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VOL. Xtll.
ISTEAV BLOOMFIELD, !P., TUESDAY, MAYSO, 1879.
NO. 21.
THE TIMES.
An Independent Family Newspaper,
IS PUBI.ISIIBD IVKKT TCK8DAT BT
F. MORTIMER & CO.
SUIlSClllPl'lON 1' 11 I V E .
(WITaiN TUB COUNTT.)
One Year Jl 2S
81x Mouths, 78
(out or Tn couwtt.)
Oue Year, (Postage Included) 1 50
81 Months. (Pontage Included) 85
Invariably In Advance I
" Advertising rates furnished upon aiipll.
ration.
A POOR BOY'S SUCCESS.
CONCLVMCi).
T3UT Verne is a good fellow, and Is
JD used to my cross fits. Come, sit
ty me, Verne, and Bliare some of these
delicious bon-boiiB. You have provided
for my comfort so generously that you
must ent a few of them."
Verne obediently brought his low Beat
close to her side, and seemed perfectly
happy as he toyed with Frlsky's ears,
,and fed that spoiled pet some of the
most tempting of the comfits. The rest
of the journey passed amicably away,
but Maud was not sorry when the boat
veered to shore, the plank was thrown
down, and " West Point I" was shouted
out from the deck below.
Two fine-looking cadets, In their neat
gray uniforms, stood upon the wharf,
and one waved his handkerchief at
eight of Flo.
" Oh, it's Max 1" with an ecstatic lit
tle shriek. "Do, hurry, dear, Mrs.
Landersdale, for I am so crazy I can't
wait."
Flo was first -over the plank, was
clasped In her brother's arms, and given
a right soldierly salute upon her red
cheek. But Max's distinguished-look-ing
friend, whom Flo had already sur
rendered to at discretion, passed her bv
; without even a glance, and clasped the
ell a VtllYT-1 nnYr t n it iVAmon In 1 Jnnlr .U a
ejumuvj -ivuAing, viuau Jin uinvtlf UU
had closely followed her, to his heart.
The one eager tenderly whispered word,
' Mother," told the relationship which
bound them together.
" My dear son, how very proud I
ami" whispered the mother, " but, O
John I" In so low a voice that none oth
er heard, " Isaac Is on aboard, and I
thought my heart would break when
he didn't know his own mother. Poor
lamb ! though how should he remember
meV am sure his heart is good, and,
if he knew the truth, he would claim
me before all his proud friends. But I
lo not mean to tell him, John. I won't
ruin his prospects now after keeping
silence all these miserable years."
John looked after his brother with a
half-contemptuous, half-amused smile,
as Verne, his slight form almost lost to
view behind Mrs. Landersale's volumin
ous skirts, staggering along under a
weight of shawls and bags.
"No matter, mother mine. Isn't
one son, and such a devoted one, enough
for your ladyship? You look pale,"
with a pained, anxious glance at her
thin face. " The city has pulled you
down this warm weather, but this river
air will refresh you, I'll warrant. I will
take you up to Roe's ; and those people
will probably engage rooms at Cozzen's,
unless they particularly desire the com
pany of us cadets."
Two evenings later, John Fielding's
chum, Max Van Ruyter, presented him
to his sister Flo, and her friend, Miss
Maud Pelham. It was in the parlor of
Roe's Hotel, and although Flo was at
tired in the most bewitching of h er ava.
luing toilets, and smiled sweetly upon
ner intended victim, John merely ac
knowledged the introduction with a few
commonplace words, and turned to
Maud, whose every look and gesture he
watched with a scrutiny which became
almost rude. Maud blushed under it,
and with a hair-saucy laugh inquired :
" Do I resemble any of your dear five
hundred lady friends, Mr. Fielding y or
am I unfortunate enough to appear pe
culiar in any way 5"'
" I I beg pardon," stammered John,
blushing to the roots of his hair. " I
have been very rude in my regards, but
believe me, I Intended nothing uncom
plimentary. You do Indeed remind me
of gome one, Miss Pelham, some one
whom I parted from long years ago, and
never hoped to meet again."
"You talk like an octogenarian!"
exclaimed Flo. " How many iove affairs
have you had, Mr. Fielding, since you
left oil long clothes t You cadets are
fearful lady-killers, report says."
"Report is most unkind then Miss
Van Ruyter," with a grave smile and an
evident attempt to tear his attention
from Maud. " We are the most tender
hearted of men, and would lay down our
lives willingly for any woman."
"Oh, I detest generallsm 1" with a
pretty shrug of the white shoulders.
"Anything but this universal gallantry.
Here conies Mr. Ford for that deux
temp I promised him. An revoir."
She left them together, with a feeling
of chagrin at her own disappointment.
" Always the way," she mused. "Ev
rythlng goes contrary with me, and I go
contrary with everybody. He is indif
ferent and hateful, and I don't see how
Max can think him so Bplendid."
Max passed her just then, and whis
pered teasingly in her ear. he noted
the frown upon her forehead :
"I'll tell Fielding to beware, Sis, or he
may get stabbed for his non-appreciative-ness.
' Earth holds no fury like a wom
an Boomed.' "
John Fielding and Maud were left to
gether, and Maud felt a sense of embar
rassment, new as It was straugc, In his
presence. Why should this compara
tive stranger possess such power over her
that she should blush when he gazed
down at her with his quiet eyes, and
stammer at some chance remark of his
as to the number of guests and their ap
pearance '(
John Fielding had no wish to be pre
sented to Mrs. Landersdale, and that
lady watched him complacently as he
promenaded with Maud Pelham, never
dreaming of his true identity. As he
walked up and down the moon-lighted
veranda, he grew more aud more inter
ested in the girl whom he had recogniz
ed as the little " Maudie" of years ago.
Maud never dreamed that he was the
" dear, good boy" her childish heart had
pitied in those old days, and as her em
barrassment wore off she chatted quite
freely with him about her past life.
They were making great strides that
first evening toward a love which would
in time become the ruling passion of
both their lives.
The days flew by and every available
moment John spent by Maud's side.
Mrs. Landersdale began to grow alarm
ed at this increasing intimacy, and
Verne looked on in jealous dismay.
John offered his arm one evening af
ter they bad tired of dancing, drew
Maud's burnous over her shoulders, and
walked out upon the veranda. They
finally descended the steps, and wander
ed together down "Flirtation Walk."
" 1 wonder how this place ever got
so bad a name V" laughed Maud, for
want of something better to say.
" I suppose the poor cadets have had
their tender hearts broken here by fair
coquettes ever since the old academy
has stood."
" More likely the fault lies with your
sex, Mr. Fielding. Men are more dan
gerous flirts than women, because they
do not feel so strongly, and have less
pity upon their victims."
" Preposterous, Miss Pelham I Who
ever heard of a lady having a particle
of pity in her flinty heart V Why, you
would dress as bewitching and give as
dangerously sweet glance, if you knew
that one of us was dying for love of you.
Yes, and rather enjoy the knowledge
too."
They had wandered from the path
now, and stood beneath the vast arch
way of a tree. Below them, the Hud
son sparkled in the moonlight, and
dashed against the shore. John felt
that the crisis of his life had come ; he
must know his fate then or dle He
toyed nervously with his watch-chain,
and thought in vain for some words In
which to tell the high-born girl beside
him his hopes and fears.
Maud's eyes fell upon a tiny blue
locket suspended from his watch-chain,
and, with some curiosity, she bent to
examine it. He would have hid it from
view, but it was too late. He saw that
she had recognized it, and as he took
both her hands in his, her pretty face
grew red and white by turns.
" Do you remember the locket little
4 Maudie' gave me years ago V I have
cherished it ever since, and remembered
those wonderful eyes of hers upon our
first meeting."
" And you are the little boy who saved
my life," murmured Maud, between
laughing and tears. " No wonder that I
have liked you so well from the first."
She paused, not knowing how to express
her gratltude.and an embarrassed silence
ensued.
John suddenly took her in his arms
and pressed a kiss upon her golden
hair.
" I know I ought not to, Maud, but I
can bear this suspense no longer. As a
poor, lonely boy, I have loved you for
years ; as a man, I love you ten thou
sand times better to-night. O Maud,
Maud t tell me you have not been flirt
ing with mo all these days I Tell me
that I may love you, and that you care
a little for me."
She lifted her head at his passionate
entreaty, but her long lushes hid the
eyes sho did not dare to ralso to his.
Her heart beat fast.and she could not tell
him the truth. She could not bear to
see those grave, honest ryes she loved
turn from her with scorn. She clench
ed her hands spasmodically, and John
began to take courage from her silence.
"Perhaps I have taken an unwar
rantable liberty t If I have displeased,
I beg for forgiveness. I can bear any
thing but suspense, darling. Let me
look In your eyes and read the truth
there."
She lifted those eyes, swimming in
tears, to his. Then in a hesitating,
trembling voice, whose every utterance
seemed to choke her :
"You have mistaken my manner.Mr.
Fielding. I am engaged to Verne Lan
dersdale, and can be nothing to you In
the future. Let me go."
Her voice ended In a sob, but she need
not have added the last words. He made
no effort to hold her, but almost pushed
her from him, and.dropped his arms to
his side.
" You have acted a falsehood, Maud
Pelham I Your woman's heart filled
with a woman's tender pity, must have
told you ere this that my very life and
soul were yours. Well, let it go. You
are no better and no worse than the rest
of your sex. I cherished a dream that
one true girl could be found in your ar
tificial high society, but I have awak
ened. Go, boast of your flirtation, and
when you recount your conqests add
John Fielding's name to your list of
victims if you like.
Maud heard him through with dumb
agony. She stood with bowed head, and
did not try to arrest his Bcorn.buthis
words stung her.
" O John, John ! take back your cruel
words, or you will kill me !"
She clung to his arms, and the hard
lines about his mouth softened a little.
Her bowed head and trembling voice be
trayed her love, and a supreme pity for
her weakness filled his heart. This girl
was his by the divine right of love. She
had allowed the brother who had scorned
and triumphed over him all these years
to triumph over him now, and rob him
of the one woman he could ever love '(
There was a terrible struggle as Maud,
forgetful of her promise, clung to him.
Then honor triumphed, and with bitter
self-renunciation he bent and loosened
her clasp from his arm.
"I forgive you, Maud, and take back
my hasty words. They were spoken
in anger. Farewell, and God bless you.
We may meet again, but only as stran
gers." They had neared the hotel now. He
bent, pressed one last kiss upon her
brow, and Maud was left alone.
" Who is that fine-looking cadet 5"'
inquired Mrs. Landersdale of a soldierly-looking
old gentleman bending over
her chair. John Fielding had entered
the parlor, and stood for a moment
near the doorway. .
There had never dawned upon Mrs.
Landersdale a suspicion of thetruth.and
her companion's answer was as much
of a shock to her as the explosion of a
shell could have been.
" His name is John Fielding, madam.
He Is a fine fellow from New York City
and your State has reason to be proud of
her cadet. I am glad to see that in our
republic brains are being sent to West
Point, and that even money cannot al
ways buy a commission here."
Mrs. Landersdale face became fairly
livid.
" Whet I John Fielding ! Is It possi
ble ? And my Maud has been flying
around with him here as if he was the
biggest noble in the land. Dear, dear I
how humiliating t What will dear
Verne say V"
She communicated the news to Verne
a few moments later. Ills pale face
grew a trifle paler, and he fixed upon
John anything but a friendly glance.
"Well, I knew his name was Field
ing, but never dreamed he could be a
relative of mine. The fellow must have
some pluck; or he'd have claimed us be
fore this. I don't want to be mortified
before ajl these people as to my birth at
this late day, so I don't care how soon
wo pull up stakes at leave West Point."
" Of course, a very proper pride to
show, my son. Maud's flirtation with
him mortified me most to death. If she
has a fancy for him though, we could
cure her by telling her the truth."
"Tell her the truth 1 Never!" ex
claimed Verne, biting his pale lip till
the blood came. " Maud Pelham would
break with me at once if she knew that
my mother was a common washer
woman. Her pride is worse than ours,
and she has a .deuced high family to
back her, and lots of cash besides."
" That Is true," acquiesced Mrs. Lan
dersdale quietly. "Well, do not get
heated over it, Verne. Landersdale and
Maud both think you my nephew, aud
theynow I have adopted you and love
you as my own son. There is no need
to undeceive them, for, as you say, Lan
dersdale and his family are as proud as
Lucifer, if he hasn't one red cent to
scratch against another."
The next afternoon Mrs. Landersdale
and party drove over from Cozzen's to
witness the parade. Verne was seated
in his dog-cart, endeavoring to manage
a high-spirited span, with an indiffer
ence and nonchalance he was far from
feeling.
Johnson, now grown gray in Mrs.
Laudersdale's service, had uttered a
word of warning before harnessing up.
"Hadn't you better be after taking
the other span, Mr. Verne ? Thesecrit
ters feel mighty ticklish to-day, and the
musio may rouse 'em up a bit."
Nonsense, Johnson I I am perfectly
competent to manage them. The grays
are only fit to draw the old lady around,
aud I want some spirit in a span I drive.
You might as well harness up a couple
of cows as those octogenarians."
Mr. Verne had a tendency towards
jockeylsm, and his eyes sparkled with a
genuine love of the turf as the splendid
creatures came from the stable tossing
their heads and pawing the ground with
impatience.
Their eyes flashed and the blood seem
ed fairly bursting through the large
veins which coursed their way along
their slender necks.
" Firefly seems a trifle uneasy. Is her
foot ail right V"
" Ah, sirrah, it's not the foot at all, at
all, that ails the old gal. She's a divil
of a temper of her own I"
Not very re-assuring to Verne, who
began to have doubts of his own ability.
He was too proud to acknowledge his
fears now, however, mounted the box
and followed Mrs. Landersdale'g carriage
along the road as if no such thing as
danger existed in the world.
They behaved quietly enough when
they reached the parade ground,and on
ly by the champing of Firefly's bit and
her dilating nostrils could a spectator
tell of the uneasy spirit within her.
Verne sat upon his high seat, with a
long blue veil tied around his hat, and
a feeling of conspicuous pride filled him
as he saw that no horses on the ground
could compare with his, and that sever
al of his lady friends were gazing at him
with evident admiration.
He pulled his sickly mustache, held
the reins tightly, and enjoyed the tri
umph of the hour.
But, alas lit was short-lived! Dur
ing the beating of the drums Firefly
pricked up her ears and kept time to
the music.
As the parade proceeded she became
more frightened and restive,and, finally
when the loud boom of the evening gun
thundered through the air both horses
burst from their driver's control and
dashed through the crowd. There was
a mad rushing and screaming as they
flew by, aud Verne was being hurried
with horrible speed towards the high
bluffs over the river.
" The preel piece I" shrieked Mrs. Lan
dersdale. " My God I Will no one save
my boy ! Ha will be killed ! "
But the rest of the spectators saw
what her fright had blinded her to. A
single cadet, stationed as a sentinel near
the river, had sprung from his post and
stood calmly awaiting the coming of the
now maddened animals. Regardless of
the fearful risk to himself, he leaped for
their mouths, turned their wild career
aside, and finally stopped them with
his giant strength. They stood still
with drooping heads, trembling with
fear and dripping with perspiration;
and John Fielding patted their necks
and soothed them by his touoh. Verne,
pale with fright and embarrassment,
when he learned who his rescuer was,
was stammering out his thanks.
" It was deuced brave of you, old boy,
to go for me in that handsome style,and
I appreciate it, by Oeorge, I do ! We
can't throw off all restraint here.thougU
and appear as friendly as I should like,
because it would make it deuced awk
ward for Mrs. Landersdale, you know,
and we would both hate to hear the sev
en days' wonder the truth would create.
But I thank you from the bottom of my
heart, and I'll never forget It, never I"
"Enough said, Mr. Landersdale,"
with a mocking emphasis on the last
word. " If our true relationship were
published to the world the recital would
be as humiliating to my pride as yours.
I deserve no thanks for doing my duty,
and wish none."
Both had failed to notice, in their
heat, a woman, who, regardless of the
stare of the spectators and the curiosity
she excited, had left the crowd and was
running toward the spot where they
stood. Before Verne could prevent it,
had he desired, she had clasped him
about the neck and kissed him again
and again.
" My darling boy, you are saved 1 Oh,
I thought of you as a mangled corpse
down on the rocks, and never hoped to
hear your dear lips whisper 'mother'
just once as they did in the happy old
days. Isaac, my darling, darling son !"
Verne blushed scarlet with mortifica
tion as he saw some of his fashionable
friends watching them from a distance.
Almost involuntarily and without
thought he pushed her from him ; but
that movement, slight though it was,
was like a sword thrust through his
mother's heart.
" I am all right, not a hair of my pre
cious head hurt. Don't snivel so, old la
dy, all those people are watching us.
It's deuced hard for a fellow to know
how to act, anyway," looking around
wildly for some hope of escape. "Of
course I love you as well as ever, but it
won't do to let everybody know. It'll
ruin my prospects. Oh.what will Maud
say when she finds the whole miserable
truth out V"
He broke down here and ended with
a fretful whine.
" He Is ashamed of me," walled the
poor, heart-broken woman," ashamed
of the mother that, worked away her
life for him and worshiped the very
ground his baby feet trod. I see I have
sinned; but, O God, my punishment Is
hard hard !"
As she reeled and fell Verne started
forward with tardy self-reproach, but
John, with sparkling eyes and white
face, pushed him away and with no gen
tle hand.
"Do not dare to pollute our mother
by a touch of your finger, Verne Lan
dersdale I May God deal with you as
you have dealt with her this day 1"
He crouched away from his brother's
fierce wrath and covered his face with
both hands as John bore his insensible
burden up the path toward the hotel.
"Verne Landerdale," exclaimed a clear
voice close by bis side, "arouse yourself,
if you can, and listen to the girl who de
nounces you now, as your brother did
but a moment ago. I have heard all,
and although I only partially compre
hend the truth I know that the craven,
who disowns his own mother, because
of her poverty and humble origin, can
never make such a woman as Maud Pel
ham happy I If you had boldly con
fessed the truth of your birth I could
have loved you for your courage, now I
despise and detest you ! Take your ring
and not for the wealth of the Indiea
will I ever renew our engagement in the
the future. It is over now and for
ever!" She paused and walked hurriedly away