JENKINS & CO. OR, THE EGOTIST.

A NOVEL, BY K. WERXKR,

.(Spocially Translated for the AuckMSi* Stau from the German by K. XicUOl^ou) .Author of "PUvlmu's Miu>' ml o f German J-Uoraturc," "O»ronr-', oKlcill f . uklo t0 **n*y' lO » turol » fcft ,

CHAPTER IV,

cuoss rinuwiK

When sho had shut horselfinto her room, Jessio walked up and down in great per turbation. Sho wns gliul.on the wholo.thnt this dreaded wooer wns thus quite out of tho question, and had oven put hi.s own hand to tho spoiling of the hated man iage plan. But this did not diminish her wrath at tho cgot's-.n and avarice of this man, who had again revealed all his meanness to her. He was in love, and, it seemed to be, truly and honestly. On the way to the rich but unloved hrido so carefully provided by his brother, this forlorn young creature had made a real impression on him. What pre vented him from introducing her, and if Sandow proved stern and unbending, returning to Germany with her? Ho had left an independent position there, which vould bo open to him again, and assured him enough to marry on without interior feroiicc. But then the considerations of money and his brother's will came in, and ho must secure that at any cost. So tho young lady must play the part of a stranger, all sorts oi tricks must ho resorted to, and an intrigue set on foot in order to (kilter the rich brother into consent. And if he should give an obstinate refusal-—and Jessio knew that her guardian prized people only according to their fortunes, and would noveracknowlcdgo a poorsister-in-law—then the enthusiastic cultivator of tho ideal would doubtless chooso tho inheritance, and leave his brido in the lurch as ho had already done with his vocation. Jessie's honest, open nature was strongly averse to the part laid out for her, but sho caw the necessity of forwarding this union with all her influence. She wished at any price to avoid an open quarrel with her guardian. It was a sort of compulsion under which sho acted. If sho succeeded in gaining Sandow's consent, then tho threatened storm would be averted. It was odd that tho only circumstance in Gustav's favour, that he was capable of loving truly, annoyed Jessio most. Sho had reproached him bitterly for willingly falling in with his brother's calculations, yet now when ho upset those calculations ; Bho was oven more prejudiced against him. Sho had quite decided that tho man was to be despised, and so sho determined to despiso him under any circumstances. Meanwhile Gustav Sandow had mounted tho stairs to tho room where his brother impatiently awaited him. "I really thought you would never mako up your mind to come," was his reception in the sharpest of tones. "I was talking to Miss Clifford," said Gustav in defence^'.' and could not possibly break off our conversation at such an in teresting point." The excuse did not fail in effect. Tho projected marriago was too important to Sandow, and Jessie's distasto too evident for him not to leave his brother every op portunity for wooing. So he replied more mildly: " I suppose it was only another dispute. You seem to enjoy suchpoipotual nonsense, "but I do not Fee that you make any pro gress with Jessio by it. Sho is very •reserved with you." "You know nothing about my progress, iFrank," returned Gustav in an injured tone. " I have made considerable progress, •I tell you." "Wo will hope sp," said Sandow. "And flow to business. It is about that affair I meant to undertake in common with that New York man. He has spoken to you about it, he tells me, and I gave you the correspondence to look through yesterday ; 80 you know something about it." "Yes, I know something about it," said Gustav becoming suddenly grave, and the answer was in marked contrast to his usual gay, careless tone. Sandow, however, took no notice, and continued : "You know wo have large stretclies of land in the West, as yet uncultivated for the most part. Tho terms of purchase were extremely favourable, but the land is of such extent that Jenkins cannot manage the undertaking alone. So he came to me, and persuaded me to join him. We had the luck in short to get the land for very little, and we want to get rid of it on the best possible terms. We can only manage that by directing emigration, especially German emigration, thither. All our pre parations are made, and we are now think ing of taking tho thing in hand in earnest." "One question only," said Gustav, in terrupting this dry business explanation. " Do you know what your purchase is like from personal inspection ?" "I should not have taken up such an affair without investigation. Of course I know it." "So do I!" said Gustav laconically. Sandow started. "You? How? How did you learn it ?" "Very simply. Mr Jenkins, whom I visited in New York at your request, ex plained to mo in course of conversation that you rely] on me, or rather on my pen, for support. So I considered it necessary to study tho subject with my own eyes. That ■was the only reason of my lato arrival, and of my ' tour,' as you call it. I wanted par ticularly to know where my countrymen were to be sent to." Sandow frowned darkly. " You gavo yourself unnecessary trouble. We do not go to work bo thoroughly here. Moreover, I consider Jit very strange that you should only tell mo this after you have been hero a week. But that is enough. We count in any case on you and your journalistic connections ; our agents will do their best, but that is not enough. People mistrust them, and the competition is so great. The great thing would be to get one of the influential Ger man journals, one whose reputation is above slander, to support our interests. You are no longer correspondent of the C Gazotte, but they lost you very unwillingly, and would accept reports on American affairs from your pen with pleasure. A series of articles in your brilliant style, and with your eloquence, would ensure our suc cess, and if you used your other journalistic influence as widely as possible, there is no shadow of a doubt that the tide of German emigration would turn our way next year." C iistav listened in silence- without fit tempting to interrupt by a syllable, but now he looked earnestly at his brother's face. " You forget one thing, that your pro perty is not in the least fitted for emigrants. The land is as bad as possible, the climate most unhealthy, in some months fatal. The ground is barren, repaying the most gigantic efforts with the poorest results. Aleans of cultivation are utterly wanting, and the few emigrants scattered here and there aro wasting away in misery and disease. They are the defenceless victims of tho destructive elements, and those who follow them from Europe will bo ruined as they were." Sandow listened in ever increasing sur prise. Words failed him in which to ex press his wrath; at last he burst out angrily :— " What exaggerated nonsenso ! Who put such stuff in your head ? and how can you, a complete stranger, judge of such circumstances. What do you know about " I have obtained the most exact informa tion on the spot. My informant is assuredly " Nonsense, and if it were, what does it matter to you ? Will you, who havo only been a week in an office, dictate to me how I should manage my speculations 2" "Certainly not! But when such a speculation costs the life and health of thousands, we have another name for it at a=kcd Sandow threateningly, approaching his brother, who stood his ground, and replied firmly, Swindling. " Gustav!" cried Sandow in a passion " You dare " T. . „ " Of course that refers to Mr Jenkins, said Gustav carelessly. '' The inestimable amiability with which that honourable man received me, and dwelt on the popularity of my name, and the brilliant rosults of my writing, which could work wonders even here, made mo suspicious from the nrst, and decided me to make the journey. You do not know these lands, Frank. You only gave them a very cursory glance when you made tho purcha?e. But now your eyes are opened, you will require the evi dences for my sake, and then the specula tion will fall through." Sandow seemed very little inclined to use

the loophole left open by his brother. -- ; VWho tells you so?" he asked sternly. " Dp you think I will give up <*«> tfeoawnde

I have staked 6n this speculation for no other reason than because you havd some sentimental prejudice? The land is neither bettor nor worse than it is in hundreds of othor places, and the immigrants have to struggle with the influences of tlio climate «nd the soil wherever they go. With the JYCccssarJr Industry they will soon overcome Ib. It Will not be the first German colony Wlftfc has grown and developed under all manner of difficulties."

" After hundreds and hundreds have been ruined, that means when the ground has been enriched at the cost of German lives !"

Sandow bit his lip. Ho evidently con trolled himself with difficulty, and his voico was choked with passion as ho answered :

" Who gave you loavo to travol there on your own account? This exaggerated conscientiousness is misplaced, and will be no use to you any whero. If I had not taken Jenkins's offer, ten others would havo done it with (he greatest alacrity. It was his idea, and I must acknowledge that he came to me first."

"To you—a German. That was a great token of respect from this American."

It was odd that this same man, whoa quarter of an hour before was so anxious to conceal his love affairs from his stern brother becamehemightbodisplcasedthere at, now showed that brother so bold a front on an alTuir that did not personally concern him. Sandow, though he knew nothing of tho conversation with Jes-io, was extremely annoyed at this contretemps. "You are suddenly turned into a moral hero," he sneered. "It is hard to reconcile it with tho very material motive that brought you here. You should have been clear about it be roro. If you are to bo a partner in this firm, you must put its in terests before everything else, and in those interests I demand that you shall write thoso articles, and sco that they are duly printed in the proper quartors. Do you hear, Gustav ? You will do that, whatever happens ?"

"To send my countryman to stifle in that fever-swamp '! No !" "Think it over bofore you declino so decidedly," said Sandow, with a coldness behind which his burning wrath was quite evident. "It is the first request I havo made you. If you refuse in this*, our partner ship is impossible. It is in my power to c.incel thongreement between vs —remember thnt,"

" Frank, you will not force me—'

"I forco you to nothing; I only explain to you that we must part if you keep to your refusal. If you will take tho con sequences, do ; I stick to my agreement." Ho turned to his desk, and taking up soma papers from it, placed them in his pocket-book. Gustav stood by in silence, his eyes fixed on tho ground, a deep shadow on his brow. "Just now, whon Frieda U on the way hero !" he muttored. "Im possiblo ! I cannot give that up."

" Well," asked Sandow, turning to him again. "Let me havo time to think it over; the thing is so unexpected. I will consider about it."

The older brother was very glad of this much acquiescence ; he had not, indeod, doubtod that his threats would tako effect in time.

" (iood ; a week sooner or later does not matter. I hope you will sco reason, and ac cept tho fact that you haro to deal with things as thoy are. Now, come, it is timo wo were at tho office. And, once for all, Gustav, tako my advice in future, and never undcrtako on your own account such extravagances as this journey was. You see it only causes unpleasantness between us. You make your position unnecessarily difficult."

"Quite true," said Gustav, half to him self, as he prepared to follow his brothor; " tho position is pretty difficult —moro diffi cult than I expected." Tho aftornoon came, and Jessio awaited her visitor with some anxiety and a groat deal of curiosity. Gustav Sandow had told her before he started for town in tho morn ing that he would leave the office earlier than usual in order to fetch Miss Palm from the station, and escort her to the country house before his brother returned. At the appointed hour he entered the room, leading a young girl by tho iiand. He introduced her as " Miss Fritda Palm, my young charge, and henceforth our young charge, since you aro so kind as to offer her an asylum in your house."

Jessie felt painfully confused at this form of introduction. So ho did not ovon then dare for once to iutroduco her as his be trothed. " Young charge," that wa3 a very ambiguous word. Ho wanted to leavo him self a way of retreat if his brother should prove inexorable. Miss Clifford pitied the young girl from her heart for having given herself to such an egotist; consequently her reception was warmer than she had intended it to be.

" You aro very wolcome, Mies Palm," she said kindly. "I have heard all about you, and you can trust mo altogether. Ido not usually betray my trusts." The / was slightly but distinctly empha sised, but the one for whom the hit was meant unfortunately remained untouched thereby. He appeared well pleased at the success of his plan, while the young girl in a low and somewhat unsteady voice re plied :•— "You are very kind, Miss Clifford, and I only hope I may deserve your kindness." Jessie made the visitor take a seat beside her, and during the first questions as to her journey and arrival found an opportunity of studying her future inmate. Shi was a very young girl, almost a child; she could ha»dly have attained her sixteenth year, but her soft childish features wore an expression of earnestness and steadfastness surprising for her age. The large, dark eyes mostly rested on the ground, but when she raised them it was with such a shy trustfulness that it hardly accorded with the enerpy promised by her features. Her dark hair was simply brushed back, and her deep mourning dress made the young stranger look oreii paler than she really was.

" You are an orphan ?" asked Jessie with a glance at her dress. "I lost my mother six months ago," was the low, impressive answer.

This touched a kindred chord in Jessie's bosom. She too mourned beloved parents, and tho painful reminiscence left its im press on her features. "So wo have a similar fate. I too have lost my parents; my father died a year ago, Yours has been dead some years ?" The young girls lips trembled as ehe re plied almost inaudibly : — "In my childhood-I hardly remember him."

"Poor child," said Jessie with ready sym pathy ; "it must be sad to be so quite alone and forsaken in the world."

"Oh, I am not forsaken. I havo found a protector in the noblest and best of men." The devotion that spoke in these words was truly affecting, and the look she gave Gustav Sandow betrayed enthusiastic gratitude; but he took it all with tho most provoking composure, receiving the homage like a Pacha, which enraged Jessie. Ho seemed to regard it as a well dceerved com pliment, and replied in his usual jesting tone:

"You see how I stand with Frieda, Miss Clifford. I wish ehe could convert you to hor opinion of me, but I am afraid thero is no hope of that." Jessie ignored this remark. She thought the way in which he received the girl's de votion, and in a manner made a joke of it, perfectly detestable, so she turned to Mias Palm again. "Meanwhile only I can welcome you. My guardian does not know about you yet; but he soon will do, and I hope with all my heart that you will succeed in gaining his sympathy." Frioda did not answer. She gave an odd shy rrlance at the speaker, and then looked silently at the ground. Jessie was rather chilled by this reception of her well-moant words, when Gustav joined in with : "You will have to bo tendor with Frieda at first. She finds it difficult to accom modate heraelf to now circumstances, and the part she is obliged to play in this house frightens and depresses her." . "Obliged by your decision r Jessie could not help ejaculating. "Yes, but that is all the same. At any rate, she knows of this decision, and also knows that it is the only way to gain our end. Is it not so, Frieda—you trust me im plicitly ?" Instead of answering, Frieda held out her hand to him with an expression that would have temoted any other lover to carry it to his lips. 'This lover, however, quietly held it in his; he nodded kindly to her, and said, "Yes, I knew." "I will do all that lies in my power to lessen the disagreeableness of your position," Jessie assured her. "And can I not keep you hore with me from now ?" "We should prefer to defer it till to morrow," said Gustav. "My brother would be too much surprised to find a per fect stranger, of whose arrival he had never heard, installed here as an inmate. It might awaken his suspicions. I think it is better for Frieda to go to the hotel, where I took her on the way here, to leave her luggage, and secure a room. There will bo an oppor tunity in the course of the evening to men tion her and quietly lead up to the idea. Jtssie was all the more annoyed at the proposal as she recognised the advisability ° "You are wonderfully careful, Mr San dow ! I am lost in admitation of your fttee eight and bead for dets !U "

voice.

Guatav bowed as if he had received • feat compliment. "Yes, yes, Frieda," he said, replying to the surprised, inquiring glance of the young girl on hearing this mockery. "Miss Clifford and I admire each other oxtra ordinarily. You see what respect we have for each other. But wo must go now, or elso my brother will surprise us hero "

Frieda rose obediently. Jessie deeply pitied this poor child, who followed tho dictates of her lover so implicitly, and she took a warm leave of her.

Gu6tav conducted Miss Palm to tho hired carriage, which was waiting outside to take hor to the hotel, but just as they weie des cending tho steps, a second carriage drove up, and Sandow, who had left when the office hours were over, got out of it.

" My brother," whispered Gustav. Miss Palm must havo boen terribly afraid of this stern brother, for she suddenly turnoJ palo, and started as if she meant to run away, while her hand tremblod on her protector's arm.

"Frieda," he said in a grave, warning

The warning had some effect. Frieda tried to command her feelings, but her fear wag evidently not that of a frightened dove. Tho look she gave the new arrival was one of dogged, almost angry, defiance, tho cnergotic stamp of hor features becamo moro marked, as if sho wished for a combat thero and then with the opponent whose favour she ought to strive for. Meanwhile Sandow had entered the vestibule whore they stood together. He bowod slightly, and appeared surprised to aeo his brother with a perfoct stranger. Frieda returned the bow without stop ping. Indeed, she seemed most anxious to hasten hor departure, and thus prevent all chanco of an introduction.

Gustav saw thero was no use in opposing her, so ho conducted her to the carriago, closed the door, and gave tho coachman tho nan.ie of the hotel.

" Who was that girl?" inquired Sandow, who had stood waiting for his brother. "A Miss Palm," he replied careleesly. " An acquaintance of Miss Clifford's."

"To whom you are offering your services ?"

" Not exactly ; my services are offered to Miss Clifford. At hor request I brought tho young lady here from tho station. She seemed much interested in hor. You know I left tho ofiico soonor to-day."

"Aro you so much in Jessie's good graces that sho gives you commissions liko that?" said Sandow, much pleased at the progress his brother had made. Tlioy then mounted tho steps and entered tho passage. On entering tlie drawing room, Gustav took tho affuir onergoticaliy in hand, and began : " Mv brothor has al ready seen your charge, Mies Clifford, wo met him in the vestibule."

" Who is your new acquaintance, Joseie ?" asked Sandow with unusual interest. " I nerer heard ol her before."

Jessie felt, now it came to tho first un truth, the whole difficulty of her responsi bility ; but now ehe had gone this far, she was obliged to go on. Sns replied rather hesitatingly, "She Is a young German girl rocommondod to me In Now York ; she camo here to look for a situation as com panion—so I meant—l thought "

" Yes, you carried your kindness very far," interrupted Gustav. " ThW Miss Palm seems to have taken your sympathies by storm. Only think, Frank, Miss Clifford has invited hor to tho house, and actually contomplates keeping hor as our companion."

Jessio threw him an indignant look, but could not avoid taking advantage of tho help offered.

"I havo invited Miss Palm for some weeks at least," replied she. "If you havo no objections. Uncle Sandow ?"

"I?" ho asked absently, while his eyes sought tho evening newspaper which lay on tho table on tho verandah. " You know I never intcrfore with your domestic nr rnngemonts. It will bo pleasant for you to have a constant companion, and if tho girl is well recommonded you can arranue it as you like;" and with that he went out on to the verandah and secured his news paper. " I saw that I must come to your holp, Miss Clifford," eaid Gustav in a low voico. "You aro a very unpractised actress." " You think it a reproach ?" asked Jessio in a toico equally low, but tromhling with anger, "i certainly havo not brought tho art to such a pitch of perfection as you have."

"0, it will como in time," said Gustav quietly, "if you are in a difficulty como to me, I am always ready."

"Gustav, have you road this evening's paper?" Sandow callod from tho verandah. "Tho German Exchange is very activo ; stocks arc rising remarkably fast. You will find a full report of it hero."

"Rising, are they!" said Gustav, going out, and taking the German journal his brother offered him. The latter wax soon buried in another sheet, and did not see with what sovereign contempt Gustav turned from the money article without a glanco, and gavo his whole attention to tho lending article on political topics. Jessio followed him with her eyes, and whon sho saw him bending co eagerly over tho ap parent Stock Exchange lists, her lips parted >n a contemptuous smile, and sho whispered, " Poor child, poor child ! What will your fate be with such an egotist ?"

CHAPTER V,

Guhtav's plan was as lucky as it was clever, and was well carriod out Tho young stranger was duly received on tho following day, and with so little disturbance of routine that Sandow had no suspicions. But Frieda felt and remained not at home In tho un familiar house, however much she tried to show her gratitude. Perhaps sho was op pressed by the unwonted luxury, so differ ent to the simplicity of hor former life. She remained silent and reserved, and all the kindness Jesßie could show her did not conquer her diffidence. Miss Clifford tried in vain to learn some thing more of the family affairs and early life of hor charge. Frieda eeomed purposely to avoid such talk, and tho most heartfelt sympathy could not win from her a word of confidence. This very naturally annoyed Jessie, and all the more as she very soon found that tho young girl by no means be longed to those soft yielding natures who retire before anything uuuaual or difficult. On the contrary, in some instances Fiieda showed remarkable power of will, and sup pressed but deeply passionate feelings. And yet this lavish submission to the will of another—it was incomprehensible ! Gustav played his part better. In the presence of his brother he was polite but perfectly indifferent to the new companion. Not a word or a sign of understanding be trayed that they were any nearer to each other; he never lost his self-control for a moment. But ho was moro amiable and entertaining than ever, and met all Jessio's efforts to fihow hor contempt for him with such rendy wit that ehe was alwayH worsted.

Sandow took very little notice of the young girl. He had never much attention or interest to give to household matters. He spent tho greater part of the day at his office in Hie town, and the morning and evening hours at tho villa, which anyone else would havo given up to relaxation, he spent in his own atudy engaged with busi ness matters. He only saw Frieda at meals, and then behaved to her with polite in difference ; she, on her part, made no effort to approach him, though sho was there for that very purpose. Either she was not clever enough, or her obedience failed her in the fulfilment of her task. At any rate, she and the man in whoso house she lived were as much strangers to each other after a week as they were when thoy first met. One day they were sitting at table after the return of the two gentlemen from town. Gustav, who as usual supported tho principal burden of the conversation, was vividly describing to the ladies an event that had happened that morning in the office. Sandow, who never liked anything relating to business to bo turned into ridicule, threw in some disapproving re marks from time to time, without, however, disconcerting his brother, who continued his narrative of the comical misadventuro for the amusement of his other listeners. " 1 assure you, girls, it was too good ; this over-zealous agent of Jenkins & Co., who came straight from New York, took me for an emigrating farmer. He wanted to force on me some landed property at the other end of the world, and looked quite disappointed when my brother came in and set it right." •'You led him on," said Sandow angrily. " You asked the man all sorts of questions, and quite cornered him with your investiga tions, so that he could not help but make the mistake."

"Do I look like an emigrant farmer?" laughed Gustav. "It is the first time in my life that my affinity for a spade or a hoc has been ascribed to me. That would be a new field of activity after those I have tried. lam afraid I should make a worse thing of it than I do of the office." "You could hardly do that," said San dow drily, but the younger brother only laughed at the rebuff, and complained to Mies Clifford, that it was too bad that his efforts at the offics desk found no proper recognition anywhere. Frieda had become attentive during the

of voice,

last few words. She did not usually join in the conversation, but this time she lietened with intense interest, and turned to Gustav with the question, " Jenkins & Co. ? Tho great firm in New York who advertise everywhere, and send out ngents to encourage German emigra tion ?"

" Yes, Miss Palm," replied the narrator, " Do you know the firm?"

"No, I was only a lew weeks in New York, but tho German people with whom I lived often spoko of them. It was a source of anxiety to them, and they considered it a misfortune that .Tonkina should have taken up emigration as ono of his specula tions."

" Why ? has ho not a good reputation ?" asked Gustav, as if uninformed.

" I suppose not. They say he is ono of thoso unprincipled speculators who have grown rich by all manner of bad tricks, and novcr for a moment hesitate to sacri fico the welfare of thoso who trust to them."

Jessiesat in painful ombarassment during this perfectly innocent remark. Though she was so little informed of the business affairs of her guardian, she knew from other sources of his partnership with tho firm mentioned. Sondow bit his lips, and was going to turn tho conversation, when his brother said, significantly, " You must havo been misinformed, Miss Palm. Jenkins and Co. are intimately con noctod with us in business, and have boon for yoars."

Frieda turned pale, but it was not eliamo; but deep disgust that appeared in her face, as if she could not and would riot believo what she heard, Then Sandow toiik up tho conversation, and said in his sharpest tone

"You sec, Miss Palni) how mischievous it can sometimes be to believe such slander ous reports, and repeat, them; My brother in right : Mr Jenkins is my business friend, and has been so fora long timo." " Then 1 beg your pardon; I did not know it," replied Frieda in a low voice, but she was paler than ever, and sho suddenly wised hor eye and looked full at tho man before whom bho had hithorto been so »hy. There was something strange in thoso large, dark eyes, somo painful doubt, and anxious questioning, and Sandow felt it; the i)roud Bolf-Hufliciesit merchant who al lowed no contradiction, and set aside authoritatively all the suggestions of his brother, couk! not bear this look. Ho turned away impatiently, and emptied his wine-glass at a draught. An uncomfort able silence ensued for several minutes. Josflie at last tried to start another subject, and Gustav supportod hor to tho best of his ability, but they talked almost alone. Sandow Jid not soom to bo able to com mand his temper, and Frieda sat without a word, looking down at her plato. It was a relief to them all when the meal was over.

The ladies left the room, and Guntav wus preparing to follow them, when his brother called him back.

" What do you think of this Miss Palm ?" "It is hard to tell; I havo not talked to her much; aho seems very shy and re served."

" In appearance, yoe, but I do not quito boliovo in it. Her eyed are anything but shy ; strange eyes thoy are. I only noticed her oyes to-day, and cannot think whore I have soon them before. The girl has only beon a short timo in America ?"

" About four weeks Miss Clifford said."

"I remember; Jossio told mo. Yot thero is something familiar in her features, if I could only make it out." Gustav scanned hi* brother's face with an inquiring look ns ho answered quietly, "Perhaps it is a resemblance that strikes you."

" Resemblance — with whom!" asked Sandow absently, whilo ho rested his head on his hand and stared before him lost in thought. Then ho straightened himself up, as if angry at tho intoreat ho had shown against iii* will.

"Her remarks at tablo wcro extremely tactless."

" They wero at any rate unintentionally so," protested Gustnv. "Sho could not havo known of your connection with Jenkins, or else she would not not have said anything. Sho only repeated what pho had heard. You see what a reputation your ' business friend' lias."

Sandow shrugged his shoulders con temptuously. " With whom ? With some Germans, who bring their narrow, mean ideas over with them from Europo, and will never bo marlo to sco that trado has al together different foundations hnro. Who ever wishes to got on must speculate very diirercntly here than thero, without hamper ing himself with small considerations. Clifford himself was one of thoso anxious, hesitating mon. I had often trouble enough to drive him on. Up to my coming ho had only lived very moderately j it was only when ho put the management of tho business into my hands that ho became rich, and tho firm took its present position among tho foremost, flut while wo aro talking of Jenkins—you have had time enough to comply with my request, and I expect to hear your final decision respecting that article."

"So you aro still determined to take up tho nli'air with Jenkins?"

" Certainly. Do you supposo I nltor my business relations from day to day, or do you think childish gossip such as wo havo just heard could make any difference ?" " No, I do not think that, but it utrikcft me as queer that you should lowor your eyes beforo this 'childish eoscip?'"

"Gustav, take care !" cried Sandow with hardly suppressed violence " I stand more from you than from anyone else ; but this affair will sepcrato us in earnest. I caw woll enough that you encouraged tho agent's misunderstanding in crdor to find out how fnr his instructions went, and I know for whom your remark to Miss Palm was intended. But you will gain nothing with'mobythat. Whatlhaveoncodccidodto do, that I will do, nnd onco more I give you your choico ono way or the other. If you refuse me your cooperation " " You are mistaken," interrupted Gustav. "I wrote some days ago to tho C Gazotto and claimed space for a longish article, which they will willingly accept from my pen. It will probably appear next month."

Sandow lookod up. This wholly unox pected submission startled him. He asked with some suspicion : —

" You will show me the artiolo before you Bond it?" " Certainly, you shall read every word of it." The merchant's clouded brow began to clear.

"I am very glad, very. I should have been very sorry if a refusal on your part bad led to a breach between us."

"On my account, or on account of the Clifford money which I am to secure for you ?" said Gustav bitterly. "By this arrangement Jessie's fortune will not be divided," Sandow curtly ex plained. " For the most part it is invested on good security, and Clifford ha 3 especially provided in his will that his daughter's for tune shall not bo employed in any specula tion until after her marriage or majority. If it aoothos your tender conscience, I can assure you that not a dollar belonging to your future wife will bo invested in this affair. I have undertaken it on my own calculations, and at my own risk. Profit and loss are my concern."

Ho rose to go, and so did Gustav. " One question more, Frank. Are you in for a very large amount?'' "The half of my fortune. You see the result is a matter of necessity to mo, and so I am glad we are agreed on tho main point. I repeat, small-town morals will not do here ; you will see that for yourself eooner or later, and stand by mo." Tho half of his fortune !" murmured Gustav as he followed him; " that is bad, very bad! I must be very careful how I act."

No one was in the drawing-room when the gentlemen entered, but Frieda was standing on tho verandah outside. She could not havo noticod their entrance, for she turned round when Sandow went out, and ho saw she had been crying. Though she covered her face with her handkerchief, tho tears were not to be hidden. It was not the merchant*!] way totake much notice, but on this occasion he ascribed tho young girl's tears to the disagreeable contretemps at the table, and in a rush of sympathy he tried to help her out of hor embarass ment.

"You need not hide your tears 80 care fully, Miss Palm," he said. " Probably you are homesick for your native land ?"

He seemed against his expectations to have hit upon the truth, for there was un questionable genuineness in the sorrowful voice with which Frieda answered:

" Yes—indescribably homesick." " Naturally, you have only been here a few weeke," said Sandow quietly. "It is always the way with Germans, but it goes off. If you are only fortunate in the New World, you will soon forget the old one, and be glad you have turned your back on it. Do not look at me so indignantly, as if I had told you something incredible. I speak from experience." Frieda did indeed look indignant. Hor eyes were yet wet with tears, but they flamed with incredulous anger, as she cried :

" You cannot be in earnest, Mr Sandow ! That I should forget my home, give it up even in remembrance. Never I'

Sandow seemed somewhat annoyed at the passionate protest of this usually quiet girl, but a half contemptuous, half pitiful

emile ployed round his mouth, at he unswored: " I advis« you with the beat in tentions to learn it. The great misfortune of the Germans in Amerioa is that they hold so obstinately to their past, and often neglect the preaent;and the future for it. And homesickness is ono of those unhealthy, artificial sentiments which are considered poetical and proper, and really only add another unnecessary pinch to life. Who ever means to get on here must keep his head clear and his eyes open, and take advantago of every opportunity ehanco throws in his way. You are under the necessity of earning your living here, and thii weak dreaming and longing will bo worse than useless to you."

Though there words sounded hard and heartless, they were really well meant. Tho unconscious criticism of his ''busi ness friend," which had bo angered the merchunt at first, now seemed to havo awakened an interest in tho young girl which he had hare'ly shown be fore; Frieda made no answer to1 the1 dobtlinb which lie,look the tr'duble to1 p'rettcli to lifer; and whicll chilled Hor to tlib heart. What reply could shb mdko to it i But her ques tioning, incredulb'us lob'k said enbugh, and those grave; dark eyes Boomed to have a strange influcncb over the otherwise un impressionable mKn. This time he did not waver, but rchiihbd the look fixedly, and suddenly erticl, Iri a voice involuntarily sbfteobd: . "Ydunro still vbry ybHing; Miss Palm, much too young to bb 80 alonb in the world. Havo you no bho at Koine to offer yoti a i-efUgb"?" "No—no otic," was the1 youiig girl's al most inaudible answer.

"True, you are an orphan. And tho relations to Whom you woro coming in New York died while ydu were bil the journoy. So, at least, my niece told mo." The slight movement of her head which Frieda made might have meant consent, but a deep flush covorbd her facb, and her oyoa fought the grouiid. 1' That is very sad. Hbw did V.o.U Manage to tilid a proper lodging in New Yolk since it was so Entirely strange to you T Tho flush on tile yOUng- girl's eheekg became yot doopcr. "My travelling Com batlions took care of me," she said tremb ilirigly. " They took me to compatriots) to tho pastor of i\ German church, wllel'o I was most kindly received;" "And this gentleman recotnmeiidfld you to thy iiieco? Her mother had a great many connections in New York, and Jessie continues to correspond with somo of thorn, Sho has given you Buch a warm reception that you need have no anxiety as to your future. With a recommondation from the Cliffords, there will bo no difficulty in find ing you a good situation." Frieda was apparently as unaccustomed to lying as Jessie. With hor there had in deed boon no necossity, since sho had under stood her from the first, but tho part must bo played to tho master of the house, oepo cially on this, tho first occasion on which he had takon any notice of her. But no words would come. Sandow know her to be shy and silent, but this obstinate nnrespon sivonosß soemed to annoy him. Receiving no answer, ho turned short round and wont into tho gardon.

(To be Continued.)

REVIEW.

"liays and Legends of the North of

Ireland." by "cnucka-i.kaohan" and "slikvk gal' lion." London : Houiston & Sons.

A nuat little volume of poems bearing the abovo title has just beon published, and we havo pleasuro in acknowledging receipt of a copy. In ono of tho writers, "Cruck-a- Loaghnn," wo recognise Mr Dugald Mac- Fadyen, of Glasgow, an author not un-

known to lovors of poetry even In New Zealand, as several of his effusions have boon published in our columns. Ono in the pro?ont volume, " Milesius McOarrity," is a pleasant bit of humorous vorse, which has aho boon introduced to New Zealand roaders. The "Lays and Legends " aro folklore talcs of tho North ot Ireland peasantry, and arc told in the raciest vqvbo and tho purest vernacular. " Ingoldisby with an Irish broguo " would describo, in a single phrase, tho matter and tho form into which it is cast; and if there is but little of Ingoldsby wit about these legends, thero in much genuine humour, while they aro also reploto with character sketches which aro true to tho life. What could bo botter than the following part of tho description of a "wake," taken from "Tho Kaylio," the longost poem in tho book :— Well, wlifn they Imd feasted "an1 smoked, at

tho inste it Was twolvu b' tho wag-atthe-wall and tho sun, Whin up till thoir feet nil they jumped, in a state all Ay litigant urief, lako tho shot ay a Run.

An1 straight at the (juarlln' an" cursin' an" Biiarlin' They wint—ln a second's loss tlmo than nt wanst; Some gulclor'd nn' bawled for pothoon, an' some called for '■ Tho songs ho had sung, an' tho jigs he had cancoa!"

Not carln' a qum'ck for piper or music. They welted tho fluro with a hearty goodwill Loud choniß'd with laughter, till aunxot an' after, An' divil a man ay them hadn't hu fill.

Woll. they stepped an' thoy stayed, an' thoy hinder delayed, [>hamc; Till they couldn't go home till tho mornin' for Each one of thim knowln' himself till be sroin' Whilst others wir comin', wid blaoken hi* name.

So that thoy sat down cottint (for thoy didn't pay rint). An' busied thlmsolvos at tho smooth an' the rough; Somo Biltln', Bonia lyln', some cuttln', some dryln' Big rowls ay tobackey for smokln' and snuir. Tho " Kaylio" (meaning gossip, from caUlecula —old wives' tales), describes a gathering of country folk to gossip and spin wonderful yarns, nnd is most ingeniously constructed throughout. The other principal "lays" aro, "The Curse of Drumfad" and "The Legend of the Goolden Kock;" shorter pieces being "Cahir Roe," "Donegal Doggerol," ana " Legend of Lough Columbkilla." The latter tells how St. Colnmbkille worsted an irreverent fisherman who disturbed him at his devotions by "plowterin" in the lake for fish. The story goes— Tho Saint was so voxod that ha thocht on a plan As to how he'd got redd ay this bothersome man; For afore he'd bo bato he'd reduoe the supply Ay tho flsh—or, what's worse, make tbo well become dry.

For ho knew that the hnython—whoao ttame was McGurk, An' who wasn't a Chrlutian no more nor a Turk— Wid bothor him less If he scarooned the trout. Bo sars Oolnnib: " The dlvil a much more he'll git out!"

So noxt day when McGurk came along at his also, ■With his ass an' his oreeli, BOr, as prond as you plaint); For to hould all the fish in, tho Saint says, says he: " Shuro you won't need a couplo of oreola for the three I"

"Whnt threo!" sayii McGurk. "Well," says Columb, says ho— " The threo trout you 11 ketch, for youll only kvich three. An' mind, when you've Rut them, you re foolish to stay, For tho sorra a wan moro you will ketch for the day 1"

Of courso it turns out just as the indig nant saint had said. McGurk noxt day, de termined to do better, got up beforo the sun, and going off to tho lough •■ ketched his throe trout by a quarter to nine."

But though ho began with the song ay the lark, An' wandered an' wadod till long after dark.

Till the divil a line or a atymo could hn ccc. When his day's work was done, ho had only tuk

three i

So the holy man was left undisturbed at his orisons, for of course Mc'Jurk betook him self to more profitable waters. Wo could multiply extracts from this clever little collection, but space forbids, and wo can only recommend North of Ireland people to get a copy of a book which will recall vividly the scenes and associations of old, and provide pleasant reading for a leisure hour.

The Bad and Worthless.

are never imitated or eonuter/eiled. This 1b especially true of a family medicine, and it 1b positive proof that the remedy imitated is. «f the highest ralue. As soon as it bad tieeu tested and proved by the whole world that Hop Bitters was the purest, best, and most valuable family medicine on earth, many Imitations sprung up, and began to steal the notices in which the Press and the people of the country had expressed the merits of H. 8., and in every way trying to Induce suffering Invalids to use their stuff Instead, expecting to make money on the credit and good name of B. B. Many others started nostrums put np in similar stylo to H. 8., with variously devised names, im which the word " Hop or " Hops " were used in a way to Induce people to bclievo they were th« same aa Hop Bitters. All such pretended remedies or cures, lo matter what their style or name is, and {specially those with the word "Hop1 or " Hops " In their name, or in any way connected with them or their name, are Imitations or counterfeits. Beware of them. Touch none of them. Use nothing but genuine American Hop Bitten, with a bunch or cluster of green Hops on the white label, and Dr. Soulc's name blown In the glass. Trust nothing olso. Druggists and Chemists are warned against dealing in

QUEER STORIES.

A Cholera Scare.

MrTimothi'Fox was an old bachelor of comfortable means and unsocial ways, who for many years past had lived entirely for himself and by himself. He was even more selfish than old bachelors usually are; and he had, as they invariably have, a mono mania. His monomania was the fear of disease. Though bravo enough and sensible enough in other respects, nothing could persuade him to go near anyono suffering from an infectious disorder, orconvince him that if ho did so he could possibly escape the infection. Ho would walk a milo out of his way to avoid passing a house where there was sickness ; and he admitted that he \yoilld rather buffer penal servitude than vbntuioiiito those plums where fever flnd small-pox add to1 tlio misery of vice and poverty.

Accordingly, when" in the early summer ho hoard that small-pox was becoming •pidemic in London, he immediately de tormined to leave town. At first. a« cer tain business matters necessitated his being near London, he only went to a western suburb ; but directly those matters were arranged, and there remained nothing to interfere with his freedom, he decided to go to somo seaside place. After a good deal of careful consideration he chose Dover: but ho had not been there three weeks when, to his horror, tho cholera made its appearance at Toulon. To most persons it would appear that tho distance between Toulon a:id Dover is such as to preclude any serious chance of contagion ; but to Mr Fox it did not seem so. On the con trary, he was iirmly convinced that before long that ui.ipoi't must become a hotbed of tho fearful epidemic. It was, he reflected, on the high road between England and Franco; wlmt could bo more likely, there fore, than i hat some Frenchman, Hying from tho plaguo-strickon towns in the south, should entry tho contagion to Dover? This thought made him feel extremely un easy. If ho had not contracted for his lodging for the whole summer he would have left at ohce ; but having done this, and being of rather a parsimonious dis position, he resolved not to leave until tho cholera reached, at least, Paris. But once it appeared there, no matter what it might cost him, ho determined that he would take refuge in some quiet country placo. While he watched with anxiety and alarm the progress of tho disease in France, and traced each day its movements north wards, he thought it would be as well to mako all necessary preparations for an immediate doparturo, should that become desirabl*. This gavo him but little trouble, for at Lily burn—a little village about fifteen milcH from Dover—resided a nephew of his, a farmer with a large family, who, on account of his poverty and children, was very deferential to Mr Fox, in view of his wealth and childlessness. To him Mr Fox wrote that probably before tho summer was over ho would pay Lilyburn a long promised visit. The nophew replied by return of post that he would only be too happy to havo the ploasure of his uncle's delightful company. Then, having settled thin to his own satisfaction, Mr Fox awaited tho approach of the cholera with more equanimity. One morning, when wandering up and down tho Admiralty I'ier, ho oncountered Charley Reckless—a young acquaintance of his, and the son of an old friend. In reply to Mr Fox'b inquiries, Charley, who was a medical student, told him that, having been " plucked " at his last examination, he and a friend who lmdsuflertd tho same fate had come down to Dover to spend the summer and to study for thoir next attempt. It immediately occurred to Mr Fox that, as medical students, they were likely to know more about the great subject of all his thoughts—cholera—than ordinary persons ; and so, though he was not fond of young meu's company, as it generally entailed ex pense, he invited Charley and his friend, Mr Bold, to spend an ovoning at his house. Thoy at oncu accepted the invitation.

When they came thoy soon discovered tho reason of tho old gentleman's hospi tality : but as ha gave them free run of his wines and spirits, they did not object to the position, and told him all they knew about the cholera, and a great deal more besides". They madehis blood run cold and his hair stand on end by the terriblo anecdotes they related to him about the Bufferings and misfortunes of cholera patients, all of which anecdotes were, of course, evolved from their own brilliant imaginations. Mr Fox was horrified, but stilL ho was fascin ated, by these accounts. Ho again and again invited tho youths to uup with him, and every timo they came he insisted on turning tho conversation on the old topic. Tho young men wero always equal to tho occasion, and they seldom left him without having placed before him something more unspeakubiy ghastly than anything he had heard before.

But ot length their power of invention began to fail them, and they got tired of the old gentleman's company, which was not, at tho best of times, particularly en tt rtiiining, and of late it had been less so to them, as ha had been considerably more stingy with his wino. The novelty, too, had worn off of frightening him; in fact, tho young medicos wanted some change in the ontcrtainment. One day, however, Charley Eeckleas, who was of an inventive turn of mind, hit upon a happy idea. " Would it not," ho said to his fellow student, "be great fun to call late one evening on Mr Fox, tell him that the cholera had appeared in Dover, and induce him to get into a cab to go over to Lily burn, and then to spend half the night driving him to his nephow's ?" They could easily, ho maintained, when he had been there two or thrco days, writo find tell him it was a mistake, and that the cholera had not ap peared. The suggestion was no sooner made than agreed to ; and they determined to put it into immediate operation—both chuckling over tho old gentleman's rage and indigna tion when ho found that ho had been made a fool of.

Lato the next evening Charley Reckless and his friend called at Mr Fox's lodgings. When they were shown in ho at onco noticed that their faces bore a very serious expression. He anxiously inquired as to its cause.

"Tho kqfc is, Mr Fox," said Charley, in a solemn voice, " tho cholera has appeared here."

11 What !" exclaimed Mr Fox, turning pale with alarm. " You don't mean in Dover t"

"Yes, I do," answored Charley. "The authorities are trying to conceal it, to pre vent panic; but they can't. There have been nearly a dozen deaths already; and it's said thore are over a hundred persons attacked. There's a terrible panic in tho town. Evory train that leaves is simply crammed."

" My gracious !" exclaimed Mr Fox, in a helpless tone. "What shall I do ? I wonder whether I could catch a train to night for Lilyburn ?" •' Don't try that," said Bold. " Very rieky business, travelling in crowded car riages. Possibly your next noighbour has got the infoction. You should drive." " Yes, yes, I will drive ! It's only a few miles. Gould one of you get mo a cab, while I pack up some things 1 I thought I had everything prepared ; but then I did not expect so sudden an outbreak as this." "Yes, certainly," said Charley. "Harry, you run out. and try to get a cab. They'll hardly all be hired yet. I'll help Mr Fox to pack." Bold started off at once ; and Mr Fox and Charley began to hastily pack a portman teau. They had just finished their work when Bold returned with a stout hack and a closed fly, but without any driver. " All that's left," said he to Mr Fox. " No driver—all bolted."

"No driver !' exclaimed the old gentle man. " What on earth shall Ido ?"

" Never mind," said Bold ; " Charley or I will drive you ; in fact, we'll both drive." "I'm so much obliged to you, Mr Bold," answered Mr Fox, a little doubtfully. "But I couldn't think of putting you to such trouble. I can surely get somo one ; I'm rtady to pay anything." " No use," .said Bold ; "no one to be had for money.' It's no trouble to us." " Not the least, my dear sir," interposed Charley; " not tho leust, I assure you. Just give me your portmanteau."

And before Mr Fox had time to protest, his portmanteau was thrown on the top of the cab, ar.d he himself was bustled inside. The young men then jumped on tho box, and lashed the horse into almost a gallop.

For a few minutes Mr Fox was inclined to accept the situation without objection, so glad was he to get out of Dover; but, before long, the pace became so great that ho felt bound to put his head out of the window and remonstrate with tho drivers. He might as well have remonstrated with the wind ; they never paid him the slightest attention. So after screaming himself hoarse, he had to sit down again, ex hausted and scared. He expected every minute the cab would go over, and he was surprised to find himself, at the end of half an hour, still uninjured. As for Charlie and Bold, they were en ioying the joke immensely. It is true they nad carried it a little further than they in tended. Instead of the quiet drive they

had decided giving old Mr Fox, it had turned out a wild gallop. But in their excitement they thought little of this. In fact, instead of wondering whether they had not gone too far, they began to con sider whether they could not go a little further. "How would it do to upset the cab ':" suggested Charley. Before he had well spoken, Bold, who held the reins, turned the horse into the ditch by tho road side, and, in a second, the cab went over, and Charley and Bold were flung head-over heels to the ground. Charley fell into the ditch, and was not much hurt. He immediately sprang to his feet, and caught the horse, which,not having fallen, and being frightened by the shock, was plunging about in a dangerous manner. Then a glance round showed him his friend Bold stretched insensible on the road, and bleeding from a wound on tho head. The cab, with one shaft broken and all the glass smu-hed, lay against the hedge. What had happened to Mr Fox he cnuld not say, but ho was glad to know, by tho cries coming from the inside of the cab, that, at any rate, ho was alive. Tho serious state of affairs brought Charlio to his senses. Ho now saw tho folly of which ho bad been guilty in its true light. As he was trying to calm the frightened horse in order to leave its hoad to assist Mr Fox and to see to Bold, a man came running up.

" Upset, pir ?" he inquired. "Yes; give us a hand," answered Charley, thankful for the unexpected as sistance. " Help the gentleman out of the cab."

"All riaht," returned the stranger, set ting immediately to work.

In a few minutes Mr Fox was on tho road. He was considerably shaken, but not other wise injured ; and Charley was delighted to see that he seemed to havo. no idea that the upset was duo to anything but pure acci dent. Bold was next attended to. He was suffering from a cut on the forehead, which, though severe, was, ns Charley's surgical knowledge enabled him to see, not dan gerous. He was soon restored to conscious uv.<=>, and then was able to stand without

support,

But the upset put them sill into a diffi culty. They were etill sovon or eight miles from Lilyburn, the cab shaft was broken, it was too late to look for another conveyance, and Bold was tdo much injured to walk far* Under these circumstances, tilings might have turned out very awkwardly if tho man who came to their help had not, with rustic generosity, offered to give them the shelter of his roof for the night. This they all at last decided to accept, and the stranger conducted them to his house.

It was a neat little farm homestead, at no considerable distance from the scene of their mishap, at a pretty little place called Whitfield. Bold at once went to bed, and Charley remained with him. They both, however, wore very hungry, so the farmer kindly took them a substantial meal up in their bedroom. Mr Fox had a little re freshmont with his host, and then also retired to rest.

Charley and Bold did not wake up very early the next morning; and when they did so they didn't feel particularly well. Con sidering what they both had gone through the previous night, it would not have been wonderful if they were neither of them very sprightly. But they wore worse than could be accounted for by anything that had happened. They were both deadly sick. Charley noticed that Bold's face was of a pea-green colour, and when he arose and looked in the glass, he found his own was the same. They felt so weak that they could hardly summon sufficient energy to put on their clothes. Neither of them could suggest any possible cause for their sick ness.

When they left their bedroom, their host a.iked them to have some breakfast, but they both declined. The very sight of the rashera and eggs almost made them sick. Thoy naturally, however, inquired after Mr Fox, when the farmer told them, to their surprise, that their friend had left— hnvin;; had an early breakfast, and started to walk over to his nephew's. They therefore de cided to get back as quickly as possible to Dover, more especially as their host (wko refused to accept anything for his hospi tality) was by no mean 3 pleasant in his manner. He kept looking at them in an inquisitive and not over pleased way, evidently struck by their ghastly ap pearance.

"You both look extremely ill," ho at length said.

" Yes," answered Charley, with a sickly smile, " we don't feel quite as well as wo could wish."

" I've got your cab into workable order," said the farmer, "sol hope you will drivo back at once to Dover and consult a doctor."

" Oh, we're not so ill as that," answered Bold, in a weak voice.

" I don't know," replied the farmer, in gloomy and almost sulky tones ; " but at any rate, I should feel greatly relieved if you left as soon as you could. I don't want any more sick strangers in my house. I have had trouble enough that way lately." "Of course, we'll leave at once," said Charley. " We've trespassed on you long enough already."

"Don't mention that," answered the farmer. "I'm sorry I have to appear so inhospitable. But only four days ago a Frenchman, whom I never saw before, while coining along tho road, became suddenly ill. I was foolish enough to bring him here and send for a doctor. He died next night in terrible agonies in tho very room you slept in; and the doctor said it was cholera. You may guess what a scare that was for mo. Now I don't wank to frighten you, but you have just the same look in your faces now as he had when I took him in."

" Good heavens !" exclaimed Bold, turn ing a shade greener thnn before. " I knew there was something frightful the matter with me."

"You ruffian !" shouted Charley. " Why didn't you tell us that last night. Oh ! lay goodness,"he moaned, "I'm dying; I know lam."

" Well, if you are, you'ronot going to do it hero," cried the farmer, angrily; "I'm not going to havo any more of that. Here, get into your cab, both of you. One of my men shall drive you homo."

" You scoundrel I" began Bold, but he was too weak to say more, and, without making any opposition, he allowed himself to bo put into the cab. Charley, in a similar state,, was soon beside him. Then a labourer mounted the box and drove them rapidly towards Dover.

Every yard they went on their way to Dover they felt, or imagined they felt, worse, and, by the time they reached their lodgings, they were almost unable to move. In fact, it required considerable exertion on the driver's part to get them out of the cab and into the house. Once they were there, the landlady was instructed to 6end im mediately for a doctor.

Before the doctor arrived, tlio postman knocked at the door with a letter for Charley. When that youth saw by the post-mark that it came from Lilyburn, in spito of his illness, ho toro it open and read it.

" What a confounded old devil!" he ex claimed, in a tone so energetic, and so dif ferent from the one lie had latoly been speaking in, as to at once attract Bold's attention.

" What ie it, Charley}" moaned that sufferer.

" Read that. Instead of our fooling him, ho has fooled us."

Bold read the letter. It ran :—

"My dear Charles, —I take the earliest opportunity of writing to thank you and your friend for tho kindness and earnest ness you both displayed in assisting me to escape from Dover. I trust the unfortunate accident did neither you nor the cab much damage. I should be sorry if you were put to any inconvenience or expense on my account.—Yours, *c. Timothy Fox."

" P.S. —Did tho farmer tell you about the cholera-smitten Frenchman ? He should have, becauso I paid him to do so. And how did your supper agree with you ? T.F."

The Thought-Reader Eclipsed.

Thought-heading is eclipsed, and Messrs Bishop' and Cumberland may hide their diminished hoads, for a greater than either of them has arisen. Lula is the romantic name of the new star, and she comes from the sunny South—Georgia. Her gift is an im-sistable nerve power, which moulds the strongest man to her will. The modus opsrandi is chiefly as follows : A man, tho stoutest and strongest in the audience for choice, extends his walking stick towards the fair enchantress, and holds on to it like grim death. Lula lightly touches tl>e stick with her little finger, and the man at the other end is dragged about tho stage whether he will or no. As one victim "pathetically described it, it was as mucfi as he could do to rawrt Lula sweeping the floor with him. More than this, Lula can lift a rowful of men into the air by merely placing her hands on the back of their seats. Lula would be an invaluable personage at a rowdy political meeting. At present she is reaping a rich harvest from the curiosity or credulity of American audiences.

CLIPTOMANIA.

[Specially Selected by Ocb London

Correspondent.]

Is anticipation of his liberation from prison, " the Claimant" has beon measured for a new suit of clothes. The order has been given to the tailor who made the last suit worn by "Sir Roger" before he adopted

prison dreas,

Prohibition is more stringent in Kansas than in any other anti-liquor state. Under these circumstances it is interesting to reatl that during the year ended .Tune 30th the barrels of beer brewed in the State wore 3,299 more in number than those of the pro vious year

According to "London," Messrß Gilbert and Sullivan are thinking of a now opera to succeed the "Princess Ida." Mr Gilbert, who is sufforing from gout, has had two years to think upon the Bubject, for " Prirtcess Ida " is, of course, little more than a! reprint of the old Holborn vaudeville. Sir Arthur Sullivan has not yet written a note of the music, but the new work is expected to bo ready not later than Novem ber next.

St. Louis possesses a professional lover, i.e., a man who is paid by parents or gaurdians, when their daughters or wards are in danger of making a mttalliancci to cut the ineligible parti out. Ho is said to be as agreeable as he is hr.ndsorae, and he has met with great good luck in his novel calling, having crushed the hopes of several suitors who threatened to be as successful as they were ineligible.

The fnther of cheap postage in the United Stores has died at Boston, New Jersey, in the 63rd year of his ago. By a curious coincidence his name was Hill, like that of the father ot cheap postage in Britain. His sterling traits of character won for him the name of "Honest John Hill." To his untiring energy was due the abolition of franking privileges, the intro duction of the postal card in the United States, and tho more recent reduction of latter postage from three cents to two cents the half-ounce. He was a man of great personal exccllonce of character.

Many people seem to imagine that Mr Yates, the libeller of Lord Lonsdalo and Lady Grace Fane, is serving his four months in prison. This is not so—he is still at large, pending an appeal granted on a technical point. Four months have elapsed since the date of conviction, and the technical point has not yet been settled yet; although; Mr Poland stated that "if the stay of execution were allowed for a few days, then the writ of error, could be ob tained." And all this trouble has arisen out of a twelVo-and-sixponny paragraph.— " "Whitehall Review."

In this country most of us are ready to scuttle out of the way of a mad dog. But at least we have some sort of method in " our madnene." In Croatia the presence of a mad pig was sufficient to terrify a whole faii-Jfull of people out of their wits. To escape from the neighbourhood of a single lunatic porker— whose vagaries might in the first instance have been ended by a knock on the head—six men, one woman," and thirty cattle were trampled to death, not to speak of a whole hospital full of in jured. The madness of the pig will mark a black-letter day in the Croatian calendar.

Wilkie Collins began life as a tea mer chant, but after a short time studied law at Lincoln's Inr, and presently abandoned that for literature. He is a rapid inventor and slow producer, writes at a massive desk, on one side of which hangs a picture of his father, and on the other is a tin box con taining plots and schemes and Ideas jotted down. In composing he first finds a central idea, then fits the characters, lets the char acters evolve their own incidents, and begins his story at the beginning.

A table showing the length of service in Parliament of the most eminent English statesmen now living contains the following figures: Mr Gladstone, 51 years; Lord Granville, 47 years; Lord John Manners, 40 years; the Duke of Argyll and Lord Kimberley, each 37 years; Lord Derby, 3G years; Lord Salisbury, 31 years; Sir Stafford Northcote, 28 years; Lord Hartington, 27 years, and Mr Childers, 24« years. Lord Granvillo has served the longest time in office, 28 years 1 month, and the longest in the Cabinet, 21 years and 2 months. Mr Glad stone has been in office 22 years and 10 months, 'jxni in the Cabinet 20 years and 9 months.

French mothers-in-law owe a debt of gratitude to M. Naquet, the author of the Divorce Bill. One of the grounds on which a divorce can be claimed is I'injure —that is, giving offence to any member of the petitioner's family. If a man gets into a rage with " Mamma" he may expect to see his wife march out of the door on her way to the Court, there to file a petition. French husbands will have to be very civil indeed to their respected parents-in-law in future.

Discussion sometimes arises nowadays as to the precise value of the title " Esquire," says " Truth." It is generally agreed that its use should not, if possible, be allowed to any gentleman worth, say, less than 10s a week, unless he be an office-boy, or other wiso "professionally" engaged. It has, however, jbeen reserved for the press to fix the exact worth of the title. A journal published in the town of Burnham, a small but popular resort on the Somersetshire coast, has the following note at the bead of its " List of Visitors " :—" The word ' Esq.1 charged 3d, prepaid."

Here is one of Dr. Macleod'a anecdotes, communicated to "Good Words":—"There was an old invalid man on Twcedsido, who was tended by a faithful Abigal. Like many frail persons, he was always anticipating his own speedy demise. ' I'm tlunkin', Nancy,' he said one day, ' that it canna be lang noo. I feel as if this vorra nicht the end wud cam.' ' Indeed, laird,' said the attendant, ' if it were the Lord's will it wad be real convenient, for the coo's gaen to calve, and I dinna weal see hoo I am to tend on ye baith.' "

A new light has just been invented, formed by the mixture of ordinary gas and atmospheric a:r under pressure, the two meeting at the point of illumination. It is an incandescent light, formed by rendering luminous a network of platinum wire. The inventors claim that it is the most beauti ful, steady, wholesome, and economical arti ficial light hitherto invented. It has been tried at the railway works at Crowe with great success, and is probably suitable for great establishments of this kind.

A contemporary tells the following good story : "It was for an Ohio debtor to fully unfold all the jiOHeibilities of getting rid of a dun, and in this case it was a woman. She owed her hired man-servant three hundred and twenty dollars, and being unable to pay them, as she found the man getting troublesome, she wooed the simple fellow and induced him to ma.rry her, thus squaring all accounts between them effectually. In a less favoured land there would have been an end of the mat ter, but in Ohio a divorce only costs sixty dollar?. This little formality she promptly went through, clearing two hundred and sixty dollars on the whole transaction.

Mdlle. Feighine, who will shortly be tried at St. Petersburg, has had a re markable career. When fifteen she left Poland to follow a student to Russia. Mixed up in the riots at Kazan in 1873, sbo was placed on trial, and sentenced to banishment to Siberia. Whilst there she gave birth to a child, which, however, died from privations, and shortly afterwards she made her escape, walking the whole distance toSt, Petersburg in one year and and a h&lf. During that terrible journeyshe subsisted by begging, and underwent un told suffering from cold and hunger. No sooner had she returned to St. Petersburg than she joined one of the attempts to blow up the palace of the Romanoffs, but was again arrested.

The tramway and omnibus companies of New York have, for some years, in order to guard against dishonesty on the part of their employe's, a.ffixed boxes to their vehicles, in which each passenger, on en tering, drops his fare, a plan which is also in use on some of our lines at Home. They are now questioning whether it will not bo necessary to revert to the old method. Iho public have discovered that the partial view which can be obtained of the bottom of the box by the driver is not sufficient to enable him to detect the difference between good and bad money. Counterfeit coin is abundant in New York, and the result is that the bad money in the boxes amounts to 80 per cent, of the takings. Sometimes it is much higher, for men with a stock of counterfeit coin will take their place by the box, and as the other passengers pass up their money, will put it in their pockets, dropping bad coin into the box. The losses suffered by the companies are, in fact, very much larger than those which could occur from tho petty peculations of tho con ductors, and some of them are meditating a return to the old system. It is said that the churches have been considerable gainers by the policy of the tram companies, and the average amount of bad coin in tho col lecting boxes has beep markedly reduced.— "Standard. 1, f .

CHRISTINE NILSSON.

Madame Christine Nilsson, in an inter view with tho correspondent of one of-tbiiV^B Amoiicnn papers, expressed her.-elf as much , affected at tho heartiness of the reception she had nn her I.Ye return to England, and , exclaim <i: "YVliy ! do you know there wero ;■; three tli»:i«.ind p-"]''c at tho landing stagu ut. i.iveip iul! When I taw that throng of people and heard their cheers, I looked around to see whom they were cheering. No, it wasn't affee tation. I had no idea there was to be any demonstration, and no ono hat) told me. When I was told that all thai, welcome was for me, I tried to wave my , handkerchief to tell them how much J thanked them, but I couldn't. I could onlrai cry—l was so happy. It in very uncertain if I go to America acain in the autumn. Mr Gye has offered jMOO for each night's afijlffl pearance and my expenses to and front America, but I have declined that offer. Yes, you may think it tempting, but jj —hero there was a long pauee£||! and the correspondent ventured -10m repeat inquiringly, "But?" Madame '5 Nilsson tossed her head a little scornfully as she replied : " Well, if Madame Patli is worth £800 a night, Christine Nilsson is worth i'GOO." At this moment tho Pieel- j| bluo eyes of the cantatricclooked as thou; h they combined the lightnings of aNoima and a Brunehild. The correspondent odgt <' away from the dangerous topic of compara- j tive values, and finally said : " But you 1 like America?" "Yes, I lovo America: 2 and the Americana. But Ido hate the ' sea, and O i you cannot tell how much I Jsj suffered going across tho Atlantic. It is*M horrible. ■'yts

The Remains of St. James.

The " Osservatoro Komano " has published^* the Latin decree of the Congregation of Rites, confirming tho discovery of the re-•a mains of St. James the Greater, recently >;|| found in the Cathedral of Santiago. fy.^S begins by discribing the cathedral as one |3 of the most celebrated amoiigthesanetuaries JS§ frequented by pilgrims j for therein was ';:M tho sepulchre of the Apostle St. James tho 1 Greater, whoso most sacred body vras.jS brought to Spain after he had been Killed^ by Herod. Those remains, it 6ays, •were:|f| jealously kept in a secret locality during tho ;|| period of Arab domination and other |p troublous times, including the English j incursions in the sixteenth century. It has"°Ja always been known that that sacred deposit <1 had never been removed from tho Basilica; 'a

and constant tradition held that it was

preserved under the apse. The present j Archbishop of Santiago, Cardinal Paya^ V Rico, it is added, while occupied in restoring: ?t3 his cathedral, was earnestly bent also upon discovering the spot where the remain* of jf the Apostle James and his disciples, Athanasiusanrt Theodore, were lying, and |g after much labour, having excavated be- , neatli the pavement of the apse behind the .7 high altar, befound a receptacle, built of B •tone and brick, in which thoro were three "# ! skeletons. The Cardinal Archbishop then , * drew up a proces verbal, propounding tho ; question, Were these the romains of the ,p Apostle and his two disciples, and the ex- : Jm pression of an opinion, after mature con- ' ; sideration, that they were. The report wag sent by the Cardinal-Archbishop t to •; the Pope, and by His Holiness referred,'on the 22nd of May, to the Sacred Congrega- V s tion of Rites, which after full discussion, ,v v replied, on tho 19th of July, Affirmative ; sen sententiam csxa conjiniiandam. This i decroe, which fills two columns of the "T: Ossarvatore, is signed "D. Cardinalis S Bartoliniue, S.R..C, l'rajfectus." . .»5

Intelligence in Cows.

A suburban correspondent sends to a con- ' • temporary the following amusing instance of intelligence in cows:—" The other morn- ■ ing, a very sultry one, two cows came to our gate, evidently on the look-out for '■:■"• something, and after being at first some- j what|puzzled by their pleading looks, the thought struck me that they might be in -' want of water. No soonerjhad this occurred. ■ to me than I had eomo water brought in a ; large vessel, which the poor animals at |j once sucked up with the greatebt eagerness. ■;■* The pair then sauntered contentedly away to a field near at hand. In about half an ..■; hour or so we were surprised, and aniuncd H not a little, by seeing our two friends marching up to the gate, accompanied by M three other cows. The water-tap was > again called into requisition, and the new : f comers were in like manner helped liberally. M Then, with gratified and repeated "boo-oo's" * (an unanimous vote of thanks), our visitora _^ slowly marched off to their pasturage. It i was quite clear to us that the two first ' i callers, gratified at their friendly reception, . - had strolled down to their sister gossips and dairy companions, and had informed \ them—how I cannot say, can you ?— of .. ■; their liberal intertainment, and then had tr ken the very pardonable libertj of in- ~..'. viting them up to our cottage. This morning we were again visited by the first "■'': couple, bringing a stranger with them; | and 1 have little doubt these morning calls will be regularly repeated, and afford my . ";■ little household fresh pleasure and amuse- : ment in administering to their wants. : The remarkable thing, to my mind, was ' ■■-). the fact of the two first cows informing the others, as most assuredly they did, of the treatment they had received. I state the simple facts. I have my in time lived a : good deal in the country, but never fc- SB member anything like this remarkable - ■■ instance of the cow's intelligence; nor ; indeed have I ever read—to the best of my recollection—of anything like it. P.S.— ; : July 21.—Since the above was written our ' four-footed friends have never failed in then" -3 morning calls, generally bringing sorao >■ (to ue) stranger sieters with them.

Capacities of Woman.

The capacities of woman is a question that is attracting a great deal of attention on the other side of the Atlantic. One critio says :—

" There are lots of things of a woman can do that a man cannot. A woman can hold more clothespins in her mouth and talk through a knot hole in the fence at the same time than a man can."

A woman can arrive at a conclusion without the slightest trouble of reasoning on it, and no sane man can do that.

Six of them can talk all at once and get along first-rate, and no two men can do that. •-:

Shecan safely stick fifty pins in her dress while he is getting one under his thumb nail.

She can put on her shoes standing up, with both feet on the floor; but he can't.

She is as cool as a cucumber in half-a -dozen tight dresses and skirts, while a man will sweat and fnmo and growl in one I«ose shirt.

She can talk as sweet as peaches and cream to the woman she hates worst, whi'e two men would be punching each other's heads before they had exchanged ten words. She can throw a stone with a curve that would be a fortune to a baseball pitcher; and finally, she can drive a man crazy for twenty-four hours and then bring him back to paradise in two seconds by simply lick ling him under the chin, and there does not live that mortal son of Adam's misory who can do it.

A Romance of Real Life.

Some novelist or playwright will, no doubtg|S make good use of a very mysterious storyfeS which is now exciting the readers of■thelfP " Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung." On ' a certain evening recently a man named B.

was sitting at supper with his wifo, at. his i house in the Niirnbergerstrasse, Leipzig, '. when ho heard a ring at the outer door, and, the servant being absent, wont to"^' ?ee who was there. When he returned ■ ■ he had, apparently, lost his appetite: but he declined to giro any explanation ok to who had summoned him. In a sliort - .;<„ time the bell rang apain. Mrs B. wenfctoX;-J;sJ the door, where she found an unknown man, who desired to ppeiilc io the master of the house. 8., upon being inlormcd of this, went out onco more; but, as ho did not

come back, his wife became uneasy and

began to search for him. Sho discovered no trace of her husband, cither in the hall

or in the street; but in a small ;oom, the

door of which was locked from the inside

and had to be forced open, she found him, suspended by the neck from a gas bracket by means of a silk handkerchief. She rushed to the street door to cry for assistance, and

was there confronted by the unknown man.. ;y He at once entered and cut down the body of Mv 15., who wa3, however, quite dead. When the police arrived the unknown man had disappeared, and all efforts to find him have since been unavailing. He is said to be about 30 years of age, of tall and prepossessing ap- I pearance, and of gentlemanly address. Tho .'■',.'■ deceased was in his 59th year ; and, as he was in comfortable circumstances and on good terms with his wife, the motive which impelled him to take his own life remains a mystery. ■

THE AUCKLAND EVIJTOG BTAR, IiTtfRDAY, OCTOBER 4r, 1884,

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