Weekly Mail

CHAPTER VII.—IN THE GHEAT CITY. Drummond-street, London, is a peculiar locality to describe. It is an admixture of bird fanciers, tobacconists, easy shaving" saloons, sweet-stuff shops, fried fish alleys, majestic x301 tailed hotels, cheap oyster-j rooms, dispensaries, and middle class coffee houses. It was late in the afternoon when Nat Nicholson and Alice arrived and put *p at the Five Bells Coffee-house in this street, a place frequented principally y nautical men and the poorer grade of middle-class families. Having engaged a private sitting-room, Nat left Alice therein while he made a few pur- chases on her particular account, returning with a deep crape veil, new mourning | bonnet, and several yards of crape trimming, which he gently but firmly forced hisdaughter to affix in the accepted fashion to the black dress and cloak she was accustomed to wear- cmsMMBirannwnnnaHSRnMMMMMBHMWMi At six the next morning Nat was up and astir. He had purchased a second-hand check suit of a .rather military out, and had gone to the trouble of having the hair below his chin shaved clean away. In place of his11 bowler he wore a stately silk hat of the latest acoepted pattern, and a high collar surmounting a j formal looking tie, whilst he carried yellow gloves and a short cavalry cane with a silver ki.ob. In this disguise when he held himself erect Nat reminded one somewhat of a Mask Army officer who drank heavily and had finally retired on half-pay. After ruminating for an hour or so over a solitary soda and brandy in all adjacent pub," Nat called for notepaper and envelope, and penned the following letter:— London, Wednesday. Dear Mag,—You will be, no doubt, surprised to hear that one of my poor wife's distant rela- tions has lately died and left me a comfortable annuity for life, and you will think, perliap?, 1 ought to be a very hnppy man accordingly, but, money, Mag, does not always biing comfort along with it, and I nui sorry to say that in my case it has brought sorrow, for my poor girl AEc8, who, yon will remember, was rather deiicate as a baby, has grown into such a weak creature, and her head is at times so affected that she does not even know Me. her own father. Now, I am not the sort of f man to look after au invalid, as you know, especially since I have had this bit of money to play with. She would, I feel sure, be better with I' you. You are a. woman, and will know how to pamper her in her little moods and fancies. Let lier come and stay with you, and I'll pay yon it ell for it. Iluve a room ready with sccurefasttninys, us she is bound to be kept under restiaint, night and day, for her poor brain, I grieve to say, is completely gone. Remember my reward help l me for the sake of old times, and expect us within I twenty four hours. NAT. Nat carefully studied the epistle over again and again, blotted it, and after burning the It blotting paper, so that no trace of its con- tents could be found, addressed the envelope I. as follows :— MARGARET WORMLKY, Monad-twr," Llandyftryn, I Near Cardigan, South Wales. lIe dried the ink in front of the fire, 1 stamped and posted it in an adjacent pillar- box, and a few minutes after was sitting down to a substantial breakfast in the Five, Bells. Having eventually appeased his appetite I and sent his daughter's breakfast to her room (for she pleaded a headache and remained upstairs), Nat sallied forth to Euston Station, which was close at hand, to ascertain the various times of all the trains that would or could arrive from Boxwood Dale during the day, so that he might satisfy himself perso- nally as to Miss Pentland's actual arrival. Here, once more, luck favoured him, for a Northern express was just steaming into the furthest platform as he entered the terminus, and it so happened that in tho train the object of his anxiety had booked her seat. He saw her alight from a first-class car- riage. She was dressed in deep mourning, wearing a thick crape veil that completely hid her features. Nat, however, recognised her instaiitly, and, to make doubly sure, wandered sufficiently near to the cab she hailed to hear the address given. He saw the cab drive out of the station yard, and then ejaculated:— Alone That's all right. Tom, my lad, your death will soon be avenged if good for- tune continues to follow at my heels ts it has done so far." And Nicholson, hailing a "hansom," was, cigar in mouth, soon being whirled in the direction of the West End. (To be continued.)

THE WATERLOO PANORAMA. Mr. Fleischer's great painting of the Battle of Waterloo was (writes our London corre- spondent) exhibited to the representatives of the press yesterday (Tuesday). It will be opened to-morrow and should draw large orowds, if one may judge from the success of "Niagara" and similar exhibitions. The artist has certainly spared no pains in making every detail historically accurate, and his con- ception of the last charge of the Imperial Guard is most vivid and realistio. One recalls the Laureate's splendid lines in his ode to the I i uke of Wellington:— A day of onsets of despair Das!i'd on every rocky squ ire Their surging charges foam'd themselves a\'l'ay.'

FIGHT IN A PULPIT. American mail news to hand contains a dispatch from Augusta, Kentucky, which states that on the 6th inst. a sensational scene occurred at the coloured Biptist Church on Buck Creek. A woman named Brown was to be buried, and the t remains were taken to the church, where the Rev. James Wilfurt was wetting to preach the funeral service. At the request of the husband of the deceased the woman's parents had asked the Rev. Jona9 Simonds to perform the same office. The two preachers attempted to take possession of the puipit, nnd a row followed, in the progress of which the altar was wrecked, the Bible almost lorn to piece", and the whole congregation got into a. turmoil. Finally peace was restored, but the corpse was interred without sermon or prayer.

INTERESTING DISCOVERY IN ROME. During the excavations at Rome for the con- struct ion of the great drain on the right shore of ilie Tiber, in Via delia Lungaretta, some imposing remains of a very ancient viaduct have been re- cently found. It consists of some arches of masonry in horizontil courses, almost Etruscan in their style. The period of its construction is not known, but from its massive nature, consisting of huge rectangular tufa block. and the similarity of its style of masonry to that of the tabularium of the Capitol, it is considered to belong to the same pctiod.— .Builder.

THE JUBILEE OF THE PENNY POST. The Presa Association" states that the jubilee of the penny post, which occurs on January 10, will be celebrated by the officials and staff of the General Post-office by a banquet to be held on the 15tli proximo, at which the Postmaster-General will preside. All the past Postnjaster-Gener-ds have been invited, including the Duke of Rutland, the Duke of Argyll, the Marquess of Hartington, Lord Stanley of Alderley, Lord Emly, and Mr. Sbaw-Lefevre.

DIVIDING A PROPERTY. The report of the official referee has been given in the lawsuit which has been for a long time past occupying attention in Kent. The claimants sought to inherit the property of the Messrs. Chapman, of YVestall, and as IheChapinans area very numerous family in Kent, the applicants were reckoned by hundreds. Some of them only received the 1,024th part of the property.

LAWYEHS whose Professional labours necessitate long intervals between meals, nothing will be found so exhilarating, comforting, and capable of sustaining exhausted nature as CADBUKV'S COCOA. It is abso- lutely pure. c5 A BOON to Men who Suffer from Nervous Debiiity, Lost Vigour, Exhausted Vitality, Kidney Diseases, 4c. A Treatise explaining the renowned Mar- slon treatment, by lo<:al absorption, the only positive cure without Stomach Medicines, will be se'Vs iu plain enveloce. sealed, for three stamps.The MARSTOH REMBDX Cq„ lligb Uoibotu. Lon^nn. L6336

The Reason Why. I T Mr. Diggory Dibbs, a tradesman of New York, having bought a house out of town and comfortably established himself and family therein, found himself one morning in that state to which the father of a family re- sidiug in the rural districts is so often reduced --cookless, Matilda Miffins, who had conde- scended to accept the place, having departed in wrath because ef a bitter argument con- cerning the pudding. "So bring a new cook home with you? dear, said Mrs. Dibbs, as she gave him her parting salute. "I cant leave the ohildren, you know, while Sister Julia is away, and I can't tako the whole tribe walking about I with me." Mr. Dibbs promised to do his best, and having made a promise, he never broke it; but his task was a hard one. Not a cook, of all who sait airing their heels in the Domestic Servants' Registry Office, would condescend to accept a situation in Pottsville. Contemptuous I glances, sniffs, and scornful twists of the bead were his portion, whether he made his modest request to Martha, Jane, Maria, Sally, or Dinah. Even a Frenchwoman, who repre- sented herself as being able to do anything and willing to oblige, clasped her hands and I exclaimed, "The country! Ah, gracious heaven Monsieur must see the absurdity— but no." And poor Mr, Dibbs was in despair, when there at last stood before him a small and very dark-coloured girl, who, having listened to his I explanations and remarks, replied to them by I asking if there were other servants. "Well, no;" said Mr. Dibbs, "there are not: but li Then, of course, I have a bedroom to my- self ?" I "Oh, yes, yes said Mr. Dibbs. "Then Til come," said the girl, ÍI I'll just take the address, and then-- "But vou'd better go down with me," said Dibbs. The girl hesitated a moment. I may tell my friends I'm going ? I'll not be gone a moment," said she. Mr. Dibbs assented. The girl departed, but returned in a few moments; and Mr. Dibbs took his new cook home in triumph, to j the great joy of Mrs. Dibbs, who watched them from the nursery window as they came along the road. When questioned by her new mistress, the girl proved respectful and apparently capable, :-he stated that she had just come from the South, that she had been a slave before the civil-war, aud was brought up as a cook by old missus." She gave her name as Biddy, and declared herself anxious to suit. And having ¡ given satisfactory answers to all interrogatories, she took her way to the kitchen, where she set herself zealously to work at dishwashing with- out delay. A perfect treasure," Mrs. Dibbs declared decidedly a perfect treasure There was no cause to ohange their opinion next day, nor the next. On the third night, however, Mr. Dibbs was surprised on alighting from the train at the station to see Biddy in her black straw hat and waterproof cloak standing on the platform. He addressed her, ¡ but she did not answer him, and he hastened home, wondering what had happened that the treasure" should have been dismissed so suddenly. To his surprise Biddy opened the door tor him. Well, Biddy, you must have walked fast to get here before me," he said, pleasantly. Biddy made a courtesy, but said nothing. I saw you at the station, didn't I?" said Mr. Dibbs. Please, sir, I don't know," said Biddy. ¡i You've been there?" Not to my knowledge, sir." Her way of being polite and leaving it all to me," said Mr. Dibbs to himself. Bat though he discovered that Biddy had not loft the house all day, he could scarcely believe that he had not seen her. That very evening another odd thing hap- pened. Young Fred Dibbs, going to the barn to look for a lost chicken, came in with a story. I thought I saw a ghost, mother," he said. It was standing by the well, looking ever so funny but just as I was going to run I saw it was Biddy, all wrapped up in some- thing." "Biddy has been standing just there chopping wood ever sinoe you went out," said his mother, pointing to the kitchen door. It was no more Biddy than it was a ghost, but the boy persisted in his statement. He was so obstinate, indeed, that he was sent to bed in some disgrace for contradicting his mother. Mr. Dibbs slept late next morning and was aroused by the breakfast-bell. As he hurried downstairs, consulting his watch, he saw the door of the servant's room, which opened on the platform of the stairs—the room being built over the kitchen—standing slightly ¡ ajar and as he looked a blaok face, encircled by a nightcap, peeped out, and a black hand, with a frill about it, pushed it to Biddy's face. Biddy's hand, without a doubt. Had to get breakfast yourself, my dear ?" said Mr. Dibbs, as he took his scat at the table. Oh, no," replied his wife. Why did you think so P" A nd at that moment Biddy, in her ordinary dress, walked into the room with a plate of muflins in her hand. Singular," said Mr. Dibbs, to himself, but made no further explanation. It was a month since Biddy's entrance into the family, and she had given every satisfac- tion. Still it was plain to be seen that some- | thing was the matter. Aunt Julia bad returned home, and every one was well, but Mrs. Dibbs looked anxious. So did her sister. So also did Mr. Dibbs. The ladies exchanged mysterious glances with each other, and the gentleman often shook his head warningly at his eldest boy when he had just opened his lips to say some- thing. Mr. Dibbs often asked his wife what troubled her, and she frequently said: Why are you so serious, my dear ? At last Julia was found in hysterios in the hall, and matters grew too serious to be kept quiet any longer. I must know what it is," said Mr. Dibbs. Uon't tell him," sobbed Julia. "I don't see why you should be ashamed of it," said Mrs. Dibbs. "You can't help it. It's nerves, 1 suppose, We'd better send for a doctor." "I'm not nervous," sobbed Julia. "Oh, dear! dear 1 dear! There now 1" said Mrs. Dibbs. I de- clare I can't bear it any longer. My dear, poor Livy has taken to ghost-seeing, and she's j so affected me that I really have imagined something of the sort myself. She sees a black woman exactly like Biddy over and over again, when Biddy is somewhere else to my certain knowledge: and I've seen the same- thing twice. It's an optioal illusion, I pre- snme I've read of such things." Mr. Dibbs turned pale. My dear girls," said he. Fred is as bad as you are. I've been threatening to flog the poor fellow if he frightened you with his stories; but he sees Biddy in the barn, in the meadow, here, there, everywhere; and he speaks to her, and she does not answer; and then he runs -home, and finds her in the kit- chen; or where not. and naturally feels oddly about it. I myself have seen the same thing twice." You have cried Mrs. Dibbs. You screamed Julia. Oh, I'm so thankful! I'm not crazy then Oh, dear, no r' said Mr. Dibbs. Oh, dear, no. You see it is becoming plain to me that a certain old superstition of which I have read is founded on fact. You have heard of people who have had doubles. Biddy evidently has a double. The wraith does not speak, you say. That coincides with all the stories on the subject. Yes, that's the solution of the mystery. Biddy has a double." But we can't keep such a mysterious girl about the house. It's like hiring a ghost," said Mrs. Dibbs. I i "Suppose we talk to Biddy," said Mr. Dibbs. The proposition met with favour. Biddy was sent for and came at once. H Now, my good girl, I don't want to frighten you," said Mr. Dibbs, but some-' thing odd has happened. Did you ever hav# anything singular said to you about yourself for instance, that you were seen where you never went, you know, or something like that P" Oh, yes," said Biddy—" yesah, to be sure. I always hear the same story. There's two of me. It scares folks, but I can't help it." II Don't it frighten you p" asked Mrs. Dibbs. I'm used to it," said Biddy. Bein' two of me got me lots of scoldings when I was owned by old massa, 'cause, you see, I can't help where t'other of me goes, or what it does." Yes, she has a double," said Mr. Dibbs, -1 Yes, yes. Very singular—very." I'm sorry, Biddy," said Mrs. Dibbs, fi but it frightens my sister very much, and we shall be obliged to part. You've been a good girr, Biddy; l'il pay you up to the end of next month, but I can't bear ghost-seeing any longer." Very, well, ma'am," said Biddy. 11111 pack up. You must excuse there being two o' me—I can't help it." it Very singular," said Mr. Dibbs, 11 very- very—very." Biddy went upstairs to pack her olothea and came down with her bundle. "If you'd like to look over my things, ma'am," said she, there they are. If there is two o' me, why, I'm honest." Then Biddy slowly proceeded to spread upon the floor her worldly possessions, which were neither numerous nor costly. "Nothing that ain't mine," she said, to and there's my pooket." She turned this receptacle inside out M she spoke, and spread out her hands. I'm honest, if there is two of me," she said again. I can't help that." -1 Ma F oried Fred, just then bursting in at the door. "Biddy is going over the bridge with a big bundle! Oh, why, here is Biddy Oh, my, look!" The three elder folks rushed to the window and stood solemnly gazing out. In the room beside them stood Biddy, witfc her black oalioo dress, pink calico apron, ani round black hat and a bundle under her arm. Over the bridge, slowly as a phantom should, passed Biddy's double-black dress, pink apron, round hat, bundle and all. They all saw it at once. It was frightful. Miss Julia sank into a chair, trembling; Mrs. Dibbs grasped her husband's arm; Fred fairly yelled; even the sterner man turned pale. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy, he quoted solemnly. "Yes, massa," said Biddy. "Good morn. ing, all." Away she went, and those to whom she bade adieu breathed more easily when she had left the house. 14 The most curious thing 1 ever heard of," said Mr. Dibbs. I shall write an account of it for the Scientific Investigator, and a lettel on the subject to my friend, Mr. Hocus, the mesmerist. Most mysterious, indeed It was nearly two hours after Biddy's de* parture that a stout gentleman in a cap rang the door-bell. Mrs. Dibbs answered it in person. There stood before her a stout gentleman, who wore a cloth cap. II I call, madaIU," he said, "to make a few inquiries concerning a girl you engaged about three weeks ago--a coloured girl named Biddy. I should like my inquiries to be quite private for the present, if you please." Mrs. Dibbs instantly summoned her hus- band and sister. The parlour doors werp closed, and the visitor began: "1 do not wish the girl to suspeot anything as yet. If you can keep her from leaving the house, you wiU oblige me." She left us this morning," said Mr. Dibbs, I am very sorry to hear that," said the gentleman. Pray, may I ask if anything singular occurred during her stay ?" Sir," said Mr. Dibbs, "something singular did occur. I presume you hope to investigate the phenomena ?" Well, sir," said the other, I don't call it that, you know. I see you've been taken in* just as the Frosts were. She's acute girl, that Biddv." My dear sir," cried Mr. Dibbs, yon scientific men doubt everything. Now it if certain to me that Biddy has a double, J myself— My dear sir," cried the other, 11 stop a bit. 'm not exactly what you suppose me. I'm k New York detective- Biddy's double is a deaf and dumb twin sister, as like her as two peas, and this ghost dodge is her little game. She smuggles the dumb girl into the house she lives at, and she goes through the olosets and trunks. Has the lady made certain that nothing is gone ? The wraith-seers stared at each other. Mr. Dibbs turned red The ladies rushed upstairs together. A few minutes' inspection proved to them that they had been robbed. While Biddy had been exhibiting her bundle the double had walked away with another con- taining shawls, jewellery, and other matter, not to speak of Mr. Dibbs's watch, which he had left on the stand in his room that morn- ing, and a quantity of plate from the dining- room.—Evening World.

Mother (policeman's wife): Willie, I've been shouting for you this half-hour. How is it you are never about when you are wanted? Son: Well, mother, I suppose I inherit it from father. Two editors quarrelled. One referred to the other's early career. As for our con- temporary," he wrote, what can we expect from a man who WAS five years ago peddling round with a mule, and an ill-eouditioned beast at that ? His rival did not deny it. "Our contemporary, he wrote in his next number, "says that live years ago we were peddling around with a mule, and an ill-conditioned beast at that. He is quite right. We were so occupied. But we are surprised to find that the mule has such a good memory."

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