Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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

*>"-... ti's ?going to blow, wben it'? a-going to be ca X know by what I notices dunn here when tonk's changed, quite as well." A "Has this gio web on the roof anything to with your divination ?" asked Vendale, bold J- his light toward a gloomy, ragged growtl dark fungus pendent from the arobes with a v disagreeable and repellent effect. " We are mons for this growth in this vault, aren't we ? / M We ?re, Master George," replied Joey Lat Boring a atop or two away, "and if you'll be Tieed by me, you'll let it alone." Taking- up the rod Just now laid across I two casks, and faintly moving the languid f gu? with itt, Vendale asked, " Ay, indeed ? ?1 ? ?ol'" '?.& " Why,-not to tBuoh because it rises from I casks ot wine, and mayieave you to judge wi ?ort of stuff a Gellannan takes into himself wi he walks in the same ail the days of his life, i yet so much because at a stage of its growth i maggots, and you'll fetch 'em down upon yoi returned Joey Ladle, still keeping away, " as : another reason, Master George.'* " What other reason ?" " (I wouldnt keep on touchin* it, if 1 was ye slr.) m tell yon If you'll come out of the plai First, take a look at Ms color, Master George.' MI am doing so." "Done, sir. Now, come out of the place." He mored away with his light, and Vend? followed with bis. When Vendale came up wi him, and they were going back together. Ve dale eying Um as they walked through tl arches,said : " Well, *oey? The color." "Is it lise dotted Ifleod, Master George ?" "Likeenough, perhaps." " More than enough, I think," muttered Jo* Ladle, shaking his head solemnly. "Well, say it is like ; say it ia exactly lil - What then I" "Master George, they do say-" "Who?" "How ahould I know who T" rejoined the Cc human, apparently much exasperated by tl unreasonable nature of the question. 1 "Them Hiern aa says p/etry well everything, you knot How ahould I know who They are, if you dont 1 " True. Go OB." " They do say that the man that gets by ai aeddent a piece of that dark growth right upc . Us breast, will, for sure and Certain, die b Vorder." Aa Vendale laughingly stopped to meet th CeUarmanw eye?, which he had fastened on hi tight wUle dreamingly saying those words, h suddenly became conscious of being struck upo bia own breast by a heavy hand. Instantly foi lowing with his eyes the action of the hand tba struck him-which was his companion's-h saw that it had beaten off his. breast a web o dot of the fangos, eren then floating to th ground. For a moment he turned upon the Cellarmai almost as scared a look as the Cellarman turnet upon him. But in another cement thor ha? reached tho daylight at the foot of the celia steps, and before he cheerfully sprang up them fte blew oat his candle and the superstition to gather. EXIT wHiDnro. On the morning of the next day Wilding wen out done, after leering a message with his clerk. "If Mr. Vendale should ask for me," he said " or if Mr. Bin trey should call, tell them I an gone to the Foundling." All that his partnei had said te him, all that bis lawyer, following ot the same side, could urge, had left him persist? ing unshaken in his own point of view. To fine the lost man, whose place he had usurped, wai now the paramount interest of his life, and tc inquire at the Foundling was plainly to take the first step in the direction of discovery. To the Foundling, accordingly, the wine merchant non went. The Ailee fasiOiar aspect of the building wai altered to him, as the leek of the portrait ovei the ehimneypiece was altered to him. His on? dearest- association with the place which had sheltered his childhood bad been broken away from it forever.'A strange reluctance rjoesossed bim, when he stated his business ai the door. His heart ached as he eat done in the waiting room, while the treasurer of the Institution waa being sent for to eee him. When the interview began, it was only by a painful effort that he could compose himself sufficiently to mention the nature of his erand. The treasurer iieteued.'with a face which prom? ised all needful attention, and promised nothing more. "We are obliged to be cautions," he sud, when it came to bis turu to speak, " about ali inquiries which are made by strangers." "Toa eran hardly consider me a stranger," an? swered Wilding, simply. " I was one of your poor lost children here in the bygone time." The treasurer politely rejoined .that this cir? cumstance inspired him with a special interest in his visitor. But he pressed, nevertheless, for that visitor's motive in making his inquiry. Without further preface, Wilding told him his motive, suppressing nothing. The treasurer rose, and led the way into th? room in which the registers of the Institution were kept. "AH the information which our book san give ls heartily at your service," he aaid. "After the time that bas elapsed, I am afr ad it is the only information we have to offer you." The books wees consulted, and the entry was found, expressed aa follows: "Sd March, 1836. Adopted, and removed from Bte Foundling Hospital, a mde infant, named Walter Wilding. Name and condition of the per? son adopting the child: Mrs. Jabe Ann Miller, widow. Address: Lime Tree Lodge, Groom? bridge Wells. R?f?renc?e: The Reverend John Harker, Groombridge Wells; and Messrs. Gilej, ?Jeremie, and Giles, bankers, Lombard street." "Bs that all?" asked the wine merchant ?"?Had you, no after-communication with Mrs. Miller I'" "None-or some reference to it must have appeared in thia book." " May I take a copy of the entry ?" i'Cwtainlv! Xoa are a little agitato! Lat; li mm ir - ? ? .gi^^tttfja,^! me make the copy for yon." "My only chaceo, I suppose,"said Wi] looking sadly at the copy, " is to inquire at 5! M J- .s residence, and to try if her refer can help me ?" "That ia the only chance I see at pref answered the treasurer. "I heartily wi could have been of some further assista? yon." With those farewell words to comfort Wilding set forth on the journey of invei rion which began from the Foundling d The first 'tage to make for was plainly the I of business of the bankers in Lombard si Two of tho partners in the firm were inacc ble to chance visitors when he asked for t The third, after raising certain inevitable culties, consented to let a clerk examine ledger marked with the initial letter " M." account of Mrs. Miller, widow, of Groombi Wells, waa found. Two long lines, in faded were drawn across it, and at the bottom of page there appeared thia note : " Ace closed, September SO, 1837." So the first stage of the journey waa rcac and so it ended in No Thoroughfare I A Bending a note to Cripple Corner to inform partner that bia absence might he prolong?e some hoon, Wilding took bia place in the t and started for the second stage on the joan Mrs. Miller's residence at Groombridge Well Mothers and children traveled with h mothers and children met each ot* er at . station ; mothers and children were in the si when he entered them to inquire for Lime-I Lodge. Everywhere the nearest and dear? human relations showed itself happily in happy light of day. Everywhere he waa minded of the treasured delusion from whicl bad been awakened so cruelly, of the memory whioh had passed from him hke a flection from a glass. Inquiring here, inquiring there, he cc hear of no such place as Lime-Tree Lot Passing a hons?-agent's office, he went wearily and pnt the question for the 1 time. The house-agent pointed across street to a dreary mansion of , many e. dows, which might have been a mannfactc bot which was an hoteL "That's where Li Tree Lodge stood, sir," said the man, " years ago." The second stage reached, and No Thoron; fare again-1 Bnt one chance waa left The clerical rei euee? Mr. Harker, still remained to be four Customers coaling in at the moment to ocoo the home agent's attention, Wilding went do the street, and, entering a bookseller's shi asked if could be informed of the Be vere nd Jo Hark er's present address. The bookseller looked unaffectedly shock and astonished, and made no answer. Wilding repeated his question. The bookseller took np from his connie! prim little volume in a binding of sober gn He handed it to his visitor, open at the til page. Wilding read v " The martyrdom of the Reverend John Hi ker in New Zealand. Belated by a former mei ber of his flock." Wilding pnt the book down on the count* "I beg your pardon," he said, thinking a litt] perhaps, of Disown present martyrdom while 1 spoke. The silent bookseller acknowledged tl apology by a bow. Wilding went ont Third and last stage, and No Tborenghfa for the third and last time. There was nothing more to be done ; thei was absolutely no choice but to go back to Loi don, defeated at ?ll points. From time to tin on the return journey, the wine merchant look? at his copy of the entry in the Foundling Be) ister. There is one among the many forms < despair-perhaps the most pitiable of all-whie persists in disguising itself as hope, Wildin checked himself in the tot of thro win the useless morsel of paper out of the cai hage window. " It may lead to>omething yet, he thought " While I Ure, I wont part with i When I die, my executors shall find it sealed u with my will." Now, the mention of his will set the goo wine merchant on a new track of thought, with out diverting his mind from its engrossing sub jeet He must make his will immediately. ' The application of the phrase No Thoro u gh far to the ease had originated with Mr. Bintrey. Ii their first long conference following the dis covery, that sagacious personage had a hundret times repeated, with an obstructive shake of thi head, "No Thoroughfare, Fir, No Thoroughfare My belief is that there is no way out of this a this time of day, and my advice is, make your self comfortable where you are." In the course of the protracted consultation, i magnum of the forty-five-year-old port wine hac been produced for the wetting of Mr. Bin trey \ legal whistle, but the more clearly he saw hil way through the wine, the more emphaticallj he did not see hie way through the cate: repeat? ing, as often se he set his glass down empty, I "Mr. Wilding, No Thoroughfare. Best and be thankful," It is certain that the honest wine merchant's anxiety to maka a will originated in profound I conscientiousness; tbongh it is possible (and ; quite consistent with his rectitude) that be may unconsciously hare derived some feeling of re? lief from the prospect of delegating bis own diffi? culty to two other men who wore to come after him. Be that as it may, he pursued bis pew track of tbonght with great ardor, and lost no time in bagging George Vendale and Mr. Bintrey to meet him jp Cripple Corner and share bis confidence. " Being all three assembled with cloped doors," said Mr. Bintrey, addressing the new partner on the occasion, " 1 wish to observe, be? fore our friand (and my client) intrusts us with his further views, that 1 have indorsed what I understand from bim to have been your advice. Mr. Ven lalo, aud what would be the advice of every sensible man. I have told him that he posilively must keep his secret. I have spoken with Mrs. Goidatraw, both in hus presence and in his absence ; and if anybody is to be trusted (whichis a very large IF.) IthinkBhe ie to be trusted to that extent. I haye pointed out to our friend (and my client,) that to set on foot random inquiries would not only raise the devil, in tue likeness of all the swindlers m the king' dom, but would also be to waste the estate. v>vc H ) vu ?e?; Ur, Tendajo, our friend (and rn? mmammmmmmmmgmtmmmmmmmaetllmmmlmmm^m client,) does not desire to waste the estate, hi on the contr irv, detjiros to husband it for vi be considers-but I can't say I do-tbe riebt owner, if such rightful owner phouid ever found. I am very much mistaken if he ei will be, but never miud that. Mr. Wilding a 1 are, at least, agreed that thc estate is not be wasted. Now, I have yielded to Mr. Wi ing'e desire to keep an advertisement at inti vals flowing through the newspapers, eau tic m inviting any person who may kaow auytuir about that" adopted infant, taken from t Foundling Hospital, to come to m.v office ; a: I have pledged myself that such advertisemc shall regularly appear. I have gathered frc our friend (and my client) that 1 meet you he to-day to toke bis instructions, not to give hi advice. I am prepared to receive bis ms tn tiona, and to respect bis wisneB ; bnt you w please observe that this does not imply t approval of either as a matter of professioi opinion." Thus Mr. Eintrey; talking quite as much Wilding as to Ton date. And yet, in spite of fa care for his client, he was so amused ty I client's Quixotic conduct, as to eye nim fro time to time with twinkling eyes, in the light i a highly comical curiosity. " Nothing," observed Wdding, "can be clear? I only wish my head was as clear as yours, kl Bintrey." " If you feel that singing in^t coming on," hie ed the lawyer, with an alarmed glance, " put off-I mean the interview." "Not at all, I thank you," said Wildin " What was I going to-" " Dont' excite yourself, Mr. Wilding," urge the lawyer. " No; I wasn't going to," said the wine me: chant. "Mr. Bm trey and Oeorge Vendal would you have any hesitation or objection I become my joint trustees and executors, or ea you at once consent ?*' "I consent," replied George Vendale, reidil] " I consent," said Bintrey, not so readily, "Thank you both. Mr. Bintrey, my instru tiona for my Last will and testament are sho and plain. Perhaps you will have the gocdnei to take them down. I leave the whole of n real and personal estate, without any exceptio or reservation whatsoever, to yon ?wo, my joir trust?es and executors, in trust to pay the who to the true Walter Wilding, if he shall be foui and identified within two years after the day c my death. Failing that, m trust to you : wo 1 Say over the whole as a benefaction and legac ) the Foundling Hospital." " Those aro all your instructions, are they, M Wilding**' demanded Bintrey, after a blan silence, during which nobody bad looked nt an] body. " The whole." "And as to those instructions, you have abet lutely made up your mind, Mr. Wilding ir" " Absolutely, decidedly, finally." " It only remains," said the lawyer, with on shrug of his shoulders, " to get them into .echn: cal and binding form, and to execute and attesi Now, does that preBB ? Is there any huny abor. it ? You are not going to die y et, sir.", "Mr. Bintrey," answered Wilding, gravel] "when I am going tm die is within other know! edge than yours or mine. I shall be glad to h av this matter off my mind, if you please." " We (are lawyer and client again," rejoine Bintrey, who, for the nonce, bad become almos sympathetic. "If this day week-here, at th same hour-will suit Mr. Vendale and y our s ell I will enter in my diary that I attend you accord tagt/." The appointment was made, and in due so ?uencekept. The will was formally signed, sealed elivered, and witnessed, and was carried off b; MT. Bintrey for safe storage among the papers o his clients, ranged in their respective iroi boxes, with their respective owners names ont Bide, on bron tiers in hie consulting room, aa i that legal sanctuary were a condensed Famil Vault of Clients. With more heart thar be had lately had fbi former subjects of interest. Wilding then se about completing his patriarchal establishment being much assisted not only by Mrn. Gold straw, but by Vendale, foo; who. perhipe, hat in his mind the giving of au Obenreizer din ncr as soon as pos ubi e. Anyhow, tb? establishment being reported in sound working order, the Ooenreizers, Guardian ant Ward, were asaed to dinner, and Madame Doi was included in the invitation. If Vendale hat been over head and ears in love before-i pbraei not to be taken as implying the faintest doubt about it-thia dinner plunged him down, in lov? ten thousand fathoms deep. Yet, for the life o hum, be could not get one word alone witt charming Marguerite. So surely as a bless?e moment seemed to come, Obenreizer. in hit filmy state, would stand at Vc udale's elbow, ol the broad back of Madame Dor wonk, appeal before bis eyes, ^hat speechless matron wai never seen ni a fri t view from the moment ol her arrival to that >f her departure, etcept al dinner. And from the instant of her retirement to tue drawing room, after a hearty participa* tion in that meal, she turned her face to the wall again. Yet, through four or five delightful though distracting hours Marguerite was to be seen, Marguerite waa to be heanL_Marguerita was to be occasionally touched. When they made the round of the old dark cellars Vendale Iud ber by the band ; when ehe sang to him in tho lighted room at night, Vendale, standing by her, held ber relinquished gloves, and would bave bar? tered against them every drop of the i'orty-fiv year old, though it had been forty-five times forty-five years old, and its net pnoe forty-five times forty-five pounds per dozen. And still, when she was gone, and a great gap of an ex? tinguisher was clapped on Cripple Corner, he tormented himself by wondering did che think that ho admired her ! Did she think that he adored her 1 Did she suspect that she bad won him heart and soul! Did she care to think at all about it I And so, did she and didn't ehe, np and down the gamut, and above the line and below the line, dear, dear 1 Poor rest? less heart of bumanity I To think that the men Who were mummies thousands of years ago, did the same, and ever found the secret how to be qmet nf ter it I "What do you think, George," Wilding asked him next day " of Mr. Obenraizer ? (I won't ask you what you think of Miss Oben? reizer)." "I don't know," said Vendale, "and I never did know, what to think of bim." "He is well inform and clever," II aid Wild? ing. "Certainly clever." "A good mueician." (He had played very well and sung very well, overnight. ) "Unquestionably a good musician." "And talks well." "Yes," said George Vendale, ruminating, "and talks well. Do you know, Wilding, it oddly occurs to me, aa I think about bim, that he doesn't keep silence wed I" " How do you mean ? He is not obtrusively talkative." "No, and I don't mean that. 'But when he is silent, you can hardly help vaguely, though per? haps most unjustly, mistrusting him. Take people whom you know and like. Take any one yon know and like." **Soon done, my good fellow," said Wilding. "I take you." "i didn't bargain for that, or foresee it," re? turned Vendale, laughing. "How a ver, take me. Reflect for a moment. Is your approving knowledge of my interesting face mainly founded (however various the momentary expressions it may include, on my face when I am e?ent ? ' "1 think it ia, ' said Wilding. "I think so too. Now, you see, when Obenreizer speaks,-in otner words, when he is allowed to explain himself away,-he comes out right enough ; but when be has not the opportunity of explaining himself away, he comea cot rath wrong. Therefore it ia said that I say he do not keep silence well. And passing nastily review such faces as I know and don't trust am inchned to think, now I give my mind to : that none of them keep silence well." This proposition in Physiognomy being new Wilding, he was at first slow to admit it, un ask mg himself the question whether Mrs. Gol straw kept silence well, and remembering th her face in repose decidedly invited trustfulnes he was as glad as men usually are to bebe' what they desire to believe. But as be was very slow to regain bis spirits his health, bis partner, as another means of se ting bim up,-and perhaps also with oontingei Obenreizer views,-reminded bim r-t thoi musical schemes of bis in connection with fa family, and how a singing-class wis to be formt in tbe house, and a choir in a neighborir church. The olaas was established epeedil and, two or three of the people having alreac Borne musical knowledge, and singing tolerabl the choir soon tollo wed. The hitter waa led at chiefly taught by Wilding himself ; who hi hopes of converting bis dependents into so mai foundlings, la respect of their capacity to ait sacred choruses. Now, the ObenrsizerB being skilled musician it was easily brought to pass that they should 1 asked to join these musical unions. Guardia and ward consenting, or guardian consenti c for both, it was necessarily brought t pass that Vendale's life became a life i absolute thraldom and enchantment. Fo in the mouldy Christopher-Wren church c Sundays, with its dearly beloved brethren assen bled and met together, five-snd-twenty strom was not that her voice that shot bke light int the darkest places, thrilling the walls and pillai as though they were pieces of his heart 1 Whs time, too, Madame Dor in a corner of the hig pew, turning her back upon everybody and ever] thing, could not fail to be Ritualistically right a some moment of the service; like the man whoi tbe doctors recommended to get drunk once month, and who, that be might not overlook ii got drank every day. But even those seraphic Sundays were sm ?iassed by the Wednesday concerts estabhshe or the patriarchal family. At those concert she would sit down to the piano, and sing then in her own tongue, songs of ber own land Bongs calling from the mountain-tops to Yeo dale, " Bise above the groveling level country come far away from the crowd; pursue me au mount higher, higher, higher, melting into th azure distance; rise to my supremest hight o all, and love me herel" Then would the prett bodice, the clocked stocking and the ?Iver buckled shoe be, like the broad forehead and tin bright eyes, fraught with the spring of a ver; chamois, until tbo strain waa over. Not even over Vendale himself did these song of hers cast a more potent spell than over Joe; Ladle in his different way. Steadily refus inj to maddie the harmony by taking any share h it, and evincing |the supremest contempt foi scales and suchlike rndimsnts of music- which indeed, seldom captivate me.-e listeners-Joey du at first give up the whole business as a bad job and the whole of the performers for a Bet o howling Dervishes. But descrying traces o unmuddled harmony in a a part-song one day, hi gave his two under-cellermen faint hopes of get ting on toward something in course or time. Ai anthem of Handel's led to further encourage ment from him; though he objected that thai great musician must have been down in some o them foreign cellars pretty much, for to go anc say the same thing so many times over; which took it in how you might, ho considered a cer< tain sign of your having took it in somehow On a third occasion, the public appearance ol Mr. Jarvis with a flute, ana of an old man witt a viohn, and the performance of a duet by thc two, did so astonish him that, solely of his OWE impulse and motion, he became inspired witt the words, "Ann Hoar 1" repeatedly pronounc? ing them aa if calling m a familiar manner foi some lady who bad distinguished herself in th? orchestra. Bat this was his final testimony tc the marita of his mates, for, the instrumental duet being performed at-the first Wednesday concert, and being presently .followed by thc voice of Marguerite Obenreizer, he sat with his mouth wide open, entranced, until ahe had finished; when rising in bu place with much solemnity, and prefacing what he waa about to Bay with a bow that specially included Mr. Wilding in it, he delivered himself of the grati? fying sentiment: " Arter that, ye may all on ye get to bed 1" And ever afterward declined te render homage in any other words to the musi? cal powers of the family. Thus began a separate personal acquaintar.ee between Marguerite Obenreizer and Joey Ladle. She laughed so heartily at his compliment, .?.* yet was so abashed by it, that Joey made bold to say to her, after the concert was over, be hoped he, wasn't so muddled in his bead as to have took s liberty ? She made him a gracious reply, and Joey ducked in return. ' "You'll change the luck time about, Miss," said Joey, ducking again. " It's such as you in the place that can bring round the luck of the place," " Can I ? Round the luck ?" she answered, in her pretty English, and with a pretty wonder. "Ifear I do not understand. I am so stupid." Young Master Wdding, Miss,* Joey explained, confidentially, though not much to her enlight? enment, "changed the luck, afore he took in young master George. So I say, and so they'd find. Lord. Only come into the place and sing over the luck a few times, Miss, and it wont be able to help itself !" With this, and with a whole brood of ducks, Joey backed out of the presence. But Joey being a privileged person, and even an involun? tary conquest being pleasant to youth and beauty, Marguerite merrily looked out for him next time. .? Where is my Mr. Joey, please ?" sho asked of Vendale. So Joey was produced and shaken hands with, and that became an institution. Another institution arose in this wise. Joey was a little hard of hearing. He himself said it was " Wapors," and perhaps it might have been; but whatever the cause or the effect, there the effect was, upon bim. On this first occasion he bad been seen to sidle along the wall, with his left hand to his left ear, until he had sidled him? self into a 3eat pretty near the singer, in which place and poumon he bad remained, until ad? dressing to his friends tbe amateurs the compli? ment before mentioned. It was observed on the following Wednesday that Joey's action as a peck? ing machine wts impaired at dinner, and waa rumored about the table that this was explain? able by his high-strung expectations of Miss Obenreizer's Binging, and his fears of not get? ting a place where he could hear every note and syllable. The rumor reached Wilding's ears, he, in bis good-nature, called Joey to the front at night before Marguerite began. Thus the institution came into being that on succeeding nights, Mar? guerite, ruuuing her hands over tbe keys before singing, always said to Vendale, " Where is my Mr. Joey, please'.'" and that Vendale always brought him forth, and stationed him noir by. That he should then, when all eyes were upon bim, express in bis face the utmost contempt for the exertions of his friends and confidence in Marguerite alone, whom he would stand con? templating, not unlike the rhinoceros out of the spelling-book, tamed aud on his hind legs, was a part of the institution. Also that when he re? mained after the singing in his most ecstatio state, some bold spirit from the back should say, " What do you think of it, Joey V" and he should be goaded to reply, as having that in? stant conceived the retort, " Arter that ye may all on ye get to bed ?" These were other parts of the institution. But, tba aimpla pleasure* and email jeata; of J Cripple Oom er were not destined to have a lo life. Underlying them from the first wi serions matter, which every member of l patriarchal family knew of, bnt which, by ti agreement, nil forbore to speak of. Mr. Wudic health was in a bad way. He might overcome the shock he had s' tamed in the one great affection of bia life, or might, have overcome his consciousness being in the enjoyment of another man's pr erty; but tho two together were too much : him. A man haunted by twin ghosts, he came deeply depressed. The inseparable spect eat at tbs board with him, ate .from, platter, draak Irom bia cup, and stood by bedside at night. When he recalled hu B posed mother's lore, he felt aa though he h stolen it. When he rallied a bttle under the spect and attachment of his dependents, he 1 as though he were even fraudulent in m ak; them happy, for that should lure been toe i known man s duty and gratia canoa. Gradually, under the pressure of his brood i mind, his body stooped, his atep lost its el t Lei ty, bis eyes were seldom lifted from i ground. He knew he could not help the Elorable mistake that had been made,'but ?ew he could not mend it ; -for the days i weeks went by, and no one claimed his name bis possessions. And now there began to cn over bim a cloudy consciousness of often-rec ring confusion m hu head. He would no countably lose, sometimes whole hours, soi times a whole day and night. Once his rome branee stopped as he aat at the head of H dinner table, and wa? blank until daybre; Another time it stopped aa he waa beating tr to the . singing, anet went on again when he s his partner were walking in the courtyard the light ol' the moon, half the night later, asked Vendale (always full of conmderati work and help) how this waa. Vendale only plied, " You nave not been quite well ; tht all." He looked for explanation into the fat of his people. But they would put it off wi " Glad to see you looking so muon better, ah or "Hope you're doing nicely now, air;" which waa no information at ali. At length, when the partnership waa but f months old, Walter Wilding took to bia bed, a his housekeeper became hit nurse. " Lying here, perhaps you will sot mind i calling you Bally, Mrs. Goldstraw?" said 1 poor wine merchant, " It sounds more natural to me, air, than i other name, and I like it better." " Thank you, Baily. I think, Bally, I must late hare been subject to fits. Is that ao, Sall Don't m incl telling me now." " It has iappened, air.'' * Ah i That ia the explanation I" he quia remarked, "Mr. Obenreizer, Bally, talks of I world berni; ao small that it ia not strange h often the tame people come together, andi coi together, nt various places, and to various staj of life. But it does aeem strange. Bally, tba should, as I may say, come round to the Foui ung to die." He extended hia hand to her, and she gen tookit. " You ai? not going to die, dear Mr. Wildini "So Mr. Bin trey said, but I think he * wrong. The old child-feeling ia coming ba upon me, Sally. Th? old hush and rest, a used to fall asleep." After an interval he said, bi a placid voil " Please kiss me. Nurse," and it waa o vide; believed iiimseli to be lying in the old dormito! Aa ahe Iud been used to bend over the fat ht less and motherless children, Sally bent ot the fatherless and motherless man, and put li lipa to hin forehead, murmuring, " God bless you 1" "God bless you j" be replied in the same toi After another interval ne opened his eyes hto -own character, and said : " Don't mo me, Baby, because of what I am going to say he quite easily. I think my tim? ia come, don't know how it may appear to you, Sal but-" X Insensibility fell upon him for a few min ure he emerged from it once more. "- I don't know how it may appear to ye Sally, ba t so it appears to me," When lie had taus conscientiously finished 1 favorite neu tepee, his time came, and he died ACT TX. VZKDJXI 1UZX8 LOVE. The summer and thc autumn had pass? Christmas and the New Year were ai hand. Aa executors honestly bent on performii then* duty toward the dead. Vendale and Btou had held more than one anxious consult?t ton the subject of Wilding's wilL Th? lawyer h declared, from the first, that ii was simply u possible to take any useful action bi the matt at all. Th? only obvious inquiries to make relation to the lost man had been made airea by Wilding himself, with this result, that tu and death together had not left a trace of hi discoverable. To advertise for ibo claimant the property, it would bo necessary to menti 8ar t ic ali irs- a course of proceeding which woo ?vite half the impostors in England to prese themselves in the character of the true Walt Wilding. "If we find a chance of tracing tl lost man, we will take it. If we don't, let us me for another consultation on the first anniversa of Wilding's death." So Bin trey advised t'asd e with th? most earnest desire to fulfill bis dei friend's wishes, Vendale waa fain to let the mi ter rest for the present. Turning from hu interest bi the past to b interest in the future, Vendale still found hil self confronting a doubtful prospect. Mont on montos had passed since bis first visit to Sol square, and through all that time the one la guage in wbion be told Marguerite that he lov Ew was the language of the eyes, assisted, convenient opportunities, by the language ol ti hand. What was the obstacle in hirway ? The one h mo va bio obstacle which had been in his way frc the first;. No matter bow fairly the opportui ties looked, Vendale's efforts to speak with Mi gu?rite alone, ended invariably in one and tl same result. Under the moat accidental circu? stances, in the most innocent manner po s sib! Obenreizer was always in the.way. With the last da} s of the old year came an u expected chance of spending an evening wi Marguerite, which Vendale resolved should bs chance of speaking privately to her as well. I cordial note from Obenreizer invited him < V.o w Year's Dav, to a bttle family dinner in Sol Square. " We'sball be only four," the note gay "We shall be only two," Vendale determine " be foi e the evening is out I" New Year's Day, among the English, is ass ciated with the giving and receiving of duiner and with nothing more. New Year's Day amor 'the foreigners, is the grand opportunity of tl year for the giving and receiving of presents. is occasionally possible to acclimatize a foreij custom. In thu instance Vendale felt no hesit tion about making the attempt. Hia one dubcu ty was to decide what his New Year's gift to M gu?rite shonld be. The defensive pride of t" peasant's daughter,morbidly sensitive to the in quality between her social position and his, worn be secretly roused against him if he venture on a rich offering. A gift, which a poor man purse might purchase, was the one gift th could be trusted to find its way to her hear for the giver's sake. Stoutly resisting tempt! tion, in tbe form of diamonds and rubies, Vet dale bought a brood of the filagree-work i Genoa-the simplest and most unpretendhi ornament that bo could find in the jeweler shop. He dipped his gift into Marguerite's hand i she held it out to welcome him on the day of tfc dinner. "This ia your first New Year's Day in En gland, " he said " Will you let me help to mali it like a New Year's Day ai horns?" 1 bas thaakod him, a Utila conatx&iaadly, aa ah