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@ (.A..LL BIGHTS JJ.BBEllVED.) Toe Forerunner] I p——^ TBat ] ■ I Rev. H- KLWTN THOMAS. 1 (Awarded Pirst Prise at Ifa4>io*M Eisteddfod.) (jP Iwwwwwwwwwd CHAPTER XXI. Owrt Bryn y Beirdd at the time it was visited by our hero wiis an ordinary Welsh farmhouse of the better clasps. Formerly it had been known far and wide as the resi- dence of a Welsh poet, and scholar of renown, who had been in the habit of inviting the bards of the district to meet under his roof once or twice a year to discuss literary and poetical matters. At that time it was regarded as a. kind of appendant lodge to Carreg-Cenen Oastle. This castle—one of the finest of its kind in Wales—was built on a neighbouring limestone rock, and was oele- bra,ted for the sheer precipice which descended from it to the River Cenen, and the cave which pierced the crag below and connected it with Cilrychen. Derwydd, fwd Cwrt Bryn y Beirdd. Before and during Glyn- dwr's wars these long and absolutely secret underground passages had enabled the Welsh chieftains to baine and elude many a strong force of the enemy in a manner that com- pletely demoralised whole troops of them. But either because those who used them wished to cover their retreat, or because those -who tried to pursue their foes resolved to destroy them as refuges of war, the main arteries had been blocked long before Ehysyn's parents had come to live at the 40wrt, though it was still rumoured that the places were connected by some of the smaller and more intricate passages. Rhysyn's father, dn accordance with a custom of the times and of his class, used to invite his friends and neighbours to enjoy and take part in the periodical evesongs held in the spacious kitchen of his roomy house, through which practice he had become known as a genial patron of music and poetry. It was by coming in contact with so many of these free and easy children of the Muses that, Rhysyn had grown up to be the free- mannered individual we have tried to describe on these pages. On this particular day, though he felt him- eelf too indisposed to attend St. Dy fan's birthday celebration, he had been able to put in a brief appearance at his now well- pa,tronised oollege and stayed long enough to place his assistant in command, explain- ing that he must needs hasten home in order to have a private talk with Master Hywel Roberts, who had promised to sleep the night under his father's roof. He was, therefore, both astonished and dis- appointed when he saw him accompanied. But Rhysyn was not a person to remain long in one mood, especially if it happened to be a. dejected mood. When he had heard enough of. the story that acoounted for the presence of Samuel Pritchard at the Cwrt to make sure that Francis Lloyd's plans of revenge had been entirely thwarted, his spirits rose to an un- usual height, and, after previously securing the consent of the two visitors, he induced ibis father to arrange an "evesong" in their honour. Under ordinary oircum-stances it would have taken some days to orga-nise such a gathering successfully. But it so happened that Gutyn Prys, the harpist, and Dio Dywyll. the celebrated "penillion singer," were staying for the week-end, as was often their custom, at the Cwrt. Half-a-dozen neighbouring farmers, together with their families and servants, were hastily brought together, so that, when supper-time was over, there was a goodly number present to take part in the most popular of the national cus- toms. Neither Roberts nor Pritchard cared very much for this way of being lionised, bat as patrioti-c Welshmen they regarded an eveeong with the harp as the next best thing to a religions service. And, though some of these gatherings had brought upon themselves a bad name when they were prolonged to late tours and because of the large quantities of xnctbeglin and sack which were drunk at some of them, the larger number were such that even "The Old Yicar" thoroughly approved of, and as a frequenter of which he, doubtlessly, began to express his thoughts in poetic form. As the most distinguished stranger of the company, Samuel Pritch-ard was chosen to be the master of the ceremonies, and he lost no time in forming the company into a circle, with the harpist and Dio in the centre. Exercising his privilege as the conductor, be called upon Hywel to decide the charac-ter of the story they were to weave, and the hero or heroine around whose life it was to be woven. Hywel named Rhysyn as the hero, and decided that the story woven around his life should be a love story, promising, accord- ing to custom, to furnish the key to it in the first penill. Each member in the circle was expected in his turn to contribute a stanza composed at the timlb in which it was his duty to carry on the thread of the story a point or two further than where the last ginger had brought it, until by the time the last member in the circle had composed his penill something like a. complete romance in verse had been woven around the hero. When the preliminary arrangements were complete, Gutyn swept his fingers over the strings of his beloved instrument, and Dio opened the proceedings with the well-known penill: — Sweet the harp is in the home Where merry kinsfolk gather, Each with his perrill in his turn Ignoring quite the miser." And Hywel followed with the startling key- penill: — "She lives below the mountain's foot. The daughter of the Chieftain, The loveliest maid of all her race, But where's her heart's not certain." Almost every member of the circle declared bis inability to compose a penill that would M that strange, mysterious key. They looked at Rhysyn, at the ceilings, on the floor, they called for a cup of sa-ok, implored Gutyn to give them a lead by playing the tune, but. somehow, it seemed as if no one J oould find the story hidden in the heart of I that penill until, to the delight of all present, Bhysyn himself led with the illumining penill: — Her heart's her own, though once she deemed It trampled on and wounded. And he who wins that strong heart's love May count himself thrice blessed." After Rhysyn had sung his penill 'the others ) round it more or less easy to follow with their own. until each of the thirty-four per- sons who composed the circle had oontri- "bnted his portion of a story, which deepened in interest as each penill was added, until at last the closing chapter was contributed V the man at the other end, in which the lero— Had proved himself both brave and bold, Whom young and old admired, And won the Chieftain's daughter's heart, Which soores of ewains desired." When Rhysyn made the speebh which was always demanded from the hero of such a. romance, he spoke with an emotion and a sincerity which impressed all present with the fact that he regarded the tale woven around him as real and prophetic. When the company had dispersed and all Sbe inmates of the Owrt, including Samuel Pritchard, were asleep, Hywel and Rhysyn ■were having their private talk" over the < ashes of the kitchen fire. As the avangelist bad surmised, the ex-wrestler wanted to oonfer" with him concerning the progress of his lovefor the "Princess." After deeorib- ling. with infinite detail, three special visits of his to Cilrychen Cave, the reception given bim on each occasion, the extremeJy ] torioal manner in which he was received by hU the gipsy clan, the studious manner in wfcicfc the "Princess" avoided being alone Wiith him. and the characteristic, but to him most disconcerting, manner in which she JeoriKxl to weigh his words and scrutinise his .-bole attitude, he proceeded to narra-te how j lID one occasion he found himself wandering aimlessly aJong the nver bank near the col- ksge, thinking of his unrequited love in a 1 melancholy mood, when he suddenly came i ftfcce to faoe with the Princess, who was also j wandering aimlessly and seemed absorbed in ( tboogitt, winch, to say the least, did not I ■Kktao her look happy. In his impulsive way j Se told her be was afrafd she hated him ■.because be Jiad been one of the instruments in securing the imprieorwnenrt of Sfoon Jones, 1 8Dd he WTTS going to add apologetically that froth be and those who acted with him had •■en unwitting instrtHnesobs, ■wheal she indig- nantly asked: What, honestly, mean you. Master Owen?" tar eyes flashing! Quire yon here to make to me time after time, declaring I am foinr Pattern of aJlibafctsbrasue and maidenly 0ad in woman, though bttt a gipsy maid, pfld yet. ynya credit me with regretting the lDoaroe**tihon of that combination of vagar IrtinJ blackguard to Northampton Gaol fur what be donhiy deserves? An you deem .e tJMA ktori of maid, go and ma,ke me to ppgneone who hath never beeti «o unfortunate ] as to have been once deceived by a. scatter- ling knave?" Rhysyn described how this unexpected out- burst made him absolutely dumb. Every word was music to his ears. If he could have possibly managed it, he would have made her repeat the whole delightful utterance again and again, but while he was cogitating in his mind as to what to say and how to say it he saw one of her brothers galloping towards them at full speed. The young gipsy, who was clad in a red shirt, leathern trousers, and wide-brimmed yellow bat, scarcely looked at Rhysyn. He descended from the saddle, which was a woman's, with the per- fect ease of a born equestrian, and helped his sister to mount, which sihe was able to do by just putting her hand on his shoulder and taking her seat. The next moment she gal- loped away, and her brother walked back along the river bank without deigning a word of explanation or even looking back to see if such a thing was expected. Rhysyn had found out some time before that the Princess was teaching the children of three or four of the neighbouring squires to play the flute and violin. Hoping vaguely he might again have the luck to meet her, he walked quietly in the direction the horse had gone, until, after a long and weary trudge, he came to the lane leading to Myddynfych Hall, where he guessed his lady-love had ridden to give her lessons. Now, it happened that Masters Harry Vaughan and Mervin Richards, who had before this time got an inkling of the manner in which this gipsy maid had recently been making fools of them and their associates to the amuse metirt, as well as to the advantage, of those whom they hated, had resolved to revenge them- selves upon her. Having learnt that she rode to Myddynfych every Wednesday afternoon and returned after dark, they fixed upon this very day on which Rhysyn wandered after her as the day to execute their plans. As soon as night fell they tied a etout, strong rope across the road about two feet above the ground, with the intention of throwing both horse and rider. To make certain of carrying out their purpose, each had ascended a tree on opposite sides of the road, taking a tin vessel containing two or three stones in his hand, their intention being to rattle the stones with all their might when the horse approached, so that the animal in his fright at the overhead rattle would start a furious gallop and stumble over the tight rope. They hoped through this device to get possession of the maid's person and inflict upon her some of the indignities that gallants of their kidney inflicted on the innocent and defence- less wenches which came into their power. Rhysyn came up the lane joist as each con- spirator had climbed; his tree, and, as he was walking rather slowly, he thrust his shin against the rope without either injuring him- self or falling over. Laying hold of the object which impeded his progress, he soon made out, though it was intensely dark, that the presence of the rope meant mischief. Before he had time to speculate as to who were the authors or what was the object in view, he heard a horse galloping towards him. He was going to raise a warning voice, when the most infernal din he had ever listened to began above his head. Thoroughly bewildered, yet determined to stop that animal ere it rushed against that rope and stumbled, he never uttered a ory, but ran with all the speed he could comma.nd to meet the now fast-approaching horse. It was so dark in the narrow lane that the Princess— for it was she-oould not possibly recognise him, and with the noise made by the mis- creant s above she would never understand anything he might shout. His only chance of saving her from a dangerous fall, and, perhaps, from death, was to rush at the horse's head, get hold of the reins, and stop him by sheer strength. This he attempted, but the Prinoess, taking for granted that a man rushing at her in such fashion in a dark and lonely lane meant no good, spurred on the horse with all her might and rained a perfect shower of outs on the hands and face of the supposed foot-pad, until at last he managed to shout some words that made her stay her hand and listen. The horse by this time, held by a force it recognised as one it had to obey, stood stock still, rinding that someone was interfering with their sport, either to aid or to frustrate it, the tree- climbers dropped their musical instruments and hastened to descend. By the time they touched the ground the Princess, whose wits worked with lightning rapidity in times of danger, had something like a clear perception of the situation. She had just caught the words strong rope tied across to make your horse stumble," and saw that the per- son who held her horse was a friend, that the others now approaching were enemies, that she was in danger, that she must ally herself with her deliverer, whoever he was, to defeat some devilish plot to injure her. There was only just enough time to ask a. few pointed questions before they would be rushed upon: "Be you my friend?" "To death." Your name?" Rhys Owen!" Heaven forfend! Who be these who ane approaching us?" I know not." How many be they?" c< N'ay, I know nothing of them—I—" "Have you a pistol?" Yes, loaded." "Fire at once in the air! Now, while they stand there too frightened to advance, take this knife from my saddle, cut the rope, then, when I gallop past you, jump up behind me. I will fire my own pistol at anyone who will dare approach you." He obeyed her with the same cool precision as that with which she commanded him, and all went well until he came to jump. He had taken hold of her hand with the readiness and agility which became a champion wrestler and was in the Jtot of springing when a murderous blow from one of the assailants sent him staggering beneath the horse's feet. The next moment a pistol bullet laid the assailant on his back, and before his ally could come to his assistance the mar- vellous maid had descended, lifted the limp form of her deliverer from the ground,^placed him face downwards across the back of her well-disciplined horse, and galloped aaway in the darkness. As she rode over the river bridge on the main road, she espied two saddled horses tied to a. tree, one of which she recognised as young Master Harry Vaughan's favourite racer. When Rhysyn came to the part of the story which described his coming to himself in the Rlas kitchen, where she had taken him, and of Hywel's mother bending over him on one side and the Princess on the other, be could not control his feelings as he told his friend of the great wave of emotional joy which spread over the latter's face as she watched him coming hack to conscious nee a. Neither of the women would allow him to speak that night. They told him that they had dressed the wound in his head, given him something to drink, laid him on a couch in an adjoining room, a-nd ordered him to rest and sleep until they would wake mm in the morning. The following day was far ad-waooed when he awoke after the powerful sleeping draught they had given him. Bot he had no sooner felt wide awake than he qjealised that the pa-inful stupor of the previous night was all gone, and he felt quite nfcnseif agam. The Princess was there with Mrs. Roberts, who had a basinful of bread and milk ready for him. When be finia-d his meal be found himself atone with the Prinoeas, who looked cold a»nd distant, and annous and full of some sweet, undeflnable solvcrt«de. She* asked him after a while to tell her tjie stoTy of his presence in the Myddynfych lane and how he came to do what he did. Hib told her the wbde8tory, from the time she galloped away from him on the river ban* until he was knocked down under her horse s feet. He said nought of the Providence which he now thought led him there or of. the love which flamed in his heart and gavlllbim no rest but in following and being DEnr to her. He simply narrated the facto of the incident se-ria,tim as be remembered them. When he finished he saw her round bosom heave, a mist came over her eyes, then big tears welled up in each of them and rolled down her burning cheeks- Every fibro in her Hthe body seemed to be moviag. With her eyes looking away from his f^oe, she placed her right band on his ghouMer, and asked him in a. voice that set his wnote being aglow: Can you ever forgrve me. Master Owenr Forgive yon! For wb-.P "For inflicting orael blows on the hands and face and arms of—of a brave and unsel- fish man." Ney, nay! Yon thonsht me a foot-ped." 'cTt is for that thought I want your for- gawnessf* "listen, Princess! I would "Hark, Master Owen! You nmst not make love to me!" She said this in snch a commanding way that he felt he dared not utter a word of what she most hove seen was framing in hie heart, flatshing in his eyes, and burning on his lips. But though he felt the time to declare his whole heart might be inopportune, he some- how felt be must extract some p-romise from her with which to feed hie hope or life would now be too sad to live. So be stood up in front of her and said: I know %is a. grae* thing I ask of yon. I know also fbnA T arm airworthy of even th-s raopo tDcqttaintsmoe orf euuh ck gowd and boaniti- fal wench. Bnt how can I help m-yscif" I low you with all my sonl, and I cannot—I don't want to—live without some hope of win- ning your love in ruturm! Is there no hope for me, Princess?" "I' faith, Master (>wem, I know not what answer to give you. You. are a man of such parts, so learned in Jpencraft and bookoraft. thait for your own txiboof you are doing an unwise thing in seeking to be mated to a gipsy maid. But therei is another reason why I cannot,anewer you which I cannot explain." Ha»th it a-ught to do with me?" Nay, 'tis a m.atte.t. you cannot under- stajnd." Odds—my—life, Priiuoess, you pain and puzzle me. Be you afflighted that because I have been a sort of g nd-about wrestler that I am fond of riot or waissail and cannot make a. deoent home ?" Cease that foolish tatfk, Master Owen! As a man, I look up to yoov and respect you, and -yes, I believe—but, nos. L musn't say it. Pity me, my dear friend arid deliverer, and do not press me further on this point to-day." Alas I I also need pity. Bnt, no, I'll have no one's pity. I must hswe your love or be of all men most misery bie. If I may not press the point to-day, wben may I press it?" "Need you-must you—ipness it at all?" I must—or "Then give me another three months to think over it—and find ouit "Three months! Wont. three days be enough?" No, Master Owen, nor tlrree weeks." But you will let.me see jvju and talk with you?" Nay. nay, that would not help me to- find out what I want at all. Ask me no more questions to-day, my friend. But an you pro- mise not to seek me or lose confidence in me for the time I ha.ve mentioned, you may, an you still wish to, put me that question again." So ended Rhysym's story, to which Hywel had listened in the most interested and sym- pathetic manner throughout, notwithstand- ing his great. weariness and need of sleep. As they parted for the night he asked how much of the allot-ed time had already passed, and Rhysyn told him, with a ruveful counte- nance: Hardly any. This happened only a month ago!" CHAPTER XXIL Hywel and Samuel Pritohard were early astir the next morning. The first, part of their ride from Cwrt Bryn y Beirdd to Llan- ddyfri, though they had good horses .Mid were both excellent riders, tired them to such an extent that they welcomed the sigh t of the vicarage aimo; as eagerly as travellers in an Eastern desert welcome that of an oasis, the shorter road over which they travelled being at that time very uneven and un- finished. Vicar Pritchard, when he ca,me to the door to welcome them, looked happier a.nd less care-worn than Hywel had ever seen him. The change in his son's life' had wrought an equally marvellous cha.n ?e of another* kind in the father. And the old beneficent, almost angelic, look which Hywel and others had seen in his eyes when he used. to preach to great crowds of his fellow- countrymen on his way between L,landdiv"fri, Llanedi, and St. David's during former ytsws had returned to them. Though Hywel by this time had made uanto himself a name throughout the Southern c'is- tricts of Wales as "a dangerous Inoonfpr- mist, who worked for the downfall of too National Church," the Old Vicar gave him a warm welcome to his home, addressed hiin A murderous blow sent him staggering be neath the horse's feet. as My son," and spoke of his efforts to spread the true light" with unreserved commendation. But though every member of the family pressed on him to Test the night at the Vicarage and continue the journey to Cefn Brith in the morning, he left after a short rest, promising to stay a day or two under his reverend patron's roof on his return. His welcome at Oefn Brith, though quiet and subdued on aooount of the death of the much-beloved Granacle," was all Hywel oould wish. Mistress Helen Owen, though still dignified and self-possessed in all she did, had somehow divested herself of the aloofness which made Hywel feel on former occasions that be could not get as near to her as he wished. And the motherly interest she mani- fested in him so completely won his trust that he could open his heart to her on every subject that concerned him supremely with- out the lea-st reserve. Mistress Nell, while still extremely shy and timid, not to say apprehensive, when the sub- ject of marriage was discussed, was at all other times the frank, simple-minded, open- hearted girl whose perfect naturalness had won the evangelist's heart during his first visit to the farm. He sometimes caught her looking steadily and thoughtfully at him for several minutes without removing her gaze while he would be pursuing his studies or writing copies of Scripture. Occasionally she would rush in from some outside occupation, give him an impulsive hug and kiss, and would be outside the door again before he could hardly turn round. At eventide she would sit on a low rush-stool between him and her mother, and, as he discussed his past efforts and future plans with her mother, she would lean her cheek, now against his knee, anon against her mother's, questioning him eagerly in regard to what she did not understand, and expressing her approval of what he did. But in living over again thOSllt golden days later on, it was the walks they took together in the valleys at the base of Epynt Hills he liked best to re-oall. Her love of and fami- liarity with nature gave him unbounded delight. Her quaint and original comments on birds and flowers, herbs and trees, clouds and streams, were so delightful that he some- times walked at her side, her hand in his, for a mile, making no response exoept with his eyes and smiles. They were accompanied on two of these occasions by Mistress Owen herself, and the way she corrected or supple- ment,ed. some of her daughter's utterances made it olear to Hywel who had been her teacher in these delightful stttdios. It was Hywel's intemtion before leaving Oefn Brith this time to ma-k-e Snal arrange- ments for the day, place, and manner of his marriage, but whenever he spoke of return- ing to his work Nell looked so pathetically sad at the thought of parting that he was on the point of imploring her and her mother to have the oeremony performed at once, so that he might take her with him as com- panion and fellow-worker wherever he went. While be was debating in his mind whether Mistress Owen might charge him wit.h lack of consideration for her loneliness in response to such an appeal, Rhysyn Owen galloped into the yard on a foaming horse with the news that his mother had been taken sud- denly and seriously ill, and begged to see his face before she died. Thus ended a short period in Hywel's life which he aJways afterwards rerer,red to as the Golden Period." Hitherto his life, since he bad left Pi-ode School, had been a series of strenuous efforts, many of them directed against strong and opposing elements, and, though by nature a man of genial and sunny temperament, the continuous struggles in which he had been engaged had imparted some of their own stern seriousness into his mature, until his countenance at the time he began his evangelistic work gave those who were not familiar with him the impres- sion that he was cold and taciturn. Miafcress Nell's contagious buoyancy of spirits when she had him thus completely under her spell soon chased the last vestige of gloom And the last stern look from his face. The news that his mother was in a dying condition seemed to bring back the habitu- ally sad look of former days with a single stroke. He lost no time in getting ready for his departure, though he turned back three Ames, after bidding Nell farewell, to give hter and her mother some additional warning against any possible attempt on the part <tTf Master Francis Lloyd or his asaxBafces tio imitate Shon Jones's kidnapping methods. Even when he had finally mounted his horse, he told the reeve of his fears, and begged of him to be constantly on the alert until he wooM return, as he hoped, and relieve^him, of Ms preoioos oharge. After Rftiysyn OwenV had delivered a similar charge to Boris, they galloped away, leaving at l*e»a^t one sorrowful to.n<ity he<M-t behind them. Hywel's moSiier was not a strong character in ftay eenae eeisspt as « TMasewfe. Meet of bor wJU. Um» -ana her late hnshsmd thought bad naar—wore She was not a •vwnrMly woman. No one could oay she was selfish, c- proud, or irritable, or in any way a trying woman to live with. But there had' been times when both Hywel and his farther bad wished to find her more pronounced in her opinions and far more positive in her likes and dislikes. In matters moral and religious she was a kind of ohameleon, taking her views enticely from those of her husband and son. Hywol was not like her in anything except in the sweet-ness of his disposition. Yet he loved her intensely, and he felt, if he was going to lose her, the world would never be the same to him again. He was exceedingly gratified to find on his arrival that she was still in possession of all her faculties and able to welcome him home as of old. But though she was calm and serene in mind, he knew the very minute he saw her that her hours were numbered. After a few mutual expressions of affection had been exchanged between them, she told him that the PI as, in which her people had been living for many generations, would now be his. His father's property also, consisting of a small estate between Abergwili and Car- marthen, would come to him, together with a sum of money whioh she had saved from the working expenses of both places. After giving him the details and showing him a copy of his father's will, she paused a moment with exhaustion, a.nd then asked: I Be it thy determination, my son, to give thy whole life to the work thou* hast been doing lately?" Ay, verily, my whole life and all my powers." And this comely maid of Cefn Brith, to whom thou art espoused, loveth she this work?" She loveth me, mother, with all her heart and soul, and my work, whatever it be. will be her work." But, apart from it being thy chcsen work, hath the any personal predilection for it?" "An even stronger predilection than I have myself! Seeing she be a true and worthy grand-daughter of John Penri, the Martyr, how can she be otherwise?" And will she follow thee, my son, in thy peregrinations? Wilt thou suffer her to risk the dangers thou art so often facing thyself?" Nay, mother, how she will help me in my work hath not yet been settled. It will be a matter for the maid herself to decide when the time comes. But be assured I will never allow her to expose herself to any unneces- sary risk." ''I have plied thee with these questions in my last hour of life because I have had strange dreams the last two nights concern- ing the maid, and I saw her in^trange places and among cruel folk. She was crying out for thee, and thou wert not there to answer. Once methought I saw her weary and worn out after a long period of suffering and separation from thee, and, though thoso around her offered her ciany things calcu- lated to bring joy and satisfaction toa maid's life, she refused to be comforted, because they would not let her go to thee. I woke up at last, feeling much concerned about her, and wondering what- these dreams portended." It. is very likely you went to sleep think- ing of some of the things I have been telling you, of the way she hath been persecuted recently, and your thoughts, being troubled, took troublous shapes in your dreams." "I fain would think so. But I 'have some- thing like what thy dear father sometime? called 'preaenft-ment.' or what -Malen calls second sight,' which tells me that what I saw was something more than a dream. I cannot explain it, I can only feel strongly tha.t it is so, and, having such a strong feel- I ing, stamiing, as I am, on the borders of another world, I fee-I I cannot die happy unless tlM>u promisest me two things." "And what be they, mother?" I wantJ thee to promise me that thou .wilt ever keep (the Plas for thy permanent home. That thou wilt have my sister Joan to act as thy housekeeper and Tubal, her husband, to act as thy reeve. I ask thee to prorrnse this ao that thou wilt always feel, wherever thou and thy wile may wander in connection wrth your work, jt-hou canst always bring her back j to the old home to rest and to lay in new strength." I find nt vt the least difficulty in making that promise, for I love the Plas, and would jfeel quite a homeless wand-erer if I con Win't i always and everywhere think of it as my place of rest 'and refuge. What is the other ''The other hath to do with my dream. I promise?" Thore wa.s something in the spirit of that dream, or, maybe, it was a vision, wfiich made me conscious all the time the young maid, during the whole painful period of her separat ton from thee, was constantly anigh thee. And I wanted to tell thee so all the time, but vras held back by some unstAi power. What I' want the? to premise me is I; that should any pa-rt of that dream, or, maybe, vision, come true, thou wilt remem- ber that one thing, and 6earch for her eve-y- whero thou can.;t think of in the immediate neighbourhood——. Oh, my son, my son—the up asm—. God blees thee—thy work, and thy •" 8o died Mi«tr«?s;i Roberts, a fine type of the true mother—her last thoughts of her off- spring. • • • (To 1^9 continued.) -L-
DEATHS IN HOSPITAL.
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DEATHS IN HOSPITAL. A CORONER ON ANESTHETIC CASES. A verdict of deatl) by misadveffnture wae returned at the inqpest at Southwsrk on Mrs. phcebe Chart (44jk of Lee, who died under anaesthetics at Guy's Hospital. The jury added that they were satisfied-all had been done to retrtore life. The CoroTer remarked that it was the forty-first case of a sri rn ilar natture thatt had been reported to him in We last eight years from Guy's HospitaA. Thirty-three were deaths under the influonoe of chloroform, or a mixture of chloroform, the remaining eight being deaths under the influence of ether and ,another anaesthetic He had never had a case from a rorsang home, but they were aJI from hospitals. The husband sa.id deotaaeed suffered from palpitation of the heart, but did not see a doctor with regard to this. Dr. Vincent TownhilT, house surgeon at Guy's, sail deocoeed was admitted on the 18th of July for the purpose of the operation for tumor of the breast. She did not com- plain of palpitation, and was thoroughly plain of palpitation, and was thoronghly examined before the anaesthetic was adminis- tered. Dr. Ship way, who administered the ansee- tihetio, said tha.t deceased changed colour, and artificial respiration was tried, but was only effectual for a moment or two. The patient was not suitable for ether, and chlo- roform was the only aesthetic that would be I efficient.
'UNWARRANTED JEALOUSY.'
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'UNWARRANTED JEALOUSY.' EVIDENCE OF MAN'S CONFESSION OF MURDER. Evidence of a confession of murder was forthcoming at am inquest at Arnold, near Nottingham, on Friday, upon the bodies of Matilda Lambert, aged 27, and her three little children, whose throats were out whilst tbey were asleep by Samuel Atiherly, a former member of the Warwickshire Regiment, who took part in the South African war, and with whom she cohabited It waa shown there had been frequent quarrels arising out of a feeling of unwarranted jealousy which the aocueed entertaiined in relation to the woman. Tbe younger of the two children whom he murdered were his own. He CUT his own throat after oonumttijig the murder, but has recovered. Whilst on the way to the hospital he told the constable that he killed tfcem about three o'clock in the morning, breaking the razor over them, and he after- wards procured another razor to do for him- self. The jury returned a verdict of "WilfuJ murder."
MRS. WINSiLOWS SOOTHING stRUr
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MRS. WINSiLOWS SOOTHING stRUr For Children TEETHING. Over 60 )'ea.'rR. reputation. Is the beet remedy known for children's diarrhaea. It regulates the bowels, raid gives health to the child and reel to the mother. JJold by all Chemists, 18. lid. per bottle. wTH
LAUGH & GROW FAT +
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LAUGH & GROW FAT + HUMOROUS PARS FROM EVERYWHERE. "Aren't you ashamed," asked a housewife, "to be a beggar?" "Yes, ma'am, I a.m at times—'orribly It fair makes me blush to see 'ow stingy some people can be! "I bay, old fellow, Ive put you down for a couple of five shilling tickets in a raffle for a poor man of our "So good to me, thanks! Shouldn't know what to do with a poor man if I won him!" "Do you know, sir, that I am very par- ticular with whom my daughter keeps com- pany?" said a pompous father. "Then I suppose you are very often away from home," retorted the emart youth who was thus snubbed. The following is the reply which a lawyer sent to a bill fro-m his bookseller "I never ordered the bock; if I did, you didn't send it; if you sent it, I never got it; if I got it, I paid for it; if I didn't. I won'1." "See that fellow? I'd like to make him take back what he onoe said about me "An enemy of yours: Not exactly, but he's the minister who officiated at my marriage." Counsel (to witness): Then you think he struck you with malice aforethbught ? Witness (indignantly): You can't mix me up like that. I've told you twioe he hit me with a brick. There wasn't no mallets about it. Ii you make faces like that, you naughty girl," said a governess reprovingly, "you will grow up very ugly!" Oh, dear!" exclaimed the incorrigible pupil. "What a. lot you must have made when you were a girl! "Will you accept chis poem at regular rates ?" inquired a poe-t c-f an editor. "Wei!, yes," was the reply; 'it appears to contain nothing objectionable. Go to the advertising department and ask them what the rates are "Mr. Jones," taid the- f'#Ok-e.sman of the working men's committee, "we have comc to till you, sir, th.a.t we want shorter hours and "Very well," interrupted the busy manu- facturer; "we'll begin right off with shorter dinner-hours." Did you hear Miss Flimser say that she had a speaking acquaintance with that millionaire?" asked Maud, scornfully. Yes." replied Mamie, with equal scorn. It's the first time I kne-.v that she ever worked in a telephone exchange." She (after an absence of several years abroadi: How do you do? 80 cleUgh ted, I'm sure. Not married yet? Why, the last time I saw you, it seems to me you were engaged. He: Yes, I was. She: Iyet's see; to whom? He: To you. Indignant Neighbour: The little hussy. Fancy her mother allowing her to go about in one of them Directory dresses. It's scandalous. The Little Hussy: 'Taint a Directory dress; it's- an accident. I fell off the fence and tore my frock. Bobby: Mamma, will a piece of hot mince pie give one bad dreams? Mamma.: It will, Bobby. Bobby: Well, I had a whole lot of bad dreams last night without any hot mince pie. Can I ha.ve a pitce now to make up for them ? "Yes sir!" he said, proudly, "I began life a barefooted boy, and see where I am now "Yes, you are well off. but you had a bi? advantage a.t the start." "now so?" "You began life as a. barefooted boy; the rest of us began life as barefooted babies." IVwtroffiee Clerk: Here, your letter is over- weight.. Pat: Over what weight? Clerk: It's too heavy. Put another etamp on it. Pat: Get out wid yer fooJin'. Sure, if I put another stamp on won't it be heavier still? He (after popping the question): Why do ycnti cry, my e.ngel? Did I offend you by my proposal? She (still sobbing): Oh. dear, it is not tha.t. I'm crying for joy. Mother always said to me, 'May,' she said, 'you are such a.n idiot that you would not get even a donkey for a lover,' and 'now I have got one after all." Old Lady (to driver of growler*: Now, driver, I want you to go very carefully. Certainly, mum." And not go racing with other oabs." "No, mum." And not go round the corners quickly." No. mum." After the job, old lady, handing him a shilling, said: — "You have driven me very carefully a.nd well, and here is a shilling for you; have you driven a cab all your life?" "No, mum I used to drive a hearse, and blest if I don't go back to it; it's a better game than this. I hope I'll drive yer again, mum." lJady Visitor (who is-being entertained by Tommy): And who are you named after, my little man? Tommy Dunno. Lady Visitor: After your papa, I suppose, What is his name, dea.r? Tammy; Danno. Lady Visitor: Nonsense! What does your mamma oall him? Tommy (promptly): Donkey. Miss nnie: What's the price per yard? Oousin John (the dn goods merchant); A Iris*. Miss Annie: All right, give me three ya.rds. Grandma will pay for them. "ATe you a native of this perish?" a!>k0d a Scotoh sheriff of a. witness who was sum- moned to testify in a case of illicit distilling. "Maist-ly, yer honour," was the reply. "I mean, were you bom in this parish?" "Na, yer honour. I w-asna born in this parish; but I'm roaist a native for a' that." You came here when you were a child, I suppose you mean ?" said the sheriff. No, Sir, I'm jist here about sax year noo." "Then how did you come to be nearly a native of the parish?" "Wee-1, ye gee, wha.n I cam' here, sax year sin', I jist weighed eight stane, an' I'm seven- teen stane noo, aae ye see tha.t about nine stane o' me belongs to this parish an' the rther eight comes from Camlachie."
"HER LATE HUSBAND."
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"HER LATE HUSBAND." DISGUISED WIFE AND THE OTHER LADY. Some amusement was occasioned at South- wark County-oourt. London, by the evidence of Mrs. Sarah Estner Simpson, who sought to recover JElZ 5s. from Mr. Charles Alex. Simp- son, whom sbe spoke of ae her "late hUB- band.' bbe wid he had been ordered to pay 25s. a woek, and, although she had forgiven him the jEo6 he was in arrears before in con- sideration of keeping up payments regularly, he had not paid her. "There is no money for me, your honour," said Mns. Simpson, pathetically, "but he has still got the Cornwall Arms, and is still liv- ing there with the lady who passes as his wile. She can be dressed prettily still, and she has taken to wearing beautiful golden wigs that cost four guineas or five guineas each." (Laughter.) Judge Willis: I have heard of these hair k transformations. They are such disfigure- ments. (Laughter.) The debtor said that he had no idea that JE12 was owing, and that the lady had agreed to accept 15s. a week, a statement which Mrs. Simpson denied. He could afford to pay on horses," she added; "but he oould not pay me." The Debtor: I have not betted at races for sixteen years, sir. Mrs. Simpson: Oh, he backs horses. He goes to the club to do it, and the lady he lives with backs horses, too. I have myself sat in his house disguised, and have heard the bet- ting going on. (Loud laughter.) I once went in to see them. The lady with Mr. Simpson was being kept in beautiful sty-le, and had two extra servants to wait upon her. His honour ordered a oommitta-l for 42 days, to be suspended while payment of iA a mouth is kept up. •g-^—
IRRESISTIBLE WAVE.
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IRRESISTIBLE WAVE. DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE AT ACAPULCO. A telegram from Acapulco, sent off on Sunday evening, says that earthquakes con- tinued there on Saturday evening and the greater part of Sunday. Not a single build- ing in the place is now habitable, and the inhabitants are living in the open. The most disastrous shock occurred on Saturday afternoon. At the same tin^e the water in the harbour receded ^5ft. and then suddenly rose with irresistible foroe, engulfing the piers an^ doing^"ooneiderable damage on the water front. Pood very 6carce, markets have been destroyed, and the peasants are afraid to bring their produce. The few remaining houses are being blown up with dynamite. There bave been altogether 13 ehooks einoe Friday.—itentor. j
A S1BKKIAN PRISON.
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A S1BKKIAN PRISON. flt¡r$#m#WM**=11 The pale sun had sunk behind the pines. end the bleak hills of the Siberian seaboard rose biaekly against the waning light as Henry Ponton by stamped fiercely up and down a narrow beach. Osmond King sat close by, his head in his hande, staring at an ancient schooner rocking lazily on the heave of the inlet, while the long ground &weil lapped with a deep-toned booming on the weedy ledges under his feet 'ihey had been cut eff from their boats after seeking seals on iorbidde;. territory, and a Rusolan era iter brought t.hem to the lonely settlement, where they spent the most part of their time in a log prison. Somewhat to their own surprise, they had not been treat-ed unkindly, though the commander ol that outpost, being always haid pressed for piovierions, perhaps naturally led his soldiers first, and so the alien prisoners were often served out very seamy rations. L'cntoun-d ill" eaid Ponsonby at last; "will we never get out ol this hole, or must we lie starving and rotting Here until some Husfcian magnate !kto our case in hand. Whats the matter with you, Osmond:" You take it all as coolly as the proverbial cucumber. 1 was tliiiiKing,' King said slowly, whether we couldn't break out and borrow her some dark night. She's rot-ten, badly rotten, and yet we might make ShIH with her to reach the British Columbian coa-st. What do you tnink of it, skipper—would she go do-wn on the way?" The difereputable object behind him glanced critically at the heaving vessel, whoee weathered sides and sun-cracked deck alter- nately swayed towards them with the lilt of the swel.. Then he sa.id: It would be taking cna-nces; but if the pUillpt; are not played out she might do it. With the land iireeze alter sunset the inlet would soon be left oen.nd ifw-e could board her, a.nd the sooner it's iritd the better. We're starving slowly, and i in deadly sick of this." 'lnen from tIle little outpost a puff of smoke bk'A cut, a dull leverberation rolled along the dark hill »;opes, a.nd the shrill call of a bugio answered the evening gun. Also, a Russian soldier stood on the rise above them beckoning with his hand, a.nd the men fol- lowed him silently back to the prison. Ther* they discussed the matter at length, until King said: Leaking, old, and played out, with no provisions on board her! We've decided to try it, sharing alike in either starvation or plenty, and we strike the first blow before midnight. You a.ll agree to t.b.a.t?" A growl of assent followed. After- wards there was silence, and they waited with savage patience until the heavy Log door opened and a soldier carrying side arms entered with a ration of black bread, which was mostly pounded bark. Then King, slipping in behind, deftlv tripped him up, a.nd Ponsonby knelt on his chest, while a sea- man held a pine log significantly over his head. "We won't hurt you," King said. "Just trip him he doos net s-j.eak cur lan- guage he'll probably understand that." It wa.s over in a few minutes, and the men of the syndicate clustered in the doorway, Then the last light faded, and King said quietly: "Time we started; it's neck or noth- ing now. Skipper, you'll come with me straight for the schooner. Harry with the rest of you'll make for the landing at the head of the inlet. Borrow a boat and pull off, but do it quietly." So the two hurried away under the talking pines, and King swore wickedly a.s the howl of a dog broke through the silence that hung: over the sleeping town. Panting and breath- lees they baited on the edge of the inlet, and heard the ebb tide gurgling past the schooner's side. "I don't feel happy about them." said King uneasily. "It would go hard with us if they routed the settlement. Ah! there's that wretched beast again," and once more e. savage bark oame broke'nly down wind. "Ay," answered the skipper "they're not so careful as they might be. She's hardly fifty yards off, with a big boat made fast astern, and it wouldn't be a great thing if we had to swim for it." "Just what I wa.s thinking," King sa.id. "I can't help feeling there may be a blunder. So. if it means another swimming match, the sooner we start the better." His breath was foiling L'TJ. that killing temperature, when a voioe rose up behind him, Make for the boat astern," and in a few moments he was trail- ing in the tideway with his hand on the painter. Next, choking and breathless, he swang himself over the stern, a trick which is not so easy of accomplishment, and then the Soa Otter's skipper came splashing alongside. JIe was dragged in iKunehow, "and in frantic hurry they hauled the boat up, crawled dripping over the schooner's counter, and the skipper said, "We'll hoist the fore- and-afters ready for starting." With wet and half-numbed hands they tore the sail covers off, and it was not hard work, for they were badly rotten, then with a whine of tackle through rusted blocks the wide folds of mildewed canvas fluttered aloft. King tore round .the handle of a corroded winch until the mainsail peak was bet, and at last, when it slatted and thun- dered aboye their heads, the two men £ at down and wa.ited. They had not long to wait, for there was a sudden shouting in the settlement, the clang of a rifle reached their ears, and then they heard a clatter of feet over the shingle. Into the dory with ycxu," said the skipper to King, and, dropping from the taffrail they fell into the boat, bending their backs to tile oars while the turmoil grew louder. Indis- tenet forms ca.me scrambling along the water side, and when the keel grated upon a shelf of rock four men fell rather than climbed in over her bows. "Off with her! the soldiers are turning out p., spJuttered one. "Ah! there goee a rocket to wain them a.t the mouth. We haven't a moment to lose—half the settle- ment's coming down." King swang up a rusty windlass brake, while a seaman held the shackle on the iron- bound barrel, but though sparks rushed from tile metal the pin held. Then with the srweat streaming from him, and his great muscles swelling, he attacked the corosion-januned stopper, which backed and yielded before a crushing blow. With a grinding roar the chain rushed out, a.nd they watched it, won- dering if the end were made fast below, until the skipper shouted when the last link splashed into the sea. A loud voice hailed them in Russian; but there was no answer, only a yell of derision when a whirring bullet struck a splinter from the mast, for King had his great shoulder against the tiller, and, swinging on her heel, the schooner was paying off. The skipper jammed his helm hard up as the froth and smoke of shattered seas grew visible, and the mainsail jibbing, swang over with a thud that threatened to tear the old mast out of her. Down on her weutheled side she went, a shower of flung- up spray driving thick along her deck, and the white-streaked water lapping her rail, then righting a little, stopped dead with a sickening crash. The rotten spars trembled, there was a crunch of timber below, and a crested roller lifting her drove her forward to fall more savagely upon the stone. Again a rocket cleft the night ahead, but the skipper only growled: With the lift to help us we may bump her over, and the Russ needn't fancy he has got us yit." A half-seen patch of dimness came out of the spray, for the long swell was now freely- flecked a.nd crisped with white. and they could hea.r the hurried splash of oars and an officer's shouts. Fools staid Osmond King; "do they think we're going to give in with the game almost won." The "thud-thud" of oars rattling and banging in the wooden sockets grew louder and a fierce answer reached them broken!- in the Gallic language. The Russians were rowing their hardest to cut off the schoner. Now the foam-fringed cut-water bore straight for the boat, surging and leapmg through the lined backs of the seas and acroes the thunder of loosened head sails King sent down a roar of warning Poneonby breathed hard as he waited, ex- pecting every moment to see a rifle flash, and knowing t.hat in a few seconds more the schooner, travelling seven knote, would grind, over or through the beat. But the Muscovite also realised the danger, ).nd, shouting hoarsely, he ga.ve a.n order: Men were doubled over the oars, backing or willing desperately, and the boat's head canted just in time, for with the welter flung off by the schooner licking her gnnwale, she drove past the foam-ringed side a.nd vanished astern. "Now, said King, "that's probably the las* of them wo will ever see, and there's only blue water between us and British Columbia" while the skipper, laughing grimly, bade them pile the gaff-topsails on to her aTtd s'tart the pump. How two days later they called at a tiny port, and, partly by threa.ts of violence and the gift of the boat, secured provisions; then, toiling con- tinually at the clanging pumps, somehow carried the worn-out vessel with half her keel crushed a.wa.y acroes the Pacific, would mate a long story. But at last the white Olympians rose snow-crested 'out of a spark- ling sea, and with the pino-scented breeze abeam they relied safely towards Victoria harhonr tb.ough the Straits of San JnaD In Victoria, which port the Sea-Otter had reached long before, King and Ponsoaby spent several days with agents and bankers, and were then able to hand a small dividend to every man of the Syndicate. 7
THE AUDACITY OF CAUL.
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THE AUDACITY OF CAUL. It was early morning in summer. The sun had been glaring for over an hour on the heavily curtained window of the card-room of the Belvedare Gkib. Suddenly Carl, the waiter, who was on duty in the card-room that night, threw back the rich plush ourtaios, and a dazzling flood ol go'den sunshine poured into the room. Four young men looked up from the table at which they were sea-teo. "Curse you, man!" said one of the players, throwing a malignant glance at Gail. "It'sh all righ, laddie. Quite time t' shtop! I'm dead—er—er—broke!" said another, with tipsy gravity. The third man, whose name was Delaforce, shouted lustily to Carl for pen and ink. When the necessary writing materials had been supplied, Delaforce proceeded to write a cheque for the aacunt of his losses. 'the tourth. a Frenchman by the name of ,<: Cochferet, and but recently introduced the Belvedare Club, looked on with eYi- dent interest. It was he who was to receive the money. The young fellow's hand trembled slightly. It was a good deal for a man to pay as the price of an evening's amusement— £ 1,000 "Let me see, what is your Christian name, Count?" aö.liOO Delaforce, pausing with the pen in his hand. "Paul,' quickly answered the other, "Paul de Coohteret." .better known as the Comte de Cochferet," put iii one of the others. De Cochferet smiled unconcernedly. But hi did not notice that Carl, the waiter, who at t,hat moment was removing some glasses, looked a.t him most intently for an instant. "I SUPIXhoe you will gÍ\e me my revenge to-morrow night, Count?" a..sked Delaforce, as he handed over the cheque for four figures as if it had been a thing of no consequence whatever. "I shall be delighted," said the fortunate Frenchman, smiling at he spoke. Next morning a wait-c-r tapped at the door of the Count's bedroom at the St. Pancras Hotel and handed him a card bearing the name. "Charles E. Delaforce." "De-Iaforce-why, that's the chap I won the, money from last night," the Count grunted to himself. "Now, I wonder what the devil he I hope he is not going to ask me not to present his cheque for a few days." 7lis mind full of such unpleasant prognosti- cations as these, the Count went down to tlM ,i1,tlng-rcoOrn, but upon observing his visitor his face immediately lost ail its outward gaiety This was not the man he expeoted to see. This was a fairly stout, rubicund, white- whiskered. baJdheaded old Englishman. "But you're not the Mr. Delaforce I ex* pected to see." he said. "No doubt I am not." answered the other. "But I am the father of the unhappy boy." The Count smiled, and was all politeness, but inwardly he felt a trifle uneasy. "I presume, sir." he said abruptly, and ig. noring the Count's title, "that you won a large sum of money from my son last night- no less than .£1,000, I believe." "That is so. sir. But what of that? The money was fairly won." "I know perfectly under what circum- stances you won the money, sir," answered Mr. Delaforce, with a wave of the hand. "But that is not my errand here. You were paid, I believe, by a cheque for one thousand pounds ?" "I think 1: was. But just let me sec oh, yes," said De Cochferet, as he tooK the cheque from his pocket-book. "Do you mir.d letting me cash that cheque. ¡::ir? Of cour8e-, I mean I will gIve you one of my own in exchange." said old Delaforce "What do you. mean?" questioned th4i Count, hotly. "I mean—I mean." stammered the English- man, turning to hide his emotion, "that the cheque is a forged one." The Frenchman smiled. "I don't believe ifc Your 5011 is a rich man," he said. "I wish he was," muttered t.he old man. "But, as a matter of fact," he adàoo, "he is indebted to me f-or every penny he spends. He has no account. E. Delaforce' ja my name. My son always signs himself 'Charles Delaforce.' The Frenchman scratched his head thought- fully. Then the cheque is a forged one after ali t" The old man nodded solemnly. It's no good to you," he said a.t length. "I will give you one of mine for it." "For how much?" "How much? One thousand pounds, of course. I suppose my foolish boy lost the money?" "You 11 have to make it more than that, Mr. Delaforce," sniggered the Count. The old man started violently. "Eh? What do you mean?" he demanded, angrily. "Mean!" scoffed the Frenchman. "I mean that I think Mr. Delaforce, or even hit friends, would give a good deal more before they allowed this bit of paper to be placed into the hands of a solicrtor." "You villain!" ejaculated Mr. Delaforce, indignantly. "Make it two thousand," said the Count* unconcernedly. "I'll do nothing of the kind! Do you worst!" The Count shrugged his shoulders. "I'll give you one thousand five hundred," eventually put in the old man, impatiently, De Cochferet emiled aggravating ly arW shook his head. "No! not a cent lese than two thousand." Mr. Delaforce thought a moment or two, then suddenly closing with the count's offer, sat down a.nd wrote a cheque for twothoor &and pounds. "Will you please endorse this?" he said, as he took the other cheque from the Count's fingers. "It is my intention to keep it hovering over my son's head for some time to oome." "No! I see it is payable to bearer; it if not nece86ary." And the Englishman phufBed immediateij from the room. In the evening, De CocMeret thought he would go a.nd dine a.t the Belvedare Club, He had scaroely got over the threshold of the door before young Delaforce called out to him from one of the tablef3.. "Just the fellow I wa.nt!" he cried. "Goina to giTe me my revenge to-night, Coiunt?" "I shall be delighted, old boy," answered the Frenchman. During dinner, De Cochferet debated with himself whether, if fortune should once more favour him, he should become the possessor of another forged cheque. They sa-t down to play soon after eleven o'clock, and when they rose at three nexl morning young Delaforce found t.hat he owed the Count just over seventy pounds. Ae on the preceding night he rang for writing materials. But this time Carl did not answØI the bell; it was one of the other waiters. "You haven't got the money about you. have you?" said the Count, when the man had left the room, "The fact is, Delaforce, I'd much rather have co^h. I don't much care for your cheques." Young Delaforce glared savagely at De Cochferet, as he spoke thus. "No," continued the Count, with an insoleW smile upon his features, "I've had a.n inter- view with—well, of course, you quite under- stand ?" "Upon my soul, I don't know what you'r? talking about," said Delaforce, first turning red and then white. "What do you mean?" "Nothing much," put in the Count." "Onijf I saw your father this morning." A bewildered expression asserted itself upon Dt-laforce's face. "You saw my father?" he asked strangely. Then if you have, my boy. • you have the advantage of most of ua; because my poor dad has been laid in hit grave this last eight years." "Dead!" shouted the Frenchman, darting from his ohair. "But he called on and-" But he stopped in time. How waa he to show the cheque he had received, and account for the strange addition of one thousand pounds? "Your strange mistake of mine—another man alto- gether. Shall be very pleased to take your cheque, Monsieur Delaforoe; very pleased. I apologise for my mistake." But the young Englishman wa.s much put cut at the Count's behaviour. He went straight away and borrowed the money from the manager of the club, and immediately handed it over to De Cochferet. By the way, Harris, where is that fellow Carl to-day?" asked one of the company of the manager. "Carl Mort-ain, sir?" answered the manager. Oh! he asked me if he might be off to-day." De Cochferet started violently as he over- heard this. "Mortain! Mortain!" he muttered to him- self. I might have known the rascal. It was he, then, who put up that villain to rob me! Of oonrse, his endeavours to negotiate tJM cheque for two thousand pounds proved fruit lees; it was returned, marked "No aocount." Although the Count tried to trace the where abouts of his fellow-countryman, he did not suooeed in finding him.
SEVEN MEN BURIED.
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SEVEN MEN BURIED. Whilst engaged in sinking a shaft in the Victoria Mine, Kupferdreh, near Dusseldort. on Saturday seven men were buried under a fall of earth and killed. The bodies have oat yet been recovered.—Renter.
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THE PEOPLE STATE. Mrs. A. Wilkinson, of Nelson, toys:—"My sisiet. who suffered from weak kidneys, took ODe box, aÑ it has dooe her møre good than potmds spent QD roed* pal meIl." Mr. W. F. WJl.rren. 58, .MeObourDe-roa.d, TlL- bury Docks, Eæex, writeS:—™ I can assure you Um first box I toot did me more good thM all the medl cine I ha- had from any cI1Ib doctor tor six wakes.* Pills axe a positive cure for Backacb, Lumhago, Rhellm&ttSffi, Wind. Kidney Diseól8l, ikiut. kc. te. lid., of a!l Chemists; post free. U itarnps.—HOLDBOYCS Medical Bail, Qecfcheaton. vMze-t