Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 14, Number 41, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 5 April 1884 — Page 6

4V

THE MAIL

A PAPER

FOR THE

0

PEOPLE.

A Perilous Secret BY CHARLES READE,

^Author of "Hard Cash," "Put yoorselftn His

"t Place,"

"It's

Never Too Late to Mend,"

*t, "Griffith Gaunt," etc.

4

CHAPTER IV. AN OLD BBBVAKT.

',/ Walter Clifford returned home pretty 14 -well weaned from trade, and anxious to

*v-r'rJ~m

propitiate bis (atber, but well aware that .^on nis way to recondilation be must uasa through Jobation. '^1"^He slipped Into Clifford Hall at night, *nd commenced bis approaches by going ito the butler's pantry. Here he was *'safe, and knew it a faithful old butler

the antique and provincial breed is mpt to be more unreasonable paternal than Pater himself. (To this worthy, then, Walter owed a -good bed, a good supper, and good ad•ice: "Better not tackle him till I have a word with him first."

Next morning this worthy butler, who for seven years had been a very good servant, and for the next seven years rather a bad one, and would now have been a hard master if the Colonel had not been too great a Tartar to stand it, appeared before his superior with an air ', slightly respectful, slightly aggressive and very dogged. "There is a young gentleman would "be glad to speak to you, if you will let *,".1 him."

VWho Is he?" aftked the Colonel, though by old John's manner he diYinea. "Can't ye guess?" "Don't know why I should. It is your business to announce my visitors." "What! isn't he sure of a welcome jrood dutiful son like him "Well, sir, he deserves a welcome Why, he is the returning prodigal." "We are not told that he deserved a ^welcome." "What signifies?—be got one, and 3 Scripture is the rule of life for men of our age, now we are out of the army." H- "I think you had better let him plead

Us own cause, John and if he takes the tone you do, he will get turned out of a the house pretty quick as you will some of these days, Mr. Baker." "We sha'n't go. neither of us," said

Mr. Baker, but with a sudden tone of affectionate respect, whiob disarmed the words of their true meaning. He added hanging his head for the first time, "Poor young gentleman! afraid to face his own father!" "What's he afraid of?" asked the Col onel, roughly. "Of you eursing and swearing at him," •aid John. "Cursing and swearing!" cried the Colonel—,7a thing I never do now. Cursing and swearing, Indeed! You

"There you go," said old John. "Come Colonel, be a father. What has the poor boy done "He has deserted—a thing I have seen a fellow shot for, and he has left me a prey to parental anxieties." "And so he has me, for that matter. But I forgive him. Anyway, I should like to hear his story before I him. Why, he's only uinetee months, come Martinmas. Besides, how 1 do we know ?—he may have had some *ery K°od reasons for going."

1

"His age makes that probable, doesn't It?" "I dare say it was after some girl, sir." "Call that a good reason "J call it a strong one. Haven't you never found It (the Colonel was betrayed winking). "From sixteen to sixty a woman will draw a man where a horse can't." "Since that is so,"

said the Colonel,

dryly, "you can tell him to come to breakfast." "Am I to say that from YOU "No you oau take that much upon yourself. I have known you to presume a good deal more than that, John." "Well, sir," said John, hanging his head for a moment, "old servants are like old friends—they do presume a bit but then" (raising bis head "tbey care for their masters old. New servants, sir—why. that we've got now, they woald not shed a tear for you if you was to be hanged." "Why should they?" said the Colonel. "A man is not hanged for building churches. Come, beat a retreat. I've had enough of you. See there's a good breakfast?' "Oh," said John, "I've took oareof that."

pro

When the Colonel came down he

found his son leaning agalast the mantle piece but he left it directly erect, for the Colonel had drilled him with his own hands. "Ugh!" said the Colonel, giving a snort peculiar to himself, but he thought "How handsome the dog is!" and was proud of him secretly, only he would not show it. "Good-morning, sir," said the young man, with civil respect. "Your most obedient, sir," said the old snan, stiffly.

After that neither spoke for some time and the old butler glided about like a oat, helping both of them, especially the one, to various delicacies fr •urn iun. iu TMiuua uwiwhsw from DM

side table. When he 'had stuflfed them pretty well, he retired softly and listened at the door. Neither of the gentlemen was in a hurry to break the fefc each waited for the other.

W*lter»made the first remark—"What delicious tea!" "As good as where you come from Inquired Colonel Clifford, insidiously. "A deal better," said Walter. "By-tbe-tyV'said the Colonel "where do vou come from

Walter mentioned the town. "You astonish me," fcaid the Colonel. **I made sate you had been enjoying the pleasures of the capital." "My purse wouldn't have stood that, •Ir." "Very few purses can," said Colonel Clifford. Then, in an off-hand way, "Hare yon brought her along with you?" "Certainly not," said Walter, off his guard. "Her? Who?" "Why, the girl that decoyed you from iyour father's roof." "No girl deooyed me from here, air, npon my honor." *'Whom are we talking about, then? "Who is kerf* "Her? Why, Lucy Monckton." "And who is Luey Monckton V' "Why, the girl I fell in love with, and ,iahe deceived me nicely bat I found her in time." "Andeo von came home to snivel 4 "No, sir,! didn't I'm not such a muff.

I'm too much your eon to love any 'IvtHoaa lon^ when I have learned to d*» came home to apologise, id to place myself under jour orders, «df you will forgive me, and find IjMung useful for me to do."

"So I will, my boy there's my hand. Now out with it. What did you go for, since it wasn't a petticoat "Well, sir, I am afraid I shall offend

y^Not

a bit of it, aftir I've given you

my hand. Come, now, what was it 7" Walter pondered and hesitated, but at last hit upon away to explain. "Sir," said he, "until I was six .years old they used to give me peaches from Oddington House but one fine day the supply stopped, and I uttered a small howl to my nurse. Old John heard me, and told me Oddington was sold, house, garden, estate and all."

Colonel Clifford snorted. Walter resumed, modestly but firmly: "I was thirteen I used to fish in a brook that ran near Drayton Park. One day I Was fishing there, when a brown velveteen cap stopped me, and told me I was trespassing. 'Trespassing I. 'I have fished here all my life I Walter Clifford, and this belongs to my father.' 'Well,' said the man, 'I've heerd it did belong to Colonel Clifford onst, but nowit belongs to Muster Mills so you must fish in your own water, young gentleman, and leave ourn to us as owns it.' Till I was eighteen I used to shoot snipes in a rusby bottom near Calverley Church. One day a fellow in black velveteen, and gaiters up to his middle, warned me out of that in the name of Muster Cannon."

Colonel Clifford started up in great emotion. "Sell Clifford Hall, where I was born, and you were bern, and everybody was born! Those estates I sold were only outlying properties." "They were beautiful ones," said Walter "I never see such peaches now." "As you did when you were six years old," suggested the Colonel. "No, nor you never will. I've been aix myself. Lord knows when it was, though!" "But, sir. I don't see any such trout, and no sucn haunts*gpr snipe." "Do you mean to insult me?" cried the Colonel, rather suddenly. "This is what we are come to now. Here's a brat of six begins taking notes against his own father and he improves on the Scotch poet-r-he doesn't print 'em. No, heaccumulates them cannily until he is twenty, but never says a word. He loads his gun up to the muzzle, and waits, as the years roll on, with his linstock in his hand, and one fine day at breakfast he fires his treble charge of grape-shot at his own father."

This was delivered so loudly that John feared a quarrel, and to interrupt it, put in his head, and said, mighty innocently: "Did you call, sir? Can I do anything for yeu, sir

Yes: go to the devil!" John went, but not down-stairs, as suggested—a mere lateral movement that ended at the key-hole. "Well, but, sir,"said reproachfully, "it was you elicited my viows*" "Confound your views, sir, and your impudence! You're in the right, and I am in the wrong" (this admission with a more ill-used tone than ever "It's the race-horses. Ring the bel! What sawneys you young fellows are! it used not to take six minutes to ring a bell when I was your age."

Walter, thus stimulated, sprang to the bell-rope, and pulled it all down to the ground with a single gesture.

The Colonel burst out laughing, and that did him good and Mr. Baker answered the bell like lightning be quite forgot that the bell must have rung fifty yaras from the spot where he was enjoy ing the dialogue. "Send me thestewftgd, John I saw him pass the window."

Meantime the Colonel marched up and down with considerable agitation. Walter, who had a filial heart, felt very uneasy, aad said, timidly, "I ant truly sorry, father, that I answered your ques tions so bluntly." "I'm not, then," said the Colonel. hold him to be less than a man who flies from the truth, whether it comes from young lips or old. I have faded cavalry, sir, and lean face the truth."

At this moment the steward entered. "Jackson," said the Colonel, in the very same tone he was speaking in "put up my race-horses to auction by public aagot to run at jolt at N

vertlaement." "But, sir, Jenny has Derby, and the brown colt at Nottingham. and the six-year-old gelding at a handicap at Chester, and the chestnut is entered for the SyUinger next year." "Sell them with their engagements." "And the trainer, sir?" "Give him his warning." "And the jockey "Discharge him on the spot, and take him by the ear out of the premises before he poisons the lot. Keep one of «... my groom do

But who is to take them to the place of auction, air?" "Nobody* I'll have the auction here, and sell them where tbey stand. Submit all your books of account to this young gentleman."

The steward looked a little blue, ami Walter remonstrated gently. "To me, father?" "Why, yon can cipher, cant ye?" "Rather: it Is the Mat thing I do." "And yon have been in trade, haven't ye?*' "Why, jw." 'iTbeo'you will detect plenty of swindles, if you find out one in ten. Above all, cat down my expenditure to my income. A gentleman of the nineteenth century, sharpened by trade, can easily do that. Sell Cliffbrd Hall? I'd rather live on the rabbits and the pigeons and the black-birds, and the carp in the

Krrow."

said am

Colonel Clifford, who had been drumming on the table all this time, looked uneasy, and muttered, with some little air of compunction: "They have plucked my feathers deucedly, that's a fact.

Hang that fellow Stevens, persuading me to keep race-horses it's all his fault. Well, sir, proceed with your observations." "Well, I inquired who could afford to buy what we were too poor to keep, and 1 found these wealthy purchasers were all in trade, not one of them a gentleman." "You might have guessed that," said Colonel Clifford: "it is as much as a gentleman can do to live out of jail nowadays." "Yes, sir,'' said Walter. "Cotton had bought one of these estates, tallow another, and lucifer-matcbes the other." "Plague take them all three!" roared the Colonel. "Well, then, sir," said Waiter, "I could not help thinking there must be some magic in trade, and I had better go into it. I didn't think yoa would consent to that. I wasn't game to defy you: so I did a meanish thing, and si' away into a merchant's office. "And made your fortune in three months?" inquired the Colonel. "No, I didn't aad don't think trade is the thing for me. I saw a deal of avarice and meanness, and a thief of a clerk got his master to suspeet me of dishonesty so I snapped my fingers at them all, and here I am. But," said the poor young fellow, "I do wish, father, you woulfl put me into something where I can make a little money, so that when this estate comes to be sold, I may be the purchaser."

nd, and drive to church in the wheel-

So for a time Walter administered his father's estate, and it was very instructive. Oh! the petty frauds—the swindles of agency—a term which, to be sure, is derived from the Latin word "agere," to do —the oobweb of petty commissions—the flat bribes the smooth hush-money!

Walter soon cut the expenses down to the income, which was ample, and even paid off the one mortgage that encumbered thin noble estate at five per cent., only four per cent, of which was really fingered bv the mortgage the balance went to a go-between, though no go-be-tween was ever wanted, for any solicitor in the country would have found the money in a week at four per oent.

The old gentleman was delighted, and engaged his ewn son as steward at a liberal salary and so Walter Clifford fojind employment and a fair income without going away from home again.

CHAPTER Y. MABY'S PBRXL.

Whilst Mr. Bart ley's business was improving under Hope's management, Hope himself was groaning under his entire separation from his daughter.,, Hartley had promised him this shou^ not be but among Hope's good qu ties was a singular fidelity to hist ployes, and he was also a man who nf broke his word. So when Bartley ed him that the true parentage of Hope—now called Mary Bartley-£,peoi never be disguised unless her me of him was interrupted and puzzl fore she grew older, and that she a£ as the world must be made to bf, Bartley was her father, he assented it was two years before he vent come near his own daughter.

But he demanded to see her at tance, himself unseen, and this ranged. He provided himself powerful binocular of the kind now used at sea, instead of the un old telosoope, and the little girl' paraded by the nurse, who was in secret. She played about in the sigS/oi this strange spy. She was plump, was rosy, she was full of lifo and spw». Joy filled the father's heart but then came a bitter pang to think that he had faded out of her joyous life by-and-by he could see her no longer, for a mist came from his henrt to his eyes he bowed his head and went back to his business, his prosperity and his solitude. These experiments were repeated at times. Moreover. Bartley had the tact never to write to nim on business without telling him something about his

and stood wrapt in thought strange 1c

dreamy intelligence, and both men could see she was searching the past for that voioe.

Bartley drew back, that the girl might

spoke

him to take an early dinner and talk business. Before he left he saw his child more than once indeed, Bartley paraded her accomplishments. She

BlayedShetland

the piano to Hope she rode her ttfe pony for Hope she danced a minuet with a singular grace for so young a girl she conversed with her governess in French, or something very like it, and she worked a little sewing maohine, all to please the strange gentleman: and whatever she was asked to do she did with a winning smile, and without a particle of false modesty, or the real egotism which is at the bottom of false modesty.

Anybody who knew William Hope intimately might almost recognise his daughter in this versatile little mind with its faculty of learning so many dissimilar things.

Hope left for the Continent with a

Eeart.

roud heart, a joyful heart, and %sore She was loi leart.

a

She was vely, she was h\

she was happy, she was accompli but she was his no looser, not el name her love was being galnei stranger, and there was a barrier as well as the English Channel, be William Hope and bis own

It would weary the reader were detail the small events bearing oyt! part of the story which took placa.dc ing the next five years. They migot summed up thus: That William got a peep at his daughter now and and, making a series of subtle ex meats by variag his voice as mu possible, confused and nulifled memory of that voioe to all appearance. In due course, however, father and daughter were brought into natural contact hy the last thing that seemed likely to do it, via, by Bartley's avarice. Hartley's legitimate badness at home and abroad could not ran alone. So he invited Hope to England to guide him in what he loved better than steady business, via, speculation. The truth Is, Bartley could execute, but had few original Ideas. Hope had plenty, and sound ones, though not common ones. Hope directed the purchase of convertible securities on thts principle Select good ones avoid time bargains, which Introduce a distinct element of risk and bay largely at every panic not founded on a it reason or oat of propotion.

A great district bank broke.

The shares of a great district railway went down thirty per cent. Hope bade his employer and parti observe that this was rank delusion, the dividends of the railway were not lowered one per oent. by the failure of that bank, nor cook!

TERRS! HAtJTE SATOJTOAY EVWKN9 MATT.

at

Syel

ight yeara old a foreign agent was required in Bartley's business, and Hope agreed to start this agency and keep it going till some more ordinary person could be intrusted to work it.

But be refused to leave England without seeing his daughter with his own eyes and hearing her voice. However, still faithful to his pledge, he prepared a disguise he actually grew a mustaohe and beard for this tender motive only, and changed his whole style of dress he wore a crimson necktie and dark green gloves with a plaid suit, which combination he abhored as a painter, and our respected readers abominate, for surely it was some such perverse combination that made a French dressmaker lift ber bands to heaven and say, "Quelle immoralitef" So then Bartley himself took his little girl for a walk, and met Mr. Hope in an appointed spot not far from his own house. Poor Hope saw them coming, and his heart beat high. "Ah!" said Bartley, feigning surprise "why, it's Mr. Hope. How do you do, Hope? This is my little girl. Mary, my dear, this is an old friend of mine. Give him your hand."

The girl looked in Hope's face and

Sm.

ve him her hand, and did not recognize "Eine girl for three years, isn't die?" Bald Bartley "healthy and strong, and quick at her lessons and, what's better still, she is a good girl, a very good girl." "Papa said the ohild, blushing, and hid her face behind Bartley's elbow, all but one eye, with which she watched the effect of these eulogies strange gentleman. "She is all a father could wish," said Hope tenderly.

Instantly the girl started from her sition. and stood wrapt in thought: her beautiful eyes wore a strange look of

tbey be: the shareholders of the bank had shares in the railway, and. were compelled to force them on the market heaoe the fall in the shares. "But," said Hope, "those depreciated shares are now in tae hand»of men who can hold them, and will, too, until they return from this ridiculous 85 to their nomal value, which is from 105 to 115. Invest every shilling yon have got I shall." Bart ley invested £30,000, and cleared twenty per cent, in three months.

Example 2: There was a terrible accident on another railway, and part of the line broken up. Yast repairs needed. Shares fell twenty per cent. "Outof proportion," said Hope. "The sum for repairs will not deduct from the dividends oae tenth of the annual sum represented by the fall, and, in three months, fear of another such disaster will not keep a single man, woman, child, bullock, pig, or coal truck off that line. Put the pot on."

Bartley put the pot on and made fifteen per cent. Hope said to Bartley: "When an English spectator sends his money abroad at all, he goes wild altogether. He rushes at obscure transactions, and lends to Peru, or Guatemala, or Tierra del Fuego, or some shaky place knows nothing about. The inar maniac overlooks the contiof Europe, instead of studying it, seeing what countries they are and others risky. Now, why over-

Prussia? It is a country much iter governed than England, especially as regards great publio enterpreses and monopolies. For instance, the directors of a Prussian railway can not swindle the shareholders by false accounts, and passing off loans for ditidends. Against the frauds of directors, the English shareholder has only a sham security. He is invited to leave his home, and come two hundred miles to the directors' home, and vote in person. He doesn't do it. Why should he? In Prussia the Government protects the shareholder, and inspects the accounts severely. So much for the superior system of that country. Now, take a map. Here is Hamburg, the great port of the Continent, and Berlin, the great Continental centre and there is one railway only'between the two. What English railway can compare with this? The shares are at 150. But they must go to 300 in time unless the Prussian Government allows another railway, and that is not likely, and, if so, you will have two years to back out. This is the best permanent investment of its class that offers on the face of the globe."

Bartley invested timidly, but held for years, and the shares went over 300 be fore he sold. "Do not let your mind live in an island if your body does," was a favorite saying of William Hope: and we recommend it impartially to Britons and Bornese.

On one of Hope's visits Bartley complained he had nothing to do. "I can sit here and speculate. I want to be in something myself, I think I will take a farm just to occupy me and amuse me." •It"will not amuse you unless you lgtestea Hope. "And nobody can do that nowadays.

make money by it," sup

Farms don't pay." '.'Ploughing and sowing don't pay, but brains and money pay wherever found together." "What, on a farm?" "Why not, sir? You have only to go with the times. Observe the condition of produce: grain too cheap for a farmer because continents can export grain with little loss fruit dear meat dear, because cattle can not be driven and sailed with eut risk of life and loss of weight .agri cultural labor rising, and in winter un productive, because to farm means to

{ose

lowandsow.andreap

and mow, and

money. But meet those conditions. Breed cattle, sheep, and horses, and make the farm their feeding ground. Give fifty acres to fruit have a little factory on the land for winter use, and so utilize all your farm hands and the village women, who are cheaper laborers than town brats, and I think yon will make a little money in the form of money, besides what you make in grat uitous eggs, poultry, fruit, horses to ride and cart things for the house—items which seldom figure in a farmer's books as money, but stricter accountants know they are." "I'll do it," said Bartley, "if you'll be my neighbor, and work it with me, and watch the share market at home and abroad."

Hope acquiesced joyfully, to be near his daughter: and' he found a farm in Sussex, with hills for the sheep, short grass for the colts, enough arable land an for their purpose, and a grand sunny slope for their fruit trees, fruit bushes, and strawberries, with which last alone they paid the rent. "Then," said Hope, "farm laborers drink an ocean of beer. Now look at the retail price of beer: eighty per cent, over its cost, and yet deleterious which tells against your labor, the main expenses of a farm, you want beer to be slightly nourishing, and very inspiriting, not somniforous."

So they set up a malt bouse, and supplied all their own hands with genuine liquor on the truck system at a moderate but remunerate price, and the grains helped to feed their pigs. Hope's principle was this: Sell no produce in its primitive form if you change its form you make two profits. Do you grow barley# Malt it, and infuse it, ana sell the liquor for two small profits, one on the grain, and one on the infusion. Do yon grow grass? Turn it into flesh, and sell for two small profits, ane on the herb, and one on the animal.

And really, when backed by money, the results seemed to justify his princi pie.

Hope lived by himself, but not far from his child, and often, when she went abroad his loving eyes watched ber every movement through his binocular, which might be desocftbed as an opera-

flass

ten inches long, with a small field, nt teleeeopio power. Grace Hope, Whom we now call Mary Bartley, since everybody but her father, who generally avoided her name, called her so, wan well-grown girl of thirteen, healthy, happy, beautiful, and accomplished. She was the germ of a woman, and could detect who loved her. She saw in Hope an affection she thought ex traordinaty, but instinct told her it was not like a young man's love, and she accepted it with complacency, and returnedit quietly, with now and then a gush, for sbecouTa gush, and why not "Far from as and from our friends be the frigid philosophy"—of a girl who cant gash.

Hope himself was loyal and guarded, and kept his affection within bounds and a sore straggle it was. He never allowed himself to kiss ber, though be was sore tempted cne day, when be bought ber a creans-colored pony, and she flung her arms round bis neck before Mr. Bartley and kissed him eagerly bat he was so bashful that the girl laughed at him, abd said, half pertly, "Excuse the liberty, bat if you will be sach a dock.

demonstrative as veryvoung ladies bat be has as much real affection for you as yoa have for him."

"Then he has a good deal, papa," said she, sweetly, But the men were silent, and Mary looked to one and the othert and seemed a little puzzled.

The great analysis that have dealt microecopisally with commonplace situations would revel in this one, and give you a curious volume of small incidents like the above, and vivisect the father's heart with patient skill. But we poer dramatists, taught by impatient audiences to move on, and taught by those great professors of verbosity, our female novelist and nine-tenths of our male, that it is just possible for "masterly inactivity," alias Blugglsh narrative, creeping through sorry flags and rushes with one lily in ten pages, to become a bore, are driven on to salient facts, and must trust a little to our reader's intelligence to ponder on the singular situation of Mary Bartley and her two fathers.

One morning Mary Bartley and her governess and en which made it necessary to cross a certain brook, or rivalet, called the Lyn. This was a rapid stream, and in places

fretty

deep but in one particular part was shallow, and crossed by large steppiag-stones, two-thirds ol which were generally above water. The village girls, including Mary Bartley, used all to trip over these stones, and think nothing of it, though the brook went past at a fine rate, and gradually widened and deepened, at its flowed till it reached a downwrisht fall after that, running no longer down a decline, it became rather a languid stream.

Mary and her governess came to this ford and found it swollen by recent rains, and foaming and curling round the stepping-stones, and their tops only were out of the water now.

The governess at once objected to pass this current. "Well, but," said Marry, "the other way is a mile round, and papa expects us to be punctual at mealB, ana I am, oh se hungry! Dear Miss Evertt, I have crossed it a hundred times." "But the water is so deep." "It is deeper than usual but see, it is only up to my knee. I could cross it without the stones. You go round, dear, and I'll explain against you come home." "Not until I've seen you safe over." "That you will soon see," said tbe girl, and fearing a more autboritive interference, she gataered up her skirts and planted one dainty foot on the first step-ping-stone, another on the next, and so on to the Fourth and if she had been a boy Bhe would have cleared them all. But holding her skirts instead of keeping her arms to balance herself, and wearing idiotic shoes, her heelH slipped on the fifth stone which was rather slimy and she fell into tbe middle of the current with a little scream.

To her amazement she found that the stream,though shallow, carried her off her feet, and though she recovered them, she could not keep them, bat was alternately up and down. and driven along, all the time floundering. Oh, then she soreamed with terror, and the poor governess ran screaming too, ana making idle clutches from the bank, but powerless to aid.

Then, as the current deepened, the poor girl lost her feet altogether, and was carried on to the deep water, flinging her arms high and screaming, but powerless. At first she was buoyed up by her olothes, and particularly by a petticoat of some material that did not drink water. But as her other clothes became soaked and he*vy, she sank to her chin, and death suited her in the face.

She lost hope, and being no common spirit, she gained resignation. she left screaming, and said to Everett, "Pray forme."

But tbe next moment hope revived, and fear with it—this is a law of nature --for a man, bareheaded and his hair flying, came galloping on a barebacked psny, shouting and scitoaming with terror louder than both' the women. He urged the pony furiously to tbe stream then the beast planted bis feet together, and with the impulse thus given Hope threw himself over tbe pony's head into the water, and bad bis arm round his child in a moment. He lashed out with the other hand across the stream. But it was so powerful now as it neared the lasher that they made far more onward to destruction than they did across the stream still they did near the bank a little. But the lasher roared nearer and nearer, and the stream pulled them to it with iron force. They were close to it now. Then a willow bough gave them one chance. Hope graspeait, and pulled with iron strength. From the bougb he got a branch, and finally clutched tbe stem of the tree, just as his feet were lifted up by the rushing water, and betb lives bung upon that willow tree. The girl was on his left arm, and his right arm round the willow. "lrsce," said he, feigning calmness. "Put your arm aroand my neck, Mary." "Yes, deai," said she, firmly. "Now don't hurry yourself—there's no danger: move slowly across me, and hold my right arm very tight."

Sbe did so. "Now take hold of the bank with ybtir left hand but don't let go of me." "Yes. dear," said the little heroine, whose fear was gone now sbe had Hope to take care of her.

Then Hope clutched the tree with his left band, poshed Mary on shore with his right, and very soon had her in his arms on terra flrma.

But now came a change that confounded Mary Bartley, to whom a man was a very superior being only not always intelligible.

The brave man fell to shaking like an aspen leaf the strong man to sobbing and gasping, and tUsing tbe girl wildly. "Ob, my child! my chfra!"

Then Mary of course, must gulp and cry a little for sympathy but her quickchanging spirit soon shook it off, and she patted his cheek and kissed him, and then began to comfort bim, if you please. "Good, dear, kind Mr. Hope," said she. "La!don't go on like that. Yon were so brave in tbe water, and now the danger is over. I've had a ducking, that is ul. Ha! ha 1 ha!" and tbe little wretch began to laugh.

Hope looked amazed: neither his heart nor his sex woald let him change his mood so swiftly. "Oh, my child," said he, "how can you laugh Yoa have been near eternity, and if yon had been lost, what should I— On God t"

Mary turned very grave. Yes," said she. "I have been near eternity. It would not have mattered to yon—yoa are such a good man—but I should have eaagbt it for disobedienee. But dear Mr. Hope, let me tell yon that tbe moment you pat yoar arm round me I felt just ss safe in the water as on dry land so yoa see I have had longer to get over It than yoa have that accounts fer my laughing. No, it doesn't I'm a giddy, ling girl, with no depth of character not worthy of all this affection. Why does everybody love me? They ought to be ashamed of themselves."

Hope told her she was a little angel, and everybody was right to love her indeed, they deserved to be laogbed at If tbey did

n°t-

Mary fixed on the word angel. "If I fess an angel," she said, "I shouldn't be huugry, and I am, awfully. Oh, please

come home papa is so punctual. Mr.. Hope, are you going to tell papa Because if you are, just take me and throwr me in again. I'd rather be drowned tban*» scolded." (This with a defiant attitude^ and flashing eyes.) "No, nc," said Hope "I will not tell him, to vex him, and get you scolded." "Then let us run home."

She took his hand, and he ran with her like a playmate, and oh! the fathers*1 heart leaped and glowed at this sweet companionship after danger and terror.

When they got" near the house Mafy Bartley began to Walk and think. Shehad a very thinking countenance attimes, and Hope watched her, and wondered what were her thoughts. She was very grave, so probably she was thinking how very near she had been to ther other worldr

Standing on the door-step, whilst he* stood on the gravel, she let him knovr%H. her thoughts. All her life, and even ati." this tender eyes they had been blue. Bhe put her waist, and sbe. bent those searching^, eyes on William Hope. 'jM "Mr. Hope," said she, in a resolute? sort of way. "My dear," said he, eagerly. "You love me better than papa does^ that's all."

And havingadministered this informs-* t|pn as a dry fact that might be worth* looking into at. leisure, sbe passeckt thoughtfully into the house. [To be continued in The Mail next week.]

1 '•1 11

PALPITATION or rapid beating of the»~ heart followed by periods of completecessation, is caused chiefly by nervousness and bad blood. If the disease i& neglected it is liable to result seriously, especially at a time of sudden excite-^ •nt. Purify the blood, strengthen the^,. oscular and nervous system, governing the heart, by using Dr. Guysott's* Yellow Dock and Sarsaparilla, and you. will soon be rid of every trace of affection. 2

im nnnnvrnimnnTTmninTr

ATHLOFHOROS IS a novel word to most people who speak tho English language. Th»||p Oreeks used it centuries ago, meaning by ltl# "THE PRIZE-BEAREB." FP

ATHLOPHOROS is the first and only medicine which has carried off tho prize as the perfect remedy for Rheumatism and Neuralgia. like two relentless tyrants they have lor ages held their suffering victims in an iron |pl gTip. These poor sufferers have been aaBlavosHp in the power of their oppressors.

ATHLOPHOROS has entered the arena, en- iij gaged in conflict with the monsters, and won the jlf victory. As the competitors in the Grecian pi games of old could win only by the most severe trials •'. ,, of ability and endurance, so ATKUPHOBOS has won

ATHLOPHOROS IS a novelty, not only in name, but in its elements. It is unlike any preparation yet introduced.

ATHLOPHOROS acts on tho blood, muscles and Joints, removing the poison and acid from the blood, carries them out of the system.

ATHLOPHOROS is put up with consummate skill, and contains nothing that can possibly harm the most delicate constitution.

Now, do you want to suffer on and on? or do you want to be well?

:f

the prize, not alone by giving temporary relief, but by bringing an endurinir euro, as well, to those who 1.»... have suffered the excruciaang agonies of Rheum*tism and Neuralgia.

"Athlophoros" WILL Cure You If you cannot get ATHLOPHOROSof your drag-

gist, we will send It express paid, on receipt of regular price—one dollar per bottle. We preferthat you buy it from your druggist, but If he» hasn't It, do not be persuaded to try somethingelse, but order at oace from us as directed.

ATHLOPHOROS C0.?H2 WALL ST., NEW YORK. M. l. •uuimininmHi

(Continuedfrom but vieei.)

How Watch Cases are Made.

It is a fact not generally known that thei James Eosd Gold Watch Cases

tain more

really con­

pure gold

than many solid|,r'

gold cases The demand for these watcht cases has led to the manufacture of a vety poor grade of solid gold watch cases— low in quality, and deficient in quantity--{• These cases are made from 41 to 10 karats* and a 5 or 6 karat case is often sold for li2U or 14

karats. It is NOT economy to buy watch case so poor in quality that it will soon lose its color, or one so soil that it will lose its shape and fail to shut tight, thus letting in dust and damaging the works, or "one so thin that a slight blow will break: the crystal, and perhaps the movement. It IS economy to buy a

Watch Cast,

duce

James Bout Gold.

in which NONE of these thing®

ever occuSfeThis watch case is

meat—it

not an tzpcri~

Ifus been made nearly

thirty years-

HAZUSTOW,PA., Oct. 84,1882.

I sold two James Boss' Gold Watch Oases thirty yean ago, when they first came out, and they are itx. good condition yet One of them is carried by carpenter, Mr. L. W. Drake, of Eadeton, and onljr •hows tbe wear in one or two places the other tar Mr. Bowman, of Cunningham, Pa. and I can pro­

ose or both of these cases at any time. SYLVZRRXB EXOLB,

Unit (Mt iasp to K«Rtoa* WaUh

JaM SaM* «ad WaUk

JtutUr.

CUM FMIOTIM, FHTLS*-

Maklii tor kntiWM (hewtaf lMr»

CUMF««pkljt

ere »*U.

{To b* Continued.)

Wabash Scratches and Heb.

Sold by Ban tin Armstrong.

IN EY-wcr.T

DOES

WONDERFUL CURES OP If IPWEV DISEASES

AND

IYER COMPLAIHT8, Becaaso It acts oa the LIVER, BOWELS aatfR KIDSETS at tke

WMUBI.

Ttsnauso 1ft oIMSMS tb« system of the poisonons humors that develop* in Kidney sad TTri~

NMTR

TUIIMSBS.*T"

*jrm. Vihm. cat

By oaociac

Constipa*-TXetf

la BoetuoatUm, HemiricU,

we* Dtootdew and aU Female Cemptotnte. TJRBOLW PROOF or Tins. rr

vruut.

eraser crras

CONSTIPATION, PILES,

:t

and RHEUMATISM*

TSJOt ACTIO*

of aU tbe organ*

aad fttactions, thereby

CLEANSING the BLOOD

ussl urtng the normal power to throw off diaeaeeX. THOUSAND* OF OASE8

PERFECTLY CURED.

ndta,

$u UORIU on

ear, SOLS BY ntceems*

Dry oaa be seat by mall.

VtEUUS. TtickxSOStKfSt St Co..

Burlington, Vt.

S*a4 cusp fer Diary Aiaaaaae lor

I N E W

PITT/TS£YE5ALVE 43YRS OLD TO DM