Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 6, Number 40, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 1 April 1876 — Page 6

THE MAIL

PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

TIRED U0THMB8. BY JOtS. ALBKItT RKJlfll.

A. little elbow leans upon your knee. Your tired knee, that ha# so much to near A child* deal* eyea are looking lovingly

Prora uuderneath a thatch of tiwigleu hair. r**rhap» you do not heed tin* velvet touch

Of warm, soft Anger*, folding yours *o tight rott do not prhse this hleetdng overmuch

TooklihbSt are too tlmt to pray to-night Dot It blcsi-cdnes*. A year ago I did not %ee It as I do to-day,— Wftareso doll and thnnkkw and too MOW

To catch ibe sunshine till It slip* away. And now it wras .surpassing Strang*- to me,

That, wlille 1 wore the biilgu of mother hood, I did not kNs more oft, and tenderly,

The lUUe child thnt brought ma only good. Aad If, Mm« night when you *lt down to

You rats* till* elbow from yonr tlml knee Thl* resile**, curling head from off your

ThU lisping tongue that ohatt«.r» constant If from *y«ur °«"n

thf1

441

-fft!i

don't see«nytf ling so very ridiculous in tho idea,"'remarked tho young man, rather piqued at the amusement of Ids relatives. "At all monthere's ©no incalculable advantage that will result irrnn my departure."

And what Is that, Mr. Oracle?*' Til* fact that you've played your last frostk on me, yon tormenting little minx!"

Don't bo *o certain of that, Cousin Jack!" sait! Minnie, shaking tier long curls.

44Wkat

H,npl«l

«li)j|Xtl,

hands hail

Autl U«?'er would instlu In jour imlm tiftttin! If the white feel luto their Krave had trljv [mmI, 1 c.»ull n««t blanio you for your heart-ache thi-n! I womlcr so that mothers ever fret,

At Uitle children clinging to the gown: Or thnt the footprints, when the days are wet,

Are ever black enough to make them frown. !r" I could nnd a llttl«' muddy boot,

Or cap, or Jacket, on my chamber tloor I could kiss a rosy, restless foot. And hear its patter in my home once more 1 I could mend a broken cartto-day,

To-morrow inaku a te, to reach the

.sky

There is no woman lu Hod's world could nay Jjhe was more blissfully content than I. lidtah! tho dainty pillow next my own

Is uever rnmplcd by a shining head My singing hlnlllng from Its nest is flown The little boy I used to kiss is tl« !ull

The Lost Wager,

Tho trunks wore all packed and corded and the carpetbags were plied up in tho corner of the capacious, old fashioned ball.

How melancholy they looked, those emblems of parting and adieux. Not oven the tnerry laughter of two or three young girls, who were gathered around stalwart, handsome fellow of about twenty-live, could entirely banish an impalpable something of sadness from the scene. Cousin Jack was going away, '.he general mischief i.miter, torment and tease of the whole family, and Mr. Chester, sitting by tho distant window, Nviped his spectacles every live minutes, and doclared, pettishly, that tho type of the evening paper was a terriblo trial to

Id eyes. "Aye, you may laugh, girls,"said Jack,'applying himself vigorously to the refractory lock of a portmanteau. "Perhaps ou may one day discover that it isn't sueli a laughing matter. Think of the loss the family is going to sustain in SHV excellency." "Hut you'll eome back s'Kn,Jack, deat," coaxed Minnie Chester, the prettiest and most roguish of all cousins", nnd the one who kept up a perfect lire of practical jykps and girlish tricks at h!« expense.

There sho sat oil the Mggost trunk of the collection, her brown curls hanging about her round face, and her eyes eparkliug with a curious mixture of inn and tears.

I am not at all certain of that, Mi*s Minnie," said Jack, decisively. "If I aucceed in finding a location to suit me 1 shall probably decide to settle permanently at Thorneville, and turn landed proprietor on niv own account."

Only imagine our Jack a gentleman of nrupertj*," laughed Minnie, appealing to tier ulsters.

will you vonturo I don't

bestow a parting trick on you? Ah! I haven't nettled with you for several little nieces of impertinence but pray don't imagine they are forgotten, sir!"

Sly diamond sleeve buttons to your cor^l necklace that you don't lmp«se on me Within the next thre3 months, Minnie," aaid Jack, gaily. "Done!" said Minnie. "iirls, yon nil hoar the wager, don't you? 1 always coveted Jack's diamonds."

Out von won't have them, mademoiselle!

HOW

dark It In getting in this

cavernous old hall. Shall I ring for lights, Uncle Chester? and bv the way, Jiavo yon written that letter of introduction to Mr. Thorns?" ••All in good time, my nov—all in -t*ond time," said the old gentleman, depositing bia huge silver bound spectacles hi their oaso.

Yon young men are

all in snob a desperate hurry. Tell Iictaey to carry a lamp into the library girls. And Minnie, where la my trold pen 1 I won't bo very low about ft and then we will have a idee ion* evening to goaeip over Jack's, pros

While Mr. Chaster sat In hiaco#v, red curtained library, revlainK lh* letter which he had been writing to his old friend, Jabc* Thorne, of TbornvIKe, to tho effect that his nephew, John l*cy, w« In search of nil eligible pleoe of land, and wished t? settle down In that

«iuiie, Minnie mened the door.

Vnd old Mr. Chester pushod back his „halr and roae from the antique uble *uend the claims ol hla argent olive Clieater was brushing out the heavy braid* of her loxuriant hair before thedreasing mirror of her own Knertment, two hour* later, when Min* Ho ran In, with a countenance mmteallv dl tided between dismay and de-

od?" exclaimed the ping her hair brnah and letting sil the raven traam rtp^iedown nnheeded ovw

TERRE

Sit down, you wild little elf," said Olive gently forcing her sister into her chair, "and explain this mysterious rid-

Well, you know papa left me to look over his letter to Mr. Thorne—and he was detained longer than he expected— almost an honr In fact, and I could a help amusing myself by writing a parody on tho letter."

A parody?"

Yes—you'remember somebody was telling us what a beautiful daughter Mr. Thorne had—so I wrote that Jaek was in search of a wife, and hud heard of Miss Thorno, and wanted t* Mettle in life, and all that sort of thing. In short, whatever papa had written land, or estate, I wrote wife Wasn't it fun ejaculated the little maiden, her eyes dancing with dlablerio.

thought of sending the letter I only wanted to road it to Jack when I went down stairs. Well, I signed it, with a great flourish of trumpets, and just then who should come in but papa and tho stranger. Of coarse I fled—and when I came back the letter was sealed and safe in Jack's pockctbook, and Olive, it was the wrong letter."

It was rather a dim light—aud papa eyes are not as keen as they were wont to be, and my impertinen mis-ivo was cone, while the real bona fide letter lay there, among a heap of discarded papers. And I hadn't the courage to confess my misdemeam rs, papa is so opposed to my innocent little jokes—and Jack is oil'with that indescribable letter! I shall certainly win the sleeve buttons, Olive, but what a tornado thero will be when my mischief leaks

°lAnd Minnie looked so bewitchingly lovely in her alternate paroxysms of terror and laughter, that Olive, grave old sij-ter that she was, had not the heart to lecture her as soundly as she deserved.

The crimson sunse of the very next evening shono radiently into the special sanctum of the

worthy

I had thought of settling in tbte vicinity, Mr. Thorne," said Jack, a#ter the ceremonies of greeting had l»cm exchanged, "and understood from an uncle that von had a desirable pieee of property you might be disposed to part with."

Piece of property!" thought the old gentleman, beginning to tiro up ogaio but ho controlled his emotion and »«.ly answered

44Keall.v,

Certainly not, Mr. Thorne. 1 have no wish to hurry you," said Jack, poiitelv "but I am rathor anxious to see for myself, ant»if vou will favor me with a brief description of the promine»» features of—"

But Sir. Thorne was fidgeting »BMWIlv on his chair. ""What do you moan, sir?"1 he exclaimed, wrathfully.

Jaek was rathor perplaxed at this Cavalier reception, but he answered as enurt»Hnslv as possible:

Why. sir, of course it is n«4.best to lfO too precipitate on a matter of such lmi"",rten«-e.M ir this is a fill specimen of the rising generation," thought the indignant Jabe*, "they are about as impoilent a set of jack a wipes *s I want to. see. But I owe something to my Ion* friendship with old Zebodee Chester—I won't turn the puppy out of doors quite yet*." 1 suppose it is healthy aaked Lacy*,, blandly.

What is healthy?"

Your property. Sometimes in thoso low "grounds diaeasea ase apt toprevai, and—" "Does he expect nay Mary haathe fever and agnef" thowght old Theme,, leaping briskly oat of his ehair as if an insect had stung him. "I'll sent! my

vicinity, and daughter to you, ytmmg man—thai wilt an* X*_-ojperation in the selection of the business at once."

Pipa, there some one down atairs uho wMiea to aee you, Immediately, for one itilHotc."

Very annoying!" said the old gen* tleman. "just as I was flnlaMng this lettor of Jack's. However, I oan seal It afterward. Minnie, snpppee you gUm* over It and dot the i's aad eroas the t'a: I'm not so mueh of a peanrwn as I tne!

And before l*ey oouMI e*p««s hla surprise, his choierlc host bad banged the ileor liebind him and disappeared.

Mary Thorneti attoniahmebt waaeven greater than the father's had teen. 8h© was attired ka white muslin, with a bouquet of crimson rosebuda la her bosom, and a sprav of the aame exquisite flowet« in her "hair, for aome mral party or picnic, and at first absolutely refused to enter the parlot. "What an Idea!" she exclaimed, blushing to the very tips of thoae tiny, shell like oars. "To be pnt on exhibition like one of yoar priae eattle 1 No, indeed! Let the young man go bark re a a 1 A aion he must have of the lad lea in this quarter of the globe t"

Minnie, what has htniea-

a a

tona, OH re! but oh! I don't moan to. What would papa say If he only knew *~and oooain Jaek, too?"

Bat, my fere, Zebedee Chester Is one of my oldest friends, and the young man is really a very fine looking follow, and rich into the bargain. Oo in and talk to him a little while there's a good jdrll I oan't stand it a minute longer."

And old Jabe* wiped hla forehead, on which the perspiration was standing In big beads. Ana Mary burst Into an on* controllable fit of laughter.

HAUTE

But you know I never once

old Jabez Thorne,

of Thorneville, Justice or the Peace and Chairman ot all the agricultural meetings for ton miles around. It was no scholarly looking library, like that of his ancient comrade Chester, but a square, light room, with four uncurtained windows, and ornamented with numerous black frame engravings of prize cattle and giant lutuips. Ho was seated in a leather cushioned arm chair, looking over the tiles of an r.griculturai journals, to lind some coveted information on tho subject of "phosphates" and "superphosphates," when a servan4 brought him a card and a letter.

Tne gentleman is in the parlor, sir.'' Jabez Thorne laid a«ido his newspapt r. glanced at tho card, which boro the sii.tplo inscription, "John Lacy"—then at the letter, which purpoted to be the introductory to thai individual. ]low ha from my old college chum, Chester, as I live." llemarkable change in his handwriting, but irno alters us all. Haven't heard from him in twenlv years, and—hallo! what is this? A pretty cool request, upon my wordnephew" wants a wife, and has heard that I possess a daughter—has lots of money—wants me to aid him with my well known experience in such matters. What does tho rascil mean ejaculated Jabe/., the fringe of gray hair that surrounded his bald head standing al»soIntel erect with indignation. "I'll send JelV'rs to kick tho impudent young scamp out of the house."

Hut with a moment's reflection came calmness. Well, after all, I don't see what there is in the matter to make me so foolishly angrv. (Juess, I'll see what Mary says. An excellent family, theso Cheaters— and this letter is just like Zebedee Chostcr—he alwav* was singular in bis notions. Rather unlike th? ordinary method of coming to an undeistandrng on such matters, but there's nothing like a dash of originality in this world, and if the boy is rich, and Mary don't object—.

this subject." And Jabez Thorne thrust the letter into his pocket and strode determinedly into the parlor, wliero young Lacy was quietly waiting his appcaranee. The old gentleman's face was scarlet with embarrassment he was half dhposet* to be angry with bis guest's cool self possession."

sir, this is a very

strange request. One can hardly l»e expected to answer definitely upon so. very short notice."

SATURDAY

The whole aflteir is so ridiculous," she exclaimed. But she adjusted the moss roses, nevertheless, and tripped demurely into tho parlor.

Now if Mure was a determined point in Jack Lacy's character it was his aversion to women In general, and if there was any one Utilise en which he prided himself it was his deciditd old bachelorism. Imagine bis vexstion and dismay therefore, when, after a formal Introduction, old Mr. Thorne withdrew, leaving him tete a tete with the pretty creature in whito muslin and roses. It was embarrassing enough, particularly as Mary blushed every time no looked at her, and evinced an exceedingly great disposition to lauuh.

Well," thought Jack, "the manners and customs ot this locality are rather odd, to say the least of it. I came to consult aii old mau about purchasing land of him, and be. bounces out of the room and sonds his daughter. What on earth am I to say to her, I'd like to knew

And Mary, glancing shyly iu the direction of her companion", came to the conclusion that he had "beautiful Span ish eyes," and a mustache decidedly superitft* in style to the hirsute adornments of the 3oung gentlemen of Thorneville.

Mr. IJHC.V looked up at the ceiling and down ot the carpet, -uid wondered what the con«r quenees would be wore he to escape incontinently through tho open French window. Thnt would not be a very dignified proceeding, however, so he resigned himself to destiny by making .some original remark on the weath er. It had tho much desired effect of breaking the lee, however, and he was agreeably surprised with the arch vivacity of Miss Thorne. Only once did she seem confused it was when she had been describing a tine grove of cedars that belonged to her father's land, regretting rt the same time that he con tomplated the sale of it.

I believe I shou vl like to become the purchaser," saiil Jaek "Yonr father has told you thai 1 had some idea of settling here

Maty £iew scarlct and murmured some sentence or other. The con versa tiori was effectually checked and Jack, perplexed at the effect, for which he fould perceive no visible eat»»er rose to take leave.

Will you mention to your father, Miss Thorne, that I shall call to see him ahout this matter, to-morrow," hie asked.

All the moss

TOPH

44What

in Mr. Thome's

rose garden could not have rivaled the hot glow on Mary's cheeks as she fled out of the room without a word of reply.

Very singular family this," mothered Jack", siowly d*r»wing on his glove ami walking down- the broad garden path. "But she is»«• uncommonly pretty girl—and I shall certainly take an early walk through *hat grove of cedars to-morrow morning, before breakfast."

He dreamed of bhwe.ved Mary Thorne that night, nnd rose- decidedly pl'eaaed that be should have reasonable excuse for calling at her laE&er's house so sown.. "Tcertainly can't'he in love!" quoth he, mentally. "Itur How Minnie would tease me if she thought 1 was in danger of suing for not only :tf»rm but a wife.."

Old Jabov. Thorne wsr busily engaged nipping the dead le-.rves-oft" bis pet Imvrustinus with a tciwntic pair ot garden scissor*, that morning, when young Lacy sprang over the Sedge and saiuturd him with a buoyant'"good morning."

Well, 'air"' he went: on, gaily, "f have seen the property end am perfectly delighted. A tine, Iwalthy investment —no disease about is I'm convinced:."'

Hem wdd Mr.'TIiorne, dubiously. AndT would like t*» take a second more thorough, inspetfion in your society*, sir, if you plea«»e." "Really. Mr. Lacy, "said tbe old'man sharply, "my dauuht^riias uotyet come down stairs, and—

all events, I'll see him 011

What th* niisehk-f hus- his daughter to do with the matte*thought iiaey,. but I10 said polltplv

Of course Twill await' a»y time that may be convenient yon, sir. observed good deal of native roughness, but I cannot doubt {That' tbere is a vsry great susceptibility

U»«jmpnvementk

little judicious cultivation will aoeoanpliHh wondersi"

Ii6t me tell you. young man," began Mr. Thome, in a twwering rage, but Lncy saw that he bad uoconsoiotisly eonimHtetl'seu»earcS»«blunder, and Hastened to say:

In short, sir, I rmdMermined to secure this rural gennat-any price. What? »the sum you demand

Mr. Thome fairtln sat down on the gravel walk, overp»wored with the avalanche of wrath whidh he found impossible t» shape into words.

Upon—my-word—sir!" lie began "you talk as if this was a mere matter of business."

Jaek was puzzled-enough. "It the way which I haw always heretpfore beer* accusioniesib to treat such slRUrs, sir."

Heretofore- you hare bee» accustomed and pray, sir, how many such affairs have vou had on your hand*?" shrieked Old IWne, growing purple in the fhce.

Ob, sovoraJ, sir. I am no* so inexponencedas you soppoee," reptted Jack smiling.

Are youBot ashamed to cenfess.it T"

MNo,

whvshould I he?"

"Get out of my garden, you yotsag reprobate!"Meceamed*.Ihhea^ leapkig «f with lightaing rapidity.

Your datighte«v. Mu». Thorne!"

Yes, my dangjhter, you .laefc-.*-dandy

But I'm no* hargaMng f«»r yo«r daOghtor.. t*ta bargainicsg for that land Bonoss tt»e rive*.'*

Doat tell me ejaculate** Mr. Thorne, tugging away at the fastening* of hiapeoket hook, year uncle baa informed me of your atrocious intention."

WUI you allow aae to see tbe letter,

Thorne jerked it of tbe compartment where it lay. and tossed it angrily toward Laey. lie opened it, and in •pile of hie annoyance nnd mortification hurst into laughter at the aight of Minnie's dainty haodwriting. "It'a nothing to laugh at, air," exctoiiaed Thoroe.

Mv dear Mr. Thorne, we are all the victims of a ridiculoua mistake," aatd Laey. "My uncle never wrote this let» ten it is the work of my mischievous oousin Minnie. Tbe genuine document mast have been left behind."

And vou didn't eome to took for a wifeT"

441came

to purchase real estate."

Wbew-w-w!" old Jaber. Tlwrne whistled loud aud long, then offered his band to hie guest with a hearty laugh.

Well, my boy, I'm heartily sorry I called you eo man opprobrious names, but Mary and I supptwed you were after her. I must go and tell the little minx what a blander we've made." "Stay a moment, air," aaid Jack, laying bis band on the old gentleman's arm, as hla quick detected the distant flutter of Mist Thome's light dress among the trees "will you allow me to make the neeeasarv explanations my* self? I am nut at all c*rtala that, after

4ti?enky,old

44T(»

coaue-

bere and olhr to boy my daughter a« if she were a. patc^of potatoes! I my!"

EVENING- MAjJU-rr

I have aeleoted a home, I aball not eoley into business like negotiations for a charming wife to preside over it."

Aa you please, my lad," aaid tbe old gentleman cboekilng. "I'll give ray consent, if only feo atone for my villainous treatment of yon, a little while

resumed his gardening operations, occasionally pausfng to faugh all to himself, while cousin Jack sprang up tho path to seek Mary.

They were absent a long time, before he discerned through tbe dense foliage of the acacia bodges their ad vetoing forms. Mr. Lacy looking exceedingly proud and self-satisfied and Mary leaning on hia arm, with her pretty cheeks flushed and her lips wreathed in timid rhVIIAH

doea she say?" roared tho

pater-familias. She says she'll consider if answered Jack, demurely.

A week or two afterwards Minnie Chester received a neat little package containing the diamond sleeve buttons and tbe following billet:

Dear Minnie—I've lost my* wager, but I cheerfully deliver over tbe forfeited stakes, for I have won something of intinitelv mere value—a wife.

Cot six J.v*."

From which we may conclude that the result of Mary's "consideration" was favorable.

fKrom Serlhner for Api W.j

Perky's Cross.

1 I5Y 1JKNRY KINw.

They did not institute judicial proceedings in scrutiny of the character and anteceaei ts of every man who came to Kansas in those equivocal days. Asa general rule, they cared only to know how tho new comer stood on the slavery question. Nevertheless, it fretted them to feel that they bad a man among them wboso oddity of conduct piqued curiosity, while forbidding even reasonable conjecture concerning that other existence of his "back in the states." And Perky gave the people of Seward Center just that feeling. Perky was a perplexity. He was also a printer and his employer, the oditor of The Clarion of Freedom, had carefully disclosed the secret that be was the awShor of certain Procrustean rhymes in tko last number of that excellent family journal, bearing the caption Sadly We lioam, and having a eut of a hearse at the top of them. These verses had pleased the mi»«*t«F very much, and he thought he detected in ti»eir somber i»onotone "the yearwwig of a jaded soul for tbe rest and joy of tbe New Jerusalem..'^—which was a pretty fihdng to say, lW*y remarked, when the editor told him of it. Public opio-ieai was somewhat caliwer, but not harmonized or satisfied by the minister's pathognoiuy. There could! be no doubt, they were all agreed, that) Perky was not es&y in toiamind, but the cause was still a:*"deep a tnyitery as-ever. Various were She surmises and suggestionssome kindly, and some otherwise— touching the scatter, as poverty, grief, diseasey disgrace but perhaps the average sentiment of tho commuAity was best expressed, after all, by Ann* Nawmi SeyboldywheR, in answer St sosae new hint ojpon the subject, sh» said with a solemn oannestaess that wa^intended to be coaclusive and convincing: "He's jest a-tot in' a cross, artoDm* wi a cross."

Of caume tihsse things came to-Yls-Hky's oars new and &ben but to", they disturb ed hiia in th» 'jeast, there-woa 110 betrayal of iain bin Woks, his speech,, or his aetionw.. Indeed, ho might have passed for a thoroughly contcated, if not a really happ}', nian as he sat uyon tbe little benoh. *nder tho oottonrwowi in front »f The Clarion ellice that rare JUno inorniaefe, watching tlie white and blue tflouds fold and nnfold,. and fold again,, like the flags oi some splwirtid paraSe.. ISehcmd him rose the hill of rooks and eedars, audi dense iaivoiveinen*«t' vines and shadows, whieh hid the dwarv waste of raw prairie-tilmt lay beyond' :in. f«nt of liim, those two foremosk symbols of advancing owiliation, the litiie s-'gjis of the "American liible Societiv," ami "Wells, Fargo Cb's Express*" flashed back the sun's brightness from the dull gray of the store door at the upper end of tho avenue, as thoyoalledi the petmrous exaggeration of wagpn-B©ad which led tluowgbthe village and on to the-river out there in the low belt of elm» and syoamoree, a mfle &way. And the skv above it all was-very beautiful, ho tnonghft, as he tnwned reluctantly from it at last, and ghmoedi curiously about hiut, like one laTdoubt as to the identity, ef His snrreundiK^s. Then ho said himself:

fellow^, we won't finger any

l»ng- primer to-da? we'll rset, and have ramble." A troment later he was gpno. l'erky was restiog and rambling 0011sitterabto now.

rJbe

If proof had been immediately required of the facf that Perky had taken another holiday, it would only have been neoeasary to call Aunt Naomi Beybold aa a witness, far she had seen him saunter part her front window,—the window where she always nut the cracked porcelain teapot that held her

rose geranium,—and be had awhile at the Widow Hainline'a gate on irfa way down the road toward the woods. A halt at the widow's gate bad of late become a regular feature of Perky's rambles. He had been known to tarry there on some occasions for fully an

hour

and more thaw once it baa

been observed that he didnot goon over the bluff, as waa his usual eustom, hut turned and came back. To suppose that these circumstances attracted no attention and provoked 110 comweat would be to fancy Seward Center a community of winger! ereaiures with crows and harp*, which it was not. Tbe matter bad gradually assumed an interest in the public mmd second only to that of the pending strife for the county seat between the Cbnter and the rival town Konomo. Hence the religious patienoe with which Annt Naomi Seybold watched Perky's movement from behind her window curtsins hence also, tbe significance that had been attached to bis cssual remarks fa The Clarion ofllee upon the subject of matrimony. The Center really believed that Perky was in love with the widow.

The Widow IlainliKe, it is proper to say, was not a widow at all. She was a divorced wire, who had resumed her maiden name, but still retained tbe title of

MMrs."

on accouat of her son

Benny, a glad-eyed little lad of eight vears. Iler husband had abandaned her when lteni was fc«t two years old she had obtained a divorce three years lator, and the next summer she had come to Kansas,

hoping

,4€)h,

weekiy publication

of The Clarion was several ttiiuee delayed bv bis negiecti of his ty^e setting and ow?otbe editor laul to humiliate himself and expose hs gaunt subscription list to great peril by sending ocfi a half-sheet, "©•wing," be said, "to circumstances over which wo have no eontrol." This, rnfehap had tha effect of keeping Perky nteadily at work for thaee consecutive days, it a

No. nffjrded him occasion to-

speak to thw editor, in dslieate anrl confidential way. of certain grave facte oanneoted wAh the newspaper business. "For Instance," he remarkod, "a paper should bo prompt in its appearance as the-»unrise, f®* if It lags, ixw^le soon Kse fWth in its stability, aud cease to pay for* in advance: and the halfsheet coaArivanee should never he reported toy"' be contiwaed, "for the sieae of a newspaper is a good deal like plenary inspiration, and won't bear trifling with." This bit of philosophy being kindly received, be dropped hia confidential time and manner, and went on, after the habit of your true prtater the country over, to give the results of hia varied observations In other affairs. Including politics, education* religion, ami, finally, matrimony. "It is every man's duty," be declared with aome warmth, "to get married—and every woman's, too," he quickly added. Then he stopped, blushed a little, and lifting tbe alug that concealed the next word of the manuaoript on the case before him, resumed Ida work. They smiled one to another in a knowing way, tbe editor and the office boy, ami urged him to proceed with his discourse out he only shook bis bead and answered, a trifle sadly: "Not now. not now." The next day, aud the next, he waa unusally reticent, and they noticed that ho frequently threw back as much aa half a line of typos from hia composing stick into the boxes, aa If he had unconsciously set up tbe wrong words. When be did not appear the following morning they knew he must bare teturned to hia resting and his rambling.

44merely

iu time to

get a farm for the boy. This was sub stantially all they knew ahout her, except that during her nearly three years' residence in the Center sbe bad been a iwell behaved, hard working woman. It seemed strange that, witft her bitter experience and her frigid and! methodical wavs, she should bo thinking of marriage mueh stranger than that Fferkv, who was so lonely and so pecuKar, 'should be contemplating such a thing. To be sure, there was m» absolute evidence that her thought* were running in that direction. Hut, is there «vsr any but circumstantial testimony in such "cases? Perky had been- seen goin# to and coming from her house very often

she

when

spoke of him always,

she

spoke of him at all, witlr no

ticeable kindness lier face flushed with evident pleasure whenever anybody prained him a little for his known good qualifies or made excuse for his faufts. And, then, had she not bought a dress with a gaudy pink stripe in it, and dW she not lately wear an unusual bow of bright ribbon at her throat, and some times big red rose in her hair? Surely these signs, meaning so much with other people could not be mere accidents «r idle freaks with her. So tho vordict of the Center soon came to bo unanimous that if the widow thought she did not love Pterky, she was very much mistaken.

The dimter having made up its mind, thero RO more donot and no. more discusSron, And yet, as a matter of fact, Pci»kv had never once been known to go into the widow's bouse, nor had he and tbe wu-kow ever been seen to so much as chat together at tbe gate. When Ffcrky stopped there it was the boy Benny came out to seo him, and tallipd with him by the hour, and often accompanied Lim as lie went on over the bln-flf and d»w» into the river bottonvwherethe large trees were, and the bird and the squirrels, and the queer swund of the running water. For Perky and Benny had come to be close companions and friends. The one was rarely seeii' witbniat the «4her. The boy had caught something of the man's besetting spirit of a 11 rest, and the man had bojrowcd a bit of the boy's gentle cheerineas, so that they blended very happily. They spent much of their time wwidering about in tbe woods, over the hiHs, and out on the the breezy sweep ofl upland overlooking tho river from the other side. Their talk—and they talked a preat dc«!—was of the things ttiey bad seen and heard and though St together—of the flowers, the stars, the peohns, tho miracles, the printing offices, and the farm Benny was going to havo when be got to be a man. Sometimes the boy's swift ques tiens went far beyond Pbrky's power of answering, ami then there would be a little silence and a change of tbe sub joct. Sometimes, too, Benny could not quite1understand why hia friend stammered and lo»ked ashamed when making inqfiiry ef him about his mother. But there ww no distrust between them and no- disagreeament and when, as they were speaking one day of the boy's father, and Perky said suddenly, as if he had but j-ust thought ol it, "How would you like to have me for a father?" Benny replied, without hesitation and feeling,

that would be splendid!"

Theiittkey walked home without saying another word, and when tbev parted at the-gate there were tears in Perky's eyas*. Benny lay awake a long time tlwUi night wondering what it could meant,and fell asleep at last to dream tkat hia fetber eameto him in the vagne vihite robe of an angel, with a face that shone like the sun. And tbe face was the fhco of Perky. 1 Aa tbe summer wore slowly awnv, Pariky* gloominess grew upon him day by jdav, and he could not shake it off. It jaeemed to him, alms that it took vory jltttleexertlou to overcome him with fa•throe. He couW hardly walk to the river ford, and hack as far as the WWow

Hainline's, without asingutar trembling in his limbs ani a diw.v sensation «kont tbe head and ie would often be oWiged to stop and steady himself agais** tbe ratal pa tree by tbe widow's gate before he could go on, he was so tlr»d, and thero was such a blur just abcadof him. Once, when he was standing there, the widow came out ot the house on an errand to a neighbor's, and, as he lifted hla bat to her, be sank down exauatedly at her feet but he pretended that be had merely stooped to disengage a wanton brier from her dress skirt* and when sbe bowed him her thanka he roae and stood again like an athleto. He bad a congb, too, and slept flttallv, and in his thin, palo cheeks were ugly spota of scarlet. When they told hlmbe was aiek and in need of a physkAan, he smiled wearily, ami said "Only a little bilious, that's all." And on the days when be felt so weak that he dared not venture out—dava thai oame quite frequently in that laxy, letbargie September weather—bo waa always

ready

with

aome plausible excuse to conceal tbe real cause of his staying Indoors. He consented finally to allow another printer to take his place in The Clarion office—temporarily, and as his aub onlv, for tho editor would not like it, he Mid, If be aboukl give up bia oaaea

becauso he wanted to loaf a

few davw aad get the malaria out ofbla system*." He visited the offlce from time to tlma to see bow his "sub" got along4 and to take a look at the exchanges. They showed Mm the fir* number of tbe new paner at Konomo, which was to be Tbe Clarion's contestant for the county printing, and b? curled bis Hp *t eight ot ita double adverlament and said the grave yawned for a paper that started out by leading its selected matter. Some days ha would relieve tho "sub" for half aa honr. or read two or three galley's of proof for tho overworked editor but usually he re

mained only a lew minutes and many times he came only to tbe door, looked In as if seeking* for somebody, then turned and went away without speaking.

Ho had abandoned his customary rambles nearly a month before and this fi: fact though no longer new enough to be in itself remarkable, served to give unusnrl Interest to the report that Perky had been seen going leisurely down the road wain toward the woods the morning of Chat Important Saturday when

44tne

(phi chieftain," General Jim Lane, waa to deliver his first speech in Seward Center. /Hunt Naomi Seybold bad called to hit* three times from her open window, but he paid no attention to it except to quicken bis pace a little, and sbe watched him "as stiddy as if she had a bin a settin' for to have her picter took," she said, nntil he passed the widow Hainline's ami disappeared over the hill. Then, she hastened up to the store and the printing office to tell what she had seea, and an hour later the surprising event was the talk of the town. With the afternoon, however, came

44tbe

Tbe setting sun flooded the crisped and stained foiiage with a transient ecstasy of October gold and crimson as Pferky started a little §md »at upright again and said he wished Benny would hurry back, for it was growing dark. The widow walked rapidly around iu^. 'front of him where the rest we're, and kuelt cloee to him, and* took his hand in hers. "Julia, darling," he muttered, with a harsh laugh th»S was half a ronan. and fell back aa if all his strength baa suddenly foiled him. How she stoepod and kissed him—on the lips, on the eyes, on the forehead—and rising to her feet, met the questioning stares ol those about her with a look that would havo been terrible but tor the abounding tenderness there was iu It, as sbe oxclaimed: "I was once his wife, God help him

Then he's my father, isn't he, mamma?"cried Benny, "and we'll take him home."

Oh, child," thoy heard amt Naomi sobbing—"he's done gone hotne." When they tamed to see what she meant, sbe was covering hia cold, still face with her handkerohlef,

grim chieftain" with his speech, and after an early supper they bad a bonQro and another speech, anu in the novelty and agitation of it ail, the incident of the morning was forgotten, and nobodv noticed that Perky did not return, ft must have been (raite four o'clock of' Sunday evening when his absence was first observed. That some harm had be- -v fallen him seemed tfre only reasonable solution of the matter, and there was no timo to lose iu delay or' in speculation. The editor, accompanied by s»ch of the townsfolk as he could readily get togetber promptly started in search of® him. They called to make inquiry of aunt Naomi Seybold, and she went on with them to the widow Hainline's, repeating to Jhcrn as she walked along her story of t?»e day before. Tho widow could give Shem no additional informstion indeed, the whole of it was an astonishment and a shock to her, she said, aad she questioned them very eagerly about it, while Benny listened with an indefinite dread and wished they would go on and look for him before night c*mc. They started directly, down the road* to the river. Benny went with theia, upon his own suggestion, to point out the plnces wherw he had been with l'erfcy and asM he glanced back fcom the familiar old I leaning beech half way down ho hill he sawthat his mother and aunt Naomi were following closely after theai.

Tbey found him "just where Iienny had fancied they would lind him. ft was hardly a stone's throw from the road and "the fordV but such a quiet, soothing, winsome little nook that it might have been a fragment of some other world. He was lying upon the & grasa, with his arms under his head, and his feet hidden from sight by the .. fallen leaves. He could almost have reached the river with his hand, but the murmuring of it there in tho bend .among the bewildering roots and stones 'ww so soft and so uncertain that it [seemed only an echo. A cluster of haw .. bo«hes bending beneath an overplus of Hiding and shriveling woodbine, shut off the vision on the south, as tho river hank did 011 the *vest nnd the north but on tbe east, up the steep bluff, beyandthe massive decaying tree trunk that f-ay in tbe edge of tbe thicket of ha* i»i» like some great broken hearted giant,.wan the little arbor tho rear tho widow Hainline's house, where the honeysuckles grew, and where tho widow orten sat in the cool of tbn late afternflon with her sewing When they mused lihn, Perky turned his eyes in that direction moment, then closed them agakn.and said HS if in reverie, "JD must have been droaining."

They stood waiting arwtmd for fomo minutes in an undecided way, and then the editor gently raised him to a sitting I psifeure, and ho tried tosmlle as lie look.-1 ed from ow to an'»t IKTof them and said "Moon with your picnia «!on't mind' mo." No one spoke when he sunk down again Hp©« tne grass nnd leaves but aunt Naomi Seybold took off her shawl uul made a pillow of it for him, and buttoned his open coat oner his breast, for it was nearly sundown, and there was a ehlil in the air from-off the river, lie appeared to be sloeping, tho widow HDaittiline thought, as she leaned for* ward and gazed intently Hpon him out of the shaoow of the maple just back of where bis head lay and Htuiny know '$ she must bo very, very pale, she trom-, hied so as be felt her put an arm around him and press him to her «*lde.

...i

ISAAK WALTON'S Complete Angler is being reprinted in London. If Ixaak could have been hooked in the jaw onoe and flopped out into aome place where there was no air, it might have set him a to thinking whether his method of tor- 5 turing the ftnnytribfs was really worthy of a book. But laaak never gave himself up to deep thought.—[Ijouisvillo Courier-Journal.

IT IS denied ».hat Mr. Barnum has mado a contract with tbe proprietor of Vesuvius to have it come and erupt for the benefit of tbe Centennial. The cratur thinks them's nae placo liko homo.

Look at tke Offer.

To every new yearly sulwcrlbcr to The Mail, and to each old itubccriber who renews, is given a magnificent ehromo, usually sold at and the paper, costlnic *2, making worth in all, for only O. Tell your friends about It! Oct the best psper published in the HtAto for one year, and an expensive picture—all *1*

Clergymen

Can mm a few dollars, snil introduce a flrat-elasa paper, by canvassing for tbe Hat urday Kwning Mail. Liberal commissions given. The papwr snd Chromo take 011 Might. Hend for circular of Instructions.

„Traveling Men

Bnga«ed in any buslnesa can make their traveling expenses, by putting In nn occasional word for The Saturday Evening Mall, where they UUUT stop.