Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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lewis m. grist, Proprietor. I Am f nkpcitirtnf Jfantilg ^Idwspajjcr: Jor tjjc |)romotio]t of tbe political, Social, Agricultural nub Commercial Interests of % Soutj). |TERMS?$3.00 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE. VOL. SO. YOEKYILLE, S. C., THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1874. NO. 25. , " LTU mj m fa (Dtigiual J>t?rg. I Written for tho Yorkvillo Enquirer. HOLLINGWOOD HOUSE. BY MRS. HENRY DEAS. CHAPTER XII. "Miss Hollingwood,"said Mrs. Norton, o^e afternoon, "if you have no objection, I would like to walk over to the town, as I have a little shopping to do. Mr. Temple can spare me very well, for one or two hours, I think." "Certainly," said Ellinor. "I dare say the walk will do you good, you have been so much shut up of late. My grand-father generally sits in Mr. Temple's room about this time, you know." Accordingly, Mrs. Norton donued her bonnet and shawl, and set out upon her expedition at an hour, which allowed her ample time to go and return before dark. It was a chilly and somew'iat unpleasant afternoon, in the early part of September. This month, usually a very pleasant one in the upper part of South Carolina, where the autumn is, by far, the loveliest season of the year, had come in with an unfavorableaspect; gloomy-looking clouds hung low in the sky, otmnsnhprp was damDand raw. Mrs. Norton wrapped her light covering more closely around her, and stepped on at a quicker pace, as she emerged from the outer gate and encountered the cool, keen wind that blew freshly along the open road. Her face was very pale, and her eyes looked heavy and were encircled by dark rings; but this might have been the effect of want of rest for several consecutive nights. Once or twice she stopped and looked back, in an undecided mauner, as if uncertain whether to proceed on her way or not; then, slightly shaking her head, she pressed resolutely forward, as if there was a task before her which she could not shirk, yet which cost her an effort to perform. "I have vowed it!" she muttered, with an upward glance. "How else shall I expiate my crime ?" At length she reached the town, and bent her steps at once in the direction of that part of it mostly occupied by shops and places of business. First, she stopped at a dry goods establishment, where she made a few unimportant purchases. Her next destination was a drug store. The proprietor was out, and his clerk, a verdaut-looking youth, lately initiated into the business, stepped briskly forward to receive her orders. "When I was here before," said Mrs. Norton, with some hesitation in her voice, "I saw a liquid that was said to be very useful in destroying flies, and other insects. Have you any of it still ?" "Can't you recollect the name, marra ?" "I don't think I can?but I remember it was put up in little green phials, and had 'Instantaneous Death' written on it. I heard Mr. tell some one that it was a quick poison." "Oh! I kuow what you mean," said the boy; "wasn't it this?"?handing down from a shelf one of the phials she had described. "Yes, I think it was. Is it really so useful as it professes to be?" asked his customer, touching it with a trembling hand. "Marm ?" "Does it really kill insects so easily ?" "It will kill any living thing that tastes it," replied the clerk. "I've heard folks say as I how 'twas very dangerous on that account, and nobody that isn't very careful ought to meddle with it. A gentleman once bought some and poured it in a saucer and set it on the window-seat, and his dog come along and saw it, and I reckon he must have been powerful thirsty, for he licked the saucer clean out; and there weren't any more of that dog ' in five minutes' time than his dead carcase. You see it's got a kind of a sweet taste, and that's what draws the flies." "I?I am almost afraid to get it, if it's so dangerous," said Mrs. Norton, in a low, unsteady voice. "Oh ! you needu't be afraid, marm, if you are careful; only you mustn't let no children nor animals get hold of it. The right way is to put the saucer on top of some high shelf, or some place of that kind, where it's out of reach ; and in a few hours' time you'll see the flies laying around the saucer and on the floor like?like blackberries," said the boy, hesitating for a simile, and apparently unable to <1.1,7 mnm unnniMriato ttinn tllis 1JUU liiVt V VSIMW V...W. "It must be very strong," said the housekeeper. "Strong! I believe you. Twenty-five or thirty drops would kill a man ; it don't take more than about twenty, in a teaspoouful of water, to kill all the flies you need at one time. But you can see all the directions on the bottle. Shall I put up one for you ?" Mrs. Norton hesitated?took up the phial, read, or appeared to read, the directions?put it down again?and finally answered? "Yes, I will take one." The clerk, not being particularly observant, did not notice that her voice faltered, and her face assumed a paler hue, as she gave this answer. He wrapped up the bottle in paper, tied it elaborately with a piece of red cord, scribbled, with a pencil, the word "Poison !" in large letters on the outside, and then handed it to his customer, with the air of one who has fulfilled his duty in every particular, and in the most satisfactory manner. "You'll remember to be very careful," he said, in an important tone, imitating his employer, as he laid it on the counter. "Yes, I will remember. "What is the price ?" "One dollar. These sort of things comes high, you know." Mrs. Norton paid the dollar without a word, and taking up her purchase, quickly left the store. "Poison!" The word danced continually be fore her eyes, as clutching the little parcel tightly beneath her shawl she hurried on, unconscious that her white, scared face, even under the screen of her black veil, was attracting the attention of the passers-by. Not that she need have feared that they could read her secret; that was known only to her own guilty thoughts, and to the unseen Power to whom those thoughts were as visible as light. One or two persons, glancing at her as she passed, remarked, when she was out of hearing, "That woman looks insane scarcely one that noticed her, but turned to look a second time. She heeded none of them, but hastened on at an ever quickening pace, until she emerged from the town and came again ! into the road ; then she slackened her speed ! and drawing a long breath, as if fatigued, proceeded in a more leisurely manner in the direction of Hollingwood House. ! She entered by the back-gate, and wen! | quietly to her own room. There, having thrown off her bonnet and shawl, she locked ' the door, and sat down to examine afresh the bottle of "Instantaneous Death." It seemed to possess a curious fascinatior for her. She turned it about, examined the stopper, and read and re-read the directions ! pasted around it. They were very simple and explicit, ending with a warning, in italics, tc use the contents with the utmost caution, foi fear of disastrous results, and especially ad vising purchasers to keep it out of the way oi all children and ignorant or inexperienced ! persons, as a small quantity would prove fatal ; to any one who swallowed it. For clearing s i house of troublesome insects it was declared I - to be invaluable. I "I've taken the first step," she murmured, ! at length, as she rose from her chair. "Bui ! this is the easiest?how shall I go on ?" She looked around for a safe place in which to deposit it, and finally selected the uppei shelf of a closet, where it would be safe from observation. "Even if any one should see it, it would tell no tales," she remarked, as she carefully destroyed the piece of paper which had the word "Poison" scribbled upon it. "And if mji secret should be found out afterward, it will not matter to me; I shall not be here tc know." She put away her things, smoothed hei hair, put on the silk apron she usually wore, and unlocking her door, proceeded quietly tc her patient's room. She found him in good spirits, laughing and chatting with Col. Hollingwood, who had been sitting with him most of the afternoon. "So you ran off* and left me, Mrs. Norton," i .i_ _.t ??T ne said, pieasanuy, wiieu one cubucu. x haven't missed you, though, never fear." "I am glad to hear it, sir; I thought I might be spared for an hour or two." She did not look at him when she spoke, but busied herself putting some little things to rights on a table near the bed. "Indeed, I wish you would go out oftener ; I hate to keep any body prisoner?it's bad enough to be couderaued to it myself." He did not recollect, or perhaps was ignorant of the fact that he was generally unwilling to be left alone, and always liked some one to be within call, even if he did not require their immediate attention. Charity had testified to his being an easy-tempered gentleman to wait upon ; but she might have added that he was apt to be cross, if she absented herself longer than he thought proper, from his room. "By the way," said Col. Hollingwood, "Scipio, who brought the mail, just now, said that while he was waitiug at the post-office, he j saw your friend, Mr. Russell, among the new! ly arrived passengers. I asked him if he was coming on here; but he could not tell. He thinks, however, that he carried his valise into the hotel. Sydney's face clouded slightly at this unexpected information. He had reasons of his own for not particularly desiring to see nis friend just at present. Mrs. Norton gave a little start at the mention of Russell's name, and a glass aud spoou she held in her hand rang nervously against each other. She soon made some pretext for leaving the room, and returned hastily to her own apartment. "Russell here, too !" she exclaimed. "Can it be?it must be?the same ! How strange, i how mysterious, that both these men should be brought again at the same time within my reach? Is it for a double purpose? Oh, heaven! I see nothing but blackness before me ! Yet I must go on ! I am led by an inexorable Fate !,r She sank upon the floor, and clasping hei I hands together, mused long and fixedly. "Now that the time is at hand?and I cannot, dare not, retract?for have I not made a ! solemn vow ??I feel as though I longed foi . some power stronger than myself, to draw nu back! "And yet, must I not fulfill my duty' Duty 1 Is it a duty ? Yes, for the dead musl be avenged. I have sworn it?I have sworr j it! My oath is recorded in Heaven. I can i not perjure myself! And yet which is worse? that, or? She shuddered and hid her face. "This is weakness?imbecility," she ex claimed, presently, springing up and com 11 J .1 I mencing to pace, excueaiy, up una uowu | while a strange, wild light gleamed in hei ; eyes. "Have I not weighed my resolutior ! again and again?have I not gone over 1113 reasons sufficiently often to convince me of th< justice of my purpose ? It is not I who an i doing this ! It is a strong power which use: ! me as an instrument. I have placed raysel under its guidance, and it forces me, irresisti | bly, ouward. Did I say I wished a yet strong er power to draw me back ? Forgive me, ni3 mother! but the time is not come for youi j forgiveness yet. I have not earned it?I hav< J not earned it?I have not fulfilled my vow | Have I not waited all these years for a fitting opportunity?and now that it has come, conic I be weak enough to shirk it?" 1 Presently the wild gleam faded from hei | eyes, and a softer look stole over her face. I "He loved me once," she murmured. "Ir ; those happy days, when we used to meet bj ; the dear old mill?and afterward, too.thougl I not for long?what tender words he used t< i sneak ! How indulgent he was?how kind | IIow patient with my ignorance?my fail ! ings! And how he praised my beauty?h< used to stroke my curls and call me his 'litth I Elsie!' And now he does not even knot me. And he will not?on this side of tlx : grave. Beyond it, we may be together soon | But I dare not speculate on that. It ii enough for me that I have my work to do, anc | that it must be done?and done soon. Foo ; that I am to waste ray time in vain thought and recollections, which only serve to mak< me weak. But I have other recollectionsay, which nerve me for my task, and I mus i cherish none but them. Recollections of i i deserted home, a broken heart, a grave in tlx ; church-yard made by me?through him ! C i ray sin ! my sin ! What but blood can wasl | it out? Does not the Bible say, 'a life for i life?' Will not a curse cling to tne forever ; if I do not expiate ray crime ?" The wild, haggard look returned to he face. "My resolve is taken?nothing on earth can shake it," she muttered, in a low, unearth , ] ly tone. "My path lies before me?I must , ! tread it; there is no escape from destiny, and j destiny leads tne on. The cup is at my lips, j and I must drink it!" t Would Ellinor have known her silent, com> posed, undemonstrative house-keeper, could ; I she have seen her now ? 5 J After a pause, she went to the closet where : she had placed the phial, took it out again , j and examined it. 51 "It might have been better to get laudaj. nura," she said. "But after all this is safer? ' | ! and just as sure. It cannot fail. Stop?shall , I try an experiment ?" She took a small saucer from the shelf, . j poured in it about ateaspoonful of water, and f!then, very carefully uncorking the phial, [ | added a few drops of the liquid it contained, [ | and placed the saucer, containing the mixture, l ; on top of her wardrobe. I ! "Now, if that succeeds," was her reflection, "I can put faith in all the rest of its assu, I ranees. If it fails, it is well I should have ; been forewarned. I must wait until to-ruor row is past?nothing can be done until then." ? ... . .1 _ , j She re-corked ana put away tne nine uui. tie, washed her hands, and with her usual , tranquil face and quiet step, returned to Sydney Temple's room. | She found him alone, Col. Hollingwood . having left him a few moments before. His | cheerfulness seemed to have vanished, and he - greeted her entrance with a weary sigh. [ "I am dreadfully tired of being here, Mrs. 11 Norton," ho said, in a gloomy tone. "Do you feel badly this evening ?" she .1 asked. "Oh ! I don't know?not particularly. ,: But I am sick of lying on my back. I should i think you would be equally tired of waiting . | on me." "I am not at all tired." "You have been very kind to me, I am sure." A sort of spasm crossed her face, but he could not see it. "I wish, for your sake, that Charity would ? , 1 _ _ get well. She has been sick quite a long time, hasn't she ? I forget how long it is ; I , don't keep much note of time, now." "It is a week, I think." The thought crossed her mind suddenly, as ' she spoke, that Charity might be well enough J to return very soon?perhaps to-morrow ! | And then what would become of her plan? i She hardly knew whether to hail the possii bility as a relief or not. But it set her to ! thinking afresh, and more intently than j before. "The fact is," said Syduey, who seemed to ! be in a conversational mood, "I ought to be | up aud about, to attend to my business again. ! If I'm not soon at home, I'm afraid things | will go to smash?and enough has done that! 1 already. Everything's going wrong, as far as I ! I can guess, aud I have to idle my time ! ! here! Well, it's a punishment for my con-! j founded carelessness, I suppose." He was in trouble of some sort, then. But j | / I I after all, she need not care ; it did not matter j to her?as far as that went, it would soon not: matter to him either. "One thing I must be thankful for," he' continued, "and that is that I didn't break Miss Holling wood's neck. How she escaped j is incomprehensible to me; but it was a great ! mercy." "Would you not like to have a light?" i asked Mrs. Norton, rising. A hard feeling came over her at the mention of Ellinor's , name. "Just as you like?I don't care," was the impatient answer. He thought the housekeeper's manner cold and disagreeable, and | | did not attempt to draw her into further con- j | versation that evening. CHAPTER XIII. On the following morning, Mr. Russell, ! ; wearing a face decidedly the reverse of cheer- j ful, mounted a horse which he had ordered from the hotel stables, and set out on a visit * A. - _ "IT. Ill 1 | 10 XlUlllUgWUUU. j 1 1 i It was a bright, balmy day?quite a contrast ! to those which had preceded it?and the fresh ! ' soft breeze, laden with pleasant odors, the j ! blue sky and golden sunshine, and the lively ! ^! twitter of the birds, seemed enough to drive j ' i away the clouds of discontent from any one's 1 heart and brow. Such was not the effect, how". ever, which they produced on the moody horse- . "' mau, who had no thought to bestow on the j generous aspect of Nature, and in his best J frame of mind, cared but little for her charms. " The sordid cares of life were weighing heavily ; " upon him, and all his thoughts were concen-1 ? trated upon the vexing question of how to j p meet the difficulties which encompassed him j 1 : on every side. r | "Sydney must do something," he solilo} j quized, as he rode along. "Sick or not sick,; 1 he must make an arrangement of some sort, j 31 A broken head can't incapacitate him forever , f from attending to business ; and I'll not leave , " | him to-day until I get matters settled to my | * j satisfaction. If I hadn't mot with such a r confounded run of ill luck, last week, it would J r not be so bad ; but as things stand now, 11 J j can afford to wait no longer. Just as I was j j beginning to see my way out a little, too?it's j > too bad ! But I am too great a fool to stop j ': when I ought. Well, one comfort is, Sydney ! can help me if he chooses; and he'd best! r choose, if he has an idea what's to his advan-! ! 4on,? TTo L- nnii'c T Vinun liim enfo nrwl auro i and if ever the time comes to make him feel j I J ray power, he'll rue it, even though I suffer | 1 with him!" ) Reflections of this nature did not add to !' the agreeable expression of Mr. Russell's : - countenance, or to the amiability of his tera-1 ^ per ; and he struck his spurs into his horse's | 2 sides with a sufficient degree of sharpness to 0 make that unoffending quadruped give an 2 indignant snort and bound, and then set off | 1 at a headlong pace down the road. 3 The impetuosity of his career was checked ; 1 by a sudden jerk of the bridle, as Russell 1 came in sight of another steed and a dis3 mounted rider at some distance ahead of him. 2 An elderly gentleman was fumbling at the -. girth of the animal, which had become loos-: t ened, and was apparently unable to rectify i the damage. As Russell came up, he recog5 nized a Grenville face, and stopped to proffer ) his assistance. ? ; "Mr. Bradley, I believe ?" he said, touching *; his hat. > i "That's ray name, sir," said the old gentle; man. "I haven't the pleasure of rememberr ing you." "No, sir, I am a stranger here; but you 1 have been pointed out to me on one or two - occasions by a mutual friend. My name is Russell. Can I offer you any help? Is any- ent thing broken ?" I Ru "Why, yes," said Mr. Bradley, "this con- j ' founded leather must be rotten, I suppose, j to and has given way, and I can't exactly man-1 ' age to mend it. The fact is, my right hand ! yoi is too rheumatic to be good for anything, and j gut I'll be very much obliged to you if you'll set: sto it to rights for me." : ha Russell immediately produced a knife from | Br his pocket, and set to work to repair the bro-' gol ?? o fool- iii wtiiph lip diqnlrtVPil nnn- 1 to tVCIi glltii) a w*o? IM MW sidtrable ingenuity, and which he accomplish- tec ed so satisfactorily as to elicit the old gentleman's warm thanks. pu "I'm much obliged to you?much obliged, up I'm sure," he said, when it was finished. "If fin' you, or somebody else, had not come to my thi assistance, I should have been reduced to the Pr( necessity of walking the rest of the way; and though I am not going very far, I should not vel have relished the tramp under this September ret sun. Very warm to-day?don't you think so?" \ his He was mopping his face with a huge red silk pocket-handkerchief, as he spoke, for the exertions he had been making previous to Russell's timely arrival, had, indeed, thrown him into a profuse heat. "It is rather warm," said Russell. "Shall I help you to mount, sir ? As we appear to sm be riding the same way, perhaps I may be of some further service to you." "Very happy of your company, sir," said 001 the old gentleman, "though I trust I shall not * ill T) { have any more Dreaaaowns. i in on my wuy to Col. Hollingwood's?a fine old place about a mile beyond here; perhaps you know it ?" wo "Why, that's just where I am going," said 01 Russell. "Indeed ! Friend of the family, sir ?" "Yes; that is, Col. Hollingwood kindly in- Pa' sisted on ray paying him a visit, some time back, as I had a very intimate friend staying ? there?Sidney Temple, of Columbia." "Why, he's still there, ain't he ? I heard rea he was laid up from an accident, and likely t0(' to remain there some time longer." That is the case, I know," said Russell, "though from late accounts, he was improv- e ^ u 1 Si . sih "Glad to hear it. Too many fatal accidents occur from rash driving; it's lucky the Colonel's pretty grand-daughter didn't suffer ne] on that occasion. Splendid girl, she is, sir." "Very," said Russell, adding to himself, D0' "though I never could find it out." . . rel "T'tfn Irnntirn V*or cinpp alip WAS that hi(*h." I / said Mr. Bradley, measuring with his hand about a foot above the saddle. "I've been ? the family solicitor ever since the Colonel set- < tied down in this neighborhood, and that's ^ forty years ago. I knew his wife?though < she didn't live long after they came here?and je^ his children, every one of them ; a fine family they were! but now they're gone?every &rr( one gone?most of them having died young and unmarried, and Ellinor is the only living j- ^ grand-child. Sad?very sad !" sur "Very, indeed," said Russell ; "Miss Hoi- , lingwood appears to be devoted to her grand- j^u father." , "So she is ; and he to her. It's very natu- < ral, living, as they do, apart from other gQ people. I must own, though, I'd like to see her happily married before the Colonel dies ; jj. j it is a melancholy thing for a young creature like that to be left alone in the world. She r need not be dependent on any one, however, ^jg that's one comfort, for, of course, all her grand-father's property will go to her." on "He is very wealthy, I believe?" ?iid Russell. am "Why, yes ; the family property has always ? been considerable, and by judicious invest- ej( ments, it has been swelled into a pretty toler- ? able sum. I flatter myself that I have been pr instrumental in some arrangements which < have been very profitable to the Colonel; he < never was very much of a hand at money < matters. We lawyers, you know, si r, have to ! tj,a be sharp, and I never neglect my clients' in- < terests, in the smallest particular. Now, I've car just completed a nice little settlement, which makes my old friend some thousands richer in < pocket ; a mere trifle to him, perhaps, but ga|( which I would not have been justified in neg- tea lecting, and every little tells." liki Russell mentally wondered, as he glanced jno at the old gentleman's capacious pockets, d0, whether the few thousands of which he spoke ? so unconcernedly, were at that momeut in his my possession ; and thought, in that case, how atj, pleasant it would be to transfer them to his I |1CI own. It was a point, however, on which he ! tjia did not feel at liberty to seek enlightenment, j ?co "Noble old place, this is," remarked Mr. J pr? Bradley, as they rode up the long avenue, j ? "l'ity to think it should ever pass mto omer ] hands!" taj "Is there any prospect of its doing so, sir?" t,ru asked Russell. < "Oh ! I mean when the Colonel dies, of ed, course. If Ellinor remains single, of course, j tin it will eventually go out of the family; aud ' nie if she marries, why her name and her de-1 ' scendants' names will be changed. A thou-1 goi sand pities the fine old stock of Hollingwoods , to i should die out! 'Tis a name long venerated \ ' in our State, and one around which honors j the have clustered thickly in days gone by. In j mo the Revolution, sir, there wasn't a braver set i it i of men in the army than those that went from ! swi that family?and a pretty good number there [ ' was of the name, too. But this is a world of: goc change, Mr. Russell, and the older we grow the . car moro fully we realize it." ; mu Russell thought his companion was getting air prosy, and was relieved when they found , 1 themselves at the gate. A servant, who saw J my their approach, ran out to take their horses, (to onrl fY>l TTnllinfwood himself, aoneared on ! me """ ? ? the front porch to receive them. to "Welcome, gentlemen, both !" he cried, in ; wh his cheery, hospitable voice. "Walk into the , 1 library, Bradley?you don't need to be shown I 4 the way. Mr. Russell, I'm glad to see you j ly ' back?hope you intend making Hollingwood j 4 your headquarters again ?" ! fllc "Thank you, sir, I am only up for a day or ! y0, two, and have put up at the hotel. I thought | y0i I'd ride over this morning and see you all, ' ; and enquire after Sydney." ! jur "Oh ! he's doing finely ; will be delighted ; str to see you, no doubt," said the unconscious oul Colonel. "I'll let him know directly that' ' you are here. He is beginning to sit up a I en I little now, which he finds a great relief. How J "in did yon and my friend, Bradley, happen to 1 mi fall in with each other ?" | wh "I overtook Mr. Bradley on the road, sir, j tio where I found him in some difficulty with a wh broken girth, and was fortunate enough to be ' able to rectify it." I doi "Ah ! that was lucky. John," as a servant I vai ;ered, "does Mr. Temple know that Mr.' as! ssell is here ?" ! am 'Yes, master; he asks Mr. Russell please j en I walk up-stairs." | ca< 'Well, sir, I'll have the pleasure of seeing 1 1 i afterward," said the old gentleman, as his j Re sst rose to obey* the summons. "You'll be! p to luncheon, of course. Meanwhile, I ve a little business to transact with Mr. fri< I adley, in the library, which may as well be j ;ten over at once. I have a great dislike ; jus business?always had ; but it must be at- ga ided to, sometimes." shr And away went the cheery old Colonel in ' rsuit of his lawyer, while Russell proceeded a 1 stairs, thinking how delightful he would an d it to have such business to transact as "V it which claimed his host's attention at or jsent. to He found Sydney sitting up in bed, looking ha ry thin and white, for he was considerably luced by suffering and illness. He held out wh hand, which the other cordially shook. wii 'Well, old fellow, you've had a tough bout th< it," said Russell, sitting down by the bed. "A; low do you come on, now ?" ho 'Oh! I'm doing pretty well, now," said dney, "but I think it's time, considering it's ho ee weeks, or more, since that confounded yo ash-up." sot 'You have capital nursing, I suppose?" 1 'Yes, as good as I can desire. Have you ne to stay ?" gjl< 'Here, do you mean ?" his 'Yes," said Sydney. tre 'No; the Colonel ha3 invited me, but it tui uld be of no use, as I have to go back < ne to-morrow or next day." hei 'You're stopping in town, then ?" mc TM._ T no ma n n nrinr>l. "ICS# 1UC IHUb 10, KJJ U, J. VWUJV U ^ Oil* !ly, to see you on a little business; it's very ed portant, or I wouldn't trouble you just now. < u can guess it's nature, I imagine." ed, 'I suppose so," said Sydney, wearily. "But thi lly, Russell, I don't think I am quite equal 0v< discussing business affairs at present." Da 'I'm very sorry, ray dear boy; but when a 1 n's pushed to the wall, as I am, he can't syi expected to stand on ceremony, you know, to ball worry you with as few details as I pos- 1 ly can." sue 'Are things as bad as that ?" asked Syd- ing , finding there was no escape. hei 'Bad ! They couldn't be worse. There's coi ; an inch of ground left under my feet, un- nei 3 you fulfill your promise of coming to my int ief." tro 'But now!" said Sydney. "I don't see < at I am to do?what I can possibly do." iut 'It's all over with the heiress, then ?" die 'Of course," said Sydney, impatiently. "I me mght you knew that, long ago." g]a 'How could I? You were raving when I wj| t you here, and I've not seen you to ask tro Dut it since. I fancy you must have man- a]r 2d your cards rather badly." gn 'It's no use discussing that question now. :new all along, or at least, I felt pretty rej T n + ?A /ikon/to " C. uliab X otuuu liU V/UHUUV. Hi"| 'Do you think she'd have me/" asked ce, issell, with a short laugh. 'No, I don't," said Sydney, candidly. pr) 'Well, to tell you the truth, i don't think ev, either. And, therefore, seeing no hope in it direction, I am compelled, unpleasant as j [ nay be, to return to my first assertion, that < i are the only person who can help me." ie^, There was an uneasy silence. Russell thrust pa( hands into his pockets, and leaned back in yOI chair, contemplating a picture which hung jgg the opposite wall; and Sydney moved jQ tlessly araoDg his pillows, revolving ways < 1 means in his troubled mind. jnc 'How much is it that you want?" he ask- (ja, reluctantly, at length. < 'Two thousand five hundred might satisfy y01 isent needs; five thousand would be better." 'Five thousand! that's an absurdity." to 'What do you say to the other then ?" 'That it's next to impossible to raise even he it, and you know it." he* 'I know I must have it," said Russell. "I ? 1't help whether it's impossible or not; I ]y? ?'f tliinlr mtTQplf tllftt if. is." 'George, you are awfully hard on cue," pei I Sydney. He was very weak, and the 4 rs stood in his eyes. "You are not acting to e a friend. Do you suppose if you were ly- hir ; helpless here, as I am, that I would come ' vn on you in such a way ?" tog 'Mv dear Sydney, I'm very sorry ; upon ? life, I am. But 1 know you are exagger- wa ng your own incapabilities; and when you the ir how I am situated you will not wonder n0| it I am rather desperate, and ready to ' me down on you' as you call it, in your wa ssent condition." me 'Let me hear, then," said Sydney. Russell accordingly proceeded to give a de- me led account of the state of his affairs, which sta ly presented a very hopeless aspect. ov< 'You see, now," he said when he had finish- in "I did not exaggerate when I told you 4 Lt I did not have an inch of ground left for no to stand on." str 'I see," said Sydney. "But as things are in ng now I'll soon not have an inch of ground 1 stand on either." mi Tool!! Sydney, you are enureiy misianeu idj ire. You know that if you advance me this for ney now you will get back every dollar of ' iltimately ; you don't suppose I intend to th( indie you, do you?" his 'Your intentions I don't doubt are very at id," said Sydney; "but whether you can am ry them out is another thing. And you the ist remember that I am pretty well drained eady; you seem to forget that." 'I don't forget all you have done for me, ' dear boy; and I'm everlastingly obliged Soi you for it. But unfortunately that doesn't at et the exigencies of the present. And as on your being drained out, there's more money al ere that came from, isn't there ?" go 'Not mine," said Sydney. a r 'What's the difference, ifyou invest it safe- bu ? No one need be the wiser." cal 'George, George!" said Sydney,turning his Da e away with a groan, "I think sometimes j are the Evil One in disguise. Why do ^ j try to lure me on to destruction ?" Russell's face was not pleasant to see, as he dis oped up from his chair with an oath, and wil ode to the window, where he stood looking As t, for a minute or two,.in silence. s?r 'I forgive you that remark," he said pres* ( ;ly as he turued and clime back to the bed, J tjJ( i consideration of the weak state of your j er< nd aud body at present. Besides, I kuow I sel en you come to give the matter due reflec- dri n you'll see it in a dilfereut light. Mean* ani ile-" * But here came au opportune knock at the rer or, much to Sydney's relief. It was a ser- tio ot with a message from Col. Hollingwood, th( lltisccHaueons gUMtng. THE NATIONAL FINANCES. ; views of the president on desirable financial legislation. Washington, June 5. j At the request of.Senator John P. Jones, of Nevada, to whom, in company with. others, ' the President recently read a memoranda of ; his views on the subject of desirable legisla| tion on finance, the memorandum then read has been made public. The President, in his j letter to Senator Jones, acceeding to the reJ quest, says: "It is proper that I should i state that those views were reduced to writing j because I had been consulted on this question, I not only by some members of the conference I committee, but by many other members of Congress. To avoid any and all possibility of misunderstanding I deemed this course both justifiable and proper." The President's memorandum is as follows: "I believe it a high and plain duty to return to a snecie basis at the earliest practic jrpower rae ? Ara I forgetting ray resolve ( .re I yield to such weakness ?" 'Are you better, now ?" Sydney asked, npathizingly, when she was able to return his side. 'Thank you, I am better. I ara subject to :h attacks." And she refrained from lift; her eyes again to his face, but completed r ministration with a fixed, immovable intenance, and a resolutely composed manr, while he ceased to wonder at the short erruption which had occurred, in the nearer ubles that filled his mind. 'Mr. Russell," said Col. Hollingwood, afterich, (the Roxburys had left, aud Ellinor 1 not appear, so that only the three gentlera were present) "Mr. Bradley would be id if you would witness a paper he brought th him this morning; it would save my rabling our friend up-stairs whose hand is in nost too shaky a condition to write, and my md-daughter, I believe, has gone out." "Certainly, sir," said Russell, and the trio jaired to the library, where a formidable ray of papers and red tape adorned the itre-table. oTUio Jnnon't lnrtb- mupVi HVp inn sanctum at cing Mr. Russell to come down to lunch ; d almost at the same moment Mrs. Norton ;ered with a tray on which some little delijies for Sydney were temptingly arranged. 'Well, I'll leave you for the present," said issell unwillingly; "but I'll see you again Fore I leave." But Sydney resolved to be asleep when his end came to repeat the visit. The excitement of the interview he had it passed through gave an unusually hagrd look to his face, and a keen, sharp pang )t through Mrs. Norton's heart as she saw it. "Fool!" she said to herself a9 she brought ittle table to the bedside, and proceeded to range the dainty repast she had brought, yhat is it to you if trouble is in his mind, suffering shakes his nerves ? What is that the retribution he must meet with at your nds ?" "Mrs. Norton, I cannot eat," said Sydney, 10 felt what little appetite he might otherse have had quite destroyed by the agitating )ughts Russell's demands had called up. [y head is throbbing, and ray hand?see w it shakes!" "You are nervous to-day, sir," said the usekeeper, in a low voice. "But I think u would feel better if you were to take ne refreshment." "Well, I will try; but you must feed me." And with her own hands, Mrs. Norton jntly fed him with the delicate morsels on plate, and held the glass ofsangaree to his mbling lips. Suddenly she stopped, and ned from the bedside. 'A sudden pain," she said, faintly, pressing r hand to her side. "It will pass off in a iraent." And hurrying into the next room, : bathed her face with water, and swallowa few drops to moisten her parched throat. "Heaven have mercy on me!" she moanbelow her breath. "Oh ! how can I endure s misery ? Why do such feelings as these J. ilia uuwu v ...j ~ 2sent," said the Colonel, laughing. "Howsr, we've got through a deal of business toy, which, thanks to ray legal adviser here, >elieve I comprehend pretty thoroughly." "I wish you'd comprehend," said Mr. Bradr, "that you are to take good care of that ckage you've persuaded me to leave with J. My opinion is that you are rather cares in such matters. Better let me keep it charge." "My dear Bradley ! do you suppose I am :apable of keeping a little money for a few ps ? What do you take me for ?" 'For somebody not fit to be trusted, where jr own interests are concerned. But come, . Kussell, will you kindly put your name this document??Just here, if you please." A.n odd expression was on Russell's face as took the pen and obeyed the lawyer's belt. 'Shall you be riding back to town presentV asked the latter, when the signature was de, and he commenced folding up his pa's. 'Yes, sir, in a few moments?l would Jiae run up to my friend Temple's room to wish i) good-bye." 'Well, if you aw inclined, we'll go back ;ether." 'Certainly, sir." He went up stairs, but s met by*Mrs. Norton with the information it her patient had dropped asleep and could t be disturbed. 'Then will you kindly tell him when he kes, that if I do not hear from him in the antirae, I will see him again to-morrow ?" The housekeeqer promised to deliver the ssage, and Russell slowly returned down irs. As he passed through the hall, he srheard a remark from the library, uttered Col. Hollingwood'8 cheery tones. 'Never fear, my dear Bradley! There are thieves about; and it's just as safe in that ong box at the head of ray bed as if it were the Columbia Bank." "All right," responded the lawyer; "but nd, if you lose it, I'll consider it a personal ury, after the trouble I've had in getting it you." The two gentlemen emerged together from iir retirement, as Russell was putting on linen riding-coat in the hall; the horses the same moment were brought to the door, i the two equestrians were presently on sir way back to town. [ro be CONTINUED NEXT week.] Taking the Bull by the Horns.?The Lithern Methodists, in conference assembled Louisville, have taken a very bold position the temperance question, and one which is ich more radical than any northern church 3 assumed. By a very large vote?325 to , being, more than the necessary two-thirds? ninority report that any person making, yiug, selling, or using as a beverage intoxiiing liquors, shall be, upon conviction, derred from membership in the church, was opted. This action will be sent round to ; local conferences, and if the majority of -ee-fourths concur it will become a law. ie vote was preceded by a long and excited icussion, in which all points that have so beIdered our local clergy were canvassed. i there was no apparent possibility tnat iptural tests could be reconciled, or that 3 views of delegates would admit of any upromise, they decided to take the bull by 3 horns, and throw the animal out altogethThe whisky-manufacturer, the whiskyler, the whisky-buyer, and the wliiskynker were all classed under the same head, d the ban was pronounced. aTlt is said that one of the most powerful nedies for bots in horses, is a strong decocn of sage tea made very sweet. It dislodges 3 bots instantly. ? ?? able day, not only in compliance with legislative and party pledges, but as a step irtdis- * pensable to lasting national prosperit}'. I believe further, that the time has come when this can be done, or at least begun, with less embarrassment to every branch of industry than at any future time, after resort has been had to unstable and temporary expedients to stimulate unreal prosperity and speculation on bases other than coin, the recognized medium of exchange throughout the commercial world. The particular mode selected to bring about a restoration of the specie standard is not of so much consequence as that some adequate plan be devised, the time fixed when currency shall be exchangable for coin at par, and the plan adopted rigidly adhered to. It is not probable that any legislation suggested by me would prove acceptable to both branches of Congress, and, indeed, full discussion might shake my own faith with details of any plan I might propose. I will, however, venture to state the general features of the action which aaama tn mo nHvi?ahlp the financial nlatforra O^VUiU l/V UJW HU I ? A on which I would stand, and departure from which would be in a spirit of conference and harmony in deference to conflicting opinions. "First. I would like to see the legal tender clause, so called, repealed, the repeal to take effect at a future time, say July 1, 1875. This would cause all contracts made after that date for wages, s'ales, &c., to be estimated in coin; it would correct our note and coin value; the specie dollar would be the only dollar known as the measure of equivalents. When debts afterwards contracted were paid in currency, instead of calling the paper dollar a dollar, and quoting gold at so much premium, we should think and speak of paper as at so much discount. This alone would aid greatly in bringing the two currencies nearer together at par. "Second. I would like to see a provision that at a fixed day, say July 1,1876, the currency issued by the United States should be redeemed in coin on presentation to any assistant treasurer, and that all currency so redeemed should be cancelled and never reis 1 rp^ --4- if ttfAiilr) kn nnnaaaarv fn SUCU. JLU ClICUli LIJ13 it nvuiu uw uwwwmij ?v authorize the issue of bonds payable in gold, bearing such interest as would command par in gold, to be put out by the treasury, only in such sums as should from time to time be needed for the purpose of redemption. Such legislation would insure a return to sound financial principles in two years, and would, in my judgment, work less hardship to the debtor interest than is likely to come from putting off the day of final reckoning. "It must be borne in mind, too, that the creditor interest had"its day of disadvantage also when our present financial system was brought in by the supreme needs of the nation at the time. I would further provide that from and after the date fixed for redemption no bills, whether of national banks or of the United States returned to the treasury to be exchanged for new bills, should be replaced by bills of less denomination than ten dollars, and that one year after resumption all bills of less than five dollars should be withdrawn from circulation, and in two years all bills of less than ten dollars should be withdrawn. "The advantage of this would be the strength given to this country against a time of depression resulting from war, failure of crops, or any other cause, by keeping always in the hands of the people a large supply of the precious metals. With all smaller transactions conducted in coin many millions of it would be kept in constant use and of course prevented from leaving the country. "Undoubtedly a poorer currency will al ways drive the better out of circulation, w ltn paper a legal tender and at a discount, gold and silver become articles of merchandise as much as wheat or cotton. The surplus will find the best market it can. With small bills in circulation there is no use for coin except to keep it in the vaults of the banks j to redeem circulation. During periods of great speculation and apparent prosperity there is little demand for coin, and then it will flow out to a market where it can be ! made to earn something, which it cannot uo while lying idle. Gold, like anything else, when not needed becomes a surplus, and, like every other surplus, it seeks a market where i it can find one. By giving active employ: ment to coin, however, its presence can, it ! seems to me, be secured, and the panics and depressions which have occured in times of nominal specie payments, if they cannot be wholly prevented, can at least be greatly miti igated. Indeed, I question whether it would I have been necessary to depart from the standard of specie in the trying day which gave birth to the first legal tender act, had the country taken the ground of no small bills as early as 1850. "Again, I would provide an excess of revenue over current expenditures. I would do this by rigid economy and by taxation where taxation can best be borne. Increased revenue would work a constant reduction of the debt and interest, and would provide coin to meet demands on the treasury for the redempj tion of its notes, thereby diminishing the i ament of bonds needed for that purpose. All j taxes, after redemption begins, should be paid i in coin or United State notes. This would force redemption on the national banks. With | measures like these, or measures which would i -1- ? ? ""onlfo T con rtrv (fonrrrr in All i wu1& uul 3uu1i kcunoj jl ovv ajv ... ; thorizing free banking without limit." ? ? ? 1 A Warning to Boys.?A certain doctor, I struck with the large number of boys under I fifteen years of age whom he observed sraokI ing, was led to inquire into the effect the hab: it had upon the general health. He took ' for his purpose thirty-eight boys, aged from : nine to fifteen and carefully examined them. I In twenty seven of them he discovered iDju! rious traces of the habit. In twenty-two ! there were disorders of the circulation and | digestion, palpitation of the heart, and a more . or less marked taste for drink. In twelve j there was frequent bleeding of the nose; they had disturbed sleen: and twelve had slight j ulceration of the mucus membrane of the mouth, which disappeared on ceasing from the use of tobacco for some days. The doctor treated them all for weakness, but with little effect until thesmoking was discontinued, when health and strength were soon restored. Now, this is no "old woman's tale" as these facts are given on the authority of the "British Medical Journal.". ? fiSf Troubles are like dogs, the smaller they are the more they annoy you.