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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1891-10-15, Page 2••• 4 Setserinetns Lament. On thou oewspeper earr1ors)03eeY-___ , 11 would give me abundance ofjoy to toy For a minute or two or throe, With the toe of my shoe on thee, Upon the seat of thy pants, what tun! if I' but got the chalice, 'tis clone. Last night and the night before, tnd more, X have listened at the front door and swore— For no paper was seen, 'taint fair, For it never has been put there. Now, young man, 1 just wish to say to.clay, 9,`hat for my nelvspaper I pay, or may. And' give you fair warning now, if I catch you (I think I know how) Your career will be o'er I fear, You, will peddle papers no mere down here. $o take waraine my lad And why, Becauee I am mad, Good-bye! --Brantford Expoeaor. THE. S.ISTE.RS. The story, as told by himself for the in. format -ion of his children (who, as children ever do, canto intime to have interests of their own that transcended in importance those that were merely personal to their parents), was much more brief and bald than,this, and. the reeding of it did not take many minutes. When he had finished it, in dead silence, the lawyer took from the packet of papers a third and entailer docu- ment, which he also proceeded to read alouii to those whom it concerned. This proved to be a certificate of the marriage of Kiegscote Yelverton and Elizabeth Leigh, celebrated in an ob- scure London parish by a curate who had been the bridegromn's Eton and Oxford chum, and witnessed by a pair of humble folk who hod had great difficulty in cone. posing their respective 'signatures, on the 25th of November, be the year 1849. .And, filially, half -folded round the packet, there was a slip of paper, on which was written— "Not to be opened until my death." "And it might never have been opeued until you were all dead!" exclaimed the lawyer, holding up hie hands. "He must have meant to give it to you at the last, and did not reckon on being struck helpless in a inorcient when his time came." "Oh, poor father !" sobbed. Elizabeth, whose head lay on the table, crushed down in her handkerchief. And the other sisters put their arms about her, Patty with a set white face and Eleanor whimpering a little. But Mr. Brion and Paul were incensed with the deed man, and could not pity him at present. It won late before the two friendly ad- visers, summoned to canner by their land- lady, went back to No. 7, and they did not like going. It did not 'seem to them at all right that the three girls should be left alone under , present circumstances. Mr. Brion wanted, to summon Mrs. Duff -Scott, or even Mrs. McIntyre, to bear them company and see that they did not faint, or have hysterics, or otherwise "give way," under the excep- tional strain upon their nervous systems. Then he wanted them to come next door for that dinner which he felt .they must cer- tainly stand much in need of, and for which theydidnot seem to have adequate mate- rials ; or let him take them to the nearest hotel, or to Mrs, Duff -Scott's ; or, at least, to permit Jahn to give them some brandy and water; and he was genuinely distressed becanae they refused to be nourished end comforted and appropriately cared for in any of these ways. "We want to be quiet for a little, dear Air. Brion, that we may talk things over by ourselves—if you don't mind," Elizabeth said. ; and the tone of her voice siknced all his protests. The old man kissed them, for tbe first tizne in his life'uttering a few broken words of congratulation on the won- derful. change in their fortunes ; and Paul shook hands with great gravity and with- out saying anything at all, even though Patty, looking up into his inscrutable face, mutely asked= for his sympathy with her wistful, wet eyes. Ancl they went away. As they were letting themselves out of the house, assisted. by the ground -floor domestic, who, scenting mystery in the air, politely volunteered to open the hall door in order that she might investigate the countenances of the Misses King's visitors and perchance gather some enlightenment therefrom, Patty, dry-eyed and excited, came flying downstairs, and pounced. upon the old man. "Mr. Brion, Mr. Brion, Elizabeth says she hopes you will be sure not to divulge what we have discovered to anybody," she panted breathlessly (at the same time glancing at her lover's back as he stood on the door -step). "It is of the utmost con- sequence to her to keep it quiet for a little longer." But, my dear, what object can Eliza- beth have in waiting now? Surely it is better to have it over at once, and settled. I thought of walking up to the club by -and - bye, with the papers, and having a word with Mr. Yelverton." "01 course it is better to have it over," assented Patty. "1 know your time is precious, and I myself , am simply frantic till I can tell Mrs. Duff - Scott. So is Elizabeth. But there is something she must do first—I can't tell you the particulars -'but she must have a few hours' start—say till to -morrow evening —.before you speak to Mr. Yelverton or take any eteps. I am sure she will do whatever you wish, after that." The lawyer hesitated, suspicious of the wisdont of the delay, but not seeing how mach harm could happen, seeing that he had all the precious documents in leis own breast pocket ; then he reluctantly granted Patty's request, and the girl went upstairs again with feet not quite so light as those that had cerried her down. Upstairs however, she subordinated her own intereAs to the con- sideration of her sister's more presging " Elizabeth," she said, with fervid and portentous solemnity, " this is a mists for you, and you must be bold and brave. It is no time for shilly-shallying—you have twenty-four haute before you, and you mime a0t. If yon don't, you will see that he will jest throw- up everything, and be too proud too take it back. Ho will loee all his motley and the inthience for good that it gives him, and you will lose him." HoW shall I acb ?" asked Elizabeth, leaning instinctively upon this more eourageoue spirit " How ?" echoe.d Patine looking at her sister with brilliant eyes. " Oh t" draveing a long breath, and speaking with ityeerning pitmen that it was beyond the povver of geed gratunat to exprese—" oh, if -It was only rad I" CHAPTER, XX XIX. Asr ASSWAA7100. Thet evenieg Yelverton was leisurely fialehing hie dinner at the club When it Mite was hrought to him, Ile thought he knew not going to be called Mr, Yelverton by the Writing, though he had sever seen it you Never again, remember. My name before, end put it lute his peotet until he is liLingseete, if you, wish to know. My °mild politely detach himself from three people et home, when I bad enypeople, semi -hosts, semi -guests, with whom he was called me King. 1 flaunt you might as well dining. Then he went upstairs rather call hie King ; it will keep your dear name geickly, tearing open his letter as he went, alive in the family when you no longer eaid, arrived at the reading-room'vv sat dou answer to it yourself. Nnve "--as she at a table, took pen pon in hand and dashed oft paueed, end wae looking at him rather au immediete reply. "1 will certainly be etrangely—" what were you going to say ?" there," he wrote, in it hand more vigorous " I was going to eay that I have not then elegant. "1 will wait for you la the wasted this week since you went away. A German picture gallery. Come es early as great deal has happened—a great many possible, while the place is quiet." And, changes—and I was helped by something having closed his missive and cousigned it outside myself to make up my mind." to the bag, he remained in a comfortable " I don't believe it, -1 don't believe it, arm -chair in the quiet room, all by himself, Elizabeth. You know you love me, and meditating, He felt he had a great you know that, whatever your religious deal to think about, and it indisposed eentimente may be, you would not do vio- him for convivialities. Tile week since lance to them for anything less than that. his parting with Elizabeth, long as it had You 4tre taking me because you love me too seemed to him, had not quite run out, and well to give me up—for any consideration she had made an assignation which'though whatever. • So don't say you are not." it might have appeared iniequivocaa to the She touched his shoulder for a moment casual eye, was to him extremely perplex- with her cheek. "Oh, 1 do love you, I do Mg. She had come back, and she wanted love you !" she xnurmurede drawing a long, to see him, and, sne wantento see him alone, sighing breath. and she asked him if he would meet her at He knew it well, and he did not know the Exhibition in the morning. And she ad- how to bear to sit there, unable to respond dressed him as her dearest friend, and to her touching confessiou. He could only signed herself affectionately his. He tried knead her hand between his palms. very hard, but he could not extract his ex- "And you are going to trust me, my erected comfort from, sach a communication, love ---me and .yourself ? You are not efraid naacle under such circumstances. now ?" th,e morning he was amongst the first " I will trust you—I will trust you " she Itt batch of breakfasters in the club coffee- went on, leaning towards him as he sat room, and amongst the first to represent the beside her. "You are doing more good public at the tioket-windows of the Cerlton in the world than I had even thought of Palace. When he entered the great build- until I knew you. It is I who 'will not be ing it was in the Possession of officials and uP the mark—not you. But I will help workmen, and echoed in a hollow manner to you as much as you will let me—I am going his solid foot -fall. Without it glance to give niv life to helping you. And at to right or left, he walked upstairs least—at -leasti least—you believe n God," she to the gallery and into that concluded, yearning for some tangible and cosiest nook of the whole Exhibition, definite evidence of faith, as she had. under - the German room, and there waited for his stood faith, wherewith to comfort her mistress. This restful room, with its car- conscientious soul. " We are together in peted floor and velvety settees (so grateful that—the chief thing of all—are we not .?" to the weary), its great Meissen vases in the He was a scrupulously truthful man, and middle, and casts of antique statues all he hesitated for a moment. "Yes, my round, was quite empty of visitors, and dear," he said, gravely. "1 believe in God looked as pleasant and convenient a place of that is to say, I feel hirn—I lean my little. rendezvous as lovers could desire. Tif only ness on a greatness that I know is all around Elizabebh would come quickly, he thought, me and upholding me, which is Something they might have the most delicious quiet that even God seems a word too mean for. talk, sitting side by side on a semi -circular I think," he added," that God, to me, is 110t ObtOLOATL opposite to Lindenschinides what he has been taught to seem to you." "Death of Adonis "—not regarding that "Never mind," she said, in a low voice, unhappy subject, of course, nor any other responding to the spirit rather than the object but themselves. He would not sit letter of his words. "Whatever you be. down until she came, but strolled round and lieve you are sure to believe thoroughly, and round, pausing now and then to investigate if you believe in God, your God must be a it picture, but thinking of nothing but his true God. I feel it, though I don't know it.' beloved, for whose light step he was listen- "Yon feel that things will all come right ing. If his bodily eyes were fixed for ns if we have faith in our own hearts, on the "Cloister Pond" or " Eveninn " 0, and love and trust each other. So do 1 , or any other of the tranquil landscapes Elizabeth." There was nobody looking, and pictured on the wall, he thought of Eliza. he put his arm round her shoulder for a beth resting with him under green trees, moment. "And we may consider our re - "far from the madding crowd's ignoble ligious controversy closed then? We need strife," absolutely his own, and in a world not trouble ourselves about that any more', that (practically) held nobody but him and "1 would not say 'closed.' Don't you her. If he looked at autumnal rain slanting think we ought to talk of all our thoughts— fiercely across the canvas, he thought how and especially those that trouble us—to each he would protect and shield her in all the other ?" storms that might visit her life—" My "1 do—I do, indeed. And so we shalh plaislie to the angry aerie I'd shelter thee, Ours is going to be a real marriage. We I'd shelter thee !" And visions of a fair shall be, not two, but one. Only for the morning in Thuringia, of a lake in the present we may put this topic aside, as be - Bavarian mountains, of a glacier in the lug no longer an obstruction in the way of Engadine and of Venice in four or five our arrangements, mayn't we aspects of sunlight and moonlighnsuggested "Yes," she said. And the die was cast. his wedding journey and how beautitul the"Very well, then." Ile se,emed to pull world she had so longed to see—the world himself together at this point, and into his that he knew so well—would look hence- fine frame and his vigorous face a new forth—if—if— energy was infused, the force of which Th ere was a step upon the corridor out. • seemed to be communicated to the air side, and he turned sharply from his con- around her, and made her heart beat more strongly to the quicker pulse of lelin "Very ternplation of a little picture of an Isle of Wight sunrise to meet her as she came in. well, then. Now tell me, ,Elizalteth—veith- " Well, my love," he murmured eagerly, out any formality, while you `and I are "what is it? Don't' keep me in suspense. here together—vvhen shall we be married ?" Is it yes or no, Eliztebethrl The question had a tone of masterful Her embarassraerit.neet d away before command about it, for though he knew how the loolr he bent upolinlier as a, morning -pontaneous and straightforward she was, mist before the sim. She lifted leer eyes to her natural delicacy unspoiled by artificial his—those honeet eyes that he could read sentiment, he yet prepared himself to en - like a book—and her lips parted in an effort counter a certain amount of maidenly relue- to speak. The next instant, before Mace to meet a man's reasonable views upon a word was said, he had her in this matter. But she answered him without his arms, and her mouth met delay or hesitation, impelled by the terrors his under the red moustache in a long, and that beset her and thinking of Patty's close, and breathless kiss; and both of awful warnings and ProPhevings--"I will them knew that they were to part no more leave you to say when." till their lives' exul. While that brief cere- " Will you really? Do you mean you mony of betrothal lasted, they might have will really?" His deep-set eyes glowed, been in the black grotto where they kissed and his voice had a thrilling tremor in it as each other first, so oblivious were they of he made this incredulous inquiry. "Then their surroundings ; but they took in pre- I say we will be married soon—very soon— Bendy the meaning of certain sounds in the so as not to lose a day more than we can gallery on the other side of the curtain, and help. Will you agree to that ?" resumed their normal attitudes. "Come She looked a little frightened, but she and sib down," said Mr. Yelverton, drawing steed her ground. "If you wish," she her into the room. "Come and let's have a whispered, all the tone shaken out of her talk." And he set her down on the velvet ottoman and took it seat beside her—leaning "11 I wish!" A palpitating silence held forward with an arm on his knee to barn- them for a moment. Then" What do you ea& her from an invasion of the public as say to to -morrow?" he suggested. far as possible. His thoughts turned, She looked up at him, blushing violently. naturally enough, to their late very import- "Ah, you are thinking how forward I ant interview in the caves. am," she exclaimed, drawing her hand from "We will go back there," he said, ex- his "Do you mean that you will?" he ex - Pressing his desire frankly. " When we claimed, the fierceness of his. delight are married, Elizabeth, we will go to your tempered by a still evident incredulity. old home again together, before we set oub "1 will," she said, "11—" on longer travels, and you and I will have "Hush—hush! Don't la there be any a picnie to the caves all alone by ourselves, He, Elizabeth le in that little buggy that we drove the other "Yes—Listen. If Mrs. Duff -Scott will day. Shell we ?"freely consent and approve—" " W We might tumble into one of those ter- "You may consider that settled, anyhow. i rible black holes," she replied, " f we went there again." I knovv she will." "True—we might. And when we are nig`haAt_ndt if you will see Mr. Brion to - married we must nob run any unncessary «!r. Brion? What do we want with risks. We will live together as long as we Mr. Brion? Settlements? possibly can, Elizabeth." "No. But he has something to tell you She had drawn off her right glove, and about me—about my family—something now slipped her hand into his. He grasped that you must know before we can be mer- it fervently, and kneaded it like a lump of riecLe stiff dough (excuse the homely simile, dear " What is it? Can't you tell me what it reader—it has the merit of appropriateness, is?" He looked surprised and uneasy. which is more than you can say for the lilies "Don't frighten me, Elizabeth—it is noth- and jewellery) between his two strong paling. HOW , he did long for that dark cave !—for tnm,atter, is it?" I don't know. I hope not. I cannot any nook or corner that would have hidden tell you myself. He will explain everything him ardher from sight for the next half if you will see him this evening. He came hour. back to Melbourne with us, and lie is wait,- " Why couldn't you have toldme a week ago ?" he demanded, with a thrill in his ing to gee you." " Tell me this much, at any rate," said deep voice. "You must have known you Mr. Yelverton, anxiously; "ib is no just wou would take Inc then, or you would not cause or impediment to our being married have come to me like this to -day. Why morrow,tegis it 1,, didn't e'eu give Yourself to lue st first? " No. At least, I don't think so. I hope Then we should have been together all this won't." time—all these precious days that we have CC yeti ' Very welL We will go and have our wasted --and we ehould have been by the inneb 6.ten. wegi Join tile tabk dlhote Elea at thin moment, sitting under those big the Exhibition, Elizabeth—that will give us rocks, or wandering , away into the bush, a foretaste of our continental travels. To, where nobody could interfere with us." morrow we shall have lunch—where? At As he spoke, it party of ladies strolled Mrs. Duff -Swan, I suppose—it would be iuto the court, and he leaned back upon his too hard upon her to leeve her literallyeat cushioned seat to wait until they weft gone the church door. Yeti, we shall have lunch again. They looked at the pictures, with at Mrs. Duff -Scott's, and I euppose the ono eye on him, dawdled up and down for major will insists on deinking our heelths in five minutes, trying to assert their right to , coampagne, and makieg us a pretty speech. b5 there if they chose ; and then, too un - ea , otever mind, we will have oar dinner in toinfortably conscious of being de trop, on. pew,. rge.mettew ,,,,iiiig we shall be at Parted' After Which the levers were alone home, Elizabeth, and you and I will cline agairi for a little while. 11/41r. 'Yelverton stan re- ried possession ei Elizebeth's hand, and maid tete-astetts, without even a single parlor- storepeeted his rather cruel epleetion.- to stand behind our chairs. r dont ' quite knoty yet where I ehall discovee theed "me t° t'llislWhat eort of dinner it will ho—but I Will "A week, ago I did not know What I know tow,„ she rook& fled Cut before 1 sleep lo night." "Alt, iny dear, yea knew ft iri your ClIAPTER Xin heart, but, you would, not listen to your etneetTiasooTT tees To et neoleoann heart " wive " Didn't you know all along that it mot bussed four wane shell gine le, bee " Yeleerton—" She was beginnieg to speak eeeleusive hub Prosaic- al were their surroundings' and he stopped her. Nei" he geed, "'I am their eccupation—sittitig eb 0, lotig tal he at the end and she at the corner on his left hand, amougst A sceetered crowd of hungry folk, in the refreshment roma of the. exile, bition, eating sweetbreads and drinking champagne and. Bodo, water—it was like it dream to Elizabeth, this foretaste of conti- nental travels. Tez the background of her Consciousness 4he had it sense of having acted madly if not absurdly, in committing herself to the programme that her audacious lover bad drown out ; but the thoughts and fancies floating on the surface of her mind were too absorbing for the present to leave room for serious reflections. Dreaming as she was, she not only enjoyed thehomely charm of sitting at meat with him in this informal, independent manner, but she enjoyed her lunch as well, after her rather exhausting emotion. It is commonly supposed, I know'that over- powering happinese takes away the appetite, but experience has taught me that it is not invariably the ease. The misery of sus- pense and dread can make you sicken at the sight of food,ibut the bliss of rest and security n hawing got what yea want has an invigorating effect, physically as well as spiritually, if you are a healthy person. So I say that Elizabeth was unsentimentally hungry, and enjoyed her ssveetbreads. They chatted happily over their meal, like truant chilclreu playing on the edge of a precipice. Mr. Yelverton had the lion's share itt the conversation, and talkedwith distracting persistence of the journey to -mor- row, and the lighter features of the stapendous scheme that they had so abruptly adopted. Elizabeth smiled and blushed and listened, venturing occa- sionally upon it gentle repartee. Presently, however, she started it topic on her own account. "Tell rne," she said, "do you object to first cousins marrying ?" " Dear child, I don't object to anything to -day," he replied. "As long as I am allowed to marry you, I am quite willing to Id t other men please themselves." "But tell me seriously—do you ?" Must I be serious? Well, let roe thing. No, I don't know that I object -- there is so very little that I object to, you see, in the way of things that people want to do—but I think, perhaps, that, all things being equal, it man would notchoose marry so near it blood relatien." "You do think it wrong, then ?" " I think it not only wrong but utterly preposterous and indefensible," he said, that it should be lawful and virtuous for it man to marry his first cousin and wicked, and indecent to marry his sister -in -law --or his aunt -in -kw for the matter of that—or any free woman who has no connection with him except through other people's mar- riages. If a legal restriction in such mat. ters can ever be necessary or justifiable, it should be in the way of preventing the union of people of the same blood. Sense and the laws of physiology have something, to say to that—they have nothing whatever to say to the relations that are of no kin to each other. Them's my sentiments, Miss King', if you particularly wish to know them." Elizabeth put her knife and fork together on her plate softly. It was a gesture if elaborate caution, meant to cover her con- scious agitation. " Thenyou would not—" it were your own case—marry your cousin ?" she asked, after a pause, in a very small and gentle voice. He was studying the menu on her behalf, and wondering if the straw- berries and cream would be fresh. Conse- quently he did not notice how pale she had grown, all of a sudden. "Well," he said, "you see I have no cousin, to begin with. And if I lead I could not possibly want to needy her, since I am going to marry you to -morrow, and a man is only 'allowed to have One wife at it time. So my own case doesn't come in." " But if I had been your cousin?" she urged breathlessly, but with her eyes on her plate. "Supposing, for the sake of argiunent, that Thad beenofyourblood—wouldyou still have had me?" "Ah" he said, laughing, "that is, indeed, it home question." - "Would you ?" she persisted. "Would I?" he echoed, putting a hand under the table to touch hers. "1 really think I would, Elizabeth. I'm afraid that nothing short of your having been my own full sister could have saved you." After that she regained her color and brightness, and was able to enjoy the early strawberries and cream—which did happen to be fresh. They did not hurry themselves over their lunch, and when they left the refreshment - room they went and sat down on two chairs by the Brinsmead pianos and listened to a little music (in that worst place that ever was for hearing it). Then Mr. Yelver- ton took hisfiancee to get a cup of Indian tea. Then he looked at his watch gravely. "Do you know," he said, "1 really have an immense deal of business to get through before night if we are to be married to- morrow morning." ' "There is no reason why we should be married to -morrow morning," was her im- mediate comment. "Indeed—indeed, it is far too soon." "11 may be soon, Elizabeth, but I deny that it is too soon, reluctant as I am to con- tradict yen. And, whether or no, the date is fixed, irrevocably. We have only to con- sider"—he broke off, and consulted his watch again, thinking of railway and tele- graph arrangements. "Am ' I obliged to see Mr. Brion to -clay ?" he asked abruptly. "Can't I put hint off till another time? Because, you know, he may say just what- everlie likes, and it won% make the smallest particle of difference." "Oh," she replied earnestly, 4‘you must see him. I can't marry you till he has told you everything. I wish I could !" she added, impulsively. "Well, if I must I mast—though I know it doesn't matter the least bit. '4Vill he keep inc long, do you suppose ?" I think, very likely, he will." "Then, my darling, We must go. Give me your ring—you shall have it back to- night. GO and pack your portmanteau this afternoon so that you have a little spare time for iris. Duff -Scott. She will be sure to want you in the evening. You need not take much, you know—just enough for a week or two. She will be only too delighted to look after your clothes while you are away, and"—with a smile—" vve'll buy the trouseeau in Paris on our way hoine. I am credibly informed that Paris is the proper place to go to for the trousseau of it lady of quality.", ' " Troueseaus are nonsense," said Eliza- beth, who perfectly understood his motivee for thie proposition, " in these deys of rapidly changing fashions, unlees the bride eanncot trust her husband to give her enough r000tity' "Precisely. That is just what I think. And I don't want to be deprived of the ples.sure of dressing you. But for a week or tem, Elizabeth, eve are going out of the world just as far as We San get, where you won't want muck dressing. Take only vehot is oceessary for comfort, dear, enough foe a fortaight—or say three weeks. That will do. And toll me where I shall find Mr. Brien." They were pass ng out of the Exhibition building—peseing that noble group of listen- ing hounds end huntsman that stood be- tween the front entranee and the gate—and Elizabeth was wondering how she Omuta find Ma Brion at once andreake euro of thet eveoing interview, When she might eight of the old lawyer himself coining into the flowery enclosure from the street. " Why, there he is " she exclaimed. "And my sisters aro with him." We are taking him out for an airing," exclaimed Eleanor, who was glorious in her Cup -day costume, and evidently in an effer- vescence of good spirits, when she recog. nized the engaged pair. "Mr. Paul was too busy to attend to bine and he had nobody but no, poor map! So we are going to show him round. Would you believe that he has never seen the exhibition, Elizebeth ?" They had scarcely exchanged greetings with each other when, out of an open car- ria,ee al; the gate, stepped Mrs. Duff -Scott, . on nor way to that extenewe kettledrum which was held in the exhibition at this hour. When she saw her girlie their festive raiment and their cavaliers, the fairy god- znotter's face was a study. " What 1" she exclaimed, with heart- rending reproach, you are back in Mel- bourne! You are welkin about with— WithyOUr friends"—hOOking011 her eye -glass the better to wither poor Mr. Brion, who wasted upon her a bow that would have done credit to Lord Chesterfield—" and I am not told I" Patty came forward, radiant with sup - premed excitement. "She must be told," exclaimed the girl, breathlessly. "Eliza- beth, we are all here OQW. And it is Mrs. Driff-Scott's right to know what we know. And Mr. relverton's, too." "You may tell them now," said Elizee beth, who Was as white as the MA1Blitl round her chin. "Take them all to Mr. Duff - Scott's hoose, and explain everyehing, and get it over—while I go home. CHAPTER, XLI. MiS.TELYER.TON STATES IIIS INTESITIONS. "1 dont think you know Mr. Brion," said Mr. Yelverton, first lifting his hat and shaking hands with Mrs. Duff -Scott, and than, with an airy and audacious cheerful- ness, introducing the old men (whose name and association with her proteges she im- mediately recalled to mind) ; "Mr. Brion —Mrs. Duff -Scott." The fairy godmother bowed frigidly, nearly shutting her eyee as she did so, and for a moment the little group kept an embarrassed silence, while it sort of electric current of intelligence passedbetween Patty and her new-found cousin. "Will you come ?" said Patty to him, trying not to look too conscious of the change she saw in him. "It is time to have done with all our secrets now. "1 agree with you," he replied. "And I will come with pleasure." Mrs. Duff -Scott was accordingly made to understand, with some difficulty, that the mystery which puzzled her had a deep significence, and that she was desired to take steps at once whereby she might be made acquainted with it. Much bewildered, but without relaxing her offended air—for she conceived that no explanation would make -any differ- ence in the central fact that Mr. Yelverton and Mr. Brion had taken precedence of her in the confidence of her own adopted daughters—she returned to her carriage, all the little party following meekly at her heels. The girls were put in first --even Elizabeth, who, insisting upon detatehing herself from the assembling council, had to submit to be conveyed tMyrtle street; and the two men, lifting their hats to the departing vehicle, were left on the footpath together. The lawyer was very grave, and slightly nervous and embarrassed. To his companion he had all the air of a man. with a necessary but disagreeable duty to per- form. (To be continued.) The Milk Turned Sur. I will not tell you her name, bat one of the neighbors says that during her brief visit the other day the milk turned sour. Her countenance looks a yard long. She sighs perpetually. The cloud on her brow is deep. If beaten out thm, I believe it would cover the sky. Her voice is doleful, and, her eyes show no radiance. Her wrinkles are numberless. She is a sorry picture, and all because she is the victim of one of those complaints common to women. Her system is deranged. She needs a course of eelf-treatment with Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription. This will eradicate thoroughly those excruciating periodical pains and functional weaknesses incident to her SOX, and at the same time build up and invigorate her whole system by its health - imparting influence. A trial bottle will convince. A. Sermon on Dish.Cloths. Says a writer in the New York Ledger: "I think I could preach an excellent ser- mon with dish -cloth for a text. I have tried all sorts of cloths—linen, cotton and mixtures of these materials—and for a long time could find nothing that exactly pleased me. One day, in a fit of desperation at not being able be lay my hands on just what I wanted, I caught up an empty flour sack. It suited to it T. The soft, fine cotton makes absolutely perfect cloths, and when my supply of these runs short I buy cotton as nearly like the sacking material as I can find, and stitch it up into bags in precisely the same shape." &Belayed Luncheon. The old Hadley landlord—Jimmy, run up stairs, quick an' ask your mother Ler th' Home Book of Ettiketty. Jimmy—Whateher wanter find? The landlord—That gent has jest asked fer some connysummay an' I want ter find whether it's bird, beast 'r jest napkin. • More Advantageous. " 1VIy husband hasn't treated me very well, lately, but I'll get even with him," said Maude. '1 wouldn't if I were you," returned Estelle. " I'd get ahead of hint" RetWeen Two Fires. Washington Star: " His friends all ad. vied him to go on the stage," EARL the un- successful tragedian's father. "Yes, I see now ; it was his friends egged hun on, and the audience egged him Clara—"I thought you expected your French maid on this steamer ?" Maud—" I did. But the steamer didn't stop at Queens- town." Ettiployer .Are you honest? Boy— Y8flger. " And faithful ?" " Yesser." "Do you sneak out and gt) to the ball game ?" " Yesser." "That's right ; so do L" An old lady of Clinton, Mo., brought suit egeirist the Missouri Pacific Railroad Com. party for $5,000 for killing her hueband and $50 for killing an old sow. Wheti the matter came up she dismissed as to her husband, butt refused to fall it cent on the sow. • yon homy thiet Harry Clothes - fit had entered as it divinity etedent ? ffeesie--No, but when 1 ince hun on the boulevard yesterday I thought he stared at me hateler than usual. The =eager of is Chicago apartment building eays there is it gtatit rush of 'muse - renting people to get into hoardiug-placce and hotele before the openingof the WorkPe , erman rup For Coughs St Colds. John F. Jones, 1dorn,Tex.,writest I have used German Syrup for the past six years, for Sore Throat, Cough Colds, Pains in the Chest and Lungs, and let me say to any- one wanting such a medicine— Getman Syrup _is the best. B.W. Baldwin, Carriesvilleaenn., writes : I have used your German Syrup in my family, and find it the best medicine I ever tried for coughs and colds. I recommend it to every- one for these troubles. R. Schm.alhausen, Druggist, of Charleston, Ill.,writes : After trying scores of prescriptions and prepara- tions I had on my files and shelves, without relief for a very severe cold, which had settled on my lungs, I tried your German Syrup, It gave me immediate relief and a perma- nent cure. (i) G. G. GREEN, Sole Manufacturer, Woodbury, New jersey, U. S. L A TAN ON BACHELORS. A RCM That Will Make 1Jumarried Geer - glans `Warm. A bill Inc passed the Georgia Legislature imposing a. tax on bachelors. Under its terms it will cost it Georgian $25 annually to begin the bachelor business at thirty years of age, and on it rising scale of $25 for each five years it man of sixtywill be put to the expense of $150 for the privilege of going without a wife. A more ghastly piece of legislation could hardly be conceived, striking as it does at the very roots of personal liberty. Government has quite as much right to fine a man for not wearing a beard as for not marrying. Government has also the same moral right to impose a. tax on bach- elors as it has to fine the poor for the benefit of the rich under the guise of a "protective' tierif£ "Government" is only all of us and "all of us" can do as we please—Poe/Atka (R. 1.) Tribune. Better and Better. "Batter than grandeur, better than gold. Better than rank it thousand fold, Is a healthy body, a mind at ease, And simple pleasures that always please." To get and keep a healthy body, use Dr Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery, a remedy designed, to not only cure all diseases of the throat, lungs and chest, but keep the body in a thoroughly healthy condition. It eradicates all impurities froan the blood, and overcomes Indigestion and Dyspepsia. Blotches, Pimples and eruptions disappear, under its use, and your mind. am be "at ease" as to your health.. Enrope mad the Far East. It has rained only twice in twenty-nine years in Aden, and then. only enough to lay tdie dust. It is estinnsted that the treasure lying idle in India in the shape of hoards of• cons- ents amounts to 250;000,000. hi Corea slteets of paper pass for money; one sheet brings one quart of rice or twenty sheets a piece of hemp cloth. The accommodations of the Vatican may be imagined when the Pope put 3,200 beds in it at the disposal of the French pilgrims free of charge. Old French forts are being sold very cheap. A Frencls artist has bought the Fort du Gaesclin for about $1,100. They go from a few hundreds to $1,000. • A Girl's Essay ma Bois. Boys are men that have not got as big az their papas, and girls are women that will be young lathes by and by. Maze was made before women. When God looked at Adam, he said to himself, "Well, I think I ORM de better if I try again," and then he made Eve. God liked Eve so mu& better than, Adam that there have been mere women than men. Boys are a trouble. They wear out everything but soap. If I had my way half the boys in the world would be girls, and the rest would be dolls. My papa as so nice that I think he must have been a little girl when he was a little boy. --St. Andrew's' Church Record. Are most esteemed by every intelligent man and woman. Derangements of the liver, stomach and bowels speedily present to un the living question of obtaining relief. It is at once found in Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets, which mire sick headache, consti- pation, indigestion, bilious attacks, eta. Purely vegetable a,nd perfectly harmless, they are unequaled as a specific for the com- plaints named. One tiny, sugar-coated Pellet a dose. In vials' 25 cents. Carry them. in your vest pocket. The Funnels of Great Steamers. ;I Most persons would say that the diameter of the largest steamer funnel is four to six feet, and would want to wager that ib is not more than eight feet. How - far from the actual ske such guesses are may be understood when it is stated that the funnel of the Etruria measures a little over 18 feet in diameter. At even it short distance away this can hardly be believed. It gives an idea of the enormous sixe of the big steamers. An Accompaniment Wanted. Minnie (with novel, to Mamie, at piano) —Please play something pathetic, dear, I. have just reached the chapter where the heroine stands weeping on the shore as the hero sails away, perhaps never, never to return. tituntsitiveness Rebuked. l'ttcic: Is Ttiff.y a drinking tnan ? Bluffy---Yes e an eating inan, and a sleep- ing man, and a clreeeing man—just like all the rest of us ! , BaSe is Gm Slave 'Who raYs. • Jinkg—How did Beate come to recover ? Dr . Pourthly tried to con- sole him by speaking of his debt to nature, end Nate seid he'd be banged if he paid it, Flemming, of Cempbollford, 'WO.% severely injured: by the premature exploeion of a blast ;yesterday. Aaron Vetterly was kiliosI ab 1Vtorrieburg , yesterday ist e collieion between two bellatet trains on the canal 'Werke. The wages a shop glide in London. begin 35 to tele, tt, yeer. •