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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1890-10-17, Page 2THE BRUSSELS POST. O. 17, 1690. STRANGELY WEDDED.. A Thrilling Story of Romano() and Adventure', I cannot think," mho wttt 011 W011t1olli11141Y1 "S1'lly (Semite minted 10 lite in camp- He CHAVTER VII. has ;altar.: set hie fate against anything of A (MOST OF Tlig 1A41, the kind, 1,,.4.rc Ills alWo,SS oil hay. "Irk% awaiting remains to be explained ! tOthel; a furnished 11011,0." . tolltOSA igeorance, thee otter - • out ncsetia aim get one in Climes:es." 1 tion melt explains nothing. etti Th•- Pet witielt hail been occuplea by ; 1 here is it Mee little Ileum. Major Lawieles• I:appear:a to lie :k porde- itt lett Cesne, Ivor 1,1 not hear of it. lie saya Wetly -nod oa• met alajor Dennis set • I shall ; njoy emits-v.10c sena se I aurmay I • • about lamella, it well eleaned anal detotate, :kite k et :011111lb% •at owe."./ think it will be glorione to have you in "Alt wife has it fancy to live in camp, vamp," Ja,•Is declared. "And do you know, bit es; cdained ta Jack, "Alla AR we shall be Ethel, I de think it ia so awfully good, of here for nearly two years, sve may AS Well tittu Maier t I:0 to open and jolly thout our have it made as comfortable as- possible. ,,Itt friendship. Seine men in his place . Wake had furnished houses latfoire, but might have said, Oh !Pm not goiugto 'wee there :lona seem to be any decent once itt any ola playfellows hanging aroumP and Chertsey tool 1 ,letest hvittg in an hotel- that would have made jest tti1 the aifferonce One oever k woes how one may be annoyed or in our friendship, wouldn't it ?" V7110 is stayieg lu the house.' "Yes- that is so, Mrs, Dennis assented. " Oh, its nitwit more comfortable in camp, It must he wised that Jack Trevor took Sir," said Jaek, who hati not been long full aavienage of the Major's permission • enough in the service to hate a barrack- that he should make himself useful to Mrs. " it's so muelt handier in every way; and Dennis ; he went with her that ofternoth the Major's but is such all exceptionally from one ehop to another, helped her in the good one, and the garden quite a little paw, choice of various things, carried her smaller &se. Major Lawrence took infiuite pains pitrcels, those at least that she wished to take PS with it.' , with her, and finally escorted hely bath to "Yes, and my wife is very fond of a, bit the hotel and gravefully accepted her offer of garden," Major Dennis replied. "bit I I of it cap as tea. san having the place papered and painted I And over that cup of tea. and a plate of and made as eomfortable as possible, and 1 hot buttered muffled, they haa ti delightul you must help my wife to get settled. I m helf-hour s chatbeforeanyonecameto almonds told goutre it great hand at anything of that them -a half-hour Caning which Crumulles sat on the sofa beside his mistress aud Jack " Well, Sir, I do try to make myself use. took charm of the tea•tray ttna ministered to her comfort. They went back to old tunes, of , comae, and Ethel took off her sailor hat and I flung it down on the bank of the river which ran at the bottom of the Cliffe gardens. But no time, however delightful, lasts for ever -the half hour came to an end and visitors were shown in -Mr. and Mrs. Stratton, Mrs. Dennis jmnped up, upsetting Crummles in her haste, and Jack sot on to his feet likewise, and than there followed a few minutes of somewhat formal conversa- tion which in turn was interrupted by the entrance of Major Dennis himself. He gave the Strattone a very loud welcome with that kind of mauler which had made Lathe's describe lum as blatant, and Jack Trevor somehow beeme impressed with an idea that he was aunoyed to find anyone there aud was wishing them all at perdition. His words, however, contradicted this. " It's so good of you to COMO and see my wife," he saul to Mrs. Stratton. " Ethel, have yon no tea?" "I have ordered some fresh tea, what we had here was almost cold," she answered, then looked at him in an anxious way, and presently Jack heard her whisper, "Is any- thing the matter ?Aro you not well 1" "Oh ! yes -yes," be replied impatiently, " don't worry me. I'm all right." Yet presently, when Jack carried hint a cup of tea, he noticed that his hand was trembling and that he set it on the corner of the chimney -shelf where he left it untested. Ha kept on talking however, fast and loud until the Strattons had betaken themselves away -then Mrs. Dennis's anxiety would be restrained no longer. " Cosmo, I am sure something is the mat. ter," she said. " Not at all," he answered, "but the fact fol sometimes," returned Jack modestly - scree been helping -Mos. Steatton--" "Oh, yea Site showed us herfurniture," $aid the major taking the words out of Jack's mouths - "awl though Mrs. Denuis won't exactly want you to do that sort of thins, eltresay elwal be very pleased. if you'll ad - Vise her about otte or two little things, her her at..tures aud plants and so on." " I ettall be only too delighted, Sir," said ;Tank In all geoa faith. "Taut really out of all that sort of thing," the Major continue(' with an air of great -good humor -"and. when I get into any. kind of a shim, except it's a saddler's or a hoot -shop, I always feel like the proverbial hall among the chem. I daresay I look like it too -ha, ha." He walked away laughing heartily and jack Trevor stood lookiug curiously after dm. "Well, you're a queer fish, upou my word ou are. And to think you married my ttlo friend, Ethel Mordannt Poor little :al. no wonder the looks so miserable every ets and then and talks about Blankhamp- on awl the Cliffe, as if the old days were anodise." Then he, too, turned on his heel and went • alartt his own business, which at that mom- ent, happened to be something concerniug one of his horses. While he WAS talking to the groom, Monty Carlton passed the door and -seeing him came in, and as men do, they looked at the sleek satin -coated horses together. " You've heard the news," said Carlton, as they walked towards the Mess together, " No -I've heard nothing except that the 3Demlises are going toilets in camp," Jack an- swered. " Olt, I've heard that, too. You knew her when she was a child, didn't you ?" -1. What did she marry him for 1" ae Oh ! I don't fancy she had much choice about it," Jack said carelessly. "Her inother was the sort of woman who does not give an.yone Nvichin her range too much rope. As a little girl, Mrs. Dennis was let to go her own way pretty much, but ELS a young lady • believe she bad the devil's own time. You see the title weighed a good deal with her." "With the mother, 'suppose." "sOf course." What an odd thing it is that titles ,a0 weigh so heavily with women as they do. I should have thought that all the titles -tender the sun would. never have gilded it %latent la7ute like that, let alone it's being only a title in prospective." "Yea. It's rough on her anyway," said amok seith it sigh. "By the bye, what was naming the twomajors-' "Jervia you're an ass.' Bsttttii Mal you'ro drunk,' Yes, I know 1 am,' (wavered Duthie, • but I shan't be drunk to.mmow, and you'll ahvoys be Or foul. Jervis,' Trever burst net Inghing. " Did you Item- that yoarself 1" "Yes, I heard it fsont Quin." "Ilatt you didn't Ilear Donnie aml Jervis?" "Well it, I didn't," Carlton aamittea, "hut it has it great air of probability about it." "Oh ! it's it good story, I'll allow," Trevor returnea With W laugh, "Ilv the bye," tail Carlton, "I'm going lwer to Hightlight to -day to see a mare Hutton has for sale. Will you go with nut " "Why does Hutton 'want to sell her ?" Jack asked. "Not quite up to his weight," Carlton answered carelessly, "he has put on titadi awfully the last six months, but he says the mare is just as clever tts daylight and as handsome os paint." "'The usual thiug," Jack laughed. "Well L am going to have a look at her anyway," said Carlton decidedly, "Will yoa go or not ?" " lilts afternoon ?" " going over directly after hulcil, I'm awfully sorry, old chap. I should have liked to go inummeely but I can't to -day." '' Why not?' " BeeS.1140 I've promieed to go somewhere else," said Jack " Ugh 1" grimted Carlton in disgust, " Where 9" T111 glib% to Mrs, Dennis's," returned : Jack. "She's got an afternoon on. Didn't she ask you 1' " 01, yes, she asked tne right enough," said Carlton crossly, " but Poe got more sense than to go to what is euphoniously caned- an afternoon' in a stuffy hut with fifteen women all waMing tea and only two drivelling idiots of men to give it toieta." "What an old hear you are," cried Jack with a gay laugh. "Yes, I know -but I'd rather be a, bear than a cata-pow ana day," the other gsowl. ea, "You look out what you're tieing my friend. I've seen a good many of these tre- mendous friendshipshetween subalterns and field officers' wives befoin,but I never knew one that didn't come to a bad end sooner or later." "Oh, pooh -Monty, old man, you're sane enough on some points but you're as mad as it March hare on certain others, and on wo. men yourun maddest of all." • " You murk my words," Carlton per- sisted--" and when anything happens, don't forgot that I warned you. "All right," carelessly. "Only I wish T- wos as SUM of thc command of the Fifteenth as I am that eothing of that sort will hap. pen at all. Why man alive, Mrs. Dennis and I were children together, babies almost. I've known her my 11e ; we couldn't get up au 'affair' if we tried, and I'm sure Wo shall uot try." "Irm-sof course not -of course not-• they navel: do -I've seen plenty of that sort of thing," retool ea Carlton gloomily, jade Trevor, however, beluga young man of decided views, not to say exceedingly strong.willed, was not to be growled out of his friendship with the Major's wife. In- deed if it had effect of any kind, Carlton's opposition only fanned the flame and made -•-- airs. Dennis shook hue llelkti, No -my mother and I get on very well when we aro apart, but but -well, I dolt% etlre 10 go. home inttelo- I am best, hew." • " 1., t her, I don't care for trajet• Dennis," • she wailed in her deeetur -" I never stint awe fer hiln, Sever eontil cere, Da is wieked to marry a man 3•uu loathe " Ethele-oried 111.8. -" yOU really quite iedeliettte, ean listen to no more of this raving you Are llel'Vellkkk IlyStOrielll, unstrung, but I isbould uot be doing my duty as your mothet, it I allowed you to say any more. If you felt this it and Captain Dennia.you were very wrong indeed to am el hint• smdeed,I do not ander. stand yous doing so. As it is, everything has gone too far to draw beck now -the 110VOr Meek &Rh-- and your fathes would be the first to blame you if you diegraced kith like that, Pray, let ine hear no more of this -you had better go to your room aud ey to forget that suah words have ever passed your lipm," Ethel got 01) from her kitties without a word, with no more than one long eeprormh- ful look at her tuothev, a look whush saw all too plainly through hoe asaemption of sham indignation. And in that moment, all her girlhood seemed to shrivel tip and die, all her love of home seemed to fade into nett'. ing the oppressive magnitude of her de- spise, How well she eementbered it pal that bright summer aftethoon as she tout :fools Travel, walked clown Le the Recreation Ground to• gether. She and Jack, just as they had hoer. used to go down to the river's bank itt, home, there to sit matching for fish that they sel- dein caught the best of friends, the most faithful ana entertainieg of companions. Well, well, it was all *ouo by for ever and, after all, they were friends still -that was tomething•-it was more than something to her, indeed although she hardly owned as ninth to herself, it was nevertheless true, that their friendship wos almost everything to her. However, as elm reminded hesself bitterly, it was no use thinking about that now -the paat WAS past and what was done could not be undone. After all, her life might have been more unenclurable than it mats, her bus. band let has go her own way pretty nmch, if be neglectial her and lad her tit some senses it dog's life, treating her as an incident, a chattel to mamma, his house, feeding her and clothing her, letwimg her behind when he did not want her with hum intimating that she might go with him when her presence woula not actually annoy hhn-at all events he did not trouble her with jealousy, and she was, on the whole, free to take het amuse. ment how and when she liked. So she decided in her own mind that sho would make the best of hoe life and enjoy herself as well as she could, and since Jack Trevor was now in the same regiment and Major Dennis did not seem to mina her fi iendship with him, why life might not be to dull a business, after all. was, saw -I We something that turned me him the more determined to see no much of completely over --that was all." his old playfellow as tho circumstances of " accident ?" she asked, their lives permitted. "No -a ghost !" he answered. And it must be admitted from the vary "eosin° r she cried. begiening that the circumstances of their Major Dennis began to laugh noisily. lives allowed of a good deal of intercourse. " There, I dictua quite mean that -but I Jack very soon found that Major Dennis aid did see a woman so like a woman I knew uot the smallest degree permit the fact of years ago, that -well, it give me to turn." his wife's existence to hamper his move- " And was she dead ?" moots. Within the boundaries of her own " The woman I saw in the street just now hut Mrs. Dennis was apparently supeemo- was alive enough -that is to all outward ap- that is to say she staked whom she chose pearances. The woman I knew years ago- theta, she went out when she liked, and came I don't know whether she is alive or dead," in to suit her own pleasure. She had her " Perhaps it was the same woman." own carriages, a neat single brougham and "Perhaps, but I think not. I----" and a very smart victoria, and •teey seldom in - then a violent shiver took possession of him cleed was Major Dennis to be seen in either and the sentence remained uefinished. of them, " Como, you are ill," Mrs. Dennis cried. Bet outside their hut Major Dennis seemed " I ean sure of it." to consider that his wife had no claim upon "Oh no -but---" him whatever -he frequently went up to London, but beyond telegraphing his ad- dress to the orderltaroom, he slid not often trouble to communwate with his wife during his absences. " The Majot- gone to London again," re- marked jack Trevor one day, 'in accents of involuntary surpriee-" but -but how is it you are not going, Ethel? Don't you Else London?" " Yes -I am very fond of London," she replied, "but eosin° did not suggest my gnonitiothg.-„and-ana-I like Chertsey very " Well, I dare say London is obit hot. and dusty at this time of year," Jack rejoined feeling that he had trodden on what, must be painful .groinal to her. " And after all, Chertsey len't half bad, is it ? Supposing we go down to the Remotion Ground and wateh the people -the band is playing, you know." " Oh 1 I should like it iminensely," she cried, brightening up in a momenta " Shall we walk down ?" "Just. as you like. I'll go and get out of my paha and 001110 back for you, eh ?" 'Yes -that tvill be quite thatening." Therefore, about Mat an hoer afterwards, Na, Montagu Carlton who Wait =eking a haat pipe betel% thing otit soinewhetea bmti the gratification of seeing his great friend and chum, Jaok Trevor, fatiltlesely arrayed in an exceedingly light twit, a white hat, flower in his hattonthole and a jaunty air of enjoyment &Wallis whole bearing, go across the open sperm between the officers' touters and the married officers' huts and open' the little gate which led into Mrs. Dennis's tiny garden. Then after it few minutes he SSAV them come out together and go happily off in the direction of the gates. Carlton followea them with disgusted eyes until they turned the comer of the mass,hut and were out of sight. "Pretty business brewing," ho muttered. "The Major off to Town -leaves his wife behind -- Trevor consoles her, old friend, and. all that humbug. Ugh I hope they woe% want me to condole with any of 'cm, whatever hap- pens ; atid something will hammer before long mark my words, I euppose he's tolling her this moment that heti, never go to Londou rola leave her in Chertsey einem all by her little self, Ugh 1 it's disgusting, disgusting. And to think it should be pool, oldlrevor, of all othets, thatat over given a women a second thought, sine° he's been in the regi. ment. Bala it'a etexply sickening," However, as it happened, Jack TIOVO1' WAS raying nothingmf the kind to Mrs. Den. niat At that ;weenie moment ba was say; in -"Awl hOW iN y011 go home so seldom': Deneis blushed a little, "Camino doesn't, care for Illankhampton and since Lord Frothiugham married he does itot got on so well with my mothee as he did. Ani really, ea I tell her, he couldn't help his uncle meaning again and having cloldree and all that." "(11 course not. Then why don't you go bt, yourself ?" " Have & stroll:, brandy and soda, Sir " y suggested Jack, ;Ito had jumped at once to "Oh 1-Crachlock is going to 1)e married." the conclusion that the Major had unexpeot- "Craddeck-you don't say so 1 And Nebo is edly fallen in with an old love, whose pre - he going to marry ?" , sence might prove to be exceedingly wk. • 'Angela Druminonilesaid Carlton, look- ward for him, mg straight in front of him, "Yes, ring Ow bell, will you please," said " An -gela-Di tun -mond 1 Nonsense," the Major, with an air of relief, then turned tried Jack. "Nonsense or no nonsense. It's true,' tlalton asserted positively. "I had it from Craddock himself this morning." "And adult did yon say to him?" "I said he was an ass -or something like it. And then, of course, I had to apologise and say that 'didn't mean anything personal, only that I thought it a pity that soldiers should marry at all till they're out of the Service." “And. old Craddock, what did he say ?" 'Oh, he laughed -said I was a jolly old. sock that had gone wrong altogothes and woulcl never be hotter till I'd fallen in love myself. in leve -ME 1 Ugh -just think of It," he ended itt ineffable disgust. Jack laughed aloud. "My dear chap, I can't think of it -1 eat% iinagine anywoman ever giving ybu the chance of tenowing her tvell enough to he in love tvitli her," "They'd give me the °hence fast enough, no fear," said Carlton grinfitt "Yes. 1 daresay they would. But, Monty, old chap," laughed Jack -'1 you may take my word for this -you'll ..go ort for it time well enongh, and then one of these fine days yon'll get bitten before you know where you are ; and oh 1 by Jove, won't you Imve it bad, AO mistake about 'Yes, my friend," returned Carlton as they reached the door of the mess -room, "when I do have it, I shall have it badly. , You are quite right about that -quite right," Well, about two hours after Ode, Jack never was walkiug briskly along tlw nar- row High Street in which the wrincipal shops of Chertsey may be found, when he literally ran against Mrs.Dennis who mono out of a asbop attended Dilly by the majestic) "My dear Ethel, I ask a thonsana pardons ke cried. I had no idea, that you or anyone oleo was coming out of that shop -I didn't bort you, slid I ?" "Not titit, JACIt," she said laughing. "And •fyou bad it wouldn't Ill1A101/0011 your fault. Where are you going 9" "With yea, if I may," be thswered promptly. "01) ! yea, indeed you may -X am going te the florist's rout then to A ssveetlittleshep Where they have odds and ends, to make tny drawing -room look pretty," • "The Major tells me that you are going to bp tramenaously grana in your new quart. ars," Jath said as they walked althg to- ter rate, "Oh 1 1 doe't think so -I have cherien eery cheep eimple furniture -iota wo are , t eliged to -have the lust papered and painted. romul to his wife, " I hope I didn't frighten you, Ethel, but I woe reminded suddenly of a most horrible episode in my life and -and it tamed me over a bit." His tone brought something very like tears into Mrs. Dennis's eyes. -" What was it ?" she asked in at shaking voice. "Well, 1 WAS spending a long leave abroad -on the Riviera to be particular. It was a deuce of a while ago. I was only about twcoandetwenty in fact, Alla ono day I was with some people when tho conversation turned on fortune-telling. I happened to sny I didn't believe in it -I didn't -I don't now, it's all the most utter rot imaginable. However, a young lady of the party asked me to show her my hand and said that she would tell me my fortune, and that whether I believed it or not,. it, would come true nal the same." "And what did she toll you?" Ethel asks ed. That I liad the devil's OW11 Impel: for ono thing," he answered shortly, "which was true enough." "Bot there's nothing very wonderful in her telling you that," cried his wife won deringly, taunking thata woman who couldn't see that would indeed be a poor hand at for - "She told me a lot more, and the last thing was titabi should die by the hand of a woman before I was fifty." "Cosine I" Ethel cried. "And you saw that woman to day?" "Or soma one voey much liko here the Major replied. "And silly as it may seeni, I would rather have SC011 '010 Devil him. self.".ttae He tossed off the bramly and soda which the waiter hronght him and declared himself better, "1 feet like an ass now. I wish I had not told you," be saia with it glance at his wifo's scared face. "1 daresay it wasn't the woman at all, only soma ono a bit like her. IT trust, you, Trevor, not to pay to word about it," CHAPTER VIII. A PLAiroxie PniglInsIttn. "Tho road of love itt t Wiliell has no begin. ning /tor end t take teed to thyself, man, ere thou plane foot on it . "'hack," raid Carlton a fow cloys after. wards, " come mid sit by me, I've got some- thing to tell you." The officers were all streaming loth the mess.room for luncheon, and Jack Trevor tank his stet boaide Carlton smiling already in antieipation of something good to coin°. What is it, Monty 2" ho asked, " Dethis said to Jervis s esterslay,"- teeent,hut settreely mote Own thatrosonance 9,f the 'which marks the English spoken 011 OW11 Court, Theta were live tiliniaturea upon the' tray width the little woman took out of • the window,' and she eet IL clowns:on thes,glase cestoter at front of the ittrangeis. "Will yoe leek at these, Madam, whilst 1 attond to this holy ?" she said, The stranger Mint her head, and began to OSI011ille till, little portroite tareftilly, bit's. Dennis held up a plate tO4 ite owner returned to her. " I will have this ones stud those tsvo and I think that one, Idiot How much will they be?" " Tweettalive shillinge, Aladatn," the little woman aninvered-" I will send them this evening.' " No, clo thentatp in paper anti I will take them," Mrs. Dennis returned, iota in a tone which admittua of no Nettles argument. They went away in lose than hve minutes, jack Trevor carrying the parcel by the string. " Do you know who that lady is V asked the steanger, " Oh 1 yes, that is Mrs. Dennis." "Dennis Olt 1 She is very pretty. Is that her husband?" "Oh I no, that is ono of the officers - I don't know his name. No, Major intlek older -very much older." "Al I 7Sitsjoe Dennis Irm 1Yell• -now tell me the price of those miniatures. What ore they ?' "They are ttventy-five shillings each, Madam, except that oue which is not so well painted, can let you have that for twelve "I thank you, no. I will have these two," picking out the two best on the tray. "I see you understand miniatures," said the little curioelealer with it smile. "1 unilerstaml many things," said the stranger quietly. ere 101 For ti loug time they sat upon a gtualen seat under the shade of a group of big trees in the Recreation Ground, listening to tlte music, watching the people and chatting on all thinner of subjects. " I wonder who that strange -looking woman with the starls eyes is," she said at lad, as a middle-sized dark.complexioned woman passed them for the third time. "1 don't know -I scarcely know it soul in Chertsey," Jack replied. "And you have been here— ?" " Oh ! not two months before you came - and I never make calls, except very occas sionally est our own ladies •, and es I don't go about mach, of course I dou't get to know people vary mud either. I don't fumy that holy belongs to the place." " Why ?" "Because I've been watching her all the timo we've been here and I :Imola seen her speak to a sold yet. I ham% seen any. one take off his hat to her either." "Then I clew:nay she is a stranger, or per. haps tho wife of someone on the staff and only just come here -like ourselves, infect." "Very likoly-oh, very likely," but all the same, Jatek did not think that she looked tomb like All officer's wife and was uot sorry when Ethel Dennis rose declaring that it was time for them to go home. Strangely enough, the dark -eyed lady was leaving the Ground just as they wore mid twice they passed ana re.passed each other during tho time they were traversing the length of High Street. "She seems way much interested in you, Jack," Ethel whispered teasingly when she passed them for the second tune. I sup• pose all soldiers have tho most wonder- fully romantic affairs every now and then - at least so Cosmo always tolls me." "Don't know, Pm sure," returned Jaok rather shortly "some follows may, but I never had an affair of any kind in my life. I never saw the woman before -and it isn't a hit of good hes starting anything romantio with me, I'm no good at that sort of thing." Mrs. Dennis laughed inerrily. "What It disappointment you must be whenevee you go to a fresh town -why, you ore a perfect detrimental, to be reckoned out of the lam. 'ling always, There, now she is looking in that window. She wants us to pass her again." "Then let us look iu this window uetil she is bound to go on -she can't stand look- ing in a window foe long." "Neither con we," "No, but we can talk and put lit a much longer time than she can-innoli longer," he answered. Already they had stopped before the win. dosv of a very old-fashioued shop filled with old pictures, ehina, and other ouriosities. The dark lady was looking at a jewel- ler's and was apparently deeply inteeested in what sho saw there. "Oh 1 there is thole a lovely old plate -t should so like it " Lthal °tied, "don't 'you see, the old Lowestoft -1 must have that -I really must," "Then come in and gob it," Jack replied. "It will give oue mysterious friend a ahanoe of coming Mater us to look at, old althea" They went in to the shop and lies. Dennis wos soon lost in admiration over half -a -death °1st plates which were quickly broaght out for her inspoetion. Jack was interested too, not in the old plates for he had no eye for stub things except as they hung on the dainty wells of Mrs. Dennis's little drawing.romn, but in Ethel bersolf, Who was tviklly onthe- aiastia over all manner of quatint things and was then softly feeling the old plates With the tips of her delicate angels very =etas a blind man passes his fingera over Um fade of t parson whose lineamente he wishes to be entailer with. And just then the little bell above the okbfashithed dam" went tinkle. tinkle said the two looked ep et the same moment to 000 the slark-oomplexioned lady enter the thop. "What is your pleasure, litadusun 1" aeiuecl the little woman who ruled over this quaint amnain of antiqeitiee. " Will you be so obliging as to show me those 'miniature% which aro in the window.," the lady replica, Cortatioly, Madam -pray, take it seat," stenvered the tnistrems of the shop. Mot. Mollie and clack lookea ttt obe •thothor involuntarily. 1.1, was 0 refined voice, clear and awed, and there was it fore oign rieg about it- not a markedly foreign The Luxuries Possible on the Pam. 'There is it large Het of such things as two everywhere regarded, ae luxuries, which it i net:Limbic to !IAN it Up011 L110 1'141111 tit the eX - piece of little moncay but, of Rome ettre 11.11 d lather ; and it ie pertinent to inquire wit y them lattoe should not be given itt retAVA1 fOt some of thoata Gauge width told refill 0. meet rout pleasure to the somewhat, retie col life of 1.11l1 etIVIlltr.' 1 Others ;oboe la the la W, itt Inedieino, In trade, for money, so me of which may be expended for things 0 ut• ;Sae the bare tomer:shoes of life. It is to 1, ho favieer's great advantage that he can ha va these thinge 111l1,1111101.0 emit). than ()there ca ti, and have them toe, in musk bettearoonditio it, as it rule, What are some of these 111 xurie sI Why, in the lira place, fruit of all kinds,so faras t he climate of one's particularu'egiout will admit. The only taste of fruit that. 15 meltitude of farmers' familial) gel from o ne year's end to another, is of apples and it fa w wild bet't'ies the children pick in annum Nothing that can be said will probably roach that purtion of this class who are too thriftless to make provision tar table luxur. leg $o long as there is at hand to aupply of bread, pork, bacon, potatoes and salt fish. But there are many who do uot seem to real. ize, but ea:mow:haps, be led to realize, how easy it wouldlre to cultivate a suitioient sup. ply of strawberries, raspberries, blackber r plums, cherries and pears to vary and sup- plement the use et Otto nommonly•grown apple. A house supply of small fruits ought to be grosvo on every farm. .A few grape vines ana peer trees will uot call for any very gseat additional effort. Goosebeeries and ciwrants will well repay the eaten tion 4hrigLritrate ltll variety of Arlen vegetables ;meld well be grown, afforaing a welcome change during the winter season, Com ing to the mattee cif meats, there is no reason wIty poultry should not be found on country tables every week in the year, and not, as now is often the ease, on two or Bine oc- casions in the twelve months. In many eaees only it couple dozen chicks are hat:abed, tnd of snob of these as come to eating size the cockerels arca sold to the poultry carts for a fete cants a pound, and the pullets kept to replaces the few old hens that are also sold for a trilling stint. Why not raise a lot of chickens -anal then eat them 9 it is a plea- santer and more sensible diet then pork, If sheep are kept, plans ought re lie nuule Joe 0 'Hewett supply of mitten. It is 1110St excellent footl, but a great rarity on the table of the average fanner. Where a pond or eever-failing stream, of considerable size, is convenient to a settle- ment of farmers, concerted action on the part of these could secure from their State or the National Fish Commissioners young ft•y sufficient to stock these writers with snch food fishes as would be suitea to the surroundings, Trout, salmon, bass and shaa elm often be seemed in this way, whicls will ittford inany agreeable changes from other kinds of foods, besides affording excellent sport for such as take pleasure in fishing. Cream'so often heard of in rhapsodies on country life, too frequently goes bodily to tho charm while its place on the table ill taken by its paler relative ef the pan. If cream ;amulet be afforded under existing eon. dairies, it would be the parl of wisdom to keep better cows, and so be able to IMMO some enjoyment from the extra, creatts thus obtained, Again, the dainty and wholesome dieltes that can be formed frotn the innumerable preparations of oats, wheat, barley and kindred eereals are bUt little lillOW11 ill the farni-houee kitcheo, where they should be specially welcome since they can hese easily made ready for use, being in many iustanees already steam -cooked. The diet of laymen' familios is too largely made up of heavy foods -morning, noon tuld night ibis :teemed necessary to have "hearty" diehos on the table. These lighter cereal preparations contain abundant nourishment and have the addect merit of being easily digested, which cannot be said of the greasy combinatious of potatoes and meat that are to be found to often. If the older members of the family will have, foe all their meale, the hearty food to which they have boon ac. customea, let the children, at least, have it, planer bill of fere, that will nourish them, but not prove disastrous to their digestive powers. For their sakes, 0 not for other reasous, fruit and it variety of °areal footi should have ti prominent and abiaing place upon the table -Webb Donnell, in The Cullirator. Condition of Dakota Formal Mr. 1V, A. 1Vebster of Leeds, Ont., Who has been acting as the ;Tent of the Domin- ion Department of Agriculture during the past Bone years for the purpose of eoporting on the coadition of Cantolians settled in the western United States, and furnishing in- formation to them as to the facilities for homesteading in Manitoba and the tervitor- ies, returned to Ottawa the other day. In conversation he said he went out to Dakota towards tho end of last month and since that time had travelled for several hundred miles in South Dakota. The condition of the farmers there, he said, could not well be worse. The crops have been alnsost a total failure, caused by drought, and in July by a hot wind in particular. Tito farmers told me that at the beginning of July the crops lookeil as if they might prachtee something in the shape of a crop, but a hot wind -a kind of shiocco-eame about the 20111 and burnt up everything. You must bear in mind, however, that what they call a fair crop our tartness in Manitoba; wonld consider barely half a crop. Li Dakota, they would be well satisfied trith eight bushels of wheat to the acre. South Dakota, has been settled for seven years, and during that time the fanners have had one or Otto hie crops, but matters have taradeally been getting worse. Last year their erop produced nothing, and this year is simply a repetition of last. In South Dakota I saw hundreds of farms and, having stood around the threshing mach tees, I am satisfied that the wheat crop in that state cammt possibly exceed on all average five buthels to the acre. Dozens of the farmers told me that they had finished threshing, and that their yield in many cases would not, exceed one bushel to the acre. Not a. mem reported to pleas high an average as four bushels. Scores told tne that the time had corn° when they must get out. I atonal:al it meeting of farmers held at West. port, Brown eounty, South 'Dakota, at which the following resolution wtts unanimously adopted : "Whereas the crops in this section have been failing for years, and for the past two years have proved almost a total failure, we have decided that the time has arrived that sve must emigrate somewhere, and having now heath . A. Webster's description of Manitoba's agrioultural resources ; resolved that Mr. George Lounsberry be, and he is hereby appointed a delegate to accompany 51r. Webster to Manitoba and the western territories, end carefully examine their PO- SOUSOSS and the opportunities they poseass for formers and thew families to settle, and repast the facts to the farmers of this die - tract on his realm. Carriedunaulmoesly. (Signed) J. DA31 OM, Secretary. H. A. JusTnit. Chairman, "The gathering was A large and repre- sentative oue and consisted of farmers drawn from all parts of Brown and Macpherson counties. The resolution shows just what the feeling of the settlers is, and I could substantiate it if necessary by a score of clippings, from the Dakota newspapers, and Mr. Lounsberry, I should say, is a Canaaian by birth. Ho comes hens Elgin °may, Ontario. He went with me to Manitoba, and I can tell you he was more than pleased with what he saw there, From what I saw and heard hundreds would willingly leave the country 0 only they had the means to got out. Many of them have their farms mortgaged up to the very lard dollar, the rote of interest on reel estate averaging 15 per cent., while oe goods end chattels it runs all the way up from 20 to 60 and ovon 1 00 por cent. I tell you it makes one's heart bleed to see the way 'they have suffered. No wonder that many of them, loaded down with debt, am skipping out. Men Whom you tnight See to.rlay are gone to.morrow. The committee of five which wrote from Leola, Macpherson county, to the Toronto board of trade last year asking for aid are aU gonot I could not find a tram of one of them this year," ' TELEGRAPHIC TIOXS.' . — Tho boilermakers at Newport and 5ton. moath, Wales, have strack. Lightermen at Hall, England, and area. mon at Liveepool have struck for higher wages. Jobe Cord, it Noptunee man, thole it bad path in his thimat itt ttn attempt to commit suicide. The suit of the Tindson Bay Railway Co, against eontrautors Mann naulliolt hes been set issed. The little steamer Dixon, plying between Port Arthur tool Duluth, has gone ashore in Ciitivago ila3X.' Itltsville, in the County of Glen. gam, James MeNoughlen and a little girl wore burned to death in their dwelling. IL 1.2. Richter, of itiontecia, nod his twelve.yeargald boy aro missing, mid ib is feared the father killed his child and hitn. self;lannie.-" 1 mulerstand, Mario, tit, you brain your engagement with Alt. Earth. leigh." Marie -"011, en, I alishat dear. It jttat mune apart, aorta 1010 know, after the season closea." 81)0 (who has promiaed So ask kw Ito wore jewelry this yoat)--"" wish 1 were you for to little While." Hes-"Why, my dear?' Sho-"Beestiao then I would buy my wife it pearl necklace," Russians at the Holy Sepulchre. Russian pilgrims thronged the great build- ing everywhere ; peasants in fttr cap, mid cattan, ttud heavy boots, just as they had trudged from the steppe and the wilds; homely little women, with shawls or ker. chiefs covering their heads, Their intent faues, full of worship mid awe, their tut - doubting, untroubled devotion, the rapture in some, the ovetwhehning emotion in others, tho passion of entreaty in which some of them were pouring out their hearts, were half as impeessive to behold • as if tho pilgrim of mother sort had been as sure as they were of everything 110 SAW. Ono fol- lows these poor peasants with wondering admivation and sympatby ; there are per- haps some lookers•on who pity their all - belief, hub there are many others .who will find in tho faces •of those simple brethren the best inspiration and conifort that this groat shrme can give Gloms When I penetrated into the stroit ohapel of the holy tomb, on an occasion when the erowd was • less than useal, there was one womon with a basketful of books, pictures, menses, and other little sacred theme, meant, one could not doubt, to fill it feta diriattut village with holy memorials, at once tokene of human lovo and symbola of the deoptht mystesies, whioh tttit wts plata; Mg to hallow them upon the adione of the sepulchre ; While anothet on hot knees was praying, unciansciooa of all about hoe, in au ogony ef supplication, with moving handa mnrodee'odillitillii?Otr8nderstatial the half -audible od flood of broken words, but the eloquence of the honds, now hold out in entreaty as if to t visible listeees, now pressed upon the beating breast, now chteped in beseeching eathesthess, could not be mistalsen. What Was hor prayer ? Fos tho pardon of her own sins, oe foe some ono dearer than her- self, -whose soul oe whose life hung in the balance ? He alono know to whom, in fond human aonfidetwo of being nearer to Him in that spat whore he had lain in death, she was pouring out her heart. That God might, grant to her the answer and the consolation .110 granting of her petition, was the echo that rose from the soul of the lookers-on 1 We steal away. in the gloom with only this inti no more individnal sentiment in oue imart, She has gone homo by this time, te- tt-Rehm tho weary stops of her pilgrimage to the farolistant baths of the VoTgrt, or tho Nova, ovet• leagues itorl leagues of uolanown rotols, footsore and extuutsteit with the long, Sew, terrible journey. Perhapa ammo time et, other, bit the ages to come, see shall hear wlawtehr she got the thing for which the tuy They who have light, in • ihenwelves Will hot revolve as satellites,