The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-19
!. .ro ny sUctEssFULLY TOLD.

letters to her husband tue os"Si uay
s. John must come down mere at oIee,;
whether you can spare MN OF not. ou n
Seer lille Laura is greatly taken with TALL
thin yonng man with a hooked nose and thin
i;ns called Stuyyesant. 1t is whispered
about the hotel that he is a very good matcn,
and has the veritable blood OF the old Dutch
Governor in his veins. must say tnat IL
Sas oueer way Of showing itself, Tor the
Young nan Is as pale as spectre' anu
dressed in that white duck, with his sunken
eves and bilious skin, Is enough 10 1rlgnteh
me I have grown 10 hate him, while
Laura is growing to be quite the contrary
I am afraid. All the evening be leans
I'D against the wall, never dancing OF open
ing his mouth, save to give vent 10 some
hateful, sarcastic criticism upon tne
scenes around him, and yet dear niue
.1,aura's eyes--as, indeed, all the olner
nrn,tv ewes about-are perpetually beseech-
mo INN for attention. In the daytime be
is always with long, black horse, that
covers more ground with lis legs While IL
is going than any other animal | ever saw.
When Laura goes out to drive behind H.,
md yapishes out OF sight with the bony
creature, I tremble to think how dreadful
IL Would be il our dear little girl would
ever be part and parcel OF this Wretchea
man and bis beast. SO think John had
better come down at once. quite long to
see his handsome face and hear bis honest
voice, and I think it is about time that
John should tell his little stoly to Laura,
and have things settled comfortably"
mir. Archibald Steele smiled when he put
the letter OF his wifein bis Waistcoat-pocket'
and, picking up the morning paper, scan
ned through his gold-rimmed sDectaces the
news OF the day. Finding nothing therein
to refine the exceedingly satisfactory condl-
ton OF his affairs. he put it down, smiling
as only prosperous, contented, down
town merchant can smile. lie was one or
those happy exceptions to the ordinary rule
Of mortas with whom everything went
well. His whole experience was an eX-
clamation.pont to that effect. II he ven
tured little haZardously in trade,
fortune trimmed her sails to favor him.
II he set bis heart upon anything
relating to domestic felicity. all the ee-
meuts OF art and nature consplred to bring
it about. So when he stepped to the door
OF his office and beckoned to young man
with a strip OF commercial paper In bis
hand and pencil behind his ear, with the
general air OF briskness and shreWdness
about him that betokened successful down.
town merchant embryo, MIR. Steele smiledt the
third time with the air Of one who was not
obstacle that might be thrown in the path
Of a domestic happiness which he firmly
agreed had been arranged by an Omnipo-
t,It band.
john said Mr. Steele, closing the door
OF his private Office, and looking upon his
Young clerk beneyolently, "Pve got an
order from Mrs. Steele which [ wish you
would attend to-" ~.
"Certainly, SIR" said John ssshall go
out and get the articles MYSELF"
ssWhy, the fact is, John,H said the mer-
chant, enjoying his joke more and more,
"it's only one article-a rather bulky one.
1t was bargained for long time ago. ]
think you will have to go down with it,
John" IT,.
"Down 10 the sea-shore j." said john,
getting little hot and fiustered "Is ii a
very valuable parcel, sir?" l
.sWell, perhaps your natural modesty
may depreciate its worth, John. Mrs.
Steele and l think good deal OF it, and
Laura, too, I am sure, does. The COM
modify is yourself, John. Mrs. Steele
wants you to go down and take little holi-
day there"
When the name OF Laura was mentioned
the young mans face grew more clustered
and hot than before.
"You are very kind, sir" be said, "and
Mrs. Steele is more like an angel than a
wonan." t-.r. -.
"Rather solid and plump for that in
terposed Mr.. Steele, but liking the phrase
nevertheless.
s'But it is a simple Madness pursued
Jonn, stto dream OF further happiness than 1
enjoy noW-your affection and that OF your
wife my position here; / don'tdare, can't
hope for anything more. Oh, Mr.. Steele, l
can't tell Der my story. She would turn
from me with horror and aversion. She is
so young, so beautiful. Let me at least en-
Joy the present"
!, uAnd in the mean time some cadayerous,
billions, blue-biouded scoundrel will carry
her of from US ALL
Then Johns face grew pale and stern.
eIf there is the slightest feeling upon her
part for-for any one else, then, indeed, Mr.
Steele, my case is hopeless"
The commercial paper finttered from his
hand, the pencil fell from his ear, and he
leaned his head against the desk and trem-
bled.
s.Why, who would suppose you could be
such a coward ?" said Mr. Steele, impetu-
ousIy. :. You shall go down with me this
very day."
All the way TO the sea-shore Johns face
wore the look of one who had resolved to
storm a deadly breach, but who did not
hope to survive the attempt.
Even the ocean, when it confronted them,
wore a threatening look. Upon the horizon
a pile OF clouds formed background wan
and gloomy, great black mist lay in the
zenith, aud dense red Vapor almost
touched the water.
ga very nasty sea-" said Mr.. Steele.
John snufed it in, bis eyes dilating, and
his head high in the sea-scented air.
a tramp on the hard, wet sand, and like
q meteor d long black horse shot by, disap.
pearing in the mist, leaving for John the
memory Of charming head J, crowned with
blonde curling hair, two kind eyes bent
upon his own, and white waving hand ex-
tended in salutations -
"John,o said Mr.. Steele, ssGlid you see
the face oil that man? / count upon your
saving Laura. Did you sec his thin, cruel
lips and treaeherous eyes Pr
only saw Laura, sir, said John, SIM
ply. 81.
Later on Mr.. Archibald Steele and his
plump, pretty wife were alone together i'm
7 their private parlor. Her dimplea hand Law
& lovingly 10 bis, aud her shapeiy head, fresh
from the hands of the eoiteur, rested reck.
lessIy on bis shoulders. Is n! a II
Suddenly the door opened. and there was
heard the fnstle al silkea dsapery. "A still
4 Ehapeiier little head, and Yrssher from the
handsoi Che coityenr, all nnraIaple led by the
aHdacioua, hands OF mortal, peeped In sit the
door. Laura Ras pale |; her little white
bands were ciasped together, and her musi-
& cad voice trembled. ssss
80. Oh, papa, mamma, come directly Mr.
slnygesaDs Yentufed TOO Tar, aud and -,