Plymouth Weekly Democrat, Volume 14, Number 24, Plymouth, Marshall County, 18 February 1869 — Page 1

WEEKLY DEMOCRAT. VOLUME XIV. PLYMOUTH, INDIANA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 8i!. NUMBER 24.

PLYMOUTH

Poctrn.

A MOTHER'S BLTXDXES. BY PH'EBE CART. A tnrmuut, berin5 hi" gan n-fleld. Went wnistfln? merrily ; When hiheird th blacttet of black crow.s all out from a withers 1 tree : ' You are iroln to '.ill the thiovi-h birds, And I wonH if I were yon : But. yon m-'tn't touch ray family. Whatever elje you do !" M I'm only 2o;n? to kill the bird Th:i are eating up my crop: nl if your yonnjf one do ?uch ttttngs, Be -are they'll have to stop.1 O," "-ld the crow, "my children Are the beit one ever bini : There im'tone amon them all Would steal a jrruiu of corn." V, V how shall I know which one- they arc ? Do they nnaMi von?" () no." Mid the crow, "they're the prettiest bfrdd, And the whitest that ever flew! To off went the sportsman, whittling. And off, too, west his inn ; And it" strtiir-' .-chocs never eeassa Again till the Jay was done. And the rld crow ;t untronhled, i iwin' away in her nook ; For he faid, He'll never kill my bird-, Mi.fj 1 told him how they look. Now tVre' the hauk.mv neighbor, . She'll ee what ?hc will see, poon : And thnt MBCT, whittling blackbird May have to change his tune!" Whsa, lo! she Ml the hunter, T ikinir his homeward track. With -trim of crow as ion; a fell gun, BsaghSf down his back. ! k, alack I"' did the mother, What fn the world have you done f V-Mi prossbed to s, are my pretty hirds, And yvj'v killed th -in every ore." " Yonr bird!" said the. puzzled hunter; Why. I found them in my corn; i ,i benid s. they are black and ngly s any tlii' over were born:' ;: nut of mv sight, yon nnpid!"' Said the angriest of crows. How srood and dir the children are. There's none but a pirent knows "' I Ma, ! .-.'." ??d the hunter, But not'a you do, quite ; tHk, ... ,i o-ii'er to be so h'.ind S!ie can't tell blck from white !" Rltrkl Mvj'tzinf. Selccteö iilisccllann. THE FOUR SIGHS. I V r VMJSÖ BUTTON. A I r fovu sighed at the same moment not dc , kM2 drawn sighs, but soft, airy sighs i 1" reiki, m- re bubbles upon the surface, and certainly not indicative of inten i rrow, though perchance not unmingled with pain. Four centlemen, in the first bloom of manhood, were lounging in easy attitude?, sipping C'oa Vougeot, and nibbling devilled biscuits, in front of a blazing fire'. For some ten minutes or so, not a word hid been ipoken. It was no "awful pause," but one of those pleaant, purring silence, which spring spontaneously from the lumes ot a well-ordered and harmonious dinner such a dinner as does equal honor to the heart of the host, and the hcid of his rjuf dc r'tisinf. Chewing the eu l of sweet, or sweetly bitter fancies, these worthy gentlemen sipped and mused, and mused and sipped ; and finally, as if by a preconcerted -ignal, CUM out of their temporary fit ot abMnctim, and sighed. No one opened his lip, or venture 1 to break the silence, until the host, after quite unnecessarily p king the tire an 1 from the top gave a short hysUrical laugh ; and, assuming U ;iir of 'nonch dance, b-trayed by his trembling voice, stammered out, abruptly : "I am going to bp married! Who will be my best man ?'' uch a qv -li n, at such a time, and in ach a place, could only be answered in one way. The three guests bravely voliteend, to i man, tor the dismal duty ; i their infinite surprise, failed to ex tract !r m their evidently nervous host any informatioa as to the Dame, social po pifion..r any other belongings, of the fu ture Mrs. Grenville Tremaine Jones. " Be content, my friends," said that excellent geatlesaaa, " to w .it till next Friday fortuigh, ind then you shall judge for yourselves. This mach only wdl I tell you. fehe is young, she is beautiful, exceedingly, ;." is lovely, sh-'s divine." "Bal why marry on a Friday?" asked one. ' It is unlucky to marry on that day, you know." " As lor luck it is unluci'.y to marry on y day," was the flippant reply of ; ii "Put it off till Saturday, and thea youH have aQ Sunday to think what you've done, and so repent at your leisure." Well," Mid the third, u I always oked upon TOO, Jones, as a marrying ntn: I wish you nil joy; but don't cut y ir bachelor friend, old boy; for really v ur cook is an artist, and your Burgundy irreproachable for this side of the Chanel" " 1 have fixed upon Friday," their host d, rather drily for he was piqued by the levity of his friends' because It has pleased me to be married on the annir ary of my dear mother's wedd ng-day. And now let ns talk about something else." Upon this, bumpers were drained to the health and happiness of the adventurous i -, and, by degree, the conversation passed through the usual phases incidental to a bachelor s' gathering. But it ha not yet been told h w these four bachelors came to sigh all at the same moment, though for only on of them was the fatal day irrevocably fixed. Mr. Grenville Tremaine Jones was the occupant of a semi detached villa, in that portion of Asia Minor which is Immediately contiguous to "The Grove." He was of a uil, alight, and rather elegant jure, with fair ha.r, blue eyes, a narrow I jrehead, and a receding ciiin, and in the twenty-seventh year of his age. Of a ' mi l. gentle, and kindly disposition, he f an hardly be said to have had any will or uaracterof his o wn. Neither had he any particular pastimes or pursuits. Sr.ru-7-alously correct in his outward man, he was also free from vice, and as simple and untutored as an English maiden, born and brought up ia a rural vicarage. His father dio i when he was young ; and his mother, a fond, foolish woman, idolize! her boy, and tsdtilged his every whim and fancy, provided it was " genteel " to do so. As a girl, she lad been in;pi.ly pretty, with long flaxen riukts, and had ttn ted very marked etteation from the jrvri r Hcer of tnc regiments quartered in her native town, to whum she handed ire, bath buns, and oygter-patti.-?, acrosa her father's counter. Two young subal'rni in partlcrilA: Cornet Qrtnvllle and je, been poirtertiy

assiduous, and in after times she used to allude mysteriously to certain proposals that hatl but been made to her by those distinfiruished heroes. Failing the military, Miss Jane Blewitt had finally bevme the wife of Theophilus Jones, the well known drysalter, to whom, in his old age, she

bore a son and heir. In remembrance of the brilliant fortune that had almost been hers, she bestowed upon the offspring of her matured affections the name of her two youthful admirers, and flattered her self that they sounded not only genteel, but quite aristocratic. Gentility was the rock on which the good woman split. Her chief anxiety was to ensure the gentility of her darling Grenville Tremaine. Indeed, the only redeeming point about the poor woman was her unselfish love for her boy, which, to his credit be it said, he reciprocated with as much warmth as his feeble nature was capable of feeling for anybody or thing. lie was, therefore, much grieved at her death, which left him, at the age of four and-twenty, absolutely alone in the world. So he resolved to travel for a year or two, in the hope of picking up some genteel acquaintances ; but never got further than Paris, where he Haed f -r j-ix months in a boarding-house entirely frequented by English families. Here he became intimate with a young barrister, named Blnke, who attached himself to his fortunes, and indoctrinated him in the art of ordering a dinner with the appropriate wines. As soon as he had acquired this amount of useful knowledge, his friend Blake carried him back to London ; and, in fact, took possession of him and all that was his It so chanced, however, that in the early part of September, when this filu Achite-i was away, the feeble and fickle Jones plucked up heart of grace to intimate to his absent tyrant that he could not again receive him as an inmate in his huuse. Surprised at his own audacity, and feariu lest Blake might reply to his letter in person, Mr. Jones hurried off to Hastines, where he amused himself, when the tide was out, by looking for sea-anemones in the hollows of the low, shelving rocks. One day, while engaged in this harmless amusement, he observed that the ri?ing tide had almost surrounded a point somewhat higher than the others, on which a young lady was half sitting, Ball reclining, apparently absorbed in one of Mudie's novels, and totally unconscious of the approach of the waves. In vain did the timid swain endeavor to catch the maiden's eye, as he pointed to the advancing foam. The nymph remained abstracted in the fortunes of an imaginary hero, or heroine, and paid no heed to the increasing vehemence of his warnings. At length, when the rock was completely cut off from the mainland, she slowly raised her eyes, and sec mal in an instant to take in the whole danger of her situation. For one moment she gazed upon the deepening waters with well-simulated terror, then suddenly threw herself on her kneesinthc attitude of supplication first contriving, however, by a dexterous feminine movement, to knock off her hatthereby causing her hair to fall loose in a perfect deluge of gold over her shoulders and down to her waist. For the first time in his life Mr. Jones was moved by a generous impulse, and, without once thinking of his patent leather boots, he splashed through the water up to his knees, snatched up in his arms the trembling little Venus, and carried her far above high water mark before he would suffer her to put her foot to the ground. Even then, he insisBKl on seeing her safe to her own door, in spite of her mild remonstrances. She was sure he must be fatigued with carrying her all that distance ; he would catch such a dreadful cold : she should never forgive herself if he did. Mr Jones not only saw her into her own house, but extorted, without much difficulty, permission to call and inquire after her health on the morrow. After that, they met every day, and were together the whole day, either sauntering along the esplanade, roaming about Fairlizht, or looking out over the sea from the heights of the Castle. By degrees Mr. Jones extracted from the artless damsel as noch of her history as he cared to know. Her name was Clara Ivnyvett ; she was the daughter of an Indian officer, an only child, and an orphan. She had been brought up by her aunt as 1 governess, and was seeking a situation, wSaa ill health compelled her to proceed to the seaside. With men of ordinary nerve and self-complacency the affair would soon have been brought to a matrimonial i-nte, for the little lady took no pain.s to diagTÜN her feelings; but Mr. Jones' diffidence refused to see in her demonstrative frankness anything more than a childlike reverence for strength and courage the qualities in which he happened to be singularly deficient. Still, time, that overcomes all difficulties, would, probably, in the long run, have overcome even the imbecile reserve of Mr. Jones, had not circumstances have occurred of quite a different character. His charmer met him one morning in a state of painful depression. Now and again a stifled sob would burst forth or the handkerchief would be furtively raised to the eye. If a good man, struggling with advcrnity, ia a spectacle agreeable to the gods, tears and sighs are by no means pleasant, or even safe, for men to witness in a pretty woman. Poor Orenville was deeply touched ; and, at length, after much entreaty, he discovered that she had received a letter announcing the serious illness of her kind aunt., and summoning her to what would probably prove a death bed scene; but, alas! her quarter's pension, as the child of an Indian officer, would not be due for some days, and she was already indebted to her land lady for a week's rent and board. In an instant, the porfemonnnie of Mr. Jones was pressed into her hands. He would hear no denial. She could return the money at her own convenience, and, per haps, during her sorrowful attendance upon her sick relative, she would spare a kind thought for the lonely bachelor upon whose solitary state she had cast a ray of joy and hope. The gentleman was clearly becoming affected, and the new sobbing Clara cannot be accused of tearing her- ! self away from him with timorous precipitancy. She gave him abundant time for saying anything more that he might like to say, or even for venturing upon some demonstrativeness by arm or lip. But Mr. Jones' courage failed him at this crisis; and they parted. Weeks passed, but the money came not ; and, at last, Mr. Jones began to fear that his sweet little ! Clara had caught the complaint from which i her aunt was suffering. 1 on this eventful day, however, he was startled by the unprecedented announceI ment that there was a lady in thedrawingr om w Ik. wished to see him. He rightly divined that his visitor OOttkl bo no other , than the fair syren of Hastings. Hhe had ; come to repay him the raonoy he had so fcenerouslv advanced In her hour of need i and tribulation. Ffce had hen for a time

so engrossed with constant attendance upon her dear aunt, that she had not had a moment to do or think of anything else And, when all was oyer, she knew it was too late to remit to Hastings, and, alas ! she had mislu'd his town address. 8he had hunted foi it everywhere, when it suddenly occurred to her that she might have put his card into his ; -ortemonnaie. How delighted she was to find it there ! All this, and much more, she said, in torrents of words, emphasized with the most bewitching smiles, and purified by an almost infantile simplicity. The hour and the woman had arrived. Mr. Grenville Tremaine Jones was at her feet literally. He dropped on one knee, seized her hand, and covered it with kisses then sprung to his feet, passed his arm around her waist, and drew her to himself, gabbling, stammering, spluttering no mattet what. In less than ten minutes he had i ledged himself to marry a woman of whom he knew nothing more than she had chosen to tell him. Taking the bit between his teeth, he fairly bofted from the path of reason and common sense. .Vot content witli engaging himself, he had wrung from the Kdy after a feeble show of maidenly coyness her consent to their union taking place on Friday fortnight, and it was then Tuesday. He only re

gretted that his hous 'keeper had gone out to do some shopping, for he wished her to say whether she would retain or dismiss that worthy individual. Clara had tact enough to be enraptured with everything. His housekeeper, she was quite sure, must be a trensure She wouldn't hear of the dear old thing boiog sent away. She would rather stay away herselfthis was said with an arch smile and a rougish twinkle of the eye that completed the conquest of the impressionable young man, ard left him her slave. As he lipped lis generous Burgundy, Mr. Grenville Tremaine Jones had been recalling this pleasant episode ; and as he did so, he thought how proud and happy his dear mother would have been to have welcomed his adored Clara, and how she would have taken the enchantress to her arms as her own child. And as he thought of this he sighed. On the opposite side of the fireplace, and directly facing the host, sat Dr. John Bryan, a young medical practitioner, rapidly rising into repute in Bloomsbury. It so chanced that late one afternoon towards the close of the London season he was suddenly called on to attend a young lady, residing in a dull but respectable boarding-house, who had been knocked down and run over by a hansom cab. The case was a serious one. Not only was her arm broken, but the whole system had been seriously deranged by the shock, and there was reason to fear that some internal injury had been sustained. TIih last apprehension proved to be groundless ; and a cure would speedily have been effected had she paid closer 1 attention to the doctor's instructions. But unfortunately, the little lady was slightly self-willed. The consequence was a relapse, a long convalescence, and a very long doctor's bill, though John Bryan had reduced his charges to a minimum, partly out of pity for her childlike helplessness and simplicity, partly out of admiration of the golden glory of her long flowing tresses. As Constance rather prided herself upon her ancient descent, than upon plebeian wealth, two elderly gentlemen, who had constituted themselves her special champions and "blackamoors," insisted upon being allowed the privilege of acting as her bankers on this occasion ; and as each stipulated that the other should know nothing about it, Miss Tayleur made rather a good thing out of her illness, the more so, as she went off, after all, without paying the bill. The land-, lady, also, had some reason to complain ; for, in consideration of the heavy medical expenses incurred by her favorite lodger, she had allowed her to go away for a month for change of air without requiring a settlement in full previous to her departure. But when six weeks had expired, and nothing had been heard of Miss Tayleur's movements, Mrs. Uobinson wrote to her at the address she had given, inquiring after her health, and when she might hope to see her again. Instead of a reply, she received her own letter: no such person was known, nor was there any such street in Scarborough. Then the murder came out. The two old gentlemen confessed their folly, and Dr. Bryan was informed that hia fascinating patient was suspected of being an adventuress. The doctor bore the news with equanimity ; he merely expressed his regret at having been deceived by the artless manners of the "child of earth with the golden hair," and the affair passed away from his mind. In the latter part of October, John Bryan found himself desperately In love with the daughter of a prosperous city merchant, residing in Tyburnia. Dropping in one evening to try a new duet, he was surprised to find Miss Wilkinson in a decidedly sulky humor. " Tell me," said he, gently" tell me, Charlotte, what is the matter?" "There is nothing the matter," was the unsympathetic reply. " Pardon me, Charlotte, there m something the matter. Have I offended you in any way ? If so, I nssure you it was quite unwittingly on my part." The soft tone in which he spoke worked visibly in hia favor. The lips trembled, and a tear stood in each eye. Making a vain effort to be calm, she asked with affected indifference, " By the way, do you happen to know a Miss Constance Tayleur " Well, I wish I could say If." said he, laughing. " But surely, Charlotte. Miss Tayleur is not one of your fr ends? Question for question: How long have you known her What is she ? Where is she?" Stop, stop, Dr. Bryan, you are a bad catechist ; you give me no time to reply. If you particlarly wish it, I can obtain her address from Harriet Fielding, who told me all about that afair. I muat say, Dr. Bryan, your conduct was disgraceful. It was not what what what " the poor girl's dignity fairly broke down, and she burst into tears. My dear Charlotte," said John Bryan, tenderly soothing her, "yoO have been entirely misinformed as to the matter." Whereupon he qnlefly told her the whole history, and obta.ned ready credence for his truthful tale. " But who is this Harriet Fielding ?" he asked. Charlotte Wilkinson laughed a merry tittle laugh, and nodded towards her father, whu ( i'lier was, or seemed to tw, BOand asleep in an .-.y-ihair, with a book lying upon his kne s. "To tell you the truth, John, Harriet rwdinff ii rathe? fHfH Jr PP' tjjAn mm "

Here a snort was heard to issue from the easy-chair. " I can't say that we know anything at all about her, except what she told us herself as we traveled up together from Hastings. She told us, or rather papa (another growl), that she was going up to London to look out for a situation as housekeeper to a quiet elderly widower (a series of low growls), and asked papa to tell her what to do. So papa sssw kindly recommended her to Mrs. Watkins' boarding-house, and even promised to take her there himself." " But how is it that I have never met her here ?" asked Mr. Bryan. " O, that's just it. Papa asked her to come and spend this evening with us, and promised her some good music, as you were coming. When she heard your name she uttered a sharp cry and turned quite pale. As soon as papa had left us, she told me that ou had jilted her dear friend, Constance Tayleur, and declared that nothing on 'arth would ever induce her to meet you." I'm very sorry, I am sure, to be de prived of the pleasure of making Miss Fielding's acquaintance ; but I was not aware that I was such a U rrible ogre among confiding spinsters. Wr at sort of person is she ?" " O, she is a little fairy, with the sweetest voice and the most silvery laugh in the whole world ; and such hair- -a perfect cascade of gold when she loosens the band and lets it fall down over her shoulders." " Show me her photograph !" exclaimed the young doctor, springing to his feet and pouncing upon an album. " Show me her photograph, Charlotte. It is the little witch herself, or I am a Dutchman !" Dr. John Bryan was no Dutchman. The sun-picture elearly established the identity of Harriet Fielding and ConStance Tayleur ; but fierce was Mr. Wilkinson's indignation on discovering, as he said, that he had taken a viper to his bosom. John Bryan, however, calmed his fury, and promised very soon to clear the neighborhood of " the cockatrice." On the morrow he instructed his friend Stephen Hawkhurst to proceed against her with " the utmost rigor of the law " for the recovery of his bill for attendance and medicines. But it was not the money he cared about at all. His only anxiety, and it was shared by Charlotte Wilkinson, was to frighten the dangerous schemer to a sufficient distance from Tyburnia to prevent her from encountering Wilkinson perc in one of his impressionable moods. And as he thought of her youth, her beauty, her infantile simplicity of manner, and then of her profound duplicity, her unscrupulous artfulness, her utter disregard for truth, it is not surprising that he, too, should have sighed. Mr. Hawkhurst, the solicitor, was over head and ears in love, for the first time in his life, and at first sight ; and this is the way it came to pass: Stephen Hawkhurst was the fifth son of a country gentleman, with a small, unencumbered estate of about 1,200 a year. He was articled to a respectable solicitor in Lincoln's Inn Fields, and in due time became an attorey-at-law on hi" iwu account. Luckily tor him, or perhaps, unluckily, he had been adopted and brought up by a maiden aunt, who left him a snug little fortune of 1,000 odd, put out on excellent security, at five per cent, interest. As a natural consequence of this legacy, Stephen Hawkhurst never had, or wished to have, a single client. But the unprecedented necessity for doing something had exercised a galvanic effect upon the torpid mind of Stephen Hawkhurst, who wrote to Miss Harriet Fielding three letters, each more peremptory than the preceding one, insisting upon immediate payment, with the threat of legal proceedings in the event of non compliance with his demand. No notice being paid to these cpistolory gems, he took out a writ ; and, having nothing in the world to do, proceeded to the distant region of Tyburnia, to serve 't with his own hands. Never was man more completely annihilated than Mr. Hawkhurst when ushered into the presence of a bright, sunny little thing, wreathed in smiles, and beaming with kindliness and fun. H was so good of him, she suid, to come all the way to see her. She knew she had been dreadfully rude in not answering his letters, but she was so afraid of lawyers, they were bo awfully clever. Besides, i. was so very awkward; for just at that moment, it really was not quite convenient to pay her dear friend Dr. Bryan. She could never forget how kind he was to her. Somebody had been making mischief and se tting him against her, and she knew nobody in London, and was so ignorant of business ; and then she threw herself on the sofa, and hid her face, and had a good cry. This was more than Mr. Hawkhurst bargained for. Though a lawyer, he was still a man ; and, it might be added, a very I weak man. He sat brushing his hat the wrong way, and wishing himself back in Raymond Build- : ings, all the time the golden-haired I sprite was speaking to him ; but when she j broke down and sobbed, be jumped up I and exclaimed, "John Bryan is a brute, and I am no better ! I must serve this writ on you, though 'pon my word, I feel ' I am a beast to do it. But don't cry I'll make it all right. Do forgive me. I had no idea you were an an ar.gei !" With that he rushed out of the room, down , stairs, and into the street. His back, howi ever, was scarcely turned before both envelope and writ were in full blaze, while the little lady was almost convulsed with laughter at the discomfiture of her enemy. When Mr. Hawkhurst returned to his chambers, his first impulse was to send Miss Fielding a check for the entire sum But he was quite as little ac ustoraed to . writing billets-doux as to serving writs ; I so that, by the time he had torn up half a quire of note paper, his passion had cooled down to the value of 50. Sending a porter to the bank for a note to that amount, he enclosed it In a sheet of paper, containing only the words. " Frwm a tin- ' cere Friend and Admirer ;" and dispatched it by a messenger, with instructions to leave it at the door, and on no account to say who had sent him. She will recognize, he thought, the monogram cn the envelope. Poor man ! ii is as well that he was not present when the "angel" opened the note left by his messenger. She never for a moment trouolcd herself to look at the monogram, or the handwriting ; but j pocketed the money, with a smile, under the full impression that it Oamc from her 1 old bean, the City Merchant. Mr. Hawkhurst, however, eontiuued in a tool's para'dlfe&ll that evening. EU still went on building castles, until the sudden thought , stabbedhim, like a dagger, M What if he I is already in I070 with another." 1 foi,i rjropi sfood uoort his forehead .

there was a feeling of suffocation in his throat. With a violent effort he gulped down half a winc-glassfiri of Burgundy, and then relieved his momentary anguish with a sic.n. Mention has already been made of Edmund Blake, Esq., Barrister at Law. The most marvelous thing about Mr. Blake was his means of locomotion He would be in Paris one week, in Edinburgh another, then he would be seen in Manchester or Liverpool, and after that in London or llamsgate. As he never car ried anything but an old carpet-bag with him, it was rumored among his friends that he generally took French leave of mine host of the hotel he might chance to honor wifh his company. On one occasion, he happened to be at Brighton, lodging in the house of a respectable widow lady, in straitened circumstances, who had denied herself eve'thing in order to bestow a brilliant education upon her only child, in the hope of obtaining for her a comfortable home as governess or companion. Mary White had just left "mool at the time Mr. Blake engaged her mother's back ar.d- front parlors. She was a j j'ous, bright little thing, with a profusion of' golden hair, which she was fond of letting down over her shoulders. Her voice was the very essence of harmony ; her manners bewitchingly simple; her eves beamed with seemingly artless, confiding affection; her rippling smiles were altogether irresistible. Edmund Blake made noattempt to resist them. For upwards of a fortnight he raved about her, and to her. There was nothing he would not do for her. She should have her carriage and pair, a house near Hyde Park, a stall at the Opera he thought of promising a box, but changed his mind. But Mary remarked that his collars and cuffs were particularly ragged, that he had only one pair of boots, and they Avere patched at the side ; and, above all, that he neither made any presents to herself, nor paid his weekly bills to her mother. For all that, she was a good deal impressed by his manly presence, his rich voice, his smooth talk, his pleasant anecdotes, and his varied information; when one morning it was discovered that the fine gentleman had departed, taking with him his carpet-bag, but omit-ti-g to pay his account. Now that Mary's education was completed, Mrs. White resolved to dispose of her furniture, and seek for herself a situation as housekeeper, and for her child that of a companion, or governess. Mary, however, had other plans in view for her own advancement. Full of romance, ard blest with an excellent opinion of her own charms, personal and intellectual, she felt confident of her power to secure an eligible match, provided only she could obtain an opportunity of showing herself off to advantage. The first thing to be done was to get clear of her mothrr. She waited, therefore, until their furniture was converted into hard cash, and then she practised her first deception. She told her unsuspecting parent that, on the recommendation of one of her late schoolfellows, she was going as a reader and pianist to Lady Purnull. Her mother acc ordingly supplied her with nn abundant and even handsome outfit, and insisted upon her taking thirty pounds in cash, to meetAny unforeseen expenses as companion to such a fashionable lady. With terrible resolution she tore herself from her mother's arms, and taking her place in tin train was whisked off to London. Her poor mother never heard from her from that hour. Relinquishing the fruitless search in despair, the unhappy woman accepted the humble post of housekeeper to a single gentleman residing in Bay 8 water, by whom she was always treated with deference and respect. n this day of surprises, however, Mary White had been met face to face at a corner of "the O rove," by her temporary admirer, Edmund Blake. With his most fascinating bow, therefore, he sidled up to her, and began to address her in a tone of impertinent familiarity. The little lady stopped, calmly looked him up and down, and swept 00 with all the dignity of a tragedy queen. Mr. Blake flushed up to the roots of his hair, and springing into a hansom, desired the cabby in a very loud voice to drive him to Berkeley Square. Mary overheard the direction, which she perfectly understood, and tripped alone, laughing to herself right merrrty. Mr. Blake was a good deal disconcerted by this encounter. She was looking pretty, he said to himFeM, but what was she doing in London, and how came she to be dressed so well ? His con science was somehow not quite comfortable, and in spite of the generous wine, he SIGHED. The marriage ceremony had been duly performed. Mr. Jones had previously informed his friends that the affair would be strictly private, as the l uly he was about to wed was an orphan, and an entire stranger in London. His friends, however, were not the less somewhat surprised, on arriving at the church, to find that tho officiating clergyman was in the aet of reading the benediction, and to observe that the only other person was a respectable looking matron, whom Dr. Bryan recognized as Mrs. Watkins, the landlady of a boarding house patronized by old Wilkinson. This circurastancQ drew his attention more particularly to the bride, and though it was difficult at that moment to distinguish her features, he felt convinced in Ins own mind, that his former patient, Miss Constance Tayleur had at last limed her twigs to some purpose. It was not, however, until after the young couple had retired into the vestry, and signed their names in the parish book, that he was able to push past Mrs. Watkins, ostensibly to offer hicongratulations, but in reality to satisfy his doubts. " My dear Clara, allow me to introduce my very particular friend, Dr John Bryan." The Jady started at the name, but recovering herself with a des

crate effort, she looked at him so piteous y, that he could only mutter something about wishing her every happines.i, and moved aside to make room for his companions. " Miss Tayleur !" exclaimed Mr. Hawkhurst. "Mollie White:" -ried Mr. Blake. The poor girl hid her face in her hands, tottered, and would have fallen, had not John Bryan thrown his arm round hpr waist, and carried her out into the air. As he was about to deposit his light burden in the carriage, a man of repulsive mien, and a decidedly .lewlsb enst of countenance, laid hi hand upon his arm. "Not so fasht. shir," said he, " I am sbd that re young onsaa nt the limit f John Bryan, Ktqojre, M. I) " Stand aside, fellow. I am Dr. John Rryan, and I have no suit whatfv r affinst (his lady." Mtop.ptop.öt.uVcrte! Mr Bfawahunt.

" For Heaven's sake, don't make a row, John. Here, my man, there's a mistake somewhere. This lady is not the party I meant at all. Take this," slipping a sovereign into his hands. "All right, guv'ner," said the man of law; 44 only, I'll take my davy out, that 'ere's the wery identical party, you yoursel told me to take, at the wery door of the church." "Confound your insolence," cried the discomfited Stephen. "I tell you there has been a mistake." The rr.n slunk off grumbling and growling, but made his own story good to the satisfaction of the policeman and the half dozen nursemaids with perambulators, who had gathered around the door. While this little dialogue was going on, Dr. Bryan had placed his still half-unconscious burden in the carriage, and thrusting in the dazed and paralyzed bridegroom, desired the coachman to drive home with all speed, while he himself followed in a hansom. As the wretched couple drove up, the door was thrown open, and tho house keeper stood on the threshold lo welcorre her new mistress. " Quick, quick, Mrs. White," s aid Mr. Jones. "Help your mistress up stairs to her own room. She is going to be ill, I'm afraid." A wild scream interrupted him. "Mother mother! you too, here?" and the unmasked adventurers sank on the ground in a swoon, from which she was long in recovering. And when her consciousness returned, the fir.-t thought that rushed into her mind, and filled her with shame and despair, WSI the knowledge of the invalidity of her marriage. All her art, all her intrigues, had produced no other result than the detection ot her baseness ;'.nd treachery. Bui was she penitent ? Did she really repent of her wr mg-doing, or was it only he r failure she regretted f The answer was given in action rather than words. Closing her eyes, she pretended to be overcome by a desire to be left alone. Her request waa acceded to; and John Bryan, accompanied by Mrr. White, who attributed her daughter's swoon to surprise at meeting with her el fuch a moment, went in search of the bridegroom. They found him in his library, seated in his customary arm chair, and comforting himself with a tumbler of brandy and water. When hi housekeeper " and his friend entered the room, he coolly intimated his intention to repudiate the marriage; though, for Mrs. White's sake, he was willing to pay any reasonable sum of money to settle herself and daughter in some respectable line of business. This naturally led to an explanation of the whole affair, and to an exhibition of poignant anguish on the pal t of the poor m the r. Suddenly the street door was shut with great violence. They all looked at each other in alarm. I lurrying into the room in which the foiled adventuress was supposed to be sleeping, -they found it empty. Nor was she to be seen in the street ; but, in the distance, a hans. m c-ib was tearing along as if racing against time. Never again did Mr. Jones behold his fair enslaver, though Mr. Hawkhurst could have fold him that she was daily visible behind a certain lunch-bar, coquetting with city ch-rks while she administered to their midday indigestion. Her mother, however, retired to Islington upon a small annuity settled upon her by Mr. Jones, whoFpccdily disposed of his " villa residence," and removed into chambers at the Albany, where he will doze away htfl useless ( xistence. London Mayizine. Japan and the Japanese.

The islands of Japan are several hundred in number and generally fertile and healthy. The seaboard is stormy and inhospitable, but there arc verv many fine harbors to be found and excellent anchorage ground within, Terrific storms and typhoons are common to the waters of Japan. The interior country is abundantly watered, and rich alluvial Vdl-vs. nisrnificent wood and tab.e lands meet the eye on all sides. The camera taponica is often seen growing to an altitude of sixty feel ; the acacia, the camphor wood trees, the palm trees, the tall cedars, the variety of chrysanthemums, rhododendrons, the orange, the fig and pomegranate are on every hand, and add intense beauty and interest to the landscape. The summer nights are always refreshing on the coast. In the interior the weather is exceedingly sultry. The population of the country might be about 08,000.000 of souls. The population of Jeddo has decreased, owing principally to the reversal of the ancient dcorce by the Tycoon requiring the great Daimios to retain a large representation of ttuir followers at the national capital ; and then there have been some fearful fire?, burning down whole acres of houses and destroying an immense number of lives The ceilings, partitions, doors anil windows of Japanese houses are made of paper. The true Japanese house is opened front and rear, at the rear more particularly, and parterres of the most exquisite flowers arc trained around - the hnmblesl dwelUnaa. The Tycoon is the great temporal rider of Japan ; he is Commander in Chief of the army and navy; he governs Mm Treasury ; coins all the current money of the realm ; regulates the supreme,' civil and judicial business, and attends to in numerable other matters. The accounts we hear now from Japan about the Mi kado being deprived of his share in the dual Government the spiritual eh ment are difficult to rely upon, because Jap anese affairs are mystery thrice mystified, and impossible to be fully and clearly understood and appreciated by foreigner! There is a good deal of dissension among the Daimios on the subject of tr idinc with tho outside world Some of them favor throwing open all the ports, while there arcotherpwho would forever adhere to the old anil obstinate policy of sealing up the ntire seaboard. Tnis very feeling on this subject was the source of the troubles which sprung up in Japan in 1S63. A strong party insisted upon the immediate closing up all the ports. The buildings of the British Legation, at Jeddo, which had mst been completed, were burned down ; large numbers of anury and excited men swarmed around these porta where foreigners were congregated, threatening to trample in the dust men, women and children of the barbsvrian rsee, but the wise an 1 temperate action of the Tycoon allayed the excitement and restored order. The dtaftlw tions in Japan between people and oÄ iah are very great. Caste is not the same as that which is known in India: but the barrier Is almost wholly luipav.V--! I i ..ten the common pe pie and the uohility, AU persona and ofllc'als of rank weai two swords; old men, wealthy and retired merchants wear one word.' The hurt Pwonl is the peculiar sword f r d;fe:idlng personal honor la

dies of rank also carry a small sword or dagger for self-defence or self-immolation, like their lords, who perform the hari-kari (the happy dispatch) when certain forms of disgrace overtake them The people are more dignified, inMli gent, self-reliant, generous and hospitable than any other Eastern or Indian people. The fashions of the Japanese never change, fastidiousness in dress ia not prevalent, and nudity is not uncommon. The transportation of burdens through the interior is dme by cooües, who traverse the empire from one end to the other. The emples of religion arc in some instances of great magnificence, and arc situated amid scenes of the most exquisite beaut. The ingenuity of the Japanese gives them a claim to be called the yellow Yankees of the Beet For models of coolness and patience they excel, and in politeness they are ahead of the French. The masses of the women are low in stature, and more like slaves of burden than heir mates of their lords Some of them in tie higher ranks are very finely formed, and with teeth of pearly whiteness. The moment, however, that they marry, their teeth are put in mourning, dyed blacker than the blackest ebony. It is very likely a custom intended to draw a palpable distinction between the married and unmarried, and thus running away with another man's wife becomes a very difficult and dangerous operation for a known bachelor. Tobacco Is smoked by all claseos, even by women. The common people are neither very rich nor very poor. As a nation the Japanese have made more progress in eight years than the Chinese ia fifty The Chinese do not understand the steam engine; the Japanese ar quite at home at it. The Chinese will never, if they can avoid it, adopt a foreign custom; the Japanese arc ever diapoted to adopt any practice they deem usefal. Some of their public processions present to the eye of the foreigner a unique, niHgnificent and unparalleled appearance. Among ihe amusements is the tournament practiced by the DeJaaoaa Boar hunting has its votaries ; traveling shows of all kinds are to be met with, but no cjreos has vet made its appearance. The first newspaper was started at Yokohama daring ur rebellion. Japanese Tommy, so well known fa this country, was managir editor. The largest gold coin is the obang, as large as the palm ct the hand, and worth eighty-two doffcure. There is .meat respect show a to the dead in Japan. The cem-t' ry st Jedd embrace oyer G00 acre, ar I is liiied with monuments and mar,- lennis oi great beauty und rich ness. There is every reasoa to hope that Japan will be drawn into closer and more confidential relations with this country, and if only the same dignified, wise, conciliatory and, humane policy be persisted in which has already marked American transactions with Japan, no other nation will secure so much of the confidence and respect of thhhildy intelligent andi ntercstmg pc" pie. JKm York Advocate. Waiting Tor her Husband

Wr. havo recently been made acquainted with one of the saddest and at the same time one of the most singular cases that it has ever been our duty to chornicle. When t he war commenced there lived on Vine street an hoaest, industrious German family, who supported themselves by keeping a small notion store. When Sumter was fired on the husband at once enlisted in the army as a private and by his distinguished ability and bravery was soon promoted to the command of his company. Not OBCe ha 1 he been home since the war began. At last he wrote to his wife that he bad received a 44 leave of absence" and would certainly be home on the following Tbur.nlay, ard he wanted her to meet him at the train. The next day, tneteed of starting for hi me, the battle of Qettysbofg was foucht, and he was among the slaiu. The news of his death came, and since that time the devoted wife has been crazy, and still ex pact! her husband on the train, and by ('ay and night in all kinds of weatherstands in the. middle of the crossing in front of her house, looking in every direction for the approach of him who will never eoaaa again. Often she will call on the mayor and other city authorities to have officers detailed to go and Walch 4'thnt train." to e- f her husband is not coming. This strange conduct has l:sti d for almost six years, and the grief and troubles of the poor wouian have been so great that she has turned prematurely gray, and although under thirty yean of age has the appearance of a very old person. OhaanaaaCj Hesse. Verifying a Dream. Thk Widows' Wood Society, of Port land, Me., has been in operation for sixtv years perhaps more. When formed, its object was to supply poor widows having families with wood for the winter. Ooel whs then scarcely known in New England. Thirty live years ago a friend of mine, Mr. E. S , then a storekeeper, now I banker, was Secretary and Treasurer of the Society. The a inter was very severe, the calls great, and the funds exhausted There fifed at that time a wealthy gentleman in Portland, Mr. .lames During, a man of kind heart, but of that kind of eccentricity which loves a joke. My friend, the Secretary, was. one very co'.d morning, just opening his shop windows when he saw Mr. During coming down the street in his sleigh, and, as he came opposite, beckoned him to stop, which he did, and drew up to the side-walk. Said my friend 4Mr. ü., I stopped you to tell you a re markable dream I had last night.' 44 Ah, indeed !" 44 Yes; I dreamed that the weather was very cold, and as 1 was openirg shop in the morning, as you just sifw inc, I saw you coming down the street in your sleigh I beckon- d to foe to s-.op, and tcfld yon that the funds of the Widows' Wood Society were all gone ; that the calls were numerous and could not ne supplied, and you went light into your store and gave me vour check for a hundred dollar ' 44 Did von dream that f " Yes." Withou another word he went into the store, and, making his check for a hundred dollars, said "There! don't dream any more." and drove cn about his business. That same day twenty loads of wood were sent to as many widows to relieve them and their families from a freezing coudition. Tm Bcetdf 77 i , I says, "A cor responden' wants to know if a railroad director was ever known to have been hurt by a smash up " VinoiNix o Sterinen claim thai it is death to eat raw oystere immediately ftr 1 eating of sugar or mola-