THE BUBAL NEW-YORKER. 
JULY 1 
“ I cannot allow you to represent matters so 
unfairly,” interrupted sue. “Honor to whom 
honor is due; and to such only. Permit me to do 
us both Justice. The truth is simply this, uncle: 
When I flrst encountered I>aura, she was painfully 
disheartened by a fear that In all her efforts to 
promote your comfort and evince her gratitude, 
you suspected her of a design on your rnuch- 
talkcd-of fortune, and she was seriously disposed 
to return to her uncle C.’s and allow you an op¬ 
portunity of seeking another protege, who might 
he more successful than she had been in studying 
your habits and interpreting your wishes. I 
could not listen to this: 1 saw that she was just 
the ministering friend and pet that you need 
always wit h you—if you could be brought to un¬ 
derstand each other. I saw, too, that it was not 
because she was 4 weary in well doing' that she 
wished to leave you, but that her sensitive allec- 
tlon was wounded by your suspicions. I asked 
her a few questions, and soon ascertained pre¬ 
cisely how matters stood "with you both. I saw 
that she had been quit© too submissive—too duti¬ 
ful—and J told her so. 1 knew you so well, un¬ 
cle. I knew that, like most other men, you re¬ 
spected a woman more for being conscious of her 
own worth and importance. I ventured to advise 
her to assume a more spirited demeanor—to bo a 
little more saucy, uncle, by way of Informing you 
that some little consideration was due from you 
to her, as well as Implicit obedience on her part. 
Confess, now, has not my plan worked well 7" 
•• My pet btrdlel As saucy its ever!" said Mr. 
Murray. “But how does your advice to her to 
stay and hear with mo tally with your own be¬ 
havior In Hying away 7 Eh 1 my little traitress?” 
“Your birdie would never have tlown from you, 
uncle; but she did fly from tho mate whom you 
wished to cage her up with. Bui you have louftd 
him out, too, have you not?" 
“I have, Indeed, to my sorrow and heavy loss. 
But let him go, with his Ill-won gains. 1 have 
still something left for you and l.aura;' and we 
can be happy without our former wealth, now 
that we shall be all together, can we not ?” 
A silent pressure of Laura’s Ups to her guar¬ 
dian’s hand, and another from Helen’s on his 
cheek, were the only answers he obtained. 
Mr. Murray looked around again at the neat 
apartment. 
“You fled to a pretty cage, my truant birdie," 
he said; “ but where is the mate for whom you 
deserted me ?’’ 
“ He was obliged to go out to-night; but he did 
not go until Ur. Forms had pronounced that you 
were not dangerously hurt. Ho will return soon, 
now, 1 think." 
“Iam impatient to see him. You married a 
mechanic, Helen, but you chose a rising man. He 
promises to become one of our first architects. 
But what have you in the cradle there? it be¬ 
gins to demand some attention.” 
A rosy cherub was, forthwith, extricated from 
the tiny domicile, and placed In Mr. Murray’s 
arms. 
“ We have called him by your name, uncle, and 
we sometimes fancy that he resembles you." 
Mr. Murray folded the smiling babe to his 
breast, and his tears fell fast on its lnuocent face. 
The arrival of Mr. Bolden Interrupted this scene, 
and Helen had tho happiness or seeing her hus- 
baud and her uncle greet each other as It no cool¬ 
ness had ever existed between them. 
“ How 1 have longed and prayed for this re¬ 
union I" she said, sobbing In her excess of joy. 
“I too have wished for It," eald Mr. Murray, 
“ though 1 was too proui and too obstinate to 
seek It. You have done better tbau I. You have 
been mindful of your peevish uncle, while 1—hut 
I am uot disposed to confess how many Inquiries 
1 have made, when 1 fancied you would never 
hoar of them. Of course, you will leave this fairy 
cottage, now, and come homo with Laura and 
me. We must have you. You cannot refuse.” 
Holon looked to her husband. 
“ We have been so happy in our cottage," he 
replied, “that I would, willingly, pass here the 
remainder of my life. But I submit to Helen’s 
decision: let her pronounce It." 
Holen hesitated a moment, and then said, some¬ 
what timidly : 
“ We will go with you, unde, If you will first do 
one thing to please us." 
“ Name your one thing, it must be a hard one, 
If I do not consent to it.” 
••It Is a very easy one, uncle; only to write 
your name on a pleoe of paper," she replied, tak¬ 
ing a scroll from a drawer as she spoke.” 
Mr. Murray Instantly became grave, and exhib¬ 
ited some displeasure, as he responded ; 
"I understand you; and I must say, Helen, 
that I think you might have spared me this 
humiliating condition. I can be temperate, 1 
hope, without briuglng myself under a pledge to 
be so." 
“ I know you can, uncle, and if you place your 
name here, 1 know you will. George thinks the 
pledge no trifling auxiliary to good Intentions. 
He has never regretted signing it." 
“ I have not, In truth. I nrmly believe that, 
next to the blessing of God, I owe my success In 
life, chiefly, to my temperance principles: and, 
even these might have tailed to strengthen me, 
under great temptation, but for the reflection 
that I had solemnly pledged myself to abstain, 
entirely, from Intoxicating drinks.” 
“ That • total abstinence' clause Is the feature 
that I most dislike. A glass or two of wlue can¬ 
not hurt any man." 
“ Perhaps not: but one glass prepares the way 
for another, and so on, until-” 
“ Until,” Interrupted Mr. Murray. “ sense, rea¬ 
son, prudence, all are gone, as the wine from our 
glasses. You are right. All my late follies may 
be traced to the 1 one glass more,’ about which 
Helen used to quarrel with me. You have never 
done so, Laura, saucy as you have been lately. 
But reach me that pen, girl, and leave oil crying. 
You are not sorry, I presume.” 
Laura’s face, be It remembered, expressed noth¬ 
ing like sorrow, as she presented the small but 
potent instrument demanded. 
“There,” said Mr. Murray, a3 he returned the 
pen to Laura, and tossed the scroll Into Helen’s 
lap—“I am a weak old simpleton, doubtless, In 
yielding to you; but, henceforth, with God's 
help, 1 am secure against tne consequences or 
4 one glass more.’" 
- 
PERVERSE NANNIE LEIGH. 
BY RITTA. 
CHAPTER I. 
On a gentle eminence backed by high hills, with 
an extended front view of rolling meadows, rich 
woodlandsand deep valleys, picturesquely Inter¬ 
spersed with ornate cottages and winding streams, 
stood the time-honored Bryec mansion. Grand 
old trees, planted by those whose children's chil¬ 
dren had since grown gray rejoicing under their 
shadows, stretched out from the house In a semi¬ 
circle on either side of the closely-clipped lawn, 
Whose emerald green for feet 
Of Fairy Queen were meet. 
The once numerous Buyck family was now re¬ 
duced to three representatives—venerable Miss 
Prcdy and her two charges. Both of the latter 
possessed an equal claim on hor he-.rt and for¬ 
tune, though but distantly related to each other. 
Aunt Pkudy's favorite flowers, the old-fashioned 
four a’oloeks, were lazily closing their eyes, when 
the massive hall door was flung widely open by 
an Impetuous, Joyous hand. For an Instant Al¬ 
leyns Bryce's tall, well-knit ilguro, clad in the 
uniform of a U. S. olllcer, appeared within the 
vacant space. The next moment he had almost 
cleared the long piazza at a bound, and one leap 
more landed him far from its side. Though carry¬ 
ing Ids arm In a sling, and still exhibiting the 
trace of a severe gash across tits rorehead, Al¬ 
leyn* Bbyck at present seemed In no wise de¬ 
pressed either by his country’s peril or his own 
wounds. On the contrary, a bright glow of Inex¬ 
pressible and pleasant anticipation illumined Ids 
attractive countenance, which was suddenly per¬ 
vaded by a merry, comical expression as he sang 
out, full arid clear—with an evident purpose in 
his tone—the old nursery rhyme of “ Little Tom¬ 
my Tucker.” 
There was a ludicrous Incongruity between the 
singer’s dllt.y and demeanor, and Alleyne him¬ 
self laughed outright as the last words— 
" How shall ho marry without any wife 
were uttered with a peculiar emphasis, as he pro¬ 
ceeded along one of tho winding evergreen ave¬ 
nues adorning Ills aunt’s estate, which termi¬ 
nated in a rustic summer house. Within it his 
searching eyes loll upon a single occupant—N a n- 
nik Leigh, the companion of ills youth. 
“ Provoking follow! 'Us too bad, he has discov¬ 
ered that i" was Nannie’s Impatient exclamation, 
showing her appreciation of Allkynk’s musical 
effort. 
Nothing doubting what would follow, perverse 
Nannie braced herself for the encounter, with a 
resolution, hurriedly though firmly taken, to 
afford Ailkynk no present satisfaction. 
“ Well, cruel-hearted maiden! so you have given 
Tuokekman his tlual dismissal?” laughed Al- 
I/Kvne. “I could plt,y him more had 1 warned 
him loss that fate and our forefathers long since 
decreed us for each other.” 
Save only to settle herself more decidedly on 
the seal and fix her gaze more Intently upon the 
book she held In her hand, Nannie gave no heed 
whatever to the speaker’s address or presence. 
" Come, come, Nannie ; I know you are neither 
deaf nor blind, though you have proved so to poor 
Tuckkkman’s entreaties. Happily 1 have late. en¬ 
couragement to believe you will not always re¬ 
ward my patient waiting with disappoint ment." 
“ Late encouragement 1 from whom, or how ?” 
mentally dissembled Nannie, resolving the while 
that allkynr’s anticipated triumph should be 
still further postponed, as a penalty for his pre¬ 
sumption. But to all outward appearing this 
most perverse young lady continued grievously 
anile ted with the toss of each and every sense, In 
so far as concerned tUe new-comer. 
“So he It then," laughed Alleyne. “‘a bird 
that can slug, and won't sing, ougUL to be made 
to sing.”’ Thereupon he gaily caught the book 
from her grasp, quickly seated himself opposite 
to her, aud doxcrously lirted her chLn with his 
left hand, unavoidably bringing her eyes to con¬ 
front Ills. 
“Tell me now, my own Nannie, oh, why you 
refused Tuokekman, • as likely a young fellow as 
ever was seen,' if not because you Intend to marry 
me forthwith ?” 
An unflinching look Into his eyes was Nannie’s 
sole response. 
“Uon’t be such a perverse creature, Nannie, 
any longer," continued Alleyns, looking quite 
serious now, “ but away with all Joking. You 
must know that I only wait for you to name our 
wedding-day, to make my happiness complete, 
and to secure, besides, inexpressible Joy and peace 
to dear Aunt Trudy's loving heart.” 
Alleyne’s voice and eyes were replete with 
tenderness, and the fervent response arising with¬ 
in Nannie’s heart was almost too strong lor her 
to control, Yet defiant she still looked. “Per¬ 
haps It is only to gratify Aunt Pruuy after all, 
that Alleyne urges our marriage,” she thought, 
and she said aloud, with well-acted scorn: 
“ Would It not be more to your honor, sir, it, 
instead of babbling nursery rhymes and silly 
songs, your time and energies were expended 
In your country’s service? None but a coward 
could dally at the time or her greatest need." 
A quick flush mantled Allkynk’s face, and his 
indignant repetition of 44 a oowanl," as though he 
spurned the very thought, told Nannie of the 
pain her Idle Imputation had Inflicted. 
“Nannie Leigh, that were a dangerous Insin¬ 
uation from a man,” he said, with flashing eyes; 
and he added, his face saddeningOh, Nan¬ 
nie, Nannie ! is this Indeed my place In your es¬ 
timation ?” 
Penitent and humbled at last, she exclaimed, 
beseechingly 44 Forgive me, Alleyne, dear Al- 
lkynei I could not, do not, mean It. I, who know 
so well how you have suffered and all you have 
sacrificed." 
Trembling, she hid her face In her hands, thus 
vainly endeavoring to conceal her emotion from 
Alleyne, whose left arm seemed to lack no cun¬ 
ning In stealing about her waist. Bhe was think¬ 
ing, meantime, of the time when she, nursing 
him back to life in the hospital at Washington, 
had discovered the true nature of her affection 
for him. Kaeh day’s watching over him taught 
her that he was something far dearer to her than 
a mere brother. 
Joyfully had he accepted her atoning words; 
and as though reading her very thoughts, he 
said, triumphantly : 
“ You are my own Nanni s now, my gentle nurse 
for life." 
Banished for the nonce were Nannie’s doubts 
of Ali.evnk s love; and she who but a short time 
before had firmly persuaded herself that tho sac¬ 
rifice of Alleyne 13 llfa-happlness might follow 
from the fultllrnenlof Aunt Pkudy's long-chcrlsh- 
Isbcd desire ror their union, now resigned herself 
with Joy unspeakable, to a belief that he, no less 
than his aunt, was eager for that event. Anxious 
questionings, doubts and fears had fled, whither, 
Nannie cared not. 
The news of Ali.kyne’s recent promotion had 
corno to her ears, and suddenly surprising him 
with her Joyous congratulations, she said: 
“Oh, ALLKr.SK, how glad I am to have nursed 
back such a hero to still further glory. Thus 1 
salute you, Colonel Bryce 1" concluded Impulsive, 
wayward Nannie. 
Merrily returning, with compound Inter-st, her 
amazing display of affection, he noverth-l—s relt 
chagrined at finding himself forestalled in his in¬ 
tention of communicating the intelligence to her 
by asking her to become a Colonel's bride. 
But now 44 a change came o’er the spirit of her 
dream." Hod he only persisted In an immediate 
naming of the wedding-day without further 
words, all would have been well, and both spared 
much unhappiness. But In his fancied security 
he rambled gaily on: 
“Do you know, Nannie," laughed Alleyne, 
“that, my courage could never have arisen from 
the ashes of your last rebuff, but for Aunt Tru¬ 
dy's precious words of encouragement ? She Is 
even now waiting impatiently to bless my prom¬ 
ised bride." 
“So It was all owing to Aunt Prcdy !” was the 
thought that flashed through Nannie’s perverse 
brain. “She has been urgent, and you gently 
submissive!" and quickly the spell was broken 
which for the moment had enchanted her. 
Cutting short Ali.kynk's entroatlea for an Im¬ 
mediate naming of the wedding-day for adato 
prior to his expected departure for the seat of war 
again, she suddenly sprang from his side and com¬ 
pletely bewildered nim by the Instantaneous 
change In her entire bearing. 
“No, sir, it will never be 1” she exclaimed, de¬ 
cidedly, indignation at herselt for having been, 
as she thought, so readily deceived, predominat¬ 
ing over every other fooling. 
“What is tho matter?" ejaculated Alleyne, 
recovering hlmsclr. “ Have I offended you, Nan¬ 
nie? What has wrought this change ?" 
“It can never he," reiterated Nannie, with a 
determined toss of her head and a Arm planting 
other little foot , 44 and that Is my answer now, 
Alleyne, and forever." 
“ Yon do not meau that, Nannie, and It Is sheer 
perversity that leads you to tamper thus with the 
happiness of all of us,” retorted Allkvnb, now 
becoming quite vexed. “I should never have urged 
you further, Nannie, but for Aunt Trudy's assur¬ 
ance that you mourned my supposed death as a 
loving wife might have done. 1 would willingly 
make any sacrifice for you, Nannie, aud If you 
can calmly look me In the fane and assure me that 
our proposed union Is against the dictates of your 
own heart, I will never utter another word on the 
subject to you," 
Thus appealed lo, Nannie wa3 almost over¬ 
come, not daring so in uch as to raise her eyes, lest 
Allkvnk might therein read the truth of Aunt 
Pr coy's assertion. 
44 1 am answered," said Alleyne, Joyfully In¬ 
terposing to prevent hor escape from the sum¬ 
mer-house. “My wife you are destined to he, 
Nannie. Did not our fathers rejoice at oar births 
that the two branches of our family would thus 
be united, and our grand-parents make merry 
over It, as they tossed us on thotr knees? Dear 
old Aunt Phudy declares she only lingers in the 
world to witness the accomplishment of their 
purpose." 
“I have no desire to shorten her life," archly 
retorted Nannie, her equanimity restored by this 
time. 
“ Far from It," said alleyne, laughing at her 
construction of his meaning; “ on the contrary, 1 
believe our marriage would have the effect to 
prolong it ami relieve her mind of anxiety as to a 
division of her estate. Well you know, Nannie, 
that she loves us both equally; and I must con¬ 
fess that I cannot endure the thought of another 
than myself ever living as master here.” 
“ No Indeed,” she said, Imperatively, thinking 
more of the domestic happiness she had enjoyed 
with her aunt than of alleyne’s Interpretation 
of her words, “ thl3 can never be anything but 
our dear old home together.” 
44 Just so, my dear; we agree perfectly on that 
point,” returned he, “ and no act of mine shall 
ever deprive Nannie Lston of supreme control 
here, I promise you." 
Nannie was slipping from her perversely-cho¬ 
sen ground again, and might have uttered a like 
protestation but for an unexpected Interruption. 
“ Good afternoon, Colonel Bkyce,” said the old 
family physician, doffing hLs hat with all due re- 
Bpect as he Joined them In the summer-house. 
44 Seeing the announcement of your promotion, I 
could not resist coming to offer my congratula¬ 
tions. Here Is the paper. Miss Nannie.” 
She read the laudatory article In reference to 
Allkvnk with great Interest and pleasure; but a 
suggestion at Its close that rumored reverses to 
the Northern army might, cause him to shorten 
his leave of abBence, brought a sudden pallor to 
her cheek. The course of true love, hitherto 
somewhat billowy, was doomed to still further 
roughness. 
CHAPTER 11. 
A confirmation of the rumors of the previous 
day brought consternation to the family circle 
the next morning. At the breakfast-table Al- 
lkyne hail read the sorrowful news aloud to his 
aunt and Nannie, when, dropping the newspa¬ 
per, lie startled them wit h t he exclamation, 44 I’m 
off for the front :” and, pushing his chair back 
from his unfinished meal, he gave a hurried 
glance at Ills watch, adding, “1 must catch the 
next train r 
“ Oh, Alleyne : are you Insane ?’’ cried Nannie, 
despair depleted on every feature. “ You must 
not, shall not go! Exposure to camp life would 
be Bure death to you In yourcondition I” 
" Not the least danger, dear Nannie. I would 
be unworthy the name I bear If I held back a mo¬ 
ment when every arm is so sorely needed!” 
44 But your arm la not even strong enough to 
raise your sword.” 
“Isn't It, though? If I had any other rebel 
before me than you, Nannie, my power would 
soon be felt!” responded Alleyne, hastily 
buckling on his sword-belt. Both Nannie and 
Aunt Brody knew It would bo Impossible to turn 
him from a purpose one© formed, and so they re¬ 
signed themselves to the inevitable as best they 
could. 
with Alleynk’s good-by, he said, “I wish, 
Nannie, that, like the knights of olden time, X 
could perform some valorous deed to prove my 
devotion to you. X can, at least, wear the colors 
of my lady-love,” and before Nannie hud a sus¬ 
picion of his purpose, he had transferred the 
knot of blue ribbon from her throat to his sword- 
hilt.—[Conclusion next week. 
-- 
AFFECTION IN BIRD LIFE. 
1- 
The fidelity and affectionate Intimacy of mar¬ 
ried bird-life appears most, conspicuously In pairs 
of the Grosbeak luinBy ana In small parrots. 
Here Is perfect harmony of will and deed. The 
two sweethearts appear Unwilling to leave one 
another’s company lor a moment all their life; 
they do everything together—eating and drinking, 
bathing, and dressing of feathers, sleeping and 
waking. Various degrees Of affection and har¬ 
mony are discernible on close observation. Among 
the small grosbeaks, pairs of which sit together, 
tho Intimate relation is never disturbed; even 
over the feedtng cup there Is no quarreling. They 
stand highest In this respect among birds. Lovo 
tokens are exchanged by pressing of beaks to¬ 
gether— a veritable klssltig, uveompanled by lov¬ 
ing gestures. They are also more sociable, and 
even at nesting time more peaceable than other 
birds. In the case of other grosbeaks, when the 
male bird sits by the female In the nest, there are 
various demonstrations of affection, but also 
alight occasional disputes, especially about, feed¬ 
ing time. Next in order come the small parrots, 
which also appear almost Inseparable. The male 
bird feeds bis companion with seeds from the 
crop. This goes on quite regularly during the 
hatching, and until the young arc somewhat 
grown. During all this time the hen bird, which 
broods alone, never loaves t he nest but for a few 
minutes, aud the cock shows such affectionate 
care that the whole day he seems to do notnlng 
but take food and give It again. Yet even this 
loving union Is marred lrom time to time, even 
during the hatching lime, with quarrels that even 
come to blows. Again, the male bird of a pair of 
chaffinches only occasionally sits on the eggs or 
young, but he watches the nest very careiuliy, 
singing to his mate the while, accompanies the 
hen in flight, and helps her in feeding the young. 
—Chamber's Journal. 
-*-*♦- 
A CENTENNIAL TRAGEDY. 
Shortly after the closing of the Centennial Ex¬ 
position at PHlladelphia, tne dead body of a man 
was found In a ravine some live or six miles from 
the city, too far advanced In decomposition to be 
recognized, and without anything on or about the 
person by which It could bo Identified. The un¬ 
recognized corpse was burled, and tho matter 
passed out of thought. But a chance letter to 
Germany started an Inquiry which has resulted 
in tne discovery that the Body was that or a 
young German of wealthy family, who was mur¬ 
dered under remarkable circumstances. Coming 
to this country alone, he formed the acquaint¬ 
ance, at a hotel in Philadelphia, of another Ger¬ 
man, and they became close companions. The 
