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jai t st 1.71 ..HI ■ M, -…
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jai t st 1.71 ..HI M, «- CHAPTER XVln. I The Penance of Jock the Penman. 0n^ere 8ti" regained to me to make the ac- ths!t-tance °* "3e s0,e daughter'of.Malise McKim, Jet 8!Eter of Sbolto aud Laurence. She was not hart IXtesn yeara °f aSe> but already her name g, a Rone wide athwart the country. Yet withal lik Waa a 8traD £ ° —with a look on her face t0 one who had spoken with the Little op'e, so they said. her mother had told me, she loved the wild hill kQtter than the village street, the heathery th more than the noise ot the market place, *.amalt of the fair, or even the genial push jostle of the tourney, when folk of all de- looked o?er one another's shoulders. But still I had not set eyes upon this marvel. "ooemorniDg, waking early, I heard two of t^r soldiers of the guard— A'Hannays both of #—Gib the Brown and Kirsten the Bed, Se c0Q6 £ on the atone balcony fce- m? chamber, where their natch had been ,e'1by Sholto McKioi. ■"■hoy had taken leave to rest their halberds in th« °rner' anc' to 'ean nP°a the balaaters with Am e^hows;(God help them if Sholto, or even *o the Penman came their way). v f 0 were owsr by at the Three Thorns »U •eeD* Kirsten?" inquired Oib the Brown, a subject which in spite of his air of ochalance was evidently near his heart, saw (^ht o' the Flooer-o'-the-Haw ?" by this name, it appeared that the men of. I Thrieve guard and the councry folk about of the daughter of the aromoaror.) 'l-. he Red one shrugged his shoulders and* meditatively. iVv *he Flooer—no," answered Kirsten, softly, *«Ut the Thorn—aye. The Thorn was there." oam' on Malise McKim, then.—What **]dhe till ye." i, Said,' quo' he," growled Kirsten the Red, ;°.'h o' Peter an' Paul, I didna wait for what ^said. 1 kenned the auld man's fit, and I left Gib. ye may tak' your oath on that. I ^tbe veacinity." j». how ltennod ye the fit o* Malise Mc ?" inquired Gib. Jo t aten t'ie *1bc1 turns^ upon his Kinsman a ok of mingled city and contempt. • Gib," he said, it's little that ye ken. I «Ufisd Malise's fit by the sign that it liftit me sax feet into the air, wi'a spang like a i*»e«a Pn^doc^ loupin' into a pool. So I cam' tb ■ Aye, Kirsten A'Hannay cam'awa'fra and waited for nae leave-takkin' either. w Umph," retorted Gib, but > e are a poor en hantam to fight a man. Noo,ifithad t." A'llan- fiercely, if ye think ye can do mair nor come your ways doon to the green yonder I Or 0Qr watch ia lifted,and I'll show you. Aye, better yet, gang to the well-yett o' Carlinwark W?,e three whustles like this—— tab 18 Kirsten imitated the call of the peewit moor with great exactness. Then he n>i?rbed" Saul's health," he cried, then ye # ken whether ye are welcome or no at the \h y °' the Three Thorns—thro' the shape o'j? 6 aaid man's brogans." !j this point there was a hurried rush to arms. Wl* 80un^ °f footstepB approached from below, Rtn asra'n receded. Instantly halberds were and the peaceful confabulation A'Hannays continued over the parapet." say, Gib, she's maiat awesome bonny—yon re epeakin', Red Kirafcen," replied bis Qsin. Then with a groan he added, but, oh j~*D, whiles I'm feared till I sweat that she's no th' °* na' Gib. There was yetmg Jock j 6 Penman—they say he made up till her yae ^^on the road to Ba'maghie Kirk—near by the •aid °' ^ochar. And my faith, I kenna what he jd to her, but she bade him gang an' seat bim- on the mock'e stane in the midst of the ford j^h«y oaa' jj; Black Douglas, ye ken. And '•to to ait there for a day and nicht witboot Peech, or else she wad tell her faither, and bar .n brithera the words he had spoken till her." to Lord sake, ye, tell > me sae ? And did he CftOg ?' ■ oJ Gang, Kirsten,8 continued Gib, solemnly. L there waenae two ways aboot that. He >2* j0n a' diajaskit an* drookit-like (for had to wade to the oxters and him dressed in wL Kreen velvets). Aye, as the stane was tner- fclihlri8 he had to sit on bis hunkers, like a boolet in the sunshine a* the the kirk fols were gaun' by. An' siccan and lauchin' as there waa at him, bot- n there, wi' the caller Dee water Baopy and ?toon about hishurdiea.an' the ill-fanred laddies F the kirk clachan flingin' stanea an' dirt him. Eb, bat it was graund to see." ■a ^iraten ma3e silent contortions indicative o '•ght. 418. an' yince he inrned his back on the ford, J*1'* lassie McKim (I never thocht she had as Jackie spunk in her) garred bim turn him again face the folk as they gaed planterin an' folaahin' through the shallow on horse and on And sae there sat Jock till what time Sir giirry the parson had said his mass, and the folk were on their road back again. Then r*ft''8e McKim spied Maister Jock sittin' a' '?Cwied up on the Black Dooglas—his chin on toCL-ITees end dreepin' like sea-weed on a tide- i' What's that fnle doin' there, Magdalen ?' "•jdRTaiise. Dad yon not better ask him, faitber,* said lase, speakin' mim an' denty like a wee white water." J*, M'o," sighed Kirsten, she canna help it# a an airt she baes." Better ask at him, had I ? growls Malise, >' a'^h, ricbt snna I'll do the speerin' Bae doon he gangs to the water-side on that t Flanders beast o' his that wad carry a o' wine, and be stands a bit while intent Pee'^u' object on the Black Dooglas. an' aye, better'lookin'. And them that there telled me that it was better nor a in0»VB-play. when the black deils come chasin' ■w ^*ter the ill-doers, wi' their reid-het pinceis. «en what wi' the sparks o" forty years'smidd- Mali?e wrinkles up his face into knots,and oof8 d00° broos till he girns at ye like a fox o\ a whun buch. This time, they eay, he fair fearsome to see." j, ^Vba are ye and what are ye floin" there on I?6 Lord's Day morning ?' says Malise in a voice ihf-i0ear shook Jock the Penman aff the Btane Vr;1' the water. Is this the feast o' the King o' 'tI. øru Ie?' ^But Jock he said naethin', himkennin' An' BQ3 Malise cries oot again. Tell me •tito' ^or -7e aro B'ttjn' there like a popi njay on a Vg^e, makin' yoursel* a cockshy for a' the bairns and rake-the- OtrieF, in ten pairisbes ? Is that the way to your maister respeckit ?' V& Jock said naething. For the lass "tannin' watchin' on the shore." (oi» k^ae w'* fchat Malise began to wade in to him his muckle Flamand. In bis hand the smith 0> pa branch o* an oak be bad poo'ed in the wood f.Gleniochar, an' as he took his beaat into the Hul<i he strlppit the cudgel to the white. And e&Ose Jock the Penman sat still, because he jj^edna steer, the fear bein' on him, Malise ^st .him up like a half-drooned kitten, an' him across his saddle-bow. •* I did it for a penance,' say3 Jock at last, a vow.' And had the stake been the J|8,tion o' his sanl, that was as near the truth bode to come that day. whatever." Ia wae's me, when Malise had brocht him l»jjhe shore, there was the lass waitin', an' Jock ^/Jed me after, that his verra bowels turned to o«>l w'th»n him when he saw her. But she w y said, calm and saftlike as rain in snmmer nae wind is, What was it that ye said to m. • John the t Pen man, as ye gaed oot through ^oods o' Lochar ?' .Q' for the life o' him Jock could think o' s|| 'better to answer than that he had aajd bormyday for the folk to gang kirk ward, 8a'n their sowls hearkenin' to the holy and words o' Mess Haijry, the paraon o' .Nothing more than that ?' she said, it >n my head that ye said mair nor that.' Naething,' cries Jock, but that if it were Lard-S ain wull, a drap or twa o' water wnd Cl for the crops.' 3ae ye bode to hae the bale flood o* the °* Dre to keep yersel' happy, y nnm- '» said Malise. setting Jock on the ground shake that garred bis teeth chatter in their It tfc. A0|J whan next you say your prayers for **in at Maaa,' Magdalen put in, • and for aijT aPon ths crops, let yonr place of oratoiy be than the middle o' Doe Water, and your 0' a fitter place than the Black Dooglas i. Wh A.-Ve. see to it,' growled Malise. 'Mind Witk laas says, or else will I break thy head r^thia cudgel.' 3?Jiq 60 there was a pause as I abode listening. 0| j l*o men stood silently digesting the tale Penman. It seemed to have a per- il A^our for them. *WTu wbat th'nk ye, Gib, after a* said Kir- 1*8^,7 Red, "was it that Jock said to the answered Gib, senten*iously, has •« v»hean revealed —but——" feftvi.'r0? what; ?" said Kirsten, whose temper was W longest. j>ee,> gin ony body ocht to ken what Jock te snirl to Magdalen McKim, it should ^#tein Ise'' A'Han nay. Ye hae had ex- *h(j Tak' my advice, an' keen far yont frae Thorns. They are no a canny set, oieKim. ^aa Rilense again from that point foi minutes—a silence stva^iaed and disagree- I, f b.an Wfly," faid Gib, breaking it fiercely, ] 5«°eea taen't 'ike a lamb. i no," cried his cousin, wool, ye'H nc ^th^ m° cotnplain a'—there? And there [ I could hear the rush of the two A'Hannays to the corner where tiiay had piled their arms, and the first click of the halberds as the weapons came to the engage. But as I did not wish two of Hholto's best weii put hors de combat for a few foolish words, I slipped out on the balcony and called down to them. Have ye seen Sir Sholto MeKim ? Pray send him up to me." They were standing, breathing hard, their beadfo thrown back, foot to ioot, weapon to weapon, as is the way of their fighting race. For the A'Hannays can never hold land long, however they may gain it. They fall afighting among themselves when there is none other to strive with, and after the battle the land generally goes to the sole surviving cousin in the twentieth degree of re- lationship. So when Gib the Brown and Kirsten the Red saw me, they drew themselves up and oaluted. "Now," I ordered them severely, let there be no more of this, or I will have you both in the dungeon of Archibald the Grim, on bread and water for a week-aye, and little enough of the, first. This is no place for pikes and partisans wbea every good Douglas is wanted. If ye have ought to say to one another, go down to the green and say it with your fists like men." CHAPTER XIX. The Scent of the White Thorn, Still I bad not seen Magdalen McKim. I was resolved that no longer would I miaa^ my mark. So that vary afternoon I sent Andro the Penman, whose swarthy countenance a.nd tdetorauna.tB bacbelordom protected, bim from any misconceptions as to his purpose, on mission to the Three Thorns of Carlinwark. With him I sent a. jewel of price to Magdalen, —a cross made of a great "moonstone, set abont, with black diamonds, of Saracen work—brought, so they aaid.from the Holy Land by some crusad- ing Douglas. And with it I sent thelatter-which follows — Sweet Magdalen and my little Foster bistor, —I have heard speak of you. often and mickle. Yet has it never been my lot to see you. Will you bring your Father and Dame Barbara, with as many of your brothers as can be spared, to the Thrieve to-morrow—that I may see :you, and- know you for, as they report of yon, the fairest. and honestest maiden Galloway. This I desire all the more, that, befCIs. I was wedded and so in one day grew an old woman, folk were used to call me also The Fair Maid of Galloway.' This I signed with the name, which (at that time) I hact resolved should never be changed- Margaret Douglas.' And then I waited, expec- tant as a lover for the coming of this marvel aud inon-such-the flower of all the white thorns that ever grew by the shores of Carlinwurk. It chanced that I awoke very early and looked across the little garden wherein, upon the moist and .fertile soil washed by the river flourished the flowering rusb and the bachelor's button, with the wild vino of Touraine climbing up the twin ilex oaks, which had been brought all the way from Rome, and planted against the warm south looking wall of Thrieve. There were Margaret on-the terrace was throwing corn to the doves. to the do.\i'es. open spaces, too. where, kept: in countenance by gillyflower and the royal brake, there were begin- ning to take root those pretty dainty bunches called the Fair Maid of France," which the Siear Paul had aenfc over the eeas to remind me of Cour Cheverney. Only on this southern face, under my window, waa there any green leafage about Castle Thrieve. On every other side the castle rose clear, grey, lonely --ast.-ong tower for defence, a bold against the storms of war; as indeed it had already been for geuerations-kiquare, bare, and upstanding as if in acorn of compromise. „ But now I lovad the little garden best of. all perhaps because my dear Lady's Bower was de. serted. I bad do desire to go thither. Two men seemed to stand between me and it—the two whom I had seen ride away together, each watching the other,, behind c the fatal Hiding Hill It was very early when I ?u6 on the morning we were to see Magdalen at Thrieve. The river whimpled below, glimmering like the inside-of a. pearl aheU-the little flecks of rosy cloud driven np from tile slwt, being, however, smilingly reflected in the grey. I coaid see the water wander away between the dark meadows till it drew to a point and was lost in the distance. As I leaned from the window of my chamber I felt a damp chill striKe suddenly through me. The dew-dropping trees in the little garden shivered, though there was no wind. I also shuddered as if I had been one of them. Over yonder waa the hill of Cadinwatk, the clouds of dawn reddening behind it. Why should Fear haunt me and the trees of my Rardentremblo as if someone were treading upon my grave ? Could aught of evil be coming to me from Over Yonder f Surely not—only the daintiest, the most cent, and the sweetest maid'in Galloway-mag- dalen, the daughter of the armonrer of Carlin- wark,"that rare blossom of the May and the flower of the white and scented thorn. She came punctually at ten o'clock of the day, her mother Dame Barbara and Malise her tatner being with her. I was startled at first. I re- membered her as a little child with a noss of golden hair and eyes like the sun shining on a mountain lake—at once dark and bright. -J-hsre was no doubt ahout it — little Magdalen McKim had grown into a bewitching woman yes, a woman, though according to her yeareanct to:ber cleaning she was yet no more than a cniin. Of her complexion she was fair. dazzlinRjy lair j '—as blonde aa I (being a Douglas) waa dark. Aa to her coif, it was marvellous. Each individual hair stood out like a wire of gold, infinitely fil)e, wavingjand crisping to bar. waist. So light the fleece was. the wind blew it this way and that m wisps, as mist is blown about the hill-topa. In Magdalen's eyes there was the depth of water seen under the shade of great ancestral trees. What colour they were — green, blue, hazel, or violet—I could not tell. Chiefly, I think, they changed according to the thought that stirred behind. The girl's skin was clear and flashed easily to a dainty rose. Something innocent and appeat- ing looked ont from under her eyelashes afc- you. claiming protection even before the full and Etraciona smile of her month had said trust yon." t And so at long, at last, here Magdalen of the Three Thorns. I went down myself to meet her, bat when; x would have embraced her first,%he directed metoi her mother. She will be disappointed, else" she whis- pered. bending from her saddle. I And so I kissed my old nurse first of all, and then holding the girl at arm's length, examined her from head to foot. The time being sammer, she was clad in plain white linen cloth, fresh from bleaching upon the green grass of the ) Carlinwark meadows,and her hair was kept from straying by a snood or band of blue ribbon, broader than usual, which passed about ber small and shapely head. With that came Maud out also, smiling sweetly, and full of content with ber life, her babes, her husband. Maud conld think wisely and well for others-witnsss how she had thought for me- il bat really her aoul abode within her, content, un- fretted, sufficient to itself as that of a. good mother should, the young birds being still in the neet. And so we went in, and afterwards Malise came and joined ua in the grea.t hall, refuBing, however, to sit down in the presence of his mis- I ticaa. "The boys?" he grumbled, I might say rumpled, when I had asked him why they had not all come, na, na-they are better at hame. Twa sons o' mine are lost to the anvil and the hammer. If a' o' them gaed the way of Prior Laurence yonder, and Sir Sholto here-what I would come c' the atmoarer-ship to the Doug- lases o' Thrieve, whilk hath been io my family ) ever since there was a Douglas to go forth to battle, cr a McKim to St him tgt it^Wt -v StCGl harness and sword o' mettle ?" f Na, na, goi.d lads, hide where ye are,' says I. And guid lads they are. But spoil a McKim an' ye mak' a devil unpitted. So I e'en set them their tasks and explained what would happen | gin they werena dune by the doon-lettin' o' the J nicht." f "• The Lord help ye,' said, I, But:they | kenned fa' weel that He wadna." 1 I It was to me a day moat mefixorabla,; that, I August coon and afternoon'when from the Three j Thorna of Carlinwark, Magdalen McKim came firss into mv house ai Thrieve. At this distance; 1 of time, and after all that ;g.come and gone, it f is hard for me to detach myself and convey to' l those who never set eye upon this girl, any true idea of the wonderful charm of her girlhood. There have been beautiful and gracious women ¡ not a. few whom I have seen and known—chiafest of course, Maud Lindsay and Mistress Agnes Sorel-" La Belie des Belles." But the like of Magdalen McKim as she was at fifteen. I have never saen—child-woman v^ and woman-child in one. I cannot mind me of any groat thing we either said or did. We went into the south garden, I know, under the shadow of the Hex or Lady s Oak, where I had had seats placed Mapd Lmd- say came to us time and again as the duties of I her housekeeping and nursery permitted. But mostly she left us alone to make acquaintance, taking Dame Barbara off with her to count baby linen and appraise napery, while Malise wont the rounds of the armoury wih his son Sholto, growl- ing at the specks of rust to other eyes invisible, and informing the Captain of the Guard for the hundredth time how differently things were managed when ho wail in residence at Thrieve —" ia the Tineman's time," as he was careful to add. Doubtless," answered Sholto, growing at last a little nettled, "but then, if.our arms-are not so clean we do not lose so many: battlsa with them." But more heads, growled the ancient armourer in his beard. And there would have been less of that same if the young Earl WTlliam would have taken my advice. Bnt 'tis not too late, even yet. Yonder, to begin with, are Chancellor Crichton and Tutor Livingstone, that carry on their shoulders a pair of bosses that would be none the worse of a snedding." Sholto langhad, placing hia hand,affectionately on his father's arm. But did you ever hear of a right Douglaa yet," he said, that would take advice 1" Malise shook his head, nerhaps" remembering my krothers. TbanhcsighecL "Never if it was guid advice. Or frae a man," he added softly, and as if recalling something to his mind woeful and heavy with Fate. So in the south garden Magdalen and I eat,; the white doves that swooped and circled abont, plumping upon the scattered grains of corn, not more innocently happy. I asked her after a iwhile concerning her lovers and the men who came to the Three Thorna to woo her—of whose number and varied qualifications I had heard so great an account. Magdalen smiled softly, with a swiftly pass- ing reminiscence of her father's bnmooT in her eyes. Then they took on again the misty look of hills seen through an April shower. "Aye,aye," she said. there is a deal of work to be done about the armoury—work that take! time, work that has to be waited for. And there; are lads, and brisk lads, too, that cock their headsout*ofS the smithy door when my mother steps across to the bleaching green, or one of my brothers comes ben for a drink of water. But," here she smiled softly. since John the Penman did his watery penance on the atone cairn, there has been;more of peace about the house-place of the Three Thorns." Who are they that come ?" I said, not, I think, out of curoaity, but just because I wanted to know. For the things which happen to Ii one girl always interest another. So, to encourage her, I told her of Cour Che- verney, of the gallant knights there, and of bow 1 liked Laurence, her brother, best of all. At which she smiled, and had for a moment the same childish, all-forgetful look which I had seen in Larry's eyes when he was setting the little mill-wheels running in the tumbte of the Touraine brooks. Then, very carefully, I spoke concerning William, my husband of how wise he waa, how- brave in word and act. praising him at the ex- pense of bis brothers, to see what she would say. For women do'those things the one to the other. Then, after a silence, my reward came. Mag- dalen flashed out But was it not true-Bo, at least, I was told tbat Lord James conquered in the tonrney, even as, when he was but a boy, he did at Stir- ling, against the knijggs of Bargandis-?" So with that I turned and said to the girl, ""Hath my coujin, James |Dougla8, by any chance been often over at the Three Thorns ?" But sha answered me quite steadily, with her own sweet and constant humility-,&- reproof in itself. "Nay." she said, he is over-greatalord to "think of me nevertheless. I have seen him ride by when I was gathering flowers-yes, ever since I was a little girl, whom he would take UP on .his saddle before him, being kind. But now that' I am too old for suchlike, he will, when he meets ,me, dismonnt and walk a little way, asking con- cernedly/for/my fatherjind brothers, with whom, 'he was in France, and for whom; he charrebes- 1 ova and affection pastjhe common—— Ah, yes," said F, auch affection is ncore- 'commoD than yea anpDOse, aweet Magdalen. But even then the girl took no-offence, nor dreamed of snch a tbtagasiroay/being simple and-pure, and set abont wiili Btrong brothers and- a father, that had a name upon the earth, whom no man—no, not even James Dooglas would care ,to cross in his-angers. She did not even look up, but want,cD throwing corn to the doves, pile by pile. For the which, Sholtocoming.io».brother- like, reproved her. "Ye may do as ye like at the Thtea Thorns and--welcome." be said, "bat herel am in charge of the larder of Thrieve. And since it has been ^prophesied that there shall be eieiege of the place within three years, there are horaea and men that may be glad of the grain yon ace Hinging BO freely to those fat squabs." And since it was our Douglas way never to 'interfere with any otnan in hia jurisdiction and responsibility, I said nothing. Indeed I would have saia aa mcie naa ne reprjvea me—sach being his right and doty. Bat Magdalen blushed. orimson athwait the white of her cheeks. 1 am sorry, she looked with a certain appeal at me. "We are all his, slaves here," Itvbiapered, wait till he is gone." Than there came a voice from the window above. Come np hither and hold the babe while I see to the chambers. These lazy Blata leave half their work undone. This itia to live in a castle with a. puard of men-folk in the hall beneath." Wa both knew the voice of Mand Lindsay and very hurriedly and with long strides Sholto de- parted to do the duty of parent auxiliary. I laughed aloud when he was fairly gone. Ab, little girl," I cried, it is well that there is something up yonder whieh can tame even a captain of the Guard. Hearken." And clearly through the opea lattice there came the sonnd of a babe's crying. s That makes us all slaves," I said. Then at the words I flushed hot as tires And swiftly, causelessly, as if also aahamsd or affrayed, Magdalen nestled up against me. (To be Coatinned.)
MAYOR OF CARDIFF ON EARLY-FORMED…
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MAYOR OF CARDIFF ON EARLY- FORMED HABITS. Prize Distribution at Court-road Council School. The Mayor (Mr Alderman Rofcert Hughes), accompanied by Mrs Cantillon, Alderman J. Jenkins, Councillors Sessions, Dr. Smith, and the Director of Education lMr J. J. Jackson, B.A.). on Friday last distributed the prizes for regular and punctnal attendance to the boye of the Coort-road Council School. His Worship, in the coarse of his address to the lads, pointed out the advantages derived frota regular and punc- tual attendance at school. Habits formed daring early life had great influence on the character of a man. The Mayor contrasted the conditions obtaining Fat present with those in existence when he was a boy. The schools, he said, were the property of the people, and they could feel certain that the Corporation of the borough were determined to aid in every way any boy who showed an aptitude and desire for farther education to! that offered in the elementary schools. He remarked that be and Alderman Jenkins had risen from the ranks of the peonie to the high position of Mayor of the Borough, and that it was tin each boy's power to raise himself by bard work and perseverance to the same high office in this town or any other. He hoped that they would value the prizes won and strive to win Innber prizes this year. The other members of the Corporation having spoken, the proceedings concladed wirh a vote ofjtaaoks ■to the Mayor.
NOT USED TO THE WORK.
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NOT USED TO THE WORK. I Tramps and Stonebreaking, Two refractory tramps were before the Poaty- pool magistrates on Saturday. Mr liicharcis, master of the Pontypooi Union, detailed thecon- veraation between both at the casual ward. Saia one to the other. I am not going to break the stones. It ilt-worsa than prison here. Don't yon break any too." (Laughter.) One of the de- fendants now told the magistrates he waa a painter, and alone breal-ing waa too tabonoos for him, so he thought thev had better not start the job. (Lauphter.) Mr-T. Watkins, clerk to the guardians, who prosecuted, said them had been a great increase in tramps of late.—Mr Bowen, (magistrates' clerk) Surely you are not going to blame the prisoners for that ? (Laughter.)—Mr Watkins No, but we want to atop it.—Defen- dants were sent to gaol for 14 daya' hard labour.
DIED AT A REVIVAL MEETING.,
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DIED AT A REVIVAL MEETING., Tragic Occurrence ot Llangunnor. There waa a tragic occurrence on Friday night at a revival meeting at Philadelphia Congrega- tionat Chapel, Llangunnor, near Carmarthen. The wife of the pastor, the Rev. T. W. Morgan, in taking part in the first portion of the ser- vice, was notably fervent. At later devotions. which took place In the same building about nine o'clock, she submitted a testimony from her seat. She spoko with remarkable. effect on the uncattainty of life, and whilst impressing her hearers with Gospel truths she swooned away, fell into the arms of a female worshipper who was in the same pew, and immediately expired. She had been a sufferer from a heart affection. Much sympaUjyia fclMcts tjbe w$pr«. ft&dfejpqtiiy,
I COMPLETE STORY.
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I COMPLETE STORY. | -a- 3 The Second M rs Stimpson I By MR;3. CAMPBELL PRAED (Author of "MLy Australian Girlhood," "The Insane Root," Nadine," &c ) Ruth Fiiza Stimpaon looked longingly out of her small shop window and acrota Rock-rofid,; whicn was steeped in spring sunshine—sunshine which was steeped in spring annshine-annshiBe that was not reflected upon her face. She was a. plump, well proportioned woman, who would have been pretty but for the discontented droop aboct the corners of her month. The world had. not used the second Mrs Stimpson quite fairly,, and she, did not feel on good terms with it. Stimpson was away at work all day;more- over, Stimpson was not a companionable person, and antil Stimuson the Yoanger put in an appearance, six weeks previously, the second rlit. Stimpson had found life decidedly dull in the country town to which Fate had trans- planted her. As for the. shop, there waa neither pleasure nor profit in that, she thought. Business was brisk enough on Saturdays, an3 on Thursdays --market dxys-~when drovers came through the town with cattle, and all the countryside went shopping. But otherwise trade was chiefly I confined to small children demanding a. ha'- 1 p0*> -f° li(lltorics," or a pepermint stick a rl.wCtnn8 ^avocred the establishment, a patty of thirsty cyclists who might drink half a 17 dozen bottles of lemonade. Euth Eiza was I not accastomaa to that class of trade, and would have said so plainly had there bsaa any lia- tcn« to. vvaom ahe iiked to talk. But a neigh- bouriy caa-t was a thing she eschewed, not re- i lishing the company of other inhabitants of Rock- road, who would oue Rml aa have been et- tremely pleased to come and gossip with her. A. it happened, however, there was no one in I whom Hath Eliza, carel to confide, with the exception of that bundle of pink fianuel pre- viously referred to as Stimpson the Younger, whose power of understanding waa at the pre- sent stage limited. H Just now, this young gentleman lay asleep in a wicker bassinette, decorated with cheap mashn and rose-coloured sateen; and hia mother, who bad finished early in the day all the work that duty and nocessity required of her, having no particular occupation with which to speed the long hours of the afternoon, stood behind the counter, her banda on her hips, and melancholy lines settling on ber fair skin, She was yoong andattocg, aact she was desperately dull. sitaaeniy, a look-of interest animated her face. She peered forward. "If there isn't Miss Faucoart. I do wish she woald step in here." A quaint little Ggars was coming np the road -an elderly maiden lady almost as small as a child, with aughtly bowed shoulders, but a brisk walk. Miss Fancourt of Panconrt Manor-half ill mile further on, where the old bouse was pet amid its immemorial elms-was a lady who be- longed to theicnnolrne period. Obviously, she wore one still beneath her three-flounced skirt. ^ec bonnet with its flat folds of ribbon was adorned with what was formerly called a curtain-a kilted frill covering her knot of grey-brown ba.il' Her coat was a comfortable garment with deep pockets find wide sleeves. Miss Fancourt had long ago adopted what she considered a suitable and becoming style of dress, and was never seen in anything else. She had conservative tendencies and as, not- withstanding her age and oddities, she waa of conaiderable importance in the little insular town of Red gegis, it will be seen that she was a person to be propitiated. Ruth Eliza was perfsctly aware of this, and hiul for long yearned after an opportunity, hitherto denied ber, of furthering a scant ac- quaintance with Misa Fanconrt. She gasped from aaspenaeas the old lady approached her door. Miss ancourt uanally walked with an object in view. She had now apparently come from the town, and she seemed tired. Could she be ■persuaded to enter and rest awhile ? Ruth Eliza; w»s prepared to dash out, and proffer hospitality, though pride forbade it; fortnnately, she was not required to im- molate herself thus far. Miss Fancoufli was gazing uncertainly in at the window she tuined the door-handle, the shop bell tinkled, and Ruth Eliza lifted a flashed face which —in order to hide her anxiety—she had bobbed beneath the counter in search of some imaginary article ahe was supposed to have dropped. Good afternoon." remarked Miss Fanconrt! suavely. "Yon have some excellent bananas," -ebe pointed to a booch hanging from the ceiling. I wish to have a few." How many would you like, Ma'am ?" re- joined Ruth Eliza, reaching for a kuife, and racking her brain for something to Bay that might detain her visitor before it was too late. Six, if you please. Your bananas; are finer than any I have observed in the town, and your fruit generally looks good." Mias Fan- conrt took a chair without baing invited, and glanced abont ber. You-reem to be ^dis- criminating purchaser." "Stimpson buys the atook—that beinp what I always said I never wovid,do-it wasn't like- ly," returned Ruth Eliza. bluntly. Nor it wonldn't be wiae, either." she added, awan after thought, "ois being, no judge ofacch things." Perhaps you have not kept a. shop befora:1 said Mies Fanconrt gently. Ncrdoubt it musti ,be-difficult to got accustomed to it." "I waa brought np in the millinery," was the rather bitter response. "Inever had no call to set me hand to anything else t'tl I took up with Stirepa'jn." •'Ah." Thaca waa a.woild of'meaning in the monosyllable.. Silence reigned for half a minute while Ruth Eliza carefully chose the choicest bananas. It seems a long white atnce you were this way, Ma'am," she ventured. Does it ?" said Miss Fanconrt with a smile that looked almost deprecatory, and that cer- tainly coald not help bsing kind. I wonder you're not too busy to notice who goes by." I. get through me work qaickly, Ma'am. I never was one to let the glass grow under me feet. And there's davs-like this afternoon— when time hangs heavy-me being alone 60 mnch. If it wasn't for baby-" Miss Fancouit's hand shook saddenlyas abe took the paper bag containing the bananas. She waa j going to say something which seemed unkind, She disliked saying itimmensoly; yet she had come for that parooae, for she felt that it had to be said. Young woman," she inquired In a tone that meant to be answered. When were yon married ?" Ruth Eliza flushed afresh warmly. II Wejwere married ? yeae last Easter Eve, to be sure." I' am really glad to hear it, Misa Fan- conrt spoke with evident satisfaction. Where did the ceremony take place "Up at tha Pariah Church, to be sure," re- peated Ruth Eliza. Anyone can have a look at the entry, I s'pose," added a little de- fiantly, if they're set On seeing it. But folks want sach a deal of explaining to—not meaning yon, of coarse, Alfs"aln. It's very kind of yon to came, and I'm eara I'm only too pleased to mention how it happened. Yon see, I couldn't go back o' me word to the first Mrs Stimpaon—and that's how it came about. Miss Fancourt placed her old-fa3hioned sun. shade securely on her knees, with her small neatly gloved hands crossed over it, and drew up her feet on to the under rail of the chair. Thus comfortably settled-the forgotten bag of bananas lying on theCOunter-tlhe regarded Ruth Eliza earnestly. I should like you to tell me an you can," she said gently. "Thatis, of course, if you feel at liberty,to do so." Misa Fanconrt was a sympathetic aoul, though withal of a prejudiced sum of mind. Her kindly old eyes were shining now. Henceforth the sceptre of Fanconrt Manor might be exten- ded in Rath Eliza's favour- Ruth Eliza plainly realised the probable issnes at stake. She waa relieved to find a. ready listener in Miss Fan- conrt, and broke boldly through the unaccus- tomed crnat of reserve cbat had been closing ronnd her. Wen, yon see, ^Ma'a"0, it was thia way. The first Mra Stimpson, Ton must know, was called by the name of Ruth Annie." She'd atood godmother to Ole as a little un, and that kind-hearted she wan, which may have come to yonr knowledge, Itviag in the same place. A batter woman never stepped than the firsli Mu Stimpson, for all ebe wasin the habit of saying she WItS but a poor thing, and getting on in life. That was by reason of her having married Stimpson, who was ten or twelve years younger than she. She Wf\8 always good to me lit ,a. xmving been » KiLri iriana or my I f mother s. And when Ftth01 died, in poor 'cir- cainstances, leaving with a growing family through having losta deal of money in the upholstering, which wo his line of business, MrsStimpson she'd write UP to Mother-* Send Rath Eliza along to Red Bag's when yon want to get rid of one of 'em. :($'1} be a nice change for oar, and she can stop a goodish while.' And so I did, Ma'am, and glad &0 do it, too. Many's tbeechool feaa.t I've.; been to up at the Manor in those daya, but yoa me, which is bat nataral." Miss Faucoart shook her head evasively. Her memory WRA certainly at a,loss. For some time past she had fancied that she must be getting old. So many come and go now-a-days," she eaid in an apologetic tone, girls grow up ao fast, l used to know everyone in Red Regis. Now it seems to me tha" I see nothing bnt stiranga faces. failing me, I fear I knew-the first Mrs StitCPson well, and I may aay, yoong wunan, tbat it has been-you mUtHi pardon my plain apeaking—a matter of sorrow to me*hat poor Stimpson, who I feel snre is a well meaning man, should havejoaen led by loneli- nesa into doing anything of which she would not approve." Knth Eliza bridledr Politic reasons alone prevented the free expression of her feelings. prevented the free expression of her feelings. 1 can assure yon. Ma'am, it was qUite an- otjaer pair of shoes, so to-sneak." Miss Fanconrt scented the girl's indignation, and replied soothingly, "No doubt, no donbt. I I see that now. Popular opinion hae been un- just to yon, yotuig woman, and I grieve that I should have allowed myself to be influenced to auch a degree by the talk of the town which reached me. Pray continue yonr story. You became a milliner, I think you said." 1 Well, Ma'am." explained Ruth Eliza, some- what aalkiJy, "Mother had moved into a small 1 Well, Ma'am." explained Ruth Eliza, some- what aalkiJy, "Mother had moved into a small house at Walham Green, and took lodgers, but Mrs Stimpaon it was that thought of getting me apprenticed to the millinety. Wickens Broa. wtis where I went—a nice little shop at the weat end of the Falbam Road. with a moat genteel trade—and the business suited me won- derful well." Rnth.eim Wttnaed tohw cmJwcMs »b« ew*- ?cwd#d.' Then Mrs Stimpaon 'ad have me down here whenever I could get a holiday—her having -alwiys been partial to me. It's different-as moat-like you're aware, Ma'am—to go to a place for a holiday, and to have to live in it. I never bothered me head about Stimpson in those days, but I enjoyed coming down here for a breath of country air, though London, -was the place to livein, I thoaght, even then, and I've had no caase to change my views since. Well, things wont on so, till the first Mrs Stimpson was took with tha disease that carried her off. Suffered something horrid with bad leg a, ahe had, for nigh on a quarter of a centniy, ahe used toaay, and it set ir* to the bone, and developed perry-and-titus. The the bone, and developed perry-and-titus. The doctor said there'wasn't no hope from the first, bat she wouldn't have Stimpson told till she was dying. What she did was to send for me, and as I was jast ont o* me time, I got a.. few daya, as I thought, and came down. Sho was lying a-bed—- room over this—and Stimpaon of course was out. He works for Mr Vetch, the builder, and.if it wasn't for him drawing a steady wage of his own that way, ho'd be nowhere, for this little shop which it's 'I alwaya been his bobby to keep on with, don't turn eight shilling a week. The first Mrs Stimpson managed it in her time—just to nleaaure him-but she couldn't make & pro- i fit to speak of out of it, though she put her back into it, she did—which is more'n you can say of me, to be honest. If you was to ask me, I should say it helped her into her grave. There's nothing much coming in, in a neighbour- hood like thia. Tisn't to be expected. Weil, Ma'am, a* I was aaying, Mra Stimpson, she i took my hand, and held on to it till it kind of I' came to me that she'd ncvev leave hold. Dear, dear,' I said, I am sorry to see yoa like this.' like this.' 'Rith Eliza,' said sbe. I have but one regret in going, and that is Stimpson.' He'll take on terrible,' I said to please her, and could ha' bitten me tongue out the next minute when I see what was coming. Ruth Eliza. said she. I done a good bit for you, but you're worth it. I got the best possible opinion of yon, Ruth Eliza. If you was to aay yoa'd have him, you'd take a load off me.' Well, Ma'am, of course it was true she had done a gooj bit for me one time and another, but to pay it back that way had never been in me mind, and,I waa taken as yoa might say by ^Stimpaon'a silent,' she said, but he's kind. Yoa'Jl never bear a hard word from him. I brought him up as a boy, and I ought to know. I He was own nephew to my sister Sarah's hus- band that died (which of course she'd told me I many a time) and him having no parents of hia own he lived along with Sarah and me from a little feller and when Sarah died, he was about nineteen, and folks began to talk, so I married him. I'd put it to him plain what I was about to do, but be said be didn't wish to bestir him- self looking elsewhere, and he thought it best to go on as we was, for he never "waa one to care what folks said. But I thought 1 could do better by him if I married him, so we went to cbnrch,, and a happier coupte never was. I', 1. That wag the first Mra Stimpson'a story. Now.' said she, he ian't fit to live alone. No widower is and-he hasn't been accustomed to it at any time. I won't say nothing about duty, Ruth Eliza, nor yet gratitude, for I wouldn't wiah to force the affections of any young woman, but if you can say the word, I shall die happy.' And you said it ?" inquired Miss Fanconrt breathlessly. I I sa.id it, Ma.'am. That comes of being too I kind-hearted. 1*11 take him,' 1 said, 'for better or worse, and if* it turns out worse, I'll stick to him, so help me God, for 1 owe it to von.' Well, she had Stimpson upstairs after that, as soon as ever he comes home, but 1 didn't know—not then-what passed. It wasn't for me to speak, and I hoped against hope she'd get better, and all would be forgotten. But she didn't. She died the next Tuesday, and me and Stimpson followed her to the grave. I'd looked for him to show sentiment for once in his life, but he was that quiet there was no knowing bow he took it. When been put away, as we were coming down Queen's Lane on our road home, he oat-with what was in his mind. I Ruth Annie spoke to me about Yon" said he. 1 I wouldn't wish to go againat any I fancy of bars, and all things considered we can't do better. So yoa can taks it from me that I'm willing.' Well, willing ain't the word for me: I said. • But a promise ia a promise, and the dead don't give back no bond. I'm bound,' I said, so here I am, and I'll 'do the best I can. When's it tocome.off ?" I calc'late that thwe. months ia about long enough to wait, as thing be,' was his answer. I But there ain't no need for yoa to go baek to London. There's room and plenty, as you're aware, over the shop. I'd have to engage a woman if you went, so you may as wett stop.' It wasn't what you might calil a canoodling courting-was it-, Me,'am ? Stimpson's not the sort to overstep the mark. I thought to me- self at the time, if you waa half a man^and give me a good hiaa. Pd alap yoar face,, but I'd like you all the better for it. So it happened—aa most <ike you vo beard -thatI hoosekeeped for bim those three months. c bearing in mind the first Mrs Stimpson's wiahea, for I knewvery weil ehe'd not seat easy with him handed over to a stranger. And when Easter Eve-came, him and me walked up-to the church quiet-like, and'got ourselves married. A sister o' mine and ber husband living afcjBatcsraea came down as witnesses and over'and abovft-telfing them, neither me nor -Stimpson didn't -feelino,, i calt to talk about the'aif&irjast then in the place, i seein,g it didn't concern anyone elae, and^the time and all being Myther precipitous. "Bat dear, dear. The to-do there's been about it. You wouldn't believe that liock Ro&d was,. so particular. I'm snre whatever kind of folk came to live in the neighbourhood, I shouldn't want to interest myself in .em. Bat that's the custom in the country, I'm told. In London, folks are too thick upcn the ground to pay atten- tion to anyone who doesn't get in the>ir way. Gimme London, where there's more work and less talk. I've been forced to say to Stimpson more'n once, 'You'd best own up that we're married,and let's ha' done with it, if 'tie only for my sake,' —bat never a word paaaea bis lips. He'd ha'j I got set on to, nimseix. at the worm. x maao no donbt, but all Red Regis knowa there's nothing I to be got out o' bim, and his fellow-workmen kind of take it ill, that he's bo unsociable, but I'm sure that's nothing to what be ia at ibome.^ I Tisn't cheerful living with Stimpaon. 1 can mind the day, Misa Fanconrt, when I've had as many as ten of the neighbours in" asking whatever made me marry Stimpson, and anything else that came uppermost—abort of whether I'd married him at all, which was what they really wanted to know. Terrible reflectlte too, they were, in some of the thinga they Baid., And if there happened to be anything going on at the Manor, to which yoa'd kindly invited 'em, 1 do assure yon, Ma'am, there's not a woman living in Rock Road but 'ud come in and tell me all about it, just to mark the difference that I waant there meaelf. I won't say bat what it made me month water, bat I didn't care—not a. jot," pnraaed Ruth Eliza, fiercely, until Mrs Start at Nq. 19, said she wasn't a-going to have her fifth baptized along of my boy." a Ab," eaid MÜs Fanconrt, reverting to the point she started from. You have a baby ?" To be sure, Ma.'am," assevevoted^Ruth Eliza, in whose mind this main fact had never been lost sight of. And him aa fine a child at six weeks as you'd find in Red Regis. Jest you take a pabp at him." Rath Eliza retired into the little room at the back of the-shop with Miss Fanconrt at her heels. The second Mrs Stimpson and the lady of the Manor, now oddly in accord, stepped reverently and noise- lessly to the side of the bassinette where the snab-nosed moriel of humanity reposed beneath the rose-pink coverlet. Two tiny eyes twinkled aa they bent over bim. Stimpson the Younger was awake, and no prince robed in purple and awarusdown ever looked lovelier, thought Rath Eliza. She forgot ber wrongs—forgot even Stimpson-u she tailed the child and took off his outer flannels. He snuggled a bare, downy head againat the ample curves of her neck and bosom, carves that swelled with mother-love. Miss Fancourtlgazed at the pair-appreciatively,. Her sight might not be as good as it waa once, but it enabled her to aee a sodden and trans- forming beauty in Rata Eliza. Bye and bye ahe surreptitiously wiped away a drop that glistened down the eíds of her nose. Ah," she said, softly, my housekeeper is fond of babies, Mrs Stimpaon. Yon mast bring him up to the Manor and take a cup of tea with her next Sunday."
BOYS' DARING TILL ROBBERY.
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BOYS' DARING TILL ROBBERY. Money to Play Billiards. Two boys. Robert IIy. James and Willie Eliaa, of Croaa Keys. were charged at Newport on Satur- day with stealing 7a 5?rd in money and a baaia from Sarah Allaop's shop on Febrnary 27th. Sarah Allsop laid she went to chapel, leaving hee sister in charge of the shop. When aha re- turned she found the basin and the money mias- ing. Ada. Allsop, aiatar of the' prosecutrix, said the defendants came to the shop and bought some chocolate. Jam as entered the shop asecond time, and the other boy stopped outsida. She then went into the kitchen, but from what she waa subsequently cold she entered the shop and found the drawer open and basin and money gone. She thought there waa about 5a there. RosD Rugha said she saw James stoop down, open the door, and creep on his hands and knees round the counter. The other boy, when he saw her, walked off down the street. When arrested at Cwmbran by P.C. Danford, James stated that they went to the theatre at Cross Keys, and sub- seqnently he went into Alleop's shop on bis" handa and knees- and took the basin and money. James threw the basin into a garden. They shared the money and went to Cwmbran to play I billiard3 with it. They handed the officer 7s 5Gd and showed him where to find the basin. Eliaa, it was stated, came of a. good family, and that James, who was an orphan, was responsible for leading him astray- James, who had been in trouble before, was lined 20a including costs, the chairman aaying be was sorry that they could not cane-bim. Eliaa was dealt with natter Tha FirsOffenders Act and let off. 'L J'm.
!UPSET IN THE STREET.
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UPSET IN THE STREET. I Rector of Llanellen Injured. About 2 p.mr. on Saturday, as the Rev. E. B. Jones, rector« of Llanellen, formerly chaplain at the asylum, was driving along High-street, Abergavenny, the horse took fright and dashed into It lamp- post, throwing Mr Jones out on his head, render- ing him unconacioaa. Dr. Jamble, after stitching op the wanda, had the injured geotlenaap re- moved (QU&jron CR ftitorhehftd gained r?n«W.
Uandilo Assault Case.
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Uandilo Assault Case. FALSE REPORTS CORRECTED. 1 defendant Sent to Gaol Without the I Option of a Fine. At Llandilo Petty Sessions on Saturday David Joaes (23), collier, Earl's 'Field, Glan- amman, was charged with assaulting Hannah | Jones, a servant at Blaengwecha Farm, Llan- dUofawr, on the 4th alt. i Mr T. G. Williams, solicitor, Llandilo, who | appeared for the complainant, stated that whsn | hisclie.DC left Blaengwscha, about 6.30 p.m. on I the day in question, she called at Llandyfaen J Farm, and on coming cut saw two men on the road. One of them was defendant. Both wore j drunk, the deiendant's companion (Roger Wil- | iiams) being probably in the worse condition. | To avoid the latter complainant deviated a little from the ordinary coarse, and in passing defendant felt something touching ber. She lookad mund, and saw defendant in the act of aitnins a blow at her with a gun. To prevent a more diaaatrous effect aha pnt np her left arm, on which Bhe received a blow, given with con- siderable force. Sho sa.w a man coming along the road some distance away, and probably the defendant, drunk as he waa, saw this too, and that was what probably deterred him from doing anything caoie. The girl complainant escaped, &ad subsequently suffered a good deal of pain from the blow, but said nothing about it, and probably the magistrates would have heard nothing about it had not certain other things transpired. In abont a week's time the Press of the whole of South Wales, and even the illus- trated Preaa (of a kind) of London, got hold of a, distorted accoant of this affair, and in the papers it waa suggested in terms which could not be misinterpreted that the complainant bad been ravished by a man, and that her sweetheart— who, as a matter of fact, was not near the spot— ran away in fear from the two ruffians. That I waa a distorted account from correspondents in the Amman Valley. Several papers copied this account, and therefore the distorted report-a. libel in fact so far as the girl com- plainant was concerned—had been circulated pretty well over the length and bicadth of the land. This," said Mr Williams, producing a. frontispiece of an illustrated journal, ia a pic- torial description of the aaaault." But he scarcely thought it was evidence, because it did not in any way agree with the facts. The girl complainant in the picture wasshowrlto be on her knees—either showing a preliminary to the full offence being committed or showing her 81 aaying her prayers to the rnffitne. But what I actaally happened was tbis-she stood on her feet and simoly went away. The complainant did not go to the conrt in a revengeful spirit, but if the Bench would reflect for a moment they weald see. the ill effect each a report had had upon her. It was no nse tellng tha country, "I was not ravished," because innuendoes were hurled b&ck— Yes, it is i&st possible you have been injured, but it suited your purpose not to inform the police and have this man prose- cutei." That ha.d nothing to do with the Bench, but it was for her to deal with as far as the newspapers wereconcerned. In order, therefore, to clear her character and tell the world upon her oath that she had merely been asaaalted, she went to that court. The defendant dare not say what the papers said he did. The complainant was a virtuous girl. No one had a right to say she had been ravished, or to prevent her from having a sweetheart, or to auggeat that she had received compensation froin that man,ior any other man, owing to any act that he haa done to her The object of the prose- catiou was simply to allow the girl to clear her character before the whole world. There was no other way to do it. The assault—committed by a man who probably did not know what he waa doing—waa a dastardly one, and tMe conse- quences might have been more sertoqa had not the girl lifted up her arm. It was for the Bench to deal with the offence when it had been proved. The only object the prosecution- had. he might repeat, was to put the girl on her oath, and thus show to the whole world that she waa still an unblemished woman, and that no such act as bad been circulated in the Press had taken place. Hannah Jones, complainant, then bore out her advocate's statement, showing clearly that she had merely been aesaAilted by being hit with tha stock of a gun by defendant. She aeclared she did not speak a word to either of the men--After-the blow had been struck she went one way and the defendant another. Her arm was ao painful that she had to go tp see Dr. Hop- kins on the following day. P.C. Lewis went to I. see her a, week afterwards to make inquiries. She was qaite ill in bed then. She did not wish to proseente defendant. She bad no malice against him. She had known defendant jnat to apeak to, bn): she was never very friendly with him. summontl out had not certain thiagabeea-Mportedin the papers. ■ She "wanted to tell the world 'tbat,ah0<<had<; not; been ravished. To the Bench c The blowahesreceived-waa sa. very heavy ons. The defendant denied 'haying th»gaa witb> him. P.C. Frank"Lewis,jin nwking inquiries abont; -theicase, visited the complainant on the 13th ulL Her left arm was then very much dis- coloured—it waB a kind of. a blno^black. She,! waa then suffering from shock. On the 15th nit. he saw the defendant, who denied having seen the complainant at all or having the gun in this hands. Heaulmltted, however, having left the Square and Compass about 6 o clock on the evening in; question in the^company of Roger Williams, and proceeding to Derwydd-road Station. He afterwards told witness that it was Roger gan Mr Williams wanted to know whereRoger Williams was. Snpt. Evans He is now in gaol. (A laugh.) Otherevidanclt ae to defendant's movements having been submitted, Mr Lewis Thomas, Caeglaa, speaking fortho Bench, described the assault as a most cowardly offence on a. girl who waa alone, and added: "A young blackguard like yon, armed with a gun in a drunken state- it is a mercy yon did not kilLher." Defendant I did not have a gun. The Magistrate: She aaid you didandli believe her. The Bench do not consider this a. caae for a fine, and therefore yoa will have toga to gaol for & month with hard labour.
THE LLANDAFF TRAGEDY.
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THE LLANDAFF TRAGEDY. BODY IDENTIFIED, Daughter of a Cardiff P.C. The mystery which enveloped the identity or" the young woman whose dead body ivas found in a. field between Fairwater and Elyon Thursday afternoon was cleared up en Saturday afternoon. P.C. George Read, of 23, Wellington-street, Cardiff, received information late on Friday night that hill daughter, Emily, had notretarned to Cardiff Gaol, where she was in the service of, Mr Le Meander., the governor. After making careful inquiries, P.C. Bead on Sa.t.ard&y aftex- noon went to Llandaff Mortuary, where he identified the body, which had been lying theie | since Thursday, as that of bis daughter. | It was stated that the deceased was between 25 and 30 years of age, but as a matter of fact she was not quite 16, althongb in death she looked fully the aeo^iven oat by the police. P C. Reed and Mrs Reed are naturally greatly opaet over the tragedy—indeed,Mra Reed is pros- trate with grief. She is^qniteunable to accoant for her daughter's raob act. Those who knew Alma Emily Ellen.Reed de- scribe her as a. bright, intelligent girl. On San day she WM at her parenta' home, and there was nothing in her manner then to lead one to think that she contemplated suicide. On Thursday morning when she left the gaol she is said to have been even more chereful than uwnaj, but daring her six months' service there her com- panions noted th&t at times the unfortunate girl seemed to*ba seized* with periodical fits of. depresatoc.
LOSS OF MEMORY.
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LOSS OF MEMORY. Eliza Sweeney's Excuse. Eliza. Sweeney, hawker, Bridgend, aged 62, was summoned at Bridgend on Friday for travel- ling on the Llypvi and Ogmoro branch of the G.W.R. without paying her fare. Mr Parsons (Messrs Vachell and Co., Cardiff) prosecuted, and said the circumstances ware somewhat peculiar Daring the past year or so defendant had frequently told the ticket collector on arriv- ng by train that she bad not time to get a- ticket, and CBually she aaid she bad come from Tonda, the next station to Bridgend, and paid the fare from that place. It happened so often that on this occasion the ticket collector made inquiries and found she had travelled from N&ntyffyllon, six miles beyond Tonda. Mrs Sweene told the magistrates that she was so upset about something that on arriv- ing at Bridgend she had forgotten where the bad come from, and said it was Tonda. The following day ahe remembered that she had come from Nantyffyllon, and ahe explained to the ticket collector, offering bim the difference in the fare. The collector said that tha offer of the fare was after a threat to proaecaie, arm Sweoneywss fined £ 1.
IN AID OF NEWPORT HOSPITAL.
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IN AID OF NEWPORT HOSPITAL. Empire Benefit Performance. On Saturday afternowi. through the generosity of Mr Oswald Stall, managing director of the Moaa Empires, Ltd., a benefit performance in aid of the Newport and Monmouthshire Hospital was given at the Newport Empire, The leading people of the town gave their patronage, and the Empire was filled. Lord Tredegar, Lord Lieutenant of Monmoathshire, was among those present. A delightful programme was gone through by artistes froos Newport, Cardiff, and Swansea Empires. At the close Dr. Garrod Thomas stepped on to the stage and expressed the thanks of the directors of and of the subscribers to Mr Oswald Stoil, to Major II Gallahar, Mr Daviea, and the artistes, band, and all concerned. &e annoonced that the re- ceipts amounted to £ 78 15s Ud, all of which would be handed over to the institution. The { vote of thanks was carried with acclamation, I and was acknowledged by Major Gallahar. ,I'
[No title]
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A general meeting ot Celynen Colliery work- men was held at Newbridge on Saturday even- I ing for th* purpose of considering the sag- I gested change from yearly to triennial elections I' by the Aberca.rn. Council, and a resolution was unanimously paaeed approving of the pro- posed change. The meeting also decided to sup- port tbe candidature of Mr Richard Davies in ibejuaboac iu«»^8t lortke Genual Wwd. I
Mr Lloyd George, M.P„ íat…
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Mr Lloyd George, M.P„ í at Gloucester, WALES AND THE EMPIRE. Pre-eminence- of Welsh Poets. MrD. Llovd George, M.P., was the principal. i speaker at the annual Weish banquet held at the j GaiidhaU, Gloucester, on Saturday night. The toast of The Houses of Parliament was pro- i posed by Dr. G. H. Ward Humphreys, and' responded to ba Mr liassell Kea, M.P. (Gloaces- tcr). Mr Lloyd George, M.P., who had a moat entan2!«stio reception, submitted the toast j of n tbo evening—" Wales. He referred j fixe* cf a'l to the associations of Gloucester with' W&iea, dating from the time of Arthur, as; I rcccrdcd in the Mabinogion. Proceeding to deal with the patron saint of Wales. ha retn&iked that thace waa this to be said nbous St. David— he was not merely a saint, bat a lighting eaint. Emphasising the significance of that characteristic, he said those who thought that characteristic, he said those who thought that great religious movements Wera going to make Wales quiescent should remember that thoir patron saint-, after all, was a boly man, who led the armies of hia country into battle against the oppressor. Wales was marching" out of centnrieit--he weald eay of contemut, bat she was marching at aay rate out of centuries in which ahe was insigni- ficant and taken very little heed of, and, was coming oat into the open as one of the great nationalities of this Empire. (Applause.) Nationality was not incompatible with Empire. In his judgment the real strength of the British Empire—the respect in which it was differen- tiated from every empire nnder the SUD, 6itber past or present—was the fact that by tolerating past or piesent—WM the fact that by tolerating j nationality (by England encouraging nation. ality) it was a federation of common weal ths— of free common wealths (Rear, hear.) They aa Welshmen,although they loved their native land intensely, claimed their share in the Empire. Why, it was founded by a ra-cal of Welsh Kings Henry VJU. and Elizabeth Tudor were the; direct descendants of a Welsh gentleman named 6 w" Owen Tudar, of Benmynydd, S'oumouthshire. Welshmeu therefore bad an hereditary interest ° in the Empire: and if they talked about lValaa oftener than tbey did about the Empire, and dwelt more np.ç¡;, her charms—sang more about her and fought more for her —it was not that they loved the Empire less, but that they loved Wales more. (Applause.) There wa. a great V deal in respect cf which Wales had climbed up during the lass two years. Let them take, for in- stance, the education of Wales. He thought he could eay without challenge that Wales had .? done more for the education of her own children during the last 15 yeara than any other part of the Empire. Up till within living memory i Wales had no Univexsity —she had no national College; she had now three. (Hear, hear.) At one time ahe had no great syatemof seeondMy edncation now she had the best system of of secondary education in the whole Q kingdom, bailt up largely by the" self-sacrifice of her own people. (App!a.OM.) Wales had been getting on in other respects. Her people had not done badly, even in athieties -(hear. hear)—it was a. good thing to prove to their neighbours that they werehaot all brains, i but that they could kick occasionally, and do it rather well. (Laughter, and bear, hear.) Wales • had, be thought, been getting on in politics a i little, too. (Renewed laughter and applause.) {;■ They bed taken their share, he thought, in the work of the great national assembly—which was i the Mother of Pa.rliamentB-dnting the p&st lS-or 20 years to a greater extent probably than they had done since the British Parliament was founded. It waa not for him tosay whether they had taken tbeir share creditably or otherwise, but ha thought that on the whole, considering* their numbers, they had managed to hold their 1 own. (Laughter, heat, hear, and a voice, Tom Ellis.") Ah, yes, in no assembly of Welshmen would the name of Tom Ellis ever be forgotten., (Applause.) Let them never forget—and hail said this especially to the Welshmen who lived. 5 in English towns—that the honour of their country waa in their keeping. He shoald like to see a Welsh Society in Gloucester, where, and in the neighbourhood of which, they had a very good gathering of Welshmen. He did not believe that their English friends zeal is ed to what an extent nationality was a Jiving force in Wales at the present moment. He said without hesitation—and no one could contradict him who could not.read the Welsh language—(laughter)— that one of the three bestyiiving poets in the United Kingdom was a Welshman he would go further and say that two of }he very best were Welshmen. He did not think there was a single living poet who excelled either Prefeaaor Mprcia Jones, oi Banger, or Elfed. —===========—==!! 1
CARDIFF MUSICAL FESTIVAL,…
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CARDIFF MUSICAL FESTIVAL, i EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AT DINNER. Interesting Speeches. The final meeting of the Executive Council ,j -of the recent Cardiff Maaical Festival was held at the Park Hotel, Cardiff, on Saturday evening, "i Mr Robert Forrest, J.P., D.L., presiding. The J report and balance-sheet haying been aicpUiv.it was unanimously agreed, on the proposition u* Mr E. W. M. Corfcett, J.P., that the naxt festival be held in 1907. Mr W. Scott suggested that a provisional com- mittee be appointed to draw up a. scheme, obtain guarantors, and approach composers with a view to securing new works. Mr Scott remarked that the Cardiff Festival had attained sach importanca that they were justified in asking composers to write some good, lengthy works. Mr Scott's suggestion was approved, and the, commit tee appointed as follows :-Messrs E. W. M- Corbett, J.P., D. W. Evana, Gething Lewia, J.P., W. A. Morgan, W. Scott, T. Evans, and Trevor Thomas. Subsequently the members sat down to dinner at the Park Hotel. Mr Corbett presided, and there were also present Messrs Gething Lewia (vice-chairman), T. E. Ayiward. Roderick Williams, J. E. Deacon, Trevor F: Thomas, Dr. Lynn Thomas, C.B., W. A. Morgan (secretary), Harry Evans, J. A. Jones, C. Gregorie, Wetter Scott. CouncilIorJ. Stanfield, J. W. Morris, D. J. Jones, H. T. Joseph, H. Green, P. Earl, W. f Lewis, James Hall, J. LI. Morgan, Tom Evans, G. Bielski, E. Nicholl, A. L. DavieB, IL G. Lewis, R. P. Culley, J. N. Evans. 1. J. David, A. W. rhomas, L. Strina, etc, In submitting the health of Me Robert For- rest, chairman of the Council, Mr Gething Lewis referred to his genorsity and zeal, and said much of tbe success fo the last festival was due to '1 bim..(Dear, bear.) It- was tbe sincere hope of" all tbatsthc* festival of 1907 would be fortunate encjngh to have tbe aid of Mr Forrest- (Applause.)'* Mr W. Scott gave the health of the condoc-! tor, Dr. Cowen, who, he said, had not hesitated i to make any sacrifice to secure the success of the festival. Mr Trevor Thomas proposed "TheChoras," which, he said, had been the backbone of the festival, thanks to 6he chorns-masters-Mr Ayl-S ward, Mr Deacon, and Madajne Clara Novella Davies. In an unmusical town like Cardiff they were extremely fortunate in havicg had the services of such capable coaches. Mr Aylward and Mr Deacon having responded, The Chairman said he was glad to bear a musician of Mr Trevor Thomas's standing pay such a high tribute to the chorus. It was all good a chorus aa they could wish to have, and the committee had decided to show their grati- tude by entertaining the members at a, con- ■ versazione. In submitting the" health of Mr W. A. Mor- gan (secretary), Mr J. A. Jones said the more one knew of Mr Morgan the more one likel him. The success of the festival was due in a large measure to his energy and ability. (Hear, hear.) < In responding, Mr Morgan claimed to be the parent of the Cardiff Festival, because in 1890 he discussed the project with Mr Scott and Mr J. W. Morris at Worcester. The discussion took practical form in 1892, since when the foetivd bad made good pogteeo. There was no reason why Cardiff should not take a front rank amcmg the festivals of the country. Mr Gregorie gave The Chairman." Mr Corbett, in reply, eaid it was the duty of Cardiff to set an example to Wales. He bad been anxious to help the festival, partly for love of Cardiff and partly for love of music:. No other town in the Principality had had the pluck or3 the ability to prodnce a festival worthy of taking its place among those of the Midlands and the North of England. If only they worked loyally together there was nothing to stop the Cardiff Festival going on from strength tot strength, or of Cardiff being recognised as the v Metropolis of Wales in music and art. F.aeb should remember first that he was a Wotahtnao and tbsn a Cardiffian. Mr Tom Evans gave the health of Mr Harry j Evans, who, he said, was a mosici-au. a" com- t poser of versatile genius. I In reply, Mr Harry F, vans said no 1)001)10 were more gifted musically than the Welsh, They- had the voices, keen imagination and extoordi-? nary emotion. If these gifts were turned into? tbe proper cbannela there waa no reason why Wales shonld not take her place among tha greatest musical nations of the world. (Applausej Musical cnticstaantedthemwithcot having pro- v dnced. anything great in Wales. The tamit was not an unjust one, but he was obliged to the Cat- > ,diff festival for giving "Welshmen a chance to remedy tbe defect. (Hear, bear.) The prodoc- tion of his work at the last festival and ifiB ) reception by the critics woald be an incentive to i A'e!sh composers to cutaway fcoxn the etUQtiOQ*! » hymn and anthem style.
RAN AFTER A CAT. ^
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RAN AFTER A CAT. Abercarn Street Fatality. Willie Freeman, the four year old son of ( George Freeman, Railway-terrace, Abercarn, i was on Saturday knocked down by a grocer's j "art, owned by Alderman George Jones, J.P., Abercanj, ia the street opposite his home, and killed on the spot. The boy, it isstated, was iug with threa otherB on the pavement. He ran on to the road after a cat as the cart wall ap- proachin", and was knocked down by a wheel." which paased over his neck. Deceased's father is 1 [ an official at present engaged at one of tbe tic. wotka at Llanell y. On Saturday afternoon the remains of ex.
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Councillor Evan Jones, of Barry Dock, were interred at Mertbyr Dovan Cemetsry. The funeral was largely attended. A service was held at Dinam Hali. and at the cemetery, the Rev." Christmas J. Lewis and Itev. J. Mydyr.Evana officiating. On Sunday a memorial service wm j held at the Forward Movement Hall, pf which I church,