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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1897-12-10, Page 22 T1 tt TIMkS, DECEMBER, 10, 1.8 7. a �+ \1.r \i..r ���i�R �/(te�rr�r1?�,�f••*t'�=�ei l �r +.i he Author of 'fA Witness," "A Stender Clue," "Dangerous Ground," "Against Odds," Etre Etc. 41ri lis*\.ter \t.r k ..r k- tt r 1 Z- \ .:. ►.+« : •.r ; . , r,.. 1 �/^ri�t\rlti�J "f1 �21i4� orr\ il): \N iarnonci � a ,�I ie By LAWRENCE M. LYNCH (E. M. Van Deventer) ; Woman's Crimes" "John Arthur's Wards" "The Lost ht a rlli r r , trItZ" yi l'i � r.�r � time in making her way, unattended, to sion, clear milt!; Fiank has not offered ;' Sybire room. himself to me." In the upper hall she met Frau!., who "*But he will! he will! and I tell you, (. started, and flushed at sight of her, and Constance,. it would be giving; yourself to f then hurried forward, with extended a fate like mine, taut worse. The La- halyd. mattes have not done with disgrace yet, "Constance," he exclaimed, eagerly, and it shall not fall•on you; promise me, "how glad 1 am to see you.." Con " "I'm such an uncommon sight!" she laughed, too much absorbed with thoughts of Sybil, to notice the; extra weenith of his greet111,2„ or a certain .Mange of man- ner, that teas a mingling of h:)Itiness, ba;elcftllness, humility end coneombery. "ITt.w do you. do, Flunk?" "Well in. body, Constanee—" "Oh! then tv:> can Nally regulate your 1 -nand. I'm groin; to see elyl:i1, and I don't i want your eelnipeny; so adieu, Faulk," "On:' Imim Hent; pleas;. I wan; to—I 1111:::. •, ^ :' 1, tine avenin � ,`•.,•h. ill. yen. sore: . :t' "`,t. .. �:Tr.•ttor is bel W; We " l h.ol'•. ;f'on.'• 1 ""Tl'(:)—may I call, this even Is;, Con etar se?" "" t` oat a question! vs if you ail :, call whenever ties sfirit anted you so to 1 do; came, if you like,, child; I shall hese no latter company. 1 'n afraid." as l en 1 she swept, and lied a n icd within his sister's room I c +' Frank amid i i e x c _et, t whether to be c t ;-i incl, or t c l ,:heel, at se net lily given, e n, eizselersly wankel, 1 consent, , a The star., thenen et:a' tremor, the tea 1 rived ejecu]a:t•i'an s, ;with which Syi)il greeted, even this (sedan-eatold weleanu' guest. all tell how same...cath,' foe wen surely undermining •kr iife and r;c.$)11. 1 .And C`onstnnce note� with a sinking s heart, the dark circlet: around the eyes that were gat -ming. i allow, ;tad hear; , and full ofa st' nt c''l wild c -::,a.': tete!: y; s • the pale ciheelts. tinnier than ever, acne g the woful wearinees of the entire f,:eo. 1 Greeting her t.'ne;t• ly, tin:? :t.a:'.cirl 110 s con1n1er_ts; can her el_,t Teal epee:uar en, Constance i nt`e:a for a time on 1:1'irfer- 1 ent sethj.cts, and noted e. ''y, t;, ,. Lav- o ing frien(1 will, the fate un'i r'••'tt' cf her listener•. Senn s,:t li ; en' in . 1 train^c, rather ' n tet: t y; e rE:t:, ing front her visit. ''s + t to tie' c:. r' s and back again, end tete ear s;•:'t:y to-- c •. r> i ti• e,rt..d e Her whale i P e l , (. that of one l ..z.. r he. I sane h sound, or edam, from striae than to t1 e t wordsoft friend ' the 1) 1t ( !u'r. At last, Conant -ea •f nc in;': common- c place about ohouts d said:— s "Congratulate, ,tut nu', . ..old! 1 ha e .' thrown of: l.0 elan fibra my ).. tis; I have brought my eilanron-1 ince' , f tions to : c'1 c'. ig . ci Ah! ince:. n''e!" i4yl•il tamest started t frorn her c::, aan.l t ; ;;:..ittneitien e•; me elan,.! free: lilts inn • eared , ail .:, h '"'Ices, n y '•t diacnen'' y^u know;t r have c'titeele., Belknap." a"Belknap!" an unnit5t ;i:l look cf T homer crossed lt'r face. 'Dh motet. him,; t oh, 1 ?tail 1 could 1" 1 :':.cry et .. less, yet thinki: it best lel Wet t:a ,4',111•, a:311411A t.' at whet :;1e l:- '1ieved to be the cilei't t:f a wandering rz mind to grasp nisei master, the et:facet under (items:non, Count lee talked t:n, answering questions a) d malting observa- tions, without ailments Sybil to r:.'o the strrrrh a and sorrow that filial hex. heart ; and. not until many clays later did she recall her frien:l's wild wot'Q:. to see how much of method there Ia:ig .it be in this i.eInsn�' a I t 1,1e:.:;x ""Mr. lietlhn tp was c•nducting ti= senreh for the dianfon::bl, you ks:now; Sybil:'„ Sybil seemed r.taalti ,• an effort to col- lect her serttter:el amen;. "Yea yes, Conny, go on," she whis- pereli. "I have paid hitt; off and tun -done with him; that's about ell, den:r." "Cowry," in a half esthhtper, ""is he gone?" "T don't know about that; he said something about rennainhig here for a time." "Oh!" ejaculates] Sybil, and then, uniier her breath, ""idy Gid!" Constance sin/Mend at she looked upon the shivering figure before her, the Wavering eyes, the hands clench/nix and unclenching themselves; she found con- versation diffcult, and began to wonder how she could avoid subjects that brought painful thtSugghts or suggestions. But suddenly a change came over Sybil; sitting erect, sho looked fixedly at her friend, and ac;ked:--• `"Conny, has he tormented you of late?" "He! Sybil; you meaner" "1 mean my curse! has he dared to annoy you? He has sworn that he will be accepted and recognized as your friend.' Constance laughed a short, sarcastic laugh. "Be at rest, Sybil; he never will." "No;" with a strange dropping of her voice. "He never will!" Again she seentet'I struggling tn reamer herself, and to remit some thought; then she looked ftp and asked abruptly :— "Conny, have you, proaoise d to marry my—Frank Tetrnotte:'" "No, Sybil." "Then—promise, promise Hie, Con- stanre, tis If 1 were urx my' dying bed, that you never will" "Why, Sybil, dere" "I promise, Sybilit" "You promise;" ' he arose from her choir and came close, to Constance; "you promise," she said„ slowly,,. "never, never to marry Francis Lamotte?" "I swear it." A coal's': Iaugh, as smothered oath; they both turn swiftly,. and there, in the ( oorway, smellin of tobacco and handy, end shaking with coarse laughter, is Icahn Burrill, and . beeitle hire, with clenched hand, swollen temples, drawn, white Lips, stands l'riancis Lemntte. Sta::cle! :Co. He r'':'1s, the clings to tlto cour-freune for saport; his enemy is tion him. Sybil draws hersei erect; the red blood flames to her face; tPPie fire darts from her eyes; she lifts one elenticr arm and ,o_nts at the recline; figure; then there I ou: a buret' ,of mad, mocking nughte'r, • "Ha! hal ha! Frank Lamotte, have ettied my etas:mit with you." .then turning teriatiy upon Burrill, anti -with ever. turning fury tihe shric>ks:— ""Gut, out, out Of my sight! I ant al - nos Halle with you, too. Go back to your wine ant.' yotrr eva1ltwing in the gutter; your days arc^.jin:li.:'recl." The awful. look uponeter fcce', the de - lent hatred in lea voice, the sudden tr.'ugtlt and firmness of her whole bear- rn ( nse :nee sliuddereal, et and never' f0 rat, Franz e.lk: Laruatte, making a nlon- tr'11e "fT•'•'t ter self-control, gasped, let o I:ks !tela nr. the door frazzle:', lilted his tan 1 ti 11!:1 tearlples, and carne a few tees into the root!. Outside, on the ,,1 r'. st.t I a w,..,the , rustle o f woman's al' - g net die light fuck of swift feet. In. thtr mettn'nt t!r:.. Lianotte, fnkowrd by .errs. Ali: :an, enters the room, pushing; ntst tau gaping' anal .stonishcd s>urrili vita .cult ter: tuuay, Then, Sybil's • ,rt't deserts her as John Marna re - ailed to a sense of bit own importztnce, d: ccs v m . , and scents (• 8oet to atitimss Cr. She utters as an;^ of abhorrence and err TI', and, tlmatvirtg; nut her hands to weal nit his )prroao n, reels, falls, and is au' lit in the sapportiung ernes of Con - twice and 'Mrs. La itotte. neje, they are applying restoratives, Pr:r.lk seat the propriety of withdrawing ta.n the scone, last ;i le each motives of einem- or decency ncy ere ' find lodgment in he Levin o: Joan .lu.rill, and leering tILkl tie:: ;v gravity, ho ;crises teeth to the ed de. and poisons •*the air with his et' in ; 1•re',tth. Constance flushes with near, bre glances a t Mrs. Lanrotte. hat limy looks up ure fly, and seems o hesitate, and then Mee. Allston rises o the occasion, and covers herself with esy. Looking blandly up into the plan's tee, she lays one fat, gloved hand upon hie grin, end says, in a low, confidential a tone:— g "Conte this way one moment, sir, if you please," and she fairly Ieads the wondering and uns(tepeeting victim front the room. A second Later he is standing in the Hass;(; -e, the chamber door is shut fi swiftly and l0^ked securely. ;fohn Burrill h. s neon lee out like a Iamb, and the t fat and smiling strategist comes back to d the bedside. ""I suppose he th u'rht I would tell c hint it secret -when I .got flim. outside,"h she laughs, h':, .softly. n \v he t r. e cr he t!:cntglit he kept to him- c sal . After uttering arfew curses he went below, "returner tot his pipe and his s bow'," and waited tri dinner hour. l h -I shall :,.end for Doctor Heath," said t Mrs. Lantotte, as &'te bent above her daughter, who had 'slowly returned to i eon,ciouenc:s, but laa passive, seeming t not to See Or know the, friends who stood r about her. "Sybil dais not know us; I 11i feel alarmed.'' airs. Allston nodded. sagaciously. "Ho ' o can not cone too sown" 5110 said; then to Constanee, with a mingling of woman•. ly tact and' genuine kindliness, "any child, you had better drive home soon, If Mrs. Leenotte wishes, or Will permit, 1 a I will stay to -night. (t will be better, believe me, Mrs. Lamoitte, than to share . a watch with any serWtnt; and I ant a good nurse." c So it is arranged that sho shall stay, • n and Constanee proeosde to return alone to i Si:trdnur. 1 t As she goes down stairs to her car- rive, front out the shadow of the draw- ' h ing xoom eonl05 h'rgtnk Lamatte, ;till h very haggard, and trembling; with estate-. r 4 ment suppressed.. u • "Constance!" hea whispers, hoarsely, "0110 moment, please." • t She pause:, before,' hila, very pale and still. a "Constance," pi:deicing: with an effort, g "I—went up there,* hoping to keep 13ur- n rill from intrudin;il; he was tan (!micas ; b for rue, ata!—and 11 heard Sybil's last wards? --and yours." s No answer from the pale listener. 1 /r "My sister asked you to refuse rue. Am I right:" "You heard." "And you pronlise'ei?" "i promised." naonstanees ;silt! Is half maul. You rely were only humoring her whim In "Sybil Sybil is half tnnia. 1 login to think At you know why," "Don't ask for reaeone, don't; pram - Ise, pro:idea prnmis(a'.'" au She wast growing t'*eitecl, and Con- so ranee !hastened to say :-•-• '"In�e are laborite's r•'^er some dela^ ih "\7e an tame. 3;11y. alie to aeri.:cell his daps anti speaking in a low, conn - a, hE'rsclf for ,. 1 mn,.,r,.tt, r�11;' las saddled. dcrmtialtnne; "what'stllittpowTry ouh:lve 115 1.11 with a aouthater, to lave a lmutheir over Heath? Don't yen !.now lee's afreiti S?lio is not worth eavilig." ci' y(Ylt?" h'1:.nI: Lal w etc., , Y tit , stop; a Ica notlisten , l , can 1 ..t(zI It ht ger ra f ftdt:ra-' ...e! to i sol to ,:i' i z for,let I c' e , me tell 'you , r;: know v helico' be—him tin'--- ti13t charge against Ivan Barnette to be ",And yet there are two or three of tel fele,.::7 e. I know that you know it; and fellows that say soil ere the Lino that yet yell lutve s arletinlled the.. front!. who afraid." , lets blighted leybil's life, you uuty know, "Me arida! I -•-.John Ilan -•'-ll f-frid bu+• I: is not !van." Boys, look, en I'll jus' tell yell is s•seere "t.'4)n't;:nee do you mean—" If I jut' opened lay mouth, I could ru ac r i , x 1. mean all that I nay. Let 7139 pass, tt'('t f ..r'lle'iw eut of the cOlnitTM;^; flet! Is Sa•li, atilt! he noct(lea s1:g..cienely regent an aultin. nearest neighbor, tan the one halal, lute lett ' , , k 1 tie i of „ 1 � 1 )3Llk al !t P ax l.l'ft 7 vtzttet them, and I on the other hand, he has no neinhlior ttt tali; there is is vacant lot, well planted le and c ' I.1, pleasantly i t1 t vellums sto 1 u see. (. yA fine dwelling had once occupied elle site, hitt to inn had destroyed it, and the gasping ,A cellar, a pile of burnt bricks, and some enured debris, are all that remail!. In 1. summer 1 n the a. i place is tangled growth t. of roses and flowering' shrubs, and Doctor 11 Heath pialces free witit the flowers in " their season, and even swings his Itanr- d meek there among the old trees,thet out - member his own, and have outstripped it than, too, in rears and growth. 1, Oppocito the doctor's cottage stands e1 's ";Cat yet. Constance, Constance! batt you never any love for me? Is there no "Then there ain't no truth in the shadow of Hope?" story that you are the one that's ^frac "At first," said Consteuce, coldly, "1 and that you wouldn't dare go to Heath y a liked! you as <ybil's brother; later, I tol- ofacc, net even I. you wanted tt doctor? "T-trtatl' a By , gad, sir, shone me ti (le;«pise you. Long ago I told you that mall .that says so ;}show 'his to me ! I3 only yourself could injure yourself in any heavens, sir, I woAldn't be f-fraid to rat eyes. There might have been a reason, hire re) the d -darkest night that eve a e xetlse even, for allowing poor Evan, blow, sir." who has willingly assumed the position, "Of .nurse not, eve don't doubt that, to become the family scope -goat. There but--tI ere'e: them, c o. I'll tell you what It none for your unbrotherly and false it is, Nutri!!, the fit 'ng would be settled aeenattiou. ?hittsv�C'r hie 211111ts may be, if you would just calk up to the doctor's near Evan is unsel:isll, and he truly loves cottage, tell him yo are sick somewhere, 1115 ri;ter." , aro, cottage, away a prescription; that „ , „ ,t • T, this your answer? would settle 1.. ,e "ti'•lutt do you expi>et? do you want my A murmur of apps vaal went round th assurance that 1)13' promise to Sybil was table. Not it num with there among thea who would not rejoice inwardly at th made in good faith, and that I intend to keep it? If so, yea have it." ;she wont swiftly past hint, vide the last :words 021 their equal 1)1 maany, things, had risen her lips.. And again Frank Laniatte was 01101.0 them 111 fortune. lie lead reached the prey of his enemy; like a drunken that period of elrtllltcelxness, Ind it t-;ol: a arae, he reeled back into the parlor, vast quantity of stout ,i(lu0r to brim him gnashing his teeth, cursing his fate, half up to it, where his rave began to grow mad and wholly desperate, hoarse, his ready toioilg;ue to trip, his Menwlzilo, above stairs, ,7n1n1 Burrill brain to be most completely muddled, was rehearsing to Evein, after his drunken and. his legs to be most; unreliable in - fashion, the a'ecent scene iu .w'yl•i1's strnntents of locomotion. The risen about room, not even omitting his own expui- the table nodded anti winked to each sion by wily airs. Allston. As he repeat- other, under his vary 'nose. ed, with wonderful accuracy, considering "Egg him on, Rooney," whispered his condition, the wild words uttered by Giles, "let's have the fnn out." And 1•rbil, his listener sat very erect, with they did. wild staring twee, and lips held tightly !rare long, joint Burrill, staggerin together, his teeth almost biting through under the additionali cargo of drinks them; with btu'ning eyes, and quivering triune, and a. strange fear at his heart.. imbibed as toasts toe the undertaking Having finished his narrative, Burrill and again, as c :teghta of defiance to th arose;— enemy who would lace question hi ""I'1n to meet; some fellows at Forty's," courage, buttoned his coat :about him he said, thickly. "1'11 stop with them and, boasting, cursing, and swaggering a couple of hours, or three, maybe; after reeled out into the Tright. Out into th that—" and he winked significantly, night that swallowed:him up forever. "After' that," repeated Evitn, and "Let's follow hirnr` said one of rho plotters, starting -up'ss the door closed behind hien. But this proposition met with no favor. The night was very Clark, and the wind blowing in fierce gusts; tho saloon was warms and inviting, and their victim. hadordered their cu •ro until he should td grog, return. :' "`Let's .!rink the good liquor ho has paid for," said Ii oney, with a wink, "t11cn we will lets to more of the boys into the secret, and start out in a gang and gather Ilial up. Reath will kick him out sure enough, and if eve follow too close e the might be discovered. 'v' i;, Not by Burrill but by the ,doctor. Wo will bring Burrill back here 4nd two more drinks will make• i >" ] sec him tell the. whole story. They thiel not aaggele with Mooney on all points of his argument; but they had played a coarse, practical joke upon a man who sometimes "took on airs 1114 vaunted hinhnalf as their patron; he who had been only their equal once. It was only a joke, a witless, mirthless, coarse saloon joke, and that drank on and grew hilarious, never dreaming that they had sent ono man to hitt grave, and another to the foot o the ' f .3 c scaffold. ' 1 c ,ito d. As John Borrill carne forth from the saloon and turned his face toward Doctor Heath's cottage, a lithe form emerged front amidst the darkness and paused for a moment just outside the 8)1100n door, scenting to besiege. "He's „ ono ha mutter- ed in S eottr, a g ( mitttct ed the man. "I'll,^' jest light out and come in ahead."1;;'A.n1d he plunged down a by street and went swiftly. over the bridge; but nota tape. A. second dark forme had been lurking in the vicinity of a Old Forty's" the forii of a boy, who glici,+ d. through the dark, at the heels of the1 other, like a spirit. "lie is goingwroIig," thought this shadow, discontente=dly. "Somehow I'm sure of it; I'm shadowing the wrong party; but—I'm obeying instructions." And pursued and pursuer crossed the bridge and turned their .steps toward Mapleton. Meantime, John Burrill, reeling, sing- ing snatches of low songs, and stopping sometimes to rest land assure himself that all the landmarks ,are there, pursues his way toward Doctoi Heath's cottage. It is situated on.tho • outskirts of the town; the way 15 k .ong, the 'light Clark, the wind boisteroulg, and the way lonely. It is after ten o'cioek. Later• -•-nearly two flours later, rank :Garotte, driven bat bis demon of uI est, Is nein his room feverish pacing EVE nSlm a Y n d �er'c when his door epees softly, a white, hag- Bard face looks in, is hoarse voice artic- ulat0s, "'J? ank, for Ood's Cake, for your own sake, corse with me quick!" Frank Lamotte turns swiftly, angrily. ate is about to speak, when something; catches his eye, fix s it itt horror, and causes hint to gasp. .out, pointing with onoshaking king; inmat s "Ah -h -h 1 what i that?" "It is the 1'arni* Honor!" came the hissing answer. "tome, I tell you." And like a roan tin a nightmare, Drank Lamotte obeys. crated you; now you are teaching mme to handsome dwelling, far back among the " trees. It is the home of Lawyer O'Meara le and his wife; and the two are the doctur's y Sh'mI friends. it Beyond the O'Meara dwelling anti, on the seine side of the street, stretches a mrow of cottages, built and owned by Mr. O'Meara. These alto occupied by some thrifty mechanics, and one or two of the best of the mill workers. They are nett, new, tasteful, and well cared for by their tenants. • Clifford Heath awake a little later than usual, this dialed, gray morning; he e had retiu'necl from his second visit to 1r Sybil Burrill at a late Jour; and after o sitting beside his firr,ponderilIg hong over (4 many things,, had retina, to sleep n soundly, and to wake late. What first rouses him is it knocking]: upon his door, it replan. tattoo, beat ('2l ey but hott$e- -keeper, grown impatient 0Yer r e' 1100 too long brewed, and 7ni1r•:ins too 1•rov:n. lie'lnakes his toilet .112100 as leisurely fashion, smiling a little itt the vociferous barking of his dog, Prince. The dog is alwn;s confined in the stable at night, 101101%+ he is a safe eons-. panion and sure protection to the doc- tor's fine horse; and now, it being past the time when he is nsuelly liberated, he is making his wrongs hear(!, tea there will be no more repose or quiet until g Prince is set free, s ""Poor fellow," call, his master, 115 be swings open the 511111le duce. e"Poor : Prince! (oocl, old boy' ! (:orae now, and o you shall have a slllentlid breakfast to 0. compensate for my neglect." The dog bounds out, a splenldlid. bull 3 dog, strong, fierce, and white as m11 r. Ho ftlwns ttpon•his master, leaps shout him, barks joyfully, and then follows diseonhfkttirn'of tun arrogant, 1vou1tl-ih mistime -t, who, ;while Ira was resew tba winked in return. An ]lour later Evan, pale and, shiver- ing, knocked softly at Sybil's door; Mrs, Laurette appeared. "How in Sybil, mother?" "Quiet, hat not rational. Doctor Heath haswhy! just gone. Evan, how badly U td y you look!" ""I feel badly. I'm going to bed; good night, mother." CHAPTER XXV. . At ten o'clock tha night, business was running lively at th low coiled dingy, riverside i. 1 ac e sal on 11 n the' was most popular ' PP with the factory me , the colliers, the drovers, and the r miscuaus roughs f P o n W—. unci that bears the dignified title of ""Old Forty Rods," The saloon is well patronized to -night. At the upper end, merest the door, "Old Forty," in person, , is passing liquors acrose the bear, and htxvling orders to a mumble assiestlnt, while every now and then he aa(lresses as coarse jest to some of the mm�lerous loafers about the bar, mingling, thein stringely with hie orders, and itis calling f the drinks, ars he 158„. 5c. them ' •aerr.sshe rail P "Here's your brei., Lupin; Jack, half 'a dozen brandies for Mr., I3urrill's party; Little, you are out en the brown horse— rum and -water? Yes; sir, yes,” '"Burrill's beastly ,sigh to -night," said factory hand, sett m;; down his boor glass and wiping mouth; ", y In hk � "and h I �the boys freeze to him si ce ho handles old L)alllctte's rocks." "Of course, of course. Burrill don't forret old friends; .Ta k, bring the rum 'ask; they've been here a plum hour, them ebops, sir; 'ere's your punch, mis- er, and they keep the stuff rennin' own their throats, now I Can tell you. nrrill foots the bili, of course; and they an do anything 'with that big chap wen the seines ggeb the upper !rands of int. I'll be sworn, they're up to rris- Ihiof to -night, for .Lsee Rooney and Bob Giles, they delight lie getting Burrill into crape:, are drinkilipi light, and plying int heavy," and "Forty" turned about o draw a glass of beer for a low-Trrowed, roughly -dressed man who had just e.- iered, and who was in fact, none other hall the traemp who had feasted by tho oadside, 011 the day before, and whom r, Belknap had called Ratko. Ratko drank his beer, and lounged ver the batr for a ellen, time, then e,slled for a second glass, and after drinking it, event quietly out. w • At the lower ma of the long salmon, s. vera! tables are shattered, and gathered bout 011e of theii see see the party spoken of as "lir. I3urrill's." Five men are grouped about the small table, and among these, John Bmxill is onspieuous for being much better dressed, melt louder in bit laughter, and viler n his jests, and much drunker than aro he other four. Since his change of fortune, these ]nen lave made capital of buts weakness, and is purse has supplied their thirst, in eturn for which he has been fawned pen, and flattered, during the earlier stages of his intoxication, and made a • col 3111d 11 jest litter. "'I nuns' go hdime," articulated Borrill, rowing forth and consulting a showy old repeater. ""Folks's sick er !tome; its' be gond; take er pother drink, oys?" "Folks sick, • eh?" queried Rooney, winking behind his hand at the othere, wife, I 'tpos':''t "Yes, wife. I'spose; wife '11' brother-in- law, both Sick; tar„ o er Itother---" "All right, old pard; but don't let a little sickness .till you off so early; jar t. tet lIenIk take Pare of them; you're fond of Heath, too."" "Curse Heatli'!" roared. out John iiur- 1'111; "what (1 74)11 2410113, I may, Roo. Eno-neyt" obediently to the kitela'n. The dog pro- vided for, Dootor Heath goes in out of the rain, shaking tho water from his coat, and tossing it aside in favor of a dry one; and then ho applies himself to his own breakfast. The warmth and. 1 nt comfort m rt within •• are intensified ] n eel bythe dr ' x' '�, ea hl -, s eviihont. Mrs. Gray has lighted a fire in the grate, and he turns toward it, sipping his coffee leisurely, enjoying the warmth 1111 the more because of an oceaslotinl glance out of the window. Two men pass ---two of the oottaegers— his neighbors, who, dismayed by the storm, have •turned back toward their homes, "Poor devils!" matters the doctor, sympathetically; "they don't fancy lay- ing bei011 and mixing mortar in weather like this; and one of them hat no over- coat; I must keep that in znind, and sup- ply him, if he will accept one, from out my store." • He stirs the fire briskly, takes another sip from his half emptied cup, and goes off in a roverie. Presently„ there comes the sound of a clog's angry c barking, and 80011 mingled with the canine cries the voices of men calling to one another, crying for aid. But so pleasant is his meditation, and so deep, that their sounds dei not rouse hint; they reach his ears, 'tis true; he has a vague sense of disagreeable sounds, but they do not break his revei`ie. • Something; else does, however, a brisk hammering on the street door, and a loud, high pitched voice, calling:-- " Health! Heath, I say!" He starts up, shakes himself and his deas, together, and. goes to face the in- truder upon his meditations. It is his neighbor access the way. "Heath, have you lost your ears or CITAPItElt XXVI. The morning of the following day breaks gray 1131(1 dikn)111, The wind has been blowing all the night through, and wherever a tree stalnds, there the fallen leaves lie, thick and rain -soaked; for it is raining, drizzling weather, and above, below, and around, all is gray, and dull, and dreary. Dr. Heath's cottage stands aloof from all other dwellings quite by itself, for the houses stand evade apart in this silbuzban portion of the town, and he has selected the pretty place because of its quiet- beauty, uietbeiauty, and eomparaative Isolation. Ito has neighbors within eight, within hear- ing, too, should he (!loose to he vocifer- "Ineari1L" sjicl 13obGiles,settin r (retell 0us; but the housee about 111111 all stolid within their own Pleasant m•outacie tet.' your senses?" he cries, impatiently; "what the devil has your dog found, that hies set these fellows in such a panic? Something's wrong; they want you to come and control the dog." "Heath! Heath!" comes from the ad- joining vacant lot; .conte, for God's sake, quick!" In another moment, Cliffor(.Ileath has seized his hat, and, followed by his neighbor, is out in the yard. "Come this way, O'Meara," ho rays, quickly; "that is if yott can l' e's the fence, it's not thigh," and he strides through his own grounds,. scales the in- tervening palings, and tin a few seconds is on the scene, On the scene! At the edge of the old collar, one of the•]nen feceutly. denomin-- atcd, "poor devils," by the musing (toe - tor, is gestienlating violently, and urging hila forward with lips that aro pale with terror.. Down in the old sellar, the second man, paler still than tbt first, is making futile efforts to draw the dog away from something, at which he ie. -clewing and tearing, barking furiously all the time. Something lies under a heaped us mass of leaves, grass, and freshly turned earth; something from which the fierce beast is tearing away the covering with rapid movements. As he leaps clown into the cellar, CIiford Heath sees what it is that huts so terrified the tt'to men, From under the Tares and earth, Prince hits brought to light a human foot and leg;! Instantly he springs forward, his hand upon the dog's cellar, his face pale as :ashes. "Prince!" - he dries; "Prince! come away,. sir." The dog crouches, quails for a nio- anent, then utters a low growl, and tries to shake himself free; for the first time, he refuses to obey hit roaster. But it Is his master; there is a short, Oharp struggle, and then the brute cowers, whining at. his feet. "Wait!" he says, imperiously to the men, and then, socaloin a stern word of e0nhmarl(1, he stride, away, ff :lowed, by the conquered and trembling brute. It is tho work of ei moment to el)aiat •1.'.s.•.••.,'•,.02..•,..,,....,,» 311tnr Inst; ea31(t erten Viihrord nest 1, form,. swiftly back to the Men, Who s 1 very much eas'he left them. Lal1 this 133 be s Omo irleli ? Mr O'Meara is saying, peering dawn f1'oYlia the edge of the cellar wall at the mound of earth and the protruding leg, "Mete iss no trick. here," replica Clifford Heath, once more springing down Into the collect,., "My dog would, not be deceived. Como clown here, O'hlearen this thing ]oust be unearthed, r: Mr. O' Mearil lowers himself carefully down, and the mala who faits thus far stood sentinel follows suit. Then tllefour approach the mound once more, For re moment they regard, each other silently filen one of the tenants says;••--. "1f we had a specie." "Not yet." breaks in Lawyer 'Olifeara. 1e0 nu cots x\'Urim'] Re .hopped Is, Maccabe, the venrtriloquist, was a great practical joker. Sevei'al'years ago he was on board a river steam- boat, and having made friends watt tiro engineer, was allowed the free- dom of the engine-rootu, He took a seat in the corner, and pulling his hat down over bis eyes, appeared lost in la reverie. Presently a certain part of the machinery began' to streak. The engineer oiled it and went about his duties. In the eourse,of a few, min- utes the creaking' was heard again, and the engineer rushed over, oil eaa in handl, to lubricate the 'same crank-, ` Again he resumed his .post, but it; was only a few minutes before the same old crank was creaking louder than ever. "Great Jupiter !" be yelled, •" the' thing's bewitched." • . More oil was administered, but the engineer began to smell a rat. Pretty' 80011 the crank squeaked again,wllen: slipping up behind Maccabe, he squirted half a pint of ail downr'th••`; joker's back. "There," said he, "I ga key crank won't squeak any Spare Moinents, he Permanent Stairs ;rs in Ba toe Only those who move aruoil farmers and are around their .liild- ing.;s know how awkward t ar- rangements sometimes are. \Y&11`.ve been e lir!00 Ck, basement int barna, the only means of coma -inn' bet t eu the stable and nd theba ' r c n above was by means of a short der plap/ed in some oat of the corner& and being loose, half the t it was not in its place when want Like conditions exist in many other place around the tarin buil ink's. Any farmer` that is handy wi tools can soon make a good stairw£a in a convenient place, that will mak a mut\a safer and quicker wa.v of a cess tCi an `' the ladder. There a - other places where such stairs/Aid be put in to advantage, to the loft above the woodshed, wagon house, and the pig pen. These stairs will save time, and thus pay for them- selves. The women folks will be de- lighted with them. All snows and lofts should be provided with good permanent ladders. The time and labor saved in getting up into mow several times a day without -a ladder, or if one has to be moved from some other place, will 11.101'0 than pray for, a good one. In many eases stairs could he conveniently arraan„ ed..in place of ladders, only labor being required and perhaps occasinnaily a smali .Malloy in cash. These things will enable the boys to do the etlores touch easier, more quicl;.lr and plea- santly, and thus ihake life on the farm more enjoyable for theirs. BETN[E $200 AVSD $31Q GONE. STILL HIS CATARRH R@MAINED, A 25 CENT BOX OF D$. CHASE'S CAT/1RM CURE DOES EFFECTIVE WORK. Catarrh sufferers and those af- flitted with Cold in the Head, Hay Fever, Hawking and Spitting, Fou l Breath, Loss of Taste and mell and the i13stly disagreeable and disastrous consequences attendant upon these, should lose• no time in proeurring 13r. Chase's Catai^,t)h,Curev Mr. J'. W. d'ennison, Gilford, Ont,, wrltot as follows: "I *eat betweel).t two and three hundred dollars, tried all kinds of treatments, but got no benefit. One box of Dr, Chase's Catarrh Care aid tree more good than all other remedies, in feet i consider -114401f cured, land with it 26 cent box at that." AoId by al( Deslefs. Complete with Blower at 23 cents« • r+ - a