HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1893-7-28, Page 2THE BRUSSELS POST.
0 R,,
HIS HEIRESS,
LOVE IS ALWAYS THE SAME
CHAPTER S XXIII,
"QonsldOr that the invidtblo thing called a
goo name. is nvhdo up of the breadth of the
numbers that speak well of yon,
She has barely time to go to hor room and
he hands
Pr t •onat
t t
ppu�t herself into nd e o t h
pefore the arrival of her guests, returning
from LadyoBlonnt's tennis- nateh, makes
"itself felt in the house by the sounds of gay
laughter and the olick-clack of high•hoeled
shoes running up the stairs. Mrs. Ainyot
kuooks at the door in passing to ask if her
headache Is better, and with a vile sense of
hypocrisy full upon her she answers, " Fes,
a little," though the headache certainly had
been there in the morning, and no faintest
untruth had been uttered about it,
She is feeling tired, worn out in soul and
body, and it is with a sense of physical com-
fort that she sheds her walking attire and
lets Bridgman clothe her in the looser,
easier teagown, of white terry velvet, that
site so charmingly upon her lissome figure,
and is undesearated by faintest spot of color.
As the nioid is patting a last finishing touch
to her, Muriel asks her a question that is
yet hardly one.
" Lord Branksmere has returned ?" she
says.
" Oh, yes, my lady. He returned by the
four o'clock train. He inquired for your
ladyship, but I told him you had gone for a
walk with Captain Staines, as your head
was bad."
Bridgman being dismissed presently,
Lady Branksmere rises from the chair and
her enforced calm, and begins to pave fey.
eriahly up and down the room.
What was it Staines had said at that mo-
ment at the foot of the stairs ? " A remedy 1"
" There is always a remedy ; always." She
was to remember that. So she will. Hah !
see that they do not drive her too far. More
than one can play at this damning game
that hc—her husband—(ah . the ignominy
of it !)—has chosen as his paatitne.
Mrs: Amyot's voice reaches her as she
steps from behind a large screen.
(' We are disgracefully late," that pretty
butterfly is saying to Lord Branksmere.
" We richly deserve the scolding that 1
hope Lady Branksmere will not give us.
You agree with me?"
" Entirely," says Branksmere.
But I am afraid she must have found it
very lonely here, all by herself."
' Terribly lonely, —all by herself,' returns
Branksmere, with a grits smile, looking
straight at his wife as she domes slowly to-
ward them over the polished floor, her long
white dress trailing behind her.
" O:n, no, I was not lonely," Bays she, in
a sweet, clear voice. " 1 went for a row
on the Like with Captain Staines, and the
fresh breeze there did my head all the good
in the world." There is a touch of dadauoe
in the glance she directs at her husband,
Lady Primrose hos now got hold of Mur-
iel,
" I do trust, my dear, you did not stay
long on that lake," abets saying with pond-
erous anxiety.
" Nothing so unwholesome as a water
mist, and there was sure to be one uprising
on suck a day as this." She is so deaf, poor
old soul, that she always talks at the trip of
her lungs, being perhaps under the lmpres-
• (ion that her neighbors are similarly afflict-
ed, so that all she says is given to the gal-
lery in general,
There was no mist, I think. I felt no
unpleasantness," replies Lady Branksmere
calmly. Only Margery, who is watching
her with sad oyes, notices the convulsive
twitching of the white hand hidden in the
folds of her gown.
"Of course, ]3ranksmere, being with you,
would see to that," croons on the old lady,
whose intellect having grasped the fact that
Branksmere was not nt Lady Blount's can
go uo further beyond imagining that if not
there he must have been with his wife,
"Nothing so good as a husband, my dear,"
with a benevolent smile, " when Mlle told."
Deadly silence, broken only by a murmur
from Mrs. Tyner, which is understood by
all but Lady Primrose,
" Yon will bear me oat,"she is whispering
mildly to Curzon Bellew, " that I always
said the dear old creature was in her dotage,
Doesn't that speech confirm it?"
Bnt I think she looks tired, Branksmere
—she looks pale," calls out the mistaken
old lady across the room. " I doubt you
kept her on that lake too long."
I don't think so," says Branksmere.
He lifts his head end gives way to a curious
little laugh. " That lake possesses charms
for her of which we know notching. She
would have pined all day but Inc the benefit
she derived from its air." He says all this
with the most natural manner possible, but
• Muriel writhes and winces inwardly beneath
each sharp out, How dare 110 take her to
task c
Well at all events she is looking too white
to please ane," declares Lady Primrose with
some faint insistence. " I don't believe in
the lake, I don't indeed. ]don't take her
there again, Branksmere, if an old woman's
advice is worth following."
" I won't," returns Branksmere, and
again ha laughs unpleasantly. A suspioion
that he is seeking to shield her from Lady
Primrose's censure waking within Muriel's
beast, drives her to on open decimation of
the realities of the question at issue,
" Branksmere was not with me on the
lake to -day," site says, coldly, but distinctly,
" He went to town by the early train this
morning."
Lit, my dear 1 I quite understood him
to say—what was it you said Branksmere
and if he Was not with yuu my dear who
was --eh ? eh 1"
• "OhlLodyPrimrose! De you know quite
forgot to toll you until this moment—but--"
breaks in Margery's gay, sweet voice, "'I
. have discovered the new knittngstitoh that
so puzzled us lost week, Willie knew all
about it. It is the prettiest thing 1 800—"
dropping on her knees before her, and tak.
up the eternal work -basket that over
accompanies the old ccunteas--" let me
show it to you now while it is fresh upon
my mind. Oae. One, two—one, two, three
-a turn—you quite see 1 and then back
again. It has the happiest result."
It has indeed ! Lady Primrose growing
enthusiastic over the new stitch, ;Murie
makes hor eseepo to a distant tea table
where oomparative calm, at least, is obtain-
ed,.until the dinner -bell risme and eke is
onabled to snake her escape to her own
room.
A elight Anise startles her, Lord thanks,
Oleic is standing on the hearth -rug a few
woe from her, gazing at hor intently,
CH APTER XXXIV.
"Ilersh sot-lugsand fountah,abitterer than th
sea."
Hie face ie white and stern, a sullen frown
has gathered on his forehead ; bensatlt his
bent brows his eyes look out on her filled
with etrpproseed fire.
"'.Phis is an unwarrantable intrusion,"
Says Lady Branksmere, risingslcwiy to her.
feet, and standing now with her hand rests
lug upon the hack of hor ohair.
"No more so than usual," coldly. "My
presence—auywberes—is an intrusion now,
if you happen to he there."
' \Vltut has brought you ?" asks she,
!haughtily, gazing at hint with ill-conooaled
dislike,
"1 hove come to deman'l an explanation,"
returns he, deliberately crossing the room
to close the door by which Ile had entered.
His very action had such determination in
it that it startles her.
" h'xilain ! What should I have to es -
plain'?' replies she, proudly.
"Yon will be kind enough to tell me," he
says, shorty, "what it is you mean by yore
friemlahfp with Captain Staines, I wish to
know how matters stand between you and
—your guest,"
"Yours—rather."
"True. I had forgotten his double die.
honor there."
" Honor is a word that 'seems to trip
lightly from your tongue," sneers she with
ineffable contempt.
Her largo eyes flash. •
"I am placed at the bar, it appears,"
murmurs elle, with a curious smile. " State
your case then. What feuded wrongs are
yours 2"
"I seldom have fancies"—coldly--" I
have refrained from speeoh until you your-
self have rendered anomie no longer pos.
sihle. When your name is made public
property, when it is in the mouths of all, I
feel—"
"Be silent 1" interrupts she, imperiously.
"I {rant none of your comments. Tell
me only of what it is you accuse pie."
"Of your intimacy with your former
lover," cries he, with the first touch of
violent anger he has shown, His nostrils
dilate, kis breath comes heavily through his
white lips. "Last night you made yourself
conspicuous with him before the entire
county ; to -day, under the pretext of a
headache, you abseuted yourself from your
guests, refused to accompany them to Ludy
Blount's that you might have an uninter-
rupted afternoon with him."
"It is false," returns she, vehemently ;
"my head did ache. I stayed away from
Lady Blount's ; yet it was by the merest
chanoe that I went on the lake with Cap-
tain Staines."
ss Faber• !" exclaims he scornfully.
"Listen to me or not, as you will,"
haughtily—" I had no intention of going on
the lake until long after they had all gone
to that tennis -match."
" And it was the merest ethanes, too, that
kept you on the island with that—fellow—
for three long hours—short hours, rather,"
with a pale smile.
"Did she tell you all that?" oaks Lady
Branksmere, slowly. A strange little laugh
breaks front her. " She is indeed in alu-
able. What more did your spy impart to
you? Oh, it is wise of you to turn the
tables upon me lest I be the first to bring
ar, accusation. I suppose it is that I no
Ionser care. I give in. Do what you will
witTiout fear of censure from me. I feel
deadened, emotionless. You have killed
within me all feeling, all sensibility." •
"To follow yo= rhapsodies is beyond
rte," says Branksmere, with a shrug.
He looks at her searchingly, but her eyes
meet his boldly,
"For the second time I warn you to be.
ware," exclaims she, losing all control.
"Are your actions then so altogether pure
that you can afford to take me to task?
You—you--who keep that shameless wom-
an under the same roof with your wife 1"
"Do you know what you are saying?"
demands Branksmere, fiercely, grasping her
arm. "Prove your secede."
" Oh ! that I could," breathes she wildly.
"That I could prove anything that would
set me free from you.'
"Free to give yourself to another 1" He
lets her go abruptly, pushing her roughly
away, and a sharp jarring laugh breaks
from him. "Pah 1 you play too open a
game. I fear it is not in your power to
furnish yourself with those proofs you so
eagerly desire."
You mean—" Her voice is curiously
low and calm,
That you would welcome any dishonor
that would fling you into the arms of—your
lover I"
It is said ! Nothing eau recall it 1 There
is a moment's awful silence, and then
13ranksmore falls quickly back from her, a
dark red stain across his cheek where her
palm had struck him. It is all done and
over in a moment, but for a full minute be
scarcely recovere himself. Then it is to
find the room empty. For in the tumult
of her rage Lady Brankenere had caught
up a shawl and hurried from the room—the
housed
CHAPTER XXX\T.
The stars ore hidden by the dense bank
of clouds that makes dull the heavens, but
a pale watery moon sheds here and there a
vague pathway through the earth that
helps Lady Branksmere to find the wood-
land path that leads from the Castle to her
old home. Swiftly, mechanically, she
moves toward it, conscious of little but
that she is leaving behind her mtsory too
great to be borne,
With blind haste she hurries along the
little beaten traok beneath the shadowy
leaves until a sudden turn in it brings ber
faoe to face with the walls of her old hone,
gleamingly gray" in the growingmoonlight
—Cho old only home, she toile herself with
throbbing heart, that she will ever know,
Some instinct draws her feet to the quaint
iron -bound door of the armory, and laying
her hand 'open it as one might who is sore
of entrance, even at this late hour, presses
it from her to find her 000110 true. The
door yields, and she moves quickly onward
into the irregular, vaulted passage beyond,
It la unlighted, but a stray beam, flinging
itself through the stained window at the
lower end, gives her a lead, and shows her
the stone stops that bring her finally to the
entrance hall above, Turning aside with-
out thought, she opens the door of this
room, and enters it se softly that het: com-
ing is unheard.
!fere the lamps are burning brilliantly;
the heavy silken curtains are closely drawn;
a anal!, but eminently oozy little fire ie
ceaxiegan equally small kettle to sing with
all its might. There is a tiny tun oquipltge
upon a gypsy table, and upon another table
T1051 it a fowl delicately roasted, a tempt,•
ing late, a Dresden bowl full of etrawber'
tins, and a long•neekel bottle. Before the
tiro, in grotty, loose white robes, sit :lire,
Daryl unci ;Margery 1 at; the silo, Angelica,
in a soutane that night suggest lo the in.
tolligent onlooker that alto had been suns•
molted from her bed at it moment's notice,
"I didn't believe a kettle, a small kettle,
could take en long to boil," Mrs. Daryl is
saying, anxinuely leaning over the fire,
"Whop it makes that little fussy noise, it's
boiling, eh 1" '
"It isn't thinking of bolllug," declares
Angelica. First it must sing, then the
stent must pour out of its nose, and then
it is all over, and—you take it up."
She is Looking at Margery as she s ouks,
and et this identical moment the kettle
gives way to the ebullition of whiolt she
lad been speaking, „
It you mean me, cries Margery, push-
ing batik her ohair, " I couldn't do it, at
all ; I couldn't really. It's an abominable
little thing. How angry it looks t I
wouldn't touch it—to say nothing of lifting
It bodily from the fire—,for anything that
could be offered."
Aa she speaks, she turns quire around,
and thus bringe herself face to face
with Muriel, the poor, rich, titled thing,
who would have given all ber possessions
to -night to be able to mingle with them.
The rustle of her gown, joined to ;Mar-
gery's silence, rouses Mrs. Billy. She
torus, and would perhaps have given 1007
to the expression of dismay that rises to
her lips, but for the swift .glimpse she gots
of ,llargery's face. The girl is livid. In a
second tors. Billy has conquered herself,
and is advancing toward Lady Branksmere
with roues• an increase of the debonnaire
manner that belongs to her.
"You are just in time," site cried, with
an air of open jollity that does her credit,
"' We have been dining at Blot wretched old
Sir hinting Mumm's again, and as usual
have tomo hone starving The servants
for the most part were in bed ; so Margery
and I decide+l upon malting a raid on the
larder for ourselves, and we haven't douo
so badly, have we? The only drawback to
our success lies in the fact that I have made
up my mind to a cup of tea, end the kettle
has proved too much for us. Bat you have
had a good loug walk, eh? You are tired I
Meg," with a swift glance at Margery,
"will you and Angelica make yet another
predatory incursion, and see if you couldn't
impound some Madeira."
When the door has closed upon them,
Airs. Billy turns to Muriel.
"Now, what is it ?" she asks, promptly.
"It is of no nee your banishing Meg,'
returns Lady Branksmere, coldly. "She
must know it all soon, The whole world
will know it. I have left that place for-
ever."
"You have left your husband?"
If you wish to put it so—yes, For my-
self, I feel more as if I had left Madame
von Thirsk and all the vile associations
that have degraded my married lite."
" All?" questions \Ire. Billy with a
searching glance.
" You, too, osndeinn ole then 2" shesays,
slowly. "I have no friend anywhere."
" Sao here ; I think you had better tell
one alt about it," She presses her gently
into an arm -chair, Exhausted, physically
and mentally, Muriel leans inaok among the
cushions, and then suddenly she breaks
into a recital of her wrongs ; not loudly or
passionately, but in a cold angry way that
somehow is more impressive. Once or
twice during her hurried explanation of
her presence, Mr's, Daryl had changed
color, and now it is with her face partially
averted that she speaks.
" This nam --this friend of yours—Cap-
tain Staines, get rid of him," says Mrs.
Billy, a little doggedly.
"If you think there is anything between
Madame Von Thirsk and your hu,band,"
begins Mrs. l3illy—
T'hiuic "
"Well, tv!hy don't you go straight to him
and just put it to him that you can't be
happy while she remains at the Castle?
Speak boldly to hint. Throw yourself on
his generosity. I believe Half this is -mere
imagination of yours, And at all events,
speak. Why should one be afraid of one's
husband?"
, Ah 1" A long -drawn breath escapes
Muriel ; " you area happy wife," she says;
"you cannot comprehend a case like mine."
Her hands fall inertly into her lap in a
weary, purposeless fashion, that goes to
Margery's soul.
" I am tired of it all. Ard even if I
would, opportunity is denied me. That
woman of late haunts him ; they are to-
gether front morning till night."
" But not from night till morning," says
Mrs. Billy, briskly.
Muriel's lips Grow white. She throws
out her awns protestingly.
" Who can say ?" she answers in a low
voice full of terrible suspicion, .her eyes on
the ground.
Mrs. Daryl is shocked : Margery bursts
into tears.
"01, Muriel, darling, why will you de-
stroy your ow•n happiness by harboring such
sad beliefs ? I am sure Brauksmero in his
heart is true to yon.
" Well, I have nob Done here to listen to
Branksmere's praises," says ;Muriel, Tieing
abruptly to her feet, with a short laugh, If
I can not get sympathy here in my old
hotne, from my own sister, I need hardly
look for it anywhere. After all, why should
I expo!: any ono to enter into my griefs?"
"Don't speak to me like that, Muriel,'
cries Margery. "Between you and me swill
words are cruel."
"Let us think 10101 is best to be done,"
breaks in Mrs. Billy, in a matter-of-fact
tone,
' There is nothing to be done." Lady
Brankamero turns upon her with flashing
eyes. "Do you imagine I am going to
truckle to a man who to not false to me,but
who takes me to task for my behavior with
—with one who is an old friend?"
"Au old lover," coreets Mrs. Billy, in a
strange tone. " Let us keep to the strict
fasts. You are alluding to Captain
Staines 1"
'Be warned about him in tomo. 1 don't
know why, bet instinct tells me to distrust
him,"
hhu•iet sighs heavily,
"Have a glen of wire," says Mrs. Billy,
who, after all, io nothing if not practical.
At this moment the Bound of a footstep
in the hall outside makes itself heard.
;Inriel starts into an intenser life, and,
springing to her feet, looks with angry oyes
toward the door.
"Itis ho," she says. "He has followed
me." �—
CHAPTER XXXVI,
It is, fs fact, Brankemere'e step. He had
found his way through the armory door
that she had left open, and is now in the
hall. A faint light Doming from beneath
the library door attracts his attention ; in.
voluntarily he turns toward it, and finds
himself presently staring at Dick across a
reading lamp,
"Where is your sister ?" demands he, in
an aggressive tone.
" With her owe people. In her own home,
" I wonder you are not °Attained to mot.
Hon her," cries i)iolc, with a sudden br,rst
of passion, "Yes, she is hero, She came
half an !hour ago, She wont to Willy's
hn"eicir. I followed her there, and heard---
heard--you know what I hoard. She look.
ed oo tired, so worn,"
"Muriel is a fool, and you are another,"
soya Branksmere, coolly. "1 am not 1"
The blood rcoodos from Uick'a brow and
his largo eyes glow. With atr inartonlato
cry he rushes forward and flings himself
upon his adversary. Ho le a tall lath, bub
slender, and in less time than one mut pie-
ta •eft hie attack
t is at an enol, nud h3rauke•
mere has him in his powerful grasp, Twist-
ing his arms behind 111111 so as to leave him
powerless anti at his mercy, he looks for a
infinite full into the boy's defiant fooe,
"The same blood," he says, with a sneer,
that onde in a groan, And by a enislon move-
ment he releases his fee and sends ihim sing.
goring back n few paces from hint,
l Shaw he says, contemptuously, and
turning an his heel guile the room,
A few steps bring him to that other ronin
where throe pale women are waiting his
oonling,
Entering, he closes the door heavily bo -
hind him, and looks atraigbtat his wife.
" It is rather a late hour for visiting,"
be says, " Are you ready to wine home?"
" lam at home."
"Are you ready, then, to return to the
Castle 1" His voice, though subdued, is
vibrntiug with rage, His fawn le white,
his lips set, There is a dangerous light in
his somber oyes.
" To prison? No I" replies Muriel, de-
fiantly,
I implore you not Co let things go too
far," says Mrs. l3illy. "Bo reasonable,
The w'orld's opinion is worth a good deal."
At this, ilnriei'elong-felt irritation tulles
flight, and 110,11150 intoltfe.
, What do you all mean ?" she cries,
with a btu'st of passion, " Do you want to
got rid of me? Ani Ia diagnose to you 2"
" Muriel 1 What folly I My clear girl,
think 1" entreats Mrs. Billy earnestly.
" What can I think but that I am not
wanted by any one, here, or there, or any-
where? May I not rest beneath your roof
for even one night?"
" If you hove my roof (ruder such cir-
cumstances as these) f or ono night, you
leave it forever," interposes Branksmere,
sternly.
Are you coming?" he asks with a frown.
" les ; she is," returns Mrs. Billy nn•
abashed. She throws, as she speaks, a
light shawl round Muriel in a way that ad-
mits of no dispute, and indeed Muriel, who
is now looking tired and exhausted and
hopeless, makes no effort to resist her.
As you all wish it, as I am unwelcome
here, and only a trouble, I will go," ale
says, wearily."
Olt t no, darling 1 Do not speak like
that," sobs Margery, clinging to her,
"But not now—not just yet," goes on
Lady Branksmere, hardly heeding her ten-
der embrace. " In a little w'bile I will go
back. But not quite now."
" You will Deme now or not at all 1"
Branksmere interrupts, doggedly. " Iwill
1141:0 110 gossip—no damning whispers."
Margery lifts her Bead impetuously, and
would have spoken but that Mrs. Billy
checks her.
"He is right—quite right. Let there be
no scandal," elle whispers wisely. " They
both came down to visit us tonight, Both.
Together. You will remember? It WAS an
idle freak. There was nothing in it." She
puoises Muriel as she speaks toward the
clams Branksmere who is standing next to
it, puts out his hand as his {rife approaches,
and though atilt with a lowering brow,
would have drawn hers through his arm.
But with a gesture of extreme repugnance
she pushes him aside and hurries from the
room.
(TO Ali COSTIxrED.)
The Consul and the Clergymen.
Two English clergymen travelling in the
Last recently telegraphed to the"British
Consul at a town they were approaching,
not fan from the Armenian frontier In
Persia t--" Two English clergymen will
reach you on Wednesday," On arriving on
the day named they found the Consul was
out, and no preparations had been mode to
receive them. Om his return the Consul
explained that the message he received ran
—' Two worthless persons will reach you
on Wednesday," so he know something was
going", to happen, and perhaps thought it
advisable to be out of the way. However,
he duly made up by his hospitality, as
British Consuls in those parts are always
ready to do for any apparent coldness in the
reception of the travellers.
Highly Intelligent Oloth,
Customer—" See here 1 Look at these
pants I Bought 'em only yesterday, and
they're shrunk half -way op to my knees."
Dealer—" Mein frient, it eon raining."
"Of course it is raining,"
" Und dose pants is vel."
"I should say they were wet. You
didn't expect me to keep them dry, did
yon."
" No ; I only expects you to keep dose
bottoms clean."
" They are clean."
"Yah, flat is recht. But think how
dirty they vould be if they vas nod made
off our tine imported patent self•regulating
cloth, vat raises dose bottoms out of de
mud."
An Error Rectified.
Fortune-teller (examining Teaoaddy's
hand)—" It's no use pretending yon will
livo to be an old man. Your line of life
shows that you will die before yon are 40.
You will be very successful, ate„ eta.
(Prates glibly for five minutes.) And now
as to the wedding. You will get married
in your 35th year, and Have 15 children."
Teaoadly—"' How the donee can that
happen ? You maul ,just now I should not
live to be forty 1"
Fortune-teller (seeing he had put his foot
in 11)—" Ah, yes, so Idid, and—ahem—it's
very true. You see —abetn—the foot is
—ahem—that you will -um, um, ahem—
will marry a widow with 131"
Re Might Try.
He—" You aro the only daughter'?" •
" Yes."
" I should think your father would be
willing to set the fellow who marries you
op to busineae."
" Well, I don't know. Pollee made that
offer six times now and nothing ever camp
of it ; but, George, if you want to , it migh
do to sow papa about it."
A Different Mild.
Unsuspecting father—"You certainly
do not appear to be well, my son. Perhaps
you need a change to set you right aitch
your (soilage work,"
Extravagant son,—"You have struck it,
father, I do need a groat deal of change."
Getting Srjuare.
I•ltsrs—I guess I'm square with Dix. I
gave his boy a mouth organ last night,
Mrs.lfioks—But you're not equates with
me, Mre. Dix sent hien over here to spend
the day.
The Reason Why.
Candidate—" You have not any doubt
as to my oharaotey have, you 2"
Vater—" (), no, of course net"
"'Then why won't you vote for me?"
t"llealse 1 have no doubt as to your ohm,
meter,"
t L'LY 28, 1893
A. MUTINY AT SEA,
The Awful Er; viral inn 11'41l04 llverloelr
Ila 11ull11ee44.
'1'o the northwest of the, Sandwich
Islands group a chart of bho north Plwilio
Ocean shows Bird, Necker, Ditriloer, and
various other islands and ninny shoals.
Those 'elands and abouts ore really a onn-
tlunation of the Sandwich group, though
but foto of the islands aro inhabited, Some
of theta are little hotter than 0 great masa
of rook heaved up out of the sea, without
verdure or fresh water, while others are so
difficult to approach that navigators give
them a wide berth. Midway Island is (d'
most exactly hslf the distance between the
port of San Francisco and Yokohama, but
800 miles south of the track of vessels mak-
ing that voyage.
.Lite noon observation taken on board the
bark Harvest Horne had given us the lath
tudo of Midway Island when a man aloft
reported a ship's boat dead ahead. 11'e
were then headed south-southwest, but not
making over four knots an hour, The boat
had neither toast nor sail, nor wan the man
sitting iu her stern sheets making signals.
I had hint under 111e glass while he was yet
two miles away. The boat 11,05 a captain's
gig, provided with n single pair of oars,
and the manwoe taking things with as-
tonishing coolness.
111••. WAS :1 CASTAWAY,
of course, though he acted more like a man
who was (!rifting abort with afiail line over
the side. In 00 oases out of 100 the man in
the boat would have stood up and gestured
and shouted, fearful that we migh t puss him
by even by daylight, but ao 1 watched this
man I saw him bite off a fresh chew of
tobacco and survey the bark in a crihoal
way, A line was got ronly, turd as we
passed him within twenty foot it was Hove
and caught and made fast, and dlreetly he
was along side. 13verybody was astonished
to find the boat well stocked with food and
water and to see the man come aboard as
calmly as if he had been lying in harbor.
He was about 35 years of ago, Clark faced
and sinister, and gave his name as John
Williams. He claimed to be an Anter icon
born and roared in htiossador.
The story told by 'Althorns was not an
improbable one, but none of ns gave him
creat for truth. He claimed to be Captain
of an English brig, The Swallow, which
had been chartered to convey 200 natives
of the Bonin Islands, off the coast of Japan,
to Cure Island, next to the west of Midway.
The island was safely remelted, he said, but
the natives were not pleased with it and
demanded to be returned to the Bonins.
There was a row about it iu which one man
was killed, the two mates sided with the
natives, and lie WAS put ashore to shift
for himselt. They left him the boat and
provisions and sailed away, and instead of
stopping on the island he itad pulled away
to the north to get into the track of ships.
The story was fishy from start to finish,
and out of our entire crew no man had a
favorable ilnpreaeion of the stranger. We
had, of course, to accept his story, or to
pretend to. I would give a month's wages
to know the facts in the case, bit have no
hope of ever solving the mystery. There
was no English brig on the Japanese coast
called the Swallow. None of the residents
of the Bonin Islands had been taken away
by any craft. Tho Captain and I puzzled
over the mother for some tome, and finally
deoidetl that Williams had been Captain of
some waft, and the crew 1 scl mutinied end
sent him adrift. Either that or he had
pulled away from a craft on fire or about to
founder, leaving all others to take oar° of
themselves. From the look of things in the
boat we were satisfied that he had not been
afloat over three or four days.
Courtesy demanded that the stranger,
being an officer, should become it guest of
the ship, wo having ottr fall complement of
officers, but after a day or two he insisted
on doing duty as an able seaman.
01110 0909 A 510151'n000,
bat no objections were made. He was
placed in my watch, and a boy who was of
little use woe turned over to the cook as
assistant. The man bioupht us ill luck
from the start. He had not been aboard
two hours when it fell calm, and during
the next thirty hours wo did not gain a
mile of westing. When the breeze came
again it was foul for us, and the observa-
tion taken at noon on the sixth clay of his
Doming aboard put us only 110 miles to the
west of where we pinked him up. Williams
had ehown himself a thorough sailor, and
though our distrust and dislike of him
abaft the mast were not lessened he soon
struck up a friendship with the men for.
ward. Mutiny is soot: a rare thing at sea
that officers never worry over it. On is
dozen different occasions 1 caught Will-
iams yarning it with the men of his
watch, and I oonlde't help but observe
that he had become the loader of the fo'•
caatle, but there was nothing to call for
reproof. We had a full Drew and a willing
one, and there were no cursing and knock-
ing
ing down aboard of the Hare:orb Home.
While discipline was strict, the sailors harl
the best of grub and fair treatment, This
being so, it may surprise you when I relate
what finally happened aboard of us, but
you should remember whaba sailor Is. He
ia, as a rule, uneducated, childish, super-
stitious, easily led, and always inimical to
his officers, no matter whether they treat
Kinn good or bad, Give Jack Tar a feather
bed, Hotel fare, 8th n day wags, and only
two hours work in twenty-four, and he
would blast the weather, condemn the ship,
and curse owners and officers. Ile would
do no more if overworked, underfed, poorly
paid, nod knocked down twice o day. Jack
is Jack, and that ends it.
Williams had no sootier got among the
men than be began telling of a great treas.
oro buried on ono of the Kurile Islands,
Talk treasure to a sailor and you can bring
him to mutiny. Tho amount of money was
given at several million dollars, and Will-
iams claimed to be able to locate the exact
spot, It probably never ocourred to one
of the mea to ash why he didn't go to the
Captain with his story, and try to arrange
far the removal of the treasure, but if it
did ho hart some answer at hand. He pro•
posed taking possession of the bark, sailing
her bo
TUE T1ttass'mc ISLAM/and o:etrhng the groat wealth, and then
using her to got to England. As to the
Aims mid such man as would not join, they
wore to be cast adrift in mid -ocean to take
their charas. We had a cargo valuer! at
5125,000,and I think the mlu1's game Wes to
peddle It out among thei Marine, Caroline,
and \lershall islands, get what he could,
and then Iook out for hunself. So quietly
dill bo do his Work among the crew that
not the slightest hint of what woe going on
was wafted aft. He enlisted eight of the
moo in his casae, mid on the seventh day of
his coming :Aboard, and while the Captain
and I worn eating dinner, the climax cane,
t ho second mato was salodd, hotrod, and
gagged and an 111111911teas raised that he
had fallen overboard. Both of us rushed
from t•he cabin, to the pounced on awl made
prisoners. It was a surprise all around,
and 110 insolenee woe offered any of us.
When Coot, Holt demanded an explanation
Williams enlightened him, He said 1
11'e are are now in p0000seton of the
hark, \\'e tiro going after a groat treasure
which is to be oquahly divided between man
and man. It trap 110 1100 to talk to you,
for you would have steered at my story, It
tree agreed that none of ynu should Ile hurt,
and we have kept to the 7tgreeuent."
" What do yon intend to ,lo with us ?"
" Send you adrift within an !lour."
" Where is your treasure island 1"
" will not tell you,"
" If you really know of a buried troasore,
why not let us sail the ship there and shore
with you 2"
" Because that world mean lose money
for the reit of ns,"
The Captain appealed to the men, declar-
ing that \1'illiamm had no real knowledge
of a treasure and would lead them a wild
goose chase, and offered to overlook what
had happened it they would return to duty.
The feeling of tho crow was expressed by
the old boatswain, who took Millis cap and
stood in humble attitude no Ise said :
" Coapt. holt, we he,' nnthin' ag'in yo nor
the mates, but here's a chance fur every
nau of no to git rioh and we fuels we mast
tante It,"
There was more Argument, but the men
were stebbsr n. Those who had refused to
join the plot now camp froward and gave'
in their allegiance to Williams, and prep.
mations were begun for ousting us adrift.
One of the quarter boats was hoisted out
anti it in were stowed water and provisions
sufiieie)t to last the three of us a fortnight.
We got a mast and sail, but neither chart,
quadrant, nor compass, Coni(1 11'illiams
have had his way about it we would have
been knocked in the Bead or sent adrift
without foot!, but the Alen were a unit for
fair treatment, and he was too crafty to
oppose them. A soon as ' were in the
set n. sa wet
boat rho bark altered lice course to the
southwest, and az: we were left behind sev-
eral of the men waved ns good -by. The
moon observation had given. ue the latitude
of Patrociuio Island, distant about 250
miles, due south, but as the weather wns
fins it was determined, to remnin in the
track in hopes of
755.1\d l'Ilnit:n 01',
but meanwhile making what progress wo
could to the east, For throe days we did
not eight is. sell We had run over a lulu.
died miles to the east when, at daybreak on
the fourth11301111110 with afresh bronze from
the south, we foam oureelvee right iu the
course of a big ship bound to the oast. We
hoisted a signal of distress and lay to for
her to come up. As she neared us we saw
men aloft and knew that we were observed
She passed us not more than fifty yards
away, with nt least six men looking at us
OM' the port rail, and we, of course, ex-
pected to see her come to shortly after.
She kept straight on, however and was
throe miles away, heforo we realized that
her inhuman Captain had no intention of
picking ns up. The ship was rho Iced
Prince, owned by a firm iu Yokohama
and sailed by Capt. Charles Brown,
and was then on a voyage to San Francisco.
Hud not the matter been commented on in
the public prose I should not advert to it
here, as such conduct is rare and almost
past belief. It was not only fully reported
in American journals, but when Capt. Holt
met Capt. ]crown in Yokohama three years
later he sent him to the hospital with
broken bones.
'We had matte 330 miles to the east and
were laving fair weather of it when we
made
A nnEw50115 D1SCs\E11Y.
About, :3 o'clock in the afternoon we sight-
ed a strange object only a point or two off
our course, and, running down to it, we
found our of 1 bark floating keel upv ard,
with two of her masts and a great mass of
wreckage surrounding her. She had Leen
struck by a sudden squall with all sail set,
and, though the masts had bean broken off,
it was too late to prevent her turning tur-
tle. There was but little sea on, and we
pulled in among the wreckage, and I scram-
bled upon the barks bottom. We had a
faint hope that if sound below else might he
righted, especially if we sighted a craft
which would give us assistance. She hod
probably been in that position for three or
fou' days at the least, but there was still
soffhoient Air to buoy her tip, I had not yet
walked her length when I heard a knock•
ing, followed by faint shouts. The Captain
came abroad to see what he onel,l mnalto of
it, and it was not long before we tvere setts.
fied that at least two men wore imprisoned
in the cabin. By lying down and placing
our ears to the copper sheathing we could
make out that they knew some one had
boarded the bark, and they appealed to us
to cut a Kole through which they could
escape. We had neither axe nor hatchet,
but if WO had been fully equipped the
changes would have been against us. It was
a spot where no one could shad upright to
use an axe, and every fifth or sixth wave ran
right over her.
We believed tufo of the imprisoned men to
be Williams and the other the boatswaiu.
We could catch their words pretty plaluly,
but they seemed unable to make out our
replies. We could do nothing for thein, but
decided to remain by the wreak for a day
or two in hopes of aid from some Draft, At
sunset the wind died away, and the night
woe without a zephyr, At sunrise next
morning the first objeot our eyes lighted on
was an English tramp steamer bound from
New Voris to Japan, with coal oil, and
close abroad of us. lie looked for our
wreck, but it had disappeared. The noon -
most lay floating about, but the hull and its
tangle and its prisoners had gone to tllo
bottom,
Atmospheric Food.
An interesting fatt: of which most pew
plc ace unaware, is that at least three-
fourths of our necessary ailment is made
up of air. This being tie case, the relative
importance of pure air and uncontaminated
food is three to one. 'Vary few people
world be willing to take their ordinary
food with so large an admixture of dust as
is daily taken with their aerial food. Gaso.
cats dirt is more dangerous titan solicl filth -
Beyond a question the season of mideum•
mer dellnoss has tit last arrived as far as
general bushlees is °esteemed, and on the
whole somewhat earlier than usual, Dur.
ing the past tveolt there have been gains in
the movement of fruit and grooeriee, and
perhaps n little improvement in shelf hard-
ware, as well as hoe freezers and preserving
kettles, encouraging advIaes for staples at
Toronto Hamilton, Winnipeg and Mont-
real, notwithstanding the unabated dull-
ness in grain, produce and stooks so gener-
ally prevalent. Crain stooks aro low, and
consequently solos are not pushed at ruling
prices, With excellent hay prospects and
fairly good wheat throughout Ontario and
the {vest, there is a growing disposition
among general traders to enlarge their
0porators, Payments are reported up to
the average. Railway earnings for the
past month are about ij per tient, lose than
the oorrespondmg month of last year, std
the 1 irnut0 !,lute oloa'itnge, which anonnt
to :15,391,300 title tvoolc, aro t, 5 per cent,
below those of lest weak,