I-
0111 THE BORDER.
By WALTEH EES ANT.
"Mv dear he continued. " knew not
tlint Hi- world contained so much tress
lire ,,-rV'l tins rujah is but a Ktty prince
! jwiJ''h wealth ik as not 1 1 1 1 1 t-tiifitimii
:'jpwitb Ihat of oitinv others There were
-oiumouus ill ougs norm, wunsn worm I
kjiew not unit diamonds m ring sword
hate es mid women gauds there were
rutin" inueralds sapphires, turquoises,
opals ami all Kind of precious stones
strung rudely on common string a If they
were bill pebbles There were also gold
and silver vessels of all kinds, ami there
were casks full of gold coins As I took
mm a handful I saw that umny of them
wiv ancient, with lireek characters, per
liar left 111 this country by tlmt great
ttolilier Alexander When I had surveyed
these wonders t thanked In in and said
tlmt I should not pmsiituo to take ho
much as a single gold coin from his trcua
lira but thul if It idiotild please his high
iess lo offer me u present I should accept
it with grant lido, prtivuicl it wits not tun
rostly lie laughed at then' words and
when we cau if aw y I wan no loaded with
gold tlitit I fancied myself already u rich
man
'Since this event It tint h pleased Lord
Olive to issue an onlcr which prohibit
othcers from accepting henceforth any
pi twins at all fi-um the native princes I
cannot but, fee.1 umlt-f ul that the order
was not issued belorv my own gissl for
tune Uublle.s his excellency liuth pxsi
reasons foi this oixiel which places the
military service at m disadvantage com
ami with the writers, who have great
opportunities of making fortunes, and I
cannot but think that it in a more noble
thing to win a toitune at the point of the
sword than ti v such art at are d.ilv prac
ticed by the wntfiK and civil servants of
the company Ther are many Kuglish
men. and many French men as well hut
we are driving them out of the einintry
who have Lwcoine rich in the military
service ol the Indian princes, yet J shall
not exchange my present masters mi lung
as the merchant who think uothiug of
glory or of this country, yet a great deal
of their dividends perceive that it is for
their safety, a weH as for their credit, to
extend their power, and I have a reason
able hope that the good fortune which
hath hitherto attended me may continue,
so that I may return to my native conn
try if only in my old age amply pro
vided As regards the climate I have as
yet experienced no ((reat intxinveniclice
from the beat Tho natives have learned
to fear an Englishman, rather tbau to
love him, which is. oiethinks. the thing we
should most desire when we have to rule
over people aa ignorant of the Christian
virtue, although not UarUimus. like the
naked blacks, but a most ingenious, dex
terous and skillful people and of subtle
intellect, yet slothful of body, lovers of
rest, deceiver regardless of truth, for
ever scheming plots and contriving sub
tleties. and more cruel to prisoners than
.the Spanish Inquisition The best among
them are followers of Mohammed who
make faithful servants and good soldiers
It is a country where the ambition and
jealousy of prtiiwsareeontiniially causing
fresh wars lo be undertaken, ami where a
European may lead, a life of adventure to
his heart's content "
I was reading as I have said, this letter
aloud in presence of my two faithful
friends Now when I spoke of the drill
onboard i;ul tho sergeant's rattan, and
the regiui' ntal supplejack, tho fugleman
drew bini- if upright and shouldered the
garden -,'tdo. because there was no pike
at hand and when I read of the boVu's
rope's end. and the ship's cat o" nine tails.
Sailor Nan cicked her hat and stood with
feet a;irt and hands upon her hips, and
began Out In a whi.ier. to murmur
strange -a oaths, and when I read the
account of the fight in which Ralphs
courage saved this grateful rajah it was
a most dreadful battle, in which hundreds
of brave fellows and treacherous Hindoos
were killed, so that to read it made one's
heart cease to beat the fugleman, car
ried beyoud himse's , executed capers with
u 3.. lJ
Executed caprri Mh the npade,
the spade which signified little to my Ig
norant eyes, but which were. I beli"ve,
tho movements with which the trained
soldier attacks with the bayonet, and the
old sailor with a mop stick cut down her
thousands mighty curttes rolling softly
from her lips like distant thunder
If the beginning of the letter was de
Ughtful, Judge how beautiful was the
end.
"I have now, my dear, told you all that
concerns myself. I suppose yon have
long since left Warkworth and gone to
live with your parents, to whom I beg to
convey my resjects and best wishes If,
r
1
amoi your rich friends and the gay et tea
ol the fashion the 'gayotleal' you
have found lovers (as to be sun you must)
and a husband, or one whom you have
iliMtinguiNlied with your favor and ni
11 I'd. you wilt remember thai I shall
ever lie to you as a brother, for. lover or
brother. I can never cease to love"-
"A good lad'" said the fugleman.
"As ever litul the deck!" said the sailor
"do on. Miss lrusy '
"And I am sure that you have grown up
as tall ami as litviuiltiil as hii aiigol "
"She hiis. " mi id the fugleman
"Taller, ye luhlair." said tho sailor,
'and more beautiful an auge.l than ever I
clapped eves on nor never a IVy nor a
lull at Mlieeniehs or IVptford or the Com
mon Hard to show a caudle alongside i,f
her What's even a frigate In full sail
compared with a lovely woman?"
This enthusiasm lor tho loveliness of
her own sex (unusual mold women). I put
down to her naval exjierieuces and famll
ntrity with sailot talk, and went on
quickly, because, if llalpli loved to flatter
mo. I ought not to let these people follow
his example An angel' l-tt men are mm
They cannot give enough, they lavish
their praises as they Invmh the very
fruits of their labors usni tho wometi
they lovo VV wnuieu measure our gifts
except to our Ijoyn I is over, there
fee. the fond words of a lover about blue
eyes and curly hair, and nymphs In cool
grots, and soft smiles and other Imaginary
gifts and graces, all of which my listeners
applauded, nodding their heads. Oh I be
could say what he pleased, he could imag
ino all the perfection, so that be con
tinned to tell me. as he did In this tetter,
how he thought of me dally, and loved me
always more and more
"As for tho address of this letter." he
said. "1 know not where in Loudon or
elsewhere your father may now reside,
therefore I forward it to the care of tho
fuglemuu. with niue-t that ho will send
It to you at the earliest opportunity, and
by a safe hand Will you. in return, in
form him of my continued esteem and
fnendshipf
" 'biteetn and friendship.'" repeated
the fugleman "Tins from a captain!
Was ever such a boy1?"
"And If you Bud an opportunity, tell
Sailor Nan that half her iortune has come
true "
She replied that at her time of life It
was old If she couldn't tell the fortune of
a boy and as for the present cruise. It
was bound to be a fair weather voyage.
Finally, my brivo lover Ix-gginl ma to
write to him and tel! him all that had
happened since his departure and sub
scribed himself, with much iove, Ralph
Embleton
When we had read the letter twice,
which took us all the afternoon, and cost
me three hours' sewing we took counsel
together First they were both for tell
ing it about the town, and having bon
fire, with the ringing of the church bells
in a triple bob major, but I was of opinion
that it would be best to keep our own
counsel for awhile Therefore 1 bound
them both to secrecy and silence. I would
let Matbow alouo and watch lie should
not know anything, not even that Ralph
was alive and prosperous, and had 1 kept
this resolution, because my two friends
were loyal and secret as the grave, It
would have been better in the end f r us
all. and much better for Mathew But.
as the wim! man aid. "Death and life are
in the power of the tongue."
CHAPTER VIL
MATIIKW'S r-MIKNDI.V OVVUK.
This letter made mo. frutn one of the
most unhappy of girls, tbi most Joyous
The Immediate prospect of poverty f r
the dame declined daily the hard work
which began at daylight and ended at
bedtime, the certain knowledge that Ma
thew was not satisfied with a simple re
fusal these things, whi-h had before
filled my mind with terror, now appeared
like the imaginary specters of tho night,
which cease to alarm when the day has
dawned To me it was more than the
dawn of day; t was the uprising of a
plorious sun of love and hope Ralph
loved me. Ralph was well, prosperous and
In high esteem, Ralph was already
wealthy; Ralph would come, and all
things would bo well, whatever might
happen at the moment. Vet this I could
not tell to any Mathew was not to know;
my poor old grandmother was too uld n ,w,
and too failing of mind and body, to caw
for earthly things, my father bad clean
forgotten the boy: my mother would not
greatly care to know; nor would It sooths
her ansieties to feel that we had a protec
tor separated from us by the rolling seas
atid by a voyage of ten months or n're
What good would bo bis far off treasures
to us. she would have asked, when what
we want la beef for the pot, and bread f r
tho board? As for my father's madness,
it increased every day, so that now our
cottage was a palace Indeed, every meal
was a banquet, and the small beer of my
brewing was champagne, port, Malaga, or
Imperial Tokay But Mathew was too
much with him, and it made me uneasy
to observe bow ho complimented my
father on his wisdom, his resolution and
his wonderful success
"In all respects, madam." he said to my
mother. "I find your husband most sensl
b'M and full of sound judgment. 1 have
Uk n his counsel of I at in many private
matters of importance."
"Then the Lord help youl" said my
mother, sharply.
"What If he does exaggerate his private
fortune?" Mathew went on. "It Is a fail
ing with many persons concerned in
trade."
"If you mean this In kindness, sir,"
said my mother, "1 thank you humbly for
your good opinion of my poor, distraught
husband. If you mean it in mockery, you
are a most cruel muii '
"Indeed, tnaduui," he replied, bowing,
"pray believe that I nienn It In kindness "
Ho had no Unduiwa ut all In his iiuture.
Ho designed theso words to cover his In
iiittoits purpose
So ho continued in come and go. mid to
rail? witli my father In the gulden, and
what ever wild things my father said he
would accept gravely as if they were In
deed words of wisdom No one exrept
myself suspected him of sinister designs
Slid my tut her disclosed to 1 1 1 lit the whole
prodigious extent ol his madness, so that
I could have rned wnti shame and hu
mllialion, .Mathew knowing well, as all
the world knew by this tune, that he was
little belter than the piKirual tu Un
parish.
"The world, sir," tho pour gentle
mini would say with a lofty air 'has
yet to foam how great a benefactor
a Kimple U1111I011 citizen may lie Tlieit
have been many twiirtlactor I ncknowl
edge their greatness But wail, sir.
until my will Is opened , and read To
vmi. friend Mathew I have tieqneiuhi'd a
piHir JJIO.(KII) 110 more "
"till, sir" lie bowed and spread his
hands "This la Indeed goodness "
"It Is the duty of a rich cillen to ills
cover merit and reward It the plain duty
I am a Ixuidon citizen ami am Hrhaps
move proud of this position than liermnes
,1 Christian The bulk of my fortune I
have left to my daughter, whom I design
in marrtage for some great nobleman
But I have not forgotten the poor of mv
native tiartah. .Mathew no. no and yon
will find, when my will Is read, that
schools, hospitals, marriage portions for
tho girls, and apprentice money for the
bovn. will attest my remembrance of this
place "
"Sir," said Mathew with a grin of con
tent, "you ili t a benefactor Indeed "
Now. before I answered Ralph's letter.
whi-h I k.'pt for moiv tlinii a month in
my bosom, reading It every day when I
rouhl snatch a moment. .Mathew came to
me. and after a little p.iuihle. of which
I am going to tell you. reojiened the ills
itMernl subject of courtship I was in
the garden, gathering herim for a mint
iulep. when I saw him standing at the
garden gate lie looked so jocund, he
smiled so pleasantly, and he wore so self
tuitisiied an air. that I was quite certain
some evil thing hud Impeded
I "Umsilia. ho said. "I have heard cor
tain intelligence. Von may disnd upon
us truth, which Is confirmed In every ir
tifiilar I think that you should lie the
lirst to hear of It. sad though It be, yet
wh it I could not but expect."
"I suppose." I said with a laugh, be
canoe I knew tlmt he was alsmt to invent
some wicked falsehood. "I suppose you
have got something to tell me alsmt
Ralph, whom your cruel conduct drove
mil into the world?"
"Nay." he replied, looking darkly, yet
with a smll-j. "you may say what you
please, you cannot offend me I have just
comu from Alnwick, where I sold four fat
beasts At the inn I fell in with a stroll
ing player, and talked with him over a
glass about his wandering life Presently
I asked him whether he had seen any
where upon his travels. esiscially In
places whtre actors like himself, with
profligates and thieves resort, such a lad
as Ralph It is wonderful to relate tlmt
he rememliered seeing tin boy at a place
called tiriiiuiiam It was alsmt six or
seven ytars ago The reprobate lad was
making lovo to a young actress When
my informal:' came across the party again
llalpli had left them "
At first I concluded that this was sheer
fabrication, but afterward gleaned that it
was to a certain extent true, that is. that
llalpli had made, the Ncquuintiince of the
actress and her family on his way to Lon
don, but there was no love milking How
could there Is), when he was already in
iove with me? And what follows was
pure and clumsy invention
"lie wandered alsmt with them playing
and acting," Mathew went on. "for four
or five years Then he deserted them, or
'as turned out in disgrace It mutters
aot which ami. I am ashamed to say-
but he looked delighted "took to the
road, where ho Is now known everywhere
as Black Ralph or Bloody llalpli "
"Are you quite sure of whut you sayT"
"As sure as I am that he will bo bunged
as soon as he Is caught "
I know not by wTmt reasons Mathew
persuaded himself, If Indeed he did per
suado himself, that Black Ralph, who was
S notorious highwayman about this time,
and practiced his wicked calling on the
York road, was Ralph Km blot on Vet he
mode so certain of i! that he told under
strict promise of secrecy the barber, who
told everybody, also under promise of
secrecy, and It was noised abroad that the
distinction of giving birth to the most
bloodthirsty vllluin in England belonged
to Warkworth. and many people advised
Mathew to go armed and to provide his
house with a loaded blunderbuss, a bull
dog and a few man traps, because his
cousin would probably visit him with In
tent to murder as well as rob.
"I suppose." Mathow went on to me.
"that you will now give up thinking of
that young vagabond A pretty girl like
you should throw your thoughts higher
Why. though your father's a beggar, as
on) may say"
"lie is not a beggar 30 long. as my grand
mother lives "
"Perhaps that will not be much longer,"
lie replied with an ugly grin "Now
Driislllu. listen to me You know that
I've set my luncy upon yon I've been
waiting just till you grew up. and then
for for one or two little things to ripen
which have now ripened and turned out
pretty well Now that everything is
roudy. there Is no reason to wait any
longer Rulh bein 11 hlghwuyuiuu and
certain to bo hanged" V
"Thou. Mathew," I ropllnd. "1 will wait
until lie Is bunged, and then yoieriin talk
to me again If you like Now, go away,
and letive mo to my work. " ,
Ilo wont away for tho tlr.to. ami, nnxt
morning his sister Barbara runin. She
tras at first mysterious iilsmt sudden
changes of forf uno, unexpected reverses,
mid the judgments of angered heaven
These things I did not then consider as
pertaining to myself, because I knew not
how I had esecially angered heaven,
more, that is. than thoughtless youth
may do ul any time, and yet obtulii 'for
giveness by dully prayer She also added
a certain exhortation to kiss the nut.
which I pass over Then she launched
Into pi'iilte of her brother lie was most
Industrious, she said up early and to
ivork Is'foro duyhivuk he whs full of re
llgiou. which surprised me very tniifh to
hear he was thrifty uiiii lind nlninly
saved a large sum of money this! I found
ufterwurd. was false lie eimlif provide a
comfortable homo, and liiliV indeed
she added, would tin the woitjfin on whom
his choice should fall Adde(l to this that
be was no longer yoimu iiml scatter
brained, but arrived at the holier ago of
three er tour hiiiI thirty, and that
Malliew s wile would have the advantage
of hei own society, help, example uud
sdui'itiiiioii
I told her that Mathew hud got his
answei. and that I thought It liurd that u
woman could 1. I ls supixwed to know her
own 111 1 ml in no iuiMirtanl a mutter
"Whui is your answer, then?" sho
asked
"I will talk to Mathew on tho subject
agnlii." I replied, "when Ralph Is hanged,
since this is a thing which both you and
lie desire so vehemently "
Two days afterward Mathew himself
met me as I was on my wy tu the castle
He begged me to give him uliother lienr
lug uud. as I could not refuse so simple n
thing I led It t in by the path below the
cuslle to the bank of tho river, where ho
could talk at his ease and unheard
First it was the saine story Would 1
forget llio young villain and marry himf
Ilo was so much in lovo with 1110, that he
would not say as some men not so rich,
mind you, as himself would say. tlmt I
might go hung myself In my gurters for
aught he cared lie would forgive my
disrespect and impudence, he would for
get tho post altogether. ople should sihi
that he was of a truly noble uud forgiving
disMMitiou. ho would give 1110 another
chance, so great was his generosity Very
well. then, would I marry him?
I replied very gravely, that he had al
ready received his answer When Itulph
was hanged, and not before. I would listen
to him Then I asked him seriously why
he thought so meanly of me as to try this
lruiiied up story about plav actors and
higliwavmeii iisui me, and reminded him
of what a truly wicked dlsMsltlou he
must Im thus in glory and delight In the
aupissted wickedness of ins cousin, whose
guardian he had been, uud whose lands ho
now occupied
lie grew angry al this plain spcokiiig.
and began to sweai . as Is tho wont of
such men If kindness would not move
me. he said something el. so should bo
tried I thought I was free oud independ
ent of him. dnt I? I should see what
power was In his hands, and what mis
chief hr could do me I was young and
Imprudent It chilled mo to hear that ho.
and such a mini as he. could do me harm
as if tho meanest wretch who ever lived
cannot do harm and I told him what I
ought to have kept a secret, tlmt so long
as Ralph lived I should not want a pro
tector, and, that, so far from his being a
highwayman. I know certainly that ho
was s proMMmtiB gentleman, already held
In great houoi, and respected by nil.
He was so staggered by this Intelli
gence that I thought he was going to
have some kind of lit. Consider how
much it meant to him; ho would certainly
have to give up the mill, and to render a
strict account of all his doings; ho would
be reduced to the station of a poor small
fanner; he would be robbed of Ids re
venge; and he would bo convicted as n
slanderer and culuminous iwraou, If tlmt
mattered aught.
First be blustered and threatened. I
dared, did I. to reproach him; very good,
I should see whut things he could do; I
should laugh the other sldo of my mouth.
Did I refuse this offer? Very well, then.
I should find out what his displeasure
Firtt hn btu$tred and threatened.
meant. And, perhaps, before long, 1
should be sorry for tho Insult I hail of
fered him and the proposul I had refused.
He then flung away, becoming at this
point speechless, and Indeed ho looked so
angry that I was afraid he would have
thrown mo Into tho stream.
1 went home, und said nothing to any
body about tho business; but I was
troubled In my mlud, and greatly afraid
that the man would do some dreadful mis
chief If he could.
Well, ho camo again a third time to me.
It was three days later., if I was dis
quieted, I could see that ho was' more so. t,
His red cfineks weru bwumo pule, mill his 1
eyes were rml Ilo was qtliot In his milli
ner, uud hold out Ids I m 1 id ,
"Hnmlllu," ho suld. "I was wrong tho
other day You won't iimrry 1110? Very
well, then Never iiilml. some 0110 else
will, ir I wuiit What mutters one wo
mini more t him itiiothor, If you nonm to
llillik ulioiit It? Wlm! hurt tun llinut
wusn't your refusal, which I don't euro fur
not one bmss luiulilug, but you saving
that I wanted Ralph to go bud That
was cruel to such u cousin und giiurdiiin
,is 1 was to tlmt Iwiy "
"Well, Mutliew," I said. "If I wiw
wrong. I pray you to forgive mo."
"5 should like to know. on the coiitrury. ;
that he was becoming u t'redlt to htH fam
ily I say." ho udded. "I should like to
liiiow II, If you I'un osHiiro nie of tin)
fact."
TO UK r0NTINI!!!l),
PRECOCIOUS CHILDREN.
Tanilnnny In Moilnrn Kdiirntliin Whlote
Should lie ('becked.
There Is at, present a tonrtnticy to un
natural mental development In chit-
I droit. The whole sohomo of tho public-
school Bystom is uuapieu 10 tuo extra
ordinary Insteuil of the ordlnury Intolll
gonco. Kvory jaisslhlo moans Is resorted
to by which the slow mind limy bo un
naturally qulokoned, while tho abnor
mally bright tiro pushed forward like
horses spurred along a roco coiirso.
The pupils of the public shools uro In
a state of continual nervous apprehen
sion, fearful lest tholr per cont.may full
imiIow tho required standurd, or that
they may full to pass tho dreaded xm
ination. They have lsicamn burdimod
with cares that should not bo Imposed
upon tlieni, and tho llghthfnrtlmHi
and naturalness of untrsmnieled child
IiimsI are llk ly to hi-coino more tradi
tions. I'retertiatiirttlly aged boys and
girls in spectacles are now so common
that they ceuso to attruct notico, and
reputable pliys'-luns testify that nerv
ous disorders among tho young are
ominously on the increaso.
hlsduetotlin pernicious cramming
of which they aro tho luilpless victims,
and the unnatural hurry and worry that
are a part of tho modern school regimen.
Tho parents of bright children aro
generally vain of their precocity. T hoy
toll with what avidity Iinimu takes to
history; how much of Shiikespearo
Oeorgo had road at ten, and how John
would rathor remain curled up on tho
sofa, devouring books indiscriminately,
than take part In tho most fascinating
gamo that was over Invented. The pre
cocity of f-'olorldgo and I Qulncy is re
called and tun children in question it
is thought, will provo purullol cases. It
is wholly forgotten that in 01111 instance
whom the mind contlnuos to develop in
ninety-nino il weakens and fails undor
tho forcing process. Poor Mr. Toots is
n illustration of what tho llllmlor sys
tem occasionally does, and if tho exam
ples are only occasional no parent wishes
to furnish tho subject In their own child.
Precocious children, as a general
thing, uro insufforublo llttlo prig.
They have not tho wlnsomonoss and in
nocence of childhood, nor tho wisdom
that comes only with years and ex
perience. Instead of making out 1
courses of reudlng, offering lndueomont J
and reward for siipernuturul aehlovy
niohts, parents would much bettor lock
book-case and take tho text books away
from such children, and turn thorn out,
Bgnratlvely spwiklng, like young ani
mals to craze Tho mind will ttiko care
of itself and keep on growing; but tho
body, suffers from luck of cxorolso,
snd disordered nerves and digestion
will handicap tho genius in la to years.
The precocious, snnsatlvo, imaginative
3hlld, above all others, should Iw made
to run, jump, climb and pluy in tho open
air. Ho should grow tanned and ragged
out of doors, instead of dreaming over
myths, or pondering weighty questions
about which ho should nut think for
y oars to como.
Tho modern Idea of education Is un
natural; and its oxlravaganco will
eventually culminate in a complete
revolution. Moro and more is it all
work and no play, when play is noces
iary as work is inducing to good health
and good tnorals.Chicago Intor-Occan.
Orlifln of the Word " Chestnut."
Mr. Joseph Jofforson somo time ago
gave this as tho origin of the word
"chestnut:" "In an old melodrama by
Wllliom Dillon, called The Urokon
Sword.' ore two ports Count Xuvior
and his servant Pablo. Tho Count is a
sort of Munchausen, fond of tolling
stories of his exploits. Ho tolls ono:
'Onco I entorod tho forests of Colloway
when suddenly from tho boughs of a
cork troo' ,. "Chestnut, Count,' inter
rupted Pablo. 'Cork treo,' said tho
Count. 'A chestnut,' roitorntod Pablo;
'I should know as well as you, fori
have heard you tell the story twenty
soven titnos.' Tho lato William War
ron, who had played Pablo of ion, was at
a men's dlnnor onco, when a gontloman
told a story whoso ago and originality
wore fur beyond any doubt. 'Chestnut,'
murmured Warren; 'I should know as
well as you, for I have hoard you tell it
twonty-sovon times.' The guests took
up tho expression, and from that," says
Mr. Jefferson, "I boliovo tho expression
really comes. "--N, Y. Sun.
I.lknlr to Inspire CorHdniic.
Customer How much?
Druggist Sovonty-livo cents. By the
way, 1 wish you would tell mo, next Y
tlme you happen in, whothor this helps
your bronchitis or .not. I filled tho
same prescription lust week for a man
whose corns were troubling him Chi.
uugo Tribune.
1
A.-