Loading...
The Brussels Post, 1895-7-26, Page 2POS", HEART_ TO. FIEART3 o , LovE' UNgxi, INo o.ca .. CHAP:IERV.-4009l,LNUSDO though I called twice at Scotland Yard Thq dread da 0 tI o funeral dawaetl to"inquire," epta ;.ober 6th.—Found A brief note in yp. m i. Upon her leaning u ndrawers evidently ad - 1 and, oneof i rte d o t tl loam a sod a e P n I a a r o and , g dressed to myself, containing more joal- one tfradee againet Lady Grace, whom she insists upon imagining I am about to marry ; poor, foo'ieh girl !" Theee and ether eutriee of the ammo kind plainly proved that Mark Deloraine had never married Kate O'Connor, and Roger's heart sank like lead in hie breast ao he perueed them. 91 hen every receptacle in the Abbey where a ,will could possibly have been platted had been tboroughiy examined, Roger was obliged to own himself beaten and to admit that his beloved Hilda was now indeed namelees, honteloas. and, save forhimaelf, utterly friendless. "I shall remain here, Mr. Mantaoute," Wilmot had said, "and it is, I think, ad. viable that Mies O'Connor should leave ae 8000188 she can make it cunvenient, in a week or two atany rete, as Colonel Deloraine wishes to visit the Abbey and will not do so while she romaine. Dx. Wentworth has promised to inform her of what my client proposes to do for her." And Roger bad po resouroe but to promise to see Hilda and tell her of the fate. in store for Mark Deloraine'e idolized daughter. lover's arm, in angnieli lar tom deep ler tears, Hilda followed the COMM wbiob, Covered with a oilver.friagod velvet pall, was borne upon the ehonldere of hie men to the beautiful old church, where all that Woe mortal of Mark Detereine wee deposit. ed in the vault beneath where aq many of his aneeetcre elept their lest long sleep. When Hilda reentered her desolate home, Nigel 'Wentworth stepped forward and requested her preemie° in the library, and, aoosmpanied by Monteoute and Mrs. Pal- mer, who, with the Vicar, Maria and Simone] of the dead Squire's moat intimate friende, had returned with her to the Abbey, ahs proceeded to the library, A middle-aged' man of grave aspect stood on the rug in front 0 the huge fire ; he bowed formally to Hilda as she entered, and Mr. Wentworth said ; "This gentleman is Mr. Wilmot, the confidential adviser of your unole, Colone Reginald Deloraine." Hilda held out her hand to the strange lawyer, and asked timidly : "Is my unole hero, Mr. Wilmot 1" "No, madam," he replied. " Colonel Deloraine's health is delicate, and his medical men forbade him taking a journey in such inclement. weather. I am here to attend to hie interests. "I am not aware that that is necessary," said Roger hotly,stung by a certain some. thing in the lawyer's manner, for which he was quite unable to account. "Mise Delo. rains is her father's only child and acknow- ledged heiress, and 1 believe Mr. Went. worth here con assure you that It was his client's intention chat his daughter should inherit everything," "Possibly," said Mr. Wilmot, calmly ; "and perhaps Mr. Wentworth, being, as you say, in the late Mr. Delorame'e cond. dance, can also inform me whether the equire left any will." "I should say certainly not," said Roger. "I never heard him hint at such a thing ; everyone knew that his daughter was sole heiress." Again the same unpleasant smile curved Mr. Wilmot's lips as, taking no notice of the impetuous young man, he turned to Nigel, and said : " 1 asked you, sir, whether the late Mr. Deloraine left a will or not ?" Nigel turned as pale ae death, and paused a moment ere he replied. Surely bio good and evil angels strove for Inas• tsry in that brief pause. Alas 1 unavail- ing, for he answered in a firm, steady voice : "Not that I am aware of, and I was entirely in his confidence. He would hardly have employed any one else to execute his wishes. There was no neces• Pity for any will, and his death was so eudden." "Just so," replied Colonel Deloraine'e lawyer. " Then I have to inform you that I claim all the estate, the house, lands, funded property, plate and jewels, on behalf of my client, Colonel Reginald Deloraine, who is the Bole surviving rela- tive of the late Mark Deloraine." " You must be mad,' exclaimed Heger, starting forward and laying a heavy hand on ltlr. Wilmot's shoulder, " that you make such unseemly jests at such a time ae this. How can any one be more nearly related to Air. Deloraine than his own child, Hilda Deloraine?" "Hie own child, possibly," replied Wil. mont, "but not Hilda Deloraine. Hilda O'Connor is the squire's illegitimate child, and as such cannot inherit one penny of his ortune." "Oh, my God 1" broke from the white lips of the unhappy girl,aad Roger rushing up to Wilmot, would have felled him to the ground had not Wentworth placed himself before him. "For Heaven' sake, commit no violence Mr. Montacute," he exclaimed; "you will do Miss Deloraine no good, and yourself a great deal of harm." "Let him retract tint lie, or I will force hie words down his throat," said the young man, struggling to free.himeelf from Went - worth's grasp. "Itis no lie," rejoined Wilmot calmly, "Do you think, air, that I should he such a fool as to assert a thing I could not prove. Either produce the register of Mies Del• oraine's marriage with Catharine O'Connor, or the squire's will; if you can do neither, this young lady must be prepared to vacate the Abbey as soon as possible." It is impossible to describe the effect which Mr. Wilmot's speech produced upon the assembled company, Poor Hilda tried to speak, but in vain, and with a low cob of unutterable anguish she sank upon the ground in a atate cf insensibility. "Aunt," said Roger reproachfully to hie relative, who had sat in stony oilenee Jur. ing the whole Beene, as he raised Hilda in his arms, "come and help to restore my poor darling." "Better ring for her maid, Roger," said the lady eternly; but Roger, looking defiantly at his aunt, lifted Hilda from the floor, and bore her in his strong arms from the room. Mr. Wilmot turned to Nigel and said gravely: ' "It is a sad blow for the poor girl, Mr. Wentworth, but you may depend upon it that I have only asserted the truth. I am surprised that Mr, Deloraine did not make a will," "I did not say that he did not, only that I was not instructed by him on the sub. jest," interrupted Nigel. "Well, then," said Mr. Wilmot, "it is our duty to make a search at once. Of course, my client only wishes to obtain what is justly hie right, and should no will be found, I am instructed to offer Mists O'Connor the sum of 100 pounds a year for her support, and of course all her own personal property is at her own die. poral." Roger returning at this moment, the three gentlemen proceeded to search in every place, likely or unlikely, where the will might have been deposited, but all to no avail. They continued their quest while the short Winter day deepened into dusk, and resumed it again the next morn. ing until every deed box, and chest, table drawers and desks had been thoroughly turned out, and still there was no eign of. either will or marriage certificate. Among other papers 0 the squire's they found a diary bearing the date of the years in .which Katie O'Connor bad left hie home. Among the entries were the fol. lowing brief lines : "August 16, -No clew to the where• mbouto of poor . Katie and her child, CHAPTER VI. " A MILD OF MISFORTUNE 1" Roger found Hilda seated in the dressing. room bending over a writing table sorting papers and burning lettere. She raisedher bead with a sad smile as her lover entered the room. ' You bring me no good news, Roger, I can see by your face,' she said, rising and going to meet him, pale indeed, but perfect, - resolute and composed, "No, my poor darling girl," exclaimed the young man ; " we can find no traceof any will, and indeed, I hardly expected wo should do so, as Mr. Wentworth awned so positive that the squire had never made one. Well, we must bear it, darling," drawing her to his bosom and kissing her pale lips with fond passion. " There will be no disrespect to the dear squire's mem- ory in my giving hie child a home at once. We will be quietly married next week, dear, and go away for a short time, till this nine days' wonder is forgotten." " And do you think, my dear, generous Roger, that I will do you so great a wrong as to become your wife now-- penniless, ow-penniless, and with thio cruel stain upon my name ? No, love, I will not be so selfish. I can never become your wife," a hitter sob choking her voice as she spoke, while she gently disengaged herself from his circling arms. " What utter nonsense you aro talking, Hilda," exclaimed Roger, •impetuously. "Why, do you think I will ever give you back your promise? Never 1 Of that I oan assure you. 'What does it matter to me whether your name is Deloraine or O'Connor? You are my Hilda all the same, and my name, dealing, shall be yours as soon as you will take it. " You forget your aunt, Roger," mur. mured Hilda, suffering him, however, to draw her close to Otte faithful breast. "What will Mrs. Palmer say?" " Oh, never mind my anus" rejoined her lover. "She always does everything I wish. Besides she always loved you, Hilda." But, in spite 0 his bold words, he felt an uneasy qualm ae he remembered his aunt's look and tone when she spoke of Hilda, whose sweetness and beauty in Aire. Palmer's opinion could not atone for her lose of fortune and the bar sinister on her ee:etchedh. What need to repeat all the lover's fond, foolish words, as he urged a speedy marriage upon Hilda? Enough to say that, despite her better judgment, sheyielded to his impassioned pleading, and promised him that when she (eft the house of which she had always been conei• dared the heiress it should be for a husband's rcof and a husband's protection. And they eat together on the sofa while the short Winter day deepened into dusk, Hilda with her golden heat' pillowed upon Roger's tweed shooting jacket, planning a future together, heedless 0 the heavy storm clouds so soon to break upon their heads. The servants had turned the house of mourning into a house 0 feast- ing, and were entertaining some droppers - in from the village with strong tea and unlimited pseip, and it was 6 o'clock before Hilda's maid brought in her mistress's tea, with a murmured apology for the lateness of the hour. Like all the rest of the household, the lady's maid knew that Hilda had fallen from her high estate, and was not slow to take advantage of the change in her situation. When Parkins had drawn the heavy velvet curtains over the two large windows and stirred the fire into a cheerful blaze, lighting the clusters of wax lights upon mantelpiece and writing table, Roger rose up, and, taking Hilda's hands in his, bade her an aflectionate faro - well, and, promising to ride over and see her on the morrow, followed Perkins from the apartment. As Hilda sankdown in her luxurious chair by the fire and sipped her tea out of the exquisite Sevres cup, how little did she dream of the change in her destiny that the next twenty-four hours would bring forth. Her heart was very heavy as she sat there in lonelinese and sorrow, and her bright eyes were dim with tears as she thought 0 the tender father whose sudden death had left her so deem late. " Oh, my darling," she sighed, lifting anguished eyes to the likeness of Mark Deloraine, which smiled at her from the velvet -covered mantelpiece, "could you he happy if you knew hew terribly your child fe suffering, how lonely she is now without your fond love, your tender com- panionship?" As she thus apostrophized her beloved dead she perceived a note whioh Perkins had deposited upon the writing table by her side—a delicately perfumed note, in a square, pale -gray envelope, its elaborate monogram to violet and silver, bearing the letters "E. P." Takiue it up and glancing listlessly at the direction, a wave' of Dolor flooded her pale cheek on seeing that it was addressed to " Mies O'Connor," and was in the well- known haddwriting 0 lire. Pahner, .A frown contracted her brow as she tore open the note and read as follows : "The Temple, Thursday, "Dear Miss O',Coanor"—('feho 'might have spared me that blow" she murmerod, "especially as she hap alwaye called me Hilda," and she resumed the perusal of Mee. Palmer's curt epistle,") "I am anxiouo to see you at once upon buainees that admits of no delay, and will oallat the. Abbey tomorrow morning, between 10 and 11' o'aloek, and trot to find you alone aid dioongagad, Believe me, truly youre, E, PAo,WEn, The note dropped from Hilda'e hand and the tears she had hitherto repressed Orem, oda. " Now cowr l 1" she .exelai ped between her oohs, "how insulting 1 And only a week ago she coiled boreal( my warmest, truant friend, Oh, papa 1 papa 1" said the unhappy girf, flinging hoirooli upon her knees by theoofa and hiding her fade in the brocade oushiono, "takeour poor Hilda away from all thie cruelty 1 How oan 1 live, despised and alone 1" Tho next morning,puuotually a. t the hent' elle had named, the door of Hilda'o boudoir was opened by Perkins, who announced Mrs, Palmer. Hilda rose from her seat and advanced to greet the old Ludy, whom elle bed not seen eine the sad day of Mark Deloraine's funeral, "You wished to see me, Mrs, Palmer 7" cite faltered, as ehe whealed an easy chair close to the blazing fire to her visitor. "Yee, Hilda," replied Mrs. Palmer, "I am very a'nx1ous, as an old friend of the poor Squire's, to know whether I oan aid you in your plans for the future, and it is time you made some arrangements, as Mr, Wilmot) Inform me that Colonel Deloraine wishes to some to the Abbey the week after next, and of course you cannot re. main here much longer." Poor Hilda felt her heart sink like lead in her breast at this unfeeling speech, and it was with the utmost diffioulty that she could command her voice sufficiently to reply: 1 have made no plane, Mrs. Palmer, Roger was here yesterday, and he wished me to"-- At the mention of Roger's name, Mrs. Palmer at once abandoned the smooth "society" tone in which she had hitherto spokenand exolaimed i : "It s better to speak plainly to you Hilda, and to assure you that I cannot un-' der the oircumeta0oee, countenance any engagement whatever between yourself and my nephew. Surely your own good sense would have told you title without my inform. ing you of it 1" Hilda's spirit rose as she answered : "I did offer to release Roger from the engagement, Mrs. Palmer, but he refused." "1 dare say he did, foolish, headstrong boy 1" rejoined the old lady. 'But I told him this morning, when he mentioned the subject to me, that unless he consented to be guided by my wishes I would alter my will and leave all my money to the County Hospital." And what did he say?" Poked poor Hilda, eagerly. "Say ? Oh, he talked a great deal of sentiment on the subject, said he consider• ed himself bound to fulfil his engagement, talked grandly of working for his wife,and when I asked him what he proposed to do he bounced out of the room in a rage." "Dear Roger 1" murmured Hilda, ten. derly. "Foolish Roger, I say 1" interrupted the irate lady. "Why, what is he fit for ? He has no profession, no means of earning a living. Re told me he would take a gamekeeper's place, or enlist, sooner thap give you up ; but I think I know you better than to suppose you would drag the man you profess to love down to poverty.. Surely Hilda, you will never hold him to his promise ? If you do, I will diaeard him from my heart,and under no circumstances shall he have a penny of my money." "But why? \,That have I done ?" asked the unhappy girl. "Nothing, Hilda," answered Mrs. Pal- mer, gravely. " Yon are the innocent victim of the sine of your parents. It is not your toes of fortune -that I could overlook ; but I will never consent to my nephew marrying a woman nameless tad disgraced as you are. Had the squire's death taken place one day later you would have been Roger a wife, and I must have submitted to the inevitable, though 1 think it would have broken my heart ; as it is, I am quite determined that I will never consent to the marriage. Stop"—for Hilda was about to speak— " entreaties are of no avail. If your father had provided for you—ae it was hie duty to do—of course my nephew could have done as he pleased, but how long do you think you would be happy together, if you saw him a beggar, deprived by you of all the comforts and luxuries to which he has all his life been accustomed Come Hilda, do not let your selfishness ruin the man you love. Renounce Roger of your own free will, and I will provide for your future. I will give you such a slim of money as will render you independent, and--" Stop, Mrs. Palmer 1" exclaimed the girl, " you have said enough. I will take no bribe to give up the man I love better than life itself; but I will not be the cause of his ruin—the victory is yours, you have conquered. Explain it to Roger in the beet way you are able, and give him thin," drawing from her finger the diamond ring which had been planed there by her happy lover on their betrothal day. And without another word Hilda turned and left the room, leaving the old lady to find her way down staire and to her carriage as beet she could. When Hilda reached her own roam, the tears whioh she had with diifreulty repress- ed during her tnterview with Mrs. Palmer burst forth, and throwing herself face downward upon the embroidered satin. coverlet of her bed, the unhappy girl gave roe vent to her grief. And, indeed, the poor orphan had good cause for tears. Raft, at one blow, of father, name and fortune, she had now to drain to the dregs the oup of bitterness, and to find hereelt despised by her friends and parted forever from that fond, true•hearted lover whom she loved so dearly, so unselfishly. One thought alooe,amid the tumult of her flout, found place in Hilda's breast, and it was that of instant flight I She felt that she dared nob remain within reach of Roger's tender pleading, for she judged the young man aright and knew that he would never agree to Mee her up. And the heroic, self-sacrificing love which had supported her in the presence of Mrs. Palmer, would, she feared, be ae flax in the fire of Roger's passionate pleadings: No, oho could no longer remain at the Abbey, and she determined to leave it alone, and secretly, that very night. The resolution nn sooner was made than she proceeded to act upon it. Rising from her couch and pushing away the wavy tangles of her hair off her tear -stained faoe, Hilda commenced her preparations for her departure forever from her father's roof. They were fow and simple, She packed into as email a compose as possible a couple of ohanges of linen and some necessary articles for the tui. let. Theee she deposited in a moroe0o leather bag. Fortunately, 'elle had an ample sum of money, in notes and gold placing ten sovereigns in her puree, she. made the rest of her money into to parcel,. to go into the richly fitted dreesing•bag, which, adorned with her monogram in pink coral and pearls, had been one of her father's wedding "presents. 'A bitter trial it was to Hilda to separate her own valuable jewelry from that which had JULY 26 been the gifto ref her laver, ea well ao wedding prceeute from Womb and ao- guaiptanoee! Sho piled the oostly Orin - hate upon a shelf fn her wardrobe, aid plamod upon the top of the pile a brief note to Mr, Wentworth requesting him to he so kind AS to return the gifts to the different friende who had offered them to the heiroos of Marham Abbey, Her own jewelry, which reprooentod a small fortune, she peeltedtin her dreeoing-bag, She lef0 untouched the large boxes and oases whioh contained her catty wedding trousseau, placing in readiness a eealokin coat and cap, which, with a large for -lined oloak, she intended to wear upon herjour- ney. By the time her preparations were completed it watt paeb three o'clock, and, glancing at her watott,Hllda found that she would have ample leisure to pay a brief visit to the park and look once more upon the manes where the drama of her life had been played out. It was a bitterly cold afternoon, and muffled in her costly furs, Hilda descended the grand etaireaee, No obsequious footman was Waiting in the hall to attend as 0 yore to her slightest wish, and Hilda left the house and proceeded into the gardens without having been seen by any of the servants. She made the tour of the eoneervatcries and hothouses, in which Oho had taken euoh pride, pluoking a few fragile blossoms and delicate terns to accompany her into exile. Who would ever love those exquisite flowers as oho had done, she thought, ao she took her lonely way to the Queen's spring, where, in like golden Summer weather, she had been clasped to Roger's heart and listened to his words of love. As Che etood leaning against the marble balustrade, and watch- ing the frozen watoro at her feet, the frag- ments of a Hong whieh.her lover need to sing -in his ringing baritone voice came sadly to her memory. How changed her fate had been since those words of undying love had sounded in her ears. (To B0 CONTINUED.) THE COURT OF MADAGASCAR. Queen Itanavaloiho and the Premier-11ns- baud Who Bides. Dr. Meyer d'Estray describes in the Journ- al des Economistes of latest date the court of the sovereign of Madagascar. Ranavalona 1II., the reigning Queen, says Dr, d'Estray, is far from having delicate features, and her complexion is considerably darker than most of her subjects. Her figure is above medium height, She dresses in European garments, and upon state ocoasions wears a robe of red velvet and a crown of gold. Her usual residence is not the enormous three•etory palace ivtoja Kamiadtna, built for Ranavalona I. by a French architect, but a stone mansion hard by called the, Palace of Masandro, arranged in good taste and with proper regard to comfort. The Queen's supreme power i0 only apparent, the real sovereign being her husband and Prime Minister, Raiuilair'fvoni, a man of 65, who has Been three Queens on the throne and has for thirty -years brought tempest or fair weather to the State, as seemed to him best. He is small and lean and rtah. His wavy hair bespeaks his humble origin, Under an air of good - fellowship he conceals extreme energy, an iron will, end much keenness of intellect. Withal he is AN ABLE POLITICIAN. He lives in the Palace of Zanovota, called the Silver House, because, when It was built for Prince Rakoto, son of a former Queen, the Prince caused it to be studded with silver nails and furnished with silver 'cake. The Premier -King dresses plainly save on greatoccasions, when he wears a dolman of white satin, embroidered with gold ; short trousers ending in white stockings, with ribboned garters ; great huskies, with very high heels, and suspend- ed uspended from his shoulder a cross belt, heavy with gold, which supports a sabre, whose scabbard of black leather is encrusted with gold. Round hie neck he wears the oollar of a commander of the French Legion of Ho Pernor.haps the most impressive annual ceremony of the court 10 that which occurs Nov. 21, the tenth day of the Malagasy new year. Business is suspended and the sovereign commands that enemies become friends for at least that day. So literally is the command obeyed that wives return to their divorced husbands. Gifts are exchanged the country over. At 8 o'clock on the evening of Nov. '21 there is a salvo of artillery, and the native dignitaries, along with distinguished Europeans, hasten to the Palace of Silver. 'Tore the Queen is found enthroned upon a dais covered with red velvet. The servants of the Queen file past offering presents. Then the Prime 1linister makes a long speech, reviewing the events of the year juet closed, praising the virtues of the Queen, and holding up to the people the wisdom of her Government, which is hie own. As .he reviews each act of Government he asks whether it was just and right, and TEE 011013TED REPLY from the assembled company is "Manlier izar I" "It is true." The Queen, who has a shocking habit of tobacco chewing, keeps it up vigorously throughout her husband's speech, and uses a silver vase as a cuspidor. When the speech is done the relatives of the Queen, from her oldest uncle to her tiniest nephew, filo before her bearing epoono for preparing the traditional rice, Before the rum ispresented the Queen disappearebehinda curtained soreen,wliere a basin of warm water Las been made ready, and takes a bath. The cannons announce that the purification of the royal person is complete, and the Quoen, having dressed, returns to the throne. She bears now an ox horn filled with water from her bath. Having wet her fingers with the water, she streake her forehead with different caste marks, and having sprinkled those round about, .she solemnly eats several spoonfuls of rice, the first 000ked in the eountrysince the opening 0 the now year. This ends the official fete, but it is continued next day and for several days thereafter by the people throughout the oountry with various observances and much teal. Tho Queen lets loose in the streets of the capi- ta) half adozen fat cattle, which are madly pursued by the people, the first man to bring down and seize one of the beasts be- coming its possessor. Made Up In Satisfaction, He was the meanest man in town, an the druggist's Mork hated him a000rdingly. Ho came into the store and asked for arsenic. How much ? said the clerk. Five oento' worth, I want to poison a dog with it. Oh, ah,.politoly smiled the clerk; you want to commit suicide, 1 perceive. He didn't wait for the platen after that,. and the olerk lost is Bale, but made it op in satisfaction, P AQR,JCULTURAL The Outlet of Tile Drain, The outlet of a tile drain oilould not be of tile, A more stable ending to a .drain is needed tc mist the option 0 frooG, waabing, eto, It ie beet to have the outlet conetruoted of atone Or brick, er both, and to have the opening covered with One wire : i ..,4.1..E '/ lAlr. i.,�ILL I, i„i1 �tr Mji�(ta netting to keep out emelt animals, Tho stones or briok should be laid in cement. The illustration gives a suggestion of how the work may well be done. In warm climates earthenware gratings attached to vitrified or glazed tile may be used ipateed of iron netting. Commereial Grape. Growing. Grape growing isms exception to the rule that every industry, as it develops, is eon• tinually changing. If ibis profitable, strong competition comes in, and then new and cheaper methods must be adopted. A few years ago grapes were grown in many eeetions and &tipped to market without any particular system.' This haphazard practice is still carried on in some'looalities, but at no profit to the producer. In 1890 grapes netted the grower 240 per 8 -Ib basket. In 1894 124e per basket was the average, and future prime will,- in all probability, be even lower. It it, therefore, auntie' that perfect system and eloseattention to details be observed,otherwise the business will be a losing one. A vineyard must be located on high ground, free from spring frost, or a single night may destroyayear's prospecte. The soil must he productive, or the yield will not be sufficient to pay expenses. On poor, sandy soils, barnyard manure has been used with good results, especially when applied in connection with wood ashes. Let the system of pruning and training be the simplest and most in- expensive. Other fruits are self suppgrt. ing ;but the grape must have its trellis, whioh even with oheap wire and poste, is the most costly item in the vineyard. The old plan of spur pruning mustbe abandoned. It leaves too muoh wood, and the fruit is a mass of imperfect oluaters, which frequent- ly fair to ripen properly. The Kniffen system, of four horizontal oanos of the previous- year's growth, has proved the most successful and is being universally adopted. Under this system the clusters are of good size and seldom fail to ripen properly. Pruningean be done more rapidly, workmen " catch on" to this method more readily and are lees likely to destroy the usefulness of the vine by oarelesaneoe. Regular and systematic cultivation is most essential to success. During spring and early summer, if a spell of wet weather comes on, the vines must be sprayed with bordeaux mixture to prevent rot and anth. ramose. It is always a good plan to spray before the buds start in spring, as this prevents mischief later on. To start a vineyard new each acre will require the following expenditure 600 vines set 8x9 ft 86.00 Plowing, fitting and setting 6 00 Cultivating and hoeing let year 00'.00 Pruning (cutting book to 2 buds) 50 Cultivating and hoeing 2nd year 7 50 Pruning to one mane 3 to 5 feet long ...100 300 poste 155.00 350 lbs wire (No 11) 7.00 Setting poets, wiring and tying 12.00 Cultivating and hoeing 3rd year 10.00 570.00 Add to shin the value of the land, with interest and taxes, and you have the coat, at three yore. Under favorable condition the crop the third year will pay the coat of Cultivation and harvesting. With the vineyard in full bearing a orop of 600 baskets per acre would be worth at 1270 per basket 875. Itxpemes out: baskets 512; picking, packing, etc., 515; pruning, cultivation, spraying, repairs, etc., 530; leaving 818 per acre profit. The Concord eeme to be the only variety that will sell n unlimited quantities. Other varieties' are wanted only in a small way. Directions for Home Cheese Making Strain the milk into a vat and add half a pint of rennet to 100 gallons of milk,whioh should bring the curd in one hour when the temperature ie at about 80 degrees. Stir the rennet and milk thoroughly. Many of the unknown troubles of the amateur cheese maker arise from the use of i11•oonditiooed 0nnet ; if doubte as to its purity exist, it hould be filtered through a flannel or cot. ton fiber. Ae the condition of rennet, quantity of intik and temperature vary at; nearly every cheese making, the prepared rennet tablets sold by dairy supply houses are undoubtedly more certain in reoi lte. To the beginner, a thermometer accurately graduated ie essential to gumtree. The curd is out into ono inch squares immediately after it hap formed,to hasten the separation of whey and curd. Tho cutting is: repeated wo or three timesat half hour intervals, and then dipped carefully into a basket in whioh a strainer has been placed. Arrange the basket ou a ladder over the whey re-. ooiver and out the curd occasionally to, hasten draining. When compaetead.fairly fres from whey, tic the strainer. 'ends by opposite corners and hang in a cool pleas until the morning run is made, Proceed with the rnorning'O mills precisely in the same way until ready to hang. This ourd requires a little more draining that it may be firm and deoidedly free from whey. Cut the night andmorning curds in slime, place in bowl and chop into pieces a half inch in diameter. Pour over the ourde a gallon of hot whey or water and stir until a equeakiugsound is made. Drain off the melding water, add' salt to, taste and thoroughly mix in the curt. Placa a dry strainer in the hoop, carefully idtrodu0e MIS curd, fold the strainer neatly over the top, put the follower on and consign to Oho press. Only enough weight ahould be uaod to nicely consolidate the cheese and preps out the small remaining portions of whey. If placed in the 'press in the Morning, at night tarn the ahem, oubetitute a fresh, strainer, the next day remove from the press, butter rho sidee,top rind bottom, and place on an odorless board in a eoo1, airy place to cure. Four w.eoke for miring le pooeeettry, and during this time the cheese should be turned daily and buttered if luolinod to adhere to the board, Ao choeee is liable to expand, a band of strong 91oth should be drawn and Pawed tightly around ft to obviate oraoling, A Lesson From English Farming',. "J,ike pauses produce like resnito..'r While the agricultural conditions in ono country are never exactly the some se those in another, we oan get many helpful sup, goetiono from the exporipnoeo of farmora in other 'Linde. Au offioiial investigation of the agrloultural depreoeion in GreatBrltain• Is being carried on, A report of the agrioultural condition in 1orkshlre eon tame many suggestive statements, Ono 0f these relate to the great advantage which, comes to the farmere from 'having good local markets beano of the iron and coal mines and many manufacturing pities in the attire. There le a large variety of pro. duct from the farms, in good part deter. mined by the soil, in 'part by the local market conditions. The size of farms variao much;; from 150• to 180 acres is the rule near largo towns. Where bill grazing land io the chief part of the farms some reaoh 2,000 auras. In con. tract with Pomo other parte of England, meet of the tenants onfarms under 350 aures are properly classed as "working farmers," many of the smaller farms being. worked by the family of the tenant, 0.0 it• io the custom with both tenants and owners In this country. While it is found difficult to rent the large farms, those of 250 acres or less are much in demand. The average reduction of rent in sixteen years has been about 30 per omit. much less than in many other counties of England. The advantage of home markets ; of reasonable diversity of produots;of farms. of moderate size ; of direct personal management by the farmers instead of relying on agents or foremen, as well 40 the importance of adapting the productions of the farm both to its natural capacity and. the market conditions—these ars things to be considered by farmers in this country as well as those in England. AN OLD MAN'S CRIME. The Stranger Whom Ifo murdered- for Money Was Ills Own Son. The Wilna papers report a shocking drama enacted in that city a few days ago A man who, as a youth, had emigrated to the United States many years ago, and there amassed a considerable fortune, returned a fortnight back. Hie appear ante was so much changed that hie old neighbors, with one exception, failed to recognize their youthful acquaintance. The exception was an old friend of the family, who was leaving Wilna on a short absence by a departing train just as the young man alighted. Finding himself unrecog- nized, the ytoung man spent a few days loitering about hie old haunts and Molting up information of his father and sister, the latter a very pretty girl whom her brother had left as a mere child. One evening he went to his father's house during the latter'e absence. His sister was greatly attracted by the strange guest who had so many interesting experiences to relate, and they supped together. The brother feign- ing fatigue, begged to be allowed to remain over night, as he had something of im• portance to say to the girl's fatner in the morning. The sister, though somewhat surprised at the request, consented, and prepared his sleeping apartment. On her father's late return the girl informed him of their unex- pected guest, and dilated, unfortunately, on the stranger's wealth. The old man's cupidity was aroused, and during the night he stole into the guest's bedroom, and . murdered him in his sleep with an axe. During the next day the old neighbor, now returned, who had recognized the young man at the railway station, came with a number 0 friende to hear news of their emigrant relatives in the States. "Where isv" h i d f h d 7000 000) a nutreqo t e mor ever. "Whose eon ?" asked the latter, with blanching face. "Your own boy,"said the neighbor, "who returned some days ago and has inade a fortune. Did he not sleep here last night?" Suddenly the whole horrible truth flashed upon the unhappy father, who rushed off to the scullery where hie son's body was hidden. He ie now in prison, but it ie said his re0aon is shaken. Practical Farmer Jones—What hey yer liana at yer oollego, son ? Son—Why, dad I I oan throw the hammer further than any one there." Farmer Jones—That a good. 1 guess yer'Il hey no trouble in gestin', er job in or blacksmith's shop then. American Lawlessness. The "toughest" town in the United States to -day is Lemont, only twenty-five miles from Chicago. It had five thousand population before work en the drainage canal began ; now it hes nine thousand, of whom four thoueand are gamblers, thieves, turderore or disorderly women, There or one hundred saloons, forty gambling houses, twenty dance houses and three theatres, all supported by the five thousand men woriting en the drainage banal. Everything is running "wide open" and licensed.. Mayor McCarthy says the money la used in etreet improvements. Within three months, thirty dead bodies have been found in and about Lemont, and no one has; been punished. Ten bodies have been found in the rooky' channel of the oanal, and five were shot in affrays. Of the thirty .dead, eighteen are marked " un. known." "Smoky .Row", is the toughest street in Lemontt. The saloons and dance honeee bear such names at these : "Xing of Hearts," "Sweet Aliso," "Little Canino" and "Bon dolt,"