HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Advocate, 1887-08-18, Page 6Tke S.ea Preeae e!id the Scarf!
Hung on the easement that looked o'er the main,
FMttered a scarf of
Auld a gay bold breeze paused, to flatter and
tease
This trifle of delicate htlel
You are lovelier far than the proud skieS are,"
He said with a vaCp that 81011Od ;
'You are fairer to me thau the beautiful sea
Oh, why d..? you stay hare and hide?
You are wasting your life in this dull, dartt
room ;"
And he fondled her silken folds.
O'or the casement lean but a little, my queen,
And see what the great world bolds;
flow the wonderful blue of your matchless hue
Cheapens both sea and sky
You are far too bright te be lliddeU fr°111 Sig14ir
Come, with me, darling, 1yr
Vender his whisper and sweet hie caress,
Flattered and pleased was she,
The arms of her lover lifted her over
The casement out to sea;
Close toll's breast she was fondlyprassed,
Kissed once by his laughing mouth;
Then dropped to her grave in the cruel wave,
While the wind went whistling south.
Wheeler Wilcox.
SIR HUGH'S LOVES.
"Yes, on my mother's side, but I have
310t been to Redmond Hall for an age. Ohl
Hugh had rather a disappointment last
year; he was engaged to another lady, and
she jilted him—at least that is the popular
edition of the story; but anyhow the poor
old fellow seemed rather badly hit."
"And he has married so soon!" in an
incredulous tone.
" Of course, caught at the rebound like
nattily other fellows. Don't you know how
the old adage runs, Miss Trafford—
Shall I waisting with clesoatre
Die because a wonilin's f aura,
If she be not faire for nue,
What care Ihow faire slue be.
That is the right Bort of spirit, eh, Percy."
" How should I know ?" returned Percy,
morosely—he was evidently out of humor
about something; and then, as though he
feared to bring on himself one of Erie's
jesting remarks, he roused himself with an
effort. " Well, Toddlekins, how's Flibber-
tigibbet ; come and sit on my knee, and I
will tell you the story of Mr. Harlequin
Puss -in -the -boots."
"My name is not Toddlekins." returned
Fluff, indignant11., " and I don't care about
Flibbertigibbet or Puss -in -boots.; your
stories are stupid, Percy, they never hafts
any end." And then, with the capricious-
ness of a spoiled child, she sidled up to her
chief favorite, Erle, and put her hands con-
fidingly in his.
"When are you going to take me again to the
Zoological Gardens, Mr. Erie ?" she said in
a coaxing voice; Fern wants to go too,
don't you, dear ?" but her sister shook her
.head at her with a faint smile, and went on
with her work.
"1 don't see my way dear yet awhile,
eussy," replied Erle, as he smoothedFluff's
curls, and here he and Percy exchanged
meaning looks; for duringhis grandfather's
absence from town Erie had paid frequent
visits to Beulah Place, and on one occasion
had actually carried off the child for a day
at the Zoological Gardens in spite of Fern's
-demur that she hardly knew what her
mother would say.
"But surely you can do as you like, Mr.
Erle," persisted the child, ernestly.
" Percy tells us that you are so rich, and
ride such beautiful horses in the park, and
.that you have nothing to do but just enjoy
yourself; why can't you take Fern and me
4o the Zoolo,,aical Gardens ?"
" Oh, Fluff, Fluff 1" remonstrated her
!sister in a distressed tone, " what will Mr.
Erle think of you ?"
Erle had looked embarrassed at the
.child's speech, but Percy laughed, and the
'next minute he rose.
." Do you mind if I leave you for a few
!minutes, Fern; I have a little business that
twill take about a quarter of an hour—oh, I
will be back in time," as Erle seemed in -
dined to remonstrate; "you may depend
upon it that I will not make you late for
dinner, as la Belle Evelyn is to be there,"
and with a nod at his sister he left the
!room.
Fern looked a little troubled. " I hope
he has not gone to meet --" and then
she flushed up and did not finish her
sentence; but Erle understood her in a
moment.
Miss Davenport would not be pleased,
I suppose --oh yes, of course he has gone to
meet her. What a pity your rnother is not
here Miss Trafford; she would have kept
him 'in order ?"
" Crystal will be so angry," replied Fern,
anxiously, and dropping her voice. so that ,
Fluff should nob overhear her; but the
child, disappointed that her request had
been refused, had betaken herself to the
farthest corner of the room with her kitten,
to whom she was whispering her displeasure.
" She never likes Percy to meet her or show
her any attention;
I bave told him over 1
and over again, but he will not listen to
sae."
I am afraid he is rather smitten with
your friend Miss Davenport—she is wonder.
fully handsome, certainly. Yes, one cannot
be surprised at Percy's infatuation—you o
are the gainer in one way, Miss Trafford, s
for Peroy never ca,nae half so often. until
Miss Davenport lived with you."
"That makes it all the more wrong," a
returned Fern, firmly ; " it was Percy's
duty to come and see mother, and yet he
stayed away for months at a time. Crystal t
has never encouraged him—she never will, p
I know in her heart she does notlike Percy, g
and yet he will persitit in haraseing her;" b
"Paint heart ne'er won fair lady," I
returned Erie, lightly and then, 08 he saw r
the tears in Fern's eyes, his manner I
'changed. " You must not trouble yourself
about it," he said, kindly ; ", it will be
Percy's own fault if he gets baddly bitten:
even I, a demplete stranger to
Mist Davenport -1 believe I have
not seen her more than three
• times—can quit endorse what you say ;
her manner is most repelling to Percy. He
t be b 'tolled I think."
" I wish he were different," she replied,
with a sigh; I know he makes mother
often very unhappy, though she never says
so. He seems to find fault with for our
poverty, and says hard things to mother
because she will work foe us all."
"Yes, I kriow, and yet Percy is not a
tbad-hearted fellow," replied Erie, in a
sympathising ton; " hole terribly Sore I
know, becauSe your mother refuses his
help ; he has told me Oyer and over again
'that with his handsome allowance he could
'keep her in corefors, and that he 'Mows his
„grandfather would net tobjeot, It makes
him bitter—it does indeed, Miss Trafford,
M havaahis gifts refused:'
s' How can we help it ?" returned Fern,
it? a chocking voice. " Percy ought to know
that we cannot nee any ef Mr. Hunting-
don's money ; neither my mother nor
weuld touch a penny of it. Don't you
luiew," straggling with her tears," that my
poor father died broken-hearted, and he
might have saved him."
" Yes, I know," returned Erle, looking
kindly at the weeping girl, "and for one
cannot say you are wrong. My uncle has
dealt very harshly, and I fear cruelly, by
his own flesh and blood—My poor mother
often cried as she told me so; but she
always said that it was not for up to blame
•him who lived under his ropf and profited
by his generosity. He was a benefactor to
us in our trouble—for we were poor too."
But here Erle checked himself abruptly,
for he did not care to tell Fern that his
father had been a gambler, and had sqnan-
doted all his wife'e property; but he re-
membered almost as vividly as •though it
were yesterday, when he was playing in
their miserable lodgings at Naples, after
his father's death—how a grave stern-faced
man came into the room and sat down be-
side his mother ; and one speech had
reached his ears;
"Never mind all that, Beatrice, you are
happier as his widow than his wife. For-
get the past, and come home with me, and
your boy shall be mine."
Erie certainly loved his uncle, and it
always pained him to remember his wrong-
doing. In his boyish generosity he had
oneeventt red to intercede for the disinherited
daughter, and had even gone so far as to
implore that his uncle would never put him
in Percy's place ; but the burst of anger
with which his words were received cowed
him effectually.
" A Trafford shall never inherit my pro.
perty," Mr. Huntingdon had said, with a
frown so black that the boy positively
quailed under it; " I would leave it all to
an hospital first --never presume to speak to
me of this again. Percy does not require
any pity ; when he leaves Oxford he will
read for the Bar. We have arranged all
that; he will have a handsome allowance;
and with his capaoity—for his tutor tolls
me he is a clever fellow—he will soon carve
his way to fortune ;" and after this, Erle
certainly held his peace.
CHA.PTER XIV.
CRYSTAL.
I do remember it. 'Twas such a face
As Guido would have loved to look upon.
Cornwall.
She was as tender
As infancy and grace.
Shaksreare.
Fern looked a little surprised at Erie's
speech. "1 did not know you had been
poor too," she returned, drying her eyes
and taking up her work again.
"Yes, but I was very young, and knew
little about it ; my poor mother was the
one to suffer. Well, she wanted for noth-
ing when my uncle took as to Belgrave
House; he was very good to her until she
died; and," with a slight hesitation in his
voice, " he is good to me."
Yes, and you are right to be fond of
him," returned Fern, frankly. "Some-
times I think it is not quite kind of me to
speak to you of Percy and our troubles,
because it seems to oast a reflection on one
you love and "but Erie interrupted
her.
"1 hope you will never withhold your
confidence, Miss Trafford ; I should not
feel that you treated me 118 a friend if you
did not allow me to share some,,of your
troubles. Percy and I are like brothers,
and Percy's mother and sister--" but
here he paused, and a flush orossed his face.
How could he tell this girl that she should
be as a sister to him, when he knew that
even to be alone with her for a few minutes
made his heart beat with strange thrills of
happiness? His sister, never
Fern felt a little confused at the sudden
pause. She wished in a vague sort of way
that he would finish his sentence and tell
her what he naeant ; the silence was be -
coining awkward.
Fern worked on desperately, but her
cheeks were burning. Both of thein felt
relieved when they heard footsteps ap-
proaching—Erle especially, for some dim
instinct told him that in another minute
he should have betrayed himself. '
Both of them rose, simultaneously, as
the door opened; and at the same moment
Fluff, hugging herself among the sofa
cushions, whispered into the kitten's ear:
"They don't know that I heard every
word. One of these days I shall go and
see grandpapaf and ask him why we may
not come and live with him as well as
Percy. Erle would like it, I know, he is so
fond of Fern."
Erle certainly looked a little amused as
his friend enteredthe room accompanied by
O ball dark girl, very plainly dressed. But
expression changed as he noticed
Percy's moody looks, and the air of haughti.
nese observable in the manner of his com-
panion.
Miss Davenport was evidently very much
annoyed ; she shook hands with Erle, with-
ut deigning to look at him, and walked
traight to the fireplace.
Fern followed her. " I am so glad you
aye come home so early, Crystal; Fluff
nd I have waited tea for you, but we
ardly expected you yet."
" I am sorry you waited for me," returned
he girl, who called herself Crystal Daven-
ort, in a constrained voice Mrs. Norton
ave me some tea, because she said I must
O tired playing with the children,"
Come, we must be going, Erle," inter-
upted Percy, sharply, " or we shall be
ate for dinner. Good-bye, Torn; tell my
mother I am sorry to miss her. Good this Miss Selby, though, according M
evening, Miss Davenport;" but he hesitated, Percy's account, he met her very often.
as though he did not venture to offer his
hand,
Good.night, Mr, Trafford," she re-
turned, indifferently; but she did not turn
her long neck as she spoke. And Erie con-
tented himself with a bow.
What is it Crystal dear ." asked Fern,
how kind he had been to her that even
ina, yes, she was „glad they were friends
al -1% that he cared to hear about thei
troubles, He was so unselfish, eo differon
to other Pang inen—Ferif did not know
single young man except Erle, so her know
ledge was pot very reliable ; and then, wit
an odd transition of thought, she wonder@
who Miss Selby could be, and why Pero
called her la Belle Evelyn, and looked a
Erle so mischievously.
But presently, Nyhon Fluff had gone
grumblin,,,,a with her kitten, and th
prettytea things had been washed and pu
i
away n the big corner cupboard, and th
kettle was silent, and only a cricket ohirpe
on the hearth, Fern at down besid
Crystal, and put her arm affectionatel
round her. "Now you can tell me wha
has been troubling you, darling ;" she said
in a coaxing voice.
It seemed a pitythatthere was no one t
see the two faces, so close together;
artist would have sketched them as Nigh
and Morning. Fern's soft English fairnes
naade a splendid foil to Crystal's olive cow
plexion and dark southern coloring. Th
girl was superbly handsome, in spite of th
bitter lines round the mouth and the hard
defiant curve of the lips. As Fern spoke
her dark eyes flashed angrily.
" He has been speaking to me again,'
she said, in an agitated voice. " He has
dared to follow me and persecute me ; and
he calls it love—love 1" with immeasura-
ble contempt in her tone; " and when I
tell him it is uugenerous and wrong, he
coMplains that I have robbed him of all
peace. Fern, I know he is your brother
and that I ought not to speak against him;
but how am to help hating him ?"
" Oh, no 1" with a thudder, for Fern's
gentle nature was not capable of Crystal's
passion; " you must not hate poor Percy
—he cannot help loving you."
" A poor sort of love," returned Crystal,
scornfully; "0 love that partakes too much
of the owner's selfishness to be to my testa.,
Fern, how can he be your mother's
He has not a grain of her noble front'
nature, and frona acceunts he does not
take after your father."
" But he is very clever, Crystal, and Mr,
Erie says he is really kind-hearted," re-
turned Fern, in a troubled tone; "people
admire and like him, and there are many
and many girls, Mr. Erie says, would be
ready to listen to him. He is very hand-
some, even you must allow that, and it is
not the poor boy's fault if he has lost his
heart to you."
Crystal smiled at this sisterly defence,
but the next moment she said, tenderly:
"Yon are such a little angel of goodness
yourself, Fern, that you never think people
are to blame—you would always excuse
them if you could; you have so littl know-
ledge of the world, and have led such a
recluse life, that you hardly know how rigid
society really is; but I should have thought
that even you would have thought it wrong
for your brother to come here so often in
your mother's absence and bring his friend
with him; it is taking advantage of two
defenceless girls to inkaide himself and Mr.
Erle on us in this way."
"But Percy never knows when mother is
out," replied Fern, in a puzzled tone.
Crystal was silent; she held a different'
opinion but after all she need not put these
ideas into Fern's innocent mind. It was
her own conviction that Percy in some way
was always aware of his inother's absence.
At first he had come alone, and now he
always brought Erle with him, and she
wanted to say a word that might put Fern
on her guard; but at the present moment
she was too full of her own grievance:
"You know, Fern," she continued, in a'
very grave voice "11 this goes on and your
brother refuses tohear reason, I shell be
obliged to seek another home, where I
shall be free from his unmanly persecution;.
yes,"—as Fern uttered an incredulous ex)
clamation—" though I love you all so
dearly, and have grown to look upon this
as a home, I shall be forded to go a second
time into the world,"
" But Percy must hear reason," returned
Fern, tearfully. " I will ask mother to
talk to him, and I know Mr. Erle has given
him hints. We cannot part with you,
Crystal. I have never had a companion of
my own age before, and mother is so often
out."
"Well, well," observed Crystal sooth-
ingly, " I have told him the truth to -night,
and perhaps he will believe it; but there
we will not talk about your brother any
more. And so he left you alone with Mr.
Erle, Fern ?"
Oh yes, but we were not long alone,"
returned the girl, innocetly.
You and Mr. Erie seem good friends."
" Yes, Isuppose so," rather shyly ; "he
was very kind to me this evening."
"Did he tell you anything about the
beautiful Miss Selby who is to dino with
her aunt, Lady Maltre.vers, at Belgrave
House to -night ? a cousin of Mr. Erle's,
Lady Denison, is to aot hostess."
4' No," returned Fern, rather faintly,
but she was conseious of a setup pain as
Crystal spoke.
"And yet he meets her very often. Ah,
Well, young men do not tell ell their secrets.
Of course Mr. Erie's life is very different
from ours ; we are working bees, Fern, and
he is a butterfly of fashion. When he
comes here he makes himself very bright
and plee,eant, but he knows nothing of his
real life."
Nb, of course not," But a sort of chill
passed over Fern as Crystal spoke. Why
did she say these sort of things SO often to
het ? did she think it wrong for her and
Mr. Erle to be friends? was she warning
her, and against what? Well, it was true
she knew nothing of his life except what he
choose to tell her. He had never rcientione
ff
d
Few ladies dined at Belgrave House, but
to -night she Was to be there. For the first
Hine Fern's gentle nature felt jarred' and
out of tune, The bright little fire had
burnt hollow ; there was a faint clinging
inlet fttaii the fog outside: the orioket had
ceased to chirp. Feria glaneed round her
anxiously, ae the two young men left the disconsolately; hoar poor and shabby it
room; but Crystal only lifted hereyebroWa niust look to hid), ehe thought, after the
and glanced t Fluff, whose ctirlY head was rooms at Belgrave ileum
distinetly viaibio I eti Fetal said cheerfUlly,But the riat naornent the Started bp in
" very Well, We have our tea, and then a. cbilecierite-attiken Way. ." There is
it will be Fluffs bed-titite ;" and then With- ! inOther'S !AV, Crystal, and We have
out another Werc1 busied heiaelf With her neglected the fire ; Poor Mother, Mid she
eimplepteptifatione.• Will be so tired and told," AticlEerri drove
tiO Waif het a festive meal. In aPtta: batik her rebelliehe theeghta bravely, and
of all her 'cheery efforts Crystal sat quite seized the bellOWS and -friaiiipidatedtheilre,,
silent; with a cloud on her handsOnie face, while Crystal cirevi up the Oldeasy-dhait;
and Fluff had turned sulky itt the inehtlen and placed a foctetoel. Idre Trafford stifled
of her bed -tine. SO veto fell to thinking as she saw these propittatiorie lOr her dein.,
of Erle'si look ad he bitad her good.inglit fort ; her pale face tolaifed feat its gravity
...AP Fern Waited Won bar, tatting off he
bonnet, and smoothing the beautifut gre
hair with eager-lovingfingere:
" Thank you, dearest," she said, drawin
down the girl's face to hers ; " and nos
tell noe what you both have hem doing."
" Percy and Mr. Edo have been Inge,'
was Fern's answer, aa slue took her place a
her mother's feet ; " and Percy left hi
love for yoti, and wad so sorry to miss you.'
Mrs. Trafford mado no comment on thia
piece of information, but she glanced
qnickly at Crystal ; perhaps something in
the girls face warned her, for the at once
changed the subject, to her daughter's sur-
prise, and without asking any questions
began telling them about the invalid.
But after they had chatted for a feW
minutes, Crystal rose, and, sayingshe was
very tired, bade them both good -night,
Mrs. Trafford looked after the girl
anxiously, and then her glance fell on her
daughter. Fern was looking into the fire
dreamingly, and there was Usort of wistful-
ness in her eyes; when her mother touched
her gently she started.
"My little sunbeam does not look quite
so bright to -night," she said tenderly, "I
am afraid you have been tiring yourself,
Fern, trying to finish Florence's frock."
"Oh, no," returned the girl quickly, and
then a frank blush came to her face as she
met her mother's, clear searching look.
" Well,I will confess, as Flaff says "—laugh-
ing a little unsteadily--" I am afraid Twits
juet a little bit discontented."
" You discontented, my pet ?" in an in-
credulous voice, for Fern's sweet unselfish -
nese and bright content made the sunshine
of their humble home. There seemed no
chord of fretfulness in the girl's nature; her
pure health and buoyant spirits found no
cause for complaint. Nea lived her youth
again in her child, and she often thanked
Heaven, even in her desolate moments, for
this one blessing that had never disap-
pointed her.
Fern pressed a little closer to her mother
and wrapped her arms round her. "But it
is true, mother; I had quite a naughty fit.
Crystal talked about Peroy and Mr. Erle.
It was not so much what she said as what
she implied that troubled me, but she
seemed to think that our life was so differ-
ent to theirs—that we were poor people and
they had nothing in common with us, and
that it was better not to be friends. Some-
how, it made me feel all at once how shabby
and commonplace one's life really was."
Mrs. Trafford sighed, but there was no
reproach in her voice. "Yes, dear; I un-
derstand, it is quite natural, and I should
have felt the same at your age. I wish, for
your sake, my darling, that things were
different ; but Crystal is very wise and right
in trying to make you understand the bar-
rier between Erle Huntingdon and us."
"But, mother," with a burning face, "we
are gentlefolk; surely it does not matter so
much that weare poor."
The world would not endorse that,
Fern," replied her mother gently, "it is
apt to turn a cold shoulder to genteel pov-
erty. The hardest lot in life, in my opinion,
is the life of a poor gentlewoman."
"But Mr. Erle does not looledowri upon
us," persisted Fern, "or he would not come
so often. He always seas that no room in
Belgrave House is so homelike as this room
and that he is happier than in the houses of
his grand friends."F
A troubled look came to the mother's face
and involuntarily she pressed her child closer
to her, as though to defend her from some
threatened danger, and her voice was not
quite so clear as usual as she answered:
"11 is Erie's nature to say pleasant
things. He is a gentlemanly, kind-hearted
fellow, and I am sure that we all like him
very much; but I should not care for my
little daughter to see too much of him.
Erie Huntingdon is not the friend I would
choose for you, Fern."
"But, mother "—opening her eyes widely
at this—" if we like him, why should we
not be friends ?"
Mrs. Trafford hesitated; she hardly liked
to disturb Fern's mind, and yet she wished
to put her on her guard.
"You see, Fern' she answered with as-
sumed lightness, "we are poor people—very
poor people; we have to work for our bread
and to be content with simple fare; but my
young cousin Erie is rich—he will be his
uncle's heir one day, and, no doubt, he will
marry some rich, handsome girl. All the
world is before him ; he has only to look
round him and choose, like the prince in a
fairy story. You inay be sure there is some
gay young princess waiting for him some.
where. Are you cold, iny darling ?" for Fern
shivered a little.
"We have let the fire get rather low, "re-
turned Fern, jumping up to replenish it;
but somehow her voice was not quite under
her control and her hand was a little un-'
steady. "Oh. yes, her mother and Crystal
were right; these foolish dreams of hers
could never come true; she would have t0.
see her malice ride away some day in quest The longed street car line in the world
of some dark-haired princess. And yet, m is in Argentine Republic, South America,
the fairy stories, the real princess was often and it will also be the only line in the world
poor and wore a shabby dress and had got- to run sleeping cars for the accommoda-
den hair and--" but here Ferri banished tion of its patrons.. The road has 200 miles
these thoughts resolutely and came back to of track, connecting a number of towns in
the vicinity of Buenos Ayres, and its eqiiip-
ment has been supplied by a Philadelphia
car company. Hotses are ueed-as motive
8
1
turned rPtInd on me anti accused me Of
Want of prudence in taking a stranger un-
der our roof, and asked me how Iknewthat
the was a fit companion for his sister?"
"As though Crystal were not the dearest
and hest girl in the world," returned Fern
indignantly. "Never mind, mother, he
enly wanted to make you unpomfortable.
He is too fond of Crystal to doubt her for a
moment. I hope you told hire that you
were acquainted with her wholehistory. '
"Yes, and 1 informed him at the same
time that you were ignorant of it, though
Crystal meant to tell you herself one day, I
told him that, to put his mind at rept, I
could satisfy him that Crystal came of good
parentage; that she had influential friends
and protectors if •1se chose to appeal to
them; that though she was apparently a
lonely waif, she had in reality good friends
and a most comfortable home.'
" ' Then, 'suppose, she has alienated them
by that confounded temper of hers,' "he said
with a sneer, "but I could see he was sur-
prised and not altogether pleased, but I
wished him to knew that she was not with-
out protectors if he drove her from our
ro?lfP. eroy is very selfish," sighed Fero,
"Crystal was getting, a little happier; she
was beginning to look less miserable and to
take more interest in things, but this even-
ing she has the old restless look,"
"That is because she will not take my
advice," returned her mother quickly.
"Crystal is a dear girl and I am very fond
of her, but I think most of her troubles
come from her own undisciplined nature;
she is the object of the tenderest love, the
most divine forgiveness; there are kind
hearts waiting for her if she would only
generously respond to them. She bas told
me her story under the seal of secrecy, as
you know well, or she would long ago have
been in her right place. My heart bleeds
for the friends who love her so, and are
seeking her so vainly, No "—rising, as to
close the subject—" I am very sorry for
Crystal, but I do not pity her as you do. I
have known what it is to sin, but I have
never been too proud to acknowledge my
error. Crystal acknowledges hers with bit-
ter tears and most true penitence, but she
will not be forgiven. 'Let me expiate my
sin a little longer,' that is all she says."
"Yes, I know," whispered Fern, "she is
always telling me that she does not deserve
to be happy. Is that true, mother ?"
"My child, do any of us deserve it? Hap-
piness is a free gift, like the sunshine that
rises alike ' on the evil and the good.' Do
you remember your father's dyingwords?
—' I believe in the forgiveness of sins '—ah,
it is all forgiven up there. In Heaven one
has a Father," and with trembling lips Nea
turned away. Her punishment had been
great, she told herself; she had deserted her
earthly father, and now her son had deserted
her. "One sows the wind to reap the whirl-
wind," she thought, as she mused bitterly
over her boy's weakness.
iTo be continued.)
now They Direct Strangers in the
Country.
Don't know; ask next man.
Third stone house after you cross two
roads.
Second house after you pass the cabin
with a big black dog.
When you come to a barnyard with a
lame duck, halloo to the house. That
farmer knows everybody.
It's the second house beyond the one
that has a red barn with a big door chalked
up. That's Bob Smith's account of his
chicken crop.
Take the fork of the road in your left
hand; then go on till you come to the big
elm. When you get there, if anybody
comes along ask them.
It's just three miles and an eighth.
There are seven houses on the left and six
on the right. That makes it the fourteenth.
Go straight ahead.
It is about two looks from here. Go to
the top of that hill and take a look. Then
go as far as you saw; take another look.
When you get there you'll see it.
Turn around the little church to the
right. Keep the ridge on your left. Go half
O mile, three-quarters, perhaps a mile. If
you know the man you're after you'll find
him along there.
Take your second right hand road ;. °rose
two left hand roads and take your third.
Don't go up the first right hand, but take
the second. There's a well sweep in the
front yard and a wheel pump in the barn-
yard.
After you pass a barnyard with a red
waggon and a white mare with a spavin on
her left hind leg you'll see a stone house of
one story with roof sunk in. That ain't the
house, but if the dog don't bite you you can
find out there.
South American, Horse Cars.
her footstool a little pale and drooping.
Mrs. Trafford's keen eyes noted every-
thing, but she wisely forebore to continue
the subject. Fern was so docile and humble, power ihstead of steana, because fuel is
she thought so little of herself, that her dear, horses cheap, and the people are slow.
mother hoped that -ht3r words would take TWO tons of coal will buy a horse and har-
effect. She had already given her son a ness.
hint that his friend's visite were rather too The sleeping cars are 0, curiosity.
They are four in number, eighteen feet in
frequent; she must speak to him seriously length, and are furnished with four berths
sister.
nstethne subject and appeal to hislove for his each, ivhich are made to roll up when not
in use. The cars are furnished with lava.
She changed the subject now by asking tmies, water.enoiers, linen presses and
Fern what was the matter with Crystal.
"Percy has been speaking to her again, other conveniencee, and are finished
throughout with rnahog,any. The other
mother. He went to meet her when she ! cars are foui dcmble-deeked open cars;
was coming back ftera the Nortons% andI twenty platfani. oars, tWenty gondola cars,
Crystal is very, very angry With him." I six tefrigerittot saisi foaroaltry ears, fir -
Mrs.
a
Mkt. Trafford's face darkened—she looked nishea witb hoops, eight mom curs, two
xceedingly displeaeed, Was this how Percy derrick tare for lifting heavy Material, and
rotetted his Sitter ? leaving her alone with
rle'liiiiitingdori While he tatried out his 200 13OX cars. They are ready for Oliphant
aha will be sent tot, their destination in a
wii selfish purposes. Thie was worse than
he had imagined; but Vern Misunderstood feW days.—A nie•
rican Manufaoturer.
he reason of het Mother'e Vexation.
"It it very wrong of Percy to worry
1
11
8
6
13
a
11
Woman's Unselfishness.
ryetal in this Way„ buff poor boy, 1 do be- Harry (preparing for the cOuntry)--
ieve he le honestly in love with lierw I de "There ought to be tooto In oho of the
ish sh0could carefor him, it Weida Make trunks for my things. I got you six."
101 ad different." ConsiderateWife-,--" You forget, dear,
" OrYetal will neer eate for any one; at that my elk dresses take a; trunk each. But
east "-,-,-cliecking herself as though slio had did net forget you. Hem is a nice little
teited a fact erroneously—" she Will never' riatehel you oan have all to yourself."...
aro for Percy. I have fold hid' so, and 110
eggedhim not to petseente her With hie •
ttehtione, as, if hepersistd,shoha&rnade t would 'he quite in ko9Otig With
p her Mind to seek another heine. Percy rOniantie career; if, instead Of
as dreadfully angry When I told hire this, being dead, he Would turh up"att
nd refused t� bolidVd bid and ilia he COVereedf Garden,