Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 4, Number 1, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 5 July 1873 — Page 6

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(Original.) SUICIDE.

BT *LD* KAIL.

Down by the rl vert edge, A mile below the du*«y town Hidden by the deep green hedge Of wave-washed nodding

Away from the prood world frown

Rocked by the wave# asleep That r'pple on the »hor»— Waves that nestle and creep Through her hair with graceful sweep-

Resting forevermore glaring vacantly at the sk With eye* onco nil'd and so

Her tom'robes silently Uhleldlns her cold limbs graceftolly Fro in those who have scorned and scoffed

Found at the break of day By the fisherman's llstl«M lad, Ere rose -Unified morn had lifted away The thick curtalaod foj that heavily lay

On the face of the water*

But man in Ills pride could not.

Thank Ood for the rest she ha* found! Thank (iod for all sin she has lied Forever henceforth no human hound Hhall lightly cur*1,or scorn, or wound,—

Tlmnk God at last Khe Is dead! ATTICA, June 2.'.

[Kr in Scrit ner'a Monthly.]

Elinor Dane.

A country church, low, and of simplest architecture, set amid fields almost heavenly in their greenness a s.'ant congregation straggling out at the gaping door, the young men lingering to watch the maidens descending tjeir elders, having done with such vexations of the spirit, straggling off towards the weather-beaten borsosheds, gossipping among themselves— of the sermon, perhaps last o' all Elinor Dune, tall, slight, gleeful and Bhy, withal—city-brod, though she was —of the Klares and whispered words Which followed hor.

Her dress rustled softly over the grass as she crossed tho open space before the church, and brushed the petals from tho sweet-brier tangled over tho wall along tho road as she went on alone. Suddenly the faint, subtle odor of cigar-smoke rose to meet her, as though tho wild roses were giving out a now, strango fragrance. Somo one sprang up from lying beyond tho wall in its shadow, and, throwing away his cigar, stood beside her. A young man, with a boyish, handsome face, crisp chestnut curls about his forehead, as ho raised his hat now, lithe, supplo figure, which would have been muscular, had uso perfected what nature planned, but which, instead, was only graceful and indolent.

Mr. Lisle!' A faint rinp of color rose in Elinor's cheeks ashejoined hor. Tho young man shrugged his shoulders. elevating his eyebrows without Bpcaking.

I beg your pardon,' Elinor said 'I forgot that wo had returned to primitive ways. Diedrich. then and the ring of color deepened and spread.

Ho made a mocking bow. 'My respected grandfather would be grateful to you without doubt for using his namo: but, as tho grave-digger would have it 'rest his soul, he's dead." •Deck!' And this time tho namo was an exclamation of reproach.

Ah, that is better. The tone might bo improved perhaps, but—' You should have been at church.'

Don't aak too much of a man at once.' •Idon't ask anything,' she said, grnvoly.

I is el I wish vou did, Elinor.' It Is Sunday. Don't talk nonsense.' •Is it nonsense?' •Of course it is and repetition is tiresome, or I should remind you again that wo aro hero for the summer, you And I, and that—that wo are to be the best of friends, In tho little time left to us. Do you see,' she added, pointing noross the war, the sumach is crimson already!' and she gave a little gigh.

The best of friends he repeated inquiringly.

And then.'--sho went on hurriedly, without heeding the Interruption—"we shall go away, remembering our meeting hero ns wo remember many other pleasant events in our lives.'

A scowl contracted his handsome forehead. Ho walked by her side in silence. They wore ne«rlng the turn in tho road. Mrs. Ksterly's pretty cottage, where Elinor was spending a part of tho summer, rose betoro them, tho sloping lawn bright with (lower-beds, bevnd, at a little distance, was the country inn, where Diedrich Lislo had lingered week after week with no acknowledged purpose.

Deck/ Elinor began again hurriedly. There la something I want very much to say to you,'--sho hesitated, out he made no reply. 'It is about Harry F.st«rl v.*

Well'' and with sharply uttered word ho turned his face towards her. •Yon know how fond tho boy is of you ho follows you aa dog does his master, he bellevtwinyon implicitly--'

A misfortune rare enough, Elinor,' Jio aald bitterly. Still sho wont on: on have gained a wonderful power over hitn. Do you realise It?'—and her voice was very

^•"vh'y don't yon tell the truth?'he broko out angrily. 'Why don't you say at once that yon *l™*1, the boy with roe ko«p bins out of

m'yi£^c!u*Id

not do that* If I

sho replied frankly. Then shs added.

slowly, 'And I»m notsnrethatl would if I could/ Hhe •inllml, beautiful smilo a*

she

paused, her hand upon it. I

whom she spoke,reckoningthe:amount of good in hitn, a® people do when they are tolerably fearral that the bad predominates. 'And if he haa been a little wild and reckless and all that, he will get over it, I am sure. If he only had something to strive for!'

I suppose overy one haa that,' Elinor said quickly. Or if he bad not fallen into such company!' Mrs. Esterly went on. 'Poor Deck! at least I cannot give him up. I loved his mother, and he seems very near to me.' She bent towards the girl at her feet. 'Be pitiful of him, Elinor,'she said. 'You guard the wolf

4O!

Bad.

And now the moon looks down Upon her pule, sweet face It la thin, and p'nehed, and wan. But the Innocence ol childhood'* dawn

Han le»t a lovely trace. She had sinned! »od knows Bin falls to humanity's lot. And He, remembering the lost o.ies woe*, Forgave and forgot, and went repose.

Coran and see,' Deck throw back with a flash of his eyes. She remembered her doubts and fears of the day before she remembered Mrs. Esterly's words, her warning she was minded not to go, to offer some excuse, to say no outright, boldly. It would bo wiser, more Kind perhaps, safer surely. But she tied ber hat ribbons under her hair, and joined tbeina moment later. They wont on up the road, Elinor silent, thoughtful. Thev climbed the low stone wail which held the great straggling pasture within bounds they crossed tho cleared wood lot sweet with odor of fir and spruce, they plunged into tho

oak

'Shall I lower tho drawbridge? she called down gayly, as Deck and Elinor paused upon the brink of the tiny stream at the base of tho mock castle. 'Don't trouble yourself,' returned Deck. 'The warden has been asleep for a thousand years, I'll ,ve"*Usr0,to say. We'll leap the moat.' And before Elinor realized what he would do sho found he.self swung over the brook nnd left alone. "I beg

aPainBjl

sheep,' was the reply, while a flame shot up in the face.of the girl.

no, no: it is you who are the wolf, clad though you are in softest wool. O! Elinor, I wish'Don't wish anything, Elinor said, hastily rising.

It is only a summer

wo shall go away and forget it all She stooped suddenly and le.i a kiss upon her friend's forehead, then she ran away into the bouse.

Come down,' called Mrs. Esterly, under her window the next afternoon. •Come and go berrying with us.'

Radiant mid rosy in the sunshine, Elinor leaned out. 'But I never went berrying in my life what is it like

wood

where the

tree-tops met and joined hands over tho grass-grown road, where the rankgrown ferns dipped into the brook writhing with faint sobs into tho darkness then out into the sunshine, out into the open Holds, where scarred and broken rocks rose in old suggestive forms on every hand, while close agiinst them grew clumps of queer unc iinlv trees—wild-apple and scrub-

casting crooked moving shadows. God's land, as he made it not smoothed and clipped and fashioned after man's design, thought Elinor, with a thrill of delight. Her feot sank in the soft earth mined by the moles, or caught in the ensnaring vines hidden in tho grass.

Her

doubts and fears new

te tho winds. She untied her hat and wreathed it with soft grasses that had died while tho sun kissed them. The summor wind caught

her

loosened hair.

Sho laughed and shook it out, singing a gay little song. Deck Lisle, upon whom klmor silent mood had fallen, walked apart,

fancying—aslovers

will—that the ma

ple-leaves made themselves silver as they bent to touch her head, that the very grass bowed at her coming. 'Berries?' exclaimed Mrs. Esterly, pulling at the vines clinging to a bit of

wall

left standing midway in the hoid to mark some ancient boundary. 'Thoro are none. Be thankful, iMinor. To tell tho truth berrying is tiresome pastime invented by industrious people who must have an excuso for idling we care for none, so we'l climb to some cranny among these rocks,and sit awhile.' tfbe great

gray

mass rose

liko a shattered fortress before them. Tho little woman mounted lightly by oasy winding ways to tho

1summit.

your

The

She found Mm.

among

spoke, like the

sadden shining out of clouds broke and vanished from his

f*Tbe?

had reached the

Mil

y«»J

the truth, Deck,' she said, •yon can lead that boy tn any way yott choose} bat—I trust you.'

Trust hitn 1 She might have placed her immortal soul in hi* keeping that moment, as without another woru Bhe left him, and passed slowly tip u»e garden-path to where Mr*. Eiteriy sat upon tho veranda—a pretty picture in her white drees, with a spray of salvia at her belt.

Deck, was it not?' she said, laying down her book. «Ye#,' 'But why did he not come In?' •Idon't know. I believe I did not ask himand Elinor unfastened her hat, and seated herself at the feel o{h©r friend. She reeled hor head npon her hand and fell to dreaming, a dream In which many doubts and foam mingled —and they were not for Harry. Hoe was awakened by Mr*. B»t*rly a voice. •After all,' alio ssytng, 'there l» much of good in hlrw.' •Therela indeed,' Kllnor respond®* warmly. It was Deck, of course, of

pardon,

he had paid, as he sprang up the rocks beforo her. She followed more slowly. Tho tender tone of his voice, the lingering touch of his hand, brought back to her mind what Mrs. Esterly had said tho day beforo. Was she then the wolf? Certainly no wolf ever possessed so meek, so self-doubting a spirit as she had at this moment. She ended her reflections with a sigh. Tho summer had bee* strangely brief and pleasant. TboK*iad been an open friendship between this handsome young Pariah and herself. A fearless friendship on her part, at first without thought beyond tho present hour. Sho knew, to bo sure, that society had HCt its ban upon him, that ho had been put ono side by the world, her world, and labeled dangci'ow. But women are parverse perhaps it would bo safo that human naturo is perverse, and that women aro born champions certainly they lead a forlorn-hope with a courage which can only bo laid to ignorance ami so sho was not afraid to defy society.

aummor had boon strange-

lv pleasant, and yet at last there had como a time, even before the warning of her friend, when sho knew it to be dangerously so—when sho said to herself continually:

4Take

Esterly

tho

enthroned

rocka. Deck

lay at

her feet

upon the soft jjrawy earjjet. "Sing, dhe aald, a* Kllnor drew near, lie threw hia head back npon hia arm and aanK at her bidding one g*y another. Kllnor's feot reated against the rusk, Her §latM» »wept meadow and sky and dn#kjr mountain* *iwerIna up"n the edft* the hor!*ot». Tho .ktn ftiirred in ber heart

The ihinkl, w«df were In an unknown long jhral tl*e aona held bar Hka a aa f.hoogh a*"Mtt# dw», it tuiin h" WW# ffcitfiu wHh llittaahtr iiim eiMtanat*

It ja nfc-Un* wl «|ft fn#

an boar high yet,

over her aft©uki#f«mah# ra« fore them *knt 1 am waft*d dare not look something elfish In the P,**

She gained the summit of lhe alop® at the foot of which roue the ro'ka. Sho paoaed a moment, br«thleaa. Dee* suddenly stood beelde her. She haa puehed back her hat, and the aummer wind upon her cheek waa oool andeoft

TKRRE-HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MAij^_jUliX_£:

aa the grass beneath her feet. She felt a premonition of danger. The apell held her atlll.

Ah me ahe aald, with

aigh for the summer aky, the soft breeae, the far-ofT hllla growing purple in the sunset.

am going away baok

te the world, next week.' What, BO soon But it ia not BO aoon', she answered. 'It will be six weeks to-morrow since I came.'

Is it?' he aald dreamily 'I thought it waa a day, Elinor.' I am not to return to town at once,' she went on hastily. 'I am going first for a fortnight to 'To ?'—his face changed. 'I shall be there next week and he made a little wistful pause between the words.

But Elinor turned her eyes, suddenly grown cold and suspicious, upon him. lie would not do that? He would not follow her How dared he! It was not Elinor at all it was Miss Dane, haughty and proud, who Btared at him now.

I have an engagement there,' ho said quickly.

One of Deck's freaks, but shockingly rude,' Mrs. Esterly said, looking back at last, and realizing that they were indeed deserted.

Could Elinor have sent him away? sho thought. Had anything happened betweon them in tho little time while sho lingered to gather a nosegay Certainly hor manlier indicated nothing. lie found us tiresome, perhaps, sho had said, in rfcply to Mrs. Esterly's exclamation. Then she spoke of other things quite naturally, almost gayly her lace bright and warm, and tinged with a pretty color, her eyes shining.

How fresh you are looking, Elinor, said Mrs. Esterly almost reproachfully when thev had reached home at last, and parted at Elinor's door.

II.

Something had gone wrong with Deck. He had not appeared to Elinor for a week, not since the fruitless berrying excursion. Mrs. Esterly did not speak his name. Elinor would not ask of him. She wondered at first. She was glad, even, with a half-hoarted cladness. Better that it end here and now, she said to herself. Then she grow restless, uneasy she wandered purposeless over the house, through the garden—she started at every step upon tho piazza in a way of which she was ashamed. The very blind, themselves, might see how silly I am, she thought, angry at herself. She recalled every word she had uttered that day when he left them so abruptly. Sho recalled the words, but sho knew in her heart what it was that had angered and driven him away. Well, it was better so, and yet she would like him to

remember

her kindly, not with that

cold, hard stare in her eyes. Finally, she was miserable. She took herself into confidence one day, and cried heartily.

He had not gono away. She had caught a glimpse of his figure passing thonouso upon the other side of the road more than once. She had heard the report of his gun in the woods, and hidden behind tho curtains, had watched him cross the fields, his rifle over his shoulder and Harry following like a faithful dog, at his heels.

She sat down now by the window to think it out. She had boen so sure of herself, ever since sho was conscious of the danger, until now. Her hands had held tho reins. She had felt more than onco the steady pull but the road had been long and straight before her, and there hail been little swerving to the right or loft. Now, all in a moment her strength was gone. Sho leaned her head upon the window-sill and closed her eyes. Suddenly something flew in. brushed hor cheek and fall at her feet, It was the wing of a whito pigeon plumed and dressed. She starteu up, no ono was iu sight, but she knew whose hand had sent it. She stroked the soft feathers gently, the tears falling into her lap. He had not forgotten her after all! Ah! but he would not only her, but all his good resolvos, sho knew.

She

sho

tho

care, Elinor.

Beware!' But tho caution was for herself alone. Aa for him, he would go away and forget all-and ho-she knew. He bad interestod her from the first. It had been like a fascinating problem glvpn so much wickedness in the form of a handsome young man—to find the good. She had undertaken to dlscoverfthls unknown quantity. At a Hi. time* she seemed to approximate a satisfactory result. There w»s, she could WW, much that was noble and true him. But what if ah© lost hor heart ia the solution

had felt from tho first that

could not trust him beyond the present hour. It was for this reason that sho had taken his homage as only a part of thop'easant summer,with tho odor of tho honeysuckles under the window, with the whirr of the locusts in

elms—knowing that she was to jro away and leave it all before tlio coming of the frost. The drone of the honey-bees filled her ears. The scent of tho tuberoses camo up from the land stretched away from her eyea—hill and. meadow and homestead. O, if it could bo always so! The trees could go down through the summer fields, forever, Deck and she. If life were only to live!

She was going

away

She must spend tbeso last hours with Mrs. Esterly, who had been so kind, who would come to seek her soon If aho lingered here. Deck must know of her departure. Harry would tell him, aurelv. There were voicea below. I erhapa bo had come now to bid her adieu. She ahould see him again, then. O, If she could trust him I 11 she dared. Sho ran hastily down, excited, aglow with expectation, but only to find that some of Mre.Esterly'8 friends had driven oat from town, and that she had B0*1® them into the garden. So she hid herself In a corner of tho^piniaa, screenod by a clamp of flra, and palled a bit of embroidery from her pocket. The stitches all went wrong,

the needle

pleroed her finger, and everything blurred before ber eyes. She In* it up In despair when her^ear Ornisht gonad, aho leaned forward to listen, a step had left the niaaxa upon the other aide,-it gronnd npon tho •travel nowno woman's dainty tread,

must be Deck! He had com# to a«ek her. then, atlaat! In a moment be would begone. She forgot her the warning that had rang in ber can*. The work fell fromher thl* once I ahe begged of her conscience aa ahe sprang from her ®**fr tba piasxa, and ran with a atep ovar the lawn,

screened

by the

ah rubbery. Yea, it waa Deck. Sho waa very near him now aa be *wung alowly down towards the low wall at the aide, where a well-worn path_made a abort cut across the fields. He

did

not her, the anioko-treea would screen bar if he turned,

and

her step

upon the gr*aa made no aoand. It waa not yet too late, ahe might go ba«k,and be would never know how doae to

him ahe had been. She would go away the next day, and he would believe, perhaps, that ahe had avoided him at the laat, and that would end it all.

For one instant ahe stood irreaolute, holding her handa over her beaten heart, the amoke-bloom with ita aick-

ening

odor drifting against her cheek. O, only this once she begged of her conscience, and stepped oat from her hiding place. He tprned suddenly,

seated

am to meet some

friends.' And ho smiled bitterly over tho word. 'There is honor among thieves, you know,' ho added recklessly, with a scornful laugh which rang in Elinor's ears when ho had stepped back out of sight, as Mrs. Esterly came up. Ho lagged behind as they emerged from tho woods, an angry fire in his heart, an angry flush oti his cheek. What did this girl mean by her changing moods—her gentleness that was liko a temptation, keeping him evor at her sido, and her sudden hauteur, chill as death? What if ho had deceived himself from the first? Ah! what was he—ho remembered with sudden remorse—that he should dare think of Elinor Dane The road turned, hiding him from sight for the moment be leaped tho bars into the turnpike, and went on down towards the village alone.

aston-

iahed, confused by the vision. 'They said you were in tho garden, but I could not find you there,' he began, stammering ana blushing, and appearing for all the world like an awkward boy, instead of the handsome young man he waa. 'You are going—' •To-morrow,' she said, when ahe paused inquiringly. And yo« go to B-— next week,' she added. He had

himself upon the wall betweon

them. He raised his head to stare at her with a puzzled, uncertain face. What did she mean? In truth she hardly know herself. A spasm of co©trltlon, the softening of near separation, some faint idea of reparation, remembering her manner the otherday, pushed her on. 'Then shall see you,'she said. 'Will you? may I call upon you there?' His face gleamod and glowed to his hair. 'No

one

need kuow,' he add

ed, oagerl.v. Elinor drew back, struck with a sudden chill. He laughed bitterly. It was only a compliment, then? I was such a fool as to believe you for a moment. I'm a graceless dog, thats tno truth of it.' His eyes filled with angry tears. 'You're all alike it's one thing to know mo here, and quite au-

^Stop, you do not understand. You will come to see me there. It was only —and her gravo eyes grow sad— that never did anything before in my life which all tho world might not know.

Don't, then, for me.' Every spark of manliness and generosity was quickened vrithin him. 'Sooner or later I shall go to the dogs, I suppose. What does it matter?' He rose and moved

^Elinor called him back. 'Don't speak so and you will come I wish it. Only it must not bo a secret it would weigh upon mo like sin. I can receive whom I choose and—good-bye.

Sho gave hiin her hand across the wall. He held it a moment. 'My acquaintance will bring you no honor, Elinor,' ho said gloomily.

But, O! it might,' she answered. All that she bad desired, yet had not dared to say, was in that brief sentence.

He'only shrugged his shoulders as ho released herhand,and turningabruptly, swung off down through the fields, until a leap over tho wall brought him to the road and hid him from her sight.

III.

They were upon the fashionable promenade at B*—, Elinor and her friend, Miss Dilworthy? whom she was visiting, when Elinor summoned

cour*

age to announce Deck's visit. She had heard from him through Mrs. Esterly, and he was coming this day. It had been upon her mind all the morning indeed he had never been far from her thoughts since she left him, but something had held back the words so that she had never spoken his name. She would not own to herself that it would bo a different matter to acknowledge his acquaintance here from what it had been to know him at Mrs. Esterly's cottage, but it was so nevertheless, she knew. There had been an eneryation in the summer air, against which no prejudice could stand, Sho had met him under circumstances and with a familiarity impossible in town, -^ney had dwelt in Arcadia for a time. But from this abode of peace and quiet she found herself all at once plunjred into a world where each one judged his neighbor, and from which many wore shutout, of whom, alas! Deck Lisle was one.

Maude,'sho said at last, abruptly, as they neared home, and hor announcement was still unmade. 'Diedrich Lisle is coming to call upon me to-night.'

Miss Dil worthy stared as though Eli nor had suddenly lost her senses 'What do you mean?' and thon,going on down tho street, nodding occasionally to an acquaintance, Elinor told the story of the summer,—the outward story, at least. There is an inner experience running beneath the other which can never be told, which is hardly recognized until some particularly strong emotion breaks through upon tho surface into words or deeds.

I could not but meet him there often and familiarly,' she said at its close 'and so'—as though she were stating a mathematical truth from which there was no appeal—4I shall not deny him ols6wbcr6«'

But everything is not an axiom which seems so to our one-side judgment®. 'Soyou intend to defv society?' Miss Dilworthy said gravely, '"iou are too young and too pretty for that, dear,' suo added affectionately.

I don't intend anything,' Elinor an swered. 'Only I can't be a friend at one time and not at anotuer, and as I met him thore I certainly shall not put myself out of the way of meeting him

e*'But

tho next day.

what does Mr. Diedrich Lisle

think of all this? w'mt motive would almost any man aasign for such conduct?' Misa Dilworthy went on.

You are unkind. Maude—and you are mistaken,1 Kllnor said quickly, turning her face away to hide the fierce color which had sprung to It.

Perhaps I am, dear, but why need you have boon so intluiato with him there? To my mind Mrs. Esterly la to blame in this affair. I am surprised at her—and, to tell the truth, at you, Elinor.'

They reached the door aa she spoke. •There's a gentleman to see yoa, Miss,' said the servant who opened It, addressing Elinor. 'He did not give any name, he aaid as you were expecting him.'

So be had come! Elinor caught Mias Dllwortbv'a dress asthe servant tarned away. 'Are you angry with me?' she began hurriedly, 'because I asked him to come here—to yoar house?'

I am not angry at all, only astonished at the whole affair.' Bat Miss Dilworthy's voloe fell cold and hard as she drew her dress away and swept towards the stairs. Then she relented.

wrong!' Elinoranawerea. might ashamed if I deserted my frlenda,'ahe added warmly. Then she wavered. •But I am sorry he came here—on your account.' 'Oniy on my account Confess that TOO wish yourself well out of it at all.

Elinor ahook her head. 'He has hardly a friend in the world—in oar world, at least,' ahe said. •There Is something radically wrong In him, then, you may be acre,' was Maude Dilworthy's final judgment, sa ahe tarned away. But a new horror seised her. 'Elinor 1' she exclaimed In an alarmed whisper, as thla idea took posaeaaion of her mind. 'Yoa hare not given any promise to tuis man •O. no, no!' Elinor answered. Sue did not tell her how tight she had held

the reins, how she hsd wished she might trust him. But Maude read something in her fscfr—some of the unspoken words which fairly shout alond at times even though our Hps sre closed. *'And you will not now? she bad thrown her arina around her as she asked the question. She tightened ber clasp now. 'I will

not

lot you go

to him unless you promise,' she said. No, O, no!' Elinor anawered again then she broke away and opened the drawing-room door. Some one moved oat from the shsdow of the heavy draperies before one of the windowa as she stepped into the soft dusk of the great dimly-lighted room. It waa Deck, pale, nervous in manner, who started at some far-off aound, then shrank away as she offered her hand.

feel like a

thief, Elinor,' he said, glancing fearfully over his shoulder aa the slide and rustle of a gown outside the door caught his ear. 'Let me look at you and go again. I ought never to have come.' His eyes, strangely wistful and tender, were fixed upon her face aa she stood before him. The light words she had essayed to speak as she entered the room fled from her lips—a sudden pain stabbed her heart. She had not realized that sho hoped until sho felt this, that was liko despair. It was only adieu after all. Sho should nevor seo him again. Then all at onco the stir outside broke into tho sound of voices, the door was opened, thero was the soft rustle of sweeping gowns as her hostess followed by a party of friends, entered tho room.' They* passed on with a glance, only Mrs. Dilworthy lingered. Elinor, surprised, startled, with a still wet ou bor cheek, turned to her, uttering her name. What did it matter? as sho presented Deck in a voico that was sttangein her own ears. What did auything matter any more, since ho was going away—she should never see him again? 4

Summer acquaintances, he

was saying: 'and so I

vent

ured to call.'

Summer acquaintances! her own words but how cold thoy sounded to her now.

Very glad, I am sure,' Mrs. Dilworthy murmured, pleasantly. 'Sho will urge jrou to dine with us, I hope.- Wo have a few friends to-night.' Thon sue passed on to join the others.

Deck was already moving towards tho door. ., 'Dine with yon!' ho said bitterly.

O at a I a to W was that man, tho last,—ho bowed to you 'Ono of Miss Dilworthy's friends, Jack Jocelyn,' she auswered.

He knew me, Elinor I saw it in his face. If I have made trouble for you I shall never forgive myself.'

Don't don't say that.' It touched hor with pain and something liko remorse that his fears wero all for her. Sho had not always remembered him. 'Elinor! Elinor!' He caught her hands in his as they stood in the open door, tho soft twilight stealing in upon them, with tho drowsy hum of the city dvinc away upon their ears with the rasp of tho katydids from the elms along the quiet, shadowy street with the faint, stirill tones of a child voice, following the twang of a harp over the way: then ho was gone—and ono spot upon her cheek burned like fire as she shrank back into tho doorway. 'Where is your friend?' Mrs. Dilworthy leaned across the table to ask at dinner. 'Could you not persuade him to stay?'

Elinor, feeling as though called upon to defend him before all the world, made some low reply, sho hardly knew what for as she raised her eyes sho had met Jack Jocelya's puzzled stare confusing and confounding her. What did ho kuow of Deck Something she was sure.

Lisle?-Lisle?'—Mrs. Dilworthy was repeating thoughtfully, filled with the desire so strong in some people to classify and arrange individuals, as botanists do plants. 'Not ono of the Stanwood Lisles?'

Maude came

Elinor's rescue 'You

forget, mamma,' she said, 'we know

Yes but'—poor Mrs. Dilworthy who was always slow to gather her thoughts struggled ineffectually with an idea for a moment, and then gave herself up to the

care

of her guests, forgetting Elinor

and her visitor. Some ono else, however, took up the name. 'The Stanwood Lisles said a voice at Elinor's elbow.

4Let

ask

me see,

there was a son, was there not, who died or something

Disgraceful col lego scrape, corrected another. ,, would they never stop she thought, her head bent over her plate flame lit in ber face.

Did I soe yon last nightat the Opera. Mrs. Chauncy?' It was klnd-hoartod Jack Jocolyn who addressed tho speaker who know nothing whatever of music but proceeded to comment upon the rendering of Fra Diavolo in so surprising a manner as to draw the attention of the

whole

company to himself,

and turn tho stream of conversation. Ho joined good-naturedly in the tinkle of laughter that ran down the table. 'At least I have saved that pretty girl,' bo thought, stealing a glance across the tablo to Elinor, who had quite recovered herself. 'But good Heavens as ho marked the proudly set face and aristocratic profile, 'where did sho meet Deck Lisle ?V

IV.

The summer and the autumn wero over, and Elinor had returned to town. Mrs. Esterly had given up her cottage in the country. They met often, but no word was ever spoken of Dock. Mrs. Esterly felt that there had been one act at least to the play of which she know nothing. Since no confidence had been offered her, she was silent. E»nor longed to

failed her always at the moment, tor a time after meeting him at —-J*ibi» waited and listened she I)0!?™: Then she strove to forget all. «he had played with edge-tools, that was all there would always remain a scar. But she had judged him rightly.^ He had fonrotten ber and his half-formed resolutions. She waa going to a party with Mrs. Esterly one night. While she was dressing a card wsa brought up

to ber.

can see no one, now, of course,' she said, taking It carelessly. It read •Diedrich Lisle.' She sauk down, faint, for a moment. «Yes, I will see him,' she said. Eat she oould hardly clasp the bracelets on her arms for the trembling of her hands. Why bad be come now, when she waa beginning to forget bim Had he como to claim her, having redeemed his past or was it to be only theold temptation and torment over again She ran down hastily, impatient to meet what was to be met, and so have it over. ..

He waited for he', She could iwe him just within the door. As her ^ss siid over the stairs, he turned *ntl "larted to meet her. sLe stoodla plexed with doubt* of her^lf-^f him. half faint with the rush of

in*tote

to speak lightly she tried to smile In the old way. 'I am going out, you see,' she said, making a little shimmer and shine through all theplaoe, as she came down the room.

Then I will not keep youaad he moved towards the door. How haggard and worn and changed he was!

Don't go!' she said, quickly Tm waiting for Mrs. Esterly.' Her eyes sought tho clock upon the mantel.

She will not come for twenty minutes yet.' Then I may have fifteen

4O!

yes or more.' There was a

quaver ia her voice, a flutter of her fin-

5rewaslow

era she shook out her dress and a chair near the divan where he sat uneasy, constrained, fearful, as though he bad no right to stay. Something brought back the day upon the rocks. The refrain of the song that had no words rang through her head aa she bent forward, her hands clasped upon her lap, waiting for him to speak, why had he come?

•it

He scanned her shining dress, her shining hair, the pearls about her throat, tho flowers in her baud. She grew conscious, embarrassed under his eyes. She tried to laugh lightly, but the laugh caught in her throat and sounded like a sob. He did not know, he never would, how near she had been to trusting him, how near she was even now. He touched her dress. 'Tho rocks wo»ld have torn it.' So he, too, remembered! and again tho chant rang through her head, boat in her heart. 'Only ten minutes more! Don't move don't turn away ten minutes! such a little time out of a life, Elinor. You will not deny me that? 1 wanted to know that you were happy. I will not haunt you. Don't Iook at ino as though I we're a ghost. I did not mean to frighten you, and 1 will never como again.'

She could not bear it. She loaned forward. 'Toll me tho truth, Deck,' she said, 'tell me about all these months since I saw you last.'

Thero was a sound of wheels—a carriage stopped before the door. He started up—a shadow crossed his face.

Tell you ho said, Td die first,' Some one ran up tho steps, a servant passed tho drawing-room door. 'Anu you might do anything, be anything, make everything noble of yourself, O Deck!'

Why should I What does it matter?' ho answered, gloomily. He shook her baud from his arm. 'liark sbo is coming let mo go.'

Then Elinor dared speak. 'You might, for my sake,'she said, as ho vanished lino the darkness, and Mrs. Esterly swept in. Did he hear? Did ho care? Who could tell? [To bo concluded next wook.]

SCHOOL-MA'AMS ABROAD. An oxchango says: Tho schoolmaster is abroad and so is the schoolmistress. An ''educators" excursion has just departed our shores, consisting of over 150 teachers. They are under tho management" of a man namod Cook, who is to put the party through portions of Europe for stipulated price, and return them in August. Tho party sailed on the steamship Victoria, for Glasgow, Saturday last, and represent almost overy State in the Union. Tho getitlor sex strongly preponderate in the party. We see it stated that tho expected advent of tho party has attracted attention across the "briny," and that at Edlnburg there will bo a public reception, at Derby a "railway welcome," and tho Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury will in person receive tho American teachers at their seat, Alton Towers. At London thero will be a ball, also a conversazione by the British and Foreign Sunday School Union, and efforts are making to havo an audience with the Quosn. It is the most remarkable excursion that ever has astonished tho old world, and a good opportunity will bo offered to tho aristocracy for inspecting the mental trainers of American sovereigns. Of tlie party's appoarance the New York Advertiser Bays:

There was something indescribably woll considered and well perfected even about their traveling gear, which one 1h not apt to find among travelers whose lives have not been Bchoolod to the multiplication table. A severe plainness was stamped upon the apparel of the ladles, and the regulation campstool, rug, water-proof, and field glass, told that hints to European tourists had not been made in vain. Thero waa only one oxceptlon, and that was a young lady, whose genteel flippery of soft-textured polonaiso and Mario Antoinette ruff and black-velveted and white Margaerlted ehapeau provoked contemptuous glances from better schooled companions.

As tho steamer swung down tho bay, the educational party flung their handkerchiefs in laat salutation to tho breeze, and a person on tho dock exclaimed, "There go brains, and good luck go with them!" And a sour-vis-aged Individual who couldn't go, responded, "Well, it's fortunate for them that we do not agreo with the ancients in location of the intelloct."

A itorri bt.k report comes from India. A gentleman living in the interior, being something of a naturalist, had a great passion for banting snakes. His wife, bowover, had a great aversion (o them, and could not bear to look at a dead one. He thought this all nonsense on bis wife's part, and resolved to cure ber of her (car by makiDg her familiar with snakes. One day, while bunting, he killed an exceedingly large

boa-constrictor,

of him but her heart

vjjffrjs

which he brought

home snd stretched out on the verandah in front of tbo houso. After dinner he told his wife he had something on the verandah he wished her to look at. They went to tbo door together, and as she stepped out, he closed and locked the door. She screamed frightfully, but La thought her

fear

would

be soon over, and so he remained in the hall making sportive remarks for his wife to ber. As her screams continued, he opened the door only to see bis wl/e in tbo agony of death, crushed in the folds of a monstrous boa. It appears when ono of th^ serpents killed that its mate will always follow the body if it is taken away, and will iven^e itself on tbo first object It meets. In ibis case toe boa had followedits dead companion, and bad lain in wait for some one to appear, on whom itcoald fasten its coils. Tho gentleman went mad on tbe spot, and had to be conveyed to an insane asylum.

occasionally a few doses of Smolandei's Extract of Buchn is ad mintstered, the nervous system receives strength and vitaHty, and fresh

v,£o'

is imparted to all the functions of the body. This treatment may lied upon for the extermination of kld~-» ney, bladder and glandular disea»«B, diabetes, gravel, and the urino-genit*'. organs j,'^ aa well as mental snd pi tv caused bv tbo errors of youth, nolfe'f Is at hand in the most aggravated cases.