A LADY'S LETTER FROM LONDON.

Feminine Facts, Fancies, and Frivolities.

(By Elisb.)

Our Visit to Scotland—An Adoiitivb Deck Drive—A Stouy about PiUNCKSS Louise— CUIFFONS-SOME NEW DRES3ES-THE ROliE DIABLOTI.V—JEWELLERY—JIISsANDEUSO.VAS "Pabthrnia"—Her Dkessks-Mrb Ling abd in the "Glass op Fashion" — Mrs LINOARD'S COSTUMEB-SOSIB NEW SONGS DANCE Music-The Hook op the Year— "Ai.tioka Pets"—"Red Hiding Hood"—

New Novels.

London, Sept. 21. Dear Ma Editor.—We got back homo last •week after a quite too delightful time in Scotland. Tho weather from first to last was perfection. It didn't rain half so much as it usually does in the far North, and tho birds being plentiful, our men made good bags and enjoyed themselves immensely. One day there was a doer drive. It all came about just like the one in " Yolande" (which I had recently road), and though our husbands didn't allow us to accompany them, we were greatly excited and much disappointed when they came homo at nicht without having shot anything. Tom, I re gret to say, was in a shocking temper that evening, and confided to me in tho secrecy of the conjugal chr.mber that he thought such sport awfully (only ho said something far worso than "awfully") stupid. "Fancy," he grumbled, "there was I lying behind a bouldor on a hoap of wet heather all the blessed afternoon, with nothing to smoke or drink, and not so much as oven tho sight of a shootnblo animal's hind leg." We stopped at Callander for a brief visit, after leaving Ulen M , and met some rather pleasant peoplo there. Tho place brims over with stories about tho royalties (it Balmoral. Hume of them, I'm sorry to say, rather illnatured. Here is ono, how ever, that has tho merit of being true. During Her Majesty's sojourn in the vicinity of Loch Vermneluir, somo years ago, tho I'rinccss Louise had occasion to drive into Callander to match some velvet. Sho pro cured it at tho local draper's, but on rising to go, found sho had not her pur.-c with her, and, bogging the man's pardon, told him sho would send the money next day. " Dinna fash yersulf, mcm," said the imperturbable tradesman, " yer urn lias an account hero." I thought this good enough to .send to ono of bur London papers, so if you should see it in " Truth " or tho " Ladies' Pictorial," don't think I stole it without acknowledg ment.

And now I suppose you expert mo to talk chiffons a liit. To bo enndid, though, I Imvo not seen many now drosses lately. In Scotland homespun cloth or plain blue serge made up into dainty costumes by Rodforn wore nil tho rugo, and at Scar boro'olnborato yachting drosses prevailed. A fnvourito toilette at tho seaside) this sea son is tho Admiral Anglais, of dark blue cloth, with a white cashmora waistcoat, and small cold buttons, elaborately chased. I should tliitik this would do well for wear ing at Waiwern or some other of your fa vourite anti]x>doan resorts. Jerseys are still extremely popular, but they nro now made of bright colours, such as ambor, ruby, blue, and grenat, and literally co vorod with i>earl beads. Vigogne is Tory fashionable, and is for tho most part trimmed with pastilles of velvet. Mdllo Yudic, tho popular Parisian actress, has invented a new dinner drefcs called tho robe diablotin, which promises to be extraordinarily fashionable with dark beauties who liko a during toilette It is of flamo-colourcd or amber satin, and the front of tho jupo and corsage- are covered with small demons in black velvet. Tho remainder of the garment is veiled with lncc, and tho affect of tho whole is aston ishing. In tho way of jewellery, Genoese filigre work seems growing into popularity, ;uid if you wish to bo chic, you must fasten your mantles with a small elephant in ivory, silver, or bronze. One of tlio first theatres Tom took mo to on our return to town was the Lyceum, to see Mary Anderson. I liko tlio "great American actress" vory fairly well, but 1 don't think I ever saw a much sillier play than "Ingomar." Miss Anderson has a beautiful figure, and looks adorable in classic costume. Her first dress (designed by Mr Lewis Wingfield, the novelist) is a lovely cream white, trimmed in classic pat tern with a border in two shades of Pom poian red, hand embroidered, and louse drapery of tho same two shades—one very pale, tho other very dark. A simple red fillet binds tho hair. Her second dress is in two shades of turquoiao blue, with over drapory of orange spotted with large hand embroidered daisies. All tho dresses in tho play are mado of tussore silk, which drapes more classically, and moro re sembles tho drapery of a. statuo than any other material, and yet has tho advantage of not looking liko silk to tho audience. Miss Anderson wanted to play "Galatea" (a part for which her appearanco fits her admirably) next, but Gilbert, with characteristic " crankiness," has declined to permit tho management to produce his comedy. There is a now pioeo at tho Globe Theatre in which your old friend Mrs Lingnrd acts the heroine. We got Peats for tho first night with some little difficulty, and found several antipodean friends in the stalls, at tracted lid doubt by tho presence of tho so called "Australian actress." Mr W. H. Lingard, resplendent in a vast shirt-front and diamond studs, was sitting in one of the private boxes, surrounded by pro fessional acquaintances, and Tom declares he saw little Scarollo, the composer, in the pit. " Tho Glass of Fashion" is ostensibly the work of Sydney Gvundy, but was at first announced as by Sydney Grundy and G. R. Sims, and -though the lattor's name has for some reason been eliminated from the bills, his light and fanciful touch shows up con stantly in tho play. The chief figures in tho main story of tho " Glass of Fashion " aro Colonel Trevanion, a worthy but sadly priggish officer just returned from Zululand covered with honours ; his wife a giddy but lovable woman of fashion ; and his wife's friend, Prince Borowski, a Polish gentleman of insinuating manners and doubtful antecedents. Another friend of whom Mrs Trevanion has seen much during tho absence of her husband is Lady Coombe, tho wife of a wealthy brewer named Macadam, and Prince Borowski has so imbued Shese two ladies with the love of gambling t'iiat ho has managed to win of them a large sum of money. They owe him, indeed, no less than £1,000, and Colonel Trevanion is astonished to l>o greeted by his wife with a request for a cheque of that considerable amount. Mrs Trevanion, however, explains that she only wishes to draw the money from hor own private for tune, which is large, and she cannot under stand the difficulty which her husband makes over the payment. In the mean while other troubles arise in' connection

with a society journal, the editor of which, Mr Prior Jenkins, has persuaded Mr Macadam to bocomo its proprietor, with a view to having the world of society at his feet. In " The Glass of Fashion " (as the journal is called) various mysterious para graphs begin to appear about gambling among ladies of position; and after a time Trevanion discovors that they are pointed at his wife. Ho is much an iioyed, too, to find that Mrs Trevanion is to figure in a series of society beauties, whoso portraits are to bo sketched for the "Glass of Fashion" by Prince Borowski. Of this latter scheme on the part of the adventurer more comes than from his gambling transactions. He in duces Mrs Trevanion to visit him at his studio in defiance of her husband, and when she is there ho frightens her by violent love making and by cowardly threats. The way in which Mrs Trevanion's younger sister, Peg O'Reilly, comes to her rescue at this critical juncture, affords the most ingenious situation of thd piece. During Borowski's momentary absence one lady is substituted for the other in the ante-room, in which she has been concealed on the entrance of a third visitor. Tho trick is highly effective in its subsequent results, though it is only a trick after all, since there is no natural reason why both sisters should not escape simultaneously whon they have tho chance. After thus discovering the true character of her foreign friend, it remains only for Mrs Trovanioii to be enlightened as to tho true character of the husband whom —at the suggestion of Borowski—she has believed to be playing fast and looso with herfortune. Great is her revulsion of feeling when she learns that in truth she has no fortune at all, since her paronts wore not married till after her birth, and her father's property is entailed upon his legitimate child, her sister Peggy. This secret has been kept buck from her by her husband and her guardian, Mr Macadam, till tho last pos sible moment, nnd is only now revealed because Peg lias como of ago. With the discomfiture of Borowski and the reconciliation of the Trevanioim, tho orthodox happy end is attained, though this would bo happier if somo of tho trouble spent upon tho ridicule of society journalism had been employed in command ing interest for the more serious phases of tho story. As it is, tho play drags in parts, and, to convert it into a lirst-cliws. success, both compression and touching up aro necessary. Mrs Lingard made her appear ance iv a very decollete ball dress, which showed to full advantage her magnificent neck and bust. Her acting is just what it lias always boon—clever, but disappoint ing. Sho comes no near being a good artiste in many respects that her palpable failure in others irritates one. To be candid, tho blemish which mars all she does is arti ficiality. Never for a moment, either in pathos or comedy, does her acting move you a jot, or seem tho least bit real. Up to the other night, 1 used to think Mrs Lingard a thoroughly capable comedy artiste, but after seeing her on tho same stago with Lottie Venne (one of our cleverest iiigenncs) I changed my mind. Though tho lattor hnd only a few words to say, and looked almost plain besido the beautiful Alice, she entirely monopolised tho attention of tho audionco when they wore on the istago together. Mrs Lingard B drosses, however, are superb. Her iirat is of palu Nile green satin, trimmed at tho neck with Venetian lace. Tho folds of the skirt are particularly well arranged. The Kucond dress consists of a white silk skirt trimmod with live deep flounces of tatting, with over-dress of old gold in raw silk. The third, or walking dre.«s, is of electric blue, lluvh with vest and underfolda of silver groy silk and hat to mutch. With this, Mrs Lingard wears an old Indian silvor chatelaine and brooch, and grey gloves, with monogram ombroidered in blue.

Bo fiiire you ask nt your music-.scllcrs for Hutchisons new song, "Heart of my Heart." lam told it is as good as " Dream Faces," which, by-the-by, has become deplorably popular. Wo stopped nt Scar borough on our way from Scotland for a day or two, and all thu bands and burrol organs in the place wero playing the air. Another song popularity must soon ruin is Milton WoTling'B "(ioldcn Love," tho refrain of which Haunts one for ever, oven after a single hearing. Do you know "Tit for Tat," by Henry Pontet? It has been out some time, they tell me, but 1 only heard it tho other night, and was delighted with the quaint freshness of the little ditty. Another ballad tlint gave great satisfaction the same evening was "Anchored," by Michael Watson, and my cousin Ada sang con expressione, "The Silver Rhino," a sequel to tho woefully hackneyed "Ehren on the Rhine."

I have not heard of any (ianco music lntoly that I can conscientiously recom mend, Bttvo perhaps Waltenfel's " Jeunosss Dorue," ami Soydel's " Auf Tinnier" waltzes. Bvon tlic.-io arc nothing special, but several new comic operns come out noxt month, and will no doubt provide us with plenty of good galops and waltzes for Christmas.

Last year at this tinio tho inevitable ques tion that your noxt-door neighbour at din ner usked after tho usual commonplaces about tho weathor, tho war in Egypt, and Tiorny's noting us Benedick, wan " have you read ' Vice-Versa?'" Now tho book we all talk about is Lawrence Olipbant's "Atiorft Peto." I read it in Scotland, mid quite ngrco with tho " Athenicum" critic that there nro materials in the work for half-a-dozen ordinary novels. I fear, how cvor, Mr Oliphant flier \ littlo high for colonial readers. Tom rays tho publishers told him '' Democracy " didn't soil at nil well in Australia, and " Altiora Poto " lias many qualities in common with that work. A boole that will certainly bo popular wherever tho public like a good, stirring, sensational story, is Mrs F. E, M. Notley's "Red Riding Hood." Latterly, this lady has boon prostituting her talents writing trash for the "penny dreadfuls," but "Red KidingHood " shows shocanproduccarcally interesting novel when she) likes. " Dis armed," by Miss Bettam Edwards, resembles "All Sorts and Conditions of Men " in a manner, butneverreallyrousesono's interest. I foil asleep over it two or three times. By tho-way, be suro and remember to read a short tale in the September number ef tho "Cornhill Magazine" called "The Rev. John Creedy," and another in "Black wood's" entitled "A Polish Love Story." They are both exceptionally clever. As I know many of your readers live in regions whore circulating libraries are un known, and like to hear what cheap editions of good books aro obtainable, I went into Denny's in Newcastle street yesterday, and had a look round. All the works of Mortimer Collins may now bo had for 2s a piece. " Sweet Anne Page " (as I have so often said) is infinitely tho best, and I believe " You Play Falso" comes next in point of merit; but "Transmigration " and "From Midnight to Midnight" I found simply unreadable. Lawroncc Brookes's "Three Fair Daughters" will suit those who like "a novel on society," and T. S. Lo Farm's "Rose and Koy" is a fairly good specimen of this' deceased author's style. They have both b_een issued at 2s. You don't often come across a much better shilling's worth than six of Captain MaiTyftt's romances bound up together in a neat volume, and printed in clear readable type. This reprint is tbo speculation'of a Glasgow firm, Cameron and Ferguson, and

deserves mention mainly on account of tho excellent print, which is usually in famous in such publications. " Stories from Cassell's," a selection of the short stories that havo appeared from time to time in " Cassell's Magazine," are worth asking for at your booksellers. You will find them issued in seven neat little volumes, price Od each, and for a household where there are young girls and wholesome literature is a necessity, I should think they would be found most useful.

I hear one of the professors from the "School of Cookery " is just about starting on a tour of the antipodes. Ido hope my liidy friends in Auckland and elsewhere will make a point of attending his classes. It was a perpetual irritation to me whilst in New Zealand to see the way in which goodfoodwas mangled and spoilt through in different cookery. Colonial ladies are able to obtain such a variety of meat, vegetables, ami even fruit, cheaply, all the year round, that instead of being the worst cooks in^the world, they ought to be incomparably the host. Clearly they do not recognise the voracity of the saying, that" the true way to a man's heart is down his throat," or—the young ones at any rate—would quickly place the culinary art above all others.— Always, &c,

Elise.

A CRUISE IN THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.

Voyage of H.M.S. Dart to the New Hebrides.

On 7th November H.M.S. Dart, Lieut- Commander Moore, returned to Sydney harbour, after an extensive cruise among tho South Sea Islands. From a diary kept by one of tho officers tho following interesting particulars areobtained:—" The Dart left Sydney on April 21 last, and, after a passage that was not marked by any event of importance, reached Sehvyn Bay, Ugi, on May G. It was there ascertained that H.M.S. Lark had left the week before for Brisbane with the crew of the American barque Illie, which was wrecked at Guadal canal. After coaling, the Dart got under way again on the 12th May, and proceeded to Suva, but through tli6 bobstay carrying away, she ran back to tier anchorage- until repairs wore od'ected. On the following day n fresh start was made, and she arrived at" Suva on tho 27th May, tho Nelson coining into the same port two days fol lowing. Tho first two weeks of June were spent in visiting Fiji. On the Itth the Dart was ordered to proceed to tho New Hebrides, and she arrived at Havannah Harbour on the 18th. The Nelson, which reached tho same place on the 22nd, had previously visited the islands of Tanna and Erroinanga, of the same group. The French war vessels, Bruat and D'Estree.% reached the port on the 23rd' and 24th respectively. The Dart remained here till the 26th, when she sailed for Vila Harbour, where sho arrived the same day and did a good deal of surveying. On the 28th sho got orders to visit all the islands of the New Hebrides Group, the Solomon Group, Mioko and New Britain.

A Brush with Nativog. — Soaman Killed.

The Dart arrived at Api on the 31st July. Between 50 and (iO natives were seen on the bench, and nine out of every ten of those had a ritle in his hands. Mr Fraser, the missionary, and a man named Peter Callan, visited tho ship, and informed the captain thut the master of a labour vessel, named tho Borough Belle, had boen shot by the natives near Dip Point, Ambrym, and had been buried oil' Api. The name of the deceased was Belbin, and he had the reputation of being an exceptionally honest man. The cause of tho murder was said to be revenge for people saM to have been stolen from the island by a three-masted schooner named tho Liiaie. The most strict inquiries were instituted with regard to the allegations as to kidnapping, and the result showed that they had no foundation whatever. Several other vessels were fired at when passing Dip Point after the murder of Captain Belbin, and it was thereupon resolved to give the natives a lesson. Accordingly an expedi tion was organised, and Mr Craig, tho missionary, volunteered to accompany the party, with two natives as guides. It was resolved to land in a bay at night, and march through the bush to Ballab, tho village inhabited by the murderers, a mile fun! three-quarters from Mr Craig's house, co as to take them in tho rear by surprise. It wns hoped it might be possible to sur round them in their sleep, and disarm them, and execute the chief and one or two others us nn example. The captain landed in charge of the party, with Lieutenant D.iv.xm, tho boatswain, and 20 rifles, two orderly seamen with pikes for pig-sticking, and two stokers carrying ammunition. Tlio doctor, Lieutenant Pearson, and others remained in the boats. They left at 11.30 p.m. on the sth, in the two whalers, and landed at about 12.30. One officer had orders if tho boats wore n»t in sight by 0 p.m. to go round in the steam cutter and see if lie could bo of any assist) ance. Tho French war steamer Bruat just arrived ns ho left the ship. In tho engage ment which ensued, Mr Mincham »nd Parker, an able seaman, woro wounded. The former was shot with a charge of slugs in tl\O right arm and the abdomen, and Parker in the left side with a Snider bullet. They had reached the Ballab territory about daylight, after a long walk of about throe hours through the bush. • It was very dark, and the jjuides had lost the path several times. The Ballab men understood the seienco of bush-tighting much better than had been expected, and woro all under cover, in trees and behind rocks, so that the men from the Dart could rarely get a shot at them. Two villages and part of a third were burned, eight of the natives were killed, and nil tho huts wore searched, but no arms or ammunition were found. Parker was shot while searching one of the huts. The French war steamer Bruat came into the harbour shortly afterwards, and the commander of her at once sent his doctor on board the Dart to see if he could render any assistance, and also offered to take tho wounded men on to tho hospital at Noumea. Both doctors concurred in tho view that it was of no use to remove Parker, as there was no prospect whatever of his recovering; but agreed that Mr Mincham might get better again, so that the latter was sent on board the Bruat, which at once (2 p.m. August 5) set sail for the capital of the French coliuiy. Parker died on tho 7th, and wns buried tho same day, his body being accorded the honours usual on such

occasions,

ASCENT OF A VOLCANO AT AMBRYM.

Of this event the diary records as follows : —" Mr Craig having procured guides yes terday (August 11) who said they had been up to the crater, the doctor and I decided to go up with him and two of our men, so as to bo the first white men to visit it. Next morning, having got three native guides, one of whom; Tom Ainbrym, speaks English well, we started off. We walked through a country for about a mile that as tonished mo ; both sides of the path, wero

palisades of bamboo, enclosing plantations of yams, taro, or bananas. We emerged on tho black sandy beach to a large open bay, east of McLeod Point, called S.E. Bay. We found a largo ravine run ning up from tho centre to the bay. The sides of the ravine were about 100 feet high, and lined with dense bush, and at about a mile from the beach it was not more than 150 yards in width. The de clivity was very gradual, and we found ourselves ascending almost imperceptibly. About a milo and a-half from the ravine, we were joined by a party of natives from a bush village. They accompanied us for a milo or so, but fell off gradually until we were left with 16 natives of all descrip tions. About 9 p.m. we came on some water, which the natives informed us was the last we should see; so we called a halt, and proceeded to cook our dinner. We turned out at daylight on the following morning (August 13th), and after a light breakfast of cocoa and biscuit pro ceeded on our way rejoicing at 6.15 a.m. We kept the ravine till about 8.30, and were doing a good three miles an hour, though tho detours through the bush were moro frequent, and the ravine was no longer the beautiful carriage drive we had walked up last night. About half-past 8 the ravine turned off about W.S.W., the banks being then nearly 300 feet high, the width gene rally about 70 feet, and all vegetation but tree-ferns and coarse having ceased. Wo walked about an hour in this direction (generally in the bush, as the perpendicular parts were too frequent for us to keep long in the ravine itself) beforo the vegetation ceased entirely ; and the ravine, now reduced to a mere watercourse, turned to the north-westward again. Our guide informed us that it was tho road to Hanon,, and took us to the N.E., up a big cinder heap about 1,500 feet high. It was a hard climb, as one slipped back nearly as much as one went forward, and we soon got to the top of it, expecting to see the crater close under it. When we were all on the ridge (which was a good deal sharper than a purser's knife) we looked round for the crater, but could see nothing but a high hill about a mile N.E. and 2,000 feet above us, and a sea of dust-heaps, similar to tho one we were on, all around us. Our guides evidently thought they had dono all that could be required of them, and seemed very proud of their work. However, this hardly satisfied us, so we asked them .where the big fire was, and were told on top of tho hill to our right. They positively refused to go further. Tom informed me : ' Suppose you go more far, you finish ; you no come back ; you die ; devil he stop along big fellow fire !' The doctor asked if any one had ever been more far, and being told ' No man he go more far,' said ' All right, I go,' and wo com menced unpacking the natives and lashing the gear on ourselves. When they saw this, tho natives became ashamed of them selves, and offered to come with us after all. They agreed to take us where we could see the crater, and in about ten minutes brought us in sight of it. It is a wonderful sight—a great bed of con solidated lava, covered about three feet deep in scoriiE and volcanic sand, extending from three"to four miles east and west and two mileß north and west. To the westward it is bounded by a range of low cinder heaps rising to a summit about 1,000 feat above us, which appears to be an extended crater. To tho northward was a small active crater, and behind that again the rounded summit I mentioned before. It appeared to be about 1,500 feet above the orator, and is evidently the summit of the island. The cinder heaps grow smaller from east round to south, where they rise in the high hill where the natives wanted to leave us. We went on to the small active crater, which was about half a mile east of us. We got to the bottom of the ridge all right, when the natives began to get frightened again, and we could hardly persuade them to go up. However, after we had been standing on the edge for some minutes, they ventured to come up and look in. The volcano was not particulrly active when wo saw it. The crater is circular, and about a quarter of a mile in diameter, tho northern edge being about 50 feet higher than the southern one. The most active part was right under the northern edge, and about 800 feet down. This forms another small crater, about 50 yards in diameter, and going down at tho side. The sides of this small hole were lined with sulphur. There was none to be seen any where else."

The party returned on board the Dart by 10 o'clock, but after luncheon Lioutenant Boresford went up to the summit of a peak, from which he was able to get bearings of nearly every island in the group.

Tho Lavinia Massacre—Punishment for

the Outrage.

On the 18th August tho Dart proceeded to Espiritu Santo to rnuke inquiries about the Isabel massacre, but returned to Craig Cove on September 14, and found that Mr Craig was all right. She next visited tho Solomon Islands, and then made in quiries with reference to tho reported murder of tho Government agent, tho mate, the recruiter,, and three natives' of the Lavinia at a place about three miles north of tho Foreland, Api.' She proceeded there and landed a party on September 13. H.M.S. Diamond, arriving on that day, took charge of the proceedings, Captain Dalo sending a message to tho chiefs of the village, requesting that tho murderers should bo given up. This request having been refused, a party of men, numbering 90, were landed from tho two vessels, under tho command of Lieutenant Moore, to attack the village of Marachi, firo mileß inland.* On arrival at the village, it was found that tho natives had effected their escape to tho bush, so that it was useless attempting ro follow them. Five villages and plantations wore burned down, and the expedition returned the following morning to their vessels. On the 27th September the Dart was despatched to in vestigato the murder of a trader named E. MoEwan, on the south coast of Api, by the natives. No steps wore taken, as the matter was doubtful. On October 5 she sailed for Ugi, Solomon Islands, where she obtained a supply of coal, and sailed on the 12th for Treasury Island, reaching there on tho 14th. Sho here communicated with H.M.S. Lark, and on the 24th sailed for Sydney.

AN EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.

"Every young man ought to enlist— every one ! Letty Dallas flashed the blue light of her eyes, half .smiling, half scornful, upon Mr St. Mayne as she spoke. A straight, lithe maiden, with black ripples of shining hair, and blue eyes full of shadow, it was not in the nature of any male individual to endure her sprightly badinage unmoved. Yet Marey St. Mayne only smiled as he stood quietly watching her.

" Are you so very anxious to secure volim^ teers, Miss Letty ?"

"Anxious? of course lam! Come Mr St Mayne, follow your brother's example, and turn soldier."

St. Mayne smiled with provoking cool ness.

" Oh, if I could only inspins you with a spark of my enthusiasm," said Letty, with glOAving cheeks and flashing eyes. " What sacriflco wouldn't / make foi' the Banner of Stars!"

Would you really sacrifi^^T^ " Anythmg-everything!» St. Mayne lifted his long dark lash*- ~ looked her full in the face w?th an fix* 1"1 sion she could hardly comprehend "Am I beginning to make some inrn™ sion on that icicle nature of youra^Z" laughed. "Whatbountyshall ICoffer? a ribbon? a smile* or a bouquet}" A bounty be/ond ?0^ " I will be your soldier, Letty, and firtt as man never fought before, unti youVoVn lips bid me lay down the sword, if you J^ reward me some day with your own~ self. ZVjo< is the bounty I require " The deep crimson which had dyedhw face turned suddenly to aahy whiten^ She leaned against the carved mS Cup.de of the mantle that he might SK how she trembled. "uueee "No, no! I cannot! I cannot! Any thing but that I" broke from her lips \f?i "Pardon me," said St. Mayne, "'iseeT hare over-estimated the amount of thi sacrifice you are prepared to make for vonr country. You are willing that' we mm should baptise with our blood the stops that lead to freedom's altar, yet you cannot rive up one idle dream, one girlish fancy in it, behalf. Do I seem harsh?" he added aa her eyes were raised appoalingly tohia face "Nay, I did not mean it. There Mj™ Letty, our negotiations shall be foreotten "■ "Stop, Mr St. Mayne!" she said, foldL her little hands so tightly together that tfaa pink-tipped, nails turned to rose leaves "You are right in speaking so bitterly of idle fancies. I accept your proposition— go as my representative on to the battle field.

His face lighted up with sudden brillianw "And then?" •• '

"And then, your devoirs shall notbe iin rewarded."

He took the cold hand tenderly in hiß "I will lay down my life if need be in token of my thanks," he said. Over-it was all over! She hadgivenun all that a woman holds dearest for her country's sake, yet she hushed the nobs that struggled up from her breaking heart, and tried to think she had done right. And thpn she took a tiny folded paper from her bosom, only a playful note about some japonicas that Walter St. Mayne had once written her, and burned it without daruw to read it over. R

" I cannot lay down my life for the mod cause," she moaned, " but I can yield ut>. my life's happiness. When a soldier foils shot through the heart the pain is over- but oh ! mine will ache on for ever. Y«t I should not repine, for it is my country." White and silent she sat there, while the sunset flamed through the silken purple folds of the curtains, and touched the dart old painting with gold. Sweet, faint odours rose from the marble vases of helio trope and roses in the window—to Letty - they seemed like the scent of,those pale flowers that grow in the cemetery. Andthe grey twilight came at last.

The night before the battle ! St. Mayno never forgot the starry silence of the heavens without. The peculiar aromatic odour of the wine cones cracking on tie stone hearth of the rude cabin. He remem bered them all as long as life and memory endured.

There was a light, elastic step on the threshold, a clink of spurs against the floor, and a tall, brown-faced officer stood beside him, laying a careless hand on St. Mayne's shoulder.

"Writing letters, Marcy? Don't lay them a^jde—there are no secrets between brothers."

"You are right," said St. Mayne; tiiere should be none. lam writing to my'en gaged wife." Walter St. Mayne held out his hand in smiling congratulation.

"Engaged, old fellow! And never told

me ? But who is the lady ?" , ' " Miss Dallas—our lovely little Letty.V "Dallas! Letty Dallas ?"

Walter St. Mayne's head fell on his folded arms, both resting on the rude cabin-table, » and a low groan broke from his lips, " Walter are you ill ?" ' " No, not ill," stammered the young man in a stifled voice." " Only lam tired, and .' these pine-cone fires have such a Buffoeatlng smell. Don't be eneasy. I shall be better , soon. Go on writing to—-to Letty Dallas." " '•'. St. Mayne looked at his young brother's drooping head with a keen, agonised gaze. , He asked no questions, but quietly folded away his papers, and sat regarding the fire, until Walter looked up again. '' We are to fight to-morrow, they tell me, ; Walter," he said. "Well, I'm glad of it. But, Walter, if "he paused a moment, then resumed, "if I fall you will not forget the brother who loved you far better than his own life. Promise me that!"-

And Walter, promised, with his head resting on Jlarcy's shoulders where it had often lain when they were both boys. ButMarcy St. Mayne did not fall By his side, through all the din and tnmult of battle, walked his unseen guardian angel j and when ho bore his young brother from the red field, v sabre wound across his brow, the shout of " Victory!" sounded like a psean in his ears. The purple curtains were drawn to shut out the storm and darkness—the gilded clock on the mantel ticked softly in the room where Letty Dallas sat all alone, her dimpled cheek resting on liar hand, whila the unshed tears sparkled on her lashw, brighter than any diamonds. Suddenly the door was opened, and al servant announced " Lieutenant St, Mayne." She started up, pale and trembling;

then he was come at last to claim her troth. How changed he was as he stoodiwfore her. How the calm, steadfast brightness of his eyee perplexed her. "Letty, he said, "by all the rules of love and war I am your captive." She stood spellbound in the .magnetafr light of hisglancc. " But," he added, "'I wieh to effect a change of prisoners." ; : "A change of prisoners!" "Even so, dearest; and here is your other captive!" he stepped back, • and Letty's wondering eyes fell on a tall young fellow, who had lingered in the shadow of the doorway—a handsome soidle^ whose brown curls hid the fresh scar on his brow —her old lover, who had never dared to tell his love. Ah !he had grown brave «o«v ■• Well, true love is not exactly selfish, but self-absorbed, and it was not until Walter rose to talte leave, at the chimes of mid night, that they remembered that Maroy. had slipped away long since. \ v The next day Letty received a little now, , containing only the following words.in Marcy St. Mayne's handwriting :— "By the time you receive this, my dear little sister elect, I shall be en route for. camp once more, feeling sure that I may. safely leavo Walter to your nursing. Let me add that I have fought one battle for . , you, and I hope to fight many more for my., .^ country. „ •' M. St. Mayitk." :--

And in the sunshine of her great happi- .;■. ness, Letty never knew the everlasting j eclipse that had come over Marcy St. i? Mayne'sMfe.— (From Stories by Lieutenant! ; Warne.)

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, NOVEMBER 17, 1883

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