Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 21, 1873, Page 11

A MONTE-FLAT PASTORAL. - Iow Old Man Plunkett Wont Ilome. Bret Harte's Last Story. —— From Setibner’s for Janwary. . I think wo all loved him, Even aftor ho mis. managed tlio alfairs of tho Amity Ditch Com- pany, wo commlrorated him, slthough most of us wora stackholdors nand lost hoavily, I remom- ber that the blacksmith wenk so far as (o oy that * Thom chaps as put that , responsibility on {ho old man oughtor bo Iynched” But the Dblackemith ‘was not a stookholdor, and the oxprossion was looked upon s tho. ox- cusnblo oxtravagance of .a largo sympathizing nataro, that, 'whon combiued with a power- ful frame, was unworthy of notico. At loast that was the way thoy piit {t. Yot 1 think.thero was a gonoral fooling of rogrot thab this mis- fortune would interZoro with the old man's long- clierishod plan of . " # goryNg ntoxe." Indood*for tho last ten yoars hot had been * geing home,” o was going howd aftor o six, months' sojourn at Monto Mnt, IIo wus going liowmo after tho first raine, 1o was going home when the raina wero over, ITo was going lhomoe when ho had cut the timbor on Buckoye IIill, when (hero was pasture on Dow's Tlat, when lio struck pay-dirt on Eurcka I1ill, whon tho Amity Compnny poid its first dividend, when the clection was - over, when lhe had recoived an opswer from -his wife, And so tho years rolled Dby, iho 'spring rains came and wont, tho woods of Duckeyo HIl worg lovel with the ground, tho pasfuro on Dow's Flat grow sero and dry, Burska IIill yiclded its poy-ditt and swamped its gwner, tha firat divi- donds of the Amity Company woro made from tho asscssmonts of stockholders, thoro wers new county officers at Monte Flat, his wife's auswer bad changed into n persistont question, and still old man Plunkott romained. . 1t js only fair to say that hio hnd mado SEVERAL DISTINCT ESSAYS TOWARDS GOING. Tive yoars vboforo hohad biddon good-bye to MMonte Hill with much effusion and hand-shaking. But be never got nny furthor than the noxt'town. 1lers ho was induced to trado thoe sorrel colt ho was riding for o bay mare—a trananction that at onco opoued to his livoly fancy n visin of vast and successful future speculation. A fow daya alter, Abnor Dean of Augel's reccived o letter from him stating that he was going to Yisalia to buy horsos, ** I nam sntisiied,” wroto Plunkeit, with that elevated rhotoric for which his correspondence was romarkable, I nm eatisfled that wo uro at last developing the real osources of Californin. to Dow's_ Flat g8 the firnnt ptocl-ralsing contre. In view of tho inlcrests in- volved, I have doforred my doparture for a month." Itwos two beforo ho again; retnrn~ cd to us, penniless, Bix months Jater ho was srain enabled to slart for tho Enstorn States, ond this timo fot a8 far as San Francisco. I bave bofore mo'n lottor which I received a few- danys after his arrival, from which I give an ox- iract: “You lnow, my dear boy, that Ihave always belioved tliaf gambling, ne it is absurdly called, is still in its innmcg in Califorvia, I have slways maiutained that o perféet systom might bo invented by which the gome of g:o\:ur may be mado to yield a cortain é)umcuulgu o tho jutelligens playor. I am notat liberty af pros- ent o disclous the systow, but beforo leaving thiscity I intond to perfoct it.” 1fo soems to Tiave done 8o, and returned to Monte Flat with two dollars and thirty-soven conts, tho absolute romniudor of his capital aftor such porfoction. Tt was not ill 1868 thiat e appeaved to JAVE FINALLY SUCCEEDID fn going home. 1Ilo left us by thooverland route—a routs which he declaved would give great opportunity for tho discovery of unde- veloped resources. His last lotter was dated Virginin City, Ho was absent three yeara, At ihe clono of o very hot dayin m‘d»mnm%‘ ho olighted from the Wingdam' atago with Lair' and beard powdored with dust and age.. Thera was a cortain shyness about his greflllnfi;. quito dif- forcnt from'his usual frank volubility that did not, bhowever, improgs us as any accession of chiaracter, Yor somg days ho wns reservedere- gardivg his recent visit, contonting himself with cesorimg, With moro or less aggressivonoss, that ho had *alwsys said he wns going homo and now he had beon thers,” Lator he grow -more communicative, and spoke ireoly apd crmcnll}' of tho manners aud customs of Now York and Boston, com- mented on the socinl changes in thoe yenrs of Lis absenco, hnd, I remember, was very “hard upon what be deemed tho follios incidental to & high stato of civilization, Btill later ho dnrkli/ al- 1luded to tho moral Insity-of tho higher plancs of Lastern socioty, but 1t was not long before bo completely toro away the veil and revealed the naked wickedness of Now York social Jife in a way I even now shudder to recall, Vinous in- toxication, it appeared, was a common habit of {he first ladics of the cily; immoralities which he scarcely dared namo woro daily practiced by the rofined of both sexes; niggardliness sud reed wore the common vices of the. rich. T have alwnys asgerted,” ho contimed that corruption must oxist whore luxury snd riches are rampnnt, and capital 18 not nsed to doveiop the natural resources of the country, Thauk you— 4 1 WILL TAKE MINE WITHOUT SUGAR," It is possible that some of theso painful do- 4ails cropt into the lacal journals. I romombor . an cilitorial in the Monte Flat Monilor, entitled #The Effoto Kast,” in which tho fatal decadonce of New York and Now England was elnborately stated, and California offered a8 o means of not- ural salvation. **Porhnps.” snid the Aonitor, *““we might add that Cnlaveras County offers superior nducoments to the Enstorn visilor with capital.” ater be spoke of his family. The daughter he had lett o child had grown into beau- tiful womanhood; the son was alroad; tallor and lorger than - bis father, aud, in o playful trial _of strepgth, ‘.the Joung rascal,” added Plunkott, with' o voico roken with putornal.pride and humorous objur- gation, had twice tlrown his doting parent to ihe ground. But it was of bis chictly spoke. Porhans emboldencd by the evi- dent interest which maeculino Monte Flat held in feminine benuty, Lie expatiated at scne longlh on_lLior various charms and accomplishmouts, and flually PRODUCED IER PIIOTOGRATII,— that of n very pretty gitl,—to their infinite peril. Lut Lis nccount of his first. meeting with her was so peeuliar that I muat fain give it aftor his own mothods, which wero, Knruum, some Bt"i(m losy proclso and elegant than his written stylo: . “You sco, boys, il's always boen my opinion that a man oughtor bo able to tell bis own flesh and blood by instimct, It's ton yeara since I'd scon my Blelindy, and tho was then only 7, -and asbout wo bigh. 8o, whon I went to Now York, what did I da? Did [ go straight to my houso and ask for my wifo aud danghter, lilke othor falks? No, sir! I rigged mysolf up us o Yflddlur, a8 a peddler, sir, snd I rung tho bou, When the servant came to ihe door, I wanted—don't you sce—to show the ladies somo trinkets. Then thoro was a voice over the banister, sué‘u. ‘Don't want auything—sond him away,' ‘Eomo nice laces, mp'am, emugglod,’ I enys, looking up. ‘Uet out, you wiewh,’ says sho. I knew the volce, boys, jt wus my wife, sure as n gun,—thar wasn'l any ingtinct thar, ¢ May ba too young ludies want somothin,' I snid.” ‘Did you henr mo! "’ says she, and with that sho jumis forward, AND I LT, I's ten years, bnys, since I've scon the old wo- man, bitt somehow, when she felched thnt leap, Unatorally loft.” Ile hod been standiug bosido the bar,—bis nsual attitude,~whaon ho mado’thia speech, but o this point ho hunif-faced his audilors with o took that was vory offective, Indoed, & fow who aad oxbibited rowo signs of skopticism and lnck of interost at once aseumed an appearsico of intouso guatification aud’ curiosdy us he Fent on, “Well, by Langin’ round thore for a duy or iwo, I found oul al st it was to bo Melindy's sirthdu ' noxt weelt, and that she was goin® to 10vo o big party. I tell yo what, boys, itweren't 10 glouch of o recoption.” The whola house was sloomin’ with'flowars, aud Llazin' wikh lights, nd thero was 1o end of sorvants and pluto an ‘ofroshments und Axin's—" # Uncle Joo,” “Woll 2 # Whero did thoy got the money " Pluukett faced his interlocutor with . a sovere fanco. “T niwayn euid,” ho roplied slowly, Vthat when I wout homo I'd sond on shead of ne w . A DOAET FOB 10,000, [ always eald that, did’t L7 Bn? Ana T said T vas golw' lonie—und ['ve boen homo~-havon't iz Well " Rither thore was somothing Irrosistitly con- Nusive in this loglo, or else the deslie to lour ‘T'ho world wilt yot look | sughter ho ' ) ; IHE CHICAGOTDAILY TRIBUNE: ¥UNDAY, DECEMBER 21,187 tho remaindor of Plunkott's story was strongor; hut thero wns no mors intoerruption, is rendy good-humor quiokly roturnod sud, with o slight chucklo, ho'wont ou. ’ + T went to tho biggiat jewolry ahop in town, and I bought o Imlr of dismond ~enr-rings and put them in_my pocket, and wont to tho hoyse. ‘What namoe?' puys tho chiap who oponod tho door, and ho looked like n crosy hetween a restaurant waltor and a parson. *8koesicks,’ sald I, Ha tales moin and protty Hoon my wito comos enllin' fnto tho parlor and enys ¢ * Excuso mo, but I don't think Lrocog tho namo,” 8ho was mighty polite, for T litd on ared wig and sido-whiskors, "¢ A friend of your husband's from Calitornia, ma'am, with a pros-~ ont qu‘ your daughtor, Miss —," sl I mndo a8 1;}3(} orgot tho name. But of a sudden a voico eald, ! THAL 8 TOO TIHIN,' g and in walked Melindy, ‘1t's |1ls¥In' it too low down, father, to pretend you don’t know your dauglhter's namo—ain't it, now? Iow ard you, old man?’ Aud wilh that sho tears off 1y wig and whiskers, and throws lor nrma around my nnck,-—lnntlnot\’nlr . Dro instinet 1" Tmboldpnod by the hm‘;htur which followed bis deseription of the filtal uttorancea of Molin- ‘da, 10 again ropontod hor specch, with more or 1088 olaboration, joiniug in with, and indeed of- ton londing, tho Lilarily that nccompnuicd it, and rummlnlg to it with moro or leas mncoherou= oy, soveral times during the oyening. And 80 ab varfous timos, and ot various places, —but ehlefly in bar-rooms,—did this Ulysses ot Monto I'lat recount the story of his wnuderhufn. There wero ebveral discrepancies in his staie- 1mont, thero was somotimes considerable prolixi- ty of dotail, there was oceasional changoe of character and sconory, thore was onco or tilco an absoluta changeiu tha denouemont, but always tho fact of Lis IMAVING VISITED 1§ WIFE AND CHILDREN romalned. OF course in a skaptical community fike that of Mento Flat,—~n communit accuatomed to groat exyootation and small roali- zation,—n comuiunity whoroin, to use the locel dialect, *they.got tho color and struck hard- pan,” moro-trequently than avy other miving camp,—in syoh » community the fnllest credonco was not giveh to old man Plunkott’s facts. Thore wus onl{ ‘ono oxcoption to the general unbeliof— Henry York, of Sandy Bar. It was ho who was always an attontive listonor; it was lis scant pureo that had ofton furnished Plunkett with meonns t pursuo his unprofitable spocnlations; it was to him that the chavms of Melinda were mopro frequently rebearsed; it was ho that had horrowed bor photograph—and it was he that, . sitting alono in his cibin ore night, listed thal photograph natil Lis honest, haudsome faco glowed agnin in the firelight. 1T WAB DUSTY IN MONTE FLAT. Theruins of thé lang, dry #oRdost. wors crume bling ovorywhero ; everywhere the dying sum- mor Lind strown its red ashos o fook doep or ex- haled itp Inst broath In & red cloud above tho troubled highways. Tho alders and.cottonwood that matked tho lino of the water-coursoes wore rimy with dust, and looked p8 if thoy might fiivo takon root fu tho open nir; tho plowming stones of tho parched water-courscs themsolvo wore as diy bones in the valley of death. The dusty sunset at times painted the flanks of the distant hills n dull coppery hno ; on otner days thore was an odd, indetinablo carthquake Lollow on . the voleanio. cones of the furthor const spurs ; again an acrid, resinons smoko from ‘the ‘burping wood on lcavytreo 11111, smarted the 65k sud choied the frogbreath: ©of Monto Flat, or & florce_wind, driving every- thing—including the shriveled summer like curled leaf—before jt, swoptdown tho flanks of the Siorras nud chiased the inlubitants to the doors of their cabin, and shool its red flst in ot thoir_windows, Aud on buch s night as this,— the dust having, in some way, chokad the whaels of materinl progress in Monto Flat,—most of tho inhabitants were gathored listlessly in the gilded bar-room of tho Moquelumne Hotel, spitting ste Jontly nt the red-hot stove that tempered the mouitain winds to tho shoru Iambs of Mouto Flut, aud waitjng for tho rain, Every method known to the Flat of beguiling the titfio until the advent of this long-looked-for plienomenon hud beeu tried, It is trug the woth- odg were not many—boing limited chietly to that form of popular facelim known na . TRACTICAL JOKIXG § and .evon this had nssumed tho serjonsnoss of o busiveqs pursuit. Tommy Roy,” who led spout two hours in digging a ditch in frout of his own door,—ioto which a fow friends casually dropped during the ovening,—looked cunuyo and dissstisfied; the four promiuent citizens, who, disguised s foot-pads, had stoppod the County Treasurer on {he Wingdam rond, woro jaded from {heir playful efforts next morning; the principal physician and lawyer of Monto Ylnt, who hind entered into an unhallowed con- nsvlmcy to compel the Sueriff of Calaveras and his poseo to serve a writ of ejectment on feebly diegmsed undor tho nome of ‘‘ono Major Ursus,” who haunted the groves of HenVytreo Il wora an oxpression of rosignod woariness. Evon the editor of the Monte IFlat Aoni- for, who had that morniug writton a glowiug nc- count of a battlo with tho Wipneek Indinns for tho bonolit of Eastern readers—ovon he looked rave and worn. When, at last, Abner Dean of ingnl‘s, who had been on o vieit to San Fran- cisco, walked into tho room, ho was, of courso, vietimized in tho usunl way by one or two ap- parently honest questions’ which ended in bis answoring Lhem, and then fallipg into the trap of asking anothor to bhis ulter and completo shame and mortification—put that was all, Nobody Iaughed, and Abuer, although a victim, did nof loge his good lhunfor, Ho turned quictly on ks tormentors and said. & *“I'vo got something botter than that— YOM ENOW OLD MAN PLUNKETT? Everybody simultancously spst at the stove and nodded bis head. “You Itnow he wont homo three yoars ago " Tyo or three chauged the position of their logs from the backs pf different chairs, and one man enid_**Yes.” *“Mad good time home 2" i Everybody looked cautiously nt the man who hod snid *yck,” and he, accopting tho responsi- bility with a faint-hearted smilo, said * yes," nfinln, and breathed bhard. “8aw his wife and clld,—purty gal?” said Abnor, cautiousl§. “Yos," answered tho man, doggedly. ¢ Suw hier photograpl, perhaps?” continuod Abner Dean, quiatlfr. c The man looked hopelessly around Yor snr- port, Two or threo who had been sit- ting’ newr him and ovidently enconraging him with o look of intorest, now shamelessly abandoned him and looked anothor way. Honry York flushed o litilo and veiled his brown eyes. The man lesitated, and then wilh o sickly smilo that was intended to convey the fact that lio was porfoctly nwaro of the object of this questioning, and Wwas only humoring it h-orln abstract good feoling, roturned “yeu," again, ¥ “Sont homo—lot's sou,qélo‘m)!). wasn't 1t " Abner Deun went on, *Yos," reiterated tho man, with the same ‘smile, “Well, I thought so,” said Abner quietly, **but tho fact is, you seo, that. JUE NEVER WENT HOME AT ALL— nary time,” Yiverybody stared at Abnerin genuine sur- priso and interest, as with provoking calmness and a hnlf-lnzy manuer ho wont on, *You seo thar was o man down_in ’Fricco a8 Lnowed him and eaw hifn in So- nora during tho whole of’ that {hiree years, Ilo was hording slicop or tending cattle, or spolilate ing all that time, and hodo’t ared cont, Well it 'mounis to_this—that ’ar Plankett nin't been cast of the Rocky Mountalns since "49,"” The langh which Abner Doon bad ho right to confldently expect came, butit was bitter nund wuydonic, "I thinl indignation wgs apparcnt in thio minds of hiy hearors, It wab folt, for tho first timo, that that there was a limit to practienl Jjoking. A decoption carriod on for n year, compromising the sugacily of Monto Flat, was, dererving the soverest roprobatlon. Of courso, nobody had belleved Plunkett—but then the supposition that it might %Yo bolioved in adju- cont camps that thoy had belioved him was gall and Dbitterness, 'Who lawyor thought 5mt un indietment tor obtawing “monoy under false ])rntuuana mifiht bo found, the physician had long euspocted him of ‘insauity, and Was not cer~ tain but that he ought togbo confined. The four prominent ‘terchants thought that tho business intorasts of Monto Flat domandod that some- thing uhould bo done. In the mnidst of an ox- clu\i’ und_angry discussion the door slowly opanod und old man Plunkott stupgorad into tho room. o grizzly bear, [E HAD ONANGED PITIPULLY in tho Inst six menthw, Ilis hair was u ddsty }'ullm\ ish gray, 1iko the chimisul on the flanks of Toavytree Ilili; his faco was waxen whito and blne and lPull’y undor the oyes; his dlothes wore soiled and shubby—streaked in front with the stafos of hurriod Innohoons enton standing, and finfly behind-with the wool aud huir of hurriedly extamnporized couchos, In obedienco to thut odd lnw that tho mote soedy and sollod o mnn's gar- monta becomo tho losé doos Lo soum inclined to ,part with thom, oven during that portion of the wenty-four houra whon they are deemed lonat essentinl, Plumbolt’s clothes had gradually taken on the apposrance of o kind of bark or an outgrowth from wilhiu for which thelr possessor was not entirely responsiblo, Iowboit us lio en- tored tho room ho altempted to. button his cont over s ‘dirty shivt and passed his fingors, aflor tho manuer of some onimul, over his crackor- sirown beard-—in racoguition of a cloanly publis sentimant, Dub evon us he did so the weak snlle faded from his lps, and his Lland, { bedu playin' this camp for Lis pitiablo condition, a selicf. It was plain aftor fumbling almlessly around a Dbute ton, dropped helplossly ot his sido. Tor, as ho lenned hiy lmek sgainst tho bor and faced tho group, ho for tho firs€ time bocama aworo thnt evory aye but ona was fixed upon bim. in quick norvons apprehionsion at onco leaped to tha truth. 118 MIGEBABLE BECIET WAS OUT and abrond in the very alr bout him. As g lnat rogort ho glancod *dospniringly at Honry York, byt hin fushod fuco wan turuod toward tho wiie oy, No word was spolion. As the l)nr-lmnlwr allently swung n deeantor and glass boforo him, o tool n cenckor from n dish wnd mumblod 1t with affocted uncomeorn. 1lo lingered over his liquor uutil its potoncy stiffencd his relnxed sinews, and dillad the norvous odgo of his n‘h prohenslon, and thon he suddenly faced around. 1t don't look s If wo wero guy; to hov any rain much nfore Chrlstmas,” ho faid, with dofinut enso. No one mado nuy roply. - # Just llkco this Tn '3 and again in '60, It nlways boon my opinfon that thoso dry scasons como rog'lar. I'vo enld it aforo. Ieny it again, It'a jist na I said about goInF home you kuow, lo added with duuxuxntn recklensnoss. = "I'har's & man,” sald Abuer Doan, Inzlly, * 0z #0z you nover wont Liome. Thor's o ma 0z 80z you'vo been threo yongs in Sonora. There's n map oz Eoz you hafbt scon your wifo n‘nd dnughter sinco 40, Thar's aman as 8oz you've six months,” Thou a volco sald, ‘Thoro was a doad silenco. quite a8 quiotly: J'YTIAT MAN LiEs,” It wos mob tho old man's volco, Evergbody turned as flenry York slowly roso, strofehing out hia efx foat of longth, and, brushing awa: the ashes that hnd fallon from bis pipe upon hiy bronst, doliboratoly placed himself beside Plun- kott, and faced tho othora, w!ohgt man nin’t hore," continued Abner Doan, with listless indifferoncd of voico and n gontle proocoupation of munnor ay he carelossly allowed his right hand to rost on his hip nonr nis revolyor. * That man nin't horo, but if l.n| called n]pnn to make good what he says, why I'm on band.” Al roso ns the two mon,—perhapa the loast oxtornally agitated of them all,—approched each other., The lawyer stepped in botieen them. Dorhaps thoro's somo mistake liore. York, do you /now that tho old'man las been homeo "' i Yog," 4 How do you know it 2" 3 York turnod lifu clear, honeat, frank oyos on his questionor ond withodt o tremor told the only dircet snd unmitigated llo of bis lifo: ' BECATUSE I'VE SLEN IIX THERL." The auswor was conclusivo. It was known that Yorl had beon visiting in tho Tast duting tho old man's nbsence, 'I'ho colloquy had dt- vertod attention from Plunkett, who, pale aud bronthless, was staring at hils unoxpectod de- liveror. As ho turped ngain towards. his tor- mentors thero was something in the oxprossion of his oyo that caused thoso that soro nearest to him to fall Dbhek, and sont a strango, indefinablo thrill ~through thoe boldost and mosh reckloss. As ho made o step forward the physician almost uncon- relously raisod his hand with & warnivg gesture, and oldy man Plunkett, with his eyes fixed upon the red-hot stove, aud an odd swile playing about his mouth, began: “Yos—of courso you did. Who mays you did'n'? I said I waggoln' home, and 1'VE BEEN HOME, HMaven'tI? My Qod! I have. Who eays I've been Iyin'? Who sayaI'm dreamin’? 1s it truo —why don't you spoak? It is truo after all. You szy you saw me thoro, why don’t you speak again?_Say! Snyl—isittirno? It's going now, 'my God—it's going agnain. It's gbing now. Savamo!” and with o florce ery, he foll forward in a fit upon tho floor. When the old man rogained hig senses he found himself in York's cabin. A mclmflnf firo of pine boughs Mt up the rude raftors andlol tograph tastefully framed with fir conesandhung abovo tha brusht whercon helay, It was tho portrait of u young girl. It wag {ho first object to meot the old'min’s gnzo, and it brought with it a flnsh of uch paintul consciousncss, that ho started aud glancod :}ulckly around. But his oyos only encountered those of York—clear, uny, oritical, aud patient, and thoy foll again. iiioll mo, old man,” #nid York, not unkindiy, but with the sdiuo cold, cloar tono in lis yoico that Lils oyo botrayed & moment ngo, * teil me, S THAT A LIE T0O ?" and ho pointed to tha pleture. Tho old man closed lus eyos and did not reply. Two _howrs before tho question would huve atund him into some ovasion or bravado, Buk tho revelation contained in tho question, as woll 4 the tous of Yorlr's voice, wus to him now, in eyen to his confused brain that York Lad lied when Lo hiad endorsed lus story in the bar:room, it was clear to him now thint ho hud not been home—that ho was not, as he had begun to fear, going mad. It was such a ralief thal with chinractoristic weakness his former recklessness sud extravagance retmned. Ho began to chucklo—finnily to laugh upronrlnusl{‘. 2 York, with his eyes still fixed on tho old mnan, withdrew tho hand with which he had tsken his, “Didn't we fool 'em nicoly, ob, Yorky? 1ol hol Tho biggost thing ever yot played in this campl 1 alwnys said Td pliy 'em all some day, and I bave PLAYED 'EM FOR 8IX MONTIS. Ain't it rich—ain't it the vichest thing you over seed 2 Did you sco Abner’s face whet he spoke *bout that man a8 seed mo in Bonora ?—warn't it ood as the minstrols? O it's too much!" and gmkiug his log with tho palm of his hand he al- mbst thirew himself from’ the bed in a paroxysm of laughter—a paroxysm that nevorilicless ap- peared to be balf real snd half affected. *1a that photograph hor'a ' suid Yorlin a low volce, aftera sl_ifiut pauso. . “1br's? Nol It's one of the San Franoisco nciresses, het he! Don't {]ou sec—I bought it | for two bite in ono of the Liook stores, I neyor thought thoy’d swallar fhatl too! butthey didl Oh, Eut tho'old man played ’em this time, didu't he—oh?" and Lo peered curiously in York's nce. *Yes, and H JIE PLAYED ME T00," said York, lookibg steadily in the old man’s eye. “Yes, of courso," intorposed Plunkot, hasti- ly, “but you- know, Yorky, you got out of it welll You've sold ‘em too, Wo'vo hoth gob 'em on & stting now,—you and mo,—got to stick togethor now, You did it well, Yorky, you did -count of tho flood, will b it well. Why when you said you'd seen me in York City, I'm d—d if I didn't—" “#Didn't what ?" enid Yorl, gontly, for the old man bad stopped with a palo fncoand wandering oye, . won *You say when I sail I bad soon you in Now York you thought—" “you Lz !” . snd tho old man florcoly, “I didn't say I thought auything. What aro you trying to go back on me for? Xh?" 1lis hands wora trombling as he rose mutiering from the bed aud made his way toward the hourth. “Qimme somo whisky,” ho said presently, ‘and dry u{:. You oughter treat anyway. Them follows oughtor treated last night. By hookoy 1'd made "em-—only I fell sick.” York glnccd tho liquor and a tin cup on tho | table bekido him, and going to the door turned his ‘baclk upon hig guost and looked out on tho ul{{hl. Although it was clear moonlight the familiar prospect never to him scemed o dreary. Lho dead wasto of tho broad, Wingdam highwuy novor scomed B0 monotonous—so lilke tho days that ho had pagsed and wore to come to him—to like the old man in ita suggestion of going some- time aud nover gotting there. o turmed, and going up to lunkett put his hand upon his shoulder and suid, +1 want you to answer ono question fairly and squarely 2" A ; ‘The liquor sacmed to have warmod the torpid Dlood in the cold man's veins aud softened his acerbity, for tho faco lio turned up to York way mellowed in its rugged outline, and moro thoughtful in ita expression, as ho said ¢ ‘¢ do on, my boy.” “1[AVE YOU A WIFE AND—DAUGNTER?™* ‘+Bafore God L have!" The two men woro silent for a moment ; boll gozing o tho I'hon Plunkott bogan rubbing his knoos plowly, 5 “Mho wifo, 1f it hns como to that, ain't mueh,” he began cautlously, *being & lit- tlo on thoe shouldor, yon know, and wantin', B0 to spesk, a fiveral Culifornia _educn- tion,—which makes, you know, a bnd com- bination, [t's alwavs besu my oplulop that there ain't any worso, Why, she's n8 ready with her touguo #e Atmor Dean I8 with his rovolver, only with tho difforonco that sho shaoots from prine ciplo, a8 sho calls it, and the consequence iw, sho's allvays layin' for yon. It's the offote Bast, my boy, that's ruinin’ her—it's thom Idous shio gots in kmv\'m'k and Boston that's mado her and me what wanre, I don’t mind hor havin' *em if sho didn't shoot. DBt havin’ thut propons sity, them privciplos oughin't to be lying rmwd loode no more'n lirearms,” " DUT YOUR DAVGMTER?" #0id Yorlk, ‘Iho old man's hands wont up to his eves horo, and then both hands aud head drop- pod forward on the table. * Don't eay auything 'bout hor, my Doy, don't ask mo now—""With ono hand unncnnllnF his oyos he fumblod nbout with the othor in his pookiots for hiw Lundkerohlef—but vainly, Porhaps il was owing to thiy fact that ho ro- pressod bis tears, for whon ho removed his hand from his eyos thoy woro quite dry, Thon ho found his voico, & “Bho's o besutitul l!lrl.:buluflful—thouuh I R4 8ny it, and you ehall noo her, my_boy, }'un shall aoo lor, Bure, 1'va got things nbout ixed now. 1 ahell havo my plan for reducin’ ores perfooted in n day or two, and I've got proposnla from all tho smeltin' works hotos” hero hu hastily pro- ducod n bundle of papors-that fall upon tho floor, **and I'm goln' to send for ’omt, I'vo got tho papera here as_will give mo 210,000 in tho noxt month,' ho nddod, as he strove to colleal tho valuablo docimonts again, *“I'll have 'em horo by Obristmas, if 1livo, and you shall cat your Chirlgtmas dinner with moe, York, my boy,— you ghall, sure.” With by tongito now fairly loosened by liquor nnd the suggestive vastnoss of Lilw prospeets, o rnmblod on moro or lera lucoberently, clnborat- g and amplifying his plans,—~occasionally ovon spenking of thom as_ ulready nccomplished,.— untll tho moon rodg bigh i tho heavons, and York lod bim sgain to his conch. Ilare ho Iny for somo time mutloring to himsolf, until at Inst ho sanke into a heavy sleep. When York hind entisfiod himsolf of the fact, ho gontly took down_the ploture and framoe, and, golug to tho hoarth, TOBSED THEM ON TIE DSING EMDENS, and ent down to sco thom burn, Tho fir-cones Iou}md Instantly intoflames; thon tho features thnt hod .ontranced Ban Franclaco nudiences nightly flnshedup and passodnway,—as such things nro apt to paus,—nand eventhe eynienl smile on York’s lips faded too, And then “there como & supplemontal and uncxpocted flash as tho onibers fall togother, and by its light York BOW o paper upon tho floor. It was oug that had fullon from thio old man's pockot. As ho picked it up listicesly, n photograph slipped from its folds. It wns the portrait of a young girl, and onité fovorso was writton, in & serawlidg hand, 4 MELINDA TO FATHER." It was at best o cheap pieture, but ah mel I foar oven the daft graciousnoss of tho highest art could not havo softencd tho rigid angulari- tios of that youthful tiguro, its selt-complacent vulgarity, its chieap fiuery, ity expressionloss itl~ favor: York did nat look' t it tho scoond timo. Ho turned to the lotter for relicf, It was misspolted, it was unpuncinated, 1t was almost illegible, it was frotful in tone and selfish in sontimont. It was not, I fear, oven original in tho story of its woos. Itwus tho harsh recital of poverty, of lllfl}flolnn, of mann makeshifts and compromisos, of low paing and lower longings, of sorrow, that were dograding, of a griof that wan pitinblo, Yot it wns_ uincero in a cortain kind of vaguo yearning for the pros- once of the degraded man to whom it was writ- ton,—un nflectFDll that was moro like a coufusod iustingt than a souliment. York folded it ugnm carofully and placed it beneath the old “man’s piliow. hon o returnod to hig scat by tho fire. A smile thot bad beon playing upon Lis face, doop- oning the curves behind his moustacho and gradually overruuning his clear brown oyes, presontly faded away. It wag last to go from his oyon, and it left thoro,—oddly enough to thoso who did nob know hil,— A TEAR, Ia sat thoro for a long time, leaning forward, his head upon his handy. The wind that liad boen strlving with tho? canvas roof ail at onco liftedsits cdges and s moonbeam slippad suddenly in, and lay for a momont Like n shining Dindo upon his shonlder. Aud knighted by its touch, atraitway plain 1lenry York avose,y-sus- taiued, high-purposcd and self-roliaut, TILE ZAINB TIAD COMI AT LAST. Thore wos alrendy a visiblo greonness on the elopos of Menvytrea Hill, aud tho lunf, whito track of tho Wingdam road wns lost in nuLIylu[i pools and ponds a hundred rods from Monto Flat. The spout wator-courscs, whoso white boncs had boon &innously trailed over the flat, lilo the vortebro of some forgot- ten Snurlen, wero full againg the dry boues moved ouco mora in tho valley, and there was joy in tha ditelies, and o pardonabla extrava- gance in the columns of tho Monto Flat Monifor. upon apho- [/** Nover before iu tho Listory of tho country hus the yield beon so_sntisfactory, .Our contempo- rary of tho Hillside Beacon, who yestorday fuce- tiousty alluded to tho fact (?) that our best citi- zens wote leaving towngdn " dug-outs,’ on * ng- X glad to” liear’ that our distinguished fellow-townstan, Mr, onry York, now on-n visit to his relatives in the Tast, latoly 1gok with him, in his * dug-out,’ the modekt sum of &30,000, thoe result of ono weel’s clenn- up. Wo' con imagine,” continuwed the sprightly journal, *that no such mis- fortuve iy likely to overtanko Ilitlsido this eonson. Amd yet wo heliove the IDeacon mnan wants o railrond.” A tow journals Lroke out into pootry. Tho operator at Bimpson's Crossing telographed to tho Sacramonto Uni- verse: ** All doy the low clouds have shook their arnored fullness down. A Ban Francisco ournal lapsed into noblo yorso, thinly disguisod a9 editorial proso: *Nojoice, tio gentle rain Lna cBme, the bright and peatly rain, which eeatiors Dlessings on the hills, end sifts thember the plain, Rejoice,” ote. Indeed, thero wns only ona to whom tho rain had not brought blessing, e d : THAT WAS FLUNKETT. In some mysterious and darksome way, it hiad in- terfored with thugertouflun of his new mothod of roducing ores, and thrown tho adyent of that in- vention” back auother scason. It had brought bim down to #n habitunl soac in the bar-room, whore, to heedless and innttentive oars, Lo sat and diecoursed of the Tast and bis family. No one disturbed him, Indood, it was rumor- od thatsome funds had been lodged with tho landlord, by a person or persons unknown, whoroby his fow wants were provided for. Ilis mlunln,-—l'or that was tho charitablo construction which Monte Flat put upon his conduct,—was indulged, oven to tho extent of Monto Flat's ac- cepting hig invitation to dine with his family on Christmas Day—au invitstion oxtonded frankly to overy ono with whom the old man drank or talked, Lt ono day, to everybody's astonieh- meént, ho burst iuto ‘the bar-room, holding an open lotter in bis hand. It read as follows & ** BE READY TO MEET YOUR FAMILY at tho now cottugo on Heavytreo Hill on Christ- mas-Day. Tuvile whal friends you chooso. “IleNny Yonic," The lotter wag handed round i silonco. Tho old man, with a look alternating botweon Liopo and fear, guzed in tho faces of tho group. L'he doctor looked up significantly ofter o pause. “It's a forgory, ovidontly,” ho said, in a low voico; * ho's eunning cnongh to conceivo it— they always are—but yow'll find he'll fail in ox~ culing it.” Watch his faco! Old man," ho said gddonly, in a loud, peromptory toue, " this {s trick—n forgory——and you know it. Answer ma?squnrnly, and look mo in the eye. Isn't it 507" ‘'he_cyes of Plunkett stared s momont, and then deppped weally, Then, with a feebler smile, ho said: *You're too many for me, boys. The Dog’s right, The little game's up. You cun toko the old man's hat ;" and so, tottering, trembling, and chuckling, hn(lropl)nd into silenco and hig accustomed scat. But the next day lio seemed to havo forgotten this episode, and talked as glibly a8 over of Lhe approaching fcs- tivity, And so the days and weoks pansed until Christ- mas,—a bright, clear day, warmed with gouth winds, ond joyous with the resurrection of epringipg grassos,—brolo upon Monto Flat, And then thero was o sudden_commotion in the botol bar-room, and Abner Dean stood besido the ol man's chair, and shook him out of shum- km- to his feet. * Itouso up, old man; York 19 oro, WITI YOUR WIFE AND DAUGHTLR, at the cottuge ou Ileuvytice. Come, old man, Horo, boys, give him a lify ;" aud In another moment & dozen slrong und williug hands had rafued tho old man and bore Lim in_ triumph to tho stroot, up tho steop grade of Houvytreg Hill, aud deposited him, struggling and “con® fused, in thoporeh of a little cottage. At tho samo iustant, two womon rushed forward, bub were' restrained by a gosture from 1lenry Yorlk, Tho old minn was struggling to his feat. With an effort, ot Inet, ho stood eract, trombling, his oye fixed, a gray pallor on his cheek, and a deop reasonnnco in his volco, “I1'8 ALL A TIICK, AND A LiE!" They aiu't no flesh and bleod or kin o mine, Tt ain't my wifo, no child. My da tor's a besutiful gitl,—a beautiful girl,— hear? Sho's in New York, with hor motheér, and I'm golng to fotch licr hero, Isuid I'd go homo, nnd I'vo been home—d'ye hear ma ?- bocn home ! It's 0 maan trick you're playin thoold man, Lot mo_go, d'yo honr? Ko thom womon off mo! Lot mogol I'm going— 13t aorxa o [ His hands wero thrown |l&; conyulslvely in tho air, and, half turning round, lie fell sileways on the porch, und so to the ground, 'J‘lwfy Hclmv] {:hu up hurrdedly; but {oo late. 1o had gous oo, e The Shnh in London, It cost the Oity of London $63,147 to make n fool of iteolf over the Shah of Porsia, or about tho kume sum Boolo compellod New York to pay for a cerisin notorious Japancse recuplion, whicli, by tho way, was_renlly the oradle of our Ting-froubles, Ilad tho Porsfan_lmbiyg boon in fact, a8 In namo, the ¥ King of Kings," it iy doubtful if London would have been uny more luvish of monoy in raceiving hin. It must bo Vorno in mind that tho figures we are nbout to ivo boleng sololy fo o singlo ontortainmont, anting only a fow hours, 'ho clorical work cost {1,000 16,600 went tobulldors for tomporary cm‘!}nl ory ; gasfittars laid pipe to the yalue of §6,080 ] plumbers ditto, §250; pavers lind u job costing $260; florists bloscomed and bloomed to’ tho oxtent of &2.000; decorators nh- sorhod 806,024 ; ®660 wont for stattary; refroshmouts ato up §8,976; the wines cosl &4.760, oand sodu-walor 283§ ohina and i glans cost £1,017 ; moro than €1,100 wont for sie in two fours : printing and lithographing dost £8,094, tho ndmissdon tickety along costing 1,008, Por nwnings £4,802 woro spant; Jor ropairing cooking l\||[mfl|llm-—5l|ollllllfi mnid about digentivo apparatus)—=2612 ; glovea nnd sentfa for committeo men, £202, (and thi item bringa to fond recotlection thoso foarfully col- orod gloves Doole and his Aldertnon wois on the Jupaneso occm!lnn?; a photoetaphier wha tovl a picture of the table, gor £4560, nud about &4,000 ware weut for unmontionablo incidontals. 1t 18 worth reouiding In n sepnrate paragraph that Aldorman Mnflnm-fie, who' soems to hnvo boon Chafrman of the Committeo who investod all this money in tho Porslau frand, was roward- ed for his roport thiereanent by a vuto of thanks, for engrossing which gratitudo upon vellum an n{\prnrllnnon of §125 wus duly mado. 'Tnko it nltogothior, the affair was o picco of most oxcel- lent fooling. AN OLD-YEAR SONG. As through tho forest, alsarrayed Ty chill Novembor, lato I sirayed, A loncly intnatre] of the wood Wan stiging to tho solliudo : Tloved thy music, thua 1 sald, When o'er thy perels tho leavea wer apread § ‘Biveat was thy sobg, bt sweoter uow Thy carol on the leafioss bough, Siug, littlo bird 1 thy nolo Fhill chesr o sadnesd of tho dying yoar, When violets pranled the burl with bluo And morning iled thofr cups with dew, Ty sloutlor voico with rippiing trill Tho budding April bowors would All, Nor poss its joyous tones wway Wheu April roundod futo May ¢ Thy life shall hail no sccond davrn,— Sing, Utdlo bird ! tho spiing is gono, And I remomber—well-a-day 1— Thy full-blown summer rouudelny, A ‘when behind a broklered screen Bomo lioly matden sings wnscen : With ansivering notes the woodland rung, Aud evory treestop found a tongue. How ddeep tho shile] tho groves how fair| Bing, littlo bixd I the wooda ave baro, But now the summor’s chant 1s dono ‘And mut tho choral autiphon ; Tho birds liave loft the shivering pines o filt nmong tho trellised vines, Or fun the iz Mith scentod pluiries Amfd the lovo-sicle orango-biooms, ‘Aud though ar hore nlofic,—ulons,— Sing, littlo bird ! tho rest huvo flown. Tho snow has capped gon distant hill, Ab morn tho runniug brook will atill Trom drjpen herds tha clonds thut rlse Ara liko {lie smolke of raorifte, Yirelong tho frozen sod shall mock o plowehare, changed to stubburn_rack, The brawling streams shall soon Lo dumb,— 8lng, littlobird ] the frosts luve come, Taat, fust tho lengthening shadows creep, e wongleay fowlt aro Lulf nsloop, Pho air grows chill, the clting sut May leave theo cre thy soug is done, Tho pulse that warms thy Lreast grow cold, Ly weerat dio with tliee, unfold : Tho lingering sineot sull fs bright,— Stug, fittlo bird | *twill soon to night, —Oliver IWendelt divlmes 1 the Athentio for January, —_— - HEUMOR. The child who cried for an hour did not got A oynical lady, rathor inclined to flirt, saya most men aro like'n cold, very easily caught, but very hard to got rid of. —Rellogy's (Louisiann) Motropolitans passed” o hen-roost 1o’ Grant Pavlsh without robbing it. It was too high for them. “Ilio littlo boy, nt'his first concort, innocont- 1y asked, when tho soprano®was called back, ' What's tho mattor, mother #* Didn't she-do it ight 2" —If it wasn'b for tho 10-cont stamp ocea- rionnlly found in n paper of tobneco, nconsidern- Lle portion of tho ecitizons of Duluth would slarvo.—Cincinnaii Commercial, What is your name, little gir 2% Min- voio what? » ¢ Minnje Don't, mamma. nie," calla me, —It is romarked that wood will last much ]nx:_gtcr if loft for {he women folks to snw and split. —Out West, whero womtn are runuing for oftice, the nowspapors whose_ candidatos havo been elected no longer placo dellaut roostors ad the hiead of their columns. A modast hon broods over the glad tidings of election, —*Tho evidence shows thathe sot up wilh her night after night, nud they squoze bauds and talked noft, and I think she ought to have ahont 23 damngos,” waa tho chiarge of a Kansns Judge {0 n jury In o breach of promise case, —1lo Baid it was too cold to get *up, and she snid it wasn’t her place to kindlo fires, and sho wonldn't, and they both lay nbod thirty-odd hours in Portlaud, Me. Sho, peetty huugry by that timo, thought botier of it. —Wae cannot bo too caroful how wo play with tho English langunge. Ono day, recontly, & married ladi’ of Geuoses, while admiring the £alls from the Xiric Railrond bridge, romarked : ‘Isn't that dow nice " —Mistress (to new sorvant girl from the coun- try)—* Now, Eliza, mnko hasto and dross your- solf, and mako your hair tidy, heforo your mas- tor comos lomo,” Bervant girl—* Yes'm, Whero hall I find the comb, mum 2" —A fair young creature, with a penchant for cards, thus addrossos an epistle to lior masculine friend: * Oomo aud play yoneur with me this ovening,® And ho got mad, nnd snid & * gradn. ate™ who hind such spells ns that was no right bower for him. —Tho Dotroit Zrce Press rolates tho follow- iIng eurious coincidenco: I dreamed tho other night," suld Dijah, 08 ho helped is onor into hig ovorcont, **that I askea to borrow 50 conts of you, and that you handed it out.” * Curious coincidenco," replied 11is Honor, a8 ho buttoned his cont. I lind tho snmoe dream, excopt that I told you I would see you hung first."” —A portly gentlomnn crowded himself into n soat in n hiorse-car, Next to a young man, who remarked, You wouldn’t bo so anxious to haye that sent if you know that I had just gotten ovor the smnll-pox.* “That's nothing," was tho ro- ply; *this is tho first timo that 1 have boon ont since having it mysolf.” Iho young man started for tho front platform. —Grandpapa’s Grammar.—* I say, Grandps, I call it vory unfair! You know my little sistor, Eva? Well, when she gocs out, everybody always comos up and srys how pretty ehe is, and nobudy mover comes up and says how pretty T ami” " % You'ro too old for such “opon iiattery, my dear! Thoy say it to mo, ingtead " Ol como, Grandpa, you're not protty 1" —lnferior Creaturc—* You must make nll your arrungoments, madam, to do thisand do that, without ever consulting me/ Do vou for- got, madam, that I am your husband,—tho huy- band whom you prowmised to *love, honor, aud obey?'™ Superior Urenture (ongagingly)— “Wall, woll, littlo man, it's no good boing cross about_tbat, I promised, of course ; but you Yuow I nover mennt ivl™ . —Whilo on the Peninsula during the War, an ofticor camo neross o private belonging to one of tlio most predatory companios of tho Irish brig- ado, with the lifeloss bodies of a goose and a ion tied togolhor by tho legs, dangling from his muslet. * Whore did you steal those, yon rns- enl#" “Taith, T was marching along with Golor- Sorgt. Maguiro, and tho gaoso—bad cess to it— camg out nud hissed the American flag.” “But the hon, gir; howzbout her 2" “U'ho hen, bless y%.bwlnn’én bad company, aud laylng eggs for the Tibbols. —2ho Territorial Enterprise, of Virginla Cily, Nov,, is authority for- tho followipg incident : “3hs, Van Coté, tho faf, Iuir, and powerful proachor, has boon roviving tho Mothodiats of Nevada, and many who wore not Methodists, Blio goes around among Lo congregation urging all who havo not dono so to juin the heavonly camp. Lnst Sunday evening she approrchod a Cornish miner, who seomed to bo much ime prossed, and laying her hand on his shoulder, suid ; * My friond, ara yon a Iuborer in tho vine- ard of the Lord # *No, mum,’ he roplicd, ooking up ot Lis falr questioner,’ ‘I bo workin in 'eo Savago lower lovel,"™ —-— - GIVE ME TIHE LOWEST PLACE. Qo mo {ho loweat placo; not that T dave Ak for (it loweat place, but Thou Lust dled Thut I might live and ¥hars “why glory by Thy side, Glyo ma the lowest plico; o I¢ for me it Jowest plavo 00 Ligh, ks awe more low Whero T may ft and sco ALy God, and love Theo o, ~~Christing Rossetti, ‘Pho British pnpors aro aghist ne » murdor of & poenliae elnractor rocently committed jn Lon- don, L'wo rospeotablo and sobor men, one of thoum a tuilor, long mutusl frionds, sab I o tav- cra of an evoning und, the convorsation taking & motaphysical turn, bocame involved In an in- quiry na to tho gat of lifo, ono. plucing it In the beain, tho other in tho hoart, Tho inquiry bu- came discussion, tha discussion o disputo, tha disputo & parsonnl quarrel, and the personsl quurrel yosulted thus, according to tho ante- mortom statement of, one of the purtion: * o #wore ho would thraw mo over if I repoated tho statemont that (ho seat of life was in tho heart, I ropeated it, whon ho eaught mo nround the neele, put his foot behind mo, und threw me Loavily ou my buek, falting oun iy stomneh, I folt vory mmlt hurt at the thne. Wa wore pro- viously hal frlonds, and bore no ill-will to ona anothor,” ~ And hetora the doctor could rond over to him his x-nnrs\»ulnu, tho champion of the homt as tho seat of lifo was doad THREE FRENCH RMARRIAGES. Yrom Livpincott's Mapazine for Janwary, Twas prowent yeatordny at wedding-mass in the Church o 8t. Thomas d'Aquin in the Fau- bourg 8t, Gormalu, In tho square Leforo the clinrels Indlos in clogant coatums woro doscond ingr from tholr carrlages and mounting tho stops, whero a rich earpot was laid for thom, as ono would #eoin Now York on a similar ocension, At the door stood twvo vorgors in whito lioso and nenrlob brocehos, with bLluo coat, gold-embrold- erod baldrle, and the pleturesque three-cornered lat trimmed with light-gray oatrich tonthers, At longth tho bridal party eutored, preceded by tho vorgors with tholr glittoring haltords, Tho bride was leaning on tho arm of bor fathor, while the bridegroom conducted tho motler. Thoy wero attended by sovoral bridesmnids and groomsmen, and followod by & long train of relatives and frionds. Passingup tho main aislo, thoy took tholr scats in tho iuclosod spaco be- fora thie high nltar, the bride and bridegroom in tho contro, apart from tho rost, in chaira of crimson velvet and gold, rich enough for thrones. Thoro was =& profusion of white flowors around the altar, but thoy were ail drtificial, as seems to bo always the caso -in TFrauco on ‘anch occasions, ‘Though thoy aro exquisito Imitations, ouo would prefer to ‘have real tlowers at ong's wedding, Mora show than sweotness Is a bad omen. "The ofliciating priost and bis nssistants wore whito robes, with luco which would hinve made tho deapalr of & Duchess, The bride looked vory graceful in o whito gown porfectly plain, with tho tullo veil flonting to lLor foet and orange-blossoma gleaming “out- from her darle tingl I'ho coremony was long and im- prossive. In ono part of it tho priest prosented to tho bride and bridegroom the ¢ piccos de |, mariago "—tlat is,'silver modals about tho size of ndollar bontiug the names of the young couplo, with the date of their marringe and ap- -proprinto emblems. A littlo later they advanced toward the altar, when tho priest prosonted to thom two golden patorro, which thoy roverently Kissed, aud, rotnrning to thoir seats, two of o groomsmon held above their heads a’long whito nantle of cloth of silver with fringos of gold, while tho pricet wont on with the servico. During the offeitory tho vorgers passed through the assembly with their monotonous chant, * Pour les pauvres, 8'il vous piail” (** I'or the poor, if you pleass™), each followed by a groomsman and & bridesmaid, who held out'the wmall crimson velvet bg to recclvo tho offerings, I would rather have taken part in the chnrge nt DBalaklave than do this myself, but tho perfect onso and graco of theso young Fronclr givls mado it charming, At the cloeo of the mass the bridal party passed sround the altar into tho sacristy, whon they ro- colved tho congratulptions of thoir frionds, af- terward returning throngh tho grand aislo of the clhureh in tho samo order as they bad entered, oxcopt that tho bride " now leaned on the nrm of her husdand, while the organ pnnlu(l forth oxultingly the * Wedding- Dlarch " of Mondelssohn, As wo cumo out of tho church, my friond, Madamo Lefort, ssid to me, “You have seen what {4 very raro in France, nmnrringe of love and inclination, n I'Americain. -1t 1s the only one I ifve evar known.” “ And your own, Madame ?" paid T, “Mino hns boen' o_Dappy miarringo, but T was not nequainted with AL Lefort whon I was mar- ried to him, Lho flrst timo L over saw kim way ou the day of rejoicing at the birth of the Prince lmporinl. 1o wng presented to me in the Champs-Elysces, but I was engrossed with tho Acone around me, and did not much observe him. *How did you like M, Lefort ?' asked my mothier on tho way home. ‘I do not know: T scarcely looked at him,' ‘But, my daughtor, your fathor ling solected him for your Lusbaud, Ilo will dive with us to-morrow, aud unless ho is vory disagreeablo to you—"' L, Lofort wes a hind- somo nian: ho it so still, you know, aud ho was much luudsomor then, fle pleased me, but I never wpoko ton words to him till nfter we were married, which was fu»sl: & month from tho day 1 first saw bhim ; and all the time Wo were 80 busy, my mather and I, with propara- tions for the wedding that I had not n momoent to think, Ile sent me tho most beautiful flowers ovory dey, and for my corluille de mariage ho gava me diamonds snd sn_Indin shawl whieh cont 5,000 franes, Ile was in o stato to commit follics then,” suid Madame with u little sigh. T was bowildored with all this new splendor, for Fronch girls are always drossed in tho simploat way—not at 2ll as” - your country, whero Mies has overything as hanily as Muinma —and they noyer go'into the stroet without o chaperone, I'wns full of lifo and longed for excitomont : my mother was an invahd and wout out very eeldont, 8o that marringe way like an . open door to freedom.” *But I do not see how you darod,” “Oh, a8 to that, was thoughtless enough, aond besides I mevor expected auytuing difforent, Lugeno was vory good to me: by and by we had our little Olavico, .wo fell in love with each other by dogrees, and we have been very loppy. I think marriages are ag bappy in Franco as anywhero clso, holped to mako threo last wintor, and thoy have all beon Lnppy.” Do toll me about them,” snid I “With the greatest pleasure, this ovening after dinnor.” > “'ho girls will like to hear the story, too,” said I, (Iho girls were four charming wpeci- mens of Amorican youny womanhood who woro undor my caro tamlmrm'xlf'.) Accordingly, whon tho Iamps woro lighted (for there is no gas in French parlow) wo drow our chairs avound thie table to hear the story of the throo marriages. **You remembor,” began Madamo, “ the fab Colonel who dined with us Just Sunday ? 1lis wifo is my cousin, and a year ago sboias not Dndame do Courcelles,” “* But tho little boy 7" said Alice with n naive .Burprigo in her blue oyes. ** Oh, the Colonel was n widower,” said Mad- amo laughing. My cousin lived with her futhor in o country town. She was the yqungest child, Ior mothor had beon dead many yoars; hor brothers and sistors woro married ; sio bad Leen asked in marriago, but she did not like to Jenve hor father, and ho would have beon so dea- oluto without lier that hie bad not tho heart to urgoit, My uucle died sbout two years ngo; his' Tmpnrty waa divided among his children, Pauline bad a modorate ncomo, which would not pormit her {o live fu the stylo to which sho was accustomed. 8ho wroto mo a vory sad lot- ter, lamonting hor father's death and hor owa Joneliness and desolation, Bhe asked me to find her a soom and board ju Parig, in a convent or in some quiot family, I wrote that I would do all Tcould for her.” ‘But, my dear cousin,’ T added, ‘why do you not think of marringe? It will be very disagreeablo to yon, who lave so Jong been tho mlstress of a handsomo establish~ meut, Lo live in the way you proposo. Rarious- ly, marringo is the only solution of all your Earplnxuicu.‘ 1 Lind not fong to walt for a reply. Panline wrota thut sho would willingly marcy, but shio was now 36 years old, ior dowry was nob oxcostive, and sho fearad it would be impossiblo to make an adyautagoous marringo. ¢ Diflicult, I yroto in reply, * Lut not impossiblo, Come to Daris, malo mo & hittlo vislt, and we will seo.’ Now I bad in my mind my friend_Col. do Cour- colles, whoso wifo bad boen dend abouta yenr und a bulf. 1lo often came to sco me, and al- waya bowailed his loncliness and tho unhappy condition of his chitdron (he had but two, a girl ond boy) without a mothor. It oceurred toma that two sorrows riglitly mingled might make ono joy ; and the noxt time Lo ealled and ontered on his usual monologuo I interpolated the quos- tion, ¢ Why don' d'lnu marry again, Colanel 7 It is tho only thing that can make you forgot {nm‘ sorrow,’ ‘I Lkuoow it' said ho, ‘but thore i8 no lady,' ‘Pardon mo, Colonol, I have o cousin who is just my ago. Bho has re- cenily lost hor fathor; she has u dowry of 50,000 francs, and sho is coming to spend & few weeks withme.' “Ishall I dolightod to mook your charming cousin, Madame,’ “In duc time DPauline amived. After tho firat ircufillg and condotencesjwore over, [ eald, *T'aulino, I thinkI havo found a hasband for you—Col.'do Conrcolles, I lmve boen ac- quainted with him many yeavs; ho hasa fino position, and ho was very indulgont to his wifo; sho was very happy with'bim, o will dino with s on Bunday, and you will ke an opportunlty {0 seo him, "1 havo enld nothing to him aboub it; you may feel completoly at your easo,’'" (3Ty Awerlean renders, who huve been brought up, Thopo, with & strlob rogard for truth, will doubtless bo shooked ab tho Madamo’s want of vernaity., I wns not sorry to'sco my yonng Bos- tonians oxchunge n glanee of surpriso, which Madame did not obsorys, and wonld uot have understood if sho hnd obsorved i, I'rench. mon appear to regwrd & lie ds o thing Iunocent fn iteelf,—ono which may Lo evon highly meritorlons, and which Lecomes orimiunl only under corvtain cir- cumstnnces, doviving itomoral character ontively from the moliven thut pmml!t it. **On Bunday tho Colorol camoe, Clarics wna at achool then, and there wore only four of us,— M. Lotort and I, my cousinand the Colonel, who ant opposite hor, " Thoy looked at ench othor furtivoly from time totime, and, when their oyos met, dropped thom instautly on their plates in tho most comieal munnor, my cousin asido: ‘What do you_think of him #* *1lo Is too fat,’ wuld Pauliue,” *Fat? You think Dinner aver, I tonk.t protty young daughter. no? Tholdeal® ¢Ol, Madumo, how could you 2 1o {8 immenso ' said my innocont Panline, with n loole of distress, *Only connder what a fine Dosition o hias,’ muid I, ‘aud such au exeo'lonl munl If you could only see how woll he tooks on hotkabaclc at (ho load of his rogimant 1’ “Tater in tho evemng 1 had an opportnnity to spenlc Lo tho Colonol, *Woll #* winl I, intor- rogatively. ' Mndame, your cousin is chiarming, bt sho 18 rathar_too all.'. he hugo Coloncl hud a giant's ponchisnt for little womon, *'thzre is no ocension for you to go apy further,’ suid I, *Ihavo wot mentloned 1t to my cousln, of contwo,' *Ishould liko to cull to-morrow,’ Eaid 0, ** In pix wocks Paulino was Madame do Cour- colloy, but up to the wedding-duy sho continuod to sny pitoously, ¢ If ho wero onlynot o fatl' " Pt 36 not romantie ak all.” kaid Bmily. But Lhoy are very happy,” said Madanio. . 'l'lDuuun't. she think he i too fab now ¢" asked olle “I dnro eay slio would ho vory indignant if you woro Lo uny 80, Inughed Madame. *Now for margloge Number 2," said Ilelon, “ A short tima beforo my cousin's martiage,” continned Mudame, “my friond, BL. Auber, called on mo, *'L'uat i o strango {dea of yours, Lo marry your cousin to thal gront fat Colonel,' suidho,” *1havea fricud who would suit hor much belter, I nm suro) ‘It is rTather lato for that mow; sho is to bo married in ten days’ ‘llow vexatious!' epid DI Anber, ¢ Dut, Blonsiour, I have a sistor-in-law, n young widow, soveral }oflm‘yonn er oud far handsomer than my cousin, our friond might Lo pleaged with hor,” ¢ I wioh I conld sco her.' * Nothiug easier, Dino with us the day aftor to- morrow, you and Madamo Auber, and I witl fne vito Julla to meet you.! My ninter Is really vers beautiful, and M, Aubor could not restrain hiz admiration : * O, Madumo, she is adorable! Ii my friond can pleaso hor, he isn man to bo en- vied, Lebus sco: fo-day is Tnoaday. _Woll, “Liteday, it you and your sister and M. Lolorl will ding with us, my friend will be thore, *Fhursday came, the dinner, and tho guosts, I uad told my sister what was in contemplation, and wo wore naturally a littlo cmious to seo M. Veruon, 1fo was a good-looking man, about 5¢ rs of nge. Moadnmo, wasn't ho bald?" asked Alico, % *Woll, ho was o littlo, on Lho top of Liv end. “Ihato Lald men, IIow old wassho?" A littlo under 39.” ‘“ Ishould not thiuk sho would have married himif sho wag so beantiful,” ** Woll, my dear, o hud o fino social position and n largo fortuno, hotol in Pariy, house n the country, elogant carriago, and gorvants in livery, 1t was o great tomptation, and then sho was not very young, you know, Well, dinnor was over, and wo bhad returned to iho parlor, DI, Auber seemod restloss aud fidgety, for he s of a very Jwmpatient temporamont, ¢ Medame Lefort,' raid Do, rising, ' I should,like to show you u patuting by Paul "belarocho ‘in tho nest room.' I hnd acen the painting lundreds of times, but I fols lowed without a word. * Vernon, wouldn't yon . Jiko to sco it, 100 ?* said DI, Aubor. ~ No sovner was the door closed than ho asked in his enger way, ‘Woll, Madnmo, what does your eister think of my friend?’ ‘Dut, Monsiour, how should T know? I have nothad an opportunity to_wponk to hot, Bosidos, it would be mors auitable to know L. "Vornon’s impression fivat, ‘Ob, lsawthat inoninstant,' said M. Auber. “Thero is no ncod of asking him, Iio iy en- chanted.! “Traly, sho is tho most boautitul cren- ture I ovor saw,’ snid M, Vernon, *Iar too young and lovely for mo, Iam alraid,” *Thet remalng to bo goen,’ said bis friend. ¢ Aslc her, adwmo, —just as well now as any time,! ‘Bat . Ver- nou must go'away,” ‘Certainly, Mudame;' and ho opened the door into the parlor. ¢Come, tlion, Julio, don't you wish to seo this Beautiful painfing? Tave you no taste for the arts #' Sho camo, ‘M, Auber wishes to know how you are pleascd with his friond,” “Ho ju very well,' said Bhio coolly—rather old.! *Oh, Madame, is (hut all you cag u:\l{ for ono of the Lent matehes in Trance ?* ‘I do not know that I hiave auy objce« tion,' sbo ndded. “Phoz, Madame, we will con- sider tho allair eottlod.’ “Tarly tho next morning 1. Vernon ealled to ask my husband Lo sceompany hiw to the house of Julie's mother, aud wfter the usual compli- monts of preseutation Lo immediately asked the Land of her danghter. In thweo weeks 1 Lad the pleasure of boing present at the wedding. 3 0l bow dreadful!™” eried the guls in a chorus. ** No love-tunk: **No walks by moonlight " “ So prosaic ¥ * Byerything hur- riod up so, Just liko a parcel of goods bought nud delivered.” “Why, how long are belrothals in your coun- try 2" aisied Madnmo, “I'yo or throo yems generally, Beldom lees than one yoar whon the partics sro young," #T should havo chunged my mind thieo or four times iu n yoar," srid AL Lefort, Jooking up from tha book which Lo bad becn reading sl tho time, apparontly. »And I mine five timoy," eaid Madame. “1low, thon ? Aro not such long cngagowouls often broken ?" sha inquired. Ol never,” snisl Bolle, with fervor. © But, my ehild,” interrupted I, *“ L am afraid you arp mistaken there ; [ have kuown a grout mauy broken in my timo.’ “And do tness youny lovers #oo each other often during this long interval " “Yory ofton, Madumo, if thoy happen to live nonr cach other.” “Bat always in tho presonce of the young lady's mother, I supposoe ?” “No; it is very common for a young lady to roceive her betrothed aloue.” “0h, shockng!” and Madame looked rigid with astonishment, “Dut if tho wngagement wore broken, sho would pover find 3 husband aftar such an intimacy »" “at would mako do differonce,” T rejolned, “unless o girl wera engaged vix or seven years, and the man broio bis engagement then, as womelimes happons. She would have loat her freh youngs benuty, ond hor heart might be o sot on iho faithless lover that mo other could ever take hig place.” Ah," woid Madamo, *our young g lenst snvod from all pains of the Leard, “And thoy are kept from indocorous fllrting and manouvors to attract attention, too,” said I, with o glanco at my young Anoricana,—not thut thoy nevded tha hint particulatly, howevor. “'Phoy flirt_onough aftorward,” said Bella spiritedly, *' Don’t you remomber the odions Hladamo 4., with hior Yollow eatls, and tlio yonug ofticer nt tho Grand Hotel ? I mover saw any such flirting in Amorica,” ' * Dou't folle, girls,” said Emily, bLear about tho third marringe,™ £ Well,” resurned Madame, *“Ifolt o good doal of complacency in nmy success, and it formed a wnbjoot of convorsation at tho_uext recoption. ‘I om disgusted,’ sald Madame Bolval, ‘I lavo Dboen trying all winter Lo briug about o matringe Lotween two of my frionds, and it has failed at last. X will nover tey ngain if I live a thousaud yonrs,! ‘Iamroady to try again to-motrow.’ * Pany bo 8o kiud us to give me Lomo ‘assisiance, thon,' sald Madame 0., wife of tho Minister of Marino, ** I mn looking for o suitable wifo for Enmile, as I am very desirous that hoshould mar- ry. Youngmen are oxposcd to so many tompta- tions in Paris—aclresses and grisottes, and all that kind of thmg—enough to drive a mothor distracted, Imilo will bo 25 next wonth.' " ‘T ghould think ho wasold enough to finda wifo for Limeelf,” whispered Alico. ¢ ITis snlary is 12,000 francs, which is not bad for a young man, and his fathor will do somo- thing more for him whon he matzios, ¢ 1 Lnow o girl that will suit him oxactly,” eried Madima olyal, engorly, forgolting, 1o Rip Van Winklo, ihnt sho bind * sworo off ™ ('This 8 an internoln- tion, I nm afraid the Fronch ladics lad not tho plonsnre of being acquninted with Monsions Van Winlklo). *Tho Administrator of tho Lyons Rtailway has o daughter almost 10, tho most ami- abld, tho most lovely, aud hor father will givo hor 100,000 francs.’ * * Phat is very reasonablo,” snid Madamo O, ¢ Tshall be undor overlasting obligations to you if you will sposk to him of -our son,' ¢ With the’ grestost pleasuro in tho world," #Madnme Belval had an intorviow with the Administrator of Railwnys, 1o would muko in- quiries about the young man. Thoe result was sutwsfactory, and in nweok the {rionds of both familics, including M. Lofort and mysoll, ro- colved an invitation Lo o solreo at Mndimo Lol- val's, wheto the two, young paoplo. would meet for tho first timo, It wus vory ombarcassing for thom in the &truaunnn of #0 many obuervers. Mademolsclie Theveso was Jovoly, with loug fair curls nud that doficato blond beauty whicli in s0 rare In Peances T pitied the poor child, sho wns 80 distrossed at the thoight of boing on ox- mhitliuu. aud looked palo and thon flusbod altor- nately. “iam gled I am not & Yronch girl," said Holen. “Aud the young man wag scarcely loss agi- tatod, Thoy hmadly dared to lovls at oacls athor, and wore as silent as deal mutes tho whola ovoning. Tho noxt duy his fathor mado a formal demund of 3. Thouvol for the lund of Lly daughtor,” *Itig father! and the youne man had nothing to dv withi it ?* oxclaimed Dollo, amnzed. +i Marringes aro nlways aveangad by the paronta with us,” said Madumo, 42, U'houvel guve an afirmative snswor, aul the mariaxe took place hortly aftoy, ua ly usual in Fraee.” ++ And shall you bo married in that way, Clar- fco? " nsked Allco compassionately of Madame's tlg ave at “Iwant to “How olso? 1um not golug to Awmerfea,” Many ¥, Bras,