HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1893-1-27, Page 2..rR,a,aaan,,11,rl:1an.
BEYON1 RECALL.
--Publixlled by ep"clad arrange Ile it from : dva e0 smote of ('handlers' Journal.
CHAPTIeR XXXII1.
1,1I1: I'i a PosEwt.
"Bo's spoilt the table, anyhow," Amid I
in ti tone of die, nnteut ; "however, I eon
manage to plane it doti'U, I daresay."
"No, no," maid my wife hastily. "Oh,
Tease don't ! The bade ill my room is just
Ike large ; let me have this."
"Ute, well, if you're so fond of your pot'•
bait as all that. I'm trot unreasonable,"
"Nor I, either. I have node up my mind
to da all that 1 can,"
"Vary well, thele 1 you'd bet tel see about
etting dinner. l'in bnugry."
Saying this, I let down the lisps of the
table and carried it upstairs. Her bed was
pelade; the 1'oo111 neatly arranged. Theme
11114)8 of subulissiou pleased me. I took
down iter table on my head, and eot'ried in
m}' !land the pitcher etitl three parts full of
molt.
You managed to open your skylight this
morning," said 1,
Yes, I could not tat it yeitcaday. Oh,
1 ado much stronger this morning."
As she spoke site tried in vain with both
hands to break a stick tram the foogot that
1 could have managed easily with a couple
of flngore.
"What are you trying to do there?" I
asked,
"I ane going to light the ire to cook
omething for your lunch."
Drop it," said I, remembering that I
eel put the chips from the table in the
stove, " You lay the table ; that's more
in. your line. " You'll fiud the things in
he eupboetrtt."
"I don't see any tablecloth," see said,
iim'dly.
We can do without It,"
" Without a tablecloth !"
Her supriae at the idea of doing without
this luxury was only greater than mine in
+employing it after having taken something
like twelve thousand meals without.
"'1 here are some in the drawers up -
attars," she added.
" \\'ell, you Qat, fetch one if you hanker
after such niceties. You won't be so par-
tieeler when you've roughed it a bit."
I bad the fire alight and the pan on when
see come down.
"How many rashers can you eat?" I
asked, aper fetching the baoon and cutting
half a demi for myself.
" Oh, 1 can't eat bacon !" she said, look-
ing at it with a little grimace of disgust.
" Csn't eat bacon !" I exclaimed, in un-
feigned astonishment, foe it still seemed to
me most delieieus fare.
"No, you must not think me stupid.
--have been ill. !Gly digestion is bad
I for two mouths I have taken uoth-
ng eat milk and light food. A little bread
with the milk -there is still a good deal in
the jug --is all that I :rant."
I reuetnbered what \lr. Northcote had
told me ebott my wife's weak health.
I took the pitcher out, emptied it, waah-
ed it in the spring, and refilled it with the
new milk of the morning, "Up to now," I
reflected, " 1've done all the work." lint
my equanimity wan restored on returning
ito fiud that my wife had taken the bacon
from the pan and set it on a clean dist!. I
was about to sit clown to the table without
'Gashing my hanclo,bet the look of the white
tahleoloth and my wife shamed me, end
glancing at my grimy fingers, I made au•
other grudging !ou'ney to the stream and
washed them. Also when I re-eutered the
.:outage I took off my hat rnd put on my
ooat.
We must have presented a strange eon.
trast es we sat opposite each other at the
table. My wife elegantly dressed, her
figure and face the personification of delicate
grace end refin<.meet, and I with my close.
cropped head and brutal face, looking like
nothing better than a recently shaved}. con-
vict.
You have not told me your name yet,"
said Itebe.
"Gregory !" said I, with my mouth full.
" Here you'll spill that; let me pour it
out." I took the pitcher which she had
tried to left and filled her glass, grumbling
to myself that I was playing t10 part of
deer servant rather than that of a master,
"Thank you. Why did you fill up the
jug? There was more than enough,"
This to fresh milk ; I threw the other
away. Nothing else to do with it," 1 ex -
plumed, that she night not think I had
sacrificed it on her atteoun1; "there's more
than we Call use."
" Uwe let it stand, Gregory, and shim
offthe Cream, we could make oar own butter.
I think I could do that. You aoald the
create and whip it with y0urhand. I have
-seen it done, Shall 1 try?"
, If you like," said I, carelessly ; but in
my heart I was delighted with the notion,
as I ever have been in attempting anything
new. "But you'll want an apron."
She looked at her cdreas already torn, rue-
fully.
•' If I can 411,1 something amongst the
linen to make up into an appal and a pair
of sleeves,"
' Anda dress more suitable to your
station than that."
"I'n1 afraid 10041 never find enough staff
;far that."
" 1 don't suppose you will. I shall have
to go all the way to 'Cavistock for it, Those
shoes of yours are all knocked out 1 they're
no good. And we ought to have a fiat pan
for the milk. Bread won't hast over to-
morrow. Can yon make bread?"
"I can make a beef -steak pie."
" Can you ?" said 1, eagerly 1 quite pot
off my guard by a recolleation of tltie deli-
caoy that set my month watering.
" Yes, and custards too ;" her fare light.
mg up responsively.
"Blow custards. Yon oat keep them for
you"pelf, How about bread 0"
She seamed doubtful of Mr (rapacity in
this brooch of domestic' economy, but she
'offered eagerly to try it.
We'll have a go at it, maid 1 ; its with.
" I'll make you that.'
I ':4uyou?"
" 1 should think so. There's rho snoko
of t4 cart wheel ort there will make 11 line
'nn."
"Is there nutelting will ,lo for paste-
bmu'd 3" elle asked.
" 0h, I'll soon knock that up."
" %Vo ought 00 have n fiat pan to set the
mills in," she raid, after a minute's eousld.
motion. "And where eau we stand it to
keep fresh and cool 1"
•' Why out at the buck there, in that pile
of granite, there's a sort of 0000 where two
great reeks lap over; that would bo the very
place. 1 thought of putting the cow in
there, but 1 fauciod it might bo too cool for
her.''
" You don't think the oats will got at it,
Grope), ?"
"Oh, I shall stop up one end with longe
stones, and put a door at the other," I re-
plied, as forgetful as she in this new cecina-
merit, that there was as little likelihood of
cats canting there at chtmpenzeeo.
"Do you really thunk you could do hat
without having a man?" she asked dropping
her voice.
Olt, you'll see," I repliedeontide11t1y,a1-
ready arranging in my mind where 1 shouts'
set my door posts. I rose, feeling the 4)e•
ceseit.y of finishing the stable at once in or.
der to begin on the dairy.
" Cut the pans," suggested Helm,
"There's a pencil, and 1'11 give yon 0
smooth piece of tical if you conte tett to the
shell, and yeti can Intake o list of all the
things you want on it. .111 go over to Tavi•
stook as soon as I've finished nailing up the
boards. Don't forget the suet and some
glue; that pestebnnrd must be rabbeted.
Look round and put down everything, so
that S don't have to go again for some
time."
She promised to forget nothing, and I
went ort' to my work with a feeling of exhil•
oration that I was tashauled of later on when
I was cooler. But my eagerness to fin11s1,
the stable gave me 110 time for reflection 00
coolin'r, and 1 was absolutely glad to sec
my wife when she came to the door later
OIL
` What time would yon lilce tea, Greg-
or?" she asked.
"I shall be ready for it in ten 'Mantes."
Why, you have nearly stopped up the
hole." (She referrers to the partition.?
"Two more boards to nail on, that's all,
and a bit of stuff to knock 11p here for a
manger."
` Is that end for the mew or the pony?"
"It don't matter which."
" I should think the pony ought to go
inside, because there'll be more light near
the doer for seeing to milk the cow.'
" Why, that's true ; I didn't think abont
that.
"Two heads are better than one," said
she with a faint smile. "I'lI go and get tea
at Once."
There was 8ometiting pathetic, though I
failed to see it then, in her endeavor to 'tom
:Mate me -to sink herself to a level which
even I might attain. But I presently had
a proof that she atilt maintained womanly
dignity.
The tea things were neatly set on the
table ; the teapot stood on the stove. Be-
tween us she had seta tumbler of water, in
which were two or three wild 'lovers.
"There is eel/titter yet awhile," she said,
as I seated myself.
"Oh, I can do without; passes tate bread,'
said 1, stretching int my hand.
Site glanced at my hand, and then look.
ed steadily in my face without moving a
haul. I perceived that I had not washed
the grim offmy hands.
" Oh, I forget that I can to bo a gentle-
man," said I, sourly, as I got up.
" Or perhaps you forget what I am," she
answered, without raising her voice, but
rather in a tone of gentle reproach.
"After toll," thought I, going back from
the stream t,fter giving my face and hands
a good wash, "one fuels all the better for
being clean."
When I had finished tea I saddled the
pony and brought him to tlo gate of the
enclosure.
Helie stood there with the list in her
hand.
"Shall you be long ?" she asked.
"Yes ; four or five hours."
We looked at each other in silence. for a
moment. Her air was so noble that it re•
gnired more courage than I could muster at
tee in0tant to tell her I: intended to look her
II,' in her room before I started ; she, read
my thoughts, spared herself and me the
indignity della an avowal.
", will say goodnight now;" I shall not
be up when you return," she said ; and with
a slight inclination of the head she turned
and entered the house,
When I followed 5, minute afterwards she
had gone up to ler room.
I must have felt I was doing a shameful
thing, for I went as Itoisolessly as I could
up the steps and shot the bolt in the trap
she had already closed,
Her pale, thin, lovely face haunted ma as
I rode moodily over the moor, and if tho
sinking of toy heart was not due to remoras
1 know not what it wa0.
CHAPTER XXXIV,
011188 \IAST010 111A:i BLRVANT.
I had to trudge it home, the pony having
pretty well as mucic as he could entry with-
out me. 1''or, in addition to the things
Hobe had set down nn the list, I had bought
a lot of clothing for myself, a weighty
patset of nails, holdfa0ts, eta„ a wishing
tub, and five live Cowls, With n, dozen
parcels hanging on each side, two large tin
milk pans, mud the +molting tub eontaning
the fouls on top, one could see nothing of
the poly bat his extremities,
I was waked in the morning by the tiger -
110 crowing of the cock in the Amble below
lid I can say with oon4deore that I tend
card no sound for eleven years which gave
neMull a Meltng of unclouded delight,
It would puzzle mo to explain thbefeelln g
1 all of the coot ions which 11.00001palnell
he clanging conditions of my life ; I oan
my attempt to 0e1 down the leading in-
Monts which narked those changes, end
ave the reader to draw his own canolusions
as to their origin.
As the light terming under the eaves wa8
yet but. a slaty grey, I lay for seine time
listening, as phrased as 0 boy with itis first
watch, to the crowing of the coals , et the
sane time turning over in my mind the
many alterations that muse be made in the
horse before the rough weather sot in.
With so numb to be dote it wee impossible
for a mal of my rostloos disposition to lie
idle long, and so in Lilo midlife of Ida 011111
mow I et0rlled the cook, and sent oil' his
110110 with a ooroualt by dem:end ing the tad.
der on wilial, they woro perched.
I had nuad0 up my mind Lo leave all
the homer work to 'Holme. "She'll have
to do all the sweeping and find light.
int; and that sort of tith,;g," said I to nty.
self. "That's her work, and it'o bust to
0
it
nig but flour and water baked." IMy vvifo thought wo should need soda or 0
baking powder, as in cakes, to lighten it. t
"I suppose you don't care for pudding ?"
ohe 'ingested,.
"Net MOIL We got it, every Wednes. le
"Bet I mean college plladillgS,, 41111 rime
and sago."
liatened tvith the strangest feeling to
the list. It Wats liko opening tt long -forgot.
ten book, and reengnieing the passages that
had fasoinated me an the past.
" Thereel plum melding, and currant
Trading," I said, supplementing her list,
"And rolevoloy-you don't oare for
that," alio hinted,
"Olt, don't 1, thoegb i" exelaimed, again
lorgetting myself.
o There's half n, in the molt at the
boi Lent of the enter:1rd,"
tellieg pin."
THE BRUSSELS POST,
begin as We'r'e going on, She'll lied nut
Lite'e's 110 110111011de',heat n e 1111 teat I'm
not going to stand any minimise on her
part, She's not a line lady now, As 0(0I
,to 1'1'o 11All a 00000 in the Menem. I'll beg n
011 that daily,"
But when 1 went i11 the house to unbolt,
the trap and get my p't11et of male, the
sight of all 111e parcels oat the floor, where I
had thrown thein down higglotly.pfgglody
after my titin walk, offended Ipy prison•
bred sense ofd propriety, so I proceeded
to stack them neatly agadnot the well. In
doing thee I inure open the parcel of beef-
steak and suet, 'This reminded mo that I
had rho materiel for a heof•stonk pie, but no
pasteboard and n0 rolling pill, Well, there
was the table I had brought down from the
roma above. With a few turns of the plane
I vont 1 give it a eluant mutates' that would
do for to -day. 10 7 fetched the auk plane,
but wanting light I opened t1, shutters.
whion wits a jolt 1 intended fo riebe I
couldn't leave the shavings on the floor -
that looked worse than the parcels, I got
the broom 1u1,1:Wept the floor. 'Then when
I had put the shavings in dtestove,itstruak
rue that the mere act n strikieg a mated
and setting then alight was not worth a
eonaideation ; but alt 1 the shavings
had naught, I found there was 110 wood
and had to t'u't 0111 sharp for a faggot ; 411811
I had to fetch turf to keep the lire in, It
was useless lotting theilt•e burn for nothing,
but finding rho kettle empty, and no water
io the pitcher, I had to go down to the
Baring and till it.
"A. good hour wasted," I grumbled ;
"never mind, 1'11 4)l alto up for it now." But
110 01101101' had I got int.) the shed with my
ironmongery than I bethought me the cow
h.,d to be milked. Hobe certainly couldn't
tlo that ; so I must.
"Now I can begin the dairy," thought I,
as I set down the pail of milk in the kitchen :
but glancing across to see if the fire was
going on all right, I caught sight of the
planed table, which retnludod me 1 had for.
gotten the rolling pin.
"Oh, 1'll soon knock that oil," said I,
going out to find tho old spoke. But a
harder piece of oak I 11e10e tonclled with a
spoke-shave, and to get it nicely toned,
tapering fn just proportion to the end, and
scraping it down smooth with a plena of
broken glass, took me fully two bourn, and
I had only Mat tied -a string loop on the
top to hang it up by when Bebe came to
tell m0 that breakfast was ready.
" You have been up a long while, Gre-
gory," she said. •' Have yon done a great
deal?"
" No," said I, savagely : " I've malea
rolling pin -that's all.
" Did you get up 0o early in order to do
that ?"
" Na, I didn't," I growled ; " Ihad to
plane the table for a pastoboe.rd ; and now,"
1 added, with inoroased acerbity as I heard
0 whinnying from the stable, " there's that
pony wants feeding."
" Oh, you Have bought some fowls," she
cried, cheerfully, when following me 1.0 the
stable door she caught sight of then scratch-
ing over the straw.
" Cuk-auk 1 cuk-auk 1 ouk 1" cried the
nook, polling himself up, shaking his wattle
and fixing one red eye on Hobo.
" Ob, you fine follow" she said : " we shall
have some eggs 11030."
" Can't make custards withoet 'eel, can
you ?" said I, gtullly. There's seine grain
in that bin ; throw some down for theca
outside."
"But you don't caro for custards,
Grego -y," she said, in a low tone, as she
went to the bin.
'•Get over, do 1" I Dried to the pony who
was sticking his haunches in my way.
Tho fonvls ran eagerly out after Hebe. I1
gave her pleasure to Iced them. I saw a
sunny light en her fate as I passed the door
but her inind seemed absorbed in 'another
reflection when 1 came down from the loft
with an armful of hay for the cow. Site
walked in silence Imelda me towards the
cottage, but On the threshold 8110 said, cut if
nothing had occurred since she last spoke
to me --
"That was very kind of you."
After breakfast We undid some of the
percale, for they were all so muoli alike that
I couldn't make out which contained the
things 1 had bought for thyself. The first
was the draper's. 1,1y wife was pleased
with everything she found in it but most
with a couple of ready-made print dresses,
"Hire is something that was not down
on my list, I am sure she said.: "what
are they?"
' The man celled them peignoirs. I toot
'en] in order that you might have something
suitable to work in at once."
" They are very pretty," she said, taking
no notice of my ungracious explanation.
" And what are these?"
" Bonnets. You can't go out without
something on your head."
They were the ordinary poke sun bonnets
worn by the Devonshire peasants, Anything
more ugly in itself it would be difficult to
invent ; and yet when Hobo, after unfolding
them with conned curiosity, put one on her
head to try it, I thought nothing could be
prettier. It was the sort of head dress she
might herself have chosen for a fancy dross
ball, 1Ior face looked smoker than ever in
the deep white hood ; her oyoi deeper and
more lustrous ; the loose halt that fringed
her brow and temples darner. Madded to
the quaint gravity of her expression as she
Maenad timidly to me for approval, Half fear.
ing, I think, that 1 should burst into deris-
ive laughter ; and then, again, it lent a
piquant fascination to the arch anile that,
twinkled in her features when she perceived
the effect was not ridiculous. I turned away
to open another parcel their she might not
see my admiration, not on0allacioue of my
own weakness in yielding to its influence.
"Thais is jest what I wanted for aprons.
1 shall slake them to acme right rotund and
with a bib."
"^Those are your sloes,"
" Fours. I forgot to put down the num.
bet, How diel you guess it?"
It would have been strange if 1 11 t 1 fo
gotten the proportions of a figure that wary
hotter known to me titan my own.
" 1 took the first that came to hone,"
said 1 ; "they're atott, and that's the twain
thing."
" Hoose shoes, boo."
"Yon eamhln't do without 'em --That's
grocery."
Ifow did you carry all talose things
home?"
The pony carried 'em : I didn't."
"1)i11 he carry you as well?"
"No, Iwalked."
She was silent fur to moment; then she
said regretfully -
"It was thoOghtlo0s of Inc to make inch
a long list without eoosiderimg how the
brings wore to be carried, And ,you a,hicd
to the lisb lustead of reducing
"'I']tat doesn't concern yota," mal{? I, 0010.
ing my parcel
You'll find me among the roolte when
yen went me: I'm going to see about the
dairy,"
'Thee does roncet tt me," aho said, ate
tempting to smile " 11;ty 1 come a11d 000
Whitt you are going to do?"
"Yee, if you liked."
She followed me to the rooks, and looltod
wmoweeweemestecesteteeteesosAva.w•u ersonsemerserasecootrawritormeterommesremineetwease
rm
with interest at the cavo•n fertned by the
two great. blacdcs of granite,
" J.low ,• ,"1 it 10 ill here," said elle 1 and f
eon n1ne.'. si and ltpriulu.''
1.011, there U be plenty of head room when
111ave cleared away the pebble of tltiva e°.
] ellall stack it up neatly along there foe the
puns to stand o1."
And I damsel you could find it 1,1 'e lint
010111 to layat one cud to troll the but for On,
" How would tient onto over thea, del" I
asked, warming up,.
"Why that is tato very thin., 11 yen
could only clove it,"
"Oh, that's nothing ; widish end would
you like 111"
' Up here, I think, Gregory, It'olighter,
and thee s more room,"
" Yes, the other end I shall fill up with
Menet, Koro I shall met u1 a rough door,"
"1f you could fix a shelf anywhere, we
could use tit is as n ltu'der u8 %vola 15010 deit'y,"
" Why, so we oould. 1'boro's a bit of
inch Mule up ii, the loft will just do, eloely
planed np ; and 1 oan put n few hooks up 10
bang things on."
"(11, that will bo capital ! Har']c ! what
tathat?" she asked, suddenly uumllig and
raising her finger.
I listened : the fowls were making a
tot'riblo clatter.
"'They've laid an egg amongst 'em 1"
"Do you think so, already?"
" We'll go and see."
A fowl on the threshold of the stable 30(10
proclaiming hor achievement, and the others
were e011gr'ltulatitlg 1101',
"Here it is," said I, Burling the egg in a
corner of the mange'.
Hobe, coining to my side, took it with an
exclamation of delight,
" There's an old basket or two In tato
shed. I'll nail them against the wall for
nests," sail I.
She auegostnd tent I should put up a parch
also for talo fowls to roost on, end then turn-
ing to cafes the full -eyed caw she said-
" I numb hewn to milk the 00W; will you
slew me slow?"
" Yes, and 1'll make you It proper stool
with throe legs."
"Thane you, Gregory."
Then she turned to 01 fess the pony, who,
jealous of her attentions to the cow, had
Jogged her elbow with his nose.
, \Vhatkind•looking creatures they are,"
she amid, " What is the pony's name?"
"He hat•n'11got one yet ; but we 01111 call
titin Ise .
"Kit 1" she murmured ; " poor lilt 1"
and putting her arm under his Week, she
laid het pale, delicate cheek against his
tough !tide,
the was dressed in one of the print
drosses, and wore 11.00n 1101,11et W1e11 site
came to tell me that dinner was ready. She
looked like a princess playing the part of a
peasant and nothing else ; the plainness of
her attire only serving as a foil to her mater.
ed 0110/1110 of face and figure. As she stood
there, with the blue sky and sutnmer clouds'
beyond, she was to thea vision of purity
and grace. I oonid not think of her impart -
Lys, illy mind enrolled from the attempt.
It seemed like looking down from a flower
to seek the corruption on whreh it fed. lb
was well that I stood deep in the shadow of
the 01110, 'mil timt I bed time to rae0100 my
senses bolo e 1 came oat into the light.
,f Batu all this Later on, Intl Ii,' lutolleet
Will tun 10111111 1u'r111311 it then,
1 111411 11/st 111','.'lt 010017110/ teen 1,001{14 in r0•
tonin,{, 3vhen, mem] t 1041 a block higher than
the rest to d1aeuver if 1 ea 'ld dull the e411000
01 tate sermon, a faint Dry renelti.l my 01'.
Look ing 101,4)111 m4) 1 saw in the diutluaes Ule
tnoulll that 041.1,01 the not Lege, a 11114011 of
sliver where 1110 brook spread into a pool,
turd then midway between thele a white
figure that I !mew tenet he lfebe. -1 rooag•
raised her video when she nailed aga1n. .1
flutrisled my cap in answer, and Married
along, wondering what had happened to
make Iter mal to me.
1 lost sight of her for some time 'titer
getting ,low':, from the reel' ; bet its Bile
cried frons time to time the sound of her
40iee grew more dletinct. What was it
onto oriod? Not Gregory; the word was
shorter than that,
Presently, getting clear of the larger
beehives, I SAW her struggling through the
heath net a hnndrel yards ate raining me
she stopped dead short. Site pushed her
hair back 00 if to see clearer, and stood
there immovable, straining her eyes as I
approached. Then when I spoke she cover-
ed her face with her hands and burst into
tears.
1 thought it was my husband 1" she
sobbed.
(fro no oote'i1l'len, )
OIIAiIGES OF COSTUME.
SOME 011ie'Vatio119 Oteaxretl [torn Pie !arta
elfslnry.
The distinctive mediate of the night.
tcontli century, so far as men 14,e1.0 concern-
ed, was fairly 0010b1101ed in England dur-
ing the reign of James II., lint fur woolen
the change front tato Vandyke style was
more gradual. 1 )uring Charlet 11,'8 reign
and the eerlie' part of that of Louis SIV,
the helices who had the setting of the
antidotes had varied them 01/1/119 in the
direction of Indeont•um; but as the century
wore on and the gowns 'row lower and
]oteet on the shoulders, the charm:tele:31fc
wide 0011110 disappeared, while the upper
skirt, 111011011 of lalling in straight folds,
began to begatherecl beekward, more in the
manner which 3v8 are aaua0lomed to as.
acetate with the Georgian period.
The first notable innovation, heweve•
was in the style of hair dressing, 13ither
the Meth of curls around tee head, with tl
little sepmreterf11glets 011 rho forehead, ha
remaimid in vogue; but one day the rife
ing favorite of Louis XIV., Mlle. do Fontan
gas, happe me to lose her hat out lntutinl',
immediately •oppliud its place, to the ad In -
tion of the whole field, by tying her germ
around her head in a smart bow. Next day
the " Pentanes " coiffure was +tel the rage,
but the characteristic bow of which it drst
consulted soon became a 0111101 detail, being
•e -enforced by the towering frills of stiff
noalin, which formed a structure 30011 afro•
Imported 11110 England under the name of
"commode." This fashion, according to the
Spei4ator (Letter 1)1), was at its height
about the year 1701, but was not long of
conttnunnce, since by 1711 it had quit;
disappeared except in country places,
whose inhabitants at that tirne lagged
amoral years behind the town Mode.
As commodes went out, however, foible
finales, or hoops, as they were now called,
carne in. Possibly the arrangement or the,
overskirt, of which we hove just spoken,
and whicih would have thrown the weight
m
of this chiefly behind, ay have made Beene
ertitlelal anpport we100010 ; but bo this as f4
may, in 1711 we find Sir Bogor d0 Coverley
speaking of his great -great -greet grand.
mother, who n ust have worn the •`wheel"
farthingale of Queen Elizabeth's time, as
being dressed "in the new•fashioned petti•
coat, except that the modern was gathered
oe the Waist" -alis ancestress, he says, ap-
pearing as though she stood in a large drum,
while the ladies of his own day walked us
if they were in po•carte,
A New Rain Story.
F. W. Aldrioh, a hotel proprietor in
1''itohburg, never fort au opportunity to
play a practical joke or spring some witty
story on bis guests.
One miserablerainy morning I was Bit•
tine m the hotel office talking with Aida
rich while waiting for his breakfast, when a
elan entered whose appearance indicated
that, he had been fished out ofa duck pond.
This man answered to the name of Dan
Beis.
Onnn this particular mottling he came into
the office laud, after eeleoting a desirable
seat near rho store, he said ; -
"Welt, Aldrich, thio is a cold, wet rain."
Aldrich looked athim and smiled, and then
u happy thought striking hint, he remark-
ed: -
"Yes, it is ; bub diel you over hoar of a
warm, dry rain?"
"\Veal," said Bemis, "I should say I
had. When God rained Clro and brimstone
on Sodom and Gomorrah, I should well that
a warm, dry rain."
The Moscow papers have been informed
that Count Leen Tolstoi, having disposed of
large sums of money 111 favour of the faln-
ishing peasants, has distributed hie vast
estates among the mem110re of his family and
practically beggared himself.
Tho latest advices from St. Petersburg
and other parts of Russia show that the
person Lion of the Jews, and the inhumanity
of rho Czar's oll'laials towards that unhappy
race, are goatee than ever before.
Shipwrecked Crew on au iceberg.
;January 27, 1893 '
,aBQb' 4,,:aL'iMR"11lyry i
A DUCK'S COURAGE.
i1'lniI llnnler vow el.l1414 L,,I,e Aiwa Par
xtegion,
Three of our expedition wore away to tho
i'ewbott4. We had finished supper on the
rooks forty toot oboe': the cold, deep wtoierls
iftu+ lutea -Lakin .tin ,erio-and wore sit
-
tblg uhauitt mid talking et the various
nooks 11, the granite and red sandstone, 0o•
joyfhg the uulonffieent view, '!fire water
was n gltlassy sheen atrolaheng newsy lo the
horizon; off on our right loomed up the
giro, form of Outer Island, with its fifteen
squ14r0 utiles of homlook, cedar and pine on
the ru l rock crags ; away to 0111' left Was
the Ironwood Ishied, a forost•oovered rook
of about two square utiles, while in fruntfn
a dint line of the far horizon toward the
north we could louat° the premoetories of
Thunder Bay and the tracings of Isle
ltoyule on the Canadian shore.
Suddenly a startling et'y from the waters
on the right of the island brought every
inn to his feet, The cry was repeated, and
then sltntlltitileottaly there mono iat0 view tt
mother duck ovith fifteen ducklings, and
fifty fent trebled them the rowboat leaping
over the water as fast as powerful strokes
could ago it.
The mother duck was in the lead. She
01100 of the spoelea known as the hooded
merganser, and her hoaatif1l most and
wonderful tnerkinga, the superb military
pr011810n of her notions in ]ler efforts to
escape and at the same time cover the comape
of her brood, her solf•onntrol in the midst
of danger, commanded elle admiration of
every elan of us.
"Don% shoot," cried oar host in tones
which echoed over the watete. "Let her
alone. Seo, the mother etc escape, but she
10011'1 leave her babies. Let then alone."
The ducks passed on, The mother duck
Meath/lily gave her command in two
strangely sounding quacks, then with flap.
ping wings and fent, 3 hick did Dot yaddie
the water, but rather whipped it with t4
singular rapidity, scurried ahead fon ten or
fifteen rolls at a tearful rate. With iter
more powerful flight the distance between
her and the chicks wonld bo ineeeaood, but
every time she would stop and paddle with-
out using her wings, or she would turn and
await until they had o,ertnlcetr her, Per.
nutting the little birds to rest for about
to throe seconds, the thin cry of warning end
ie command world again be given, and away
d they would go on annther spurt, slapping
o- I •eefr wings and whipping the ,later with
, titer feet no before.
They rounded the head of the island, pass.
ing not twenty feet from the baso of the
rooks below us, then set ill' w1111 precisely
the same procedure in a direct line for
Otter island, some five miles away to the
south-west. We watched them with ono
glasses, and until they were outof sight the
sane tactics were indulged in. The ephaa11.
ing made in the water rendered their path-
way easily discernable for more than half
or two•thirds tho way, and in the entire
distanoo they did not seen to vary an inch
from an absolutely straight line.
The boat party had found them about a
anile and a half away 011 the northern side
of the island, and had endeavored to capture
them, but their mechanics of locomotion,
although apparently so erratically used,
continually prevented their being overtaken
although the boat was light, talo e4re strong,
end the mel eager to secure a prize.
We were discussing the bravery and skill
of the mother hind when some one shunted
"Seo, there aro three chicks left behind t"
" Lot them aleue 1" rang out a stern corn.
!nand. "They'll dive and you'll lose then,
and they are too young to shoot, for game."
Tho whole eleven of us sat on the rocks and
watched developments. Instead of rowed.
mg the ialand,as the mother dunk had clone,
the little lostings kept straight on in the
direction they evidently were tak'ng when.
they were scattered and lost sight of their
companions. They dick not flutter along by
the use of their wings end feet combined, as
the first (look commanded by the mother
duce had done ; these 'limply paddled, yet
trade retnarkably good time, and were soon
some eighty 00 one hundred rods away. The
lake woo like a glistening mirror, and We
could note every action with ease. They
were moving on toward the open water, but
evidently keeping a sharp lookout,and't hide
we sympathized with them in their loneli-
ness we watched eagerly to see if they would
takes course toward their more fortunate
companions.
Suddenly from over the waters there
name a solitary clack flying ou rapid wing
at an altitude of probably fifty feet above
the surface of the lake.
"See, there 0011le8 book the mother duck
after them."
Snre enough, it was the mother duck up
in the air. On approaching the bluff she
recognized her little ones in 1 he eli0tnnce and
flew directly to then,. She oiroled around,
then alighted. There was a moment of --let
us call it conference, end then the three
young ones set out together in a straight
lino for the haven of test where the old dwtok
undoubtedly deposited the first portion of
her brood. The little trio rushed with
singular precision and rapidity, rattling
along,wings 4)d feet, over the water precise-
ly as their cem portions had done.
recise•lyastleiroomportionshaddone. When they
were fairly tinder way in the right direotion,
the mother dnok raised herself on Wing
again, and rounding tho end of the island
flew off toward the point whore she and ler
brood had been first discovered, evidently
in search of other possible missing ones.
The 'universal desire was expressed that
when the mother duck counted her babies
that eight she would find every one tucked
snugly 1n its proper bed.
" You 0r' not going beck to work," 0110
said, when I r03r from the table.
"Irbi0y Snomtdta" y. "asked, lnruequely.
"It
That had not oeourred to me, though I
might have guessed it by the bustle in the
town over night.
" Well, I shau'tshoak the 0useeptlhilities
of any one by employing my Lime to adverb
tage here."
!t is good to rest one clay in the week,"
said my wife, quietly. " If you would ltko
to go for a walk over the moors, Gregory,"
she added, after a pans°, "1 ellen be quite
content to -to stay inmy room until you
colpo back,"
The proposal staggered tae.
"It's pretty hot '1p there," I said.
"I have put up the skylight."
" You can't look out of the window."
" That isa pity. The moor looks lovely
to -day."
' You have notating to read."
" No,"
" And you are willing to be locked up
there 0"
' If you think it necessary."
T asked myself if 1 should sub nit her to
tits self -sought suffering.
"No," said I, getting up ; " I prefer to
work. You can go out if you choose."
But when I got hack to the oave I found
that the spirit had gone out of me. More
than once today 0 feeling had been revived
in my heart that I thought was dead for
ever; perhaps the disinclination to work on
Sunday was the reassertion of an old Barbi•
alcor.
For half an hour or more I sat in the cave
balancing in my hand the hammer I had
taken up, thinking over my wife's otlee to
be shut up in that oven of a room.
Her submission perplexed mo; it was eu•
tirely contrary to what I expected, and in
consequence I found it contrary to reason.
Why had she given in so readily? Why did
she seek to oonefliato tee ? I could not make
one and in vainly lool•ing for an oxplalatiou
there was that confusion In my mind that
the aspect of new surroundings conveys
after a heavy sleep, No wonder h my mind
was but lust regaining its fuculties after a
sleep of six year0,
The dammer slipped from my hand, end
I took up the parcel of clothes from the shed
into the loft. I avenin do as site suggested,
since I could not Work -all except looping
her up. I couldn't do that. I changed my
clothes, petting on the new tweed suit and
flannel cap I had bought the night before.
I did not perceive even then that in putting
oo decent clothes for Sunday wear I had
unconsciously fallen, into another habit 0E
the past,
My wife was sitting in the shade of a
boulder by the Monk when Iwent out. She
did not 000 me, and I strode off in emothee
direction,
I could think of nothing but Hobe. As
I welt over all that had happened -pretty
much as I Jtavo written it he'e-I was
streak by the naive senplioity of our onto
von:ation ; but I failed to 000 that while
my sitnplieity was artless a0 a Beeotian's
hots was tiro (11aguise of astute intent.
genes.
" One of 4)0 multi be fool," I maid, With-
out, however, regarding myself as the fooled
ono.
Rho had found horsolf a dellexto and frail
women, petted against it savage. Trick to
see teat stubborn opposition 300111,1 entail
nothing but discomfiture to herself, oho
had pursued tho wise took of suhdning mo
through my own weakness. Her first appeal
was to my lowest animal instinct. She had
stimnleteel and gratified my /appetite for
good things. I tend accepted her g111110n00
tis huonopeotlugly as the boar who climbs to
the top of it polo for a Into. She had made
farther programs by flattering my vanity
ail then made alp adroit appeal t l my
g,t,rnenty by offering to oonditiott time
01 he.rwion 1 'myself might, slava dummied.
1 had refused to imprison her, and given
hen amine' atnonut of liberty which could
118001' be retracted.
Amostextraordlnarydiscovery is reported
to haus been made by the crew of the barque
Gladys, while on her voyage from 14101,1110 fox
Hamburg. When in 43 dog. south, 83 deg,
west, the vessel wa8 completely hemmed in
by immense icebergs, and had to lay to all
night, for fear of collision with then, For
three days the vessel was en danger through
the presence of Irefields and icebergs, and it
required the greatest earn and shill to run
tier clear. 0n the lust clay a very largo
berg was passed, and, to the astonishment
of those on board the barque, there appear-
ed to be signs of human beings having been
on it. Quito plainly a boatee track could
be seen on rho eortlr•wese side of the berg,
and on that side was a shunter, apparently
cleft in the ice. The orew also sane what ap-
peared to thorn to be the diad bodies of five
people, lying on vedette parts of tho berg.
Ono of tato bodies lay Mot outside the shot•
ter, and anothor in the pathway leading to
it, No actual Moe of life could ire seen,
but it gave 11to iinprosoion that the dead
bodies were those of shipwrooked people,
whose vessel lied probably been sunk by
contact with the iceberg, and who thea
oltutnbered on the berg fox' eddy, and Bled
from exposure and want. Night was thou
coming, on, anis the place being (lamely
packed with: icohorgo, it was nob thought
safe to stop, and the Gladyo continued on
bey course, and got clone of the floating
danger's,
Recent experiments have proved that if
e dolieato p eve of ate be placed between all
iron plate and a disc of gunpowder, and thio
letter bo detonated, the late -will bo clearly
stumped on tato !ton,
COAL COMBINE BROKEN.
The Jersey Centres. Brawn Out and will
Be Operated indepcndc tIy.
The great Reading coal combine is broken.
The New J artery Central Railroad Company
has withdrawn from. it and hereafter will
bo 0poratedindependontly, the Immo as it
was before the agreement with the Reacting
anti Lehigh Valley was entered into. Au•
thorities doodle° to spells about the matter,
but an official of the Central confirmed the
truth of tho news, He said Attorney
Stockton was in possession of n e0111munt.
cation from the Central in w'hiell it is 0e.
knowleclgod that all 100 agreements with
the roads in question are cancelled and ter-
minated. This applies also to tato leases
under which toad lands wero reoently ab-
sorbed by the combine. What influences
moved the Contras to take this step are not
known, but undoubtedly fear of aoaou on the
pati of the Legislature had emoted ng, if
natal, to do with it.
The Xing and the Yoamnte,
A Ramo paper vot0cl1es for the truth of
the following story t -Icing Humbert, while
henget( reoently in the north of the province
of Lome, 'net Homo peasants who hall form-
ed n corporation among 111001s01008 to atilt•
veto the land. Idle Majesty made Pnglliriee
00 to their condition, and, tipan hearing then
they flooded 0, loan of 40,600 francs, took
int his chequebook, and wrote aohegne foe
that anmnit, hlstrtrotlug then that the
money, instead of being ropairl to hint, was
10 be used as a anger-atutt1atlon fund.