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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1901-8-15, Page 7M IIIZhf lie rMi Mee a l IVAI -.aIIhm,V8Mi"e"', " , .,. ROSE, 4 11 C �. ,i 1 Id leifieeMeeeeMeagfe CHAPTER, XL. During the relation of Lola de Fer- ree.' terrible story, Qertrucle• had grown white and faint, ',00hing forward she caught Lola's hand be- seeehingiy, New thaw me cohere my father lion ?" ''Yes, you—no ono but you, Ger- trude you and I will go together at oneeand Nene.' Harry looked up in alarm. Was it safe to trust a slender girl to the hands of such a woman? Dut the clear eyes looked at him unci aunted lee "I have no fear, Harry," she said; "Miss do Perms and 1 will go and return quickly together. In the meantime will you send a telegram to lay motherat the Villa Dair•a, 11'lorenco? Say juee this—'Tho mys- tery is solved, Como at once.' r, Lord Fieldei ]fastened to beeping to send the 'telegram to Florence,• Dolores would receive it that day, mica in forty hours after sae would bo at Flolden Manor. Never did Gertrude forget that walk from the golden sunlight into the cold, cheerless corner of the wood whore the 131ack Pool ley, When Lola saw it again, with the familiar trees told reeds which grow on its margin, she gave a great cry and sank upon her knees. fior face grew deadly pale, and she grasped Gertrude's hand convulsively. "I am afraid," she cried—" X am afraid! 0h, Gertrude, help mel„ The brave -hearted girl knelt by her s dal her heart went out to the stricken woman. "Miss do Perras," she whispered gently, "try to rouse yourself for my father's sake. Without you we cannot give him Christian burial. ,Do not fail us et the last." And for his saljOtvhoni she loved so madly, and 94 well, she did rouse. herself, and w t l de sperate efortwent, on tow cI the fatal spot. Si- lently- nt ly- a nlrd • rt h swift ft stepss Lola avelltup to e shaft, and thensto0d shuddori, with an expression ofdesn;iion amidst breathless silence, two in were gently lowered, When tho from below roaelzed the surface, t pallor Of their faces showed weird] i11 the toroh]ight, The leader, Ito ert Sizinnons, Wont straight to Lor 1, ielden. " "My ort]'''" ]lo eaid, „It is there, What Is there . asked Harr hardly able to control his emotion. "Tho skeleton, my' lord, of wh was one° Sir Karl Allanmoro," A solemn hush fell on them al 1J'ouud at last—he who had been los and believed guilty all these,years "I will go down with,you," sal Lord S'io1c1on; and, In spite of all r ltlonstrance, he carried out his reed ntion, With reverent hands he examine what had once been the body of on of the handsomest and klndlieet o men, There was nothing repulsiv about it, It was but: a white and perfect skeleton. The clothes Si Karl . had worn were hill dewed, and fell to pieces at a'touch the gold watch and chairs ward not broken, , They did not carry him to his old homo—the home he lead ]eft without one thought of the awful fate hang- ing over hire. Lord i'iolden had him brought to Malden Manor. dA Kathleen wee very happy. It agreed that the Fs'iece and Prin Oolienna ellaulel pass six month the year at tile prince's palace Naples, aeltd the other sirs in K Iseal's Boma, the beautiful Mane Deerhurst, The sight of these )dyers sti something in Gor'trude's breast.. Oo daY Lord Pielderl came In, She so quickly; of late Bales Gertrude he avoided Meeting hire alone, Y rose, and in a half emberraseed m b nee said--.".Manhma is at theme, d she waute to see you." "Nay, Gertrude, but 1: want to you," be replied; and there teas y, in Itie. Paco whieh told her that time had conte when she must Its at "1 want to see you, and you Old he, wont on, "Why do you a ane ? You must know that I 1 I you with all the strength of heart. I do not think that singe d world began eny malt has ever lo e- a' woman so well as' I love you.' She, who was so quick of spe and ready of tilt, had no answer d him. o "1 must remind you of one thi f Gertrude," he said .after a few o menu—"tile reward you promised give to' the person who was the li r. to bring you infol'lnatlon concern - that unfortunate woman, Lobo Perms. Do you:remember ?" "Yes," she said. "You have never paid it; but have rrot.iorgotten it. Do you MI what I think you ought, to give Gertrude? You ought to give' 'live hundred kisses." "Oh, Harry, flow wrong of you she cried, her beautiful face lhushi "Hoiv'can you say such a thing?' "You made another prom; which also you appear to have for- gotten, Gertrude. It was this—that if the man who brought you certain and reliable news about your father was in any way eligible, you would marry him, if he asked you, as his reward, Now, be fair, be Just to me, Gertrude. I am the medium through lehicb such news was Obtained—I am an eligible loan, Give me my re- ward. Marry me !" "What a wily in which to ask m Harry!' What can you expect me say? You have not mentioned t. word 'love.' "Ye I have," ha ve " said Harry have been thinking of nothing el since I saw you on that day in t Patti palace—it is you who will n listen. I have. been your faithf friend, your devoted shave, your tr lover; all these years; now I as boldly for my reward, . Marry mo and marry me on the same day th your sister becomes Princess Colo na. Will you ?" "You do not deserve that I shoul say 'Yes.' You are so—so masterfi about it, Harry." "You see, my dearest, I am con yelled to be so," he rejoined, "Yo would, 1 believe, lot me live in sus Pease for twenty years longer, Ger trade, Does it ever occur to yo how completely I have given to yo the last three years of my life?" "You have been very good to me;' she faltered. "Good to you! That is a tcealc e pression. 1 have worshipped. you — siniply worshipped you. Ah, m d'ea'ling, do not be coy with wo--d be kind to ane! I love you, my Ger trude, with all my heart. You wil not send hue away ?" "No," she said gently, "you know drat I will not." Then his arms were suddenly clasp- ed round hex, and her fair .face was hidden upon his breast,. The two weddings took place on the same day; amid the rejoicings of the whole county. Kathleen Rhys - worth became Princess Colonna. Such perfect content, such complete happiness as these young people en- joyed is rarely known. Gertrude al- ways liked to remember her mother's farewell. She held her tightly clasp- ed in her arms. "I owe the entire happiness of my life to you," she whispered, "Good - by my golden heart 1" CHAPTER XLII. was 11050 sof in atlh. r of reed Ono. rage had She an^ and see that the tel}, Y, v01d ove mythe ved ecu for ng, rec- to l'st ling de I ow me, me 1„ Mishit * * It was' noon of the following day when Gertrude asked her mother • if she would go downstairs. They wont down. together. Outside the sun shone warm and golden, the birds sang gayly; inside, all was dark and solennl. The great en- trance -hail was transformed into a chapelle ardente. It was draped in black, and sweat tapers shone like stars in the darkness. In the middle of the hall stood the funeral bier, covered with a black velvet pall, and upon the oaken. coffin which contain- ed all that remained of the once handsome, genial Baronet, lay a wreath of white roses, and in the y midst s of the flowers wee the ruby aria • g. Dolores wont straight to the coffin and laid her fair head upon it, clasping her hands round it as tl her face. After a pause- tough she would never leave it. • ' a;e turned to Gertrude and laid her And she did not. It was a terrible hand on hors. vigil that Lady Allanmoro kept b Ire lies there," she said, "where her husband's coffin, for though he has lain silent and still all these there were times when she fell half years. Do you see where the wood fainting by it, she would not leave. is broken—where that black gap is ? it until it was borne away ago, Colo with mc." That is where he fell 'so many years Slowly, and Leith dropping tears, toy went together to the volt' engees and kissed it, One more site edge; Lola drew aside some oPthe laid her face upojt the velvet pall. tangled creepers. - Site was so silent; so still, that af- "Look," she cried in a loud voice I ter a time Ccrtrude.\vont to her, At —"look, Gertrude. This is your fa- first they thought that she -was ther's grave." dead, her face was so, white and. Together they knelt at the terrible calm. Lady Ficlden cried aloud, and brink. hen Gertritdo's self-control Harry ran to assist; but death had Savo way, and she wept as if her not been merciful to Lady- Allan: - heart would break. This, then, was more. She was carried to,her room; the place where the handsome blue- and there for many weeks between ' oared young baronet lay while his life and death, the broken white were believed him faithless and his rose, once so fair and blooming, lay child grew from Infancy to woman- with the ruby ring on her finger, hood. Close to his old home be. had while her heart was with the dead lain, yet had been as Pax from those Jhusband she had misjudged so long. who loved him as thought he had So they laid Sir Karl in his hon - been on a tropical island or a frozen aced grave, whilst the tears of men, sea -.dead in the springtide of his woman, and children flowed freely. snappy life with the shadow of sin On the face of his only child there darkening his fair fame. was a light which even her grief With a last backward glance at could not dim, for, though her fatly the weeping girl, Lola glided away, er was dead, his memory was free never again to be seen alive. She from stain, went to expiate her sin in solitude. she drew the rub ria u * A 1 Forty-eight hours later Dolores, with her eldest daughter Kathleen, CHAPTER XLI, Gertrude had just been singing a cached the Manor Ilouse, pathetic little song, and the words Gertrude," whispered Dolores—"I puzzled her. Quito unconsciously do not wish any one to hear Inc something had become a matter of tell me—is ho living or dead ?" life and death with Iter. She had Oh, what an agony of hope and grown so accustomed to Lord Field - fear was there in the sweet, sad, vio- en's homage and love that she did let eyes! In what a wistful way she not appreciate either until he was eeemed to hang on the words that away from her; then quite suddenly came from Gertrude's tips I her life grew quite cold and dim. "Dead, mamma," was the reply - Harry had learned some wisdom "dead, my clearest. He died on that from his mother, ' very night when 'people said ho had "My dear boy," she had said to left ,you," hint, "you have been too-favish of Dolores sank upon her knees, and . your love; believe me, there is noth- covered her face with her hands. He ing like a little tvnolesomc neglect. was dead. The lover of her youth,,. Por the, last two years you have the husband she had adored, had' thought' only of. Gertrude, teed dcvot- been lying dead while she had hard - 'ed yourself to her. She accepts your ened her heart against him, had shut i homage as a matter of course. Now herself away from her fellow cream I take my advice and leave her for a tures because of the disgrace that short time." • she believed ]lad been reflected onBut Harry could not make up his her. She had brought up his loyal . mind to go away, though he prom- , daughter in utter ignorance cf even;iced not to speak of love to Ger- his name, while sire had made her itrod°. This resolve he had carried life a burden to Herself. • et us retire .somewhere, Ger- trude," she moaned, "whore; you tan tell Inc all, and no ono can witness my remorse." It was some hours before Dolores recovered herself, or was obie out, until at. last a glimmer' of doubt ha.d crept into Miss Allan- more's mind. Did the really love her ? Sixteen months had passed since the funeral of Sir Karl Allammore anti the old wrong had been righted. calm her quivering nerves and fairly Lady Allanmore, with her t realize tl to truth, - She asked about .the treacherous pit. She had an eager desire to sec it, but Ger'- trude sold site must not, It would haunt her in her dreams for ever- more The whole place 'was to un- dergo alteration., Lady Pielclen would attend to it, and then she might visit the spot, but not until then. Why should you add even one more cliental recollection to the sad memories of your life?" Gertrude asked; and 'Dolores gay° up the wish. They did not lcnow, either mother or daughter, of the sad work that onlna, who had seemed so devoted to was being done that night. It was Kathleen wheta they had been living as though half the town of Deoping in Florence 'The sudden departure daughters, had gone back to Scars- dale, and something like a gleam of happiness had conte to Dolores. Tho family had spent some few weeks at Dcerhur'st Manor, and Lady Ailaumo'e would have been willing to allow - Kathleen Dlhyswoi tri to live there, but she preferred to bo with her mother aed Gertrude, During the last monde er two the sleep mourning had been laid aside, and somothing like old times had come again to Scarsdale The itt•st thing that startled them from their settled ways was the ar- rival of trio :Neapolitan Prince 001 - were awake, Lord P fielder had giv- en orders that every preparation for a amoral should be oracle at Fioldon Manor. IIo asked Gertrude to prom- ise that Lady Allaaunore should not leave her room until the next clay, when he would 0011 to soother, Nev- er did man work with such energy— indeed he Worked So hard that he al- most lost sight of the rctyard in view. When the shadows of evening fell, he wont with a picked body of bravo neon. They had ropes and ladders, and a litter, in peso their search was successful. Throe of the 105n had volunteered to descend the disused r.. been a great blow to him; but he was determined to find them. They had gone away hurriedly, and had left no address; but niter a time, he had heard the story about Sir Karl, and had Understood, He had come to London first, and from there lie wrote to Osie if he had Permission to visit Lady .Allarnnore at Scarsdale. Of course the answer was "Yes;" and the end was not difficult to forecast, Kathleen loved Iamb and p1'oanised to marry hint, With something like despair in his heart Harry Watched the more for - tamale /over; but he comforted rim self with the idea that C'eetrudo Was worth a tlhousand Kathleens and They soon iliseovere(1 that there consequently worth so much more Was no Water ill• tee pit; and then, I trouble to win, se, Load 1"ielden nose somewhat en - " ".If you have been (belaying on your imagination, Carlos,," ho 0014, "we will laevo a private interview," "At'allenta," ;said the little Icilow, "indeed she is thele, lying quite still, atld she did not speak!" The boy's terror wee so evident that Gertrude rose hastily and fol- lowed her husband. As they drew near the monument they saw that he was right. There lay sonnething withal they could not distinguish rt1 first; aftei'wal'd, they saw that it wap the .body of a woman. Keep away, Gertrude," 1i'ied Lord Plelden. But it Was too late; she lied math - et) on before hint 0nd raised the tall - 013 need, One look was enough, Id was Lola do Perms, and she wale elute dead, How long she had boon there' of course no 'ono knew; but In the hour of Iter extremity, and dose - Magi), she had gone to the grave of .the znan she lead loved so dearly to die, it was a pitiful face, with its lips 'closed -forever, suit the long, dark hale, streaked with gray. Zloty gently they raised heel And Ger- trade loved her own mother none the less because she kissed the poor wanderer's face in loving pity. They never told any one where they had found her, for Dolores' sak0; and they concealed her identi- ty with some difficulty and buried her in the pretty churchyard at beeping. There her grave is distinct from all others, because It is gener- ally surrounded by rich red loses and there the passionate, guilty, lov- ing heart is at last at met, The End, IN CAMP AND HARBOUR, NAVAL AND 1VIILITARI' NOTES OI' THE EMPIRE, Condensed Paragraphs of. interest to Both the Military and Clive Dian. 0, According to a message received at to Portsmouth, Admiral Sir John Fish - 1e Or, in command o mond of the Mediterranean e eiranea•n fleet has made an Urgent e request. g to 1 the Admiralty that the suadron e0 should be strengthened forthwith by h0 additional cruisers and torpedo boat no destroyers. u l T1irt Icing has granted Sergeant B. ue Chaters, A.S,C., license to accept k the insignia of the third class of the Order of the Lion and the Sun, con - at leered upon him by the Shah of Per- 11"Sia in recognition of services ren- cl dered. by him in connection with the rl supply of grain for Teheran during the famine of 1899. It is reported, says the Exchange n- Telegraph Company, that the naval 11 authorities at Portsmouth have re- - ceived intimation from the Admiral- ty that several ships in the fleet re- el eery' will be required shortly to u loin the Mediterranean squadron, The vessels avail, h; for ee omission ' include the battleship Formidable, the cruisers Aboukir, Spartiate, x-- Pandora, and several destroyers. In a regulation just issued by the Y War Ofhce it appears that the pres- o ant price of expended cupl'o-nickel • bullets is about :E1$ a ton, and cone - 1 mauding officers are desired, where possible, to start a "Afetal Fund " in their districts. The bullets are to be removed from the ranges under local contract, no soldier or unau- thorized person being allowed to search for them. .The proceeds will be expended solely for musketry purposes. Last year's musketry returns of the British Volunteers, just issued, show that there are thirty-five of the infantry aerl=s in which the grade of marksman has been attain- ed by at least thirty per cent. of the 'trained men," as distinct from recruits. The highest position is held by the 2nd (Berwickshire) Vol- unteer Battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, with 80 per cent. of marksmen, Tho claim of the Cinque Ports Volunteers to be.the first to introduce acetylene gas for lamp work in long-distance signal- ling is disputed by the 2nd (South) Middlesex Volunteer Signallers, who have used it for two years. When the SS. Taller was wrecked in Mauritius in March last, the life- boats from the seeconer WJllheliihina and the Government steamer Stella were launched 111 order to rescue the. passengers. path boats, containing together fifteen .men, capsized In a terrific 30a, and tierce of the occu- pants lost their lives, The Royal Humane Society's silver medals have note been awiu'dod to the twelve survivors, and In Memoriam testimonials .to the relatives of those who were crowned. In addi- tion, Lloyd's silver nodal has been conferred upon the aiflccrs and Lloyd's bronze medal upon the men who manned the boats. The 2th (Aiilitia) Iattaltan, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, have just re- ceived a special murk of favor from the Ding, it appears that, like oth- er regiments of the '°Principality," this one low a gent as its special "mascot." Tea last ono to occupy the position has just died, and the Bing has replaced it by one of his famous Windsor Park flock, The newcomer joined the battalion at Carnarvon last week. It is to bo hoped that the now "Billy" will prove more amenable to discipline than did his predecessor, who was once guilty of such gross insubordin- ation as to assault the sergeant -ma- jor on the parade ground. The sudden autcrt 1.1 (42011t Britain on the alleged tuu•eadiness of the na- vy is attracting considerable atten- tion hi Paris. Tho Temps says that ono of those panics which so often seize hold of the British public is now being artificially created in re- spect to the llr'itieh fleet. ,n the Ole- diterr•anean. The chief author of the outcry is Lord Charles Beresford, the doughty sailor, at present sec- ond in command of the fleet, but public opinion would llama paid to heed to it save dor the suspicion that Italy is nbaut to desert the British. The whole trouble is due (0 the fear in (,real. Britain that Italy intends to change her policy, for the British are always haunted by a terror its to Leis: alight Imp - pen iu . the Alediterl0,uetti if Italy sought amore natural ally. Pive years had elapsed since the marriage of Dolores' fair datigliters; ancl to her they had been years of perfect peace, The Prince mut Prineesa Colonna divided their time between Italy and Eegland; they had ono son and one daughter. At Fielden Manor the farui/y Inas more numerous , two sturdy little sons cola one fair-baired little daughter inaele the grand olcl palace bright with mirth and amuse - One Mae suzumer evening, Lord Pielden, who was visiting at Scars- dale, lighted a cipir end went out with some newspapers; Gertrude took a book end the two boys, They chose a shady avenue, where they seated themselves not very far from the large white monument which ho.d already grown to be a landmark amongst them. Lord Fielclen was socm engrossed in some Eastern news, ,Ledy Fielden in her novels; the boys played at their will. The boys, finding themselves more completely at liberty, began to run races. They wero so long absent me one occasion that Gertrudelookecl up from her book. Presently the elder, Carlos, .earne slow/y to his mother and looked at her with great wondering oyes. "What is the matter, Ccueos?" she "Manunht," he said, "there is a wonian lying there by the white ' "A woman, darling! Are you sure cried Gertrude. "Yes, a WOniall. She did not speak to me, though I pulled hoz. "Harry," cried Geetrude, "do you hear what Carlos says?—there is a woman lying by the montuneet !" "Nonsense!" cried Marry, engross- ed in hie paper. "That boy loves to make a sensation, It's onl3r the With all air of Injured dignity Car- los rettnned— "Nurse is there—look, papa.— and the woman Wing oe warble (1003 not speak." It was the terror oil the boy's fece that atIracted Cortrude. Lord Pielden not, see It. "Do go navvy, and see what it All Adventure in in Two chtldr'ee--a boy aim years old and a girl gam yo0111101 51 broken pillars and an fakeer stones; down in the dat lays_ 01 a 1'uined hOUee ,n the fort oP 1 nti Ghril", ill 1Tortlzet die, It rias a gloomy place—black, some, dreary—and Just the were you might expect a wilds a poisonous snake to pop out you at any Moment; but ltarr Nellie di[l.not seem to mind it and. went scampering and lou through the dim archways and ghostly vaults as merrily as if had been in a kindergarten, It was certainly a very et place to choose for playgr and: it was strangor still that should be flaying and laugln all, with the shadow of death ening day by day Over them their fathers and the whole gat of the fort. War was wagleg throughout entire district, and all around Gime lay encamped a great ho fierce Ilfndu warriors, vowing to leave the place until they taken the place and 'killed every Ing thing within its walls. 7Jn'ee times had the besiegers a furious attack on the fort but time they had been beaten off heavy less, and did not seem lite to try it again. Ilut all day long—and somot at night—they kept banging aw tate walls with their Mention muskets, till no one could look the battlements for fear of b shot dead, and the sick and wou men of the garrison were quite out with this ceaseless din. • Worse, still, food was bcginniu run short, and they would soo forced to surrender• or stare death unless some ono came to rescue; and there seemed to be 1 lope for that, for it would have en a large arn3Y, as well as a b one, to cut through the fores bite turbans and colored robes dark, fleece faces and glitte ca on s that at h emrno ' din the edoo ortress on every side, "And we've helped to defend the ort too," said harry to Nellie as hey paused to rest, after' running hemselves quite out of breath, "I card Capt. Markham say so myself, Hilo 1: was helping a woman to crape lint for those soldiers that ere wounded last night," "And I've torn up a whole lot ags for bandages," replied No roudly; "and I'm going to tear lot more this afternoon. I isit, though, they'd give over fig_ ng. I'll so tired of those gu a.nging away all night long, s so heeled seeing the pool• s Mrs brought in. all cut and bleodi,. tern's poor Sergeant Bennet, w ado all those pretty toys for .__. as got such a terrible hurt all along ne side of his head, where a. bullet t hint the other day; and it's so ore that he cele t sleep a bit," "Never mind,`: answered Harry, sinning quite a fatherly air, in vir- e of his being six months the older the two; "just you wait two or ree days more, and then you'll sec eterai Rose and lois Wren come uI one the other side of the river and d all those black follows flying." `But I heard papa say yesterday," [i Nellie, with a rather grave look Iter' round, rosy little face, "that neral Rose has only a few hundred n with him just now; and surely ey can't fight a whole army at ce." 'Can't they?" cried Harry, dis- nfully. "Didn't Lord Clive thrash 000 of them at Plessey, with on - three thonsaecl men of his awn? d didn't the Duke of Wellington it the rajah's whole army scamp- ng with only two regiments? Just .wilt and see, that's all. I say, s hove another game. You go hide and I'll hunt for you." way went Nellie instantly right o the gloomiest and loneliest part the ruins, bent upon discovering e place where even Barry himself 1c1 not be a010 to find her, ear'lessly she picked her way in al- t total darkness through one ck and dismal vault after another' r the roughest;soldier in the gar - o was not braver than our. little en -haired Nellie—and at length came to a spot whore two great sea of masonry had fallen in such ay as to loan against each other, ing a kind of low arch very ch luso the mouth of a cavern. • tarry will never find me here, site to herself, triumphantly, as crept foto the hole; and finding ot large enough to let her stand girt, she ' .lay down upon the Jul and remained as quiet as a se, chuckling inwardly to think, puzzled Harry would be when cute to look for her, t scarcely had her ear touched arth when site became aware of env, dull sound deep down be - her, like the measured beat of or the noise which would bo by some one thumping hard st a padded door. at could it be? It was certain - t Harry, and there was no one down there except herself; but oiled could not bo merely her —she was quite sure that she ear it, and what was more it d to be growing louder and ig netu'er. n, for rho first time little NeJiie to feel frightened. Even in nurse of her short life she had in tho East Indian jungles so tigers and crocodiles and huge s and other terrible creatures it seemed quite Natural to her eine unknown and fearful mon- hould have its underground den th tho fort and should now be rk to dig its way out and do- thcm all. ie scrambled headlong out of ding plec0—hover. heeding how her poor little aides and face bruised by the tough stones— Listed ottt of the vault in suck as almose to knock down Itar- em she encountered just at the co, Harry," elle panted, "there's nettle living there under' the , and 1t's tl;ying to claw its ut and eat Ice!" boy looped puzzled, as well he might, and at fust Seemed mere ill. la, dined to laugh than to be seared. lint he became serious enough when Nellie took bila baelt to the spot and they both heard the mysterious Noise plainer than Over, "1'11 tell you what," said be with an ail' of decision, "I'll just go straight to papa' and tell Nina about WAS. If there's anything wrong lie ought to be told at once, f01' lie's commandant of the foa't, you knOW," And away they both flew to the 0111 eolone1's quarters as fest as thole feet could carry thein. The eolnnhandant, who had quite enough to think of just then, far' ho was In tlx very midst of an .inspec- tion of the fallingprovisions and a. calculation dhow long they could be lnacle to lest, frowned slightly at the rintptisioh of the Children, and was going to order theirs out again, But Lite .instatlt he heard Harry's first mention ot the mysterious sound, the colonel's sten, weather beaten face clanged visibly and looked so grave that Nellie loft convinced thttt Blore was really an underground monster beneath the fort, which was trying to get out and eat thein all up; and she was More certain of it than ever when .she heard the colonel making Harry describeasexactly as possible the pa'eciso spot where the strange 110is0 had been 11001d, "Have you told anyone else about this, my boy?" asked ho, after hear- ing all that there was to be told. No; I thought I had bettor report direct to you, as commandant of the garrison," replied Barry, doing his best to sneak in a military fashion, "Quite right," said his father, with a grim smile. "I'm very ,glad you did. Now, I'll tell you wbat to do. Take Nellie with you and go and help your mother to make ban- dages for our wounded amen, and mind you, don't say a word about this to her or any one else till I give you leave," Away went the two children, still rather puzzled, but feeling sure that "it would all come right somehow," for they both had unbounded confi- dence in Barry's father, whom they secretly believed to be the greatest soldier. alive It was drawingtoward d ov lin e d win e n the colonel O came back pale and weary, and with a broad bandage across his forehead, but looking very well satisfied for all that. "You've saved us all, my little sentinels," cried he, laying one broad brown hand on Ilarry's shoulder and stroking Nellie's golden curls with 1 tho other, "These Hindu rascals were trying to dig a mine under the t fort and blow us all up together, but we've stopped their little game for t once, and 1 don't think they'll havo 1 ut1.A ewhat d seek fps of it eel- Illud u Rh 111' lone - spot At 01' Upon y end a bit, ghiilg dark they range (11n1[l, they ng at deep - solves •risen the Vett- st of never had liv- made each ivi th lined Imes ay at and over ping nded worn g to n bo V0 to the ittle tak- rave t of and ring mod 1 w w t t h w iV p a 1 h ft d q1 m Ir 0 hi so to of th f• sex • sal on GG rin0 th one • dal 60, ly An sen eri you let' and A int of sone wou 1, mos blac rise gold site mos a w fer•nn mu 'I said she it n upri grow moa how Ire c Bu the e a str lots oars made again '1vh Tho began the c seen many snake that that s hence mVo Nell her hi sorely were and cl haete ry wit earful rotted way 0 Tho of llie up ns clay the efiemy broke up their camp and EA - ho BOY'S AS ARK ED AT A FAST BATE. One Who Stele WO Vrcint of feurteell would dare to rob his employer's cashebox of 8850, with a vieW to tasting the pleasures of 'le Man Of Wealth, Did 0110 boy, POW taSting 'the ,pentelties, actually Mel this, and, managed to Spend the en- tire amount in six days, before the police could lay hhn by the heels, have disgritced the "Jubilee Plung- er," who dissipated 81,850,000 in A .ohyn.hhhatthhhgcc of tbis boy, to. • The lad left London,hurriedly, with a, first-elass ticket fOr Palle, but ow- ing to the Ugly appearance of the Channel Im decided not to cross. He tbereforo engaged a couple of expen- sive rooms at Dover, paying a Weelt in advance, and saying he was to Wait there a few days for his father, who was "immensely wealthy." He went that, night to two entertain- ments, engaging the best seats and drinking lemonade without stint. Having slept one night in Dover, he discovered that port did not afford him sullicient scope for enJeying hint - self as a man of moans should, So lie tipped the lodging -house servant with a sovereign, told the landlady that it did not "matter about that" --the prepaid rent, and hurried first- class to Brighton. At the latter resort ha engaged lodgings on the front, for which oleo he prepaid, telling the same story about waiting for his iznmensoly rich father. Ile went on the niers, tried all the automatic machines, tripped on the electrin railways, and looked in at the aquarium, but could not retake fair headway with his money. Ire therefore, picked up three other lads, whom he took rouud the town to all tho czonfee- tioners, and afterwards to the parents to whom he confessed every - find he had less than a pound, and side. Then he suddenly awoke to left—porters, waiters, cabmen, even osity fox. Ave bright days at the see.- thhienagt.re. lie tipped people right and mstened home to his grief-strickezz , as e of his regal goner - Another office boy, a year older ban the first, having sicicened of Miring stamps, went to his employ- er's office a. quarter of an hour be- fore the time far the staff to arrive, broke into a cash -box containing a cheque-book, mid blandly forged a cheque for over 81500! He then took the cheque to a bculk and got it gashed, in which he wes helped by being known at the bank, having cashed other cheques there. Then he romped off to play the "millionaire" at the rate of over 815 a day; for ho issipated the whoee amount in just under three weeks, completely .elud- ing the police for that time, al- though they started after him with- in a few hours of his presenting the cheque for cash. Most of his time seems to have been spent in railway trains, for he was too sharp to stay long he one place. Silver eigarette_ cases, a. gold hunting watch, a. din mond scarf pin, three rings, and a revolver were among the things he bought. He left a track of money behind him as be hurried from plahe to place; and when he was at last ar- rested he had practically exhausted fsuonldiscitor's office boy stole some ifidentiel papers from his master's sk and sold them for 8100 to me one to whom they Were of con- erable value. Re was only thir- la and the purchaser was infinite- 3nore blameable than the boy was; t one feels a tinge of symPatilY ows that his "innocent tool" al - ed the cheque that was given him ned to negotiate for the sale of the rascally purchaser :101.eon ainide - his father (on whose behalf he t took hint barely a week to run ough the money, and during- that lad he had himself photographed r times, visited Sheffield, Black - 1, Liverpool and Preston; fed self at the best restaurants he t Blackpool he attracted consid- bl? bireadttention by driving trap into the ih.a.01.115.ydacyompensated the owners of ly moved out, of the town. Hay. spent his inoney and exhausted window and the trap, and hur- his employer had allowed because he pleaded sickness, he reed to the office with the inten- of resuming Ms duties, 1118 ter, however, was not disposed emit, this; but for reasons best wn to his two victims, dismissal his only punishment. and retreated, and they had hardly disappeared on one side when the bayonets of Gen. Rose's soldiers came glittering oVer the crest of a low ridge on the othdr. A SONG -WRITING PRINCE. His Grandfather Owned the Fam- ous Kohineor. Prince Duleep Singh, by right of succession entitled to the throne of tho Maharajah Singh, is a. song composer of more than ordinary merit. Ile inherits the talent from his father, who left among his pa- pers tbe manuscript of an opera which Prince Duleep Singh has de- clared his intention of having scored for orChestra ancl presented at Co- vent Garden, London. The prince, who leads the life of an English country gentleman at Hockwold Hall, Norfolk, and who is captain in a volunteer regiment, was educated at Eton and Cam- bridge, and married, seine three years ago, tho youngest daughter of the Earl of Coventry. His annual pension from the Brit- ish Government is ,h50,000 (about 8250,000). 11e belongs to several fashionable clubs, ancl fOr two years WaS honorary aide-de-camp to Lieut. -Gen. Ross, when that gentle- man WaS in command at Halifax, N. S. The famous kohinoor dictmond, now ono of the English. crown jew- els, was the property of his grand- father, Itunieet Singh. This extra - cavalry, acquired the vast territory bounded by the Indus and the Sut- lei, and became owner of Cashmere to the snowy range and beyond. His treasure in cash, jeWels, and horses and elephants wus estimated at 550,- 000,000. mocratIc In manner, is a musical en- thusiast, and travels up to London for evezy concert of importance. During the past winter lie has been engaged On another volume 01 SOngs, thing of the Oriental in his music, etterecelii.savors rather of the French Dick and Andy were comrades in 0 Highland regiment lying in Edin- burgh Castle. They were great hands to do a spree, and one morn- ing found them in the horrors, out of cash and out of credit. They clressod 'and went out in hopes oi meeting a Christina), but fortune seemed against them. Strolling aloug West -end street, Dick slide denly feinted away right in front of villa. Seehig the sturdy High- lander lying on the pavement, the good lady kindly sent the servant Out with a tumbler and 501110 bran- dy, They raieed 1)18 head and got hint to take a, mouthful, which seemed to revive him, and seizing the glass in. his hand he ems just in the act of drainieg it off when Andy ''Oh, Dick, will ye no leave me a wee drappie ?" born yesterday? O'tva, an' tak' flt o' yer aim" Did that mining stock you 110115111 turn out to be a paying investmoute Yes, answered the mild -eyed mom after an ineffectual effort to cheer up, It has kept rne payieg assess- ments ever since I firat got hold of col de sid tee ly bu for ter for feig the cas 1 tlar per fou pact 111111 COMM yet A era win libe the ried ing the him retu tion ions to p kno was A MODERN SHREW -TAMER, Whi/e a well-known divine was still a lay preacher ho Was warned about a certain virago, clad told that she intended to give him a All right, he replied, but thee's a genie at which tam can play, Not long after, as he passed her He smiled and said:— Yes, thauk you, I am eolith Well. X hope you are the same. Then came another burst of vitu- peration, pitched in a still higher key, to which he replied, still mil - yes, it does look rather as if it was going to 1.0111; I. think I had better be getting onl Mess the man, she exclahned, he'S as deaf as a post; what's the use of storminsgo And altierhilni7.avings ceoeed and were never attempted.. Bulgaria holds the Emorienti re-. cord for centenarians with 0,800 has only 150.