The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, March 04, 1891, Image 2

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TSE SUM ?KR WATCHMAN, JRstablished April, 1850. "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's " TSE TKUK SO?THKON, Established June, 1S6? Consolidai ed Aug. 2, ISSI.] SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1891. New Series-Toi. X. No. ?1. Published ovary Wednesday, fr .. ' i BY- : " . i i; N. Gk ? STE E N, SUMTER, S. C. TKRMS: Two Dollars per annum-in advance. AD 7B&TISSXKKT8. Oo Square, first insertion.$1 00 Brer j subsequent insertion... 50 Contracts for three months, or longer will bo made at red aced rates. Ail communications which subserve private interests will becharged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be ? ? charged for. TBE SDI08DS NATIONAL BANK, *GF SUMTER. **' STATE, CITY AND COUNTY DEPOSI? TORY, S?J5TBR, S. C. . Paid ap Capital ..... $75.000 00 Surplus Fend ...... 7,500 00 Transacts a General Banking Business. Careful attention given to collections. SATIWGS DEPARTMENT. Deposits of $1 and upwards received. In ~: terest allowed at the rate of 4 per cent, per "annum. Payable quarterly, on first days of January, April, July and October. R. M. WALLACE, Vice President. L. S. CABSOS, Aug. 7 Cashier._ -fllillMTlK, SUMTER, S C.* CITY AND COUNTY DEPOSITORY. Transacts a general Banking business. I Also hes & Savings Bank Department, Deposits of $1.00 and upwards received. Interest calculated at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum, payable quarterly. W. F. B. HAINSWORTH, A. WHITE, Ja., President. Cashier. Aog 2?._ j. F. w. DELOPU; Agent, DE^LET^ INT DRUGS&iiiCiffi, WltET SOAPS, PERFUMERY AND ALL KINDS OF ihi ffiragfist's Sundries USUALLY KKPT IN A FIRSTTCLASS DRUG STORK. Tobacco, Sniff and Segars, GARDEN SEEDS5 &C., -ALSO Faints, Oils, Varnishes, GLASS. PUTTY, &c. -ASD i* DYESTUFFS. -o Physician's Prescriptions carefully com poa uded, and orders answered with care and dispatch. The pabiic will find my stock of ! Medicines complete, warranted genu? ine, and of the best quality. Call and see for yourselves. V9 For Infants and Children. Castoria promotes Digestion, and overcomes Flatulency, Constipation, Sour Stomach, Diarrhoea, and Feverishness. Thus the child is rendered healthy and its deep natural. Castoria .contains no Morphine or other narcotic property. " Castoria is so well adapted to children that I recommend it as superior to any prescription known to nae.''* H. A. ARCHER, M. D.. m South Oxford St., Brooklyn, N. Y. "I use Castoria in my practice, and find it specially adapted to affections of ch-ldren/* . ALEX. ROBERTSON, M. D., 1057 2d Ave., New York. "From personal kno edge and observation I can say that Castoria is an excellent med icine for children, acting: as a laxative and relieving: the pent up boweis and general system very much. Many mothers have told mc of Its ex? cellent effect upon their children."1 Da. G. C. Oscoon, Lowell, Mass. Tax CENTAUB COMPANY, 77 Murray Street, X. Y. Regulate The Bowels. Costiveness deranges tho whole sys? tem and begets disc au es, such as Sick Headache, Dyspepsia, Fevers, Kidney Diseases, Bilious Colic, Malaria, etc. Tntfs Pills produce regular habit of body.?nd food digestion, without which, io one east eu joy good health? Sold Everywlierea CAT .Ely's Cream Bairn Cleanses the Nasa ! Passa gos. Al? lays laf?amma?cn. EeUs?he Sores. Eestores the Senses of Taste, Smell and Hearing. A particle i-j applied into each no??ri? and is axrt*cal>!e. PrieegOe. ar Prmrjeista or Uy snail. ELY BROTHERS^; Warren St~2?ew York. j j ^ "'V " "~ '" 11 Tl.ISaJlett?fe Co..Cox * oO "o?-i::jJs?J,i.?i.j?o ^tfHffiflfcX^. ?C-ien.nftfi? r . : hrinfrsui4e.br John R ?S^?VMm^, 'vak y .M i? i\ -i t '. . i;-- M pm" h. l -.t *v? i .in CH y,^WB'-nch T. m'(iii, kif b??w f<?'\nn !?ti??ito KW. ^gnh^ff 3 ''n-v :i! "** *:"r:<a,,t' u'""' **. yo po JES^^V Sww0v' N" '. .'>' * *. ' P**- 11 ??} l'?.n L/S J*^jGS.\ra?riin. ;.'>ti . n c-minmo.- at howcfiv fe4 M <,HSW? ?il your titic.wr ?jare nj. wraa ouh to Vt ?fB?SC: Sf tT " w?k- x'! . . -v K SI'Kl"' ^J^B*" Y t?Tv?,,T,??r. 1\ *? MB?T fiini'-'i'i.K ?ll f- '-jf ewVtninsr. KASil.Y. tSi'EKMLY l?iriM-.i. .^L^Barrl i-Al:i I< H.Al:s HtKl". A .!.!??>?; . /LVZ^?. S.l.so x io., H>K?LA.\I>, 3A1>? By J?IIM HAWTHORNE. Cciyvij.ht, 1SSO, by ?menean Press Association.] lCOXTECtTED.1 SYNOPSIS. IN CHAPTER 1 Gen Inigo, a prominent im? presario, confides to Hamilton Jocelyn, a man about town, that Marana, a Russian prima donna, engaged at enormous expense to open j his new opera house in New York, has cabled that she cannot keep ber coutract. Jocelyn oSVrs to find an acceptable substitute at once. CHAPTER 2 introduces to the reader Beatrix Randolph, a thoroughly trained amateur, possessing a remarkable voice and struggling under financial and social reverses. She lives with her widowed father on heavily ineum bered estates np the Eudson. CHAPTER 3 brings Gen. Inigo and Jocelyn, who is an old acquaintance of tbe Randolphs, to their retired homestead, and Beatrix is en? gaged at a large salary to impersonate Ma? rana, using the Russian's name. IN CHAPTER 4 Mr. Geoffrey Bellingham, a rising young architect, who is superintending work on the new opera house, suggests some changes to Gen. Inigo and wins a high com? pliment. IN CHAPTER 5 Jocelyn, acting as a friend of all concerned, arranges temporary quarters for Beatrix in New York and secures a chaperon for her, inadvertently showing him? self to be a mac of shady antecedents, living by his wits. CHAPTER 6 brings the heroine, in the assumed character of Marana, before New Yory society. She meets Geoffrey Belling? ham at a dinner given in her boner by a rich patron of the muses._ CHAPTER VUL TES SUCCESS AXD GLORY OF HER CAREER, "TTianli you," she sai/i,"and thank you for these floors." On the day appointed for the selling of tickets for the first performance the extent of the popular interest that had been aroused was indicated by the length of the "ene" of buyers, "who made a line from the box office all the way round the block, and who began their session, or station rather, upward of twenty-four hours before the office opened. Ac? counts of their nocturnal experiences, their jokes, and their good humor ap? peared in the morning papers, together with plans of the interior arrangements of the opera house, the precautions against fire and panic, the unequaled splendor and perfection of the scenery, and the cost of the whole enterprise. The usual safeguards against the iinpt> sition of speculators were taken, and met with the usual success. By five in the afternoon the house was sold from ceil I ing to .cellar, and the impresario, lean? ing in an insouciant attitude against the bar of the hotel, with his hat on one side and his' face broader than it was krag, treated his numerous friends to ?dr?nks and received their congratula? tions. This was on a Saturday. On Monday the performance took place "before the most fashionable, cultivated and appre? ciative audience ever assembled on a similar occasion in the city of New York." So recent and eminent a tri? umph is not likely to have been forgotten by those who witnessed it. The opera selected was "Faust." It is perhaps the most satisfactory one for a first appear? ance, not only because of its musical merits, but because everybody is famil- ; iar with it, and can estimate the com? parative success of the newcomer iu "creating" afresh the immortal charac? ter of Marguerite. There had been a great number of rehearsals, and Mlle. Marana had grown somewhat weary of the repetitions, and latterly had begun to iear that when the great night came she would, if not unnerved by stage -fright, at any rate be unable to go through the part otherwise than me? chanically. All spontaneity of action and sentiment would be gone from her. She staid in her apartment all day cn Monday, refusing to sec any one, and even dispensing the greater part of the time with the presence of Mme. Bemax. She wished to dismiss the whole subject of the opera from her mind, and to aid herself in doing so she fixed her thoughts upon her brother Ed, and recalled all his ways and escapades and the happy times tiiey had spent together. She pictured him and herself running races, and climbing trees, and finding birds' nests, and tending their red and white roses, and going on hunting expeditions after woodchucks and squirrels, and ?he brought back to her memory the talks they used to have together, when they would lay out before themselves the course cf their future lives-what they would do and what they would be. How different from their anticipation it had turned ou t! But he was her brother just the same, and she loved him none the less than she had ever done; on the con? trary she loved him more, for he had given her an opportunity to show her i-jve by repairing an injury which, he had do?>?. It waa pleasant to think that, when he returned home, expecting to meet only distress and reproaches, he would find instead prosperity as great, if not great er than before extravagance began, and all owing to his own sister! If he had done wrong, his sister thought, the discovery that she had worked to repair it would be more certain than anything else to make him henceforward do right. Then she began to speculate a~ to what sort of wron;; he hal done-whether it were anything more than thoughtlessness and extravagance. A few weeks ago she would have said that it could benothing mor--; but she had been forced to see j and hear certain things of late which ; made her hesitate. She had seen what some young men, possessed of money j and freedom, were and did; why might ! not her brother Ed be like themV She j put tho thought away from L r; she j would not believe evil ot' lier own br rfher. ! He was a Randolph and a gentleman, j He might be selfish and reckless, hut he j would never do anything wicked or dis- ! graceful, lt was more to bc feared that j he would deem her to have disgraced herself in stealing another womau's j name and reputation. It was all very I well to plead that she had been per? suaded into it half ignorantly, half, against her will; the fact that she had ' ?one it remained. Well-it was too late j to turn back now! The long hours passed on, and as the evening approached she found herself thinking not of Ed, but of another per? son, who had come into lier mind, not by her own invitation, but involuntarily; or possibly he had been in the background I all the while, and advanced as the other receded. She had had no conversation j with Bellingham since that day at the I theatre, but they had met several times ! and exchanged a few words, and there had been something in his manner that had strengthened and reassured her, she knew not why-something that seemed to show that intuition was acquiring | more weight with him than reason. And yet he had not seemed happy nor at ease; but his uneasiness was of a kind that soothed and inspirited her. It was like the trouble of a cloudy dawn, out of which the sim at last rises clear. He was not treacherous nor intangible, like so many men; his qualities were large and firmly based; he could not play monkey I tricks, and talk one thing while he thought another. The process of his feelings was honest and open; he was reserved and ret? icent precisely because he could not be insincere. The prima donna longed with all her soul to be as frank and undisguised as he. She felt that could she be so all would be well between them: but that until then all would not be well. And she said to herself, how perverse' a mis? hap it was that this disguise of hers should have become necessary just when they met; had she met him at any other time of her lifo he would have known her as she really was, and his intuition and his reason would have been at one. But then, again, her pride arose, and she vowed that if he did not care enough about knowing her to discern her real self beneath the false disguise he should never know her at all. But did what she called her real self exist any longer? Had not the disguise destroyed it? And, if so, could she expect him to discover what was no longer there? She pressed her hands ?ver her eyes and breathed heavily. The time of waiting was now over, however. Mme. Bemax was knocking at the door, and coming in with made? moiselle's cloak and bonnet in her hand, and-saying that the carriage was ready and that they must drive to the theatre at once in order that mademoiselle might have time to put on Marguerite's dress before the curtain rose. The prima donna stood up, and tho realization of what lay before her aime sweeping over her mind like astorm. She was slightly tremulous and felt cold and feeble. Mme. Bemax made her drink a glass of wine, and conducted her down to the carnage, one seemed hardly to know I where she was, she could speak only with an effort; a benumbing preoccupa? tion had got possession of her. At the carriage door a gentleman was waiting, clad in evening dress, with a light over? coat. Her heart beat for an instant, then became oppressed and tremulous again; it was only Jocelyn. He helped her into the carnage, and got in after her and Mme. Bemax. He began to say vari? ous things in a caressing, encouraging voice; she exclaimed 'sharply, ;,Don't speak to me! I must think my thoughts!" The rattle of the wheels on the pave? ment agitated her; she could not keep her hands or her lips still. Sometimes she fancied they had been driving for hours; sometimes that they had scarcely started. When at length they arrived at tho theatre everything seemed at once familiar and strange; she had seen it all scores cf times before, but never with the eyes she saw it with now. Several persons addressed her, but she walked on to her dressing rooxn without appearing conscious of any one. The room was small, but prettily decorated; there were two full length mirrors in it, and ii was fragrant with flowers. On the table was lying a bunch of l\lm guerites, tied about with a narrow blue ' ribbon. The knot by which the ribbon was fastened caught the prima donna's eye: alie had seen something like it before. It was not an ordinary knot, but one such tis sailors make. She took up the little white and golden cluster and looked them over; there was nothing to show whence they came-nothing but the knot. While she was putting on ? her dress her mind occupied itself with this little mystery, and tlie oppression of her heart was relieved. She put the Marguerites in her girdle, feeling kindly disposed toward them, for tiley had done her good. Then a desire suddenly took possession of her to go ont and see the audience. Tlie overture WAS still in progress, and she might cross the stage and look through a peep hole in the cur? tain. Mme. Bemax assented, and accompa? nied lier. The stage was dimly lighted, and a number of people were moving hither and thither upon it: the scene shifters were giving tlie last touches to the arrangements. Mlle. Marana, with a light shawl over her shoulders, glided unobserved up to the great curtain and looked through. The spectacle was like nothing else she had ever seen or imagined. The lions? was brilliant with light and alive with movement and murmur. But the thou sands of faces, row after row and tie: above tier: the glance of innumerable eyes, all turned toward her: all come there to see her!-it was astoun ring and terrifying! Those innumerable eyes nothing could escape them, nothing be invisible to them. They were overpow? ering, hostile, exterminating! All im? pression of individual human beings was lost, and the audience seemed to be a sort of monster, without sympathies and responsibiiitieSj immense, incontrollable, omniscient-a merciless, multitudinous inquisition! How coull a single girl contend against them? By what miracle could her voie.- and presence reach and subdue them? Rather her spirit would evaporate from her Hps before them and | leave her inanimate. As she stood gazing there some one; crossing th'4 stag.- from the wings passed ; in-ar hw. She knew the step, and turn ed. Yes. it was Bellingham. He recog- j uized her and paused, apparently sur- j prised to see herthere, but Iris? xpression Could not be diseovere ! in the shadow; '"Does the house Katisfyyou. iintdemoi- ! selle?" he said, approaching her. As he' did so he glanced tit the flowers ia her girdle. Tit * ghmee did i: ? escape her, ;;.! 1 then she knew where it was she Rad seen tito knot before, lt was that day ?.{" their interview in the corridor: his j fingers had been busy idly tying and un? tying ''U of string. '.Idi i.it know voa would 1)0 here," sli?- said in a whisper. "I am glad. ' '.Th: y expect a cal! for the architect." he replied, "and I mus? make a bow." "Will you be in the audi? rice while I sing?" i "Yes. Why?" '\Show mo which seat is yours. ' He stepped to tin- peep hole. ?.You see that chair lia1.!' way down tlie center aisle? That is mino." '.Thank you," she said: .-.?nil thank you for these flowers. 1. feel made over anew! Now I can sing." She put out her hand and Geoffr took it in his. For a moment it seemed to them as they were alone together. When tv persons meet in complete sympathy i other human association seems so triflii in comparison that they cease to 1 aware of it. At this moment the ovrrture came 1 an end. and the order was issued for tl stage to be cleared. The prima dom found herself again in her dressing root but not in the same nmod as she had le it? She was warm, composed and happ; She looked in the tall mirror, and for tl first time saw Marguerite reflected ther Then into her serene and awakene mind entered all the tenderness, sin plicity and i>athos of Gretchen".1; lovel story, and she felt the spirit of the Ge man peasant maiden take possession ( her. The appurtenances of the stag the mechanism of the effects, the glai of the footlights, no longer had pow? to disturb her illusion. They seeine themselves an illusion, and only th story- was real. And when the monier came that she stood before the might audience they were to her no longer hostile and opposing presence, wit which she must struggle in hopeless coi test, but a vast reservoir of human syn pathy, aiding her, supporting her, cou prehending her, supplying her with Iii and inspiration, and responding a thoi sandfold to every chord she touched. As her voice flowed out and abroa from her lips it seemed to owe its er chanted sweetness and resonance not t her, but to its echo in the hearts of he listeners. Whence, then, had come thi marvelous change in the mutual reh tions between her audience and herseli She was conscious only of the joy of ur restrained expression; the audience, onl of the delight of ear and eye; an Geoffrey Bellingham, sitting with folde arms and charmed pulses in the mids of the assemblage, had no suspicion thu any part of this triumph of harmon}' am beauty was due to him. His eyes an all his senses were turned toward hei but how should he imagine that ami< the crowd of that great amphitheatr her glances were conscious of no fae but his, and that all the stupendou magnetism of their silence and their ap plause was centered and concentrated ii him.J Pie had even forgotten that hi; Marguerites were in her girdle. As has already lx>en intimated, how ever, it would be superfluous to give am account of this memorable performance from the audience's point of view. Com petent judges, who attended many repe t?tions of the opera, have declared thai Mlle. Marana never afterward surpass?e the standard of excellence she attainec on this first occasion. It was the topi< of the time, and the fame of it spread all over the United States, and wai spoken of next day in London and Paris, The public, which is so inhuman anc tyrannical in its apathies and antipathies, is like a child and a slave in its favorit? ism and its homage. It idolized the in? comparable Marana, and would have built her a house of gold, with jeweled windows, if she had demanded it. The unknown girl from the upper reaches oi the Hudson was crowned queen of New Y'ork for the sake of two or three hours' sweet singing. It is seldom that Adam, and even divin? er Eve, in tlie days of their youth, are wholly insensible to the worship of theil fellow creatures. They may say and be? lieve that flattery cannot make them alter their own estimate of their merit: nevertheless, the eye that sees admira? tion in all other eyes involuntarily waxes brighter and more assured, and the pres? ence before which others bow down, if it do not bear itself more commanding!}-, can at least scarcely avoid a graceful condescension. Doubtless it is not the merit but the homage which the merit causes that creates the elation. And by and by the suggestion will insinuate it? self that there may, after all, be some? thing exceptional in the nature gifted with such talents, apart from tlie talents themselves. From this point it is not far to the conclusion that exceptional natures demand exceptional treatment and con? sideration-should not be made account iible to ordinary rules; should bo a law unto themselves. No position is more susceptible than thi? of being vindicated by plausible arguments, aiad a poor argu? ment war med by good will has always been worth a dozen better ones chilled and torpid from the breath of disinclina? tion. Now Mlle. Marana, though she could not estimate the influence upon others of the personal quality of her voice, could not help knowing that she-sung in tune and correctly: but, inasmuch as many other women could do this, she was forced to infer that her being made queen of Now York must be due to some personal quality, as aforesaid. This just persuasion gave her pleasure on more accounts than one; but one account was that it seemed to justify in some measure thc deception which she was maintain? ing before the world. Though still chargeable with purloining Maraaa's name, she might, perhaps, acquit her conscience of damaging that Lady in her musical reputat ion. if she were listened to with as great favor as the genuine Russian diva would have been, surely the hitter could not complain of any very great practical injury. On the contrary she would have earned an American renown without hoing troubled to sa much as open her lips. True, renown was all she would earn: but she Ind voluntarily given up thc offer of other emoluments before the false Marana had ever been thought of. Of course a lie is a lie; after every ex cuse has been made for it: yet there may because for congratulation if a lie prove to contain no other mischief than the simple invasion of a truth. In this opinion she wai?, it need scarce? ly be said, cordially supported by Ham? ilton Jocelyn and Mm .. Bemax; nor way her father disinclined t> take an opti? mistic view o?* the situation. The latter gentleman, by tho way, seemed to have j taken a fresh start in life sine- his trou? bles came to head, therein following the example-of many prominent citizens of New York and other places who, when other sources cf supply run dry, are ac? customed 1') tap with golden success the unfailing spring of insolvency. Mr. Ran? dolph had taken rooms in a small but elegant flat <>:i Fifth avenue, and was living the life of a rejnvt nate 1 bachelor and man about town. The possession of a momentous secret flattered hissense of self importance, and tho incumbency I of a minor sinecure in thc municipal j government; which he hal obtained through wu. inigo's friendly interest ! with tlie l)- ?t rrratio mayor, enabled him to assume the air of one who is <>:i . confidential terms with statesmen. Lie ; bad been at considerable pains to devise | ambiguous explanations of his possession j <-i" revly money and of the singular dis? appearance of his daughter, and had j been somewhat disappointe 1 to discover j that noone seemed tv.? be aware that he j had ever lacked the .former or owned the j latter. j Thc world, Mr. Handolph thought, must be a barbarously large" as well as a reprehensibly inattentive place, since it had failed to follow with solicitude the course of his domestic concerns. How? ever, if there was neglect on one side of the account, it was balanced by con? venience on thc other, and the unsus? pected father of the great prima donna made a virtue of impunity. He visited his daughter twice or thrice a week, besides being present at her per? formances: but it afforded 1dm a certain gratification to surround their inter? views with an elaborate network of ?3 crecy and intrigue, as if he were an enamored Montague seeking to com? mune at peril of their lives with aiove lorn Capulet. There was evidently a vein of romance in this old gentleman which, had it been properly cultivated in due season, might have considerably enlarged his character. To return, however, to the prima don? na's conscience. It \w\ld probably have subsided into a condition of comfortable acquiescence in destiny had it not been for the stimulus unconsciously applied to it by a gentleman of her acquaintance. She could never meet Geoffrey Belling? ham without wishing that Mile. Marana had never been bora, or at least that she herself might have achieved her fame in some straightforward and unencum? bered way. When a certain tender look and smile, very winning in one whose features were naturally severe, came into his face the pleasure it gave her was marred by the reflection, How would he look if he knew what I am? It is true that he believed her to be a woman whose moral character was currently supposed to be less immaculate than a good many aliases would render that of Beatrix Ran? dolph: none the less she felt, when inhi3 presence, that her one actual sin was more burdensome than all the vicarious naughtiness of the unknown Russian. She told herself that Geoffrey had per? haps made up his mind to condone Ma? rina's delinquencies, taking into account ber foreign training, her temptations, and tlie loose standard of morals that pre? vailed in Europe, but that he never would forgive Beatrix for having deliberately misled him-she, an American girl, brought up amid all the enlightenment and fastidious rectitude of the great re? public. This was the crumpled leaf in her bed of roses, and it chafed her re? lentlessly. But persons whose perception of their value-social, artistic or other-is on the way to beguile them into making a golden calf of themselves in the wilderness. may have reason to be grateful for the im? plicit criticism of some severe eyed young lawgiver, whose exhortations are none the less effective because they happen to be the utterance of the silent voice of character. CHAPTER IX. HOW SHE WAS BETRAYED AND SLAN? DERED. One forenoon, as Wallie Dinsmore was seated in his study, with his slippered feet pointed toward the fireplace, the newspaper across his knees and the Afri? can lemur munching a lump of sugar on his shoulder, ho heard me doorbell ring. He rubbed his forehead between Iiis eyee and uncrossed and recrossed his extended legs by way of a?ousing himself, for his serenity during the last half hour had been gradually verging toward the so? porific stage. A few moments afterward there was a knock at the study door, and Wallie, resting his chim on the apex of a triangle made by his elbows and joined hands, said, "Come in!" The visitor entered, and coming up to Wallie's chair took the paw of the lemur in his hand and shook it. The lemur chattered and Wallie looked up. ''Hullo. Geoffrey," he said, "I was just thinking about a cottage at New? port. Sit down and let me tell you my idea. Have a cigarette-or a cigar?" fe ^*<^dSr m^hz ii Ufil p? &rJtt&?-?vft>*\ .JJ \1\ .fei?l?^ra8k Yo- /// Cv-- v^r*>-?j?-^; ?tt&r&Z\ Sh-c turned again and threw her arms about Randolph's nick. "Have voil any smoking tobacco?" re? turned Geoffrey, taking a pipe from his pocket. "I guess you'll find some Cavendish in the jar. You know where tin) matches arc." Geoffrey supplied himself, and then drew a ('hair to thc other side of the fire? place and smoked for several minutes in silence. At length lr* said, "Were you at the op*-rn last nightT "Xo. What was it?" .. 'Semirainide.* " -Good?" -Yes." '.Your theatre seems to snit her." i Wallie remarked. "By the way, there j must be a col un tn about last night in j the naper. Yes: here it is. 'No such j rendering of the music of this part lias ever--and so forth and so on. She's a : bj;-; success." "She deserves-it, doesn't she?" "She can sim:, sir-she can-sing." replied Wallie, with the quiet slowness j that was his oulv* form of emphasis. : "Six- puzzles me! ..What':; the puzzle?" "If she's been through the wars, where ? are her scars? She looks fresh as a lily and sweet as new mown hay. Where's the cloven, foot?" "There is none." said Geoffrey, with a i lac? ?nie convie? ion. ".S) I'm inclined to think, and so I'm j puzzled." "There will be stories about any worn- ? an." rejoined Geoffrey: "mostly lies." i "But somu of tho European stories about Mlle. Marana--well, they would lead one to suppose that she had changed her nature, and everything elscexccpt her name, when she lauded in thL I conn try." ""Well, since her name is the only' thing she could change, it follows - i And our opinion shoul 1 bo formed on what we sec au 1 know, not on hearsay/' "You are only quoting what I said to yon when yon didn't want to come to the dinner." sai 1 Wallie, wit h a chuckle. "To bi? sure. I hadn't seen her then." ' 1 thought you had seen lier abroad." "Well-I mean I hadn't seen her be- , fore in New York." "There lias been nothing against her sine<.' siie came?"' "No; on the contrary I think she h; had the opportunity of refusing sever eligible offers, and she has done so f< all thc world like a true American girl "Who were the men?"" "That would be telling. Why do vc ask?" As Geoffrey made no reply, but smoke with a good deal of sternness, Wall continued after a while, "I suppose yoi wisdom teeth are cut, young man?*' "She's a lady, and I-wish her treate as such, that's all!* said Geoffrey "What were you saying about a cottar at Newport?" Before this topic could be gone int the friends were interrupted by the ei trance of another caller-Mr. Alexandr Randolph. "Who the devil is he?" demanded Geo: frey, knocking out his pipe. "Never met hun till this autumn. H won't hurt you. Sit still." "Ah, good morning, Mr. Diusmore, said Randolph, entering in state wit! bis gray eyebrows and imperial; ,VI ca remain but a moment." Here he caugh sight of Bellingham. "Am I in th way?" "In the way of making the acquaint ance of Mr. Bellingham-Mr. Randolph, said Wallie. "Sit down, gentlemen Eave a cigar, Mr. Randolph?" "1 thank you-never before luncheon To come to the point at once-I am of ; committee of gentlemen to extend ; complimentary breakfast to Gen. Inig< on the 14th of this month. Can w< count upon your attendance?" "The 14tn? Let me see," said Wallie opening a drawer in his desk and takint out a memorandum book. "Yes, ther< seems to be nothing on that day. M ucl obliged to you and tho committee, Mr Randolph." "The hour is 1 o'clock," said Randolph "Gen. Inigo deserves a breakfast,' Wallie remarked. "He deserves thre< meals a day. He has catered very wei for us." "That seems to be the general impres sion," said Randolph, giving a twist tc his eyebrow. "We were just discussing the prim: donna," Wallie continued. .'You know her, ofx'onrse. Mr. Randolph?" "I-ah-I have-that is, slightly. J have heard her sing; I may have mei her socially; one meets so many people it is difficult to say." He colored while he spoke and seemed a good deal confused. ".She's a very pretty woman, and seems to be pa virtuous as she is pretty, strange to say," the other went on. "There's a discrepancy between her con? duct and her history." Mr. Randolph colored still more. "I-Fm an old fashioned man, sir," he said, whisking a silk handkerchief out of his coat tail pocket and passing it over lu's forehead. "In my day we-we took the virtue of a lady for granted; and J must say I-of course, I have no right tc be the champion of this lady, sir, but" He stopped, and Bellingham said: "Any man has a right to respect a woman he believes honest, and to make others do so in his presence. If that's old fashioned, Mr. Randolph, count me in!" '.Thank yon, sir," returned the other. He rose and put back his handkerchief in his pocket. "I must take leave of you. Mr. Dins more," he added. "A man like myself has a great many affairs on hand. We shall look for you on the 14th, then. Good morning: g .-od morning, Mr.-ah -Bellingham." "I am more puzzled than ever," said Wallie, when Randolph was gone. "What now?" "In the first place he couldn't quite make up his mind whether he'd met her or not; then he got flurried because I suggested there had been stories about her: and, finally, he took to flight rather than discuss her any more. Now if he doesn't know her, why should he flare up so about her? and if he does know her, why does he pretend he doesn't?" "He's an old fashioned"-began Geof? frey. "That's gammon," interrupted Wallie, "and you know it! Tho f:ill of man is an older fashion than Mr. Randolph. Did any sane man, young or old, ever get into a state of mind because the correct? ness of an opera singer he didn't know was called in quotion? I can't make it out-unless he means to marry her!" This speculation was received by Geof? frey in dead silence, and for a consider? able time neither of tho men said any? thing. At last the question of the cottage at Newport was brought up once more and canvassed until they parte 1. Bellingham walked slowly toward Madison square, willi Mr. Randolph, among other things, on Iiis mind. Still meditating he turned up Fifth avenue, and before long found himself opposite .Mlle. Marana's hotel. It occurred to him that he had never yet called on lier in her own apartments, and he resolved to repair that neglect. Accordingly he went to the ci nee and inquired if she were in. Tho clerk glanced at the key? board and said "Yes" abstractedly. Bell? ingham got into tho elevator and went up. The passageway, after the bright sun? light of the street, seemed rather dark. Not knowing which way the numbers ran, he remained f ir a moment where the elevator left him. Just then a door was opened on the right, a gentleman came out, and advanced along the pas? sage toward him. When about ten paces distant, ho stopped, turned back, and de? parted hastily in the opposite direction. But Bellingham had recognized him: it was Mr. Randolph. Tlie incident made little impression on him. however. He turned to the left, looking fer tlie number, bur finding ho was going the wrong way he retraced his steps, ami presently found himseli standing before the door from which Mi-. Randolph had just issued. It bore Mil". Marana's number. He knocked, and Mina Bemax opened to him. On his inquiring whether the prima donna were engage !, the lady said she would see. So he walked in, and stood by the window, and in a few minutes Mlle Mara.ia appeared. She greeted him with such evidently spontaneous pleas? ure that any slight misgiving ho may have felt was immediately dissipated. "I began to think you were never go? ing to come." she said. ..I'm so much out of the way of mak? ing calls that I'm surprised to fie. I my? self here; You have a great many ca*Il- j "Well, a goo 1 many come, bat I see very few -only old friends. .Vu I of j course.** she added,"'JUS 1 never was \-? '. New York lx'fore. thai is tho same as saying 1 seo hardly any ono." "I met a man lately who knows you, 1 ; think -Mr. Randolph." "Mr. Randolph?" She pronounced the ? name in a changed tone an 1 blushed. "Alexander Randolph." h.' repeated, looking at her. Sh . dropp ; 1 h >r eyes. "I -believe-1 ' have- heard his name," she said. Bellingham said no more; he felt dis- I maye.I and bewildered. V notedly there was ?rn? unpleasant my>? cry about this fellow Randolph. "??eard his name,' indeed! Had not tho man been in he: company five minutes ago? "I saw you at tho opera last night," re marked the prima donna, recovering her self. Bellingham merely nodded. "Wen you disappointed?*' she asked falteringly "No, I was like the rest of the andi enco," he replied in a dry tone. "You are not like the rest of the an dience to mo," she sa?d. "ever since tin first night I have sung to you. I wouldn" tell yon, only-I thought you knew it!*' "I know nothing about you," returnee Bellingham roughly. "You speak as if yon didn't care t< know anything," she said, holding u? her head. Bellingham controlled his rising tem per. A weaker man would have pro? tected himself by irony or sarcasm, bu? he said exactly what he thought. "3 care more about- what concerns you." h( said, "than about anything oise. But ] will not look away when I am being de ceived. Yon and this Randolph are botl: pretending to be strangers to each other. I saw liim come out of this room just be? fore I came into it. Do you deny thal he was here?" "He was here," answered she, turning pale. "There is only ene other question. Are you going to marry him?" This was so unexpected that she laughed. It was a nervous, almost hys tarinal laugh, it is true, but Bellingham naturally did not understand it "I am nt>t going to marr,' "MT. Randolph," said t?io prima donna, with a heartbroken sense of humor. "And you will not tell me what your relations are with him?" "2vo; they are very peculiar relations," she replied lightly, for she was getting desperate. "You must think what you please-think the worst you can. it makes no difference. I will tell you nothing!" Bellingham gazed at her fixedly. "I cannot believe that you are a wicked woman," he exclaimed at length. "I don't know how to believe it! Why did you deceive mc? I was ready to take it for granted that you were-like other women on the stage. But you made me believe you were pure and innocent. Xo woman ever acted innocence before as you have done it. You look like inno? cence incarnate at this moment-at the actual moment you are admitting. What is it you want? I would have asked yon to marr}' me-as soon as I ha l persuaded myself yoxi loved me. I loved you with all my heart and soul. Did you merely intend to lead me on, and then refuse me, like a common flirt? Or would you have married me and still kept up your relations with-well, I can't talk about it I There is always some motive even in the lightest wickedness, but ? can see none in yours-and yours is not light!" Mlle. Marana was standing erect twisting her lace handkerchief between her hands, her face pale, her eyes wide open, tearless, full of restless light. She never looked at him. It seemed physi? cally impossible for her to do so. "I have never been spoken to like this," she said, in a faint, panting voice. "Will yon leave me, please? Will yon leave me?*' Bellingham moved to depart, but he stopped and turned back. "I have always meant never to be un? just to any human being," said lie. "It is possible that the very love I felt for you may havo made me unjust to you. If you can tell me that there is nothing disgraceful in this secret of yours-tell me, for God's sake! Are 3-ou what you seem or something else?" "I am not what I seem!" she cried ont passionately; and now she looked at him with a blaze cf fierceness in her eyes. "Yon have doubted me, and that is enough. I will never explain-I will never forgive yon! If yon are a man do not stand there; go out!" Bellingham was shaken to the bottom of his soul. The voice and manner with which her. every word was uttered seemed to contradict the purport of the words themselves. Even yet he could not but believ : uer innocent. But there was nothing '. arther for him to do or say. He went ont. He descended thc stairs slowly and emerged into tho street It was the middle of the day; the avenue was com? paratively deserted. A few carriages were taking their occupants home to luncheon. Bellingham stood on the curbstone, looking up and down, and vaguely wondering what he should do next. By and by it struck him that it would not make much difference which way lie went. In no place in th.? world conk! ho find what he had lost. It was no where; it had been annihilated. All that bad made lifo delightful was gone from him. and he was left ironically behind. He had never really possessed it, even; it was a mirage-a phantom, which he had tried to grasp, and it had vanished. But the strangest part of the business-al? most ludicrous-was that ho remained behind, standing here, alive and well, in the sunshine on Fifth avenue! He sauntered leisurely northward to? ward His; park. Two or .three times he passed some ono he knew, and returned their greeting with a nod. But all the while he saw that lithe, erect figure, with her palo, lovely face, her 03.es bright with pain or anger, her white hands twisting her handk^rchiL-f. Could it be that she was depraved, false, beanies.--? Every stern word he had spoken had 'jeezi echoed, as it were, by thc exquisite sensitiveness of her beauty. If she were false would she not have K en true at that last moment, when nothing moro was to bo gained by deception, wh n to !:o sincere was essential to the enjoy? ment of thc triumph her falsehood nad gained her. He roached the park: there was still a vivid greenness in the grass, though the trees wore rich with the splendor of autumn. He wandered along the curv? ing paths, feeling nop1 insure, but p un. in thc quiet beauty that surrounded hifn. Keeping to the left, whore there seemed to bc fewer sauntercrs like himself..ho found himself at last near the extreme northern limit. Ile ascended a little hill, and cn ivs sr.mmit, beneath the golden shade < f a group of trees, there was a space cf leaf strewn turf on which he flung himself down. Therumble of The horse cars on thc avenue came faintly to j !..'-. . and now and then tho voices of ; laughter <.;* people passing at a distance; the shadow < f passing clouds drifted ! over him. lind ? vcr and anon'a golden, leaf : detached itself from a bough abov ! his head and floated wavering earth ward. But no oue disturbed him, though he lay (noreuil the afternoon, somet mes with his face buried ea his arms. .-<>;: e times supporting hw head upon his han 1. Ho v tdered what she bad been doing ] since they parted. Had she been laugh ing over his discomfiture and planning fresh ri: tel priser? lt was n< t possible! The sun went down and the shad >ws of twilight rose. Bellingham lookc.l toward the east, and saw the disk of thc m-tvn mount above thehorizon. until tho wh ile round sphere swung aloft, orango ; against the violet background. The ' evenly and still, but ihs lethargy which had fallen upon Belling? ham began to bo dispelled; he became restless and anxious. He could no longer stay where he was; he descended .?he little hill, crossed over to the a-venue, and still going northwestward came to tko bank of the Hudson. The bank was high and steep; he clambered down it, and found the remains of a decayed wooden pier jutting out into- tho water. Upon the end cf this ho sat down, and the silent current swept and eddied past Iiis feet. The sound of a clock striking somewhere caught his ear. This was the hour for her to arrive at the theatre. iL little while longer and she would be upon the stage. Would she look toward hi* seat, expecting to see him there? No, she would never expect him again! Would she miss him? More than another hour passed away, and Bellingham sat so still that one might have fancied he was asleep. Bat he waa not asleep--he- was thinking, and now his thoughts were becoming clearer and more consecutive than they had heretofore been. The moon had now soared high aloft, and stood silvery bright above the sliding' reaches of the river. All at once Bellingham sprang to his feet. He pulled ont his watch: there was yet time. He began hurriedly to climb the bank. It had been borne in upon him, he knew not how, with a sudden, over? whelming conviction, that ehe was not guilty, but pure and true: that the mys? tery was uti innocent one, that all would be well, if he could but see her and speak to her: It was possible for bim to reach the theatre before she left it, but he must use diligence. He was somewhat faint from lack of nourishment during the day, but he ran on until he came to a station of the elevated railway. He en? tered a train and was off. His heart was light and hopeful. The. train halted at a station near the rear of the theatre. As he got out he saw that the performance was over, and the audience had disperse.!. But she would not h;ive left yet. No; there was her carriage waiting for her at the stage door. He ran down tho iron staircase, but as he reached Vue bottom he stopped. Mlle. Marana came out of the stage door, lean? ing upon the ann of a man-of Mr. Ran? dolph. Mrs. Beroax followed, but en? tered the carriage first Randolph ap? peared to exchange a few words with the prima donna; then she turned and put her foot on the carriage st9p. But, as if swayed by a sudden and in? controllable impulse, she turned again and threw her arms about Randolph's neck and kissed him again and again. Bellingham saw this, and then he faced about and mounted the iron stairs once more, while a mocking voice in hi3 heart seemed to ask, "Are you satisfied now?" [TO BE CONTINUED ] Curiosity Aroused. 'Goin fur, mister?' The question was asked by a long nosed, thin-lipped man with pointed chin whiskers, a slouch har, and a hungry expression ol' countenance. He was resting his elbows on the scat in front cf him, which seat was occupied by a passenger ia a grey check suit. The passenger addressed turned partly around, took a look at his questioner, and sized him np at once. *Ycs, I am going to Nashville/ lie replied, 'down in Tennessee. My business there is to sell four shares of bank slock, dispose of my interest in a farm of eighty acres, ten miles from thc city, and invest thc proceeds in a clothing establishment on North Cherry st rcct. I am from Beai dstown, Cass county, III. I got on the train there at 9:35 this morning. lt was forty-five minutes behind time. My ticket cost mc $11.65. 1 shall take ihe sleeper when the sun goes down. Ila?I my dinner about an hour ago. Paid 75 cents for it. This cigar cost me 10 cents. I have been a smoker for aliout thirteen years. My name is Chauncey McConnell. I am 30 years old, have a wife and four children, came originally from fiarrO'isburg, Ky., and am a member of the Congrega!ional Church. I was formerly a druggist, but sold out to a man named Trca?tway, an?! am not in any business now. I am woith perhaps $10.000. My father was a cooper, and my grandfather a sea Captain. My wile s wattie was Carr before I married her. Her father was a surveyor. That's all I know alK)ut her family. We Jive in a two story frame house, an?! the children have all had the mumps, chicken-pox and measles. When I reach Nash? ville I expect to stop at the Maxwell House.' Ile stopped. T?ie long-nosed man regarded him a moment with inter? est, aim then asked, in a querulous, dissatistie?i way : .What did your great-grandfather do lb:- a linn' ?' Recovered Her Spceeli. ?diss Julia Morris, a Dubuque [IowaJ young lady, who for over a year lia? been unable to articulate, recovered her speech tlie other day VA a remarkable manner. A year ago her brother was stabbed to ?loath before her eyes. She fell in a swoon and lay une??nsei<ms for several da\s. When she recovered she was unable to make an audible sound. The other morning she was conversing with a lady, writing her questions and answers as usual, when, smhlenly a.nd wit liout effort, she replied, iu response toan inquiry, ;I don't think so.' It was the first time she had spoken in a year. She is unable to explain how the jrift returned to her. A DI TY TO YOURSELF. It is $urpri.?ing that people will u>e a com? mon, ordinary {?ill when they can seeuro i valuable Knglish one f?r the same motley l>r. Acker s KnglUh pilis are a yuh ?re cure f?>r>ick headache and all liver fou hies. They ;??e small, .??weet, easily taken and do not griue. Formate i>v J. F.W. I >e Lor me. y CAN'T SLfct'P N IUHTS Is the complaint of thousaa ls sn??erins: from Asthma, Consumption, Cough.*, etc. I'i-i yoi ever try L>r. .'.'-ker's Iingii.?h li erne? h ? It i?* the i>esc preparation ku??wn (or all Lung Trimble?1 -obi on a poMtive ?ruaran tee at 2oc and 50c. Kv .J F. W. tvborzne. S To allay. p*ins>, subdue snfianinmiion, beal foul sores and ?licet.; *:..>??t jiro.npt and satisfactory results are nWt.ti'-ed by u??'ng that o'd reiiai ie remedy, Pr. J. ll. Melgar.'? Volcanic Ui! Lil iment. vj.ml LADIES " Needing atonic, or children who want build in-: in>. should take DKOWVS'tKO* BiTTF.?lS. It is pleasant to x-.i ce, euro* Malaria, Indi, ??osti?n, uiiiooruc&s and Liver Complaints,