THE LEAVENWORTH MURDER

BY ANNA KaUUERINE GREEN,

Authoress of "A Strange Disappearance" and "The Sword op Damocles."

XXX. BURNED PAPKR. I could havo bettor spiiroil a hotter man. — IIKNItY IV. I do not think I called immediately for help. Tho awful shock of this discovery, coming as it did at the very moment when life and hope wore strongest within mo : the sudden downfall which it brought of all tho plans based upon this woman's oxpoctod tostini ny; aud worst and most terrific of sill, the coineidonco of this sudden death with the exigency in which the guilty man, whoever Uo wa°,wns supposed to bo at that hour, were much too appalling for instant action. 1 could only stand and state at the quiet face before mo, smiling in it.s peaceful rest as if death were ploasautcr than wo think, and marvel over the providence which had brought us renewed fear instead of enlightenment, disappointment instead of realisation. For eloquent as is death even on the faces of tlios- unknown and unloved by us, tho causes and consequences of thia one, were much too important to allow tbo mind to dwell upon tbe pathos of the seen" itself. Hannah tho girl was lost in Hannah tho wittic-s. P«ut gradually, as t gazed, the look of ex pectation which I perceived hovering about the wistful month and half opon lids, attract, d me. and I hunt above her as a friend might do, asking myself if she were quite dead and whether or not immediate medical assistance would be of any avail, .but tlm more closely I looked, tlie more certain I became that she had been (lend for sonic hours, and tho dismay occasioned by this thought, taken with the regrets which I must ever fori, that I had not adopted the bold course the evening before, and by forcing my way to the hiding-place of this poor creature, interrupted, if not prevented, the consummation of her fate, startled me into a realisation of my present situation, nnd leaving lu:r side, I went into the next room, and fastened to the bliml tbo red handkerchief, which 1 had taken the pre caution to bring with me. Instantly a young man, whom I waa fain to believe Q, though he bore not the least resemblance either in dress or facial ex pression to any rendering of that youth which I had yet seen, emerged trom the tinsmith's house, and approached that in which I was. Observing h;m cast a hurried glance in my direction, I crossed the floor, nnd stood awaiiing him at tlie head of the staiis. "Well?" ho whispered, upon entering the house and meeting my glance from below, " havo jou seen her?" "Yo»," I returned bitterly, "I have seen her." 110 hurriedly mounted to my side. " And she bus confessed?" "No; I have had no talk with her." Then ns I. perceived him growing alarmed at my voice and manner, drew iiitii into Mrs B'.'Mim's ro-'iu and hastily inquired, " What did you moan .his ninrniiin when you into; moil mo that you hud seen this gill? til at she W.iS ill a certain rcom where * I might find her?" '• What I wiid." " You have then been to her room?"

"No; I have only been on the outside of it. Seeing a light, I crawled up on to the ledge of the slanting roof last night, while both yon and Mrs Belden were out, and looking through a window, saw her moving round the room." Jlc must have observed my countenance change, for he stopped. " What is to pay?" be cried. 1 could restrain myself no longer. "Come,1' I said, "aud see for yourself!" And lending him to the little room I had ju-t left, I pointed to the silent form lying within. "You told mo I should find Hannah here; but you did lint tell me I should find her thus."

" Great heaven!" he cried with a start, "not de»d?" " Yes," I said, " dead." It seemed ns if ho could not realise it. "But it is impossible!" ho returned. "She is iv a heavy sleep, has taken a narcotic—" " It is not sleep," I said, " or it it ia she will never wake. Look!" And taking tbe band once more in mine, I Jet it fall iv its stone weight upon the bed. The sight seemed to convince him. Calming down, bo stood gazing at her with -a vory strange expression upon his face. Suddenly ho moved, and began quietly turning over tlie clothes tbat were lying on tho lloor. "What aro you doing?" I asked. ■■■ What nre you looking for?" " I am looking for the bit ot paper from which 1 saw l.er take what I supposed to be a disc of medicine last night. 0, here it is," he cried, lifting a morsel of paper that, lying on the iloor under the edge of the bed, had hitherto escaped his notice. "Lot mo sec it?" I anxiously exclaimed. He handed me the paper, on the inner surface nf which I could dimly discern tbe traces of au impalpable white powder. "This is important," I declared, care fnlly folding the paper together. "If there is enough of this powder remaining to show that the contents of this paper -were poisonous, tho manner aud means of the girl's noath are nccountfd for, aud a case of deliberate suicide made evident." " I am not so sure of that," he retorted. ** If I am any judge of countenances, aud I rather flatter myself that I am, this givl had no more idea she was taking poison than I had. She looked not only blight luit gay; and when sho tipped up the paper, a smile of almost silly triumph crossed her face. If Mrs Belden gave her that dose to take, telling her it was medicine —" "Thatis something which yet remains to be learned; also whether the dose, as you call it, was poison or not. It may bo I she died of heart disease." ■ He simply shrugged his shoulders aud pointe I first at the plate of breakfast left on the chair, and secondly at the broken down door. " Yes." f said answering his look, "Mrs Belden has been iv here this morning and Mrs Belden locked the door when she went out, but that proves nothing beyond her belief iv tbe girl's healthy condition." " A belief which that white face on its tumbled pillow did not seem to stake?" " P.erhaps in her haste she may not have looked at the gin, but have set the dishes down without more than a casual glance iv her direction 5" " I don't want to suspect anything wrong, hut it is such a coincidence I"

This was touching me on a sore point, and I stepped back. "Well," I said, "there is no use iv our standing here busying ourselves with conjectures. There is too much to be done. Come !" and 1 moved hurriedly towards the door. •' What are you going to do ?" asked he. Have you forgotten this is but an episode in the one great mystery we arc sent here to unravel ? If this girl did come to her death by some foul play, it is our bu.sinoßH to find it out," " That must be left for the coroner to 00. It has now passed out of our hands." " I know ; but we can nt least take full note of the room and everything in it before throwing the affair into tho hands of strangers. Mr (Jrycc will expect that much of us, lam sure." '• 1 have looked at tho room. The w'lole is photographed on my mind. I am only afraid I can never torirct it." "And the body ? Have you noticed its position ? the lay of the bed-clothes around it ? the luck there is ol all signs ol strugulo or fear? the repose of the countenance? tho easy fall of tho hands ?" '• Yes, yes; don't make me look at it any more." " Then the'clothcs hanging on the wall ?" rapidly pointing out each object as bespoke. "Do you see? it calico dress, a shawl,— not the one in which slur was believed to have run away, but an old black one, pro bably Mrs Bcidcn's. Then tin's chest," — opening it—"containing a lew underclothes, marked -- let us see, nil, witb tbo name u[ the lady of the house, but smaller than any she ever wore ; made for Hannah, you ob serve, end marked with her own namo to prevent suspicion. Anil then these other clothes lying on the lloor, till new, all marked in the same way. Then this— Halloo ! look here," he suddenly cried. Going over to whee ho stooil 1 stooped down, when a washbowl half full of burned paper met my eye. " I saw her bending over something in this corner, anil could not think wont it wns. Can it be that it. was a suicide after all? She lias evidently destroyed some thing bere which she didn't wish anyone to sec." "I do not know," I said. "I could almost hope it to no so." " Not a scrap, not a morsel left to show what it'was; how unfortunate?" "Mrs Belden must salvo thin liddle," I cried. "Mm Belden must solve the whole riddle," he replied, " the secret of the Leavenworth murder hangs upon it." Then with a lingering look towards the mass of burned paper, "Who knows but what iliat 1 was a cotilesssion!" Tin- conjecture seemed only too probable. "Whatever it win," I siiid, "it is now ashes, anil we have got to accept the fact ami make the best of it." " Yes," mill he with a dcepsi-h ; "that's so, but Mr Gryco will never forgive inn fur it, never. He will my I ouijlit to have known that it was a suspicions circum stance, this taking of a dose of medicino a' the very moment detection stood at iter bank." "Hut she did not know that; she did not sec you." " We don't know whit she .saw nor what Mrs Belden saw, VVomcti are a mystery, and though 1 Hatter myself that ordinarily I am a match for the keenest bit of female llesh that ever walked, 1 must say that in this case 1 fe.l myself thoroughly anil shamefully worsted." "Well, well," 1 said, "the end has not conic yet; who knows what a tilk with Mrs Beldcu will evoke. Anil by the way she will be coming back soon, and I must bo rcttdy to meet her, Everything depends upon finding out, ii I can, whether she is av.-ar.; of this tragedy or not. It is just possible .she knows _othing of it." Anil hurryiug him from the room, I pulled the door to behind me, and led the Winy downstair?. •• Now," said F, " there is one tiling which must be immediately attended to, and tbat is: il telegram iniist lie sent to Mr Gryco, acquainting htui with this uu looked-for occurrence." "All right, sir;" and Q started for the door. " Wait one moment," said I. "I inny not have nnothcr opportunity to mention it. Mrs Bclilcu received two letters from the postman yrsterday; one in a largo ami one in a small cuvclopo; if you could find out where they were postmarked—" Q put his hand iv his pocket. "I think I will not havo to go far to find out where one of them cama from. Good George, I have lost it I" Anil before I knew it, he bail returned upstairs. That moment I heard the gate click, XXXI. Q. Thereby bangs a talc. Taming ok the Shiskw. " It was all a hoax; nobody was ill; I have been imposed upon, meanly imposed upon." And Mrs Belden Hushed and panting, en« tcred the room where I was, and proceeded to take oil' her bonnet. But whilst doing so she paused and suddenly exclaimed," What is the matter ? How you look at nic ? Has anything happened?" • " Something very serious has occurred," I replied ; " you havo been gone but a little while, but ln that time a discovery has heon made—" I purposely paused here that the suspense might elicit from lier sonic betrayal ; but though she turned pale, she manifested less emotion than I expected, and I went on—"which is likely to produce very important consequences." To my surprise she burst violently into tears. "I know it, I knew it!" she mur mured. " I always said it would be im possible to keep it secret if 1 let anybody into the house; she is so restless. But I forgot," she suddenly said with a frightened look; "perhaps it isn't what I thought; perhaps—" I did not hesitate to interrupt her. "Mrs Belden," I said, -'I shall not try to miti gate the blow. A woman who, in the face ofithe most urgent call from law and justice, can receive into her bouse and harbour there a witness of such importance »s Hannah, cannot stand in need of any great preparation for hearing that her elforts have been too successful, that she has ac complished her design of suppressing valu able testimony, that law and justice arc outraged,and that aiunnocont^vouian whom this gin's evidence might have saved, stands for ever compromised in the eyes of the world, if not in .those of the ollicers of the law." Her eyes, which had never left me during this address. Hashed wide with dismay. "What do you mean?" she cried. "I have intended no wrong. I have only tried to save people. I—l—But who aro you ? What have you got do with all this ? What is it to you what Ido or don't do ? You said you were a lawyer. Can it be you are come from Mary Leavenworth to see bow I am fulfilling her commands, and—" "Mrs Belden," I said, "it is of small importance now as to who 1 am or for what purpose I am here. But that my words may nave the more ell'cct, I will say that whereas I have not deceived you either as to my name or position, it is truo that I am the friend of the Misses Leavenworth, and that anything which is likely to affect

them is of interest tome. When, there fore, I say that Eleanore Leavenworth is irretrievably injured by this girl's death "Death? what do you mean? death?" The burst was too natural, tbe tone too horror-stricken, lor mo to doubt for ano ther moment as to this woman's ignorance of the true state of affairs. " Yes," I repealed, " the gil you have been hiding so long and so well is now be yond your control. Only her dead body remains, Mrs Belden." I shall never lose from my cars the shriek which she uttered, nor the wild, " I don't believe it I I don't believe it!" with which she dashed from the room and rushed up stairs. Nor that after-scene when in the presence of the dead she stood wringing her hands and protesting amid sobs of tbe sincerest grief and terror, that she knew nothing of it; tbat she had left ihe gul in the beat spirits the night before ; that it was true she had locked her in, but that was what sne always did when anyone was in the house ; and that if she riied of any sudden attack, it must have been quietly, for she had heard no stir all nhihr, though she had listened more than once, being naturally anxious lest the „irl i-hoald make some disturbance tbat would arouse me. " But you were in hero this morning?" said I. "Yes; but I didn't notice. I was in a hurry and thought she W-H asleep ;so I set the things down where aha could get them and came- ri^ht away, locking the door as usual. "It is strange," said I, " that she should have died this night ol" all others. Was she ill ye t rday ':" "No, -irj the was even brighter than common, mote lively. 1 never thought of her being sick then or ever. If 1 had—" " You never thought of her being sick ?" a voice here interrupted. ''Why then did you take such puins to give her a dose of inedii iue last night;,'" Ana <i entered from the room beyond. " I didn't," said, she, evidently under the suppo-ition that it win 1 who had spoken. ■' Did I, Hannah, did I, poor girl ':" stroking the hand that lay in hers with what appeared to be genuine sorrow and regret. " How came she by it then ? Where did she get it it you didn't _ivc it to her ?" Tnis time she seemed to be aware that somo one besides myselt was talking to her, for huiriedly rising, she looked at the man with a wondering stare, before replying. "I don't know who yo'i are, sir, but I ran tell you this, the girl had no medicine ; took no dose; she wasn't sick last night that 1 know of." " Yet I saw her swallow a powder." " Haw her—the world is crazy or I am— saw her swallow a powder ? How could you see her do that or anythiugcUe ? Hasn't idic been shut up in this room for twenty four hours?" " Ye< ; but with a window like that in the roof, it isn t so very dillieult to see into a room, madam." " O," she critd shrinking, "I have a spy in the house, have 1 ? l!ut I deserve it; I kept her imprisoned in four close walls and never came to look at bcr once nil night. I don't complain. But what was it that you said you saw her ? Medicine ? Poison ?" "I didn't say poison." " But you meant it. You think she has poisoned herself and that I bad a hand in "No," I hastened to remaik, "he docs not think you bad a hand iv it. He says he saw the girl her-elf swallow something which he believes to have been tbe occasion of her dentil, find only inks you now where she obtained if:" "How can I tell? I never gave h»r anything; didn't know s_c had any thing." Somehow 1 believed bcr, and si felt un wiilitiu; to prolong the prese.it> interview, especially as each moment delayed the action which I felt it incumbent upon u« to take. Ho motioning Qto depart upon his errand, I took Mrs Belden by the hand and endeavoured to lead her from the room, lint she resisted, sitting down by the side of (he bed with tbe expression, " I wid not leave her again ;do not abk it! here is my place and here will 1 stay," while Q, obdu rate for the lirst time, stood staring severely upon us both, and would not move though I urged him agaiu to make baste, sayiutj that the mo-ning was slipping away, and that the telegram to Mr Gryce ought to be sent. "Till that woman leaves the room, I don't; and unless you promise to take my place in watching her, I don't quit the house." Astoni-dicd, I left her side and crossed to him. " You carry your suspicions too far,' I whispered, "and I think yon are too rude. We have seen nothing, I am sure, to warrant us in any such action, besides, she can do no harm here ; though as for watching her, I promise to do that much il it will relieve your mind." " I don't want her watched here ; take her below. I cannot leave while she re mains. " "Are you not assuming a trifle the master?" " I don't know, perhaps. If I am, it is because I have something in my possession which excuses my conduct." "What is that, the letter?" " Yep." Agitated now in my turn, I held out my hand. " Let me see." I eui-. " Not while that woman remains in the room." Seeing him implacable, I returned to Mrs Belden. " I must entreat you to come with me," said 1. " This is not a common death ;wo shall be obliged to have the coroner here and others. You had better kive the room and bo below." "I don't mind the coroner ; he is a neigh bour ot mine ; his coming won't prevcut my watching over tho poor girl until he arrives." "Mrs Belden," I said, " your position as tbe only one conscious of the presence of this girl in your house, wakes it wiser for you not to invite suspicion by lingciiug any iou-cr than is mcesmry in the room where her dead body lies. "As if my neglect of bar now, were the best surety of my good intentions towards her in time past!" "It will not be neglect for you to co below with me at my earnest request. You can do no good bore by staying, will, in fact, be doing harm. So listen to me, or I shall be obliged to leave you in charge ot this man and go myself to in form tbe authorities." This last argument seemed to affect her, for with one look of shuddering abhorrence at Q, she rose, saying, "You have me in your power," and then, without another word, threw her handkerchief over the girl's face, and left the room. In two minutes more, I had the letter of which Q had spoken in my hands. "It is the only one I could find, sir. It was in the pocket of the dress Mrs Belden bad on last night. The other must be lying around somewhere, but I haven't had time to find it. This will do, though, I think. You will not ask for the other." Scarcely noticing at the time with what deep significance he spoke, I opened the letter. It was the n_aller of the two I had

seen her draw under her shawl the day before at the post-office, and read as follows :— " Dear, deak Friend,— " I am in awful trouble. You who love me must know it. I cannot explain, I can only make one prayer. Destroy what you have to-day, instantly, without question or hesitation. The consent of anyone else has nothing to do with it. You must obey. I am lost if you refuse. Do then what I ask and save " One Who Loves You." It was addressed to Mrs Belden ; there was no signature or date, only the post mark New York; but I knew the hand writing. It was Mary Leavenworth's. " A damning letter!" came in the dry tones which Q seemed to thiok lit to adopt on this occasion. " And a damning bit of evidence against the one who wrote it, and the woman who received it I* "A terrible piece of evidence indeed?" said I, " if I did not happen to know that this letter refers to the destruction of some thing radically different from what- you suspect. It alludes to some papers in Mrs Belden'B charge; nothing else.' " Are you sure, sir?' "Quite; but we will talk of this here after. It is time you sent your te cgram and went for the coroaer." " Vary well, sir." And with that we parted, he to perform his role and I mine. I found Mrs Belden walking the floor below, bewailing her situation, and utter iii'4 wild sentences as to what the neigh bours would say of her, what the minister would think, what Clara, whoeverfhat was, would do, and how she had wished she had died before ever she had meddled with the affair, Succeeditg in calming her after awhile, I induced Iter to sit down and listen to what I lud to sny. "You will only injure yourself by this display of f cling,' 1 remarked, "besides unritting viurself for what jou wilipresently be called upon to go through." And laying myself out to comfort the unhappy woman, I first ex plained the necessities of tbe case, and next inquired if she had no friend upon whom she could call in this emergency. 11) mv great surprise she replied no; that while she had kind neighbours and good friends, there was no one upon whom she could call in a case like this, either for assistance or sympathy, and that unless I would take pity on her, she would have to meet it alone ; "As I hare met everything," sbe said, "from Mr Belden's death to the loss of mv little savings in a town fire last year," I was touched by thin ; that sbe who, in spite of her w.aki ess ani in.or.s's eacies oi character, possessed at least the mie virtue of sympathy with her kind, should feel any lack of friends. Unhesitatingly I offered to do what I could for her, providing she would treat mo with the perfect iraukness with the case demanded. To my great relief she expressed not only her willingness but her strong desire to tell alt she knew. "I have had," said she, " enough of secrecy for my whole lif-e." And indeed I do believe she was so thoroughly frightened, that if a police-officer had como into the house aod a-ked her to reveal secrets com promising the good name of her own son, she would have done so without cavil or question. " I feel as if I wanted to take my stand out on the common, and m the face of the whole world, declare what I have done for Mary Leavenworth. But lirst,"she whispered, "tell me for God's sake how those girls are situated? I have not dared to ask or writ". The papers say a good deal about Elcanore, but nothing about Mary ; and yet Mary; herself writes only of hef own peril, and of the dauger i-be would he in if certain facts were known. What Is tho truth ? I don't want to injure them, only to take care of myself." " Mrs Belden," I said, "ElcanoreLeaven worth has got into her prewnt difficulty by not tell'ng all that was required of her. Mary Le-venworrh —Hut I cantioE -pealc'oi her till I know wha« you lnvc to divul«c, He.- position, as well as that of bcr cousin, is too nnoina'ons for cither you or me to discuss. What we want to learn from you is how you became connected witb this affair, and what it was that Hannah knew which caused her to leave New York and take refuge here." But Mrs Belden clasping and unclasping her hands, met my gaz. with one full of the most apprenensiye doubt. " You will never believe me," she cried, "but 1 don't know what Hannah knew. I am in utter ignorance of what she saw or hoard on thatfatal night; she never told me and I never asked. She merely said that Miss Leavenworth wished me to secrete her for a short time, and I, because I loved Mary Leaven wotth and admired her beyond anyone I ever saw, weakly consented and—" "Do you mean to say, I interrupted, " that after you knew of tbe murder, you at the mere expression of Miss Leaven worth's wishes, continued to keep this girl couceiled, without asking her any questions or demanding any explanations?" "Yes, sir; you will never believe me, but it is so. I thought that since Mary had sent her here, she must have her reasons, and—and—l cannot explain it now, it all looks so diffe rently, but I did do as I have said." " But that was very strange conduct. You must have had strong reason tor obey ing Mary Leavenworth so blindly." "'O, sir," she gasped, "I thought I understood it .all; that Mary, the bright young creature, who had stooped from her loftlj- position to make use of me and to love me, was in some way linked to the cri minal, and that it wouli be better for me not to know any more, only to do as I was bid, and trust it would prove all right. I did not reason about it: I only followed my impulse. I couldn't do otherwise, it isn't my nature. When lam requested to do anything by a person I love, I cannot refuse." "And you love Mary Leavenworth, a woman whom you yourself seem to consider capable of a great crime." "0. I didn't say that; I don't know as I thought that. She might be in someway connected with it, without bein_ the actual perpetrator. She could never be that, she is too dainty." "Bits Belden," I said, "what do you know of Mary Leavenworth which makes even that supposition possible." The white tace of the woman before me. flushed. " 1 scarcely know whatto reply," she cried. "It is along story, and—" "Never mind ih_ long story," I inter rupted. "Let mo hear the one vital reason." " Well," said she, "it is this, that Mary was iv an emergency from which nothing but her uncle's death could release her." "Ah. how's that?" But hero we were interrupted by the sound of steps on the porch, and looking out I saw Q entering the house alone. Leaving Mrs Belden where she was, 1 stepped into the hall. "Well!" said I, "what is the matter ? Haven't you found the coroner ? Isn't he at home ?" " No, gone away; off in a buggy to look after a man that was found some ten miles from here, lying in a ditch beside a yoke of oxen." Thenashcsaw my look of relief, for I was glad of this temporary delay, said with nn expressive wink, "It would take a fellnw a long time to go to him—if he wasn't iv a liui'.y—hours I think,"

"Indeed!" I returned, amused at his manner. " Rough road ?" "Very; no horse I could get wouldl travel it faster than a walk."

"Well," said I, "so much the better for us. Mrs Belden haa a IODg story to tell and " *

"Doesn't wish to be interrupted. I understand."

I nodded and he turned towards the door.

"Have you telegraphed to Mt Gryce?* I asked. " Ye, sir,"

" Do you think he will comei" "Yes, sir; it he has to hobble on two sticks."

•' At what time do you look for him ?'' " You will look for him as early as three o'clock. / shall be among the mountains ruefully eyeing a broken down team or some such thing." And leisurely donning his hat, he strolled away down the street like one who has the whole day on hie. hands and doesn't know what tv do with it.

Going back to Mrs Belden, I explained that the coroner was out of town, andwonld. not he back lor some time; tbat we had, therefore, some hours before us which could*, not be bettor employer! tbau by giving me some account of what she knew concerning tne matter iv hand. Sbe expressed herself a* willing to do so, and immediately _om. posed herself to her task. As what she told involves a long story, I will devote a. chapter to it and christeo it Mrs Belden's. narrative. (To he Continued.)

A Girl's Gossip About the Dresses at Goodwood.

Dkarest Ajiv,—You ask me to tell yon, i about our day at Goodwood, but it would be impossible to describe the loveiness of it all. Well, we got up very early in tie morning, and were ia the Stand enclosure by one o'clock. Mv dress was grey gauze,, trimmed with silver embroidery; Maud's w_s blue nun's cloth, with panels of deep, claret-coloured velvet. Tne day was simply perfect, and I was glad that I had put my tm.-t in the weather so far as to hiug'a very thin gown. The drive toil Chichi ster through tbe Park was ateo- ■ * lutely delightful, though we did not tail to ' notice on our return the absence of singing birds, just at the hour when thpy wo_ts have been discoursing sweetest niusicafta the heat of the day. Is it not odd flat there are none in this lovtly park ? I didn't take much intet est in the racing, though the horses aud riders looked very pretty in the sunshine, with the brilliant colours of the jackets and caps. As I ha. never been at Goodwood before, it was all new to me. ihe proce-sion from Amudel created quite a sensation, and wasbueof th* prettiest sights of the day. The dresses were quite absorbing, Amy J The Princess of Wales looked moat ex quisite iv ivory white, with gold trimmings, She wore a pale coffee-coloursd Newmarket coat when she fir.-t arrived, so probably that rather neglected garment will becom. ton again. Quite a third of the gowns were white, and nearly another third wers pals blue. Many were quite extraordinarily ihort, aud showed very elabbraw '" -tockiDgs, and what Diet . calls >. "clipper-built" shoes. There wre-so many novelties among the parasols that I have forgotten half of them,-In fact, the dresses wire all jo.tlina eao_t>_er in my memory when Maud and I began tr> compare notes the next thy. The notfeit tiimmicg for sunshades seems, to hi com p?s--d of ostrich leather*. With a.'lrees' :*' made of olive laco over pale .lite;the '* parasol was of olive moire with bine and olive feathers all round th- cige, and three - lon„ feathers of the same colours tied » tbe ierulo. A lady in white brocade, Out Out iv broad battlements over a very thickly lace-trimmed skirt. Catlied A Wttit. . parasol edge- with pearls. Her bonnet *' was made of iea-ro»es, aud similar fclessohii • were so airane'-d on the parasol that, when it was closed, they looked like along, dense spray. I wish I could adequately describe to you the apnearance of a dainty little lsdy who wore white moire. The wide panels in which tbe skin elided were tiimiMi|S round with lace, and fell over a ruche, of blue, and one of pink, both aspaleaspos eiblc, The bodice was coat-shapedatthe back, the tails being lined with pale piot and blue striped snrab. There was a mis. of lace npon it, and blue and pink feather trimming encircled the neck and came down the front. The parasol was whitey | with blue and pink feather trimmiwi. Another sunshade was edged with ox-eye daisies, but I forget what dress was with it. Another had a dazzdng array of jewels upon it. Charlie says he saw one with diamonds in a great cluster round W ■'-' ferule. -~■ . I quite fell in love with a splendid lop - ing woman, who wore cream colour dnM» about her magnificent figure in aninderenb able way. 1 fancy the stuff was Eastern, so fine and soft it was. Here and tbete It-;-.. looked as though some one had carelessly gathered a mass of folds together ana fastened then, with a broad clasp of jewels. The hat was of creamy lace, with wmte roses under the brim. This divinity na<" dark hair and great brown eyes. I remem ber her better than I do hec gown, bat there was a lovely bine toilet, of whose wearer I have not the smallest recollection. Itw» nun's veiling, quite transparent, draped ro a new wag over a petticoat of ficelle WWi each ilounce of the lace falling over o rnc.e of pale blue satin. The ve'ling fell low on the right side in mnny folds, which were held by a liberal bow of blue satin nbhori. On the left hip the whole length ot tne veiling was caught together in a group oi folds, held by a silver arrow. I thought the very low-necked dresses- . hideous, and we all agreed tbat those open ; , down tha front were abominable, and very unbecoming without any softening lace. Some of the checks set our teeth Oil BOW-;*;*. * especially n yellow and green, which «c wearer iH»itively/rt«»«c_, wth'heßl„SZ crinolette. Some ot the painted paras"' 0 tvere quite atrocious. A few bonrcts oe--;-,■■■ longed to the audacious order. Did i"' you that tho Princess bad some Mm- ; compelling strawberries on hers? *ner were hardly any long gowns, and, as !■ wo you, some were quite alarmingly sM"j, One costume was a harmony in broWaW* yellow ; brown surah dress, jersey Of B<"" beads, Leghorn straw gipsy hat with WW roses, wrap of gold-coloured cheuille Wj ing ou the arm, and tan gloves, legltnM" in this esse. The gipsy bat of to-day exactly resembles the coal-scuttle bono" of the day before yesterday, only that tnew are no ears. .. ~.[[.

Plaids are again in fashion for l»0l* B gowns this seoson, the larger patterns bewp the more expensive. This does not n>»««« to some girls, who can fill up a good W At a conflagration a worthy citizen pases* with stupefaction on the steam fire-engine' " Well, I never expected to see such crimi nal, -enselcss wastefulness ! The Wf*Jßj ■warming the water before throwing i'oß' the flames."

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, SEPTEMBER 28, 1882