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ISSUED SEMI-WEEKLY. l. m' grist & SONS, Fnbiiahers. f % 4amiig $twsfatejj_ #r the promotion_o| the gotitiial, jSotial, Agricultural, and (Eommttrial gntergstg of the feojtte. {TEBM3SiNOLE(>coiT1! fAive cenDtsAKCE' ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLB, S. C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1901. NO. 16. BY TTAROIiE Copyright, 1900, by Harold McGrath. CHAPTER XII. The goldeu summer moon was far up now. and the yellow light of It came Into the window and illumined the grim face of the innkeeper, throwing a grotesque shadow of him on to the floor. The leaves rustled and purred against the eaves. As the branches moved so *" did the light and darkness move over the innkeeper's visage. He was silent and meditative. "An epic?" I said. "An epic." "Innkeeper," said I, "if I give you my word of honor not to molest you or leave this room will you let me be a witness?" He passed Into the gloom, then back into the light. "This is no trick?" suspiciously. "I have a deal of regard for my old bones, old as they are." "On my honor." "Well. I'll do it It is in the blood of us all. But a false move on your part, and 1 promise you that this knife shall find a resting place in you." He cut the ropes, and 1 was free. But mv arms ached. The two of us took our stand by the window and waited for the principals in the drama about to be enacted in the clearing. I confess that my conscience was ill at ease. Why 1 knew not. I was dreading something, I knew not what. The innkeeper's hand trembled on my arm. "Sh! They come," he whispered. As I looked beyond his finger I saw four figures advance over the sward. One of them, a slight boyish form, was new to me. The fellow walked briskly along, at the side of Stahlberg, who was built on the plan of Hercules. When they came to the clearing, they stopped. The seconds went through the usual formalities of testing the temper of the swords. Somehow I _ .. could not keep my eyes off the youngster who was going to do battle with the veteran, and I could not help wondering where in the world he had com6 from and why In the world he had chosen this place to settle his dispute In. There were plenty of convenient places in the village in and around the barracks. He took his position, back to me, so I could not tell what he was like. The moon shone squarely in the lieutenant's face, upon which was an expression of contempt mingled with confidence. My heart thumped, for I had never seen a duel before. "I do not know where you came from," I be&rd the lieutenant say, "but you managed nicely to pick a quarrel. It Is all on your own head. It Is too bad that cur of an Englishman had to run away." The innkeeper's knife was so close that I could feel the poiut of it against my ribs. So I gave up the wild idea of yelling from the window that I hadn't run away. The lieutenant's opponent shrugged. He placed himself on guard. That was his reply. Suddenly the two sprang forward, and the clash of swords followed, i could uot seep track of the weapous, but 1 could see that the youngster was holding his owu amazingly well. Neither was touched the first bout. "Two minutes," murmured the old rascal at my side. "It will be over this time." "You seem to have a good deal of confidence in your man." slid I. "There is not a finer swords?swordsman in the kingdom, or on the continent for that matter. There, they are at it again!" Step ' by step the lieutenant gave ground. The clashing bad stopped It was needlelike work now. CJradually they began to turn around. The blades flashed In the moonshine like heat lightning. My pulse attuned itself to every stroke. 1 heard a laugh. It was full of scorn. The laugh?it recalled to me a laugh 1 had heard before. Evidently the youngster was plaving with the veteran. I became fascinated. And while the innkeeper and I watched a curious thing happened. Something seemed to lie slipping from the youngster's head. He tried to put up his free hand, but the lieutenant was making furious passes. A Hood of something dimly yellow suddenly fell about the lad's shoulders. Oh. then 1 knew! With n snarl of rage 1 took the innkeeper by the throat and hurled him. knife and all. to rlie floor, dashed from the room, thence to the stairs, down which 1 leaped four at a time. Quick as 1 was. I was too late. The lieutenant's sword lay on the grass, and lie was clasping his shoulder, with the sweat of agony on bis brow. "A woman!" be groaned. "A woman!" Tbeii lie tottered and fell in the arms of bis subordinate. He had fainted. "This will make a pretty story!" cried the young officer as be laid ills superior lengthwise and tried to stanch the tlow of blood. "Here's a man who runs away and lets a woman ?Hod knows what sort?tight his duels for him. the cur!" 1 never looked at him. but went straight to (iretchcn. Stahlberg gave me a questioning glance and made a move as though to step between. "Stand aside, man!" I snapped. "(Jretchen. you have dishonored inc." "It were better than to bury you." lightly. "1 assure you he caused me no little exertion." Vet her \oiee shook, and she shuddered as she cast aside the sword. "You have made a laughing stock of me. I am a man and can tight my own battles," 1 said sternly. "My Uod.' breaking down suddenly, "supposing you hud been killed. "It was not possible. And the man ^ Insulted me. not you. A woman? Verj welL 1 can defend myself uguiust ev > MACQRATH. erytnmg Dut calumny. Have I made a laughing stock of you? It Is nothing to me. It would not have altered my"? She was very white, and she stroked her forehead. "Well?" said I. "It would not have altered my determination to take the sword in hand again." She put her hand to her throat as though something there had tightened. "Ah. I am a woman, for 1 believe that I am about to faint. No!" Imperiously as I threw out my arms to catch u rntfk uer. 1 can reacu tut; uuui atuuc miuout assistance." He tottered and tell in the arm* of his subordinate. And so we went along. I did not know what to do nor yet what to say. A conflict was raging in my heart between shame and love?shame that a woman had fought for me and won where I should have lost, love that strove to spring from my lips in exultation. 1 know not which would havo conquered had I not espied the blood an Gretchen's white hand. "You are wounded!" 1 cried. She gazed at her hand as though she did not understand: then, with a little sob and a little choke, she extended her * arms toward me and stumbled. Was ever .there a. woman who could look on ^ blood without fainting? Gretehen had not quite fniutcd. but the moon had danced, she said, and all had grown . dim. * j "Gretehen. why did you risk your lite? In God's name, what manner of ^ woman are you and where did you j learn to use the sword? Had you no ^ thought of me?" I was somewhat In- ^ coherent. "No thought of you?" She drew the back of her hand over her eyes. "No thought of you? I did it because?because I did not?I could not?you would havq?been killed!" 1 was a man?human. I loved her. I : had always loved her. I had never ^ loved any one else. I was a coward to do what 1 did, but 1 could uot help it. I crushed her to my breast and kissed her lips, not once, but many times. "How dare you?" weakly. "How dare I. Gretehen. dear Grot- j chen?" I said. "I dare because I love you' I love you! What is it to me that you have dishonored me in the eyes of j nion') Vntliinor I Invo vnil A I'A vnil a barmaid? I care not. Are you a conspirator? I know not nor care. I ( know hut one thing. I love you. I j shall always love you. Shall I tell you more? (iretchen. you love me!" "No. no. It cannot be!" she sobbed, pushing me back. "I am the most ' wretched woman in the world. Do not follow me, herr. Leave me; 1 beg you to leave me. I have need of the little strength left. Leave me. leave me!" And she passed through the doorway Into the darkness beyond. I did not move from where I stood. I grew afraid that it was a dream and that If I moved it would vanish. I could yet feel her lithe, warm body palpitating In my arms. My lips still tingled and burned with the flame of hers. An exultant wave swept over me. She loved me! She had not told me so, but I knew. She had put her heart before j mine. My life was dearer to her than her own. I could have laughed for joy. She loved me! My love overwhelmed ' my shame, engulfed it. Then? "1 know you." said a harsh voice at my elbow. It startled me. and I wheeled swiftly. It was the lieutenant's brother officer. "1 thought from what I heard of you that you were a man worth trouble and caution. Ach. you. the man we have scoured the couutry for? I should not have believed It. To let a woman fur lit for him! And 8lie? she Is more than a woman?she is a goddess!" with enthusiasm. "If I was betrothed to her. I'd find her if I had to hunt iu heaven and hell for her. And what does she see iu you?" He snapped his fingers derisively. "I warn you that your race is run. You cannot leave a railway station within the radius of a hundred miles. The best thing you can do is to swim the river and stop In the middle. The prince is at the village, and he shall know. Woe to you. you meddler!" "Young man." said a voice from over my shoulder from the doorway, "you 1 should by right address those impertinent remarks to me. I am Ilillars, the man you seek." , And I had forgotten his very existence! What did he know? What 1 had he seen? "You may inform Count von Waldeu." continued Dan. "that 1 shall ( await his advent with the greatest of . impatience. Now let me add that you are treating this gentleman with much injustice. I'll stake my life on his rourage. The Priucess Hildegnrde is alone responsible for what lias just happened." "The Princess Hlldegarde!" I cried. Hillars went on: "Why she did this is none of your business or mine. Why she substituted herself concerns aer and this gentleman only. Now go, and be hanged to you and your prince ind your count and your whole stupid country. Come, Jack!" The fellow looked first at me. then it Dan. "I apologize," he said to Dan. "for Mistaking this man for you." He clickMi his heels, swung around and marchMi off. "Come," said Dan. I dumbly followed him up to my oom. He struck a match and lit the :-andle. "Got any tibacco?" he arked, taking jut a black pipe. "1 have not had a ?ood smoke in a week. I want to smoke iwliile before 1 talk." I now knew that be had been a witless to all or at least to the larger part >f it. "There Is some tobacco 011 the table," [ said humbly. I felt that l had wrongHi him in some manner, though uninentionally. "ThePrincessIlildegarde!" [ murmured. "The very person." said Hillars. He It his pipe and sat on the edge of the >ed. He puffed and puffed, and I bought he never would begin. Presmtly he said. "And you never suspect>d who she was?" "On my word of honor, I did not, Dan." said I. staring at the faded designs in the carpet. The golden galeon bad gone down, and naught but a rew bubbles told where she had once ;o proudly ridden the waters of the tea. The Princess Hildegarde! The Ireatn was goue. Castles, castles! "1 am glad you did not know." said Dan. "because I have always believed n your friendship. Yet It is something ve cannot help, this loving a woman. iVby. a man will lay down his life for lis friend, but he will rob him of the vomau he loves. It is life. You love ler, of course." "Yes." I took out my own pipe now. 'But what's the use? She Is a prin;ess. Why, 1 thought her at first a larmaid?a barmaid! Then 1 thought ler to be in some way a lawbreaker, a ociallst conspirator. It would be droll f it were not sad. The Princess Hildejarde!" I laughed dismally. "Dan, ild man, let's dig out at once and close he page. We'll talk it over when we ire older." "\Tn? we will face it out. She loves rou. Wby not? So do I." He got off he bed and came over to me and rested his hands on my shoulders. "Jack, ny son, next to her I love you better ban anything in the world. We have vorked together, starved together, imoked and laughed together. There s a bond between us that no human 'orce.can separate. The princess. If the cannot marry you, slial' not marry lie prince. I have a vague Idea that t Is written. 'The moving finger vrites and. having writ, moves on.' We cannot cancel a line of It." "Dau, you will do nothing rash or eckless?" "Sit down, my son. sit down. Preneditation is neither rashness nor ecklessness. Jack, life has beeun with rou. With me it has come to an end. When there is nothing more to live for, it is time to die. But how' That is the question. A war would be a godsend. But these so called war lords ire a lazy lot or cowardly or both. Had [ a regiment, what a death! Jack, do rou not know what it is to fight the Invisible death' Imagine yourself on the liue, with the enemy thundering toward you. sabers flashing in the sunlight and lend singing about your ears. It is the only place in the world to iie?on a battlefield. Fear passes away as a cloud from the face of the sun. The enemy is bringing you glory?or leath. Yes, I would give a good deal for a regiment and a bad moment for our side. But the regiment non est. Still, there is left"? "Dan. what are you talking about?" I cried. Death?grim, gaunt and gray death, whose footstep is as noiseless as the t'all of snow; death, the silent one, as the Indian calls him." He knocked the ash from his oipe md stuffed the brier into his pocket. "Jack, 1 am weary of it all. If I L-nuuot. die artistically, I wish to die a sudden and awful death. What! Do 1 look like a man to die in bed, in the 1 ? t ineuriates warur ror surety x sumla nd there soon! 1 am going to pieces like a sand house in a windstorm. I suppose I'm talking nonsense. After all, 1 haven't as much to say as 1 thought 1 had'. Suppose we turn in? I'm tired. You see. those fellows moved me around today." CHAPTER XIII. Ilillars and 1 stood in the middle of the road. He held the binoculars. "How many can you make out?" I asked. "Four. All on horseback. There's a coach of some sort following on behind. But everything is blurred, and my hand trembles. The whisky here is terrible. Here, look for yourself," handing the glasses to me. "Tell me what you see." "There's one with a white cap?ah, it Is Count von Waldeu! There are two soldiers In the Hohenplialiau uniform, I ?!/? t>rO tiinu' U'lin tlio fitnrtli lutuilj. * uu uwt nuv?> ff t>v vuv ?VU1 WI fellow is." "Describe liiui to me," said Ilillars, trying to roll a cigarette with his trembling lingers. "Curse it"?throwing away the rice paper?"I've got so bad that I can't roll a cigarette! Weir, what's lie look like?" "He's in civilian dress; has a little black mustache and an imperial." "Look anything like Napoleon III?" "You've hit it. Who is he?" "They say lie's Priuee Ernst of Wortumborg," said Ilillars, "but it Is my opinion that, lie's the devil on a furlough." "Then he is the man"? I began. "He Is. Your love affair Is" all over once he gets here, unless"? Dan looked at the sky as though he was undecided about the weather. "Unless what?" I asked. "Oh, Just unless," said he. "I'd give ?5 for a glass of homemade whisky." "You've got a plan of some sort," said I. "Speak It out" "It wasn't a plan; It was just an Idea. It's gone now. Maybe It will come back later. Are you going to stay here or come with me and tackle a bottle of the Innkeeper's Rhine wine? The German vinegar used to make you hilarious." "What's the coach for?" I asked. "Are they going to carry us off like a 1 couple of chickens?" i "I presume It Is for her serene highness. I wonder how they found out she was here? Probably the lieutenant you were going to fight but didn't, In- I formed them. At any rate, the coach \ will not be for us. The prince will not bother with you and me while the j princess Is here. I don't know what* i they will do with us. Possibly noth- j lng; possibly put us in jail. Come i along; I'm thirsty." It was late In the afternoon of the i day fr'lowlng. I had not seen her serene highness the Princess Hlldegarde < ?Greteben. sue baa remained in ner i room, and all efforts of mine to hold communication with her had proved i futile. I bad stood at her door and < supplicated. She had told me to go away. The innkeeper had scowled when I suggested that be carry a note to his mistress. He bad refused. "The princess receives oo notes," he had said. "Gretchen?It was a differ- i ent matter." ] And Hillars had slept till after noon. It had been a bad morning for me. The wounded lieutenant had been carried away the night before, and there had not been anything for me to do but wander about?waiting. "Will you help me ;with the Rhine wine?" asked Hillars. ; "No. My head is fuddled enough as it Is." | "Then you must let me do all the talking." "And why you?" "I shall know better how to irritate them," with a laugh. "They will not take any particular Interest in you When they set eyes on me. Homo sum! I am the man they are looking for. They will find plenty of me. I shall be a syndicate in myself. Where they 1 expect to find one man they will find a 1 dozen, all alive and kicking. It will be good sport." "What the devil are you up to?" I demanded. ^ "Wait and see; wait and see. Come, let us receive them in the hall. The affair must be conductor}-oft the line of court etiquette. First, we shall try to avert hostilities by the aid of diplomacy. If that fails, the princess herself will be made to vindicate us. And why not?" "You are not going to drag her in!" I exclaimed. "My dear Jack, of course no*. The prince and the count will do that for us. You understand that she is concerned In all that is to take place, do you not? Well. then. It will cost her but little." "Bbt. this fellow, the prince?" I cried. "Let us get out while there Is time." Dan regarded me seriously. "You aren't afraid of him. What do you want to run away for? My son, there will be some verv good sport before this Is done. You will miss It by running away." "It's meeting the man who is to marry her?the woman I love. That Is the reason." "To marry her?the woman 1 love!" he repeated softly. "Yes, It Is hard. But It Isn't any worse for vmi than for me." "Forgive me, Dsn! You know"? "Yes, yes; I know," crossly. "Hang It, can't L punch It into your head that I am taking ell this trouble on your account? If it were not for you. do you suppose I'd wait? The prince shall never marrv the princess. Will that satisfy you? 'Now, look pleasant,' as the photographer says, for here they are." The count entered first, then the prince, who was followed by two cav alrymen. Hillnrs and I stood silently by our chairs and waited. The prince, a man with a hooked nose, black eyes with half shut lids, regarded me curiously. He had the air of one amused. When his eyes grew accustomed to the semidarkness of the room, the count sounded a note of satisfaction. "Ah, so you are here? You have given me a devil of a chase!" "I return the compliment, Herr General," said Hillars, with a good humored smile. "But. may 1 ask. what the devil have you been chasing me for?" For reply the count turned to the cavalryman. "Arrest that man and bind him!" he said. "You might make the order wholesale," said I, stepping over to the side of Hillars. "I told you there would be some sport." whispered Dan. He put his arm across my shoulders. "And who. In the name of Weimar, are you?" bawled the count. He scrutinized me intently. Then a light of f a I I l.? l,b. HTKft reCOgUIlIOU uixmc uvi-i mo iulc. x uc Vther one! A nest of tliem!" "Count," Interposed tbe prince, seating himself at the table, "let me have a short talk with them before you act. There may be extenuating circumstances. Anything of this sort amuses and interests me. Let us use a little diplomacy in the matter." "Yes," said Ilillars: "let us lie a little." "And who can do it better than a Journalist?" the prince laughed. "Diplomatists," Hillars sent back. "What is her serene highness to you?" resumed the prince. "Nothing; positively nothmg." "Then you are afraid to acknowledge your regard for lier?" "I?" Hillars dropped his arm from my shoulders. "I am not afraid of anything?not even the count here." -men ne laughed. "If her serene highness was anything to me, your highness, 1 should not be afraid to say so before the king himself." "You Impudent"? But a wave of the prince's hand silenced the count. "Have patience, my friend. This is not Impudence; it Is courage and prudence. I believe," readdressing Hillars, "that once you were on the point of eloping with the Princess Hildegarde." Hillars thrust his hands Into his pockets. "So they say." "And yet you deny your regard for her!" "Oh, as to that affair," said Hillars easily, "It was the adventure more than anything else! It is not every man in my position wno nas sucn a cnance. And then, perhaps, I saw a good newspaper story," The muscles In his Jaws hardened, despite the airy tone be used. "I see that there h nothing to be jot from you." Then the prince directed his glance to me. "And you. 3ir; what Is she to you? What Is her 3erene highness to you?" "She Is everything In the world to me," said I. The consternation which followed cannot b? described here. The count 3tepped back dumfounded. Hillars regarded me as though he thought I had suddenly gone mad. The countenance Df the prince alone remained unruffled. "Count," he 9ald, laughing, "it seems that the princess gathers lovers as a woolen coat does teasels. Her loversthere must now be a legion!" "You lie!" said Hillars, in an oddly suppressed tone. "You know that yon lie." The prince's lips drew ro a thin line, but that was all. "Still, who will disprove it?" he asked. "If you will allow me," said a voice behind us We beheld the princess framed In the doorway. There was a pallor and a look of utter weariness in her face. At the sight of her the count uncovered and the prince rose. "Your arrival is quite timely," said he. "Here are two champions of yours. Come, which do you love?" A fury sprang to my head, and I said- "You have too much confidence In our patience. I warn you that I have no fear of the sabers back of you." The same sabers leaped from their scabbards aud fell stiffly against their owners' shoulders Instinctively. "Has it come to this," said the princess, a superb sewn in her eyes, "that my houor must needs be defended by strangers and aliens?" For the briefest space her glance plunged Into my eyes. She moved toward the prince. "And you, sir. are to be my husband?" "It is the will of the king," said the prince, a mocking smne on nis ups. How I lusted for his blood! "And. though my honor is doubtful," went on the woman I loved, "you still would marry me?" "Your highness," said the prince, with a bow which entailed the sweeping of his hands, "I would marry you were your honor as"? "What!" roared Hillars in English. But be was a moment too late. My bands were around the throat of Prince Ernst of Wortumborg, and 1 was shaking him till his*teeth chattered on each other like castanets. Surely I would have throttled him but for the Intervention of the count and the cavalrymen. The count swung his arm around my neck, while the cavalrymen, their saber points at Hillars' breast, wrenched loose my hands. I stood glaring at him. panting and furious. He leaned against the table, gasping and coughing. Finally he recovered his composure. "Count, I was wrong; you were right. These f&llows are dangerous." "I will fight you on any terms!" I fired back at him. "I shall send you one of my lackeys." he replied. "Take them away, and shoot them if they resist!" "Liberate the gentlemen," said Gretchen. The count gazed at her In amazement. "Liberate them?" he cried. "I command it!" "You?" said the prince. "Yes. This is my principality; these are my soldiers. I command here." This was a coup indeed. "But we represent his majesty!" cried the count, still holding me by the throat. I was all but strangled myself. "I care not whom you represent," said Gretchen. "1 am obedient only to the king, not his minions. Release the gentlemen!" The count's arm slowly unwound. Hillars pressed down the saber points with his hands and shook off the baud of one of the cavalrymen. "If It be your highness' will." he said, "we will throw these intruders into the road. Might is right." waving his hand to the door which led to the barroom. The innkeeper and three others tiled into the room grimly and silently. They were armed. For the first time the prince lost patience. "This is all very well, your highness," " ' x-..., ..lurutaitil flip lie sueereu. iuu uimuu.4v..??_- ? limits of your power to command." "Not iu any part," said (iretcheu. "1 am sovereign here notwithstanding thp king's will is paramount to my own. These people are my people; these soldiers are fed of my bounty; this is my country till the king takes It back. You will act further at your peril." TO BE CONTINUED. At a Dtaad vantage. A North Columbus woman has a charming little daughter who is very Indiscreet. The other day In the midst of a reception the little girl cried on account of the toothache. Her mother tried to console her. "There, my darling, don't cry. Your toothache will pass away." "How will It go away?" replied little Edith, her voice broken with sobs. "I can't take my teeth out like you can, mamma."?Ohio State Journal jtepis of ^ocal piston). REMINISCENCES OP YORK. Valuable Bits of Local History Pre served by a Septuagenarian. Dr. Maurice Moore In The Enquirer of 1870. One of the town's earliest settlers was Mr. Samuel Wright, an Irishman by birth and a carpenter by trade. The property he accumulated, shows encouragingly, how much honest industry may achieve, a lesson worthy to be learned and remembered at all times, ana especially in tnese changed ones on which we have fallen. He did not continue long at his trade. Whatever he found to do he did, and there were other avenues, less laborious and more profitable, in which he persevered. A bill 01 his, however for carpenter's work, which amused the village a good deal, is worth relating. Itemized out in due form, were, for "drying plank," so much; "making window frames," so much; and so on through a long list of work, concluding with "fixings and things?six dollars." Like the contingent fee of a boarding school, "fixings and things," were sure to cover the extras not enumerated. He opened a hotel and keeping it was one of his avocations. One night I was awakened (I lived just across the street) by hearing the hotel bell ringing. It was a cold, drizzling midnight; what could it mean?fire? No; the weather precluded the idea. Ding dong. ding dong, went the bell with measured tone. I got up and opened the window to try to satisfy my curiosity. Soon Mr. Wright's tones greeted me, in despairing accents, addressing one of his boarders, who had arisen with him, also an "Emerald Islander;" "Patrick, Patrick Carlin, do you see anything the matter?" The old man was a strong believer in the supernatural. "No, Misther Wright, I can see nothing I can tell." As my eyes grew accustomed to the gloaming darkness I could discern the figure of the old man in his shirt, just as he had arisen at the first alarm, shivering with cold and fright. The bell suddenly ceased; and as nothing could be discovered, the old gentleman and Patrick Carlin went back to bed from their fruitless search, and I. too. subsided to my warm nest. In about 15 minutes, Just as all were getting warm and comfortable, and Somnus Stealing our sense dellclously away, through the window I had left standing open, In wafted clearly the sound of the bell. Ding dong, ding dong, and I heard one of my tormented neighbor's girls cry out, "Daddy, It's at it again." Up rose old Mr. Wright and Carlln, In quest of the cause, and I, too, took up my station at my window. No one was near and the thing looked mysterious, as the bell rang on uninterrupted In Its solemn tones. "Get me a long pole," cried Carlln; "there's devilment In it, and I'll find It out." The pole secured, feeling around near the bell with its end, at last It struck a foreign line, stretched tightly. Triumphantly Carlln, with his pole, followed the course, and was soon out of slight. After a while he returned. He said he had followed It across the back building and other street to the red house, and the fellow seeing him coming, had jumped down and ran off. "But sure I have got a fine bundle of twine to pay me for my pains." He had gathered up and rolled It as he came along, and showed a big ball as his tronhv. Tt came out next dav that John Chambers had climbed the bell pole, tied on the twine, and then established himself in the red house to play on old Mr. Wright's well known superstition. Carlin's pertinacity had nipped his fun in the bud and rather turned the tables. Oh! me, those merry days when I was young! Calling up among the memories of my prime in York, comes a frolic of my own. I may as well relate it- now as at another time, as it serves to show the fellowship, mirth and merriment we than enjoyed. Old Mr Bob Cooper, of Turkey Creek, thought he would make some malt beer for sale, and take it to York during court week. It was pretty much a philanthropic effort; for he hoped some thirsty soul would be induced to quaff his beverage Instead of corn whisky. He put the barrel on the fore-wheels of a wagon, hired some man to carry it up and sell it for him, furnishing him with a measure cup, etc. The old gentleman treated me to some?he was generously Inclined with it?and I am forced to confess it was a most villainous compound, neither meal nor malt. When night came, his agent got permission to store the barrel till next day in Squire Davidson's office. There was then In Yorkville, a young physician named Gaither, and erratic genius, very fond of liquor, and always in love. Passing near Squire Davidson's shop with me, Gaither proposed that we should steal some of old Mr. Cooper's beer for a frolic. I said it was mean stuff; but he insisted it was good. "All right," quoth I, "the cups are on the barrel; we can draw a measure and pay old Mr. Cooper tomorrow." The light from Squire Davidson's dwelling enabled us to grope our way to the barrel and find the measure. We turned the spile and let the liquor flow until it was about full. I then turned back the spile; but still it flowed. Gaither tried. Truth was we had broken it. Here was a dilemma. "Stick your finger in the cock, Gaither; it won't do to let the beer waste." He did so and we quaffed some of the liquid, not improved in flavor by our predicament. "I tell you, Gaither," I suggested, "keep your finger in, and I will run down street, and get a cork and stop it; tomorrow I can get a new spile for the old man." Gaither agreed and I set out. As I turned the corner going down street, I met, face to face, Mr. Sadler. I knew he and Gaither were i always sparring at one another, and a bit of fun entered my head. "Mr. Sad, ler," said I, "stopping, "Gaither and I. for our amusement, concluded we would steal some of old Mr. Cooper's beer, tonight, and In doing it have broken the spile. I have left him stopping the beer with his finger, till I get a cork to stop It; you know what to do." "Oh! yes, I will go In for a law book." "But stop," said I, "till I am ready. I will be back In a few moments with a stopper, and cough as a signal." Having got the cork, I came back. As I approached, I ahammed loudly. Squire Sadler got up and said in a loud tone, "Mr. Davidson, I would like to borrow James* Digest, for a little while." "Certainly, squire; It Is lying on my office table?you know where I always keep it." "Yes, yes, don't trouble yourself; I can get it. Will Just take this candle to light me, step in and get it." I was nearby waiting the denouement, Miss Davidson was then Galther's divinity, and I knew nothing but the fear of wasting all of Mr. Cooper's beer would detain him. As Squire Sadler entered, he spied Doctor Galther, afraid to move his finger. "What rascally Negro Is this?" cried Mr. Sadler, with well assumed anger. "You black scamp?stealing Mr. Cooper's beer, are you? You shall go to jail, you thieving wretch?" "Dr. Maurice Moore was with me," was Galther's first exclamation. "What! Dr. Galther, Is it you? No, sir, no one will believe Dr. Moore was with you. He steal beer. He is too much of a gentleman. I must call Mr. Davidson." Qaither, still afraid to move, cried, "Maurice Moore was with me; it's a Joke." "A pretty joke!" Here I ran in, explained it as a joke, fitted the cork and released Gaither from durance vile, molifled Mr. Sadler and relieved Gaither without his then discovering my joke. Twelve hours later, the tale told to him was a different thing. Another of Dr. Gaither's loves was Miss Myers, sister of the widow Clendening. We frequently went together anil spent the evening, I engaging the widow, while Dr. Gaither courted the sister. Invariably, as we walked away, Gaither would say, "What a lovely girl Miss Myers is; so unaffected and gentle, and not so d?d ugly." The lady had golden charms, which, potent though they were with Gaither, could not entirely annihilate the memory of beauty's spells. One evening Mrs. Clendening gave us a delicious eggnog before we left; we. enjoyed and complimented the drink, as though we sipped ambrosia, and Mrs C? said: "Well, gentlemen, any evening you will bring the eggs,?I have sugar and brandy,?we will have a nog. Only a few evenings elapsed until Gaither proposed we'd get eggs and go round. Knowing Gaither's pocket money was low, I proposed to buy the eggs, if he would carry them. It was a bargain and we went around to Jefferys'. I bought the eggs and Gaither put six in each coat skirt pocket, and then with a steady step went around to the widow's. The double attraction of ladies and nog, carried us round right frequently to Mrs. C.'s, and Stanhope Sadler wanted to know of me where we went so often of an evening, "Gaither walking like a die." I explained, and next evening, as, with a pocketful of eggs, Gaither walked by my side, I was not surprised at Stanhope's running out and throwing an arm around each, wanting to know "what we were after," and could only give vent to peals of laughter at the two streams of yellow from poor Gaither's pocket, and the look of rueful discom flture on his countenance at the contretemps. Poor Gaither! Tour's was a sad end; and my merry reminiscences are hushed by the memory of your fate. He never succeeded to any extent in Yorkville; removed to Georgia, and there ended his fitful existence with his own hand, cutting the arteries of each wrist with a razor, and thus bleeding to death. [TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SATURDAY.] AFTER HE SAW DIFFERENTLY. Politics in New South Wales is quite as uncertain a game as it is in this country, and the member of parliament who is ungrateful enough to forget nis constituents is likely to hear from them. The Western Grazier, which is published at Welcania, New South Wales, prints this letter, which the memDer or parliament rrom the Big River country received not long ago. It was written by a man who had applied for a job and failed to get it: "Dear Sir: You are a dam fraud, and you know it. I don't care a rap for the billet or the muney ether, but you could have got it for ins, if you wasn't as mean as mud. Two pounds a week ain't any more to me than 40 shillins is to you, but I object to be being made an infernal fool of. Soon after you was elected by my hard workin' a feller wanted to bet me that you wouldn't be in the house moren a week before you made a hass of yourself. I bet him a cow on that, as I thought you were worth it then. After I got your note saying you declined to ackt in the matter I druv the cow over to the feller's place and told him he had won her. That's all I got for howlln' myself hoarse for you on pole day and months befoar. You not only hurt a man's pride, but you injure him in bizness. I believe you think you'll get it agen. I don't. And what I don't think is of more konsequince than you imaj in. I believe you take a pleshir in cutting your best friends, but wate till the clouds roll by and they'll cut yu? just behind the ear, where the butcher cuts the pig. Yure no man. Yure only a tule for a few squatters. An I don't think yure much of a grafter either. Go to hades. I lower myself ritlng to a skunk even tho I med him a member of paliament." td:' Some people are never abreast of the age. They dive into the stream of the past, and don't come up again; their heads stick In the mud at the bottom. tv' Honey should not be eaten by the sick and feeble, as it continues for a long time in the stomach, and produces "sourness" and flatulence. The tallest trees In the world grow in Australia. They are a species of marsh gum, and some are said to ex ceed 300 feet In height. i /