HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1893-2-17, Page 22
THE BRUSSELS POST.
FEB. 17, 1893
BEYON1
• CIIAPT1 a X\\1,..
I Tt•110 VIII 11'.11,
0u0 Sunday attwn100 1 found myself
du'z.iug over the lineyelepeeli,1 h had
leen raining )all day : my muel 0:,o muse
gial, and V'eadiug bad failed le, 11!11 a 1(10'
idea.
Uiviug nlyseit n Miele, I went t0 the
window, thrust my hands in my po-kete,
and looked out ov0- tile dee t w m t, Ilebo
sat hard hy, one of the 11(11 bets open b1(•
fore her on the Il:l between two pots 1i
flowers. Them Was limiting 1,1 read but
the 1';11 vel"p,. iia
„Don't you tkinit w„ 11411' afford. to ex-
tend our hbr„1 y . ' she neet0•I,
"We 1130(4.'1 reed a twentieth palet of
ovl,at we've got t these values.•, contain all
that there ix worth keewint."
" I)1(y eu think se;"
"\\'hntsuLlat I,f limuo mai.tvt
you segg001 11 .elf a.i,hti'n? La 011(1, 11 n h
languid eerie.ity.
" A week e1 imaginal ten.' -
"0)1, a story," se!, l 1, toith la 0:011 of
contempt. " 1'11 1(c • i , as novel you
n 1 1. ) t for
the nest time 1 g e into the teem if I re-
member it,"
" I leas not thinking entirely of my own
pleasure," she said quietly,
" Well, you need not trouble your head
about me. I've got all I need, Rountree (a
good ,1111111411 fora paned of girls and boy:
-and women. But what on earth does a
natiOnal man want," I asked, stretching my
arms, " with the history of courtship and
marriage? They're all alike -those stories.
Acouple of young fools fall in love :they fall
out of love ; they aro reconciled, and their
folly is consummated in a marriege."
' 1.101111(1100 is not 018101s confined to
young people, and it sometimes begins after
marriage."
"Olt, if they're not young there's less ex•
cuto for their fully, and if they eau'r lace
soberly after marriage their a 1v 011 ((es ecus
have no mere interest for a sun/• mail than
the vagaries of a •0U 110 of Si i01 at large."
"livei1 the vagaries of tli„t, may ex vitt(
our sympathy,"
"1 suppose I've gt. n' (genii,:ay :'then,
after a long yawn, 101lol'1, •• Any how-, I
11011'1 Wan!, to have it wetted by semi profit •
less stub,"
My desultory readioginthe Ilneyeltpe.lia.
had led nu' to skim ever ,,1(e 1(t two eyes (1r.
of phileaopi y. pl.l..iu 1(p an ,,rgainent 1.0
or 1,01,1 which pleased me, awl leaving the
rest.
There was uotkin, in the exp vise of
leaden 01011,1 .and atony moor t" interest me,
and ae Helie Wes silent, 1 continual sen•
tentiously-
•' 1 he object of lite is the attainment of
happiness. True bappiuees is nothing but
a 0un1111fnn of contentment. ('oiteiunent
is only to he ehta!ued by the complete sub-
feetiou of those passions that upset the per.;
jest balance of joy and s01 row on which '
equanimity depenns. A wise 100,1 avoids
anything which excites his passion ; and if
I thought a look 001111 stir me up either to
hate or love, I would avoid it as Carefully
as indulgence in an intoxicating drink,'
My wife sighed. I yawned again.
"1'm not clever enough to argue upon
abstract questions," she said. "But alt
that you have said seems to me quite
wrong."
" How's that?" I asked, in a tone of un -
philosophic irritation.
" If all that you have said is true, it
would seem that the highest nim of man.
kind is to undo all that civilisatieu and
deter° have done, and sink back to the
condition of animals -ay, even lower than
that, for even they 0,01 sullen"
' Well, and suppose we arrived at the
condition of vegetables, treed, heather, grass •
-I lon't see that we 01(0,111 lose anything
worth a moment's regret. But, hold Laud 1'
I
exclaimed waking a r''
n u ,1(.h to nely idea
aI
that had for me they churn' of originality
" what is there to jastife a belief that the
condition of a tree is love than 1,111 own 11
May it not be that the uitinnle end of eiv-
Alsation is to make man as «bailout to the,
laws of nature as the tree:'
"Gregory 1 Gregory !' aid my wife,
passionetely. "Did '0 0(1 never low•, ?"
Isat down because 1 was tired of stand.
in \f • wife woos opposite r
1 time the g• 31.
nn
falling on her 114,1,1 that had lento its color
and composure,
' What hashaC
t to do with t t � a1' n•
e
g
melt'!" I anted.
She dismissed that question with an im-
patient gesture. Her !mina ion nb0nt snub
a trifle madame laugh. Thee, my elbow on
the shelf, my chin in my hand, I turned my
head and looked again at the slanting
rain. It seemed to me that it would be
better for ns both if she arrived at the soma
style of indifference as myself ; we should
jog on then In this comfortable way without
bother.
"I suppose every man must fall in love
some time or other," said I, mumbling my
words without taking my chin from my
hand ; !'same as he gets measles and other
childish disorders. Ivo got through mine,
and am not likely to he attacked again,
thank God 1"
" You were happy then ?"she said, eager.
149•
"1M'yes-sort of, One day mad with
joy; next day mad with despair -!tope one
motnent ; fear the next -delirious always,
Balancing insane delight against inseam
wretchedness, the result, Isuppose, left me
something to the credit of happiness,"
"But you were happier then than you
are now -think -answer mo truly ;"and
then, as I made no reply, she adeed, im-
petuously, "Do answer mo,"
"I'm thinking it over. It's difficult to
answer in a moment about feelings that are
past. I know this, though : I wouldn't
change my peasant condition for that."
"You would not?"
"No, not for the world," said I with
emphasis,
"Then you never loved 1" ala said 1n a
voice that trembled with sorrowful 01001 1011.
"Never loved 1" f exclaimed, as all that
Thad endured through my passion fleshed
upon me, "Never loved 1 I have loved as
a man 01(17 can love who has loved hart. once,
I'Ve heard that whet 0 ,linea,,, hays bold 1(r
a strong, ht,111hy maul the diteeer is ,,,ro;.tcr '
than when it. seizes a feeble 07"1 Who ha
got through a daze❑ pet ly e4i11100, 'i'h•,.C1
why I took it 00 Lally, Neo,•,' lord'
why, 1 gave my fife to.. 1be. Woman I 1,0,0 1.
That 100'1; med., you ray ; as 1'n em's 1111' i0
worth so little, Yoe Mat retie:Mae tan
value in pound,. ehilhl,g-e, ant pries, --by
the Beni 1 0nicido ler, lost on a here, ear' r,
A nen will pal an (•((i to his life for flu, i
Hilliest, trifle, L1,17 " 1 added 91v,wing titres
with trey mediae ira, of the I.a,<, "11'0 n,' ae
trifle that leads 111(11 10 Mei dot 11 welna,, 1
neve' heard of a man. Il ill i!,_ a women lee 1
Caine, he had lost a Wager .e1' robbed 11(1
pinyln•. A Men neat. be mad with p101 011
to do murder."
"1Why 710 you talk of entailer 1"asked I
my wife, quaking with horror.
'.Because,i cannot Clink of my love and 1
'orget its effects I tell you it brought me
r
1 I CIIAI'Thllh 11 1.,
Ru'rl(aft l'R.40h.
t aL�r It lend)• h,4ave been Klima three weeks
a
alter the toregoiuh diseussieu that, gleam tig
'down the list of houeeltnbl requireui'1t0
HebO hod Made for me to take 03111 1110 in ll,
10W11. 1 10(1(1,1 10t. 1110 behold 1111011011:-
t0 that latch, It matte use to 1111',1,11'1' at
! li'art. l only 11,1,1,171 the oppa: t unity to be
it mul,l••rr)' i1( lire,!. 1 wuuid have kills,
1)1" a 111'1(1 l lova,!.
" 1 1e" 0'1(00111 you hale,! "" 4141,1 thy will
111,' 1, eeli'111,
161(,110' (Om. I say-, 011,1 1 tell you it
w 1474 the last cnulllvion of i'n'e, 111:11. Wad
101(: r 1 hail time in 1(00000 to get over
it, \ 1'a 1 ed Mr that. -1 roan (1010
the ion, u:_, li 1(.l eked oat of lain there :
his semeeIlitiee etre st:1(11,,171 umber 1, 1 fall
he's ,1(.;1,04 10 pain or pleasure -liken tier••
s1,51 1 eie.11 when the nerve ie dee, royal.
How 1 e ,l'1 he live ml 10111 ou nthcrwiee :
1 kl ,1 al m3' wife its r pet ti10 11(10-
1101. \ . 1''710 at. dr,i110d ln'1 h,1' eiteek
foe re) ,•,. She meat cave 00011 that. 1 1011
the 11,'1, tot 11 urn,,' 1,aiu 11( leek ern of
t!0, w',Amy, 0uneved hy her aympnt 17 ;
01!,uaisolely 1vi1111(,y own 1itlet ('('1100•
1;nw
11,1: 111 011,1010 cif thtt kind leaves Be
use,. 1, 11,111, I wont et111te1 0 pante, "1t
al!er11'1 my brain long after it had 00140,1,1
to ra0;4,e, my heart, They 8nght to have
001,1 1(r' to it madhouse instead of keeping
clot here. Perhaps they did not see fiat I
Olax and: 1 didn't till l got avoyfrom the
pauioiuneut cell, and crani[, and the irons
at siimttintr,} soy mania, But I W,10
1110'1 011, w'en'd x111(11 it if you knew all.
Never mind that -it's all over now; and
1'1(( healthi01' and better than ever I was."
" D01ter ?"
" Wily, yes, I tell you I would have
murdered the woman 1 loved ; well, now 1
would nut wells 11lr005'the room to do herrn'
injury. Isn't that an impr0yenent ?"
My wife shook her heard sorrowfully, he
chin 'tiling on her breast.
" And this is the secret of my 01001y," I
bided. " I've no more love for lice than 1
have for that dog."
"011, " will come heels again," Hello
cried, 511(1.15013', as hope re-: mmatetl her.
duet as the hods buret on the trees when
the Winger 10 quite gone, lor0 will come black
1 to voile linnet. '
I '•'Pitere's plenty of room for it," said I
1 with a, led laugh 1 " fey 1litres nothing
left of toy heart hitt the
113(0 itch of phileeopeisiog took hold of
mac, and as tee weather alio it this: unto
kept me indno's, where' 1 had 110 necbaulflal
eeepuiea fee the eleltu'nt, I indulged it
pretty freely at my wife's expense, • Pe.
men,herine her su¢gstien 1 bought a novel
toe her - 1 hackeray s " Eoiooiol..y
" \VIII yeti teed 1(0 a chapter, Gregory,
while f week ? 0110 asked, thinking, per.
a t, wean e • "o
, hap 1 a n m tram the 1:ncyaLp,vdin,
and hu motes Me,
Sly absurd vanity led me into the trap,
hue without the 01141010111071 e1oct,
"'Eilat's trite 1" 1 exclaimed, closing the
book at the end of the drat t'hapter. "This
man lays bare the secrets whi011 novelists
and I„w makers shut their eyes to.
•' 10( afraid I do net quite understand,"
said -lobe.
1 npeled the boort again and read the
00nclueinn of the chapter.
" I look into my heart and think that I
ant as good as tiny Lord eleyor, and know I
m1( as bail 140 Tyburn Jack. (live (11e to
chain and red gown and a podding before
me, and I t mild play the part of Alderman
eery well, and sentence Jack after dinner.
Starve me, keep mo from books and honest
people, educate nut to love vice, gin, and
pleasure. and pelt me on Hounslow Heath
with a puree before me and I will take it,"
"And what conclusion do you draw from
that?" she (10ked, diffidently,
" That wee ere one ail all mere creatures
of eircumsten 'e0 ; 1111,1 that 10 reward one
man for his vis: nes! 10.1((st as unreasonable
and ml
"j00t 00 to punish another for his
01000,
" 01,, 1 ane sure he dill not 1110011 that.
Ion 11'1,1 find, 119 you read uta, that q'hrtek.
Argy loved the good and hated the had with
all sincerity."
" Then lie was inconeislent, and there's
no sleet shy in his philosophy."
' I x•onid rather ifs philosophy wver•e
faulty than his heart."
" It's mere likely to he the other way
ahem, g (tided by reason, one can't go
wren ; leek lie feeling, one can only by
olloI,o, go 7171111, Why 011011111 0111011 be
hated ler 06,00 that ere the result of 0001•
clition for which he 13 tot responsible. You
mf0ht ,10 rea00uably hate him for being
born ; lie is not co blame for either."
My wife laid her work upon her lap, fix-
ed her eyes upon me while she uollected
her thoughts and then, In low, earnest
tone, sail-
" Suppose that l sanctioned the conree
that sent my ha bend to prison, knowing
that another c"arse would sate hien 1"
I nodded, and she continued with en
effort--
' Suppose that after that I -I-" she
stopped short, the color, covering her face.
' 1 know," said I with a laugh, "Sup-
pose you were nrllaitlful to hint? All right;
I can suppose that."
" Then, wonld you Trot hate me ? Should
I not deserve all your hatred ?"
" Nota bit et it," said I, unmoved, 11A11
that is simply the result of education and
temperament. You had been taught to
love ease and luxury (011(1 the flattery of
s0olety, You thought you 00/1171/,01 live as
the acknowledged wife of a condetnnedcon.
viot. You considered that before the twenty
years expired, to which your 1110baid was
bound to be condemned, either lie or you
would be deal, And then afterwards-"
" Oh, don't go any further," she cried in
horror,
"very good. '!'here's nothing in your
conduct that I myself 0honld not have dote
had 1 been i1( your place, under similar eon•
dittoes and Circumstalce0,"
She looked at me in silent wonder and
pail.
That must be the judgement of any
dlapessinnacc mind," 1 ooltin(1e1L "1t
proves what 1 said, thee, a nen 01111106 be
unjust it ire is guided by rea0011, But
I would not answer for myself if I were
under the demlliation of enntel5. I
coa1di1'( hi. lenient, even if I ITa111 any feel.
tug for you -oh, I know the 1010'111850 that
C'(11e•V w'Itl, 1.'t 1'.
" And l( 1'.14 j 47'tlll`t'a i11 1113' r•r11110 ,
enuldyon 1111 {hm 11,en0 ars readily?
„ l ee m..sm 31'1100. 1'!etedeo..-'1 10l0w'
the wwbnl0 sle4p, s'om asked if i shnnhl not.
hart'. inn Nn --ll dal. hint (0 lllerrnwy alt
the 111,101', 1 sh011111 bel. hint pit-, without a
et rale'
It was I rue, 1 fell ne i walked tap and
been, tbn'k!u; the inner aver. that, 1,11r•
lig all the Ctre'en ,':teem int ra eon, biero tion,
1 wvunbl have 61,1, et. 701(1,le 1hit, g 101' bol it
,f 1(e 11 1 had set.aieed tiny feeling et love
for 1,137 wife. (1/IV pr,0011t e001111anwvnsll,e
1(04 pk'ustmt 1 0.011111 imagine ; it Was 1 1'
iura,leln to my w(fe, and r,nvinc'el that it
amid only exist with a philosophical stale
,f apathy 01( Iny "file, I resolved to keep
1(y pardons (Hider subjection to the end.
1 Might 140 wall have ordered 1110 sun
sever to ('1010 again, in order that 1 should
elect) In (11111000 night,
"'1 little (online."
11.1'ha1'0 Iris?" 1 asked, "What sort of
deli . y requires this ingredient."
1 don't feel verb' 01.0114," mho explained,
. in n tone of dejoethei,
I lied been so engreemeil i1( making my'0011
a forge 001 in 1110 8111' 1, and 011(1ng up 0
beieil thele, that. 1 had not remarked 10(13'
ahau;0 (0 11114 wife'scoeP.tinu, 110l01, 1101'
uudeviatieg geuthvess had lulled me int.
suelt a [eche. • of centee end scene"ty (hat
1 peel lose attention to her than ovee.
' I'a'n tlotieed nothing." said 1 looking at
1101• in n5t,nixll((('1(0,
1 1 run glad of that." Her voice tln1ve r-
ultalitlle, I(meld suuuow'lhat her filet, Lac'k-
ed the bt•igllt(eee 1 lied noticed When she
told ole wit!, bnoyaney that she felt stronger
than for year's before, she must have gone
gradually lark lite 10 by little in slight
degrees tor the altetatien Le be impet•cupt•
Ode, even though my thoughts were (111ar.
wise eugagcd.
sant would have n,tived," elle went on
with the slightest nevelt of bitter.
11000, "if I had tiled to supply yens
wants." Then her lips quivered, and elle
dropped her head 10 conceal the rising tears,
es she added, " I can't keep up thy spirits
ars I used,"
I turned away, fearing there was going to
lie a scone -irritated that she could not go
on just the saute as I die, She had her
lark and het' books ; end, be5dcles that,
there were the clog aid the fowls and the
household things to amuse her, What else
could she leant?
" What made you think of quinine ? " I
0.0118,). I
11 did 1110 a little goo'l when I first 1
canto to Torquay. 1)1'. Burrington advised 1
it,"
" f)r, Boreingtol 10 the doctor at Tor. I
(usy?"
"Yrs, I titonght it might bring back
my streugt11. It is dreadful to fel so
toed,"
1 went ant. and saddled the. pony.
"You had better not oil 1(11 for 1711," said
I returning to the cottage be fere starting,
"It may be late before I come in."
'Tut you may want something, She 1
spoke almost ho lafully.3,
• "Oh, if I want emy'thing 1 can get it 1(l '-
sell. i 711(11'1 0.11111 to be waited 00,"
"No," she said, mournfully, "1'nu
!could d0 as well without me as with ole,
couldn't you:"'
I hadn't the grace to protest against this.
In my conceit, perhaps, 1 thought 1 might
1 find just as mach satisfaetien in solitude.
"Anyway, you go to bed When yon feel
tired," said I.
Instead of going to Tavistock I went to
I Torquay. More then once 011 the way I
looked at. that last line 1i the list-" a
little quinine" -and eawh time with grow•
ing uneasiness, though 1 did not perceive
its pathetic signitieanu0 than as Ido now,
1. merely considered the personal inu(nveni-
Pure I should be put to if my wife really
711111(11, I had 1101'01' pereeiced that It was to
pleasure to talk trod listen to her, taking it
1e a matter of ceutee 11111 run (If that Dun•
10(110(1 state of elm 1 111,11 I intended to
otautaiu for the Dtlnue. 'I'lle ditiercnel
((tele by leer 141,,01100 110tuuimhe,l 1(10, awl
!lie more 00 when I rt Ill', tell [.lint ,all 1(10
pllyNe1110l1111e111l'l11x1Vt('l'1111'1.l'1'10110 pre.
vide,' tot' 1101101(1l. "All the cel0i'l+ teem 1
I eatil to Iny+elf,
'very moment 1 Impel 10 heir her feet-
( •p overhead. 1 w',ulue l her t 1 01111,1 7100'((,
wt 11-,1,111 Icuo1+'uiug why. 1 had nettling
eheerful to talk to her about, LL1111 it aha
05010 1tt'nll 1t W110 he, "e' she shell! d sleep
on, Thin 0910 1110 111 ,. Lune 1 11E1.4 telt It
lnrumbeut on thyself to 10,11:e lily e ,1107.1,
Hon agreeable, or in any way 0101ied what
0,11'11,1 lie beet, for her.
1'0111113' 1 returned revenues from my
,j0111.110y.11,110, 1110 10001', ,old 01laek0,1
supper the first thing, Tonight my ap.
put Le 0(101 gone, and 1001011001(101011.7 put•
ling beak the tiling,* in their places on the
fires:eran'l i1( Lhectipboard, n lmiriugevery
where the perlv01 neatness mud miler tint
prevailed. Then, when the table was dear.
ed, having as little inolivatien for sleep as
for feed, I sal (lona in IIoIe's hair by the
window, looking al Ilia folded work 00 the
shelf 01111 the (limas she had ben tieing dna
the'ba3', The work was a curtain for the
window of my Mons, I11 her work -basket
was to bedltin of my inventing; 1 heln't
6,011 able to Make ie 00111, but it wits there
amongst. her treasures.
1 thought about looking into the 13ncy-
cl0peslia to see what it said on the subjece
of " 1)0(11110," but ley courage failed ; and
at, hist, finding (0y spirits andcing lower
and lower, I got up, lit my candle, and
blow out the lamp. At the door leading
into My new r00111 1 turned and glanced
back, howler hall ceased to growl. Thee
was not a sound, The room looked emptier
than 01.01' in the feeble light 1 held ; the
shadows on the wall were phantoms ; the
lowers on the table seemed dead now the
atop was out.
"If it W1110 always line that 1" I said to
1y0elf in awe.
In the morning 1 remembered that I had
of late forgotten to fetch the water. It was
a relief to think that she might not have
felt tired without cause, jelled toe kettle
boiling, ilio • the room daaled and the breakfast
y, h t
tri o b
thing., n the to le before elle ensue deem,
b
I ww•am staudiug outside, undecided what to
clo nest, whet' Howler bund!' d down the
steps, and set up m reeulur howl of delight,
at the hnttnnl, 11.ebe was looping at til
table 111 astonishment when 1 went. 111 ; but
her enil!•,ement was greater still when I
held out my hand with (1 basllfnl awltw•ard-
ns8, and hoped she felt hotter, 1t Was the
first tinge shies the old days that 1 had
offered my hand to her. She put hers into
mine, and pressed it in silence, her eyes
alone expressing that this was for her 11.
moment of solemn presage.
Yowler earls up and sniffled at my legs
las though be were in doubt about my
identity.
"I thought you might sleep late, so
I got breakfast ready," I said, with
drawing my hand, and feeling it Hetes
say to excuse myself, lest sho 1111onid give
tee credit for more feeling than 1 possessed.
At one moment, as we stood there hand in
hand, a wild tenderness in her quivering
lips made nie fear she would throw her arms
about my neck.
"01,, I have slept too long ; I didn't
hear you coma in. You could have made no
anise at all -and thank yon for asking
about 111e ; I fel much better and. brighter
111110 morning,"
She spoke hurriedly, and with agitation,
Bmtsile regained her composure by the time
we were seated at table,
" I've put thethings in the cupboard, but
I haven't turned them out of the bags. And
the quinine is on the shelf. '
" I feel now 0.s if I should not want it"
" Bntyou must take it, and when that's
gone I'l get more. Your Inn 1 ought not
to be so thin us that." The words slipped
out involuntarily, and 1 hastened to cover
thein by adding, " And there are some
books in that parcel over there, and illus-
trated papers."
"This is like the morning you brought
the flowers home," sliusaki, with soft grati-
tude dwelling on every word.
She opened the packet, exit bringing the
Phistrat0d pspers to the table, drew her
0111111' nee name, that we alight look at tiro
pictieee together, It wee ea if she had
never seen the like before. There w•as ab-
sorbing ink: -r se in vee o118 , even the
e e o 1 1
1'einoe of Wales "laying another foan1a•
tion stone, poor fellow 1" suggested a doze]
ingenious comments. .1 should have dismiss-
ed the whole batch in five (Minium ; the tea
was cold before she had half oxhansted to
fond 01 anusenlent.
" If you could matte some frames we
might Luang the largo pictures round the
room, Gregory," sho hinted -never forget.
ful of my weakness, though perhaps giving
it another name. I promised to make frames
of an entirely original kind.
" And why did you buy these ?" she ask-
ed, without raising her oyes from the paper,
but with an earnestness that sho could
scarcely conceal.
"1 thought it would cheer you up a bit
when 1. am occupied hath things that mate
ole forget you, you know. It camels me
that things weren't exactly balanced as
they shoul(1 be. My work is a pleasure
yours is a duty ; and you ought to have
something to interest and amuse you, just
as I have ; that's only just ; and unless
things are just, we can't go on oontenLetlly,"
, Was that the only reason 1" she asked
Without changing her toile, without raining
her eyes--" to Hake ole content?"
I don't remember what 100panso I made ;
11 was scercely intelligible to myself know.
" Tap" -o, tear fell on the paper-" tap" -
"tap„
' Aro you thinking about your children ?"
I asked, not harshly,
She shook her head.
It wee not her tears that moved me ; only
the thought of being lett alone in the world
that ponied me on loan extremity,
" 1f you could menage it somehow," I
Raid, " thee your 0011111 go and 500 1110(0,"
" No," she said, closing the paper, and
hurriedly drying her oyes, No ; they
are well oared for, I know. 31y place fa
hero. I will watt so long as t Notre am any hope
of finding my husband,
pro Iii meet sem)),
A Little '.Coo Polite•
sl range lady--" 1 bog your pardon, lint
i heard eon ;mention `les, 1/111/1;1.1 Ileo 1011110,
mid 1 ltmuw Bile Inas been very s„I.. elan
yon tell In. how she
Gentle 'n, -" the i0 dead,"
Strange 11117-."'1'101,10 you,"
Lady'" Friend lin a widener') •-"11er•
I'nt'el! Yon s1,nul,l 111,1. luwo said ' blank
yotl.' That gentleman is 311'14, Uppr:rten's
physician,"
fell ill and 1 lost her serl'ices.
At'l'orr nay I found ler, Berrington, 0
keen, dark•eyed, sallow man, with an ir-
ri table manner. He glanced at me and then
141 his watch as if he were in a hurry to get
the interview over and pocket his fee.
I told hint Iny wife was ailing. He
questioned me closely, and with increasing
shat'pfess as my answers revealed, not only
my wife's condition, but my own character,
Whet I did not tell him lie divined, and so
justly that it seemed to me he must know
who my wife wvas and all her history.
"Your wife is a delicate, sensitive
woman?" he said, taking confirmation from
my face. " .A yotmg wemmt-01fect1onate
disposition -food of her children, cats, dogs,
any living thing? Patient, p1111101 ako 1)1-
,1011't bother you w•itil her troubles - keeps
them to 110t'self? Hall a mental strain at
sometime? Suffered a good deal of un-
happiness ? Stoops at home -don't see many
friends? to Change of scene -110 alnil00•
inerts 00181110 1101' hotno?" 1Io paused a
moment, and went on again. " Won say olio
subsists almost exclusively on a milk diet -
been under modioal treatment abed(--
that diet was presoribed? Anything else?"
11 She took quinine."
"Before the milk diet was resorted
to." He sat clown and f began to ,rite
g write,
questioning: 1` 1'0 cough --complains of
nothing but feeling tared and low spirited ?
You filet her crying witlwtlt cause ? Of
course you do your hest to cheer her?"
" I have my occupations," said I,
He stopped wrItioo, and, looking up,
00,11 -
You are more concerned about thein
than 1110 life of your wife "
f1 \\'het's the platter with her ?" I milted,
started by this suggestion.
"A complaint that's only too enlmon,"
he ssid,linieh!ng the presorintion and rising.
"Your wife is suffering from 11e heeded
me the paper -"a careless husband. '
He struck the gong. I onuld find nothing
to Day 145 I put my fingers in Iny waistcoat
pocket for a sovereign.
""I don't want your money," he said.
"If the medicine fails to do good to your
wife, let the poor soul 00100 to me."
I covered my retreat with the holdeet
face 1 could put on it, and with growing
discomfort I took the preso•iptine to the
ohenist whose address las stamped at the
head of the paper.
"What should you say was the matter
with the patient?" I asked, when the old
plan had road it through.
"Weak digestion."
"11'ell, that's not vett' serious,"
"Oh, that's your opinion, is it?" he asked
regarding me over the top of his glasses,
My look and manner seemed to of'ourl him
not leas than it slid the doctor. He put a
paperweight on the preeeription, and turned
to take down a bottle. Measuring some
liquid in a glass, his back turned to me, 11e
resumed -
"If you had a lamp, and for some reason
or other the wick ceased to convey the oil
properly, 01,0111,1 you bo greatly Surprised if
you weer1left in the dark?"
I could rand no reply. 'Phe parable struck
ase with startling form!, the mnielltslon
st (1110111' d Ili:.
I'lie living 100111 Wail empty wlnn Ire•
tinned, t.'lesieg the door as in!,cless'y ars
1 had 1'l,c0011 It, 1 steed for 'tome nli(1n1W1
111,,,,, x0'11 my hand no the latch, looking
around 010 in dell dcpterhinn, Thu,, was
no tonna 1011110 low' grtobiiig of the dog,
wo,',oiled Op ea the landing above kept a
jadeite et, ,0 nue, 31lyenppcl' Wats 111111011llle
l abl, , My !Lair pineod, n Blase of dowers est
where the liglht 1,1 the lamp full; 71yelippers
worn by the aim( ; m chamber nan,llc with
it hex of neat chez (1«001 newly 01( the dreaser,
She had forgotten nothing.
hoe week„ she luta Haver failed to open
the door to Inn on my return, t.e take the
peree10 from my heals, to open then ono
110111' tlio 011101' with mulling interest when
she Wes 1100nrecl that I had all that 1 want•
ea on the, table, and to draw mo into cert'
voreato)1 about my purehauee 100 I ate and
Dnougb to Rill.
Motor m" i 000 what the natter is. It's
dyspop8i14, All you have to do is to
laugh I1eat'tily before full after eacis mead.
Mrs. Ilinks--" Impossible. I got them
myself, and wash the (Belies,"
YOUNG' POLIOS.
Puss in Corner(
"rem fare hl'Ihhl ...reeve In ,l !muni
1,111 1•;';111 1'„ ''lll'h e'v'en.
Tee u , ,,y1(-+1/.101tie of ,l I,.'II,1'1'11
.111 .1.lo o,1( 11.01101
Toe r,; •; 'deem on li ,halo, 1
Tear hams are white nod 1111',
T/1011' 1'1.01 n' • mumble for the ria, -•
Irilu rice for earner, leers.
'Deer for •s ere illnnl'r 1 with ((Miles,
genes Ill"• ogee I'.,ie 1111:,.
A'bicb perfuuinl I I e- 1. t,,,10 11( h!.;
For lea,lty n ; re iul'•al,r, -
Sweet e bllah ,, 1 , oVerlle w inn 1111'
5(111104.110,1(041 11 ,lvt.111.00+thi•;
su''n 1 ,,,•I.,nult ell h'Inger 1lin
Ana tip -,n•, made I.1( els-,
we•t'•r'!'y teat 1,
An11t1 110111. 111111 111111 01013.
0!.!. I!1 e Ire,(, o, •;e,e ohee
•,flu•., 111 1le'runcie!'I may.
Corr Te'ns'ing. 11,11101: feel awake
seem• long 101,11/110 11 1'4011.
:111 01.160 1110 to d, 11100401 1 4111 01,1,
.Ind. 111:,1 a child main.
Piny n Hie b iteliery of vent, (spell,
ates, 1 \need not hyena,
FOP 110sc leho play 1 he most and ,t,'!1
111'111,1111,1`11 11,11 0.11111,11 111111ill.
Lost Love.
Little chli,lt'e(1, he kind t, the Metier.
less. Those of un who were unfortunate
enough to lose our mothers in intone)/ often
find ourselves wondering what the beautiful
feeling is between a child and its mother.
They call it att'e,tlon, but this hardly 0001110
to de0el•ibe this beautiful, holy feeling in
little children's hearts. \\'e rend of it, we
hear it discussed, we see it enacred before
our 0500, but we have never felt it ! \Ce
have often longed to taste that morsel of
lova, for it nest he deeper, purer and more
honeyed than what we reviler to 11 taller.
So powerful has the desire leaete at tinges
that we have been tempted to envy (rely
tempted) those who are enjoying this pre.
pinus boon. One may posses9 dear friends, a
rich inheritance, and the ndul0tions of so-
ciety, bet t.leso cannot compensate for the
loss of a fond mother to love. .\ litre part lc-
111a1.ly is the bm'eave ootfeit 1110hil110ml.
11 o ems w 1'11 1 amber, titan, sebo'dgirl
ht ww• estenished we wee to Pipit• rho little
ki,, losses and fond eares),'0 that were la •
slowed on ant• It: tie nates by tlteit':ti f,x'6inu•
1 ate nt,tnmas, It's fell that they were enjoy.
ing se n'lllll •that hal never mime int, out.
lilc.'I'helr eigne, 10,0,10,1 i00',lltifIlif,,(ilt(l1IIt 07(1.
ell for heti at mead, d, vee had never quaffed.
'J'he world it, ,;legless has a tut' 'keeper
meaning thee any ober word. It , ilmoce0
not only the loss of a mother's love toil rare,
but it metals the total exticgeghmeot of
that filial feeling Hutt is en nalurul bet W0011
the ehilds love for its mother and the
mother's love for the child, These eel 001y
die with her last breath, They are blessed
falutors for gond in youth, loot when this
sweet, yet strong, barrier is removed, oh 1
the breathes that 100110 the vari000 tides of
evil to enter.
The trust of a cldhl to its mother should
be as true as the 0un•riae to the meriting,
or the star to beauty. 0h, life would be a
desert but. for mother•love ! Cherie') the
love of a neither, ye who nay call it yours.
1t is the fairest jewel earth ono bestow.
Other blessings may come, buil guard this
well. 'Well we 1700,1•, those of 110 that never
uttered the sweet, endearing word mamma,
that never in the 110011 cam come to our rob•
bed hearts, though they search the universe
for that breathing beauty, a centre love for
mother. ---
The Little Runaway.
Tommy was a little runaway. He was
always missing. True he did not go far.
but theali01.0noe he put between himself and
mnlnllla was enough to cause intensities.
His mamma was young and thought all lit -
tie boys possessed the sane tendency -that
it was merely the overflow of 1110 bright,
joyous nature, that overleaped the bounds
of her small rooms, for as quick as the nttt•
side door woo Open 0111 event 1(1111013,, He
was only four years old. Ono morning
when !le caro in running and foaming after
his unusual exorcise his mother said 1
"Tummy, where have you beau. I do not
see why you slip off so,before I have time to
miss you you are away out of sight."
"Oh, mamma, I have been out hunting
for spring this morning, do not ,you know
Hutt p0pa said bo ens of his way here, for
he smelled his breath in the air, but I do
not see him."
His mother could not repress a smile. 1
She knew that Tommy would 1101 venture
far, for as anon tad he found himself alone he
felt so strange that he would turn about anti
run hnln0 again --by the aid of a policeman,
Tommy would oonmestrutting along between
two of these olfaoiuls ahatter1na in his boyish
way until lie came to his hone, then he
would start and ran, crying 1 " I'her5'5 my
house, where 1 live." But this morning, it
seems he had a special motive for roaming ;
he wee in search of spring. "I couldn't
find him," he arid, "not yet, but I will
some day ; he wears seal; a beautiful cloak
of bloom and carries fresh flowers. Oh, I
shall how him just 145 00011 110 1 see him.
They say he 'wakes up all the little germs,
anti while the birds are coming to breakfast
he prepares their toilets, 11e must be very
nice -oh, I will find him some day."
Diok Sommers Aud Detain George.
Perhaps no sweeter gift ever0mne5 to the
Molten heart 1htan a pretty, artless, bona
fide country cousin. In her presence 0110
can did alt eool'entionalities, and [appear
in his own true eolors, Iler laugh is so
sweet, her smile warms while 11 ohoers.
Such a gill wits Helen Moulton ; silo was
sparkling with mirth and beauty, yet flee
from coquetry,
She was only sixteen, mill was visiting
her ooesin, George 111wood,at his city home.
Ile had grown to love her -in it ennsinly
way, to he 811(0 ! Bot one evening clueing
liar visit he entered his mother's sitting.
room, end after glancing furtively around
in a vain endeavor to find something that
00(10 evidently (0100ing, there Watt 11 r1Cai0y,
and it was gntekly revealed to hhn,
" Where is }Ielen ?" be inquired.
"Sho has genu eo110," replied his moth.
"Gone l Why did she, have so sudden.
lye'
"A telegram 0.111,1', saying little kiddie
wvaa Very III, and 011, 111111.0 0i elf,"
( .arse
:11,111y 11sk' 1 hinr:ol( how, hewn.
to fill 'll the 11 ,1 1110 c /111111 had made 0110s
b,deli.hlillly. 11, Dat down 10 ea, but
01111,1 io,l eau:, H1( w'a0 Iistuniall lin' la
falnili,u' f",,1( top at 111a side, Ko' 071111ng
senniel Ln optatl of ler, 11, re:i, ed to his
811117 ; there hey 1lie Unfinished boort, with
the leaf turned d"wnl by Helen's lingers. ile
resolved le writ' to her, 1(1111 diel leo, 'Niue
relieved his Ioladiness 0 little 1 and then he
rend till nli4ni_tht the honk they had 00111•
mot"ld tegelhe. A few days elapsed 1
thee came the following lean 1
" 100,111 °ouster (1[im(ntt-Veer letter
must have 110011 written 111 groat haste, and
under the impulse of memen1ary excite.
111011 1, By to Onto ale reaoher you I know
try 1nnsiu will endnreo ILII that his Cousin
ll (len x.150, Toe uleulury of theme pleau-
anl 11,111(9 p1404011 With you unl dent' 01(1(111s
will ever at1'or 1 1110 wary delightful
t hoaghto, ax 1 review 1 Iwo] in the unlit tide
of my srclld,d hen", 1 but, 1, 11' eonten, 1
most repeal W11:11 1 hitve 0e .11011 said to
year ;1ppenls--tilde. 1(0 fonder leolinee intuit
eve, Im permitted 1101 W0111 1141111111 a pure,
1'01',1•,eat-tidy affection.
s' ', 1 11111(1y, 111•:1 EIS."
o
' '1'10, Dude WOOL,'" he exrla!Iludl, " that;
she it 1,1\,'11311 '11111'111 111 Illy ,1' 118, 11,1(171,1,
0nu:,ing Conde 1 that 11011th -blew 11( all my
l;lly!. '
l'oeerilinty 0000 lugging at. this young
alee111',1 h,':Irt, The future (teemed drawn
with intersecting lines. No 0.0101 111010ed
1)001 111100411 1,11.` Iahvriutt of (Ionl t to it
rltnin g..11,14 111, bermes stat' 1,21110M-1 tel
0111110, 11114 1ie1l141. was unhappy. Young
men ((onetime,' ;;u to the olub lvheu 11(
trouble : sometimes they plunge into into
eipetinn, graepieg the wine cup for relief.
11111 thee° Idle„ed, i1( this case, 000111 to
his i tabes 111111 010001 w-t'I'ehill 41'0111118ate
tee,, twilight inte,'inly. lie dol 1('.trevolt
the story of his love. Uh, no: But the
Inlet her .evialei1 to Ilio, 111 a ple sane con
10010.t1,11a1 tete• ietsto, 1110110110,1 for a
4efitlite pnrpoeu hy himself, certain facts,
which he hugged as a lni,aer huge 1110 gold-
tenaefo110ly, for very lova of it,
On the following morning our hero stood
on the threshold of him beloved 110(00 saying
!ellen to the 111(11ates. Ile 01'115 al,ntlt tf)
tithe a,jo1rney, Already could be heard in
the distance the shrill sound of au engine's
whiotle.
"low•, George, renenlber me to Helena,
kiss the dear children for me ; good
hyo."
'1;101Lhy0, mother," moue in response.
The morning 0111 hall reached the zenith
of its glot'y 1 beautiful. September was
i,a0teelog to a close. Already the sommner
foliage was l0o5euulg its hold on the sen•
tiler branches which hall so gladly sheltered
the tired traveller on his dusty march
through the little village of 11. ---. Fruit
still elnng to the old 11.000 of the orchard,
1',aside which n,atle,l a low white 00Ltag0.
Silence reigned about its, and the gentle
flutter "1 a white dress among the dowers
111 the garden betrayed the only sign around
that pretty p.usolage, lielenaW110gather-
ing seine late 1•les0,1110, when the click of
the 1,11« 0011001 her 1,, titre soddenly and
kind herself face, to a with "17,110n
' 111•erge." .1 blush, 1 0a"et1111 as the 1(101(1.
• In' suffused her cheeks ,1((1 brew 1(a she
exidarme71,-" 111.1' t'uoein 110.01 go 1-
1 A frown dl.ligared her frioml's white
brew fora nronent at 1 he word "[-'0113111,
' then laking Meth her little hands i1( his, he
looked down ittt. the pure d8p11he of those
dark eyex,
"What bro:lght Sem down?" she asked,
"I hope all are well??''
"1 01111 tell you who brought me down,"
he sold, laughingly.
But George litwee 1, bravo as bo thought
' himself to be, could not molter enurage,
' new that he w1L0 i(1 the presence of ler het
loved, t" tell her so. It was sweet to
breathe the same air, drink in the loved
tones, revel in Ole pure sunshine of Helena's
smile ; to wwetoh her fnotatepo, ride by her
mile, read with her, in fact, dream the days
I away like one in a 11'141100.
A weep rolled by. One day, as the two
1 leaeu•e•seekers were returning from adrive,
Melena beheld, as they neared hone, Dick
Sunu11e'A, W110111 she greeted, George was
inclined to think, rather warmly, But her
gentle manner won all hearts, and wile' not
his The two gentlemen shook heads and
WON 0e011 in friendly enuveranlioo, for they
were aC,juainted.
The pre0eiee of (Sick Summers decided
George to learn his fate on the morrow.
I lemc'nding to the dining room the following
morning he was greeted with :
"l;ocd morning, Cousin George. Holy
lad veil emit 3"
,•-Very well, titnle 5011, But, Helena,
nn mi'n'e co1Oinulg, please, We are only
third c0nsius anyway, mid I love you as
only a• true man can love a beautiful woman,
11'111 you be my wife?"
Helen, remembering her obligations to
her father's family, looked up through
gleitellillg tears sayilne ;
" How can 1 marry and deprive the little
ones of my care,"
" Ah, then, your father lute not told you
he is to bring !tome a wife ?"
" No, int I Call trust papa and know he
has clime]) wisely, and- 4iae0 yen love 010
and papa duo0 not, need me, why 1 don't see
why you shonlal not have 1(a,"
He kisoe,l her blushing checks and lips as
they Walked out on to the porch, when to,
i1( iront of then[ 11915 Dick Sonnners in the
net of dismounting. Atter thegrooting, he
said :
\Yell, I'm off for New '('ori."
" What's your hurry 1" said George.
e, \Vell, to tell the truth, I cause down to
propose to ,your cousin, and you are the last
person 10napecte71 of being a rival, But
sines Charley end I," patting lois horse's
nook, " witnessed the little by-play in the
porch just new, I wish you joy I"
Dbok left its he said he would, and George
soon followed, having won his cousin for a
wife.
A Curious Marriage Custom.
Tho marriage customs in some parts of Brit
tally are very curious, In Corneille the
village (111101' is the important personage to
whorl tho candidate for matrimony applies
for a list of eligible girls Having selected
one, the tailor 1(t 01100 proceeds to the
maiden', father, carrying la wand of broom.
Ho is dressed for the oc01001011 in official
stockings, one of which is of violet color and
the other red, and with hint is the suitor
anti 1118 nearest relative. While the family
chiefs aro making their arrangements the
lovers retire 10 the other end of the house-
anti
ouseanti discourse their own " sweet music," It
is ne0essluy that the engaged pair should
put an cid themselves to the term of ne-
gotiation, They approach, holding each
other by the hand, to the table where their
parents or relatives arc seated, when broad
wine, and brandy gra brought in. The
young ratan and the maiden eat with the
Dame knit° and fork and drinks out of the
saute Dnp, and the day for the union is then
agreed upon.
A Cat's Objection to India.
A g10 t vat story, eenl00 front Bombay. In
August, aLiverpool resident .prove:eding to
}lorihay tool; out with him as cite, w 111,1t he in-
te'urlei tu)n'eeeuttnitfriend in India, Some
LaysnitIrtheartivelof thee( teener 111Bont-
b0y leeely was missed, and 1holigh 8110 was
17110 l 101 In' ' and low she was nowhere
to 6.t found. 1,01' 1h0'l0('0 11,3,1 ')(I)tl' 71110(11011'
up for Inst when 110 1erervcd itltelli';cnee
front ;io latnd that the cat had made her ali-
pnaruo0 at her old Laverpnol home on the
!I:1th October, as mint Ind 01,11001011 0.5
though a trip en India. and back was quite In
the ordinary course of her lft'e. The facts
ern vouched for by rt Bombay paper, and
there ie 110 reltdn1 to doubt their rethataltial
110c011%003, bill. it Is not 11111,110 010x1' whether
the uta was stowed away in the stomper in
which she wont out to India, and earriotl
latalt on its rotor 1 voyage in the ordinary
0011000.