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Show see you this morning, and more are com- ing. Mr. Brown has not explained the purpose of our visit and so I shall do it for him. We want you to tell us all you know about the affair that they attrib- me. oe “Will you step down tothe water: 999 Without answering she took his arm and in a few steps reached the boat landing, from which the whole breast of the lake spread out before them. Then, pointing to a speck on the water floating almost under the hanging rocks: “Do you see the dark mite near the cliffs. That, I am sure is Morgan and he is there for a purpose.” Camilla was pale and a tremor that almost froze up her*veins had taken possession of her speech. She gazed absently over the glittering surface like one in a trance. “Will you walk with me awhile down the road? everything is quiet and the exercise will be good for you.” She didn’t say yes, neither did she say no; but allowed him to lead her as he would without. asking whither or what for. They walked on in silence for almost_half a mile. “Camilla, do you remember that night under the rocks?” “Yes, Frank !” “Do you remember what you promised me soon after ?” uted to you. We know you are innocent? and we want you to help us trace up The faces of the combatants could be the guilty person.” “You are so very kind—and I am so seen as they bobbed up occasionally thankful to you! I know so little of above those of the spectators. “Ay that was a fine hit!” saysa man what you ask thatI am sure you will him think I am not telling the truth.” in the door. “And it. brought “Don’t believe us such monsters,”’ said down!” says another beyond. Then a surge from the centre sweeps like a tidal Frank, moving toward the easy chair and motioning Joe to sit, “now tell Mr. Brown wave over the sea of heads. “Make way!” says an authoritative and me what you know.” At this moment a gentle tap was voice, from the centre. “Stand back over there, out of that door!” Nobody heard at the door. Brown stepped and Then a volley of oaths and opened it, and in the entrance stood a stirs. another jam, when ten men and a news- rather tall, erect lady, dressed in black She stood for some boy are ejected into the hall like the and heavily veiled. bung from a fermenting cider barrel. minutes surveying the company, her Frank and Brown stand behind the door hand yet on the lock. “Edward, am I intruding ?” said she to and maintain their position while two hundred men and boys come tumbling Brown with a dignified gravity. “Why, Camilla! It is you! Mr. Dillike an avalanche of heels and heads and “Ves 2 worth,”—he pronounced Dilworth with hats into the hall. “Back now, stand back,” is heard particular emphasis--“you are acquainted “You said tomorrow. Might that toBoth Frank and morrow not be tonight, Camilla?” above the confusion as a mat of surging with Mrs. Morgan.?” “After we return; then, if you wish humanity makes its way toward the Joe sprang to their feet simultaneii door.’ Now a tall, corpulent figure borne ously, “Camilla !” said Frank, advancing to“You will tell me who you believed along by two officers makes its appearThe face is beaten into a jelly ward her, She recognized his voice and the person to be who was talking in the ance. gorge with—with your once guardian?” and the eyes bruised, swollen and very offered her hand and her lips, “But my Joe, I thought you were “Yes, Frank, if you then wish me to red. do it.” : “Meby he wants some sluggin?” says a coming to speak to me !” Joe had bethought herself of her sour looking votary of the manly art, They were now almost to the bridge that follows up just behind the trio. dreadful position and stood trembling whose ghostly mysteries still burned “Let ’em go, by h—l we'll give ’em and pale when she rose. “Is not my, upon Frank’s memory. Turning into a child going to speak to me?” Im an in. bypath they led off through the dense some sluggin, if he aint suited.” “Le? go! will you? I’m—I’m solid, say, stant Joe was claspéd in her arms. pines toward the high bluffs. Coming Mac, jus’ le’ go me. I al’as looked on “Josie, you den't know how sick I have to an opening in the woods, Camilla you’s a gen’lman, Mac, you know I did. been since we were together; that is stopped. Jus’ le’ go my arm? I been drinking a why I have not been here sooner. How “Frank, whatever you may hear or see are you,my darling girl?” The little tonight you will not, never, disclose the ll but I’m all right.” «Let em go, d—m ‘is eyes, let ’em go. couch was so very convenient they sat fact that I was with you? My premonidown together and mingled each other’s tions are horrible. I shall have enough Til slug ’em.” to bear without having to be a public The trio at this moment were ejected tears as they spoke, through the door by a wave from behind / It was now drawing toward 10 o’clock witness against my—anybody.” sprawling. and Frank, remembering his appoint“You need fear nothing from me.” them sent that almost They then moved on through the gloom Brown stretching his head out into the ment with Peter, suggested to Brown passage caught a full view of the jelly that the proper thing would be to take till the glittering water shone from hetheir leave. low through the trees. Making their countenance, it was Mathew Lovejoy. “May I see you tonight, at our house?” way slowly through the thickly grown said Camilla to Frank as they rose to timber, the dark spot which they had CHAPTER XXIII. leave. The latter thought of his last re- seen on the water appeared some disa “This is not the best of a place for ception at Amberwood and _ hesitated. tance down the lake, gliding slowly toI tell you, “Tt will be all right ; have no care about ward them. girl the like of Miss Joe. Now, however, instead of Brown, there is something wrong about that matter,” she continued, perceiving one there were three occupants. this thing.” his misgivings. TO BE CONTINUED. “Where is she now, Sparks?” says “Yes, I will come.” Brown as the group, consisting of him“And you, Edward,(addressing Brown) self, the warden, and Frank, make their IT am very glad to see you so kind to our THE SOUL OF A BUTTERFLY. way through the narrow hall past the little friend. I hope we shall meet more cell occupied by Joe, the night after her often than we have been doing of Over the field where the brown quails whistle, arrest. late.” Over the ferns where the rabbits lie, “Oh, we’re not as genteel and tender . “T hope we may,” returned Brown, and Floats the tremulous down of a thistle. hearted as you legal people, but we try the two left the room. Is it the soul of a butterfly? to be half human when we can think of See ! how they scatter and then assemble; CHAPER XXIV. it. She isin the most comfortable room on of unusual interest, that was evident. i. —_ in the house, sir.” “You’re a man, Sparks, every inch of _ you, 9 “Oh, Brown, if it were you, depend upon it, you’d go into the cell sure. But here we are. Just go in, will you? have some little matters to look after below, and will be round to fix things in—when do you say *?” “Well, an hour, perhaps, will be sufficient.” The warden then unlocked the door as softly as possible and walked in, presumably to inform Joe of her visitors, and in a few minutes reappeared. “Gentlemen, you may goin.” Brown went in first, Frank following close behind. The warden then closed the door and left them. Joe was sitting in an easy chair by a small table on which were a number of books and periodicals brought in by the She was pale and considerate warden. her eyes betrayed the distress she had suffered, but were just as soft and beautiful as ever they were. Indeed, their term of grief had given them a new rich- ness which added to their magnificence, She arose as they entered. Miss Joe, our friend, Mr. Dilworth !” “Mr. Dilworth !” responded “Joe, “the acquaintance of a friend of Mr. Brown always give me the deepest pleasure.” “T beg your pardon,” exclaimed Frank, approaching and offering his hand tothe young woman, “but permit me to say rather a friend of Miss ‘Joe. It might be that she would better understand Cit. ” Joe’s nerves had been too much It was coming twilight when Frank wended his. way thoughtfully through the splendid walks and deep foliage of the gardens round the Amberwood home. He was thinking of many things but particularly of Camilla’s words that all wasright. He could not very well see how all could be right, considering what he had seen and heard. But his meditations were suddenly put an end to, when rounding a sharp curve in the hedged walk he came suddenly upon the person he was there to see. “You are true to your word Frank, always, aren’t you?” she said, grasping his hand earnestly. “Oh, I have had such sorrow of heart since you left me. T am alive still and am not mad; I can say no more.” “Your husband is—” “Mr. Morgan is not here and has not been to my knowledge since that night. Oh, I have been sick, Frank, sick to the very soul.” “Did you get the “Daisy” back again all right ?” | “Yes, the “Daisy” is here, ee on the shore down by the landing.” “T saw a boat very much resembling yours, and a man much the likeness of Mr. Morgan steering off down the lake just asI came up.” “Tt could not be, Frank ?” “T am almost sure’ it was.” Frank looked into his cousin’s eyes with a searching steadfastness for almost a minute. “Camilla, how much can you endure ~” Filling the air while the blossoms fade, Delicate atoms, that whirl and tremble In the slanting sunlight that skirts the glade. There goes the summer’s inconstant lover, Drifting and wandering, faint and far; Only bewailed by the upland plower, Watched by only the twilight star. Come next See how Butterflies Changed August, when the thistles blossom, each is alive, with wings! seek their souls in its bosom, thenceforth to immortal things. THOMAS WENTWOTH HIGGINSON, in St. Nicholas. La ~<a [Written for the Western Weekly.| Cleverly Caught; A Leaf from BY a Detective’s Diary. RUSTLER. One day while looking for some stray horses I stopped for the night at an inn that was a short distance from a railroad camp in Nebraska. The resort was kept by Sam Barrow, a large, powerful man who had acquired considerable notoriety in the neighborhood. While eating my supper, which by the way was an excellent one, he told me that he was from Texas and that between Indians and Mexicans he had lost all he possessed. moment but he was one of the best men don’t you come here calling me a thief in the world. After supper was over a or I’ll:strangle you.” number of railroad hands dropped in. Saying which he seized Kinney by the During the evening a contractor, Kinny throat. by name, called and Sam entered into “Stop that!” said the officer, would. conversation with him, meanwhile keep- you add murder torobbery? now, you ing him well supplied with plenty to let go of him and throw up your hands drink. I noticed several times that Sam d——n quick or Ill let daylight through put something in Kinny’s glass which, you in good shape. in itself seemed a rather suspicious cirSam’s hands went up in a trice. cumstance, so I determined to keep a “Now you, Kinny, move the board close watch for further developments. there and dig in the far corner where As it grew late all the men went out you will find the money.” with the exception of Kinny and myself. All this time Sam stood gnashing his By this time Kinny had become far from teeth and threatening us with dire vensober and Sam proposed his staying till geance. morning as it was too dark for him to go After the money was recovered we to camp that night. Finally Kin- took Sam to town, where after a speedy ny agreed to this plan, and Sam soon af- trial he was convicted and sentenced to terwards told me that I should sleep in an imprisonment of ten years. ‘The the cabin and that I might retire when- material in the inn was ransacked and ever it pleased me. Now, the cabin was appropriated by railroad men, and after a log house near by, which I afterwards the place had been almost demolished it learned was used as a gambling resort was fired and there was soon naught to and store-room. I knew it would pay mark it save a heap of smoking debris. me to keep my eyes open, but to avoid rousing the fellow’s suspicions I cheerTHE LESSON OF LIFE. fully complied and at once retired. Having entered, I soon blew out the light When winds among the blighted bowers Began of coming snow to talk, and gave every appearance of having reI found a patch of golden flowers tired for the night. I softly crept to a One morning in my woodland walk; chink in the wall through which the And all that day my heart was light, light entered from the inn. I could see For a soft whisper said to me, Will not the love that keepeth bright Sam making his bed on the floor. Kinny These little ones, provide for thee? was almost asleep and Sam began to shake him at the same time coaxing Once when the clouds were full of rain, him to go to bed, where eney soon both And dark to deeper darkness grew, A wild bird fluttered at my pane lay down together. ~ And sung to me the long night through; T had a good view from my position Forgetting how the sky was blurred and an hour must have passed when With rainy shadows, cold and gray, I sat and listened to my bird, Sam arose and came to the room where Till the broad east grew white with day. Iwas. Quick as:a flash I was in bed — —_- and snoring as if I had no thought of waking for hours. Sam looked in and seemed satisied that all was well, and after softly closing the door, went bazk again into the inn. Iwas at the crink ina moment. I saw him crawl to the bed and grope around Kinny’s person. I saw him take two wallets from the man’s pocket. Putting them in his own, he stooped and picked Kinny upas if he were a child and carried him a half mile to the camp, where he jiaid him down and _ started back for the inn. I followed Sam unobserved and saw_ everything as it happened. JI also managed to reach the ranche a few minutes ahead of him. When Sam returned he looked around and found everything in perfect condition, as he supposed. He then counted the money, which was almost a thousand dollars. He next procured a spade, and pulling up a wide board in the floor of the inn, he dug a hole in the ground, in which he placed the money and wallets, filled up the hole, again replaced the board and went to bed, seemingly with a conscience as untroubled as ueoe vault above. I did not sleep that night and at daybreak I arose. Sam was already up and accosted me with “That crazy Kinny would not sleep with me last night, but started for camp right after you went to bed.” '‘Towhich I remarked that he had been very foolish to refuse sucha kind invitation. I then asked what my bill was. “Oh! I won’t charge you anything,” said he, ‘“ust tell your boys to call and see me. In a lone desert place 1 sat— The earth was hot. and hot the air; Far as the eye could reach, one flat, Low reach of dry sands everywhere. But when my strength was almost spent, And sight to wavering blindness fell}, Lo, the cool shadow of a tent, And the soft murmur of a well. Then said J, looking back on all My fears, be still, my heart, be still! The evil hour could never fall Were there no power beyond the ill! My foolish fears within me died, The clouds were lit with rainbow gleams, And the hot desert, far and wide, Lay like a garden in my dreams. ALICE CARY. > — [Original in the Western Weekly.| Present Improvement. BY GASKELL. The human heart is an anomaly. Its hopes, joys and fears, in turn vibrate the tender chords of feeling and affection. The future rises before the mind of man and his heart is often oppressed with fear- ful forebodings as to his success in life. The dread of future disappointment damps the ardor of present joy. The hopes formed in life’s earlier stages are overthrown one by one, and the ideal gives place to the real. Many who start upon the journey of life, buoyant and full of health and hope, are cast by the ruthless power of adversity adrift and alone in the wide and dreary world. No kind friend to cheer the drooping heart—no compassionating companion to pour the balm of consolation into the lacerated soul—no one to and I'll use them well.” encourage by words of hope and joy and I bade him goodbye and rode off in a happiness, but alone in the midst of a direction opposite to that of thecamp to multitude he listlessly moves on. a little town some three miles away By thus indulging in retrospect are where I was quite well acquainted. we aided in our battle with life. The There I met aconstable and told him past is beyond our recall—it is irretrievawhat I had witnessed during the precedbly gone. The present is ours—ours to ing night. He procured another man improve or squander. It is all we have. and we all three started back to arrest The coursers of time disdain to stay their the rascal. swift, progressive course, but onward, We took a roundabout way to the rail ever onward they urge their tireless way. road camp, so that Sam would not see We may boast our wealth, our power, or us. On arriving there we found Kinny our skill, yet we cannot foretell the future. sound asleep in the same place where he Our wealth may be wasted, our power had been left by Sam. It took us some usurped and our skill paralyzed. He time to arouse him, for he was still stupid who lives for the present with a reason-. from the effects of the drug which had able hope of a joyous hereafter, but perbeen given him. We soused his head in forms his alloted duties. some cold water and he soon began to collect his scattered senses. Feeling into his pocket, he suddenly exclaimed: “Great Heaven! where is my money, I have been robbed.” “We are aware of the fact,” said the officer, “and we want you to go with us to recover the money. On the way Kinny wastold what had taken place. He also informed me that afterwards he: When we arrived at Sam’s, Kinny had gone to work with a will until he broke out: “Give me the money you had made money enough to start stole from me, you thief.” in the business that he was then follow“What's the matter with you?” asked ing. He was a very agreeable person “I ain’t got any money of yours, and I had not the remotest idea at the Sam. The us. past and future do not concern It is our everyday actions that alone will procure progress and exaltation. It is live well today no difference what was performed yesterday, nor what we intend to perform tomorrow. Live so that we will not blush to look an honest man in the face—live today so that our conscience is not a curse, but a blessing. The man who spends his time in anticipation of what the future will bring forth, without present improvement need } never expect to obtain his desires. His hopes are formed on an impalpable basis. AT She fully discerned his meaning. “In my less knowing years I could endure simply to die; now I can endure to live and learn of pee things that have killed De overtaxed to resist the natural bent of her feelings, and this action was quite enough to bring the tears to her eyes. Frank still held to her hand in spite of her evident wish to be set at liberty. “I say, Miss Joe, some friends are here to WEEKLY. - g hear?”-—He then swallowed a half pint of the “best.” “Here,” said Brown, as they stood surveying the company, “are Gushington bloods.” Backing quietly into the hall they came next to a door that stood open, but ten men and a newsboy occupied the space between the inside and the outside, and as near as could be guessed, the space beyond was as thoroughly appropriated. In the “blue distance,” was a ring, and a match was WESTERN ae aeelt THE |