Year: 1870


have a misunderstanding hand.
with a sparkling sapphire on the
finger, resolve itself into mere
space in ones grasp; but the
thing smiled cordially, although
with something Of a drunken leer;
and l concluded that, all things
| considered, it was best to speak to
| it,


4 am delighted to see you,
Mr.


Not knowing what name to use,
naturally hesitated.


'Lostr the apparition said, in a
jovial, rollicking voice, frightfully
like mine, as near as could judge.
'Eyam Lost'


I am lost = 1 repeated, amazed
ly. What singular name! But
possibly do not understand your


so far as pronunciation goes,
yes. AS to photography, doubt
full But here is my card
I took the delicate bit of paste
board that was rendered me, and
read the name. 'Eyam Lost, with
considerable mystification.


L hope l do not intrude, my
visitor proceeded, evidently find
ing some little difficulty in the ar
ticulation Of his words but being
in this part of the country by acci-
dent, and having a strong desire
to make the personal acquaintance
cf gentleman famed for his
wealth and hospitality, I took thc
liberty of stopping to have chat
with you over social glass.
Could | detain you In prigsts for
ten minutes ?


I am entertaining large com
pany, as you will perceive. to-
night.' / said hesitatingly; 'but
perhaps 1 can excuse myself for
the brief period you mention. /
will see.'


That's a good fellow {" was the
free and easy rejoinder.


And at the same instant, the
identical hand that, moment or
two before, had melted in:o air
when l would have grasped it,
dealt me hearty blow on the
back.


This familiarity would have ir-
ri.ated me, had it not been appa-
rent that the--the person, let us
call him--was slightly in his cups.
AS it was. l rather stiff1y babe him
follow me to the house, and con-
Quoted him to O small room open
ing out of my library, where l left
him, and went in pursuit of Basil.


I found my brother in the great
drawing room, where cur guests
were arranging themselves for the
ouadrille. beckoned Basil aside,
and with a clearness aud distinct-
ness which 1 considered highly
creditable under the circumstances
so uncommon, explained to him all
that had happened, and described
the remarkable visitor who was at
that moment beneath our roof. He
looked hard a. me, and there were
the outlines Of an expression on
his face that 1 never saw before.
/ am not Of a suspicious nature,
but it flashed into my mind in an
instant, that this brother Of mine
was plotting to possess himself of
nv great inheritance, through
some cunning scheme that could
not pretend to fathon. But l kept
the discovery to myself; and. tel
ling him to excuse me to my
friends for a few moments, went
back to the little room where I had
left the newcomer.


/ found him seated at round
table, with q bottle of brandy in
his hand, from which he was filing
crystal goblet. On the opposite
side of the board stood a huge
white owl, with eyes Of amethyst,
that winked necessarily in the
strong light; and upon the great
antlers of the deer, suspended just
above his head, monstrous ana
conda coiled in writhing convul-
sions


In the name Of heaven, where
did that serpent come from p !
cried, STARTING back in terror.


It's only pet Of NINE, my
guest answered, glancing up at the
reptile perfectly tame and harm
less as kitten. Come down here,
old fellow y


The snake obeyed. and crawled
itself upon the table between the
the man and the owl, who caressed
it with his great yellow claw.


You see l am making free with
your capital brandy my visitor
said, smiling.


Let us fill q glass for you and
willie we drink, 1 have something
to say


took the glass he handed me,
and gave attention, sitting well
back from the table, meantime,
with its strange occupants.


You must know, he said. 'that
l come as a friend. l happen to
be aware-it don't matter how
that your brother meditates an act
of unparalleled perfidy.'


'Ah. you've discovered that I
cried, beginning to be interested.
Pray, proceed


L intend to. l never leave my
work half done. He has already
arranged with certain minions Of
his to confine you in a prison situ-
ated on the ontmost verge of Gre
ation-to proclaim you a lunatic
and seize your inheritance. AL
ready is he filling the minds of the
company here assembled in your