insult tamely, and not defend his honor, as a brave man should, when it is wantonly assailed." A quick, scornful laugh, strange enough from those gentle lips. unyielding, but when he led them down the steps to the carriage, the little hand of the last slight figure he assisted in was carried reverentially to his lips, while he repeated, earnestly, "God bless you, Mrs. Phillips, for the truehearted woman that you are? You have succeeded where no other could have dreamed of moving me. You have my promise. Even though I lose my friend thereby, I will do as you propose." "His honor! The honor of a duel! O, how little do you comprehend the sacred meaning of that word! But there is little time to argue here. Look you, Mrs. Dayton, it is but one side my words have dwelt upon. There is another, and Heaven be my witness, it is as terrible for me to think about. It is possible-nay, it is probable, he has the firmest nerve-my husband may return unscathed, and yours-0, God have mercy on us both!-what if another sun beholds your proud head bowed in widowhood beside the bloody corpse, ignobly fall-persuasion here. Whatever a man of Mr. S―'s en in a foolish, sinful cause?" There was an earnestness, a prophetic solemnity in her manner, that thrilled the listener's heart. Suddenly the barrier of pride gave way, a convulsive quiver relaxed the haughty lip, tears sprang to the glistening eyes, and the beautiful southerner cried, shiveringly,— A grateful glance from the swimming blue eyes, a feeble attempt at thanks from the quivering lips, and the carriage turned away, to draw up again at another door, where the second of Mr. Dayton resided during his stay in town. It required less well-known integrity would consent to, would be right and proper for Mr. W, although he added, as he shook his head dubiously, "I am sadly afraid ladies, your husbands will scarcely forgive us for making such a farce of this event." "Never fear, Mr. W-," replied Mrs. Phillips, Hush, hush, Mrs. Phillips, you are saying such gravely, "but actors in real life will thankfully exterrible things you frighten me!" "Ay, but the reality will be more terrible still. Mrs. Dayton, friend, sister if you will, now is the time for us to act as becomes true wives, and Christian women, would we avert the threatening cloud of agony and shame." "What can I do?" asked the stately woman, helplessly, no longer striving to conceal her terror and distress, and turning appealingly to the slight, girlish form beside her, whose undimmed, serious eyes were fixed, like some poor castaway's at sea, upon some distant speck of hope, shining out of the distant horizon, scarcely certain enough for cheer, and yet not vague enough for despondency. "Let me tell you the wild hope that has flashed upon me. With Heaven's help, Mrs. Dayton, we may yet frustrate this wretched duel, and accomplish a greater blessing yet, open the eyes of those we love to the fearful sin and wrong they have contemplated." She held out her hand, as she ceased, and it was warmly clasped. Thus more like devoted sisters than the rival wives who had entered the little cloak room where this conversation had been held, in pride and coldness, they passed out, to mingle again with the crowd, and avoid suspicion of their knowledge of the coming meeting, rumors of which were already circulating in anxious whispers through the room. At an unusually early hour on the morning of the day after the levee, a hack stopped before one of the private dwellings in a fashionable street, and two ladies, closely veiled, and wrapped in large gray shawls, descended hastily, and requested a private interview with the master of the mansion, an influential citizen, and a warm friend of Senator Phillips. His start of surprise and perplexity, when the veils were raised, and disclosed those pale, rarely beautiful countenances, deepened into sorrowful dismay when their errand was unfolded. Full two hours of the precious time that was fleeting so rapidly, was spent in argument, remonstrance and tearful pleading, and still the stubborn heart of Mr. S was unmoved, and his iron will' change a tragedy for the most trivial comedy. But Heaven knows, it is all serious, and thrilling enough still. Only let nothing deter you from fulfilling your sacred promise." And now the youthful wives were at liberty to return home, and wait the approach of the dreaded hour. What an embrace was that with which they parted, who so brief a time before had barely exchanged the coldest civilities! What a thrilling kiss, and lingering clasp of hands, and what true feelings lent its pathos to Mrs. Dayton's voice, as she whispered warmly; "Pray for us both, Mrs. Phillips, and pray that the heart of the proud woman you have stirred to better feelings, may never lose your gentle influence." That evening as Senator Phillips unclosed the door of his private parlor, a radiant figure came flying towards him, and two soft hands imprisoned his tenderly, while the sweet, beaming face was upturned sportively for the customary kiss. It was given fervently, and a stifled sigh came with it. "God bless you, my own little wife!" "Yes, Walter, bless me by blessing you. You know that is my constant prayer. And surely, it is generously granted us. We have health, prosperity, and domestic harmony. Do you know, I have been pondering all the day, how little I realized my own happiness, with your love my constant shield from harm. Once came the terrible thought that I might lose you. O, Walter, I dared not look at it a moment, the very faintest glimpse sent such a shivering despair to my heart. O, my Walter, what precious care you must take of yourself, for Charlie's sake, and mine. Poor wee fellow, there he lies asleep on the sofa. He tried so hard to keep awake to say good-night to ‘dear papa,' but even while he was babbling about what he should tell you, down fell the little heavy eyelids, and Morpheus has locked them securely now." She led him to the sofa, where a handsome, rosy boy of three summers lay curled up like a playful kitten, the round, rosy arms thrown up around the nobly-formed head, crushing down a thick cluster of moist, tangled curls. Still holding her husband's hand, and thus compelling nim to remain there, she remained some time, thoughtfully gazing down at the pretty slumberer. The brow of Senator Phillips grew dark with some swiftly gathering cloud, and there was a fixed, white look about his lips, that betrayed some powerful but sternly controlled emotion. Ah! what a pang struck home to the heart of that proud, strong man, as he stood speechless in that Eden of peace and love. He turned away abruptly. He could not bear the sight of his wife and child, those precious beings whose earthly hopes his own hand might dash away forever, that very morrow. For what? Ah, Senator Phillips, "a shallow reason," said conscience, plainly, when you dared to speak of vindicating honor, and escaping the brand of ignominy. Well might your heart sink, a leaden weight, within the coward oreast that dared not say boldly, "My brother you have sinned. Your life and mine are the Creator's only, to save or destroy, as seemeth best. Forgive and be forgiven." No word or look of Mary Phillips betrayed her knowledge of her husband's agitation, and his own emotion required too powerful control for him to detect the nervous trembling of the hand he held so fondly, or the wistful glance that followed him, when he turned away to hide some sudden spasm, called up by her innocent allusion to past or future joys. Very similar was the scene at the home of the Daytons. I "My beautiful Bella," said the enthusiastic husband, "You are eclipsing yourself to-night. think I never saw you looking so superbly beautiful as at this very moment." "That is because I am anticipating the rare pleasure, now-a-days, of an evening's tete-a-tete with you. I am quite jealous of political affairs, I assure you, they absorb so much of your time. The truth is, dear George, I am miserably blue, when you are out of sight. What should I do to lose you altogether?" And dropping her head upon his shoulder, she burst into a passion of tears. Grieved and conscience stricken, he tried to soothe her, whispering softly, I am Bella, sweet wife, you are nervous. afraid you are ill, what a foolish girl she is, to be sure!" and he attempted to laugh gaily, but gave only a ghastly glimmer of a smile, while she raised her drenched face, and said, hurriedly, "To tell the truth, I have such strange fancies, sometimes. I know how weak and foolish they are, but cannot conquer them. When you are away, everything horrible that might occur, comes up before me. But I will leave such a gloomy subject. Let me tell you, rather, how proud I was of you, the other day, listening to you in the senate chamber. How my heart throbbed and exulted at every eloquent sentence and generous sentiment. There is one, said I, who is ready to stand bravely forth for the right of all mankind, who is at peace with all, and the name I share will never bear a single stain." "Bella, Bella, how foolishly you talk of such an unworthy specimen of mankind as your poor hus band, whose greatest pride is the prize he won when that dainty finger there accepted the plain gold ring that shames those glittering diamonds near it." And to hide his saddened face, and divert her attention, he bent over the jewelled hand with all a lover's fondness. She twisted the wedding ring thoughtfully around the slender finger, and said, in a musing tone, "We had an auspicious wedding that night, did we not? How merry your sisters were, to me so shy and silent, with the strange awe I could not drive away. I was almost afraid to promise yes to the momentous question, lest my giddy nature should make me fail in some way. But how boldly you spoke, dear George. I remember so well hearing the clear ringing of your voice above the tu mult in my heart. Well you might be confident. There is little danger of your failing to love, cherish and protect your Isabel. No earthly temptation could make you peril your wife's happiness." The agitated husband moved uneasily, dropped the hand he held, and then seizing it, vehemently exclaimed, "Bella, Bella, in mercy stop. I am not worthy such a wife as you!" She looked up wonderingly into his face, but he turned away to the window, and lifted the curtain. "It is cloudy overhead, is it not?" she asked quietly. "I had hoped so much for a day of sunshine, but I fear there will be a storm to-morrow." A low groan escaped him. "Ay," he muttered, as he strode hastily from the room, "there will be a storm to-morrow!" Gray and misty, but without rain or snow, the appointed morning came out slowly from the protecting mantle of night. In a lonely field, barren and bleak, shaded only here and there by a faded, moaning pine, fit rendezvous for such a deed, was gathered a group of gentlemen. Like the guilty wretch he felt himself to be, Senator Phillips had stolen away in the dusk of breaking day from the chamber of his wife and child, little dreaming, however, what a shivering throb his silent kiss upon the pure, pale cheek had sent to his Mary's anxious heart. Little dreaming now, as he stood, calm and haughtily erect, in outward seeming, with the deadly weapon in the hand her soft clasp had sanctified for better aims, how wild and fervent a prayer was rising up for him from those sweet lips he loved so well. Yes, very calm and cool in outward seeming, but what a tumult raged within, as he received the shining pistol, handed by his friend, and glanced over at the pale, grave face of the man before him. Was he an enemy? His conscience refused to confirm the charge. Nay, but even were it so, without a doubt, could he find within his heart the slightest desire to injure him? He tried to recall the offence. To dwell upon the words that at the time had left such a scorpion sting. How they had dwindled into insignificance ! A few excited words of personal abuse! How trivial they seemed for one to refuse to pardon and overlook, who might so soon be pleading at the Great Tribunal above for mercy on his own sins. If true, they were deserved, if false, how speedily his life of rectitude could show the lie. Was it for such a cause his audacious hand was raised against the life his Maker had bestowed? One by one his clear-eyed Mary's arguments came up before him. He confessed them true, and loathed himself that he dared not own them audibly, and yet still he stood erect and silent. "It is you, then, Mr. Phillips ?" cried she, almost incoherently. "Tell me, then, if it be true, this fearful rumor they have whispered through the town! Have you dared raise your hand against my husband's life? But where is he? He is not with you. O, tell me he is safe?" Such a hollow groan for a reply. It seemed to shake the heartstrings of the man, as he strode by, and tottered up the stairs to his own apartment. His wife advanced to meet him, very pale, but with her own, sweet, serene smile. He caught her hand, and his white, dry lips moved, without an articulate sound, and then with a mighty effort he con Yes, there they stood, those gifted, generoushearted men, with pallid lips and burning eyes, but yet no single throb of resentment or enmity in either heart. Gladly would the hands, so soon to speed the fatal ball, have met in friendly grasp; but the world's dread laugh, the world's flimsy code of honor, raised the potent barriers between, and they dared not thrust them down, though|quered the faintness that oppressed him, and said standing there, as they believed, to vindicate their manliness and bravery. Therefore, the stiff frozen ground was measured off, the thrilling signal given, and loud reports and blinding smoke followed, rolling away in time to disclose a party of horsemen close at hand. "Fly, gentlemen, all the officers of the law are upon us!" cries an agitated second, and in that moment of confusion, not one has thought for anything but escape. The quick, fleet stepping of flying horses, and rumbling noise of dashing wheels upon the ground died off in the distance, and the lonely field is quict once more. In "What did you say to S, Warner? Heaven's name, what did you say? That you saw Dayton stagger and fall after I had driven off? Have I killed him? O, heavens, am I a murderer?" "Be calm, Phillips, I will go and ascertain the truth of the rumor." Sinking back into the carriage, weaker than any sobbing infant, Senator Phillips waited to hear his doom. What a stern, haggard face he raised as his friend returned, slowly, reluctantly, and yet with a heart-wrung groan from the duellist. "I am afraid I must hurry you away, Phillips, if you would see your wife before you fly to a place of safety." "Fly? No, no, S- I have fallen low enough, but not so low as that. I have done the deed, and what man there is left in me will stay and abide the issue. The sooner punishment comes, the better, if it can only quiet this fiend of conscience within." in a sharp, excited voice, "Mary, Mary, my pure, good wife, I took you from your happy home to be the angel of my life, to warn me from sin, and see what I have done! I have disregarded your warnings, and refused to listen to your gentle pleadings. I have ruined myself, disgraced the name our boy must bear, and wrecked your happiness forever. O, Mary, I see it You were right, and I was a wretch to oppose my sinful reasoning to your purer instinct, but it is too late. I have fought a duel, and stamped upon my soul the brand of Cain." now. Sweet and holy was the shining light of those blue eyes, as the wife folded her arms around his neck. "This is a sorrowful commencement, my own husband, and yet if your conscience is clear, we can bear it cheerfully. You know what you have always said that it was the only course a man could pursue, and he would have no cause for remorse, however it might result." "Hush, hush, Mary, you will drive me frantic if you repeat the cowardly arguments I used. They were false false as the honor I dared to prate about. What do they avail me now, when he who formed the pride and joy of so many loving hearts, a noble ornament to his native State, and a staunch pillar in his country's cause, lies cold and lifeless in the shroud, my hand bedewed with the warm life blood of his generous heart? What was she doing here, that poor young thing my wicked deed has widowed? How bright and radiant she shone, amidst the crowd at the last levee, and is it my work, that this terrible doom has come upon her? O, Mary, in Heaven's name, tell me I have not done "But, Phillips, man, your wife and child. You this wicked deed!" must think of them." A cold shiver ran through his stalwart frame. "Why did you not caution me before?" he asked bitterly. "It is too late now. Life, love and honor all swept away by my own hand, upraised, like Cain's against my brother man. Drive away home; home to my poor, ruined Mary. I thought a widow's grief might come upon her. I never dreamed of this!" He did not speak again, but remained with his face buried in his hands, till the carriage drew up before the steps of his hotel. Slowly and painfully, as if the trembling limbs of four-score years supported him, he descended from the carriage. As he reached the portal, a tall, graceful lady rushed wildly forth. His pallid face grew more deathly still, as he recognized the agitated countenance of Mrs. Dayton. He turned his wild, haggard face imploringly to hers, which paled and flushed, and paled again, and then seemed to him to kindle with something of the celestial glory he had dreamed about in angel visions. Instinctively he held his breath as she advanced and caught his hand in hers. "Walter, Walter, you confess it now-all the sin and wickedness of duelling? Tell me again that you do, so I shall be sure you forgive my daring stratagem." She paused, arrested by a sudden hurrying on the stairs without, a quick, light footstep, followed by a heavier tread, and immediately the opening door disclosed the tear-drenched face of Mrs. Day ton. 64 May he come in?" whispered she, anxiously. "I cannot bear it. He is so utterly wretched it will break my heart to keep him so any longer." Mary Phillip's voice whs thrilling in its solemnity, as she turned to her husband, who had stood in speechless dismay at the sight of the intruder. "O, Walter, Walter Phillips, vain and useless have been my earnest, heartfelt petitions, as well as our faithful pastor's righteous remonstrance and rebuke. You were obdurate and firm, yet see how this one hour of seeming reality has scattered to the winds your false and flimsy creed. Thank God that from this day you see the character of a duellist in its true light. My husband, my Walter, for· give your wife, that she dared to circumvent your plans, and forced you to become-O, God be thanked, no duellist, no murderer-but a true Christian man, who, shall confess from his inmost heart, 'that vengeance belongeth to the Lord, and He alone shall repay.' See, Walter, here is your reward." The chief rose an angry voice it refused to move. She unclosed the door, caught the hand of the Mary Phillips, meanwhile had stolen away, and quietly returned with the waiting friends, the anxious seconds, who came in, hesitating and doubtful as to the result of the ruse they deemed so unpardonable. Easily were they reassured at the first glimpse of those brightened faces. "And you are sure, Phillips, you quite forgive me for removing the balls, and cheating you into upposing poor Dayton finished up?" asked Mr. S, once more, after the agitated explanations had been required and given. "You know how irresistible that little wife of yours can be. Hang me if I could ever get up a duel of my own after those solemn words of hers!" Senator Phillips turned where his Mary was bending over her boy, to hide the relieving tears excitement had hitherto forbidden to flow, and said as well as his tremulous voice of thrilling tenderness would allow: "My wife, to you we owe this joyful termination of what seemed so terrible a tragedy. No words can thank you now, yet be sure your gentle influence can never fail again. We will trust that other husbands are more easily convinced of their sinful sentiments, if not, pray Heaven they may be saved, like me, by such a wife and such a stratagem." A Cunning Baboon. Many are the anecdotes related of the baboon. An Indian chief possessed a tame baboon, which, in common with all the monkey race, entertained a dread of snakes: its master, from mere wantonness, forcibly entwined a dead snake round the baboon's neck, when the animal sat motionless for upwards of an hour, stupefied with fear, and on the snake being removed stole timidly into the hut of the chief. After a short time, the baboon was, according to custom, called on by his master to scratch his head; but although summoned several times in Joke at the Expense of Counsel. At the Cambridge Spring Assizes, 1838, a person was accused of stealing a watch from the bedroom of Mr. George Paynter, at Wallingham, Cambridgeshire; and on the trial, the following little conversation took place during the cross-examination of the prosecutor: Counsel. "Where do you live?" Witness." At Wallingham; but I am not a Wallingham man." "What are you?" "An engineer. I was apprenticed to Henry Maudesly, partner to Sir Isambert Brunel, of Thames Tunnel notoriety." "Well, what else are you?" "Why, I am a gunsmith, locksmith, and bellhanger, iron arm and lathe maker; edge-tool maker; watch and clock maker and repairer; mathematical instrument maker; weighing machine, scale and steelyard maker; knifemaker and grinder; publican and licensed victualler; and an old man of-war's-man." "Are you not a conjurer as well?" "Oh, yes, that I am; and if you are willing, I will show you one or two of my tricks." "What can you do?" 'Well, if you will allow me, and not consider I am insulting, I will tell you." "Oh, certainly; go on." "Then, if you will just take off your wig, and get the gentleman next to you to grease your head, I will swallow you whole, and then you will be no more trouble to yourself, nor to any one else." Counsel. "You may sit down, sir." "Who's your pastor, my dear?" asked a good old lady from the country, addressing her daughter, who had been living in the city for half a year or so. "Really, mother, I scarcely know. I never saw him. He was away on vacation last summer, and now he has started on his lecturing tour for the winter. I may get acquainted with him next spring." Good words for the young-Dinner's rea `y. |