HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1890-10-31, Page 2THE BRUSSELS POST.
Orr. 31, 1890,
STRANGELY WEDDED
when 1 111131 you sad, neglected, unhaPP,Y3
with your dear eyes itlwaye full of fear 13.,r
what may Lappet, when 1 lied yell pale
and wail, the yery shit3lowc,f yourself -nay,
whom 1 find ea with 'rout' lender flesh
" Au31 ) on c tutbi 1 113,thing I suppose?" , I hurt angry ! Well, perhaps, 1 do itot
" We caught no nsh," returned Trevor know. All 1 e in say is that she was um,
8 promptly, all 1, know' i!! ilk 3; the mere knowledge of
i . " All ! 1 su muse not. Woll, Ethel, 1 Trevor'. Im ,i a•rt ed to give. her atrength t ii
‘113,13,3yon feel atter for the 1 vamp, ' go ou living t ' e• life width up to that day
,
A Thrilling Story of Romance and Adventure. bru31 and diaikened by the ernel angero " 1; es; but r :,,,, th.ua," 811,3 .3.d. had 1... alin0,1 intolerable to her.
of a. drunken brine, I
it.jjI4,i,nsH,Tet,a,,sbehk,l" el, .i,;,s.t„l!dif.t..!,,u,a„:,',lv; l,,.o,,,,,.,ft,,pig,,q ',o, o,.,d„1 , 3, ,3 .,3,3„„3• 3..n,1:,),,,,a, aai,n,,.,..,T,,!.0:3. ,,n,,,,i.t 1!1!, gbhp' eia1 lavlmeet i .too,nitIt‘hisprI,iteozl,ieloy-‘i.1n33tre imtet.-i lo31nge6x1,pe1east p1n.haI yd,s•hdailii tll3
Ia‘h8 4',8 'u'1, -"m ,, ,3, .'"r'Iil•.,,e,' ,i,‘
ni"ei gwNW.ooh3te,?n1" '0 , -"nwoi,i'illillMt soathy1gnok.iot1.
y„31Ioo'.bruy.
eM
,."aS•'
aoird
111IAPTEXIA Disy C1.11%t albounditsheh.soilt thintI"61311"ibe ied I am ny ledd3mhishan,iohe.,"itTT!rre.vor
lwl. e1,o3,3p.A
y no
other .tFegec‘o•,x41r111i.s...e-1em
eawd101"1:ov upmy omimwhets the goal of speakingthe withus331pyutu n p Nhave mime dinner n+0
1,,nd 33 (3 itoaohwin ip, ,,,y waeehdkinar1meevor 11aun01Hoa1
) d
..., ...F..
3rom
lt) !lrSx1,,Iwlo1cugmoltledAud yf e er101sininMitWONnig 0witin, ,r,numr.tnn‘01tJyor„. i , v tv 1'ssribe13we,
eaest„ q,ri• u
eally
fright ful f 0 I010t1hn I Whiel) merweavmiilnic'g
i
drove 1 1 1 wl 0 r 3 rilblesA i4gIn1113h13s3w1ertro:bled itye-.•ctt were form' into Ite Ltd 31331 las hoteltEthel enqgv0301 1 f ii 1! (113 11 /1 f110 31 38 13:1:1111,eVimm 11ightAnny 13111
thn usuMinperin Mot ,,;;;13lifewelt worth hayint at L,ttnui1ligaaumw couldnot love- a sinificant pressurehelooduahath11otv 111”Aynnggiaalinan tom :hat mmeneed after l
eg11i`83It01"'8111,181'111he s aud 8113313 him een abrutetoyufamomentthou dropal lars13lyhft hishewin g111h11318(831183 11311 with ever inetntoing 301
,:,,,73,1.;,h,1.i:1, 1,il,,(,11 1Ui1,,,14t.,,tmipnwruit1gu1he makes Yollr sorY life a burdenIs that Ina until hhdreed 11tt011511ungte.an1W1151ta his credit teleraphed 10 1113 :.:113OiOpei11it 3irriae io
,, ,„,•loor ese thathe was to 1•33ail awl preseetly he or333t the •3tint so 1 31e11 1 1(1113 youI tan notw t 110111,3,1 hstormthat was at 401111133116 31333333 3111,-
.t
ettim;reo,iylor n attackof D. T. Bat $'Moue visitingcard and aft et• a time,he111331811 tt faie-weatherlover ; you have known ru: *11101133.1ti Lion 11111. Oil the 030333(31•
ine 11.11 our lives Ana pet know that you eau
Mr a Wine nobody else Mt the Ilan so fairly 31e0 1 /ed. italee i Leant 111,1 while 100 1(0811 live mid RS king 111:
on, the head as did the ignorant and stolid
batman 3e au the other persons with
whom he l', a , eonneeted at that time the
Major ii as ., aomplete enigma, ! Jte 30131
• more storiel and what was worse older ones
than ever. la, laughed at them with a loud
and hoist...ins assumption of mirth whieli
W69 as unreel as it was unmusical -he was
more uncertain than ever in temper and us *1
matter of eourse, his wife became more um-
vous and Wan an a Jack Trevor made greater
efforts to make her life somewhat endurable rough sent had been plaeed muter one 01 1110
know where that card came from ? I will
to her. largest trees, a poplar and as Jack Trevor's
tell you whore it came from Ethel. About
It must be confessed that Jack Trevor eyes fell epon it he suhdenlybethought hint -
it week before, I melted dot card ttp at
WM a good. deal puzzled at this time. He self, that they had come a good way and .
rir gate, one day when I 111341 seen you and
had. felt from the beginning Hutt Ethel's that Mrs. Dennis Might like a root. L Nitatctielgo 1 off in ithe clogiart together.
husband was somewhat of a brute, that Ile "Are you tired, 161thel? 3:16 mild you like to
A STRANGE AOOLDENT ON TEE IS-
THMUS,
_
Tri.0 oroproo I post n moving Trate by
. a 8,1g111111 11 gsiee e.
The Panama Note fuel Lffleahl Hays 1 On
Theis:lay as the soadal expre,s limin (mayfly.
big relief Mr the suffereis 331 the Caton dis.
aster was pree0",ling to destination, it
mane within low of 13 ,-if sufferin, au
Meantime, Mrs. Dennis mid .13013 Trevor
hall tramped away over the Common in the
direction of the woods ...Odell lie between
(-gleamy and that e ,311(try house whieh
rej.ices in the mule of Ilighilight.
They had got rather more than half way
over the Common, and were approaching it
pretty grove of trees which grew about a
111110313 or a bit of rising gromal. A little
streandet ran (dose by and Made the soft and
mellow Autumn air alive with its music. A
ive both live. IN hy slmuld you go on /cu-
ing this life of wreteholeess and misery ? It
is not 38 13 your gniug would hurt your hus-
band -he will not mind it -ho has long ago
grown th•eil of you.”
" How do you know ? " she said, scarcely
above rt whisper.
6' Who is Mademoiselle Valerie ?" he
asked.
" Jock ! "
" Why was the Major in such a over to
on ittc 1 le trown anise. o you 00111811)1 -
that
810( 1110 husband she ought to have had, 0081 33 little ?" he asked,
that the girl was unhappy and that her life "Yes, I should nailer, although rm not bef,?,."
I remember."
had been ruined. in every. way. But non really tired," she answered. "What a
there was something going on which he nice seat for au out of the way place like " I wondered whore it had mane from,
and to -day / put it down on a little table
could not and did not understand. And this:"
after about a week of hard thinking, over "And so near this little brook," said Jack as 1 went iuto your room just to see if the
the sitaation, he tried an experiment by way smiling ; "110W if we only bad it rod here we Major know anything about her. ,If you
of making 3,1,33e0110tion33 on the result, could, du a little fishing and limey ourselves lutd seen him pick a up and heard his
It happened eue day that Mrs. 110113315 118(1 back in the neutral ground between the ' Ocmd God.' as I did, you would have guess -
been 10 1133" little garnen tending 1(00 1101110333. Palace end the elate again. I wonder if I ed who • :Mademoiselle Valerie '
'' I did guess," she broke in-" I have
The semi, r was fest wearing' into autumn, have a bit of string in my pocket?"
but hr b
eorders were still bright and gay He managed to liud three little coils of known
awl by dint of daily attention showed no string, which as lie told Ethel, he hacl slum- others." for a lout; time that there wove
signs of d333, ty While 8110 10118 there, Jack al into Ids pocket that afternoon after open- " 'Phut what binds you to him 3" Jack
cried. " There aro 033101' lands far better
Trevor h.opened to come past Mud it was ing a parcel from TOli'll, and with this tied
to live in than this. If he divorces you, I
really wouderful to see how, at this time, on to the end of his walking -stick awl ti, bent
his daily ditties and pleasures did happen to u P weure, 0 le 0 n c
1
i 1 t tl of tho striag, lieco11000(1-will marry you the first day that 11 (3311 be
take him past the Dennises hut) and seeing Mimi a very respectable fishing -rod and legally done -if he does not I will settle
her he stopped and stat•ed lounging on the with a iierm dug up with his pocket-knife, every farthing I have ill the world npon
ith 05 you and be a pensioner upon your bottety
railing to talk to her. he began to fish in the little brook w
" You look awfully pale, Ethel," he re- much contentment as if he had got 3135 11083 for ever '
marked presently, rod with himaud had the 3)111138310 01 whip. " You mean that we should go away ?"
in the best reserved watom in England, "
"011 3I have been towing about in the p g
snit," sbe answered flushing up into quite a 'Not the first time we have madeshift with " Together ?"
111 es-togethor. 011, 3531151, only think
of it."
"33 can't think of it."
" Why not -oh 1 why not ? I would
make you so happy, I swear I would."
" You would 31'); I know, jack -but you
would. never succeed. I am not the kincl of
woman to live happily under a eloud. I
should be more wretched than I am now,
and very soon you would be wretched too.
No -no --Jack, cannot be. I married.
Major Dennis for better or worse, and though
it is for worse, it might be much worm
than it is. I would rather go on as I ara-
life is hard enougeh but I can holcl up my
head among the best yet."
He no longer held hen hands hard ni Ins
and elle drew them gently away. For Some itti I act
minutes he sat staring thoughtfully into the '
little dancing steeam at their feet, the, in e13,celnifaeslijyttsiteonleeic111611031i1c.titilllthtiosictleexoteelsii,?nexto.
turned eagerly back to her againa. no." ''Toll I
B. plain 10 811)' readers and to me, for my future
me one thing, Ethel," he said-"
me truly, won t you
"I will."
"You do love me ?"
She raised her eyes to his, so true and blue
they were Ile could have lcissed them a
thousand times bad he dared to do it.
"I will be quite honest," she said, " I do
love you with all my heart. What is
the use of pretending that it 10 1103 so ? Bat
if it will not help me to keep straight ancl.
true to myself, why neither your love nor
mine is of any real good to either of us."
"Oh Ethel, darling," hebegitn, when
she put out her hand and stop* lum.
"Yes, I know just what you would say
but Ido stiffer. I do have to struggle hard
to go en living at all. I know that I am
right to say no. Jack, clear, it is so ,flood of
you to wish to make me happy -Heaven
knows have need of love from someone.
But let us be pationt-we Can always be
friends, always the best of friends."
"I ask for bread and you give me a stone,"
he said. bitterly.
" But you 10111 1101 refuse the stone," she
said imploringly.
I will take all that I can get," he
answered wistfully.
She drew long, breath of relief. "I have
not hod much experience of man -I think
I only knoty Comm intimately --but I have
read much, and in books num always quarrel
and are angry with women who won't run
away with them, 1111)1 very giaa yon are
110( 3301113) to laurel with me, Jack."
He bent and kissed hoe little hand again
-"My dear love," he said tenderly -"Shall
I quarrel tvith you because of the very
qualities which have made me love you
more then any other woman in the
world? No -no -that would be foolish-
ehildish."
"I itin glad -so glad," she murinured-"I
have an idca, Jack, that it will all come
riglit betWoon ns some day -if not hero,
then elsewhere."
brave elm 3,1 r a bit of string and a boot pm, is it 9" he
"Tho feet is yon don't get half exercise said to her, and Ethel Deems laughed at
the remembrance as she had been used to
laugh in her childhood but as she never
laughed now excepting when she was alone
with Jack Trevor.
For a long time they sat there, he on the
bank and she on the clumsy seat, watching
the float --yes, he had contrived & float out
of a piece of clried w00(13 -1111y bob up and
down in the limpid water. " Oar chance
of a iish is rather remote," laughed Jack
when about half all hour had gone by ;
then looked up at her-" Ethel what are
you doing ?"
"I'm going to 11181(0*8 daisy chain," she
answered gaily.
"31 daisy -chain," ho repeated, " and how
many years is it, pray, since you made a
dais •-chain,"
ap to Mug tramp to.day. 13133 Trevor "'More than I like to think about," she
will be glad enough to take you I daresay- said "Plieklin "13 -makes me feel quite
aged to try to realize it, Jaek. Reach me
those big daisies beside you, there s a goo
boy."
Ile reached out his hand and gathered the
daisies to which she had pointed and held.
them out to her. And as she took them
from him the sleeve slipped back from her
slender wrist and showed the white fiesh
marked by a long livid bruise. T501.01'
caught her hand and pushed the white sleeve
still f urther back -
enough," he said " you ought to get a good
sharp walk every day -you're positively
pining foe want of fresh air."
1511-wiad 1" said \ 0100 boliind 1118*1,
' Jack turned round and Ethel looked up to
iincl the Idajor standing beside hint. Jack
el:planted.
"I've been tolling Mrs. Dennis, Sir," he
sold -" that she doesn't get half enough
ezareise. She ought to have a good lona
wail: every day."
"3311(1 you're quite right," answered the
Major promptly.
-"Chen," cried Ethel-" de let us all go
or a good long walk right 01100 1110 Common
an(3 through the wood. 011 3 I should enjoy
so -do, Cosmo. "
"33? Oh ! I'd rather not. not
eh, Trevor
of course, I shall," returned .Tack
cheerfully.
No, you them too, Casino," Ethel urged.
"Nonsense -nunsense--" be replied with
his coarse laugh, you'll enjoy yourself
mad bailor without me -you know what the
proverb says about, Two's company,' don't
you? Go and get your hat on at once."
She gave him one reproavhful look as she
went imiloore, but he only treated it as a
joke and invited the subaltern to 0110 in aLso.
"Come in, Trevor, come 10-111 tell you
-what it is, uiv ley, you take my advice,
never get marrie,l-womuu are qiteer cattle
to deal n ith, yen never know when you have
'ern. Half the women I know wonld be only
too glad to be given a free hand but—'
and then ho broke off short and picked up a
card width Jack Trevor had put quietly
down on tho table nearest the door -"Good
.Goil I" he muttered muter his breath.
"'Then you do know 'Mademoiselle Val-
erie," was Jack's comment to hirnself-"By
Jove, I never thought I should fetch you like
'that."
At thitt moment Judge entered the room
;Twinging brandy and soda which seemed to
.be 31 necessary accompaniment to the Major
where ever he happened to be.
"Who has been here to -day, Judge ?" he
asked.
"No one, Sir."
"Are you sore ?"
"011 3 yes, 'iii' -I've been cleaning the win-
cloWo and tidying the garden, and about the
place slime morning.'
" Whore aid you get your dimer?"
"I had 31)13 of dinner with the servants,
sir' " in an apologetie tone-" I was very busy
at dinner -time and—"
" 011 1 it's all right -I don't mind -that
will do," said the Major 1.11 a tone of dismiss-
al. Then he looked at 6118 08,11(1 itgain-"Now
I wonder how the devil that cad got here,"
he muttered--" 01) 1 here's my wife. Have
you had a visitor this morning Ethel?"
"No -Why ?"
" Beeause I found this card on the fable "
showing it to her, not it little to jack's el.
miration. •
" Mademoiselle Valerie' " Ethel read, look -
at the earn still in his hand. "No, itwas
not for me. 011 !I daresay it was some dress-
maker in the tolvii 00 3)0111103)5 a woman can-
vassing for an illustrated Bible tir book of
travels. They were always °riming at Edin-
burgh, you know."
"Ali! I shouldn't wonder," said the Major
with a breath of relief, and I, Ethe , he went on, Still holding her
"And they are such a nuisance," Ethel lmial. "We were always such friends, right
went on, "I had better tell Judge not to from the beginning. What could your
let Ylademoisolle Valerie in if she honours , mother have been thinking of to 5011 3(031 for
me again." 1 the chance of a title and a few thousands a
"Yesii-irrach the best plan," with great yoar-it can make no difference to her
whether you can have one horse or it par
-but it makes it differeuce 0(113o and death
10 you, and the difference between hell and
;Melt replied. hcaven to mei"
"I must go," she cried in a stricken voice,
Major Dennis followed them to the gate
, i "I ought not to listen to this -i -it can do no
and watched them well awity-"I w0n"" 6 (food, no good, Let us go -let me go---.
how tho devil that womitn's card camethere?"
" What is that?" he asked bluntly.
"Where 111(1 3(00 get that bruise, Ethel?"
She started and tried to draw her hand
away-" It is nothing-Cnsmo—"
" flood God," he burst out-" do you
moan to 511y110 knocks you about, that he
ill-uses you -oh ! my darling -my darling,"
and then he bent his handsome young head
and covered the little slender bruised wrist
with passicalate kisses.
She tried to push his head away, the little
daisies fell to the ground between them ancl
the make -shift fishing -rod went floating
away down the little stream. " Jack," she
said in 03)0100(3 voice, 66 it's not 80 31)381 as
yott think. 0051110 has never struck me or
anything of that sort, never, But 10381 night
he -he caught at my arm to steacly himself
and. -teal he does not know himself that he
bruised it."
She was ashamed to have to make such a
confession and yet she was obliged to say
that much because the eonolusion to which
110 38,313 jumped on seeing the waist was far
worse 311811 1,315 reality. However, 31 1000 too
late to keep. him from apeaking now the
flood -gates were opened, the pent-up feelings
of diagust and irritation against Major
Drnms which had been smouldering for many
1000128 11011, all in a moment, been fanned into
a name, and. a flame, you know, more parLi-
elderly a flame of love, is not to bo rnt out
in a moment by a single word-ot least
Ethel Dennis was not in a mind to stiy the
few words which would have quenched it
there and then for over, •
Ho pulled himself up on to the seat be-
little her still keeping her hand 0. prisoner
within his own. "I never meant to tell
you," lie said, "I swear I did not. Don't
be angry with me, EttiLl. 13.3. surprised
into it -yes, I was 11110.11. 1103 been
struggling agahist it oh Li 03 31 511100 you
came to Ohertsey, bt. , the sight of your door
little bruised wins,. nos Leo m deli for me ;
dear 116(10 3)1(130113 lyrist," ha ended, then
bent and kissed it tenderly again,
"Don't, Jack," she whispered.
"We ou lit to have been married, you
satisfaction. "Well now, are yen going to
start? Bring her back safe, Trevor, and don't
let her got overtired."
"All right, Sir -I'll take care of her,"
he muttered under Ins breath. "Dross -mak.
er-a convener for Bibles and books! No. -
no ! Besides it's her writing, I should know
it among 11 thousand, Yes--" looking at it
again -"it's her writing, sure oaoligh-z-sure
enough,"
Looking (133 33310 card, however, would not
solve the mystery and at last Major Dennis
went within doors and changed his uniform
for plain clothes, when ho settled down in
• a comfortable chair 'Mai 11 newspaper and a
But Trevor 113311 11331' closer prisoner Hum
before. 3333 0138 (10 good," he cried, "Let
010 8(33) everything that must sooner or later
110 001(3 between us. Let 11( 11(1110 it 0311 01100
for all. It show us where wo stand.
Why.should you go home ? You are much
happier here,'"
"I am not happy imywhero," she burst
out.
"No, hut you tottid be," ho rejoined.
"We could be so happy, ao happy n.way
all alISIN 1 1, 113)331 111 1,10,
• 'He's a very deeent remarked Om ," uur,i'un Al %lit" 111381'41°11 tills Ul"Mng
I./ falling chimney. What Allan we do
Major 33 moment later as he 1011113110,1 Trevor
itit the remains .
close the little gate and go across the 011011
ground towards his own quarters, 118 reply a cheque wen sent for IMO, wall
1131 1331(0 escaped front the room without. the request, "bury thein.'"I'lle young gentle -
answering and had reached, the safe retreat auto peeketed the money and had all 0181)01,
OF, 1105 bedroom before he noticed that helves ale 8111510, W1151.1 111 14 eondition for writing
be sent his father the following note t
alone. Once there she tossed oil hor hat and
gown and slipped on a loose an(3 v3,11; a Mama
allitir of pale blue Ivoollen stud' which fell in
soft folds from her throat to her feet, Then
she sat down in 13 chair by the window to
think it ell over -this wonderful new state
of affairs which had made all lior life eo now
and difl'orcrit, to her.
They had walked heine almost in silence
because Trevor hail fanoied that she was
very tiled and that she Wati utterly overset;
1)111 111 truth although she was tired, shewas
Moro IntFiy that S110 bad ever kriowu what
it was to 3m since those tiever forgotten days
Blitakhamption when she and Jack had 1310
few days later the yoling man received
38.1 the followino dignified letter from his out -
been devoted friends and playlellows. For 1,33)0dpann.F:
after all jack loved her! In spite of their
bavin.been kept apart all these years, in
spite of the bander which betweou them,
in spite of her broken nerves, her changed
looks, her wretched life, 110 100011 her still,
,ittst US he hod done years and years age.
She felt now thatshe was strong and brave,
that she could go theough with any trials or
troubles that might be corning to her, seenro
338 1310 bleasad knowledge that there 11105 one
to whom she would always be young and
fresh and lovely, one of whose life she
would always be the sun, of whom dark
clays she woald be the shining Mae which
would never set for him on earth. She felt
that she did not even mind 11010 tilOSO
qualities 01 1101' husband which had jarred
on her every hottr of the day, which had
gone nigh to breaking her heart.
She pushed back the loose sleeve from the
arm which Major Dennis had bthised the
previous 1333)311 1311(1 looked tenderly at the
blue and livid mark. "I don't mind 11 11031',''
she whispered, and then she pressed lier ilU
where Ins had been 10 the first horror of Ins
discovery of it.
A servant, came to say that dinner waS
awaiting her, and she rose and went to the
little tiny dining -room feeling as if she were
going to sit in a palace. 33)1101 00 alchemist
Love is !
The. room was so small that it but just
held the table and four chairs, there was no
pretence ca Loa/ other furniture. But to
Ethel that night, it WU like a great ban -
(matting hall and the simple 111111101 13 toast.
For Jack loved her -Jack laved her --and
the very air seemed alive with the 300111101'-
4 have just learned that all 111fallIallti
ecoundrul named Barker sentyou 131108.331111,8
amount of my death, and swinaltd you oat
of tailfie also Imerowed front me and
left the country. I write to 111101i0 you that
1 am still alive, and long be SOO the pareatal
roof again. I tun in somewhat reduced cir-
cumstances, tho aocumuhaingsof the last five
years having been lost -a disastrous stook
operation -and if you would only spare me
I:20 I would be ever thankful for your favor,
(live lay love tc, all,"
"'P011 my word, I don't 31110111 why the from all this, It is melon trying to es -
thought of that woman should make nie so cape our fate. If Ilial found yon with a
infernally nervous, but I always did hate husband worthy of you, Who WU good to
her, always. I hope to Heaven she won't you, who loved you, I wouldhave atm:Amy
got hold of Ethel and harm hot' in any way own feelings under my feet, you., should thorn. W011, sir; we made a fishing -rod and , not hold her up as doing right, I (113000(37 -she's capable of any thiag-anything- never have known that had any thoulilit tried our illek ill the not very promising she ought to have etit herself orfroM TroVor
end 33 don't want that kind of iambi to but tho merest friendalap for you, tai strewn," ' for over, she ought to 13(830 been inisnIted-
-
CHAPTER XII.-BirrIVI1EX IIMUT AND
WItONa.
Pray for tho living, in whose breast
The struggle between rightand wrong
Ie raging terrible and strong.
The sun was sinking low down iu the west,
when Trevor and :Mrs. Dennis reached the
camp again.
"1 won't 330 111," he said when they reached
the gate; but .161thol protested v/gorously
against this plan, ,
"Oh 1 do come in-Coamo will ask fifty
questions and r ectinzat answer them ell -3-1
cannot. I feel as HI had committed a dread -
guidance, that a was exceedingly 1000113) 500
a rnarriect WOITlall to have any such feeling
for a man who was not her husband. Well,
111(31(0 not said anywhere, to the best 01 111)'
remeinbrance, 3111133 13 was right -I have not
held up my dear little mieguided heroine as
*83)131181011 of wifely goodness at all. I only
say that the events which came hao her lite
clicl happen, and my readers must take the
history of them exactly for what they are
who have a story to tell should be urged to
worth,
It seems to me such (4 mistake that those
paint their heroines in colours so delicate
and so spotless that they have no resent-
blanee to the human women whom 1013 meet
out in the world of every day life. Of course
a woman of blameless reputation is a beauti-
ful thing, and a. W01111611 of blameless life 10
more beautiful still. Yet in awarding the
measure of blame or praise to those who
have sinned or kept themselves unspotted
from the world, I do think the circumstances
of the ease ought to be taken 0, little into
oonsicleratioe.
Bat the critict seldom, if ever, takes any-
thing' into consideration -he seems to tar a
whole sex with tho same brush, a woman
must either be good or bad, black or white.
I should. really like to know how it would
be possible to please these exceedingly
captMus people.
For instance, 3( 33 draw a soldier as a good-
looking, well-groonied animal, honest and
agreeable, if not yeey bright of wit, then I
ant tolcl by one critic after another that my
soldiers ate angels without wings and the
whole story just too goo(1 to be true. The
next time, I draw a man who slanders a
woman who lins boldly stepped in between
Min and a married woman whom he 'SVGS.
Then up rises a powerful oritio on a great
daily paper and discourses ‚0101)3008133 011 my
sins and wickedness in thus holding up the
tyhole of the, British Army to opprobrium ! I
do not say but I thinlc that I did nothing of
tho lcind, 331111 33 certainly held up 0710 evil
man t',0 the world, and if that Mall happ011al
to be a soldier 131111 13 thoroughly "bad lot"
at the same time, why 3331131 38 Ills fault and
11038 11111101 So the next time I want 30 (111810
a lover who is not a inodel of Blithe virtues,
I make him quite a harmless character, his
only sin being that lie suggests in a very
hesitating way to the girl he loves that they
shall dispenth with the marriage ceremony.
I did not like doing this -I would rather
have married them off happily at first, But
I Wanted to show what a good. and brave
who really loved the man with all her
heart, would do under sueli circumstaaces I
But how the critics howled over that story
fid crone mul that my face would betray me -one (311(13(1 went so far as to write me a
letter telling me that she had been asked to
at once, You must Loam in,. Jack, yea
mast " select a few books for young girl of (Ugh -
thee to Petal on long voyage. She knew
Thus iirged, Trevor had little or Ito eindoe
in the Matter and he followed her into the that the girl loved my atones, 1)1138 8110 tOSO-
rotty little sitting 50011l where they found lately put this one away because of the im-
the Major, if the truth bo told, just awaken.
e13 from a long sleep,
"Well," lie called out apparenti in the
morality of 03811111 suggesting to a girl that
they 81100181 dispense with marriage, owing
to the feet that he knew his (ranclfather hod
"My DEAR Sox 1
I 11EL V 0 b 111! le a you 01100,
fool fro
any transactions with a ghost. 17011115re in ram was 3)1803(13)3)1803(13) 1111( Sp111114C101
ab011t SIX Olt eight. from (lis ground, it
and that is the cull of it. I decline to have 3
the flesh, ``FATutui." fell with all Its weight of branch 331(13 (01333)0
upon the cans, The train, however, had
dragged from under, shaken indeed slight,
ly, but none the 11'01.5,0 for the unique experi-
ence. There a delay 1030 11113110 to elear the
debris from the Meek., and scarcely had the
train resented its interrupted mission of
compassion when another light ning.proi*1
trated tree was eneountered right atinvart
(110 103,0111.
This, too, ha(' to ho cleared away, thus no.
cessittaing anothet. delay, the train arriving
tit Golan some live and twenty 133311113305 183101'
than would otherwise IILIVP been the ease,
Had the first tree fallen hut two seennds
sooner, before the eaglet', nailing 00111,1
have averted the smashup that must have
followed ; and hail it crashed into the car
taerlmight bilAm remained no ono to bell the
t
Gnome to Gann, where the runts partly
through dense forests, and alsott midway
between these stathins, 6310 11101,10116 to whielt
we refer occurred at, 1405 itin.
'rho train, being an express, was melting
along at about thirty miles an hone, when
an extramalimwily sharp flash of lightning
illuminated the darkeneil interior of thecae,
aueompitnied by a peculiar shocking mufti
and rending, the startling °net of Willell was
not lessened by the plunging and oscillating
of the can which immedattely followed, as if
they were about to jump the teach. la 0,
secondevery ono wits on his foot. Although
no visible damage hail so far beea sustained,
(311 seemed to intuitively apprehend that the
train had boon struck by lightaing, and
awaited further developments, In SOCC)11,1,
(31' WO; IMO Whital 091'1115l1 minutes, the train
nme to ft istatulatill, when a rush was made
to gain the doors and throw up the sashea,
11 litafl 11010 discovered 1118/1 a tree with
long, bare trunk, about thirty or forty foot
high and twenty inches in oneninferenee,
had beeo stencic by li haling (3308. 130 the
most boisterous of good spirits- laveyou left Inirt all his property coin itionally on his
had good timer \Vlore did you go? Did being unmarried at the time of Ms death.
you see anyone you know?" did not answer the letter, what was tho
I think that nobody kneW What it cost good? 13038 I have wad "God help the poor
Jack Trevor to make a civil and eohorent
reply. to thee (mentions -but for Ethel's
sake no did 1110 11001, knowing that she was
tired and overact by the events 01 (110 after.
noon.
"Wo wont 11000815 the Common, sir, to
the knoll -and we made 13 fishing rod. By
the bye, Ethel, I left my stick behind inc."
"No," said. Ethel -and though 8110 tried
bard to keep the gladnes8 out ot her voice,
the did not snouted very woll-"now you
speak 01 13, do you know I maw it go floating
sway clown the little stream, What a pity -
Was it one you veined Very much 7"
"°_,,l bit- --it WILS only a common black.
yoting girl of eighteen very many Lunen
sinoo then. For myself, I have no admire -
tion for the purity which is pule only bo -
01000 1111830 no opportunity to be anything
else. Give mo the. gold that lie.a been tried
in 111e fire I
fio I do 1101 11813 you to 00000 Ethel Den.
n is se my ideal of perfection ; X only ask you
to take her for what sho is, a girl with good
instincts and, thus far, a ruined life -a, girl
to whom that afternoon, sitting in the s•iveet
September annshirie beside the little brook,
there came tho most, eruel and the most
meet temptation that Providence could per-
mit 01 313>3 ingenuity 3)3 (101111 &vim. I do
LADIES' JOURNAL
Rnie Competition !
141T0).
2148.
_—
Tito Old Reliable again to tho
fore. A splendid list of
Rewards.
Don't Delay ! Send at Once 1
Competition Number Twenty Six opens
nowat the solicitation of thousands ofthe old
friends and competitors in former contelfis.
The Editor of Tills Lanus' JOURNAL has
early forty thousand testimonials its to the
fairness with which these 13ible (301131)0331'
310110 have been conducted.
'Phis competition is to 110 Short and de -
01811 -0. II, will reinein open only till the
1 5318 day of December inolnsive.
The questions are as follows 1-33)11ere in
the Bible are thefollowing words first found,
I Han, 19 Rom, 3 Gainumm.
To the first person sending in the correct
5,11811.05 to these (30003310110 111311 be given neat-
ber one of these rewards-tho Piano. To
the next, person, the $100.00 ill cash,
and so on till all these rewards aro given
away.
FIRST REWARDS.
First 0130, 00 Elegant Upright Piano:by
celebrated Oanaclian Firm $500
Second ono, One Remixed Dollars in cash 100
Next fifteen, each it superbly bound 'roach-
or's Bible, $1 40
Next seven, each a Gentleman's Fine Geld
Onenirace Vatch,goodmovomeat. $00 120
Next Moven, each it Fine Quadruple Plato
Individual Salt and Pepper Cruet ..,. 55
Next liyo, each a, beautiful Quadruple Sil-
ver Plated Tea Service 134 pieces) $10200
Next one, Twenty Dollars in cash 20
Next 11 no, an elegant China Dinner Service
of 101 pieces 050
Next five, each a flue French Chino Tea
Service of 01 pieces 200
Next seventeen, each a complete sot of
George, 1011010 311033115. bound in cloth,
51-0313., $15 75
?.;'ext seven, 01101, 88.1,31(1180' Fine Gold Open
Face or Hunting Case Watch, $30 210
MIDDLE REWARDS.
To the person sending the middle correct
answer 0( 33,0 whole competition from first 10
last will be g,ivon the fifty defiers in cash. To
the sender of the noxi correct answer following
tho middle will bo given ono of the (0) 331011181'
amounts, (10(1 00 on till all the middle rewards
aro distributed.
First, Fifty dolltm in cash .........
11oNt6 I1110, each $10 in cash
Next throe, each a flno .11 wilily bowing
Machina, $50
Next live, each a Ladies Fine Gehl
Watch., $50 .. • •
Next ten, each fl, Fine Triple Silver
Mated Tea Sot, 11 niecos)130
Next twenty -ono, each a sot of Dickens'
tillorks, Beau Wally bound in Cloth,10
No:411roo131' elegant China Dinner Service
of 1111 pieees, by Powell, 11,33,01> 10
Stonier, lfarnloy, England.
Next live, melt a fine French Chino Tea
SOI•Viet!, 1,1 00 pieces, specially import-
ed, la
Next 0000111/4.11, each a complete set ot
(Monet Elba', works 30110,1 111 oloth,
5 Yol)., 015
Next .3163,1.,-- 3 mch R handsorne Silver
PI,. ell 110w1, $5
Next 11, 0, !., 3 Ladles' rine Gold
Win ell, 0. .... •
.............. ....,
Next 113133110, omit 0, handsome long
, Silver .1?lated Button Hook
$50
50
150
250
400
420
2530
13011
70
oo
250
55
CONSOLATION REWARDS.
For those who are too late for arty of the
above rewards tho following spanal Ilot lo
offered, es far as they will go. 110 the sender
of the last eorreet answer remind at LAMES'
40U105g10,1 011100 POStStalted 10311 Deeember or
earlier, will bp given number one of those con.
solation prizes, to the 110111 10 the litst, number
two, and so on till them rewards aro •all given
away.
Fit•st one, One Hundred *10318(0 311 cosh. - $100
Noxt fifteen, each a superbly bound Family
Bible, beautifully illustrated, taniallY
226
sold at $1.5
Nextsoven, each it bentleman's Pine Gold
Opett Face Wate11,good.m0vemen10$80 3120
Next nineteen, each a Sot of a 3) 00081 Tea
Knives, heavily plated; $7.0 180
Nextfivo, oath a Ladies' Fate Gold Watch
$50 250
Next fifteen, each a bed los' Fine Gold Coin
Ring, $7 105
Next forty -ono, eneh an linifation Stool
10ngraYing, Rosa Bonlieur's lIorso Fair
$2 82
Next twentymine, each a Complete 5001 01
DickensWorks, Handsomely Bound
In Cloth, 10 vols.: 820 80
Next tweeby.one, 0003 11 Fine Quadrenle
1.33
',131.13deIotsuliginv tibial Salt ancl Popper Cruet
1
5
Next (Ivo each a bereatilful Quadruple Sa-
yer Plated.Teit Service 31131,101133) 3340200
Next, twenty.fiv a, it Teachers' rine, Well
Bound Bible 103 12310011001(10100 100
Each person compettug must solid One
Dollar With their onsWets, foe ono year's
ubscription to the Libiasriourti-zat. Tho
Lannin jounix.tr, has been greatly cidatged
and improved and is in every way oval at
311110 310100 to ttay of the publications issued
for ladies cm this continent, You, there-
fore, pay nothing 1(38 1(11 for the inivilege of
competing foe these prises.
The prizes will be distributed in time ror
Christmas Prements to friends; if you wish
to 1131,0 them in that way.
The distribution will be in the hands cif
disintereated parties and the prises given
strictly in the order letters arrive at tho
3113331a!8' joinugai, office, Over 2511,000 per-
snns have rewired rem& in previous emir,
petitions. Address, Editor Lamas' Joan
-
nal, Toronto; Canada,
NERO 'WORE A MONOOL.E.
--
The Double Eyeglass, 'Though, is Onlyele.
slummed Tea rs Old.
Spectacles were invented just MO years
a3m this fall. The use .f glom to aid. the
stigida of defective eyes however, much
oh or. Nero looked through a concave glaits
in watching the .gladiatorial games, and
many otherldetothail melt of his day wero
dependent on similiar devices for leugtheti-
ing their sight. Tiu the latter part of the
thirteenth century only the single glass 1111'1
in use. In 1200 the double glass was invented,
some say, by Salvino degli Armati 11 others,
by the inoulc, Alemnaler of Spina. In the
foueteeuth century spectacles were used
quite frequently hy the very wealthy and
high born, although they were still so ecaree
that they were bequeathed in wills with all
elaborate the owe ilea marked the disposi•
ti3in 011 (1 feudal estate. 'Pile holy Alarming of
Padua, who pima:heal 1 11 11R. 1381108 when men
refused to how him, gave to the poor, ac-
cording to the legend, not only his clothes,
bet also 111S ITN:W.010S.
The first spectooles, which 100110 11003' ex-
pensive, wore made in Italy. Somewhat
later the manufacture of cheaper glasses
sprang up in Holland, 811331 16 sprea,l late in
the fourteenth century to f lemony. Nurn-
berg and Rathenow acquired fame for their
glasses between 143)0 and 3500, For many
years glasses were used only ati means of
aiding bad eyes. First in Spain appeared the
fashion of wearing glasses merely for the
sake of 1001111033 1110311. It spread rapidly to
the rest of the Continent ancl brought about
the transformation of the old thirteenth
mutiny spootaulos into eyeglasees and °you -
Wally, into the monocle, `the cosmopolitan
trademark of the dandy."
A Fair Carpenter.
I come to you with some carpetior work,
rn stop hammering long euough to tell yeti
what I am making,
That square board. is to bo covered with
orimson plush. I must search the woods
(311 33 find throe rough sticks itbout as large
as a broom handle. These will serve for
logs. Where they cross I shall wind a
wild grapevine, bringing it np the logs,
twine it about the edge 0( 1130 plush -covered.
top for a border. NOW V110'111011 the wood-
work, and *.pretty rustic stancl fm' my work
basket is made.
Charming, isn't 36 ? And so easily madg.
If the rough sticks and grape vinOS can-
not be obtained use 00111.111011 broonthanclles,
varnished, and tack a pretty fringe about
the oclgo.
Since living in the country I find 80 1110113'
pretty rustle things I can make,
I 1101'05 0001(3808 any beauty in &gridiron,
bedecked with ribbons, bonging upon the
wall, or a spade standing in the corner with
a landscape painted upon it ; bat a buncli of
cattails, a deserted bird's nest, 11 bunell of
autumn leaves, or 0 bit of moss does more to
brighten up a room than one would think.
r took a long walk the other Morning, and
came back with wet foot end muddy shirts,
but my arms full of treasures ; red and white
lilies, tall buttercups, growing in 1118 00111121'
of the tumbled down:rail fence, modest vio-
lets mid bits of green and gold 111058.
I 'NVISI1 1 could have shared them with yeti.
After such a, walk, life really seems sweetet.,
and 0110 10011(1000 how people eon ever cry,
"Is life worth living ?"
The Cost of Atlantic Voyages.
Some calculations, which would be inter-
esting if they wore corroot, have been made
as to tho otttlay involved by those "grey.
bound" trips across the Atlentio, of which
we hear so much at this season of the
year. Our cousins on the other aido have
come to the ennelusion that 0,11 all-round
journey must cost one of the steatnahips
from 1120,000 to $50,000. This affords 80 31(1(10
0, margin for variation as to suggest the in-
quiry whether the rest of the reckonings aro
as 1008013( 311133 together. We are afraid, for
histance, that 110t, MASAI (101)0111101105 15 tO ho
placed upon the accuracy of the expenditure
for coal on the outward run of the Teutonic,
This vessel is said to have oonsumed 321
tons of Welsh coal (3(1117 or 24 hours, my
33000 tons for the voyage, and the cost is eel.
ciliated at $10,000. It will be limos, indeed,
to the mime, aincl to the South Wales col-
liery proprietors, that 41 a ton Is being
pai(1 for even thia, the host oleos of 0201811.
35011133 fuel. Perhaps the interestilig cati.
n ate that ,llb of 1(100( 15 cominined per 11(381.
3130 with am averagtounitaer-passonger list la
equally 'minable.