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THE LITTLE AUNTIE.
THE LITTLE AUNTIE. BY MISS BRADDON, Author of "Lady Audley's Secret," "Dead Men's Shoes," "Aurora Floyd," "Wyllard'a Weird," "The Cloven Foot," "The Venetians," "Sons of FiN' Thou Art the Man." cto., to. [COPTRIOHT. ] CHAPTER I. THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. It was tea time all over London and it was she children's hour at No. 100, ParlaMne-square. The children's hour. The words used to sound rery pretty from the rosy lips of Mrs Lerwick, 4bt> children's mother. Five o'clock is the children's hoar," she would jay. "They always have tea with me-when I 4Im at home." The worst of it is that there are so few when, Eustace, the eldest of the three boys, would complain sometimes. I For once in a way Mother was at home. It was early in the season, and the room seemed full of a pale yellowe yallow of Lent lilies, the pale faint gold of an April sun. It was Mother's morning room—on the second floor in Palatine-square; and the flowers, the tables tovured with silver toys, the Indian draperies, and tall Louis Quatorze painted leather screen made up a prettier picture than the spacious Srawing-rooms below, with their six lofty windows, and blue satin curtains, and im- maculate chintz cbair covers, and general air of being meant for company. Here the chair-covers were always tumbled, the draperies were tossed about any now, and there were generally two or I three dogs on the sofa. Eudtaqa, Paul, and Frits loved the room for b was the only room ia Palatiae-square in which Ahey ever felt that Mother really belonged to them Bd they to her. In the country they saw her nearly every day. They ran behind her cart when she drove her Norwegian ponies, jtoed now and then at her luncheon lable, rode their shelties to the meet with her when she made believe to follow the bounds; but in London Mother was busy, with I an air of incessant occupation which the Prime Minister binself could not have exceeded. This Afternoon even, though the tea-tables had been I wt out ten minutes ago, Mother's work was act I '¡oite finished. She was sitting close to tIbe fender, with a slotting pad on her knee, fim in cards for her Arst musical evening as fast as ht* active little band could scribble the names. She had been paying visits in the af ternoon and bad not long exchanged the triple armour of her fashionable visiting gown for a loose garment of soft Indian vilk, in which she could loll at ease in a chair that was as near the ground as a chair ooukl be, And yet pretend Do be a chair- Mother loved low leMa. and Frits loved to crawl over the back of Mother's chair, and descend, an avalanche of boy, flaxen head downwards, into Mother's lap. groom, would amuse Flu £ wth 1 reminiscences. I r-- frits waa the baby-nab quite six years old. and was allowed to do what he liked in Mother's room and in Mother's presence. In Mother's Absence he dropped from pet and plaything into the position of a troublesome little boy, who waa openly spoken of by the household all." young Stark," and spoilt by hia Mar" till he was foeyond bearing. Stacie—the eldest-was at Klaitee, ana reportea very highly of himself in the orioket field; but to the matter of leneone, all oompared witb aertain saps and smugs among his nbooUwlowt, he owned to being thick." He had visions of growing up to be a famous cricketer, invited all over England for the sake of his proweas in the field. Paul was educated at home by a morning governess, whom he hated, not because aha was unkind to him bat because it was a low thing for a boy to be taught by an old woman. Fritz had not yet achieved so much as a spelling acquaint- ance with the alphabet, in spite of all mechanical aid in the hape of ivory letters and picture books, bricks, puzzles, and instructive games, and in defiance of the patient drudgery of a pais young person in the upper story who was called a nursery governess, and treated like a nursemaid. Of course the boys had nicknames. Eustaoe J was Stacie—or sometimes U. Paul was Poppy- Fritz was Fluff--au named on account of curly àair. which was in colour aad taxtnre like silk. worms' silk, but which had been cut as short as Samson's before his fourth birthday. More 'vi tations, mammy ?" asked Fluff, sprawling on his stomach at his mother's feet while she wrote. Yen, darling." What a lot of parties you do give P People are obliged to entertain, pet, if they <o out as much aa I do." To enter-whab ?" asked Fluff, lifting up Wondering blue eyes to the busy writer. To entertain-to give parties—yon intelligent duck leaning down to kiss the top of bin flaxen bead and spilling some ink on her gown. "There, now, see what you've made me do 1" Oh, mammy, I didn't make you kiss me—you did it off your own bat." The tea things have been in the room a quarter of an hour. Stacie and Pop have been talking in a distant window, but a tempting odour of toasted bun has crept through the room, juvenile appeoitief4 have been stimulated, and the two elder boys think it is time something ware done bodraw Mother's attention to their wants. Stacie," Pop begins, which do you like best, tea or gingerbeer r Gingerbeer is the best after crioket; some Kople like tea at five o'clock in the afternoon," acie replies, rather loudly and distinctly. Paul giggles. Mrs Lerwick goes on scribbling, bar pretty fair head bending low over her blotting pad, unconscious of this pointed dialogue. Well, there's one advantage about ginger- beer," says Stacie, a little louder than before. "A boy can run to the refreshment tent and bny it for himself but you can't run out into Palatine-square and boy a cup of 1Iea." Mrs Lerwick looks up and understands. Oh, you impatient creatures, in a hurry for your tea Not in a hurry, Mums, but we like out tn- AOt quite cold." "I haven't half finished my cards. You are such impatient children. Here is the darling Fluff as quiet as a lamb." { She rises hastily, scattering a shower ot cards | and envelopes, and exposing the patient Fluff, who is lying on her silken train and busy devour- ing a large slice of pound cake. A perfect lamb," says Stacie, poiuting the ftnger of scorn. That's the second piece. Pop ed I have been watching him." Aad my favourite tea gown is all over erumba And candied peel," protests Mrs Lerwick. Fluff was so hungry," pleads the youngeet,bis month stuffed with oake. My poor darling Did his naughty mother keep him waiting? Come, dears." The four sit crowding round the tea Mble- mother's low chair is very inconvenient for pour- ing out tea, but the boys help her, and though there is a good deal of milk spilt in the tea tray they get on capitally. Cake, buns, bread and batter, disappear with astounding rapidity. Stacie and Pop tell anecdotes-bhe elder of hia masters at Elstree, the younger of base tricks played on his erudite and elderly governess. Mother turns a smiling face to each, and tries to look as if she were listening intently, and, as ahe has only to listen, is not found out. Presently the boys begin to ask questions. Where's father to-day 2" Out of town." Mother answers carelessly. "But where?" Somewhere where there's racing. I think he bad to go by the Great Northern." "Newmarket, of omne," says Stacie. "Craven Meeting. Is he going to pull off anything this hmo ?" Mr Lerwick is distinctly of the turf, turfy ;and his eldest son may have heard more turf talk than Is altogether good for a schoolboy. Oh I've no idea," replies Mother, absolutely indifferent. His two year olds generally seem to lose." And so do his three year olds," says Stacie. "I'm ashamed of my name at Blstree when I find bow little confidence any one has in my father's #tabl»." Oh, I hope he will win the Derby this year." "With Gasometer ?" n.«ks Poppy. "Or with Badmash. Badmash is the horse he believes in." Why, there's 25 to 1 offered against both of I 'em." says Eustace, contemptuously. 1 Mr Lerwick's experiences on the turf heretofore have not been cheerful. He has backed his own horses with gentlemanlike confidence in his own edgment and his own stable and people have lown that whatever Mr Lerwick's horses were not, they were "meant." His oolours implied good faith and a kind of careless honesty, as of a man who could afford to lose. It was popularly reported of Mr Lerwick that bis income was of such an expansive figure that he did not know how rich he was. He had inherited a large interest in a great commercial bpnsa in the iron country, which had progressed by leaps and bounds under the new order of "tfewes. in which success and failure we fas the most on a Titantio scale. It was supposed that his income flowed in upon him in a golden stream, whose force increased as the years rolled on. Let him spend as lavishly as he pleased—be as unlucky with his horses as hard Fate willed-he could never come to the end of tbe income produced by a quarter share in Lerwick and Co. Here was no question of a Jubilee Plunger inheriting a quarter of a million, The wealth of Lerwiok and Co. was an endless web of bank paper, of which no mind could conceive the exhaustion. In order to assist him in the business of a life of pleasure, Anthony Lerwick bad married one of the prettiest debutantes of her year—and perhaps ¡ also one of the silliest. But if Ellinor Lerwick was silly, she was quite sensible enough for her husband, who would bave been bored to death by I a clever wife, and would have exiled himself for ( life in Central Africa rather than endure the I companionship of a strong-minded woman. Of anything that could be called mind in a woman Tony had a dishke, which was akin to absolute I fear; indeed, from mind masculine as well as from mind feminine he shrank with unconcealed aversion. Tha society he liked best was to be found in the saddle-room, the gun-room, his trainer's cottage, or among the bluejackets on his yacht. That a man should seek entertainment in the inside of a book seemed to hi.n as extra- ordinary as that a solitary prisoner should make spiders or mice his companions. The things be hked were the things he could see, touch, or I understand horses, dogs, guns, boats. He could j not appreciate a joke that was not of the practical kind. The men he liked were men of his own calibre. The onJy woman he liked waa his wife. As a husband, Tony Lerwiek stood out from the ruck—a first prize in the matrimonial lottery. His Nellie oouid do no wrong. She voa the prettiest thorough-bred in his stables. She could not be too extravagant, too frivolous, too selfish to please him. All that she did, all that she said, found favour in those indulgent eyes. Mother goes back to her neat by the fira and bar batch of visiting cards ever so long before the boys have finished tea. The children's hour has resolved itself-so far as maternal companion, ship goes — into the children's ten minutes. Again the pretty, fair head dips over the blotting pad, and the busy pen scribbles and scampers along. The boys chatter in low voices. They empty the dish of toasted buns, about which there is more coagulated butter than a careful nurse would approve but it is the nurse's hour as well as the children's hour. and the custodian of the little boy's health is at the bottom of the house gossiping over cups and saucers with the house- keeper and the French maid. When the dishes and the teapot are empty, and there is a terrible mass in tbe tea tray, Fluff suddenly wearies of the entertainment. May we go to the Surbiton and sail our boats, mummy ? he asks but the pen rushes OD, and he has to repeat the question several times in an ascending treble before it is answered. The Surbiton Is Fluff for Serpentine. Fluff haa prodigious command of the English tongas, but he is not particular about details, and proper names are often beyond his limits. "No, darling, it is too late," comes the tardy answer. No, it ain't too late Yes, loveliest, it will be dark in half-an-bonr. You know you never go out after tea at this time of the year." That's Tommy rot cried Fluff. The fair head starts up with a jerk of horror, but reproof is addressed to the quarter where it is least expected. Eustace, this is your doing. Yon bring this horrid language from Elstree." If I do, it's useful to all of us." says Eustace, doggedly, for the eldest has felt what it is to have other people's sins laid upon his shoulders. M I heard you tell the Governor that the last novel you read was Tommy-" No, U, not Tommy," interjects Paul, who is the most serious of the three, made grave beyond his years by the overshadowing of his governess's mature intellect. Mother only said utter rot- not Tommy." rm very sorry I ever uaed such a disgraceful word," exclaims Mother, and then concludes with withering emphasis, or that I should have a son rude enough to remind me that I was capable of being vulgar." Eustace jumps up from the tea table with a vehemence that makes the cops and saucers rattls. That's what always happen when Fluff doee anything wrong," he says, marching to the door. I get blamed for it." He tittma tbe door behind him, and the doors in Paiatine^iqaare are solid six-panelled doarsjthe banging whereof resounds from basement to garret. What a temper," sighs Mrs Lerwick despair- tngly. "He is becoming utterly unmanageable." Fluff had removed himself to the other end of the room ont of the way of the storm, and had taken all the silver toys off one of his mother's favourite bbles, and was sitting on the floor making railway trains with them—a harpsichord, two arm-chairs, a bird-cage, a bedstead, a sofa— all tied together and pushed along the velvet pile to express speed by Fluff's dexterous little hands. Miss Warren aa-ya you don't know how to manage any of Q8; I heard her tell Perry so," says Paul, who sits luxuriously in a large arm- chair, brooding. "Then she told Perry something that's not true, and if Miss Warren indulges in insoleia remarks about me she will be dismissed at the end of the quarter." I wish you would dismiss her, awl tat me go to Elstree with V." Yes, and come home a coarse rough bear like U, thinking and talking of nothing but cricket." Well, I can't go on for ever learning of an old woman," groans Paul. "I know more Latin than U, and I'm a book farther on in Euclid. Why shouldn't I go to Eistree next term "Because it's quite enough to have one schoolboy in the family," protests Mrs Lerwick, who has allowed her sons to flutter her spirits considerably, so that it is all she can do to put her cards into the right envelopes, and manipulate the gold-handled stamp-damper withont smearing the thick Royal Family paper. I'm sure I sometimes wish you could have always remained babies," she mnrimsre pre- sently, when the last envelope is sealed. Perhaps you would have liked 118 never to be born," says Paul. "That would have been still more convenient." Tears sprang to the pretty blue eyes—those blue eyes which Fluffs so exactly match—and Mrs Lerwick starts up in a little burst of wounded feeling. You are a heartless boy," she cries. "Ever so much worse than your brother. He only shuns doors—you try to hurt one's feelings." M Oh, dear groans Paul..f I only answered your own remark. Look at Fluff. He's playing old gooseberry with your silver." There was a rush, the toys were rescued, Fluff was slapped—a very small slap, which produced a very big squall. Electric bells were rung —bells that rang downstairs — bells that reng upstairs — nursery governess and footman rushed to the rescue, and Fluff went off like Eugene Aram, between two sturdy custodians. Paul picked himself listlessly out of a nest of satin pillows and Japanese anti- macassars, and moved slowly towards the door. When is the little Anntie coming again f he asked. Not till we go back to Heatharaide." And when will that be V Why, not for ages, child. We have only just come to town." Only just I It seeme a century since we came. I hate London." And thus without a word of farewell the last of the three departs to his own kingdom in the attics. Two have left in wrath and one in silence —and so ends the children's hour. Pretty Mrs Lerwick sits down on the carpet and picks up the silver toys one by one with a rueful visage. Delicate little corners have been bent, tbe threads of tbe 'cello have been broken, a leg of the harpischord is doubled up, the airy, fairy roof of the bird-cage is squashed iD on the tiny macaw that should swing below it. "They are utterly spoilt," sighs Ellinor Lerwick, and I shall never get such pretty ones anywhere out of the Rue d Antibes." CHAPTER II. EVERY ADVANTAGE. Eustace went back to Elstree next day. He had come to Palatine-square for a day and a night, being wanted in Burlington-street by a gentleman whem he looked upon as one at the enemies of the human race—a very scientific and superior person who did all sorts of disagreeable things to Bostace'a mouth and teeth, roothlessly extracting any tooth whose position offended bis hypocritical eye. Bad as extraction was. he could bear that like a hero, but worse remained behind, in the shape of what the dentist called" taking an impression," in which process hot beeswax was crammed into his mouth and kept there till it cooled at tbe risk of suffocation—the result of which ordeal by hot wax was a silver, or gold, or vulcanite plate, which made life more or less a burden; while it was accounted basest villainy on the part of Eustace if he wore this modern instrument of torture in. his pocket instead of cn his jaws. All the morning of his brief holiday bad been devoted to this dreary business of having his teeth pulled out and his mouth modelled for another new plalle-a plate which waa to exercise the severest pressure upon two obstinate little tusks which the dentist talked ot learnedly as canines. Nobody asked Eustace whether he thought the game was worth the candle, or whether be would not just as soon keep the canines as nature made them. He complained that he was handed over to Mr Waitright as if he had been a black slave. Has a fellow to wait till he is twenty-one before he is master of bis own mouth ?" Eustace asked at the dinner table in the schoolroom but there was nobody present of sufficient learning to answer the question. Can his parents have a sixth form boy strapped into a chair and tortured ?" Ob, Stacie, you have never been strapped cried Fluff. No, but I expect it would come to that if I didn't give in," said Eustace, darkly. "Becos if you was strapped," said Fluff, musingly, I should hke to be there to see." Eustiee had been huffed yesterday at tea. but the sun never went down on bis wrath. His temper was quick, but his affections were warm and strong. He adored the pretty fair-haired mother, and as he had to leave home early he pleaded for an interview in mother's bedroom. She beard the voice in the corridor, and called out. "Stacie, Stacie, darling," and he went into the bright pretty room which opened out of mother's boudoir, and found her sitting up in bed in a blue silk breakfast jacket—a fair girlish face looking i of a nest of pale blue frilling and lace-trimmed pillows. Mrs Lerwiok is sitting up to take her morning chocolate, while her Frenoh maid hold a review of gowns, tippets, fichus and odIee finery, discoursing vivaciously as she tosses the costly fnBBM!t about. But fcruely Madame has nothing to wear this blue gown is altogether impossible." Oh, I am so fond of that blue surah--come and kiss me. Stacie—I must wear it again. It fits me better than anything Amelie has made for ages." But, Madame, have the goodness to look at the edge of the skirt—cut to pieces." When does your train go, love? But you can mend that hem, Barbette." Barbette shrugs her lean little shoulders and throws down the blue silk frock as if it were almost too foul a thing to hold any longer in her superfine fingers. But, Madame, that soft silk does not mead itself—there is not enough of substance to hold a needle," This means 'that the blue frock is cashiered. Mrs Lerwick will see it no more but somebody else will go to Hampton Court in it next Sunday afternoon, escorted by one of Mr Hunter's under- cooks from the famous confectioner's on the other side of the Square. Stacie clambers on to a chair beside the bed and gives his mother a vigorous hug. I hope you've enjoyed your holiday, dearest," she says, in the midst of a shower of kisses. I've enjoyed seeing you-I didn't enjoy the dentist." No. no. of course not. But I want all my sons to be handsome." She looks for something on the littered tablet where a fat, yellow-covered French novel, a mommoth silver eau-de-Cologne bottle, a fan, a heap of letters, three laoe-edged hanykerobiefa.and the chocolate service are crowded anyhow. She picks a lizard-skin purse Qut of the jumble and opens it. and a shower of gold rolls out over the silken coverlet. Oh, mummy, how rich you are She gives Enstace a couple of sovereigns, and has to submit to a second hug, while Babette picks up the rest of the gold and places it in a little pile on the dressing table with ostentatious careful, ness. Won't I have a ripping bat," says Eustace, and a voice calls from without— Now, Master Eostaoe, unless you want to lose your tram." Why, of course, I want to lose my train," he says with a last kiss from tbe pretty mother, but I mustn't do it," and,off he goes. You can put out the pink crepon for Sandown," sighs Mrs Lerwick as she picks up the yellow-backed novel and twirls the leaves listlessly; I Palatine-square, as everybody knows,' Is one of the choicest positions in West End London. It is an old-world square in which there are scarcely two houses exactly alike. Some have been rebuilt and are palaces, Italian, German, or Early Eng. lish, with roofs that aspire skywards, minarets and watch towers, campaniles and clustered chim. neys, flying balconies and oriel windows, all that is fantastical and expensive in architecture. Other houses there remain just as they were under the first and second George, when Palatine-square was young houses so plain and homelike that one might fancy oneself in a country manor house. Again, there are a few much smaller houses- cosy little houses squeezed in between two colossal neighbours, bouses with a balcony here and a verandah here, and a delicate patrician grace in their modest stairway and low-ceiled rooms opening one into the other. Mr Lerwick's house was one of the largest in the square as to recaption rooms, and one of the worst as to bedrooms. It was an old house, and though it had been gorgeously decorated and furnished at Mr Lerwick's expense there bad been no thought of lifting the roof and letting light, space, and air into those terrible third-floor rooms. Fascinated with the lofty double drawing-room, the six tall windows, the Italian chimney-piece, Mrs Lerwick had gone up to the top floor pre. disposed to be delighted with everything she found there. Oh, Tony she exclaimed, as she and her husband went upstairs, what a house for parties We must have it." But they are aaking thirty thousand for a short lease." Is it much ?' "And the ground rent is a hundred and fifteen." "That sounds very little. Those drawing- rooms, Tony You must let me furnish those. You shall have your own way in all the rest of the house." But. Nell, I haven't made up my mind to buy it." Bat you will make up your mind I know, dear, when you've had another look at those drawing-rooms," and slim pearl-grey fingers twined themselves round Tony Lerwick's large doe-skin thumb. They had newly returned from a winter's yacht- ing in the Mediterranean, and had been house. hunting for a week before an obsequious agent brought them to Palatine-square to view—that was the agent's expression-Lord Somebody's house, only vacated at Christmas. Mrs Lerwick tripped lightly through the upper rooms. holding her silken skirt off the dirty floors and looking about with a smiling, casual air, counting the rooms as she paased through, and not happening tc remark that there was hardly a foot between the ceiling and top of her husband's head. Eustace's bedroom," she said, ftointing to a little room at the back. Such a dear, tiny room ril have it furnished ao prettily for him. The day and night nurseriee-Jovelv pannelled walls, and sweet old basket grates—and a double-bedded room for nurse and Miss Perry." I thought a governess expected a room to herself." Not Miss Perry. She is only a nursery governess. One can't pub up with airs from a person of that kind." No bob she mayn't be able to put up with no air," says Tony, drily, and I'H be banged if she'll ge3 much in such a dqg-kenuel as this if you put two beds in it." •' Dog kennel, Tony Wrth that lovely Adam mantelpiece!" "Adam won't keep her cool in the dog days," mattered Tony. But be was not strong enough either in argument or in will to oppose his pretty wife, so the lease of the fine house in Palatine- square was bought, and the last modish uphol- starer-who called himself an artiste-was let loose in the drawing-rooms, and Louis Seize and a chilly severity of line being the rage that year, the result was more adapted to the tropics than to the average English seasons. Slim, straight legs of chairs and tables reflected themselves in a polished floor as on the surface of deep water the pale azure curtains fell in straight lines from the six tall windows. The rooms had a cold grandeur and bleak spaciousness that frightened Fluff out of his baby wits if he happened in his quest of "Mummy" to run in and find only emptiness. He would make off as fast as his little legs would carry him, leaving the tall half- door to swing slowly and silently to on its superior rising-butt hinges, as if some ghostly hand had closed it. Sooth to say, though no grialy legend attached itself to that house in Palatine-square, there was a feeling of ghosts in some of the rooms and corridors which moved children, and oven grown- up servants, with sensations of vague fear. The shadows hung so darkly in those low-ceiled passages above. There were such strange closets —closets within closets, doors within doors, to say nothing of a ghostly back staircase whioh had been shut off at the bottom of the second flight years and years ago. and now only harboured mice and mustmess. Even Mrs Lerwiok, prond as she was of her drawing-rooms when her friends were grouped about at stately distances after a dinner party, or at one of her concerts, when there was barely standing room—even she confessed that the rooms made her melanohoiy when there were no people. It may have been partly on this account that Mrs Lerwick was seldom at home of an evening withont people. Miti Warren tayt you dowt know how to I manage any of ut," says Foul. A London house with a London mother means a dull life for small boys, even if their shelties take tfcem for an early gallop in the Row every fine morning, where they bucket along, much to the discomfiture of some of the elderly gentle- men in the Liver Brigade who, jogging quietly on their over-fed cobs, are apt to envy Herod his despotic power, or to regret theloegleet of Malthas. Pipe them kids I" cried a gutuar snipe, with bitter emphasis, as the two boys, dressed alike in neat little jackets and breeches and drab gaiters, and billycock hats, trot along Prince Frederick- street on their way to the Park. But after a week of such morning rides the pampered Palatine Square children sicken at the mono- tonous exercise, and Paul mforms his friend Tandy, the groom, that all riding except to hoonds is Tommy rot. The fact that the morning ride is insisted on as a matter of hygiene naturally takes all the flavonr of pleasantness ont of it. In Dorset- shire they are keen enough, for even when there are no hounds afoot the furze bashes on those breezy commons, the ditches that divide the fields, affords ample scope for iepping," to say nothing of a certain rural course where they can run their ponies while the dew is on the summer grass, and the keen morning air in their shelties' nostrils quickens the pace and stimulates to skittishness. In London Paul complains there is nothing to do. Even the theatres to which their Mother takes them from time to time offer but feeble juJs- Tommy rot—in the shape of serioas plays and sentimental comedy, being the draxnatio staple at the fashionable houses. and buriesaus tb" care exception—save in the unpalateable shape of comic opera, where the fun is swamped by the music. If Father would take them to the music halls there might be something to live for but Father has pledged himself not to take them, by a; promise to Mother, whose lamentable ignorance, is allied to ridiculous prejudice, and who believes* every music ball to be a sink of iniquity, where wicked songs are sung to wicked people. "I hate the London season," exolaims Paul, with his shoulders sunk into the padded angle of a large arm chair, and his navy blue legs swinging in space. It's simply beastly "You might have better reason for saying that if you lived in the slum at the back of the mews," his governess answers gravely. No, I shouldn't. for I should have something to amuse me," says Paul with a tremendous em- phasis upon the pun, of which Miss Warren takes not the shghtest notice. I could keep rabbits— I could go into the stables whenever I liked," "How would you like sleeping eight in a room ?" Can't say for I never tried it." Miss Warren sighs, but her rule with boys of Paul's stamp is to ignore impertinence. He has never been able to sting ber to retort or argument. If Minerva her. self had condescended to be bis Mentor that divine lady could not have held herself more aloof from the little world of his small mind. Ho never has had the satisfaction of knowing what she thinks of him. Miss Warren is nearer 40 than 30. Sbe is grave and pale, a neat thin figure always appropriately dressed. No salient point in her physiognomy or her attire lends itself to juvenile laughter. She wears no foolish feathered bat, carries no preposterous parasol or garnpisb umbrella. Her garments are neither old-fashioned oor new-fashioned, but of a severe simplicity that bears the stamp of a tailor who knows how the world is moving. Paul did not low his governess, bat he could not help respecting her, and he could not help learning of her, and, worse, he thought, could not help being interested in his work with her, for she made him think as well as learn, and his young mind grew under her teaching. She had read » good deal, for a woman, and when compared with the elegant Mrs Lerwick, who bad forgotten all she bad ever learnt in the school-room. Miss Warren seemed aa inexhaustible reservoir of knowledge. But then Mis," Warren laboured under the disadvantage of being what Paul's particular friend Tandy, the groom, called a plain-headed one. I see your new governess this morning Master Paul," said Tandy. and she is a plain- headed one And Miss Warren laboured nnder the disadvantage of not liking dogs—in the housa. If she doesn't like 'em in the bouse. Master Paul, you bet she like 'em nowberes. I knows the kind of people as likes a dog in his place—and that dog's place, in them people's estimation, is at the bottom ot tbe river." Miss Warren, not liking doge, was at once put down as a person of evil instinots and concealed vices—such as cruelty and treachery—and it was a disconcerting thing to discover that mother^ Spitz insisted upon adoriug Miss Warren. and that Fluff's fox terrier, Pincher, had never been known to growl at ber. "Spitz never had much intellect," said Paul. Bis brains have all run to hair, but I didn't know that Pincher was little better than a fool." Nobody in Palatine Square knew that in bar small way Miss Warren was a philanthropist, and that much of her afternoon leisure waa spent in the slums of West End London—the poor hovels that lie hidden behind the stately streets of the Palatine Hill, and for which the strong hand of improvement waits, armed with a pick- axe, to lay them all low when the leases run out. And when that day of annihilation comes, the little laundress, the cobbler, the servants' dr ss- maker. the jobbing tailor, the charwoman, and the professional beggar will have to carry their rags and their sticks, their measles and scarlet fever, far away from the Palatine neighbourhood, and the only shadow across the sunshine of its splendour will vanish into unknown space. Tee. Paul respected his governess, although she never called him Poppy, or Paulino, as his mother did, or Poll, or Polly, as his easy-going, good-natured father loved to call him, He had made up his mind not to like her; and he was a young person of strong will—a resolute temper that had been fostered by eleven years of having his own way. No, Paul was not plastic. Two y^ars ago, when he was handed over to Miss Warren, he bad wanted to go to Illative, and not to have a governess. And after that could be be expected to like bis governess It was not Miss Warren's fault but ber misfortune that he must needs detest her to the end of their acquaintance. He couldn't help getting on under her tuition. She was ao "beastly conscientious." Everybody except himself was pleased with tbe arrangement, and Elstree and its crioket field were further off than ever. He is ever so much cleverer than Stacie," said his mother. Awfully advanced for eleven years old, He knows more Shakespeare than I do." Paul remarked that this was easy, as dear Mummy's ideas about Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and Lear were somewhat mixed. I believe if I told her that Hamlet smothered his wife, or that Macbeth's wicked daughters turned him out of doors in a thunderstorm, she wonldn't know I was greening her," said Paul. Even Tandy, the groom, bad been forced to admit that Miss Warren waa a person of vast learning. I never see such a pig for books, Master Paul," said Tandy, she regular eats 'em. I meets her on the common when I'm exercisin' in Dosset, and she's alius got her nose in a book. Trudges along readin', readin', reading I wonder she don't let herself down on her knees over them hillocks." One redeeming virtue Miss Warren had, and it was a great one. She did not live in the house. She came at nine o'clock—with a most odious punctuality—and she was supposed to leave at one. But she was reprehensibly lax in the matter of departure, and bad sometimes committed the injustice of staying till a quarter past, in spite of clocks, and the broadest bints from her pupil. Neither in London nor in Dorsetshire did she take bite or sup under her employer's roof, save when, once in six months or so, formally invited to tea. to meet the curate and his wife, or Mr Lerwiok's land steward and his daughter. She was liberally paid, and the engagement suited her. In London she lived with her people in a back street out of Marylebone'road. In Dorset- shire she boarded with the village doctor's family, and helped the doctor considerably by oarsing his poorest patients. A London .spring, a London house, and all the restrictions of a London life had begun to show its effects in pale cheeks and languid limbs before May began; and even Mrs Lerwick's pretty eyes, which had so many pretty things to look at, observed that Fluff had not quite such a nice colour as he had had at Heatherside, where he played about in the open air all day long. Paul was always headachy in town but that was put down to his superior intellect, and never to want of oxygen. Flu", pallor was considered more alarming, and the family doctor was consulted, who prescribed a tonic and plenty of outdoor exercise, advice which caused a good deal of ill-will and a good many tears on the part of the patient, who preferred bis corner of the nnrsery floor and his clockwork locomotives and tin soldiers to the parks or the square. Indeed, it waa one of the young mother's grievances that her darling preferred tbe stuffiest corner in that stuffy room—with the treasures of the toy cupboard —to the elegant luxury of herjVictoria, and oould only be induced by bribery to aooompany her in her afternoon drive. I hate going for a drive," he grumbled, when his mother sent him off to be dressed in his newest velvet suit for one of these afternoon airings. M Oh, Fluff, hate going out with me I" Tain't with you much of the time. You're etioking in some shop, and I have to sit outside and the beggars come and worry and you won't let me have Pincber to bark at them." Of course I must do my shopping bub you are in the open air, and that's what the doctor wishes. You ought to enjoy the drive in the Park afterwards." I don't call that a drive—crawling along—for yon to keep bowing and grinning at people, or standing still for young men to talk to you and you won't let me talk to Tandy." Certainly not. No well-behaved little boy would want to talk to a groom in public." That's stuck-up nonsense I" said Fluff, in an ascending scale of naughtiness, which ends in his being sent to St. James's Park with his nursery governess, in deep disgrace, but with a basket of bread to feed the ducks, and a shilling to buy a lIoy boafa. (To be continued.)
HONOURING THE BRAVE AT BAKRY.
HONOURING THE BRAVE AT BAKRY. On Friday evening, at a meeting of the Barry Urban District Council, Beach Inspector Finlay attended and was heartily eulogised by Alderman Meggitt, who, on behalf of the Council, expressed their feeling of pleasure at his oourageous action in saving the life of one of the Cardiff waifs whilst the latter was bathing in the sea off Whitmore Bay on August 22nd. A report of the occurrence appeared in the columns of the Echo at the time. Inspector Finlay rushed into the water without divesting himself of his clothing and saved the lad's life at great risk to himself. The Royal Humane Society has been memorialised with a view to securing recognition for his plucky conduct, and this has been supported by Dr. T. Garrett Horder, of Cardiff, an eyewitness of the affaa. Inspector Finlay, in thanking the mem- bers of the District Council, said whenever any person was in danger it would always be his first wish to render assistance.
RORKE'S DRIFT HERO.
RORKE'S DRIFT HERO. Found Rafugain the Merthyr Worklwusi. A man of the name of Lehano, who came before the Merthyr Guardians on Satur- day, Mr D. P. Davies, J.P., pre- siding, was stated by Mr V. A. Wills to 'tave been one of the heroes of Rorke's Ddft, and that brain troubles and other ailmentB, which had caused him to go into the Infirmary, were more or less due to the strain of the trying times be had passed through with his regiment in South Africa. Presumably, Lehann waa a short service man, and he had exhausted his pension. So, after living awhile in the vicinity of Bethesda- Btreet, be removed to the Workhouse iU and worn out.
[No title]
Mr John Daly, ex-politioal prisoner, was entertained to a banquet in the Town Hall at Limerick on Saturday night by the friends of the amnesty movement. Mr Daly said be had been the victim of a foul and contemptible con- spiracy. It was because he was considered a practical man that hewna «traok at by the English Government.
THE MINE MASTER'S DAUGHTER:
THE MINE MASTER'S DAUGHTER: Or, the Miser's Atonement. By J. MONK FOSTER, Author of A Pit Brow Lassie," Slaves of Fate," "Children of Darkness," "The Lass that Loved a Miner." "Judith SMon." Through Flood and Flame," &c., &o. (COPMGRT.] SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. CHAPTERS 1. and II.—Jack Ulvaraton. the newly-appointed manager at the Moea Lane Colliery, Ashursthm, Lancashire, otherwise known as Owd Ab's pits, arrives at the village and intro- duces himself to various people, including Jeffrey Laithwaite, the landlord of the Stork. He makes his way to the Grange and becomes acquainted with his new employer, Abraham Lynn, and his daughter. Lynn warns him against frequenting the Stork, as it was there that his predecessor, Mawson, an enemy to Trade Unionists, was m. treated by the men. Ulvarston intimates that he intends to rule by love instead of fear. CHAPTER UI.Jack UlvarstoQ, from an old friend, Charlie Gidlow, whom he unexpect- edly meets, learns the character of old Ab, and also makes the acquaintance of a UN QWLWNgbam, whom Jack considers a cad. CHAPTER IV. All in a Garden Fair. It was between three and four o'oloek in the afternoon, and Miss Annie Lynn was strolling under the trees in tbe long strip of garden attached to the Grange. It was Sunday, and the mellow quietude, the soft indescribable glamour of Sabbath-tide hang over the village of Ashurstlea and the surrounding counkryside. The hot sun was biasing down from a cloudless sky, the dry foliage rustled faintly as a breath of wind swept through the branches, now and again the voice of a bird was heard piping in the green depths of shade, and from the heart of the village the murmur of children at play was borne faintly to the young woman's ears. Coming to an arbour. Miss Lynn entered and seated herself. It was a pretty spot, and favourite haunt of hers in the seasonable part of the year. The summer-house was a big roomy place built of rough laths of timber, over which creeping plants of various kinds had been trained, and several of these were in vigorous bloom now, pleasing tbe eye with their splashes of colour and sweetening the air with their fragrance. On the wide rastic seat a soft onsbion had beep placed, and sitting there in oool couness the young mistrces of the Grange made a picture fair enough to stir the pulses ef any son of Adam who had not foresworn all the daughters of Eve. Annie Lynn was a brunette of the most pronounced type was dark-skinned enough, in fact, to have been mistaken occasionally for the child of a wanner cliaae than England But her warm olive complexion was olear as a -us wine, and soft and downy as the fabled sBo:i'JIZ produced in Oriental looms. Annie's faoe was a short, fall oval; the obeeks were plump and finely rounded, and the fresh, pouting lips reminded one of a pink rosebud newly cloven. When she smiled her teeth showed white as pearly shells her nose was just the least bit inclined to arch at the centre, and her ears were small and white as the. nape of her ro& swelling throat. But looking at her oritically one felt that the woman's chief beauty lay in her eyes and hair. The eyes were large and limpid, were set wide apart, and there was something about them that faintly suggested a foreign origin. In the light they seemed brown as ripe nuts of haeel; in the shade they appeared black and brilliant as balls of cannel, and within their depths lived passion, romance, glamour, and the mystery of a strong woman's personality. Her hair was long, black, glassy, fine as spun silk, and inclined to curl in little tendrils about the low, wide, white brow, blue-veined temples and ears. Her brows were dark as her hair, and they were level, save ona the nose, where they swept downward. Suoh was the daughter of Old Abraham physi- cally of her mental and moral endowments the reader will team more as the story is developed. Lying there in the summer-house, with the warmth of that dreamy summer-day enveloping her, and the fragrance and beauty of blossoming Nature around, Annie Lynn was weaving her fancies as maidens will, when a footfall on the gravel fell on her alert bearing. She looked and listened, ana the sound of ap Sroacbing feet came nearer, bnt the tall clomps of owering rhododendrons hid the pedestrian from her view. But she thought she knew who the new comer was, and softly a luminous glow borned in ber eyes. and a deeper colour flamed in uer cheeks. Mr Lynn was engaged clipping a rase (ret, I Then a little cry of disappointment escaped her ripe lips as she recognised, not the lover she had been confident she would see, but only the new manager, Mr John Ulvarston,-who was hurrying towards her. Pardon me, Miss Lynn," he said, quietly, as be paused at the entrance of tbe arbour and doffed bis soft felt hat. "I am seeking your father. They told me I should find him in the garden. Perhaps you will again be kind eaovgb to direct my poor wandering feet." You will find him, I think, at the far end of the garden among his roses," she said. smiling pleasantly, although the light of love had died ont of her eyes and obeekl 14 But you needn't run away like that 1" sha hastened to add, as she saw him turn as if to depart in quest of bar Earent. You have been among us a week now, Ir Ulvarston, and you haven't told me what you think of us all—the village. the people, and-and the colliery." I like Ashurstlea very much indeed. Miss Lynn," he said, frankly. with his open blue eyes fastened gravely upon her dark ones, It is as pretty a village as ever I set foot in—not at all like what I used to think the heart of Lancashire talub fie." I am so glad to bear you say that, Mr Ulvar. ston she oried in glad accents, ^as she leaned towards him with sparkling eyes. "loannottell you how deeply annoyed I am sometimes when I am reading to come upon some statement to the effect that Lancashire is one of the ugliest shires in England, becanse the pits and cotton mills and iron fuundries there have blotted out all that was fair and green and graceful in the shire." Probably my misconceptions respecting Lancashire were due to a similar reason. Miss Lynn," he replied, with one of bis pleasantest smiless, as he leant lightly against the doorway of the arbour. If I do not know that one could desire a pleasanter spot than this, with a sweep of his extended band to indicate their environ- ment, especially when we consider that we are witbin an hoar's walk of a thriving Lancashire borough, and only half an bour's riqe by rail from the capital of cotton and the greatest seaport in the whole wide world." And so you like the village," she mused, and her drooping lids hid her wonderftu eyes for a moment; then they flashed upon him suddenly again as she added, and the people. The people here are very much like tbe people elsewhere, Miss Lynn." thought- fully. "Quiet enough when work and food can be got for the working, and generally, too deeply engrossed in the struggle to live to think much of anything else." I hope you like the oolliery, M* Ui'Mrston." abe asked, in a hesitating way. which plainly manifested a doubt, Well, Miss',Lynn, he saidjsttatektemng him. self awkwardly, while his eyes rose and fell several times in quick succession, co I hardly know what answer to make to that question." You don't want to tell nae yoor honest opinion, I see," she queried. Even to a woman I do not care to tell lies," he answered, as he met her searching gaze calmly. II Ob, i see. But I need not trouble you for an answer now at least you need not put ib in so many words." Why Because your reticence iwplies the worst. I am sure now that you don't like Moss-lane. Well, I quite expected as much," she said, and her low, dulcet* ringing tones had a note of annoyance in them. Somehow no one can along with father and I believe—nay, I know In my heart of hearts that he is to blame." Miss Lynn, I do not wish to say a word against either your father or his colhery. But you have put your finger on the weak spot when yon suggatt that his workmen are not to blame." Could you tell me in a word what his chief fault is She asked that question in all inno- eenee, and her lovely face flushed sOwrlet as her lips when she thought of her iitapertinence the moment after the question was uttered. It just resolves itself into this," he said, ootdly turning his eyes away from her burning countenance, "your father is penny wise and pound foolish. That is my opinion, Miss Lynn, and I mean to tell him so plainly.* You won't quarrel with him, Mr Ulvanton ?" sbe implored him with both her voice and eyes and when be bent his blae eyes apon her again he saw the rush of blood had receded from her Igfafftta.andiefVlheiiitPalM* than panelr -anift I Quarrel No. Workmen cannot afford to I Suarrel with their employers but I shall do my nty and tell Mr Lynn the truth Have patience," she said, as if she were plead- J ing for a cr101inal. He thinks ever so much of you, I know and if you only know how to talk to him I am sure he will do much rather than let you go away." I hope so," he answered, unmoved. Well, good afternoon, Miss Lynn," he added, as he raised his hat and went along the garden path. Poor little woman Jack muttered to himself as he swung along beneath the trees. She's ashamed of the skinflint, and no wonder. Bot the pueale is that such a tender and true- hearted little thing should be the daughter of Owd Ab Lynn. the miser of Ashurstlea,' as they can him, and the sweetheart of a highly polished and thinly veneered cad hke Mr Henry Cunningham. Well, well, only the Lord knows why women are such dear fools." The footsteps of her father's manager had scarcely ceased ringing on the hard path of rolled gravel before another footfall fell upon tbe ears of Annie. This time she was not mistaken, and in another minute Henry Canningbam was at the woman's side in the arbour. The young man from the town was fanitleesly got up for the occasion. Despite the beat of tbe day he was wearing the immaculate top hat, which the especially respectable think an imperative necessity on Sunday. His gar- ments were black also, and not less spot- less than his shining headgear. In his button- hole be wore a perfect camellia, and bis hands were faultlessly gloved in lemcm-coloured "kids." There was no gainsaying the fact that Henry Cunningham was an exceedingly handsome fellow. He was good-looking, and he knew it. and everybody else—save Annie Lynn perbapa-was aware that be knew. One only smiles at the sigbt of a peacock strolling proudly with its glorious tail expanded, and the vanity of a Beautiful woman is readily forgiven but for the beauty man," who is vain also, there is no pardon. His reward is the contempt of sensible mortals It is beastly hot, don't you think, dear t" Cunningham murmured in a languorous voice, as he carefully plaoed his hat upside down on the seat and fanued himself with his handkerchief of pale blue silk. I mused the train too, and it was so awfully stuffy sitting in the among all those working people and their wives and children." M It is a splendid afternoon, Henry," Annie said, drawing her voluminous skirts about her to make room for him on the cushion, but I daresay it would be rather close inside the Why didn't you ride in front with the driver ? Perhaps the box-seat was full ?" Oh, no; but rd rather have walked than have ridden there, Do you know, I always think illleab so low to ride on the front of a vehicle. Makes one appear BO much like a Jarvey I" and bis lip curieq as be tried to picture himself, in his top bat, oamellia and lemon kids, on the 'bus seated beside the driver. He took the vacant space at her side. and the asked concerning his father and mother and sisters. They were all well, he thanked her, and how was her father ? Well, he hoped. And, by the bye, wbo was the gentleman be bad noticed as he came towards the aummer>hou8e 1 "Mr Ulvarston," she answered, pleasantly. He is the new manager, you know, Henry, and I feel sore you will like him. He is at the other end of the garden with father; and when they return I most introduce you to each other." Ah, Mr Ulvarston was it. dear I" he mattered, and an unpleasant look flitted across bis fair face. I thought I recognised him," "You know him then—you bave been introduced already I" she cried. impulsively, as she linked her white ungloved fingers about his arm. What a big, 6ne man be is, isn't he? Such broad, massive shoulders, and his brown beard and blue eyes You must like him dear C*a't say that I was greatly impressed by this giant of yours, Annie," he said, coldly, He is a man of the most extreme views.—leans in too decided a manner to the workmen, I fancy and your father will have to watch him carefully if he doesn't want to lose bis money." Henry There was a remonstrance in the word, a protest in the lovely eyes she fixed upon bar lover. You do not know or understand Mr Ulvarston. or you wouldn't say that. Why, one of the girls was only telling me yesterday One of your petted girls, I sup- pose ?" he interrupted brusquely. One of my father's work-girls," she went 08; more gravely, told me that everybody—miners, drawers, datallers, and the pit-brow workers, too, all like Mr Ulvarston, because he is so quiet and considerate in his way with them all, and doesn't about at and curse them like the other manager used to do." New brooms sweep clean, you know, Annie," he said, with his superfine smde. Mind you, I say nothing against this Ulvarston, bnt he isn't exactly tbe man I should care to put absolute trust 10." "I feel that a man with the new manager's eyes and faoe could be safely trusted with any- thing," she said stoutly, as her supple, soft fingers unclasped themselves and fell from his coat sleeve. And, Henry, father, is somawhat hard, you know." In business a man cannot afford to be senti- mental," he said, in an oracular way. When men sink their capital in commercial under- takings they have a perfect right to expeot some return for their foresight and enterprise" It So I suppose," Annie replied, with grave eyes, no matter how the poor workers live. But money is not everything, Henry." "Perhaps not. dear," he cried, lightly, "but the world refuses little to the one who has the dollars," and he laughed at bis smart sally. But Love, dear," sbe whispered lowly, and nestled to him. Love Ah, yea 1 But one of the poa's- it Tom Moore ?—said something about Love flyiug out at the window when Poverty came in at the door. But there ? How charming you look tc-day, dear May I kiss There was no passion in his voice, still she did not say bim nay, so he kissed her lightly on the satiny cheek. CHAPTER V. Bearding the Lion in His Den. As Jack Ulvarston walked away from the bower wherein old Lynn's lovely daughter was sitting, and proceeded to seek out bit master, his thoughts went back to the events of the past week. The sight of Mies Lyon sitting there in the oool, green shadow of the rustic retreat brought back to the miner the memory of their first encounter on the highroad. How rarely hand- some his master's daughter was, and bow entirely free from the usual affeotioDs and whims and shallow trivialities of beautiful women. His friend, Charlie Gadlow, had told him something of the fair woman's kindness of heart, and during the past seven days he had beard much more of a like character nearer home. All the oolliers had a good word for their employer's daughller; the girls on the pit-brows had nothing but unstinted praise to lavish upon Miss Annie but not one of them aU had a good word to throw at Owd Ao." Then Jack thought of the woman's lover, and he granted bis disapproval in his throat. Threading his way among the laurels, the rhododendrons, the clumps of blooming elderberry bushes, and the greater trees, Jack tried to think calmly, dearly, of the unpleasant task before him. He bad made up his mind to tell Mr Abraham Lynn the truth, and to use tbe plainest words, ao that his meaning could not be mistaken. Presently he caught sight of his master, work- ing in his shirt-sleeves, at the end of the garden, among a multitude of rose-bushes, and as he approached with a thoughtful face the air grew heavy with the odour of the numberless flowers, while his eyes feasted on the blaze of red and white, crimson and yellow buds, swaying gently among the green foliage. He was beside Lynn ere the latter glanced up, with his pruning-knife in his hand. Doing a bit of gardening, Mr Lynn ?" Ulvars- ton remarked, as he came to a pause. Just a bit, Ulvarston. I'm very fond of roses, and rather proud of these. All my own cultivating, too, and I'm no gardener. What do you think of 'em f He looked around proudly, and his eyes gleamed. They are very fine indeed," said Jack. I'm fond of roses especially, though, to tell the truth, I couldn't tell you the name of a single variety," w Ulvarston s response. Got my note, eh 1" the mine-owner asked, as he rolled down his sleeves. Yea, that is wby I am here, Mr Lynn." Well, come over here, and we'll have a chat and a smoke." He led the way to a rough seat fixed against the wall, under two tall bushes of white-flowered elder. Here he seated himself, and Jack sank upon the dry grass which sloped away to the bottom of the valley where the river glided a oonple of hundred yards away. Ulvarston was complacently filling his pipe from his pouch, and the other was thrusting his forefinger into the empty bowl of the long (day he had taken from the wall where it bnng. II Oan I have a au with you, Ulvarston ?" Lynn asked, as he showed the empty bowl to his manager. I have left mine in the house." Without a word the pouch was thrown and caught deftly, and while the mine-owner charged his churchwarden the miner puffed away at his pipe, with his eyes on the black stream below. There! Thanks." Jack transferred the poach to bis pocket, and for a few moments there was nothing to be heard t save the puff I puff I paff 1 of the smokers' lips as they expelled the white smoke from them, to drift away in grey eddies overhead. j And now, Ulvarston, what about the Moss- | lane pits ? I haven't seen you for a week to speak to in confidence. I thought I'd give yon ( time to look about you and form an opinion. I saw Harry Forde on Saturday, and he tells me that you have been down the pits every iay." So I have," Jack answered. u I like to know I something of the mines I have charge of and am ¡ responsible for." Just so. That's only right. And what do you think f I am Just thinking many things at present, Mr Lynn," said the miner in an ominous tone, and." be added, with his blue eyes staring straight and unflinchingly at his employer's, I am wishing that her Majesty's Inspector of Mines will not trouble Q8 with » visit for some months to oome." What's that! What's that, eh What do you mean, sir I" Lynn stammered, as be withdrew his pipe from his mouth and glared at the man who was oalmly nnokiag on the grass. I mean, Mr Lynn," was the unabashed reply, that I don't want a visit just at present from the gentleman I have named, because if he came it might be awkward for us both." II Why awkward yn Lynn asked, with a paling face. Because we are not prepared for seeing him— or rather the two mines are not prepared for bis inquisitive eyes. To put it plainly the airways in both seams are disgraceful—they have been neglected to the point of ruin: and the orincioat roads ire in a similar condition. If an accident were to happen—if an explosion were to take place-and you know that the four-feet seam makes a good bit of firedamp-I might lose my certificate as a manager and 100 lose thousands of pounds." "I never thought from what Mawson said that the airways and other roads were so bad as that," the mine-owner mumbled. You are not aggravating the case, Ulvarston ?" he pleaded. Not in the least degree. sir," was the firm reply. Everything is almost as bad as it could be, and if the mines were mine I could not rest with the fearful responsibility on my shoulders. Have you never been down the mines 7" Once or twice, but never much further than the pit bottom. I'm not a miner, and what use would it have been ?" Abraham Lynn demanded, with his extinguished pipe in his nervous fingers. But what do you suggest doing, Ulvarston ?" There is only one thing to be done," was the placid response. What is that ?" To make the colliery fib for human beings to work in. I think you are aware. Mr Lynn, that you haven't too many friends in the neighbour- hood ?" Jack queried, as he blew out a white cloud. Every man has foes who sucoeeds in life," was the bitter answer. Well, have you never thougbb that you place yourself entirely in the power of your meanest foes by permitting your mines to drift into such a deplorable oondition ? Suppose one of your dis- contented colliers wrote to the Inspector of Mines, how would you stand 7 Why, he would swoop down upon us botb. Iu all probability he would close the colliery until the necessary improvements were made—might fine you heavily too, and make you tbe laughing-stock of all your fellow mine-owners in the neighbourhood. As I have only been here a few days I might escape, bat—" What do yoa iihink it will cost, Ulvarston," Lynn broke in, to put tbe place in decent triin I" About eight or nine hundred pounds," was the immedtate reply. I have gone over the matter carefully, and I don't think the wbole job can be done for less-in fact it may cost some hundreds more:" A thousand pounds," Lynn ejaculated, in tones of horror. Good heavens, man do you take me for a millionaire ? I can't find all that money—I won't." Then I shall be compelled to tender you my resignation, and to ask you to find another Mawson," Ulvarston rejoined. as he rose to his feet. He boi- her Hanoi in MI. I Sit down, man sit down I will try to find you the money. But a thousand pounds is a small fortune, Ulvarston 1" In his eagerness Lynn had jumped to bis feet, and stretched forth his bands to arrest Jack's flight, so the latter subsided on the grass again as the other showed signs of surrender, A thousand pounds is a tidy slice of a fortune," the manager remarked, as he struck a fresh ligbb and relit his pipe, But," be added, when the smoke wreaths were rising again, unless I'm greatly mistaken, Mr Lynn, there's a fortune for you in the Moss Lane Colliery if the seams are only worked as they should be." A fortune I" oried Abraham, eagerly. Yes, a fortune, and a big one, boo, if the mines are worked in a proper manner. They are worked all wrong at present," Jack replied. You wish to change the system. I suppose, then ?" Not unless you wish to raise your daily out- pat and reduce the cost of get' by twenty per oent. per too. Can that be done ?" the mine-owner oried, with sparkling eyes. Easily, I think. A few days henoe we will talk the statur over seriously, and if my scheme oommends itself to your favour you can submit it to some local mining engineer for his opinion," Would it mean spending more money, Ulvarston ?" Lynn queried. Very little and the miners would obtain much better wages than they are able to get at present, and the work wonld be easier." You talk like a magician, Ulvarston I" Abraham oried. No, only like a mine manager who happens to know something of the scientific side of his profession. You are not a miner, bub still you understand the difference between pillar and stall' work and the 1 long-wall system f Of coarse," Well, that is the secret. Both the foar-feet eeam and the Park Mine onght to be worked on the long-wall system, as it enables the colliers to get more coal and in a superior condition for the market. The roof is excellent in both mines, and there is really no difficulty in our way, sir." Ulvarston, you're a genius t" the older man exclaimed, caught snddenly by the contagion of the young miner's adventurous spirit and hopeful nature, and carried away by it. Do what yoa ltk91 Spend anything in reason! I plaoe myself in your bands." Then while you an in a generous mood," Jack answered with a grave smile, I had better take another liberty." What is it now ?" the master of Moss Lane Colliery asked, as his fervour cooled down almost as quickly as it had boiled up. Are you aware that your pit-brow girls and day-wage hands above ground and below are paid at a lower rate of wages than similar workers receive at every other colliery in the wbole district, Mr Lynn t" I never fixed their wages, Ulvarston," Lynn muttered. Mawson did that." I did not ask, Mr Lynn, who fixed the rate of wages. I simply asked if you were aware of the fact that they were lower than elsewhere." I believe they are-but only a few coppers 1" And do you think it is wise for the sake of a few coppers a day to make a target of yourself for all dissatisfied datallers and pit-brow girls to shoot their spleen at ? If you will permit me to advise you, you will raise their wagee at once." Do you wish to ruin me entirely, Ulvarston I" Lynn demanded, half-seriously, half-comioally, as he stared with wondering eyes on the brown- bearded face and calm blue eyes of the man who was smoking so unconcernedly on the grass. No I want to save you-for yourself and for your daughter was the unexpected reply. Have you never asked yourself, Mr Lynn how it was that Miss Lynn was idolised in the village, while you wer ell, while you were not numbered among the blessed Abraham Lynn was staring at his workman, but Jaok was gazing over tbe valley as be continued, You know, I daresay bGt-" But I will tell you the other broke out. It was because I didn't bobber my brains with sentiment and nonsense Because I bad felb the piooh of poverty once and saw a chance of getting rich. That is the truth and-Jou can go on now I" I was going to say that good wishes are muob better than ourses, especially poor folks' came and when it is only a question of a few pence a day I think the experiment is worth a trial." John Ulvarston t" cried Lynn, as he rose and stood over the recumbent man, do you know what I should have said to any other man if be had dared to talk to me as you have talked to-day ? If he had happened to be your m&WeW- I happen to be-I suppose you would have cursed him and sacked him ? What are you going to say and do to me ?" I want you to shake hands with me, John Ulvarston I'm not so bad as you think Now you can do whatever you think best; I am in your hands." (To be continued.)
LIFEBOAT DEMONSTRATION AT…
LIFEBOAT DEMONSTRATION AT HEREFORD. Hereford had its first lifeboat demonstration on Saturday, and the result must be a handsome p contribution to the funds of the National Lifeboat Institution, the affair being taken up with extraordinary enthusiasm. The celebration was commenced on Friday night with a cyclists' procession in fancy dress, ,wben about sixty took part. Prizes were awarded for the most effective turnouts. On Saturday afternoon there was a prooession about a mile and a half in length. carriages being occupied by the Bishop of Hereford, Dean of Hereford, the iligb Sheriff of the County, the Mayor and Corporation, and magistrates. Not the least conspicuous was the lifeboat Montrose, manned by the lifeboat crew from Penartb, with Mr H. B. Kirby as the rigger in charge.
OONSULS AT CARDIFF.
OONSULS AT CARDIFF. On Saturday morning the Mayor Qf Cardiff (the Right Hon. Lord Windsor), accompanied by the town clerk (Mr J. L. Wheatley), officially called upon John Bovey. E, t. Downing, Jorge Carigetti. and A. Aldana, who have recently been appointed to act as Consuls for Honduras, Venezeula, Mexico, and Ecuador respectively at the port of Cardiff.
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Dymunir i'n gohebwyr Cymreig gyiferio en goheb- iaethau, llyfrau i'w hadolygu, &c., fel y canlyn: Dafydd Morganwg, Morganwg House, Lùmtwit. street Cardiff.
BARDDONIAETH.
BARDDONIAETH. Y DELYN. Y delyn i ddyn a ddena—ei fryd, Ei fron a wetreiddia; Ar led drwg hwyl erlidia- Elfen nef a'i hyhf wna. ————— GLAN WYSG.
Y DERYN DU.
Y DERYN DU. Y deryn du, wrandawydd,—ar gangen Rhyw gyngherdd ysblenydd I'r wlad fad yn rhad e' rydd, Ar addien lau foreuddydd. Glynartben. ARTHVNFAB.
ABERTH CRIST.
ABERTH CRIST. Ei einioes roes yr lesu-yn Abertb, Gan wybod ein pechu Ar y groes, dan loes, droelu O'i wawdwyr y bu'n gwaeda. Glynartben. ABTHENFAB.
Y GWLITHYN.
Y GWLITHYN. Nos fendith ilws wlibbyn-u goron Flagurog y riyffryn; Dioda, gloevva y glyn, Iacbi gynyrch y gwanwyn. Oiydach. WILLIAM RIOHARDS.
DR. LEWIS, YSTALYFERA,
DR. LEWIS, YSTALYFERA, Llywydd Eisteddfod Benlab, Cwmtwrch, Mai 2. Ein Lewis hoff! car i yw,—addien Feddyg sydd uchalryw; Da garedig wr ydyw, Dan wyn glod yn enwog lyw. Cwmtwrch. T. T. MATHIAS (Myfyr Twrch).
GWELttD DUW.
GWELttD DUW. Gweled Duw a'i bur addoli, Ymfwynhau o'i flaen beb len, Megys hafddydd yn ymgolli Mewn gogomant yn y neu. Dyma Eden A gwir ddyben- Eitbaf creadigaeth dyn. Ond pa fodd y ga.i t dyn weled, Gweled gwyneb Duw a bywl Cbafodd Mosea, er mor dasred, Ond gwel'd cefn yr Arglwydd Dduw. Dyn sydd aflan, Mae'n rby egwan I ddal pwys gogoniant Duw. Yr Hwn fwyn dynera'r gwyntoedd I'r oen bach sydd ar y ddol, Hun o'r nefoedd Idd ei blant sydd yn ei got. Er ei ganfod, Gnaeth y Duwdod Gym'ryd arno agwedd gwas." Gweled Duw! Beth arwyddot Pan y ca yr enaid mwyn Len ei deml" wedi'i rhwyo. Ac i'w wyddfod gaei ei ddsrø. I'r llygradwy, Anrhaebhadwy Ydyw'r weledigaetto hon. Gweled Duw! y gyfystyr A gwel'd pobpeth sydd o wertb I ddiwallu rhaid pechadur, A cbyfranu iddo nertb. Tragwyddoideb Mewn ffyddlondeb, Dyn yn wen uwch Ysbryd hwn. Beulwen gras dywyna'n danbaid Pan y gwel yr enaid Dduw; Drwy y golau claer a chanaid Gwel ei enw'i hun yn fyw, Mewn llyth'renau Ym mblith enwau Llyfr y Bywyd" mawr yr Oen. Bargoed. ^MkLTNTAB.
YR ENETH A'R RHOSYN.
YR ENETH A'R RHOSYN. Mewn gardd Eistedda gsnetb wridog, hardd, Y rhosyn siriol arni chwardd Gwiw ddeigryn dardd Uygad hi; Y periog h dd deimlad dwys Yr eneth Iwye wrth rosyn cu. Dy wedd, Hawddgaraf rosyn, megys cledd, Effeithiodd ar dyneraf sedd y teimlsd fedd y galon bon; Ao aber hon a ddaeth yn lilt A meddwl cudd yo ngrym ei thon Betb yw Dy fywyd yma, rosyn gwiw ? A yw dy oes yn werth ei OlD bWlr y dydd gwyw fydd dy wedd, A bedd fydd dy orpbwysfa di 1 Hyp fu i mi mal mioiog gledd. Hyn wnaetb I'm meddwl drechn geiriau iaitb, Wrtb ddwys fyfyrio ar y daitb, A'r gwaitb sydd i mi yo y byd Fv mywyd drud I byr enyd yw, 'Does neb oDd Duw a wyr ei byd. Beth yw Fy mywyd by* ond brau a briw,— Y borwrii wen, sirioli'n wiw, Yr hwyr yo byw mewn marwol fedd! Angeuol gledd ddaw gyda brys, Ao yn ddibris caf fyn'd o'm sedd. Daw dydd Mewn gwanwyn lion oa'r rhosyn cudd Ei ddwyn o'r carohar etto'n rhydd, Yn flod yn blydd *n arogli' bSr, Mewn gwisg oreurog, wridog ga, Mewn clod a bri'o flodeuyn ter. Daw dydd, Dydd lion fydd hwn i Bydd, fyn'd o'u Hwybrau 01110 rbydd, A'r nefoedd fydd eu cartref mwy; Teithiaeant drwy ystormydd blin, A Duw ei Hun arweiniodd hwy. Wry, fry, Ab orsedd lor anfonaf gri; 'R Bwn sy'n dilladu'r rhosyn cu, O! rho i mi'r wisg hono sydd Yn dragy wyddol ei pbarhad, I y wiad, hoff Wlad y Dydd." Login. IOAIf GfcAN TAF.
UNIGRWYDD.
UNIGRWYDD. Ow, deimlad dwys! heb drai ar enaid dyn, Fel praddaidd nos, yw clog Unigrwydd blin Ai Sylwedd wyt, Unigrwydd yo ymgau Am ddyn fo'n gwyro'i oes at wlad y gwae ? Ai gwagder mawr difesur yw dy fri, Heb g&n o'th fewn, na chwyn i enaid grit O! agor ddor im' dy hanfod cudd, Dy orchudd owyd i wenau gwawl y dydd. I gell y oondemoiedig awn am dro, Er a wna Unigrwydd folltio'r olo, A cbau y rhuddiog lofrudd iddo'i hun. Tra seiniau barn yn gnul i'w enaid blin. Yn fyw o'i flaen, a'i waed yn hagru'i wedd, Mae'r llofruddiedig un, yn rhydd o'i fødd; Kllyllon braw mewn gwanc, yw'r dydd awr. I'w byrddio'n nghrog i lys y frawdle fawr; Fel caddug niwl Unigrwydd wna grynhoi Am gell yr adyn sydd heb fan i ffoi. Ar edyn awn i'r 11 wm anialwch mawr; Blin dsithiwr sydd mewn ing am wel'd y wawi, Mae'n lleøg gan wres, lluddiedig yw ei draed, I'r llawr y syrth a ohred mae marw raid Ond gwenaa'r ser, wrth esgyn rhodan'r nen, Rydd iddo vrawl, a thremia hwnt i'r 11-- Unigrwydd ffy, gwel Dduwyn dad i'r blin, Cain obaith bed a'i falm a'i fywiol win. Ar fonwent werdd, dan gnul hen gloch y Han, 'Roedd un yn drist wrth roi a garai dan Yr tr dywarchen werdd anwylyd oedd; Oydrwyfo'r bad bu'r ddau dros for noedd. Ond angel gwyn i'r hafan aeth a bi, E. hun raid mwy wynebu lli'j Mae'r byd a'i fwyniant ffol fel yn pellhan, Unigrwydd dwys o'i gwmpas sy'n ymgaa. I niwl y glyn aeth ieuanc annuw un, Ei gri a rwygai'r fron wrth fyn'd ei hun I'r farn mewn braw, heb Dduw yn obaith gwir; Unigrwydd oer a'i gwasgai yn ei gur. Ha 3 gwel dy Grist, ar lawr, yn nyfnder loes; O! clyw ei ingawl gerdd yn adwy'r groe* Fy Nuw fy Nuw! paham gadewaist fi f O! ddwyf unigrwydd, yn ei hanfod du Am cau, fel pe b ai'r oil yn ffoi, Ao Ef at hun, ei hun 1 heb fan i droi Ond nerth y ddwyfol fraioh o'r oaddug du Ddrychafodd Grist i orsedd uwchaf bri. Caerdydd. W. POWHIX.
MOSES AR SINAI.
MOSES AR SINAI. Ar Sinai bu Moses yn gwrando'r gorch'mynion A gollwyd yn Eden o lechau y galon, [wob Ac, O! r fath hyfrydwoh oedd gobaith am hedd- I'w enaid aflonydd yn nhaith yr anialwch Drwy gaffael i Israel y moesol ganllawiau A'u nerthent rhag syrthio i drobwll y duwiau, A ffordd i'r ddynoliaefch i ufudd ddychwelyd 0 grwydiad pell Eden i lwybr y bywyd. Bu Moses yn ddyfal am ddeugain diwmod Yn dilyn dadblygiad hen gynllun y Duwdod, I godi plant Israel yn arswyd i'r gwledydd, A'u gwneuthur yn gyfrwng i'r ffyddlon Ddihen. I ollwng ei gariad o foroedd yr hanfod, [ydd I ddynoliaeth a phuro o'i pheobod, 'Nol gorphen o'r Arglwydd amlygu'r cynllaniau I Moses ei brophwyd a'i gyfaill a garai, Awgrymai fod etto ddirgelwch i'w roddi Drwy Moses i Israel i'w puro a'u profi. Wrth glywed yr awgrym, roae Moses yn gwrido, A gwylaidd oblygai ei ben i ymwrando; A hwythau'r llu nefol weinyddent i'w Harglwydd, A safent yn astud yn disgwyl y newydd. Y rhuawg daranau ddystawent o'r herwydd, A'r mellt a ddiflanent wrth eiriau yr Arglwydd Yr udgorn a beidiai a rhoddi ei seiniau, A'r mynydd o'i ddycbryn a sydyn lonyddai; Dyatawrwydd dawelai holl glogwyn y mynydd Tra ceisid dyfalu dirgelwch yr Arglwydd! Ond, wele, yr Arglwydd a eglur hysbysai Y rhoddai i Israel ysgrifen ar lechau Yn oyowys gorch'mynion rhai dwyfol eu tarddiad A gadwent blant Israel rhag ffiaidd ymlygriad. 0. syndod! fe roddwyd i Moses y llechau, Axs arnynt ysgrifen mewn dwyfol lvth'renau I Ac O y Hawenydd i'r owmm urdaasol, Oedd gweled ei Harglwydd yn rboddi mor rasol. Ar ddau du y llechau'roedd geiriau'r Yn gerfiad gwir gy wrain, yn ddelwad i ddynion, Y gyntaf gynwysai y pedwar priodol I'w barwain i garu y Cariad tragwyddol, Ddisgynodd o'i wirfodd i roddi y deddfau, I dywys plant dynion o swynion y duwiau. Yr ail a u cyfeirient i gywir weithredu At bawb o'u cyd-ddynion yn yson heb bechu, Mai caru'r cymydog yw eglur ddyledswydd Holl ddynion y ddaear sy'n dilyn yr Arglwydd; Mewn chwech o benawdau mynegir yn eglur Pa fodd i ymrodio er cyrhaedd gwir gysnr | Y Dengair yn gyflawn yw'r Ddeddf a rad roddwyd Gan Arglwydd y Uuoedd ar Sinai mewn arswvd.
His Great Service.
His Great Service. Dhusby Rodes; I did the railroad a great set* vice to-day. Weary Walker Stopped a train at a dangerout place ? Dhusty Rodes No; I signalled to the engineer that there was a man on the track, and h< slowed up. Weary Walker Who was the man ? Dbusty Rodes: I was. Mother's Pie. Mrs Mann Here's a pie your mother sent ft to-day. I suppose you will have a piece ? Mr Mann: Will I ? Well, I guess i A that's the stuff If you could only make pies like mother, Hetty Mrs Mann: Yes, as I was going to say, your mother brought this in to-day. She saw it at the baker's as she passed by, and went in and bought it. She'll be real glad you like it. How He Described It, It takes a business man to describe a oostunoe M his wife. A busy son of commerce, after seeing ft very taking dress on a very taking young ladJ recently, informed the partner of his joys tbatt It was fine. The dress was made of some kind of clotb, wih some kind of trimming. It was sorter lilac, or shrimp pink ID colours and bad for waist some sort of basque that was indescribable. She wore one of those hats you sometimes see on women, and altogether gave an effect that I wish you could have seen." How It Happened. Josh Medders I understand that Amos Wbet* rock got hurt, somehow, while leavin' Milt Dorinda Oldgal's house the other night. Do yott know how it happened ? Jay Green Yes you know he's been keepin' company with her for on three years, aa' I guess at last she made up her mind to bring bim to Limerick before she died of old age. Anyhow, on that particular night, after he'd been settin* an' hummin' an' hawin' for about two hours, she suddenly said This is leap year, and ——" And he leaped right through the window without askin' to be excused or stoppin' to open the window, and blamed near broke his neek an' his back an' a rib an' three or four legs on the saw- horse, which happened to be settin' under the window. After a Record. Strange," said the man wit the strong eigar, absent-mindedly. What's strange ?" asked the man with the meerschaum. I was thinking of a friend of mine who claims to have found an absolutely perfect foon- tain pen." Always writes, never dips ink and never gets out of order That's what he says." The man with the meerschaum pipe shook his head. M Whatdovou think of it V' he asked. I hardly know what to think of it. He's joined no liar's olub that I know of, and yet everything indicates that he ia working far record." Bishop Whipple as a Sprinter. A good story is told on the venerable Bishop Wbipple. The scene is laid in St. Paul. and the story runs as follows One evening in the fall, and after dark, as the bishop was walking along the street be noticed a little fellow trying to ring tbe door bell of a fins residence. He was too short to do any more than reach it. and although he stood on his tiptoes and stretched vigorously, no sound came from the belL The kind-hearted prelate feltcalled upon to assist him, and so, ascending the steps, asked Shall I help you. my little man The boy intimated that such a course would be gratifying to him. and the bishop rang the belL Thereupon the little fellow remarked— Now we'd better both run like ——J* and I decamped as rapidly as possible. It took the bishop just a moment to remember that it was balloween, and it is said that be made tracks and got around the corner about as rapidly all did the little boy. A Type for His Pillow, It's bicycle, bicycle, no matter which way you turn," he growled. The girl in bloomers nodded. I chose a place for the summer," be con- tinued, where boating and fishing were tbe only sports advertised, and inside of twenty.foot boort a man showed up with a water bicycle." Of course," she returned. There's to be a bicycle sled on the .market next winter, too," he added. "Quite likely," she admitted. "I suppose the cranks will be taking the machines to beu with them before long," he aaidt sarcastically. "Only one thing prevents It now," ehv answered. What's that ?" he asked. "A pneumatic tyre that's large enough to serva as a pillow. When some genius invents a tyrt that can be made into an air pillow 1 believe bicycles will even supplant poodles and pug dogs." Finesse. Through the hot, dusoy roads of Kansas a would-be homesteader was pursuing his way to the Cherokee strip, in search of one of Uncle Sam's free homes. He had his family and goods in a shaky prairie aohooner, which was drawn by two feeble horses near dissolution. Whar you bound T asked a farmer at whose house he stopped for water. Fer a hundred sixty acres 0' Government land in th' strip," responded the traveller bom. bastically. A few months later the same man MopJJØt again at the Kansas farmer's for water, this tunf travelling north. Wbatcber done with yer hundred an' sit1, acres ?" asked the farmer with a note of enspieioa "See them mules thar ?" queried the homo steader, pointing to a fine pair of animals wbioh was harnessed to the "schooner." "I trades eighty acres o' my claim fer 'em." Wbatcher do with th' other eighty pressed the farmer. Don't give it away till I git farther oft. Tbf feller was a tenderfoot 'an I run th' other eight] acres in on 'im without his knowin' it," Looking for Himself. It was during a convention in Louinåile. and people from all over the State, politically inter- ested and otherwise were taking advantage of thfc excursion rates. As I returned to my through sleeper from New York at one of the wnyatdc stations, where I had snatched a hasty but tout satisfying supper of fried cbioken and corn braadt 1 was confronted by a. long, lank, swaying speci- men of the central Keiituckian, who preserved hit uncertain stand on the lower step of the eat by a more or leas firm grip on the ewe hand-rails. His long coat-tails flapped atteat his thin legs, his collar was very high and much too big for him, and his silk hat 01 the fashion ol 10 years ago was tilted in a mildy-rakish fashion over one eye. I made a polite but unmistaJmible movement toward the oar. He did not mome. I beer pardon," I said cautiously. ScusaUe," said he, rashly waving one band Beg pardon, I wish to go in," I said, more vigorously. He did not move, but he smiled a sweet, confidential smile, and øaid- Mister, have you seen a tall gentleman anywhere, who is tolerably intoxicated Criminal Lines in a Man's Faoe. I used to be a strong believer in pttysi ognomy," said R. C. Ridler, a visitor in Waab. ington, but have lost some of my faith in it at a science. In fact, a man's surroundings have very much to do with the oharacter shown by the face. I had an illustration of this coming to Washington. When we left Chicago, I noticed 8 group of men two or three seats in front of me, but paid no attention to them par* ticularly, but after we had gone about nfty miles, I saw that one of them was hand- cuffed. He was well dreesed, and at first I thought he did not look like a crimiule but soon saw the lines that betokened cunning, duplicity, and a lack of morality generally. 1 became so interested that my gaze attracted lib. attention of one of the officers having him ill charge, who said You seem to be studying tbi man I have there. Did you ever see him betoref I told him that I had not, but I was a pbysiogno* mist and was studying the criminal lines in tht face. He prevailed upon me to make a report on the man's oharacter, which was greeted with laughter from the prisoner as weil as the offioersr Then they explained that he was of irreproach- able character, and in a prank had tried on tht cuffs, which belonged to the officer, and the kef being lost could not get them off. Then the criminal lines in the face all disappeared. An Effectual Remedy. His firmly-set lips and the square cut of bit side whskers showed at a glance that he accustomed to surmount obstacles instead of yielding to them. We were a day late in getting that piece of work out," he remarked to the superintendent oi his business. Yes. It was one of those unfortunate thingC that couldn't very well be avoided." What was the matter ?" You remember that the order reached as otI Friday morning. It was a pretty big job of worl: and the foreman iuited like everything to begin it on Friday. The men all looked kind of glut* when we talked about taking it up on that and, to tell you the truth, I didn't like to begin it on Friday myself." "What's wr ng with Friday?" "Nothing. Only you know tbe old superstitio' about its being an unlucky day. Of course every* body feels a little ashamed of it, but, just tb< same, everybody recognises it and is more or fett afraid of it," "And you mean to tell me that this snpeieti' tion has saturated these shops so that we're liablt to be delated on a contract if Friday happen* interfere I" I'm afraid that is the case." "Well. I'll fix that." It will be hard to do." No, it won't. It will be the easiest thin £ imaginable. You notify the bookkeeper and to cashier that hereafter, instead of paying off ° Saturday, all employees will get their Friday, That'll arrange things so that inslellU tbf regarding Friday as unlucky, they'll spend te" other six days wishing for it to come around.