every morning, and was always late to dinner. It was not in young Mrs.
Arburton’s nature to ignore this long.
“My love,” she said one stormy night when he came home tired, cold, and
hungry, “My love, if the other house is finished we might go there and
stay till this stormy weather is over. I miss you dreadfully at lunch,
and it’s such a pity to let you travel so far in the rain.”
“All right, my dear. It would be better to go back again.”
“Back again!” Then it was not a dream.
The next morning young Mrs. Arburton was convinced that her mind was
entirely unhinged. She did not dare to mention it to her husband. She
went about her morning duties mechanically. They were in the lower town
house. She knew the smell of the lumber yards only too well.
The thing was unbearable. She would settle the matter or perish in the
attempt. The moment her husband had gone to his office she put on her
things, took the trolley, and went up to the Heights. She found the
avenue without the slightest difficulty. The colonial villa had totally
disappeared. She asked a policeman if he had seen a white villa in the
neighborhood. The man grinned broadly and said he guessed it was off duty.
She turned away indignant. What did the insolent creature mean? Nothing
was to be gained by waiting there, and she took the trolley back home. On
reaching the lower town she lost her way for the first time in her life.
She wandered past several lumber yards, looking for that three-story
house, and could not find it. Once she felt sure she had reached the
spot—the house was not there. Thoroughly alarmed at what she regarded as
her serious mental condition, she went at once to her husband’s office.
“Mr. Arburton is here?”
“No, ma’am. He started to go up to the Heights on business, and said he
should stay to lunch at his house.”
That explained everything. The house by the lumber yards was simply a
fancy of her disordered brain. She would go at once to their villa-home
on the Heights. On arriving there she was not able to find it. Now
thoroughly alarmed, she decided to go to her mother’s. Both her homes had
disappeared, perhaps forever. She put her hand to her fevered brow. It
was icy cold. She trembled as if chilled with terror.
“To think that beautiful home was all a wild fancy—to think I’ve lost
that dear, homely, lovely, hideous house by the lumber yards. I fairly
loved it. I’ll never stir out of it again—not even to find that colonial
villa. And my husband, too,—he may be a fancy—a mere phantom—”
She looked at her wedding ring.
“No. I suppose he is real—”
She stood silent and tearful, looking off over the vast prospect spread
out below her. The avenue ended at the very edge of the bluff and gave a
magnificent view over the river and valley below—the very view she had
dreamed she saw from that chamber window—
Suddenly a picturesque chimney appeared above the edge of the bluff.
Then two pretty finials of wrought iron. Then a red roof appeared. Was
she dreaming—or—? A number of people on the sidewalk stopped to view the
remarkable spectacle. She heard a policeman remark aloud:
“The quare house is going on duty agin.”
The colonial villa stood before her. The front door opened and her
husband appeared.
“Lunch is ready, love. Come in as soon as you can, as I want to move back
to the lower town.”
“My dear! Am I crazy—?”
“Guess not. Where have you been all this time?”
“But, love!” she cried, “is my mind unbalanced?”
“Guess not. You seem reasonable.”
“Is this our uptown house?”
“Certainly, dear. Do come in to lunch.”
“Then where is—the other house?”
“Right here. Do come into the house, dear. The elevator boy is in a hurry
to move her back again, as he can’t go to dinner till we are safe at the
bottom of the hill.”
Young Mrs. Arburton entered her uptown house and closed the door. When
in the privacy of her colonial dining-room she kissed her husband with
enthusiasm.
“My love! It is distinctly great. How does it work?”
“Touch the button in the kitchen once, and the elevator boy will move her
up. Touch twice and he will let her down again. You see, dear, I found it
was not convenient to live in two houses at the same time, so I bought
the old horse-car elevator and put a house in the car.”
“But, my love—the colonial villa and the cheap three-story frame house.”
“Oh! That’s all right. The front is early colonial, the back is recent
American, as befits the two landings on the elevator.”
“How perfectly lovely. When I don’t want to be at home to the people on
the Heights I live below, and when I’m tired of the lumber yard people
I’ll live at the top.”
“Yes. And when we don’t want to see anybody, we can stop her half way.
Come. Let’s have lunch while she slides down.”
[Illustration]
ADVERTISEMENTS
=Mrs. Jack Frost= doesn’t mind the cold, not a bit!
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When writing please mention THE BLACK CAT.
* * * * *
AYER’S
The blossom of beauty roots in the blood.
The blemishes of beauty,—pimples, blotches, eruptions,—can be removed by
purifying the blood with
AYER’S SARSAPARILLA.
Curebook No. 1 tells about it. Free. J.C. Ayer Co., Lowell, Mass.
* * * * *
THE BOSTON HERALD.
New England’s Greatest Newspaper.
The New England advertising field is the best on this continent.
In this great field The Boston Herald stands supreme. Its circulation,
character, and influence make it the ideal newspaper.
Its Purchasing Power is Unequalled.
* * * * *
10 times out of 10
The New York Journal recently offered ten bicycles to the ten winners in
a guessing contest, leaving the choice of machine to each.
ALL OF THEM CHOSE
Columbia Bicycles
_STANDARD OF THE WORLD_
Nine immediately, and one after he had looked at others. And the Journal
bought Ten Columbias. Paid $100 each for them.
On even terms a Columbia will be chosen TEN times out of TEN
POPE MANUFACTURING CO. HARTFORD, CONN.
1896 Art Catalogue free from the Columbia agent; by mail for two 2-cent
stamps.
* * * * *
Consumption
AND ITS CURE
TO THE EDITOR:—I have an absolute remedy for Consumption. By its timely
use, thousands of hopeless cases have been already permanently cured.
So proof-positive am I of its power that I consider it my duty to _send
two bottles free_ to those of your readers who have Consumption, Throat,
Bronchial or Lung Trouble, if they will write me their express and
postoffice address. Sincerely, T. A. SLOCUM, M. C., 183 Pearl St., New
York.
In writing please say you saw this in The Black Cat.
* * * * *
IF YOU’RE A PIPE SMOKER
A TRIAL WILL CONVINCE THAT GOLDEN SCEPTRE IS PERFECTION
SEND 10cts FOR SAMPLE PACKAGE—PRICES 1lb 1.30; ¼lb 40cts. POSTAGE PAID,
CATALOGUE FREE. SURBRUG, 159 FULTON ST., N.Y. CITY.
* * * * *
The Imperial Hair Regenerator
NO MATTER HOW GRAY YOUR HAIR IS—OR BLEACHED—OR SPOILED BY DYES—MAKES IT
BEAUTIFUL, NATURAL, HEALTHY.
=Restores= Gray Hair to its Original Color.
=Regenerates= Bleached Hair.
Gives it new life and vigor, and makes it any color desired.
It is guaranteed by court tests absolutely harmless—and genuine. There
are many substitutes. Refuse to take them.
No. 1.—Black.
No. 2.—Dark Brown.
No. 3.—Medium Brown.
No. 4.—Chestnut.
No. 5.—Light Chestnut.
No. 6.—Gold Blonde.
No. 7.—Ash Blonde.
PRICE, $1.50 and $3.00.
Send a sample of your hair, and we will restore its color free of charge.
IMPERIAL CHEMICAL MFG. CO.
292 Fifth Avenue, New York.
Between 30th and 31st Streets. Take Elevator.
* * * * *
_Guaranteed Circulation._
_On the proof-slip of every advertisement set in the Composing Room of
the_
Boston Post
_appears this_
GUARANTEE:
_This advertisement is accepted on the distinct guarantee that the
regular actual, bona fide sales of the Daily =Post= in Boston and
vicinity, =Each Morning=, are =greater= than those of the =Herald= and
=Globe combined=._
_FIRST IN MORNING SALES._
SLIP FROM THE
_Boston Post._
December Circulation.
_Daily Average_ =86,753=
_Sunday Average_ =96,160=
* * * * *
Puritana
_It Cures from head to foot._
Trade-Mark.
_It makes the Weak Strong._
Nature’s Cure
Puritana cures disease by naturalizing and vitalizing the Power Producer
of the human system,—the stomach.
PRIZE FORMULA OF Prof. Dixi Crosby, M.D., LL.D. DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
It cures case after case, _from head to foot_, whether the suffering is
due to disordered _Blood, Liver, Stomach, Kidneys, Lungs, Brain, Nerves,
or Skin_.
If you are a sufferer get of your druggist this great disease-conquering
discovery, (the price is $1 for the complete treatment, consisting of
one bottle of Puritana, one bottle of Puritana Pills, and one bottle
of Puritana Tablets), all enclosed in one package, or write to the
undersigned, and you will bless the day when you heard of Puritana. The
Puritana Compound Co., Concord, N. H.
* * * * *
RUB IT IN that....
The Orient
(Built like this.)
Is the FINEST Wheel of ’96.
Branches:
Chicago
Boston
Brooklyn
New York
Detroit
Omaha
Waltham
Features:
Big Balls
Big Hubs
Big Tubing
Pneumatic Saddles
Orient Fork
Adjustable Pedals
The
Waltham Mfg. Co.
241 Broadway,
New York, N. Y.
Write for Cat.
* * * * *
IF YOU WANT THE BEST GARDEN
in your neighborhood this season
PLANT OUR FAMOUS
SEEDS AND PLANTS
all of which are described and illustrated in our beautiful and entirely
=New Catalogue for 1896=. A new feature this season is the =Free=
delivery of Seeds at Catalogue prices to any Post Office. This “=New
Catalogue=” we will mail on receipt of a 2-cent stamp, or to those who
will state where they saw this advertisement, the Catalogue will be
mailed =Free=!
PETER HENDERSON & CO.
35 & 37 Cortlandt St., New York.
* * * * *
“My Boy—
LE PAGE’S LIQUID GLUE
will not mend broken bones but I don’t know anything else it won’t
mend—and mend it so that ’twill stay mended, too.”
* * * * *
HAIR CLOTH
“Survival of the Fittest.”
_Send for Samples._
For Interlinings—Lasts Forever
AMERICAN
HAIR CLOTH COMPANY
Pawtucket, R. I.
* * * * *
American People Read Standard Newspapers
That’s why
The Boston Daily Standard
Has the LARGEST CIRCULATION of any REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPER in New England, a
Fact
THAT ANY NEWSDEALER WILL PROVE.
Its CONSTANTLY INCREASING advertising patronage shows for itself how
It Pays
To interest STANDARD readers. If you are not one, WHY NOT?
Send for sample copy.
* * * * *
ESSEX
10c. Feeds 10 Plants 1 year. Ask your dealer for the _10c._ package.
If he does not keep it send us 16c. in stamps, and we will send it by
return mail.
Flower Food FOR House Plants AND Window Gardens
Latest
Cheapest
Best
Produces Healthy growth and Generous flowering.
Russia Cement Co.
GLOUCESTER, MASS.
* * * * *
_Waverley_ BICYCLES.
ARE THE CHOICE OF EXPERIENCED RIDERS,
Those who have learned to know the difference between a wheel that
actually is high grade, and one that is simply claimed to be. Others may
be good, but the Waverley is the =Highest of all High Grades=. =REWARD=
of a new Waverley Scorcher is offered to each person who recovers a
stolen ’96 Waverley during 1896, payable upon presentation to us of
satisfactory proof of the facts and the sentence of the thief. This
reward is open to every one excepting the owner of the stolen wheel, but
is not payable to more than one person in any case.
ART CATALOGUE FREE BY MAIL. INDIANA BICYCLE CO., INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
* * * * *
The Black Cat
FOR
April, 1896,
Will contain the following
Stories _THAT ARE_ Stories.
All original, all copyrighted, all complete, all “captivating tales
cleverly told,” and
ALL FOR 5 CENTS.
=The Mystery of the Thirty Millions.=—By T. F. ANDERSON and H. D.
UMBSTAETTER. A startling recital of the unparalleled adventures of the
ocean steamer, _Oklahoma_, whose disappearance with 643 human souls and
thirty millions of gold, threw two continents into a fever of excitement.
=The Man at Solitaria.=—By GEIK TURNER. A realistic account of how the
Man at Solitaria, single-handed and alone, ran the Great Western Railroad
System to suit himself.
=The Compass of Fortune.=—By EUGENE SHADE BISBEE. The weirdly impressive
tale of a man guided by sightless eyes to an independent fortune.
=A Surgical Love Cure.=—By JAMES BUCKHAM. An up-to-date remedy for the
love fever, and its unexpected results.
=The Williamson Safe Mystery.=—By COL. F. S. HESSELTINE. In this absorbing
tale is presented for the first time, the solution of one of the most
daring and inexplicable series of burglaries ever conceived.
=How Small the World.=—By E. H. MAYDE. A triangular love story in which,
by means of a common confidant, two young people who hate each other in
Massachusetts are brought to love each other in Colorado.
The Black Cat is sold by Newsdealers. If yours hasn’t it, and won’t get
it for you, _get another newsdealer_. If you haven’t a dealer, send
us fifty cents and we will mail you for a whole year, The Black Cat,
postpaid. The Shortstory Publishing Co., Boston, Mass.
* * * * *
THE APEX OF Bicycle Perfection
is represented in the Monarch. All the bicycle goodness that the
best bicycle makers know is incorporated in this king of wheels. No
chronometer could be made with more care, or with greater accuracy.
Every part of the Monarch is in perfect harmony with all other parts.
So perfect is the distribution of weight, so accurate the adjustment of
gear, that the Monarch will outspeed, outlast, outrival, any wheel on the
market to-day.
Made in 4 models. =$80= and =$100=. For children and adults who want a
lower priced wheel the =Defiance= is made in 8 models, =$40=, =$50=,
=$60= and =$75=. Send for the Monarch book.
MONARCH CYCLE MFG. CO., Lake, Halsted & Fulton Sts., CHICAGO.
83 Reade St., New York.
* * * * *
A Roll of Braid
is a little thing, but there is a place in the world where they make a
good many million rolls every year. It’s a small place—its biggest boast
being two capitals and the greatest braid factory on the earth. In fact,
to say “Rhode Island,” is to think “Goff’s Braids.” No matter what part
of the land you visit, there you find =Goff’s Dress Braids=. Face your
dress skirts with =GOFF’S BRAID=, which is the best made. Sample roll,
any shade, for four 2-cent stamps.
D. GOFF & SONS, Pawtucket, R. I.
* * * * *
RIDGE’S FOOD FOR INFANTS AND INVALIDS
THE MOST RELIABLE FOOD IN THE WORLD FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN
SOLD BY DRUGGISTS
THE BEST DIET FOR INVALIDS AND OLD PEOPLE
FOUR SIZES .35 .65 1.25 1.75
_Woolrich & Co._ ON EVERY LABEL
* * * * *
Wheeling at night
With the “Search Light”
—IS A PLEASURE.
SEARCH LIGHT
for ’96.
The Flame Cannot Jar Out.—The new patent method of attaching the Lantern
to the wheel makes this an impossibility.
Burns either Kerosene or Benzine, and the packed reservoir prevents the
spilling of oil.
The Polished Reflectors are so protected that they cannot become
blackened or tarnished.
A Combination of Lenses makes most intense and penetrating light.
THE ONLY strictly First Class Bicycle Lantern on the market.
_WE LEAD_, all others follow; compare all other Bicycle Lanterns with the
“Search Light,” and you will agree that _They Are All Behind_.
Of all Cycle Dealers or delivered free for price, $5.00.
Bridgeport Brass Company, BRIDGEPORT, CONN.,
or, 19 Murray Street, N. Y.
* * * * *
The Traveler
Is the Only Boston Member of the Associated Press....
It Publishes More News, More Pictures, More Stories, More Special
Features, More Advertisements, and has More Push, More Independence, and
More Growth than any other Boston One Cent Newspaper.
A Modern Newspaper At a Modern Price.
One Year’s Growth
The Traveler’s Circulation Gain 139 Per Cent.
The Traveler’s Advertising Gain 145 Per Cent.
The Traveler’s Gain in Number of Advts. 363 Per Cent.
Are You Reading It?
Eight to Sixteen Pages. One Cent a Copy, Six Cents a Week, Twenty-five
Cents a Month, Three Dollars a Year.
* * * * *
CLIMBING METEOR.
GREATEST OF ALL NEW ROSES.
=CLIMBING METEOR=, now offered for the first time, is really a =Perpetual
Blooming Climbing General Jacqueminot=. Though a sport from that finest
of all Hybrid Teas, Meteor, it is much larger and of a deeper, richer
color, equalled only by the peerless Jacqueminot, and will produce
twenty blossoms to Jacqueminot’s one. It is a Rose which will make 10 to
15 feet of growth in a season and show a profusion of bloom every day.
Foliage strong, healthy and luxuriant. Buds exquisite: flowers large,
beautifully shaped, and of that rich, dark, velvety crimson color seen
only in the Jacqueminot. We do not hesitate to pronounce it the finest
Rose in existence for summer blooming, as it will make a large growth and
is loaded with its glorious blossoms from May until November. For winter
blooming it has no equal in beauty or profusion. Just the Rose to train
up in a conservatory or bay-window, where its exquisite blossoms will
show to wonderful advantage every day, summer or winter. Quite hardy, and
will produce more flowers than a dozen ordinary Roses.
=PRICE=: Strong, well rooted, healthy plants, for abundant blooming at
once, =30c. each; four for $1.00; nine for $2.00.= By mail, postpaid,
guaranteed to arrive in good order.
6 EXQUISITE NOVELTIES for 20c., postpaid, as follows: Cupid Dwarf Sweet
Pea, Scarlet Pansies, Weeping Palm, Margaret Carnation, Giant White
Scented Verbena, and Dwarf Flowering Canna.
1 LITTLE GEM DWARF CALLA, grows only 8 inches high; perpetual bloomer;
most exquisite pot plant, postpaid, for 25c.; 3 for 50c.
12 LOVELY NAMED GLADIOLUS for only 25c. postpaid; each bulb correctly
labeled, fine colors, white, pink, yellow, scarlet, blush, blotched,
striped.
1 JAPANESE GOLDEN MAYBERRY, grows 6 to 8 feet high, hardy, branching
like a tree; bears great golden berries of luscious quality, which ripen
earlier than Strawberries. 25c.; 3 for 50c.; postpaid.
_Or everything above offered, including Rose, for 75c., postpaid. Order
Now._
=Our Great Catalogue= of Flower and Vegetable Seeds, Bulbs, Plants
and Rare New Fruits is the finest ever issued; 136 pages, profusely
illustrated with elegant cuts and colored plates. We offer the choicest
standard sorts and finest Novelties. We are headquarters for all that
is New, Rare and Beautiful. Do not miss Rudbeckia Golden Glow, Giant
Imperial Japanese Morning Glories, New Cannas, Chrysanthemums, Mayberry,
Tree Strawberry, and other great Novelties. Mailed for =10 Cents=, or
=FREE= if you order any of the above articles. Address _JOHN LEWIS
CHILDS, Floral Park, N. Y._
* * * * *
For Flowers Indoors.
Bowker’s Flower Food.
A rich, concentrated fertilizer, odorless, made from chemicals; applied
in solution once or twice a month makes house plants grow vigorously and
blossom profusely.
A small spoonful for a 2 inch pot.
A larger spoonful for a 4 inch pot.
Enough for 30 plants, 3 months, 25c.
For a whole year, 50c.
We pay the postage and send a book on “Window Gardening” free with each
package.
BOWKER FERTILIZER CO.,
27 Beaver Street, New York.
43 Chatham Street, Boston.
* * * * *
Stock Buyers and Bankers
Take care of money—subject to check—give interest on deposits.
Buy and sell for cash or margin ONLY the securities listed on New York
Stock Exchange
Investors of money
Givers of stock information, by mail or wire.
A member of our firm always on floor of Stock Exchange.
Wayland Trask & Co.,
18 Wall St., New York.
* * * * *
Every reader of “The Black Cat” should read the very remarkable Novel,
A SINGULAR LIFE,
the Last and the Greatest Story by ELIZABETH STUART PHELPS, author of
“The Gates Ajar,” “Jack the Fisherman,” etc.
Miss Lilian Whiting says: “No American novel since ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’
has approached ‘A Singular Life.’”
Price, $1.25. Sold by all Booksellers. Sent, postpaid, by
HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO.,
4 Park St., Boston, Mass.
Send for a circular containing what the Press says about this wonderful
story.
* * * * *
USED EVERY WEEK DAY
SAPOLIO
BRINGS REST ON SUNDAY.
Armstrong & Co. Boston, Mass.