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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1901-10-24, Page 7imowksimetwswmwtsmoxio*,4move The Red Witch I 44034,34wEews030',+:400 Or The Wooinx Of Constatitia '0)1'ElOWSX0)KCOE'li4Ni+W-4,1(4>Wat!.4**844SfeN.K4tel;e044;0)/(4,31;441,E. CHAPTER XI, "Ail!" cried she zneertlY, "Will no- thing etop you? Must I then have recourse to fore?" 11,s she spoke she took up a he strawberry, and pressed it with her daintY, slender lingers against hie lips. Of course he took it, and of couree, too, he lauglied, and then the dasigerous ar- 1!Zfleiit was at ao end. But Feather - Stoll had sown his seed, and wee aot discontented. The peed sown was fear'arid Mrs, Dundas iri due time svouici reap, it, and turn to bira for advice in her perplexity, and knew herseif in hie power. Yet, after all, he,hardly know Mrs, Dunclas. • ' They waxed mereier as the minntes flow, Mrs, Blake, who loved ton bet- ter than anythilig in the world, ex- cept, perhaps, her husband, had just had another cup, and Donna a, little more champagne. Never had the Gottage been...guilty of so meth laughthr. It was a regu- lar frolic, and at odd moments Con- stantia.'S heart beat rather loudly in her bosom as she thought of what Aunt. Bridget would say when she found it out, and thaukoo_ her stars so many. mites. lay between them at the present hour. Barry was In the middle of a rather exciting tale, and he stood up to illustrate it. "Leek," said ho, "he hold his hand up liko this"-garm extended on high with a, tumbler at the end of it—"he lust took one step forward: everyone knew the lost second had arrived; thoy wore breathless with suspense; their blood ran cokl, when suddenly tile door was flung wide open,' and He was quite right. It was ,flung open, and— Miss McGillicuddy 'stood upon the th resh ol d There was silencein that parlor for a very considerable. minute. Mr. Derry's tale had been illustrated for him far more generously than he ei- ther dreatnt or desired. When the deadly lull had grown positively in- supportable, it was broken in a ra- ther dreadful manner. Mrs. ,Blalie, .who was young and delicately alive to the ludicrous, gave way to a wild and perfectly irrepressible burst of laughter. This destroyed the spell that held them. Mr. Strange, fearful for Con- stantia, rose abruptly to his feet and rnade a movement towards the Gorgon iri the doorway. Tho others stirred more or less. Mrs. Blake, still shaking with laughter, went to the window; Varley and Mr. O'Gra- dy took a step farther—then cleared the sill, and found themselves in the garden. Constan tie, however, though evi- dently frightened out of her wits,' sat still ; and Mrs. Dundas seemed entirely, undisturbed. She looked at. pale, Mr. Stronge hesitated, To say he sent there would get Oonstan- tie. into dire disgrace; te refrain from lingual placed all tho onus on her, Once again, as •hope !seemed dee.d, Donna came -to tho rescue, "I Sent them," ehe said cheerfully. "Aro thoy not fine? So early in the yoar, too, I emitpride myself upon theta. If I wore you should try .sorne. They woulti do you all the good in the world, They, ate— very coolisig," Miss McGillicuddy glared at her, and Donna answered tho glare with one of her moet charming smilee. "You look awfully queer," she said sweetly. "Do take my advice, and sit down and have a strawberry or two ; ConstantieSs Creain 15 ex- collent." ."Whero is your husband ?" de- manded Mies McGillicuddy, with a gasp. "When last I saw nits," responded Donna pleasantly, "he was still in the flesh—still a visitor Upon this sordid earth ; but that is many hours ego. Where he may be now, Is unknown to nae." "Why is he not waits you ?" • "Ah !" satcl Donna, "now, what a cliffleult question is that 1—a conun- drum almost. So many answers might be given to it; but I suppose one will suffice. 'I didn't want him." "You aro a wretched woman!" said Miss McGillicuddy slowly, and with. conviction. Mrs, Dundee regarded her, Best with curiosity, then with a careful reproach; after that she broke into ono of her flts of silent laughter that, as a rule, were so aggravating to the one injured. It set the others 011inspite of themselves. Even Constantia., with ruin, as it were, stating her in the face, gave way to long and unseemly mirth. "Well, I e.xpeet now is our time for slcedaddling," said Mrs. Dundas, rising with slow grace to her feet, and looking round to whore Lord Varley was standing at tho open window. I -To was outside still, but was leaning against tho window frame. "I shall walk," she said ; "the evening is charming, and through the wood—" • "I ain glad you havo elected to go through my wood," said Feather- ston, in a calmly rrienaly way. "It will give me the opportunity of pointing out to you, the special lit- tle points of interest on the coast below." 'No turned to Constantip and took her hand, and pressed it very gently and murmured something that brought a.bright flush to her pretty cimek. Then he wont back to Mrs. Dundee. She .had been watching hirn, and Mrs. McGillicuddy, who was plainly had •been rather amused by donstan- fuming, with a pleased extectancy tia's flush. So that was his little in her eye, and put anothergame 1 He would play fast and strawberry between her sharp, white loose with her and w2th Constantin,, teeth, with a sense of thorough en- She knew at that moment that she joymcnt. • hated Featherston, and she therefore Mr. Strong°, who ought to have turned and bestowed upon him a be - received the Victoria Cross, went tendering little smile, sich in friend - up to Miss McGillicuddy. "Dear Miss McGillicuddy, this is " Coine," she said, and stopped indeed an unexpected pleasure," he with him towards the window, v,ffiich said.. "But I fear you must be very tired. Do sit down and Mt your nice° give you a cup of tea." "It is beyond my deserts sir as has been scud, was almost level 'with the ground. Lord Varley volts holding her parasol, and now hancle het her gloves, ancl turned as if to that you should make ine.so wel- accompany her. "Aro you coming come in my own home," replied Miss too ?" she asked, with a gesture of MCC li cl est grimly. surprise. "But this is too kind. 11 She waved him back imperiously, is altogether out or your way, Lord and gazed with a stem glance Varley, and—well, if you will come, around her. She looked from ono it' is kind, very kind. Good-bye, to the other in turn, and inarked Connie. There could hardly have where Mrs. Blake was standing, with been a pleasanter afternoon, I think, her shoulders still moving COnVl11- specially the termination of it. steely, in the window. She opened She stopped through the window, hor lips as if to speak, and Barry, and accompanied by Varley and seeing this, rushed into the breach. Featberston, turned a corner, and 'lily dear madarn, if you will just Wag gO.PO. Barry had arrringed to consider the long journey, the—" walkettnne with Mrs. Blake, and Hero hecaught, her eye, and waver- soca' they all disappeared. At the ed and quavered, and finally broke very last Strange had torn himself. down. "Let me get you a. glass of away. tea—that is—or—a, cup of cha--Oh hope slao won't be cross to —or—a glass of—that is—I mean—" you," he .said diffidently to Constan- lie faltered in ft. melancholy manner, tin, as he held her hand at parting. "Young man," cold Miss McCilli- He was alluding, of course, .to Miss middy sternly, "when you know McGillicuddy, and he really looked, what you do mean it will 'be high miserably apprehensive of the worst. time to speak." She regarded him' "She will not murcier ine," she fixecily.' "You do the part to per- said. "You need not look like that. fection," she said ; "If you had re- 11-11 you would like to be assured hearsed it, it coeld not be better." of that fact you cam come and see '"I'he mot ?' stammered he. • forsyourself to -morrow whether I am "Ay—of a fool," -said she. or am not in the land of the living." This was terrible. Barrie, entirely This, Stronge thought, was it mar - crushed, fell out of the conversation vellously kind permission, and ho and sank 'into silence. He had, with went away as happy a man as there much forethought, swallowed his was in Irelaud then. champagne, and ilow trustecl in providence that, in spite of 114 fatal speech, she would pass over the tum- PTXII. blers ; thougb, as a rule, people do It was a glorious night, as special not take their tea out of them, es though it had been ordered with The discussion had. however, been the supper and the baud. Nature of some use. 11 had given George nmet have been in sympathy with time for aceion. Being a inedical Andrew Stronge when it accorded student of Trinity College, Dublin; him such a moon for his entertain - he wits naturally full of resource, ment. and white his aunt was having this It was quite a brilliant affair (the light and playful skirmish with Dar- ball, 001 the moon, thought it was ry,' he made his way unobserved, brilliant too), Needy all tho coma - even by her eagle eye, to the hide- try was present—the blankets having boort], had secured the champagne been forgiven for some timc—and bottles, full and empty, had deposit- Mrs. Dundas, who wasn't in any cid them beneath a sidetable with a way careful, as to what she said, de- clared thosd wife comprised it to be "the ugliest lot sho had seen 'for quite a century or two," Hor own party mustered pretty strong, Nor house just now, as she had hinted to Conetantia Would be the ease, was filled with guests to oveeilowing. All' this wna rather a trial to Mr. Dutidas, who Was of a. somewhat reserved and silent dis- position; but as it pie:teed Domm, of course there was nothing to be Said. Ho avorehipped his lovely wife with an adorieg Neaten, that was all the more intense because, of its quietude, and the stern, calm nature of the man who felt. it. Ile mildew- ed his guests with a kindly courtesy, and kissed his wife In a tenderly re- asuring fashion when she hinted to 111111 ltItOV on that "they were a dreadful bore to him, peer things," There Was a Sir. Luke and Lads, GOlightly., Ab Hoe, Della Blair, napkin flung over them, and now Stood before that sido table with arms folded calmlyon his breast, prepared to sell his life as dearly as possible. But Miss MeGillicuddy, being Ig- norent of the existence of those bot- tles, Made no advance Upon his quar- ter. 1Ier whole enorgiee were now concentrated upon Mrs. Dendas. "Donna Dundee," said she, "Nrhat have you got in that tuinbler ?" "I.enionado,'' retailed she, with groat preseace of mind, and as a pre- ventive against further investigatfoo the drank what remaiued in her glass, "Humph 1" said Mee McGillicud- dy. She now looked towards the head of the table, where Coestentla eat, cold and terrified. oColastataitt " sald she, Whore did yOU get those eteaerborries ?" 01 nstentiti, grew crflitSeti, and then 4 Who didn't Seem to have allybedy belonging to her—cortainly nobody who had any (*acorn for her belles vier. There Were several unraarried men, an Italian prince, who was openly and miserahlY infatuated abeut his hostese. This was terrible to the CisIst country-siee, which Wee Only accus- tomed to legitimate dirtatioo, and wee very efton severe on that. Tbey, speke of Mrs. Dundee and hor Italtaim prince with bated breath; but Donna heard it ail Qua way or another, and plucked Anuoh eoloyment out of the whispering, and encouraged it, in- deed, by a dexterous word let drop irrelevantly here and them It was of nee to her, thie email gossip. :Did it not draw ell the oyes of the watt:Meg many from the constant attention of Lord Varley ? She wee =refill enough to let thorn see .that she cared nothing for the eilly passion of this Boman and as she was rich and outwardly respectable, the world, even in that primitive spot,. had shrewdness en- ough to know that it was their bet- tor part not to condemn her. Der house was full of young men, all ap- parently moneyed, and the mothers round there had many girls to max- ry After a bit, too, they condoned even card -parties that were Incess- ant at Dallyinore, and for sorne time quite scandalised the neighborhood. They were not so bad, of eourse, as the fait. of it married woman having it lover, but they were bad enough, aod matrons with sons quelled be- fore them. But, after all, the inter- ests of the daughters were para- mount, and possible anavringee lay in the entertainanonts at Ballymoro, where the strange y,oung men from the other side of the water congre- gated. If there were cards, there was also claiming, and an extreme and liberal boepitality *.s. and the younger members Of die austere county families declaring, in favor of Donna, the elders gave way, and the possible iniquity wee wisely pushed into the background, and consigned to silence. This decision- was helped by the discovery that play of a mild sort was, of late, largely patronizea at Araglin. Indeed, it had becoine a rather distinct feature in the amuse- ments there since—well, since the ar- rival of Mrs, Pundits in the neigh- borhood. And if dear Lady Varley, who was quite all that anyone should be,, made no objection — why— 1_ , Mild ploy. That was insisted up- on. It was that in both houses, or else the boys and girls could not go. Sksponny points, or4so, at that good old Tory game, whist I They never went Alto the "or so, which per- haps was fortunate for the junior members. Everything at present., therefore, wont on velvet ; and Mrs. Dundas entered Andrew. Stronge's ball -room to -night, a relent ovation was ac- corded her --by the men. She looked superbly lovely in a bright, spark- ling style—animation being a chief chtuon of hors, and one that lifted her high above the usual run of faultless beauties. She was extra- ordinarily full of life; and every movement, gesture, or glance betray- ed it. To find it woman capable of being* amused le much. To fin.d one who can amuse is more. Airs. Dun - dila to most men was amusing. She was dressed in black lace — a rich, soft, clinging- gown, that ren_ dared her already perfect complexion even more dazzlingly fair. "Le noir est (loapur pour les blondes." It made Mrs. Muffles like a bit of liv- ing' marble, so purely white she short°, so exquisite were the long shapely naked arms as they fell; upon the black delicate lac now one, now the other, against her sides, of her gown, The wonaon grew spiteful about her red hair, and 'strove diligently to think it hideous ; but none of thetu honestly succeeded. They sneered at it to any mea who chanced at the moment to be near them, and their tempers were not improved when their partners returned the, sneer either with a glance of blank amaze- ment or else a studied survey of the polished floor at their feet—and si- lence. It wasimpossible to decry her 1 She looked the very incarna- tion of youth and beauty—a very vi- sion of loveliness, though perhaps of a rather unholy order. With all her vivacity, she was, too, very dis- tinguished -looking, and had all the air and carriage of one well born, which of course came naturally to her, her birth being unimpeachable. Just now she was sLauding in a recess, talking to Featherston. She Was, as usual, anitnated ; and Fea- therston, who was grave as a rule, was laughing, "How full of life Mrs. Dundas seems ! " said Lady Varley, glanc- ing at O'Grady, XVII() happened to be beside her. "It is a wonderful charm, When I see her, I envy her always more tlum ally, woman I know. She :seems over so eatirely happyre" regarded hor keenly. Why should there be envy? Did she guess? Was this an allusion to Airs. Dundas's charm. for— Ere chocked his suspicion with a sense of heavy self contempt as he gazed at the puns, calm face near him. "To be always impny, is to bit withotb fooling," he said. " Mrs. Dundiss, I should say, is so far for- tunate; yet. I think she misses ft good deal, Ah I there goes some- one of an exactly different mind." Ile was indicating Gonstantia, who heti come into the Stiller light, and now stood for a moirient looking at Mrs. Dundee, Who was still talking In a soft, vivacious way to Fenthee- sten. The girl was dressed in a sim- ple • white gown, that hung in etraight folde upon her, and that somehoW suited lter, in spite, of its leek of fashionable fettle and furbe- lows. A littlo color crept into her face as she Saw Featherston's un- doubted enjoymeat of Donne's some- what racy eoiworsation ; and as she tinned to pass en with her partner, who was Barry, tho smile she gave to Lady Varloy was slightly forced. "You moan Constantia," said La- dy Varloy, aneweritig O'Grady's last remark as the gitl went by them. She had geowe very friendly with O'Grady of late; and indeed the die- tingtashed Iriell traveller WaS quite a pvoo'Lbc a Araglin, Lord Varley inelet,ing upon his ping there AS Often art was ntealble. '"Yee, elle le different, She ie one io p, thousand. think, of all the Mallen X hOoW, X like her best, X have egmetiinee thought---" "Well," paid he, "What have you thought ?" "Mayr 1 speak ? You will not be angry? You have always: been iso kind to me that now I Want to be kind to you. And Oonstantia tee hos been, kind. Why should not re- quite you both ? And it Would be such a haspy thing, it seems to me," "Yee-sbet what ?" asked lie, with some faint sense of annisement, not understanding* her. 'Srliat you should marry her That she should lore you 1 Ah ! yes, that would be easy. There le no other 000 to whom 1 %mild so read- ily give her, and I think—I know— you would be quite, quite happy 1" She regarded him with her gentle oyes and did not in the least under- stand why he shrank beneath her earnest gaze, and turned fro= her; and pretended, such a sudden inter- est ill it plant near him. "You are 3iot angry? You think perhapa, I have interfeted—" "No. Olt, no 1 It is not that:it is only that I skroll never marry," replied lie quickly. "And besides," he was laughing now, though las race was a little pale, "if were to dare to think of Miss MeG i lieuddy, what do you think would be my end ? How should I escape the vengeance of those already in the field ? le it my death you aro seeking? ThinIc of Barry's mighty fist, of our host's superior weight." "Alm, I see," said she, regarding lam with gentle sympathy, -there is some ono else, somewhere. I am sorry I spoke to you; but you will pardon that, and—and I hopo it will be well with you some day." O'Grady's brows contracted. "You don't know what you are saying," he axclaimed, i'ather brusquely. . (To be Continued.) HEItE AND THERE. interesting Items About Almost EverAhing. Russia is opening new savings banks at the rato of 600 a year. Every square mile of sea is enti- mated' to' contain some 120,000,000 fish. Some of the Raoil mines in the Transvaal are worked at it depth of 12,000 fect. It is said that out of every 100 lives insured in England only live are women. Only one passeoger is killed in 6,947,181 railway journeys, and only one in 568,402 is injured. Great Britain's wealth increases abriut $2,250,000 every day—that is, six cents a head a day. There is salt enough in the sea to cover 7,000,000 square miles of land with a layer one mile in thickness. In the bakeries of La Roehefou- could, in. Prance, it is said that wo- men enter the cmyons when they are 301 degrees.' The Monte Carlo gambling casino made 84,500,000 last year, of which 82;500,000 was clear profit. The army denth-ritte is lower in Great Britaitt than in any country. In France it is noarly six times as high. The largest east bronze statue in thb world is that of Petor the Great at St. Petersburg. It weighs 1,100 tons. A curious pant in Swedish crim- inol law is that confession is oeces- sary before capital punishment can be carried out. The shark holds the record for - long -distance swimming. A shark has been It1101V11 to cover 800 tulles in three days. Tho niunber of rooms in a house, of windows or doors in a. room, oven of rungs of a ladder, in Siam, must always be odd. The United Kingdont has colonies and possessions whose area, is equal to more than twenty-seven times her own size. The amount of gold coin in adtual eineulation in the world is estimated by the Bank of England officials to be about 865 tons. About 5,000 horses are annually killed in Spain in bull -fights. At these contests from 1,000 to 1,200 butte are sacrificed yearly. In spite of its capacity for bard work, the elephant seldom, if ever, sleeps more than four or, occasion- ally, five hours a day. The Lmidon Togrer Iltidge is being painted, and it is estimated that 25,,S tons of color will he used in the task, together with 300 gallons of varnish. Niagara, though not the bighest waterfall, holds the record for size. Thirty-two million tons of water roll over the cliff in. the course of a single hour. The prime of life in a man of re- gular habitsand sound coustitution Is from thirty to ilf tat -live years of age ; of -a woman, from twonty-foue or twenty-five to about forty years of ago. TAXING A MONTH orr, Smithkine, said that young man's employer, you may take a month off, Oh, sir, replied the clet•Ic as soon as Ile could command his voice, it is so good of you to suggest it! I bave felt the need of a holiday for some time, but have hesitated to ask for it, knowing how busy wo aro. But it will do me no end ot. good, and I thank you most heartily for your consideration. Smithkins, said the employer, are you eriazy? Why, no, sir. Didn't you say I Might take it Month o(f? - Certainly, that ie what I said. This is the fil'St of the Month, while lest month's ectleadat remains meer your desk. Take last, month off and keel) it up to date. That's what I meadt. The mind that is 'smolt elevated and insolent With prosperity, and cast down by adversity, is general- ly abject arid base, .Cologne cathedral is the higheSt, masoriry building to the world, with it height of 528 feet. The Washing - tort inentnnent, 505 feet, Comes next, HELP TO KILL EACH OTHER •••••••••••••• XOW %''HE CHEMIST ASSISTED THE POUITHY FARMER., Cate Are Foncl of Valerian—Seete Greys' Experience in Sollth Africa,. . A gentleman poultry farmer in tho south of London suffered ao severely from the ravages et rate that ho had alltloSt decided to give up his hobby. Not only did the vermin steal his eggs wholesale, but they killed tile Youilg chicks almost as fast as they were hatched. One happy day an old friend, a claernist, visited him and learnt of hiS grief, Ile made light of the difficulty, and pronused the *vic- tim early' relief. A few hours later it curious smell began to pervade the lien roost and the roof of the out- house. SimUltaneously stray cats began to saunter over them. In the first day seven rats fell victims. Within it week the eggs were coming in with tho most satisfactory. regu- larity. Then the chemist told his secret. A few drops of valerian sprinkled upon the side of the hen - roost had proved irresistible to the neighboring felines. This curious "perfume" Is extracted from the root of a plant largely grown in the vil- lages nbout Chesterfield. England. It was a popalar scent and flavoring In the sixteenth century, but has now descended into the category of "efflu- via," Although still used medicinal- ly for ' hysterical afflictions, it is chiefly remarkable for the attrac- tive power i1, exercises upon cats. Any cat owner wishing to rid an outbuilding of rats cannot do better than freely sprinkle their haunts with it. A .solution of valerian is some- times used in connection with a cat to detect escapes of the fatal but in- odorous sewer gas. The solution is put into the drain and the cat al- lowed to ramble outside it. Pussy will point at each leak, for all the world LIKE A SPORTING DOG, For the purpose of Polar Explora- tion the hardy Esquimo sledge dog Is unsampassed. He will Mutt the ex- plorer and his outfit over the rough- est lee without being In the least dis- tressed by the terrible cold. Unfor- tunately for tho good ship Discovery, there are no tykes of this type in the South Poltu• region; and between the Arctic and Antarctic circles lies the broad belt of the tropics, the ex- treme hoot of which would probably prove fatal to nine -tenths of them. But Captain Scott of the Discovery 1ms got right behind Dame Nature this time. Eis team of seventy-five Greenlanders will make the voyage from the Arctic to Melbourne, where they will overtake the Discovery, without the slightest inconvenience. They are to go out in a liner in charge of an ex -whaler, Mr. 'Weller, and as soon as they find the heat op- pressive will be popped Into one of the ressol'a gigantic freezing rooms, whore, with the temperature care- fully adjusted to Greenland "heat," they will complete their voyage with the maximum of comfort and the minimum of risk. During the first few weeks of the Boer Wee the horses of the Scats Greys suffered severely from the ENEMY'S RIFLE rum. Their losses quite outdistanced those o/ any other corps, and it seemed as though this corps was spe- cially singled out by the enemy's Sharp -shooters. Then it was sudden- ly recognized that the _poor brutes' grey and white coats were so readily visible at long ranges as to be a positive cloath-trap. Forthwith they were subjected to baths of ciliated Candy's fluid, from whiter they em- erged a nondescript khaki color. Their casualties forthwith became norman. Their baths had sas•ed them. The valuable carrier pigeon has it natural and deadly enemy in the various kinds of hawks which infest the shores of the English channel. Generatious of pigeon fanciers have good cause to rue the havoc made by these blood -thirsty marauders, but Without hitting upon any successful protection fortheir pots. Since the pigeoa has come to he employed in tvarlike operations, however, the question has assumed a wider signi- ficance. It is vital that these mes- sengers should be undisturbed. The French military- pigeon flyers attach a. tiny screw and whistle to their birds. The action of flying revolves, the screw and Vows the whistle, the Itilavo%isiess.of which effectually scares. the AN INDIFFERENCE CENTRE, Percy—I don't see how you keep so blamed olverful and contented. Guy—Easy enough; I don't waste time or vitality thinking* about the people who have more of this world'e favors than I have. A curious custom prevails in Korea If a man meets his wife in tho street he ignores her presence and passes her as if she were, a stranger, Berlin, with 28,785 telephone sub- scribers, holds a, world's record in proportion to popuintion, The most expeoeive country to tel- egraph from to England is Japan. Cables cost 6s 2e1 a word. In 1850 Canada, had 500 miles of railway; to -day sho has 40,000— double tho mileage of England. 146,852 people emigrated front the United Kingdom last year, and there were 210,696 immigrants. The biggest apple orchard in the World luts 64,000 trees. It belongs itcaa oaGisovstrzior Morrill of the State of On 67,000 acres England grows 26,000 tons of hops, valued at $15,- 000,000. Gormley, with 19,000 tons its the next largest grower. THE IVAII OF THE AMA/ALS. So into of r me time agocats were impotted Austtalin, to subclUe the plague obits. Now Come einhplaints from NOW Smith Wales and Vietoria . that tho birds are being destroyed, the cats, whith Were ouly intended to prey upon the *albite, having turned their attention to the feather- ed inhabitants of the couittry, While the fogee, ibtroducecl her seine Other pUrpate, are robbieg the hen-yatda and, aseleting tile cat 111 the Wax On native birdat 4 4 4 4 ge.swqrsTINR.raPic.0-41,4-41.0+,",,,k. sPir+W.,4±010-0iivOir#V.34Vi;' In days of yore, the hero Wolfe The mciple leaves were falling thick -14,t4+6.Atee+—ftftrIt+Attititill_ttio...ititcb*oiltiA _ Canada's National Anthem. "The Maple Leaf" AND ITS AUTHOR. Maine glory did rnaintaAri, And planted firm Britannia's flag • On Canada's fair domain, Here IllaY it wave, our boast, otlr pride. Arid Join in love tog:ether With lily, thistle, shamrock, ,rese, The maple leaf Soreveri Chorus:— The maple leaf. our emblem deal', The maple leaf forever! God save our King, and Heaven bless The maple leaf forever! On many hard -bought battle field, Our brave fathers, side by side, For freedom, homes and loved ones dear. Firmly stood and nobly died; And those dear rights, which they maintained, We swear to yield them never! We'll rally 'round the Union Jack, The maple leaf forever! In autumn time, our emblem dear, Dons its tints of crimsen hue; Our blood would dye a deeper red, Shed, dear Canada for you: Bre sacred rights, our fathers won, To foemen we deliver We'll fighting dies -our battle cry, "The maple leaf forever!" God bless our loved Canadian homes, Our Dominion's vast domain ; May plenty ever ,be ou_r lot, And peace hold an endless reign; Our union bound by ties of love, That discord cannot sever And flourish green o'er freedom's home The maple leaf forever! On merry England's far-famed land, May kind Heaven sweetly smile; Clod bless old Scotland evermore, And Ireland's emerald Isle! Then swell the song, both loud and long, rill rooks and forests quiver; God save our King, and Heaven bless The maple leaf foreveri and fast, decked In all the exquisite coloring of their dying tints: yeilovr., crhnson and bronze, away they danced down to their resting places. Gee little leaf, such a frail little leaf, fluttered gently down aed rested on the coat of Mr. Muir, he brushed it aside and thought ef it no more, but as the friends were ahrut to part, the little leaf was seen still clinging closely to hie sleeves, ''Write some verses about It" gala, the friend to Mr. Muir, as he laid the tiny emblem in his hand. Two hours later the verses were written, the tiny leaf had fulfilled ite destiny. We may almost say that it is to his wife we am indebted for the meIodgi elle it was wbo proposed that the words be set to music, as she llsten- ed to her husband reciting them for their chilaren's amusement, It was done; no tune could be found which fitted the words to the little folks' sat- isfaction, so their father must make one up; he did so, and the fastidloue taste of the bairns was satisfied then, and later a nation rejoiced bemuse of a national air. Millions of copies of that song have been sold. It has been set for solos, duetts and choruses; it has been made an orchestral score, and one would na- turally suppose that it's author would benefit thereby. Alas, for the mean. ness of human nature 1 He is not et business man, this man of whom we speak. He thought nothing about the "copyright." Being an honest man himself, it never occurred to him to prevent anyone stealing the child cf his brain, so it happened that a, rich music firm in the City of Toronto, saw the possibiltlea of this song, saw, too, the opoprtunity of making money at another's expense, without running the risk of punishment, and to -day, though the melody is familiar in almost every country, Canada still owes the author thirty dollars, the price im paid for the publication of the first thousand copies. It is shameful, it is disgrace- ful, but it Is lawful. Yet he has received much that per - How the music pulsed and thrilled and burst out into one long triumphant shout of melody. Over the arches it went, and down the "midway"; Past the Temple of Music, and claiming the "Rainbow City', for its own, on that memorable day when the "Kitties" W500 bidden IV that usually vicious bird, the eagle, "to take the freedom Of the city and consider the Pan-Ara- erican Exposition theirs. The Maple Leaf, the ale.ple Leaf, sang the band, and down Mashed the cymbals, and forth rolled the drums, and then how the people shouted. Every drop of Canadian blood was stirred ,and not one of Canada's sons and `daughters but took up the song of their country. Even the erase old eagle forgot to scream, and actually joined in the, chorus. "Wal, now,' said a tall, lank 'Yankee, as he spat an enormous mouthful of tobacco juice into the canal, "that's what call a toon, ra actually like to be a Canticle myself, if 1 warn't some- thing better, Who made that there 'loon, now, arid what about it, ken yer tell me, yer a Canticle ain't yer?" The band played on, but the disciple of tobacco did not get his answer though it was a Canuek he had ad- dressed. 'Somehow, we thought that the "Maple Leaf" had always been written, and not until now had we ever realized that it had a why ant where- fore. We would seek out the author Of that "toon" Just as soon as cir- cumstances permitted. So we resolv- ed, and the resolution was kept. I 'We found him. the author of "The Maple Leaf," one beautiful sunny morning, and he taught us tb.e wisdom of the old saying that, "The great men are the simplest" Mr. Alexander Muir (all alio towel met him speak the name lovingly), is nothing if not peculiar for his utter lack of anything, like self-conselous- nese, he is not even proud of his simplicity, Faith Fenton once said that Ito reminded her of Mr. Pickwink, and the likeness is certainly very strong. Ile stands before me, his ample form clothed in dark blue serge, his spectacles pushed high back on a forehead where curls were once wont to rest; and his kindly blue eye and ruddy, clean-shaven fate beaming down, much the same as Mr. PickWiek I must have beamed on Miss Arabella. I birthplace, but ever since 1831 Canada has had him Scotland claims hie t for her own, and a more noble and; Aaddie" his Dearer over patriotic son no country ever produced,s it "wee bit l ' verse and melody manifested itselfto such it degree; indeed, that Dr. Nor- man MeLeod drew the curly-headech! little boy to him and said: "Yell be' Wee1 ken'd yet afore ye dee." 'aim good; doctor had recognized the newer of genius, but even he could not Sore - see that it was that genius which was to ve the heart ef a.. nation, and Snake the bleed ot patriots tingle to %their finger tips. "The ateple Leaf, the song in alremst every tongtte, and 0 wherever gt 1108 been heard it tutted Mople Leaf," the melody hair been tho plated in Almost eVerY country, and WdEtrentanelringofli eta tottieghAiraenktti , oanntto 5.1111111111 set foliage and the glorimis svInter atm - shine of that beatitifel, free, young country, which Svotild alwaYs, b home to him. It was years ago, back in '67, Nutt Alexander Melt' was waiting With a friend Ari. a. Toronto garden, erijoYing tto pleasure of an October afternoon. haps he values more than money. He has a nation's gratitude, he has fame. he has the knowledge that in the years to come, when his place knows him no more, this song Ile has written will stiul be the one which will lead the Canadian patriot to battle or gladden the festi- val of Canada's peace. It is something to have such a knowledge. It is not granted to most of us to know of a ! icieortbtaienetny tam tnhavtoltlives and work have It was such a pleasant morning we spent in that Gladstone avenue school. It is there that Mr. Muir has his private office. rre Is above everything else a schoolmaster, as his father was before . him, and he loves his profession with all the strength of his nature. He took me all over the building. Everywhere were found marks of the principal's patriotism. In every room 'were flags, maple leaves and mottoes. "Oh, to be a, child again," I cried, as I passed from room to TOOnl. The kind hand rested for a moment on my shoulder. "We all wish that, my dear," was the quiet reply. "We think we could do !better, but tile chances are we would do the same again. We can only do , our best now, the past is gone." "Tell us about the flag on the school," We asked, "you really were the father of that idea, were you not?" "Yes," re- plied Mr. Muir smiling. "This was the first school that owned a flag, and it halellened in this way." When this building was near comple- tion, 1 went to the Chairman of the Building Committee Frank Somers, and asked him for the flagpole. Said he: "Sure, now, and what would ye do wid a flagpole, at all, ea all, and where would ye get the flag to put on told him I would see to that. After thinking for's, mmute he broke out: "Well, now, ril make a bargain wid ye. 111 let ye have the pole if ye'll have the flag floe -tin' by the Twelfth of July." It did float that day bravely enough to satisfy an Orangeman of even Frank Somers' views." Mr. Muir allowed us other songs of his, the latest being "Young Canada Was There." /1 is a malestle ode and deserves popularity. The second verse Is perhaps the best. It runs thus:— "Up, up the kettle's frowning height. With fearless hearts they go. Through hiseing shot and bursting ararg ii' Te e e the hidden foe. With bey'nets fixed—a BrItisigtheer, That rends the sulph'rous The charge is made—the victory won, Young Canada was there." Everythiag comessto an end, the morning I had so enjoyed was past, and over the city the bells. proclaimed the hour of noon. I must go, and there was nothing left to do but say "fare - welt felt the warm pressure of the hand and heard ale strong loving vein say earnestly: "God bless You," It may be we, shall net meet again, will do more th u heneeforthenthoetoCuasene4limpatatinotthiet t will present to my mind the picture fa matt, who Understood life; who had Ought WS battle and won It, standin In the senshirie under the trees helm,- ed,utterIng that old,eWeet phraae. Matfett is now, ales, so Seldom heard, Not as a muslolae, net as a poet, but as a lov- ing, earnest Christian, shall I remelt- ber the man who wrote "The Mame tear b'erevet," —Lilulo A. Cooper, in Toronto Ladies