Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

From Sin to Cootrition Lacy Wmill's Sacrifice. Tie Story of a Hasty Marriage and Its Tragic SeqneL BY ERNST BRUNCKEN* Author of "The Bibliomaniac's Crime,*' "A Terrible Secret," etc., etc. CHAPTER IV. ans* LUCY I/TON. Mr. Walter Warringham was loungtng mx one of the easy chairs In the parlors <rf his club. Three or four other gentlemen were engaged in the same pleasant occupation. He was not in the best of humor, for bis acquaintances took pleasure in annoying him by all sorts of allusions to the latest bit of scandalous gossip, hla brother's Intended marriage, of course. His annoyance was the greater b^ cause he was well aware that some of these impertinent scoffers were rather Intimately acquainted with his future Bister-in-law. He would have told his brother this fact, well knowing that such - would be the best means of producing rupture between the actress and her unsuspecting lover. But he remembered >>?? >10 Kayl an infarASt In ATlP.f?tlMJrinff Balph's foolish course. Therefore he kept his silence, bat his annoyence was not the less great Jack Spofford invited him for a ride down the avenue, which led hy the theater, and Walter consented. The two gentlemen accordingly walked over to Jack's residence, which was but ? short way distant, and Mr. Spofford ordered two horses saddled. A quarter of an hoar later both were seen riding down the boulevard that serves gentlemen as a place to show their horses and ladies to show themselves. Both knew almost everybody that frequented the avenue at this hour, and everybody knew them. So there was no end of salutations and brief conversations. "There is your brother.and Miss Lyon," Jack remarked, pointing at them with his riding-whip. "Who is that other gentleman that is with them?" Walter bit his lips. Was he to hear of nothing but Miss Lyon to-day? "I do not know who he is," he answered. "Let ns find ont." The trio soon met the two young men, who saw that the unknown was a man of rather distinguished but foreign appearance. "Ah, Mr. Warringham, Mr. Spofford, how fortunate we are to meet you!" the lady exclaimed, in her lively manner, as the two young men approached. They risked their horses and doffed their ' '?*- C.? jP' "Are you. going to be at the theater "to-night?" the actress rattled on. "The Doctor is going to irive u.3 the lpjreliegt little supper at the Alizarin, ana i want you both to be there. The gentlemen are not acquainted, I see? Count von Hohenfels, of the German legation in Washington?Mr. Spofford, Mr. Walter Warringham." The gentlemen so introduced oy electricity, as it were, bowed. The wishes of beauty and loveliness are commands," said Spofford, gallantly , replying to Miss Lyon's invitation. "We shall be delighted to be of the party." The Doctor frowned. In the n6w ardor ?f his love he could not brook any one to pay compliments to Ms lady. Walter consented with a somewhat constrained manner. He did not care to Jneet Miss Lyon oftener than was absolutely necessary. But just at present he *aw no way to excuse himself. "I, like you, Mr. Spoflord," Miss Lyon sajd, wjth the charming sincerity 'of the stage ingenue. "You know how to pay such nice compliments?much better than the Doctor here." She touched her lover lightly with the silver handle of her riding whip. He replied on'jy with a smile. If It had not been for the presence of the others he would have told her: "That is because Jack does not love you as I da True love does not flatter." "Let us all ride home together," the actress continued- "It is getting late and my maid is waiting to arrange my toilet for the performance.= The little cavalcade rapidly rod? away In the direction of the city, Miss Lyon leading, with the Doctor at her right and Jack Spofford at her left side. Walter followe* with the foreign noble* s?an. An hour later the four gentlemen sat In a box at the theater and Mis9 Lyon was on the stage. Ralph was not as attentive to the play of his intended bride as he used to be. In fact he was too much occupied with bis thoughts to observe what was going on around him. He did not notice the curious glances of the audience that wandered from the actress to him, and were accompanied by smiles and whisperL Walter, nowever, noucea tnese manifestations of curiosity, and his irritation grew. Ralph was pondering over his situation since a breach with his mother became inevitable. In the morning he had had a conversation with Miss Lyon that troubled him. He had told her what had occurred between him and his mother, and she had made light of it. He had not considered it necessary to tell her about his apprehensions in reference to a disinheritance, but had a vague feeling that such a disclosure would have considerable influence on the feelings of Miss Lyon. This vague feeling was what troubled him. It seemed like faithlessness on his part to have even the slightest fear about his fiancee's sincerity. There were other things that troubled his mind. They had agreed that Miss Lyon should leave the stage after her present engagement was over, and that they then should be married in a quiet manner. Till that time the fact of the coming wedding should not be officially announced. But he was still at a loss what they should do then. It all depended upon the question whether ho should bo obliged to rely on his profession for subsistence. He would have liked to see his fiancee restrict the free intercourse with gentle- | men to which she was accustomed. It j was only with sume hesitancy that he i had consented to arrange for the supper to which Miss Lyon had invited the German count and the two young men they had met on the avenue. He would lave preferred to sup alone with her. All these Irritating matters kept his mind occupied during the performance. After the close of the play the whole party repaired to the hotel, where supper was waiting for them. The supper was perfect in all its appointments. and Miss Lyon failed not to Ixpress her" admiration/ SE$ Ilvftiw, than ever, and her merry chatter never ceased for a minute. Her vivacity, which at their first acquaintance had captivated liira, new made him uncomfortable. Did she not evince a lack of Bympathy for his trouble? He excused her before himself by trying to persuade himself that she only endeavored to conceal her engagement to him. If that was the case she succeeded perfectly; for she treated him in no wise different from the other gentlemen. T o nlr Qr\r*fFrvrrl on/1 fha f r\-ra\cm at* ed themselves without restraint Their admiration for Miss Lyon was unbounded. Walter, who at first was in a n>oro9e humor and anticipated to find the evenin;? tedious in the extreme, felt a strange change come over him as the time rapidly passed away. He did not spare the wine, as was his custom, and this may have had something to do with his sensations. Ho gradually arrived at . the conclusion that Miss Lyon was a most charming woman, and began to think that Ralph's taste was not bad after alL If the presence of a lady did not restrain Waiter from making the intimate acquaintance of the bottle, neither did Count Hohenfols nor Jack think It nocessary to apply the curb to their appetites. They were both accustomed to the society of theatrical ladies, and knew that most of them allowed their male acquaintances q, considerable latitude of deportment. The fact was that Miss Lyon herself was not .averse to the Joys flowing from an indulgence in the noble juice of the grape, ana It came about that when the dessert was served, the Qnlv member who djd not show the in? fluence of'claret and champagne was Ralph. Naturally, under thefee .condi tinna, the conversation, which had Jfeen-lively from the beginning, gradually became almost boisterous, and reached the utmost limit of what is allowed in llie/presence of women. Ralph alone did' n?M participate in the loud mirth, and evidently wished that the whole affair was Jover. He did not all like the conduct of his fiancee. Could she, after all, be no better than he was told other .actresses were, given to sensual pleasures, without stability and the power of feeling de&p and lasting affection? He would not entertain the terrible thought for an instant. Bufhe was resolved to speak to Miss Lyon about the matter in the morning. ' Why did she talk so much to WaJtert True, he had by his silence given her little encouragement to address her conversation to him. yet she might be a little more considerate. His brother's behavior, however, made the Doctor simply Indignant. Walter'9 face was flushed with the effects of the wine, he talked very much and rapidly, aud every word was addressed to Miss Lyon. He endeavored to pay her one compliment after the other, but he had not the knack of delicate flattery, and his compliments were invariably of a rather coarse character. Nevertheless, they evidently pleased the lady to whom they were addressed. Ralph had given her credit for better taste. Walter Warringham grew bolder and bolder as he became more intoxicated. He repeatedly seized Miss Lyon's hand and pressed it with unnecessary warmth. t* ttti V? fViA *?nr\ol_ Oiie Wll/UUien 111, IIU) UUI VYIUU WIO IE JTOJling#energy that she might have employed, Ralph thought. He felt the blood rush to his cheekn and was angry at himself for it. He looked angrily at his brother, but Walter did not notice Jt. There can doubt about itr-the young Doctor was jealous.* ** " The German nobleman and Jack Spofford, after vainly attempting to make the conversation general, had retired to a corner of the table, and were eagerly devoting thems^ves to the study of the contents of the bottles. The younger Mr. Warringham monopolized the conversation of Miss Lyon. The German delivered a lecture on the qualities of J inu*wA ?4/v IWVJAU T?/?lf 1{(s^A?\A/1 xvLiiLiwiucj w vviii^u u avrv ii^ncu attentively, though he had already passed the stage in which he could still comprehend all that was said to him. Miss Lyon was more vivacious than ever. Xot with a single word or the slightest glance did she indicate her consciousness of the presence of her future husband. % She listened to the gross flatteries -of Walter Warringham. The little supper party was not as pleasant an affair as it ought to have been. Ralph sat in ominous silence. Hi9 eves wandered from Walter to Miss Lyon and from Miss Lyon to Walter. The flush had left his face, and he was very pale now. He rapidly drained several" glasses of champagne, and now, foi the first time in the evening, the influence of wine became perceptible in him as in the others. His jealousy grew to madness. Walter at last lost all sense of delicacy and propriety. Forgetful that she was the intended bride of his brother, forzetful of the very presence of Ralph and the other gentlemen, he made an attempt to kiss the handsome actress. Up jumped Ralph with the lightninglike'quickness of the tiger, and hi? right hand dealt a blow on his brother's cheek. A curse escaped from Walter's surprised lips. His hands involuntarily clutched a bcttle that stood before him, and'he would have hurled it at Ralph, but the Count interfered and held his hand. Miss T/rnn rose from her seat. At tfaa Instant when she saw Ralph Jump up, it flashed through her mind what risks she was taking. She was in danger of alienating her lover. That would never do. Now she took Ralph's arm and he led her from the room. JacK Spofford sat in hia chair and looked on with an expression of utter inability to comprehend what was going on. It was ludicrous in the extreme, but nobody had an eye for it When the Doctor and Miss Lyon had gone, the Count succeeded in quieting Walter. But the latter and Mr. Spofford were very intoxicated. They were easily persuaded to take rooms at the hotel. Count von Hohenfels went home alone and wondered what the outcome of the quarrel between the brothers would ba CHAPTER V. A MARRIAGE. When Dr. Warringham rose on th? following morning he had a bad headache, but forgot it under the more serious trouble that disturbed his mind. No allusion to what had just occurred was made, either by him or Miss Lyon, when he took leave from her after the supper that had been so disagreeably interrupted. The actress felt herself guilty and trembled with momentary apprehension to see the violence of Ralph's passion turning against her. Tho Doctor, on the other hand, was in part pacified by the promptness with which she had resented Walter's impudence, and in part felt himself too excited to con verso reasonably with her on the various topics on which hu must comc to an understanding with her. In the morning these topics fluttered over his mental horizon like so many dark demons of night. Against his brother be felt very bitter. There never had been a very warm affection between him and Walter?their characters, tastes and habits were too different. But, of course, an external state of peace must be kept up. If only Spofford and the Count, would hold their tongues. But Lucy must immediately quit a life in which such scenes as the one of last night were po sible. Ralph could not bear the idea of seeing her on the stage ! another time. He resolved to insist that she should break off her engagement I that very day, even If it should becom necessary to pacify her manager by considerable sum of money. Then he thought over his financia situation. He had money enough t support himself and wife for a year c two, here or abroad. After that he mus rely upon what he could earn himself, i the break with his mother should becom final. Here was the point that weighed mos heavily on the young man's heart as h was leisurely dressing himself that mort ing. Was he not in honor bound to giv Miss Lyon a clear insight into hi affairs beforo sho bound herself t him? It was more than probable tha she supposed him to be rich in his ow right. Ought he not to tell her that h was living~on the bounty of his mothei and that but for her he should be only poor phyiscian who would even inevita bly lose his present practice if he shoul be renounced by his family? It was clear to him that such was th duty of a gentleman. Yet he hesitated Again there stole into his mind tha vague but harassing fear that had mad him uncomfortable the night before Louici id oe mat -uuuy was uuu an m idealism of love had pictured her to hi imagination? And if his fear was we', grounded, might sho not possibly desir to take back her word on discovering hi poverty? At the thought an Icy chill came ove the young man. Life without he seemed to be worse than death. An yet that harassing doubt would not b banished. He could not pluck up courage enoug to tell her. It wa3 like demanding hi death sentence. Dr. Warringham was not a m'oral here He was merely human, like the rest c us. In this frame of mind be called, afte breakfast, upon Miss Lyon. He foun ber ready to comply with his wishes. Accordingly, she at once wrote a iette to the manager, informing him that sh was ill and could not appear that nighl In fact, the letter stated, her Doctor tol her that there was little hope of her r< covery in time to resume her work dui ing the present season. This note she read to her lover, wit a roguish smile, and then leaned bac in her chair, mimicking the languor am exhaustion of a chronic valetudinaria with such ludicrous exaggeration tha Ralph, with all his troubles, could nc help breaking into loud laughter. "Now you will see my bear-leader ap pear, his lips overflowing with honeye words of sympathy, but his heart full o wrath," she said, merrily. "Oh. how am afraid." She hid her face in he hands, like a child who is hiding fror the threatened appearance of the blacl man. Could this charming young girl, wh laughed aod played with all the inna A/>n/tA r\f a V*D vV\r?T* mor/>Qna yrr nv*" Wi t* VU"V4| I/UA Uiyivwuwi J UJV tives^ Ralph called himself a scoundrc for having doubted, even an Instant, th sincerity of her love. Why, she was to innocent to even fully comprehend hi meaning If he should tell her about hi financial fears. Why disturb her merr happiness? The young man had found an escus for his moral cowardice. One can a] ways find a reason for approving of do Ing' what his heart Is set on. "?et him come," he said, lightly. "I it is necessary we must appease hi wrath with gold. But now tell me," h added more seriously, "since we canno wait until we have overcome the preju dices of my mother, when shall we b married?'.' His conscience was not Quite satisfie with the reasoning of his heart. As h spoke these words he dared not look int her face. His eye rested upon the glov with which he nervously played. Miss Lycn did not reply in words, bu when he raised his eyes, after waitiu an instant, she had a pretty blush readj This is not the place for the recipe c actresses' blushes. "We need no preparations for our quie affair," Ralph continued. "Is to-raorroi too soon, loTe?s The handsome girl laid her arm aroun the Doctor's neck and hid her face on h: shoulder. He softly raised her hea< and, looking full into those great, dee] beautiful eyes, he entreated: "Tell me, my dariing. " "Whenever you wish, Ralph," she mu' tered, scarcely audibly, hiding her eye behind the long lashes, while anotht blush overspread her features wit crimson. "To-morrow, then!" he exclaime< jubilantly, and his lips met hers. At this moment the young man agai felt all the happiness that had inspire him as he sat by his open study windo' two days before. Poor Ralph! So it was arranged that Ralph Wai ringham and Lucy Lvon should be mad one on the day following. At the aj pointed hour a gentleman with smoothly shaven face and a black Princ Albert coat sent his card to the room < Miss Lyon, and was at once admitted, 1 the exceeding chagrin of Mr. Fenderle; the theatrical, manager, who had bee refused that toon, because "Miss Lyo was too ill to see anybody." "Great heavens! Is she going to mat her will?" he muttered angrily, as t paced up and down the tile floor of th hotel lobby. For the black-coated gei tleman was none other than Mr. Baste attorney at law and Justice of tfc Peace. While Mr. Fenderly in the lobby, i impotent rage, chewed, the ends of h mustache until that maltreated pride < his countenance was tattered so that tt uaruer swuib, ucan uiuiuiu^, uo never get it Into sbape again, Mr. Ba: ter, up-stairs, fulfilled the duties of h office. No outsiders were present, wit the exception of Jack Spofford and Mi! Lyon's French maid, who served as wi nesses. Miss Lyon looked very charming f the tight-fitting, dark-colored travelic suit she wore on the occasion; for tl young couple had decided to set out on trip to Europe at once. Ralph was in paradise. That sign fies all. Jack Spofford tiad been selected by th Doctor as the person who should coe municate the ominous news to Mr Warringhara. He had been on intimate terms wil Ralph since thoir college days, and fe an unbounded admiration for his c!ev< friend. Him nobody ever dreamed < calling ciever, but he had the reputatic of being a good-hearted, honest fello> and everybody liked him. Ralph regar ed him with sincere friendship and ir plicit trust. This amiable young gentleman did t no means feel comfortable at the thoue' af liis commission. But there was not! ing he would not have done at Ralph behest. He would even have sold hi his lavorite horse. When the ceremony was over ai the newly made couj le had received tl congratulations of Jack and tho leg gentleman, the former observed a chau to take the Doctor aside for a momen Mrs. Warringham, with the assistan or" tho maid, was putting the finishii touches to hr-r toilet, while the lawyi arranged his papers and documents. "I wish you all the happiness a friei can," Jack said to Ralph, warmly pre* Ing his friend's hand. "You have (la I gerou* rocks ahead, old man, but I'll < what I can to make things right " Ralph saw the emotion in Jack's eyi and warmly responded to the pressu of his hand. "Thank you, my dear fellow," he sai "thank you. "I know that you will ( that. And listen. Jack; tell my cqus 6 nattie to keep my memory green, for I a do not know how soon I may see her again." ^ He was himself somewhat overcome 0 by emotion. ,r But why did Jack Spofford seem to fee! embarrassed at the mention of Hattie Beckford's name? ? * # * # * # Jack Spofford carefully elaborated in ;t his mind the little speech with which he 6 was to communicate to Mrs. WarrinRl* ham the facts of her son's marriage and departure for Europe. But when he e stood before that supercilious lady for 9 whom he had, since his boyhood, felt 0 tremendous respect that could almost be 1 called awe, he found that he had forgotr n ten every word of it. So he had to get e through his task as best lie could, which '? after all was much better than he had a feared. k- He could not, however, tell his tale d without admitting that he had taken part in the necessary arrangements, and 0 grew deeply crimson when Mrs. WarI ringham said, with cutting irony: t ul am (zxeatly obliged to you, Mr. 0 . . ?. Spofford, for the paln9 you nave taken e In promoting the happiness of my fam9 ny." |j He felt greatly relieved when he had e at last left the house. As he was walkg ing through the garden that surrounded the mansion with green lawns and shrubr bery he met Miss Beekford. This seemed ir to Jack a partial compensation for the d ordeal he had just gone through, and at the same time he remembered that he had a message to her also. jj Hattie Beekford hailed him with the i3 dignified frankness that was so charming a characteristic of this young lady of k nineteen. * "Why are you In such haste to get away, Mr. Spofford?" she asked. "Your call has been very brief." j , "The messenger whose tidings are bad should not tarry long," Jack replied, seriously, Hattie turned a shade paler. "Bad , tidings?" she a9ked. "What is it, Mr. jj Spofford?" "I called to bring yourself and Mrs. % Warringham the adieus of your cousin Ralph. He has departed for Europe." l The girl now turned really pale; hei k lips trembled, as she exclaimed: ^ Pnrnnfll" ? "He has gone to Europe to spend the : honeymoon with Mrs. Warringham, former.y Miss Lyon, whom he has married." Hattie felt as if her heart would cease to beat. During the last three days she 1 had known what would come, yet now, * when the object of her grief had become real, she was overwhelmed with sorrow. r For an instant pain made her unjust, D and she exclaimed: "Married clandestinely and ran away like a coward!" 0 Jack could not allow his admired | friend to be spoken of in that way. "Not clandestinely nor like a coward, >1 Miss Beckford," he said. "Ralph told e his mother some days ago what he inc tended to do." s The momentary emotion of bitterness s had already vanished from Hattie's 5 mind. She now was filled only with concern for the future happiness of hei e idol. I- "You knew Miss Lyon, Mr. Spofford?" * she inquired anxiously. "Tell me what fort of a woman she is. "Will Ralph be 1 l * V.. 1 J nappy ujr uty siuct J Th6 question was most embarrassing to honest Jack. Although commoniy '1 ready to approve and admire whatever i* Ralph did, he could not fail in this case e to see how little there was in the new Mrs. 'Warringham's character to promise d a hanpy outcome of the union. He tried e to give an evasive, diplomatic answer, <3 and replied: ? "Ralph loves her passionately, and love should be a guarantee of happiness " t Ths honest fellow had no idea that g these words, which were intended to r. stare her feelings, drove the knife still >J deeper into her heart. He took his leave after having briefly (1 related the ceremonies of Ralph's wed? ding. When he was gone, the girl hastened in:o her room, locked the door and <J gave free vent to the tears she could ii restrain no longer. All was over now. 1. She had lost her love forever, before she 3. had found it, and she had not even the consolation that the object of her unuttered devotion would be happy. . k | TO HE CONTINUED. J ?c ?] m TEMPERANCE. D ^ DRINKERS NOT W-lNTirl). w It fa practical temperance work lhat thei railroads are doing, and tremendously effec. r" tive, Most of the great rallwuy lines of the I? eastew half of the United fltatos enforce a y practical exclusion of drinking men from a their employ, Tbelr officers take the com:e mon sense view that where the safety of life )f and property depends upon employes, it is neoessary that the latter shall,at all times, be Jn full possession of all their faculties, Tbey '' need tho clear brain, the sure eye, the cern tain hand. He whose brain is befogged by n liquor has none of these. It is not alone the railroads whioh are thus re discriminating against drinking men. In our ie cities, the rule of employing only men of soie briety is increasingly followed. No wise 1. business man will employ a drinking man in r any position of trust, particularly any one ' WHICH involves tne nanoung qi money. noic 16 the records of thefts, embezzlements and defalcations by trusted employes, and you will n find that the origin of the trouble was tho is habit of drink. Men are learning that they jf must have non-drinking employes if they ie expect their business enterprises to prosper. d It was not many years ago that drunkenness p was tolerated in an employe if he were in. dustrious and faithful; now it is not so. A 18 man may possess a list of virtues as long as h the moral law. but if he possesses not the one 59 of sobriety, the list counts as nothing. Exte perience has taught business men that they cannot rely upon drinking men. and that to ln employ them leads to loss, to error, to vexaH tions, delays and worries. Hence they will * have none of them. They want sober men, or none. a This business discrimination against the liquor habit is bound to go on increasingly, i* As it is to-day, all tho better class of positions can only be held by men of known soie brlety. Hence it follows that the best prepq. aration a man can make for his life work, g if he expects to ever be more than a daylaborer, is to have the reputation of perfect . sobriety, and to live up to that reputation. 0 Total abstinence is the best policy for any 10 man who has to depend upon employment by other men, and he can do better by adof hering strictly to it than by any other possi>o ble course. He may think that an occasional v) glass is not hurtful, but if the knoweledge of J. that kind of indulgence reaches his employer's ears, he will have lost more than he can hope to regain in years. The employer himself may not be a temperance man : but if he 'Y is a shrewd, sharp business man, he will not bt allow a drinking man in his employ, ty 'Young men, and men in the employ of i's others, should realize that, in the fullest m sense, it pays to be entirely sober; yes, and to shun even tho appearance of indulgence, ^ or of close intercourse with those who are , addicted to th** h?l?ir. It pays to be a total f abstainer: and tliis argument grows more al and more forcible every year. co It is this practical kind of temperance ent, forcement which is one of the educational ce agencies to accomplish the work which must lK be done in order to crush out the saloon. No one?not even a drinker?finds fault with a railway official who discharges or refuses to employ drinking men. Every ono knows 1C* that they are not reliable. The officials are not called "cranks." nor "visionaries," nor ri- "temperrance fanatics." Everybody realizes :i0 that it is a strict matter of businesi, involving dollars and cents. ?3 Let the fact be once well drilled into tho j. masses that, no matter how excellent in every other respect a man may be, if ho drinks he cannot have any employment above the grade of a common day-laborer, 3o . and self-interest will lead men to'wlpe out iQ ' the saloon and pulverize the rum Dower. FISH OUT OF WATERCASES WHERE DENIZENS OF THE DEEP SHOWED FIGHT. Bathers Menaced by Showers of Garfish ? A Yacht Bombarded by Pompino'?A Tarpon Leaped Over the Rail; IV FISH out of water is naturally /\ eta disadvantage, but, curiously enough, they often ac(f complish some very aggressive acts when leaving their natural element. Perhaps one of the most remarkable instances was related to me by a naturalist who had traveled ext.pnsiVplv in tli? i si art d r nf the South Pacific Ocean. The great reefs which extend away over this region are very shallow, and covered with acres of rich branch, leaf and other corals, which grow in snch a manner that paths and lanes are left, calling to mind the streets of a city. In these byways grow sea fans and plumes ! known as gorgonias, some lavendar, j others yellow, brown and many tints, j which, with the gorgeously colored i fishes that swim in and out, add to the j beauty of the scene and carry out th e I idea of a garden, as the fishes resemI ble the birds and the corals and plumes can well be compared to the j trees of a terrestrial forest. I In the cor al are found many beautitul shells that are valued by collectors, and in their sale there has grown up a large and important industry. The collectors are the natives, who in nnr+ifif, wander crvc.T the vast shoalfl with baskets slung over their shoulders, tripping over the the coral in March of shells, which are kept nntil the trading schooners come round. The water on the reef where the natives wade has an average depth of three or four feet, and is famous for the number and variety of fishes found there. Among them is a long, slender fish called the gar, attaining a length of three feet, with a sharp pointed bill armed with fine teeth, that is feared by the natives more than sharks. This would be difficult to UDderstand by those n ot familiar with their habits. The garfish live entirely upon the surface, generally ' * I KSOCEED DOW!? BT A FLYING GUE!7AED. lying in schools 60 near it that they are conspicuous objects from above. Whether the gar sleeps at the surface is not known; in any event they are easily startled, and will suddenly bound from the water and go darting i away like a living arrow, entering the water only to bound away like a ball fired from a cannon that glances from the water a number of times before it finally strikes. In this singular habit, said my informant, consists the danger. The flight is wild and made in fear, consequently it is without aim and just as liable to strike a man as not. This is what has occurred on various occasions, and the incident in question was remarkable from the narrow esotx/i m +V10 funf. that the man pCj ouu uum wmw and fishes appeared to the observers like fencers. A naturalist had engaged a - dozen natives who were wading along the reef, he following in a boat. They were after everything of interest, and he had glasses of alcohol and various vessels to receive the specimens. The waders brought him a rich assortment. There were great pink-lipped conches, sea fans bright in color, star fishes of enormous size, others with coiling arms and seeming tentacles, delicate branches of cora'l, some like the rosr, A BATHERS MENACED BY others in delicate tint*. Occasionally a native would bring in a large holothurian resembling a cucumber, but the specimens most desired were the j shells that lived in among the roots of the branch corftl?shells that had a most wonderful lnstre and were a rich orange hue and known to the world as the orange cowry. Those were very rare, one kind being valued at ?10U. In searching for the cowries the men waded along, occasionally dipping beneath the surface, peering under i the coral, or iiftiug a huge branch above the water so that a companion could examine it and pick out the various treasures in demand by the naturalist. When the coral was fully inspected it was thrown aside. This act would create a splash that would reverberate over the water in a singular way. The natives were scattered about, covering an area of perhaps! j two acres, ench man industriously ongaged in filling his Hat busket or pok-! ing into the coral with the iron-pointed j IBtick they carried. Suddenly one of! be oollcct&rs threw into the water an I exceptionally large piece of coral. It f happened that a school of large gar- i fishes were lying near, and, alarmed t at the loud noise, they darted away ( like so many arrows frem their bow, ( directly in the direction of four or ? five men. The native who started < them into action raised a shout, which s the others heard just in time to turn ? and see the living darts coming at i them. They fully realized the danger, as serious accidents had occurred in i the past from contact witn them. ] On came the gars, four or five of e them, gaining momentum at every 1 bound, and in a few seconds they were i on the party. The naturalist in the 1 boat dropped behind the gunwales, i while his companion was struck on the 1 cap, the fish glancing of? The na- < tives held up their flat baskets as ] shields and secured two in this way; 1 still another, using his stick very i skillfully as a eword, dodged a third fish and struck it down, securing it. It was a narrow escape for all con- i cerned, and very suggestive of the < dangers resulting from seemingly < harmless fishes. i In his "Voyage of the Challenger" t Moseley, the naturalist, mentions that an officer was struck by one of these < J ^ ?/a V, - YACHT BOMBABDK gars, the bill of the fish hitting his ( thick cap, knocking it off. He also 1 learned that accidents were common i among the natives, fatal wounds often i being made by the gars. 1 In the Gulf of Mexico two gars are f found, one about a foot in length, i with two long bills, the other having 1 a short upper and a long lower bill. ? These fishes are always seen at the < surface, and the writer has observe d 1 them rushing blindly away, skipping over it, in and out, glistening in the J ' ' - fl-.v r 1-_T. i. 1_ i. i sun use a nasu 01 ugm, v?uy teuuiu ing to the water after 100 or more feet j had been covered. t Numbers of fishes have a similar i habit of hurling themselves from the i water. Even heavy fishes, as the rays, t that are flat and unwieldy, dash out of ? their natural element when attacked . by sharks, and endeavor to sail away, but this generally results in a terrific fall and the reverberation I have heard on a still night over a mile away, sounding as though a gigantic object * had fallen from a lofty height. In Southern waters there is a fish known as the flying gurnard that, like the garfishes, lives at the surface. It is a gorgeously colored creature, looking like some gayly hued insect. Its head is incased in a hard armor, in which lies the danger from them. When alarmed the fish leaves the water, though more completely than does the gar, spreads its enormous side fins and literally soars away. Its flight is more or less blind and curious accidents have been the result. On one occasion a fishing schooner was sailing near the Barbadoes, and but one man, and he at the helm, was on deck. The rounding-to of the vessel and the shaking of the sails brought the skipper from below, when, to his amazement, he found the helmsman lying senseless, with a bruise on> his forehead, and, in the lee scuppers, c * . . i. _ i 8 wriggling aoout, a. migc ^uuuu, fish in flying along had been caught by the wind and 6truck the man fairly in the forehead with such force as to knock him senseless. Similar instances have been recorded, and a blow from the armored head of such a fish is not at all a joke. The gurnads are found in large schools in the Barbadoes, and constitute an important item of food among the natives. Some years ago a friend of the writer was cruising in a boat in Southr i ? A SHOWER OF GARFISH. erii Florida, when. comingto a shallow lagoon, ihey put in. Finally they noticed they were running a large school of fishes that, finding themselves cornereil, turned, the individuals leaving the water in every direction and in such numbers that the I sailors were obliged to throw themselves upon the deck to avoid the J bombardment. As it was several of j them were struck violent blows, while I a dozen or move of the fish dashed at j the hails and foil upon the decks. A still more remarkable incident i was once witnessed by the writer on a Southern reef. A sudden commotion | in the water attracted my attention. I and running tjcro*s the key and into j the water, I found myself in the midst of a piscatorial pandemonium. Large fishes, three feet in length, were hurling themselves from the water in every direction, evidently gone mad from excitement. The beach for several feet was lined with a bank of sardines, which the larger fish had driven in shore and seemed determined to drive out upon the dry sand, The larger , ish dashed into them like furies, ng several feet into the Air, he water boil as if in a heated H| Iron, and showing that the gre?flH iTm+amanf nnqoocaed The noiSfl ind commotion attracted the attentio'; )f galls and pelicans, that hovere< ibout, preying upon the small fry an tdding to the confusion and excite nent. ] I waded out into the struggling nass of animation to discover if m; sresence would be noticed, and wa ioon satisfiee that discretion was tfc setter part of Talor. The fish wer anning to and fro at such a rapi ate of speed that there was no pleae ire in being struck by them, whi] :heir sharp 6pines and fins were weaj 3ns not to be despi6ed. For half a lour this warfare kept up, dying awa ;o recommence in some fresh plac< There the aerial flight- of fish woul be repeated. 4 One of the most remarkable leaper imong fish of large size is the tarpo jr silver king of the Atlantic coasl me of the most magnificent of gam ishes, that attains a length of six o seven feet and a weight of 200 pound! its movements are extremely rapic lashing through the water like a beai ? J ' " : V ( D BY POMPIKO. )f light, the resemblance intensifies )y the silvery covering of the enoz nous scales, which resemble newl ninted silver dollars more than an; ;hing else. There is something siz jularly impressive in these fiaheS, an< i monster that I came npon suddenl ying in very shallow water gave m jomething akin to bnck fever. In an; went, my astonishment and confnsio; asted so loxig that the fish escaped. At certain seasons in the year th 3t. John's River in Florida abounds i ;he tarpon, and some extraordinaar umping is to be witnessed. Whe: suddenly alarmed the fish will lea nto the air in any direction that j nay be headed. Thus it happen hey have landed in boats towed b iteamers. But the most extraordinar (? A TARPON* LEAPED OYEB THE RATTj. ixhibition was seen one day as a Jack onville steamer was going down th ? Pflwno-n/lTnQ A fiTATY IVCr, UUUiiU 1UX igiunuumM. leman was sitting on the upper deck ipped bflck comfortably against th )iiot-hou6e. He was probably drink ng ?in the beauties of the Florid cli nate in the winter and its semitropi eatures when suddenly there came lash, a gleam of white and silver, jlimpse of big, black eyes, and a moi iter fish poised in the air, and then >ig tarpon fell fairly into the lap < ;Ue thinker, who with it rolled to tl leek, a very much astonished and d< noralized man. The tarpon had evi lently been swimming toward th steamer, and alarmed at the noise ha< larted ahead, rising at least ten fee '1 - aIiao/3 of Tool ill IQ6 HIT, III till tjliuuuu^ uuwnu uv six feet, to land in this curious foshiozfl Many more incidents could be relateM illustrative of the encounters that ha^fl occurred between man and fish in tlfl jlement of the former.?San FrancistB * fS Fonud Diamonds in a Bale of B&gfl Miss Bridget O'Neal is a pretty gi^| tvbo sorts rags at the Knowlton Brotlfl ?rs' paper mill in this city. The otlfl ?r day she found two rings, which shH put in her pocket and went on aboi^H tier work. Thinking that t&ey migiH be valuable, she told a male emplojM of the mill, and he toot mem to H jewelry store. The jeweler said 01H was a cluster of fifteen diamonds aiS valued at $150, and the other contain^B one diamond, a garnet and a turquoisB No person has yet claimed the ringH ?Utica (N. Y.) Herald. 9 Drew the Line at That. SB Mr. Moneybags?"No, my child^H don't want you to marry a Duke." ^9 Miss Goldie Moneybags ? "BtH papa, you said I could have anythi^B that money can buy."?Puck. H