The Exeter Times, 1890-7-24, Page 4MEG THREDGOLD.
CTEA.PTER L .
If 1 had not been an artist I dare ray I
'would uot have fallen so quickly and so hope-
lessly in lute eitle Meg Thredgohl. -as it
. was I fell a Vie1111 t0 her gray -blue eyes and
le bloude hair, long before Iliad had any chance •
of discoverbeg what a thorooghly good, ftur-
mhiaecl girl sbo was, and 'mew a particular-
ly practioal and proseie view of lite she took
out of thoe poetic
eyee.
Meg was the chila of the overseer of a,
este' mine, a shrewd, hera-headea men Who .
had worked his NV:ty up, and Who stootl very
high in the estimation of his employers. ,
Some :disturbances in the oal district having
brought the subject of the mines prominent- .-
ly before the publit, Mind, I ha -I been sent
north by the editer of an illustrated paper,
to take sketehes of the -effectett aistriets en
the spot. Zee li Thredgold hatl ben very :
good to me, and had not only initiated me f
into all the zit •- of the 111 -t P'
to be for you," said I, incensed, at the man's
coarse presumption, "You make X6,000 a
year ; I don'emake 1,1600 ;but I havea't.the
ill-treatment .of a young wife on zay coil
seienee, nor the possibihty of - her 'turning
up again at an inconvenient moment to
haunt me."
This taunt, which I delivered with all the
foree and point of which I was ,eapable,
eausea my rival to turn livia with rage.
" You--Cocauey whelp .1" he said, in
a low, thick voice, with his teeth set fast.
His fleet impulse seemed to be to attack
nzy pereon ; and although much taller time.
he, I should have stood a poor chance
;testiest his muscular force. But he restrain -
el himself and fixes' upon me a look of
triumphant malice which made me far
more uneasy than a alow would have done.
Then with another dry elmeale • be wattled
off, hie hands hz bis pockets, with an air of
safe superiority. •
My forebodings were realized. That even-
inc when I called at Zech's house -es I gen-
erally aid -to have a cup of tea with lima
. oor was opened by Mrs. hredgold, who
where his own work. lay, but had allowed nie the t
to eheat, his hone and so to beeome ae- told me very shortly that her husband was
"
I
out I ;multi hear him in the room over -
qt.( bd with the girl whom I tiered not head
• te - e td t- • •••f ; but worse than that, Meg --who was
She new it, of course, taut :lee, was a laying the tea table and looking perfectly
ounconeerned-slid not even glance lit my di -
model f discretiou, and received net! theist '
hints and half ay°w4s 'NW' blatraatal feeti'etslteien» fworeuIldwheasvemleineleg!sl'epeatellkeedusoZhe
perturbable calmness which was rather
coucertinea the more so as the senior part- 3rIB'e:tvevte'asececheneesmeettee nsy we:
ner of the farm which owned the Bluesteue
Pit was a constant visitor at the overseer's
unpreteuding little home.
CHAPTER Tt
go neer strangers, but hangs about the van i with magenta and gold. It was a volume
all day long.." of selections of poetry ; a regular lover's gift,
"He will go to strangers, though. He's'I guessed with a smile, as I opened it and
I
been fawning upon me and follownig me." turned to the flydee,f,
Tho girl looked at the dog, who that aso- Bat the inscription there, written. with
ment was lieking my hand. -a quill Inn, iii a hold, firm, masexiline
" Well," saia she in surprise, "I novenaandavriting, startled me beyond ineesure
saw him wary on like that before; never 1." It was this :
The door of the smelting room opeoed. "With dearest love to Lizzie, on her
again, and again the red-faced man called birthday, from Sebert Corringliam."
to my dog friend. I went . into the room, . Then there 'WM a long flourish, and a data
the. mane followed. close at me- heels, of ten years hack. •
' " le this your dog?" I asked of the mom My brein reeled as the possibilities which
with the long pipe, who looked, in spite of this discovery opened. out crowded in man
the character I had jnet !lora of him, pros- my mind. Sebert Corriugliam was a free
. perms and joviel. ' He seems to liave taken. man then 1, And this was the child whom
, a great faney to me, and en I have to hien, hit had never seen i After a brief, passion -
for he's a beauty and no mistake." ate struggle with myself I set my. teeth
" Ay, sir, that a be," mid the dwelt -jack, hard, knowing whet I must de. . .. .
who was evidently% Yorksbirenum. .7 And I " Wallie," I said, in a voiee in which eree
a pieter 4' used to . look, a staudin' .outa, the boy noticed a change. "Will you lend
plank wi' a boy eoteap as Your • Little Lordime this book? I will take great care of it,
Fondeloy, Meek° velvet and crochet et/Mr:and by showing it to some oue I know I cau
and a particular nice 'ead.of "air. It &awed !get you a good Mend." . .
t' folk, 'specially the tvomen, . hotter nor The little led assented at once. •
"Ion are a good friend, . I think," he
id, simply,. •
Leavitt,: my lantern with the boy, and
telling him uot to mention my visit to the
Duckers yet. I hurried away, while Ruff
watched. me wirh a, (Reappointed bark ee• I
ran down the wooden steps..
I think the collie heal had dimly in his
faithful dog's mind that I should take his
little master Away somewhere where it was
warm awl bright;
"All Ile, Ruff, I'll COMO back and look
after hina. " I mid.
And my eneouraging tone set his bushy
tail wagging.
plum putalen vompention or. bearer race,
or any epoch -like: Didn't it, Martha"
, A stout Lady in purple silk, with a black
' " from," who was sitting by her husband's
sule, careless of tobecco-fuines„ nodded em-
phatic meat as she smoothed out the folds
Of her drew. with lerge »atoned hand,
" You've given him up then ?" I asked,
uoting his regretful tone.
"'As given Me oop,' he answered rather
shat -ply. "WI' nothing to do but to eat leis
reed 'as 'taken into his heacl to ceteh
alch. a cold I can't let him show as folk, would
"Da uou like that old Sebert Corringham, 1
Meer I asked her oneday, when I had bee.0 I was meek more miserable/than angry at be saalatt it . was MOUS. • So there I am,
. supperang boy awl dog, and mating testi=
More than usually irritated the eveniug this emit, for I loved Meg so deeply as to he
tare he tele oetteig theelees emelt the eeejee able to grieve aurae over her scant prospect for
partner had east ett my divinity. of haeminess as the Mire of tile raugh brute And he took two or 4. 'e Niels:ma puffs at
There %vas, unhappily, nothing indicative , Cerro -4,111m tit= over lotalsaPPoint'" 1111,Pir*
of a, tender frieutlship between us in the feet meat'. Ion miglit outage another boy till this
of m- ::: tiling her ay ber Christi= name. She ,• "aly work in Lancashire was praetically one lost bis ea1/1,"7 suggested
had becu just :MeThredgold to all bet ate over; ; -
indeed, I shoula have been bat* in " That's what I'm utways a -telling of
g ;
'" e
quaint:nu:es from her earliest Years, and nee : town two or three days before this hut for him 1brokin alre. Duckers triumphant -
'that attempte to adtlrees' her more formally :, the it net in the red brick house on tile . 11•", :
hart been snubbea as presempteoue, sho ', hill- Now: therefore. I went straigat hee.k Dat her iluebentielmt her up with a glance vault' make one journey do for both ; for
011,APTER
I Made straight, for Zech Thredgelil's cot-
tage. I had two missions to fulfil; one. with
Meg, and the other with &bort Corringham.
Not Muir to my surprise E found that I
hml been 44 11.. the famile t.:.ble linen, '; tn. tile 'tattaile bhigitha 1 boel been eeetiffing pf °•.'prtts ' wlien I kno.eked at. the door it was opened
awl wati 1' 1'4, it up with regs on a so ae to be near the pine pial my bill and „", Nae, I couldn't," he sad act,isiveity. hy :geg* illtd I J01114.1 Iteltr the \vice of her
ehithesliue et a little ali6tanve front the grimy i inarched Of with my portmanteau into 1.0„ bean)" f:09.11 t'hay met. be take/a-lake, elderly admirer, 1010 '4.1.9sittiug at the to
'oohing red brick hteise, whiea was her ride , Calney, the nearest tod nwn. A long, snag. anave a, 'eml of 'am Wiest won't do. ; table.
, .L 0,, place it WAS, third Utley, built on a i'Ve tried. 'elm A.utl our boy has a ptir of • . The house was built in such primitive
caloway 014- l4 home. The Whale neigh-
borlwma NMI. 1111,31111a11e for her. I glfuweil steep rbleto of tie. hill.. eta-alai/1g in an in. eyo 4. 4# feteh the women, ana there's no fashion thet the front door alveoli Into the
around on the dreary jaletschhe; the barren, . tmeuittent faehion quite a mile and a lialf denyite he ulnae.; yemr ceer nary 1)'. 1091 family sitting room, but a weediest screen
Igae.k.looking noier with searettly a, tree,the station- I nia(16 straight for a:6 e(m1710101i;e• aud lima in the nose. Be. lied been bent up to keep the drauglit out,
with here and there, en a spa hlaelara thau , V lati btu, altere the litislieely, a. erusty. 4' '4 it doal do for your Lonl Fsgitlelov to eo that no olle 4-11417 1110 hut Meg alma the
the
sniff, anti. mo5r, (4i 'ma smith Now Mille, door was opened. The girl looked startled rest. a wheel high Aimee tlie grotind tie. - tdetatorial old lady, who had taken um into
noting tile eltaft of a veal pit : the rows wail " her sixeciel favor. Seek- me lute her leerier. doevat sniff ;and theft Etta aloim is worth a awl. rather maimed. Da I hastened to re-
ae.,..e.o, ..,
geoup3 of aingr miners' eottages; atee at , soul semi 11-0 nava out of me the reason (44' i" a '.",tr* 0453111.0 her.
the sanceuth-loakiug, creatures who enadal. Oa,' Mack loohe and of nay' sudden deperture. . " Well." set," L as I rese to love the I bal'eul COW to teme you, tl.oita be
to Meg in passing, ste if site heti beM clue of ..1. oeautifla collie. '.4 414. It 1.1 haItt standing rem, 4". I bohe hall seen get well for his afrahL" I add in, a most matter.eafaet
thems(lves, Itte What vairafie lea Me, oh. at the !nu door, followed 1)4. mut sthee by own 1' 4. a$ well as for emirs, poor little tone. 11.1 start for Toullt1011 t0.111orraw morn -
1,,,_ vi iug. But as I haae just learned eoinetithig.
Mined, ameng suelt surrounding?, tse
tlie eorm ' awailging his ta5it while I =hie raY eon- " ' r •
plexian of a nese ana the air:la:ere of a, '.' fehsm. „, "Hell take his time &mutt it, if only to ithatah" be t"t Prat' adrauteZe to ktatwt i
In the meautime she was giving a leisure. she leveled me a box of eigars. They were w.ife thee mid nia•le me aboh-courtesy. "It Yo,Y.
s as Vile mor eaunibled hlr, Dueltera, labile his tiumetaxe I'd better run over here awl tell
•
mama? •''. "Axah atm, tee malady of the Swan
ly answer to uiv qub
estion, very ad t. ,,t4". and very db
ear ; ut for suite his heed( better to lie ail day secoddlin* .irg twistedtlie door handle rather neve.
" Do I like Ur. Coniugliam? Why, of •; liOne ma'am it '.4 49 etuisidered a. special 111114'. 'f oop thau to earn hie bread aud mew 4'. 1',1'. awl seemed te wish ti) saYsemethinge
count; 1.... He's very gotta to father, :end , Privilege t" be offered one, and I dared not his henefaetoe." But I would not give her time. I eould not
thinka a lot of hint. Look at the mty heel 1 refuse. " You're uot. in the snootl. to take I didn't care mirk for the benefactor's trust loyaelf not to do something idiotic if
eame hi and have supper or a eup „t tte, ,, it kindly, but let me tell emu there's many torte, and I quite sympathized with Rita'for tare we came eo parleySo I .rushed on
in
eith him. The.th a great contleseensiou : wore° men about than Seifert 1.144 14 net liking Woe it Was a strange thing, wttat IV 'Veer".
"Your sot [Myer in there -Mr. Corringbam" a geatleiriati of Mr. Corringlutues poet. '': for all he's a bit 14112011 in his way. .Aud sie though, at see how the animal, who had
tion." i for that lass lie married. she was a regular been lying quietly melee the table, tamped --Meg looked uneesy and bluelied-" you
a theeteeeeneeal ! ee11y theta all en the hussy, and it sald her Olathe Imp got her out V,eien 1 opened the dear, and slunk out eau marry him Withaut any fear of his first
other side, I Oat& What pleaeure e,suld hew trouhle with him. And to leave hisn as after me. I p tuted in the 1:111.a few flflfl wife turning up. Sher: slearb I thought it
his soeiety give to any. one e you tame %Inv : Ni e dill, we; enough to turn a saintlier& let Mee to put my pipe away, thinking I would aalY fair te let Yeu loom tlAs as linirn as I
"
well who he twines. Meg"
140Sne
11.* ll .s. num 4.19Corringficin." go into the marks, wenn and have some tea. knete it myself, since I threw the doubt in
t
1 w,cs by thie thee meets/poi *11 13. tehle• '. " Da titat's no realm '.'.'It lie altrtnill 413 I ilisl so I felt seinething tugging at fq your face • this morning.
"Thank you," answered Meg, in a trem
cloth whale in 0 wild mole:tetra to make " make 1111 to another girl when lithe not sure coat. It was Ruff, the eellie ; lie was wag.
myself useful, I hail been eueleavorinle to i he's a tree 11114.11, end um: hie peeition as ttillg 1118 tail and pulling . me toward the Hiatt rftee•
fasteu sip with a :peg on the clothesine. i tenployer to turn another man out Of the Iseek of the hell. Wondering what rati the " And SOW I alienist like to speak to Mr.
V t St00t1 0%1101114: Illy struggles with - III 141," matter with '
him I let him lead Inc aeross Corringiunn. Would aon ask him to see
sequ'rte amuseinent. I wee annoyettwith her " in, lint We're none of us quite fair the stoneleaved floor and alone, a. peewee/ nte? I won't detain. hun more than a few
for twine vain enough to he pleased with inn '. when la 1"re• ;tem no more than .the rest. whital led into the court yard behind the ulleleets."
insinuations. The lase Lerma he's had a wife, and if she inn. At the bottom of this cournyara was Meg was spared the trouble of making
" Dont you know," I went on irritably, likes t / teke the risk, why even if the first a, closed door, to which Ruff lea me, evi- this annommerneut ; for, her elderly lover,
" that hes a hard bati man, and thee he ' shoula turn up, C.raringliam would do the deafly desiring me to open it. I dills°, and with a, most portentioua scowl on his face,
merriest a girl years ago who ran away from rittlit thing ley her and imt let her starve."' he bounded through into a sloping field in now made his appearance at the door, with
him? Perhaps she is .1 -dive now; it wouldn't 'But thee suggestion was intolemble to me. which it large tent was erected, close by his hands planted deeply in his pockets. He
be a, very safe 'thing to marry him," I finish- I epreng up from my seat. The wine, whieh stood a living van on wheels. had beta' my voice, and believed that I
whose head I liaa been caressing, leaped. up The dog mn, becking, up the wooden had come to make another attempt to sup -
steps, and it few momentalater the door was Phut him with Meg.
opened it few inches, and it childish voice, "Can I have it few words with you, Mr.
imam and weak, said ; Corringliam, on it private matter of import -
"Ruff, good. old Ruffle! Where have you ance?" I asked coldly, before he had. tizne
been so long" to speak.
Then -the boy broke into it violent fit of "That's just what I want," he answered,
coughing. I noticed hove thin the little With lowering and ferocious sullenness,
hand was which he put out to pat the dog's which seemed to frighten Meg, for she ut-
head, and 1 wee moyedwith pity for•thepoor tered -n, ery aud glanced from him to inc in
little beggar left out here in the cold. It was terror.
too dark for me to see his face in the shadow
of the door,
"Hallo 1 little man," I cried. "All alone
here? Haven't you got it light?"
"I don't want one, thank you, sir," ans-
wered the boy, timidly. "I'in all right I,"
"That remains to be seen," muttered I.
ed siatefully.
Meg took the tablecloth from me and
answered with her usual deliberation.
" Mr. Corringham would find plenty of
wotnen to take their ehauces of that, I ex-
peet. He's got £6,000 it year, you know.
.And to be hard isn't the same as to be bad,
Mr. Bell. And as for the girl ho married
running away, why it isn't always the hus-
band's fault when that happens."
"Aud you don't mind a little risk for the
sake of i0,000 it year? I see, Miss Thred-
gold."
"I haven't had it offered inc yet, Mr.
Bell," said Meg dryly. "Fortunes don't
get thrown about quite so freely as people
seem to think. Who am 1 that I should
have the spending of 0,000 a year ?"
"You're more worthy of it than any girl
I know," I had to admit. "You wouldn't
fill a great position any the less well for
being able to wash up tea things."
"That's what Mr. Corringham says."
"Oh, Mr. Corringham be lutngee
Unluckily, as I uttered this wish in no
very subdued tone, the person whom it con-
cerned happened to be on his way to Zech
Thredgold's house, and so near as to over-
hear my words. Meg caught sight of him
first, and to my passionate indignation greet-
ed him with a smile at least as cordial as
that she had bestowed on me. I gave him
a curt salute, which he returned more curt-
ly still.
Serbert Corringham was it thick -set man,
under the middle height, with a face which
in response looked as if he had been carved
out of wood, but which was capable of
plenty of strong expressions when his pas-
sions were roused. He treated me to a
stare of infinite contempt as I raised my hat
to Meg and with the excuse that I must be
off to my work turned hastily away. When
I reached the lane at the bottom of the hill,
however, I found that Mr. Corringham had,
by a short cut, got there first.
He stood waiting for me, with his hands
in his pockets, his feet planted. wide apart
and it look of stubborn resolution on his face.
I would. have passed hfin without a word,
b et.his I saw he was determined not to let
n: eft°.
"He.y there, Mr. Paleete-and-brush, 11
word wi' ye, if you please !" he cried, im-
periously, on my approach.
I stopped short, and waited for the threat-
ened "word," which came without delay.
"You're sneakin' after that lass, Meg
Thredgold, up yonder," he said, with a
jerk of his head in the direction of Zech's
home.
"1 am not sneaking after her, I am going
to see her openly, day after day, whenever
I get the chance, because I want her to be
my wife,' I answered defiantly. "And I
don't see how you yourself could have a
better object for your visits."
"Maybe I haven't one so good," returned
Mr. Corringham, with an unpleasant dry-
ness of tone; "but theta neither here nor
there. I take an interest in the girl; I'm
her father's employer, and I don't approve
of young men of your sort philandering
' about her,"
"1 don't see what your approval has to
do with the matter," I said haughtily.
"Don't you," said Corringham, with a
hard chuckle. "Call on Zech to -night and
you'll see.. On the other head, if your wise
, you'll be . content to take my word. for it,
and save the young lady some awkward.
mess."
" Perhaps the awkwardness will tarn out
about me, as if sympathizing with my fii-
ilignation.
" Aud don't you thiuk," I burst out, try-
ing to keep my passion within the bounds
of decorum, " that it would he better for
her to marre• it nun with whom she would
run no such risk? And it young man? One
who would be a companion to her. And
"And a deal better looking and less
rougle and it gentleman, eh ? Well, that's
for the lass herself to say. But, after all,
sir, she's no lady, and maybe she thinks
she'd. not fall in_ love with your Lembo»
ways. She's no fool, isn't Meg Threigold."
"That's just it. She would accustom
herself to it new mode of life without any
diffieulty, being so intelligent. And she
would soon feel more at home in a London
drawing room than in that miserable brick -
field where her home is."
Well, if she married Corringham she'd
have plenty of money -more than you could
give her, I reckon. No offence to 3- on."
"But she'd never learn how to spend it.
Now, I could educate her, and withoat her
knowing it 1"
"Ra, ha lo
This interruption, in the shape of it dry,
hard laugh, game from outside the bar.
Startled and angry, I looked up to see Se-
bert Corringham's wooden face, wearing an
expression of mocking amusement. I could
not tell how much he had heard, but his
head was bent forward in an attitude of
listening attention.
"Educate her, eh 1" he repeated to him-
self, in a voile like a file, "why, thou wan'st
educating thyself, thou young cub, a -falling
foul of thy betters 1"
In his anger, which peeped through
his tone of contemptuous em.usement,
Sebert Corringham fell into a rougher
kind of speech than I had before heard him
use. I turned my back upon him without a
word, and was leaving Mrs. Long's parlor,
when he raised his voice to utter a final
taunt.
"Thou has lost thy chance of a dinner or
a tea now and then at my house, lad. Thou'll
not be on my wife's visiting list, and so I
tell the."
So this coarse brute was Mega choice!
For I could not doubt, both from his easy
tone of assurance, and from the reception I
had. frem Mrs. Tbredgold, that he was boast-
ing on a sure foundation. In an agony of
mortification and resentment, I was about
to rush out of the inn when I was suddenly
restrained by the knowledge that Coning -
ham was waiting at the bar and that I should
luau to pass him. I paused and stopped to
pat the collie which, having apparently
taken a great fancy to me, had followed me
into the hall. At that moment the door of
the smoking room opened, and a red-faced
me,n who was sitting inside with it long
clay pipe in his mouth, called to the dog;
'Ruff, Ruff, coon'. 'ere 1"
But the collie shrank behind me as the
door closed.
1 turned to the chambermaid, who was
crossing the hall. - '
-rib you anew whom this dog belongs
to?" I asked. '
"Oh, yes," she answered at once. " To
the Duckers, a cheap -jack and his wife,
that's staying here. Mrs. Long let then,.
pitch in the field at back, and they're get a
van out there and et tent. A nice pair o'
skinflints they are, and cruel, too. Why,
they've made their Own dog so shy he won't
Running back into the inn 1 provided my-
self with a lantern, and rem:n:11'5
the boy, who was rather frightened by my
intrusion, to let inc in. The old cheap -jack
was right ; he was it "taking -looking 'child.
About Srears old, but looking Younger 011
account of his extreme fragility, Ile had silky
fair hair and largegray eyes, and it gentle ex. Meanwhile Corringham was hurrying for- am.
pression which might well "fetch the women ward, directing our steps over a rough and
folk," as old Deckers had said. broken part of the moor, where I had. never A Woolly Horse.
"This place is too cold for you without a hce 1. It was some minutes before he spoke
Ncw Yorkers are not easily taken
fire, with that cold," I said; while Ruff, evi- in a savage, clogged tone,- which made me
aback, but it large number of those
dently believing that he had brought a good wonder whether the poor little son I had who happened to be in the neighbor -
friend to his young master, stood between discovered for him would not be better even hood of the. Tribune building the other after -
us and wagged his tail. where he was than in the care of such a noon were considerably surprised, to say the
"Oh, no," said the boy, "I have a rug, father. least. At that hour a man seated in a buggy,
and Ruff comes and curie himself up by me "Now then," said he at last, 14 what clo and driving what at first sight appearedto
and keeps me warm." you mean by slinking up here after that lass be it horse, drew up to the kerb. The
"And do they leave you shut up here by when you had your orders 'Hands off ?' " man's name was Frank Praundfelter,
yourself all day ?" I asked, trying to hide my "I take no orders from you," I said very of Easton Penn., and he said the animal was
indignation. • quietly, knowing waat a sure position my & "buffalo horse." He had just bought it
"OJi, I don't mind. I have a book that I errand gave me. "But as it happens, the from Ose.ar Stempler, in Monroe county,
can read. while the light lasts, and I don't business that brought me here had nothing, Penn., who had bought the animal's mother
feel I want to run about now. Mrs. Duck- or next to nothing, to do with Miss Thred- mare) out of a drove of Texas horses
to want to "That's a eluded lie, you-" about twelve years ago. The "buffalo
and dinner ; but I don't seem
ers never forgets to give me my breakfast gold."
horse" is a gelding, fifteen and one-third
eat much, and I shouldn't much mind if she I felt myself suddenly seized by both arms, hands in height, and weighs 1,100 pounds.
forgot." turned, and forced backwards over the rough It is completely covered with a coat re -
The little fellow, while rather alarmed by ground. I shouted "Help 1" I struggled, sembling coarse buffalo fur in close curls
the thought of what the consequences but I had been taken too much by surprise. eight inches long, growing equally thick and
might be of admitting a stranger, was evi- I could neither free nor stop myself. Quicker long on all portions of the body and legs.
dently delighted to get some relief from his and. quicker we went, over ground which In the winter, Mr. Praundfelter said, the
loneliness by this conversation. He told me, sloped down, until suddenly stopping with a buffalo hair rives the horse a remarkable
in answer to my questions, that he had jerk, my assailant flung me from him, trip- appearance, the more so as the hair on the
mother used to make A. moment later I was lying emiSloesokd lefnksee four
uorn takniyo ko tfhu re r. opo part, amps 10 i tneg
about him ; that his
never known his father or known anything ping me up.
many feet ltehge
dresses, bat that she had died "oh, ever so below, at the bobtom of a pit which had In its gait it resembles a cow more than a
long ago," as Wallie added with a sigh, been dug for quarrying purpeses, but since horse. Nevertheless, it is said to be a good
and that Mr. and Mrs. Duckers, who were abandoned. I had fallen withiny right arm roadster and has the pulling power of a mule.
lodgers in the same house with his mother under me, and ehe stab of pain I felt ix; it The shape of the animal's head is distinctly
when she died, had adopted him and taken as I touched the earth told me it was broken. that of it buffalo, and in lieu of a mane there
him round the country with them ever At the same time I had sense enough to be is an extra growth of brown hair: In its
since. thankful I had not fallen on my back, for hindquarters, also, the horse closely re -
No, they were not unkind, he went on itt assuredly if I had Sebert Corringhain would sembles the buffalo. The owner said that
answer to it further question, at least not have feared my rivalry no longer. neither he nor Mr. Stempler had ever heard
until his cold got so bad. Then Mr. puckers I think that, having giving this pleasant of a similar animal. The leiter luel not been
.
had said that Wallie's mother came from little vent to his passion, Corringham had a able to secure any satisfactory pedigree of
these parts, and perhaps they might be able moment of coneginiction.I saw his burly it.
to find. some of her friends. If not, .the boy figure looking down into the pit, as he said
continued with a sob, they . said something gruffly, yet, I thought, not without anxiety:
about finding his mother's parish and put- "You'd better not have interfered, you
ting him into the workhouse there. ' see."
"'What was your mother's name Wallie ?" My head was beginning to swim and ley
I asked, gently, while I privately clenched limbs to feel numb. I k.n.ew that I most
my fist with a:strong desire to "go for" old make the most of my time. .
Duckers. • "Come down here," I said ; "you haven't
"Lizzie," said he beard what I had to say."
"But she must have been Mrs. Some- • After a little hesitation, Corringham
thing. What did people call her'i" ed round the edge of the pit and came down
Waffle could not remembernalle had a by an easier way than he had given me.
book with laer name in it, but it was only 'Put your hand in my left hand pocket
just "Lizzie." He could show it to me. here," I said. " My arm is broken, or I
The boy brought out of a box, ' containing would not trouble you. Take out a book , No man is so insignificant as to be sure
such private treashres as he possessed, a you find there." his example can do no hurt. --[Lord Claren-
book m a binding which had once been gay Sebertgave 11 growl like an angry bear ;hien.
it was ins way of showing a pang of re,
moms. He complied without a. word, and
drew out the volume of 'poetry lie had given.
to the girl he married. I SEM 111111 shake like
a leaf; I heard 11 hoarse exclamation.
"Who gave yon this?" he aske01 in a
low, shaking voice,
"Your son."
There was a 'moment of absolute silence.
Then the rant+, surly man fell on his knees
beside me and began blubberinglike a baby,
incoherently thanking me, blessing me, ini-
ploriug iny partials, begging me to tell him
more. 1,1, as his wife alive ?
"No," said I, "yoxx are quite free to marry
Meg Thredgold.
"Oh, I don't know about that," said Car-
ringhaue slowly. "She likes yoa best, you
know."
I struggled, in spite of (hepain 10 1113 arm
to turn awl look alto his face.
"Do you mean that?" I asked, abruptly.
"Certainly I do. what made me
so savage. I think I'll just go end, tell her
what Pee done. It'll do me good to make a
clean breast of it, and Meg won't spare me,
if I know the lass."
He hurried off, heartily ashamed of him-
self, penitent, humble. I lost consciousness
as soon as he was out of sight ; ancl before
I had root -matt altogether 1 bed momentary
gleams of intelligence, during which I knew
that I was being, earriesi along by two men,
one of whoua '.'.as Corringham and the other
Zeelt Thredgold, while Meg herself was walk-
ing by my side.
NVIlee the (bedew KM me he declared that
I had sustained, 14 compoun11. fraeture of the
right ankle, besides breaking iny right arm.
But I didn't eare. The more there was the
matter with me, the longer I would be be-
fore I coultl leave the dearest spot on earth
to me-Zeelt Thredgold's little houee 0'1 1.110
moor. However, when I did seave, I took
the charm of the place with 1110. Mel:never
had eared for Sehert, else add, oud uever in-
tended to marry him.
" But I thought," she added with herr°.
sale North -country caution, "that you belle;
SO 11111011 younger and better -looking, and
lieving so much the prettier mannere, I was
perbaps letting myeelf be led away so much
hy the eyes. And so I thought I wouldn't
Jaall) at you, hot would wait a little mid see
how you terned out."
" And arc Tau tatisfied now, Meg 1"
She 'wasn't goingeo spoil me by too 11111ell
eittisiVelleSS. She jUt looked at Tide Old 4,1
the corner of her eye rind said. "
Sebert (*weans -them gaxe us a wedding pre-
sent more fit for a duke and duelices than for
a. poor artist and his wife. The recovery oi
hie child -for little Waffle proved 10 110 ire
demi laS$411-eoftened his rough nature, aud
made a heppy man of him. The lasyda deli-
cate health was now his only troulise. He
took the 40(1 about, to warmer climates
when the winter eame on, end whether on
sea, or laud the one coustaut attentlaut on
father and son W443 Riff, the collie. Par we
all feel that there would have been no lov-
ing father's armeasind no comfortable home
for the outeast, if it had not been for the
fidelity and segacity of Wallies chum.
OauadiauPhospbate Proportien,
Ortewe, July 2-1.--Detinite information
him reached Ottawa in reference to the forma.
tion of the Engliell phosphate trust for the
purpose of buying out Canadian phosphate
properties and. developing them. 'Ike capital
se placed, at Sa,000,000. The list of the
fenders is o. remarltable one. It is beaded
by his grace the Duke of Westminstsr, who
is followed liv the Duke of Riehmond and
(fordo.% the hike of Portland, the Duke of
Abereorn, the Duke of Sutherland anti the
Duke of Fife, somindaw of the Prinae of
Wales. These five dukes are succeeded
on the list by a 1310.1111118, tWO earls, six
beams and the Prilled (tannic de Polig-
nae. Then come it munber of other well.
knotyn names such as that of Sir James
Whitehead, Mr. Mundellm M. P., Mr.
Sampson, S. Lloyd, etc. Among, the
Canadian members of the syndicate stre
Sir Caebnir (tweak' and Mr, Saudford
Fleming. The dignity of the founders of
the trust does not entitle it to public sur -
port beyond what is due to the project as a
business venture, but the board of directors
is add to be composed of shrewd business
men inwhose hands the interests of tl•e share.
I was in no way alarmed by his tone. But holden will be safe. However, the prosper -
Meg knew the brute better than I. He ity of the company largely depends upon tle
selection of properties for purchase and
development, and as well also upon the
prices to be paid therefor. If these be ex-
cessive all chances of dividends for the
shareholders aro destroyed, so that the
directors will after all be largely dependei t
upon the advice of their agents in this
country. Meanwhile phosphate properCes
hereabouts are booming. .An Ottawa gentle-
mae who eight years ago paid .$75 for a
share in certain phosphate lands was recently
offered $10,000 for the same property.
seized Ma hat, and pulling the door shut et
roughly, took me by the arm with a strong
grip, and turned up with me across the moor
to the left As he led me rapidly away, a
woman appearedat the window, It was too
dark for me to be able th see more than this,
that it was Mee, and that shot was making
me gestures. of warning. I felt far too
secure in my power of taking ore of myself
to take much heed of these,' but I was glad
to find that my safety was not altogether a
matter of indifference to her.
The National Failing.
Jackson-" I'm going to start a new pap-
er, and I think I'll call it The 'Umbrella."
Merritt-" Why ?"
Jackson--" Because everybody who sees
it will take it."
Merritt -lc Yes, people would take a, but
they wouldn't pay for it."
Next to virtae the fun of the world is
what we can least spare.
Ayer's Hair Vigor
IS the "ideal" Ilair-dressing. It re.
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a fresh and vigorous growth ; prevents
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dandruff: makes the
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"Several months
ago 111V bair eornt
menced falli»g out,
,Ca, and in a. few weeks
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heavy growth of hair- I recommen(t
your preparation as rhe best In the
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Ofary A. Jackson, Salem, Mass.
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After one mouth's trial of Ayer's Efate
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riiIMARAD 111r
Cr. 4. C. Ayer & Co., Lowelt, Mau.
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Poses to sigh tvoady,thestry
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HOUSEHOLD REMEDY.
Hama; on, Ont.
Dear 'have used four rain
Ixtrruduator in fontlif for
et erythintc that a 1'4100117 14 an.
flieSed with. such as Coact:0.4'ot ds
Spralut and tiaras,
footkatho. and wherever there is
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It tailze world to he ntirst-einos
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Pros, Prohibition Society.
"'""..raat "ast
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bald by all druzzuss.
F. F. DAILEY ti. C3., Proprietors, Hamilton.
t
•;•0
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Female
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AvOw ALL IMITA-
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TM< E ANY OTHER
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Perfect PliEll
Sold for S11.00. until lstely.
Beet 581 watch in tho world.
timekeeper. war...
ranted. Heavy Solid Gold
klunting Calms. Beth ladles'
rflllgents' !Seca with works
end cases of equal value.
Otte Person 4, each to.
caitly can secure one froe,,
together with our large and val.
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