Loading...
The New Era, 1882-12-07, Page 15Docernhor 7 18852 ifieco aloas.ens AVFICg '10 Otrli GALLANT DETEC,- . TIVES. de.i'pe[trea and policerrien and members of constabolary, • To you 1 sing my Cr 88 in language tintinna- - bulary, , (Which last wora.I discovered in, a very old voca,- " bulary), . hoop dark. If a burgiary'S nom:milt edin a manner somewhat mystical, , And all you havo to go upon is utterly sopuis- tical, 1 „ Don't say a wi51d to any one, in a way character- - But keep dark. If a meMber & tho Tq'ess, in his professional capacity, Steps up and asks you questions with his natural audaelty - Tell him anything that f>uits you, sacrincing your veraolty, ' So long as you keep dark. When f*inao 1 beef t perpetrated, a reporter with 81.1.1tbt,3;.11"Cli.L1yartliculars -With .his usual Say "You've got s, certain °hie to the criminal who did it, li, • ' dark. But you know exactly where he i, but if you give To gosaltedectiolginideo papers, why the scoundrel's own am iculars Will surely hoar the news, and then the thing would belridiculaus, ' ' • So -keep dark. ' _ Though "twolxkl ahi• this: ends of justice to give the news publicity, And have it flashed 1l'QI.C1 place te place by means Thero'd L e no glol.'y in it on aOcount of its 'aim - 1811) ' .1 So )cap dark. If cit zees' weold eaten) aou, assume an air mys- terioue, , • • Look, it rogsv.)1.0; prof oun4, at least be very Say, "Do. zoi', with 'your 'questions so bother us and Nc.eary tze, We 70,4st keep dark." ,. Aiwart, Jo,; around_ I I) a bush and 080 a great deal of o)2(,001 3, • - - But don't give Way to "anything approaching to Endeavor to itepross them with a sense of your And keep dark. ' A detective, should be solemn and lacking in And wear an air ef lay'r,tory, commingled with p10110113 ity, And lo making till CXG11'40 should have remark- able fecundity, ' - • And he must keep dark. His conscience, should be callous, at the samo- . ti3ne e elastical, His speech tO an Outsider. be a little peripluu.s- And in s.peakii ig 61 his °facers be quite encomia.s- . Ent be's got to keep dark. .And now ru. 'say Good-bye, and wish you ill auspaciousiiess, And hope this little poem has, no savor of • malici sness, • It is writtcf: as a pastime in a moment of capri- ciousness, - :Without a thought that it contains an item of derniciousness. Swtz. LOOK BEFeRE YOU LEAP By MI'S! Alexander. 'CRAFTER. I. . . . • The great currents :Of bueineas and:Plea- sure were eettiOg strongly 'Up and •dewo the Strand, with their adoustomed even roar, on e, bright APril. morning, some : tatenty years 'ago. • The season Was at its , prime. Half -past eleven had Ohimed from :Martniti„ and the relieved guard: of • Mews -had tiitned into Waterloo Place on their honaeward WaY to Albany Street: ,e In , one of the • best rooms ili 111terleY'io ,, Hotel leoletbg-On Trafalgar Square; an eleie beeate ,bioaltfast wee,. laid out, including, among.etnet s,Coeseeriee of ,a„ later meal, a bottle- of cognac, whiletwo or three of seda- 'Water 1b,7 rnodestly.:0ii their ablee in the . 'Cavity' of the sideboard. • . , -• • 'Throe eback 'on a :sofa, near an Open with. one ;heelresting on the back Of a olittie, Mat a YOOng, man, of 'perhaps teVo-or-theee-andetwenty, in 'a Persian silk ' dressing -gown„ embroidered elippers,-righly- weiked arnekii*Cap, and ail the appliances of a mast. luXutieue morning One of White hands .heli a naive - paper, the rother SUpPotted his head -a very handsome head 1 email, with delitiate ears, eurieo bloca hair, and -bright, happy dark eyee„ a trifle- too bead-like; perhaps. Downy tr;UStacbcsdarkenedj his upper hp, Without connealing. the red, youthful, unde- cided Mouth, slightly ,itpartiwith,4 Pleasant amile . - ;• A staid, solemn, :evell-drearied man was attending; eeda-Water" bottle in bind, at the 'opposite 'eicti ol the breakfast table. Hold hived, SitennOtes'" saidtheloungere "before, oon opeO that ace -using bottle -I want to iroprees uPen you that -I drink it in co,mteuenco. of...,.presetit huiat-not past ' excess-.,z6ti feelecouvinced,„Sinteinotes «Y)1. iiif ff.rederic,".„ hard again -get the •some cieYetolartoreeetraatleerbtandy-miteofetitglite eu.t o tesolo 'Paiod,youl that tello* Neville Will' be Ibex° directly; a;oel, .sing Cut for it. Arley letterator him "Yu SF, Frederic " " thef The p2,,,1e1 preeelited a' salver, on Which lay lialFatatiozen noes and three large let- terer eta:ea Sir Prederto picked out. e . • "Got me the cleret, Sim ;"-the Valet vanished,. : • „ • , , • e . • . Said t Le young exquisite; " theao two .are ti 118, .00 circulars, and) this e-ohl • this meet he from our sovereign, lord and 'bro.thea how Neville will avvearl I wish 1'0, bad a •good. 'Old father instead Of a crabbe:l kfklle half-brother Neville is a evei,i tat leliceart he'd be a first-rate fellow, t .--e--- • ' We . exe itot destined to know Why, at present, .fee the' door was horst open, and a map:tit:10°6e individual appeared; a broad-niece:littered man, in edark-blue uni- term, bleyoug.eteith gold, ,and lighted bete andthote eve thegleaans of • crimson; BpUr,S tanglitee, lik'ete..s rattling, he ettode into the room Iii.c,i1,0,10..pa:17Sonation. of pomp and oieeittestenee glorioup war." - out a Noel ait 13 mired aside his het Messer pelisse etre,' AL' s',1, diecloeiag a sun -burnt, - broad-beoweti Tece, a somewhat heavy jaw, . large, OtE,76', eyee, wavyorellOW- , brown, IA .or, long mbstaches, a shade " How raw j t„ Compton?" were his first .word.f' 'L,\,").kure.'..,s the brandy?" alas! Were theso. • . "Try ..etene alevet instead," returned Sir Frecieele ;; "1 vill cool you better -I ani ' jest going to low eonee." No, 1;61 Beteidy steadies you more, -and it ie OatoemLlly hot! M band shakes like a gielte 1 Olo no PI in answer to a' leek froth hie tiriend, you•ktioW,Inever,deink,. and it waiald take =u hogehead to bevel nio over dd. Dat Her Majesty is an early ifirdrGeid bless hell . and I had Hoare° time after We broke up fcit a bath, and to Herein- ble into ,noiferno before We ' were paraded •Mid off at Nit trot to the etation-.-now- 'tiny letteis?", Hato you ate," was the ungrammatical .reply Of his ftieueL "I have been.specu gating %men them .while waiting for you," and he tossed over the three large ones. Neville meantime had compounded a mixture of brandy, soda -water, and ice in a huge tumbler, and drained it off ,thirstily, setting it down with a deep eigla'of enjoy- ment ; he took them, and selecting one, looked „intently at it on air sides; then glancing up with a sudden, frank smile, which brightened • his rather stern face marvellously, said- a "'Gad! I never was in such a funk, either at Meerut or Lucknow, as at the sight of 'this confoundedly clear, accurate penmanship, Don't laugh, Compton! Here goes!" and the seal was broken. A few minutes' silence, while Captain Neville's eye 'ran hastily over the even lines. Gradually the strong jaw closed with a fierce expression, and the hand, which had slowly pulled his long neusta.chee, dropped aud clinched by his side. Then he looked up, and said quietly- ' " It's no go, Compten." "The devil it is!" replied that ingenuous youth. "What the deuce wilkyou do?" "Sell out," was the rejoinder. " And then?". Mercury, the god of vagabonds, alone -knows"-returned "1 am fit for little but a barrack; yet I tell you what, Compton, I must eat and get cool, and think, man,fot out of this 151059 I most find a way." He rang the bell, and on the appearance of a waiter asked for his man. " Heis in your room, sir." " Go on with your breakfast; I'll be with you directly," bald the Captain, and van- Sit Frederic drew a chair to the table and shook his head, made a deep incision into a pate de Strasbourg and transferred a portion of it to his plate, then shook his head again, and, holding his knife and fork inactive, fell into deep thought: ," ' In a few , minutes Neville re.entered, looking fresher, having doffed the glories, of his uniform for a dressing gown, etc:, like those of his Companion, Only more subdued in color. Without exchanging many words, he commenced a serious onslaught on the good things before him,andwhile thuilengagede an explanatory word or two. Neville was a oaptain in the -th Hussars, the cadet of an old but decayed north country race. The letter we have seen him read was from his half -brother -the son cif his father's first -marriage with the daughter of a city • magnate-whosesiortune had Propped up the house of Neville. He had inherited his mother's share in the famous banking house of Foster & Co., and also the father's estates. He was a cool, shrewd rnan of business, and his shrewdness was at once strengthened and regulated by a, certain sorabre,,",Puritanical' turn a mind, which suited Well with his narrow but deep intel- ligence. Indeed he possessed ,more of the traditional "roundhead" -charateteristios- stern'resolve and unyielding conviction - than is often -found in this pliant age. . Guy, our fried, now deep in the Stras- bourg pie, Was, as I have said, of a different stamp, though not without a family like- ness. His mother was a bright coquette, noble and penniless, with warmer blood in her veins than that which flowed strong but slow through, those of the Cumberland Nevilles ; so, in addition to a certain tena- city of purpose, Guy- had a strong dash of passion arid perversity --troublesome- in- mates for a soldier of fortune. ' ' Now, his weakness was not wine nor women; though he bad his love aftairs- mere trifles -he never cared sentimentally for any one, it Was the love of gambling which was too strong for him. And he was long a keen ''and a successful gen:meter, at firat within tolerable, bounds, latterly, espe- cially, since his luck turned somewhat egoist him, he had gone deeper and deeper and now, having Put off all other creditors as long as he could, -in order to meet his debte of honor, and his last hope out off by his brother's refusal to assist him, he felt almost Stunned by the sudden pressure with which the knowledge that he owed nearly three thousand pounds. weighed. upon him.: Five hundred he must pay before seven days were over, and all he had to pay it with was the price of his commis - Bien -of his gay jacket, his horses, soda few personalties. These once gone, " Othel- lo's occupation would be o'er ;" the future a "slough of despond." To what could he • Nevertheless he had strong nerve and a stout heart left ; besides, he :was not yet thirty, so he ate to strengthen himself, that he might fight his way out of the cor- ner into which he was hemmed. . . His friend, Sir Frederic Compton, was lieutenant in his regiment -rich and gay, and generous -beloved by all -a trifle wild, but that Was only more endearing.-a,Thet sole drawback to his,' sunny lot was the fact that his father had decreed by his will that the heir to his broad Devonehire lands and Cornwall mines should not be Of age till he was five -and -twenty, till which time he was under the severe but loving guar- dianship of a maternal grandfather, agrand .old city Craieue. As if -this was not bother enough, the grandfather's heart was set on marrying the young baronet before he was out of leading -strings; and, kind, busy, old manoto save the boy trouble,, had found a, wife -for him --ward ofhis.own-to.Whom_ no reasonable man could make any objec- tion. But boys, and -girls too e are ever Neville and Compton had become known to each other preivieue to the latter joining the --th Hussars, through the businese connection of old Mr. Foster (Sir Fred- ericli grandfather) and Neville's brother; who constituted the Co. in the famous establishment of Foster & Co., and Guy had been at once the young baronet's "fides Aohates," and, notwithstanding his own tutors,' his mentor. , By this time tbe first edge of appetite .is blunted, and the two young [nett began to Said Sir Frederic, kindly, "Try the fratello once more, old boy?" " Ncifte-Teove my soul," returned Neville, fiercely ; "besides, I have no right -we never were friends, and," -a, - momentary pause--" I have no choice -al have been "thinking while I eat. I must speak to COX% people about my_coratnission, to -mor- row, then think of the future afterward.'4 "Don't be in .sueh a hurry; for God's sake. Look here, I -could easily raise you seven or eight hundred by ray name, and. that would stave off matters for a while and—' , . "flow am I to repay you? It would come to the mond in the end. My commis- siott must go. A thousand thanks to you, Fred, all the same. You are a good fellow No, no! the Sooner I make tlae wrench and disappear the better, or I'll be going deeper in the mire. I must vow against cards, dice; betting, everything, or Pll end by being Croupier or billiard -marker in spine hell, by jove I Talk of something else - yourself --what are you going to, do to ?" • , Sir Frederic looked at his friend, and saw he had better' Ituneoe him, so he grum- bled out, " goch a sell, but I 1111213t do W.-, Another elicit° of ham, Neville ?--Graeed- papa is in a worse fidget tban ever to have me tied to that heireefi he has been saving op for me, and tceidgfit she is to be trotted out for my inspection; at .a dernieemi eort of a jutenite party in St. John's Wood -au awfuIty elow place. The MEW Of the hods° is a ohuni Of theareVerecrgiiindiatliiir=i- mighty man on 'Change. I have dined there at magnificent spreads; but oh! ,so heavy. However, , I havepromised to go. It will keep the old gentlemanii quet a while. . I wish you'd come with me, Neville?" " Pahaw 1" said that gentleman courte- ously."But who is this girl, and why is your grandfather so anxious to nearry you to her? You are rieh enough." "Why, yes! But you see he has a mania for landed property, and she has about a thousand a year, almost in a ring fence, lying right between my Devonshire and Cornwall estates. Then her father was a sworn ally of the old governor's; his cor- respondent at New Orleans for •centuries. - Ultimately, he came over here, bought this property, invested his little savings, doubled them (I dare sky ehe-leas thirty or forty thousand in the funds), brought up hie only child in a half savage, half philosophical manner, and left her a ward of My grand- dad's. ,I suppose she is about eighteen or nineteen now. He says she is handsome - black eyes, and all that fiorb of thing. Mother a darky, probably! Now I admire blondes; besides,' lie added, feelingly, " it is cruel to take a fellow's .freedom from -him-just_a,s_he_begins_to_enjoy it, and. I can't be bored with any other woinan now but Totums. Totums is such a nice, bright, pleasant little thing." "That's all very well; but don't you get into any roisohief with Miss Tottuns," said Neville gravely. The young lady in ,question was a dis- tinguished member of a distinguished bai- lee, and famed for a succession of rapid pirouettes on the extreme point of her right great toe, which had gained for her the fond but familiar appellation of " Teeto- tum," abbreviated as above- " Oh, I'll take care," said Sir Frederic. Then after a moment's thought, he exclaimed, with sudden energy--" Neville I have the primest idea -help yourself and me! Make love to the heiress -marry her -get the tin -reform your ways -wind up in high respectability -brother's pleasing -- virtue rewarded -eh?" "Pshavv I" said Neville again. " Why not?" pereisted the youn g Baronet. -"You are olcler than I am -have sewn more wild oats. You are a good fellow; not averse to matrimony -would make her a deuced deal better husband than nine tenths of those among whom she will pro- bably marry! Now, do think, my boy! It is not every day I have so bright an idea!" "Compton," returned his friend, speak- ing slowly, "you are ridiculous." , "That's right -take your time, old fel- low," said the other gleefully. "It's just the thing for you. Come with me to the tea -fight. Go in, and win. If she chooses to prefer you (and of _course he will it you make love to her and I don't), - my grandfather cannot blame me." " 'Gad ! if she is a darky, all the cash in Christendom- will not make up for it," cried Neville, half carried away by his friend's enthusiasm. " But if not, if she is nice girl, by Jove it might be a grand throw. Yet to owe everything to a wife is to play rather second fiddle? Eh, Comp- ton ?" ' " Pooh ! nonsense! Your fine old usenet and social standing will be a grand feather in the eyes of a New Orleans girl. I won- der does she drawl her words through her nose -that would be dreadful." ' "Compton," said Neville thoughtfully, "I'll go with you this evening; though by heavens, I feel ashamed of myself. I feel like a common adventurer, by George 1 and no gentleman." !Won't talk like an idiot. You are all right. You try to get up the steam, and fall he love with her. Make her very happy,. and nurse the estate, and all that sort of thing. By and by I'll marry sonee pretty blonde, and we will be first rate neighbors, fit to point a moral or adorn a Neville rose from the table, and paced the room two or three times, took another tumbler of eodaewater--this time without brandy -and ultimately said - "There is no harm in having a look. I will go with you, Compton." "01 course you will be reasonable," returned his friend. "I dare say she is a charming, fresh creature, utterly free from knowledge of the world. She has been at school with some awful old, woman at St John's Wood for the last yeettrand a half •I believe; and yell are heat the sort of a Don to want the first of a woman's heart. So you are all right, if some faeoinating draw- ing Master or music -master has not been before you," he added, with a touch of tens- - "What right have I to look for the cream of anything?"' said Neville, with some -bitterness. e" I wish -but why talk of -wishes? Where shall we meat? Ob, here, here," returned the Barone5. "And Neville, do hear ma. If you want to play thie' or any game, successfully, you must haveyour • wits clear. So let me lend you the , seven hundred, and you can pay me when you sell your commission, or -marry." _ " Hum ! a pretty way to spend the poor girl's money." , "If I know anything of women," said the young Lieutenant, with, a pretty "air of - conceit, she will think it Well spent if you love-hereatid-showeherattention.L_ "Suppose she ie a. woman' who will talk of my house, and my horses?' Eh, Comp- . "By Jove! there are few would try that game with you, I fancy," - "God knows! What's her nametall this time ?" . , " Mary Delvigne." " French ?" a No, South American." Well, I'll have a look." - " We meet, then, here at dinner. Sharp eeven. So good morning and success." Sir Frederic nodded to his friend, and left the room': - CHAPTER II. Neville was not punctual, howevece and it was nine o'clock before the friends were ,e'n route for the festive scene. I.-. • "I wonder what new vagary my grand- father was up to to -day," said Sir Frederic Conopton, as they began to get clear of the noisier etreets. "The old boy , was three times at the hotel this afternoon; had not long left when I returned, and said he'd have waited longer, only he had to start for -Pa -tie -by -the night mail, so there will be an impediment the less to our scheme to -night.' ' "Ours? Say yours," returned ,Neville. "Well, mine, if you will; but I dare Bay that stupid waiter did not give me the right message, and Simmons was out; be eo eel. adom asks leave 'of absence thet I let him a‘ sone° men can't say no," growled Neville. Then they must be pleasant fellows," said hie good humored companion. "Don't be down hearted! You are on the road to love and riches. Nothing venture nothing have!' Here we are!" Mrs. Coleman's reception had progressed to a culminating poitt of success when our friends reaohed Saratoga Lodge, St. John's Fled of sensation, ddWa Or VP,. through the fat and dignified hosteas to the insignificant French teacher -asked- in deference to the heiress' whim of friendship. The Baro- net's ,air Of fashion and the soldierly bear- ing of his companion were alike superior to the =ninon standard of Saratogie-LodOe. Sir Frederic); aecording to his genial habit, was soon perfectly at home with his host- ess, whose soul he satisfied -with compli- ments; while Neville listened with a half - suppressed smile. ' After hearing Sir Frederic's explanation of Mr. aoster's absence, and pronouncing a warm eulogium upon his character and merits, Mrs. Coleman led her guests to the claocing-room, where the company having gyrated madly for half an hour in a giddy waltz, were now completing the performance by trailing in couples, with solemn absurdity round and round ,the room. Two or three boys in jaokets, and half a dozen prim little girls bristling with flounces, entitled the gathering to the name of a juvenile party. Through Oleo conflicting couples did Mrs. Colenaan wind her devious course, followed by Sir Frederic and Neville, in Indian file. "You're nearly across the Rubicon now," whispered the former. "Cen you dance?" not .,:ifo,eayeees years. 1:73Ea't lie?Pyle triTe-vi 1 .07" u "Must I 'Most imperatively." , Mrs. Coleman paused here before a pretty group of three young girls. One, fair, tall, handsomeewith full', light, languishing blue eyes, was sitting in a window -seat; beside , a slight, timid, quiet -looking brunette, whose unobtrusive paleness scarce justifies an appellation -which always conveys the idea of brilliancy; at the other side of 'the " belle blonde," and bendizig to speak to her, while the crimson drapery of the window - curtain formed a very effective background, stood the third -tall and slight, but round and pliant, with a soft color mantling through her clear, brown fair cheek, :and a half smile trembling on her rosy, kindly' lips. Her own glossy dark hair was plaited into a coronet, but no other ornament interfered with the graceful outline of her head: A snowy cloud Of white 'muslin seemed to Neville's rather nervous vision to, float about her indistinctly, save that certain easy folds were gathered from the creamy sloping shoulders by a sash of black velvet to her waist, and among them rested a bouquet of fragrant flowers. She turned to Mrs. Coleman as Blie approached, with an indefina,ble expression of joyous' life -an expression • which our neighbors' word " spirituel" can alone convey; and then her eyes met Neville's, her color deepened, and her bright glance involuntarily drooped. "Sir Frederio Compton -Captain Ne- ville," said the hostess. " Mee Delvigne ---Miss Weston." The gentlemen bowed. "Allow me the honor of the next gal- lop," said Sir Frederie, with prompt decision, addressing the fait beauty. , The lady at onoe graciously assented. "Will you dance with me ?" said Neville, to kis bright particular star, 111100O8Ci011a earnestness rendering his deep tones less steady than usual, and feeling a nattrvellous attraction to the fair girl he addressed. "11," he thought, "fortune is to come to mein soh a guise, I am the luckiest fellovt, on the globe." - Neville was not a ladies'man, and knew nothing at all of gay, innoceutyoung girls; net could Miss Redoubt's shyest pupil feel more ill at ease under the awful inspection of Madame Pirouette, the treble-x.dancing mistress, than did this bold Dragoon, as he thought, "What shall I say? How can I teller that she is ebeautiful darling, and I wish myself an Earl, with 250,000 a year, for her sake?" Meantime Marie Delvigne was stealing shy glances at her stalwart admirer, to her a totally new specimen of mankind. Hith- erto her experience had been limited to long-haird professors, more or less severe, while school life had proved somewhat tame,' lonely, unsympathetic; nevertheless she was enjoying that glorious springtime when "the hght that surrounds us all is all from within." - - • "What is it to be?" said Neville, after an uncertain pause.- "1 ought," he con- tinued, plucking up courage, "to warn you that, having been little in civilized life, I shall make but an indifferent partner." "How ?" asked Miss Delvigne, looking up at him with frank curiosity. "What are you, then -a soldier ?" " Yee," returned Neville. "1 am glad I ver met an English soldier before. But why are you in these clothes?" . _ ot` You would_ not h ve_me-appear-in-uni- form ?" ' • - " Yea : it must be p ttier than this cos- tume." "Well, perhaps so But shall we begin? Promise you will be lenient to my errors." A bright glance and smile, and they started. The music was well rnarked. Neville had 'sufficient. ear to get on tolera- bly; and moving rapidly to the inspiriting strains of a good band, with a little soft figure in your arms, and a pair of bright eyes sometimes glancing up to yours, is not an unpleasant mode of advancing one's fortunes, "But you do very well indeed," ' said Neville's fair partner, as they paused for - breath after a long continued turn. ---ffereasy tone reassured- Nevillt3O-andhar "Having succeeded so far, I fear to peril the reputation I have gained -and you mud be tired:, I feel your hand trembling," -he half involuntarily pressed it to his side. "11 is hot, too. Let us go into the conser- vatory, or get an ice, or something ;" and with a vague idea that he must keep out of Mrs. Coleman's way, he led his partner to the conservatory. The subdued -light, tlie-lieWatiterthee stillness, the distant Mtlei0, made up a deli- cious atmosphere. "This is pleasanter than all that row," 'Judd Neville corepl'acently. Sit here, Miss Delvigue. You look like a white biog. som yourself, with that back ground of green leaves." _ "Do I I What a charming idea! Aeld where have you been if you have not been much in civilized life ?" There was an indescribable charm o innocent boldness,. of frank, fearlessf equality" in her maniter that delighted Neville. Though refined and gentle, it was so fresh and unconventional, that he thought within himself, "1 never dreamed those Southerners could turn out such a woman. I could feel more comfortable and at home if I was not so desperately inclined to hies het when she looks into my eyes.." "Well," said he aloud, "1 have been a good deal out of England -in India. at the Cape, and out -of. the -way places. Aud how do you like parties, and dancing,and all this sort of 'thing?" , "Very much indeed: but I like sitting in this pretty, quiet place, and feeling I shall be out of school for another hour or two, alnaoat better." - "You don't likerschool then ?" "No, indeed! Did you. like being at school?" , yete=no," returned Neville, hesita- what alone, though I never 'think of it much." Ah you must have many friends, Frederic 1" "You mistake me," said Neville, amused. "My friend Compton is whirling away with your lair friend." "Oh -then you are Captain Neville I how strano 1" "Why strange?" he asked, looltiog into "1 can hardly 'telt, only I thought you must he Sir Frederic Compton, because -- because you looked the oldest. How bright and pleasant he seems to be." "You admire him," aaid Neville with some pique. I "1 do," she returned candidly; " he is not like what I expected." " Then you had termed sotne expecta- tions," resumed Neville smiling, though still piqued. "And you expected to find him a morose old fellow like myself ?" , "You," said Mies -Delvigne, looking up into his face and speaking slowly-ancl thouglatfully-" you are quite different." This did not sound. very complimentary -yet Neville never felt so complimented by any speech before. It implied so wide easgulf-Inet wean -himself -atidelnafrienclothata for a" moment he felt a superior being, and then Miss Delvigne asked- " " But he,is a great friend of yours? Is he nice and geed and true?"' "What the deuce does she want to know so much about him for ?" thought Neville. "How bold all thie would sound from an English girl; yet it seems right and endue ral from her. She evidently. knoves old Foster's schemes, and is not indisposed toward ,them: 4 Oh, yes," he said aloud, "Compton is a capital fellow -and true as steel; at lease to men." . • "To men" she said, musingly, and inter- rogatively. e " A.nd to women too, probably," added Neville, "only I have had no opportunities of judging." • "Have you then no lady friends?" asked. Miss Delvigne. "Not many," he returned smiling "you know I told you I have beeti but little -- in England of late years." "Tell me about India," said she, With a` pretty air of command. Neville found it a little difficult to begin, but once launched. found- it, easy to -con- tinue, the sweet attentive- eyee, so frankly raised to his, inspiring a degree of eloquence that surprised himself. "And you have been in real battles-- and.seen men killed or, worse, lying help- less and 'suffering ?.- r never talked to a soldier before. How horrible war must " Most e horrible and brutal," . replied Neville. " When the battle is over, one feels half ashamed of the fierce excitemetit it rouses." ." Ah II could listen long to your stories, butl have. stayed 'too long ; 'let us go batik' to the . dancers • - ' . So Soon?" eried Neville, " you cannot be missed just yet , She shook her head. " Well, then,' give Me a flower, oi• even a leaf," he continued imploringly, for ' eh° Md -taken -her bouquet, from its resting - place, and was thoughtfully playing with it. "Do you want one very, very much ?" she asked, playfully, and with such a win- ning emile that Neville, surprised at his own feelings, and fearful of saying too much, contented himself with a glance, but one so expressive of admiration, that a sudden revelation flashed across his fair companion, who with a dim, uneasy, yet delicious sense c'd danger, said, less frankly than before, "Let us return ; perhaps Mies Weston will be looking for me." Neville silently presented his arm, but checked his 'companion on the threshold of their leafy retreat. " Audrey flower ?" he said, " do not cheat Miss Delvigne hesitated, blushed; and shyly took a spray of beliotropefrom her bosom, which Neville eagerly appropriated, and led her in silence bleak to the place from whence they came. Here they found the pale- quiet girl,. whom Neville'S partner addressed . affeca tionately. "Have you been dancing, dearest ?" " No," said the pale girl, smiling with a pleasant arch expression; "lent I have been much amused." . , . "That is well," said Miss Delvigne, and batwing to Neville, eat down. He lingered a moinent,. loath to leave here.yet feeling himself dismissed. Pre- -sently -Mrs.-Colemitn-touched-his-arm— " Come, Captain Neville," .she said, "let me get orou-a partver. I must take better care of my friends. I see Sir Frederto Compton, by some stupid mistake, is dime- ingewith Miss Weston instead of Miss Deb vigue." "Pray do not inflict me on any more young ladies," said Neville, "1 have dis- gusted Miss Delvigne." "Miss -Delvigne ! Than you have been dancing with her?" cried Mrs Coleman, hi dissatisfied accents. "Al!you must not be lazy, Captain Neville. I want recruits for the Lancers." - That is quite beyond me," said Neville, -bowing; and a .waiter addreseing some communication at thattnoment to the lady of -the- house, - he eseafed intie -OT-iftdaaer: From. thenoe he , the satisfaction of watching the beautiful heiress go through the. intricate figures with Sir Frederic, veho eeemed to -make himself uncommonly agreeable, and to be on the happieet.terms with his partner. Not even his memory of the tone 10 which she had said, "You are quite.diffetent,7' could silence the whispers of the green eyed monster. Gradually old thoughts crept back to Neville; the gnaw- -Mg -sense -of debtaand- difficulty-thexon-_ tention betvveen his sudden passion for the fair American and his shame at reckoning ou a wife's fortune to pay-his-debte. Yet it was not fair of Compton to suggest such a, pleasant mode of liquidation, and then make love to the ledy himself. It was not fair by Jove He (Neville) would make her a far better, steadier husband than a boy like Comptort. - (To be co ntinued.) ' - Grumblers -never work and,woe kers never g .unable. -Dr. JViWamo An ounce of real mother Wit is worth a pound of book learning. , P. el'Barniatia• istogive Bridgeport a 52,000 public clock. e- Seetetary Shankin, of the "Ex -Union Prisoners of War Association," has' a echeme to erect a monument over the graves of the 13,000 Unknown deed "at Anderson- ' Lieut. Ponsonby, late of the Royal Navy, whose -misconduct last year toward a bar - Maid led to her suicide, and so incensed the mob aa to imperil his safety after the inquest, has been divorced from his wife= a lady Of higti connections whom he had deserted -under circumstances deeply disgraceful to him. Assemblyinen Watson and Beck, of the Georgia Legit3lature, are expert in handling Wood, a ' substantial- house, substantially_ tingly. "1 witih I, was 'there once More," the fiddle. Henry Grady declares -that furnished, with a wide 'entrance and hand.- he ccifieliffied, with a sionardirsati e. nay fiddled their -war-intosofficeetlecelaera sonic, rooms. Those for reception were, all, ' Miss Delvigne looked at him eueprised..., orite tunes .being "Mississippi Sawyer" on the lower floor, and the hall ended in a "Perhaps you are like myself, without and " Yeller 'Gal Come.....Out• To -night." conservatory of tolerable dimensions, prat- relatives or friends, and in a strange land? ,Young Taylor, of Tennessee, got into Con- tily lit up, and well calculated for flirting. but no, yOu are thoroughly English." gross by bus good fiddling two years ago, Tlett entrance of our -Hussars -sent -a faint- ae "4-arreEnglish-: -nevertheless-I-am yaw-- -b'at_thignionth-he -was defeatedo: _ Hew Frank iilddn1101,171lide FIkt *Inner. Prank Siddells tells me that all the money he has ever made from his famous soap was by advertising in, the newspapers. He has never spent a cent for posters or for circulars, other than those in which his soap is wrapped. He intends, as Boon as he is at home in his magnificent new quarters, next door to the Chestnut Street Opera House,. to invite all the heavy adver- tisers , of ftlie,ctiontrYto 4 reception there, where -11W liktaYstem of advertis- ing. He will offer to pay the railroad ex- peuses to Philadelphia of those gentlemen residing out of the city. Newspaper men will also be present, and his talk cannot fail to include many new points, for he has made a careful investigation of the prob- lem of advertising. What he says will be all the more valuable eines it comes directly from his personal experience, and he is known to have built up an enormous business, as he frankly states through news- paper advertising, though of course having a good artiole to -start with.-P-rogress. A. IIIIIetteless Pupil. There is no subject, says the New York -Graphim-on--Nvhich-women-are-more-hope- lessly at loss than on matters relating to marine architecture. Such knowledge_ don't impress itself upon her. A sea cap- tain who atteMptedto teach nauticalisms • to a party of ladies on a yacht not long since fared as tollovvs Lady No. 1-" Now, captain, what is a aloop ?' "Captain-" A sloop has but one mast." (Pointing to a schooner,) " Is that a . sloop ?" "No ;. that is a schooner. A 'sleep has but one mast; a schemer has two, as you see. Now, remember- sloo,p,„ one mast; schooner, two." • , "Certainly. • How many masts has a ship ?" "Three." "How many masts did you say a sloop had?" "One. Sloop, one mast; schooner, two; ship, three." . " Well, what's the difference between a man -o' -war and a smack ?" (Groans, and -is intent.) a What are 'those sticks across the mast of that schooner, paptain?" ' " That's not a schooner. , Schooner, two masts ; ship, three ;' sloop, one. That's a 'ship. Those are the yards which hold the sails. • "Oh 1" (Encouraged.) "Now, the first yard on the foremast is the foreyard ; the second is the foretopsailyard ; the third is .the fore- gallantyard." " What is that, yard sticking straight out of -that little schooner?" " That's not a schooner; it's a sloop. Sloop, , one mast; schooner, two; ship, Lady No.. 2-" Certainly, .Jane. How stupid you are! Captain,. what are the . names of the other masts'on that schoon- er's yards you Were Pointing out to us ?" "Isn't that a -pretty ship sailing along?" " Ship !, That's an old tub of a schooner, ma'am. ;Schooner, two masts; ship, three ; sloop, one; I tell yen." - "(Jan a sloop have two masts?" "Sloop, one mast; schooner, two; ship, Lady No. 3-" How many masts has a ship, captain?" " Skip, three meets; schooner, two; sloop, one." ' ' "-Yes, I know. Schooner, one -nee two masts; sloop, two -no, three; ship, one. There!" Regulations' as to 'rebate°. The Department of Inland Revenue has decided that leaf tobacco shall be placed under lock, and key in onstody of an officer ,of the department, who will Lame it as it., may be ;- required , for manutacturing pur- poses. A minimum standard of production will be fixed, on which 'duty will have to be , paid' whether the quantity is turned out or not. Liquorice, molasses find sugar _enter . largely into, the manufacture of tobacco, and as manufacturers have to , pay a cus- toms duty on 'them and an excise duty on tobacco, it has been decidedthat in future those articles stored with the leaf 'and issued for manufacture shall be free from custom duty. The order has --been issued from the fact of a large difference being noticed in the returns of the amount of tobacco leaf from thefactories and' the amount ' of manufactured tobacco. The new regulation may give_ a "little more trclqble,but-itis believed will --go smoothly. , New Post-Olitcee. The following new post -offices wereestab- hailed on November 1st 13irdsalls, Peter - bore', Ontario; Broadview, Northwest Territory; Clareview (reopened), Adding. ton, Ontario; East Angus, Compton, Ontario; Harden, Lisgar, Ontario ; Harold, Hastings, Ontario; Indian Head, North- west Territory ; Latour Mills, Pontiac, Quebec; Moosonain, Northwest Territory; Nyanza, , Victoria, N.S.; Regina; North- ' west Territory; Reuniter, Cardwell; Sewell, Selkirx. The followingleave been changed: Clandeboye to Mollinlfft Goose River, N.S., to Linden; McGillivray, Ontario, to Clan- edeboyeeRontleau-to-Bleoheinie______ Faitlitalnee4 of Reporters. .dovernor.elect Butler is not one of those orators Who.complain because the,reporters do net get hate print every word they utter,. or because they sometimes ehange'a word here and there, for the better or the worse: "You workingmen of the prose," he said at a dinner of a Boston reporters' Club, "always do your duty thoroughly, and -that L have_reciejved_aoy , portion 'or the applause of my fellow-citizehic:iitilitidicfeetto° the foot that I have received -from you atecuriee and truthful reports of what I have mod. And for that fidelity, which has never, faltered, whether from men opposed to me or in my favor, I beg to re- turn to each and all of you my meet grateful thanks." - Wendell Philips ,has given 1,300 volumes to the Boston public library. A girl of Waukon, Iowa being eXCeB. sively fond of babies, borrowed one of a, • neighbor for the day. It fell into it fire ansi was burned to death. The girl was not inamedia,tely the-eause of the accident and yet she was eo grieved and frightened by it that she died within an hour. Mary Anderson is an exception to the „oft-tepeated rule that nobody can attain excellence en the stage witliout beginning to climb at the lowest round. She made her debut ill leading tragic roles only a few yeare ago, and began to awake mbuey and fame at the very , outset. She is now very wealthy, and ae for gtory, she was pub- licly crovtued with a laurel wreath the - other night in her native city of Louisville, by theaMeyor and Editor Watterson, et the 'Courtereleithica. The Mayor assured her that she ,possessed ""eideeding level; pees of person, purity of heart and beauties of mind." , Mrs: Wilson of Oregon; got a ail/tree' • -froneeeher-hus aud-on-the ground of int- delity and cruelty last year.- He reformed and wanted to marry her again. She eon. , sented, but he afterward changed his mind, and she is now suing him for breach of _promise.-