Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe New Era, 1884-07-04, Page 84-u,ly 4 1884. e treelette We knew by the don& t It was going to rain that den Andthere was the whole at the Meadow lot AU Rimed with the fragrant bay. And the Olen& grew darker and larger As the winds the tree tops tossed, And, hard though WeeWerkthdo It seemed the hay Was] 1yis'wao a small and poor one, d the hay crop was all I had, And I could not afford to biro masa For the times were dull anti bad. And niatters were looking:dreary For me that summer day, m When 1 heard a sweet voice behind e: "I will help you get in the bay I" Twaemy neighbor's daughter, Molly, Who lived liso across the road. ..find soft Was the light in her downcast eyes, And the blush on the cheek that gloised. I gladly accepted the service .„ -She offered in friendly way, And there by my side that afternoon filie helped me gather the hay. She was no Ana lady feeble, Though her arms were plump and white, And she raked all day with me, roW for =WI, Till the fall of the suminer night, And then, when we ceased otir labors, And the hay was k Gored away, From the depth of my heart I thanked her For her kindneso to me that day. And I took her home to her cottage, • But I didn't pause to woo. And I Asked not her hand in Iqratrriage, Which I knew she thought rd do. I left her there at the gateway, Beneath the branches brown, '- And from her looks I kneW she Wee The maddest girl in town. hie fans, IS Per** ; while Lady Blanehe 1 astoniehes Ionia .ed WI by the =mint of passionate pleading Phil thrown, into be o the eletWerd 'PHYLLIS. Int WM DIVHCE10. eyes. And now eons* hitah• Tbe *ilia tableau on Which we have derided iii "Tb. Inuit Appvil," Tilers •hsai been Cainsider. able difficulty about the arrangernent of this from the beginning, and now at the last moment Sir hfork Gore vows be will have nothing to do with it. "1 noindlet do it," be Bari throwing nut his hand& ac There is no use urging a fellow. I could leek inurderons. I might look sentimental; I could not appeal. I won't end that's all about it. They will say there are no more actors if you send me on again eo soon; and besides, those breeobee don't fit me. They will go on Mendes ; let him take my part." "How disobliging you are 1" says Mite Beatoun, flushing. "Then I won't be the person appealed to. I did not want to, all along. It is too bad I should get no parts but three in whieli rags and ugly dresses are worn. I shall 'have to do Cinderella presently in tatters, and in this I have only a short gown, and nasty thick oboes and a pitcher." " What nonsense It! say I. "You know every one paid youlooked delicious with that little handkerchief mom your should- ers. Lord Chandos, go and dress yourself directly, as Sir Mark will not." " Of what use is it," says °halides, quietly, 0 if Miss -Beatoun deolines to aot with me ?" ••‘4 Acting with you has nothing to do with it," returns Bebe, reddening .pereentibl3i. "1 only deoline the 4 old ole' part of it. Consider how it hurts my vanity." "Tet you would have worm them had Sir .mark kept hie word," I say in an injured tone. At this Lord Chandos looks expressively at MisaBeatonn, Mies Beatoun looks with- eringly at. me, and .Marma,duke, latterly cannosient, says. persinasively al Ceme now, ". Bebe, that's conclusive, °hoodoo will think you have some reason for it if yeti persist in refining." .. At this-unfortunateremark even I feel some dismay. Considering all that has passed between these two, and the nature of the tableau in question, it .is onfortu- nate. Chandos and Bebe color violently; the letter's fingeraologe with nervous force upon the pretty short gown she is wearing and orumpte it recklessly. The loose ame- bae kerchief on her 'breast rises and with angry Motion. Ohandoe is evidently furibus. "1 shall think nothing of .the hind," he 5878, 111 a Mei, doitinot tone. "..fdies Bea- toun should be allowed to please herself. For my part, I think it an. Odious scene andlackneyed to the last degree." • "Still as it is on the oards—" I mur- mur, weakly. . , • Marmadukei Mores at me. in Wonderment, , and then at Harriet,lwhola also listening. We are . every one., of us thoroughly un- pleasant. Bebe laughs a rather forced laugh. "1 .wonder what our friends lathe dress circle are thinking- au. this time ?" ahe says. " Lord Chanties, go and pot on your thinge and don't ,let 'us keep them waiting any longer." • • ' Thitt's right," exelaime.:Marmaduke, much relieved, moving, away- to another group in the distance engaged in.a hot die. pute. Still Chandos lingers. "1 am sorry for thishe gays to Bebe, in & 10,7 tone almost haughtily. • " But it is net.yettoolate. If the idea is so detestable to you, then give it up now, end I will support you." "Why should' it be distasteful to me?" very coldly. "1 will Make no further objections.' " I hope.you exonerate me. I could not .help it. I am more vexed shout it than you oan be." • , • '1 think you. might have said emphati, otilly just at first you did not wish. it. How- ever, it does not matter.'....... "flow could I? Such a remark would have been an implied rudenees to you." "Then I wieh you had been rude." "You are unreasonable, Miss Beatoun,": says his lordehip, 'stiffly. Then in a still tower tone, "There are few things I woold not do for you, but. that is not one *of them." • , • • "1 think you, had, better • go and prit'en these garments Sir Mark rejeoted. We oat finial the argument later on," mur• murs Bebe, turning &wily, with. a half - mile; and, Lord Chandos hurrying over his toilet, we have them on our miniature stage sooner thin we dared to hope.• ' But, though they gave in to their own ,wishes; or rather to theirown pride,the verkirmanise is a ' • And now 001310a my turn. The "British• publics." as Mr. Thornton persists on call- ing our very select audience, is requested to turn its kind attention on Tennyson's "Bleeping Princsese," wrapped in mystic alurdher. I ain'. the Sleeping Princess, it having struck me in the early part of the day that this rote, requiring little •beyond extreme inaetion, would exactly 'suit me. andeause me less trepidation." Upon a erimeett lounge,bled all in white, I• lie, my long, fair brown hair eceittered across the cushions and fatting to the ground beside -me. One hand is thrown above my head, the other hang hetleesly, eleepity, downwarde,; a deep -red rows has dropped from it, and now blushes, half lost, amidst the tresses on the floor,• Sir Mark, in the oharaister of •the Prince, leans over me as though in the aot of giv- ing the manse that hrings me back tom dream -land. His face, r know, is near --so hear that, between nervousness and ahrink- ing, I fea a mad desire to break into for- bidden laughter ;so minth so 'that when the curtain falls I ani more than thankful. Slowly it desoends,and as X hear it touoh the stage, I cautiously open my eyes -to find Sir Mark has not yet raised himself from bis stooping posture. - • • Myeyes leek straight into his. There are literally only slew inohes between his fate' and mine, and..1 fernsy I eau discerns, treaoheroins gleam in 'them. • Something -masterful, too, in hia expreesion, as though he would say, "1 obtild an' I would," strikes -me. Inritantly I resent it, end springing tosny feet, stand book from him, ern:aeon with indignation and • some unde- fined fear. There is no time for words, had I even the desire to Opeak, which I have not, as at thie moment Lady Blanche Going and Mar- raaduke come from behind the' scenes to congratulateus. 1 try to recover myself hurriedly, Mit it is too late my red cheeks and frightened, holf-eharnisd °yell &Wait their 'notice ; and Marrnaduke glancing from inc to Sir Mark, regards us earnestly, coloring very slowly himself the while. ' "01* 1" exclaims her ladyship, etarting, and Assuming an air of surprise ; thee, with an affeeted laugh, " How foolish of me 1 But really for the moment, on amount of your ettittides and etilltasse, I fancied had mime WI too soon, end that you were Mill acting." f' Ho* oompletely you must have forgot, ten the titibjetit of the late tableau!" replicas Sir Mark, in a very Wm tone, fixing her with his wonderful keen, dark eyes. Sado Merino!) of evil inakee me go and stend elm to Marraedulie. • . "Wes it a 1311004308 2" I ask, nervously. "Without doubt," mile 'Deka, rousing Author of ','MoUy Bawn,', The lieby," Airy Fairy Lilian," Mo., eta. • - "But I don't weal to be smothered," I protest, nervonely. "011, you must submit to that. When steeple hear of &tem from Othello' they immediately think of pillows.. They would consider they had been done out of something if we gave them a mere mutt part. We Will have you lust dying, mur- muring your last poor little words, with Bir Mark looking as it he were longing to try the effect of the bolster next, and Misli Vernon, as Emilia, kneeling beside you." "Now that is what I call a downright cheerful picture," says Marma.duke. "1 call it high tragedy;" replies Miss Beatoun, reprovingly. "Will you ' be EMiss Vernon ?" alb Me, quietly, as w.go thee the Mt room. Woe imagination. I did not know his foes wait quite ;to close, ant,in ocesequenoe, when I opened my es got a start. It WM ridlonlons ef Was that all 7" 14 Yes, that was all." I laugh, 'though la a rather opiritleas NOY, and feel angry with myself for the vague reetnint that *quite diseernible in my manner while Karma, dobe pours me out some claret -cup, with- out mid% any more question's, Tuke-Marmsdukea-where are You? 011, come, come," oriels Bebe, looking In; 'we are ill waiting for you. How oan pose properly until you get me the slipper? You said you had it somewhere." So Take thee, and I, putting from me my email vexation, which even already appears half fanciful, follow him to the sides, to see how they look before the cur- tain rim. Cinderella (Bebe), clad in pietureenne -rags, is represented in the aot of fiyiug, leaving behind her the magical slipper, • which Master Chips is eagerly etooping to pick up. He makes a veritable "Prince Charming," in his scarlet oloak and long Bilk stookings--got no one knows how -and cap and feathere ; while Bebe, glasiciug back- wards in her flight to mark the fate of her ehoe, oasts upon him a bewitching languish; ing gaze that (aupposingtheoriginal0inder. elle to behepable of such another) Must have had more to re do with her being x- oess later on than anything in the shape el a vow. Then we close up Dors, as Constanee,de Beverly, into an imaginary w11 -the poor nun, with raised despairing eyes and down- ward clasped bands, creating rout% stamps- • thy. Yet, none of us feel sure this was the 'spirit in which the r'eal Constance met her doom ; only, as the devotional tearful etyle suits Dora, we conclude it was, and make no unwelcome inquiries; and everteneis milia, ia I will help you in any way I clan," 'ova Dora. withher usual. gentle.amia,bility. "Yon would make a capital- Beatrice,. Bebee," earl Marmaduke.. "We-imight. have 6 geed Beene from !ranch Ado . About Nothing.' Who will' be Benedick? Now, don't all epeak at once." "3 think it would suit me," says Chill, very modestly. • . • t We all laugh heartily,. • • aYou'grow inodeet, Mr. Thornton'," says 13ir Mark. "3 fear you must be ill. Try a 110110 of this honey; you will find it excel- lent." • . " No, thanks. I feel I 'shill be able -to pull through now until luncheon." •• Let us go into the library and arrange everything," I suggeat, eagerly; and we all rise and go there. . By degrees, as the afternoon advances, the men ehow emptome of fatigue and drop off one by one, while we *omen still keep together to discus the all -engrossing idea. Curioos odds and . ends of old-world finery are dragged from remote closets and brought to light. Clothes thin; once adorned Marmaduke's ancestors are now, draped around young white arms and nooks, and draw forth peals of laughter from the lookers-on. 'But we meet have an audience," saw. pets Bebe, at length, rather blankly,itop- - ping short, with her hands in the eir, from which hangs down an • anoiedt embroidered robe. "True. How shall we manage that ?" "Bend a groom ' instantly with invita- tions to the Hastings, the Leslies, the De Verbs, and the Cuppaidges. I .am positiVe they are ' all dying of ennui this .moment, and will hail with rapture any chance of escape from They will all, some; and. the Leslies have tWo Or three. really very preaentable young men staying with them." . ", Yes; that will be best. Dora, Will you go and write the :notes far Me 2 New, wotdd it not be a . good thing to exoludo all thehon-players from our &ninon?". . "01*," says Harriet, "then I mustgo." • "No, no, Harry. we can't do without you," ory I, imploringly; " yesi must stay. We could not get on anthem some head to guide us and soothe • dowu disappointed actore. IOU Chat be wardrobe-womon, and chief secretary and priffie minister andetage manager all 10 0110." . Yee, says Bebe, who heti got herself into the ancient robe by this; "and head - centre and peacemaker, and all that sort of thing. Now, don't I look 'sweet in this flowered gown? • Ah 1 what interest- .ing oreaturea our greet-great.grandmothers must have been 1 11 almost makes MO Wag to be a great great-grandmother myself." "But your salary -your salary; state your term," says Harriet. "I, cannot be all that you have mentioned for nothing." "For love, deareat ; call you that.noth. ing ?" replies .Bebe, as she struts up and down before a long glass. . . Preaently darling mother, who has slept M Stre,ngemore and breakfasted in • her room, comae creeping in, and -a dispute arises wnether ehe numb be 'excludedfrom the cabinet and sent into exile until night revealour neerets. All through dinner we -the intended victims -are , mysterioue, not ' to say depressed; while Sir dames •Hancock, the two men fromilirrnarraoksrandSirGeorge /Worst make mild joke ri et our ereeneme, and WW2 us solely out of it. • •• • • M nine the gue is arrive ;at half -past nine all is in readiness ; the itudienoeis seated; the impromptu ourteitis are drawnup, and "Rebecca ktyieg the jewels at nervous's feet" stend revealed, • Lady Blanche Going,as the &MOM is looking poritivelybeautifulion kneeling ab Dora's feet, in many colored* garments of crimson and geld and mush gorgeous shades, with much gleamiiigtf preeioud stone% she gazes with eaddened curiosity in the face above her; wbile Dore' raising her Veil - my wedding. veil-withuplifted arnis to look down on her, presents such a 'contrast, with her dead White robe and fair babyleh face, to the darker beciaity'e More glowing My* as takes the audience by storm'. The applause is loud and lengthened; end' Sir George Ashurat'ep enthusiasm reales such a pitch chat when it =Widen he hats to retire to his rode in seeroh of another pair of glees's. • The curtain rises for the emend time on Lady Blanche again and Sir Mark Gore as "The 'Huguenots." This, too, ishighly Iluaressfel, albeit her ladyehip is too dark dor the part. ; Everybody &grew! that Sir Mark, with the sorrowfully determined expression on I take his arm and go with him gladiy, anything vet you, darling?" 10 charmed. „ After this comes " Queen Eleanor pre - muting the agreeable choice of the poisoned bowl or the dagger -to the'faie bathed Rosamond," represented by Blanche Going and Myself ; at the conolusion of whioh Bebe dream me aside to whisper, laugh- ingly, how Blanehe had looked the part eon amore, "3 would nave given very little for your chance cif life bad there been any reality about it," she says. ".She looked -oh, elm looked as if—" with a vicious °tomb; ing-of her small fists, !allot meeming, , Bebe wait% laughing saucy Beatrice, and Lord Chandos as Benediok, makes a rauoh happier tableau than their last, and e„ven- wally we wind up with a scene irorcthe " Queen'e Marie's' of Whyte Melville, in which everybody generally is brought in, and where Blanche Going, as Mary Stuart, M black velvet and the inevitable oap,is the principal feature; though Bebe makes si'very charming Seaton, and even I feel some admiration on beholding Marmaduke as Darnley. . With a sense of relief we come down from the stage and mingle with our midi, once, accepting modestly the oorriPlimente • showered upon us from all Odes. • Mother, who has not been inside' a thea- tre since she was 19, comes up to tell us it was the prettieet sight she ever saw, and to winner° us favorably with &lithe celebrated actors and actresses of her time. • Presently we leave the scene of our tri- umphs and wander into the great cool ball- room, where the decorations of the forego- ing evening are still to be seen. "1 don't believe poor Mary Hamilton ever had your laughing eyee,". say Sir Mark to me, during a paw in the dance. "She must have been seadder, more sedate sort of person altogether.. See how differ- ently love works in different people." "You forget ehe was unhappy in hers. Besides" -saucily- a' how . do, • you know • love has anything to do with my eyes ?" "1 don't anew, of course. I am .only supposing----" "Never &ippon. It 'is foolish, and - fatiguing. Though now we are on the sub - Piot, Monsieur Ohasteler, you shall give me yeurdefinition of the words to love.' If we may accept Whyte Melville's, opinion of you, you must be a very oompetent judge." "1 have no theory of my own; I am a &septic on that point. I will gist you the orthodox definition if you wish, which everybody -in a novel -is bound to accept. It means, fancy to merge the exiatence eci entirely injhat of another as to oblite- rate oneself and live only for him or her, as • the ease may be. Aleootavould be strictly necessary to feel loot and miserable io the. absence of the beloved one. You may call, that fatiguing if *you please.. Do you like the pioture? Horrible, isn't it ?" WWI 1 40 think her ladyship handeorne. That ttouthl SO I eatelh• Marmadrike and she were always good Wanda"' • "Bo 1 ehould stay." “At eni thnit we imagined a teedrerrs there, and dreamed of a roarnsige, bat, you see, 'Deka was bent on doieg more Wina17." " VatIlka. that'll a pretty put. Was tbe teadresse you speak of on her side or his 2" "4 Mutual bovines% I fanpy, 11 11 existed at all. But, as we made a mistake in the prinoipa! part of Uwe probably did iio in all. Besides' -lightly-0 1 ought not to tell you 011 thie, Mrs. 'Carrington. Tales out of school are malicious. lfluoh mere &nip°. eitions as. they are, too." "Why, surely I misty congratulate myself on having gained a victory over go much beauty? It would be a pity to dopy me thia little gratifioation." Nevertheless at heart I am tiorely vexed, and, through pique and wounded feeling, make myself more than agreeable -to Bit Mark for the evening. Not once does 'Duke come near me ; nor does he even appear to notice my wilful flirtation. Just before we break up, indeed, finding myself near to nim in the eupper-roonr, etrong desire to test hie real mind towards me, to compel him to pay me some Wen - tion, seizes me. He is as meal in Mose attendance on Blanche Going, who has kept him oheined to her eide-willingly chained, without doubta-during the greater - part of the evening. " • Having dismissed my partner on some pretext, I look straight at lidarrnaduke, and, shivering slightly, say, "How oold it is 1" "(old 7" replies, he, nonchalantly. "le it ? I thought it warm. Better send Mine one for a ehawl. Here, Gore, will you get Mrs. Carrington something warm to put round her? Shelinds a draught some- where." And, as Sir Maikdepeate obedient, 'Duke -turns once more to his companion, as though forgetful of my very existence. • Lady Blenche smiles diesgreeably. Yesterday -surely only yesterday -he would have been kinder ; he would have gone for this shawl himself. How eagerly, with what extreme tenderness has he ever antioipated my -wants! And now the attentions of a stranger are coneidered-good enough fer me.. Is he tired of tee already? Has he eo soon discovered the poverty of my charms ? Or has that old fasoination returned with redoubled power, to make him regret what is, sisal irrevocable? 'Sick at heart, and mortified to the last degree, I turn away, yet with lifted head and proud, disdainful lips, lest he or ahe All the next day a ma;ked coldness exists should rightly gums myhoughts. between me and my hueband. We mutu- ally avoid each other, and, the better to do so, -fall back for conversation upon those nearest to ue. The nearest -tome,'at all evects, is Bir Gore, • , . Not being, by any means a "gushing" pair, this temporary estrangement is • unnoticed by the greater part of our guest's ; to the few, however, it is plainly visible. Bebe sees it, and iii vexed and troubled. Sir Mark sees it, and is curious. Lady Blanche sees it, and is triumphant. It rs clear that for, whatever ends she has in view, all things ,are working well. Once or twice during the evening I catch her eyes fixed upon me, .and as I do so her glance falls slowly, while a malignant, inso- • lent emile creeps round her mouth. At such moments I am pagan in my senti- ment% and would, it it were possible, mill down all evil thing's upon my enemy. twat* Irina 7. He gives back her Mahe plasidly. Mid theft epitika-- ." I ballots we hark flooideal 041/04"114" " The Pied* • 4 *VW But That le ths attewtle32." • AnTwbore you *e;OXsai yeare to nOnt- mend.' • ` aa Yott tvally maul Then I ilionld like to go right through the country Us St. ' Seeli*d's Well. * years "Moe last I was them." She breathes a soft Digt, as though smelling *erne tender memory tonneeted with her teenier *Mit. " To the Wishing Well ?" eilye 'Duke, "That le a long drive. The day le 114e, however, and.I iiee nothnig to prevent our doing it. Can we manage it, do you think, " Not only horrible, but impracticable, I should say. ' I might manage 'to be supremely happy in the presence of the adored;• I do not think Isiouldbe-amisera- ble' exactly in his absence." • Then laugh-. ing, "lo that really pure love ?' " If eo, I am a seePtio, too. It would be absurdly • weak-minded, and would crinfine one's hap- piness to too little a world, to indulge in such a belief. It must be wiser. to take enjoyment as it comes in every way, and not be so hopelesely dependent 011 0110." "3 entirely agree with you," replied Sir Mark, careleisely, looking 'straight before him, with to !ouch meaning in hie gaze that instinetivelyI follow it, until•my eyes, fall upon Lady Blanche Going, at' the • other end of the room. , • . Evidently tired and fluebed from da no. she has stink with. lazy grace into a low chair, and now, half turning, is laugh- ing up in Marmaduke's face as be leans 'solicitously over her. Even as I look she raises her hand to reposmes herself of the bouquet he holds, and to my impatience it seems that an unnecessarily long time elapses before the flewers go from his hand to here. ' My late careless, frivolous verde appear tolnook me. Why does he look at her like beat? Why is he always by her side? Aro there no other women in the room? . I try to think 'something gay and heart- less to say • to Sir Mark, but jest at the moment nothing will oome to MO. • , Again the vague jealousy of the evening before returns in two. -fold force, and I bring My teeth rather tightly together. After all Marmaduke said to Inc on the balcony last night about making myself conspieti- cue with one, it is, to sey the least of it, rather inconsiatent with ins own behavior now. • What a perpetual simper that woman keeps up, merely to show her white teeth 1 How pleased 'Duke appears to be with her inane conversation I Now if I had ever loved blin this probably would have yoked me,agitis Bah 1 / win think of something (dee. I turn to Sir ,Mark' with it very etuseeisful little laugh. tioan' . -1Aiving illustration of rey text," say, in bending my head my husband'adirees " Whore? Oh I there." Ile stares at Lady Blanche reflectively for a minute or so, and then payee "She is certainly good- looking." "'Geed -looking l' How very faint 1 nurelysilaisiatandstrine.. Are you One of those who codeider it impolitic to admire one woman to another 2" • "As a tube I believe it 10 be a mistake," • replica he Molly ; "but in thicome.I had ito thoinat of peliey. I am never quite ore hinliself. '0 YOu look fatigued, Phyl S. • 1'133400r "3800 no obstacle 10 110 way," I answer, indifferently, without raising my eyes, ‘‘ Then we may consider it ti• settled plan -may we, Mre., Carrington?" gays Lady Blanche, sweetly, • This time I do lift my head, end turn MY eyes slowly upon her ladyship's. Good -morning, Lady Blanche? I my, quietly, and with the utmost composure. in spite of herself she is disconcerted. "Ob I good -morning," she says. " I quite fancied I had seen you somewhere before this morning." if Did you? , You take coffee, I think,. Sir George? Dora, give Sir George some coffee." "1 think I deserve a vete of tninks for my suggeation," says Lady Blanche, recov- ering. • I feel in great spirits revolt already. The drive will do us good, and make us all as fresh as possible.' " True," seam Marataduke ; "we have not had a drive for some time. A picnic near home is, I believe, a mistake. It is a capital idea, Phyllis, is it not ?" - • He addresses himself to me in, a rather anxious, not ta Bay conciliatory, tone • for 'the first time he brammes aware et my unusual silence. "Excellent. Though for my part I hardly require a drive as a tonic. 1 am always as fresh as I can be." (I cannot resist this one tittle thrust.) " Mr.. Thornton" -to Chips; who hes just entered-" come, bit -here by.me ;Acre is no more room." For the first time in my lite I feel my youth an advantage as I watch the faint color rise to her ladyehip's cheeks. Her mouth changes its expreseion. It ia no • longer complacent. At this moment I feel • she hates me with a bitter hatred', and am partly comforted. •N ext day, however, the oleo& partially disperse. Naturally forgiving, I find a ficulty in maintaining wrath for any length- ened 'period; and Alarmaduke appears only too glad to meet my'advances. . The third day, indeed, all seems forgot- ten; our, animosity is laid, and peace is proclaimed. This time, however, there has been no explanation'no kindly reconcilia- tion, and only lifarmadulie and I know that underneath our . perfect amiability lies a thin stratum of ice,. that any chance cold may harden into hopeless solidity. "Phyllis, we have agreed to let the birds hold high holiday to -morrow, it you will promise us a pionio. It seems a pity to. let this last glimpse of allinther go by unmarked," says Marmaduke, speitkiiigto me from the toot of the dinner -table . "01*, how delightful I" orY I, iluebiog with pleasure, and dodging all the flowers. on the table to get a good look at his face. As he is also carefully dodging them in hie turn, with the like laudable purpoee beholding me, it is some time • before we manage it. When Our •eyee do meet we amile eyemathetioaliy. I hardly know why I do so, but se I with- draw my gaze from Miirmeduke I torn upon Sir Mark Gore, who site at niy right hand. ' The ouriousiy oold, calculating expreesion I meet startles me and some- what-44101,8es mei- " Do you not like pionios I" I ask him abruptly. . • "Very much, indeed. Why should ydu think otherwise ?" "Your expression just now was not one Of pleasure. "No? It ought ,to have been. I was inwardly admiring the charming enthusi- asm with which you received your hus- band's proposition.' • "01* 1" return I, ourtly. 'a Yee. As I °told you once before, when I am pleased- I show it ; I am • more • than pleased now; I am enchanted," smiling brightly at the thought. "Do you know that I have not been at a pima, since I was a girl -that is, unmarried ?" . "Not innoe then ? Why you must almost forget what a pionio means. Shall I refresh your memory? It means salted pies, and an eugared fowl, d indescribable and wenn fluids, and your knees in your month, audition. I don't) myself know anything more enjoyable than a picnic." ' • Dear me, how I pity you 1 Whose plonk's have you heen at, may I ask ?" inquire I with scorn. " Tom raorrow, I prci- ise you, you (shall 880 very a different specimen.' ' To -morrow comes to us ad fine as though bespoken. Lady Blanohe, walking into the breakfast -room in the moat °herrn- ing of robes, addresses herself td my husband. . • o • • • " Well, most noble, what are your plaes for to -day ?" she mks with a pretty show of aniraation. . Though I ani in the room, and she knows it, she takes no notice of me whatever does not even, trouble herself to far as to bestow upon me the courtesy of a aa good - morning.", She Woke up at Marrnaduke, and genies at him, and itwitite his answer as thbugh he alone were to be ooneulted. Evidently 10 her opinion the • mistresses of thelomie le of no importance -a roere non- entity in"faet ;,the master is everything. 16 emirs to MO that she might be even graeiotie enoneh to smile in my direetion, but she ornifioes her attentionii--entirely to Mannadtike. Has any one else in the room 'noticed her lowland° ? There is rather a hufih, I fancy, se I move oomponedly to mLin y seat and er the mpg and semen into more regular row% I wonder noxiously whether Meanie, - duke has niatked her breitoli of etiquette. Not he I What man ever 'saw anything Wrong where a pretty Woman is the trans. greaser, more eepeolally when thet pretty Women's' blandishmente , are directed A brief smile quivers beneath Sir Mark's moustache; itis scarcely there when 11 10 gone again, andhe drops his eyes discreetly on, his plate. , • " How shall we 'go ?" asks 'Duke. "We have the, comb, and your trap, Ashurst, and the open ',engage; will that 130 enough? Harriet, whafivill suit you?" • " I shall stay At home, thank yon," saya Harriet,'smiling. "3 know I am letting myself down in your estimation horribly, but ociiifess I detest long drive.. I believe I detest anything lengthened. I am natu- rally fickle." (She is the most sincere creature alive.) "1 shall enjoy lounging about at home, looking at the floaters, and reading, and that."• ' - (To be continued '411Vdfrifera Gemming gilereteiase Wks Vow tent tre- Waii0 IlklaikeroMif TIP ObJeligg VOW bsi been 1nterviairb2 physiloiaasg the reported dangers arising from theme Of (Minima Dr. Hollister said "1 Ws been hi the oonetant habit of pre - bodkin* quinine for mere than 2.5.yeare, and think in asses other than where there le sus- ceptibility to cerebral stimulation and ill some MON Whi011 may be termed idloo312- made% I have never dfseavered 111 effete from ariminietering it. In the oases I have indicated as exceptions the use is nliti advisable. I have never disofivered a per, son who had contracted the habit of using, and depending upon it as a stimulant, and the statement that' it prodUceo siloh her - fel mains is pot oarried out by the. hots. Qa the contrary, individuate with- out nnuiber in depressed condition. of the DeryOtla system are MateriallY nenehtedby ite use, and the treatment of diseasewhich are termed malarial aw. yet no satiefaotory substitute has been, found for it. I oormider it one of the most, efficient and useful drugs in the materia medics. It ia not destructive of blooda corpuscles, Stimulating nutrition, it 18 811 efiloient agent in their production. Like other effioient agente, it should be sub. jeot to medical prescription, and, like any active remedy, he indiscriminate use by the laity may be productive of injury. As to ite use 88 811 ordinary [stimulant, I have never found a person who used it as per-. eistently as he would an aleoholic eti•nu-• hint, and have only known people to take 11 in oases of depression, the effect being to throw off a` threatened malarial attack. In 35 years I have seen any number of malarial diseases in this western country, arid, so far aff I know, the benefits of - quinine are recOgnized by physioiane of all &asses, and I have consulted many with reference to its use." A number of other leadingphysioiand were seen, and their observations were all oor- reborative ag the Matemeot of Dr, Hollis - 'tor. The bead of a well known retail drug firm said "Bo far ais nix observation goes, the traffic in quinine is confined to legitimate ohannele. The bulk of it is 'probably sold without preecription, but in- vestigation would generally prove that it had been ordered by a physidan. It is often the ease that a person feeling dull„ heavy and abnormally depreesed, calla upon , his physionin for a prescription, and the -- latter says simply: • Go and get eo many quinine pine, and take them so many times a day.* , The medicine is procured without „. written prescription, but really under di- rection of a pbysician, I have not noticed that quinine is ever purchased in excess by women of any class, and I must discounten- aim the statement gerterallythat 10 10 used improperly by men or women." A KulKlax Parade. From the authentic history of "Tho.Ku Klux Klan ;its. Origin, Growth and Dis- bandment," by Rev: D, L. Wilson, in •the July Century,we quote the following: "Boon after nightfall the streets were lined with an expectant and excited throng of people. Many oame'from the surrounding country. Themeinbers of the Klan in' the county left their homes in the Ofternoon and travelled alone or in squads of Iwo or three, with their . parapher- nails, carefully concealed. If questioned, they answered thsa they were .gobig to Pulaski to. me the Ku Klux .parade. .After nightfall they assembled at desig- nated pointehear the four main roads leading into the town. Here they donned their robes and disguises, arid put covers of gaudy materials on their horses. A sky- rocket sent up' from some point in ,thetown was the signal to mount' and move.The different companies met and joined 'each other on the publics aquare in parfait silence; the discipline sugared to be admirable. Not e word was spoken: Necessary orders were, given by means of the whistles. In single file, in death -like with funeral • slowness, they marched andcountermarehed thronghout the town. • While the column was headed north on one street it Wea. going south On another. By cross - Ing over in opposite directions the lines were kept up in almost unbroken con- tinuity. The • effect was to create the im- pression of vest numbers. This' marching andeountermarehing was kept up for about .two hours, and the Mari departed as noise- . lessly as they mune. The nublio weie more than -ever-myatified. The -efforts-of the most onnons to find our Who were Ku • Klux failed. One gentleman from the country was oonfident that he could iden- tify the- riders by the horses. But, as we- bers said; the horses were disguised as well as the riders, Determined not to be baffled, during a halt of the column he ifted the cover of a horse that was near him, and reeognited. his . own steed and meddle, on which he had ridden into town. The town people were onthe alert 10 et30 who *lithe young men of the town would be with the KuKlux. All of them, almost without ex. • oeption„were marked mingling freely and conspicuously With the spectators.. Per.• the greatest illueion.produced was in regard to the nurabere taking part in the parade. Reputable citizens were confi- dent that the .number, was not leas than • three thousand. Others whose imagine - time were more easily wrought upon were quite certain there were ten thousand. The truth is that the number of Ku Klux in the parade did not exceed four hundred. This delusion is regard to•numbere pre• veiled wherever the Ku Klux appeared. It illustrates how little the testimony of even an eye -witness is worth in regard to any- thing winch makes; a deep impression on him by reasoo of its mysteriousness." Whey All Looked Well. I hear that the Princess of Wales looked, ,nioet charming at the weading of the Prinoe of Anhalt with the Princees Elizabeth of Hesse. 11.4 H, who walked in the pro - onion witli.the Duke of Ottnibridge, was attired in pink satin, with beautiful lace and a profusion of pearls andolittnionds. The En:sprees of Itussia, who' Walked with the t3rown Prince of Germany, wore mauve • satin with magnificent jeWels ; but in the matter of diemonds the bride °the:sone everybodyras olie wore the famoos jewels of the Electors of geese, and they literally dazzled the eyes. Her drabs was white &din, trimmed with myrtle and orange, flovvere.-London World. The statue of Governor Bookiogham WM unveiled yesterday at Hartford, Conn., with great eclat. SiX thousand trine were present. The Island of Antiooati Wail Bold by 'motion at Murray Bay Court House on Tuesday morning for 0101,000. , The quebOo Governm,enthas notified the clerks ,in the Railway Department that' their Services will be dismeneed With. Inane About Picnics. . The most important part ot a picnic, however, is not the weather or the plaoe er the dinner. You may choose the most beautiful spot in the world, and 'Tread the moat delicious lunch ever prepared, and yet have the whole thing a complete failure, simply because the company was not well -- selected. Out of doors, where the people are free from formality, unless they are congenial friende,'and what Mrs. Whitney calls " Real Folio," they will be likely to feel ill at ease; and miss the supporf given by the company, clothes and manners. Small picoice, for this reason among others, are usually much pleasanter than large p1e- 12i00i :Inmaking up the party, be suee to leave behind the girl who is certain tribe too • " warm or too cold, or to think some other place better than the one where she is, and who -has a "horrid time ". 10 she has to submit to any personal ineonvenlence for the sake of others; and with her, the boy Who loves.te tease, and who is quite sure that his way is the only good way. Put into their places some others, young or old, who love simple pleasures, and are ready to help others to enjoy them. Next in im- portance to the company is the place. It must not be at a, great distance, or you will, all be tired, not to say, crows, when you, arrive there. It must be reaeonably shady and not too far from a, !supply of good drintiog water If the °employ are, to • walk, you . must be especially careful not be overburdened with. baskets and wraps, for the bundles which, seemed so light'wheo you started are sure weikki down muoh more heavily before you reach your destination. Be careful to, ' have this work fairly distributed. Never mart until you are sure that you knowjust Where you are going and the best way ot getting there. Wandering about to choose", ' a plaoe, and thinicitig constantly to find one more desirable, ie very fatiguing. That Matter should be settled beforehand by two %three of the party, and the others should., go straight to the spot and make the best of •If they do not like rt they can cheerio a different place when their turn comes to ,make the. selection. -From "Picnic," b21, Susan Anna Brown, in St. Nicholai for July. Indian Marriage Advertisements. The advertisements publiebed in The Indian Social • Reformer and Marriage Advertiser, which aims at the promotion of widow marriages and the discouragement of obild marriages, oticasionally affords very amusing reading. Take the following: (35) "4 khatri of a very high family of Ths.pur Gote, aged 18, who is giving np this year for the middle school examina- tion, wishes to myry a widow, whoee age should be 12 or 13 years, who must be nice looking, and who must also have received some education." A school boy of 18; • advertising for a widow of 12 or 18! A Bengalee gentleman (14) describes himself . "as of fine feature and fair oolor." What bachelor with a heart will • nob ab once &newer No. 32, who is "a Bengalee lady vino meanie a widow when she was 11, years of age, and who possess a lair com- plexion and long, beautiful hair'?" An eligible, No. 88, who. desoribes 'himself aa employed on the Sind, Punjaub Delhi IXteilivity, with a salary of 14rsper month, wants to marry '4 with any kind of mire- ' mony." Another gentleman, • whose wishee are honored by being noticed by the, editor, ff has expressed his desire to marry widow whe did not see the face of her. lamband." A man named Chowan had several+ riba- broken and was otherwise seriously injured, at Stratford on Tuesday by a runaway horse pitching him out of his buggy. Girl ushers are to be a feature in a new, theatre in New York. At Embden, Me., while a party of young: men were serenading Prank Milker, a. farmer, who was married Sunda* evening, Walker fired three shots at thern, one striking Albert Daggett and killing him. Six bushels of oherriee from one tree ia what M. D, Roper, in Davidson oothity, North Carolina, gathered. EN sold theta at Pt per bushel. "Ma," said a goring lady, "whet is the remota they print 'laughter' every now and then in the speeehee of M. P.'s?" "So the • reader will know who'll to laugh, ray dear. Nobody would ever think of laughing when reading a Member of Parliament's 'speech, unless laughter Was euggested."--lenden Punch.