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<:c.... THE BLACK ROBE.I
<:c. THE BLACK ROBE. I BY WILKIE COLLINS. %xrnro» 0? THE WOMAN n? WHITE," MAS AND WIFE," &0. (The Eight of Translation is Reserved-} DooK THE SECOND, CHAPTER II. THE QUESTION" OF MARRIAGE. As Stella answered Lady Luring, she was smartly tapped on the shoulder by an eager guest With a fan. The guest was a very little woman, with twink- ling eyes and a. perpetual smile. Nature, corrected by powder and paint, was liberally displayed in her arms, her bosom, and the upper part of her hack. Such clothes as she wore, defective perhaps in quantity, were in quality absolutely perfect. More adorable colour, shape, and workmanship never appeared, even in a milliner's picture-book. Her light hair was dressed with a fringe and ring- lets, on the pattern which the portraits of the time of Charles the Second have made familiar to lis. There was nothing exactly young or'exactly old about her, except her voice—which betrayed ft faint hoarseness, attributable possibly to exhaustion produced by untold years of incessant talking. It might be added that she was as active as a squirrel, and as playful as a kitten. But the lady must be treated with a certain forbearance of tone, for this good reason—she was Stella's mother. Stella turned quickly at the tap of the fan. Mamma!" she exclaimed, "how you startle lI:le! My dear child," said Mrs. Eyrecourt, you are ronstitutionally indolent, and you want startling. 1>0 into the next room directly. Mr. Romayne is looking for you." Stella. drew back a step. and eyed her mother in Manksurprise. "Is it possible that you know Sim ?" she asked. a Mr. Romayne doesn't go into society, or we should have met long since," Miss Eyrecourt replied. "He is a striking person—and I noticed him when he shook hands with you. That was quite enough for me. I have just introdaced myself to him, as your mother. He was a little stately and stiff, but most charming when he knew who I was. I volunteered to find you. He was quite astonished. I think he took me for your Blder sister. Not the least like each other—are we, Lady Loring ? She takes after her poor dear father. He was constitutionally indolent. My Sweet child, rouse yourself. You have drawn a mze in the great lottery at last. If ever a man Was in love. MI*. Romayne is that man. I am a Physiognomist, Lady Loring, and I seethe passions in the face. Oh, Stella, what a property. Vange Abbey. I onco drove that. way when I was. visiting in the neighbourhood. Superb. And Another fortune (eight thousand a year and a villa at Highgate) since the death of his aunt. And my daughter may be mistress of this, if she only plays her cards properly. What a compensation, after all that we suffered through that monster, Winterfield!" Mamma! Pray dont Stella, I will not be interrupted, when I am Speaking to you for your own good. I don't know a more provoking person, Lady Loring, than my ^ughter—on certain occasions. And yet I love her. I would go through fire and water for my beautiful child. Only last week, I was at a wedding; and I thought of Stella. The church crammed to the doors. A hundred at the Wedding-breakfast. The bride's lace-there no language can describe it. Ten bridemaids in blue and silver. Reminded me of the tan virgins. Only the proportion of foolish ones, this time, was Certainly more than five. However, they looked ^ell. The archbishop proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom. So sweetly pathetic. Some Df us cried. I tliought of my daughter. Oh, if I Could live to see Stella the central attraction, so to speak, of such a wedding as that. Only I would have twelve bridemaids at least—and beat the blue and silver with green and gold. Trying to the complexion, you will say. But there are arti- ficial improvements. At least. I am told so. What a house this would be—a broad hint, isn't it, dear Lady Loring ?—what a house for a wedding, with the drawing-room to assemble in, and the picture- gallery for the breakfast. I know the archbishop. My darling, he shall marry you. Why don't you go into the next room ? Ah, that constitu- tional indolence. If you only had my energy, as I used to say to your poor father. Will you go ? Yes, dear Lady Loring, I should like a glass of champagne, and another of tliose deliciouschicken sandwiches. If you don't go. Stella, I shall forget every consideration of propriety, and, big as you are, I shall push you out." Stella yielded to necessity. "Keep her quiet, if you can," she whispered to Lady Loring, in the v tooment of silence that followed. Even Mrs. Eyre- court was notable to talk while she was drinking champagne. In the next room Stella found Romayne. He looked careworn and irritable—but brightened directly, when she approached him. My mother has been speaking to you," she said, u I am afraid-" He stopped her there. "She is your mother," he interposed kindly. "Don't think that I am un- grateful enough to forget that." She took his arm, and looked at him with all her heart in her eyes. "Come into a quieter room," 8lw whispered. Romayne led her away. Neither of them noticed Penrose as they left the room. He had not moved since Stella had spoken to him. There he remained in his corner, absorbed in thought—and not in happy thought, as his face ^ould have plainly betrayed to anyone who had rared to look at him. His eyes sadly followed the Retiring figures of Stella and Romayne. Theeoloui rOse on his haggard face. Like most men who are aoeustomed to live alone, he had the habit, when be was strongly excited, of speaking to himself. "No," he said, as the unacknowledged loversdisap- PeaTed through the door, "it is an insult to ask me to do it!" He turned the other way; escaped La ci v Wing's notice in the reception-room; and left the house. Romayne and Stella passed through the card- toom and the chess-room, turned into a corridor, and entered the conservatory. For the first time the place was a solitude. The *ir of a newly-invented dance, faintly audible through the open windows of the ballroom above^ had proved an irresistible temptation. Those who knew the dance were eager to exhibit themselves. Those who had only heard of it were equally anxious to look on and learn. Even towards the latter end of the nineteenth century, the youths and maidens of society can still be in earnest— when the object in view is a new dancc. What would Major Hynd have said if he had leen Romayne turn into one of the recesses of the Conservatory, in which there was a seat which just held two? But the major had forgotten his years and his family and he too was one of the Spectators in the ballroom. "I wonder," said Stella, "whether vou know how I feel those kind words of your's. when you spoke of my mother. Shall I tell you She put her arm round his neck nnd kissed him. Be was a man new to love, in the nobler sense of the word. The exquisite softness in the touch of her lips, the delicious fragrance of her breath, in- toxicated him. Aga">n and again he returned the kiss. She drew back she recovered her self-pog- fcession with a suddenness and a certainty incom- prehensible to a man. From the depths of tender- ness she passed to the rhadows of frivolity. J n her own defence she was almost as superficial as her Mother, in less than a moment. "What would Mr. Penrose if he saw you? ahe whispered. Why do1 you speak of Penrose ? Have you geen him to-night Yes—looking sadly out of his element, poor man. I did my best to set him at his ease—be- cause I know you like him." '• Dear Stella No, not again I am speaking seriously now. /-r Penrose looked at me with a strange kind of •*uerest—I can't describe it. Have you taken him Ilto our confidence j He is so devoted—he has such a true interest n me,d Romayne—" I really felt ashamed to him like a stranger. On our journey to Lon- ^n> I did own that it was your charming letter t jlu>h had decided me on returning. I did say, f;t rni1^ her myself how well she has under- j, n)p, and how deeply I feel her kindness.' enrose took my hand, in his gentle considerate *fas Understand-you, too,' he said—and that "S^" *hat passed between us." „ othing more since that time ?" Nothing" "e"NOt a word of what we said to each other, vsere a'one last week in the picture- I Not a word. I am self-tormentor enough to r distrust myself, even now. God knows, I have I concealed nothing from you and yet AID I not selfishly thinking of my own happiness,stella, when I ought to be thinking only of you You know, my angel, with what a life you must asso- ciate yourself if you marry mt. Are you really sure that you have love enough and courage enough to be my wife ?" She rested her head caressingly on his shoulder, and looked up at him with her charming smile. e. How many times must I say it," she asked, "before you will believe me ? Once more—I have love enough and courage enough to be your wife and I knew it, Lewis, the first time I saw you ¡ Will that confession satisfy your scruples? And will you promise never again to doubt yourself, or me ?" Romayne promised, and sealed the promise—un- resisted this time—with a kiss. When are we to be married?" he whispered. She lifted her head from his shoulder with a sigh. If I am to answer you honestly," she replied, I must speak of my mother, before I speak of myself." Romayne submitted to the duties of his new position, as well as he understood them. Do you mean that you have told your mother of our engagement?" he said. "In that case, is it my duty or yours—I am very ignorant in these matters —to consult her wishes? My own idea is, that I ought to ask her if she approves of me as her son- in-law, and that you might then speak to her of the marriage." Stella thought of Romayne's tastes, all in favour of modest retirement, and of her mother's tastes, all in favour of ostentation and display. She frankly owned the result produced in her own mind. 1 am afraid to consult my mother about our marriage," she said. Romayne looked astonished. Do you think Mrs. Eyrecourt will disapprove of it ?" he asked. Stella was equally astonished on her side. Dis. approve of it ?" she repeated. "I know for certain that my mother will be delighted." Then where is the difficulty ?" There was but one way of definitely answering that question. Stella boldly described her mother's idea of a wedding, including the archbishop, the twelve bridemaids in green and gold, and the hundred guests at breakfast in Lord boring's picture-gallery. Romayne's consternation lite- rally deprived him for the moment of the power of speech. To say that he looked at Stella, as a prisoner in the condemned cell might, have looked at the sheriff, announcing the morning of his execution, would be to do injustice to the pri- soner. He receives his shock without flinching; and, in proof of his composure, celebrates his wedding with the gallows by a breakfast which he will not live to digest. If you think as your mother does," Romayne began, as soon as he had recovered his self-pos- session, no opinion of mine shall stand in the way —— He could get no further. His vivid imagination saw the archbishop and the bride- maids, heard the hundred guests and their dreadful speeches his voice faltered, in spite of himself. Stella eagerly relieved him. My darling, I don't think as my mother does," she interposed tenderly. I am sorry to say, we have very few sympathies in common. Marriages, as I think, ought to be celebrated as privately as possible— the near and dear relations present, and no one else. If there must be rejoicings and banquets, and hundreds of invitations, let them come when the wedded pair are at home after the honeymoon, beginning life in earnest. These are odd ideas for a woman to have—but they are my ideas, for all that." Romayne's face brightened. How few women possess your fine sense and your delicacy of feel- ing!" he exclaimed. "Surely your-mother must give way, when she hears we are both of one mind about our marriage ?" Stella knew her mother too well to share the opinion thus expressed. Mrs. Eyreoourt's capacity for holding to her own little ideas, and for persist- ing (where her social interests were concerned) in trying to insinuate those ideas into the minds of .other persons, was a capacity which no resistance, short of absolute brutality, could overcome. She was perfectly capable of worrying Romayne (as weH as her daughter) to the utmost limits of human endurance in the firm conviction that she was bound to convert all heretics of their way of thinking to the orthodox faith in the matter of weddings. Putting this view of the case, with all possible delicacy, in speaking of her mother, Stella expressed herself plainly enough, nevertheless, to enlighten Romayne. He made another suggestion. Can we marry privately," he said, and tell Mrs. Eyrecourt of it afterwards ?" This essentially masculine solution of the difficulty was at once rejected. Stella was too good a daughter to suffer her mother to be treated with even the appearance of disrespect. Oh," she said, think how mortified and distressed my mother would be! She must be present at my marriage." An idea of compromise occurred to Romayne. What do you say," he proposed, to arranging for the marriage privately—and then telling Mrs. Eyreeourt only a day or two beforehand, when it would be too late to send out invitations ? If your mother would be disappointed-" "She would be angry," Stella interposed. « y^ry well—lay all the blame on me. Resides there might bo two other persons present, whom 1 am sure Mrs. Eyrecourt is always glad to meet. You .don't object to Lord and Lady Loring?" « Objecjt ? I wouldn't lJ,\ without them, at my wedding, for the whole world." « Anyone else, Stella ?" Anyone, Lewis, whom you like." Then I say—no one else. My own love When may it be? My lawyers can get. the settlements ready in a. fortnight, or less. Will you say, in a fortnight?" His arm was round her waist; his lips were touching her lovely neck. She was not a woman to take refuge in the commonplace coquettries of the sox. "Yes." she said softly, if you wish it." She rose, and wÏild V. IK i-eif from him. For my sake, we mx," P". h, i «uy longer Lewis." A. the music- in the ballroom ceased. Stella urn out of the conservatory. The first person sho encountered, on-returning to the reception-room, was Lather Benweil. CHAPTER I I r. THE END OF THE RAI L. The priest's long journey did "Of appour to have fatigued him. He w»» pohteas J +■ --It-'1 p^io Stella that it ever—and so paternall\ i, to pass him with a was quite impossible tol -"1 i formal bow. I have come all the way from Devonshire," he said. The train has been behind time as usual, and I am one of the late arrivals in consequence. I miss some familiar faces at this delightful party. Mr. Romayne, for instance. Perhaps he is not one of the guests ?" Oh, yes." Has he gone away ?" Not that I know of." The tone of her replies warned Father Benwell to let Romayno be. He tried another name. And Arthur Penrose ?" he inquired next. I think Mr. Penrose has left us." As she answered she looked towards Ladv Loring. The hostess was the centre of a circle of ladies and gentlemen. Before she was at liberty Father Benwell might take his departure. Stella resolved to make the attempt, for herself which she had asked Lady Loring to make for her. It was better to try and be defeated than not to try at all. I asked Mr. Penrose what part of Devonshire you were visiting," she resumed, assuming her more gracious manner. V I know something my- self of the north coast, especially the neighbour- hood of Clovelly." Not the faintest change passed over the priest's face his fatherly smile had never been in a better state of preservation. Isn't it a charming place ?" he said with enthu- siasm. Clovelly is the most remarkable and most beautiful village in England. I have so en- joyed my little holiday—excursions by sea and ex- cursions by land—do you knew I feel quite young again!" He lifted his eyebrows playfully, and rubbed his plump hands one over the other with such an in- tolerably innocent air of enjoyment, that Stella positivelv hated him. She felt her capacity for ^It-restraint failing her. Und*r the influence oi strong emotion, her thoughts lost their customary discipline. In attempting to fathom Father Ben- well she was conscious of having undertaken a t„k'which required more pliable moral quata* than she possessed. To her own ,mutter»bl. annoyance, she was at » to* what to say next At that critical moment her mother appe»red-eager for news of the conquest of Roma} ne. My dear child, how pale you look 1" sud ^Ir • Eyrecourt. Come with me directly-you must have a glass of wine." The dexterous device for entrapping Stella into a private conversation failed. Not now, mamma, thank you," she said. Father Benwell, on the point of dbscreetiy witt". drawing, stopped, and looked at Mø. Eyrecourt r with an appearance of respectful interest. "Your Brother?" he said to StoUa. "I should feel honoured if you will introduce me." Having (not very willingly) performed the cere- mony of presentation, Stella drew back a little. She had no desire to take any part in the conver- sation that might follow—but she had her own reasons for waiting near enough to bear it. In the meanwhile, Mrs. Eyrecourt turned "D her inexhaustible now of small talk, with her cus- tomary facility. No distinction of persons troubled her no convictions of any sort stood in her way. She was equally ready (provided she met him in good society) to make herself agree- able to a Puritan or a Papist. Delighted to make your acquaintance, Father Benwell. Surely I met you at that delightful even- ing at the Duke's ? I mean when we welcomed the cardinal back from Rome. Dear old man-if one may speak so familiarly of a Prince of the Church. How charmingly ho bears his new honours. Such patriarchal simplicity, as every- one remarked. Have you seen him lately ?" The idea of the order to which he belonged feeling any special interest in a cardinal (except when they made him of some use to them), privately amused Father Benwell. How wise the Church was," he thought," in inventing a spiritual aristocracy. Even this fool of a woman is impressed by it." His spoken reply was true to his assumed character as one of the inferior clergy. "Poor priests like me, madam, see but little of Princes of the Church in the houses of Dukes." Saying this with the most becoming humility, he turned tho talk in a more productive direction, before Mrs. Eyrecourt. could proceed with her recollections of the evening at the Duke's." Your charming daughter and I have been talk- ing about Clovelly," he continued. I have just been spending a little holiday in that delightful place. It was a surprise to me, Mrs. Eyrecourt, to see so many really beautiful country seats in the neighbourhood. I was particularly struck—you know it, of course ?—by Beaupark House-" Mrs. Eyreeourt's little twinkling eyes suddenly becamo still and steady. It was only for a moment. But even that trifling change boded ill for the purpose which the priest had in view. Having the opportunity of turning Stella's mother into a source of valuable information ac- tually placed in his hands^ather Benwell reasoned with himself, as he had reasoned at Miss Notman's tea-table. A frivolous person was a person easily persuaded to gossip, and not likely to be reticent in keeping secrets. In drawing this conclusion, the reverend father was justified by every wise man's experience of human nature—but he forgot to make allowance for the modifying influence of cir- cumstances. Even the wits of a fool can be quickened by contact with tho world. For many years Mrs. Eyrecourt had held her place in society; acting under an intensely selfish sense of her own interests, fortified by those cunning in- stincts which grow best in a barren intellect. Per- fectly unworthy of being trusted with secrets which only concerned other people, this frivolous creature could be the unassailable guardian of secrete which concerned herself. The instant the priest referred indirectly to Winter field, by speaki ng of Beaupark House, her instincts warned her, a? if in wordsBe careful for Stella's sake Oh, yes!" said Mi s. Eyrecourt, I know Beaupark House; but May I make a confes- sion ?" she added, with her sweetest smile Father Benwell caught her tone, with his custo- marv tact. "A confession at a ball is a novelty; even in my experience," he answered, with his sweetest smile. "How good of you to encourage mo!" proteedetj Mrs. Eyrecourt. ó. No, thank you,"I'don't^^warit"to ait down. My confession won't take long—and I really must give that poor pale daughter of mine a glass of wine. A student of human nature like you —they say all priests are students of human na- ture accustomed of course to be consulted in diffi- culties, and to hear real confessions—must know that wo poor women are sadly subject to whims and caprices. We cant resist them as men do; and the dear good men generally make allowances for us. Well, do you know, tiiat placa of Mr- Winterfield's is one of my caprices. Oh, dear, I speak carelessly; I ought to have said, the place represents one of my caprices. In short, Father Benwell, Beaupark House is perfectly odious to me; and I think Clovelly the most over-rated place in the world. I haven't the least reason to give, but so it is. Excessively foolish of me. It's like hysterics, I can't help it. I'm sure you will forgive me. There isn't a place oti thfe hrtbitSbte globe that I am not ready to feel interested ia, except detestable Devonshire. I am so eorry you went there. The next time you. have II. holiday, take my advice. Try the Continent." I should like it of all things," said Father Ben- well. Only I don't speak French. Allow me tov get Miss Eyrecourt a glass of wine." He spoke with the most perfect temper and tranquillity. Having paid his little attention to Stella., and having relieved her of the empty glass he took his leave, with a parting request thoroughly characteristic of the man. Are you staying in town, Mrs. Eyrecourt ?' he asked. Oh, of course, at the height of the season!" May I have the honour of calling on you—and talking a little more about the Continent?" If he had said it iii so many words, he could hardly have informed Mrs. EyrecouH^rhbte'plalnly that he thoroughly understood her, and that he meant to try again. Strong in the worldly train- ing of half a lifetime, she at once informed him of her address, with the complimentary phrases pro- per to the occasion. Five o'clock tea on Wednes- days, Father Benweli; Don't forget!" The moment he wa-3 gone, she drew her daughter into a quiet corner. Don't be frightened Stella, that sly old parson has some interest in try- ing to fmd out about Winterfield. Do you know why ?" Indeed I don't, mamma. I hate him!" Oh, hush hush! Hate him as much as you like; but always be civil to him. Tell me- have you been in the conservatory with Ro- mayne ? Yes." All going on well ?" "Yes." My sweet Cilild I Dear, dear me, the wine has done you no good you're as pale as ever. Is it that priest ? Oh, pooh, pooh, leave Father Benwell to me." (To be continued.)
ROBERT FITZHAMON:
ROBERT FITZHAMON: AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE OF GLAMORGAN. BY CHARLES WILE INS.) AUTHOR OF TALES AND SKETCHES OF WALES," &C. ADJUDICATOR AT THE SWANSEA EISTEDDFOD, 1880. CHAPTER XL VI. f What- joy the statesman when his point, is won. What joy "the racer wht-n bi6 race i, run" What joy the worker when his toil is done, Yet prouder warrior, o'erglowed by victory's sun." Brave news, brave news," exclaimed Fitzclerc, as he burst in, booted, spurred, and travel-stained, upon the king and his assembled court at Gloucester Rufus had been ill and looked pale and dejected; but at the intrusion his face flushed and he rose up nimbly and welcomed his brother. Ha, Hal! What news, boy ? How goes Fitz- hamon ?—bravely?" "We have had a great and decisive battle. Gwrgant is worsted, his army slaughtered and himself a fugitive. Fitzhamon is master over Glamorgan." "And now for Brecknock," cried Bernard, making a rush in the direction of the door. Hold!" roared the king, viciously., Bernard, no boy's work. Let us hear the tidings. Gwrgant was our ally. How worked Fitzhamon this pass?" Deftly done," was the rejoinder. The gold was paid, we had embarked, when at the last moment Fitzhamon gained important news, convicting Gwrgant of the treacherous night attack. Gwrgant and Eineon had fallen out." Thieves always do," growled Montgomery. "Fitzhamon landed again, then there waa a storm of recrimination and curses. We were dared to do our worst and we have done it." Well done, Fitzhamon," said the Voehi Normandi. acted I not wisely, knights all, in leaving Fitz- hamon play out the game." Wisely done," said many in chorus; but Mont- gomery mattered, More luck than tact." I will not have Fitzhamon traduced," rejoined the king, with emphasis. Here you are ready and eager for the plunder which he lays at your feet." The dissentients were silenced, but Fitzclerc, with a shrug of his shoulders, said, Ay; but the plunder will have to be won. These Welshmen are the very devils to tight, and many of you," innfrin<r around at the array oi belted kzù.2htB.t ".will. And it out when you begin to carve their I land." Twaa a prophetic utterance, for in a great and sanguinary battle afterwards at Gellygaer, nearly every one of the gallant knights present bit the dust before the despised leather jacketed Welshmen. Fitzclerc's ominous warning caused a momentary shadow, but this was soon dispelled. Rufus was the first to break the silence, and he did so with an encouraging and jauhty air. Now, you sirs," he exclaimed, from what Hal says Glamorgan is won. The time is oppor- tune. Our uneasy brother Robert troubles us not, though I much fear he is plotting mischief. Under- stand then, that if we give you liberty to emulate the successes of our good cousin Fitzhamon, you must of yourselves raise forces for entering upon the Welshman's land. We may require every spear and bowman, and tho nid of a host of Flemings and Brabanters,, and other mercenaries ourselves. So, take the liberty. On yourselves rests the glory or the ruin." But, my liege," said Hugh de Lacy, somewhat mischievously, Fitzhamon moved not for con- quest until he had a substantial cause of offence what cause have we ?" Rufus, not the readiest of men in dilemmas looked around at Roger, and said, Answer him with thy cunning, Montgomery. I pit you two rogues against each other." Humphgrowled Roger. "The otfence of the one is the offence of the rest. An offence against one Norman is an offence against us all." Well answered, Roger," said Rufus, though by the rood, an' there were no offence, ye would speedily make one. Still, Roger is right. These Welshmen have played false with us, and menaced Fitzhamon to our detriment. Proceed ye, there- fore, to parts chosen, first doing homage to our- selves, and swearing fealty and good knight's ser- vice when occasion demand." This was readily accepted, and taken with en- thusiasm. Roger did homage for Cardigan and Powis Lupus, Earl of Chester, for Tegengl and Ryvonioe, with all the land lying by the seashore to the River Conway; Arnulph, a son of Roger's, for Dyved; Bernard Newmarch for Brecknock Mortimer for Eluel; Eustace Omcr for Mold and Hopedale; and several others entered into like com- pacts for other lands. It was a stirring and strange spectacle that of swearing fealty, one that Henry, the brother of Rufus, looked at with an interested, and even an amused, gaze. The glee and heartiness of the knights savoured more of boys eager for some daring frolic than of staid and knightly men, and as they trooped out with sparkling eyes and ani- mated manner, giving due obeisance as they passed the brothers, even Rufus exclaimed, Ye seem as if escaping from tutors be as ready, one and all, to render service to me as to take posses- sion!" They have yet to win," said Henry, when alone with Rijfus. But they will win," rejoined the king. "Ah, I had forgotten. Henry, a WelSh princess has come to crave our shelter." Henry knew well who the princess was, but feigned amazement,, and was so anxious to see the strangei, that Rufus sent a page to beg her atten- dance, and in a few minutes Nest and Henry the Scholar confronted each other. Rufus was too busy with a stirring message from Normandy to &>te the manner of their greeting. He had a lengthy missive in Norman-French to master, and being more adept with the sword than with the pen blundered and stumbled over the quaint and in- volved penmanship, under which, for him, lay a world of sorrow and trouble. CHAPTER XLVII. No deeper/iep;}i on earth Than in eye of woman- Gallant, kingly he, though as yet only owner of his good sword and graceful teaming; proudly beautiful she, with all the riotout; storms anil fickleness of her mountain home deep ingrained, part even of hor character. So are we not unfre- quentdy moulded, and seem to bear within us deep impress of the land that gave us birth, coldly im passive as the Teuton, sunny, impetuous and dar. ing as the men of the Tiber side, and of faded Thormopyltv. As each stood, hand linked in hand, and gazed with all love's fervency into each other's eyes, did no forecast of the future steal before them, and a vision of the drowning lad, the heir of England's throne, his own darling, come across his mental g&ze, that sight after which he was never to smile again. And before her the night attack upon a fc&gilej lCItO Iter ttlid lawless abduc- tion. No, she heard only the mellowed accents of Henry's voice, saw only his knightly form, and ho, enamoured with a beauty that was utterly differ- ent to that of the Safcon dames or brunettes of fair Normandy, brushed away every censorious thought, and allowed not even the frequently ob- trusive idea of Matilda to cool his ardour. Had cold, cynical Wylan seen this Nest in her passionate interlude with Eineon, and then beheld her, entranced under the ardent gaze of Henry, he, unused to woman's wiles, and more at home with the mountains and the brooks, would have said, This woman is not the same." The falcon swoops upon its prey, and, bearing it to the ground, sounds its puny but harsh notes of rage, and beats its victim madly with beak and wing yet when its master comes, jpqs and purrs, and looks, of all birds, the most innocent So Nest." The voice that was firm and high-strung now faltered; the eyes that once shot fire as if to scorch, now, half veiled by long eye-lashes, seemed the perfection of gentleness; ay, and hands that would have struck, were there a weapon in them, with the force,if not the skill, of a man, lay idly and gracefully, as if nature had never intended them but to enfold and caress. Rufus had hurriedly left the room. They were alone. No prying abigail, no wit-loving jester, no saucy valet came in to warp the now of the silent, mysterious language of love, and in that one brief hour hearts were lost and vows exchanged, she caring not what her destiny so long as she could claim Henry as her own, and he for once fatally dissembling embuing her mind with loftiest hopes, most am- bitious and most unreal, that the time would come, and possibly not remote, when the whole of England would hail him king, and what prouder king than he, if by his side, the flower of the mountains, loveliest of Cambrians, was Nest, his beautiful queen. Nest had gone silently out of the room as sun. beams steal, and Henry, with the flush of conquest on hia face, but yet with somewhat disturbed look, cast thoughtfully on the floor when in burst Rufus with "a malediction upon our brother, Hal. Robert has declared war against us, is arming right and left and gaining crowds to his standard." Ha! and what pretext now ?" said Henry. The old one, his father's heir, the eldest son. He thinks only of his birthright, and not of his affronts." Does he remember the eeige when he openly assaulted our father and pressed him hard, even close to the death ? Could that be forgiven ?" I trow not. Hal, you must assist us, but I wager, ay, even battle to him, did we meet that it would be a short campaign. We have ample force. It will do good to scatter a few hundred Saxon knaves on the Normandy plains, eh, HaL Let Roger and his friends go and carve out the Welshman's land, we will settle Robert, and should I fall, Hal, eh, boy, the crown is thine." CHAPTER XLVIII. THB DIVISION OP GLAMOROAN. A few days previous to the embarkation of Rufus for Normandy, Fitzhamon craved audience with the king at Gloucester, and had a right royal greeting. Nothing gladdens the warrior more than to meet one of kindred soul, especially with the halo of victory over him, and, thus, never had the new Lord of Glamorgan a kindlier welcome. Rufus listened eagerly to every detail of the conquest. Like a brother sportsman, the winding of the game, from its covert to its death, was of supreme interest, and when the narrative was finished the Royal hand struck the table with a force indicative of the fullest satisfaction. On my kingship," he said, thou didst wonders, cousin, and well hast earned the lord- ship." And this with all loyalty and reverence I lay at your majesty's feet." Not so, not so," exclaimed Rufus; but with manifest pleasure at the remark. Sorry should I be to step in and take the bird which another's falcon has struck down." But I was only your majesty's servant." Well, well, still be equally brave and loyal; all I claim is that which I Itave demanded of Bernard, of Roger, and Lupus. You eliall hold Glamorgan and render me in person and with knights and men good service when required. No more." Fitzhamon bowed, and did not conceal the grati- ncaMbhofthe moment. There WM how no shadow ovarhia future, and with eagerness he eptered upon the discussion wth Rufus as to the mode of repayment to his knights. I have with me," he said, a man who has done me jjreat service. His name is Wylan a monk of I.landaff, a. man above men in general, sagacious, honest, which is saying much. He is well conversant with Glamorgan, and I have brought him with me to seo first if my parcelment of the lordship, as he will point out, is acceptable to your majesty, and then to decide as to his recom- pense. He it was who discovered the treachery of Gwrgant." I Not by confession, I trow ?" "No, your majesty, by accident." "Let us see this cunning monk." Rufus eyed Wylan as he entered. There was nothingof the servile about the monk. He who could stand on the mountains amid the roar of the storm, and bide unmoved the plav intense of all heaven's artillery, could look with CCHllpOSure upon a crowned man, one day wielding a sceptre, the next one uncrowned, and sharer of the common lot attendant alike on prince and peasant. Well, monk," said Rufus, by no means dis- pleased at the manly bearing of Wylan, and so thou comest to claim reward for giving us Glamorgan." I claim no reward, your majesty; in succouring a poor wounded man, the secret became known to me. If Gwrgant had repented and atoned, neither hand nor brain of mine would have assisted Fitz- hamon in winning Glamorgan. Your majesty and Fitzhamon have to thank his baseness, not my services." Still," exclaimed Rufus, smiling his approval, having rendered it, tiiou a.rt,of conrse, wjghfuJ for recompense." That is for your majesty to decide. My work is done, I aim content, for a murderer is punished. May your majesty's satisfaction in making recompense be equally soothing to the Royal mind." Ha, lia," burst out Rufus, well answered, well answered. Much should I love to witness a tournament of words betwixt thee and Roger. Only, by my faith, if, as I think, Roger were overmatched, he would want, to cudgel thee." Wylan smiled only, and shrugged his shoulders. However, our Royal word upon due reward- Let us see what is now proposed about Glamorgan. Many and stirring as had been the dramas played out in that chamber of the Royal residence at Gloucester, few approached in interest to this parcelment of the fair land by the sea. Wylan's local knowledge was of great service in giving the necessary information, and manv a knight had to thank him for domains which had their due admix- ture of woodland and pasture, knolls which gave natural defence to future castles, and sea shore extents serviceable in many ways, and constant sources of wreck and spoil, to the lord's benefit. When the audience was over, the disposition had been made, the Royal sanction given, and the parchment, with seal attached, ran as follows :— In primis to William de Londres, the castle and manor of Ogmore being four knights' foes. Item to Sir Richard Greenfeeld, the castle and lordship of Neath. Item to Sir Payne Tubervilla, the castle and lordship of Coity. Item to Sir Robert Saint Quentin, the castle and lordship of Llanbethiun. Item to Sir Richard Syward, the castle and lord- ship of Talavan. Item to Sir Gilbert Humphreville, the castle and manor of Penmark, being three knights' fees. Item to Sir Reginald de Sully, the castle and manor of Sully, so since called after his name, be- ing two knights' fees. Item to Sir Roger Bertrolles, the manor of East Orchard, being one knight's f«e. Item t6 Sir Peter Ie Soore, the estle and manor of Peterston, being one knight's fee. Item to Sir John Fleming, the feastle and manor of St. George, being one knight's fee. Item to Sir John St. John, the castle and manor of Fonmon. being one knight's fee. Item to Sir William Ie Estevling, the castle and manor of St. Donat's, being one knight's fee. In gaining the sanction of Rufus to this division, Fitzhamon only maintained, consistently, the role he had played of acting under, and by the direction of, the king, and it furthered, loo, an amicable settlement, as no loyal knight would take umbrage at a division which had the warranty of Rufus. CHAPTER XLIX. co I win my love and lose the crown." Fitzhamon away, Gwrgant a fugitive, the rem- nants of his army se.:itteiv,l to the winds, manyt however, pursuing peaceful callings on farm and on lands, concealing wounds gained in the fatal battle of the Great HeatltThe huge wooden castle of Cardiff is like a barrack, and Nest and Eineon constantly meet knight and men-at-arms, who, to do them justice, pay all courtesy, or de- ference, as their rank may be. Nest, gentle Nest, had grieved, as true daughters grieve at the misfortune which falls and crushes the parent; but as the days passed, time, the great healer of the moral, as well as of the physical wound, exercised its soothing influence, and by her side, constant as a shadow, was always Eineon. How readily we adapt ourselves to the inevitable. The poor mother, who lias lost her only son, while lamenting, soothes herself by thinking of bliss that has been exchanged for suffering, of evils spared' sorrows averted. The merchant, when sighing for the fortune swept away with a blow, gains consolation in the remnants, and the wife's gentle sympathy, and purer and more enjoyable life of home. Deeply implanted in the human mind is the philosophy that ascribes sourness to grapes be- yond our reach, and dangers and anxiety to pos- sessions which are denied. So Eineon, in striving to soften the storms to his beloved, felt evoked from his heart, if such were possible, a greater love, and wliiie contempla- ting the fading away of every hope of becoming Lord of Glamorgan, gained relief from ambitious yearnings, in the thought that whoever, ruled Glamorgan would have an uneasy rule better, as he once said, to be in peace in a small manor of his own with Nest than to be ever struggling to keep entire that which was gained by the sword. "I care not, Eineon," said Nest, one summer's noon, for this great loss, now that I know my father is alive and well, and that you do not desert me because he has lost his kingdom. I bring you no dowry now," she said almost plaintively as she stood near him with one graceful arm leant upon his. No dowry he exclaimed, twining his arm more closely around her. What are lands, castles, wealth, compared with thy true love. I confess to you, my lovely priestess, tliat I have had wild thoughts, ambitious thoughts; that at times the love of woman and the respect of man were but secondary in my nature to the craving thirst for rule. At times I felt that I could stoop to any crime, do anything only to be known of men, and feared as Lord of Glamorgan. It is all gone now, my darling. Your gentle nature has soothed mine, as the south wind soothes the storm and the ruffled waves. What was evil in me seems to have died away, what is good grown to greater strength." Fondly the hands toyed with the flowing hair of Eineon, and soft eyes looked her answer and ap- proval. What grander reward ? How feeble sen- tentious language, how weak ornate sentence or glowing, pompous word. They both in the peace- ful dream of love realised its great sufficiency, that the true affection which ends in home and mutual concord transcend all the glare and glitter of earth. The full blast of fame, what is it but brassy at its source, and hollow and unsatisfying as tinkling cymbal and the noisy reed ? War's glories, what are they but weird pictures of blood, insulting our common humanity, and practical affirmations of disbelief in an Allwise Ruler and a future? To Eineon came no panting wish for war; it was gone. No desire for dominion it had faded away. By his side, true sweetheart, true wife to be, true mother of a brave succession in the future destined in many a way and in many an era to bless Glamorgan, was Nest of Cardiff, and Eineon then, and for many a year, had the blessedness of realising the perfect joy and constant content in the love of a true woman. When Fitzhamon returned his first duty was to apprise Eineon that the whole of the lordship of Senghennith was to be his portion, reacliing from the confines of Cardiff to the Brecknockshire hills. With this he was content. In fullest, circumstance, and with all the addition of Norman sheen, the ceremonial that linked the destinies of Eineon and Nest was carried out, and from that date he dis. appears from history. We are left to picture alife of most complete happiness, and of calm and satisfied ending. Yet, strange and "varied are the changes of life, another generation saw a descen- dant of Eineon and Nest figure as the redoubtable Ivor Bach, and a scion of the house of Fitzliamon mate with one who bad called the gentlo Nest mother. (Tn he concluded in our next.)
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FEMININE FOIBLES,: FANCIES,…
FEMININE FOIBLES,: FANCIES, AND FASHIONS. BR A LADY. (All Rights Reserved.) HOUSEHOLD FOOD—HIOH CLASC COOKERY—MADAME DE MATNTENONT—THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE— NAPOLEON TOSSING TTTI: OMELETTE—DBESS TOPICS-AN AMEBICAS MAPRU^E ANNOUNCE- MENT—A PRACTICAL ENDOWMENT—AMERICAS OBITUARY NOTICES—MARABOUT FANS—CNARM- IXC. DRESSES—SILVER JEWELLEIII—FAN MANI- PULATION-ÅKDALUSIAN WOMEN. Nothing lovelier can be found in woman than to study household good. Primed with this assu- rance, and on no less authority than that of Milton, I purchased a ticket for a course of demonstration lessons in high class cookery, the cost for the whole scries being half a guinea, and the price of a single admission ticket eighteen pence. Curiously, though not incongruously, perhaps, these clashes are being held in an art-studio, kindly lent for the several occasions by a gentleman living in Ken- sington. Fomc may consider that cooking and painting have nothing whatever in common, but we have learned by our own limited experience, and have been taught by the far more extended experience and observation of such men as Mr. Ernest Hart (British Medical Journal), that the public mind is not yet sufficiently awakened to the importance of a thorough and active campaign against the waste of food which characterises the dietary of rich and poor in this country. It is, or I hope I may now begin to speak in the past tense, and say it was, the custom amongst educated daughters of rich middle-class men to look upon all kinds of household labour as degrading, and few, it has been remarked, arc sufficiently well-balanced in minS and heart to understand the grand truth that labour is dignified by the person who performs it, and the manner in which it is done. It may be interesting to recall two by-gone celebrities who were avowed cooks. Madame de Maintenon, it is said, always cooked herself the omelette served on the table of the Grand Monarch, and the Empress Josephine also used occasionally to perform that delicate piece of cookery. Once, so the story goes, Josephine and her maids of honour were busy manufacturing an omelette- when, at the most critical moment, who should enter but. Napoleon himself. The empress, in her surprise and confusion, forgot to turn it. The great general, observing this, said, Ma bonne ami, I can show you how to turn an omelette." He then gave the pan the little twist known to all cooks; but so unskilfully, that the omelette, in- stead of returning to the frying pan, fell into the fire, to the great amusement of t'he ladies who were looking on. Seeing the emperor frown, the diplomatic Josephine immediately said, Sire,your majesty knows how to gain a battle better than to turn an omelette." A well-turned speech, which, by the allusion to his military prowess, effectually mollified Napoleon's chagrin at his culinary defeat I must not omit a little gossip on dress topics. An acute observer of her sex once said to me, It is useless to pretend that we do not care for fine clothes, and pretty things generally. The love of them is inherent; therefore, when writing for women remember this, and also that many will first skip the parts that have cost you much painstaking labour the sooner to arrive at that portion of your letter which relates to fashionable attire." Acting on the suggestion, I always endeavour to reserve some part of it for a few words about dress. Talking of fashions, in an American newspaper just received, there is, amongst the list of marriages advertised, one I will copy. It is interesting as giving a description of the bride's rather curious toilet, and taken alto- gether is really an amusing sort of announcement. I never remember to have seen an insertion of a like kind in any paper published on this side the Atlantic — Sunday evening. November 23, at the Methodist Church, Mr. Ira H. Shatuclc, to Miss Louisa A. Balthis. The bride was tastefully arrayed in a steel and black silk adorned with natural flowers- The presents were quite numerous, including a house and lot from the groom to the bride." The notice further informs us that The happy couple have gone into housekeeping with the best wislieg of their many Mends." Our English bridegrooms oft-enest present jewels as bridal gifts but I think it would not be amiss occasionally to vary them by some such practical endowment, as that pre- sented by Mr. Ira Shatuck to his American bride In this country most. newly-married people go into housekeeping after the honeymoon is past; but the custom of living in hotels and fiats largely prevails in America, and the practice is very inimical to that sort of domestic life we insular people prize so much. It is anything but a com- fortable state of existence, as those can testify.who? after giving up homes of their own, of necessity, or merely to escape the trouble of servants and the cares of the household, have tried what it is to live constantly in apartments. There seems no stability about people who have no such tap-roots as houses and the appurtenances thereof. In obituary notices there is, I sac, the same liberal supply of information, not only the date of de- cease, but that of the obsequies is advertised, and the nature of the cause of death is not omitted. In a country where curiosity is one of the leading characteristics, minuteness of detail is doubtless generally acceptable, and unprofitable conjecture is in great measure obviated. Fans are in much request, and of great variety many are entirely whif>, these, of course, accom- pany an all white toilette. By the way, I saw one made with white marabout fathers, sprinkled with gold spangles, tho mount being gold to ipatcli. The lady who carried it wore a white Ind'an cash- mere dress, braided with gold braid. While per- fectly simple, this toilette was remarkable for its elegance. A married sister wore a. cap of mara- bout feathers, sprinkled with gilt spangles, and suspended from her neck by a two-inch white satin ribbon, edged with narrow gold braid, was a' toy muff made of Indian ca.shmere, embroidered with gold, the Spanislv lace trimming it having the pattern outlined with gold threads. It was made as flimsy as possible, and/only designed as a con- venient receptacle for mouchoir, fan, &c. Gold and silver braids are employed to trim many things, and more especially dresses. I saw some charming bridemaids dresses, made of dark Rus- sian green velvet, ornamented by many rows of narrow silver braid muffs, hats, and jackats trimmed to correspond. The effect was very good Silver jewellery was worn, and the gloves were embroidered with silver thread, so it was all en suite, every detail carried out in green and silver. I noticed that an innumerable number of bangles were worn on the bride's right arm, the wrist of the left showing one ortly, but of prodigious size and mas- sive thickness. This is, I believe, a growing eccentricity. Feather fans made in brilliant hues are perhaps most in vogue they are exceedingly handsome in appearance, and glitter like gems when the owners coquet with them. I have seen, some of enormous size; when expanded, they stretch more thap half a yard across, and if closed jook quite a yard in length. Their appearance is very formidable, recalling those carried in the time of Queen Elizabeth. The uses of fans at tliat epoch were more general than now, being applied to the purpose of correcting both servants and children, and thus by giving an outlet for irrita- tion, were available for allaying mental heat no less than for cooling atmospheric temperature. Only imagine a modern dame cas. tigating a refractory or indolent maid- servant with the handle of her fan the hasty and injudicious lady- would very soon find herself in a magistrate's court, with a heavy fine to pay for that little ebullition of temper, as a sort of compensation to the young woman and for her wounded feelings and dignity. I am informed that a Spanish signora, now resident in the metropolis, is adver. tised as giving lessons in the difficult art of managing the fan, showing how its movements may be made to express every emotion of which the heart is capable. In the hands of Andalusian women, the fan is wonderfully eloquent; aided by their marvellous eyes, it is the best interpreter of their feelings. But the natural frigidity and reserve that characterise those born in cooler climes will probably present difficulties which the fair Spaniard is, I fancy, not quite prepared to encounter.
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ABUL'K:: A I> A U IjLENYBDOL.
ABUL'K:: A I> A U IjLENYBDOL. DIWEDD CYNITAI AF. Awdl gs,it Gkr.vnor, gvila Beiruiadaethau Trif- feirdd Cad'iiriol. Yn y beirniadaethau hyn gan Clwydfardd. Trcbor Mai, Dewi Wyn o Essyllt, Hwfa. Mon, Cyn- ddelw, a Iolo Trefaldwyn, y llcfc-rir yn uchr-l am deilyngdod yr awdl hon ac yn wir, nid hch .:t h canys y mae yn un o'r pethau mwyaf blasus a melusber ag a ddarllenasom nemawr bryd. Mae ei chynghaneddion newydd a ffraethbert, ei hym- adrodd coeth a dillynwiw, ei nodwedd gLasvirol. ei meddylddrvchau dysgleirbur, yn ngliyda'i syniad- aeth a'i hysbryd defosiyr.ol, yn ei gwneutlmr yn l1ynod gymeradwy a swynol. Buasai yn dda. genym allu dyfynu rhai paragraff&u o'r awdl faeh brydferth hor. ond ni oddef na gofod nac amier. Mae y cwbl ag sydd ynddi mor ffres ac mor a-dfy w- iol a'r gwanwyn ei hun, ac y mae ar unwaith yn gosod Glanmor yu nililiiii y dosparth blaenaf o feirdd ei wlad.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE WEEKLY…
TO THE EDITOR OF THE WEEKLY MAIL. SIR,—Being merely a l'-arner of the Welsh, I therefore always read your Welsh column, in which I find generally some things difficult to my shallow comprehension. In your Welsh column of Satur- day last (Dec. 4) I find the following:— 1. What is the meaning of "dreiddgraff ?" and what of that of chyrhaeddbell?" lean find neither of these words in any Welsh dictionary. 2. What is "wvnebwedd —Does it mean facc- face ? 3. Athroniaeth a hi." Is atlironiaeth a word of the feminine gender ? 4." Testyn.Is this the way to spell this word ? 5. I gylch mor fechan.Is cylch femi- nine ? 6. Is I- dylisai and" caffai" in the same tense ? 7. What is "eglurebu ?"-I cannot turn it out- Is it a word made last week ? 8. Is "detail a. Welsh word ?-If not, is there no word of the same meaning in the Welsh ? 9. Am Tachwedd."—Is it not Am Dachwedd" 9. Am Tachwedd."—Is it not Am Dachwedd" it should be ? 10. Awen Urddasol."—Does this mean the awen of a Bard ordained ? 11. "Y ceinwych (noble), a'r defosiynol."—Is noble the meaning of ceinwych "—another word which is not in my Welsh dictionary nor is de- fosiynol," which, I suspect, is a bastard son of the English word devotion, and has emigrated into the Morganwg Cyneirlyfr of lolo Fardd Glas. 12. Heb gysgod o'r comical."—What is comical ? It must be an animal, or some material substance; for it has, sometimes, a shadow (cysgod). I sup- pose it has no Welsh name. 13. "Ffrwyth calon."—What sort of fruit can this be ? And on what tree does it grow ? I have tasted ffrwyth yr Yspryd," but never before seen or heard "ffrwyth calon named. 14. Y mae y testynau.Is this the proper way to spell testunau r 15. "Cyhuddid yr awdwr o Fair-addoliaeth," ond nid yw ddim o'r fath beth.That. is, the author has not been transformed into Mariolatry." I cannot make anything else of the expression but I may be wrong. However this may be, I would humbly submit that mair-iolacth would be a far better word; for ioli is to worship, says my book. 16. "Apelia at Gabriel."—Is apelia a Welsh word? If not, what word shall I use in writing Welsh, so as not to look like a mongrel ? 17. "Rhyw anomaly."—I have to ask the same questions precisely touching this word again. 18. "Pa.ragmffau.What sort of things are these ? I cannot find the name in any Welsh book to which I have access. I have asked the wisest people in my neighbourhood, but can get no satis- factory explanation. It is the definition of Ttom y Gof (Tom the Blacksmith) which pleases mo the most. He says he is certain that "paragraffau is composed of para (to endure), and craff, which means a cramp or clasp of iron, such as he makes to brace up old or broken vehicles; for he thinks "no. thing is like iron." He, therefore, says that" para- t/raj)'an means lasting cramps, the termination au being the plural form, in which I agree with him. 19. There are in the Welsh column a great many other words and phrases which utterly baffle me; but I must not at present pester you with any more. A little information on the foregoing points will be read in the columns of your very useful paper with much gratitude by, yours, &.c. A LEARXER.
COFGOLOFN ISLWYN.
COFGOLOFN ISLWYN. Y mae gorweddfan y brawd anwyl y mae ei enw uwcliben heb ei hanrhydeddu hyd eto a'r gofgolofn liono y bwriadwyd mor frwdfrydig ei gosod uwchben ei weddillion. Rhyfedd y fath greadur ansefydlog yn ei fwriadau, a diymddiried yn ei addewidion ydyw dyn. Gallosid meddwl, ar adeg marwolaeth ein brawd, y buasai y wlad yn dyfod allan fel un gwr i arwyddo ei pliarch i goffadwriaeth un mor etlwyl a theilwng, drwy ryw arddangosiad mwy syhveddol na chyffesblaen tafod ond yn hyn yr ydym wedi cael ein siomi yn ddirfawr. Nid oedd, dros gryn amser wedi mar- wolacth ein hanwyI frawd uchod, ddim diwedd ar englynu, penillio, cywyddu, ac awdlu i'w rin- vveddau a'i ragoriaethau. Yr oedd 3' cwbl a ber- thynai iddo yn mron yn oruwcli-ddynol, ac o'r braidd na fynasid ei dduweiddio. Cynwysai y cynyrc-hion nwyd-greuedig hyn bob eithafedd ag oedd yn bosibl i ddychymyg gwyrog eu dyfeisio, v rhai, pe buasai ein hanwyl frawd ymadawedig yn ymwybodus 0 lionynt, a wnelsent iddo deimlo yn flin ac annghysurus. Tybiasom, wrth weled y ffrydiau barddonol hyn yn dylifo tuag atom mor gryf a lluosog, fod tarddellau y ffynon o'r hon y torent allan yn ddidrai a. dihysbydd; ond pan acthpwyd i geisio newid y pethau hyn am bethau mwy sylweddol, fe svehodd y ffynon i fyny yn ddi.«ymwyth! Yr oedd yr arddangosiad hwn o edmygedd niflanol yn gyffelyb iawn i rai o afon- ydd Affrica yn dylifo dros eu glanau yr awr hon ac yn sychu i'w gwaelodion yr awr nesaf. Un o'r aionj-dd hyn oedd gan yr ysgrifenydd ysbrydol- cdig mewn golwg, pan y dywedodd, "Fe a'm twyllodd felafon a gallwn ninau ddywedyd yr un fath gyda golwg ar deimladau cicaionaidd ein eenedl-" Hwy a'm twyllasant fel afon." Y mac y gwrthgyferbyniad rhwng yr afradlonedd bardd- onol y soniwyd am dano a'r crintachncyJd arianol a ddangosir tuagat gael y gofgolofn fwriadedig yn alaethus, os nad yn warthus i ieddwl am dano. Gyda'r amcan o ddwyn y bwriad o gael cofgolofn i Islwyn i weithrediad, ffurfiad pwyllgor, a. phen- derfynwyd argraffu mil o gylchlytliyrau, a'u han- fon at wahanol bersonau ac eglwysi yn Morganwg a Mynwy. Hyny a wnaed, a bwrid, pe buasai i bob llythyr gynyrcliu swllt yr un, neu ddeunaw cein- iog o bellaf, y buasai y bwriad wedi ei sicrhau, ac ni fuasai cymaint a hyn o aberth ond yehydig i'w wneuthur, gan nad pa mor dlott-ed bynag v buasai y dyn. Mewn gwirionedd, buasai yn well genym ni fyw diwrnod a haner heb ddim bwyd, er, mwyn gwneuthur y swm i fyny, na goddef yr ymwybod- olrwydd edliwgar ein bod heb geisio ei gwneuthur i fyny o gwbl. O'r cant cylchlythyr, a dosparth- a.som ni, ni chj-nyrchwyd ond lp. 15s. 6c. Deg swllt ar ugain oddiwrth Calfin, Llanelli dau swllt oddiwrth Abram Fardd, Merthyr: a thri swllt a chwe' cheiniog oddiwrth John Rowlands, Board School, Waunarlwydd, Abertawe. Yr oeddd hyn yn edrych yn ddigon bychan ond panaethomat Mr. Lewis, y trysorydd, Machen, ac'ymholi yn nghylch ei lwyddiant ef, cawsom allan ei bod yn waeth fyth yma-nid oedd efe wedi derbyn dimiai goch o un man Dyna siampl anrhydeddus o ddyfn- der a gwirioneddolrwydd y panic galarebol y buom yn son am dano yn nechreu ein llith ? Dyna siampl o genedlgarwch Cymreig. onitc ? Dyna siampl 0 "gariad brawdol" yn mhlith yr eglwysi Methodistiaidd, onite? A gwaetli fy ji nu iiyn. ni wnaeth un parchedig (?) a arferodd lawer o frol, coegui, a beiddgarwch beirnmdol uwch ei fedd, ar ddydd ei angladd, gymaint ag ateb un o'r!!ythyron a anfonwyd ato gan un o aelodau y pwyllgor ar y mater! Yn awr, carem i bawb wybod nad yw y mater bwn o un elw na mantais bersonol i ni, nac i un o aelodau y pwyllgor, eithr yn hytraeh i'r gwrth- wyneb, iw fo(I ein hysgogiad gyda y mater hwn yn cael ei gyffroi yn unig ga.n deimlad o barcit tuag at deilyngdod cydnabyddedig a diamheuol. Bell- ach, os nad yw ein cydwladwyr a'n brodvr crefyddol yn teimlo ar eu ('aJnnan i'n helpu yn )- mudiad hwn, nid oes dim i'w wneuthur ond ei adael i syrtliio i'r llawr, a dychwelyd yu alarus i'n hystafelioedd i fyfyrio ar oerfelgarwch a breuolder y cenedlgarwch Cymreig, ac yn wir. ar deimladau cyfnewidiol y ddynoliaeth yn gyffredinol. Un cynllun arall sydd genym i'w gynyg cyn cau ein hymdrechion i fyny, sef fod un casgliad byohan i gael ei wneuthur drwv holl gapeu Metho. distiaidd y sir. Pe 11 wvddid 1 gasglu cvmaint a deg swllt yr un yn mhob un o honynt, gwnelid y swm angenrheidiol i fyny, a hyny yn weddol ddi- dmfferth. Nid yw deg swllt yn fawr o swrn i'r eglwys wanaf i'w wneuthur i fyny am unwa.ith, a thuag at achos na ddaw ger eu bron fyth mw, ac nid oes ynom ni yr amheuaeth lleiaf na lwyddid yn y ffordd hon, pe cymera.i ein gweinidogion drwy y gwahanol eglwysi y mater mewn Haw, ali osod ger bron yr aelodau a'r cvnulleidfaoedd mewn dull eglur, dengar, a pherswadiol. Bydded hvsbys i'r brodyr sydd wedi anion i ni eu hariam, os na fydd argoelion y daw y mudiad hwn i derfyniad llwydd- ianus, a hyny yn fuan. y bydd i ni ddvchwelyd eu haniaii i bob un c bouyiiw (
I GOSSIP IN THE " WORLD."…
I GOSSIP IN THE WORLD." I hope there is truth in the rumour Uint i- '• •••' v will present v.f w colours TO the GG'u Foot on their arrival in England. Tut: old c-i ,is*er. and the presentation would ssfford ti»c regimental colours came oXf badly at-the-S*siw3,r.d Qn-vi:\he ha-ppv chance o'* paying {tut. If oral ron> p!i;>,ci>t, so highly csteeinod. to both Brlj-iso *nd native soldier. who, whatever the iner<(t» oi Uv- Afghan war, and despite more tH.m one blunder in generalship, did their hazarciouit du««3 honourably and v.vjl. "It's off!" W-nt?" "Why, the "A good ;i';g. loo I" This is what I have heard a doxt'-n fciums I during the la&t two days. The report is _chie?.y based on the fact of Mr. liaritett having written Ü) Mr. Augustus Lumi«v asking him to be giiod enough to put him up lor the iSkClielore' Club, which is being formed in town, ^nd one of tfm rules in which imposes a heavy penalty 0:1 any mpmber becoming a Benediet, It is assumed tost this .as ABDICATE way 01 Mr. Eartlett INTUBATING that he wanted the rupture to be made public. There are ether grounds also for believing th;it tins intended alliance has been nipped, it can scsreeiy be said in the bud and no doubt this ch-mye in the situation is hailed as a ]>osirive reiief by society in general, and perhaps by the principals themselves, if the truth were roily known. As it is, the late fiance gets the credit of having sug- gested, with in1,nite discretion aJ1d åelit,t'Y, tha\ as it 1nlmed out the marriage would involve such an immense loss of income to the lady, he could not think of calling on h< r to make such n sacri- Hoc he therefore begged to withdraw all preten- sion to her hand and fortune, which magnanimity was duly appreciated and reciprocated by tlw lady insisting on ma-king a handsome settlement on her quondam lover for the rest of his life. So runs the story. There is one character in Endvnron" which none of the gGessers seem tn have identified, and yet, perhaps, it is the most obvious of them all. I refer to Lady Montfort, who helps Endxnnion all through his career. She is intended for the Hon. Mrs. yorton, who (see "Torrens's Memoirs" forthe facts) introduced Disraeli to Lord Melbourne after his failure to get into Parliament for High Wycombe. She did this expressly in order that he might have another chance. It was on that occasion that Lord Melbourne said to Disraeli. "Tell me what you want, to beto which the ingenuous youth answered, "I want to be Prime Minister." In the interval be made his first great friend, Lord Melbourne's wife and by a further ludicrous twist of characters and events, Evdyvrion (Disraeli himself) afterwards marries the lady. Certainly he has good reason for insisting that woman has the power to make a man's success in life; for without Mrs. Blessington, Mrs. Norton, and Mrs. Wyndliam Lewis, he might have been perched on a three-legged stool in the Old Jewry to-day. Captain Boycott, the "Protestant Martyr" of Mayo, is, curiously enough, the son of one of those pious women not a few" who. as Lever's addle- lieaded Papist put it, have renounced the errors of the Anglican Church for those of Rome." Mrs. Boycott lived for some time in Paris, where she was a recognised leader in Legitimist and clerical society and her salon in the Faubourg St. Germain was graced on several occasions bv the presence of Cardinal Manning, who is regarded as the very type of a dignified prelate by devout Parisians. Several other feminine members of the Boycott family have become Soman Catholics—one of them'being chanoinessp of the Royal Chapter of St. Anne at Munich. This. 1 fear, will be bitter news to the captain's gallant Orange defenders and friends. Messrs. Thorneycroft of London are still fulfill- ing their contract with the Admiralty for the manufacture of torpedo-boats. They have completed their supply of what are called first- class" torpedo boats, eighty seven feet in length, and capable of a speed of nearly eighteen knots an hour; and, with five boats of the "second-class" description, which only differ in that they are of smaller dimensions, ready to be officially tried before they are accepted at the Royal dockyards, they are building twenty more. The value of the contract may be roughly guessed when it is stated that Messrs. Thorneycroft have already- delivered a considerable number of both first-class" and second-class" torpedo-boats, and that the former eost nearly ten thousand pounds and the latter rather more than liaJf that amount, all the parts of these vessels in miniature having to be perfectly made with fittings of the very best metal. A very beautiful memorial of the sad disaster at Cabul, In which Cavagnari and so many othe: gallant fellows fell, has just been placed in the chapel of Felstead School. It is a stained-glass window, designed to commemorate Lieutenant Hamilton, V.C., a former pupil at the college, who fell whilst leading one of the 131'11. dt-spt'1'atecharge., of the beleaguered men from the Embassy. The memorial is a touching one, having been sub- scribed for by the foundation scholars, many of whom were young Hamilton's schoolfellows. The subject with which the three lights are filled are of course scriptural, and are very effective. Perhaps you think that you know all about America; but you do not. America is a little soprano singer, adored in Belgium, and who will be the prima donna of a tournee during a fortnight in Belgium, with Madame Trebelli as contralto, and Musin as violin solo. I am not the Columbus who discovered this America she is well known in her country, but as yet only there.
PICKINGS FROM THE COMIC PAPERS.
PICKINGS FROM THE COMIC PAPERS. (From Punch.) Hungry visitor (ignorant of the nature of a Welsh Rabbit): Ah, Donal, mon, we ken weel hev the rawbit for sixpence. We ken get twa bawbees fur the skeen when we get bock to Glas- gow, THE XE PLUS ULSTER.—Fair customer: But it makes one look so like a man. Showwoman: That's just the beauty of it, miss. SYMPATHY.—Picture dealer: Ah-in early H,,1. too, might have been an artist! Pi-inter: wh' a pity you weren't—tut-t-t-t! 'Could ); bought your own pictures, y' know COMFORT FOR VISITORS TO THE CATTLE SHOW.— Whatever the fog or drizzle may be in other parts of London. at IslmgtDn there's said to be some very fine wether. TAKING TIME BY THE FORELOCK.—Gwendoline: Uncle George says every woman ought to have a profession, and I think he's quite right. Mamma: Indeed! And what profession do you mean to choose ? Gwendoline: I mean to be a professional beauty! "THE THREE F's."—(New reading.)—France, Force, and Fanaticism. UNCOMPROMISING. — The doctor's daughter: I declare you're a dreadful fanatic, Mrs. M-Cizzom. I do believe you think nobody will be saved but you and your minister Old lady Aweel, my dear, ah whiles hae ma doobts aboot the meenister! I
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x (From Fun.) EVERY MAN IN HIS PLACE.—Young ladies You've not gone to the cattle show, then, Grubber > Grubber Xo, my ladies, no maister and the t'other beasties go there! I know how to stay in my own place. LADY CUSTOMERS.—(See the case of Debenham and Another v. Mellon.) Tradesman of the future I am extremely sorry, madam, but 1 am unable to serve you, unless you produce a ticket of leave from your husband. WITH A HOOK.—When a lady takes her lover for a row in a boat she does not want any other beau too Ic. (Boat-hook !) WHEN the ponds will not bear in the parks, ice and skates can be procured at the fishmonger's. HARD TIMES IN OrLD ERIN.—Pat: Sliure, yer honour, an' here's a foine sample 0' taters I can let yer have at thruppence a stone. His Honour: Tliat's dirt cheap. Pat: An' my frind here can let yer have some prime Irish hams at fifty shil- lings a hundredwhite. His Honour Why, that's less than half the usual price far cheaper than American hams even. Pat: Ah, they haven't enough relafe in America we've been relafed so much this distressful year we've niver touchcd bit. nor scrap of our own. His Honour Send round some potatoes and half-a-dozen hams; and the saints grant the distress may last. WHICH are the poets most appreciated by fish- mongers ?—Why Crabbe and Shelley, of course, stoopid CABBIN-IT COUNSEL.—Friend (to North coun- try farmer in London for the first time in his life) You just take one of these busses and ask to be put down at the cattle show, and I'll meet vou there by-and-byp. Farmer: Naw, naw! Ah doant te-ake naw busse ah doan't want to pe-av for twa horses and twa men ah'11 just te-ake yaVi 0' them ce-abs.
CAMBRIA : A FRAGMENT.
CAMBRIA A FRAGMENT. 011, that- tùe poet'? skill were mine, T;) chant anew old Cambria's praise, Attune the lyre and meditate a rhyme, A theme right worthy of a thousand lay». The wish was father to the though*. When gazing on thy weU rpmtmU-r' Of uughty saints and tunetu] bard- i,vinoes that ev<r stoutly fought, I, too, might chant thee, least, though last. Cambria thy fame needs not mv humble strain, Too hi jib a Theme! by others better told, J, while memory lives, ere time rolls on would fain, Recall the grandeur of thy lieiijes mould. „ -4. K. THOMAS, Court Herbert, Keath. December 3,1830.
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The Duke and Duchess of P inna had a narrow escape from drowning just before their expulsion from Spain. While they were driving by night, to Albufera thrir horses took fright at a boat moored in the canal and precipitated the carriage into it. The glass of the door had to be broken, and thev were extricated through it, the duke having almost fainted and the duchess being slight-hurt in the hand and face. to For the Button-holed.—When a man keeps on talking to vou after ho has said "A word to the wise is su&eient," the time to take summary ven- geance has <lrrivcd. He applied at the police headquarters for a position on the police force. Re did not look as if he was the kind of man to handle all the rough customers the police have to deal with, so one of the policemen, just for a joke. asked him what he would do if he had to arrest a drunken. able-bodied bruiser who was on the fight? "What would I do?" Yes, what would you do ?" "How do I know what I would do ? "l reckon the first thing I would do would be to wait to see what he was goicf" to do." 0
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^ ODDS AM) ENDS.
ODDS AM) ENDS. Kind re: —I'oer rejs'ions. h'ack-y;'rds.—Th? trains of ladies' drcSM. Jtetired from the vrvice."—A broken te&c.up. The irnn that carries everything bef«e The waiter. A stolon k'<e3 has been dsscribsd 'ss acd ream." Tbe saBtf-bfcjst" is not popular with the mar' who. ;c, it in )r:s eyes. A yewngr lady says »l» had many a suitor, l"tit Lot one to suit her. BfX.k-L'Ceping may be tavght ia n lojcon of ec words—never ictid iirftia. Whv .1* dressing a fatigairg process?—Htumm* its a-tiring («tttrjrg) yourself. I Many a. young lady marries a rich ro. mvL-> aft^r that he is a v«y poor husband. Why is a vine like a volunteer ?—Ikic&UGe it b' trained, dressed, has tea-driik, and utoets. I Apparent Paradox.—A butcher csa quit tars of a lamb, and yci have two '1 û.t:1,O:1"'o4Ó" it left. What is the b:-rt way for horses to pail to- gether ?—Why, for cach to try'and pull a part, of course. Rilencc is not. always golden. The oyster iF **r-> i t-intially getting into broils and stews, and he ts quiet enough. A critic says: There is a class of actors *rom abroad who are very popular in this country until they begin to act. Sally Jones says when she was ia love she as if she was in a railway tunnel, with a [raw. coming both ways. Why should physicians have a greater horror rf the sea than anybody else ?—Because they are more liable to see sickness. Whv is Hymen always represented asbftarni^a torch ?—Perchance because so many consider him the cause of torcher. I thought you took an interest in my welfare," said an unsuccessful lover. :la, indeed," she re- plied, only in your farewell-" A country paper says, Our early peas came up this spring in two days after tliey were plan tod. Anybody 's will if they will let the hens run in the garden." A defendant in a New York Court produced & letter from a washerwoman testifying to his good character. This witty stroke of flat irony pro- dueed his release. A roan, having a cock that was much given to crowing by night as well as by day, gave him the name of Robinson. The reason was because Kotjjnson Crusoe. When his cousin, Charlotte Dunne, was married, Jones said: It was Dunne before it was begun, Dunne while it was being done, and not Dunne when it was done." An old miser, having listened to a powerful dis- course on charity, said That sermon so strongly proves the necessity of almsgiving—that I've almost a mind to beg. Mamma.: Um-ber-el-la—four syllables—I have often told you, Georgie, is incorrect. Now let me hear you pronounce the word properly. Georgie I)n a huff): Gingham. The man who comes to the station two minutes behind time, and sees the train scudding out at the other end. derives no satisfaction from the pro- verb, "Better late than never." On retiring from business, a wise old man said to his son and successor, ":K ow, my bo., remember that common sense is the best thing you can bring to bear on every affair of life except love-making.'» A lady gave a burglar a very severe flogging with a dusting-brush the other night. She sa.id she wouldn't have done it if she hadnt been under the impression that it was her husband just coming home! In 1610 the smoking of tobacco began at Con- stantinople. To render the custom ridiculous, a Turk who had been found smoking was conducted about the streets with a pipe transfixed through his nose. A Philadelphia man recently lost his wife, and a voung miss of six said to his little daughter of about the same age: Your pa will marry again, won't he?" "Oh, yes," was the reply; "but not until after the funeral." A witness in the Court of Common Pleas lately gave her name as "Elizabeth MattM!' SSina Geor- gina Augusta Cuham Burrows." This, she said, was her Christendom name," but she did not in general write it in full." A boy eleven years old, at a boarding-school, re- ceiving a visit from his father, he performed the ceremony of introduction between parent and tea- cher a la young America, by saying to the latter, Mr. W., this is a father of mine." A bookbinder said to his wife at their wedding, It seems that now we are bound together, two volumes in one. with clasps." "Yes," observed one of the guests one side higlily ornamental Turkey morocco, and the other plain calf." The Kentuckians are held to be strong men. There was one whose amazirg strength was at- tended with fatal consequences. He was cutting a slice 01 bread-and-butter, when the knife slipped, and he cut himself in half, and two men behind him. A lady, hearing the remark that the storm-signal was set, inquired what that meant, and being teld that the Signal Department now watches the weathir, and telegraphs in advance all over the country, replied, Now isn't that convenient for washerwomen A countryman went to see his lady-love, and, wishing to be conversational, observed, The thermomokron is twenty, degrees below zelon this evenin' Yes." innocently replied the maiden, such kinds of birds do fiy higher some seasons of the year than others." A negro held a cow while a man who squinted was to knock her on the head with an axe. The negro observing the man's eyes in some fear in- quired, "You gwine to hit .whar you look?" Yes." Den," said Cuffee, hold de cow your- self. I ain't gwine to let you hit me." A railway pointsman, caught napping at his post, and convicted of wilful negligence, said to the gaoler who was about to lock him up, I always supposed that the safety of a railroad de- pended on the soundness of its sleepers." So it does," retorted the gaoler; but such sleepers are never safe unless they are bolted in. Brougham, one day speaking 6f .(the Salary to be attached to a rumoured appointment of a new judgeship, said it was all moonshine." Lynd- hurst, in his dry and waggish way, remarked. May be so, Lord Harry: but I've a confounded strong notion that, moonshine though it be, you would like to see the first quarter of it." Fontenelle, when he was at the age of ninety, passed Madame Helvetius. whom he did not see, without saluting her. How little I ought to be- lieve ycttr compliments," said the lady to him after dinner; you actually passed me without looking at me." Madame," replied the anti- quatecf beau, '• if I had looked at you I never should have passed." A story is told that Longfellow and Fields were making a short pedestrian tour some few years since, when, to their surprise, an angry bull stood in the pathway, evidently intending to demolish both poet and publisher. "I think," said Fields, that it will be prudent to give this reviewer a wide margin." "Yes," replied the poet, "it seems to be a disputed passage." The steel fan is simply a bar of metal, shaped and painted to resemble an ordinary closed fan, and carried sometimes as a life-preserver, some- times by the swell mobsmen and rowdies of China, to be used at close quarters with murderous effect- Of the same specics is the well-known" dagger- fan." which consists of an elegant imitation in lacauer of a common folding. Said Angelina, suddenly breaking the oppressive silence. Don't you feel afraid of the Colorado booties, Theodore, that the Yankees are sending ov. r so rapidly this v.-a v V" The question was puch a strange one .10:. idore's surprise caused him to look at Angelin,: the first time in his life. Why did she that V" he wanted to know. Oh. notihng," she replied, as she toyed with her fan only the papers say they eat every green thing wherever they go." They were rehearsing a play in which the lead- mg role wa.s confined to aD actor who was inordi- nately fat. There was in it one sensational scene in which the actor, tempted to the commission of a crime, implored heaven that, he might not yield to the temptation. Alas, at the rehearsal it became evident that the actor was too fat either to kneel or to clasp his hands "Well have ft cut," said the disappointed manager. "Oh, no," answered the actor cheerfully. "I'll make it all right! I'll attempt to knell, and then cry, with a despairing gesture.'Lost, 10st! My sin-seared knees refuse their omce I can no longer kneel!' Some weeks since, while a party of Detroit sur- veyors were running a railroad line down in Indiana, the survey carried them across a ceme- tery. In the course of rhe survey a small stake was driven into a grave, and, berorc it was re- moved and carried ahead, a lathy, long-legged hoosier overhauled the men, pulled off bis coat, and danced about as be yelled, Show me the roan who dared drive tliat si.ko in that grave We are going to remove it," quietly replied one of the party. "I d^e't care if you are—show nie the man!" "Well, I'm the tMn and what are you going 1.0 do about it ?" said the big man of the" Jot as he stepped out. "• Didn't you know that was my wife's grave:" asked the hoosier, v.-ith a consi- derable fall of his voice. <, Xu, sir." Well, it is, i 'r—my first wife's grave." "And what of that '•What,of that!" cxciaiincd the 1-o-cier. "Why— why, sir. if 1 hadn't married a second one cbc-vst a month ag« and kinder forgot my grief. I'd take that stake and pin you to the fence witli i! 1: lucky for you fellers—mighty lucky for you, 1-1 me tell you—that 1 don't feel hciff es bad as J <lid t" It's astorushinV remarked the old forty-sin as he nodded over hisgla^o, It's as.tor.is-in' wh vt a coward a mar. is wot>¡ he is at heme—a rc^'lar crawlin' sneak, by Jove! I've travelled a goor. bit, and held up my head in most o' tha camps en the coast since "43." I've got three built-.ts inside o' rre. I've shot an' been shot at, an' nev»r hru*d anvbouv say I hadn't good frit as most "tliat'3 goin". But h'-euo I'm a coyote. V foie I'd let the old woman know thtt l;pr hot. birouit wajri't A 1 when it's like stiff amalguai, I'd fill mytolf ;i<» fuil as a retort. I've clone it lot? o' times." M.x-.t of my tooth is gone through tuggi: on beef3te«.ks that the old woman fried. D'ye think I rc.r v-ut when I get over a chair in the dark ? No, s;r. While I'm rubbin' my shins an' keeping ba~k the tears, I'm likewise sweat,in' for fear the old x-oiii^n has beer, woke up by the upset. I didn't use to b,- so," sighed the poor fellow, thoughtfully rabb=n<* his shining sc-Jp When we first hl'4.ed I thought. I wast.be superintendent; bu* after avoir or tvro of argyin' the point, I settled down to sliovin' the car at low wages. I tin lick anv man o' my age an' s:ze," crk-d the old gentleman," bank- ing the saloon table with his wrinkled fiat; 111 shoot, stand up or rongh-an'-tumble, for com, but when I hang my hat on the peg in the hall, an' ta" e off my muddy boots an' hear the old women a»v >f tliat's me, I tell you th» starch comca ot ir as*