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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1891-10-22, Page 6avasetdaty. On Montley, when, the weether is nee, An glistening iio the bright stoothine, The weekly w ash bailee on the line— The wash ishet eoutes so rapidly! The Mee -trimmed getentents aerie outside— The rags in ltolee ena earners hate, And. this we callleattscsvifely pride— ' The hest toot toremosta certainly. Tho skirts our anxious thouglits commatid; We serutinize eaeli neck ime bunt; For retribution is at bend. When these are Dot Immaculate. A sudden thunder -cloud draws nib; Heys- quickly du the olothespios fly ! The garments may Ise wet order— :We dare not risk uncertainty. Sometimes the clothesline is too f rail— The garmente show a muddy trail; No laundress_ can ref rein a wail Beinecling this catastrophe. In winter, how the ioy air Will stiltera every garment there! Who doesn't know they amok and tear When hanaled howe er tenderly? One wish, at 1east a.IL houeewivos share, 'United in. hes bit prayer: Propitious Fates, may it town fair Upoa my weekly washing-dayr THE SISTERS "You are thinking cif clothes, a course." " No, I am not thinking of clothes, 1 ant thinking of what people will say. You can have no idea of the extraordinary tales that will get about. I must consider Eliza- beth." " I consider. Elizabeth," he said" And before Mn Brian maim his commiuncakon, • whatever it may be, I should like to have it •settled and understood that*the arrange- ments she and I have made will be permitted fe stand." He paused, and stood looking at Mrs. Duff -Scott, with an air that impressed her with the hopelesness of attempting to oppose such a man as that. "1 don't know what to say," she said. •C Ws will talk it over presently." "No, I want it settled now. Elizabeth will do whatever you desire, but I want her to please me." The major chuckled, and, /tearing hire, Mr. Yelverton laughed for a moment, and then bent his emphatic eyes upoo the old man sitting silent before his unopened papers. "I want you and every- body to understand that whatever is to be said concerns my wife and sisters, Mr. Brion." "Very good, sir," said Mr. Brion. "1 am delighted to hear it. At the same time I would suggest that it might be wiser not to hurry things quite so much." At this point Patty, who had been laugh- ing and crying in her handkerchief, and clinging to Eleanor, who had come round the table and was hanging over her, sud- denly broke into the discussion. "Oh, let them, let them'let them 1" she exclaimed eagerly, to thebewilderreent of the unin- itiated, who were quite sure that some social disability was about to be attached to the bride elect, from which. her lover was striving to resue her. "Do let them be married to -morrow, clear Mrs. Duff -Scott, if Mr. Yelverton wishes it. Elizabeth knows :why she oonsents—I know, too—SO does Nelly. Give them. your permission now, as he says, before Mr. Bi -ion goes on—how can anyone say anything ag,ainst it if you approve? Let it be all settled now—abso- lutely settled—so thas no one can undo it afterwards." She turned and looked at the major with mil a peculiar light and earnestness in her face that the little man, utterly adrif b himself, determined at once to anchor himself to her. "Look here," he said, in his gentle way, but with no sign of ' indecision, I am the head of the house, and if anybody has any authority over. Elizabeth. here, it is I. For. gyve me, my dear"—to his . wife at the other end. of the table—"if I seem to take too much upon myself, but it appears to me that I ought to act in this emergency. Mr. Yelverton, we have every reason to trust your motives and conduct, and Eliza- beth's also; and she is her own mistress in every way. So you may tell her from ray wife and me that we hope she will do what- ever seems right to herself, and that what makes her happy will make us so." "113 doesn't seem that anybody cares much whether I give my consent or not," said. Mrs. Duff -Scott. But she wiped away her tears, kissed her consoler and made an effort to be cheerful and business -like. "There, there—we have wasted enough time," she said, brusqely. "Go on, r. Brion, or we shall have dinner time here before we begin." " Shall I go on ?" asked Mr. Brion, look- ing round. Mr. Yelverton, who was very grave, nodded. And Mr. Brion went on. CHAPTER XLII. MR LORD ARE MASTER. lt was not much atter 3 o'clock when Elizabeth -walked slowly upstairs to her room, bearing single-handed her own re- sponsibilities. Now that she was alone and undisturbed, she bega,u to realise how great they were. She sat down on her little bed to think what she was doing—to rook back upon the past, and forward into the future—until her head spun round. Whea she could think no more, she slid down upon her knees and prayed a fervent, wordless prayer—rested her overweighted soul on the pillars of the universe, which bore up the strange little world in which she was but an infinitesimal atom—and, feeling that there was a strong foundation somewhere, and perhaps even feeling dimly that she had touched her point of contact with it oaly just now when she touched her true love's lips, She felt less intolerably burdened with the charge of herself. At the door a quick rapping, at once , powerful, brought the servant \ci rom her underground kitchei ricl a Boner - us, low voice spoke in the has, , and echoed u the stairs—the wcti-kned, voice of ingscote Yelverton. Kingscote Yelverton, unaccompenied by anybody else--po.Ying his rst visit. to this virgin retreat, where, as he knew very well, his sweeetheart at this moment Was alone, and. where, as he also knew, the unchaperoned male had no busi- ness to be. Evidently his presence an. nounced a, crisis that transcended all the circu ms tan ces and conventionalities of every -day life. He walked upstairs to her sitting -room, and rapped at the door. She could not tell him to conte in, for her heart eeemed to be heisting in her thros t, end She felt too suffo- cated to spcitk ; she stumbled Across to the door, and, opening it, looked at hirotlembly, with a face as w`hit 0 ai the white frills of her gown, He, for his part, neither spoke to her nor kiseed hoe ; his whole aspect in- dicated *trees; emotion, but he was no por- tentously grave, and almost stern, that her helot, Which had fluttered so wildly et the sight of him, oollesieed end sank. Talsing her hand gently, he shut the. door, led her across the room to the hcarthreg, end abed, em her bodied. fate, before her. She was so oVervehelmed with fear of earl!) he might be goiug to say that she turned arid hid her face: iii lug hen& Nattiest the edge of the mantelpiece, that she might brace hereelf to bear 113 without showing him how Strulon she Was, ''Weli," lie said, after a little plater), " I Imee beet havbig a groat surpriec, Eliza - hetlis I little thought what you were elan.% Me 111 for when you arranged that iaterview. with Mr. Brion, 1never was BO utterly out of my reekoning as I havefound myself to -day." She did not speak, but waited in isreath. less auguisli for the sentenee that she fore- boded was to he passed upon lter—oondemn- ing her to keep taloa miserable money M exchange for Wm. "1 kuow all about the great discovery now," he went oil. I have read all the papers. I eau testify that they are per- fectly genuine. I have seen the marriage register that that one was copied front—I cen verify all those dates, and names, and places—there is not a flaw auywhere in Mr. Brion's case. You aro rosily my cousins, and you—you, Elizabeth—are the head of the family now. There was ne entail --it was cut off before my uncle Patrick's time, and he died before he made a will ; so everything is yours." After a pause he added, brokenly, " I wish you joy, my dear. I should be a hypocrite if I said I was glad, bat—but I wish ydu joy all the same." She gave a short, dry sob, keeping her face hidden ; evidently, even to him, she 1 • was not having much joy in her goer fox - tune just uow. He moved closer to her, and. laid his hand on her shoulder. I have come to retell you," he said, in a low, grave tone, thet was still unsteady. "Mrs. Duff-Seott wanted to Wine herself, but I asked her to let me oome alone, because I have something to say to you that is only between ourselves." Then her nervous terrors found voice. "Oh, tell me what it is I" she cried, trembl- ing like a leaf. "Don't keep me in eus- pense. If you have anything cruel to say, SO y it quickly." "Anything cruel?" he repeated. "1 don't think you are really afraid. of that— from me. No, I haven't anything cruel to say—only a simple question to ask—which you will have to answer me honestly, .Elizabeth." She waited in silence, and he went on. " Didn't you tell me—emphasising each word heavily—" that yon had been induced by something outside yourself to decide in my favor ?" "Not altogether induced," she protested; helped perhapa." "Helped, then—infLuenced—by outside considerations 1" Yes," she assented, with heroic truth- fulness. "You were alluding to this discovery, of course?" "And you have consented to marry me in order that I may not be deprived of my property ?" She did not speak immediately, from purely physical incapacity, and he went on with a hardening vome. "1 will not be married on those grounds Elizabeth. Yon must have known that I would not." For a moment she stood with her race hidden, struggling with a rising tide of tears that, when these terrible words were speken, would. not be kept in check ; then she lifted her heati and flung out her arms, and clasped him around his great shoulders. (It is not, I own, what a heroine should have done, whose duty was to carry a difficulty of this sore through half a volumn at least, but I am nevertheless convinced that my real Elizabeth did it, though I was not there to see—standing, as she did, within a few inches of her lover, and with nothing to prevent their corning to a reasonoble under- standing.) " Oh," she cried, between her long -drawn sobs, "don't cast me off because of that horrid money ! I could not bear it now 1" "What !" he responded, stooping over her and holding her to his breast, speaking in a voice as shaken as her own, "is it really so? Is it for love of rne only, my darling, mydarling ?"—pouring his long pent-up passion over her with a force that seemed to carry her off her feet and make the room spin round. "Would you have me if there was no property in the question, simply because you feel, as I do, that we could not do without each other? Then we will be married to -morrow, Elizabeth, and all the world shall be welcomed to brand me as a schemer and fortune-hunter if it likes." She got her breath in a few seconds, and. recovered sufficient consciousness to grasp the vanishing tail of those last words. "A fortune-hunter! Oh, how preposter- ous! A fortune-hunter 1" "Why more ?" she asked, apprehensively. "1 am going to have some papers pre- pared by Mr. Brion and themajor's lawyers, which you will have to sign before you sur- render your independence to -morrow." "1 won't sign anything," said Elizabeth. "Oh, wont you. "We'll see about that." "1 know what it means. YOU Will make me sign away your freedom to use that money as your own—and I won't do it." " Well -see," he repeated, smiling with an air which said plainly that if she thought herself a free agent she was very much mis- taken. "My darling, I fear you will think my plans very prosaic. I think we are just going to reelong—till to -morrow or next day. You see it is so cold, and I don't want you to be fagged with a long journey. Mount Macedon would have been charm- ing, but I could not get accommodation. At Geelong, where we are both strangers, we shall be practically to ourselves, and it is better to make sure of a good hotel than of romantic scenery, if you heve to choose between the two—for the present, at any ent rate—vulgar and sordid as that sentiment to shut with a sharp click, and the bride openly sighing his soul into his lady's face. may appear. We can go where we like I turned her head quickly and looked at him. Then Elizabeth looked for Patty. And afterwards. I have just got a telegram to He nodded. And as she rose from her low Patty she found on the settee within the say that things will be ready for us. You chair, holding out her hand to the faithful alcove at the opposite end of the big room— left it to me, you know." Patty, the wheels of the brougham crunched also in her white ball dress, and also look - "1 am only too happy to leave every- over the gravel in front of the windows. It ing charming—engaged in what appeared to thing to you," she said, at once. 'And I don't care where we go—it will be the same everywhere." "I think it will, Elizabeth—I think we shall be more independent of our circum- stances than most people. Still I am glad to have made sure of a warm fire and a good dinner for you at your journey's end. We start at twenty minutes past four, I may tell you, end we are to got home—home, TOLOSA fal her finger--" the meet amazing trust," "1 have," elle assented, simply. "113 rether frightens me," he went on, "130 see you teking me so abeolately for granted. 1)o you really ,think that em Quito perfect, Elizabeth ? "No," she replied, promptly. " Well, I am glad of that. For I am far from it, essure you." Then he added, after a pause, "What are the faults you have to find with me, then ?" "None—none," she responded fervently. "Your faults aro uo faults to me, for they are part of you. 1 don't want you perfect - 1 only want you to be always as I know you now." "1 think I am ratlibr a tyrant," he said, begining to criticise himsilf freely, now that she showed no disposition to do it, " and perhaps I shall bully you if you allow me too much latitude. I am too fond of driving straight at everything I want, le'lizebeth-1 might drive over you, without thhilling, some day, if you give me my owu way always." You may drive over me, if you like, and weldome," she said, smiling. When they reached Mrs. Duff -Scott's house, Patty and Eleanor, who had arrived a, few minutes eerlier, met their brotherand sister, kissed them both, and took Elizabeth upstairs, where they tenderly drew off her furs and her bonnet, and waited upon her with a reverential recognition of her new and high estate. During their absence, Mr. Yelverton, Mr. Brion and their host and hostess stood round the drawing -room fire, talking over a plan they had hatched be- tsveen them, prior to taking leave of the old lawyer, who had to depart for his country home and business by an afternoon boat. This plan provided for a temporary disposal. of that home and business at an early date, in order that Mr. Brion might a.ccompeny the entire party—the major and his wife, Mr. Yelverton and the three sisters— to England. as the legal adviser of the lat- ter, it having been deemed expedient to take these measures to facilitate the conveyance and distribution of the great Yelverton property. The old man Was delighted at the prospect of his trip, which it was intended should be made both profit. ale and pleasant to him, and at the cer- tainty of being identified for some time longer with. the welfare of his young friends. Mrs. Duff -Scott was also ardent in her anticipation of seeing Elizabeth installed at Yelverton,of investigating thephilanthropie enterprises of Elizabeth's husband, and of keeping, during the most critical and most interesting. period of their career, the two unappropriated heiresses under her wing. The major was pleased to join this family party, and looked forward with some avidity to the enjoyment of certain London experiences that he had missed from his cup of blessings Of late years. And the dear girls will not be separ- ated, except for this little week or two," said the fairy godmother, wiping away a surreptitious tear. "How happy that will make them 1" They entered the room as she spoke, clinging together and they sat down round the hearthriig, and were drawn into the discussion. Yes, it did make them happy, they said; it was the sweetest and brighteet of plans and prospects. Only Patty, thinking of Elizabeth and Nelly going and Paul BrionBrion left behind, felt her heart torn in two. The wedding breakfast was the mid-day lunch, to which they were summoned by the butler with his bridal favor in his button -hole. The little party of seven, when they went into the dining -room, found that apartment decorated with flowers and evergreens in a manner wonderful to behold, considering the short notice that had been given. The table was glorious with white blossoms of every description, the orange predominating and saturating the air with its almost too strong fragrance and the dishes and the wines would have done honor to the bridal banquet of a princess. Little did anyone care for dishes and wines, except the host and hostess, who would have been loss than mortal had they not felt interested therein; and most of them were glad to get the meal over. Some healths were drunk in the major's best dry champagne, and three little speeches were delivered; and then Mr. Brion respectfully begged to be excused, said good-bye all round, made his Grandisonian bow, and de- parted. "Tell Paul," said Elizabeth (she could call him Paul now), "that we have missed him to -day." "1 will, my dear, I will," said the old man. And when he delivered that message half -an -hour later, he was hurt to see in what a bed. spirit ib was received. " I daresay I" was Paul's cynical comment. When Mr. Brion was gone, the little fan:illy returned to the drawing -room, and again sat round the bright fire and behaved themselves as if nothing had happened. Elizabeth spread out her hands to the warmth, and gazed at her thick wedding ring meditatively; and the girls who hung about her gazed at it also with fascinated herself ass fair to look upon as she keeve how, A11(1, When ske opened the door softly, trembliog with excitement apd happiuess he was waiting for her, standing ou the hearthrug, with Ms back to the fire --looking at her as he hed looked thet, day, not so Very long ego, when they wore in the cave together, he on one id* of the gulf and elle on the other, He held mit his arms again, and this time elle eprang into . them, and lifted her own to clasp his neck. And so they stood, without moving or speaking—" resting before dinner" --until the waiter, heralding his approach by a discreet tap at the door, came in with the soup -tureen. " No. 'That is another change. Nies. Duff -Scott has withdrawn her gracious favor. She doesn't want him now. She thiuks she will make a pair of duchesses of us when she gete us to London, don't you see ? Dear Avoman, I'm afraid she will be grievously disappointed, so far as I am Con- cerned. No, ever since the day you went awey—which was the very day that Mr. Westmoreland began to come leack---she has given him the cold shoulder. You know what a cold shoulder it can be ! There is not a man alive who could stand up against it, except him. But he doeen't care. He can't, or won't, see thee he is not wanted., I suppose it doesn't occur to him that he can possibly be unwelcome anywhere. He loafs about the house—he drops on us at Aleton and Breen's—he torns up at the theatre --at the exhibition—at Mullen's— everywhere. We can't escape him, Nelly likes it. If a day passes without her seeing him, she gets quite mildews. She is like a horrid schoolboy with a cockroach on a pin —it is her great amusement in life to see him kicking and struggling." "Perhaps she really does care about him, Patty." ' " she. She is just having her re- venge—heartless little monkey ! I believe she will be a duchess, after all, with a miserable pad toothless creature for her husband. It would be no more than she deserves. Oh, Elizabeth 1" suddenly chang- ing her voice from sharps to flats--" how bountiful you do look 1" Nelly may be a duchess, and so might I, and neither of us would ever beat you for presence. I beard Mrs. Duff -Scott the other day congratu- lating herself that the prettiest of her three daughters were still loft to dispose of. I don't believe we are the prettiest, but, if we are. what is mere prettiness compared with having a head set on like yours and a figure like a Greek statue ?" There was a sound at this moment in the adjoining room, on hearing which Patty abruptly departed ; and the bride stood listening to her lord's footsteps, and still looking at herself in the glass. Le entered her room and she did not turn or raise her eyes, but'a soft smile spread over hor face as if a sun had risen and covered her with sudden light and warrath. She tried to see if the waist of her gown was wrinkled, or the set of it awry, but it was no use. When he came close to her and stooped to kiss her white neck, she lost all recollection of details. "You want," he said, about ten minutes afteewards, when he had himself turned her round and round, and fingered the thick brocade and the lace critically, "you want diamonds with such a stately dress." "On, no," she said; "1 won't have any iamonslia "You won't, did you say ? This lan- guaage to me, Elizabeth ?" "Tho diamonds shall go in beer and tobaoce, Kingscote." My dear, they can't." " Why not ?" "Because the Yelverton diamonds are heirlooms." " Oh, dear me ! Are there Yelverton 'diamonds too?" "There are, I grieve to say. They have been laid up under lock and key for about forty years, and they must be very old- fashioned. But they are considered rather fine, and. they are yours for the present, and as yen can't make any use of themthey may as well fulfil their purpose of being erne- mentaL YOU M1UM wear them by-aud-by, you know, when you go to Court." They did not go down until the carriages had. begun to arrive, and then they descended the wide stairs dawdliagly, she leaning on him, with her two white -gloved hands clasped round his coat sleeve, and he bending his tall head towards her—talking still of their ovvnatfairs,and quite indifferent • to the sensation they were about to make. When they entered the dim -coloured draw- ing -room, which was suffused with a low murmur of conversation, and by the mild radiance of many wax candles and colored lamps, Elizabeth was ma,de to understand by hostess and guests the exceptional posi- tion of Mrs. Yelverton, of Yelverton, and wherein and how enormously it difered from that of Elizabeth King. But she was not so muck taken up with her own state and circumstance as to forget those two who had been her charge for so many years. She searched for Nellie first. And Nellie was in the music -room, sitting at the piano, and loohang dazzlingly eyes. Mr. Yelverton sat a little apart, and fair under the gas light in the white dress watched his wife furtively. Mrs. Duff. that she had worn at the clula ball, and Scott chatted, recalling the topography and with dark red roses at, her throat and in her notable features of Geelong. They had af- yellow hair. She was playing Sehubert's A ternoon tea, as usual (only earlier than Minor Sonata ravishingly—for the benefit of usual), in the familiar precious teacups, out Mr. Smith, apparently, who sat, the reci- of the familiar Queen Anne teapot. There pient. of smiles and whispers, beside her, was an every -day homeliness about this rapt us ecstasies of appreciation ; and she quiet hour, and yet it seemed that years was taking not the slightest notice of Mr. had come and gone since yesterday. pres. Westmoreland, who, leaning over the other 1M Yl t ' tch hoard end of the piano on his folded arms, was was time to go. , And in ten minutes more they were gone. Like that monarch who went into` his own be an utterestiog and animated dialogue with the voluble airs. Artrons. The young matronsighed as she contrasted kingdom and shut the door, Elizabeth went herown blessed lotwith theirs—with Nelly's, into hers—to assume the crown. a,nd sceptre ignorant of what love was and with Patty's, of a sovereignty than which no woman can knowing it, and yet having no comfort in boast a greater, let her be who she may—. the knowing,. She did not know which to Eassipg vvholly into lmr strong husband's PitY most. mistrust left in her heart, either for herself PATrY CITOOSES HER °enema I my dear, which will be wherever you and I 1 or him, They were driven to Spencer street, The dinner party on Christmas Eve was ' past six. That will give you time to rest their train, people who knew them stared I can be together, henceforth—at about half- I where, while they waited a few minutes for the diet of a series of brilliant festivities. One afternoon, while Mrs. Duff -Scott and before dinner. And you will not be very . at them, recognising the situation. They Eleanor paid calls, Elizabeth and Patty tired, after such a little journey, will pert ?" I paced up and down the platform, side by went for the last time to Myrtle street to 1 " Elizabeth, I" called a voice from the c,or- ,, side, she in her modest cloth dress and pack up the bureau and some of their eeping without one shadow oT regret or CHAPTER XLVI. ridor above their heads, " sexul Mr. Yelver- furs ; and, far from. avoiding .observation, smeller household effects in preparation for ton away, and come upstairs at once." 1 they rather courted it unconsciously, m a the men who were to clear the theme on the • So Mr. Yelverton departed in his cab, to I quiet way. They were so proud. of belong. morrow, Ntr. Yelvertort accompanied them, pick up old Brion and eweit his bride at ' iegto each other, and from the enclosure of end lingered in the small sitting -room for the nearest, church ; and he was presently their own kingdom the outside world seemed a while, helping here and there, or . followed by the major in his brougham, and such an enormous distance off. Th-cY went pretending to do so. For' his entertain- , e little later by Mrs. Duff-Scott'e capacious to Geelong in a saloon oar full of 11301310— meat they boiled the kettle and set out the ' open carrieee, eontaining herself and the what did it matter to them ?—arel et the cheap cups and SaUSUM, and they had three sisters, all in woollen walking dresses seaside station found a carriage waiting Ler afternoon tea together, and ,Patty played • and furs. And Elizabeth really was mar- them. And by half -past 0, es her husband tbe Moonlight Sonata ; and then Elizabeth ' ried, still to her owti great sutpriee. She seicL Elizabeth reached. home. There was haste her heassese go and „,„„,„ him,„if at sitting reeni, wail a table hie club and come beck to them ia an hour's etood in the cold and silent church, and a, bright and cosy took Kingscote, her lever, to be her lawful prettily set for their tefe.a.tete dinner, time, pee wee, eceeeeingsy, ems the two Intsbancl, mad le,gally ratified thet, irrcvoc- and a bright fire (of wood and not coal—a sisters pinned tip their skirts and tecked up able contract in the clearest handwriting, real bush fire) cracking On thO hearth. In, their, gieeges and worked weal great, ems lIe led her out into the windy road, when an Miter room there waS a hre tee ; ane. genets \rime he was no longer there to (Be- lt was over, and put her into the brougham here, when her portmasetean hiel been un- . treat them. They worked so weli that at I '—the major taking her Place in th° other straPPecl, andl while Kingseote was e(nisalt" the end of an leitir they had nothing left to eats -lege, end on their way back both bride Inc with the landlord, she hastily threw off ii„, exee;)i., 0, mete eerbing of hem, line, asse and bridegsbanS were vety ecrione over tbeir her wraps rind travelling drese, twieted booke. :Elizabeth onclertakiess this lmaineee, exploit, her fine bedv afresh, put Oh that delicate petty teeled clown her sleeves and Walked " YoU have the most wonderful trust hi gown that she had Worn yeSterky morning te, the window ; end mho stood there for a me," he said to her, holdieg her still BOLIld 113 possibly, he aakod herself, inivo 11 tie while, leaning he , acm on the frame gloved hand, and slipping the wedding ring been: only yesterday morning ?--and made mid her head on her atm, .. Paul Brion is at home, lializebeth," she said, presently, " ls he, dear ?" responded the elder els- ter, who had begon th think (because her husband thought it) that it was a pity Pesti Brion, being so hopelesely cantankerous, should be allowed to -bother them any more. Yes, And, Elizabeth, I hope youwordt mind—it is very improper, I know—but I shall go and see him. It is my last ehance, I will go and say good-bye to Mrs. Win, tyre, and then I will ran tris to his room and speak to hien—just for one minute. It is my last chance," she repeated ; "I shall never have another." , " But, my darling—" Oh, don't be afraid"—drawing hereelf up haughtily--" I am not going to be quite a fool. I shall not throw myself into his arms. I am simply going to apologise for cutting him oe Cup Day. 1 am eimply going to set myself right with him before I go away—for his father's sake." "It is a risky experiment, my dear, whichever way you look at it. I think you had better write." •"No. I have no faith in writing. You cannot make a letter say whet you mean, And he will not come to us --he will not share his father's friendship for Kingscote— he was not at home when you and Kings - cote called on him—he was not even atMrs. saarons' on Friday. There is no way to get at him but to go and see him now. I hear hint in his room, and 'leis alone. I will not trouble him long—I will let hirn see thet 1 can do without him quite as well ea he can do without me—but I must and will explain the horrible mistake that I know he has fallen into about me, before Ilose the chance for the rest of my life," "My dear, how can you? How can you tell him your true reason for cutting him ? How eau you do it at all, without implying more than you would like to imply? You had better leave it, Patty. Or let me go for you, my darling." But Patty insisted upon goiug herself, conscientiously assuring her sister that she would .do it in ten minutes, without saying anything improper about Mrs. Aarons, and without giving the young man the smallest reason; to suppose that she cared for him any more than she cared for his father, or was iV the least deeree desirous of being cared for by him. Ansi this was how she did it. Paul was sitting at his table, with papers strewn before him. He had been writing since his mid-day breakfast, and was half way through a brilliant article on "Patron- age in the Railway Department," when the sound of the piano next door, heard for the first time after a long interval, scattered Ids political ideas and set him dreamin. g and meditating for the rest of the afternoon. He was leaning back in his chair, with his pipe in mouth, his hands in his pockets, end his legs stretched out rigidly under the table, when he heard a tap at the door. He said "Come in," listlessly, expecting Betsy's familiar face; and when instead of an un- interesting housemaid, he saw the beautiful form of his beloved standing on the three hold, he was so stunned with astonishment that at first he could nob speak. "Miss—Miss Irelverton 5" he exclaimed, flinging hie pipe aside and struggling to his feet. "I hope I am not disturbing you," said Patty, very stiffly. "I have only come for a moment—because we are going away, and —and—and I had something to say to you before we event. We have been so unfortu- nate—my sister and brother-in-law were so unfortunate—as to miss seeing you the other day. I—we have come this afternoon to do some packing, because we are giving • up our old rooms, and 1. thought — I thought--" (To be Continuea.) Mother and Child are Doing Well. Mrs. Brown was sick. Her friends said she would never get well. "What's the trouble ?" "0, some kind of female weak- ness. The doctors have given up her case as hopeless. She may live for some time,' they say, but as for a cure, that is quite out of the question." "1 don't believe it," said a woman, who heard the sad news. "I don't believe she's any worse off than I was, five years ago, from the same trouble, and I don't look very much like a dead woman, do I?" She cer- tainly did not, with her red, plump cheeks, bright eyes' and 150 pounds of good healthy bone, bloodand flesh. "l'm going to see her and tell her how she can get well. She clid so. She advised Mrs. Brown to take' Dr, Pierce's Favorite Prescription. Mrs. Brewn took the advice, also the medicine which cures all kinds of delicate diseases so common among women, and—got well. Thgt was two ,years ago. Last month she pereentecl Mr. Brown with a ten -pound son, and "mother ancl child are doing well." EloW Spools Are Mode. Almost all the spools now made are pro - diced from birchwood. The wood is first sawed into sticks four or five feet long and seven -eighths of an inch to three inches square, according to the intended size of the spool. These sticks are thoroughly seasoned, sawed into short blocks and dried in a hot- air kiln at the time they are sawed, holes being bored perpendicularly through each block, which is set on end under a rapidly revolving, long -shaped anger. At this stage one whirl of each little block against some small knives that are turning at lightning speed fashions it into a spool after the man- ner of the pattern provided, and this, too, at the rate of one a second for each set of knives. ' Too Late, Perhaps Tennyson has written nothing which appeala to the hearts of all who read his poems more than the lyric of "Too Late." The burden of the sad refrain comes home with telling, force to the hearts of those who have lost friends by that dread disease --consumption. They realize, "too late," the result of neglect. They feel that the dear one might have been saved if 1 hey had heeded the warning of the hacking cough, the pallid cheek' and weakening system. They feel this allthe more keenly because they see ethers being rescued from the grasp of the destroyer, and they think whet is saving others might have saved their loved one. When the first signal of danger is seen, take steps to avert the catastrophe. Be wise in time. Dr, Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery will drive away consumption. Do not wait until too late tefore putting its wonderful efficacy to the best. ft succeeds where other romediee fail. Acme:mined. to At. Washington 6ear : Mr. Flatuaelsuit (doubtfully)—What woeld you think if 1' Sh01141 lrita you, Miss Ethel ? Miss Ethel (indifforcutly)--Oh'I don't know. Ian not very original rd prob. ably say just what I said to Harry Seoul, derstreps and Cepa Caseabel and the rest of them. • Nailer caareless. Pack : Polly -- So you are really and truly eagaged. ;flow did it come about ? Patsy—Well, papa said he didn't care, nom% asid ;she didn't care, Jack said he didn't care, and I'm sure I didn't care, and we beteme engaged. The various elasseS of single and doeble horses were an excellent lot and the entries numerous. ' A RTI NOT a Pur*,-, .‘•••• gative eine, They ere Ok 13Loou litarm**„ Toxic and hamon?i? srnucTou, as thOel supply in a condensed: form the substanoe*. actually needed to enr, rioh the lllood, Mixing all diseases comm' from Poen and W4T.. mar Bz,00n, or froin, VEMATED RUMORS in, the 1311,00D, mid .a.lea invigorate a,nd Bulrat , er the 13Loon rinse, seeress, when brokei?. down by overwork* mental worry, disease. ' OXCOSSOS and indisCre- tious. They have a' Srnoirid AarIox 00 tho Scxont Srarnst of both men and woman-,. restoring LOST vicun, and correcting all laniammt.nrrima an& SUPPRESSIONS. • EVER11. Y Who flnds his mental foe- uitios dull or failing, or' nis physicio poWeis flagging, should take thesa 15tr1s. They will restore his lost energies, both, physical and mental. EVERY OMAN should take thetrt- Tlacy cure all MM.., pressions and irregularities, which inevitably entail sickness when neglected. . YO UNG should take these P BIEN They will cure the re- mts.. sults of youthful bad habits, and strengthen thes system, youNa women should take them. I13I&B1 These Puma will make them regular. For sale by all druggists, or pall be cent up= receipt of price (50e, per box), by addressing THE D.11, 'WILLIAMS, MED. Gra .73roeloritta, Chit. Jrst Amovi TUE ANKLE." That, Says MSS Willard is 1! here the skirt . Should Eud. Miss Frances E. Willard sends this dic- tum and plea to the Woman's Jaunted, cur- rent issue: "We must, as women of com- mon sense, agree to stand by each other hi wearing street skirts that do not fall below: the ankles. To do less is uncleanly and costs us the respect of every thinking per- son who sees us shuffling along on our street mopping expeditions. Let US insist on this reform for simple decency's sake, to say nothing of health or wholesomeness. Thie. is the first step, this the hour's demand ; all else that health, modesty and good taste in.- dicate will follow. Fnaieces E. Wraneaue."` The Wild Animal market. Here are some prices of wild animak taken from the catalogue of the great Jam.- rach, who died recently in London : Two hump-baek camels PM Spotted hyenas, a pair........... . . .... . . . 150 One peccary . ..... 20 Twomongooses, each.. .... ............ .... 5 Spider monkey Two baboons, a pair DO Mesopotamia deer, each 59 Porcupine ... 25 Bengal tiger cat 501 South Americanocelot 10 Pair of Persian greyhounds 2001 Full-grown cassowary 200 Great eagle owl 201 Four pelicans, each ............. . . ..... 25 A Chance to Make ri;ssa—or getter! A slim chance, you fancy. Well, read and judge for yourself. You have Catarrh. $500 is offered for an incurable case of Catarrh in the Head, by the proprietors of Dr. Sage's Catarrh Remedy. SYMPTOMS Or ueseenatu.—xteactacne, ob- struction of the nose, discharges falling into the throat, sometimes profuse, watery an& acrid, at others, thick, tenacious, mucous, purulent, bloody, putrid and offensive; eyes weak, ringing in the ears, deafness ; offeniive breath; smell and taste impaired, and generaldebility. Only a few of these symp- toms likely to be present at once. Dr. Sage's Remedy cures the worst cases. Only 50 cents. Sold by druggists everyvrhere. $500 or a cure. Either would be acceptable. The Way18 Clear. Chicago Tribune: "Beg pardon, sir„." said the man who had been standing up fix the aisle of the car, as he wedged himself dowu by the side of a man who was trying to occupy two seats, "bub have you ever travelled in Germany ?" "1 have not, sir," gruffly answered the party addressed. "It's an interesting country," rejoined the other pleasantly. "Von ought to visit it. You would have no trouble m getting in now." • Just In Time. Clothier and Furnisher : " Am I to understand," said the young man bthterly. as he arose to go, "that all is over between: us ?" "1 am afraid that is the case," she said calmly, a slight tone of Jersey City hauteur observable in her voice. "Then," he answered briskly, reaching for his hat, "you have told me at just the right moment. I have recently ordered at new winter overcoat, and I will just have time to countermand those pockets under the arms." Rev. Dr. Burchard is said to have declared', while exhorting at a revival meeting in Poughkeepsie fifty years ago, that he had huge carbuncles on his knees caused by the hours he had spent on his knees for the con. - version of sinners. After that, says the New' York Tribune, he went bythe title of "Cav- buncle Burchard." —It is because ignorance is bliss that courting is so mach pleasure to young 66 11 ifriV Fbr Dyspepsia. A. Bellanger, Propr., Stove Foun- dry, Montagny, c,"?,uebee, writes: "L have used August Flower for Dys- pepsia. It gave me Dyspeptics relief. I. m recomend it to all Dyspeptics as a very good remedy.' ' Ed. Dercreron2 General Dealer, Zs Lattzott, Levis, Quebec, writes : "I have used August Flower with the best possible results for Dyspepsia." C. A. Darlington, Engineer and General Smith, Sydney, Australia, writes: 'August Flower has effected it complete cure in my case. It act- ed. like a miracle." • Geo. Gates, Corinth, Miss. ,writes: " I consider yottr Atigust Flower the best remedy in the world for Dys- pepsia. I was almost dead with that disease, but used several bottles of August Flower, and now con- sider in:y-self a well man. I sincerely recommencl this medicine to suffer - in, g humanity the world over," co G. G. GIZEItN, Sole Manufacturer, 117oo4hury New ;(4rse 1 3 A