New York Clipper (Dec 1894)

Omrrttkled. 1M, by TIm Frank Quo ruUtahlag Oompany (Llmlled). Founded by I FRANK QUEEN, 1893. f NEW YORK, SATUEDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1894. I VOLUME XLII.-No. 40. 1 Pita* 10 Cents, TH E CAS M AN. wsrrm sob thi hit voax currse, BY MABK MBBBDRH. He torne It up, ha tsnu it down, A. worthy ion of greet renown, Who always wesrse nrlou brown, The energetlo gM manl Be furnishes the lightning's glare, He makes the dawn, ths twilight fair, And re guinea the moon with care— The ever present gaa man I What light he spreads npos the acene I Yonaak: "WnUcuthepleywrlghtmeur" He anawera jou with gentle mien- He aettlea It, the gaa manl He lauds you In toe tropica hot, Or in aome frigid, dreary apot, Where comfort and repoae are not— The dapper Utile gaa manl How oft, when >roiind the olronlt we Imagine that all right we be, Tho' Bianagera will notagree, We watch for aim, the cm manl For then we know the curtain goea Skyward, from dusty, long repoae, When he along the footllght ahowa— The tender hearted gaa manl Bat when, for leak of worldly pelf, Some night we're laid upon the ahelf, No play I Ah, then a sly old elf la he the stubborn gaa manl He grlna to aee the honae In gloom; The play we thought a aplendld boom Now reata within Ita Utile tomb Dnllgnted by the gaa manl Alaal the aoene wUlaoon be done, The alrnggle o'er, the battle won, We'U hare no need of ahade or sun. We—or the genUe gaa manl But oft I think we'll hear one aay. Upon that grand, concluding day, - When ended la Life's earnest play: "Llgntsoutl" 'twill be the gu manl THE LAST ENCOUNTER. raursuTan noM ias reason roa tub in tobk ourm. BT DUDLEY W1NTHROF MOOBB. About ten yeara ago a> fenolng maater named DaaleU Ured In the capital of Oallola. A Lombard by birth, he had served formerly In the Imperial army. The ohangea that had oconrred In nil alta' atlon after hie dlsoharge, had deotded him to re nun to hla native land. Be had beoome the favorite of all the yonng men who appUed themaeVf ee to the atody of the ohlvel. rose an of fencing. It waa abaolotely bon ton to take part In oommon at thla ezerolae, whloh waa Indulged In at hla honae every Saturday. One day the yonng Oonnt Fodataokl pnaented hlmatlf to be received In thla little circle. Be had been a cavalry offloer; then he had left the aerrtoe, and, after different wanderings and adventures, he aooght no other pleasure than that whloh he round In hla nnole'a honae. It waa won evident that the oonnt had loat moon of Ma former aim with the eword; eo he resolved to take leaaona alone with Danlell for a few weeks. The leaaona had been going on tor aoveral weeka already, when, one Saturday, while fencing, a foil broke,and DanleU waa wonnded over the tlghteye, ao that be waa unable for aome time to continue hla leaaona. When the oonnt returned two daya afterwards, he found himself all at onoa In the presence of Angela, DanleU'a daughter. Seeing her for the Drat lime, he waa very mnob anrprlaed and completely dueled. Thla young girl, who waa about twenty, waa, In* deed,aMrtotphenomenonofatrangebeanty. Her name of Angela seemed a line irony. It waa the devil In peron that moat have served her aa god- father. She had the slender and topple form of a panther. Her nandi and feet were very email, and aopertatlvely arlatooratlo In model and delicto;. 8be possessed a profile of antique purity, and a haughty dlatlnotion that recalled the proud patrician women of ancient Borne. Her blue eye had noising ottbeoeleatlalthade;remlnduigonenowofadreaniy and unfathomable lake, now of a guttering blade of ateel. Her magnlBoent hair, of thatalllueae blond, whloh moat be a legaoy from the Oermanlo bar- barlana of the great migration of the nations, un- dulated like Ounts about her low Ivory brow. Angela had put on red buskins and a abort skirt of blaok satin. Her btatwaa confined In a brilliant ooat of mall, whose suppleness ravlablngly est off every movement and every undulation of the young girl's adorably flexible torn. Thla hue armor let escape two euperb anna worthy of a goddess. The right hand, eDotted in a gauntlet, waa armed with afoU. She oovered her head with a little helmet provid- ed with a vlaor, and, with a cold politeness, offered to fence with the young count In her father's place. The count aooepted thla offer with graceful also- rlty, and toon the two blades crossed. At the first pus, Podatackl waa tenoned. Be smiled, not with- out a little embarrassment. Angela remained cold and impassible. After two or three new puses, the touched the oonnt a second time. And, when canted away In spite of hlmaelf, he began to attack her with more vigor, ahe parried with much calm- ness, but precipitated herself upon him with the neroe passion of an Amazon In combat. She oonunued to advance upon him, obliging him to recoil as far aa the waU, and touched the eeent for the the third time; then ahe saluted her adversary by lowering her foU. The oonnt waa drably vanquished. Agitation and ecttaoy threw a profound trouble In all hla senses. Mover had he met snob a woman- Those who had hitherto strewn the pleasant path of hla life with eo many rotes appeared to him now de- void of charm beside thla sndaatoue and dlaboUoel yonng |trt with the marble physiognomy and serves of ateeL The count paid Angela a few compilmsnts, whloh aMiseelTSd with her seal IndUsnsaos and oold- l their feaotng. Ilwtalsv possible for Podatackl to tou>'h her a tingle time; he waa completely vanquished. At the second lesson the count no longer possess- ed himself; he had lost ao mnoh of his assurance and command over himself, that Angele disarmed him from the first pus. "In this way we will never make any progress," she aald, with the serious air of a severe professor. "Yon are not advanoed tnongh to fence tuootss- fnlly. o«me I we must return to the drat elements of the aohool. Let us begin over again r" "Ton are mistaken, my dear yonng lady," replied the count, animatedly; "It la not the want of skill ud ezerolae that has canaed my defeat, but, in truth, your Intoxicating beauty." pale In her turn, hot ahe affeoted the same coolness as usual, she Introduced the two men to eaoh other. "Mr. Lagarfey-lhe Oount Podstaokl.'' Then ahe began to fence with the latter. Sudden- ly, Legarfey Interrupted them crying: "Count, allow me a few words: I love this yonng lady, and hope—unless you aeduoe her by false promises —" "Mr. Legarfeyl" exclaimed the oount. In a threatening tone. "I know you, Oonnt Podatackl," said the Hungar- ian, "and I aheU not give up Angela to yon without fighting for her. Here are two rolls, take you oholee. One of us most remain npon the apot." pretty, aweet faced blonde. Behind the latter stood Oount Fodataokl, devouring her with bis eyes, and besettug her with attentions. Angela quickly regained oomnand of herself. She remained until the curtain fen, and knew how to control herself still, when, oonotaled behind a oolumn In the vestibule, after the opera, she saw the two ladles pass with Oount Podatackl, and the latter assist them Into their carriage. At the fenolng lesson on the morrow, Angels, while feigning great Indifference, sued] • "Who waa the pretty blonde, at whose aide I saw you last erasing at the opera house!" Ths oount tamed red. "A relative," he replied. "Hiss Rewlue. You "Sir I" "It Is your eye," continued Podatackl, Imper- turbably, "that fascinates me, that disarms me, that makes me your alave, turns my head I" 'Say another word, Oount Podstaokl, and I leave this hall T" "And why, pre;?" murmured Podatackl, selling the yonng glrl'a hand. "Can lore and adoration give offense t Do yon take me for a man without honor, unworthy of your confidence r" "No," repUed Angela, axing hor ardent eyes on the noble and expressive face of the oount; "but I fear " ■What do you fear, Angela f" That I also would finally faU in love with you, and then, woe to yen If you trilled with my affeo- ttona I I would have yon know that I am not a girl to be contented with a shred of yonr heart" "Angela I" rned the count, "yon make me the happiest of mortals. Aa aoon u you consent to It, I skill belong to yon—to you alone I" The next day Podatackl begged her to grant him meeting. She consented to It. In the evening, the two lovera met on the Ltmberg parade. Wrap- ped In a cloak, ud carefully veiled, Angele, oculd not be recognised. They ascended the Sandberg, and there, dn the heights, sealed npon a bench con- cealed In a clump of flowery shrubs, amid the per- fume of the rosea and the song of the nightingales, they exchanged new vows. The fencing leaaona were continued, and the way la which the beautiful and severe mistress treated her achotw beotme for the oonnt a new charm and anew bond. When Danlell look np his leaaona again, Podttaetl remained faithful to Angela. They were alwaye alone durlog the lesson, and U the fencing master entered the hall aomeilmes, It wu not through mis- trust, but because he had something to do there. In the evening, ths oount rest there s pass young man with black beard and halr-a Hungarian, who «T»d Mn an cvwTUi sboslllslook. Angela grew "I dont think it is necessary to resort to wea- pons " replied Podstaokl. "Let this yonng lady deolde between us; and our duty—yours and mine —la to aubmlt to her declalon." "Defend yourself I" cried Legarfey, throwing one or the foils at the count's feet. And he wsj about to faU upon Podatackl, Then Angela threw herself between ths two, and tort the) weapon from the hands of the Hungarian. A glance from her sumoed to subdue hla. He f til at Angela's feet, pressed the hem of her skirt against his Hps, and rushed away Uke a —"i"" The nextday he wu found dead in thepsbllo gardsasof the Sandberg, his right hand soil ooanlateely cl etching the fatal revolver. When the oonnt announoed this sad news to An gels, the did not shed a tear, but looked nxedly at Podalackl, u If the wished to search him to the very bottom of hla eouL "Alui" she murmured, "if yon betray ma, the blood of thla unfortunate man will fall upon your head I" Without uttering a word, Podatackl pressed .her tenderly to hla breast. • •••••• Autumn wu drawing near, the evenings ware growing long and ootd. The theatrical season had opened. One day Angela saw the auxtcunoemsnt of"WliUauTen"osthebUlboerda. reengaged a seat that wu not too much In sight, for lbs did not Uke to expose hersslf too much to the eyes of Uie crowd. In the evening, she wentlblther alooe, so* veloped In a dark cloak, her fsee ooncaaled aider a Venetian veil, thinking only of enjoymc toe strperb music of RoatlnL After the srst act she looked around the auditorium, until bar tyas rested par- edtteetly npon a box In ths ant row, as though acmeUilng attracted them there la spite of bewail All at once a shudder ran through her wools body, u If aha had stepped npon a fits*. Two auiusu a u th o r and daughter, no doubt- were seated In this box. The yoeiicwoatasiwua And her pretty r She doesn't nit my lute." Angela felt reassured. A few weeks elapsed. Winter bad spread its while shroud ovtr the odd, dead earth. One afternoon, Angela, who bad been making her parent tea, waa harrying home, when the heard the merry Jingle of belle, aooompanled by the crack of a whip. She then saw approaching a sleigh, rtohly glided, and drawn by four spirited black horses, gilded by the strong hand of Oonnt I'nd- staokl Pretty htluBev/ukewusosled beside the count, dressed In purple velvet and ermine, and radiant with happiness. Angels felt felnt,and wu obliged lo lean against the wall of the house near whloh ahe wu passing. When the magnUcsnt tsmoat had disappeared, ahe clinched her hands In an Imperceptible move- ment of anger, and proceeded rapidly towards the nearest ohsroh. There the prayed a long time, shedding hot tears. The same evening ths oount came to see her. "What is the matter with jour" beuted. 'Yon have been crying r" "Why do you play thla sorry oomtdy with me I" crUd Angella. "it wire better lo teUme frankly that you oo longer love me." "I km none but youl" "Swear III" "I swear Hi" "And Miss Rewiakar" "She Is my relative; I have already told yon ao. I am polite to bar, u la my daly lo be—nothing Angela shook her hied sadly. "I dont know," aha said, "bat an Inward voice leDa me that you an deoelvlsg both of u—this poor, Innocent child, u wall as myself, who bars already Marred so much on your eeooont" "Idle faoeUs, Angela. I love none bat yon. Do stop torumtugos both la tela way." •he was once more reassured tor a few days. Ono evening ahe went to a Jewelers to nave a loots stone In a bracelet reset, ud notloed a superb necklace on the counter. "How moon It it wortht" sued Angela, after hiring admired It. "It's aold. It wu ordered by Oount Podstaokl tor bla ueoooe, and la worth ten thousand tortus." "Oh, yea, I remember," murmured Angela, com- pletely onuhed. "They say he la betrothed to Mlu Rewlaka." "rreolaoly. The marriage la to lake place lu a week." Angela left the shop with tottering steps. On reaching the street ahe felt belter. The oold gave her renewed atrongtb. On thla ooculon ahe did not go to ohuroh In qnoat of consolation, but re- turned home elewly, took off her hat Mil oloak, and remained a long time near the window, her eyes flied on the cold Irlsaled flowers designed by the frost. Then she began to dross herself with cars. Once more, for the Uat lime, the wanted to be beautiful. Bhe put on a short skirt of Turkish ololh, embroidered with gold, and a pretty waist- coat decorated with lace work, and died pearls In her treated hair. Ilor tolletoompleiod.shoprooeed- td to the brilliantly lighted fencing bill, No one wu there; only Danlell't dog wu stretched out be fore the Ore, hit pawa benumbed. Angela took from the wall two foils, whloh she examined atten- tively. The hands of the clook did not seem to go qnlok enough to ault her. At last the to longed for hoar appeared lo have arrived for her. She listened, the wu deoelvedt It wu not he. She still had the time lo send away her old servant woman, under some pretext. At that honr, Danlell eat In a neighboring cafe sipping some Italian wine. Bo Angela wu entirely alone when the oount enleroct. wtillo he took off hla oloak and readjusted bis hair before a mirror, ahe locked and bolted the door of the entrance and put the key lu her pocket. "Whataro you doing!" ukrd Podjtaokl. "We are going to come to an oiplaoaUon. There must not he any witnesses." "What la the nutter with you, Angela t Ton are really elreage I" She eyed hlra from head to foot, then, with a oold look, fall of monaoes, her arms croaaed on her bosom, the placed herself straight before him. "Oan you deny that you have Irtried with main ss abominable, odious manner I" "SHU Idle ranolea I" "Oan you deny thatMluRewlskalsyonrlanoet" "Only a flying ruraorl" "I have aeen the necklace you ordered for her." The oount turned pale. "Forgive me, Angela. Do not condemn me. Family considerations foroe no >> "Rnooghl" broke In the Kalian girl, "Ton have poisoned my hesrti yon have destroyed my life. I cannot forgive yoo, (lod, perhaps, will pardon yon —I—never I I am going to avenge myself, for I am notadove. Yonooghtto have understood It," "Arerouoruyf" "I am perfeoUy rtUonal. it was you who were oraay, when you talked lore to me—when you thought you oonld play with my affectlona with Im- punity. There It a foil-defend yourself! I out either dlt or kill you I" "Ton bare loat yonr reason I" cried lbs count, re- coiling. That would not he astonishing. Whose fault would It be, If not yonraf Do rou remember poor Legarfoyr Ilia blood also orlos for vengeance. Yon were tho cause of the unfortunate man's death, I saorlHood him to you. I am going, In turn, to aecriuoe you to bla memoiy. Then we anal I be quits, come—defend yourself i" With her eye terribly flxed on Fodataekl, In ths attitude of s panther about to sprtsg upon Us prey, Angela fell open him wllh the Impetuosity of an enraged st.'g possessed with the desire for vengeanoe. The count, defending himself lamely, even mechanically, had hla rlgbt arm pierced almost at once. "Ah, bloodi" the oried, with tho treaty of tri- umph. "What a beautiful slghtl How good It makes me full" Andiulf ths eight of thla blood had made her more furious, ahe struck Uie count a second Hoe, almost mortally. He tamed whlto, Blaggered,aiid leaned against the wall. "Rnooghl" he mtirmered; "I am vanquished—I am bleeding, Yon are aumotently avenged I" "SumolouUy avenged!" ahe repeated, wllh a harsh laagb, at the paroxysm of Iter fury. "No, not I moat have yonr whole llfel" At the nine llino ahe run him through a third lime, and he sunk down at her feat "aferoyl" ho murmured. Angela hurat out laughing. "Have pltyon roel" "Did you have pity on mar'ahe aald, wllh a wloked smile. "No Indeed I Well, then, I am going to kill yon I Then I will forgive you, perhaps." Podstaokl made an effort to rise; hat ahe gave him a blow that oaused the weapon to fall from hla hand, ud at once plonged her toll Into his breast Ths count wu stretched' ont at fall length, his face toward her. With u Imperturbable salt pos- session, the walled ontll he had expired. Then only did ahe fall npon her knees, ud begin to weep bitterly. When Dtnlell returned, he foond Fodataokl on the Door. Frightened, he placed his hand on ths unfortunate man's heart. This heart bad ceased to beat, Angela had disappeared, tuny years later, I noticed, In s hospital in Tint- enoe, a none whom I had known somewhere, I thought. I am very much mistaken, or II must have bee n Angela. Ifow (Jnioiufi In Hi-nrj.m,.—fn sorting over tho letters for Chicago a rnnn In tho general Chicago office Iim keplan account of the number of differ- ent ways tho wont Is spelicil. Ilecenliy tho record showed 187 different ways. Home ripe scholar In Flnlud sent a Idler In hla brother and spelled the name or tho Harden City Zlzuzo. Still another foreigner, possibly wllh a sinister motive, spelled the word Jsirjsgo, liipaho, Jsjljo, Hcheechach llluoe, and t'hachlcho arc also prims favorites.— Tht Kmtal Hnari.