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lewis m. grist, Proprietor. J|,n |n)tcpcnhnt Jfamilj ftetospaper: Jfor t|e promotion of tjf* $otitical, ?ottal, ^griraltnral ani> Commercial Interests of tjre gontjr. ;*{terms--*$3.00 a YEAR, is ADVANCE. YOL. 19. YORKYILLE, 8. C., THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1873. ' ' _ 7 .;:;Tr~ ^ 7 , * . j|tt Jftwg. Written for the Yorkville Enquirer. FLORIMOND; OR, Divorce or No Divorce. BY MRS. CLARK WARING. CHAPTER XXIII. BERTA RECEIVES A LETTER. "I need not make enquiries on the score oi health this evening," said Doctor Eglinton, entering Mrs. Ravenswood's elegant, coquettish little parlor, one balmy summer's eve, and shaking hands with the lustrous-eyed object of his idolatry, "for you are as radiant as the "P Z )} Xj veiling buii. "Thank you," said the lady, who, attired in the purest white, with laces and jewels worthy to adorn an Empress, looked again the grande dame of Wabash avenue. "I am feeling so well, I think I shall, perforce, be compelled to abdicate all the rights and privileges of invalidism. Ah ! merci mille-fois for these superb flowers! Your prodigality of these blossoming sweets makes me the envy of the whole house," and Florimond glanced slightly at three or fonr collections of exitics scattered about the room, making the air soft and languid with their perfume. The doctor was, meantime, searching among the flowers which Florimond still held in her hand, and selecting several sprays of scarlet geranium said? "Put this in your hair, and this in your brooch." Smilingly, she obeyed him. "Now you are perfect," he said, regarding the effect with approbation. "My toilette, you mean," said Mrs. Ravenswood, coloring beneath his protracted gaze. "Well, since I owe the restoration of my beloved jewelry and dresses to your indefatigable exertions, I am glad to ple&e you in the matter of dress. By the way, do you recognize these jewels ?" They were antique gems of exquisite beauty?rare flesh-colored chalcedony?the sculpture representing a beautiful female head and bust, supposed to be the celebrated Eucharis. TV n.ommfl tUam mnpp fOnSfilv. the doctor Sflt XU CAaiXilUO kUVlU UJWA V v?j , _ _ on a footstool at Mrs. Ravenswood's feet, and after regarding them attentively, said? "I think I have seen my mother wear them." "Yes," said Florimond; "she gave them to me and other rare articles, which, as keepsakes from her, I value beyond expression." "I have several magnificent sets of jewelry," said the doctor, "all labeled in her own dear hand, 'For Ralph's wife.' Ah! little did she know?would God she could have known? whose fair person they will adorn some day." "To ray mind, it is a doubtful matter whom that fair persou may be?perhaps some one whom you have never yet seen,"said the lady, giving him a coquettish glance from under her heavy lashes. "If I thought there was any doubt about it," said Ralph, passionately, "I should do as poor Clement Dupres did; I should slay myself just here at your feet." "Oh! nonsense," said Florimond. "No, you would not; you would act more nobly. You would bear your disappointraeut like a man, and seeking some other woman worthy of your generous heart, place your affection upon her; and while making her the happiest of women, be yourself a happy man." "I cannot play at battledore and shuttlecock with my affectiqns," exclaimed Ralph, deeply hurt. "I almost wish I could, since it would please you so much ! Why are you always talking to me in this strain? Do you wish to make me miserable, by inculcating in my mind a suspicion that you desire I should be disappointed in my fondest hopes ?" "God forbid that any word or act of mine should ever make you miserable," said Flori raond in a low voice; "but you seem so cerw tain about the divorce, and being so, the disappointment would be so heavy; whereas, if you were prepared for failure?" "The divorce sfo?#be obtained," said Ralph, vehemently. "I am determined ou it, and, moreover, it shall be accomplished as speedily as possible. I have not spoken to you about it recently, because I feared it might excite your mind and retard your recovery; but now I wish to know if I have your consent to take the necessary steps ?" "Yes," said Florimond, her voice scarcely audible. "Then why do you turn so pale ? What is the matter? Why do you tremble so?" Receiving no answer to these impatient questions, Ralph arose and paced the room in violent agitation. He came back, and occupying the footstool again, said? "I do not wish to force your inclinations, Florimond. If you do not wish to marry me say so, and I will go away and never come near you again." "Dear Ralph, you do not at all appreciate my painful position or you would not be angry with me. If Albert Dandridge were no longer a living man, I would place this hand in yours and say, 'Take me?heart and soul I am yours but as long as I have a husband living, it seems to me it is not right to marry another. I cannot reconcile it to myself." "Even when all his rights over you, and all your vows to him, are rendered null and void by the law ?' "Yes?even then." "Well, to me," said Ralph, "it seems a verj hard case that his mere existence, separated Pfrora you as he has been by years of time and a thousand miles of space, should prevent youi marrying another and blessing another, whc loves you devotedly." He broke off abruptly and there was a dead silence. At last Ralph raised his face painfully agitated and flushed. "At least, Florimond, you must decide this matter at once?now and forever. Which shall it be, Albert Dandridge or myself?" "I have already promised to be governed * ? /? 1. . 1 TU _ __ J by your wisnes, iaiiereu rioriraoua. "From that promise I release you," said Ralph, coldly. "You are now free to choose between us." FlorimoDd fingered nervously with the dia monds which gleamed on her fingers anc opened not her lips. The ticking of the clod on the mantel-piece sounded loud and strange "How long do you propose to keep me ii this wretched uncertainty ?" cried Ralph a last, turning toward her abruptly. "Wil you be the blessing or the curse of my life ?' And always passionate and impulsive, anc now no longer master of himself, he caugh j her hands fiercely and said, "Speak?choose j at once?Albert Dandridge or myself." i "You," she said gently. In his delight, ! reckless of everything, with eager tenderness, j he pressed her to his heart, covering her fair ' face with caresses. Overcome with confusion, . hercheeksdyed in blushes, Floriruopd gently disengaged herself, murmuring incoherent words and trying with her soft voice aud ac. cents like distilled honey, to soothe and calm the impetuous spiritshe had aroused. "Forgive me, if I have been rude and impulsive," he said ; "but it was cruel in you to try me so long." "I did not mean to try you," said Floriraond, * gravely. "I was struggling with myself?my , own feelings. Ralph, you must be patient . with this?this*prejudice of mine; a prejudice of education, which I will be able to over, come in time, I suppose, if ymi are putieut i and geutle with me. But I wish you to bear iu roiud I can be nothing to you, not even your affianced wife, until I am legally freed from the vows which still bind me to another. Remember, no more such liberties as you have just taken, or?" "I will not forget again," he said, penitently. "Pray forgive me this offense, and in punishment to myself, I will never again even touch your dainty hand, until it belongs to me rightfully. Oh ! Florimond, you cannot know the depth and the intensity of my love for you. It frightens me when I think of it, and how entirely mv happiness is iu your hauds." "Whatever our future," said Florimond, solemnly, "God give us strength to bear it, and help us both to do our duty." She hastened to chauge the subject by saying? By the way, Doctor, I wish now to explain to you my reasons for not receiving Mrs. Sutherland when she called." "The very thing I wanted to ask you about," said Ralpb. "She told me this morning she had met you on the street, and you cut her dead. I could not comprehend it." In a few pithy words iTorimond told him the incidents of that memorable visit. "And now," she continued, "I-will not have anything to do with her. She is the very quintessence of petted selfishness and wordliness. A silken Sybarite who insulted me when she knew I could no longer minister to her luxury and give her la veuve Clicquot to sip." "I had no idea you had such a temper," said the doctor, laughing. "Your eyes flash lightning?please don't ever annihilate me with such a look. But, seriously, I assure you, there is some great misunderstanding. Mrs. Sutherland has a heart as big as a Cardiff giant, and a great slice of it belongs to you. She put herself to personal inconvenience and personal expense to discover your whereabouts when you disappeared from Avondale. Do you remember the .*xact day of the month on which the circumstance happened?" "It was on the 12th?the very day I came from Avondale." "Ah ! I have it," said Ralph, clapping his hand on his knee. "I knew there was some dreadful mistake. There is a Mrs. Redwood in this city, who has been collecting money on false pretenses. She has been annoying Mrs. Sutherland, myself and others, a great deal. We could not rid ourselves of her persecutions. I remember Mrs. Sutherland telling me, she thought she had given her a quietus at last. Notwithstanding her commands to her servant to be cautious whom he admitted into the house, one day he came to say Mrs. Redwood wished to see her. Mrs. Sutherland says she elevated her voice to a high pitch and said, "Tell her, I am engaged this morning and cannot be annoyed." "Her very words!" said jMorimona, aim then slyly, "And did you take me for Mrs. Redwood too?" "I! I take you for Mrs. Redwood? Impossible!" "Then why did you not know me," said Floriraond. "On that unlucky day, none of my friends seemed to know me. I passed you . at arm's length and you never noticed me." "I find it very hard to believe that," said the doctor. "I should know you among a thousand. I suppose you are only trying to mystify me." "No, indeed ! What I say is true as gospel ; but please go to the door for me aud discover the perpetrator of that ponderous knock. I Doctor Eglinton opeued the door and exJ changing a few words to some one standing [ outside, turned to Mrs. Ravenswood, saying? I "Mrs. Tillsit wishes to know if she can see I Berta." "Berta has gone to bed," said Mrs. Ravenswood, advancing toward the door; "but if you will come again in the morning, Mrs. Tillsit, you can see her." "I have brought her a letter," said Mrs. Tillsit, "which came the very day after you left my house. But I did not know where to ; fiud you, and so?" "A letter!" exclaimed Mrs. Ravenswood ; "a letter for Berta!" "Yes, ma'am, and with my compliments, please tell her not to forget her promise to i ~ ? >? ' me. ! "Very well?good night," aud Florimond, j with the letter in her hand, walked back into i the room. Standing under the gaslight, she | examined it closely, blank astonishment de . 1 1 _ _ f* i piciea on ner iace. ! "Why, who on earth can be writing to ! Berta ?" she asked, abstractedly. I "Open it and find out," advised the doctor, j She turned it over for that purpose. 1 "Oh! Doctor," she cried, turning pale, "it ' | is sealed in black. Somebody is dead. I '; cannot understand it." ' j Again she turned to the superscription, j "Great Heaven 1 the post-mark is Madison' ville, and it is?I believe?Martha Dandridge's handwriting." | "Quite impossible," said Ralph, taking the 1; letter from her trembling hand. 1 "It is directed to 'Miss Alberta Florimond ; Ravenswood, care of Mrs. Samuel Tillsit,' ! j etc., etc. Now they do not know that you go by the name of Ravenswood, and they cannot 1 j possibly have ever heard of such an humble > personage as Mrs. Samuel Tillsit. So calm yourself, my dearest Florimond. Shall I j open it and thereby settle the matter?" i "Ieg,.do," said Jbiorimona, siuaing uowu t i on the nearest seat. Ralph broke the seal and unfolded the letter. Something fell to i the floor at Floriraond's feet. She stretched t! forth her hand and picked it up. It was a 1 fifty dollar note. ' "Well, what is it?" she faltered, looking 1 up at Doctor Eglinton. He was now reading t the letter. Suddenly his face turned red, and then white, and the paper fairly shook in his { j hand. . _ j n , j "For God's sake, tell rae what it is ?" gasped i ,! Florimond. j t< [ "I cannot tell you," said Ralph, in a husky | U , j voice, kneeling on the floor beside her., .''Ypu.j si I must read for yourself,", and he placed .the d r I letter on her lap. She endeavored to readltj' tl but her hand shook so, and her head was in ] j such a whirl, she allowed the letter to drop j it from her hand in despair. {ji "You see how helpless I am ; for God's sake 11< > tell me." a "It is something, Florimond, which will shock you greatly. Perhaps, too, it may pain ti you a little; but to me, it can cause no regret, r< ~ ? i ?-?!? r , | tor it removes tne oniy Darner iu my pencui | v. i happiness. Now you can pledge me this dear h I hand, untramraeled by other ties." u i "Do you mean," gasped Florimond, in a fc faint voice, her wild eyes fixed intently upon y his face, "that?my?that Albert?is?is?" w "Yes, my darling, Colonel Albert Dand- d ridge is dead." She looked so ghastly anjl so h faint, he sought to support her; but she freed h herself from his encircling arras, aud without w a word staggered from the room. re w CHAPTER XXIV. w THE COURSE OF RALPH'8 LOVE. I I One would fancy, looking at the matter ft ! from a superficial point of view, now that poor h Albert Daodridge is dead and safely out of j I | the way, all Ralph Eglinton's matrimonial 01 : difficulties will disappear, like chaff before the j g: wind, and his life glide on smoothly, a season j h of calm content. Wayward aud indulged by j li the world, courted in society, talented, bril- j m liant, possessed of unusual graces of person j di and manners, accustomed to have his own n< way and win all he sought, he now fancied he m would soon realize his fondest and proudest F hopes. Not so, however, as Ralph soon discovered to his cost. Florimond seemed de- ej termined to checkmate him on every side, and le by a continous opposition to his wishes, and a cc constant placing of difficulties in his path, to elevate his passion to the highest pitch of in- h< tensity. Not that such was her object; but ai rather, that her coyness, willfulness and obsti- sc nate reserve, was followed by this result, for the more difficult the pursuit, the more deter- ai mined was Ralph never to relinquish her un- a< til he was crowned with the laurels of success. p< But she sometimes tantalized him almost be- n< yond endurance. The truth is, for a time, ti Florimond's words were as uncertain as an m ! Icelandic geyser, and not even Ralph's fasci- hi j nations could always dispel the noirs vapeurs j ofher melancholy mind. At other times she gf would be the fondest, the most confiding, the w most fascinating of created beings! Well, h< variety is everything in life, and toujours perdrix will, at last,satiate the healthiest appetite, st Not much chance for Ralph to become satiated ! On the other hand, her willfulness and h< obstinacy to his fond wishes, persisting as she re did, in postponing the wedding-day to the longest possible .time, sometimes made him F feel as if he was bordering on the verge of in- di sanity. In the first place, she was invisible to te Dr. Eglinton for more than three weeks after the reception of the news of Col. Dandridge's tli death. In vain, he called every day; sent in ui offerings of the sweetest flowers and most lus- re ! cious fruits; wrote her beseeching notes, mi- is ! ploring only a few moments' interview; lin- F gered around the house after night-fall, ho- su ! ping to catch only a glimpse of her at the fr | window, until at last he was wrought up to i such a state of hopelessness, irritation and an- th ! noyance, he vowed he almost hated her, and th j he would not go near her again. To this re! solve he kept true for four whole days ! and M | then felt as if he would die or go mad, if he su ! did not see her. So he arrayed himself in an m j immaculate suit, fresh from a fashionable tail- o\ | or's hands,stuck a rose-bud in his button-hole, fu ! and could not drive fast enough to the house as j which contained his heart's treasure. Mrs. sh j Ravenswood's parlor door was slightly ajar, gi and looking in, the blood quickened in Ralph's sh veins, for he saw her standing at the window, si' He eutered without knocking. Florimond i m turfied and advanced a few steps to meet him, fo j offering her hand, with a joyful glance and a pi i flush of pleasure on her face, she said? "Ah! and have you come at last? I feared "J ; you were offended with me. I am so glad to to j see you." w "And if you are glad to see me," said Ralph, b; J looking with eager tenderness into her beauti- of ful eyes, "what words can express my happi! ness at seeing you !" su j Florimond's cheeks, so pale before he came, R I now rivalled the hues of the flowers he had 01 | brought her, and with murmured thanks she Y | bent low over them. in ! "Why did you not come yesterday ?" she in I asked in soft reproach, "and the day before, w ' and the day before that?" sh ! "And why did you not see me last week, fo ' and the week before, and the week before i that?" he retorted. In reply, Florimond gave sa : him a half-hesitating,fond, reproachful glance, ot | which made him forget all the tortures of the ar i last few weeks and filled his heart with a de- di j liriura of happiness. On the whole, this first i interview was eminently satisfactory. Flori- m moud was gentle, confiding, sympathetic?in pi I short, lovely as an angel, All the next day w ' Ralph could think of nothing else; he could de i not get her out of his mind, and he went st j through his professional duties laboriously, y( j longing for the day to be over, that he might th I fly to the beloved presence. Unfortunately, at night-fall, he wa3 detained by a case of sudi den illness, which made him a little late. The i sa j parlor door was closed, and no one coming to ; his summons, Ralph opened the door without j any further ceremony and entered. Berta rt I was just coraiug in from the adjoining room. { bl ! "Oh ! uncle Ralph, is it you ?" "Yes, ma chere, where is mamma?" hi "I will tell her," 'said Berta; and return- 111 II ing almost immediately, "mamma is so sorry? 01 ; she rather expected you to-night, but as you di idid not come until so late, 3he has gone to bed tc I with a bad headache." no 11 For almost a week Florimond was again , j invisible. (i "What does make her treat meso?"mut-i I tered Ralph, throwing himself in despair on ; i a chair; "come here, Berta. Tell me the j truth, child, is your mother really sick ?" j w i "She is, indeed?she eats nothing at all, and ' w cries all the time." j c< i He was dashing off a few hasty, passionate j ai i lines to her, when she entered the room. i it "Mon Dieu !" exclaimed Ralph, looking at' I her pale, wan face, with sundry compunctions ' ti ; of conscience for his recent unjust suspicions, j ol ; "What have you been doing to yourself?! t I You have been really ill, Florimond !" I ft "I have suffered a good deal," said Florilond. "And why did you not let me do something 3 relieve those sufferings?" asked Ralph, in jnder reproach. "Instead of that you have but yourself -up from me, and made me entire untold tortures of mind. Now..d.o you bing, dearest, you have treated me right ?" "I?do?not know," said Floriraond, in ag;ation. "Gbd knows it is my desire to do istice to you, but the clashing of ray duty Dward the dead and the living mystifies me nd renders me utterly wretched." "Florimond, you will drive me to destrac;on ! I am not ungenerous in this matter?I sally am not! I can well understand that lolonel Dandridge's death must, necessarily, ave shocked you somewhat, but 1 cannot nderetaud why you grieve so pertinaciously >r a man who has been nothing to you for ears. Considering our relative positions toard each other, I say, again, I cannot unerstand it. If you loved him so well that is death thus grieves ysu so immoderately, ow could you have consented to become my ife?" "You?you do not comprehend," said Florilond ; "it is not that I loved him so well, hich makes me grieve. I did not love him ell, or else I should never have left him. (Ove would have enabled me to overlook his tilings. God knows they were few, and he ad a noble heart; but, instead of loving him, spurned him from me bitterly, when he fell a his knees before me and prayed my foriveness for a fault, the worse than which, undreds of women forgive every day of their ves. Ah ! it is remorse which is killing le?remorse?remorse; for had I, as a wife, ischarged my duty toward Albert?had I ever left him, he would not now be lying a ordered corpse in that far foreign land and loriraond burst into a passionate fit of tears. "This is, indeed, more than I can stand !" cclaimed Ralph, savagely, and he got up and ft the house?to return the next night, of >urse, after passing a miserable day. "Why," said Mrs. Ravenswood, archly, as 2 entered, "I thought you had gone forever, id taken your love and your crossness to imebody else." But Ralph was still cross, aud so irritated id unhappy, it was stamped in legible charters on his face, which Florimond, quickly jrceiving, she was all softness and gracious2ss in an instant, and exerted all her fascinaons to exorcise this dark spirit. With so uch success, Ralph went home that night a iddv man. I' f w Some short time after, Doctor Eglinton bein to make sundry insinuations as to the edding-day.- Mrs. Ravenswood was quite jrrified. "I cannot possibly marry under a year," te said. "A year?a whole long year!" exclaimed it impatient lover. "Floriuiond, you are sally unreasonable." "It is you who are unreasonable now," said loriraoud; "why common decency would :ctate that I should wait at least a year afr?" "But the world here, knows nothing about lat; they will think our long engagement, ider the circumstances, odd," said Ralph in smonstrance. "They never heard of his extence, and I do think it very strange, my lorimond, that you should insist ou paying ich strict respect to the memory of a man om whom you have been so long separated." But, Florimond continued obdurate, and lis matter was a contested point between lera for some time. The exercises of the institution in which irs. Ravenswood was now a teacher, were reimed about this time, and constant employent for her mind, and less leisure to brood /er the past, made her perceptibly more cheeril and uniform in spirits, and more tractable i Ralph had the happiness to discover. True, lA still llflfl sAHsnns nf dpnressinns. but thev ew rarer and she made stronger efforts to lake them off entirely. On one such occaon, when her delicate beauty was clouded in ournfulness, and her dusky eyes breathing rth the very genius of pathos, Ralph reroached her in tender words for her sadness. ."I cannot be merry, dear Ralph," she said. [ am constitutionally, I believe, predisposed j i melancholy, but I hope this failing in me j ill be hereafter counteracted and dispelled : f your own genial buoyancy and elasticity spirits." "Then, why put off that happy hereafter, j ich an interminable length of time?" asked j alph. "Dearest love, let me plead with you ice more to rescind this long year's waiting, ou know I am supremely happy, even now, this constant companionship with you, aud j the knowledge that you are my promised j ife; but for you?I cannot bear that you | lould go through the drudgery of teaching j r a whole year." "It is no drudgery to me, I assure you," I id Florimond, "so do set your mind at ease : i that point. My pupils are all young ladies,! id I am only occupied a few hours of the j ly" "But think of that sweet home, it has given 1 e so much pleasure to make ready for you," i eaded the lover. "Why should it be so long ' aiting for a mistress, and why should these , jar hands work at all, when here are two ' \ ronger ones willing and anxious to work for i ju. Think of the heart which pines for you? te arras which long to shelter you." His tenderness touched her. "Your eloauence is irresistible, Ralph," she tid softly. "True, I cannot marry in less 1 lan a year after Albert's death, but he had | sen dead three months when that letter was :ceived, and so, dear Ralph, in the early J lossoming spring-time, I am thine forever!" j Which compromise Ralph was only too: appy to accept. So, for the next three j lonths?barring a little tantalizing coquetry I 1 Florimond's part, for she possessed no mo- j icum of that female weakness?Ralph Eglin-' in was as enviable and as perfectly happy a J an as dwelt under the blue vault of the Uni-j jrse. j CHAPTER XXV. AMATEUR THEATRICALS. Evercisintr that Dower of attraction with ; O X hich nature had gifted her, and which none ho came within the limits of her influence ! juld resist, Mrs. Raveuswood soon became 1 ' _ j ii acknowledged power and a reigning favor-! e in the institution where she now taught.' >octor Sadler, the President of this instituon, was a man of enlarged views and benevIcnt heart, and was at this period much invested in a Widows' and Orphans' Home, >unded chiefly through the exertions of his j i charitable wife. The affairs of the Home, 11 , had not been well managed, in consequence ( of which it was now greatly in debt and much | in need of funds. It was the custom in this inj stitution to have an annual Christmas festival, ; and as the time for its celebration approached, ; some one suggested .to the doctor that it should ^ ! be made a public matter, that an admittance fee should be charged, and the money realized, : applied to the benefit of the Widows' and Or- j | phans' Home. The idea once promulgated, gained ground l__j ?__u? i ? nf I . aim weigui, aim uimiiy uanmc a dclii^u mfair. Soon the whole ectablisment, and every body connected with it) were in a state of intense excitement over the festival. The pat' rons o7 this flourishing institution were among the wealthiest and most fashionable people in 1 the city, and as the time for the celebration 1 approached, they seemed determined to make 1 it an affair of great splendor and magnitude? 1 worthy of their wealth and social importance. J No expense was spared in getting up scenery, 1 costumes, etc. Mrs. Ravenswood' had not a ? moment to spare; she was studying her own ^ and a half dozen other parts, drilling and re- 1 hearsing in all the hours- free from regular 1 school duties. Doctor Egliuton voted the ' whole affair a great nuisance, as no doubt it 1 was to him, for there was no opportunity now ( for soft tGte-a-tete in the evenings. Mrs. Ra- 1 venswood's parlor was always filled with a J score of misses and young men studying engravings, discussing costumes, rehearsing their 1 parts, aud talking over the matter generally. c At length the imporUfot evening arrived. The entertainment opened with music from a 1 grand orchestra, engaged for the evening, and 1 then began the play, which had been written especially for the occasion, by one of the lit- * erati of the city. The plot was simple aud yet touching, with infinite humor and much pathos in some of the scenes. Interspersed f through its course, were introduced some sweet ballads and chorus singing, in which a the whole school, even the little girls of ten- (j der years, participated. These chorus scenes, j with the happy faces of the little children and their picturesque dresses and joyful young i i i mt r* voices, were particularly pleasing, iney iurnished variety, and enabled some of the pupils to show offtheir fine voices, much to the gratification of parents and guardians. Thoroughly p trained and drilled in their different parts, chief- d fly through the indefatigable exertions of Mrs. a Ravenswood, and upheld by her personal par' ticipation in the acting, these youthful ama- v i teurs on the boards astonished the treraen- i, dous audience which the interesting occasion 1 brought together; by their really praisewor- d thy performance, aud made the hearts of per- e sonal friends beat with gratified pride and ? pleasure. And so sped the brilliant hours on j, wings of enchantment. Florimond was iu all ( the glory of her native element. She sus- a tained the principal r61e of the play, and act- ( ed with such naturalness, such vivacity, such v exquisite pathos, such adorable grace, and J such truthful conception of the character, as proved her to be a true-born artiste, and made ^ her the adored favorite of the hour. And 1; the more the vast audience applauded, the p more our heroine entered into the spirit of the c thing, throwing her whole artiste-soul into the kcharacter she was personating. Her name 3 was on every lip?her praise on every tongue. ^ The dramatic talent she displayed on this j memorable occasion astonished even Ralph, although he had witnessed evidences of it be- u fore, and as his enraptured eyes dwelt upon ? this brilliant creature, so good and pure, as well as fair and gifted; as he beheld the j matchless grace of her every motion, the r, marvelous beauty of her mobile, expressive, c features, and heard the sweetness and the rau- n sic of her incomparable voice, such a feeling of pride and love swelled in his heart as was s| painful in its intensity. The last scene was 3j rao9t impressive, and of no mean artistic e beauty. In the foreground, beside the body p of her dead lover, knelt Florimond, arrayed " in the most tasteful and exquisite toilette of purest white, the heavy tresses of her waving black hair falling over her shoulders, her pale fair face uplifted, her luminous black-fringed j eyes glowing with passionate intensity, bereft j( of worldly hope and love, despairing, remorse- ti ful, crushed, with the cup of poison held aloft J in her hand, she appeared the embodiment of a unearthly loveliness. It was almost a relief to the breathless intensity of the spectators ^ when thecurtaiu fell and the thuuders of ap- ^ plause broke forth. The name of "Alicia! a Alicia!" now resounded from all parts of the S house. Blushing, and still trembling with 1 the emotion of the scene, Florimond was led a before the curtain to be overwhelmed with * bouquets aud to bow her acknowledgments to gi the enthusiastic audience. After she retired 0 the applause was resumed, louder than ever, c and cries of "read us something," "repeat o something," were heard from different parts of n the house. Ralph went, behind the scenes, ^ where confusion now reigned. "Here is Doctor Eglintou," cried a chorus of t! voices; "now, Doctor, must she not go out and fi give us something?" 81 "Now, must I, indeed, Ralph?" said Flori- ^ raond, catching his arm and appealing to him. ( "I don't know how you will avoid it," said e Ralph, smiling down on his betrothed ; "they s' seem in a perfect furore of admiration, and e determined to?" "Avoid, it indeed!" exclaimed Mrs. Suth- k" ?..... lLJr erland, pushing Her on ine stage, raise me curtain!" p "But what on earth am I to repeat?" cried tl Florimond, wringing her hands. n "Something from Mrs. Browning," suggest- d ed Ralph, squeezing her hand, and releasing j3 it just in time to prevent this pantomime from j, becoming a part of the stage performance; I j and before Florimond knew where she was, or d could collect her perturbed thoughts, the cur- s! tain was up and a thousand eyes upon her. n Accepting the inevitable, with the fearlessness ^ of a brave spirit, and remembering Ralph's last words, Florimond advanced toward the ^ front of the stage and repeated "Part the i a Fifth of the Poet's Vow." It was an immense j ri hall, but such was the intense silence that pre- j vnilpd after the first burst of annlause at her i appearance, one could have heard a pin fall. Y( Florimond's voice, full, rich, silver-toned as a ^ bell, sweet as a flute, pure and clear, be- j f< gan? j si "The poet opod his bolted door I C. The midnight sky to view," j a and so distinct was her enuniciation, few, if n any in that vast crowd lost one word of her I utterance. Her rendering of these beautiful | lines was well-nigh faultless ; but there were j gJ several verses which she gave with such thrill- j h i ing, passionate intensity, as moved many to ! a ;ears, and made all hearken breathlessly with .hrobbing hearts. 1 "I have prayed for thoe with bunting sobs, When passion's courfer.wpefree: ), I have prayed for theo*\Vitn silent lips, ' ' In the anguish none could see! They whispered oft, "She sleepcth soft? But I only prayed.for thee. . "Go to i I pray for thee no mojre? . The corpse's tongue issti 11 ^ Its folded lingers point to heaMBif . But point there stiff and chill: No farther wrong, no farther woe Hath license from the sin below, Its tranquil heart to thrill.'! "I charge thee, by the living's prayer And the dead's silentness, To wring from out thy soul a cry Which God shall hear a nd blfae i Lest Heaven's own palm droop in my hand, And pale among the saints, I stand - A tiainf nnmnQnlnnbufl ^ / . Floriraond gave to these lines a thrilling lower which was not all acting. She felt ;hem, and before her, in imagination, lay that nurdered corpse of which she had once spoten to Ralph Eglinton. It was impossible for Ralph not to think of it, too ; he shuddered at ;he recollection, and the circumstances made luch a painful impression on his mind, he regretted he had ever suggested Mrs. Browning ,o Florimond, or indeed ever allowed her to jo back on the stage. But the spell is broken?the silvery waves of his beloved's voice 10 longer float upon the air, and again the :urtain falls amid showers of bouquets and bunders of applause. So, rising quickly, Ralph hastens to her side. Among that large audience were those? nen and women, too?who had been in all parts >f the world, and heard the finest histrionic alentof the age, yet even fhey declared Flo imond's great dramatic fervor, sympathetic lower and marvellous voice, simply wonderul; and without the capacity of questioning whether their highly-trained art-sense was fuly satisfied, they went away with throbbing rearts and quickened pulse, feeling still the >otent charm of her marvelous impersonaions. [TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.J jpgwUmtoiMi ftcadiug. From tlie Greensboro State. THE HOMESTEAD LAW. BANKRUPTCY THE ONLY SAFETY. As we briefly announced, last week, the Suirerne Court of the United States have deciled the homestead laws in the States, so far a they apply to debts contracted prior to the nactment of such laws, to be unconstitution,1. We have no better information now, than irhen we made the announcement, but there 3 no doubt that this decision has been made. ?he case arose in Georgia. The point deciled is, that the application of the homestead xemption to preexisting debts, violates that >rovision of the constitution of the United itates which prohibits any State from enactng laws impairing the obligation of contracts. )f course, this determination-strikes directly ,t the root of the decision of the Supreme }ourt of North Carolina, in the case of HilJ, s. Kessler, which was to the effect that the lomestead exemption applied to old debts, t is useless to discuss the questions of law inrolved, nor do we intend doing so ; for he decision of the highest tribunal of the aud 13 a hnahty irom which there is no ap>eal. It is true, that previously to this deision, the current of authorities in the various itates, in which this question had been conidered, was in consonance with our own Suireme Court; and there would, therefore, eem to be abundant reason to sustain our rudges in the view they took of the law. The matter being, however, finally deterained, the only question that remains to be onsidered is, "What shall the people do ?" )f course, there is no protection to those who ave taken the benefit of the exemption laws, udgment creditors, those whose judgments epresent old debts, will proceed to issue exeution, sell the homestead, and make their loney. But the Congress of the United States, tiortly before the termination of its last sesion, in all probability foreseeing the possibil;y of such a decision of the Supreme Court, nacted the following statute, which we reublish for the information of our readers: AN A CT to declare the true intent of the act approved June 8th, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, amendatory of the general Bankrupt Law. "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of lepresentatives of the United States of Amer;a in Congress assembled, That it was the rue iutent and meaning of an act approved uue 8th, 1872, entitled 'An Act to establish uniform system of bankruptcy throughout be United States, approved March 2, 1867/ bat the exemptions allowed the bankrupts by be said amendatory act should, and it is ereby enacted that they shall, be the amount llowed by the constitution and laws of each itate, respectively, as existing in the year 871; and that such exemptions be valid gainst debts contracted before the adoption nd passage of such State constitution and aws, as well as those contracted after the ame, and against liens by judgment or decree f any State court, any decision of any such ourt rendered since the adoption and passage f such constitution and laws to the coutrary otwithstanding." The amendment of June 8th, 1872, as can e readily gathered from the wordiug of the bove statute, gave to debtors the benefits of he Staft exemptions existing in 1871; and the aregoing declaratory act gives legislative contructiou of the meaning of such amendment. Vhile State constitutional conventions and jgislatures, by ordinances and enactments, annot impair the obligation of contracts, the /ongress of the United States has the undoubtd power to do so; and by this declaratory tatute has established the validity of these xemptions. But they are not valid as a matter of course, iome action must be taken by the debtor, to end?r these provisions beneficial; and absoutely the only remedy left him, is to file his etitiou in bankruptcy. Should he not do his, he is at the mercy of his creditors, and lustgive up all he possesses to satisfy their emands. The remedy being apparent, no aore need be said, only that nothing but negsct to take advantage of Congressional legisation, will deprive the debtor of his property, ly taking the benefits of the bankrupt law, ebtors have all indebtedness, whether in the hape of judgments, or not, wiped out; and lay commence the world anew, with their omesteads secured to them. Therefore, what he State legislatures and courts have failed i accomplish, has been secured to the poor ebtor by the Congress of the United States; nd if he fails to avail himself of his legal ights, he has no one to blame but himself. A Naw Plan to Avoid Bad Debts.?A leorgja contemporary is out in favor of the speal of all laws for the collection of debts, 'his, it contends, would place all upon a per?ct equality, and there would be no debts five debts of honor. There would be no redit save such as was obtained by means of character for honesty and integrity. A lan's fair name would be worth something a him, and he would feel a pride in knowing hat he could go to any merchant where he 'as known and obtain credit and give no lien ive a lien uponiiis honesty, no security save is fair name. Men who now actually take dvantage of the law for the purpose of evad J ing the payment of their just and hopeft j debts would, be taught the ignpmin///of even j question! nf^th?. propriety of; paying .to, the ,ut! most farthing. The tone and characterof tbe ! people would be elevated, and he who" would : not pajr for what he .obtained wpnld be looked ; w.w fr ! would be compelled, to go Jp,work and 6arp ; their living in some honest and UMfuTcalling. It! :: .V?tf i n/uu -j PUUfCTUAllTly' Howoften we hafd heard bhiiness men censured for dilatormess in keeping therrappomtments, or for failuro in keeping their engagements for the delivery of goods, etc. Tailors, 1 ~L' I- 'xilKlulUrfnil illUitfiHUM > aiiue-iuaKerg, luitiiinivauu uino-uiaavis, uvvm to receivethe lion's share of this censor^ but it is by no means confined to them, being applicable, more or less, to parties engaged in almost every.branch of trade. .it.: ,1 The lack of punctuality is seemingly one of the least excusable evils to-, which humanity is addicted. It is astonishing, after all the experiences to which people, have been subjected, and the annoyances which associations, and even whole communities, have suffered through the lack of this one quality, which seems so necessary to the smooth running of the machinery of everyday life, that it sbonld receive so little attention in daily affairs. Its value cannot be estimated by a single occurrence, or by one day's duration,, but by its constant recognition in the innumerable transactions of a lifetime. Every man is, to some extent, dependent on his neighbor, let his position in life be what it may. It will thus be seen bow important it is that his every engagement should be promptly met, in order that the utmost confidence may be placed in one another. On the other hand, the failure of, or delay in, the performance of his duty in this respect not only possibly inflicts injury on those with whom he deals, butabo upon himself, by indulgence in so pernicious a habit. Punctuality is of the utmost importance to the success of every one, and the only reason for the lack of it in some persons is a want of energy or earnestness. They make rash promises, without due consideration as to whether they can fulfill them; their procrastinating spirit makes them late in everything they at' ? * Tfc 1 _ 1' _ / tempt to ao. joesiaee oeiog a source 01 coutinual annoyance, such persons seldom rise to any eminence in life ; we lose confidence in them, and thus the reverse of eminence is generally the result in their case. This fact, together with the record of many distinguished men who have attributed their chief suocess to the observance of punctuality, should be a caution to ail to make no promises or engagements which they have not at least a reasonable. prospect of fulfilling. By the observance of this suggestion they will establish for themselves a reputation that will be at least pleasant and cannot but be beneficial.?Economist. THE NEW POSTAL REGULATIONS. The Post Office Gazette for April, published at Washington, has the following reminder to publishers, which is also of interest to the general public: The attention of publishers is called to the necessity of arranging their business to conform to the new postal regulation cutting off the transmission of free matter after the30th of June. Attached to the appropriation bill for the Post Office Departmental the last session is the following: , "Provided, That all laws and parts of laws permitting the transmission by mail of any free matter be, and the same is hereby repealed from and after June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-three." [Approved March 3,1873]. This law will exclude all exchanges between publishers, and weekly newspapers, which are printed in the county where delivered, from free circulation. Hegular postage must be paid, as provided for other matter of this class. From and after the 30th of June, then, newspapers and periodicals now sent free will be subject to the following quarterly rates of postage:, Not exceeding 4 ounces in weight, sent to any part of the United States, weekly, 5 cents; semi-weekly, 10 cents; tri-weekly, 15 cents ; six times a weeek, 30 cents; daily, 35 cents. tn j;? a ?j ?* ?q ?;xceeuiug t uuucra auu uui> citccuiug t> ounces, 10, 20, 30, 60 and 70 cents. Exceeding 8 ounces and not exceeding 12 ounces, 15, 30,45, 90 cents, and $1.05. Exceeding 12 ounces and not exceeding 16 ounces, 20, 40, 60 cents, $1.20, and $1.40. My Fiest Newspaper.-??The following is the experience of a mechanic concerning the benefit of a newspaper: Twenty years ago, I lived in the town of D., in Indiana. On returning home one night, for I am a carpenter by trade, I saw a little girl leaving my door. My wife then met me at the door with a smile, which is encouraging to a tired mechanic after a hard day's labor. She said Mrs. had sent her little girl after their newspaper which she had borrowed. We sat down to tea. We had only been married six months, and, of course, had no children. My wife said to me, calling me by ray given name, "I wish yon would subscribe for the newspaper, for it is so much comfort to me when you are away from home." My answer was, "I would like to do so, but you know I owe a little payment on the house and lot. It will be all I can do to meet it." She said, "If you will take the paper, I will sew for the tailor to pay for it" I subscribed for the paper. While resting one noon and looking oyer it, I saw an advertisement of the county commissioners to let a bridge that was to be built I put in a bid for building the bridge, and got the job, on which I made three hundred dollars, which enabled me to pay for the house and lot easily, and also for the newspaper. If I had not subscribed for the newspaper, I would have known nothing of the bridge contract, and eould not have met the payment on my house and lot A mechanic never loses anything by taking his county paper. How to be Somebody.?Don't stand sighing, wishing and waiting, but go to work with an energy and perseverance that will set every object in the way of your success flying like leaves before a whirlwind. A milk and Water way of doing business leaves a man in the lurch every time. He may have ambition enough to wish himself on the topmost round I _/ *! - l. J J * L..i ?LA or me jauuer or auixese, uui u uo uob uut me go-a-headitivenesa to pall himself op there, he will inevitably remain at the bottom, or at best, on the very low ronnds. Never Bay I can't, never admit there is such a word; it has dragged its tens of thousands to poverty and degradation, and it is high time it was stricken from our language; but carry a whole lexicon of I can and wills with you, and thus armed, every obstacle in the way of your success will vanish;' Never envy your neighbor his Success, but try and become like him, and as much better as you can. If at first you don't succeed, don't wilt down with despondency and I can't, but gird on the armor of I can, and my wdrd for it you will. K&* A hanging garden of sponge is one of the latest novelties in gardening. Take a while sponge of large size, and sow it full of rice, oats or wheat. Then place it for a week or teq days in a shallow dish, in which a little water is constantly kept, and as the sponge will absorb, the seeds will pegin to sprout before many days. When this has fairly taken place, the sponge may be suspended by means of cords from a hook in the window where a little sun will enter. It will thus become a mass of green, and can be kept wet by merely immersing it in a bowl of water.