The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-02-25

That you VIII let ner i've Win mes AZ leaet lOI
a time ?"
81 would be unjust to both you and her to
refuse, and if you will, together we will visit
her tomorrow, for it is Saturday, and she
will be al day at home"
Anna, n~oble-hearted, far above the selfish
ness OF too many Of the wealthy daughters OF
America, now revealed her souliul nature, as
well as a part of her history.
'Do not think me bold Colonel Mansfield"
she said. 81 dc not mean to be. But l am, l
fear. a spoiled child. Mother was left a widow
when l was very young, with an immense for
tune on her hands, a large part of which be-
came MINE a year ago, when l became OF age.
She has had me educated at home, but has
allowed me always 10 have my own way In
everything. 1t has made me independent
and %Willful, APP TO speak just as / feel, and
to set as l believe right. If l err, forgive
me-"
Dear Miss Anna, your faults are the faults
# al angel, and l can never see them. Were
l wealthy, placed above the influences of that
tide which, ebbing and flowing, carries poor
humanity whittier it wills, l would feel indie
pendent, and say more to you now h ION
or viii permit. For TO tell you that l love
you, to ask you to give your love and hand
10 one unable to do more than TO keep HIM
self out Of debt, and to raise and educate
one sweet sister, would indeed be dishonora-
ble."
Edgar Mansfield, 1 drop all ties, 1 scorn
all cold ceremony, i hale clnventiOnahties. /
acknowledge that I ioUe you that nature
whispers to me that you are the one, the only
one to whom 1 can cOnfide the happiness Of
my life"
%Oh, Anna, is not this a dream?'
'No, Edesr Mansfield. it is real, and every
word that 1 have uttered comes from my
heart. The world, too cold 10 read hearts as
hearts are, may no understand me, but you
vii. Love springs into existence even as
volcanic fires lnGp from the snow-cruWned
mountain, aud l lore! :"
This outburst Of affection was succeeded
by aCTy OF alarm. Anna Marst0n, raising her
ewes to the curtain Of the large window,
fronting the paIiOr, saw a face which she inn
mediately recognized. Her startled excla-
nation caused the owner of the face to fiy,
and Iursuit was made in vain.
To account fer the presence of this strange
face at Miss MarstOn's window, it is neces-
ssFy to return TO the two gamblers. With
bitter curses On his lips, BelphOr rejOined his
partner. Dpraut, and explained the manner in
which Mansfield had saved the lady and how
he had been literally refused an opportunity
to make any acquaintance with her.
While he was threatening to challenge his
rival, for such he mentally made him, the
vagabOnd urchin who had shared in the work
rushed up, demanding the five dollars which
BslphOT had promised him.
Belphor gave him the Toney, and the
IVY "o1 SSCLN " - "AN- N-C O~L-gANA
said:
'sNot so fact, boy. I've more work for you.
Do You see that officer walking toward the
Drive? Well, l want him followed and watch
ed. Fell 60 to hIs hotel first, hat 1 am sure
of. But after he comes out again, 1 want to
know where he gees to, aud l don't want him
to know that he is watched. Do this and
bring the information TO my lodgings-here's
my card, with the address-and PHI give you
five dollars more"
"AIl right, guy'nor, returned the boy, who
was about TO set forth on the mission, when
Durant stopped him. The latter, who had
been intsntly scrutiEizing his face for some
m ments, fancied that he detected in bis fea-
lures a strislng resemblance to tho e of r mi
serly millionaire who pretended to be a child
less man.
Boy what is your name? ~ Durant asked.
"AvniHJs."
"Awningz? That is a singular name. Why
arc YOU called AwDings2"
because I was found under a heap of avn
ings when 1 was a squailer. But yOu'dbetter
let me run alter that cove If Won don't want
him TO get out Of sight before 1 start"
With q motion Durant a~ssented, and the boy
started in pursuit of Col. Mansfield. Tho re-
suit of his mission has been inferred by the
reader, for it was Awnings fscs that had
st 4rtled Miss MarstOn when she beheld it
cleaning at her through the window.
Her startled cry caused the boy to beat a
hasty retreat, and with rapid footsteps he
made his way to the gamblers dwelling to
make his report.
Mr.. Belphor was alone in his chamber when
the boy entered, but was joined by Mr.. Les
lie DuI ant before he had time to speak.
swell, have You followed that o~fficer2" ask
ed Belphor-
81 guess I have, and seen the lady too, and
he was SO iOyin' with her. was in ten feet
of 'em for an hour, and g~OSlins'! the love they
did talkl Pd have heard more, but she seen
me and l had to cut and run or they'd have
nabbed me, and l guess I'd got goslins them"
"Where does this lady live?"
why, close to Washington Square, where
1 got dubbed for stOnin' spsrroWs."
f.And you heard the officer and lady taiL?n
continued Belphor.
s'YOu'd better believe I did. She said she
loved him, and he said he loved her. And
they locke as if they did"
''You have lone weii," said Belphor.
'sThere is a ten-dOllar bill for you-but the
name Of the lady, did you find that oul?"
"Yes, he called her Miss Anna first, and
then he got down to Anna atone, snd then
he hitched on a handle, and it was dear
Anna!'
'.You heard no other name?"
NO"
"Then you will have to show me the house"
"Give me another Y and 1 VIA"
"You little rascal. Have you no consci-
ence?"
"Guess rot-have you, so I can see what
it's hke?7
'sHe hits you again. Frank" said Durant,
laughing. Il guess the bay has as much
conscience as either You or l, sEd he would
have precious little at that. You had better
give him he extra ten and make him clean mp
and get better clothes. l think when the
dirt and rags are of, Il remember who it is
that he looks like"
'.I1l give you another ten-dOilar bill, but
you must go and wash and get some better
clothes on if | do, so YOU can go with me to
the house. Will you do 1t ?"
ain ccurse 1 will. I'll ketch cold, maybe,
takiu' off the rough dirt, but it isn't no worse
than the measles. Pve had HEM"
"Can you get other clothes tonight =
eyes; night IS just the time to work down
on Water. or in Baxter street"
Colonel Mansfield had Just finished his
morning toilet the day after the occurrences
just narrated, when a servant brought up q
card, and announced the gentleman whose
name 1t bore as waiting below.
"'Lieutenant Muggins pa singu|a- name.
1 remember 10 such officer; but never mind
show him % ]" said the colonel
In a couple Of minutes Lieutenant Muggins
entered He was not in uniform. He wore
a black frOck coat that was rather seedy. His
clothes had been good and fashionable once,
but it was "long, long ago." His face was
not prepossessing. It had that brutalized
look which the constant use of strong drink
will give to any man. And yet there was
something in his air, erect carriage, even in
the manner in which he bowed as he lifted
his hat, that said he had once been a gentle
man.
''Is this your card, sir-are you Lieutenant
Muggins 2" asked The colonel, as he handedla
chair to his visitor.
THAT is my name, sir. Have I the honor
to address Colonel Edgar Mansfield" replied
the ether.
"My name is Mansfield. and I commanded
the -th cavalry during the late unpleasant
ness. May 1 ask t. what branch of the ser
vice you are attached, as the lack Of uniform
does not permit me to judge without ask
ing?"
ITO none at present. L was in the infant
~, but got sick and resigned. / have called,
sir. on very disagreeable business, that is to
any but u military men it would be disagree
able"
And Lieutenant Muggins Strengthened up,
took out a very shaliOw-loosing pocket book,
and from il extracted a note.
Rising, he extended this to the colonel, and
said:
81 have the honor, sir, to say that when you