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CHAPTER XVII. I
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CHAPTER XVII. I Guilty, or Not Guilty. Buoyancy of yoath had died from in- leaving her countenance drawn and ^Site aa, with fevered step3, she paced the lad sal°on with frantic footsteps. fe)] t 80 agitated had she become that I •ona° Wondering whether there was not a graver fearqUence behind the loss of her letters. She $6red exPOBure, that was certain. In fact it Segjj more than oncc as 1 stood there wit- sqg-j0? her perplexity, that she had some vague kvviCI°D was tbere for the purpose of j" QS blackmail upon her. l6t aa a stranger—and the only witness against k6j1^eQly I- recollected that it would be in f *'e8ts if my silence could le secured. A.nd 'aWh'°m ^er despondent attitude and the horror ""be she held the memory of that grey Nov- ''hart ^'ernoon, it seemed at the same timb that rC" wn she who had attempted to save the th#« 0 ^&d fallen beneath the coward blow of iijj jB3assin—the man who had been tricked to oath by a woman. hkl rose. i when she grew calmer again, she Wiri before me breathless, her white chest VltlR, ber bands trembling, and asked, ^h»f they discover at this inquiry ? j Qo the police know ?'* th. ltlated to her all that had taken place in iQst room in tho police section house, j «« ?a have already described it to yoa. ,d.,then they searched for me, I suppose, j too, letters, of course, gave them the clue. Ah, It 6 was not t0 bftV& destroyed them." Kj*°uld have been better," I agreed. Kj*°uld have been better," I agreed. yel!'3 Pertn*tted to a woman to cherish Cjjjr*ht memories,she said, almost mecbani- y. can caat their love aside as easily tjjj 3ld glove, bat a woman if she really loves eha absolutely forget, no mattei how *<ed may be her social position, or how many *'av'Jay elapse." And sighing, she added, >0ti Herwerdine, yon are not a woman, and ea^!1 D0ver understand what a woman suffers J yy her love is forbidden to her." 8')e alloding to the difference in her 8tatua with that of her lover ? I remem- bgj the tragic bitterness of those letters—how 3°rrowfoI]y accepted the inevitable bad learnt the truth as to who she really *hose letters told their own sad story. Vt. that gay exterior there beat a broken ^far*Qlevea told me so. She tried to "at a imE]J arose in her throat, and she overcome with emotion. That she was Tealoff'B maid re^l my "0 wuum give no infoi mation. '^Kioian—the daughter of some noble house, lit assured. sbe w0re uot' tbe Eomo Office assuredly not have placed the seal of tjSty upon all those connected with the dis- » of tl:e strange affair m Bloomsbuiy. ltU5^hen I say you at th6 window," I said, in evening dress—and it was after- ^hy were yon attired like that ?" I in- 'l^losore becaasa I was at a Iosb for some- than for anything else. rememb9r 8he responded, slowly. trUck y°Q strange. I had I,pid d"" had mari ,ery 8&dly, bat did not explain how k Anr? m exit from that house of silence. Qian who gave yon warning," I said, j i?1 'he n maa w^° atooi on l^e Pa*611161?8 side of the way and waved his "a. fpiJ0?" waa thai* on8lowhona am f?reatly Indebted. t»'ed»n ,morneat he gave me warning, and thus it falling into the hands of the police. Wl8lr been for him I might have been placed •hat vn^u81'! ^or t^10 '00'1 on y°ur ^D6W x jJ1 me to be guilty." k l^at 8tiH regard—your presence ky a rc)O as a aneipicious oircnmstance," was 01 reply. I spoke oprfectly frankly, and h OL PiLrenti aupreciateo" iov outspokenness. b it it it was suapicions," she declared. v»'*#Wa What would I not have given had I been ftOIb Itlned of what was to happen there. A word > Qie would have prevented that awful tragedy would have crashed the iogenious con- And you say thai «e astuaily bad those s mine upon him -those letters which '«VMr? truth. It seecs incredible. I be- Stw?* ?he added, I believed myself safe- from scandal and exposure, but what yon I shows me in wha* serious peril I now f u » And yet you say you will be my friend ?" i880r anx,0U3 to assist ^oa in any way," I ^t6 f ^er w'ttl a ^erveDC^ tilat waa within my J. I now saw that she was an unhappy 'stressed woman notwithstanding that her I thesocial scale compelled her to travel » ^a,h'a" ^J0Va is the leveller of all. Every •ii*> eDterta.'na a great passionate affection once in a lifetime, and be she cook or .V £ 8* draper's assistant or duchess, her heart w'tb the same ardocr and the same devo- Sto woman before me, magnificent in frenzy of grief anl fear, held horror- by the recollection of that fateful hoar, fojL 1''eading leat those letters might cause the \I, I1re of her secret, stood with her white clasÐed before her, her pointed chin rest- her chest. She seemed aa though she W to con^c'e rne> an £ yet hesitated to do aQse I was a stringer and nnknown. the mystery would be to clear cloud that had so suddenly fallen upon for had not the weird unaccoantable °f Twineham promises! me success if I sufficient patience. ,,3V '«e warning ? M voice had told me to avoid the woman of tkk hair. This woman before me had dark Could the jinaccoantable voice of the t b9eo referring to her ? And yet *• reflected I found myself wonderiDg that voice was not after ail a mere jjlj, of my imagination. j°V|^2Sd at that oval perfect face, and pondered ,y Then, aa she stood near me gazing aftain "efire. I exclaimed slawlv and àistinctJy- 'It, that house a second discovery was made. (i1 i,01 aware what was hidden there ?'' ^°* What ?" she inquired, with quick in- w brief words. I explained how the police- V^iscoverad that gruesome evidence of a 1?? crime. v*-0*tible," sho gasped. Did yon actually Yourself I" |V *"d," was my reply. Moreover; I b^ave^a IJ^Sraph of it—a picture taken by the police Wi?*to try an^ sstablisl1 the c'eacl woman's v\ty." And from my pocket I took an en-. l"" containing the unmounted photograph Cc)urtiancl had given me. *Qstant ^ec eyes fell upon it she snatched ^0c* sbe cried,, glaring at it. M Why, Eileen. Ah, what falsa treachery.. victim." instinctively placed her hand upon ber '•) ^t^'hotigh to still its fevered throbbing. k inn oVlQ 07^1 D1 >n«/4 n — OfK *CK t*W4.vaiOMW WV.W.U.CU, auer II pause OfK *CK t*W4.vaiOMW WV.W.U.CU, auer a pause V*&8i 8118 endeavoured to preserve her self- Tell me exactly ib what circnm- discovery wafl made. I—had no idea ^S^ioed in detail the manner la which the tv5eiic wa8 brought to light, while, still V 0 Photograph in her hand, she glanced to time, as though fascinated by ''e?ea and drawn expressionless features S countenance. falle° a victim, without a doubt," ^ion Baid- She bas 1)0611 crne,iy a8 he bas been. Have the police ■< ?«t i°f her identity? Tell me, because this \^>P°rtant." m^Ii0laTu 'ar aa I know. Bat, I added, V«C £ e? Eileen-who?" glancing again at the gruesome III\ !¡¡;():tbat is all was her vagne answer. that y°» *6faee to tell me ber I)\^ remarked, somewhat annoyed. tL%r,bobl,O,Iao good to be served by its baing K a^e replied, mechanically. "They tha r' a-n<^ ^or somo reason, at present _,ewi<lence of their crime haa been >. Iv4* it -i0r what motive I cannot imagine, Id? V11 th 8erve to convict thsm." '8 more than one assassin, and VJi*» • their identity ?" I remarked, 'f ^ou could denounce them to the Ni^ B9,desired 2" myself. No,,sfee,aoarewefl» decisively. Yoa surely would not wish me to do that ?" But it is only just tbac the assassins should be punished," I exclaimed, for I was all anxiety to learn the truth of the tragedy and its connec- tion with the little old man whose appearance had so exactly resembled that of Thomas Nor- reys. Ah," I quite agree,she said, in a tone more calm. There has been a foul conspiracy by which a man and a woman have fost their lives yet, after all, it is not really sd very surprising," she added, as though speaking to herself. They are relentless." You are in fear of them, I suggested. M Not of them, but of exposure," she declared. frankly. Those letters in the hands of the police-cannot I getithem back by any means ? Ah; I doubt it very much." I said. Nevertheless, I don't see that you have much to fear of their exposure, for tie police will never divulge them." Ali. Mr Hewerdine. you don't understand my position," she cried desoeiatelv. I cannot afford to risk exposure in this affair. And yet my hands are tied. I am helpless." Why not tell me the truth in confidence, and let me assist you? The two police officers who have the investigations in hand are my friends. We can, most probably, arrange matters. Perhaps so," she answered, with a sigb. But even then your assistance, however well meant, could be of no avail to me." Then I regret it very much, Miss Tesloff," was my answer. I know ysu are in deep distress—that certain features of the affair are bitterly painful to you, and my only object is to render you a service." And at the same time gain knowledge of the secret ?" she added. Yes, I admit it. I desire to know who was that little old man who gave you warning." Why?" "Because an hour or so aftp-rwarda he died— j an unnatural death." What," she cried Do you actually mean to say that they killed him also ?" He is dead, and buried. He was found in Oxford-street in a dying condition, and after death it was discovered that the cause was poisoning by amtimony." 14 Then they killed him—in order that their secret should be preserved," she cried, hoarsely. "Oh, this is too awful. I never dreamed that their threats would ever be carried into effect. That their canning was equal to that of the very Devil himself I was well aware, for I my- self have already had some experience of their evil deeds, but that they would secure their safety by secretly killing the only man who knew the truth I never dreamed. I always thought they were his fiiands. Tell me, how and when was he discovered ?" I explained to her, and she listened with all anxiety to my narrative. When I had con- cluded, she said Then the whole affair is still a complete mys-1 tery to the poiice ?'* They have discovered absolutely nothing ?" 4t Except your own connection with the affair by means of those letters found up on the dead, "iler jaw fell. Exposure of that private cor- respondence seemed to be her only fear. Yes," she admitted Those lettcrs-I was a fool-a very great fool not to have destroyed them. But I suppose a woman's misfortunes generally have their genesis in her sentiment." And she turned bar fine eyesiupon me, looking me fall in the face. But if yon hesitate to tell me the truth con- cerning the affair, Miss Tesloff. you will surely gratify my curiosity by telling me the name of the old man who watched outside in the street." I would most readily if I knew his name. Only [ am in ignorance of it." But just now you said that he was a friend,' I exclaimed, suspicious of such an evasive reply.' So he was. But I only knew him as the sssociate of the others—and never knew his real name. They called him Mr Williams." You are sure that his name was not Norreys, and that he lived in Twineham, in Norfolk ?" I asked gravely, regarding her intently. She started quickly as I uttered the name, but next instant smiled carnly, and denied all knowledge of ever having heard it before. CHAPTER XVIII. Describes What Took Place in the Trocadero. It was nearly midnight when I left that pretty white and gold talon of the charming woman who preserved her incognito beneath that foreign- Bounding name. I parted from her with the distinct impression that she was the :cleverest and yet Jlhe most ingenious woman I had ever met. My own ex- perience of women of the upper class bad cer- tainly not been a very wide one; yet surely those of the middle classes are, as far as shrewd- ness and diplomacy are concerned, quite the equals of their more fortunate sisters, and are certainly their superiors as far as the standard of morality is concerned. Bat this is a plain unvarnished narrative o f fact, into which the alleged shortcoming of what is known as the smart set does not enter. Natica Tesloff was a lady by birth a,nd education. Of that I was convinced. Yet whether she were implicated in the assassination of that young man in London, I coald not make up my mind. That she had deliberately deceived me in asserting ignorance of the name of Norreys I was convinced, yet when I reflected I saw that it was impossible that the man wiro had died in the police-cell coald be Norreys himself. The fact was established that there were two men, made up to resemble each other exactly. One had died and the other still lived. Norreys took surreptitious journeys to Lon- don. Why ? If they were with honest purpose be surely would have made no secrecy of them. I mounted; to my room and sat for a long time pondering before turning in. The maid, Mitchell, had, I think, eyed me with some wonder, for at eleven o'clock she had timidly tapped at the door of the salon to inquire if her mistress wanted anything more, and was promptly dismissed. Was it possible, I won- dered, to obtain from the maid knowledge as to who her mistress really was ? Was she the woman of the dark hair against whom the mysterious Voice bad given me such strange warning ? The more I reflected upon this remarkable affair, with all is many phases of tragedy and mystery, the more utterly inexplic- able the enigma became. One thing I had decided up on. Miss TeslofFs attitude did not altogether please me. I doubted her, more because of her refusal to admit her knowledge of Norreys, than anything else, and for this reason I resolved to possess myself in patience, and watch her movements. If she were entirely innocent of the crime why, indeed, had that wizened man in the street given her such frantic warning ? There is an old saying at Scotland Yard that where there's a murder there's a- wit neBS. Was :J Jakovaki pointed significantly tobis throat, 1 it not Fate that had sent that heavy shower to compel me to take shelter m that unsuspicious doorway ? Fate that decreed that I should be the discoverer of that crime ? I bad thrown my whole soul into the work of investigation, and refused to be thwarted, even by this woman, whose high position made it im. perative that the Home Secretary should with. hold the truth from the public, and so shield her from suspicion. Next morning I loitered in the hotel on the chance of meeting her, but she did not make her appearance. My friend, the retired general, found me, and was as full of gossip as ever, bnt I managed to escape him, and after luncheon ascended to the door of her rooms and rapped. Mitchell answered promptly, but in reply to my question, said My mistress left Roms early this morning, sir." Left," I ejaculated. Where has she gone T* To London, I believe, sir. She said she wonld return in about ten days, and that I was to remain here for orders from her." Then she left by the Luxe train for Calais, at eieht this morning, I suppose ?" M Yes, sir." And the lady-the elderly lady T* She has gone with her." I hesitated a moment, then said in a tone of confidence I want to speak to you privately, Mitchell, aad, ;Jm1&Q ill my vest pocket. The fact is, I am very anxious to learn your mistress's real name. I have a bet about it, you Imow-a bet of ten pounds," I added; laughing. Well, sir," she replied. You'll never learn it from me. My mistress's name is no concern of anyone, except berl-el f- 1. Ah, I suppose you've been some years in her service ? I ventured, with disappointment. Ten years, Flir," "And you refuse to tell me who she really ia ?" I remarked still fingering the coin. I do," was her decided answer. She's too good a mistress to me for me to betray her." Betray. That's a strange word. One only betrays people who've done wrong. What wrong has she done, pray ?" None that I know of, the girl laughed, I and although I tried by every means in my power to learn the real name of Natica. Tesloff she steadily refused to tell me or to accept the Bovereign. The woman who had chatted with me so affably, and whose anxiety had been so marked ( at the mention of the affair in Montague street, ) had suddenly left Rome, and she had fled from me. The hall-porter confirmed Mitchell's statement. She had driven to the station in company with her elderly companion, and Pietro, the hotel omnibus conductor, had obtained for them two supplements for the train-de-Iuxe, the train that runs twice weekly direci to Paris. She bad hastened back to London. But why ? The reason I determined upon discovering therefore, at eleven that night I entered the sleeping car of the mail train for Paris, and half an hour later turned into bed in my narrow little compartment, and was soon lulled to sleep by the rolling and rocking of the train as it sped across the wide fever marshes of the Maremma, northward to Pisa. Four days later I was walking along Shaftes- bury Avenue about the luncheon hoar, and I turned into the Trocadero, mainly attracted by its brightness and music. I had taken my seat at a table in the crowded grill-room, ordered my chop, and was waiting in patience for it whilst the orchestra was playing the latest popular waltz, when a tall, powerfully-bailt elderly man, who was passing as though in search of a seat, turned suddenly to me, placing his hand upon a vacant chair at my table, saying, with a foreign accent, Will you permit me ?" "Certainly," I replied, for in an instant I recognised having seen his face before with its bristly grey hair and short beard, six days ago in the Grand Hotel at Rome It was tfie dis, tinguished-Iooking Russian whom Natica Tes- loff had entertained at dinner—the man Darned Jakovaki He glanced quickly at me with his sbarp grey eyes, and smiled slightly. Ah, I see, m'sieur. this recognition is mutual, i Eh ?" he remarked, with an easy air of confi- dence, as he opened his serviette, and spread it upon his knees. He was verv well dressed, I noticed, and wore upon the little finger of the left hand a beautiful sapphire ring. His upstand- ing hair and the cut of his clothes gave him a distinctly foreign appearance. We met him in Rome a few days ago," I re- marked. Exactly," answered the man who, accord- ing to my friend the general, spent a changeful life in the fashionable Continental watering places, and who nossibiy was something of an adventurer. "And it is a good fortune which leads to this encounter to-day. I wish to speak, to you." You mean that's why you followed me here," I said, convinced that the man had traced me to London for some purpose. "Accidentally to meet a gentleman is not to follow, he remarked in a tone of mild reproach. M'sieur is somewhat too ready to jump at ill- formed conclusions." I glanced at the man again, and resollected that he was a confidential friend of the beautiful woman known as Tesloff. Well," I asked. Why do you wish to see me ?" Be bent across the table towards me confi- dentially, and said in a low tone, first glancing about him to re-assure himself he .was not over- heard. I have found vou in order to give you a word Of advice—from her—yoa know whom I mean ?" Miss Tesloff ?" Yes. She has sent me to you to urge you to relinquish certain inquiries upon which you are engaged," he said. "Believe me you will never get at the truth, and to continue will only be seriously to imperil yourself. Imperil myself," I echoed. How?" Recollect that you are the only witness," the Russian said, mysteriously, fixing his cold grey eyes upon mine. "If you were-well, if you died-it would be to the distinct advantage of certain persons. Now do you understand me ?" "I understand, sir," I exclaimed, red spots of anger showing on my cheeks, that you threaten me with death if I continue my en. deavour to bring the guilty person or persons to justice. Surely it is rather dangerous for you to try and preserve secrecy with threats ?" Not half so dangerous as your own position," he sneered fingering his gloves upon the table. Forgive me for saying it, m'sienr, but you are a fool. You have put your head into the noose, and it only requires the unseen hand of certain persons to draw it tight-so," and with his hands he made a gesture of pulling a repe in opposite direct-ions. So they would strangle me like that ?"[ I laughed, for at that moment I was inclined to treat his threat in a jocular spirit. Well, let them try. It'll be the worse for anyone who lays their hand upon me-depend upon it. We are in England-not in Russia," I added, in order to let him know that I was aware of his nationality. P Ah," he exclaimed, impatiently. You are foolish-very foolish. Cannot- you see that there are reasson, distinct reasons why this lady should be protected-and not hunted down as you are hunting her ? Can you not-" "I am not hunting her," I interrupted. Far from it. I am merely endeavouring to obtain knowledge of the truth." That yoa will never sacceed in doing;" he said. I looked at him and instantly took a dislike to him. Why ?" I have already told yon," he replied. Too are in peril." Because she is determined that the secret shall belpreserved," I remarked, smiling. As fir as she is concerned it is imperative that the secret shall never be exposed. She asks me to tell yoa that she relies upon your good nature—your chivalry towards a helpless woman." "I have already offered her my services, but she has fefused them," I said, rather piqued. She has denied to me what I know to be the actual truth." Whatever denials she hasgiven have been in your own interests," |he responded, suavely. Remember yon do not know her yet sufficiently to form an adequate judgment upon her motives. Remain patient, I beg of you, on her behalf. Do not seek to tear aside the veil which hides the trnth, for by so doing nothing bat evil can re- salt to her—as well as to yourself. For her sake, monsieur', I beg of you," he added imploringly, leaving the food be had ordeted untouched. But the affair in Montague-street closely con- cerns myself," I declared. "And if it does, is it not better to remain quiet and enjoy your inheritance-for you see I know all about your past—than to seek to bring misfor- tune, even destruction, upon yourself, as well as upon ao innocent woman." "Innocent," I cried. "Can she prove it f Was it not she who enticed that unfortunate young fellow to the house where he met his death by a coward's blow 2" Then after a moment's pahse I resolved upon a chance shot, and added, Was not the man, Norreys, posted oatside in order to give warnin?." The effect of my inquiry was almost electrical. The manner of the mysterious Russian instantly" changed, for he saw that I knew the identity of at least one of the conspirators. He had be- lieved that I was in utter ignorance, bat what I knew was to him evidently very disconcerting. A dark, sinister look crossed his grey features, ■ bat next instant his hard face relaxed into a -calm smile, as though perfectly confident in his own powsr to thwart me. But the man's evil glance did I not t,escape me, notwithstanding his studied politeness. I knew instinctively that this bristly-haired Russian, the confident of Natica Tesloff, meant mischief. (To be Continued.)
FATHER OF THE GALLERY."
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FATHER OF THE GALLERY." Death of a Veteran Journalist. The Press Association regrets to anooance that }Mr W. H. Paul, one of the veteran journalists-of London, died on Friday night. The late Mr Paul, iwhose father was-aJso a Parliamentary reporter. Jfirst began work in the Press Gallery of the House -of Commons when a mere yoath, and con- tinned his work therefor a.pariod of 40j)year», becoming The Father of the Gallery."
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-1-¡ • HONOURING A CARDJFF MUSICIAN. On Saturday night, at the Park Hotel, Cardiff,i fa complimentary dinner was given to Mr W- A. 'Richards to celebrate the bestowal upon him of "the degree of Bachelor of Music by Durham University. Mr J. Lane Herbert presided, and was supported by Mr James Radley, Mr T. E. Aylward, Mr Tom Evans, Mr Albert Gardner, Mr McKenzie (chief constable), Mr W. Young, Mr Fred Martin, Mr D. W. Jones, Mr W. B. Ferrier, Mr W. D. Rees, Mr Illtyd David, Mr Henry Lewis, and others. The Chairman, in felicitous terms, submitted the toast of Our Guest," of whose musical abilities he spoke in high terms. His friends in Cardiff were delighted at the success of Mr Richards, to whose future they looked with every confidence. (Applause ) Amongst the many letters of regret at absence which he (the chairman) had received was one from Dr. Iggleton, Surrey, who wrote that Mr Richards had evidenced abundant proof of his abilities as a musician. Mr Tom Evans said that as one who took a humble part in the musical life of Cardiff, be, too, wished to pay a tribnte to Mr Richards, who had attained a position of which he might justly feel proud. They knew his capacity as an accompanist, organist, and composer. Mr James Radley said still larger triumphs were reserved for Mr Richards. Mr W. B. Ferrier, Mr W. D, Rees, and others joined in the compliments, and Mr Richards briefly retnmed thanks. During the evening music and recitations were contributed by Messrs J.Radley, T. Evans, I. J. David, <Z. W-Xiennox, Bert iiardner, Ben Evans, &c,<
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A shunter, named W. E. Howells, of Edward- aticel., Bridgend, was knocked down by an ,engine at Coity Junction on Sa.tnrday, and "lit w"'I';1:eQ10yo£t.Jz,9p:¡e._L;t
.-------COMPLETE STORY. .
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COMPLETE STORY. The Corner Girl. By GEORGE R. SIMS. Anthor of "Dramas of Life," "The Life We Live," Tales of To-Day:' etc. The Prairie Flowers bad finished their per- formance in a one night ptand town in Texas, and hurrying on their ordinary clothes found I, they had to be in the train in half an hour on the way to their next pitch. The Prairie Flowers were a mixed troupe of minstrels male and female, who blacked their faces and gave a nigger entertainment alter the style of the Christy Minstrels They were moat of them old hands, rough and t ready in their ways and speech, Bohemians to the I backbone, and careless of most things save their voices, which they had to take care of for the sake of their living. The pet of the company was Belle Malone, a pretty girl of eighteen, who sang funny little ditties and did quaint little dances, and being full of life and go bad been awarded the responsible position of corner girl." It was Belle who gave the pert replies to the grave interlocutor who sat in the middle of the troupe when it was arranged in a semi-circle on the platform. It was Belle who banged the tambourine when the comic man played the bones and exchanged the ancient chestnuts of negro ministrelsy with her. And it was Belle who was always the favourite with the audience, no matter how rough or how refined it might be. Bells didn't know very much about herself. Her father's name was Malone and he had been in the minstrel business when she was born. He was in the minstrel business when he died. Then Belle, who was sixteen, had to shift for herself, and to keep her mother, who was an invalid. She had picked up the business of her father's profession before she was out of short frocks, and had appeared as a child performer. So she hadn't much difficulty in providing for herself when she was left to her own resources. She got an engagement with the Prairie Flowers, singing a song one night which ca-nght on, and was gradually promoted to the post of corner girl. Belle's great friend amongst the Flowers was Sadie Sullivan, a young woman of eight and twenty, who had been in the chorus of one of the leading New York theatres, married a chorus man who took to drink had trouble, lost her good looks and her figure and had come down," as she called it, to a minstrel company. Sadie had been over to England twice with a. comic opera" crowd," and Bel:e was never tired of hearing of the wonders of London and the great doings there. All the girls were dressing to the accompani- ment of repeated shouts from the manager to hurry up as time was getting short, and Sadie noticed that Belle was looking worried. What's the matter, Belle ?,, she said, you look as if you were going to cry "1 should like to," repUecl BellO)0n^y I won't let him see me." II flim-who 21, Kratz." If What—has he been wonfyinf tYon again "Yes." He ought to be ashamed of himself. He's old enough to be your father." I shouldn't like him for a father, and he wants to be my husband. I suppose I ought to think it a compliment for th& manager to want to marry me. but I don't like hi™" I should think not-the old reprobate. You're too young and too pretty to throw your- self away on a man like Kratz. You'll have plenty of better chances than that when you get into a decent show with the black off your face." I want to have a better chance," replied Belle. I've told him I don't care for him, but he keeps following me about &n3 watching me, and he's beginning to be nasty." Don't yon stand any nonsense from him." said Sadie. U you're clever and you're pretty, and you've only to be seen by a good manager to get an engagement in a first clasa show. First class managers aren't likely to see me with the Prairie Flowers—we only go to the little towns." First class managers are always on the look- out. I saw a man in front to-niaht who is aesnt for one of the best musical comedy houses in New York-I used to know him when I was there." Now then," exclaimed a gruff voice catsid the dressing-room door, we're only waiting foe you girls to get up to the station. Have you rented the dressing-room for the week or have yon not ?" And Mr -Kratz, the manager of the Prairie Flowers, kicked violently at the doors to em- 1 phasise his impatience. I'd leave the Flowers,' gaid Belle, as she and Sadie settled down in the train for the night, but what can I do ? Mother's only ffot me, and if I were out only for a week and couldn't send her any money, she'd have to so the poorhouse. I couldn't bear to think of that You needn't leave till you;ve got something else," replied Sadie. See here I'H give you the address of this agent I know. Write to him. H&'U have your letter when he gets ^ck to New York-tell him you're the corner girl ha saw at this place. Send him a photo and he'll see how nice you are. He can find out where the I Flowers' are by the dates ahead-in 'The Mirror,' and he'll find you something. Agents are always on the look out for^talent, and be won't let you slip—I'm sare of it-' The next day Belle wrote her letter, found a photograph and enclosed it, and sent the packet to the agent in New York. She felt better when she had done it. Kratz wouldn't get on her nerves so much when there was a chanse of her being able to leave without standing out of salary too long. But Kratz was more persistent than ever. He was as much in love with the girl as his nature woald allow him to be, and thongh Sadie had said he was old enough to be Belle's father he was only a man of five and forty. -See here, Belle,"he said to the girl one morn- ing as he met her at the corner of a street in a town where they were making a three-night stay, I'm tired of fooling around and letting yon sauce me. Why can't yon just look at thihgs like a sensible oirl and take me seriously. I'm doing well with the show-I've made money —and a speculation I'm in in New York has turned up a little gold mine. If you'll marry me I'll fit you up a real elegant little house, your mother shall live in it and I'll be as straight as a die to you and niake you happy-" Un, please don't," cried Belle, snatching away the little hand he had gripped none too gently, '1 I'm sure you mean well, Mr Kratz, and it s very kind of yoa. but I can't marry a man I don't love." You mean it ?" Yes—and—and if you won't let me be after I've told you honestly what my feelings are- I shall have to leave." M Have to leave ?" growled Rartz, n Do you m?.ao ytn 11 sive me notice ?" Perhaps. AH right-then I'll take the hint, Miss Malone-l won't be left looking silly while you much off in a huff—I'll look out for a corner girl at once, and when I've got her you can pack. I Belle's pretty face flushed at the man's inso. lenseandshe turned away with a quivering lip. She feared she had been too hasty. She had had no reply to her letter to the agent, and if Kratz kept his word she might be out of an engagement for weeks, perhaps months. To be out of an engagement for a long time to a girl in Belle's position was a. tragedy which only those who know bow close to the borderline of starvation the small salaried performer often is, can realise. And she had her mother to think of as well. After that interview at the street corner Kratz avoided Belle out of business, and that made her nervous. It would f havo been a r ,elief to her if be ba:i spoken-if he had even led her to understand that he had not yet abandoned all hope of win- ning her. She contemplated the idea of being his wife with horror, but this sudden change of attitude on his part made her realise that ha had wished to be her friend and had become her enemy. He was evidently only waiting to find someone to take her place in order to give her notice. And then a djsaster happened. Going home one-evening Belle slipped upon the pavement and fell. When she was picked up she was unable to stand. The pain in tLe ankle was terrible. Sadie, who was with her, got a convey- ance, took her home and sent for a doctor. The doctor looked at the ankle and said that the young lady would not be able to put ber foot rto the ground again for six weeks. Kratz beard of the accident the next morning, and came round to the girl's lodging. I'm very sorry, Miss Malone, he said, 81 bat, of coarse, J. am in no way responsible. I shall have to get, somebody to take your place at once. ,How long does, .the doctor say you will be laid up ?" "Six weeks." Sixweeks—that'll be along timaforyou to ,;get through. Will you be able to stay here-?" N o. I sse-You haven't saved any money-Lun- derstand. Well, I should advise you to- W He saw the look of despair on the girl's face, and bent down over the couch on which she was lying. See here, Belle—say the word and I'll see you right through this. You shall have every care, every attention, and the best doctor in the place, aim your money will po to your rcouier regu- larly every week-every cent of it." What word do yoa want me to say 7** mur- mured the girl. "Say that when you're well enough to got abont you'll be my wife." The girl closed her eyes and thought. She might be laid up for many weeks. She was not even sare that she would ever be able to dance or even walk on the stage properly again. She would be penniless, and her mother would have to go to the poor house. Well, Belle-what do you say? Am I to be 1 your friend ?" Yes." "And when you are wen Yorrit-marrv me. I Yon give me yoar word ?" I I grve you my word." That's right. Then I'll leave Sadie behind to look after yoa, and pay her salary too, And I'll arrange about the rent and your expenses and I'll tell the doctor his bill will be all right. You see, I mean to do the thing properly." He stooped and kissed her, and the girl with a great effort checked the cry of shame that rose to her-lips. Two months later Belle Malone rose and looked out of the window of her bedroom at the dawn. All night she had lain awake, a piev to the despair a condemned criminal might feel aa the hoard of his last night on earth passed Fox hoc wed&cg day had come. <: She was quite well now, and the doctor had made a perfect cure of the injured ankle. Mr Kratz had come back the previous even- ing. the Flowers" having bookeed a return date to fit in with his matrimonial engagement. Belle had done her best to receive him kindly. Now that she was his affianced wife she wonld try and do her duty, but as the time came nearer her dread of the future increased. Sadie did her best to comfort her. For her friena's sake she spoke happily of the fufbre. She even tried to discover virtues in Kratz which would atone for his faults. Perhaps in time you'JI care for him," said Sadia Lots of women who don't marry for love are far happier than those who do. I mar- ried for love, yon know," she added with agrcan. I shall never love him, Sadie," mnrmured Belle, 11 it's impossible. I can't even care for him. Oh, if only a miracle could happen to save me from him even now." You needn't be married," replied Sadie, gently, if you really feel like that yoa can refuse. He can't have you arrested and dragged to the altar by the police." No. I can't draw back now—I gave him my word that I woald marry him and I will." ) A,ll the company were to be at the wedding. It wouldn't be a grand affair, but just the cere- mony and afterwards a dinner at the hotel where Mr Kratz had taken rooms for himself and his wife. The new corner girl waa with the company, so Belle was not to play for a fortnight —that was to be the honeymoon. "I wont have my little wife black up on bar wedding day," said Mr Kratz, laughingzly. 11 and I when she makes her appearance after her marriage, I shall star her of course." Kratz had been generoas. He had paid all the expenses, and given Belle more than enough to provide herself with a trousseau befitting the manager's wife. She bad not been extravagent, and bad twenty I pounds left-more money than she bad ever had in her possession at one time in her life. The wedding went off without a hitch. Belle bore herself bravely, and received the congratu- lations of the company with a smile that did credit to her powers as an actress. At the dinner Mr Kratz made a little speech, which was much applauded, and after dinner, the festivities being at an end, the company dispersed to prepare for the evening show. Mr Kratz after an affectionate au revoir to his bride went off also to look after things. As the manager, he bad to be there, and his wife being in the business" would understand the necessity which parted them for a couple o hours. Five minutes after he had gone Sadie came in in a state of great excitement. She found Belle sitting in an armchair, her face hidden in her hands. When the bride lifted her head Sadie saw that she was ciying. Belle, she exclaimed. there was a-tele- I gram for you at the hall when I got there, so I rushed back with it—I thought you'd sooner me i bring it to yon than Kratz. There might be some- thing private in it." She banded the telegram to Belle and turned to go. I must get back," she said, or I shall be late-I ran all the way." Belle looked at the telegram, and wondered who could have sent it. She presumed it was a telegram of congratulation from some friend who had heard of her marriagerand opened it listlessly. 1 She glanced at the contents and ottered an i exclamation of surprise. j It was from the agent in New York. I "If you can come to New York at once can j offer you good engagement and trip to Europe. First-class company-sailing at once. Yon are just the girl wanted. Reply." The address of the sender was at the foot of the I message. The engagement had come at last-but it had come too late. No-it had not come too late. She had twenty ) pounds—the train for New York left in an hour —she would be there in the morning. Sailing J at once." She would be on the Atlantic before i Kratz could find out where she had gone. She I would take the engagement in another name. She had kept her promise to Kratz—she had married him. The miracle had happened, and this was her chance of escape. this was her chance of escape. •»»»«, < When, shortly after eleven o'clock, MrKratz r returned to the hotel ho was astonished to learn that Mrs Kratz had gone oat. He supposed i that she had gone to the show and had missed I him. „ He waited for her anxiously. At one in the morning he became alarmed and was Betting out to make inquiries, when he saw a letter lying ou the mantelpiece. He had not noticed it before. Se tore the envelope open, drew oat the letter, read it, then flung it to the,ground and trampled it under foot with a fierce oath. It was a message from his wife. it under foot with a fierce oath. It was a message from his wife. ",I have kept my word and married yon—you must be satisfied with that. Do not try to follow j me: as it will be useless. I will return the money yoa have advancei me since my illness assoon as j I possibly ean-BlIe." I From the manager of the New York Theatre who, having heard of her cleverness from the agent, engaged her, Belle received an advance which enabled her to provide for her mother until such time as she could remit a portion of her salary from England. Belle was wanted for a part which had been a great success in the musical comedy which had run for six months in New York, and waa now to be taken over with the American company to London. The actress playing the part for which Belle had been engaged had at the last, moment, been taken ill, and was unable to sail. The agent' then remembered the little corner girl who had; written to him, looked out the tour of the Prairie Flowers in the Dramatic Mirror," and telegraphed to her to come straight along. r Two days after Belle's arrival in New York the company sailed for Liverpool. Belle had stipulated that she should have a new profe3- J tional name, and she appeared in the bills as Belle O'tteiL | The masical comedy took London byistorm and Belle O'Neil became the talk of the towa. The | little corner girl of the Prairie Flowers found | herself suddenly elevated to a position in which a.t fir3t she felt somewhat ill at ease. She was besieged by applicants for interviews and for her photograph, and the golden youth of the stalls fell at her feet. But Belle, who hai no desire for the fierce blaze of publicity, told the interviewers very little. She said that it was her first engagement with a musical comedy company, which was true, and said nothing about the" Prairie Flowers." She coald not avoid being photographed. The management insisted on it, for the publication of the photograph of a pretty actress is alwavs an excellent advertisement for the play in which she is engaged. The appearance of her photograph in the illus- trated papers made Belle exceedingly anxious. The name beneath it was'Belle O'Neil, bat the features were those of Belle Malone, and she feared that the reproduction in the American journals would at once lead to her identification by the Flowers and by her husband. The Flowers would talk. Press men are always about. Paragraphs might appear in the American papers to the effect that Miss Belle O'Neili who bad made such a great success in London, was the wife of Mr Joseph Kratz, the proprietor and manager of the Prairie Flowers," and her hus- band might come over to England in pursuit of her. In the meanwhile Belle went about a great deal, and in the bnstle and excitement tried to forget her unfortanate position. The company were feted and feasted, and Belle went out to a good many balls and supper par- ties. She was a pet in society, not only with the men, but with the women. The little corner girl was gentle and refined, and there was not a word of scandal concerning her. Still she was a woman, and never having been in love the time came when she lost her heart to a handsome young Englishman, who was most assidudous in his attentions, and told her frankly that he had fallen in love with her and wanted to marry ber. It was a very much better offer than Kratz's, for Sir Gerald Willett was a wealthy young baronet, and a fine specimen of a clean minded, handsome young Englishman. Poor Belle was in a terirble state when she found that her heart was gone, and that being married to a man she loathed she could never marry the man she loved. The little corner girl of the Prairie Flowers had only to say the word to have a title and wealth, and across the Atlantic there was a husband from whom she had run away on her wedding day. I She didn't tell Sir Gerald Willett that she was married. She wonld have had togo into ex- Dip,nations, and ahe didn't wish to. When he asked her to be his wife she wanted to-cry, and the tears came into her eyes in spite of her efforts to keep them back. She told her suitor that she liked him very much, and she quite appreciated the feeling that had led him to speak to her as he bad done, but she begged that he would dismiss the idea from his mind. She hoped they would still be friends —but they could never be more than that. The young baronet saw the tears and knew that Belle was not indifferent to his affection. He accepted ber gentle refusal, bet he accepted it hopefully. He thought that there might be circumstances which made Belle hesitate, and he made up his mind to wait and trust in the I friendship to make his suit more favoarably received in the course of time. When he was Belle O'Neil had along hys- terical cry, locked in her own room. Oh, if I had only had the courage to refnse Kratz," she sobbed. And then she remembered that if she had not been worried by Kratz she wonld have probably stopped with the Prairie Flowers, and never have come to London and met Gerald Willett. Life is a tangled skein, and a girl who is in love for the first time, and has a husband somewhere, finds it difficult to unravel and wind up neatly. » It The thinq that Belle had, areadea-havpenea. The interv 3ws and pictures that appeared in the London papers were copied into the American ones,and the secret of her identity was discovered by an enterprising American journalist who by an enterprising American journalist who published a sensational accoant of her marriage to Mr Kratz and her disappearance on the wed- ding day. The American papers came over to tMs side, and a toned down version appeared in one or two of the London journals. Then Belle found herself not-only the -Star of the Musical Comedy, but the heroine of a sensation. When she got to the theatre on the night that the etory bad become known,she found a crcwd of journalists waiting for an interview. She went to the manager and begged him to save her from their persecution, and an intima- tion was sent to the gentlemen with the note- books that Miss O'Neil had nothing to say and would see no one. The ladies of the company were very sympa- thetic, They said it was Perfectly horrid that an actress's domestic affa a should be pried l^jnto.ia this mj&k'shiog way,,tJiey^sketl hec _.l f very nicely to tell them all about her "romance," bnt Belle said she would rather not talk abont it. Among the people who read the story was Sir I Gerald. He read it and hennderstood why Belle had tears in her eyes when she refused him. Belle expected every day to receive a com- munication from her husband. She had an idea that he might turn up one evening at the stage door. But Mr Kratz was otherwise engaged. The story of the manager's bride who had run away on her wedding-day and become a London star unknown to her hasband was eagerly seized upon by the American press as good business." A photograph of Mr Kratz was obtained and published side by side with that of Belle. Be- neath it were humorous references to Mr and Mrs Kratz, the newly-married couple who spent tbeir honeymoon one on one side of the Atlantic and one on the other. After the publication of the photographs a lady turned up at a newspaper office in New York and said she didn't particularly care about Mr Kratz she had been separated from him for ten years by mutual consent, but if the paper wanted a sensation they could publish her certifi- cate, of marriage,which sne handed to the editor. She was the genuine and original Mrs Kratz. and Mr Kratz in entering into another matrimonial engagement bad neglected the precaution of ascertaining if she wera still alive. That was a scoop for the paper Mrs Kratz had favoured with a call, and the latest develop- ment of the firatz romance duly appeared with more portraits and several startling head. lines. It was cabled to London, and Sir Gerald Wil- lett called on Belle and begged that she would give him permission to employ a solicitor to look into the matter on the other side. The result of the inquiry left it an absolnte certainty that Belle was still Miss Malone. Then Gerald Willett renewed his offer and thfs time it was accepted. Miss Belle Malone i3 now Lady Willett, and has left the stage. The honeymoon was spent in America, and when the honeymoon was over Belle brought her mother back to England with her. Belle bears no malice against Mr Kratz. She is rather inclined to look upon him as ber bene- factor. If he hadn't insisted on marrying her she would probably never have known her hrsband. And she might still have been the little corner girl of tho Prairie Flowers.
.......-ROMANCE OF WELSH EDUCATION.
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ROMANCE OF WELSH EDUCATION. Lecture by Sir Marchant Williams, Addressing the Cardiff and District Teachers' A-ssociation on Saturday on the Romance of Welsh Education (Mr Walter Brockington, B.A., presiding), Sir Marchant Williams, who was cor- dially received, said that he divided the romance ) into three ehadtere-tbe fourth began in 1902, and fortunately he was unable to deal with that. (Laughter.) The first chapter covered the period from 1745 to 1843, comprising the extraordinary work cf Griffith Jones, of Llanddowror, and Madame Beavan in connection with the circulat- ing schools and also the work of Thomas Charles, of Bala, and others, who founded the I Sunday schools of Wales. The second chapter commenced in 1843, with the introdnction by Sir Robert Peel of a measure for the improvement of the education of children in factory districts. The introduction of that measure served the very useful purpose of opening the eyes of the people to the deplorable state of education in Wales. At that time there were only two British schools in North Wales but the late Sir Hagh Owen and his friends simply swept the.country in the North, and in three years the late John Phillips, of Bangor, addressed 60,000 of his countrymen, and increased the attendance at British schools to 5,000. Dealing with the 1843 Royal Com- mission, the speaker remarked that one of the Royal Commissioners, Lord Lingen, was still alive. He was incomparably the greatest Educa- tion Secretary that ever lived. Of the four who had since succeeded him in that office Mr Morant was ibe greatest. (Laughter and cheers.) Sir Marchant quoted extensively from the reports of these Commissioners, showing how deplorable iwas the state of education in Wales. The reports of the Commissioners were disfigured by a great deal of uncharitableness, aa the reports of English people relating to Wales generally were—[laughter)—and they threw the whole of Wales into a state of great excitement for many years. The third chapter commenced in 1852, and dated from the meeting of half a dozen Welsh clergymen in the West Riding of Yorkshire, who resolved to petition Government for a Welsh University. Sir Marchant was rather inclined to think that the result of this petition was the granting to Lampeter of powers to confer degrees, first in divinity and afterwards in art. Another act of this same meeting of clergymen was the passing of a jolemn and vigorous protest against the appointment to a living in Pembrokeshire of a curate fromEngland, who, though having a Welsh name and of Welsh parentage, then knew no Welsh. That curate's name was Richard Lewis, and to-day he was Bishop of Llandaff. Passing on, Sir Marchant drew a graphic picture of the movement, com- menced in 1854 by Sir Hugh Owen, Thomas Nicholas, and others, and which culminated in the establishment of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. The work of Sir Hugh Owen rendered him a great Welsh national hero. (Cheers.) Having traced the rise of the Univer- sity, Sir Marchant said the Welsh were a small nation, but if they were small they were croud— proud of their language, proud of their institu- tions, and they had reason to be proud of their educational system. (Hear, hear.) A vote of thanks to Sir Marchant was moved by the chair- man, seconded by Mr Lewia Williame, and heartily adopted.
PENARTH P.S.A, CHRYSANTHEMUM…
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PENARTH P.S.A, CHRYSANTHE- MUM SOCIETY. On Saturday a show in connection with the above society was held in the Drill Hall, Penarth, The society works amongst the labouring classes, in whose interest the show is held. Besides the classes for members, there were several open competitions, in which many Cardiff residents entered. Mr Treseder also had on view a most choice selection of dahlias, whilst Mr John Crossing exhibited a splendid assortment of flowers and plants. Mr J. J. Neale's collection of orchids was greatly admired, whilst Major- General Lee's table of fruit, which won the first prize at the Cardiff show, much enhanced the interest of the show. The opening ceremony was parformed by Major-General H. IL Lee, and the Rev. J. S. Wyand explained the work of the society. On the proposition of Mr J. W. Mayne and Mr H. A. Allen, a vote of thanks was paased to the jadges, Messrs G. W. Drake, Cardiff, and J. J. Graham, Dinaa Powis. The National Chrysanthemum Society's certificates for the best cultivated plant was awarded to Dr. Wallace, of Cardiff, and for the best bloom in the show to Mr H. A. Allen, Penarth. During the afternoon and evening selections of music were played by the P.8.A.. orchestra, under the direction of Mr Murphy.
PIT SHAFT EXPLOSION.
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PIT SHAFT EXPLOSION. Eight Men Injured. An alarming accident occurred on Saturday morning at the Dawdon New Colliery, belonging to the Marqais of Londonderry, at Seaham Har boar. The pit in order to overcome the water has been frozen, and sinkers were engaged at the bottom of the shaft, a distance of about thirty fathoms. A rock drill was being operated when suddenly, and without the slightest warning. there was a terrific explosion. A. man named John Field, who was working the machine, was severely hurt aboat the head, face, and eyes, and another man named John Reed, was so seriously hurt aboat the eyes that the sight of one of them is despaired oL John Murray, another sinker, was hurled right over the machine, and badly hurt about the head and arm. Reed was taken to the Sunderland Eye Infirmary, and Murray to the Seaham Infirmary. Drs. Dillon and Squair were soon busily en- gaged attending to the injured. Eight men were more or Iobs cat and bruised by the flying stones, and in fact the whole gang were affected in some degree. The explosion was caused by the presence in the rock of an old and unexploded shot, which was not known to exist. The drilling 1 machine had come in contact with it.
LOST POWER OF SPEECH, j
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LOST POWER OF SPEECH, Remarkable Incident. About 7 o'clock on Friday evening an elderly lady, on alighting from a tramcar in the Tri- angle, Clifton, found that she had lost her purse. The shock caused by her discovery was so great that she immediately fainted, and it was some time before sbeconld be restored toonsness. With the aid of restoratives, however, this was at last successful, and then it was found that the unfortunate lady had loet the power of speech, and although she made man y pitiful attempts to give her name and address, her efforts to articu- 1 ate were tmavai ling. Her identity could only be established by a letter which was found in one of her pockets, and to the address given on thotn- velopeshe was conveyed in a cab.
PfNYBONT SEWERAGE BOARD.
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PfNYBONT SEWERAGE BOARD. Claims for Damage. It was reported at a meeting of the Penybont Sewerage Hoard on Saturday that Mr George James, BridgendA bad been awarded JE32 by Mr George Thomas, architect, Cardiff, the arbitra- tor on the claim brought against the board by Mr James for damage done to his honse by tbe carrying out of the sewerage scheme. Consi- deration of a claim for E400 by the commoners of Ogmore for interference with their surface rights on Ogmore Down was deferred.
TO MONMOUTHSHIRE TRAVELLERS,…
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TO MONMOUTHSHIRE TRAVELLERS, At the-last meeting of the Newport Chamber of Commerce it was resolved, in view of the abolition of second class accommodation on the Monmouthshire branch line of the G.W^l. to ask the company to make a redaction in their first class fares, and a letter, was on Saturday received announcing that from the 1st inst. first, class fares on a considerably reduced scale will ome into operation on the section referred to.
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=-r The price of bread in the Porthq^HtlisiEicfc has bsea
1Lord Tredegaron Cabmen !.
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1 Lord Tredegaron Cabmen r HIS BALACLAVA CHARGER. ¡ I Suggested Royal Visit to Newpsrt iThe annual dinner of Newport Cabmen's Sict Benefit Socety was held at the New Bridge Inn. ) Newport, on Saturday evening. Tbe Mayor ol Newport (Mr Clifford Phillips)* hon. secretary of I rru? society" Prided, and was supported by Lore I Tredegar (president of the society), the Mayor of | Abergavenny (Councillor J. Si Straker), the Rev. A. A. Matthews (vicar of St. Paul's), Alder- man G. Greenland, Councillors W. Evans, J. Moxon, and F. E. Burpitt Messrs E. E. Micholis, G. R. Martyn, A. E. Southai-1, O. B. Cuvilje, and A. E. Garwood. | In proposing the toast of Tbe King," the j Chairman expressed a hope that Newport might be favoured with a visit by Royalty during next year. Mr A. -E. Sonthall proposed The Forces Spiritual aad Temporal," to which the Rev. A. A. Matthews and the Chairman replied. In proposing The Newport Cabmen's Sick I and Benefit Society," Lord Tredegar read an extract frcm a letter from the Head Constable, I which stated that the police bad had no reports to make against the Newport cabmen during the I paBt twelve months, and no complaints were made against them to the Watch Committee. (Applause.) As to finances, the society ba4 E212 in hand, although £77 had been paid ont daring the year in sick benefits, Uis Lordship went on to say that this was an age of anniversaries. The I' Newport Cabmen's Society had not yet been able to celebrate their centenary or their jubilee, and he did not think they woald ever be able to do so, because things were going very fast now. (Laugh. iter.) If they went on much faster it would not be long before the last cabman would be staffed and sent to Madame Tussaud's Exhibition, in I London—(laughter)—and they would have the Mayor of Newport going tip by balloon to look at ( him, to see what a cabman was like. (Laughter.) I His (Lord Tredeg:a.r's) principal experience of cabmen had been more with the cabmen of Lon- j don than the cabmen of Newport. People ased j to think that the cabmen of London, hansom 1 cabmen particularly, were chiefly decayed peers and bankrupt captains of the British Army. (Laughter.) He did not suppose the Newport cabmen aspired quite so high as that, still no doubt they had in their rank. ex-Mayors and that sort of people. (Laughter.) And judging by the report he had read from the Head Constable's office, even an ex-Mayor need not be ashamed of being a cab- man. (Laughter and applause.) He had no doubt that before the evening was over they would hear something 1about the expense the town had been put to lately, but the last -he had heard was that the policemen were to be provided with new stop-watches, in order to check the cabmen, that I they did not exceed three miles an hour through the streets of Newport. (Laughter,) In conclu- sion, his Lordship said he had had the honoar and pleasure of attending these dinners for a considerable number of years. He believed that last year was the first time he missed for a very long time, and that was because, for the first time in his life, he bad an attack of influenza. He was very pleased to be able to be present once more to propose success to the society. Mr G. H. Wall, chairman of the society, re- sponded, remarking that there had been only one police conviction against a member of the society in two years. The Mayor of Abergavenny proposed The President," and epoke of Lord Tredegar's kind- ness in identifying himself with so many socie- ties and functions which had for their object the benefit of the community generally. He went on to say that this was the 50th anniversary of that famous Balaclava charge, in which bis Lordship figured so conspicuously- (adpi &use) —and since be bad been in that room he remembered something that happened in the year 1868. There was at that time a General Election, and be was talking to a very old man, who told him that a certain friend of his had been in conversation with his Lordship's father, prior to his Lordship going toltha Crimea. The late Lord Tredegar was very much concerned on the subject of what he could do for hisson, as he might never see him again. Tat, tnt," said the gentleman, 11 give him the best horse you can get, and be will be sure to ride home safely." And so it proved, for Lord Tredegar came back, and brought his horse with him, and the old charger lived in peaceful retirement in Tredegar Park for many years afterwards. (Applause.) I The toast was accorded cheers and musical honours. Lord Tredegar, in reply, said that Mr Straker had been saying nice things about him, because he wanted him to try and get the King and Queen to visit Abergavenny instead of Newport. (Laughter.) Bat he was afraid they hadn't got a dock to open at Abergavenny, although be dared say they had a workhouse, or a gaof, or something. (Laughter.) The Mayor of Aber- gavenny had alluded to the amount of work which he (Loid Tredegar) did from time to time. Well. he was a fairly busy man, but he had lots of spare time, in which he sometimes wished to amuse himself. They might have read in the news- papers that a few days ago be was asked to be Mayor of Newport in succession to Councillor I Phillips. He declined that honour, and he would tell the cabmen of Newport the reason why- it was a secret which he knew they would not repeat. The reason why be refused was because the Corporation did not offer him sufficient salary. (Loud laughter.) Concluding, his Lordship wished the society every success, and remarked that a gathering of that sort was a great factor in creating such an excellent report as they had had from the Head Constable. (Applause.) Mr E. E. Micholis proposed The Mavor and Corporation and Town and Trade of Newport," 1 to which Alderman Greenland rand Couiaciuor Moxon replied, and other toasts followed.
DEATH OF FAMOUS CRICKETER.,
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DEATH OF FAMOUS CRICKETER. The Exchane elegraph Company states that t the death took place in London on Satnrday of J. T. Brown, the ex-Yorkshire county cricketer. Brown was born on August 26th, 1869. After a ] promising debnt with the colts he plaved his first i game in the county team in 1889, and since then up t&the end of last season he had scored no fewer than 25 centuries. His biggest score was against Sussex, when he made 311 at Sheffield in July, 1897. His only visit to Australia was in the winter of 1895 with Stoddart's Eleven, dar- ing which tour be scored four tenturies. He played regularly with Yorkshire quo May last, when he suffered a seizcre during the match with Leicestershire at Bradford, and had to retire from the game. It was ascertained that his heart was seriously affected, and this put a atop to his career in the cricket world. He went to London and consulted the eminent specialist.Sir Francis Lakin, and Dr. Kingscote, and an operation was I recently performed. He showed signs of improve- I ment, and there were strong hopes that he would recover, but he took a sudden tarn for the worse, and died on Saturday. He took his benefit against Lancashire at Headingley three years ago, the receipts amounting to E2,260.
THE ATTACK UPON AN INN.
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THE ATTACK UPON AN INN. Riotous Navvy Sent to Prison. At Lancaater Assizes on Saturday Garrett Einsella (23), labourer, pleaded guilty to I riotous conduct at Seathwaite on July 25tb. A riot arose through some navvies being refused more drink at the Now Field Inn, and much damage waa done in I the village. The occupants of the inn fired on the rioters, with the result that a man named Kava- I nagh was killed, and Kiaaella and a man named Foy were injured. Mr Justice Phillimore said Foy and the prisoner had brought serious punish- ment npon themselves. But for this he would have sent him to penal servitude. Sentence Of nine months with hard labour was passed.
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
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GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. The Widows and Orphans' Fund. A meeting of the Great Western Railway men of Newport and district was held at Newport on Sunday afternoon, to take into consideration the revision of the Widows and Orphans' Fund, which has become exhausted. Mr F. H. Brown presided over a Jarge attendance, and was sup- ported by Mr A. Harris, of Cardiff, and Mr T. J. Robinson. The scheme suggested by the sub- committee of the elected committee, which provides for a reduction in the all swance to widows, was considered, and met with unanimous disapproval. A counter-proposal was submitted, providing for au increased contribution of Id per week, and asking the G. W.R. Company for another Id per member, making 2d per member to the company, and 3d per member to the rail- waymen. This was considered sufficient to meet the liability, and was referred to the sub-csm- mittee for consideration. A delegate from the Newport district attended a similar meeting the same afternoon at Tonda, and we understand that a series of meetings were held throughout South Wales, at which it was decided to adopt the same scheme aa that submitted to the New- port meeting.
THE GOYTRE OUTRAGE.
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THE GOYTRE OUTRAGE. A Further Remand. Basil Tyler and Lather Pinner, the men in custody in connection with the Goytre octrage, were before tbe Pontypool magistrates again j on Saturday morning, the former on a charge of shooting the gamekeeper Cornish with intent to marder him, and the latter with aiding and abetting in the offence. Mr Harold Lloyd, solicitor, Cardiff. now appeared to defond both prisoners, Police-Superintendent James said he wished to apply for a farther remand of the prisoners, aa I Cornish had not sufficiently recovered to enable him to attend, I Mr Harold LIoydapplted for bail, as he under, stood that fairly substantial bail could be got. With reference to Pinner, he had given himself ap to the police. Superintendent James objected to tbe application. Prieoners were remanded in custody for a week. Mr Lloyd said he would renew his application I that day week. The Magisti tes' Clerk You can make any application you like, of coarse.
--ONE BEDROOM tOR TEN PERSONS
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ONE BEDROOM tOR TEN PERSONS At a meeting of the Penybont Council on Saturday the sanitary inspector reported that between Pile and Kenfig.Hill there was a dila- pidated houae, quite unfit for habitation, anci dreadially overcrowded. It was occupied by tg, fMBilyflf iQ, and tfcsre was only Qua foedsoons-