Evening Star Newspaper, August 23, 1890, Page 7

ll 4X THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D. C. A FOOL'S WISDOM. THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A WIFE WINNER BY CHANCE. ———— WRITTEN FOR THE WASHINGTON STAR BY JAMES PAYH, en CHAPTER L WAS once a junior clerk in the employ- ment of that well-known and extensive ‘m, Apsley, Wellesley & Co. of Cornhill. The senior partner wasa friend of my father, which gave me a better position than I should otherwise have occupied, but I may say, without vanity, that I was well worth my “salt,” or at all events, my salary, which was by no meansa large one. I did not shirk my dutie: was the fashion of some of my fellow.clerks to do, and showed myself anxious to “get on.” Of course, there are different ways of doing this, but when it is done without Priggism, and especially not at the expense of others, I have aconviction that it generally succeeds. Ina long commercial life I have Roticed that the man who wastes his time and that of his master, who is the last to reach the office and the first to go away. and who flattens his nose against the window while he is there instead of sticking to his work, is apt to stick to the stool where he first finds himself and to rise no higher, while the man who does his duty without grudging and takes some interest in the firm's affairs moves up, and if he doesn’t marry his master's daughter and become lord mayor of London, in the old story-bo0k fash- fon, still reaps his reward. The crumbler of mature age is almost always in youth the idler, and the gentleman who is always “unlucky” has something beside Misfortune to account for it, though he lays all the blame upon that iy. Nevertheless, even at one-and-twenty, I was either so vain nor so foolish as to set down old Apsiey’s favor to me to my own merits, He had taken me into his employment fo oblige his old friend. very likely by no means will- ingly, and he was no doubt agreeably sur- ised to find me useful to him. ‘Business 18 msiness,” and as a general rule (ay I have since found myself) it 1s better not to let senti- mental considerations interfere with it. if you can help it—which, however, is a pretty large if. Atall events our senior partner was as civil to bis young clerk as was compatible wil the great gulf between us, and his carefulness to give no cause of jealousy to others. He en knew where I lodged—itself an immense stretch of interest in any member of the firm as regarded their subordinates—and had been #0 good as to inquire. on one occasion. whether I was comfortably located. Such affubility won my heart, and unless I had been offered a considerable rise of salary I would not ha left his employment to serve anybody. Annie Apsley was the only daughter of the head of our firm. How well do I remember that, upon first sight of her, the question came to me so suddenly and clearly that it seemed as though some person had spoken it audibly: “Shall you ever marry her?” And Iam sure that my lips moved with the feply, though it may hb: been voiceless: ‘MISS APSLEY PASSED WITHOUT A GLANCE, “Of course not.” ——_ young fellow and she was as iuty and lovely a blonde maiden of eighteen as ever lived. As tothe wild surmise. whether I should ever wed her, that was doubtless incited by the legendary accounts of the poor young clerks who go to altars with lord mayors’ daughters, and I at once pronounced it a fool's fantasy. I considered the matter sedately, and my verdict against myself was one of con- Viction @s a sentimental fool. This conclusion was reached at the end of the quarter of an hour during which Miss Aps- ley was in the office, chatting with ber father and Mr. Jones. the junior and managing mem- Der of the firm, while Iwas on duty at my desk in an adjoining room. I could not under- stand more than an occasional word, and the subjects of their discourse seemed trivial enough, but I could see that the girl, though familiar and affectionate toward her father in many little bits of manner, was cold and for- malin regard to Mr. Jones. My work was neglected. as I slyly eyed the pretty creature through the open doorway, until a sudden turn of her head enabled her to catch me at it. Bhe betrayed only by a momentary blush that she was aware of me;and then I, feeling grossly impertinent, made a pretense of an errand by seizing « bunch of papers and rush- ing out into the ware house. iy first recourse was to Spriggins. a clerk Bear to me in office duties and also my next- door neighbor in lodgings. Of course I did not disclose to him my very wild and hopeless admiration of our chief employer's daughter. Instead I approached her through the person of Mr. Jones, as to whom I questioned Sprig- gins “Is he bachelor?” I asked. “A widower, I believe,” was the reply; “but nobody ia this establishment appears to know much about him.” “Is he a suitor for the hand of Miss Apsley?” “How on earth should I know?” “But there might be rumors and surmises, you know.” “Never heard one.” “But don't you detect in his manner toward her when they meet in the office that he is in love with her—and—and she with him?” ‘Never noticed anything, one way or another. But, say"—— Then he stopped. gazed hard into my face op inp aloud jessed if I don't believe you're spooney on Mies Apsley, first sight of her,” he wane on “and are jealous of Mr. Jones. The fellow had raised his voice in this ebulli- tion of raillery and, looking beyond him, I saw to my horror and dismay that Miss Apsley her- self had heard every word. She had come into the passage where we stood on her way out. “You're a fool, Ackers,” Spriggins added; “you're a fool.” Then Miss Apsley passed us, without a glance, but with an expression on her face which told. more plainly than the most scorpful speech eould have done, that she quite agreed with my friend in ascribing foolishness to me. it was a week later that a footman called at my lodgings one evening with a note from Mr. Apsley. requesting me, “if convenient.” to come tosee him atonce at bis private re: deuce. This was situated in a fashionable square, and though | saw little of it that night, SNUGGERY. the old gentleman's study or sn 5 whither he descended for the interview, 1 was eousiderably impressed with its grandeur. He wore s cueking jacket and had a comfortable home aspect. What he wanted me for was to take a note upon some important business mat- ter to our Mr. Jones, the manager, that night. “I don’t know where he lives,” he said, “or I would not have troubled you, Ackers.” I replied, very truthfully, that the trouble was a pleasure (for it is al: 8 good thing to be able to oblige one's chief} « and that, hb t Mr. Jones lived somewhere near Harton, a suburban station, I would find ceteaee toteambil vonghl theca ha tes, “I used to wel where "a Apsley remarked, as he bowed me care- Peg Lid mon’ ve somehow forgotten the exact pe ale But it is close by will easily discover | Still I fell im love with her on the instan'# That was not strange, seeing that I was an im- If he were her wooor, acceptably 0 or not, | would there not be asnffivient intimacy be- tween them that she would know the street and number of his suburban home? It seemed 80. and for the instant I concluded that my sur- mise had been incorrect. “Does he lodge or keep house?” I ventured to ask. “I believe he keeps house.” was the reply. “Then he hasa wife? 1 mcan—am I to look for a housekeeping establishment? That is—I.” and I floundered in the deep water into which my jealous curiosity had thrown me. “Mr. Jones is a widower,” Mr. Apsley said. as he stood waiting to sce a servant show me out. ‘His house, I think, has a mistress in the person of s relative.” J lifted my eyes by accident, or was it mag- netic attraction? and saw a daintily robed figure leaning over the baluster of the stair- case. It was Miss Aspley. My heart bounded absurdly at the sight. There was a slight smile on her pretty lips. Whether the expression was amused, hatzhty. contemptuous, f could not be sure, but I knew asclearly as if she had said it that she was quite aware of my infatuation. Girls are alertly perspective in that way. So certain was I that she had discerned my secret that I felt like apologizing for the impertinence of naving harbored it; but mechanically and si- lently I departed on my errand. Then the thought came to me that Annie Apsley had displayed a personal interest in the letter which I was conveying to Mr. Jone once the missive was like lead in my hand, and I felt a desire to throw it in the Thames. It might bea tender communication from her. O. not likely, else her father would not have 80 much concern about it, Anyhow, common sense bade me go straight about my business, and I did so, CHAPTER II. In two minutes I was on my way to the rail- way, and caught the first train to the place in question. Though the station was a compara- tively small one I foresaw some difficulty in finding the manager, who probably lived ina modest way (though he bad what seemed to me agigantic salary of £300 a year). for he isa very modest, retiring sort of man, and Jones is not an uncommon name. However, I made my application to the station master directly I got ont. “Do you happen to know where a Mr, Jones lives in thie neighborhoo: “Mr. Jones.” he replied, “do you mean Squire Jones? “No.” I said, “that is not the gentleman; I want Mr. Jones of Cornhill.” The station master shook his head. as though in deprecation of all commercial persons; he said he wus not acquainted with any person of that name except “the squire.” There was nothing for it but to take a fly to Harton Hall. where it seemed this great man lived. was notexactly ‘‘a ball.” after the country, or rather “county” pattern, it was very superior to any ‘‘villa residence.” We were admitted by alodge keeper through gilded iron gates which opened upon park-like and quite exten- sive grounds. The tonger I took im driving through them the more certain I felt that I was on a fool’s errand, and the sight of the mansion itself convinced me of it, It was of great size, and on that summer night the anshuttered windows of the lower rooms emitted a blaze of light; there was evi- dently a dinner party, or perhaps even a bail going on. I was quite ashamed of myself and my errand when my humble vehicle drew up at thestately portico, and a footman attired like a field marshal answered the summons of the front door bell. «Does Mr. Jones live here?” I ingnired hesi- ‘Mr. Jones of Apsley, Wellesley & You might have knocked me down witha feather; I should have been only a little more surprised to hear that this was the country residence of my fellow clerk, Jack Spriggins, who shared the parlor at my lodgings. Tuough myself alimost penniless I came of a good family, and knew the proportion of scales of living among landed proprietors, but the splen- dor of that entrance hall with its statues and pictures threw all | had seen elsewhere of the kind into the shade; in particular it struck me ‘Y much grander it was than my em- plo: ‘entrance hail. in which I had stood but auh ur ago. ; ave my card to the footman and was ush- j Into a side room the fittings and furniture dich threw Mr. Apsley’s “snuggery” com- ly into the shade. It was more like a bou- sir than aroom used for business purposes, shough I recognized Mr. Jones’ little black bag dying in one corner of it, and also his letter case .pon a marble table. In the few seconds that 4: took me to observe these things there was a constant clatter of knives and forks and hum of conversation from the dining room on the other side of the ha®. It was evidently a very arge dinner party. yet the hoat did not hesi- tate to leave it on the instant that the servant BE TORE IT OPEN IN HASTE, brought him in my card. It seemed to me al- most impossible that he could have been with me go soon, yet there he was, looking in his evening dress as I had never scen him before, but with a much greater change in him than that; the manager's face wasghastly pale; there was a dew upon it for which the warmth of the evening could hardly account, while the ex- pression of his little gray eyes was anxious and perturbed to the last degree. “This 18 an unexpected pleasure, Mr. Ackers,” he . in a voice of unmistakable expectation and alarm. “W is it? Nothing wrong, I hope with Mr. Apsle: I suppose it was my slight connection with the senior partner that suggested this appre- hension. for it would have been more natural, as it struck me, for him to say “nothing wrong at the office.” “I cannot say, sir.” I replied, “but Mr. ley sent me over with this letter to you, ich he said was of extreme importance.” The manager took the letter and tore it open with a haste I had never seen him use; he was avery slow, methodical man and took every- thing in general very quietly. Directly he had read the letter his ordiaary manuer returned to him. “There is nothing here requiring such imme- diate haste, I think, but, of course, tell Mr. Apsley it shall be attended to at once. Mr.— that is, the gentleman he alludes to—shall hear from me by tonight's post. [ have a few friends to dinner, Mr. Ackers, though as you are notin evening dress you may not care to join them, bors you must at all events have a glass of wine.” This I declined and he did not press it; though perfectly civil, indeed much more con- ciliatory in bis manner than I had ever known him to be, for 1t was always cold and reserved, he was obviously glad to get ridof me. Asa host detained from his guests this was not to be wondered at, but the impression it left upon me was very unpleasant. As I passed into the hall the ladies were leav- ing the dining room; six or eight of them, all beautifully dressed, trooped up the staircase without perceiving our presence, but the last one, the Indy of the house, caught sight of us and looked pelea She was @ very hand- some woman, half a head taller and considera- bly larger than Mr. Jone: though musical enough. had a touch of imperi- ousness in it as she inquired what was detain- ing him. “My young friend, Mr. Ackers,” he explained, “has been so good as to bring me an important letter from Cornhill.” “Oh, the office,” she answered contemptu- ously, and without taking the least notice of the introduction she followed her guests up the drove away to the station it see! to me like jing from a sort of splendid nightmare; was it possible that Squire Jones could really be one with our most Wok gp one but hemp pars Lacgape ni Could that virago in lace and satin be his relative? Looking back on that strange experience from my Present standpoint I am conscious thatthe lady’s behavior affected my views of Mr. Jones’ position in} ‘My suspicions ot him would have been aroused in any case, but the insolence with which his helpmate had treated me made me jump to the conclusion that there was a scruw loose somewhere. It was very illogical, for least shown that she if it} case it was to the last degree unlikely that she | would have married Mr. Jones; Duta much | more painfu! suspicion had taken bold of me. | I could not forget the consternation he had ex. hibited upon seeing me, his feverish anxiety to know the errand on which I bad come. and his evident relief when the contents of Mr. Aps- ley's letter had informed him of it. That he expected something of a far graver nature I was convinced. As Isat in the railway car- riage alone—in a first-class compartment, of course, as was only right when traveling on the business of the firm, which, of course, pnid | the “exes” —and reflected upon the whole situ- ation 1 felt that it was in truth a serious one. There was no question as to what it was my in- terest to do when I presently saw Mr. Apsier— he had told me to call, no matter how late the hour, in order to assure him that his directions had been attended to—I might make aclean breast to him, not only of my late ex; but of my suspicions. “What I tell you, si I might say, “I tell you in confidence, but it is a couviction that there is something wrong with Mr. Jones.” Even if I had misjudged the manager, this would do me no harm, and if I was right I should have aclaim upon the firm which they could hardly ignore, It was clear to me that was the most profitable course to take; but im what direction lay my duty? I had no re- gard for Mr. Jones whatever; indeed, Irather disliked him; he was less like a man in the office than a machine (though out of it it seemed he was “huinan” enough), and showed no aympathy for any of us, but was it my business to ruin him? The notion of telling tales “out of school” was hateful to me, as to all young fellows of decent feeling: and be- sides (though that was not so commendable) I had a notion that a firm which makes tens of thousands a year is in @ position to take care of itself. 1 had not at that time that avmpathy with well-to-do persons which, I am thankful to say, circumstances have since deveioped in me. On the other hand Mr, Apsley was not only my father’s friend, but toacertain extent and according to his lights (though they were rather dim ones) had been his friend, | Was it right, entertaining such suspicions as I did, and which so nearly affected the well being of the firm I served, that I should keep silence about them? Some philosophers hold that conscience, properly consulted, is _an unerring guide for conduet; but perhaps, from want of practice, I did not consult her properly; atall events I was puzzled how to act. I think if it had not been for that house keeper I should not have said aword about the matter, if ther been a Miss Jones at Horton fiall. of ners and appearance, I feel sure I 8h a been silent. Think of bringing misfortane and. erhaps. disgrace upon an innocent girl! Spon the whole I resolved to adopt a middle course, 1 would simply tell my story—more or less of it as circumstances should nd— without any comment of employer to draw lis own not a very nigh-principled p! ya compromise, but ually occurred. and have n [arrived at to its real motives, They might have been more high principled, but I still think they were not base. It was 11 o'clock when [ reached Mr. Apsley’s door. I was shown in, as before, to his study, aud found him there, smoking a cigar; though evidently pleased to see me, he did not ask me to have one. If he had doue so, matters might have turned out differently. ys: geniality im an employer gos a like a smile from royajity; bat it was not in him, “Well, you gave the manager my letter?” he inquired, sharply. ald 6 own and leave my It was onc lusions, "Yes, sir, he said the matter should be at- tended to tonight.” “That's well; you have been very expeditious, ; I sappose you had no difficulty in Mr. Jones?” it was evident he had no interest in the sub- ject and only ment: it to avoid the dis- courtesy of dismissing me at once ‘0, sir, none at all; he was living, indeed, best house in the place. ye, aye, He has a good house, has he? y grounds about i W es, sir; indeed, the house stands almost in rk.” ally; all these something of the kin a” urban places boast of Holland Park began Tsaw that he was gotting mark; but this made it all th tell my story with any significance at all. “I should think it stood in not less than five acres of ground. It wasealled Horton Hall.” ‘ou don't say so; well done, Jones.” ly amused. ery wide of the tomorrow how they beg your pardon, sir,” I said, “b hope you will not do that.” It will make him think Hil of me.” “To be sare, he may compare you to the spy slept for some hours, and on much refreshed, found Spriggins standing my bedsid “Sorry to disturb you, old fellow,” he said, “but Lam fairly bursting with intelligence (he meant informa: the other thing was in- credible), The been such a scrimmage at the office aswas never heard of. Jones has bolted.” “Bolted? The manager? Then he's got away?” “*Weill, yes, for the present. though I don't think the firm will be so gratified about that as you seem to be. However, he missed his tip this time as regards the swag—" “Do, for heaven's sake, speak English. What tip? What swag?” “To be sure you have been asleep, while I've been taiking about nothing else for the last three hours. There are defatcations—£50.000 they say —-extending overa long series of yeat bat there would have been 10,000 more gone— all negotiable securities—but for their opening the safe where they were found neatly made up to go in his bag this very night; you remember his black bag?” I nodded eagerly, but with « sinking sensation, too; I knew more about Jones than Sprigzins did; the eatastrophe seemed to have something personal as weil as shocking about it, As { sat up in bed Iaaw the bag lying in the corner of that gorgeous room.at Horton Hail: I heard the clatter of talk from the dining room; I saw the ladies trailing their fine dresses up the stairs, and I heard once more Jones’ “house keeper's” con- temptuous voice saying: “Oh, from the office!” “They found it out while he was at lunch, and the detectives sat in his room with the warrant for him, only he never came back, ‘The old fellow smelt a rat, I suppose.” I think this highly probable. I think he read something he was looking for in my face that morning, and coupling it with my unusual ance (for he had asked for me it had decided as he sat over his chop at ay with him at that early hour would have brought suspicion, if suspicion there was, to a head immediately. He did not dare to risk it, and in his ease the better part of valor had certainly been discre- tion, for five minutes of such courage would have cost him five years penal, He was never seen again in England, Ten days atterward or so T was summoned from my desk to the partner's parlor. It was not generally a pleasant invitation, but rather re- sembled what is called at Cambridge being vened;” to agmilty conscience it meant something very serious. but though my con- science miy be thought peculiar it was not a guilty on There were four partnera whom I ecarcely knew by sight, and Mr, Apsley, who completed the quorum and was the speaker, Mr. Ackers, we have sent for you to con- ie you upon your conduct the other with’ respect to our late manager. You showed yourself aware of what was duo to one wh had heida position of trust with us for any years and also to your employer's inter- este, You said neither more nor legs than you ought to have said. If nothing was wrong with him you did him no harm; if there was any- thing amiss you put uson our guard. It is owing to vou that certain very grievous losses incurred through man’s dishonest which we had had hitherto no clue, been very seriously increased. 1 am instructed ¥ think you (here four most re- ds bowed to me affabiy). It is y Unusual to tind so young a man endowed with such discretion. You will take Mr. Rob- erts’ place us third clerk in this establishment, Good morning.” it was a very pleasant quarter of an hour. What I have often thought of since was the astuteness with which that excellent old gen- tleman concealed from me that night the sus- picions which I myself had awakened, He, of course, perceived the necessity of not arousing those of Mr. Jones by communicating them to me. Another thing which has always puzzled me is my own behavior on that occasion; my conscicnuce was clearly commendable since its workimgs were so well rewarded, but bow very near it was to going wrong in—so to speak—~ both wave! ed it, with relationto the absconder? Oh, ake that clear if the reader feels any portion of my interest in that young lady, by writing how I went to her house afew evenings after my interview with the firm, I had dreamt of her by night and mused of her by day until Thad good reason to regard myself as a half- ft lover, when one morning I found on my a neat, square, femininely addressed en- bearing uo mark of having passed through the mail. [opened it. and read that “Miss Apsley would feel honered by the prese of Mr. Acker” at a small and informal dancing party to be given at her residence on an even- ing half a week ahead. I rubbed my eyes, and read it through several times. No; Iwas not that discovered the land flowing with milk and honey. And yet why should it not flow? Jones has been thirty years with us and I dare say has had many good things put in his way. Nhy (shouldn't be catt his house w Hal if he Whew hy, indeed, sir, so far as I am concerned,” I replied, dryly, for I was very much chagrined treated like a child. It was now to me that no hint—short of a direct stutement of my suspicions—would have any effect upon Mr. Apsley's mind; and L was sincerely glad of it. ‘ihe pendulum of my sympathies had swang round to Jones’ side. My employer's manner had certainly not been encouraging; it was less so than ever after my jast reply. “It is growing late, and you must be tired, Mr. Ackers; will yon have a glass of wine?” I ed his offer as I had declined Mr. for the hospitality of neither gentieman had been very pressing. and was about to go back out of the room, when Annic Apsley en- a. have been eavesdropping, papa.” she said p t I thought that the pink im her cheeks was brighter than usual, and that her voice was under restraint. The father silenced her by an almost imper- eptible gesture, and then, while he still sat in his easy chair, introdu me to Miss Axpley im an off-hand, informal manner, The young y bowed in'a way which might mean, as 1 construed it, that she recognized under’ pro- testa fellow who had indulged himself—al- INTRODUCED TO MISS APSLEY. most, if not quite—in backbiting a man in the presence of his sweetheart. I could have sunk through the floor in my shame. I mumbled an incoherent acknowledgment of the honor which my employer had done to me by presenting me to his daughter and bade the two a géod-evening. But my last glimpse back into the hallway as the door was shutting behind me showed the father and the daughter suddenly as vivacious as before they had been calm. They were engaged in a quick, earnest dialogue. ‘hat could it mean? CHAPTER IIL I felt much relieved that matters were thus ended, but thoughI doubt whether I should have taken my opportunity even if it had offered itself, I was conscious that the whole affair had somehow fizzled out. If I had de- nounced the manager I should probably by this time have been agonized by remorse; if I had said nothing of the position in which I had found him I should have been reproaching myself, no doubt, with disloyalty to my em- ployers, but now thatI had taken the middle course it seemed something ridiculous and in- deed contemptible. When I got home and found Spriggins with his pipe, wakeful and in- quisitive, 1 felt not the least temptation to tell him anything about t old Apsley had sent for me about.” I said “it was a private matter,” which made him wild witb curiosity, and my refusal to gratify it caused a quarrel between us, My ex- pedition to Horton may have had its dramatic attractions, but from a social point of view it certainly did not seem to have been a succeas. ‘The next morning when I saw our his business coat, tot! ng usual, I could hardly bel “Squire Jones” I had called upon not twelve hours before. He made not smallest allusion to my visit; nor did Mr. Apsley to the errand on which he had sent me. ‘There happened to be great excitement at the office that morning, consequent on the tion of Mr. Roberts, the third cler! He f i quarrel and my injurious treatment of him. The unwonted agitation of the previous evening had had its effect, I suppose, nerves, for hada split headache, worse and worse, 7 Ido not remember to before, I obtained leave of absence from immediate obief and went home to bed. dreaming. Miss Apsley really invited me to be a guest, “YoU ARE VERY GOOD INDEED TO ME.” Need I say that my mind was not much oc- eupied with oflice duties in the travel, or that when I presented myself #t the Apsleys’ resi- dence [ looked as well as a careful toilet and prearranged good manners could achieve? The voung lady received me graciously and intro- dneed me to the other guests and soon made of me a happy, and I trast, congenial participant in the evening’s diversions. I was her partner in a waltz, and then incited to it by her agree- ableness, I asked for a second dance and got it. “You are very good indeed to me,” I said to her in a quite heartfelt way, as we were cir- cling about in this latter waltz. “And you were very good to me,” ingly echoed. “1; how?” “Oh, about Mr. Jones.” An alcove was at hand and we stopped in it by mutual consent. “Pray explain,’ [said. “I imagined at the time that I had not been considerate.” “Didn't papa thank you for the service you had rendered?” “To the firm—yes; he was good enough to call it a service and to recompense me.” “Tome, Imean. Let me tell you, then, that it was my own money—a modest fortune left me by my mother—that Mr. Jones had planned to take, in addition to that which be had al- ready stolen from the firm. You saved me from that loss and yet you treated the matter—the subject—Mr. Jones and me—so delicately— 80- smil- Miss Apsley was confused. In her warm- hearted desire to thank me, she had enmeshed herself, “I overheard you at the office asking a clerk if Mr. Jones were a suitor of mine,” she re- sumed, frankly and resolutely, “andatthe time Iwas a little provoked. Again, when father sent you on the quest for Mr. Jones that even- ing you caught me listening on the stairway and wondered why I was so interested. It was because I had instinctively mistrustedand dis- liked the man, When you returned and re- luctantly bore witness against him I was too much agitated by fear for my property to fully appreciate your considerate conduct, Now I thank you—indeed 1 do—and what can I do to requite your kindness?” “Let me love you.” Yes; that is what I said on the impulse; and then 1 hastened to add: “I don’t ask you to love me. 1 know that of course you don’t. I know that you never will But may I love you?” As though I could have obeyed if she had forbidden me. “I believe you are sincere, Mr. Ackers,” she simply said, “and I will consider your regard as a compliment—which need not be repeated. Will you take me to the supper room?” She was ae to me as though I had not affronted her. At later meetings she showed no resentment, About a year after- ward I did repeat the “compliment,” and now we are husband and wife. "see Colic Stones. From the Jewellers’ Review. Travelers who have penetrated into the easternmost parts of southern Russia find some strange beliefs as to the power of fish charms, Many fish found in those countries have two small, hard, round bones on the side of the head. They are believed to have the power when worn by the owner to prevent colic, and they are termed colic stones. The more wealthy of the its have colic stones tock asa valeable addition tothe aeekinge.- neck as a valual ‘The bones of the common bullhead are much = CITY NOISES AND SMALL Boys. | They Make the Policeman’s Life a Bur- den to Him. ITINERANT MUSICIANS, HUCKSTERS, RAGS-BONES- AND-OLD-IRON MEN, AND SCISSORS GRINDERS— ROW THE ORGAN G@RINDERS SHUT OFF Com- PETITION—TRE BOY AND HIS BEAN SHOOTER. ANY city noises these midsummer nights and days penetrate the open win- jows and make miserable the lives of invalids and persons who are unfortu- nate enough to ha Not knowing what else to do the vii the police. The itinerant musician is the sub- ject of numerous complaints and so is the huck- ster, the rag-bones-aud-old-iron man, the clam man and the useful scissors grinder, who rings a small dinner bell to give notice of his approach. There are police regulations to suppress the noises made by the individuals mentioned, and by crowing roosters, cackling hens and barking dogs. Some of the regula- tions provide that the noises must be proved to be “unnecessary” before they can be suppressed, while others only require that the noises complained of disturb the party complaining. When such a com- plaint is made the policeman on the beat is required to investigate and report, An in- vestigation of this sort takes some time, of course, ‘ POLICEMEN AND NOISY CHICKENS. In the case of loud and boisterous chickens no policeman on duty would dare swear out a warrant, because he would have to declare that the chickens annoyed him, and that would nat- uraily arouse the suspicicn of the sergeant and night inspectos So far as hucksters are concerned it has been decided that the crying of their goods is neces- sary, but that such outcry must not be loud enough to disturb the residents of the neigh- borhood in which such outcry is made, THE SCISSORS GRINDER ia the man who suffers most under the police regulations, In an endeavor to earn an hon- est livelihood he rings his little bell and often has to pay the 85 penalty. If he has no other means of attracting attention he will have to do like others do, and the result will be that the door beils will have to be answered much oftener than they are now. At present mostof the men who wheel grinding apparatus about the streets take the risk and iz their beils. A number of them have had to pay the penalty, and one man has been taken to court about three times. THE ORGAN GRINDERS, who make more noise than all the others com- plained against, are given permits to grind. There is a section in the police regulations re- quiring them to have a permit, which is ob- tained from the chief of police. There are now many of these permits out—probably more than ever before, In several of the larger cities north of us organ grinding on the public streets is a thing of the past, and being forced out of those cit many of them seck a refuge here. For awhile they came in a rash. A SHARP DODGE. The permits are issued free of charge, and when so many strange sons of Italy arrived it is said that they were imposed upon by some of those already here. According to the reports received by the police some of those holding permits became acquainted with the new ar- rivals and told them that a license to play on the strect was very expensive, and in that way they managed to obtain from the strangers #1 per day for the use of the free permit. Others refused to pay that amount and continued on their journey south, where they have an idea they can play at will and enjoy all the proceeds of their labor. YOUNG AMERICA, While these grievances are being heard the never-tiring small boy does not fail to come in for his share of police attention. Just now he is stealing fruit,where there is any to steal, and almost every day x complaint comes from some quarter. No one kuows better than the small boy that the gunning season is approaching, and in the absence of guns he is resorting to the dangerous bean shuoter to bring down the birds from their high perches, Practice makes perfect, and the boys when not in the coun- try are in the back yards and alleys of the city either shooting at sparrows in the trees or at a mark on the house top, and the re- sult is that windows are broken and if the eyes of some of the occupants of the houses are not put out it is certainly no fault of the amateur marksmen, ~~ ee. OSBORNE AND ITS GROUNDS. Changes the Queen is Making There— Pictures and Cattle. From the London World. Rapid progress is being made with the addi- tions to Osborne, and a wonderful amount of work has already been done, considering that the operations were only commenced four months ago, The new buildings willsomewhat injure the original beauty of the house and its immediate surroundings, and I hear that the queen rather regrets that she sanctioned the work, but Osborne was never intended to be anything but a purely family residence,and the accommodation is quite inadequate fur the en- tertainment of state guests, and even members of the royal family cannot be taken in, so that they have to live in the various cottages on the demesne. The inconvenience was never felt much until Princess Beatrice was married, when it would have been utterly impossible to ac- commodate the guests for whom it was neces- sary to find room if the Duke of Bedford had not lent Norris castle to the queen. Osborne was the favorite residence of the prince consort and he took the greatest pleas- ure in the place, which, indeed, was a creation of his own, for he drew the plans from which Mr. J. Cubitt built the house, which is one of the best specimens in England of the domestic Italian style. The Palladian front is very fine and the flag and clock towers at each end have a good effect, and the terraced gardens and well- trimmed lawn are beautiful. The queen's own rooms are on the highest floor of the pavilion and they command a series of magnificent views in alldirections. The house is filled with statu- ary and pictures, which are the private pro; erty of the queen. Among the most notable pictures are Lady Butler's ‘Roll Call” (in the corridor) and Landseer’s “Deer Pass” (in the council chamber), and there is # superb fresco on the staircase. The chapel, which is a recent addi , has just been adorned with Sir Noel Paton’s touching picture, “‘Vigilate et Orate,” which has been placed above the altar. The grounds at Osborne are beautifully wooded; and there are some delightful flower rardens and shrubberies in the vicinity of the ouse. The kitchen garden is not a great feat- ure, as the queen receives daily supplies of fruit and vegetables from Frogmore. The park, which contains many very fine trees, slopes to the water's edge, and there is a pri- vate pier on Osborne bay.and alsoa floating bath, The Romeene is more extensive than most visit- ors would suppose, and it affords a drive of eight miles, which was laid out by the priace con- sort. The park is now stocked with a fine herd of very picturesque West Highland cattl which harmonize admirably with their roundings. There is a large home farm at Osborne, on which is @ very choice herd of Jersey cattle, and a flock ot Dorset Horn sheep has been established, which will be another picturesque addition to the park. The Osborne estate was for two centuries the property of the Mann family, from whom it yy marriage to the Blackfords of Sand- il, Hants, and it was from Lady Isabella Blackford that the queen purchased it in 1848. It includes the manor of Barton and extends to ae of five eer — ae anor the Solent, King's y, the Cows and New- of and the Newport and Ryde road respectively. Osborne was originally known as Oysterbourne, but the name was changed when it belonged to the Blackfords. girls marry princes because their hands are or that they want to marry beasts after read- ing “Beauty and the ” or that they dis- like tall men because the its of fairy tales are asa rule vicious? There is no mystery involved in the occasional marriage of an American girl to o takes because the and the prince girL Strange as it may seem, the fact s man to bes prince does not necessa- him intellectually, morally inferior to a re ementnren eae it is not thatshe Prionatien no acteslls some tole ml teem contented with their lot in life, TELEGRAPHERS’ BLUNDERS, | Odd and Amusing Mistakes Are Some- times Made by Operators, New York Letter to Charleston News, Considering the noise of New York's great | room and the fact that the operators have to jump from theology to stocks, often sending off long reports upon subjects of which they know nothing. it is surprising that the blunders aresofew. The most amusing of such errors seem to be due not to carelessness or inatten- tion upon the part of the operator. but to sim- | ilarity of certain letters in the telegraphic | alphabet. and tothe inability of the receiver to write down as fast as the instrament clicks out its message. There are very good reasons, no doubt, for many of the mistakes recorded against tele- graph operators. There are no excuses for | others, Some are the result of sheer stupidity, | ignorant operators being put at work requiring uot alone skill in manipulating a key, but in- telligence behind all. The operator who reads | hearse for horse may have had his copy written by the same reporter who dashed off a criti- | cism on “G Girofla” and who was dum- | founded to find that the telegraph made it } “Sniffle Snofile.” Yet it does not always follow that this is the case, fora tolegram has been | known to be transmitted “Yes” when the cop: made it “No” with copper-plate distinctnes One of the most curious blunders I remember occurred over a cable circuit of the Associated | Press, the message us received being as foliows Loxpos, March 25.—I'wo Americans were arrested here today for attempting to shave the | queen. The message gave the names of the persons, together with other details, but nothing in it accounted for the extraordinary statement that the men iad attempted to “shave the queen.” | No one in the office where the dispatch was re- | ceived could understand why any Americans | should undertake such an unheard of feat or | why the queen should need shaving. The more the cablegram was studied the me plexing it grew, until at last it was d ask for explanations from the other side of the water. Very promptly the operator on the other side sent back the correction that the Atmericans referred to had been arrested for “attempting to shove the queer.” “Yes, indeed. Send horse and carriage to depot” was the innocent message which went toa lady in Utica from this city not long ago. She was married and her husbai usnally called Joe, had been away from home for sev. eral weeks, The wife had telegraphed a lady member of the family to come up and «pend a few weeks with her and the answer was s above, The Utica Indy was prostrated with | grief when she received a dispatch reading “Joe is dead. Send hearse and carriage to depot.” Arrangements were mede in a hurry, and the hearse and carriage were in waiting when Joe and the lady stepped ont of the tain. Long circuits and weak electrical currents frequently play the mischief with dots and dashes. They “fall out,” as the operators say, vanish or mingle until two or three letters are mixed together. So many telegrams are sent in cipher, or according to a code, that the r ceiver does not hesitate to write down th most absurd nonsense if he thinks that the ender intends it. ‘Thus the simple messag Come home; James is not we metamorphosed into “Coghog: Jags 100." mitted the old error of reading (by sound for me, the signs for which are quite while “well,” if not carefully read, is i ed into 100, It must have been rapher who transformed John Howard Payne's beautiful lines in “Hog, swot hog, there's uo place like bog.” not The receiving operator probably com- cs er, Reverses of French Noblemen, From the London Daily News. Sad have been the reverses of the old French | nobility since Edmund Burke penned his splendid eulogy. According to M. Lescure, a grandson of that same Marquis d’Hauteroche who chivairously requested the English troops at the battle of Fonteroy to “fire first,” ended his days as a common po- liceman, Sadder still, from ofthe amateurs of “biue blood,” one of the noble family of Babou de la Bourdaisiere is now a washerwoman. Representatives of other noble families equaily famous in their tme are or were, according to the same authority pying the humble positions of gamekeeper, ¢ penter’s apprentice. house painter, cab driver, miller’s assistant, mukeeper, conductor of an omnibus, pox opener at a theater, gas man, bathing ‘man, maker of mousetraps, chorus singer at the opera and woodman, while one, whois the groatgrandcousin of the illustrio Gardinal de Retz, unites in his own person the lowly offices of gravedigger and viliage fiddler. eo Queer Place for a Tree. From the Cincinaati Commercial Gazette, “One of the most anique sights Ihave ever seen on my trave’ said Arthur Thomas of New York, who was in the city last evening, “is the old court house in Greencastle, Ind. Iwas in the town the other day and my attention was called to a full-grown tree, Now, the curious thing about this tree was that it didn’t grow on terra firma, but on the tower of the court+ house, The tree sprouted years ago from a crevice in the bricks of the tower and it de- veloped year after year, until now it isa foot or more in cireu rence at the trunk. It is one of the most curious tree growths I have seen anywhere, It will have to go soon, how- ever, for the county is going to construct a new court house. It seems a pity that it can- not be preserved. for it isa fine specimen of erratic tree growth. soe achie Cheese is Thickly Populated. From La Nai Mr. Adametz has just made some microscopic researches upon the microscopic organisms that inhabit cheese. From an examiuation of Emmenthal. a soft variety of Gruyere cheese, he has obtained the following results; In each gramme of cheese, when fresh, from 90,000 to 140,000 microbes were found. This number in- creases with time. Thus, a cheese seventy-one days old contains 800,000 bacteria per gramme. The population of a soft cheese twenty-five days old and much denser than the preceding is 1,200,000, and that of a cheese forty-five days old 1s 2,000,000 microbes per gramme. But the population of a cheese is not everywhere equally distributed init. The center is but moderately inhabited with respect to the ex- terior portion. The population of a soft cheese, near the periphery, is from 3,600,000 to 5,600.000 microbes. According to the mean of these two figures, there are as many living organisins in 360 grammes of such a cheese as there are peo- ple upon the earth. — —— The Landlord Was Protected, Avyway. From the New York Tribune. Jobn RB. Rogers tells a good story of the way in which a hotel proprietor in Edinburgh, Scot- land, avoids loss to himself through the care- lessness of his subordinates. Mr. Rogers and his wife, Miss Minnie Palmer, were at the hotel for a month, and when the bill was presented Mr. Rogers noticed that he bad been charged with a bottle of wine of # brand he had never the point of view | OF COURSE YOURS Is BhsT. But Don’t fell Your Friend so or He'll Abuse the Diaver. trange the other d ‘what a jot of bost table Whotes there ate in this town, “It is a dificult thing to find a man who is accusiomed to take his dinners at restaurants who does not know Of some particular place where the proprictor wets before his & mena comprisiug dishes not to be equaled elsewhere for any- thing like the money. ques “When two such persons meet, each with his best table d’hote in the city, there is always eure to be fun, particularly if it is pout the dinner hour of our friends, begins t to the r most remar: courses and @ rare old ¥ nite, of sparring ne ot which has a 6 of six all for 90 trving to persuad. ta ordinaire. Prove they ge “best tabi ults inward to surp! more unfort “As awaits in vain for some » the part of his triend. ir “y nd so ond assures Lim lly as possible, but he vides Then | w it will ad that the other fel- former friends are ne all the more ridicu- there reaily are no good, lous is the fa cheap table Dhotes at oo Interesting Secrets of Adulteration, From the Lon 5 To Distillers and Dean Sms: We | attention to some of o1 trade ud if you will give same he Whole | your and she sider it a great favor @ trial whi ¥ offers, Essences for the spirit trad out 4 pounds of spirit 10 wi roof. Cogn pou! esner price 6s. 6 house, London, duty y «ily haghiy er poun We uted by the te om pir inter essences in the mupare with eam wine “2 Every j cially po! free house ion of vors, espe- per pound, sherry essence Louden oun waer, guaranteed ual ; Port wine coic at 28. 9d. per per ¥ ’ oring bran will be fe | didopting | our RE Price, 20s. per po eqght drachms t Guid. . Every kind of 7 ing of di found th are sufficient tor paration, &e., for the casks of in about 6 ¢ a o.% wine coloring, 4s Not A From the St. Pani} wy gation, d. to 78, per oor rding to Scripture. United States Senator in th not a great story, which is worth repeati struction times & couple of Tennessee absorbing to; the parable « | that the similar mat. leges. He made to have we a wooly by a form and t 1 did, But my fr What is an € nd Forest. > not “air plants,” 80 called, Our native species, without exceptibn, grow i the ground, although flourish in many of those which e tropics and which are cultivated in temperate countries under glasy receive their nourishment from the moisture in the air, Plants of the orchid family differ from all others in the arrar of their org: of reproduction. wh 1 into umn composed of a single or, in case of tho lady slipper. of two stamens coherent with or borne on the style or thick, fleshy stigma, The perianth of the flower is composed of six divi- sions, arranged in two sets, cach of three. The three outer divisions are called sepals, and oftem resemble in texture and color those of the inner set, called petals. One of the inner sets of these divisions differs from the others in shape and direction. and is called the lip—the sack of the lady’s slipper. This is reaily the upper etal—that is, the one next to the axis of the jower—but by a half twist of the ovary it is made to appear as if it were the lowest. These elements—sepals, petals, lip and columa— varied almost without limit in form and color—combine to produce the almost infinite number of widely differing forms which are so fascinating im their oddity, quaintuess and beauty. Orchids are found im ail warm and temperate parts of the world, although they are more abundant in the tropics than elsewhere, e perennial plants, often with tuber-be roots, and the peculi nders impossible their unaided fertilization, for which they de- used. Moreover, he had no recollection of having ordered any article of the kind on the date specified, He complained of the over- charge to the proprietor, who blandly re- marked: ‘ “That's all right, Mr. Rogers; I'll take it off. You see, the girl who got that bottle of wine from the cellar forgot to whom it had been served, soI charged it against every roost in ick, the house. All who didn’t have it wi and the one who did will pay, see?” “Well, aren't you afraid that some one who didn’t have it will pay, too?” Mr. rs asked. “No,” was the reply,‘‘I'm afraid they wou't.” Thirteen guests e:~h paid for that bottle of wine. te The Professor and the Birds. The time of the singing of birds is here, says the New York World, with glad tidings for all except Prof. J. 0. B. Harrison of the New Jersey town of Orange. In the pretty front yard of Prof. Harrison's house Providence has caused to grow a great tree,and in this tree the birds of the field and of the suburban air have found a lodging place anda home. Sweet ipe their little hymns of ke~ and iow they pipe dora tar weet bog ne ensack, and brightly @ merry fees Seine pontine 2 to this, 2 masicion himself, q pend on the visits of insects, Curative Effects of Electricity, From the Pittsvarg Dispatch A doctor of this city, who combines conserve atism with a readiness to accept the truth whenever and wherever he finds it, seid tome yesterday: “You cannot get Edison to tell you what electricity is; neither he nor any other scientist can answer that question, So it ig with physicians who are adopting electricity in their practice. We see its effects, but we do not know yet what the particular and peculiar action of electricity is. The resul's of its uso show it to be a powerful ally to the physician and surgeon.” “Can you give me an example of its curative A asked, ; Scase inmy Own practice. Aman was thrown from ith lus whole or thrice its natural size, With his consent, instead of the usual treatment I applied elec- tricity. His hand pained him terribly before the application; he would hardly allow me to touch it, Iapplied » moderate current inter- mittently and the effect was magical. Aftera few minutes of the electric treatment the pain went and be could bend his fingers without the least inconvenience. The sw: er diminished rapidly, That evening his was so fully recovered that he curried horses. I had warned him not to use the ~ * “The current of electricity,” said, “seems astonished note fo 12 Gar ne, to have a disposition to petnms og x “Mamma, I know the gentleman's name that er et ae it encounters in the called to see Aunt Ellie last night, and nobody | human system. That is all that can be said George, value I be- ot ite