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MW i i VOLUME IX.-NUMBER 2160. CHARLESTON, TUESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 17, 1872. EIGHT DOLLARS A YEAR. The Golden Side. Teere u many a rest on the road or life, lr we only would atop to take lt; And many a tone from the better laud, If toe querulous heart would wake lt. - To the Bunny soul that ls foll or hope. And whoso beautiful trust ne'er falleth. Th*grass la green and the flowers are bright, Though tee wintry s.orm prevalleth. Better to hope, though the clouds hang low, and to keep the eye still ur.eu ; For the s weer bine sty will soon peep tbrongb, When the omlnooa clouds are rifted. Th'?re was never a night, without a day. Nor an eveoiog without a morning ; And the daraeat hour, the proverb goes, Is the hour before the dawning. There is many a gem la the path of life, Which we pass In our Idle pleasure, That ls richer far than the Jewelled crown Or the miser's hoarded treasure; It may be the love or a little child, Or a mother's prayer to Heaven, Or only a beggar's grateful thanks For a cop ol water given. Better to weave In the web or lire A blight and golden filling. And to do God's will with a ready heart, And banda tait are swift and willing, Than to anap the delicate sliver threads Of our curious lives asunder; And then Beav'n blame for the tangled ends, And sit to grieve and wonder. THREE TIMBS. By <A\e Author of "Lady Audley'? fe jr5^. orel," <&e. GHAPTZB I.-THE 3?H8T TIME. "Positively the last night af Herr Rudolph Prnainowaki and the performing lions 1 Posi? tively the last night 1 For the benefit of Herr Rudolph Prasinowski I Under the distinguish? ed patronage of their Majesties Queen Victoria, the Emperor of China, the Cham of Tartary, hia Serene-Highness the Grand Duke of Baden, Simeon Muddlebrain, Esq., SL P., the Mayor . and Corporation of Spindlecom, and other august personages too nu mero na to mention. Come early. Positively tbe last time. (Jome and aee the Hons. Herr Rodolph Prnainowaki, the favorite of crowned heads and the ?lite of Europe. Take notice 1 The great Prnainow? aki has had the honor of performing before the Mikado of Japan. The world-renowned Prusino waki bas been decorated with the order of Bongo et Noir by the Grand Duchess of SeJxerwaaeerburg. Dont miss the lions 1" ' Vb* above sentences, and many others of the ?ame character-In which a picturesque fancy, aided by the experience or a pa bi i c career, trillad with aobrieties of fact and tripped light? ly aoroaa the borderland of fiction-appeared IQ gigantic black letters upon a yellow poster on the aide wall of fia Queen's Theatre, Spiudle cum, and in tbe streets and market places, upon the quays, and in tbe black alums of the same tomi. A Tran with a pale sallow face, blue chin, and oloae-out hair sat in a lounging attitude upon a low wall opposite tbe atage door of the Queen's, smoking a meditative pipe, and contemplating the big yellow poster with a dreamy fondness. He had a little group of aattelites about bim, also close-cropped, blue chinned, and tobacco-consuming; minor lights In the dramatic bearra,- the stock company of the Queen's, wbo were thrown a little into the background by the lions , shuffling through a preliminary melodrama nightly, before an . audlenoe who beheld them with impatience, and heard them sometimes with derision, eager tor the grand business of the evening. "I tifoi that ought to hit 'em up, ' said the Herr thoughtfully. (He spoke excellent SogHah fha a foreigner. J "The Mikado looks watt, doesn't be?' "First rate," replied M*-. de la Zouohe, the walking gentleman. "Waa he a nice kind of chap,tbe Mikado ? Herr Prnainowaki turned his contemplative ?yea upon tbe inquirer with a look of placid "Ton ain't so jolly green aa to suppose I ever ?et eyes upon him," he said, knocking the ashes out of his pipe. "I waa never in Japan In my Ufe; never nearer than a japan candlestick. The Mikado is a safe card, be is; .bo's to ask any questions about him? And aol) the Cham of Tartary.*' "I expect yon'J? have a dipping house .cully," remarked Mr. Tiddikina, the low comedian, a small maa with a falsetto voice. "I look for ward to it, Tiddikina; and if it goes over eighty, Til stand a supper, mrnd thai," . There waa a subdued murmur of applause. . "Hot or cold ?" Inquired Mr. de la Zouohe. "Hot," replied the the hon tamer. "None of your cold fowl and 'am, your pastry and . rubbish, for me. A sirloin of beef at top, and a prime goose at bottom, a veal pie and a .tewed steak at the sides, and plenty of s m ok? ing hot vegetables; a prime ola stilton and a bowl of salad to wmd up with, and aa much champagne aa you can a wallow, with brandy and waler to settle it on your stomachs. That's what Iii do. at the Lion and Lamb, if the house goes over eighty when the half-price to the boxes ia in." Thia time the applause was louder. "I always said you wera a jolly good fellow, BiH," said Mr. Tiddikina, "and I don't mind ? bow often I say it again." It ia tobe observed that Mr. Tiddikina ad? dressed the distinguished Rudolph by the simpler cognomen Bill, one of the playful licensee of friendship, no doubt. ; "It's wonderful how these animals draw," said Mr. de la Zouche. thoughtfully, as if he wera contemplating the feasibilty of setting-up on his own account as a lion-tamer. . '-You've been here three seasons, Prusino w ski, and, egad, the people ain't tired ol 'em yet. They seem aa eager aa ever. One would sup? pose they liked to aee a poor beggar hazard his uf? every night." "There's something in that," replied tbe "Herr. "If it wasn't for the danger, the wild beafft business would be as fiat as ditch-water. "Were you ever frightened ?r> asked toe walk? ing gentleman. .. "Noter but once," answered tbe lion tamer," and thea I thought it was all over with me." He grew suddenly grave, gloomy even, at the mere recollection waked by the walking gentle-, min's inquiry. "How did it happen, old fellow ?" asked Mr. Tiddikina. "Well, yon see," tho lion-tam er began in a leiaurel7 way, stopping tc take a few prelimi? nary whiffs at bia pipe, "I ns at Manchester nigh upon five years ago, and it waa my last night and my 'ben,' aa it might be to-night. We was doing a first-rate business, and I don't think I waa ever iu auch high spirits in my life." ??Why, Bill," says my little woman, when I kept running iu ana out of our lodgings between whiles at rehearsal-we was close agen tho el um-taking her in a handful ot money efery rime, "you seem as if you was bewitched; I don't like to see you like that. 1 had a Scotch friend once as said it waa a bad sign a signet something going to happen. "Lora love your little foolish heart," I an? swered, "it's a sign of nothing except that Tam going to have a screaming house to-night. 1 dont suppose there'll bo a corner you can screw yourself into rf you want to eec me." For abe's a rare one for going in front of a night, you know, ia the missus. Hr. da la Zouohe and Mr. Tiddikins mur? mured their acquaintance with this domestic root. Herr Prurinowski smoked his pipe for a minute of so, and then went on: "ff by, there's the family box I" she Bald. Thara a large private box on the oppoBite prompt, that don't often let, unless there's Italian opera, or Charles Mathews or some? thing out of the commoo. "No, there ain't," I answered, laughing. "Whatl" cried the missus, "ia that let too?" "Let this morning," said I "and there's tbe money-three pound three-thirty-one-and six of which cornea to us." "For I had a half share clear of expensed, same aa here. Lissie-that's my wife, you know-waa quite proud to think I was going to have such a good box audience, for it isn't every box andiente aa will take to wild beasts. " "I wonder whether it's the mayor and hie family," she said, speculating about that big private box. . "No." I told ber. "it's a gentleman and a stranger, no name," "Well, tbe night came, a sweltering bot sum? mer evening, ?ooh aa it will be to-night. The performances began with one of your genteel comedies, and the bouse was so full and noisy *ne actors couldn't hear themselves speak. They got through it somehow; there was a abort overture, and then the curtain went up fox my performance. The three lions die covered in a forest, to slow music, wbic] a round for them, and gives me my en and reception. "You know the beasts; they were tb? three I've got now-Brown, Jones, end j son. Old Brown's a harmless old chap er not a sound tooth in bis head, and no barm in him than ia an elderly Jackass; is a deep old dodger, but there isn't harm m bim; but Robinson is a nasty-terr beast, a brute you never can be sure of, a mal that will lick your hand one minute be ready to snap your head off the next. "Well, I got a first-rate reception; I th< the gallery would have never left off api ing; and the sight of tbe house, cram m the ceiling, faade me almost giddy. Pe it was the heat of tbe place, which was lil oven, perhaps, as I'd been standing tre berng stood far off and on pretty well all c may have taken a little more than was go< me; anyhow, I felt the house spinning t me, justas if Td been some duller of a n< instead of the old stager I am. "I looked at the family box 0. P., curioi see who'd taken it. There was only one tloman there, n man of fifty or tbere-ab with a cadaverous lantern-jawed face, light reddish hair, very Btraigbt, combed i ly on each Bide of his forehead. He was d ed in black, regular evening dress, i choker and all complete, and, do you k the instant I set eyes upon tbat man, be me a tum." ? "That was a queer fancy," said Mr. d Zoucbe, helping himself to tobacco from Herr's gntta-peroba pouch, which lay opel the wall. "Perhaps it was; but if that night wa ccme over agan, I should have the fancy again," replied Prnsinoweki. It was parti; own looks, I thick, partly the way be look? me; not like the rest of the audience, ail t nature, expecting to be amused, bat wil steadfast ravenous kind of look, that made blood.run cold. 'That's a man who'd lik see something happen to me,' I said to my "I didn't give way to the fancy all at ono began the performance; but I stole a glano my sandy-baired pale-faced gentleman and then, and always found mm looking me in the same way. He had large light-f eyes, very light, and very prominent. I soe them now, and they followed every mov made like a cat's following a mouse. He m moved bis eyes from me, be never smiled, never applauded; be sat in a half-crouch attitude, leaning over the front of the 1 watching me, and he made me feel as if I 1 a ton weight tied to eaoh of my legs. Evi thing went weil for some time, though I felt never done things worse. Brown and Jo behaved beautifully; but jost tows rd the. ll when I naif to- pat my nead into Bobin?t mouth to bring down ?be curtain, I saw t the brute was in one of bis nasty tempers, snppoae tbe beat ti ad pat bim oat. Anyh he turned nasty, and when I wanted to col him, bounced away fromme. The house turned as still as death all ii moment, and I could see the audience \ frightened. I gave a look at my gentleman the b"x. He was leaning a little farther o the cushion, with Bometbing like a smile bis fane. "Bray to not pe frightened, laties and stn tlemens," I said, in my broken English-;< Sauer kraut, .the ophecleid at the Lane, tauj me that dodge; "id is noising. Te peaat viii all I veesh;" and then I gave Robinson a pre smart cuff, and began to draw bis jaws open The brute snarled, turned upon me, and tbe next instant would have had his teeth my shoulder, if I hadn't given the signal i tbe curtain. Half a dozen carpenters rush upon the stage and helped me to tackle hil We bad him safe in lesa than a minute, I Just at that one moment, before the carts dropped, it wan as near as a toucher. There w?s a pood deal pf applause; not tb I'd done anything to' deserve it, for tbe bu ness of putting my head in thc brate'? mou was in the bill, and the audience bad be swindled ont ot that; but they evidently km Td been in danger, and they exiled me befo tbe curtain. I looked ap at that white-fae. dovil in the private box. He was standing a rubbing bia.hands in a satisfied kind of wa as if he bad seen what he wanted to see; ai as I passed just under him he said in a sk measured yoice that gave me the shivers, "A narrow escape, Herr. Very well done ii deed. I congratulate you." I gave him a look which he ought to ha1 understood, if he didn't, made my bow to tl house, and went off the stage. Robinson wi quiet enough by this time. My man Joe Pure had walked him off to his box, and there I was growling over bis shin-bones, as mild lion as you'd wish to see, "Only let me get ye safe baok to London, my friend,".saya I, "sn lil take you down to Jamraok's and swop ye tor Bometbing better tempered. Talent is s very well; but temper's worth all the talent i the world." However, tbst's five yeara ag< and there's Robinson still performing with mi The brute has such a wonderful gift for hi profession, and his heart and soul's in it, tot Take that animal in the middle of the chv when he ain't particular hungry, and he's decent fellow enough: bnt come bet ,veen hil and hin business, ano you'll find out'what lion ?. He's been a fortune to me first an last, pas.tbat animal. Brown and Jones ar nothing more than supers to bim. "Yon didn't Bee any more of your friend i: the box?" inquired Mr. de la Zouche." "Curse him, no ! By the time I'd change myolothes he had left the house. I wen round to the box-office to see if the box-keeper could tell mo anything about him. No, be wa a stranger. He had taken his box that morn ing, finding there was no stall to be had. an? paid his tbree guineas without a question, "Now, I daresay you'll think me an out-am fool, when I tell you I couldn't sleep tba nightjarmsny nights after, for thinking o that man. I couldn't get his palo cheeks ant lank J a wa and light gray eyes, with that horrie gloating look m them, out of my mind. "Th a ff a fellow who'd go to see a man bung," ? said t< myself. "That's a mia who'd stand by to see his fdllow-oreatnreB bung, drawn, and quarter ed, and enjoy it-especially the drawing." ] hadn't a doubt in my mind that he was on the lookout for an accident all the evening; ] hadn't a doubt in my mind that it was tbrough bim I made a mess of it at the end. '?Didyou never see him again?" asked the low comedian. "Never; God forbid I ever should, tor IVe s notion that if I did, it would be-the death ol me. I'm not ? nervous man in a general way. nor superstitious, either} but Fd give op l?e biggest haul I ever made by a benefit, rather than sot before that man." "A queer notion," aa id the humorous Tid dikins. . . "Avery queer notion/' echoed the gentle? manly de Ia Zoucbe, He was not a fine actor, the walking gentler man, belonging rather to that class of per? formers who is contemptuously likened to a stick, and his dramatic path bad been bj no means strewn with roseo; vet he was fain ?Q congratulate himself that it had not been beset with lions. He had bees somewhat inclined to envy Rudolph Prusinowski the distinction and prosperity of bis career; but just now it occur? red to him tbat there were two sides to tho ?ncture. He rubbed bis shoulder thoughtful? y, and was glad to think tbat bo was exposed to the assaults of no fiercer a nimals than those rampant tragedians who snubbed bim when ho played "horatio," and made light of bim in "Cessio," bat who melted a lirtle on their bsn etit nights, and treated him to beer. CBAPTEB IX-THE SECOND TIME. _Th9 8pindlecnm people showed their appre. ciation of tho British dram?, as reoresented by hon-taming. by giving Herr Prnajnowski a bumper. Whether it was the influence of the Cham of Tartary, or the Mikado, the Grand Duohess of 8elaer*asBerburg, or the iooal member, or the Bimple merits of the perform? ance, is a moot question: but the Spindleonm ?ans assembled in full force; and, before the Herr bad ie!t the family tea-table to repair to the theatre, he received the pleasing; intelli? gence that-tho crowd at the pit and gallery doors was half way across the street. "If we only go on like this for another year or BO, Liz, I'll out the profession,*' exolairqea Herr Prusinowski cheohly, "and start a theat? rical public somewhere cn the Surry aide. It's a trying life, is tbe wild beast business." "And a dangerous life, too, William," said the little woman with a sigh, "Not much of that, old girl. I'm more than a match for Robinson by this time. There isn't a move be's np to that I'm nob down upon. You're coing into tbe front to-night, eb, Liz?" "0 yes. I shall get a seat at the back of the boxes. Mrs. Prodger's going with me. She's took her ticket, and paid for it, you know, William, like a lady." "Ta-ta, Liz, then j Pm off," "It's early, William. There's the 'Miller and his Men'-that'll last an hour and a half surely." "I don't believe it'll play au hour. Yon ought to know what my benefit audiences ? t are-ali agog for the lions. I want to 1 look at the beasts before we begin, and '. ways a little nervous on my ben. Good Thia was a mere conjugal excuse. Tl atre, to a man bred at tbe aide-scenes, club. Tbe Herr preferred smoking his i the free-and-easy atmosphere of the dre room at the Queen's to tbe tamer delig the domestic tea-table. He had very anxiety about bis beasts. Joe Purdy, h totum. a keeper who bad served his ai ticesbip with the great Wombwell, ha custody of them. The house was an excellent one. Tbe were not BO well filled as on that merni night at Manchester, which Herr Pruain had described to his friends; but the pit \ seething cauldron of humanity; the g looked like a wall of eager faces pi lei upon the other up to the iron roof. The 1er and bis Men" was performed almo, dumb show, or seemed to be, though the ing tragedian retained on the establish was roaring himself hoarse in the obaraoi Grindoff, with the faint hope of snatch stray leaf from the crown of wild olive v would be oast at the feet of the lion-tame and-by. Then came a stirring overture-the "Br Horse"-during which the audience era nuts and became momentarily more exe and then the act-drop rose to slow music poul appalling character, and revealed Br Jones and Robinson picturesquely group the stock primeval forest. There was a panse. Tbe boase applat vociferously. There was something stu in the notion that these three unfett beasts might leap Into the pit at any moi lt was quite a pleasant sensation-es pee for the gallery. Brown, who was elderly decrepid, yawned and stretched himself ot if for slumber, with the air of bavin? been timely disturbed from his after-dinner : Jonea, who was of a lively temperan whisked bis tail, and snapped at an imigu fly. Robinson stared full at the audience if he really did understand and apprec their plaudits. Tbe music quickened, br"ke into a etiri maroo, and then, at a fortissimo obord t tbe full orchestra, tbe-lion tamer bounded to the stage-a striking figure, broad-sho ered and muscular, in cloae-fittim flesh ored raiment, a scarlet girdle round his WE and a leopard's skin over his sbonlder. There was a good strong Sheffield knif his belt, bot be had no appearance of b? armed. Hia reception was tremendous. He at bowing and moving bis lipa in vague munni with an air of bung quite overcome by feelings, for nearly five minutes before could begin bis performance. His eyes w dered all round the house with tbe gase of i dilation, till they grew auddenly fixed, glar at the stalls. ? j To-night there were three people in all length and breadth of them-two faded-lo log elderly women in opera cloaks at one e and in the middle, in a position that com m ai ed every inch of the stage, a middle-aged m With a cadaverous face, prominent, ligut-g. eyes, and lank, reddish hair, carefully dress in ruli evening costume, He sat in an attitude of extreme attentii with his arms folded on the back of tbe a io front of him, (be was in tbe back row,) a bis eyes fixed upon the lion-tamer. For I moment, the sight of him seemed to turn I dolph Pruainoweki to a .one. It waa tbe m he bad been talking of that day. Tbe cold sweat broke out upon bis forehei bat he stamped his foot savagely, angry wi himself for this folly, muttered an oath, a began hia bn-incas with the liona^-standi upon their backs, riding round the stage op all three at or.oe, leading them through a ki of dance movement, described in the bills ai Bet of quadrilles, with garlands of papier iosi and otherwise disporting himself with the; the red-haired man ja the stalls walebing 1 every movement and every movement of t animals breathlessly, and never stirring by hair's breadth from his attentive attitude, turning bis eyes away from the Btage. Then came the feature of tbe evening single combat between Heir Prusinowski ai Robinson-who was described in tbe bills, I way, as "Moloch, the royal brindled lion, pt Bented to Herr Prusino wein by one of the n tiyo princes of tbe Punjaub"-at the end which tbe Herr dredged asunder the anima Jaws, and put his head into top red-bot-lookii month. To-night, in spite of that deadly terror whic bad come opun tbe Herr at tbe ajght of thi one detested spectator, everything wo. smoothly enough. Robinson, otherwise lil loch, kept his temper, suffer ed hie jaws to i opened to their widest extent, and the tame head to repose upon hia tongue aa on a pillo for half a dozen seconds oreo, and the curt ai came down to vociferous applause; but whe the b?n?ficiaire was called for tbere was no r spoose. The prompter lonnd bim leanin against one of tbe winga, white to the lips. "Bid you eyer see a man tremble ?" be asl ed, in a voice that shook so much as to t scarcely intelligible. Tr you want to see om look at me.'' He was snaking in every limb, like a ma stricken with ague. "Why, what's the matttr?" asked tbe promt ter, with more friendliness af tone than eic ganceot diolion. "They're calling for you Uk mad. You'd better go on." "Pm going, as soon aa I can steady myseli I neyer neglect my business: but Pre bad turn, I never thongbt I should come off th stage alive to-night." "Wby, tbe animals wore quiet enough." "Yes, as mild as lambs; but there's a man ii front that's my evil genius. J never felt super Btitlous about anything else before-none o your ghosts or that kind of rot-bat Tve go my fancy about that man. He'd like to see mi killed, and-he'll contrive to Bee it." "Prnstnowski," said the prompter, "I could n' bav? believed it of yon. I thought von was i man of sebse," ' "1 But the prompter felt uncomfortable never theleas. lue human mind is especially o pei lo uncomfortable sensations of thia kind. "Come, my hoy," he exclaimed, "they'n losing temper." This ia allusion to the audi ence, who ,wera, clamoring hoarsely for theh favorite. "You'd better go on." . Pruainoweki wiped bia damp forehead, pull ed himself together, aa it were. "All right." he said, and followed the promp? ter to the first entrance. He went on, made hie accustomed mechanica 1 bo ?, and pressed th t Btage, to disappear with reqowed bowings OE the opposite side, de was looking at tbe stalis at the time. Tbe man was gone. s "Curse bimi" muttered the lion-tamer. "If he'd given nae time to change my clothes I'd baye been in front of tbe h cuso in time to ese bim como out. I want to know who he is; I want to know what bo means.*' : fie dressed hurriedly, tearing off his dose: titting garb, and shuffling on Ihe costume of everyday life anyhow, and tben went back to the prompt eqtranqo before''the curtain bad arisen for the farce, and took another survey of the stalls, thinking it just possible that his evil genius had returned. Bat the min's place was empty. Herr Prusinowski went round to the public doors Qt the theare, and hung about there, with a vague ide?, that tba man might be Lin? gering also. Thore was a large tavern just op? posite the Que JO'S, where tbe audience was wont to refresh themselves-even tbe stalls and 00X38-with brandy-aud-soda. Tbe Herr yessed tba road by and by, weat into, tbe crowded bar, still looking lor thia man, and looking vainly. While he was staring about him a friendly band tapped bim on the shoulder. "It wa? wed over eighty, my boy,:* said tbe voice of Pe la Zouohe, upon whose youthful cheek still lingered some traoe of the vermil? ion it bad worn. in the '-Miller and his Men." "Nearer ninety, Tiddikina tells mo, and he knows bow to reckon np a house with any man in the profession. I wish you joy." "Thank you, old fellow," replied the lion tamer, vaguely. '-Yee, I think its a good house." "Think 1 There's no room for thiaki oe. The perspiration was running down their faces in tbe pit all through the 'Miller.' The house waa lig? a furnace; and uncommonly thirsty that kind of tbiug makes a man. The ponge low you sent in was very acceptable. But 1 Bay, Prusi, how about the little supper you talked of?" PruBiuowski stared at bim blankly for a mo? ment, and then said carelessly, "The supper-0, to be sure. Pd forgotten all about it.'1 The noble countenance of De Ia Zouche fell, aad his open brow was overshad? owed by a sudden gloom. "But tl's all right, ' continued tho beneflciarie. "lt's ordered for twelve o'clock sharp. I ordered it on spec. I thoueht I should have a good house." "Prusinowski, you are a gentleman I" ex? claimed the aotor. "Pil go home and put on a clean collar. I think you mentioned a goose?" 1 "Boast beef afc the top, roast goose at bottom," said the Herr absently. "It is a bird which, on (he snpper-tabl appreciate above any of the feathered tri! replied the walking gentleman. "Aa rei voir." He departed, wondering at tbe silence gravity of a man who could draw an eigl pound house. Herr Prusinowski left the tavern and sti ed listlessly along the street. It waa not qi eleven. He bad a olear hour before bim. which be could do what he pleased with h self. Under ordinary circumstanceB he mi have gone borne, to have a few .words with "little woman,' and make Borne imendmen bis toilet; but to-night be hardly oared to f his wife, sha would see that something t wiong, and question him. The impress that man's appearance had made upon I was a Bubjeot he did not want to talk abo not even with her. He turned out of the bi thoroughfare in which the Queen's Theatre \ situated presently into a broad, quiet, c fashioned-looking street leading down tot quay-a street of broad square red-br ?ck h ou, of the Georgian era, grim and respect?t with a shop only here and there, and the: superior class of shop. It was a very, qo street at this time of night. The sumn moon was shining full upon the broad pa mont and empty road, and there was jual glimpse of moonlit water at the end of i street wbere it opened on the qnay. There was only one shop open at this hoi a tobacconist's at a corner. Pruslnowaki f in bis coat pocket with a dim recollection having allowed Slr. fita Baymoud to empty l tobacco pouch that evening, and than stroll aoroBs the road towards the tobacconist's abc While be waa in the aot of oraasing, a m came out of the shop, and walked slowly aw toward the qnay. The lion-tamer recogniz bim at a glance and darted after bim. It w the occupant of the stalls, stall angular Agu in the moonlight, with more or lesa tbe air oj gentleman. "I beg your pardon," be said,, at tbe arra ger's shoulder; "I believe you were in front t nigbt in the stalls at tbe Queen's?" Tbe man tur ced and faced bim. It was n a prepossessing countenance by any mean that long cadaverous visage, with the pa prominent eyes and lank sandy bair. Tl moonlight made it look more than usually o daverous. "Yes,1' be ?lid, "Ibavj been at tbe Queen Theatre this evening. Dear me 1 you are tl lion-tamer, I believe. Thia is really curious He spoke in a formal deliberate way, th; was strangely irritating to Herr PruaioowBki nerves. . "You have some kind of bosinoas with nt Herr Prusinowski ?" the stranger said In terr gativelv, the lion-tamer standing for the un ment staring at him, utterly lost aud helpless -T-I wanted to ask you a question," be sal abruptly, rousing himself witnan efforL. "TL isn't the first time I've seen you. You tcok private box at Manchester five years ago ft my benefit." ' T did," replico the arranger. "Icongrati late you on the possesaion of au exceller memory, Mr. Prusinowski. You had a narro eqoape that nigbt at Manchester, I ;wagim One of your animals turned restive." '-Yes," said the lion-tamer, moodily, "tbs brute Robinson cat rp rough; I lost my ncr v. and ne saw it. It was a narrow escape-a du appointment for yon, wasn't it ?" "Excuse me, 1 hardly catch your meaning. '.You thought it was all over with me, d'dp you? Come now, I want tQ anow your mc uve for coming to see me that time-I wan to know yonr motive for c inning to see me tc night." "Motive?" iepeated the stranger. 'Uebori. suppose tho motive must be sufficiently ob vioue. People generally attend that sort of en tertaiument, and every sort of entertainment in search of amqaemeot," "Other people perhaps-not yon. I knot what a man's face means, and I watched your as close-well, almost as dose as you watchei me. It wasn't the face of a man that oame u be amused." "You aeem to have a peculiar way of lookioj at thmps. ?ir. Prusinowski,'' replied tbe Qtran ger, rubbing his bogy oloseishaven ohii thoughtfully. ('However, to be candid witl {ou, I am somewhat int crested in li ou-taming am an idle man, you see. My means enabu me to live pretty muob aa I please and wbere ] please, and a man without occupation ia tn i manner compelled to create an interest foi himself in thjnea outside hts own life. I an an amateur ot wiid-b^aat abo ve. There was i man called Gr?en--yon may have board of hin perhaps. I saw that man Green perform sev enteen consecutive tim J a. I was peculiarly in forested in him," "Yes," sud Prusinowski, "I know all aboul Green. He was killed-killed by a tiger tbal he'd made a good deal of money out of." "He waa," answered the Btraogar; "I saw it." Herr PruBinowaki shuddered, "I thought ao," he said; "I thought as mach, You've tasted blood " "Upon my bonor that is a very unpleasant way of putting it." replied the stranger. "1 looa at these things entirely from an artistic point of view. I nave heard it asserted thai men of your profession alwava do meet with some fatal accident sooner or later. Mince you push me so closely, I am bound to adm.lt that has formed one element ot interest for me iq this kind of performance. I can understand the delight of the Roman people, from the Em? peror down tq tbe bumpiest freedman., iq tittil gladiatorial shows." "I don't understand half that palaver," said Herr PruBmowski, rudely; "but I trust in God I may never Bee your face again." "Really, nowl bat why?" "Because yon ore a cold-blooded scoundrel, and you would like to see me killed*'1 "My dear Mr, frqslnowBki, that ia a style of lauguage vybicb, lt ? WQre an I'l-^rr pored mau. I micrbt. resent. But if you axe destined to meet your death in that maoner, which it is to hs hoped yon are not, ? freely admit that I should wish to be a spectator of the catastro? phe. It would not make tbe smallest differ-, once to you, and it would be highly interesting to me. Is this your way ? No ! In th at case, good night." He lifted his bat ceremoniously, and depart-* ed toward the patch of moonlit water at tbe end of the street, leaving the hootamer stand? ing on the pavement, transfixed and brooding. It waa Jost as be had imagined-the man was an amateur of sudden death. The sapper at tbe Lion and Lamb pubh'o hoqse'-a ann? little hostelry, five doors from the theatre, and mnch affected by the actors was a gastronomie success, but not a social one. The fare was excellent. The giver qf the feast ordered liquors oq a li herd ?cale, and eatables and drinkables disappeared with a celerity cheering to witness. Yet the banqnet was not a cheerful one- Nothing could rouse Prunnowski from the gloorq that had fallen upon him- Tbe actors did their utmost to beguile hun into gayety, with boisterous talk and laughter, racy anecdotes, and an unlimited amount of that humorous converse commonly known as "obaff," to which the theatrical mind is especially proue; bqt aj? their erf jr ts tailed. By degree* the ulk fell fiat, and the revels, which, under happier auspices, would have lasted far into tho summer dawning, broke up abruptly at a quarter past two. Mr. Warbeck, the prompter, walked home with Tiddikins and de la Zouche. and told them what had happened ftftar the fall of the curtain, "Prusinowaki's as good a fellow as ever breathed," he said, in conclusion. "It he was my own brother, (couldn't like bim bj?ter than I do. Bat I'm afraid there's something queer hereabouts," He tapped bis forehead significantly. "A loose elate." said Mr. Tiddikins. "A bee in bis bonnet," said Mr. de la Zouche. CH.UT EB III.-THE THIED TIKE. It was three years later in the life of the lion-tamer, and be was performing for three nights only at a sea-coast town in the north of England, a dreary tittle place enough, whither be nad strayed from tho rich manufacturing districts where his harvests were wont to be so plenteous-a dismal little town, beside wbicb tbe sea seemed to bowl more dolefully than by other shores; a stony High street, a damp windy fish market, a beach of great loose peb? bles, and a long wooden jetty stretching out to sea, and slippery always witb slime and weed, dead fish, at?d other refuse of tbe great ocean. Three years 1-and yet on bis benefit nigbt at Spindlecum Herr Prusinowaki had talked about retiring on bin laurels in a year. He bad not been doinz badly either; prosperity bad fol? lowed all bis wanderings; bub the human mind is elastio io its estimate of money, and Herr Prusinowski's notions of the fort an he ought to retire upon bod widened with the passage of time. "Another six months, little woman," he said, "and I'll sell tbe beasts by auction, and take a public house," which wis his notion of peace and retirement. "I wish it waa to be to morrow, William," the little woman answered sadly; "I shall never know a happy moment till you've done with those animals." The first two nights at Lowshore, this ob? scure northern seaport, bad been tolerably j successful; but what the drama, whether le? gitimate or illegitimate, tailed to do, the lions succeeded in doing. They drew very fair houses-not the nobility and gentry, as repre? sented by one elderly peer, whose estates bor? dered Lowshore, but wbo was rarely knowa to inhabit bis great atone castle, preferring a lit? tle box at Bicbmond, stuffed with rare old sil? ver and costly curiosities, and tbe vicar; but tho shopkeepers and their voting men and maidens; the few visitors and the lodging house proprietors; all the seafaring men and their families; the maids-of-all work and fisher boys; the polioemen off duty, and a sprinkling of formera from inland farms. It waa Uto in October, the very; dreariest tune of the year, and Herr Prusinowski had come to Lowshore in a speculative humor, just to fill up a blank in his wm ter programme. The house waa nearly full the first nigbt, a trifile less well attended the second, and on the third a considerable falling off was appa? rent. Still, it waa a very fair bouse for Low shore. There was a cheerful sprinkling in the pit, a very good gallery. The boxes alone bad a cavernous and dismal aspect. Herr Prusinowski bad brought a dramatic oompany of three with him to support the lions, and to eke ont the evening's entertain? ment with a couple of farces or comedi? ettas. The performances began with""De?cste Ground," and were to conclude with the "Be? eret," a taroo of an ancient and respectable Mareeter. The weather was against Herr Prusinowski on this particular evening. Tbe north winds came howling aer?te the German Ocean as if they were intent upon sweeping Lows bore from tbe face of tbe earth, driving a salt-fla? vored sleet before tr em. which well nigh bund - ed the adventurous pedestrian. The Herr ox pressed himself very forcibly about the weath? er, as he took leave of hts family before set? ting out for the thei.tre. The comedietta was ?nat over as he went in at the stage door, and ie bad to dress io a hurry, struggling into bis olose-fitrmy raiment, and girding himself with scarlet and gold, while a feeble little orchestra of four played aonr.e old-fashioned country dance tunes, what time the audience regaled themselves with prawns and porter. The three lions looked tremendously big on the small stage, awfully real igaink the back ground of faded scenery. Rollinson waa oat of sorta. He was sensitive upon the Bubjeot of weather, and bad an especial aveision to big h winds. Tbe feeble little Orchestra made a great struggle to produce a soul-inspiring on ord, and came out eupirbly, the second violin a trida in tbe rear. Hair Praainowslci bounded on tba stage from a rocky set piece, and began his work rather languidly, handling Robinson with a certain amount of caution, He had got Arenga half his performance, and WOJ leading tue three lions ronud the stage on $boir bind feat, to tbe stirring music qi tbe march in ".'dine Beard"-stirring even from those poor feeble players-when he heard the opening and shutting of a door at the back of the boxes. He looked up quickly. A gen tiernas in evening dress waa seating himself deliberately in, the centre place-a pele-dom plexiqned man? With straight reddish- bair. The lion-tamer's heart turned cold. It waa the man he bad Beau at Mancheiter and Spln dlecum-tbe man wboae presence, by some morbid fancy, be associated witb the idea of pani to himself. Buring the last three yean be bad been always more or less on the look? out for this man, and had never seen him-bad begun to congratulate himself upon the proba? bility that he would finish his public career without ever performing before bim again; and here be was in tina remote seaport town, watching bim with tbe same eager eyes, and hungry face-watcliing aa men watched tbe gladiatota in old t nie. greedy fir their blood. Il he could bave brought the entertainment to an abrupt COD ol a ai on that instant be would havo done so. Ho would have willingly re? turned tbe noonie their money, and aaorlfiood the night's profits lo escapo performing before that mao. He wanba'f inoiined to plead sud? den illness, and. hi ing down Ute curtain with an apology; but to lo that would be to confess himself afraid of that man. "D-n bimi" bo muttered to himself, "ho shan't see that Fm afraid of bim." "Faster 1" be called out tu the orchestra. "Vaster and louder 1" and as the music quickened, he urged the animals 'nth his whip. Robinson, alias Moloch, resented the imper? tinence with a supy reseed roar, and from that moment Rudolph Prusinowski lost bia pres? ence of mind and le st bia temper. He was de? termined to bate not one of bia tricks, to de? monstrate to that cold-blooded wretob in the boxes that be waa not afraid of him. He made the animale do mote work than usual, looking defiantly at that watchful face in the boxes all tbs while. The little theatre shook with ap? plause, tbe pit rose to bim, as the good old acton wore wont to say; tbe gallery rang witb bravos. All in a moment, at the lust, in tbe orowning feat which was ' to conclude the performance, the ?bravos changed to an awful about of' hor? ror. No one coull say how it happened-the brute's movement i were lxx> rapid for human eyes to follow. I err Prusinowski was lying on the stage mangi ed and torn, the lion crouch? ing upon bim. The keeper and a couple of brawny scene shifters rushed upon the a cage; they dragged bim from under tho infuriated beast InaeneiDle and covered With blood, and carried bim off to the qxaaainf 'room, wbere tbe two ri val Burgeons of Lowshore came rushing In to Lim five min? utes afterward. S ?rgery oould do nothing; bia ribs were oroabed JO powder, and there wa? a perforation of the lung and hemorrhage. He breathed stentoriously for about half aa hour, and then died, without one ray of returning consciousness, ' 'fctrangetbe red-haired gentleman need to say afterward, when he tend the story as a pleasant kind of thing after dinner, and in some manner reflecting dis auction upon him? self I "The poor devil waa the second of bis trade I saw killed, and I had come across him three timea at loni; intervals in the course of my travels in the north. 1 take a considerable interest in that sort of thing; there's more ex? citement about it than there is in the drama. Ptfuainowaki waa a very respectable fellow; bad saved money, I bebe ve, and left his wife and obildren comfortably provided for."-?fpro via Annual, A PBOPOBSD Nxvr YORK CMSTAL PALICK. A number of gentlemen interested in the Mew York Industrial Exposition met in that city on Friday, with a view of developing a plan to in? augurate a Crystal Palace Exposition worthy of the increased demands of the times. General Dix, the Governor elect of New.?ork, and presi? dent of the assoc ation, occupied the chair, with afr. Erastus Brooks on his right. It is proposed to erect the crystal place In the vicinitv of One Hundredth street and Fourth avenue. Land has been purchased ac $1,700, 000, of which $391:1,000 baa been subscribed. There are 355 building lots in the tract upon which it is propos id to erect the crystal palace. Mr. Di von, vice prssident of the Crystal Palace Company, said "that but for the supineness of New York, the people of Philadelphia would not have asked, or Congress granted, a senes of acts by wbicb Philadelphia is to be honored and enriched by the holding ot a world's fair, and by tbe United States proclaiming to all tbe world tnat Philadelphia is the commercial metropolis of this country." Speeches were alao made by by General Dix and others, and there seems to be a serions effort on foot, calculated at least to stimulate the world's fair stock in Philadelphia. H EKB Y WARD BEECHER ON Snxr-DisTBUST. Mr. Beecher writtiB in tbe Ledger: "Consider morbid self-distrnst as an intruder that bas no business in your brain. Treat it as you would insects or vermin that infested your dwelling. Hunt it, crush it, give it no quarter. But while thus seeking relief from a painful and depressing action of a faculty, it would be apity to overcome the feel i ns: in its milder form, Boas to have oo diffidence ot you own power what? ever. It may be ot some consolation to yon to know that yon are one of a thousand. An American suffering from self-dietrust 1 Where can yon find one who baa not only tbe utmost; confidence in himself, but who can bv no method be pot into an bumble frame of mind ? I do not know but it will be worth while for you to suffer on for the public good. Modesty and diffidence of one's powers are not qualities BO common that one should hide their light under a bushel. It ms y be that you are raised up to leaven the ump around you with a singu? lar grace to which the typical 'Young America' ia a stranger." gjgg, QltmftAiOnttQ, Ut. V X?8 CHEES! "BOT O NOB A YE A Bl" THK Ht CH SST AND YUH XI0B8T MINCE PIES MINCE PIES MINCE PIES in the city, ai way s on hand or made to order at short notice. ALSO, TUBKEYS GAME PASTRY ICED OAKES JELLIES, Ac., AC, AT TULLY'S OLD STAND, No. 124 KISQ STREET, deoiaitt_ Near Qaeen street. Q. BB AT INDUCEMENTS WILL re oman AT MCLEAN'S TOY STORE m consequence or haylnf to remove temporarily, for repairs to Store, after first January. SHOW OASES AND O LASS a Specialty. deoiB-T Jg ROAD STREET, FECIT AND CIGAR STORP, Ka 21 BROAD S TBS rr, R. 8KBRRITT, PaoPBirroa, Has Just opened with a mu stock or Foreign and Domenic FRUITS, Candles, Cigars, ITo bao?, Fireworks, Ac, which- wUl be dUpesed off | on the moat advantageous terms to purchasers. A liberal share of the public patronage ia solicited. decifl-12 A MERRY CHRISTMAS! FISHER'S FRUIT STORE, KINO STREET, BETWEEN QUEEN AND CLIPPORD. The Delicate LADIES' APPLES, which cannot be had at any oth,er Store In the city. dec2S4 Clothing ano inrruB?jing ?0???. AND G HOUSE! J. H. LAWTON, ACADEMY OF MUSIC BUILDING, Corner or King and Market Streets, CHARLESTON. decio Dru (Eoc?i, Ut. LOUIS COHEN ft CO., 246 AND 248 KINfi ST., Between Haael and Market Streets, j Beg leave respectfully to announce that having annexed the build in g No. M King street to then* | Old Stand, they can, with the Increased facilities they now enjoy, offer to their Customers and the Public generally GOODS In their Une with corresponding advantage? to buy err. OUR STOCK OF ZMEfcY GOODS, which win bc at all times found complete, eon slits of: PRINTS, LONGCLOTH3, SHIRTINGS DRESS GOODS, SILKS CLOAKING VELVETS VELVET RIBBONS SASH AND TRIMMING RIBBONS FLO WEBS, LACES EMBROIDERIES, HANDKERCHIEFS BROADCLOTHS, CAS8IMEBES FLANNELS, BLANKETS SHAWLS, HOSIERY GLOVES And a Complete Stock of LINEN TA BLI MOS, TOWELS, NAPKIN?, DOYLIES, &C Partlcnlar attention is requested to our f aU Unes of Ladles' 8ILK SCARFS AND FICHD8, in aU colors, Shades and Styles. Attention is also directed to our large Unes of HOLIDAY GOODS, Suitable for Presents. A cali ls respectfully requested. LOUIS COHEN ft CO., declfl-14 No. ttl KING STRBKT. ?tmt?ortY 8t. . - ?piK?T-CLASS FURNITURE, AT REASONABLE PRICKS, MILLING'S FURNITURE STORE, Ko. 444 BISO STREET, BEAR JOHJ?, Is the pisco to gat handsome tad littra* tia I FDRSmjRI of tbs latest and most elegant 4?. sigas at prices to salt toe times. This ttWtMti ment hssjost received a large supply of superior Parlor, Chamber sud Dining; Boom Sets ia Oak, walnut aod I ml ' at lon, which are offered at pr toes ten OT fifteen per cent. lower than those Charge?! elsewhere for less substantial Fornitura. SUPERB BURIAL CASKETS A SPEOIALT?. Call and examine the stock and prices. SION OF THE KAN AND HOCKER. KO. 444 KINS STEER. dec?s nfcllftOg ?00O?. ^ WM. T-i. WKBB, NO. 138 MEETING ST., HEAR THE CH ARLES TO H HOTEL, Bas, la his extensive stoek of China and glass ware of direct importation, a Taned. . as tournent cf HOLIDAY CIFT8, C01?PBTDIH? HANDGOHILY DICOBATTD DINNER AND TBA SETS, PINE OUT OLAibWARE. A great variety of Yeses and smaller articles suitable for the approaching 1 WILLIAM L. WEBB, HO. 128 MEETING STREET, ?Q Next to the comer of Basel Stress. deosi-o_. ' AT WHI LDEN'S 13 A LARGE AND VARIED STOCK OP ..' CHRISTMAS GOOBS. NO. 258 KINO 8TREE.T, CORNER BEATJFATJr. CHARLESTON", 8. 0. deois-7_ FRENCH, ENGLISH AND ? AMERICAN EXTRAGT8, SOAPS POMADES HAIR OILS, Ac. JEAN .MARIE FARINA'S VIOLET'S AND AIMAB'S PEBstTDM COLOGNE WATERS,' AT AIMAR^,| CORNER KINO AND VAHDERHORST STREETS, deol9I2 THE MASONIC TEMPLE B1ZI?. j? . '.? . f ' ? . ;( . . - ? !? .? Ctia . . . ??? 'ti . > FELIX FISHER ft CO. Have jost reoelvsd bj Express a Large and varied Stock of CHRISTMAS TOYS MAILLARD'S CONFECTIONERY IMPORTED CIGARS . CHOICE FRUITS And other articles suitable tor Christa** Gins, walch will be sold at PRICES TO SHIT THE TIMES. The Spacious Store ander the Max anio Temple, now temporarily titted op, win soon ba s^ranged as a Luncheon or Refreshment Boom, similar to those in Northern cities, whit? every delicacy will be found. FELIX FISHER ft CO., SING STREET. dOOM-8_ ; gtancnllgrtt flortin?tinrc, #t. gLUM 4 MILLEE,... Proprietors of L&ndreth'e Old Established Hons?, NO SSS KINO STREET, Has on hand a large Assortment of Faa cy BASKETS, Bird Caged, Chamber gets, Fish Globes, Hyacinth Glasses, Table Mats, Door Mats, Wood? en ware, Tinware, Boys' Carts, Wagons end Wheelbarrows, Knife Boxes, all of which are for sale low at the SOOTH GASOLINA SEED AND AGRICULTURAL WAREHOUSE, ; dec23 5 _Sign of Plough. esfinctl QI aros. fT?, J. 8?LL1? AN, BUILDER ABB CONTRACTOR, Nc. 113 Murrina BWET, NEARLY OPPOSITE CAMERON, BARKLEY A 00 Desires to inform his friends and th? tjobiio that he ls prepared to carry on the GENERAL BUILDING BUSINESS. Repaire of ali kinds at? tended to. Designs and estimates fUrntahed aso? application. ese* fli?TtOS, (grflCTlB, Ut. PIANOS ANO ORGANS, Furnished at factory pri?es for oast, er by Monthly Payments on tba most liberal teran. ;; CHARLES L. MOCLE?ABAN, Plano and Muslo Store,. '. sep3-4mos Nc Ul King ttreei,