JUNE A 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
373 
fitfrarg HfetUaug. 
REMORSE. 
EDGEBTON. 
Thebe lived a Kood old man, some years ago— 
How many, just, is not for me to know, 
But this, perhaps, will little difference make, 
As no important interests are at stake .- 
The facta which in my story I relate, 
Eemain the same, without regard to date: 
Suffice to say, he lived in years gone by, 
Omitting bore the Anno Domini; 
Nor can I mention his particular name, 
But still insist, the facts remain tho samu; 
When he was born, or where he chanced to live, 
Are facts which I shall not attempt to give; 
Nov, is it necessary to my plan, 
To specify the color of the man. 
He may have been as lair as yon or I, 
Or. like the ace of spades, of darker dye; 
These minor tilings are foreign to the facts, 
I speak not of the man, but of his acts— 
But as my muse has shied and “ flew the track," 
I'll hear upon the bits and bring her back. 
Tills man—of whom 1 first set out to tell— 
Was honest as the day. and kind as well. 
His motives, all, were good and strictly pure, 
And knowingly, be did no wrong, be sure; 
But then again, the man, try as he would, 
Could never, somehow, compass any good, 
His plans, whatever he might chance to lay 
Were always sure to balk, or go astray ; 
Ho seemed possessed Of energy and pluck. 
But somehow, never bad a bit of luck; 
While all his neighbors round were doing well, 
He, far behind in worldly goods had fell. 
At last, in moody, melancholy fit. 
The man resolved this unkind world to unit, 
Took dowu r vial of poison cold, and shook it, 
Poured out a great heroic doseaud took it. 
Post-mortem observations proved the fact, 
Tho man had done a very foolish act; 
The only real cause for his remorse, 
He'd always hitched his cart before the horse. 
- 
VIOLET’S WAGER. 
[Concluded from page 358.] 
“ Tell me now," pleaded Violet, “ and perhaps I 
can help you.” 
“ Help me, Indeed!” exclaimed Miss Franks. 
“ The only way you could help me would be to 
many my brother.” 
“ My dear Miss Franks,’’ said violet, laughing, 
“ how can I do that when he is engaged to some 
one else, I think you told me ?” 
*• No, I did not," returned Miss Franks, sharply; 
“ I never mentioned anything about it; but that’s 
my trouble. He has proposed to some young chit 
no more fit to be his wife than—than—” 
“ I am,” put In Violet. 
“ Thank you, my dearexclaimed Miss Franks, 
pulling her toward her and kissing her affection¬ 
ately. “ If she were one quarter as suitable as you, 
I should not mind.” 
“But,” argued Violet, with diffident boldness, 
“ how do you know that your brother has chosen 
unwisely ? Perhaps, when you see more of the 
girl be loves, you will nice her as well as you do 
me." 
“Never!” rejoined Mi3s Franks, emphatically. 
“ I have never loved any young person as I have 
learned to love you. No one could have resisted 
such unfailing klnduess. I only wish that, when 
tills hateful marriage takes place, I could have 
this room tor my own. l shall have to find some 
home near." 
“ Do you really mean that you would like rne to 
be with you always ?" asked Violet, with sparkling 
eyes. 
“ Indeed I do, dear, I could not be ao much wltb 
you without discovering that a home with you 
must be a happy one—without feeling the charm 
of your brightness, your sweet temper, and utter 
unseiflsbness." 
“Thank you!”said Violet, earnestly, pressing 
Miss Franks’s thin hand caressingly to her fresh 
young face. “And now, ’ she added, “ as you have 
told me your trouble. 1 will tell you a secret. 1 am 
going to be married in the Autumn.” 
“ oh, dear!” exclaimed Miss Franks. 
“ But my marriage need not form an obstacle to 
your coming to me; for we shall have two com¬ 
fortable rooms to spare. We had hoped that a 
favorite slater of my future husband would have 
lived with ua, but she has declined. She thinks I 
am too young and inexperienced to be able to make 
a home comfortable.” 
“ She’s a fool, then,” curtly replied Miss Franks, 
“ and can’t know you. I certainly know some¬ 
thing of housekeeping, and I consider you an ex¬ 
cellent manager. If 1 could only live with you, I 
should think myself a fortunate old woman, In¬ 
deed: but then there's something about you no 
one can resist. ” 
“John’s own words,” thought Violet, trium¬ 
phantly. “ Well,” said ane, “ we will talk this 
over to-morrow, when perhaps aunt will be well 
enough to see you. And now will you promise me 
something ? W ill you come down tor a little time 
after dinner? Dr. Franks says you may; and l 
want to introduce somo one to you. You must 
guess who it la;" and, with a saucy nod of her 
pretty head, she was gone. 
After dinner Miss Franks without waiting for 
Violet, made her way down to the drawing-room. 
A Are was burning cheerfully, and on a small ta¬ 
ble near an easy chair was placed a fragrant bou¬ 
quet of spring flowers, tastefully arranged, Violet 
entered in a row momenta, looking radiantly hap¬ 
py, and, coming up to the old lady, kissed her, 
saying Impulsively : ** Promise always to love me 
as much as you do now.” 
“ Illess the child!' exclaimed Mias Franks look¬ 
ing In amuaed surprise at Violet’s beaming eyes 
and flushed face. "Is that the barefaced way 
you make love to that unfortunate man you have 
made your slave?” 
•* There he lsl” cried Violet, as a knock was 
heard; and darting from the room, she left Miss 
Franks to smile over the lmpetuousness of lovers. 
Tho afternoon was so lovely that she was 
tempted to open the creeper-covered window 
which overlooked the garden, and breathe the 
balmy, Spring atr and sweet scents. 
Presently voices beneath the window attracted 
her attention. 
"I must get Just one peep at him,” said she to 
herself, cautiously putting her head a little way 
out of tho window. Then she heard the unmistak¬ 
able sound of a kiss, and Violet’s smothered voice, 
said remonatratlngly ; “ How can you be so rash ? 
Suppose she is at tho window ? It would be such 
a ptty to spoil It all after my deceiving her so beau¬ 
tifully." 
Miss Franks sank back suddenly, with a sup¬ 
pressed exclamation, for she bad seen a fine, 
manly figure bent caresstngly toward an eloquent 
upturned face, two pretty haDds clasped on a 
broad shoulder, a strong arm encircling a slender 
waist, l 
“ So she’s been deceiving me all this time,” mur¬ 
mured Miss Franks—" been carrying on this out¬ 
rageous flirtation with my brother under my very 
nose l And to think that he, too, should behave 
in so dishonorable a manner! But Miss Lloyd 
shall bear of It, poor, ill-used child! And so shall 
the other poor dupe.” 
Here the sound of approaching footsteps made 
her seat herself at the other ena of the room, and 
the offending couple entered, both looking very 
innocent. 
“ I am so glad to see you down stairs,” said the 
doctor, heartily, as he took a chair by his sister's 
side; “ but you look as it the exertion had been a 
little too much for you.” 
“ l certainly feel more overcome than I expect¬ 
ed," replied Miss Franks, primly, adding, with an 
emphasis violet’s woman’s wit delected at once, 
" I round great difficulty In getting back to my 
seat after standing at the window for a few 
minutes.” 
Violet blushed deeply, and looked reproachfully 
at John, who, however, was quite at his ease, and 
ready to be “ rash” on the slightest provocation. 
She saw that Miss Franks was still In the dark as 
to how matters really stood, and determined, with 
characteristic courage, to rush boldly to the attack, 
•• Dear Miss Franks,” she began, in her soft, low 
voice, “ will you forgive me for trying, under false 
pretences, to make you love me ? And may I still 
believe that 1 have not tried In vain ? John, come 
here.” Then, putting her hand in hts, she con¬ 
tinued with a proud humility new to her: “ This 
la the man I have promised to marry, who has 
made me so happy with bis love, so honored me 
by bis preference.” 
As violet paused, John looked at her with loving 
admiration blended with astonishment. 
'• But,” began Miss Franks. 
“ one moment, EmilyInterrupted her brother, 
drawing Violet closer to his side. " 1, too, have a 
few words to say. When I told Violet of your 
probable displeasure at our approaching marriage, 
she was conceited enough to wager that in less 
than a month alter you knew her you would love 
her. if she has won her wager—ana I see she has 
—can you wonder at my boundless love ? I have 
had the opportunity of seeing her in private so¬ 
ciety, In domestic life; I know her forbearing 
kindness, her tender charity, her sincerity and un- 
seldshness, Oh, my darling," he went on, gazing 
into Violet’s gentle eyes, “I don’t know how 
to thank you for what you Uave Just said! 
You know how inexpressibly dear you are to me; 
and, If love, lasting love, can make you happy, 
happy you shall be.” 
" Darling,” murmured Violet, nestling close to 
him in her gentle, womanly way, " all the happi¬ 
ness shall not be on my aide.” 
“ But,” put in Miss Franks, with a bewildered 
atr, “ who are you?” 
“ violet Lloyd, at your service,” replied violet, 
recovering her natural gaiety and dropping a 
mock courtesy—" the * baby-faced chit ’ you dis¬ 
like ao much.” 
“You naughty girl," said Miss Franks, nearly 
crying for Joy; “ I’ll never forgive you for letting 
me make an old donkey of myselfl Why, you told 
me youself that your name was Matthews 1" 
“ No,” laughed Violet; “ I told you my aunt’s 
name was Matthews; and, as you persisted in 
thinking It was mine, I did not like to be so rude 
as to contradict you. 1 hope,” she added demure¬ 
ly, “that you do not contemplate ultertng the 
plana we discussed this morning.” 
“Get along with you both, do, and have another 
walk In the garden. I won’t peep this time. I 
know how It was that my brother paid me such 
extraordinary attention. Ah, Jonn,” she added, 
earnestly, “Violet has won her wager; but you 
have won something of priceless value in gaining 
her love.” 
SALT AND 8DIT0RS, 
“ Mb. Jkwill, what is to happen ? My peace of 
mind is gone for the evening!” was the halt-jesting, 
haif-aerloua exclamation of a young laciy—only Just 
“out,” although in the present instance a guest at 
a large and gay dinner party. 
The gentleman thus addressed gazed In comical 
dismay at his neighbor, and then at a heap of salt 
which lay before him on the damask table-cloth, 
and which he had just deposited there by the 
awkward revereement of a salt-cellar. 
"I am extremely grieved, Miss Mordant, to 
cause you such prolonged distress of mind.” he 
replied, calmly. “ But even now I am In perfect 
mystification as to the exact cause. The purity 
of the table-cloth is not Injured, nor Is your fairy- 
like dress soiled, I hope.” 
“ Worse than that. Air. Jewlll. l really blush 
for your Ignorance of • useful things worth know¬ 
ing,' ” she replied, archly. *• Is it possible that 
you do not know tho penalties that attend the 
spilling of salt?” 
" Peocavi i 1 confess my sins. 1 really have no 
idea of such a superstition; and, what is more, I 
teallyhave no faith In such nonsense,” he went 
on, rather Impatiently. 
Kate Mordant looked Indeed daunted for a mo¬ 
ment. She was so young and so unaccustomed 
to receive any check to her playful fancies, that 
the rebuff chilled her. 
Her other neighbor, however, came to the res¬ 
cue. 
“Do not attend to such heresy, Miss Mordanti 
but let us rather attempt a remedy for the mis¬ 
fortune. Can we not avert tho evil 7” asked Mr- 
Franklin, a more experienced “ diner-out ” than 
Charlie Jewlll. 
“ Oh, dear, no! I consider it far too serious 
for any such precautions,” replied Kate, regain¬ 
ing her spirits. •' We must only trust In our good 
fortune to avert any calamity from this event.” 
Charlie Jewlll looked at the fresh, pretty crea¬ 
ture at his side with unmistakable, though per 
haps somewhat doubting, interest: 
•* Do you really believe that any harm can come 
to you, Mtss Mordant?”he said, in a low tone. 
“ You look to me like a fresh rosebud with the 
morning dew upon It, which has neither known 
a cloud, nor fears a storm.” 
“ Do 1 look so very juvenile- so very inexpert' 
enced, then ?” asked the girl, eagerly. 
" O, dear no! Only that, meeting you here, I 
am-what shall I say 7 —surprised at seelne you 
at such a gathering of ‘grave and reverend sen¬ 
iors,’ ” he returned, smilingly. 
Katie laughed gaily. 
“ You are a very formidable personage,” she 
said; “ but I can very soon explain all your 
doubts. Tbe fact Is, that I am here only as a sub¬ 
stitute for a more worthy and dignified guest. 
“ Is it really your first dinner-party?” asked the 
young man, eagerly. 
" If you mean as a visitor, yes; but I have been 
drilled into proper behavior,” she said, laughing¬ 
ly, “ by being present when the table was not full 
at my own home 1 hope I have not commuted 
any solecisms of good-breeding?” she added, de¬ 
murely. 
“Iam afraid you have committed a more serious 
robbery than of sUver spoons or jewelled napkin- 
rings,” laughed Franklin. “However, It will be 
time enough to accuse you of the sin when you 
have refused to atone. Miss Mordant. A sort of 
hue-and-cry—eh, Jewlll ? for stolen goods.” 
Luckily, at that Instant the hostess rose from 
the table, and Katie Mordant was spared tbe em¬ 
barrassment of replying, to her no small relief. 
The evening progressed as all such evenings do 
Gossip, music, coffee, ices, contrived to make the 
next two hours endurable. 
And then, ratheT early In the evening, the car¬ 
riage was announced which was to convey Mrs. 
and Miss Mordant to their home, which was 
some three, or four miles from that of their kindly 
entertainers. 
“ A pretty, sparkling creature, that. She will 
ripen well, I expect—eh, Jewlll?” said Mr. Frank 
lln, critically. " She will want a little sobering 
and then she will become a very flue girl, I don’t 
doubt.” 
Charlie Jewlll looked gloriously Indignant at 
the cool commentary on tne moat exciting hour 
his own rather phlegmatic temper had known; 
but he had enough control to reply carelessly: 
" Ah : yes, no doubt; only I am wearied enough 
to prefer some variations from the established 
rule and plummet. It Is rather relreshlng to 
meet a girl who Is not as drilled as her own riding- 
horse to certain paces, in my opinion.” 
And Charlie turned on his heel, and left the man 
ot the world to his own reflections, 
• | ♦ 4 • • 
“ l hope Mrs, and Miss Mordant got home well 
the other evening, Mrs, Fltzhugh, 1 understood 
they lived at the very antipodes ot your house,” 
said Charlie Jewlll, wheu he made his duty-call 
at the house of his hostess, and, what was not 
so entirely his duty, at the time when he believed 
she would be at home, 
“ Well, I can scarcely go so far as to say yes,” 
replied the lady, half-laughingly ; “ and, what is 
yet worse, Mr. Jewlll, I am afraid you are to be 
held responsible for the misadventure.” 
" I, Mrs. Fltzhugh ? What unlucky and un¬ 
known sin have I committed?" asked Charlie, in 
unfeigned surprise. 
“ Well, then, you must judge for yourself. 
Katie Mordant lost a bracelet—a very pretty 
bracelet, and, what is more, one that had been 
loft to her by her god-mother and aunt,” 
“ May the old lady rest with Noah! I pre¬ 
sume I am not supposed to be responsible for the 
safety of her heirlooms,” returned Charlie, grave¬ 
ly. 
“ Probably not; but so far as Katie told me, 
between smiles and tears, when 1 saw her, she 
placed Uie calamity to the account ot your hav¬ 
ing cast some evil spell on her, which terminated 
In this catastrophe,” returned the lady, laugh¬ 
ingly, “ Whether ihe omen could extend Its 
power over the bracelet-snap, or the honesty of 
the tinder, It Is not for me to say. ” 
And Mrs. FiizUugh turned to receive some other 
guests as she spoke. 
“ Was it really a valuable trinket ?” he asked, 
when hts hostess could again turn her attention 
to him. 
“ Well, I fancy It had rather a sentimental than 
a financial-value," replied the lady. “ It was a 
sort of indlan-chaln gold band, fastened by a 
diamond, and emerald, and peari clasp of curious 
workmanship. I expect Katie has, or will have, 
dozens more valuable jewels wheu the first re- 
grets aud reproaches are over. I do not doubt 
she will get over the scaudal and the scoldings. 
Mis. Mordant Is a little straight-laced, l fancy.” 
But Charlie Jewlll had found a favorable key to 
the door be was striving to open for his admls. 
slon, and he soon took his leave, with a brilliant 
scheme in his head for turning evil into good, and 
shaping his blunder Into a dexterous means of ac¬ 
complishing his object. 
• • » • * * * 
“ Helgh-hol that weary bracelet!” exclaimed 
poor Katie Mordant, throwing herself Into a chair 
as her mother left the room, after a renewed 
search among dresses and jewel cases, In tbe for¬ 
lorn hope of discovering the missing ornament. 
“ As If it could slgnlfly, or my venerable god¬ 
mother rise from her grave to ascertain Its safety! 
I am sure It was not my fault. It was all that 
horrid salt being split..” 
“Mr Jewlll. If you please, miss, is in the draw¬ 
ing-room, aDd wants to speak with you: I think 
It la about the bracelet,” said the maid, who 
waited on Mrs. Mordant and her daughter, 
and whose entrance had been unnoticed by Katie 
In her pre-occupation of mind. 
Tbe girl colored scarlet. 
The little boudoir opened out ot the drawing¬ 
room by a folding door, and she fancied that 
Charlie might have overheard her soliloquy. 
" Is mamma there, Wilson? Have you told her?” 
she inquired. 
" No mtss. Mr. Jew 111 asked for you, I—I knew 
my mistress was going to lie down, with a head¬ 
ache, when she went up-stalrs. Shall I disturb 
her, miss?” 
“ She can scarcely have had time to He down 
yet, Wilson. Yes; you had better tell Her.” was 
the stupefied response of the embarassed Katie. 
And the maid proceeded leisurely to perform 
the behest. 
“ Miss Mordant, I really must apologize a thou- 
and times for the Intrusion; but the fact la, I beard 
ot your loss, and It seemed to me that this brace¬ 
let, which I came across accidentally, very much 
answers to the description,” he stammered, with 
a hesitation quite equal to Katie’s hurried recep¬ 
tion of her unexpected guest. 
Katie's color rose rapidly. 
“ Indeed ! How very kind of you! Where did 
you find it ?” she asked, quickly. 
“ First, let me ask your verdict on It,” returned 
Charles, with an enforced carlessness of manner, 
drawing the little packet from his pocket a? he 
spoke. “The truth is, Miss Mordant, I have felt 
ao extremely penitent tor the awkwardness that 
seemsto have heralded your misfortune, that I 
have left no inquiry unturned to remedy It. T shall 
never be happy till I have succeeded,” he went on, 
wit h a significant look that brought a lovely bloom 
on tbe girl’s cheek. 
Katie eagerly unwrapped the dainty paper that 
surrounded the carefully-packed trinket, and ex¬ 
amined It with anxious solicitude. 
‘ It Is very llke-very like," she said; " but It Is 
not tbe same, I am afraid. If it is, there will be 
tbe initials • K. F.' on the clasp. They were my 
god-mother’s initials,” she went, on, perceiving a 
half-comical, half-triumphant smile on her com¬ 
panion’s features. 
“ I really have not quite so closely examined It, 
Alisa Mordant,” he Bald, cooly; “but you can easily 
ascertain It by Inspecting the place where they 
should be found." 
“ Yes, and there is also a little fracture where 
the link was mended a little while ago,” pursued 
the young girl, anxiously. 
Again a look of demure amusement crossed the 
young man’s features. 
“ You are extremely precise In your description, 
Miss Mordant. Y'ou might have taken lessons 
from a detective officer.” he replied, laughingly. 
“ However, it Is In your hands, and 1 must leave It 
to your critical decision. Ah! Airs. Mordant, l see. 
I hope you are recovering from the annoyance 
your daughter’s unlucky loss muse have caused 
you." he said, suddenly turning to the delicate, 
formal-looking widow, who was entering the room 
as he spoke. 
“ Mamma, Mr. Jewlll has brought this bracelet, 
which he thinks answers to the description of my 
missing one," broke In Katie, fearing some ebulli¬ 
tions of her mother’s well-worn lamentations. 
“ Indeed! Well, I should know It from a thou¬ 
sand. Katie, and so ought you, when your too kind 
and indulgent god-mother gave It to you,” returned 
Mrs. Mordant, reprovingly. “ Where did you find 
it, Air. Jewlll ?” 
The young man shrugged his shoulders. 
“ Pardon me, my dear madam; I obtained It on 
condition of keeping all those circumstances a 
profound seoret," he said, mysteriously nodding 
his head, wltb a world of meaning In the gesture. 
“ And It It Is not the missing jewel, I have faith¬ 
fully engaged to return It to whence It came.” 
Mrs. Mordant put on her glasses, and, taking 
the glittering trinket In her hand, she began to 
examine It with keen and eager curiosity. 
“ it is—yes. It certainly must be tbe same,” she 
said, musingly. •• There are the exact character¬ 
istics ot the bracelet., Katie, though, perhaps, 'here 
is a slight difference in the color ot the gold. It has 
more of a bright yellow tint than the precious one 
you lost so carelessly.” 
“Perhaps It has been brushed up, my dear 
madam. There might be very good reasons for 
that,” said Charlie, significantly. 
“ Well, I am sure we are exceedingly lodebted to 
you, my dear sir; and I quite hope you will remain 
and share our family dinner, though women's fare 
will be scarcely worth your attention,” said Mrs. 
Mordant, graciously. 
“ 1 shall be enchanted. Mrs. Mordant," he replied. 
“ And I will not spill the salt. If 1 can help It,” he 
went on, arcnly, with a glance at Katie. 
Charlie remained till prudence warned him not 
to try Mrs, Mordant’s patience any longer. 
Andthat visit was only the first of many a pleas¬ 
ant hour spent with the widow and her fair daugb 
ter, till at length Charlie proposed to unite the 
trio as tenants of one home; and after due maid¬ 
en’s shyness on Katie's part, and seme natural re¬ 
luctance on that of her mother's, the agreement 
was duly and amiably made, and Miss Mordant. In 
due time was transformed Into Al rs.cnarles JewlU, 
and mistress of a handsome house and ample rent 
roll. 
But It was uot till long after the magle ceremony 
that the husband confessed (o his fair wire that 
the bracelet Ui question had been the production 
|- of the jeweler who had repaired the lost legacy of 
the venerable god-mother, aud thut the ruse was 
