Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 9, Number 31, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 1 February 1879 — Page 6

THE:MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

1HE STORE AT THE CROSS- OA D.S

'%BY- W. R. B.

As the shadows gather daikly When the winter'sday is done. Aud the gaunt trees stand out *tarkiy 'Gainst toe red, low-hanging sunThen tt boys commence arriving—

All the home chores being o'er Through the pig drifts onward striving To the cross-roads store.

In the windows candles glimmer, Bed hotgteams the chock-full store, O'er head the tluware's shimmer

Lights the dried fruit snugly hove. Pails and hoes, and brooms and axes atrew the overloaded floor But the wonders'ocription taxes

Of the cross roads store.

Close about the stove are sitting Country lads from miles around, Heeding not the time flittiug-

Happier group is seldom found. While the store boss, on a firkin, Tells his yarnings o'er and o'er— Keeping all the boys a smlrkin'

In the cross-roads store.

The local news is interchanging:— "'Mlra Bounce has got the mumps:" "Dobbs,they say, is sure deranging "Quiggs swap'd a heifer for two pumps

U.. /.I.

"Buck* agoing to try this guany On that jot in Section four." So the news, with "gosh and "swanny!"

Rounds the cross-roads store.

•"Hear that good thing bout old Runnet? "Sandy, boy, give us a song •'Did ye see Sal Hawkin's Sunday bunnet?

Don't she come out mighty strong T" "They say Squire Hawk'll run agin "Tarnation, he's a blower And then they hope may the best man win

In the cross-roads store.

So with chaff and harmless joking, The rus-tlcs while the hours away, 'Till the big clock's hand provoking

Warn them to uo longer stay, Out into the bleak night fearless The jolly revellers' pour, And soon empty,dark and cheerless,

Stands the cross-roads store.

From February Scrlbner.

Potts' Painless Cure.

EDWARD BELLAMY.

"Mast you go up to that tiresome old college again to-night?" Pouting lips and delicate brows fretted in pretty opportunity over the troubled eyes enforced the pleading tones, and yet the young man to whom they were addressed found strength to reply. "I'm afraid I can't get rid of it. particularly promised Sturgis I would look in onniui, and it won't do for me to cut ray acquaintance with the class entirely just because I'm having such a oily time down here." "Oh no, you don't think it jolly at all, or you wouldn't be so eager to go away. I'm sure I must be very dull company."

upa

The hurt tone and pretended pique with which she said this were assuredly all that was needed to give the petite teaser irresistible. But the young man replied, regarding ber the while with an admiration in which there was a singular expression of uneasinsss, "Can't, Annie, 'pon honor. I'm engaged, and you know—

I could not love thee, dear, so much, Loved I not honor more!"

And transferring her hand to his lips he loosed its soft lingering clasp and was gone, stopping at the gate to throw back a kiss to ber as she stood in the porch, by way of amends for bis basty parting. "George Hunt, you're an infernal scamp!''

These were the opprobrious words be muttered to himself as be passed out of earshot. The beneficent common law does not condemn a man merely on his own confession unless circumstances in evidence lend probability to his selfaccusatlon. Bafore we coincide in Mr. Hunt's opinion

himself, let us inquire

into the circumstances. He was in the last term of the senior year at college. For the past year he had been boarding at the Giffords', and Annie and he had fallen in love. The fall on bis part had been quite voluntary and deliberate. He had fallen in love because it was the correct thing for a young collegian, engaged in the study of the humanities, to be in love, and made him feel more like a man than smoking, drinking, or even sporting a stove-pipe hat and cane. Vanity astae, it was very jolly to have a tine nice girl who thought uo end of a fellow, to walk, talk, and sing with, and to have in mind when one sang the college songs about love and wine with the fellows. And it gave blm also a very agreeable sense of superior experience as be mingle 1 in their discussions of women and tbo tender passion.

But withal he was a conscientious, kind hearted young fellow enough, and had suffered occasional qualms ot conscience when little words or incidents had impressed him that Annie's love for him was a more serious matter than his for ber. He felt that by insisting on exchanging the pure gold of her earnest affection for the pinchbeck of bis passing fancy, sbe was making a rogue of him. He should be in no position to marry for years, nor did he want, to and if he bad wanted to, though be felt terribly hard hearted when he owned it to himself, bis feeling toward Annie was not quite so deep as to be a reai wish to marry her. As his last year in college approached its end he bad thought more and more of these things, and had returned from his last vacation determined to draw gradually away from her, and without any shock to bring their relations back to the footing of friendship. The idea seemed a very plausible one, but it is scarcely necessary to state, that living in the same house, and frequently alone with her, it took abont a week and a few dozen reproachful glances from grieving eyes to melt this artificial it* with a freshet of: Affection, and when, a couple or months later, he calmly reviewed the situation, he found himself perceptibly deeper than ever, on account ot the attempt at oxtrication.

Only two or three weeks of the torui remained, and it was too late to repeat the unsuccessful experiment. He bad tried bis best and tailed, and nothing remained but to be as happy as possible with ber in the short time left. Then she must get over her disappointment as other girls did in like cases. No! ioubt some woman would hurt his feel ings some day, and so make it square, He took much satisfaction in this reflection. But such cynical (philosophy did not lull bis consdenoe, which alternately inspired his manner with an un-' wanted demonstrativeness and tenderness, and again made him so uncomfortable in her presence that he was fain to tear himself away and escape from ber sight on any pretext. Her tender glances and confiding made him feel like a brute, and when he kissed her he felt that it was the ksss of a Judas Huch had been his feelings this evening, and such were the reflections tersely summed up in that ejaculation— "George Hunt, you're an infernal scamp!''

On arriving at Sturgis' room he found

it full of tobacco smoke, and the usual crowd there, who bailed him vociferously. For be was one of the most popular men in college, although for a year or ao he had been living outside the buildinns. Several bottles stood on the tables, but the fellows had as yet arrived only at the argumentative stage of exhilaration, and it so happened that the subject under ditcussion at once took Hunt's close attention. Mathewson had been reading the first volume of Goethe's autobiography, and was indulging in some strictures on bis course in jilting Frederica, aud leaving the poor girl heart broken. "But, man," said Sturgis, "he didn't want to marry her, and seeing that he didn't, nothing could have been crueler to her, to say nothing of himself, than to have done so." "Well, then," said Mathewson, "why did be go and get ber in iove with bins?" "Why, be took his risk and she hers, for the fun of the game. Sbe happened to be the one who paid for it, but it might just as well have been he. Why, Mat., you must see yourself that for Goethe to have married then would have knocked bis art lite into a cocked bat. Your'artist has just two great foes —laziness and matrimony. Each has slain its thousand*. Hitch Pegasus to a family cart and he can't go off the thoroughfare. He must stick to the rute. I admit that a bad husband may be a great artist but for a eood husband, an uxurions, contented husband, there's no chance at all." "You are neither of you right, as usual," said little Potts in bis oracular way.

When Potts first came to college the fellows used to make no end of fun of the air of superior and conclusive wisdom with which he assumed to lay down the law on every question, this being the more laughable because he was such a little chap. Potts did not pay tke least attention to the jeers, and finally the jeerers were constrained to admit that if he did have an absurdly pretentious way of talking, bis talk was unusually well worth listening to, and the result was that they took him at bis own valuation, and for the sake of hearing what he bad to say, quietly submitted to his assumption of authority as court of appeal. So when he coolly declared both disputants wrong they man ifested no resentment, but only an interest as to what he was going to say, while the other fellows also looked up curiously. "It would have been a big mistake for Goetbe to have married her," pursued Potts in his deliberate monotone, "but he wasn't justified on that acoount in breaking her heart. It was his businers, having got her in love with him, to get her out agaiu and leave her where she was." "Get ber out again?" demand Mathewson. "How was he to do that "Humph!" grunted Potts. "If you haven't found it much easier to lose a friend than to win one, you're luckier than most. If you asked me bow he was to get her in love with him I should have to scratch my head, but the other thing is as easy as unraveling a stocking." "Well, but, Potts," inquired Sturgis with interest, "how could Goethe have gone to work for instance to disgust Frederica with him "Depends on the kind of a girl. If she is one of your high steppers as to dignity and sense of honor, let him play mean and seem to do a few dirty tricks. If she's a stickler for manners and good taste, let him betray a few trays of boorishness or Philistinisan, or if sbe has a keen sense of the ridiculous, let him make an ass of himself. I should say the last would be hardest on his vanity. Evernbody knows that a man had rather seem a 'scamp than a fool.' 'I don't believe there's a man in the world who would play the voluntary fool to save any woman's heart from breaking, though he might manage the scamp," remarked Mathewson. "And anyhow, Potts, I believe there's no girl who wouldn't choose to be jilted oatright, rather than be juggled 'out of her affections that way." "No doubt she would say so if you asked her," replied the imperturbable Potts. "A woman always prefers a nice sentimental sorrow to a fancy free state. But it isn't best for us for her, and looking out for her good you must deprive her of it. Women are like children, you know, our natural wards."

This last sentiment impressed these beardless youths as a clincher, and there was a pause. But Mathewson, who was rather strong on the moralities, rallied with the objection that Pott's plan would be deceit. "Well, now, that's what I nail cheeky," replied its author, with a drawl of astonishment. "I suppose it wasn't deceit when you were prancing around in your best clothes both literally and figurAtivel/, trying to bring out your good points into snch absurd prominence as to delude ber with the idea that you had no bad ones. Ob no, it's ouly deceit when vou appear worse than you are, not when vou try to appear better. Strikes me that when you've got a girl into a fix it won't do at that time of day to plead your conscience as a reason for not getting her out of it. Seeing that a man is generally ready to sacrifice his character in reality to bis own interests, be ought to be willing to sacrifice it in appearance to another's.

Mathewsou was squelched, but Sturgis came to his relief with the suggestion "Wouldn't a little geuuine heartache, which I take it is healthy enough if it isn't pleasant, be better for her than the cynical feeling, the disgust with human nature which she would experience from finding her ideal of excellence a scamp or a fool

The others seemed somewhat impressed, but Potts merely ejaculated "Bosh!" Allowing a brief pause for this ejaculation to do its work in demoralizing the opposition, be proceeded, "Sturgis, you remember 'Midsummer Night's Dream,' and how Titania, on the application of Puck's clarifving lotion to her eves, perceives that in Bottom she has loved an ass. Don't you suppose Titania suffered a good deal from the loss of her ideal

There was a general snicker at Sturgis* expense. "Well, now." continued Potts, gravely, "a 'woman who should fall In lov© with one of us fellows and deem him a hero would be substantially in Titania's plight when she adored Bottom, and about as much an object of pity when bet hero disclosed an asininity which would Ira at least as near to being bis real character as the heroism she ascribed to bim." "That's all very well," said Merril, dryly, "but it strikes me that it's middling cheeky for yoo fellows to be discussing how you'll jilt your sweethearts with the least expense t© their feelings, when the chances are that if you should ever get one you'll need all your wits to keep her from jiltingvou."

You

are, as usual, trivial and incon

sequential this evening,Merrill," replied Potts, when the laughter had subsided. "Supposing, as you suggest, that we shall oe the jilted and not the liters, it will certainly be to our interest tbat tbe ladles should spare our feelings by disenchanting us—saying, as it were, the

•5

TERRE TT A1TTR SATURDAY EVEN IN MAIL.

charm baokward tbat first charmed us. He who would teach the ladiea tbe method and enllat tbelr tender hearts in its behalf, would be, perhapa, tbe great est benefactor his muoh Jilted and heartsore sex ever had. Then, Indeed, with tbe heart breakers of both sexes pledged to so humane a practice, there would be no more any snob thing as sorrow over unrequited affections, and the poets and novelists would beg tbeir bread." "That is a inillenial dream, Potts," responded Merril. "Yon may possibly persuade tbe men to make themselves disagreeable for pity's sake, but it is quite too mncb to expeot tbat a woman would deliberately put herself in an unbecoming light, if it were to save a world from its sins." "Perhaps it is," said Potts, pensively, "but considering what perfectly inexhaustible resource* of diagreeableness there are in tbe best of na and tbe fairest of women, it seems a most gratuitous cruelty that any heart should suffer when a very slight revelation would heal its hurt. We oan't help people suffering because we are so faulty and imperfect, but we might at least see tbat nobody ever bad a pang from thining us better than we are." "Look at Hunt," said Sturgis. "He doesn't open his mouth, but drinks in Pott's wisdom as eagerly as if he didn't know it was a pump tbat never stops."

There was a general laugh among those who glanced up in tine to catch the expression of close attention on Hunt's face. "Probably he's deliberating on the application of the Potts patent painless cure to some recent victim of that yellow mustache and goatee," suggested Merril, with the envy of a smooth-faced youth for one more favored.

Hunt, whose faoe had sprung back like a steel trap to its usual indifferent expression, smiled nonchalantly at Merrill remark. One whose reticent habit makes bis secrets so absolutely secure as Hunt's private affairs always were, is stirred to amusement rather tbah trepidation by random guesses which come near the truth. "If I were situated as Merril flatteringly suggests, I should enjoy nothing better than such an experiment," be replied, deliberately. "It would be quite a novel sensation to revolutionize one's ordinary rule of conduct so as to make a point of seeming bad or stupid. There would be as muob psychology in it as in an extra term at least-. A man would find out, for instance, how much there was in him besides personal vanity and love of approbation. It would be a devilish small residue with most of us, I fancy."

The talk took a new turn, and the fun grew fast and furious around Hunt, who sat puffing his pipe, absorbed in contemplation. At about half past nine, when things were getting hilarious, he beat a retreat,followed by the reproaches of the fellows. He was determined to administer the first dose of Potts' painless cure to his interesting patient that verp evening, if sbe bad not already retired. He was in high good humor. Potts was a brick Potts was a genius. How luoky that he had happened to go up to college that night! He felt as if an incubus had been lifted off his mind. No more pangs of conscience and uncomfortable sense of being a mean and cruel fellow, for bim. Annie should be glad to be rid of bim before he bad ended with her. She should experience a heartfelt relief, instead of a broken heart, on his departure. He couldn't help chuckling. He bad such confidence in his nervo aud his reticent habit that his confidence and ability to carry out tbe scheme were undoubting, and at its first sugcestion be bad felt almost as much relief.as if he had already executed it.

On arriving home, he found Annie sewing alone in the parlor, and a little offish in manner by way of indicating her sense of his offense in leaving her to spend the evening alone. "Really, Annie," be said, as he sat down and unfolded the evening paper, "I try to give you all tbe time I can spare. If, instead of sulking, you bad taken a piece of paper and calculated how many hours this week I have managed to give you my company, you would scaraely have felt like repining because you couldn't see me for an hour or two this evening."

That was the first gun of the campaign. She looked up in blank surprise, too much astonished, for the moment, to be indignant at such a vulgarly conceited remark from him. Without giving ber time to speak, be proposed to read the newspaper aloud, and at once began, making a point of selecting the dullest editorials and the flattest items and witticisms, enlivening them with occasional comments of studied insipidity, and one or two stories, of whion he carefully left out the "nubs." He was apparently making an unusual effort all the while to be entertaining, and Annie, finding no opening for expressing her vexation, finally excused herself and went upstairs, with no very angelic expression of countenance. "Pretty well for a beginning," was Hunt's muttered comment as he laid down tbe paper.

At breakfast Mr. Clifford asked him: "Shall I give you some tongue?" Looking around with the air of one

saying a good thing, he replied "Thank you, I have enough of

Klied

own." The silence was painful. Mr. Giffard looked as if he bad lost a near friend. Mrs. Gifford at length, remembering that Hunt was a guest, forced a momentary, ghastly smile. Annie was looking melancholy enough before, but a slight compression of tbe lips indicated that sbe bad received the full effect. Certain degrees of badness in lokes stamp tbe joker as a natural inferior in tbe eyes of even tbe most rabid social levelers. Scarcely any possible exhibition of depravity gives quite the sickening sense of disappointment in the perpetrator, imparted by a genuinely ba* or stale joke. Two or more similar sensations coming near together are multi

by mutual reverberations so as to much more impressive than if they occurred at considerable intervals. Hunt's tongue joke not only retroacted to deepen the impression of vulgarity which his last evening's performance had given Annie, but in turn was made to appear a far more significant indina» tlon of his character on acoount of its sequence to that display.

That evening he made her a little present, having selected as a gift a book of tbe day of which he had chanced to overhear her express to a third person a particularly cordial detestation. It was decidedly the best book of the year, he said he had read it himself. Sbe was obliged to thank bim for it, and even to tell one or two polite fibs, which wrenched her terribly, and the memory of which lent a special spite to tbe vehemence with which she threw the book into a corner on reaching her room. Then she went remorsefully and picked it up again, and after holding it awhile irresolutely, proceeded to hide it away in a far corner of oue of the least used drawers of her bureau.

Not sleeping very well tbat night, sbe came down stain next morning just as Hunt was leaving. He kissed bis hand to her and called out" Aw revore." At first she was merely puzzled, and smiled,

any then it occurred to her tbat it was doubtless tbe barbarous way he pronounced au re voir, and tbe smile gave place to an expression of slight nausea. As Hunt* well knew, ber pet aversion were people who lugged mispronounced French phrase* into their conversation under tbe impression tbat they imparted a piquant and graceful effect. It was a touon of vulgarity which inspired ber with a violent oontempt absurdly disproportioned to the gravity of the offense, It bad always been a ehcrished theory of hers tbat there were certain offenses of manners wbicb were keys to character. If persons committed them it implied an essential strain of vulgarlcy in their dispositions, fudged by this theory, where would her lover- come out?

Hunt managed to get into a political discussion with Mr. Gifford at table tbat noon, talking in a rather supercilious tone, and purposely making several bad blunders, which Mr. Gifford corrected rather pointedly. Annie couldn't help observing tbat ber lover's oonceit ana ignorance of tbe subjects discussed seemed about equal. "How do you like your book? "be asked tbat evening.

She murmured something confusedly. "Haven't begun it yet? be inquired in surprise. Well, when once voo do, I'm sure you'll not lay it down 'till it's finished. And, by the way, your judgment in literary matters Is so good I'd like to get your'oplnion on the essay I'm getting up for Commencement. I think it's rather tbe best thing I've written."

He proceeded to read what purported to be a sketch of its argument, wbiob proved to be so flat and vapid tbat Annie blushed with shame for bis mental poverty, and was fain to cover ber chagrin with a few meaningless comments.

Her mind was tbe theatre of a struggle between disgust and affection, which may be called ghastly. Had he been openly wicked, sbe would have known how to give a good account of all disloyal suggestions to desert or forget him. But what could she do against such a cold, creeping thing as this disgust and revulsion of taste, which, like the chills of incipient fever, mingled with every rising pulse of tender feeling? Finally, out of ber desperation, she concluded tbat tbe fault must be with ber that she was fickle, while be was true. Sbe tried hard to despise herself, and determined to fight down her growing coldness, and reciprocate as it deserved tbe affection with which be was so lavishs Tbe result of these mental exercises was to impart a humility and constrained cordiality to her air, very opposite to its usual piquancy and impulsiveness, and by a sense of ber own short comings, to distract ber mind from speculation, wbicb she might otherwise have indulged, over the sudden development of so many unpleasant qualities in her lover. Though, indeed, had ber speculations been never so active and ingenious, tbe actual plan on which Hunt was

Keyond

rooeeding would probably have lain far the horizon of her conjecture* Meanwhile, Hunt was straitened for time only eight or ten days of the term were left, and in tbat time be must effect Annie's cure, if at all. A slow cure would be much more likely to prove a sure one, but he must do the best he could in the time be bad. And yet be did not dare to multiply startling strokes tor fear of bewildering Instead of estranging her and, possibly, of suggesting suspicion. Stimulated by the emergency, be now began to put in some very fine work, which although it may not be very impressive in description, was probably more effective than any part of bis tactics. Under tbe guise of appearing particularily attentive and devoted, he managed to oflfand Annie's taste and weary her patience in every way that ingenuity could suggest. His very man! festations of affection were so associated with some affectation or exhibition ot bad taste, as to always leave an unpleasant impression on her mind. He took as much pains to avoid saying tolerably bright or sensible things in his conversation as people generally do say them. In all respects he just reversed the rules of conduct suggested by the ordinary motive of a desire to ingratiate oneself with others.

And, by virtue of a rather marked endowment of that delicate sympathy with others' tastes and feelings which underlies good manners, he was able to make himself far more unendurable to Annie than a less sympathetic person could have done. Evening after evening she went to ber room covered with pin-prinks, from a soore of little offenses to her r**tidlou3 taste which he had managed to commit. His thorough acquaintance with her, and his knowledge of her aesthetic standards in every respect, enabled him to operate with a perfect precision that did not waste a stroke.

It must not be supposed tbat it was altogether without sharp twinges of compunction and occasional impulses to throw off his disguise and enjoy the bliss of reconciliation, tbat he persued this cold-blooded policy. He nevor could have carried it so far, had he not been prepared by a long and painful leriod of self reproach, on account of „is entanglement. It was, however, chiefly at the outset tbat be bad felt like weakening. As soon as she ceased to seem shocked or surprised at his disclosures of insipidity or conceit, it became comparatively easy work to make them. So trne is it that it is the fear of the first shocked surprise of others, rather than of their deliberate reprobation, which often defers us from exhibitions of unworthiness.

In connection with this mental and moral masquerade, he adopted several changes in his dress, by buying some clothes of very glaring patterns, and blossoming out in particularly gaudy neckties and flashy jewelry. Lest Annie should be puzzled to account for such a sudden access of depravity, he explained that his mother had been in tbe habit »l selecting some of bis lighter toilet articles for him, but this term he was trying for himself. Didn't sbe think his taste was good? He also slightly changed tbe cut of his hair and whiskers, to affect a foppish air, his theory being tbat all these external alterations would help out tbe effect of being a quite different person from the George Hunt with whom she bad fallen in love,

Lou Roberts was Annie's confidant, older than sbe, much more dignified, and of the reticent sort to which the mercurial and loquacious naturally tend to reveal their secrets. She knew all that Annie knew, dreamed, or honed about Hunt but had never happened to meet him, much to tbe annoyance of Annie, who had longed inexpressibly for the time when Lou should have seen him, and she herself be able to eqjoy the luxury of hearing his praises from her lips. One evening it chanced tbat Loo called with a gentleman while Hnnt had gone out, to rest himself after some pretty ardous masquerading, by a little unconstrained Intercourse with the fellows up at college. As he returned home, at about half-past nine, he heard voices through the open windows, and guessed who the callers were.

As he entered the room, despite the disenchanting experiences of the past week, it was with a certain pretty agitation that Annie rose to introduce him, and she looked blank enough when,

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without waiting for ber offices be bowed with a foppish air to Lou and murmured a salutation. "What, are you acquainted already?" exolaimea Annie. "I certainly did not' know tbat we were," said Lou coldly, not thinking it possible that this flashily dressed youth, with such an enormous watch chain and insufferable manners, could be Annie's hero. "Ah, very likely not," he replied oareadding with an explanatory smile' tbat took in all the group. "La dies' faces are so mnob alike tbat, 'pon my soul, unless there is something distinguished about tbem I don't know whether I know them or not. I depend on tbem to tell me fortunately they never forget gebtlemen."

Miss Robert's faoe elongated into a freezing stare. Annie sto there in a sort of stupor till Hunt said briskly: "Well, Annie, are you going to introduce tbis lady to me?"

As sbe almost inaudibly pronounced their names, he effusively extended bis band, which was not taken, and exclaimed: "Los Roberts! is it possible? Excuse me if I call you Lou. Annie talks of you so mucn tbat I feel quite familiar." "Do you know, Miss Roberts,', he continued, "I,m quite prepared to like you!" "Indeed!" was all tbat young lady could manage to articulate. "Yes," continued be, with tbe manner of one giving a flattering re-assufance, "Annie has told me so much in your favor that, ir

half is true, we shall get on

together excellently. Such girl friendships as yours and hers are so charming."

Miss Roberts glanced at Annie, and seeing that her face glowed with embar. rassment, smothered her indignation, and replied with a colorless "Yes." "Tbe only drawback," continued Hunt, who manifestly thought he was making himself very agreeable, "is tbat such bosom friends always tell each other all their agalrs. which of course involve tbe affairs of all tbeir friends also. Now I suppose," he added, with a knowing grin and something like a wink, "that what you don't know about me isn't worth knowing." "You ought to know, certainly," said Miss Roberts. "Not that I blame you, he .went on, ignoring her sarcasm. "There's no confidence oetrayed, for when I'm talking with a lady, I always adapt my remarks to the ears of ber next friend. It pre vents misunderstandings."

Miss Roberts made no reply, and the silence attracted notice to the pitiable little dribble of forced talk with which Annie was trying to keep the other gentleman's attention from tbe exhibition Hunt was making of himself.- Tbe latter, after a pause long enough to intimate tbat he thought it was Miss Roberts' turn to

Bay

something, again took

up the conversation, as if bound to be entertaining at any cost. "Annie and I were passing your house the other day. What a queer little box it is! I should think you'd be annoyed by tbe bowlings of that church next door. The are so noisy." "I am a myself," said Miss Roberts, regarding him crushingly.

Hunt, of course, knew tbat, and had advisedly selected ber denomination for his strictures. But he replied, as if a little confused by bis blunder: "I beg your pardon. You don't look like one." "How do they usually look?" she asked sharply. "Why, it is generally understood that they are rather vulgar, I believe, but you, I am sure, look like a person of culture.' He said tbis as if be thought be were conveying a rather neat compliment. Indignant as sbe was, Miss Roberts' strongest feeling was compassion for Annie, and she bit her lips and made no reply.

moment's silence Hunt

fast

rove

$«4T** 35.%^/^TXV" ~--f

aBked

her how sbe liked his goatee, It was a new way of cutting bis whiskers, and young ladies were generally close observers and therefore good judges of such matters. Annie, finding it impossible to keep up even the pretense of talking any longer, sat helplessly staring at the floor, and waiting in nerveless despair for what be would say next, fairly bating Lou because sbe aid not go. "What's come over you, Annie?" asked Hunt, briskly. "Are you talked out so soon? I suppose sbe is holding back to give you a chance to make my acquaintance, Miss Roberts, or do let me call you Lou. You must Improve your opportunity for she will want to know yonr opinion of me. May I hope it will

not wholly unfavorable?"' This with a killing smile. "I had no idea it was so late. We must be going," said Miss Roberts, rising. She had been lingering in tbe hope that something would happen to leave a more pleasant impression of Hunt's appearance, but seeing that matter* were drifting from bad to worse she hastened to break off tbe painful scene. Annie rose silently without saying a word and avoided Lou's eyes as she kissed her good hye. "Must you go? Hunt said. "I'm sure you wouid not be in such haste if you knew how rarely it is that my engagements leave me free to devote an evening to the ladies. You might call on Annie a dozen times and not meet me."

As soon as the callers had gone Hunt pioked up the evening paper and sat down to glance it over, remarking lightly as he aid so: "Rather nice girl, your friend, though she doesn't seem very talkative."

Annie made no reply, and be looked up. "What on earth are you staring at me in such an extraordinary manner for?"

Was be then absolutely unconscious of tbe figure be bad made of himself? "You are not vexed because I went out and left you in tbe early part of tbe evening?" be said, anxiously. "Oh no, indeed," she wearily replied.

Sbe sat there with trembling Up and a red spot in each cheek, looking at bim as he read the paper unconcernedly till sbe could bear it no longer, and then silently rose and glided out of tbe room. Hunt neard ber ruuning upstairs as fast as she could, and closing and locking her chamber door.

Next day, be did not see her till evening, when she was exceedingly cold and distant, and evidently much depressed. After bombarding her with grieved and reproachful glances for some time, be came over toner aide, they two having been left alone, and said, with affection* ate raillery: "I'd no idea you were so susceptible to the green-eyed monster."

She looked at him, astonished quite out of her reserve. "What on earth do yon mean "Ob, you needn't pretend to misunderstand," he replied with a knowing nod. "Don't you suppose I saw how vexed you were last night when your dear friend Miss Roberts was trying to flirt with me. But you needn't have minded so much. She isn't my style at ail." [Continued on Seventh Page.]

We do not believe in medicine for children, but we do believe in Dr. Bull's Baby Syrup and assert jjiat no family should be without it,

v.XK

4 'h'V'sr

BROWNS Expectorant

.tt

The only reliable remedy for all Throit and Lung Diseases. is a scientific preparation, compounded from tbe formula of one pf the most successful practitioners In the Western country. It has stood the test for the last twenty years, and will effecta cure after alL other cough remedies have failed.

Head the Following:

HALLOF REPBKSKNTATIVES, IyDI^NAPOLtS, IND., reb 15. IS7I.

Da. J. H. BBOWN:— we have used your "Brown's Expectorant," and take pleasure insayinztbat w« found ttthe best medicine ever used lor Coughs, Cold*, and Hoarseness, and cheerfully recoinmenl it to ail who may be troubled with Throat aud Lung affections

Wm Maok, Speaker House Rep, Zenor, Rep Harrison county, Cauthorn, Rep Knox county,

Montgomery, Rep Johnson county, BTsrlton, Rep Juhnson and Morgau counties, Frtchell, Doorkeeper House Rep, N Warum. Rep Hancoc* county, CHP Abbett. Rep Bartholomew county E, Calkins, Rep Fulton county, Jno WCopner, Rep Montgomery county W (i Neff, Rep Putnam county.

It Acts Like Magic.

OFFICE M. and I. K. R. CO.,

JEFFERSONVILLK IICD., APRIL 6,1871. DK.J. H. BROWN Having suffered with a severe cough for some lime past, I was induced to try one bott of your "Brown's Expectoraut." I unhe*itating»v say I found It pleasant to the taste, and to act like magic. A few doses done the work for the cough, and I am well.

DILLARD RICKETTS,

PRESIDENT J. M. and I. R. R.

Bead What Gen. Kimball Says.

IXDLANA.POI.IS, IXD., Dec. 80,1869.

DR.J.H.BROWN -.—After having used your "Expectorant Syrup" long enough to know and appreciate its good qualities, I can cheerfully bear testimony to its uniform success in curing tbe mostobstinatecasesof Coughs, Colds, etc. I have frequently administered the Expectoraat" to my children, and always found it the very best, as Well as most pleasant remedy of its kind.

JgATHAN KIMBALL, Treasurer of State.

What a Case of Consumption Says.

David A. Sands, of Darlington, Montgomery county, says: "My wife has been afflicted with consumption for a number of years, and during that time has tried most all the medicines recommended for that disease without affording any re'ief. I was induced by therec mmendatlons of Dr. Kirk, druggist at Darlington, to try'Brown's Expectorant Syrup,' and I am now happpy to say tbat my wile is so much impioved I am confident it will entirely restore her health by its continued use."

It Cures Bronchitis.

IT EDINBURGH, IND.,August 28,1871. Thia is to certify that I have used 'Brown Expecisrant'in my family since its first introduction. It has never failed to give satisfaction. My wife subject to Bronchitis, and I have found no remedy equal to "Brown'sExpectorant I recommend It as a safe and reliable ic4diclne.

J. T. BREXTON, M. D.

Brown's Expectorant

Is For Sale by All Druggists."

A. KIEFER,

INDIANAPOLIS.

OH! MY BACK!

iPains in the Back, Side or Loins are cured by HUNT'S REMEDY, the Great Kidney and Liver Medicine. It is not anewcompound, having been used by all classes for

30 years, and saved from lingering disease

and

death, hundreds who have been given up by Physicians. HIIMT'# REMEDY cures all Diseases of Liver, Kidneys, Bladder, and Urinary Organs, Dropsy, Gravel, Diabetes, and Incontinence and Retention of Urine. HUWT'® REMEDY cures Bright's Disease of iha Kidneys, General Debility, Female Weakness, Nervous Dis eases.Intemperance and Exces*s. HL'JIT'S REMEDY cures Bilious headadhe, Sour Stomach, Costlvsness, Dyspepsia, Strengthens the Bowels and Stomach and makes the Blood perfect'v pure. HUJfTSRESIEDY In prepared IX PRESS I. for ib«N dlM»ne,a«d hu never been known to fell. One trial will eonvlce yon. HUN I'd REMEDY is ourely vegetable, Is u»d by Family Physicians, and tueutmost reliance may be placed in it.

HUNT'S REMEDY

HURT'S HEM EDY encourages sleep, creates an appetite, braces up tbe system, and renewed health is the re suit. Send fori Pamphlet to WM.E. CLARKE,

SOLD BY ALL DRUGGISTS.

CLIFFORD'S

FEBRIFUCE

ERADICATES AXX MALARIAL DUEA8ES frmtlM SYSTEM. 4.C. RIOMARDSON* I

ETTor Ssle by All Druggists. ST.]

Sick Headache

Positively Cured by these Little Pi.U. Tlioy al*o rolifv^ Distress from I)yn|" iirfa. Indigestion MI1 Two Hfarty KHtiiie. A perfect re*.i«»dy (in DizzlncM, it ii Drownings*.Bad Tnsi" In tbe Mouth, Cnatd! Tongue, Pitin In ttio Hide, Ac. Tliey regulate the Bowels and prevent Constipation and Piles. The small

CARTERS

PILLS.

est and easiest to take. Only one pill a dov. 40 In a vial. Purely Vegetable. Price 2i ceut.1. Sold by all Druggists.

CARTER MEDICINE CO., Prop'rs, Erie, Pa. Tire Vtala by m«^l for one dollar.

STIR

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