TWO ELOPEMENTS.
In a large, square, old-fashioned bouse
sucli as our fathers used to build when
solidity -was more sought after than util
ity lived Philip Manson and his sister
Esther. Philip had reached the mature
ago of 40, and Esther -was close to him.
Still, each had pursued a solitary path
way through iife, seeking no companion-
ship save that of the other till thero was
reason to believe that they would con
tinue to follow the same course till in
the fullness of time they were gathered
into the family tomb the receptacle of
many generations of the Manson family.
There was more reason to think so, since
they took care to commend an unmarried
life, not only by example, but by pre
cept. "No," said Philip when assailed on
this subject by a match-making lady;
'marrying may be very good for some
people", but I could not bear to have my
habits broken in upon, and my whole
house turned topsy-turvy by the intro
duction of a wife !"
"But by-and-by, when you grow older,
you will feel the need of a wife more than
-at present."
"Mo," said Philip, conclusively," I
have a sister who is devoted to me. and
whilst she lives I shall Aeed no other."
As for Miss Esther, she often declared
that she would never make a slave of her
self for any man living. If other women
"were foolish enough to give up their iu
" -dependence, and tie themselves to a man,
for no other earthly purpose than to bur
den themselves with cares and toils from
morning till night, she had no objection.
Her brother and she had always lived to
gether peaceably and happily, and she
did not think she could not make any
change for the better.
Of course, it was insinuated by those
whose opinions differed widely from Miss
Esther's, -that in adojjting this opinion
she was only making a virtue of necessity,
and that it was best to be contented with
one's lot, provided thero was no chance
of improving it. But Esther did not hear
these remarks, and so was not disturbed
by them. She continued to live in the old
house with her brother. They kept no
domestic, since Esthei rather plumed her
self on her housekeeping qualities, and
there was really but little to do. So, as
her brother was usually absent during
the day, she was left for the most part to
the companionship of her own thoughts
unless some neighbor chanced to call in
a thing, by the way, of rather rare occur
rence. since most of the neighbors had
large families of their own, which neces
sarilv confined them at home.
Early one afternoon just after Esther
Manson had completed her task ol deal
ing away the dinner dishes, and storing
them away in the cupboard after
thorough washing, she was startled by a
rap at the door.
Somewhat surprised by a caller at this
unusual hour she answered the summons.
She was a little apprehensive that it was
a neighbor who had of late proved very
troublesome from her habit of borrowing
articles, and owing, it is to be presumed,
to a habitual forgetfulness, neglecting to
return them.
"I hope," she mused, "that if it is Mrs.
Bailey, she will be wanting to borrow
something that I have not got.'"
She opened the door; but no Mrs. Bai
ley presented herself to her expecting
gaze a gentleman of 45, carefully, nay
elegantly dressed, stood before her.
"I beg your pardon for intruding,
madame," said he, as ho noticed Esther's
look pf surprise; "but can you direct me
to the house of the late Mr. Wollfieet? I
have heard it was for sale, and from the
description I have heard of it, judge it
will suit me."
"It is the next house on the left, sir,"
answered Esther, who had had time,
while the gentleman was speaking, to
examine his appearance, which did not
fail to impress her favorably.
"Thank you for the information. I
trust you will pardon me for the trouble
I have occasioned you," replied the gen
tleman, bowing.
'Not the least trouble in the world,
replied Esther, a littlo fluttered by a de
ference to which she had not bnen ac
customed. Two davs after, Esther heard that Mr.
Wellfleet's estate had been purchased by
a stranger named Bigeiow. She at once
conjectured, and rightly, that this was
the same with her visitor. A few clays
elapsed, and Esther Manson received an
other visit from the gentleman.
"I have a favor to ask of you, Miss
Manson," he began (it seems that he had
ascertained her name). "I am aware
that our slight acquaintance will hardly
justify it, but I trust time will remove
this objection. You must know,' he
added, smiling,"that I am a bachelor,de
pendent in mauv respects upon my
housekeeper, who, though a good woman
in her way, I am afraid is not reliable in
matters of taste. As my furniture has
arrived, but has not yet been arranged, I
would esteem it a great service if you
would give me your opinion in some lit
tle matters respecting its proper disposi
tion. My carriage is at the door ready to
carry you over."
"But " said Esther, a little hesi
tatingly, "I do not claim io lmvc muc?1
taste I fear I shall prove no more reli
able ' in that respect than your house
keeper." """I have but to look around me, said
Mr. Bigeiow, politely, "to be fully satis
fied npoh that point."
"Esther's cheek flushed with pleasure
at this compliment, and she mode prepa
rations to comply with her new visitor s
request.
ti. -..na nnt without a
little conscious-
Xi - . .
lovi'f.v nf her position
riding by the
side of a gentleman with whom she had
scarcely exchanged half a dozen words
in the course of her life. The distance,
however, was but short, and she had lit
tle time for reflection. On arriving at
her place of destination, she found the
chief part of the business accomplished.
The furniture, which, by the way, was
new and handsome, had been arranged in
the rooms after a fushion, but Esther was
able to point out several changes for the
better, with all of which Mr. Bigeiow pro-
fessed himself delighted; he, moreover,
asked her advice in regard to hanging sev-
! oral fine pictures that he had picked up
! in the course of his European travels.
This was accorded with some hesitation.
Mr. Bigeiow would not be satisfied
without showing his newfound acquaint
ance all over the house, from kitchen to
garret. "When all was completed he
overpowered her with protestations of
gratitude for her kind service, and
landed her at her own door just live min
utes before her brother came in. Esther
was rather glad of this, as she was a lit
tle suspicious that her brother would
consider her adventure rather rather
a Quixotic one.
To avoid comment, she did r.ot even
inform Philip that she had ever met
Mr. Bigeiow. He took frequent oppor
tunities to call upon her, on some
slight pretext or another, but it always
chanced to be Aheii her brother was
absent.
"1 wonder." said Philip, careless lv
as he sat by the fire one
"whether Mr. Bigeiow will not be look
ing out for a wife before long?"
1 don D Know, said Jiisther, and in
1 t f 1 T 1 f
ner embarrassment dropping nan a
dozen stitches from the stocking she
held in her hand.
"iot that I approve of marriage at
least in my own case," said Philip, not
noticing this demonstration, "but it may
bo different with Mr. Bigeiow. He has
no sister to superintend his establish
ment. I don't know, however, whether
thero is anybody" likely to suit him in
this village. Let me see there is Miss
Preston; she might do."
"No, I don't think she would suit him
at all," said Esther, with a spirit which
considerably surprised her brother
"She knows very little about housekeep
iug."
"Why, I thought you and Miss
l' res-
ton were friends, said Philip,
puzzled.
"Well, so we are." returned
in her usual tone: "but I I
a
little
Esther,
hardlv
think she would suit Mr. Bigeiow."
"Perhaps not," he rejoined, and so the
conversation ended
Prom the conversation which wo have
recorded above, the reader will obtain
somo insight into the character of
Esther's feelings toward Mr. Bigeiow
She would hardly confess it to herself;
but, as a matter of fact, her ideas of
marriage had suffered a material change
within a brief period.
Meanwhile the gentleman continued
his visits. Oftentimes he would ask to
see the bed of flowers, on which Esther
rather prided herself, and sometimes he
would petition for seeds, being very
fond of llowers, as he said, and very
. . t i -
anxious to introduce them m his own
garden.
On one of these occasions Mr. Bige
low, after a little visible embarrassment,
said, hesitatingly
"I would like to ask your advice, Miss
Esther, on rather a delicate subject and
one of greatimportance to myself. There
is one thing I wish to secure to make mv
establishment complete; but I hardly
know in what manner to ask for it."
"What is it you refer to?" asked
Esther, unsuspiciously.
"A wife," was the significant reply
Instantly a deep crimson flushed
Esther's cheeks. She did not trust her
self to speak.
"Need 1 sav that vou are the one
whom, of all others, I would seek to
place in that position?"
He took her unresisting hand and kiss
ed it with all the gallantry of a younj
lover.
...... a . k
"But what will my brother say.-' in
quired Esther, when she had found voice
to speak.
"What should lie say. loa are your
own mistress, surely
"Yes, but he is always ridiculing the
idea of marriage, and I couldn't venture
to tell him."
"No need of it. Lets run away to
New York and get married. You know
he added gaily, "we are both young and
romantic, and it would be quite in char
acter."
Esther at first objected, but when she
came to consider that in this way she
would bo relieved of a great portion of
the embarraissment which such a step
would naturallv bring with it, she con
sented, and that day week was appointed
for the departure. Sho required this
time to make preparations.
Meanwhile, if Esther had not been so
exclusively occupied with her own af
fairs, she might have noticed that a
change had come over Philip. He was
often absent evenings, and when at home
was more silent and abstracted than his
wont. The lormer she readily attributed
to the cause which he assigned, namely,
a pressure ol business, Hie latter she
did not observe, her mind being preoc
cupied. We, who are in the secret, may
take the liberty of following him on one
of his business calls. It was at a neat
cottage, from whose front door dangled
an immense knocker, that Philip Man
son knocked. The door was opened by
the same Miss Preston, who. some months
before, he thought "might do" for Mr.
Bigeiow.
"Good evening, Maria," was his salu
tation as he entered. After a brief con
versation about the weather, the crops,
and other standard topics, which, how
over trivial they may seem, could hardly
be dispensed with, he began to show
signs oi embarrassment, and hnally
ejaculated:
"Maria Miss Preston
I mean Maria,
what are your opinions about marriage?" i
'Why," said she, "I hardly know. I
don't think I have given much consider
ation to the subject."
"Because," continued Phillip, "I find
my opinions have suffered a great change
on this point. There was a time when I
thought it unwise; but, now, if I could
get a good wife, such as you, for exam-
j pie, I should be inclined to try it,
"0 Lor', Mr. Manson," said Miss Pres
ton, in some perturbation, "how you
talk!"
Five minutes afterward Miss Preston
had accepted the proposal of Philip, and
the two were, to all intents and purposes,
onrrn t
ed.
"The only thing I think of," said the
gentleman, after a brief pause, "is that
my sister Esther is a decided enemy to
marriage, and I hardly dare to tell her I
am about to marry. If we could only
get away and have the ceremony per
formed, it would be pleasanter."
"Suppose we go to New York," sug
gested the bride-elect.
"A good idea. We'll go.
you be ready?"
"Next Monday morning."
So next Monday morning
upon. It so happened that
When can
was agreed
Esther was
to start on Monday afternoon for the
same purpose in view but of this coin
cidence neither party were aware.
The reader will please go forward a
week. By this time tho respective parties
have reached New York, been united in
the hoi- bonds of matrimony, and are
now legally husband and wife . They
were located at hotels situated on the
same side of the way, but were far from
being aware of the propinquity. On the
morning succeeding tho two marriages,
for by a singular chance they happened
on the same day, Mr. Bigeiow and
Esther started out for a walk down street.
It so happened that Phillip and his wife
were at the same moment walking up
street. The natural consequence was
that the two parties met.
"Good heavens! my sister!" exclaimed
Phillip.
"Merciful goodness! my brother!" re
turned Esther.
"What brings you here with Mr. Bige
iow?" "Nay, how happens it that 'ou are here
with Miss Preston?"
"Miss Preston is now my wife!"
"And Mr. Bigeiow is now my hus
band!" "But I thought you were opposed to
matrimony."
"And I supposed vou were equally
so."
"My friends," interposed Mr. Bigeiow,
"this is a day of surprise but I trust of
such a nature that we shall all be made
the happier thereby. My regret, Mr.
Manson, at robbing you of your house
keeper is quite dissipated by the knowl
edge that you have so soon supplied her
place."
The sensation excited in the village by
tho return of the two brides with their
respective husbands may be better im-
agined than described. it gives us
pleasure to state that neither Philip nor
his sister ever had occasion to regret the
double elopement.
One of Dumas' Stories.
Dumas pore once mado over a play- of
a certain m. uaniardet lor iiarol, tho
great theatrical manager. A quarrel en
sued, culminating in a duel between
Dumas and Gaillardet which Dumas re
lates in his best manner. One or two
touches in the narration are intensely
characteristic. Ho begins by saying that
as he started for the place of combat.
Bonuaire, a friend of his, came up to him
with an album in his hand. "Ah !" he
said, " you are going out. Are you in a
hurry ?"
" Why do you ask?"
"Because, if you are not, I should
like you so much to write something in
this album."
" Well, leave it in my room, and when
I come back I will write something in
it."
" You can't now?"
" No, I am in a hurry to keep an ap
pointment, and would not be late for any
consideration."
" Where are you going?"
"To fight a duel with Gaillardet."
" Oh, then please write something
now. Till uk how deiigntiui n would be
for in' wife to possess the last lines you
ever wrote.
"Ah!" said Dumas, "you are right. I
will not deny Mme. Bonuaire that plea-
i 1 i 1 1 -1
sure, and so saying no went uacic and
wrote a few lines in the album.
Then, when they were on the ground,
Bixio, a friend of Dumas, who was a
doctor, said to him: Shall vou hit
him?"
"I don't know," said Dumas.
"Try to."
"I shall certainly try; but do you dis
like him."
"Not at all, I don't know-him."
"Then, why so anxious?"
"Well, have you read Merimee's
'Etruscan Vase?"
"Yes."
"Then don't you remember that ho
saws every man Kineu ov a ounce turns
round before he drops.' I want to see n
it's true?"
He had no opportunity of seeing on
this occasion, for the duel was fortun
ately harmless: but the pendant of this
storv is that Bixic himself was shot some
years afterwards at a Paris barricade
shot to death and as he fell, turned, he
cried, "Ah, one does turn then!"
Mr. Arnold divides society into three
classes the Philistines (or middle classj ,
Barbarians (or aristocracy), and Popu
lace. In each class "there are a certain
number of aliens, if we may call them
so persons who are mainly led, not by
their calss spirit, but by a general hu-
mane spirit, by the love of human per-
fection.
Our Northern Possessions.
Alaska, which has heretofore received
out little attention from either explorers
or government, promises in the near fu
ture to develop into a rich and thickly
populated country. Two argonauts who
spent the summer navigating that
largest and most majestic river on earth,
the Yukon, and exploring the country
along its banks from its mouth to several
hundred miles up stream. The explorers
have returned, and tell wonderful stories
of what they saw. Sweeping back from
the banks of the river for miles and
miles were beautiful rolling prairies like
those of Eastern Oregon, whose waving
grasses had never been disturbed by the
foot of man; stately forests whose
branches sang requium to the dead si
lence of nature never broken by the
hand of industry; clear, sparkling
streams leaping from rock to rock just as
merrily as do those within the bounds of
civilization. In fact, thev discovered
A WONDEltPUIi COfNTUY,
Which, when further explored, reveal
much more that will be of interest and
of future value. Dr. Dull, of the
United States Coast Survey, together
with Dr. Beau, visited that country for
tho purpose of making collections in
natural history, especially of fishes. In
a paper recently read they set forth their
observations as follows: In a general
way the fishes were similar on t he Asiat
ic and American sides; but there were
some species only found on one shore.
They found quite a number of Oregon
fish that attained a high latitude, several
found commonly in the market here, es
pecially red cod, which was found a con
siderable distance north of Sitka, in
large quantities, and of a very good
quality.
ALASKAN SALMON.
They secured salmon, not only for
sriecimens, but they formed a large por
tion of their food during the season.
There are a great varietv of salmon
recognized on tiie coast of Alaska, and
the question arises in Oregon and Cali
fornia, how m.inv of these are distinct
species, and how many are to be referred
to the verv oxtraordinurv changes which
have taken place in the salmon from the
time of leaving the sea till death ? Very
few of them ever return to the sea. In
California and Alaska he believed the
salmon, almost without exception, die
after depositing their spawn. They
found the Columbia river salmon ex
tending through a large part of Alaska,
when they came across a peculiar fish
called the "king" salmon, which attains
an enormous size, reaching one hundred
pounds.
TROUT, CODFISH AND IIALIUUT.
Then thero are quite a number of trout,
and near Sitka a very large trout is
caught, the size of salmon. On the Asi
atic side common brook trout were found
in the salt water. They paid particular
attention to the codfish and halibut, and
Dr. Bean became confident that the Pa
cific Coast codfish is the same as the At
lantic, and in the course of time would
become as valuable and importantant on
this coast as the Newfoundland fishes
are upon the Atlantic. They found some
very interesting specimens, and some
thought to belong to a new familv.i
ARCTIC' r.mus.
Dr. Bean collected a large number of
specimens of birds, many o. which were
secured in a more northern lVsrion than
tho expedition had reached, previously
as this vear thev went nearlv u tho lati
Hide oi l'oiiu jiarrow. w une examin
ing tiie collection of birds ;it Oxford,
several vears ago, lie came across a
peculiar bird, which belonged to Sir
-r r lit
John Jjarrow s collection, which was
marked from Behring Strait. It was
small suipo about .mx inches lonif ; but
the bill was extended in a remarkable
manner, resembling tho beak of tho
spoon-bill, and tho bird presented a very
peculiar appearance. This year they
looked very sharp for specimens of that
bird, and one of the natives succeeded
m killing a specimen. Afterward they
heard from Captain Barrow, the master
of the steam whaler Maria Heleif.'that he
had observed the birds among others
brought aboard for food while at Point
Barrow some years ago.
CHANOlvS IX ALASKA AUO-KIC 1NES.
In Alaska a considerable change has
taken place. When he first visited the
country, sixteen years ago, the natives
were attired in clothes made by them
selves, and they used articles of their
own manufacture. Now it is quite dif
ferent, for they nearly all wear articles
of civilized make, such as shirts, caps
and trousers. Their old implements are
becoming scarcer and scarcer. Much
damage has been done by foreign traders
and smugglers furnishing the Indians
with alcohol. Intoxicating liquor is ex
ceedingly injurious to them, as, when
supplied with it, they neglect to provide
themselves in summer with a store of
food for the winter. In the interior, the
natives seem to have decreased ancl de
teriorated, partly on account of liquor,
and partly on account of being furnished
with fire-arms. Winchester rifles are
more common there than here, and pro
duce many deaths. Their Territory
seems, however, to be improving, for
now gardens are a prominent part of the
establishment, and furnish potatoes of
excellent quality and size.
A nF.MAItKAIJLE SEASON.
Last season was a remarkable one in a
meteorological sense. It was the most
severe season ever known. The ther
mometer during the past forty-five years
ouly upon one occasion had marked four
degrees below zero, but last winter it
went down to twelve degrees below zero.
The spring was quite late, but very fine
and clear. At Seal Island the month of
July is usually the worst of the rainy
months, but this year not a single drop
of rain fell. Until their vessel ap
proached the floating ice, they saw noth
ing like an Arctic climate, as the weather
wao so fine. There was no snow on
shore except here and there a little re
mained in a cleft in the mountains, while
the land was covered with grass and
flowers, which did not convey an Arctic
appearance.
WHALING.
This season has been a remarkably
favorable one to the whalers. The
whales have been very accommodating,
coining out from their usual hiding
places in the ice, and allowing them
selves to be killed. Not only did tho
whalers secure a full load, but they got
out of the Arctic Ocean beforo October,
an event which has not hapxiened during
twenty years. The presence of the cut
ter up there had a beneficial effect in pre
venting the usual trading of liquor on
the coast, and as a natural consequence,
tho natives have supplied themselves
with food; in fact, everybody seemed to
be happy up there.
The Betrothal of a Prince.
His Highness tho Gaekwar of Baroda
was, as is well known, married last Jan
uary, and the Times of India says: "The
story of his courtship is as thoroughly
Eastern as anything in tho 'Arabian
Nights.' The young Maharajah himself
loyally felt or feigned that he had no
right whatever to meddle in such a mat
ter as the selection of a consort for him
self, a matter which exclusively belonged
to his affectionate mother. And Her
Highness the Maharani Jumnabai Sa
heb, as the head of tho Gaekwar family,
had to desire the Dewan himself to lend
'his utmost assistance' in this delicate
business. 'Match-making,' says Sir Ma
dava Bow, m his account of the progress
of tho State of Baroda, 'is fraught with
pleasant anxieties for any mother, and in
the present instance the mother is one of
the highest ladies of the land. Trusted
emissaries started from Baroda and went
to divers countries, some traveling in
disguise, and others with pomp and cir
cumstance. In a short time descriptive
letters, illustrative photographs and com
plete horoscopes wonderfully showing
all the planets on their best behavior,
poured in upon the Maharani in almost
embarrassing abundance. The blessing
of the tutelary- deities was devoutly in
voked, thcgood-will of tho priests was
propitiated, and astrologers in solemn
conclave were bidden to unerringly in
terpret tho mystic influences of the zo
diac. But the Maharani was also de
sirous of fulfilling more prosaic condi
tions, and She had to satisfy in her choice
such worldly persons as tho Governor
General's agent and the Dewan of the
State.
"Marathi girls are, however, almost
always married young, and as the Gaek-
ui a man uiyu uuu uccu uciciiku until
he was 17 years old, it was not only
necessary- that his bride should be a
young lady of high family, of health and
beauty, education and accomplishments,
but that she must be of adolescent age.
It was almost impossible to find a girl
approaching to the required ideal who
was still unmarried or still unengaged.
Even when the poorest parents were ap
proached they were proud enough not to
send their daughters to Baroda, as if on
inspection, even on the chance of being
married to the first Maratha Prince in
India. Things came to a dead-lock, and
the Quezon-Mother had to press the De
wan to relinquish high politics for a
time, and :-et out for the Deccan in
search of an eligible lady. Acconrpan
ied by a band of the Maharant's relatives
and dependents, he started forPoona on
this curious quest. 'It had been ar
ranged,' he say s, 'that just at that time
several giris reported eligible should
happen by pure accident to be present at
Poona; we saw them; but we could not
decidedly approve of any-.'
The rest of tiie story must still be told
in the words of the same high authority:
'This result perplexed her Highness not
a little. The quarters supposed availa
ble had been exhausted. Tho
marriage of the Maharajah
could not be postponed be
yond the next season; and yet the most
plastic Shastrees of the palace could not
cite authority to perform the marriage
without a bride. Her Highness, there
fore directed the Dewan to extend the
politico-iesthetic exploration beyond the
Bombay Presidency. This was, of
course, done; and the predestined sharer
of tho young Gaekwar's fortunes was at
last found on the banks of the Can verv.'
Tho Tanjore family, to which the bride
belongs, had long been intimately con
nected with Sir Madava Row. and the
marriage, so far as those who were pres
ent at Baroda during the marriage fes
tivities could possibly judge, was de
cided popular among the Sirdars and
Maratha people generally, while the En
glish residents of Barocla were pleased
o una in me orphaned niece oi the
Princess of Tanjore a young lady who
md enjoyed all the great advantages of
i thorough English education."
In 19-19, when gold was discovered in
California, there was not between the
Misosuri or the Pacific Ocean, or from
Manitoba to Sonora, over 25,000 2'ersons
of Caucasian stock, and not 3000, all told,
speaking in English as the tongue of
their nativity. Now there are 3-000,000
persons in the same area; there are
10,000 miles of railroad and nearly'iwice
that of telegraph, there is a property
value of at least $3,000,000, six prosper
ous States and niue Territories, growing
in wealth and population, now producing
in the precious metals at least $85,000,000
annually, and also embracing the three
largest wheat-growing States in the
Union.