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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1894-1-12, Page 2A COMEDY OF ERRORS, CHAPTER II Tan Ani0e w'IGTaTAAT3. Jessioa bewailed her fate greatly to her confidante, Flora Williama, the "woman four years her bonier, wbo had been to Gin, ton, and whom Jensen exhalted to a throne in her little mind. Vlore woe handsome, with menses of golden hair. She wore tailor's dresses, talked a little Meng, amok ed an 000aaional oigarette, and spoke of her oollegefriende by thelr surnames unprefile u She affected eyeglasses, toe, and ken number of heavy tones in a looked book• ease. Otherwise there wee nothing very learned about her, nor wan she half so keen for culture and superiority an was Jeseioa Nevill, "I admire old maids less than X did five years, ago," she confessed to her friend ; and Jessioa, hardly grasping the profound bearing of thio remark, replied frrvolonely (for even Jupiter node sometimes)— "1 aupposo, Flora, at Girton you some. times saw too many women 1 I admit I like luau best, AU I object to is the sup. position that we must want to marry thein," "But we do," said Flora ruthlessly ; "you yourself, Jess, yon wanted to marry Mr. ]Hobson." "Oh no. Only just while he was aeking me, And I shouldn't feel like that again. It was only that I was so uua0cu0tomed to that kind of thing. Next time when a man makes love to me I shall dislike it." "Are you sure?" "It is !tut what I dread about John. He will think it proper to make love to me, and then I shall hate him. If I could only see hint without his knowing me, Flora!" "But, judging from ifr. Hobson's experi- ence when he made love to yon--" "Oh, do etop about Mr. Hobson 1 And you know,F bora, this talking of loversmakea mo sick." " Yes, dear," said Flora ; " you blush- ed when rnantmo read us those love scene', from the novel. I saw you. Don't you like reading them to yourself even, Jessica 1" "That's different." " No, you goose, it's all of a pisco. You don't, publiely and in the abstract, approve of love•makiog, Jess ; but when Mr. Hobson got down on hos kneee before you---" " Flora, how clan you 1" 1 - "It is only that I am older than you, dear, I shouldn't dislike the idea of your John so much. Engaged l And with a man doming in three months to make love to you 1 dare say he'll do itbetter than Mr. Hobson ; so cheer up, Jessica, and come and see my new dress." You do yourself the greatest injustice," said Mies Jessica, " talking in that silly way. But oh, Flora, what a very beautiful dress 1" Considering how strong•minded these two young women were, their interest in mere elegies was perhaps excessive. Booke and lovers were quite secondary today, and *very day. Next month Me. Nevill had to go away to \Vales on business, nod he was exeroised in lois mind about leaving Jessica, the be. trothed heiress, so near Mr. Hobson; for the good curate being of nervous tempera- ment, and apt to be precipitate, might • easily stumble into lovemaking again, and ifr. Nevill, linable to distinguish among girlish caprices and fancies, had always considered his daughter a little sentimental about her rejected suitor. SO this person and that of her aunts and elderly cousins did her father suggest as a visitor during his absence, but .5 einem would none of them, and Mr. Nevill's alarm about Alr. Hobson increased. ' Co to town to your grandmother, Jessica, and buy some new gowns." " Thank you, papa ; I have just laid in a stock." ' They. began your trousseau." "I will watt, papa, till I see how I like Cousin John." ' Tut, my dear, tut 1" "Papa, 1' exclaimed Jessica suddenly, " it lute just struuk nee 1 Do you remembet that John belongs to your generation, not to mine?" "But he is your age, Jessica. Near enough." " Papa, people always belong to their generation. I am sure John 18 quite old in his mind and in hie ways. I have heard you say, papa, you don't approve of marriages between persons of different gen- eratletl9.' Tut, my dear 1" "But, indeed, papa, I can't begin ney trousseau till have seen him.' "Then go to Aunt Lucy at Bourne- mouth," She has not invited me," "Or to Mine $now at Bankside." " Her spare rooms are full, papa." " Well, where will you go?' asked Mr, ill to deapa• like a chaperon, Consequently Flora hardly reoognizeble. She had left her are epy'glasaee at home with her tellor'inade (rook. She wore round blue speotaolea, gown of has mother's, a long mantle, e bonnet, end ethisk veil. She talked g�reve• ly on serious subjeots ; and Mr. Nevill wag delighted with her, and began to reconsider hie opinion of Girtonieno, Judea wan fly. ing about in a white eerga frook, rather too short for her, and wore a broad het with streaming ribbons. She looked a ohild,aud Mien Williams surveyed her benevolently, like e mother. Mr, Nevin withdrew all objection to the proposed trip, and premien ed hie daughter as mach money as the re. queeted. "And where, Mise Williams, do yyoo pro• poee to go?" be inquired of the oluyerol. "Oh, to Rome. Tal—Mise Talbot is there already with her mother. Lady Monaster. eventingeo return eoon,an d thenJeseioa and I will etay on with Mies Talbot at the same hotel. After about a month, we three will travel home together." " It aounds suitable," acid Mr. Novi11 ; and began looking up routes in the Conti. ciente.' Bradshaw.. " We will do exactly what you advise, Mr. Nevill," said Flora meekly: Ani Jessica jumped into her father's arms and kissed bim. She had not been so gay for weeks. She wits first frolic, going is highlyeo excion a ting tore young person. At the eleventh hour, however, the plane for the journey of the two ladies was all overturned. Mr, Nevill was packing, and rather in a fuss preparing for his departure, when Jessica buret into hes room, crying out that a moat ehookiug thing had occur- red, Miss Tabot had got Roman fever, and all !tome was full of fever, and Mrs. Wil• Hams positively refused to let her daughter go there on any account. Mr. Nevill was in dismay, remembering the inflammable Mr. Hobson. Bat Flora end I might go somewhere else, pope," suggested Jessica. " Yes, yes, of course," assented Mr. Nevill readily. " Keep away from the fever. Go somewhere else." And he proposed Florence, where woe Jesnica's uncle with nine daughters; or Cannes, where ono Mrs. White and her grand. niece would befriend the lonely travel• lets. Jessica pouted. "We eon melte up our .nand as we go along," she said. " Paris is the first stage to either places." " Very well, my love (fold my dressing - gown, please, dear ohild), and you had bet• ter keep your money as much as possible in English gold (that box of collars, please, Jessica). It paeees everywhere (don't tumble over my bootat. And write to me very often, my dear.' ' Papa,' said Jessica, packing busily, "you know you never get my lettere when you are in Wales. I shan't write often." CHAPTER III. Jessica answered that question a few ,lays fights, for, fu my opinion, English people later. She came running to, her father one should always set a good example. And, morning with sparkling eyes end a pretty, ! Flora, don't you think we ought to see the SHE EAUSS�''+T,S POST Gomer and ntoer tkau I tum, John is more ON BIN NiAnsTro 13E IO . ikely to fall in love with you than with me• And if heft incapable of love, whin, he Allow the watts ore canted Ortt W t. Will stili get money .with you, and we lave PO reason for supposing he wants anything elan. Pray lmluee him to have you Vlore. "And do I understandthen , Joeeioa, at you are taking me to Tangier to inttodtnce me toCaptaise lrarquhar " 5' It ie one of my Mellen* forgoing there. itAnd the others 1" F1 Men expeoted you to goose, ora aro so stupid that it in just peeaible John may still with to marry me, But I alto- gether object to marrying a man I do not know. And bow, I oak you, Flora, oouldI possibly Meru to know a mon who was try- ing rying to metre love to nee? What I waub 10 to see this John before ho arrives at home as my Saone. I went to emboli him ung- wares at Tangier, and nee what he is like When he is himself—not disguised in the airs ofa Onter•pfgeon," "liut, Jessioa—will not the air* ofa 000k pigeon be aaanmed whenever and wherever you appear? And does 10 not scour to you, my dear, thiel he might think le a little superfluous, even a little bold, your seek. ing him in this manlier in the ends of the earth?" "nave thought of that• Flora, John must not ]snow it is I. Flora started. " The plan is groat," she said, "but it Waggon me. May Xaek, Jee- etoe, if you will appear under an assumed name 1' "That is what I propose to do, Vlore." " Bab when Captain Farquhar oomea to Nevill Lodge, ho will recognize you, Jess ; what will you say then 5" "Most likely I shall hate him so niuoh that I will never allow him to come to Nevill Lodge at all. If, by extraordinary good fortune, I find him comparatively un• objectionable, why, I shalt explain to bim whet I did, and why." "11 ell, he may feel lettered ; or he may not, Jessica. What would Mr. Nevill say to you plan, dear ?" " I don't suppose papa would like ib at all. But I do not feel bound to consult papa's tastes now that ho hes become a tyrant, Flora." " The plan in great," repeated. Flora, 1' but aro we clever enough to merry it out? Shall we dress as young men, Jean, to per. fact our resemblance to Rosalind and Imo- gen ?" "No," eyed Jessica, laughing ; "I should not know how to behave as a young man. But I cast behave very nicely as— Talbot for instance." Whereupon Flora jumped up and clapped hor hands. " The very thing 1" she cried ; " you shell Rose as Talbot the Girtonian ! For Jessioa, it yon tried passing yourself off as a wholly imaginary person, yon would say that you bad nix brothers to -day and tomorrow six- teen I But yon know exactly how many brothers Talbot hes. Represent her, Jea- n -Mee" "Mies Talbot might not like ib 1" said Jessica, breathless with excitement. "Talbot? Any dear Jess," cried Flora, who had now thoroughly entered into the jest, " it is the kind of thing to delight Talbot immensely, I never knew a girl so fond ofa naughty joke. Oh ! I'll undertaco to square Talbot. One conritiot though, my love: that while you are personating her you do nothing scandalous. Don't for inatanne, elope with Captain JMen. In fact, I should say permit no love -making." " .1.—permit lovemaking ! said Jessica, in tones of the greatest disgust; and they discussed further details of the scheme, de- ciding that Miss Williams might retain her own mune, es she was unimportant and the Immo was common, olid the wearer's on. &dense in It would gt in credit for them both, ' My dear," said the chaperon, " this whole plan is ver; naughty. Are you Ger. ions about it ?" " I am most serious," replied Jessica, " I mean to do it." Flora looked hard at her friend, and then they both dissolved into delightful laughter; under the influence of which the plan be. came a resolution fixed as the law of the Merles and Persians, "Got up, boys I" And amid the merry music of the elolgh•bells and the hearty' goodbyes of our frfouda, the wiry little ponies jump away at the oraok of the whip, and Her Meleely's mall once more leaves the Birtlo p0st•otlee ore its road. to Shell, mouth, fifty toilets or more away (torose the snow clad prairies. Ab a rabbling page we gross the Bird Tail River,whenoe the thrix. lag little Manitoban villego takes it name; but we soon get a cheek at the foob of the steep hill leading out of the town, for like many another settlement in the For North Wost, [urge lies deep in a hollow sheltered by oluaterbng bills from the none too gentle touoh of the biting blizzard, Slowly we olimb the ascent, and, stopping awhile at the railway station to take aboard a few parcels, we make all snug, end prepare to fade tee hong sbretolt of eountry that Hee between tie and our destivabion. It is a Clear cold morning, with the mercury regis- tering tgenelp d the rising suning on the earth'sfleecy covering with A RICH GOLDEN nos, WILLIAMS AND TAL130T. So ,ifr. Nevill went to \Vales, and on the same da•' the two young ladies crossed to Calais. Mora declared her opinion that to lee "at a loose end" was the pleasantest way of travelling, and that Abraham was the wise man, who went out not knowing whither he went. It is needless to remark that Blies Williams had restored the flop• ping mantle and the poke bonnet to her mother's wardrobe. She and her friend were dressed alike in dark blue, with smart little felt hats and Eton jackets. Their fellow - passengers looked admiringly at the two pretty young creatures and wondered who they were. Their ultimate destination still undecided theystayed two days In Paris, and came to the conclusion that Frenchmen were some- times rather staring and rude. Then one evening Flora wrote the names of several countries on slips of paper and jumbled them in a hat, and Jossioa put in her bend and drew one out. Spain was written on it, and the younger girl, cried "Hurrah t" and waved the piece of paper above her head, and jumped and danced hilariously about the room, ' Are you so pleased, Jess ?" said Flora. " I have a scheme in my head," r eplied Jessica. But neither on that night nor the next could the maiden lady (so Mr. Nevill had described Miss Williams to his mother-in- law) extract from her charge when manner of scheme it was. They travelled straight to Madrid, and from thence each wrote home, This duty accomplished, Jessica pulled a wise face and addressed her companion in the follow. ing manner:— ' Flora, it is getting late in the season, and Madrid is farther north than Seville and Granada. Let um go to those places while the weather is still cool. And, Flora, let us steadily set our face against bull. pleading look on her feoe. He knew that look ; she wore it when she had sat her heart on some innocent pleasure which it wou'd be hiadelight Logan b. He smiled enzonragina. ly, and held out his hand ; for Jessica had asked nothing of him since her betrobha', nor been like hla merry, sweet little c)ax at all. ' Oh, papal deer ptpa ! do say yes ! Just while you are away 1 Think how atupad "Not much.' for me all alone here. De say yes ! Do Let "I have read it up in Murray. It is me go 1" about three hours from 0 ibraltar, and is a " Why, to ho sure I will. It's what I've ve y e'en world place, which reminds one of JJANUTARY 12, 1894 garblaly, T'roln afar, the 40100 of the 0015" bell/Jena the Pelee of the hardens, ulollow04 by dietanoo, emu floating to to in sweet and musioa1 oacfotce, Ilut the Burley songs of the north.weee wind, even now gather* log energy for tomorrow's blizzard, bide nl Mutton and calling to the team we de. L SHIP'S GRAVEYARD, Tile Ltlet p1 the Swedieb Aretio Beef/Odle tion. • ounce the , hill Gad hurry acoreas the. inter' '',Mince RJorlieg nett Ails Eontpnulens 50g( ',ening Iiat at a pane that goon lands us, et '!hate pitta—Interestlu¢ Doenrnonts Ple. the Shelhnouth post•oifloe, Many an wager oovor0uj in a aalrn on aarey Ishmael. eye on the watch for lettere from the dear old home hats descried our pouring ; end the bags oafoly delivered,we turn to "Jack. oon'e ' where, with a oelority more than worthy of tlteold coaching days, kindly !sande instantly unhitch and take stable• wards bile tired ponies, babe fed and tended by their over -thoughtful owner beloro even he thinks of his own pressing needs. Whab a picture we Should snake ab home in saps, mitts, and huge buffalo coons, with our moustaches solid Imps of ice, and beards and whiskers of a hoary whiteouts that old Father Cbristmaa himself might envy I Just now, however, sentimetetgfvee way to supper, and that disouseed with true nor •western appetites we gather ono more round the stove, and heeding not the blast as it hurtles against the house in im• potent fury, we sit and smoke, and with yarn and merry chorus beguile a few hours till sleep—as well beloved as supper—suln• mons us to rest. Thus in the depth of winter, some three or more pare ago, I travelled with Her Majesty's mail in Manitoba, a journey that .was preceded, and has been followed, by many others in different parts of the North American Continent, and aocompaoying men employed in the same voodoo, thereby affording me ample opportunity for obeery ing how the buslneoa of mail•oarrying is conducted in different localities. In new 0ountri01 and sparsely ogled din. tricte it is so frequently attended with imparts to the landscape a charm peouliar to early morning in these cold latitudes ; while, from scattered ohimneys, the smoke rises in long,etraight oolumns of fluffy gray, observable for miles in such a clear atmos• pbere as this. There had been no wind last ndghb, so that the trent is fairly good, and the team lay themeolves down to their work ae if Choy enjoy it. Well wrapped up as we are in buffalo robes and skin °oats, we begin to enjoy it too, and drink in the keen air in exhilarating draughts. True 10 is cold, but we feel it no more then we should ten de- grees of frost under a murky sity in Eng. land. Our driver, an old Londoner, who knows every limit of the fifty mile trail en well as Piccadilly, 1s a man of good eduoa- cation, entertaining, and of strong Tory predelictiols,•while we are to Democracy inclined ; and so, with arguinonb, ohab,and reminiscences of the last Mel rebellion, we slip along, and soon have covered the twelve mi'es to Langsburu. Here we change mail- bags ; and in response to the invitation to come in and warm oursolvee, we sit a while by the stove, and take advantage of the heat to enjoy a few whiffs ; for, outside the nicotine will quickly freeze and ohoke our pipes. We may not stay koro long, though, and ones more muffling oorselvee in our wraps, we leave for Binsnerth, the end of the first stage. After a few mules, it is evident we aro getting into a more thickly settled dfs:riot. Pretty log houses, each under its sheltering bluff ('Bluff,' in the Canadian North. West, signifies a clump of trees), meet the eye 0b irequent intervals ; whilst russeb•coatsd cattle, turned out for the warmth of the mid.daysun, pick at the hay thrown over the staokyard fenoos in evident content- ment• Surely this keen air gives one Rock, which as such a remarkable place in English history?" ' And where Captain Farquhar is ?" said Flora,with a cough. "John Farquhar is Det at the Reck,' said his betrothed ; "he as at Tangier—on leave, I suppose. That kind of man is al- ways on leave. hove you heard much of Tan ier, Flory?" been looking for—a piece to seryl you to while I'm away, Where do you want to go?" " It's a letter from Flora, papa." "Oh I That Miss Williams? Well, I suppose you must go if you with it." They are going abroad, papa, and want roe to go with them." " Bless me 1 Who are ' they ?"' " Flora and her friend Miss Talbot, Pante." i' Who is Miss Talbot, and how old is she ?" "A little younger thou Flora. She is still at Girton. And her mother is the Dowager Visuountess of Monasteroven." " Dear me 1 But who is the chaperon of this party?" ' i?lora, papa." " But she's only e. young girl like you." "Papa I Why, she's years older than I. And so sensible. She and Talbot—I mean Miss 'Talbot—want to Vienna last your alone Girton girls, papa, don't regntre ohaporons. Oh, please, let me go. Yon forget what a dull life I am going to have with only that elderly nonsin of yours 1 Do give me one little month of fun 5ret." Mr, Nevill hadn't the heart to say no straight off. "Ask Miss Willianis to ltumhl he said, "and let ono see if she in a proper person to take oharge of you,'• Foe Awe, lived at a place three atatione down the line, and Mr. Nevill (being inclined to despise her) had not made hot auluaint• 80010. Jessica wrote to Igen Williams that wit 'n she on o to be intpeoted she must try tee loo Three days later the maiden ladies w110 called each ether Williams and Talbot crossed from Europe to Africa. They had slept one night at Gib, in the hotel at the Europa Point, and had walked about that queer medley of a town, and bought lane from Emilia Birch, and sought in vain for the tailless monkeys. Talbot had a notion that John Farquhar might have returued to the Rook, and whenever they passed a haughty English officer, she pinched Flora's arm and whispered, "Oh dear 1 Williams, could that be he?" And Flora, being young herself and as yet rather starved in the matter et love affairs, was secretly much excited too, and would not for the world have abandoned the search for the captain. At last they embarked in the Hercules peddle -boat, and steamed away to Tangier; and the voyage was not pleasant, for the sea was rough, and the Hercules is email, and on this 000aeiot crowded with Moors and Jews, all very seasick. Some first. class passengers there were, however ; s.n elderly lady with a husband ; a lonely man On the 17111 of June, 1893, Captain Mo. Kay, of the 5S, "Aurora," vie1tod Carey Island for the purpose of finding traooe, or tidings, of the Swedteh party. On approach• ing the inland Captain MolOay (who was in the crow's noel) discovered a small sehoon• er lying ashore. I•ie despatched searoh parties to the Oland, The sohooner (a email "fore end atter ") wan found parbially buried in the ice. 5he was lying heeled over very muoh to the starboard, and with her stern landward, Some manuscript notes on natural history—portions of aoio• filo books, eta.—were piolted up, and sub. eegnently brought on board the 1fAursra, and delivered to Captain McKay. The dead body of a man some 32 or 33 years of age, woe found a ehorb distance off, on a stony, elevated region behind the vessel, The dead men was carefully covered over with stouts, but no mark or inscription was ob. served. The stones were not removed from the body while I wan present, but there Wore 3ndioabions that the damned was clothed, A atone was stuok up at his head by visitors from the "Aurora" and a red handkerchief was tied to it to serve en a guide to subae uent visitors. In the mean• time papers had been disoovered at the cairn and these, together with the articles pre• viouely mentionedae having been picked up at the vessel, were duly delivered to Gap. twin McKay iu accordance with the wish ex. pressed in Mr. Bjorang's letter addressed, "To the visitors of 8.E. Carey island, 1803." Captain M,Iiay steered for Clarence Bead with the intention of trying to learn some- thing further regarding the fate of the party. But on the 10th of June, when within about thirty miles of Clarence Head, ice was encountered, which rendered a °lose approach to the land impossible, and Captain McKay, wen, to his great regret, compelled to turn back, TUIE RECOVERED DOCIIMENT0. The following notes have been copied from visiting cards hearing the name J.A. Bjorling, 311 Stud, Stockholm. Those cards and a letter were found in the cairn on Carey Islaud. DTS1ROIILTY AND DANGER, that the men engaged in this service are gen- erally of a resolute and hardy type. In Manitoba and the North•WTest Territories, the work is usually done by mon who own the teams they drive; mid a large proportion are old countrymen,jfor whom "running the mail" with its fres outdoor life, not wholly unattended with excitement, has untold °hernia. In the United States, too, I have ' happened morose' Englishmen employed in the same capacity; and at one time I met in Texas a salol of one of our nobleathouses riding ponyback with the mails between San Antonio and Banilora, for fifteen dol. lars a month awl hie board; and a six. shooter always ready to hand is the not unlikely event of being " held up by road. agents," The distance ie fifty miles each way ; and as tete letters left Sun Antonio every second day, this means continuous riding for six days, or three hundred miles a week. In the Great Lone Land, however, the various mail -routes, though often embrac• ing over a hundred miles of country, and conducted alike in scorching heat and in. tense cold, are entirely free from hostile in- terruption, and uover once in the course of many years experlenoedid 1 hear of tete mall -robber getting in his work at the ex• pause of the Government. Occasionally, however, the mail. bags are convoyed by means other than those pro. scribed by the postal department; and though I have known the gay and festive ox -team pressed into the service, it wake not exactly in the hope of gaining addition- al speed thereby ; nor, when the begs are conveyed afoot, does the process quite come up to our notions of how the business ought to be managed, But these are only exceptional cases. For ordinary work, a light four -wheeled rig drawn by a couple of •ponies, and capable of seating one or more passengers in add1- tieu to parcels, is the usual thing; and on some routes where passengers and parcels are few and far between, one animal is sufficient to do the work. But iu the win ter, when the snow lies deep and wheels are unsuitable, a low 'jumper' with broad run- ners, but quite open, takes the place of buggy or buckboard ; and so, keeping him- self proteated as well as possible from `winters ookl,wild winds,anci. ctritLangan ow,' and enveloped in furs, the driver is willing and able to go anywhere and do anything; and a blizzard has to be keen indeed that will scare these sturdy fellows from the trail when duty calls. A WONDEn1OL APPETITE; and wo are not sorry to see coming in view the farm•buildioge of the Binacarth colony, even now getting leaned from Win- nipeg to the West Coast for its cattle. The lent two miles is over a first-rate trail, and soon crossing the railroad, we lend at the hotel. Here the driver, who is " boas of the whole outfit"—that is, sole owner of the rig and the ponies—unhitches, and per- sonally superintends the feeding of his town ; and then together we sit down to dinner, served piping hot in a roma the grateful warmth of which is very except- able after our cold delve. Dinner over, we take a few morn whiffs, and then—mall matters having been "fixed up" meanwhile—we got behind a fresh team, and prepare to meet the twenty-seven miles of the second stage. On every side now the dwelling of the tree and iodapend• ent homesteader meets the eye ; and the healthy -looking youngsters etopping in the midst of the "chores' to look at the mail. stage as it lashes by, seem to tell of comfort and plenty, if not absolute wealth, within. Eight miles out we enter on a stretch of rolling prairie -land. Diminutive hills and tiny dales—like fairy playgrounds—ore interspersed with leafless poplar bluffs, pretty enough in summer, and even now pleasantly relieving the monotony of the dead -white prospect. But the snow has drifted badly in these hollows, and now and again the ponies flounder to their knees, and slowly we plough our way throeggh; but once more on rising ground we see Rus- eell in the distnnoe, and the ' Arsbian Nights.' But thorn is le Fronoh hotel. Would you like, Flora, to see Tangier 1" "Jessica," said Flora, "can you he yearn- ing for the commencement of the love- making?" Jessica took a chair, and looked graver than ever, "Flora, how much money have you? What is your fortune?" "My fortune ? Oh, a comtetenne. Six hundred a year now, and eventually two or three hundred mora," "Then aren't you nearly as rich as I am ? Flora, it seems to me the greatest pity you are not going to marry Jnhu Farquhar, when you can endow him nearly es well ae I can." "Not quite; and boslder., I couldn't re. store him his house," "I would give you that for a wedding present. I assure you, !+',ora, I should be really glad to make up the trilling hundred or two bywhioh you are poorer than I, 08 a reward to you for taking this roan off my hands." You aro most kind. But why should 1 do with him any better than yourself?" asked Flora, " I see excellent reasons," replied Jessica, 000nting on icer fingers. "First, you wont to marry, and I dont, Then you like the accounts we have had of John, and I don't., You think the position romantic; and ploa0- ing. Von do not apparently disapprove of inconstancy, Flora, to the ideal, nor eonsid• exit desecration 00 marry an unknown and commonplace man, And es you ere hand. A 0000 ROAD over a piece of comparatively flat country soon brings us to the little town with its motley population of old -countrymen, Canadians and balf•breede. Official work detains us here again for a few minutes, during which we ma: -e our way into the store and post-office—the general rendezvous and loafing plaoo, espeoially on mail-day— and gather the latest news. "All aboard" ones more, and we are soon leaving Russell behind us on the last sixteen miles of the journey. On we go, up hill and down over a wretched trail, and through in a elouoli•F.at ; a thin and strong-minded drifts that oftthnes take the little jumper awayabove the runners while the atr is Mrs. Geoffrey Cobbs, whose name was em•getting condor as the alert winter day begins blazoned on all her luggage ; and lastly, o to close is. Conversation now lege, and, young officer from Gib, with wham she somehow or another, our wraps don't seem conversed persistently. Jessica was rather , as think as when we started ; and how we seasick, and noticed none of these people long to et out ani stretch our stiffening m The landingat 'Tan {er was a little I limbs Never mind; there's another twelve alarming o lie two English girls, unpre. miles done, and we comfort ourselves b p thinking of " Jaokeon's " and tea when— pared for the half -asked and noiay Moors, „Haltom! what's that I" standing cut dark who bustled them into a boat, rowed vio• silhouette against the rapidly reddening lently ashore, and incessantly clamored for sky 1 "Ouyotes 1" by Jove? And as a bond "twelve dollars." Presently they wcro in the road brings then right on our look, dragged before a superbly robed, white• and scarce fifty yards away, we count no beardod•and•turbaned gentleman, presum- fewer than seven " friars in orders gray" ably a customs officer, who sat in. the mud Leen and hungry brutes enough they are, and ordered all portmanteaux to be opened and it is with bitter feelings w e reoolleob and buatahtaue0hsly ehtit up again. His we are entirely without " shoobing•irons." perceptive powers must have boon P1,1°. Harmless to man, our vigorous yells soon nomenal in quickness; snpernaturallyquaok send diem scampering to the right•aboub,tn also were tl c five mot who, the moment hunt fora supper off the shy but succulent the perhmienty examination was over, eon snatched up the portmanteaux and ran away We pens Lake Beautiful and are soon at with thein through the town and up the the top of the hill looking mvorth° Menet- hill of the Sok°, pursued by the panting ant hay dated the Assiuiboiue Valley, and maidens under the noisy escort of an emote for an instant draw rein and drink in the mous negro. Williams andTalbot nearly restful beauty of the scene, while ooachee fainted with relief when they found tnoni• bursts into poetry 1 selves and all their goods deposited in The day 18 ending, unexpected [safety on the floor of Bruzeaud's The night is descending; Hotel ; where rooms were awaiting them, Tho marsh is frozen, and ltuglash wan spoken, and five o'clock The river dead, r lee. was the order of the day. Anomalous °ionization 1 I " I have it 1" gasped Flora, "that le lank cannibal end his baffle were sent by Alon• same Breeeaud to inset ns 1 Why couldn't they gayee?" Jessica, was Inning out of the window, smiling at the purple eta and the flat white town and the aloes and the cactus on the slope below the hotel, "Do you know, \l'iliioms," she geld, " I dare say papa would not like our !raving soma alone 1.0 a p111o0 of this sort." " have you only just thought of thea, my dear Talbot ?" said Florn, (To D0 CONTTff11D.) Growing Old. The tallest lillies droop at eventide, The sweetest roses fall from off the stem, The rarest things on earth cannot abide And we aro messing, too, away like thein; We're growing old. We had our dreams, those rosy drums of youth ; They faded, aud'bwies well. This after prime Huth brought no fuller hopes ; and yet forsooth, We drop a tear now in this later time To think we're old. Through deeds like ashes The rod sun flashes On viHego windows That glimmered red— ho mantes, and well he may, The sum is just sinking behind the far bank of the river Aesiniboine,leavhtgbehind tisy,mmny' hued olottdleta, mid bars of light, that shade away front ruddy crimson tend glorious gold ho to masses of softest pink and amber; while the snow, catching A T;IODSAvD I.1NINOD3 T1NTa fr: it r•;,, -y wilERS TUE? 1,0 ND I,1i..IR ARTIC GRAVE. Written in ink : " Visited S. E. Carey Island, 16th August, 1802. I left Godhavn on the second in this mouth, and sailed along the ice in Bain Bay to the thirtseth, when I, on only ono day, sailed over Mel- ville Bay to Cape York. An easterly hur• ricane near that plane drove me to the weal, and 1 was at noon near Cap Parry, from which point I sailed over to Carey Islands M order' to supply me with some provision from the English ototion." Another written in pencil :.—"1741. After having token on board the provisions from Nero' depot, the schooner " Ripple" went on shore on the South side of the island, where you will find as in a small teat. A new report will bo left hero before woleave the island. lith August, 5892." The third card written in pencil: -"after having lost the thin, thus obliged to winter ever, I left thin island on the 28th of August for Foulke Fjord. If I thence should be compelled to go to another place, further notice will be laid down inmen atPandora Harbor. Together with the provisioua from Nares' depot here, I hope to have food enough to help me and my four companions until June month, 1893." We smile at those poor fancies of the past— A saddened smile, mimed akin to pain ; Those high desires, those purposes so vast, Ah, our poor hearts 1 they cannot come again ; We're growing old. Old ? Well, the heavens are old ; this oath is too Old wine is best, maturest fruit most Meet Minch we have lost, more gained, although 'tie true. We tread life's wty with most uncertain feet; We're growing old. We move along, and seattor, as we pane, :Soft graces, tender hopes, an every hand ; Ab last with grayatreaked hair and hollow face, We step across the boundary of the laud Where none are old, —(Atlonte Constitution A 1 RAOTIOAL JOIE. A Dry (meds Clerk Driven Leanne by Joke Played by Sense prlcndn. A Muncie, Ind„ despatch segs:—John Rudy, awell•known young dry goods clerk of Yorktown, be a raving maniac today as the unlit ofa practical joke perpetrated on hiin on Sunday night by some friends. A party of young men wont to Cammaok eteelon to epend the evening Sotto mem. bore of the crowd secured the serviu00 of a stronger to hnbate a sheriff. The man &peweauhed Rudy, placed hie hands 00 the young man's shouledrs and rend an bin aginnry wath rrant at olfnr gedRudy iLh w stealing a horse. The young mien was Welly frightened and took to his heels for liberty, 1Ie ran four miler to his home. He was exhausted and fell into his father's arms uneousoleue, Noon afterward he be- came flighty, iced le now a raving maniac. lie imagines et gang of Indians arm ch eleg him and it has required a half•dozei men neonen0G'S LAST MESSAGE. The following is a copy of the letter; " To the Vinitore of S. E. Cary Island, 1893. As you of my notices here, I have atter the loss of my vessel tried to reach Foulken Fjord in order to winter over there ; but after reaching Northumberland Island I must of several Ceusets give up this voyage and return to Leary Island, "Compelled by bad weather to be a Longer time on this island, I start now for the Eskimo at Clarence Head or Cap Fara- day on Ellesmere Land. As I hope that a whaler will visit Cary Iolanda next summer in order to resoue me and my party, I will attempt to reach Otto island before the 1st of July. Should none be here to the 16th of July. I most if possible, go to the Danish settlements, therefore,if you visited this feinted later thou let of July, and found no notice from me concerning my voyage to the Danish settlements I 'Mould be very muoh obligee if you would go to Clarence Head (fifty miles herefrom), where I, in a cairn on the moat eastern point, Atoll leave a notion concerning my and my party's fates during the winter. At last I will beg you to send all notioes 'ram me to Professor Baron A. E. Norden. akiolel, Stockholm, Sweden,or to the nearest Swedish oonsul, with statement of time end place where they were found. Our pro. visions will, if I cannot reach the Esquimos, not last longer than to the let of January, without supplying from any depot. Party now eonsistmg of five men, of which one Is dying. —S. E, Cary Island, 12th of October, 1892. (Signed,) J. A. lignmetea, Swedish Naturaltet. from the whole range of the western sky, to to theca ohim llkely . I he ae cres erdrtie•pants s ems to glow with a beauty more than Getting .Efficient Medioal Attendance. As soon as the Emperor of Chime is tick Pe is a notification to hie physicians that their salary is cutoff till he is perfectly well again. The paeeionatezeal with which the regulare get his majesty book where thole salaries will begin &gain is orad to be something astounding. The result is that the etngeror is about the healthiest man Wending on the planet, and his physiciane seldom loses dny's salary. A Emir Bargain, indeed. A Scotch minister is said to have rebuked his wife for Bleeping during hie 55001011 in this fnshiot ; "Sump," be exclaimed from the pulpit, in a voice that wakened her, as it did all the other ale0pera—" Susan, I thane marry ye for yor wealth, sin ye had none. And I didna marry yo for yor beauty-441ab the whole congregation owe see. And if yo hen no grace, I hoe made a stir bargain in ye, indeed,"