Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

I [ALL RIGHTS RESKKVED-l OUR LADIES' COLUMN. BY ONE OF THEMSELVES. I a. <*■ ——— RETpRX OF THE TRAVELLERS.—THE TASSinx PLAY -OBER AMMEKGAU.—A2f OrEN-AIR THEATRE.—A UNIQUE liliii,ik)ui I IM*J-l'EASAXT ACTORS.—THE HISTORY OF THE pL\Y —EYE WITNESSES—A NURSE'S l.F.TTEK FHmI WYNBERG.—A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.—WILD LILIES— A FINE CLIMATE.— MIMOSA HEDGES.—A WOUNDED BOEH —A XOYEL CHURCH BELL. Aly friends have just returned from Uber Ammergau, and have brought most interesting I photograph* and picture- with them of the chief actors ill the. wonderful Pa-sion Piay, ai?o of Ó" I pr.nc?pal scene, and the beautiful tableaux which aro arranged at the back of the inner stage in this very I singular open-air theatre. Formerly tiil- theatre was used without roof or covering of any sort. both actors and audience entirely exi o-L>d to the elements and both we.re often drenched to the skin during a storm of rain. This year, I am to.d, is the lirst time the audi nee has been seat.,d under cover,in the enormous auditorium, which accommodates over 4,000 persons. It has this vear boen absolutely crowded at each separate performance. Part of the stage is still in the open. The performances take place generally on the .Sunday of each week. and large numbers of people crowd into the village during the week for the purpose of securing rooms. and staying over the Sunday to witness the great Passion Play. In the year 1653, when the village was visited by a. devastating and contagious pestilence, the monk- of httal induced the parish to make a vow: T'iat in thankful devotion and edifying contemplation, they would cverv ten vears publicly represent the Passion of Je-us. t,he Saviour of the World. Whereupon the par's'h was immediately freed from the pestilence. Tiio peasants and most of the visitors in t,he village attend High Mass before the performance, ear.y in the morning, at the village church. More than 600 n tives take part in the performance—as actors, chorus sinsrers, or in the orr-hestra—50 of whom are women and 203 children. Only 125. howeter, have I spr^kinf psrt^. Most of tho"0 who take part in the play albw their hair to grow long, and it is quite ii-ii,-il to see stalwart men walking about the v.l.ago draped in oriental style, with their hair falling low upon their shoulders. The st.tJlp is of enormous size, with a proscenium of urcat.-Jioth end beyond it again a smaller theatre. The beautiful tableaux from the Old Testament are arranged upon this inner stage. The prophecies and th,. fulfilment are there represented. This theatre within a theatre has buildings, .such as Anna's house and Pilate's house, on each side, with bal- conies joined by arches to the side scenes of the proscenium-. Through these arches the picturesque sunny streets of Jerusalem are visible. There is no artificial light used in the t.heatre, nor do the per- formers use paint, rouge, or powder to disguise themselves. Some of our travelling party were lodged at the house of Judas Iseariot, whilst others sojourned in the house of one of the centurions. Tho Chri-tu. (Anton Ling) takes the part for the first time this year. He is a fine-looking man of I serene and gentle expression, with hair fa hng upon his shoulder?, arrayed to look exactly like one of the mast celebrated paintings of our Saviour. The play commences with tin .ry of Christ into Jerusalem, and continues through 18 acts. to repre- t' srnt the life of our Lord on e-cirth The Last Stiprxr," "In Geth-emane," "Christ before Pilate," Thp Seourqinir :>nd the Crown of Thorns," Christ cmJcmn ed to death," "The Way of the Cross, until "Tho Crucifixion." My friends te:1 me that tlw audience all took their seats reverentially as thev would in church, holding their books in their liana- not even exchanging greeting with each otlvr. The. pr- of seats ranged from fwo t:) t?n mark". (.)no i mv friends tells me that she felt terribly agitated and nervous when she had taken her place "in the theatre; her mind became fined with anxiety she kept on telling herself that she would only see a sW"Ïcn of well arr3ng-e,1 liv:ng pictures. rtl)res(,rl ill. :.iY simple religious peasants, full of enthusiasm, and deeply impressed with the v necessity of fulfilling their vow. -.it as the echo of the last cannon was lost in th, iirrounding moun- tains the overture commenccr' nd the chorus beg in to fill the proscenium, and r emotion became dis- l tre-sing and she wanted let? -c the theatre, but her agitation was soon absorbed in the intense Inters which followed. With the assistance of her text book written in German with an English trans- lation, she easily followed the leaders of the chorus a> sining. reciting, and chanting they explained the tableaux represented on the smaller, inner stage, or prepared the audience for the next act of the drama, while exhorting the audience to devotion, praver, and repentance for their sins. The chorus, dressed in white tunics, sandals. ginLes and mantles, with crownlike headgear, sat there chanting in the bright daylight in the open ai- under the summer sky, with its passing clouds, The pasture laud, hills and woods, seen in blue ths- raIle" hevoii'l the -treets and above the houses of .Jerusalem, so unlike anyihing she had ever seen before. Mv friend says her agitation again became i intense as the representative of the Lord Jesus ap- peared upon the scene, riding upon an ass's colt. John the b?oved disciple, dres-cd in green raiment -with a red mantle leading the young ass, a Ion.- pil-rrim -raft in his hand-600 peasants forming a perfect mob. urging tumultuou-ly around singing .nd shouting- llosamia to the Son of David cast- ing their ?rments and strewing palm branchesm hi, wav. an.! Je-us blessed them with outstretched hand. as he rode along. His face was pale and gentle, with finely cut features the hair parted and waving over the orow in the style wh.ch has become typical of the blessed Christ. My friend told me that she knew the impression this face and fiure I made upon her minu would remain indelible, and would take the place of all the paintings she had ever seen. It was this one figure that she followed i with breathless interest throughout the play. did the character of Christ strike her as forcib,N- a,: .!(J sat. entranced, or the worthlessness of mankllld, or the ignoble motives which actuated their actions -t that time The monologues of the principal ;Jto showing the current of their thoughts, witti- out reserve, made of. each a psychological -tudv, yet ?o simple and forcible as to be within the com- prehension of the most ignorant amongst tho altt1if'nc. T) ?endin- of Jesus from one trihunal to another-Hi" ?emg forsaken by everv so-Ca U d friend at the moment of danger-in short all that habit enables us to read and hear r-ad with calmness as a matter of history, is brought before one at this Plav with a force and power so irresistible that never in her !ife. says my friend, had she been so moved and _tip.d as when gazing with br?eatMie? ?b-orption upon this most extraordinary and mar- velious representation of the earthly career of our Lord brought before her very eyes. She forgot r- ervthin<r. time, pli cc, and spectators, and look,-d 1 on with an intensity which at last completclY over- c^e I'.T. At the last act of the Crucifixion sh shuddered convulsively and covered her face with her hands I feel mvself that it must be too realistic raid too agonising for any one of imagination or verv deep religious feeling to sit through. The late Chri.-tus (Josef Mayer) of ten years ago now recites tlw Ui The pr" sent Christus (Anton Lang) is only 25 years of age, and is a potter by trade. My friends sav that people crowd around him to ;bake his hand ? he I?vG. the theatre and quietly walks back to his cottage in the village. I have jili't received a nice letter from one of tliogo nurses who went out from the great hospital in the easr. of London to nurse the soldiers in South Africa. She is one of those lucky nurses who had tea in the garden when H.R.H. the Princess of Wales came down to the hospital to se4- them and .v<- ?cm wet. kind, encouraging word? and tflo? u<??ui presents I told you of to take with them on their mission of mercy. I give some extract* from nurse's letter, for I am sure you will be interetste(I t,. w,r- ™-lnt. she writ.es :-Wynberg, Cape lown. It is difficult to believe that two months have al- readv slipped away s,nce we were talking together in the Garden of Eden," and I promised to write to you from South Africa. You will have heard at the liospita" of our safe arrival in Cape Town after a most enjoyable voyage. All the ship s people were kindness itself, and we had the run of the whole ship. On landing in Cape Town we had orders to go straight on by that evening s mail to Pretoria. To my great disappointment I was not able to go on with the others as I had stupidly contracted a swollen gland after innoculation, and they sent me up to Wynberg, and I am now quite well and on duty here. One of my patients is a Boer prisoner, presumably on his way to St. Helena. He was seriously wounded, but denies that he was taken prisoner or that he surrendered. He savs he would have died first", so I sup- pose he must have been picked up unconscious in the field. We are- rather expecting General Baden-Powell up here to-morrow, he has accepted an invitation to take tea with the sisters, if he comes. I was in Cape Town on Friday morning, and saw the reception he got by the crowd there. When he arrived in the early morning all the dig- nitaries of the place were at the station to meet him. and the mob carried him shoulder high to the C-a^stle. W ynberg is a delightful place, and the camp is in the very best part of it. It lies on a hill at the back of the town, in the middle of a small forest. Ju4 behind us is a range of mountains, of which Table Mountain is the highest, and in this wonderful South African atmosphere they seem quite close to u; though in reality they are miles and miles away. The flowers there, too, are most beautiful. Arum lilies grow wild, in profusion all over the place, and there arc hedges of mimosa trees in full bloom, and some of the common heaths on the mountain side are what we see carefully cultivated under glass in England. Next month t'hey say the spring flowt-r,3 will be out. and the country looking its best. The climate just now perfect. lovely warm sun iu the day- time and not too cold at night, and the sunrise and the sunset, tim moon and stars are things to dream of. Such moonlight I never imagined it wakes the cocks and "t., ihcm crowing in the middle of the night. We have a nice, big church here, and it is well attended. The church bell is el-ung up between two trees 0:1 he road side, and a man stands in the field to ring it- London, Thursday. PENELOPE. Jenny is not thoroughly naughty. but she is passionate. To ptnii.-h her, her nio. b-icl had a portrait taken of her in one of her tempers and lieng it >iii the narlour. One day Jt-nny^insisted on the picture being taken down, and wVren her mother refused the chid said. "Oh. that's it. is it? Very well, I knOvV what to do. I shan't fly into a passion any more; but when I'm asked Who's that naughty little girl r' I'll say that was you when ,av that Nvt,? 'voll you were little." Th" picture was taken down. It .seemed as if the visitor never would go away. gllkl had been there a month or more and gave no signs of departure. One day the "mall bov of the house was lookm? at her very intently at the tab!f. hat is it, Johnny?" she inquired, graciously, as do those who are receiving undeserved benefactions. Ain 't no pan of your head gone, is there?" he n?kcd. "Of course not. Why do you -ask such a t" '9" ".0" queer question?" aUile I heard mamma say you were eatin' your head off, aid I wanted to see if there were any marks of it."

SOCIETY NOTES AND PERSONAL TARS. ) I [" TRUTH."] I I am sorry that Mr. Goschen is retiring from pubho life, although lie is a political opponent. I often admired his debating powers and h.s effective rejoinders when interrupted in his speeches. He is a Whig of the. old school, and an excellent ad- ministrator. I am not surprised, however, at his finding his position intolerable in a Cabinet in which his old enemy Mr. 'Chamberlain rules supreme. With the pro;pect of a reorganisation of the Cabinet, which the pro-Joe papers have been preach- ing with a view to make it consist of Joe-pawns, it would not surprise m if Sir Michael Hicks Beach were also to retire. It can hardly be said that he has shown himself a particularly ardent supporter of the war, and the chance of being nothing but an employe to rake in money for the purposes of reck- less expenditure—in order to carry out a policy of which he. as a sound financier, disapproves—is not likely to commend itself to him. Lord Lanisdowne wi. 1, of course, be removed from tho War Office. He will be offered up as a scape- goat for all the blunders of the Cabinet, and I make no doubt that the Colonial Secretary will before long declare that the Secretary of War is alone respon- sible for tho reverses that took place at thecommence- ment of the war. Whether Mr. Chamberlain will take the po?t himself, or confer it on Mr. PoweH Williams, or some other relative, remains to be seen. In regard to the Admiralty, ho no doubt eon s idrrs Mr. Austen Chamberlain oug-ht to be First Lord, but to make him First Lord would be almost too monstrous a job. Judge. Austin, of the Bristol County Court, evidently has a caustic wit. In giving judgment the other day against a domestic servant who filed her 111 i-tress for a month's in lieu of notice, his Honour observed that he did not wish to hurt the plaintiff's feelings, but if she wanted a character at anv time he would testify that she was an ex- perienced and deliberate liar." If this is the sort of thing the Tiitl-e without any desire to hurt a person s feelings, it is a nasty look-out for those with w hom he deems it h:s duty to be really severe. I have seldom read anything more extravagantlv absurd than the announcement that Mr. W. K. Vanderbilt has given his daughter, the Duchess of Marlborough, the sum of half a million dollars "as a th?nkou'cring for the Duke's safe return from <h? w.-r." I do not understand who it is that Mr. !j VaniVrbilt thanks. Is it t.he Duke lumsplf for e eaping the bullets and fevers? A "thankcffering* has usually been supposed to be som thinfi given for charity or other good object to acknowledge mercies received frorti the Almighty. Mr. under- bih's thankofferin" apparently has no concern whatever with Providence, for it, is announced that the money is being expended in Paris by the Duke and Duchess in buying old furniture and decorations for their new house .in Mayfair. T-ord Roberts. I make no doubt, is an excellent Commander in the field. But I question whether he is the man zo reorganise the Army. At sixty-eight j J even the mwi vigorous men lose the energy, oriirir.alriy. and independence necessary for such a ta-k. Besides that. Lord Roberts is a great deal too good-natured, and he appears to be very amena ble to i)te Plain- of Tom Noddies, and pets o' smart society. If the Army is to be demoerati- and merit Is to 'be the order of the day, he is not likely to carry out the scheme. We want a; rough soldier like Kitchener, who carefi neither for Tom Noddies nor society pets. Onp of Napoleon's Generals was a certain Vandammc--miieh of the Kitchener type. If I had TWO Vandammes." said Napoleon, HI should have to hang one of them." Possibly, if we had two Kitcheners, it might be well to hang one. But we have not. and our one Kitchener would be the right man in the right place as reorganiser of the Army. [From '• THE WORLD."] THE KAISER'S VIEW. To treat for terms with Chang or Ching, I Just now, were hut a fatuous thing: But, when some score of scoundrels li rng— Well. then, I'll deal with Ching and Chang. The German Crown Prince has been staying for a week at Aken, on the Elbe, for shooting in the royal forest at Lodderitz, and he kil'ed sevrral stags and a large number of wildfowl. The Crown Prince, who dislikes state and fuss, jived at the ¡ forester's lodge during his A-it to Aken. The Crown Prince is a very fine shot, and he will be greatly disappointed if th? Emperor is cb'iged, through the prc-sure of public affairs, to give up his intended visit to the Queen at Balmoral, as he had been keenly looking forward to a day's deer- stalking in the royal forests. It is a pity that the Dtikr of Portland did nr.t jiull down the present house at Welbeck aaad rebuild it on a better site, instead of squandering over a million in constructing subterranean structures and miles of underground parages. The Abbey is a poor Jacobean house with battlements, and remarkable only for its immense size, but it. has some good TOOTS. It is fi rtnnate that the pictures were saved from the fire on Thursday night, as the collection is a very fine one. The great feature at Welbeck is the deer park. which covers nearly two thousand three hutJred acres, a.nd is eight milo-s round. The wood- land scenery is very be.iut,ifiil. mstfty of the groves and avenues being survivors of S herwood Fo, This i park contains some of the oldest and finest .oak trees in Great Britain. Mr. Evelyn Cecil, who will represent Aston Manor in t ie new House of Commons for the first time, is the eldes-t son of Lord Eustace Cecil and a nephew of Lord Salisbury. He is married to a daughter of Lord Amherst of Hackney and Mrs. Cecil :s as keenly interested in gardening (on which subject she has written some excellent books) as her husband is in politics. Lord Balcarres is another member who. though young, is not new to the House. He comes of a clever family, being the eldest son of Lord Crawford and only this year lie was carried to a very accomplished young lady. Miss PeT.; a daus-hter of Lady Lilian Yorke and grand-daughter of Lord Wemviz. Another eldest son who will be new to the House is Lord Ham]- ton. returned for Londonderry, who has been for some years an oiffcer in t h(' 1st Life Guard s. Lord Hamilton, who is the eldest son of the Duke and Duchess of Abereorn. married the only daughter of Lord and Lady Lucan, so that all his interests are with Ireland. Captain Lambfon's appearance at the bottom of the Newcastle poll— perhaps the most unlooked-for event of a General Election more than usually pro- ductive of surprises—was the more remarkable in view of the measure of success whifh. despite the in- consistency of their position, Liberal Imperialist candidates' have attained in other parrs of the country. Neither Lord Rosebery's ingenious letter to "niy dear Hedworrh," nor the candidate's bril- liant iiadysmith record, nor the iyifiiieiicf,-siieh as it wa-of Lord Durham's scces-ion seems to have done anything to reconcile the Newcastle electors ta the idea of a member wlio-,e return, whatever his personal views, would have been hailed as a victory bv the friends of the Boerzz quite as much a.< by tho-e who profess themselves merely dissatisfied with the conduct of-^V war. It is a oitv that one who has rendered his country such gallant service as Captain Lambton should have allowed himself to be placed in so false a position but it is impossible to regret the result of his ill-starred political adventure. t" M.A.P."] An amusing story is told of Lord Wolseley's in- terest in the Commissiariat Department., in which his zeil on one occasion certainly got the better of his discretion. D'nner was being served to the soldiers, and orderlies hurried backwards :tnd for- wards with steaming pails of soup. Lord olscley stopped one of them. The man was at attention in a moment. Remove the lid." No sooner said thm done. "Let me tpste it." But. plaze yer-" Let me taste it, I say." And taste it he did. Dis- qracefiil Tastes like nothing in the world but dish water." "Plaze yer honour," gasped the man, and so it is A Hussar officer with the Fi-dd Force in South Africa is kind enough to send me the following bout de conversation between Lord Dundona-ld and a captain of the 3rd Mounted Infantry, in charge of the famous Colt Gjin Battery Lord D. Captain H., are those Boers on tha,t kopje?" Captain H.: "Yes, sir, about 200 of them, I ttrnk." Lord D. "Will you kindly open fire on them, Captain H." (with Colt guns.) Captain H. Certainly, sir." (A few moments elapse.) Captain H.: "Knocked one over, sir." Lord D. "Ah! poor fellow! poor fellow!" The Bishop of Chichester, the great; eon of a greater father, is ever a welcome nersonage in New- ca&tle. of which he was the firsl bishop. He has a j singularly sonorous voice and impressive delivery; he can also tell a good story. He relates with great g-usto the following: A rector of a coun'try parish, of which the squire was a man with a titled wife, once had to read the Office for t.he Churching of i Women over Lttdy C. He was a very polite man, &nd it struck him it would never do to fay, Save libi- woma.n. Thv servant," w hen tlie woman in ques- tion was his squire's wife, so he altered it to, "Save this lady, my parishioner;" and the clerk, not to be outdone in politeness, responded: Who put.te.th her ladyship's trust in Thee." It is not usual for an earl antf a baronet to ex- change domestic pleasantries across the luncheon table at an important agricultural show. But the other Wednesday, at Middlewieh. the Earl of En- niskillen, in proposing the health of Sir Philip Egerton, after calling for three cheers for the Baronet and Lady Egerton, demanded "another for the twins amid a ripple of good-humoured laugh- ter. The agriculturalists and others present entered into the spirit of the Earl's little joke, and even the sedate lady members of the many Cheshire families present smiled indulgently. Without wincing, and with' evidentlv keen appreciation of the bluff pleasantry. Sir Philip, in ackwowledgment, said that he hoped the twins would in time be as good sports- ment as their grandfather and their great-grand- father. Little Charley "Papa, what is broad-minded- ness?" His Father: "Agreeing with headstrong people when you know they are wrong." "I wish you'd pay a little attention roared coun- sel to a witness who, in cross-examination, had been giving him irrelevant answers. "I am paying as little as I can," the witness oalmly replied.

[PUBLISHED BY .SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.] THE RUSTY SWORD. BY P H CF, B E HART. Author of Quite Mad," A Silly Creature," &c., &c. [COPYRIGHT.] Visitors to Denvies Castle ask why a rusty sword hangs above the picture of Halbert, fifth Earl of Denvies, and his sister, Lady Sarah Benson, who are portrayed standing hand in hand and smiling happily. Anno had been Queen of England about two years when Halbert Earl of Denvies married Mis- tress Adela Bulling ham. The young couple tra- velled in Italy foi- rome months, and then returned to England to take up their abode at Denvies Castle. Lady Sarah, the Earl's sister, was there to receive them. She had always lived at the castle. And you must not think of leaving because I havo come; this is your home," said the new Countess, kissing her sister-in-law affectionately, and twining her arms round her waist. The Earl regarded them well pleased. He liked to think of these two beautiful women, whom he .loved better than all the world beside, joined in huri'tony and siste-ly union. s ti were so much to him," continued the Ccnute.-s, till he knew me." •• Sin; will always bo much to me," r. said earue-:Iy. ijaiiv Sarah sighed gently and disengaged herself from the atfcctionate embrace. The Earl oF Den- vies looked searchingly at her, and frowned moodily. Tiio Countess-and Lady Sarah went slowly up the broad oaken .1 .ircae. Sarah, called the Earl. when Adela can spare you, I should like to speak with you." And with that heavy frown on his face he went out on to the terrace, and paced up and down in the gathering twilight. He soon heard a light step among the fallen leaves, and went to meet his sister. His expression changed to one of great tenderness. How youthful and delicate she looked, with her slender form, and her pale chiselled fea- tures framed by her yellow cloudy hair. She slipped her hand caressingly in his arm, and thus they paced together. Evidently he was not eager to attack conversation, and she dreaded it. Some minutes passed in silence, but at last he stopped, and she was forced to do likoNN-ize. Tiie wind whirled the russet leaves round their motion- les-i figures. Sarah, said the Ear!, I hope you have re- garded my wishe-; I hope everything is at an end between you and Douglas Spencer" Her lips trembled but she answered steadily Everything is not at an end between Douglas Spencer and myself. I will not deceive you, I can- not regard your wishes. A plebian—a renegade—a .Jacobite he hissed, tearing his arm away from her. Sue drew herself up haughtily. The companion of our childhood," she re- turned; "the only man I have ever loved. He has my troth, I have his I will be true to him. I shall wed him." "Never, with my consent." Hubert. Halbert," she cried, holding her arms out V~*eechingly. Nsver, never 1" he repeated, with my consent." And without another word he went swiftly back into the house, and she stood quivering in t-very limb iike some stricken animal. Ail! this love, this love!" she murmured, what suffering it brings!" Ilut the Denvies' pride came to her aid. and after supper she played the lute, and sang as cheerily as the young Countess herself so that even tho Earl did not guess at the emotion that was stirring within her, but thought his words had taken effect, and that she had decided to battle no further with him. Yet, later on. Adela coaxed the tale of his trouble from him" and she bade him have no hopes. For, said the wife of a few months, "if she love him no brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, no soul on earth can separate them. No one couid have separated me from you." "That was dillorent. He is not vorthy of her." Hush she answered, smiling, her pretty finger on his lips and her large soft eyes looking into his. That's no reason to her if she love iilm." And clasping him more tightly to her she whispered, "My di :.r.t hearl My own! Halbert, my deare-t heart!" Hell) me to conquer her." I will help you—but I give you no hope." Then tame days of strife of the worst kind to those bound together by affection—silent Strife, which makes exemies among the most loving. The one subject was never mentioned to Sarah, nor did 5he mention i:. Adela's aim was to gain h?r confi- dence and to dis-uaJc her from her ?et purpose. bur all attempts were met by sturdy rebuffs, and Sarah kept her strong feelings locked within herself. After a while she somehow felt that she was doubted—suspected—watched. And well she knew that she deserved such treatment, well she knew that her brother and his wife could not watch her too closely. And so these young people laughed, and talked, and made merry to the outer wcrld. with the knowledge that at some moment, not far di-tant, a mine would burst beneath their feet. One day the Earl had bec-n playing bowls on the bowling-green with his friends, and the ladies sac, by and looked on at the game, and afterwarJs joined him in a walk through the wood to accom- pany his par:ing guo-t-. l  On :heir return thiy abandoned the wood, as It wa, n¡ing- dark, and took to a .-ath that led across the fields. Every now and then the Earl stripped it seemed to him that a horse was being ridden so as to keep pace with their steps; but he could perceive nothing over the high hedge. When they reached the gardens he sank on to a rustic bench. Let us rest here." he said. "I am tired. I play at no bowls airain this week." And Adela and Sarah seated themselves on either side of him. He leaned back with closed eyes, and Adela stole her hand into his. It was a moment of perfect peae- Suddenly Lady Sarah rose. Do not disturb him," she whispered to the Countess, "let him seep. I am going on to 'he Castle. I left my tambour-frame under the cedar tree. The dew is falling, the work will be spoilt. I rau-t remove it." She hurried away, and was quickly out of sight. No sooner had she disappeared than the Earl's hand Lightened on Lady Adela s with a. grip of iron. He sat up and laughed harshly. 1" Lith I was not wrong," he muttered. A moment past did you not hear'the lark sing?" The larkV Nay, surc-ly not at this hour?" Ay. ay. 'twas tho lark. Sarah has gone to see this wonderful bird. and we wid also see it. I noted the way she went." He started to his feet, and still grasping her hand strode away. His angry voice and countenance terrified her. In a very short time they had reached a gate that opened into a broad lane. "Look! look!" he said. "See Douglas Spencer is the lark that sings when night is almost here. I knew it was a signal; I was waiting for one to come. In the deserted road was a big black horse. Its rider was a man of noble stature, and he was bend- intc from bis saddle to talk to a woman standing with uplifted face as if she would not loe a sylhvb.e of what he said. There was light enough to dis- tinguish the tall, graceful figure of Lady oarah in her pale brocaded gown. The scene was an easy one to interpret, although no words were heard. The man wished to convince, the woman would not bo convinced; the man implored, the woman re- sisted. Then farewell!" said Douglas Spencer, roughly and loudly, sitting bolt upright on his charger. "Not like this!" cried Lady Sarah, in tones of 1 1 1 agony. h Something tor a rememorancc, Delovea, md one last kiss." I wish for no remembrance I wish for no last kiss." Take this," she cried, clipping a bracelet from her arm and covering it with kisses. But he threw the slight jewel down on to the iustv road. I want no remembrance, I say, of a aeartless woman." lIe gathered up his reins, but she fastened on to his hand and would not free it. And gradually the heads came close together again, irnd when Douglas Spencer rode away it was with laughter on his lips. Then Lady Sarah picked up her bracelet and hastened past those two in hiding behind a, tree. But an hour ago my Lord Monteith told me to-morrow at dawn Douglas Spencer starts for France," muttered the Earl, to his frightened com- pa nion. And she will go with him," said Adela. "Impossible! Such disgrace! Such shame!" "She will leave us for him." Adela's womanly heart had spoken to her rightly., Lady Sarah Benson had determined to leave the home of her ancestors, to leave the fond brother who had found in her so fond a sister, for the sake of the man she loved. The autumn night had not spent its first half when Adela, Countess of Denvies, awoke from an ugly dream. It could not be morning yet, but for ili that the vast chamber was light as day. All 'tis the moon." she said in sleepy murmur But a II sig-ns of sleep left her as she started up in her bed. Why was Halbert walking stealthily towards the door half-dressed, with his hand on the hilt of his sN%-r-rd? Halbert," she cried, huskily. He turned—his eyes were gleaming. Keep very quiet," he said, in a low voice. I have heard steps on the terrace, and there is some- one moving in the corridor. Keep very quiet." He was gone. Without waiting to thrust her feet in her slippers she hurried after him. Already he was half-way down the broad corridor, and beyond, half-way down the broad staircase, was r. idy Ssirali.^She till had on her square-cut bodiced eown, but had thrown a hooded cloak over her. She h Id a small. bundle tied up in a silken neckerchief. Adela could not move she could not take her eves from that trembling, girlish figure, with the man fo" twing in its wake. Step by step went Lady Sarah, hesitatingly, falter- ingly. At times she sighed sorrowfully, and her glance rested mournfully, first on one side and 111.Ml on the other, as if she wtrald impress on her memory the old home as s'e hatlc it farewell. For there was no mistaking that she was bidding the old home farewe;)—farewell was in her lagging gait, farewell was iu her saddened gaze, farewell was on her quiver- ing l?er -saddened gaze, farewe l l was on her quiver- She reached the hall, she reached the iron-bound door, sh.i pulled back the heavy bolt,I)iit a hand was on her shoulder The little bundle slipped from her grasp-she knew whose hand it was. "Sarah, Sarah," said Haibert. in hoarse tones, "I forbid you to do this thing. Child, by all that we have been to each other I forbid it. Oh, Sarah, look !"—he drew her to where the moonbeams threw their silvery light on to a picture of himself and her- lelf, standing hand in hand and smiling happily— Look! By what we have always been t o each other, I forbid it!" Her eyes travelled upwards to the picture; aspaim nt na^n ru-m t. rant ed her features, but she shook her head and said I leave everything Tor mm." lie took his hand from her shoulder, and she moved away and flung the hall-door open. Would he let her go Adela felt as if she were still the victim of some ugly dream but it was no dream. She glided down the stairs. No, he would not let her go. "Not yet!" he cried, and sprang past Lady Sarah and pushed her back into the hall. Another man was on the terrace, in a long dark mantle and a slouched hat. 'Tis as I thought," said Halbert, Earl of Denvies. So either I kill you, Douglas Spencer, or you kill me. Either she goes not with you or she goes over my dead body. Draw Douglas Spencer cast his hat and mantle from him and drew his sword, and the two women fell into each other's arms with scarce life enough in them to breathe. Ciitter-clatter, clitter-clatter went the cold steels. Tang-bang, tang-bang stamped .,10 feet. Not word, not a word. but a gasp now and then and a snort. Clitter-clatter. clitter-clatter, clitter-clatter went the cold steels—then a moan. And the womei fell apart from each other and looked. Ali!" shrieked Douglas Spencer, and he drove his sword into the Earl's side. The arm that dealt the blow flapped powerless against him. The Earl dropped his weapon. He staggered— his fingers clutened wildly at that other weapon | buried in his flesh—he pulled it from the sucking I wound and sank to earth. He dragged himself a few paces," rolled over. and lay a bleeding corpse ( on the threshold of his castle. Come!" said black-browed Douglas Spencer, his right arm danglin useless. "Come!" holding i out his left hand to Lady Sarah over the ghastly barrier that divided them. But she shuddered and held back. Come!" he snid again, his dark eyes fixed on her. Still she did not stir. Come At last, she set her teeth hard; she placed her hand in his she sprang. And there was no longer any barrier between them. Without one backward glance the lovers, clinsring to each other, passed away from the terrace. They trod softly down the marble steps, past the splashing fountain glistening in the moonlight, past the trim lawn?, and the rustling bowers, and so on to the wide expanse of the long avenue. And Adela—what of her? Why did she still look on that lifeless form stretched at her fept" Would all the looking bring him back to lIfe agam! auld it make his eyes meet hers again, his lips press hers again, his voice speak to her again? Never—never— never more! She fell on her knees beside him, she pillowed his poor head against her warm bosom, she called him by all the sweet namo, she had so often called him, bur she knew he could give her no answer. And then suddenly a thought came to her, and one? it had come possessed her. She who had been widowed, she who had been robbed of all she held dear, she was the tortured creature; she would be avenged! C She snatched up the dripping sword, she- leapt down the marble steps, she sped past the fountain and the lawns and the. well-nigh leafless and s he gained the avenue. "Stop!" she cried, in a ringing clear voice. Tho lovers stopped and turned. as this Fate bearing down on them. tall, white-robod, bare- footed, with streaming locks and uplifted swerd? She skimmed the ground, si.r ,"emed to fly to- ward s them; they saw her hungry, v eyes; she was on them. She struck Douglas opt-ncer with her clenched fist. You have taken my love from me," she panted. "I will take your love from you." She tore open Lady Sarah' s cloak and plunged the sword into the white breast that made such an easv mark. Then again, with the dripping sword helci -1 fled hack to .11Jj"II the gr. up of rota: 'rs who surrounded their dead master. And ouglas .moncer kissed his lost love for the las: tirm as he laid her on the fallen leaves in the moonlit. venue. The sword was never used by man or woman acain. The new Earl. some far-off cousin, had it hung in the hall of Denvies Castle, and there it still hangs, rusty and old, above the picture of he brother and sister whose hearts it had pier-ft LO swift d«re*h. [The End.]

Me: ••"Wha-c a lovely complexion you have." She: "Oh. I'm so glad you like it! It's a new kind I'm trying, and is ever so much cheaper thaj the kind I formerly used." Judge: "What was your first step in crime which led up to this daring forgery?" Prisoner: "I changed the date of one of my wife's letters before I finally posted it." Restaurant Customer: Can I get a square meai here?" New Girl Waiter: "I don't know. sir, whether it is square or round or oval. Sit down, and I'll ask the proprietor." Rose: And what makes you think he is in love with you?" Violet: "Well, the first time he cal-oci he left his gloves, the second time his cane, and last night he forgot his hat." You don't mind the playful antics of my little brother, do ycu?" she asked. "Oh, no,' he replied. "I find them really interesting. But, tell me. does insanity run in your family? By-the-bye what are you doing now, \fr. Tall- boy?" "Oh. I'm at the Theatre Royal—in 'Jack and the bean-talk.' don't you know?" "Oh, really —what are you playing—the beanstalk?"' He: "Can you tell me the three quickest means of communic.L-,ioii*! She: Telephone, tele- graph He: Well, what' s the third?" She: Give it up." He: Tell a woman I know why wasps never sit down, mamma," said little Grorgie." "Why is it, dear?"' asked- his mother. "Beeatitf, wa^s the reply, they have pins in their c-oattails. and are afraid to. Father (wishing to impress the lesson) Now. my son. tell me why I puni.-hed you." Son: That's it You've pounded the life out of me, an' now you don t know what you done it for!" Mrs. Matchmaker Mr. Wise, I take it from your interest in my daughter Pearl that you're a gem connnois-seur." Mr. Wise It' due. madam., to my great admiration for mother of PearL" Mrs. Gallagher: "An' phwatfll Oi do at all, Moike ? This machine only goes up to 15 shtone, an' Oi'm 16 shtone if O'im an ounce! Gallagher: an s I I Get on twoice. Bridget, an' add up the tot-ak." I never knew such a terribly cruel and vindic- tive man in my life." "What has he done?" Why. he locked his wife in a room with a lot of beautiful gowns and bonnets and no looking-gla-s." Little Son Mother, t here's a, dreadful looking man coming in t he gate. Mother: "You run upstairs and stamp about so that he'll think it's your father, and I'll put some tobacco on the gas- stove." Sergeant Finnegan (on the skirmish line)- Stiddy, me byes; sure they be too far off yir, but when they get furninst the bu-hes there, thry a few blank cartridges at cm until yee; git the range." Aunt: Arc you better, dear? Annie: "Yes. thank you, aunt. I have been taking compulsion of cod liver oil." Aunt: "You mean emulsion." Annie: "Well, I think there was some compulsioa about it. Mi-s Gushingrcn papa, do you remember the meaning of different n;¡,me? Now. William means good. I wonder what Arthur means?" Papa (severely) "I hope Arthur means business, Matilda." We were at that concert .Tack and I and when thev commenced to -in-, Great Aplo. Strike the Lyre," Jack save me a regular oner on the I no' ?e; though why. I never did, and never shall understand. Hix: "That fellow Jenks is a clever, ingenious chap, isn't he?" Dix: "Why. I never hoard of his doing anything remarkable." lIix: "That's just it; lie manages to get along nicely without doing anything!" r, An ingenious v.-oman has devised a plan for gett- ing satisfaction even from her spouse's sonorous snores. Wheii he gets well under way he ties a mouth harmoniepn under his nose, and she declares the music is lovely. "I suppose, said a physician to a patient, while feeling his pulse. that you consider me a hum- bug? "I think it very odd that you so accurately divine my thoughts by simply feeling my pu!se," retorted the patient. lie: "A"d you fee Monte Carlo while you w at Nier-. She: "No; papa-called on him. I ue.ieve. but from his disappointed appearance when he returned to the hotel, I think Mr. Carlo must have been our." A little boy who was just learning to ride a bicycle heard a stuttering man talk the other day for the first time. Turning to his father, ne remarked I say, that man has a puncture in his speech, hasn't he? Corn mcreli-tiit (to farmer's boy, who has brouirht & sample of wheat for his inspection) Ah! How. much has your master got of this?" Boy: He ain't got no more like that; he's been all fhe morn in' pickin' out that!" Now, Tommy," said an anxious mother to her son. the minister will be here to dinner to-day, and you must be sure to wash vour face clean." "All right, mamma," answered Tommy, "but suppose he doesn't come? Rector's wife, to village grocer: "Well, Tompkins: "Yes. ma'am, thank you, wo like him very well "—pause—" not, however, that I think he's as fli,ciit -as we had right to expect, seeing as L = r L J. ins iainer was an auctioneer. Mrs. Jones: "Men never know how much they own to their wives. Now there's Mr. Blank, who is praised by every one as a successful man, but what would he have been if he had never married?" Mr. Jones: "A bachelor, dear." Simply because a woman marries a man is no reason why she should take his name," remarked the woman with very advanced ideas. That's so," replied the old bachelor: the poor fellow ought to keep something he could call his own. Theatrical Manager: Your comedy is very good, very good indeed! But you ought to cut out one act of it." Playwright: "Cut out one act? Why, it's only a one-act piece." Manager: "Makes no differenec-all the better!" Captain (reading paper) Ah 1 there's every prospect of real service. Wife: "Oh, Charles, don't you think you had better Captain Resign! X ever! Wife: "Oh, no, my dear, not resign, but see about that insurance policy." Charlie dear," said young Mrs. Torkins. "the baby is trying to talk air-ain. It's wonderful how he takes after you!" "What is he talking about?" I I think it must have been politics. He started very calmly, but in a few minutes he wag angry and red in the face as he could be." The lies the newspapers publish about us." said one politician to another, is enough to drive a man to drink." Yes, that's so," replied tihe other; "but, still, we have no cause for oom plaints." Why not? asked the first, in surprise. Well, it might be much worse," was the reply, They might publish -the truth." Miss Elder: Those women who are afraid to tell their age disg-u-st me. Now, I'm not afraid to tell any oho I'm 28." Rev. Peters (wanriiigiy): Yes. Misg--F.Ider, you may not be afraid now; but remember the day will come when you will be held accountable." I think a dollar ought to smell Quite nice," quoth Master Wit, cc Beoause, you know, it akwep iviii K A hundred cents in it."

GLOBE FURNISHING Co 12 to 18, PEMBROKE PLACE LIVERPOOL. FURNISH FOR CASH, OR ON OUR SPECIAL ALRE-PURCHASE SVA^ AT CASH PRICES. :tt NOTE.—Onr Hire-Pnrchaae system is entirely *•«eten* from any other, and hM been hi^i CQtQ" mended by the whole of tho local pf ?°?- NO SECURITY REQUIRED. Oij FXTP.4 EXPENSES ON OUR HIRE-PUAUIIASZ SYSTEM. The fair and equitable manner in which out h"? iB carried on, and oar reasonable terms and In P^C6a are so well known throughout the Njrt? ofp' ??" and Wales as to render farther comment unnefar,> TER1\lS-lJ'. WE GIVE OUR CUSTOMERS THE Par" ?EGE OF ARRANGING THEIR OWN TFr^3 OF PAYMENT, AS THEY KOW BE?l -rUE AMOUNT THEY CAN CO?VE\lE?r AFFORD TO PAY EACH WEEK OH MO?iB All goods we sell are delivered free to an> v prt of the United Kingdom. Q Private Vans if required, no charge will bs ralie. An inspection of oar stock will at once satisfy i tending purchasers that we give b-jit-r vilne tila. n any other houso :urn =ihuj j- :a« System in the Provinces. Orders by post receive prompt aDd c'l.refc.l a.ttentiCl:l. Railway Fare allowed to Coautry Customers. FURNISH FOR CASH OR ON OUR lIIRE PURCHASE SYSTEM AT CASH PRICES. Oar New Prospectus, Large ?u?tr?ted Citi'-w Press Opinions, and Price List aem PQB Free 0Q Application. GLOBE FURNISHING Co. (J. R. GHAT, Proprietor.) 12 xo 18, PEMBROKE PLACE, LIVERPOOL, Raaineis hoars, 9 to g p.m. 3 turlavs 9 to 6 n n 75

MARKETS. WREXHAM. CATTLE, Monday.—There was a very satisfactor supply of stock at to. jay's market, the numbers being swelled by large consignments of Scotch eWe3 Fat and store cattle were well represented, whiie some nice-looking calves were quickly disposed of" Quotations :—Beef, 5i to 6jd per lb mutton. t0 &d. Pigs were much in demand, and the good sapnly soon found purchasers at from 8'3 to 9 3 per 3CQrelbs Clearance was gOOJ, THURSDAY. s. d,s. d, OldWhle Wheat. 0 OtoO 0 New ditto I c 0 to 4 G Old Red ditto 0 0 to 0 o New ditto 4 2 to 4 l New Oata 2 3 ;o 3 fi Old ditto 3 4 to j 0 Grinding Barley 3 6 to 4 Q Malting ditto 4 6 to 4 g Potatoes, er 126Ib,3 6 to 3 6 Butter, pei L '16oz 1 0 to 1 j Beef, per lb 0 0 to 0 (j Mutton 0 0 to 0 0 Pork It 0 0 to U o ^eal- 7 ;o 0 8 Lamb 0 10 to 0 11 Fowls, (dressca) each 3 0 to 3 4 Dacks 4 0 to 4 6 Turkf ys 0 0 tc 0 6 Geese. per lb 0 0-0 0 0 Honey, per f.a..L. z 6 to 2 9 Damsors, per ha J. ner 2 6 to 2 6 Eggs, 1 to 12 for a shilling. CHESTER. CORN, Saturday.-Wheat had ii- :n delivered to mills to a fair extent daring the week, I -id value waa well maintained at thia market on Sa. ::G.a\ The rates of the previous Saturday were p.. i in the business passing. All other grain wa s in smiall supply at generally unaltered prices. American maize and foreign wheat were stead- ana without quotable change. Quotations wheat, 4s 4d, red wheat, 48 2d to 4s 3d per 75 lbs; oais, new, 2s 3d to 2s 6d, old 3s 6d per 45 lb. beans, new, 5s. old, 6s, per 80 lb. Indian coin, lis 6j to 12s. per 240 lb. ELLESMERE. Tuesday, Q ao tatio as.-Wii eat (new), 123 03 êo 125611 per 225 lba barley (new), Os Od to Os ad per 280 lbs: oats (new) 103 3d per 200 lbs butter, Is OJ to Is 2d per lb; eggs, 9 to 11 for a Is; fowls, 3s 0dio4s £ d. per couple ducks, 4s Od to 59 Od cer coanle rabbits, Os Od to 03 per couple damsons 2; to 23 9J per 90 lbs WHITCHURCH. Friday.—Wheat, 4s 2d to 4s 33 per 75iba; barley 4s Od to 4s 6d cer 70ibs oats, 2s 91 to 3s 33 per 501b=, eggs, 10 to 11 for Is; batter, Is Od to Is Id per t'oj: fowls 3s 6d to3s 9d per couple dnckiings, 4s 0J to 5 6d per; couple; potatoes, lOd tolOd per score; beef, 6.itoSd mutton 7d to 9d; lamb 7d to 9d veal, 7d to 8d per lb, pork 6d to 7d per lb.; rabbits, 2 0 to 2 0 per conple; apples, idtc Id per lb ;damsons, 2a 6d to 3.. per bushel, mushrooms Ad per lb. MOLD. Wednesday, Q 1 -)Iations.-Red wheat. 9 to 9 6 per hob; Barley, 8 6 to 9 per hob Oats. 6 to 6 6 per hob Butter, 1 i to 1,2 per lb Eggs, 10 for 1.. OSWESTRY. White wheat, old, 4s 2d to 4s 4d ditto, new3? lOi to 4s 2d per meas. red wheat, old ,4s 2d to ditto, new. 3s lOd to 43 2c per ineas. oats, new. 16a Od to 17s Od old, lis 03 to 12i 03; malting barley, 168 Od to 18s Od per 280 lbs; grinding barley 13s 6d to 14s Od new potatoes, Is to Is per 20.bs; butter Is 2d to Is 3d per lb; beef 63 to 83; mr.LDii. 7d to 9d veal 6d to 7d; lamb, 103 ttilOil; pjrk, 6d to 8d fowls, 4s Od to 5s 03 ducks. 5s 03 to 6: Oi per conple eggs, 9 to 10 for a shilling. LIVERPOOL. CAI TLE, Monday.—There was a considerable in- crease in the supply of cattle in the market to-day. Demand fair for best quality at about las; weeks rates. Midding kinds a shade lower. Sheep also ia large numbers. Trade slow, and excepting prime quality, prices were lower all round. Qti- atioas:- Beef, 6d to 4'; j per lJ. mutton. 81 to 5, j p2r lb. At market :—1,178 cattle and 5,465 sheep. CORY, Tuesday.-Notwithst anding the decreasem the visible supply, American markets finished decidedly easier, but the decline had been already discounted here, only a slight concession was registered at the eomtnenaemenu of operations to, day. Prices then further receded to a limited escont on a less active speculative inquiry an3 freer off- ings of River Plate wheat, but towards the eloss a steadier feeling became apparent, aud a partial recovery ensued, though still leaving price?. than last evening, distant months being most aileL'tex The market for spot wheat rnled quiet, and only» limited basiness was reported, but prices showed no material change from the curreucies of last marks- day. MAIZE.-Spot parceL". of American luixej maize continued scarce for anything actually ready for delivery, and with a moderate demand, Pric" improved an additional j.1 ner cental on yesteraayj which represented an advauce of fully Id p^r cental on Friday's market rates. River Plate and European, though firm was not quotably dearer. FLorR qQlel but steadily held, and late prices were maintained for both foreign and local milled. BEANS were ID moderate request, without material change in vaiae. PINAI; steady, with bayers operating fairly at the quotations. BARLEY quietly steady, at about ilite rates for feeding qualities. OATS moved moderately into consumption at steady prices. OATMEAL was in improved demand, and Irish in some cases brought rather more money.

METEOROLOGICAL TABLE. FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 10TH, 1900. FROM THE BBOUGHTON AND PLIAS POWEB OOAL COMPANY, LIMITED. BAROMETER READINGS Taken at 9 a.m.. from an Aneroid by Negretti and Zambra. Compiled by Mr G. J. Findiay. THERMOMETER (IN DEGREES.) Minimum 33 42 t 44 56 50 51  Maximum 64 1 i458 7 1 71 5 7 1 75-;0 1 8 51 1 Wet Bulb 47 48 53 57 58 5? 7 Dry Bulb 48 51 57 62 64 60 All ma?imcm temperatures are shaK?tec'peratnMS?? ..Raiiifiill 1:1 .66 .Ra.8i:l } 66) -«| 02| I -W TOu.l ra nfall for week 1.39 inches.