FEB. 22 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
BREAKING THE BONDS. 
I.. Q. 
“po. Annie, fasten these flowers lu my hair. 
See, I tremble so that I cannot. Oh! what an or¬ 
deal! 1 shall certainly make ti goose of myself, 
and disgust Charley 
'1’he lad.v addressed turned from the glass, and 
very deftly placed the drooping moss rosebuds in 
her companion's dark hair, artistically arranged a 
tiny hunch or the same exquisite llowers In the 
bolt, of the slender waist, and at the while throat, 
and then stepped bnek to admire the effort. 
“ Exquisite! Gertie. You are looking lovely to¬ 
night. Much eoior—such eyes! Take my word tor 
it,°( Uarloy Benton cannot be disappointed." 
Gertie Mellon turned and flushed a glance at 
herself In the. groat pier-glass, which disclosed a 
slight girlish form, exquisitely rounded, robed In 
snowy muslin, ruffled, and iluind, and festooned 
In the fashion or now-a-days. lint tears were In 
her lovely eyes as shu turned away from the glass, 
saying: 
“ cousin Annie, I am a miserable coward, and 
shall utterly fall In making the,desired Impression. 
Oh ! Annie, dear, take my name and place just 
for tO-nlght. Wo shall ho able to decolve him, f 
know, for every one talks of how very much we 
resemble each other. We both bear the name of 
yiiss Melton, and It will ho easy to exchange posi¬ 
tions. Besides, It will bo such fun;” and she 
laughed in an almost hysterical manner. 
“ And the ring, Gertie?” 
“ You must of course wear It. for to-night,” and 
she tremblingly took from her hand a magullleont 
diamond ring, and placed It upon her cousin’s 
finger. "Now remember. You are to be Miss 
Gertie Melton, thfe affianced wife of Charles Den¬ 
ton. and i your cousin, Annie Melton. Act your 
part, and 1 will mine.” 
The two girls, as they stood with clasped hands, 
looked strangely alike, both In form and feature, 
but they were as unlike Jn temperament, and man¬ 
ner, and voice as possible. Gertie was all enthu¬ 
siasm, graceful, sparkling and impulsive to a 
marked degree, while her cousin was calm and 
Impassive as a summer sea, mattor-or-faet, and 
devoid of the least romance ltv her composition- 
one of the class of women who make excellent 
methodical housekeepers, and whose entire life is 
an accumulation of hal'd facts without a single 
dream. 
Charles Denton, the subject of so much discus¬ 
sion, had that day arrived from a foreign shore, 
and had taken rooms at one of the fashionable 
hotels, lie had Intended to call immediately upon 
his affianced, but had met with an old friend—the 
only one who would be likely to recognize him 
after an absence of live years, from the fact that 
they bad been fellow-students In a German uni¬ 
versity. 
“ I saw Miss Melton.” be told him, “ at the opera, 
last evening, and she Informed me that she would 
attend the hall at Mi's. Vandevere'x to-night, l 
can easily procure you an Invitation, and you will 
have plenty of time to dine and dress. You will 
certainly meet, the lady there looking her loveliest. 
What say you. Charley, I will call for you with the 
carriage." 
“ a pleasant arrangement, old Chum. Especially 
as I feel slightly nervous about our meeting. Ah, 
me! how time changes one’s feelings. I am not 
half as eager, 1 presume, as l ought to he, or as I 
would once have been.” 
“How In the name or divinity did you come to 
bind yourself, Charley 7 Hasty courtships, and a 
speedy execution for me. Gracious! I could not 
live live mortal years bound, and yet not tied, as 
you have been—would not for a kingdom.” 
" Did you never hear the romantic story ? Weil, 
Gome may nave changed, hut rive years ago she 
was as lovely and sparkling a fairy as over danced 
among the moonbeams and flowers. 1 was not 
twenty, she tout fifteen, when we foil madly In love 
with each other, of course, old squire Melton and 
my governor objected to the engagement, upon the 
first ground or our tack of years and expe¬ 
rience. Ho, one day the dear child consented to 
my proposition of an elopement, of that It Is 
enough to say that, wc were followed and round, 
by our frantic and enraged parents before tlio tying 
of the knot was completed. Just as wc were about 
to be pronounceri man and wife, the proceedings 
came to an abrupt termination. 1 was packed off 
to Germany to complete my education and cool 
my boyish ardor, and she, poor child, In a deluge 
of tears, was sent away to a lomalc prison, called a 
boarding-school. The only concession wc could 
gain from our respective parents was tans: uerUe 
was to be permitted to wear my engagement, ring, 
and If when we had fully matured In mind and 
body we st ill clung to each other, they would place 
no further difficulties In the way of our union. My 
dear, sensible old father Is, as you know, with the 
saints and sages In the better land, leaving me no 
muster but my own will.” 
“ And that Is, Charley ?” 
" To abide by any decision the lady may mako 
In the matter.” 
" She is a trump, old fellow; and I am thinking 
that after you have seen her, you will use your 
best efforts to Intluonco her decision. But au re~ 
voir, l shall come as per appointment.’” 
l.eft alone, Demon sat. down and penned and 
despatched a. nole to Miss Gertie Melton, inform¬ 
ing her of his arrival, and that lie would moot her 
at the house of Mrs. Vandevere. It was received 
as the young lady was putting the last touches to 
her toilet, and threw her Into a flutter of confu¬ 
sion. 
The elegant mansion of the Vandcveres was 
brilliant. Light, llowers, and music, combined 
with flic rich dresses and Jewels, and fair forms 
and faces of the cine of the city, made a scene for 
a painter. Through the gorgeous array the Misses 
Melton trailed their spotless robes, paid ll\ofr re¬ 
spects to the hostess, and dropped quietly Into a 
retired corner, where they were soon Joined by 
many an admirer. 
’• Bee, Annie,” whispered Gertie to her cousin, 
“ that Is he. Oh I I should know him amid a thou¬ 
sand. That tall, dark, grand-looking man with 
Mr. Judson, who Is paying his respects to Mrs. 
Vandevere. Be firm, Annie, dear, and wait my 
coming here;” and the lovely girl glided away. 
A moment after, as .Htdsoa and bis friend were 
making their way froth group to group lu search 
of Miss Melton, a servant, accosted him thus: 
“A lady wishes to see you in the conservatory, 
Mr. Judson.” 
“ Take care of yourself, Charley. I will be hack 
In a few moments,” ho said, a-s lie followed the 
messenger. 
To tils intense surprise, he found among the 
Ilowers the radiant Gertie, who at once proceeded 
to unfold to him her stratagem, and gained his 
secrecy and assistance. Then they separated, and 
Judson returned to his friend, and after glancing 
about, for a few moments, pointed out the cousins. 
" There they are, Charley, as alike as two peas. 
Which will you choose, roses or geraniums? You 
see that Is the only difference In Ihelr toilet.' 
" They are both extremely beautiful, hut the one 
who Is now speaking is mine. By .love ! what ex¬ 
pression !" 
'•Miss Annie 1 ” laughed Judson, while a slight 
shade of disappoint ment tlltled across the speuk- 
tng face of Charley Denton. 
A few moments later lie was bowing low over 
the while hand that, was adorned with his engage¬ 
ment ring, but It lay cold and unnaponding with.- 
In his own ns to chill Ulm to the core. Then he 
was presented to the glowing, palpitating counter¬ 
feit. A dance was called, but his betrothed In¬ 
formed him that she did not dance, and there was 
nothing left him hut, an awkward irte-u-Mr, while 
her lovely companion was whirled away upon the 
arm of Judson. They appeared to enjoy them¬ 
selves hugely, and Charley Denton turned away 
with a sigh, and began talking of Ids Journey, an¬ 
swering the lady's questions lit the most, matter-of- 
fact, manner. And onco or twice ho found himself 
speculating upon the probability of her releasing 
him from his engagement. 
“ 1 find you very much changed,” he said, after 
one of the awkward pauses. 
"Ah! Indeed,” smiled the lady. “I hope the 
change is a pleasant one. You know In the days 
of our former acquaintance, 1 was but a hoydculsh 
school-girl." 
“ i never thought so. To me you wore enthu¬ 
siastic and charming.” 
At this moment, Gertie and Judson returned; the 
former In a glow of excitement that enhanced her 
beauty tenfold. Bho began al. once to question 
Charley concerning his stay abroad, and Ills Jour¬ 
ney homo. 
" You quite surprised my cousin,” she said, with 
sparkling eyes. " she did not expect you until the 
next steamer, 1 believe.” 
“ i hope it was a pleasant surprise, Miss Melton,” 
he replied. 
" oh 1 certainly. You sec 1 know all about, your 
romantic engagement.;” and she laughed, blushed, 
and cast down her eyes In the most coquettish 
manner, tor Judson anti Annie had strolled away, 
leaving the real lovers together, and Charley Don- 
ton was completely charmed. 
“Of course you, like every one el3C, think us 
very foolish ?’’ 
"Not I. I think It must have been splendid,” 
looking up, archly. “ It Is out or the way of ordi¬ 
nary courtships—a real romance.” 
"Rather a childish ouo, our parents thought 
—one with which the lady la disgusted by this 
time.” 
"All! no. That Is impossible, I know my 
cousin Coo well. She hits a real affection for you. 
The lovo of a true woman is ever steadfast, and 
unchangeable. It. is the other sex who weary of 
bonds.” 
And the color deepened in her fair cheek. 
They had been walking slowly along away from 
the glaro of the lights and heated rooms, and 
reached the cool perfumed conservatory, when ho 
answered: 
“ You, Miss Melton, are much more like what, 
expected your cousin would be. Whon we parted 
nvo years ago, site was all impulse and dnthuslasm. 
Now she Is so cold and passionless that I hardly 
dare approach her. Will you bo my messenger, 
and say that If she —” 
"NO, no!" and she shook her head, laughingly. 
•‘You must not expect me to meddle with your 
lovo affairs. YOU must seo her yourself. Trust 
me that you will find Cousin Gert ie honorable and 
frank.” 
Charley Denton was In love, and that, at first 
sight. But, then, he argued, this loveliest of all 
beings was more like the one ho had worshipped 
so ardently In Ids boyhood. 
That night, he sat Ui his room at the hotel, with 
his bralo filled with a thousand plans. Sometimes 
he resolved to at once write to Miss Gertie, and dis¬ 
solve the engagement. lie would then be free to 
wed the one he really loved. 
Morning found him as far from a decision as 
ever, and he wrote a simple note, requesting an 
Interview, and begged her to decide whether the 
engagement should be considered binding. There 
was not. a word of his own feelings ; hut. the cousins 
laughed merrily over It. 
“ Rather a poor compliment to me,” pouted 
Annie. " Had I been the real Gertie, I should have 
been furiously Jealous, why. he had the frankness 
to hint, at my not being quite as charming as when 
we parted years ago! And for the rest or the 
oveidng was your most devoted cavalier. To me 
ho was frigidly polite - nothing more.” 
“ Oh I but it was jolly! You ought to have Hoard 
our confidential talk concerning Ids engagement. 
He asked me If 1 did not consider It. childish!” 
And her laugh was like rippling music. 
When the appointed nour drew near, t barley 
Menton, with many a shrug of his aristocratic 
shoulders, prepared for the disagreeable visit, and 
as he walked up the stone steps of the Melton man¬ 
sion, ho felt very much like a criminal. 
A lady arose, anti came forward lo meet him as 
he entered the seml-Ughted drawing-room. He 
presumed It to bo his affianced; but the first words 
of her welcome undeceived him. It was the beau¬ 
tiful cousin who had so stormed Ills heart; and, 
after they were seated, and the. usual common¬ 
places passed, the supposed Mias Annie began 
business. 
“My ooiiHln, Mr. Denton. Is not well—In fact, 
not quite rested from last night’s fatigue, and 
wishing to avoid the unpleasantness of a confer¬ 
ence with you, has deputed me to return you this;” 
and she drew from her finger their engagement 
rlug. 
He took It mechanically, and his mind Dashed 
back to the time when he had placed tt upon the 
hand of Ills almost bride, and for an Instant sor¬ 
row appeared on his expressive face, and his voice 
slightly trembled, as he replied: 
“I argue from this. Miss Melton, that the bond 
has become Irksome to your cousin?” 
•Not exactly that; but with yourself she con¬ 
sidered it a. childish attachment, which is bettor 
broken. You know In reality so little of each 
other, that your acquaintance, she says, must be¬ 
gin upon a new basis." 
there was a ring at the door at this Instant. 
Two lady callers wore admitted, and at once began 
thole chatter. 
•oh, Gertie! how is your cousin Annie? When 
does she go home? Do you know that we could 
scarcely toll you apart last night?’’ and a dozen 
more such questions, which effectually let the cat 
out of the hag, w hile Denton sat stupidly endeav¬ 
oring to entert ain one or the coquettes, who had 
Instantly fastened upon 1dm. 
But the moment they hud departed, Gertie stepped 
towards him, and said, shyly, but with a winning 
smile: 
“it Is useless to attempt to carry the deception 
any further, or course, you have learned from 
those chatterers that Annie personated me last 
night, it, was a suddenly-conceived freak of mine, 
as I was too much ol' a coward to endure your crit¬ 
icisms osyour allianecd wife. Besides, I wished 
to know your real mind, l feared a high sense of 
honor would Induce you to wear the bonds, how¬ 
ever galling, and l knew that If you could love 
Annie, you could not Gertie." 
She had said all this very demurely, and with 
down-cast eyes; but as soon as she had finished, 
he caught her hands with a looker transport, and 
answered; 
“ How could I be so stupid, when my heart turned 
lo you at once, as all I bad ever hoped or dreamed 
you would be ? But," and he glanced at the ring, 
you have given this back to me, and, of course, 
our engagement is broken.” 
“l have scarcely had t ime to consult my own 
feelings hi the matter. I simply took my cue from 
you from what you said last night about Its being 
a childish engagement, and all that sort of thing." 
"You must have known that I was alluding to 
your cousin, Gertie. Your deception caused me to 
feel a disappointment which would express itself. 
You must have scon my preference for yourself. 
You had me at your feet all the evening, as you 
may through Ute.” 
"You are crushing my hands, Charlie, dear. 
Give me back my rlug, and forgive my little decep¬ 
tion. It would have broken my heart, had our 
bonds been severed tn earnest.” 
Tears came Into her blue eyes, only to he kissed 
away with more than one endearing word. A 
plain gold ring guards the diamond now, and the 
bond which Gertie wears Is for life. She la a love¬ 
ly, sparkling wife, and very proud Is her husband 
of her. Annie, too, wears her diamond—tho plain 
hoop of gold Is to come when she changes her 
maiden name for mat of Judson. 
RECENT LITERATURE. 
The lilcnl Life. By Ei.i.a F. Mossy. New York: 
E. H. Swhmciy, No. 20 Cooper Union; Boston: Geo. 
II. JSllis. 101 Milk St. I’rico $ 1 . 26 . 
This Book Is written with the desire of placing 
before Its readers some suggestion of the life which 
they desire lo lead; of the character they wish to 
form; of the homes t hey seek to btnld for them¬ 
selves. The author believes that there is a higher 
nature in every one, which can he awakened, how¬ 
ever hard and unattractive nmy bo tho outside, 
Bhe says Of our Intercourse with each other; 
" You must, sec the angel within the man or 
woman must believe in It, and appeal to It above 
the. lower natures. This alone gives completeness. 
If you have not this tender tnhlght into the hidden 
humanity, you will stumble and be hurt, you will 
continually t>0 disappointed, vexed and chilled by 
the strtpplug away ol illusions, which Is too often 
the result or dally contact and intercourse with 
Ideal and enthusiastic temperaments. Do not 
doubt your first, vision—the. lovely Image Is there— 
only keep patience and love. By such exercise 
you yourself will grow also, and may give new 
graces of life the highest gtft of all—to thebe¬ 
loved. The highest pleasure that ever comes to 
one, Is to do something tor those we love, and In 
this way we may give every act and word of our 
loneliest hours to them. When they next see us, 
they will feel the added warmth and light, and our 
most solitary struggles will not have been In vain. 
Far more powerful than persuasion and reason, far 
stronger than physical beauty, Is this spiritual 
sphere from a beautiful life. You cannot wander 
to such a distance that tt will not recall you, and 
touch you with a thrilling sense of its tenderness. 
"The commonest things on earth teach us a par¬ 
able of ralth In the hidden nature which desires to 
grow lu others and ourselves. You see a knot of 
gnarled and bare trees, twisted and uncomely—tor 
what Is so hare as a rruil tree in winter? Cedars 
keep their greenness, oaks their branching sym¬ 
metry, but these look denuded and dead. Wander¬ 
ing back that way In spring you arc suddenly 
surprised, enveloped In a cloud or fragrance anti 
bloom. All around you snowy and rosy petals 
drift to the grass; lu the air the bees are hum¬ 
ming, and clusters of buds and blossoms couch 
softly your check and brow, Y'our scorn at Us 
former meagvrnoss Is confuted and tossed away In 
sight of this exceeding fairness, for you were fool¬ 
ishly blind—all this blossoming tree even then ex¬ 
isted potentially In tho uaked and gnarled trunk. 
Such a revelation, and higher, will Heaven give us 
of the personality which wo misjudge here. ‘ For 
we shall all he changed.’ ” 
In no human life la growth without the knowl¬ 
edge of loss and pain. There ure few mothers who 
have not been called upon to surrender cue of the 
little flock -to miss from their firesides one of the 
darlings of their hearts; and often t he household 
knows not one only, but many vacant places. The 
writer of t his book says: 
"Within the center of each household life, lies 
tho remembrance Of some little child which has 
been taken away In the Innocence of Its early 
morning. About that affection cling tho Inner¬ 
most conceptions of human peace and tenderness 
and undcflled truth. If wo have done wrong. If 
we have judged any harshly, if wo have disquieted 
our day with restless ambitions, we have only to 
return Into the presence of that stainless memory: 
—there we believe anil love, there we are sorry— 
thinking of the fair dead child tears wash all our 
stains out of sight, ami wo humbly pray that we 
may he kept, hack from the. sins which would bar 
us Irnra the sight ol Its face In Paradise.” ’ ” 
in another chapter she says: 
•• Whenachtld dies, the. only shadow Ofhls death 
falls behind him. He Is - gathered to Ills own.’ 
Be you sure that the angels who receive him wear 
his mother’s look and likeness. They never seem 
strange or far-off to a little child even here. 
Heaven Is tor them, more than for older sou! ■ who 
have been weaned from Its life, a native country 
whose landscapes, white with bloom and dew, " ear 
a home sweetness, and whose presence Is beloved 
and familiar.” 
Tho book Is divided Into three parts, the first, on 
the dally or Individual life; the second and third 
on history and the different arts. It is bound in 
one volume; with the title and one full-blown calla 
lily and leaf lu gold. The cream-tinted paper of 
the pages makes the type clear and pleasant to the 
eye. 
TEMPERANCE INTELLIGENCE. 
Titk. minutes of the annual meeting of the Wo¬ 
man’s Christian Temperance Union ol Illinois has 
been Issued in pamphlet torm, and those who have 
not followed t ho progress of the Temperance Cause, 
must he surprised at the story of organization and 
executive ability which they disclose. Wc regret 
that space will not admit of our giving the plan of 
the Union's work In full, ft treats of District Con¬ 
ventions, Gospel Meetings, sabbath-sehool Work, 
Instruction tn Public Schools, “Our Union,” Young 
Ladles’ Unions, Influential assemblies. Auxiliary- 
ship. 
The Home Protection Petition is to he presented 
at Springfield, during the session ol the Legisla¬ 
ture. The necessary blanks and all Information 
concerning It can he obtained of Miss F. E. Willard, 
Pres’t III. W. O. T. U., Evanston, 111 . The follow¬ 
ing Is a copy of the Petition: 
To tM Senate and. /rouse of Itepreseutmivrs of the 
State of minots: 
Whereas, In these years of temperance work the 
argument of defeat In our contest with the saloons 
has taught us that our efforts are merely palliative 
of a disease tn the body politic, which can never he 
cured until La w and moral suasion go hand in hand 
In our beloved State; and 
Whereas, The Instincts of self-protection and of 
apprehension for the safety of her children, her 
tempted loved ones, and her home, render woman 
the natural enemy of the saloons: Therefore, your 
petitioners, men ami women of the State of Illinois, 
having at heart the protecting ol our homes from 
their worst enemy, the legalized traffic In strong 
drink, do hereby most earnest ly pray your honor¬ 
able body that by suitable legislation It may he 
provided that, in the State of Illinois the question 
or licensing al any time, In any locality, the sale of 
any and all Intoxicating drinks (including wine 
and beer), shall be submitted 10 and determined 
by ballot. In which women ol lawful age shall he 
privileged lo take part In the same manner as men 
when voting on the question of license. 
Tnc American Antiquarian, a Quarterly Jour¬ 
nal devoted especially to Early History, Ethnology 
and Archmolgy. illustrated. Edited by Stephen 
D. Peet, Unlorivlile. Ohio. 
The scope of the Antiquarian will he understood 
by the following list of topics: 
The Early History, Exploration, Discoveries and 
Settlement of the different portions of tho contin¬ 
ent. The Native Races, their physical and mental 
traits, social organization and tribal distinctions; 
tholr religious customs, beliefs and traditions, as 
well as their earlier and later migrations and 
changes. The Antiquities of America, especially 
the pre-hlstorlc relics and remains, or any evi¬ 
dences as to ancient earthworks and structures, 
inscriptions, hieroglyphics, signs and symbols, 
pre-hlslortc Man, his origin, antiquity, geological 
position and physical structure. The Antiquarian 
will also treat of subjects of a more general c t s r- 
ac.ter, such as The Descent of Man, The Rise o So¬ 
ciety, The Origin of Writing, The Growth of Lan¬ 
guage, The History of ArchKecturo, The Evolution 
of Ornament and Ceremonial observances, Com¬ 
parative Religions, Serpent Worship and Religious 
Symbols, Man and the Mastndon, Man and Ani¬ 
mals, Earth and Man, an< many other topics a hlrh 
are connected with the Science or Anthropology, 
especially as they are viewed by the antiquarian 
Besides thesu topics especial arrangements have 
boon made by which arLlcles wilt be contributed 
upon Arolueologleul Relics, upon Aboriginal lan¬ 
guages and Dialects, and upon the traditions of 
this t Ymtlneut compared with those of other lands. 
The Investigations made by the different histori¬ 
cal and soleiilttlc societies, as well as the rotults of 
all explorations and discoveries will also he re¬ 
ported as far ns possible. 
In the editorial management tho assistance of 
several prominent gentlemen lias been secured. 
Prof. E. A. Barber will assume the earn of Anthro¬ 
pological News; l’rof. R. 11 . Anderson will take 
the department of Pre-Columbian Discovery, and 
A. H. Gatschet will take the department of Indian 
Linguistics. The design Is to make the Antiquar¬ 
ian partake of tho advanced studies of the best 
scholars on the continent, and every effort will he 
made to make It t horoughly rellablo and valuable. 
It Is the only work of the kind on the oontlnent. 
