and?' cried she, jumping up and clapping her hands. 'Oh,
let's go to Staten Island! Mundus can never follow us there, the boats
are so dangerous.'

'But, Bella _mia_' said Roseton, in the soft accent of Italy, 'as the
eminent but slightly impractical Hungarian--I refer to Kossuth--said,
Staten Island "is lovely, but exposed." We should not be safe there.
Listen; in my house I have prepared a secret chamber, fifty feet square,
plentifully supplied with healthful though plain provisions, and
furnished with a tolerable degree of comfort. There will we dwell, until
the curiosity of Mundus and the whispers of the metropolis are overpast.
We will then re-appear in society, and assert our happiness. Bella,
_mia_ Bella, shall it be so?'

'Ah, Percy,' sighed she, leaning back in his arms, 'let it be just as
you say.'

Their lips--

'Bella,' said Mundus, leaning over the pair, and fumbling among the
vases over the fireplace, 'is there any stage change on the mantlepiece,
or have either you or Roseton got such a thing about you as a sixpence?
I have nothing in my pocket but hundred-dollar city bills, and those
infernal omnibus drivers make change with Valley Bank notes, which a
certain _person_ furnishes them,'--and Mundus fixed his eyes full on the
master of Pont-Noir.

'Mr. Roseton,' he continued, 'will you be so kind as to call at my
office after the Second Board, to-day? I have matters of importance to
discuss with you.' And so saying, the haughty banker strode from the
apartment.

Roseton's eyes mechanically followed him. In an instant he turned to
Bella. She had fainted upon the sofa. His first impulse was to apply his
vinaigrette; but 'no,' he said to himself, 'this will probably last
twenty minutes, and do her good. During that time I can smoke a cigar,
and arrange my plans. But stop,'--and here a cold sweat broke out upon
him, and a livid paleness overspread his features,--'what did Mundus say
about the notes? He refuses them! Strange, strange, indeed! Can it then
be that the Valley Bank has bu--?'[A]

[Footnote A: This is all of this interesting family tale that will
appear in this place. The remainder will be published in the _New York
Humdrum_; the week after next number of which was issued week before
last. Get up early and secure a copy.]

* * * * *

OUR DANGER AND ITS CAUSE.

It is certain that when this page comes under the eye of the reader, the
relations of the Unite