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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1895-5-17, Page 600311N) THR9' .THE RYE. Iteotrtiebrizlesbty plet'4tS ( a t lotitist OTrirre 'ougtitl BX W4F1 BataTEXII.S. rtatarnitilea, I o kuow loner); bee wee) eueles lute ea easy cbair ; the fee boy culvenees a step, appar- ently Ineattailair plange into the sea of wain+ muslin before him, gasps, blinks, ruminates, titmice better of it, clad fluelly sits down, pulling epologetleally. Gen - hang up my black. boaabezatie to try dolmen" girls fetch out theer lady part - and get some of the Grease* mat; tato I aig out a. par of eery very hagga Old -white kid be(as, itt least four sizes too big for nae -- fanlike heirlooms that wore originally wormI think) by my grandmother, the by mother, now by ma and will be Woad - ed (WWII in turn to future generations. They are cm yellow im autaran leaves; surely their complexi.on might be improv- ed.? Not unlikely! So might my own, so night the bombazines', by upsettlug a pot e ink over it. It would then at least be black; but I am not going to take the trouble. 1 put my bat under my arm, and go elown-stairs with a pleased smile on my twee for I am not going to clean it, aild is not this duty a real labor of love with nie? But half -way down 1 meet a servant, who sitys: "If you please, miss, ToU. lzay put on your hat asta go aver to the parsonage, Miss Tyburn. says." I putaWay my bat and tetch my hat, Teething loath, and. set out immediately, Arriv ea at the house,I find no one visible, but after some sear& disoever Mr. Tusher in the orehardeswinging in abate - meek under an apple tree. Very oconaud lazy, ;old comfortable he looks, with the sot, September sun glinting through the green loaves, and on the sides of the rosy apples that hung over his head.; though I fancy a smart shower of them upou his faee would not improve the flavor of his Balzae, " He looks rather astotaished as my head suddenly appears at his elbow, and lays down his book. "How do you dor 1 said, quickly. "Do Jut try to shake hands, you will only tumble out; 1 have corm) to aak you some very particukte." "Weil, what is it?" "You like to do things, clo you not? You like to please people?" "That depends on who they are." "Oh, these are rather nice," I say, nod - dire; "they can't help being only ghls, yotknow." "Oh! girls," says Mr. Vasher; "and how eon I please them?" "We are going to have a partw," I say, eerieuely, "ated you are going to be invit- ed, ana the Buffs were talking about it on Sunday, taking it as a matter a course that you would. come; but somehow- I felt in eay bones that it was not the sort of thing you would core about, and. I made tap my mind. to ask youto carte as a gxeat favor to us all." "And why did you. think 1 should not some?" he asks, aanuseilly. "Because," I say, confidentially, "I know that,as a rule, men do not care for girls in a lumpt they do not mind. a few, but they can't stand fifty." "Ouly fifty? Ithought I saw over a hun- dred on Sunday." Oh no!" I say laugbing; " a° not make us out worse than we are. .A.nd. so -a -ad sol thought I would just tell you how anxious we are for you to come because I thought that however much you disliked the idea you would come as a matter of duty." "You enust thin.k me a good-tempered. sort of fellow" says 1ir Vasher scrambl- ing out of his hammock somewhat ele- gantly (the handsomest man alive could hardly perform that feat gracefully): "be- fore I promise tell me what nay duty will "There will be aafty girls," I say walk- ing by his side "without teachers and you will have them all to yourself to pick and choose from and you need not hurry your- self in the least about a. partner or be afraid of anyone saying no for you will be the only young man there." "Delightful privilege!" says my com- panion. "You will not be expected to dance with vs all," I say reassuringly; "not more than fifteen at most! The other girls dance with each other." "And. what are yougoing to do?" "1 never dance," I say shaking my head; "I have never learned. an.d it is bet- ter not to make a spectacle of myself." "Then you will not donne with me?" "Oh no!" I say " I could not think of such a thing. Even if Iknew how Ishould be ashamed to deprive the other girls of you I see you sometimes you. know and they do not and they evould think it mean of me!" nem, and Ittaa them to theta plates, "If them is anything X hate," SaY5 Laara Pleading, as she seveeps leer pale lank sidles; over her feet, "It is bovines a girls arm round my waist!" The room is one struggling mass of tar- letan, muslin, aridliarege; every now and then a bitch oceurs, and loaf a dozen young women get arialy wedged tooetbor by their hoops, awl aro disentangledwith great difficulty. In the lades' chain, too, there is seine confusion, but oue can't ex- pect everything. The old vicar sets,blows, attd she:ales with the rest most valiantlY; like the Shaker, of Arteatets Ward mem- ory. The dance over, everee ono who can sits deem and. drinks elegem; which might be better, but then, on the other hand, might be worse. The fiddler is just exe- cuting a preparatory ecarpe that seems to take lxis hearers into the very bowels of the earth, evheu the door opens and enter Mr. Prate and lir. Yasleer. As the latter stands talking to Miss Tyburn, 1 see him glance abont him With a keen amusement ; then, as the music strikes up, he leaves her and comes straight to the corner where I lie perdu. "This is our dance," he says, placing his hand. under my area disreeerding my murmurs of dissettt with masailine sang- froid, I feel my shortcomings very grievously as ho leads me forth. SElow I wish my gown were not so rusty, and that my boot* (lid not curl up at the toes quite so much, seeming to regaire chains, as dia. those of our ancestors long ago, ale puts his strong arm about my waist, and away we go; but alas! if a lamp -post and a bottle elect - eat° dance a jig together they would bear about the same proportion to e,ach other that Mr. Vaslaor does to me. "Stop!" I cry, when we have taken one rouucl and a half; "it is no good." So he stops, laughing, and takes me to a seat, "Long and short," he says, "and decid- edly too muoli long!" "I told. you how it would be," I say, ruefully; "yon see, I am only a little above your elbow! If one could only roll one's self out!" "Supposing you grew up like that?" he says, glancing almost imperceptibly at a May -pole a a girl who is standing near, and who measures five feet ten in her stockings. "tate can always avenge one's injuries when one is that size; aud, after all, must it net be nice to be able to snub people?" I say, laughing. • "Taco ie a pretty little girl, ehe says loolri le; at Nate Liahaw, who has paused for a, moment in her dancing near ti. "She is a duck," I say, quioldy; "do take her to dance." In a moment I have fetched her, and they go off together, he looking with real adniration at her fresh, bright young lace. I leave my place and go to the top of the room; hard by Miss Tyb-urn is speaking to Mrs. Shrubb, and tiS her voice is raised in rivalry with the Sidle, I can- not avoicl hearing what she say*. "Remarkably lovely; but you will be able to judge for yourself, she is coming to -night with her aunt, Lady Flytnen. I was caning theae yesterday, and happened to men.tion. Mr. 'Posher's name; she said s'te knew him very well, said seemed to like the idea of seeing hina again, so I asked her to come." "Miss Fleming, is coming! I wonder what Paul will say?", The music ceases in a crescendo of shrieks that might well make Weber, whose waltz it is, stir in his coffin. The room is scarcely clear again when the door opens, and a little withered, beat old woman in a pearl-gray satin, haif-covered with lace, totters in. Behin.d her comes her niece, Miss Fleming. Moro than ever like a white -and -gold. lily does she look as she advances by the side of that brown old with, and pays her devoirs to Miss Ty- burn. She wears white garments that sweep in great soft folds to the ground; they are bordered with a Greek pattern of gold, and about her neck, arms, andwaist are clasped heavy dead gold coins. She looks all white and gold, from the crown of her head to the tips of her embroished brodequins. The scanty folds of the Greek bodice fan away expuisitely from the gleeming white shoulders and bosom; the arras bare from shoulder to wrist taper devinely, and are softly nicked at elbow and wrist like a baby's. We all bold our breath as we look at her; and Pani Tether, standing hard by, marks every matchless point of face and figure as no feminine eye ever could, and -does not go near her. On the contrary, he says something to Kate, who leads him up to lilary Burne --come- ly, gentle, honest Mary -and she goes off with him, looking hugely flattered. Miss Fleming is seated in a low chair talking Mrs. Shrubb, fanning herself slowly with a quaint fan of crimson. feathers. The fat boy On seeing her has gasped once and never got bis breath back. His father is sitting with a hand grasping each knee, surveying her with a senile admiration. Wby is n.ot Mr. Vasb.er by her side? Why is she sitting there alone? She looks as though she did. not care, and yet I am sure she does; not often can it fall to her lot to be slighted and set aside for school- girls. He goes up to her by and by though, when the evening is wearing away; and surely she is not proud, for she lays her hand upon his "hen, and they -melte,- to- gether, melting into theaong gliding step that each possesses in suoh perfection. For a time I sit still and. look at them, at the dark, magnificent looks of the man and the fah, ltnetriant beauty of the girl, and think that never surely did a more splendid. couple stand together ;ahoy seem to be made for each. other. Presently I leave my seat and go out into the corridor which is bright as noonday in the clear, pale beams of. the September moon. The hall -door stands -widely, intibingly open. Beyond it lintel lies the broad, sleeping moon -washed earth, and down below —ell, so sweeti-gurgle up the glad notes of the nightingale. For a moment hesitate -over that thresbold I am for- bidden to go; then, as the tread of mony feet comes down the corridor, 1 enateh up one of the wraps lying about, an.d step forth into the silver peaot aeld beauty of the night. just outside the door is a clerk corner, formed. by the peacetime of th.e porch, and into this 1 slip, lest a teachet or Buff should eontiato the door ctad dis- coVer my unlawful wherabouts. The fiosvers are all fasb asleep; they leek ahosdy and weird. in the gliseteninglight. wonder if they Will wake nlY by and by, as Hans Anderson's Amore did, and trip a dainty measma to the mizele the aightin- ;ode yonder furnishes? SortehoW 1 never earl believe that these flowers ate but (ad- ored shapes; they seat to me to be a% roach more evortby of souls and nerves than the the world. abroad; de as the d white.), the store, limit, as though them, We tin wbon in utter silen -mystery of Na truly -day life fa away, and. ouster evays and. words an screen between as a vanish like thin ona t so heavily upon as nt °thee's, and some dim pi) e tio the InnYerSai law that governs God's +earth breathes itself imperceptibly into our suede. I think I must aavo boon out here a long wbile, for I am growing cold, Time to go in. I am just emerging, wheia, down the corridor, cliek, (sleek 1 °nine, clack! oorae the taps of high -heeled shoes, and ihaetily drew back into my corner, as the neon comer steps over the threshold andstands, face and form and robe, bathed in a flood of pure silvery ltght. lt is Miss Fleming, ;tad the stands quite motionless, looking up steadfastly at the sky overhead. .A.11 the soft beauty of her face is gone; in its pluses there reigns a cold, determination, that contrasts almost violently with the youth of her lineaments. As sho slowly lifts her arm andright hand to Heaven, her lip moves, and she looks like some re- lentless goddess, who had been turned to stone in the act of calling down confusiou andcurses upon her enemy. Mom foot steps -a man's this time -come down the passage and approach the door, pause for a moment, then come on again. "Hail you not botte,r have a stoma Miss Fleming?" inquires Mr. Ve.sher's voice. "You will take cold." At his polite'chill words. she neither turns nor looks: sho stands motionless, with her eyes fixed upon the ground, look- ing with her straight brow and antique rainutent, like a Greek slave standing be- fore her master. He looks at her -with a keen, devouring scrutiny from head to foot, and turns to go. Ho is within the house when she calls to him. "Paul!" "Do you want me?" he says, pausing; but she does not answer and he comes back slowly and stands a little apart from her. "Is there anathing more to be said betweet us?" he asks. "Is it not all fin- ished -done evith?" "To you,perhaps," the says; "but not to ene-not while my life lasts!" "You will forget," he says, looking down with a dark and bitter frown; "yoa are young yet." "'Have you forgotten?" the asks below her breath. "Do you find it so easy?" " God knows!" he says lifting his head and staring up at the sky that is so "thick beheldwith patties of 'bright gold." "Wo - Melt can't feel things as mon dcal' "Do they not?" she cries with a fierce jangle at her sweet voice. "Have you for- gotten that it is the one who sins, not the one who is sinned against, that suffers the most keenly? Do you think that 11 11 had. been through your fault or folly I lost my happiness 1 thould have mourned half as heavily as I do nolo, knowing shat it is my own doing?" "Why did you do ite" he says, looking down on hex with an infinite agony in his voice. "We could have been so happy child." "You were too hard upon me, " she says, will a shuddering moan. "Any other man would have forgiven me if he had loved me." "And did aol I love your" he asks, quietly. "You cast rfte off," she says, lifting boo lovely face to his; "I did not you." "I never loved, never wa,nted any wo- man but you," he says, slowly. "I chose yen out of the whole world for my voile. would have worn you as my fairest honor,my priceless pearl; and how did you. reward me?" I was never unfaithful to you," she says, drearily. "If ever I did anything wrong it was before I knew you." "Anil there it was that you deceived me," he says, with a heavy sigh. "You had seemed so pure, and honest, and true." And so was to you," she says, swiftly -"always true to you!" Heavens!" he says, throwing book Ids head with a quick, sudden gesture, when I think of it all! It was much suoh night as this three months ago -only three months -that you and I mtood to- gether in that garden, and I asked you to be my wife, and you put your arras but ray neck; and, as we stood together, your lo -ver came toward us and looked firt an one, and then on the other, and went away. You never said, 'Thatis my be- trothed husband, whom I ham kissed end betrayed, as Twill kites and betray you if I have .the chance.' When he rode that steep- le chase next morning so madly, so reck- lessly, that all saw the goal he strove to reach was death, and a quarter of an hour later was carried back to his mother's car- riage dead, did you foal no remorse -no sorrovr? You gave no sign. You Imo shocked; but he might hale been 'a ()oni- on acquedutance, no more; only later, in looking over the poor lad's paper; (for I was a friend of his modem:13),X came u.pon a packet of your letters, and, you being my promised wife,I thought no shame of reading on." He pauses, sho droops her head in the moonlight and shiyera. Leslie cold and, shamed?"Lou know the etory," he says, wearily, "and how we parted. I loved you then; 1 lore youaeow but differ- ently -and it is all over." "You here me," she says, in her low, passionate voice, "I -my God! do X n.ot love you? And. yet are we to live apart! atria it be so beloaed-must it be sot" "It must be," he says, yery gently. "We can never bo anything to each other -never any more!" She lifts her head, and tlee agony on. het face shows dear and strong in the moonlight, as they stood looking at each other, she is so surpassingly fahate is so lofty of etature and dark of We; it seems sad, unnatural, thot they thould suffer so. As she turns away he mite oat his hand and draws her back. "Silyia," Ito says, hoarsely, and in the September evening he Shivers like a reed, "I would have gone to the world's end. rather than baYe root you here to -night. What aril fate has brought US tOgetther atain SO SOCA -40 terribly soon? Since we parted' have been tryitig with all my strength of body and soul to forgot you, and it trammed as though I were beginning to sueeeed; and now you have appeared before me, to dash my hardewon peace from my hand, end glate me ell the raging pain and nsittery Over again. If were (lifferently made -elf I could forget everything and loye yea in the old fashion, X would do it; bat I care - not -I loae you abill, but with the worst half of my heart, met the bettor. Some- thing hoe gotta from you in mg ream that Will never !mom back. Though I startled you I ehould have respeot for you; in /ay eyes yea Would be 11,0 raOre than a beautiful toy, The °Id worship is dead, atal it will never come boOt. Ana teen le Veata tettralkeibet wee).k •ane rellaatatt sbatotali oir Sand fee ' lkttimii64i0;04o.,•. IMertetausexasinta, ' eon' thoughts 'ee , tetneeteettlet alone to tow with tete gmee tieneeeteplela pr.04*.4. 'a Os, heate 'azalea 1tb ,t thentema ai *44esalati, trutlee, CHAPTER X.V11. Thursday- evening has arrived,and eight o'clock is striking. We are all assembled in the big dining -room, and our petticoats axe so volurainous, and our bodies so pranked forth, that, instead of fifty souls, we look as though we munbered two hun- dred at the very least. If a Frenchman were let loose among us, he would clasp his hands in speeth?ess admiration at the amount of raw material before him; the fine eyes, the abundant hair, fair skins, and perfect teeth; but he would also de- plore, from the bottom of his soul, our chaussures, coiffures, and. choice of colors -1m would lament the total absence of style, tearoom, chic, whatever it may be called, that in England is so conspicuous for its absence, and, whik he hankered after our red and white charms, would console hiraself with therecollectiota of his allow spouse's matelaless tasted and 000 - tum e, perfection every detail. We have a little card, ox at least every- body has but me, upon which are inserib- ea the partners selected for the daaces'al- though it is an -understood thing that if a nlan should miraculously appear and re- quest the horter,the former engagement is to be considered null and void. r.ter all, we have not had a lottery on Patti Vashar's account, and he will be tree to et) where he lits, although I privately eni ertain wry grave doubts whether he trot Mitt one balf of the damsels who coo silently expect to be asked. 'Inc !look, opens and our libble music- flut er tepelea.rs, fellowed by his son bear - b ficidle,out of which he will presently ow up Our goals with Orioles that lee et wake the dead. ties Tyburn cornesin, She wears maize oil : and bleak lace; very imposing she leo e aa the bends in answer to the crack - lino bows every one makes all /round the meet. And now enters the Rev. Thomas Shrubb (rector of =adjacent parisli),with his -.vire, who 'wears a blue gown and a ge • en mad gold cap. Their S031 follows- & de -peptic, par'bolled youth of eighteen - Who looks like a beast led to the slatighter, alect while he gazes fatuously about t hat teeth:, dibxkly to understand. that he hes fialcn aseitoreet thieves, We are nat proud, taleireingiris; anything in the shape of amen ie comely in tom eyes, but WO scorn to rakon %le Sat youth as a man, or any - thin o empreitelt Ing to one, A t eagle front Miss Tybuen the fiddle stri tut ho little musk master tlitrearat ilis! teed a quadrille ts fortnecl, you thinis roa lean" me now, a Wonian who betaaye one man will benne- another; and it would not please me to see ma wife's eyes roving tuuong my trioxide IU march of odintration." "I would lure been faithful to Yon!" alla says, voi7 low. "No, ton would not," be says, with a sigh; "it is met in yon to be true to n. You only care for me because t of your reach. If X were your b , you would. Aloe rest till you had nee false." e 1 I have loved you so well, so ell!" she says, with a sob, lifting the pale, lovely faco that has so changed dur- .ng tale past minates to his. "God, help as both!" he ories, passion-, ataly. Ho takes the soft face betweeii his two bands and gazes iuto it eagerly, devour- ingly, as a man may look Ins last on his heart's delight, lying in thm envious coilln that will by and by hide her from his might forever, "Kiss me once, love,before we part, and t•leele pray God that oa earth we may never meet again." She lay her arms, white as any lilies, about his brown throat; she lifts the been- iiful lips, out of watch all color has fled., and kisses him -once, And he snatches her in his embrace, and kisses leer, not (moo but many times, on lip and brow, and shoulder, with a strength that seenis to crush her. Then he sets her down ab- ruptly, and Strides away into the night, and the girl stands breathless, panting, with a deadly pallor npon her race, a wilcl agony in her eyes. "My love--" she says, "my -love" She puts her hand suddenly to her hart, as though a knife had struok her newly, then she turns and ateps over the threshold. ea CHAPTER XVIII. "Most extraordinary!" says Laura Fielding, resting her chin on her hands and her elbows on ler desk. "He aoteally left his hat behind!" "Does anyone know what became of it?" asks Kato Lithaw. "It was put in a bandbox," says Dom, "ancl carried to the parsonage by a maid- stervant, who made him a courtesy, and said, 'I've brought you something as you droppedamong our young ladies, sir 1" "Nonsence I" says Kato; "but I must confess I am disappointed in him! After all, he proved a very little more valiant than. Mr. Russel's friend! He is very 11100, though, she add.s, "and he dunces splen- didly." "He is maguificent says Belle. "Did you. over see such shoulders on such a b.eadr And. then his style-unixnpeacin able I "His moustache is-" says Laura "it has that long bold sweep that you never see on a plain man's face; and as to his "Bravo! Laura says Kate.a "'Ho was a mate -you. know the rest. 1.1.1 tell you one thing," says Belle, "that I am sure of ; that exquisite piece of white anti gold, Miss Fleming, as at the bottom of his sudden departure; and I am certain that if they are not lovers now they were man with a vengeance. They disappeared to palm that night. I would have recon- noitered but was curveting in the Lancers. After that, you know, ho went." "I mhould uot mind being you, Helen A.deir, says Kate," patting me on the shoulaer. "You do the visiting while we ceU stay at home." I am !sitting in my bonnet and jacket, awaiting the carriage that is to take me to Lady Flytton's. • "I don't -want to go," I say earnestly, "indeed I do net. Why Lady Flytton ask- ed me I oannoi think, for she did not know nother very well." "What it is to hare so many friends!" says Belle; "I wish Iliad sorael" "And you are coming home on Monday, child?" et yes. fy "I wonder if Mr. Vraher will go there!" says Kate. "Keep your eyes open, Helen Adair, and toll us all you see when you come book. Hark! there is the carriage." We go oixt. Yes, there it is, and the spirited black horses, with their scarlet rosettes, look far more fitted for a drive in Hyde Park than to bowl along these coun- try laaes. LITERARY COMPETITION, $000. OITEICED IN I.1111.Z1iSe By the Or, Willem -nee Medicine 00,, Of BrOolEV1.110, Out, With a view to assisting in the detalopa meat of literary talent in Canada, The Dr. Williams' Medicine Co„ of Brockville, Out., will award prizes amounting to $1300 among the writers of the best five short original stories submitted, in the competi- tion as followFor the story pronounced the beat $100 will be given. For the second best $75. For the third best $(30. Vor the fourtb best $40. For the fifth. best $25. The competition is open to resident of the Dominion of Canada, who have never won a cash prize in a story competition, and. 15 subject to the following rules : - Beale story to contain not more than three thousand words. The' writer of the story shall afar a pen name, initials or motto to his or her manuscript, and shall send With the mannseript a sealed envelope bearing on the outside the pen name initials or motto attached to the story, and. containing in- side it the full name and address of the writer theta. Wo impose no limitations whatever aa to the nature of topic written upon, and the scone of the story need not necessarily be laid in Canada, although .cosapetitors must be residents of Canada, as above stated. Stories entered in the competition must bo written on one side of the paper only, 0,nd when possible should be type -written. Manuscripts to be sent fiat or folded, - not rolled. All stories for competition must reach the Dr. Williams' Medicine Co., -Brook- ville, Ont., on or before tha first day of July, 1895, and should be marked. "For Literary Corapotition." Deeision will be made as follows 2 -Alt stories submitted will be referred to a competent committee who will decide which are the best five stories. These stories will then be published in pamph- let form, which pamphlets will be distrib- uted throughout the Dominion, and eaoh will containa voting paper upon which readers will be invited to express their preference. The story obtaining the high- est munber of votes will be awarded the first prize. The one obtaining the second highest number will be awarded second prize, and so on until the five prizes are awarded. The voting will close on the first day of December, 1895, and the committee will then publish the names of tb.e successful competitors and the order of merit. Unsuccessful manuscripts will be re- turned when stamps axe sent for postage. The five stories selected are to become the absolute property of the Dr. Williams' Medleine Co., with their copyright in per- petuity. The decision of the committee and the counting of votes to be absolute and final, and all persons entering the competition agree, by doing so, to accept the decisions of tb.e committee and the Dr. Williams' Medicine Co. as final on all points what- soever. Correspondence in regard to unsuccess- ful MSS. declined, even when stamped enevlopes are sent; any stamps so sent (for any other purpose thaa the return ot the MS. at the time of first sending) will be put in the poor box. Tho Dr, Williams' Medicine Co., will take all precautions to safe -guard MS. entrusted to their care,but in no case do they reassume any responsi- bility for fire'accident or loss of unsuc- cessful MS. Authors are therefore advis- ed to keep copies. The stories must be original. Any one sending copied matter will be liable to punishment for fraud, and a prize of $95 is offered to the bast person who points out the fact that any story passed by the com- mittee is otherwise thanoriginal, in the unlikely event of such an oversight occur- ing. All stories entered in the competition must be addressed to tb.e Dr. Williams Medicine Co., Brockville, Ont., and mark- ed on the envelope "For Literay Competi- tion." JOE'S RASCALITY, " Olt 1 the nativea are u had. loe," my planter frena remarkea with expansive impartiality, "and 80 aro t110 KallakaS ; there're no trusting any of theme Tateoll lie, and bhcy 11 do any: Wag to spit) you. We're obliged to be bard on them for oar own protection. If we weren't, there'd be to getting along in the colony." "I'm sorry they're SO trOnbIOSOMO, I . said, "Bat perhaps if you wereto go in . Lor heating them better, yonal find they'd improve a bit." "No, no 1" the planter cried amerrign title. Kindness is dream away on them. . Why,jtint to show yoix how untruetworthy they are, I'll tell you a little thing that Imppened moo on out own, place here In southern QueenslandWe had, a latenaka boy called. Joe pottering about on the es- tate in the early days or the settlement, when we all undertook to dispereemer Own 'Weeks and to do jestioe . to ourselves on our indentured laborers. You've 'hoard Of that; mat Harvey, who explored se much of the monntaius in the intortior 1 Well, cre time Harvey wan stopping with is, laid Tie wanted to striae back Wand the! Darling Downs into NOW South Wtaes ter- oile ritory. It was about there weeks en foot ota to the nearest station in Now Wales inhabited by white people, and embody nut Jo° knew the road OVOT the . been employed that way -at he voloateer- ed to go as guide with Harvey. He eltdn't !amok English, but he was a good sun at path -finding. So eoe lot him go, putting Harvey in his hands, andnialdug him understand we holcl him answerable for the white man's safety." "How did. you do that" I asked, "If he spoke no English?" "Alt! but he anclerstood o gool bit," the planter answered, "especially if you swore at him; you don't want litany words in dealing with a Kanalano Why, my father hold his revolver to Joe's head, and. he said: "Jost you look here,. Joe: you toko this gentleman straight aortas to Whiteford's . If you come back without a letter from Whitefora's to say he's got there safe, I blow your brains out. If yon get to Whiteford's without him, gentle- men at Whiteford's blow your brains out. Understand, me, eh?" And Joe grinned like a Cheshire oat, and answered: `Ala yes; me understandee, mama.' " aefiee hatvezvse.,limple," I said, "and no doubt "I believe you indeea. But there's no trusting a Kaneko. The cool reason was on, and going across tbe hills and sleeping in the open, Harvey had got an overcoat with him. It was a very smart overcoat -the sort of thing a follow might ha-ve swelled about Bond street in -and Joe ad- mired it immensely. Like all Kanakas, he was as proud as a peacock and. loved to strut about in European finery. He was always talking about this overooat of Har- vey's, and tryiog to count up ou his fingers and toes bow many months he wouldhave to save up his weekly wages to buy one like it. When Harvey was going away, my father called out atter him: elanvare of Joe, old anat. Take eare he doesn't murder you to get that overcoat.' Harvey laughed and waved is hand,and Woe grin- ned. and showed his teeth. A laanalte veal grin, you know, at the bare idea otkioilig yon. "I don't know whether my father put it into Joe's hc„eul or not; but anyhowebefore the three wrecks were over WO -were all sur- prised one fine day to sec Joe came strut- ting back, all egeg, to the plantation, and if you'd. believe it, watting Harvey's entt! It ought to have taken him siz wake' at least to get to Whitefordrs and bzwit. we were naturally suspicious. `Joe, 'says my father, 'you've murdered Mt. 1:1#vey I Joe grins and struts about and shoeas off his overcoat, as cool as a cucumber. altell we couldn't stand, that. ',Too,' says my; a father again, 'we'll give you your fair' chance. We'll wait till fear weeks is out, a e -for it took a weak by sea for letters to ' come from Whitefords'-and then if we don't hear Mr. Harvey has arrived, we'll try you and shoot you.' Well, Kartakas are wonderfel. Joe strutted andi griemed, as pleased as ever. We lvaited the four weeks, and we kept him in safety. He never even tried to run away to the bush; he seemed to think it was all tight, and we were only joking. He kept on with his little duties, and showed. no signs of fear of his aproaching doom. It seemed strange to us, even making all allowance for the reckless, devil-may-care peculiarities of the Kanakas, but there was no doubt he had murdered the explorer for the sake of the coveted overcoat. "When the four weeks were npoao letter came from Harvey. So my father had out Joe, sod he, and my uncle, ancl Fer- guson of the next estate sat 88 80 informal court to try him. Joe seemed a good deal sue:prised and taken back at the proceed- ings ;Im wanted to tell some cock-and-bull story in his broken English abouthow the coat 'belong a mel Massa Harvey give it me.' But white men's lives must be respected, and my father wasn't going to stand any nonsense. They found Joe guilty on circumstantial evidence, and sentenced him to be shot; and they took him out oa the hill behind the ho -use and shot him. I can see him still with his big eyes wide open, and a sort of wondering look in themothen they faseened his arms as if he. couldn't tuaderstana what on earth they were doing it for. There was really something quite pathetic and sad about him -that is to say, for a Zemke." "And hail he murdered. Harvey?" ' leak- ed, for I didn't remember to haveheard till that moment that thenexploter bed met with so tragic an end. My, planter's fa°, tew,feellt that's just the odd part about " he answered slowly. "Throe days tater a letter arrived. front Harvey at„Wlaite- ford's, saying joe had taken hien by a 7 short cut through the hills, encl. he had " met on the -way a Now South Wales party with tents anda wagon. So Ile had sent Joe back, and made him happy; With a present of his overeoat; 'and I hopi,' he said, he's as pleased witb it now as he was when I gave it to him.' " "Thou you'd iratrdwed the poor. fel- low!" I exelaimed. "He'd. never done it Ne Wonder his big eyes of mute surprise still haunt yenta "Well, no; not quite that," the planter said deprecatingly. "lb wasn't an error of judgement, you see; a misearriage cat jus- tice; a regret-cc:btu incident, We thought at the time we wore justified in shooting hil211B"ut you quoted Ibis," I cried; "as an !teatime of the utter untrustworthiness of Kanakes I It been,S to me it goes just the other way. The peer fellow was faithful and did what he could, Mid your father theiWm,,ar.cled him for his pains of shootiog That s just a the, "Mater answered dryly. "That showe What alt entreat- evoethy lot they are. Even when you got decent one: to deal with, they're all so bad. that you can't lee:leen him. You're chi:tree to shoot an itnocoot roan on suspicion. Bab poor Joe's ()yeti lvete a eight. As long' rat 1 live X than axone frewet there a' Ejecting the Wrong an. One morning there stood at tho base- ment door of a South -side druggist's home a forlorn -looking man. He carried under his arm a book and on his face dwelt a look of etolid pationee. He was a shabbily - dressed, dejected -looking Swede. The girl who answered the bell was herself a native of Scandinayia, and when he hesitatingly offered to come in and read. it few chapters of the Bible to her she bade him welcorae and gave ?aim a seat by the kitchen stove, where he opened the good book and com- menced to read aloud., while she continued at her ironing. Chapter after chapter read he! till finally, Tilley's ironing was clone, DI; brought froza the pantry a plate of cookies and the misionary refresheti him- self, after vrhich he began where he had left off &zed read steadily on, while Tilley preparda lwatheon and washed. the dishes thereafter. There is a limit to even the patience of a Swede, and as the afternoon wore on Tilley began to show signs of being bored, and finally politely requested. Mr. Missiou- eay to "move on'' Efe was deaf to all her entreaties or threats, and it was only late in the afternoon when the druggist return- ed. home and was appealed to for help that the ardent reader was ejected from the house. week from that day a man wearing a loud, chookel suit cantle to the door and, said: " Ivroaki like to read. the gas bill," whereupon Taloa rao to her master, who had not yea gone to his store, saying: "0, Me. des =utter one of dem meo to road the gospel," and the business -man, much eyrotb, ordered the man out+ of the houee. Tke stareager demurred, so with- out further parlay the druggist used the same athlatie measures that worked so Well with the Swede. That eaten -lag She family was astonished to find the gas turneci off, and early the following reaserting the dreggist presented himself at tke gas aloe, sternly demand- ing an explwasaion, Sit," said the clerk, "if Ott agettts can- not be laziatet with emirates, by ;you we cannot supple- you with gas. Yesterday the men 'who nada your meter, a polite youag Englishman, was thrown out of your house vetthotet any apparent cause," There wiz, explanatione. Wonders of the Sea. The 808 18 estimated to contain 2,060,- 000,00 cubic miles of water. Tbe saline matter held in solution in sea water comprises one-tleirtieth of its weight. No part of the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and Newfoundland exceeds 2,400 fathoms. When the Gulf Stream passes out of the Gulf of Mexico its temperature is about 70 degrees. The Red Sea takes its name from the presence of numbers of animalulae of that color in the water. Every tiny portu.berance on a branch of coral represents a lying animal, which grows from it like a plant. It is estimated that two years are re- quired for the gulf water tp travel from Florida to the coast of Norway. The banks of Newfoundland are forraed by the sand, earth and stones brought from the north by icebergs. Sea water contains silver in considerable quantities. it is deposited on the copper sheathings of ships in aznounts sufficient to make its reduction profitable. The phosphorescence of sea water in the tropics is due to the presence of millions of animals, some microscopic, others liko the jelly -fish, of considerable size. The sea has no herbivorousin habitant. Its population live on each other, and the whole of this immense expanse of wateris one great slaughter -house, where the strong forever prey upon the weak. A Little Confused. "It,' a Awake, Vac) way these police act," mid Mre, Oa:ley; "A downright shame." "What' t the matter?" asked her neigh - nephew. Scareely a der passes without you read &boat some horse that gots pulled. The home doesn't know that gambling is -wicke& the atesnorai the ono that ought to bo pulled." Bromine weft distatereu by Billeara of Montpoliet; to 1926. Quaint Proverbs. Bach vine needs its stick. One cap is worth one hundred hoods. Love and musk soon betray theneselves. A. girl that spins thinks of her wedding dxess, . A man is never too old to love or com- mit nonsense. "But sister, he ie blitull" "So mach the better! People in love believe every body else can't see. People in love Ileac bells dangling from their eyes. The favor oa woman makes a knight of a cow -herd. Love As discovered wake that* a hole in the stocicing. A. man in love dOesn't need eyegiassea- for he is bIlt.d, Getting Married Makes golden plates of earthen dishes. Mart IS like fire, and Women like straw; the devil blows in, betweett "Should I take hille? Advise me Well, but don't (Balta.(' no frote taking ilbri."