7
ì
AFTERWARD.
I heedlessly opened the cage,
And suffered my bird to go free;
And, though I besought it with tears to return,
It nevermore came back to me;
It nests in the wildwood, and heeds not my call;
Oh, the bird once at liberty who can enthrall?
A Serviceable Scrap Boo%,
pletely deprived of air, light and nour­
ishment.
“I now commit to our friend Dr. Pour­
pardot, whose medical status renders
him more competent for the task, to de­
tail to you what further was done.”
“And in doing so 1 will be as brief as 1
possible,” said Pourpardot. “Athanase 1
Chapuzot seated himself upon the floor,
upon a square pf linen, his limbs crossed,
his face turned to the east. Then he be­
gan to squint, forcirig the pupils of his
eyes to converge by steadily fixing them
on the point of his nose, inducing, as it
were, a state of artificial strabismus. In
a very few minutes magnetic catalepsy
began to show itself. His eyes closed
and his extremities became rigid. While
this was occurring he distinctively gave
utterance to the following words, which
we all recognize as one line of a verse
and the beginning of another:
MR.
AND MRS.
BOWSER.
Vriierein Are Related Certain Interesting
Incidents of Tlieir Home Life.
The other night I was. taken with a sort of
pleurisy pain, and I nudged Mr. Bowser and
asked him to get up and mix me a mustard
plaster. He lay on the broad of his back,
I hastily opened my lips.
hands locked under his neck, and was snoring
And uttered a word of disdain
as if hired to give a midnight performance
That wounded a friend, and forever estranged
A heart. I would die to regain;
on a fog horn.
But the bird once at liberty who cam enthrall?
“Eh! Yes,” he growled, as I nudged him.
And the word that's once spoken, oh, who can re­
“Mr. Bowser, get up I”
call?
“Yumf Lemme ’ldneP’
—Virginia B. Harrison.
“Mr. Bowser, I am in great painl”
“Yes, I know.”
“Will you get up?”
x
“Whaz mazzer now?” he demanded, as he
tried to sit up in bed.
“You are invited to be present at the
“I am threatened with pleurisy.”
“Hey! Who is it?”
resurrection of our friend Athanase Chap­
“I am threatened with pleurisy and I do
uzot, artist, which is to take place at his
wish you would get up and mix a mustard
own residence, Rue de Venus 22, Batig-
plaster
for me. ”
nolles, Monday, Feb. 15, at 10 p. m., pre­
“Bosh!” he growled, now fully awake.
Triomphes
done
enfin
cabales
ennemies,
cisely.”
“You just lie quiet and the pain will go
J’entrez spontanement----
The resurrection of Chapuzot!
away.”
He
did
not
finish,
but
fell
at
once
in
a
How is this?
He dropped back and began to snore again,
Chapuzot was then dead! I thought deep sleep. I drew near and plugged up ' but after ten minutes’ hard work I got him
both his nostrils .with pieces of linen out pf bed. He sat on the edge, staring blank­
he had simply gone to America!
dipped in melted wax. This done I in­ ly into vacancy, and ready to fall back any
What strange adventure is this?
“Parbleu,” said I musingly, after a few closed his whole person in the linen cloth moment, and even while I was telling him
moment’s reflection. “Why puzzle my on which he sat and tied the four corners that I might not live till morning he fell over,
brain over it, when a few hours’ patience oyer his head, like a sack. The knot kicked himself under the clothes and went to
while I was pulling his hair.
will explain the whole matter? Yes, to­ made in this way was carefully sealed sleep
A night or two later, just after the bellshad
day is Monday,. Feb. 15, 10 o’clock in the and stamped with the signet ring of the struck
12, I dreamed that I was being chased
house of Stockfish & Co., of Boston. Fi­ by a locomotive.
morning.
It gave an extra toot and
nally we placed the body of our friend in awoke
“Let us wait!”
me, and I discovered that toot to be
the
box
prepared
for
its
reception,
which
Mr. Bowser’s voice groaning: '
I did wait, but very impatiently, and
“For the land’s sake, get up or I shall be a
at 9:30 in the evening was at 22 Venus was closed and locked, and which Messrs.
Stockfish
also
sealed
and
stamped
with
dead
man.”
street, Batignolles, in the little court at
“Whatis.it?”
the
signet
ring,
as
before
mentioned.
the end of Which stood the well known
“Terrible cramps in my stomach. I’m
“After this we all left, carefully secur­
pavilion inhabited by Athanase Chapuzot
ing the door, of which the Boston mer- just tied in a knot!”
for the past -ten years.
„-“Oh, it’s only a passing pain,” I replied as
The door was ajar. I ascended the ’ chant retained the key.
I sought the pillow again. “Lie still and it
He Didn’t: jfci-wta “Progic.”
“
For
every
person
but
ourselves,
the
winding and creaking stairway which
will soon go oft.”
The
prst railroad that penetrates a
artist-Athanase
Chapuzot
had
departed
led to his studio with a rapid step and
“Lie still thunder!” he. yelled, as he got backwoods community in the south calls
found myself in the presence of five per­ for America. We have today reached s one leg out of bed. “I tell you I shall be a the
negroes for miles io shake hands, as
sons. One of these approached me and the 15th of February, 1890. The hour of' corpse within an hour if I don’t get relief!”
“Well, you’ll find the Jamaica ginger on they term it, “wi®e. ingine.” The old
extended his hand. This was Durocher, 10 is about to strike. Our friend Chapu-
darkey, who is a meat respecter of per­
the notary. Upon a sofa in the back end zot has been inclosed in this box exactly the sideboard. Take a big dose of it in wine.” sons and things, dlfes not at first regard
“
I
’
ll
never
find
it!
Oh!
Heavens,
what
a
two
months,
and
we
propose
now
to
pro
­
of the studio I recognized Dr. Pourpar-
the locomotive asla machine, but looks
pain!”
dot and the sculptor, Roger Lacost, seat­ ceed to release him. ”
upon it as a monstrous creature of life.
I
wanted
to
get
up,
of
course,
but
I
was
“Where is this box?” I demanded.
ed close together conversing ifi a sub­
“Wall, sah, I neber ’spected ter see
determined to pay him back in his own coin.
dued tone. All three, like myself, were : “Under the piece of Oriental tapestry I therefore apparently fell asleep, and after sich er sight ez dis, ’ said an old negro
intimate friends of the artist Chapuzot. oh Which you sit,” said Pourpardot.
hanging around the room for a few minutes who had cautiously approached a raiL
I arose with a bound.
Near the wiridow stood two persons
he went out, He was back again in three road engine, and who stood watching the
“
You
see,
gentlemen,
”
added
the
doc
­
minutes, however, to exclaim;
erect, motionless, observant. As I
engineer rub the brass cylinders.
tor,
on
removing
the
piece
of
tapestry,
“Are you going to lay there and let me die
strained my eyes to distinguish their
“Why so, old; man?” the engineer
like
a
sick
horsB?
”
asked.
features Durocher, with a slight cere­ “the seals are intact as far as the box is
“
But
you
didn
’
t
get
up
for
me.
”
“Caze, sah, I thought de Lawd gwine
monial gesture, presented us, saying as concerned.”
“I know it, but that was because I—I— slio’ly put out my light .’fo’ dis day come
The bax was now opened, and in a
he did so:
whoop
I
Blue
blazes,
but
I
know
I
’
m
dying
1
”
moment the body of Chapuzot, still en­
“Messrs. Stockfish—
I had to get up, Of course, and, of course, I ter pass. Mussyful hebens, dat thing is
“Stockfish & Co.. Boston, Mass., U. veloped in the sack, was placed in a large had him relieved in a quarter of an hour. inonst’us! Jes’ lissun at him, how he
tub which stood in the middle of the Man like, he was frightened to death at a chuggin’ hisse’f. Bet he wouldn’ git
S. A.”
The Messrs. Stockfish both bowed po­ room. A vessel filled with water sim­ pain which he would have expected me to outen de way fur nobody. Bet you ef I
wuster meet ’im in de road I’d step er-
mered on the stove. Pourpardot filled a keep perfectly still about.
litely.
can with this warm water and poured it
Mr. Bowser is also like all other husbands side mighty soon. Whar he raised, mis­
I did the same.
“Gentlemen,” said Dr. Pourpardot, on slowly on the top of the sack. He then in another matter. We got started for the ter?”
the other night and I discovered that
“New Hampshire.”
rising from the sofa, “our number is broke the seal cautiously and revealed to I theatre
had forgotten my opera glasses. He offered
“Wall, I better b'lebe you. Lopk at
now complete; we will proceed to re­ our sight as he removed the linen cloth to run back for them, and I said:
de man climbin’fright up in de thing!
the corpse of Athanase Chapuzot, ema­
move the seals.”
“They are hanging in the bag on the gas Greshes erlive!” he exclaimed, as the en­
ciated
and
shrunken
like
an
apple
ex
­
“What seals?” I demanded, with the
jet on the left hand side of our dresser. You gine began to puff, “ef he ain’t dun
posed to the snows and frosts of the past can’t fail to find them.”
air of one considerably mystified.
gone!” .
winter.
Five minutes slipped away—then ten—then
“A very proper question,” said Roger
“How would you like to ride on it?”
“You can satisfy yourselves, gentle­ I hurried back myself. He was seated; in a
Lacost, coming forward; “we must not
some one asked, i
forget that our friend here knows noth­ men,’’said Pourpardot, “that the body is chair in the hall, hat and overcoat off, and as
The old negro, regarding his questioner
ing about the matter. It belongs to you, cold; that no pulse can be felt at the I opened the door he growled:
with a look of contempt, replied:
“
Might
as
well
take
off
your
things!
”
wrists,
nor
even
in
the
region
of
the
Durocher, in your legal capacity, to ex­
“I mout er lost a good deal o’ sense in
“But why?”
plain to him what has thus far trans­ heart.”
“We are not going-to any theatre this my time, but I ain’t lost it all. W’en I
He
then
poured
a
large
quantity
of
hot
pired."
wuz er young man I could ride anything
night!”
“Which is as follows,” replied the no­ water on him, and commenced a vigor­
dat come erlaung, but now dat I’se old I
“Not going! Has anything happened?”
tary. “Four months ago we were here, ous friction or . massage from head to
“I should say there had I I’ve looked this ain’t gwine progic, sah; I jes’ nachullv
Pourpardot, Lacost and myself, guests of •oot. This done he applied a thick paste infernal house from top to bottom for those ain’t gwine progic.”—Arkansaw Traveler
Chapuzot to a social tea. You were ab­ of almost burning temperature to the top glasses, and they are not to be found. We’ll
Praying for Fine Weather.
sent from Paris, and consequently could of Iris head and removed the waxed tam­ put in our evening trying to discover wheth­
they are up in the garret or down in the
not be included among the guests. These pons from his nostrils, opened Chapuzot’s er
In those countries where, unlike Cali­
vegetable
cellar.
”
two gentlemen, the Messrs. Stockfish, mouth and replaced his tongue to its nor­
fornia, they have to pray for fine weath­
“Come up stairs.”
er, it needs sometimes a great deal of
picture dealers of Boston, presented them­ mal position so as to admit air in the
He
followed
after,
and
there
hung
the
bag
selves, on a matter of business, as they larynx.
just where I had told him he would find it! faith to stick to thé church. In Scotland,
After the application of the third hot I looked from one to the other, and Mr. Bow­ for instance, one of the few really relig­
were to leave the next morning for
ious countries in-the world, a lqrge pro­
America, and had nearly concluded a poultice to his head Chapuzot moved ser finally said :
“I see how it is. You’ll probably say you portion of the minigter's duty is to pray
large transaction with our friend. A slightly, and a feeble pulse was percepti­
few minutes before their arrival Cha­ ble at the wrist. Soon after he opened told me to look here instead of the spare bed­ for fine weathew- iil’here was a quiet
dresser! Take off your tilings, Mrs. Scotch village wliere~^>e farmers were
puzot, who had been present the evening his eyes and slowly gave utterance to room
Bowser—we don’t stir a foot outside to­ al] in the dumps. The Scotch mist kept
before at one of Pourpadot’s clinic lect­ these four words in a distinct voice:
night 1”
coming down all the time, and it alter­
“au pays des moines.”
ures, spoke with a lively appreciation of
One night when baby was sick I got Mr. nated with a frequent very heavy storm.
“He completes his distich!” cried Ro­ Bowser
the singular cases of catalepsy he had
out of bed to get the paregoric. Af­ The minister had prayed every Sabbath
seen there. The conversation was con­ ger Lacost, “after sixty days’ interval. ter a great deal of yawning and growling, for fine weather without avail for four,
he marched off down stairs, and for the fifth
tinued after the arrival of the two This is marvelous!”
weeks. He met an old farmer one day.
M. Stockfish had already drawn his time I told him:
merchants, and Pourpardot, in proof of
“John,” he said, “tliisfearfu’ weather’s
“
I
remember
to
have
placed
it
on
that
plethoric
check
book
from
his
pocket.
his theory and assertion, referred to the
nathing but a judgment o’ God on tliis
bracket ovei’ the lounge.”
“
Here
is
your
check,
monsieur,
”
said
practice of the fakirs of India, who per­
I heard him thrashing around and knock­ parish. Ye’r sich a wicked lot that the
mitted themselves to be interred while he, handing a piece of bluish paper to ing about in the sitting room, rummaging in Lord’s jist gaun to punish ye.”
living and were resuscitated ten or twelve Durocher.
“’Deed, minister, we dinna tak’ the
the pantry and upsetting Chairs in the kitch­
“We have lost. We pay.,”
weeks after.
en, and after about ten minutes he appeared same view of it, We think that there’s
Stockfish
junior
touched
the
elbow
of
“This statement was received with
at the foot of the stairs aiid shouted:
somethin’ the matter wi’ the minister.
“I’ve looked the consarned house all over He hasna got sufficient influence up
general expressions of incredulity. The his brother and drew him to the corner
of
the
studio,
where
they
conversed
a
and can’t find it!”
there; an’ I’m telhn’ ye, minister, if ye
Messrs. Stockfish especially refused per­
I went down, walked him to the bracket, dinna succeed wi’ your prayer next Sab­
sistently to put any faith in it, and pro­ moment in a low voice. After a few
there sat the bottle before his eyes.
bath we’ll be maist unfortunately com­
nounced the whole thing a mere feat of minutes they returned to us, when the and
“But it wasn’t there a minute ago,” he pelled to discharge ye an’ ca’ somebody
skillful jugglery and collusion. Where­ elder said:
protested. “I looked the bracket over at
upon Chapuzot, with whose impetuous . “Gentlemen, your excellent friend M. least five times, and I know I’m not blind. else”’—San Francisco Chronicle.
temperament you are all familiar, cried Chapuzot must be at present very much Mrs. Bowser, these are some queer happen­
fatigued. When he has sufficiently re­ ings about this house. I think it best that we
ut:
\“ ‘Do you doubt it, gentlemen? Well! covered will you kindly make to him a sit down and have some straight talk.”
America the Bourne of the Emigrant.
One day at noon he wanted me to tighten
vill lay a wager that I can furnish the proposition from the house of Stockfish
The degree to which America offers
&
Co.
for
his
immediate
consideration?
”
a
button
on
his
overcoat,
and
I
sent
him
up
of.’
prominent advantages to the emigrant
“
Certainly,
”
said
Durocher.
‘
.
‘
Please
to
my
room
to
get
the
box
of
thread
and
‘How?’ was the anxious inquiry.
is just now shown strikingly by the ex­
needles.
By repeating here in this wide awake state it.”
“You’ll find it on the sill of the bay win­ isting conditions in Iceland. It is said
“This—that if he will consent to repeat
the wonderful- feat of the “Indian
in America this curious and interesting dow, where I left it half an hour ago,” I cau­ that that country is gradually becoming
depopulated owing to the constant emi­
as he went up stairs.
performance we offer him the sum of tioned
■>r what wager?
I heard him prancing around and slam­ gration of its people to the shores of
five
hundred
thousand
francs
for
its
pres
­
Jty thousand francs against the
ming things about, and after seven or eight Canada and the United States. These
«which you see here!’ responded entation under the same conditions.”
minutes I went up to ascertain the cause of emigrants send back such favorable ac­
Athanase Chapuzot, completely recov­ delay.
‘t.
counts of their new home that others
ered, has accepted the offer, and doubt­
He had pulled every bureau drawer out,
¿thousand dollars! Accepted!’
quickly follow. It is estimated that 20.-
taken
down
most
of
the
garments
in
the
less
will
before
long
present
himself
be
­
niaiwhen Will the proof be fur-
000 natives, nearly one-quarter of the
clothes
press,
and
was
then
overhauling
my
fore
an
American
audience
in
New
York.
<< I
whole population, have left the country
jewelry case.
—
R.
M.
Denig
in
Paris
Figaro.
to P#e months, at your next visit
“I’d like to know if there is another wom­ in the last year. The emigrants are said
Counter Jumpers of Havana.
an like you in Detroit?” he exclaimed as I to be chiefly from the northern and east­
“N:
thougPrPardot> Lacost and myself
Many salesmen here are clad only in appeared.
ern districts, where labor is carried oi
“You came up here for the thread box, only under great difficulties, beside,
thing v^10 t™e tl]iat the whole patent leather gaiters, silk hose and pure
with so?rt of Srim i°ke> mixed UP linen trousers and shirts; but these are didn’t you?”
which recent harvests have been ve>-
“Of course I did!”
“In th'haPuzot’s bravado.
spotless. Indeed, the Cubans are the
bad
and have entailed much suffering.
“And I told you it was on the sill of the
cleanest people regarding their dress I
“ChapFere deceived-
New York Commercial Advertiser.
window.”
ness Ndd spoken in all serious- ever knew. A stevedore will load mo­ bay
“But it”—-
any waymcould move hhn or in lasses on a vessel a whole week and you
A Frog Child.
I pointed it out to him, and after changing
purpose. m recede from “s crazy can hardly find a spot upon his while suit countenance and swallowing a lump he
A child was born in Birmingham,
when Saturday night comes. Somehow braced up and said:
England, on Sept. 20, which bears a
“At the b.
. _
.
.
the Messrs.
of December, when your sense of propriety is not offended
“Mrs. Bowser, it is time to quit this tom­ strong resemblance to a frog. Its skin
Paris, our
had returned to when you see cash boys, errand boys and foolery! YoKcare too old for such girlish is warty ario-’^pk'ariWTnimmy to the
prepared to eiChap?1Z0t -was *ull,y helpers of all sorts in skin tight, lightly tricks. Next tjpie you try to make a fool of touch; when it crib’s it makes an un­
having utiliz?011 the tr^ng ordeal> woven cotton shirts, and as airy breeches me I’ll ask you to select such furniture as earthly croaking noise. There are three
months in m^® Preceding three and slippers. Often, too, for a change, you want and settle on the amount of ali­ fingers on each hand and four toes on
arations.
the necessary prep- here, will stand three or four negroes, mony!”—Detroit Free Press.
THE FAKIR
“With an mi
,.
,
admirable patienlerable-ene^y and
after point, the Xad PUrS^dLp0'u
fakirs of India. Iid adopted by,th-e
constructed a firm
i place be had
This was
carefnllvpt hox or trunk.
Warded
cotton
pared lamb skins Zi<?ted fi“ely pre’
“In this box he pK^h™-™
shut up, at first for a ^imlteSi then
some hours then some, The time
passed m this way, a^e employea
himself inmeffitatmg
ac.
cording to the inspiratioAected m the
sacred books of the Hindo>Uffif)n
“Every day he also accQ^ed ’him.
self to remain suspended wbi9 iPPt m
the air and his head towaji;e floor
and curved the point of his t^g baok!
ward so as to cover the entrie of the
larynx and interrupt his respi,ion As
to nourishment, he restricted nse’if to
the smallest amount of veget^e diet
the quantity of which he reduq 'frOm
day to day.
“The 14th of December lasjat .8
o’clock in the evening, we were fesent
here all five of us. The last conqions
of the wager were made known I me
hi plain terms and the stipulateden.
gagementsof the agreement signee fey
both parties. Chapuzot was to remin
two months inclosed in the box. coq-
packers or boxers or something of the
-sori. with bare feet, spotless white trou­
sers held by a gay sash, and with naked,
gleaming waists, arms and shoulders.
But they all fit marvelously into these
shop scenes, and nobody faints away but
an occasional visitor out of those few
wonderful American women who are
naturally horrified.—Edgar L. Wake­
man's Letter.
Removal of Warts by Electrolysis.
Dr. Patrzek, of Oppeln,describes his
method of removing warts by electricity.
, The wart is first thoroughly moistened
with a warm solution of salt. Both
needles are then thrust through it just
. above the surface of the skin, and the
current turned on, one element after an­
, other being added until pain is felt. FiV6
, cells are sufficient. With most cases twe
i
sittings
of five minutes each are sufficient
< destroy the growth, which gradually
to
i
dries
up and falls away, leaving a sur­
i face at first slightly reddened, but which
1
later
assumes the appearance of norma)
, skin.—Medical Review.
Experience has shown that an electric
i street car can be comfortably heated by
1 expenditure of one horse power of
the
<
electrical
energy. The electrical heaters
< not reduce the seating capacity of
do
1 car, which is kept clear of coal dust
the
i
and
cinders.
The Russo-German Boundary Line.
There is a very strong contrast between
the appearance of things on the two sides
of the' boundary between Germany and
Russia. On the German side the land-
scape is dotted with beautiful, cozy homes,
with every evidence of prosperity and
thrift, with well cultivated fields, vine­
clad stables, neat looking kine, hedges
tastefully trimmed and patches of flow­
ers, while in the towns and villages were
handsome railway stations, tempting
cafes, large factories, handsome school­
houses, and every symbol of a higher
civilization and prosperity. On the east
side of the line there are none of these,
and the change takes place instantly.
Thrift and comfort are replaced by dis­
tress and degradation. The fields are un­
cultivated, except in patches here and
there—spots where it was the easiest to
plow—the cattle are lean and hungry,
the homes of the people are log or mud
huts, and there is not a schoolhouse to be
seen from the boundary line to the capi­
tal.—William Eleroy Curtis in Chicago
News.
To fasten knife handles that have become
loosened, take powdered resin and mix with
it a small quantity of powdered chalk or
whiting. Fill the hole in the handle with
the mixture, heat the tang of the knife or
fork and thrust in. When cold it will be
securely fastened.
•
each foot. Besides the points enumer­
ated it has many other characteristics of
a frog, even to huge, knotty looking, lid­
less eyes. The parents are almost dis­
tracted over the occurrence and hourly
pray for it to die.
There are. two other “frog child” cases
on record, one the offspring of a Piute
squaw in Nevada, which was born about
ten years since, the other a monstrosity
which first saw the light of day at
Goshen, Ind., in January, 1889.—St.
Louis Republic.
The Age of Indian Outbreaks Is Past.
There is not the smallest danger of a
serious Indian outbreak in the north­
west. The conditions existing in this
region have been- entirely changed by
the building of railroads and the estab­
lishment of means of rapid communica­
tion among posts. It is quite impossible
to organize an Indian outbreak under
the eye of the agent on reservations
without the conspiracy becoming known.
With existing means of communication
and transit an outbreak could be crushed
in its incipiency by a rapid concentra­
tion of troops. There are elements which
might once have been dangerous in the
situation at Standing Rock—a heaven
sent prophet and a meddling woman—
but the age of Indian outbreaks is past.
Portland Oregonian.
f
braced a 'desperate résóíütioñ. I still room, I mean?”
held her hand, which I had seized to pre­
“No, I am going to my boudoir.”
U
A cold shiver ran down me. Her bou­
'O vent her ringing the bell. I was so agi­
tated that 1 was hardly aware that it doir! That was the room we were sitting
was in my clasp, until her face of pro­ in in my dream. There was a moment’s
found astonishment, almost alarm, be- pause.
By RHODA BROUGHTON.
“I wonder,” said I, with a nervous
trayed the fact to me.
“I do not know what you will think i laugh, and in a voice whose agitation I
SCENE IIL
of me,” said I, in a shaking voice, “but I could but partially control, “whether
Mrs. Smith’s was not a face upon which I’m going to make what 1 am afraid you you would letme come with you. I—I—
I imagine, as a rale, any emotion painted will think a very extraordinary request I am not at all sleepy after all; it—it is sc
I very early, is not it? I—I—should like
itself with much vividness. It was a , to you.”
“Indeed!” said she, with a perceptible to sée your boudoir. May I?”
dull, flat, mask like face; but there was
Polite woman as Mrs. Smith was, and
one f eeling that upon my entry it showed accent of distrust and a decided drawing
itself at ail events fully capable of por­ away of the hand so convulsively clasped had proved herself to be to-night, she
by me.
could not prevent a flash of acute annoy­
traying, and that was astonishment. I
“Yes,” said I, going on with a feverish ance, mixed, as I saw, with fear, from
shall never forget the way in which her haste, now that the ice was once broken, crossing her face.
eyes and mouth opened as I sheepishly “you see it has happened so unfortunate­
“It really is not at all worth seeing,”
.followed my own name into her draw­ ly, the distance was greater than I expect­ replied she stiffly, “and I cannot help
ing room. She rose from a work table ed, and then the axle tree breaking and thinking that you look tired.”
at. which she was sitting and advanced the poor fly horse is so done that I am sure
“But I am not at all,” rejoined I, ob­
to meet me civilly enough; but all over he could not crawl another mile; in short, stinately. “I should like to come with
her face was written such an obvious ex­ I am afraid I must throw myself upon you, if you would let me.”
pectation- of hearing from my lips some your hospitality and ask you to give me
“Of-course, if you wish it,” said she
immediate explanation: of this surprising shelter, to let me stay here for the grudgingly.
visit, that not all the shock of the dis­ night.”
- Before finally succumbing she made
■'./'-'V
'
covery that, in its first particular—that
Out it had come and now it only re­ one or two more efforts to shake me off.
of the changed butler—my dream was mained to be seen how she would take In vain! I was quite immovable. I heard_
fulfilled—could prevent my feeling cov­ my proposition! At first she was too her give an irrepressible sigh of impa­
ered with confusion at my own apparent dumfounded to utter. I saw at once tience and apprehension at my unac­
intrusiveness.
that the idea of my being deranged countable and offensive pertinacity as
“I am afraid this is rather a late hour crossed her mind; for she looked hard at She preceded me up stairs. We reached
at which to call," said I constrainedly— and at the same time backed away from her boudoir. It. was a commonplace
she tried to put in a faint disclaimer— me. Then her civility revived.
room, commonplacely arranged, I had
“but the fact is I met with an accident
“Of course!” she said, “of course! I seen hundreds like it, but never to my
on my way. My carriage broke down shall be only too delighted!” and then knowledge, either in waking or sleeping;
in Saleóte—something went wrong with she stopped again.
had my eyes made acquaintance with it
the axle tree.”
I saw that, having gained my point, before. I looked at once upon entering
“Indeed! I am very sorry,” perfectly my next task was to cohvince her of my to see whether the relative position of
politely, but still with that undisguisa- sanity. I, therefore, with profuse thanks door and fireplace were the same as those
ble lopk of astonishment and. expected and apolflsies, and as composed a voice seen in my- dream, and also whether
explanation. It must be remembered as I could master, asked leave to send there was a clock on the chimney piece.
that she had been living twelve years in my orders by the flyman back to my In both particulars my vision had told
the neighborhood and that I had made coachman at Saleóte. I took care that told me correctly, But after ail there
no slightest attempt to visit her before.
she should hear me give them myself to was nothing very remarkable, in this,
, “And so I had to wait till a fly could the man, so that she might know that Most rooms boast a clock, and in many
be got ready, which threw me later the broken axle tree and disabled the door is on the left hand of the fire­
.still,” continued I boldly.
. brougham were not figments of my own place. But to me it seemed confirmation
She again repeated: “Indeed!” and diseased imagination. But I do not think strong as Holy Writ.
that she was very sorry, adding that the that this measure had much effect in re­
‘‘I told you that there was nothing to
Saleóte flies Were very bad ones; but I moving the suspicion of my sanity from see here,” said my hostess, noting my
saw the puzzled look grow acuter, and I my hostess’ mind. I had gone out to eyes wandering round, and speaking in a
could follow the chain of thought that the hall door to speak to the flyman, tone out of which she could not keep all
was running through her mind as plainly whence we both returned to the drawing the resentment she felt.
as if it had been written on a piece of room to begin our sixteen or eighteen
“But it—it is very—very comfortable!”
paper before me. That my carriage hours’ tete-a-tete.
rejoined. I, hastily, fearing that this was
should have broken down, and that yet
I think that both our hearts sunk to the prelude to a curt dismissal of me.
I should have been so determinedly re­ our boots at the prospect. I am sure “I should like to stay here a bit with
solved to visit her as to push on in the that mine did. In order, perhaps, to you, if I might.”
teeth of circumstances in a moldy fly at abridge it as much as possible, Mrs.
She made some sort of murmured
6 o’clock at night, and on such a night, Smith soon left me with some mur­ sound, which might mean acquiescence,
was the problem, her total inability to mured sentence about seeing that my and we sat down. This time we did not
solve which she was perfectly unable to room was comfortable, which it certain­ even attempt any conversation. She oc­
disguise, nor could I help her.
ly was not. It was, on the contrary, as I cupied herself with some work that ap­
It was utterly impossible that I could found on being led to it, as uncomfort­ parently required a great deal of count­
tell her what motive had brought me. able as a hastily got ready bedroom, with ing; and I—I had no other occupation
Had she been another kind of woman I a just lit fire and a sensation of not hav­ but my thoughts. I could not well have
might possibly have confessed myself to ing been occupied for some indefinite had a worse one. As I sat there in si­
her; but being such as she was I felt tune past would naturally be on a biting lence, listening with ears continually
that I had sooner be torn in pieces by January night.
strained to catch some sound that was
wild horses. As we were toilsomely try­
Having taken off my bonnet and made not swallowed up in the shutter shaking
ing to keep up a conversation rendered myself as tidy as I could, with the aid of of the storm wind, with eyes perpetually
almost impossible by our relative posi­ Mrs. Smith's brush and comb, and told traveling to the clock face, I asked my­
tions, the butler entered, bringing tea. myself repeatedly that the world had self over and over again what purpose
As he set down the tray on the tea table never seen such a fool as me, and that I hoped to serve by this Apparently so
1 could not help stealing a sidelong neither the girls nor my husband would insane procedure of mine?
glance at his face. It told me nothing. ever forgive me, 1 went down stairs and
Were the dream to. prove a fallacy I
I had never, to my knowledge, seen it we presently betook ourselves to dinner. had made as great a fool of myself as the
before, nor was it one that I should ever There wé sat opposite to each other in world—fertile in that product—had ever
have noticed. But then neither had I tete-a-tete,
I had faintly hoped that seen. If, on the other hand, the dream,
seen the dream face. It had been un­ some female friend, old governess or hitherto proved curiously true in some
accountably hidden from me. As soon cousin might crop up to make a third slight particulars, were to be carried out
as he had left the ropm 1 said abruptly, with us. But, no; there we were—we in its terrible main features, of what
“So you have lost your old butler.”
two! We were waited on by the butler, avail could I suppose my presence to be
A fresh access of surprise overtook and by him alone.
in averting the catastrophe with which
her, as 1 saw. How did 1 know that
By questions, whose impertinence Mrs. it concluded? AU I had done was to in­
they had an old butler?
Smith must have thought only palliated volve myself in Mrs. Smith’s fate, which
“Yes,” she answered slowly, “we kept by the unsound state of my mind, I as­ there could be no doubt about my shar­
him as long as we could, poor man, be­ certained that the Smith establishment ing. Again that cold shudder ran over
cause we were so fond of him, but he in its normal state consisted of butler me. I could not help breaking the silence
grew so infirm at last he had to go.”.
and footman, but that the footman had to ask my companion whether she never
“And your present one?”
two days. ago been suddenly taken ill felt it a little eerie sitting up here all
“Our presentone?” repeating my words and sent home. The butler was there­ alone so late at night.
with a puazled air.
She answered briefly: “I am not ner­
fore now, in his master’s absence, the
“Yes; do yoíi like him? Had you a only man in the house. I also ascer­ vous.” _
“Do you ever take the precaution of
tained during one of his absences from
very good character with him?”
Her eyes opened wide at my extraor- the room that the stables were at an in­ locking the door?” asked I, glancing ner­
conveniently-. long distance from the vously toward it.
dinary curiosity.
She smiled rather contemptuously:
“Well, I am afraid that we were a house, and that there was no cottage
little imprudent in his case, I am sure nearer than a quarter of a mile off. Alto­ ■‘Never, and even if I wished I should be
it is very good of you to take an interest gether as lonely a spot as you would wislp unable, as I see, what I never noticed
in the matter.”—“For good read imper­ to see. My eyes traveled uncomfortably before, that the lock is broken.”
The clock struck 11. One hour more.
tinent,” commented I, internally.—“But and furtively after the man on his re­
the fact is, there séems to be a little turn into the room, but 1 could see noth­ It passed, too, that last hour. It was
mystery about the reason why he left ing in his appearance to justify my ter­ endless, an eternity, yet it rushed. As
his last place. However, Mr. Smith took rors. His face had no specially sinister it drew toward its last sands, I hardly
a fancy to his appearance and so we en­ cast. It was almost as insignificant as breathed. If Mrs. Smith had once looked
gaged him. But I do not know,” for­ his mistress’. And his figure! Could it up from the stitching at which she was
mally, “Why I should trouble you with be possible that the startling resemblance so tranquilly pegging away, she must
I had traced in it to my dream figure was have seed the agitation under which I
our domestic affairs.” ‘
I did not answer for a moment. I was only the figment of my horrified fancy? was laboring, and would of course have
thinking with a sort of stupefaction.
But no, no, a hundred times no! As I at once assigned it to her old count of in­
They have taken him without a char­ watched the butler, in precisely the same sanity. I wondered that she did not hear
acter! Who knows what his antecedents furtively apprehensive way I was con­ the thundering of my heart, pulsing so
were? When I did speak it was with an scious that Mrs, Smith was watching me. loudly as to impede that intensity of lis­
apparently brusque change of subject; T Her slow brain had adopted and clung tening into which all my powers seemed
myself knew the Jink thatbound the two fast to the belief that I was. mad; nor, to have passed.
How near it was growing! Five min­
topics together in my mind.
indeed, was that conviction devoid of a
“Mr. Smith is well, I lippe; at home?” good deal of justification. I think that utes, four minutes, three’ minutes, two
“He was quite well when he left home she would not have been at all surprised minutes, one minute. I held my breath.
this morning, thanks.”
if I had at any moment risen and play­ I clinched my hands till thejiails dug
“Left home?” interrupted I, breathless­ fully buried the carving knife in her into the palms. Twelve!. The clock
ly; “he has left home?”
breast. I have often thought since what struck! With that ringing in my head,
“He was summoned away unexpected­ a pleasant dinner she must have had. It with that hammering heart, should I
ly,” answered she, tranquilly; “but I ex­ was over at last. It had seemed enor­ hear the knock, even if it Came? Mrs.
pect him back to-morrow, or the day mously long, and yet on our return to Smith made some slight movement, and
the drawing room it proved to have been I almost shrieked, but I bit in the scream
after, at latest.”
disastrously short, short as women’s din­ and listened again. One minute past;
“But not to-night?" hurriedly.
“No, not to-night, certainly,” with her ners always are. We had dined at 8 and two minutes past; three; four up to
usual phlegm.
it was now only five-and-twenty minutes twelve! The clock said twelve minutes
At that moment the butler again en­ to 9. Three hours and five-and-twenty past 12, As each minute went by, I
tered, bringing coals, apparently—Long- minutes until the period indicated in my drew a longer breath and my tense nerves
slackened. At the twelve minutes past
mains did not boast a footman—and dream.
We sat down dejectedly on each side Mrs. Smith looked up.
knelt down before the fire to put them
“Do you feel inclined to go to bed yet?
on.
of. the fire. I noticed almost with a smile
For a moment my eye fell on him; that Mrs. Smith took care not to place she inquired.
“I am afraid" (looking more attentively
then I turned suddenly sick. Surely herself too near me. We had long ex­
that was the very back, the very kneel­ hausted our few poor topics of common at me) “that you are more tired than
ing figure altogether that I had seen in talk. I had not even any more imperti­ you will allow,”
“I think I Will go,” said I, rising and
my dreams! I suppose I looked very nent questions to ask. It is true that
odd, pale and faint, Tor I found Mrs. after having run, as we both thought, drawing a long breath; “it is ten minutes
Smith’s white eyes fixed upon me, and quite dry already, we had had the good past 12.”
“Not quite that,” rejoined she; “that
her voice asking me, “Did I fedi the fire fortune to happen upon a common ac­
too much?” I stammered out a negative quaintance. Very slightly as she was clock is ten minutes fast. I must have
and for some moments could do no more. known to either of us, with what tenacity it regulated to-morrow.”
“I must have it regulated to-morrow!”
At last, the object that had excited my did we cleave to that poor woman! How
emotion being no longer in the room, 1 we dissected'her character, anatomized Like lightning it flashed upon me that
rose, driven by some inward power her clothes, criticised her actions, enu­ that was the speech Mrs. Smith had
stronger than myself, and went toward merated her vices, speculated on her mo­ made in my dream immediately before
Mrs. Smith. She, thinking that I meant tives, about none or all of which we either the knock came. The speech I had made
such vain efforts to recall. And, as
of us knew or cared a button.
to take leave, rose, too.
But at last she was picked to the bone, panic struck, this dawned upon me,
- “I do not know whether your fly is at
the door,” said she; “you had bettei’ let and bare naked silence stared us in the some one knocked: A mist swam be­
face. What a dreadful evening it was! fore my eyes. I tried to speak, but no
me ring and ask.”
Hei' hand was on its way to the bell, Saved, to me at least, from the simplicity words would come, and Mrs. Smith ap­
but I arrested it. She had misunderstood of bottomless tedium by alternate rushes parently did not see the agonized hand
my action in rising. I had not meant to of burning shame and icy apprehension. I stretched out toward her.
“Come in!” she said, phlegmatically.
go yet. But now she was virtually dis­ At 10 o’clock Mrs. Smith could bear it no
The floor opened and in the aperature
missing me. I must leave her. What longer. She rose and rang for candles, appeared the figure of the butler, with a
“I dare say that you will not be sorry coal box in his hand. My horror struck
pretext had I for further intrusion? I
had come twelve miles in the teeth of to go to bed,” she said, a sort of relief eyes were riveted on him, but I could
circumstances; I had seen and spoken coming into her tone.
stir hand or foot; To what purpose
I believe she nourished a secret inten­ not
with her, and now I was to leave her.
if I had? Were not we alone in the house
tion
of
locking
me
into
my
room
when
What object had I then served by my
with him—we two wretched, defense­
wild freak? I had not warned her; I had once she had got me there.
less women?
“After your long drive you will be
given her no slightest hint of the peril
that to my excited imagination seemed glad of rest.”
Again the reproachful news comes
“And will you, too?” asked I stupidly, j from
to hang imminently over her. I had
abroad that Louis Kossuth, the
been of no least service to her, and now for she had no long drive. “I mean, aré Hungarian patriot, now blind and old,
you
also
going
to
bed?
”
She
hesitated.
I was leaving her—leaving her to her
is living in wretchedness and poverty in
“It would not be much use my going Turin. .Forty years ago, when he vis­
fate.
It was impossible! It was equally im­ to bed so early. I am a bad sleeper.”
ited America, the simple mention of
the faet that he needed funds would
possible that I should expose myself to
“You are not going to bed then?”
have brought forth a hundred offers of
her more than probable ridicule by tell­
“Not just yet.”
ing her what had brought jne! I em- I “You are goiner to stay here—in this assistance.
A correspondent ef an educational
newspaper believes he has found a good
thing in the wav of a »wviceable scrap
book. Instead of leaves on which to
paste the scraps, it has pockets or envel­
opes, into which hejdrops his cuttings
from newspapers or ®|agazines. By-this
simple method he is qaved the time and
trouble of pasting. These cuttings are
classified according to subjects; ' all the
scraps on a given subject, or class of
subjects, ate put interfile same envelope.
The title of> the subject is written on the
envelope containing it, and the name is
also entered in the injlex in front of the
book. When information is wanted upon
any subject, all the scraps will be found
in one place, and caw be easily removed,
consulted and replaced at pleasure.
Besides printed scraps,, notes, one’s
own thoughts reduced to writing, lec­
tures or addresses can thus be filed, and
a record of the time^and place of deliv­
ery written on the otitside of the envel­
ope. Busy, practical men, literary men,
teachers or clergymen can in this way
keep their scraps of information in readi­
ness for future consultation. An in­
genious student of ■natural jiistory has
perhaps an improvement upon this
method. Instead off a scrap book with
pockets or envelopes, he utilizes a row of
pasteboard boxes made to resemble books,
upon the backs of which the contents,
“Biography,” “Natural History,” etc.,
are inscribed. Botli of the* foregoing
methods of scrap keeping have been
tested and found practically useful, and ,j
by either of them an article, when use­
less or finally disposed of, can be with­
drawn and destroyed.—Chambers’ Jour­
nal.
.7i_J
6