Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 7, Number 5, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 29 July 1876 — Page 6

H- Hi At

Vi'M

if®

THE MAIL

A PfcPBR

FOR THE PEOPLE.

TUB LONGEST WAY BO OND. If wan thelongest way round, we knew, But never seemed roadfoihortMon For Joe and I were only hal through Promising all things happy and true,

When there waa the old and familiar door. And father was looking out for me— Dear old father, so vrlse and good he kindly pretended not to see _w wonderfully shy and glad wei© we,

Who paused, and silent before him stood. to mo you are late to-night, m!

IMI

your way on the homeward

route/

You did, eh?' Oh, bnt the moon shone bright. Betraying my blushes to father's sight, ^®etraylng eur secret, without a doubt id be rBmcB)!'"" his own young day 9

May be

for he asked no more,

Ajul Joe and 1 parted the usual way— A simple '•goo»l-n,Kht,"and no more to say, And then between us the cottage door. Bnt one glad oigfct, as we neared the gate,

Where fattier stood waiting and watching forme, He gravely Raid "You aro very late Just step Inside here, and watt

Till 1 can learn what the cause may be." Well, never mind what the old clock said

When I ktsned Joe, on tile porch, "good nigh:." E(ut every faar from my heart had fled As on Jod'iOtrorut heart 1 bowed my head,

Knowing that father said 1 might.

A ]Brand from the Burning, r:

rnu

J1Y £30 A It FAWCETT.

llis bead do

hv tl»o way in A

8reat

n't seem at all turned lieh the women run

er him,^ was declared of Mr. Erroll Ofrurloweia about the third year succeoJ'og his graduation at Harvard and It must be aamltted that few young gen*ttomea in what we call polite New York circles .had their tables more heavily la-

Aen wKb dainty notes ot' invitation to dljiuer, ball, kettledrum, and indeed '•very thinkable festivity. fieyond doubt Erroll boro bis great popularity with a ve.y equanimous quiotudo. Ho was a man of no marked intellectual gifts, admirable spirits, and eharming manners, especially with women. Certain people roundly stated that he possessed little oi what we mean by character that be lacked mental el new, and was prone to bond far too pliantly before the pressure of events that he would never have taken up arms against any large number of troubles, ar from a whole sea of thorn that, in brief,lie would have won the name of an over-ductile and unenergetic man if his

inherited fortune had not chardtily covered tlieso and all minor «&ults.

But such commentators on Erroll's character might have added that nature had given him a large heart, which b'ij. large fortune had somehow never y-* managed to lessen, and that if his babi ual sweet temper sometimes suggested a certain weakness, it now and then won an esteem and friendly lealty of the sort that no bank notes can purchase.

Erroll was born of a family that held 'itself in high acaunt among that selfa*eated ana somewhat indefinable body, «ur New York aristocracy. His mother was his only living parent. She had been a Van Dus«nveuder, and generally told you this valuable fact whenever she "Jtoad the remotest suspicion that you did •not already possess it. She had a truly noble preeence, her nose being a pro-

Bounced aoulline, and her hair plenteous, but afmoet wholly white. In her •day it was said that she had been a great heart-breaker. Her clothes were always iof oome heavy blaok stuff which looked (neither precisely silk or satin, and which hung about her majestic figure .with a peculiar stateliness. She had au idea that Erroll ought to make something princely in the way of an alliance. 1ft "truth my Lady Thurlowe wis a handsome, imposing old snob. She would have been, for Erroll to make a European tour of matrimonial inspection among all eligible fclohonzQllorns and Hrtpsburgs of "the softer sex. Perhaps tliiB solidconfldonoe in the millions her only child has a stronger flavor worldly wisdom than would at first appear.

Judge of Mrs. Thurlowe's indignant aurprise when she discovered that Erroll ahowod prononuced symptoms of falling is love with one of hi* late father's popr relations, a Miss Sybilla Knight. In hir ioneline*? Mrs. Thurlowe had 80Uolt»»d the companionship of the orphaned SyliiiU, and now, at too lalo an hour,

Why had she gntful pays

ahe porocived her folly. Why nai not realised earlier the delightful

du teudro which Mybilla's fair face was

3tat

rrauinjt

oeioro nor e«»n No wonder Erroll showed Inclinations to walk atnid suoh a Paradise. MUw Knight had regular statuesque leatures and great, aoftiy luminous eyes thut were a lovely lustrous medium between blue and gr.ty. She could toss hor head very imperiously if she minded, gave her proteetnw

and soon

reavni* for believing that she was no She had once had aright stormy time \uUi Mr*. Thurlowe, who had ahown hor a Jmoro patronizing manner than she oared, in spite ot being nearly penuil-w#*, to receive and it must be admitted that Sybilla came off with flving e.-.lors from this hot contest, and that Mrs. Thurlowe always afterward Seated her with considerable undoubted respect.

Saint.

Possibly it was a wholesome memory of ibe past that now prevented Mra. ThurlowM. when sho became well convinced of ner eon's attachment, from attacking ita high-spirited object. As things were, she suffered in alienee. A poor relation of his late tether's! What a matrimonial sacrifice for Erroll to «nmmttt Ilia Van Du^nvoi.der alliance had Wen for the senior Mr. Thurlowe a union of vast wealth and unimpoachafcle Knickerbocker birth. But this mar* dage had no such raison d'etre. Mrs. Thurlowe, doabUees afraid of Sybilla, jhecan to think of a passionate appeal to 6*t son.

A certain circumstance prevented this eouiw. One evening ahe and Sybilla

were

at the opera, and Erroll, who bad accompanied them, remained away during two whole acts frein his mother's foV Both ladies had boen the recipianSi of oonwiderable attention from the ordinary operatic gallant (that ubiquitous faultkiasly olad gentleman, now old and now y*"»ng, who mnrmurs eletnt ff)pimopplcw DO Iww AmlM tsSninii over the perilous bridge with STer candle than whfte the.Aorua is acquitting Itatir mo* uninter«tinglyV Cut Mt?. Tburiow^s •t^ntion wa^ not much taken up by ^e^ devoteea that ahe ahonw I^i «pf8®®hj.ly, to obeerve BnroUVi tong ab^K^,^ 'VHaTe

E^bere

any. Idea where Rrroll tet rfie at MtheakedofSyWU*. cam* alight bltiih upon the yoang lndj* ftwe as she aeijnely™*j^rwadr^lii not that be in the box nearoppo

yea, I am sure It la," exclaimed a certain »blonde-whiskered J1"1*. who had visited perhaps half the^bo*®" in thehoraeaboe. "He's Ulking beautiful Miss Cavendish. He seems simply wrapped np—and so does she, lor that matter. She only gave me a nod

I a noa when I went

when I came in and out. Mrs. Cavendish was quite however, so I felt consoled/'

nice,

Hie nomad here proceeded to wy jn* merous unpleasant things of both Mia. Cavendish and her daughter. Sybilla and Mrs. Thurlowe listened rather intently, though they had heard a great deal of it before. The truth was, however, that the fashionable people among whom Mrs. Cavendish and ner one bandsome child had suddenly appeared, knew nothing to the discredit of either. It was generally understood that they were western people who bad lived abroad for many years, and who had brought, on coming to New York, certain rather influential letters. That tbey had gotten themselves quite successfully among a certain ultra fashionable and ultra snobbish clique waaan undisputed fact. ,...

Nor could tbo extreme beauty of Miss Dora Cavendish admit much question. She was a blonde, fragile, ethereal. She had eyes of a heavenly brilliancy, and hair of abundant golden wavinow—hair that seemed to crown her mobile, oval face like a soft,

self-luminous

mist. Du

ring the present winter she had had a great many devotees. Mrs. Cavendish, it was said, moant tbat sh© should mak© a great match. She herself was a plump brunette, small of stature, indubitably past filty, who bore not the slightest resemblance to her daughter. In public at least she appeared to worship Dora. Miss Cavendish bad obtained the name of odd and wildy capricious after a month or so in New York society. Some people affirmed that she had deep and strong tendencies toward fastness,which were restrained at great cost,of eflort by maternal coercion.

Whether maneuvering or not in the Interests of her daughter, it is certain that on this special evening at the opera Mrs. Cavenish contrived to lteepeverytfody who entered her box while Erroll, Thurlowe talked with Dora wholly occupied by her own conversational attractions. It was done with much graceful tact, but it was done nevertheless. Erroll bad never before shown Dora (Cavendish anything like marked attention. Doubtless be lingeAd beside her to-night from no other motive than that which would ordinarily actuate any man in the prolonged contemplation ot a verv beautiful woman who rather smiles upon him than otherwise. Without being engaged to his cousin Sybilla, Erroll wascertainly on the verge of asking that young lady to marry him and it should be said, if only in common justice that, that while he anticipated her full favor, it was with surety tbat something much higher than wordly reasons would prompt the acceptance of his suit.

When he returned to his mother's box, the opera was nearly over a soprano in white satin was melodiouslj trying to alter the dictum of a stonyhearted bass. Svbilla looked around at her counsin with a very pretty smile, and a little later, when the curtain had fallen, she thanked him with a somewhat excessive cordiailty for putting on her wrap.

Well, Erroll, we didn't expect you," declared his mother, "until you had at least placed your charmer in her carriage."

Pray, go back if you prefer," suddenly begged Miss Sybilla, with great sweetness. "Here comes Mr. Lorrimer for me, and Aunt Maria has Mr. Gor don." The last named gentleman was already present, but Sybilla spoke too low for him to bear. Erroll levelled upon her face a surprised searching lo jk. A moment later the Mr. Lorrimer in questioned arrived at the door of the box. Erroll moved away. It is a fact that he very soon afterward found himself with the Cavendishes, and also tbat Mrs. Cavendish, in her serene style, managed instantly, yet efteotuallv, to destroy the hopes of a certain baldheaded gentleman, in a white waistcoat and gold eye glass, who no doubt had every reason to expect that Miss Dora was to leavt) the Academy on his

Erroll not only pujt the lovely Dora Into her carriage, but promised to go and see her the following evening. It was Mrs. Cavendish who gave the invitation. "Do drop in npon us," ehe said. "We shall be quite alone, you know, for everybody is going to the great ball at Mrs. 's. where we.who are such strangers in New York, have not been asked and you, of course, can go afterward."

Erroll spent the following evening, from eight to eleven, at the Cavendishes' cosv little basement house. He found the'ladies together in a small reception

room

just off the hall. Dora was dressed in rose-colored silk of an almost shadowy thinness, tbat, floated about her delicate figure In countless airy furbelows. Her exquisite face made Erroll think ofa Fra Angelico Madonna. There ured screen just behind the so- ...„ a flgu fa on which sho sat, and agains. its brilliant bluo background her negligent

Sst.

the most salient

iden hair sbowod with charming efMrs. Cavendish was presently called away by the arrival of some gentleman visitors, who were shown upstairs Into the drawing room.

But as these gentlemen passed the door of the little reception room one of them was keen-eyed enough to catch.

ntlemsn that he afterward went to the ball at Mrs. *a, which we haws already heard Mra. Cavendish mention and also* that he waa meddlesome enough (or perhaps mischievous would be the better word) to make one ofa small admiring group tbat surrounded Sybilla, and to murmur In her eu» piece of secretly harrowing Intelligence.

Perhaps If Dora Cavendish had not

reatly

as ik was she behaved, on next seeing Enroll, in what should be called a alight ly demoralised manner. When he appeared at her side ahe waa by turns glowingly pleasant ami freeaingly lmnerioua. 8he told her ooualn at one moment, with a brilliant emllfc that no less than (dx ladies bad inquired for him that evening, and a moment later. she refused to dance with him, aluioat immediately afterward aocepting some one else asanartner. Errdlwas «»ougMn lore withber to begin by being furious st her conduct. For the next week It is a truth that Uwy w«re barely on apeak'"Xnddturing this week BrroUaaw much •f Dora Cavendish. On one occasion Mia. Cavendish gave 1 little theatreparty, to which he was Invited another, it was a small dinner again they met at a party, and were ©oriieredtogetber for two OT three hours. With Erroll the attraction waa partly a Mnae of Dora's fresh Ifcsdnating naivete, partly admiration of her tramraendent beaaty, partly a feeling of utter 1n»

*a4

loneliness because of the estrangement between himself and Sybilla, andnartly the strong though unsuspected Influence

of Mrs. Cavendish's volition. He had become very Intimate with Dora. He had begun to perceive that she was wretchedly unhappy. He bad »ipr» made tbe discovery tbat filial love did not rank among her characterlstica. Now and then she astonished him with a certain worldly,Jaded manner of speaking that contrasted most 111 with her youth. Sometimes tbe thought would flash across him that ah© bad lived no bread and butter existence through those past foreign year*.

One eveniugne went there and round her in a strange, petulant, half-morbid, half-hysterical mood.

Erioll came over and took a chair close at her side. "I perceive plainly," he said, with great sympathy of tone, "that something has made you very unhappy to-night. What is it?"

Dora covered her face with both hands then rapidly unoovered It. Erroll now saw that the surpassing brilliancy of her eyes came from the moisture of unshed tears. "Unhappy to-night!" she burst forth. "No more so to-night than alwavs! Have yon talked with me so much and n«'t discovered that I'm wretchedly miserable?"

Sometbine in her tones and mien touched Erroll with the power of a great pathos. "I have talked with you enough." he exclaimed, "to feel myself your friend." He drew nearer, and took, with an instinctive impulse of deep pity, one of her frail white hands in one of his own, pressing it very warmly. "I wish you would make me your friend," he went on, with much kindly vehemence. "Doubtless I might be this to considerable purpose." Dora's eyes fixed themselves appealing on bis face, and her beautil\il lips trembled. "No, no," she murmured, with a great break in her voice. "It is forbidden— and yet I have never .met one toward whom all possible friendly impulses tended with more strength. I know that you could feel for my unhappy life I know

Her voice died away in one short sob, Erroll was still holding her hand when she suddenly dropped her head upon his shoulder and burst into tears. Scarcely aware of his act, and animated chiefly by compassionate feeling, Erroll let his arm steal about her waist. As he did so a slight rustling sound, not far away, made him look in the direction of the massive curtain. Mrs. Cavendish was standing at a little distance in front of it, her small, plump figure informed with an august dignity and her black eyes sparkling as with delighted discovery. She gave a most accentuated cough as'Erroll's look met her face, and came slowly forward. Meanwhile Dora had perceived her presence, and turned, quite white, and had put herself into an attitude of alarmed constraint.

I suppose that I appear at a very malapropos moment," Mrs. Cavendish now began to murmur. She seemed for a slight while emotionally impeded from continuing. Her voice now shook as she progressed. "This is a great surprise to me, but a great joy as well. I have not known you long, Mr. Thurlowe, but there is no one to whom I would more gladly oonfide my darling Dora's future." By this time Mrs. Cavendish's arms were about Dora, who sat cold,

Erilliantly

ale, and irresponsive. She smiled very as she looked at Erroll. "I -give my consent-before it is asked," she went on and theft, abruptly addressing her datfjghter, "M£ dear," »be exclaim ed, "I hate to see tears on your cheeks, but I cannot doubt that happiness alone has caused them."

From the very first it had seemed to Erroll that an ill hid triumph glittered in this woman's eyes that "I have caught you" had stamped itself on every hard, calm feature of her dark face. For several days he had grown to distrust her, and Dora's recent words had by no means lessened this feeling. But now lie looked toward Dora as though ex-

Eer

ectant that she would explain his and own position. To hia astonishment, Dora merely dropped her eyes when they met his look. Erroll rose precipl tately.and as he did so Mrs. Cavendish loft off being affectionate to Dora, and quietly faced him.

She seemed clad in a sort of martial amiability, an awfnl blandness. "You have won a lovely wife, Mr. Thurlowe." she said, "thougnr perhaps, I have no right to tell you this."

Erroll felt half paralyzed by the strange commandant personality of this woman, bnt it is quHa possible thst some very decided demurrer trembled on his lips. Mrs. Cavendish, however, sud denly turned from him and opei door leading flroro tho receptio

TERRE TT A TTTfc RATXTRPAY EVENING MATL.

tA»

usual, they

occupied the small reception room. Between this and the adjacent dining room bung a massive blue curtain, whiob had recently appeared there in addition to other effective features of ornamentation throughout the apart ment. Erroll took occasion, befo long, to nofclco this n©w prottlness. "That curtain improves matters vastly," he said.

Dora gave a qneer little laugh. "I hope mamma isn't listening behind it," she exclaimed. "How she'd take me to task for all tho wild odd things I've been saying!" She suddenly rose and reseated herself at quite a distance from Erroll in a most lounging and distrait attitude. "I wender what it is tbat makes us afraid of people," she abruptly said, looking steadily into her companion's face—-"mortally afraid, I mean, so that we are—are led by tbe nose while loathing ourselves being so led. But never mind my nonsense. I don't see wby you've put up with it for so long."

ned the

Two gentlemen stood In the hall. She went forward with a beaming mien. "Were you going up into the drawing room T" she asked. "You mightJuatm well join Mr. Thurlowe In here." The 1 guests both entered a moment later. Erroll knew them both, and while he was greeting than Bin. Cavendish again spoke with even-voiced tranquility. "I have a great piece of news for you, gentlemen," she said. Erroll Inwardly shuddered as ahe went on:

MMr.

Thur

lowe and my daughter have—what are theolf1 romantic words?—plighted their troth to each other. Pray give them your oongratulationa

Erroll felt that the color was hotly rising toward hia templee. He waa In a mental whirl. It seemed aa if some numbing touch bad been laid upon hia will-power. We have already learned that there were people who believed him more or lees feeble In character. Theee would now have had warrantable oocasion for vaunting their perceptive •kill.

An lmmeaely decisive moment had come. One of the newly arrived gentlemen went np to Dora and one to Knoll. Dotal congratulater waa hidden from Erroll by hia own. He beard the words, "My moat sincere oongratulationa, Thurlowe." He saw a proffered band. Somehow his eyes wandered toward Mm Cavendish's hoe.

She waa no longer amlilngi her lips met In one emrereliae! birkta* eyea were shining with a hard brightness and flatty.

Poor Erroll I ^occurred to him afterward that he

Q-'prr

the truth la simply that he fWled in being what we call equal to the aitimtion— one, by and by, tremendous enough in its way. There waa the proffered hand. He took it.

What happened after this seemed to him a sort of ugly dream. Dora sat al most speechless, and looked chilled to atone. The room presently became intolerable to Erroll. He wanted to be alone and think over coolly, If possible, what had pained. He rose, pleaded an engagement somewhere, ana bade everybody a hasty good night. Mrs. Cavendish's plump band, when be took it, setmea to nlm like the flesh of a snake.

I think that Erroll appears quite odd and depressed," declared Mrs. Thurlowe, two days later, to Sybilla. Ever since a certain evening at tbe opera, Mm. Thurlowe had been possessed of a slow-growing hope that some decided diflerence would occur between her son and his cousin. The past few days had nearly convinced her that such positive estrangement must have taken place. Sybilla herself had been pale and silent for hours, only answering with absent monosyllables her kinswoman's questions regarding a certain party to which she had gone on the previous evening without Mrs. Thurlowe.

Sybilla now gave a cold little laugh. "Odd and depressed she repeated. "I don't know why he should strike you in that way. "Unless be suffers," she suddenly added, "from a sense of shame at is

Mrs Thurlowe began to bristle. She lifted a hand toward one of her white front puffs, and smoothed it majestically. "His conduct, Sybilla

Sybilla Knights rose and came over to where Mrs. Thurlowe was sitting. She laid her hand on the old lady's shoulder, looked her steadily in the face, and said

I have been dreading to tell you all day, for I knew you didn't know. Er roll baa engaged himself to tbat Cavendish girl. Everybody was talking of it last night. I—I felt like dropping through the floor when they asked me questions about it. Mr. Gardiner says that he congratulated him the other eveing, in Dora Cavenish's own presence, and that her mother

But Sybilla was compelled to pause by reason of there being enough agitation on Mrs. Thurlowe's part to make it seem tbat she was about faint away. When Erroll arrived home at a late hour tbat afternoon, he was immediately sent for by his iqother, whom he found supine and in close nearness to a salts-bottle. Sybilla stood in the shadow of a heavy curtained window, at some distance away, but Erroll saw her the moment he entered the room. He went through the interview that followed with a kind of dogged solemnity of manner. He admitted his engagement he also admitted bis culpability in having allowed tbe world to know of that engagement before bis own mother. But he dealt in no excuses, was the exact antipodes ot a pleader for pardon, ai.d beeame exasperatingly wordless whenever be had an opportnnity. Mrs. Thurlowe would perhaps have shown a much more thrilling tragic manner if she had not suddenly become fearful of her son's sanity. "I know he's out of bis mind," she declared to Sybilla (whose figure, with its face averted from both speakers, had not once moved until Erroll's exit) "and in tbat case something ought to be done to get him away from those dreadful creatures, who may be the lowest kind of adventuresses.' Mrs. Thurlowe now thought of her son's once hated marriage to Sybilla, and gave a great regretful moan. It is true that all human joys and griefs undergo marvelous charges through inter-com-parison. "Oh, Sybilla," the poor lady

leaded,"don't you think that you could something But Sybilla apparently did not think so. She left the room very soon, just as Erroll was leaving the house. He slammed the ball door right violently after him. as though he were much angered. Sybilla asked herself, guessing that it was he whose departure she heard, what justification he had fpr feeling a shadow of anger Was not she the one to play the high-banded part Had be he not shamelessly led her to believe—?

But never mind what he bad led her tq. believe, Sybilla concluded. She would driye away all thought of-jbim. Going to her own rpom, It must bo recorded of poor Sybilla that she followed no such course whatever. After spending perhaps the most lugubrious half hour of her life, she was informed by her maid tbat a lady was waiting down stairs to see her. The lady was young and very handsome. "Oh, ma'amselle, elle a les yeux et les cheveux vralement angeliques," declared Marie, who bad been in the hall when the butler admit ted this charming creature, and who bad afterward given her a good stare through tho door crack on hearing, that she would send np no name.

Sybilla was wondering who the visitor could be. when suddenly a strange look crossed her face. She went down stairs a very short time afterward, and was soon In the presence of Dora Cavendish.

Both women knew each other perfectly by sight. In the same circles where Dora was a kind of a brilliant comet, Sybilla was a tranquil fixed star. Erroll Thurlowe's kinswoman, however, now made no sign tbat she knew his financee. She waited placidly (at least from an outside point of view) for the other to address her.

This Dora did with the abruptestof

Eurst

Mention mom

to the outer hall. She had doubtless heard a servant admitting some guests, as'it was still a rather early hour in the evening.

lunges. "I'm Dora Cavendish," she forth, all low voiced and rapid speaking excitement. "I'm sure you must know all about me and—and about it too. By tt I mean the engagement to your cousin—for I've beard he was your oousin a few times removed. I suppose he's told yourself and your motbetj something about how It came to happen so suddenly. Now will you please in'form me what he said?" "Nothingon this subject," returned SybHlawith sterneH tones. "He has left It for the world to tell us the little which we know.''

Dora's lovely eyee searched Svbilla's face. Tbey seemed to sak determinedly, "Are you telling me tbe truth moment later ahe had taken several step* nearer Sybilla. "Look at me," ahe ex claimed "look at me well. I know yon think that I've been playing my cards artfally to get him, and I want you to aee that I'm not afraid of meeting your look while I deny it. I am an honest girl. Miss Knight, though heaven knows tnat I've had enough baa training in my life to prevent my ever being one. Dora's voice quivered Just here, Mid team besieged nor abiding eyea. My worst feu if is my cowardice, rve cringed all my life to the mother who would love that I should be crtiel and unprincipled aa herself. Bjumm I won't be a coward any longer!" Dora clenched both her little glove* banda. "You are hie

cousin

an* hia friend, and you

love him well enough to aave Mm, I fee! sure." SybiUato olean-chieelod fooe waa very pale. **8ave him?" ahe repeated.

Yea," ruahed Dora at heMlomc speed. "From my mother's dutchee. You can If yon wilL Oo to her and aay the trattu It* this: Ten manga mo* disgraceful trap on Brrotl Thnrlowe. Too played eavaedrOpper behind acer-

err .1 $

taln curtain, and when you knew that be had made a aweet ana disinterested offer of friendship to your daughter, taking her hand in hia from none but a friendly Impulse, and that ahe behaved like enough of a baby to cry on hia shoulder, into the room you walked, snd—and three minutes later, I might, say, you bad two of your friends into the room as well, and were asking them in tbe mildest, prettiest way. to give dear Dora and Mr. Thurlowe tneir congratulations.' This is what you can tell ner," galloped Dora, stopping a moment for breatb. "This and something more, Miss Knight. You could say to her that she'd made her daughter's life a misery over since tbat daughter could think for herself, using her In Vienna and Paris as a bait to catch some millionaire with. You could ask her wbat sort of entertainments were those tbat she used to give in Paris four years ago, where certain fine gentlemen lost so much money tbat they were spiteful enough to murmur their troubles in the ear Qf the police, and so it happened that

Mrs. Dudley Gregory (as my estimable mamma then called herself) was arrested, but discharged for lack of proof. You can inquire if her real aame wasn't Jane Morrison if she hadn't been a New Yorker by birth gone to England as a kind of family governess years ago married there a certain Clothwortby, a rich sporting man who afterward deserted her, wandered about the conti nent for years, living on her wits and tbo credulity of others, and often barely escaping legal rigors forged, at length, tbo very letters which now make her received in New York, and

Stop!" exclaimed Sybilla, excited, though wearing a kind of grand calmness. "I must write down, if you please, some of these trifling items." And she opened with a band that tried hard to be steady a buhl cabinet standing at ber side.

On the following day, between twelve and one o'clock in the morning, a certain lady visitor was received by Mrs Cavendish in tbat very charming little reception room, whose graceful appointments, including the beautiful blue cur tain, we have already been privileged to admire.

The interview was an extremely long one. It lasted over two hours. Mrs. Cavendish's elegant butler bad superb opportunities forbearing from bis highbred mistress language of a peculiarity unrestrained character though this sample chronicle would by no means suggest tbat any such opportunities were embraced by him. He might also have beard a quiet, vibrant, foroeful-toned woman's voice otten answering Mrs. Cavendish's turbulent words, though never loudly raised in doing so.

If it was a pitched battle (and doubtless there is scant cause wby it should not be called one), then surely Sybilla Kcight came forth from it with loftily hela standard, and left Mrs. Cavendish, on quitting the houso that morning with defeat written on every line of her sav age, flushed face.

Sybilla went home looking quite com posed and not a little proud, and having ascended to her room with a very firm step, locked her door and at once became the victim ofa mild nervous attack.

Erroll dined away from home this evening, as he had dined on the previous one. Mrs. Thurlowe appeared at the dinner table with an expression that would have done for Niobe, having her faithful salts-bottle in easy reach.

At about nine o'clock tbat same eve ning Erroll arrived home. He found tbe lower rooms of tbe house quite deserted. Remaining seated for a slight space in tbe drawing room, he suddenly rose and rang for a servant a little later be sent a request to Miss Sybilla tbat she would kindly give him a few moments' conversation. Tbe servant presently brought down an affirmative answer.

Sybilla appeared perhaps five minutes later. She looked as pale as marble, and moved toward Erroll with an imperial haughtiness.

Sybilla," Erroll began, quite waveringly, "I wish to tbank you with all my soul. "I have been to see these people. Mrs. Cavendish told me of what you had done. I—I owe you my liberty," progressed poor Erroll, painfully conscious that this was by no means'a very valorous sounding sentence. "I have not seen Dora this eveing, but I have guessed that sho has been to you and has put weapons in your hands. Is it not true

Sybilla curled ber lip. "As long as voti are free, Erroll, why Inquire about your precise means of liberation?" This was said with queenly composure, but tbe next moment Sybilla bad somehow gotten herself into something very like a rage. "It was truly a curious sort of sorape, this which you were caught in, and you'll efceuso my saying that no man of notably strong character" (Sybil la's accentuations were here something prodigious) "would have behaved with your utter weakness."

Erroll looked very meek. "Sybilla,'* be began, "there was no chance for a fellow at all. That old cat bad me In ber claws before I knew it. Sh

Oh, no doubt you can joke about the matter now!" burst forth Sybilla, with a magnificent head-toss and a great flounce of her robes. "You're safe, quite safe, though you did have to get a woman to resoue you!"

Ah. Sybilla," came tbe quick answer, "you don't know bow it delights me to think tbat your help brought about the rescue. Isilwaysknew you loved me, but I have somehow never been so sure of it as now. I

Erroll found himself interrupted by a loud, chilling laugh. Sybilla was facing him witt eyes that flamed. She stamped ber foot as she began to speak. "How do you dare to say that I love you?" ahe cried. "I don't! I couldn't love a man who would put his arm

round other girls'waists and make believe it was friendship, not to spoak of sitting still and letting ber cry on bis shoulder! I—I couldn't love a man without a spark of oourage either. If you didnt want to marry Dora Cavennish, wby did yon let tbat old wretch dispoee of you aa though yon were bundle of goods? why dldnt show some manly spirit? Dont swer," cried Sybilla, quite wildly, at thla point. "There's nothing for you to aay in your defense there's

But the tears vetoed another syllable, and just a voloe, with Erroll sprai wrapped her in his anna. "You don mean what yeu say," he whispered. "Yon do love me, although rve been weak and without the proper pluck: but we cant all be great and noble and strong like you, Syoilla, dear." After which happy thought in the way of artistic flatt^, Sybilla'. agitation entered the classic realms of higheet poerible tragedy, so tbat several kisses may have been stolen without even the laohrymoee auflbrer'a knowk ige.

Tbe friends of Erroll Thurlowe ecaroely had time wholly to dlgeift the intelligence of an honorable rupture between himself and Miss Cavendish before they were, oalled upcm to learaof his engagement to Sybilla Knight. Very econ afterward Mra. Osvendiim and her daughter vanished from their dellgtitfal

little basement-house, to the regret of not a few confirmed habitues. Nobody seemed to te aware whither they had flown. Woftil fkcts were afterward discovered, and woful atorieti came out, explanatory of the sudden flight. But doubtless none of all the gossip-mon-rs knew the real truth, wnich was to 1 found in tbe following letter, received by Sybilla only two or three days alter her stormy reconciliation with Erroll

My Dear Mies Knight *When I left I you that morning, I had no idea but that mamma and I would continue living together, one the tyrant and one the slave, for years longer. But after her interview with you sho became possessed by an idea tbat your mysterious knowledge was somehow derived from me. You are probably aware what she is when she is angry but believe it your own experience is little enough compared to mine. She tried to make me confess day before yesterday. Thero are some black marks on my arm now, where ber fingers gfipped me. Afters this my mind was made up. I waited my first chance to get clear of the house, and succeeded in leaving it, leaving a note behind me as well."

I bad no idea where to go. I thought of begging you to help me, for I was nearly without money, and always have life. As if through in the

been all through my a miracle, I came face to face,

Reved

ublic streets, with a man whom I besurely across tbe Atlantic. He wes a Frenchman, M. Alpbonse Delorge. who has asked me to marry him fifty times if once, and whose suit mamma always sneered at because he waa not a millionaire. It seems I have always been designed for nothing but a millionaire.

I don't think I ever cared much for. Delorge iu Europe, but when I met him yesteraay I could navo kissed his ugly face (be is very ugly) there in the street. Almost my first words, after I had. shaken hands with liim, were:

4De-.

lorge, will you marry me as soon aa you can?" This sounds very odd, of course but if you wero I, and had a,, Delorge more or less asking you to marry him all the titre through a space,, of six or seven years, it would liavo seemed very natural, just as tt did to^ me. The poor fellow came near bursting into tears when he realized tbat I' wasn't joking. It was really a very af-. fecting spectacle. He assured mo that: he baa followed me to America, having^ found it intolerable 011 tho other sldei without me. This also seemed very natural he had followed us so much.' you see, when we were in Europe. X, am now Madame Delorge.

And I hope that before long you will be Mrs. Erroll Thurlowe. I am sure that 1 read your seceret tbat morning. Don't for heaven's sake, show any plquo toward your poor cousin. Believe me, the poor thing wasn't a bit to blame.. Regard him simply as a brand from the burning (one which you have rescued,) and—marry him. lam going straight to Paris, and if we ever meet there, I shall be very glad to see you and that your own teellngs will prove equally cordial is the sincere wish of "Dora De-, lorge."

It happened that Sybilla and Erroll were together when this letter was received, and that two pairs of eyes read it simultaneously. "A brand from-the burning," Sybilla presently repeated in odd tones. "What an excellent name for you, Erroll. It suggests how scorched you were by tho, blaze of that girl's beauty."

Erroll laughed. "Never mind," he exclaimed kissingher "so long as you've consented to salve my burns."

Professional Cards.*

G. BUFF,

ATTORNEY AT LAW, TERRE HAUTJE,IND.

Office over Tott's Shoe Store, Main street, between 4th and5th streets, south side.

JOHN T. SCOTT, Attorney at Law,

OFFICE—NO. Ill MAIN STREET. As [7. S. Commissioner is authorised ts make proofs in Bankruptcy.

Over Henderson's Stove Store, bet. Fourth and Fifth streets. mar22 TERRE HAUTE, Idd.

W. BALLEW,

DENTIST,

OfBce^lie Main direct, over ffage's old fsnffrtloncrr stand. TERRE HAUTE, IND.

Can be found in office night and day,

JOSEPH RICHARDSON, M.

QSCAR Z8CH0KKE,

Physician and Acconcheur,

Treats all Acute and Chronic Diseases, and assures the public of his sacoess In obstetrical and all ailments peculiar to ladles/

Omce and residence on Main street, noutu side, between 12th and 13th streets, Tene Haute.

Business Cards.

CAL

THOMAS,

Optician and Wskhsuker For the trade, Main street, near Sixth, sign of big man with watch.

JR.

FREEMAN,

Retail Dealer in

American and reretffs Watehea, JEWELRY, ten Opera House,

LKIS8NER,

SJjnr!

Office on Ohio St., Bet. 3rd Al Itti TERRE HAUTE, IND.

DR(tnrgeonBand

E A O O E W Mechanical

DENTIST,

Rental Room, 1S7 .fain Street, near 6th, TKKRE HAUTE, IITB. Nitrous Oxide Gas administered for pais ess Tooth Extraction.

•II

Wholesale and Retail Dealer In Pianos. Ilelodeone, Organ*, osteal Instruments, Acn

Palace of Music, 48 Ohio I

W. RIPPETOE General Dealer la OROCKREEK, PIUVIglONS AND PBO

National Block, 156 Main strsei

PHILIP

KADEL,

MaaufiMtmerof

Sifc#

IMHw mmd Haracas,

Whips, Curry Combs, Brushes, Hone kets, Ac-ail work warranted. Lowest In tbe city, Main near Nh, south