wanted me, sir, or I'd have brought more. thought the man had come to put the Oh gracious !" ejaculated he, with a faint finishing touch to his sufferings and bis scream, as the small end of the stick existence, and prepared with very ill hit bim accurately just beneath the grace to resign himself to his fate. breast-bone, “Don't do that again, sir. Great, therefore, was his relief, when, It it hurts."

instead of demolishing his brains, or “ Not do it again, when we ought to exploring the recesos of his system with have made five hundred dollars out of a knife, the ruffian sat down before him you! Do you think I am not going to and coolly lighted a pipe. take the change out of your beggarly His feelings were much more relieved hide ? Whoop!” And, with an indescrib- when he had heard the proposition able Irish yell, which no other national which was made to him. throat, except, perhaps, that of an inebri. “You see, Bifiles," said the man, ated Choctaw, could ever compass, Mr. " that you have occasioned us a great Fogarty began to dance round the hap- deal of disappointment by your bad less Mr. Billes, keeping accurute time to babit of leaving your money in the his steps with the end of the stick on bank, where we can't at it, instead the body of that unfortunate gentleman. of in your pockets, where we can. It What between the bowls of Mr. Phil, is only fair, then, before we let you go, and the sbrieks of the victim, there was you should make that disappointment considerable likelihood of their rousing fall easily on us, and repay us for the the neighborhood, when Frank arrived. trouble we have taken and the care and By vigorous exertions he induced Brady attention WA bave paid you. My to carry Phil out from his prey, and friends and I think, therefore, that the bring him up to the bedroom.

sooner you draw a check for three “Goodness gracious, man, what do hundred dollars, dated yesterday, and you mean by making such a noise ? Do payable to the bearer, why the sooner you want the house down upon us ?" you will be out of this.

What is your said Frank to the offender.

opinion, old fellow ?" “They are used to me here," said Bifles was fond of money, but he had Phil, carelessly, “and they wouldn't a far greater love for his personal secuthink of inquiring impertinently if I rity. Besides, they had forgotten to were engaged in studying anatomy on give him any breakfast, and the fiercest you with the assistance of an oyster- animals are tamed by hunger. Biffles, knife. Perhaps I was a little too noisy, therefore, clutched the pen that was though. But look you, Frank, we are given him, and, released from his bonds, doing you a little service, and you must hurriedly dashed off the required order. not interfere with our improving our own His jailer still looked doubtful though, opportunities. I intend to get a hun- and, after a ininuto or two, said : dred or two out of the old man for Ned “ You may not be aware, Mr. Bifiles, and myself, and though I won't ask you that it may occasion a little trouble for to countenance it or know anything any of us to carry this to the bank. We about it, yet it will be for your

interests

are not exactly the sort of persons to not to interfere. Dou't be afraid—I whom banks pay large sums without won't touch bim or trouble him any inquiry. Have you not got some friend more," adding sotto voice, "considering at home who could go with us to corthat his objections are pretty well tify the draft, and afterwards see to thrashed out by this time."

your release ? You might get out a “I bave got myself in a mighty bad little sooner." scrape, Pbil, and, on my life, I cannot Biffles pondered for a moment, and see how to get out. You have my con- then said: “There is my niece, Einma, sent safe. I cannot refuse it." And who could attend to the matter. But Frank looked gloomily at the carpet. she could not go with you. Oh, I “Now, then,” said Pbil, " just stay

know. I will order her to take young here, and I will get you out of your dif- Gayville along; he is only a young lad ficulties at once and easily.”

without much sense-I suppose you At the sight of the tall

, forbidding fig- won't object ?" ure, and still more at the view of the ** No," said the man, with a suppressed formidable club whose weight he had chuckle, “ that will answer very well. already felt, the lately brave Biffles Take your pen and write as I orcowered pitifully in the corner.

He

der :

cumstances.

“MY DEAR NIECE: You will go with Emma was in great agitation, unable to Frank Gayville, in company with the mes. tell what had occurred; but, coupling senger, before the proper authorities, and go through the forms nocessary under the cir.

what had occurred the night before As soon as you have accom

with this unaccountable absence, was plished this, hasten to me. The greatest baste gradually working herself up to a conis requisite, as you will soon understand.

viction that Biffiles, indignant at Frank's Your uncle, JUNIUS BIFFLES.''

love for her, had summoned him to the

field, and that they were then engaged “You see, Mr. Bifiles, if you were in discharging pounds of bullets and more explicit, the dear little girl would barrels of gunpowder into each other's bo 80 scared she wouldn't be able to do bodies. She was extremely rejoiced to anything, and Mr. Gayville might be see Frank, therefore, and to hear from after taking me up; and in either case, him that her uncle was safe and well. I am afraid

you would stay here longer, In reply to her eager inquiries, where or your stoppage be disagreeably short- he was and why he had not come bome, ened by a bath in the East river." she received mysterious answers and

Mr. Biffles trembled, and committed equivocal shakes of the head, which to paper the words enjoined upon him; roused her curiosity to a point which and then submitting meekly to his re- would have led her further than it had newed bonds, sat in the corner, waiting done the first female, for the sak of anxiously for his release.

gratifying it. When Mr. Biffles's note Mr. Fogarty, as soon as he had se- was placed in her hands, and she was cured what to him was the most valua- informed that the preliminary sacrifice ble of the two documents, hastened to necessary was only to marry a young Frank with the other.

gentleman with whom she had been long“ There, sir,” he cried, " there is ing to perform that ceremony, of course, your little matter fully arranged; take being quite ready to do so, she startthat, and come to your lady-love." ed every possible objection which she

" But what am I to do with this, know would be overruled--keeping those, Phil? I don't understand at all,” said which she was afraid might prove insurFrank.

mountable, discreetly in her own breast. "Why, you stupidest specimen of a After only a reasonable delay, then, good-looking young man ; that's the and a moderate amount of distress at consent to your marriage."

the absence of proper things, and the “ But there's not a word of my mar- impossibility of bridesmaids, she and riage in it.”

her maid, and Frank, and Mr. Fogarty, "Of course there is not; but if you set off for the City Hall. Here, after cannot persuade the girl that there is, the functionary had been disabused of a with me to back you, she is not half as fixed idea that it was Fogarty and the much in love as she ought to be, after servant who were the happy pair, the the risks you have been running for her. ceremony was performed, the maid disGo to her and be very mysterious about missed, and the rest of the party reher uncle ; tell her that something has turned to Mr. Fogarty's. Here there occurred to keep him away, but that she was a most formidable display of breakshall know all after the ceremony; and, fast things made ready-to provide trust me, that curiosity and love togeth- which, all the resources of the different er will make her go like a lamb to the lodgers, as to crockery and knives and slaughter. You are both at legally forks, bad been exhausted; yet, in despite

; , marriageable ages, and so you can just of slight incongruities, the table made go to the recorder, or whoever else is the a noble appearance, covered with solid proper person, take out your license luxuries in the shape of beef and oysters and be noosed right away. Then come and other things of the kind. While here, and trust me for obtaining old Emma was looking, with embarrassed Biffles's consent. After last night, he amusement, at the extraordinary scene, will not dare to refuse it."

Fogarty slipped out and returned with Frank yielded to the superior energy the captive Biffles. Oh, what a conof his friends, and they hastened to Mr. trast be presented to the spruce brideBiffles's house.

groom, and the pure white veil which It was now nine o'clock, and the the bride had assumed for the occasion ! family were just aware that Mr. Biffles His back and sides were still covered had not returned the night before. with the caked mud and snow which ed :

6

had adhered to them the night before; story, and spread it from Dan to Beerbis other raiment was gray with the sheba ; and if I do, you will never find a dust that pervaded the lumber-room in jury to convict, and you'll never dare to which Mr. Fogarty had confined him, show your head, for fear of being laughwhile his face, between tears and the ed at. So we'll come to an agreement. congelation of the dust, presented an You will submit with a good grace, and appearance only to be rivaled by an In- have the young people married handdian with his war-paint after a shower somely over again; and Ned Brady and of rain, or a chimney-sweep, after being I, in consideration of this small check, pumped on till be has become half white. will hold our tongues about your defeat. Emma observed nothing, however, in her And you might have a worse son-in-law, haste to embrace him, as she whisper. I assure you, even in a pecuniary point

of view. For, the night before last, • It was so kind in you, uncle, to while Frank was engaged in looking make Frank and me so happy; but I at Miss Emma, and listening to your was so sorry that you were not there. stupid speeches, a weazened little sharpTell me the reason, please ; Frank said nosed man came into his room, where I should know."

I was sitting. •Mr. Gayville's 'rooms,' At the beginning of this short speech, said he. Yes,' said I. •What may be Mr. Bifiles thought it was an evidence your business ?' For, you see, I thought of her joy in rescuing him, and felt he might have a writ to serve on you, gratified. In the middle he was puz- my boy, and it would give you time if zled ; and at the conclusion he was com- he took me for you. *I have to congratpletely bewildered.

ulate you,' said he. •The devil you “ What does it all mean?" he at have,' replied I. • To congratulate you length gasped.

on the receipt of a legacy of fifty thou* At the reception of your kind note, sand dollars, wbich your distant cousin, and the messago you sent us, authorizing Philip Mustifiz, has bequeathed to you, the proceeding, Emma and I had the in consideration of your being the only pleasure of joining our hands, as our one of his relatives who has not taken hearts had been previously united, and the trouble to bore him to death by atI have the honor of presenting her to tentions. This letter will enter into you as Mrs. Frank Gayville."

particulars;' Bo ho left his card, and "My letter!" ejaculated Bifiles, “I went off. There it is, and the letam certainly asleep."

ter.' “No, Mr. Biffles," rejoined a voice, • Why the deuce didn't you tell me at which he involuntarily started with this before ? I am sure you never terror. “ You are as wide awake as would have got me into such a scrape when you indited that nice little epistle, if I had heard of it,” said the recipient which, for reasons of my own, I chose of this fortune, burriedly snatching the to erpret a little differently from you.

letter. In short, Mr. Biffies, allow me to remark, • It is just for that very reason I did that you are done, sir—done very brown, not tell you. If you hadn't come into sir, and that I, Pbil Fogarty, have had your room, looking like a ghost that the honor of superintending the opera- heard a cock crowing in the middle of tion. In proof of the fact, allow me the night, it would have come out at to return the watch and money which I But, you see, you suggested the borrowed of you last night, and show idea of giving Mr. Bifiles a practical you the check you were kind enough illustration of the value of his theories." to subscribe this morning.”

“I suggested ? you mean you pro"This is swindling and felony, sir," posed it. roared the enraged hearer of this dis- "Well, don't quarrel about that—and course. “ I'll have you prosecuted, sir ! the idea struck me as such capital fun, I'll have you sent to the state's prison, that I could not bear to spoil the matter sir-I'llI'll-I'll_"

by informing you of the secret.” "You will just say nothing about it, Mr. Biffles was, meantime, engaged in sir, and you will not stop this check reading the letter over Frank's shouleither, if you are a wise man. For, as der. As soon as be was convinced of suro as you do either, and as sure as the fact of the legacy, the discomfited you don't yield your countenance to this expression cleared from his face, he young married couple, I'll tell the whole shook Frank by the hand, kissed Enma,

once.

and informed Phil that he yielded to the Mr. Biffles has kept the latter part terms.

of the engagement carefully in mind, “Yes, but there is another thing I until lately, when the agitation for remust add," rejoined Phil. “ If you ever forming the city charter has become so again inflict upon society your homilies ardent. against unfortunate gentlemen, who Having been constantly heard to an. have met with accidents, or made mis- nounce, that “no man of sense" would takes, or yielded to weaknesses common object to the present course of thingsto us all, I shall feel absolved from my Mr. Biffles bas been elected aldermanengagement, and be at perfect liberty this narrative is published with altered to relate •How Mr. Biffles was garrot- names, as a slight warning to him of the ed.'"

evil consequences of his present conduct.

RHECUS.

A STORY OF TOO LATE.

IN

the lovely Age of Gold, when the like the blue sky with stars, and hair of

rich rivers rolled milk and honey, yellow moonlight. But no sooner did and the mountains drew rainbows about the first fiery streak in the East show their shoulders as a lady draws her that Phæbus was driving up the chariot scarf; when ivory and rubies and the of the Sun, than they took root as they tails of peacocks grew on trees, and stood in their places, and their fair soft all the face of Earth was dimpled with skin was changed into russet bark, and the smiles of happy people—in the love their slender waists stretched upward ly Age of Gold, the melodious Age of in tall trunks, and their pliant arms Gold, there lived a god named Pan, who were extended and divided in many reigned in the name of Nature. For boughs, and their silver hair became as pan, in the old Greek tongue, means tender leaflets and the tendrils of wild All; and Pau, the god, stood for all vines. that nature is, that nature makes-all in For the lives of the hamadryads, if the heavens above, or the earth beneath, still they live, are as the lives of the or the waters under the earth-the stars oak, and the elm, and the sycamore; in the sky, and diamonds in the mine, their veins run sap.instead of red blood; and coral and shells in clanging caves their hearts are one with the hearts of or mermaidens' bowers down deep un. the trees; like them, they spring from der the many-sounding sea.

nut and slip; like them, they fall before But the chosen baunts of Pan were the storm or the axe ; like them, are in among the profound shadows of for- scathed by the lightning. It is they who ests, and beneath the Gothic arches of sigh and moan to the soughing wind that brown boughs. Away from the high comes over the graves of shepherds; it heats of noon, he slept in twilight grot- is they who groan and shriek when the toes; or lolled among dripping stones, storm fiend rends their graceful limbs while pranksome_waterfalls sprinkled and tears their beautiful hair. him with spray. But when Jack o' lan- In those days, the golden days of thorn, and the fire-fies, were up and Pan, dwelt Rhocus, the handsome shopabout, he sang to the constellations herd, among the silver fountains of jocund songs of good-fellowship, and Hylis, where he and his merry comdanced with the bamadryads under the rades ran races for wild honey, or moon; for Pan was king of the green chased the chattering spotted squirrel wood, and ruled over all that was to his hole in the topmost boughs. A wild.

light-hearted, thoughtless fellow, RhoThe hamadryads, the sweet-hearts of cus, to whom a sad face or a sighing Pan, were wood-nymphs. At night they heart were as strange a sight as a tripped with him in the meadows, in the snow-ball to a Hindoo, or a butterfly to likeness of lovely maidens with eyes a shivering Laplander.

:

Once Rhocus found a falling oak in Till the sun grows cold, the forest—& venerable and majestic

And the stars are old, tree, that in a few weeks, or so soon as

And the leaves of the Judgment-book un.

fold.' the first blustering gale should come to

“Only, dear Rhæcus, beautiful Rhoshake it by the shoulders, would be laid prostrate in the dust, and all the pride always wise ; nor ever, by want of

cus, brave Rhæcus, let Love make you of its leafy crown be brought to shame. So he was touched with a freak of thought, sometimes as wicked and as pity, to call his idle, romping mates;

cruel as want of heart, forget the kindand, all together, and with all their

ness which prolonged the old life of the hearts, they helped the poor, old forest oak, and filled the young life of the haking, bringing stout beams to prop him madryad with perfect joy. As often as

I send my bee, to whisper in your ear up, and tough vines to bind him to his younger and more sturdy attendants.

that I am waiting-remember, Rhæcus.”

And Rhæcus promised, as many proAnd when the work was done, and

mises as kisses, and they parted—to night was falling, and the rest had gone to bathe their tired and dusty limbs in the

moet again, to-morrow, and to-morrow, cool springs, Rhocus stretched his length

and to-morrow, they thought, on the dewy grass at the feet of his fine

Till the sun grew cold,

And the stars were old. old tree, and with fingers interlocked under his head, made the woods ring But the day came at last when Rhæcus again, startling the owl and the bat with forgot. It was late ; the long shadows country-songs of old Greece. And pre- were falling, and night was filing out of sently there stood, between him and the the woods and marching abroad over all moon, a maiden, lovelier than a dream the land. Rhæcus sat among the shep. of going to heaven on wings, whose look herds playing at draughts, and his was like a kiss, and her voice more plea- thoughts were all in the game. Prosant than the comfortablest home-songs sently a bee came and buzzed in his ear; of crickets. And she said : “Rhæcus, but Rhæcus only jerked his head sharply good Rhæcus, beautiful Rhæcus, I am aside and said "pshaw!"--going on with a hamadryad, daughter of the green

And again the bee buzzed wood; from the gray forest king whose in his ear, and again he said “pshaw," life your pity has prolonged I had my and “pshaw," and “pshaw." And the life at first, and all of good or beautiful third time, he cursed the bee, and struck that pertains to it. Therefore whatso- it fiercely with his band, so that, with ever is in my gift to give you, ask and broken wings, and all in a buzzing spasm, take. The birds, full of songs, are rolled up in a round ball with pain, it yours, if you will have them; and the was sharply smitten to the earth, and spotted snakes, and the quick, cunning crippled, and choked with dust. squirrels—all these, if you love them,

When Rhæcus saw what he had done take."

his heart stood still within him, and his But Rhæcus looked on the hamadry- head went round and round, and he ad's marvelous charm, and his heart wished that he were dead. But he ten. beat bigh withit him, and his eyes derly took up the dying bee, and laying glowed all a-blaze; aná ho said: “Not it in his bosom, fed into the forest, callthe birds, full of songs, nor the spotted ing on the name of his beloved, filling snakes, nor the quick, cunning squirrels, all the air with his penitence, so that -but thee, lovelier than a dream of the

very bats did pity him. going to heaven on wings,--thee, and

But he found her not, neither then thy stop like a kiss,-thee, and thy nor ever again, under the kindly stars ; voice, more pleasant than the home- although, often, a melancholy wind came songs of comfortable crickets,-thee, out of the woods at dusk and cried “Oh, and all thy wondrous beauty and bless

Rhæcus." edness I must have. Give me.”

There is a thing that shall last foreverAnd the wood-nymph answered : “ Till the sun grows cold, “ Rhæcus, thou, too, art beautiful and And the stars are old, good, and I will be thy sweet-heart. I And the leaves of the Judgment-book un. will kiss thee, and thou shalt kiss me,

fold" runder the kindly stars; and we will love And the name of that thing is— " Too each other, and cling to each other Late."

the game.