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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1895-3-22, Page 2• UNDER A CLOUD. TlIRIL .� ]4 TALE OU Mt'KAN r.Ir1; OrtAPTER' XXXIX,. ODIta'r'8 suenzeT1ON, Stratton did net move, but steed as if loth in thought while Involuntarily (. ueab's era were directed towards the door on hie left, A key had always been visible, in old times, by the handle—a key about which Guest had bantered his, friend and out jokes la which rho apirit•sband and Mra. Brade'onerve were brought into contact. But • there was no key there now, and he rebelled how Stratton bad endeavored to keep him away from that door, A trifle then, but looking singularly suggestive new. A dozen little Earths began to grow and spread into horrare, all pointing to the cause. of Strattou'e sudden change, and strengthening Guest's ideas that there must have beau a quarrel on the morning appointed for the wedding, possibly Don - noted with money matters, and then in a fit of rage andexoitement—disappointment perhaps, at not wlllingly receiving the help he had anticipated—a blow bad been struck, one that unintentionally had, proved fatal. All Gueat's ideas set in this direction, and once started everything fitted in exactly, so that ae last he felt perfectly convinoed that his friend had killed Bretti0on and in some way disposed of the body. btratton stood there by the fireplace, pale, haggard, and wrapped in thought, apparently utterly unconscious of his. friend's presence, till Guest took a step or two forward and rested his hand upon the table. "Well, Stratton, what have you to say?' There was no answer. Stratton gazed at him with a far-off, fixed stare, full of helpless misery, which drew his friend far nearer in heart, and he spoke more freely now. "Come," he said; "speak aut. In spite of everything, I am your old friend. I want to help yon. Will you truth me?' "Trust you? Yee," said Stratton slowly. "tell me, then, everything, beginning 'rom the morning when you were to be married." Stratton slowly shook his head. "Come,man; this is no tine for reticence. Toll me all," cried Guest excitedly; and he spoke to a hoarse whisper, and glanced to door and window, as if afraid of being overheard. There was the same desponding move- ment. ' I will not be dragged into any confee• sien," said Stratton fiercely. " Io is my secret, and 1 will tell it to none. I have a right to keep my own counsel. You have a right to denounce me if you like. If you speak, you can force me to no greater punishment than I autfer now." "Then it is all true ?" groaned Guest, " You killed him, and hid him there ?" Stratton uttered a mookinglaugh. "'That door !" said Guest huskily. Twice over you have stopped me from going there. Your manner has been that of a guilty man, and I am forced to share the knowledge of your crime." "No," said Stratton, speaking now with a look of calm contempt ; "you share no knowledge—you shall share no knowledge. You say 1 killed him and hid him there ; where are your proofs ? You have brought in the police, and they have searched. What have you found ? .Again, I any, where are your proofs ?" Guest looked at him wildly, and his lips parted, but he uttered no sound. "Let mo reat, my good efellow, let me rest. You taro warring against your own happiness in trying to pry in matters that are naught to you. I will not blight your future, Percy Guest, by letting you share any secrets of mine. There, goodnight, I want to be alone." Guest tried to recommence the argument, end' to master the man who looked so pith fully weak,butsomehow the other's will was "Oh, how long you have been," the panted, as she caught hie heads, "'Flava you seen hint'! ..Yee," • "Rave you found ,out anything 1" ""Yon" "le it dreadful?" ""Too dreadful t0 tell you, dearest," be replied sadly. "Then I won't know," she said with a Sob, "011, my poor, darling Myra I She will die of a broken heart, I know, I know," Guest tried to comfort her and the grew more calm, ""1 cannot—1 dare not tel you,' "Not tell me—and you said you loved me 1" "As I do with all my heart," "Then you cannot keep anything from me." "I'll tell your unole, and ask hie opinion first.?' "No, no, Percy. I must know now -1 must, indeed. No manor how terrible,you oannot keep it from me." "But it i.e like betraying the man whom I'd give anything to save." "Save ? Save from what ?" Don't press me, dearest," he said tender- ly. "Trust me that it is best for you not to know." "Percy, dear," she said gently,as she laid her hand upon hie arm ; "you can trust me. I always knew there must be some- thing very terrible to make Mr. Stratton behave toward poor Myra c.0 he did, and you and I have been plotting and planning to find 11001, in the hope that it would prove o be a trouble we could bridge: over, and bring them together again. You have discovered it all then at last ?" "Then tell me." "I cannot—I dare not." Edie was silent for a few moments, as she sat gazing straightbefore her into the dimly lit bask drawing room, her oyes eut.ueed with tears, as she at lath said in a whisper : "You asked me the other day if I would be your wife," " And you promised me 00 005Wer when 1 knew all," said Guest, cutting the ground om beneath his feet. "And now you know, and I'll tell you," she said, hardly above her breath. 'Yes, 1'eroy, some day when we have made poor Myra happy." "Then it will never be," he said despair- inglyy. Leone judge," she whispered. And he told her all. "But—but I don't quite understand," she faltered ; " you thiole, then—oh, it ie too horrible—you think. then, he had kill- ed poor Mr. Brettison, his friend?" " Yee," said Guest slowly aud thought- fully. "It must have been that. I can. not see a doubt." t " Ah!" They started to their feet at the piteous sigh which cane from the back drawing room, and it was followed by a heavy fall, Myra had entered in time enough to hear the terrible charge, and for her life seemed to be at an end. Meanwhile Stratton' had stood motign-. less, gazing down into the dark pit formed by the staircase, with the light of the lamp be held shining full on bis haggard face, made more painful by the Smile which contracted the lower parts of his eouuten• ance, till the last echo of his fr,eud's steps i died out, when he turned slowly and walked into his room, closing and fastening both doors. Then his whole manner changed. He rushed to the table, net down the lamp so that the glass shade rattled and nearly flew out of the holder ; then, (ironing quickly to a cabinet., he took out a deoan- ter and glass, poured out a heavy draught of brandy, and gulped it down. The glass utmost dropped from hie hand to the table, and he alarmed his brow, to stand staring before him fighting to recall hie thoughts. Twice over he threw his head back, and shook it as if something compressed his brain and confused him, Then the stim- ulant he had taken began to act, and he went to a drawer and took outa new screw- driver, with which, ober seeing that the blinds were down and the curtains drawn over the window, hecrossedde the door on the left of the fireplace ; but only to turn away again, and take up the lamp and plane it on a stand, so that it should light him In too powerful, and he had to yield, leaving ! the work he had in hand. the chambers at last with a shudder of He was alert and eager now, as, with horror, and feeling that be could never take deft touches, he forced the sorew•driver Stratton by the hand again. For the man seemed changed: There wawa mocking, almost triumphant, look in his eyes as he took the lamp from the table, and followed Guest out to the landing to under a piece of moulding at the top and front edge of the door, wrenched them on, and bared some half dozen screw.heads, , These he rapidly turned and withdrew, laying them down one by one till all were stendthere, holding the light over the mag- "out, when, from ani nner pocket, he took sive balustrade for hie friend to descend. out a key, unlocked the door, threw it open, As Guest reached the bottom, he looked and went into the bathroom, lamp in hand. up, and there, by the light which fell full Placing it on the polished lid, he rapidly upon Stratton's face, was the acreage, ! toiled on till these screws w. re taken out mocking air intensified, and with a shiver in turn, when, fitting the lamp with hie he hurried across the tea, feeling that the F left hand, he threw up the lid with his mystery had deepened instead of being : righht, andshudder, stood staring t which down alto owed n., bath cleared. His intention was to hurry back to his The lid fell with a heavy, sound, own chambere,feeling that it was impos. and, with a curious, wondering look, he Bible for him to go near Bourne Square, turned and went slowly back to his table, knowing what he did, but the yearning for set down the lamp, caught It up again, and t one to share his knowledge proved too walked into the bathroom, where he again set down the lamp, tore a fly -leaf from a ro01" And I promised that aha should letter In hie pocket, folded it into n spill, are every secret," he eaid to himself, and bit lb ab the laml chimney. shWhom am I to trust if I don't trust her l" "Will it burn slowly or explode at once?" The result was that, with hitt brain in a he said, with a teokloee laugh. '" Lot's gee 1" whirl of excitement, and hardly knowingand once more he threw up the lid. what he did, he leaped into the first oeb, and urged the man to drive fast, while ho Bank back into the oorner, and tried to make plans. ' I won't tell her," he decided at laeb, "I'll see the admiral, and he will advise me what to do." Ila altered his mind directly. "It will be betraying poor Malcolm," he thought; but swayed round again directly after. "I ought to tell him," he said. "It is a duty. He stood to, him almost in the position of a father, and, for Myra's sake, ougnt to know land Heaven knows I want Someone to advise me naw," He changed his plane half a dozen times before he reached the square but that of telling the admiral under a'pledge of secrecy was in the ascendant when the flab drew up to the door. It wile opened by Andrewe. "The admiral in Y' he asked. "Yee, sir, but he's asleep in the library, Mies Myra is in ler chamber, air—eat very well tonight, but Miss - Edith is in the drawing room." Guest went upstairs, and,npon entering, Edie rite ed at him, when all his plane went for naught, CHAPTER, XL Pon ilia BABE Edie rushed to her eonein where ale lay prone on the carpet, her face turned toward the al aded lamp,whn.h threw its soft light upon her face, end, even then, in her hor tor, the girl thought had never looked so beautiful before, while, as Guest, full of camerae, joined her, he felt ready to bite out his tongue in impotent rage, against himself for a boyish babbler in mak- ing known to two gentle women hie fearful discovery at the chambers. "Shad' I ring?" he said excitedly ; and ho was, halfway to the hell before Edie checked him. "Ring? No ;you absurd man 1" the cried impatiently. ' Look the doors. Nobody must know of this bus no. Dere, quick, water 1" Guest was hurrying to obey thebuoinese- like little body's ordore about the door when the checked him again. "No, no;'it would make Matters worse, Nebodyis likely to come till uitolo eaves the Warnry. Water, Throw those flowers out of that great glass bowl." l.lueat obeyed, Mad bore the great irides, me with contempt ? No; to spare ine, Idle,. cent) vowel, Premwhieh he ifed tossed Some and my plaoo le at hie side," orohida,1ti her side, i 'Wu, net now," said Guest ft'Inly, ""I "'I!hat's eight, elo1d ib aloeen Peer will go back tonight. Trust me, please, darling 1 My nearest Myth, what have you .and Melte faith in my trying to de what is " for the hest;" ' done to sutler all this terrible pain'P Thera were drops other than the cold ones to benpriukle the white face Utile had lifted into her 'epos elle cab on the lithe, bending down from time to rima to kiaa the marble forehead andcontraobed eyelids as she epoke. "Percy dear;', she said, as he knelt by Iter, itoipful,but in spite of 1110 trouble, full of mute worship for the olever little body before him. Hie erre mots hers, and flashed their de- light, as the second word seemed to olfndh others which site had epokon that night, This is all a secret). Even uncle must not know yet till we hove had along talk with aunt, She can be quite like a lawyer in giving advice." Myra burped her head slightly on one aide, and muttered a few incoherent words in a low, weary tone; and et last opened her eyes to let them rest en quest's face as he knelt by her. There was no recognition for is few moments, as she lay back, gazing dreamily at him. Then thought resumed Its power in her brain, and her face was oonvuleed by a spasm, Starting up, she caught his arm. "la ib all true?" she cried, ina low, husky whisper. Guest gave her a ppitying, appealing look, but he did not speak. "Yes, It must be true," she said, as she rose to her feet, and stood supporting herself by Guest's arta, while Eche held her hand, "You have not told anyone ?" she said eagerly.' "No ; I came here as thou as I knew." Where is Mr. Stratton 1" " At his chambers," " And you, hie friend have left him `• at such a time?" It was at his wish," said Guest gently, " his secret is safe with me." Yee, he trusts you. I trust you. Percy Guest, Edie, even if he is guilty, he must be Saved. No, no it could not be. guilt. I must not he weak now, He may be Inno- cent and • the law can be cruel. Who knows what may be the case 1" Site pressed her hands to her temples for a few momenta, and then the power to think grew clearer. " Go' to him—from me. Tell him I bid him leave England at once. Leave with him, if you Din be of uslp. Stop. Hs is not rioh. Edie, all the money you have. Mr. Guest, take this, too, and I will get more. Now go, and remember that you are bis friend. Write to me and Edi", and we will send; but, though all ie over, let me know that his life is safe," -Guest caught the hand she extended with her puree and Edie'e, kissed it reverently,. and closed the fingers tightly round the purses, andgentlythrust them from him, W " hat 1" Myra cried passionately; "you refuse?" ' I want to help you both," he replied gravely. "0 Percy 1" cried Edie, with the tears starting to her eyes, and her tone of re. preach thrilled him. '' Don't speak to mo like that," he said. " You mean ,well, but to do,what you say There was a few moments' silence, and then Myraspokeagain felntly, but with More composure. "Yea, we,trust you, Mr. Guest. Don't think any moro about what I said, Come tp mo again exon with news, 1 shall bo dying far your tidings, Yee," she said, with a weary sigh,oe she clung to his hand, tidying for,oar aew0, Only promise me this ; that you will not deceive me In any way. If it ie good or bad, you will come. ""You must know," eaid Guest quietly, "laminer or later. I will tomo and tell you everything." "Then 110 now—go to him." "Your other 7 He will think it strange that l have been and gone without seeing him." , "No ; you have been to -see us, I will tell him everything when we are alone. Good -night. "Good -night." Gueat hurried back to the inn, but all was dark there ; and, on going on to Sarum Streeb,he knocked at the door fn vain. "I can do no more," he thin; and be went slowly back to hie own rooms. (TO nu CONTINUED.) ' • WOLSELEY'S PLUCK. The Bravery of Lord Wolseley, Then (loptnln, In the CrI seal' War. On the31st of August, about. 12.30 a. m,, a small party of Russians made an attack on our extreme right advanced works. There was no covering party athand, "and the working party fell back in confusion before one-third of their numbers, in spite of repeated attempts of Capt. Wolseley to rally, them." The Russians destroyed abont 41 by yards of the sap, and then fell back 200 yards into the Dockyard Ravine, whence they kept up an ineoesaut fire. The Gervais Battery, from the other aide of the ravine, played on the head of the sap, and in a short time we had twelve casualties. out of sixty-five men. When the Ruesians retired Capt. WeiseIoy got some sappers co work to repair damages, but this was difficult, ae they had to labor under a shower of bullets, round shot, and shells, and ,the work progressedonly by Cape Wolseley and a Sergeant, Royal Engineers, working at the head of the sap, olseley was on hie knees, bolding the front gabion, into which a Sergeant, work. ing also in akneelingposition, threw earth over his Captain's shoulder. The gabion was half filled, when it was struck in the centre by a round shot from the Gervais Battery. Wolseley was terribly wounded, and, indeed, the Sergeant pulled his body back without ceremony, intending to bury it is camp, when he found the life of his officer was not extinct. Besides grave injuries in the upper face, a large atone from the gabion' was driven through the oheek and jaw to tbe neck, where it lodg. is to condemn at once in everybody's ed • the 'right wrist was emaebed, and a. eight. It m himalso foreign�:e my p001 serious wound inflicted on the shin. friend's nature that, even knowing what I temStrange y say, he did duty, afterhe rmies re - a raped do, I. cling to the belief in his innocence. I embarked, the shin woundtill tbecoming more "Yes; he must be iunoceot,". Dried' „ serious later, when the bona began to exfoliate. Myra. "He could not be what you say. Then should I be right in taking money and your message,. saying to him, though not in words—' b ly for your life, like a hunted criminal' 7 1. could not Bo it. Myra, Edie—think, pray, what you are urging. It would be better advice to him to say Give yourself up, and let a jury. of ytur fellow'eountrymen decide.' " "A Cook" asks the sympathy of the pub No, no," cried Myra ; " it is too hor-. • io under the following aerio•tragic circum. able. Yon do not know; you cannot see stances, says the London Telegraph. ' She whetbe is suffering—what hie position ie. writes lea letter on her sad fate, from 1 must act myself. It cannot, it cannot be g Crus 1"which we extract the following filets; ,Mae. "Myra I" whispered Edte, clinging to ter has a son at, the university, and when her. he went back after the Christmas holidays "What ? Andou ,1,0against m,, too?" THE COOK'S YOUNG MAN. Ilia 3'leitlras Attended by a Peculiar and Disagreeable Adventure "Ne, no, deae How an you speak he left behind a box of cigarettes. Mistress such cruel words ? You know 1 would do gave me leave to entertain my young man—who is in the green•gronery line, and has really excellent prospects of gain. ing dietiuction as soon as he has enoueh to take the corner shop which he has got anything for your sake," Half mad with mental agony, Myra re. pulsed her with a bitter laugh. " Anything but this," she cried. "There it is, plain enough. He apelike, and you his eye on—to tea in the breakfast -room, ory ' Harken Iia he not wise.'. Ile says, aud, as She was very pleased with a dinner Let him be given hp to juobiee for the I served up to a party of her friends about mob to howl at hits and say he must a week before, she gave me .the box of die' Die?' Oh, np, no, no, it is too horrible 1110 must -he shall he saved!" In her agony she made a rush for the door, but before she was half way there,ohe tottered, and would have fallen but for Guest's ready arm. He caught her just in time, and bore her to a ooueh, where she lay back sobbing hysterically for e. few momenta, but only to master her emotion, draw her cousin to her breast, and kiss her again and again before holding out her hand to Guest. "Forgive me I" she whispered. "Theca long months of suffering have made me weak—half-mad. My lips spoke, not my heart. You both are wiser than I am. Help me, and tell me what to do." " 1 will help you, and help him, in every way I eau," said Guest gently, as he held the thin white hand in his. "Now let me talk coolly to you—let us look the matter plainly to the face, and see how matters ,.tend.- 1 am speaking noW as the lawyer not asthe friend—yes, as the friend, too but our feelings must not marry us away." Myra struggled with her emotion, and preened the. Baud which heldhere firm. CART' I1UNDER, Tim fat pollee eergoant was ohasing an overgrown +Mitroacli out of the top drawer of ilia desk end whacking at it with a weed..en ruler as the insect skated and dodged about, when a long drawn. sigh paned him bo leek tip,' Semi one had opened the door and softly advanopd to the desk, It was. Mr. Dundee The sergeant looked ab Idm for a few e000nds to matte sure and then said Oh 1It'e you, fa it 7" "" Yes, sergeant," sighed Mr, Deader, "her vhas me, i, vhas 00 my way to tea dot undertaker, and I sail in in see you, Oxcuse my tears, but I vitae' a sorrowful man—worry sorrowful 1" " What's the matter?" asked the officer ae he made a blow at the 000kroaon and broke the inasOt's left leg, ""You know dot I got oudb, of der saloon peewees and inwent a condo alinenae. She vhae a comm• and a sad, almanac. Some throe dose shokee snake me laugh till I fall t down, and sometimes dpse sadpieces make me—me—t"" Yee, I see. You have invented some- thing very mermaid, M. Dander, and are deeply affected, Sit down and get a brace for your feet and choke back your ems. fyGuestwas silent for a few moments and stood as if collecting his thoughts and re. viewing hie position. "There is no need for taking any im• mediate steps," he said. "The scene that took place to -night was forced on by my precipitancy, and the danger to Stratton eras passed away. Tomorrow I will the him again, and perhaps he will be mora ready to take me into his eonfidenoe, for. there is a great deal more to learn, I am sure." "it is not am bad as you imagined." "After what took plane tonight I can't Say that," Guest replied sadly ; "but there are points I have-not yob grasped. Au accident—o. fit of passion—a great deal more than I have yet learned." Chun go to him to -night," said Myra eagerly. "1 will go with you. He shall not think that all who love forsake him in the hour of hie need," "Myra t" "I cannot help it,"she cried,apringing up, "Did 1 not go to him when that suepieicn clung to him—that he was treacherous and base ? liven then In my heart I felt 1, could not he true. Yes, 1 know what yo„ say ; he has tacitly oonfeaeed to this dame. tui crime, bus we do not know all. I saw that Malcolm Stratton thine not be base If he lino taken another's life, I' know, I feel all the horror ; but he has not been false er tro„cherous to the women he loved,' and it wee on account of this horror that he shrank bank that day, To insult—to treat cigarebtee the university lad had left behind, and told me to give them_ to Joseph—that's my young man's name. The tea and the Dake were very good, and Joseph was in capital temper, end'I am sure, was just miming to bhe point of making the declaration I had been expecting for some time. I eaid, 'Will you have a cig- arette, Joe?' and he said, 'Yes, I don't mind. Where did you get 'em ?' I said, 'I knew you liked a bit of good tobacco, and I bought 'em for you.' He looked so pleased, and lighted one; and after he had given two or three whiffa there was a hissing noise a flash, and then o bang. "Joe swore, and I shrieked and fainted, and remember no' more until I woke and found the mistress bringing me round with. smelling salts. Joe had gone, and I was told that hie nose weal blistered and his mustache singed, and that he was in a ter- rible temper. Hethinks I diditto make game of him, and I'm afraiditsall over between us. I gave it with the bosh triton tithe ; but why should people be allowed to sell such things as squib cigarettes, which bring trouble on those tilde emoke them, and innocent parties as well? 1 think the law ought to prevent it. Of course mistress wag not to blame either, as the did not know there were squibs in them,. but thoughb them real." One Oyster Enough for a Meal. Pliny mentions that according to the historians of Alexander's expedition oyetera o foot in diameter- were'. found in the Indian seas, and Sir James E. Tennant was. unexpectedly able to corroborate the cor reobness of his statement, for at Kohler near Trincomalee, euormoue specimens o edible oysters were brought, to the rest. house. One measured more than eleveninclee in length by half as many in - width. But this extraordinary measurement is beaten by the oysters of Port Lincoln in south Aug. trails, which are the largest edible oysters in the world. They are 00 large as a dinner plate and of much the same shape. They are sometimes more than a foot across the ohell,andtheoysterfits hishabitationso well that he does not leave moth margin. It i0 a new rumination wheu a friend asks you to lunch at Adelaide to have one oyster fried in butter or eggs and breadorumbs set be- fore you, but it is a very pleasant experience, for the Savor and delicacy .of the Port Linoolb mammoths aro proverbial even in that land of luxuries, ,y Mona"' IMIr. Dunder sab down and wiped the tears from his eyes and sighed and gasped, and after a couple of minutes, during which the ,officer clipped the roach over the left ear and upset the ink bottle at the Same time, he got up and said:— "Sergeant, I viae afraidt dot Mrs. Deader vhae a deadt womane before night, and my. eon Shake vhae no better ash a corpse l" "Ie theb possible? What can have hap- pened?" "I inwent some each pieces and read 'em to Shake uud der old, womans, and dey weep and gob and vhae almost gone oop. Listen to me vhile I read:, "Vhen vhae a rooster not a. rooster? Vhen she vias a crowing.' "'Vhen vhae a person like a window? Vhen hevitasfull of collie.' " Why dean' Cain's brudder ehtrike him back? Because he vhasn't.Abel•'" "Hold on, Mr. Dunder I" :interrupted the sergeant, as the cockroach made a jump to the floor and got away under the baseboard. Don't readany more until I laugh. By Qeorge 1 but—ha l—ha 1—ha 1 you have struck it this time—struck it rich 1 Ho 1—ho 1—ho 1" "Sergeant," said Mr. Dunder, as ha stepped back in surprise, "vhas you laugh- ing Of course I am! I haven't been so tickled over a joke in five years—hall—ha I "But I dean'` read you some --chokes d All dose vias aadt and pathetic. I inwent does things to make you weep.". "Weep eep. - "Weep 1 Why, you tickle me almost to death' I Read me some more, Mr. Dunder.' I've been feeling dumpy for 0 month or 'two, and a good laugh will do me .good. Seleotsomething even more sad -something with Robs in it." "Vnell, by Sheorge l -but I down' see how she vhae 1" gasped Mr. Dunder, as he looked up from his manuscript to the ser- geant and er-geantand bach. "Vhen I read you some shakes, you weep ; vhen I read. you some pathos, you laugh.' Howeffer, 1 vhill read you some more. Listen :— '' 'Vhen Thea a bank note like a singer ? ;Vhen its a teener.' "'Vhen vbas a Dow like a drunkard sent to Central prison 7 Vhen she vhas dehorned.' "You will excuse me, sergeant," said Mr. Dunder, as he pocketedhie, manusript with one handand wiped his eyes with the other, "but 1 can't read you no more. It vhae too sheeting. It vhae oafer twenty y'ara before I feel like die. Vhas you laughing ?" Yes,1 can't help it—ha ! ha 1 ha 7 Why didn't you teal mo before that you had jokes in your 00inle almanac 7" "Bull did 1 I come down here more ash aeex times and read you some ehokee." " I—I don't remember -ha 1 ha 1 hal Well, of all the good things I've heard and read in the last ten years these take the (lake I Were Mrs. Dunder and Jake tick- led over them 7". "Teeokled 1 Sergeanb, I dean' under. stand how she vhas. Didn't I tell -you dot Shake nod heroldt}vomans vhas all swelled oop und most dealt mit grief? But what about -ha 1 ha l ha. 1" "Thy, aboudt dose sadt pieces I read, you. You know dot ole man on Milk Street, who sharpens knives? Vhell, 1 goes by his place and reads dot pathos to him, and for tweutyfour hours he dean'shtop weeping." "Don't eh ? Ha I ha 1 ha If you have any more good things, don't keep 'em back. Well, well, but who'd have thought you were so 'funny I" " Sergeant," eaid Mr. Dunder, after a long look aver his desk, "imaype I vhae all miebooken. Vhen I inivents a choke, maype she vhae no choke at all, but Something dot ekes you feel badt?" "I think so." "Und vhen I inwenta a piece to weep oafer, dot vhas a eheketo make you laugh, eh ?" "That'sit—ha l ha 1 ha 1" "Well, I dean' believe her ! Yon vhas no frendt of mine, Vhen I weep, you laugh, and vhen I was teekled almost to death, you vhas almost crying. It vhae ehelonsy. Eaferpody vhae asking who dot Carl Dunder vhae, and dot makes you mach. Sergeant 1" Yee—ba 1 ha I ha 1 I with you had time to read tomo more of those jokes, "Sergeanl,•go by some geese, and duan' I you forget her I f my whole family does and doe almanac busts oop, I dean' come and see you no more. -Hal Good day I Ha 1 ha l I go 1 Ha, ha, hal 1 vhae gone l" AGRICULT'URM4, improved Method of Laying Put art Orchar?d.. In baying outland for orchard planting the use of :a wire marked with eolder gives far mora aoeurato measurement end is moro timesaving than a measuring pole and • a,.+ trammel) OnOr0AIID CRATN, stakes. ' A light galvanized Wire 10 hoot, and the drops of solder that mark the die. tenth .required for the trees,or vinee,obould be prominent enough to be seen readily when the 'wire la on the ground, In taking'' the wire fr6ro the coil leeh0uld he unrolled, not pulled out from the end, as in the, latter ogee the wire ie more liable to take short kinks that interfere with ire aeouracy. About 100 yards fo the limit of length of wire that can be readily handled by two men on fairly level land. On undulating land a third man will be needed et the middle of the wire. The ends of the wire are made fast to' the middles of two short, stout otiokewhioh' serve as handles in Mov- ing the wire, When the wire is stretched; on the ground formarking, it is held in place by pegs set against these handles. In marking oil' the orchard, the first stop is to . run a base "line .e,,ae seen in the sketch, along one 'side of the field. The wire is stretched tight and straight where the tree row le wanted, the handles are pegged down and then each solder mark has a peg put down beside it. The wire is then car- ried to the opposite side of 1' he proposed' orchard -if that be not more than a wire's length distant, --and again stretched exactly parallel to the base' line, b, and each solder mark pegged as before. This fe a guide line, merely. The distance from the base line is not material, but it is material that it be exactly parallel. Now the actual work of laying oil the orchard begioe. The wire is stretched alhng the side of the 'field, at right angles co the lase line, c,the first solder mark teethes the first peg on the base lino, the wire touches the corres- ponding peg on the guide line, is made tight and Straight, fastened down, and a peg planed on eaeli solder mark. Then the wire is moved down the field a peg, d, and the operation repeated. If ell has been done with care and oorreetnees the Pege will range straight both ways and any number of diagonals may be Bighted greatlyto the. pleasure of the lover of exact work. Getting the Seed Ready. Feminine Vanity. Some fuss has been made at Mannheim about a well-known old lady resident, Frau Sophie Brechter, having completed her hundredth year. Letters of congratu lation poured iu upon her, the municipal- ity waited upon her In a body with an address, and even the German .Empresa 0001110r a, portrait and autograph signature. The old lady, however, still preserves enough of feminine vanity to fed quite annoyed at these attentions, She dealaree ehe is only eighty.elgl[t, a figure at which, acooeding to reliable witnesses, she has stood for twelve years pas% the Canadian Paoiao Railway pays a half yearly dividend of 2 per dent, on its preferred stook, -Air= The rough, cold, rainy, or snowy days of winter may be spent to advantake indoors. The seed corn is to be selected, if it was net done' in the field when gathered, as it should have been. Choose long, thin ears with deep, long, narrow grains. Seth corn will ripen early and will yield from fitty.to sixty bushels of shelled grain to the acre. Carefully select four or five bushels of ears of ouch corn out of the corn- crib and spread them upon the upper fluor of the barn or in the granary,' where they can be kept dry and free from vermin: 11 may take several days to pick nut the right kind of eoed,but it ie time well spent. The garden sweeecorn shou.d be likewise as carefully selected. The editor knows of a gardener who gets two dollars a bushel for all his "evergreen sweet corn," and has done so for a number of years. A farmer grows some 2110 bushels of yellow corn,true to name, for which he receives an extra price These extra prices are. received by. those growers who aro carotid to make a proper selection year after year. Inshoulci never be forgotten that it t0 just as import- ant to make a careful seleobion 01 farm or garden seed for one's own planting or sow• tug as if the seeds were grown for .sale. Thecorn should not be shelled o0'the cub, as it gathers moisture when ' shelled and, kept in bulk. It should be shelled by hand a few weeks before planting. Seed oats, if oats are grown, should be run through the fanning mill four or five times. ' Take off the chaff screens and put in 0oreens Noe. 3,4,and S. Put a last screen in the upper, notches of the mill. Tbia will keep the oats longer on the screen, and a more complete separation of the heavy grains from the light and chaffy will be had. The mill should be turned briskly and rho oats put into the hopper gradually. Oats 0o cleaned will be worth sixty to seventy ,cents per bushel, and when drilled two . bushels will seed an etre. Carrot,paranip, and beet seeds may be cleaned is bhe same way. A large number of farmers,on their lime. atone soils, raise clover mead, and take cold winter weather to thresh ;tout It threshes better out of the hull. Such seed should be recleaned, so the light seed can • be blown out of it, besides the light weed seeds. This is important, as ,only prime heavy seed is wanted. Dealers in clover seed say that the best seed Domes from the West. This is oocaeioned by our farmers not being careful enough in chair alarming of the home-grown article before sending it to market. The hay chaff from the hay mows should' be carefully gathered every few weeks and kept storedin a dry place, and early sown thickly over the posture. This seedling will thicken the sod and drive out needs. " Wire Worms. This post i0 one of the most haraseiig,the farmer is called upon to deal with. In turnips, mangele, and grass the presence of wire worm is often not ao apparent, and remains undeteeted. A winter fallow is desirable after a bad attack in wheat, oat, , and barley orops,..in which damage is plain and .manifest, 1n this ease the land ehquld be enit1vated immediately after harvest, sand Moved constantly, 0o that nothing may grow. Early in the Spring the ground should bo stirred again and vebohee sown, of which wire worms do not seem to be very fond. When oats and barley are attacked, dressiun with soot end rolling should be tried, or nitrate of soda to0liinti- late the plants, says an exchange. 16 should be harrowed in if possible, It is auspeoted that wire worms are abundant in land sown with graze ; some rape seed' should be Down with the merle to attract the wire worms, until the grimace aro carat. i Hatted, In meadow land initiated with t wire worms,rollfug witha very heavy roller to sometimes beneficial Salt at Pram five to seven owte, per sere fe sometimes useful, :. and feldin Shoe with itiattgele or swedes carted on to the grass laud tea most valuable remedy.