two lion.
est witnesses. Has your cousin a lover?"
"No, I think not."
" Then, believe mo, your best and only
chanco is to play for tho fortuno through
marrying her."
Well," said Horaco, with very little
bono in his tone, "it's a miithty slim
chance, but I'll try it," and went away,
That afternoou the cousins met in the
parlor. Each greeted the other with a
cordiality long unknown in their cousinly
intercourse. They even chatted pleasantly
congratulating themselves upon the man
ner in which they were opening the game.
" You must bo quite oppressed with the
gloom of this old house," said Horace, as
he was about to go, "and I think a rido
might do you good. I will bo pleased to
take you this afternoon if you would do mo
the honor."
Nothing would please mo better," re-
plied the beauty, with a winning smile.
Tho rido was had. Each of tho plotters
endeavored to be ngreeablo. Horace was
bland and attentive. Rena sat distract
incly close to him, was as amiable as a
woman knows how to bo when sho tries,
and UHcd her matchless eyes with killing
effect. They dined on the road, nnd re.
turned in tho evening. And when they
parted for tho night Rena allowed Hoi ace.
for tho first timo in her life, to kiss her,
This great change in their domcanor to
ward each other should have aroused mu
tual suspicion, but it didn't. They were
blinded by the glitter of the golden stako,
During the next day Horaco remained
nearly all day in tho house, ond in the so
ciety of his cousin. IIo proposed going to
tho theater in tho evening, but Rena urged
tho impropriety of so doing. Their grand
father's recent death would make it highly
improper in tho eyes of their friends.
'But wo can go to Brooklyn," suggested
Horace, " nobody will know us there."
To which the beauty assented, and Hor
aco kissed her. She didn't resent his im
pudence. On tho contrary, her lips clung
to his iu a geullo, thrilling rejoinder.
They went to tho theater, grew contl
dentin! and loving, and supplemented their
good-night kisses with a hug.
'I'm progressing tremendously,"
thought Horace. " To-morrow I will pro
pose to her."
I'm bringing him round famously,
thought Rena. " llo willcomo to tho point
in a day or two."
And com o to tho point ho did on tli
following Friday the day beforo tho
opening of the will. Ho swore undyiti;
lovo tor her. bho allcctcu surprise ; was
sufliciently coy for appcaranco, but confess
ed to an ardent passion for him. Both
lies found believing ears. After a largo
amount of tho hugging and kissing wliic
an occasion like this domands, they di
cussed tho practical details.
"lam impatient for tho happy event,
he said squeezing her hand.
"And so ami," sho replied, returning
tho pressure gently.
" But grandfather's rccont death "
"Bother grandfather," pouted Rena.
"Couldn't wo manago it somehow?"
Ho feared for his chances when she
learned that he was penniless.
" We can try."
She was only anxious to have it settled
before he discovered her poverty.
"I'll tell you, Rena," ho sold, as if
struck by a new idea, " we might get mar
ried privately, and keep it a secret until a
becoming amount of time has elapsed."
" As you ploase, dear Horace,"
" When shall we have the ceremony per
formed?" " As soon as possible that Ik, I mean as
Boon as you desire it."
"To-morrow morning?"
"Yes." '
Two liappicr people than the cousins
didn't go to bed that night. Eash was
self congratulatory and triumphant
In the morning they wont In a carriage
to a minister unknown to either and were
married. ' ' '.
Why, It's one o'clock ?". said Horace
they re-entered the carriage " We
hive just time enough to go to the surrog
ate's office and have grandfather's will
read."
They arrived there to find soveral law
yers and the executors assembled. One of
the iatter was' spcaklne. He held ; somo
documents in his hand.
" Here are three will," tho first, leaving
his property to Horaco Wharton, was made
about a year ngo. The second, dated six
months later, leaves the estates to Rona
Crocker. Tho third and last, dated three
months ngo, leaves all to charitable insti
tutions. Of course, only the last is valid
tho others are of no consequence."
Rnge and blank amazement filled tho
faces of the plotting cousins ; but they
could do nothing. They rode disconsolate
ly home in the carriage. They unburdened
themselves of their real sentiments toward
each other. They expressed the most cor-
ial and mutual hatred for each other
And they unanimously agreed to regard
the marriage ceremony as null and void.
For tbn Illoomflcld TimM.
Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Editor Being in town on tho 22d of
Feb., I walked over to tho Court House
hcarinir there was a man there who was
talking about the boy of "little hatchot"
notoriety. On entering I found tho speaker
was speaking words of cheer to the Knights
of Pythias in particular and Secret Societies
n ccncral. His thomo as far as I could
learn was a eulogy on those societies,
He said the Church of Christ was slow in
its movements or words to that effect, and
therefore we must call to our aid as aux
iliarics Odd Follows, Masons, Pythian
Brothers, eto. After listening awhile I
fancied (under the inlluenco created by so
great eloquence) that I could almost see
the bright cloud overshadowing us which
was to receive the Pythian Brothers and
their eulogist into regions of unalloyed bliss
and leave us Galilean sinners stand gazing
up into heaven without the consolatory
promiso that "they Bhould so come again in
like manner." One serious drawback to so
great an event was that Amos had not fur
nished the needful for a journey of such
thousand otfcetp perishing in that samo
building but bis commission only reached
a Brother. , Christ says "if ye love them
which love you what thanks have you, the
Publicans do the same." I submit if
Counterfeiters do not love Brother Counter
feiters? robbers brother robbers ? conspira
tors brothel conspirators ?
These societies would have us heap ful
some laudations upon them for doing the
very thing which Ood has commanded them
not to do. Christ says "lovo your neighbor
as yourself." Secret Societies Bay lovo a
brother, whether right or wrong ! ! Christ
says "as yo would that men should do to
you do even tho samo to them."
Secret Societies change man to a Brother
Mason, Odd Fellow, etc., and ministers are
found who will eulogize them. But Cotton
was king you know 1 ' Secret Societies
aro nil the rage now and a man
would endanger his precious popularity
who could not stretch his conscience up
to the eulogizing point. Wo live iu an
age of Church Fairs, Church Lotteries etc.,
and when in Rome we must do as Romo
does or we might lose our standing I !
Some men instead of braving public opinion
wheu wrong, will servilely fondle npou it.
Ministers especially should crcato and
direct public opinion instead of blindly
adoring it 1
But said one speaker " We can trace
Secret Societies back COOO years yes pos
sibly to the garden of Eden," and if his
memory had been more tenacious he might
have found evident traces of these pet
Societies when the earth was without
"form and void and darkness covered the
face of the great deep." '
We can trace murder back to the first
family and Idolatry to a period little less
remote.
They jnight have existed before the flood
as the historian Bays "The earth was cover
ed with violence."
Because Secret Societies have hoary heads
docs it follow that wo bhould bow in
adoration beforo them? Then must we bow
at tho shrine of idolatry. Then must wo
let murdor go froo 1
But enough. I think it is soon time the
American people would arise and pull down
nil those temples into which God's sunlight
can not pcuetrato and drag tlyse nocturnal
devotees forth to public scrutiny.
Aim Bucket Societies.
ST ELMO HOTEL,
(FORMERLY "THE UNION,")
JOS. M. FEUEIt, Proprietor,
317 & 819 ARCH STREET,
PHILADELPHIA
Terms,
$2-EO Por Day.,
6 aw
THE ST. EI.it O Is centrally tnoatcd and lins
been re-llited nnd refurulsliml. so that It will
be found as comfortable and uleasaut astopping.
place as there Is In l'hiladeipuia.
Neiv 3Iillinery
At Aowjiort,
Goods
I?u.
IllEOtolnforinthemibllo that I have Just re
turned from 1'hlladelphla, with a ful assort
ment of the latest styles of
MILLINERY Q 001)3,
' HATS AXV. T'ONNKTS
KIMSONS, FKENCH FLOWERS.
FEATHERS,
CHIGNONS,
LACE CAPES. m
notion,
And all articles nsnullv found In a ttrst.class Mil.
llnery Establishment. All orders promptly at
tended to. -We will sell all goods as Cheap as
can be got elsewhere.
DRESS-MAKINH done to order nnd In the la-
test style, as I get the latest Fashions from Now
ork every month. Gollcrlnit done to order, in
all widths, I will warrant all my work to give sat
isfaction. All work done as low as possible.
ANNIE ICKES,
"'"""'"""' Note "Ant! Secret Societies" la evidently
One speaker said "Every poison has writing on a sublect ho knowt little about, we
secrets, every family has secrets, God has have luid some txpertmee and knowlethje in ro-
, ,,,! if , ? rri, i, gnrd to those matters and do not feur the effect
shrowded himself m secrecy." Thespeaker a little criticism. We conseonentlv irlvo
had evidently forgotten that secret things
belong to God but thoso which aro revealed
to us and to our children. If I as un indi
vidual have secrets it concerns no one else
to know them. My family secrets would
benefit no one outside, if known. ' But here
we have societies who maintain that they
are of incalculable benefit to the community
and hide themselves from tho people. Do
men light a candle and put it under a
bushel? or do they put it on a candlestick
for tho purpose ot giving light? .Lot your
light so shine I If the secrets of my family
would largely benefit the community I
would bo reprehensible for not divulging
them. God has not shrowded himself in
secrecy. Ho has revealed himself iu his
word llo was manifest in tho flesh.
O but say theso Societies tho only things
secret about them aro tho grips, signs, etc.,
and these aro secret as a matter ol course,
becauso if known every ono would belong
without paying etc. ' And so that is nil, is
it? '
Where is William Morgan of western
New York who was foully dealt with in
1820 because ho announced his intention of
publishing a book in which the secrets of
Freo Masonry were to bo disclosed. His
blood cries for vengenco to-day.
Ono of tho speakers said we must judgo
them by their acts not by their secrets etc.,
and so judging 1 would send Belshazzar's
hand to writoover tho door of every Eodgo
Mene, Tekcl, Uphariin.
If tho secrets amount to nothing why
make away with Morgan?
But you cry, "How benevolent they nro?
Tho Catholic Church never showed more
benevolence than when plotting treason!
Their Monks and Friars would walk about
barefooted with a picco of old ropo around
them with all seeming humility, in public,
While iu private they were engaged in car
rying out tho "Gun Powder Plot," or car
rying out something else for tho purpose of
overthrowing governments.
"Auricular Confession has been the
mighty lover by which thoso things have
been brought about. And does any one
suppose that, if the Knights of Pythias or
any other Secict Society had tho majority,
tuey would elect any ono hut a brother
to office? Oakcs Ames knows tho benefit
resulting from having friends at Court !
Let not tho community be deceived 1
These Societies who profess to be innocent
now may at no distant day bind you hand
und foot.
Look at this for a moment. A Mason
before taking the third degree must take
an oath that ho will assist a Brother Mason
whether ri;i or wrong. And every Mason
who lias taken nil tho Degrees knows that
to be a fact. Was there anything more
corrupt in nny of thoso mighty Republics
wliiah once flourished but are now no more ?
One of tho speakers cast some light ou
this subject by showing that a man lost his
life by entering a burning building to rescue
a Brother. Thoro might have beon a
place to the above article. If our frletd would
join some of these societies he would bo better
able to lorm an opinion oi their merits.
Eccentric Cats.
Iu tho Plymouth Journal for tho year
1828 a writer states that " there is now at
tho battery iu tho Devil's Point a cat which
is au expert catcher of tho finny tribe,
being iu the constant habit of diving into
tho sea and bringing up tho fish alive in her
mouth, and depositing them iu tho guard
room for the uso of tho sailors." This re
maikablo cat was indirectly trained by her
instructor to sport in this manner, having
long been accustomed to divo into tho sea
after water rats. Her lovo for tho water,
says tho writer, was as great ns that of any
JNewlounulanu dog. I his nncciloto proves
how the nature of the boast may be changed
by circumstances. No doubt, had sho had
kittens, and lish nnd water rats been tho
only food they could obtain, they . might
havo followed tho mother's curious habit,
and iu courso of time, tho instinct ; be
coming hereditary, thoy might havo been
a raco of sua diving cats.
Cats can reason or put two and two to
gether iu a quiet way. Sam slick toll b
talo toiu-li i n tr this faculty which ini"ht not
bo believed weio it not backed up by other
irroproachahlu evidence. A servant con
tinually entering tho master's library upon
tho summons of tliu bell, and as continually
told that it had not been ruug, persisted in
saying that lio had heard it, tho domestic
began to suspect that the house was haun
ted ; and so it turned out to be not by a
ghost, however, but by u eat, who, wishin.
tho company of her master, and not bein
able to gain admission by reason of the
closed door, must have noticed that when a
certain bell w ithin her reach was rung It
was opened by the servant. Puss, noticing
cause und cllcct, used to ring tho bell, and
always ran to the door und entered when
tho servant did tho fact of tho simulta
neous entry leading, of course, to the dis
covery of her cunning trick.
1 Ins, it will ho said, was lint a Bam
Slick ism ; but hero is a still cleverer trick
which is related of an Angor cat belonging
to a Carthusian monastry nt 1 aris. 1 hi
cut bavinjr observed that tho cook alway
answered a certain bell, fust before the din
Hers portioned out iu plates wcro rei ved out
to the monks, leaving them in consequence
unprotected, had wit enough to take ad
viintiiL'u of this luct for sho used to rin
the bell outside tho kitchen door, watch the
cook oil guard, spring through the window
help herself to a portion, and then retur
before lie had timo to come back.
616 13
Cherry Street, near the Station,
Newport, Ia.
B'KIIUY COUNTY
Real Estate. Insurance,
AND
CI.AIJI AGENCY.
LEV13 POTTER & CO.,
Real Estate Srokert, Insurance, ii Cluim Agent
IVew Ulooinlleltl,
"ITTEINVITE the attention of buyers and sell
fV ers to the advantages we offer them In pur
chasing or disposing ot real estate through, our of-
u ce.
We have a verv lurce llstof deslr&li nronertv-.
consisting of farms, town property, mills, store
and tavern stands, and real estate of any descrip
tion which we are prepared to oiler at great bar
gains, we novel-use our property very exr.ensive-
y, ana use au our euorts, skin, and dllllgence to
Itect a sale. We make no charirea unless tin-
proMjrty Is sold while registered with us. We alsc
draw up deeds, bonds, mortgages, andall legal pa
pers at moderate ratos.
noiue oi me oest, cneapesc, ana most reuaDis
tire, life, and cattle insurance companies In the
United States are represented at this agency.
Froierty Insured either on the cash or mutual
plan, and perpetually at tM and sS per thousand.
Tensions, bounties, and all kinds of war nhdms
collected. There are thousands of soldiers and
heirs of soldiers who are entitled to pensions and
bounty, who have never made application. Sol
diers, it you were wounded, ruptured, orcniitract
ed a disease in the service from which you are dis
abled, you are entitled to a pension.
w nen widows oi soiaiers cue or marry ,the minor
children are entitled to the pension.
Parties having any business to transact In our
line, are respectfully Invited to give us a call, its
we areconnimiu weean renuer satisfaction in any
branch of our business.
-Nocharge for information.
auly LEWIS I'OTTElt & CO.
CARLISLE CARRIAGE FACTORY.
A. Ji. SllEHK
has a Imp; lot ot second-hand work on cftfWJr
hand, which he will sell cheap In urdnrKjSM&fr
to make room lor now work,
FOR THE SPRING TRADE,
lie has. also, the best lot of
NEW WORK ON HAND.
You can always see different styles. The material
is not ill (iiesiion any more, lor it is uih nest useil.
If you want satisfaction in style, quality and
rlee, co to this shop before piirehaslnir elsew here.
There Is no linn that has a better Truile. or sells
mure In Cumberland and l'erry counties.
REPAIRING AND PAINTING
Factory Corner of South
promptly attended to.
anil 1'itt Streets,
Sdp
CAHblvLK, PA.
Remarkably ( heap Spouse
At Farely, Dubuuuo county, Iowa,
few days since, a wood chopper named
Wicks lost his spouse nnd n small sum of
money. It seems that Mr. Wicks pursued
his wifo, found her in the company of one
Charles Nush, and after pleading unsuc
cessfully for her return, Actually sold her
to Nash for $ 10 and his expouscs 1 - And
the woman has gouo with the buyer to Har
din county. ,
Farmers Take Notice.
rjMIE subscriber offers for Sale .
TlIi:i:slIIX(l MACHINES. JACKS and HOUSE.
row Eli,
With Tumbllnc Shaft, and Side (learliic. Warrant
ed to give sal isfact ion In speedy and perfect
threshing, light draft anil durubllity, on reasoim.
uie lei iii. aiso
1 L.OUGIIH
Of Superior Make.
COltN SHEM.EKS.
IviaTl.KS.
STOVES.
SC( IOCS
AM) ALL CASTINGS,
made ut a oountry Foundry. AUo,
A tiOOO MILL SCItEW,
in excellent order, for sale at a low rato.
I refer those wishing to buy to John Adiinis,
Samuel Hliuuin.il. John linden, Jioss lleneh, at
Icliesliuig. .lueob Shoemaker & Son, lililotts
burtt: Thomas Morrow. Loysvlllei John Flicking
bt, Jacob Fllekinger, Centre. 02nlo
, , SAMUEL LKJCETT.
lckesburg, May 11. 1872.
J-UNC.tN BnERMAN& CO "
IJA.N1C1C11H,
11 Nassau Street,
NEW YORK,
Issue clrmilar Notes and circular Letters of
credit available in any part of the world.
Current accounts received en such terms
as may be agreed upon. 512tf
Tick's Florilli!iIiro for HTiT
The GUIDE Is now published Quarterly.
TWESTT-KIVK CENTS pays for the year,
four numbers, which Is not half tho cost.
Those who afterwards tend money to the
amount ol ONE DOI.LAlt or more for Seeds
limy also order Twenty-tlve Cents worth e; tra
the prleo paid for the (lulde.
llie JANUAKY NUMbKH Is benntrul, glv
Ing plans for making KUKAL HOMES, Ue
nlgiii fur Dining Table Decorations, Window
burdens, &c, and containing a mass of Infor
mation Invuluublu to the lover of (lowers.
Ouo Hundred and Fitly puges en flue tinted
mper, some Flva Hundred Kngniviiicn and a
superb COLORED FLaTK and CHROMO
COVER. The First Edition of Two Hundred
Thousand just printed In English and German,
randy to send out.
. JAMES VICK,
' Rochester, N. Y.