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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe East Huron Gazette, 1892-03-10, Page 6mateseeta _aaa anaata seseeeeteassawasfatar URGENT PRIVATE AFFAIRS CHAPTER. 1. CR°:CODILES OF THE THAMES. " I f beg Your pardon," said a hesitating male voice, The gait started, looked round, but saw notene " on the wall," said the male voice in apologetic tones. She cast her eyes up. The head and shoulders of a light -haired young man, clad in flannels, appeard almost directly over her. The young man mounted a rung higher on the ladder and said: "I hope I haven't startled you? I was looking for something I bad lost when I saw you. I spoke because I thought you might be frightened if you came on it unawares." "What is it ?" she asked with great dig- nity, stepping back a pace, and tilting her cream-coloured umbrella further back over her dainty shoulder. "Only my crocodile, Jacko." " What a she cried, gatherina her dress together and glancing round the ground with apprehension. " Indeed," said the young man penitent- ly, " you must not be alarmed. He's quite tame and very small, and he's almost blind. I bought him cheap—a damaged lot," he added, larghing; to reassure the girl. She looked at him in silent indignation. She was not accustomed to beteg addressed by strange young men, and she was accus- tomed to being treated with respect and de- ference—the respect and deference due to lher age, eighteen. .... am not joking," said he ; I would not 6 6 T think of doing such a thing. I'm awfully sorry ; and I should not have spoken at all —I should not have dared—oily I was afraid you might come on Jacko unexpect- edly and be alarmed." She was mollified somewhat by the con- cern in the speaker's voice. "A crocodile? she said, condescending to admit wonder into her voice. "Yes,' he said, bringing his chest above the wall by raising himself another rung on the ladder, this causing her to retreat an- other pace. "But you really muatn't be afraid. He's only a very small chap. He never eras for people, you know." "1 don't -know," said she stiffly. She had not been in good humour at all when taking her solitary walk through these strange grounds, and thia affair annoyed her; and the young man—although he seemed really sorry, was very °pay in his address, and should use no slangto her. He annoyed her too. "Of coarse not," said he very humbly. "1 mean he would not think of attacking people. I lost him at our side of the wall, and thought he might have got into Mr. Bathurst's grounds through a bole or drain —there is an unbarred drain higher up. I'm very sorry for frightening you—I am in. ; aesd, of course, I couldn't be so rude as to make a joke about such a thing. If you only knew how distressed I am, you'd —you'd believe me," he ended somewhat incoherently. Miss Ellen Morton felt that here her dialogue with the unknown young man on the wall ought to end. She was in these grounds of Garwood House, on the Thames twenty miles above London, for the first, time in her life that day. She had no reason to believe that young men in flannels werc desperadoes. Still propriety, with the strictest rules of which she was familiar, demanded that this dialogue should end. But then a croaodile ! No rule, of which she hal ever even as mucleas heard, took into account the cantingency of a crocodile at large. In historic times, anyway, a crocodile had never before entered into a situation of this kind on the banks of the Thames. It was easy for convnetionality to say Go away. But whither? If she moved, she might be walking straight to- wards the odious reptile, or -.-worse still— might suddenly hear him running after her behind. Plainly, it was impossible for her to macre. Sheeyvas net at all timid by nature. But lcieftireohe came upon this adventure she had not been very. happy-. She stood still, glancing aboat her in shivering watch-, fulaess.= , "I don't:know exactly, -what I ought to do," said the young man on the wall in accents of perplexity. "Mr. Bathurst for - stifle people landing on his grounds from the river or getting oeer his walls or fences, He is death on trespassers." "is he?" said she, feeling that it was a great pity this exclusiveness did not operate effectually against saurians. "tale yes. He's wildly particular about Jeeephea. every One out. If I might only 1ipvea6id stand beside you, you'd be all right., you know." It was hard for Ellen Morton, notwith- , standing her -eighteen years' experaleif&-in ' life; ' to deal- with this speech,- Here was a complete ,istraager talkirig in a re- proachful tone of her host. Thie ought tehe yeeetitedmeltaouga site bad never met Mr. Bathurst yet. Then there was the im- pudent assumption on the part of this young man that if he were only by her side. she should, be "all right !" Still the speaker meant well. And thenthere was the dread- . lila fhbught of the larking crocodile! She felt as though she must cry. -Fancy her, Ellen Morton, crying like an ordmary silly ngitl ! she who always held in scorn and con. tereptgirls who cried for nothing! But, on • the other hand, was a crocodile nothing? alf the was sure_ thie crecodile wait nothing, r she should not feel in the least Inclined to may. She should feel very indignant. Why thisyoung man spoken at all? Why had he not held his tongue, 'and allowed her to be torn asunder by the crocodile in the ssaltaae'l eaWhat _,evaat am 1 to do?" she asked 'awl -Wit' little cleaver otaathos in her voice. "Oh, pray, don't a said he; and before e the knew what was ,said he had a-ewring Iiimsielf over the top of the wall,, said, saying ; "1 am sorry I spoke at all. I afitressed you without -any need. There was no danger from Jacko, except- the danger of giving you a fright, if you saw him unex- tedly. And here have I terrified you and early made yoa cry. _Pit -give all the world,' hhaida desperately, "1 had held my ton- allinaidot going to cry, and I am not terrified,' she said, her dignity giving way adore his mapifeat sincerity, and under the • relief afforded by his presence. She turned towards the house,, a quarter of a mile dise tant, and been, walking towards it. a yeti gee, said he, I hadn't the least Mee there was any one near when, I gat up the ladder. 'Alide ofeonrae, I did aot expect to find alatly litre, Mrs Bathurst is never sbout the ground;' and 1 don't remember any other lady at Garwood." "I came only this morning." "You are not a member of the family ?" • "No, I am not a relative; but I am going to-sta. a while." " ataelows 1" cried he with involtua- . tary astonishment. `A` Going to Garwood House for a while: , "Yes. al, hy are you aatemis asked, earideuing_the diatanieetat as they walked, ! a "Oh, notaiitg," he said * confusion, and then %audit -ad eadiee- ;' and then partly recovered himself. "I'm slue 1 beg your pardon; only, you know, you are-. so- unlike tin Bathurst, I thought you could not be closely related. You must think me iiery rude -to wok. I assure you I did not mean to frighten you and I didn't mean to be rut:lee and it is horribly awkward about the Ercieodile." She smiled. His compunction was dis- arming, engaging. He almost required pro- tection from himself. "You did not do or say anything so Very dreadful, Of course, it is awkward to have the crocodile wander- ing about, and a pity you have lost your pet." "Oh, that's no eonseggenceet all: said he. "I wish he were at therbotteineof the Red Sea." "A crocodile," said: she,- With another smile, "is a fresh -water creature." The young man said nothing; he merely made an impatient gesture, as if it were dismissing the reptile to still niore. 'amanita able depths. - "And as to asking me if I were related to Mr. Bathurst, there wasno harm in that, for I do not know him, have never seen him yet." "What !" he cried, pulling up suddenly ,and staring at her in consternation. "you don't know him! ystu haven't seen him! Why this is worse than anything! This is the worst of all !" The girl looked at him with displeasure and suspicion. "What is the matter DOW —I can see the house from this. Thank you for your escort so far. Will you not come in? she moved her hand in formal invi- tation, but voice and manner cenveyed his dismissal. "To the house ?" said he in amazement. "Oh no, thank you. I amdreadfully afraid you may not know much, may not know anything about Mr. Bathurst. This was really going too far. "I must thank you tor your kindness and say gid. day," said she frigidly, bowing. "Oh, pray don't speak in that way. I wouldn't offend you for the world; but I fear you do not know much about Mr. Bathurst, and may tell him about—about me and Jacko"— He -paused, -unable to go on. "Well?" she asked mercilessly, and con- veying grave reproof for the bare notion of making a secret of this meeting. "Oh! well, indeed, you mustn't tell any- thing about it to Mr. Bathurst, or, I think, to Mrs. Bathurst either. Yale may well look insulted and astonished; but. assure you I am speaking only to prevent:a borrid meas. You don't know that Mi. Bathurst has a a nickname in the City?—No. I felt you couldn't have heard. How eouldi you? It's horribly unkind and beastly, but—but they call him the Crocodile." ' "What !—And your story of the escaped creature ?"— " Oh, believe me, that is quite true. In- deed, indeed, every word 1. lave told you is quite true. It was Mr. Bathurst's nick- name made me think of buying Jacko, and Jacko really got out of his basket just before I saw you first. Mr. Bathurst does not at all like his nickname, and if you told him about me, it would be most unpleasant. I don't care what you may tell him about me, but, for goodness' sake, dbn't mention the crocodile. If you mention the crocodile, he may think—he may think—I don't know. whathe may think. But you can see it. would be very awkward for you to say any -- thing about a crocodile at your first Meet- ing." The young man took off his cap. "I'll watch you safe into the house from this. Jacko must surely be at the other side of the wall. I shall write you to say I have recovered him, so that you may not be afraid to walk about -the grounds—that -is, if you will tell me to whom a letter for you should be addressed. You see, I can't write to Mr. Bathurst or his mother eaeut Jacko; and I couldn't bear to think aayrelettsetess was the means of keeping yonfain._ endless dread." "MY name is Morton," she said with dig- nity and then, with graye politeness anda bow: "Good -day, and thank you." "And my name is George-Cliaater. —Goo d - day." He bent his' bare 'leaf -and: then raising it, watcheA the figure Ofthe girl Cross the lawn and enter Garwood House. Then, forgetting that he still held his cap in his hand, he plodded back to the boundary wall with eyes bent on the ground and in com- plete forgetfulness' of the whale reptile area. tion. .- 's ; A year back Nellie Morton had left "scaool aad gone to live with her gentle, sympathetic childless, maternal aunt Sophie, wife of Colonel Picket frig, in Deigatone, atautat at risen town of the spathe •This Jiine morn- ing her uncle had lefther at Garwood House bidding her final adieu. She was the only child •of the widower, Christopher Morton, civil engineer now residing in Brazil. Mr. Bathurst was Morton's business man in Lon- don. When Colonel Pickering was ordered abroad Mi, Bathurst's mother wrote to Brazil offering the girl a home at Garwood House. Mr. Morton replied, thinkingadrs`Bathurst for her kindness to his motherless, daughter, and saying he should be home for good in the autumn, as he had now made enough -for himself and his girl. Hehad been far from well, but was much better, almost as well as ever. e Nellie had never seen Mrs. Bataurstantil this morning, and the interview had proved anything but reassuring to the young girl. Mrs. Bathurst was short and very stoat, • about seventy years of age with dark, peering, inscrutable' eyes,- and aheavy por- tentous manner and delivery. She was not tall or thin or haggard enough for a witch. She looked a dark unwieldy sorceress: When bluff, outspoken ColonelePickering had resigned Nellie into the hand of,' her new guardian and taken his leave, the old woman said: "Child, I cannot 'get about easily. As soon as you have seen your room and taken off your things, come back here. I wish to talk to you." The tone was not one of request or command; but of a person accustomed to speak and find the words carried into acts as -inevitably -raid automatically as one's limbstobey one's will Nellie returned from her roam subdued and awed by the gloom of this vast silent house, dark throughout, despite the white sunlight of June morning shining abroad on woad and river and field. " Take a chair, Ellen," said Mrs. Bathurst as thoughaliss Morton was tbe new house- maid, for some unevelcoMe reason privileged to be seated in the presence, orthe mistress. "You will find this place dull. There are the grounds to walk in, and books in the library, lam practically an invalid, although I suffer from no ailment or pain. I never cross the threshold of this house. A young lady cannot walk on country roads alone; you will be obliged to make the most of the grounds, for we keep no horses. We enter- tain company. We breakfast at half -past seven'lunch at two, and dine at half -past six. My son is the soul of punctuality. He never varies a minute—never half a minute Go, explore the grounds between this and luncheon; a hell will ring a quartar of an hour before it is ready." _ Nellie felt far from comfortable as she entered the dreary, hollow, resounding house after her interview with George Chap tor. That great desolate house had op- pressed her like a portentous cloud. The meeting with Mrs. Bathurst had filled her with tremulous misgivings and vague chill- ing fears'never even suspected before in her clear, bright, open, happy life. For the first time she now bad a secret—she was to say nothing about that incident at the boundary wall. It was a poor, paltry, mean, unhandsome secret connected with the triv- ial circumstance of her meeting with that young man, and learning the lowering fact that her father's business man whom she had never seen and under whose roof she now lived, was known by an uncomplimen- tary and damaging nickname. Mrs. Bathurst and Garwood House had filled her with inexpressible fears. She de- plored but could not help this. No doubt in time she should overcome these unpleasant feelings. One thing she could do, and that ene thing she would do, namely, to yield Mrs. Bathurst constant and dutiful respeat. She would have repelled with scorn the idea that there was anything romantic or even interesting in her encounter with Young Chaytor. Such a thought, °Old. not -have °mumsd toaheye .and no one was by to sugarehdait aliefahatialmenfstartled by hearing has avolcalecianaS the weal. She had beene0azara rialarta thenotion that a hid. eous reptikeitighaale reach of her; and she heaTtaeatalisgns% ear*g that Mr. Bathurst,- Whom:114 efatherf and aunt and iincle a1ways epolie of witkfreitpect ai the cusbailla *Vesta* ofhis fath- er's fortgrieleshot4dfat reaterlrediA h such :want of feeling and courtesy as fee be named -after the most loathsome of reptiles. She remained in her room until the hell rang for luncheon. With wha alarming -shrillness the sound tore through the weird Quiet of thealeaelaelaciasell She wondered didthattcletigeaciaust belt peal through the caraideraiihentheeold. averhan„ was alone? 01' had itheee set, going to honor or terrify theguest? It Made her shudder to think of rousing alt the -far-off sleeping echoes of this sombre hduse.for,two lonely women. Luncheon -Wei-served in the large dining - room, on the left of the front entrance hall. Here, notwithstanding the brightness and warmth of the day, all was dim and damp. The heavy dark oak furniture, upholstered in deep purple leather, was moist and chilly to the touch. The air of the room was moist, not with.the sweetanoistareeof leafy June, but with',fiiiBt maidifdar exhalations from the banquets of buried. generations. Tne dark Watalscoaid walaisaanned'to stand back in sullen disteVe from tlie shrunken dining -table. The adima looked out upon the front lawn, and the cloth was laid at the farthest -end from the curtained windows. Bright as the summer day was, it seemed as though lamps word be indispensable—they vroald have been regarded with pleasure by any one no niorbjelly enamoured of gloom. Mrs Bathurst was standing at the back of the room When Nellie entered. "Ha !" she said, moving across the floor with difficulty and apparent pain and great slowness, be- cause of her unwieldy bulk. "You are pluaetpale .chill. That f is right ;• we are Yeas puectuel in this house." The meal was served, and the two women sat down. The patior maid who attended the table was middle-aged, stolid, stupid - looking. For a long time no word was spoler ellie felt glad of this. She did not de -ire conversation. The desolate gen- ius of this housa had begun to work, and was filling with shadowy terrora this girl, who up to that time had lived her life un- afraid.,- Mrs. Bathurst ate little, and Nellie hall no appetite at alL Mrs. Bathurst made no pretence of entertaining her visitor. She spoke such Wordsas were necessary in the progress of the meat, - and. , now and then bent her inscrutable eyes on her guest. She did not look at the girl as though she wished to see her. Those sorceress eyes never be- trayed any thought or emction. They were the outward organs of a spirit always occu- pied on itself within. They peered at the girl but did not stare at, her. They did not make Nellie uncomfortable about herself, as do eyes which stareebut they set her wondering in chilled awe what could this strange old woman be contemplating that made her look so weird. No pleasant or cheerful thoughts were at the disposal of the girl. Her life up to that day had been caaa of perseeful happiness at school, and ora4liciourfawakening amid sympathetatesarraundipga' at Deighton, in the societtag- herasofteaaamered, affection- ate aunt, and thelleartaearoutspokent chiv- alrous jeitiellMarted Golloinel. The twelve monthaaketaat *tax her 'Emit had been a time of complete happiness. -No one mdthent had been marred by unpleasantness of any kind. She loved her gracious and affectionate aunt as she might her mother, if that mother had been spared; and her courteous, honest uncle as though he were the father far away in Brazil, who was no more to her than the beneficent figure of a dream. This strange gloomy house and this strange mysterious woman had struck into Nellie's young heart the first chill she had ever experienced. She already had thefeel- ing of being in a prison, and she found the air of the house thickening in her throat and suffocating her. She was alone now, in such a solitude as she had never conceived be- fore. She was not to see the Pickerings again; she had stayed with them until the very last moment. If she were to obey her impulse, she would there and then flee from the house; but she was mere helpless than a child. She had never yet acted for her- self in any affair of consequence. With the disposition to fly, she felt flight was as im- possible as though she were fettered with irons a thousand pounds in weight. The girl was not of a nervous or fancifnl nature. She was blithesome and light of heart. She had never known the luxury of a grievance. Her disposition was to look at the cheerful side of things. She had never been ill since the ailments of childhood. She could not believe her present condition of depression and apprehensiveness was the result of spending a few hours in this gloomy house with this silent and self-absorbed old woman. The girl was beginning to think ner health must be failing her. At the end of luncheon the old woman pushed away her plate, and keeping her unfathomable eyes on Nellie, said with startling unexpectedness "What change has come over you since morning You are not the same. Did you not finclthe grounds interesting? Have you lighted on no books toTynoeurgirliikinoogull not et havelibrlaryoeen more aston- ished if one of the grim carved heads in the blade oak chiraney-piece had addressed her. She had been thinking that if she came into the room and sat down at the table with her hat on, Mrs. Bathurst would not notice any. thing unnsaal in her appearance ; and that if she had fainted or fallen off her chair, Mrs. Bathurst would have contented herself with summoning a servant and giving orders that Miss Morton should be carried to her room and attended to. And here was her hostess showing herself, on this very short acquaintance, able to detect a slight altera- tion in manner or appearance. "1 think the grounds are beautiful," said Nellie, when she had recovered from her as- tonishment sufficiently to be able to speak. "And you have not been to the library yet?" " No ; I reserved that pleasure for after luncheon." " Ah ! I hope you may -find the library a pleasure. I don't think you took any bene- fit from the grounds to -day. I hope none of those audacious boating -parties landed and disturbed your walk ?" " No ; I did not see any boating -party." This answer was given with extreme reluc- tance. It was of course truthful, but it was not the whole truth. " You are keeping something back from me," said the old woman; "but you need not tell me. I am not interested. I do not ask you what. If I wanted to know, you would tell me, but I do net want to know.' aro BE CONTINUED.) A Fierce Pet. During my residence in the East I had a fine young chaema given me about 3 years old. He grew rapidly, and in about a year he was a large and dangerous animal to strangers, though very tame with me. He ould sip beside me playing like a child, at let enioila Came into the room, man or ciy, an1 he raised himself fully erect, every $a-tr-on$iii- heed and --nook standing out, Madehideous faces and showed his power - fel teeth, enough to intimidate any one, but a few gentle words from me calmed aim. `ahaing some accident, 1 had a large iron eliain- attached to atilt*. ring and placed round hisebody, _add thia was fastened to a sttotig beta driven into aftree. - Mr. Jean Louis, as he was called, took Di- an quietly, biton the first chance he got alone he broke a link in the chain with a stone in the same manner as a human being would do it, ket the links were as thica as the little finger of a man. On my return with a friend 1 found him up a large bread- fruit tree. The sight of a stranger so excit- ed him he began pelting us with the heavy fruit, pretty dangerous missiles when sent with so accurate an aim that we had to seek shelter to aveid them. ady friend re- treated preeipitately, and when I was alone I soon had Jean Louis down under my con- troL .He was always accustomed to watch ler my return, when at once he set to work with impatience to examine my pockets as I always brought him a banana, guava, or other fruit. His curiosity was great, also his imitative faculties. Once he watched me attentively snake a hole with a gimlet and insert a a screw with a screwaltiver, and he did the same fairly well. He could drive a nail as well as I could, draw a cork irom a bottle' and drink wine from a glass. I believe I could have taught him almost anything save speech. I was the only male he would allow to approach, but he never showed the same disposition to a female. His ferocious looks, however, were enough to deter any woman from going near him. It was my intention to bring him with me to America, but circumstances prevented it. A few days before I - set sail Jean Louis got loose and made for the cathedral and began tearing off the clapboards. Seeing the door open he walked in and went to the pulpit, to the horror of the sexton, who then caught sight of him. He seized and tore i the velvet cushions, and when an attempt was made to dislodge him he flung the bible and prayer -book at him and fairly drove him from the building The police were called and two men with loaded carbines shot my pet while standing erect defying them, but if I had been called I could have got him away quietly. When brought to the house and laid on the veranda he had almost a human look about him. Jean Louis now occupies a prominent ;place in the Museum of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences at Port Louis, Maur- itius.—{Nicholas Pike. About Animals. A Quint°, N. J., man trapped 193 pos sums in a month. A sixteen -year-old cat died at Colts Neck, N. J., the other day. The ostrich covers from eleven to fifteen feet at every stride while running. At Americus, Manitoba, there is a pecu- liar species of rat. It is of several colors and hundreds of them can be seen about the streets. Otter hunters are out in force. Several of them recently came near shooting a boy who had slipped into the water. Seals when basking place one of their number on guard to .give alarm in case of danger. The signal is a quick clap of the flippers on' a rock. Rabbits signal with thier forepaws and have regular sgnals and calls. Squirrels and gophers are great scatterers of seed. They carry nuts about in their check - pouches and bury them here and there in the ground an inch to an inch and a -half deep. They remember where a good many of them are hidden and dig them tip again, but they are sure to forget some, and these have an excellent chance to sprout and grim*. Cuttlefish are useful in many ways. The bone under the skin of the back which affords the animal some sort of substitute for a skeleton, is employed for caged birds to sharpen their beaks upon. It is also ground up into powder for absorbing blots in writ- ing, is utilized as an antacid in medicine, and is made an importaat ingredient in dentifrices. The cries of none of the animals approach more closely that of the human voice than that of seals ,when lamenting the loss or cap. ture of their young. They emit a wailing and effecting cry, similar to that of a woman in deap grief. The cry of a wouuded hare resembles that of a child in distress. Its piercing shrieks can, on a still night, be plainly heara at a distance of more than a mile. Soulful Youth—Do you sing "For Ever and Ever !" • Matter of Fact Young Girl— No; I stop for meals. An experiment of serving fried mush in- stead of hominy, with canvasback duck, is in progress at some of the clubs. A Vienna correspondent telegraphs :—A few days ago an old lady with snow-white hair came to a welaknowah Vienna lawyer and asked him to take the necessary steps for the disinterment of her sister's body, buried in the great central cemetery ten years ago. The old lady stated that she had lost her husband, and with him the means of subsistence. Ten years ago she was well off, and had her sister buried with all her jewellery, which was very valuable. She had no other means of getting out of her misery than by appealing to the dead and taking the trinkets out of the coffin where they had lain for ten years. The lawyer refused to act for her. Hard SIefltlin.' Of a winter like this, when the snow 4111 the road Will scarcely leave tracks where you're treadn', And the ox at the sled must be urged by the goad, While the "shoes" in the gravel squeak under the load, New Englanders say it's hard sleddin,' In the jostle of life that we see every day Some fnlks struggle on, 'though now drea.din' The same future that hope one time painted so gay, But in colors that fade and long left them to say; With me, that life's mighty hard sleddinn For instance, Jones died, leavin' numerous "cubs"— His widow is meekly a treadin' The dull journey of life, and she sighs as she rubs, (To feed four little mouths she now washes and scrubs), That's what seems to me like hard sledin° Yes, she was a fine girl, and her father had wealth. (They made a display at the weddn)' But he soon lost his all, and poor Jones lost his health. Then grini Death, on his rounds' in his heart- ohilling Took him, leavin' her but hard sleddin.° But I've known silver snow fall for many a one, And leave a crisp mantle a spreadin' The long way from the rise to the set of life's sun, As with music of sleigh -bells fine teams they 8P 'no It 'peared they were havin' fine sleddin.° For myself I admit life has lost all its charm, And now forced to earn daily bread in Chorin"round in the cold in the old poor -house farm, (But, of cour,e, my grown children don't naean me no harm), I say life's been mighty hard sleddin.° —[By John F, Stewart. The Ax-Oovered Grindstone. Though bright to my heart are some scenes in my lad -time Which fond recollection presents to my view, One thing Iremember that brought me no glad - time But lent to my childhood an indigo hue. How awful when sneaking away from my mother, As down to the creek with my tackle 1 fled, To hear father's voice, "One good turn needs another; Come turn at the grindstone that hangs by the shed." The old crooked grindstone, The wobbling old grindstone, The old squeaking grindstone that hung by the ahed. Ah, many's the hour I've turned it and grunt- ed, For it was the millstone that burdened me down: While nuts were to gather and, squirrels to be hunted There was always an ax or scythe to be ground, It never was oiled ani was hard in the turn- ing; " Only grease of the elbows it needs" father said, And the handle would often slip off without warning And instantly tumble me heels over head. The old dented grindstone, That worn away grindstone, It gathered no moss as it hung by the shed. "This stone," father said, " like earth turns on its axes, But comparison fails on the matter of force." I said, "Though the speed of the earth ne'er relaxes, lam sure it would stop 'neath those axes of yours," The nicks they were deep in the ax or the hat- chet, And father bore on till sweat dropped from his head ; If I'd pause to put water on then I would catch it; "Watch the crank and keep on with the mo- tion." he said. Oh, that old shaky grindstone, That slow -grinding grindstone. That hard -running grindstone that hung by the shed ! Yes, dear to my heart are some scenes of my childhood, The orchard, the cider, the neighbor's peach trees, The school -hours I pleasantly passed in the wildwood, And the honey I stole unbeknownst to the bees. But that circular horror, whose motion was rotary To -day makes my anger all fly to my head, And I'm willing to go and make oath to the notary That I was ground dull by that stone by the sh ed — That lop -sided grindstone, That old hated grindstone. That confounded grindstone that hung by the shed. Northern Winter. 'Patten 'mid the sill ery pillared aisles of beechen groves Gay colored leaves had fluttered softly down, And the old oak, forlorn of summer's love, To earth had gently cast his sylvan crown, Then there were portents in the sky, on earth. Of winter's imminent reign and boisterous mirth. Some morn on rising would be seen A change mot subtle in the brooding heavens, 4. dreamy softness, as of hovering wings, And sounds all coming soft, and low, and even, But soon Old Winter did unveil his face, Throw his broad mantle o'er the resting earth, And, glorying in his robes of purest white, Bic- fairy elves of snow and frost to work. The merry chime of bells rang on the air, As borne by horses that were fleet and strong. On pleasure bent, or toil with little care, Swiftly the hardy trill elcrs sped along. That was the season when old friends did meet, And round the ample fire's cheerful blaze, Did each the other with unfeigned pleasure greet And call up scenes of by -gone happy days. Full scope there was for story, song, and dance In those long nights when pleasure held full sway, And whispers fond of love, and stolen glance, Made hours, as moments brief, glide swift away. Long lasted bluff old Winter's reign, By sums weak ones called dismal, lone and drear, But, judged by sports of glittering, icy plain, And kindred joys, the dearest of the year. And when at last the days of winter done, And violets 'gan to peep in budding woods, And the deep rivers, freed by glowing sun, Down to the mighty lakes did pour their floods, There was a freshness in the balmy air, As change complete from death to glowing life, And birds, and flowers, and all seemed won- drous fair, Radiant at such sweet ending of the strife. ---[William G. Reynolds. purpose. plies almost as severe a test of the dominant women there is another moment which sup - strong in death," but in the lives ot most We have all heard of the "ruling passion Frugality Rewarded. The New York Sun says that a farmer entered a telegraph -office in central New York, and sent this message to a woman in Canada. "Will you be my wife? Please answer at once by telegraph." Then he sat down and waited. No an - ewer came. He waited till late in the evenitig ; still no answer. in suspense." "Twas a little rough to keep you so long ' • The operator expressed his sympathy. Early the next morning he came in. again, and was handed a despatch—an affirmative reely. of Marriage all day so as to send it by night that'llhold back her answer to a proposal rates is jest the economical woman that I've been a-waltin' for." • "Look -here, young feller," said the farm- er, " I'll stand all the suspense. A woman " You won't suit me at all," as the man 804d to the tail° r whe rafeeed him credit. A RAOE WITH A CYCLONE. Mr. Michael Davitt's Story ilway Adventure. Mr, Michael Da,vitt tells a thrilling story of a narrow escape a train in which he was a passenger in America had in S race with a cyclone. The storm -cloud was seen gath- ering at the extreme bound of the prairie. On its descent to the earth it bore along with irresistible fury, tearing up trees, de- molishing houses, barns and ether obsteeles, which were sent spinning -in the air like 80 many straws. The first feeling of surprise and curiosity soon turned to fear, as it. was seen that the hurricane was bearing direct- ly for the train, and must inevitably strike it broadside unless they could outrun its extent. The women, shrieked and hid their eyes from the impending disaster, andeven strong men's hearts quaked. The engine' driver at a glance saw it was a race for life, and instantly put on all steam. The track was favourable, and almost instantly the engine was tearing away at a rate of a hun- dred miles an hour. Would she be able to get clear of the storm -fiend's wing? was the anxious thought in the passengers' minas. It was a question of only a few minutes or moments of awful suspense. The hurricane seemed to be swooping upon and overwhelming them. A sigh of relief and joyous exclamations proclaimed that the cyclone had missed them. It was a narrow escape, though, far it struck the metals about fifty feet in the rear of the last car, and scattered. the rails in all directions over which the train had literally flown only a second or two previously. Such an experi- ence is not likely soon to be forgotten, and Mr. Davitt can scarcely relate it without a tremor—{Portadown (Ireland) News. A. Glan.oe at Quebec. Sir Edwin Arnold writes :—Standing in any one of the river bastions, and gazing over the ramparts and the glaeis, your glance takes in one of the noblest prospects of the globe. To the right the intermin- able river sweeps down from Ontario and Niagara. In front Point Levi frames the picture with a back of woodlands and build- ings, and under your feet is the quaint old- fashioned French town and the crowded shipping. All is as tranquil as the stream itself; but to remind you of old scenes of carnage, and the changed conditions of modern warfare, the Bellerophon at this moment fires a torpedo for praatice, blowing some 500 tons of the St. Lawrence high into the air, and making in the river a huge circle of mud and dying fish, which goes whirling and -expanding down the current. The thunder of the explosion rolls back from Point Levi to Cape Diamond, and dies away high up among the fir -woods on the left, where Wolfe, after delivering his feint at- tack, landed his forces at night, by a flotil- la of boats, and surprised the unsuspecting Montcalm by appearine suddenly on the plateau. The chivalrous Frenchman, in- stead of confiding in his stone walls, came rashly forth to fight in the open for the pos- session of Canada and yonder obelisk marks the spot where Wolfe fell in the instant of victory, and where Montanan also received his death -wound. It is good to find the names of both heroes linked together upon the memorial here, as well as lower down in the Des Carrieree Street. The latter bean a nobly epigrammatic inscription: MORTEM VIRTUS COMMUNEM FAMAM HTSTORIA MONIIMENTUM POSTERITAS DEDIT —which, for the sake of all patriotic Eng- lish women, may be translated :— Their valour gave a common fate, Their worth a common fame; English and French we here inscribe, In common love, each name. They say, as the surgeon drew the fatal musket ball from the wound of Wolfe, he exclaimed, "Why, this is not the bullet of en enemy !" and that the gallant General answered, with a faint smile on his dying face—gay even in extremity: "Well, doc- tor, I don't think it could be the bullet of a friend !" Wolfe has a proud and ornate monument in Westminster Abbey; but here is his true mausoleum, in the fair mea- dows and forests, and far pine -clad ranges, the broa,d,majestic river, the peaceful, pros- perous Dominion, and, above it all, the flutter and the glitter of that Union Jack upon the flag -staff in the Bastion, which marks it all "British America," a territory one -fifteenth of the whole earth's surface, larger by one-tenth than all the United States, and only smaller than all the Con- tinent of Europe by the area of Spain ; a gift to the British Empire bought with most generous blood, and worth retaining while it is willing to be retained, with all the ertergiesrand resources of that Empire. THREE OHILDREN BURNED. A Deplorable Affair which Happened at Ironwood, Michigan. IRONWOOD, Mich., Feb. 25.—One of the most appalling catastrophes in the history of this city occured last night. A store building whose first floor was occupied by Charles Bedard as a saloon, Charles De- longcamp's wife and six children residing in the second story, was burned to the ground. Albert, Marie and Charles, aged seven, five and two years respectively, children of De- longcamp's, were burned with the building. The mother, with a two -weeks old babe in her arms and the two older children, were rescued with great difficulty. The fire which originated in the kitchen, was caused by an explosion of kerosene and spread like a flash through the building. The terrified child- ren rushed in all directions. When taken from the burning building and question as to where the children were likely to be found the frantic mother could give no clue as she had become separated from them in the dense smoke. Firemen and citizens fought the fire with energy but it was of no avail. The remains of the children have been taken from the ruins two being found close together, about 10 feet from the front of the building and the third about 30 feet away in another portion of the build', g. Several prominent citizens were seriously burned while attempt- ing the rescue of the little ones. The Queen's Little Joke. Few people are perhaps aware how thor- oughly the Queen of England enjoys a joke. A gentleman -in -waiting, -whom let us call Mr. A—,distinguished for his imitative powers and dramatic talent, is not infre- quently called upon to trip the light fan- tastic toe, figuratively speakine, rhen in at- tendance at Windsor and Balm era'. One day the areat lady, looking with a certain austerity straight into the face of Mr. A—demanded : "Now,Mr. A—,I am perfectly well aware Hit when mi y back s turned you imitate me. I wish to see you do it now, this minute !" Poor Mr. A— fell straightway into the royal trap, crimsoned, faltered, utterly lost his countenance. "A !" exclaimed tae Queen, "I see I waa right! You ought te be ashamed of your- self," and then added, laughing as lesertily as any schoolgirl. "Pea arise% dm 14 again.' c STRANGLERS C !tan an1( Whose ure were anown to Have Mord Have Tried to Mt and to Have Plotte Seven More- Eaeh Before the AIM Th by the Kan while Hands—a litentarkal And lence GoinposO Generals, and Ladi Court. Last month Franz Sc Rosalia, were condemn Criminal Court in V sentenoing ot both to close of the most remar In the records of Austri At the beginning of t were known to have m women, to have plann tempted to murder trim spared seven or eight rr young women refused death. Although Sch man and his wife is a ci although their victin friendless servant aira the empire have been c impressive circurnstan rounding the triad Princes, diplomatists, Parliament, high officia the court society of Fr crowded the court root brutality of Schneider of his wife were exhibi the dramatic light of I the Judges, in their swearing with the upli illuminated crucifix, guarded by soldiers in imperial army. So intense was the sand spectators that at one of them left the ha in their seats rather th words of the testimo daily record of the tr the newspapers verbat telegraphed at the clo ceedings to London, THE SCHN In the conspiracy t rob, Franz Schneider Rosalie Schneider wa did the plotting," the to the wife, "and he mach ine. " Schneider and powerfully built cheeks, high -bones, e moustache, and a shocl is 35 years old. His senior, is small, thin, fa eyed. She was hands riage to Schneider in dissipation have harde •were engaged in n echemes before teey t raising money by ki Schneider had passed s for theft, DISCOVERY Or In May, June, and was reported to the Vi eral girLs had disappea with men in the Dreifoh near New Lengleach. at employment agenci take places in New Len ing that they should br gage at once. The exp shy of all offers from Ne rumor, however, and until July 23. On tha a factory girl, while wa brush stumbled upon woman stripped to th hat trimmed with ros right shoulder. On J was announced in the Hornung, a journeymai New Lengbach, and id that of Marie Hottwa engaged three weeks a in the suburbs, and not He aLso described th man and woman with e leaving the city for he same time Annie Dje gave a similar descripa lured her into the sub a place with a Barone The reading of the Djuris girl reminded her with a man at Ne evening of the assault resembled a certain co borhood. The police to be honest. He had, of doubtful characte Franz Schneider, Ian his wife at 28 Rudol name of Ferdinand Ni and his wife were a murdered girls was fo sion and by the co made in an effort burden of guilt on t was enabled to draw story of a series of at in recent times only equalled. OPENING or The indictment ag charged them with th Kleinrath, Marie Ho tt Zoufar. During the pr ing Judge accused the known girl, seen last the woods where all th mitted. The indictme with attempting to in and Jchanna Stoiber, tempted to lure Mathi Seif, Katherina Watza and three other maid but not named, to Stoiber was attacked o on June I, but were no remarked in court, b then got his hand in." DEATH OF ROSAL On the first two court devoted its atten Rosalie Kleinrath, on 18 years old, and had 1 but a Tew days befor met her in the street a with a Countess in Induced the girl to p in a satchel, to put in dollars saved, and to and herself to the party stopped at a rest might nurse his coura his wife led Kleinrath both prayed. PRAYER Buo Just why this refine introduced in the oth plan was not satisfac all the known murders, served with care. The about in tt....-4 darkest p Schneider turned sudd "I trapped her," hes put a bottle of poisonl aiect and mu stripped 1 ereeeneeare- to 4