HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe New Era, 1884-02-08, Page 7aCaa-ai
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February 818840
creeviog Vp the Stairs,
tbe softy fallhog twUlgbt
Of &weary, weary day,
With a quiet Otos. entered
where the children wer.eat pier;
1 was brooding oar some trouble
Which bad met me unawarei
Wben a woe voice mune riegh4t
"Me is oreepiog up the etairs.• -
A11 it touched the tenderest heart strings
vvitit a breath and force divine, '
and such melodies awakened.
As 110 wording ca11. detna
ataaf turaeo to see our darling,
All forgetful of my cares,
When. I saw the atm creature
Slowly creeping up the lattligh
Step by step ehe bravely! clambered
On her Maoism:di, and knees,
Vino uP a constant chattering,
ore a magpie in the trees,
Tin at last sits roaclyea tloo toranoet,
when o'er all her ,t °rhea affaire
She deligoteci stood a victor,
Mani:weeping up the atairs.
Faiotinglyeart, behold an image
of pupae brief and struggling life,
Whose hest prizer, must Ise capturea
with a neble,:earuent strite;
Onward, upward reacning ever,
Bonding to the weight of cares,
)7E'Vug, looxingi still expecting,
We go creeping op me stairs. .
On their stop e may be no carpet,
By tiseir side may be no rail;
gandii and knees way often pain ue,
And the heart may almoet fail,
San above there is the glory,
which no sodumess impairs,
with it rest and soy for ever,
After creeping Up the stairs.
COUSIN FELIX.
BY ATITTIOU Or "Mss UOLLY," ABLIOIA," BYO.
•
CRAFTER 1.
Charity Warburton was seated over the
eohoolroom fire in Silverdale Hall, her feet
on the feeder, her elbows on her knees, her
two hands ruffling the brown looks, her..eyea
the while staring forlornly now at the
blazing lire, now at an:apen letter !ling in
her lap.
-Only six months ago, when for the last
time Miss Warburton. bade adieu.to Ekes -
lie House, and those who had been tichool-
friends for many a year,"she had felt that a
life full of unkuown joy was opening out
before her, that now the season. of trouble
was over with school—and lo, already life
was proving itself not to be entirely a bed
of roses. • •
,
That morniug, the 10th of. Decetmber,
day forever to be marked on the-oalendar
• of fate with a black mark, the first down.
fall to her hopes'lled been given, and now
it was twilight, and in thecleserted school.
room, for poilie was our, she was consider-
ing this trouble that had overtaken her.
She was a little bawildored still, could
even yet scarcely oomprehend the tale that
her father had related to her, •
"You are grown tip now, dear," he had
commenced by saying, „" and there are
others Who remember it, even if I had for-
gotten, for you 'aro eight years younger
than Felix, and here oomes the letter tell-
ing me he is twenty-five." •
And after this preamble, Mr, Warburton
had proceeded to tell his story to his wont
dering, startled daughter. • .,
"My brother—your 'unele Edward, my
dear—my elder brother, you undersand 2 .
So the property should have been his, but
it was not entailed, and my father made a
most unjust will cutting him off fromevery-
thing he should have had, bemhee he mar-
ried, as wee thought, beneath Mei.' Thus
everything came to me. He, Edward, Raid
it was better Bo. We were alwayp..great
so well
friends; my dear, loved each oth
that even this did not divide us.
"For of course, as I was blind that was
what he meant. No, do not , Charity.
Was not that &leer I feIty I could not
have worked for my living, and he
Stich a great, strong fellow he always was
—not in the least like me.
"So we parted good friends, and When
you were eight years old, and your mother
died, then we agreed that when Fait
should be twenty-five he should come t�
England, and if you should both be willing,
he should marry you, and heal thiel breach
that has lasted for so long; end having no
son, I was glad to think that thus the old
place would'return to its rightful owner:"
"But, father, enpposing when he comes;
I"—hesitating 44 should pot like him ?"' •
"But you must not think that possible."
And then with a quiok turn of his head,
"You care for no one else?"
"No, no."
"That is all right. Well, if he islike
hie father, at I hear heti, he will be a good
husband for you. And," pulsing toe hand
over her brown head caressingly, "When I
go, I shall like to know I have left my
motherless daughter with some ohe to take
care of her. You can read "'your uncle's
letter," putting an envelope `with an Ameri-
can postmark into her hind. Cousin
Sarah read it to me this morning."
Cousin Sarah Was the elderly lady who
looked after widowed Mr. Warborton'a
house for him. Caarity spread the letter
out on her lap and read every word it con-
tained carefully. Not much _Mite made
out of it. •
A pleasant, identity lottery suth se any
man might write to Ins brother.Full of
family detaile, which all fell unmeaningly
on Charity's eare, only" at the end came
theone little sentence which riveted her
attention. "1 auppose Charity- ter grown
maanotala, Fait* twenty-afth lyirthdaya
MO.3113Iffilta3a:D7,a50'"O'Iri
ghedt -11 a.0' IWO willing, and
WlifietridreiMPOrtata, Ler young men are
pot always tractable in matrimonial mat-
ters—who should know this better than I
—he might go over to England and pay
you a visit."
• And this was the sentence on Which
Miss Warburtan'a eyes' were still fixed, an
-she sat that same evening in the eropty
schoolroom. But she was nob fated to
eit there alone long. Enter to her the
youog sister to whom .she was already
beginning to envyr as safe at least from one
evil, that of having a.husbaud forced upon
her, and it was not very long b fore that
same sister was made awarcrd the dark
shadow that had fallen ae a Charity's
happy life. •
"112 is too cruel," she •ed in the fashion
.of impetuous youth, tY whom the remov-
ing of mountains se me naught. .4' It is
impossibleyou sy, bo sosuaritioed. Why,
dear Charity, ou, who can do any-
thing with fa)her, moisttell him it is
absurd. Wilt, darling,',' throwing a tender
arm about4ter, "you bays may to say you
will not permit it, and father would agree."
" If/you. had heard him,' Pollie, yOu
would have said yes juat as I did. He told
hui he had planned stud hoped it ever abase,
mother died, and that he would be, oh so
terribly disappointed, if it did not thou to
paean
Charity was 'walking up and—down-the
thorn now with hands bleeped behind her'
head, 'in a pretty falnoi, she had; but
there was no thought of, pretty Moveraente
at pretent. Everytbing was 100 terribly
real with that fatal letter lying On the
hearthrug, where it had fallen when she
rose, to admit of any light thoughts,
"011, Pollie dear, I •wish I were beak at
oohed 1 I wish I Were an Old, ma woman!"
with foolish inoiniebteney, fee ,X bed to
give in. 1 could,not really oppose the dear
oldfitther; end at bet," coloring 0. little, "I
had With ray 'Own. band 140eit down and
write!, begging him to coma',
4' Oh, poor Olienty 1" cleat. itWeatalielt
Pollie, what did you etty 2" • •
44 AB little as poseilde."
' "What did you call him?"
"There vrati net Pinola choice," remarked
• fjjearity grimly,"But I Wan nob going to
Jump into the lioo'saftwe quite as if 1 liked
i„b, so I laid, 4 Dear Mr, WarbUrton'"•-"
"Oh, I am so glad!" interrupted Pollie
breethleeely. “I was BO afraid you might
have paid 4 Dear Felix.'"
"Nokindeed," cried Charity, pattebig ip.
her peeing up e,ied down and drawing her
Water towards her ; and they stood thus
together at the window, a pretty picture
enough, and fog a moment her sore young
heart felt at rest, for theme aietera were all
in all to each other.
"Well, go on. What did you say next?"
44.,Tust what. father told 131e. That we
should be gle,d'te 800 him, if be. W0414 00Me.
and spend a fortnight with us, and that
hoped he would arrange it,'
." Nothing elm 2"
Charity reddened a little. "just one
little thing .more, 1 did not think it was
Wrong, though I did not tell father. I said
it wee father. Who helped' be would. come.
as Pollie would have interrupted her,
'you will understand why I said it, when I
• telt yen somethiug else, for there is some-
thing worm to tell you even than thaawhioli
, you have heard."
. • What 2" inquired Pollie anXiously, and
• oreepieg yet nearertoher eister as she
spoke, and clasping her arms yet more
tightly about her. '( Oh, Charity, you are
crying 1 I felt ateer fall. Chanty, dear,
don't ory 1 • •
Only those two tears fell, and then Mimi
Warburton lifted her • hande and brushed
them away. "No, I will not ory," she
• timid, raising her head proudly, 4' ',have done
nothing -to be ashamed of.. But, Rollie, he
does not want it either, Uncle Edward
says in hie letter : Felix will," Italie, go,'
but ab, •Pollie, lb was evident Ithin the
leffer that he was not anxious himself to
come—onlykis father has persuaded him,
Just aammelais pertinaded m.o.!, • '
•"Never mind, Charitr'clarling ; don't
mind anything he bas said, don't.think of
him again. Perhaps be won'tcome—
whatever the reason, it would be a great
comfort; :perhaps. he • will marry some one
else, or perhaps—all Orb of thinge may.
happen between this and ' then. Why; a
Month, anything may happen in anthathl"
So with Many endearments Willie led
her Water bade to the fireplace, and Wog
ao, again caught eight Of Mr:. Warburton's
letter., •
• • .
She teemed.' down to pick* it up, but
Oliazity With aliiiek.'movement prevented
her. 4' Don't touch it-," she eried, u it is
1,tisr And with Much show of disdain,
elte lifted the offending sheet of paper with
the tongs, and dropped it into thehottest
part of the fire, and 'there 'the oistere
watehed it. with something tesemblingjoy„
till it had entirely. ceased to be. • '
But even then. its miserable:6urport did
not die with it; an& sometimes Charity's
impetuous young heart rebelled so angrily
• against this invisible chain that bound ,her,
•that not even Pollie's comforting voice:
could instil completion.; and pollee
tainly invented every hind of comfort that'
could be levented, from a Wilt, •Iiiisidi•
." Perhane be would not lite. her when he
se,W. her"—not very probable thief, Polite
feared, looking at Unpretty face and soft
brown"hair,up to the cold. maxim which
seems to be alike ,the opinion eif extreme
youth and calm old That 'after all,
it does not make much difference :Whom
you marrY"—" As • long as he , to
you," Pollie.added ; 4•4'.ancl 11'' he
isn't, ..Charit..darlizigr of. course. fattier
would let .you come baell'here, and then,
as you Would' not be 'a' wide*, there would
ba:n.o fear of.your marrying again, and
We might live .happily"thgether ever alter -
wards" •." • ,. . • • .
• But even this aentereplation of a blissful,
but improbable: inters, failed to 'seethe
.Charityrand bring ' her into athord:With
what wee -coming.'
And meanwhile, day after day was slip-$
pug . away, January was well in hand
new, and Charity; counting the days aflx
thusly; Unwillingly4. found that only . one
week more remained to her happy, care,
less Orlin:met ' • •
Dear, sweet—Charity,-she deserted,,if
oNee any one did, a reward, if not here,
then by...and-by. . , . .
After that • first despair and .struggling.
'spinet the future; she did indeed 'strive
to put her Own wilily.' ',Her blind father
could not gnat; that the petted daughter,
who •did his bidding so cheerfully, and
went about the .hoinie always with a oft
Weird for every one; found the doing of his
will lio hard. • • • • ; •
. We hive hire: too well tudisapPoint him,
r dine," ehe said once, 44 Beellyelter all; he
has not asked ea very 'Much has he 2" •
And Pollie tried to say no.
- "That we may. love each other.," was
the Cherityas own heart new,
for AV—he 'should agree—end'the tears.
would arise at the thoughts of it—as she
had *sell, to please his father, and. them
_afterwards elka w.ere.tadiscover that though,
she were heart -whole, and might therefoie_
learn' to love him;• yet that be had wine
. fair ideal that she caidd never hope to
;Make him forge'tilhen it would be, ab! so
sad—and once more the tears would flow,
and in •the „dark 'Charity would oreep to.
Pollieis roam, and wake her up by dint of
Many kissee, to be soothed by means, of the
child'ii ever -ready sympathy.,_ And eo at .
length a -snorting dawned:: ,WhEof Charity
Warburton knew that if .411 went Well,. or
ill rather,before the Min set she • should
• have lookecl'. upon the face of her futura
husband. For, in answer to that little.
grudgingly written note bad lionhaothet
letter from Uncle Edward, aiig that
would leave. by a certain steamer
which would' bring "bird to Liaerpool on
the, 271h of aanuexy ; and Silverdale was
only 'about a theuple Of hours! rail from Liv-
erpool. • ' . •
• The daylight hat died away, the candles
are lit, endin a large bedroem the aliases
Watburton ,are considering a very impor-
tant question, namely, What Charity, shall
wear on this eventful night.es, in epite
of a certain pathetic look 10 Mimi Warbili,
ton's eyee; which betrays that life is nob all,
smiles and, sunshine, and deeplie the feet
that the expected stranger lit this long..
talked -of, much:dreaded cousin; yet. atilt
he is tt. Man. and ' Charity is a youtig ahd.
pretty woman, to that important flatter Of
the toilettenannot be quite set alide4.
"Say, Pollie," turning mina from con-
templating • the Cheerful blazing fire, and
looking to where Polhe sat. crouched up in
the depths 'of a great armchair -4A say,
ehall I try to look. ray very beat:Lot not 2"
'11 wee, a -difficult question. Pollie
.drew lines Derma her onsooth'browe in her
attempts to consider what Was tamest. "
ilhould not," atterigth ebe tiaid einphatioally,
"1 -should Make motif as hideentaite poe-
Bible, and then perhaps he will take a great
dielike to you, and will tell father that not
for all the Mewl to ogland would ho
marry you."
Charity shook her head Badlv.
' "Ah 1 Charity," oriea Palm startieg
Upright in her eagerneie,' I never thought
to an awestruck whisper -44 perhaps he
tne,y not like you, and yet Marry you—be.
eituse of the money I" ..
Alas, Charity's pretty .head, which cop -
blued /est two yeare more of worldly
wisdom than hersister's, haticontemplated
that tiontingencyoften and often. But she
did not echo her sister's Word; butput them
gently by with that quiet determination to
think no evil whiqh had helped to comfort
her these past Weehe.
"No, Pollie I do riot think that. You
-know he iaibson of fatherlt brother, o r
• do riot thitik that," with a perceptible
pe.Use in the low voice, 44 he would marry
'mauat for the money." No, she thought,
not even to Pottle, wouldebe put that fate-
ful possibility in words.
So she turned away from the fire, and.
acting on Pollie'e advice, attired herself in
a gown of soft, ailyery gash with a little
bunch of snowdrops and fern leaVes as e
breast knot, and then for a few brief
moments knelt down on the hearthrug at'
Pollie'i3 feet, to put off the necessity 01 an
• immediate docent.
But not many mornents were allowed
them. All too soon there came a tap at
the door, and Miss Warburton's, maid had
returnerite. tell them that the geotlemen
were already dressed, and in the drawing.
room, and that Mr. Wexhurton was asking
for his daughter.
"I will irthe
And edoor had °lend, Charity
rose to her feet,still holding Pollie' a hand
in hers.
•"I wish you were going to dine down-
stairs, Polite 'darling, but four is a better
number, so father ; but you will be
in the drawing-room„after diluter, won't
you?" •
I* year
Charity walked to the door, and then
coming hurriedly bade, and kissing tbe obit('
again; "Polite," she staid quickly, eagerly,
will you prom*, me not to—dislike him?
Even, if you pon't quite like .him at first,
will you try 'to wait a little before you quite
define, beeause"-4with what was meant to
be a smile, though the mouth did causer a
little -44 he may be very nice." And, almost
before Polile had time to Bay "1 proMise,"
alb was left alone.
- Charity fled down-Btairs as quickly as
might be, but in the great, dusky hall she
paused to steady, if possible, her beating
pulse, at least to put on some outward
filuiw of calumets&
• But after that one second's hesitation
she touted the handle of the, door, and
entered the drawing-rooau
Yes, there' they all were'. Cousin Sarah,
old an stern, who had outlived husband,
ohildren, love, and, all the beauties of life,
and who. seemed to live apart from.abose
with whom hot, lot was oast, in a world of
her own. Her dear blind father, for whom
everything seemed possible, nay, easy, for
had not every step of her seventeen years
of life been smoothed by his loving hands.
And on the hearthrug a tall, dark -visaged
stranger, to whom she dared not lift her
13res. •
•
•
•
' "Ig. thEttyou, Qharity?" questioned Para
Warburton, as tho olosing.of the door pro--
elaimed • her entrance.: And- as she
answered "Yes," "Oe here, Charity,"
he said, -bolding out a vielooming hind.,
" Here is a ead diseppOintment..This,
gentleman brings lettere from. my blither
tosay that helix hag been obliged to pest.
vase his visit for another month, so that.
-we ciannot have the•pleaeure of making his
acquaintance yet' awhile." •
• .
• For,one second Charity's heart seemed
to stop , beating, the surprise, the relief
Were so great; for one second; notWith.
standing the .atrange:•eyee that she knew
were bent upon her, she could not resist
letting heriips curve into a glad, happy
smile. It was mush uneFpeeted-xelief
Never in her Wildest, most sanguine mo•
inehts had ehe thought orthis; Why, a
mthoonuent aelo
d. ore, of •zzoape..might. open in a
tb
, ..Withe. great Bigh which told Of.thelead
lifted from nel, heart, elie drew °loser yet
• 16 her father and took his hand in hers.,
. She even" lifted ;her' face, with a smile of
waleitrae, to the beaker of these joytiota
• tidings. • .
: "This gent eman--- . •
: "Mr. Weston," the stranger. prompted.
- "Xs an old -friend of your unole's sol
have asked him . to !day with us for the
present," said Mr; Warburton courteously:
We shall be glad to learn all about my
brother's. bendy; from one Who has seen
them eo lately." . • ' ' '
Ib is very good of yoia'sii," Mr. Weston.
murmured. • • . :••
"1 am glad to Make your acquaintance,
and perhaps through, you I shall learn to
know my unkomain.. nephew' before he
arrives; . You . should' have come down
earlier, Charity, and you should have Been'
your unalo's letter - whioh • Cousin Sarah.
and I have been reading,whilst Mr. Weeton
has been dressing, and you would have
heard a great deal • that wohld have inter-
ested you. But here it dinner; you: shall
have the letters afterwatde." . •
During the short time • that they were
ocoopied in 'crossing the hall to the dining -
room, Charity was perfeetly silent. "Not
even the knowledge that it was (estranger
on whose arm' the was resting, and that
politeness, if .nothing, else, required a ieW
words It= -11-er,.00tild divert her thianghtt
from the, merciful wimple that the chapter
of accidents had this day afforded her. '
"A month; it month," her heart kept
singinga little hippy tune which smiled
about the corners of her mouth, and canted
to vanish away, for the time' being, the
pathetic ehadow which had Of late dark-
ened the yOung eyes. • " • '
• But once. eeated at tahle, ehe looked up,
toisee what manner of :man this opposite
neighbor might be. ' '.• .
Not handsome,' elle decided; but very
:nearlyee. A pair of very 'dark eyes. and a
gmia forehead, andthhoatai " black. inous.
ot
tache, were ' e pr Othal itenta,, that elle
toRk in in %that ha ty glande ; hasty he
-
cause she caught those 89,Me eyes fired
upon her, evidently with Et similar deaths
of iniiisatigation, which made her turn her
heed euddehly away, and then begin some
hasty questions at to the voyage, and other
matters relevant to his arrival in England.
"He is very quiet, Pollie, dreadfully quiet,
but perlittpe lie won't stay verylong," were
the conclusive words, as, backin the draw-
ing -Mom, Charity poured the .whole mar-
vellous tale itito Ponies . wondering euro.
." But he seems nice, and whatever eubjeot
father started, he talked quite cleverly
ahout, moth .et.alently father was P1004ed
with him. And," with at 'sigh, 'Pollie,
that it not alwaya the Eiase,:for fatherail so
Much !Hoverer than any one else, that I know
often he would much rather be alone. But
to.night he was qiute happy. Olio we all
were I Do you know, Polite; 1 don't think
I ever was so happy in all litY life before.".
"Not before you had ever' heard' of
Causin Felix?" asked Pollie incredulously.
" No, certainly not, for then Ilea never
known what it was to be unhappy.'°
CHAPTEE 11.
• After that eveiititil 427th of January, at
Silverdale Hall at least, all went merry as
a marriage bell. Chezity and Pohle had
road together the lettere Mr. Weston had
brought letters explanatory and introdtto.
of it before. Perhaps," lowenog her thice tOry. All that Edward Warbiirtnri eould
say be had hut on paper for the benefit of
thie young man.
"I have !MOWS WM all his life," be
wrote,44 therefore, Leonard, as ray eon has
been obliged thus unfortunately to post.
none his visit at the lad . moment, and, as
Edward Weston, who was to have gone
with him fax the sake of visiting the old
country, will hot' defer his journey, I send
him to you, lioping ,you -will let your usual
kindheartedness prompt you to ask himt to
stay a short time with you. BO that iu hoe,
pitable old Silverdale Hall he may have
the ohemoe of making acquaintance with
England and Englieh weals in as fortunate
a manner as pcossible."
So the invitation was given and aocetited
vaenrdd:e.oliearte broken at the idea of this
stranger enjoying the hospitality of SO.
The day% Slipped by; Polite grew bright
End cheerful, the pathetic, lookdisappeared
from Charityli brown eyee, only returning
now and agate when Vigioun of that slowly
approaching future darkened for a moment
the sunshine of the present. And as the
day e peeped, Mr. Weston grew less silent
and reserved, and, Will it;be ettid, more and
more appreciated by. those amongst whom
he had been so strangely thrown, '
Pollie was the firet friend, but to be
approved by one sister was tilt; first and
•aurest step to -being approved by tbe other.
He Mid do everything. All the time
the frost lasted, was there ever Buell
skater, or cote sq good-natured abouttrying
th inetruot a somewhat timid:pupil' in the
mysteries of that art? •
.. Even' Charity, who was graceful and
light on her skates, waspot above taking a
lesson from this master; and BB to Polite,
, she grew quite bold whilst clinging to the.
.tall, strong form, and listening to the voice
which was always so filled"with encourage-
ment for her puny endeavors. And after
the frost had disappeared, an wet, cold
days Mak its place, Mr. Weston was not
shove a game of battledook and shuttlecock
in the long, empty gallery, where were the
piotored representations of the Warburton
,Unale Edward. amongst others., to
reroina ObaritY, if suchreminder were
needed, at the laughed and played vvitlaher
sister and Mr. Weston, of the future•that
was awaiting her,
• -Perhaps it did: for at the eta of the
game, ae she' stood flushed with the exile-
oise, herbrown head alightly ruffled, her'
pretty eyes grew soddenly bad and wist-
ful, and turning to Pollie, With a low "You
play now," ehetorned away. . •
• • •
"Are you going to give in already ?'Mr.
Weistoe eelted, .t.Why, as 1 beet you yee-
teratty, I thought you would have been.
eo sure tnaniat your revenge to -day. Audit
is'raining fast,' as the girl shook her heacla
coming close to her as she spoke, "80
Ilyere is nothing else you oan do except sit
over the fire with a book,•end I am sore
this is mineh wiser I" •
" No, •I do not ,think it OM said very
lova. 'alb seemed 10 me," with a' little
smile, "that Uncle Edward," pointing to
the pietore 0" frovined" and shook-his•head
at me, -as dal) remind ine I weargrowriup ;
so Earn going. away to do some sewing,
'and write sOrne lettere that I ought to have
done • this morning, instead of dawdling
away so many hours overbilliards, as we
.
And 01arity with a determined look on
her pretty, soft fame, departed -With a new,
but scarcely, as yet, defined trouble at her
• But it wan. not to,: rernain undefined for
inuoli longer; ' • " ,
.. For a quarter of an hour she worked
diligently, then PoliiiPopened 'the 'school,
room door. •
• , .
"Already, • Polite! Why, the game was
not a very. long ode."
"'Of course he did agtaare
—a' er.ymft--- ttm—iV'WeMlits throwing her.
self on the ground at her sister's feet and
resting :a amall, brown head against" her
.knee. .
. • .
" 40liexity," after avenue, "do you some-
times wish—sometimes think bow niowit
would have peen if this had been. COUBill
• Felix ?" . '•. •
• No answer, but 0harity was malonger
sewing. " The Work had fallen into her
lap, arid two idle white hands Were clasped
above it. ' • . • •
'1 think ho is nice," went on the child
again after amommat's pause, "and though
he -does not • say 'Muth," . lowering her
voice, and speaking emphatically, • "1
• dor* beliete that he thinka COUBill Felix
is I 'No," as Charity Would have inter-
rupted, ant not breaking my promise,
for I may say what 1 like until .1"see hint.
• But did you Maim at 'luncheon, when -I
;asked him why Cousin Folik had not been
able to come, how he grew red, and looked
.so uncomfortable, and it was only after
quite a long Pause he said that he had bre?
.ken his arm. • Charity," kneeling up • now
• and clasping her arab round 'her. sititer's
„waist,. Charity, ;do • you know.I don't
. believe he did break his arm. 1 believe that
• Mr. Weston knows it also, and is ashamed
to repeat it ;" and with greater ashe-
n:mice: " I think that at Oblast moment he
'oduld not make np. his mind to it, and: at
any prioe bought another moth's free-
dom?" And Charity's sad heart adixtitted
that it was toe true.
13ht not•her words.
-*E-.110,-Pollie, dearest, youantust.not sag:
Such things, You are breaking your pro-
mise, for we must believe in him try to
believe to him'," she added under her breath,'
"until we See.hiM 1" •
' a See Whom?" queitiotiOd a voice from
the doorway. "-I' have been everywhere
else," continued:Mr, Weston, advancing to
, the Udall corner of . the room; "1 have
offered my services to Mr.. WarburtanOralv io'
declined themwith thanks • to Coteau
Sarah,' who deolnied them without, as she
was fast 'asleep, ea now I have found iny
way up here: Surely," drawing an arill-
• chsir to the -opposite corner of the fire,
"aant will not send me away. If yon do,
as I" am a sociable 'being, and scion tire of
my own oonipahy, I shall have to retire to•
the kitchen. Now," as o reply came, "" tell
the, who is it you ate going to believe in—
'till you see him 2" •
"Cousin Felix," replied 'Polite promptly.
• "Does •that enigmatical sentence mean
you do not believe thatthere is stiolaa Orr.
son, Miss Warburton?" •
He addressed himself 80 pointedly to her,
that.Charity.wae bonnet to answer."
"Seeing is believing," she replied, " So
they say. But I, for ene,' do not feel much
doubt of , the existence of this partioular
persona' b.fid she eighed.
"That sigh ebunds rather as it you hoped
there on! ght be a doubt on the subject."
Charity colored at his Words, and 'took up
her work Oi300 Wore. • .
"What is he like I" questioned. Pollie,
tilling.up_another awkward pauee.
" Like I":" repeated Mr. Weston musingly.
"rsiko2h, it father, only not half Ruch a good
1enotv
4!Are you not fond of him?" ?011ie was
sitting up bow 10 her eagcfrnese, and gazing
breathlessly at Wir. Wooten. But Charity,
on whom his eyes were fixed, had drooped
her lids, fold was hard itt,work.
"Fond of hien," he said evasively, and he
laughed slightly ait he spoke, " That le a
very etrong Word, Mies Pollie. I don't die -
like him. Sometimes I've felt abode;
what you cell,' hind of him, hut On the
whole, I think I prefer his father."
"1 doal think," said Clherityiriiiieg to
her feet, and raising her dbill breein eYee to
the dark Once watching her, with mingled,
admiration and ennuis°, "that it bright or
kind to criticise, and eaY'unkind things
about people who are not here to defend
themselvee,"
Although her lip were quivering, she
OPeke quito fltnilYt end no one certainly
not Mr. Weston, guessed what one,
little
speech cost her, but then he did not knew
the eorrowful secret that was beginning to
Id t her feel its presence. So she (nosed'
• the roorolatall, Blight figure, through the
increasing twilight, and disappeared, leo-
lug two muoh-astoniebecl people behind,
looking at one another.
What bit ?" questioned Mr. Weida; in
muoh perturbation. ." What did I say?.!
0400, you must never, never say anything
against Cowin Felix, Even if you hate
him, you must never Otty ao to Charity.
She oanoot bear to hear anything agalost
hint. She," with a sob, "Is trying so hard
to learn to like him i"
"Ent whY cried the man, leaning for-
.
ward m his earneatne011. •
"Why 1" repeated Polite, raising great
tragio eyes to his, "why, because ahe has
got to marry him, of course l"
A long whistle, indicative of thegrettest
au r prise, passed Mr. Weston's lips, and then,
"Poor Oguein Felix!" he isajd half under
bis breath, ;sauntering anross to the window
as he spoke, and gazing out into the fast
gathering twilight.
Preeeotly, however, he turned away
from his oontemplatiou of tbe outside
World back to • the fireside luiel the girl
matted there,
"Telt mo about 11." he said abruptly,
and Pallid, nothing loth, complied.
I (To be continued-)
•
A. U./MINIS AVANT COVICIRJEC.
A Deg- 'Which Anne Abend' at a Car
• Nightly for 45 Miles.
The first Uniop line night oar on Frank.
lin street from the Richmond depot has for
a long time met at Spring Garden street a
myetarioua avant courier—a long-legged
white mongrel deg, which has aroused
inteneo curiosity on the part of the oar
driver, sityli the Philadelphia, Itepora.
"alma er dog," said the latter to a belated
reporter, 4' ip a queer flab. Why, he makes
a 45 -mile run every night ahead of us, as if
be was just taking a conatitutional betore
early breakfast. He must have a, big appa-
tite every (morning. ae's the terror of ovary
pat on the routea,
itaseeros that every night this singular
°spine 'appears ahead of the oar ap it
reaches Spring Garden and Franklin.
streets. No master what. the weatheris,
the long-legged courier is there, and never
loses sight of the oar, although always .a
few yards in advance,- until the morning
dawn begins to brighten in the east and the
• oar is on its final round. For three trips
the mysterious canine runs' in advance
and Ets eacIrtripais 14 mike, counting The
constant 'detours after the offending felines,
he thus completes a chase of not less than
45•mi1es. ' The dog is as regular as the oar,
and always Maintains a fair distance
between himself and the horses. • If the
oar is driven" fast, he increases his epeed„
and when there is .any let-up in the oar's
progress the doglegs also. .
As the driver remarked, he is a terror to
the oats along the route, and many a mid-
night concert bas been broken up' by the
distant jingle'of thticar bells, the chorusing
Themasee, warned by many previous ex.
perienoes shat dangerruns before the
tinkling 'sound, (lit:Verse in haste. All
efforts td catch tip .with this strange dog
havefailed. He keeps his distance, arid
disappears as mystemotbly as he Gonne,
just as the day brooks and the oar nears
Spring Garden strait on its home trip. ;
•
'Ladies' Easbion Notes:
,
Jet belts and baits of jetmingled wath sit -
ver and steel heads are in favor..
• White operaoloake are frequentlyalleirted
with rich colored embroidery. ,
• Peacock- game -with metallio blue is
fashionahle French combination.
A new machine has been invented in Pariis
forameuntiog hilaPleated skirts. ' • •'
Blaoh tulle dotted with chenille 18 eiquiii-
ite over dresses of white Battu.:
Goldattfd-eilver gat*, 'spangled' net, aud
embroidered tulle are in demand, but lace
of good quality holds its ground ahoy:ethers
' • It is said thaf gray tatio Old gray velvet
withateel will be as fashionable, or Mom so
in the spring as. it has been during the
• Enete ofadnoli and wood000k feathers
three or seven in .the bunch,, make pretty
trimmings for the simple. felt walking.hats
of 'yOung ladies. ••
• Ono Of Worth's new dresses•seems really
to express some of his old artititi6 taste. It
is of pale tulle, trimmed With delicate
sprays of mimosa. .
Fashionable overskirts are now out with
some squareness, and often have, a plain
baok breadth, gathered slightly., and formed.
Otto one pouf.
• •
•
• Paging the ()Weft sin His Meet
• • The Hainilton (boa) Fire Department;
Under the training and supervision ,of Chief
A. W. Attohisomyenot excelled in en:Amity
by that of any Other city in the Dominion.
Chief Aitohisou, theway, met with a
eery deVere aedidetit in driving. to- fire
not • long. ago. His head; ahoulders and
back were itijured te a • terrible.
.manner. Being asked how he -Ia.
ocnintedfor' his rapid recovery, he replied:
"Simply enough ; St. Jacobs 011 QSU pot
any man on his feet, if there is 'any life in
him at all. I used that wonderful. mai.
' oioe Irony thestart„ aria the result is. that I
am toalay in prime _health and conditioo.
alt:gitoobe 0 the panaceathat comets to
the relief of he Fireinati foz. rheumatisea
burns, ete, served Poo in my trotible and
cured ine quickly, completely and perman-
ently. It' is"thet standard medicine herein
the Fire Departneent,"
The Pill Man. •
• '•
The London correspondent of the Man-
chester Guardian remarks that the life of
'Mr. Holloway would furnish curious if not
interetting material for a biography. 'When
he *at considering the line of his henefao-
• tiorie he Was prodd of tieing au csioasional
guest itt Mrantadstone's breakfast table,
and ahaciegh MrEi. Gladttone he became
interested irt the welfare of convalescent
homes. When talking of his vast affairs
he said he believed lie had advertteed in
every reseeotable newepaper in exidtence.
'Of late years his businees becitune a vast
banking concern,- to whioh the sellieg of
patent medicine was allied, and he was
utiderstred to say some few yeare ego that
his profita oaa dealer in.inoney approached
the onotblous sum of te100,000 a year. •'.
GENTLIOVEN,—"YOUr Mop Bitters have been of
great value to me. Iwaa laid up With typhoid
fever for over two months, and could get no.
relief Until 'I tried •iitir Hop Bitters. Mo those
saffering With debility or any one in feeble
health, I cordiallY recbminerid theta.
STOETZEL, 683 Pultort treet, Chloago,111
An elegant out -door garment is the long
black Velvet paletot trimmed With bear,
skin,
totowriliciwo ICE if".1140,11014
linteressing Potato et ow taxersertitatery
siritettire—"Eao Whotoore. ,
The fee Roues which b. being Wittier
the winter oarnival at Ploptreal •111.a perfect_
w.orkof ext. The palace will he unoovexed
and Of 'tt. Composite design of 'arohiteeture,
and, Will oontatH HUMer01.1010Werft. Noth-
ing, Is in itu „construction but toe. It will
Oetoilet, of about. 1();004/ blooke of ice and
Wil1 oat' about.§3,209. The faoado will be.
alyoutal60:.-festa And the greateet deptlr•60."
fe.et. The. Walla wilt be opetetittted end of'
cliffereot elevation; and three thick par.
titiona of the: will triseot the building.
Poors will be out. in thetiewelle, tie thet.
the pliblio can roam, abOut the building ab
will,
Tile 'Main tower, whichwill beflubbed
in t*1, few tleas, wilibe. a :marvel of frozen
architeature,•. and • will be 70 feet high. 11
wilt be in three etories, 040 QUO diffeyeSt.
in elute° from the -other; Xi -moron
windows will be left at intervals in t
walla of the structure, which wili he filled
in with thin the, On the gala night ofthe
carnival the building will be filled witth,
aolonteenawho will defend theta fort. front
about 1,60(1 "entav-ehoers, who will:dap:k.
them,' armed with fireworks, The cross,'
fire of Boman !needles and rockets, together
with • the: illumination of the ide palace:by
twenty -live electric lighte by tlae Palgaagts
wilt be a magnificent display. Little elae
18 being epoken of in Montreal at present.
than the approaabing winter caroival.
•.
The Abiding Snow.
• Heaven is unusually kind this winter to
men aaho own sleighs. Whether the days
are cold or warm, dry or. wet, sunny or
gloomy, the entity remains. It increases
alverybody's store of enjoyment, for thee°
who cannot bua or bire sleiglastsannot help
• imagining themselves sleighing, and are the
pleasures of the imagination to be despised?
No one has ever explained why tlso effect of
a sleigh ride is peculiarly exhilarating, for
no one is in a fit condition to do so except
when flying over the snow, and then time
• is too precious and delightful to waste on
mush prosy work a8 explanation. .Sleighing,
like Wye, puts all ranke od the: same level
of enjoyment; the man .who spends 11500.
• on outter-axid-robee seems just as happy aa
the ootintry yooth who sits in a home made
44 jumper,' .but not a 121,1 happier: As for
, the oex that likes sleiglling better thao tirt-
ing, when was" it aver known to death:To-fit
ride because the sleigh was not new and
handsome? Never 1 .
Take care to be an econOmist 111 pros.
&ray ; there isno fear of your being one
in adversity.—Zimmermatz. • .
ramalmwia."mmoolmoirmo•rINFI•II.
COBS
E"• THEGREAT-
RI1AN REM
Sclatic4,•.
• Lumbago, Backache, Headache, .Toothache,
Sere Throat,SsrellIngs,Strralnt.Bralstot.
•' Horns. Scalds, Frost Mies, .
*ow ALL OMER BODILY PAM APIS AWES. •
Bold by Druggists Rad Dealers everywhere. Flay Cents, boak.
Dlreetlons la 11 Languages.
• TUE CHARLES A, VOGELER 00.
giameison to A. VOGEL= & 094 Baltimore, Rd., IL B. A.
A NEW DISCOVERY.
' fert'or several years. we havwfurnished the,
Dairymen of America with an excellent arti-
ficial color forbuttor; so meritorious that it met
• with groat success everywhere receiving tho
highest and only 'prizes at both International
Dairy Fab% • • '
egricut by patient aid sciontitio chemical it.
search we have imprOvedin several points, and.
nowoffeethis new color as the best to the tort%
It MI Met Color the Buttermilk. it
Will Not Turn Rancid. : It Is the
. strongest: Grighteet and •
• Cheapest Color made,
1244 -Mid, while prepared in oil, lase compound.
ed that it is•impessible f I t tohecorne rancid.
arsEwARE of all finitations, and ot all
other oil colors for they aro liablo to become
rancid and spoil the 'butter. r
ParIE you cannot get the "Improv'ed” "Write no
;to know where and how tO get it without extra
expense.. • (46)
WELLS, ItIMA111181Di CO„ Barnacles', Vt.
IS A SURE CURE
for nit diseases of the Kidneys and
LIVER
this most iniportint
vi• tomiclity anck
idllyW—retion:of
bo nle infree
It has qua:dile yet:bone
organ, enabling it to
Inaction, stimulating,the
1110 01110, and by keeping
condition, effecting its re • charge-
. Malaria. 211otri0r,11V0tecngfc,anuk
are biliond, dyspeptic, or constipated, Kidney..
Wort will slimly roliove and quickly ouzo.
' • In tho Spring to claims° tho6ysto1ii, coon.
Ono ohould. take a thorough cour,so.,of,.t
11, SOL'El SY DRUOVSTS. Pr:ce 7 .
(War
DOWNS, ELSta
•••
MILi1
0 fS.
• VallItABLE SAMARA;
E 1 . 0
•
las stood the test for IPIFTY•THSEE • Z
• YEARS, arid has proycil itself the best
remedy known for the cure of
Consumptions, Coughs,
Coids,VVhoopind Cough'
artd all 1‘.Ung Diseasesia
young °cold. S( ILD EVILRYWIttRh'.
'1J1'100 250: Ana 1. 00 per Bottle..
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ThiliOVIANT MUNI
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brief and familiar styls the municipal laws
OntatIO With forms. 210 pages; bound in cloth
price on dollar, Address ••
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PLACE to so0000 VItttoitaftif
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•mailships. at- thit SPENCER
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1101111, fitiolod, 00. IlOnj80, do. ilotwo it, Conn.
A