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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1893-6-2, Page 2HIS HEIRESS ; OR, LOVE TS ALWAYS TITE SA:\1E, CHAPTER VIII. ping into the chain' nearest to her ; " Any. "(Yeti !" The ward falls From Male. von thing I may hear without detriment to my Iuarals e" dhirskae -though with+out lier knowled e, Ono knows so little about them,"" hesf nates Mrs, Ainyot. " They are unobtrusive, certainly. I don't show then oil' lite Mise Mnnnn, You inlet take thein for granted." " I shouldn't like to take thein et all," lisps Mrs. Vyner, " I shall tell Colonel Vyner about your neivility to me," sage Halkett, "if yon per. slot in this persecution of an unprotooted young man. By the by, is he here ?" " He is always en evidence. One can nob escape him," says eeolonol Vyner's wife. " Well, I still want to hoar about what was amusing you so intensely a moment since," persists Halkett, "if I may, with. out blushing," " That, certainly," meting a coquettish glance at hfm. " Mrs. Vyner and I were merely discussing thcamrabilrtyofthe pres- ent age 1" Hero she leans little toward yours," hor friend. "My little story was not y ," she murmurs, confidentially. 'Sentiment had nothing to do with it, It was some- thing Glee. (Muddling debts, a row of acme sore in some club abroad. To tell you the truth, I am always rather vague about my little stories unless the subjects of thein happen to be—" " Your intimate friends," interposes Halkett. " Ah !make it acquaintances. It sounds better," returns Mrs. Amyct. "Talking of them," yawns MIs. Vyner, " did you ever sen any one wear like Maclaine von Thirsk? How she chooses her gowns ! It's a talent—positive talent ! Thirty, it a day, and doosn't look twenty- two. wentytwo. 1 hope when I'm run thirty 111 look half as well." When will that be? " asks Mrs. Amyot mischievously. "Never 1" calmly. "I have made up my mind to go from twenty-eight to fifty in a week. But pay attention to medium She is worth it." " She is very careful, certainly, and she is foreign. The latter counts a great d eat." " I think it is all those dear little soft high frills site wears round her throat," says Mrs. Amyot, reflectively. "Nothing betrays one like the throat. But 1 don't admire her as much as you do. There is a sly, catty look about her that annoys me. If I were Lady Branksmere—" " Well ?" "1' should give ber her walking•papers straight off.' "You should. remember how good she has been to Branksmere all these years—or at least to his grandmother," murmurs Mrs. Vyner, demurely. "And then—he has ask edCaptainStaines tohishouse. There is such a thing as gratitude." nor eyes are fixed coldly upon lflul'lel. " Yes, it Is I," returns Muriel, calmly ; " I wasanxiaus to see this part of the house, but Mrs, Stout has told me that it is to you I n1uet come for the keys of it." tare, Stout, has dropped a courtesy and i8 out of sight, upon the appearance of ma- dame. "It le true that my roams lie beyond Imre," answers madame now. She has quite recovered herself, end proceeds very delib' erately to loop the door behind her. The notion is significant, and Lady Beanies - mere draws her next breath sonesvllat quickly. " Year rooms. Yes," site says, with a etoolnes0, " I would not interfere with them, as long as you remain here ; but 31rs. Stout toile 100 there aro at least seren apartments . in this wing." "Si',"y" cements madame, ' '" What I wish to see," continues osllttr Muriel, stolidly, "are the rooms out of therm six that you do not oceitpy. Your boudoir, your bedroom, are your own ; but the others?" " The others," echoes madame, with an expressive', ntle shrug. "Ab! You do not know, perhaps, that I do a little d i/ • (rim" painting. Just quite a very little. But it is a joy to me, and I hate that the servants should meddle with my affairs, and—" , But six rooms for painting," interrupts Lady Branksmere, ruthlessly. ' " Not altogether, yon will understand." Then, with graceful politeness, "Yon de- sire the wing, perhaps? It has been, up to this, appoettoned to your husband's grand- mother, site being, unfortunately, attached tort for many reasons—and tome it con- venierea no being near totter, so that at any moment, night or day, I inay reach her without disturbing the household; bot, if .you wish it"—blandly—" we can, of course, move, we—" " Ido not wish to disturb Lady Branke- Mere in any way," protests Muriel, haught- ily. " I merely expressed a desire to see this portion of my own house." " Ah l" she says with an agreeable little ensile, and slips the key she holds into her pocket. •It appears, then, that I ennnot?" she says, with a pale smile. "11, indeed, I might still consider this small portion of your house" (with a pecul- iar bow) "as belonging to 0110 and my patient, Lady Branksmere, I should be grateful," returns madame, meekly. " You say the servants are forbidden to enter your rooms," sbe says, lookingstraigbt at madame. "No one, then, Inas access there save yourself?" "And 1lrs Brooks. She itis" (pointedly) "who summons me at night to the bedside of—my patient—whet my presence there is necessary, which" (with slow force) " is very frequently." Mrs. Brooks only?" " I have said," returns madame decisive. " So?" says Lady Branksnnere. "It seems a pity, medame, you will permit no one to see these paintings of yours, which, lam sure, are well worth a visit." She turns away with an insolent air, and goes down the gallery with her usual slow and stately step. She stops short when she has turned a earner, and is out of sight of her foe, and clinches her hands with uncontrollable passion. Suddenly all the passion dies from ber face. She grows singularly calm, But her Hips as she moves onward seem to have taken a hard, stern, determined line Frons the south gallery comes the sound of many voices and much laughter, and the welcome clatter of cups and saucers ; the breath of innumerable roses mingled 'with the fragrant odor of the eteaming,toa, Roots on the air. The walls are sparsely studded with priceless plates of hideous colors and de- signs, and on a large black rug e, little sleepy puss is snoring blissfully. Taken as a whole, it is a charming p101010, and Lady Branksmere, standing on the Persian neat before the fire, in a tea gown of ancient brocade, completes it. • She is talking to old Lady Primrose—a placid person tvitlt corkscrew ringlets and a. desirable sou—and is smiling kindly, She is looking pale and slender and extremely boautifttl. Everybody is talking more or less, and the soft hubbub caused by the voices grows drowsy. Somebody at the upper end of the gallery is playing the piano very delicately —almost in a whisper as 11 were, At this moment a servant throws wide the tapestry hangings at the end of the gal. lery and announces " Captain Staines." CHAPTER IX. THE BRUSSELS POST. tll'N1+. y, 1.893 Intvoluntardy Lord Brauketnere lifts his eyes and turns them upon his wife. "I hope Jenkins was in time to meet your train ? He started rather late," says Lady Branksmere, advancing so very indo. lcutly to weloome the new -comer, that as his hand touches hers she is still on the border of the Persian rug. Her unconcern is so complete, so utterly without effort fappareotly) that Branksmere draws a breath of passionate relief. He had al- most forgotten where he was in his eager examination of ,his wife's features, until startled into remembrance by a whisper at :his side, It is scarcely a whisper, either, rattier a word or two spoken involuntarily. Mme. van Thirsk is standing beside him. As measured tones meet her ear, cold, m she draws a breath of admiration, " Maguifieentl" she says. " What?" 11e asks, sharply, turning abruptly to her. " That old brocade," with a Ii1tlo eupor• oilious glance at Muriel's toilet, and me ambiguous smile. say 1" Days Mee. Amyot, " that is Captain Staines, isn't it? Some little story about him wasn't there?" "I never heard it amounted to that," drawls Mee. Vyner. " Ile was very decid- edly epris with ler before her marriage, but—" " With whom?" " Lady Branksmere, of course. Why what were you alluding to?" "All? so 1 Hadn't a notion of such an affair as that, 13wt really one never knows what those lmntaoulate•looking women are going to be up to next. In love with Mtn before marriage, you say. And now she has him here? " By i3rankemore'e desire, not leers, It was ferenksm0ro hhn881f who specially invited 111111," "Ah 1' now, that was 1(111(11" 008101ms hateful to me. lire. Ainyot, She seems to breathe more freely when the " What's Llre joke ?" asks Halkett, drop, has loft her, and turns with a glad tonne to " 011 1 Branksmere's all right," nye Halkett, suddenly. "And Lady Branks- mere—" " Is handsome enough to upset all our apple -carts," laughs Mrs. Amyoc. " There fore, we owe hor one. But Captain Staines? He wouldn't snit me, at all events." " I wonder who would ?" asks Halkett, carelessly. " You do admirably," retorts she, sauci- ly. " No—no more tea, thank you, Mr. Bel- lew," says Mrs, Ainyot, looking up at Curzon. " But you can give me something else—information about that little woman in the window talking to madame." " That is 11rs, Daryl. A now -comer al- together. She married Billy Daryl lately, or he married her, I'm not sure which, Anything else' can do for you 1" " Yes, Go bath to Margery," with a smile. " So," turning to Lord Primrose, who had just joined them, " That is Mrs. Daryl ? Big heiress, wasn't sho?" "Yes. She was the only child of her father, and he was a rag and bone mer- chant." " Not at all," corrects Mrs. Vyner. "Three lovely golden balls hung before his door, and—" "She didn't get a penny from her father," interrupts Halkett. " There was an old general something or other, an uncle of hers, who enriched her, You'll like hor. She's real grit, as they shy in her early home." "Strangers are often interesting. I shall make myself pretty to her," says Mrs. Amyot. '33y the bye, she appears to know Captain Starnes, at all events 1" With some people at all events, it ap- pears he is hardly a favorite ; Colonel Vyn- er reoeivee hie advances but coldly, and Lord Primrose grows even more devoted to Lady Aune as be draws near. Staines, turning suddenly round, finds himself face to face with ;vire. Daryl. "This is a surprise, io it not?" smiles she calmly. " But I should have given you credit for being proof against all casualties of such a nature. Have you never yet taken that to heart?" " Willy—" begins he, eonfueedly. "Mrs. Daryl—" interrupted she, icily, and turns away. "I beg your pardon," exolaime he, fol. lowing her further into the window recess, "I know nothing, remember that. You aro married, then? and to Daryl? By ,hovel You.. -you aro Lady Btankemere's sister•in- law ?" "Yes. Why should the fact cause you emotion ?" asks she contemptuously. "It doeon't," returns he. "Is that so? Then why have you grown so red ?" demanded Mrs. Daryl, " Look here, my friend 1 if you have come down Rare with the intention of making it tm- pleasant for anybody. I'd advise you to chuolt up that intention as speedily as pos. sible, east here too 1" "1 don't see why yon attack 1010 like this,"eai(l Staines, sulkily. Then suddenly he lifts his head and looks at her ; " can't we be friends?" oaks he, "Friends ? No 1" "Not foes, at least ?" She is silent. " Betrayal will poet you dearer than 1110," says Staines, 'I think not," slowly, Coward I" she gays scornful ly. " A W0111 001'S good mete leabrittle thing, A touch smashes it." " Yet, I am not afraid. You will never be able to snaoli mine ; whereas you will recall,-palaps, that little affair with Grovecteur and • Staines grow,s livid. " Hak I' laughs she, lightly. " That towhee you, it seems. That heart. 1; am nob going to sot the social bloodhounds on your track—yet." " Sign a trnoo with me then," exclaims 110, eagerly. " To be kept shored just so long as 1 500 you oonduoting yoursolt properly,' returns she, " Now ge, The very sight of you is Margery, who draos'e near with Curaoe 1301• hew at her eide. lust now she lel looking a little worried, but Mrs, 11at'yl to not allowed time to in- quire into the matter. Lady Branitsmer8, sweeping up to them, lays her hand on Wilhohnina's arm. "I want to introduce you to Lady Anne," Halfway across the gallery Mut'lel looks round. " So you know Captain Staines?" "Slightly, yea 1 plot hint abroad, in Brussels where the old people went once and took me with them." Then Lady Anne is reached, and the in. troductinn is gone through, Meantime, Margery has sunk in a rather dejected fashion upon the deep window seat and is gazing out upon the wooded hill. steeped in dying emshiue, and on the lake far down below that is sparkling as if incan- descent. " Youdidn't Ineau h really, slid you ?" asks Bellew, presently, " That I am not going to the gonntl'y ball, next TImreday fortnight'1 Certainly, 1 meant it, Why should you doubt me ?' " But your 0011201 ?" 1160.80118 rather, for they are plentiful as blackberries,' Bat why- should I give , them . y " Give ono at least," leads he, t i e Tike the principal n11e, then. I haven't a gown fit to be seen ins" " 011 1 stuff and nonsense," says I,Ir. Bellew. " 1 dere say 1" indignantly. " That is just the brilliant remark 0110 might expect you to snake. But there is very little non• sense about it, let me toll you, and no stn6' at all—not a yard of it—or probably I'd go. But to appear shabbily gowned is a thing I will not do. If I did," with a withering glance at bur slave, "you would be the very first to find fault with me." ' I. would ?" "Yes, you. Picture me to yourself in that heirloom of mine—the old white silk—" " You look lovely in it—" " Amongst all the others tricked out in their best bibs and tuckers straight from White and \North. Confess you would be ashamed of me." " Ashamed 1" "Yes, thoroughly," wlth decision. " You needn't imagine that you are a bit better than the rest 0f you, anti all teen Neto a dowdy woman," —_ stands gazing at the singer with tears be her eyes. Mortal is standing well within the Ebel- ter of a velvet portiere, but her face la in the light. The shadow of a terrible grief is desolating her beautiful fain. Some creel thought—a crushing remembrance— hitherto suhdnetl, seems now to have. sprung into fresh life, and to have reae led a coloe• sal height. That eosin hae undone her quite. Somebody drags a 011x11' with a little rasping noise along the polished floor, and Lady Branksmere starts as thought violent- ly awakened, "Then* you, I1 is a charming song," she says, indifferently, turning her gaze full cm Captain Staines. "I always thunk you aro better worth listening to than most people. Now, for your waltz," smiling at Mrs. Amy et. She seats herself at the vacant piano, and lets the first bare of the brilliant waltz float through the room. CHAPTER Yl. CHAPTER X. Mts. Amyot, when the idea of dancing through the afternoon is propounded to her, is delighted with it ; so is Mrs. Vyner, in her languid fashion. So indeed is everybody except Aunt Selina 1 Halkett, who, from the beginning of their acquaintance, has been greatly taken by her, now approaches her with a winning smile. "You dance, of course, Miss 11umm," he says, " may I hate—?" "Dance? No 1" interrupts Miss Mumm. "I should think not, indeed. I wouldn'tbe guilty of such lightness." She is sixty if a day, and on an average weighs about seven- teen stone. No, no," says 111. Halkett, "Your actions, I feel sure, are not open to censure of that sort. "Whatever you are "—with profound and respectful conviction—"I ant sure you are not light." "It is a comfort to know that you sir, at least, have measured me justly," returns. Aunt Selina, gravely. "In my time, that abominable romp called dancing was looked upon as little less than sin. We were con- tent with more innocent amusements, such as, dor instance, 'Puss in the corner,' 'Blind man's -buff,' "Piss in the ring,' 'itunt the slipper,' and a variety of other simple sports." " There be a great deal in what you say," he agrees solemnly, " a great deal. We might all take it to heart with much benefit to ourselves. There are possibilities about 'Pisa in the ring,' before which the weaker attractions of danoing pale. And as for 'Hunt the slipper 1' why should wallet hunt it now Mrs. Amyot, will you join me in the ohaae ? hiss Mumm, I feel sure, will kindly give us the rules," "You will find it dull 1" remarks Miss S1nmm, severely. "Let that be understood. Dull, but,' w withering ' with 'itherin force "decent!" Without further ado she takes herself off, and a universal peal of laughter follows on the last echo of her footsteps. "Annie, will you sing us something whilst they are arranging the things—put. Wogthe footstools to one side?" asks Muriel. Lady Anne Branksmere, who is never happier than when her fingers are on the keys, moves briskly to the piano. "She sings?" asks Mrs. Vyner, vaguely. "Olt, charmingly. Not magnificently or loudly, you know ; but with feeling and all that sort of thing," says Prienro e. "Tell you a fellow who sings well, too, Staines. Like a bird, be sings. Very hard to make him warble, I expect he thinks it wiee to make himself rather scarce in that way. Acids to his popularity—see ?" Hewould want to add something to it; by all atoounts, it is thin 1" whispera Mrs, Ant ot. ""yE' it ? Can't say, I'm sure," says Lord Primrose, rather puzzled, to whom, Staines is more or less a stranger. ' Thought he WAS rather afancy article, run after a good deal and that, eh ?" "Captain Staines, will you Bing to us now?" says Mrs. Ainyot, suddenly, who had been dying to make 11101 sing over shun Primrose had. told her he was chary of giving his voice to the world. "I think not," returns Staines, smiling at her. "idly efforts would hardly please you, I imagine, after what we have just heard, and besides—" "Besides what?" "Simply that I believe I have forgotten how, that's all, I had almost forgotten that I once used to sing until to•day" Muriel, who Is standing near, looks quickly ett 11100. "Lob to.day then be the commencement of a new epoch in your life's history," per- sists Mrs. Amyot, gayly. "Return to your old delighte, Give place to song." " To go baok upon our lives is denied ns," says Captain Statues, gently. "And to most of us the past le a sealed book to whish we dare not revert. I am sorry I can not please you rat this matter, butt," he turns Ms gaze suddenly upon .Lady Brat,ksmere, "music has died within ma," "Through dearth of encouragement, perhaps," says Lady Brankamero, coldly, "If you were to try—to make an effort to recover your lost power, perhaps you might succeed," "My lost power I" repeats he in a pe. caller tone. He loops down, and then continues softly, "Well, I will try, if that is your desire." "Not mine—Mrs. Amyot'e," says Lady Brandkemore, haughtily. "Oh, yes, mine certainly," laughs Mrs. Ainyot, The group at the piano divide and melte room for 111111. His voi00 is not powerful, but clear and elastic, and for ex;uieito timbre could hardly be equaled, Ludy Anne is pref0narliy touched, end " The Dowager Lady Branksmere's love to Lady Branksmere, and she will be pleas- ed to receive her this afternoon." The message sontnle liken command and Mur• iel, throws aside her brush, and prepares to obey it, " with I could go with you --oho is in- terestim", as fossils usually are—but the Leet is she abhors me. I nm loo largo, too healthy, too Ileslnyfot' ber," laughs Lady Aurae, " I loop out of place he that «Meet- ly old room of hers." "I can't see that you are more robust than Madame von Thirsk. Yet she toler- ates Iter," says Muriel. "She adores ler," corrects Lady Anne, "There is some tremendous bond between them ; I don't quite know how the friend• strip arose, but it began about seven years ago, about the year poor Arthur was kill- ed. She always alludes to her dead hue. band as "poor Anther," "You know Arthur was her favorite. He was the eldest, and it was only by a luckless chance that Branksmere came in for the title. You know all about tbat duel 1" She is talking confi- dentially to Muriel. "I knew he had been killed in a duel; that is all." " Branksmere, George, your husband, was with him at the time. He, George, hinted to nee that it was a quarrel about money ; bathe 080.0 so distressed that I knew the wretched affair lied arisen out of some fault of poor Arthur's. Ho was rather wild, you see, and had an ungovernable temper. From what I could drag out of Branksmere, who was most reticent about it, I should say poor Arther lost himself over some affair in a brilliant -saloon, and grossly insulted the man by whom he be. Hewed he had been cheated." She pauses. " He was shot dead," she says, in a lots whisper, tapping her fingers nervously upon the table. " How terrible—for you." " Yes, terrible. But do you know, now I can think of it quite calmly. It all hap- pened so long ago, you see. Seven years is a tremendous space nowadays. Yes, 11 all happened the year madame carte to tine castle. Poor Arthur was killed about the beginning of the year, and she sane here about six months afterward. I remember it perfectly. She was a friend at some peo- ple Branksmere knew in Tuscany." " She seems to have given up Tuscany and made her home in England -1n Branks- mere, rather." " Yes. I shouldn't mind that, if I were you. She is very goodto the old lady, and useful when the dowager has one of her troublesome days. Going to her stow?" "I wish you could come with nee." "I shouldn't be welcome." " Would I do ?" asks Mrs. Amyot ably. "1 au afraid you would be worse than Lady Anne," says Muriel, smiling. " You are too bright, too airy. It is only ghostly bony people like me the can endure. I shall gave your kind regrets to Lady Branke. mere, however, if you like." " What a tiresome number of Lady Branksmeres there are," remarks Mrs. Vyner, idly. Too many,' acquiesces Lady Anne, " There is the dowager, there is me, there is Muriel. I felt so horrified at the idea of being planed' as No. 2 amongst the dowagers that I went back to my old name, and be - mune, if not Lady Anne Hare, at least Lady Anne. A safe return, Muriel," as the pres- ent Lady Branksmere moves toward the door. " Then I won't do ?" asks Mrs. Ainyot, pathetically. Yes, you will for me, admirably," says Halkett, who has just stepped in through the window. "So take heart, and a tennis racket at the same time, We are having such a game out here. Come one—Come all of you—and let's make an afternoon of it," "I,?„ "You. Was I rho 0,81 who broke faith? Have I married? And now, standing here together face to faro 01100 111000, you toll nee I 1181-0 110 10115011 a place oven In your thoughts, that it le nothing to you whether I g0 Or stay ?" " Nothing," returns she, slowly, "I shall nevertheless be very pleased 11 you will stay with us for a little while,' she says languidly. "1' accept your invitation;' declares Staines, suddenly—almost Elegantly, and turning away, strides impatiently down a side corridor—to find himself all but in the arms of Mine, vel Thirsk 1 (To 1111 tenam01 1,0.) Russian Mobilization. During the pass two years the German and English papers have frequently assert- ed that, in ease of war, the mobilization of rho Russian army would be slow, and that Fromm could be crushed by the triple al - 1101155 before Russia could come to her as. sistanee. According to the St. l'etersbnrg. correspondent of the ligero, however well fouuded this assertion might be some years ago, it is far from being solid to -flay. Russia has been 090110ing silently, but with feverish activity, to perfect her means of comparatively ho't mobilization,and 11111 00111 a L e n period she hs made enormous progress in this direction. A perfect net work of rail- roads is sppreocl civet' fourteen 0111i May regione. The order of mowillzetion, sent by telegraph, will be communicated through the police administration, Three hones after the reoeptiou of the order, eotafeta on Itorsobaok will 1lotify the reserves of each district. Twenty-four hours after this notification the reservists must report at the appointed place. For the transport of troops by railway everything is in readiness, and 111 twelve days after the reception of the order the entire regular army could be mobilized, and four days later the re- serves would be in lino, On the first day of the mobilization night divisions of (cavalry, with ninety-six guns could bo on the German frontier. The min. 01011 of these troops would be to hamper as mn011 as possible the Germans by cutting communications and destroying railroads at all points within resell. This, of course, is on the supposition that they could over- come the ditfioulties of their task, which is by no meals certain. But at all events it is believed that, even if defeated in this ef. fort, they 00111(1 hold their own long enough to enable the work of their comrades be- hind to be completed. At the end of the second day it is estimated that sixteen divisions of infantry with their artillery would arrive. Consequently, two days after the reception of the order of nnobille.a• tion 308,800 Russians would be on the Ger. man frontier. Just what the Germans svoul;l be able to do with them is a question that oould only be answered after a trial. On the second day, also, 243,000 RttseiEnl soldiers with 624 guns would reach the Austrian frontier. On the twenty-second clay after a dec- laration of war four Russian armies, num- beriug, all told, 033,184 men and 1,300 guns would be on the German and Austrian frontiers. The Russian fighting forces would number 503,143 men tuul 1,416 guns, At the end of the sixth week these armies would be 0.e -enforced by sixteen divisions of infantry and ten divisions of Cossacks, the whole presenting a force of 1,504,•127 men and 2,776 guns. Eight weeks after the declaration of war Russia, witla the faoilities which she now possesses, could have in the field another army composed of twenty divisions of in- fantry and eleven divieions of cavalry ; that is to -say, 388,330 men and 772 guns. In addition to all this, she has lin the prov- inces year the frontiers another army of reserve comp0Bed of 600,000 men; and be- hind this again, in the provinoes of the in- terior, arrangements are provided for the opoltohenio, or popular levy, which can furnish from two co three millions of men. These figures appear to be startling enough in themselves but, when we must add to them the figures of the triple alliance and of the Frenoh forces, W5 may well won- der what Europe is ooming to. Muriel crossing the hall slowly—being in no baste to gain the chamber where the old dame lies in solitary state—comes suddenly face to face with Captein Staines, • " You should go out; the others are on the tennis -ground," site says, in a dull, stilled sort of way, and goes quickly on- ward, " One moment, Lady Branksmere," ex olaims he, in a low tone. "Obs only, What have I done that you should avoid me?" "I do not avoid you," icily, "I fear you do. I fear my presence here is a matter of dissatisfaction to you, But I have arronged about that," ho goes ou, gloomily. "A telegram to -morrow will rid you of 1115. 1 shall leave as suddenly as I came," "I beg yort will not do this thing. I as. sure you there is no reason why you should," says Lady Jiranksinere haughtily. "There is a reason," breaks out Staines in a low tone, full of suppressed passion. "If you are dead to the pest, I am not. I know now I should never have come here— now that it is too late." "And why not here ?" she demanded with flashing eyes. "13ecau80 you are here," he says, slowly. "Need I have said that? Did you not know my answer? I was mad when 10.o• oepted your—Lord liranksnlere's—invite' tion, but could not refuse it. But now that I have Dome—now that I have seen— when all the old sweet menoetes.foroothem. selves bask upon me, I feel I dare not re- main." " You. will please yourself about that, of course," answered Muriel, coldly. " To go will not please me," declares he, hurriedly. " Then stay," indifferently. I1 Are you a stone?' ho ones, vehemently, " Have you altogether forgotten?" "Altogether' 1' she says stoutly. " I won't believe it," protests he. "What t in this little ewe of time to have ell, all blotted out I Nay, I defy you to say' it from your heart. Now and again some thought from out the pure moot past must rise Within your breast, Vet love could mover Have been to you what it was tome, You wronged me Muriel, 0,0 only a woman can Wrongs 100011, Von bottl ed sue." How the Ocean Became Salt Prof. Edward Hill read a paper before. the Victoria Institute recently on " How the waters of the ocean boeane stilt." From an inquiry into the character and affinities of the organic forms of past geological ages, the conclusion was justified that the waters of the ocean must have been salt from very early geological times, but it by no means followed that they were as fully saline as those of the present day. There were two ways by which they might account for the salinity of the ocean waters from very early pertods of geological bine. First, by sup. posing that the primeval waters were sat- urated with acid gases which were held in suspension in the vapor surrounding the incandescent globe ; or, secondly, that the salinity resulted from a process resembling that' by which salt lakes of the present day ',tad been formed. He thought that they must oenone with Dr, Sterry Hunt, that from some cause or abhor chlorine largely abounded 111 the waters of the primeval ocean, as by far the greater proportion of the salts were chlorides, and chlorine was but very (slightly represented in river waters of the present day. From the examples of closed lakes they eoul(1 determine the process of salinifioation with the utmost certainty, Throughou greater or shorter periods these lakes had been itemising the waters of rivers, bring. lug down mechanically suspondod5edunonte and chemically dissolved salts, silicates, and carbonates. The sediments wore precip• dated over the bottoms of the lakes, and the water being carried off into the atmos- phere in the form of vapor as far as it en- tered, left behind the dissolved ingrodionts, These necessarily augmented in quantity, and ultimately the waters of the lakes be- came saturated .with salts and carbonates, which were then deposited. Tho ocean was a closed lake of moments magnitude, and they were thus brought to the con- clusion that the saltness of the sea might have originated in very much elle same way as had that of the Dead Sea,Lake Oroomiah, or the Great Salt Lake of Utah, and many others whish possessed is common the oharaotet'istio of having no outlet. When the groat envelope of vapor which surround ed the inoandeseent globe began to cow dense upon its cooling surfaoo, the result- ing waters, though containing, 0.0 Dr, Storey Hunt supposed, aoid gains, Ware destitute of salfnn ingredients, The process of salinification began with the first streamo which entered the seas from the old border- ing uplands, and thio process carried on throughout the long ages preceding the eilurian period, brought the waters to a condition suited to sustain the life of forms of inhabitants reprosontatite of thosewhioll inhabited the ocean at the present clay, These long ages might be supposed to in- clude not only the arehatat and nook periods, but that during which the first crust wee in mum of formation over the incendeeeeut glebe, ALGONQUIE PAi L , Reenetrnl l'1eabnn'e (+round 000 Apar For ;be Ontario People. 1'11e bill ostmbltehlug the Algonquin no• tlonal park has 110w been read a e000nd time in the I"ogielatere, and will soot be- come law. The park, 00 described iu the report of the conuniseIon, is a compare trach of laud in the district of Nlpissing,. south of the blaLtawa river, and hytng be- tween the Ottawa rivet' and Georgian ba . It omelets of eighteen townships, and its. area is 188,186 acres, of which 831,703 acres, or 1,300 square mike, is lend, and. 106,303 aures, or 100 square miles, water, The r ee•age length from north to south is about 4.1 miles, and breadth 30 miles, It is a regiou of rock, forest and water. The pine has been diminished by fire and tho axe, but there is 51111 a large quantity of it, autl all abtuttlanoe of hardwood trees, biro'', maple and hemlock. The track contains an immense volume of water in lake and river, brook, pond and metals, "The spring and autumn rains and the heavy snows of winter keep the fountain heads of the important streams rising lore con- tinually replenished, the density of the forest retarding evaporation, and the spongy layers of leaves v and vegetation on " a ea g P which covers the ground tending to main• taiu an equable flow throughout the year." More wo touch upon one of the main ends to bo attained by the reservation, as set forth in the report : namely, the preserve, tionof the streams,lnkes and water-nour5e0 be the parks, and especially of the head waters of severed rivers whiell have their source therein. The park, in fact, coin• prises te large part of the watershed which di tidos the streams flowing into the Ottawa river from those Rowing into the Georgian, hay, sod, as the report declares, the pees. orvation of the forest upon 11hi5 elevated tract of land is essential to the maintenance of those important streams in full flow. Where the forest is destroyed "wide tracts are converted from fertile plains into add deserts, springs and -streams are dried up, and the rainfall, instead of percolating gently thorough the forest floor, and finding its way by easy stages through brook and. river to the lower levels, now descends in the valleys it) hurrying torrents, carrying all before its tempestous flood," The second object mentioned in thio re- port Is • the preservation of native forests end indigenous woods. It i8 true that the whole territory is covered by license to out timber, but in some cases the license allows only the cutting of pine, and in all cases the pine is the chief 11 001 the only wood sought by the lumberman. We are reminded by tine report that many deocrip• tions of trees, useful and ornamental, once common in Ontario, are rapidly becoming Source ; so are many wildflowers and shrubs useful for medicinal and other purposes. Connected with the objeot of preserving the trees is that providing a field for ex- periments in systematic forestry. Another 1s the protection of fish, birds and fur - bearing animals, now often wantonly de- otroyed. Tho advantage of the park as e, health resort is obvious. It is not 80 gen- erally known that the retention of a large block of forest has a beneficial effect upon the climate of the surrounding country, plod• orating and regulating both temperature and rainfall. One supeulntendont at a salary of about 8800 10 31,000 and four or five park rang•' ors at a salary of about 3500 earth will be constantly on the spot to keep off marauders. A 31,000 hut will be eroded for the super- intendent, and ten or fifteen huts at a poet. of about 320 each, merely for sleeping purposes. There is doubtless great econ- omy to te,kiug up the matter m Woo, be- fore the district is invaded by private owners. The people of New York state have bad a costly experience of thie. Out of a total of 2,347,700 acres, which it was proposed to comprise within the boundaries of the Adirondack park, it was found that the state owned only 512,220 acres, and. that it would be necessary to acquire the title to 1,332,503 acres, at a oust of from . 33,000,000 to 33,500,000. A generation hence the people of Ontario wilt appreciate more highly than they do now the wisdom and foresight whfoh scoured to them tido vast playground. BRITISR FIRE LADDIES. The Applianeee Tiny Have and the Causes or Fires. In 1801 the population of the oily of Liverpool was 517,051 and covered 5,300 acres. Its buildings ere all of stone and brick, says the Chicago Herald. Five fire Masan engines were in use and eight hand. engines, and there were 256 men on the regular force. live hundred and seventy- eight Gres occurred in 1890, 28 of deem were from lighted candles, 87 from lights thrown down, 22 from children playing with match- es, 30 from smoking tobacco, 23 from childrenlayin with fire. Firemen in p i l Liverpool have the title Of "constable" and have certain polios authority. The great oily of London had within its corporate limits in 1891 4,231,431 persons and about 2,000,000 in territory immedt• ately contiguous'. 557,134 is given as the number of brick and stone buildings in 1891, and the oily has no wooden_ build- ings. The number of fire alarms given in 1891 was 4,164, of which 1,020 were false Manna, '260 chimney alarms and 2,872 ma tual fires ; 2,009 of these fires worn confined to the floors whore they originated, and 194 extended beyond such floors; only, 6 fires extshded to adjoiningpropstay, The Lon• don fire department omelets of 47 land steam fire engines, 95 long manual fire en. gines, 8 stearal bre engines on barges, 8 Meant tugs, 105 hose earbs,.36 miles of Mose, with ladders, trucks, fire escapes and an abmndanoo of alarms, telegraphs, totephenes, oto„ to render the service of fie 706 firemen very efficient, Nineteen nl ll[on pitons of water were used during the year at fires, -one-',bird of which was taken from the saver, canals and docks. The oeuee0 of fires are curious' Fifty-nine nave from airin linen, 150 from candles, 88 from children playing with fire and 62 from their playing with 'matches, 61 Were caused by owingmg gas brackets', 60 from escape of gas, 37 from curtains or blinds ooming b1 oontaot with lights, 104 originated from ]not ashes, 200 from spiirib lamps (206 of them being from upsetting such lamps) ; 190 owe from sparks of fire and 38 from improperly set stoves, Johnny's Opinion Differed. Teacher : "John, suppose I WOrO t0 shoot at a tree with five birds on it, and kill three, how many would be 1,01?" "John; "Three, sir," "Teacher; "No ; two would bo left, yon ignoramus," John t "No; thorn wouldu't,tlloligh, The three ghob'woulci be loft, and the °nine two would bo (lied away." "Teaohor't "Take your seat J'oltn," There has never been a 05100 of stub•' stroke or hydrophobia in St, Augustine* Florida. a a a ic0 8 L I h tl (�. t b a 5