Evening Star Newspaper, September 26, 1891, Page 7

A TALE OF TWO MISERS WRITTEN FOR THE EVENING STAR BY EDGAR PAWOETT. CHAPTER L Arr SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO IN New York the people who kept their pri- vate carriages could almost have been counted on the fingers of one hand. Hence when old Myndherst Van Doren drove out in his cum- brous vehicle, with a hammer cloth and yellow wheels, people would stare and wink at one another in high diversion and dismay. Surely such luxury was almost without precedent in the peaceful and unostentatious little sea- Port town of 1815. But what made itall the Odder and funnier was the fact that for many past years old Van Doren had been accounted the most miserly of men. He had a wide house faeing on the battory, in which he lived en- tirely alone except for two old servants, a man and his wife. Van Doren had once had a wife himself, but that was years back, when he had Just entered the shipping businesson South street, from which he had long ago brought y ® handsome fortune. “Two hundred ousand dollars,ifacent,” old Peter Van Zandt, ® fellow merchant, had declared him of on his retirement, and the enormity of such « fortune thrilled, at that period, all who beard of its being possibly owned by any one single man. It was still whispered that young Mrs. Van Doren bad died of a broken heart, her husband having treated her with sternest par- mony and neglect. He had a sister, too, and o*s had married against bis will a southern ‘leman of literary tastes and precarious in- come. Though Ralph Seenfield’s birth and the brother what he chose to denounce as her gross mes- alliance. He had known nothing of her for many years, and at the time our little chron’ opens he had received the card of a young who announced himself as his nephew—Alfred Stanfield. On the day that he sought to visit his uncle Stanfield was met by old Samuel, the servant, witha sad but firm announcement that Mr. Van Doren could aot be seen. Then the young man had written his kinsman quite a long letter, in which he told of his orphanage, is poverty and his desire to win some sort of clerkship here in New York. The letter was not answered. After three weeks of waiting Stanfield began to grind his teeth with wrath at his uncle's heartless be- avoir and to say of that gentleman the very Ditterest things. He said these things to a whom he had not mentioned in his letter. That person was his young wife, Martha,whom he had mar- ried just before shaking the dust of Charleston from his feet. Their union had been an elope- ment, und they were now living on » some- what slender legacy which Martha had inher- ited when achild. der father and several re- lations were all furious at her for having mar- ried Stanfield. They admitted that bh gentleman, but declared that his ft broken down and thatadaughter of house of Kollaston should never ba so ineligible lord. These Rollastons were then what we call leading people in Charleston, which at that time was a town filled with fash- ionable pretension. But Martha had made her choice, and though she felt sure that it would always be sneeringly regarded by her kindred as an imprudence e desperate and unpardonable, she soothed her perturbed soul with thoughts of how she had won the husband of her maidenly choice. Trouble now seemed lowering in ‘gloomiest threat over the fortunes of the young pair. Before long Martha's legacy would be spent to ite last dollar. As it was, she and Stanfield were living in rather inferior apartments on Catharine street. What was to be done? They had come from Charleston with the hope of ultimately and perhaps promptly winning Van Doren over. But here, as it were, the old fel- low invisibly scoffed at them, fortressed in such impregnable manner against their approaches that be might as well have been the Emperor of China once ana for all. “They told you he drove abroad in his own carriage,” said Martha one day. “If I were you, Alfred, I'd just stop it, and insist onspeak- ing with him.” ‘ose words of his wife's, as afterward re- membered by Stanfield, were fraught with’ queer prophetic humor. For afew daysafter the strange occasion came to him of indeed “stopping” Mr. Van Doren’s carriage. Ts all happened likes flashes such thin are so wont to happen. One morning Stantic ‘sas strolling on Broadway when he saw the clumsy though somewhat aristocratic convey- snce of his uncle come trundling along past sector street. He had no idea who owned the vebiele, with its cockaded driver and its two ponderous roans, though he had teen it sev- eral times before during previous strolls. already, however, he had heard, as we know, that his rich uncle committed the monstrous New York egtravagance of driving out in his owneoach. Then, again, the cynic tidings bad drifted to him that Myndberst Van Doren would never have dreamed of setting up for himself this private equipage if he had not be- comes martyr to rheumatism. “Not gout— not # bit of it,” Stanfield’s informant had added. “He's altogethor too plain a liver for And now as the slow, massive carriage passed him Stanfield glanced within it and discerned, though somewhat faintly, a thin, hard-faced man leaning against its back cushions. Just after this glimpse of his unknown uncle had Fen afforded him ‘he started as he perceived driven by two maddened run- rst there seemed no danger to Mr. Van Doren's carriage, though the coachman brought it to an abrupt standstill and watched the hur- rying bulk with anxious eyes. As it ped nearer, however, the headlong regularity of its progress changell. Its driver was gone, hav- g Tashly Jumped from his seat some little time ago. The horses now began a plunging course, and several other wagons narrowly escaped collision. Not so Mr. Van Doren's vehicle. Toward that the wild reatures now swerved, and in another fustant they were rearing furiously and yet still galloping onward. with their own wheels locked im the heavy yellow ones It was a hor- rible moment for Stanfie}d. Young, strong, with ardent'y humane impulses, he saw the carriage of the old man violently overturned and the coachman flung from his box. There ig no doubt that he now acted with a splendid Rromptness and courage, for in a trice he had |, fleet of foot, after the whole hurtled comminglement of horses and woodwork. The Van Doren team had not yet taken fright and were pulling stolidly against their terrified brothers. This gave Stanfield chance and he leaped with great daring and nimbleness upon ‘the shafts of the dragged coach. Still braver was his act in springing thence upon the dray itself. He happened to have ® large clasp knife in his pocket, a memento of a shooting trip in the South Carolina wilderness, taken but a short time before his romantic marriage. He remembered afterward that while getting himself over the cashboard of the dray and clinging to it with one band as he cut the traces with the other it flashed through his mind how he was almost giving his life one chance out of twenty. But « few lunges of that stout steel blade so far un- fettered the furious horses that within the next twenty seconds they had quite rid themselves of every restriction and were scampering up town with a new and horrid liberty. Stanfield felt dazed after his ficient work. clinging to the dashboard, with the knife in his hacd, he fancied himself, for the first time in his sturdy young life; on the verge of a positive swoon. Then somebody caught him and be opened his eves without realizing that he bad closed them. A crowd had collected and plaudits rang to said a him from every side. man who had the speech and appearance of ial th “The most heroic thing I ever ea gentleman. “I'm proud to e hand you, sir. Perhaps you don't know whom you saved froma horrible death,” he continued, while holding Stanfield’s hand. “It's Mr. Van Doren, the retired shipping merchant.” “Van Doten?” faltered Stanfield, who now began to feel himself again, his brief faintness vanishing as ascrap of mistis blown away from @ ragged hillside. Do you mesa Mr. Myndherst Van Do- 0: “Yes,” said another voice, before the gentle- man could respond. ‘Here he comes, now. It sa wonder he wasn't killed by the carriage up- eke oad leurly have expressed No could more clearly have ex; the provincialiam of New York at ths period than what now followed from another member of the throng. - “Ok, he’s so gouty, or rheumatic, or what- ever it is, that he keeps his carriage all padded inside, Just ike » baby’s.” we Me. bere comes!” murmured gen- eman, and soon Mr. Van Doren moved up tc Stanfield with an extended hand. His 7 matism made bim limp a little, but he had sus- tained no injury. His greeting. of the yo tan who hed cortaisl ‘saved his life was ci yas. The face which his looked upon, rising clean-shaven and sbarp-featared from ‘its ataple stock, was al- Most frigid and lifeless enough to have been carved from some sort of marble. you, young thank you very much, very much.” He was hand while he thus spoxe, dropped it and fumbled ins coat, which was cut like tail” coat of wallet and handed Stanfield.“ stared fixedly at his Come tomorrow at 11 o'clock in the will you? I'm little shaken up, you though T ain't hurt.” "Ho said ths Nth of generally cl grin expression which ao neaee than he greatly disliked. And helped away by some one who k enol to offer him an arta, actual friends in New Yor limited community his had both mendons ze which he had = ing assem! called words after EE lage = st gratula ‘satiric. Some voices as- qured him that he was in for “‘a thousand dol- Jars, sure,” on the morrow, and others mock- ingly doubted such an amount of guerdon, while at the same time mixing taste cynic dis- trust of “old Van Doren” with tones of respect dauntless young savior. “Just like the selfish old miser,” was the Inst comment that Stantield heard. “But perhaps this handsome young chap is rich himself and don’t want any're “Don’t want any reward,” thought the hero of the hour, as he remembered his own and | Martha's dwindling purse. “What would they say if they knew he was my mother’s brother? | I wonder what he will say when he hears. And he never even asked me my name. Well, well, see tomorrow what we shall see.” hen he reached home and began his story to Martha she broke into little cries of horror and alarm. Before he had finished she was at feet, kissing his hand and gazing up with wistfulness into his face. “And you're not the least bit injured?” she at length exclaimed. “Oh, you noble, glorious Alfred! But I'm angry at 'you,” she broke off, rising; “you should never have put your life into such awful peril—never!” While she wept and trembled at the deed he had done Stanield threw his arms about her and kissed each ivory lid of her sweet gray es, each dimple at the corners of her arched ips. ‘Think, Martha,” he said, “‘think what may come of it! There he was, my actual Uncle Myndherst, and I never dreamed of such a thing! Miser or no miser, he'll be forced to help us now. Not that I want his money. Ob, no; it isn’t that. But by lifting a finger he can get me something todo. There's the joyful Batt of it; there's where the very hand | of ‘ovidence itself seems to have been stretched forth ag “Ol our behalf—yours and mine!” it does look as though our troubles were over,” said Martha, wiping her eyes. “But then, Alfred, to think c* your doing so awfully reckless a thing! Promise me you'll never think of risking you dear life like that again— not even to get millions and millions.” “I won't,” he laughed, once more kissing her. “T'll draw the line as regards my future deeds of valor precisely at one million.” CHAPTER IL With’ great punctuality Stanfield presented himself the next morning at his uncle’s house in State street. Tho building had by no means cheerful look as he rapped with the bright L-ass knocker on the white-painted door. Its blinds were tightly closed and it seemed to drowse in an apathy of oblivion. But this was not his first ascent of that slim-railed stoop; he was prepared for the sallow, stooping but- ler, who presently admitted him without a Word, but with an air of having expected him. Soon he was shown into a parlor so dark that he almost stumbied ‘@ small but heav; mahogany table, on which was a “Friendship’s keepsake” in crimson and gold binding and wo enormous, grinning, rose-lipped conch shells. After a little while old Samuel made it lighter and then Mr. Van Doren came into the room. It is possible that the old man had never treated any one more cordially in all his hard, austere life than he now treated Stanfield. “You did a very fine thing, sir.” he said: “you saved my life, beyond a’ doubt. Yes, I grantit, you see. Igrant it.” Then he rubbed one hand against the other as though, in spite of gratitude, he were washing away from them all material obligation of a remunerative kind. and with his shrewd, beady eyes, ambushed be- low their gray slants of shaggy eyebrow, he glanced round him at the th: bare carpets, the mirrors in their tarnished frames and the hair cloth fgrniture, whose here and there betrayed the tawny buckram below them. But he doubtless descried none of these and of other signs, all glaring enough to attest his own avarice. He was very probably refresh- ing his memory concerning the little ‘“business- like offer” which be had resolved to make this handsome, stalwart young gentleman in the way of recognition and recom- pense. Dut CS now made ‘is mind to 5; and promptly did so. told Myndherst Van Doren who he was, and at length added: “Not, sir, until I had been the means of your rescue did I learn of our rela- tionship. You did not ask me for my name, not did your servant seck it of me this morn- ing. Bat since I have already made this name known to you in my fforts togain your kind} notice, I feel sure that Stanfield’ will Rat strike so very unfamiliarly on your ears.” ¢ finished speaking the young man placed Sed which bore hia present address on the ell-adorned table near which he sat. He did not proffer it to Van Doren, though perhaps if he had done so that gentleman would have hurled it aside in disdain, for his nephew had scarcely ended before he rose pale and tremu- with wrath. I see! I see!” he exclaimed. trick, a miserable trick! herself away on a penniless lover, and now you've watched your chance to steal into my ood graces—toget money from me—the money "ve made by hard work, sir, and mean to keep with a tight hand, I can tell you!” At this int the speaker agitatedly rose. “Samuel!” Pevcalled!” “Samuel!” in’ shrill, falectto voice, and the old servant, who ha¢ lately gone from the room, now reappeared with strange promptitude. “Show this—this person to the door,” fumed Doren. Then wrathfully to his nephew: has miscarried, “Itsalla Your mother threw “Your sch sir—completely mise: ! And burrying toa of heavy folding doors, which were partly divided, he passed through the aperture, closing it behind im an instant Inter in noisy and savage fashion. Stanfield, as he quitted the house, laughed aloud a laugh of @ heartiest scorn. “Was there ever such an old beast?” he said to his wife, after reaching home and telling her how he had been treated. “No wonder he acted to my poor mother as he did. Upon my word, when think his con- duct over in its true, ‘contemptible colors I wonder that ever his age and kinship prevented me from giving him the soundest of thrash- ings!" jut before evening all had changed. Mynd- herst Van Doren presented himself at the lodg- ings of Stanfield that afternoon and humbly begged his nephew's pardon. He performed this duty with much awkwardness, bu- emphat- ically performed it, nevertheless. “Of course you saved my life,” he said, “and I played a very shabby part to you this morn- ing in speaking as I did. I beg’you to forgiv an old man for letting his bitter tongue run away with him. IknowIm crabbed and surly and all that. What you said about being my nephew surprised mea good deal, but I don't mean gl you be kind en that such su; Now, there, wi briskness, concluded—“‘agree that sbail turn over an entirely new leaf?" Flushed and stern, Stantield had and here he glanced at Martha, who was not far away, and who gave him a little nod sug- 5 tiation. Van Doren's hand was fow slightly His nephew gnawed his lipe for momen went “I will do as you say, sir,” he replied, I promise you that the new leaf shall not be soiled by frm Co py egg dh a who had been fl af Mi & HY Saree” 4 THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D.C. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1891—SIXTEEN PAGES to * the old skin- | them with but never knew end The i ‘at times RELICS FOR THE FAIR. GOT EVEN WITH THE BARBER WYPOCRISY EXTRAORDINARY. “But I'll tell you what I will do,” Van Doren as the next decade oy Ot almost as if he were playing that saine weird | Objects of Historic Interest Collected by ©! The Outcome of = Customer's Ruse te Avoid | Astonishing Depict Coaverention of « Pretty Mw a perare tote eee _ hm ng pete phe oR hl ‘Wortd’s Fair Commissioner. (Conversation. ‘Telegraph Operator, + opine at nd phen ocher besbend | ana es ths canal of he op nd ‘MR. OBER, WHO mAs SEEK VoTAGING aNoNG TER pene ge From the New Yort Sun ‘t my next | was 8 “Ob, tomorrow | where stood an chair, \Wasr iDins, piscounsrs or raz tarssvars |, 1 wes his third visit to this particular bar Saberter went intocn up-towa hetdie aad bots we may wveclihy,” he used thers with on ine “teeshe Mg coat ieee aon, dacting "| ME MAS GATRERED—ax axcuon waicm se-|*f Shop. The proprietor know him as the | few daysago to consult a directory. It was at under thirty.” He| creasing abandonment of breeding. It] Marthe “this is what can aatieiall tani dia ear axp | 4¢0f man, who, when be was asked on the first | an hour of the day whon everything is quiet eee eee was like doubling and the doses of | with a soul iuto loving it too well, wearer came occasion the stereotyped question, “Does the | and still The only thing about the place that se ones slots of conbeivenent dss the now tea Cound | $e ik seoteess Manieenioe ee eee — soe eee cait, Te ont cten Rene) ened to leeny Bhetel aaa weeny Lh ms | 4 Init a ME, %, %- OBER. COMMISSIONER TO | repeated ina louder tone he looked down at| instrument. It was ticking away indyetriounly. be fully drawn the West Indies for the Columbian exposi- | bis immaculate linen and ssid in astonish-| The pretty young woman who manipulates the to charities, but tion, has just returned to Washington, having | ment: “Whore did I raise that shirt? Why, I| mysterious thing was working laboriously. Ape ees Visited. nearly all of the localities in those | bought it” She was receiving © telegram for a guest of of this arrange- islands which are associated with the memory| ‘This fellow is stone deaf,” said the proprie- | the hotel. Her pretty shoulders were a trifle Because if it of Columbus. He has made arrangements for | tor to his assistants, and proceeded to shave | rounded as she leaned over ber work. and her » rising, “Dm numerous exhibits to be sent to Chicago and | his customer in silence. Just before combing | head was vent low. sn esned the | tt renee peppery nig oe foe has brought with him many objects of histor- | his hair ‘the barber took a bottle in one hand | The message was long and full of big, strange fends on the Stee | however; the bean ef the Non taken a Taking | and pointed to it inquiringly with the other | words, and the operator who was tracamitting itanfield’s reply, though | died, and as there was no successor of the name band. it seemed to be in « hurry to finish. . His pace ‘was quite free from ill feeling. and as thetwo partners were well on in years “Well, what's the matter with that?” said the | secmod a trifle too fastfor the young women ly, his answer, “I do not wish | the firm underwent dissolution. even everything deaf man. and she was compelled to interrupt him con- to concern myself with any compact that bears} This wasa blow to Martha, for she feared related to the great explorer, ransacking my- |, “Bay rum on your hair?” shrieked the bar-| stently. Each interruption or “break,” as the relation to your death. Still. if you are will- | that her husband would seek other | “My darling, my consolation, my hope!” pear << Semnee endl qutes. 18°; call it, apparently irritated ing to make me your heir I can but thank you | employment now that a delayed murmured back. comms. ibraries for old volumes and pain! The customer looked around the sh e sending operator went back to the for ha #0 decided; and yet,” he continued, | event seemed on the verge of and | | They turned away, slowly and softly, while | ings. Among other things he forwarded to | said: “I don't see any bass drum on achair.” | point indicated ‘and started off at a stili more “I would ask you, sir, for some immediate | in that case his mental state wi ly not | that sound wenton in the big, | Washington e plaster cast of the tablet com-| The barber smothered a chuckle and re-| rapid pace. But before he could make help. Our needs are growing urgent, though profit by the change. She was right; he merely | dim room below the dreamy lamp and the | memorative of Columbus in the cathedral at | moked: “This man's hopeless.” When the |hesdway the young women would stop the; non excessive. Lm said: “We ae St alan sees any salary | ravaged face that it lighted. Havana. From Cuba Mr. Ober went to Ja-| dt fe gt — the proprietor T gperctpny Dipl si broke she appeared to te. fo after this. It t yw.” ——-+e+______ oF read out ni e an amateur base sorts. would enusee forme erin mond ily | " BUill 48 would be very havd to est on rwithont es ae z Soe Sonera herent gy at ihe titer after fy 10 indice at the dam: The “alent ‘ctione of the two. ware ao pro m {could perhaps—indeed, most probably— , Martha concluded, even lor Cricket Sings. » particulai tropical plants and trees. | age was 10 cents. vanced attention reporter, who sncceed. in getting a cloraship hare in Now| a year or ‘cit tronther tok oss sosee dos | OR! the nights are getting shorter shore to €art- 4 This island has extensive tracts devoted to ex-| Om his second visit the deaf man fell into the succeed was able toread the mystic signals, was at- York that would swell the amount donated is - | hands of the assistant, who did not recognize | tracted. Finally the message was finished. until it became an actual competence.” begged Van Doren to increase the allowance he | S™Gsrs sre, Teturning from the mountains | perimental arboricul mi planta. “These are the | hima. While stropping the razor be iusinnat. | The young woman wes in'a rene. "The merako “M-m-yes; yes,” muttered Van Doren, strok- | was making them. He refused with an ‘Wecan note the change of weather which the | nearest tropical plantations to the United | ingly remarked: “Fine weather we're having. | rattled the key told this to the ear. ing his bare, ven chin. “You want, in| sneer. He 1 |, indeed, the typical miser, autu States, and it is expected that from them will | 7s was a fceler intended to introduce @ con- | She “O. K.-d" the message to denote that i other words, more than I'm willing to give. I| that day, with his bent form clad in a And we feel that summer's dying be drawn a wealth of beautiful things botanical | Yersation, during which the knight of the had been correctly received. ‘The moment she thought my terms very fair—very fair,” and | ragged dressing gown and the shabbiest of little When the cricket sings. | tor the adornment of the great horticultural | ™z0r would settlo all the affsirs of state by | bad flashed her individual sign winch in the he looked both Stanfield and Martha full in the | black skull caps on his bald head. ‘There's a very slight suggestion of the winter in | hall. i) Pointing out the weak points in the Harrison | telograph business stands for the operator's eyes for a Leeper | with that seemed to/ Poor Martha went away heavy hearted. What ‘breeze lage msn aia administration, and then proceed to show Low | Baume, she snapped back this sentence: both of them positively vulpin wasto bedone? The children must not be OF OXE OF CO! Which is busily engaged detaching leafets from | ,, they could be remedied, as he had done «dozen ¥, have you time to eats hard-boiled But the young wife, whatever may have been | brought up like paupers, oem already they the f “Upon my arrival at Port au Prince, the cap- o times that day. her furtive repulsion, now drew nearer to the | were not on a social level with other children of | And that insect keeps s-crosking to discourage ital of Hayti, I was presented to President Hip-| The deaf man replied not, and the assistant} {he reporter walked up to the little obdurate old man and addressed him witha /| like parentage and ition, But soon there| things— polyte,” said Mr. Ober toa Stam reporter. “I | thought his remark was too low. But he was | which held the lovely creature, who was = le and lovely eloquence of pleading. She | dawned a way out of the dificulty, though| Nettfeleverseemssopine + had a long interview with him at the palace, | 29 to be balked in his attempt to drag his cus- | ng scorn, and sent a telegram. She ved spoke of their marriage and the deep mutual | scarcely one that might be said to with = sings. being int Tha: | ‘Mer into a controversy. He had a dozen de-| none of ber spleen to him, but me love thathad caused it; of Alfred's great relief. Old Samuel suddenly died and his wife, | Oh! what in botheration is the meaning of his | P¢ing introduced by Minister Douglass. Yices gained by long experience at his fingers’ | quict. almost bashful manner. Her language ness to work, and of her own eager desire to | stricken by the shock of his loss, hardly sur- song, was only a few days before the bloody massa- | en Was that of a refined, educated young women. fill their little home with happiness and a vived hima month. Van Doren was = quite | $0 wang mournful and unvaried all poten pe ae iy mare eee ~a a ted shave close?” ech never have believed < = remark jere were tears of entreaty in her voice, | alone and at times markedly feeble. He con- on planted at the si 4 : hard-boiled eee ——~4 tear none in her tenderly ching eyes. | sented that Stanfield and his family should | #* Dewalling at the actumn and the change it| diers everywhere, frequent incendiary firesand| “Do you shave close?" somewhat louder. nated from her. During the brief converss- But possibly a light was there that somehow | come and live with him in State street, which they at length did. To wring from the old man money enogh for even a frugal household wherewithal was hard work enough; and as for his consent that a single yard of new carpeting, (Noel of new paint shold repair in hi & general feeling of insecurity. However, with the American flag floating over my hotel'I felt safe. From Port au Prince I went by coast steamer to Cape Haytien, there discovering most valuable relic in the shape of the veritable snchor which was once aboard one of the three How can aman be cheerful ‘When the cricket sings? Does he warn us to be ready for @ coming wintry And bid us save our corn and get our ulsters “No, I don’t sell clothes.” Th assistant recognized his victim and told the proprietor. who, not having anything to do and being in a good humor, began mak- tion the telegraph instrument clattered at fre- Guent intervals.” The young woman talked to Operator at the other listened to the reporter From the expression on ber never have ima crept, with whatever faintngss, down into the sullen gloom of that unuftural heart. Before the interview was over Martha and not her husband had gained a victory. Stanfield was to receive everything at his uncle's death, and face one would ned that she was paying the ment of the assistant, who was com v out of hock? ie wong few vy, f ie tain nt | abode blemishes of time—this caravels of Columbus, the wrecked Santa Maria. suppress his laugbter at the risk of injuring his ig! attention to what the little brass in- lcsoerrits ha toa ts pak Spel moe ny alice | vas'en ackinameech avena anaes aaaace | Po re nt indgng rom toe wate of) This anchor is at present in aafe Keeping si | customer. 3 f strument wae saying. ‘She talked in a refined ance. But besides this, as Van Doren gravely | Dignity and distinction been ciphers be-| It is well to heed the warning ureau of the American republics. Itis| Ask him if he'll have his whiskers done up a, reporter, emphasizing her claim to conceded before his departure, efforts would | fore now in the Stanfield familycircie; but now When the cricket sings. |} sbout nine feet in length, with short flukes and | in papers or his eyebrows banged?” said the | Tefinement by an ‘artful, charming manner, be used toward securing for his nephew the | they were worse than non-existent—they had —M.F. Caner. | an immense iron ring. As to its authenticity I| proprietor. “Look out be dont wallow the | To the operator, with whom sume ‘other traid desired mercantile clerkshi been brought to life in the sense of trav- Sa ee have sufficient proof in my hands. It was in| razor or the lathor brush. men wine d character held » conversation simulte- That last promise, like the former one, was | esty and parody. It got sent lag Sed MRE, AND MRS. BOWSER. tBgresedod _ “pe yp Santa have Is ° appetites.” TRIES pe ty, r va == eainty opposite. The faith i. ‘The old man, in spite menage en formed and pitiless jes wree wreckage he couldn’ hearing of his detested stinginese, retained 'a certain | ensued. Lnckily Martha heard ‘none of them, | Lote of Things Happen, but It's Always Mre| Carried ashore by the Indians was the anchor, | where he lost it?” rolighorter to Young Woman—Will you kindly distinct business influence. He recommended | Perhaps if Stanfield had heard them he would Bewsiremeu. which ba sine en carefaly eras Could bare him cured. T would get a war- | Fach this memage t cone pen ae eet Stanfield toa firm of some importance, and | not have greatly cared. 1M Quea til New York World, Pe... rant out for ‘any magist ~ an le : § . go, disembarki: at Puerto Plata, him a hearing. smile and a slight drooping of eyelids)—Oh, rey The ducks of Water stot, 3 farts fin bloosrt tho yehite oeeet for lu whclesome | “Mrs. Bowser,” solemnly began Mr. Bowser | whence f made my way ina coasting veuel 6 | "Ah these remarka, and many more, both the | Ye, sir; I'll burry it for you. Will you wait for husband soon found himsclf seated before. | helping of her boy and her. girl. ‘They both | ss he came home to dinner the other evening, | the site of ancient Isabella, the first city in the | proprietor and the assistant enjoyed. SG ig a f ledger-laden desk. became far more her children than their father's. | “what did I say to you when I left the house age tar a phosaye st — ae fora ne wan 8 strange glitter in pee 8 | eke eg ‘oung Woman—Yee, if it doesn't It was tiresome work; he had, as the phrase Pil ache: sweetest in the womanly wisdom | this morning?” a pies — _—_ > welll boy = 4 a yy —— Toung ieateue. 4 thipentey tu asih peste Foe ‘one whom the girly pleasures of ‘ities | upon these {wor Aoi a reat ne ated | “You said it looked like rain,” she answered. | through which the workmen employer bad to | wit a Got oUt on the pavement. Jong. I will tell the operator at the other ena offer tempting lures Des began gradually | becectf hoping thet"the bright, innocent faces | _, “I said it would rain before night, and it has. | cut paths with their cutlasses. All about there | “The shop was full on bis third visit. It was | thas the gentleman is to bore him with increasing keenness that he could not gratify in the cautious and conserva- ive atmosphere of Messrs. Van Veckten & Co. the forests are alive with beautiful parrots, humming birds, pigeons and mocking birds. One old woman joined my party as a volunteer of Alfred and Gertrude would move the mulish tenacity of their greatuncle. But no; Van Doren doled out just so much each week for T'm wet to the hide.” “That's too bad.” “Too bad! And whose fault is it? My mind ae waiting. a busy portion of the day, and when he took | up the operator and sent the mes- his seat in one of the big chairs a goodly num- | *48¢, but didn’t say « word to him about hur- ber sat around reading the papers and talking, | TY'6 it through. After she “had finished abe ; 7 and tried to assist me in finding the ruins of &| awaiting their turn” As ‘the proprictor was | !0oked up and xmilingly ssid. ey mony mer woul | San uw msn es aos pe | hosed wih bana ad yo | yl hoch by ene of af) ST ha ate ir |e at A alam, your mange say to Martha. ‘But what it will bring—ab, | vate prison, where five convicts daily assem- | knew it was, and yet you saw me walk off with- | #10 visited caves in the hills, where aboriginal | latter shouted, so that all in the room could that’s another affair! Think! You and I might idols have been discovered, which were left by eg bled atthe board. Everybody's clothes grew | out an umbrella. Mrs. Bowser, I the yoee enn reporter. o round the world together, arm-in-arm, as| rusty and, patheite. big house, though | “Why, you took your umbrella along,” she | gue indians at the coming of the Spaniards acti teat man dio thst wae out Deve yosten- | EN? Joues Some then begun to rite kewt ccilapreuisteae Godman ae peak — ee ee tapeereneee ington; ————— — the natural re was @ bush among the other custom. | bet. ae ‘little white hand reached for the key some day, no doubt,” | | As for Stanfield, his featnres, his walk, his| | “Of course you did! Don't you remember | Deauties of Lee te ae $iu.and the proprietor, flashing up, replied | tom the ithe Ey this peculiar seu- Hips sqsiast be concierto te | Srogping it nt tho gate? Ton walkod right oa mentioned the wonderfully xuriaat and palo-|'*t Roose uagholy uk hae ween” to sly shtt Up a minute and give mea chance : i : rick! pe : the | to land « mash. “Hush,” he said, almost pushing her away | trayeds look of constant mingled weariness I did, el don’t you call mes first- cae Sat ‘IT wus outside when be was taken to _ from him, “I hate to count ou any one's | and oxpectancy. To his wife he'was like amon clase idiot and be done with it!” : THE TREE OF COLUMBUS. patrol wagon and they said he would probably | | Then glancing up at the reporter the young SEieg Teche Heth San mid aaa | venesacnad oni Ent Ghee aS | sg ea gha"pact neon om | ettng Pre PT powders Peis Ser on ay zs | "TS wink meng te pen ene CG ” = an ning thraldom. m he ror of ic! i nd | 2 “Tatreoee “es Would chow ts his ayesa bungey ecqueness| . Teets cuactly ones bo 44 ‘de, aud be haow ~ se Fem | {The people said this was a regular slaughter | WAS ® mistake. description. I took photographs of the palm- bordered beaches, the islet desired for a coal- ing station and other features. From Sanchez, at the foot of the bay, a railway runs into the interior s distance of sixty-four miles. B; means of this road I reached the Holy Well of ackrepthclewe he did connt on his uncle's harshly as i st went. inst nature todo so. During the next five years two chil- dren wore born to Marthe and himself, a boy and « girl. The little family had just enougl to supply its wants, and not a dime more. Martha wi which was like nothing so much as that of an eavosdropper crouched at the keyhole of » door when he hopes to hear tidings of tre- mendous import. And now to Martha a new and distressing quality became manifest in his behavior. This wasa seeming sympathy with but he squirmed out of it by offering to bet her million dollars to cent that the front door bad been left wide open all the afternoon and thats hall thief had carried off half the uff down stairs. One morning there was.a sinell of gas down house; that more blood was ned here than hair and that the authorities ought to inter- fere and close the place up.” The proprietor gave evidence of apoplexy and the customers began moving uneasily in their seats. Iwo grabbed their coats and bate Reporter to Young Woman—Do you find it ut to work or hotel office? = ¥. W. to R.—Oh, ‘no, sir. contrary, it is very disagreeable. ‘One is subjected to so much discourtesy. We hardly dare to look up from our desk for fear some one will address i i is y i i i i in; us with « foreign question in order to make our ith her babi 'd her domestic cares, | his uncle's deplorable meanness. As the months | cellar and Mr. Bowser went down to see if he | Santo Domingo, where is a church dedicated | and said they would drop in again; that they kept up her opirite in bllthest fashion, “Dat toe Cuamsssivas! tuto years he choeed ¢ | Soul Gicover a laak: (test wetieh ecia tn Oe ee Yiegin in Americ, whose image | hadn't tie to wait. Ihe barber wamured them | cqunintance, change in Alfred worried her. She saw that | tendency to talk with Van’ Doren on the subs | kept for * ing around,” and when he left | is said to have been brought from Europe 400 | that the man he was shaving was mistaken. to send p message) to his office work was growing a more and more the house ject of investments in bonds and mor teases and rents. All day he would either ai wander the streets or else hold converse wit his kinsman of just this coldly mercenary kind. In vain Martha remonstrated; in vain she wore it away. It was rusty and spotted and broken, and it was only when the boys down town began to “shoot that hat” that he tumbled to it. Then he flew back home with his eyes hanging out and his face of « plum inade the door “Ouch ! What's that you'reshaving me with?” said the deaf man, rising in bis seat and glanc- ing at the razor in the trembling band of the barber. “Oh! I thought it was asaw. Look out for that scar where you cut me the other wy at it and clear ..W. to 0.—Oh, come off. You've been Suaialie and azo tury — was . W. to R.—And, besides, compelled to ameil the dreadful odor of tobacce, and free Years ago. A treo still stands there called the ‘Tree of Columbus,’ beneath which he caused the first mass to be celebrated after his battle with the Indians of La Voge. I explored the ruins of Vega Vieja, the ancient city founded rw ¥. leaden task to him and that the yearning for Myndherst Van Doren to die had become like cancer that slowly eats deeper and deeper into - S ntly coarse expressions men who are When first child was born they brought | tried to rouse him from the intoxication of his |Color,and he was no sooner by Columbus in 1494 and destroyed by anearth- | day; it is not healed yet.’ bre escape sete theo cae: ‘bute envensed it in only a | hard He would soften toward | than he shouted: cite in 1542. Many se an ha of the tated barber got soother sense ont Pertaiy tatoncated in our = . 1 some- languid and perfunctory way. The truth was | her for a few minutes. ‘Don’ utof pa-|, “Look atit, Mrs. Bowser—look at that in- qecdiwod betiod ofty I have brought back with | strop) it, while another customer shocked that think T cannot he could taress nothing with any real re ith me,” he would ‘In @ little | fernal old junk shop which you ——s me. ‘catch @ train. me ve dollars, and these he a’) find: me quck a different man; he | #¥ me wear head and never “Among those relice is a beautiful iron eross| ““ihere, I knew you would do it, | with aes er renet and slip through his fingers 1 im longer. Don’t you see? He of exquisitely wrought 9) work, about six- | deaf man, getting out of the chair half 4 ~ | feed ‘metruc- vatinggoldenform. For Stanfield, whonowand | hardly eats anything as it is. He scarcely ever wear that hat down town?” teen inches high. It is Too. years old. also |#nd throwing the towel that was aroun is Mesange and went aoe ‘Did I! Dia I!” he shouted, as he banged it then would meet the old butler, had it directly on the floor and jumped on it. from Samuel himself, one day, that there was 8 toveh and go neck on the floor. On his face was a long crim- son streak, that looked as if he had received a even stirs out ofdeors. Why, i seoured @ pair of handcuffs suid to be the ones with him; # fool conld see 1! which the brave Ojeda clapped upon the wrists similarly, and, if #0 ; ; oF hase! Y : to what extent?” t of actual gold coinin tof the librar, Martha would shudder. “Touch and go!" ‘But I didn’t #2e you go. I was upstairs | of the Cacique of the Golden mountains when | severe cut. Upstairs, and that hare, vory often, instead cf | And’be was now long past olga’ atatfaa | when you wen. itt: Uowsen:? Koatare very | ts opted Ue coteo a are to Isabella City. | ‘That settled it, There was » stampede for absent-mini reading auy of the books on the adjacent shelves—books which he had long ago ceased from the horrible extravagance of purchasing — he would sit crouchingly beside hi» green- shaded lamp for hours and hours of an evening, himself had become # midi man; sho, his wife, was no r young; theechildren were ceasing to be children. One-day, in hiseighty-fourth year, Van Doren was taken violently ill. It was winter and Another relic of great interest is the first bell | the door, and in s minute only the proprietor, ever rung in America, which hung in a church | bis assistant and the deaf man were left to- of Vega Vieja at the time of the earthquake and | Sether. The proprietor was furious and de- fell with the town. Or rather, I should say, it { Clared he was ruined. did not actually fall, being upheld by the| “S50 you want to know if I would bave my ‘The Keward of Virtus, am,eb? 1.6 wonder that I don’t forget to come home, isn't it? Mrs. Bowser, if there other house in the United ‘States as badly mismanaged as this I'd like to see it!” From Life. pemenc se 1d pieces inte piles of a certain | many cases of pneumonial “Inflammation of fut can you blame me because you wore | branches of a curious parasitic tree that en- | €Yebrows banged and my whiskers done up in height, maki wot thes es medallions, and | the lungs,” they still called it then, in the year | Your old hat away?” she protested. wraps everything with which it comes in con- | Paper’. said the pretended deaf man, washing then altering the latter with a slow but inces- | 1890, had broken out and proved fatal. Against | _“That’s it—that’s it! Shoulder it off on me! | tactas in a mesh of woody fibers. A priest ‘the cochineal off his face. sant variance, till his freakish manipulations ae physician Tas summoned and the a papers, a about ¢ the 9 tartling number of | found it and left it at his death to a college. ps Eset eeanineen =e pce ooomared inded f nothi slug- | verdict given his nephew was against his living | divorces. It's a wonder to me there are no ; eT ifliction, Sish revolution of a kalefioecope. Ol teenty-toae hoan Martha attended | five times as many!” Se ee ee versation, and you fun of my afiliction, Talk like this keenly interested Stanfield. “Among other relics, I secured some of the original ‘hawksbells,’ called ‘cascabels,’ with which the Conquistadores traded with the In- dians and for which the simple aborigines would barter their most prized possessions. Another interesting object that I got hold of is a small cannon once mounted in the fortress at him with all the skill of a trained nuree. At this time her husband's conduct horrified her. He hung about the door of the sick chamber with that eager look accentuated in his wan face. There was one day when it seemed as if Yan Doren might at any instant breathe his last. During this period fits of delirium as- sailed him, in which he raved of money, money, One day Mr. Bowser brought home a patent corkscrew, which some fakir had sold him, and Mrs. Bowser saw him drop it into a wall pocket. A week later after wandering around the house for half an hour one evening he halted before her and said: “Til be hanged if I don’t get some chains and padlocks and see if I can’t have things and I determined to punish you,” and be left the barber to mourn over his indiscretion and to resolve to be more considerate of aillicted persons in the future. ———— +e- —___ COULDN'T TAKE A JOKE Now and thon he would refer to Samuel's gossipy confidence during talks with his wife. As time went on the city pushed itself up past tracts of land that but yesterday, as might said, were open country. ‘The Stanficlds moved their place of residence to one further uptown, though cheaper and more modest than that which they had formerly held. nothing except money. left where I put them.” Vera Vieja, the oldest in America. Also 1 ob- | The Seneens See of an Alert ‘Martha protested s little at thie, “Ther On the morrow he was surprisingly better. | “What is it now?” tained a beantiful bell which once hung ina Fanny Man. no use, Alfred,” she said, “in our reducing Soon afterward he began to recover and within “MRS. BOWSER, I'VE BEEN ROBBED!” belfry near the holy well and a round stone | From the Chicago Sunday Times, Boras. «We don’t want to save, you know.” | u fortnight his health was more vigorous than | {brought home a can opener a few days | Pith bol: through it to which eaptive Indians | ‘The early riser was out watering his grass i i hained. * y this time they had got into the way of speak- | before the selgure occurred. For days after- | 124 and left it on a bracket in the = when the funny man came along and stepped : . ‘dit d Marthe b agoand left it on » bracket in the dining room. ‘At the capital of the republic, Santo Do- Dawei en lnaacee Seine oe nar | Wi guano coutee-geekably iaknan away to | mingo City, ffound many things of histéried | 00 the hove. “No.” he replied, “not to save—of course she thought, “‘was the stron; some big, lazy tramp! It’s a wonder we have | interest asvociated with Columbus. Onthe| ‘The early riser turned around to see what “And this,” cieacbensels t. But and high-principled man I married! | @ thing left in this house!” right bank of the river that runs through the | had shut off the water so suddenly and the Medangaelctet oe on cl Wucstecdsb eka Garters tetera ones opener!” town stands the Cass de Colon. a palace built | fanny man laughed at him. “squander it!” faltered Martha. She could | on the most pregnant of trathe” “Yes, a.can opener. If you neverheard of a| by Don Diego Colon, son of Columbus. At the not understand the change in her husband.| The years went on. At eighty-eight Van | can opener I'll hire some one to write you out | ettrance to the harbor towers a “Get off that hove!” exclaimed the early nie pict ue , 4 in which | riser. He had lost « good deal of his old bouhommie: | Doren was fecble, bowed in figure, very dim of | ahistory of it. It was invented to open cans.” | cattle, time-worn set well preserved, in which . a he was given to fits of Section ace pansled sight and yet mentally na lned th tan as he ‘Why, we have two or three in the kitchen. | Columbus ix said to have nu kept prisoner | “Ob, don’ mind me,” said the funny man. her, and sometimes he would start from one of | had ever been. Perhaps he hugged his money | Do gett for a while in 1500. This castle may be repro- | “Go on and water your grass.” these and suddenly ask her how mucha certain | a little closer and made those about him alittle | | “I don't mean wind mills or threshing ma- | duced by the Dominican government atChiengo. | Thon he noticed that the nozzle was care- bill had been, or just what amount she | more discomfited in consequence. chines.” ‘The cathedral of the city, founded in 1514, still leosly pointed in his direction. paid for young Alfred’s last pair of shovs,| Martha felt only too acutely now the ghastly | ‘‘You had it ina pink paper?” stands. It contai first cross erected in | lessly pol the for young Gertrude’s newest dozen of hose. | contagion that her husband had caught. He| “Yes, ma’am.” America, and I have had mude a fac simile of | “Here! Point that the other way!” he cried. Martha ‘waked up and | sill waited, but his waiting had become a hide | “It was the day the man fized the gate?” it in old mahogany from two beams from a| ‘The early riser glanced down at the nozzle nd seolding. He listened to | ous mockery. What could he do with the| “It was.” building attached to the castle. In the cathe- and his face lit up with pleasure. rai it very patiently and told her (with a sort of “Amusing to shut off » man’s water, ian'tit?” money, now, even if he survived his uncle? dazed smile which she somehow detested) that Nothing, except hoard itas Van Doren was dral [speak of are preserved the remains of “Well, I saw you drop it in that wall pocket, Cornea atk ged ew Heamewnrdg and it is a corkscrew, and not a can opeue! he had thought so much of lntely as to | doing. ie had grown old before his time; he | “It is, eh? Perhaps I don't know » hitching | Which ure likewise authentic. The precious | he asked. = find himself carin gabout it, watching {ts ex- | was Peomaturelyw inkled, and into his fea-| post Mane 3 = city oa he growled “ = poere eter =o. “ —_ tooo = “aes expostulated the funny it ‘i . tures had crept a stringency, @ pailor, « covert | reac! for the parcel and unrolled it. It was y set CH 4 PL AE Oe ae te Sou: | ee ee ee greed. | acorkscrew. It could only be used as a cork. | Covered, but are inelgsed iu « casket of crystal 's intensely funny,” said the early riser; ject of money,” said Martha, with reproachful | | Night after night he now did what, to his| screw. It was made and sold for a corkscrew. | and satin wood, locked and secured by seals of | “you'd better get off that hose.” ; F 3 row. I a8 : el eid Pe "te said the funny man. “Don't heat.“ t quite fortabi wife, was,a revoiting thing. The game of soli-} “‘. idu’t I tell you?” queried Mrs. Bowser. the government and by all the consula- seals in ‘But I can't,” ss set AeA ose ke aes ‘happen | taire wich Van Doren boen wout to| | “Tell me what! ‘Told mo it wase corkscrew, | the town. | Sauto Domingo is very jealous of | you see the nozze’s pointed right at me, and if within the next va years or vo why on earth | pny with hls gold coins, had now Decome a [and ivea can opener, Just aa said itwasi™ "| other goveramonte whicir are ao fortunate as |¥d0—— Pore should you care? while yet we can | game in which his nephew joined. They would corkscrew Columbus, and bas in no hurry.” interrupted the to possess abstained 5 r i 4 "t kuow that d the children to public schools, ° That cer. | sit together for hoarsand move the little yellow | “It's can opener from joining Spain in the colebration | early riser. “If you enjoy it I don't tataly is far better Wixnct ofuoating them ui] giles to\swd Acaianethe. tala tenors shee te Ss Mr, Bowser draws tho breath | Of the Columbian anniversary on account of | I have any reason to object oe all. We've no reason to bother ourselvesabout | some curious manner which they two aloue | of life he will stick to it, because he said vo in sat down on the railing surrounding the declaration of the Royal Academy of Mad- rid that Havana has the only real bones.” eee money—none in the least. Of course, you might have advanced yourself more with’ Van Veckten & Co. Now, Alfred, J don't mean to understood. They would laugh and joke to- getlor ns this queer amusement progressed. Stunfield’s laugh had grown cracked and thin the first place. Like other husbands Mr. Bowser is greatly worried over the safety of bis wallet while Siar kabping tt potntod townrd’ the fanny snes’ till it int ann; rs < anid the latter, “if you'll tare that say, sa ing unpleasa: ar, i ABYSSAL SPONGES, the other way I'll get off.” thi 1 but know, d like hia uncle's. Martha would turn sick as she | around the house. He bas an idea that Mra. e ay Tl ge x that you yourselt rorgil on ee p= pesos watched thom sometimes through u crevice in | Bowser would give ton years of her life to get “Ob, I wouldn't much trouble,’ Pat youtoeo said the early riser. “1 yourself.” The early riser held the nozzle between his knees while he took out a cigar and lit it. The funny man watched him puff it for » moment. Then he said: got to be sort of machine there in Water eet, neither caring for promotion nor using ‘an effort to secure it.” “True.” replied Stanfield, “I must pall m; self together. I must show them what I° worth and demand a better salary.” the doorway. “She kept her boy and girl from witnessing tho sight. They both loved her and obeyed her least wish. It was horrible to her at they should sve their father so depraved as this. If fthad not beon for her children Martha that wallet in her hands for about two minutes, and that she lies awuke a gooil share of eve: night in the year wondering where he hid it when he went to bed. He makes it a religious duty to conceal itevery night and to count over his funds the first thing in the morning. But he did neither. 1 i i often told herself that she would go mad. | One morning, strange as it may he loft | teresting forms,” said a nataralist to a Stan Brulee tas ‘his uncle to die The Vou Yorn ‘There was just food enough to cat and no more. | the house without oye | h he | reporter. “Not least remarkable are the so- | Tiver mer oem lana firmfound no fault with ‘him, but they had | The house way sinking to 850; In one room eee night b before under thet borese, called ‘sea nests,’ which are in the form of | ,, The fanny, tried it, made is slip, Keovipeed got fo reg: um in the light of a mereiy | the p! bi tend ing, in en- spheres or sometimes ang Sty oy todd a" biti ker. other the paper was loose ‘on tho | was a great clatter on the front the door his foot on again. early riser they suspected the trath-—that old” Van Dens walls. fiew open and he rushed into the parlor | C024 0f one of these specimens is a complicated | chuckled. had made him his heir and that he had seen the | _ Not till his ninety-fifth year did Myndhorst | and stood before Mrs. Bowser. old miser’s will, and that he realized how any | Vin Doren die, and then they found him dead | | She was ao upset that she could only faintly hour might make bim rich. As it was, they | iu his bed one with a sort of scowl on | bas; trusted him completely, gave him certain | his withered face, us ho had paid the | ‘Mr. Bowser, is mother dead?” work to do and satistied themselves that he did | debt of natnre in testy reluctance. “Mother dead!” he yelled, in reply; wh do it with a certain stolid apathy. He was not| ttaitield could. scarcel; the I know about your mother?’ Mra. » I've useless to them: he was, in @ way, quite usetal. Pilcnews of is Jox. | There was no use in striv- | boon robbeg! is emplo; sense i exult a tially dormant acesense of sbiittion par-| 1 ca'and Gertraie. ‘They’ were now sduhe own house at that! Some time during i$ some out ee “a na of bed and ee jas coat?” f “Wel me uetensdage For fear at burglars “You what!” hesitated fou she asked, as he and CHAPTER IIL And so another five years went on. seemed no change in his bodily vigor, how-| “Begin what?” he muttered, and turned Rheumatism attacked him at certain | a1 from het. When he suddenly veered| He rushed and followed him ‘in started periods; bat never ip senenelpuleLnaoee un- rousd gee a time to see him pull the tfrom under the oe —— able to walk. Now aod then hs could hot leave £58, sececsinilieg ostfca you wore nol robbed?” she tarly ob- | deep water shook his the house, but such periods of inurement were |“ ij'y9 need tothe wailing, now. Ifind Tove served. “ out intos made some rare. Asfor driving out, he had -given up he T don't want to spend. nic Bo 20h gates not thie. time, But let | What looks ——" ¢ lesson to you. another watering > PE Mg Re a urs: | the Toate something ne" heabuad will pus up | hin te rad oa