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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1890-10-24, Page 2TEE BRUSSELS .POT, Orr. 24, 1590. STRANGELY WEDDED, A Thrilling Story of Romance and Adventure. CHAPTER 1X.. R./MA0''"I -en ew0ry.dar life the frie- dl len f i tion prndnt'04 6) mere thought i,•ssm". {a Par ,;mann' MUM 111.,1 etntsrd by deliberate a'I13slb nes.. Ill dao look Major llcunia 111.111 1101 t0 Cheri 1-y t':.,up from London,rearing home in I M. ne=xt boisterous ;:oud svelte posettdt suet brioginghis wife a pretty dia- mond broa'Ih as an "tiering. Ile professed himself thoroughly glad l0 he Route again but otherwise did not tell Ethel much of his movements except to mention casually now and ; again some theatre to which he had bean 0r kik nte pe0sou wheat ho had seem in the Park „rat Ilurlinghan or St. Anne's. "Jed how have on got on, Ethel?" he , asked. 'Rae Trevor been as good an his word and molted after you?" "Yes, I have seen a good Ileal of him," she answered. "That's right. I want you to have a good time, my dear," he said brusquely ; bargain for is that you don't see too much of hint, you know." "I shall not do that," "I daresay not for your amusement—but you'll have to be careful for your name," with a careless laugh. "Cosmo," Ethel cried in an agony— " don't gony—"don't you care anything for me—not even for my name, your name?" "Of course 1 do, to be sure. I was aw- fully fond of you when we were married, awfully so. Only a man can't go on living In paradise for ever, at least not with the sane Eve, don't you knew—itstandsto =n- oon sense that he cannot." " 011 1 Cosnto," "\ly dear girl," said ho good-humouredly —" isn't it much better to speak out plain- ly" You never cared a brass farthing about me --probably, if you had I should never have married you —gad, I never wanted to marry any other woman, give you my word. But, as I say, ere can't go on for ever and I don't want to shut you up like a nun because I'm no longer as mad about you as I toss four years ago—why, it wouldn't be reason, and I hate mtreasouable people, they're so deuced unpleasant and inconsequent, don't you know. Besides, I can trust you—that's the best of you proud, cold women, you make very poor sort of sweethearts but you make devilish good wives—one can always trust you." Mrs. Dennis turned away with a bitter smile upon her lips, and the Major went off to dress for dinner quite satisfied with his own generosity and magnanimity towards his wife. "The best of you proud, cold 1001050, you make very poor sort of sweethearts but you stake devilish good wives "—she repeated under her breath—"poor sort of sweetheart —good wives—oh ! my God, 0 this man could only look into my heart and see just whatsort of a sweetheart I could be to some men—to one man, at least. Oh ! Cosmo Dennis, if only yon knew what a bad wife you have, bad, bad in every thought and wish if not in deed, if you only knew how little she is able to trust herself 1" She was standing at the window looking ant over the tall white marguerites and the showy red geraniums, over the hit of garden and the low paling against which the wall- flowers grew and the sweet pees were climb- ing over the row of torts opposite to the (Us. taut sky beyond. She looked, in her trail- ing white tea -gown and with her shining golden head, likeanlarguerite herself. How young and lovely she was still, in years but twenty-two, in looks a girl, and alas, in hopelessness and pain of heart, she felt like an old,old woman. Sho held her hands press - ea hard together then, her blue eyes were full of pain, her face was white and tired. "It is so lard to hear," she said in the same hurt tone, trader her breath—"to live with hint who has long ago grown tired of me, and to hove that other one—ah 1" she broke off sharp and short for across the open space between her window and the opposite row of huts, she saw Jack Trevor walk quickly by. He looked at her window and seen her, saluted, with a gay gesture Duda bright smile. She forced her hand to reply and her lips into an answering smile, and then she dropped back into the nearest ohair, wishing wildly that she were dead or that she had never been born into this world of mistakes and weariness and suffer- ing. " ant safe enough," she told herself. "He cores nothingabout me—Cosnto may trnst me—I am Tack's old friend and plays fellow- that is all." She was still lying back in the big chair when Major Dennis returned, wearing even- ing clothes and a smart smoking jacket, a quito gorgeous velvet affair with collars and cliffs of superb embroidery. Returned him- self about for her inspection. "I invested in a new smoking•jacket whilst I was up, he told her, "pretty, isn't it ?" "Quito resplendent," answered Ethel, her eyes still filled with Jacks fair and cleanly beauty'. "So I thought, but Bennett, in Bond Street, you know, says it'll soot tone down, Do you think it will ?" "How should I know. Bennett must be a better judge than I." "\Veil, M don't know about that," doubt- fully. "But he mile it, (lidn't h,'?" She was try. be inter- estedhard to force herself to seem to iu his rune attire. "Vaghe made it, supplied the velvet, of course." And not the embroidery?" "Oh 1 the embroidery—no, I got that elsewhere," he replied rather awkwardly. Ethel rose froso her chair, a somewhat satirical smile curling her lips. "I see, The new Eve gave you the embroidery,"she said scornfully, yet very quietly. " What a pity to waste it down here—yon will take all the bloom off it, "Not at all—the bloom ought to be off," cried he, not sorry to find she hal accepted the evidence of a new Eve—which, by the bye, ire had not intended to let, slip to Iter -- so quietly, I think on the whole that they got on better that they had none for two years be- im tho Major had exchanged into the 15th. In rho old regiment Mrs. Dennis had often been dull and in low spirits, she had been left a good deal alone and Major Dennis had never been able to go away for a few days or ever a few hours without fooling more or less of a brute towards ler. Now no man in the world, I take it, linea to fool himself a brute; so he was much inclined to accept the existence of Jack Trevor, his wife's old playfellow, as an entirely unmixed blessing. They spent the evening very quietly --the Major smoked a couple of mga'ettee, and three letters ami talked to her 't two wratr. W> a little of What ho had done in London. And all the time in Ethel's heart there was raging a wild and Norco tumult, A.oryram. up and would lordly he stilled, that her Iife was harder to boar than it lead been before, that the 11100kery of going on living like this had 11 0. 001+ a very dell to iter•, tlntt x110' 1111,x• could 1)) 1 uhl 00e11110 it. Yet Major Dennis su1'c."1 and chatted complmently on, without e s'' piwirnl tleb his wife sitting quietly sewie at a bit of • li tl•)ttitsl'it (111111,0.0-\vurk beside the table Ih y r where the lamp stood, W08 fueling any differ. tut 1' what she Melted, without a snepte 11 that her exterior of ice eovered. in truth a very ,,Lean of 11r', a mine might ex- plode under lis feet at (Lily moment, " By the bye, Ethel, is any'thieg Ong on ,lust 110\0?" he asked soddenly, 1011011 it was getting towards bed. time. "'Yliero is a gar,l'u p.trby aG I-Iighllight to-n10rrOw,"she answered, thinking pleas- antly of it because Jack 7.'re"or would bo there—" and I believe we are all u, be ask- ed to an informal supper afterwards," " Oh ! tot Highflight 1 Are you going 1" ").es, 1 have promised to go enol—' lt•II agown on nl•- a 1 gl have got nety of pose for it." "Really. Well, will the dogcart do to drive you over in ;•" " Oh yes, perfectly," she replied, Accordingly, the following afternoon alma 3 o'clock, the Major's very high dogcart with its bright yellow wheels, came round to the little gate of their hut, :\ rakish gray was between the shafts, a regular flyer,- with satin coat and restless heels. IIe showed u great objection to settling down ism first hut af101 a minute or two bre10111 himself into to pose of a statue his head well in air and his llaudsomo feet extended as far as pos- sible. Airs. Dennis ltd not keep him waiting very long, indeed las the Motor opened the front door, she cane out of her bedroom. " Iloilo, is that the new frock?" he asked —" let's have a look at you. 'Pon my word it's very pretty—I fool pito proud of going out with you." "1 ant highly honoured," cried Ethel tari- ng herself about—she was in high spirits and his littlo compliment pleased her. It was certainly a pretty gown, plain and simple of soft creamy flannel with a smart sailor hat bound with a 00101 t ribbon, on her fair head. She carried over her arm a coat of stone coloured clout with a coaclunan's cape or rather set of capes. "Is it cold?" she asked. "Cold, no—you'll bo smothered if you wear that thing," he answered, "I shall be smothered in dust if I don't," she roplied—"but I 11)010 it will be onongh to keep ale warns coating home. You know it is twice as cold in that high trap as it is in the victoria," A prettier or more winsome woman surely no man ever helped into a high clog -cart, stud Major Dennis swung himself into his place beside her, feeling quite in a glow of satis- faction. Pon my word," his thoughts ran, "there's nothing like a little outside interest and attention for smartening a ma'ried woman up. Why, I shall he falling in love over again if I don't look out." \Irs. Delmis cast a glance towards the mess—yes, the conch was there already. The Major saw her look, "Would you rather have gone on the coach 3" he asked. "Oh 1 I don't care 0,1011." "Because you couldn't have had the box seat and I've no idea of your sitting behind, don't you know." "011 I no. I like this much better," she replied. They swept through the gates as she spoke and once on a bit of open toad the gray went like steam towards the town, "Don't go through the town at this pace, will you Cosmo 3' she asked. Major Dennis laughed—"I shall find my self in the police -station if I ch.," he answer- ed. "I wonder if you would mind stopping at Jefferson's for a minute—only for a minute? I left my little spent bottle there to be re- charged." He raised no objeobion and when they reached the narrow High Street, pulled up the gray at the door of the chemists 51105. "Is my little smelling -bottle ready?" Ethel asked. "Yes, Ma'am-" and away he ran into the shop again to get it. \'lat happened next was all over in an instant and Ethel hardly knew hots it came hmat returned with tho about, but just as the n neat little white parcel in this land and gave it to Mrs. Dennis, the Major exclaimed— "Damnation" under his breath and gave the gray horse a cut with the whip such as sent Ism off at a frantic) gallop along the narrow street. Nor diel he moderate his pace until they had got a good mile upon the road to- wards High -flight when with some difficulty his master pulled him up to a ,walk, " What was tie natter ?" asked 11111015110 had been holding on to the silo of the trap in 5hoer desperation, expecting every mo - melt to be dashed to the stones. " Nothing—nothing--I Mutt something stung me," and he put op his hand to los Heel(, as if to show that the mischief was Plumed eluwln in Limo to help 1111. Dennis to the gunnel, fru you pot well Y' the milted (11 ail undertone, "A little tired," into whispered hank, "1,110 and speak to Airs, Petro and then let nes get you it glass of wine or some boa; Weil; you cold duving?„ "No, any coati is warm," eke liwwered, "but the horse bolted an the l{iglltil lantana never atopp011 for more than a mile and -• an11---- "And frightened you 10 death—Poor lit. t lo WOnlatl I Really,' he added, its he slip- ped "9 1)01' coat, „1 5001111e• the Major likes to drive 511011 t0 brute,' "It 51(0111 the home '5hod t--1'esmntouch. ed him with the whip and he wont bear the whip 0t a11," "Why • lie goes like the wind," "1-.s 31id didn't do it o)3 purpose—something startled him and he threw out leis arm and —Oh, how do you do, Ml's, Petro? Whet a lovely (hay you have for your party." ''So glad to see y0n," returned the Inustees —"And, Mrs. Dennis, you will stay on to supper, won't you?" You are very kind—we shall be delight- ed." " Anil you, Mr. Trevor 3" "I have been hoping• to be asked," he said with a laugh. " 1 shall be only too pleased." Then otheruests streamed in and their ltosteee's attention was taken away from them. " Come and have some tea, said Jack tenderly. In truth 1he was somewhat frightened by ler blanched face and drawn look. " You ;est have been terribly frightened, Ethel," ire said, es he found her a seat, " I was—but 781101 be all right now," she said trying to smile. " As I told you lho other day, Jack, my nerves have all gone to pieces. Cosmo says that his nerves have gone too, so we shall be a pleasant couple by and lin" I Ho tau laughed as he went away at the idea of enytiningbeing amiss with Major Dennis nerves ; and in two minutes he 00010 back with a glass of champagne and a plate of straw -berries and cream. "Drink this all I'll get you another—it will pick you up butter than anything else," he Raid sitting (down beside her. "I'm afraid my, lamina would go after my nerves," she returned smiling—bat she drank half the champagne and ate the straw• berries declaring herself better. "There, I have finished it 1011. No, not a drop more. Why, I should be mad to take more—I can only just manage this. Now, put my plate and glass do ten and let 05 o out into the garden and see all the world, j Jack was nothing loth, and together they went out to see all the world, which very soon resolved itself into a dim but charming fernery where a most seductive rustic seat invited trent to rest awhile and study "all the world" in single specimens, " 1\'ell," said Jack easily, stretching itis longlegs out and sneaking in a thoroughly happy and comfortable tone—" Well, and what is the latest net's, Ethel?" "The latest news, Jack," she answered— " is that Major Dennis has more than a thought of tahab he calls 'cutting the Service I altogether.'" Jack sat bolt upright in an instant, " Cutting the Service, lie echoeel—" but why? I thought he was so keen on soldier- ing." oldier-ing. So did I ?" "And what would you do? Where would you live?" "I don't know. He talks of travelling indefinitely," she answered. " Without you?" , "No—I should have Co go too," she re- plied. 1 There was a moment's (lead sileuee, a moment during which a new idea was born in Jack Trevor's mild. "And you—you would bo sorry to leave the—the regiment ?" he asked in a curiously strained voce. "I," she repeated—" I—yes, I should be sorry," and then she turned her head away, ' but not before Jack Trevor had seen that her eyes were filled with tears, CHAPTER N. MADEMOISELLE VALERIE. 0)00. "Was it a wasp? Does it hurt ,111011 now ?" she asked ;sheha,l never loved this titan, she knew that he was tired of her, she guessed that lie \tent after other gods—yet in ono moment, she was all tenderness tor his sttp- posetl bort. He looked down into her at miens eyes with a smile which but barely covered the fear which still lingered in hie. "I'm afraid I 3-ighten your wits out of you every now and then, Ethel," he said with a rough sort of apology. ' Really, I'm awfully sorry—but tho fact was I was startled and made a cut at the horse without thinking what I was d0- ing—old the brato resents being reminded of the whip at all." "Thou 7011 were not badly stung," aha cried. "No—a mere nothing ; a 1001' or two ago I 01,ould not'0r have noticed it, 'Pon my word I fuuay lay nerves nt'o go rig— ohall have to cut tho Service and travel for a �while." "Aloe?" she asked seine abate a whim- per, her lips had gone white, her 01105100 Iwore pale, her whole face seemed to have grown drawn and Niggard in a montoltt, ' drawn and haggard mid old. 11Alone—of course not. I—but there, ,hat's the use of talking alma that I' n seedy, Out of sorts altogether, but I. sltall he ' all right after a bit, when 1 have got my ! nerves pulled together a little," Ile laughed as he spoke and began to talk about other timings, once or twice looking I back to 000 if the coach was in sight or not, They were more than half way to Highfligllt 1 ore it appeared, however and the Major : urged the war to put hie best log forward 5o that the otlsere might not overtake them, By the lime they pulled pp at the portico at11101110 L, Majorr Deems was111t 0 wild- caand moat boisterous spirits imaginable, tin111101,dorhad not come hank to his wife's ' )s and her fare waspale and drawn still, U1 wn I The coach was but juotbahind, and Trevor "Evils anticipated arc twice endured" A fete days, however, went by and nothing more was said of Major Deunis's possible in- tention of leaving the Service. More than once Jaok Trevor thought of it, thought of it and distnissed the idea as a rtclictlloua one I not worth troubling over. Yet ho could not shut his eyes to this truth, that of late ito had begun to regard his 'Major's wife in a new light, Up to the present time, that is to say during the few weeks that the Den111005 had been at Chertsey, he had looked upon , her only as his old friend and playfellow, as a new and charming interest in his existence and had even spoken of her to Monty Carl- ton—and much to that young man's disgust —as the best einem he had ever had in all Itis life. He had been all along so sorry that her husband was not more congenial to her and he had felt the deepest commiseration for the young healthy active nature that, from almost the time of 111s fathev's ,Leath, had evidently bean cramped and warped in every way. but nolo---•now w'1100 be was forced to see all too plainly that she had practically no hand in arranging the plan of their life, he began to fuel IlNereutly towards her 1 He began to feel indignation as well as pity 1 He had gathered that if tie Major chose to throw ftp hit counmiSeiOn and take to a wandering existence, Ethel would have no power to Matence him otherwise, mud the very thought of her being dragged abort from one foreign hotel to another without a child to comfort her, without it mother to stand by her, or husband who would be anything of acompanion to her, was enough to madden him, And yet ho was so 11e15. less, what could Jho do for Ther? Simply nothing 1 She was Denuis's ,wife, and the oldest of friends ca1an0t with reason or jus- tioeintorfere between man and ,rife baring no bettor excuse than the rads that there was a llieparity of years between thele mud that heir dispositions were nut congenial to each other, However, Major Dennis sooned to have forgotten Ms suggestion and else 'n a ,nett. surd to recover his geed sprits, at least Monty Carlton complained to "Trevor with a disdainful air of fretfulness oto day, " Real- ly Dennis is getting positively bloated \vitht twit ' 311 3" said Julie, looking up 5ht11 ply, I Carlton repeated his assertion, " The bre Lc fired oft two stale oltl chestnuts G,tt of tie Pink 'tun' this nroshiol— 0I0re them half the fellows shrieked with delight though they lad all read thorn in print years ago. However, Dennis shot them Olf with an am' as if ho had just made 'em and as I said, six or 005015 idiots laughed." "And you didn't ?" asked Trevor, wait• ing,patiently for the end of bo hole yarn, t' --,with ahprenre- 1li5gn5t- 1 1 i wouldn't have moved a 5111501e of 1110 faeo if my life itself had depended on my fining it, i 'n 4nkhm'tla10 h at his k0g if they'd Iw Y Why K 1 leen now, and I certainly wouldn't condo, ace1111 to oven grin et enyllody's jokes that wore years old, 0 not," commented "N0' --I supe so a i, onmoita Joel( rather abeaufly—" I am always Nod. ing o \'s,•lf w meterin' why Dennis ever tries to n)a: lok,at sill. It's not lIe0'ause he's n genial sort of a elute 0'1 loves a hike 1, hit 11e ducsn't 1 As a general rule, if you tido mance, Ito either deesn't 000 a joke Lir else ]to laughs in the wrong pine,' "1'11 tell you what 11 is," rejoined the tither with pe'fest sot'inu'"•S a—" me soon its I g01 my majority I shall 11(110."• " 1 11 tell you Lit a word. Take 0 brute like Dennis fol' instants,. 110'5 n 11))')'and he hes to be Belem ,1 1, w'h0nc\e, ho elpoaes to speak. Lel him tell ever snot (h•iveliing tot in the form of a story and nine sltlLLtl- terns mit of ten either list)')) with respectful attention or applaud hila with u,lro:u'iol1s hmglhkV. They've \•e got to poetically- it's the right thing to do and they do it, 'You 1113' soul, it would he 0 goo. tiling for the Service at lar di if 00.11 stoner otlicers 50(1'? forbidden 10 tell stories of any kind at the n>ese•tahle," "They couldn't be forbidden to air Iheir opiniols," laughed Trevor, "and for my part I'd rather have Dennis's stale chesnnts that his 05 110)us, any day." "My faith, yes," ejaculated 110111011 promptly. lin }tly And they woo troubled with a good manly of Major Dennis'e stories (luring that week et t c mess—he seemed as if he dill not care 1 1 me to go outside the Fifteenth lines 11111011, and he spent a gond (teal of his spare 111110 in the ante -roost. Not that he had much spate time, far the regiment was in camp for work, not for play, and neither ollioore nor men led an idle life by any means. Major Donnie for one, oomplainod bitterly of the fearful amount of grind ho had to put in (I an using his language now) and expressed an opinion more than once that the game was not worth the candle and that he should throw up the sponge 1111 leave Her Majesty's Service to take caro of itself. " But not till you got the command, Cosmo," Mrs, Dennis nut in one day when be had been gutting up a special subject for an instruction. t You know you have al- ways had an ambition to have a command," ' Yes—I know—but there's such a devil of a lot of school -master's work now -a -days," he answered. "011 1 you aro tired. Change your clothes and go down to the town wall mo," she urged. "I want some stamps and books, and the walk will do its both gond." But the Major was not to be drawn out of his ill -temper. "No, I can't walk down. I've been standing about in the sun all day. I'm as tired es a dog. I'll drive you down if you like." " Yes—if "I'd have the victoria," she replied, "I d rather not go in the 909-0101-1 if we have to stop at ally shops." " Olt 1 nonsense—nonsense, I hate being driven—anti I can't drive the victoria, Can't you go without the?" "No - -because I knowou're bored to death here and want a change," she answer- ed. "Besides—I dislike going about by myself. Do come, Cosmo." " You can take Trevor." He spoke quite good-naturedly, but his wife started and her face whitened a little, "No, I want' you to go with ate," the urged, "Do Cosmo—do go." He looked a little surprised—and for the clatter of that, well he night, for never be. fore had Ethel spoken to hint in that tone. "Of oom'sc 1'11 gn, if you wish it so much," he said, still with, the sante astonished look on his fade—"but I do hate—look here -- I'11 take the brown horse in the dog -Dart, will that do? He's as quiet as an old sheep, and will wait like a rock as long as you like." "All right. I'll go and get ready ['tome." She was quite joyous at thus hating won her point, and was ready J.0 her neat stoue- coloutod coat and white sailor hat long be- fore the trap carne round to the door, She went out and looked at her flowers, picking off a leaf Isere and there, her heart hi quite a glow of gratitude. For in truth Ethel De1n110 hod come to that point in her life when only this rough unsympathetic coarse - minded man, who made it no secret that he was tired of her, served to stand between her end the temptation which comes sooner or later to most women. He came out just as to dog -cart was brought round, a noticeable figure enough, and as they passed through the little gate, Jack Trevor came by and stopped to speak to then, Ho was It fixture m the camp, being orde•ly officer for tie day. " leery jolly clay," lie said, cheerfully "Aro you going far, Ethel?" "Into the town—I suppose fora drive afterwards," she answered. In spite of herself the riche red x0000 began to bloom out envy rut," he s n ion her ale cheeks, and a y J� liht to steal into her eyes. Trevorlaughed " said, as ho helped her I into the high dog -carts. "You know One never wants to go for 11 ride or a drive so badly as when One is tied by the leg here ' • 3" added to the Major, Is not ,illi, so, 511. 110 y "Very nthelt so," answered the Major with a great laugh, as he mounted into his place and took the fetus. Jack Trevor stood watching them until the trap teas ottt of sight. Mind, he had not yet acknowledged to -himself that his feelings had altogether changed towards his old playfellow—as yet he only believed that ho was grieved and merry that she should have seek a husband as the Major, he only felt a mutinied sort of irritation whenever he fon el himself in Major Dennis's pres- ence ; he hardty realized that, his duty that clay seemed more irksome than ever, the square more dull than usual, 'himself more weary. Well, I suppose I mast bo off," be said ns he turned on Ins heel with a sigh that ons almost a groan. ]Iol1O, what's that 1" and then he stooped clown and picked np from the ground something lying almost at his foot. It\vas a lady's visiting -card, a card with a mourning border and written. deem it in a lbw Italian band-- " lfacle/noisrllr, Valerie." ' (To 1111111ONTTNI;En.) Tho Cheerful Rout, " I'hu world is over as wo tape it, And life, dear child, is what we make it," Tints spoke a grandma bent 0111) care, '1'o little Mabel, flushed and fair, 13101 Mabel took on heed that day Of what she heard lice grandma say. Years after when, 80 more a ohill, Her path in life seemed dark and wild, tack to her heart the memory cane Of the quaint utterance of the dente 9 "The }world, dear child, is as we bake it, And life, he sure, is what wo 1110100 it," She oioared bor brow, and smiling thought, 'Tis Avon as the good soul taught. And half my woos, thus quiokly oared, Tho other half may, be endured, No more ltor heart it0 shadow wore i She grew a littlo Child onto more, A little child in lava and tryst, world as w a too must tha, ) She took > y( In happy mood 3 and lo, it grow Blight and brighter to her view. She m clo of life es we, too Sllottld) A joy n and to l all thipge were -good WIRBLETS, Tho ,1 own in Sebastopol have been ordered i to leave the city'. '111(1'0 is a movement 010 100t to°planta' ' Memo, ' oniony of Japanese in Mute, Patti will build a 0ynagogau at Craig -y -nos, her residence in \\'ales. Not \wbttsltili lg she (11Lseme, of 1\1es11rn, Billion and C'Pr!en, 1110 'J'15l5'1'11/17 (rials will be continued agaic51 the ot11cr 1101011- '14 1115, k llm'Nicholl, a 5011 11•0', 70 31'(011 of • ago, 11,110acha)l lieudiet, , widow, aged ; 3, w•1re mnts'ied at \100eler0, Cut, on Thurso day night. While drilling a blltslicg In Port I1u110, 00 511101,107, two workmen wove badly floured by, tho unexpecLod0xploslon ofa dynamite oat i, go, f: unoureaux, charged with the 'murder of 31p111te, with whose wife he was euppos0(1 to be too intimate, was found not gnllly ou Saturday afternoon. LADIES' JOURNAL 1 a �Ol l l)etit10i t MCP- `amts The Old Reliallle again to the fore. A splendid list of Rewards. Don't Dela ! Send at Once 1 o y Competition Number Twenty Six opens now at the solid bation of thousands of the old friosls and competitors in former contests. The Editor of 71111 Lames' ,JOURNAL, has nearly forty thousand testimonials as to the fairness with which these Bible Conpebi- toms have been coudacledl. This competition is to be short 1111(1 de- cisive, It will remain open only till the 15th day of December inclusive. The qquestions are as follows :—Where in the Bible are thefollowingwortls first found, I Heat, 2 Roe 3 GARMENT. To rho first person sending in tho correct answer to these questions will be given num- ber one of these rewards—tie Piano. To the next person, the 9100.00 hl cash, and so on t111 all those rewards are given away. 710157 BEWA:RDS. First ono, as Elegant Upright Piano by celebrated Canadian Pim $500 Second ono, One Hundred ed Dollars in cash 100 Noxtllfteen,each a superbly bound 'leaoh- or's 131b(o, $8 15 Next seven, Oath n Gentleman's Fino Gold Open Face \\-etch good movement $00 420 Next eleven, each a Fino Quadruple Plato Individual Salt and Pepper Cruet55 Next five, each a beautiful Quadruple Sil- ver Plated Toa Service (1 pieces) $10210) Next ono, Twenty Dollars In cash Next five, an elegant China Dinner Sorvloo of 101 plows Next five, each a lino French China Tea 200 service of O8 pieces Next seventeen, each a complete sot 51 O cage Elliot's works, bound in cloth, 5 vols., $15 75 Next seven, 088011 a Ladies' Fine 0olrl Open Face or Hunting Case Watch, $00 MIDDLE REWARDS. To the person sealing the m1(1(110 correct answer of the whole competition front first to last will bo divan the 11£11 dollars in cash. To the sender of the next -correct answer followingilowin g the middle 10111 boloan 0110 of the ten dollar amounts, and soon till all the middle rewards' are distributed. First, Fifty dollars in cash Next flvo,eaoh$10!11 inch 50 Noxi ,neo, 01)11 a fine Faintly Sowing Next five, ouch a LadiesFino Gold Watch, $50 ., 250 Next ten, onoh n Fino Trlple Silver Ylatod Tea notal iia set 50 Next ores y -oto, need" set of Dickens' Works, Beautifully bound in 010111,18 vola„ $20 420 Next ntc,an elegant China Dorno• Sorvloo of 101 pieces by Powell Bishop & Stonier, Ilarnloy, England 250 Next five, each a lino I'renoh China Tea Service, of 08 gloms, specially import. ad, $10 2200 Next seventeen, each a complete set of George Eliot's ,works hound in cloth, 5 vols., $15 75 Next eighteen, each a handsome Silver Plated Sugar Bowl, $5 00 Next five, eaoh a Ladies' lino Gold 250 watch, 900. Next Ilety-flvo, each a handsome long Silver Plated Button Hook 55 CONSOLATION B.EWARDS. For these who aro too hate for any of the above rewards the following special list is offered, as fan' as they will go. '1 n the sender of the last eorreot answer 00000 ed al Lonuuos' .1011101A0 odlco postmarked 15111 December or earnoo1 e given number of these con• Halation 11 prpllze00 R, Co the next Co the last, member two, and soon ill these rewards aro all given 0000. First one, Ono Hundred Dollars in cash9100 Next eft0e1,e0ch asuperbly bound ehmily Bible, benutifutly illustrated, usually sold at $15 220 Next 8005,1, mein a Gentleman's Mr a Goll Open Face O'atoh,good.movements S00 420 Next nineteen, each a Set of a Dozen 'Pea 1{nivos, heavily Mated, 910 100 Next live, each a Lalios'L'luo Cold Watch $50250 Na.1Z104togan, onoh a Ladies' Fino Gold Gem las $7. Next forty- no, moll an Imitation Stool Engraving, hose Bohheur's Horse Fair 82 Noah twonbv-uhle, each a Complete Set of Dickens Works, Handsomely Bound in 01011, l0 vols., $20 80 Next twenbv-one, ('0515 lL Flle Quadruple PJatolndividual SaltandPopper Wad new design 5 Next live each a beautiful hryuadruplo Sil- ver Pottecl'1'00 Service II plocosl'(10200 Nexttwcnby• Ilv0, n'Peauhers' Pine, Noll Bound lithlo w th concordance 100 leach permit competing crust send One Dollar ,with their r(50er0, for one years ubseriptioi to tho LAD/E8' JOURNAL. The LADIES JOURNAL has been greatly enlarged and improved and is in 01,017 way equal at this price to any of the pubtioatons iosno,l for lathes on lits continent. Yon, there- fore, pay nothing at all for the privilege of competing for these prices. The priae0 will be distributed in time for Christmas Presents to friends, if you wish Lo use them in that way. The distribution will 110, ill ale hands of disinterested parties and the prizes given striety,in tate order letters 014100 mt aha Ln (UES' JOURNAL o1110e, ova have received rowel de in previous coins petitions, Address, Editor Lanais' Joni. nal, '1'oronbn, Canada. First Baby.—Fond mother to proud young fadther. "Albert, dear, did you hear the 010001 Ids dear lltta eyes out last darling, my y t night'!' —Prowl Noting Father "I thought I heard our angel twitter," Second Baby.— Sho: "Albert, you unfeeling we, Leh, to tear that child screeching alt night and mover offer to tape hint P' --Ila t "Lot the little demon howl I" Mrs. IloN'stoiner (to her husband)—Whet makes you scowl so, Abraham? Mr. 1Iot1'steiner—I should think our sou Isaac, now that ho IS a shudgc, would Rink 1110 shop. What e 'i\ hat las ho done? ? "V , the balmy Nays Shudgo iloff'tclllor has !tatted town a dungen. Now leant -loo• townish all 1 igh1 for the chiding pusine00, but it's omit of bleu on fro pooch, 250 210 130 100 Sleep is Beauty's Agent, 40 31(011' .11050) 5)75 11)1110 "...Steyr), Mon - Breit," when she lht owe betselt down on ,4 bank of (,"yen tissue paper Ina none too 550dee1 at tilittle, tta sound 51ce , J5 as good as 10dinner." 1t is health 10101 beauty for the body and the vent• boat. preservative of youth, next to oontciate's]t• The iedustrial giants of t hn family will scream laziness and 1101,.1-0' that they 1x,111,1 ,Ilea, lei (pull he dead is a1lep. It in for f.1lc 01 mflh 1011000 111,. 11ut'dum of life, 1I has neither need 11011 lu;u 1'0'1 beauty, and i,t long (Le at vessel It all ,'1l,l (0auec 1,51 1t i, iln1,4te1'iILI whether the Icing of the fi'ar111 g.'t, three u1- ten hours' sleep. AV'moan 's mission is 111 (010511$ re. de- pendenl 011 lento v, briglttursc ami freshness, 1101' duty Is largely that of the butterfly or the flower. Itmatters vert' 11111(11 that site be worthy of the queen's ,n 00'i , and to squander her 110lical0 strength, to waste the perfume of her young womanhood, 15 et form of prodigality that she 10•£111'110. l3ro1.1ore, fathom, 1111860.11111) and 80115 (10 not like to 1,111111i 't their idols in a state habitual bier. htibleat u x )00 1111111110 (1000 a great 11007 ,11115 w•tLI 1101• right 1'0)1)1 about which llor loft IF nothing. Sunday is wall considered a 1101 of rest, and if fail.' \'0111011 but kuoty it a sleep from Saturday n 611I1SundaynLt 110011 will illsmooth out eve• so many livas and cares of 1110 week, She will nose her coffee, to be sure, lint there is more tonic in the test, even with wakeful eyo5, than there is in a olein coffee plantation• Not only do rho eyes brighten, 11111 the \wo,rnith of the flesh produoas a free action of the glands, which awls as a sort of lubricator 10101 imparts health and froslt«oss to 011hin. Th0anstete is the clearer metal vision and the brushing away of the cobwebs of Om trade that nothing in all the pharnna- 0 p vie can approach. The fair sluggard may be peraeeuterl by envious and ancient relatives and upbraided by spiritual teach• ors, but all this can be endured in beauty's name. A nap, superinduced by 0 steaming hot bath, an bell on horseback, or 0 111.18k svatk in the open air taken with the mouth tightly closed and in a very light 000101110, j1101 before going to a party or a dinner, will give a woman a fcesbuoss of face and a sprightliness of manner that will be at once remarkable and captivating. Sleep is cheap. It is also an invaluable agent of physical (health, which is after all approtehal)le if perfect beauty is not. What Tears are Made Of. It is said that people sometimes ,veep for joy as well as for servo,,', but step cases aro at least rare ; any way, there is not probab. ly any difference in the material of the tears so sited. They are both made of the same stuff. The principal element in the composts tion of EL tear, as may readily be supposed, is water. Tho other elements aro salt, soda, phosphate of lime, phosphate of soda and nluc11s, each in small proportions. A dried tear seen through 0 microscope of good aver- age power presents a peculint• appearance. The water, after evaporation, leaves behind it the saline ingredients, which aninlgtunal e mad form themselves into lengthened cross lines, and look like a number of Itldnut0 lisp bones. The tears are secreted in what are celled the "lachrymal glands," situated over time eyeball and underneath the lid. The contents of these glands are carried along and under the inner surfteo of the eyelids by means of six or seven Seg' line channels, and are discharged a little abs'e the cartilago supporting the lid. The die charge of tears from the lachrymal glands is not occasional and accidental, as is com- monly supposed, but continuous. It goes of both day and night—though less abun- dantly at. night—through the "conduits," and spreads equally, over the surface of the lids. After serving its purpose the flow is carried away by two lido drains, situated in that corner of each eye nearest the nose—in- to which they run—Ited called the " lachry- mal points." The usefulness of this quiet flow of tears to both man and beast is mani- fest. There 0 such an immense quantity of fine dust floating in the air and constantly getting into the eyes that, but for it, they- would heywould soon become choked. Very little is requisite to keep the ball free, and whou some obnoxious substauco--woke, at insect or the like, that affects the nerves—does make its way in, an increased Now is pouted out to swoop it away. A Plea for Dirt Pies. I avant to add my plea for the children in favor of "dirt pies.' "Dirt pies" doesn't moan simply (list pies ; it nlcaus making atdeus aid mountains g an c1 tunnels, and haling too parties with a variety of goodies, and playing store, and in fact giving the most attplescope to tie baby imagination, and passing long, delightful summer hours in 0101)1 81 diverting, innocent, 01111 health -giv- ing of amusements. I always feel so sorry for the poor little ono whose mother thinks so much of his clothes tint she " draws the lino at flirt pies." As for causing work, if oto can't anvil much washing, make the little ones 1101110 " digging aprons " o1' dresses that can be donned or doffed in t0 minute, anti you \vitt have less work titan in listen- ing to their fretting and quarrelling, and trying to provide other ouploynhonts for them, As for ane, I never feel attsafer about then, las regards both health and 11141.010 than when, dressed 1n their diggitlg 00stmnes and armed with shovel, spoon, and tinware, they begin their ontslauglit upon the pile of dirt, and I know that several hours of leisure probably await 1110 bottom they will tire of it. Of emote they will conte in looking like ohimney-sweeps, and almost have to bo put soaking before I stall know them, but tho cleaning process won't take long, and they do enjoy it so—and is Guth nothing to a mother? Sono ,mothers will saoritten lents of weariness to making the children pretty dresses, whicin will afford then very little pleasure, and be- grudge the little trouble it takes to lot then, lhtava 5,5011 a fund of joy as a snndpi!e. Isn't there it little selfishness about 't'! Do wo thtik as Lich of their onjoyneit us two do of nue pride in their prettiness? They aro always so contented, too, w'imen playing in the dirt, 'There is no other One when they aro hese fretful and quarrelsome, or happier in molt other's company, and .I think it holes to (nitfeate cheerflulness and content- ment. '.There is absolutely nothing to be brought op a1,gain, it except the small amount of trouble it mites, and our selfish pride in their white dresses ; so niy verdict is unhesitatingly in its favor, 10' 1always believe in granting 11, child a coveted onjoyy- molt against Mills there 1S 110 valid ob- jection, It is not poverty so ni00h as pretence which barrassoe a r1iued n100. Resignation is the name of tha angel which curries meet of our 50(Il's burden, Believe that story false which onghtn not to bo true. S'0 ' •• t pteism is a barren coast without ha'• bor or lighthouse. Corrupted frvellum aro the worst of slaves. Itis )'.L' n (or 1, 11 111 11 alntdtgslllon(nl(thata a 01011ltl be polite 1Vet to limnsolf, tI tl: w CI tb FII 111 nt wl ac gu 0d 01' lit �t1 tk alt It( Jul 501 111. We ail th. sot 1'0 las Sa no fon 01C .s, tin me fin He of (101 wa I111 011 50, ha: sPE bltE gel eat we tel on got ale fan Ion tltc bei 011 gm oiv lig 100 0511 p0, set the of i Jet eve of wh till hill but trio the for trot vet the see tin IVO 145' for Gr. ral ] wl� It, ! the apt we Ne a0r' In 0111 tilt 1