HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe New Era, 1884-06-13, Page 8Tune 13 1.834,
to feel irony for the three drowned Mill,
but eomebow I don'i. liVith such e story
conneoted with him, /our friend ought to
"1 Cason be /10'nelted.”
When t was a little lass, just eixteed,
Bonnie wax L hut proud as a queen;
Proud and (Raney, and bard to pieta°
And wonderfu' loud q' taking my ease.
Polka dans mind then-lor,Lwas young- •
The " canna be lashed ' 'that was aye on my
tongue.
" 1 couldna be lashed " wi my books at the
school,
And now I am old. I o,m only a fool ;
I oonldna be lashed " wi' the datry and bowie,
And now I'm as poor as ony kirk mouse ;
And wheu mither spak o' my needle and, thread,
01 couldna be lashed " was aye what I said.
But spite oray laziness, spite o' my pride,'
Young Elliott, the pride o' tJae country -side,
Cam eeking my love; and oft for his Bake
A wheen o' fair promises I wotald make;
But when the time came the gude purose wae
flashed _
We, niettne mild sang, " I.canno. be lashed."
"I couldna be lashed," if be wanted to walk;
"1 couldna be lashed," if he wanted to talk;
I thought it was fine sae indifferent to be --
Folks mustna be sure o' the getting o' me ;
And thus a' his hopes and his pleasures were
dashed
With tho,a wearisome word, " I canna be
lashed."
But I said Mein too often, Ono hot Bummer
day,
When the folks were a' busy. in "saving -the
My lever said, " Lassie, let's help them awhile,"
" Leanne. be lashed," I said, wr:alnuile.
"0 lassie. dear Jamie, thae words gle me pain r
AndI looked in his face and said the again:.
Then he put on his hat, took the over-hitl
track,
And from that day -to this be has never come
back.
I've had, lashes " enou since thee happy do,ys
Wi' lroffiefi and crosses and wearifu' ways;
I might hos been weel and happily wed
M I'd keepit a kind, ceevil tongue in my head ;
But" I couldna be lashed wi' otherS, you see,
And fortune and -friends ceased " " wl
me.
Sae, lessee, te,k tent from the tale I hae told;
Diana wait to be oeavil until you grow old.
The story of a Life:
Say, what is life ? "Tis to be born
-A-Ixelplees babe to greet the light
'With a sharp wail, as if the morn
Porten a cloudy noon and night
To weep, to sleep, and weep again,
With sunny smiles betweenand
-
And then apace the infant grows
To be a laughing, sprightly boy,
Happy despite his little woes, .
Were he but conscious of his jay l
-;Po be,-in-ehor4Irran.tweAci.ten,-
A merry, moody child -and then?
And then, in coat and trousers clad,
To learn to. say a decalogue,
And break it, an unthinking lad, .
• With mirth and mischief all agog ; •
A truant oft by field and fen,
And capture butterilies-and then ?
And then, increased in strength and size,
To be anon a youth full grown;
A heroin his mother's eyes,
A young Apollo in his own;
To imitate, the ways of men ,
In fashionable sin -and then? .
And then, at last, to he a man,
To fall an love, to woo aud-wedI .
With seething brain to scheme and plan
To gather gold or toil for laread ;
To sue for fame, with tongue and pen,
• And gain or lobe the prize,. And then?
-
And then in gay an wrinkled old
To mourn the speed of life's decline;
To praise the scenes our youth -beheld, •
And dwell in the memory of long arm
• To dream awhile with darkened ken,
To crop into the grave -and then?
)3t THE DUCHESS.
Author of " Molly Bawn,' "The Baby," "Airy
Fairy Lilian," etc, etc.
"Can she? But perhaps you fail in the
cleverness alto?" '
«r think you are excessively rude and
disagreeable," I say, mime affronted, and -
getting up, move with dignity towards the
door.
"If you see Ashurst tell him I Went him,"
calls out Marmaduke as I reach it.
" Yes ; and at the same time I shall tell -
him you said he was a duller) at college," I
return, in a withering tone.
Marmaduke laughs, and- droppiug the
preoious gun, runs after rae, catches and
draws me back into hit sanctum.-
" I think Dora and Ashuret two of the
most intelleoteal people it has ever been
my good fortune to meet," he says, still
laughing and holding me. " Will that do?.
Is your majesty appeased?"
"1 wouldn't teii film, if I were you,"
return I, severely. '
'Say lies. I hate the Word a fib.' A
lie sounds much more honest. But I am
really in earnest when I my I think Dora
clever. I know at least twenty girls who
have done their beet to be made Lady Ash-
urst, and not one of_thernever oatne as near
success as she has." .
"But he has not proposed to her yet."
"it is the same thing. Any one can see
that he has Dora ' on the brain, and I don't
think (asking your pardoe humbly) his
brain would stand much pressure. I'd lay
any amount she has him ather feet before
his visit is °enfiladed."
--
"How delightful! How pleased mamma
will be 1 Marmaduke, I forgive you. But
you must not say ,elighting things of me
again."
"Slighting things of you, my own darling!
Cannot you see when I am in fun I only
wanted to make you pout and look like the
baby you are. In reality I think you the
brigheat, dearest, sweeteat, et cetera.' •
Thus my mind is relieved, and I feel I
can wait with calmness the deairable -end
that is evidently in store for Deis.
I km rib elated by Marmadukeh concur -
rated with my how that I actually kiss
hint, and, re -seating myself, consent to take
the but -end -of the gun -upop my lap and
hold it carefully, while, he. rubs the barrels
un and down with a dreadfully dirty piece
ol starlet flannel Beaked in oil.
"Do you think they would ever grow
brighter than they are now ?" I venture
mildly. "11 you rubbed them 'foe years;
Marmaduke, I don't believe they would be
further improved; do you ?"
"Well, indeed, perhaps youaire right. I
think they will do now," replies he, regard.
ing his new toy with a fond eye; arid then
almost with regret, As though loath to part
with it, he replaces 11 10 its flannel berth. •
By the bye, Phyllis, I had a letter from
a friend of mine this morning -Chandos -
telling me of his return to England, and I
have written ieviting him here." ,
"Have you? I hope he is nice. Is he
Mr. or Captain °henries, or What ?" •
" Neither ; he is Lord 'Mendes."
" What 1" cry I; 11 the real live lord at
lastt Notv, I suppose, we will have to be
very seemly in out ornidueb, and forget we
ever neighed.. Is he very old and etaid,
'Duke 2"
"Very. He is a year older than I am;
and I remetaber you. once told me I was
bordering on my second ohildhood, or some-
thing like it. However, in reality you will
not find Chandos formidable. He has held
his boilers bet it very short time. Last
autumn he was only Captain Everet, with
nothing to speak of beyond his peg, When
fate in theehape of an unsound yaoht sailed
• in, and, having drowned one old man and
two young owe, pushed Everett into his
preeent position."
What it romance! I etippme one ought
be both handsome an agreeable. Is he?"
I don'e know. I would be afraid to ray.
You Might take me to task and &bum me
afterwards, if our opinimin differed. Yon
Iniew you think George Ashiirst sr very
faminating youth. °halides is a wonder-
ful fevorite with women, if that has any.
thieg to do with it."
- " Of course 11 has --everything."
"I leave been thinking," says 'Duke,
"that as a setoff to all the hospitality we
have received from the county, we ought to
give 5 ball.". .
" Abell 1 Oh, delicious 1" orY 1, clapping
my hands raptureuely. "What has put
such a glorious idea 'into your head? To
dance to a band all down that great, big,
bramarilredmyolulnOli, 'Duke 1 I am se glad I
'Duke laugher anti colorslightly.:
Are you, easily? 'Do you mean that?
Do you never repent it 2"
"Repent it Never 1 -not for a,- eingle
instant. How could I when you are so good
to me -when you are always thinking of
things to make me happy 2"
" I am doubly, trebly rewarded for any-
thing I may have done by hearing .suoh
worde trona your lipe. To knew you are
'glad you married: Me' is -the next best
thing to knowjeg yen love me" a
• And so I.do hive you, yen silty boy rt
am very, very 104 ot ,you. Marmaduke,
db you think you could get-IiWy here for
the hall 7"
'1 will try. I dare say I shall be able
to manage it. And now run Sway and get
Blealone Going to help you to write out"a
list of people. •She know. every one in the
oounty, and is a capitol hand at anything
of -that sort."'
"She seems to -be a capital hand at most
things," I reply, pettishly, • " exempt at
making herself agreeable to Me. It is
always Blanche Going can do this, and
Marrone Going oan dothat.ajiheiga pare, -
gen of perfection in your eyes, I do believe.
I won't ask her to help, me. -I hate her."
"Well, ask any one else you like,thateor
no One. But don't hate poor Blanche.
What has she done to deserve it ?"
'Nothing. But I hate her for all that.
1 feel like a oat with its fur rubbed up the
wrong _way whenever I am hear her. She
has the happy'kinsok of always making me
•feel:emelt and foolish. I suppose we are
antagonistic to each other. And why do
you call her 'poor Blanche?! I. dont see
that she ia in any need of your pity."
"Have you not mid she has inourred-
your displeasure ? Wliat greater, mister-
' tune could befall her ?" says 'Duke, Smiling
tenderly into my cross little facie.,. '
,
I relent enillimile in•turn.
"Ob, belie fix me,, she will not die of
that," I shay 4 at all events don't you be
unhappy; 'Duke," patting his face softly.
'I shall never hate you -be sure of that."
And then catching up my train to bailie
tate.my movements, I run. through the
house In search of Harriet . and Bebe, to
make known to them my news -add discuss
with them the joys and glories of a ball.
• " It shall be it ball," says Bebe,-epthusi•
11 Mich as the county never before
attended. We will astonish the natives.
We will get men down from London to
settle everything, and the decorations • and
mute° and supper shall be beyond praise.
I know exactly what to do and to order. I
have. helped . Harriet to give balls ever so
often; and 1 . sin determined, as it will be
your first ball • as Mr�. Carrington, it shall
be a splendid suocese." '
" My first ball 'in every way," I Bay,
feeling rather asheifiedef myself. ." I‘was
litseverid small 'dances before my marriage,
and at it number . at dinner -parties since,
butI never in my life was' at a real laree
; •
" What!" aniee Bebe, literally • struck
dumb by this revelation ; -thorn with a little
lady•hke shout . of • laughter, " I »ever
heard of anything hell BO ludicrous. Why
Phyllis, I ein it venerable grandmother
next to you. Harriet," to Lady Handcock,
who had just entered, "just tam I Phyl-
lis tells me she was never at a ball 1"
• " I dare say she is all the better for it,"
says Berrien kindly, „.seeing my color is a,
little high. • " If you had gone to fewer you
would be abetter girl. How- did it happen,
Phyllis?".• • . • ,
•' No one in- Our imeiediate neighbor.
hood'ever gave a ball," I hasten to explain,
"and we did not visit People who lived far
away.", I suppress the feet of our having
no respeotable vehicle to convey us to those
dietant ball -givers, had we been ever so
inclined to go. "I. suppose it -appears very
odd te , . .
* "Odd 1" cries Bebe; "it is abominable!
I am so envious I can scarcely bring myself
to speak to you. L 'know exactly what I
May expeot, While you Can indulgein the
moat .deligntful anticipation°. I can re.
member even now the raptures of my first
ball; -the reality far exceeded- even my
wildest flights of fancy, and that is it rare
thing. Positively I can smell the flowers
and hear the music this moraelitaa And
then I had so many partners -more, I think,
than I eau get now; I could have filled
twenty -cards instead of one. Why, Phyl-
lis, I am but two years older than you,
and
yet it I had a pound, for every ball Ihave
been at, I would =have enough Money to
-tide meover .my next smarm without fear
of . debt." ' ' . " •
t I sit down, and running over • all, my
dresses in my mind, cannot convince myself
-that Any of them, if worn, would. hove the
desired effect of adding years to•my fitoe
and feriae- My trousseau, to he nein was
, desirable every way. How she managed it
noone coulrl.„.tell, but mother did con-
triie to ecrew sufficient money out of papa
to set oreditably We're the world, 136[1
all my evening 'mime seem youthful an&.
girlish in the extreme as I call them up pne
by one, - .
,After a full halthour of earnest meta.
tion, 1 tnake up my mind to it grand pur-
pose and, stealing downstairs, move rather
sneakily to Marmaduke's study. I devontly
trust he will be alone, • and as I open the
door 1 -find I have my wish. •
He is busily Writing; -but, a.s he is never
the busy to attend to lam, he later down his
pen and smiles kindly' as he Imes me.
"Como in, little woman. What amI to
do for you ?" • '
11•Marmaduke," I say, nervouely, '1 -I have
come' to ask you it great favor." '
"That is something refreshingly fiew,
Do you know it will be the first favor you
have tasked of me, though we have been
married more than three moethe Say on
and I swear it shall -be yours, Whatever it
is -to the half of my kingdom." •
" YOU are quite sure you will not think it
queer of me, or -or shabby?"
Qtfite certain."
• "Well, then --with an effort-" for this
ball, I think, Marmaduke, I would like et
new drawl; may I Nand to London for it ?"
When 1 have said it, it NOM to me to
diegraoefully soon to ask for new clothes
that I blush orimson, mid ane to the lard'
degree shamefaced. • •
•Marrneduko laughs heartily.
"Is that all?" he says. • "Are you
really Wasting it , blush on mob a plight
regnant 7 What an odd little girl you are
I believe you are the only wife alive who
Would feel modeat about asking such it
question. How raw& do you want, darting?
You will require some other thing§ too,
anytime, Shalt I give you it hundred
pounds, to Bee how far it will go? Will
that be enough 2"
Oh, 'Dulcet it great deal too mural?'
Not
it bit too much. I don't know
what erases omit, bat I hike alwitye heard
it rioneiderable eum. And now, as we are
on the gubjeot of money, Phyllie, what
would yott prefer -ea allowance, or money
whenever you want it, or what ?"
"11 you would pay my bills, Marmaduke,
I would like it best." I have never felt im
thoroughly utarried as at this moment,
when I lmow myself to' be dependent oe
him for every shilling I may epend.
"Very well. Whatever you like. Any
time you tire of this arrangement yott oan
n-uy to. But at all -events you will require
some ppoket.money," rising from the table
and going over to a small safe in the wall.
HNoo,wohaamaanhyery, 'Duke; have some,"
"Enough, thank you." ,
11 Nonsense, Phyllis 1" -almost angrily.
" Hotv absurd you are! One would think
I was not your husband. I wit& you to try
to remember you have it perfect right to
everything I posses& Come here directly,
take this," holdingout to me it roll of nome
and a handful of gold. " PrOMiSel me," he
says, "when you want more you will come
to me for it. It would make me positively
wretched if I thought you were without
money to buy whatever you fancy."
But I never had ilf ty-I never had ten
pounds in my life'" I ray; half amused. ." I
won't know what to do with it." •
I wonder if you will have the same
story to relate this time neit year 7"•
answers 'Duke, laughing. "The very
Vtest thing tit) learn is how to spend money.
And now tell 0011I0Se I have &little
curiosity on the subject -what are you
going to- wear on the twenty•fourth ? You
'will make yourself look your moat charm-
ing, willayou-nott-Phyllier
"1 shall never be able to look dignified
or • imposing, if you mean that," say I,
"gloomily, "Alt ,the old women about the
„farms who don't know me thiuk I an- it
visitor here, and oral me Miss,' juet ag
though I were never married." ,
That is very sad, espeoially as you will
have to wait go many yeas for these
wrinkle a you covet. I dare Baq a dealer in
cosmetics, however, would lay you on a few
for the °maiden, if you paid him well; and,
with one of your grandmother's gowns, we
,might perhaps be able to persuade our
limits that' I 'had married a woman old
enough to be my mother:" , ,
"I know what I should like to wear," I
BaY, shyly.
•
" What 2"
Black velvet and the diamonds," I say,
boldly.
Marmaduke roars.
" What are you,, laughing at ?" I ask,
testily, sprnewhat vexed..•
ALMA picturezyou have drawn. At
the idea of velvet and diamonds in conjunc-
tion with your baby faoe. Why did you
not think of adding on the ermine? Then
indeed, with your height you :would be
quite majestic ?"
"But may I wear it? May 1 -may I?"
ask I, impatiently. "Alt my life I have
been wanting to wear velvet, and now.whee
I have ao good an opportunity do let me."
"Is that your highest ambition T By all
means, my dear child, gratify it. Why not?
Probably in swill an effective getup you
will take the house by storm."
" I -really think Ish'eli look poky nice and
=old," I return, reflectively. . Then,
"'Duke, have you written about Billy ?".
' Yes CI said we wished to have him on
the 19th for a week"; that will being him in
time for the slaughter on the 201h. I
thought, perhaps ,he might enjoy that."
"You think Of hverything.'. I know no
ode So kind -or good-natured. 'Duke, don't
make a joke about that velvet. Don't kli
Any one. what I said, please."
"Never fear. I will be silent as' the grave.
You shall burst upon them as an aparition
in all your ancient bravery." .
That evexiing dreee early, Reba and I',
for no -particular reason, that 1 oan remem-
ber, and, o'oming -downsteAre together, Seat
ourselves before the drawing -room fire to
rine our oomplexioes and. have a cozy chat
until the others break in upon es. As We
.pause, the door at the end of the'reom is
filing wide, and a tall young man °Owing in
walks straight towards me. • .
'
The lamps • have not yet been lit, and
only the crimson flashes from the blazing
fire reveal to us his features. He is dark,
rather more distinguished -looking than
handsome, and has wonderful deep, kind,
graynyes.. •
." Loth Chemins," ennounces Tynon, in
the _background, speaking from . o,ut the
darkneis, after which. having Played his
part, he vanishes. •
I rise and go to meet the nevroomee,
with extended hand. •
"This is a surprise, but a pleasant one.
1- am very glad to bid you weloonie," I sey,
in a shy, ole -fashioned manner; but my
hand:clasp is • warm 'and genial, and he
smiles and looks please& • '
" Thank you; Mrs. Carrington, I sup.
pose 2" he says, -with some faint hesitation,
his eyes -travelling over my dreadfully
youthful form,. that looks even more than
usually childish. to -night in its clothing ef
white cashmere and blue ribbons. ' -
"Yes,": I return, laughing and blushing..
11 Marinaduke should have been • here to
, give us a formal introduction to each other,
, though indeed it la hardly necessary; I
seem to know you quite well'from all I hate
beard about you." •
A slight .rustling near the fire, e faint
pause and then -Bebe comes forward.
"How d'ye do, Lead Chandori 7" • she
says. "1 -hope you have not quite forgot.
-ten me:" .
She holds out her hand and for en instant
.,her eyes look teddy hate hit -'-only foram..
She ill dressed in some filthy bleak gown,
that clings °lose to her, and has nothing to
relieve its gloom save one spot of bloodyed
color that rote upon her bosom. Herm=
shine fair and white to the elbow; in her
hair is another fleek of blood•red ribbon,
Is it the flickering uudertain light or my
own fancy that makes her face meta so
pale,2
, Ifer eyes gleam large and dark, and the
&MMus little black mole lying so close to
her ark leeks blacker than usual in contrast
to her white cheek, But her" tone rings
gay and steedy as ever. A smile quivere
1 OBI ptiltied, I scarcely. know w4. I
round her lips.
glance at Lord Chandos, and-surkythe
firelight tcenight is playing fantaetie tricks
-hiaace apneas flushed and :tandem. 1
draw cotiolusions, but cannot. make them
Batiefeatory. '
"1 had no idea I should meet yeti here,"
he says in a low tone that ie studiously
P°131iteeeb' laughs musically.
"No ! Then we are inutually astonished.
I thought you safe in Italy. Certainly it le
Ott my rniiud that genie one told me you
were there."
"I returned home last week." Then,
turning to Me, he tram hurriedly, " I Wipe
Carrington is well 2"
"Quito well, thank you. Will you COMO
With Me te fled him He Would have been
the tint to weloorae you, had he known
you were Coming, but we did not hope to
eee you until next vtaek."
"1 had no idea raYself I could have been
.041
here so soon. But himiuke, inekily, there
was none to detain me, eo I came straight
on to throw myeelf on your tender mer.
010C lave now reached the library deer,
" Mearnaduke," I call out, opening it and
entering, "1 nave brought you Lord Oben,
dos. Now, are you not surpriend and
pleased 7"
"011! more pleased than I eau saY,"
exeleims 'Duke, heartily, coming eagerly
forward to greet hie friend. "My dear
fellow, what good wind blew you to as ua
soon 7"
When return to the drawing -room I
find the lamps burning cheerily, and moot
of our party amembled. -
Lady Blanche, reclining on %low fauteuil,
is conversing earneetly with Sir Mark Gore,
who Mande beside her, Boeing me, she
smilee softly at him and motions him to
ohair near her.
Dora, in her favorite white muslin and
sweet demure smile, is holding Mr. Powell
and Sir George Ashuret in thrall.. She is
bestowing the greater part of her &UNARM
upon the former, to the disgust and limn.,
dernaent of honest George,. who looks with
moody dislike upon his rival. Both men
are intent upon taking her down to dinner.
There is little need for you to torture your-.
self with jealous fears, Sir George. When
the time comes it is without doubt upen
ytionugredarhnaanadh.e will lay that little white piek-
Bebe is pitting upon the sofa, with the
infatuated Chips beside her, and is ne
longer pale ; two acrimeon spots adorn her
cheeks and add brilliancy to her eyes. As
watch her wonderingly iihe slowly raises
her head, and, meeting my gaze, lbeetowe
ripen me a gine° so full of theliveliest
reproach, not wintered 'with indignation,
that 1 am filled with consternation. What
have Ione to deserve so withering a look?
I would give something to know of
whom you are thinking just now," frays it
voice 81iny elbow. , "Not of me, I trek?"
I turn totind Sir Mark is regarding me
earnestly. Inetinctively I glance at the
vacant chair beside Lady Blanche' and in
doing so encounter her dark eyes bent on
mine. VerilY, I am not in goodaider with
my guests to•night.
All through deinerItrytentteaot Bebe's
attention, bet cannot. I address her only
to receive the coldeeli of replies. Even after-
wards, when We get back once more to the
drawing -room, I cannot manage an explan-
ation-arts:elm ereapse...-Maher swat rem, and
does not appear again until the gentlemen
have joined us. ' " '
Neither she -nor Lord Chatad,os exoliange
one word with each other throughout the
entire evening. With a sort of 'feverish
gayety ehe chatters to young.Thornton, to
Captain Jenkins, to any one . who may
chsaireonectea be near her, as though she feare
a
Nevertheless the minutes drag. 11 10 the
,stupidest night we filieri 10
-
to wish. I had learned whist or °hese or
something of that sort. I am out of spirite,
and, though inno,oent of what it may bb, feel
,myselt guilty of some hideous blunder.
Presently the dreaded .quiet falls. The
-whist-players are happy, the rest of us are
not. Sir Mark, with grave politeness, comes
to the rescue. '
11 Perhaps Mr. Thornton will kindly favor
us with a song ?" he says, without a emile.
. And Mr. Thornton, with a face .even
more than :usually benign, willingly con-
sents,. and gives us'', What will you do,
love, when I am going?"-apropoe of bis
approaohing departure -for India-with
muoh sentimental fervor,and many tender
glances direoted openly to Mies Beatoun.
"Thank you," murmurs that young lady,
when -the doleful ditty; is finished, having
listened to it all through with an air of sad-
dened admiration impossible 16 describe,
and unmistakably flattering. '1 I know no
song that touches me so deeply as that." .%
" .T know you are laughing at me," save
Chips, frankly, seetinghimeelf again beside
her, and :sinking his Voice toa whisper
that lie fondly but 'erroneouely believes
• to be inaudible ;," but I don't care. I woeld
rather have you ' to make fun of me than
any other girl -to love me 1"
Could infatuation further go?
'" Pehaps one- might find it possible to do
both," insinuates Miss Beatoun, wiokediy ;
but this piece of flagrant hypoormY proving
top much even for her, he raises her fan
bit level With her lips and subside; with
an irrepressible smile behind it, while poor
little Chip murmurs:
"Oh, come, now. That is more than any
fellow would believe; you know," and grins
a pleased and radiant grin.
.Bebe, being asked to sing, refuse's, gently
but firmly; and • when I have delighted my
audience with one or two. old English bal-
lade, we give in, and think with animation
of our bade. '
• In the ,corridor above I seize hold of
Bebe: • • • -
"What has vexed you-?" I Irak, anxiouely.
." :Why are you not friends with me You
mutt come to my room before you go to bed.
Promise." . .
Very good, I will oome," quietly dis-
engaging my hand. Then before closing
the door, "Indeed, Phyllis*, I think you
might have told me," she says, in'a One of
deep reploaoh. •
So that is it! But surely she must have
seen his coming so unexpectedly was a
great surprise. And is there a romance
connected with her and Lord Chandos
I confesteto an overpowering feeling of
curiosity. r dismiss my maid with more
haste than usual,. and, sitting in my dress-
ing.gown and slippers, long for Babe's
coming., I am convinced I shall not sleep
one wink if he fails' to keep this appoint-
ment.
I am nbb doonied to a sleepless night,
however,.as presently she comes in -ell
her beautiful hair loose about her shoulder°.
" Now, Bebe," I.exolaim, jumping up to
give her a good shake; "'how could you be
so oross all about nothing? I did nottnew
myself he was coming so soon. You made
me Misera,ble the entire evening, and spoiled
everything ?"
11 But you knew he was coming some
time ; why did yeti ;31iI1 Say so?" •
"1 forgot all a ut. him. I knew no
reason why I ahouldEttaoh importance to
his presence here. I don't know now either.
I was quite t of your previous
acquaintance with him. Probably had he
waited in London until next week, as he
originally intended, it might have occurred
to me to mentioii hie coming, and era
would have spared rapedt all the cruelty
and neglect and wicked looks so lavishly
bestowed upon Me this evening."
"You have yet to learn," says Mies toe''
toun, who is, I think, a little ashamed of
her pettishness, "that of all things I most
detest being taken by surprise. It puts me
out dreadfully; I &ell recover. niyeelf for
ever go long; and to Bee Lord Chandos
here, of all people, when 1 believed him
Bak hiltitly, took away my breath, PhyV
lie, I don't know how it he but I feel I =Mt
tell you all about it." ,
"Vat, do,,,J.-am 'manatees to hear. 'Yet
I half guess 1115 is or was; a lover of pima.
Is it not so? And something has gone
wrong 2"
"Very nittah wrong, indeed," with it
rather bitter laugh. , '1 It will be a alight
coraellewn to my pride to tell you this
ietory ; but I 30.11 triad Yeti, oirn I not
am not fond of women friends ISO a rule --
indeed, Harriet is my only one -but you,
rhyllie, 1We Cattrelsed tire me 119131*
cherm,1 do believer eel linen I am near
your forget to be reserved,"
"That is bemuse you know how well I
like you."
"It it f Perhaps an. Well, *bout Lord
Chandos. My story ix a short Mae, you
will say, end to the point. I met him Arid(
twoyears ts4o. He fell in love with me,
and last yer Lurked mo to marry him. That
is ail; hit you will understand by it how
-little atu .itious I was of meeting bim
again."
"And you—"
••
"Refused him, dear. How coal I do
otherwise? He was only'Captain Everett
then, without a prospect on earth; and I
am no heirese. It would have meant pov-
erty -scarcely even What is called 'genteel
poverty' -had 1 consented to be hie wife;
and" -with it quick shudder of dieguat-" I
would rather be dead, I think, than endure
such it life as that,"
"Did you love him, Bebe 2"
"1 liked him well enough to marry hike,
certainly," ehe admits, elowly, had °Jr-
eumatances been different."
We are silent for it little time; then Bebe
says, in a low tone.
" Hewes so good about it, and," deserved
so little meroy at his hands. I don't deny
I had flirted with him horribly, with oruel
heartlessness, considering 1 knew all along,
when it came to the final move, 1 would
say No', I liked him so well that I could
not make up my wield to be brave n time
and let him go, never coufiting the pain I
would afterwards have to inflict -and bear,"
Her .voice sinks to a whisper. Without
turning my head, 1 lay my hand cal hers:
"11 all happened one morning," she goes
on, presently, making a faint prune between
each sentence, "-quite early. There was
nothing poetic or sentimental about it in
the way of conservatories or flowers or
musio. He 1Md come to pay me his usual
visit. It was July, and ,mamma and I
Were leaving town the next day. We are not
to see each other again for alcmg time. Per.
haps that haetened it. It was a wet day, I
remember -I oan hoer the sad drip,olrle,
of the raindrops now -and we felt ilent
and depressed. Somehow then -1 hardly
know hor-ie all *as said -and over." • -
"How sad it was 1" I murmur, stroking
the hand I hold with quit eyrapathy.
" And then—" •
" Then I let him, see how utterly false
and worthless was the woman he loved. I
• let him know that even If I adored him his
watt °Money would- be nteineurrnotinta-
ble be:trier between us. I think I told him
so. I am not quite sure of that. I do not
recolleot distinctly one word ; said that
day. only Anew that he went away
impressed with the belief that I was it mere
contemptible money -worshipper." •
"Did he say anything-reproaohful, I
moan?" •
" That was the hardest peat of it. He
-would-not-reproach me-Re:only sat there,
looking distinctly inieerable, Without • an
enkind word on his lips."
" What 2 Did he say nothing?" -
"Very little. 'Unless to tell me I had
• treated him disgracefully, I don't know
that there was anything to be said.Lld, e,
declared that he had expected just such tan
answer ; that be felt he had no rightto
hope for a happier one. He did not blame
me of course I was acting wisely --and so
.on. He never once asked me to reconsider
my wordia...r.Then he got up, and said he
mast bid Use it long farewell. He knew a
-man who would gladly exchange with him
• and giee him a chance of seeing it little
Indian life ; he was tired of England.- You
oan imagine the kind of thing.'
"Poor fellow;how did he look?"
(To be continued
A Touch of !galore. ,
The Cheyenne Sun tells that tr. big man
and a smaller one going into a store late at
night asked to look at some clothing. Mr.
Harrington himself waited upon the visitore
and was showing them various lines of
geode when the door leading to -hie resi-
dence in the rear of the Mere opened and
in came on the run a baby daughter of the
Harrington family. The little one came in
hurrying to escape her' mother, • and fell
over a box. Mr. Harrington left the cue
-
towers and went to the rescue of the baby.
Afteethe little one WSB quieted ind planed
on the floor heresumed hie • busineee, but
in a minate-she fell over another box and
apparently hurt herself. He left the cue-
. tomer and again looked after the child. At
this the man turned to his companion and
said :- " Let's go out of here. • I ain't look.
ing for a nursery." The proprietor heard
the remark and was'not slow to reepond.
He tread that he had lived 52 years and done
20 years' business, • and had had 10,000
easterners. But he had never had but
two . Heirington babies, and this was
the only oue • left. He could' get
,along without the customer, and the sale of
a snit of-olothes to him, but he couldn't
get along Without the Harrington baby, and
he didn't oare how soon the customers
" skipped." The man, who Was looking at
the proprietor.with a mild aetoniehment
at first, when the story was finished had
hie handerehieLontanie wiping his eyes
and reaching bis hand out to Mr. Herring-.
ton exclaimed, "Partner, Goa bless the
baby." He couldn't do too Much, and it
is needless to say they parted as friends;
PreOaratione for Mummer. •
"Prepare ter summer," says a daily
paper. We have, we have! We have
mortgaged our house, sold all our personal
property, assigned our income, for the next
Mx menthe, drawn out the °Inkier money in
the saving ,bank and turned the whole
proceeds over to the proprietor of a
"summer hotel" for the rent of two hot
boxes for 10 weeks, for what we oan piok
up in the dining -room and for the privilege
of weariug out the seat of our trousers on
• hard -mated piazza chairs. We are now
trying to float some second mortgagebonds
on Mrs. Spicer's wardrobe ea as tri subsi.
dize the cook, steward, bell boys, waiters,
ohambermaide, clerk and scrub girls: If
anybody haeheen forgotten ho will have to
come in on preferred stook.--210ston Cent-
mereita Bul * •
The Mg Ducal Mailor. '
The Duke of Edinburgh returned from his
cruise with the Channel Squadron looking
in the best of health. His Royal Highness
lost no thee in landing at llortemouth and
travelling to the-Dueheserfor-whonrate-
brought numerous mentientoes of hie trip,
beelike a valuable variety of choice plants
tted's
and eeveral pet ami. Thi
The Duke s very
popular throughoutthe squadrcin, and the
prolonged cruise has been Merril as well as
agreeable, His Royal Highness keepingboth
officers end men to their work, though
approving Of all wholesome forms of
rational enjoyment. He will not rejoin his
flagship till the fleet is about to start on its,
rammer cringe, the middle of june.-Lon-
don World. -
On May 1815 the manorial °recited OA
Gairney Bridge, near Kinross, to the Se
coseionFethers, wati Unveiled by the Rev
Dr. Soott, ex -Moderator of the M.P. Synod,
in presence of a large nuraber of rainistere
of that denomination. The memorial le
ereoted on the site of e cottage in which
the Seeedets met on the 5111 December,
1183, and reinstituted the first Secession
Presbytery.
1
Taxies se Aro isers.
Dealer* xn Steve..1"Ipos ODall Geo Wei Illooeete
kr easpirervemeeen
In answer to it correspondent who mike
for a mere 'Ample design in the matter ot
stovepipes the Chicago Tribune says:
--The correspondent ie slightly mixed in
his datre. There's no authentioakd record
whioh proves that stovepipes existed ire the
time in Adam, and eveti the most imagine- •
tive mind can not pioture Adam laboring
op a. cooketove in the Garden of Eden with
a box en patent polish the merits of which
ate emblazoned on the rooks of the sur-
rounding riountry. It is a fact that fire. •
places did duty as etovee in this country
up to about the yeay 1820, and when the
stove was introduced the pipe eaD20 with
it as a neormeary adiunot. And though -
manypatents have been granted on stover,
the pipes which are so nee:sea:sty to their
efficient service remain about the same as
they were when Moves Were first hitre.
duced, though probably the meterial of
whieli they are constructed is of a.
better quality. Herbert Spencer, the
profounci thinker, is credited with
pointing out the lack ot im-
provement which has followed the exist-
ence of the tongs, and tbough thia
instrument of the fireplace has perforMed
its useful work for many decades, be haa
called attention to the Mot that thatportion
of the tongs which is intended to grasp thee
coal has always been made smooth and
elippery, instead of rough and grasping aa
common sense and practicability would
design it. The practical hancllere of the
ordinary domestic stovepipe have no trouble
-
in- fitting together the various joints and
seotions with the =at perfect' accuracy,
but with the novioe the task ie a -hard one.
Somehow he can never give it the right
twist. In the usual May 1st moving the
sections of the ramify Movepipe are liable
10 be crushed and bent, as they are gener-
ally employed as filling " in loads, and of
or:arse there is Flom° trouble in getting
Mena together again. If a pipe is taken
down with ordinary care, moved with the
same degree of owe, and erected' in the '
new habitation with a like itecuraoy, there
should not be this trouble. Still this ia
seldom the ease, and the fact remains that
the stovepipe has not kept pace in the •
onvtard march of progress with the other
article's of housebold furniture.
"No, we have had no material imp
ment in the construction of stovepipe aide
I have been in the hardwere busineser
said a prominent-inixinleit-of it -Lake street
etore. Of course our pipes are of different
grades of quality, hut all are constructed
on the same plan and arecalouhtted to fit
by one joint eliding into the other. The '
different sizes are numbered, and there
should be no trouble in the fitting."
" Would it not be possible to make pipe
so the joints would screw together 7"
• "-No, I do not think it would. A. screw,
joint would have to be made perfect, and •
to make a good thread would require. a
material that would be too heavy for a
" Caald a seamless stovepipe bee:lade 7"
. "Oh, yes; but' that wouldn't help Mat-
ters any, as the fitting would have to be
done all the same. That flange you find in
stovepipes new does not interfere with the ,
joining to any extent. Of course, the better
the quality of the pipe is the more easily ib
keeps its shape and the more readily it. is
joined together. 1 don't see any %inane°
for improvement."
• 1FSfteheo Slave
Professor Adler demands a reform in
home life to the .extent of -emancipating
women from the slavery of. the
kitchen. If the Professor . can lead
women out Of that hot desert of Kedah, he
will take his place among the greatest
benefactors of mankind,. We would not be -
sorry if. he would permit the editors to
follow -the .PerieerisitiMend' escape from the
ceaselees grind of the steam press: It will
be 'necessary for manna to fall every.
night, or both the women and the editors
will starve. The alternative now is the
cooking -range and the printing press, or
• starvation. So that the mein point of .
interest is the manna. That diffioulty
overcome, the tribes will take up the song
of Miriam and of Moses. Miriam was it
cook, end the hielier critics affirm that
Mosee wee an editor. Also of Deborah
and Barak. Deborah was a house -keeper
and Barak was a, fighter, it not a fighting
editor. We are eager to put away the
paste•pot and simmers, and the batter -ladle
and stake -pounder; but where, 0 where.
demi Professor, . are the note of manna ?
There was a bugle of jubilee blown from
California and the pink ears of the wives ,
and,daugitters caught it as it sounded
aortas the continent to Sandy Hook. The
great emancipator ofwomen had come,
and his name was John. John wore along
queue, had almond eyes, and hie complexion
was made to order. -.-Interior.
' Ladles who !lever Huey.
A dry goods salesman says: "We have
to endure a great deal at the hands of theme •
ladies who never buy. These people take
up valuable time, and a good part of our
energies is directed to the effort to oiroura-
vent them. The moment an old timer -
comes up to the oounter she is instantly
recognized by •some one of the salesmen,
and the warning signal, a tap on the
counter, is paned along the line. Then we
have some fun.. The old timer' will calf
for, say, tit certain ahadoof yellow. She is
told it is not in stook. ' Oh, what it pita!'
she exclaims, e that is just what I wanted.
'If you had it I would buy eixteen yards of
it.' Then it is the next man's turn. He
comes up, accordingly, and tells the firm
salesman that no is mistaken, that there ia
still a bolt of twenty yards of that identinal
stuff in the store. He brings it forward
and 'aye 11 down, You wOuld think the
shopper who never buys would be ' discon-
certed at this turn of affairs. Not a bit of
it. She says smilingly '05, that is just
what I want. Lay it
will see ray dressma
ide for me, and I
er and find out jut
how many yards she n eds, and to.niorrow
I'lloome back and buy it.' Then she de-
pute with it simper, but she never cornea
back. We amuse ourselves in this way,
but it's a terrible nuisance ail the' earne.,"
A Illsornftleens ethune school.
The riding "wheel ereoted at Webbook
-Abbey.by Ike late Duke of Portland is the
fitest In the world, and the inside wow is
absolutely startling. A perfeot :forest -of
columns serves to support the finelysiched
roof, IV the bewildered spectator would,
come the conclusion that he had been
tramported into a large railway_ "station.
The roof is' of glass and highly•or,amented,
iron, with corniest, beautifully decorated
with feliage eaid fantaetio groups of birds
and beasts. The 06001 is 879 feet in length
by 108 feet in :width and 50 feet in height,,
and fifty homes can cagily be exercised
within its area, Upward of 8,000 gas jets
are employed to illuminate the building,
and when they are fully turned en a mar- . 0
-velloue sight is presented.
For the prize of 10,000 lire 012,000)
offered by the Italian Government, in
oonneetion with the Turin Exhibition, for 0
the best means of traneinittieg °eleatithe
energyk great distaneee, there ter Only one
entry-eithat of the Gtaillard-Gibbil *stem.
'AIL,14L-ti ,