I TIIE > ENTRILOQUIST.
H | Powa at tfeefejaoasStiKUul tavern ,
| H Ifce Coalhole , in London , w& were
I 3S tkred together one evening laugh-
IB ing over the ajuuhiag scenes of ven-
| 1k tr2oqukm with which , that clever
IffOBied aa Toole had ju tbeea edify-
[ iK lagus-
\m \ Ajoarsalwi present complimented
It' khn soaewhat iroeieally on what he
II called hi * "little soeiety talents. "
11 --These ease little talents/ said
I Toole ia a grave tone"have soiae-
I ximets a great atflity ia life ; do not
I < kspse them. An. infinitely small
I 4aenfc may save a world of trouble ;
I lotting g unproductive here below.
I Itttme giveyou asimple illustration :
I " * * Some years ago I was passing one
I - treeing through Drary lane on my
I way to the Gaiety theater , where I
I was at that timeplaying a role.
I "My attention was suddenly at-
I traded by a pathetic voice imploring
I. -charity. I stoppedand looked around
I * ae. The voice proceeded from a rais-
< happen being apparently a cripple ,
t orosdied ia the comer of an archway
| hxuiimg i to oatof those winding
[ aaVys &o nmiawroHs in this popular
t j e rtr. Hw white hair and beard
I umd his cracked yoke indicated clear-
It tlttki fcfee feegjsar was an old man.
I • * A few peito * for a poor old man ,
I * * r * * i tike tevHk > et ; voice : * I atu
< M amdhimgvT oh , so hungry ! I
I * j * * t-afe&trft nothing since yesterday. " j
I TW bight of a young man , how-
/ wr stfeemM * he wight have been ,
I wo < iW M > tkav > i ove lme. Oldcock-
a rs Kk * me are too well posted on
alt tktfce bomosrifig schemes which
f ottrk4t ia our town , bat this decrepit
| oW ag * * a&d horrible delormity tilled
I aae with uoiHfUi ioo.
ft What Wteeryf I exclaimed , guz-
i u < at the old tuna * h > it possible
Hi tk roa areeo * IeHiied to begging
HI atyowrage ? Have you no sons or
H * d agiters ?
B | "Aktol ye.g < 4leuia/replied the
; i l " gir > H a satothervd tone , as if
K ; a kaaaed to aekaowledge the truth ,
Hfeatt tkvv have abandoned we/
' - " It k EbSmbmhssT * Tadded.
H- * " * * * i 1 drew trow jay parte a half
Hi 'tlHtlL
B 'As. 1 IhuhjW k toward thebeggur •
: mt ttet i > Hw > ry * * * spiEifts seized me.
Hj i'-riwtps a&wr act k wac * a Kiude-ttp
-npfA Weats Ka > ae ot the only
H. • * - * * • kjMMr lMHrto > * KpgtiWtheia- ,
HJ r4ilML I 4oa.
HI * I pmrfer U > aefrisc ya wore e6ee-
urrly / 1 nawtwiunl , aAeraa ieotuat's
Hj pa b-- * Y > have a rvfcge some-
Hj wfceiv * A ho e ? Wh * tre4you live ! '
H "I s.pecfced r > w to be ealigbtened
H ab > t4 > t > he gvavmiuo < * f wybeggar ;
the r-iifl tes > t h ? sk Ui > a on his part
J wottM htive p4C mmt > a wy guard at
HJ oare.
Hs " * N0t over a < f Mcter © f a mile
J &v JWi . * reefed she cripple. I will
take y < & t > ay t dgiag , sir , if you
M like. '
H "The aarae tawfcv. wkk which here-
m i = f i4ed eueskrred t * we after the ad-
H v-rsre wik * tMrer ; a t W tine I hud
HJ no stress aMi > a k.
B " 'Very weMggwahtiaii ; I wfll g&How/
1 1 aa wenrd.
B "The beggar smarted off oa his
K rr rhe > . kaggki after h & two
B ? HMafe ) f fc * * widfc h a keil
B yrv tartioaL f iwitiwiJn aaui kt
jm aaai ferrwac ! * • * . ke Maka-
B ' . . -rvj [ rafiy inlmiic tW nHwWy
H aad 'fafrfurr jiffc-gdaV. vf Drary k * e.
B it • a &Haa4 Laaatoa niator
. a . A dart , km * * far kafr
Hw Iw iil , . * ncrliw laniaifrimiTil wiirt
* mmtfc * Mi y & > w K HM i
B IM ft Jniwa , thrijm > l.l I'pg-lHf k > ok
ator * McC f MtaMMwant- .
B r ' ru K tkJwa vl''pi > ad the
:
B = 4 m $ f siw > wUii' hiMi > * > n. '
tlt itt-y a 4 cNrtc > thrwagh. whcVrh '
B w - - piAK yl. guMK. yw fcl. iM s gaoed '
T vMrt afwma < H.aaal cue tiMriflat < a 6ea-
B w TBkii w Msk ey s > glared oet :
B SBto taW atgac
H "la i yke aay iuaJKarky wkkthe ;
Bdbajrksa efLcMuiMKfif. iVoaMaot
B 3vf vsv > alia-3l f ieyui tade. aad I <
B 3QM t aay ific w * Jd © t be pleas- <
Hi sat % 9 t srf.tfcfc > ryniirter of London. <
H | M > the LmmI of ajgat. i
K. , Xot J t iJtat we nwfc-s acksowledge 1
B < M9r p aWe ioirce is tuhnirrjWy orgaai- ]
B stzLSvc. t a&cimc : tike widespread ]
B lafcHrrr aad iegnwia * > a jaLoados , i
B it * s aaiy aiTfjiw kag thas erases are <
B sot twat r % a es a asaseroes as <
B tS evare. B c faa.pke tk * > e&ergy i
HJ -of e | 4 s . Wx Maay a khwrk deed 1 [
H xss Wi a. Varied ieeever ia the t
HJ vtaaii afoargma * towa ! <
B "iHanae ; fikeee wdtWtiaHr ; . Kfide reJ
B assarvag a tsky w # e. I gaasd after i
H xbt g B W. fe ei fejfcy it wa * > a poor i
H S&nL tkaSl ao l&as&r doakted. I t
H Tanaa oa ifce yaax ofc u f > ykag kaat and i
B r ib u. % : : lata oa kfe > way wick a &w 1
H lifcUp , l. Iwa&akaost aekawetl of *
H xbv "agpadoa . 8 t wisfc a &k3l h- {
H -d pbtoJIjamrm i 1 ky loag yeacs of (
B ex tviee saw kH gar attwaamni very (
H xafodK. wwmik' ; fcoat tkar to time <
H | to busLe sane akiaC I wa Mowksg. i
B " It I tag k r waout d Cova bar-
B 4aVa MaaebtC mmti Loag Acxe aad ea- <
B tfvd tka JM'lir a. < partac wkkek yoa '
M fc * * S < - * r * iSfmA > . Tke ad- ]
B Tttataav warn an . lo oaly koig-way i
B jiv-mji mr. : 1
B ' 'Ajty'caiHrfcaiaayoaf tooatstitr < (
B 1 * a 4 , * oftdaiag af > * ak Awhwigg ar. <
H i k tgai 't aamck akaw to t.paMto. * 1
H Jl * i if obe I j nr oaft aay naaork , !
H , w : - * * * * * HWauatWT of Ifeatt's , ]
HM -4i 'Jti ' i aaafcki vaaW Lajlaaig Haai- <
H i r af I i.awyai- a * a fer. o wfii i
m • vaawa ft iai k ake kifgprs '
H t k.kor I > aaaitoa TMlC tkahtV 1
3 < gksy jmmng y fcr ojk ofci aaoa. * 1
tfwaqyatiau nil imkk ttiafe ;
B f.k > - Uax oaVa oar piakry fcnU '
HC o..ntjtae.oar hu > a 'rjaa\3Mi iiat. > Jore- ;
B < > % • ajk tke ? > ? * WaJs oaarter i
B kaMaV aad. aotof
Jmi nKoxaed taW aot- #
B Ixipoaa kfc * l.mwgkp a&i ckoaas <
B sgyArNl Bpoa aat aW Iroaa. she aak-
B & tooa e . aad tke kar-rocs of the <
B sc mkofkoodl
B -1 & &eraHa&a < to pasa tke ad- :
B * " " -rggtaurg'to its ead. sfce aaor > o-as i
B s t < oa aaa < o& aow taraed tome ;
H aa4 said , at ko > cracked , fiakering '
HJ xoa-T -
B " "Keffei * aqrkoa egeBi6fc ear He '
H 4W door i
s > i t&coagfc kalfopea
< afa * 4gag 3&ted knfliaVwgaad : started i
B * marKke&Ts aiinBa e with , the 3gHky i
H lhm < i keJoWrefiaarked. I had &M- '
H yaaS wiagkiatiRtkenasseafc- i
j ofeoarkfir Tkei art ta othw i
< * cit soaad ios the step * and i
B J I1
* err 4 * yg
HbHL * BM MCjaa a MlaWa BaMPa1 * ' " " 1111 * * ' ' ' l'M1liaEfc"1l ! * ' . < l wirT nWB
" " "
h hV * 3
" M i < n
'K
"At the third story the old beggar
stopped ; I hoard him feeling about in
the durk , then came the sound of a
key turning in a lock.
" 'One moment , my good gentle-
munsaid the trembling voice ; 'I will
light a candle. '
"Some seconds passed ; then the
dismal glimmer of a tallow candle lit
up a room which struck me as toler
ably spacious.
The beggar hud slipped behind me ,
and now I heard the sharp click of
the key in the lock.
"I had expected to find a sordid ,
miserable hole , fitted out with a
broken stool , and a bundle of straw
in the corner for a bed ; instead of
which the room was furnished with a
certain degree of luxury , and the
floor was covered with a rich carpet.
* ktWhat does this mean ? ' I asked in
stupor. 'You have deceived me ! '
"I turned toward the door. The
old man had vanished ; a man in the
vigor of life , a white wig in his hand ,
his face covered with penciled 'wrink
les , looked up at me and laughed.
* - lYou look surprised , ' he said , in
a mocking tone. "There are mira
cles still in our days , you see. My
good legs have come back to me , and
my crutches look there ! '
"lie pointed toward the corner
near the door.
" 'Well , what do you want of me ? '
I ) iked resolutely enough.
" 'I want you to lend me your
watchimpudently asked the man.
Mine happens tc be at the jeweler's
ju. > t now , andyours looks like atoler-
ably good one. I'll warrant it keeps
good time. "
"After all it was but one man , and
a struggle man to man demands but
an ordinary courage.
"But my pseudo gray beard drew
a revolver from his pocket.
" ' .Xo , ' said he , holding the muzzle
to rav face , 'the watch and the purse
first. '
* * I drew back. Indignation
and anger at letting myself
into such an absurb trap al
most suffocated me ; but what could
I do against this man armed ?
"All at once an idea occurred to
me.
" 'Imp of Satan ! I'll catch you
yet ! " called out a gruff voice from
behind the beggar.
"Instinctively he turned around.
I soized the opportunity to rush up
on him and snatch the revolver from
his hands.
* * * My turn now , " said I , holding
the revolver under his nose. 'Open
that door this instant or I will blow
out your brains ! '
"The robber looked at me with a
stupid air. He was a resolute fellow
without a doubt ; but the revolver
and the mysterious voice together
were too much for him. Growling
savagely , like a bull-dog , he opened
the door and slammed it violently
after me.
" • Feeling my way along , I found
the stair-case , and with some diffi
culty gained the street. I directed
my steps at once toward the Strand.
I arrived a half-hour late at mthe
ater , where reigned the greatest in
quietude at my non-appearance.
I kept the revolver as a 'tribute
of war. ' "And you see , " concluded
Toole ' , "how my 'little talent' of ven
triloquism that night helped nic out
of < an ugly scrape. " London Mail.
About IJeii > o > es.
A very common error is the belief
tkat a red nose or chin , and pimples
or "blossoms" about that part of
the face , are the result of hard drink-
hag , and are always indicative of
tkat vice. "With many persons this
is tke case. The acceleration of the
aoveaient ot the heart , the rapid
heking of the body and the slow
weakening of the blood , three of the
cktef results of the use of alcohol up
on the system , too often find expres
sion in the unsightly symptoms
mentioned , as well as others more
serious.
These symptoms , says the Anah'st ,
often arise from other and very
different causes. In some instances
exposure to the sunlight will produce
results hardly distinguishable from
those of alcoholic indulgence , and
more especially with those with im
pure blood , or whose habits have
not been marked by the regularity
lieniaaded by health. Tight lacing
or even the mere wearing of stays , no
matter how loosely these may fit , or
iow soft and flexible the material
koto which they are made , frequently
xercise the same effect in every re-
sjanL Many a temperate woman
aad abstinent maid has acquired the
reputation of being a hard drinker
Eroaa theappearance of her face , when ,
is a matter of fact , her only fault has
been the desire to look attractive and
its foolish expression in the com
pression of her waist and abdomen.
Likittouy is another common cause
* f a ret * nose and cutaneous disorders
af the face. And in this regard
dattony.does not mean the eating
if kirgequantitiesof food , but merely
f aot - than the system requires.
To aad a half pounds of nutriment
per dSemmay be gluttony for a young
naa or young woman who takes
kttle or no exercise , and passes the
iayrealing light literature , or idly
eoaversiog , where five pounds.would
he abstemiousness to a young col-
ifegkut playing ball and rowing twelve
koacv © at of the twenty-four. Many
W t5es. and more particularly the
• IkHioBS of the erysipelas class , tend
to exp ss themselves in and upon
tke ao&e aad fare , not only in all their
forats aad stages , but even after they
kave b < H a aoraiaally cured , leave or
MQfirmt a tendency upon the system
to tke same ansightly and disgusting
syst © i3. However serious or deep-
seated the cause , it is always possibly
aad ess ? to cure and prevent the
efcets. Whether the original source
of the trouble lies in constitutional
diseases , depraved condition of the
system , hard drinking , overeating ,
sanborn or tight lacing , it cannot
produce-the blemishes described until
after the blood has been surcharged
with humors and the vital organs
have become weakened in tone and
• activity. These are in every instance
the immediate cause of the trouble.
If they be stopped before they reach
their fuHdeveIopment.no skin disease
will break out. If they be properly
treated after that point , the disease
soon disappears and the sufferer
speedily regains his beauty and
healthl
A < g J , v'ffa""ff" ' "J7&jituitiM"iT i lila iiilaitfafi
" ' " '
' ' ' ' " " '
The Last Ten Thousand.
i ait i.
On a wet gloom } ' afternoon in the
April of 187-Mr. Jnmes Heath sat
in a house in Adam-street , Strand ,
and in the curiously-furnished apart
ments which ho called his office. The
very dirty window curtains of the
room were of the richest silk. The
costly Turkey carpet was covered
with dust and littered with bundles
of old law papers and newspapers ,
besides letters-and other documents ,
which , having been torn up , had evi
dently lain on the floor untouched
for weeks or months. On the walls
of the room were hung a number of
valuable oil paintings , water colors ,
and engravings. Madonnas and Holy
Families of the early Spanish and
Italian schools , pets of the balletand
the prize ring , Dutch boors , land
scapes , portraits and racing scenes-
mingled as they were without the
least regard to style or subject , the
general effect was altogether novel
and surprising. About the chamber
were a number of chairs and couches ,
mostly of antique patterns , but all
of them made of the most costl3r ma
terials , and covered , like the carpet ,
with dust. In the corners of the
room were piles of well-bound vol
umes , and two massive sideboards
one of oak , the other of ebony were
piled with miscellaneous heaps of
books , glasses , and silver plate. Ev
erything about the chamber , in short ,
was dirty , costly , and incongruous.
Finally , muffled up in a thick over
coat , and with his back to the fire
place , in which there was no fire , sat
Mr. Heath. He was a rather stout
man of about sixty , with keen , gray
eyes white hair , and a very rubicund
complexion. On the table before him
stood among a number of paper a
bottle of braudy and a tumbler , and
he was engaged in reading a long
letter , which , was written in a rather
fcpruwling , boyish hand.
"Dear Sir , " the letter ran , "I must
have 500 by Monday , and I want
at least ; " 500 besides. This , with
what I owe you at present , will
make 4,000. I propose , in consider
ation of that 1,000 which I now
ask A'ou to advance , to assign to
you the wholeofmy lifeinterestin the
lo,000 3 pei cent , consols , together
with the whole interest under the
policy of assurance for the 3,000.
The premiums on the policy amounts
to iJ00 per aunum , so that the 450
odd which accrues from the consols
will leave a balance of about 250 per
cent , interest on the 4,000 until the
policy falls in. In other words , for
4,000 you get an absolute rever-
sion in 10,000 , together with 250
a year until the reversion is realized.
I am aware that I could do better
than this , but I wfint the money at
once and I am ready to submit to
the sacrifice for immediate payment.
I shall call on you to-morrow after
noon at 4 o ' clock , when I hope you
will let me have a check. Yours , :
faithfully.
Robert Oswald. " i
Mr. Ilea tit read the letter very
carefully through two or three times , ]
after which he laid it on the table and -
leaned back in his chair , while he in-
dulged in a soliloquy which he mut
tered half aloud. '
"Yes , " hesaid , "theterms are good '
enough. The young fool in in con- .
sumption already , though he's bare- -
ly twenty-three , and this season will ]
kill him. Chapman says his right '
lung is nearly gone lucky I got him ]
to insure for the big sum at once. .
Wants the money , I suppose , to meet
his losses on the City and Suburban.
What's he going to do , I wonder , ]
when he has parted with his interest ]
in the 15,000 ? Fall back on his
mother , I suppose. She's supposed *
to be wealthy , but her money is all
in American stocks , they say , and if '
report is true she knows how to keep *
it. The widow of a Scotchman.
f
who made a fortune in America , they
came back to England about five
years since to get into society and 1
put young hopeful through Oxford.
The father died three years ago , and
the mother has been leading a rath
er retired life since , so they say. But , *
nonsense , what has all this to do
with me ? Young Mr. Oswald , who
has got himself into consumption E
through dissipation , is practically >
offering me 10,000 for a further ad- '
vance of 1,000. Even if I had to ]
wait a few years it's good enough.
But he hasn 't twelve months' life in
him. Three months more , at the J
rate he is going at present , ought to ]
finish him. And then ? "
Mr. Heath continued almost 1
aloud , and in an excited manner :
"Then I have made the 100,000 *
which it has been the ambition of my
life to be worth. This is the last ten |
thousand. With this I shall be worth |
almost exactly one hundred and two *
thousand pounds in hardcash , be
sides the good-will of this cursed
business , and all the things , which I [
shall dispose of at once , Why , I \
ought to have nearly one hundred ]
and ten thousand pounds ; but never x
mind , once I have a hundred thouJ J
sand pounds in hard cash. I shall j
give up. To that I have made up *
my mind. And then ? Well , I shall - <
go on the Continent for a time. I'd
be pretty well forgotten in the course 1
of two orthree years , and my name i
is not in particularly good odor just s
now hasn 't been for years past.
Never mind that when a man has a
four or five thousand a year , people 1
are not too particular about his anc
tecedents. 1 may take a place a lit1
tie way out of London be a sort of .1
county magnate for a bit and work 1
my way into a decent club.
Let them say what they like
l > ehind my back , they'd be bound 1
to be civil to my face , and that's all
that any one need care. Half the i
peers in England would go crazy if 1
they only knew what their servants 1
were saying about them. Fools , 1
we're all , more or less , tarred with I
the same brush , thinking vermin as 1
we are , if this new theory of evolution \
or what ever it's called be truo. No ,
if I once get foot into a good club , t
they could uot get out of it again , if t
I only can afford to act respectably , c
xaqBaajjajrtiaMaari na i am * ! * * * * * * * * * BmimnxMsxaMKminBwmm
Lot them whisper.wlmfc thoy like be
hind my back , all that I have to deal
with is what is said or done .before
my face , and the hounds would
bo silent , for they can prove nothing.
If the brutes have to lick me , what
do I care if they would like to bite.
'Heavens , what a contemptible thing
is human nature'thegreat ! Napoleon
used to say when he was a young
man starving in Paris. Contempti
ble is not the word. Worthless in
different unworthy of even contempt
poor wretched puppets. You band
together , and club your wretched sel
fishness into what you call respecta
bility. Bespect ? Why , you will have
more real respect for me , who'll force
my way , and walk alone amongyou ,
then you have for the sleekest crea
ture of your back. Yes , 'Lions walk
alone , jackals heldtogether , ' as Pitt
used to say , and one can play the
Pitt of the Napoleon in privateas
well as in public life , if need be. Yes ,
I have only to wait now till Mr. Os
wald smashes up the little that's left
of his constitution. Not many
months at the furthest. Strange that
the last 10,000 should come alto
gether in this way ; I might have been
three or four years getting it togeth
er. Perhaps longer. Who can tell ?
We make more bad debts than peo
ple think , and , like the snail crawl
ing up the post , I might , now and
then , have slipped down at night
twice as far as i had crawled during
the daj\
"But here the whole thing is done.
The last ten thousand made , " as the
saying is , by a stroke of my pen.
And yet , it's curious how I have had
a suspicion from the first moment I
set eyes upon this brat that he'd be
at once my making and my ruin.
Tush ! such nonsense ; the thing is
perfectly legal , and the money is
perfectly safe. Even if I lost it , I'd
be very fnrlrom ruined ; but it is quite
safe. So , Mr. Oswald , you shall have
your thousand pounds , more especi
ally as you are pretty certain to kill
yourself with it. Still I have a strange
liking for the. lad. He has good
qualities with all his folly ; But oh ,
humbug ! what have I to do with
these feelings ? If I had any one to
leave my money to a child of my own
to inherit my wealth I might wish
to leave it a little cleaner than it is.
Yes , it's hard to think that the riches
for which I have toiled will go to
people whocursemy name If I don't
leave them to the nation , or turn
them into cash and fling it into the
sea before I die. Come in ! "
The last two words were in answer
to a knock at the door.
"Mr. Oswald , Sir , " said a boy who
acted asasortofaclerkto Mr. Heath.
"Show him in , " said the latter as
he resumed his seat at the table.
A tall , handsome , but very delicate
young man entered the room.
"Well , young Sir , what can I do
for you ? " said Heath in agruffvoice ,
which was intended to be pleasing
and j assuring.
One of Mr. Heath's peculiarities
was that he seemed to take a delight
in : making his clients state their busi
ness : as often as possible , however
well he might be acquainted with it.
"You can offer me a chair if you
wantto be civil , and a glass of bran
dy ' if you ' re inclined to oe friendly , "
replied Oswald in a languid familiar
manner , which just bordered on be
ing contemptuous.
. "Oh , please be seated , my dear Sir ,
if you insist on ceremony , " said
Heath , pushing a bottle and a glass
toward ; his visitor as he spoke.
"And how. beside offering you a
chair and a little brandy , what else
can I do for you ? "
"Well , confound it ! you know what
I have come about. You have had
my letter. What's the use of asking
such a question ? " was the impatient
rejoinder.
"Yes. I have had your letter , but
I don't like the business. I tell 3rou
frankly , I don't like to see a young
man ruining himself as you are do
ing "
"Oh , curse it all ! I have not come
here to be lectured , " interrupted Os-
waldangrily. "Will you do the thing
or not ? This is Thursday. I must
have the money by Saturday night. "
"I would have to give notice to the
Trustees of this fresh charge , and
there is barely time to get the thing
bhrough. I would rather you took
the matter somewhere else/'replied
Efeath , dubiously.
"But that is impossible , and I must
meet my engagements on Monday , "
was the answer.
The result of some further conver
sation was that Mr. Heath , with a
reat show of reluctance , suffered
liimself to be persuaded to have every
thing ready to make this further and
final advance an Saturday.
"You will have twenty pounds in
jold , eight ten-pound notes , and the
remaining nine hundred pounds
short , ' " said Oswald as he was leav
ing the room.
"Yes , I hope you will take care of
it , " replied Heath.
"I shall win twenty thousand over
bhe Guineas. Good evening. " was
bhe answer , and Mr. Oswald took
liis departure.
On Saturday Oswald duly received
bhe 1,000 after he had executed a
Seed , by which he assigned the pol
icy of assurance and his life interest
in the 15,000 consols to Mr. Heath.
According to the will of the late Air.
Dswald , the 15,000 was , if Ilobert
Oswald died without issue , to be paid
bo a distant relative who lived in
Am erica.
Mrs. Oswald. I may add , derived
tier income from certain investments
in American railway stocks. She was
supposed to be very well off , but it
ivas a curious thing that , though she
ivent a good deal into society , no
body seemed to know much about
jither her or Iter late husband. They
liad come from America about five
years beforeanci , taken a house in
Porches ef Terrace Bayswater.
The late Mr. Oswald brought very
jatisfactory references from Chicago ,
ept a very good balance at his bank ,
md entertained , as did Mrs. Oswald ,
n a very hospitable manner. This ,
lowever , was really all that was
inown about them. As to their son ,
Robert , he had unluckily taken to
jetting , and got into the clutches of
Mr. Heath , with what result , so far ,
ive have seen above.
It is notnecessaryto say more than
iliat Robert Oswald lost his money ,
md brought'himself to his death-bed
luring the next two months. As
F SnfS F i * ffc tfrwSt " ' ? ifi iB " ! r * ilaiHaTI1l
,
Mr. Heathknew , he was in consump
tion when he sold his annuity , and
the effect of his losses and constant
dissipation precipitaled the collapse
of his system. "Whensorrows come ,
they come not single spies but in
I I battalions. " On the morning after
the race for the "Two Thousand Guin
eas , " when Robert was left utterly
penniless , and in debt to a number
of bookmakers , Mrs. Oswald received
a letter from her stock broker , saying
that he would like to see henathor
earliest convenience. Accordingly
bhe went at once to the City , where
she learned that the two American
railways in which nearly all her money
was invested had ceased to pay divid-
ens. That , in short , the shares were
almost unsalable , as it was highly
probable that the concerns would be
sole under foreclosure of mortgages.
Mrs. Oswald did all she could under
the circumstances. She gave up her
house in Porchester Terrace and took
lodgings in St. Paul's road , Camden
Town , where she devoted herself to
the task of nursing her son , who was
now fast sinking in consumption.
PART II.
In the second week of the following
June , Mr. Heath , who had a small
house in Notting Hill , was sitting in
his parlor at a little after 8 o'clock
in the evening , Avhen a servant came
in to say that a Mr. Bailey wished to
see him.
"Show him in at once , " said Heath ,
who rose from his seat and went to
the door to meet him.
"Well , " said Heath , in his
usual gruff way , when he had closed
the door , which he did very carefully
as if he were afraid that some one
might be listening outside.
"Mr. Oswald's dead , Sir. Died at
5 o'clock this evening. I only heard
of it within the last hour , and I came
on at once to tell you. "
For a moment there was silence ,
during which the little man stood
twirling his hat in his hands.
At last Heath said , "Are you
quite certain of this ? "
"Quite certain , Sir , " was the an
swer. "I have it from the servant in
the house. I had been expecting the
the news all day , and directly Mrs.
Wilmot told me I thought I'd make
assurance doubly sure by seeing the
servant myself. As I told you , I
knew herbefore she went to live in
St. Paul's road. I told you how I
heard from Mrs. Wilmot everything
that went on in the house. "
"Well , well , that will do. Here is a
sovereign for your trouble in coming
here. Look into my office next week
and I shall pay you Avhat we have
arranged , when I have the formal
proofs of his death , Cood-night. "
"Good-night , Sir , thank you. ' " said
Bailey , as he left the room.
Bailey was a nondescript character
who was occasionally employed by
Heath , sometimes as a broker , some
times as a private detective. In the
present instance , by virtue of his hav
ing some relatives living in St. Paul's
road , he had been engaged to bring
Mr. Heath the earliest intelligence of
Robert Oswald's death. When he
had gone Heath walked up and down
the room for some minutes in silence.
At length he muttered to liimself :
"One hundred and two thousand
pounds in hard cash , made at last !
I shall sell everything I own within a
fortnight's time furniture , bills , pic
tures , all. They will fetch another
six thousand ; but , whatever they
bring , they shall be sold at onoo. I
am determined to enjoy my wealth
while I have time , and to do that I
must cut the life I have been leading
at once. Yes , my 'pile' is made. I
have at last what .years ago I said I
would make , and I shall be out of
England this day fortnight. What
may 1 not do yet , with over a hun
dred thousand pounds and the brains
and knowledge which I possess !
Good heavens , how suddenly the last
tenthousand has come ! What a
lucky chance it was that threw the
young fool into my clutches ! I man
aged him properly , there's no doubt.
But yet it was a lucky chance that
brought him to me. Still it's strange
the presentiment I have always had
about him. Oh , bother such non
sense ! what have I to do with pre
sentiments ? I shall be believing in
ghosts and hobgoblins next ! Yet I
seem to be sorry instead of glad , and
there is that fear of some impending
evil which I seemed to have every
time I saw him. What on earth can
this be ? "
The la&t question was caused by a.
sharp knock and ring at the hail
door. In a few seconds the servant
came in with a telegram. Mr. neath
looked at the envolope nervously 1 > p-
fore he opened it. At last he took
out the telegram , which he read two
or three times over , us if he doubted
the evidence of his eyesight. Then
he put the telegram in his pocket ,
whispering to himself in a trembling
voice as he did so
"What can it be ? What can it be ? "
The telegram which evidently
caused him so much uneasiness was
as follows :
"Mrs. Oswald , To James Heath , Esq. ,
St. Paul's Road. Stanhope Terrace ,
Camden Town , Notting Hill.
"It is of great importance that I
should see you to-night. Robert Os
wald died at five o ' clock this evening.
Please come here at once on receiv- \
ing this telegram. "
"Could it be some conspiracy to
get me into the house and murder
me ? " thought Mr. Heath , as he <
walked about tho room , with the
telegram in his pocket. "Oh. non- :
sense ! 1 need not be afraid of that.
They are very respectable people in j
the house. No , depend upon it , it is <
cither that the mother wants to beu ; ;
or borrow from me : or that there is ;
some screw loose about the policy of
assurance. Curse it ! Like my usual i
luck. But I had better be off there ;
at once. What a curious authorita- i
tive way .she telegraphs in , though. " i
He left the house , and , hailing the '
first hansom he met , was driven rap
idly to St. Paul's road. A servant i
opened the hall door before he could
knock , and having asked if he was ' .
Mr. Heath , conducted him up stairs i
to the drawing room. Though it
was just 9:30 o ' clock , and getting
rather dark , no lamp or candle was
lighted in the room , and as Mr.
Heath entered he could just discern :
through the deep twilight the figure
of a tall woman who was sitting by
one of the windows dressed in black.
She rose as he entered and asked him
to take the chair which was a fev
yurds from where she was sitting.
From the position in which she
sat , and the darkness of tha
room , Mr. Heath could not
discern her features very clearly ,
and to tell the truth ho felt exceed
ingly uncomfortable. He was pretty
well case-hardened of course ; few men
had more curious experiences , and
some of the scenes ho had witnessed
in the pursuit of his vocation were
not a little appalling. But just as
one of tho first things tfmt is taught
to every medical student is that he
must disregard the pain which he has
to inflipt on his patients , so , from the
very outset of Ins career , Mr. Heath
had trained himself to be perfectly
callous about the feelings and inter
ests of the people with whom he was
brought in contact. Still , all the
teaching in the world cannot make a
surgeon insensible to pain , which is
inflicted on himself , and it was just
because he was apprehensive that
some calamity was aboutto fall upon
him that Mr. Heath felt on the pres
ent occasion a sense of fear which al
most amounted to terror.
"You have been prompt in respond
ing to my telegram , " said the lady
in a hard , defiant voice. "My son ,
as I told you , is dead. You have
stripped him of his little property.
He died a pauper. You make 10 , -
000 by his death. I have lately lost
nearly all that 1 was worth. I have
spent pretty nearly the rest in nursing
him through his hist illness. I want
twenty pounds in ready money to
pay his funeral expenses. You are
the proper person to give it to me.
Do you refuse ? "
I dare say that Mr. Heath would
gladly have paid twenty pounds , or
more , for the relief he experienced
when he heard this speech. So it was
only a begging appeal after all.
"Thank heavens ! " he muttered to
himself , and for the first timesince he
heard of Robert Oswald's death ho
felt really easy in his mind.
"My good madam , " hesaid , in his
usual tone of gruff determination ,
"your son sought me voluntarily
He had ample value for what he sold
me. I have nothing more to say on
the matter , and I must wish you good
night. "
"But I have something more to
say to you , " said the lady , who rose
from her chair at the same time that
ho did. "Had you given me the twenty
pounds I would have been content to
let you go in peace. Asit is 3-011 must
hear why you are the proper person
to pay for the funeral of my son.
Come here ; I have something to tell
you which you will remember to the
last day of your life. See " j
She threw open the folding doors
that separated the drawing room
from a bedroom which was brilliantly
lighted with candles. On a bed lay
thebody of Robert Oswald. His ,
mother wentround and stood at the -
far side of the bed , facing Heath , ;
who advanced a little way into the 1
Inner room as if he were drawn by a
spell.
"Now , Sir , " sheexclaimed , "do you
recognize me ? " 1
"I can't say I do , madam , " said .
Heath , whose eyes were fixed on the i
face of the corpse , and who hardly . ,
looked at her.
" make differ- ,
"Twenty-two years a - -
mce , no doubt , " she said as she re
moved a scarf which was tied around
her head , and let her long auburn ,
hair fall .about her shoulders. "Now
Philip Arnott , look at me again and *
! ee if you recognize the face of the *
wife whom you forced to leave you. t
Look on that bed and see if a on ree- j'
ognize your own features in the face r
of your dead son. " *
"My son ! " exclaimed Heath or j .
Arnott , as he really was.
"Yes , " said his wife , "it is not
many days since , X y an accident , 1
found out that you , whom I knew to j
have ruined him and from whom I
tried to save him , were also his ,
father. When you forced me to fly
from you twenty-two years ago I '
found a protector for myself and ,
child. We went to America , where
we lived for yea re as man and wife. -
In an evil hour we came back to
England. God or fate brought your .
;
son and you together the little . ;
darling child whom you used to
nurse on your lap the little child * J
who used to pull your whiskers and 1
throw his arms around your neck. ,
You loved him , though you did not
love me ; but , oh , see there is the re- *
suit ! "
g
For a moment Arnott , who was j
deadly pale , looked in her face , and .
uttered one word , "Alice. " Then he ,
looked at the corpse again , and said
mechanically , as his eyes were riveted T
on it. "Bob" j
"Yes , Bob and Alice , " cried his wife.
"You recognize us now ; but what is
the matter ? "
Phillip Arnott was swaying from j
side to side. Suddenly he fell sense
less on the floor. It was many hours
before he returned to consciousness , s
but when he did so he was in a state of V
idiocy , in which condition he remaina
ed until he died , about three months a
afterward. As he had made no will
his property was divided under the
Statute of Distributions. I have only d
to add that Alice Arnott succeeded , (
as his widow , to her share of the ) >
property , and returned to America v. '
shortly after his death. Belgravia. n
'
He Lost His Coffin.
n
Down at Albuquerque there was s
one special consumptive who , being e ;
that , felt that somehow no other cona
sumptive should be permitted in the o
place. He was a character noted for h
going on frequent "benders" until he b
came very near to having tiie jimt ;
jams and then sobering up. He had d
a kind of privilege in the town and 1
became jealous of it. One day ana
other consumptive put in an appeard
mice , much to the prior resident's tl
disgust. They met. The old resio
dent eyed the new coiner all owr. n
Then he said : b
"Say , you ' ve come here to die , I g
s ' pose. Well , there ain 't much life bea
tween us. I'll tell you what I'll do. n
I'll go across the way and shake the a
diceWith vou for a coffin. " a
"Goes ! " said the other. o
The old resident lostthe shake , and b
he went off at once on a terrific jamii i
beree and died. The new comer was tl
so mad he went raving about the a
place. • °
"He did it to get out of paying for g
that coffin. That's the meanest trick a
I ever had done to me. " San Fran- f <
cisco Chronicle. a
•
- "gg M ss HHHHHjflHHHjl
*
* I
f
1
* \r
% ?
Before tho Erilortfatchefr.r i
Probably thero arc few children of j
tho present day who have seen or who , •
have ever heard of tho old-fashioned j
tinder box and matches. Yet fifty ; - .
years ago tho friction match , now so * 1
universally used , had but just been ; i
invented , and did not come into gen- . ' :
ernl use for many years. Before the C j
year 1836 , or thereabouts , house
keepers were obliged to use matches
of domestic manufacture. Theso ,
were pieces of small white pine wood ,
perhaps twice tho size of our match , • *
tlie ends of which had been dipped in
brimstone. A small iron skillet in |
which to melt the brimstone was a 1
common kitchen utensil in many fam
ilies in New England , if not elsewhoro. }
The only way to light one of these
brimstono matches was to bring it in
contact with a spark of fire. For '
this purpose there used to be kept in 4
every house a small tin box filled with |
burnt rags and this was called a tin- j
der box. In ordei to obtain a light J
a common gun flint u a struck with
considerable force against a piece o - (
steel made of convenient size , which
produced a few sparks ; these , lodging
upon the burnt rags , made sufficient
fire to enable one to readily light the t
match.
These smouldering rags for the f
sparks thus obtained did uot produce
ablaze were afterwards extinguished
by around tin covercallcd a damper.
To thus create fire required some
experience , especially in damp
weather , or with cold fingers on a
winter mornings. We have known
people to make "a bad piece of work" i
with the flint and steel , and to succeed v !
only with great patience in "striking
a light. " If one happened to bo cross
or nervous the chances were that he
could not succeed at all ; nor was it
an infrequent sight to see the good
wife of the house running across the 3
street with a shovel to borrow a
i
shovelful of "live coals" from a ,
!
neighbor , the chimne } ' smoke of whoso
I dwelling proclaimed that she had a
fire. The change to the match of st
commerce { was one of the f iret of what I -
wenowconsidermodern conveniences. V
In many families it was one of the ' _ '
; "children's chores" to prepare wood
.
for matches and to dip the ends in y
melted ; brimstone. These matches V
\ were , sometimes to bo bought in shops , < &
but New England economy more fre- ] J
quently led each family to prepare f
its own. Still it was not uncommon r
*
for poor children to make a trifle of
money by selling matches to their * " /
more fortunate neighbors. In /
sparsely settled neighborhoods great V
care was exercised at night by the < & \
head of the house to "keep the lire. " V *
He , took precautionthatthere should ) '
be a good bed of "live coals" at the ' '
hour of re retiring ; these he covered
with many shovelfuls of ashes to pre- j
vent them from burning out. The < C ,
next morning the coals were usually { ,
found to be "live" onrakingopen the A\ \
fishes and served to start the day's % \
fire. It was not an impossible fent to '
thus preserve the family fire through I
the year , without recourse to tinder j |
box and matches. {
The modern friction match was i
ivolcomed by most housekeepers , al- (
Lhouirh here and there some old peo- ' . 1
pie objected to it , considering it a |
langerous article , as no doubt it is \ '
Evhon carelessly used or lelt lying _ / '
ibout. The lirst friction match in- * j
rented required to be drawn across * * 3t
1 piece of tine sandpaper in order to - • ;
produce : a light. This was called a ' . . 1
.ucifer. and was much safer , although \ \
lot so convenient , as the present /I
natch. Then came the present pat- < >
mt friction matches , which used to t !
je called "loco-focos. " There were 1
10 fancv match boxes in "old times , " • 1
md the tinder box was not con- • |
; idered an ornamental article , but s ' <
vas kept out of sight in the cup- * ;
joard or on the kitchen mantelpiece. > t\ \
We find in a Salem newspaper of ' /
rune 20,183G , the following : "Not- *
vithstanding the convenience of / •
hese dangerous little articles , fric- * •
ion matches , which are in almost
everybody " s hands , but which
vith all charms bid fair to prove a • { '
leavy curse to the community , we W
earn that there is one man in Salem , ' j
1 respectable tradesman who keeps * 1 >
1 store , where we should generally * ,
sxpect to find such things , but who ) J
las never sold themnor allowed j j
ihem to be used on his premises. At j. '
lis house and shop he sticks to the & ,
) ld-fashioned flint , steel and tinder. |
To shows his wisdom bv so doing ,
low manv more can say as much' ' " J
_ _ - (
Encounter "With an Alligator , 1 \
'rom the Gainesville ( Fla. ) Advocate. 1 ,
L. AY . Jackson lost someenttle and
itarted out to hunt them , accom-
> anied by his dog. In hunting M |
iround they came across an immense - - • . t '
dhgator , but as his ' gatorship was \
ngaged in watching some calves , he |
lid notice Mr. Jackson and his party \ \
behavingbeen joined b\two friend.- . ) j'J '
Ir. Jackson ' s dog not being very ' : *
.ell up in the " gator business , com- \
tienced the attack at once. As soon r
is his 'gatorship could change his ( l
riind from eolves to dog he made a * . ,
weep with his tail that brought the t' >
anine around to his business end. * 1
md before the dog had time to think „ ' j
if his past , made a snap that would { { '
lave ended his career then and there , t\ '
ut the ' gator miscalculated his dis'j \
anee. and instead of taking the whole p •
log , tail and all , he got his tail only. § | .
'he dog being thus freed , started on y ,
home-run : but the ' gator wanted J'
log if he could not get calf , and J
herefore started after him , rolling tf
ver and over. This method of loco- III
lotion was so unusual that the dog jl'
lecame distrusted , and made such Vi
ood time that the " gator gave it up , 1 j ]
nd turned his attention to his hu- j rjj
ian enemies. They in their turn * . | 'r ' ?
nned themselves with fence rails. I ' •
nd then the fight was fasc and fur- * * ' ' ' "
ius. The'gator would take the rails ' ( I
ietween his teeth and crunch them as I j
he enjoyed them as a diet. To vary
he exercises he wouid snatch a rail , {
nd sweep it round over that section
if the country , making his assailants *
ive him plenty of room. Finally , vl
fter a terrible struggle , he was j
orced to go where all 'gators go ,
md hunt calves and dogs no mere. if
ill
