THE TIMES NEW liLOOM FIELD, PA., NOVKMHElt 1, 1881.
A Provoking Mistake.
1IY A DKTKCTIVK.
IT WAS a dull rainy tiny, toward tho
end of August one of thote days
when earth and sky alike are gray and
dreary, and the raindrops patter
lug against the window sound like
human sobs. Tho clock that InniK
ngaliiBt the wall pointed to the hour of
three in the afternoon, uud I was silting
by myself In our little Inner ollke, look
out ut the expanse of dull, gray wall
that formed my only prospect from the
not cleau window, and thinking. I
had read every square Inch of type In
the newspapers ; I had miule out all the
necessary papers and documents, and
jiow with literally "nothing to do," I
was musing about Kitty Kltou, and
wouderlng how long It would lie before
I should be able to marry her.
Dear little Kitty 1 she was as sweet
and as patient as It was lu the nature of
a woman to be, but I knew it was a
hard life for her day after day and month
after mouth, and I longed to set her
free from the monotonous captivity.
Hue was a pretty blue-eyed gill of twen
ty, with a dimple lu her chin, and the
sweetest roses on her check that ever
inspired the peu of a poet. I was no
poet, yet I thluk I understood and ap
preciated all her womanly grace and
delicate beauty us fully as If my heart's
thoughts could shape themselves into
verse. And it was of them I was think
ing when the door opened and Mr. Glen
tier came lu.
Mr. Clenner was our "chief" a dark,
silent little man, with square stern
mouth, and clouded eyes, which appear
ed almost expressionless when they
wdre turned full upon you, and yet
which seemed to Bee everything at a
glance. He sat down beblde me.
" Meredith," he said lu a quite, sub
dued tone that was natural to him,
" didn't you say you were getting tired
doing nothing 1"'
" Yes, sir."
" 'Wtll, I have something for you to
-do."
"What Is it, sir?"
"Something that will bring you both
credit and friends, if you mauage it
skillfully. I had Intended to go myself,
but circumstances happened untoward
Jy, and I shall Bend you In stead."
Bending ids head towards me and
speaking scarcely above a whisper, he
1 old me the special business on which
1 was to he sent. There had been, It
wenis, a series of very heavy forgeries
ilately committed, with a boldness and
audacity that fairly seemed to set the
.-authorities at defiance. For some time
he had been in doubt as to the exact per
petrator of the crime, but after much
quiet investigation and casting hither
aud thither, he had detected the hidden
spring one Perley Mattersou who had
skillfully eluded all pur suit and was now
somewhere hiding in the northeastern
portion of the State. Ills whereabouts
had been ascertained as nearly as possi
ble, and It was for me to go quietly up
ud apprehend him, before he should
become aware of our knowledge of all
his movements.
I sat listening to all the various details
of our plan as they were sketched out
by Mr. Clenner. The reward that had
been privately offered was high my
heart leaped as I reflected how much
.nearer it would bring me to Kitty Elton,
nor did the enterprise seem particularly
ditlicult to accomplish.
"Do you think you can do itV" Mr.
Jlenner asked, after the whole thing
had been laid before me.
"Yes, sir. When shall I start V"
"Now within half an hour."
4 'What 1 So soon V"
"Yes; why notr'!
I could think of no sufllcient reason
except one, which I did not care to com
municate to my superior the longing
wish to see Kitty ouce more before I
started.
"Just as you decide, Mr. Clenner, of
course," I said, rising. "If I take the
four o'clock express, I shall be there to
norrow morning."
" Yes, and that is altogether the beet
gdau. He will not remain long in any
-one place just at present, depend upon
it, aud what you have to do must be
done at ouce."
All through that long night Journey
I mused upon the task that lay before
me. The house to which I was directed
was lu the midst of woods, about half a
juile beyond the village of Drownville
the residence of Mrs. Matteson, the
mother of the audacious forger. If help
was needed I was fully authorized to
aU for it upon the constabulary author
Jtles of Drownville, but I expected to
need none.
The rosy dawn was just flushing the
eastern sky when I alighted, stiff, weary
and jaded from the train, at the little
way station of Drownville.
"Can you direct me to Mrs. Mat-
tesons place V" I asked of the sleepy
- station master.who was yawning behind
the little aperture of the ticket ofllce.
' Matteson Mrs. Matteson ; I don't
know her, but I guess likely I can tell
you where she lives. Just you follow
the main street of the village out about
half a mile and you will come to a
patch of woods, with bars at the fence.
Uo through them bars a little way
further ou, aud ye'll fee a little yaller
house, just the last place In the world
where you'd expect to see a house.
That's where Mrs. Matteson lives."
I thanked my Informant ami set out
ou a brisk walk carrying my traveling
bag. It was quite a distance 'ere I
emerged from the suburbs of the main
street, into a quiet aud secluded road, or
rather lane. The "patch o' woods"
with the bars, and the " little yaller
house" a cream colored cottage, literal
ly overgrown with honey suckles re
warded my search, aud as I knocked at
the door, a clock somewhere inside
struck seven.
A decent looking, elderly woman in
widows weeds came to the door.
" Is Mr. Matteson is f Mr. I'erley ?"
"No," she answered quickly, with,
as I Imagined, rather a confused look.
I did not believe her, and asked quietly :
"When do you expect him homey"
"Not at present."
Apparently she expected me to go
away, but Instead I stepped In.
"Mother," asked a soft voice at the
head of the stairs, "who Is it V"
And then for the first time I became
aware that some one had been watching
our colloquy from the head of the stairs
a young girl, dressed like the mother
In deep black, with very brilliant eyes,
aud a profusion of jet black ringlets.
"Home one to see your brother."
She came half way down the stairs,
pushing back her curls with one hand,
aud lookiug at me with wonderful eyes.
Even then her beauty struck me as I
Blood gu.ing at her.
"Pearly is not at home," she futfc) hur
riedly. "He has gone away. We do
not know when he will return."
Evidently this mother and daughter
were lu the seoret of Malteson's villainy
and doing their best to screen him from
its consequences. My heart bled for
them both; but It was no time to Indulge
in sentimental pity. Speaking as brief
ly as I could,! told them that it was my
duty to compel them to remain where
they were while I searched the house.
Mrs. Malteson sat down, pale and
trembling ; her daughter colored h'gh.
' Mother," she said, "why do you
stand by aud listen to such slanders V
It Is false 1 Let this man search the
house If he will ; my brother is as in
nocent as I am I
No opposition was offered to my
search. It was entirely fruitless, how
everthere was no trace of the flown
bird. Nevertheless, I concluded to re
main there quietly for a day or two, to
see what a little waiting might bring
forth.
The Bamo 'afternoon Clara Matteson
came in, as I sat by the piazza window,
keeping a quiet watch on all the sur
roundings. 'Mr. Meredith," she said, softly,
"mother thinks I have been rude to
you. She says it was not your fault per
sonally, that you were Bent here on
such a miBtake,aud perhaps she is right.
I am very sorry If I hurt your feel
ings." The pretty penitent way in which she
spoke quite won my heart, aud a few
questions on my ftart seemed to unlock
the hidden recesses of her confidence.
She talked at first shyly, and afterwards
with more assurance of herself, her
absent brother, and her mother, giving
me a thousand artless little family de
tails which I almost dreaded to hear.
The tw ilight talk was one of the pleas
antest episodes of my by no means uni
versally pleasant life, and I was consid
erably annoyed when it was broken In
upon by the arrival of the Drownville
constables who were to watch through
the night. At the sound of their foot
steps on the piazza floor, Clara rose up
and eat down again, confused and fright
ened. 1
"Oh, Mr. Meredith thosem en "
"Be easy, Miss Matteson," I Bald;
"you shall not be annoyed by them..
Your privacy shall not be broken in
upon, believe me."
"I know I am silly," faltered Clara,
"but oh 1 it seems so dreadful 1"
My orders to the men were brief and
succinct. I stationed them as seemed
best to me, and then returned to spend
the evening with Miss Matteson. And
when I was at length left alone I could
not help thinking God forgive me
how much more winning and graceful
she was than poor Kitty Elton.
At length an answer came to my re
port to Mr. Clenner it was short and
to the purpose :
"Come back. You are only losing
time. If the bird has flown we must
look elsewhere for him.
I read the missive with a pang
Clara Matteson 's . cheek deepened In
color as I announoed my departure to
her.
" You have been far kinder than we
dared to hope, Mr. Meredith," she Bald,
as I held her hand In mine.
"You will think of ine sometimes,
Clara V
The reader will easily see how our In
timacy had progressed. She smiled,
hung her head, aud taking a pair of
scissors from the table, severed one
bright black curl from the abundant
tresses that hung over her forehead.
" Keep this, Mr. Meredith, In memory
of me."
Was t foolish to press the Jetty ringlet
to my lips ere I laid It closely against
my heart? Clara evidently thought I
was for she had laughed, but did not
seem displeased.
Mr. Clenner seemed annoyed when I
got back to the Bureau rather an un
usual proceeding on his part, for I cer
tainly did all that man could do under
the circumstances.
" We have been mistaken all the way
through, it seems," he said, biting his
Hp. "Htratige very strange I was
never mistaken before in my calcula
tions. Well, we must try again."
I went to Kitty Elton's that night.
Hhe received me with a sweet, shy glad
ness of welcome that should have made
me the happiest man lu the world ; but
it did not. Clara Malteson's dark beauty
seemed to Bland between me and her
like a visible barrier. When I took my
leave, there were tears In her eyes.
'Kitty, you are crying I"
' Because you are changed. Edward,
you do not love me as well as you did I"
"Kitty, what nonsense I"
I was vexed with her, simply because
I knew her accusation was true. But I
kissed her once more,and took my leave,
moody and dissatisfied.
When I reached the ofllce the next
morning Mr. Clenner was not there.
"He has gone to Drownville, 'V said
my fellow detective; "he went last
night."
"To Drownville y"
I was seriously annoyed. Did Mr.
Clenner distrust the accuracy of my re
ports y Or did he imagine that I was
unable to institute a thorough aud com
plete Investigation of the premises y
" It's very strange," I mused aloud.
Jones laughed.
"Well," he said, " you know Clenner
has a way of doing strange things. De
pend upon it, he has good reasons for
his conduct."
I was sitting at my desk two days
subsequently when the door glided
noiselessly open aud Clenner himself
entered.
'You are back again sir, and what
lucky"
"The best."
"You dou'tmean to say you've got
himy"
' I do mean to Bay it. Edward Mere
dith, I knew I could not be entirely mis
taken. Pearley Matteson is in the next
room half an hour from now he will be
In prison."
"Where did you apprehend him V"
"At home In his mother's house."
"But "
" He was there all the time you re
mained there. Ned, my boy you've
made a blunder for once, but don't let
happen again."
"What do you nieau,Blr'r"
For reply he opened the door of the
private inner apartment, his own special
sanctum. A slight boyish figure leaned
against the window smoking a cigarette,
with black curls tossed back from a
marble white brow, and brilliant eyes.
He mockingly Inclined his head as I
stared at him, with a motion not un
familiar to me.
"Clara Mattesoul"
"Yes," he said, in a soft, sarcastic
voice. "Clara Matteson, or Pearley Mat.
teson.or whatever you choose to call me.
Many thanks for your politeness, De
tective Meredith ; and if you would like
another lock of hair "
I turned away burning scarlet, while
Mr. Clenner closed the door.
" Never mind, my boy, it will be a
lesson to you," he said, laughing. " He
makes a very pretty girl, but I am not at
all susceptible."
What a double-dyed fool I had been !
I had lost the reward failed In the esti
mation of my fellow ofllcers aud be
haved like a brute to poor Kitty and
all for what y"
I went to Kitty, and told her the
whole story and to my surprise the
dear, faithful little creature loved me
just as well as ever.
" I won't be jealous of Pearley Matte.
son, Edward," she said, smiling, what
ever I might be of his sister. And
dearest, don't be discouraged. I'll wait
as long as you please, and you will
be a second Mr. Clenner yet."
She was determined to look on the
bright side of things, this little Kitty of
mine, but I felt the mortification none
the less keenly, although, as Mr. Cleu
ner said, it would undoubtedly prove a
good lesson to me.
Pearley Matteson'a girlish beauty Is
eclipsed in the State's prison nor do
pity him. The stake for which be play
ed was high and he lost.
tW A Christian is like a locomotive
A fire must be kindled In the heart of it
before it will go. ,
A CAMPAIGN INCIDENT.
A Clt A ZY. LOOKING huckster wag
on, filled with the products of the
farm and garden, and drawn by a dllap-
ilated horse attracted considerable at
tention In Tltusvllle the other day. The
occupant of the vehicle was a little old
man In homespun, who rode with one
foot on the outside of the wagon-box.
Interest In the odd-looking turnout was
greatly increased when the driver rein
ed up in front of the J'vfrofcum World
ifllce, and raised a small sign-board In
his wagon upon which was Inscribed lu
an uncouth hand t
:
I COUNTUT PKODUCK
i
! AI.S'I Ttlf! j
POLITICAL ISSUES DISCUSSED, j
This legend soon attracted a large
crown, when the little old man stood up
lu the crazy wagon aud made a formal
announcement that he had for sale a
nice lot of garden produce such as pump
kins, turnips, cabbages, some chestnuts,
etc. "I also have," said he, as he lifted
a faded bed-quilt from a keg, "a few gal
lons of hard cider, which I think Is the
best ever brought to yer town.
"What about the political Issues V"'
yelled a man from the curbstone.
"We'll come to that by.and-by Jes' as
soon as I sell some ov this truck out ov
the wagon so as I kin have a place to
stand."
The crowd realized that they h.ul at
last struck something lu the way of a
political orator, and It was plain that
they meant to encourage him, even be
fore he had made the suggestion regard
ing business.
The cider was the first thing they
tackled. As many men as could gather
around the wagon and the cider was
closed out in short order at five cents
per cup.
" Drink hearty, geuts," the little old
man would say, "this reminds me uv
the hard-cider campaign uv '40, when I
tuk the stump for Old Tippecanoe; an'
besides, It's made uv as flue fruit as ever
growed on a tree."
"See here! tell us about Maine!"
yelled a political man, whose thirst was
for political information.
"Don't fret the cattle," was the old
man's response.
One man bought all the chestnuts lie
had, in order, as he said, to reduce the
stock, and get around to the political
issues.
Pumpkins, squashes, parsnips, etc.,
were purchased rapidly, the old man re
marking that the drudgery of farm-life
was distasteful to him, and he was only
truly happy when on the stump discuss
ing the great issues before the people.
Scraping under the seat with his feet
he unearthed a gourd, and holding it up,
said :
"Gents, this is the last shot in the
locker, who 1b the lucky man V"
Twenty-five or thirty men, apparent-
ly, offered to purchase it. The man
who succeeded bowled it down street
wllli an oath, and said what he wanted
was chin music.
The crowd was breathless with anxie
ty, or would have been had it not been
yelling "speech!" "speech I"
The little old man stood up in the
wagon, took off his hat, and said :
" No occasion for a speech now, gents
Goods are all uold without it. If ye'd
hung Are like I expected ye would, I'd
harangued ye till sundown. But ye
kern right ur like little men, and bought
my last parsnip. That's the way I like
to do biz. Thanks, gents,"
The party who had been the heaviest
purchaser ran to take the horse by the
bits ; but that animal laid his ear back
on his neck, and showed his teeth In
the most vicious fashion.
" I forgot to tell ye," sold the old man,
quietly, "not to go near Borneo, fer he's
liable ter swallow so.T' oue."
He then dropped down Into his seat
and drove off, remarking that when he
went actively into politics, business in
garden truck would be a darn sight dull-
er than it appeared to be now.
Praying to Chance.
A lady who had forsaken her God and
the Bible for the gloom and darkness of
Infidelity, was crossing the Atlantic
and asked a sailor, one morning, how
long they should be out.
"In fourteen days, if it Is God's will
we shall be in Liverpool," answered the
Bailor.
"If It Is God's will!" said the lady
"what a senseless expression ! don't you
know that all comes by chance ?"
In a few days a terrible storm arose
and the lady stood clinging on the side
of the cabin door in agony of terror
when the sailor passed her.
"What do you think," said she, "will
the storm soon be over y"
"It seems likely to last for some time
madam."
"Oh I" she cried, "pray that we may
not be lost."
Ills reply was, "Madam, shall I pray
to chance y"
fipsn
E THE GREAT grf
foil
fttiEUfiMisra
9
Neuralgia, Sciatica, Lumbago,
Backache, Soreness of the Chest, Gout,
Quinsy, Sore Throat, Swellings and
Sprains, Burns and Scalds,
General Bodily Pains,
Tooth, Ear and Headache, Frosted Foot
and tars, and all other rains
and Achos.
Nn Preparation nn earth equals ft. Jacobs On. M
a ft"". wr. Mltnttf und chviip Kxteriinl KcmtMly,
A trial entails bul Die comparatively trilling ouitiiy
of (l On la, tin) evnrv oun sutlcrlng wllli aiu
can have cheap anil positive proof of lu claims.
Mreotloni la Kleven languages.
BOLD BT ALL DftUOOIRTS AND DEALERS IH
MEDIOIHE.
A.VOGHLER & CO.,
llnlHmnrt, Mil., XT. B. At
May 3.1Sfll-ly
jyjUSSER & ALLEN
CENTRAL STORE
NEWPORT, PENN'A.
Now otter the public
A UAKB AND ELKUANT ASSORTMENT OF
DRESS GOODS
Consisting of all shades suitable tor the season
BLACK ALPACCAS
AND
Mourning Goods
A SPECIALITY.
BLEACHED AND UNBLEACHED
MUBLINB,
AT VAKIOUH PRICES.
AN ENULHS.S SELECTION OF PRINTS'
We sell and do keep a good quality of
SUGARS, COFFEES & SYRUPS
And everything under the head of
GROCERIES I
Maohine needles and oil for all makes ol
Machine s.
To be convinced that our good are
CHEAP AS THE CHEAPEST,
IS TO CALL AND EXAMINE STOCK.
r- No trouble to show goods.
Don't forget the
CENTRAL STORE,
Newport, Perry County, Pa.
HELP
Ymirnelvp by making money when ft irolrieu
chain;) in offered, thereby tlwai-i kninv
poverty from your door. Thoeewho ilwu-i
take advantage oftheKood chance for making money
that are offered, Knemlly hvomnn wealthy, while thone
who do not improve much chance remain In poverty.
We want many men, women, boys and ifirtn to work for
na ritfht in their own loealitiea. The buaineea will pay
more than ten timea ordinary waxe. We furnish an
expenaive outfit and all that you need, f ree. No one.
who entcatfes falls to make money very rapidly. Von
call devote your whole time to the work, or only yonr
ni'urfi iiiijiueiic. r mi irii'trrnriuoii una BU Tllftt W neefiwi
sent free. Addrea ttTINHON 4 CO., l'ortland, Maine
iy
ESTATE NOTICE. Notice Is hereby given,
that letters of administration on the estate
ol e. H. 8. Richmond late of Torone township,
1'erry County. Pa. .deceased, have been granted
tothe undersigned. P. O. Address Landinburg,
Perry County. Pa.
Allpersous Indebted to said estate are request
ed to make Immediate payment and those haying
claims will present them duly authenticated for
settlement to
ALBERT K. EfCIIMOND,
Cms. H. BMU.ET, Att'y. Administrator
MaylO, mi.
Permanent Employment.
WANTED. D. H. Patty A Co.. nursery
men, want a few good reliable men to sell
trees, vines and shrubs, through this Hlnie. They
?romise steady employment to Brood salesmen.
or full particulars address D. 1L Patti & Co..
Geneva, N. Y. 8719
GRAND BOULEVARD HOTEL,
Corner 50(U St. and Broadway,
XEW YOItK.
On Both American & European Plans.
Fronting on Central Park, the Grand Boule
vard, Broadway and fifty-Ninth mreet. this Ho
tel occupies the entire square, and was built and
furnished at an expense of over f4n0,000. It W
one of the most elegant as well as n nest located
In the city : has a passenger Klevator and all
modern Improvements, and is within one square
ol the depots of the Hixlh and Eighth Avenue
Klevated U. K. Cars and still nearer to the Broad
way cars convenient and accexslble from all
parts of the city. Booms with board. 12 per day.
Special rates for families and permanent guests.
Aug.21. 'ou lyl IE. HASKELL., Proprietor.
Estate of Samuel Miller, Deceased.
T ETTEKS of Administration on the above
A J estate having been granted to the under,
signed, all person indebted to said estate are re
quested to make payment, and those having
claims to preseat the same without delay to
WALLACE DjtYYlIT, Administrator.
Sept 29. 1841. ) ( Uarrrisburg , Pa.