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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1888-6-7, Page 6:1,MST l'uolasannal E AND (Aar, Ilanrine Ilostmeron.) UNLIKE. By. M, E. 33RADIDC)11., e.Author Ot "Lane' Anntaines Seeman," " Wnereearne Waatn, Ena., Enea APTER, XIX,—Tire Rneunar oz' club subscription, to say nothing of that PrtoSreltantul. far deadlier item, losses at cards—had ale These veteran elms in Kensington Gar- sorbed the cash thet should have kept the dens, whose wind-blown crests, were juet visible, from Helen's windows were older by more than a year and a half ilea that first ine oration of the flee in Wilkie Mansions, little household in Wilkie Mansions clear of debt and difficulty. And now Helen came out of that little world of the sick room, into the bright big een Helen had grown accustomed to married world outside, She emerged. (tut of dark- ' life as understood by Valentine Belfield. Am and wearimae and constraint, like Pre - She had 'learnt to recognize the feet that serine returning from her six months' so- journ to, the onder-world, She was pale and thin and shadowy looking after her Ion illness, bot the lovely Irish gray eyes were as beilliant as ever, and the mobile lips had their old -charm and sweetness,: Never hadshe looked fairer to the eyes of that connoisseur in beauty, Lord St. Austell, than she looked this A.pril afternoon, when Mrs. Baddeley' s carriage drew up against the railings by the Row in order to give that lady time to talk to her friends The pen. sive light in those large violet eyes, the delicate transparency of the wild rose oom. plexion, had a poetical charm which touch- ed that sybarite fancy; and St. Austell looked from the elder sister to the younger, wondering how he could ever have thouaht Leonora Baddeley beautiful. He had heard of Helen's serious illness and of Valentine's neglect, and this alone would have given her an interest in his eyes. Neglected wives had been his specialty from the year he left Christchurch. He told her how rejoiced, he was to see her out again after her long imprisonment. "It is like the awakening of a year," he said. "1 really think this Is the first per- fect spring day. You and our ideal April visit us together. I hopo we are going to see you everywhere now, although he was fond of her, and proud of her beauty, he had no idea of ma,kihg any alteration. In his own manner of living, or sacrificing any one of his pleasures or • amusements on account of his wife. If his amusements were such as she could share, fie was willing that she should share them. He took her to race meeting& and cricket grounds, and regattas, -when she was well enough to go with him, but if her delicate health kep.t her at home, that fact made no difference In his arrangements 'There came .74 time when she was nervous and io TT- espirited, unable to go out of an evening, yet 'feeling the burden of her lonelbleas almost intolerable; but her husband- frankly told her that she could not expect him to sacrifice his evening amusements—his whist club, or •hie theatres—because she was moping at -home. `" What the deuce would be the good if I were to at upon the other side . of the fire and mope with you," he_ said. "Besides you have your sister," "You talk as if Leo were laid on like the water or the gas," Helen said, irritably; "she has her evening engagements as well as you. "Uncommonly selfish of her to be gadding about: just when you want her most," said Valentine. "It is a woman's place to look after her sister at such a time. Helen sighed and was silent. Those sighs and eilences irritated Valentine. It was a relief to him to run down •stairs and get into the mild mugginess -of a London autumn, to hail a cab, and be off to his daily haunts at the West End t it was a still greater relief to sally forth with gunease or hunting gear, on his way to a railway which was to take him to some pleasant country house or snug bachelor den, where there were sport and good fellowship, pretty women, or congenial men. The fond hopes which had soothed Helen "She is hardly strong enough yet to go everywhere," answered Mrs. Baddeley, "but I mean to take her about with me more than I have done hitherto. I shall not let her play Joan to a husband who never plays Darby. My brother -in late is a delightful young man; but he is just one of those de- lightful young men who should always re. main bachelors. He has no vocation for domestic life." "You have no right to say such a thing, Leo," said Helen, flushing indignantly. "You know how happy Val aud I are to- gether." "When you are together, no doubt, dear. en her solitary evenings were doomed to bit- The rarity of the occurrence must give it a tercet disappointment. Her baby -son died fictitious Interest." before he was a week old, and the shock of "Oh, please keep your smart sentences the infant's death, which came upon heresud- for the Macrocosm or the Bon Ton, Leo, and denly, brought on a nervous fever. let me manage my husband my own way," For more than six weeks Helen was seri- ously ill, and during some parts of that time Those bright spring days, which were her life was in danger. Trained nurses took full of gladness and animation for a good many people at the West End of London, brought only dejection and apathy for Helen Belfield. She looked out of the window and saw the carriages driving by to the Park, or a hansom cab bowling gaily along the street, with that rakish, devil -may care air which seems inseparable from a hansom. She listened drearily to the dreary street arks, borne from some invisible shabby genteel street round the corner. She lay on her sofa by the open window yawning over a new novel, until she threw thethook aside in sheer weariness of fictitious woes and sorrows which touched no chord in her heart, and oat brooding over her own troubles, which seemed so very real. possesnon of that small habitation inVirilkie Mansions. Lady Belfield came up to Lon- don to watch over her datiehter-m-law, and Mrs. Baddeley showed a great deal of solid,- tade, though she did not forego her evening engagements, or desert Sundown Park. For the first two or three weeks Valentine was anxious and attentive; but after the ill- ness had bated a month his attentions relax - and he began to regard his -wife's condi. ties is chronic. There was a dreary mono- tony aboub the sick room which bored him beyond endurance. The nurses in their uni- form, the recurrents visits of the doctor, the reports from the sick nurse, forever fluctuat- ing between good and evil—the whole busi- ness hung upon Mi.Delfield's spirits like a perpetual nightmare. He was gladder than ever to get away from his home, more eager than ever to accept invitations from his bachelor friends. All this had happened six months ago. Helen had escaped from doctors and nurses =on after Christmas, but she seemed only the shadow of her former self when she firat came ont of the sick room, and event for an hour's drive with Mrs. Baddeley, in the pretty little Victoria, which that lady had. -found necessary to her etristenee. It was only a jobbed Victoria, as she told her /rimed& piteously; but it was a very smart little carriage, with a smart coachman. Mrs. Baddeley's page sat beside him on the box, and the turn -out wad altogether respectable. Valentine was at SandoWn or Epsom • or at Newmarket, and not expected home 'for a day or two. Last night she had waited dinner till nine o'clock--to-night it might be ten. He was not unkind to her. He pro- fessed to be as devoted to her as in the days of their honeymoon; and yet his indiffer- ence wounded her to the quick. He told her that a man must live his life—that mar. riage would be an insufferable institution if it obliged a husband to abandon his favorite club and to be home at eight o'clock every evening. "If you don't like waiting dinner, I had better dine at my club," he said. "1 would rather do that than have to dine opposite a funeral face." "No, indeed, Val, I don't mind waiting. . The necessity for a Victoria., exchangeable i I have never complained of having to wait, in the evening for a brotigham, was indis- so long as you do come home. But some. putable, seeing that within the last twelve, times you have disappointed me altogether, months Leonora Baddeley had become in you have gone to a theatre or to one of your semewise a public character. She had tak- late clubs, and have left me to wonder and worry all the evening—suoh a long melan- choly eveningwithout you." "You had no need to wonder and worry. You must know that a man who has a lot of friends is not always master of his actions." "But a woman's mind is not always to be governed by needs. 1 could not help wondering. Sometimes I have wondered if I had married your brother Adrian whether I should 'have had quite so many solitary evenings." "It's a great pity you did not marry Adrian, if you are beginning to repent your preference for me," said Valentine, with a darkening countenance. "Dearest Val, how can you say suoh things. You know 1 have never repented. I never could repent my choice. My heart went out to you, from the first, and I knew that I had never really loved Adrian, He had been to me as anitind and dear friend, never as a lover. But I Can't help aome- thnes wishing that you were like him in just one respect—that you were as fond of home as he is." "In other words you loved me because I was a man, and now you have got me you would like me to be a milk -sop. No, Helen, "1 can't think how it is that money goes I am as unlike Adrian in my testa and no much further with yeu than it does with pursuits as I am like him in my person. I Helen said, with a faint sigh, as she don't care for mude, or books, or fireside konnd round hor anstetes hannious little musings. I am a man of action, cannot live drawing -room, with its profusion of tulips without movement and variety, If you are and riarciesus in the window sills and the wise you'll follow my example, and instead freplace, and it vases of tuber roses and of '6°Ping and fretting at 11°Ine' g° int° "- lilies of the valley. day with your deter. I could ofan look "My dear, you forgot that I ara bred. you 111) of an evening if 1114/7 where you winner, while you and Valeiatine are like were going*" ihe lilies of the field in neither toiling nor "You promised that latit year, Val, and spinning," you never came to any of bay partial, "1 Wiah T could write for the papers eat for a whole evening waeching the door, Leo." and refusing every dance,for fear I should - "Everybody can't write for the papers mitts yen When you came in—and you never ohinl," Mrs. 13addeley immoral rather appeared." nharply ; "there is something in the way of It wenn* my fault, 7 assure you. talerit wanted, or at least knack. Besides, There was always something to prevent my the papers are not big enough to hold every- turning ale." body's contributions, I happen to pleme "I think it was my disappointment about them, end 1 have toin got a groove thet yet that made tee detest pertien 1 made a :suits me exactly," vow to myself that I would never go out Helen eighed again. Valentine's way of again without you." life Was expensivi; and there were it good "Ah, thet we lett year when you were Many edemmts that ought to lieve beet nab of health. XOW you are well and lolooPn. paid at Christrrian and which were still un. hag again, and it Will do you good to bee a paid hi April. Hen)* walking gownti little bit of life, If I were a jealous haa. veere thebby, and her evenleg goWne bore bend 1 elinald be on glad for .you to Shut the :Amp of litet Meson ; yet she dared not yourself up in them Moine, but I'm not go, to the milliner's lad she Wcaild be re, jealous, and Ilenow 1 mai 'Cruet you." minded of an amount Of setae standing, "Thdcod, de:wan, y011 the said First.Clarie fares, tips' to gamekeepers, and fondly, With her kande clasped Open his en to literature. She wrote for the Society papers. Storiee, essays, Jaunting articles, racing article; fashion articles—nothing came amiss to her facile and somewhat recle- /ea pen. She wrote with the air of a wo. man who lived among duchesses and who dined every night with Cabinet INfinisters. Upon politics, morals, art, sport, finance, ehe wrote with equal authority, and a sup. teme audacity that dazzled the average reader. Nor was literature the grass widow's only eceupation. She had burst upon the fash- ionable world as an amateur actress of dis- tinction and capacity. She gaverecitations at charley concerts, she act t d in open-air plays. She reminded elderly gentlemen in- differently of Mrs. Honey, Madames Vestris, and Mrs. Nesbitt. It was nett° be suppos- ed that she earned any money by these charity performances, and her gowns must have cost her a good neal ; but as she was reported to be making a handsome income by literature'this did not matter, and no. body,except Helen, wondered atthe elegant i way n which—Mrs. Baddeley contrived to live, or at the open -banded and thoroughly Irish hospitality of than pretty rooms on the right hand of the thirdelloor landing. ehoukler, "yon keow that for me you ore, mit of gratitude, That would make me the only an on earth." actually an ineubise. May / come, Mrs. 3; won, 1 believe as inuoht Helen, you Delffeld ? Just tell me, my eoeiety won't are one oe those foolish nmene young veil noel' evenieg." women who are not ashamed to &drain "How Can innahen we meet almost every evening," Helen unmated, naively. "If I didn't wish to see yea, I should never go any- where, for unnehow or other we ate always their own husband& But really and truly, my pet, it grieves me to ism you pope in the very pleasantest time of the year. Leo says you would be included in all he evening monting," .. invitations if lier friends oely knew you 4'$:clay is like theilast figure of the Lan. were williog, You have but to show your- are," eeid St. Austellt " 'You nmet needs self to be admired and sought after," mem the same people over and oveit again, "There ie one objection, Val," murmured Meeting and passiug mei, and the lase ohord Helen, blushing as she spok& severs- ene even from one's own partner." " What is that ?" When was the time that Helen began to 'A I have not had a new gown duce last watch the door for the appearance of Lord summer, and people tiros so touch now -a- St. Anetell, as she had once watched for the days. I should feel myself an old-fashioned coming of her husband, aituly that in this lab - dowdy, • ter case there was no disappoinment ?' When "In last year' t gown—althoughit cost was it that the aseemblyarat began thbrigh- five and thirty guineas amd was declared by ten at Me coming ; when was it that his you and Leo to he perfection —gezite the voice first began to none her like musio ? gown of the season," ened Valentine mock- When wasit that the day only began in that ingly, and then, he took out a bloated lazy afternoon hour when , etiquette allowed pookenbook, and from a confusion of tissue his lordship's visits to the japanetie dinning - paper, Holt's lists and bank notes inter. room, whioh daily looked more and mere mingled, he seleeted a note which be hended like a tropical bower, beautified by the to his wife. "There, Helen, I was rather flowers whioh he sent every morning, =el - luckier than usual atOhester the other day. cel with the rare and costly birds whieh he There's infifty to, sweeten Madame, Bouillon. had ehosen for its adornment? You might order two gowns, I should thiele, He mold never remember how men when on the strength of it, hen sin began : how it was that she passed "1 will,' evied Helen gaily, overcome from the liberty of perfect innocenee to the by her husband's generosity. "How good constraint of conscious guilt : but she awain you are, Inal." . erten one day to the discovery that the bus - "1 like to see my little win happy," he hand the mace adored had become indiffer- said blandly, not derming it necessary to eat and was growing odious to her, and that inform her that he had over a thousand tlae man who purse:ea her witla unspoken pounds ia that bloated pooket book. love was the sole master of her heart and of Be never worried her about his losses, so. her fate, why should he tell her of kis winnings. Ha NO ER CONTINTIEV4 left her with a kiss, and was off to his after. noon lounge it Tattersall's. He left her happier than she had been sinoe her con - A Prince's Revenge. valescence. In European countries, where princes be - "Dear fellow," She said to herself, " I come titular colonels at the age of ten, and as - know he loves me, although he may some. sume actual command of a regiment before times seem negleotful." really entexing upon their practical military It Was a lovely afternoon at the beginning eduoation under the guidance of some veter. of May. The sky was bluer than London an general, it occurs quite frequently that a skies generally are, the balmy west wind prince should assert the ' authority whioh blowing the smoke eastward to darken the hie Station as a member of the Imperial family insures to him over any higher corn - dwelling -places of the poor. Aristocratic London was dressed in smiles, suburban missioned offieer, to remind his tutor of his Kensington had a verdant fieLwoerrds. St. A air in the bright, glad weather, and Helen's is whispered in welninformed circles about and almost emu.° superiority over him as a prince, even though he be his subordinate as an olficer in drawing -room was odorous with hot -house the field. On this score an amusing story ustell had been sending her the Archduke Johann Salvittor, a nephew of the Emperor of Austria. The prince is de- flowers two or three times a week since their scribed as a, wanton, fan -loving oharaoter, chalice meeting by the railing of the Row. and many are the anecdotes of his humour He sent flowers and plovers' eggs and pre- at the expense of others, though to his mature strawberries as to an invalid. Mrs. credit it is said that in all his escapades he Baddeley heard of these attentions, and lift- never exceeds the bounds of the innooent ed her finely-penoilled eyebrows with a harmless. . somewhat scornful air. Recently the prince commanded his regi- " He is more foolishly genere lie than any. ment at a mance:lyre held under the auspices one I know," she said. "Re is always of an old and tried general, who had lately sending laot-house fruit and flowers to sick chorus girls." been the favorite target of the prince's humor. Here the general saw his opportun- " I hope he does not rank you and me ity for retribution. When at the close of with chorus girls," protested Helen. "lithe rnanceuvre, as is customary, the officers suppose it is he who supplies you with all, collected about their lender to receive his those lovely gardenias and lilies of the val. icritioisnis of the different regiments, the ley ?" !general expressed his satisfaction with the "Ke and other people, my dear. 1 have !troop in the main, but continued, in a tone more than one string to my bow." I of infinite salami : "1 cannot refrain to Helen ran across to her sister s rooms soon , reraark that No.—,, i(the prnce) s own) after Valentine left her, and exhibited her 1" was very unsatisfactory. The bearing of fifty pound note, the troop was bad ; and in fact all through "If you like to take me out w ith you nab , the mem:mare it showed poor drilling and afternoon, Leo, I can order a new gown, and leadership. A radical and rapid change then I can go with you to some of your ' would be desirable.' So epeaking, with a parties." 'self-satisfied smile he turned in his meddle, "Certainly, dear, but one gown won't go :and entering into a conversation with es n very far." ' officer at his side, he entirely ignored the " Oh, I can have some of the old one, presence of the prma, who, with a (told touched up—if I have just one new one hi salute, turned his horse and !galloped away, the very latest style, with the season's each- for even he, while in the character of a et. Even one ..gown is an effort when . one soldier, would not dare to utter a word of has a limited income. I can never under, I disrespect to Ins superior. But if revenge stand how you manage to have so mtn3, ,was denied to him ia his present position, and from Mrs. Ponsonby, who is ever so I he could easily achieve it in the character ranch dearer than Madame Bouillon." ' of a prince. And he was not slow teemed' "Oh, Mrs. Ponsonby does not charge me himself of tbis opportunity. as she does "other people. I know how to A few minutes later, ete the group around manage her," Leonora answered carelessly. the commander bad _yet dispersed, to the The new gown was a triumph of art.surprise of all there sounded the well-known Helen's was a style of beauty which needed i bugle signal announcing the approach of a no embellishment from colour. She always member of thenimperial household. The looked loveliest in white, and this last 'general, as become e his Peeitiont was at the acnievement was simplicityof the staff to receive so unenneeted itself. A white !heed a satin gown, plainly cub, with a long train, 'visitor, when, much to his chagrin, he per - and with no other trimming than a cascade ceived that it was Johann Salvator, who of osietcat feathers, soft and pure as snow- I had returned, accompanied by his attaohes• flakes. A cluster of these snow white plumes ' With unconcerned mein the prince galloped adorned the bodice, and accentuated the , forward, and returning condescendingly the dazzliug fairness of the wearer's bust and salute of the general, he demanded from him a report of the manoaavre, which the pson, but she had not been talked about. T articular section of society—neither the general had to submit, and gave orders best nor the worst—in which Mrs. Baddeley This year it suddenly dawned upon that witne" Mrs. Belfield had been admired lase see. commander accordingly ' Highness. Then he expressed his desire to a defile of the troop, to which the could not deny to his Imperial moved, thse Mrs. Belfield Was the new Closely the prince Scrutinized each roe- beauey. Perhaps she would hardly have ment, and When the last company had pas - been so promptly elevated to this social pfin sed him, he turned to the general, and amid naele if it had not been at the same period bhe respectful silence of all, he expreseed in discovered that St. Austell 'was over head dignified laurage his disapproval of the and ears in love with her. Nobody had a mancenvvei ' General," he continued, "it word to say against the lady as yet, but it shows poor drilling and bad leadership. A was obvious to everyone except to the lady kaPid and radical change would indeed be herself, who saw nothing extraordinary in- i'e 1'5'dweistirablenBatirelY satisfied,it eeh re reeeer'i in the fact—of his lordship's pretence. She Llin1 hNo.—" (again tw knew that he was a man about town, and I own), "Wilt you kindly transmit to ita ahe did not know that the circle in which I commander my thanks and my hearty ate she and her sister moved, lay for the most ,Preval of the excellent bearing which that part outside that inner sanctuary ef patrician !regiment hem shown during the defile 2" So society to which St. Austell belonged. saying he turned about and galloped away, She accepted hie attentions at first with leaving behind him a cloud of dust and the i preme ndifference. He was her sister's stupefied general. et admirer. He had been devoted to her sister at Moraine') two years ago, and she had no idea of any change in his sentiments. Lee's flirtations and Leo's admirers were taken for granted by Leo's sister. There was no harm in any such deviations from the beat- en track. It was only Leo's way. , Perhaps St. Austell was tired of worshipping a div- inity who had so many other votaries, Mr. Beething for instate; among the most de- voted. He certainly began to neglect the elder sister, and to concentrate his atten- tions upon the younget. He would spend Ave or ton minutes with Mrs. Baddeley, and then come acme to Mrs. BelfielcVs draw- ing -room with a book or a plead of music, or tiekets for opera or theatre—tickets which had beet sent him by importunate mata- gem, according to he own amount. "I was told laet tight that people had to Fait SiX weeks to get stain" Helen said, zacredulously, on one occasion when Sb. Austell brought her three places for a fash- ionebIe theatre, "and.yet the manager gives ticleete," "Strange, isn't it, The fellow will send me tickets. They like to we ine in the ball. By -the -bye, that is jest the objection to thole ticket. You will have in as an inclibue. It would be bad form to accept the places and not thoev myeelf. If you and Mra, Iladdeley go, will you Mutt mind taking me, or perhaps Mr. 13eine1d might go with you, and would let me make a third." "He would be delighted, bub I'm Afraid there'e no chance Of hie going He has tio many evening eingEtigariente," "01 Muse. I know lais set Men Whe always spend their evenings together. And will you and 3/Irs. Baddeley reafly uot nand having Me 2" Irdw eould we be So ungratefel." "Oh, but 1 Won't come if I am to be asked The Question of Closets. One word, writes Marion Harland, as to the theory that skirts of gown and petticoat —in fact, all dependent garments—should be supported by the shoulders, never by the hips. To prevent the straps affixed to them from. slipping down upon the arms, they muat be minded forward so far ae to cross the breast, bringing the hanging weight upon the most sensitive part of a woman's body. If several underwaists take the place of straps, the form is made olumity. A compactly built, wiry woman may look well and do well without corsetone whose bust is full and with whom the tendency is to make adipose time rapidly should, in my opinion, wear an easy corset for health's sake, no less than through a laudable desire not to be utterly figureless. She need not be small of waist —the Venus of Milo eettled that point eat- iefactorily for us years ago—but sho can and ought to be shapely, Tho pliant stitch. bag ot the comet and the beim in book and front ward ofnutdue pressure from the spine and abdomen, transferring it to the staunch, faithful hips, where it belongs. On LastlRequest "Then it Can never be 2" be gasped, as he arose like a man in a dream. "N�," she murmured, in a low but de - elided voice: "1 ain Sorrea Mr. Popplecliek, but it din never be. It is impossible," Grant Me'theta" he tiald, hoarsely, passing his hand iteroee his blinded eyes, "one hot tequeet." She extehded her hand in ailence. "Let me," he mid, in a low velee, "have fifty cents until tomorrow night. I've get abet et this, and I've boat, and the beets anewaiting around dee cortex, for the beer's," LATEST BY CABLE. Germsw ant France Agaim Snarling —The Balkan States Ferment Just new Germany and Eranee are haying the periodical snarl at each other. Time was when Europe used to go into fits- when this sort of thing commenced, but it le taken very quietly nowadays. France has for some time past been increasing the stringenoy of her fronbiorregniations t o the greatiac oavenience and irritation of German tra,dere end: treO31- lers. PrincoRienaarek displayed phenomenal pat lame in the matter, but themurnitere of the German presa and the growing or.aaperation of the peoplebas compelled hint to• team coun- ter incentives, Henceforth foreigners crossing the Franco-Gaernaan frontier meet carry peen, ports vised by tile German AmbaSsadOr. This of coursewill cause an immenze amount of inconvenience and annoyance at soon as it comes into -force, and it will be a miracle if it doer' not give rise to inadente which may cause trouble, The ferment among the little Ballteu States has for the moment subsided, Bul- garia has been solemnly celebrating the fes- tival of St. Cyril and St. Metaiodius, her patron saints, and Prince Faclinand Its en- joying the innocent delight of inspecting the famous rose gardens at Kozanlik in Eas- tern Rouniella and graciously eampting samples of atar of roses hone village manufeeturers. Finally, the Czer is mid to have recently expressed the hope that war may not mar the coming celebration of the ninth centenary of the conversion of Russia to Cnristianity. GREAT SULPRIER Thirty allelion Tons of Brimstone in one bland. Sulphur is of two kinds, one of whioh is of volcanic emanation, the other being elorlely allied to sedimentary rooks. The latter is found in Sicily, on the southern and central portions of the island. Mount Etna situated in the East, seems to exerb no induence in the formation ot brimstone. There are various hypotheses relative to its natural formation. Dr. Philip Swarzenburg attributes it to:ft e einem:Mons of sulphur vapor expelled from metallic matter existing in the earth, conse- quent upon the fire in the latter, while Pro - teasers Hoffman and Bischoff ascribe it to the decomposition of sulphureted hydrogen. Hoffman believes the sulphureted hydrogen must have passed through the fissures of, stratified rooks, bub Bischoff is of opinion that the snlphureted hydrogenmust have been the result of the decomposition of sulphateof lime in the presence of organic matter. The theory of others is that sulphur owes its origin to the com- bination of lacustrine deposits with ye - getable matter, and others again suppose thet it is due to the action of the sea upon animal remains, The huge banks of rook sail, often met with in the vioinity of sul- phur mines, and which in someplace stretch for a distance of several miles, seem to indi- cate that the sea has worked its way into subsoil. Fish and insects which are frequent- ly found in strata' of tripoli, which lie under sulphur beds, induce the belief than lakes existed in Sicily. Sulphur mines heave been operated in Sicily over three hundred years, but until the year 1820 its exportation was confined to narrow limits. At present the number of mines existing in Sicily is about three hundred, nearly twohundred of which, being operated on credit, are, it is understood, destined to an early demise. It, is said thatethere are. about 30,000,000 tons of sulphur in Sicily at present, and that the annual production amounts to about 400,000 tous. If this should be true, taking the foregoing as a basis, the sopply will become exhausted in about seventy-five years, Improved Diamonds. St. Louis Spectator ..—Many persons have been puzzled to understand why the dia- monds wor o in ear -rings by ladies now a - days maintain such a ceaseless quivering motion. It- makes no difference that the head of the wearer is in perfect repose, and that she is even speechless, and therefore exerting no muscle of face or feature ; the ceasless twinkle of thenliamond goes on en- hancing greatly the flashing beauty oftthe gem. The secret is in the setting of the diamond, and the methodis a patent device. The patentee is reaping a royalty of po apiece from every manufacturing jeweller to whom he sells the privilege of using it. The stone is set in the usual manner, except that a band like the handle of a diminutive basket is attached to the frame work. On the other side of this band is a cuplike cavity. On the lower part of the hoop is a projecting pin pointed with rhodium a metal which never wears out--somahat like the iridium with which gold pen, are tipped. Now, when the diamonds are put in position on the hoop the rhodium point projects into the cup. The result is NI hat f5p1entists would tall a condition of unstable equilibrium. Like the pea, blown with a pipe by a schoolboy the diamond is given no rest, with the difference that no effort is' re. quired, to keep it dancing. The metal point never wears out. _ A Little' Boy's Letter. Among the many anecdotes related of the late Emperor was one associated with his einetieth birthday, whioh Was celebrated with great pomp throughout Germany. Splendid gifts were Sent him from all over the world, which were displayed together in a hall, Close beside a costly service of rare ohina, sent by Queet Victoria, was a wood- en box, tied with a bit of twine. The aged Emperor opened it,. and read, with much emotion, the following letter from a child. It was eniespelled, and Written on a piece of gray paper :— Dean, Knecia—I have nothing to send you on your great day but a prayer to the good God to keep you long our king. Now I will tell you of ray father, who vvad shot in the i foot n the war with Auetria, and is ill, and has yet yr pension. I have two brothers and two sisters, and often we hone no bread to at. Tho name of the writer, Augeet Welk, was then signed, mad the Emperor said: "He hoe made the best gift of all, He has given rnt the chance to be juat to a breve man," Ho then ordered the case to be looked into, and, finding that the man wail worthy of a pennion, had one granted to hine—[Cengregationeliet. On the Road to Fame. Friend (to young physician)—" How are you getting on professionally, doctor V' Young pin/inlet-a" ramouely, Since I was fortunate onorigh to be Ogled into the Mee of old Mr. Tallier', my reputation has rapidly extended; mother case like that end my fortune is merle," Feiencl—" Bet Mn Trillion died." Young phyeisaan—" That doesn't matter." MR, AND ME a BOWSER. SLeu Mowseets Trouble,. WitliShlatet When Mr. Berner was courting me. I, girl...line, never noticed whether his eleirt bosom& were white or black, or whethee hie collars were turned down at the ende or stood sti.ilIy under- kat earls. I admired his P050 and hair and eye& anti was in leve with thceshape oE his head, and that was all auflioient. I supposed he wore clothes, and I supposedhe had shirts and eollare, butes to who natule them'what they cost or how they set was a mysary I never sought to solve. Mother had her eye on, Shat young man, however. After looking him over two or three times she said to me :. " Sarah,. if you marry him, youll have trouble—lots of trouble.' "Why, mother ?" "There's no why about it He's, too particular with his shirts and collars. If they don't set jut so, he's as uneasy as a fish out on watir. I cured your fathiOnniad in the cornets of uen years gob hien innZiat he would ride out on Sunday with one , of my stockings for a collar, but you cau never cure this aleapn' "But I can make shirta and collars, and you know how nicely 1 iron." " Oli, well, we shall see. I don't like the end ef his nose and that sneer on his lip, but I shan't oppose a marriage. When he begins to jaw and tear around, you just re member what I said." I had forgotten all about it long enough 'before the wedding, but two weeks after that event Mr. Bowser himself called my attettion to ib We hadlust got home from our wedding tour when one morning . as he 'was puttiug on a collar he blurted out: "I'd like to know what in tin and rosin ails this infernal thing 1" ``Alarird. BthowisseeornIoi unden shirt sets as if it was made to go over a clotheshorse ! It's a wonder to me I haven't killed somebody before thie 1" "Do you have trouble with your shirts and collars ?" "Do 11 Don't I There ien't a human • hyena on the face of the earth who knows enough to At me? I've tried a dozen plines, and every man in them is a malicious liar I" "I ---I'd like to try." "Can. you make shirts and collars 2" "‘ Beautiful ones." "Then you are a treasure, indeed. I'll get some cloth this very day." Be was as good as his word, and in the course of a copple of weeks I had several fine samples on hand. I hadn't a doubt of , being able to plase him. Mother smiled knowingly now and then, and now and then trotted her foot and observed that "we shall see," but the storm which buret found nie totally unprepared. 1finished and ironed three beentiful shirts and six collars and placed them in the drawer, plan- ning to 'give MC Boweer a surprise. He gave me one instead. He evoke e up one morning by snortinoearound great flarryaand-before my eyes were fairy, open he shook something at me over the foot- board and exclaimed: "That's the kind of a housekeeper you are, is it 1 Vnhat's this fiour sack and dog - collar doing in my shirt -drawer ?" " Flour -sack ? Dog -collar 2" I rapeated. "Certainly 1 Here I've fooled away half an haul of my time supposing it was, ar4irt and a collar. Mrs. Bowser, when April dal day comes I shan't mind a little joke but this is the twenty-third ofJanuary." " And that shirt doesn't fit 2" vienbip, might fit a telegraph pole or a con- " And the collar is—is-- 1" "Is a good fit for a pirate or some one elae who wants choking 1" I cried. I sobbed. I boohooed. I just cle made a business of going all to pieces, and I made a grand success of it. When he had gone mother came in, saw the rumpled ehrirvted:and collars on the floor and quietly ob. "1 wasn't mistaken, you see. If ever a ian needed cow -hiding, it's this husband of ours." There has never been a change of linen on Ir. Bowsern part since then that he hasn't one through a set programme. He pulls rom four to eix shirts out of a drawer, . umbles them over each other several times, elects one with a grab, and he gets into it bout the way a man would climb out of a ell. As soon as it is half on he yells: biiritMrrs, Bowser, where are "!fere, dear." , "Well, what in thunder ails this old "Is anything wrong with it ?" "Wrong 1 Why, I'd give a million del— ars to be locked in a room with the meal ho made it for three minutes 1 It's—it's.— He's got into it by that time, and then 's pull here and haul there, and twist is neck this way and that, and he ouldn't be more tired if he had been saw - ng wood. Then comes the collar. He ries at least four before he gets any ort of fib, and after he gete it on it's too tiff, too limb.er, too long, toe short, too , igh, or too low. Ile's a peaceful man, he ays, and he has been brought up to respect he law, but if he ever meets the maker of hat collar blood must flow in bucket. He's ad all the morning, and mad at breakfast, nd mad when he goes swan, and I suppose takes him half the forenoon to get his 'acidity balk. After awhile I made up three more shirts. nd. six collars, brought them home one day a store package, and asked hint to try hem as something new. "Say 1 you've hit it at last 1" he said ext day when he put one on. 4' Do they fit ?" "Splendidly." For two or three days he was at rest, then, n, a goose, I had to brag that made the ticlea. "You ---you did 1" he gasped. " Of course," "And deliberately deceived Inc 1" "Was it deceit ?" 11/1rs. Bowser, a wife who wilTM-6 th'ab ili poison her huthand 1 Don't,apda e, to nee ean this week 1" He wore 'em all out, but from that hour has never had one to fit. ^ - a n Grace Before Meat. The old gentleman was trying to find a north-west passage from the leg to the sec - end joint of the duck, end Wait muttering under his breath. Ma," whispered Bobby, "le pa eaying grace 2" What Made It Het. Inte (ehortly eftee marriage)—" It is fear- ful hot in thie room." " Sheen"/ have just been burning a lot of letters I got before 1 Was married. Perhilps that's what inakoe it So warm," .Profeeeional Aeeociate (to leglees nian beg. ging on street conier)--HOw's business? Legless Man -1 (nab lei*.