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AUMT MAKIUA'a CLOCK. "You Know, my flour Herbert," enid my ?unit JM;uthu, "that hi tho precari ous state of roy health, with my life hanging os lt wore, upon a thread, lt believes me to see that all my almira are in order." "Certainly;*' I responded, with duti ful but difficult gravity. My aunt was only a little past "biddle age, weighed eleven stone two, bad a color Uko a peony, and a waist wnich measured twenty-eight inches-was, In truth, in full health and vigor, and likely td live to a ripo old ag ; so that lier favorite fiction that she was the vic tim of a hopeless and mysterious mal ady, mid might at any moment shuttle off this mortal coil, was without tko slightest foundation in fact. Never theless she derived much onjoymeut from tho illusion, and delighted in the contemplation of her own premature decease, and in perpetually going over all tho details of her interment and oiliercheerful accessories of the supremo event. .V^liifc nruu u il r?u r* ??Ol'?j ll??'I X V/i'S indebted to bier for much of tho happi ness of my childhood and tho easy en joyment of my youth. I owed her both affection and duty,and paid them heart-. Hy; but I must confetis 1 found it difll eult to respond becomingly to tho con stantly recurring claims on my sympa thy with reference to this death bed bogy of hers. Tho perpetual cry of "W?lfl" had hardened mo, I suppose. "These anniversaries are solemn tilings," my aunt observed, shall lng lier head and nighing profoundly. "I can not disguise from myself, Herbert, that I shall iii all probability never seo an other birthday. Before the second of March cornea sound again I shall most likely bo mouldering in tho silent tomb.'? Whirr-r r - gurr-r-r - boom-boom -hangi" sounded from tho dim corner immediately behind my seat. "Good heavens!" 1 exclaimed,spring ing to iv.y feel, and tinning round so as to face the enemy. "What on earth was that Y B ?niething exploded 1" My aunt sa ?till, perfectly unmoved and placid. "That, my /ear boy," sho explained, "is your grandfather's clock," "Aolockl"! echoed, "ls that all? I thought it was an infernal machino. What, in tho name of all that's diabol ical, is tho matter with tho thing?" "Tho chimo is out of order," aunt Martha roplaxl. "Tho olockmakor says it is worn out; but it used to have tho sweetest, clearest tone. 1 remember it when L was a child." "H's a hideous discord now!" 1* ic marked, with somo animus, for'I was a good deal milled at .having made such a donkey of myself in my llrst alarm "I am very fond of tho old clock," said my aunt plaintively, "lt is asso ciated with the happiest days of my life, and its chime-altered as lt is brings back my dear father's voice. Ho waa a martinet with regard to punctu ality, and that dear old clock kept time for tho whole house. It has*always ."vc !-^? 5?-< iv," l>r.,l ,."'"-.> T Ulrorl Irv s.ifc itjtho i}U.i iiihig veep I ;. .....'?:.... .v.j'ri tho md' uiu;.?; bul ) \\vA i'1 no-.vu i'owii ! . rt !.v.?! wu ... it-7-H' ??<:<?] .i;!;;)): ly!-v.. 'MIA', ii in"! v.- . >t little Ul fm .it?'u i "VmviH ?>?>:. r ..>.? \y'(>\\ n-s I \'ifiti$l f. tm?ln ii i i . o'her iii'jr.piun: of tlu'l i?Vd:. itv - ti iVii'd ! f iiongii! it lilith i ; .> move, tho "I don't wondor-tho brutol" I mut tered resentfully. "I havo felt the change," continued my aunt- "at my ago ono feels every thing. But I am trying td wean my self from earthly things, Herbert, and, as I said just now, I am anxious to seo that all my affairs are in order and pro pared for what may come at any mo mont. 1 have dono my best, I think" -modestly-"to save everybody trou ble, and havo explained my Wishes as clearly as I can, both In writing and verbally " "Yes; you have nothing t?> 'reproach yourself with on that score," I acqui esced, with veiled Irony. "It will be for you, Herbert, to seo that thoy aro carried out faithfully," concluded my aunt, complacently ac cepting my remark, "You may trust mo, aunt Martha," I replied. "Yes, my dear boy, I know 1 can. You are ii y hoir, of eourso, Herbert,!? i have often told you. Everything is left to you, excepting tho legacies to tho servants, poor things, and a provision for my mece, Phyllis Mortimer, my poor sister's only child. I havo never seen ber; her father quarrelled with mo after poor Annie's death, and then ho died, and the girl grow up amongst her own relatives on tho othor side of tho water. Queer sort of people they must bo, I fancy, or thoy wouldn't llvo at such a placo as Calais. Thoy ovldontly shared Philip Mortimer's prejudice against mo, and of course I could not force myself upon tho child after her fal nor's death; if wo had been recon ciled boforo that, it would havo beon diff?rent. ' However, Phyllis is my own Bister's child, the only ono loft of our family excepting yourself, and I havo thougla it right to remember tho rela tionship and to treat her as my nioco in my will. 1 liavo loft her one hundred and fifty pounds a year." "I am very glad to hoar lt, amit Mar tha, " I said heartily. "Yes, my dear boy; I knew you would approve," my aunt rejoined. "And now thoro is only ono thing unsettled, and that ls-tho clock. I am afraid" looking anxiously at mo-"you would not caro to havo it, although,"-with a tonder glance at the abominable instru ment-"lt chimes only twice in tho day -at twelve o'clock and at six. 1 could not bear to think of its being put away in a garret or sold to a second- liant! dealer, or any tiling of that sort, Her bert. If you could havo it in your chambers-' ' Now I had furnished my chambers with what I considered exquisite taste. I had carefully eschewed Queen Anno monstrosities and rhubarb colored abom inations, and stood pledged boforo my friends to an anti-a?.9thoUo creed. I glanced ruofully at tho ugly heavy framed machino. What a blot it would bo amongst my Eronoh mirrrors and satin covered chairs, and how tho fellows would chalti And then that horrible chimo! I should bo tho laugh ing-Btock of tho club. No, I could uot 1 stund it, not oven for aunt Mnrthal \ A unt Martha saw my dooislou In my face, and sighed. Evidently lier last hope died out m that sigh. "The clock has a history, Ilerbort," she yahl, "llb longed to our ancestor Sir John' M ord hurst, in tho timo ol' Queen Anne, ami is tho last rollo of our past gnmdour. Sir John's grandson, Sir Nevil, ian through everything; ho and bis son eui off the entail, tho es tate was ?old. and the son died unmar ried. The title went to a distant brandi*, but they were poor people, and did nol care for thc empty honor; so 1...0 family died out. My father was de scended from them in tho t?malo line; and the ClOok caine into his possession from ids mother, and he taught us ah to reverence it. 1 prize lt above all my other relies, and so did Anne-in fact, it was about the clock that tho Morti mers and 1 quarrelled. Philip Mortimer claimed it-for Anim-and I flatly re fused to part with it. My father left it to mo; ho bad no opinion ol Philip Mor timer, and he know I loved tho chick and should take good caro of ll, which i have donc.*' ?'Perhaps;" 1 suggested, "Miss Mor timer "Yea," responded my dear old aunt, "I have been thinking of that. Girls have moro reverence than young mon, and moro sentiment too. Phyllis must liavo heard lier mother speak of tho clock, and for her sake alie would value it.1 "It would bo a sort of olive-branch," I suggested insinua'ingly, "Exactly,"agreed my aunt. "And I should like lo lb ink"-hero tho dear obi lady became somewhat involved "when L am in my collin, that l was at peace willi all tho world, and especially with poor Anne'? child." "lt would be only right to leave it to my cousin," I urged, with decision. "Yes, 1 think it would be righi," as sented aunt Martha, willi an air ol' ro liof. "1 shall send for Preston in tho morning and make ? codicil to my will." Then the cheerful rattle of cups her alded tho entrance of tea, and enabled me to chango tho subject of conversa tion. "Thank goodness," 1 said to myself, an hour or two later, as I drew on my overcoat in tho hall, assisted by my aunt's venerable butler and factotum Peters, "1 have arranged that matter of the clock, and without hurting tho old lady's feelings tool Miss Mortimer's aro another matter; but they don't eon corn me." .Ilerbort!" called my aunt from tho doorway of tho drawing-room. I stopped back from the already opened hall door. "Heaven bless you, my dear boy!" exclaimed the good soul lorvonlly. ..liemember, if my symptoms should come on to-night, and tho worst should happen-it is angina pectoris, I have not a shadow of a doubt-before I have bad timo to execute that codicil, you will hand tho clock over to your cousin Phyllis! Promise mo, Ilorbertl" "I promise faithfully," I answered, with fervor; and then I kissed tho ru? Iden nt . ohee} i fi?rHUj: ?iji ? thu'vu/'al, willi :i gopd-iVi,<dd, a? ?d i ;. bid 1 'cb : :.. .iii ppe.l out '.nt'- the ! ll} eil!) iud? , U KI ii >;i reel t h?j IVhua: bf; \Y iV-' .1 'pi -i; .rid " 1} engaged. Till ho^ i-.. v.ometo-mm-i.i or next day, or whonovor ho likes, Can't seo him now!" I called out from my dressing-room In answer lo a summons from my man, ono evening shortly af tor my aunt's birthday, "lt's perfectly impossible!" I reiterated, applying my double hair-brushes vigorously, and so overpowering an expostulatory murmur from Morice outside tho cloicd door. It was already 7:35 p. m., and I was hurrying through my toilet for a dinner at eight sharp at Sir George Lance mere'.-?. Sir George had three pretty daughters, and iiady Jiuncemoro was dispo cd to bo exceedingly graclous,a;id I was getting a iittlo t ired of my bach elor lifo, and beginning, liko Bonodict, to have certain tender thoughts and dreams, all prompting mo "how sweet young Hero was." Una Lancemoro was certainly uncommonly pretty, and tho remembrance of her big innocent, blue ey os and roso tinted complexion had made mo more particular than usual in tho choice of tho button-hole which waited now tn a glass of water on my dressing-table. "Bog pardon, slr," said thu voice of tlio irrepressible Morice once moro at tho door; "but it's Miss O ver Wm's but ler, slr, and his messago hi very particle 1er, and-" "All right, Morice; i'm coming in a minute I" I returned graciously, as I put tho llnislung touch to my whlto tie, and omcrged from my sanctum in all tho glory of my best war-paint-a mes sage from aunt Martha was not to bo neglected. "Well, Petors, what is it? All right at homo, I hopo?" "Ko, Mr. Ilerbort; I am sorry to say my mistress ls very ill - vory ill In deed!" repliod Polers. "Sho was took at about half-past six with tho huart spasms, sir-worse than she had ovor soon her, Susan Milo3 says. I wont for tho doctor, sir; and then, by my mis tress's orders, I carno for you. Sho said I was to bring you at onco; but sho hardly oxpectcd you would ibid her alive, I was to say." "Good heavens, Peters," I exclaimed, "is it as bad as that?" 1 had forgotten for tho moment my aunt's craze, "Yes, air; it's vory bad," answered tho old follow, shaking his head dolo, fully. "Shall I call a cab?" "Yes, yos- at onco! Stay a moment! Send Morice to me," I said, dashing to my writing-table and scribbling a hasty note. "Excuse-bad nows at last, moment - sudden Illness-many apologies." .'Hero, Morice; take a hansom, de* J livor this noto at onco, and dosiro thom to put lt into Lady Lancemero's hands immediately! My coat--hore-quick! Jtoady, Potors!" And I. was off, with out avon a regretful thought for Una Lancomero and her bluo baby-oyos. Susan Milos, my aunt's matd, met mo at tho door ot her room. "Thank goodness you've como, Mr. Ilorhortl" sho oxclalmod, whilst tho tears coursod oach other down her fur* I rowed chooks. "Sho does nothing hut ask for you; there's something on her mind, und she can't ho easy till she's wen yon." My ?tmit was propped up in bed, took" ing certainly paler than 1 had ever see?? her. but, no far as my unprofessional ex poriunce. went, not exactly at tho point of death. "I am glad you have come, Herbert," abe murmured weakly, "It iii byer foi Ibis t imo, Doctor Porter says; but m-, lifo bango upon a thread-a mero tb rend. This evening's shock is tho begiuuinii, ot tho end. it is a solemn warning lo mo, Herbert, a very solemn warnin.-. and 1 niuat bc prepared tor a sudden call-a very sudden call lt univ b When 1 was so ill ju>t now, I picture'I tho whole scene, tho confusion, your di a tress. Herbert." I bowed my bead, whilst a quern choking sensation in my throat nie vented my usual parrying repartee. "And I felt," continued my aim , "that, in all the circumstances, tho one thing loft mo to bu anxious about--th clock, you know-might bc ovo look; : or forgotten at that time, lt was on my mind in that u^ony, Herbert; au . now I am determined, whilst ?'have strength, to sottlo tho poor thing In it. now home beforo I go myself." ft spoke ns it' tho clock were a living olva turc. "It will bo un effort, Herbert, sho went on, the tears tilling her eye "but 1 shall feel happier for lt. An - delays are dangerous. I want you I l ake the clock at oneo over to Cala IN, Ibid out your cousin Phyllis, and dells i it Into ber own hands. Then como ba and report to mu how she received it "Do you wish mo to go now?" 1 i quired, looking, now that my alarm wa over, a little regretfully down at i. dress-suit. "Yes," replied my aunt. "I will ii risk ?mother day; thal terrible Spas may return at any moment, and in i . weakened slate-.-" "Yes, yts,'* I interrupted hastily taking out my watch, "lt is noni nine o'clock-l have missed tho eve big niall; but I can go in tho mornin cross by tho early boat, and como ba< in the afternoon. I shall get back bj dinner-time-that is," L amended, pilli lng myself up in my glib program bj sudden remembrance, "if I have no ch lay in Qnding Miss Mortimer. Y have ber address, I suppose?" "Well, no, I haven't; but tho Mon ; mers have been for somo years at Cala . \rou might lind out at the Engli -I bankers', I should say, or the Cousu perhaps." "Oh, it will bo all rightl" 1 replied Ml shall have no dilllculty in unearth! o ; thom, I bavo no doubt." "I don't sec any necessity for yo i hurrying back so quickly, Herber., observed my aunt, whose spirits w rising; "you might Btav and-and mn your cousin's acquaintance, and tell rn all about ber, whether she is Uko Anni or bas tho Mortimers' nose-a sj ipi sn nb nose, quite different from our fa iv Hy Hornau-a very common nose, I fact. 1 hope Anuio's child has escape it; and-or-Herbert, I should like ! bear bow the family rccoivo tho cloe' . That was tho real secret; aunt Mari >v unir i 'ilou'i ah ?\ t iJi? '-i Ino-i >) ti reih.' thin, tin.* ulikiiowij u\-:>:v. 1 '} hlfi . h!l<? !l </.!.... ?U?U? l'?i! i.l,:-' ...M r?j atiut pwlnli ns abe ii! >p .'. poiitbl iii>|. bd?i hiv baud &?i\i't div. ^oiiiWil' .'.; it i'i :W ? ,?0 i il: 'VM\ bhll. li I-b.se, on boy, anil Heaven uusaa you ?nu you safo back againl" With this solemn benediction 1 ,vi dismissed. In the hall I fuund I'etu standing over a remarkable-lo. .!> i ; black box, a cross between a ehild' i c tin and a violin-ease. Tins be han : with the gravity of au umhrlukor. my cab. {Strange to say, I had never 1. crossed the Channel, and I had und. taken the expedition in allthoconilr . of ignorance. Tho crossing from I * . was calm and short; but it was pi when my difllcultlea, ace? ?ding t ti own calculation, should have buen os that they ically began. I ought, I'm pose, to bavo been prepared to boa' I French language spoken on French io nevertheless it took hie quito bj u\ prise; so did the utter failure oi II French to convey any impression win" over to tho mind of the gendarme wi barred my pate to the gangway. VQiiij ou* oui, lc micny-unc cloe.; I explained, resisting tho oliicial1 ; tempt to possess himself of aunt Mt Hui's black box, which I had careful someted under my travelling ul ii? "lin"?/ a pas de consfqucncc,*' I co eluded, with a wavo of my disong.. .. hand and a proud Impression that I w speaking French well and lluontry u'y u ww de consequence, mussoorV The man however was not to Do pr pitiated; ho put me asido with i ; forco than politeness, whilst ho pom out a torrent of perfectly unihtouigil speech beforo which my feeblo afb went down Uko a reed boforo a int in tain stream. He ovldontly rcgaidcd mo with si picion, for bo beckoned to a coupl his comrades stationed at tho top of I laddor, and pointed, to my intense noyanco, to tho miniature satcoph?g In Its "decent blaek." I was not, ti fl all, to effect tho unobtrusive landing wliich I had counted. "C'c8i ?nc cloche," I ^repeated m< loudly-"une clocheV Tho men glared at me. Tho el?'.? and apparently most important of t three demanded something of mo in uncompromising tone which mado i British blood boil "JAI clef! Ou cst la clef?"-("'I koyl Where Ls tho key?") Ho might bavo boen speaking Cr? for anything I knew to tho contrary, was reaping thu just reward of ti against tho much-despised "Frog?i of my schoolboy days. . "Ja eic//" imperatively ropeatod I oflloiaL I shook my head desperately. .) then I remembered with dismay an count I had lately read of sm neon plishod lady-smuggler who was foi to havosocrotod somo hundreds of ya of valuable laco iu a child's, collin, was ovldontly suspected of an intent to dofraud tho revonuo. "Peta contrahandcl" IprotpsUtl. ?i contrabandotf assure! It is' < hang it all, c'twt you seo lt is tv. Old you idiots?"-as I found mysolf ho ? ??mli I il ) '. fC: yi. Conducted ou to tho pier iii ti procession which was too suggestive of tho escort; ol ;\ I .oadon pickpocket to be agreeable. I Suddenly, its tim ono drop wanting to ' lill tip the cup hf my humiliation, tho . ii bot letti instrument thought lit to strike. 1 WhitT-r-i -gnrr-r-r-boom-boom - liglf' -;oii))(ii!d with distinct and hor rible clamor from tim interior of tho blarl; oas-.'*. Ti mun m charge of tue box dropped >t willi ? ?ftui?ive' shriek of terror, the sj i i .M Hoattered in alarm. I felt a determined 'crasp tighlon upon my ?boulder, ?md resigned myself witli the lui? . >! ' ispair to tho next phase of lim ? i .? ?lions drama. One wth'd. repeated several times, cu i no. ? nu- distinctly out of the eon . i I Babi pt* sounds, lt boro a sort ot iJonnnu-eousinship to tho English wot' : "clyti imito," and Mashed a sudden illumination iuto my bewildered and ox us] orated bi i n. I wa? supposed to bo a "dy n mn I," and poor aunt Martha's .!..-. '.;..'!( relio H Nihilistic or Fenian on gino doairuotioii; willoh had missod . e foi the moment, but might presently ? nilli its deadly mission. \ ii it on tho part of an indi I unod a long polo was too . gust ive ol au intention to drop tho daniton i.pollution into the harbor .H.nit born?. Housed to tho de? fi nee] of my ??hargo, I sprang forward, shaking oil! the detaining grasp on my nt ni od aunt Martha's precious f l'iUlMltl . '. Idiots! i.\)olsl" I exclaimed holly, .i a? * "ii 'ne-." . i apt .glance rested at this upon tiny bluo coated gen ,i iiih?v 'm. wooli a hrown-robed slim i..' who, flanked on either side by a 1, stood on tito odgo of tho . Tin- <"...." . i . ' I'oUlUluia. xxiii lilCv Waa si and fi edi as an English roso, and 10 ve M ?'iay eyes Which mot mino as liitrass?'l, hunted, desperate, o'Coi . <?*sionate and sympathotlc by something-I do not .. -"mysterious affinity," 1 ; . I i istinctivo?y raised my hat. Too younj! lady colored deeply, and, pi iiih) anti of the lads forward with lier, ku lop hearer to mo, and said, iii i vor j i iv 'Obiing and timid volco "Cali > o explain anything for you? iel speak French perhaps; ('bni lie o di," Imf < ?harlie, whom sho had evidently 11 holding by main force, would not. De : ' contumaciously, and left * io, covered with confusion. "You afc very good," I exclalmod i ly, i shall bo immonsoly obliged m m!I tell thoso follows that this box i>j rn lue, which seems to alarm them i.'?) tillich, contains nothing moro . ni dable than an old clock." W lt.h a brave effort she rallied her hil ;c aiid spoke some sentences in o my persecutor*. The man now her; ho ho wed politely, I i -d attentively. Tho hand wbic! hold her sunshade trembled por o?pl i ly, ,md the color carno and went Iii ;)h(!i >s-such an exquisito color vet ?h<) held on bravely, i'l ntileia? oyed me keonly. . ba ? iiiilii (. I, irtdlcAiiiiii j'y/il h i'. dwu'nuth ;;i*-: nu' ! he Un I tick y j j causo i?f. nh my ? rouble,--, j "WO'?ld yon mir' i .ii. iv..'' Mtitfi-. Hiv. , ny Interne;. a .k. you to I ; :\\\.. th..' I uv Uj ir i :.i ? i-'.. 'ty, ,/ou' ' l"> I ' M; i ', if? "M'itnt'.'.i no'v ?tr j lifiiitco hoij-v" i. i .... lut ino faintest oiijoctipii,!'' i ired irouuolng tho key at once. 11 only arrived at this under i i / oner, it would havo saved a ?real dell of troublo. I am moro you than 1 can say, and I i pol iglfc? very sincerely for the ? i . ; ? ? I ive givon you." . ?ii " tired 8omoinaiticulato wortis as oftled hurriedly, and disap peai c.! d er tho recreant Charlie, no do ti o crowd. 'j'ii of oflloials still hold aloof i sly as ? advanced to tho pros t of their horror and pro ontents for tholr inspection; hon of iiropresslblo laughter-in Wit? .acd heartily, in spite of my . .. ?i I along tho pier. Tho indi vidu 1 >mmaud raised bis hat, with ' . m arsteod to bo a polite apol oi'.j' a olilcions hands were ^x ? tied to hove mo of my burdon, and j I pic 0<k i, in what was now changed t > .* . ; . ol triumphal progross, towards ! Li fi iii isl cab stand. j i Wi i codily sot on my way to tho . .. : i msul, from whom I soon H I ned i i?r address of Mrs. John Mor {timar, th ant with whom Miss Mortl lii1' resillad- I was determined to rid myself al once of my compromising ! chai i;fi, and so drove straightway to tlio abode ol tiui Mortimers, A h im white-capped maid, wlio re stn rot I inj ilf-osteom by responding im mediate!) io my necessarily brief in .ir.M \ in i ronch-for "madame," an-1 swoi?il Ibo dttlo boll which I lound at a door on tho first floor, and ushered mo into . Salon bright with gilding and . i whh flower sconts. A ladyllico, i '/etul woman carno forward to receivo i '" , and, af ter my few words of exp?an ion, called softly through a door-ono i of several which I had thought led into j cupboard, L'hyllis, como Jioro, doarl" Then '-'i a little rustle of feminine gai mont i, . pilot footstep, and my in terpretor i>f tho pior stood hoforo me. j Then tin id was, after all, something i in "mysterious affinity 1" ; * t * # " I,mdon, March 24th, 18-. "My dear Nophow,-. It is now a fort i night since j ni loft boro, and I have had nothing moro from you than tho very 1 slii II t note hi which you announced your arrival at Calais with tho clock,and told nie (hat you had succoeded in finding Phylis I ..timor. I havo been looking for the longer: lotter which you promised mo, abd l ?im beginning to roar that you have boen lt.Ken ill, and aro laid up in a foreign conni ry, with only a French doc tor, tind i iin? cause. Do, my dear boy, wni', if inly a line, to reliovo my anx iety! iVccopt my host love, and bollovo mo. n il "AI florbort, "Your vory affectionato aunt, "MARTHA OVKKTON. V ? >. ! ? a Phyllis Mortimer takon kindly to tlia olock, and what is she hk'oVv r,l'lvta A is ..?io oplstlo which reached hie ami ovi i whohned mo with remorse t . i ust aa I waa leaving my hotel ono o von lng, oxnctly llftoon days after my urrival nt Calala, to pay my usual visit to the flower scented salon In the market-place. I ran lightly up tho uncarpeted wooden stairs, and rang tho little boll which be longed to tho Mortimers' apartments. Sophlo smiled a welcome, according to her wont, and, in answer to my stereo typed inquiry for Madame Mortimer, poured forth a voluble and utterly mys terious tirade. I failed lu thia instance to catch the drift of Sophie's peroration, and walked (inst her with a smiling nod, Intended to convoy intelligence, into the salon. At Ural I thought, with a chill sonso of disappointment, that tho room was empty; but, aa my eyes grew accustomed to tho dimness, 1 discerned tho gh namer of a white dross near the window, and then, aa it floated towards me, ii volco ! which mado my pulsea throb In an ut torly unprecedented manner aald softly: ] "Mr. Overton I 1-My aunt Did not Sophie toll you that they aro all out? Charlie and Ned wanted to go to tho theat re, and aunt Lucy baa taken thom. I am so sorry I I told Sophie to say so to any visitor." "Sophie obeyed orders," I answered; "but unfortunately, cousin, I atill re quire ail interpretor." She laughed a little low laugh which j 1 had learned in the short fortnight to think tho sweetest music I had ever hoard. "It is my m Isfort uno, not my fault," I went on. "And I think, even if Sophie's moaning had been plain, I should still-oh the strength of my relationship, you know-have persisted in trying to gain an entrance to-night; for I was very anxious to seo you. I have re ceived a summons homo. 1 must go back to England to-morrow." i played my trump card boidiy on ibo inspiration of tho moment, and, my eyes beimr now accustomed to tho light, I saw that Phyllis turned palo and caught at tho back of tho velvet-covered chair near her. "Phyllis, my darling," I exclaimed, seizing ber little trembling banda in an instant, "1 cannot go without telling you that I .love youl Canyon-will you -give mo a little love in return?" i do not know to this day what sbo said-I do not believe sbo said anything; but ber little bead sank down upon my should ar as I bent over her. and, whou my arm stole round her waist, she did not ropulso me. * * * * "When did you first begin to think about it?" whispered Phyllis shyly, an hour later. "When?" I laughed. "I really can not toll. 1 believe it was when you stood forward so pluckily that morning on tho pier and saved aunt Martha's clock from being pitched into tho har bor. That blessed clock 1 1 owo to it the happiness of my life." "Tho dear old clock 1" exclaimed Phyllis. "Wo will never part with it, will wo? I shall always love that clock." Sbo hastened away when Mrs. Mortl mor, followod by her boys, cunio tramp ing up tho staircase, and I was left to confront tho hostess alone. "Y (di heiV, Mi rjy?rl?nl'1 cnM Mrs. '?Vori !n.\cr, '.n surpriiio, loo lug rob id ler 1 JhiyVDs.. l*Y>;v" t aniwcreil coolly; "i was walli ig f< i "MI Mya, Movi inter. ,. haye'j boen waiting a long wltifo. ' "Alone, (uni bi thia k;lM'??.?bi.?" she oxchiun?d, ?s ?ho turned up tho duplex ?JU.Uv.:'. Tho boya, hungry after their enter tainment, had retired unceremoniously to tho dining-room, "No; I have not been alone," I ro plied; "Phyllis baa been with mo." Stio looked up quickly. "Phyllis has prom ised to b<) my wifo, Mrs. Mortimer; will you give ber to me?" "Indeed I willi" abe answered, with tears in her oyes. "Wo have known you only a short time; but I have heard of you often, and I know that I can trust tho dear girl to you." "And you have been a mother to her," I said.gratefully. "She has told the all you have done for her." Poy ll ia carno down, when tho boys had gone to bed, to say good night which 1 need hardly say waa not good bye-and then I wont home anil wrote to aunt Martha as follows "Dear aunt Martha, - I am quito woll, and proposo staying another week at Calais, unless you want me very badly. And I bavo altered my mind about the clock; 1 am going to under take tho chargo pf it, and of something else too-of my cousin Phyllis! Phyllis declares she will never part with tho clock, and I delcare I will never part with her; so, as the two must go to gether, what can I do? "Seriously, my dearest aunt, wish mo joy. I have won tho dearest, sweetest little girl for my wife-aa you will say I when you seo her. And I owo my treas ure to you. Yea, you bavo crowned all your other goodness to me by thia last gift-for it certainly cornea from you. Send ua your blessing, and boliovo al ways in tho grateful love of .'Your affectionate nephew, "HKUUEIIT OVERTON. UN. Ji.-Phyllis has tho Overton nose. + * * * Pive years'later. My aunt Is allvo and well. She confided to mo, about six months after my marriage, ber suspi cions that tho heart spasms wore "no thing but Indigestion;" and a consulta tion with a specialist proved that sbo waa right. I behove that my wife was responsible for tho suggestion which has ronowed dear old aunt Margaret's youth and given her a now leaso of lifo. . The clock stands on a handsome bracket in our hall. Aunt Martha has considerately rofusofl to tako back her gift, declaring that, as sho is an almost daily visitor at our house, tho treasurod rollo is as much her own as over. . Numerous tenant?. William Soulby, an Englishman, re cently arrived at Lincoln, Illinois to look after bia landed interests, which iii tills country exceed 200,000 acres. Mr. Scully's wealth ia estimated ac $80. 000 000. Ho baa ovor 300 tenants ht thia country." I Tho lord Intends that our wealth ?halI' bo one sorvant, not our mauler. -'.-LgLEgggggg Sumo Cranky Hatbor?. "There are tricks in every calling; It seems, " said tho proprietor ot a faato ionahlo Turkish bath establishment ha New York. "What peculiar tricks aro in yoiut buPliiossyV inq.iiired a reporter. '.In the message operation in ucl: dis continu is frequently practiced hy the? operator. In the tlrst, com se after leav ing tho sweat bath a hand-rubbing ia , given with warm water. T ht Is a very ' dolicate and soothing porformance, 9.0$ when rightly administered place* ttiei bather in a splendid condition to rev ceivo tho flesh-brush., Expeit on?a> tors can with woll-feigned labor alight; ihoir work and leave the bather lia doubt whether tho performance ls natus factory or not. It ia done by nofaa chiefly. Tao bands in running over the flesh are raised and brought dowia hurriedly, producing a series of pepsi oops, which ls music to the ear of timi manager; It doer, not hurt, but at th** same time it is not as beneficial as sx rub. When the operator pops a gruact deal he is doing tho bather_20 to sjisiifc --up, rushing tilings to got through. Some bathers, though prefer tb esa poo ping operators. Tho popping is in Hue massage as flourishes aro in writing^ ont rely superfluous, but still ornamoDr tal whoa produced by expert?, Som? old operators can cai ry on a conversa* tlon by means of these pops. I romen> bor I had two operators who had at tained to this proficiency. A inhTioi? ? abo was stretched on one of tho mw sago tables and a dry goods clerk on an>. I other near by. The operator for th? former conveyed the Intelliireuccto thai ono for tho latter that ho expected a big; tip. Tho hitter answered in a disgust ed tone, tolling ot his cheap enntotueu;, and predicted no tip. The millionaire did not tip, but tho Cheap clerk did-, much to tho surprise of his customer. "But these attendants or operators deserve great credit for their skill ?1041' frequently their forbearance and goodi nature. Customers are ol ten exacting and want double tho scrubbing otliemn got. There is a wealthy old gentleman* who is a bull in tho market and a regu?? lar bear in tho bath-house. lie has & habit of imagining that on a cariaba portion of lils body a cancer will com? because, many generations ago, a sec ond cousin of bis grandfather died with) ono. For this reason ho bas an honor consumed in scrubbing that particular place. He doesn't pay any more either. These are Borne of the drawbacks exper ienced." "You often have some queer customs ors, do you not?" "Yes, plenlv of them, from tho f?llt fledged crank io tho monomaniac audi mild idiot. An old lady Imagines tha? by a regular coudie of sweating abe cam chango her disposition and ideas entire ly. "In every seven years." she said, 'wie take on a now form, and I propose ai system ot sweating to do it in a year oar less time.' Poor thing, shostays la tin? hot room until the perspiration rolls ott her. But it is doing her good, and her: ideas are evidently improving, A yoiioic cripple thinks bia withered arm willi grow ont nguiu, "nd t.a'.<e.>ahV.*: merv iliiy, I could mot) tlon many otb ?ii; (..?.?M!?. Tho ?ti toi uki ou soon ida iii b> I h a mor tho cranks and pity huhii?, \r-ii jay (lilli td vnrnj;. iii am ,'ory lui.vi UL Lu.v.?.d f?lalo.%1 said Mr. Jay Gould to a gentleman wk* wt? talking to bim tho other day, "Tliey arc about tho simplest tiling one caa. eat, and I find that tho simpler my food j ls the better for my head. At hou\e I do not care for what you call 'fancy dishes.' Plain meats and vegetables* good bread and butter, good mbk, flomo>?; times porridgo or grits for breakfast,; satisfy mo. As 1 on may suppose, I Ami my time lilied up pretly well with busi ness, and I certainly lind that I can get along better when my food is the plain-, est of tho plain. I hilve never lost my fondness for thc country food 1 used.to be accustomed to in my boyhood, amt L think I could rolish one of 1 lioso 'milli night melon? as well now as 1 did then,, although L should probably eat it ata. different time." "What do you do when you ?0 t?t> some of tho elaborate dlnnois?" "Those are terrible thlngn, those, heavy dinners," saul Mr. Gould, with a smile. "1 remember once being at on& and eating some dish, I forgot tho nam? of it, which was very good, but aft?: which I was sick for a week. Now when I go to them I take a little soup If it is plain, a piece of roast meat or gante and some plain potatoes, If I can ged thom. If not, some peas or in fact any vegetable, provided it is without sauce* for I have found that these sauces, which they put on what would other wiso bo good, spoil tho food-at lcasi for me. For tho rest of tho fei me I ali, at tho tablo, play with something on mjj plato and pass tho time as well as I caib. "I do not myself believe that auy man can stand tho strain of a larg? business unless he UVOB upon the sluv plest food he can get. Mon who tram, for feats of physical endurance il ad thai, they aro obliged to ho careful in their, diot, and when the strain la mental, it baa beon my experience that the sam? rulo applies. I do not mean to say Id? not like some of tho dishes which I cannot eat, but I find that I cannot ea t thom with Impunity, Foi lunately I am not sufficiently fond of them to make it any sacriflee to givo them up. My idea of n good breakfast isa piece of steak, a. mealy baked potatoo, some grabara bread and a glass of milk, and I find' that I can got along very woll whon t have lt. Your complex dishes of hlgJm flavors are vory good, but they ar? not business.'' No further comment than this from A man who has demonstrated tho power of brain in the work of tho. world is necessary to show what tho real Import ance ia of proper food to any person wlw works. Whothor ho is an arttsfai Q4. throe or four dollars a day, or a, million airo who sways the fortunes of corpora tions by tho touch of a fl tiger on h tele graph instrument, tho truth romains that the American citizen makes hf*, way by his work, oltbor of brain or ot hand. j?i?d tho first question ho has Ut conaldor is tho kind of fuel ho shall con-, consumq in keeping tho machinery IM motion; , , ? ;