The Cardiff Times

RHONDDA GLEE SOCIETY. The Visit to the Queen. The Rhondda Glee Society, the first male voice party in the Rhondda Valleys, which has been commanded to sing before the Queen at Windsor on the 22nd of next month, rehearsed under the conductorship of Mr Tom Stephens, at the Pentre Schools on Sunday evening. There was a large and representative attendance. The members of the choir include some of the chief choral conductors of South Wales. Among the representatives present were Messrs B.C. Jenkins, Llanelly; D. Davies, Merthyr; Tom Price, Mertbyr; John Price, Rhymney; Eos Dar, Mardy; John Griffith Jones, Ap Caradog, Pontypridd: — Meyriek, Machen; and Mr W. A. Morgan, Cardiff, who has the sole management of the arrangements. The programme will include a few items to be rendered in Welsh, in addition to standard male voice choruses, namely, "The Little Church," Men of Harlech," Annabelle," The Tyrol," Comrades in Arms, "Italian Salad," "Night and Day," The Pilgrims," Soldiers' Chorus from "Faust," ana "Hues of Day." "God Save the Queen will be sung in Welsh and English, and God Bless the Prince of Wales in Welsh, and also Han Wlad Fy Nhadau ("The Land of My Fathers"). The concert at Windsor is fixed for 10 p.m. on February 22nd, and the choir's rehearsal is very strong, and will be thoroughly representative of the characteristic of Welsh male voice singing. Special arrange- ments are being made for conveying the party to Windsor and back. The baritone solos in the choruses will be sung by the well-known Welsh vocalist, Mr John Sandbrook, and the tenor solos hy Mr John Thomas (Eoa-y-De) and Mr Owen Troharne. The book of words, which will be of an elaborate character, is being com- piled by Mr W. A. Morgan, the manager, who is an excellent Welsh speaker. After the visit to Windsor Castle the principal towns in Wales will have an opportunity of hearing the choir, as the popular male voice party will in all probability hold a series of concerts in the Principality, and perform the Windsor programme in its entirety. It has been arranged to hold practices three times a week until the eve of departure for Windsor Castle. On Saturday printed circulars were I' issued bearing the names of Mabon, M.P., Rev. W. Lewis. vicar of Ystradvfodwg Mr E. H. Davies, J.P., Mr G. B. Smith, sub-agent to the BaHey a Estate Mr D. Llewellyn Treharne, of the firlll of Messrs Treharne and Treharne, solicitors, Pentre Mr Alban Richards, builder; Mr R. C. Dyke, Mr W. J. G. Thomas, and Mr F. J. Gould, convening a public conference to be held at the Pentre Schools on Monday next, to consider the best means to adopt to obtain financial aid for the party. The circular points out that the party, by the services rendered by them gratis at concerts, Arc., lytv* charitably contribu- ted towards needy requirements in the district iiuriag the past four years the sum of £ 1.800, and therefore they thougnt they wsre deserving of the patronage of the public" on this memorable the patronage of the public" on this memorable occasion. The programme which is to be pre- sented to her Majesty will be a specially executed souvenir in silk. It is stated that the National Anthem rendered in Welsh will unquestionably have a most thrilling effect, owing to the power- fol expressions the Welsh language is able to convey.

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PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGE- MENT. IAGO AND SIR JUSTIN. By Mrs VERE CAMPBELL. Author of Sofa Cushions," For a Flower's Sake," &c., &c. [COPYRIGHT.] Sir Justin Stormont of Featherstone-Haugh married twice. His first choice was sufficiently romantic; his second fell upon his scullerv- maid. The fantastic is often the tragical. In this vagary there was not a single comedy part very possibly, however, though not intended, the scullerv-maid s was the most tragic. But such perversity as this Sir Justin showed is not novel it runs rather on lines become classic from sheer antiquity of use. Sir Justin Stormont may be said to have begun life twice. When he first came to marriageable age his mother, long a widow, was still chatelaine of Featherstone. She was an ancient withal a gay dame, with a hint of that recondite wickedness about her which is generally associated with high red heels, rouged lips, a comical headgear, and a dominant spirit. Her pijjuant audacities and her son's modernised frivolities held her own amiably together. The Haugh began to have a reputation. Sir Justin was a matrimonial prize, yet it became gossip that the bride he brought home would have to be a sacrificial one. This notion, coming to Lady Stormont's ears, afforded her a theme for memment to the day of her death. But this at last accomplished the county drawing brnaths of relief, began to think more kindly of her son, ;iicl gossip veered to speculation, more or hopeful. Nevertheless, after living five and thirty years, Sir Justin still managed to do the one thing ,[I expeeted. He married a Norwegian. Her hair was to her feet, her eves were a strange sea-bins she was pink and white and strangely silent, and if these were not the reasons for her husband's choice of her. others were not apparent This paeudo-romance, however, was the merest episode. A child was shortly born and died. The lady died. A marble tablet inscribed to their memory was set above the empty pew in Feather- stone Church, and this was left solitary to take He weu accompanytny her on the zither. up the tale from which Sir Justin, in person, faded completely. The Haugh stood untenanted for twenty years. Then the new epoch began, and Sir Justin returned suddenly to set his home in order. And with this visit, Iago, who accom- panied him, steps into the story. More of this gentleman presently. Sir Justin after twenty years was a marvel to all in Featherstone who had seen him turn his back on it, no less a marvel to those who had heard talk of him. The baronet had gone away an elegantly, dissipated, cold-mannered wordling he returned at five and fifty with the enthusiasm of a poet, his heart and hopes high as a. boy's. These extraordinary conversions Me almost in- variably the work of a woman, vorv notablyjso in Sir Justin's case. Her name was Lydia Montrose, a girlish, slender creature, with something of the fresh and yielding grace and fragrance of spring flowers in her look and gait. She seemed and was as bright as tender, as pure as beautiful. Sir Justin met her through knowing Silas Win- chelsea., the painter to whom Lydia was sitting for her portrait. The atmosphere of the studios was Lydia's world, her only sister and sole guardian being wife to the wefl-lmowtf painter j poet.'Bertrtrrti-Mair. Sir Justin was enamoured at a glance with a word, a touch, the most ardent love romantically possessed him. Under the inspiration of it, the record of the careless years behind him, and the number of them, were discarded as effectually and as simply a3 the butterfly discards its chrysalis. The baronet began his wooing with the passion of a virgin heart. Lydia's was stormed and won. True, Sir Justin was five and fifty, but he looked a dozen years less, and a very fine fellow at that. His home was lovely, his wealth great, his ardour irresistible. Lydia began quickly to almost as ardently reciprocate it. and the wedding would have been within a month of their ";first meeting if Lydia s mourning for her mother had not come between. For here Mrs Bertram Mar was firm. She had been devoted to her mother, had passionately mourned her death. She would hear of no marri- age till at least the first anniversary of the event was over, and Lydia, could do no other than np- hold her. This was July, and there could be no wedding till October. Sir Justin was fain to submit, but to his lover's soul there came a happy thought whereby to cheat delay and keep his dear beside him, almost as if she were already quite hia own. The Haugh was unshuttered, every room in it re-opened to the sunlight and made fresh and fair then sending for a cousin, a Contessa by marriage, a widow of th very highest standing, 9, Sir Justin established her in the Dower House, a white castellated building a couple of miles from the Haugh itself, and arranged with her for the issue of a few invitations for the summer; notably to Mrs Bertram Mar and her sister, Lydia Montrose. Sir Justin himself, with a few equally selected friends, proposed to occupy the Hangh. Mrs Mar smiled a little over the scheme, but she had no objections to make; it had been thought out too punctiliously. And so the scene for the impending play was set, and the uncon- scious actors took their places. A few lovely ladies at the Dower House, Lydia Montrose their queen, and at the Haugh half-a-dozen fine men coming and going around Sir Justin, who held his own among them easily. But at Sir Justin's elbow a fixture v/hoever came, whoever went, was Iago. This gentleman's name was the same as Sir Justin's: Stormont-nufus Stormont. Fail- ing direct issue, he was Sir Justin's heir. Thoughts of the entail, however, had nothing to do with Stormont's villainy it went to subtler depths than that. No villainy is objectless, but Stormont's was of that worst kind which has no material aim before it, but springs full-grown and independent from sheer egoism unadulterated prido of 3elf. Stormont dabbled ;in painting, and it was in Winchelsea's studio where Sir Justin first heard of Lydia. that the cousins had renewed a long lapsed acquaintance. They seemed to hit it off together very well, and at the baronet's express wisb Storment made his sole companion when, after twenty years, Sir Justin, a new man, slipped quietly into his own home again to pre- pare for nis guests and plan for his bride. Almost on his first roiindo. the change in him- self amazed to find so little change in' his pos- sessions, Sir Justin, Stormont with him, paid a visit to the church and came to an inevitable pause in front of the marble tablet inscribed To the memory of Frederika, my beloved wife; to the memory of John, our beloved child "—twenty years ago. And yet what is twenty years As Sir Justin stared at the words it came home to him that time is a very human measurement. It might equally have been yesterday, or never, that this woman and this child had lived. Sir Justin could recall their image as if from yesterday he could equally persuade himself that if they did ever live they did not live for him, that he had never known them. He was impelled to say as much to Stormont, standing silently beside him. No words would be extravagant," said Sir Justin, in expressing the change in me. Lam uow as a god to a mortal compared with what I was then," ana he pointed to the gilded date upon the stone. I remember those two as if they were people in another man's story. Yet I feel for them now more tenderness, I think. than I did then. I have attained to another circle of being. Well can I remember thing:) I would not, could not, say or do now, yet my content is such, my assurance of good so complete, that I cannot i touched, it seems, by even compunction or regret. That was not I," and he looked thoughtfully towards the tablet. I begin from now. Now, as it 30 happened, this was the sort of talk at which Stormont never laughed, but to which he always listened, strangely enough, with a strong impulse of dislike towards the speaker. Rufus Stormont WItS animated by a very curioin vanity. He held himself to be a peculiarly gifted per- son, with brains and insight greatly above the common a man typical of the broadest and widest enlightenment. Moreover, side by side with this mental pride went an unpleasant, though well-concealed, amount of purely personal conceit. From the first it had piqued him that at his age the baronet should be as comely a man as he, more than fifteen years the younger. Not that Stormont was his cousin's rival. He had known Lydia Montrose half her life, but she had not grown into a woman to appeal to him. Sir Jnstin was welcome. But Sir Justin was not wel- come to this sudden claim of exaggerated mental outlook. Stormont considered it his prerogative to have a wider circle of being and to see further into things than any man hetknew. Who was Sir Justin to arrogate to himself such grandiloquence of soul ? Stormont was sensible of a first spasm of actual active malevolence ae .he glanced into 01 illÇwM lOüve malevolence ae he glanced into Sir Justin's handsome face that bore his words out very finely. His first impulse was a spiteful remark, pointed by the tablet, about the dead wife and child but that he checked with added disgust towards Sir Justin for having been its inspiration, for Rufus Stormont prided himself greatly on those fine manners which never show a scratch. What he did say as they finally turned away was some- thing as graceful as agreeable but the cue was given. From that moment Rufus dwelt with growing annoyance on the presumption of such a fellow as Sir Justin, after a free and pleasure-loving life, arguing to himself any special destiny. The fool!" thought Stonnont, Scornfully, and there crept into his mind the notion to let Sir Jnstin see he was a fool; to prove it to him. No man should make cocksure of any special destiny while he, Stormont, was abut to undeceive him least of all under his, Stormont's nose, should they claim to be specially favoured where a woman was concerned. Stormont had no particular opinions concerning women generally one way or another, but in his soul he was firmly of the conviction that no woman had existed yet whom he could not bend to serve his purpose. His purpose in the present instance was de- cided on from the evening of the first dinner- party at the Haugh. it table Stormont sat by Lydia's side. There were only eight guests. Lydia, in white and lavender, appeared to Sir Justin something sacred, almost unearthly to Rufus a prudish young woman on whom some fine points were wasted, and who evidently from the way she held her chin, spite of their ac- quaintanceship, did not foel drawn to him. That settled it. Glancing from the girl to Sir Justin, Stormont, sneering inwardly at the in. fatuation he beheld on both their faces, hit upon the part he would play between them. A mo- ment's half-humorous reflection was enough to in- di'i,te to him its lines. He had simply to act upon what had already been laid down by a master hand, namely, that jealousy does not know one thing from another, and that imphcit faith stands so perilously high that if it atoop at. all it stoops tí,) tdL And fall it sball," wos Stormont's easy deci- sion. He would prove to his soul-exalted cousin that his wa« no special experience, but merely that of the very ordinary fool's.paradise, which he ought to have passed through and forgotten a quarter of a century before. During the dinner Rufus was very quiet. Once or twice he spoke in so low a tóùe tho" Lydia had to bend her head to hear it. Sir Jus- tin was bound to notice her perfect throat, bound to notice the lovely curve witth which it bent away from him. Oh, trifle, lighter than air t This was the beginning—so rose the curtain. In a few days' time Stormont had identified himself with the villain's part; be had not an act, scarcely a thought, away from it. He would pull Sir Justin down from his beatitudes. Egoiara his motive egoism waa his object the desire of a keen, well-equipped mind and brain to prove its own soulless cynicism once more the standard of the universe. But after a day or two Stormont began to be oblivious of aim, results, everything save his own consummate performance. He was developing a Iago so stealthy, so clever, and so success- ful that he was consumed with self-admiration. He would have liked to claim open applause for his skill. Indeed, so skilful was he that his vanity alone betrayed his share in the catas- trophe he brouught about eventually. He had to boast to someone, and so, through his own cackle, Rufus Stormont's name came to stand in Feather- stone as synonymous with infamy. But at the time itself there was no 1Jne astute enough to set Sir Justin's madness down to him. Stormont was conscienceless, and this sort of an evildoer differentiates himself from every other by the protection of delicate manners: good humour, and ready wit. Stormont's truly villainous game was played in as truly ma3terty a fashion it bedevilled them all, though womanlike afterwards, when the wild mischief was done, Mrs Mar declared'she had foreseen it. She had foreseen trouble, she said, from the moment when Sir Justin, coming up suddenly across the Lawn to the Dower House windows, had found Lydia there reclining, sing- ing in the moonlight like a syren, Stormont softly picking an accompaniment from the zither on his knee. Sir Justin had a queer look, and I spoke to Lydia about it," said Mrs ?tfa.¡', So she hail, but the girl was too innocent and too much in love to heed facts Stormont accur- ately relied on-,tnd moreover, all Mrs Mar did say was to the effect that Sir Justin did not care for studio wavs. But it is not to be marvelled at that. Stor- mont's devilry escaped them it is not to be recounted within the compass of such a tale as this. Accurate narration of the details accom- panying Sir Justin's second marriage would fill a volume, and then justice would not be done to the amazing skill with which this villain Stor- mont undermined his cousin's judgment, nor to the throes through which Sir Jnstin passed before ha was brought to commit an act which drove him into exile, broke poor Lydia's heart, and niade the county ring. And this is saying nothing of tho ill-fated girl—poor Mary Fossy, scullery-maid— Sir Justin's second wife. July and August passed in seeming accord. September had well begun before the poison took final hold of Sir Justin's brain but then it turned him literally mad, with a wholesale jealousy worse than if directed at a wife, for open attack squarely Biet would have ended in open cure. But Stormont had struck deeper; not at the thing believed in so much as at belief itself. His method was to generalise or, to speak of it in metaphor, he fixst poisoned all the springs, then crfeatfritto hie victim: Qpgifenow* sh<>«ro*o this^pure water specially reserved-ior yoti." When all was over, and something of the so truth guessed at, Sir Justin was held up aa an almost incredible fool, but it was rather Stor- mont's wicked skill that passed belief. By slow and fiendish cunning he dragged his cousin down from his beatitudes, indeed, into a world of universal doubt—the purgatory of the jealous. Strange that it should be so, that Lydia, there upon the spot, in all her beauty and ardour, should not have been sufficient safeguard. But the strangeness of a fact does not obviate it—it was so Lydia Montrose herself, looking back in days to come, could see how even she unwitt- ingly had caught the infection of Sir Justin's silent malmdy, and in a hundred ways, all trifles light as air, had played into Rufus Stormont's hands. It was never definitely understood what brought Sir Justin's madness to its consummation. Lydia could in no wise explain it. Stormont himself was surprised. But something occurred, some chance as purely beyond calculation as the losing of Dcsdemona's handkerchief, in that other Iago's story. Lydia remembered afterwards that on the even- ing of the fatal event she had strolled alone in the moonlight through the great patch of bracken near the Dower House; the peacexalncss aid glittering silence of the scene oppressed her, and some sense of nervous strain, some nameless-disillusion, made her sad her summer's wooing and her gallant lover were somehow not quite all she had expec- ted. And so she wept a little and threw out her arms with girlish gestures of weariness or petu- lance. It is probable Sir Jnstin saw her, and, the glamour of the moonlight working with the fever of his brain, believed she was waiting there for Stormont, or some other, and meanwhile bemoan- ing her position towards him. When Lydia re- turned to the Dower House she found Sir Justin had been there inquiring for her, but nothing would detain him, and none of his guests saw him again that night. At ten o'clock nis valet found him in tbe library in answer to a sharp sum- mons on the bell. Beg Miss Edwards (the housekeeper) 11 to come here at once with the scullery-maid," said Sir Justin, glancing up from his desk. The vale: was well trained, but he hesitated, simplv doubting his hearing. Sir Justin flew into a passion.1 Miss Edwards and the gsoullery-raaid-the kitchen wench, the drudge. Don't let me have to repeat it, or by the- The Cinderella of the household was in bed, but so urgent did the man make his message that not very many minutes elapsed before Mary Fossy found herself confronting the baronet for the first time in her life beside her was Miss Edwards, fluttering ith snrprige and agitltt1011. There was only one conclusion to be drawn, viz.. that Sir Justin had detected the girl in some flagrant misdemeanour, and the housekeeper's sharp remarks had already reduced the poor girl to a ishivering, barely conscious state of fear. This is tho scullery-maid, Sir Justin. Am T. right in understanding yon wished to see her began Miss Edwards, a little loftily. But the baronet, without speaking, waved then; to a seat. Presently he raised his eyes and scanned Mary Fossy over, composedly, from head to foot. Mary, every inch a servant, shook visibly under Sir Justin's scrutiny. It seemed as if her awkward poise at the extreme edge of the chair weald not sustain her; her coarse red hands twitched pitiably at her apron corners. But Sir Justin wai mad—simply possessed; even if vague COJI")unction stirred him at the sight of such distress it had no power to stav him. Do not be frightened," he said. "I happen to have a berth at my disposal better than the one you are occupying I wish to fill it with a young woman of your description I am leaving for London in an hour or two, and the matter must ,be settled first; that is why I disturbed you so late. You have no objection to advancing in tas world ? No. Just so. Then kindly oblige me by answering a few questions." Miss Edwards sat in an astonishment that almost bereft aer of her wits, and she was much bJamad afterwards for not reporting at oncp what had occurred to the Contessa at the Dower House. Sir Justin's cousin. But the housekeeper drivea to bay defended herself stoutly. Not a living soul but would have thought, Sir 3 ustin knew wnat he was about; she believed he did and it was her place to do as she was told a fact the ladies who now complained of her would have been the first to remind her of, if she had gone cackling to them of a matter that her master seemed so very well able to manage for himself. And indeed Miss Edwards, active or passive, was only a very small link in the chain. The t' was to be. The first interview with his fnture wife lasted a bare ten minutes. Sir Justin asked certain formal questions, and noted the girl's monosyllabic replies in writing, to which she&gued her name. Her age was eighteen, her father was Jonathan Fosay, labourer, the family bad lived from one generation to another in the shadow of the Featherstone elms. With this, and a little more of the like, the scene was over. Mary crept back to her bed that night, her heart heavy to burst- ing with the thought of the change her matter was preparing for her. The next day Sir Justin spent in London. And on this day, strangely enough as it seemed to her when the time came that she could bear to reflect on what did happen these few days, Lydia Montrose raw Mary Fossy. As the afternoon began to wane Lydia found herself, after wandering abstractedly through the beautiful gardens of The Haugh, in a part of the shrubbery she was not familiar with, and a sud- den turn at the end of a long path revealed a completely unknown region. Beyond a stout Erivet hedge was the great cobbled y|trd of The taugh, flanked by long rows of kennels, tall dovecotes, and whitewashed coops. All was very quiet. At one end by the open door of a sunny outhouse sat a" young wench in a lilac gown ana stout apron, a flat cap on her head, peel. ing potatoes into a red pannikin beside her. Pigeons fluttered about her feet and shoulders, and a sleepy hound lay near, blinking at the girl with sympathetic eyes. It was an agreeable picture, and Lydia thrilled a little to think how soon she would be mistress here. But why should that girl, even if a scullery- maid, wear such an unbecoming cap ? Lydia thought she would alter that, and was turning amusedly away when a strangled sound of dis- tress made her turn again. The girl was crying, her sobs came thick and fast, and now Lydia could perceive that her eyes were red and swollen, as if her tears had already been many. Miss Montrose was stirred to pity, but there was really nothing she could do. Had there been an opening in the hedge she would have crossed the yard perhaps and attempted consolation. As it was, she tola herself she would remember to ask about the girl when Sir Jnstin brought her as Lady Stormont to keep Christmas here.Tn the first heart-break of it afterwards Lydie. could barely recall this incident without its costing her her senses. Sir Justin did not tarry long in town. That same day he returned to the Haugh in time to meet hio amalgamated guests at dinner. And now, at last, everyone was agreed that Sir Justin's manner was urusual. He bowed over Lydia's hand with a courtliness which made her sifter stare a. little, and Lydia herself to lift her head, chilled and a. trifle haughty. Tlie'dinner went oil heavily, the baronet gloomy and preoccupied, the guests oppressed, Rufus Stormont inclined to laugh. The fooi," he thought, he's doing ii as badly as a beardless boy." He felt a strong desire to rise and tell them all what was tbo matter with their host, a mere puppet in his hands. But Stormont himself was to be surprised. Like so many villains before him, he cotud rise a passion with a master-hand, but once rousod, it and its doings were beyond him or his calcu- lations. When the men were alone, Sir Justin reused himself. He joked and laughed load and often, his hand went often to the bottle, and in between hia fingers slipped into his waistcoat pocket as if to satisfy himself o £ the safety of something precious that hidden there, was giving him mon- strous secret satisfaction., That same, evening, by special licence, Sir Justin was married in his library to Mary Fosey, his scullery maid. With him. from London, he had brought both priest and lawyer, aa onty atrangerb coud be. made to abet so wild an act of folly. As for the poor serving wench, there was no one to bid him consider her. The father an hour before bad beea stultified into «, written consent, the girl's had nominally been already gained. Miss Lciwards, almost deprived of her senses, found the ceremony over before she realised that she Wlõ.2 not witnessing an unseemly farce. Mary, her- self, so the housekeeper related afterwards, h;vd no soonr repeated the binding words under Sir Justin's terrifying gaze, than she swooned, rough country wench that she was, and listened to t flurried officiator's final exordium, pale as i lily, breathless, with closed eyes and h8a.ds,ga/nE Miss unwilling sboudler. When all was over Sir Justin drew the house- keeper aaide. Say nothing of this till I mys-rlt make '.t public news to-morrow," he sard. shall not forget your attention. Keep Lady Stor- mont, please, exclusively in your care." Whatever Miss Edwards .might have had to ■say, it was checked effe.tutij't by Sir Just'n'ft manner. Once outside the library door, the miserable bride clinging to her arm. the house- keeper burst into & flood of tears. Mary seemed too stunned to weep or speak, and sat far into the night with chalk-coloured cheeks and wide eyes, staring unseeingly before her, starting at evsry sound. The following day was one to be remembered in Featherstone. It was gloriously fine, as the whole month had been, unusually warm, the sun shining through a soft, yellow haze. Sir Justin 3howed at breakfast as usual. By his apecia request and the intimation that, ne had something else to offer them, the shooting had been for once abandoned, and by luncheon- time everyone was present—the laclies from the Dower House in full force, all tho men staying at the Haugh. Lydia, seated at Sir Justin's right, wondered sadly at the change in him. He could not be well. He avoided her glance and devoted himself to Stormont, as usual now, upon his left. In one way Stormont was a cleverer rascal thau his model.. He had worked upon Sir Justin's relentlessly, unceasingly* consummately till Lydia's lightest actions, sifted through an ecstatic lover's reaction of jealous madness, appeared like scarlet sins. And yet Sir Justin did not sus- pect :n him an enemy. His impression rather was that his cousin in loyalty to him resisted Lydia's fa.scina.tions and H&trove to keep her u? ensuce to the maintenance of those high ideals her tover had conceived of her. Oh, villain villain Luncheon over, Sir Justin allowed his gueita to rise from their chairs, but stayed them then with an uplifted hand and a sharp clang upon the hand bell. The door unclosod, as at a signal a wavering figure crossed the threshold. Sir J ustin, smiling strangely, advanced to meet it. The silence was awful; one might have heard a pin drop. Tragedy is its own forerunner. Every face was turned towards the door every breath was held. Then she who had been Mary Fossy let Si*. her hand-within, his aria, aad let.him load ner in that breathless silence to' the> centre of the room. My friends," he said, let me prepare you for something of a surprise. I have taken this opportunity of your being all together to present to you my wifft." He repeated the words, draw- ing the girl's hand still further forward on hia arm My wife, Lady Stormont." And still there was no sound, ihough Rufus almost leapt in his astonishment. No one looked at Lydia. Enchantment seemed to hold the group about the table. All leyes were fixed upon Sir Justin and the girl. Miss Edwards, in sheer womanly pity, though she was accused afterwaxd" of having had an eye to her own inteiests throughout, had done her best for the unfortunate victim of Sir Justin's freak. A plain gown of grey silk, long and full, draped the angular, undeveloped figure, and plenty of good lace was ruffled about her throat and carefnllj-gloved hands, and a Quakerish little bonnet was tied prettily beneath her chin. Nothing could save her, nothing make her look other than she was, bnt afterwards when the truth of the ordeal she had undergone was fully realised, even Lydia herself acknowledged she had borne it remarkably well. Snow-white, blood- red by turns, only held in her place by Sir Jus- tin's support, she stood it out and contrived to make no scene. In days to come, when the madness and the fever had left his blood, her husband remembered and appreciated it. Now it is not to be supposed he ga,ve her as her- self a thought. In the still, unbroken silence he turned and led her to the door. Our guests will excuse you to-day, Lady Stormont, he said. He lifted her hand from his arm, and kissed it The girl lookcd fritih tencd. I before them all. And I have a few words still rru Sa^ you need not stop to listen to." Then he bowed her out, and shutting the door sharply, faced round npon the little crowd, picked out Lydia Montrose with his eyes at once, anwuen* slowlT nP '° where she stood. hat he said was no great matter, for the worat was done, but if Bertram Mar could have had his wa.y, or *>r that matter Sir Jnstin. it would have raaant a duel, but the women inter- fered. He is drunk," cried Lydia's mao, said Lydia herself, white and trembling, and insisting on it, she thrust everyone else aside and laying her hands on Sir Justin's shoulder,tor she was as tell as be looked steadily into his eyes. "You are =ad I" the said. I false to you What has tricked yon ? Come to your senses And aa they stood thus close together, Sir Jnstin and Lydia, stating at each other, all the rest speechless, standing back, the truth of it came to them both to her that she spoke too late, and to him that he had been possessed. She gazing on his working face read there that he was married, lost to her, undone married to thf servant girl whom yesterday she had been sorry for, as she wept among hex* pans. With a load cry of horror, the unhappy Lydia fell baek into her sister's hold, and Sir Justin, recalling so with the pang of death itself, those heights of joy from which he had been lured, looked round him with an instinct of vagns vengeance. Hia glance alighted on Stormont. Words came hurrying from his lips; he lurched as if at Stormont's throat. Help me to get him to his room," cried Rttfns; and it flashed through his quick villain's mind, as they upheld the staggering man between them, that the kitchen wench would be bride and widow in a. day, and tbat if Lydia. chose to set aside her pruderies, he, Rufus, might find it in his heart to make her Lady Stormont after all But this was not to be the way of it. Sir Jus- tin did not die, had neither stroke not seizure, "a second marriage with his soullerymaid was not annulled. That is, if it could have been —no one on either side attempted it. Lydia for long cherished a resentment tinged with such horror that she could not bear to hear Sir Jus- tin's name and Sir Justin himself,when he came to, calmly confronting his own madness, at last found it had changed him from the gallant, who had once wooed and won a young, fair girl, to an old man fit only for his study chair. There was nothing to be done. And Stormont ? The legend has it that he and Sir Justin met years afterwards when, by his own telling, something of Stormont's subtle wickedness was known, and Rufus left the en- counter marked across the mouth for life. And such is the story told in Featherstone of Iago and Sir Justin. It was a sad affair, and being an owre true tale," refuses to twist itself to point any moral. In due time Lydia Montrose married. She and Sir Justin never met again. As time went on, Rufus Stormont. branded or not, showed his face but little in England, and news of his sudden death at Florence reached Featherstone while Sir Justin was still alive and well. Before his own death came it is said Sir Jnstin sorely repented him towards Mary, his wife, whose young life he had turned so violently from its native chanuelb. For years they were as strangers. Sir Justin domiciled abroad, then a sudden illness conjured to the baronet's bedside a gentle-mannered, low-voiced woman, with a soft touch and sorrow-softened features, who called herself his wife, Lady Stormont. She nursed him back to health, and before his long con- valescence was ended, Sir Justin had begged her pardon with humility and shame. They returned to the Haugh together,and lived there in a tender quiet till Sir Justin's death. A year after Lady Stormont died. In her coffin, her white hands folded, her soft hair bleached about the temples, her features set it the dignity of settled, well-borne wrong, Mary looked as fine a lady as any that had ever been mistress at the Haugh. It is tenantless again. Sir Justin left no chil- dren, the entail was broken, its links lost, and the Haugh sleeps among the elms and bracken waiting for an owner. The moss creeps over the stone-work and veils the paths giant hemlocks grow rank beside the great gates. The village folk scurry as they pass them, and see in the twi- light the great elms toss their branches and hear them sough in the autumn wind. Someone walks tthere o' nightSj" the folks say, but whether it is Mary, Sir Justin, or Iago, no one is brave enough to discover. [THE END.] Next Week— "A SENSE OF HUMOUR," BY W. PETT RIDGE.

CARDIFF CASTLE. THE DISCOVERY OF ROMAN REMAINS. Mr G. T. Clark's Opinion. As stated by us a few days since, the excava- tions now taking place at the north-eastern angle of Cardiff Casatle, adjacent to the canal, have brought to light the foundations of the old Roman Tower, which for centuries have lain hidden beneath the huge earthworks thrown up in Saxon times. As we pointed out in our previous article, the present discovery is of most interesting importance, going far as it does to prove the accuracy of the theories formed long ago by that greatest of all living authorities on such matters, Mr George T. Clark, of Tal-y-garn. Mr Clark is the distinguished author of the two volumes on Mediaaval Military Architecture," which he wrote at the suggestion of the late Professor Freeman, and those books remain to-day unrivalled as the standard works on the subject. Mr Clark, though now at a great age, still ta, ef; a keen and enthu- siastic interest in archaeological matters. The article on the subject of the excavations published by us some days since has come under the notice of Mr Clark, who has written us the following valuable letter upon a subject upon which he, more than any living man, is qualified to speak. S-Although confined to my bed, I have managed to read with very great interest your very well written article, the author of which evidently comprehends well the importance of the fact disclosed by Lord Bute's very judicious excavation. It is quite true that I have always supposed Cardiff, like York, Tamworth, Waliing- ford, and Warebam, to be of Roman origin, of rectangular form, and probably having a core of Roman masonry within the centre of the earth bank. At York this has been shown to be the case. The other places named have, however, not been as yet' laid open. All these places were, more or less, consider- able Roman stations, original, i.e., not founded upon any Celtic earthwork. York has always been known as a Roman walled station, a polygonal tower and part of the adjacent wall having always remained above ground. As a rule, when the Romans retired, those who came after them, whether natives or invaders, seem to have quarrelled over their defences, and to have pulled down, say, the upper two-thirds of the walls. A century or so afterwards, when the bcandmavian invaders acquired land and founded settlements, they turned these ruined defences to account, and, as neither they nor the Celts were then equal to masonry, they had re- course to earthworks, and threw up earth bank's along the Roman lines under which they left con- ■eealevl what remained of the Roman walls. Alm6, .Us Scandinavian chiefs almost always placed their dwellings upon the summit of an artificial ■eealevl what remained of the Roman walls. Alm6, .Us Scandinavian chiefs almost always placed their dwellings upon the summit of an artificial hill derived from a surrounding ditch, they threw up such an earthwork, usually within the Roman area, and upon it set up a timber superstructure, at the same time capping the other earthworks with stout timber palisade. All this was executed at Cardiff as at hundreds of other places, and almost always still remains. When the Normans settled in England they took possession of these earthworks, which were not uncommon in Normandy, and placed npon the mound the comparatively light polygonal structure, called I believeby me a shell keep, and at the angles and along the crest of the earth banks replaced the palisades by walls of masonry. When the liftman station was placed on the bank of a considerable river they do not seem always to have thought ii necessary to build a wall. Possibly this is t4 case on the western point of Cardiff, tbat for sitiilar reasons an earth bank was not thought necetesary; but when the Normans came they generally built such strong walls, as at: Cardiff, towards the river. All this seems to me the probable history of that place, but it was only by tbe laying bare of the Roman wall by Lord Bute a few years since that these surmises were, I think, converted into a certainty. I have to apologise for the great length of this letter.—I am, etc., Tal-y Garn. GEO. T. CLARK. P.S.—I need not point out to the people of Cardiff that the ditch encircling the mound of the Castle Keep was filled up probably by some of the later Herberts, and the. cross wall taken down. It is due to Lord Bute that the ditch has again been laid open, and the foundations of the cross walls and the approaches to the keep once more, brought into view.

NEWPORT GUARDIANS. The weekly meeting of the Newport Board of Guardians was held at the Newport Town Hall on Saturday, Councillor M. Wheeler presiding in the absence of Colonel Lyne. The Local Government Board wrote forwardmg a copy of a petition from the residents in the parishes of Rumney and St. Mellon's, asking the Local Government Board to withhhold its sanction to the appointment of Dr. Hamilton, of Newport, as medical officer to the district, in succession to Dr. Richards, of Llan- ishen. The memorialists pointed out that Dr. Shiac, who hM taken Dr. Richards' practice, re- sided within M miles of St. Mellon's and 4 miles from Rumney, whereas Newport was 7; miles from St. Mellon's and 9 miles from Ruxoney. Dr. Shiac also visited tho district to attend private patients four or five days per week. It was re- solved that the board reply stating that all the circumstances were taken into account at the time of the appointment. Mr T. Dutneld pointed out that at the time the parishes were taken over from the Cardiff Union an undertaking was given that Dr. Richards should be continued as medical officer for the district, and he thought that a mis- take had been made in not appointing Dr. Shiac. Mr C. Thomas moved that the board meeting be at 3 o'clock instead of 11.30 a.m. as at present, but the proposal was defeated by 31 votes against 2 votes for.

DEATH OF THE DEAN FOREST CENTENARIAN, A few months ago an old lady named Goode became, on well authenticated testimony, a cen- tenarian, but the old lady has not long survived the attainment of this distinction, an attack or bronchitis proving fatal a day or two ago. The family of the deceased belonged to Monmouth, and an uncle, said to be the handsomest man in the town, fought at Waterloo, the excitement about which, and even of Trafalgar, deceased averred she well remembered. She WM one of a family of 11 children, and consequent upon depression in the Forest trade, had to work in the woods to earn a livelihood. She was twice married, and by her firs; husband baa 16 children. Her second hnshand was a sweetheart before her first marriage. Of her 16 children 10 (lied before their mother, who nevertheless at the time of her demise leaves 43 grandchildren, over 100 great grandchildren, and ? few great great grandchildren. The old lady had lately become deaf, bot her sight, memory, and activity were excellent up to alinost the last. She wM born within a stone's throw of where she died.

-O: CARDIFF POLICE COU III- MISSION The Cardiff Police Court aud Prison Gate Mission is persevering in a useful and beneficent work. The missionary (Mr G. Smith) report# that during the past year 1.075 free breakfasts were provided at the Blialtor in Gaol-lane to discharged prisoners. Some 36 prisoners were turned over to the missionary by the magistrate* instead of being sent to gaol, ana about the same number of other cases attended to at the magistrates' request by the missionary. Gases visited in their homes numbered no fewer than 751. In 19 instances employment was found for men and lads. Ten females were taken to homes for 13 situations were found; and 9 girls and women were restored to parents and friends. I The work of the mission would be much more effective if a labour home were established in which to give temporary employment to those who wish to turn over a new leaf.

TOBACCOHISTS COMMENCING.—See Hid. Guide, I 159 pp. 3d. Tobacconists' Con 186iEuston. rd., London j

Dvmunir i'n Gohebwyr Cymreig gyfeirio eujgo- hebiaethau, llyfrau i'w hadolygu, Ac., ia. y canlyn: Dafydd Morganwg, Morganwg House, Llantwit-street. Cardiff."

AT EIN GOHEBWYR. YR ARAN. Fel rhyw gleddyf, wele argiwydda—'n hyf I Drwy'r nefoedd ymsaetha; Yn ei bry mewn blys mae'n bla, Di-ludd &r wybea ladda. Yn yr 1twyr goroian—bydd mewn bodd! Mae'n be ptin yn hedian; Ond i wig glvd ffy'r ednod glan Ar cbwerw liirwawch yr Aran. Cwmtwrcb. GW«LEDYDD. Yr Aran."—Diolch am eich nodyn. Gadewch i ni wele;? beth ddywed yr awdurdodau am yr enw Garii-n, Ac., oblogyd y mae peth fel hyn yn werth oi chwilic. Garan — math o aderyn, cregyr." Etto, "Crevr—aderyn yn byw ar gig."—Parch. S. Mills. Goran—coes, clun, crychyda, grevr."—Oyn- ddelw. Gultn-a shank, a crane." Etto, Crane, garan—creyr, cryetivid.Dr. W. Richards. Garan-a crane. Gr., Gernos Fr., Gruan." -T. Richards. Garan-a crane, a heron, a shank, a ahaft, crychydd,Dr. W. O. Pnghe. Chwi welwch lod ) rhai yna i gyd yn tnaddu yn erbyn barn yr hen wr 80 oed, y cyfeiriwcb ato. Wei, gadewch i ni weled beth ddywed T. Richards am ) Wennol Gwennol, s.—a swallow, per- haps Gwenfol, from its white belly.—Gwennol y DW'r- martin or martinet, a swift, a water swallow." Dyna ni wedi dod o hyd i martm o'r diwedd. Yn yr Aniauyddiaeth Ysgrythyrol," t.d. 69, dywedir fod pedwar aderyn o dylwyth y wennol yn ymweled a n gwlad, "sef Gwennol y Dw'r, Y Wennol, Y Wennol Fronwen, a Gwennol y Glenydd. Dywed Buffon, yn ei Natural His- tory," fod cynnifer a dau-ar-bymtheg-aiwugain o wahanol fathau o wennoliaid i'w cael, as yn en plith Mr Martin, gyda'i goftau yweiniatd t'i draed byt i&n,. Yn awr, y cwestiwn yw, ai yr un yw Black Martin a/r Aran ? Nage, yn ddiau, yn ol y dyfyniadau uchod o'r Geiriadurou ond dywedii- mai un o deulu y srychydd yw'r olaf. Trown at Dr. W. O. Pughe unwaith etto, oblegyd y mae ganddo ddyfyniadau sy'n tueddu i egluro hyn, a. chadarnhau syniad yr hen wr 30 oed, i'r enw Cymreig, "Garan," fod yn gyfystyr a'r enw Seisnig, martin. Megis aran neu wennol"—" like a crane or a swallow," Mai yr aran am ei dwygoe6"—" like the heron for her two legs." Yn awr, rhaid bod yn ochelgar rhag iynu'r byd ar fy mhen wrth ofyn, a ydyw cyfieitliiad y Doctor yn gywir ? Ai nid like the martin and the swallow" ddylasai'r blaenaf fod ? Ac, ai nid like the inartin on her two legs" yw'r cywir o'r olif ? Mae Buffon yn sylwi'n neillduol ar eiddil- wch coesau a byrdra traed y ma.rtin. Ymddengys i mi mai y Wennol Ddu olygir wrth yr Aran, yn y naill :1' llall; a dichon mai mown oesoedd diweddarach y cymhwyswyd y gair at deulu y Crychydd. Nen, gall* yr enw "Garan" ar y martin fod yn lleol, mewn un rhanbarth o'r wlad yn unig.

AWDL DYFED. Yr Iesu o Nasareth" gmsol,-sydcl Awdl semi a, gorchestol Gan Dyfed; y gwin dwyfol-o'i mewn sydd, O ma,o'n ysblenydd emyn ysblanol! Glan Cerdin, Llandyssul. BJlIf DAVIES.

Y BRITHYLL, Ar dy esgyll hyfryd, wiegi.n y Hyn, Frithyll hardd, chwareui; Ar gwr ein bwrdd rhagori, E dyn torf am danat ti. PTSGOTWS.

Y BYWYDFAD. th nghul &deg dwfn galedi—enbydfawr, Y bywydfad glanfri Wthia i aelgerth y weilgi I'w gwared oil, er garwed hi. Ffyniioncoranan. ASA E. GBOBG*.

Y DAFARN. Ty'n sv'n llawn tema¡siyna.u,r hen dafara, Doifia'n cymeriadau; Lie gweithir, gworthir gau-wirodycia, Man annedwyad a ddan-inis eneidiau. Ffynnoncoranan. ASA. E. GEORGE.

Y LLYGAD. Goleuad, enwog lywy-dd-troediad dyn Trwy dywod oes beunydd Yw'r Llygad, a'i dremiad rhydd Yn llawn nodan'n Lluniedydd. Yn fywiog, o dan fwa—hardd yr ael, Mewn urdd, rhydd chwareua; Ac yn gan hwn gyfrana c I raid dyn ei belydr da. i, Trofoxria. Taxroayju*.

GAWN NI FYN D I'R NEF I GANU ? Gawn ni fyn'd i'r Net i ganu, Canu'n un gymanfa gref, Am rinweddau'r anwyl Iesu, Gyda gorfoleddus lef ? Ni ddaw yno boen na blinder, Nil. chystuddiau o un rhyw, Pawb yn inoli heb un pryder Yno n awn afonydd Duw. Gawn ni fyn'd i'r Nef i ganu ? Hen ganiadau hoff y saint, A n molawdau yn ymddyrchu Am g-el meddu y fath fxaint? Melus fydd ar fryniau r Nefoedd, Pan o swn v storom gref, A dylanwad y corwyntoedd Sy n anrheithio gwlad a thref. Gawn ni fyn'd i'r Nef i gant4 Anthem y tragwyddol hedd, Yn nghymdeithu bnr yr leau, ec VI edi ysbrvdoli'n gwedd ? Cofio yno yr haeddiannau Dalwyd ar Galfaria Fryn, Ac angherddol ddylanwadau Can ad Dnw tra'n rhodio'r Glyn. Gawn ni fyn'd i'r Nef i ganu ? Cawn, wrth ddilyn golen'r Nef, A'11 bucheddau wedi'n gwvnn Gan ei ddoniau a.nwyl EI. Awn yn ddiogol tua'r hafan, Y mac bryniau'r wlad gerllaw; Beichia peraroglau Canaan Gefn yr awel fwyn o draw. Rhos Cilybebyll. DJ). J. LEWIS.

BYDD YN FFYDDLAWN. Bydd yn ffyddlawn, ieaanc Gristion, I dy Brynwr, Iesu cu; Ar dy ffordd y mae gelynion Cyfrwys a dichellgar la. Ceisio WDltnt dy bndo ymaith Oddiwrth y par 8.'r A, I'r anialwch corsiog, diffaeth. Lie teyrnasa marwol bla. Bydd yn fiyddlawn, tynn gofleidia Yn wastadol Air dy Dduw, Byth na ddos i'r un ymdrechfa Heb ei wir adnoddau byw. Paid ymddiried dy gadwraeth I dy ddynol nerth dy hun, Unig ob&ith dy uwchafiaeth Fyddo cymhorth Dwyfol Un. Bydd yn ffyddlawn, iawn ddefnyddla Y talcntau gennyt sydd, Yn dy gylchoedd ymddisgleiria Yn eglur fel v seren ddydd. Da.w cyn hir dy Feistr DwyfoJ Ar y cwrawl gyda'i la' Gan dy alw yn gyfrifol Am y trysor roes i ti. Bydd yn ffyddlawn hyd yr hwyrddydd, Paid 6r dim a llwfrhau Fe wobrwyir dy holl gystudd Gan lawenydd pur, didrai. Fe wna,'r Iesu mawr ei hunan, Ger bron lluoedd nefoedd wen, Dy wahodd i'w nefol drigfan, A rhydd goron ar dy ben. Birchgrove. At GLAN NANIHRAS.

SEINDORF PRES TREBANOS. (BCDDUOOT.) Odlaf 'nawr i Fand Trebanos, Lie mae blodau'r gerdd yn aroa, Lie mae'r ijruiut yn Inncidengo-.i, in y meibion glin; Seindorf Bres y w o'r fath orau, Dieglaer ydyw eu talentau, Addurn y'nt yn Ngwlad y Bryniau, Ac i fyd y g&n. Clywais hwy n telori Seiniau svvynol gerddi. Pan yn vmdaith dros y fro, Yn dotio pawb o'n deutu. Pcraidd yw ei pur acenion, Oelfydd iawn mewn eynghaneddioa, Nodau uur ei hudgyrii hiriott Sydd fel gwefreiddiol ain. Gra.igtrebano8 welwyd unwaith 0 dan leni anwybodsoth, Gwelir 'nawr haul gwyn dyageidiaeth Ar y llanerch fad gynt y brain yn lleddfra. fferddoriaeth sy n dyrebafa, Uelltwsh mas y BOAVI yn codi 'r He i sylw'r wlad. 'Na.wr ceir awn tabyrddau N eM vhwng y oreigiaa, XB,7 Gellionon hy' Y, n ayna wrth y soiniag, A nt o flifcen y rheng ddyngarol, A r ysgolion glin Sab bot hoi, 1 gymdeithas inaent yn lle«ol I roi gwit fwynhad. 03 meib Ilafay mewn %myuedct Ydynt r.o fro diuodedd, Rhomo rti?wmt i fryn atirhydedd. Dro* y rhwyfctran'i gyd Domwyd Ffanny, en har.veinydd, A galluoedd gwir ysblenvdd, Dychr^cystadleuwyr hylwydd Seindyrf goren Crmrn Sydd yn deehreu gwelwi, Bag A 0' the Bams" yu gun Sy.n dost am eu distewi. Band Trobanos! chwythwch weithian Yn eich hotferyuau arian, Mynwch oto wobr^u eirian 0 bob rhan Wr byd. CLYDMH. DAKOX. HJBRTKI.

Refuting a Slander. A rural citizen, having been slandered by ont of his brethren in the faith, vents his feelings in an open letter to the public as follows :— Too the Publick. About a Slandersome man. which his name is well known I forbair toe Denounce the sneekin devile as he Desarves, bein a Chrystin, an follerin the Golden Rule, though a Free Silver Man in Politicks. But i want tc say, if He sed Sister Molly Higgins sed that th. Preecher sed that i sed Heethen Missions mout be dam,he is a Lier in Prayer Meetin an endnrin Church, an I kin whip Him with one Hani tyec behin my back—weekday, or Sunday." Staple and Fancy. With a sigh:the grocer learned that he was onll making 100 per cent. upon his investment. But I must be patient," he murmured. Presently he might have been seen flitting be tween the sugar barrel and the kerosene tank. Little drops of water, little grains of sand," he said. Suiting the action to the word, a look of hope and courage overspread his countenance. "I will yet be wealthy," were the words on hii lips. Then he issued forth joyfully, although he knew in his heart that the scales were lying it weight for him. Due to Subsequent Action. Mamma Now, Johnny, tell me the truth, You have been eating too much of something ot the sly. What is it ? Johnny (suffering horribly from indigestion): Haven' been eating anything, mamma. Don't try to deceive me, dear. What have you been eating ?" Nothing, mamma, honest. I-I drank a bowl of milk that was in the pantry, that was all." That bowl of milk. Why, Johnny, there was nearly a quart of it. Are you sure it wasn'i sour ?" Yes'm. It was—boo-hoo—it was all right when I swallered it!" His Case. Her complexion was of the kind that always goes with hair of that sort. Her voice was vibrant with sympathy. Isn't it dreadful ?" she murmured, to doom a man to hopeless labour for the rest of his na. tural life ?" Tears sprang to her eyes, and the lines which told of the conviction and sentence of the criminal grew indistinct. How then It was her lover who spoke. Miss Giltedge—Alicia—can you find it ill your heart to spurn my suit ?" It was a great play and won him the game. Natural. To the stranger within the gates they came in deep solicitude, their faces beaming with kind- ness and hospitality. Pan,*e do aught," they asked, to make °U" Ye^e ak°cte seem more like home to you ?" He glanced hurriedly about the apartment. it ii? ^ese rugs," he commanded decisively, over the gas jet, put the piano out in the wood' shed, place a pail of soapsuds in the middle 01 the parlour floor, and His voice sank to a whisper. X donghnut and a cold potato oj He laughed a. hollow, affected laugh and re- into silence. A Valuable Acquisition, The hired girl entered the room with no able hauteur, and awnitcd the pleasure of hoi mistress de nominee de sed non facto. A cheery wood fire burned in the grate, a fact which has no direct bearing upon the events to bf related, but which is worthy of notice as a cou. current circumstance. Mary The voice of the mistress wa3 softly modulated, as Is usual with mistresses similarly situated. —■ I wish to raise your salary." The girl clung to the laco curtains for support. xes, Mary," the lady continued, I don't know what we should do without vou. Of course, you have broken dishes and all that, Mary, but the police protection we've had since you've been with as is something immense. You are a good girl, Mary." It was a new experience for the domestic, and she had no course but to leave the room in silence. Knew It Would Come. Two cultured Detroit girls were at a, country house for a month, kept by an honest old farmer, and just after supper they sat down to talk over their pleasant surroundings. Just think," said one, "what lovely milk that w«f • Nice and rich and so much better than that blue staff we get in town." •uJJkSfSS?4*^ Next morning they were up early, walking through the garden before breakfast. The farmer and his hired man were in the covi lot adjoining. Bill," they heard him call out, "did you watei them cows before von milked 'em ?" Th girls looked at each other with quick under- standing. There," exclaimed the elder, didn't I tell yon it was too good to last," and they went slowly and sadly into the house, expecting to find blue milk for breakfast. A Little Misunderstanding. A little incident that happened not long sincr in Harmanus Bleecker Hall caused a deal of smiling amongst those in the vicinity. A dea; ?ld gentleman, well-known aad much respected in all circles in the city, and a young lady were the actors. The two were engaged in a sort of conversation. The young lady would say two or three times to the old gentleman, i who would at last hear and answer. One time the young lady, while they were talk- ing about fruit and their likes and qislikes, said to the old gentleman in an ordinary tone Do you like bananas ?" The old gentleman didn't catch it, so he smilef and said What ?" The young lady repeated her question in < slightly louder tone, but still the old gentlcmai didn't understand. The young lady then ben' over close to the ear of the old gentleman and sail in a tone that could have been heard four rowi away Do you like bananas ?" The old gentleman seemed to understand ani yet was surprised. He in turn bent over to ward the young lady and said to her in quite a load tone: "No, I like the old-fashioned night-shirtf best." A quiet titter went around among those in the immediate vicinity. The young lady blushed furiously at the idea that she had been misunder stood as asking the old gentleman if he liked pyjamas. A Boy Patriot. One day during last October," said a repre- sentative from one of the Southern States, "1 hadoceation to get into the mountains from one of the interior county seats where I had some law business. My mission was to secure a deposition from the wife of a mountain farmer, and when the work was done I was asked to remain to dinner. It was not entirely to my liking, for I knew what that kind of a dinner meant, bnt I could not decline the invitation. It was a very homely affair indeed, cornbread and bacon being the leading viands. At my right sat a boy of 15, who had never been beyond the limits of the county. He was quite inquisitive after he had made a start, ana dnring the course of his inquiries be- came personal. ,i c I reckon you're uster bctter'n you git here in the mountains ?" he said, with a nod towards the spread before us. Oh, I don't know,' I p:trrd.. It's dift'eren in the city.' » I reckon you have white bread all the time 11 don't you V Ct Oh, yes.' No cornbread a-tali r Only when I want it.' At first there was incredulity in his eyas then it faded and there came admiration ane longing. gosh,' ho exclaimed in a rap ture,' I'd ruther be a Congressman than go tei heaven. I shore would.' "And he was so seriously in earnest that J didn't dare to laugh." The Court was Convinced. Suit in a far west court to recover certair moneys of which it was alleged that the plaintii had been defrauded by thimble rigging. Contuse] for plaintiff undertakes to enlighten the Court M tothe modns operandi. He takes three enps. Then, may it please the Conrt, the defendant placing the cups on his knees, thus began shift- ing them so, offering to bet my client couldn't fiell under whieh cup was the little joker (mean- ing thereby, may it please the Court, this ball), with tbe intention of defrauding my client of tbt sum wagered. For instance,when I raise tbe euf so, your Honour supposes that yon nee the ball." Suppose I see, interrupted the Judge, who had closely watched the performance and mil sure that he bad detected the ball as one of th, cups was accidentally raised. Why, any foot can see where it is and bet on it and be sure U Win. There ain't no defrauding thar." Perhaps your Honour would like to uo t dollar o» ft ?" insinuated the counsel. Go a dollar ? Yes and double it, too. here's the rhino. It's under the middle cup I'll go a dollat on that," said the foreman ot the jury. And I ana I, joined in the jurors, one aftei the other, until each one had invested his pile. « Up," said his Honour. Up it was, but the little joker had en- tirely disappeared. Judge and jury were enlight ened and found no difficulty in bringing in verdict in favour of the plaintiff, on the ground that it was the worst possible kind of de fraudin'

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