New York Clipper (Dec 1895)

OopiMciiud, im, Vj Tba Frank Qi:i\%i raUliUlnf Ooowuj (United^ Foundtd by ) FRANK aUEEN, IB93.I NKW YORK, DECEMBER 28, 1896. 1 VOLUME XUIk-No^ 43. I Prie* 10 C«nti. THE NEW! YEAR. VBITTH rOX nil NIW TORK CUmit. BV T r. lltHlltUUII. Htrk I Id ever/ loti; auepit Hear the daMtc mIdiilRbi rlilai«». Hindoir uui (be oM yor n toimn, RiDRInii Id the better lliiKa; In Ihc gloiT u' Ihe moroiDg Helled bj 111 Ihe world. 1 taov. RliiipDg Is ibe New Ymr Koldeo, SirlDg Ihe gUd btiin i-< sad rn>. Fill Ibo ember ilDled cbitllce Wlib Ihe viDitge or ihe vise I Uu '.be Kev yeir'e loow klea'd ihrobold Let Ihe HQD of friendship ehine; Drtok emld Ibe pteoe of welcome To Ihe jort Ihet It atiell btlog. While Ihe glul belle ol crttUon Id the ncv-born ers rtDg. Wetih Ibe laonilDg sUtb ihtt chinicd Aolhems id ibe long ugo, lletr Ihe New Yr» b ncrtd mnalc Far abore the lleec; enow; Aje, from oceaa unto ooeen, In Ihe conera or ibe eanii. ■Hid Ihe fliubes rair of momlDg. Mlllionii ball Ibe Koir YcarHi birlb. Sorrova lhal Uw old ;car brought aa Id onr Joj we pui away, For Ihe belle ihai awloir eo gladlj Usber In ibe Dowerday; Hero a wreath aod there a cbaplet On Ibo old aaeal Reolly rail, And Ihe New Year In llecontiug Thtowe ■ balo over all.' Id tbe beamy and ibc glory or Iho lllj'a tobea ol while, I)owD Ihe flisr Invested pathways Uame the New Year in the ulKbt; Aod amid tbe beamaof moralgg with the anollght rn hit cresi. At nur portals, Rcatly valllDg. Btood the world's moat welr^me guest. Hid Ihe gay bells ring him welcome, Pill the cnp of boneet cheer, Lei all people 'ucath our banner Toast wllb HRt Ibe glad Now Year; Banish care and baDlnh Mrrow, Give Ihe moments o'er to mirib; Krom the past no sbadowa borrow. Hall with glee 'he Now Year's bittb. THE PROMPTER'S CHRISTMAS vHiTTa!t roR ma aiw ToaK 0t.ippu, BV LULi; ratoc. |CONCI.Ut»:D.| "Whjr, here's wrttlDR I ' hIiI she. bxidlug ti up tu the light. ■The Ink la ro faded I can baldly make It OUT. Yes; here It Is—a iiami— ^i rron—Uyron Htylcs. London, 1850,"' She paused, pale and iterlous. Tom vulbttcnlng with eager aHentlon. "Hyrun SlyleaV Wby lhal was Ihe name of " old Oam began, l>at a warning look rrom Mrs. dam silenced bim. Toe inerrlment ceaud DOw;'a sad- nees seemed to have settled like a ck>ud over the Jolly little company. Tbe eyes of ihe three were turned anxiously on Tom styles, who had taken me tiO'jIt from the haad or Oracle, ana, all ausbcd and eicllcd, was studying tbe scrawl on ibe Oy leaf, lie shook tho book and llelened ailcDilTely to Ihe rallllDg sound which all bed noted before. "There's aometblng In here," he sak], with a fererlsb eameaiieae unusoal to him, and before old Sam conld protest he bad whipped oat hla pen- kolts and silt the cover lis whole longtli along the edge, Ue ripped the thick cover apart, and some' iblDg fell with a slight Jingle lo the toor. Oracle leaned over aod picked up an object lhal sparkled. She held np In the lampllghtaglliierlaggold neck- lace wlih three medallions with Oreek camcosionoe aa pendaiile. There was an exdanisilon of anrprfie from all present "Oieat gnoa I" exdaltncdtlara. "Bow did that get In there I" 'it was my aolher's," said Tom. "She must have taken Iho book from my falbci s Ubrary, and caretnlly concealed tho Jewel In thr cover. It was stolen from her trunks Id Karls, and here, yeara after, It la seized by Ihe Custons offlcen. and falla Into Ibe hands of my beat friend, at Ibe sacnnce of hla Mat dollar. It Is mot' strange! The band of Providence ta In itl" There ware tears in Ihe eyes of Tom Styles, bul the otbeia pretended not to notice them. "What will you do with It t' itakcd Tiavers, very mnch bewildered aod dazzled b.v ttie glltienng bauble. "Oracle ahall wear It on ibo sUge tomorrow night,'' eald Tom. -Fat It on. Oracle, It will be- come ynur beamy well." Tbe yonng girl clasped It about her neck, aod alood np proudly at Ibe brigbtcat side or the table, where tbe beauty ol Its cluaier of dlamonda on Ibe medallion pendania wonld show lo Ibe greatesi ad- vantage. Then she removed U and sat down to ex- amine It more in detail, as pleased aaa child wllb a new toy. Tom, with a aerloua look, was ecmllnlzlng ibe handwnilng ol bis rather on tbe fly Inr, Sudden- ly Oracle gave a lend exclamallon of aorrrlae, and sprang lo her feet. -Heel" sho cried. "I've opened li. The centre medallion op.-na II has a pldnrc aod a roldcd paper In IL" As ahe uld tbU,Bbe drew from tho medallion a tighily rolded scrap or paper. Vufoldlag it she dl»- plajed oB lU Inner aide a faded cokir prlnl. It seemed a gaudT blank nf some aon. Tom took It from her band and onfolded It completely. Il was a bUnk foin IndeeiL and lu apaceshad been fliled In with wilUng which waa allll legible, ihODgb Ihe Ink was nucb faded. Biyles held It up close lo the light, read a lew lines at Ibe top. iben glanced at Ibe algnatoies at the bottom, and reeled tjackward ' aa If he would faU. Hla weakoeaa waa bnl nuncniary, however. He revived Id a moment, and, waving the yellow scrap atora hli head, let on a whoop oi Joy ssncleni to ruin bis repulalloii In that neighborhood for all lime. All sprang lo ihtir feel. "tMut It lit 'cried ibe.v, "Found at last I It's fonsd! Tho tnarrlage ccrtl- flcaieof my moibcr—Ihe Krap of paper thai will right ber wrong), that will prove tbe legtllmacy of hercblld and make in all Men, dear araclc," he cned. Then be embraced Ihcm all tuccesalvely and col- leoUvely, and the Joy of tbelr beans, one and all. was given fnll nign, until Ihe welkin mog again, aa Ihe cblmca grew wilder from the cburch towers, aa Ifahanngand voicing ibeir happlnen. Old Sam was JuiillanI to Ihe point that hla com- panions began lo fear for his mental balance. He Ibo grocer a atMul them, bo depoalled on tho table. The rest of bis heavy load ho let rail al random on the door or cbalra. ■ Tho dootor brought 'em," said he. In reply to the look or lDi|ulry from Miranda, "lie aold a aclentlllc arilcle on microbes and btrlll today, and got well paid. He's apeni cvrr; blessed cent In getting up •orUhrlfimas leati, forheaajshawas sure we'd be broke, and he wouldn't Isko any chances." Old Sain was very pale, and Utnnda knew him M> well that she delected In a nioiiHnt lhal he was seriously preoccupied. If notactually worried. "What alls the doctort" Ihe aekedr "Ishe hel|v leas after cetebrallng, today t" hat In niy poaisKilon. Thin made me think then was sometblng wrong Insldo Ibo coach, su I d«te^ mined to find out sil about li." "And what did you And onit" asked Travcm, whiwo leeih were beginning to chaiior, for iho Biorm was heavy and Ibo wind keen, "Thai there's a boy In bore—either Ibsenalhls or dead—whom this fellow waa taking lomowhcro, probably the docks, to nuko airay wllh," anewered Iho Dootor. "ir he^ dead, then" —stantncKd Iho prompter. "Then, uf course, he's beat ten alone, lo keep us out or a tciapo," Interrupted tbe Uoheolan , "lint Ir my science la any good yei, II lells no ho Isn'l. Ho In under Iho Influence of aomo lonlblo deadly kept on repeatlDg: "I wau an old fool for buying old books, was 11 And my last two dollars I Didn't lalttkelt rich I" "1 gave you a cruel wound tonight by my Ibousht- less allusion lo yonr mother, dear Tom." said Oracl*, "bnl I have made smeDdi by making this dlsnovery, btve I nott" "Indeed yon have." replied Tom, embracing her fondly, "and who conld make me a belter Chrial- maaglftt" A noisy tanMlDgatihe Mrteldoor. accompanied b.t an InpAkT.tnal attempt lo ring tbe broken bell, brought thiBpleasant convervailon lo an end. ■The Doctor I I recognize his touch on that bell wire." exclaimed Tnven, aa he hurried out to admit the belated gnral. "He'll get a great eel back when be flnda we're all broke and there's no provender for the Chrlsimas Eve fetllvinen," sDigeated Styles, with a faint ana- plcloD of proreeslonal spite msnlleal In bis lone. The "Doctor" was a Rohemlan of varied accomp- llabmenls, who, aa we have said, knew evrryibing and was great In nothing. He was a scholar, a claasldat, a mnsiclaD. perferl In >he theory of technique, bet no execnlant. a philosopher, a aclenilai, a lllleratenr, a physician. While he mighi have won aaccesaln either, bad be devoted hlmseirio It, he llllted from one to the other w fancy led bin, and Instead of gaining rame and money coomfnsnmle wllb hla altalnmenia had. DP lo ihia time, won rrom Ibe world only poveny and denilcn- Through tpeenlailng on the occnii forceaof natnre be bad been led Into Bplrl'naMsm. In which he profesatd lo Im a Inn believer and a powerful medium. There wsB a delay al the door, however, which pnzal^d Ih* three who were awaiting the coming of ibrlr Bobenlan gnesl. Old Ban was beard Is ron- veniilon wlib some one,aDd they tbongbi hueven stepped ost of tbe doorway Into the streeL In a few niontee, however, be slaggertd In. moat nnei- peciedly laden down wllb a couple or lurkeya,a brace H dnck>. a great bnnille of greena and a heavy demljobn- Twowtoe boiileawrie protmd- iDg from hla coal poekeia, aod these, wllb aeveinl packages having the flavor or the baker's ahep and You ace Mlnndakncw Ibc Doctor well, and IhiM was a very nalaral suspicion, for be had a liail halitl of making calls In a befuddled auie. on which occa- sions he would persist In rxplolilng hla spirit ranclcs. to the horror or Mrs. Tiavcn. who Invarl- ablr refused tn Join Ihe nirclo. Herbnaljand partly reasturrd her. however, by a solemn shako of the heid end tbe Arm declarailoa; "As sober aa a Jndgei Never uw bIm so clear beaded and nrasonable. Hui 1 muit go back to him." And Traven hnirled out again wliboul pauslDg lo reply tolbeanilons Inquiries ofhla ihreo bearers. Thn anow was falling in areai ckiuds, and waa piling high on Ibe pavtmenia bnl out ho went through tba aiom, h'lrrylng to and aronnd lbs near by corner. There, clwo by tbecurb, waaatsndlng a coach with tteamlng bnrsea and abattered win- dows. The forward azie of Ibe vehicle had broken short off, aod a hind wbeel b^d iKen caught on an awning pnat. Ihna bringing Ibe nearly exhansted moawajaioa standsiill. The Uoclnr. a tall nun wlib aaeedy coat. Iiut- tnnrdtotlis neck, craai log doubts nf iheexMence ol linen UDdemeaih, and no overcoai. hla dark bair falling nearlv In hla ahoaldTs. and bla black eyes blazing with an eager excllraent, had Juat anc- eeedcd In learlngaway a portion of the splintered door, and wat tugging eamettly at some object wlihlD the wrecked vtblcle. Old Hsm hastened lo bla aid. and aalhey lugged and hauled at Ibli concealed object ihe Doctor ex. pislnedlnliroheo phfUKs: "I aw Ibe nnaway as I came aloog- The cotclinian waa a great Italian fellow In dhignlte. I'm anre be waa no regular coachman. When br brought np here aod tbe whole bntlneas veoi U> plecetk I raa nplobelp. De yelled tome glhherltb at me, Jnoped or tba box, dnw a knire, end atood goard at tbe coach door. I hit blm a clip wlib one of ray Inrke/a, which knocked ih« kolfe ooi of hla hand, and fee allpped aod fell, f called for Iho police, bnt Ibe wind waa too high lor ihem In bear. I aappoae. Anyhow ihey didn't come, to I Jnoped od Ike rogue and tried to boM blm. He squirmed nnl ot my haida and no away, leavtog bl* Nrery ocatand drug, lini there la lire,and he may be aaved, Aor- how I'm going to tiy. Aa faraa we've gonealresdy. It will mske an eicellenl case to write up ror Ihe medical Jonrnals, wllh ny loilcologtcal Iheorlea given fall away at laal." AMhIt tnonnnt 11*0 flgurs oT a hoy—a slander, handsnmc. light halted Isd of about eight or nine yeara—waa dragged out of ibn debris and seized np In tho arms of the nuni Uohemlam, who stalked along wllh hla linrden wllhoul pausing forfntlher remark beyond a commanil lo old Ham to be anre lo follnw at once with ibe driver's lorn coat aod ballered bat. "Ihitlhe coach and hoiMtr''gasped the prompt- er, ss he hrcslhlessly dogged bla rompanloD's alept. "Oh, let the pnHce flnd ibeo after Ihe stnrn la over. That's their abare; I've got mine," said Iho Dnoiorwlthaanlir. The mile group Id Ihe parlor of Ihe prompter's home looked aghast mbf.n they saw thia pair enter rarrrlnglbe Insenilble oblld. and layllon the aofa. "What Is Iblsi" Inqnlrsd Miranda, Tom and Orecleln a breath, "PoD't ask ne—ll'a a gneallon of hnman life," re- plied lbs Doctor, reaoming ihn air ot auperlorliy whiob waa aooflenalve to Tom HI visa. "But." broke out the lalier. "iMahilnglng Id dead bodkaand inrnlDg a Ohrltinaa Rve fnllc into a clinic for craDka. retolres explanallOD, and Mrs. Traveit ahonM knowall shoot II" Tbe Doctor gave a pitying glance at Ibe young man, wblrb exaapeialed bin still fnnher,snd,tnm< Ing to Travcm, said. "TrW Ihem," which Ihe old aciordld In a few words, amusing all their symra- thka St one*. Ibcoherenilr aa he had huddled f» racia tofeiber In bis excllenenL They clustered ahoot lb* couch, aiding the ginni adenllst In bla efl'orttat lesoMlltlloD, andnbeylnghlslnttncUoBs to the letter, lor be had kM bis flighty air, and hla manner waa that of one expert In hla dellcaie trade. Then wa* not one of the Utile company, bow- ever, wllb Ihe excpdon of Ihe dltmal, wild eyed, eager Bohttnlan.whedM not feel anre Ikalil wua eorpaa they bad lo deal wllb, lor Ibm waa a gny (•nor oB ifest bit yonag faos.wUb lU fiaas ot hair culling silken lucks ol gold, and lis deliralo, nfliied bcaut.v. Its air of nwoi-l repoiie. None bul ho L-oiild detect a breath front ihosn pale lips, yet he waa firm in bis tint Improstlnn. and stubbornly worked for Ibe Rsiiscltailon nf iha patient. Al la», 10 Ihn Burprlse nf all. a slight nnah was faintly pcrceplllilr on iho rliceka nf tho siin rlng chilli—a niish that view slosly into a lirlihi glow. The IVirtnr gave a cry of triumph, ami reilniiiiled Ills siirniloni. Tho rnlld's obesl hravcil with a ilocp algh. and he opened a palrof great round hliio ryea, tn a atars of wnmlt'r upon the lllllo nirclo atnul blm. Tho liortur aroM*. "Ho u aavcili" said be, Willi an air I f triumph, "'•'hem Ih nothing mnn< for nie Indn, (Inlv bliidnrM anil gnnl feeding aru what ho needs now, and siieli alienilon I know. Mrs. Travcrs. yniirgnoil ntnri will suggest lieilerthan I could." Thn mot ber snil ilsiighirr inik Ibe hsndMimo Imy In charge, sliuwcrtng Icmlrr caretseaiin hint, whlln Ihe Hohomlan turucd tn the innn, and, uiirnrklng nnenf Ihn Imt'tiiH ho had iirniight, Jnlneil thorn In niinmng a DhTlslinas tonat. 'That wss a ninver trtek nf vnnrs." aid Styles. "You'd Iw great If yuii'il only aili'k tn niuilleliio, IKw." "No, nn-ihoy iiiiiht nnittiek liy iiin always llkn Ihey did tnnlght," replied tbu gsiint ntin wlih a wild, reflortlvii air. ■ Whii might notr" Imiiilri'il niilHaui. 'The aplrlu," niplleil Ihn Ihirlnr agirrsslvelr- •II wsa they whiigavn nioniy Ihcory, and ihoy who giihled niy work mnlulit. Ami tu Uiluk lhal nn onn wniild pulillab that very ihenry when I elabnniml II In writing, llial Holuiiru might iH'tHitIt hy It." ytvlea anil Travcrt vxrlunged glances, "It's always Iho way with him," whlaiienid Tiiui: "hii no sooner makes a bit wllb his gi'niiia than nir liugiswat H tangxnl InloKiinoihliig else. Ob,ynii can'tilnauylhlng wlib a rmnk 1" Tho iHiy bail tiowiui r^r teenverrd that tin sat up, and was staringalmnt hiin in iiowitdrrmeni, Hn. Travi'is and In-r flaiightur wern plying hini earn- eatlywitli iiuesilnns. hut in tbeso hn rriiirned nn answer nifriit a linanin i:ry. Tho Dnotnr. who liail Jasi prniNtsuil Ihn liruwiiig lit a inionb. iHiiiHeil In tils rniivlvlal prepaMilniis, and. si'UIng down Iho iHiiiln nf lliinnr, basiMied iii Ibc alile or his rovlTi'd pHllnnt. "I caiHint loam fmiii hits what Is hl4 nHtiio nnr wUi'Fii Is hla homo.' aslil Mrs Travera. "Hn la well clail, anil lias i|in siiprnranro of lielntiglng In aiiiue wealihy family, irhn wnnid nnly siirak!" "We'll alirnil lu ihsi," said ibo llnhrinlaii. wirh a pntnnllul renuiii|itliin of his fnrini<r air of ibn jirscilltnrinr. Kiircllrig tirstdv the Itil hncaresaoil hini gsntlr, anil s[H>ku a sonihliiK annl iir twn. An earnnat liHikraniu liiln Mm nblM's eyes, hut he an>weri-d nnly with Ibn samn hnarse. crushing wtiind. The iloiniir spring to liM feer In •iirpilae, "Thn rhild Is dunilil"salil hn, "Hunan loll us notlilng.' II was tmli-ed irnn. Ihn ptsir llltin nun hail nn inunDrisI hUnnninanil of unraveling thn niysler.v lie had tirnuglii Inin Ihli nn rrynlrrlnnn ilin very dawn iif Chrtaiinss day. Tbu happy cnirnntn lif the dmrlor'ssptrlt Iheorlfs on loilcningy. however. liBil glvun a zeal to Ihe holiday menilng. and It waa unlyafler a Jolly observance of theilswnlngilay, and Iho gay oxohangu nf congrstiilailnna. thai lbs bright uniiipany prepared to aeparaie. It wai Hirced that Ibn Iwy waa lo remain iiniirr Ihe care uf Mrs. Travera until tbe liuolnr had cnnsulted ihe apmia lo dlsrover, wllb Iheir aid. Ills homo ami re: I'lvri, and Ihe causes for lbs aileinpi on hla lire. As Ihc llocbirand Hlylea worn taking Ihrlrdepart- iin Ihey riiiisnit In Hie hallway InllHlniiiuaairangn iiAiiiid, It waaa vlnlentscraping or srratnhlng at ilio street noor. The lioelnr opened ii and a huge, shaggrHi. Ilernard lionndcd liybltiiandHivl's.and, darling liila Ihs parlnr, leaped opnn Ibn rblld wllh ererviiiiolfeatallonorpleaiiirn. The llllln one re- reived II a llh delight, resnoiidlng In Ha carsuea tir flinging nia arms atioiil Its nock and ncalllnghla b'ad lu liHihInk sofi fur. "It knows hlni."Bald old Ham. "It's hla dog-irs traced him. Hero's aRliiu,* saldTnm Hiylet. "Ilnid nn. Hlyli's." said Ih" Doc'or. "I don'l want Ihia to coinu out In Ihn papers Ininnrrow. Hn nnn- lent with Ihe iHitIrn HifTT alKiiit Ihn inyslerloiii, cnaeh. and lea vn Ihn rshsr delalbi until f have ma«lo iDqiilriFinfllie splrlla." "What, loavsunhanrleganiRbance fora'aconp'r" said Hiylet. hla prnfeasiunal Inatlnoia damiDalliig nvsry other srnilment. ■ ir inu dnn'l. ynu'llaooll all."Hialslnl His llncinr. It was nnly alter a Inng argument that Tom waa pertiiaded lo atraennr Ihree da>a. afirr which time bn was free tn run Ihs tensailnn diwn In his nwn way, and spresd II out ai nnlinillsd lrng<b In hla paper. The Iwn men aeparalrd at Ihe nnrner. Tho Ihieior gave a gisncs up Ihs sireot. The oarrlage and borana had tisen rnmnved. "Tbe poliro have got thn oiitlli." ebuckled be "linl they bavro'l got the crime. Tbal'a my fane,*' llurlog Ihe bnllday wank Tom Hlyles. by means of the paper riraein had found In Ihe locket, aun- cseded In bringing hla legal opponents In their knees, end aeerpisd a eompmmlse lhal vindlcalrrt his mniher and hlreaulf, while making Ihem rich. In ihlajnvona week, loo, Ihem waa great buaUeand prsparallon Id Ihs Traven bouaehold. The prompters "ghost" had not walked yel. nor bad Miranda •eciirrd nnoihrr engagemenl. Hull, she and all the fanillr aaemcd very busy and very msrrv. More pnutlng ailll, Oracle hsd blonhlngly given her manaier Dolloe that she intended to re- tire from Ihs alai* al i»e end nf the week, and her SDCcessor Id ihe cam hsd already rehsaraed her part, lhal ahe olgbt rnpltna ber «n New Year'a night The gentle diinh iioy wh» had come to them au rnraiertonaly od Cbnnmai Kvs allll remained a welenme msml^r of Iba family, and bla fallbru dog, loo. remained as hla plavmat'', Tbe lime o f Ihe II nee between the INKlnr and Tom bad paaaed, and neither bad beon able lo mske any dlscoverlei. No one had advertlaed (or Ihe child, Ibe livery ooat bore BO marks ibat wonld enable odd to trace li> owner (ailtaerlhan allvery aiable, and Ibtn wkloh