The Cardiff Times

CHAPTER XXXVIII. A Prince Among Hammet-men. In the smithy of the Three Thorns, Malise McKim drew h' sons together. It was the morn- ing after his interview with the King, very early. All night the old man had walked abont the loch-side and I had kept him In sight till the dawning of the day. The sky of midnight had been clear with faint pearl-grey clouds, high a.nd ¡ rare in the zenith. The loch gleamed at our feet I like half-polished steel, fiat and without a ripple in the dark woods of Gelaton. Meantime, my mother. Dame Barbara—her hair that had been raven black with scarce a grey hair now flaxen white—watched stealthily from the cottage door the steadfast tramp-tramp of her husband's feet along the narrow shingle and over the green knolls. She, too, had followed the camp, and had arrived at the Three Thorns the third day after the pitchingof the tents, She spoke nothing of Magdalen, and seemed altogether occupied in watching the changes iu MaliBe McKim. Daring the night his wife had only been pre- vented from following him by my urgent en- treaties and the repeated assurance that I was always behind him ready to prevent anything desperate which might suggest itself to his tioubled brain. So I stole throngh the wood & little above him, silent as a moon shidow drifting over the hills. Bat though my father muttered much to him- self and drove his great piked shepherd's crook deep into the clatteriDg shingle of the little lake- side beaches, be did himself no harm-nor, I think, dreamed of it. In the later morning, when the light had begun to spread upwards from the east he caught sight of Corre. (who for a while bad come to replace m) creeping through some underbrush, rather clumsily, let it be said. He was upon him in a moment, with his staff upraised. "Give me till to-morrow, my lord th9 King," be said. Dare you spy upon me, spawn of evil ?" he cried, I will .'en break thy back for thee-with my clickie." And he would have done it, too, had It not been that I ran npon them from the cottage door, with my mother behind me, and each of us seized an arm. Let Corra be," she cried, Malise, my man, do you net understand ? We were in a fever about yon-tbe lad did no more than he was bid." He stood leaning on his staff, bis chin upon the crook. What might ye have been afraid of ?" be queried, Blowly and gravely, that I wonld do myself an injury ?" H. turned abont and pointed over the trees upon the ridge, ink black against the brighten- ing west. •' Do myself an injury he-said,, with a laugh which I loved not to bear r nay, be at rest- not till my work is done." Then, to his wife, our mother, he said, Go tby ways, goodwite. Make the ads porridge and stir them weel. Let a. d-riblet or two of meal slip between thy fingers. For tbe lumpa in. bowl of porridge are the strength thereof. Tbey make the bones of men. Now I would speak to the lads-yea, while there is time, and the clear- ness of the morning is in my heaV* And with that he led the way to the smithy. I Eastward, day was just beginning to break across the little group of King b Edward's Causeway, that ancient paved toad wbich he made through thetmossof Culll and across the shallows of Carlmwark. y b. ^hu^b behind bis shoulder towards the of 'ho King. 11 there be a many fine gentleman and well-attired lords, and, chief of all, his j y of the FireyFace, Bloody Hand, and-bmin of a poll parrot—to whom, in the roeanti e, lotig life and much success. Lads, I Ber and them till the time appointed-then I serve no more." Then be laughei again; but this time silently, and to himself But that which we wait for we must worK for. And it is not in the possible of siccan rand lads, with their changes of aDparel three times a day, their pennona and gonfalons going before, to bring doon yon aald piood castle o Thrieve fenced aboot wi' Dee water, drumiy after floodi or crystal-clear after spate." Na, nor is there a man in a' the boats of the King, fra the Bennon to Carlinwark Hill, that can match Sholto McKim, my son and your brither. Nevertheless, it is laid upon me that yonder castle must fall. And as to that I have a thought here." He paused a lonfe while after this, so that tpe son, throwing a sadden beam in at the smiday door, caused the shadow of an anvil with a fore- hammer leaning against it, to start across tne door of beaten earth and iron filings. Lads," he said, we maun make a cannon, like to nanethat hath here to befol e been upon the earth—a bombard that shall throw a great ball, much ai no man can lift, miles and miles across land and water." The lads (who, for all their being called boys," lads," and so forth, were all well over their twenty-first year) looked at one another with Budden glances, full of meaning, which 1 could interpret right well. They thought that the want in the mind had come npon him once again. But I knew better. Yes, my father," I answered him, I have beard of Buch as being forged in the realm of Germany. They are made of great gands of iron, each separately forged'and welded together. bound about with iron bands, and finally com- pacted with wedges thrust within the rings.' Of what eize are these German eannon ? demanded Malisa the amith. '• Of the greatness that a man may knit his fingers and thrust his had within," I answered. My father rose and took a tnrn within the narrow limits of the smitby, which be did of habitude, turning and walking, and avoiding all the time, without any observance, the pieces of armour and' stands of arms scattered about. For, though he was in all ways a man so great in stature and thickness, he moved lightly as a cat, and that even to his latest days. Laurence, you say well," be answered; but what is an engine like that ? Thrieve Clastis is no iron broth-pot, nor a basin of red baked clay to be batterea with cobble-stones over Dee I Water. The cannon we shall fashion must be of a greatness so that twelve strong horses shall have bard work to drag it over a made road. And instead of a man's fist, or even his jointed neives, he shall be able to thrast his whole body therein with his sark upon his back and his hose on his feet." The lads looked on in silent amazement Malise turned to tbem. Aye, aye, we McKims shall do it. Seven I great forge fires shall there be on the shores of Carlinwark-to eAch of us one. With our arms shall we work at the metal, but the King's men bhall make a high fence—John JohnBtone the joiner and his loons clacking and hammering nails, so that all shall keep the dilvtance-ayst even the King's own majesty-till the work be finished and complete. Also the camp fellowers shall bring us fuel, and we will work till we die or the work be done But- but—but—" began the lads we have never made or even seen any powder guns greater than these culverins of bronze-" Malise McKim seized a hammer, and swung it in his hand. Hear ye, Corra, Dun, Herries, and the rest, he shouted, do as I bid you—or by Saint Bride, I will make a row of herring heads of you nailed against the smiJdy v.a', Have" I spent my j labour in vain—in the begetting of windle-straws, 1 in rearing a cleokan of seeping pullets, fit only to J&ick v6wa-x*cd. » btuowlwc? Am v I j r not the Master Smith ? Am I not Malise McKim ? And shall a crew of lowns, scarce breeched and scantly bearded, dare to crake and craw it me when I set them their task antl piece- work? To your day's darg like good hammermen. Strike hard. Say naught. Laurence and I will to the King." And to the King we went. It was not far. Upon the ridge of Carlinwark, to the right, behind the great beech trees which broke the westerly winds from the Cottage of the Three Tudors. rose the royal pavilion, with the Lion of Scotland in front. Those of hie chief lords, Angus, Mortou, Crichton, Huntley, with their several ensigns, were disposed irregularly about. James of the Firey Face was early astir. In- deed, so far as I ken, none of the Stewarts were long liers a-bed. He met as in the doorway of his tent, and at once bade all men go forth from hJm, save Crichton alone. The last proved to be a little wizened cunning man with the visage of a monkey, but be looked at ns with a p"ir of the brightest eyes that ever were seen in the realm of Scotland. j At the sight of him, and the Kings ardent j commendation of his qualities, I could see the dull red fires glow up in my father's eyes. j A cup of wine with you, 51&ligO," said the Eing, and you, young slip of lear, wha for your I misdeeds, wants a name to yonr tail—what do j you with onr Master Armourer ?" And what do yon with that ?' said my father, somewhat truculently and a great deal insolently, pointing his finger at Crichton. who eat at a table turning, over some papers diligently. Why, man, ho is in some sort a head-niece to me," said the King, humouring the old man, 'tis well kenned that mine own is no great things." And even so is this youth mine," answered my father swiftly, though (he added more slonly) I do admit he is a master-craftsman also, having studied the art of iron in France and other countries." For I had bonnd over my father and brothers not to reveal who I wro. The King called a pantler of the household train and bade him fetch a flagon of wine, of wbich he ponced out a full cup. But Malise nut it away from him, Give suchlike to the young," he said, I will drink no wine and eat only such meat as is necessary for the sustaining of my body till the castle yonder is in car hands." And have you gotten that troublesome thought nfelyout of vour bead, ingoted, and laid on the anvil, eh, Master Smith?" demanded the King Bmiling. Ye shall bear, King James Stewart," be answered. 'Tis ingoted, barred, and ready for fire and hammer-stroke. Listen. I have much good iron in tbe shed of the smithy under the trees. I expected that it would serve my lifetime. In the town of Kiikcudbright there is much more. Only, I pray you, give us men to build an en- closure about our forge-hearth, for we would not be fasbed in our labour." And what," said tbe King, "is this y>ur labour of which you speak ?" King James," said the Smith, I have pro- < m;sed to serve vou and to be your man till the Castle of Thrieve fall and the Lord thereof come I by his deserts. I will make you a cannon greater than any in the world. This young man, having travelled far and near, hath seen the like-onl-v in JittJe-in the German camps in the Low Countries. But I will make a cannon which shall send a ball from where we stand to the battering down of yon higi2 towers of Tbrieye-aye, farther and ye will "Malise, Malise," said the King reproachfully, I had expected more and better than this mad ploy. The thing is clean impossible. The like was never seen in this realm or in any other." My father erected himself, sqaaring his great shoulders till ttfey seemed almost to reach across the breadth of the pavilion." King of Scots," he said with solemnity, "you are a man, I am a man. Your name is James Stewart, mine Malise McKim. Have ye seen or heard aught to glir ye think your Royal word better than the word of Malise, the Smith of Carlinwark Methinks the comparison would lean some- what heavily to-yoar side of the balance, good Master Armonrer," said the King, good- humohredly. "Not at all times can a King keep his word. He bath those about him, like my excellent Chancellor at the table there, who will not let him." And I thought that a dry eile passed over 4be face of Crichton, who nevertheless continued to occupy himself with parchments and various writings. As for me, I was in an asrony of fear lest my father should say something to the King about the safe conduct which he had given, writ with his own hand, signed with bis name and seal, to William of Douglas, when he brought him to Stirling to meet his death. But Malise the Smith was appeased by King James's answer, and, after brooding a little, laid the whole plan and design of the greatcannon before him. 1 have here at the Carlinwark seven sons," he said in conclusion, and that we will forge you the cannon I put their heads and mine own in the balance. Let your beadsman sharpen his blade for us if we fail And if you succeed ?" asked Crichton, look- ing up with a sudden brightening of his counten- ance, yoa seven will all need an earldom at least, it is the fashion nowadays." Nay answered Malise McKim. slowly, not an earldom, nor yet a chancellorship, my lord ,f Crichton—nor any reward in lands or siller. Bat pnly-five minutea alone witb James Douglas." That you aball have and welcome," said the King, but why do you not ask for the life of your son who is in rebellion ?" That will I not," said Malise McKim, I have told you before, King of Senti. the young man serves not James Douglai, but the Lady Margaret, his true mistress. He will serve you as well. Had he been in rebellion, would he have been lacking at Arkinholm ?" Matise." cried the King, laughing, I had not thought you so subtle in your reasons. This lad in black must have quickened thee, as Crichton doth my own sluggish harn-pan. But all the same, may the saints confound that Shoito of thine—rebel or no rebel—traitor or loyal subject —I wot well that he is giving us a huge through- other of trouble in the midst of this wild Gallo- way. And, spite of thy cannon, no man sees yet how it will end." So that very night on the shores of Carlinwark seven great forges were set ap. In tbe woods of Buittle and Borgne men black to the eye-holes made charcoal for She fires that burned night and day. And we seven McKims shut ourselves out from the world-by day in a hot and panting purgatory of burning sun and glowing fires. At night it was a little better. The deep glow of the forges wai reflected on the still water of the loch, and the olang of the fore-hammers was heard afar. Mostly we seven were stripped and blackened to the waist with coal and grime, and I> warrant well that mine own almoner at Sweetheart Abbey would not have known his sometime Abbot had be met him in these days 'twixt vespers and prime. The supply of fuel was eomiug to an tnd. I Above, on the slope, it was the nightly amuse- ment of the soldiers, and even of many yonng soions of the nobility, to cluster along the ndge and look down upon us at our SravaH-now black against the firelight, anon our face. and swarth naked limbs lit up with the leaping flames. Demons of the nether pit could have looked little otherwise, 9-8, escaping for a moment, we ran to she white cottage, demanding drink from our mother, who, on her part, poor woman, slept little watching my father, and, like him, wearing herself out. But she for love even as be for hate. So tho great iron Rands to make the body of bombard were forged in such a turmoil as never before or aince have mine eyes bebeld, or my ears been deived withal. We began to pnt the great cannon together, and not till then did the mighty proportions of the monster appear, taking shape dimly through the swelter. Then came a period of yet fiercer excitement. So long as we were ncerely working at the forg- ing bars, each man had to beat and hammer by himself, or, at most, with only one associate. Bnt when at last the monster began to take actual shape, and we saw before us the mighty maw which should soon begin to vomit destruc- tion, and the vast of the cavern which would bold (as my father had truly said) the body of a man, we could scarce stay ourselves from shout ing aloud. Bide," Baid my father grimly, there is the pick and flower of the work yet to do. The iron ringe are yet to be shrunk upon her, and many a stiff back and many a wet ringing brow shall ye hae afore that be through with, lads of mine." I mind the night yet when the last band was fitted. It chanced that, without our observing it, the wood and charcoal had gotten dangerously near to the bottom of the pile. Aleo, though my father knevt it not, the Borgue men bad not arrived with fresh loads-baijig more than two days behind, diinking of acqaavit at some dyke- back belike, after their kind. And so when the i master band of all was to be put about the cavernous muzzle, where the force of the powder I would spend itself most fierce]J^Ot -1hi iirta !:W«ein dw*g«p £ f*Ui9g;low. 1 Then my father, who throughout had scarce spoken at all, save only to give his orders, wens like a man demented, and bade pull down the ancient smithy of Carlinwark, and burn the beams for fuel. And as he stood there with I naught upon him save the great leathern apron twisted about his middle to serva for a breach- clout, black from top to toe with the forge sweat and chnrooal crrime, I doubt if even James Stewart himself would have hesitated nbout obeying him, if he had bidden tear down and barn Holyrood House itself. At any rate we, who underlay his wrath, did not lose a moment, and were a-tearing an' a-scrambling at the roof bsforo the words were well out of his month. Yet for all I could not help thinking how much haDpier I was, astride npon one team and hacking at another, than ever I had been sitting in my chair in the Abbey of Sweetheart, with the chaunted psalms and the incense going up about me in clouds of holy scent an3 sonnd. Well, we fetched it down with a ran, and clumsy Corra, tramping bullock-like among the rigging, wellnigh broke his neck by falling through. So we brought the rafters, tinder-dry and brown with many generations of smithy fires, and thrust them into the furnace. More and more," shouted my father, lifting and feeding as if the house beams had been but so much kitchen firewood. lie will have the cottage itself aboat our heads in another moment," quoth my mother. "Laurence, go get him wood or he will tear down the house of the Three Thorns as he hath done the smiddy. And even when I am deip under sod. I want to think o' the gable of the bonny house, where we two used to sit and talk, cleeked close on the bench he made, the first vear we were first marriet- Find him wood, Laurence. Bring it to him. Haste ye, Laurence, haste ye." So I gott hold of Herries and a strong country lad or two from without the barriers, and tore down the fences which the King's carpenters had pat up. There was a great crowd of the carious all about. But when I made my choice of helpers they pressed forward. But I bade them go back- f: the peril of their lives, for that Malise McKim would crack a man's skull that night, as it were an egg-shell, if he found him where he had no business to be. And one behind jthem, wrapped in a great cloak, cried out for all to stand back and that he would help us himself. Which, being evidently of some authority among them, he did, tearing down the boards and pales of thefenclosure and carrying them on his back to the door of the cannon shed, but no further. •' I have desire to look once," be said, when at last we had finished. Let that be my reward." So I told him to kA. ftl1 h..hinrf n he looked within. Jt WRg indeed a ferlie worth seeing that be saw—Malise the great Smith leap- ing and striking with six attendant demons, all pulling and thrusting, and, as it seemed, passing their bodiesthrough the fires of hell ten times in a minute. The spatks flew great ad crown piece*. The flames danced upwards in coils and spikes. And in the background the great black monster stood waiting for her last neck-band. Here, Corra- Herries. All is ready," shouted my father. Come, Laurence, and the rest of yoa-seven McKims-all working as one, to avenge tbe shame cf oar house. Would to God there bad beeneight." He called as Raven &,Ud spoke to me as if I had been there. And lo, when I looked, with eyes dazzled by the light, it is true, I could count seven McKims in the forge, where, wanting me. there should only have been six. Laurence, Lanrence, strike with me, lad, for the last welding," cried my father, evidently believing that I was by his side. I could not nndor8tancj it. Nevertheless, I bad perforce to shuffle or. ir lielper away to the gap in the fence out of my father's eye-shot, as well as to get back to do my put. Bat as we reached the place ft crowd entered, and stood gaping and gazing, «noai oar helper hotly ordered back. But one, being of the insolent, ignorant sort, common in camps, called out, Well for you, crane's neck, hook nose-you have seen. We saw you peep within. Vve will not go back, nor take our/orders from you. Who are you to make good soldierBof my Lord Angus jump hither ani thither at your orders, and tumble somersaults like puppy jlogs ? "That I will show you," sfcid the man, and dropped his cloak. Aod ic WRS the King. Then every man gat himbehind bis neighbour, all trying to appear as if thok had comeont solely to gaze upon the stars. At another time I would have langhed, bnt then I had other most unhu morons business to my hand. Provost Marshall," cried the King, take that man and make him discover how easy it is to jump hither and thither—aye, and for a good soldier of my Lord Angus's to tumble somer- saults like a pappy dog." And so, with red flame and clangour infinite, the great cannon was east It is the same which is culled Mons, or Moliaoce Meg, after my father's landed property. and stands in the Castle of Edinburgh, to this day to witness if I lie. The end of tbe Portn of History writ by the Yonug-mau in Black. (To be Continued.)

< I.LP. MEETINGS AT CARDIFF. — Mr Bruce Stasiar on the Conditions of the Miner's Life. On Sunday afternoon and evening Mr J. Bruce Glasier, editor of the "Labonr Leader," addressed meetings of working men at Roatb Park Recreation Grounds. The sabject of the afternoon lecture was Robert Burns," At the close he was asked a. question by a person in the audience-wbasher he thought there was a chance for a Labour candidate to represent Cardiff. He said the question was one which the societies affiliated in the Trades Council and the Labour Representation Committee \vere in a better position to judge than be was, but he added that there was an excellent chance whenever tbe workers in Cardiff or any other constituency realised the possibilities of the situation. In the evening the speaker deaJt with the con- ditions under which the working men of the Kbondda and other districts in Sooth Wales lived. Evidence of the work of ministers and others, be said, was to be seen. People were congregated together in ugly chapels, stuffy and disagreeable, where they were mesmerised by the emotion of singing bvmns and songs. That was very largely the condition of Wales to-day. He had been in the hill districts lately for a week, wandering about like a ghost every bour of the night and morning, until he had become satu- rated with a knowledge of the conditions and habits of the miner's life, and the result of it was that he felt he could ascend Cader ldris and for a hundred years compose mournful verses on what he had aeen. (Laughter.) The only respect colliery owners seemed to have for the working men was in getting their votes at election times. They were treated more like rlaves than men. (Cheers.) He aivocated better conditions for the miners at the collieries, such as the provision of baths, &c. If they mast have coal let them have it produced in a civilised and Christian way.

INFERNO ON THE SEA. A stirring story of sailors' heroism was told at Liverpool on Friday by a passenger on the Nelson liner Highland Brigade, which, as before reported, was found to be on fire in St. George's Channel, while she was on her way ot Buenos Ayres. The outbreak Droved too much for the vessel's pumps, and as the main deck got hotter the passengers, numbering about 20, had to seek refuge on the upper decks. Tbey clamoured to be landed at Holyhead, the nearest port, and when the captain decided to return to Liverpool they fell into a panic but the cool behaviour of the crew and the appearance of the fire-float Linnet calmed their fears. Arrangements have been made to sink the Nelson Hner Highland Brigade, in dock at Liverpool, as the most expeditions means of extinguishing the fire in the coal bunkers as reported above. The live stock and part of the cargo has been removed, but it was decided not to open the bunker hatches. The passengers will sail by the company's steamer which leaves a week hence. In tbe attempt to cope with tbe fire dnring the return to Liverpool several of the erew had narrow escapes from suffocation. The Highland Brigade is insured for £ 60,000.

CHAUFFEUR SENT TO PRISON. ^Before Mr Curtis-Bennett at Westminster on "iday Thomas Harding (45), motor-car driver, was brought up charged with being drunk while driving a car at Elm Park-road, Chelsea. With the prisoner in the dock was Harold Brown (30), of The Elons, Thames Ditton, who was charged with being incapably drank at the same time and place. At 4 o'clock on Friday morning Hard- ing was seen driving very erratically at about 11 miles an hour. He drove on and off the pave. ment, and when stopped was found to be drunk. Mr Brown was also in the car, in a similar con- dition. Harding admitted be was the worse for drink. His master said he had been dining." Mr Onrtis-Bennett: If drunken people will go driving motor-cars about the streets, and the case is proved before me, they will go to prison. Harding will have one month. Mr Brown May I make a statement to your Worship ? This man has been in the employment of my father and myself for 25 years, and nothing has ever been biought against him before. The Magistrate replied to this by ordering Mr Brown to pay 10s himself for being drunk. It was understood there would be an. appeal in the case of Harding.

ELECTRIC OAR IN COLLISION. One Person Killed and Two Injured in Glasgow. On Saturday night Ion electric car collided with a lorry at Partick Cross, Glasgow. On the lorry were Michael Hughes, aged 30 his sob Michael, aged six, and a boy named Gibson. The lorry was smashed, and tbe boy Hughes was killed. His father ana Gibson were badly injured.

ACCIDENT TO THE HON. IVOR GUEST. injured Whilst Polo Playing. The Hon. Ivor Guest. M.P., on Saturday afternoon met with an accident whilst playing polo on the RoebadPton Ground, in London, re- ceiving a blow in lhe eye with a polo stick io the coarse of the me. Mr Guest is subject to come discomfort, aid will be contioed to his room for some days. The hon. member hopes, however, [ to be wall enough fo fulfil the political engage- nnasta wbtefejzQ JuMntexedn^ feiLJaite.

COMPLETE STORY, I Barbara's Dower. I By ALGERNON GISSING. (Author of A Village Hampden," &c.). I ) Ben Dee did not marry till he was forty, and one child alone had blessed the union. This I was Barbara. As her mother was killed by falling from a swingboat at Ashbury Wake when the child was six, a bond of pecaliar tenderness united the lonely, middle-aged man and his little girl, and nothing would induce; Ben to accept the domestic help, or, as he called "a Jt. intrusion of kind motherly neighbours, As her own mother was taken from her, he said, she was now all his, and he would be both j father and mother to ber so long as he lived, j And be had faithfully been so. But when Barbara had reached the age of twenty, one Sunday night when she came in from Church < she said, Father, here's Richard Parke." < Then tell Richard Parke to come Inside, [ maiaie, replied lien at once wicnouc cninmng. Bat no sooner had the youth bidden" Good evening, Mr Dee," and sat down to play a tune on the brim of bis hat between bis knees than the old man started as if he was shot. He looked suddenly at Barbara and saw that she was no longer a child, but a particularly buxom and attractive young woman. He bad never thought of that. At least as the two were talking about the kind of night it was, wha bad or hadn't been at church, the parson's announcement about the disorderly ringers in the belfry and so forth, Ben j kept saying to himself that he had never thooght of it. That he unconaciously deceived hiunelf, however, was proved by tbe fact that ever since Barbara was born he had been making up a dowry for her wedding day. The possibility, and even the hope, of her sometime engaging a lover's attention cannot therefore have been altogether absent from his mind. But he began it yea's ago when the ebild was born, bad continued ifc through his wife's lifetime, so that by the time he was left in solitude agliin it had become habi- tual, and on everv Christmas Eve, which was ] Barbara's birthday when he drew out hH five gold sovereigns from the Post Office Savingp, Bank to add to the secret store which he was form- j ing in a bag of sheepskin, it was onlv with som* vague thought of giving pleasure to Barbara, and ] without the most distant thought of tbe actual I event of her wedding. 1 That ounday night, however, as ne xay ftwafite, j Ben saw it clearly enough. It stared at him i like some sudden and unforeseen calamity. The autumn wind that was moaning outsido seemed I aware of the misfortune and kept up a perpetual ■ wail. The countryman was so unaccustomed I to lying awake, and still more unaccustomed to ) troublesome thoughts, tbat by tbe time be heard the clock downstair* strike one he jumped up unable to keep still any longer. He didn't I know what to do, but some movement was neces- sary. He put on a few clothes and ^eut down silently so as not to arouse Barbara. A little bit of tire still lingered in the grate, so he put on some paper and sticks and soon bad a glow. Then he drew up a chair to it and leaned forward nursing his bead between his hands. Bnt still Ben could not think. It was action he wanted, and nt this time of night it was diffi. cult to make. Jf he could have gone ont to the pigs or fowls if be could have finished that bit of fencing in his orchard; if he could have picked those few swan-egg pears that the wind would be ) tossing but no such familiar employment was possible, and anything unfamiliar he could not devise. Bnt yes. he could count the coins. He never did touch them except on Christmas Eve when he added the five, but to-night all force of habit had gone. The thought came as an inspiration and brought a moment's relief. At the back of the bottom drawer in an ancient bureau filled with some old books and aiusic that his father had left bim, Ben kept his store. He drew it bat noisslesslv and put the sheepskin bag on the table. Poor Polly," he muttered i in doing so, for his wife had shaped and stitched the bag, and the night of it filled bim with thoughts of her. When he had untied the string be put in Jlis hand stealthily and proceeded to count and lay out the coins in little heaps befort him. In each pile were five to represent each birthday. Fifteen-sixteen-weventegn eighteen-ninateep-amd with anxious trembling hands he groped in the corners for the remain- ing five-yes, he had them Rol the hoard was complete—twenty golden fives were arranged before him. Little more than two months would have added another. But as it was, Ben felt astonished at the qaantitv. Five twenties, mused be. A hundred pounds, it was a lot of money. But no sooner had he thought so than sound broke the silence of the house. A door opened upstairs, and slippered steps descended. Ben was paralysed with fear. Barbara knew nothing of the treasure and he did not wish her j to know anything. Bat now there was no escape. The man instantly saw the impossibility of s getting the money in again in the few seconds < that he had. So be did not attempt it. Alii. Barbara came down the 6tairs into the corner of the room, 6he stopped on lhe bottom one and nhe and her father stared Fit one another. What is the matter, father ?" said the girl. Matter matter ?" stammered the man. Thieves be the matter, maidie. They've got wind of it, and they'll come like crows to a dead Iamb. l didn't mean it for tbem." The girl was startled, fancying that be was talking in his sleep." Oh, well, never mind, father," she said lightly, thinking to soothe bim. Put it away till morning, and tben you'll know what to do." Aye, aye, I'd better do that," and all the money was swept again into the bag, the very chink of it putting the man into a fresh parox- ysm of agitation. There was no more sleep that night for Bar- bara. She beard ber father return to hiB room bara. She heard her father return to hia room and when all was quiet again, except the wind, ■he continued with restless anxiety to seek for an explanation ot the odd incident. All their life httd been so simple that this was no easy j task for ber. The clock struck five and she was no nearer a solution Her father came down to bis breakfast, ate a little in silence, and then went off to work in the chill grey of the autumn morning. Some days went by without either of them venturing to allude to the mysterious topic. Then one night, after her lover Richard Parke had eone,i some light dawned on Barbara. After bidding him good-bye in the moonlight she came in abruptly to her father, and said, Do you mean Richard is one of the thieves, father?" The elderly man looked up in alarm. Nay, nay, I didn't say that." But you meant it. Yon think he has only coma after me to get the bit of money you have saved. It all began that Sunday night be first came." This sudden reading of his inmost thoughts disturbed Dee greatly, and he could only stare at his daughter. Aye, aye, that's about it," he murmured at last. And they spoke no more about it. But now that Barbara had got the thought it haunted her also. It came like a sting into the new and joyous emotions that the courtship had necessarily given her. Simple as she was, she was not frivolous, and she' had not the common faculty of girls wbich enables tbem to blot out everything that happens to come in opposition to their own impulsive wishes. She could see that her father's notion was very likely true. j Although she had known nothing of his savings I the fact might have got into the village gossip for all that. She was quite aware that many of the neighbours did consider him a man different from themselves, and so they might have lots of I information about him of which she was ignor- I afit. These thoughts and suspicions had their effect on the young woman's behaviour, and when Richard Parke saw her next he thought her changed. He took the alarm at once and asked her if she would go with him to Woolburne fair next Monday. Barbara had not been a girl to attend fairs and wakes, but sbe now instantly agreed to hia suggestion. She saw in it a favourable opportunity not to be lost. It was three miles to Woolburne, over the hill. But fortunately Monday morning broke in golden Autumn sunshine, so that when Barbara watched her father go off to work everything looked favourable for the walk before her. Parke was to call for her at ten, so that most of the intervening time was spent by the young woman in preparing the food which she was going to leave for her father's meals during her absence. After that she attended to herself. As she sat in nervous expectation awaiting her lover, Barbara presented a very attractive figure, and the yonng man had looked at her for some seconds before she became aware of his face at the window. Then she jumped up and they met in the doorway. A minute or two later Barbara had locked the door, hidden the key. and they set off. Neither was crafty enough altogether to dis- gusie their feelings of uneasinellll and neither bad the courage to confess it. So after the first flow of talk was over, they inevitably fell into silence. The longer the silence continued, of course, the more difficult it became to break, and so they got to the stone stile into the fields which sloped down to tbe grey little town of Woolbonrne. Parke leapt over and turned to asaist his companion. He took her hand, then encircled her waist, and finally snatched her into a strong irresistible embrace. Barbara submitted, and for a moment or two they remained in that eloquently silent position. But this naturally broke the uneasy spell they had been under. » What's wroag ?" whispered be. I don't believe it's me you love." said .Barbara quickly. Why, there isn't another girl in the parish that I'd—" Parke began, but was interrupted. Obi I don't mean that. I'm not jealous of anybody. What made you first think of me ?" It was when the sun comes through that south window in church in the morning. It fell on yon just here first and then came all over your head and shoulders, It made you look like an angel." The last words were whispered into one ear I and blended witB the kiss they led to. Barbara coloured and amfed. She longed to believe it. Yon know it's not true about my father's money ?" she faltered. What money ?" That he's going to give me when I'm married." She felt her lover start. It 'ud be uncommon useful, but I want ne money," he said. What a different tone I Barbara could not escape the shock. They separated and walked or. again. The fields were not so bright to Barbara, and the little town with all its preparation for jollity mooked ber. She knew that for betself there was to be no enjoyment, and shexbegan to wonder bowehe had veatnred on the expedi- tion at.all. But if there was no pleaaore there was to be curioeiiy in obanolmoo, Thoy. bad no sooner entered the market place, where the shows and roundabouts were erected than a man met Parke with every appearance of hilarity. Barbara did not know him, but she saw him eye her curiously, and she blushed as with the freedom of good-hamour be passed a joke about her to her companions. Then ail together looked round the place. It vtas the horses which seemed to engage the two men's attention, and all their conversa- tion was about them. So, although she walked behind her companions, Barbara's thoughts were her own. These absorbed her, and when they came to a group of people sarroundlng a medical man with long hair and spectacles, who with a skull in bis band was giving a highly technical account of the internal anatomy of man, she absently stopped. But in a minute or two, on discovering the subject of interest, Barbara turned hastily away. Then she missed her lover and his friend. She looked about in tl" direc- tions, moved this way and that, but without effect. They were not to be seen. Again going the whole length of the High- street with no better success, Barbara went still forward and was soon beneath the trees. She could not make up her mind what to do. She felt that she had gained the object of her jour- ney, and so why not go home ? Her father was right. All her joy in life had gone. She even fancied that Parke had just now purposely escaped her. When the breeze a.t length brought strains of music from the fair, the tears began to pour down Barbara's cheeks, and, turning through a gateway that gate entrance to the fields, she avoided the town in seeking her road homeward. She traversed a mile or two in abject wretched- ness, and met nobody. But on the hill top. where the road ran along a thick wood, she saw a figure approaching, and in order to escape being; Been Barbara got over the wall to hide herself in the brushwood. She watched the figure pass—it waa unknown to her-but still lingered in her seclu- ded shelter. Just as she had regained courage to atep out, the sound of a cantering horse again arrested her, and she stayed to watch. It cameon rapidly, the same way that she herself had come, bat as it sped past her the girl's heart rose to her throat. She had stared at the rider in ap- proaching, in passing, and now in disappearing, and nothing could removo^e conviction that it was Richard Parke. After the first shock of astonishment Barbara felt a gleam of joy. No doubt be had missed her, sought for her, and wpot now anxiously pursuing her. Perhaps she had come to her other conclu- sions too hastily. He mnst care something aboot her. Not for the money only would be borrow a horse and scamper so eagerly over the country. Instinct had tiught Barbara that be bad better not immediately find her, so sbe took a little time in getting home by obscure by-paths. The young woman's conjecture was not alto- gether wrong. Although Parke's calculations had been rudely shattered by the girl's hint about < the money, still it was true his attentions had not been altogether mercenary. After the first shock of annoyance and disappointment had passed, chiefly with the aid of some refresh- ment to which the acquaintance he had met in the fair invited him, his spirits revived and bo saw some attractiveness in Barbara's company for its own sake. He resumed his search for her, inquired on all hands, became anxious, and after more than an hour's uncertainty—on meeting a ¡ friend who had just arrived on his master'* horse-he forthwith borrowed the animal and determined to ascertain if Barbsta had returned in ill-humour to her home He rode impetuously to Ben Dee's cottage, which stood quite alone quarter of a mileabove the village. About a hundred yards off be dis- mounted, and fastened the horse to a tree. Then he walked on to the house. Casting his eyes around him, he saw nobody in the fields. He looked at his watch and found it already after two o'clock. Yes Ben would have been home to* dinner and now have returned to work. He ap- proached the-cottage with a flutter of expecta- tion, peeped through the window and saw nothing, then tried the door. It was locked. Parke's brows knitted and he muttered an angry expression. Thrusting his hands in bis pockets he stood with hIS back to the door. And have I come back here for nothing ?" mused be. 11 They've made a fool of me all ends up." His ill-humour became now plainly stamped upon his face. He peeped, or rather scowled, through the window again. Then he looked fur- tively about, his mind evidently very much on the work. All the fields were deserted, even by the birds. The rooks be heard wereafar oft and out of sight. I'll see," muttered he. People don t talk for nothing." Ho had sidled to the little gate- way through which the pig-stye lay, and im- pulsively stooped down. The next moment a large hey was in his band. Once more his eyes swept the landscape around. Then there was one quick sound and Richard Parke was inside Benjamin Dee's cottage. When Barbara thought sbe had been too long in letting her lover seek her, she put haste to her steps, and at length even ran for some die- tance. When she came out on the road, with a thrill of delight she saw a horse tied to a tree. But where was the rider ? He was nowhere to be seen. So she went on more cautiously to the cottage. As she was leaning down for the Key with a thrill of amazement she saw the door open and Richard Parke creep forth. He stood pale and motionless as a statue.^ Then he laughed, a grim bollow mockery ot laughter. Where have you been ? The door was open, 1 ao I came in to wait for you," said be. I Open," exclaimed Barbara. Then father j [ mast have left it when he came to dinner." Parke nodded, and tbe momentary shock seemed to have been overcome. But in leading her into tbe bouse tbe yonth broke into a flood of excited talk quite un- natural to him. Barbara was confused again. natural to him. Barbara was confused again. She looked at him, but to avoid her gaze be took her in his acme and hid ber face upon bis shoulder. As be did so, tbe first thrill of genuine love that bad ever possessed him shot through his heart. The girl felt tbe whole of his frame tremble. He drew his head back to stare into Barbara's features. His behaviour and look were so extraordinary that she was frightened. "What is it, Richard:" she cried in alarm. Then he loosed ber, shrank back and sank into a chair. Thinking him dangerously ill, Bar- bara flung off all bashfulness, and, sinking at his knees, tenderly caressed him. But the man said and did nothing. He trembled excessively and looked dazed. Barbara put ber hand to bis hair and whispered some fresh tendernesi, when she saw tears suddenly start to his eyes. Chok- ing, he threw her off, and jumped up. That's what it is. Barbara," he stammered, bringing out handfuls of coins from his pockets bringing out handfuls of coins from his pockets and putting tbem on the table. That's what it is—and that—ana that—I am a thief and a villain, and you'll set eyes on me no more." Before the girl could realise what was hap- pening, Pa.rke bad emptied bis pockets and gone. By the time she got to the doorway only a scampering horse was to be heard in the distance. araparke disappeared I Nobody knew why Richard Parke disappeared so mysteriously on the day of Woolbonrne fair, although there were many rumoirs but Ben- jamin Dee, at any rate, supposing from his daughter's manner and face that it was from some quarrel with her, rejoiced, and fervently hoped that he Bhould set eyea on the youth no more. On Christmas Eve, when he made his freah addition to the dowry, he counted it again and found all was right. It was Barbara's own once more and he grinned contentedly. But gradually Barbara diacovered more. From talks with/Richard's mother she found out that be had got heavily into debt with betting and petty horse transactions, and Mrs Parke did not scruple to hint that her young confidant had got well out of her bargain. Judging by the younger woman's looks and bebaviour through the months that followed, it was nor, so certain that she shared this opinion, in which most of the village joined. Young women have been known to go directly in the face of their own prudent interests in such matters, and it is quite possible that Barbara clung to that last image of her erring lover still. But if so, nobody knew it, just as nobody ever knew that she had bad that last view of Richard Parke at all. It was not until the following summer that Barbara ebowed any sign of change. and when renewed life aud colour did come not many divined the proper cuise. It d&ted from a July day of the greatest Beauty. Barbara came up from tbe garden with a basket of peas of her own planting, and was startled to find a strange figure by the door. At a second glance the coloured deeply. There stood Richard Parke. May I speak to you, Barbara?" he said in a timid voice. Come in, Richard," she said but her step and features spSKe more clearly than her tongue. One glimpse was enough to reveal to the keen eyes of Barbara a subtle change in Parke. For one thing he was a little better dressed than formerly, but she didn't think that was all. When he talked she knew she was not mistaken. He said he wanted to tell her his tale and he told it. He confessed the former irregularities of which his mother spoke up to the day of Woolbonrne fair. To that day he admitted it was Barbara's reported money alone that be wanted. But from tbat day the whole of bis mind seemed altered. In riding back to Wool- bourne he had brought the hone down and seriously damaged it. It was one of Sir William's, lent him by the groom. So to ex- culpate the groom Parke had himself gone to see Sir William, and in the agitation of the moment bad, he said, confessed everything that -had led to it. including the theft of the money. 11 That explains something," interposed Bar bara eagerly. Richard went on. The Baronet had taken pity on him, and there and then actually took him into his own service unknown to anybody, and sent him that day to a hunting box he owned in Yorkshire. In that service be was still. That was all bie had to tell. He didn't want Barbara to think he was living dishonestly or perhade ill jail, so he had got his master s permission to come and tell her this. Migbt he come again to see her that same day twelve months ? He rose from bis chair as he asked it. A year," cried Barbara, but suddenly Itered. Oh, yea, I shall be glad to nee you and know that you are getting on well," she added. Shaking hands they parted, and Bar- bara broke ino tears alone. But in the course of that year Sir William and Lady Margaret called to see Barbara, and when July came again, a week before the day Richard Parke had tppointed, they both again visited the cottage one evening.& but this time their talk was with Benjamin Dee. Well, this be a itart, Barbara, however," exclaimed the latter as be watched the figures depart.. You'll go with us, father, won t you f said the girl excitedly, catching hold of her father's coat. Then tbe money will be for all of us. I shan't touch it if it's for me alone." Well, weU," sighed Dee, bat could get no further. When RKHiMd PMdteArrived he.foasd all-the land prepared for him. Of coune he metlBaK* bara. first alone and though they did shake band8 their salutation did not end there. The added portion apparently met Barbara's approval, for she did not shed tearealthough her eye. sparkled with gems of gladness. But it took nearly the whole night to convince Benjamin Dee that Yorkshire had periods of the year when snow melted, and he went to bed in total die-, belief that be shonJa ever again see a maxxow growing out-of-doors.

CREMATED IN A CUPOLA. IRONWORKER'S TERRIBLE END. The ghastly story of the death of Thomas Lawton, who was cremated in a cupola at the works of Messrs Frances and Co., Sparkbrook, on Tuesday, was told to the Birmingham Coroner on Friday. Evidence as to how Lawton met his death was given by George Fisher, a fellow workman. He stated that he bad not noticed anything unusual in the deceased's demeanour. Lawton had been engaged with other moulders drawing metal from the cupola. The latter had not worked well ow- ing to an accumulation of slag on the inside After ceasing work, about seven o'clock, Law- ton did not leave, but wandered about on his own account. At eight o'clock deceased sent his mate for two half-pints of beer, and he said, That's the last (meaning, he supposed, that that W88 the last of his money). At eighteen minutes to. nine witness saw Lawton standing on the plat- form outside the cupola. Ue was looking inside, i holding up a large piece of tin for the purpose of shielding bis face. The furnace was white hot, although the fire had been raked oat. Witness ascended tbe platform for tbe purpose of throw. ing inside a couple of buckstsfof water, and Law- ton said to him, How's it look ?" When witness asK&d Lawton to move aside so that he might put in the water, he replied. I will wait till the beat is cleared off and I wiH have; another look round." Witness left him looking throngh the aperture into the furnace. When he reached the bottom of the platform and laid down his buckets he heard repeated. shouts of Oh, oh." It was a solemn, stifling Bound coming from the inside of the cupola. OD. looking up he saw a violent blaze going up.. Witness shouted to the engine-driver, Jim, Lawton is ip the furnace." Several workmen proceeded to the spot; but the case, added witness, was a hopeless one. They conld do nothing in the way of rescne. Flames shot up for over an hoar. Subsequently, when the beat had gone off somewhat, witness > saw fragments of bone raked from the bottom tbe cupola, as well as brace buckles. Fisber, 1 stated that he bad not before seen Lawton the platform for folly six months. Lawton had A had drink, but he was not drunk. Fascinated by the Furmtce. Bernard Coffay, a moulder, stated that he fetched the two balf-pints of beer for Lawton, :j who told him to have one for himself. He added, » when be handed him the money," That's the last." Lawton was on the platform of tbe cupola, and invited him to look into the furnace, i He enquired, What do you think of it ?" In reply to Mr Hurst, witness stated that he -.aw Lanton three times on the platform of the » cupola. His face was white, and he seemed rest- less. Mr Hurst He seemed to have a sort of nnusual interest in the copolat —Witness Yes, he was very strange. A caster, named Holmes, stated that thede ceased requested him to ascend the platform and look into the cupola. He did so. and deceased then said, Look right down." Witness moved aside, and replied, I am satisfied." x Superintendent Clarke stated that be was ealled to the works on Tuesday evening. ascendsd the platform of tbscupola,and was able to see pieces of bone Inspector Batcbelor gave simitar evidence. While he was detailing hie'4 observations the widow, who was sitting at the back of the court swooned, and had to be xe-3 moved. Dr. Mackay said the bones first recovered were those of the lower limbs, which seemed to dicate tba» tbe deceased entered tbe cupola feet»St rat. The jury returned a verdict of Suicide witist-v'? temporarily insane."

A DIRECTOR'S SIGNATURE. Peculiar Cardiff Law Case. On Saturday, in the King's Bench Division, i before Mr Justice Channel!, tbe case of the Bat* J' Works Supply Company, of Cardiff, v. the Aber 5? Waon Co., of Swansea, and others was he.,1:d. This is an action against the company and also ? against the directors personally for money due for the hire of railway wagons. 1 Mr Vaugban Williams said the defendant;] company was not of very great substance, so the 1 directors were sued. Most of them had sob-1 mitted to judgment, but Mr T. Drew, of New- port, was now defendant here, and he denied hit liability, saying that his signature to the agree- i ment with the plaintiff company was by; trick. It had been suggested in chambers that the words jointly and severally," making the i signatories personally liable, had been put in the agreement after the signature, but that wae i denied. Mary Jonas, typist, said she orepared tbat I agreement, and by mistake omitted the worde jointly and severally," and wrote them in aD; instruction afterwards, but before (be aigoatute. » Mr T. Drew, the defendant, was called, and I said he lived at Newport. He was present at a > meeting of tbe directors of the Aber Company, and signed tbe agreement with the plaintiff com- pany, believing that he was only signing as a director, and would not be personalty liable. The agreement wac not read to him. » Hi- Lordshio said he had no doubt that Mr Drew was iiabie, and if he did not read or under- stand the contraot it was his own fanIt. Judgment was given for plaintiffs for £101 with coats.

RURAL BUILDING BYE-LAWS. Glamorganshire Farmers' Comptaint. At a meeting on Saturday at the offices of Messrs Stephenson and Alexander. Cardiff, of tbe Council of the Glamorganshire Chamber of Agriculture, General Lee presiding, a. discus- sion was initiated by Mr Mitchell InnM. Mon- mouthshire, in reference to rural building bye- • laws. Mr Innea said the present bye-laws made it impossible to erect rural cottages at a reasonable cost. In Monmouthshire great difficulty was experienced in keeping the cost to £200 because i v the Dye laws were too exacting. He had been aDpointed by the Monmouthshire Chamber to give evidence on the question in London, and he hoped the Glamorganshire Chamber would send: a representative. As was well known the diffi- culty of keeping the labourer on the farm waa great, and it was intensified by unreasonable bye-laws. The Chairman agreed that the bye-laws war* harsh and ought to be amended. General Lee was appointed to give evidence in London on behalf of the Glamorganshire Chamber. The secretary (Mr Hubert Alexander) read a, letter from the National Canine Defence League '¡ protesting against the Dogs Bill, which it de- J scribed as a crafty de/ice on the part of game- i preserving landlords. Mr Meyler Thomas moved J that the communication remain on the tablo« and it was agreed to.

GLAMORGAN LABOUR COLONY;' Bridgend Guardians Favour .1 the Idea. At a meeting of the Bridgend Board of Guar- dians on Saturday. Archdeacon Edmondes pre- J aiding, the General Purposes ComaHttes recom- i mended that tbe delegates pf the board to the 1 adjourned cognty conference on the desirability » of establishing a labour colony in Glamorgan.. v* to be held in Cardiff on tbe 3rd June, be in- structed to vote that the offer of land by Mr Joseph Fels be accepted, provided the Local Government Board would allow a rate to be levied for the maintenance of the colony. i Archdeacon Edmondes, one of tbe delegates appointed, said that he should attend the con- ference with an open mind. Mr T. W. Job, Ogmore Vale, said the | deacon had been apnointed as a delegate to represent the views of the board, not his on. | After the archdeacon's intimation that he in- tended to act independently be moved that Arch- j deacon Edmondes do not attend the conference as one of the board's delegates. Archdeacon Edmondes said the motion waa out of order, as he had already been appointed delegate, but under the circumstances he would resign the appointment. This was accepted, and on the motion of Mr Job, Mr John llees. Ogmore Vale, was appointed to take the place of the archdeacon.. i The reoemmendatiou of the committee was. i adopted.

A SLAVE TO MORPHIA. | Man Who Took Nine Grains a Day, I have been taking nine grains of morphia a day," said John Jones in reply to the pre- Biding magistrate at tbe Manchester City Police 1 Court on Friday. The prisoner, a gaunt, cadaver- oua looking individual, who was charged with attempting to commit suicide, was found about a. fortnight ago in an unconscious condition* apparently suffering from the effect of some drug. He afterwards stated that he had taken cyanide of potassium. As a matter of fact he had been taking morphia to excess. So dependent npon this drug had his system become that the doctors at the Infirmary had fonnd it necessary to con- tinue supplying him with it, but had succeeded ? in reducing tbe doses to half a grain each. The accused, who lived with hii daughter at Hulme, was discharged on promising to stop the the habit.

£:300,000 OF STORES. Destroyed in South Africa. A Parliamentary return was issued onSaturday of stores and supplies despatched to Sonth Africa from 1899 to 1901 destroyed locally. The totaj loss, which is borne by the public, is nearly £300,000, and the reasons given for the destrac- tion include the time tbe supply-had been in the .if country, want ofstorage accommodation.climatic! influence, deteriorati"»n,drc. Tbe atoi.es destroyed 19 weie preserved meat, vegetable rations, bamj 9 bacon, yeast, cases of compressed vegtiaijiea* fl emergency rations, and oa«s,