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.. CHAPTER XIlI.
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CHAPTER XIlI. My Fellow Guest. Who told you that, Miss Stapleton ?" I asked, when I recovered speech. "Mr Garshore." "Garshore," I cried. Do you mean Ralph Garshore ?" Yes. He is here—staying with us. Bo. rode into Pickering this afternoon and hasn't re- turned yet." I didn't know that you were acquainted with him." He's a friend of dad's. They met some- where on the Continent a couple of years ago, Ithink." And how long has he been here with you ?" He arrived yesterday. He's rather amus- ing—so full of quaint anecdotes." And one of his anecdotes concerned dear old Granny, eh ?" I said in a hard tone. Yea but it isn't true, is it, Mr Ralston ?" she asked earnestly. There must be some mistake—I'm sure there is." Of course," I said, affetpting to treat the matter humorously. The thing is too absurd. Fancy Granny being guilty of murder." But where is he ?" she asked. I've tele- ( graphed to him twice to the Cecil to-day, and received no reply." He's "left London. He had urgent busiacs, and went away quite suddenly," I said, for sorely it was no lie. The point which puzzled me was the motive of Garshore's open denun- ciation of my friend. t I haven't the pleasure of Mr Garshore's personal acquaintance," I went on." And if he traduces Granny I have no wish to meet him." I'm srre there must be some mistake," she declared as she stood just within the door. >' Ask him when you are alone together to- Bight." "Garshore knows of my arrival ?" Yes, dad mentioned it at luncheon." What did your visitor say ?" That he'd be very delighted to meet you." I was silent. I longed to tell the girl of the knavish trick that her father's guest had played her lover. But my lips were sealed. All I could do was to remain silent and watch- ful. That she was deeply agitated at receiving no response to her telegrams was appparent. What Ralph Garshore had told her had no doubt sowed the seed of suspicion in her heart. He bad declared that the man whom she wor- shipped as her hero was a fugitive from jus- tice. Again, sh& repeated her question—Did I believe it" to be true ? laughing the suggestion V> scorn, I said in a forcible tone, If Mr Garshore says this against Granny, then he is surely no friend of yours, Myra. Before we believe him, he must prove it." Yes, Mr Ralston," replied the girl, lifting her white troubled face to me, and looking at me with those big blue-grey eyes of hers. He mast.,prove it. When you meet to-night you will face him as Granny's friend, and demand an explanation, won t you ?" I promised. What else could I do ? Then hastily she said I must go and dress at once, or I shall be late, and dear old dad hates to be kept waiting for his dinner, as you know." When she had so ne, I closed) the door after her and stood in the centjje of the room re- flecting. It was surely a strange contretemps that I should be a. guest under the same roof with the man who had ruined my dearest friend. Half-an-hour later, when I re-entered the drawing-room, I found Ralph Garshore, dark- haired, slim and tall, smart in perfect-fitting evening clothes, standing with old Mr Staple- ton awaiting Myra and Miss Chambers. Let me introduce you,Ralston," exclaimed my host. "This is my friend Garshore—a traveller like yourself." I,smiled,uttered some commonplace remark, and took the manicured hand he stretched forth to me. My game was, I saw, to make friends with this man. He probably knew me to be a friend of Granny Gough, and it inter- ested me to watch his attitude. "Stapleton Jh as just been telling me that you spend most of your time abroad,' he remarked pleasantly I, too, am very little in England nowadays. I believe you know the East, don't you ?" l £ es, fairly well," was my response. "I've beemn the Banana and through Turkey many times. Only quite recently I was at Monastir Pre^ba, Ochrida, and other places inMace- donia*' By Jove, he exclaimed. Rather tough travelling there just now, isn't it ? We hear BO much of massacres by Greek and Bulgarian bands." Yes," I said with a laugh. It can hardly be called a' safe place. Do you know the East ?" "Thecàpitals only. Sofia, Constantinople, and Athens," was his answer. I noted that he made no mention of Bucharest, the capital where he had filched a fortune from the hands of the man for whom he had pretended friend Ship. Oh, Ralston's like the Wandering Jew," declared old Mr Stapleton. One never knows where he is, or what's become of him. You hear of him from all sorts of odd corners, and have to look up the place in a gazetteer." The evening light was fast falling, and as we ptood there in the summer dusk I detected that the man's, eyes were fixed upon me with an unmistakable look of antagonism. Did he suspect that I had followed him up there for the purpose of :,ùn.maskiD.g him. He moved uaeasily, though he folded his arms and endured to remain calm. The lights had not yet been lit in the long old-fashioned room, with its heavy odour of roses, and for that the man before me was evidently thank- ful- Ip. a few moments a girlish voice cried I hope, dad, I'm not late. Forgive me if I am," and, turning, I saw Myra standing by us, in pale turquoise chiffon, with pink roses in her hair, a sweet dainty figure with a face that was perfect. -ligon her neck, suspended by a thin gold chain, she wore an antique Grecian charm, given-her by an uncle, who had brought it from Patras, where he had been making archaeo- logical excavations. Itwasa tiny golden image of some Pagan god of the Trojans, and had ages ago been worn by the beautiful Greek in whose tomb it had so long remained .undis- turbed. Her only other ornament was à plain gold bangle, a birthday present from Granny. I had been With him in Palermo when he had bought it. He had wished to buy her a fine diamond bracelet, but at my suggestion he had'chosen the more simpleornanftent as befit- ting the occasion. rt You know each other, Mr Garshore ?" she asked, turning to my fellow guest. Dad has already introduced you to Mr Ralston, I suppose?" The fellow, turning his back upon me to speak with her, replied in the affirrnative,while at that moment the butler appeared and an- nounced that dinner was served. In the pretty old-fashioned dining-room,with its dark panelled walls and old blue china, Miss Chambers was already awaiting us. In the centre of the table stood a big silver can-I delabra, the lights of which were subdued by little crimson shades, while the old silver glistened upon the white nanery, and a big silver bowl of fresh Gloire de Dijon roses sent forth their sweet odour throughout the toom. The meal was essentially cosy and pleasant. Old Mr Stapleton was very well off, and he dis- agreed with modern progress. He believed in keeping up the same traditions as his father and grandfather bad done before him. The motor-car was the only innovation at Staple- ton Grange, and that had been a necessity owing to its distance from the railway station. Since the days of Elizabeth, the Stapletons bad held possession of that house and lands, atia some of the very silver plate before us had been the property of Roger Stapleton, early in the sixteenth century. The present head of the house was nothing if not a typical York- shire gentleman, a good rider to hounds, a fine shot, open-handed and generous—a man full of the pride of an ancient race, and yet to his inferiors always affable and ever ready to render a poor man a service. Hisaneestry and his old, port were the two things he most prized. Of the former, though he bore no title, he had every right to be Sroud. The family had sprung from Nicholas e Stapleton, who is mentioned in records in the reign of King John, and whose warlike son was created Baron Stapleton in 1313. As we sat there,Myra,bright and vivacious as she always was, chatted merrily with Ralph Gar- more and myself, and they were arranging a run- in the car over to a flower show in York on the morrow. fellow guest was, I saw, very anxious and unsettled. My unexpected arrival had evidently upset his plans, whatever they had been. He was, of course, uncertain whether Granny had exposed him to me, and that I, on my part, would expose him to my host and his daughter. He saw that his position had become an ex- ceedingly unsafe one. To the people at the Hotel Cecil he had pretented to leave for the Continent and had given an address abroad, whereas I had found him living in juiet seclusion as guest at Stapleton Granffe. I looked at his dark face across the table and wondered. The countenance was not an open one. The eyes were set too closely to- gether, while beneath, t the well-trimmed moustache was a hard cruel mouth, the mouth of a man who was as dishonourable as he was unscrupulous. < What would father and daughter think if they knew the actual truth of their guest's trickery towards Granville Gough, or of his association with the notorious woman, Lydia Popescu ? In that calm old English home, where everything breathed the spirit of old world solidity, and where the head of the house was as fine a specimen of the gentleman as could be found between Tyne and Thames, they were entertaining a dangerous person HUiWares—a man who did not hesitate to use V. a woman's evil reputation for the advance ment of his own ends. I could have risen with the finger of scorn pointed at him, and denounced him. Yet was it wise.- Would. it act beneficially. to the en- terests of the hunted man now gone into hiding or otherwise ? To my host I was describing some of my journeys hither and thither on the Contiutent since our last meetings when suddenly he said: "And how is Granny Gough, the dear old fellow ?" Garshore pricked up his years, 'and glanced quickly across at me. Oh." He 19 all right, just as merry as ever," I replied airily. "Browses on Nietzche's works, is usual, and is full of quaint philosophy that's all his own. He was in London the other day, and I invited him down. But he didn't reply," my host remarked. He's gone hack to the Continent," I answered. He had some pressing business 1 think, for he left sud den] y." Granny Gough," eclaimed Garshore, inter- rupting, as he fixed his eyes upon mine. Do you mean Granville Gough. Do, you know him ?" Why did he ask that question, I wondered. At that moment 1 could not see why he made inquiry of a matter of which he must be quite cognisant Later on I recogmsebd the reason. Oh," yes, quite well," I replied and at the same moment Myra glanced at me "ftjth a. strange light in her anious eyes. I knew well what was passing through her mind. Around the trunk was an old wooden seat. j Gough is an old friend of mine." I added. We ften spend a good deal of time together on the Continent," and, as a further stab, I said, Quite recently we were in Bucharest. I assisted him in the transaction of some busi- ness with the Minister, Soutzo." 1 saw that his brow darkened. 1 had referred to a subject that was to say the least, an unpalatable one. That expression, though it only rested upon him for a singfe second, caused me to resolve upon the course 1 should pursue. And 1 lost little time in putting the sugges- tion into practice. CHAPTER XIV. The Warning VaiDe. Meet me under the big cedar, down by the river in half an hour," Myra wispered to me, as she followed me out of the breakfast room next morning. < Very well," 1 replied, and we parted. mlse 1 kept the tryst as promised. The tree she indicated ,was a large and very old ceder of Lebanon, the spreading branches of whjch. stretched out afar on either side, while around the huge black trunk was an old wooden seat in an advanced stage of decay. An ideal spot for a meeting of lovers, many of the dead and gone daughter of the Stapletons had no doubt been wooed and won there. Close by ran the calm, broud river, glistening in the bright morning sunshine, while all around was a stretch of smoth, well-kept lawn. It was a portion of the grounds to which no guest ever came except for embarkation in the boat moored closed by, and as 1 sat with a cigarette and awaiting my friend's well-beloved, 1 won- dered why she had invited me there- Very soon, indeed almost punctually to the minute, she came-all in white, with a sun bonnet of pink cotton tied beneath her chin with charming effect. It's awfully good of you to come, Mr. Ralston," she said hurriedly as she met me But I'm so very afraid that he'll follow me." Garshore Yes. Let's get into the boat and go stream, she suggested. Therefore I handed her in, and unmoored, it and taking the sculls pushed oat into the river, and allowed it to drift sslowly away and down behind a belt of willows, so that my fellow-guest would not be able to discover us, even though he came in seach. I thought you and he intended to motor into York ?" I said. Not until this afternoon," was her reply, as she took the rudder lines and settled her- self among the cushions in the stern. "Of course you'll come with us. Dad will come also." If you wish," I replied, and as I gazed into her face I saw that she had met me with some distinct and deflnate purpose, and that purpose was certainly not to invite me to go for a motor run. For a few minutes we were both silent. The sun was already hot, and at last I suggested that we should pull across into the shadow, where some willows overhung until their branches swept the water. To which she readily assented. The man is not only, an adventurer, butan assassin," shotited Garsfapre, In her pink bonnet, made on the model of those used by milkmaids of the last century, she looted particularly sweet. It suited her fair complexion and piquant features. When 1 had pulled up under the tree, shipped my oars and tied my boat up to an old root n the bank, she suddenly summoned courage to speak, saying Mr Ralston, I've come to you this morning to-I mean to ask you to tell me all about Granny." To tell you about him," I echoed, pretend; ing to he astonished at her request. What can I tell you, more than you already know ? You are well acquainted with him, Myra," I added in a deep intense voice and if you'll permit me to say so, I know. that he loves you with the most ins tense devotion." I know—1 know all that," she exclaimed, with a choking sob, her cheeks flushing slightly as she spoke. He has already told me so. But you, Mr. Ralston, are his best and most intimate friend. You know more about him than 1 do." I hardly think that," was my reply He is my very deard friend it is true. But wbi e I am only his friend, he is your lover." I know he loves me. I feel confident of that. But-" and she paused in hesitation. But what ? If you are convinced of his affection, is that not all-sufficient ?" Ah, Mr Ralston, you don't know," she cried in agitation. You don't understand." I suppose that man has been uttering some of his confounded slanders concerning Granny -eh ?" "If they were only slanders I would not mind, for T would not listen to them," she said. But alas, they appear to be actual truth. He declares that Granny is an adventurer." This was a poser. Granny had, of course, never allowed the truth to leak out to Myra or or father. He loved her, and used often to say to me that he would be wealthy one day, for one of his many company promoting schemes must turn up trumps. Therefore why should he confess the ugly truth to her ? I had agree with him. I ha,d been an acces sory to a fraud upon the girl, ;,lcJ. I now bitterly regretted. I hope, Myra, that you don't believe this man," I said iu all seriousness, looking straight into her fpce. He is here apparency in order to besmirch Grinny's honour, for not omy does he allege that my friend Gough is an adventurer, but that he is an assassin." Have you yetspoken to him concerning his allegations ?" Not yet. But when I do I shall speak out very straight," 1 said. Granny is one of my best friends, and he'll have to answer to me for thsee calumnies." But you won't make a scene here, Mr. Ralston, will you ?" she asked, bending for- ward anxiously. Dad would never forgive me for repeating to you what Mr Garshore has told me." Then he has spoken to your father ?" I think so—that's the worst of it." "Why do you believe he has ?" Because only this morning when I chanced to mention Mr Gough casually while he and I were in the library alone, he snapped out something about hoping that man would never dare to show his face again at Staple- ton." 1 bit my lip, for 1 saw that Garshore had been mischief making, and that the seeds of suspicion he had sown would take a good deal of uprooting. For a moment I said nothing. 1 was trying to see some solution of the great difficulty now presenting itself. So he has been endeavouring to poison your father's mind—eh ? For what reason, I wonder ?" I asked. Perhaps, Myra, he has aspirations to your hand, and is trying to take Granny's place in your heart." Take Granny's place," she cried resent- fully. He will not do that—never fear. I love Granny far too much. He is, I confess to you—his best friend—the only man I have ever loved," she added in a low earnest tone, gazing at me with those wonderful blue-grey eyes that always held even myself, prosaic bachelor that I was, in a kind of fascination. But I thought you said you liked Gar- shore ?'' I remarked. I did,when we first met. But I can now see that in telling dad these extraordinary stories concerning my lover he has some distinct plte- rior motive. Which is certain to be in favour of him- self," I assured her. I happen to know some- thing of this man, Myra, and I warn you against him. I cannot tell you all until Granny permits me, but I can assure you that Ralph Garshore is his most bitter enemy. Tift dear old chap bears no malice towards anybody— or or-" Or what ?" she asked quickly. What could he do ?" He could make- an exposure which would place Garshore in a very different light in your father's eyes. Indeed, I very much doubt whether if your dad knew the truth he would keep him as gufiSt under his roof another hour." You speak in enigmas, Mr Ralston," she said, puzzled. Cannot you be more ex- plicit ?" "No. I would only appeal to you for Gran- ny's sake to disregard all these extraordinary fictions which this fellow is evidently spread- ing. He loves you, Myrar&nd is true to you*" And, I will be true to him, Mr Ralston, I promise Von," the sweet-faced girl assured me. What Garshore has told me shall make no difference. Ah, if he would only reply to my letters." He's (ravelling. I don't expect he has re- ceived your last letters. When I saw him he told me that his destination was very uncer- tain." That would coincide with Garshore's state- ment that he is flying from justice," she re- marked quietly, watching my face the while. How I controlled myself, I scarcely knew. JBut I managed to reassure her, telling her how deeply my friend was in love with her, and how though he might travel ,and not write, yet every hour his thoughts were of her. Poor Granny. He was under a cloud sadly under a cloud at that moment. I was, I think, his only friend besides herself. Make a point of seeing Mr Garshore alone, and learn from him his motive in uttering all these untruths," she urged. But do be cir- cumspect, I beg of you. Do not let him know that you are already aware that he is Granny's enemy." Leave him to me, Myra," I said. Place your trust in the man who loves you, and close your ears to all these foul calumnies. When the time comes for me to speak openly, I shall speak. And when I do, I assure you that the hard truth will be as unpalatable to this man as it will prove astounding to yoiir father and yourself." I—I can ocly thank you, Mr Ralston, for your great kindness to us both," the girl said in a deep earnest tone,leaning her dimpled chin upon her small white hand. Your words re- assure me that Garshore has told lies. Granny Gough is a gentleman, and I will never believe that he is a mere adventurer." I have said he is an adventurer, Miss Stapleton." exclaimed a man's voice from among the bushes on 1he bank, causing us both to start and turn quickly. And I here repeat it. I will prove it to you. This man- the man you love—is not only an adventurer, but an assassin." The speaker, who stood on the bank a few yards from us. with his hands behind his back in defiance, was Ralph Garshore, (To be continued.
Death of Famous Judge.
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Death of Famous Judge. PASSING OF LORD JUSTICE DAY. INTERESTING ANECDOTES. Sir John Day, former Judge of the High Court, died on Saturday morning at his re- sidence, Falkland Lodge, Newbury. Deceased, who was 82, was born near Bath, and became a barrister of the Inner Temple in 1849. He was a Judge in the High Court from 1882 to 1901, and was one of the three Judges who sat on the Parnell Commission. Sir John was the author of several publications dealing with legal matters. Deceased had been seriously ill for some time, but he recovered sufficiently to go out driving. ThAre was, however, a relapse, and he died at 2.30 on Saturday morning. Judgment Day," as the late Sir John was called, has only lived to enjoy seven years of retirement. Lord Justice Day was remembered in legal circles as a nocturne in black." His hair was jet, and his whiskers, long and full, were divided in the Dundreary fashibn. Of gloomy and sombre expression his outward ap- pearance gave no hint of the fund of humour be had at command, and, indeed, was chiefly reserved for his friends. In court he was re- markably silent. Throughout a great portion of the Parnell Commjgion sittings he was mute and wben at length he broke silence, Sir Frank Lockwood commemorated the incident in a cartoon, en- titled Day unto day uttereth speech." His appointment on the Commission, it may be recalled, was a subject of warm political controversy, and Mr Gladstone was among those who gave their votes against his name. Called to the Bar in 1849, Sir John took silk in 1872. He won hischief distinctionin company cases. The Court would lose its decorum when he would read out the pompous sentences of a prospectus of a concern whose shareholders had been disillusioned by the contrast afforded by the realities. For election petitions he was also in great request. His success, however, only came after long waiting .For 10 years he did practically nothing in the courts, and this gave him time to write Common Law Procedure Acts," a treatise which was an instant success. His elevation to the Bench occurred in 1882, and for many years he continued the old cus- tom of going on circuit on horseback, being the last Judge to do so. An ungainly rider, he was the butt of endless criticism, and Sir Frank Lockwood would claim that he had seen the Judge riding to certain destruction at Hyde. Park Corner, and had only just been in time to save him. Sir John once tried the treadmill in a prison in the North, and the gaoler, entering into the humour of the situation, pretended not to hear his request to be set free, with the result that, when the judgr; was allowed to complete his experiment, his brow was covered with per- spiration. "What is the equivalent of the lash in terms of penal servitude 1 The question was settled by Mr Justice Day at Swansea, ten years ago. He had before him five prisoners who had been severally convicted of the crime of robbery with violence. These he divided into two groups—the redaimable, and the irre- claimable. To the three reclaimable he awarded four months' imprisonment with 40 lashes, and to the irreclaimables seven years' penal servitude. -Working this out, we find that in Mr Justice Day's judgment 40 lashes were equivalent to 18 months' imprisonment, or, in other words, that one lash equals two months. A slight allowance must be made between hard labour and penal servitude, and also for the 25 per cent. reduction, which every pri- soner can secure on a long term of good con- duct. It is a little remarkable that the Prevention of Crimes Bill should have achieved its second reading on the eve of his death. On one occasion several prisoners in Liver- pool escaped a flogging on being medically certified as unfit. At the next Assizes the Judge postponed passing sentences on the men found guilty until after the doctor had seen them. Then, those who escaped the lash received long terms of penal servitude. By a sample of judicial ignorance Justice Day's Who is Sherlock Holmes 7" will rank as a classic. He retained a curious prejudice. He would refuse to hear a barrister who wore a moustache and a junior who had this adornment once thought the judge was deaf, and continued to raise his voice until he was shouting. But the judge was adamant. No, I can't hear you," he replied. If you will insist on covering your upper lip with a canopy of hair, how can you expect anybody to hear you ?"
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Many streets in Belfast are under several inches of water as a result of the copious rainfall during the present month.
- Y GOLOFN GYMREIG
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Y GOLOFN GYMREIG Dymunir i'rt gohebwyr Cymreig gyfeirio eu gohebiaethau, Uyfrau i'w hadolygu, etc., fel y canlyn:—" IFA.NO, Cii Hedd, Berth win- street. Carc)iff."
AT Y BEIRDD.
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AT Y BEIRDD. Mwyn a thyner, fel hiraeth bardd am fardd, yw can Myfyr Hefin uwch bedd Dewi Gwen- draeth a phrudd ddyddorol, yn ddiau, i'r darllenydd, fel i'r Gol., yw adgof Dafydd am Ben—perchen awen braffaf Cymru. Da, a hawdd ei mwynhau, yw'r gerdd i'r Drugareddfa." Y mae rhywbeth hyfryd yn ei hawyrgylch didwrw. Hapus hefyd yw ei nodyn personol a'i pharchedig ofn." Gan fod y ddeuddarn o waith Dafydd ap Gwilym wedi eu mwynhau gystal gan liaws o ddarllenwyr a bardd ieuainc y Golofn, fe bar- heir y gyfres fel y cenhado'r gofod; ac fe geisir, wrth reswm, amrywio'r awduron. Na ddigalonned yr ieuanc gyda'r hen eiriau yn hytrach, mynned Eiriadur bychan swllt Mr Owen M. Edwards, M.A., a sylwed mor firain yw lfurf yn gystal g ystyr y geiriau a'r gys- trawen. Y mae yn fwriad gan amryw i dorri allan y darnau hyn o waith yr hen feirdd fel y dclont allan, er mwyn eu diogelu.
. . BARDDONtAtTH.
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BARDDONtAtTH. Y DRUGAREDDFA. I fewn i'r Cysegr Santeiddiolaf af, Ond wedi diosg fy mydolrwydd ffwrdd Ac o fy mlaen yr Arch a'r Drugareddfa gaf; Ond rhaid i-mi ofalu b idio'i chwrdd. Yr archoffeiriaid y.w yr unig rai A ga nesau at hon fel gweision Nêr; Ond er yn waharddedig, ca'dd fy.mai, A'm drwg, eu tywallt arni hi yn ber. Mor hawdd i'm hawen, teHy, daro tant 0 ddiolch am y Drugareddfa Ion Y mae ar hon o hyd obeithion gant Ac emyn hedd i'r galon garreg hon." Y Drugareddfa fwyn! Boddlonaf fi I arall gyffwrdd a hyhi o hyd; Ac os caf olwg siriol ar fy. Rhi Rhwng y ceriwbiaid heirdd, O! gwyn fy myd! o ie, gvgn fy myd fod gan fy mai I Ryw le i bwyso o wneuthuriad drud,— Fod sedd trugaredd yma yn y byd, A Duw yn maddeu beiau'r euog rai. Wrth edrych arni'n gorwedddros yr arch, Ychydig a feddyli&f ei bod hi Yn cynnwys rhyw ddrychfeddwl ddaw & bri 1'1' fron, a'i llanw fyth a dwyfol barch. Y mae'r ceriwbiaid sy'n ei hamgylchynnu Yn denu'm henaid^ti, i emynnu Uwchben gorseddfa cymwynasau Duw, Lie ceir o'i drugareddau ddarlun byw. Y Drugareddfa brydferth! Fwyned yw A'r heirdd geriwbiaid sy'n ei gvvylio hi, A Duw ei Hunan gyda pharch a bri Yn siarad rhyngddynt hwy a chalon friw. o dani y mae'r llechf-a cerryg" sydd Yn cynnwys "y dystiolaeth" fythol gi^f} A'r rhei'ny 'n tystiolaetliu dros y Nef A'r enaid rodia yn yr anial prudd. Gorchuddio'r deddfau wna, a'u cadw'n sant- aidd, A d'wedyd mae with druan ddyn o hyd Am barchu deddfau'r Nefoeda yn y byd, A'u cadw fyth yn arch ei fywyd iraidd. Gorchuddio'r deddfau wna, fel pe yn d'wedyd Fod trugareddau Duwuwchlaw y ddeddf: Na raid i enaid daro nodau lleddf Pe torrai un o honynt yn ei fywyd. 0 wyliau'r flwyddyn y bwysicaf oedd Yr un y taenid gwaed ar hyd-ddi hi, A Duw'n cyhoeddi arni hi ar g'oedd Fod beiau'r oil yn soddi yn y ili'. O! dlysed oedd y Drugareddfa der Tra beiau gwlad yn arllwysedig drosti, A thywyniadau gwenau Duw a>' hyd-ddi Yn gloewi'r gwaelyd lif i gyd mor ber. "Rhwng y ceriwbiaid y preswylia Duw" Yw iaith y Drugareddfa fyth at ddyn: Rhwng y ceriwbiaid eto y daw'r un Fu'n mhell yn agos yn yr anial gwyw. Ac O! geriwbiaid santaidd, 'ydych chwi Wrth ledu eich adenydd drosti hi Ynteimlo'r gweithrediadau grasol yma Yn myn'd ymlaen ar sedd y Drugareddfat Ha t sedd y Drugareddfa ydyw hon: Mae barn a dialeddau Duw ym mhell 0 gyrraedd hon—mae hedd y Wynfa well Yn gorfoletjdu ami hi yn lion. Y Drugareddfa rasol! Hardded ydoedd Gwneuthuriad hon o'r coethaf aur i gyd 1 A'r Crewr wedi 'i llunio hi i fyd, Hyd nes yr oedd yn gerfwaith hardda'r bobl- oedd. "Cufydd a hanner ydoegd yn ei ned; A dau gufydd a hanner yn ei hyd; Ond oddimewn i hon, pa grebwyll dd'wed Am holl ystyron deddfau Duw i gyd7 Mor techan oedd! Ac hawdded—hawdded ydoedd Ei chludo oddiamgylch yr hollleoedd1 O'i hamgylch hi y tabernaclwyd eto I'w chadw'rf sicr tra'r genedl yJl. ymdeithio. A Mi a gyfarfyddaf a thi yma: Llefaraf oddiar y Drugareddfa," Medd Duw ei Hun. Rhyw fan cyfarfod ydoedd I fyd i ymgymodi gyda'r Nef oedd. Ymddangosasai y Shecinah yma Rhwng y ceriwbiaid yn oleuni mawr, Gan daenu yno lewyrch blaen y wawr Fydd ar y truan ddyn yn ddydd yugNgwynfa Bob blwyddyn deuai'r archoffeiriad fifyddlon I gysegr santeiddiolaf Duw ei Hunan I daenu gwaed y cymod drosti'n dirion Dros fynnych feiau'r Iuddew trist ac atlan. o fewn yr Arch ceid condemjiiadau trymion I'r un a dorrai ddeddfau'r nefoedd dirion; Ar glawr yr Arch ceid gras yn ymorseddu, Gan ddweyd fod hedd i ddyn er wedi pechu. D'wed deddfau'r Arch fod cosp i bob tro- seddwr,— Mai enaid mewn cadwyrii bythol fydd: Ond eto'r Drugareddfa dd'wed mai rhydd, A glan, a hoew, fydd y dua/i gvflvvr. Y mae maddeuant a rhyddhad pechadur Yn ddeddf barhaol yn llywodraeth Duw," Medd llais y Drugareddfa yn fy natur: Y mae awdurdod deddf gan hon i'r byw. II. Wrth edrych ami yn gorchuddio'r deddfau, Fe ddaw i 'nghalon i ryw ymholiadau o hyd am hon; a gweled wyf fy hunan Yn debyg iddi, er mor brudd yw f'anian; Ond gwn fod deddfau'r Nefoedd yn fynghalon, A'r Arglwvdd wedi'u cuddio yno'n dirion; A'r ffurf allanol welir fyth oh on wyf Yn cadw "y dystiolaeth groew ynwyf. III. Nis gallaf beidio meddwl am fy Ngheidwad Wrth edrych ar y Drugareddfa. ddifrad, A aeth i'r Nef p.'i waed ci hunan droswyf Gan ei daenellu'n nefol dyner ynwyf. Nes if a chalon gywir" ato beunydd: Y mae i ni Offeiriad bythol ddedwydd, "A wnaeth ffordd newydd,"a" £ Eordd fywiol** hefyd, Drwy ten Ei gnawd" i mi i'r tragwyddolfyd. IV. Y Drugareddfa gyntaf a ddiflannodd: Dim ond arwyddlun egwan ydoedd hi O'r Archoffeiriad Mawr, a ymddanghosodd Yn niwedd byd i ddifa 'mhechod I. Ccleg y De. Myfyr Hefin. BLODEUYN AR FEDD DEWI GWENDRAETH. Dewi anwyl! fel dy enw Yw dy feddrod a'th goffadj Y mae eto'n tynnu sylw Beirdd fy ngwlad; Dod yr oeddwn tua'r capei I ddweyd gair am Geidwad dyn,— Meddwl am ei fywyd uchel, Llawn o rin. Ond mor Bin-mor rtin y teimlais Wrth fynd heibio'th ieuanc feddj Ac ar Sul y Blodau wylais Dros fy ngwedd; Wedi'r cyfan^o'r holl alaeth Ddaeth i 'mron o'th golli di, Gwelaf heddyw ffyrdd marwolaeth Yn llawn bri. Wedi syllu ar dy feddrod, Troais I i holi rhai O'th gyfoedion am dy hyglod Ddawn di-drai; Ces atebiad croew ganddynt Am dy ddoniau rhyfedd di; Gwelais fod dy swynion ynddynt Hwy mewn bri. Yn y fynwent* fwyrr&idd ytna. Huna cewri cryfion lor Mae'r tri Reynolds" fu'n Siloam Fel y môr Yn llefaru'n^hyglyw heddyw; Ond o'th feddrod ieuanc di Y daw'r apeliadau gortyw Ataf ft. Dewi anwyl! nid yw anian Wedi llwyr anghofio'th-feddj Gwelaf heddyw dlysni purlan Fel dy wedd Yn blodeuo ar dy feddrod, Er mor arw yw dy faen '\¡ Fel pe am i'th hanes hynod Fyn'd ymlaen. Hwnt ar drothwy'r ysgol t fywiol Y cyfarfum a thydi; Heddyw wrth dy feddrod Yrwyffl; 'Roedd un arall huna heddyw Y pryd hwnnw gyda mi; Erbyn hyn mae Ben a thithau Gyda'm Rhi, Gorphwys bellach, Dewi Gwendraethj Mae dy hanes eto'n dêr; Fe geir eto fwyn ysbrydiaeth O'th oes bar. Mae yr hadau da a heuaist Eto'n tyfu 'ngwinllan Duw; Ac mae'r gwersi oil a ddysgaist, A'r pregethau a bregethaist, Fyth yn fyw. Myfyr Hefin. Coleg y De, Sul y Blodau, 1908. •Mynwent Siloam, Cydweli. tYsgol yr Hen Goleg, Caerfyrddin4
The Spirit of a Man.
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The Spirit of a Man. By ETHEL M. lORIE. (Author of The Idealist," &c., &c.) It was late at night inmidsammer and hardly a breath stirred in the sweet-scented jasmine that grew closely around the open windows of the smoking room; yet the man within shivered. The little clock on the mantelpiece struck half-past eleven, and the man rose from the shabby armchair he had occupied, and walked restlessly to the window. He drew the curtains apart and a flood of moonlight lit up the untidy yethome-likeroom,with itsnumber- less evidence of masculine occupation Two I half-smoked pipes were on the table, and one was in the rack on the wall, the property of Frank, the only tidy member of the family. A newly-cut number of the Lancet" lay on the floor, beside the evening paper, and an over- turned ash-tray was on top of both. The man himself, Lionel Frayne, with his long limbs and unhappy face, looked strangely out of tone with the atmosphere of this cosy room, and yet he was, if indeed anyone was in this strangely ordered demesne, master of the house. He felt about the mantelpiece in the half- light, and, finding his pipe, filled and lit it and sat down once more. A broad band of moon- light penetrated a corner of the room, and rested upon a wide-open and somewhat untidy work-basket,on top ofwhichlay a half-mended football jersey, and the thing worried Frayne so that he changed his position and moved the old armchair to the window, then he lay back and watched the smoke curl upwards from his briar. The pipe was an old friend, and to-night its magic worked wonders. The man's face lost its look of worry, and the lines of his* forehead vanished, as a series of pictures grouped them- selves in the mist of his tobacco smoke. The first scene was enacted in this very room nearly twenty j years ago, but in those days its occupants had not learnt the neces- sity of a smoke-room, and the place was a nursery. The day was very cold, Frayne rememered, and a miserable group had gathered around the blazing fire that the kindly old housekeeper had remembered, in the confusion, to light. There were four boys in the room, ranging from him- self then sixteen,to five-year-old Billie, and one little girl. It was the future of the girl that the four were discussing. I don't see how we can keep her," Frank said in a voice that told of many tears, but I know this—if she's going to be sent away, I go,too." He pulled up his sleeve and displayed a thin, brown arm. I'm thirteen," he said, and I reckon I can earn something." I'll work, too," Cliff said, in the pride of ten years. "Bronz minor was only nine when he ran away." What would you do t" sneered Frank,long- ing to say something that would break the stillness. Work sums for a living—six and six make ten ?" Arithmetic was a tender subject with Cliff, and his lower lip began to tremble when the baby created a diversion by falling out of her low chair, and landing with a loud bump upon her head on the floor. Lionel rated Billy kfor not holding her, and Frank, whose affection for the baby amounted to a passion, picked her up and gave her such a ride on his foot as to drive all thoughts of a fall out of her head, and leave room only for delighted gurgles of laughter. All eyes were turned towards the baby, and All eyes were turned towards the baby, and Lionel felt A strange twinge of pain go through his body as.be surveyed the rough little mop of curls that had been the ptide of the mother they had buried yesterday. Here," he said, speaking gruffly to subdue the lump in his throat. Somebody'd better brush her hair. Muz wouldn't think so much of it like that." He bit his lip and walked quickly to the window, to turn again, in an in- stant, as Billie raised his voice in a heart- broken wail. Cliff hauled him up from the hearth-rug with a truly heroic decision not to do the same himself. Go and get the hairbrush, Bill, there's a good kid," he said, the one with the silver thing on the back—she always used that one— it's softest." And then the thought of life as it was a fortnight ago filled his young soul with dismay, and he, too, buried his teeth in his lower lip and fell to playing with the baby's feet, .to hide, .the tears that he held to be un- manly ,a.t ten.. The brush was brought, and, wMi the gen- tlest fingers 11 the world, Frank brushed out the fascinatingbrowmcurls that grewso tliickiy I on Phil's baby head. She laughed again irre- sistibly and caught at the brush each time the boy attacked the front curls, so that Cliff had to hold her hands down. Then one of the blue bows on her fluffy shoes came undone.and Billie made a ludicrous attempt to tie it. He ended by pulling the ribbon off, and only the baby's laugh cut short another howl.Even little stuttering Billie wondered who would sew it on again. Lionel had stood for some time, with his hands in his pockets, surveying the group, aud now, kicking an obstructing hassock savagely across the room, he spoke. He was very tall and thin for his age, and the fact that he'd been earning enough to keep himself for nearly two years gave him an air of responsibility that would not liavp disgraced a man of twenty-five. Look here, boys," he said, she simply can't go, and that's all about it." 'Rah," .shouted Billy, and hit the baby's foot in his joy. Well, I'm going to work, anyway," said Frank, decidedly, "Uncle Harry* il take me in his office, and then I can do lessons at nights." Oh, don't be a fathead," l\ionel said, not ungraciously. He had always cherished a strange feeling of love for Frank, but would not for worlds have shown it. You're not a Hercules, my fine youngster, and you'd better learn to spell a b't before you startle Uncle Harry's office." Fathead yourself," answered Frank hotly, I'm going to work, so you can do what you like about it. I'm in the seventh form, and I reckon my spelling'll wait a while if it's not good enough now. I can do Euclid and arith- metic better than you can, and you know it,and I wouldn't have white shirts and patent lea- thers to pay for out of my earnings," he con- cluded, wounding what he knew to be immacu- late Lionel's weakest spot. Oh, very well, then, do as you like," the eldest boy said roughly, Uncle Harry's com- ing over to-morrow, and he said if we decided what we were going to do he would see about everything. Father left the house to mother, su that's secure, and there's money enough in the bank to keep us with mine added. I don't see how Mrs Harris is to be paid, but if we're going to keep Phil shell have to be kept too." Why will she ?" demanded Frank,jealously- We can do everything for PhiL I bathed her this morning and dressed her, and she don't look any the worse for it. She laughed the whole blessed time in the bath, even when Billie put the soap in her mouth." Didn't," said Billie, stolidly. She put it in herself," but nobody was listening. Frank was making elaborate plans, with his eager eyes fixed on his brother's face. I tell you what we could do," he said. "I could see to her before I left in the morning, then Cliff could stay home from school and look after her all day, and she'd be in bed all night," he said, triumphantly. How's that for a plan ?" Rotten," Lionel said. You're mad, boy, and what if anything happened—suppose she cut herself or the house caught fire ? What then ?" Frank was quiet. "No, we'll have to keep somebody to look after things," Lionel said, "though I don't see how it's to be done. Uncle Harry is sure to have some plan. And so it was decided that Phil should stay. The next picture that the blue mist showed was an incident that occurred ten years later, when Phil was twelve, and as much a boy as constant companionship with four boys could make her. Lionel coming in for tea one night was startled by sounds of most discordant whistling coming from a small room known as the medi- cine room. Even Phil whistled very musically, and Lionel went at once towards the sound. He found his sister standing in the middle of the room trying to bind up her right arm, the sleeve of which Was soaking" Sfwith blood. Her face was very white, and her smile as Lionel entered the room was a somewhat ghastly pretence. What's wrong, old man t" Lionel asked quickly, but Phil's composure would not stand the strain of answering, and without a word she went on binding the arm,the blood appear- ing through each fresh fold as she laid it on. She hated Lionel for coming in at that moment and yet she wished she could ask him for a drink, and then lie down in his kind, rough arms. Lionel was a god to twelve-year-old Phil. Look here, youngster, it's no use binding that up till you tuck your sleeve up," the brother sa.id,as quietly as if gashes were every- day affairs with him. He turned the sleeve up and brought to view a long, ugly cut half fified with gravel. Phil winced as he touched her arm, then laughed unsteadily. Spurts pretty much, doesn't it ?" she said, forcing herself to look. Does that mean it's an artery or a vein ?" But a merciful uncon- sciousness took possession of her, and she lay back, white and limp, in the arm Lionel had put around her. Frank came in just then, and together the two washed and bound up the wound. Phil was lying on the rickety smoking-room sofa when she regained con sciousness, and her first action was to sit up and look round quickly. Both watchers had moved away as she opened her eyes, and were now apparently reading. Lion," she called shakily, and Lionel went to her- Put your head down," she said, and I as he bent over her she whispered, Did Billie see—where is he ?" He's not home yet," Lionel said shortly. What's up, womany ?" Then his face, darkened, How did you get that cut ?" he asked, hut, apparently relieved, Phil had lain back on the pillows again. If Billie did it I shall thrash him," he said, and the girl's eyes flew open. I say, Lion," she said gently, both eyes on her brother's face, did I faint ?" Lionel nodded dumbly. He had never seen a girl faint before, and the memory of Phil's face was somewhat unmanning. She pulled his head down with heruninjured arm. Promise me, on your honour," she de- manded, that you'll never, never tell Billie ?" That depends on what Billie has to do with it," said Lionel, grimly. He doesn't know anything about it," the girl said triumphantly. That little fiend Trench Thomson set a trap for Billie, and 1 stepped on it—that's all." Lionel was regarding her with surprised eyes. On purpose ?" he asked, and Phil nodded. Promise," she said, and her brother pro- mised. All the same I'll half kill that young brute," he said, and departed to fulfil his threat. And then the pictures changed, and he saw Phil as she was to-day—tall and graceful, with the form of that sweet dream-woman, his mother; and the fearless brown eyes of his long dead father. And Phil was in love. Phil whom he, at thirty-five, still thought the best girl in the world. Phil whose womanliness was as con- tinual a joy to him as her boyishness was to Billie. Phil, with her slim brown hands, her shapely feet, her innate daintiness,was in love, and wittt a man that Lionel would rather see her dead than married to. Ay," he said to himself, coming back to the present with a start, as his pipe went out, there are worse things than death for girls like Phil." And just then the smoking room door opened and Phil entered with a tray, which she put silently on the table. Her hair hung down in a long plait past her waist, and she held up her white dressing gown as she walked. There are some sandwiches there for the boys, when they come in," she said, and turned to go, but Lionel called her softly. Phil," he said. She turned but did not answer, and he saw that her face was even as troubled as his own. I say, Phil," he said gently, Haven't you anything to say to a fellow ? It's no use bottling things up, you know, girlie, and besides—it isn't much like you. If you were any other girl. I should say you were being childish." It doesn't make much difference," the girl said, passing a hand wearily through her hair, what you think I'm behaving like, does it ? I mean it doesn't alter things." No-o, perhaps not," Lionel acknowledged, then he suddenly stood up and put both hands on Phil's shoulders. Sit down, there's a good chap," he said, and Phil took the armchajr opposite him. Her brother put his pipe on the mantelpiece, and in doing so noticed the time. It's nearly one," he said suddenly, Why aren't you in bed, Phil." I was," she said, her eyes fixed on the car- pet. And got up again ?'* And got up again." She looked very fair and young and girlish as she sat with the moonlight falling n her dainty slippers, and on her miserable face with its pretty fluffy aureole of hair. The sight of her maddened Lionel. By heaven, Phil," he said, hoarsely, You shall not marry that—that—scoundrel if I have to kill him with my own hands. I have it in my mind almost to show him to you as he is, even if it half kille i you, as it would, just to hear." He ground h:s teeth in his great anger. You shall not marry him, Phil," he said, and started as she raised her face in the moonlight, so deathly white and resolute was it. You forget, Lion," she said, with a gentle dignity, that I am over age, and you know I could marry him to-morrow if I wished. All the same, if it's any pleasure to you to know it, I shall not do so." Why?" asked Lionel," with a man's clumsi- ness, Did you see last night's paper ?" Lion," she pleaded, and her proud young head fell forward, while the man cutsed him- self for a sefiish brute. I suppose," Phil said, shyly limng her eyes, I suppose you wouldn't have told me ?" but Lionel couldn't reassure her. I don't know, womany," he said, frankly. You see, we can't help being a bit selfish about you seeing you're all-we've got. We seem t»>be saeh a sefc of old bachelors." ■ For a second, Phil's eyes danced. Billie she said, and laughed. Oh, Biliie's safety lies in the number of his loves," he said carelessly, and it will only be serious when he doesn't tell you all about them, as we know he does now. But Phil, old man," he said, and came over and sat on the arm of her chair, as he wouldn't have dared do if any of the others had been in the house, or if Phil hadn't been so hipped herself. You see it's so different with you, and somehow when I think that this may have been my fault I feel like a brute for to talk to you as I'm doing now, but you see you're such a" man in courage that I for- get sometimes that you're only a poor little white-souled girl. Oh Phil," he said, for she clutched at his hand and was kissing it hotly. Don't do that womany—really I say Phil I can't stand it —I can't really I" and she put his hand down only to take it up again and twine her fingers through his. You're the dearest old boy in the world," she said, then. Will you break all your old Anglican principles for once," she asked shyly, and be a father confessor ?" He stood up and shook his head. An old sinner like it e to listen to you, Phil," he said, unsteadily, no," then he concluded gently, "I'm thinking of you, dear—you'd be sorry afterwards, perhaps. You're like two Phils all in one to-night, old girl." But she was resolute. I'll risk being sorry afterwards," she said, "because I shall go i^ad if I have to bear things alone any longer," and Lionel sat down again opposite her, with one hand over his eyes. You boys are all such bricks," Phil began gently, that somehow you hurt me more, much more, than if you took no interest. Poor old Frank's got quite thin lately, even Billie seems different and I know Cliff wants to say something but dare not. I felt this all the time, and sometimes I almost hated you all for being so—so—splendid and treating me like a man, but it wasn't what I wanted somehow. You know, Lion, I've never until to-night said anything about it to you boys, for fear of hurting you,, but it's pretty hard for a girl sometimes, not to know what her mother was like." You're just like her, Phil," he said, softly. Oh, yes, in face perhaps, but I want to know how she thought even, and what she would have done il—if she'd been just like I am. You see," she wont on, I have to be so brave before the boys, that I' tn a bit of a coward alone," and Lionel only sighed. You know,<Lion, I haven't been much like other girls in some things, and I've never been in love before, so—well—I got pretty hard hit, you see," she went on pluckily, and I sup- pose I built too big an ideal around the real when I fell in love. The night I beame en- gaged to Leslie he told me a lot of things th^t shocked me-" What ?" said Lionel, incredulously. "Yes. I know about his having been in prison," she said quietly, but I don't believe nowL that he did what he was punished for. But' I didn't know," she said tremblingly, —" I didn't know that his first wife was living—he's divorced from her, you know." Lionel didn't know, but he said nothing. One thing more or less, he calculated savagely, made little difference. And when you found out 1" he asked. I wrote to him," she said, candidly. And ?" And he has never answered the letter. You know, Lion," she said earnestly, I knew, somehow, long ago, that 1 was in love with an ideal, and that my feeling for Leslie was not what I knew I should feel if I do ever really love but it's a strange impression of protec- tion that's taken possession of me." Phil," Lionel said, shocked. She smiled. You don't understand—I hardly thought you would. Things are upside down, and I feel a protection for him, though, of course, I'll never be called upon to exercise it. I do not mean protection of me, of course— you boys will always took after me. One gets queer impressions sometimes, though, and this seems to stick in my head." The garden gate slammed, then the front door, and the other three brothers came into the room. They did not notice PhiL 1 say, Lion, are you there r" asked Frank in agitated tones, and Phil slipped out quietly. Yes," Frayne answered, what's the matter—anything happened ?" He turned on the light and beheld three white faces. Good heavens. What's gone wrong 7" he asked quickly. Cliff spoke this time. <4 Coming home from the Gaston's," be said. we were followed by a boy, and just down the road he gave Frank, a note to be given to Phil at once." To Phil—from whom ?" Lionel demanded, holding out his hand, unconsciously, for the letter. Why, it's Leslie Staines' handwrit- ing. Where did the boy get it ?" Don't know. What are you going to do You can't give it to Phil." Of course, I shall give it to Phil," Lionel said, it's hers, and she's no baby that we should keep back her letters. Go and call her, Billie," he said, she was here a few minutes ago, and she won't be asleep," and Billie went. No one spoke in the smoking-room, and as Phil entered Lionel noticed that she was fully dressed, though her hair was still in a plait. He handed her the note. "It's for you,"he said shortly, and was again surprised that she did not attempt to take it to her room. Frank walked over and closed the window to hide his anxiety, but Lionel watched his sister's face closely. She read the note and handed it to him with a strange smile. f I'll do up my hair, and/be ready in five t minutes," she said. Will yon come with merf Lion ?" He nodded, and she left the room. The nota was short, and he read :—" 1 am on my lasti legs, Phil, and have been given two hours to live. You know what my ideas of religion are worth. Will you be my last communion ? -Leslie." Then a scrawled line at the bottom gave the address, a boat-house by the river. What does it all mean ?" Frank asked, but the brother and sister had gone, and his query was left unanswered. In the meantime Lionel and Phil walked quickly towards their destination, and, with all his knowledge of the girl Lionel marvelled at her coinposure. Tliis will be pretty hard on you, old girl, but I wouldn't keep you away, after what you told me," he said. I wouldn't leave you, you know." She turned a brightface to him in the moon- light. You dear old boy," she said, and held out her hand as a man might have done. I know you won't, but it's not going to be as hard for me as you think. It is best that he should die, and I've never been afraid of death, you know. It's a gfrand sort of thing to me, as it was to the man in Prospice,' and I have felt for a long time that everything v. ould end up nobly. Death's leveller for all things, don't you think ? And, living, he could never have atoned. But how has he died ?" Lionel asked, curiously. There was insanity in his family," Phil said, quickly. I think you'll find he has tried to kill himself." I She was right, as they found when they entered the dimly-lit boat shed. A police officer and a doctor were the only other occu- pants beside the man who lay on the floor. on an improvised couch. Phil spoke to her brother calmly. I sup- pose they can't leave us alone ?" she said. He shook his head uncertainly. I'll get them away, though," he promised, and after a moment's consultation the two men and Lionel walked to the door and looked down the beautiful moonlit river in silence. Phil knelt down on the floor, and put a hand on the dying man's head. How did it happen ?" she asked in a wonderfully mellow voice, as a mother might ask a sick child. One of my old fits," the man answered, his hungry eyes devouring the sympathy on her face, the first I knew was that I was lying on the bank, pulled out of the water by a police officer. Oh, Phil, you blessed woman, I knew you'd come, and yet I've been in an agony in case you'd be too late. Did you see the paper yesterday ?" She nodded. Well, if I'd lived I'd have gone' to prison for my wife's sin-you know that ?" he asked, eagerly. I know," she said, simply. You understood he asked. I understood," she said again. And now I want you to promise me some- thing," he said, but she stopped him. "I know," she said, very quietly. You want me never t(Ys-ay that I knew. 1 never shall, as long as 1 live, on my honour," and then, before she had realised what had hap- pened, she was alone. For a minute she stood there, and then, very quietly, but with brimming eyes, she went to the door. Shall we go now, Lion?" she said gently, putting her hand through his arm, and the two left. The brothers, Frank, Cliff, and Billie, were still in the smoking-room as they returned, and Phil walked straight in. She smiled gratefully at Lionel as he poured out a glass of wine and held it out to her, but she put it down on the table among the dis- orderly papers and pipes, without touching it. I know you'll think I'm a strange mixture, boys," she said, and smiled at them all, "but this has been just the greatest night in my life, and I'd like you all to know that it's you boys that made it so. You turned me into half a boy, you know, and so—I'm glad that Leslie Staines is no longer alive. I built a beautiful ideal around him, and—it was never realised until I saw him die." Her voice was trembling now, and she drank the wine. But you've all been bricks—and," she smiled again, "and I'm gladJo be a brick with you," and she left the room. The End. Next week :— WRIGHT OR WRONG, ByW. L. Alden.
Socialism Coming.
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Socialism Coming. r MR KEIR HARDIE'S PROPHECY. Speaking at Ilkeston on Sunday, Mr Keir Hardie said the time was coming when a Labour and Socialist Government would rulq in this country. He looked forward to a Socialist party openly avowed before the world to produce legislation for the benefit of the people, for he had seen no spot where life could be so happy as in this home land, of ours. England ought to be a reaf nfcrfHfc child should be fed and taught and despairing old men provided for. Alluding to the King's' visit to Russia, he said had his Majesty visited the Russian people he would have had thegood- will of the whole Labour movement, but that visit was to the enemies of the Russian people. The workers of Britain stretched out their hands to Siberia, and wished God speed to those seeking a better system of government.
DARING JEWEL ROBBERY.
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DARING JEWEL ROBBERY. Bag of Sand Substituted. Lisbon, Sunday.—It is reported this morning that a daring jewel robbery was perpetrated last night at the Grand Hotel, Bussaco, the victim being a gentleman named Herr Bruhin, one of the members of a leading firm of jewellers in Berlin. Herr Bruhin had in his possession jewellery worth many thousands of pounds, including several rare specimens of exceptional value. He carried the jewellery in an ordinary leather handbag, which he left unattended in his room for a few minutes while he went to pay his hotel bill. During his brief absence the bag was stolen, another one of a similar kind, but filled with sand, being' substituted fo» it. It was not until he had occasion to opten the bag: some little time afterwards thai Herr Bruhin discovered that he had been robbed. In the meantime the thief had succeeded in getting safely away, and notwithstanding the most diligent inquiries the police are as yet without a single substantial clue.-Central News.
HENDRE CHAIR EISTEDDFOD.
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HENDRE CHAIR EISTEDDFOD. A Large Attendance. Over 2,000 persons attended the annual chair eisteddfod at Hendre, near Pantyffynon, on Saturday. Mr Rees Jones, of Capel Hendre, and Dr. Price, of Ammanford, were the presi- dents. The conductor was the Rev. W. Mi Davies, B.A., Hendre adjudicators, Mr Joseph Bowen, Inter Mus. Bac., (Cilfynydd), Mr James Singleton (Aberavon), Rev. W. Alfa Richards (Birchgrove); accompanists, Mrs M. A. James (Landore), Mr John Morgan (Garnant). The secretaries were Messrs T. Thomas, Penygroes, and D. A. Lewis, Rose- ville, Pantyffynon. The awards were as follow:— Soprano solo—Miss Blodwen Hopkins, Llan- gennech. Contralto solo-Miss Kate Phillips, Gowerton. Solo, boys-Master J. S. Davies, Pantyffynon. Solo, girls-Gwenllian Domain, Ammanford. Pianoforte solo-Mr Willie Morgan, Ynys- tawe. Essay-Mr David Elias Evans, Brynamman. Recitation, juniors-J. H. Jones, Fforestfach. Solo, juniors-Cassie Irene Rees, Penybank, Ammanford. Tenor solo-Mr J. Brazall, Llanelly. Poem—Mr G. Jones (" Madog Fychan ""). Baritone solo-Mr Evan Richards, Pontar- dulais. Recitation, open—Divided between Miss May Lewis, Ynysmudw, and Miss M. J. Francis, Godregraig, Ystalyfera. Penillion singing—1, Mr J. Harries, Gorslas 2, Mr E. Thomas. Pontax-dulais. Duet--Messrs W. and J. Brazell, Llanelly. Chief choral — Treboeth (conductor, Wi Jenkins).
POINTS FOR FREE TRADE.
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POINTS FOR FREE TRADE. Recent Growth of Our Foreign Trade. It is not the case, as is so often asserted by tariff" reformers," that our Colonial trade ia the most progressive branch of our commerce. In the last few years, indeed, our foreign trade has made magnificent strides, as the following carious comparison will show: British Exports of British Goods Only. 1900. Exports to Foreign Countries and jE British Possessions lqw- 291,191,996 1007. Exports to foreign Countries only 288,855,522 Our foreign trade grew so rapidly in 1900- 1907 that if in 1907 we had entirely lost our Colonial and Indian trade the total would have been almost as great as in 1900, only seven years before. 1900 was a boom year. Yet in 1903 Mr Chamberlain said, In almost the same proportion in which the trade with these foreign protected countries has con- tinuously fallen off, trade with our Colonies and Possessions has continuously risen. Mr L. G. Chiozza Money, M.P., in the Daily News."
NEWPORT MATRIMONIAL CASE.
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NEWPORT MATRIMONIAL CASE. Mrs Gwendoline Harriet Main, at Newport on Saturday, summoned her husband, R. Chas. Main, for t5 12s, eight weeks' arrears due under a separation order, while the husband sought by another summons to obtain a discharge of this order, which was made in July, 1906, on the ground of the alleged adultery of his wife. Mr Harold Lloyd appeared for the wife, and Mr Lyndon Cooper for the-husband. Mr Lloyd applied for a week's adjournment. He did not know, he stated, un till he came into court the nature of the husband's defence and he wanted time to get witnesses. From what Mr Cooper told him, the proper course 'would have been for Mr Main to institute Divorce Court proceedings. Mr Cooper did not rejist the application, and the case was consequently adjourned.