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The Exeter Times, 1888-6-21, Page 6Now Finn latnerasnen.1 (ALL Rumrs REsEnvED.) 4J: XTT KE AND Tin 1111X.1-14. By M, L BRADDON., AnTn011,o " LADY AuDx,a'v's SE,ouET, Wviadi.sn's WEIRD, gw., SYXOPS1S OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. Tax story opus byintroducing the read- er to Sir Adrian Belfield and his tvviu brother Valentine, the "Like and Unlitte." CKAPTL'il XXL—MRS, Penmen's There is is a ohm resemblances and yet a mark- ed difference between them, the elder pale Helen was ushered into Lady Belfield's and delicate almost to effeminacy, the sitting room aext morning as the olook struck younger dark, strong and self-wille& ten, and found her mother-in-law and Sir Thew mother, Lady Belfield, although folsd, Adriaready to receive her. The breakfast ly loving both her sons, still has a, warmer table had been placed neer the open window Place in. her heart for the younger and more looking out upon the park, with its brilliant troublesome. In a week after the opening flower aeds, palms, and tree ferns, and is. of the story, Valentine leaves for Parrs with early riders cantering up and down the Row. a college friend en route for alone Oarlo Adrian came forward to meet his sistex4-in. 'with an " infallible " system for breaking law with frankest greetings ; but Helengrew tbe bank. During his .absenoe hie mother paler as their hands met, and it seemed to •and brother hear that Col. Deverill, from him that her beauty had. a wan look in the County Clare, has come to live at Morcomb, morning light. The freshness bad vanished a residence in the neighborhood. This from the young face, and thatbright and rather startles Lady Belfield, as the Colonel joyous outlook, the careless happiness of was in their younger days a suitor for her girlhood which had charmed him • at their hand, but reseeted on account of wildness. first meeting., had. given place to an expres- Adieu• Soon oalls at Moroornb, and dads sion of weariness and languor. It was not the Colonel's daughters, Mrs. Beddeley the face of a happy wife an the early years and Helen Deverill, two charming young of marriage. ledies, engaged at a game of billiards. They Helen grew more at ease presently as they -welcome him, warmly, and please him by sat at breakfast, reassured by Adrian's free their frank, oaen manners. -Next day he ternalmanner. It was a relief to her to fincl • takes his mother to see tleem, hospitalities such perfect friendliness in the man she had are exchanged, and before long it is ap- jilted, and yet her vanity was wounded by parent to all observers that Adrian is in the idea that he could forgive her so freely, love with Helen. could meet her with frank goodwill. Mr. Rockstone, the vicar, takes especia "He could never have oared very much interest in Old Dawley, a parishioner who for me," she thought. His presence recalled lives by basket -mailbag. Years ego this bitterest memories. She had been false to man's daughter, a beautiful girl, had been him, and for whom? For a ma,n who neg- decoyed from her home and had never been glected and abandoned her, left her to Fate heard of since except that three years •and to the charms of evil, left her to rim after her flight' the old man had found a the gauntlet of London society, withoub a little girl whose.appearance told that she husband's sheltering care. • was his daughter's child. He Lima kept her Adrian was eager to see his brother. He and given her the best education he could had written to Valentine in a friendly spirit afford. At the time of which we speak, twice during the last year, first on New this child, now a lovely girl, is give Year's Eve, and again on their mutual ing her grandfather considerable uneasis birthday, and his brother had answered ness by evidences which he sees of her both letters in a free and easy tone, taking being in love. The vicarinterests their reconciliation as it were for granted, himself in the girl and induces her to ignoring tae past and the wrong that had take a situation at Belfield Abbey as house- been done. And now Adrian yearned after maid, to raise her from the low-spirited that other half of himself, from which he moping condition into which she had fallen: had so long been separated. He was vexed Meanwhile Sir Adrian receives Helen's con. at Valentine's absence, and atillanore vexed sent to accept him as her lover, in a rather at Helen's vagueness about her husband's brusque and off -hand way. Her father and aaturn- 'sister being away, Helen goes to stay at the " I'll telegraph to him," he said, "if you'll Abbey till they return, where she makes give me his address in Paris." • Adtian and his raother supremely happy by1 I don't know where he is staying." her bright, winning ways. Adrian writes' •`,` You don't halm But sus-ely he has to Col. Deverill in Paris and receives his written to you. • consent in a characteristie Irish letter to his "Yes, but he wrote to me f re -4 hes club marriage with his daughter. The ether or from a club that he uses whet' Z1,-; 1.,ahere, young ladies of the neighborhood were, of I'm net sure that he is a member. I sup. course, extremely jealous, the more so as pose if you telegraph to him at the club he g they considered the Devetills bad style will et your telegram." from the begenntng, but were still profuse hi their congratulations. As Adrian's phy- ekeing out her income by writiug newspaper artieles. "Sooner or later, no doubt; but there may be a considerable delay," answered sician had discouraged hunting on his part, Adrian. "I want to hasten his return if I Helen consideredit her duty to give it up al- can. Our time is short in London." though it was a sport of which she was Helen gave him the address of the Paris- pas- sionately fond, and she did not conceal ian club, and he went downstairs to send from him her regret. his telegram. Lady Belfield. carried off her The time at length came around for daughter-in-law for a morning in the picture Valentine to return. One afternoon on her galleries. She took possession of her son's • return from a rideHelen stole up on tiptoe wife, as if in the exercise of a natural right. " 13thind Adrian's tellair and kissed him. The Helen had promised to be in the Row be. kiss was returned with naterese, but she • found it wasn't Adrian. After some in- dignant words on her peat and a few mollifying ones on Valentine's, she reluc- tantly bmf -consented to forgive Tim. For carriage door to ascertain her arrangements al/ that they did not seem to get on well for the day. He knew all about her morning together, and Helen appeared to shun her arrangement with Lady Belfield. future brother-in-law as ranch as possible. It now appears that the gentleman who has stolen Madge Dawley's heart is no other than Valentine Belfield himself, for, on the day of his return, they have an encounter on an upper landing, when he uses his most seductive wiles to induce her to leave tweenetwelve and one. St. Austell would be there, no doubt, expecting her. She had parted with him at four o'clock that morn- ing, after a ball, and he had stopped at the "Less than a couple of hours will polish off your mother-in-law," he aaid, "and you can be in the /tow by twelve. You musn't loseyour ride. It's the one thing that keeps mall alive." She had promised not to lose her ride; but now that she was asked to go to a picture gallery she had not the conrage her preeent occupation and live happily to say n°4 with him in some secluded spot. to which "I want to have you with me as much as I Can while I am in town," said Lady Bel - her only answer is that she can be nothing field. "We have seen s3 little of each other Bel - to him if not bis wife. During this conver- sation Madge learns that her mother, about whom she hal always wished to hear, is living in style in London as Mrs. Mande - mace you have been my daughter. Adrian is full of business this morning, so he cannot come with us." Helen was glad to escape from Adrian's Helen shortly receives a telegretn thoughtful gaze. It seemed to her that he from her father, announcing his arrival in must be able to read all her secrets, that he London and requesting her to go home. must know bow false and wicked she was, She goes, but not before consenting to allow she who had begun her downward course by Valentine to accompany her on any hunting falsehood to him. excursione she may take. After this they That morning with Lady Belfield was are a good deal together, leaving evidently stow torture. The wife's guilty conscience, overcome their aversion. her remorseful sense of her own unvrorth- Major Baddeley, Mr. teething and Lord iness, changed every tender word into a, St. Austell help to make up the party at scorpion. She tried to appear happy and Morcomb, and the latter gentleman very i soon perceives that Helen s falling over head and ears in love with Valentine. Soon there comes a letter from Lady Belfield, ask- ing Helen to come back to Belfield Abbey, ansi she does so. Lady Belfield is puzzled and grieved at the apparent antagonism be- tween Helen and Valentine, and asks him light-hearted, but she felt all the time that her gaiety was a miserable assumption that could hardly deceive anybody. It certeln- ly did not deceive Lady Belfield. "My dear child, let us go and sit down," she said. "You are looking so pale and weary, I am afraid you are not well, Helen; that they did not take enough care to treat him in a more sisterly manner. The of you after your long illness." summer passed gaily, enlivened by company, "Oh, no, it is not that ; I a,m very well, lawn tennis, eto. but I was dancing till nearly four o'clock • Towards autumn the serious mood which this morning." - seemed to have taken possession of Helen, "Ansi you are going out again to -night. vanished, end she and Valentine were gay Do you think it is worth anyone's while to and free as could be desired. It was at this lead such a life ?" time that Adrian found a slip of paper in his "I don't know. I suppose it is natural room with the words "Somebody is false, to like danoing and gaiety while one is watch." He tried to put down all suspicion young. And there is no other kind of life of Helen, but on returning to the drawing- for me to lead. If 1 were to stay at, home, 'room he saw her and his brother in close and as I did last year, I should onlyihave leisure oonficlAntial conversation, which sent a throb to be unhappy, and to fancy myself a de - of jealousy to his heart. That evening he seated wife. When I am out in the world, followed them out into the garden, and among a lot of thoughtless people, I too ant heard Helen's oonfession of love to his thoughtless. It is better than thinking bit - brother and inconstancy to him and at the ter thoughts." same time her unwillingness to be 1 else to "My poor girl, I wish Valentine were hint. • fonder of home, and that you two spent He came forward and reproached them more of your lives together. There is some - with treachery, released Helen from her thing amiss in your present life. I am griev- engagement and left them. Lady Belfield ed to see it ; I antrievecl to speak of it; yet was grieved, Col. Deverill was f talon, and the whole neighborhood down on Helen for the parb she had played, but she and Val- entine were allowed to become engaged and very soon were married, Adrian having left for the continent immediately after hie dis- °every. In the meantime, it the day after the finding of the scrap of paper, written by herstelf, Madge Dawley left; Belfield Abby mysteridusly, leaving only a note for the housekeeper. She went to London to*find • kor mother, having seen an account of her • attempted 'suicide in a daily paper. She found her and tried to persuade her to go away with her and let her earn tor her an honeet living, with ivvhat result we shall see, Helen and Valentino Vent a honeymoon of three moth e of deliehms, uninterrupted happiness en the contirierit, but on their return to LondOn Mt. Belfield began to show himself aa a selfirsh, club -loving overbearing intebend, and Ilelea's spell was broken. • They occupied a mine of rooms in the saints house With MO. Baddeley, whose husband had once more gone to India, and Who wee Habig in the height of fathion in London, They were sittitig in the inner sculpture - 1 feel that I ought to apeak. ' "Oh, please don't say any more," said Helen fretfully. "It can do no good. Val- entine has always had his own way, and I have left off thwarting him. I used at first to beg him to stay at home. I fancied we might be so happy together, and 1 was so ridiculously fond of him." "Was fond of him 1 Why you speak as if your love were a thing of the past:' No, no, Lady 13eIffeld, you misunder- stand. Dmean that in those days I had a foolith way of pestering him with my affec- tion. I was too demonstrative, and I thought I could keep him at home of an evening. A fatal mistake. We get on ever Bo math better now that we each go our own way." "My love, it is elf wrong. It cannot mean happineee for either of you." " Indeed you are mistaken ; Valentine ia perfectly happy." "And are you perfectly happy ?" • "Well, yes; I suppose I am. We are having a brilliant season, Leo and I are vited almost everywhere. It is very plea- sant! arid---" with a faint sigh, "one has sotune to think," gyaolugoin lery,w?h„erHe etlhenereaswkearde, vaeerythfeeyw opaeionple eto, though the other rooms were full, Lady Belfield, left at one o'clock, thinking that Helen was tired, "Shall we drive through the Park before Hyde ye eso:rdkCer. earo,rinfyou like," and Lady Bel- field gave the order, "Go slowly up and down the drive," Helea said to the eoachmau, and then added to lady Belfield, "U there are any people we know we may as well see them." "By all means; we have half -an -hour to waste before lima," Helen was thinking of Lod St. Austell. Would he be angry with her for having broken faith with him ? She ha& given him in aonie manner a right over, her life from the moment in which she had listened to the confession of hie unhallowed love. He had the right to be mieerable when he was away from her; the rigb,t to accuse her of cruelty if she avoided his compauy, She had allowed him to tell her of his hive ; but she aad affeotea to make light of it. "This means nothing from you," she said. "1 should be angry if it were anyone else who talked such nonsense" And under that lightness her loter had seen indication of the deepest feeling, and knew that she was to be won; not so easily won as other victims had been, and for that reason all the better worth winning. The Row was almost deserted, but a little way past the barracks they met Mrs. Badde- ley and. Lord Sb. Austell riding sicle by side, while Mr. teething skulked in -the rear on a thickset, bull-necked, black cob, very smooth and sleek and stoutly ladle, and having a kind of fanciful resemblance to his rider. "Everything belonging to Beeohing is like him," said one of the gentleman's friends; "his horses are like him, his dogs are like him, his grins are like him, and his furniture islike him, The fellow has his own image and supersoription upon every- thing. When ha bothered me about the lines of his new tandem cart I told him not to worry. "However you have it liailt, it's sure to come. out like you,' I told him ; and, by Jove, it did." Lord St. Austell was one of the few men who look well on horseback, and yet do not disappoint people when they disnaount, He was tall and slim, dressed to perfection, in so quiet and subduedeastyle that nobody had e. er eucceeded in imitating him. There was an indescribable cachet, a subtle neu- trality of tint, which the copyist never could attain. To•day he had. a languid air as he sauntered slowly along, talking with Mr. Baddeley, who looked fresh as a June rose, and seemed in high spirits. She was to act for a charity that evening, at one of the most fashionable plassesin' London— half picture gallery, half ballroom. She was to play Peg Woffington, in "Masks and Faces," for tile benefit cf the Sick Chimney Sweepers' Fund, and she was telling Lord St. Austell about her conception of the part, and her gowns. The character was important, but the gowns were the pivot upon which success depended. "They are my own idea, worked out from Sir Peter Lely," she said; "but that wretched Mrs. Ponsonby had not sent them when I came out this morning. I am in a state of suspense till I see them. They may be failures after all." "You employ Ponsonby, do you ?" asked St. Austell, who was learned in all the ways of women; "I've been told she's dear." " Dear 1 She is • exorbitant, a perfect harpy! But she is the only woman in London who can make a gown." "She must be as rich as Crcesus. Lord Pevensey told me the other day tharhe nearly lost an estate he was negotiating for in Yorkshire, because Mrs. Ponsonby was bidding for it. He was not told who had been bidding against him till after he had secured the property. "By Jove, St. Austell, I felt humiliated," he said, " to think that I had just missed being out- bidden by my wife's dressmaker." "1 have no doubt she is richei than Lord Pevensey," replied Leo, laughing. " I am longing to see how she has carried out my ideas. I ani like a child that is going to have a new frock for her birthday." They saw Helen and stopped, and the coachman drew up by the rails. They talk- ed for a few minutes Helen explaining how Lady Belfield had been so kind as to take her to the Academy. "You might have sent me a message," Bald Mrs. Baddeley. "Your horse and I both waited half an hour for you." "Yes, I ought to have sent a message. It was very forgetful of me. Poor Revlon !" Ravioli was the horse. "I am glad you find it in your heart to pity Ravioli," said Lord St. Austell, with one of thosemoks which speak volumes at the initial stage of an intrigue. • Language and looks become much less subtle in later stages. • Be• timed that pathetic glance at a safe moment when Lady Belfield was talking to Mrs. Baddeley. Leo was begging her to go to the perform- ance at "The Victorian." "1 daresay the acting will be very bad, though we all think ourselves geniuses," she said; "bat we shall have all the best people in London to see us, and it is for a good cause, so if you and Sir Adrian are disen- gaged ---"e we are disengaged. It is only as a favour that we are to get stalls for the Lyceum next Saturday, and we are not to go to the Haymarket till to -morrow. It is not so easy to do a round ot the Theatres as we fancied it would be." "Then as a pis alley come and see 'Masks and Faces,' bY the Kentish Ramblers and your humble servant. If we don't succeed in making you ory, we are sure to make you laugh." "Don't be too sure of that," said St. Aus- tell, "there is a painful condition of the mind between laughing and crying, which I have seen produced by the performance of your real painstaking amateur. He is jura too good to be laughed at, and he is not i good enough to draw tears.Itisperformance 'produces a dreary vacuity of mind, a middle state between sleeping and waking, a sense of the intolerable length of time. I think the feeling ie most acute during such a piece as 'Piot and Petition!' which, being tedioua and long-winded, is naturally a favourite with amateurs." "You talk like a disappointed man." said Leo. "1 have no doubt you tried to act in early youth, and are embittered by the mem- l7 of your failures," "No,I was one of those few sensible peo. rile who are aware of their incapability be- forehand." "Are you coming home presently, Helen," asked Mre. taddeley. • "She la coining to lunch with me first," answered Lady Belfield ; " I'll drive her home Borne time after funoh." "Please don't keep her late. She has the Charity Play, and two partiee after it. Te -night is one of our field nights," said Mr. Baddeley, and then with aandle and a wave of her whip hand, she yielded La the impatienee of her horse and trotted away, her two cavaliers accompaning her, St. Austell left her at the Piccadilly end "Yea, I suppose she would have dia. Olo litowp but Mr. teecinag rode beak to monde. They always do. But are there Wilbie ailaustione, and lingered et the doer not stage jewels that you could hire?" when he had helped her to dismount, and t Stege jewels 1 1 wear stage jewels 1 given her home to the hireling from the When every chorus girl ia London wears livery yard, wbo had been evaating for that diamonde of the first water. I wonder that I you don't know me better." an'IFICaLome in and see my gowns.," said Lee ; 1 She leant aoress the table to fill his glass " they ,must have arrived by this time, or 1 for him. She had filled It so eften with a,m in for a fiasco, Como aud tell me what that friendly, almost motherly air, that he you think of my gowns, and then I WU/ Ova had finithed the bottle unaweres, not I know- ing that his hostess; had only taken a spoon. M. was otrateutly hospitable ; He began to be more sympathetic than her little luncheons were delightful in a he badb thallyeMinbeforee3eernedabouthilile lerhedeilneeand to be ama. small end studiously simple way. She gave aereelf nes airs elf egicureauisna but her chicken a la 1VIaintenon, or her mayonnaise of sahnon or lobster was always perfectien. Even a tiny shoulder of lamb and a custard midclitea had a grace on her table, and sada. Red hee admiring guest. She rarely dined at home, and so her cook was able to eon- centrate her energies on that wholesome two o'clook meal which everybody eats with a better appetite than the evening's- elaborate banquet, ' She ran gaily upstairs. Mr. teething following, ashamed to confess tlfat his lese agile legs would have preferred the lift. She opened the door with her latchkey, and poanoed upon the page, who was discovered iu the lobby reading the wonderful adven- tures of "Sixteen String Jack," reclining' in a luxurious bamboo chair. with his heels on the card table. "Get up, you horrid little monkey," cried his mistress, indignantly, "Baa the dress- maker sent my coeturnes "No, ma'am. There ain't no basket come, bat there was a young lady brought this," and the boy snatched up a brass salver, took a letter out of his pocket, put it on the sal- ver, and handed it with all due ceremony. "A letter," exelaimed. Leo, angrily, as she tore open the envelope. "What on the woman mean by writing ?" Mrs. Ponsonby's meaning was clear enough. Witla -profound respect she recnind.ed Mrs. Ilecideley that her =mune had been run, ning a long time. and that she had not re- ceived a cheque from her honoured customer for over a twelvemonth. The costumes were eished and ready for delivery; but on referr- ing to her ledger she had discovered that Mrs, Baddeley was much deeper in debt than she had sapposed, and she must therefore re- gretfully decline to send the costumes un- less Mrs. Baddeley favoured her with at least a hundred pounds on account. Leo read the letter as she pessed into her drawing -room, followed by Mr. teething, who felt that the atmosphere- was terapes• thous. "You are too good to ask me to stay," he muttered, "but 1 have just remembered a mese particular appointment afthe Junior Carlton." He was going, but she stoppe& hint with her hand en his coat sleeve. "You are not such a poltroon as to run away because I'm in trouble, are you, Beeoh- ing?" she asked, comtemptuoualy. She oallea him Beeohing, or Joe, indiffer- ently, with a familiarity which seemed half scornful, but which he liked, nevertheless, in his dull way. " 'stop if you like," he said. " What's the row?" He had seen her in trouble before to -day, and had been ordered to help her, and the result had been duly recorded in his bank book. He could see the figures on the clean white page now, as he stood there helpless and half reluctant. Nothing had come of that former chivalry on his part, nothing except that he was called Joe, or teething, and was occasionally bitten by Tory, the poodle. Tory was under a sofa now, represented by a pair of fiery eyes gleaming in the dark- ness. Tory had taken it into his over-edu- oated head to detest Mr. Brechiag. "What's the row ?" he asked again, as Leo pored over the letter. "The row is that I shall be rained, hum- iliated, disgraced, unless I can produce a hundred pounds in the next hour or two. Does the creature think I keep hundred pound notes under my Mow?" "I don't suppose she cares where you keep 'em as long as she gets 'em," replied Beeching, broodingly, bending down to poke his whip handle at Tory under the sofa, and receiving a growl and a glare from that celebrity for his pains. , "You'll have to pacifyher somehow, I suppose," he went on, still intent upon Tory. If you can't give her money you =1St give her money's worth. You've got your diamonds." He seated hitneelt on the carpet at this juncture to be nearer Tory, who was waxing furious. "01 course I have my diamonds, and I must wear them to -night. Everybody knows about them*" " Well, not all about them," muttered Beeching, under his breath. "Everybody knows I have them,and will expece me to wear them. What nice things would be.. said 'Arne if I didn't wear them. My diamonds, indeed 1 I am to take my diamonds to Mrs. Ponsonby. Upon my A hundred pounds. Saab a sumawas mere bagetelle to a man, who counted his ththeands by the hundred, and felt a little uncomfortable when he began upon a fresh hundred thousand, just as humble poverty does when it changes a sovereign. A hula dred ?minds more or leas, could not make any difference to him, and yet he did not like lending that beggerly sum to Mrs. Baddeley, intensely as he admired her. He had lent her a good many hundreds; before, sometimes for Mr. Ponsonby, -sometimes for the Orien- tal warehouse, sometiinee for the livery sta- ble. She han not paid him but he had expebted she would be grateful. He felt] more kindly disposed after the duckling and champagne, which were both exeellent after their kind. Ile trifled with seine olives a,ncl helped himself to a glass of claret, a winehe had himself chosen for Mrs. Baddeley—and paid for. She took all such oontril utions in the lightest way, as a flower absorbs dew, taking no heed of the giver, never oppressed by the burden of ob- ligation. He looked askant at her as he rapped his wine. How handsome she was, and how well she looked in her habit; and there were tears in her eyes yes, absolutely tears. She was not orying about her gowns, but it was the sense of humiliation which crushed her. "Don't he Unhappy," he said r " Pll go and see this woman, and see what -can be done. Do you owe her much?" " l'm afraid I do owe her a good deal." "Tell me the worst. Give use her last account." "You'll be shocked, I'm afraid," said Leo, taking Et, paper out of her davenport. "Her prices are so extortionate, and I have been so unlucky at all the races this year. Last year 1 paid her a heap of money after Ascot, and another heap—well, over a hun- dred ea tchime—after Doncaster." "111 see what I can do," said Beeching, making a wry face as he looked at the total. • It was just under nine hundred pounds. (TO BE °UTZ-SUED.) C,uriosities of Magnetism, Moat well•infornted people are doubtless aware that the globe on which they live is a great ball of magnetism, but comparatively few have an adequate idea of thainfluence this property is continually exerting on all sides, thet many common but inexplicable phenomena' can be traced directly to this source. Statistics go to show that in the matter of steel rails, as many as thirteen will become crystallized and break where they go to make up a railroad track running east and west before one of those on a north and south treak is similarly affected. This is entirely due to the magnetism generated by friction, and the fact that the polarity of the mag- netic current, is in the former instance re- sisted in the headlong rush of the train, whereas in the latter case itisundisturbed. Another strange effect of this peculiar and occult force is that exerted on the watches of trainmen. A timepiece carried by the conductor running a train 20miles an hour, however accurate it may be, will, if the speed of the train is increased to, say, 50 miles, become useless" until -regulated. The magnetism generated by the flight of a train may be said to 18 18 proportion to the speed with which it is propelled, and the delicate parts of a watch, numbering all the way from 400 to 1,000influence and peculiarly sus- ceptible to this by. reason of the hammering and polishing they have receiv- ed, are not slow to -feel the effect:, • Destination About the Same. "My friend," he said to a young man who bore signs of dissipation, "do you realize that the road you are following leads eventually to death ?" "Er—well, yes, sir." • "Aye, it leads eventually to death! And do you know where the road of sobriety and virtue leads to ?" "Yea, sir; that leads eventually to death, also." Brantford. WaDieneere. A Remark He Couldn't put up With. "Hello, Duckley, you're looking up to- day. What's the matter? Made a ten - strike in Ophir or something like that, eh?" "No, sir;"I have asserted my manhood and ani glorying in it. I've thrown up my job." •" You don't say. How was that ?" "Weil, sir, the boss made a remark to me which I won't stand from any men and (work for him thereafter." word, teething, I thank you for the gene- "Gracious ! "What did he say ?" roue suggestion." . "Yah la cried Beeohing, sharply' ; not at "He said, 'Your seances are no longerrequired.' " this stab; but at a very tangible bite from the aggravated poodle. • "Luncheon is on the table. Are you A Very Absent -Minded Husband. going to sit there teasing Tory all the after- • " Why, it was only a week after our mar - noon, or are you coming in to lunch with riage, while walking arm in arm, my hus- band so far forgot himself, as to imagine me?" asked Mrs. Baddeley, suddenly chang- ing the conversation. he had oin extremely heavy bundle under under his arm, and offered a newsboy six - Mr. Beeohing - got tip, and followed her pence to carry it for him." to the dining -room looking the very image " 'But War'syour bundle, mister,' thelit- of 'sheepishness. Il was only on the other Ile fellow inquired. And will you believe side of an oriental curtain, the quaintest, it, Nathaniel deliberately headed me over snuggest little room, fenced ' off froni all th the small boy, and I was so mortified—" rough winds that blow by carved sandal Her voice was drowned by the orchestra. wood screens and clusters of tall palms. On the small round table, among quaint old • Great Luck. silver end hothouse flowers, there appeared a dainty little luncheon of salmon cutlets, "Papa," said a beautiful girl, as the old a duckling, with all accompaniments in per- gentleman came in very late, ".did you fection, and a bottle of iced champagne, notice the dead body of a young man in the delicately wrapped in an embroidered yard ?" • d'oyley. The glass was Venetian, the plates "Why, no; what's the matter ?" and dishes were Wedgewood. "1 refused young Mr. Paperwate to -night, Mr. teething ate his luncheon, and fed and from the hopelese, despairing look upon Tory, and while the salmon and duckling his face when he staggered from the house, were being discussed there was not another I fear he may have killed himself." word sleeken about Mrs. Ponsonty, or that 4' Well, I'm glad you refused him," said hundred pounds which haa to be found for the old men spitefully, "ho has just beaten her; only Mr. Beeching obeerved that his me five straight games of billiards." hostess, although she mastered delicately --• to his wante, ate hardly anything herself, .. A Pretty Compliment. end pushed. d,way her plate with a heart - Clara—" Mr. Featherly paid nie a very broken air which made him feel very un-. comfortable. pretty compliment last night, Ethel." "Don't mind me," she said, when she Ethel—" Ah, did he ?" , Clara—" Yes ; he asked me if I wasn't' a caught him looking at her. "The diffieulty ate myself so far as to offer that odious veo- As you say, k' young ladrwho always looks out for num- Tithel—" That's hot much of a compli- muet be faced somehow. • have my diamonds. I may have to hurnila ber one." man one of my bracelets as a seeurity for maillt.” her debt" Clara—" He afterwards explained that he This was a concession to the stringency of meant when I am in a shoe, store Pate, and Mr. 13 eething felt that the lady was becoming more reasonable. The foundation of domestic happiness is "Was Peg Woffington the sort of person faith be the virtue of WoMan ; the foundation who would wear diamonds ?" he asked, of political happiness is confidence in tho presently. integrity of man; the foundation of all "She was a amen aetrees, and she Was happiness, temporal and eternal, is reliance very beautiful. I leave you to ledge." • on the goodnese of Go& NOTES BY THE WAY, The uncertainty canoerning titles is thought to he a cause of dullness in New York real estate. Many of the o14 family proper. ties were ;settled in a careless manner, and in some instances heirs have reappeared, causing perp/exity and confusion. As a man and woman were walking in MU- querque the other day a pistol dropped from the man's pocket, and, striking the sidewalk, was edischarged, sending a bullet through the woman heart, The man'who eke wed great grief, said that she was his wife, and the sympo,thiing citizens raised a purse and buried her decently. It was loaned after- ward that the woman was not his wife, hut another's, and had deserted her husband and was running away with the men whets° re- • volver brought the elopement to such a tra- gic end, A peculiar feature of dithipline in the French anay is shown by this regimental • order framed by the Colonel of the Seventieth, after the suicide of a private : " Priv 'be Richer, who was admitted to the class or the band musicians, after having tried to poison himself this neorning, shot bimself, bed'ause he was jealous of a woman of Mose character. The Colonel feels it a duty:to condemn this eot, which, 11 15. did not arise frommladness, would, prove cowardice. A man, and, especially the man, who has the honor to belong to the French army, should know better how to support wil h resignation the ills 31 life, and to spare his blood for the service of Ills country. The Colonel, there- fore, orders that no soldier is ta attend Pri- vate Richer's funeral," The Reverend Dr. Lyman Abbott has by vote of 400 to 00 been chosen by the mem- bora of Plymouth church as their permanent pastor in succession to tfenry Ward teeth. er. It is safe to say that this is another il- lustration of what is sometimes remarked about 'second marriages that the second is rather be contrast than in accordance with the first. • Dr. Abbott is an able man, but scarcely to be spoken of as a man of genius, and certainly he is not one with any .of the erratic peculiarities of the preacher that made Plymouth pulpit famous. He is end- nently proper ansi taireamspect, with a ten- dency sometimes to be heavy, if not post-. lively dull. His words will never be half battles, but that in many respects may be an advantage to those who seek instruction and getedwill rather than a bunch of flowers or a dazzling display of fireworks which sometimes might mean anything or every- thing or nothing as the case might be. The alarmiata are having another good shriek over. the Transcaspian Russian rail- way. It is said that now the Czar holds the key of Iadia in his hand and can use it whenever he pleases. Does it follow that whenever a coantry in the position of Rus- sia opens up its remoter territories by the construction of canals, railways and so on, it must have all imaginable evil designs against its neighbors in view? Russia has surely as good a right to make railways over its own territory as Britaia over its. AI - most every peaceful improvement may be rs the way of neceseity utilized forwar, butit doe not follow that it was made for this pur- pose or that it win be made the occasion of provoking hostilitiee. Russia might just as well object to the construction of the Can- ada Pacific railway, or to any huge, bab peaceful undertaking. Besides, it isicoming„ to be more generally understood that the 1 rule of Russialn Asia is infinitely to be pre- k ferred to the systems which it superseded, ' What is the use especially Of these periodi- cal panics as if Britain held her Empire br even her existence only at the beck of the Czar? If each were to follow out its own work both would find that they had enough of their own to attend to without meddling • with their neighboxs. • In the early -days of Australian gold min- ing when there was an insatiable demand for cheap labour a great number of Chinese were imported. Most of there have renestineta, and sent for their relations, and at the past - sent time, in spite of a tax of $50 a head im- posed to stop turther immigration, the Chi- nese are penetrating inland, Epreading over all the colonies, especially the northern terri• torees, and becoming serious competitors with 'European labourers and artisans. Na- turally enough, there are strong objections to this, and the Colonial Governments are being urged to do sonaething to lessen the competition; but the Chinese Government, on the other hand, complains of the breach of treaty obligations in the imposition of a capitation tax at all, leaving out of the ques- tion its inorease, or the adoption of more strin.gent exclusive measures. ' Three Com- missioners of the Celestial Empire are now visiting the leading Chinese colonies in the East Indies and elsewhere, and they have reported that -the number of colonists is se- veral millions, and that in many instances, the Chinese are very harshly treated. They recommend the apointment of consuls to look ' after their countrymen's intermits, and point out how serious it would be if so many (solo. nists were driven back to the coasts of their native country, John Chinaman evidently means to stand up for his rights, or, like the Cornishmen, he will "know the reason why." Of course the Chinese are not very desir- able settlers in certain respects, because they never become assimilatedito the people among vehora they take up their abode. But it is too much of the good thing to talk of boycot- ting the third part of the Minion race. • There was latelyat marriage in Philadel- phia which caused a great deal of talk and made staid, proper use and wont wonder what the world was coming to. The cere- mony took place in church but the grooms- man and all the- ushers were married men. Thiale, of that 1 The next thing will be that all the bridesmaids, will be matrons, and we at once say that we do not see any particular reason why they should not if all parties ooncerned are inclined that way. Then there was another marriage, also at Philadelphia, at which, after the wedding breakfast anal all that, it was not the happy newly married couple that was sent off with , old shoe and rice salutations, but on the contrary thebride's father and mother were sent off and the young folks took possersaion,ey temporarily of the paternal home and madea themselves comfortable, while the old folks sought a renewal of honeymoon ex- periences in foreign parts. And what is so mad aud unnatural like in all that 13y all means let all please themselves. Th one arrangement is as good as another ex- cept, to be sure, when pater and materfarn- ilias happened to have quite a brood of un- married daughters Aral of cellow, impudent, outspoken boys, in which case it might nob be so oomfortable for the young couple when the parent bircle were away on their old• time matrimonial meanderings. All the same, in the abstract there is nothing more in accordance with the natural fitness o things in the old onstoni than in this new and supposedly daring innovation started in the city of brotherly love. In this free western world nice customs curtsey to great kings and there are about sevelity millions of that clam of oustornen floating around, eaoh one supreme in his own sphere and each one anxious to shoW that he is indepeudent at once in thought and in action.