The Press., 1888-09-20
A DYNAMITE STORY.

dO uO1I1e9 SysN1y "lA0AAS OAAo plump, white arm around her fathers neck, as she perched herself on the arm of his chair.
 Those who knew Silas Clyburne only as business man, president of several railroads, director in score of other corporations and a shareholder in every paying concern in the state, would have been amazed to see how easily this fragile girl bent to her will the stony hearted, iron handed man.
 "His name is Osborne Palmer" replied the elder Clyburne, gazing affectionately at his idol
 ''I didn't eAsk you what his name is; I ask, who is he? And is that the way you dare to answer my questions, sir!" and as she spoke Daisy playfully pinched one of his ears.
 "Ouchl You little inquisitive tormentl We'll, to be explicit, MT. Palmer is to be one of my under secretaries. He is toto assist MT. Winchell."
 s'Come, come, sirI that hesitation shows that you are trying to hide something; want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" .,
 ''Perhaps you remember that a few weeks ago you and your mother exacted from me promise that I would never again, under any circumstances, open the packages which might come to me by mail or express"
 "Of course we did! If those wretches WOU1O SG1O yOu DOulO OuC01 GAkOy might do it more successfully again; it was by mere chance that the thing was out of order and did not blow us all up," replied Daisy, with a shudder.
 'Not one of the servants has courage enough to do it for me; MT. Winchell has a family, and since our recent experience he has no taste for the task; so have employed this young Palmer, whose special business it will be to open my parcels" @
 "Oh, papa, why should he take the risk of his lifes He is so-so youngt maybe he hasa mother9'
 ''No, nor sister, nor any near relative. He is highly educated and we'll born, but being unfortunate in business, and therefore tilted by heartless girl, he resolved to put an end to an unhappy life. He procured a quantity of laudanum, but decided that that was un- certain, and so shot himself In the head. Either his hand swerved or his aim was un- certain, for the wAlnd proved to be only serious, not fatal. He was taken to hospi- tai, and as the letter he had written for post mortem purposes proved that the shooting was intentional, he was in danger of arrest and trial for attempted self murder.
 Learning of the affair, was struck with an idea and so used my influence in his be- half, and there was no arrest He placed no value on his life, and so readily accepted the position offered him. He came the very day after you and your mother went to your grandmother's to spend Thanksgiving, and MT. Winchell tells me that he is of great as- sistance to him, especially in my large foreign correspondence. He is gentleman born, so he will live with us as a member of our family, and want you to give your cousin Bertha a hint that while she is with us we hope she will be courteous to him. I am very fond of Bertha, my dear, but I can see that she is just the least bit snobbish- like her father. Obed Jenness is an inbred snobr'
 The famous Kilkenny cats might we'll have been named Silas Clyburne and Obed Jen- ness, for these two men were continually fighting, tooth and nail. If one could thwart scheme of the other it was rare sport to him, but retaliation was sure to come in some heart searching way. As they had married sisters and there was constant intercourse be- tween their wives and daughters, they out wardly maintained an armed neutrality.
 "Goodness gracious, Daisy, do you know who Uncle Silas has in his employ nowg' cried Bertha Jenness to her cousin when she, too, had seen the young package opener.
 "Yes, he told me all about him just a few moments ago. Poor fellowi He has TO- mantle and sad history" replied Daisy, and then went on to relate what we already know about Osborne Palmer.
 Bertha listened attentively with peculiar smile lowering around her thin, soulless lips, and when the story was concluded she said with 8 shrug of her shoulders, 'Very TO- mantle, admit but what 8 fool he wasp
 "Oh, no, Berthal Doubtless his troubles had temporarily turned his brain, yet surely he is to be pitied."
 sI am not SO sure that he is not now-but tell me, Daisy, did you ever hear me speak of young cavalier had who used to deluge me with rare roses and choice bonbons until his fortune vanished and then showered on me tender verses of his own compositions"
 ''Oh, yes, and how envied you for having a real poet at your feetl But where is he now2 Does he still send you poemsg"
 "Doggerel, you meanl No, hope not. In Osborne Palmer, your fathers clerk, you be- hold the manI'
 "NoI Not really2 Isn't that odd9 And now that he has come to life again, so to speak, the lovely romance will begin all over again" said Daisy, with g faint shade of re- gret in her voice.
 Each of these cousins had something the otber lacked; Bertha was one of a large family, and how Daisy wished that she too might have one or two brothers, or one or two dear little midgets of sisters. But Bertha regarded these younger ones as chan nels where large share of her fathers money must go, while Daisy was the sole and idol ized heir in her home.
 Then, too, Bertha had so many lovers and Daisy so fewl To be sure, the former, ever eager for attention, met them fully half way, |, while the modest little flower waited quietly for notice or attention.
 Of course it was not now at all surprising that Osborne Palmer was soon made quite at home in the Clyburne mansion. He and Bertha had one day a long and confidential conversation, and after that there was no restraint in their intercourse
 If, however, he wrote any more verses on his lady's eyelids, Bertha neither spoke of nor exhibited them. = Fl As
 About this time there appeared in the social Armament where the Clybmnes sparkled g. new star of great magnitude, neither moro nor less than a genuine sprig of British aristocracy; he was poor, to be sure, but he was unmarried, and more than one managing mamma was quite ready to exchange her daughter's ducats for Q share of his lord ships title.
 And Silas Clyburne, as ambitious as Lu- cifer, made up his mind that it should not be his fault if the young manwere not attracted by his Daisy. Thereupon ensued series of entertainments of all sorts; Clyburne began none of them, but he gave the last of each series, for much more costly was his din- ner or ball, or theatre party, or luncheon, or gayety of any sort, that nosone ventured to succeed him. ''Papa," said Daisy to, him one evening as he chanced to be alone In the library for few moments, II have a piece of news for you.n How his heart jumpedI The foreign fish