Tales and Sketches.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1084, 27 May 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

Tales and Sketches.

Kra'S-E-XPERIMEPr BY AUSTRALIA

From No, 1 ; of ~The : Australiaii-Womaris. Magazine,,,

'We girls, May and Kitty Travors, Gerty, and I were all on tho qui vive I Tho adjoining station had /found a'purchaser, :and the new occupant:WAS said to.be rich, handsome, clever, and young,. We wero on the tiptoe i of expectation to judge, for ourselves if lie really did possess all these qualifications, for if so lie certainly must bo. something' quite out of the common.'. SucH a multiplicity of charms we had, never heard of combined in' onosingloindividual, ' ■''.'.•" \, " Cis," criqdKitty Travers-mybaptismal niime was Cecil, but it had degenerated into ■ tho anything but ( euphonious Cis—"Cis^we '. must have a'look at him, by hook pr'by ■ crook 1 How !b it to be managed?" ''.'; ■ ." Yes," put in Gerty, " it must bo effoctdd ' Eomehow or oth.er,.and : that at once too, or the Frayne girls will bo getting hold of him ' first, aud.then we shan't have a chance, They always monopolise everyone that comes fresh, and I don't intend they shall do so in Mr, Darner's case, We must hit on an expedient to outwit them this time." .■ j "It is so unfortunate," said I, " thatpapa . and mamma should just happen to bo in Melbourne, or of oourse, ; theywould have called on Mr. Damer. Mamma wrote in her last lotter that they had mado up their minds 'to : stay a fortnight longer. ■ I.don't know what's •to be done, I am sure." ~ :■ "Let's call on.him ourselves,".suggested the incorrigible Kitty. "It would be quite a novelty in the Way of ; etiquette for. four blooming young ladies; to pay a visit tij a handsome, bacholor—wouldn't ho be,, as- ■ tonished?• • ... '.' ' ! "A splendid'idea, Kitty, 1 ' 1 exclaimed Gerty. Kitty and she always agreed when • any mischief was on foot,- . , "Surely you are not in earnest, Kitty," said May, who for the first time had fouhd her tongue. "It would never do. We shoiild be the talk of the neighbourhood," May was the ".proper" one of our party, and her look of horror was amusing to behold. "Never was more serious in my life, May!" returned Kitty. '' What do you say, Cisi ?—shall wc or shall we not?" . I remained silent, I did not know what reply to make, I was inclined to enter into . tho plan for the fun of the thing, but being the eldest, and having been left in charge during mamma's absence, I felt that it would scarcely do for me to acquiesce in Kitty's wild scheme, so I said nothing. "Come, Cis," went on Kitty coaxingjy, " do say yes, and wo will go this very afternoon," • " ' ' "I don't think wo ought to, Kitty,", I said, hesitatingly, Never was the old adage, bo who hesitates is lost, better verified than now. Kitty saw the signs of the time, and hit on an expedient at once. She is always ready for any emergency, ~; ~■ ■ '" We will put it to the vote!" she, criiid, exultantly. Most votes carry tho day, don't they, Cis?" ; " I'supposo so, Kitty," I ventured, eelfc in my heart that, as usual, she would win the day. Her high spirits drove everything before her like a tornado. I never had a ■ will of my.own when Kitty was about, ahd in the end always succumbed meekly, never mind how persistent I had been at first, j "Well, of course, there is no question as • to Gerty and I, We are agreed, are wo not, Gerty?" ■■ • ■ ; j "Certainly, Kitty, lam quito ready for the road, Do como with us, May," she added, turning to that young lady, who \yas looking as dignified as you please, ■', "I really cannot consent to such a proceeding, Gerty, I never heard of such a thing in my life," "But, if Cis says that she will go, you Will have to; you know,: May, Most votes carry the day, Cis is only waiting for you to sanction, our expedition; 1 You might jtist as well make yourself agreeable; and ; come with us," sliepleaded, for now that the ball had been set rolling, Gerty was determined . that it should not stop for' want iof ,a' push from her, She was as anxious as Kitty'to ■ interview the new comor, ; All this time I had said not a :word, hoping that they would settle the matter without my casting vote, I really wished success to the enterprise, but being in the respo'n-. sible.position of mamma's locum fe««w-'dur-iug her absence, I felt thatit would never flo for me to advocate a formal visit to Air. Darner. At the samo time, if the others were unanimous, I was quite willing to .en- ■ joy the fun. "Of course I don't wish to spoil your amusement, Gerty," returned May,: beginning to waver a little herself, The novelty of the idea was not without its charm to hor, though, being always looked up to by the rest ' of us as something very superior'tb ourselves, she had set herself on a pedestal, and did . not care to come down, May was great at laying down the law, and keeping us all in order.

" Do, May!" chimed in Kitty,, " If you . don't make up your mind quickly it will be too late to go to-day. There is nothing like 1 striking while the iron is hot!' Never put off for to-morrow what you should do today ! Ten to one the'Fraynes will bo there ! before us if we procrastinate!" This decided May, The Fraynes had always been a " thorn in our.sid'es." In fact there was a certain amount of rivalship be- " tween us,'as there generally is'amongst a community of girls. '.'.Well," she announced, after a little deliberation, "I do'not mind, going; if Cis thinks it would be 1 ' decreet to do so." : "J don't sco any .harm'in taking a drive 1 , over to Goiongaiong, .'We'mayjiistias. well' , turn "our Worses' heaqVthat way asany other" . way,' youlnbwi May," I ; returned; willing,. to make a compromise.. This was quite enough for Kitty and Gerty.. ; The matter was settled in their estimation,. and now it only remained to make prepara-t ; tions for our.drive. '; ■ ■ -• ' : ' "I will I 'go and tell Marytodet us'have' luncheon half an hour .'earlier," cried.Gerty, ! ■ as she nciv'frbm 'the'room to 'expedite our' • movemclitj, 1 , The rest of; us .'took ourselves 1 . bff'.to.our different apartments to' deck o'ui)-, „ pelves in our most charming costumes for .the '. important occasion. For,/ deny it as, they , iinay,'.there is always a flutter.of speculation. amongst' the unmarried portion of society, at the advent of an eligible "bachelor, arid we did not protend'to'be different to'therestof • bui'sex in this particular,' • •'-■ • ; But you will' be wbfiflering all; this : time who "wo" ard. : "WellJ|to'Satisfy:yd'ur'curij- ' psity, 'Ger'jy and Tare'the. ; twp hopefuls' of ')!}, ' aud.llrs., Ayerill,.' cctat ..'.respectively ..nineteen,,and,tiveoty-qne, Our father is a ', ; squatter, and .-.the. namo of the isfation.on . which we live isiiWallillajuOur.near'estp'ost ,:itbwn'isißenallaij.May an'd Kitty'Travers aro our sworn companions and allies/ atid'reaido witli tliojr .ftiiole, ,Mr. Peyton,, iu tin Wimmera district;,: At present they are 01 a visit to.jus, -which isw ovent of very fre quent occurrence; in' fact, they spend hal their time at Wallilla;-andwe look upon them as part and parcel,of ourselves, I always fancy my brother Erie has a sneaking regard for Kitty. Erie is our only brother and the eldest of the' family.' He i manages thd station, ' People say.there is a great resemblance between heand me, ■ If this be true, I take- it as a compliment,, for nowhere wil( you see such laughing blue eye's' and sunny; hair as Eric's. We are all vory'proudof our handsome boy,.'Gerty. Isa-perfect contrast, to us. She is a thorough/brunette, with blue* black hair,olivo'skin','a'nd'eyea'dark as mid-

toighjiij/ •She!,|iakeßc^Wm[iirima;. ;^ |srie.'iii)d' lare'ifaiiv like our'■father; 'Maytfraverst&a ■few months younger than myself and isji&ll and elegant, with a pale clear skin, and dark ,tow eyes andJwiteYery.pretty .arid lady.:. like But as to Kitty 1 my pen fails to do; scribe hor. I can nover do her justice, Imagine to yourself a tanglo of ruddy bro'vn •ou'rlylooksi the color of the • inside the chestnut j a pair of roguish gray eyes, with long curling fringe's; lips like twin' cherries, a wild rose'complexion, and a figure just above ; the medium height, graceful and supple as a willow wand: then you have Kitty as well as I can picture her to you. : But I cannot' describe the nameless 'charm' thatpervades her every look'and motion. ' W.all look' at each' other "and .differerit'nptcsof admiration at'pur'reSpec-' I -.live "'gets up" as we assemble fpr.luncheon, •i " Your ; dross is very .becoming,. Cis," said, May, as she eyed me from top to toe, as I appeared in all the glory of anew costume that I had had just sent up from Robertson. 'a'nd'Moffat's-mauve sateen and white laco, hat to match,; with sprays of lilac. •'' "lean return the compliment," I replied, glancing at her pretty <jcru muslin and shady hat with its long cream feather. '' You look decidedly 'nicel" 1 .;.;,;.

..Kitty:and Gerty.were fond of being "dressed alike, and had chosen to deck thenv selves in the same style on this occasion, They were radiant in black and cardinal, which suited their beauty exactly, "Yes," said Kitty decisively, "I think, wo shall mko a favorable impression in the new quarter. I. must congratulate you girls,' You areiall looking remarkably well,' and I think I should 'pass in a crowd,' shouldn't!,' Cis?"

"You are simply .lovely, Kitty," I re-" turned admiringly. .. ' '/There, now, don't go trying to make me'. vainer than I already am; Cis L But'come along; the.buggy is waiting.. .Wego''to' see. and conquer, "she exclaimed' tragically, as' she led the way to. the court-yard where our trap .was standing ready for us. '..'.'.. ■",•■' '

"Tell .Mr,, Erie that we have gone for a drive'.and, shall be back to tea,' 1 I called-out to the servants, and then off we drove,

It was ;just the day to enjoy a drive through the bush, The air was warm and .balmy,'the .wattics were in full bloom. The summer breeze camo freighted with the sweet perfume of the golden blossoms, and our horses, seeming to catch the inspiring influence of Nature in her most beautiful aspect, flew along like winged creatures. I handled the reins, for driving was one of my accomplishments, and Kitty and Gerty kept up a continual clatter of fun and merriment, May was, rather grave, I think she was not quite sure, in. her own mind as to the propriety of the step we were taking. I, too, was content to listen to the chatter going ;on in the back of the buggy, for I felt in a dreamy, contemplative mood, and was inclined for silence,

Along we dashed, traversing mile after mile like lightning, and, after about a couple of hours' smart driving, came to the slippanels that divided the, two runs, Golongalong and Wallilla. The panels were quickly taken down,' and we bad passed the precincts of Wallilla and were on our new neighbor's property and in sight of the homestead,

Then arose a difficulty. How were we to introduce ourselves, supposing the master'of the houso were at home ? We had provided ourselves with our card-cases, taking care'to have mamma's name written on one of the cards. If Mr, Damer were out on tho run thore would be no difficulty at all about the matter, as we would simply leave our caiids and drive off again, . " But, if he should be at home," suggested May, in an awful tone of voice, " who isjto be spokeswoman ?" Our frolic, was beginning to assume a- serious aspect. It really was a very unusual proceeding for four young ladies to go and pay a bachelor a first visit, "Oh," said .Kitty, coming to the r,qsoi|e, " jilst" don't let us bother ourselves a bit about it, but trust to fate I I daresay it will be given unto us what we shall say when the time comes," f

"Yes, Kitty,"l ejaculated feebly, "i-e will 'trust in Providence,'" for I was feeling quite nervous at the idea of interviewing this Mr. Dainer. He might have "notions" about these sort of things, and might consider lis "fast" for Visiting him in this extraordinary fashion. However, there was no help forfit .now. After coming such a distance, it would look cowardly to turn back, or even to suggest such a thing in the, presence of Kitty and Gerty, for they would only have laughed at me; so I kept my sensations to myself and tried to pluck,up courage, J Arrived at the hall door, Kitty, true to lifer character, marched up and rang the bell, taking the initiative as she was wont to do; and it was a good thing that she was blessed with any amount of moral courage,,for I believe that the rest of us would have failed miserably on that what came to be afterwards the most momentous day of my life. I In response to the loud peal of the bell, a tidy, fresh-faced girl opened the door. Though I was the representative of mammk I could not have uttered a word for the life of me. Every moment my nervousness was increasing to such a degree that I felt perfectly incapacitated, ■ [

But Kitty was nothing daunted. '' Is M Damev at home?" she commenced.with-tl usual formula.

" Yes, Miss," replied the girl, and we were ushered into a well-furnished drawing-room. There we sat, four strange girls in a row, enough to frighten any man out of his sober senses, unless lie possessed an unlimited supply of sangfroid. , . ; We looked at each other blankly, and •Kitty made a comical grimace, as much'as to say, "We're in for it now!" : j

:' And so .we; were! Whatever the 1 resu t 'would be, there was no turning back no v froni the taskwe had set oursolves.'.lt wonlll '.We to be gone through in some way or aij.Other...'.'. .."■''' .' ■.. . j

Lwatcbed the door with nervous apprehension, Kitty with an air that scemodto sal ' ' Como ono, cbmo all, this rook ahull; lly ; From its Arm base ns soon nsl. -. ; There was ,a look oil heFface which 'be!tokened; 'purpose" stern 'arid fixed: 1 MaV all'd' Gerty were in astiilteof trepidation,! could see plainly enough, j moment'had. arrived, and Ml), Dilnierpresentedhimself before us.'Directly Ilcast.'eypson.bim my fears flow to'the winds. If.ever kmd|icss and,"geniality were written were, writtenon .hid. Hoputuß at pur case at, once, coining.:forwarjl with.o,utsti:etched hands, and hearty 'wqlcoihe.'. Kitty, always to the fore, apploigised,forvth& apparent unceremoniousness, of oiirAvisitj and; explained that papa i and maniniai-wcre ■ from' home 'aud .that we had takeivdt into our heads to do' thdlhonors for ■thtm.'.'!' .'■'•■'■ :l'i • I ■■• ' '.-■. / v.;

hH'Pray do not''apologise,Misa^—,'! he 'parsed,' " Travel's;", interpolated•• ICitty. lie repdated after her. "Icohaider 'myself very'fortunate 1 in; havjuig made' your 'acqulinitiance',''bowing'tbifeall;:"urider any ;c^cpniatances l ',aii,d i .hppe not be'the last occasion thaCypu will V\o'iior my' fl\vellingwith your presence, .Really, young lories, .1 am .very much obliged .to you .for taking .pity on apoqr unfortunate feUow, It is very .good qf;.you to come and.see me."

i Before: half-an-hour had passed we felt as ■if;-we liadknown-Mr. Damer-all our ; lives, He was so pleasant and agreeable,.so gentlemanly and. refined, ;; So handsome, too j his •personal appearance certainly .had not been exaggerated. My first impressions were that he was l the'handsomest man that I had ever K'eeh: 'While", lid was : occupjcd''irt^alkin'g : to Kitty I was summing up to appearance; I

~wUt,deßoribe;what Tsaw. A tall, cLpaot, ivell-knit figure, ft JMy-shaped heal,' with closo-cropped darkbrown hair, itraight features and a momtache, ihit it was- the expression that sotwk my ■ fancy; such abeaming,radkntsmileT You had but to look krto Jiis'ffe and 'you felt' sure that he was.aTtfap, to be\ trusted, Xman ' —I have nover had reason\to alter! my opinion of Bertie Darner, \ What a fascinating host he Wei The hours, flew by unheeded. HoWas a fine .musician; and,' as we all could di a little.'in' the, same line, the piano was ipened'and ionatas, galops, waltzes and so'nfc followed eadli other in quick.succession. \ feasted us on fruit, tod and.all sorts of "fccies. We demurred, but' he. insisted, sayL, that we must share his "nectar and ain\osia,'' When angels visited him, he must treaUhem accordingly; at which "we all l%hed lieartily, and saucy Kitty said someting flattering about" tho Gods" in return. A Such a morry pleasant time we had, m I am sure we were all very sorry when tho sik slowly declining in tho west, recalled usl the fact that if we did not soon turn om faceshpmeward we should beovertakenby darkness before wo could reach Willalla, so hastened to bid adieu to pur new acquaintance, who had escorted us as far as the.Blippanels, expressing lus intention before leaving us of returning our call very, shortly. .Directly we got out of ear-shot Kitty exclaimed—''Well, I think we may .congratulate ourselves on having come off with flying colors, and,that none' of us will ever have reason to regret our visit to tiplongalong.,. I suppose, May, all your compunctions of conscience ai our .having done something very infra dig, have, quite vanished away by this time, I, am sure I, for one, have enjoyed my visit immensely." "And I," we all chimed in, May joining us heartily. As for me, I felt that I had had a glimpse of fairy-land, and that this event would always be a red-letter day. in my memory-the day when I first saw Bertie Darner, my beau ideal of all that was admirable in man,

We had a lovely drive back, under Heaven's starry canopy, for the sun had quite sot and the fiery cross, with its attendant satellites, was up in the sky before the old homestead came'in view.

Erie hurried out to meet us, He had been getting anxious at our long delay, and questioned us as to where we had been and as lo what had kept us so long. When we retailed the history of our escapade he was highly amused, and called us a lot of madcaps, vowing that he knew quito well who was the instigator of our freak j at which Kitty looked very dignified, and retorted she was quite sure we all had a " finger in the pie" as well as herself, and Erie laughed as he replied that the cap evidently fitted, whereon Kitty walked into the house in high dudgeon. Erie and she were always having little sparring matches, for the pleasure of making it up I thought, or perhaps.it was that Erie liked to evoke one of her petulant moods, "as she looked so pretty and pouting and provoking when she had a wilful fit on,

The third day after our visit to Golongalong was drawing to a close, when Gerty, who had been busy watering tlio flower-beds in front of the drawing-room window, rushed on to the verandah, and poking her Head through the open sash, shouted, "He's coming, girls I he's coming I" " Who ? who ?" exclaimed May and Kitty in chorus, but I remained quiescent, a sure prescience telling me who the "he" was— Bertie Darner, the man whom I had dreamed about night and day since I had seen him, whoso image was engraven on ray memory never to be effaced.

"Mr, Damer, of course,youstupidthing!" returned Gerty in answer to May and Kitty's interrogation, I was glad that I had happened to array myself in the pale blue silk that everyone admired so much and that suited me so well, Kitty always said it was thcsaM color as my eyes, but that is her nonsense, I never pay any attention to what Kitty says; she is so prejudiced for those she loves, shb sees 1 beauties in them that only exist in her own imagination half the time. It was only a few minutes ago thats e camo in with a lovely blush rose in her hand, and as she fastened it in my hair whispered, " Your cheeks have just the same tinge, Cis, that nestles in the heart of my rose," I told her not to flatter, but she persisted that she was merely speaking the honest truth. Involuntarily my hands went up to my hair to smooth down my frizzy locks, for my hair is all crimps, and waves, so that I can never keep it tidy, arid glanced iu the mirror to see the effeefc. Everything was just as it should be, aml/I thought Kitty was not quite mistaken this time, for my cheeks were rather pink, and I hoped they would not grow more so. girls' cheeks are such tell-tales! I was all alone when Mr. Damer.came into the drawing-room, for the,other girls, not quite so sure about their personal appearance,; bad gone off to titivate. Kitty-'said mischievously—"We must look' our' very best,' you know, Cis; one of us ;is bound to'cap-' tivate him, I give you all fair warning!'.girls,,' that I, for one, intend to setmy'.cap'at'him;": This, too, in Erie's hcanng, biit-tjiep I :krie>v; she onlyjdid it to teaze.hii'n. 5 ■"."""'"" I felt my heart go J)amer; sat down on the couplrbdside'mc.', It'wiisvery foolish, certainly, ,biitltoiilil'nfitliclp: feeling embarrassed.. Perhaps it was that he! gazed at me with the same admiring glance' that I could not fail to notice lie'had bestowed on me during our memorable Visit to' Golongalong. Certainly, whatever theieason was, I did feel uncommonly bashful.' I won-: dcrcd at myself, too, as I was not given to this sort of thing as a rule; iiifact, it is anything but a bush-girl's propensity ordinarily !'. . After we had chatted for a few moments, Erie camo in, and I was very glad to get the onus of entertaining Mr. Damer off my shoulders, I felt that I was comporting myself very badly, for really I scarcely knew what answers I was making, and was afraid I was appearing very ridiculous, • I could not imagine what had come over me, and was muchannoyedwith myself, butlcouldnot liave helped it if my life had been the forfeit. On describing my sensations to Kitty in confidence, when wc went to bed that night, she replied scntentiously—"First emotions of love; my dear | 'first emotions of love!" I could have killed.Kitty on the spot, and was very sorry that I had saidarty thing about it, and went to sleep with my cheeks tingling at ■ the bare idea of such a thing, : ''Eric persuaded Mr; Damer to stay all night,-and.the following day we went on an .expedition to the Strathbogie Kanges, which, Ibad become famous in our district as the scene of the Kelly exploits, Mr, Damer, ..decidedly improved on acquaintance. He was intellectual and well-informed, and even "Erlcj whois very critical, pronounced him to be fellow..

,"*'After this our' relations became very friendly with' Golongalong. Papa' and mamma had returned home and wore quite .'as much struck jvjtli our new neighbor all h|id been, Scarcely a day passed but,' on ,somc pretence or other, Mr. Damer rode oyer ■to -WiJlalla, and Kitty got quite excited in speculating as to who was the attraction; And at last the grand discovery was made, Papa came to me'oue morning and said that, 'on,the previous night, Mr. Damer had asked thejiahd of his daughter Cecil, and that he }v'quid he over that day to learn his'fate, and -AVisliod to know .if I were inclined to give him a favorable answer, You can very well guess what reply I made to papa, and when Bertie whispered, beneath the.soft rays of tlie ! Biimmor moon, "Will you come to Golongalong, Cecil, darling?" I said'simply,

' My 'heart jwas- tbo'-full-for* many words.'"' '"' :'■*' '"' ' v ''"' ,'Y she always vowed that,! might thank her for getting the tet"aM dearest husbandv-in';thewpndj'\fpr,>as she; mischievously declared, if we had not been first' iii the'fieldi l £|i'e?e\was 'rip khowfngVt! what one.of the Frayiie girls, might liaye picked | him'upj-' which'' would' 'tiawbeeTri a' great pity, as she wasgettingquiteconceraed about , our matrimonial prospects. It was high time some' of uts 1 were tiiinking'about changing bur condition, unless we intended going down to the grave in single blessedness, Perhaps thisidea w. sricli a tenible'calamity' had some effect upon the wilful maiden her-' self, for from' that time forth I noticed sho smiled more encouragingly upon Eric, and the'uDßhot of "it all,is we are to be married' on the same day; for Kitty and Erie are engaged and seem as happy, to quote the young lady herself, as "turtle doves." And. I. should not be surprised if May ahd.Gerty do; not follow,.suit soon, for these 1 sort of things' seem infectious, and, judging' from the attentions of .two young gentlemcnwho have come up from Melbourne to do duty as groomsmen, suoh' a consummation appears' most'likely,.

\THEI)IFP£RENCEOF ; A DOT. and May, in,the persons of Mr.' <hph Blend and Miss' Barbara Paul, woro mrted some half-dozen years ago in the holy bols of matrimony; ' People who knew the}) both were much amazed at the alliance; for Vhe refined and ladylike Miss' Paul—had she Vflited-might have had ''something! 1 ' younAp and; handsomer than the venerable, ancienl and many-wrinkled Josiah. ■■'"■' Beink successful Glasgow merchant, the aged JoWah waßrioh; and Naturally their acquaintL-es concluded that his money wasthe chief ytraction, ■ Perhaps it was,' It is not for usto impute motives either good or bad; but \hcro were not lacking prophets enough evdi in the small circleof their personal : friend who ventured to foretell a short, sharp, M decisive marriage campaign, in which theVoungwifo would punish the old man, and fnally come out of the oonfliot, under the sheltV of a " judicial separation," with spoils suffinent'to maihfcin"her'iri'a' competency for We remainder of her natural life. \ They proved fhso prophets. . Whether money was at theWtom of it or not, the pair lived as happiljWd as lovingly as any two lovers could hojeto do. This was so till a certain year.'wW two different'circumstances conspirecKto bring matters to such a crisis that tha judicial separation seemed inevitable. \ Josiah was on the whojfe an inoffensive old fellow j but when his usiMly sluggish temper was once quickened intonftion, he was prone to let it carry him to. such to extreme length that no one could defend hiiy Barbarawaa patient to a fault, and tcnuNd him with a loving and faithful devotion adorable inoUo so young. The two unhappy'ftuse's'whioh threatened for the time being 'fremT their married life, were very dissimilar in themselves, though in tho end theygotVome'what 1 mixed up, They were—Barbara's cousin Charlie Robinson, and a telegram." 1 "Barbara," Eaid the antique Josiah one morning at tho breakfast-table, "I wish that cousin of yours,-' Dear Charlie,' as you call him—would not come here bo often.and monopolise so much of your time." " I do not think he does take up muoh of my time," responded his wife) in a mildly surprised tone. "But I dojnot see very well how I could prevent him coming, unless I shut tho door in his face." V

"You might do worse I" growled Josiah; "a great deal worse, I hate lim, with his pretensions,.his stuck-up airs).his general humbug. Why, I heard him'call you his 'dear babs' last night, when he'wanted to sing with him I" I "You are not jealous? 1 ' laughed Barbara reproachfully j, MJ' That '.is' tho name he called me by whenweyaebhildren, But I'll tell liim you dislike'jt,''aud ; ab , 'dbuufc he'll desist," '"' ("(' " ! "' '"" "You would be to come at all,' as hta- compaiiyis übtyanted. I overheard him say lastiriight headed chum of his,' that. I'was'an'bid fossil I Worse still, he said': 'ffliat.old fogey Blend has a pile of cash: bufche is a miserable old skin-flint, and won't part with jt? That was gratitude for you, after finishing'a couple of bottles of my old Burghhdy'aud smoking half-a-dozen of my finest cigars,' He is an impudent scamp." ( "There surely must pe some mistake," urged his wife. " CharlWwould never say that.' ' . '. .■". (' ' "He did, though," retorted .Josiah an-; grily; " I'm quite certain. Better tell him never to come here again/' ,'. "I would rather not, if it please you," reasonably replied his.wp;'" it would be very unuatural to do so." "You consider it ; 'mare natural .that I'; should be aljiised in my awnihbuse!" cried' .Josiah,'now at a.white-hp.'' "Am I tounrterstand ypit positively refuse to do so ?" '• i" Well, Ido pot' Tofnae!" replied Barbara, .with'considerable tact, goi g over.and kissing' hiiirii flffeqtionately on : the sheek—"l do not l absplutiely''refuse'; • but I most respectfully iepl'i'nej I Josiah was forced tp.'siiile at his wife's .equivocation, ..and .resplviitj to' do the thing himself,, He did ;jt ncally-too. He wrote to Charlie, saving! that in.futuro it would be ; osteemed.a favorif at auyitiiiio ho intended' calling, he would ''send intimation of his intention .beforehand',' to prevent disappointment." Charlie took thojiint, arid'did hot call again. '. A few 'months .after' thlsj Josiah caught aslight cphl, and got otherwise out of sorts, : so that the doctor ordered him to go down the Clyde, for change of air, It so fell out that Barbara's 'mother-took seriously ill atthe same time; and as Barbara was an only daughter; she had to remain at her mothers bedside, arid'permit her husband to go away alone, of course on the understanding that, when her mother got hotter, she would at once hasten to her goddriiari. ' ' ' . Josiah went to a'certain town on the coast which' we.shall call L— ~, arid engaged rooms with his old friend Ma Meikle, Durjng the first week he did hot improve, though Mrsi'Meikle. was very attentive, 'Several letters passed between man and wife, so that Barbara was advised as'to life condition,'arid not a little anxious about liini:(but her mother was's'till dangerously HI,. Next week her mother' rallied, but Jp'sirih got worse. At last heliad a severe bilious attack, and was'confiiieu to bed, so tbnt the presence of his wife was imperatively uedes.Sary. He instructed Mrsi Meikle to telegraph for her; and this'-was tlie 'telegram which was delivered to his wifo: ' ' •

"Mrs. Meikle, L—, To Mrs, Blend, Woodburh House, Glasgow!— Your husband is dead. Coiiie down at once."

Great consternatiori was tie'result. On the previous day Mrs Blend had received a piteous note from Josiah, saying ho was "very ill," and'stating;that he had been "vomiting frequently,!' and that his head iwasf".splitting;" so.,that she never questioned the accuracy of thotelegrn'm; Neither did:her father, nor lier cousin Charhe,;who was sent for in the emergency. She was fearfully shocked at the -unexpected intelligence, • and rendered well-nigli helpless; while the two men sagely shook their heads, and attempted to console her with soriio reflections on the liability of. old age to sudden death, which were well■:meant, but,unfortunately ineffective', Charlio undertook-as of course he was expected to do—all the arrangements in; connection with the- funeral. He went to the cemetery that afternoon, and ordered the grave'to b'eoperiedin three days ;

he, put the u|ajjnokfemithojpape||i, issued the .ouitomilry blMk-bdrdWedj tonounccments; went to thq'undortaker's, and ordered ft handsome coin to" be takenfltown and. |i{nHE 6i{Birle¥-iike promptitude and deßpatph, Then he'went to the Telegraph ufflGeJ'and^rwa^

"Charles Robinson, Woodburn. House,. Glasgow! To Mrs! Meikle, : L—-.r-Telegr'am received, . Mrs. Blend very much grieved. Will be down by first train to-morrow.!.lpo beat you can till then.*.' '''.1'"...:.'". ', ; .,".'.' ' Mrs. Meikle read the message to Josiah, ,who smiled'sweetly at his wife's, loving, concern and wifely anxiety, It was yery good of her to be" muoh grieved, '■'. and: to, ask Mrs, Meikle to do all she could for,him, Mrs. Meikle noticed his pleased expression, and jocularly observed that he seemed to be getting better even .with the thought of her coining down, and had no doubt-that a sight of her would do him more good than all the medicine he had taken, In the morning he felt bo well that he got upj; but his .happy anticipations of his wife's arrivaldid not last long. Lifting the telegram, which Mrs, Meikle had left lying on the table, he read it, and was horrified to disoover-whatMrs, Meikle had failed to,read on the previous evening—that the message was not from' his wife, but from the hated Charlie Robinson, The demon of jealousy took possession of his soul, and dread suspicion sot nim on the rack of mental torture.

' "Charlie Robinson at Woodburn House!" exclaimed lie to himself''/"-Has heaotually been' there 'all thetimel have, been away? I believe her mother's illness Has c been merely a. blind; arid yot the'telegram r sa'ys' she is grieved/ ' very much' grieved.' ; •'■ Ay, ay, that must be because elie half to' come 'away from'his delightfulsociety. ■•■TheywiUhive had a fine time of it,' calling'one another 1 Dear Charlie' and '.Dear Babs. i, Well, this is the last straw, aud no mistake. 'l'll make both of them suffer, 1 or mynarne's not Josiah,"

Theao and similar thoughts 'occupied the convalescent 'merchant fully till the' arrival of the train,

That same morning, Mrs, Blend and Charlie took - their-places in "the train;" Mrs." Blend had BD.ent a sleepless night,' and 1 had been regretting over and over again that she had not been permitted to see her husband in his last illness. She was dreßsed in deep : mourning \ her heart was vory sad, and her mind was filled with ''thoughts tod deepfor words." - Her coiisiri, the merry and talkative Charlie, had tied a crape band upon his. arm, arid he too was 'sympathetically silent', The two nien 'and the.,coffin were also in the tram, Charlie thought, and rightly too, thai however yell adapted the West Coast might be for supplying thei necessaries o\ i life, ; affoffin'of a'suitabletsize'and material was riot a thingf.tbat "could be obtained there on'thoshdrfest'noticeV. That, was his reasonfor'taking one downwithhini, in order to bring the body' up : to to \vn.

The four persons formed a melancholy procession to the house of Barbara leaned heavily on Charlie's arm, while gonuiub tears of sorrow chased one another down cheeks; and the two men followed/discreetly at a .distance, with the coffin Mheir shoulders.' '■"'■'(

i Mrs, Meikle opened the door, and grasped both of them by the hand warmly; observing that itVwasa fine day;" but neither of them couU reciprocate.her greeting, and therefore sadly and silently shook hands. Without another word,; Mrs, Meikle showed theui' up-stairs; .and' they s.ummoned'-alt- the courage attheir command to enter the glponiy chamber- of .death. Charlie quietry and gently pushed the door open,' and ushered in his cousin; She entered, and lifted her eyes to' the .bed j but. it was' v'aoarit- Then' she looked wildly about tho room, and—there was her worthy husband in the'flesh and in. life, standing at the window in his dressinggowri, down' oh the coffin which the two.merihad-upQa^hoif'shbulderis' at the gate' belqw; 4r With;' a.-'fieroeiy. angry glarehe turned'upoh his'|ffife.. Her widow 8 weeds' and the coffin showed was some, monstrously strange thing afoot. He'.was about to [ speak,'' when'.' his 'wife', uttered % piercing scream, and v s'a'hk fainting to ~tjib: floor. '-J,' I '. '""' ; ''. The two men, heedless of' the fallen Barbara, ;_Btared -.at',each other.for ajinpiyent; Josiah,' with' mingled hate, (contempt,; aiid jealousy; .Charlie,' mth dpen-'mputhediybn-der and astonishment. jpsiah's.'budy.. brain rapidly fouhda possible explanation. "They intend," thought he, "inniy'weak; and'ner-'; vous condition', to kill ujb.by the shock' of -viewiag iay .own theyihave made for my funeral';" But b'e'felt: strong arid able tp.outwitithem, .....•'"'.'''■■■'•■ "Whatis meaning of .nllihisf" exclaimed the irate Josiah to the' thuutlerstr'uck Charlie. "Who is' for? jib?" ''"' '.' .-''"" " It's all a mistake "-—began.Gliarlie,'Jn' a conciliatory tone. : "All a mistake, is (it!" roared the in ; furiatcd old man, pri whom'contendjng pas-; sions ami tumultuous thpuglits were liegiuning to tell, '' Ail a mistake, 'is it ?'? rev peated he; atteinptingto/gbt(withinstriking; distance of.Charlie, - tjijnE; it was a mistake that ;I;ain(aliVejindr-aMrr-; kicking." Charlie dodged, round the tabjii, the blow which the'fierce' Josiah aiiiietlat! him with his foot. "It is a mistake;" cried: Charlie once more, across (the -table. " Tiie : message" .. ; : " Confound you and the message!" .yelled; the aged one, continuing thc;cliiise^ : "No-: tiling would please'you betterthan;taee me: in my grave, Get.out of the room, yducbii-: founded whelp!" Charlie got cool, as Josiah's fury increased. He was struck with the ridiculousness of running and "dodging['each'"olheFi'duil(l~the" table;. and. then, when ho thought of the coffin at the door, he could no longer suppress a fit of uncontrollable laughter, " Hear me a moment," gasped Charlie—with tears of laughter coursing down his cheeks—"one moment, Mr, Blend,'arid I'll explain, It's really very ludicrous! That coffin down below makes me "

"Youwould bury me alive, would you, and laugh ih my face, you' vilo scamp!" roared Josiah, picking up a carpet footstool and hurling it at Charlie's diead, while!tlie latter ducked, as the swirling: footstool with projectile force swept tU'e'dressing-table clear of its ornaments,

"Outof my sight!" screamed Josiah, now fairly doinented. The young man still hesitated, hoping to explain; but Josiak' seized: the poker, ■ and would have used it as a projectile, had not Charlie, still convulsed, fled precipitately down stairs and out at the front door. When he got there,;he requested the two men .to carry:the coffin back to the!station,; and afterwards adjourned with them to; the only hotel in the place, toi explain, and 1 laugh immoderately at this most amusing misunderstanding, '; 'mi Meanwhile, Josiah helped Mrs. Meikle to put his unconscious wife to bed. Thereafter, he hurriedly donned his apparel,'threw on his overcoat,'and rushed off down-stairs. ";Where are you going ?' inquired' Mrs. Meikle, who had sent for a doctor. "Going? I'm going ;to my lawyer in Glasgow to get a divorce. I'll not stand tricks like these, "cried Josiah, ashe angrily flung.himself, out and violently Cammed the door behind.him.

At the. station he got, a Herali, where he read: "Onthe 21st instant, suddenly, at L—, in the sixtieth year of. his age, Mr, Josiah Blend, much, regretted." . " Much, regretted! m'hm," muttered' the old-'iiiah iSuceringly, ,"A 'month or two

jwonld have #nJb#o t 6olinjito|iea;f #1 seetfe aft ft! .. When lie arrived in ing'tbe streets on his way ho>l|i? .oldfcieniM^n/ t ,»p« ydii; Josiah'?"' ; Y6'U' afS'gdVertisefl as'djKiinj to-day's papers." . . y**ist "Get outpf : myjvay, youojdfoolI" : h| plied --the : '' re'ckleßa'^'2B; r ''nia ; |» degree improved by his journey up to td\n&7 So. saying, he" t6fe along ''theitreet;' ; le'avihg" Mr.'Maxtott speebhless amazement/ ' J ■^"■^••i';^ I '''' - : '^'/ ! J'- , ! ; ;: :'• Whenlie. arrived : 'at hishouse itie'serl'ant who 1 opened 1 ; the' 'door nearly 1 j&eflWof F her 1 skin.'with 1 tight ;"-but 'Jdsiah/ju'shed' past her, ; and hiarched' into thfftarlof; wtiere ;afwma¥ana;f^ upon' her, expected retird'to Glasgow; '■ inpatient astonishment j'.bu'li 'immediately "'afterwards with aheartycKeer;'^hicfrwaa f the ! to make him'-thiriklan'erfbi: i had-'ljeeh m'ttdej and that%ere!wusjnd intention to kill 1 him subseijiierit explanations tended'to 'cool 1 down his'wirath; r 'and■ jaa- the'^fever of exoitementlefthimy he'began'tofeel physical prostration returning; anaultimately was' ; 'cbmpelled. ! to:'a'ccept'the'^« the' best.gracO possible '^nder/the'Cciroumi Btahcesi' '■'' ' !! '< '■'•''"■^'•■'■^•••W ■v.vV'.rriM -.-, . : When tho telegr'amwas shbwri; to him; he went, to the to' demand'an'exi plahatibni an apology/ arid'cbifipeiißitibnfot loss and damage';" "' j;! " :. : T-V; :,|i -' ■'':;< '<- \ ■': " Look'here I"'said HeV•' "I was had with a bilious "att?ck] ; arid ! got 'my lafldMf*t<j send thisitep'imt'/ Your Kusbaild, ii'M} come'dowii 'at : jfac'e'.''' ! 'One'of jour 'operators ;made : 'it' , i/ei'i((i''and 'thereby-' oMe"d'a< f iiiost : frigtitfiil : miaiinderatSHding.-' 1 -T 'ithirili yM ! wirraamit,''saidta . ijf tone,'". there ia'a verygreat'difi'eren'de'Ktei tweeh i bein'g'ba'd'ahd ; bein|'de'a'd? l ' ; ul ■'• : '}\ ::" Yes'j"' there ? ia?a'; grSat"differeli'ce "ceVtainlyi" replied- the' Postmaster; pleasantly j '"aMl'm'lgla'dHhOmistaki'is'not the blhei! way;' f if' yovt'had'been' 'dead,' iris tea r d r r of 'ba'd, I Wouldnot visit." ■•' "!"!•■ ;: Ji-'^wH

Josiah had not looked - at the error' iii ! thai light} but not wantihg : to 'aokriowjedge'tius Postmaster's urbanity too i readilyi"he' ;i re plied allvery-'well; butit-'doei not explain one of the riibst stupid- blurideri lever heard of. The clerk should' be'hbrse whipped I-' -■■ " : :-"i':>''•' ; :-;-- -•'<> " 1 am exceedingly sorry the' : mistake has been made ; but if yori will bear r with' m4'a| mpment,. I'll explain,'; '-The''differ'enbe | ';be tweeii "bad" and ■'' dead" is not very great in the telegraph alphabet j'it ii'altogether Id what is technically called 'J/Saciii^J' A'ccord] ing to the dot and dash-system of -telej graphy," continuedthe PQstmaster.'whd tddkj pencil and paper to illustrate it, " the/word ."bad"is thus written and spaced: '- : r!l b-... .•a ! V the word "dead:"- ■ • '■■■ ■'•'"

_ 'd—i, o,"'- a-,"—f d- i: iV";' 1 beiug i exactly the Bame number of/heate pi dots'- and [ dashes j • arid when'' tolegraphec thus;-' -''"'' : '■-' ! ' i(

and -• '•■■ •'- '■

—.. . .".'— : ;■, dead, j you will observe there is; after all; only the .difference'of a dot.' I "am/ glad, however,' tliat the dot has turned but to be ! in ; youiS favdr:"' ! !•'•■.:*:.:■;■::■.!/ :::.;■■.:!

' ''l ami very much obliged to• you,"'said| Jopiah, "ioryourlucid-explanatibni ■ Iprayj you, however, to call'tliii clef's atteriiidd'to the matter. Had ; I known : it;might : ' : havej been' an ,:i JuncoMoiouß'''enbr,'/iMtead' ; bf >! aj grossly careless onej I would-not'-'have troubled you, Good, afternoon 1 1"'. • ■ : . ...With this explanation; Josiahwas pacifieuj and. pkased. He Testore'd'Mrs 1 .-Blend,' on her return from the West Coast; to' her'for-! rner-poaltlon" as queen: of'his heart;; but? though hei regrets his hasty violence, ho hnsj riot; yet quite conquered' his' aversion 'to Charlie'Rbbinson. ■ •.' : ' ! '. :