Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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LEW,9 m. Cm?t. Pr.>pr,.,.r.; " ' ? ?*W= iir ? W 8|*?* > UmmU ?fart rf ? *? jm^~lM.O?Tmit,ra AOTAirCE. ?. -VOL. 17. YOBKVIL1E, 8. P., TltOUgPAV, JUKE 8, 1871. ; ; . ffP.:3S. * - r"* * ? ~ i1 * 1 ? Choice ?oetrt>. THINE EYES. I. The bosom of the stilly lake That, nestles at the Alp-king's feet, The violet where its ripples breakIs not more calm?is not more sweet Than are thine eyes. ii. The whispering of the evening wind, The rose em pearled with twilight dew?* Sweet Hespgr shimmering o'er the wave* Is not mo.) tender?not more true, Than thy dear eyes. ill. So calm they lull my throbbing heart, And still each restless wish to rove; So true and tender P What were life Without thy ministries of love Oh 1 sweet blue eyes! C. V. D. jtoi d&tujiaal fmt iV 4 Wrtfcfert'Jbr tbve Yorkyille ftaquiret^ 5 ' "= ' ?' . THE LOST DIAMOND: M ins. lUDfli usAo? CHAPTER VIII. "Carriage, Miss?" shouted a man in nc ears, as I stepped out on the platform. "Yes," I said ; and in & few seconds I wi seated in one of the rusty-looking public v hides thronging the vicinity of the statio: It seemed to me as though hours elapsed whi my baggage was being secured and brougl out. At last, however, it was arranged, an we were rattling over the stones as fast as pair of rickety-looking, ill-matched hora could carry us, toward Mrs. Ellison's, whos direction I gave my coachman. We got there at last "It's all shut up, I believe, Miss," said m Jehu; an Irishman of the most unmistakabl type. "Shall I ring the bell ?" "If you please," I answered, wearily, was longing to get somewhere to rest; woul the people never come to the door ? The se< ond ring was answered by a slovenly lookin maid-servant "Does Mrs. Ellison keep here, still?" asked. "Yes," wasjthe short reply. "Is her house full ? Can I get a room ?" "I don't know." "Will you enquire for me? Stop?tak this card," and I handed her one, on which had written my name. "She ain't here," said the girl. "Why, didn't you tell me she kept th house?" "Yes ; but she ain't to home." "Who can I see? Isn't there anybody ?" "Yes," there's Miss Saunders." "Well, tell Miss Saunders a lady who use to board here wants to come again to staj and would like a room." "Miss Saunders ain't up yet" "Gan't ye go in and attind to the lady's 01 dens?" intosppeed iny Irishman in a reproyinj lone, "juou i ye sec sue a uum TV III UOA JVUA ney, and ye standin' jabberin' here? I neve saw the likes of ye before!" "I don't need you to teach me manners, said the girl sulkily. "I guess you'd bette come in," she added, addressing herself to me "you can sit in the parlor awhile, till Mis Saunders comes down." I was fain to accede to this proposal, an having had my trunk deposited in the entr and paid ray driver his fare, I sat down o the horse-hair sofa in the well remembere< dingy little parlor, to await the advent < Miss Saunders; though who Miss Saundei was I had not the remotest idea. Presently commonly dressed, housekeeper-looking pe son appeared, and accosting me civilly aske if I was the lady who wished to engage room. "Yes," said I. "I am Miss Gray, a form< boarder of Mrs. Ellison's; I wish to engage room here for a time?I cannot say exactl how long I may remain." "Miss Ellison went last evening to sit u with her sister, who is sick," said the womai "I s'pose you can have a room, though, don't attend to the arrangements in any wa] I only took charge to oblige Miss Ellison, f< a few hours. Come this way, will you ?" She picked up my traveling bag, seeing, suppose, how worn and weary I looked, an conducted me to a room on the third floorsingularly enough, the very one I had forme ly occupied.' "One of our lodgers just left this two da; ago," she informed me, "and luckily we hs it all scoured and cleaned up right away, hope you'll find everything comfortable, Mif I'll send up your trunk directly." I thanked her, mechanically; and look( around on the bare walls and common pu furniture with an odd feeling of familiarit Only the morning before, at the same hou in what a different apartment had I woke u little dreaming of the change that was to tal phtee in the course pf a few hours! I we to the window thatfaverlooked the little str v .1 x ; of garden, and recalled tnat rainy eveuu when I had watched the water splashing wi its monotonous drip, drip on the weedy wa and grass-grown, neglected looking bed; went to the street window and wondered il should see any more children pass by in tl braided jackets and scalloped aprons of n manufacture; and whether the little shop-w man who had purchased my work still ke open her old stand. The baker's cart car rattling up to the street door opposite; t same neat looking little girl came to recei the bread, and the same ruddy-faced youi man leant forward o at of his cart to hand to her, that I recollected so well. Nothii seemed changed; every thing was so familiar and yet so strange! My reflections were interrupted by the i rival of my trunk. I desired the man w brought it up to say to Miss (or Mrs. ?) San ders that I did not wish any breakfast, as was very tired and wanted to rest; and th( locking my door, I partly undressed and thr myself on the bed. I closed my eyes a tried to banish thought; utter repose, of mil more than of body, was what I desired. J brain was in a whirl, but I did not wish n< to stop to untangle its mazes; I wanted rtot T Viftft a brain or a heart. IVlgov VUUV A - Fatigue and excitement at last otffcrcai me, and I dropped into a heavy sleep, lasted a long while, and I awoke the better i it, though I still felt weak and badly. I aro dressed slowly, and went down stairs, wishi to procure a glass of water. In the lower entry, I met Mrs. Ellis* She came forward eagerly, appearing rea glad to see me. 1 1 1"I\' I "Why, Miss Gray! so pou've really com back!" she excjaimed eagerly, shaking botl ? my hands. "Well^Fra fnighty glad to se you. But dear me, hot( pale and bad yoi look; have you been siel V' "No, I am only a littty tired," I answered forcing a smile. "Can yba let me have a bis cuit and some water, MrsjEllison ? I haven' eaten since yesterday, aqd I am beginning t feel hungry." "I should think so! Why, you need some J' thing better than that. iCome into my room here, and I'll bring you a nice little bit o lunch directly," and the| good woman led ra< into her private parlor fad commenced bust i ling about to arrange ithe lunch, though ! j begged her not to takqme trouble. ; "Trouble! it was ne^er a trouble to wait 01 i you, Miss Gray; you kpoWyou are not one o ~ ! the fussy ^ones. I'd cutofi my hands, though | sooner than do anything extra for some peo I pie; they'd never thank we for it" ~ I Jtn a few momentqphe bad prepared a InS? of^toast, cold ehicl^n&nd a piece of appl< tart, which, with a glass of wine, she placet upon a little table before me, bidding me "ea and not stop until it was all gone." I realb - felt the need of refreshment, and felt bette: - after the toast and chicken, though I left thi iy tart untouched, and only took a sip of th< wine to gratify her. My landlady sat dowi is near me, and watched me with a pleased am e- somewhat inquisitive face. . "1 am really surprised to see you back, Misi le Gray," she commenced, presently. "I heart it from some one that you were doing splendidlj d up there in the country. Didn't you leavi a sooner than you expected to?" 28 "Yes, I came away a little unexpectedly,' je I replied. "So I thought; and what are you going t< do now ?" y "I want to get another situation, if I can [e Do you think it likely I will be able to now' All the schools here are giving holiday at thl I season, are they not?" . . d "Most of them; but," said Mrs. Ellison, re > fleeting, "there's a lady I know of who want) g a governess, and would he willing to pa] handsomely too. At least she did want on< I a short time ago. I haven't heard whether shf has got one yet" "Who is she ?" I asked. "I don't reckon you know her; it's a Mrs Peters. She's moved into the town since yoi ;e left. One of my boarders, Miss Greenfield I knows her well; I'll get her to see about it, ii you liked." . * "Thank you," said I. * "I should like U e make some enquiries." . "She is a very rich lady," pursued my in formant, "and would^ecertain pay; but I'n afraid she might work, jroty a little hard." "Ok! I don't ; I am accustomec d to it," I answered wkfM&y. r, "Did yon have a hard time at Genera] Vivian's?" inquired Mrs. Ellison. ^ "?No?Oh I no, every one was very khM f. my work was very easy." 7 1 "What a pity yog, had toleavwf -sajftmrc ? |unJtS>T, y.I T ,, il.tpfelt ypty kmu-^rSxl, Ua* r like most persons of her class, extrenpely in?T ?> a>ianrao Hrinof findnut al] (|U131llirCi JL SWK'BUU IIW v?j ?{5 ? " about the matter, so to put unpleasant quesr tionsat rest forever, I said. ; "I left of my own accord, Mrs. Ellison, and s not from any fault of ray employers' or of my own; there was some one in the house whom d I did not particularly like, and as the sumraei holidays were commencing, I thought I would n come away now instead of waiting until tin end of the year. General and Mrs. Viviar }f were anxious for me to remain; they always re treated me in a most friendly manner, and a their children, whom I taught, were every r. thing I could desire; but, as I said before, 1 td preferred leaving for reasons of my own." a "Dear! dear," said Mrs. -Ellison, "I am afraid you won't get such a nice place again.' it "I must try, at all events," I rejoined. . a Mrs. Ellison promised me she would speal y to Mrs. Greenfield about me, and get her to interest herself in getting me the situation sju ip had mentioned, provided it were not already q. filled. I I was introduced 1o Mrs. Greenfield at din t ; ner; a plump lookiig spinster of some forty >r years, with a heavy good-natured face, whc insisted on shaking lands with me across the I table. id "Glad to meet ycu, Miss Gray! Mrs. Elli - son has told me all about that, you know,' r- nodding significantly, "and you may count or my help; I'll go roind there this very after f8 noon." Ld I did not care to dscuss the matter in pub I lie, so I answered ioldly that I was mud js. obliged, and devotee my attention to my plate I shuddered inwardly as I glanced along id the table, and contrasted my present surround ae ings with those I hal left. The crumpled and y. not over clean cloth1?the dull-looking, heavy ir, handled knives andforks?the thick crockery p, and glass-ware, the mtidy looking attendants ie the heterogeneous asemblage of boarders, and nt lastly, the flies! Ithought of the elegantly ip appointed table at Beechcroft, with the polig ished host and hosted presiding, and the chair th ming and refined fares gathered around; bui lk I dared not dwell ?i the recollection, I felt I that I needed all my fortitude in order tc ' I keeD ud a requisite degree of composure, and * * * ( W he that for the presen' at least I most try anc' ay banish memory. o- In the afternoon Miss Greenfield, who ap pt peared to be one oi those good-natured busj oe bodies who are delghted to mix themselvei he up in the afifairs of other people, went off aj ve she promised in qvest of her friend Mrs. Pe lg tern. When she nturned in the evening shi it informed me that he lady in question wa ng not yet provided wih a governess, and woul( ? be glad to see me if I would call at her hom on the following muming. ir- "I told her what tn elegant place you ha< ho just left, Miss Gray/ said Miss Greenfield in- "but I assured her, is Mrs. Ellison told mc I that it was not from any fault, or dissatisfacl sn, ion, or anything of tlat sort?I believe tha sw was correct, wasn't it?" nd "Quite correct," I replied. Oh! it grate nd on my nerves to have the tender questio ly j pressed upon me so pertinaciously at a; -kw ! nninta to "She said she supposed you had brougii recommendations," laid Miss Greenfield. " ne told her of course." It "I have plenty of recommendations," sai for I; "but I did not bring any from Genen se, Vivian, for the reastn that when I left I di ng not think of going ntd another situation i governess." m. This was quite true, for my mind had bee lly so confused at the tine, that I had not thougt of the matter at at. e "What a pity^ said Miss Greenfield. "She i seemed to think so much of getting a teacher e recommended by General Vivian. I suppose a you could write for one, couldn't you f' "I suppose I could," I answered, wearily. !? Miss Greenfield went on talking about Mrs. i" Peters?what a rich woman she was; what a t fine?hou8e she lived in; what a clever child p "her eldest daughter was. "Are there many children ?" I asked. ? "Five; but only three she wishes you to > teach. Phemie, the oldest, is at school, and f the youngest is only a baby." 3 "I am not to have the clever one, then, I r suppose," said I. f "Oh! well, Belle and Janie are not stupid at all; and I believe little Max is quite smart 1 But I've heard Euphemia more particularly f talked of." * I was quite tired from my journey, and my * nerves felt completely overstrained, so I was t tglad to go to bed directly after lea. I did ^ inot think *ny mijre how ; I fell thai it Was j - p useless going overthe old ground, and that I | j must address myself steadily to the future. I - - * ? T 1 1 had chosen this rugged patb oil wmcn x naa f entered of my own accord, and I Tesolved, r with a sort of stolid determination, to tread 8 it uncomplainingly, and. try and forget the 8 pleasant refuge I might have retained if I 1 had chosen to do so. Once or twice the question arose?had I acted wisely, after all, in so precipitately fol? lowing the impulse of my wounded pride ? Was it worth while for me to have made the 7 sacrifice I had, simply on account of the im3 pertinent accusations of a mere girl?one of , the least important members of the family ? Of the greater sacrifice I would ^ot even think; it would have crazed me. * } I slept soundly, and awoke feeling better. It was a bright cheerful morning, and the sun* ay aspect around me seemed to inspire my heart with a feeble glimmering of hope and 3 comfort Something whispered that perhaps my probation would not be very long; something might happen?that indefinable some3 thing whose possible advent kindly cheers us r occasionally in times of gloom and darkness. 3 Without these fire-fly gleams of vague hope 5 and anticipation, our lot would often be harder to bear than it is. After breakfast, I obtained Mrs. Peters' di ' rection, and sallied forth to her house. It 1 was quite an imposing looking mansion, with ' high stone steps and iron railings in front, and the name "W. W. Peters" inscribed on a very massive-looking silver plate on the door. I rang the bell, and inquired of the liveried servant who opend it whether Mrs. Peters was at home. "I believe she is, ma'am," said the man, I casting an inquiring glance*t me. "What name shall I say ?" I I banded him my card, and saw him reading the name on it as he proceeded along the entry. ' Presently be re-appeared, and desired me to- walk in. I was ushered into a large drawt. n? wMh-fllffiifa. a | it. I.jjii. anner more costly fpan tasteful, the chairs I and sofas being covered with a gorgeously patterned orange-colored damask, and the windows curtained to match. Some large and I expensive china vases and other ornaments were on the mantlepiece, and on a black marble pedestal stood an enormous bronze clock, ' that ticked with a loud and important sound. I It was evidently the abode of wealth, but not of refinement, I reflected as I glanced around. 1 However, people might not possess taste, and 1 yet be agreeable and good-hearted; I would ^ Ua *n ch m mtr v ivrlrrm rmf | UUV KJXj laou IU XUJ juugiuvuvi A moment afterward the door was opened, and the curly head of a little girl of four or five years was slowly advanced through the 1 aperture, then quickly withdrawn; a little > giggling laugh followed. This manoeuvre was repeated two or three times, until, on the , fourth re-appearance of the head I held out ^ my hand, saying in a friendly tone; "won't ) you come in ?" r A louder burst of laughter, and a rush of feet along the passage immediately ensued. The curly headed child, however, came back r after a while, and this time returned inside ( the door. k "Won't you come and speak to me ?" I said again holding out my hand. After a moment's hesitation, she complied. ? "Whatis your name ?" I asked as she shyly ( approached. "Max Peters," was the somewhat indistinct rejoinder. "Max ! why, that is a boy's name," said I. i "My name is Maxwellina," she rejoined. "Maxwellina! why, that is an odd name, , isn't it ?" | "I don't know." [ "How old are you ?" . "Six." r "Why, you are small for your age. How many brothers and sisters have you ?" [ "I haven't got no brothers; I've got four , sisters." "Are they all older than you' . r "All but the baby." "And what is the baby's name ?" I pursued, . willing to become on social terms with her; j for I was naturally fond of children. [ "Julia?after Ma." | Here the door opened again, and "Ma" entered. She was a coarse looking woman, . dressed in the height of bad taste. Although r it was a warm August morning she had on a j blue silk, with worked muslin collar and cuffs, 3 and a showy brooch and ear-rings scarcely sui. table for morning wear. 3 "Good mornirfg, Miss Gray," she said, bends ing her head as I rose from my seat; "I supj pose you are the lady Miss Greenfield told me Q about" I anwered that I was. I "Yoj are accustomed to teaching, I be. lieve ?" "I h?re been teaching for nearly four years." j- "So I understood. You have been lately ,t employed by General Vivian, as governess in his fami.y." d "I ha\e just left General Vivian's." n "You lave brought recommendations from II him, of coirse ?" "Unfortunately, I have not When I left it General Vvian, I had not determined on I seeking another situation. I have, however, recommendations from various other quarters, d which I ha\e brought with me, if you would il like to examne them." d "How struige, that you should not have is thought of isking him for one," said Mrs. . Peters, in a t?ne of annoyance, n I was silenv it "Will you let me see the others you speak of?" she continued. ?. 1 ' ., *r1 I handed them to her; she glanced tljTooj them, and was apparently satisfied. "I see you are spoken of as a compete French teacher, also. Have you ever been France?" "f have not, madam; but I had for sevei years a French governess, with whom 11 ways conversed in her native language, ai my accent has been pronounced correct*,' good judges." % "I did want to get a French governess i my children, but on consideration I conclud I would prefer an American to live in t house; I don't think the French are moi people." "Perhaps not," I repligd, seeing that 8 waited for an answer. "Well, Miss Gray, as far as I can see, y will suit me very well. When can you coi to me?" > * This was FridaJ ; I asked if the followi Monday would do. .. _ . in August fcfid Septe^Br, l>uty royctffdr have been running wild bo long that I expc the sooner you begin with them the betti Now about terms; what do you ask?" I answered that I would prefer her to sc gest the amount of salary she would be willii to give. "What did you get at General Vivian's "Five hundred a year," I replied. "Five hundred! for teaching a great mai children, I suppose?" "Two little girls, eleven years old," 11 plied. "Mercy on us," ejaculated Mrs. Peters. "The terms were proposed by him," 11 joined. She reflected a moment, and then the id of following so illustronB an example as Ge eral Vivian's must have overcome her scr pies, for she continued: "Very well. As there will be three here teach, I will give you the salary, if you wi it. I suppose you won't object to looking little after the children in leisure hours." "I would prefer having my time free wh< out of school," I rejoined, for "looking a litf after" was too indefinite a term to suit n fancy. "Oh 1 well, of course I don't want you mind them, exactly; they are too large f that, exoept the baby, and she has a nurs but I thought you wouldn't object to havii them with yon now and then, when I'm o of the way, or the servants are busy." "Well, in that way I would not mind,Mf I thought it best perhaps not to raise any fi ther objections, seeing that in other xeepe< the situation seemed to promise to be a tolei bly advantageous one. "Then it is agreed that you are to. con Be sure and let me see you on Monday; would prefer you to come as early in the mor ing as you can, on account of starting wi the children at once." I promised to come soon after breakfa and with this understanding we separate ' "She does not sepm.to be & bad dbrt o?i man," I said to myself, as I walked horn ward. "At any rate, the salary is high, ai I suppose I can manage to get on." The prospect, however, was but a dolef one, and I reached my lodgingB with anythii but a light heart. CHAPTER IX. Monday came, and at the appointed time presented myself once more at Mrs. peters'. I was not ushered into the drawing roo this time, which was rather a relief to me, I had been disagreeably haunted by the recx lection of the orange colored furniture; b was shown up at 9nce to my room, a comfoi able enough one in the third story, adjoinii the nursery. I had scarcely removed n bonnet and smoothed over my hair when the was a knock at the door, and a scrawny loo ing, showily dressed girl of about fifteen wal ed in. "Ma sent me," she began without prefa< "to say I was to show you the school roo and the children's books. The children a ready to begin whenever-you are." "I ana ready now," I replied. "Are y< Mrs. Peter's eldest girl ?" "Yes; my name is Euphemia Peters," si replied. I tried to discover fa her sallow face son traces of the superior intellect I was prepan to find, but could read nothing but a certa amount of pertness and self-esteem, very le ibly impressed there. She ushered me down stairs to the schoc room; an apartment unfurnished save with t oil-cloth covered table and a few chaii There were some books on the table, which turned over while Euphemia went, as si said, to call the children. They proved to 1 the UBual collection of grammars, histori and spelling-books, all considerably soile and abused. * Presently Euphemia returned, leading thr captives in hey train, tbp two elder of who she introduced to me respectively as isab and Jane; the younger I recognized as lie small curly acquaintance* Maxwellina. "? ' - ?- t- *1 "ivia says sne wiauea yuu w cAatuuic w children and find out exactly what th( know; she supposes that will take some tim and then you can make them study to-mo row's lesson's^ She asks you to be particuh in making them study, fcrr they won't if y( don't look after them. They are very about Btudying." "Now, you hush, Phemie 1" remonstrab Bell; "you'll just make her hate us at the b ginning." "Oh! no, I-will not hate you," said I; ' don't hate people.". "Don't you ?" said Belle opening her ey wide. "I do; I hated Miss Andrews, our la governess." "Well, I hope you will not hate me," sa: I. "Come, I think we had better get to woi now, and see if we all can't be very industi ou8." The two younger ones, Janie and Ma looked at each other and laughed, apparent amused by the term "webut Euphem immediately hushed them up, and seatii them on two chairs at the table bid them b have themselves and mind what I told them "I dare say we can get on together now ve: well," said I, meaning the remark as a hi to the young lady to withdraw, which, aft lingering to give the younger ones sever parting injunctions, she finally did. I then commenced my examination; b Oh! what discouraging work it was. I four that they were nearly totally ignorant ( geography, history and arithmetic, they kn ?h<*Mutely nothing ; the two older onee could ,j8tad tolembtyi but apparently knew nothing nt. i sft tkiart dnmtmg; the little one was scarcein fly ev? ^acquainted with her letters. I en:*iqjaired their ages, and was told that Belle was *1 tir^ye, and Janie nine. I portioned out their il- ipnlcs to them and set them studying, while I 4d ifeok out some crochet work I had brought by ^retiiipae, to while away the time. ii'I'had to stop continually, however, to refer prove them for whispering and laughing toed Apparently they had no notion of aphe rjjpjition. I soon dismissed little Max, for w^re^was at present nothing to be done but jfijKsbher her letters correctly, and ghp her a he &ffeasy words of one syllable to leam; she seemed tolerably bright .and willing to learn, ou &Oadmore hope of her than of the others. n& ^ffl^Bwelve o'clock struck, the two last exfij^^jmultaneously, that they kuew their Qg^Hmtt^H^hinking I had kept them stffflKS^for the first day, I gave them perMfcpart, calling than hack, however, books neatlyon the table, as fct j tKeV^wSSre lushing tumultuously out They ? ' an/1 T nrfitrn. sr. mtfiGtinou uu tu gcb iuqu iuuuu^ ?uu a *vvm*m, e<Ho my chamber, which I did not leave ig- again until an mm on ed to dinner. Qg At table l found Mr. Peters as well as his wife; a small, sleek-looking, black-haired ?" man, dressed in a dandified fashion, and sportidg an eye-glass and a large seal ring, ay He arose and made quite a flourishing"bow as his wife introduced him to me. re- "Ahem! Mia Gray, I am very happy to . . trthkeyour acquaintance; very Bappy indeed, madam.' Pray, be seated," he said with a re- very unnecessary amount of action, as he indicated my chair. His wife, interrupting him ea as I thought rather shortly, asked me what I n- would be helped to, and then commenced on u- so^ne topic which had for me no interest, as it concerned various unknown personages with to wjnggji I was unacquainted. Bh 'Hie dinner was a very good one, but my a taste was offended by the unsparing use which both the master and mistress of the establishan ment made of their knives in conveying their le ibod flropo their plates to its destination, all )y the children of course following their exam" pte Again I thought of Beech croft, and its to refinement and elegance, or Atdessert the baby was brought down, e; She proved to be a well-grown child of two ig years, very fet, very noisy, and excessively ut spoiled. She was allowed to run around the table iind dip her fingers in everybody's plate, or- a proceeding I seriously objected to ; but wiicb seemed.rather to delight the parents ds than otherwise, as they hailed lBS^and other a- of its perfdrmancee with repeated bursts of admiration and applause. Finally it seized te. a tumbler of water that was placed dangerI ously near the edge of the table, and dextern ously dragjing it off before any one could stop th it, succmfeA in spilling the entire contents on anrrv?nrav excuse her. iKl aaything eLe,?t would have ie" raffle no difference," said Euph^mia. "Julia id irifcdully spoilt, Miss Gray; as you will find to your cost, if you let her get too much in ul yopr way." ig I mentally resolved to keep clear of the interesting infent; whilethe mother interposed, with some asperity, "Really, Phemie, you are always talking about the children being spoilt, and I don't ' I krfow that you are much better yourself." "And if I -am not, ma, itfs nobody's fault m but yours," pertly retorted the young lady, as With this concluding remark we all arose }1" .from the table and adjourned to our various ut occupations?Mrs. Peters' being to lie down rt" for an hour and read a novel, which she inig formed me was her daily after dinner habit. ?y Mir. Peters went down town to his countingre h^B8e, and I retired to my chamber,1 the prik vacy of whioh was inexpressibly welcome to k* nie. ;) Here I fell into a revery, not of the most :e> cheering description. I now became conm adous that I had cherished a lingering hope re ot'hearing some tidings from Gerald; surely hf would write?would answer my note; -he )U wtuld not quietly.accept my decision without gtfing some token of remonstrance I Four h? diys had now elapsed sir.ce my departure from Beechcroft; in that time I ought to hear from a? Km, if at all. PerhapB, however, he had feen prevented from going to Beechcroft in in the interval, and had not received my note. 8' Two or three days passed slowly by. At list one evening as I was sitting as usual in >1* njjr chamber before tea?for I found solitude in tfy most congenial companion, in my present. f)rm of mind?a servant came up to announce I tiat a gentleman was down stairs and desired 16 to see me. b? Was 'it, coqjd it be he? Trembling with 68 agitation,,! wfltat slowly down to the parlor; -d tie lampc wereiiot yet lit, but in the gather-: iig twilight I' could discern that the figure 96 striding by tfse df the farthest windows was ?LMy anticipations were realty fGttfald caffle fbrward, and in another mo' nrent f was in his arms, le | "Frances 1" was all he said, and my heaij vng bosom was too full to admit of utterance e, oi my part. With difficulty I choked back r- tie sobs that were rising in my throat, and as w hj le<bme to a seat on the sofa I endeavored >u tdsay calmly, * id '"I thought you would write; I did not expbt you to come." jd "Not expect me to come! what do you take nj for, Frances ? And now I want an exphnation of your conduct, for I don't under'I sfcnd it at all." j"I could not help coming away, Gerald," es aid I. st "I am not speaking of your coming away; I^hink it was-very foolish, but if you chose id to do it no one had a right to prevent you. rk Wsat I want an explanation of, is that note v -joi wrote, ma Were you insane, or what, i x, \rixm you penned that remarkable productly i$.r ia "No, of course not," said I. "I thought ig yqi would appreciate my feelings; it was a e- litle incoherent, I know, but?" 1 fA little incoherent! it was simply and unry deiiably absurd. And worse than that, Fran- ; nt ce* it was unfeeling." er Oh! Gerald; unfeeling?" i al Of course. What business have you trifle wit me in that way?" i ut *)But I was not trifling," I said very faintly, i id ' 'hTot trifling ? You don't mean to say that ; yoiiexpected me to accept the contepts of that| !W noteas earnest." .' 1 i- ^ "Of course I did. Stop, Gerald, and let me speak," said I'entreatingly. "I meant every word that I wrote, and I mean it now.^ As i long as I am suspected of any^iing dishonor- i able I cannot consent to marry yon; I would die sooner." ' "A heroic resolve," said Gerald quietly. I now saw from his manner that he had come prepared to combat, and, if possible, overthrow all my arguments, and I unvariedly collected all my strength for the encounter. i "In the first place," he went on, "you had i no right to write me that note." "Yes, I had," said I. i "No, you had not I suppose you don't ad- < mit that, out of consideration for the love I bear yon, you owe some little deference to my < judgment and to my feelings ?" "Yes, but in this cgse I thought I ought to , follow my own judgment," I rejoined. , "You would follow a tolerably insecure iguide, I think: Now listen,prances; you fto me; and it- w^ftakt^g?r^i>a?i j between you and a third party to cancel tow agreement. Whath'ave I to do with Iflhda * Vivian that she should be the cause of a separation between us? I tell you plainly, at once, I won't submit to it" ' ' < I was silent Involuntarily my heart leaped', ~A " ""."J. ?? not OA ilamJa/tlto B1W> Ul/ hit) wurua, O'J UttUiilJ jov dv uvviuvuaj mjvw | ken; I felt all my assumed strength slipping away from me; I forgot the arguments I had prepared myself to use. "Let ns listen to a little more reason," he , continued. "If yon were really guilty of a dis- , honest action?which is equivalent ta supposing that the moon might suddenly turn to a brickbat and drop out of the sky?then you might have scruples in regard to marrying me. I confess I wouldn't like to give the shelter of my respectable name to a purloiner of ancient rings ; but having a clear conscience, I am at a loss to imagine what your scruples can possible be." ' l "But if others think I am not innocent ?" ' "Others ? There are no others in the case. One other, an eccentric and (to me) verylunpleasant young woman chooses to assert that such is her opinion. Who cares for her opinion? Can it hurt you or any one else? And ' moreover, I am not at all sure that it really ! is her'opinion; she may only say that it is such, from some reason of her own." "No, I believe she is truthful," I replied. , "I thfnk she is really convinced that I wanted to take that ring, because I had admired it so , much." "Then I pity her hallucination, that is all. ( Why, Frances, it would be worse than folly in you toiet^er conduct come between you and me; you have no rightto do it" No right to do it. Oh! )fl ^could only ! convince myself of that; if I could only think honestly that my conduct had been rash and hasty, my ideas wrong and over- , strained! i _ "Ah! Gerald, if you only knew my feelings," I sighed. "You don't know what it is j Ik feel that you are suspectedof?of airing as that. Why, Tftaq l frunp? what ' as li she had branded ma ' suddenly with a red-hot iron 7" T wits nearly prazy." I "Had she not previously some dislike to ward you 7" lie asked. "Yes; she never forgave me for interposing between her and Mr. Germayne. But I nay- J er thought she would let her anger carry her ' to the extent of trying to injure me so cruelly. Why, Gerald, she said before Mrs. Audley ( Vivian and the children even, that she believ- . ed I had taken the ring !" "And did the others believe it ?" "No; they were quite mortified at her be- . h&viour, and did all they could to make me 1 stay. They were very, very good and kind," I added, softening at the recollection. "And yet you were ungrateful enough to 1 disregard their wishes, and run away. Well, \ I can forgive that; but I have not yet forgiv- J en the trick you tried to play off on me." ' "But you must forgive it," I whispered, 1 pleadingly. "Only on one condition," he replied. " "And what is that ?" I asked ; though I ' -knew well enough what it was. "That you retract, now and here, all the absurd ideas you have ventured to set forth, ? and promise me to keep faithfully to the promise you made me?to marry me sft the end of 1 this month." . "Oh! Gerald!" "Oh! Frances?come, be reasonable now, , and put aside your childish folly?you see I . use plain language, but I find you don't understand anything else." f "I don't know if it was "childish folly" in 1 me; but the next moment I gave the required ? promise?Gerald had conquered. "Now, I can believe it is yourself," he said, 8 looking at me with beaming eyes, after thank- ? ing me in his own way. "Before, I was half 1 i/N ntAfl OATMA rVtaK/llAMd ^ lUt'lIUCU IA9 lauujr ib Ttoo ouiuc luatiuiuuo u*nj that had assumed your likeness, and was amusing itself with tormenting me. But I have n still a quarrel with you." "That is not fair," said I. - "What areyou doing here, I wish to know?" "Why, teaching, of course," I replied. ^ "A suitable sphere for you?judging from j appearances," he remarked with a comical glance at the orange damask. "I went to Mrs.Ell ison's?isn't that her name ??in search of you, and found that the bird had flown; ^ so I obtained your direction and came here." q "How did you know I had gone to Mrs. Ellison's?" I asked. n "The Vivians told me they had heard you j( speak of having stayed before at such a place, j f( so I thought you might have gone there I again." a "And, Gerald, don't you see that my being tj here is another reason why I ought not to?to do as you wish ? How can I break my en- J gagement with Mrs. Peters ?" n "Why, tell her you had a prior one, of ^ course!" "But she wouldn't understand it at all," Baid I laughing. "She would think me very changeable." m "I will make her understand it?don't you -j he ftfrftirl." sairJ Herald. Afraid ! I was afraid of nothing, now that I found I had got him back?that, in reality, we had never been separated. "I felt in a de licious dream. All the horrible clouds of the j last week were chased away, suddenly and . completely, by this glorious flood of sunshine. 1 We heard footsteps, and I started guiltily n' away from my lover's side, as the door opened w and Mrs. Peters entered. She paused, and ^ regarded us in unmistakable surprise. "Mrs. Peters?Colonel Vavasour," I said, with a feeble attempt at an introduction. ui Mrs. Feters bowed stony. "n-xcuse ;me was not aware that I was intruding," she said,' moving again toward thefdoor; but with easy, sefrpoesession Gerald detained her. N ^ "Not at all, madam?allow me to apologia for the liberty I have taken in calling at your house," he said drawing forward a chair. "I heard unexpectedly that Miss Gnty was stay- ? ing here, and came in to see her." "I am happy to make your, acquaintance, tai air/'^said the lady, molified, as she took the fox offered seat "If I had known any one was 22 here, I'd have had the gas lit. Excuse me sir, but what nunc did Miss Gray say ? I JP didn't quite catch it" a "Vavasour is my name, madam,"/?with- tie out the slightest suspicion of a smile; _ a j "Ah! -JVe heard tip name before; one of g" our oldest familieg, I believe. Are you ac; quainted with my brother, Gaptain Jenkins, Mr. Vavasour? I'vp heard him speak of a wj, gentleman of the name, who served with him an of your friends or ^ Alter a few meter remarks, Gerald rose to takeleave. 22 'Td be l^appy to have you staytbtea, sir," str ..UXiiiriafc' linfHu <rmeinn?l^.' "Mr.: mi 9G11A lUC i?UJ v* vuv g-? Peters will be in directly; he will be glad to .jjj have an introduction to yon, Fm sur&f "" tn Mr. Peters was not. however destined to "have an introduction" on that occasion; on Gerald thanked her for the invitation, but re- th< plied that he was sorry not to be able to avail himself of it ^ "I will call on yon, Mrs. Peters, if youare not particularly engaged; to-morrow, morning," to he said, as he bid her good-evening. "I have pit something of importance to say to you, if you on; will kindly allow me.'' "Oh I certainly, sir, I shall be delighted !" said Mm; Peters, fluttering, though evidently ^ taken extremely by surprise at. the propoei- en] tion. I will be at bome, Mr. Yavaasour, at of any hour you may be pleased to name." ca "I will call ateleven, then," said Gerald. P? "Good night, Miss Qcay," giving my hand a JJj meaning pressure. "I will see you, also, to- ^ morrow." V . bri "What a gentlemanly, distinguished look- is: ing man," said Mrs; Peters. "Is. he an inti- i* mate friend of yours, Miss Gray f" ^ bu "I know liim very well, indeed," I re- *? v eo phed. Her respect for me was evidently brighten- gg ed by the discovery that I eould boast of such orj aristocratic acquaintances. "I can't think what he can have to speak to to" me about," she pursued. "Have you any idea VI . ) "He did not toll me," I answered. ^ "Well, well; but I am so sorry the gas m wasn't lit If you had only rang for Thorn- coi as, it could have been done directly." sh< . I could not sympathize in her regret; I jit ftfeonly too thankful that under dbver of the j^knees my burning cheeks had escaped no- ^ Ip&ai iwAivJ wi iA>jW I, aaMm ? / ^en/leavor to get a Btttoooolor before I had -E lo encounter the glaraat the tea-table, and to fr think over what had occurred. So there were my fine determinations, my heroic plans, ban- ?u [shed to the winds. Perhaps it was a humil- , iating discovery, that instead of a strong minded heroine, I was only a common-place iti woman, after all; bat I was not humiliated N? by it?I was too happy for that; I felt now bei that all other cares and regrets had been noth- nn ing in comparison to the ope-overpowering ^ grief of feeling that perhaps Gerald was lost tome. Now that I was still Sure of his love, ne] It mattered little what others thought, or how sal they felt toward me. * . tin In the morning Gerald came, and I awaited up-stairs with a throbbing heart, while his in- n? terview with my employer was going on. At for last a summons came forme to go down. I ha obeyed, and found Mrs. Peters sitting very mi] upright on one end of the Bofa, and .Gerald bu; slightly flushed, with a lurking expression of an< unusement on his face. He arose as I enter- ^ 3d, and extended his hand. ^ "I called, as.J,promised, you see, Frances, wh a arrange with Mrs, Peters, the little matter to i pou were discussing with me last evening." sea "I understood from Miss Gray that she was lot aware what the object of your visit was .J :o be," said Mrs. Peters, loftily. "I said he had not told me," I interposed, ^ vith an appealing look at Gerald. An "No.-1 did not, because you would have Iru >een apt to raise objections. Bat I have ez: kn< )lained to Mrs. Peters that you had entered du? nto an engagement with her under unusual ircumstanoes, or rather that unforeseen events iad since occurred, which, rendered it necee- fUB< ary for you to request a release from that en- An ;agement. I have informed her that you neg- his. ected consulting the proper authorities pre- to ( ious to the step you took," with an amused P winkle in his eyes, "and that) therefore, she q lust kindly consent to this unexpected change isn f plans." ofC "J (kyfr^jpgfethere was going to be all P??j tisdifficuf^rm sure," said Mrs. Pctero Sjjj dthadiflconted look. "I wish Miss Greenfield ^ adn't said anything about Miss Gray, then wouldn't have been disappointed." ' froi "I am very sorry to cause you auy in con- was enience," I began apologetically. thei "Oh 1 it's of no consequence; I make no oubt I can find somebody else to suit me. o tell you the truth," she added more graiously, "I like your way with the cbildrenso ? mch that that's the reason why Ihate to u >se you. They are beginning to improve al- " sady. ' the! "Well, I will call for you this afternoon," lid Gerald to me, "if you canbe ready by aattime to return to Mrs. Ellison's." I romised to be ready, and Mrs. Peters think- and ig, I suppose, we might have some arrange- terj tents to make together, hid him good-morn- "> ig and left the room* J "Oh 1 Gerald, how did you manage it?" I jked. "Was she very muoh put out r J?p! "She seemed a good deal startled at first, g01 od raised several objections?said she couldn't the i link of parting with you so suddenly, and so 0 nrth; but I gradually brought her round." told "You didn't enter into particulars, I sup- * . ase?" all 1 "Not at all; I have no doubt she imagines wou am your guardian, or something of the sort, troo i fact I managed the whole explanation so ^ eatly that she will be considerably surprised at tl hen she reads in the papers the announce- yati lent of the marriage of Gerald Vavasour and Wh 'ranees Gray, some threeweeks'hence 1" [to bb continued next week.] [Copies of the Esqntmaa contain Ini the previous chapters' p U Slorj" can be furnished to new subscribers.] 1 cu fttmpalw. or Now Vo^tm. ,: THB CHICAGO 8T0CI TlBBfc The "Union Sftck Yards," as this vast e* riiskmeoVltfeaUed/ is an exatnpteof'tbo * )roughnert with which those Western men what tomes in their way. It lies half an "fc"1 ***' nf 845 acre* ul 'MT, and ^has 6 capacity 21,000 head of cattle, 75,000 hogs, and ,000 sheep, with stalls for aOOhoreea?iu , fbr 11^350^ animals. : When all the There*are now 100 acres of pens forcat, all floored with three-inch pfitak, besides jreat area in which the cattle stand on the Kind. I do sot know what eflfeot thefclring figures win have npatiyottrnmufcUft >y wiH give you, at least, aomeaotwri of the rk which has been done here, and. roost of lieh was accomplished in six months. There ^35 tmtv^thoTrts; ^roved^daSo^aodSe^; million feet of lumber were used on these ucturee, and 500JM pounids.of nailsi .^ ks of railroad track, with axty BWitcnes xj Chicago with the stock yard by a special tCk. .. " - ^ .CVi'-:The water is supplied by artesian wells, dug, e to the depth, of 1039 feet, and another to 5 depth of 1180 feet These send water intanka 46 feet high, whence it is distributed all the pens and sheds, there being ahydran t ekeh of these. The water can be shot off ?m any or all the divisions at pleasure, and guard against lose by fire, fourteen firelgs are custrsbuted over the grounds, and b thousand feetof three-inch hose are at hand But to* strangest story to me waslb find s stock yard a complete littje world cf itf. It bas, ^<^ 3a?i^ident pdpuiou ; from 17o to- 900 men are constantly ployed. by (he company, who take cbarce the animals as they are unloaded ffom<the re, which run into the streets bet ween'the' os. Tb accommodate Its own servants, nusous cottages have been built; but to acmmodate the drovers, and' toe buyers and lers, a huge hotel substantially built bt ick, and complete in every detail of a hotel, found on toeground. Nor is this all?there a roomy exchange, for the transaction of sinem, with a poet office, and telegraph lines all parts of toe country; a bank, acid, of one, this beingin toe United States, newsper, the Chicago Sun, pubfitoeddaHy, so it lerts, at the "union stock yards," and the ^?o complete this inventory^"there i?a vn-hall for public meetings, a church well ended, a Sunday school and' an excellent vsohooL The cdmpany, as I sard above, receives and res for aft the animals sent It has thus seived, penned, fed, watered, and taken acmtof 41,000 hogs, 8000 cattle, and 2000 *>p ia a single day, and witocut toe least ch or delay; and last Thursday it received Md 13' head of beeves and cows, the largest fl mber of cattle ever brought jn a single day. ug upo^ the e they begin to find some demand' for it, gem t yet a large part of it is drawn out and rded up on the open prairie. The whole enterprise has cost so far, fl,- ^ 5.000. If Englishmen had controlled it, ' would have cost five times as much,. If iw York had built it, it would have been fore this, I suppose, in the hands of the g. Being here, it is, Iain told, every way momically and well conducted; and cernly it is a model for the completeness and iplicity of eveiy detail; and for the mantin which, by its hotel, bank, exchange or esroom, post offioe and telegraph, loss of leis prevented and security ensured. Extensive slaughter-houses,, which , do not one to the company, however, are placed ir the yeards. The animals looked comtable and happy, and with plenty of good yand abundance of sweet water, they well gbtbe. Hither come cattle dealers and jere froo^all parte of the Eartern States, cted. For the comfort and health of the tie a Chicago man has contrived a "palace tie-car," which I have, not seen* but in ich, it is asserted, animals shall be allowed make theiong journey from here to the board not only without suffering, but with e and good health. 1 New Yorker misses, in the stock yard, acoustomed feces of Dennis and Patrick, e drovers, th? buyers, the sellers, aftd the rants of the company seem to be mostly lericana. Here or there were German or ih faces, but very few Irishmen. I do not >w if the unexpected quiet of the place is i to the absence of St Patrick, but it is eerily as noiseless as though the whole administion was in;the hands of Quakers; and the who was deputed to show me the place real politely but firmly, like an independent terican boy, the trine urged upon him for trouble. An American boy expects to go Congress, or to be a general or a railroad ndent, and is above "gratuities." 1 O. ?WIDIMI Tf .HJS DAYAUM AAU ABA JAIJJATIUUU. x> ot a little curious, soys the Jhdejmdiente, Me, to know how the telegraph wires and ts have been preserved from injury by the ians, otherwise the communication of the itier forte with one another could not have a kept up. The following stratagem was upttr ana related by a traveler recently n the frontiers, who was asked how this . He said when the posts were erected re were some forty or fifty Indian priaoi in the camp of the army. General Pin* fearing that they might destroy this imtant work of civilization, called them toler, and brought in an electric battery; Do you see this wire which is placed hoe V' ?es,General*1 Well, then, I have caused it to be placed I e, so that you should not pass to the other I or touch it, because if you do, your hands 9 adhere to the Wire." I he Indians smiled, with an incredulous 9 c. The General called them one by one, I made them lay hold of the wires of a bat- 1 ' and then set it a going. I Let go the wires, I tellyou." I [ cannot, sir,- my hands are bemimed." B in cutting off thetourrent of course they I [>ped the wires. Each Indian wis made to fl arintent for himself. Before letting them I he General recommended them to keep fl secret and not tell it to their countrymen. fl f coursSj-ttey did quite the contrary, and 5 fl eveir lndian what they had seen, and H X had happened to them. ftinOe then not fl le has been. damaged, because they now fl lelieve that if they touched the wim they hibe caught and held prisoners till the fl ps came up. ... fl - - * . r.'V, . a I *_ _1 r " What is your Duainess r* saia ine u uugc h lie Tombs, to a prisoner. "I'm an Obeer- H oniat, your Honor. "An Observationist / fl at's that V' "One who looks round daring H day to see what he can steal at night, if it fl seyour Honor. It did not please his fl lot4 and he sent the Obserotionist to the fl itentiary for sixty days. H