B. F. SCHWEIER,
TEE OOSSTiTUTlOI THE TJHOI AID TEE ESTOXOEHEBT 01 THE LAWS.
Editor and Proprietor.
VOL. XL.
MIFF LINTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA., WEDNESDAY. AFKIL 21, 1SS(3.
NO. 17.'
Hp Knoweth Best.
knows wtt keys In hrU to touch,
TWrom to dra the aweetest strain,
J,7,ier now of joy's clad song,
meloiies made sott by pain.
.d isme P-"""" must waIk
E, towW vaies of weary way,
alUe other in some happier clime,
Cpon themouut of joy may stay.
in the cranJ ascending song,
"oras sweet they all unit
c-iaor discord in the strain
floats along uills of Uht-
rain or joy our harpjtnngs tune,
Rrfore a levins father s throne,
wt.eet synilihonious song shall rise.
3Jr il O IxrJ, not ours be done."
OUT IN TrU: COLD WORLD.
It la a glorious morning In early
AnriL Flo Brymer is eitting alone in
coi zeously -furnished morning-room
Iwaltiiiz the advent of Mrs. Fitz-Mau-e
Smith. When Flo arrived, that
idy was absent at an entertainment;
but this morning site has intimatad
trough ber maid tliat it is her pleasure
hoIJ an interview with her new gov.
sness at ten o'clock precisely in her
BoruiBg-room.
It is talf-past ten; but no Mrs. Fitz
jlaurice Smith has as yet put in an ap
pearance. Flo is tired of contemplat
es tie tables and cabinets crowded
rlta brie a lrac; she is equally .weary
the photograph of a large stout wo
nan much Itslizened with lace adorn
ing the gold-fnnged mantelshelf, and
which iustinct tells her is the portrait
afllrs. Fitz-Maurice Smith. Finally
the door handle turns slowly, and Mrs.
Fitz-Maurice Smith enters the room.
She is a tall and very portly woman
Df between forty and fifty. Her com
plexion is fiend, her hair of a golden
hoe, elaborately dressed, and surmoun
ted by an airy cap; her handsare very
h;g, very white, and very much bediz
ened with diamonds. She is clad in a
rich heavily-falling silk overladen with
trimming, and she wears on her bhoul
Jers a pale-blue Shetland shawl, not
for t sake of its warmth, but because
the s&Je suits her pinky-white skin.
She advances with dignified step to
ward Flo, who has risen to meet her,
and holds out the tips of two broad
white Cngcrs from the folds of her
Shetland" shawl, saying, in a slightly
nasal tone, and with a decided lisp
"Miss Brymer, 1 suppose? I am afraid
have kept you waiting; but my little
dog had no appetite this morning, for
his breakfast, and I have been trying'
to coax him to eat a little."
Flo triej to repress a smile as she an
swers, reseating herself on her low chair
and shutting up her pocket-book
"I have been busy with my accounts
so the time did not seem very long."
Mrs. Smith establishes herself in a
roomy causeuse, and contemplates her
new governess through her double
eye-glasses for some moments in silence
After a while the scrutiny bacoraes em
harrassipg to' Flo, who feels desperately
inclined to laugh; so she proceeds to
business.
"Vou wish to speak to me about the
children, I think, Mrs. Smith?'; she
asks.
"Mrs. Fitz-Maurice Smith,' corrects
that lady severely.
Flo bows her head in meek accep
tance of the rebuke.
"Yes; I wish to give you an idea of
the general order of things, and a list
of the studies to be pursued, which I
have drawn up."
"I have hitherto made my owa ar
rangements about lessons," answers
rio, smiling. "If you will kindly enu
merate Uie various studies, and say
how many hours a day you would like
the children to work, I need not trouble
you further."
"Ah! I see you have been accustom
ed to people who, having engaged their
governess, consider they have done
Uteirduty to ttelr children; but I a"u
not of that opinion. I superintend every
thing. In this house there is a time for
everything and for everything a time."
Flo bends her head slightly, and
awaits further particulars.
"Yoisaw the children, of course, at
fie school-room breakfast?"
"Yes," assents Flo readily.
"Your chief charge will be Cornelia.
She is unusually advanced in all her
studies, far mare so than most girls of
her age. She has however four mas
ters drawing, music, German, and
Latan so that you need not feel difli
dent about undertaking her. Yoot
dnty win simply be to prepare her for
the different lessons. You may have
observed that the dear child is very
QilicateV" Mis. Smith pauses.
"Jfo." answers Flo honestly; "she
made a hearty breakfast this morning. "
"I am glad to hear it," responds
Mrs. Smith with a frown; "but Cor
nelia Is nevertheless extremely delicate
so. much so that, unless engaged in
oot-of-door exercise, I wish her to lie
on her back for the greater part of
each day. In a recumbent position she
cannot, of course, study without great
Inconvenience; consequently it will be
Jour duty to read and re-read her les
sons for her until she knows them by
heart, 'Whilst you are engaged with
Cornelia, Dot, Trot, and Tom will walk
with their maid."
"And what time shall I devote to
little ones?" asks Flo, somewhat
aghast
"Ah, I Live a theory of my own re
specting the little ones! I think it a
at mistake for small children to be
taught en massa; so you will kindly
take the little ones fcr an hour each,
parately, every day. I have made out
a complete list of your duties, and I
think i placed it in that cupboard"
Pointing majestically to a large black
cabinet embellished with much gilding.
Flo is beginning to feel amused: she
)s still more amused when, having dls
otarred a full-sized piece of bristol
ward closely covered with extremely
o.ack caligraphy. she finds that it con
tains full particulars of her work. She
hO'ds it at arm's length with both hands
wonders vaguely whether Mrs.
xitr-Maurice Smith is aware that only
tenty-four hours go to make a day.
"I am a thoroughly energetic and
"ttlhodical woman. continues Mrs
complacently, "and you will find that
you have there full occupation for every
five minutes in the day. You willob
ierve that in many instances I have
contrived to make the time serve two
JPOses-'S P. M. to 6 P. M., you see,
orneliaat German; Trot, Dot, and
n. needlework. Governess reads
drench aloud again, 8-30 P. M. Co
J15! calisthenics, questioned meau-
on mental arithmetic' "
f to is still gazing blankly at her huge
2of cardboard.
. Don't you see?" asks Mrs. Smith
""Patiently.
"So," answers Flo quietly. "I IMn
this list will need a little study. Mrs,
Fitr-Maurice Smith."
"Ob, perhaps sol I know everybody
can't seize an idea as I can. You had
better take the card with you, Miss,
13rymer, and please place it on the
centre of the mantlepiece; it will act as
a remmuer."
"Tliank you; yes, it will certainly be
as well to have it to refer to," responds
Flo, in a tone where self-complacent
Mrs. Smith detects no tinge of satire.
.men sue rises, and is about to leava
me room, when the lady of the houso
calls her back.
4 ti 1 r i i . . . .
vu, .miss urynier. i,tuinK 1 men
tioned in my letter that my children
bad most gentle and affectionate dispo
sitionsl You must be very lament with
them, or I can't answer for the conse
quences." "I dare say I shall be able to manage
them," answers Flo. somewhat impa
tiently; and she is about to retire, when
a tall fair-haired girl of eighteen en
ters the room.
"My daughter. Miss Fitz-Maurice
Smithl" announces Mrs. Smith conde
scendingly. "Louie, this Is the new
governess."
Flo smiles, and holds out a hand of
friendship. The girl looks so sweet,
she cannot surely have inherited the
mother's pompous mannerj
But Miss Louie seems considerably
taken aback by the proffered hand; she
shakes it however after a very limp
fashion, bestowing at the same time a
long cold stare on Flo.
"The children are making the most
demoniacal noise in the school-room,"
she observes to her mother, with a dis
gusted shrug of her drooping shoulders.
Flo waits not for the' command she
sees hovering on the lips of Mrs. Smith
but; passing swiftly out of the room,
mounts to the school-room. Here, as
she anticipated, anarchy reigns supreme.
It u a lofty well-ventilated room,
and the long French window opening
out on to a brood iron balcony stands
wide open to admit the mild spring sun
shine. In the distance, beyond the
well-kept flower-beds and more dis
tant meadows, lies the sparkling sail
dotted English Channel.
"What a delightful retreat were it
not for these little wretches!" thinks
Flo to herself, as she pictures the bare
back room in which her poor mother is
bound to spend so many sunless hours.
There is a lull on her first appear
ance, armed with her square yard of
cardboard, then a renewed outburst of
shouts and yells, broken at length by
Tom's voice raised shrill and loud above
the rest.
"Tyrant, vampire, viperl Three his
ses for the governess!"
The called for hisses are readily
given.
"Don't think that I am one of your
knock-under milk-and-water misses I"
screams Cornelia.
"There is nothing like a hornpipe to
quiet one's nerves!'' cries Tom.
"Yow, yow, yowf" yells Trot, not to
be behindhand in the tumult
Flo makes no attempt to quell the
noise; she simply sits down in a ' low
chair by the Open window, and breaks
into a hearty laugh.
This unprecedented behavior on tUa
part of Miss Brymer goes farther in
producing silence than any exercise of
authority could have gone; the children
cease their noise to investigate the phe
nomenon; then Flo speaks pleasantly
pleasantly enough, but with a little
satirical smile.
"What a pretty welcome I But your
mamma told me you were all sweet
children."
Cornelia, being the oldest, looks a
Uifle ashamed of herself.
"I have four masters and a French
maid," she announces vaingloriously,
"and I hunt twice a week."
"Indeed!" responds .Miss Brymer
carelessly. "I must have misunder
stood your mamma; I thought she said
there was something the matter with
your spine."
"Oh. ma always tells tha governesses
that! The truth is I have to lie on my
back for my figure. Louie have you
seen Louie?"
"Yes."
"Well, Louie is a splendid figure,
only eighteen inches round the waist
and as straight as a dart. It was lying
on her back did it alL"
'What lying on her back reduced
her waist to eighteen incues?" ques
tions Flo, laughing.
But Cornelia's reply is lost amid the
noise of Tom's powerful young lungs;
te evidently thinks it Is his turn to be
heard.
"I say, how long did you stop where
you were last?" he demands, planting
himself well in front of Flo, with his
hands in his knickerbocker-pockets.
"About three years," answers Miss
Bnmer.
"Three years!" repeats Tom, with a
whistle of amazement "Well, you
needn't think you are going to stop
here three years you couldnt do it!"
confidently. "The longest we ever had
stopped three months, and some stop
only a day."
"I am afraid you must be very
naughty children," says Flo reproach
fully. "Well, you see, the fact is there is a
grain of wickedness In me every morn
ing when I get up, and I have to dance
it out," explains Tom,
"And wickedness in me, too," Dot
hastens to announce.
"And me too!" echoes Trot, giving
evidence of her degenerate nature by a
shrill shriek.
"I have kept a list of my governess
es " continues Cornelia triumphantly.
"I have had forty-seven. Last year
we had seventeen, and the year before
otilvsix." ,
One was a nigger quite black,"
explains Dot "and another had long
red curls."
"And one slapped me," puU in Trot,
with a deeply injured air.
'My dear child, I doa't wonder at
ltl" remarks Flo mildly.
There is ageneral yeU of disapproval.
"You need not think you are going
to slap us. mamma would send you
away directly if you did."
"I should not take the trouble to
slap any little gtrL" declares Flo, smil
ing, t'lf 1 find you won't be good, 1
Shih! fhTl expect you'll go to-mct-rowl"
remarks Tom thoughtfully.
"I hope you won't-that is, if you
know anything.- interposes ' Coratfiaj,
in a complaining tone. "It is such a
mfsance having to study by oneself.
YoTse? my English master gives me
s'uen frTgUUully difficult 1
really want some one to help me.
"Then suppose we set to work at
onrcV susreesta Flo cheerfully.
"Very welL Tom, Dot, and Trot,
you naughty children, you know you
ought to be out walking. Go to Julia
9t once and be got readyl"
atSawildrushof the younger
members from the room, and then 1 lo
settles down In the glowing sunshine to
a long day of drudgery.
-
It is tha thlrd morning after Flo's
installation as governess to Mrs. Fitz
Maurice Smith's sweet children. She
has requesttd an interview with their
august mother for the purpose of in
forming that formidable personage that
she has decided on retiring from a field
whence a few brave and many faint
hearts have already been ousted.
Flo can hold her own well enough
with the children, who, though high
spirited and utterly spoiled, are not
without their redeeming good points,
but she cannot brook the perpetual in
solence and interference of their mother
Flo has no wish to work in so un
profitable a vineyard whilst other fields'
lie open to her; consequently she has
demanded an interview with her em
ployer, and is even now standing firmly
grasping the handle of the morning
room door. She turns it, aud is about
to enter, when, perceiving that Mr.
Smith is the only occupant of the apart
ment,she makesan excuse aud proceeds
to withdraw. She is however quickly
recalled.
"Here, thingamy-bob! I want some
one; you'll do!"
Flo rather likes Mr. Smith, though
he doe3 usually particularise her as
"thingamy -bob" poor man he cannot
be expected to remember all the gover
nesses' names! so she enters the room
and asks
'Is there anything I can do for you?"
'Can you write?" asks Mr. Smith
doubtfully. His own corresponding
powers are so very limited tkat he nat
urally doubts those of others.
"Yes," answers Flo, smiling a little.
"Then sit down here, like a good
what's-your-name. and tell this man I
can't meet him on Thursday it's a
hunting day."
Flo selects a sheet of paper and com
plies with the request. She has just
nuished her note, when Mrs. Smith
enters the room, and looks with some
little astonishment from her governess
to her husband.
"Thingamy-bob has been writing to
Tomkins for me. I couldn't wait for
you," he explains, and then tramps
hurriedly out to where his hors9 is
awaiticg him.
Mrs. Smith shrugs her shoulders de
preciatingly. "Tom shall be so educated that he
can write his own letters," she says de
cidedly. Flo doubts in her heart whether Tom
will grow up a truer man than his
father, even though he may be able to
write his own letters.
"This, I believe, is the hour for
Trot's geography-lesson," continues
Mrs. Smith somewhat severely; "so
perhaps you will be kind enough to
say what you have to say quickly, Miss
Brymer. '
"I will be as concise as possible, Mri
Smith. I "
"Fitz-Maurice Smith,' if you pease."
"I really beg pardon," says Flo peni
tently. - 4 '
Mrs. Smith draws her shawl around
her shoulders more closely, with great
dignity of action.
"I only wished to say," continues
Flo, after a moment's pause, "that as
soon as you can make arrangements
with some other governess, I should
lile to leave."
For some time Mrs. Smith stares at
the girl In ' feigned surprise; then she
demands resentfully
"What have you to complain of, Miss
Brymer? Why do you wish to resign
your post?" -
"I never care to make complaints,"
answers Flo, with a somewhat provok
ing smile playing around the corners of
her mouth. "I merely come to say :
(bat I am anxious to leave."
"Then allow me to tell you that I
consider your conduct disgraceful, and,
if you apply tj me for a reference, I
shall not fail to expose your discredit
able conduct -leaving me without an
assignable reason for so doing!"
"I shall not. trouble you for a refer
ence," replies Flo, her cheeks pink at
the insolent tone.adopted. 'Besides,"
she continues, in an undertone, "I have
very good reason for my conduct."
"Xame them!" cries Mrs. Smith in
stentorian tones, hhe is inexpressibly
annoyed to see so good and well-oiled a
machine a3 Flo has proved herself dur
ing the past two days slipping out of
her bands.
"You allow me to exercise no author
ity over my pupils, and I find it impos
sible to Instruct them properly without
a certain amount of order and discip
line." "Do you imagine, Miss Brymer, that
I would allow you or any woman to
Ill-treat my treasures?"
An Irrepressible smile breaks over
Flo's features as she makes answer
"I do not think, Mrs. Smith, that
your children have bad dispositions.
Ill-treatment, I am sure, would be
quite unnecessary; but they need to
learn the meaning of the word 'obedi
ence.'" "Which mean3 a total destruction of
theirjoyous innocent naturesl" exclaims
the lady excitedly. "No. Miss Brymer
if you cannot rule them with love, you
sliall never rule them with the rod.
You must leave."
"Yes," 'answers Flo readily, rising
from her chair. "I shall do the very
best for the children until you are suit
ed." "Of course," ejaculates Mrs. Smith
angrily; then she watches Flo trip
briskly across the room.
"Oh, Mis3 Brymer!"
"Yes, Mrs. Fitz-Maurice Smith,"
answers Flo, pausing at the door.
'You may have heard that I am go
ing to give a dance to-morrow even
ing." "Yes," says Flo wonderingly.
"I shall wish you to appear during
the evening."
"Wish me to appear'" echoes Flo,
with some dim foreboding that she is
being callfd on to enact "medium."
"Yes, I always' have my governess
present at any entertainment that I
give; It shows that I keep one."
"0!i, I am to come down to morrow
evening!"' muses Flo aloud-then she
continues, in an annoyed voice, "I
would much rather keep in the school
rooiiia "
Mrs. Smith, unused to such rebellion
stares hard.
"Did you not hear me say,' she re
marks crushingly, "that I choose you
to be there?"
It is the evening of the dance, and
there is a sparkle of mischief in Flo's
eyes as she stands putting the finishing
touches to her toilette before the oval
mirror in her small bed-room. She has
arrayed herself in a shimmering while
silk robe, a relic of her prosperous days.
It is not a dress that she considers quite
in keeping with her present position;
bat she is annoyed at having to go down
at all, and so has decided on a little in
nocent revenge. Amidst the laces at
her bosom she has placed a bunch of
snow-drcps embedded in moss, and a
corresponding bunch nestles against
her neat brown plaits. Her gloves,
fan, and the little high heeled shoes are
all by the best makers; and Flo nods at
her reflection approvingly.
"I doubt somehow if Mrs. Fits-Maurice
Smith will appreciate her gover
ness this evening," she says, with a
wicked little laugh. Then she makes
her way to the schoolroom, where Cor
nelia and the younger children are
awaiting her.
"Law I" exclaims that young lady.
'What a swell you are 1"
"I really thought you were a lady at
first," says Tom, promenading round
Flo with evident admiration. "I
shouldn't mind kissing you!"
"I'm sure ma won't like your dress,"
continues Cornelia decidedly.
Flo smiles as she makes answer,
good-humcredly
"Since your mamma was kind enough
to Invite me to her dance, it would
have been a poor compliment to attend
it in linsey-woolsey."
"I don't say linsey-woolsey, but a
black dress, like our other governesses.
Why, nobody will know who you are
if you dress like that!"
"You can relieve their minds by till
ing them," answers Flo lightly; and
then, without further parley, she leads
the way down-stairs to the brilliantly
lighted rooms where Mrs. Smith's guests
are fast assembling.
"Do you see that gentleman with his
back to us, talking to Louie?" asks
Cornelia, as thev enter the largest
apartment, dedicated to dancing.
"Yes," answers Flo, with a catch in
her breath. It is ridiculous of her, of
course men are so much alike in even
ing dress but the bend of the head,
the quarter-profile, with the drooping
dark moustache, utrike her for the
moment as being familiar.
"He is the greatest catch in the
neighborhood; and. If Louie marries
him, ma says her utmost ambition will
be satisfied."
Flo cannot restrain a smile as she
asks
"What is his name?"
But Cornelia finds no time to reply;
along-legged youth with an eye-glass
and a lisp is soliciting her baud for the
coming dance, aud her attention is
given to him.
Flo stands for a moment, feeling
altogether alone; her eyes are still half
questlonlngly fixed on Louie and her
stalwart cavalier. She is at too great a
distance to catch any of their conver
sation; but, as the notes of a valse
break on the heated air, Lonie rises,
and a minute later is whirling past the
spot where Flo stands alone and unap
preciated. She see's the man's face
clearly as Louie's pink tulle train
brushes against her skirts, and, after
seeing it; she leaves the dancing-room,
and, retiring to the dimly-lighted hall,
proceeds to hide behind the ample skirts
of soma half-dozen chap rani who
cuosen thj luxurious lounges ch the
hall as a desirable resting-place con
veniently handy to the refreshment
table.
The corner Flo has selected Is very
obscure, and. what with the heat, the
dlstznt sound of music, and the near
buzzing cf the dowagers' tongues, she
i3 beginning to experience a sense of
drowsiness, when a deep voice saysin
accents of surprise close to her ear
Yon down in Sunshlre, Miss
Brymer! I did not know that you bad
friends in this part of the country."
Glancing up quickly, she sees a pair
of kindly'gray eyes looking with pleased
surprise into hers. For a moment Flo's
hand Is held in a firm clasp which dees
much towards rousing her from her
ureams; and she an wers, with a smile
and a dash of her old piquancy
"I don't think yeu can accuse me of
having many friends, or you would not
find me sitting out"
"All," he-answered with a cheery
laugh. ' "you are a stranger in the
neighborhood! But I'll soon find you
plenty of partners if you wish to dance;
only first give me your programme and
kt me mark down my own."
'I don't posse a programme, and I
am quite sura I am not expected to
dance," answers Flo, with a comic
little shake of her head. "I am Mrs.
Smith's governess."
"You are Joking!" says the gentle
man, speaking incredulously.
"Indeed I am not,'' responds Flo,
with what appear like tears in her eyes.
"I have been earning my bread for the
past three years."
He doe3 not laugh at her tragic way
of putting it, but answers gravely
'I heard of your father's death, but
had no idea that it would make any
change in your circumstances. I always
thought him wealthy."
'It waslhe old story," answers Flo
sadly. "He concealed the real state of
his affairs from us, hoping, I suppose,
that they would mend; then came the
double shock of his death and poverty."
'And your mother?" questions the
gentleman, in a low tone.
'Oh, she is living at Waretown with
Harry, who has some vague idea that
he is going to repair the fortunes of the
family by becoming a great doctorl"
"And why could you not remain with
them?" asks the gentleman, knitting
his brows slightly.
"Because I am common-place enough
to require food and clothing." replies
Flo, with an almost bitter ring in her
young voice.
A flash overspreads the man's face as
he recognizes that he had wounded
her Flo notes the deepening color,
and hastens to heal the hurt her mo
mentary Impatience has caused.
"I developed a talent for teaching,'?
she explains lightly, "just at the right
time; and it is really not such very bad
work, except in exceptional cases."
"And is this an exceptional case?'
he questions.
Flo gives a laughing but expressive
nod.
"There is the music striking up for
another valse; dance it with me for the
sale of 'auld lang syne,"" says the
rentletnan pleadingly.
Flo rises willingly enough, and lays
lit r neatly-gloved hand on his arm.
Half an hour later the same gentle
man Is holding a few moments' con
verse with Miss Fitz-Maurice Smith.
"I nearly had a fit just now, Mr.
Cole," remarks that young lady. hiding
her face telund her fan, as though to
conceal her mirthful tendencies.
"Indeed! How so?"
"Yes, I thought I should have died
with laughing. Of course you did not
know it; but you were dancing witn
our governess."
"I am sorry I comported myself so
absurdly as to endanger your nervous
system," replies Mr. Cole politely.
"It was the idea of Miss Brymer's
having deluded you into danciug with
her that amused me explains Louie,
"Why, she has actually got one of the
officers from Aldershot now! I must
find ma, and tell her to send her up
stairs." "Please don't I Introduced Major
Fullerton."
"Ah, I had forgotten your ltadlcal
tendencies!" remarks Miss Smith,
with a slight sneer. "I believe you
would take off your hat to a nursemaid
if you met her in the park."
"very likely if she chanced to be
pretty " responds Mr. Cole carelessly.
It is half-past two o'clock a. m., and
tbe guests, with the exception of. two
or three gentlemen still lingering about
tho billiard-room door, have taken their
departure. In the deserted dapclng
room sits Mr3. Smith, arrayed in itorge
ous robes of trailing ruby velvet Be
fore her, with her bands loosely clasped
and ber figure drawn to its full height,
stands a girl in shimering white silk.
Their attitudes are those of judge and
criminal; but the girl appears the mote
self possessed of the two.
"By the very earliest train to-morrow
rooming you understand?" Mrs.
S;pith is saying.
"Or rather this morning," corrects
Fio calmly.
"Yes, of course, this morning," as
sents Mrs. Smith augrily j'and remember
that I consider your conduct has been
most outrageous and unprecedented."
"I am sorry that you don't approvo
of my conduct," says Flo, raising her
eye-brows slightly; "but I feel no cause
for self-reproach."
"Xo cause for self-reproach!" ex
claims Mrs. Smith, in a voice rendered
almost shrill by excitement. "Then
allow me to tell you that you have beea
tte laughing-stock of the whole room,
behaving in such a bold and forward
manner.
Mrs. Smith rises majestically aud
begins to sail across the room.
"One moment, Mrs. Smith, If you
please," says Flo quietly.
"Well?" demands that lady, pausing
on her way to the door.
I should have resented the words I
have been listening to from a lady; as
it is, I let them pass. Good evening."
"A lady? I am a ladyl I don't know
what you mean!" exclaims Mrs. Smith,
flushing angrily to the roots of her
hair.
Flo sinks Into the chair lately occu
pied by ber employer, and falls to thiuk
icg sadly.
A servant comes into the room to ex
tinguish the lights; so, with a sigh, half
of relief that her freedom is so neara
half of regret at the unsatisfactory
ending to her engagement, she prepare'
to seek her room. She has just reach
ed the foot of tbe stairs when a hand
Is placed restrainlngly on her arm; and,
turning, she meets two earnest eyes.
"I am so sorry. It is I who have
brought you into all this trouble," says
Mr. Cole apologetically.
"Oh, no; pray don't distress yourself
about that!" answers Flo, smiling back
im. . I ahqold tuvvo . been lea rln
sJn lii Sny case"
"Why did you not hit that great vul
gar woman, instead of standinz there
meekly to be abused?" he continues
Umrrledly.
'Did you hear her horrid remarks
then?" Inquires Flo, aghast, and color
ing violently,
"Yes; and I should have come to the
rescue, only I thought I might make
matters worse for you."
"Tell me," says Flo, and then stops
for a moment, but decides to risk the
question "tell me did I behave in an
extraordinary way?"
"Decidedly not," he answers eagerly;
then, noting a look of anxiety still ling
ering on her features, he continues
quietly, "Ilad I beeu ybur brother even
1 coul'i have found no fault with you."
Oh, thank you!'' she exclaims ear
nestly. "And now good night"
Good night," he answers, retaining
her hand for a moment. "Your train
leaves at 7.45 remember, and be in
time."
Flo thinks he is merely satirising bis
hostess, so she answers, laughing
"Never fear I 6hall be in time.
Thanks for your kindnessrfhis evening.
Mr. Cole; and now good-bye.''
"Good-bye!" he resiwnds, with a
mirthful glance which Flo either does
not or will not sec.
,
WcIl, Louie, I mnst say that I
think you played your cards very bad
ly." remarks Mrs. Smith in an agrieved
toae, as she complacently settles her
bi03d bracelets over her many-buttoned
glivea. "Grass-meadow Is one of the
fiiest seats in the county; and, if you
lit things slip through'your fingers like
tat, how am I ever to get you settled?"
"Well, it is of no use scolding,
nimma," replies Louie, with a sotne
wtoi scornful .laugh. "Mr. Cole is
cctamly not in a position to marry me
at present, since it seems be has found
a "ife. Grass-meadow !s a pleasant
hoise to visit, so there Is no sense in
qutrrelllng with its new mistress."
Of course." answers Mrs. Smith,
petishly. "Have I not put on my
fattst costume In honor of the bride?"
for some moments there is silence
between mother and daughter. Then
tU sound of wheels is beard.
"Is that the carriage?" asks Mrs.
Snath, making a languid effort to rise.
No," answers Louie, with a quick
sluke of her head. "It is only a fly
will the new governess" this same
net governess being the fourth venture
slnee.tlie summary dismissal of Flo.
do hope she may suit," remarks
M. Smith plaintively.
"I wonder how long she will stou?"
queries Louie, with moditative satire.
It is a great shame of Trotter to be
so late," continues Mr?. Smith, con
Bu!tTg ber watch. "I shall insist on
hu being dismissed because of his
urpunctuality."
That will niaKe tho seventh coach
mW this year," muses Louie.
L don't care if it makes the seven
tieJil" answers Mrs. Smith hotly,
""four father gives good wages, and
vry shouldn't we be well served?"
Here comes the carriage at last!" (
exJaims Louie eagerly. "I feel quit
keffl to see Mr. Cole's choice."
In the ball they encounter the ner
governess, a sallow little woman witt
curls, who looks meak, (inched, and
timid. Mrs. Smith stops just long
enough to frighten the new arrival,
anJ then proceeds to utter some sharp
words to her astoniohel coachman,
gteps into her elegant barouche, and is
driven to her destination.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cole are out," is the
footman's civil t nswer, when they at
last stand before the massive porch of
Gfass-meadow; but on farther ques
tioning he believes that his master and
mistress are only in the grounds.
A few minutes later there is a slight
rustle at the most distant window, and
tad a lady and gentleman enter the
room. WTith a reluctant sigh, Mrs.
Smith prepares to criticise the new ar
rival. Her eyes open wide and her
breath comes more hurriedly than us
ual as a slight young girl clad in some
simple washing material, and with
neatly-braided goldun.brown hair.comcs
forward to meet them.
"Miss Brymer!" exclaims Mrs. Smith
drawing up her dignified form and
looking around rather helplessly.
"Miss Brymer no longer, but my
wife. Mrs. Cole." corrects the gentle
man, stepping forward, with au amus
ed smile playing round his mouth.
"Iudeed !" remarks Mrs. Smith,
gathering her scatterred wits once
more, and speaking with some asperity,
as she shakes hands stillly with Flo.
"I suppose yon saw our marriage in
the papers?"- remarks Mr. Cole, after
an awkward pause, for no one seemed
much Inclined to talk.
"Oil, no! We had no Idea whom you
were bringing home," answers Mrs.
Smith p'oiuttdly.
"Ah. that reminds me that I must
thank you, Mrs. Smith, for having
enticed Flo into the neighborhood! We
had not met for four years when fate
threw us together at your dance. It
It was only a renewal of an o'.d friend
ship, for during her father's lifetime I
have had mauy a good week's shooting
at their place.
In the meantime Flo and Louie have
found a subject to converse upon, for
Miss Smith has come to the conclusion
that Mrs. Cole will be more useful as
friend than foe. Flo has asked, with a
met ry smile, for news of Tom, Dot,
and Trot, and has been informed iu
reply that tha boy still indulges in a
diurnal pas seal on the schoolroom
table, to the utter confusion of his
governess and his own entire satisfac
tion. "You might have told me," remarks
Mrs, Smith, by way of apology to Flo
as she shakes hands before her depar
ture. "It would have made all the
difference if I had known that you
were a lady; it would quite have pre
vented any little misunderstanding be
tween us.,'
"I certainly might," replies Flo, with
a quick glance at her husband; "only
it never entered Into my head to go
about the world proclaiming the fact
a haute role."
THE PANAMA CAXAL.
Brief Account and KMiinaieJ Cost 'of
the AVork.
The projector ana most active mover
in this work has been the indefatigable
engineer, M. Da Lesseps. In ISTi) he
visited the isthmus and satisfied him elf
that the construction of a ship canal
across it was quite practicable, lie
then returned to Fra ca and formed a
stock company to undertake the work,
aud to this company the grants of land
made by the Colombian governme.it in
ibid far- the construction or aanuer-
ooeanic canal Tre-, through bis lnlla-
cncetransTerrt.-d.r,,ln January 1SS1," a
number of engineers and surveyors were
sent from France to the isthmus, and
the actual work upon the canal was be
gun in the following summer.
Ie Lesseps ia hl3 report to the com
pany in Januajy estimated the probabie
total C03t of the work at 512,000,000
francs and the stock of the company
was fixed at 000.000,000 francs to give
an ample margin for the vurk. The
canal, he estimated would be ready for
actual operations In 13SS.
Tbe plan of the canal contemplated a
direct cat from sea to s?a, open to the
sky through its entire length, wuh a
nominal depth of 2'J 52 feet below the
sea-level and a w idth of 72.10 feet at the
riAttnm of the ranal. also the excavation
of a grand side-basin 3.1 miles long, at
about the central voint of the canal to
facilitate the passage of ships In either
direction.
It was estimated that a total excava
tion of 143,8SO,000 cubic yards of earth
would be required for the digging of the
canal proper, and the enlargement of
the p.rts at either end sufficiently for
the traffic Sinc9 1SS1 the work on the
canal has beeu steadily pushed, but the
great mortality among the white labor
ers has-been a serious drawback to the
undertaking. The amount of excava
tion necessary has not been found to
much exceed Da Lesseps estimate, but
the labor and expense of It have been
found to be much greater.
Already the work has begun to lag
from shortness of funds, and in July,
1S55, Da Lesseps endeavored to secura
the guarantee of the French govern
ment for a new loan of 500.000,000
francs, but It was refused. The reports
of tbe great engineer have been made
annually, and they have uniformly given
an encouraging exhibit of the progress
of the work.
Until January, 1381. Hie labor of
actual excavation proceeded but slowly,
so much preparation iu clearing was
required. Iu the first four months of
1334 more excavating was done than in
all the time previous. Dredges are also
now being used for tbe excavating and
are found" to lie of much -assistance.
Ud to Mav.1333. about 20,000.000 cubic
yards of earth, or about one-seventh of
the actual digging neeueti, nan been
accomplished. Up to that date i0,
000,000, or 350,000, 000 francs, had been
expended on the work, M. Da Lesseps,
still asserts that if the needed funds can
only be furnished tho canal will be
ready for the passage of ship3 m lbb3.
An Old Gibbet.
Ti,oi trris nhicpd on exhibition in the
windows of the Windsor Itecord olllce
recentlv an old time gibliet.
n-i.inh ivns i!n! no bv a nartv of work
men near Sandwich the day before.
The ancient instrument or punisiinieiii
a .nvoroil Tcith rust, but in a cfood state
of preservation. It consists of a straight
. . . . - , . i i j
rod abcut uve ieei in lengui ana ioui
riniro of varvin? size. The Tins at the
upper end was for the neck and the cen
ter ring for the waist. At the lower
end were two small rings in which the
feet rested. It was formerly the cheer
ful custom to place the unfortunate
wretch who was ro ie punisneu in mis
tiirruxn rhnin his hands and feet, and
swing him from some convenient place
and leave him rosiarve loueaiuanu rot.
It is supposed that this gibbe t was last
used about 100 years ago.
iiTrri mnl think thn common
schools aregood enough,"said Wheeler,
who had been asked to contribute to a
fund to found a college. "A college
education is all right n its way, but It
Is all wrong to suppose that an educa
tion is a substitute ior Drains, n s au
a mistake to educate a fooL"
"That is true," replied the solicitor
for the f und,"and I have no doubt that
your father regrets his mtake, but
dislikes to apologize to you for it"
iim: PIG FOX
ami Woiimtii Who Trtotl Diver
..im iu Training I tie IlinN til
ltn-ir l!o:n-i.
I-ea linir :rn!i fatu-ii-is say that there
is iiii.'rt-u-4-d inti-H-st in the raiding of
pigi-oits, iai'tii-ulitrly among the ladies,
w li fan- for them at odd moments at
Uiiii' :!inl obtain from the sale of the
birds roiii. Ier.il ile pin-money. Mr.
Iiaukins. of New Jersey, who is one of
the lie.-.t-kiiovn piii-oii fanciers of this
country, and wliose loft of nearly live
hundred birds includes some of; the
handsomest and most valuable fti the
world, says :
Kveiy one of iny birds knows me.
ami w hen ever I enter the loft they Hock
around. Most Jieople have the idea that
pigeons must lie bred in thedark. This
is not the c.ise. for it makes them wild.
All mine are bred in the light, in glass
boxes painted white, aliout six by
eight inches in size, and with hay in
side for the lie.-d. A curious fact I have
noticed aliout pigeons is their loyalty
to each other. Let a iairleoii4.-mated
and they will never forsake one another
while alive. J low long do they live ?
Twelve years, ami keep up their full
vigor for that Jici-iod. We feed them
on Canada -a. wheat, cracked corn
and occasionally a little hcm-seed. The
weight of a pigeon varies from three or
four ounces to several jioimds. The
biggest figure I have heard that was paid
for a pair of pigeons in this country was
live hundred dollars. It was given for
a air of carrier pigeons.
"Will you tell lue something about
the different kinds of pigeons ?"' Dr.
McCook. a noted lover of the bird was
asked.
"Any one having owned pigeons of
any kind w ill know what is meant by
common jiigi-ons. Tliey are not of any
distinct breed or color. There are but
very few common pigeons now in w hich
some traces of the higher classes ran
Hot In detected. At the Mine time I
lieve that were a llock of the so-called
common pigeons kept entirely to them
selves for a nuiulier of years, color
markiug anil other characteristics of the
higher classes would entirely disaiear
and tbe birds would lie more likely to
resemble in color and shape thisc they
originally came from the Blue Kocks.
Next to the common pigeon, perhaiis
the liest known, at least by name, is the
Homing Antwerp, which is the carrier
pigeon, so called. It is the bird known
to make long flights. The fan-tails are
special favorites. The white ones are
the most common and easiest to breed,
but tliey are also to 1' had in black,
brown, blue, red and yellow. The two
latter are rare, and easily bring from ten
to thirty dollars :t nh: Fans, with
fowl feathers, mottled or checkered are
not of milch value. No breed of
pigeons has so many varieties and sinV
v; ieties as lie iiuiitiier pigeons, nor is
lucre a variety so well known tliat is so
little understood by pigeon-breeders.
Many who own them expect them to
"pcrfortii, wltether tin', bin's are given a
elm nee or not. Usually tliey are kept
with a lot of other birds, and are flown
w ith thrni. There are also many tum
blers who do not tumble at all. All of
the short-fared varieties a re not supposed
to lie t'iI'orineis, although 1 have seen
some tumble very well. Pouters are the
lirst selection of inanv prominent pigeon
fanciers, and rarely is this bird entirely
abandoned forothor varieties. Mr. licck
er, of Ualtimore, who is an enthusiastic
breeder ot pouters, lias at present proii-j
aiiiy me tiesr nirus oi inai variety in
the country. They are somewhat diffi
cult to breed, and goxl ones always de
mand high prices. Five dollars for a
pair of first-class birds would not lie ex
travagant in this country, ami iu Eng
land pcrhais the same birds w ould bring
twice that amount and more. I reinein-
).r I ! i i t Mr Srlicll of Hrooklvn li iil
I.., .-I In.. 1 ...... l l I Cf,.. I
Oil III: HIU-.TI itt'r iiiimii. Jill
dollars for. They can Ik- had in pure
white, black, red, yellow and Isaliella."'
He KevorsM!.
As an adjuncc or a hotel in San Fraii
cx ), which shall be nameless, for the
reason that everybody knows it parftjet
iy well, is "run" a poker game, the
equal of which for unlimited heavy bet
ting probably cannot be round in the j
coiiuny. in a nitio uuui mm i uic
billiard rooms nightly meet all the local I
veterans of the game. fw of whom are
not millionaires or better. It wculd ,
make the eyes of a member of the now , einer " me stocK tuereou.
immortal Thompson Street Poker Club ; A resilient of Atlanta, Ga., died of
stand out like pegs in a hat-rack to be-' congestion of the lungs in seven minutes
hold ten or fifteen thousand dollars in , ltt a hearty diet of watermelon,
notes piled up on its table, as is the case ' Ward, Nev., which cast over50o
nearly every evening. votes less than ten years ago, now has
The other dav, oue of the heaviest a total population of about fifty,
players at this room, an ex-Senator, j A man with wax bIrd3 , miniature
pointed out, a dapper-looking young caKe3 haa selling them to the con
man on the street and said to a friend. fidmg roughkeepsie people for fly-traps,
with a sad sigh: . ....
"There goes the biggest robber on re-' This country is drinkin 33 per
conj : cent more coffee than tea. Ia lSl
"Who is he?" j tQe difference was only 12 per cent.
"He's a commercial drummer from j Water ponds In Chili were covered
New York. He was introduced to us ; with thin Ice on the 5th inst, indicating
fellows about a month ago and played a temperature rarely low for that sec
poker three weeks running." tion.
"He won eh?" I The Russian eoloLy in McPherson
"No he lost You "see," the great county, Dakot3, has sown some ten
art in poker is to learn to size up your thousand acres of flax and it promises
opponent's play and to read his facial well.
expression. This fellow didn't seem to ' After numerous unsatisfactory at
play very well, and finally we got on tempts tbe American whitedsli bi4
to tbe fact that every time be was bluff- j been successfully acclimated in Englista
in?, he'd smile and look confident, 1 ponds.
while whenever he had threes or tetter , a citizen of Akron. O.. won't be-
he'd aigu and look frightened, just to
coax us to bet, you see."
"Old dodge, that"
"Exactly, but listen.
After we bad
dropped tohi3 ways, we went for htm
he.vy and won 200 or S300 every night
for a week and more. The other night '
we waited uutil beseemed unusually;
exultant and wo went for htm ail
round. Every time we raised hina he d
dig up more coin somehow, and finally
11a iub A uin.& itii i,v,n; luo wi ui
the pile. We noticed that he tried des-! ,
peratciy to force a smile and look hap
py, so we all called him. There was
thirty-six thousand and odd on the ta- .
ble. I had three aces myself."
"And then?"
"And then the infernal pirate showed
down four kings. He had Just-t e versed
on us, that was all."
KuglUh Universities.
I
. ... ... ,
The great English universities opened
last autumn with large numbers of new I
matnculitions. There are CIO fresh- '
men at Oxford this term, as compared 1
with 570 at the same period last yew. I
Bed Table Li.VEN.-This ma, be
washed in tepid water with a little
powdered borax. Each piece must be
washed separately aud quicklv and
rinsed ia tepid water. Dry in the
shade -Aid iron while sliahtly damp. If ,
it Is desired slightly stiff, add a little
boiled starch to tha rlnsiug water.
NEWS IN BRIEF.
The annual Income of Queen Vic
toria is it, 135,00 J.
Bluefish have beeu scarce all along
tbe coast this season.
There is an aloiau ic iu the British
Museum 3,000 years old.
Louisiana is assuming prominence
as an iron producing state.
Bstweea 50.000 and 00,000 annually
visit the White Mountains.
Gold bullion reaches au aunual
product of J4 JO.0O0 in Georgia.
Eighty-nine Americans are in at
tendance at the Berlin University.
Of the twenty-five members of
Grant's two cabinets six have died.
The crown jewels in the Cathedral
atMoscow are valued at i 12,000, 000.
Colorado u becoming a large pro
ducer of very superior draft horses.
A German chemist is said to have
discovered an antidote for strlchnine.
During the last ten years the popu
lation of London has increased 572.00O.
Coy 3 as pa;?es are now popular
features at weddings in Eastern cities.
A bamboo shoal at Fort Moyer.
Fla., has grown twenty feet since May
25th.
Green and red are most feared by
those. most charged with colorblind
ness. Four millions of false teeth are
manufactured in this country every
year.
One-fifth of the legal voters of
Massachusetts are veterans of the civil
war.
A mad dog adjourned the District
Court at Minden. La., recently, sine
die.
Geologists say that the coal beds of
the earth will be exhausted iu 10,875
years.
The number of visitors at the
British museum last year was nearly
409,000.
Each new recipient of the order of
the Garter pays fees to the amount of
$5,000.
The wheat crop of Colorado will
this year amount to nearly 3.000,000
bushels.
Twelve Hebrews were converted
in London last year at an expensa of
8175,000,
Atlantic city is said to use about
500 tons of ice a week at this season of
the year.
Piute Indians are proving success
ful farmers on the Pyramid Reservation
in Nevada.
Some smart statistician has figured
it out that lightning kills 100 French
men every year.
The number of recruita to be tailed
out for lha Russian army and navy thU
year is 230,000.
In Philadelphia for the last ten
year the ratio ot divorces to marriages
has been 1 to 34.
The weight of the silver In tha "
treasury vaults at Washington, is esti
mated at 543.700.
The people of the United States
consume more lemons than those of all
others combined.
Of the 1,025 voters registered at
Walla Walla, Washington Territory,
about 400 are women.
One hundred and fifty thousauJ
vessels in Europe aud North America
are engaged in fishing.
Paris Is ready with 1200 beds in
her cholera hospital if she should un
happily need them,
The season in London is reported
"very gay," though trade and business
Is correspondingly dull.
Snow-shovel.ng is still a fashion
able amusement iu the vicinity of
Montezuma, Colorado.
A bullet fired at a Georgia man
recently, struck his watch chain, and
was thus turned aside.
A law In New Haven, Conn., pro
hibits the display or fireworks before
daylight on July Fourth.
The city mission of Berlin circu
lates no less than 75,000 printed ser
mons on Sunday morning.
The palace which the city of Mar
seiiles presented to Napoleou III
ls
now ugej M a cholera hospital
,. . ... . ,
-English capitalists own 2 ,000,000
of lai?a..,n .
lieve newspaper reports, aud has started
East to see if Gen. Grant is really
dead.
Worth's black list, just Issued, has
the names of 1.200 laieL whn. through
vanity, order better dresses than they
can afford.
In mi,e IIou3e lh ...
card3 an(J f
In the h f M
weje 6 m cards
"An old gentleman of 70" was
among tbe nineteen residents of Arling
ton, Ga., recently arrested for playing
baseball in the streets,
In the thirty-eight states of tbe
j Union there are 2,200 counties. Texas
i leads with 151 counties, followed by
Georgia with 127.
j A colored woman only 37 inches
j high, though 27 years old. lives on a
Florida plantation. She claims never
iu nave ueen sick.
A number of Goethe's posthumous
writings, released from obscurity by
deattl ol hls grana33awiii
g,, pubijahej
..,, . , " ,
, TlTt?" of l3 occe
a J??,1?'0' t,e, 1 r,e31,Iency'
SAln? 1 8eUiluIlry at
tutnut HuJ. Bo3tou
Aroostook county manufactured
7.000 tons of starch but year, which
as almost three times as much as the
7ear before. This is doing a prett?
t business.
! i'
li
1. .
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