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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1899-3-17, Page 2THE BR V' SSELS POS T. 111:mu1l 17, 1899 Diamond Cut Diamond OL, THE ROUT OF THE ENEMY. CHAPTER, XV111.-Continued, • "To begin with, 1 had the good fere tune to follow Mane. de Brefour and her female attendant from Easton sta- tion to Hollow -wood, ten miles north of Doedon-bere they aligbted, sled proceeded on foot about a couple of miles, and entered, a desolate house by the wayelde, where 1 distinetly saw at the window the face of Leon do Bre- tour ; they remained there for about half -an -hour -after watch they return- ed to Euston." "And after 1" "I am sorry to say that, at Euston, the crowd was so great, that I lost sight of them." Mr. Dane frowned slightly. To him- self be said -"Then you might as well have stopped at home." But aloud be remarkad- 'You .bave done very well, Triehet, It is quite what I guessed. By the way, you have not, I suppose, found out where the lady lives '1' "No, sir. You nephew bas certainly not been to see her. At the same time I am convinced that there is some com- munication between them -as the evi- dence ot the bookseller shows. I have followed him like a dog, sir, like a shadow -in fact, it was under the im- pression that Geoffrey a, le going to meet the Miss Hallidays at ifaulkner's rooms last Saturday that I acme to such trouble, for I made bold. to join the party unasked. But Geoffrey was not there." Mr. Dane shot a swift glance at him -beneath his heavy brows. This was news to Win; because Mrs. Dane, in her timidity, bad certainly given him to understand the oontrary. Remade a mental snore against that lady, "Wily tot, I wonder P' he remarked indifferently. Albert smiled meaniagly. His smile, beheld beneath his patched -up nose, had a truly ghastly effect. "Well, Mr, Dane," be said, with an affectation of reluctance and hesitation, 'you see there are wheels within wheels in this world -.and there are de- licate little matters in the private lives of most men that it is somewhat un- engerous to pry into." "Explain yourself, Triohet," said Mr. Dane, coldly, "I am not fond of rid- dles." "Certainly, I will explain. It la probable that Faulkner was not will- ing to ask so powerful a rival as your nephew to meet the lady whose affec- tions he is anxious to gain." "What!" Mr. Dane fairly jumped, ".A. rival. What do you mean, Trichet? Do you mean to tell me that Miles Faulkner has dared—" "Exactly, sir. I am sorry to say he has dared." As Albert admitted this, he appear- ed to be profoundly concerned; he look- ed at his feet with a melancholy air, and sighed deeply. "What! to aspire to the hand of Miss Angel Halliday?" oried bis ebief, whose horror at this fresb complication al- most threw him off bis guard. Then, recovering himself quickly, he added, with a shrug of his shoulders, "Ala 1 but I see -my good friend, you have made an error, it is to Miss Dulcin that I suspect our gigantic friend is pay- ing his attentions." "Oh, no, sir," interrupted Triohet quickly. no, am in a position to con- tradiot that 'suspicion entirely. It is the object of my fondest hopes to make Miss Dulcie my wife." "indeed, Trichet 1" "Mr, Dane, I love that girl with all my heart -1 worship her -1 adore the ground that she treads upon 1" And carried away by his emotions, Albert slid down on to one knee by tbe side of his chair. "Mr. Halliday's room is cm the floor above," remarked Mr. Dane, drily. "What has this got to do with me, if you please "Everything, Mr. Dane - every- thing1" cried Triehet, with enthusiasm. "Because, as every man in this great house knows, nothing can go on in it without your sanction. Allow me, I entreat you, to plead my cause." Matthew Dane, like all autocrats, was not insensible to flattery, he Ilk - ed his power to be anknowledgeta. he smiled a little grimly, and intimated by a sign that he would graciously con- sent to hear the lover's story. "Mr. Faulkner, when out of your presence, sir, makes no secret of which sister he prefers; but bis jealousy is so great, that because I unwittingly placed myself between the sisters, he was unable to distinguish my friendli-: nese to the elder from my love towards the youager, consequently he lost his head, and with a burst of the most• frightful passion, let loose a huge and violent bull -dog, whom he keeps chain- ed in a back yard to frighten away thieves, and get him upon me. I was most horribly mauled by the brute, ' and only tramped with difficulty with my life," "But this is shameful!" cried the old man. This must be looked into -it is a ease for the police," "No, Mr: Dane, No 1 I have forgiv- en him. Mr. Faulkner has tendered bis apologies, and for the sake of the lady, whose name I honor, I have con- aented to overlook the affront, and to bury tbe past in silence. We cannot drag in a lady's name, you see, sir 1" "I understand, Triehet. Let me tell you, you have behaved very well in this unfortunate matter." "Thank you, Mr. Dane, thank you," replied the young man modestly. "I have, 1 hope, striven to thew forbetir- mice and !good feeling -and I may look to you, sir, may t not, to keep this itt- tle untoward eplsode a Soorott now permit ma to lay before you toy hopes concerning Miss Delete." "My good fellow, I am not ber fath- er." "No, Mr. Dane, but you are capable of influencing her father, and I want to ask for your good offices on my behalf." Mr. Dane sat silently stroking his chit in the palm of bis hand for some D1OTODDL81l seemed to be somewhat puzzled by him olerk. Once he darted a keen, Shaft -like gleam at him, as though a sudden simpleton had (won - ea his tnitia bet train Lae (sandal face turned enquiringly towards bite, 00- t}.nng aotftd, sat'S 5. 00081 natural and lown-like anxiety as to the answer to hie laaquest. "To tell you the truth," said hie thief et length, "I am not quite sure that Mr, Hein& a would cofisider you e sufficiently good match even for bis younger daughter. Stop 1 don't inter- rupt: me. Your salary is 2290 a year. You have, I believe, no other source of income -your prospects--" "My prospects are very good," said Trialiet: promptly, looking very straight at him across the writing -table. Then Mr. Daus, with a slight start, something like a mild electric shook, looked back at bina, and in that mutual look the master, for the first time, pre - Delved the man in lieu of the puppet. "I am delighted to bear it " WAS his mild response, In a thoroughly congra- tulatory voice. "May I aak—'I" "Certainly, Mr. Dane, you may ask, and I will tell you. Every poor mares prospects, Mr. Dane, as you will be the first to own, depend upon the work that he is capable of doing. If bis work is simple, his prospects are gen- erally unambitious; if his work be difficult and complicated, his prospects should be of a fair remuneration for the labor and the delicate nature of the work which be can perform." "Enough of this I" arced old Dane, springing to hie feet, "You have been paid, and over -paid, far the work you have done. I understand you, Telenet; you want to extort something out of Inc Have I not made you my clerk -a-1" "A fihe position, truly, for a de- scendant of the old Trichets 1" said the young man, with scorn." "And the money, Triohet 1" "Mr. Dane, do not insult me. Do you think I can go on doing your dirty work -spying and sneaking and hang- ing about after people -for nothing but a miserable cheque or two, which barely suffices to pay my expenses ? My dear Mr. Dane, do be reasonable." He paused a moment. The old lean was livid with rsge. Albert looked at him -and as be looked, be smiled slowly. ''Won't you sit down again?" he asked blandly. And Mr. Dane sat down. In that 1 smile he had read a whole volume of ' argument. Trithet's smile had said to him, "I am a valuable ally, but I might be a dangerous enemy. 1 have done ' your dirty work for years, got strange information for youin underhand ways, cheapened bargains for you, per- sonated foreign agents -done little' strokes of sharp practice for ycsu,1 which you could not possibly have der-; ed to do for yourself, or trusted any-, budy eise to do. In this way I bave materially assisted the House of Dane , and Trithat to ride through periods or storm and panic, in which other mer- cantile houses have floundered in their too scrupulous integrity. Besides all this, I have played private detective for you upon individuals whom you nave euspected. I tracked Leon de Beefour to his very death, and am now employed m watching his so-called widow, as well as the movements of your own nephew. if you throw me over, who will do all this for you 1" Matthew Dane, as he resumed- his chair at his clerk's bidding, could not but own to himself that lie could not do without that alerk. "Now let me tell you more about my love affairs," resumed Albert, with a lrank and engaging candour, " I daresay if 1 addressed myself to Mr. Halliday lie would say as you do, that ani hardly in the position to support a wife. But a few judioious words from you would materially affect my ease. Of course, in marrying Miss Delete Hal- liday I should be taken into partner- ship." Albert Trichet 1" almost shouted Mr. Dane, " Are you mad? Into part- nership 1" " Well, and why not ?" answered the young man tranquilly, Mr. Dane began pacing up and down the room in a state of great perturba- tion " Such an idea has never occurred to me in my lifel" he murinured, half aloud. "1 daresay not I 1 daresay not !- ideas are the birth of circumstances and of lime 1 Pray do not be disturbed Mr. Dane. Let me put it to you fairly and reasonably. You have no son -no legitimate son," He paused half a sec- ond, and gave his chief a furtive glance. Mr. Dane took absolutely no notice "What do you intend to do about the Houcie-you are not going to allow it to collapse, I imagine, for lack of a successor ? I marry Miss Dulaie. Geoffrey, if you like, and if be does not fly in the face of hiagood fortune, may marry Miss Angel. Hal- liday's money is thus kept in the baseness, instead of being carried away to strangers. And we have the House of Dane and Triehet of the future to carry on the business -a true Dane and a true Triobet--" "Itis. Albert Trithet," said Matthew, stopping short in his perambulations and regarding his clerk fixedly, "your mother's maiden name, which you have assumed, was Josephine Trichet; your father*" "My father -is dead, Mr. Dane,' • said Albert, looking at bim signiticantly. "I have letters," he added in a low vole "1 t • er tOat prove -but we will not, I think, dis- turb the ashes of the dead. I kayo no wish to rake them up, have you ?" " Not at all. You are rigbt. Poor man, he was although of lowly birth, o t deservingpee a e pea.. son -a sad pity be died so young !" He spoke hurriedly, almost with confusion, There was a moment's silence. Al - bort watched him narrowly. "Does be guess what I foetid in the letters ?" asked the younger man of himself. Does he know that be was born before hie mother's marriage?' asked the elder in his inmost soul. "So you Mao, do you not, that for the sake of your old friends, my moth- er and ray father, 7 have a certain claim upon you, independent of tbe services I have been fortunate enough to render you?" laid Triehat at length. " Well, no doubt, there is something in what you eay, niy dear boy. I am willing to think it over, in order to endeavor to fall in With your not un- reasoneble views." Ile sat clown by the table again and mailed out his hand to his Clerk with an appearance of feankriess and sten- Pa Y. Albert look the hatld and shOok it warmly. " eh / that Is right; now we under- stand each other. You see you Can't do without your humble servant, Mr. Dane-althougb 1 fear, 1 away fear, that you do not like use inuch." This was said With a smile, and might be taken as a sportive iittlejest. Mr. Dane, however, answered the re- mark in all seriousness: "On the contrary, my dear Albert, have always had a great regard and affection for you. Only you know, have, like many other men, made one or two little mistakes in my lifeeand, somehow, you occasionally give ma a reminder oE them. I'm an old maxi you see, and don't like these remindere." " No 1" said Albert, looking at him with an evil grin, "And I am allying reminder, ai:n I not 1" Then Matthew Dane knew that he knew, and that the tool whom he bad made use of, and despised as thorough- ly as he hated him, had gotten a hold over him in bis old age that no other man on earth could ever have power to get. " He is a sneaking oad," be said to himself, savagely, when the young man had gone out from his eresenes. But though he said it, he realized for the first time in bis life that a blow bad been struck at tho absolute Power that was the ruling passion of bis enistenee. CHAPTER XIX. It was a week since Geoffrey Dane had been to Cromwell Road. He had refused all invitations to dine at his uncle's and had turned a deaf ear to those pleasant little suggestions of the- atres and concerts ip company with the two pretty sisters and his aunt, winch had been alluringly laid out for his acceptance. Be bad avoided their society in every instance, absenting himself not only from Miles' tea-party but also tram the Sunday lunch and dinner, at which bis presence was in- variably expected. Geoffrey's eyes had been opened to his own danger. That copy of Congreve upon his table bad taugbt him to what end he had been drifting, and into what peril he had been about to fall. A. few more such meetings, a few more suoh evenings, -suoh glances from soft kind eyes and smiles from sweet red lips -and Geof- frey knew that be would be undone, and propose to Angel Halliday. And it would be his undoing., and hers. Of that he was very sure. How was a man to make one woman hapPY, when at the very bottom of his heart he would be for ever hankering after • another 1 That was how it would be with him if he married Angel Halli- day. It would be for bis own utter misery, and moreover it would be a cruel wrong towards ben So, for her sake as well as for his own, he determined to keep out of ber way. Then again be ti shame to him- self for his infideli a even in thought to her whom be hail made the Queen of his soul. Geoffrey had strange, elite- , citrons notions, micommon amongst young men of this practical and self- seeking genaralion. It seemed to him that be had been false to his ideal, untrue to the dream of his higher no - tire I Had he not told bar that his love was hers, his love at her feet -that he desired no other reward save to be allowed to devote himself to her 1 service, and to receive at her bands ! cause he had fallen short in that to hirn ? He took himself to task ba - that which it pleased her to mete out which he had undertaken to be to her. Now that time had somewhat: softened the sore and bitter feelings with which he had resented her leaving him, he began to ask himself whether after all she had not some good -reason for what she did ; whether she, who was so fear wiser and better than he was, might not have had some excellent cause, far beyond the caprice and the fickleness of which he in his blindness had excused her, for the step which she had taken. Perhaps it had seem- ed to her right that he should be sub- jected to this hard and bitter teat of his sinoerity-and then, alas 1 how mis- erably short had it not fallen of the standard to which he might have at- tained. Dimly he began to be aware, that between them there was built up some barrier over which it would nev- er be possible for him to pass-sonae- thing outside and beyond all those things that were clear as daylight to him ; the difference in creed and age, the singularity of her position with regard to her fatber-in-law, and the friendship which -as he truly believed -was good fellowsbip, but not love. If all these, by some miracle, might be swept away, there would still exist some other thing of which he knew nothing, and which of itself was suf- ficient to part them. But is a man such a poor creature, he asked of hire - self, that he is incapable of loving fin the spite of the loved one alone? Has he so little heroism, so poor a no- tion of self-sacrifice, that he must needs have all, or else fling all away upon the winds end the waves 1 Was there no sell-d0V01.1011; no unselfiehness ; of purpose, no purity of life, even left upon earth. -that a man -the creature made in the image of the Maker of all nobility and purity, -was incapable of suoh a high and God -like love? Had this thing died out from the facie of the earth 1 When he reraemberod how a few pleasant idle days, a natural yielding to the seductions of the hour -and even a champagne aupPer, not- ing upon his senses and his lower na- ture, had •been powerful enough al- most to drag him down from the Olym- pus of his aspirations to the Hades of the sordid considerations of this world's comforts and conveniences -then, in- deed, he realized how deep was the abyss into which he had well nigh fallen. (To be Coetinued.) A DRUGGIST'S ORDERS. Here are some orders recently re- aelved by a druggist in a neighboting it • This (naiad is my little girl, I send you five cents to buy two sitlese pow- ders for a groan up adult who is Nike. Dear Dochtee, pies git bearer five senses worse of Auntie Toxyn fox' to gargle baby' a throat and obleage, . You will peas give the leetic bol five cents; worth of epecae for to throw up in a Ova months' old babe N. B. - The babe he 1 Bove sturardick, I have a cute pain in nay child's dia• grew. Please give my son something to releese it, My little liabey ban eat UlfItM fatb- er's With plasther, Solidi an ante - 1M8 quick as possible by the thelosed girl, 1 hat a hat time to my lesidea and wash I wood like it to be extingelthed. What is good for to extinguish it, The thawed money is for the Natio of the extingtieher• Harry glean • OlE111fii'8 ihe short January day was e os in The twilight mingled pleasently with the ruddy glow of the fire, end the girl at the window could no long- er ties to read, S'ho looked, instead, Into the neighbouring garden, bounded by low hedges and wiudbowed firtrees sharply outlined against a glowing 011508011 silty, Anti on the sumo back- . ground the small Leila made a charixe ing silbouinte; the rounded cheeks and dainty pointed chin, tbe low, straight brow, and little self-willed nose, and above all the soft halo of fluffy hair. The thin rasping voice of a mother, roused the girl from the wintry thoughts Math had saddened her large dark oyes. A list of domestic cares was euurnerated, and then the girl's mother approached the window and en- deavored to claim the fugitive attention of her daughter by subjects nearer home. " Afaisie," she began, hesitatingly, " I want to speak to you again about-• the girl knew the particular thee of voice, and broke in quickly with: "Oh mother, please not that I" "My dear girl, itas positively ridiculous the way you always interrupt and refuse to lis- ten to reason," and, with 5. whine, " it makes my position exceedingly awk- ward and unpleasant, What am I to do with you? Do you realize yuur age, Maisie 1 Nearly 24. Why, your sisters were all married before they were your age, and Connie had two candren. "At present," the mother went on, relentlessly, " I nm besieged on all sides by mon who wish to marry you, for you ,ire a pretty girl, Blaisie-pret- tier than any a your sisters, and more like your grandmother, who MIS quite a belle in her time -but in it few years nobody will look at you, your chances of happineaa and of makitig a good match will be over forever, Percival Sutton,"-" Ali 1 1 knew that was com- ing," sighed the 141, -"said ho would come to tea this evening, and. he is very anxious to speak to you. To- night you really must glue him his answer, and I can only say that if you send him away with a refusal 1 will take no more trouble about you. He is the best match in the county ; young, rich, intelligent, heir to a baronetcy -and remember, none or your sisters is titled -indeed, yuu cartnot do bet- ter." After a pause she went on, "I want to know what stands in your way of doing as the others bad sense enough to do -of setting my mind at rest about you, and of taking up 0 position in life as the wire of a good man." " You inetin of a rich man I" the girt said languidly, folding her hands and again turning her eyes to the gar- den. A tall man, with bowed head and hands clasped behind him, was walk- ing restlessly over the little lawn a few inches of freshly fallen snow dead- ening the sound o1 has quick footsteps, and the gin watched with unconscious fascination the dark shadowy prints left in the Vat whiteness, The tall stranger, with the grave face and ath- letic though now stooping form. had never shown the slightest desire to make friends; indeed, hall seemed determined to avoid any chance or risk of doing so. Years ago, when the girl's mother had called upon the lonely newcomer the had found hien at home and be only acknowledged the visit by a polite note of thanks, explaining that he never made or received calls, and lived a life of study and unbroken sol- itude. To -night, as her mother (alt - ed, and the girl's attention wandered to the growing number of blue -gray footprints in the snow, an autism,' cir- cumstance arrested her thoughts and drew her still farther from the sordid and wearisome conversation. A servant (same out of the amass and handed to the man an orange -colored envelope, which he did not open till he was again alone. Then he disappeared. The girl returned to consciousness with a slight start, and became dimly aware of a question in her mother's face and voice. She risked, at random, the first auswer that occurred to her: 'Oh, yes, if Yeti like, mother!" lrhe reply was evidently appropriate. A smile diffused the hard, weary features of the elder woman ; the very silk of her gown seemed to squeak sudden ap- proval. dear gaud eland, this is sweat of you I That poor young man will be so happy." 'Whereupon the dear gooll! child wee enveloped in a black eillt em -i biases and eovered with impulsive kisses And will you tell him so yourself, dearie; or shall I see him alone first? I expeot you will both feel a little shy and constrained." "1 should like you to see him by yourself, mother," said the girl, rising and wondering with complete disinter- est what would be the outeome of her mental aberration all wandering re- sponse. ,and I may tell hien-.-" said the another eagerly. " Anything you like," her daughter answered as she disappeared. The servant entered with a tea tray, Made up the fire, and lowered the blinds, The girl passed swiftly througb the hall, wrapping a soft gray cloak about her as she went, and then, opening a side door, and closing it quietly bebind her, she slipped out in- to the snow-covered garden, an the laNT hedge which divided it from the neigh- boring patch. there was a broken spaces large enough to' squeeze througb, and a Moment later she was skimming woes the very lawn where she had just immix the eavner's footsteps mul- tiplying In the thew. As she had ex- pented, he had left his garden door open and through that she Made her way into the hell, and thence fete the only room from which as yet a light Mamm- al. A cozy fire and a red-shaaed ;atop showed her a charming stub:, lined tram Domto ceiling with books, and in a deep arm-ohair Wert the fire the beheld her three-yearia isitighber, the Owner ef this delightful little.aarietuna. Cei the threshold the atood anti With atitoniehMeatt. From what the had seen of his ftioe the had not thought Mtn remarkable '10 appearance -this maxi was without doubt singularly hundstene. Site had believed the bow- ed form belonged to a man of 50 at least, whereas tbis man eould not have been more, and Wo,, prcably less than 36. A vagus sense of vexation filled her, and she wished she had not yield- ed to the ridiculous impulse whieb had brought her thitber, Tarn, in a mo- ment, a revulsion of feeling meals her glad, with a great throb of gladnese, that she had obeyed the dictates of her follY. He looked up from the fire, gazed at her dietracteclly for half a seeond, and when he spoke his voice showed no eurprise. " Come in and shut the door," was his greeting ; "1 bave been 'wanting you." " You are alone, as usual?" she ask- ed, drawing nearer, I am always alone. Why in the world did you come V" " You had a telegram ;lust now, in tbe garden,' the explained; " I fear - it might be bad news." "1111 gave a little, hard, mirthless laugh. " Bad news has Mag ceased to be possible In my life," he said coldly. " Was that why you came 1" "Benson enough to keep most pee - Pie ap'ay," he remarked drily. They looked at each other and were silent. At last she asked: "Why do you walk round and round your lawn every ev- ening 1" Ile shrugged his shoulders. "Force at habit, I suppose; it 18 the way I think." Then, hastily changing the subjeot, be inquired; " What will your mother say when you tell aer where you've been 1" " I don't think it vill occur to her to atk. tiler thoughts are taken up at the present moment," --the glanced at the elock-" in accepting an offer of marriage on my behatf. She is an admirable woman; 1 am her sixth daughter, and when she has disposed of me we shall all have been married before the age of 24." The girl was gazing at him steadily and without flinching; vaguely she found herself wondering if there had ever been a time in ber life when she hail not known him -when, in feet, this stranger bad not been her first and greatest thought, the supreme interest which completely filled the emptiness of her world. So had love come to her unsought, and as yet she knew it not by that name. When she spoke her voice was low and appealing: " Weil, it can matter little how one weeks out one's destiny if in the end all will infallibly turn out well. For instance I shall marry this man of my mother's choice, and perhaps for a few years we will be miserable together; but at last death will free one Of us, and than Iwifilet'svioell)vjoiettwri:hillthheerimompaertailtedniti.y. sdI anmy last hour, from tbe standpoint of age, experience or resignation, as a charm- ing Picture in a circular frame, and shall smile to see how well the colors blended." She laughed hopelessly. " Poor little girl I" he muttered, ris- ing% and, leaning against the mantel- piece, he looked down at her with Yearning, dreamy eyee. " Shall Itell you the riddle of my lifer he asked. She assented. "Ton years ago I married the girl my father those for me -an heiress, the only eland of rich and indulgent parents. We did not love earh other -ft punishment which I doubtless de- served. Lees than a year after 0111' marriage 1 first noticed a strange ex- pression in my wife's face, which day by day became more apparent, and then she began to talk strangely and to say senseless things. Vainly I strove to fight the fear which was fast grow- ing to nertainty, till at last the vio- lence of a mad woman left me in doubt mo longer as to the terrible thing which had come upon me. I dis- eovered then, that her grandmother had died in an asylum, and that a brother, whose very existence bad been hidden from me, had shot limself while temporarily insane. I won't describe to you the horror of the next few months, when tha best brain doctors in London pronounced her case hope- lessly incurable and when I had done all 7 Gould to restore the balance of her disordered mind, without avail. I di not want to send the podr thing away; hut the matter was taken out of mar heeds. When ,I was reeovering from a knife wound in my left temple -you see I so destined to earry a reminder of her to my grave -the doctors in- sisted on removing her to an asylum, and there I have been obliged to leave her ever eince." his story had been a shock to her, but The girl had drawn nearer to him; • her thoughts were not of herself. "How dreadful!" the said, "and how lonely yon must often be I Why have you never let me knw you all these yearal "7-1 dared not 1" -he turned tawaar. He did not see the glory of love and suffering that shone in her soft dark eyes, 1Weybe he heard both In her voice, for there dote into his eyes the light of happiness. " it was unkind of you," she said; "I might have been better than notbing." She (wept close to him, and sbyly put ber hands in 000 of his; he bent over them, holding them to his brow. "Little girl you don't understand," ha maid softly, "Better than nothing l- it was just because you aro better than everything that 1 could not say to you 'Come 1' Every day since I first came here T think I would have given my soul to see you name in at the door 115 you did to -night, And so Lae years pnased, I was often lonely, but it sat- isfied me to know. that you were near. It amused me to wonder what we should say to each other 11 ever we met." "Yat," said the giri, " I wonder that you can bold such happy theories about lite? Do you really believe that your riddle will be solved?" "7• think," he answered greedy, "it was solved by the telegram you saw me open in the garden ; It brought me the news of my poor wile's death -and you *ante to save me from the horror of ray thoughts," The girl would ilaVe drawn away ker hands, but he detained them; she swayed a little, and he supported her with his arm. "I mast go back," she said faintly. He folded her cloak about her tenaerly, " I am going to take you henna" he said. All the 1111801:16111 of New York State penitentaries are practically in a date o waoreed warless, in those pena, teritariee whore theapriethere Were idle last year insanity (spread with rapi- dity Aler3 The Nevem. ting of These Two Non- ; 1INCLE IN I. g:OLSTO1 AND THE CZAR. The Sitahty Priori, and 0r101111 (111 Few ineleenta have utTurred in many years more memorable fur what they 07111088 or signify than the recent meeting of the Tsar Nicholae II, with Count Tolstoi, Intending 10 return through Moscow from 000 of hie southern journeys, the tsar foetid that the town 10 which Tol- stoi lives would be one of the refresh - meet; stations on bis route, and he seni, the count a carefully worded note inviting him to an Interview. The ineetleg Loth Plan, • Tolstoi wearing the simple garb of a laborer and attended by a few of his peasant friends, and the Emperor af1111481a with his magnificent suite, dressed in bril- liant tin i forms. Nicholas talked of his celebrated Peace proclamation, and evidently wiah- ed to know his famous subject's °pin- kie of it. The greet philanthropists commended his motive in proposing the disarmament of nations, but courteous- ly intimated that in this grand work lue majesty himself would be expeeted to set the first example. What was said during that remark- able interview, however, could hardly be more important than Lae fact that two such men met and gave audience to each other, Representing what they did, their talk was like a conference between the fifteenth and twentieth centuries. In the person of the tsar were em- bodied all the traditional ideas of hu- man inequality. Count Tolstoi stood for man as man. Ono was incarnate autocracy; the other was incarnate democracy. One represented a Marie - Beatty which interprets Christ in its own way; the other represented a Christianity that takes Him at alis word. Rarely have two MOM of opposite aul- tore stood sicle by side facing the ! world's future wbo would influence the ' world's future more than this prince of rank and riches and this champion of the poor. THE WELL-DRESSED WOMAN. The woman of whom good dressing is an individual tharaoteristie does not allow any one to dominate her in the selection of the various details of her wardrobe. She is not considered a sinecure by ber milliner or her dress- maker, nor does she follow prevailing lines in a fear of being considered, ec- centrie. To begin with, whatever the texture of the material, the real keynote to be- comingness is color, and to the nice and careful selections of every shade is due, often, the great success many society women achieve in their correct dressing. Rules are given out from time to time for color selections, but there is none but a woman's actual holding material about bar face in the light in which the garment is to bo worn, whether for day wear or by awifivial illumination. The idea of the hair and eyes being matched is oft- en 41 fault, for so inuala depends upon the clearness or brilliancy of the cum- • plexion. "Be. not the first by whom the new is tried" does not apply to dressing, sinee it should be one's pride to origin- ate, if not indeed Um whole trend of lb., costume, the lesser fua t ures, because of their artistic beauty, are often the distinguishing points of (ha whole. Corel iii dressers aiersonel- ly direat the making of their gowns, evou to the smallest. detail. The au- guat mediate has no terrors for them. It is they who must wear the gown, and they should know what they want. On the other hand, gown de- signing is an art -a talent -not equal- ly distributed, and many, many women would be but sorry speataeles if they launched at once to outlining entire toilets. Before deciding 01)00 (0 toilet study your own lines and contours. Remem- ber your gown can conform to you - you are practically a fixed and fore- gone tonciusion, and if you are slend- er or stout, you will remain so; 1111d it 15 to the outlines of your dress or wrap that you must. look for Um enhancing of charms or the covering of defects. Run back, mentally, aver all tbe deems you have bad which were a particular end lasting satisfaction, and you will find a keynote of similar- ity eoznewhere, 11 may be color, but likely it was the gram it gave to the length of your waist or the shape of the shoulder. Bear these happy revel -I lection in mind and quietly incorpor- ate them in the faehioniug of your new wardrobe. Velvet anti fur are almost universal- I ly becoming, while ia is a bad se" Motion for many featores, If hoe is used oarefully, select the shade. Pure white, used in masses, ofteh has a tendency to intensify complexion im- perfeations, wbile . brownish er cream tints often have the reverse effect. A touch of color at the neck, or in the inter facing of a hat, ist often just the right complement fox' the tint of your eyes, hair or oomplexion, Wow women know the outlines of their owe heads and are, therefore, only oacasionally seen at their best' i and this happens when by whim or ate aident the hair is becomingly dreesed. The hair le nature's Wont of beauty. Sha may have made but poor 81105888 of your features or color- ing, but else adds thia soft, pliant mass to do 151111 05 yon Nemo; and it is clearly a woman's own fault if sho is not attractive ft, indeed, not strictly beau I iful. You feel that in the main you retest fellow prevailing modes, Yet Your Molt is so short that. yen feel like you: were 111 a pillory in the new, high consult The next best thing to do is loef.. feet nn innendniown deemalion for this band, thereby giving it an nppentemee of Wed heighl melend of Ns rounded style or that which is tripped off with points Athlete make the face look like o timer heart with its pettile all around. This effect is anything but to be (haired upon a rather plump tigure, ITEMS OF INTEREST ABOUT T1113 BUSY YANKEE. Neighborly Interest In Ills Doings -Matter, of Moment and Hirth Gathered from His Dolly Record. Senator Simon, of Oregon, has been taking banjo lemons. Maine is taint to be experiencing the arrival of a ship -building boom. The people of the United States us about 250,000 lead pencils each day. Cornelias Vanderbilt owns an auto - grain) copy of the first chapter of Grant's memoirs. A hundred years ago there were only six cities in the United States, now there are over 400. Andrew Carnegie has promised to give a $3,000 organ to the Presbyterian church, Boulder, Col. Gen. Wheeler says that during tha. past war he used the same spurs he used in the civil war. Since natural gas was first discover- ed in Indiana, 7,218 oil wells and 8,34fa gas holes have been suuk. Admiral Schley is enmething of an artist, and frequently amuses himself by painting in water colors. The Nicaragua canal would s12orten1 the journey Of o warship from the At.. lantui to the Pacific 46 days. Under au Iowa law convicts wbo b- 00500 insane Mixing imprisonment are retained in prieon indefluitely. A Paterson, New Jersey, firm basins? order for fifty locomotives. It wilt keep them busy until November next. Three million barrels of plaster are consumed every year in New York. One firm has its quarries in Nova. Scotia. Physicians at Bellevue Hospital re- ported a remarkable increase in tbe number of insane calms and eases of intoxication received there, Tile grounds and buildings for Bos- ton's new railroad station cost $14,000,- 000, There will be a daily passenger service of 710 trains daily. A Nebraska young man has returned from Cuba with aSpanith bride. He was imprisoned on a Spanish gentle, - man's piantalion, and while there he won the heart of the senor's daughter. Of the persons arrested in New York last year 43,614 were born in the Unit- ed States; in Ireland, 16,205; in Ger- mauy, 8,631; in England, 2,116; in Rus- sia, 8,001; in Italy, 5,923. General Merritt still bears on his right arm the soar from the firei wound he ever received in service, a slight flesh wouud made by a stray. ball early in the civil war. The mother of Matthew Fontenoy Maury Sutton, a private of the 16th Infantry, wbo fought at Santiago, Lae received froni the chancellor of tbe University of New York a letter stet-, Tag that Mise Helen Gould has deposit- ed money to cover the young manes tuition, board and books tiering a L oniuslieavof inipa usleTtoilnioonre1n law. Th - The Sat. The St. L0111.4 Union Station has 424,., 200 feet roof area, 31 tracks and 22 roads; Boston and Maine Station, in Boston, 2411,560 feet, 2$ tracks and three oompaniee; the Board street Sta- lion, Philadelpliia, Pa., 179,986 feet, 16 tracks and one road; the Philadelphia and Reading Station, Philadelphia, 208, 000 feet and 14 tracks; the Union Sta- tion, Chicago, WI., 115,500 feet, 9 tracks and four aoinixintee ; the Dearborn street Station, Chicago, 90,710, feet, 10 tracks and 6 roads, and Grand Cen- tral Station, New York, 205,840 feet, 21 tracks and tbree roads. The task of lifting bodily a railway bridge of 220 tons and removing it down stream ti distance a 260 feet, has just been accomplished at Milwaukee, Wis. The bridge, which was a single track, drew, spanned the Ininnickinnia division of the Chicago and NortInween ern Railroad. The work of removal oc- cupied less than three hours, the struc- ture being Dented on two scows, placed at equal distances from the centre, After being placed in proper post, tion, the :mows were sunk by having 800,000 gallons of water pumped into them, Then the foundations were loosened, and connections having been made between the mows and the bridge, the water was pumped out, and tbe structure gradually lifted from its position. Two tugs then towed it down the stream to its new resting HIS TOLD HIM HOW OLD THE BARN • WAS. • The old practice of badgering' wit• netewe bas almost disappeared from many courts, but iv some ill is still kept up -sometimes, however, • to the damage of the °roes -examiner, Lawyer well known for bin unoomely habits. He outs hie haat about touv Ulnae a year, and the rest of the time looks decidedly ragged about the eare. Be was making witmels describe a barn which figured his last case How long had the barn been builtf Ob, 7 don't know. About ti year, mete by. About nine months, prrems. But just how Ione Toll the, jury how long it had been built. Well, 7 don't know exactly. Quite a Now, Mr, 13--, you Plea ton an to.. telligent farmer, and yet you Bann ten Inc how all. this barn and you have lived 00 the next farm/ for ten yeain, Can you tell me how old your Own barn is? Come, now, 1811 100 now old your own house 18, 11 ennt think Yo111 know. 1 Yenned; Quick az lightning the old tamer! Ye want to knew haw old any house la, do ye? Well, it% jtlak alamt as old you be, and mania the roof 88041g to about ati bad, ' distill, will ban back, witnees stepped aown, Laweer S- in the roar that followed tbe