or borrowing
trouble." This conversation took place in the parlor one evening about
three weeks after the ball. Chapman read and reread the letter, and then
remained silent for several minutes. "Very strange, if true, my dear.
But there may be a personal difficulty at the bottom of it, and the
young man has taken this method of damaging Mr. Gusher's character."

Mr. Romer presented his compliments to Mrs. Chapman, and, seeing the
intimacy there was between her family and a person calling himself Philo
Gusher, begged to inform her that the name of that individual was Louis
Pinto, a notorious and well-known impostor, who had fled from Havana,
where he had been several times imprisoned, to escape punishment for his
crimes.

"Anything but that, my dear husband. I am sure my pride would never
survive it. And to happen just when society--yes, my dear, the very best
of your Bowling Green people were beginning to leave cards. Another ball
and we should have brought the best of them down."

"Another ball, my dear?" returned Chapman, with a sigh. "A ball a year
ought to satisfy any respectable family." Chapman was indeed becoming
alarmed at his wife's extravagance and weakness for society. Her
worldliness he feared would bring him to grief ere long. The last ball
had entailed the expense of new carpets; and the young gentlemen had
quite taken possession of the house, which they held until after
daylight, and then went home in a very unsteady condition of the limbs.
To make the matter worse, Bowles had been very much demoralized ever
since, and now demanded another horse or his discharge. He had no
complaint to make either about his pay or livery; but to have it thrown
up to him every day, and by all the coachmen in the neighborhood, that
he was in the service of a one horse family, was more than his proud
spirit could bear.

Chapman held that dancing was not the profession of a gentleman, and
that balls had done nothing for the great moral progress of the world.
In fine, his mind had been engaged for some time back on something more
serious; and he delighted his wife by telling her that he had been
working up a great scheme for freeing and vitalizing all mankind.

The door bell rang, and in another minute Mr. Gusher, all serene and
elegant, was ushered into the lady's presence. Never was young gentleman
more exquisitely upholstered.

The lady extended her hand and received him cordially, saying she had
been looking for hi