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The Exeter Advocate, 1896-12-17, Page 3A FILY LITTER. BY THE DUCHESS. "It's an awfulnuisance you having to Dave this morning. Why, what on earth's the matter?" exclaimed Hugh Selby, as he suddenly caught sight of the blank expression on his guest's face. "Any bad news .iu that. letter2" Diok Markham pot, down- the npen letter he hold, in evident enabarrassment. "The fact is, Selby, ;I've done a foolish thing. I've opened one of your letters, and, worse than that, I've read it through withnut notioing it. I couldn't make head or tail of it until 1 came to the signature. Please forgive me, old •chap. I'm awfully sorry." Ani he handed the letter across the table to his old friend. An expression of profound annoyance settled on Hugh Selby's face as ho glanced sit the signa- ture, and it became even more pro - Doomed as he read through the letter. It ran as follows:— No. 18 Doris Street, Bayswater, Oct. 18. I cannot believe that you will persevere in your determination to ignore Ralph's son nr that you will allow him to grow up with all the disadvantages of his present position. Is 1t fah to make the child suffer for your prejndioe against me? You are the only relation he has in the world; won't you help him? I do not ask you to recognize me in any way, but snroly there Inert be some feeling in you toward him besides your offended family pride. Yours sincerely, STELLA SELBY. Hugh put down the letter in silence; there was an awkward pause, when at last he said:— . "Of course, it was Norton's blunder patting it among yours. But, all the sante, 1 should like eon to knciw what this woman is writs ;about. The fact is, this Stella Selby is my sister -In-law. Sho mtarriefeiny brother Ralph 11 - ago in Brussels." "Your brother Ralph?" "Hadn't I ever • mentioned his exist- enc:ee to you? Very likely net. IIo was dead befnre I knew you and he was never a relative to be proud of," added Selby. with a Little smile. "My father died before I was two years old, and three months after his dentlf. Ralph was born Perhaps, under tufo circumstances, it wits natural, but, at any rate, all my !mother's affections wont to him. Possibly he was more lovable than I, but anyhow ever sine I can remember he was placed first in every possible way. But my brother and I never cared two straws for each other, either as chitchat] or at any other time. When I was twenty-five my mother died, and all sho possessed went, of course, to Ralph. It didn't last long. In throe year, he had not only spent . •every farthing of her rnoney, but bad pretty well run through with his own fortune as well. Things went with him from bnd to worao. Possibly I might have helped him. I confess thine I never !rade any effort, but at la;t things cul- sninated very much as I might have ex- pected; a check for 42,000 was returned Vont my bankers. I had an interview 'with Ralph at our solioitor's. I torn up the check and guaranteed him an allow- ance as long as ho remained out of Eng- land. Be talked a great deal, of course, .about reforming and that sort of thing, -which, I confess, I took for what it was worth. He wandered about the continent, .after the manner of his kind, I suppose. Certainly he got into no more scrapes snout one day, about five years ago, he 'wrote and told me he was going te. be married to the slaughter of an Irish half - pay colonel ho had net In Brussels. He .asked me to forget the past and allow him to come back to England. "You say your brother is dead?" "Yes; I heard nothing more of him until two years ago, when I saw the announcement of his sudden death in the papers. I offered to allow the 'woman a hundred a year until the child who was two years old, I believe, sbould be nighteou." "I can't say that it was a wildly gen- erous offer. But go on." "She refused it, sent me four pages of reproaches abnnt my conduct to her husband and announced that she meant to get her living by her vuiee." "Poor thing! Bat this letter?" "Well, it seems she had an illness, the voice went wrong and she wrote and asked me to help the boy." "And you mean to say you refused?" "Most denidedly. I . did my duty by making her an offer at Ralph's death. I warned her that it would (fever be repeated; She rn"'t take the conse- -queures. I have no ^'ish, I assure you, to hegin all over agein • my experiences with my brother in. the person of his •widow and son." "Bot surely you—•—" "No, any dear chap, don't let us at- tempt to argue the point. My mind is •quite made up. Let's talk abom some- thing else. 1 shall feel very lonely after -you've gone, yon know." "Why don't you come to me?" "Oh, no! the eleetian is too near.. There is too much to do, but I'll bo up in a day or two before your wedding .and I'll fulfil my duties of best man to .everyone's admiration. Alas, poor bone- •diok!" • "Dick Markham laughed. "Chaff away, old man! You'll do the -same some day." "I? Never! Why, my dear Dick, haven't,I gone through the fire of enter- prising mothers and daughters, and come eat seathless? When a man's well past thirty he is not likely to be caught in the traps that be escaped ten years earlier." "Traps? You talk as'if it was nothing .hut a game of skill. Why shouldn't you •fall in love, like the rest of us?" Hugh laughed. "It's no use tallying to you! Besides, :there's the carriage. You'd" never forgive me if I made you lose your train." Hugh Selby wattned his friend drive off regretfully. When he returned to the dining -room, ;Selby took up the pile of letters and repaired to his study. Once moro lie .read through the one signed "Stella .Selby," !Ind then he drew a sheet of note paper before him, and wrote: Hugh Selby must•decline any further •correspondence with firs. Ralph Selby. All toter° connnun'ications will bo returned unopened. Nest morning Hugh folt uncornfort- :-ably like'beiug ill, hut it was fully two days before he acknowledged the fact .<suliiciently to alioty his servant to send for a doctor. " Once in the house, Dr. ' Bartlett took prompt and :drastic action; and, before be had been at the hall half an hoar despite Hugh's weak -voiced but emphatic protests, ho had dispatehod a telegram to a London institution of trained nurses "Nonsense, any dear Selby; you're arrest deal worse than yea imagine, and as for handing you over to the care of your housekeeper, why the poor soul is far too frightened of you to be of the slightest use. If you told her to empty your draught out of the window, she'd do it without a murmur. No, no, you've been having your own way pretty well all your life, now it's my time to have a little of mine." Consequently, six hours later there arrived a trap, which deposited at the hall Boor a cloaked figure, who• an - neutered herself as • Norse • Brett, and Hugh, waking from afitful doze, started in awnaze:neat at seeing her seated in the big arm chair by the fire—a slight figure in a dark dress, with the orthodox snowy accessories. She came to him at once, and he dimly realized a pale fade, with seft, dark hair combed away from it, and some- thing gentle and 'soothing about its ex- pression. The dnotor had not exaggerated in telling Hugh that iris illness was more than a slight indisposition. "What's the day of the month, nurse?" he asked one evening, as she busied her- self about the room, drawintrthe curtains and shutting out the dim afternoon, "November 16, Mr. Selby." "Already! why nurse, I've got to be best man at a wedding in ten days. What on earth nm I to do?" "Do?" she answered, oalmiy, as she planed the lamp on the small tableby. the sofa; "why, go, of oou~so." "But I never shall be well enough." Nurse Brett smiled, and her demure eyes looked mischle''ous. "The doctor says you'll be up and about by the end of the week, and that yon are to he made to rouse yourself. A welding ought to do that!" Hugh looked at her dubiously. "I—I don't think I could stand the strain." His companion laughed outright. "I don't know what you find amusing in that," he continued, in n hurt tone, "Excuse me, 1 was thinking that Dr. Bartlett's remark this morning might possibly be cornet. He said that I had spoilt you during your illness and that ou had grown :too depondenc. How - ver, that will soon right itself when on are lett to your own devices." "What do yo'n mean?" "That I had a letter from our superin- tendent this afternoon, and she wants. to know if I can go on to another euro to. morrnw, as the nurse in chsargo of it shows signs of croaking down." "But it's perfectly im ••rssiblo, —" "I shall send aeon to Dr. Bartlett directly, and if he tbi._ks my work IF over here, of coarrso I mast go on." Unaccustomed. to bo thwarted in any- thing, Selby hati arranged In his own enlnd where they were to spend the honey- moon, wnou suddee‘y all his assurance fled as Miss Brett entered the room. "Dr. Bnr'tlett has sent buck a message that 1 can easily be spared, so, if yon will allow me, I will start by the 10 o'clock train to -morrow." "But 1 will not allow you," exclaimed Hugh,with sudden energy. town with a 'iron—„ "No; you shall not go back to the institute or anywhere else, you—" "Mr. Selby!" "I beg your pardon," said Hugh, sud- denly recovering hitnself, "but your news startled roe, and I forget myself. Will you forgive me?" With a smile Miss Brett went on fold- ing up her work. Miss Brett," wont on Selby, after a pause, "will you—I mean—there is something I want to say to you." The girl turned to •hi n quickly, but he had already risen from the sofa and was standing close beside her. "Mr. Selby." "No, I want you to listen. I—I want to tell yon that I—I—oh! don't you understand," he exoi.iitned, passionately, "that I love you that I want you to be my wife?" Miss Brett gave a little gasp and caught at the table by which she was standing without answering. "I am a brute to startle you so" he continued noticing her sudden pallor. "I am always selfish, but I've never felt for any woman as I do for you; and nh, my dear," he said, soddenly catching hor hands in his, "tell me that you care a little for Ino." Miss Brett freed herself quickly, and turning away, covered her face with her hands. "Dearest," he urged, "don't hide yourself from ane; say that yogi will marry ane some day, say that—" "No, no," she annranured, brokenly; 'don't say any more; don't ask inc any- thing." Her evident emotion gave him courage. "You are frightened now; it was too sudden." Miss Brett turned slowly and faced him. A deep flush covered her face, and her eyes were downcast: "Mr. Selby, I have something to tell you—something I ought never to have concealed from you." "I can bear to hear anything," he said, passionately; "anything but that you will not marry me" She put up her hand to stop him. " You are the one mar the world whnm I can never marry." He sank into a chair. "Nut marry me? Why? I don't under- stand." She spoke in a very low voice, her face turned away from blah. "My name is not Brett. I am a widow. My husband was—' "A widow! Then what is to prevent you being my wife?" he interrupted, eagerly. "B'eoause my husband was your •brother; because I am your sister-in-law, Stella Selby." There was dead .silence in the room; the t'wt, remained gazing at each other- Hugh was the first to speak. "Do you mean that you came here with this object in view—that you deliberately planned this?" he, asked, in a low voice. An indignant look sprang into her eyes. "I casae here because nursing w: st the only living open to ane. I thought that there would be no need for you ever to know me. 1 had. no wish to hold any cormunication wail you." Huish fiinoheci- • "Don't remind nue of that, Stella." "It is not easy to forget." "Burwhy did you refuse the ailnwance I offered you at. Ralph's death. Why-" "Because I could.uot forget the letter you wrote Ralph before our marriage— because ' I was proud and at: the first moment only et myself" • "But, but, Stella!" said Hugh, in n 'low voioe, "if things were otherwise, if I were not Ralph's brh'her, would you She turned away. `Why will you torture me?" "Then you do oars for mel Ah, Stella, what does anything else matter? Come to nae, darling, my love will make up for everything.," .,,,9..w:,..m747....ne, nn.l "Hugh, do you know what you are asking file to dor Have you quite forget - ten all that you wrnto to your brother/ Do you wish me to justify your own: cruel words?" "Stella, hush!" Still ]folding herself away from him,. she wont on: "You said there that the child of a woman who had broken down a'1 laws to gratify her passion could never be a geed . wife My Monier nuly did what yon art&asking;Me. .to do: It wise fou' just such another sin that you refused to recognize me, that only a few weeks ago you refused your own .nephew the help 1 asked you." • "Oh, I know, I know! I have been hard and unjust, but you will forgive rue, Stella, I love you. so! Weil go abroad. I will settle what you like on the boy.• Oh, don't shut out the chance of happiness there is for us, Stella!" She pressed her lips together. tightly. ' "I can't an'twer you now. You must_ give me time; you must let me think. Let me go now, I cannot bear much more." Her voice broke are he saw that the. tears were gathering i r eyes. "Yes, go now, and co-:.inerow you will tell me that love has conquered, Stella, for you do love me; say so just once, dearest." • But she had slipped away from him, and slue hurried from the room without answering. Worn out though he was with the emotion of the evening and the strain on hie weak health, it • was long before Hugh Selby 'could Bleep; at last, however he fell inta a heavy slumber, and it was late in the morning when he awoke. The servant who answered his bell brought him a note. He saw at a glance that it was from Stella, and opened it eager' y— There was only one thrng:for me to do for both our sakes. Wo both have sotne- thing to forgive; I dared not trust my- self to say such a good -by as ours must be, for it is scarcely likely that we shall ever meet again. Let us try to forget everything in the past except one thing, that we were mistaken in each .other. S. S. Hugh never quite knew how he got through that day or the succeeding ones, but 1f he had needed rousing, Stella's letter and abrupt departure had the desired effect. A week after she left he was in Landon. Sho was not to be found at the address in 'Bayswater, and when he told his solicitor of his wish to find his brother's widow, the old gentleman confessed that he was acquainted with the lady's whereabouts, bat was also under a pledge not to reveal thein. The interview in ' Lincolns inn ended in Hugh's giving directions for a new will, and in executing a deed of settlement of a very oontiderabie sum on his nephew, Ralph Selby. But even this act of reparation failed to comfort him, and the desire for con- solation and ocnfidence was so great that ho could not resist going to Markham to tell him the whole story. But egeti;tical though he was, Hugh. could not fail to observe, before he was half way through his story, that his friend appeared curiously unsympathetic, Dick Markham, usually the most responsive of beings, seemed absorbed in the blowing of endless smoke rings. He . even got up and mended the fire just as 'Hugh reached the most sensational point of his story—Stelia's revelation of her identity, "I'm afraid I've bored you most con- foundedly." eeelairned Hugh, jumping up quickly, stung to the quick by his friend's indifference. "Not at all! Not at all!" said Mark- ham, amiably. "Go on tell ane the rest." But Hugh's confidence was choked, he gave the further details as briefly as poseible, and once more rose to go. "You've provided for the little chap!" exclaimed Markham, seizing his band. "I'm most awfully glad, old fellow, and look hero, Hngh, I'm not much of a man for sympathizing and all that, but—bat there is my little sister, Beatrice, I wish you'd toll her all shout it. She might be able to help you." "Your sister! Why, man alive, you must be made'. But Markham was already out of the rooan. "What a fool I was to come hero!" exclaimed Hugh. "I suppose I deserve to be mode a laughing stock nf, but I don',t moan to stay here for that—" and ho went quiolrly to the door. As he reached it, however, it opened, and he found himself face to face with his friend, behind whom he could in the failing light, dimly descry a female figure. "No you don't, old man," laughed Markham, divining his friend's inten- tion, and gently pushing him' toward the fire, which was the only light in the room. "You want to find your nurse, 'Stella.' I fancy this young lady may help you," and with a laugh, he drew forward the girl who still shrank behind him. Intensely annoyed, Hugh looked up with a polite smile, which suddenly changed into one of delight, and ,he ejaculated "Stella!" For there she stood before hire, the Stella who had left him so cruelly; she stood there, wailing, her face flushed, and a suspigion of tears in her eyes. Hugh 'could scarcely believe his eyes, but, before he could question, Diok again interposed:— "1 hope you will forgive us, Hugh," he said, as he put out bis han'l on the girl's shoulder, "but we have to confess that you are the victim of a conspiracy. Wien you told me the story of ynur brother's wife in . the country, I had already heard it frau my sister, who bad met and made friends yvith Mrs. Selby through some hospital .work she had undertaken,. Both Beatrice and I were determined •to do our utmost to alter your feelings toward the poor girl, and were trying to hit upon aplan when your sister-in-law mune here to tell .us that she was to be sent down to you to nurse you! I' ,octmrred to Beetrice to personate her, and—well—you know the rest batter than I can tell you?" Hugh looked from one to the other in bewilderment. Phen Stella --Nurse Brett—e "Is simply Miss Beatrice Markham? Exactly." And, with admirable discretion Dick Markham slipped front the room. * * * . * • ()UR OTTAWA Paterson's newly. squired constitu- ency, an interesting item. Let'' us have THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AT 'CORNWALL - The Tariff C9111111 Oliver Takes a leap--_. Rude Awakening—'Che i'�ebirr eitt•--Lleetian Petitions—The Globe's Sudden Change. [From Our Own Correspondent,], Ottawa, Deo. 8•—Down in Cornwall and Stormont, the riding so long and ably represented by the late Dr. Darby Bergin, the bye-elertion campaign is be- ing fought vigorously. Of coarse the energetic Israel Tarte has taken a hand in the struggle, and, equally, of course, he has made a serious error. In the town of Cornwall last Saturday night the Minister of Puhilo Works addressed a large gathering of citizens of both shades of. politics. The many Conservatives present listened patiently to the re -hash of Liberal doctrine with which Tarte honored teem. And then trouble game. Tarte stated that he knew tbat, bad Ur: Bergin been alive, he would, have left the Conservative party and have allied himself with tae Laurierites. In other words, Dir. Tarte asked the audience to believe that Dr. Bergin would have be- come a renegade, as he himself is. Un- fortunately for this maligner of the dead, he was speaking to an audience cern. pnsed, for the most part, of men who had ,knnwn and admire the late Dr--. Ber- gin, They were well aware of his sturdy Conservatism, of his firm conviction that the Conservatives held the true political faith. There were maw nianifestatlous of disgust, and scores of citizeps left the hall. The shocking bad taste of Tarte's statements has hero commented upon by nearly every Independent journal in the country. Mr. Borden, the Minister of Militin, who 110:1 the ditiionit task of fol- lowine Tarte and of trying to explain away his unfair statements, dig his best to convince the audience that Tarte had meant to stay nothing against the memory of a man who always was hon- est and straightforward. But the mis- chief had been done, and Tarte retnrned to Ottawa with the consciousness that he had better have kept ont of the contest, As I foreshadowed last week, Mr. Adams, the ' Patron candidate, bas dropped ont of the running. The Ad- ministration's agents were especially vigorous in their efforts to induce Dir. Adams to quit the field. Their desire has been gratified. In the days when the "And you are quite sure --quite sure, Beatrice, that that was not part of the coiliody; gnat you do care for ane?" She made no audible answer, but ap- parently Ha; h was sarisfled. Tee ladies' pacers a couple of months later were fele of the description of Miss Beatrice isarkh..m s .dding: "And the bride's train was oarriel by an adorable little page, Mostar Ha;ph Selby, nephew of the bridegroom." The eldest sons of knights of the arta proi:ede eldest sons of eianineret$,' A laude Awakening. Soon after the election of lion. Wm. Pat,:.rson for North Grey a report was oircuhited that the Minister, having learned cf the reduced circumstaneet of Mrs, Clark, the widow of the late .mem- ber bad generously arranged to give her out year's sessional allowance, $1,000, The item went into every journal and much praise was given the member for bis generosity It was a rude awakening to learn Inst week bymean! of the fol- lowing letter that there was nothing in it and that the $1,000. has' been salted down with the other thousands that Mr. Paterson has made by means of the Na- tional Policy. This is the letter:— It has been (Arcola ed throughout the riding and reported in some of the lead- ing dailies, weeklies and local papers that the Ann, Mr. Paterson, the mem- ber of Parliament fnr North Grey, had donated $1,000 to Mrs. John Clark. the widow of the late John Clark, M. P. I ain authorized 'by Mrs. Clark to state that Mrs Clark did not receive one dol- lar much less $1.000, and that stroll a thing was never mentioned to Mrs. Clark by Mr. Paterson. Conservative Administration was at the helm a similar notion on the part of the Government would have evoked a tor- rent of Liberal denunciation, The Gov- ernment would have been charged with bribery in indurine the third party can- didate to abandon the struggle In the present' case no man outside of the Gov- ernment circle knows just wily Mr. Adams retired. For some weeks be an- nounced that he was determined to fight both Grits and Tories. A sudden change dame over the spirit of his political am - bitten. Mr. Alexander Smith the smooth and long headed gentleman who acts as Liberal organizer, paid a visit to Corn- wall. saw some of Mr. Adams' friends, and the next thing we hear is that the Patron has dropped out, The Liberals are jubilant. They consider the battle already won. Men and money are pnur- ing into the riding to aid Mr. Snet- singer, tho Goverumezr,'s caudidate. Mr. Leitoh, the Conservative, is making an active canvass, and has been Assisted in his meetings by Hon. George .E. Foster, Sir Adolphe Caron and other Conserva- tives. The factory hands of Cornwall are being told by the Liberal speakers that they have nothing to fear at the hands of the Government. At a meeting in Cornwall the other night a voter who knows well that the Liberals are in the habit of making very nebulous promises, asked the Minister of Militia wh. tber the Gnvernment proposed to reduce the protection on the woollens made in the Cornwall factories The Minister, of course, Would make no promise. All he could say was "Vote for our candidate and we will do our best for you," It is undeniable that tho mase of the voters of Cornwall -Stormont are in favor of the Conservatives. If Mr. Snetsinger should ho elected it will be because of the dark and devious ways of the Liberal dispensers of "encouragement," The Tariff Commission. The able gentlemen composing the. tariff commission continue to tour the country. Sir Oliver r\lowat, who accom- panies Cartwright, Fielding and Pater- son in order to act as a tort of brake on their too -revolutionary tendencies is not, I regret to say, earning his salary. The ex -Premier of Ontario amazed the wit- nesses at Hamilton the otber day by relapsing into a state of slumberous and beatific calm. Nobody objected to Sir Oliver taking n doze, but when he pro- ceeded to snore stsrtorionsiy, it became necessary to suspend the taking of evi- dence until Sir Richard, by means of a well -directed "dig" in the reginn of the floating ribs, awakened his honored col- league. Sir Oliver shook himself to- gether, smiled peacefully, and endeavored to look es though he had not been in the arms of Morpheus.. The old gentleman did his hest afterwards to keepawake,hut the task was a difiioult one. Nobody objects to Sir Oliver's taking a snooze, in fact, it would be a good thing fcr the country if Mr. Fielding could be indnnod to go into a trance curing the whole of the tariff investigations. Bis menacing attitude, his sarcastic questions, bis ill - concealed antagonism to the manufao- tuners and importers- have gone fair to arcate a feeling of uneasiness. At :Ham- ilton there was another funny inoident,. when Adam 13alleretyne, a well-knrwn retail grcner and Free Trader, appeared before the'Commissinn and annutrnoed that the duty on biscuits should be re- duced because, to use his own words, "The Canadian manufacturers of the article have founded a combino." It wits. well far Mr. Paterson's consistency that the Controller of Customs was abeent from this meeting of the Commission , for is nut he one of these very combine stets? Bit defence would have been worth ,hearing, for he never yet h'aa made any reply to the charges of disengenuous- ness and inoonsitsteney, that have been made against bite. By the way, we read in The, Bruce Herald,. a newspaper pith - limbed a few miles .from North Grey, REV. D. A. M'LEAN, Kemble, Out. Had Mr. Paterson conveyed the sum of his sessional indemnity it would have been a graceful act. Presumahly, as a Food Liberal should, he rode The Globe.. lie most have seen the very encomiastic t,rtioles published therein, holding him up as a particularly magnanimous states- man, Desiring, perhaps, not to bring himself too prominently before the people, he neglected to deny The (Globe's i tatements. Perhaps, now that the trnttt Is known, he will do the next hest thing and will put The Globe and the other Liberal paptrs right by handing that thousand to Mrs. Clark, The Plebiscite. Our good friends, the temperauce peo- ple, are looking to the, new Government to carry out It pledge to take a plebi- tctte on the question of prohibition. Of course. the L.,nvierites are sparring for time, 'l'ney know well that in every province of onnfeneration, with the ex- ceptions of Quebec and British Columbia, the people have given their views on the prohibition question. In eaob province it was the opinion of a varyingly sized majority that prohibition was desirable in the interests of the country, Mr. Laurier and his colleagues do not require to take any plebiscite. The views of the people have already been secured for them, by the various local (governments. if the new Premier is honest in his de- sire to give the probibltiouists what they ask let bin make nn effort to pas: a prohibition law at the next session of Parliament, The Imperial Privy Council has uefloed very okarly the powers of the Fcd:ral and Provincial Governments, and Mr, Laurier need not fear for tho constitutionality of his act, In place of taking this refuge the Premier and his lieutenants now that they do not know where the eight millions of revenue now collected from the liquor dealers would come from if tbo trnflic were done away with. Mr. Fisher, the Minister of Agriculture, always has been a sturdy temperance man. Let him tell his leader to keep his promises first and to look for that eight millions afterwards. But Mr. Fisher won't ndvise Mr. Laurier and liar. Laurier is as likely to intrnduce a prohibition not an he is to resign the Pemiership. In Apposition the Liberals were clamorous for the abolition of the traffic. Now thlags have changed, and the question 1s not "How shall we keep our promises?" but "How shall we get out of keeping them?" Election Petitions. During the past week the election petitions against Alex. McNeill, M.P., for North Bruce and Edward Cochrane, member for East Northumberland were dismissed. Dir. Coohrane and Mr. bit:Neill have for years done magnificent snrvioe for the Conservative party. Satis- faction felt at their success Is diminishet by the news from Brantford, where Mr. Robert Henry, tiro member for South Brant and the vanquisher of Hon. W. M. Paterson, lost his seat through the indiscretion of an ignorant friend, who presented four dollars to an Indian voter. Mr. Henry is one of those who well may say "Save me from my friends." He can be re-elected at any time in the South riding of Brant. The election law is a curious institution. Mr. Henry is unseated because a too enthusiastin sup- porter dispensed four dollars; Mr. Pater- son, who promised two hundred thou- sand dollars to the people of North Grey. if they would vote for him, seems to go laoathless. I hear, though, that wbile the wholesale bribery in North Grey is to go unpunished, the Conservatives have the strnngest evidenee against the Control- ler of Customs, and have every certainty of unseating him. This wanderer on the face nf the Dominion will have a hard time of it getting a seat if he loses that which he presently occupies. The Globe's Sudden Change. The trouble over the Manitoba wheel.; having quieted down, the Toronto Gi, bt proceeds to make a bewildering voice foe. For months The Globe assured us that Separate settee's were a millstone about the neck of any community. Now that the Manitnha question has beep settled The Globe is trying to convince its readers that the Ontario system of Public and Separate schools is the best in the world. But the venerable organ bas just finished the task of making everybody think that the schools of Manitoba transcended in merit anything in the educational Iino that the world has ever seen It is 'a pity tbat the esteemed Globe is becoming too age! easily to make these modern changes. The old organ in the days of George Brown was consistent and effective. Now consistency has been replaced by npportunism, and the motto in the edi- torial rooms is "Change the policy once a month. When there is no change pos- sible, drop the subject and havenopolicy at all." The Globe's venerated leader, Mr, Laurier, has carried these principles lute active prattle°. They do notseem to have done hint any great degree of good so far. CHRISTMAS AN' THANKSGIVINI There's two days in tine year I like, They're better than all takers, One day heloucs to Santa Claus Au' one day is gra n'ntother':: Uf course, yon know tate days I meant They're Christmas tut' Tltttuksgivirr', An' on. those days I'nr very glad That 1 have kept on livin'. I don't know which day is the best; But s'posen I did know it? I wonlda't dare to tell my (tholes Nor anyway to show it;; Fnniir gttn'mt�t would Be or jeSaaloutasCil!u a• s oiloing;r If 1.shonld say that either had . More fuu than t'other in it. Bat when I go to grau'naa's house An' smell the turkey cookin', An' see the yellow punkin pies 'Till Yat most tired a.lookin'; An' when the dirtier comes at last Ati' gratt'pa atsks the blessiu', 1 think'Thauksgiviu's awful nice- An' pass my plate for dressin', An' when my grau'ma cuts the pie, I get a great big quarter; • Ma says: "She ou ght'eut have'so muck!' But granmta says: "She'd orter." Au' as my see it-grasenus s girl She has to just keep quiet, While gi'au'uut laughs au' says to me: ".1 guess I watlt ltty pie et." There's one thing, though, that makes me, sad, I've got a Mae brother; He's only five menthe oicl, an' can't Tell one day from the t'uther; Thauksgiviu' dingier doesn't utean. A thing, for be can't eat it, So I'II jest take one meal for him, Ther ter myself repeat it. There's two clays in the year I like, They're better than all others. That's when old Santa conies to nae, All' Igo to grtut's:tether's. One duty 1'ut served by Santa Claus, Ave one by grau'mta tended; 1 can't tell which day is the best Because they're both just splendid. Vseint Silk i',Iats. Some handsome new mats to prate under 'the jardinieres kept on polished tables aro squaresof white Chinn silk, with a border of plush almost a anger wide. These gnats are made over a stiff foundation oP crinoline or oanvns, coy, eyed with a layer of cotton and lined at the back with Bilk of a contrasting color. A Good Idea. A certain minister, while preaching, said that every blade of gross was a ser- mon. The next day he was amusing himself by, mowing his lawn, when a parishioner said: "That's right• sir; out your sermons short!" AUSTRIAN BARBERS. They Rave to Take 11 Regular Course in Tonsorial Art. The Austrians run no risks with their barbers. They mast be good, and the Barbers' and Wigmakers' Uniou of Vi- enna sees that they are, Provision is also made in their code for women barbers who desire to carry on the business of their husbands, in the case of she latter's death or illness. But in order to do this the wife must have been enrolled in the union as an ap- prentice Inc three years. Apprentices by the rules of the union. must appear in Vienna, in the presence of judges of the union, and show their skill before they are allowed to open shops of their own, .A properly certified barber must have a knowledgeof and past an examination in shaving, heir crating, hair -curling and wig -making, At the examination the young men or women have their razors dulled by one strokes in a pine plunk, and they must then sharpen them. A subject is as- eigned to each, and the victim must be tonsorially perfect, in the opinion of the judges, when the apprentice has re- leased him. After this a certiflnnte is issnod, and the apprentice serves two years as a journeymen before permission is granted to open a shop as nu employer. The aver- age verage age of npprentloes when they begin to learn their trade is 13 years. Goats on Every F:n•m. Eight years' experience with a Hook o goats, at times containing seventy-five anitnals, leads me to believe that one oe two could be profitably kept on every farts. %hey have paid me. I can sell them faster than I can raise them. The milk is very nntritious and health- ful,espeeially for delicate children, feeble women acct old people. The meat when properly fattened is delicious. For my own use, I can raise it cheaper that from any otber domestic animal. The skins, after tanning, make beautiful oov eringe for rings, chairs and lounges, at well as beautiful rohes and coats. The females are very prolific, usually raising two kids each year. One of me goats has raised me ten kids in five years. Meuse does not seem to affect them, and they can be raised in largo at small bereft. They are long liven They crave coarse feeds, such as weeds ane brush, In the weed kingdom, they are nature's enavengsrs. If goats were gives a chance, I believe the Russian thistle Problem could be settled cheaper thaif by legislative enactment. I do not think th y are mere troublesome on the fern than sheep. They are intelligent and aa preniate good treatment. I cross natives with the Angora, with good results. Undisturbed. "Do my vocal lessons disturb yon?" Q asked the young woman with musical nm bitions. "Not that I know of," replied the truthful young man. "Why, I should think you'd know it they did," "No. Since the dentist took the frons room on the first floor for an office 1 can't tell whether you're practising musics or he's practising his profession. —Washington Star. Sunstroke Among Caine's. A correspondent of the' London Daily News, accompanying the Nile expedition,. expresses his belief that camels are liable to sunstroke. He can find no other ex. planation of the 'fact than not infra quently, "flne,strong, well -looking ant• mals, without n sign of a sore or a ruk on their backs nr a limn in either of their legs, lie down suddenly and com- pose themselves Inc death.' Change on Coudmons. We say you must change human, nettles if you wish to have human brotherhood but we really mean that you must change human conditions;.' and this it quite feasible. .It has always been better than its eouditio. us and ready for nee and fitter conditions.—W. D. Howells. . A P,'w ' •s Hi -nee. "I wouldn't be as eoceutrio as that anan is for worlds," "What is his peooliar form of eocen- tricity?" "He has never learned to ride a blot'. ole," "Great Scnttl"--Chicago Tribune. The battle Thing again. First Hotel Guest—I heard somebode talking in the next room. Second Guest—What did he say? F. G.—Nothing. 5 G.—Well, it must be McKinley ext plaining his position on :the financing - question. A