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About The Eugene City guard. (Eugene City, Or.) 1870-1899 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 1882)
"A LITTLE (1O0SI." Then) are many charming Bentimonta nDflCtHl with clanBhip.and itennot be lenitxl that union in families is doligbt ful u witness; but of even such good thine t9 one may possibly have oo much. 1'Mt, thought young Hush Lestrange when hie grandfather Srootionutely intimated to him that the family of whioh he bad the honor to be tbe eldest bachelor representative, unan imously considered it his plain and ob :0g juty to marry his cousin Pauline. Hugh's father had been dead some five Tears, and his great-uncle's grandson, Pavdine's father, had fallen in the Franco-Prussian war; for the branch of tho Lestrange family to which she be longed was of French nationality, and had bu' recently migrated across the water. Ttiere had been a family con slsve, whereat it had been resolved and rried, neoi. con., that the common in terest, pecuniary and otherwise, of the bouse of Lestoouge, would be materially tdvsuee.1 by the matrimonial union of Ibetiro young people. The result of tfjis important conference being duly communicated to Hugh by bis grand father, and to Puuline by her mother, it was confidently expected that both cousins would regard tho alliance in tho saiae light as their seniors, and enact tbeir respective parts witll willing con currence. Indeed, so far as Pauline was concerned, there could bo nothing un usual or despotic to hor in this parental srrangoment of her future; for her French education and surroundings had accustomed her to the idea of family ar bitration in matrimonial affairs, and she was not, as are English girls, familiar with the notion of maidenly indepen dence. Shereceivod the iiews of tho proposed onion with calm acquiescence; ber cousin Huguos, as she cullod him, was not likely to prove an unkind hus band, and she was content to let matters drift quietly to the proposed consumma tion. Not so, however, the bridegroom- elect. Hugh Lestrange felt a distinct and deliberate injury bad been done bim. and be resolved to resent it. But being a yonng iouow oi amiaoio nature, hating arguments and dreading open rupturo, he confined tho expression of bis dissatisfaction to a few words of mild remonstrance, secretly determining tho while to ho conduct his part of the affair as to demonstrate unmistakably alike to Pauline's mother and to the young girl herself his ktter inability to enter into tbe spirit of the new character allotted to mm. It was arranged that tho necessary proposal should bo made, and the court ship inaugurated at a certain country honso to wuien, during me nunung sea' son. both parties had been invited. Pauline bad but lately quitted her school in Paris. Hugh had not long loft Ox ford, and some years had elapsed since their last meetiug. Under such circum stances this renewal of old tics with a new intent was regarded by thp fam ily confederation as an event of critical interest. Ou the evening of the day which wit nessed the arrival at Shireton Manor of Madame Lestrange and her daughter, Hugh was deputed to conduct Pauline to dinner; and as the two cousins placed themselves side by side at the table many inquiring and speculative glances were turned toward tuem by tnose oi tne guests who bad been admitted to tbe iwwrnt. Indeod tbev were a coiiDle anv family might have been proud to escort to the altar. The young man, now in bis twenty-fifth year, was tall, Deantod, still wart and fair-faced; Pauline, thor oughly French in feature and complex ion, was not mean of stature; fcnd though tbo national petulant and impulsive tern Derament showed itself in the curves of her lips, tho truthful steadfastness of hor hrowu eyes stood sponsor lor a Heart that was not empty of English blood. What a pity it was that, being so hand some a couple, and carrying with them the good wishes of all tbeir mutual rela tives, and a fine inheritance to boot, they could not find each other charming. But fate will have her way. Throughout tho whole of that critical dinner, young Lestrange, meditating on bis wrongs, was unsociable, monosyllabio and un pleasant. Pauline, disposed at first to accept with affability suou atlectionate advances as her cousin might make, when Bhe perceived that none were vouchsafed, assumed a frosty reserve, and stood aloof on her dignity. During two hours five courses and dessert the pair vat side by side, prim, morose and mutually uncivil; and when the hostess rosea thorough misliking had been es tablished. The ino'dents of tho remain der of the eveuiug oonfirmed the opinion each had formed of tho other. The ice froze harder and harder over the hearts of both; and before Pauline retired for tbe night, she disburdened her mind to her mother in voluble French, very much after the following fashion: "Mamma, it ia perfectly useless to tell me to marry Hughes; he is altogttber odious and insupportable. As for him, he hates me; that you must all have Been plainly enough. He hardly spoke two words to mo all dinner time; and di reo.ly he saw me go to thopiano bo went off with Ce.pt. Lovell. He thinks him self too good for me, no doubt; von can see how abominably conceited be is by the contemptuous way in which he looked at everybody, and by his air of ill-bred reserve. , "But, Pauline, dearest," pleaded Madame Lestrange, deeply chagrined, "suppose this all arises from shyness on his part! Remember his position is father a difficult one; and a young man brought op in English ways, as be his been, n:ay feel more embarrassed than would a Frenchman under similar cir cumstances." "Awkwardness is not charming," re turned Pauline,"and a .shy man is hardly better than a rmle one. However, I will give him another chance to-morrow; but if he is not nicer at breakfast and luncheon than he has shown himself at dinner, I will have nothing more to do with him. He is not the only husband to bo had in the world, I suppose; and I am but eighteen after all, and just as good looking aa other girls. Good night, dear mamma." And with a part ing kiss and satisfied glance in the nirror, Pauline passed light-hearted to her chamber. The next day things wore no better an "pact, and made mademoiselle's second denunciation of her intended spouse was Unequivocal and decisive. Hugh, on his j Part, saw reason to congratulate himself OH iha Mnru xm tia.1 ailnrttad an.l hpQ I he quitted the smoking room at mid- J night he had accepted friend's invita tion to leave Shireton Manor on the morrow for more congenial joys elsewhere. "Certainly," said tho recalcitrant young man, as he extinguished his candle, "I have acted wisely in getting out of this business. I should have been miserable for life if I had given in. What a monstrons thing it is in this country for a man's relatives to take on themselves tho disposal of his liberty in such sn outrageous way as this! Pauline is the last girl in the world to suit me, with her prim affection and coyness, aud her ridiculous air of petito rcine. I be lieve she has not an idea in her mind these French-bred young women never have and she doesn't know how to be natural and sociable and sympathetic Whenever my time does come to turn benedick, my wife shall be just as unlike madamoiselle ma couslne as pos sible. So there was an eud to this most ex cellent match, to the iufinito disgust, vexation and dismay of the intriguing parties. Hugh communicated to his grandfather in resectful terms, but witll firm expressions, his absolute repug nance to the proposed allianoe, and hut unalterable resolution to undergo tho worst that might happen rather than to submit to it. And Pauline declared with much fervor that, rather than per form her part in the contract, she would be out to pieces or burnod alive. In the fuce of such obstacles no more could be done, aud after sundry futilo re proaches and laments the family scheme was sbandonod. Hugh was admitted to be a free man and Madamo Lestrange be gan to turn ber thoughts to the pursuit of some more eligible parts. But the cousins, however, widely separated from a matrimonial point of view, were cousins still, and the unavoid able failure of mutually cherished hopes could not be permitted to effect an es trangement between the two branches of the family. Early in the spring Pauline and her mothor re-appeared in London, aud thither also came her only brothor Jacques, but recently emancipated from the bonds of Alma Mater. Now Jacques was the cliosen par ttcular friend of his cousin Hugh, and although 'being the younger man, ho had entered the university later, they had during more than a year been fellow-students at tne same hall, aud in separable allies in all the pursuits BBd interests of college life. Therefore, im mediately upon his arrival in town, Jacques sought out his cousin, and within half an hour of their meetiug the younger Lestrange was in possession of the details of the family machinations and the fiasco consequent thereupon. "I heard something about tho affair from homo, said Jacques, "but in such a vague way that I could make nothing of it. However, we need not trouble ourselves about the thing now, and I suppose you won't let it make any differ ence to you. Are you going to liarty Leigh son Ihursdayr "Upon my word," answered Hugh meditatively. I don t know, i was going, but I hear Pauline and your mother will Je there, and that seems awkward, doesn t it.' "My good follow, you don't nictn to say you are going to cut us on account of this untoward affair? Yon will have everybody gossiping about the thing if yon behave so ridiculously ,and you may injure Pauline's chances in a way that you don't know of. Why should people know there has been anything contem plated between yon? All sorts of tales will bo told.a hundred times worse.every one of them, than the truth ;?and no one need guess anything at all if only you conduct' yourself rationally and in a nat ural manner. And, really, I don't see why you should dislike meeting i'au line. There has been no regular quar rel between you, no jilting, or jealousy or anything of that kind; it was a simple mutual dissent from certain views, en tertained for you by older people who ought to have been wiser. Besides, it all happened about four months ago and the entire scheme has been dropped. Were I you I would not only go to Lady Leigh's ball, but I would dance with Pauliue. iust to show friendliness and a disposition to put things back on the old footing.' This discussion ended as Jacques wished. Hugh promised not to absent himself from the ball in question, and he kept his word. It was ono of the first balls of tho season, and was well a tend ed. Pauline seemed to be a great sue cess and danced nnweariedly. But shortly after supper, as Hugh, having handed'his last partner to her seat.stood idle a moment by a doorway, his sur prise was great by being tapped lightly on the arm by Pauline's fan, and hearing ber say, as though echoing her brother's advice: "When are you going to ask me to dance, Cousin Hiighues? I have just this waltz froe, if you like." Then in lower tones: "Do not scorn to avoid me; there is no need for us to be strangers to each other on account of what has oc curred. People will notice it, mamma says." What could Hugh do? Impossible to refuse, and beside, whether he danced with her or not mattered nothing; their engagement had Iron formally annulled and no attention he paid her could be misinterpreted. After all, she was a handsome girl, and supportable enough for a mere conisin. A cousin may be tolerated and even danced with very agreeably, provided one is not expected to make her one's oompanion for life. So Hugh resolved to be pleasant. Per haps, indeed, poor girl, be owed her some amends for his part in the recent failure of the family plot; at any rate, they stood now in no false light together, and there was, therefore, no reason for observing constriut or restraint in his manner toward ber. And so the next minute the young man's arm was around Pauline's waist, and the pair were whirling together amicably down the room. Thov paused at length by a conserva tory, and Hugh found his partner a seat beneath a tall tree fern. "What a splendid waltzer you are! he aaid graciously. "Did they teach you that in Paris? She answored pleasantly, with a man ner so unaffected, and a smile so bright, that Hugh recalled with wondermout tbe stiff primrose which had characterised ber every gesture and word when last they met. How, be asked himself, pou ia four short mtfntht have broogbt about to striking a difference? Their talk flowed gaily on, fcr Bagh melted and warmed under the influence of his companion's gracious manner; un til Pauline, being in request for another danoe, dismissed her cousin with a part ing intimation that she hoed to meet him the following evening at tho house of a mutual friend. "We shall be there early," said she with an ingenious air. "If you like to come by 10 o'clock I can give you the first quadrille." Hugh went home bewildeied; and, en tering bis room in tho gray morning twi light, threw himself into an easy chair aud meditated there till auurisa. What! This girl, so mindless, so wordless, so prudish, so unsympathetic, whom a mistakeu devotion to the in terest of kinship would have forced upon him ai a wife, bad suddenly trans formed her entire uatnre, nud become genial, frank, intelligent, charming! Hugh could make nothing of the mys tery. It did not occur to him that he too must have appeared to l'au'iuo nu der a new and very different aspect from that presonted by the gruff snd u nam id ble young man who had been offered her for a husband. Lot that have been as it may, however, it is not ou record that Mademoiselle Leatraugo made any observation of this kind to her mother. Lady Leigh's ball was but the first of a goodly number of dunces and "at homes" at which tho cousins were des tined to meet. Hugh told himself that to attempt avoiding such meetings would bo childish and affected; and that, more over, as Panlino showed no eviJenee of embarrassment or annoyauce in his presence, but, on the contrary, a most natural and perfect gayety of tpeecb and manner, ho ought not to cousulcr him self an obstaole to her enjoyment. One cirenmstance only began, little by little, to disturb the iwaccful equa nimity of Hugh's existence. Tliero was a certain Colonel Spiers Oordon, a tall, handsome officer of the hussars, with whom Pauline danced much, who rode often beside her in tho park, and whose presence at Madamo Lcstrange's after noon tea was not infrequent. It was, Hugh admitted to himsolf, supremely ridiculoiu to feel annoyod by Btich pal try incidents as these; for tho colonel was a man of the best reputation person ally, and his pedigree and fortune were all that May fair could desire. Hugh ex amined his mind deeply on the subject, and found there nothing to account for the incipient mistrust and discomfort which this acquaintance caused him. Pauline was his cousin, certainly, but in tho third degree only, and his interest in her welfare was comparatively remote and of 'a merely friendly character. Donbtless his uneasiness arose from the incongruity presented to his mind by the idea of a marriage possibly taking pluco -between so young a girl aud the colonel; for the latter must certainly have at tained bis fortieth year, while she was not yet nineteen. Hugh had sufficient regard for his cousin to feel Borne soiici tilde for her happiness as a wife, and to wish for her a husband at least more suitable in ago than this gallant hussar. Young Lestrango was not a little com forted at having thus satisfactorily solved tho secret of his disquietude. It had looked at the outset so suspiciously like a lutent flame of jealousy, that to feel assured of the hurnilossuess of its true uature was most gratifying. To have been jealous, even in the smallest de gree, would have implied the existence of a feeling in regard to Pauline which it was absolutely and eternally impossi ble he should ever entertain; and he was well acquainted with the fact that Bhe, on her part, held similar immutable views in respect of himsolf. One brilliant May noontido, Madomoi Bolle Lestrange. entering the breakfast- room on her return from her morning ride, found ber mother apparently ab sorbed in meditation over a letter which lay open on a table at her elbow beside a enp of untasted cuoooiute. When she saw Pauline sho started slightly, and re folded bor letter, but, obsorving her daughter s eye upon it as she did so, said lightly: "From Colonel Gordon, dearest." "No bad news, I hope?" asked Pau line in the same tone, gathering up tho folds of her habit, and contemplating the splashes upon it. With a smile, Madame Lsstrange put the letter into her daughter's band. Paulino read it hastily, tho rosy color gathering brightly over her face and throat; then, turning agaiu to her mother, she said in a low, tremulous tone: "So he wants me to be Madame Spiers Gordon." "They call it 'Mrs.' in this country," replied her mother correctively, and with au expression of playfulness. "Well, mamma, will vou please say 'No?'" "No!" echoed Madamo Lestrango, as touished. "Surely, my dearest, you don't mean to refuse such an offer as this." "Why should I accept it?" returned Paulino. ' I do not care for him as I ought to care for a husband, and it would not be right for me to say 'Yes.' " "You plunge me in despair, Pauline; this is the second most excellent chance you have bad within four months, and you decline them both unconditionally. Tell me, my child, is there auy motive fur this behavior on your part V Do yon can you be thinking of anybody else?" As she spoke, Madam Lestrango rose and took her daughter's hand caress ingly in ber own. Bat there was noemo tion in Pauline's gay rejoinder. "Dear mamma, of course not. I don't want to marry Colonel Oordon, that's all. Is it so very inexplicable?" "And you would not marry Hugh, either; such a charming, intelligent young man, too, and exactly suited to you in every way. Estelle difficile, outte chore, Pauline?" Pauline turned abruptly awsy and seated herself by the window. "I wish Hughes nad always been what he is now," she exclaimed almost fiercely. "Quedis-tu la?" cried ber mother, uon wing ner ears. "Why. that was his own fault I said 1 hated him," continued tbe giil still look ing swsy from her mother; "be chose to make himself rade and disagreeable, and of course I thought him odious then! But ever since we have been bere be lias been quite, quite different, and notody would suppose he was the samo man. There! I have said too much but I conldn t help it. You must keep my seer t, mamma, and tell Col. Gordon thtt Po line is a spoil d child and won't marry." Madame Lestrange eangbt kor daughter impulsively in ber arms. 1 "My poor darling child, never did I dream oi sucu a romance as this! leu me, tell thy good mothor, thou wouldst not say 'No' to Hughes would he but ask thee of us now." Paulino burst into a shower of passion ate tears. "MalheureiiM enfant!" cried Madame Lestrange, "what can wo do for thee? It U too late!" Precisely at this critical moment tho door of tho room was opened aud brother Jacques walksd in. "Why," cried he standing agahst, Mother-Pauline? yo'y atil done?" "Pauline i a little goose," answered Madame, with a tearful effort at play f nluess. "Col, (iordou has written tho most charming letter, asking my per mission to make her au offer of marriage and she will have nothing to say to bim." "Well, tliut's unlucky for him, certain ly,'' rejoined Jacques, "but what has my little sister got to cry about? Has she, perchance, been scolded for wanting to say unkind things to tho colonel?" "Of course not," replied his mother uneasily. "I told you sho was a little goose, that's all. Now run up stairs, Pauline, and change your dress, dear; and vou, Jacques, ring for tho luncheon tray." "Gitls are certainly odd creatures," said Jacques to himself, as ho lighted a cigar on tho doorstep that afternoon. "Fancy crying like Niobe becauso some body whom ono doesn't care alxiut wants to msrrv one!" What nn excess of heart!" " Ue strolled iuto tho park, and present ly at au accustomed rendezvous met bis friend Hugh, aud forthwith related tho episode, "So yon think she has refused him definitively?" asked the elder cousin wheu tho story was finished. "I understand so, certainly. Aud it is easy to see thut by doing so she has great ly vexed my mother. It wan au excellent proposal, you see.' "I see nothing of the kind," replied Hugh with so mo heat. "Confound Col. Gordon! I never liked tho fellow from the beginning." "Supristi!" ejaculated Jacques; "what can ho have done to you? Ho'a a capital follow, and never had a bad word for uny man." Hugh threw away a cigar ho was smok ing. "I don't mean to say he ever offended or injund me personally," said he; lint I mean that I never liked his hoing so much with your sister. She ought to marry a younger man, Jacques," "Well, I dare say she will," returned Jacques carelessly. "Panlino is a greut favorite. But then, you know, the col onel's position is really first-rate." Hugh turned on his cousin utmost wrathfully. "Can't you leave the colonel ulone!" ho cried. "She's said 'No,' and I suppose there's an end of the thing." "My good Hughes, don't bo in such a deuce of a rago aliout it. Upon my word if I didn't know how matters stood bo tween you and Pauline, I would swear you were jealous." "I jealous! what-of Fauline! Con found it all. I've dropped my cigar somewhere! Givo me a light, old man." "Yes," repeated Jacques steadily, look ing his frioud full in tho face, as they paused a moment, while Hngh kindled a fresh cigar, "to tell you tho truth. I could certainly have thought you were jealous. Come; is it so? Have yon bo- t rayed yourself? "Look here, Jacques," old follow, said Hugh, after a pause of brief duration, occupod by several violent puffs at the ciirar. "1 don't know what it is to fool on this subject; and, upon my honor, if I am jealous, you have found it out Drst. The fact is, Jacques, can yon keep a eeoret?" "I can when it's neoessary," returned his cousin, laconically. "Well, when they all wanted me to marry Pauline, you know, she took con siderable pains to make it evident to me that I didn't pleaso her, and, as you know also, sho expressed that opinion to ber mother. In fact, Bhe was so ex tremely distant and cold and and unaf fectionate, and put on suoh an air of "noli me tungere" toward mo, that I thought her a very unploasutit young person, and was muoh relieved to find my antipathy reciprocated. But the first time I metherin town at Lady Loigb's, you remember, she was totally changed charming, vivacious, full of smiles.and so she bus been ever since. I have seen her during the last six weeks under a perfectly new aspect, and perhaps, old man, if she hadn't been Pauline I might have been joalous of tho colonel." "What a drama iu two acts!" cried Jacques. "But is tho fact of this de lightful young woman's identity really an insuperable obstacle? Why not speak to her, or to my mother, now?" "Speak about what?" retirted Hugh. "Why should I go anil make a fool of myself? Don't you know that Pauline made up her mind long ago to look on me as a socond cousin only?" "I know Bhe did long ago," oriod Jacques, as a sudden light broke iu on him; "but why may not she also have come to look on you in a new light? Do you know it seems possible to me thut just such a change on her part may bo tbe explanation of those otherwise euigmutical tears, and of a certain tragio utterance of my mother's which caught my ear as I opened the door so oppor tunely. 'Cost trop tardl' she ssid. What could be too late if not a tardy re pentence on Panline's part, and a futile willingness to accept something she had ouce rejocted! Hugh, old , man, are you really in earnest this time? Do you really think you would bo happy with my sister?" "Upon my word, Jacques," answered Hugh, somewhat agitated, "I begin to believe that I cannot be happy without her; but if it hadn't been for this con founded colonel, I declare I don't think I should ever have found out the true state of the case!" "Then follow my advice, man, and let me take you np to dinner this evening. Now is your time; for, jndging from my own observations of Miss Pauline and tbe present general aspect of affairs, I would not mind venturing a consider- ithle sum on the successful issue of an appeal suit. Only be sure you know your own mind this time, for Pauline mav not be inclined to let yon off again, and yon might find y ur last state worse than yonr first if another repentance were to set in on your part." "Don t congratulate me too soon, old fellow. Of myself I am vara enoagb.but of Paaliae Ah, Jacques, perhaps if your people and mine Lad not lxen at so much trouble to bring ua together, we might have found one another aud fullmi in love natnrally! As it is, you see" "My good Hugh, I see nothing but a very logical and comprehensible state of things. Four months sgo when you were strangers, yon chiwo to exhibit yourself forgive me -in a -very un pleasant light; now Pauline know you better, and she has seen through Hie fraud you put on her. Our people made a mess of the thing, as people always do when they try to msuage the matrimo uial concerns of others. Lovo should be led, not driven; nnd when my turn comes let's hope they will show that they've learnt wisdom, and not get niaineuvriug on my behalf with any desirable young Krson. Well, it's ti:!K), and if we are to be at iiome in time for dinner wo ought to lie making tracks." Later on the same eventful day, in a remote corner of Madame Lcstrange's drawing room over two cups of post- iirandiul coffee, Hugh and Mademoisello 'auliuo privately arranged thoirowu lovo affairs very much to their individual satisfaction and to tho subsequent joy and gratulutiou of the parties secondarily concerned. And I only hope that the gal lull t and rejected colonel found balm for his dis appointment in the reflection that but for his timely intervention two yonng persons whom nature had designed for each other would probably have never told their lovo, and might hove gone on until tho end of this dispensation mis taking the ardor of Cupid's tlamo for the mild effulgence of cousinly nffection. A lover's tiisarressful Rup, A story about which there is a fascina tion which it is impossible to resist when yon hear men tell it is that of tho "Home of Hold." Somewhero iu southwestern New Mexico, in tho Sierra Madre, it is said there is a wonderful valley. Small, enclosed iu high rocky walls aud accessi ble only by a secret passage, which is kuown to but few, is this extraordinary fduce. It is about ton acres in extent, iss running through it a stream, which waters it thoroughly and makes it a per fect paradise, with its exquisite flowers and beautiful trees. In it are thousands of birds of the most beautiful plumage. Running across it is a lodge of puro gold about thirty feet wide, which glistens in tho sunlight like a great golden bolt. Tho stroain crosses this ledge, and,' as it runs, murmurs around blocks of yollow metal as other streams do around peb bles. The ledgo of gold is supposed to be solid gold and to run down into the center of the earth. Tho legend is of Indiun origin and around it cluster a number of Indian stories, iu which the name of tho ill-fated Montezuma occurs frequently. The descendants of the Aztecs believe firmly that the day will como when Montezuma will return and freo them from thn dominion of the descendants of tho Conquestadores. They believe that tie money necessary for this work will be taken from tbe Madro d'Oro. Tho socret of the entrance into the valley is carefully guarded by a tribe of Indians living near it. and among them it is only communicated to tho oldest mon, amid the solemn ceremonies of the medi cine lodgo. Having suoh a story to work upou thore is little wonder that the vivid imagination of tho Mexicans should have built upon it biles of mon who have found this wonderful place. One is that a certain Jose Alvaraz, while wandering through the mountains in search of game, saw tho valley from the top of the wall. Finding that lis could not hope to enter by climbing down, he took his abode with the Indians who guard the canyon leading into it. The daughter of the chief fell in love with him and betrayed the socret to him. Ex actly how she found it out they do not toll. Having boen shown the entrance, Joso wont in and would possibly have gotten away with some of the gold had lie not weighed himself down to such an extent that he could not got up the de clivity at the end of the passago. He was discovered and tho Indians sacri ficed bim ou the golden ledgo with all the terrible oeremonles of the old Aztec religion. She, in despair at losing him, threw liorsolf from tho high walls into the valley below. Hundreds of prospec tors have spent months of toil to find the Mudre d'Oro, but, it is scarcely neoessa ry to say, without success. Las (Jru zes ltepublican. Only the Manager. At a station on one of the railroads leading out of Dotroit, the train, had ar rived and departed tho other day, whon the station sgont, who had boen in the place about three weeks, and was looking for a call every hour to como to Dotroit and take charge of tho line, was ap proached by a quick, well-dressed man, smoking a cigar, whoaskod: "KAep you protty busy here?" "Yum, was tho jerky reply. "Business on the increase?" "Yum," again. "Do you run this stution?" asked tho quiet man, alter taking a tnrn on the platform. "Nobody else runs It!" growled the agent. "Have you got a patent car coupler?" "Oh, no." "Want special freight rates, I sup pose?" "No, sir." "I don't give you passes." "I don't want any." "Waiting for the next train ?" "Not particularly." "Want to charter a car?" "No." The agent left him on the platform and entered his office and busied him self for half an hour, when the quiet man looked in on him and asked: "What's the salary of a position like this?" "That's my business," was the prompt reply. "What's the inoomo frorr this sta tion?" "Atk the baggageman." "Yonr name is , isn't it?" "Suppose it is?" "Oh. nothing much only I'm the gen eral manaeer ol the line, and I'd like to exchange cards with you I" Detroit Free Press. We have come aoross an expression which ongbt to be perpetuated. An old stage driver, when spesking of those bnk defaulters and other rogues who ware ones members in good standing of some church, called them "ex-praying men." Hustapbsi Tbe llnichtisrk. The following story is a favorite one among tho Egyptians: Mustapba, an or-. pban boy who bad the misfortune to have an ill-shapen back, was called Hunchback. His parents were poor, and after thoy died be was left without any home or friends; bat a poor widow pitied him, and took bint to be her son. When he grew up she sent him to Alex andria to sell some chickens. But the ignorant lad fell into the hands of bad men, who stolo his poultry aud even took away a part of his clothes,. Poor Mus tapha, finding himself robbed stood in the stretta. cryiug. A witty wag saw bim weeping, and having learned his story, took him home, fed him and clothed bim again. He then gave him a ease of something be called a cosmetic A cosmetic is something to make the hair grow. "Take this," said the wag, "and go homo to yonr villago and sell it. Tell the people It will make both their beords and their wits to inoreaso. The money yon pet for it you may keep for yourself and for your oor mother." Mustuphu thanked his friend, and, de parting with the case, returned to his village, whero he announced what ho hail tor sale lieforo tho whole assembled pop ulation. Xo his surprise, they til burst out laughing, aud made fun of bim. He roturned desponding to his adopted mother's house, and the world was black before him; but presently the sheikh sent privately to buy a small packet; and then tho barber; and then tbe tobaooo seller; and then the coffeo-bonso keeper all in private. In fact, before the evening, the whole of bis merchandize was sold; and every man in the village went to bed with bis chin steeped iu tho oosmetic, each believing that Itoth his beard and his wisdom would bavo doubkd in length next morning. I wish I could reproduce the panto mine by which the morning scene was described; the snorings, the grunts, tho yawns, the impatieuco for the dawn; for it appears all tho patients had been ordered to keep their jaws carefully wrapped up until daylight. At length the wished -for moniout arrived. Then thoy all rose up, aud hastily taking off tbe oloths, which bod nearly stifled them, found that their boards came off likewise! They clapped their hands to thoir chins, and felt thorn to be as smooth aa thoir knees; thoy jogged their wives, and were greeted by screams of laughter; they ran out into the streets, and learned the truth, that the whole population bad boon rendered beardless by ointment whioh the wag had given to Mustapba. As all were equally unfor tunate, all laughed; but they resolved to punish the unlucky hunchback. He was called lieforo tbe sheikh, where tbe elders of tho village had assembled; and when he saw the circle of smooth faces, he could not help giggling. "He laugheth, because he hath dofilod our beards," exclaimed the oonolave. "It is uocoBsury to pnt him to death. Wo aro all friouds here; lot ns thrust him into a bug, carry bim to the river and throw him in, so that no more may be heard of hiiu." This idea was unanimously accepted; and Mustapba was carried away in a sack, aoross an ass's back, toward the river. About noon, his guards stopped to rest, and, lying down, foil asleep, leaving the hunchback still in his saok. Now it happened that an old man, bent noarly two-double, came driving by an immense flock of sheep; aud seeing these people asleep, and a sack standing up in the middle, was moved by curiosity ia draw near it. Mustapba had managed to open it a little, and to lookout with one eye; whioh observing, tbe old shepherd marveled, saying: "A bag with an eye did I never see before." Ho demanded, in a low voioe, what was the meaning of this. The eye be came a mouth, and repliod: "I am the unfortunate Mustapba, whom these peo ple are taking by force to marry the Sul tan's daughte r. "What I" said tho old man, who had married thirty-three wives in the course of bis life; ''and dust thou ropine at such good fortune?" "So much, that I would give all I pos sess to find a substitute." "Would not I do perfeotly woll?" quoth the shepherd. "I am not very old; I have two teeth left, and one of my eyes Is good enough; but thoy would not Uls me in exchange." "Oh, yesr wallah, they would, if you called yourself Mustapha; it appoareth that the name is fortunate, and I have been chosen only ou this account. Untie the bag and lot me out." The shepherd, whose hands trembled from age and excitement, libera tod Mus taplia, made bim a present of his flock, aud bade him tio the bag very tightly, least the change should bo disooverod. The hunchback did as he was desired, and hustenod to retire with his sheep. Meanwhile, the villagors, waking np, throw their prisoner again upon the ass, and proceeding ou their journey, plunged tho poor old man into the river, just as ho wis dreaming witb delight of his first interview with the Sultan's daughter; how ho would smilo and look pleasant, anil how sho would bid him bo ef good cheer. Slave Trale Fostered by Eoptlasi. Swedish missionaries in Nubia report that they have lately experienced much opposition from the Egyptian agents and officers in tbe Upper Nile Valley, who exceedingly dislike Europeans on so oount of tbeir hatred of the slave trade. A very extensiveslave taade is carried on by Egyptian and Turkish merohsnts in the region south and west of tbe Blue Nile. Troops of negroes are brought northward in chains. Those who prove , too weak for the jorney are either aban doned, without mercy, to perish from hunger or wild beasts, or their drivers at once kill them. Tho girls are sold to tho harems of the wealthy Egyptians and Turks.while the men and women are disposed of as ser vants. There is is also steady demand for male negroes of a certain class for attendants and guardians of the Mahom tnedau haroms; but a great proportion of these men die from the injuries sus tained in the preliminary training for the duties of this office. The Swedish mis sionaries have been compelled to return to Kbsrtoom, instead of penetrating southward, as they had intended. The Egyptians regard the missionaries and all the whites aa spies cpon and oppo nents of the barbarities connected with tbe extensive slave traffic with the inte rior. St. James Gaxetts. i