Puck — March 1877 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

at the sun-light which threw a broad and feihy, glow over the sodden back-yards which con- * stituted the “view.” All at once he saw a number of pieces of paper fluttering through the air. “Some one tearing up a letter, I suppose,” he said. ‘It must be Miss Kingsley, too; her room’s just over mine, I believe. It’s very strange that she should look so frightened last night at the dinner-table, when Bowzer spoke about the fortune that has come into Mr, Col- cott’s hands so unexpectedly. Curious I should have been copying only a few hours before on the will which left him the money. And that Miss Kirby was drowned, it seems, from Bow. zer’s account. That’s the way he comes by the fortune. Well, I don’t wish him joy. What I've seen of him at the office, I don’t like. He's got a bad face.” That night at dinner Richard missed the sweet neighbor who had sat at his right hand. When the meal was nearly over, and she had not made her appearance, he ventured a question on the subject. “‘What has become of Miss Kingsley, this evening?” “Oh! law, didn’t you know?” simpered Miss Meacham. “Dear me, I'm 'fraid you "ll be so stressed if we tell you. iD “T think not,” said Richard. “ Well, she's ‘gone,” said Miss Meacham, “Gone!” repeated Richard. “Yes,” broke in Mrs. Bowzer, “she comes to me this morning, with the money as she was aowin’ me and it was fifteen dollars and she said she must leave, and she left.” Ah, Richard, you did not know before this moment how profound an impression Florence Kingsley had made upon your heart. You knew, to be sure, that it was a pleasure to have her by your side twice a day; to receive a few ind words from her, or a grateful look when ‘you showed her some delicate attention, but | | she was tearing up this morning.” you little thought, my oe ae with her ab- sence all the glow and color would fade from your life. Gone! Yes. That thought brings a choking sensation into your throat, and makes your hand shake a little, and fills your eyes with an uncomfortable moisture, does it not ? Richard went to his room that evening in a gloomy frame of mind. He opened his window to. close the blinds,.and, as he did so, saw a | = piece of paper lying on, the ledge. “There,” he thought, ‘is a scrap of the letter Who could it be from? If it were only in her handwriting! He would have liked to keep it, if it were. It would be a precious memento. Still her hand had touched it. He picked it up, gave a careless glance at it, then an eager one, then went to the light with it and scanned it closely, his face all the while expressing great surprise. It was rather larger than its com- panions which he had seen blown about by the wind that morning. On one side were these words: “Your guardi—” and on the other: “Mr. Colcott——"” Richard repeated these words aloud, “ ‘Your guardi— Mr. Colcott.'’ ‘Your guardian.’ Yes, that’s “your guardian, Mr, Colcott.’ Great heavens! what have I stumbled upon? Florence Kingsley, Florence Kirby. But Flo- | rence Kirby was drowned at sea. It is not } possible. And yet it is, it can’t be any other way. If had been drinking anything, I should | say it had affected my brain. It’s in something of awhirl. Whew! I can't stand this; just let me get into the fresh air where I can exer- cise a little. Maybe my mind will get into proper working order then.” He started off at a tremendous pace in the direction of Washington Square. Arriving there, he threw himself on one of the benches, stretch: ed his legs out—they were rather long and he Mutter to himself in an indignant manner; as follows: “Insane, indeed! What dam—ahem! damag. ing nonsense! Why, she’s the sweetest, loveliest, —dear, dear, dear, and she’s gone too; gone, and I may never see her again. Yes, that’s the way it could have happened.” (To be concluded in oar next} MISFIT CARPETS. Exctisn Brossms, Twnxs Poy and Inceain als, Srain Canres, vcs, Cavan CuoTus, Oi CLOTHS, ete, very cheap at the Old Place x No. 112 FULTON ST., NEW YORK. arelully packed and sent to any part ofthe United States tod Geass = 7 rien. BENDALLY SEND FOR PRICE LIST. GERMANIA FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY. Ratan 1000, — Principal Office: 175 Broadway, BRANCH OFFICES: $57 Bowery, New York, ¥. px Mauicnon, Business Manager. 5 Willoughby St., Brooklyn, G. Scumsdans, Busines Manager. | | 230 Washington St, Hobos . Business Manager. Capital $500,000.-Surplus $1,196, 10.20 Total Assets, July 1, $1,696,110.20. sustaining Sar Over t4o0000.00 have already been paid to parties lenses from fire PERFECTION. BOKER’S BITTERS. was never entirely at his ease until they were | properly disposed,—and then he began to | L. FUNKE, Jr., Sole Agent, No. 78 Joun Sraeet, N. ¥. P.O. Pax 102, ¥ & Soxs, Sten have been decreed the OF HONOR and TWO DIPLOMAS OF MERIT, no display at the Centennial ‘Exhibstion. inantmous verdict of th aoe peuocslariae ceccterrion eo shown by the it of Square, ano’ Uraicur “For gresiest concert capacity In Grand planos, as also highest degree of wan MiGHAST DEGREE OF BX- iGal report on the STEDWAY excellence In all thelr styles of pianos, viz: Largest volume, purity and duration of “i. KURTZ HOTOCRAPHER, Madison Square. Received also one of the Philsdelphia Medals. tone, and extraordinary carrying capacity, with precision and durability of mech- anism; also novel disposition of the Sen ae connection ee oaee of the metal frame.” See TON i meeherge re oer aan maa THE STANDARD PIANOS OF THE WORLD. he na TEIINAY & Sons, beng the cnly piano-makers who. manuthcsre “vey Papi Pata ot mgr ens of Many Ha cas “These articles of composite metal show the highest perfection of finish and workmanship and the greatest firmness and uniformity of metal structure, a steel-like and sounding quality, with a tensile strength exceeding 5,000 Ibs. per Reece Re Doro tes) by actual tests. Tho full metal frames of cupola shape, possess degree of resistance, permitting a vastly In-, creased tension of strings without the slighest danger of break or crack ip said metal frames, thereby considerably increasing the vibratory power, and augment- Ing the tasting qualities of their instruments.” FIRST GOLD MEDAL OF HONO! FIRST ERIE MEDALS AOE RON te ‘Na Ilustrated Catalogues mailed free on application. STEINWAY & SONS’ S' WAREROOMS, STEINWAY HAL > ven. 109 ond 111% East Fourteenth Sheet, ‘NEW YORK, comichooks.com