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Exeter Times, 1897-9-16, Page 7THE BXET ER TIMES WINNING HER WAY C,HlAP7 R XIX.—Continued. Frau von Ratenow bade Joohen "Yes, was it not? However,he has stop• Is this the road to Bennewitz ?" she bepractise s to ' as nd seem s sib. tde a en e ask ea. cal." "Yes, madame." "He proved that to -day," said Frau von B•atenori dryly. "Howe Ab, yes, everyone to bis taste. He spoke to me of Elsie." At last her name had passed his lips. "Yesterday she sent a small pres- ent. But T did not intend to speak of it to yo''x; pardon me, mad- nme" Frau von Ratenow looked at him nonplused. Had Hegebach taken too much wine? "[ do not kno'uv whether you can put yourself in my place," lie continued. I "I almost believe you cannot. I feel so unspeakably lonesome. I do not know for whom I am working and living; it seems to me as ie my entire house looked at me sadly, as if every fire -place yawned in order to ask me: 'Why are we bere?' This cannot con- tinue, madame, for it makes me men- tally and physically ill." He paused a moment. "I have Bennewitz on my hands, however, and it has occurred to me to once more--" He did not con- tinue. " To marry," suggested the old lady. "No," said he abruptly, leaning back in his chair. Frau von Ratenow turn- ed and looked at him; it was dark, she could only see that he was gazing past ber out of the window. "No, surely not, madame," he add• ed. "I think of doing something else which will not bring us personally into Ouch close relations, and which will pot call forth a refusal,— for that wounds. You know, no one is free from vanity." The old lady sat there in breathless expectation. "I shall try once more to bind a young life to mine, but in e. dif- ferent way. I want to adopt a child." "Ilegebach, you wish, you oan--" cried she joyfully. She hesitated. "But girls can inherit nothing," said she doubtfully. "Girls! who mentioned a asked He received no reply. Yes, the man was right; why had Elsie conducted herself thus? Oh, the miserable shil t 1 It was hard, hard! "What do you think of my plan, madame?" "It is excellent," she replied with difficulty, while sympathy for the poor girl who would have to go through life alone conquered her vexa- tion. "Now, I must seek some one," said Hegebaoh. " You will find plenty of appli- cants." "Of course." He laughed. "The lit- tle bit of money will tempt them. It would be refreshing to find someone who would say 'no,' By the bye, how is my cousin?" " 1-1 do not know ; probably she is well," replied Fr= von Rate - now. elegebach's manner puzzled her. Are you still angry with her, mad- ame? That is wrong of you, indeed. Do you know that in my thoughts I have begged the child's pardon a thou- sand times for the sorrow we occasion- ed her; yes, madame, 1 say 'we,' you, my cousin, and myself. Our only ex- cuse is that we meant well. I must leave you now." He rose, "Lid you not say I was right? One must have some- body to love?" "Yes, yes, dear Hegebach. And may you never regret it." When the door closed behind him,; the old lady remained standing in th -4 middle of the room. "Either he is intoxioated or he is getting crotchety in his old age, like all the Hegebaohs." That same evening she wrote a let- ter to Elsie. Poor child! To lose all in that way. But it was her own fault. It was a strange letter, half -re- proachful, half tender, containing the request that she should re- turn. The old lady did not close her eyes that night; the next•day she was very absent-minded; she spoke scarcely a word at the table, although Hoge - bush's latest project was being dis- cussed. "The man is quite right," said Mor- itz. "Of course, he wishes to leave his property to someone nearly related to him, otherwise it would go to the Crown. But he might have given Elsie some pin -money out of his private purse," he added. Yes," agreed Aunt Lott. " It is a mean revenge to leave her upon her own resources, thus; he is her cousin, too." As if Elsie would accept it 1" Lili pursed up her lips contemptuous- ly. "Oho!" said Frau von Ratenow who up to that time has maintained si- lence. "She probably knows now what it is, to take care of oneself ; she would gladly accept it : but he would be a fool to give iii to her, I think." "You do not think so, mother," said Moritz, taking her hand. Frau von Ratenow had ordered her carriage directly after dinner. To her son's astonishment it drew up at the door. "Where are you goung, mother?" he asked, when the old lady, wrapped in furs—for the day was chilly—passed out of the house, followed by a maid with robes and afoot-muff. • "For a drive," she replied concise- ly. Moritz made no further remark; he understood her; she had something es- pecial on hand. He belped.her respect - tuna into the carriage, but was forced to suppress a smile; the weather was too unpleasant to have tempted his mother to take a drive. The carriage rolled :through the court. Frau von Ratenow carefully wrapped the robes about her. At the city she threw them aside and looked out of the window, • "Tat la to Bustrow, Jochen, but dr r. • e c i fay.' - , At Bustrow, girl?" be "Drive on, Jochen." Joohen drove rapidly, for rain was, Jeginning to fall and one could see by he clouds that it was to be no mere >hower. In ten minutes Jochen drew ip at the stately old gabled house. A. servant helped the old lady to flight: It is I, Seeben," she said to the astonished man. " Is the baron at home?" "Yes, will madame enter?" "You can put up the horses awhile, .fochen," said she to the coachman, en- tering the house which she was sur- prised to find so cozy and pleasant. What a change Hegebaohad wrought in that old, neglected place! " Silly Elsie I" murmured she, as she stood in the spacious drawing - room. T will tell master you are here," said the servant, placing a light brown arm chair at the fire- place ; " he is engaged at pres- ent." .Frau von Ratenow seated herself and glanced at the large picture over the mantel -piece. "His first wife," said she to herself. '"Ilegebach bad always good taste," she thought as she gazed. at tbe painting which looked down upon her from the which looked down upon ber from its frame. Upon the • mantel -piece, be- neath the picture, stood a vase fill- ed with fragrant roses. "He loved her dearly," thought the old lady. "Would it not be unpleasant for the second wife if her husband divided his attentions between her and the dead? But br will between her and the dead? But be will not marry!" She was aroused from her reverie by the sound of voices in the adjoining room; soon after, the door opened,and a woman of about forty entered the drawing room, followed by a alender boy of fifteen�, They passed Frau von Ratenow with a bow; 'the latter look- ed after them with mingled feelings of astonishment and perplexity. She sud- denly. shook her bead and murmured, "Is that so 4" as if she had made an Important a but unpleasant discov- ery. At that moment Hegebach ap- peered and raised her hand to his lips. My dear Frau von Ratenow, to wbat do I owe the honor of this visit ?" " Does it not seem strange for me to come upon you so sudden - "It is delightful, madame." He begged her to resume her aid he seated himself oppo- site her. I shall not remain long, Hegebach. I almost believe I interrupted you at— at an important moment.' "Not at all; there is plenty of time," he replied. " He is a handsome boy, Hege bash" "The one who just passed. through here 4" he asked. "Yes, he is a fine fellow." A pause ensued; finally ' Hegebach said: "I am glad that you' came, mad- ame, or possibly I should have come to you. I am uneasy and excited ; you know whereof, it is a step which is not trifling. To take a stranger and to expect from him all that one ex- pects from one's own flesh and blood— love, • solicitude, respect, —is not an easy matter, is it, madame? and it is, too, somewhat peculiar." The old lady nodded. She was still thinking of the handsome youth. She could bear the suspense no long- er. lame, for you had not thought of rim." Is tbat so ?" she asked smiling amid :er tears. "Notwithstanding that. ]d Frau von Ratenow must .do the best, she oan in the. matter." Yes, Indeed, she had to. Late that evening Moritzreceived the inferno), ion that his mother was going away he following morning with a shake of 'us bead. She went and returned in `brae days. Then Hegoba h arrived end they left together. That time eforitz at least knew where they were going: to Berlin. "Mamma wants to get HegeLach a ,on because he did not succeed in get ring a wife," said Frieda. "If I could niv understand one thing, Moritz,' "What is it?" "I always thought mamma was in avor of his marriage on Elsie's ac - 'cunt; but what advantage it will bo to her to help him in the adoption of • son, is a mystery to met It does not concern her, does it, Moritz?" Moritz was so ungallant as not to re- ply. He only whistled softly. That evening the von Hosts called. [t was raining and Frieda's blue bou- doir looked very cozy.. The young couple had returned quickly from their wedding tour. Annie had been everywhere, Rost had chosen a strange route. Instead of taking his young wife to Vienna, he took her to the obscure town of 11—, and there be disappeared for half a day. "To buy a horse," he told Annie afterward. And them -Annie told it balf laughing, half -irritably he bad crowned all by taking her to Berlin, 'To Berlin. with which I am as familiar as I am with my native town 1 Then my patience was exhausted! We saw your mother- in-law there," she added inquiringly. "Mamma bas a secret mission there," said Frieda, with a shake of her head, "Hegebach was in Berlin, too," said Annie. "Bernardi 'wished to be remembered to all," said von Rost, putting on his gloves and turning to Frieda. "Was he in Berlin?" cried the latter in astonishnnetet. Moritz laughed softly to himself. Then be begged to be excused; bewail to meet his mother at the station. "So, my boy," said Frau von Rate - now, when an hour later she sat be- side her son in the carriage which roll- ed rapidly toward the castle, matters are getting straightened out 1 But it cost a great deal of trouble. 'What do you think, Moritz? Hegebach had to go even to the Emperor. In a few weeks Hegebach -will have a s ,n, and such an one!" "Pardon me, Ilegebach," she said, drawing a deep breath, " was that boy a candidate for the position?" "Whole "The boy who with his mother—" "Ah, madame, no, no. 1 am his guardian and take a keen interest in him; he was my poor Heinrich's best friend, but--" "Pardon me, Hegebach." " But," he continued, not noticing the interruption, " I have already been making negotiations, and am ex- pecting a reply at any moment. ' The old lady was again upon tenter- hooks. "My dear Hegebach, I wish you suc- cess.' She rose hastily; it was dark. "I must hasten home; they do not know where I am. There is no need for me o remain. I came hither to make you is proposition—I—too late. No offense, n w it Hege- bach." Hegeliach did not reply; there was no sound in the room except the rustling of the heavy silk, as Fran von Rate - now fastened her mantle, and the tick- ing of the clock. Good-bye, Hegebach. You know old ladies like to interfere in other folks' affairs, but I meant well" In silence be followed her to the door. "Why are .you in such a hurry?" he asked, at length. "Will you not take some refreshment?" She refused; she had her hand on the door -knob, when the old servant en- tered with a la•rep, and handed Hege- bach a despatch. "Wait a moment, madame," said he, breaking the seal and drawing nearer the light, "Read. it," said he ; "I have been unfortunate again," and • he hand- ed her the sheet of paper. She put on her spectacles and read: "Could not be persuaded. Von Rost." "What does that mean?" she asked hastily. A refusal from my chosen son." Io was very pale. Aunt Ratenow looked at the despatch; she read the name of the place from which it was sent; she read the signature, and her old heart rejoiced. "Did you care particularly for this one?" "Yes," said he. "Give me power to act, Hegebach; you scarcely know him. Let me-" "I scarcely know him •at all," said he; "one thing alone impelled me to select him." "Hegebach 1" The old lady approach- ed the man who was still standing by the table. "Hegebaoh 1" She tried to. speak but burst into tears. She weft for joy and at the same times she was vexed with herself for weeping ; no- thing. provoked her more than to be surprised in a moment of weakness, and quickly drying her tears she be- gan to scold: "I should not help you, Hegebach, indeed 1 But that is the way it always is when two men try to do something clever 1 Rost? He has pro- bably told a fine story ; could you not find a better embassador? And why wens I to knownothing about it? Con- fess if you please, Hegebach 1" Re smiled • he will never marry 1 He is going to We wanted to surprise you, ma -adopt' a son. Your aunt says he is right, but I can see that she is secret- ly. ecret- y furious,for, dearest she was deter .witz.She left eft should live at Benne you at D— and would not forgive you—as a last resort she wanted to tame you by hunger 1 "filet is the state of things! Ah.I die old maids, and I am not cut out for one like Aunt Lott; she is aborn old maid." Yes, that was it! Aunt Ratenow wanted to tame ber; now Hegebach had put an end to all such hopes. No no 1 Aunt had always been kind, but she could never return to her. All the sleepless nights , the miserable hours spent in her house occurred to her. She unfolded a third sheet of paper in her own handwriting; it was a sket'•ti of her reply to Aunt Ratenow. "My Dear Aunt:—Many thanks for your kind words which pleased and comforted me. It caused me great sor row to have awakened your displea sure, and only the consciousness that I was doing right sustained me during the sad days which followed your de- parture. "Accept my hearty tbanks for the love you always lavished upon me and which to -day you again bestow on me How could I ever forget what you have done for me? "But, pray do not consider me obsti- nate and ungrateful—I shall remain here; I feel that work is the only thing which can console me for the painful experiences I have had during the past year." (TO be Continued,) CHAPTER eX. It was winter. The tiny village in which Elsie had found a retreat nest- led among the bare trees; one could plainly see the distant bills through their leafless branches. In the rooms at the sisterhood the logs crackled in the stoves and the lamps were liigghted. Elsie von Hegebach had just left the school -room. ,About leer were thirty little girls who rushed into the garden withsnowandballat s," once began a fierce fight The young girl stood at the door and watched the children. A smile flitted across her pale face, for she hai donesince, the same, not so many years She inhaled a deep breath of the in- vigorating air; it was ao refreshing after the close atmosphere of the school— oom, =en she crossed the garden to a building in the rear, mounted a flight of stairs and enter- ed her own room; the pleasantest hour of the day had come. There she read or wrote letters, or she satdistance at the wand indow dreamed.. gazed into the dim Of what did she dream when she was alone and a violin gave forth an old familiar melody 4 Miss Brown, the English governess, always played for an hour at dusk. Occasionally Elsie could not listen to the music; those were the days on which heartache and yearning came upon her with all their force, on which she thought she could not bear such an existence forever. Her head and heart throbbed, her eyes ached from weeping, and she asked horself; why she had no happiness, none at all? She then fled from the tones of the violin, rushing out into the stormy night, or else she sought Sister .Beate and sat with her for hours in silence. "I can not listen to the ,violin, Sis- ter Beate." beth give you another room, Eliza - "No, no 1" she cried eagerly. On this special day she approached the chest, the upper drawer of which she opened; from it she took several papers and seated herself with them at the window. She read over and over the letters which she had receiv- ed two months before and which fur- nished her with so much food for thought. "Dear Elsie:—You know that it was not on my own account that I was an- gry with you, but because you stood in the way of your own happiness. Well that cannot be helped; you must bear what you have brought upon yourself and God in His mercy will guide you; for I am pious enough to think that our whole path in life is mapped out by God's hand when we are still in swaddling clothes. That is the Turk - his belief 1 I think that God gives us intelli- gence that we may act for ourselves. You did not use your intelligence rightly, but allowed yourself to he governed by your simple heart ; the consequences were worse than I thought they would be. But enough! 'You will find that out in time, and will regret it. Now, Elsie, I beg of you to come be/Al—back to the house of your youth. . Free yourself from your obligations there ; you can be useful here too. I hope you will come soon; the winter evenings are long land I should like to have you read aloud to me as you did last year. Fare- well l "Your ever affectionate, "Aunt Ratenow." She shook her head. "Nol" said she half -aloud, laying the letter aside. "I am no trained dog that leaps over the stick which is held before him! No 1" Then she took up another letter, in Lili's handwriting. • She passed hastily over the description of Annie Cramm's wtedding, to the close of the letter which read as follows: "There was a telegram, too, from Bernardi. Now you will be surprised, Elsie! The new- ,ly..fledged husband seems to have form- ed a friendship with Hegebach ; be suddenly left his dear bride and seat- ed himself beside him, directly opposite me. They talked very earnestly and in very low tones ; finally they clink- ed linked glasses and separaiteld. Hegebach disappeared after the banquet, and as I discovered later, sought Aunt Rate - now. "land now, you see, Elsie, I are com- ing to what I, wanted to tell you. I have no more hope, for Hegebach is go- ing to 'retire,' that means he is (p- ing to invest in a grandfather's chair; , FALL FUN. The Latest.—First Traveller—""I'm an American," Second Do.—"And T; sir, am a Greater New Yorker." Murderer (just captured in a dive to bis companion) -"Good-bye, pard; we shall meet again in a wax -figure mus- eum." • Yeast—"That man Doughton is very sceptical. Unless he sees a thing he won't believe it exists." Crimsonbeak— "He never rant into a rocking -chair in the dark then ?" Not His Own Fault,—Uncle Ezra— "The paper says this candidate for the Legislator' has great personal magnet- ism." Uncle Abner—"Yes; an' there's other charges ag'in him, too 1" Intention all Right,—"I thought you told me your English cousin was such a plain-spoken man—that he always called n spade a spade." "Well?" "Well, I find be doesn't. He calls it a spyde." Good Argument.—Yabsley — "Mudge what makes you laugh at your own stories?" Mudge—"Why shouldn't I? If they were net worth laughing at, I would not toll tbem." Mistress—"When you came here a few days ago you said your name was Mary.. Now I find in your book that it is Kittle. Cook—Oh, Madam, that's all right, Mary is my pseudonym." A Paradise for Invalids.—Tourist—"It seems to me that this is a very =- healthy place. Don't people die pret- ty often down here?" Nae n—"Stran- ger, I consider this the healthiest place on the hull footstool. Do people die bere? el ell, I should say not. Wby, look here; my brother has been sick abed ever sines we struck these parts fifteen years ago, and he ain't dead eat." An Unsympathetic Mood.—"Is it not sweet and inspiring," she said, "to stand an the shore where the waves sing eternally and gaze into tbe of- fing?" ""Well," replied the young man who lacks sentiment "I suppose that is enjoyable if you know how to ap- preciate it. But the last time I went to the seashore, 1 didn't give much thought to tbe offing. What I want- ed was an awning. eeeeoe A P ,OFESSIONAL STEAMER. Itn'que Career or a Asan who Earned the Ti le or Simon the Strangler. The Paris correspondent of the Pall. Mall Gazette says; A man named >imon, aged 30, has just been condemn- ed by the Assize Court of the Eure to transportation for life. This sen- tence concerns only the crimes com milted by Simon in one department of France. Several capital charges will be brought against bio in other districts, and his career as a murderer and robber bas been so extraordinary. that his niuknanie of Simon the Strang- ler seems tb be well deserved. Not even Troppmaun was more bloodthirsty than he. His favourite pursuit was the pillaging of lonely country cot- tages, whose occupants were very old. On the 10th of December last be com- mitted a burglary at a house at Bois- Anzefay, and it is for this crime that be was condemned. Two days later he broke into the dwelling house of an old widow named Herbert at Sebe - court, and after stretching her sense- less on the floor with a blow on the head, passed a handkerchief, round her neck and strangled her. He then rifl- ed the place of the few valuables that it contained. A fortnight later he com- mitted a robbery together with an at- tempt to murder at Glos-La Ferriere, and two days later entered a house at lleaufai-sur-Risle, in the department of the Orne, occupied by two farmers, whom he attempted to strangle and robbed of all they possessed. In less than a month's time he committed an- other burglary at Chandi, and again sought to strangle bis victim, but was frightened away. On the 22nd. of Feb- ruary he presented himself at tbe bouse of a widow, aged seventy-nine, named Cartier, living at Lisieux, and begged for charity. The old lady gave him food, and he went away thanking her effusively. But at night he broke into her house, gagged her with a bandker- chief, boundher hand and foot, and stole all the money he could lay his hands on. On March 25th he perpe- trated a robbery with violence, this time at Chailloue, near Alencon, again at Vaux-sur-Bille, on April 9th, and then at Gauville, two days before his arrest, where he stole 1.030 francs from an old woman whom he gagged and nearly throttled. FIERCE AMAZONS IN AFRICA. One of this moist picturesque of the African institutions, which are disap- pearim.g as England, Germany and oth- er European nations take possession of the continent, is the Amazon army of the Guinea coast. It is possible that the stories told of these Amazons have been much exaggerated, but the so - mutate of t]iuin given by entirely re- livable authorities are too interesting to need embellishment of any kind. When Capt. Buirton visited Cana, in West Africa, the Amazola army, which he first encountered near that place, consisted of 2,500 women, who were served by other women , held as slaves for them. The Amazon, soldiers consisted of wo- men of two kinds—those who were ori- ginally spinsters, selected by the king for the service, and those who had been separated from their husbands. Al- though enlistment among the Amax - ons were hooked on as an honor, it was also used as a punishment for any wife whose temper was so domineering that her husband found her insupportable. About one-third of the army had been married women. 'The rest were maidens, watched with the greatest care to prevent them from indulging the hu'ma.n weakness of falling in love. A fetish, placed aver the gate of the camp, was supposed to have the power of detecting them., but if in spite of it they broke their' laws of military con- duet they and thein accomplices were put to death. Their uinifarm consisted of a blue and white tunic without sleeves and a netti- coat, under wtach they wore a pair of short trousers. Over the whole was strapped the =munition belt. The musket carried by the women were antiquated, and, as they rammed the ball down on the powder without wad- ding, they were never likely to bit any- thing they aimed at. The Amazon army was divided into battalions, ane of the most curious of which was the "razor brigade," arm- ed with razbrs two feet long, used iln cutting off the heads of enemies kill- ed by the others or of criminals con- demned to death:. NOT F1Xp1GILT. 1 told. her I was afraid to kiss her while we were on, the tandem, for fear we would both fall off. What did she say? She said she eloped I didn't call my- self an experienced wheelman, • • N GOOD AT RESTING. Does Slowpoke stand well in the com- munity? Dont ask me; whenever I see him he is always sitting down. • SOLID COMPORT. dThe boy stood on the burning deck, • rubbed his bands in glee. I'm just from dik he explained. This est from T�lom e, p feels all right to me. THE ALIEN LABOUR LAW. Bow It Is Used Across the Line — A Kaslo Man's Experience. The following taken from the Roo- tenian, Kash), B.C., speaks for itself: "There has been a good deal of com- ment around town during the last few days over the: fact that W. R. McRea, foreman of the Kootenay Electric Com- pany, of Easlo, was refused permission, to work in Spokane because he happen- ed to be a Canadian. The facts are as follows: "An armature in one of the com- pany's dynamos burned out, and McRea was despatched with it to Spokane to have it repaired. Re went first to the Edison Company, but, as that company was too busy with other work to at- tend to it for him, McRea took the machinery to the street railway shops. Here he was told that he could wind the armature, but that he would have to do the wort: himself. Re took his coat off and began to strip the arma- ture, but after he had been at work a short time a representative of the company's employes waited on him and told him that he would have to stop because by working there he was breaking the alien labour law. "aIcRea explained the circumstances. He pointed out that he was not there under contract, but had simply brought the armature in to be repaired and would return with it in a few days to Kas1o. The man went away mutter- ing. Two days later another deputation waited on McRea and told him he must either stop work, or leave the country. McRaa's protests were all in vain, and at last he had to give in. After some delay and difficulty he procured a com- petent man to attend to the job and left for home. "The incident has not only caused comment but considerable indignation even among the Americans themselves who are residents in Kaslo, There is nothing in the United States alien labour law to warrant the interpreta- tion put upon it in Spokane, and even if there were, no man with an atom of common sense could see in the incident anything but a display of petty and contemptible tyranny, qui beneath the dignity of a great nation. "The deportation of Canadian work- men and even women has become quite common at Niagara Falls and Detroit: but it is something new in this part of the continent. It would hardly seem to be the part of wisdom to follow it ups, THIS IS LAND OF PROMISE DE LOVED NOT DIPLOMATICALLY.' r A French Soldier's genuine. That Acesgoed AMERICAN FAMILIES WILL DEPART, the Comity or Nabors. FOR THE CANADIAN WEST. Not long ago there was much taiili in France and Italy regarding a little interchange n the Fr nom' each n e of incivilities o th a g co -Italian frontier. French projeotilea were shot across the frontier near ail Italian fort, and a general explanation of the circumstances was neiaessary be- fore the creases could be smoothed out of the official temper in Rome, What this explanation was has been made public recently by Rome dailies. It cer- tainly is the most peculiar one of the day. Sere is the story: A French artilleryman named Picon loved Lilli Vaoherelle, a mountain maid who lived in the Mount Canis region. where the French troops were man- oeuvring. Capt. Morainville, under whom he served, had taken a fancy to the same girl, but not with the same aim in view. He saw her kiss Picon Glowing Reports Stott Back by Settlers -- M chigan Fades Becoming Deserted — No More sIortgagea Wanted. From reports received there is good reason to believe that there will be a big exodus of farmers from Michigan and other States into the Canadian Northwest early next spring. Already the rush has commenced and the Can- adian Government agents in the States are sending large numbers from Michi- gan, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois and Idabo. Mr. M. V. McInnes, the chief agent for the Canadian Government in Michigan is receiving letters daily from intending settlers, who propose to try their luck in the great Canadian west. On her recent trip the Beattie Line steamer Monarch, which left Windosr for Port Arthur, took a party of 150 people from Michigan, who are to settle on land in the Northwest. Mr. McInnes has re- ceived a joint letter signed by Fred Miller, Joan Striovski, Theadore Striov- ski and H.D. Keller, who left Michigan in a party to look into the prospects for settlement in Manitoba and the Northwest. The letter says: "Dear Sir,—After carefully looking over various parts of Manitoba and the Canadian west, we desire to inform you that we have decided on the district between Alameda and the Moose Moun- tains for the Location of our people. We have visited a number of most desir- able locations, and are highly pleased with the country as a whole, it being beyond our highest expectations. We find here a prosperous and well -con- tented lot of people. They have com- fortable homes, and their vast fields of wheat and other crops, in addition to their herds and choice cattle, indi- cate prosperity in the full sense of the word. In conversation with the farm- ers throughout the trip, we learned that the majority of them came here with very limited means, and some with no more than enough to bring them here, and they are now well-to- do. "Our reason for favoring the loca- tion we have decided on is because a more fertile stretch of country is not to be found in Southern Assiniboia, It is a district well watered throughout. Water is to be had by digging from ten to twenty feet in any part of it, and the Moose Creek, flowing through the length of entire sections, offers plenty of good, olear water foreattle There are numerous. hay bottoms scat- tered through the entire district. This in connection with the fine grass to be had on the Moose Mountains, and plentiful supply of good grazing land on these mountains makes it one of the most desirable' cattle districts to be found. On the mountains thee are numerous little lakes with plenty of fish. There is also lots of game, such as deer, moose, etc., also an abund- ance of wood for building timber and fuel. In addition there are theSouris River coat mines within thirty miles, where coal can be had at the wipes at a1 a ton, removing the objet tion tbat we have to some otherwise very goed locations. For general !nixed farming tbere is no better location to be found, as it is close to a good market, and closer to Winnipeg than any other good district olren for homesteading. The soil is a rich, black, sandy loam, and the country throughout is one of the most fertile. "As to the farmers in this district, they are some of the most well-to-do in the Canadian west. They made their money where they are now locat- ed, and have no desire to change their lot with any other lot of farmers in Canada. There ars some fine quarter sections still open for homesteading, and some choice railroad sections to be bought. The coal mines offer employ- ment for those desiring to work dur- ing the -winter months, and the wealthy farmers have been short-handed every summer. This makes a fine opening for those of very moderate means, as well as for those with more money. "We with the exception of Mr. Kel- ler will remain hero. Mr. Keller will start fox Detroit in a few days to make all necessary arrangements for such of our friends as may desire to Iocate here with us." - A despatch from Cairo, Mich., says:— Early this spring a large number of the pamphlets were distributed in Elm- wood Township, telling of the glories of western Canada and offering free land to actual settlers. Many of the best farms in Elmwood are heavily mortgaged, and their owners have be- come discouraged at the poor crop out- look with the inevitable interest due next fall. During the first weeks of this month ten families gathered to- gether their household effects, teams, and farming implements, and started for the land of promise, utterly de- serting their old homes. More are making preparations to follow, and in several instances the persons holding mortgages have paid small sums for deeds from owners, thereby saving de- lay of foreclosure. Letters from the first party speak in glowing terms of the promise of this new country and the joys of living on unmortgageld farms. NEW DANGER; SIGNAL. French newspapers are suggesting a new system for the prevention of ma- rine accidents which proposes to place strongly smelling chemicals in floating receptacles to be attached to the exist- ing light buoys and bell buoys. Cliffs and dangerous shoals are very often hidden by thick log, which does not al- low light to penetrate nor sound to be heard until too late, while the strong smell of some chemical substances would be carried far away, and would indicate to the seafarer with a keen olfactory sense at great distance that he is near- ing a dangerous coast. TEST OF G'RiIT. President Insurance Company—Want to be appointed a. life insurance agent,aeh ? What experience have you Applicant—None. I will be frank with you, sir. I wish to marry old Moneybags' daughter, and I want to be able to say that 1 am' in business for myself See? President—d see. Now, I'll he frank with you. Go to old Moneybags, tell him you haven't a cent, and don't ex - peat any, yet you want to marry his daughter. Of course he'll refuse, and kick you out. But if you keep at him and stick to him' }until he finally consents, I'll appoint you super- intendent. READY RECKONING. • Mr. Isaacs—Vat you learn at school to -day, eh? Smpepll Son—I learned how to com- bute interest at seven per: zent. Mr. Isaacs—Dot is goot. Now all you half to do is add one nought an' den you leaff the interest of seventy per tent. one day, and afterward became possess- ed of the purpose of thwarting the pri- vate rivate in bove. He pursued the moun- tain girl unceasingly, but as Picon knew of all her comings and goings the Captain was unable to enjoy any long interviews with the girl, No soon- er would he begin to press his atten- tions than Picon would appear, with hand at hat and other signs of respect, to be sure, but still appear and stay and ruin the love making. The rivalry grew uncomfortably keen. and trouble between private and offi- oer already was feared, when one day Morainville set his men to work at target shooting and started off in the direction of the girl's home, explaining that he wished to observe from Mont Cents the effect of the mountain bat. teries. Picon was left behind to shoot in misery while his commander went lady killing after the mountain maid. But jealousy sharpened Picon's wits, while it gave nerve to his desperation. There was an Italian fort within easy range. If he aimed at it with solid shot he could raise an international rumpus in less time than it would take to tell about it, and could bring the Captain back on the double quick. So he firedat the fort and raised the rum- pus and brought book the Captain. There is where the story ends in the Rome dailies, as far as the romance ie concerned. The correspondents leave Picon in the gnardbonse and Lilli Vach- erelle and the Captain, still at large, For the consolation of their feminine readers, however, they say whether with autbority or not, what the private will be released soon to marry the Mont Canis maid. SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. As is well known, a frequent source of "unaccountable" fires turns out to be, in reality, the spontaneous ignition of various materials more or less sat- urated with oils or fats. The following is considered a reliable list of common materials of the bless which, when con- taining oils, matters, will, under favor- able conditions, oftentimes ignite na- turally: Waste, tow, rags, sawdust, shavings, cotton and woolen cloth, roofing felt, and in fact, all pourous combustible bodies containingany oily or resinous substance, Laving an affin- ity for oxygen. All vegetable and ani- mal oils have more or less affinity for oxygen, while those produced from the distillation of petroleum, and shale are (practically enacted upon by the elem- ent; but the oils which oxidize in the air most rapidly are the vegetable oils, such as linseed„ hempseed, poppy oil, etc; Briefly, byfax the most frequent sources of fires from spontaneous com- bustion, are those wbich result from beat induced by the absorption of at- mospheric oxygen. MRS. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN. Queen Victoria is reported in courtt circles in England to have developed of late a very marked prediction for Mrs, Taneph Chamberlain, daugh'be)L' of President Cleveland's first Secree tory of War, 'W. C. Endicott, of Sal- em, Mass. The Queen already had ta- ke,n a. fancy to Mrs. Chamberlain pre- vious to the recent jubilee festivities —a fancy to whicb she had given sub- lie demonstration by the frequency of the "commands." which the Am ericaae wife of the Secretary of State for the Colonies had received to dine and sleep at Windsor and Osborne. During the months of June and July Mrs. Chamberlain was brought more in contact with the Queen than ever, for just in the same manner as the wife of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has to take charge of the presentation of the foreign T•lm- bassadressps to the sovereign Mrs. Chamberlain, as wife of the Colonial Secretary, had to "name" tbe wives of the Colonial Prime Ministers and statesmen to the Quieeiu—tha.t is to say to present them on each and every occasion that these colonial dames took part in any function presided over by the Queen. Mrs. Chamberlain is declar- ed by Her Majesty to have played cher part to perfection and the intimation conveyed to the royal ear that Mrs. Chamberlai'n's "savoir faire" and self- possession had been acquired while act- ing as "one of the cabinet ladies" at Washington during her father's term of office as United States Secretary of War has had the effect of consider- ably altering the ideas of Her falajesty with regard to the etiquette and so- cial ethics that prevail at the White House. It may be asserted safely that no American woman ever bas stood so high in the goad graces of QueenVie- toria as does Mrs. Chamberlain, who has just received from the hands of the venerable sovereign, not lice silver but the golden jubilee medal. Mrs. Cham- berlain is one of the very few non - royal ladies to be thus distinguished, the gold medal having been reserved for the members of the reigning house and of foreign sovereign families, while the silver medal has been given to the court dignitaries, the Ministers, Am- bassadors and functionaries of one kind and another. Henceforth Mrs. Cham- berlain on all state occasions wiliwear the medal pinned, by means of a blue and white ribbon, to the left shoulder of her dress. Curiously enough, Lady Randolph Churchhill, Lady Harcourt, Lady Play - tear, and even Mrs. Carrington, the accomplished wife of the Queen's as- sistant private secretary, had none of them succeeded in removing Her MU... -c! jesty's very pronounced and notorious prejudices against the daughters of Uncle Sam. Mrs. Chamberlain, how- ever, has managed to do this effectual- ly, and is equally well liked by the,gra- cious mistress of Marlborough House. TWO ESCAPED. The wife of the late Prof. Agassiz was ane morning putting on her stock tugs and boots. A little scream attract- ed the professor's attention. Not leav- ing risen„ he leaned forward anxiously on his elbow and inquired what was the matter. "Why, a little snake has just crawled out of my boot!" cried she. "Only one, my dear ?" interrogated the professor, calmly lying Town again. "There sbould have been three." He had put thein there to keep them warm. HER FIRST CARE. Young 'Wife, tenderly --What's the matter, my, dear? Don't you like pound rake? Malls/ice 1i hi,tats";nge3e Y -ens, 'love, but 1 don't care for ten -pound cake,