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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1886-11-4, Page 6RIFT SPRA LOVE AND VENGEANCE AMONG THE SMUGGLERS, TAB. 3Sloaa FASCINATING OCEAN ROMANCE $INCE TUE DAYS or 'CoorEA At 1'44.1w...tam CHAPTER V.--(CeetatattUalt. It was the Previdence of the moment that the traaling rope, thet e heti heal so mach difficalty to release himself ft.= pessed over his fece and hands, aud that lie was able to earesp it with the hend thet was dieeagaged, To wrap it by a movement of that hand several times round his wrist was the wok etn instant '• and. then Gerald felt himself and his fair 4llarge dragged through the water hi the wake of the Rift. Then came the challenge of the Sprayand, the guile that were fired at the Rift, and the next alteration in, the turn of the smugglets' while it was iii progress—brief as that peri- od was—brought her to, and it was in that brief moment that Gerald was able to reach the little cabin window and„ in a suppressed voice, to call upon the French captain: Sir, sir Help me Co help me 1" Captain Itlocauet uttered a wild, bewild- ered caw as he flew to the cabin window; it was a cry that was no doabt well heard up- on the deok of the Rift; but, fortunately, he had uttered so many that no attention was paid to it, and the fog continued to be so thiek that unless one of the crew had looked carefully over the side of the cutter, what wee there passing at its little cabin window could not be observed. In fact, the attention of the captain and crew of the Rift was so entirely taken up by the Spray, and what would occur in regard to her, that Gerald might ahnost have climbed with Marie over the bulwarks on to the deck and scarcely haveheen noticed. Captain Mocquet saw him. "Dieu, Dieu ! Dieu!" was all he said. "Pull in 1" said Gerald. "My child ?" " No—I think not." t' Yes, yes ! Oh, Dien ! yes 1" " For heaven's sake, pull. in! Now take her 1" Captain Moaquet pulled at the rope and Gerald was raised out of the water with Marie on his left arm. The French captain -caught her by the head, and then by one arm, and the small, delicate form easily passed. through the aperture into the cabin. Captain Mocquet was not then unmind- ful of Gerald ; he only paused to strain to his heart once the body, as it seemed, of his daughter • and. then, with his eyes bloodshot. and perfectly dry and hot now— for his grief was too great for tears—he helped Gerald into the cabin and flung his arms about him and kissed him tenderly. But he (lid not speak. " Tell me," said Gerald, "is this your—?" " Hush, my Marie sleep! She shall sleep one long sleep ! Marie ! Marie 1 Marie:" He knelt by her and rested the fair head upon his knees and bowecl his head over her and shook as with a strong convulsion, but he did not weep. "Let us try to recover her," said Ger- ald. "1 have seen many who have been apparently drowned, on the coast where I have lived so long. She may not be dead." Captain Mocquet looked at him, and the grief in that look Gerald thought he would never forget. But without another word he went to the locker of the cabin and with the blade of his hatchet he wrenched a drawer open—for it was locked, and there he found what he knew was there ready—a case of bottles containing various spirits and cor- dials—which Dolan kept for his own special consumption. It was more by signs now, than by words that Gerald intimated to Captain Mocquet that he meant to make an attempt at the restoration of Marie from her state of appar- ent death. The father pressed his hand for a moment and kissed him on the cheek, and then let him do as he pleased. Gerald raised the head of the young girl on his arm and gently chafed her neck and throat, ancl then he placed ort the pale lips some of the ardent spirits from one of the liquor bottles. Gerald then looked in the eyes of Captain Mocquet and gently removed some portion of the light night-dress that the girl wore and gently chafed the region of the heart. It was for permission to do this that he had looked in the eyes of the father; and then the lips of the French captain quivered, and he gave the permission—not by words, but by a gentle kiss on Gerald's cheek, and then one on his hand. Gerald was deeply affected. For a mo- mont or two he could. scarcely see the face of Marie for his tears. They were as a mist before him. Yet, what is that be hears? Is it a sigh? Yes. There is a faint movement, too,, of the young limbs—a. shudder—she surely moves! She is in the arms of one who loves her. She lives—she lives God of heaven, she lives ! Then the father—oh, that poor, poor father1—with short screams and fra,ntic cries, he strains her to his heart, and then Ger- ald—him, too,, he clasps, .and holds to his breast—then his dear child again. She has turned toward Gerald, and she has ibmg her arms about him, and is resting her cheek upon his breast. Life's ensign unfolds itself upon her cheek. She lives—she lives! Ainl now the fountain of her father's tears is unsealed again, and he sobs like a child, and a deep sleep comes Over Marie. "Take her, sir," said. Gerald, softly— "take her. She haci better sleep. She will be quite well when she awakes. God be thanked for. all this 1" Captainsalocquet sat upon the fiber of the little cabin of the Rift, and Gerald plaeed Marie hi his arms, and henursecl het gently, reeking her to wia fro, while his tears fell softly upon her. And. Gerald then went into the little berth that opened from the cabin, and brought some of the bed -clothes that were there, and helped to wrtup• them about her, and Captain Mocquet lotiked up et him and smiled. Whet was ship, cargo, francs—what was all to him—compared. with that young life that had been reseued from the wild sea?" Dare I hope ?" h eaia, sadly—" dare I hope? No—no—it is scarcely possible ; eat' yet how strange it is that there should ever be a something et my heart which seems to waleper coneolation to me, and that there may yet be in etare for Me a hap' pinees that I elwink from contemplaaiug, lest the bitterness of disappoiatmeut should be more than 1 oen bear. Those were yotmg days for the stars and stripes of the United States to flutter to an English breeze in English waters; and the shrouds of the guard -ship. in Falmouth Roads were crowded to leek at the Nautil. as las sleaglided lightly on her way. Then there was a proud look ou the fine face of Captain Morton, es he saw an offieer ou board the English frigate lift his cap, and he returned the ealute courteously. " Mo. Andrews," he said to his sailing captain, " this is the first time that I have been in an English roadstead, What can we do iu the way of a salute ?" " Everything, sir. Seven guns will be handsome. We have four, and by tIte time the fourth does its work the others will be loaded and ready." " Dolt, then." Another few minutes and the Nautilus was enveloped in a cloud of its own smoke, and seven smart reports ftom the little car. rone,des had awakened the echoes of Fal- mouth Roads. ' The captain in command of the guard - ship looked with a smile at his first heuten. ant as he said "That's .well done." " Very well, sir." "Return it then—only I think we can make a little more noise.' The lieutenant smiled, too, and then there was a guilt whistle on board the aeuard- ship, and a hoarsely shouted command, and seven of her great guns boomed in thunder over the sea. The Nautilus sped then its bird -like way toward the shore, and was soon in Falmouth harbor. The little boat of the yacht landed Captain Morton at some stone steps, down which a gentleman, whose hair was as white as snow, was slowly descending. This gentleman and Captain Morton met on these slippery stone steps with the green weed clinging to them. One side of the steps was open to the sea and the other protected by the wall of that portion of the harbor. Captain Morton, with a courteous gesture, went seaward, and then the gentleman with the white hair lifted his hat and smiled sad- ly as he said "1 thank you, sir; but I am tolerably used to these steps." "1 am a perfect stranger to them," re- plied Captaiu Morton. "but—but---' " Ah ! I see what you would say. Youth ancl dangers that appal age and decrepi- tude but it is the suffering of the soul, sir, that has blanched these looks, not age." As he spoke the gentleman with the white hair drew himself up erect, and Captain Morton SUM/ that there was a latent fire -in his eyes, and an expression of resolution as well as of suffering, that deeply interested him. He, too, had suffered, and there had passed over his heart one of those storms of grief that leave their impress forever on the outward man. THE CHAPTER VI, AMERICAN YACHT IN PORT—A MS. TraY. White these events were taking place off the coast of France, the Nautilus, with its American flag fluttering to the breeze, was beating up the Channel, making for the port of Falmouth, and carefully fecliag its way through the fog which hung over the west near France and extended for many a mile over the sea. The day was considerably advanced when the Natailts left the Lizard Point on its port and beat up the roads to Falmouth, Than it was that Captain Morton, her owner and commetalcr, came from his cabin and looked paler and more anxious than any of hie crew had ever aeon him, placed a glass t� his eye and took a tang survey of the coast litie before him, Alas!. how often Ike had 'read it to himself in the same low,earnest tow. "This,' he said with a deep sigh„ "this from the Falmouth paper, after all these weary years of grief, the may faint light that heaven hes veuehtaled should fall upon my blighted heart in relation to the sithjeet," Ho sighed deepla. The piece of uewepaper was then carefully fettled up aud replaced ia his pocket ; and he stood in oue of, the narrow, ill -paved streets of Falmouth, woadering in what precise direction he eliould commence his wstuiries in relation to the stateineut which had appeared in the paper. ' There Was a feeliug ou the mind of Cep. tain Mortou—he knew net Aril), or wherefore —melting him wish to conduct the inquiries whieh he had creased the wide Atlantic to make with as muth eeerecy as possible. So strong was that feeling that he would not resist it, but jest let it aave its way : for he as a mau who believed that we are MI under the benefieent eye of a watehful Providenee, whieh does nothing iu vain and without mx object. "Heaven direot me!" he aaid. Hie fingers still clutehed, the littie piece of newspaper , ou which was chronicled the name of one so dear to him ; and as he strolled on, he reached the termination of the street; and the evening depening in its gloom he felt the cool with of sea air end found that he was at the upper portion. of a narrow, tortuous thoroughfare that led dowo to the beach. It was by an instinct, rather than by any reflection, that Oaptaia Morton strolled slow- ly down this narrow, dint looking route to the sea. Fate was leading him through thick dark- ness up to the sunshine of his life. CHAPTER VII. WHISPERS OF LOVE IN THE RIFT. Return we to the Rift, which was battling its way through the surging sea with the Spray ; striving in vain through the fog to trace its progress or its prezeuce. Captain Dolan had by far too much exper- ience of Channel weather not to be perfectly sure that the mist in which he was now en- veloped was a land one, and that it would not extend many miles out into the Channel. His object, then, was to get so far ahead of the Spray, before emerging from the fog, that she would not be able to overhaul him, or by some one or other of those tricks, audacious and daring as they were, by which he had before succeeded in deceiving and eluding the vigilance of government cruisers, to make good bis escape. Little did he imagine how strange a scene yeas'ta,king place in his own cabin. To be sure, he was just a little surprised at the quiescent condition of the French captain; but he was by far too busy on deck to give more than a passing thought to him or his affairs. Dolan whispered his orders to Ben Bow- line and Mart in, and they at once set about the carrying them out. They were very curious in their results. The long, thin yellow streak that was just below the bulwarks of the cutter was slowly peeled off, and proved to be nothing but a piece of painted leather, which could be glued on at pleasure'and at pleasure re- moved. Beneath that the Rift was all of a color, namely black. The next thing that was done was to bring up from below some long pieces of painted and covered railing which were quickly fixed aft on the bulwarks about the stern so as to give that portion of the cutter quite a novel appearance. Then a general shift of the ballast took CABIN OF TIIE An eight -oared galley at this moment place, which altogether altered the trim of reached the foot of the stone steps, and by . the vessel and changed the rake of the masts. the respectful manner in which the oars IA couple of fresh sails were beat, one of were held aloft, and the whole turn of the 1 wilith was of a peculiar bluish color; a,ncl. all in all, nothing could very affair, Captain Morton could see that the take it for a white haired gentleman was somebody of well look so dissimilar to the, Rift, as it was importance. about half an hour before, as the Rift at They passed each other courteously and the then present time. then the captain of the Nautilus heard Every one of the crew ' made some change the white hoaxed gentleman say: in his attire and Captain Dolan put on a "Mrs. Haxocks, what was the salutel white .neckcloth that he took trent his about?" pocket and a black frock coat that was "An American yacht, sir, saluted thei brought to him from the forecastle. guardship, and it was returned." A piece of painted canvas was fastened "Quito right—quite right.' "Ansi that, six, is—" The last words were lost to Captain Mor- ton; but by what followed he guessed that they alluded to him, for the White haired gentleman turned upon the lowermost of the stone steps and cried out: "Sir, will you pardon me for calling you back, lout I am told you are owner and com, mender of the pretty little yacht yonder, which so courteously saluted our flag. May I hope for the favor end honor of your com- pany to dinner with me at six o'clock?" "With pleasure, sir." "Ansi I address." "Captain Morton, United States Navy. I have the honor to speak to ?" "Sir Thomas Clifford, Admiral of the station." A bow from each, and the two gentlemen departed,. ansi then the sad look came back' to the face of Captain Morton, and the gloont of settled grief crept again over the fine fea- tures of Sir Thomas Clifford. One of the seamen who had rowed Captain Morton on shore now lingered for orders, and the captain, turning to hint, said: "You will go seaward after making an inquiry for a little bay called St. Just's, and than you Will put in and look out for me, as in all, probabilities I shall make it by land, and you will see me on the coast." The American captain then took his soli- tary way into town: Tawas getting late lathe day, and he had not much time to spare between then and the hour of his appointment with Admiral Sir , Thomas Clifford ; but still he thought that be woald be able to make the inquiry that he came to make, a,nd taking front his pocket a scrap of an old newspaper, the well-worn condition of which showed that it had been frequently consulted, he slowly read its contents: POSSIBLY INTERESTING—All uneasy sense, tion has been created in our town by the death of a woman named Cole, who has re- sided for a oonsidereble time lathe neighbor- hood, close by the sea, anal whose mode of life WAS mysterious and secret. With no oatensible reeaus of livelihood, the was never known to do anywork or to Solicit charity, but yet ham resided for more than ten years m a cottage for which she paicl is regular rent most punctually as the day came round. On her death bed this woman accused herself of being, with a man maned Hutchins, instrumental in the wreck of an American bark named. the Sarah Aim, and she died in a sad state of mental prostration. It was impossible from the incoherent char. a,eter of her ravings to make out what exact. ly she meant, but much of her Self-accusa- tions seemed to relate to a Mrs, Morton and a child named Jessica or jessie. Our worthy coroner did not think that an baquest on the telltales of this self -accusing creature wee required. Such was the newspaper paragraph' -which the eaptain read to himself in a low earneet tone. just below the stern railings on which was painted "The Susan, Plymouth." "That will ,do," said Dolan. "Keep all clear and we shall soon be out of the fog." "Ay, ay, captain 1" said Ben Bowline. "Ansi if any one is sharp enough to know the Rift in her present trnn, why, all I can say is'that he almost deserves to have her." " I think she will do." "Sure of it, sir. I suppose that—that-a" "That what ?" "It will be share and share alike with the Frenchman's money box." "Yes, two shares for me and one for the Rift." "Ay, ay, sir ! That's all right." "Ansi all expenses of the voyage paid out of the common stock, of course, first." "Yes, captain, that's only right. I may tell them that r "You may. Ah ! that is sudden." The ship sailed out of the fog as suddenly and as quickly as if it had paSsed from air to water e and although the light of that diin and wintry season was neither strong not bright, yet the sense of change to actual daylight was very marked.. and strong. . The see, was rather in a commotion, and had the appearance that it weers when wind as coming or going.. There were dark patehes, too; of tulles in extent, on the stir- feee of the water—shadows were they of the cliin clouds surcharged with rain or anew, that swept between earthand heaven. The Rift with a sarging dip went on its way ; for it was, crossing in a, chopping fashion that washing, heaving sea which sets across its course. ' Not a soul was to be seen. "We are alone as yet," said Captain Dolan, "thanks to the fog. Keep an eye soutlfard. Martin." . "Aye, sir. We shall have her soon." "The Sppy ?" "Yes, sir. But the won't know us, and we shallbe asked, mayhap, if we have seen the.Rift. I should heave to, sir, if she gives the order." "We will—we tan Keep her as ehe is, while I go down below." There was one of those awful sitlister- looking glares about the eyes of Dolan its he uttered those words, which generally pre- luded the wickesi thought or the wicked act of the Man. , The old seaman SOW it. " Captain Dolan 1" he said. There was a something so new and strange about the tone in which the old man spoke, that Dolan started and looked anxiously at him. " What is it, Martin?" " I don't,' know; Captain Dolan, whatyou may be thinking of, but if I was yea, sir, I wouldn't hurt no much as a heir of the head of Captain Mocquet." " Ah 1" "No,sir, I'd land him. There is enough en all our minds already: Not a soul of the crew but is full of the gioosns about the crew of the Coquette, for fear they shouldn't 1 get Well on 'shore," "Well on ehore • 11 "Aye, captain, " Why—why—what ? Are you mad ?" "Not quite, Captain Dolan, Not quite. but we couldn't stand it, sir; and we didn't," Stand what ? What in the name of the fiend are you talking of ?" " Why, sir, while you was down, below iu the Coquette looking for plunder—and I hope you got somethieg—we got up the crew of the Coquette, and started 'em, off in theie own boat, and told end not to say a word for their lives' sake—and away they wont," Captain Dolau bit his lip ferociously. "Then they were not drowned in the Co. quette. They did not go down with her." "Not a bit, captain, We are emugglere —we do a bit of piracy, too: but Lord bless you, we is tender.hearted ae so many babbie,s we is, So you see, captain, we clout want any harm to come to old Mocauet," "Now by all, that'--" "Hold, captain, Heave to a bit. Hit- loa, mates? What say you now; de you want Captain Mocquet to be sent to the old Jones locker before his time, or don't you ?" The smuggler crew gathered together, and Ben Bowline, in his deep, growling voice, said; "No, Dolan, no. We won't have it We don't mind stealing the revenue—we don't mind a little sea, piracy, in the way of helping ourselves to a few stores, and so on; but we don't like lam look of murder." " Dolan's countenance turned a shade blacker, as he made a desperate effort to, control his passion and to get op a smile— which, when he did contort his face into it, had. a most diabolioal look about it. It was with an affection, then, of wonderful otaolafellowship that he cried out: • "Well, well, my lads, ell's riaeht ; sail together, and we smuggle together, so we ought to hold together in such little matters as you mention." "Ay, ay, captain," added Ben, "and we don't, you see, want to hang together." "Ha, hal Of course not. That's all right and ship shape. I won't do old Moa. tmet any harm, only I happen to have a few words to say to him. That's all—quite friendly. Trust me 1 All's right.' Captain Dolan paused while the hatch. way top was removed, and then he plundge down toward his cabin. Before Captain Dolan reaches that cabin we will take a glance at our three friends who are there and at the posture of affairs as regards the father a.nd daughter and the gallant Gerald. Marie slept calmly and composedly for More then au hour, during which Captain Mocquet did not stir hand or foot; but when she moved a little and showed signs of awakening, Mocquet, in a low tone that could scarcely be heard et all, but which, no doubt, mingled, with the slumbers of the yomig girl, sang a little pastoral air of tho sunny plains of Languedoc, and when she opened her eyes it was with a sad smile upon her face that she said : " Ah, I dreamed of home !—of dear home —and the vines. I dreamed of home!" Captain Mocquet folded his arms abo her and held her to his heart and Gerald got es far away as possible, for he • heard that Mocquet was whispering rapidly to her and he saw that she started several times and that her eyes were slowly beginning to be turned towards him. That the French captain was relating to Itis daughter the history of her danger and of the manner in which she had been saved from death Gerald could not doubt, and a bright flush came to his cheek as he bet con - mous how the grateful heart of the father would praise and speak of his share of the transaction. The whispering ceased and Marie struggled to her feet and then she appeared to recol- lect that she had on but the night-dress in which, by a miracle, she had floated from the sinking lugger' and a soft, warm blush mantled her cheekand brow. It was then quite a pleasant thing to see how Mocquet, arranged about her the coverlet that Gerald had brought from the berth in the cabin, and how picturesque and like some little savage queen of some fair island of the Southern Sea she looked with such drapery about her. And then, with pretty, stately walk, she went up to Gerald, and for a moment he forgot the Rift, the Spray, the Comiette, the sea, the dear old cavern where he had sat with his sister Grace for many a day and year—all that before was treasured as the fondest records of his mind and fancy —for the soft arms of the young girl were about him and her tresses were upon His cheek. Poor Gerald ! (To BE cottanatrea.) MOTHERLY FIRMNESS. Truthful Little Sketch Taken FrOM Real Life. Two boys in beds Jim (to Tom)—" Take your old feet away, now." Jim—" Ain't hurtin' you." Tom—" Yoh are gettin over on my place." Jim—" Ain't." Tom—" Are." Jim—" Story." Mother—" Children, go to sleep." Tom "Jim keeps oit aputtin' his old feet on me." Jim—" Maw," • Mother—" Jimmie, take your feet away." Jim—" Ouch ! Maw, Tom pinched me." Mother—" If you don't go to sleep I'll come there an' whip you both." Jim—" I ain't done—quit that now Maw, make Tom quit ttym out me with his Old toe nail." " Motheil—" Tommie, behave yourself," TOM--" Ain't dein' notbina mew." Jim—" Are too maw." Tom .--" Ain'tlouch 1 Maw, Jim's pinch - 111' me." Mother—" G6 to sleep this minute Or Pll come there and whip you both. Not another word out of you. just another Ward: if you Jim—" Gimme my pillow." Tom," Take your old pillow, Ouch 1 Maw, jinx's a kickin' me." Mother" Didn't I tell you I'd whip you.? Never inind, you Shan'tgo down toWn with me to -morrow." .i.. I the members, as they assembled hk Paradise Hall, found crepe oa the inner door. There was eonsiderahle epeerdation as to wae certain, until l3rother Gardner arose and saia 'tliTelifitB'sttil'an=le fthirelle o°rI4f03. r FeMonths the identity of the deceased, but no one " My frens, it beeomee my, painful deotY to announce. de death of Briaider Arbatus Kiugdom, aix h011ererY Member residin' ux Kentucky, who passed from dis eirth away les' Wednesday night arter a brief illness. He was heah at de annual lecshun two y'erego, aix' e swlalnf d oeetlusthipgh.u rigo p:0,17 ,113 e &kidder Arbutus was oue ob de best men who eber libed, but I know (let he was fair to meditun, an' dat's sayin' a heap fur any man. Jn dese days of hypocrisy, theft, peculation, arson an' murder de man who keeps el'ar of jails an' scandals has got to be a better man dan moas' people eam him aredit Inc,' De preecher who had c rtzna gel of Brudder Arbuteses funeral kiuder ed dat, while de deceased was not a purfess- Mg Christian, de angel had giu him credit izx Heaben Inc a good many ackshuns, an' dat he wouldn't be chucked away into the sante bin as hoss.tMet ea, burglars an' child- otealers. I shall take de liberty, on behalf of dis club, to send dat preather money to buy hisself a, pair of stoga, butes Inc winter wear. Re bits the bull's eye plumb -center. He announced in his funeral orashun dat Brudder .Arbutus had doubtless received credit fur— l. Naar' treatment of his family. 2. Stickin' to de troof when he oould he made money by lyin'. 3. Mindin his own Maness fur fifty long y'ars. 4. Strivin' Inc peace between all men, an' doin' as he would be done by. His tongue was free from lies, an' his hands from colaupshun. While he died without heviad jined de church, he had libed up to all de P'ints which go to make a Chris. thin man' an' de ideah dat he is to be sot off wid a lotof thieves, murderers an' blacklegs is sunthin' I can't believe in. Pze glad to hey found one preacher who has de belief dat de Lawd hasn't divided de world into only two classes—de purfessing Christians, who am to be whooped straight 'into Health, an' de non-purfessing, who am to be whooped straight into de odder place widout reference as to moral character. De money will be tooken from de treasury an' charged up on de cash book to buildhd an repairs, an' de Secretary will see to it dat de butes go off to-morrer by express. If de preacher belongs to any orthodox church he will sartinly be expelled fur heresy, an' he'll need de butes to hunt rabbits an' look fur a job." REPRIMANDED. Julius Ctesar Smith was inquired for and asked to come forward to the President's desk, and when he had complied Brother Gardner said: " Brudder Smith, what sort of a ma.sheen am dat you watx on your west ?" "Dot's a chesthut sah," "When you stoat to sell chestnuts yo u ring dat belh, eh ?" "No, sah. I ring de bell when anybody gits off an old joke.' "Oh, I see. What effeck does it hey on de odder pusson ?" "I—I doan' know, sah." "What effeck does it hey on you?" Julius Quer shifted around uneasily but didn't reply. "Brudder Smith," continued the Presi- dent, "a pusson who am fool' miff to pin one of dose things to his west dean' know an old joke from a new one. Dat class of pus - sons who cry chestnuts a. an" rats!' to give de balance of de world an ideah dat dey am smart, am really de only class widout brains nuff to keep '010 straight in de road. You walk ober to dat winder an' drap dat bell into de alley, an' de sootier you git de ideal dat you dean' know moren all de rest of de world put together de better it will be fur you." WILL MAXE INQUIRIES. Prof. Caraway White, Secretary of the J. G. F. P. Society, of Nashville, Tenn., in- formed the dub by letter that his society de- sired to be taken in as a; branch. It number- ed sixty-three members, all of the highest class of colored society, and would guarantee to send at least fifty delegates to every an- nual election. Its aim was to elevate and educate, a,nd a library of over 200 volumes had already been gathered. " Brudder Jones, wasn't Nashville de place whar' you lost seben dollars ?" asked the President. "Yes, sah," answered Giveadam, "an' in de werry rooms occupied by dat society. Some one took de money from my west pock- et." "It wihlbo jist as well to defer ackshun until we kin make some inquiries. A society organized to elevate de cull'd race should keep its fingers out of odder men's pockets." A CIRCULAR. Performance and, Pretension. An English writer pertinently pate the question, " Would not the world be tnuch wiser and happier if we were to iay it clown as a general rule that performance is inversely proportioned to pretension?" Cer- tainly to be convinced of this, and to know that others also were convinced of it, would be a most salutary lesson to '.those who now waste so much of their energy and life in trying to appear what they are not, Insin- cerity of this kind is not Only wrong, it is also so foolish, so impotent, to shortsighted a policy that we wonder how any reasonable and intelligent 111a41 or woman ean adopt it, It deceives very few,.,and those few only for a short time. It prejudices persons against the one who practices it, so that they are unwilling to admit his actual merit. On motion of Waydown Bebee, and after considerable discussion of the matter, the Secretary was instructed to mail a, circular to all branches and honorary members set. ting forth the fact that any one found guilty of believing in Wiggins' prophecies of earth. quakes'ancl cyclones would be requested to tender his resignation. Such belief will be taken as evidence of either insanity or idiocy, and believers will be treated accordingly. After the transaction of routine business of no importance to the public the meeting ad- journed. LATE DOMINION NEWS. During the past season 130,000 pounds of plums were shipped from Meaford. Strathroy has refused to grant $1,000 and exemption from taxes to the promoters et 0, flax mill. Port allgiu, by a vote of 124 to 2% has de- cided to homts a button factory to the extent of 05,000. Crowfoot on his return frem the East was banquetted by the Mayor mid Council a AYLluiptho Pe4.ria is so prevalent in the vicinity of Woodslee, in Essex County, thab the pita lic sehool in sectien NO. 2, Rochester, be been closed. Two Grevenhurst citizens have been Ana for killing deer out of season, and an ex- ehauge estimates that the venison oost them $1 a pound. A child four years of age at Summerside, P. E. 1,, got a bean fast in her throat a,nd an incision had to be made in thi,e throat be- fore it coald be extracted. To a Pansy. BY MYRA LAUGUER. I love thee for thy winsome bloom, The velvet of thy cheek; But love thee mostly for the thoughts Thou silently dost speak: Thou telrst me of my litany friends Far, far across the sea, For when 1 gaze at thy bright eye I feel they think of me. An angel's mission thine, and thou Dost well fulfil thy part, Casting thy sweetness all around By easing many 1 heart. Surround a gas jet by a glass vessel cola taining water, and its brilliency will be magnified three -fold. A musical exchange has an article on "Silent Music." The worst of it 114 that there is altogether too little of the article. First Young Lady—And how do you like Mt. Brisk? I saw him with you a moment. Second Youtig Lady—Ain not impressed. Cannot abide bald-headed men. First Young Lady—Bald.headed ! Why, his head is not bald. Second Young Lady—Oh, yes, it is-- ". I stayed down town tonight to balance my books, my dear," hiccoughed Mr. Fullup, the major of the family domicile when he entered the110080 at 2 A. bit, and' foiled her sitting itt a their by the table with a clock in her lap and wearing a very forbidding ex- pressiou of countenance. Well, if you made them balance'that is more than you can do for yourself," was her sharp re- joinder. Essex Centre OitiZeleS complain ' tievously of the prevalence of the cowbell,Pnuisaixce, end threaten a resort to • oho guns if an effective cow police is not appointed at once, Wm. Rose, a quaok doctor, sixty-seven years of age, for arson and robbery, has just been seatenoed to twenty years' imprison- ment intim penitentiary at Dorchester, N. B. For breach of promise ana seduction Eliza Embree, of Amherst, R. S., nineteen years of age, has recovered a verdict of $650 against Valentine Wood, seventy-eight years of age. The dry -goods merchants of Tilsonbury have agreed for the winter mouths to close their pieces of business at eight o'clock on each evening of the week except Saturday. On Friday morning last there was found dead on the road above Silver Heights, near Winnipeg, a short stout man, apparently about fifty years of age. Foul play is suspected. The five-year-old daughter of Mr, C. Wallis, of the 6th Con. of Brooke, playing with the bars at a gateway caused one of the bars to fall upon her head or neck with such frce that she was instantly killed. At the opening of the North-west Council the other day Lieut. -Gov. Dewdney stated that in 137 townships heard from in the Ter- ritories 71,951 acres of land were uuder cul- tivation, and that 1,400 acres of new land had been broken during the year. It is stated that four Piegaus, who visited the Stoney Plain Reserve, near Edmonton, about the first of the month, boasted that they had already killed this season six sheep,. nine pigs, and three calves, and that as the cold weather was coming on so that meat would keep they intended to commence kill- ing large cattle. The Coaticook, Que. Observer states that: —" People in the rural districts are being swindled by a young woman who sells cloaks by the instalment plan and collects $2 at the time of delivery. A confederate follows and claims the cloak was stolen, giving its number and proof. The victim loses the cloak and two dollars." The Edmonton Bulletin says these are prospects of a larger catch of fitradamie ng the coming season than even that of last year, especially of lynx. The price of lyfix, how- ever, has materially declined, and it is be- lieved that still lower figures will be reach- ed. The demand for beaver keeps up, but rats and mink are not in good demand. New Westminster' B. C., has just sent four persons accusedof imu-der, for trial at Lytton. Two are Chinamen, Ah Toon and Ah Fook and they are charged with a murder committed at Holloway last fall. The other two, Peter Derosa and James Connolly, are suspected of having muadered an nknown man found dead near Lytton 9,1*a:tenths ago. Rev. William Hawkins, a colored' preach- er of Chatham, recently spent some days visiting friends in Brantford.. Mr. Hawkins officiated on the Brantford circuit in 1858 and was instrumental in securing a confession from Moore and Overend, the negroes who murdered the mail carrier near Brantford about forty years ago. The venerable colored preacher was a very old friend of the late Andrew Lucas, and himself escaped from slavery in 1839. A tenant on Mr. Johnston Brewster's farm, near Oak Hills in Northumberland county, clisappeared one night last week with about a thousand bushels of grain. Mr. Brewster lived on the same farm and in the same house with the tenant. He was there on the night of the flight but knew nothing of his loss till the morning. It is estimated that not less than 15 teams must have been employed in moving the grant, and where it has gone is still a mystery. An old settler writes to The London Free Press :—" The oldest bridge in the county of Middlesex is across a stream that empties into the Thames on the farm of John Tait, Ekfrid. It has to my knowledge been in age for fifty-two years; has never had any repairs nor even required any, and to all op- pearance is good for 20 years to come, as it yet a,ppeats to be quite sound. This bridge consists of one black walnut tree." Samuel, the twelve -year-old son of Mr. John Smith, of the 10th concession of Ben tinck, died suddenly ortSaturday last. The boy had been assisting at logging during the foreneon, and • appeared to be in his usual good health. At noon he wentto thehouse, and when dinner was ready went out and called the men, and then started back to- wards the house. He had gone but a short distance when he dropped. Assistance was immediately rendered, butit was of no avail, as he died in a short time, foamingtand froth- ing at the mouth. It is thought that he must have eaten some poisonous root or herb while out in the woods. A girl, about 15 years of age, arx-ivejslA Bracebralge a couple of weeks ago auct pro- ceeded to distinguish herself in various ways. She visited the Public School, and had the courtesy of the teaching fraternity extended to her on the ground that she taught a pri- vate school at her home in Midland. She hired livery rigs, and ordered goods which she never called for with great industry, and generally exhiUted such remarkable en- terprise that it was thought well that a con- stable and magistrate should wait upon her and advise her to returnhome, Which advice she judiciously accepted. Spectator—" What a pallets position that painter is in. I think I would lose my senses at such a dizzy hight. I could not stay there." Friend—" Quite true. I don't know the painter, bait requires it matt with a dear head to stand on that scaffold." Our Brave Volunteers Endured the severe marching of the North. west campaign with admirable fortitude, The Government should have supplied them with a quantity of the colobreted Putnam's Painless Corn FIxtractor. It never fails to remove corns painlessly, and the volun. teers and everybody else should have it. Beware of stbstitutes. Get Putnam's Ex. tractor toid, take no other.