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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1887-2-24, Page 3S "es 'ye RIFT AND SPHAY, - LOVE AND VENOEAN.OE. AMONG THE SWILIGO.LERS, DR+ Mow FasciNeerisna Oosals Bogen% Sine Ties Dave ea Coolesse AN» MannATT. OR4i1'ER XXVIL Tnli Escstne oa etocquer also game rake Tsre nava. The Alight was far advanced when, •on the little plateau of the cliff which formed the " look -out" of old Joseph, there miscall bled Martin, Joe.eph, Gerald and Grace, Their object wits to rescue from the cabin of the Rift Captain Mocquet and his cletigh- ter, Merle. Nothing bat the superstitions fears of Dolan had prevented hire going, long, before that, into his cabin,. in which case it would have been next to impossible but that the Frenc.th eitptain's daughter would heve been disooverey if no .1( anger to Marie erose from. that discovert, beyond the terror of being in the power of Istich a mans,there can be no doubt but that Dolan woulti have looked upon her as another prieoner, whose ransom would have been a long and a strong pull at Cap. tain Mocquet's purse. And now, in the silence of the night—a silence only broken by the sullen wash of the sea against the cliffs and the faint whis- tle of the wind as it moaned far away on the face of the deep—those four persone. met and in whispers conversed together as to the best mode of providing for the rescue of the captives. "You, ,Martin," said Gerald—"you say what is to be done and I am sure we will all obey you." "Why, look you here, Master Gerald," said Martin. "One thing is clear enough to see, and that is—that if Dolan has his way, you will be. worse off than the French- man," " Indeed?' "Yes, Gerald. He intends to betray the whole lot of us. And what did he take you on the last cruise for, but to mix you up in "the affair ?" "It most be so 1" "Oh, my poor Gerald," said Grace. "Come now, miss," said Joseph. "don't you be a taking on about it. We will see you both out of this place. And I'm not sorry to leave it, too." "1 have been thinking about that," said Martin. "About what ?" "Leaving the place." • "Well, but you don't mean to say that you will stay, Martin, and let Dolan have all his own way ?" "No, but there's some among the crew that I don't want to come to the bad, and if so be as Dolan means that they should fall into the hands of the Philistines, 'I should like to balk him, and my idea is just this; Let us get the Frenchman and his baby out of the Rift, and *end them off with Gerald, here, and Miss Grace, and then let us speak to the crew." "And tell them all?" "Ay 1 Tell them all. Let us come back and lay held of Dolan and make him give up the mor that he says he has hidden hereaway, b chests, in the crevices of the upper cave, and let us all disperse this very night. Before daylight we may be, most of us, far enough away from here." "That will do." "Then it's agreed, Joseph?" "Quite so." "Now then, for the Rift It's Benjamin who is on watch on the deck and I don't seem. to care whether he is knocked on the head or not, for a greater ream never step- ped. Do you know, Joseph, I cannot get out of my head the cries, of that man who was drowneffiin the sea.cave." " Burnes ?"1,. "Yes. It as a fearful thing. Come on, now. My plan is, just to go on board and get Benjamin out of the way by fair means or foul end then row out into the bay with the Frenchman and his baby and get to the cutting in the cliff." "You will call Marie Mocquet a baby," said Gerald. "Lord bless you, yes, I forgot you said as it wasn't a baby. Well, it's no odds, is it?All's right; and now, come on." "Martin led the way and with noiseless steps the little party took their route toward that narrow opening in the cliff, with its rude stairs, that led down to the sea cave, and at which Grace had first made her ap- pearance on the occasion of the return of the Rift. Not the slightest sound disturbed the re- pose of the sea -cave, but those natural ones which might be expected from the restless contact of the water with the sides of the cavern and the boats, and the cutter. Those sounds consisted of a washing, lap- ping kind of. motion and perhaps mingling now and then, with them was the slight movement of the high and heavy sails that closed up the second entrance to the cavern as the nieht wind pressed at times heavily against them from without. A single lantern was at the bow of the Rift and it shed a faint, rippling kind of light on the water. "Hush I" said Martin. "Do you hear the deck watch, any of you?" " No, 'was the whispered reply from all. "Then he is gone to eleep." "That's more than likely," said Joseph, "and if so, you know, Martin, you wenalclnt kill him ?" "No. I don't wan't to kill him I'll speak to him first, and tell him to be quiet Be is it bad one, but I don't want to kill him. Now, come on." Martin descended the steps—at the foot of them he had taken the precaution to move one of the boats of the Rift, and into that cuietly and slowly they glided. "W r is Dolan, now ?" whispered Ger- ald.i\ " In his ,wn caboose, in the upper tavern, I take it said Martin. "He's fast asleep, yen may depend. Hush 1" " What is it?" "Lord preserve ust 1 What is that?" A huge, sucking, half -choking noiee came upon their ears, as if some huge fish was lapping the edge of the water. They all listened attentively, and the sound ceased. "I don't half like that," said Joseph. "Hush 1 There it is again. It is there - away, in that dark corner." "Pull to it," said Gerald. "Nay !nay I" "Why, it can't be anything that can hurt rea Martin. It is very much better to see what it is at once. Beside, wo are on a good errand now, you know." "Pell away, then." It Was with evident reluctance that Mar- tin slowly pulled with Gertild toward the deep and shadowy portion of the sok-cave from where the odd sounds came, but he was ashamed not to keep stroke with Ger- ald, .so the boat soon reached within about twelve feet of the cavern wall, and then they plainly saw a something close to the wall, " Lord be good to tis," said Martin. "It's ,got eyes." ''1`,A seal 1" seal Joseph. Oh, no,' replied Gereld, as he gave one more stroke with the oar and brought the boat close to the Object. There, eVea by the , very faint light Oust woe there, they saw face and head ef eorne 'milieu being and two arms bolding Isy a ring bolt that was set into the Will; there being many such all round the eavern, .The eyes glared at the beet and its own - pants and the lips seemed to move, but no sound issued from therm "Good heavens:" mid Joseph, "it's Mr, Settles." Then it thin, weak voice, said : " Suffiee 1" and the hands shook the ring- bolt. • • He lives 1" eaki Gerald. Poor wretch 1" said. Martain. "Ho lives indeed; but how he got here, I can't make out. I'll get him into the boat. Come, Mr. Suffies, no harm is meant you, and if you keep quiet you may get away in safety, for I don't take upon myself to say that it was you who brought the Philistines down on us, when we were receiving the cargo." Mr, Sullies evidently heard these words, but:was/by far too chilled and too terrified to reply to diens, nes!r did he make the least motion to get into the boat. Then Martin took it vigorous hold of him on one side of his coat collar and Joseph on the other. " Corne, let go the ringbolt and we will cant PM into the boat in it moment." Mr. Sualles made no.reply, but only glared in the face of Martin, with a look of pitiable distress. " Let go." "He won't," said Joseph. "Come—come. We won't harm you." Then in a faint whisper—a whisper hoarse and strange, Mr. Suffies spoke: "1 cannot—I cannot. They won't move." " What won't 9" " Fingers—fingers 1" Martin laid his hands on the fingers of Mr. Stales, which clasped the ringbolt. They had lost the power of motion, „but stif- fening there in their nervous clutch still held on to the cold iron It was with difficulty that Martin, finger by finger, aided them, so to speak, from the ringbolt, and then they lifted the wretched man into the boat. A shudder passed from head to foot of Mr. Suffies. "Don't," he said faintly. "Don't what ?" "Kill me ; I shall soon go." "Be comforted," said Grace in her soft gentle voice. "Be comforted ; no one wili harm you now. Take heart and be comfort- ed 1" Mr. Suffies did not reply, but they heard him sobbing. " Hush," said Gerald. "You will do u harm and bring us into danger if you ar not still." He was still in a moment and then h said faintly: I did not bring the Philistihes." "That's right," said Martin. "Then I'l look after you, though how you got clear o the chain links I don't know." "Cut—cut them—off," gasped Suffices. " Oh ! you go and tell that to the mar ines; sailors won't believe it. Hush not an- other word, now." The boat was close to the side of the Rift, and then Gerald whispered: " Rest oars here. I think I can speak to Captain Mocquet, through the port, here, if I stand on the thwarts of the boat." "Ay, ay! so yon can." Martin and Joseph kept the boat close to the side of the Rift, and Gerald stood up, and looked into the cabin, through the little port, which he had passed through on two occasions—once to rescue Marie, and once to rejoin Grace in the cave. All was dark in the cabin. "Captain Mocquet 1" whimpered Gerald. "Captain Mocquet!" "Mon Dieu 1" "It is I, sir. Captain Mocquet, it is I, Gerald 1" " Ah ? &est le bon Gerald," said Marie. "Hush 1 hush!" "Hoy 1" roared a voice from the deck of the Rift. " Hoy ! what's all that by the lee -bow, eh ?" "All right," replied Martin, as he scramb- led on board. "A message from the captain to you, Benjamin; and in the first place, he says that if there's any noise he will blow your brains out." " Oh ! indeed?" "Yes. He wants the Frenchman. " Captain Mocquet 9" cc yes. 1) "Then he shan't go." "Why, what do you mean, you lubber ?" "Why, just this, Martin, that he shan't go, that's all. Not unless Dolan comes for hirn himself, I telt you." . :" Well, but it's a very odd, thing, Ben- jamin, that Captain Dolan has been obliged to son& for Mocquet." "Obliged ?" "Where's he gene 7" asked Joseph, "To the old tin's locker, I fanose I don't Pee How are you Mr. Sages 7 Bet- ter 7" "lord bless you, no, Martin, me and Gerald is a holdiug of him up, He' e dread- ful limp -getting, but he ain't quite unsens eibles cos you see he knew you wanted him to say Benjamin and he said ib," They lidd Mr. Sullies carefally down, in the boat again, and then Gerald warn -hied, into the cabin by the port. "Come, Ceptain Mocquet," he said, "Come, Marie—you will be waved, think, now," Mocquet embraced Gerald, and then Marie twined her arms around one of his, and began her song of " Gerald -Marie I Marie -Gerald I" " Hush ! Oh ! hush," said Gerald. " We are in danger. A word may bring clestrue. tion on us all," Mocetiet spolm to Marie, and she was silent on the moment, only she clung the eleser to Gerald. Martin closed the hatch- way and called down to them: " 1.7p—up at once, and let us be off, fancied I heard something just now." " Come, oh, cense, said Gerald, "Welt, CaptaislMoccluet." Oui I Dui I 1: have got him :" "One—two pistol." Oh, yes! That is right, Come now. Another moment and they were on the deck of the Rift and then, by the faint re- flection of the lantern at the bows of the ship they could just all see each other like so many phantoms. Marie still clung to Gerald and would hardly leave him to let her father help her over into the boat. Then for the first time she saw G'race. The French girl uttered an exclamation of surprise and held her face toward Grace' who in her gentle, quiet way, kitised her and then shook hands with her. "Eh bien," said Marie "et cat ami Ger- ald, ou est -it ?" ` Gerald dropped into the boat. Re was the last to leave the Rift, and then he said: " Ready 1" Joseph and Martin took an oar each. Captain Mocquet put his right arm around Marie and spoke to her rapidly, in tones of great emotion. The boat was slowly and quietly pulled toward the mouth of the cavern. "Hold !" said Gerald. "They ceased rowing. "Do you hear 7" "Eyes and limbs !" said Martin. "1 hear the dip oars." "So do 1,, ' said Joseph. "And coming this way, too. Look— look !" There was a crackling noise, and, then the faint flash of a light was visible for a moment. It was in the hands of a man in a boat. They saw the face. It was that of Dolan, and in the boat was a square chest, which appeared to sink its after part into the water. "Dolan 1" whispered Joseph. "Dolan !" said Martin. " He escapes with the treasure ohest," s said Joseph, o " The villain!" With the lantern placed upon the chest in e front of him in the boat—a small lantern that he had lit—Dolan rowed slowly and steadily toward the cutter. The boat in 1 which was embarked the fortunes of those f in whom we are interested, slowly, by a light touch on the surface of the water from the oaes, was edged off into the deep shadow • close to the aide of the cavern. They all kept their eyes fixed upon the face of Dolan, strange and almost spectral as it looked, by the dim light of the little lantern in front of him, the only ray of which seerned to fall upon him. What he could want at the Rift was be- yond their conjectures, but they saw him make way right to the side of the cutter, I and then, im the deep stillness of the night, they heard him whisper: " Benjamin !Benjamin Hoy! Hi, there! , It is time !" All was still, as well it might be, on booed the Rift, and then Dolan spoke again : "It is time, I say. Come now ; I am yes. "How obliged.? What do you mean by that?" "Why, you know, Benjamin, it was you that tied the chain -links so tightly about "Hold—what if I did? Hold you, now, I say. A fellow don't want to be put in mind of little disagreeables in the middle of the night." "No, but I was going to tell you. Cap- tain Dolan was fast asleep, it appears, when somebody shook him, and when he opened his eyes, who should he see but Sales." "Avast I" "Yes, Suffies. Dead, of course, and al damp and colcl, and says he: Dolan, says he, send for Captain Mocquet, says he, ont of the cabin of the Rift, because' says he, I want to go there and say something to Moc- quiet's daughter's ghost, who is there, says he, and then he sat down right on the ches of Captain Dolan, and howled never so hor- rid." "Great Sharks !" "And so we have come for Mocquet." "Very good. Now I tell you what, Mar- tin, if you think I'm such a shore-going- knoev.nothing idiot as to believe that cock- and-fabtill story, you don't know your than, I and I shell give an alarm." "Don't. 'if you do, Suite's ghost may come here and look over the bulwarks, and say, Benjamin! Benjamin Benjamin!" Benjamin I" said a faint, hollow voice, at this moment, and over the larboard bow of the cutter, there just appeared the pale face of Suffles, with the hair all matted with salt water and a long piece of sea-weecl trail- ing over one eye. Benjamin made but one summersault right over the ster-boaad bulwarks and fell plump into the sea ready. Come and help me as we a eede' "Ab," whispered Martin, "1 see now. Benjamin was to help him to escape. Keep close." They kept their boat quite close to the side of the cliff, but had they remained out in the open water of the sea cave, it is very doubtful if Dolan would have seen them, as the little kind of halo of light that his lan- tern sent about left all beyond that limited circle in the most profound darkness. (TO BE CONTINUED). How to Bill Murderers. "How shall the death penalty be inflict ed?" was the title of the subject discussed recently by the Society of Medical Juris- prudence, N. Y. Dr. N. E. Brill read the letter he had. received from the Committee on Capital Punishment appointed by the State Legislature, asking his views on that sub- ject. Dr. Brill, in reply, declared that he considered hanging barbarous, and quoted Dr. Hardy, who had attended various hang- ings, and had never seen death occur by it broken neck in a single instance. "The most humane method," he said, " is that of the guillotine. I am opposed to electri- city, because dynamos are too expensive ; to prussic acid, because its action is indefinite, and often peoducts violent convulsions ; to the garrotte, because it frequently fails." "I'd have a man taken to a dark cave, and there bury him after hanging," said. Lawyer D. S. Riddle, springing to his feet so suds I clenly that every one looked surp#sed. "Let no human being know where he is buried. Surround the crime With all the horrors you can. With respect to humanitarianism—to Ikindness to this brute—I say away with it ; hang the man—hang him over and over if the rope breaks—hang him, hang him, hanghim." At each repetition of theimperative Mr. Rid - die's voice grew louder. "Don't have any reporters around. Don't let the man be ele- vated to the rank of a hero. Ladies bring him roses and reporters speak of his fine looks and personal appearance. I think that by no means we ought to abolish hanging. It is a good old common law practice, and by all means hang to it." tLaughter.] Dr. Peters advocated the garotte. Dr. Woods didn't look upon hanging as brutal. If a man committed a crime he thought he should have a punishment that would be a deterrent to others. Dr. MeLaurie suggesteds taking the criminal to a dark room and drowning him in carbolic acidges. Lawyer W. H. Reseed], advocated delivering the criminal over to a commission of selected scientists and letting them take his life in the interests of science. CHAPTER XXVIII.—FALLEN /XTO THE CLUTCHE'S OF THE ,FOE. 1 "Good -by" said Matins No man la ever likely to accomplish any More than he resolutely sets himself to asa complish, Fothergill stated sonse time ago that beef - tea is rather a stimulant than a notirishrnent, Mel now an artiele appears in the Nineteenth. Century, showing that itpowerfully retards i digestion, This action s said to be due to the organic aeids contained tn it Bettex in the Morning, inr LeANPIOt 11.eosfi. You can't help the beby, parson, But still I want ye to go Powean look in upoix her, axS..sead ale pray, Yell loess Only last week elle was skipin" 'round A pullin.,rny whiskers hair, A elimbin' up to the table Into her little high cheit, "The first night that she took it, When her little cheeks.. grew red, When she kissed good night to pima, And went awny to bed,— Sea she, ''Tis headache, papa, ne hotter in inorain'—bVel" An' samethin' in how she said it Jest Ingle no want to ory, "But the morale brought the fever, And her little hands were hot, An' the pretty red tw her little eheelts Grew into 4044'180n spot But elle laid there Jest es patient les ever a WOntall could, Takin' whatever we give her Better'n a grown woman Would. "The days are terrible long an' slow, An' she'e growth' ems in each; And now ehe'e jest a slippin' Clear away out ov our reach. Every night when. I Isies her, Teyin' hard not to cry, She says In a way that kills me,— Be better in mornin'—bye She can't get thro' the night, parson, So I want ye to come an' pray, And talk with mother a little— You'a know jest what to say ;— Not that the baby needs it, Nor that we make any complaint That God seems to think He'll' !media' The smile uv the little saint." I walked along with the Corporal To the door of his humble home, To whioh the silent melieenger Before me had also come, And if he had been it titled prince, I would not have been honored more Then1 was with his heartfelt welcome To his lowly eottage door. Night falls again In the cottage; They move In silence mid dread Around the room where the baby Lies panting upon her bed. "Does baby know pepa, darlieg ?' And she moves her little face With answer that shows he knows him; But scarce it risible trace Of her wonderful infantile beauty Remains as it was before The unseen, silent messenger Hatt waited at the door. "Papa—kiss—baby ;—I's so—tired.' The man bows low his face, And two swollen hands are lifted In baby's last embrace. And into her father's grizzled beard The little red fingers cling, ' While her husky whispered tenderness Tears from a rock would wring, "Baby—is—se—sick—papa— But—don't--want you to cry ;" The little hands fall on the coverlet— " Be—better—in—mornin' bye I" And night around baby is falling, Settling down dark and dense: Does God need their darling in heaven That he must carry her hence? I prayed, with tears in my voice As the Corporal solemnly knelt With grief such as never before His great warm heart had felt. Oh! frivolous men and women ! Do you know that round you, and nigh,— Alike from the humble and haughty Goeth up evermore the cry: "My child, my precious, my darling, How eon I let you die?" Oh! hear yethe white lips whisper— " Be--better—in—mornin' bye.' The Birht Side of the S. I've lived sixty years in this frisky old world, An' seen lots of chamgin' and turnin,' An' fifty of them, by the sweat of my brow, My bread an my butter been earn's'', An I've learned many things in the way of hard facts. I never was any great scholar, An here's one for you. 'Whatever you do, Young man—an' young woman, I'm warnin' you too, Eeep on the right side of the dollar. No matter how much you may want this or that, If you can't spare the money to buy it, Don't• t debt, , '11 i kl • e ret That you ever were tempted to try it, Though your clothes may be white at the seams, and you find Rough edges on cuffs an' collar, Just wait to get new till the same you can do, Young man—an' young woman, I'm warnin' you, too— An' keep on the right side of a dollar. Oh! the strifes an' the troubles that would be like weeds, Cut down in their pestilent growin', An' the blessings, like the Leautiful flowers, that folks In their stead would be constantly sowm I Oh I the homes an' the lives that wouldn't be lost, If all this plain receipt would toiler That I lay down to you! Whatever you do, Young man—an' young woman I'm warnin' you, too— Keep on the right sicle of a dollar. —Harper's Bazar. The Farmer. A. K. MAILDBN. Of all pursuits by men invented, The farmer is the best contented ; His calling's good, his profits high, And on his labor all rely. Mechanics all by him are fed, Of him the merchants seek their bread ; His hands give meat to every thing, Up from the beggar to the king. The milk and honey, corn and reheat, Are by his labors made complete; Our clothes must first from him arise, To deck the fop and dress the wise. WO them by vote, may justly state The plotighman ranks among the great; More independent then they all That dwell upon this earthly ball. All hail ! ye farmers, young and old, Perth on your plough with courage bold ; Your wealth arises from your clod, Your independence from your God. If, then, the plough supports the nation, And men of every rank and station, Let kings to farmers make a bow, And every man procure a plough. A Greater Love. MY NORA LAVOITER. "God is Love, To this, His spirit shall our spirit mould, While, touched by prayer the gates of Heaven unfold. Fresh from the sun the light each morn is given, Then let thy soul seek daily light from Heaven." "All, all is false, nothing is true !" I cried in agony, Forme I loved more than life Red roamed afar from Inc. Lo I as I thus bitterly spoke I passed it building grey, At whose aneient doors the people Were entering to pray, Heart -weary and sorrow:hulen I entered the aisle dim, The choristers were singing A grand old evening hymn ; And my grief and sorrow vanished With the sweet sound above, .Their angelic voicee told me Of it far greater Love, Strikes. Strikes are quite proper, only strike right ; Strike to otane puepose, but not for a fight; strike for your Manhood, for holier and fame; Strike right find left till you win a good name ; Strike for your feetdom from all that is vile ; Strike off companioes that often beemile ; Strike with the hammer, the sledge tted the axe ; Strike MI bad habits with troublesome tax ; Strike out Mudded, depeed on no other ; Strike without gloves, and your foollshnese smother ; Strike on the fetters of fashion and pride ; Strike where 'tie qest, but let Wisdom deckle; Strike IL good blow while the ;Mil 10 hot Strike tted keep striking, till you hit the right spot ae--eseeeee—ree...e.—.* A etTong tea Of common hay will pre, Soave the lors of Freneh linen. SCIENTIFIO .A.ND USEFUL. The irritability that overta'kes women fio frequently inay sometimes, says the Lancet, be clearly traced to an exeessive indelgence in afternoon tea. • The use of peroxide 9f hydrogen is extend- ing for bleaching pm:poses, it is now em- ployed for the bleaeliing of feathers and also of tussah silks, for whieli it is admirably ad. aPeltec. isassertedthat the leaves of an Indian plant, the slischdics niiigerisa, have been found to poesese marked antipyretic proper- ties, a decoction of the plant antiog in this respeet more powerfully than cinchona, A peculiarly bitter print:vie is also said to have been extracted from the leaves. The soundness of timber may be ascertain- ed by piecing the ear close to one end while another peraen delivers a euccession of smart blows with a hammer or mallet upou the op- posite end, when a continuance of the vib- rations will indica° to an experienced ear even the degree of soundnees. If only a dull thud meets the ear, the listener may be cer- tain that unsoundness exists. Frost.proof ink: Aniline black, one drachm ; rub with a mixture of concentrated hydrochloric acid one drachm and pure al- cohol ten ounces. The deep blue solutioa obtained is diluted with a hot solution of concentrated glycerine one and a half simian in four:ounces of water. This ink does not injure steel pens, is unaffected by concentrated mineral acids orstrong and will not f reeze at it temperature of from twenty-two to twenty-four degrees below sero, The Czar of Russia. Of all the people in the world most to be pitied, we think the first place must be given to the Czar. His life seems to be a continual burden, if not a terror. The pos- session of power is no doubt very fascinating, but even that may be purchased at -too high a cost. The position the poor man occupies cannot but create and intensify suspision. He is utterly lonely. Ile has no one whom he can treat as friend or confident. He can. not afford to be familiar with it single soul. No one tells him the truth should that truth be disagreeable. He has no assurance of personal safety by night or by day. He lives and moves and has his being in an atmo- sphere of doubt and suspicion, His foes, for aught that he knows, may be those of his own household. His every step is dogged with guards. Detectives are in his very bed chamber. When he travels whole regi- ments of soldiers line the roads. When he dines he has to take every precaution against poison. When he sleeps he does not know but that the assassin's knife may make that sleep final. Even his grandfather Nicholas, strong-minded, energetic and fearless though he was, never oecupied the same bed -room on two consecutive nights, nor would he al- low almost any one to know beforehand which he would choose. Such a state of things is enough to make any one madly, if not ha esponsibly suspicious, to drive him to remorseless cruelty and to develop in him all the wild, revengeful feelings of a hunted beast of prey. There is no wonder at all that there should be outbursts of passion which lead to homicide. The wonder is that things are not a great deal worse, while the greatest wonder of all is that any man should deliberately continue to hold such a position if he could in any decent way get out of it. Better, one might think, be a poor shepherd at the side of a hedge with a few sheep in charge even in a winter's mid- night. But taste is everything, and no doubt this hunted, worried autocrat says with a much greater man, "I did not seek this place. God knows that I did not seek it, God knows that I had rather be in the humblest of private positions. But now that I am in it. sooner than give it up, ex- cept with life, I would consent to be rolled in my bloody grave andburiecl with infamy." All right. Despotism such as Russia has long known is moderated by assassination, and if Alexander likes that sort of thing, by all means let him have his fill of it till he finds rest with his fathers in the Imperial vault. Girls, Learn Something. We are great believers in young women helping themselves, and in order to this, being thorough at something. As fashion - VARIETIES. Every one has a fair turn to be fte great atm he pleases. Bees may be said to be paradoxicalin that they are stingy, yet not parsimonious. Tise bunko steerer isn't a landlord to amount to much, but he gets hie livine out of nate, Her beam dress, because she never wears it oni:.'hieh dress laete a lady the long,est?— When a girl gets in a husband a better man than she expeeted hint to be he is e sir prize to her 1 Liberty is always plstured as a woman brdthere au6ieerlibertyblind 0 btosPrvi.v: tfuu8wt be vhihtnt, a Wife—" I've heard it's bad luck to be married on a Tuesday." liushand—" If you'll leave off' on a Tuesday' I'll confirm the rumor." However well proved it friendship may appear, there are conficlencee which it should not bear and sacrificea which should not be required of it. , Mike—"Phat are yez workin' at new, Pat ?" Pat— " Diggin' in the sewer," Mike—" Phat do yez /Set fer it?" Pat— "One dollar a day and the rheuniatiz, begorra. !" Patient—" Why do you watch tIso thers 'ammeter on the wall so closely ?" Nurse,— " Because the clootor said if the tempera, ture riz I should give you the quinine." It is admitted, tar and wide, That it has been the maiden aim, Since first this world of ours began, To change the =Wen name, Courtieg a girl is like starting a mare - paper. It starts out as a weekly, then it becomes a tri -weekly, then merges into a daily. If it has any enterprise it coxnes out with an extra occasioually. Of all ordinary buildiegs that are not spe- cially constructed for earthquake resistance, those whieli have the thickest walls and are constructed of the biggest blocks of stone have proved, it is said, to be the most cap- able of surviving very severe shocks. A sailor being asked how he liked his bride is reportedtohave remarked: "Why, , d'ye see, I took her to be only half dine, as the parson says, but dash my buttons if ahe isn't twice as much as I; for I'm onty a tar and she's a tar -tar," "What's the price of sausages ?" "Ten cents a pound." "You asked fifteen cents this morning." "Yes: dot vos ven I had some. Now -I ain't got none I. sells for ten scents. Dot makes me a rebutation for sel- ling sheep, and I don't lose noddings." Pittsburg Tramp—" If you'll fill me up with a good dinner saw some wood. I'm willin' to work." Woman (shortly)—" You know very well we burn nothing but natural gas." Tramp—" Well, ginime anthill' to eat, an' I'll turn on the gas for you." "I tell yer, my frien's," said Brother Gardner, "when I come to realize jist what a queer piece ob clay we am, an' how much workin' ober we need to come out perfeck, I can't wonder ober de shoutin' an' hurrahin' m heaben wlaen one ob us grown folks fends his way in." "Mr. Readycash," gratefully said Charles Hardup to his wife's paternal progenitor, as he presented him for the dozenthstime with lucre to pay a year's rent of his dwelling - house, " inetead of a pa -in-law, you have ever seemed like an own father to me." " Yes," dryly rejoined the old man, "1 certainly have always acted in a 'pay -ren- tal' manner since you married my daughter.' Ashoure, a kind of porridge made of new wheat, almonds, and sugar cooked in water, is on certain feast -days among the Mussul- mans distributed to the poor. In the higher classes presents of ashoure are exchanged in beautiful china or porcelain vases decorated with ribbons, and enveloped in coloured gauze. At the Sultan's palace in Constanti- nople it is prepared for all members of the imperial family and his majesty's minis- ters. " You have heard all the evidence," said a justice of the peace in summing up; "you have also heard what the learned counsel have said. If you believe what the counsel for the plaintiff has told you, your verdict will be for the plaintiff; but if, on the other hand, you believe what the defendant's ounsel has told you, then you will give a verdict for the defendant. But if you are ike me, and don't believe whet either of hem have said, then I'll be hanged if I know vhat you will do." A common disfigurement of cemeteries in France is the wreath of black or black and vhite beads. There is hardly a tomb, un- esa it be bi the fosse commune or among hose that are quite for often by the living, without some of these bead trappings, the creaking and rattling of which when the wind is strong is one of the most, dismal sounds conceivable. To hear this noise coming from a cemetery at night is enough to make the blood of these who are not used to it turn a little cold. The best examples of the eagre or bore, the phenomenon m which the tide moves all t once, are mud to be furnished by the mouths of the rivers Amazon Hooghly, and Tsien-tang. In the case of the last men- ioned river, in China, the wave plunges on ike an advancing cataract four or five Ales in breadth and thirty feet high, and Inis passes up the stream to a distance of ighty miles at the rate of twenty-five miles n hour. The change from ebb to flow -tide s almost instantaneous. In the Amazon he whole tide passes up the stream in five r six waves following each other in rapid accession , and each from twelve to fifteen eet high. able education goes, when a young lady has " finished " what can she say she can do? What can she say that she knows? It is t often not very easy for her to say anything, e especially if she be honest. She has had a great many scraps and odds and ends, but where does the thoroughness come in? French Yes ! How much of that? Per- ;1 haps it is as well not to enquire. Music? Well 1 Could she teach it at a pinch? Alas, " ne. .She can play her pieces and that is all. Drawing? Painting ? Yes, a little ! Hew little? So little that nothing pro- duced could be of any market value. "They don't expect ever to need it 1" • They are go- ing to manage a house. They are going to beve a strong and willing bread -winner in the shape of a hueband, a,nd. what then the use ? Pleasant dreams, but yet after all ofteh only dreams. Would it not be better to make a assurance doubly sure and be so thorough in all that is learned, that come what may, the battle of life may be fought to better ad_ t vantage end with surer prospects of success. 1 What is worth the doing is worth the doing n well, and it is the misery and ruin of so many t lives that this well -doing, in the matter 6 of cooking a dinner or darning a stock- a ing, has never been tried. It is the most i awful of all possible delusions to fancy that t the one unquestiouttble proof of genuine 0 ladyhood is to be able to do nothing, and s with a pretty infantile:smile to plead guilty to the fact. InflaMmable Breath. We had occasion in it recent number, says 'Science, to refer to a remarkable case in which the breath of an individual, or rather the erections from the stomech, took fire when brought in contact with a, lighted match. This case, which et, as reported in She Medical Racorcl, has called forth com- munications from physicians, by which it world appear that the phenomenon is not such a rare one as was at first suppesed. In one ease of disordered digestion the pa- tient emitted inflammable gas from the mouth, which upon analysis, was found to be largely composed of marsh gas. In another case the gas was sulphureted hydro- gen. A case is reported in the Priticli Med- teal Journal, in which, while blowing out a snatch, the patient's breath caught fire with a noise like the report of a piatol, which was loud enough to awaken his wife. One even. ing, while a confirmed dyspeptic was lighting his pipe, an eruetation of gas Isom his sto- mach occurred, and the ignited gas burned his mustache and lips. In Ewald's book on indigestion the analysis of the gas in one of these cases was, carbonic acid, 20.57 ; hy- drogen, 20.57; earburetted hydrogen, 10,75 oxygen, 6,72; nitrogen, 41.38; stilphureted hydrogen, a traee. The origin of these gases is undoubtedly the undigested food, which iti these cases undergoes decomposition, Tragic Deaths of English Statcsmen, It is observed that Lord Iddesleigh's death is by no means the first tragic or sadden death of an English stetesman in recent history, as during the present century there have been several. The younger Pitt died while Premier in 1806 from broken spirits, oaused by the defeats of our allies on the Continent; andFox'when Foreign Secre- tary, followed him to a premature tomb it few months later. Percival, who was Prime Minister in 1812, was assassinated in the lobby of the House of Commons and Lord Londonderry, when Foreign lkkinister in 1821, committed suicide. Lord Liverpool, the Premier in 1827, vvas seized with an ass, opleetie flt, froin which he never rallied. Canning, his sticeessor, died after being Prime Minister for a few months from com- bined work and worry. Tierney, who was a Minister under Canning, died of heart disease in his chair in 1830. Huskisson, who haa also served under Canning, svas killed while shakinehands with the Duke of Wellington at Sheopening of the Liver- pool and Manchester railway, in 1830j and Sir Robert Peel was killedgby a fall from his horse on Constitution Hill, twenty years later. These with the innrcler of Isord Frederiek Cavendish, in the Phcenix park, in 1882, foam a list of the sudden and tragic dual's. of English statesmen during the present century.