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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1906-3-15, Page 7The Loser r Pa s +O+O-e-o+o+*+o+o+o•$ o+ -+o "I um wolfing for your answer, cup - Iain. What shall it ho?- ncqulesesuce in my extremely reasonable proposal tn. —bald It is too absurd for words!" The speaker leaned back in his com- forted() oral -chair and look a long pull at his cigar, i115 companion, a tall, well-built Brei ton, with the air and presence of a gen- Conan, tugged viciously n his ordinar- ily trim 'moustache and then crossed and uncrossed his legs wearily. "Well„" said ho, Impatiently, "I may as well tell you at once that 1 don't know to the least what you have been talking about the last half-hour. As for acced- ing to your extraordinary request—well I am astonished that any honorable man should make IL" "Before you lath so glibly of honor, my friend," retorted Iho fled speaker, sitting upright, and thrusting his hoed forward in such a familiar and impu- dent manner that the young fellow felt, e strong desire to administer a good British lcicicbng to his enemy," you should he careful to cover up your tracks. You have not done so. It therefore follows that you speak foolishly. Why, the knowledge that I possess is sufficient to consign you to a place where they act honorably on compulsion. Ah, me, ten years—no, fifteen—perhaps twenty—Is a long time to bo in Joill" The Englishman colored to the lips— n quick flash of crimson—but, though his mouth twitched nervously, ho did not speak. "I will repeat it, 1f you like, Captain Richard Carstairs," said the German, in menacing tones. "A few years ago, l:efore you left the honorable profession of arms for the less exacting and more pleasant ont of the Consular service, you spent a very pleaeant time in ails city in a military capacity. Unfortunately, you got very deepily into debt, and wero not altogether, shall 1 say, a. credit to. your paternal Government. Cards and wine—I am right, am I not? Yes, cards and wine drove you deeper and deeper into debt until you hardly know where it., turn for phoney. Ono day. you had in your possession certain plans relat- ing, let us say, to military mniters-1t is better, infinitely better, to be vague; bub I ant suro you will understand ole. They were in your hands for, let us say, purposes of study and comparison. Well, wizen you went to ,your usual haunt that, night you carried the plans in your pocket. 11 was a very injudicious thing to do, to say lire least of it. That night you were particularly unlucky In your ploy. Your opponents did not give you much chance, it is true. Among then was a French agent, who was very de- sirous of obtaining certain information for his Government. You conlracled a very heavy debt with him. You could not pay; he became importunate; be pressed, he threatened you. In your desperation you forgot your duly to your country. In other words, you and be mule a bargain. That night, when you returned to your rooms, your pocket no longer contained:those plans, but It contained a paper releasing you from your debts of honor. It is very simple, is it note'' Carstairs sprang to his feet with an exclamation, ' Its a lir,!" he cried; but Iris tones car- ried tin conviction and his taco was clouded. "Shortly atter that," the other went on relentlessly, "you left Berlin and the British Army. Through circumstances over which you had no control, you were enabled to rellequisli a mllitay career and join the Consular service. A couple of years pass; you are again in Berlin. f 0111 an old friend; we are much together i1 the old days, were we rot? I om pleased to see you. I Huish to make a deal with you. I tell you where certain papers are to be found and I asic you to procure t•itom for me," "You ask me to sell thy county? burst out Carstairs, holify. "You protest, loo much," said the other calmly; "you forget the \Vrenchman." "You scoundrel!" The words burst hn'olunta'i1y from Carstairs' lips, and he hall rose to his feet menacingly, his hands tightly clinched, (lard words will do 110 -good, my friend," remarked the other, lightly. "Friend!" regaled Carstairs, contemp- tuously. "You ou grossly misuse the word. You know that you have been my ene- my ever since I had the ill -luck to meet you when I first set foot in this place. \\'hat wrong I ever did to you to pol- sat your mind against one, I ennnot con. cetve. You roust bo a fiend in human form."" "Yen always had the hotter of me in everything," retorted the other with flushed cheeks and en angry light break- ing into his eyes; "that is up to the pre - pent. In every phase of social life you have had the whip -hand and now—" Good heavens!" interposed Carstairs, "7s it possible . that three i'ivialleies could engender such an implacable hat- red?" "Fortune smiled upon you In your love Miele," continued the other. "You won Miss Chalmers, while 1--," "When" cried Cerstell's, in astonish- ment; "lien you Were a rii'al of mine?" The other bowed. Condoles sonic into. his chair end . stored blankly into space. The veil hod /ellen from his eyes and he saw clear. ly now. "As f say," continued the attire, "wilt the exception of tho minter we hnvo been discussing you have been fortunate. My lul'n was bound to conic, In this cnsa I hold the cards, end you must re- member the loser pays.' "You certainly appear to hold the frumps," said Carstairs decidedly, ris. Ing frons Ills seat, "Well, I, will oonsid' or your proposal.' "i roust have an anseVe' at once," ro, plied the (lermon. "You can been redly give me, a little Vince--sa,y three drys," tenid Cnrstairs '1 will meet you herd On Thursdny nigh! al seven, and give you nn enswe'." "Vey well, eaplein, 1 will be here," Cerstaths wont from the presence nt his enemy, like one in a dream. -Ills brain Wes /defined; and it was some time before ho could appreciate the h111 Wont of the calamity that had befallen him, When no did (Melee the extremity.0J the peril, however, all attempts at sell- nnalysts were futile. Ile could not tette soundings in the depths al bother that overwhelmed ' being. 1 d his wholo How the ghosts of those few years of irresponsible folly rose up now and mocked hlrnl Then lie had ]leen a careless dawdler on life's stream, eager to pluck with undiscriminating ?toad, the flowers that grew an its banks, without n thought of a serials fife purpose or a goal to be readied. '!'hen be had mot Ethel Chat - niers, and in that moment he had put (may from thin all his folly; he had de- lermincd to live the "strenuous life;' burying -the dead past In a whole -headed (lesiva to make Tinsel worthy of the pure girl whose love he had won. Ile bud sown his wild oafs; wine and cards lied possessed itim, body and soul, but—and here he trembled and grew suddenly cold—lie had never con- sciously stooped to actual dishonor. Yet Krapslor had brought a charge, fra'llfled by every possible circumstanti- ality of detail. Was 11 possible, that he, 111 a f11 of mental aberration induced by drink, had sunk so low as to sell plans belonging to Ole country? if so, then }leaven help himl Ills father would never forgive him, hut would go down to the grave with bitter reflections. And then, whet of Ethel. lie could not dare to hold her to her promise to marry hien now. As be hurried on, consumed by his. thoughts, his feet led him almost invol- untarily to rho rooms of his old friend, Tack Pengelly: "Whatover's the- matter? Your look - es if you'd shaken hands with a ghosts" ex- claimed that young man when Carstairs was ushered in. "I'm done for, that's all," replied Car- stairs, flinging himself into a choir with a groan of despair. 'Dunk this; said Pengelly, pouring out a glass of wine. Carstairs took a sip and put it down. "Now light this cigar aid tell ole all about it," said Pengelly. "It's too serious; I can't smolco," ho said. "1 can't do anything, except think and thini<. Now, I'll tell you all about it, and I want you to advise mc." in hesitating tones, and with an oc- casional flush of shame, ho poured out the whole story. "IL's an ugly business," remarked Pen - Belly, wizen he had finished. Krausler is a thoroughly bad lot. If he bas got you under his thumb, marls my words, he'll crush you like quarts. Even if you complied with the demands of the scoundrel, you would not be out of the wood then. Ile would extort.— But tell me; have you any recollection of having bad the plans of which he speaks?" i certainly had plans in my posses- sion at limos, as you ran well imagine," returned Carstairs, "but I cannot re- member any particular occasion." "Have you any idea as to who the French agent referred to 157' Carstairs shook his head. "I know 1 -hirer and the others, and it is -quite possible that I may have played cards with one of Chen.' "Dou you remember missing any pians or anything of that sort?" said Pengelly, "Well, I must say there were several thefts from the Embassy while I was there, but, as you know, these matters ore so difficult to probe. 011ennines suspicions are aroused without the truth coming to light, and, of aoul'se, the matter is then hushed. up.' Bolls men were silent for a few mo- ments, then Carstairs burst' out: "Tack, what can I do? flow can 1 find out whe- ther what Met scamp says is true? Un- less I can disprove his accusetiot, ire will expose me and I shall be ruined. Gf course, the alternative ho proposes is out of the question. I swear to you —and I know you will believe me—that 1 sin not consnious of guilt. 1 Inuit have been mal! But I must face the consequences of my 1011y; them is no escape.. Tile question is whether I ought not to clear off to some comnitry with which there is no extradition treaty. I mean—for the sake of my fealty. But 11 is the thought of Ethel that hurts mast; it will break her heart. What a brute I ami I wish to Heaven 1 had never entered her life!" The strong man buried his face in his hands, and his whole frame quivered with emotion. "Dick," said the other, gently, laying a hand on his shoulder, "you must bear up like a man. Although your position seems desperate, l think you are the luckiest man alive." "What do you mean?" said Gerstell's, surprisedly. "You have won her love," replied Pongelly, sententiously; and, looking up quickly, Carslatrs saw something in his friend's eyes that astonished him. "Is it possible that you—" began Carstairs, hesitatingly. "•g ,, "Yes, 1 Loo avail her," rte Pengelly, 1 1 td g y, a pink flush stealing into his cheeps, "She chose dcontent � e e o you, an 1 was Hent sn long as she ywas happy. She loves you, and—for her sake and yours, 01d man - 1 wlil do my best to save you." "Jack, you aro the truest man I over well" exclaimed Carstairs, fervently. The two men's hands went out to 00011 other, and there was an eloquent silence for some moments. •,"What 1 propose l0 00," said Pengetll- ly, presently, is lo go and see lima to -morrow and endeavor to discover the truth." I have to give Krausler his answer on Thursday night at seven 41 his oluh," said Carstairs. Bring me your report before then and 1 shall know what to do. II it is unfavorable—ns 1 fear it will he—I shall wire Lo Ethel at once and then clear out." "Good evening, captain, 1 presume your answer is - favorable?' The calm, self-possessed man of the world hold out his !land with a sauve smile on his Lipa end the glint of . vic- tory In his eyes. Carstairs ignored the proffered hand and sank into a chair. [lis mind was in a stupor. For throe days he had patiently waited for news from Pengelly, but not a word hod reached him. Sicket heart and weary in mind and body, he was a prey to the bitterest thoughts that ever entered the mind of a human being. The prom- ise of the future seemed to be. slipping away from his grasp, though, lake n drowning man clutching at a straw, he had determined to meet his prosecutor as arranged, holding out impossible hopes that something would turn up to avert disaster. In that poignant hour he was sorely tempted to yield to his enemy's demands and save himself. "You shall have your answer to -night," he said, at length, M. answer to the ether's remark. "Let us sit down and have a chat, The night Is young yet," "Certainly, captain; 'replied Krausler. "Wo need not allow business matters to monopolize our attention: • The German talked In low, well-modu- leted.tones an many subjects, and There and there a sneering reference to the matter which occupied their thoughts, Carstairs listened; for the most part in silence. Ile was pondering the ab- sorbing question seething in his mind— what should ho do?. Ito knew it would be an easy matter for him to procure the papers demanded by the German, and that in ell probability ire would never be found out. 11 h0 embraced this opportunity of wiping out the past all would bo well, and he could still marry Etohcl. "I understand you are a very rich man, captain?' lerausler's voice broke in upon Car- stairs' meditations. He made a careless gesture of assent. Carstairs hesitated for an instant be- fore replying. "Well?" he said, inquiringly, "Ole, nothing," replied the other, with studied indifference; and then he sud- denly added, "Shall we have a game cf cards?' t gave up canis some time ago, but to -night I don't mind-:' Ile spoke absently. Ilia mind was engrossed with a thought suggested by the Ger'man's remark, Yes, he was very wealthy, he reflected. Why should he not buy off Krausier? For temptation had gripped him fast, and he trembled al, the prospect of the struggle before hint. The idea sent en exhilarating thrill through his veins. Krausler was slowly, perfunctorily, shuffling a pack of - cards, his brains very far away indeed from the mechani- cal operation. Oddly enough, he was at the moment deeply considering whe- tter he should allow his antagonist to escape by moans of a golden bridge. Ho glanced at Carstairs; their oyes mot; and in that instant, by strange psycho- logical phenomenon, each knew the Other's thoughts. IL was Carstairs who broke the silence. "Look Here, Krausler; 1'11 give you ten thousand pounds to let me off." Krausler was silent for a moment. He was carefully weighing his chances to the contest. "No—nor twenty times that sem," he said at length, and his mouth closed lilce a steel trap, "Come, Krausler, you cannot be seri- ous," said Gerstelrs. "It will do you r10 good to break Inc." Tho other smiled underneath his big moustache. "My dear captain," he said slowly, "money won't settle matters between us. \Vd hero been contesting a hard game. It is a clash of wills, of personalities. STIOULD DItAW wow,, "1318 range lier Voice has, eh?" "Yes, ; regular 1<ltohen ran a With al hie '? tI g , W 1 a flues opezld ... •...i.e. etue .A ... • s 'Sometimes you have bud the best cards •—senretitnes 1 have. At this moment I hold the true, r,. The 'amo must go 1 u b atoll —1 loser n a naltal,lo 0rtd aid do la r i Pane." r Carstairs rose and peed the room, his face a picture of menial angulele Far away in England he knew that Ethel was eagerly waiting for reply to her last latter, all unconscious of rho peril that was threatening her happy moss. ills feverish hand sought in bus pocket the telegram which he lied writ- len in readiness—a short, pregnant mes- sage conveying the cl¢alh-senlenen. to her bright ]apes, ilia fingers recoiled from the touch and a cold shudder ran through bhhhn. "Consider, man," he burst out; "It will kill her. Does not that weigh with yo1?" Krausler made no response, hut con- tinued to quietly shuttle the cards. "11Is not for myself—it is for her 1 am pleading!" e•ied Carslatrs. "We ere wnsling time, captain," said the other, coldly, Carstairs glanced up like a. hunted ani- mal, and saw that further parley was useless. involuntarily his hand went to the telegram in its pocket. All hope Ives gond now. His thoughts flew to Ethel, and lie saw in his mind's eye that sweet, winning face, with purity and honor stamped in every line, and instantly his resolve was made. Ho would not purchase happiness by adding dishonor to folly! Far better that oceans should divide them than that their union should bo cemented by dis- honor) He threw himself into his -chair and squared his shoulders, "Very well," he said, curtly. The other dealt the cards rapidly, "And your answer, captain?" he said, quietly. • Carstairs took up his hand and glanc- ed through them. - t "My answer," he saki .slowly and de- liberately, "is that I refuse to comply with your terms. Do your worst!" Krausler glared across the table at him. There eves a tense silence for some moments, and then the door opened and Pegnelly entered, accompanied by an- other man. Both men looked un expectantly. "I-luret—you here!" cried Krausler, hoarsely, tortured by a terrible suspi- cion. . "Yes," said Pegnelly, sternly, "i have brought Huret, the man to whom you sold the plans which you stole from Captain Ga ire's. You are face to face; do you deny 1t?" An electric shock passed through the two men at the table. Krausier's face went es white es a sheet, and he gripped the table to steady himsel 1. Carstairs rose from his seat as a light 1'rolce in upon lits mind. "Krausler— the loser pays!" ho cried, end ding the cards in his face.—London Tit -Bits. PROTECTION OF TRAVELLERS. Scotland lard 1s Making Elaborate Arrangements. -Elaborate arrangements have been made by Scotland Yard, London, acting in conjunction with the American De- tcolito Department, to cope with the American "sharp," who annually jour- neys to England from America. For many years past these gentlemen have caused the steamship companies, who have the carrying of the thousands of American 'flippers to England, the greatest annoyance. They travel by the boats, and succeed by their polished manners in ingratiating 'themselves with millionaires for the purpose of fleecing them. • The usual method has been to propose cards, and the high playing that takes place generally results in the loss of thousands 01 pounds to the victim. Warnings have been given to passengers to avoid strangers who with plausible tales of badly wanting to find something to do suggest cards, but this has always had tee be done in a most cautious man- ner, as the American millionaire on a holiday trip is inclined to resent any suggestion that the is not capable of managing his own affairs, In one case last year no less than 003,000 was lost by it passenger on the trip from Now York to Liverpool. It is estimated that 400 of America's finest confidence tricksters, cardsharps, forgers and blackmailers eine over dur- ing the, season, and whom in England pursue their nefarious schemes with the grdacity. Aneatest entireaurcarganizntfon of the system of watching these gentlemen is now Lo take place, as the American. police have arranged with Scotland Yard. Many trained detectives will travel backward and forward to Ainerien, shadowing all the well-known characters, whom 1110,e will hand over to the charge of the de- tective force of Scotland Yard on arrival in England. Tho importance of the scheme can be easily realized when it is pointed out that at least, 50,000 wealthy Americans. -yearly pay Great Britain a visit. On enquiry at the ofilee of the com- panies 0 was ascertained that the book- ings this year .have been enormous; and there is hardly any room on any boat from America to England for weeks ahead. SECRET SOCIETY CRIME, Roumanian Shot dead on Me Streets of Paris, A mysterious crime was eammlttcd the Rue Mogador, Paris, the other night, Two men dressed as motor drivers were walling up and down the street w'l)00 another driver 001110d Iskin ap- proached then. The elder of 1.110 two men at once drew a revolver, and 'sk- im fall to the ground wounded. The as- sailant was preparing to fire ngaln when his citmpalimt stopped him, say- Ing that 1s<Iin was mortally wounded, and the two waiked mildly away. 'T'hroughort the incident there was fit, sign of haste, Some people who saw the occurrence ran for the pollee, but the two men got away. Tho attae1c was entirely lmprcVolced,. and es Isl0m has not recovered con- sciolsness, it Is impossible to say what motive dictated the crime, The police believe it to be a ease of a secret society. Iskin Is a houmsninn by birth. ee - en.. Water bottles and decanters may be easily cleaned by putting into them rice and Vinegar and 31161(51g Well, DUKE GAVE AWAY PALACE HUT HS WON REVENGE THROUGH THE GIFT. Dunce of Sutherland Has Afore Land Than Any Otter of the Itfng's Subjects. Most people find a lot of satisfaction in getting square with folk who have in- jured tihem, but only an i'noi'nieusly wealthy y num could have afforded to turn the tables on the county council of Staf- fordshire as the Duke oL Sutherland has none, writes a London correspondent. lie enjoys rho double gratification of i oiling its members In a hale and at the lame time heaping coals of fire on their heads. Some months ago, 1 may be remem- bered, the duke publicly announced dint' owing to the polluted condition of the river 'Trent which flows past Tren- tham' lio11, his magnificent Stafford- shire seat, physicians had pronounced it an unsafe and unsanitary abode for himself and his family, and, therefore, be had decided to close it up. The con- dition of the river is due to the use made of it bythe potteries which are centered at toke-on=Trent. The duke had appealed in vain to the Stafford- shire county council to adopt measures that world alone the nuisance. .That democratic body Would do nothing, it did not propose to interfere with any industry which provided many Poor, peo- ple with a 11.'dng, just to make things more comfortable for a duke and tris lcmily. If the could not put up with the stench and run the risk of typhoid, as humble .folk had to, why he could go and live somewhere else. So the duice turned out, the county council triumphed pandolluttheed Trentcourse, continued to flow its But the deka had a card up his sleeve. and he has just played it. Ile hos pre- sented Trentham Hall to the county council for the purpose of establishing there a college for higher education. The gift is a princely one. It cost 0150,- 600 to build it many years ago and at rresent prices 11 would cost ronsiderably over 01,000,000 to duple:ale it. Standing in the midst of a spacious park, and surrounded by beautiful gardens and conservatories, it is ono of the finest show places in lite kingdom. Of course, the county council cannot reject such a magnificent gift. If it did it would cause no end of a howl. Of )Laphorically speak - Ing. it will have to go on its knees and !ninthly thank the duke for it. And at ler doing that, it will have to take pro- per stens to secure the purification et the Trent before the college can be set agoing, for obviously. in these days at least, the most humble of students could not bo expected to pursue their studies in a place that 1100 been pro- nminced unsafe for a dike io live in. And that is where the duke's triumph will come in. It is uncharitable to estimate the value of a gift by what it costs the giver to part with it. But it is a fact that the duke makes no great sacrifice in parting with 'Trentham 1 -bail. He has several other homes, three of which at least— Stafford 1louse in London, Dunrobin Castle in Scotland and Lilleshall m hr opshire—kings might count - them- selves fortunate in oWring. The duice has more land - than any other of the King's subjects. His estates exceed : In area that of any county in England ex- cept Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Devon- shire. Ho owns about one -sixteenth of Scotland -1,17G,343 acres, to be exactas Doomsday book permits—besides 30,000 or •40,000 acres in Staffordshire and Shropshire. From Dum'obin Castle, his seat in Sutherland, ho can walk 50miles un a straight lino without stepping off his own properly. But he generally prefers using his own private railway and en- joys acting as ,his own engine driver. The lata Shah of Persia was once stay- ing at Trentham Han and on his Orien- tal mind the wealth and power of the etvnee made - a profound impression, King Edward, then the Prince of Wales, eves of the Company, and the Shah, oiler having listened attentively to the story of the duke's possessions, aslccd the prince if, when he cane to the throne, be would behead elle powerful man uu- r;0r wbios0 roof They were slaying, ad- ding that that was tate way they dealt with noblemen in his country when they accumulated .too niurtl property. "There 000 so many other nobles in. the land," relied the p prince, "that I should be afraid to attempt to get rid of any of them in that way. 'Whereupon the Shah expressed his conviction that some things were better managed in Persia lhau in England. • Some ducal families owe their rise to 0110 enure; some to another. A royal descent tvitheet a weddbhg ring has been in several cases the source of greet possessions and honors; in others, it career Of successful statesmanship; 1e others, nolo, achievements on the bat- tlefield; and in ono, et least, the old romance of a city apprentice 10 love with his masters (lenglhter, But the swU1 and brilliant advance et the Love - son -Gowers from the position of simple 1 orltshires squires lee centuries ago to their present proud eminence may be attributed emetically to the oho cause alone, and that is the unfailing fortune which has followed them in the choice u� wtvos. Like the lrenthan family in Disraeli,s Whale, they have lied for get. crali0ns an unrivalled. aptitude for "as- similating heiresses," and to -day a anion 9mn, five baronies, four viscounlies, five earldoms, a nlarquisale, land almost be- yond eaumeretiou, wealth beyond the theme of avarice ltd palaces stored with priceless treasures ore Uro agree - 01110 results. The million-acretl nal nnAtf-turd duke is not a bit like the popular ideal of a rich erislneint. He Wyss himself no airs and hates being fused over. Ile bas 110 tastes for ceremonial and is ell, but unknown in high corm circles, Sport, 'eonll;y lite and the duties of aiismclandlord neo Ilpinendtole loves,nth homely Scots phrase, to "dwell emoig iris folic," caring 00111(1' for sovide, and 10 way's, For a 111710 bctoi'o 110 succeed- er, to 1h0 title bo occupied a Seat in the House of Cohlmnns. Thccre he brought in to crofter's bill oI so (adient a nature 00 to astound his friends, end they leer - Feld] how ho would act When he cane 1010 possession of the family estates. So Weil has he red0om0d lits prmnlses, placing greet str0lehos of, land et the disposal of his tenant% that he le 111W ono of the roost; popular landlords Ind Scotland, For r r nl] the,1;. t he outs n small fi ore in !ubl a estimation beside his ranch more ora brilliant wire. His ancestors d! tin u• fished themselves chiefly by =Tying teauly and broad acres, They accumu- lated by that process such vast posses- sions that the present Bead of the fam- ty felt free to vary that practice a bit. Ile wedded beauty and brains. And, although it Inas .ended In his being gen- wally known merely as the husband (1 the duchess, ba has never bed cause to regret his chaieo. lie owed his intro duction to lady /Fllllicent Saint Clair r. ' J< t;hSno to the superstitious nand eo• I p pie Imre of silting thirteen at lathe. To break the evil spell she was brought nn one 000nslon from tho schoolroom to the dining -room, where her orginality, vivacity and striking good looks so cap- livatl'd the shy, almost bachelor -con- firmed Marquis of Stafford, as he then was, that he determined to win her for Ids bride, They were married on her seventeenth birthday. The romance cf love at first sight has had the fairy - story ending of 'happy ever atter." The literary achievements of the du- chess are well known, Though her flay, The Conqueror, which was pro- duced last year, was a failure, it was a failure big with promise of success Mee on, From some remote ancestor she has inherited a love for wandering. As she herself confesses it Is in her blood. Her first essay at boolcmalcing, holy I Spent My Twentieth Year, show- ed plainly how alluring for her were fresh field and pastures new; and even to -day she would rather dwell in some draughty shanty M Csligarnia, a tent pitched on the banks of the Nile, or a log robin fn Norway, than in any of her sumptuous palaces. Though, as ler as pedigrees go, with the blood of 30 generations of Camp- bells in Argyll in her veins, she might claim to be an aristocrat of aristocrats, elle is the inost democratic duchess In the kingdom. When she found that her own boys were learning little at the swell school which they attended, she sent then for term to a parish school which she had founded In Sutherland for peasant children, that the young noblemen might gel, the snobbishness knocked out of them and discover Ior ihemselvee that lads of humble birth were really better educated than them- selves. No woman has done more 10 promote the crofter industries. 'When she went to Russia a few years ego with the Duchess of Marlborough she pocked her trunk with samples of High - lend tweed and turned herself into a commercial traveler for the good of the cause. Boll( in Moscow and Saint Petersburg she spread out her wares in a big room and invited the leading tailors to drop M and examine them. No one can accuse the duchess of being penurious, but that does not prevent London society from complaining loudly because site dors not do more entertain- ing at Stafford house. She throws it open freely for charitable purposes. STRIDES OF TEMPERANCE. Britain's Outlay for intoxicants Less by (Millions. London societies Interested in temper- ance reform hare received recently a number of encouraging repclls from various parts of the country indicating a considerable decrease in the aggregate of habitual inebriates. A typical case is that of Stockport, where the Police Court prosecutions for this offence wore, during the last twelve months, SS fewer than in the previous year. 'I have come to the conclusion," remarked the chairman of iihe SLocltporl Licensing Sessions, at which these figures wore presented, "!bat the habi- tual drunkard is passing away.' • Statistics which have been brought up to date by the Church of England Tem- perance Society are corroborative of this statement. They show that the ex- penditure nn alcohol per !head in Eng- land has diminished by nearly nine per cent., in Ireland by three per cent,, and in Scotland by two per cont. Tha de- crease for the United Kingdon averages impeller, a head, lire total compared with that of 10114 being less by 027,500,- 000. The reduction in the consumption ry'� r'r'i<'rK olKr?I"�ar�r�r k'hk'�»k HEALTH v»[ SCURVY 1N INFANTS Most persons think the scurvy 0nte. 10 connection with the privation and Ifess that were so often endured by sole diens and sailors a century or more ago, for the disease has become so rare fie to be but little known. Slot a very SIM - liar affection occasionally attacks in, rants at the present time, especially the bottle-fed babies in, large cities. 11 almost always appears during the first year of life. ft IS not peculiar to any cholate or season. Liability to it is increased by overcrowding, uncleanli- ness and neglect of ventilation, but tine disease is not restricted to the children el the poor. Possibly it is infectious, in w•ltiehguence,case deficient or improper nour- ishment acts only as a predisposing fns The illness begins gradually with peeve ishness and restlessness. The appetite Is lost and the digestion becomes de- fective; the tongue is dig' and coated, and the breath is foul. If the little ono has teeth, the gums become inflamed. " Very soon there is aninfusion oe blood Leneath the periosteum,—the membrane that envelops the bones,—producing swellings neer the Joints, particularly about the ankles; and with the develop- ment of these the restlessness and suffer- ing are greatly increased. Tho pain is often so severe that the legs are drawn up and held rigid, as if they were para- lyzed. Visible hemorrhages• seldom oc- cur, but the eyes protude in severe ease es, and the eyelids may be puffed up end discolored by blood within the orbit. It is not to be inferred, from what has been said concerning the influence of diet in causing the disease, that a heal- thy Infant, thriving on artificial food, must be provided with some other form of nourishment in order to protect it from the scurvy. A change of diet is often hazardous to an infant, and the scurvy is believed to be preventable 10 n great extent by adding io any of the foods, once or twice a day, a teaspoonful or two of freshly expressed beet -juice or the same quantity of egg albumen beaten in a 11111e water, - Fortunately the disease yields prorniet- ly to the administration of fruit -juices. Instead of medicine, the physician pre- scribes one or two teaspoonfuls daily of orange -juice. Lemon -juice may be em- ployed, and when the child is more than a yeaandrpotatoold .it san be given baked apple r—• BANDS OFF THE EYES. A habit which many people have un- consciously acquired is that of rubbing the eyes with the hands or picking at them with the fingers, whenever the (yes feel in the least irritated. The harm done by this common habit can never be estimated. Occasionally painful re- alities remind us forcibly of its danger. A few weeks ago a man was riding in a Chicago street car. As the seats were filled he stood and held to a strap. His eye itched and several times he look his hand from the strap and rubbed the eye with it. Soon after he reached honkie his eves became badly inflamed, and in a shoot time he MIS unable to see, Upon exmninalion, the physician came to the conclusion that the strap to which the man had been holding had been In con- tact with the hand of a diseased person is'eviousiy and That the disease germs had been carried by the hand to the eye, dousing blindness. At present the man r, totally blind and 11 is a question whe- ther he will ever be able to see again. No matter !tow cleanly we are the hands are continually coming in con- tact with foreign substances and to rub the eyes with the band means that we ere deltbe•nlely carrying the impure natter to one of the most delicate and sensitive organs 0f the body. Besides the danger from injurious germs, the 10- utation which the rubbing alone causes . is harmful. Often the eyes itch or seem to blur Because dust has accumulated In the lashes and on lite lids. Take a of spirits is much greater thanin that of ellenn, soft, white. cloth, dampen it in beer. Irpid trate( and wash off the eyes gently: At the sari: lime, 0845,000,000 comes Or mkt a weals solution of salt water out of the pockets of the working Classes, and bathe the eyes in this. - Be sure tho or 'an average of about $150 a year for each household. The society in its report shows that Great Britain has a drinking population numbering 24,000,000, and estimates that tine weight of the amivai drink bill in, sovereigns is 1,355 tons. If the coins were arranged face to face they would make a golden rope 104 miles in length. CHATHAM'S HARD CHARACTER. Most Immoral of all England's Naval and Military Centres. "Darkest England," or "The Pingus Spot of the Medway," is the title which has been bestowed on Chatham. (;he- lium is declared to be the most un- savory of all the novel and military centres in the Uuih/d Kingdon, A Church of England mission has been carried on during the past few wrecks at this place. The missionary engage(' was the Rev. A. T. \\'n clean of Bricl:ston, who determined to find out for himself the meet situation. Dressed as (1 work- man, he visited the different dens 'f vice, and teas appelled•at the immorality. So emphatic and pronounced were hi stalenenes that a citizens league was this week organieed f01' the purpose Lt attempting the renovation of the place. One of the clergymen interested declared' thaattt ho hod tt'orkrd the sis a Cier, and 1110E his clericalin dutiesrni11011 called him to the very worst sections 01 7h0 city. 1 -le said that never before had ife witnessed scenes to equal these in Chatham, drunkenness among woolen being esnecielly prevalent in that town. fie said that where nearly 20,000 soldiers and sailors were gathered together it was to be expected that vice would pira- vatL '"It Is as perfect en imitation 0f (lades as tan be found anywhere,"added. "At any time of the day one can see dozens Of women staggers,.g from ono drhncing shop to another, Young girls, not alit of their teens, \Vonl1n with babes in their urns, old women hideous with ski, drink heavily from morning till night," Sus picidus people we apt to tete 001 - fiddled .in a tenlperande speaker W110 sips water trona atlh dup, bands have been washed clean Before using them in bathing the eyes. \Vipe , the eyes on a deem towel wldeh has not been used for any purpose. It seems an timed rrfminolly careless 00011 to dry ryes on a towel whirl). the use for other parts of the body end sometimes on one which the whole family is using. - IIEAI:Pil !IINTS. Value of 1 rash Air.—l1 you wish to keep health and well, have plenty of. fresh air; don't think y(u.w111 conch cold by 11; on the contrary it will do you good, and lit you for your work. AI- tt ee's sleep with your window open at night, it will Hol 118010 you; the fresh air will matte you sleep sounder, but at the same eine you mist have sufficient light clothing on the bed to 7<eep you lion cold, Ai Goodenttehing Ilampm,- The best sham- poo for the hair is made by breaking up bits of toilet soap and bringing tihem Ina boil in hot water, '1'o this should be added a teaspoonful of borax to a hint of shampoo ntixtlt'l, and, if the hair ' be oily, a dash of Alcohol. 'Tits can he 1 ebbed into the scalp, and It is warrant. , cd perfectly harmless, Soft Hands.—The bends may be soft - cued and tt•hitcned by the use of the following posh: '1110 yolks of Iwo fresh eggs, two ablrspoonfuls of oil of sweet almonds, thirty gran1111cs of rose-water, and eight grammes of lindenro of ben - 701Y1. Berl ftp the yolks with the oil, then add the rose-water, and, lastly, .the fam e. Chilbinlnsctuof bhulanzoinfilo part aICcdled with spirits of rosemary, or aromatic 00111- P00117 7Cd am-P00rated eroam; afterwards apply pieces e1 Solt linen moistened with e0mpherated spirits soap liniment, or eamplier 11)01• meet: When the swellings break 0t u1 aerate, apply poultices and emollient ointments for a few days. Another equal remedy Is gttamlittes of eweet 011, lime -Water, and proof spfrlls, "And new," tvhispet'ed the lover, as no Might her in his arms, "whet shall WO do about the rope ladder? Wo silo>Tdn't leave It hanging there., "Dont \vorrY; about it, replied the eloping dawSeli father said he'd pull it up agent, so that 1 couldn't mot book;'