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Home My WebLink AboutThe Exeter Times, 1888-4-19, Page 6Maw Fense PyriLISRED,1 (A144 'LIMITS BASEATED.1 she Will have to make in marrying?, Man Who may be always something ef an invalid —forbiddea to do this and that—a dull oompeeion for a highspirited 4. By M. E. BRADDON. AUTHOR, " TAUT Avyrxes Sno-RET, N.V.rvia,AREk'S WE1ED, Exc., Eo. sCRAPTER XL—A DANGEROUS PILOT, Lady Belfield came next morning to fetch liter future daughter-in-law, and, Colouel Deverill was not displeased to see his young :daughter ostriecl off to a haven of safety. Ile bud e vague idea that the billiard room at Morcomb was hardly the best place for an engaged girl, and that a kind of society which was all very well for Helen Deverill was not good enough for the future Lady Belfield. "It is a capital match, and itavould be a deuced pity to burke it," thought the Col- .onel. So Helen drove away in the roomy bar. *ouch& siting by Lady Belfield's side, with -Adrian seatedjopposite. She ;seemed pleased to go with them, and she had &quieter and, unore thoughtful air, which charmed her lover. That chastened ano softer manner seemed only natural to a giel on the eve of a mew life: a girl for whomsthe responsiblittes •of womanhood were so soon to begin. It was early in April, thehedgerows were budding in the soft Devonian air, and there valley and that broad' deep stream which wail the chief glory of Beitield park. a he would stand for an hour looking out of this Windows far away over the valley to the distant moorland, thinking or &millings just as Helen sat, thinking or dreaming in the drawing room below stairs, lulled by the pathetic, melodies of Beethoven or Mozart, or by soft, sad, wordiest; songs by Sehuniann or Schubert. In the heart of each girl there dwelt a profound sadness, a yearning for eecape iron the aotual into the uareal.. Madge had seen Valentine but few times since their conversation in the corridor, and their meetings on those occasions had been accidental and brief. The girl would have passed him without a word, without a look even ; but on their latest meeting Valentine was in a conversational humour, and he stopped her with a strong hand upon her arm. "Well, Madge, how are you getting on ?" "Very well, thank you, sir." "Sir. That's rather formal, ain't it ?" " were violets nestling_here and there along No, sir. You are a gentleman, and a strange)... , the grassy bank.. The final meet of the foxhounds had been • advertised, and Peolde " A stranger. Come, Madge—" told you I could be nothing to you if were beginning to put up tennis nets en I wasn't to be your wife. I could nevabe asphalt° courts, and to talk of the otter that you mid—so there it ended. Can't .1aounds that were to be out in Jun. Lady Belfield was delighted with Helen's smore thoughtful mood. It seemed to bring • them nearer together. They sat together, s sad worked and talked in the quiet morn- ing hours, and in the evening, when Vislen. -.tine had carried his brother off to the bit- liardwoom, Constance Belfield would sit down to her beloved piano and play, while her young companion sat on a low chair close by, listening, tlainking, or dreamieg, •vrith her workbasket standing by untouched, eer her book :men in her hip. Thab dreaming mood was a new phase in :Helen's character. On her former visit ehe had been all gaiety 'and lightness, full of movement and fitfulness. The mother lovedto talk of her he found a sympathetic sons, you understand that ? She spoke as deliberately as a man of business who wants to be debisive and defin- ite about a business matter ; she looked him in the face as resolutely as a man looks at a man. "No, I can't," he answered, doggedly. "What devilish hard wood you are made of, Madge. I never met a woman like you." "1 know my own mind. Some women don't know even as much as that. There's one in this house that doesn't, anyhow." "What do you mean?" he asked, angrily. "No need to say, You know well enough. Good afternoon, sir. I'm too busy to stop here talking." She made him a ourteey, and left him, sane. listener in left him brooding, with his head down and -s Helen. She talked of both, but she talked his hands in the pockets of his shooting most of Valentine; of his errers «and fail- jacket. ings, his wildness, recklessness, follies of all The corridors at Belfield Abbey were ainds, but somehow or other the result of , places to live in: low and wide, with all the mother's talk was to prove that war Tudor windows deeply recessed, and pro. ward son the most brilliant and , loveable of vided with cushioned seats, on which a man young men. Unconsciously, that favouring might loll at full length. There were old love pleaded and apologised for him,and pictures, old china jars, old cabinets to spread a gloss over all the dark spot in his break the monotony of the long atraight ..eharactei. -"I am sorry you and he are not better Ifriends," said Lady Belfield, after one of these conversations. "Oh, but we are excellent friends. Mr. Belfield was very kind to me out hunting. He was my pilot through some cf our best gas. "A dangerous pilot, I fear, child. But you are so very distant to each other." "Are we ?" faltered Helen. "Perhaps we have very little in common except our love of fox-hunting. Mr: Belfield cannot scare to talk to an inexperienced girl." " Oh, but I think it is you who keep him at a distance. You might be a little more sisterly in your manner." "l'11 try," said Helen, "but as I never ihad a brother, I hardly know how brothers passages; there were thick damask cur. taine to keep out the cold. • "Trust a jealous woman for scenting a rival," muttered Valentine, flinginghim- self upon one of those comfortable window seats, and taking out his cigar case. "Yet I thought 1 had kept things very dark, and that no one but my angel herself knew the state of the case. She knows. She knows, I'll swear. I've seen it in her face when we rode over the breakneck 'ground together— once when I was leading her actress a fence that ntight mean broken raieckeeer looked back, as my horse rose for the leap, and ;saw her eyes. They eaid tor plain as words can speak, "I don't care ire. follow you to,Svour death." Yes, I saw the :love -light in those eyes, and I knew she was mine. Poor Ad- rian. He's so absurdly fond of her that it sare to be treated." seems a pity to come between them ; and "11 you liked him there -would be no she hasn't a etiver, and it will be altogether difficulty," answered Lady Belfield, re- a wretched match for me. I certainly mroachfully. Helen hung her head and said ought to fight it out, and give her up." mever word. Cons•ance Belfield had been struck by Th. third week in April began with south - something strange in her sons manner to winds and sunny skies. The old oaks and his brother's betrothed, and in her manner beeches in Belfield Park seemed to smile in -to him. There was not that frank, easy the sunshine, though not a leaf showed friendliness which the mother would have upon their rugged branches. But there was liked to see; and knowing Valentine's diffi- the purple of ripening leaf -buds, there was cult temper and. overweening pride, she fore the warmth of reviving nature, even in saw trouble in the future. thihgs that seemed still dead. The Abbey belonged to Lady Belfield for ..her lifetime, but it had been agreed between .Adrian and his mother that he and his wife were to live there, and to be master and mistrees in all things. Constance Belfield would slip into the second place. She could :leaci her quiet intellectual life just as happily ss queen dowager as she had done when she was queen regnant. She would have her own rooms, and her own occupations, her own old friends. "Everybody will naturally look to your young wife as the principal personage in this house," said Lady Belfield. "It would never do for her to be secondary in anything. She had better begin as sole mistress. She will fall into her place more naturally, and fiII it better in the days to come. With such a housekeeper as Mrs. Marrable, she -can have no difficulties. As for myself, I shall be quite happy when lam no longer sovereign. Audi shall not be too continually with you. I am contemplating a cottage by the sea, somewhere on the coast of Cornwall —a wild, lonely spot—where I can take an «occasional rest from all society, ' "Dear mother, do you suppose I could sever have too much of you, or Helen either. She will look to you for help and counsel in things. And when you start your Corn- ish cottage, it must be big enough for all three ot us." " I have only one difficulty about the ?future, Adrian.' "What is that ?" "Lour brother Valentine has been used to think of this house as his home." " And it will be his home still, after I am 'married. There will not be the slightest lessening of his freedom. You know what he and 1 have been to each other, and that .1 could hardly live without him.' This was satisfactory, but Lady Belfield. had a lurking dread of evil. She could not help thinking that there was a silent an tagonisin between Valentine and Helen. 'There was such a chilling reserve in their manner towards each other ; they seemed so ocruptilously to avoid all occasions of friend- ly companionship. Valentine seemed to take a diabolical delight in withdrawing Adrian from the moiety of his betrothed. There was always an excuse for carrying him off somewhere in the morning and in the evening there was the billiard room, which at the Abbey was an exclusively masculine apartment. Valentine smoked there, and smoked furiously. He kept his guns and single sticks there, his foils and leecieg apparatus, and had contrived to stamp the room with his own individuality. The billiard room was as much his peculiar den as the library was Adrian's. Madge had been more than three months at the Abbey, and she had given nO reason for fault-finding in either Mrs. Marrable or the upper housemaid. She had worked, well„ and had shown herself quick and clever in learning the duties of domestic service. She was very quiet in her des meanour, kept herself to herself, as the railer servants Mid, and was hist good dom. wany. She had a little room of her own In the reat gabled tool, a room With a dor- Mer amide* that overlooked the Wooded "But as a wife her whole nature will un- dergo a ohenge. You will not have a highl spirited girl to deal with, but a woman, Jul; of loving care and womanly thoughtfulness" "Do you think so?" he asked wondering- ly. "Will not that be asking too much of her. That she ehould pass all at ouee from girlhood to womanhood, from the holiday of life to the bearing of burdens. She is so bright a creature; she does not seem made for thoughtfulnese or care." "Oh, but she has been muoh more serious of late. I have seen a marked change in her." " Yes, She is certainly more serious." A ripple of girlish, laughter came like a mooking cotninentary upon his words. Helen and Valentine were finishing a single game in wild spirits, he playing as if his life depended upon the game, she flushed and excited at her own suocees. " I ou play as if you were bewitched," said Valentine when they, had finished. I " 1 you will, if suffering from incligStitiOR, assert the will some of these days resign and go never saw such strokes from -r a bit of a i 1 gthat you will never eat datnieal again; that like you." into retirement. It is quite the feet that HEALTH. Strong rof Oatmeal. A lady writes in virtuous indignation that a medical rne,n should anonymouely praise het rolls and impugn the value of oatmeal. She says in the language of one who knows from xPerionce— " The assertion in the article under con- sideration, that oatmeal is injuriouS to the etornaoh arid bowels lauts me in mind of the toper who before retiring took a stiff glass of brandy and water. In the night he was taken sick, and the following morning as- serted that ib was the last time they would catch him putting water in his brandy 1 So it is with those who think oatmeal not fit te eat unless it has plenty of creani and seger with it, If you will overload your stomach with coffee, hot rolls, and ohops for breale- fam, and some kind of meat, white bread, and preserves, an cl pie for dinner; dried pm tatoes, two or three kinds of same, and cake for supper, having eeten, perhaps; only a tablespoonful of oatmeal during 'the time, MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. There surely was something like reason- ableness: in the offer of the Britith Mioistry to acquiesce in Parnell's Arrears Bill if it were made applicable to all debts due to shop keepers, eto. as well as to those clue to landlords though, of comae, it might be urged that there was not the game evidence of overcharging by shop keepers as of rack rentieg by the owners of land. Sipco his return from ,Atneriloa, Mr. Chan. herlin seems to have been the great social lion 4the day, No party has been kerma cernplete without his presence, and the keenest competition for his countenance has been everywhere manifest. Thie May be all well mough but it is, all the mare, very likely that he has not left Canada roay great reason for rejoioing over his achiem runts. The guid wives have of late been rather busy with Queen Vic:torn:as health. They have been lipreading abroad the report that Her Majesty is troubled with melancholia, and that to such an 0:client that it is likely it does not agree with you. Of course the. " I don't think lam so very insignificant," oatmeal was at fault. The other rich diet the Queen has often euffered from low spirit, but it is also the fact that she saffers now she said, drawing herself up to her fullest had nothing to do with it." • perhaps less from the trouble than even she height. THE SOOTOEC USE Or 0A,TREAL-- the did before, end inebead of being in poor Mrs. Baddeley and Mr. Beecaing appear- national dish, the health and rosy cheeks health eves never better. Thio rimy ae rathek ed upon the lawn at this moment. The lade' and beautiful complexion of the High. a poor look out for the Prince of Wales, but surely it a matter over which there will be general rejoicing. in a terra-cotta tailor gown, which would do for tennis or anything; the gentleman in gannets. They would only stop to shake hands and say a few worde to Lady Belfield, and then began a double set with Valentine and Helen on the same side. Mr. Beething distinguithed himself at tennis and behaved rather nicely at tea. He unbent considerably and showed a some- what boyish simplicity, which pleased Lady Belfield. Mrs. Baeldeley was superbly pat- ronising to the three young men, allowing them to wait upon her and administer to her appetite for pound cake and chocolate buscuits. It was arranged that they were to play tennis on the Abbey lawn every afternoon until Lady Belfield gave them notice to quit. am not likely to do that," said that lady. 1 am very glad for Helen to be amused. Her life has been very dull hither- to.' The tennis afternoons were highly appre- elated. Jack Jraemontlo and his sister Lucy were invited, and came frequently. The 'Miss Toffstaffa and the Miss Tredaceye put in an appearance, and Major Baddeley sometimes drove over to the Abbey, rot to play, he was too lazy for that, but to fetch his wife. "I am bound to show my allegiance ociat. clonally," he said, and people agreed that the Major's devotion was very occasional. He was a large placid man, with a bread good-tempered face; a man who liked to take everything easily, and to whom dinner was theleading event of every day. He ad- mired his -wife as 'ninth as it was in his pow- er to admire anybody, but he had never known what it was to feel a pang ofjealousy. He had far too high an estimate of his own merits, and had never met with a better fel- lop-than himself. He was very particular as tO whit kind of champagne he bought or drank,' but, he was net over choice in the se- lection of his friends. So long as theyamus- ed ,peadeerved him he never stooped to con- sider Whether they might eis might not be worthy' pasegiates for his wife. Ina* word, hewas frankly mid unconsciously etrAssla Lord St. Austell had vanished from Cheile ford with his Mreters at the end of the sea- son, tut Mr. Beeolaing and his string of hor- ses still remained at the Lamb, and there was no talk of his departure. (To BE GormiNTrEn.) It was glorious weather for tennis, and , everybody at Chadford and in the neigh- bourhood seemed to be seized with a tennis; mania. All the young men and women put on flannel garments. and met at each other's houses, and played with all their might and I main. 1 There was no tennis club. at Chadford. I There had been talk of such an institution, , but no one had been enterprising enough to set the thing going; so play on private lawns, and tea drinkings after the play, I were eminently popular. Valentine excelled at tennis, as at all athletic games; so di- rectly the hunting was over, he had the ground marked and the nets out, and in- vited Helen to play with him. They played all the morning,and a meaning& was •sent to Meroomb to invite Mrs. Baddeley and Mr. Beeohing over for the afternoon. "Do 'you know, that emrly fellow, Beech- ing, is a. crack player," said Valentine, at lunch. "I'm rather sorry you've asked him over, however good he is," answered Adrian. "1 dislike him intensely, and so I think does Helen." "Hete; I 's no 'favonite of mine," agreed Helen, " but Frank seems deeply at. althea to him. Frank has always some friend of that kind, without whom he seems hardly able to exist." "Oh, but one doesn't ask for a certificate of character from a man who is wanted to play tennis," said Valentine, contemptuous- ly. "Alt I over inquire is can the fellow play, and will he help me to keep up my form. There's no use in playing against one's inferiors." Helen and Valentine went off to the le,wn again directly after lunch. It was hardly , weather for sitting in the garden yet, or Adrian would have sat by and watched the play. As it was, he strolled up and down an adjacent path with his mother, stopping now and then to look at the players. "How well she plays, and how graceful she is," said 'Lady Belfield, watching the slim girlish figure in a simple cream.white gown. The Flowery Kingdom. • The price of Chinese carts in Pekin is very generally fixed at ten cents an hour. Yet one oan never be engaged, if the price is discussed in advance, without at least half an hour's argument. If one is taken without previous agreement th price, and at the conclusion of the ser- vice the proper fare be offered the driver, he will invariably demand more. If this is refused the d iver will generally go quietly away. throughg ken generosity a larger sum be offered the driver flies into a rage, throws the money on the ground, demands three times as much and a threat to appeal to the police or an hour's argument is necessary before quiet is restored. A wealthy American gentleman, being in Pekin in his journey around the world, complained to me of the high prices charged by Chinese inn -keepers for rooms. He had so he said, offered $2 in payment for a small room without bedding or furniture in a wretched irm. The landlord demanded 85 for a single night. A long wrangle resulted, and finally the gentleman offered $3, which the landlord, after more worde, had concerit: ed to wept. The ouclomary price for such a room, food not included, is twenty cents, and if the gentleman had offered this sum it would have been acoepted without much discus. si7Ceelyards are regularly made and sold in "Yes, she is like Valentine. She excels in all out -door sports, in all games of skill, She plays billiards better than many young men, mid she rides better than any woman I know. She is just the wife for a eonntry squire. I only with I were better fitted for making her happy. ! "My dearest Adrian, how can she fail to be happy with you, who are so kind and good to laer ?" "Ab, but goodness doesn't count for very muth in this life. People would rather have congenial tastes. It is a constant trouble to me that cannot share the pleasures Helen loves—that if we are to be much to- gether by -mid -bye as man and wife, he may feel like a snared bird, that has been aceustomed to its liberty, ghat up itt a "She will never feel that if she loves; you." "Oh, I know that she loves nie. I have been euro of that from the first; but / don't know 111 am right 10 accepting the sacrifice land bairmes, impressed. Queen Victoria., and upon returning to England she ordered that the youeg people of her househeld be given this diet once a day. Mrs. Dithie notes this . fact and adds a milfirmatory reminiscence an,d reoipe: " V1 hen I weaned my baby at fourteen months old I fed him three times a day on oatmeal gruel with a little auger in it. As he grew older I gave brown bread, vege- tables, and oatmeal mush. A more healthy child you neyer saw. My children have had oatmeal—especially bathe fall and win- ter -f& nearly five years. Siokness is not knownin our family, and why? Simply because oatmeal, brown bread, and vege- tables took the place of meat and hot rolls, especially those of the bakery.Myself and husband used to have dyspepsia very badly; but since we have changed oar diet—and don't worry—we have perfect health. Let me say here that if you will grind about three teacups of oatmeal in the coffee -mill and stir it into about three quarts of boiling watee, salted, I think you will like it bet- ter.. If emitted over night in cold water it is much improved and makes more than where 15 18 cooked when you begin to pre- pare your Meals. This can be done only in cool weather, as excessive heat will cause it to sour," The proper way to boil oatmeal is in the double boiler introducea by the hygienists, as by this method the grains are thoroughly steamed and broken down, and a fragrant, acceptable porridge the result. Bore Throat. This affection is now so prevalent that a few suggestions from a prominent physician may be of assistance in curing or preventing an attack. • When a person feels that he is threatened with a severe attack of sore throat—he has a chill or is chilly, has pans in his back, head and limbs, etc., he should at once take the proper moans to arrest it. Many people at such times -will not steadier a phYsician—the beet way—bit insist on cleeing themselves. For such we will out, 'nil° the treatment which can safely be ap- plied in the early stage of any form of severe sore throat or tonsillitis. The first thing to do is to take a mustard foot bath, as hot as can be borne, and then get into bed. By that time the patient is generally feverieh, and a sweat is advisable. Send to the nearest apothecary and have put up the following mixture : Sweet spirits of nitre one ounce; spirit of minereus, three ounces. Of this take one tablespoonful in half a tumbler of water awry three hours until the fever subsides. The dose we have ad- vised is for an adult only. Extra blankets should be added to the usual bed clothing In many oases under this treatment patients sweat profusely; others, however, do not do so as freely, and yet the fever seems to will be hoard of no more. There was ne subside very nearly as rapidly. It would constraining power in the effort, and it can- surcely be wise to continue the medicine not be galvanized into activity. TRIITR is with the Prohibitionists every time, but tbis late fizzle has none more to discredit the common sense of the movers in this third party business than anything that could be mentioned. When all the Christian peoples of Europe are armed, to the teeth and all apparently longing for a row, some Canadians are or five liours. On the following morning it on their own account, because they say that The stir over the old dead German Em- peror has now sunk into quietness. It seems that ho was a devout Christian and hated war. So far so well for one who lead taken such a heavy hold on the butcher business. He now knows all about it. Peace be with the stout old fellow. As to what shall be in the future of the present Emperor who shall say? The one all important question is, "Will he live any time ?" Will nature put forth her vis medicate); and cure him after alt? Who can say? In the meantime if reports are to be believed, he is working hard and. trying to put things into a better shape as long as he has the power to make even the attempt. Herbert Spencer is not always wise even in his favorite walk. Here is his latest view aboat marriage. "Marriage is not altog.ether deterniined by the desires of man; it is des terrnined in part by the preterence of wo- men 1 Other things equal women are at- tracted to men of power—physicall emotion- al, intelleotual—and obviously their freedom of choke leads them in many oases to refuse inferior samples of men, especially the mal- formed, the diseased, and those who are ill - developed physically and mentally. So that in so far as naarriage is determined by female selection, the average result on men is that vane the best easily get wives a certain pro- portion of the worst are left without gives." Is this in accordance with fact? Many will doubt 15 ' A great deal has been said about bad spelling. One Might almost fancy that it was the chief and most deadly of sins. The oft repeated remark is still found doing duty-- It is no sign of being well-educated to be able to spell correctly, but it is proof ungeteetionable of being a very bad scholar to sin against orthogrephy." Is that milli - the fact ? Tnnewavould not be sure, but inclines to the conclusion that it is nob: Some great, clever and well educated peo- ple could never be taught to spell correctly.. They tried long and earnestly, but they tried in vain. • And what .altho'?. Oh, Yes, it is letter.overy way to follow the ordinary laws in the Inatter. Buae. don't let the authorities in that work crow this' loudly. A badly spell ad word in an application ler a • The organization of the Temperance people into a political third party has been a big mistake, ait has resulted in the dna- membermene of, the very party it way in- tended to consolidate, and hed tte mbjeet • been to deprive Prohibitionists efsil Moerei, of united motion it • could not poseiblyeleaYe served ite purpose more effeettuellY. • Wile fact is that the whole movement, after the little angry displays at the meeting, has fall en utterly still -born. In all likelihood it advised more than twenty-four hours, at least not in such large doses; that length of time is generally sufficient for it to ac- complish its purpose. W e naturally expect patients in such attacks to be very restless and wakeful, therefor some quieting mea - 1 eine will very likely be needed. If it is, a five grain Dover powder may be 4iven at bedtime and repeated if necessary in four anxious to get up something of the same kind will be advimble unless diarrhoea exists, to give a seidlitz powder, or a more active ' cathartic. This, then, is the internal treat- ment to be applied, for the purpose of ar- resting it, when a severe attack of sore throat, aecompanied by fever, is threat- ened. aw110$111.--i A Barbarian Legend. There is current among the peasants of . Bavaria a legend that the long life of Kai- • prefer to rank among the great and honor - ser. Wilhelm was due to a mysterious hil- able body of nonsombatants. a nation as never consolidated, and a truly patriotic feeling is never developed without the experiences and teachings of a great war. Do those people who speak AO cheerily know in the slightest degree what is meant by war ? Taunt would charitably suppose they don't. No doubt also such persone axe fully con- vinced that it is their wives' relations and other parties, not themselves, who most re- quire the hardening and ennobling training which war so thoroughly bestows. They the markets having two sets of pounds mea. ter of which his Imperial Majesty alone The Tories in Britain find that do what mired on them, one for buying and one for possessed the secret. How the Emperor they may they must bow to the current feel - selling. I have seen a respectable Chinese obtained the magic beverage is not known. hags and opinions of the day and try to do gentleman and a fisherman quarreling over It was said to be a kind of spirit which, if it even better than their opponents. They are, the price, or rather the weight of a live did not give him immortality, would enable in then Local Government Bill, going a very carp, each having his own steelyards, which him to live many year more, and supply long way toward the inauguration of Home made a difference of a pound and a quarter him with sufficient bodily and mental pow- Rule ,so far as the moat of reasonably mode - in the weight of the fieh, which at the ut. er to retain the government of his vast em- rate people would wish to go. All right. most could not have weighed over four pire in his own hands. The legend further'. Whatever may be the motives, if the thing pounds, unless, indeed, as is sometimes the more states that the German sovereign con. is done and the cause of human freedom ad case, the honest fisherman had forced a demanded th make a present of a few drops winced, it is all right. Motives are some - pound or two of coarse gravel into its of the charmed liquid to Marshal Moltke times too curious to be looked very narrow - tomach and Pzince Bismarck, hence also their re- ly into. If the actions are what they ought s In buying various grades of cotton -wool repeatable age ; but, strange to say, he de. one gets a varying number of ounces to the dined to give any of it to the Crown Prince, because he feared his heir would make use pound. For the coarse grades one gets six - of his health restored by the philter to force teen, a full pound; for medium qualities but twelve, while for the very finest twenty-two him to abdicate. Several crowned heads ounces are called a pound. Of muse such variations, regulariy eaten. lished by custom, practically counterbalance themselves, the price varying in accordamee with the weight. At the same time it is quite impossible to find either reason or sense in such practices. If an explanation is asked of the most intelligent Chinclie he has none to give beyond the remark that it is an old custom. I have often been trapped into the pur- chase of articles which 1 did not want in the following manner. A dealer in "curios," ae they are called, old porcelain& cash, bronzes, etc., would come in and offer some object for sale, making a little speech about its rarity, beeitviful form and color, and close by saying that the isrice was only fiv dollars. Not wiehing the article at any price, I Would say: "I'll give you ten cents." "Oh, look at it, see bow fine it is ! " says She merchant. "Can't, Pin bey, don't want it," I say. "Well," says the dealer, "I Want to sell 18 10 you very much; give me .60. "NOlf te away" "Ali ht, it is yours for n mate— Youth's omprnion. have, it appears, applied to the Emperor for hie wonderful secret, but in vain. The former will rejoice. Czar, in particular, prayed for some of the spirit, and it was the refusal of the Kaiser Some of the English newspapers are as to oblige him which was the real cause of the result crying out that England is no the present conflict between Russia and longer a Chnetian nation. That ory is old. •th be, that is about the whole that anyone cam expect, and if the Tories, in order to keep in power are fain to tuna reformers, why so be it. The general benefit will be Bub - served all the same. T.f this work is done even by his political enemies, the true re - Germany. THE MURDERER FUME. It was heard when the Test and Corporation Acts were abolished. It was again raised when Roman Catholics were admitted to Parlitunent, then when the Jewish Disabili- ties were removed.the same howl was heard Found Guilty with n Recommendation to again. The fact la that a country is Chris - Delinte of Boarding-Bohoel Literature, First Sweet Gra—"That is just a perfeet- ly lovely book you loaned me, so full of de- lightful mystery; Ian just enchanted with Second. Sweet Girl—" Isn't it sweet? ,Iow far have you got f" To the place where Eleanor is bidding goodabye to her relatives on her death bed,-' "Oh, she (lent die." " She don't?" "No. ,She gets well and young' &rater:" "Row therming I Thit she to her cousin ?" "He marries Blanche." "Der me 1 Tlaen what Arthur ?" "He marries Adele." "Rut Adele lit engaged to Grp:made ?" "Ho dim ; falls • from his horse. The horse was purposely soared •bes a .vengeful valet who afterwards oomraite a regular riturder and -9 marries the was engaged beeomee of " Isn't it just too love.y for iteilhing ?'' I Lovey Dovey. A woman weighing something like film hundred pounds, OftlinO into the Mike Sta. tion the other day clinging to the bony arm of a little man who probably tipped the beam. at ninety in his winter clothing. Ito led the way re the ladies' waiting - room, deposited the ledy in two °halm, and started out. • "You won't bo gone long, will you" dearie ?" she gasped out. "I fee so bit id." woc‘Nrvoodbeorultining e;21;11 be right back. Don't "Oh, I shalladearie, I can't help it, and I dread being left alone." "Well, I'll be back in ten ehinutes." "Oh, do ; I feel so nervous. He was gone fifteen minutes, and when he reached her side again she tried to tumble into his arms, and said •sweetly and child- ish:15'0'h, Harry 1 You were gone an ay. e. I was so frightened 1 Ah, Harry, I fear that you will find yon have married. a very, very silly little girl." Mercy --Mrs. Doyle acquitted: HAlavAX, April 16 —.After being out six hours the jury brought in a verdict ot mur- der against William Preeper for murdeting Peter Doyle, With a recoMutendation to mercy, and. acquitting. Mrs. Doyle of being an accessory th the crime. The trial lasted seven days and created intense interest. out by Men of ee unbelieving hearts and as Judge Townshend charged strongly against flegitions lives as any that could be picked Preeper, 13oth the prieonere strongly pro., off the streets of London on a summer day. test their innocence. Preeper was deeply affected at the verdict, but seemed relieved tian only as it is peopled by Christians, and ho amount of oaths will keep unprincipled men from overleaping barriers to honor and power. No doubt there were plenty of hy- pocrites in the House of Commons who readily swallowed the oath whioh Bradlaugh refused, and vory likely when the measure reaches the House of Lords it may be thrown relieved when told that it was not wily timt he would hang. The millions in the treasury vaults at I Washington are being counted. There is a large and healthy morel in the boast of a saloon keeper of Danville, that his two grown sons have never tasted whiskey, neVer used tohaoco, and 01don eivear, What Her Darling's Heart Said. "Mamma, ,clear," said a Toronto girl the other day, speakingiin a tone of gentle, lov- ing confidence that s always so charming th see between a Mother and daughter, "1-1 —I think George Porcine intends asking me to be hie wife to -night. Whet shall I say if he does?" • "My darling 1" cried the' fond mother, clasping her loved one to her bosom. " Must you ask me—must you ask any one—what to say at such a tine? Be guided entirely by the dietetes,of your own heart. Ask your heart if you love hiin. What does my dar- ling's heart sly ?". ' Well, mamma," said the maiden pen- sively, "It seems to be kind. o' straddle of the fence and don't know which way to tumble, but, on the whole, I guess George is.about as good a fish as I'm like/wet° land, so Pd better haul him inshe,cln't I ?a) " My. sweet 1" ssid the fond mother. tear- fully, "1 reckon you had." • Domeatio Infelicity. Two negro women met on the street: "Has yer heard from yer husband abe, since he done luff yer ?" ' "1 got one letter fru& him outer de* post office.' "1 suppose, after de way he bossed and beat yer, dat yer sent it back to him widout openin' hit ?" "You joss bet I didnl open de letter after de way he treated me. I'd see . hzn In his cc:ffin fast." ea, "BO der mout hab bin er five -dollar bill in de letter." "No, der warn't no five -dollar bill in de letter. Delow, meanoruffiess yeller moke." • "Row does yer know del, ef yer didn't open der letter 2" "Gob my sister ter open de letter. He wanted me ter send him his razor and his stoyepipe hat, de low, mean,wuilless niggah." Excuse Not Accepted. • Police Judge—" You are accused of hav- ing snatched a handful of small change from the till of a grocery store" Jim Webster—" Yes,yer honor, I tamers I did; but vvhon a man is hungry, and haint had muffin ter eat for more den two days, he am desperit an' crazy, and he doan keer what he does." "Bat it appears that at the time you stole a handful of small change, you had a five - dollar bill in your pocket." "Dat am so, but I did not wanter bust a five -dollar bill. As soon as you busts a five -dollar bill, hit melts right away." Jim Webster melted away for, a term of sixty days. Bo He Paid And Went. Patient—" Then you think it's all up with me, doctor ?" Ductor—" I'm afraid so:" 1'.—" Well, we must all die once and may as well go now as afterward. You're sure Pm going ?" D.—" Yes." P.—" Then let me have your bill." D.—`• My hill! My dear sir, thateje very unusual. You should give your thoughts to more serious matters. P.—My motto has always been pay as you go,' and nOW that I am going I wanesto pay." So he paid and went. Bachelor Quarters. GOIEG TO PROPOSE. Jack ,So his chuna)—" Gus,,I'm going to auk Clara, Smith to -night to be my wife, and I may not be in until late. Better leave the gas burning a little." AN HOUR LATER. Gus—" Vhy. what brings you home so early, Jack? Did you find Miss Smith out?" Jack—" I say, Gus, what do yo m think aboualeasing these rooms for thrdb.years more ?" Too Much Liberty. First Servant Girl—" Hote do you like your last MiSSUS Second Servant Girl—" I don't like her at cll." " First Servant Girl—" Doesn't she give you enough liberty ?" Second Servant Girl -4 She gives me too much ; she discharged me yeeterday." She Knew Better. He came in very late, and th keep Mrs. P. quiet narrated a tramped -up story of a narrow mope he had had on his way home of being run over by a lire engine. " A IMOD (hie) sooner and I should (hie) have been a dead map. It fairly (hie) took my breath away." " go; itaidn't," she said, taming her face I to the Well,