Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I???i " ^ lewis >i. grist, proprietor. | gat .independent <|amilj| unrapaper: |[or the $romoiioit of ftc folifieat, social, gpritultnral and (fommcrria! interests of the jsouth, |terms'?$2.00 a year in advance vol. 36. yoekville, s. c., "wednesday, february 5, 1890. isto. 6. ? ?tfU(l THE DIAMOND BUTTON. Prom the Diary of a Lawyer and the Note Book of a Reporter. BY BARCLAY NORTH. I Copyrighted, 1889, by O. M. Dunham. Published by special arrangement through the American Press Association.! CHAPTER XXIIL TOM MAKES A LONG STEP FORWARD. fOM was not displeased to be alone for a time, in order that he might give himself up to thought When he parted from Holbrook he had little idea of going to Fountain?that is, lit IAV V/ !i7IW tle aenmte iaea I ^j? Hjl JrH\ of what he could * * accom p 1 i s h by seeing and talking with him. The truth is, lie was much disturbed. The bitter disappointment in finding that lie had not detected the murderer had unsettled him. Beginning in doubt, he had gradually gone on to a full conviction, and had discounted his triumph. Now everything was astray. He had never failed so before; he had never before bee i enticed so far upon a false scent. He began to fear he was losing his cunning. If the story were to become known, how they would laugh at him at police headquarters; what gleeful stories of his defeat would his competitors have to tell; he would bo compelled to leave town because of their jokes and laughter; his prestige would be gone in the office of The Sol; he was now conscious, with a feeling of self contempt, that he had of late been assuming airs of superiority among his fellows. Then he consoled himself with the thought that after all no one else had made the progress in the affair that Holbrook and himself had made. Then he recollected, with another wave of self AAnfnmnf trlinn Via fhnnolif. hnnmnli WUl^UA|/H) MM*V 4JVU **V V^VW^MV was theirs he had attributed all to his own efforts and shrewdness, and now in failure he was quite willing to take Holbrook into partnership. After all, say what might be said, the affair was deep, intricate and mysterious, back of which lay a mass of facts which must be ascertained, arranged and digested. Finally he said, with an inspiration of hope: "All is not lost yet, and my commission has not been recalled." By that time he had reached the City Hall park, with a view of hunting up the Shadow and relieving him from duty for a time at least, or until he was wanted again. As he passed the city hall he saw the old attorney, George Parker, descending the steps. "There's the Shadow's friend," he commented. "That old fellow is sloshing around with a claim against Pierson's estate, not knowing against what momentous affairs he may be knocking. If there is anything crooked in his pro ceedings on behalf of that driveling old drunkard in Varick street, how he will take to cover when we light the fuse?if we ever da" Tom chuckled; presently an idea struck him. "I'll give him an interview. Perhaps I'll elicit something." As the old man was about to pass, Tom checked him. "Good afternoon, Mr. Parker. I've heard that notice of a claim to Pierson's estate on behalf of James Preston has been made before the surrogate. What is there in it?" The old man looked at him sharply and not with a pleasant expression. "Who are you?" "Bryan, of The SoL" "Ob, a reporter, hey," replied the old man, with a grin and an expression of relief. "You reporters are very sharp. The notice was only filed within the hour." "Oh, yes, we lay pretty close for the news. But what is there in it?" Wnll T fViinlr f^oro 1a a rlool in I ? V4Af * v U1UA VUW1U W U ^VtAA UVU* AAA it, or the notice wouldn't have been died. A lawyer would naturally say that after he had taken up a client's case, wouldn't he? However, the matter is not in such form yet that I can talk about it, especially without conference with the counsel who bears the leading part I can say this, that the notice was hied merely as a precautionary step. I don't care to Bay anything about it or have anything said now. If you will promise to say nothing now, when the matter comes up I'll give you the inside of it exclusively. That's what you young men want?a beat?isn't it?" "Yes, that's what wo are always looking for," replied Tom. "IT1 keep my promise, if you will. I know there will be a great story. The old man Pierson lived a double life." "What do you know about it?" inquired the old man fiercely. "Not very much, to be sure. I know he used to pass under another name at one time." "You do? What name?" "Fountain," coolly replied Tom. This was a reckless and audacious assumption upon the part of Tom. He knew nothimr of the kind. "Fountain, did you say?" queried tho old man, knitting his brows, deeply interested. "When, and how long ago?" "Oh, that is my secret." "What else do you know about Pierson?" "That's about alL I learned It by accident I know whj* l?a assumed it?it was because he wanted to marry a woman under that namo." The face of the old man took on an expression of serious alarm. Tom watched him narrowly. "Ah, had he any children?" asked the old man. "Yes, 1 think so. A son and a daughter." "A daughter," repeated tho old man. and now he seemed puzzled. "I think, Mr. Bryan, you have information of great value to us?more value than you know. Cannot we go to some quiet place where we can exchange confidences? 1 should not be surprised if your information were worth paying for handsomely." Tom felt that he was getting into shallow water, for he had been drawing upon his imagination for his facts, led to go on from the evident alarm he was causing the old man. It was not his nurnosa tn trn further. - I I o~ so be said: "I am always on the make, if I can do it squarely, Mr. Parker. I have no objection to giving you all the information I possess on the subject. But I cannot go now; I have an important engagement at which I am already overdue." "Can we not meet this evening?" "No?engagement again." "To-morrow, then. No, not to-morrow. I have engagements out of town. This is Thursday; make it Monday next, at 11. at this spot" "All right Thi3 place is convenient for me." "One moment, Mr. Bryan. Do you know where the son?Fountain, you know?is now?" "I do not know, but I could obtain knowledge easily, I think." "Very welL Don't fail me on Monday." Tom hurried away, glad to escape, for from a sense of pure mischief he had been led into this encounter. "jl'll have to concoct a story," he said to himself, "and meet the old man on Monday. I may learn something of value. But what was it in my lie that disturbed him bo? Let wo see; ho is making a claim on behalf of that old u drunkard on the ground that the old sot ti is a brother of the late Pierson. Now, if si that is so, one of them bears an assumed c _ name. Which? From his disturbance b when I said Pierson had once been known as Fountain, it must have been the dead t< man. Now what? Why, he is fright- o ened about the idea of the marriage and ti wants to know about the issua Um." n Just then he crossed the path of one of New York's most eminent lawyers. ^ "Good afternoon, Mr. Bryan," said the n distinguished ornament of the bar. ^ "Good afternoon, judge," returned w Torn as he stopped him. "Judge, I want " a woodshed opinion." ^ The distinguished man laughed. "They are often the most expensive w kind of opinions, even if you do get them w *i-- D ?? ror nounng, iux. m/ou. "Nevertheless, I'll risk It, with so Jj great an authority. I am on the hunt of a mysterious affair. Not five minutes ago I had a conversation with a " man who touches the matter slightly, and I made a remark or two which dis- d' turbed him greatly. He was not at all frank or communicative, so I tried to 81 reason it out, and I ran against a legal n wall." ? "Well, if I can assist I should be ^ pleased." b "let me put a supposititious case: John C( Smita marries a woman under the name of Jacob Brown and raises a family of children. He amasses a fortune under n< the name of John Smith?living a double j1.1 life?and dies without a will John Smith is supposed to be childless. Can ^ his children under the name of Brown claim to inherit the property?" "There is no other or previous marriage of which there is issue?" w "No." w "Well, I should 6ay if the identity of w John Smith and Jacob Brown could be established that the Brown children could inherit and the mother take Iter dower rights." b; "Notwithstanding there was an undisputed brother of John Smith claimant to " the estate?" Dl "Yes, notwithstanding there was a sc claimant in the person of a brother. But n you understand that this is an opinion tr given on your statement of the facts." "Thanks," said Tom, "I can see 83 through the wall now, and it helps me greatly." " "He moved off. "Ah," he said to him- J, self, "that's what frightens Parker. His 11 little scheme would go to grass if my little romance were true." ^ With this, Tom dismissed the Incident from his mind and set about finding the Shadow. This was quiokly done, and ^ Tom dismissed him for the day. ! Then he thought seriously about calling upon Fountain, and finally determined to seek him. With Tom, to de- ^ cide was to act, and forthwith he sought the places where he thought the gentle- ^ man was most likely to be found. CHAPTER XXIV. {j HOLBROOK TAKES DP THE CASE WITH RE- <}i NEWED INTEREST. the consideration it was entited to. His s' mind was fixefl upon establishing the *c lines connecting Fountain and the dead w Templeton, and the relation they bore to tc the dead Pierson. re These lines established, he thought the cc way to the determination of the mystery w would be straightforward and rapid hi Hence he gave little thought to the fact bj that an owner of the diamond button m had probably been found He did not blame Flora for refusing to cc yield up the secrets of Fountain, and in fact respected her reserve. He did wish, 1 l.?^ UU wcvci, tiiai l uui uau uv?. u w Fountain before the result of his visit to te Flora had been known, and hw first im- ar pulse was to set out in search of his a journalistic friend and communicate the facts in his possession. Indeed, it would m be so much easier to meet and talk with m Fountain after the interview with Flora, nc A little reflection told him how useless I * would be the effort, for he had no knowledge of Tom's plana ar It was now late in the afternoon, and h< he could do nothing If he returned to his office, so he determined to call upon the sv Templetons and see If he could not br elicit something from them that would th point to their connection with Pierson. He found both ladies in and both un- M affectedly glad to see him. He plunged ly at once into his subject by asking if they jt had any relatives of the name of Pierson. so Mrs. Templeton was quite 6ure she had ar none, and as equally sure Mr. Templeton had none. On Mr. Templeton's side it was easy of M settlement. Her husband, after his un- or cle s death, whoso name was the same, had no relatives in this country, however w remote. He maintained a correspond- hi cnce with relatives of the same name in England and also with those upon his sii mother's 6ide, of the name of Col- at Chester. It He had visited England a few times h( during his life, and on two occasions th relatives had visited liim in this coun- th try, but they had returned to their own home. qi On the occasion of his death she had received many kind letters of condolence fi' frofn his family abroad, many from m those of whom she had never even heard a before, but among them all there was na none of the name of Pierson. These letters she had preserved, and if of any use to to Mr. Holbrook she would give them to him. fr As to her own relatives, she had nl- h< ready told Mr. Holbrook all she knew pi about them. d< Holbrook pursued his inquiries as to bi her father's relatives. Did 6he know ti anything of the brother of her father? "Very little," was the reply. He had 01 run away to sea before she was born, and all she had heard of him was long after all sight had been lost of him, and after he was supposed to be dead. Evidently he had done something wrong, for the elders took little pleasure in speaking of him, and when they did it was in a tone of relief that ho was dead. He had died in her childhood. Holbrook then said that though they bad made little progress in the unfolding of the mystery surrounding the death of her son, yet they were steadfastly at work at it That while he had thought it best to say little to them about it while they were groping in the dark, they had in their investigation thought, perhaps, a man of the name of Pierson, who had died recently, had been connnnforl with fhft Pvnnt-Q It was strange, but none the less true, that Tom had failed to tell Holbrook of . the report the Shadow had made to him of the scene between the drunkard Preston and Parker. Had he done bo Hoi- ^ brook undoubtedly would have elicited something from Mrs. Templeton which would have put another aspect upon affairs. As a matter of fact, the report of the Shadow had made but little impression on Tom at the time, for his mind tj then was concentrated upon the task of . j fastening the crime of murder upon Fountain. Such thought as he did give Q1 to it was that, perhaps, a discreet in- ^ quiry in that direction might lead up to a discovery of some of Pierson's surround ings. which might help them to an j nilerstanding of how Templeton, Foun- ye lin and Pierson were connected. And an D it was that Holbrook was treading to lose upon facts of great value without to eing conscious of it. Bi However, satisfied that Mrs. Temple- cii in could tell him nothing that could be be f value, he dropped the subject, and gi jrned the conversation in another chan- br eL hr But Annie, who was sitting at the win- af ow engaged in embroidery work, and w laking a very pretty picture as she sat pa lere, remarked that she was glad the at jarch was being continued, for though dc ley had heard little about it recently, th ley were greatly interested in it er Holbrook, who thought there was imething of gentle reproach in the th 'ords, said: hi "The truth is, Miss Templeton, nothing si< as been accomplished. For ten days we th ??? im/tnt* fUn Imnraeomn f.Vinf. XTA pi ttVO UUU? VUU imj^ftMWivu VMM* ? w w? juld lay our hands upon the man, but se lis morning we discovered that the dc tan in question could not have possibly ar one the deed. We hardly dared to ad- w lit to ourselves our suspicions, and I in lould have been greatly to blame had I ar lised false hopes in your breast or had I ointed to a suspicion that could not be Ai istified. Rest assured that everything w being done thai can be done to un- tl< >ver the mystery." pi "Ohi" said Annie, covered with con- di i8ion and blushing very prettily, "I had m > intention of complaining. Indeed we of e really too much obliged to you for or ie trouble you have taken in our affairs th > criticise or to complain." cl During this exchange Holbrook had of ioved from his chair in the middle of w ie room, where he had been conversing ith Mrs. Templeton, and taken a low, op isy one near the window where Annie la it ar Mrs. Templeton had turned to the to Lble and had resumed the writing of a as itter she was engaged upon when Holrook entered. hi The young lawyer was already on such sa imilar footing that he was regarded fe ot as a stranger to whom the most srupulous attention must be given, but ' hr ither as an intimate who was best eated when received with informality. Cl In answer to Annie's reply to him he to dd: re "I do not think, Miss Templeton. that cc ay thing which might concern you or tli ours would be too much trouble for cl ie." Tlie blood crept up Into Annie's cheeks jain, and bending over her work she lid nothing. it Hoibrook himself had nothing to say, lo ad he sat for some time toying with ie end of the embroidery falling from bt er knee. Finally he said: "Do you know that I have experienced ar reat pleasure in tuy calls bore?pleasure th f a kind it has not been my lot to exerience for several years?" th Annie looked up wonderingly. it "I- sincerely hope you do And pleasure i your visits here, and it is pleasant to an ear you say so, but I do not quite un- ar erstand you." "Why not?" fo "Oh, your words seem to convey a leaning they do not express clearly." w; "Perhaps they do. You know, of 5ursc, that I am a bachelor. Well, 1 Pi ave, ever since I came to the city, velve years ago, lived in a hotel. It is "] ow eight years since my mother died, be tid the home of my childhood, to which m om time to time I returned, was broken p. Since that time, this household has all *en the only place I have visited where or have been treated with that informaly I crave, and where the occupants ca arsue their work as my mother used to 5. It is eight years and more since or have been permitted by any woman to t so near and play with her work as I op ) now, and as I used to do sitting be- re J- xt ? ue ui) uiuuier. Annie was provoked with herself as ro ie felt the blushes mantling her cheeks, co >r she had noted the tone of tenderness be hich underlay his words. To blush was i assume that this tenderness was dieted toward herself, when his words N< rnveyed nothing of the sort, and when tei ithout doubt only the recollections of hi: a mother and his home had been stirred ne 7 entering their domestic circle. She ade an etfort and replied: dii "It is a pleasure, then, at a very small >st, I am sure, Mr. Holbrook." "A pleasure I duly appieciate." hi "Was your mother a widow?" Ai "Yes. With but two children, a sis- Hi r and myself. My sister is married id lives abroad?her husband occupies ve diplomatic position." It "It is hard to lose one's home. It ve ust be. I do not think I could content m ysclf to live for all time as wo are >w. 1 want a home of my own, which pa can deck and beautify my own way." tei "I think you, yourself, would beautify ly place however bare, and make it pe ime, Mies Templeton." th This was direct enough, and the blush k*ept up again over her face. IIolook did not wait for a reply, but connued: t?T *- in nth/% mn l*nn tlui linnin en may erect a house, fill it with costfurniture and beautiful works of art, :t it is only an abiding place. Until me woman graces it with her presence id her life it does not become home." Annie looked up archly and said: "If you appreciate a home so much, r. Holbrook, why do you not obtain 10 for yourself/" i Holbrook looked at her steadily, and < ith not even the suspicion of a smile on I s face, replied: f "Sometimes the heaven wo most do- | re is not attainable. But I propose to ft tain mine if I can by earnest endeavor. * is only within a short timo that my ;aven has been shown me, and when io time is meet I'll put my fortune to letest." Then without permitting reply ho ^ii lickly said: ey "Come, Miss Templeton, the day is J."1 le, the air good and you have been * * uch housed of late?come with mo for short walk. I'll bring you back to your ^e: [Other in time for dinner." Annie willingly acceded, and ran away prepare herself for the walk. ,s As she walked and chatted with him eely and with moro gayety than sho ^ id ever shown him before, sho was haper than she had been since her brother's lath, and sho was surprised to find how right the day was and how joyous a P:i me the autumn could be. 5"f And Ilolbrook thought it a rare day? U1< ic in a thousand. to CHAPTER XXV. n HOLBUOOK MAKES A DISCOVERY. W MONT II had foi JBm elapsed since the to /Mt?\ murder. It re- Tl B IWfA mained quite as p] BI Brfl much of a mys- ca BJ fT\ tery as it had kr f /?WjpM been in the be-/[ Mlm ginning. The po- Ai ji (& -* lm lice autliorities a Ipi were baffled in pa )[ F , Mr?! every direction, th I i- i' ?11 g i' t li e y qt: clung obstinately re Cr their theory T1 that Templeton ru had been killed f0 for some one else. On his way down ad iwn, 011 the morning following his Fj alk with Annie, Ilolbrook had stepped p] ito headquarters, and had talked with ]ei le high official who had supplied him nc itli the sample of cloth and tho dialond button. lie had discussed the fr, leory with the high official, and was J impelled to acknowledge that from the 80 andpoint of tho authorities, and with 19 information they possessed, tho to leory was plausibly argued. I |ej lie was troubled over his own conceal- ' lent of certain things, and while ho m dicitated himself upon tho fact that q\ either Tom nor himself had said a word pV incoming Fountain, now that it was iear tliat he was not tho guilty man, n, it lio thought he ought to tell the ithoritics of tho suspicions they had as Templeton's and Fountain's relations each other and to the dead Pierson. it wlrat was he to say? lie was in presely the same predicament as he was fore they had found Fountain to be liltless. Ho couldn't speak without inging Flora into the affair, and if it id been difficult to do so before, now ter his interview with her, and after hat was practically a promise on his ixt not to use his knowledge to the dislvantage of herself or Fountain, it was mbly so. Besides, to open himself to e high official would be to prove treach ous to Tom. So, without revealing any of his oughts, he left and went his way to s office. He dismissed all further conleration of his duty in the matter with e thought that he was so involved by rcumstances that be could not do what emed to be an obvious duty without >ing greater harm in other directions, * ? I- -* C l..*M 1U lei JUS uuiju run uu tuu ju) s ui ma alk with Annie on the previous eveng and her charming qualities of mind id person. Thus engaged, he reached his office, s he opened the door of the outer room, itli more than usual vigor, he was star;d by a loud crash. A clerk had so aced a ladder that one leg was immeately in front of the door. He liad ounted it so as to gain access to a row high shelves surrounding the office, i which were kept green wooden boxes, e figures of past years, the names of ients and of estates whose affairs the lice had in charge being lettered in hite on them. When Holbrook had hastily swung >en the door it had struck a leg of the dder, nearly toppling over the clerk id causing him to drop one of the boxes the floor, upon which it fell so heavily to burst open. This was the crash which had startled m. Several of the clerks sprang to ve the box, and as they lifted it up it 11 apart, scattering its contents. "What papers are they?" asked Holook, viewing the wreck he had caused. "Old ones, I should judge," replied lark, the managing clerk, bending over pick one of the packages up. "They fer to Sampson, Hurcomb & Co., a incern that has been out of existence ese ten years. Their affairs are all osed up." Among the papers was a small tin box. "What is that?" asked Holbrook. "I don't know," said the clerk, picking up. "Look for the key." finding it eked and the key not in the lock. The office boy pawed over the papers, it could find none. Holbrook took the box and turned it ound and around. On one end he saw e letters "C. P." "What can it be?" he said, struck by e initials. "Bring something to break open." He carried it into his private room, id there they brought him a hammer id a broken dining knife. With these he broke open the box and und it filled w th papers. The first one ho lifted from the box is a note long since overdue. It was drawn to the order of Charles erson and signed "A. P. Duncan." "It is as I supposed," he muttered, t belonged to Pierson und escaped the iys when his papers were returned. It ust have been misplaced in that box." He lifted out other papers. They were I overdue notes, drawn to Pierson's der and mostly signed by Duncan. Holbrook did not know and did noi re who Duncan was. - He turned the contents of the box out i his desk. At the bottom was a large bluo envelie tied with red tape, and sealed with d wax back and front over the tape. The tape was wound around the narw and then the long way, so that it uld not be opened without the seals I'MC l^rAlrnn '"(3 ' On the back was inscribed: "Private papers of Charles Pierson. at to be opened unless upon tho writ11 consent of Charles Pierson, or after s death, and then only by Judge Harkx." "But Judge Harkner died before he il," said Holbrook, talking to himself. He balanced it in his hand. Should lie open it? Who was to stop m, and who was thero to say nay? iid was he not the executor of J adge arkner? He broke tho seals. To open tho enlope he was compelled to destroy it. had been fastened with glue. Tho enlopo was ono of tho kind lined with usiin. He tore it open and took out a written per. It was a sheet of legal cap writa on both sides. The contents of the sheet had been nned by tho same hand as had written e inscription. It was signed "Charles Pierson." CHAPTER XXVI. A DOCUMENT THAT SHEDS LIGHT. WOLBROOK sal down to read the document so singularly brought to his notice. "Judge Ilarkncr has frequentfor my property has grown to be largo. It now amounts by the fmyJ- iagt inventory to over two million dollars. "I cannot make a will to dispose of is property as I want to do, without covering to Judge Harkner certain ents of my life, which, if known to m would loso mo his esteem. I think lave it now, and I wish to retain it. "The first thing I would have to conjs would be that Charles Pierson is not y right name, although I have borne now for twenty years. My real name Carroll Preston. "I propose to set down hero briefly o facts, to be read by Judge Harkner tor my death. "I was born at Red Bank, N. J. When out 20 years old I removed with my rents to Plainfield, N. J. There, two ars after, I married a young girl, who ?d at tho end of a year in giving birth a daughter. "Shortly after I went to Philadelphia, omen have been the bano of my life, jecauie involved with a widow named essing. with one child?a boy. She reed me into a marriage. I pretended yield, but it was a mock marriage. ie suppose 1 minister was an accom ice. I fled from this alliance, taking re that after luv flight sho should io\v the ceremony was false. "I fled to Europe, and while there an tnerican, of my name exactly, died in small town. Though aware of it, I id no attention to it, until I learned rough the American consul that inliries had been made by my dead wife's lutives and by the woman Wessing. len I persuaded the consul that it was yself who had died. It was easy to do, r the other Preston had no friends. "I then returned to this country and lopted the name of Charles Pierson. fteen years had elapsed since I left ainfield. I put inquiries on foot and irned that the Wessing woman had iver taken my name. "I entered business and prospered om the beginning. From time to time have sent money, through secret urcos, to the woman Wessing. "Subsequently 1 had inquiries made as my child in Plainfield, whom I had ft with her aunt. "She had just married, at the time of y inquiries, a man by tho name of impleton?married well and was hap', so I did not disturb her. "During my life in New York I marid a .young girl under tho name of Fountain. She thought she had married me. It was anothervmock marriage. A , scamp of a lawyer, named Parker, acted , the part of a clergyman. "He had me in his power for years, and bled me freely, until I caught him in a scrape and held the state prison over him. Then I was independent. "I lived with this woman three years in Putnam county under the name of Fountain. Then tiring of her, I disabused her mind as to the marriage and left her, after giving her enough property to make her independent. I had a son by her named Harry Fountain. "I married another woman under the same circumstances, forcing Parker to perform the marriage ceremony. 'TTp iv.na mv slave now. Mv name in this marriage was Simpson. The woman lives in New Rochello, and has a daughter now about 12 years old. I made her independent when I left her, which was only a year ago. "I have a villain ot a brother who disappeared when he was sixteen from Red Bank, and we all thought him dead. He turned up five years ago?a terrible drunkard?and recognized me. I denied the relationship, bi^ have given him money to keep 'him* quiet. Ho wants rum, that's all. , "Parker believes' my propei* name is Pierson?that is, ho does not know to the contrary. If ho does, he lias never shown it to me. "Now "When I am dead I want Judge narkner to establish the fact that my daughter, now Mrs. Templcton, is my heir, i lie will find papers establishing that fact in a safe in tho Chemical bank, in a box in tho charge of the president, marked 'To be delivered only on the order of the surrogate.' 1 "I request Judge Harkner to advise Mrs. Templeton that it is my wish that. $50,000 be given to Mrs. Wessing, of Philadelphia, if alive at the time of my death. "That $250,000 be given Mrs. Fountain 1 if alive at my death, and if not then to her son Harry Fountain if ho bo alive, < but if not of age to then be held in trust ' for him by Judge Harkner. If ho bo dead, then tho sum to be divided equally ( among Mrs. Templeton's children. i "That $250,000 be given to Mrs. Simp- 1 son under tho same circumstances and ' conditions as the gift to tho Fountain 1 woman. "I desire also that Mrs. Templeton < shall pay weekly to my scamp and jail- 1 bird of a brother, James Preston, $50, in 1 the hope that ho will soon drink himself 1 to deatlu I "I am quite conscious that this is not a will, but if Mrs. Templeton is as good ' a woman as her mother was she will obey these instructions. ; "Charles Pierson. i "New York, April 10,1874." i Holbrook laid tho paper down, over- j whelmed. y CHAPTER XXVII. j TOM EXPERIENCES A SENSATION AKIN TO , A SHOCK. j IT WAS in no enviable frame of ] mind that Tom i turned out of bed on the morning fnllnwinrr tho ' f night he had en- 1 deavored to find 1 Fountain. He had ] been unsuccessful, and his Shad- ! ow had been un- ! able to assist him j tain's man. ; Tom was in fact he made up his mindi.tha* if Holbrook ' had not succeeded in eliciting anything of value from Flora, he would give up the whole matter and confess himself beaten. The first ten minutes after a tired man wakes in the morning and faces the 1 fresh difficulties of the day are the bluest , of the twenty-four hours, and on this particular morning Tom answered with ' emphasis the old German philosopher's 1 famous question. Life was not worth living. He broke a hair brush in endeavoring to givo thw answer additional em- ! phasis. But by the time that he had disposed of his matutinal cup of coffee and lit his cigar the mental horizon cleared ' somewhat and the vapors began to dis- ( appear. By the time he had walked a half J dozen blocks and felt the joy of exercise, ho began to pluck up some hope and to manifest a curiosity as to what Holbrook might have to tell him. He by no means anticipated such a sensation as ho was to experience. When Tom entered Holbrook's office the lawyer was staring out of tho win- 1 dow. The only return he made to Tom's salutation was to hand him the document which had overwhelmed him without a word. Tom took it, turned the paper over and j read the signature and date. 1 "The deucel" ho exclaimed, and devoured it rapidly. , "Holy jumping Jehosaphat!" ho cried. ( "What an old scamp! IIow unblushing- j ly he writes of his villainy!" "And yet tries to make amends at tho , close of a long and evil life," commented ( IIol brook. "Well," said Tom, hardly recovered | from his astonishment, "the motive ly- | ing at tho bottom of the murder is clear enough." j "But who is tho murderer?" "There lies tho information," replied . Tom, striking the paper he had laid upon , Holbrook's desk. "But which? It was j not Templeton, for ho didn't kill himself for his own benefit. It was not Fountain, j for we know he didn't do it It is either , Wneolnof fltA tunmon CImncnn Pl'fiC. ton." I "Preston. What Preston?" "Why, James Preston?the old drunk ard." ! "Yes, but where is he? Who over j heard of him?" "Who ever heard?why?hold hard? , I say, didn't I??why, bless my soull but j I did tell }*ou, didn't 1?" "You are particularly lucid and in- f telligent this morning, not to say ejacu- j latory." ( "But I say, didn't I ever tell you?" j "In the course of our somewhat ex- j tended and frequent intimacy you have \ told me many tilings and left untold . many others, I suppose. But which particular piece of information you are ( referring to in your usual perspicuous j manner, I am unable to ascertain with- j out a little more light." "Oh, stow that gibing! you are never ] so uninteresting as when you think you ] are sarcastic. But I say, didn't I ever A 11 1 il _ OI 1 1 , ten you wiiat me ouuuuw reported ro ( me about an old man Preston and 1 Parker?" "Never, my royal youth." Tom, who was too seriously intent over tho discovery of the paper to fall into tho vein of Ilolbrook, told with brevity the sceno in the old house in ( Varick street. " The recital soon won Holbrook's close 1 attention. f "If you had told me this," ho said at its conclusion, "we would have been j well along in tho quest without tho aid j of this document." t "I cannot for tho life of me tell how I came to neglect it, but you see, on my 1 sido I never knew, for you never told r me, that the namo of Mrs. Templeton'a ( father was Carroll Preston." t "However, we have tho connecting 1 link now, and the question as to who is t the person is narrowed to a very few." r "True. It must bo either Wessing, tho woman Simpson, or Preston." "Or Parker." * "Ah, by George, lie comes into the J game, too, doesn't he?" | "Yes, by reason of l..s connection and ^ conspiracy with Preston." v "Holbrook," said Tom, after a mo merit's thought, "I do hot Believe that either Preston or Parker arc in this part of the job." "Why?equally so with the others." "Listen to me a moment. In this paper, Picrson is at pains to state that Parker had no knowledge of his previous life?that he never knew that he bore another namo previous to that of Pierson." "Yes, I remember; I seo what your line of reasoning will be." "Well. Now he did know about the Fountain and Simpson marriages. In my interview with liirn he was only disturbed when I talked of Fountatn. He was lawyer enough to know that if there was no prior marriage, the Fountain ceremony, whether mock or not, would be binding if the supposed Fountain could be identified with the dead Pierson. Lence his disturbance at mj knowledge of the matter?a knowledge which at that time I did not have, bul most recklessly assumed to have." U..4. 4. T> 4lw VYUJLI, UUb JUU I IWIUU, tilC drunkard." "No, I don't. This paper is dated 1874, ten years ago, and in it is distinctly stated that old Preston, tho drunkard, turned up five years previously. The old sot, you will remember, wanted to argue with Parker that he certainly was a brother, because for fifteen years Pierson had paid him money, and you must give full weight to the answer of Parker, thai it made little difference whether money was paid him because ho was a brother or whether it was because he possessed a secret which induced old Pierson to give hush money?ho was brother enough for their purposes. Now this argues that Parker was not fully acquainted with this relation, and that he really entertained doubts of the verity of the brothership Jjetween tho two?that the relation, if not the acquaintanceship, between Preston and Parker had sprung up since Pierson's death." "I see, I see. Yes, your reasoning ii close." "Now," continued Tom, "whatever else we may think of Parker, it won't do to take him for a fool. And fool he would have been to open up this propertyship question, by his own motion, right on the heels of the murder, if he bad been guilty of it, or implicated in it. rhe fact that he and his client would have been benefited by it would have been too patent, and if he knew the relation Templeton bore to the property, ho bad every reason to believe others would tnnw if- -inii with .1 n-nilf.v rnnsniprir.fi would think that that fact would be the first to be pitched on." "I am disposed to believe with you. Tom." "You will, the more you turn over in pour mind that scene in Varick street ind my conversation with Parker. I'll send for the Shadow, and together we'll jo over the conversation again, and I'll write down both for you to study at your eisure. It is quite as important to get :hoso out of the case who did not do it, is to get those in who possibly could lave done it." "That is shrewdly put, Tom," replied Eolbrook. "But you do not forget Park:r's call on me?" "No, 1 do not. That call, in my judgment, was to find if possible whether or not Pierson had been engaged in mock matrimonial scrapes prior to the Fountain episode, and of which lie had no knowledge. Now, take fast hold of this Fact: Fountain could only be a disturbing claimant in the event of there having been no previous marriage. If Parker had known of the marriage of Carroll Preston, the issue of which was Mrs. rempleton, he would not have been at ill distnrhnd bv mv Drecinitation of the Fountain name. He was visibly disturbed when I falsely assumed to know, what I didn't then know, that Pierson had once passed as Fountain. As foi the driveling old idiot of a brother, he is too far gone in rum to have ever con:eived or executed the murder." "I think you have made out a case, Tom. At all events, if the other lines of inquiry fail, we have the precious paii to fall back on." "Now, if you agree with me, as you 3eem to, then it follows that there are only two left?the Simpson woman and Wessing." "Well, then, let's consider these two. About Simpson we know no more tliau this document tells us." "As to that, I'll have to send the Shadow to New Rochello to make inquiries. But I want to note a fact, fhere are only left now under oui process Simpson and Wessing" "And Wessing was at the place ol murder when the deed was done." "Precisely. There's our first lino of work." ' Ilolbrook did not reply. He was intent on his thoughts, and was nervously tearing paper into long shreds, a habit when ho was profoundly thinking. Finally ho said: "Tom, soino very singular things in the way of omissions present themselves. You never told mo of that Varick street interview, and I never told you that Mrs. Templeton's family name was Preston. [Iero were two broken links that we might have joined without the aid ol this paper. Now, hero is another omission." "What?" said Tom, with an air of annoyance. "Are you going to mako us DUt a pair of blunderers?" "Yes, apparently. Wo never attempted to find out whether Wessing knew anything about tho diamond button?" "You always scouted tho idea of Wessing being connected with tho affair." "I admit that, and I am going also tc ldmit that I came near forgetting to tell rou that I know who has worn a pair precisely like them." "Who? For gracious sakel" said Tom irritably. "You increase rather than decrease tho possibilities." "Kendrick Noble. Do you know iiim?" "Yes. He is in tho same set as tho Ashffnun rrirl nnrl "PVumtain Put what rtOS siblo connection can he have with WessJig?" "Not any that I know of. But we must find out what ho has to say about it" "Well, I'll take that in hand myself," said Tom. "But, Holbrook, old man, :hero is one thing you ought to do and at mce?you ought to go to the Templeions. With all the knowledge you now possess you may bring out some startling irutlis. Your clients aro now first claimints to a large property." "True. That has been in my mind to jay for some time. Why not go up with me? In this case two minds will bo bet:er than one." "Agreed," cried Tom, springing from [lis seat. "We have plenty to do now, so let us be on the move." After safely locking up the precious locument, they set forth to call upon the rempletons. [to hk continued next week.] Xkguoes Thank Inhalls.?A [('legation of colored men called 011 Senator Ingalls at the capital last Friday morning and presented the ollowing address : At a meeting of Louisiana Repubieans, temporarily in Washington, iel(l recently, the following resoluion was adopted. Resolved, That 'the undersigned tepublicans, citizens of Louisiana, u?\v temporarily in Washington, 1). tender to lion. John J. Ingalls, heir heartfelt thanks for the able and ?atriotie speech delivered by him in he United States senate, on Januay 23rd, 1H9U. The address had twelve signatures. Senator Ingalls responded briefly, le said he would not have been so >atient as the negroes of Louisiana tad been under like conditions. IJe irged them to exercise patience; vith patience, he felt sure they could win. COL. McMASTER AND THE FARMERS. Editor Register:?In an article addressed to the Democracy of South Carolina, purporting to come from 1 the executive committee of the Farmers' Association of South Carolina, published in your paper of the 22na instant, I am described as representing the sentiment of the South Caro1 lina University and Military Acade1 my, in consequence of my using what appeared to be an uncharitable ex> pression against the Clemson college, ) in a speech in the senate last month, i I had the honor of being a trustee I of the South Carolina college two i terms, each time without my solicitation or knowledge of the purpose ' to elect me. But for the last two . years I have had no connection with ; the University or Military academy, and, therefore, these institutions , J should not be held responsible for any onense cnargeu against me. The remarkable phillippic publish[ ed by a body of men who style themselves "The Farmers' Association ol South Carolina," traduces our people 1 and dishonors our State. The docu1 ment is unworthy of Carolinians, 1 and has its parallel only in the dia1 tribes of a "Whittemcre and L. Cass 1 Carpenter in the dark days of Jtadi; ealism ! It is not my purpose to answer this manifesto, But when this ' committee undertakes to arraign me i as opposed to the higher education oi i the farmers of South Carolina, by insinuation and a garbled extract from ; a speech, I will resent the imputation as false and calumnious, whether it comes from an individual or an assoi ciation. , At intervals, during many years, I have given my services for the edu. cation of the masses of the people, 1 and I rejoice in the fruit of my labors, ( as Columbia does especially. But I will always oppose to the best of my ability, any effort at class legislation ( which wi 11 sow discord and bitterness amongst our people, and give one 1 class a pre-eminence over another. I see no reason or juctice why the farmer shall be favored any more than ' the mechanic, the railroad man, merchant or any other calling. Moreover, I have no sympathy with any 1 legislation which is measured by the horizon of any little neighborhood ; ' and any legislator who works for the benefit of a town or county at the exi pense of the interests of the State is i unworthy of his position. South Carolina is a small and poor State, and her honor and prosperity depend upon the unity, integrity, and education of her people; and whoover seeks to cripple her institutions oi divide her people is not a friend to the commonwealth. Therefore, I protest against a single garbled extract as the keynote of my speech, as it will create a false impression. I, therefore, beg to submit a short abstract of my speech on the Clemson college bill, as well as I can recall it. I began with a hisiorv of the "Farmers' Movement," so called, as originating in the brains of a witty and eloquent enthusiast, who desired to restore the grandeur of the ancient planter, without any reference to the changed condition of affairs. That after much waste of time and elo, quence and floundering midst figures he boiled down to the scheme of a "farmer college," pure and unadul teruted, as the panacea for all the ills of State. The Mississippi Agricultural college became the issue. It was thoroughly discussed throughout the State and clearly demonstrated ; that the "Annex" to the University 1 was far superior to the Mississippi model, ana here we thought the matter was ended, and our scwools and i colleges would go on dispensing their blessings as they have been doing i since 1882. But, alas! about this time a poor cranky agnostic, who sought to perpetuate his name by allying it with that of South Carolina's ; greatest sage, offered to the State a ! few hundred acres of hills in a remote corner of Anderson, (which can be , duplicated at $2 per acre in Oconee or Fairfield) and an annuity of $3,000 a year. Whereupon the noisy advocates of the farmers' movement grabbed at it as if it was a magnificent legacy, showing an unholy de1 sire to co-operate with a crank in depriving a descendant of Calhoun ol ! her rightful inheritance. I challenged any senator to point to the instance of any purely agricul' tural college succeeding?that' it would require the wealth of a Van1 derbilt to establish one. That a technical agricultural college could only ' differ from other colleges in hoeing, plowing and attending to stock. It could not and would not be attractive or desirable to farmers' sons, and ; would prove a failure, as all manual ! schools had. That only poll/technic colleges, where different arts and , sciences are taught, could attract numbers sufficient to form a college. That in these expensive buildings ' and apparatus were necessaries, which could 1? used in common, saving thousands of dollars; and the | variety of branches would increase the interest of patrons and pupils. That the Shite at great expense had already established the finest techno logical school in the South. That i there were 81 in the University in the college of agriculture and mechanics. That since 1882 the number of chemists, engineers and farmers graduated at the University were much greater than those from the Mississippi college, and it was a sub i ject of congratulation to every citizen of the State. That science hall, which is principally devoted to mechanical arts,^ chemistry and agriculture, cost the State $<}(),000, was an ornament to the State and should be a pride to every farmer and mechanic in the limits of South Carolina. That to cripple such an institution would be a crime against civilization, and to attempt to duplicate such colleges would create a burden the State was unable to endure. That farmers desired to give their sons the best opi portunities for education and wanted them to come in contact with the sons of all classes; that this attrition was best for all students and for the State. I did not believe then, nor do I now believe, that the farmers approve of or sympathize with any such movement. They were satistied and would prefer to send their sons to the University rather than to a school in the clay hills of Anderson, inaccessible in the winter time and without a hotel or a livery stable in miles of it. There was no use for it. That all attempts to carry out the scheme of a purely agricultural college had failed and from the nature nf thn f'jiso must fail. That "the Clemson College was ail unmitigated and an infernal humbug." But as a few of our people were demented on the subject, for the sake of the peace of the .State I was willing to vote for a tax of $:ii),()00 a year. rl hat I wanted the matter to go before the people, and if it was fully discussal they would conclude that they already enjoyed much better advantages in the University than a farmers' college ever can give. And then the people in four years' time would sink the Cleinson college out of sight. After I made my spech, a friend told me I used the word "infernal." I admitted that it was unparliamentary and used in the heat of debate. Since I have seen the pronunciament<> 1 think the word was prophetic and certainly the proper word if thin address voices the sentiments of the Clemson college advocates. F. W. McMastek. Columbia, S. C., Jan. 24, 1H!KJ. mar During the early abolitionist days the experiment of introducing negroes into white society was made, but it did not work. Nor has the race prejudice been obliterated by emancipation. Inall Northern towns and villages the negroes are com pell ed to live apart, in quarters inhabited by them wholly or almost wholly. Here, in New York, they really suffer much hardship because of this discrimination. They cannot select their residences, as white people do, from among a vast number, but must go to the comparatively few tenements in which negroes are allowed, which are usually in districts where the population is colored altogether. If a landlord of an ordinary tenement house should introduce a colored family, no matter how neat and respectable, he would lose his white tenants.?[New York Sun. HOW HE EXCELLED HIMSELF. BY IKE PHIL/KINS. The lamented Sargent S. Prentiss, of Mississippi, has rightfully been considered the most brilliant orator of this age. He is to American oratory what Chatterton was to English literature. For his years he was a phenomenon which promised to out blaze the brightest sun in his sphere. A characteristic anecdote is related of one of his brilliant efforts. He was to defend a man accused of > murder, and the evidence appeared to be plain. No one expected he would be acquitted, and almost every one was sure he would hang. Preni tiss had told some intimate friends that he could only hope for a long sentence, instead of hanging, even if he could obtain this much. ! But on the day he was to make his speech he was, as too frequently occurred, helpless from drink. But he was on hand, in spite of the protests of his colleagues in the great case. ' When his name was called, he got up in a dazed sort of way and insisted on speaking. He made a most powerful speech, but, to the amazement of his colleagues, and to the horror of the prisoner, he made a terrible speech on the side of the prosecution. It was said that there baa never been heard such a convincing argument to a jury in New Orleans, where the i trial occurred, against any man. As 1 he closed with one of his matchless hursts of eloquence, he started to tike his seat, as the other lawyers for i the defense exclaimed: "Great God! What have you done? You have hung your own ' client!" It flashed on Prentiss all at once I that he had, in his drunken stupor, made a speech for the State instead of for his client. He was thoroughly sober now. Reaching for a pitcher i of water standing near, he said, as if he had only paused for new strength: I "Mr. Sheriff, give me a glass, please." He then took a drink of water, set ' the pitcher down, looked around on I the jury, the judge, the lawyers and the audience, amidst a profound si lence. Every one, who had been un? der the spell of his argument and , amazed at his change, was breathless with expectation at this strange conduct. They all knew that something unusual was about to take place. What they could not guess. But that they were to be treated to something erreat. even for Prentiss, all ? felt, and not one in the vast throng ; so much as breathed for a few seconds. > The fiery orator did not keep them ; waiting but a moment. He settled himself on his feet, slowly wiped his > mouth, raised his hand, pointed it at - the array of talent and learning on the side of the prosecution, and bei gan : "May it please the court and gentlemen of the jury, I have given what I believe to be the strongest arguments that the prosecution could possibly bring against my client; arguments which,I admit, seem to involve him in a network of convicting evidence more inextricable than the meshes of the silken web woven about his victim by the cunning and alluring spider. But, gentlemen of the jury, 1 will now address myself to the arguments in favor of the accused, and I think I shall be able to sweep away the entangling web, even as the hand of man sweeps away the spider's silvery threads of silken fetters and sets free the captive ny." He then proceeded to make not only the most eloquent, most remark1 able speech he had ever made, but the most remarkable, perhaps, in the English language. The jury, judge, ; audience, and even counsel for the prosecution were dumbfounded, overwhelmed with amazement. Ap plauseand tears came at the bidding of the great orator. When he ceased speaking he fell back exhausted; and, when he recovered his strength, he was told that the jury, without leaving their seats, had brought in a verdict of "not guilty," as tne prosecu tion submitted the case after his speech without making further argument. When asked how he came to be in1 spired with the idea of making such a speech for the prosecution, and ; then knocking it all to pieces, he remarked : ' "I was never inspired with such an idea. I didn't know what I was about until my colleagWs told me ' what I had done. Then my brain ' seemed to take fire; 1 saw that I must redeem both my reputation and my honor, and had to do something quickly. The only thing that I could do, without acknowledging that I had played the drunken fool, was to pretend that I did that on ' purpose, and then try to undo my ! blunder. That's all there is to it." ! Hut we have only had one Keats, ' and one Chatterton, and one Prentiss. As a gentleman once remarked to a young man who excused his drinkv * ' * ' s? 4.1.~ ing nanus uy saying uie ungmcoi men we had drank, and naming Prentiss especially: "Yes, my young friend; we see what Prentiss is, in spite of drink. Put, great God, just reflect what he would have been had he not drank intoxicating liquors at all."?[Chicago Ledger. Gen. Early's Negro Joe.?1"One of the greatest instances of devotion that I ever saw," said an old Virginian, "outside of that of a dog for his master is that shown by 'Early's nigger Joe.' Joe is an old negro, about 70 years of age, was born a slave in Gen. Jubal Early's family, brought up with 'Jube,' became his body ser- , vant, served all through the war with \ him, as watchful of his master as a mother of her babe. After the war Joe was informed that he was free. 'I'se free?' said Joe, with a look of contempt. 'I'se not free. I belongs to Mas'Jube till I dies.'" ( Early is very fond of his servant, . and has told every shopkeeper in ( Lynchburg to let Joe have anything - * " i ^ - u:ii A,. u:.x? he wants ana senu uic um m mm. Joe follows his master around oncer- ; tain occasions like a dog. When ( Early lets the mountain dew of old > Virginny get the better of him, Joe 1 will say: "Mass' Jube, you mus' comev home." "Why. you nigger, who are ; you talking to ? Who is boss, anyway?" "Well, Mass' Jube, when you's so- ; ber you's boss, but when you's drunk , I'se boss." ! "Well, Joe, you're right. When ^ I'm drunk you're boss." ( And Early will resign himself to the faithful old darkey's care.?[St. Louis Republican. The Ocean* Steamship of tiie i Future.?She will be over a quarter 1 of a mile in length, and will do the J passage from Sandy Hook to Liver- j pool in thirty-six hours, being one < night out. She will be driven by * electricity, and in such a fashion as s to keep railway time, despite of storm j or fog. Passages can be secured by | flash photo, Edison's patent, and the 1 ticket will include an opera stall, or a concert ticket, or a seat in a church pew?the opera-house, concert hall 1 and church being all on board. A < covered ring for horse exercise will I also be provided, and a racing track for fast trotters. A base-ball ground and tennis courts will also form a portion of the attractions. For business men a stock exchange will be operated, the quotations being posted from the tickers every two minutes on the vibration system. The leading papers of all countries will be reprinted each morning by the electric reflection system. A spacious conservatory, containing the choicest flowers of all climates, will afford an agreeable lounging place, and bouquets will be provided gratis. As at Monaco and Monte Carlo, a suite of apartments will be laid out for play, to be kept open all night?a sumptuous supper with costliest wines free. English tailors and shoemakers will be in attendance, and clothes will be made and finished during the passage. The millinery department will contain the French fashions of thfi nrpvinua r1n\r orirl nr?c+nmou will ^4 v v * V/ V*. v vtuj J UliVt WObUlUVO ?T 111 be confectioned while the ship is en route, and delivered complete on arrival at dock. Accommodations will be furnished for 10,000 passengers.? [Once a Week. BOUND^TO HAVE IT. There was a large crowd present at an auction sale of Japanese goods in a store in Woodward avenue the other evening and some goods were selling cheap, while others brought more than the price of similar articles in neighboring bazaars. "How much am I bid for this exquisite vase?" asked the auctioneer, holding it above his head. "Two dollars and a half," responded an elderly lady sitting in one of the front seats. "That's a shame," cried the man with the mallet. "This vase as a work of art is worth four times the sum. Why, look at it! Will an intelligent audience allow such a sacrifice?" "Two seventy-five," came in the same woman's voice. "Well, well, well! Can't you see that this is a treasure, and yob stand there and allow it to lie given away for such a paltry sum ?" "Three dollars." Again it was the same bidder speaking. "Three dollars! The very idea!" ejaculated the autioneer. "I never saw the like. Come, good people, wnai is uie meaning 01 mis: une of Mikado's especial designs slighted in such a manner! It is a reflection on your taste." "Three and a quarter," said the solitary bidder." "I can't let it go for that," was the man's answer. "It is too costly, too precious and too rare in pattern. Wake up and take some action on the sale, or I'll put it back in the box." "Three and a half," the woman said. "Well, it doesn't seem as if I can get any more, so here it goes. Three and a half?once, twice, three times. Sold to the lady there at a shameful figure." The lady stepped up, paid for and received her parcel and departed, apparently without noticing the smiles of the audience.?[Chicago Tribune. A Story of Bom Pedro.?A story is told of the ex-Emperor which well illustrates his character. When, with the Empress, he visited the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia and attempted to examine the exhibits, he was wedged in immovably by a gaping, excited, but good-natured mob. He bore this in patience for two days. On the third day he resolved upon a bold change. "I shall see nothing," he said to his secretary; "I must be incognito. Procure me some disguise." The next day a stout farmer, with a coat not of the newest, his wife on his arm in a rather shabby merino gown, shouldered his way through the gates and spent the day in a close study of the educational system of different countries. They thus quietly and unnoticed continued their observations for a week. J... 1Lfu-nn. v/lit: uuy uiey mui a, gfuupui twenty Brazilian civil engineers, students from a great polytechnic school. The young men stooped, hesitated in amazement, ana then, with loud cheers and wild excitement,-saluted the farmer and his wife, bowing to the ground and kissing their hands. "It is is the Emperor," one of them explained with tears in his eves, to a bystander. "He is more than our king; he is the father of the people! Out of his own scanty purse he supports me and nine other orphan boys at our school. In every country he has his orphan hoys in colleges and universities that they may bring knowledge of all arts and sciences to Brazil. He has just made a tour of EurojK*, and he came here to find new inventions and ideas that may be useful to his people." The boys gathered closely around Dom Pedro, while he asked each as to his health and success. He knew each of "his boys" personally and was loved by them with a deep, grateful affection. Causes of Thunder.?"The sound which is known as thunder is due simply to the fact that the air traversed by an electric spark?that is a flash of lightning?is suddenly raised to a very high temperature and has its volume considerably increased. The column of gas thus suddenly heated and expanded is sometimes several miles long, and as the duration of the flash is not even a milrt ooiiAtwl if fAllnu'Q tVirtt. IKHllII U1 iv iviiuuw the noise bursts forth at once from the whole column, though for an observer in any one place it commences where the lightning is at the least distance. The oeginning of the thunder clap gives us the length of the column. When a flash of lightning strikes the ground, it is not necessarily from the place struck that the first noise is heard. A bullet whistles in traversing the air, so that we can, to a certain extent, follow its flight, the same thing also happening with a falling meteorite just before striking the earth. The noise actually heard has been compared to the sound produced when one tears linen. It is due really to the fact that the air rapidly pushed on one side in front of the projectile, whether bullet or meteorite, quickly rushes back to fill the gap left in the rear." [Prof. Hirn. The Northern Presbyterians. It is stated that twelve presbyteries jf the Northern Presbyterian church, representing 499 ministers and 80,447 communicants, have voted against Hip rpvisinn of the Shorter Catechism. while thirty-three presbyteries, representing 1,198 ministers and 170,889 communicants, have voted for it. The New York Herald says that in the debate before the New York presbytery on Friday, "the Rev. Mr. Page said that Bob Ingersoll had more to do with the raising of the question than anybody." It is becoming more apparent every day, we think, that the time has not yet come for the union of the Northern and Southern Presbyterian churches. Things have reached a pretty pass, indeed, when Bob Ingersoll am ridicule a great Christian body into changing the principles of its creed. A Wonderful Building.?Chicago's great Auditorium cost $2,700,300. L nder its roof is a theatre capable of seating, 7,000 people, a large hotel, a recitation hall, a banqueting ball and other rooms. There are 10,XX) electric lights in the building, served by 230 miles of electric wire, md there are twenty-five miles of ras and water pipes, twenty-one pumping engines and thirteen elevators. Stir The young men who are on the lookout for a "soft place," through lislike for honest, hard work, can lind it under their hats. ? J