A Beauty's Biography.

The Jersey Lily give* Her Personal Hl-TORY TO A CoiiKEsrONDENT.

"Telt. you somothing nbout myself? What do you want to know ? Every thing? That* rather cruel of you to ask me to be my own biographer, but I'll try. Let me see, you mean my publio life, of course; my private affairs cannot possibly interest anybody ? Yon think they wtuld ? How very odd 1 JNow I would much prefer to confine our conversation to my public career, it you don't mind. You don t.do y°« About mv friends ? Why.that would be worse BtiU; I hate to talk about myself, but I think it would not be in good taste to gossip about the dear friends who have been How persistent you W e I I will tell you how I camo before the public if you Wish. Yon know my father is a prominent man In the church. lie IS theUeon of Jersey aad the head ot tne ecclesiastics in Jersey, and the oldest dean in tho "Church of England. It 1- rather curious" that nil my ancestors- a her erandfadier, great grandfather, and Idont Sow hovr m*ny more-have been deans The Le Bretons seeru to havo a sort ol descriptive riiiht to the deanery of Jersey. Mv pedigree being good, and my position in Je.sey society being assured, v vyas not Burprisiog that I should he well received. "Yes lwa* bomaod educated in Jersey, but it is not correct for you to say that I spent my bread-and-butter days there. I never had any bread-and-butter days As the only sister of six stmt brothers I shared their outdoor sports in a most boyish fashion. It would be more accurate to describe my girlhood as my ' tomboy days,'

I think" . In reply to my question at to the where abouts of her six brothers, Mrs Langtry re plied, her beautiful eyes filling with tears : " Only two of them are living now. One died in Canada, far away from home and family. Mv brother Clement Le Breton, who is a barrister in cood standing in London, married Lord fiavclagti's daughter, ond it was through Lord Ravelagh and the painter, Frank Miles, that I was lirst intro duced into London society. This was alter Ih-dbeeominiedforaomeyesntoMrLaog try, who at the time of my marriage owned property in Ireland worth about £3,000 a year, but which is now uot worth more than £300. Mv life in Jetsey had been spent almost entirely in tho open air, aud as Mr Langtry was fond of yachting I be came an expert yachtswoman and was very fond of all sorts of .outdoor exercise, but I longed to see sometning more of the world.

" Well, I went to London, and was brought out by my friends Among the most enthusiastic of those win Mr Frank Miles, the artist. I learned afterward that he biw me one evening at a theatre, and tried in vain to discover who I was. He went to his clubs and among his artist friends declaring he had seen a beauty, and he described me to everybody he knew until one day oas of hu friends met me and was duly introduced. Then Mr Miles cime and begged nu to sit for my portrait, I consented, and when the por trait was finished he sold it to Prince Leop.ld. From that time I was invited everywhere, aud made a groat deal of by mmy member, of the royal family and the nobility. My hu.-band was delighted at my social success—which he did not, however, care to share—and supplied me freely with the means of going about in En.lish society, 'the painters completed the wotk of making me popular. They raved about mv ' clas sical hand 'a? they called it, and declared that they discovered in the alnp i of my neck rare 'Jimsot beamy.'"

"Now you must know I had never set myself up for a beauty. I nevpr thought I was one, aud don't think lam now. I am never in the least surprised when I hear people say they are very much dis appointed about my Ibeauty. Bur. the ar ti-.ts insisted that I was. Affr Frank Miles, I sat for portraits to Millats and Burne Jones, and now Frith is putting my face in one of his great pictures."

"Is it true, Mrs Langtry," I asked, "that Mr Miles, having io.'odnced you to the DuKe and Duchess of Westminster. Lord aud Lady Kosslyn, Lord and Lady Dudley, tbe Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, you were in a few weeks the favored guest of the Prince and Princess of Wales ?')

"It would be absurd," she replied, "for me to enter into explanations as to the pre cise mode adopted by my friends to make me welcome anion* the English nobility, and I doo't think it would be in good taste to name all the people to whom I was intro duced, nnd who received me. Do you 1 In this country we think it best to avoid the mention Of great .names as much as possible. You want to know how I came to Hdopt the stage, and lam telling you. After the painters the photographers set to work, and I became so famous that the people stood on chairs in the street to see me pass, and the shopkeepers named their goods after me. I really wish you had not made me talk so much about myself. Let us get to the theatrical career."-["New York Herald" interview with Mrs Langtry,]

A Missionary Cat.

UNDEE the head of "Little Workers for Jesus," Rev. J. C. Simmons, of St. Paul's Methodist Church South, tells a story in the "Pacific Methodist" about "Little Sarah's Missionary Cat." " There's one thing of Trtrich I am just truly glad," she said to the cat as she lifted her by her fore-paws and rocked back and forth, "nobody want •you, my dear old cat. They are giving away things and selling them, and making money with them for tbe missionaries ; but nobody will buy my cat. Flora has sold everyone of her chickens —I don't see how she can do it • and Trudle Burns won't cat a single egg, because she wants to sell them for i_is sion_ry money, and her brother Tom sells bis strawberries, and it seems as if there wasn't anything left to keep and have a good time'with, only my dear cat. I don t know how I'm going to make my missionary. I must fi«d "ome way; but I'm just as glad as can be that there is nothing that can pO'sibtV be done with you but just to play with you." Alas ! for poor little tarah ! The very next day she went with her mamma to call ou M-s Colonel Kates, and she overheard ihe Colonel, who was greatly troubled with mice on his premises, say be would aive 85 for a good mouser. Her heart was full, but she said nothing. There was not in all the town a better mouser than her Tabby, and little Sarah knew it. It made her heart beat fast, and the tears came in her eves It took her two days to decide tho matter, during which time she bad so little appetite and moped around so saHly that her mother feared she was coming do wn with the measles. On the third day her mind was made up for the great sacrifice. So she put Tabby in a basket and carried her to Colonel Bates and got the §-, telling him the heathen needed the money, and " Will you please be good to hei ? Smil ing through her tears, little Sarah gave her money to the Mission Band ia trust for the little heathen,

Scene at a Wedding.—" I Will Not."

A CERTAIN dean of Chester was called upon to perform the wedding ceremonial of a pair of happy lovers. The position of both parties was of the highest rank, and the guests who were bidden to the church were of the most fashionable and exalted. The day arrived, and with it the hour. The edifice was packed, and all was in readiness. The dean, expectant, awaited the coming of the bride, and the groom, with his beat man, was in the vestry. Tho hour passed on, and still the bride did not arrive. After a long delay she drove up to the church deor and with her bridesmaids swept up the largo middle aisle towards the altar. In tho meantime the groom advauced to meet her, and, receiving her half way, es corted her to the dean. After the opening words of exhortation the dean turned to the man and asked him the usual ques tion., whether he would have the woman for his wedded wife, &c, &c, to which he answered, "I will." The question being in turn asked of the woman, to the astonish ment and amazement of all sho dis tinctly said,looking at the groom in tho face, " I will not!" Tho next instant she said iv a low voice, "Mr Dean, no one can more re grctthewordslhavejustutteredthaniuyself, aud if you will dismiss the congregation and tako me into your vestry-room, I will neologise, and at tbe same time fully nnd satisfactorily explain what may seem to all my strange conduct." Tho dean, seeiog that she was in earnest, iv a few words dismissed the bewildered congregation and directed the bridegroom to await him. The congtegation having departed, and tho lady aud dean being together, sho stid, " I cannot tell you how badly I feel. I bad loved my fiancee truly and devotedly, nnd bad looked lor ward to a life ol periect happiness and joy. This morning, as you know, I was late at my marriage ceremony, but it was not through any fault of mine. I arrived as soon as I could. Instead of receiving looks of love and words of happiness from my future husband, he paralysed my beating heart by saying, wheivhe'met me half-way up the aisle, • li—- d you ! It you ex pect to begin life this way, by keeping ma waiting for yon, you will find out after you are my wife I' My decision was instant'y made. I have been told that, sooner thau sutler unluppinesa through my own actions, it were better to renounce even at tho altar a union that would .bring misery and grief thereafter. Had I turned back he would have followed me; there would have been a sceue, ana he might have persuad-d mo to return and marry him. It also might have looked like temper, and I had fully time during your few words of prayer to make uy my mind. I know that I have disappointed my friends, mv family, but no one more than myself. Do not ask me to reconsider his late action. Intorm my would-have-been husband of my determination and let me no." The dean, seeing she was resolved, could not but approve, and gently led her through the church back to her anxious parents, not as a smiling wife, but as a woman whose present is shattered and whose future is Blighted.

The Prince of Wales's Garden Party.

THE Fiince of Wales's garaen-party, on Thursday, July 12th displayed the usual generosity of the Royal host and hostess. Overhead it was fine, but under foot lamentably damp. Her most gracious Majesty was late to arrive, and did not remain a very long time, during part of which much interest was taken in the fact of her conversing with Musurus Pasha. It was a very pretty sight to see the Queen's reception of her grandchildren, who assembled in great strength. They were not the only children present, for several privileged guests bad been bidden to bring with tbem their offspring. Two small twin maidens, by reason of their quaint costume, created not a little curiosity. At intervals during the afternoon the Queen, with tbe Prince of Wales, walked round the garden, giving every one an opportunity of per sonal ly offering homage ; whilst the Princess of Wales, accompanied by the young Princesses Louise, Victoria, and Maud of W-les, was everywhere, showing tbe utmost assiduity in dispensing a kindly welcome, with that unaffected grace and charm of manner which ha«, ever since she first came amongst us, been peculiarly identified with her Royal Highness. In her hand the Queen carried a colossal bouquet of Mal maison clove carnation, both cream and rose-coloured varieties. Thia delicious and ri^ht royal bouquet was grown in the gar dens of Mrs General Wood, who has on several previous occasions had the honour of being allowed to present similar bouquets to the Queen. The threatening aspect of thej morning produced an effect upon the toilets, which were less ' brilliant and diaphonous than usual; but the arrival of her Majosty was the signal for an uplifting of the clouds, and the weather was most propitious and enjoyable duringthe rest of the day. The Queen appeared in excellent health and spirits, and was accompanied by Princess Beatrice and a group of blooming grandchildren. The Princess of Wales wore a long dress of 6cm, mixed with blue. Princess Christian and the Duchess of Teck were in black ; tbe Duchess of Connaught iv a short dress of ficelle colour, thickly embroidered in white. Comtessc Karolyi was in a very short dress of ecru tint, with high bronzed boots. The Duchess of Cleveland wore a very handsome brocade in two shades of brown velvet, the trainless skirt bordered with a heavy silk ruche. Lady Rosslyn and Lady Dudley wero in black ; Lady Eommey in salmon-coloured silk, trimmed with black lace; Lady Castlceagh in a tender shade of cray; Lady Claud Hamilton in blue under black Spanish lace. Lady Colin Campbell, and her sis'er Mra Bolton, were alike attired in the colours of the Household Brigade, though not connected therewith by ties nearer than sympathy. Lady Brassey wore velvet of the new and fashionable shade of "squashed strawberry," Mrs Algernon Mills two shades -of gold ; Lady Hermione Duncombe and Miss Maynard were in white. Mrs Napier Stmt's dress was very pretty, though a little autumnal: it was made short and very well-fitting, in a deep shade of Turkey red, embroidered at the neck and sleeves in rich Oriental colours; bonnet of black straw, with a red flower. There was another wintry toilet less pleasing —salmon-coloured silk, with a large green plush tippet. Among so many queens of beauty it is not easy to discrimi* nate; but no doubt Lady Dudley, Lady Newport, Lady Chosvenor, and Mrs Frederick Knollys were very hard to beat. Among the young ladies, I hear that the daughter of --ir Augustus Paget was much admired; while it was universally regretted that another, who has hitherto had no rival, should have condescended to the unnecessary assistance of the rouge-pot.

A BALLOON JOURNEY.

It would be an injustice to Josiah to sup pose that he limited his quest iv the field of knowledge to that particular portion indi cated by his honoured association with a distinguished society. He was proud in his modest way.if the paradox be permitted, when lie produced his card, on which was engraved " Josiah Smith, F.R.S.A." Also it was known among his friends that casual references to his great work on " Underground England" were not dis pleasing to him. But, as he waa wont to say, "The surest way of finding oithei mental or bodily recreation is to Beck it in fresh fields of labour."

Thus it camo to pass one evening in the sprint; of this year that Josiah, having shut himself in all day with the determination to make np for lost time, fonnd ho had, with tllO aid of Cold tea and wet bandages, added i-» much as half a page to his great work. Fooling tho need ot a little change ot thought and association, he had availed himself of an invitation kindly seat to him to join tbe meeting of an aironaulic society, Josiah had listened with profound nticn tiou to the various speeches mado, and had thought, really, when he had a little more time he would devote it to the fascinating science of aeronautics.

Among the guests of the society, and indoed the hero of the evening, was l aptaitl Mulberry, the famous guardsman, who de voted much natural talent and a consider able portion of his life to the endeavour to kill or hopelessly maim himself. Having tried most things, he had taken to balloon ing, ns offering the largest amount of risk iv tho least possible space of time, lie had been up in all kinds of balloons in all possible circumstances, and had come down in various ways. He had just now achieved a great feat, making a voyage from the Grampian hills to lite Orkney islands. 'I he society, desiring to do him honour, had invited bim to this meeting, and Josiah had heard him describe his perilous voyage. Many moving stories of his escaoes were dfltailtd, Josiah listened with enthralled attention to an adventure which, it 800111.°, the captain had had iv Spain, and which Josiah's companion (a bald-headed gentleman with spectacles), narrated with great effect. Mulberry, in one of the marches of tho Carlists, to whom he had attached himself, was surprised an<l taken prisoner by the enemy. They locked him in ihe kitchen of a farmhouse near, mentiouiog incidentally that iv the morning they would shoot him, They took away his sword and pistols, and would have taken his umbrella, but. tbe Captain pleaded hard fnr its society, declaring that from early boyhood he had never been a'dc to sleep without an umbrella under his pillow. The Spaniards ha . hcinl much of tne eccentricity of Englishmen, nnd not hi ins inelinel to refuse the request of a doomed mao, tbey left bim the um brella.

The next morning, when they cnme to take him out for .h.otiug purposes, lo ! the Captain and tho umbrella were both yonc. There was a good deal of soot about the place, and regarding this nnd other signs of hasty flight, the tr..th Hashed upon tbe Spaniards. There had btcn a fire in the grato. Tho Captain had opened the um brella inside the chimney, waited till it had been inflated with tho warm air, and then, hanging on to the handle, had beeu drawn up clear to the top, and, descending in a neighbouring field, had shut up his um brella and walked off,

" near me !" said Josiah ; " how very in terestiiiL'. I suppose the chimneys are wide in Spain ?" "Very wide, indeed," said tho bald headed gentleman in spectacles. When the nie';tin_ came to an end Jo i ih Walked along Pall Mall meditating ou these thiugsaudon the comparative obscurity of the work he had assigned to himself. Whilo Others were snaring iv high places, be was burrowing underground. Both were iv search of knowledge. Both desired to benefit their fellowmen. But of the two Josiah felt that the the icronauta had the advantage of the uudergrounders. It was too late for him to think of striking out a new path ; but he thought that if he hud to begin life a.am he would soar. While pondering on these matter* be was startled by a heavy hand laid upon his shoulder, and heard a cheery voice ex claim : " Got a match iv your pocket, old man ?' Be looked up, and there, somewhere on a level with the lantern in the neighbouring lamp-post,*was the genial face of Captain Mulberry. " No," said Josiah; " I'm sorry I have not.'' " Don't smoke, eh ? You don't look the kind of old boy to have any pleasant vices. I saw you in the Balloon Society's rooms just now, and rather took a fancy to you." " You are very kind, ".Josiah said, blush ing up to where in earlier and happier days the roots of his hair hair hart been. '' lam i sure I feel it a great honour." " If you don't mind me saying so, I think ! you're the innocentest-lookina old boy I have seen in a day's ride. I like innocence particularly when combined with middle age. It is the rarest tbing in the world. I hope you'U come and dine with me at my club." " I should like it very much inderd. said Josiah. "We are close nt my rooms —just here in King-street I live—and if you would step in you might light your cigar." . " Thanks, I will. You won't mind me making up to you in this way; but, 'pon my honour, I took such a liking to your face, seeing it among tbat mass of humbug where we were just now, that I was going to speak to you then, only I could not get near you." Josiah waa in a tremor of delight, which preseutlv subsided into a toft glow of con tentment, as the Captain, stretching him self out over as much of tlie couch as lie could find in tho li.tle room, not only lit his cigar, but praised Josiah's claret and told him a giod deal more of his balloon adventures man he had communicated to the eminent society in whoso rooma they had met.

"By the way," lie said, " I am going to make a balloon excursion to-morrow. I didn't mention it to the society because these fellows gab so. Ther-'d be agn at crowd round, and I'd only have hesn hampered. When you mean work, the less you say about i" beforehand the better. That's what 1 have always found. Ever up iv a balloon ?'' " Ho," said Josiah; "but I should very much like to go," " What do you ride ?" asked the Captain, looking him up and down as if either about to measure him for a suit of clothes or con sidering where he could mot advantage ously plant a blow from his ox-hoof-like fist. " A pony—at least I used fo ride a pony when I was at home ; but that is a hn^ time ago, and I have not ridden much since." " I mean what do you weigh," said the Captain, laughing. " A little over ten ftone " "Is i: possible! Why, I pull the scales

at seventeen stun. I'd give something to be your weight. Think of the ballast you might take up with you !"

••Is that an impoitant thing?" Josiah asked, his old instinct ot gaining know ledge manifesting itself. " It's simply everything. That's how I managed to get over to the Orkneys. These fellow* that go up in balloons which they lit up like first-floor rooms, and take everything with them except a feather bed, don't know anything about it. They go fumbling around with a few pounds of ballast, and when they get into a wrong current thero they stick. Now, between you and me, Mr Smith, I don't mind teliiug you my secret of successful ballooning. Tako us much ballast as you can carry, and when you get stuck in a calm or carried off by v current, out goes your ballast, up you Bhoot, yet into another current, and there you arc. " Ten stun !" he murmured, gazing wistfully upon the spare figure ot his host. " There ought to be v good deal dono with that, Tell you What, old chappie, yon shall come with me to-morrow."

Josiah had been a few moments ago pos sessed With a burning desire to go lip in a balloon, but at these words the lire WCllt nut, and he felt v cold chill steal over his body.

"1 rather fancy I have an engagement to-morrow," he suid, producing bis pocket diary, and anxiously gazing on it in the month of December,

■'Nonsense 1" said tbe Captain, laying his lurj>_ hand on Joslall's shoulder, " you've no engagement; and if you had you C 'llld't find it t>y holding your book upside down. Y'.u come along with me. There* not the slightest danger, and it's not every man who has crossed tlie Channel iv a balloon."

" Tbe Channel! " cried Josiah feebly. He had thought of sonic little excursion. Perhaps in the fields ton or twenty mile* off. " I don't think I would like to start with the Channel. Suppo-e wc begin somewhere else and try the Channel later on. It will be better—if anything hap pened, you k_o-~-to have the water warm."

" Nonsense," said the Captain, cheerily ; "we shall never be nearer the water thiiu 2000 feet. We'll dine in Paris to- UlortOW night, and I'll tike you to Closerie after dinner. It will do them good to see you there. Now tint's settled and you'd bettor go to bed straight off. We'll have to be up early in the morning to catch the mail train for Dover. I've got my balloon there all ready, and we'll start about noon.

This was potfectly horrible. Josiah felt as if it was a hideous nightmare, and lie had a dim hope that presently he would wake up. " I'll see you don't oversleep yourself." were the last words of tho captain as he went off. " I'll look you up and take yon down to Victoria in my hansom. You needn't bring any luggage, you k-iow. A clean shirt aud a toothbrush will see you through."

Thus filled Josiih's last aid secret ho;,c, one ho had cherished oven whilst he drank h>s claret ami talked boldly of aerial naviga tion. He mignt, he had thought, peradv.n ture ove-flcep him>clf and miss tne train, and all would bo well. But tho Captain would call for bim, and there was plainly no escape. How he got to Dover he did not know. It all seemed a dream. He had a dim recol bctioii of tbo Captain thundering at his door at G o'clock in the morning. Ho remembored lighting his Btun, making his cup "f codec, and thinking as he drauk it it might be his las\ Then they must have caught th- train. In fact, he rownmbcrcd the s iiliul of the rubbing carriage, the da-k ---nes* of th '. tucnel, the glories of the dawn iu_ day, and felt around him the bligllt frtsh sunlit a r that maac all Nature glad.

Thov drove out to the balloon, which was down by th i gas-works, and was now in process of inflation. Josiah looked vi on the monster, swerving lirjfc to tlie right, then to the left, and threat-nin_ ewiy momcut to break its bones and go oil on i-s own account. There settled upon Josiah a certain mood or quiet despair. What must be must, and it was bet'er to avoid a scene and imitate as closely as possible the cheer ful indifference of the Captain.

"Now, o'd man, in you tumb'.o," said the Captaiu. "Sit down in the bottom nf the car, and keep quiet till We get pa^t this stack or chimneys.* If we run into them its all over; bat I reckon I'll take you clear."

He got in and sat in the bottom of the car. It was, ho noticed, something like one of the coraclos of which he had made mention in the preface to " Underground England." There was something good in that. Tho Romans marie long journeys in the coracle. If the worst came to tbe worst, they might float. _yen ia the anguish of his mind he coula'nt help wondering when Captain Mulberry would finish coming In. He had never noticed how tal Ihe was till he found th: necessity of getting out of the way of his legs as he crept between tho ropes into the car.

" Let go nil!" cried the Captain, and Josiah felt his last hour had come. He held his breath and stuck to his hat, be'ng under the imp estiou the whole affair would shoot up into the nir like a rocket. He expected to be deafened with the noise of whizzing through the air, and to be half suffocated with the rush of wind. Looking over to get a Inst look at the nature of the soil oa which ho would pre-cntly fall. Josiah beheld a strange sight. _ As far as^heknew, the balloon was motionlets, whda the earth was dropping ra.idly from umler them as if the laws ot gravitation were irrevocably broken and the world was falling through space. •' Lone it!" he heard the Captain cry in a voice that sounded curiously remote.

"Done what 1" said Josiah, anxiously looking up. "Why, tbe chimney-stsck. Just cleared it by half afo t 1 didn't like to say much about it, but it was a pretty near touch-and go affair. That's the worst of filling a bal loon. You must do it near a gasworks, and there's sure to be a stack ol chimneys at hand."

It seemed but a moment since Jos'ah had heard the Captain call out, "Let so all," and there they w*re in >paco a thousand tcet above the level of tbe land, sadiog calmly along in the br git warm sucLght, aud with no moie motion perceptible thin if they were still sitting in the room in King-street—that cherished apartment which Joshiah felt his eye would never light on nwrc. •' This won't do," said tbe Captain, sternly ; " we've got int) a wrong current, »nd instead of goiug out to sea are going inland. In half-an-liouf wo 11 ha at Canter bury."

" 1 have heard Canterbury's a very nice old tow," said Josiah. "It wouldn't he a bad place to stop at; and if the wind's contrary to-day, it might be right to-mor row."

The balloon slowly rose till the aneroid marked a height of 1,500 fe<-t, and stll the current drnve it steadily north-west. Look ing southward, Josiah beheld a s:gnt which, if it were the last he was ever to look upon, was at least a glorious glimpse of earth ami sky, and sea. There lay the Channel gleaming in the sun, a broad belt of silver. Bsyond it, like a cloud, was Franc-;. The

fields, stretched out in illimitable extent,' far as the eye could reach, seemed to ferns a gigantic carpet, with patterns chiefly diamond-shaped, and in colour shaded from bright emerald to rnsset brown. "This won't do," the Captain saidstrain,' and seizinij a has* of ballast he emptied it. Tbe balloon cwiftly rose, and the aneroid inarkc I 2,500 feet, Xhc villages seemed m°re spots, the pattern of tbe capet grew blurred. Nothing, was distiaguhhable— • nor horse, nor sheep, nor any living thing, "Hurrah!" cried the Captain; "wo'ro off now." Nearer and nearer came tho belt of silver which scorned to ctrdle continent and island. They were close to Dover, and could make out the town. Josiah, know ing well the irregular plan on which the streets nre laid out, was struck by tho manner in which,as looked diwn upon them from thia height, they formed themselves into beautifully defined curves, straight lines, and other highly respectable gcoinctrcal shapes. They saw the castle and the pier with what seemed to bo ante crawling on it. A little patch .f colour, that to Josiah looked like a ball of scarlet ■woritid, wai, the Captain said, a sentry on duty.

It was passing strange, and at lirst dread ful, this intense silence, and thiH strange ness of tho familiar earth. But after a while even thing like terror panned away from Jos*ah'- mind. He be.au to feel the fascination of the thing, Hia spirits rose as hn breathed the tie icions air, and whon the Captain " We are over the water now," and Josiah looking down discerned the se:i (downing below, he could have chipped his hands for joy,

''This is splendid," said tlie Captain. "We'll be across in half-an-hour. We'll catch the train for Paris, and y_u shall dauce at the Closerie to-night." Josiah didn't dunce, and didn't know what the Clnserie mi_bt bo. Dut he was not without susceptibility to the allurement ufa quiet ditiuer in Pari?, and began tv feel the exhilaration of having ac complished a perilous feat, to which he would certainly drag in some refer ence in his great work, it would be difficult, as he vran as far as possible remote from Underground England. But it might bo worked in in some antithetical sen tence.

After they had sailed for tft- > space of ten minutes, the Captain, who had been throw ing out bits of paper which they left far be hiud. suddenly said a bid word. " We ate becalmed," he continued, and truly tho bits of paper Hung out lloated idly round the balloon, " Yveiu-st get out of this,"

He cast out the ballast, ba_ after bag, and higher still they soared. Nevertheless, whenever they Hung out the bits ot paper, tlley Hotted here and there, some diopp.ng back into the car.

"There goes our last bag of ballast," said tho Captaiu, "and may luck go with it, Wo are lost men unless it lakes ns iuto another current, which lotus hope won't be comini; from the east and carry us out into the Atlantic."

Up again they mounted, how many feet Josiah didn't know, but he was sensible ot a sudden iciueffs in the atmosphere, a tiuj;ling of the blood at his finger ends, ami a strung disposition to bleed at the nose. The Captain threw out some more bits of paper. Still ihcy circled round and round, dropping into the car or tailing to the distant earth, now utterly out of sight. Thoy had parsed through tho cloud, and had above them n chilly sun aud an intensely iblua sky, Below them were the clouds, on one of which win clearly caught the shadow of the balloon. Josiah, when he moved his bead, could see an answering motion ou the cloud, and recognised tho reflection oi the Captain's figure, sitting stem and erect, witn his teeth s-et aud a look ot angry deter mination ou his brow.

'litis frightened Josiah a great deal more than tli- Captain's words, lie i.lt that they were lost in space, and that the cod must speedily oine. This terrible look ou the Captain's face made him sick at heart.

"Mrsmith," said the Captain, speaking scarcely above a whisper, but his voice sounded as it he were shouting from tbe housetops, "you told me you were not a marricu man. ' '• Yes," said Josiah, " I have never been married," " Tbat i' so, or I should not havo asked you to come with me. Aud you havo not inaay relations?" " No," said Josiab, " there are not many that would mi-s me." " Very well," said the Captain, " I have ; but your life is as valuable as mine, and I wouid hold you at no disadvantage. The fact is we aie becalmed, and there is no pros pect of auy wind reaching us here till night, when we sbau't know which way we arc driftimr, aud may as well give up all hope. There is wind overheod, I know, aud it is going straight for France. If we could get up nnother thousand feet or so, we should catch the current aud be over land in ten minutes. But all the ballast is gone, and there is only one thing to bo doae." " What's that ?" asked Josiah, faintly, " One of us must go overboard," .aid tho Captain. Josiah felt bis heart si_k within him. "I am not sui- that it would be much use my going over," the Captain continued, discussing the matter as quietly as if he were arranging what they should have for dinner. "I'm such a thundering weight, you'd shoot up till you bumped your head against Jupiter; and besides, you would not know what to do with the balloon if I was gone. Still, I think we should li&vo equal chances, Now, I'll give you tbe first chance. You get hold of me and iry to push me over. If I go, you will find tho balloon shoot up ; but don't be frightened ; you'll be all right in a bit, and can let out a few feet of gas. If you can't get me over —well, 1 must try to get yau over. Hold on a bit, till flight a cigar." In the calm still air the Captain struck a light, banding low in the car tc avoid contact of afime and ga«, bit the end of a cigar, nnd lit it. Jusiah, shaking with teiror, could see in the shadow on the cloud the smoke curling up from the cigar and lazily spreading itseli out.

" Nov.-, o'd chappie," said the Captain, " I'm lt-ady. Heave hard, and over 1 go." What was the use of disputing with a mail like t*us? Josiah had never been in clined to fights with men of strong will. He. was rertain he could not move the Cap'ain, but he was able to try, and try he did. He got one foot over the car, the Captain encouraging him and cheerfully smoking.

" Very well done, old man. A few mora tugs and over we go. I'll just have time lo fiaish my cigar before I get to the bottom."

Josiah tu.ged and tugged till he felt the worm blood rushing through his veins and his breath come short. But though he m'ght move ono of tbe Captain's colossal legs, which seemed to his di-ordered fancy to bn the size of the Monument, he could do no m*re The Captain sat passive, en couraging bim by every kindly phrase he could think of. But it was of no use, and after ten minutes' violent struggling Josiah threw himself back in the car.

" Very sorry, old man," said the Captain, wi'h a tone of unmistakable sincerity. " Thought once you'd have done it; but I've

SIViC SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, SEPTEMBER 23, 1882