A WOMAN'S FAITH : OR, THE Mystery of a Bunch of Pansies.

By CHARLES T. MANNJIRS, AUTHOR OK ' The Lord of 1.y1c," "Oetavias Pride. I'ho B 1 enkarne Emeralds," "The Flaw in tho Diamond," " Dragging Him Down," "A Silver Brand," &c, Sec

CHAPTER XXI V.-( Continued.)

Poor Ted turned ghastly pale ; be staggered back, and dropped like n dead weight into the nearest chair. But the others did not heed him, for Hortense, with one wild, glad cry of transport, sprang forward, mid Hung herself into her father's arms. " Father ! Oh, father !" was all she could articulate. His mingling tears and kisses fell warm upon her face, while ho held he. closo and fast. "My child !my precious one. Oh, how I have yearned for you ! how I have loved you, and never dared believe this hour of our reunion on this earth would over come." "It is all a very strange all'air," spoke out the ousted baronet, in a husky voice. " I have certainly the right to demand a more explicit statement before I take leave "So you have, Frederic," said the dow ager in a most kindly voice. "You shall hear the whole story from him when he tells ittothe others. You will lind that your disappointment is a light cross in compari son with the anguish whicli others have endured in silence. Come, Ted, bear your disappointment like a man, and let us be friends again. There is a heavy bunion to be borne among us yet, but if wc stand to gether it need not be so very hard. Richard, my son, have you still resolved upon a full explanation '! I heard the bells ring. I think the gentlemen for whom I sent have arrived, and will be shown thither as I gave orders. Richard, Richard, do you mean to tell the whole ?"

What sharp anxiety vibrated in the trem bling tones. Sir Richard turned with one arm still [fondly clasping bis daughter's waist, and took his mother's hand. "Dear, much-enduring, heroic mother, trust me, we have found the true wisdom at last. There shall be no halting—no holding back—no half-way revelations ; the whole truth shall be known, and by it wc will stand or fall. You who have been so patient and heroic hitherto, bear up bravely a little longer, I pray you. Surely, for your own sake, Heaven will show us a safe path : you who have deserved only the deep est peace and joy, yet have patiently par taken the bitter fruits of another's sin."

The dowager wiped away the tears that stole softly down her cheeks. "I trust it all to you, Richard. Only let me share your life wherever it is spent, so long as Heaven spares me to the earth, and I shall be content."

And here came the cautious knock of Thomas from the hull-door.

" The gentlemen you sent for, my lady, are all in the blue waiting-room, and—Mr Earle, with two strangers, are in the red parlour." "Konrade!" ejaculated Hortense, and clung more closely to her father's arm. "He has come with some explanation. Oh, how thankful I shall be to know him innocent!" exclaimed the dowager " Shall ne see him first, Richard?"

" No; let them all come : let the story once told suffice for all. Send them all here, my good Thomas ; there is no further privacy in this matter." He seated his daughter with tender care, that seemed loth to turn a moment from her, and wheeled the great easy-chair for the dowager to her side. And then, with folded arms, himself paced to and fro, with firm-set lips, and eyes very grave, but full of steady, resolute fire. The three gentlemen who had been sum moned, noted men in the shire all of them, were the first to appear—an earl, a judge, and the nearest presiding justice. Gentle men of culture and ample means, one and all came forward tc the dowager with an air of respectful greeting, that could hardly have been more conspicuous and genuine had it been the royal reception of the sovereign lady of tho United Kingdom. " I was sure your summons was import ant, dear madam," said the-earl, "and I put off Lord John's political meeting till to morrow. Tell me what I can do for you."

" I need advice, sympathy, counsel. Of my three tried, trusty friends I have ventured to ask it," answered the dowager, still with her own inimitable grace of man ner ; but her voice trembled, and her eye was downcast.

The immediate ushering in of the second party prevented any further conversation of the kind.

Konrade Earle came in, with handsome head held proudly erect, and eyes flashing triumphantly, yet a sad wistfulness curved his lips. His companions hesitated a moment in the back ground, while he spoke, clearly and without tremor.

"I have ventured to come here at once, Lady Mildmay, although I only this morn ingarrived from Scotland. The glad denoue ment of our mystery which I found waiting for me would not brook a single unnecessary instant's delay. " No one can be more thankful, my dear Konrade, than we shall be lor any honour able explanation. We have our own re valations for you to hear, but you shall speak first,"answered the dowager,str etching out her hand with such a friendly, trustful smile, that he could not forbear to grasp it warmly. "Ah, I do not know that I need speak a single word," he answered. " My.fair name and honourable character may be redeemed, I think by a single look. lam glad to see Sir Frederic Mildmay hero. I should be still more gratified if his agent, Harsis,"wero also uresent. For behold, I have found— Conway Searle. Come forward, my mis chievous double, come forward, and let them see." And at his playful smile tho gentleman next behind him stepped forward, and they stood side by side, while an exclamation of wondering surprise ran round the gazing group. A handsomer pair of youthful Adonises could scarcely be found the world over. Certainly not another pair with lineaments so wonderfully copied, so identical in colour ing and shape and expression. And yet there was a difference— standing there side by side—they all saw it, a subtle something in the depth of the soft dark eyes of the new comer, a sweeter, gentler expression of the mouth, that the haughty-reared English man lacked. The latter had a grander, more imperial way, with head and carnage, but the dowager understood now what Helena Yerrington meant when she said she looked into Konrade Earle's eyes and did not find her Conway. Although to the|pale

faced, mild-eyed Hortense the formergeemed so much tho grandest, noblest hero, that after her first glance she never gave another look at Conway Searle.

" This is wonderful—miraculous !" cried the dowager. "Surely Konradc, you can not blame poor Harris for believing as he did. Twin brothers were never so much alike."

"Twin brothers wc are, though neither of us have dreamed of the other's existence," declared Konradc.

"Oh, where is that lovely girl, that dear HolenaV What happiness is in store for hor !" exclaimed the dowager, eagerly. "Ay, that is one bright spot iv the whole wretched affair. Her noble faith will be rewarded as it deserves," answered Konrado Barle, gravely. "I have sent back the carriage to bring hor hero. Her long night of sorrow and trial shall have a glad dawn to disperse its darkness. My brother Con way, I know you do not need mo to charge you to value such constancy and faith as it deserves ; it is rare enough, Heaven knows."

I.Hd he mean this for a rebuke to her? Hortense caught one shivering breath, and shrank away behind her father. Oh, why had sho beon so blind, so wilful, so per verse': Would Konradc never forgive her ?

Thus far he had not given hor a single glance. He took his brother's arm and drew him toward the group of gentlemen who wero standing together by one of the deep re cessed windows of the long room, and look ing on attentively. His other companion had retreated alone into the curtained alcove by the door, and hardly revealed his face at all. But all wcro too much im pressed with the magnetic sense of some coming revelation to give much heed to the circumstances.

" We have called our friends to hear a more romantic story than wc supposed," snid^the dowager, presently. "Well, wc shall have time, I trust, for a thorough explanation. Net before we commence I wish to reiterate my satisfaction in seeing Konradc Earle exonerated from an odious charge. Frederic, you were the orre to bring forward the accusation, you owe him a full apology now." "I will wait till all 1 hear to-day is thoroughly proved before 1 pronounce my opinion," said Frederick Mildmay, in a somewhat lugubrious tone. And in a lower voice he added, bitterly : " 1 do not forget that a fow moments ago Lady Hortense in formed me that she could be happier with him guilty than witli me innocent. There fore I am freo to judge that my apology or denouncement will be of littlo account to either of them."

Konrade Earle heard, and for the first time he glanced toward Hortense. How pale and worn she looked—the change in the merry, brilliant face pleaded more in her behalf than any words could havo done. And yet never had she seemed so sweet, and womanly, and "charming. Half un consciously he moved over and stood be hind her chair, and when he saw the delicate sea-shell tinge that crept over her cheek he could not forbear bonding down to whisper: " Is it true, as he says, that you told him you would choose mo before him, though I were all he painted me ?"

And Hortense Hashed him one shy sorrowful glance, as she returned : "I never supposed you doubted that. But oh, Konrade, I am undeserving of such love as yours, I have been madly jealous— cruelly doubting. Punish me as you will; 1 own I deserve it all."

The meek, penitent tone, the downcast looks were so unlike the wilfull, imperious Hortense that he could not forbear a smile.

"My Kate is thoroughly tamed," thought he, and laid a gentle hand on the arm-chair in whicli she sat, and kept it there. Was the insensible wood the conductor of an electric current? Undercover of her loose hanging sleeve, the little hand of Hortense crept thither, and wns gathered closo in his firm fingers, and held fast eve.i through the sorrowful recital that followed. •

CHAPTER XXV

A SORUOWFCI. STOKV

" And now, my friends," said the dowager, gravely, "1 shall ask you to listen to a sorrowful story. I will try to have it told as briefly as possible, with only such words as are needed to show you the true situation. You have all known the Mildmay family and its history. I think you will sustain me in saying that its pride, howover over fed and wrong it may nave been, was more on account of its stainless escutcheon, its pure women, its noble men, than of its wealth or rank. My husband's father, old Sir Hugh, was almost a monomaniac on the subject. I remember well how often his son, my husband, has told me that lie was trained in his boyhood to hato all dishonour able doings, all sin, and lowness, and folly, not so much for their own hideousness as be cause they were unbecoming to tho Mild mays, and because none of the family had ever been guilty of them. They were very havd, I know, upon all erring men and women ; they had no charity for short comings, misdemeanours, weaknesses. Be cause they had held themselves so clear from all mire they believed all the rest of the world might walk with unpolluted garments. Ah, me, ah, me ! They did not know there is such a thing as walking too erect in this world full of fallen and bruised and fainting creatures, so that one does not see whore a helping hand is needed.'' " They had a right to feel thus," broke in the earl," decisively. '' Theirs is a proud re cord. No fleck mars the purity of their escutcheon." " Ah," sighed the dowager, " that is the way I used to think. I was prouder even than my husband of this grand, stainless character for which the Mildmays held such reputation. Alas ! are not all men mortal, and is not mortality fallible ? Could I think the Mildmays were to be exempt from sin fulness and human frailty ? Hear friends, I have been taught a bitter but it may be a wholesome lesson. My only son " " Hapless Sir Richard !" interrupted the judge. "How often I have mourned for tbe brilliant light he would have shed in these degenerate days. Ah, Lady Mildmay, I shared your grief. You know he was my boyhood's dearest friend." _ " Would he had been worthy of it, sighed a deep voice behind him. The judge turned indignantly. "And that he was, sir. No one can convince me otherwise." " He was the sole representative of tho Mildmays, and a mother's love might be pardoned for believing him the flower of all the chivalrous nobility of soul they so de lighted in," went on tho dowager, sadly. " I believe he was a youth of generous heart and worthy purpose, but in a blind belief that his name and blood secured him against all weakness, he was never taught to strengthen or shield himself against temptation. You remember the tragic event that draped this house in black, and killed his fair young wife, and filled my heart with woe." "Ah, who can forget Sir Richard's un timely death," moaned the judge ;" so young, so promising, so true-hearted !It was no wonder that you were changed into a statue of ice. Do not pain yourself by recalling that dreary time, dearest Lady Mildmay." ' "Sir Richard did not die, said the dow ager, in a low, awed voice. " Let me show

you now the foul spots in mother and son that a cruel inexorable pride covered over, and hid from the world's knowledge. He came to me, a skulking fugitive at dead midnight, just two hours in advance of tho fatal news of his death, and ho showed to me what at the time was blacker and more horrible than any death. He had fallen into bad company. He hud followed evil ways. He, the last Mildmay, and shame antl disgrace, nay, worse, tho deadliest dis honour that could be imagined, wero wait ing to clutch upon him, and show tip to the world what their paragon had become. Knowing tho shrine at which I hail wor shipped, you may be able to see how tho mother in me died, and only pride lived and spoke. What I said and did, I dare not even now recall. I only know I wrung my bauds once, exclaim ing : ' Oh, if tho message that is coming were only true,there might be some hope of peace for mc' And that tho wretched creature grovelling at my fool, started up, white and wild-eyed as a ghost, anil de clared it should be so, if I had only strength enough to curry it out."

She stopped a moment, gasping, shudder ing.

" Mother, mother, leave the rest to mc," said tho strange gentleman behind her. "You cannot bear any move, (live the story into my hands."

" You— you !" stammered the judge, starting out of his chair again, ami one could almost .*ec the sleek iron-gray locks rising on his shapely head as ho turned eagerly upon the speaker. " You arc then " " Richard Mildmay." " Dick, Hick, merry old Hick. I carr hardly credit it, and yet 1 sco the old trick of the lips," cried out the grave judge, bursting irrto a laugh that was half hysteri cal, and w holly unnatural. But ho seized and wrung (he hand the re turned baronet had not ventured lo extend. Tho call went hastily to tho dowager-, anil taking both her hands in his, repeated incoherently: "Olr,my poor friend —my Spartan mother; indeed, what have you not borne in all these yoars?" She'looked up with ,-i tremulous smile. " You will help its by your wisdom, your friendship, now that the trial hour conies'.' You will advise us what is best ': "

" Can yon doubt tis for a single instant?" asked ho, clearing Ins voice from a husky sob, hofoi'o ho could articulate. " Proceed, Sir Richard, lot us havo (ho painful story ended, so that wc consult together how safety and happiness can be brought about, for I know it could be no ordinary clangor that would drive yon from this mother's .side. Perhaps I have a dim sus picion of it all. I remember that Marina duke Earl shared your reported death." " Poor Marmaduke!" sighed Sir Richard : "though I had been dwelling in a paradise all this time, the very thought of him would havo poisoned all my joy. As it has really been, his memory has been one sharp scourge pressing cruelly into my breast by day and night.' It was by my hand—my wickedly thoughtless, but never criminally murderous, hand—that he came to his death. 1 solemnly confess the fact here."

He paused, while a low cry cf horror burst from l.ady Hortense, as she looked up wildly into Konrade Earle. face. Ho was very pale, but he stopped more closely to her, and held her hand now openly and fearlessly. " I was tho victim of'my own foolhurdi ness, as well as most unfortunate circum stances," went on Sir Richard after the little stir of agitation hail beon again silenced. " I-ot me be just, alike to myself ond to the hideous ness of my deeds. I had been nursed and fed upon the proud asser tion that a Mildmay could not go wrong or do evil. I thought my hands so clean that nothing polluting could cling to them. Morovcr, I am not sure that I fully realised that it was really evil that I handled so thoughtlessly. When 1 look back upon it, I cannot sec just whoso was the plot, and yet I feci sure I was tho victim of some wily, diabolical plan that led mo on stop by step. I was sent away, perhaps the jtulgo remembers, upon a secret political errand, although ostensibly sharing a pleasure yachting cruise of Lord W 's. 1 found myself flattered,./;', it, and intoxicated with specious adulation, which I see now most of all compassed my ruin. I was led to drink, to gamble, am' get dangerously entangled in the train of a certain notorious woman, who kept the state and sur rounded herself with the luxuries of a princess Marmaduke Earle was my constant companion, but from our first acquaintance we had clashed and been an tagonistic. He was bitter, misanthropical, sardonic. There is something still a mystery. Sometimes 1 think that my evil genius was really that gay, gonial Charley Blair, and that it was he who secretly fanned tho (lame of ire constantly rising between us. But I dare not judge. I only know 1 had no real anger or resentment of any sort against poor Marmaduke, and that it .was his own rude words or stinging remarks that fired my anger whenever I was heated with wine. 1 feel sure, though, that Marmaduke Earle owed mo somo grudge, and that it was his contrivance that thrust mo into tho clutches of a notorious sharper and gambler, who plucked mercilessly the unwary pigeon in his talons. I woke sud denly to tho horror of a startlingly largo gambling debt, and to the shameful con sciousness of a dissipated life which I dared not show to my mother's scrutiny. The scales fell from my blinded eyes. I saw how low I, a Mildmay, the last of his proud line, had fallen. It was under the smart of this wretchedness and humiliation that I was coaxed by Charley Blair to share a shoot ing expedition he had organised, I was only too thankful to escape from the raillery of Lord W and his party, and I stopped into the little sail-boat that was to take us from the yacht to the shore, without know ing or caring who else was in tbo company. Why need I dwell upon the details ? Marma duke Earle was one, and he and I and Blair were at one time alone in the boat. Tho former had been drinking freely, if I can judge by his extraordinary behaviour. He turned upon me with the most insulting words, the most bitter denunciations. In my utter humiliation of mind I muttered something about deserving the worst he could accuse me of. At which he vociferated, "So you own that it was you !" and with a terrible oath lie sprang toward me. I believe now that it was more the goading look and snoer of Blair than my own anger at the poor fel low's madness, that impelled me to lift my arm and strike him that awful blow. He had been standing carelessly in the boat, about midway, and Blair held tho rope of the sail, and also managed the til ler from the stern. The wind was a little squally, and the tide setting in pretty strongly. It is likely, in the excitement of the altercation, that Blair was careless in his management, and that a flaw of the wind caught the shifting sail. At all events, rot live seconds, it seemed to mc, after my blow felled poor Marmaduke, who struck his head againt the thwarts as he fell, even while Blair ex claimed, ' You have killed him !' the boat went over, and we were all in tho water. I I was cool and collected enough, when I rose from the dizzy plunge, to call out to Blair. .'__.", '*' In Heaven's name, where is Earle.' Tell me where to dive for him !'

" And I solemnly swear to you bore, I would have risked my life for him ut that moment. But Blair called out hastily :

" 'Swim to tho shore, man, if you want to save your neck from the hangman, and me from testifying before a court of justice that you have killed him. Don't yon sec they aro coming to our assistance from the yacht': Be oil'and hide yourself. .1 will meet yon at the Wounded Hare to night, at midnight, and settle the rest.' "But,' cried I, piteously, he cannot be dead ! Lot mc wait anil lind the body 1'

"'I will take care of that,'he returned. 'See,, there arc hall a dozen boats coming this way. You haven't a moment to lose.' " And, like one stunned ill mind, I turned and swam away. It was a dangerous task, and one that nearly exhausted mo ; but I reached a solitary portion of the shore, and found shelter and hiding-place for tho night, waiting, wretched, and still half crazed iv mind, lor the midnight visit, of Blair. It left mc in a deeper sea of horror than before. Ho showed mc tho debts of honour demanding immediate payment which, as ho sot it forth, ho had secured, for bis friendship's sake, to save my name from public dishonour. lie tokl mc that poor Mavniadukc l.at'le's body was still under the water- ; that men were dragging and searching for us both ; and sincerely advised me to allow the report of my death to go uncontradicted. Ho hail a great deal to say about his friend ship, and the extraordinary exertions he had made to buy oil' those gambling debts of mine, and asked mc to make him good for tho amount, and go my way as I would, he would keep my secret. Tlie sum total was enormous. ■ I could not believo then, I feci sure now, that 1 had never been quite so reckless. lie probably made a littlo fortune nut of my distresses. But I accepted all his statements mechani cally. I gave him my promise of settlement in London, and lot him hurry mc oil' in disguise. Thon I found my mother- -1 need not describe Hurt inter view. She has told you enough to give you full understanding of its anguish and per plexities. If her pride was inexorable, her courage was matchless also, and hor strength. I wrote the will which gave what littlo reparation was in my power to Miirmaduko Earlo's orphan boy. I took a paltry sum -enough to keep mc in bread and wator until I could learn to earn something for myself - and having dropped my parting kiss upon Ihe unconscious forehead of my own motherless babe, 1 knelt a momenl at my mother's feet, anil then, before the tidings of tho accident arrived, I had said what I believed my last fnrcwoll to all I loved on English soil. My mother managed to pay tho debt within a year, and from that time sho heard no more of Blitir. I myself have never set eyes upon him since. I have literally lived a living death, whoso only glimpse of light and lifo has been through my mother's monthly letter.--, whicli were sent witli great caution and much circumlocution. I have been the lighthousc-keopor of a lonely beacon light on the Florida coast for many dreary years. At her summons I havo come again to England, lo dofoud my daughter from n threatening danger. Toil me How, friends—peer, judge, justice— what is tho one right, honurablc courso for me to pursue':" There was a deep, profound silence in the great room. Anil every face showed trace of strong emotion. Itorteneo and the dow ager hud both moved forward to Sir Rich ard's side, and their pale checks and tearful eyes betrayed what deep suspense awaited the answer.

(To be Continued.)

Not a Patriot.

"Is patriotism a crime?" sternly de niandoil Charles Barnaby, as he looker! his Honor in the eye. " Well, that depends." " I have been incarcerated in these dun geons for defending the fair name of my country?" " As how to which ?" asked the Court " Last evening as 1 sat in a saloon read ing the Declaration of Independence a rullinn walks up and spits on the sacred document I" " He did!" " Yes sir ; and he called (Icoi'gc Wash in.'ton a liar, and Thomos Jeffersonuchicken thief !" "S" death!" "And he saitl that all this country was good for was to raise ynller dogs, freckled faced girls, and bow-legged mules! Could a patriot stand that? Why, sir, I'd havo got up and tackled him if he had been as broad across the back us the top of Mt. Vcsuvous !" " Prisoner, who gave the honour of this country into your keeping?" " Nobody, sir ; but I'm a patriot." " You may be or you may not be an idiot. It is none of your business what any one says about America. If she can't take caro of herself you arc not called upon to take a band in." " Must I stand by and see the sacred De claration spit upon ?" "You might fold it up and put it in your pocket." "Never! I'll go for my country, right or wrong ! I'll live or perish with her ! Come on, ye traitors !" "I don't sco 'cm coming, "said his Honor, as he looked around. " Charles, you are sent up for sixty days."

The True American.

Stki'HEN C. Massctt read the following at tho Arcadian Club in New York:—

A Cockney Wait.

The great Pacific journey! I have done, In many a town and tent I'vo found a lodging, I think I've travelled to tho setting sun, All round this continent 1 have bs en dodging, Like Launoelot, in quost of Holy Grail. From Western Bccrshcba to Yankee Dan I've boon a seeker, yet I sadly fail To find the genuine type American.

Whore is this object of my youthCnl wonder. Who met mc in tho pages of " Sam Slick :' Who opened every sentence with By Thunder '. And whittled away on a hit of stick. The more the crowd of friends around mc thickens, Tho less my chance to meet linn seems to be, Why did he really show himself to Dickens. To Dixon, Sala, Trollopc, not to me.

No one accosts mc with Ihe words, Wa'al

Stranger I Greets mo as l<estivc Cusi, or shouts Old Hoss! No grim six-shooter threat ens with danger, IC I don't; quickly pass the butter. Boss. Round friendly boards no cocktail ever passes, No brandy smash my morning hour besets; And petticoats are worn by all the lasses, And the pianos don't, wear pantalettes.

Tho ladios, when you offer chicken salad. Don't say, I'm pretty crowded now, I guess ; They don't sing Mrs Barney Williams' ballads Of " Hobbing Round," nor add Sir-ec to yos. I, too, have sal, like every other follow,

In many a railway, omnibus, street car, No girl has spiked Me with a fierce umbrella. And said. You git, 1 mean lo sit right thar;

Gono are the Yankees of my ourly reading .' Faded tho Yankeo land of oager guests! I meet with culture, courtesy, good breeding, Art, letters, men and women of the best. Oh! fellow Britons, all my hopes arc undone, Take counsel of a disappointed man! Don't come out here, but Btayathomem London And seek in books the true American.

ARMY, NAVY, AND VOLUNTEERS.

(By Mauti. i-Hhnky),

At a daylight battallion parade of the Dunedin Volunteers recently there was a total of 410 men presout.

Tho second battalion ISth Royal Irish stationed at Aldershot, was under orders to proceed to Egypt, when tho mail left,

It was rumoured in naval circles in Sydney that Sir Michael Online Seymour, Bart., will be the First Admiral on the Australian station.

At a meeting of the Dunedin Ritlc Club on March '._>, it was resolved to exclude Volunteers from joining the Club, and that Volunteers at present belonging to it should be asked to resign. Tho Defence Department has formally consented to the Easter Review boing held at Oamaru this year. Tho Governor will not bo able to attend, having previously ar ranged to visit Auckland at Easter. The War OHice, with the view to encour age rillo practice among tho troops, intend to attach a rilie gallery in connection with the canteens at each of the principal military stations, fitted with Morris's shoot ing apparatus. The ('avalry Equipment Committee, under the presidency of I ioiitonant-Gcncral Sir F. Fit. Wygnnn, Bart., after months of labour anil experiment at Aldorshot, havo succeeded in reducing tho weight of the clothing and equipment of rider and horse, in service marching order by one and a half stones.

The Army Estimates are to be laid on the table of tho llouso of Commons, when the following will be about the numbor of men estimated for : —Household Cavalry, I,HOO, of all ranks; Cavalry of the line, 15,800; Koyal Artillery, .'12,000 : lloyal Engineers, 5,300 ; Foot Guards, 5,880 ; infantry of the Line, 120,000; Yeomanry Cavalry, 14,000; Militia, 117,500: Volunteers, •.45,000.

The Australian ami New Zealand Govern ments have applied, says the " Army and Navy," for tho services of a number of non commissioned ollicoi. of the Royal En gineers, for employment as instructors in submarine mining, in connection with the defence of the principal Colonial seaports, antl the War Ollicu lias decided thai, the re quest shall bo granted. The pay fur these non-commissioned ollicevs will, of course, be provided from Colonial funds. Captain (!. F. Prico, U.S.A., now on recruit ing service, gives a good account of recruiting for tho American Army :—" Con trary to tho general impression, a largo per centage of oiilistinonts in the Army aro of men of American birth. Tho percentage of foreigners is small, and of theso tho Gor mans come lirst, and the Irish and English next. There arc fow Frenchmen and Scotchmen, Wc accept about ono man in ten ol those examined. Our standard is one of the highest in tho world. Our cavalrymen on the plains arc physically perfect, a splendid body of men, equal to the (.Hieon's Life! 'unrds, nnd bettermounted, though the latter organisation ate mounted on American horses."

The following extract from a circular letter dated at Wellington, 'Jlith March, is published : On all Government parades, guards of honour, and drills (unless other wise ordered) the crimson sash is to be worn by officers and non-commissioned officers of such rifle corps as are provided with uniforms of tho Imperial pattern. On company parades, rifle practice, judging distance drill, _c. (unless other wise ordered), a black patent pouch and white belt is to be worn. Officers in pos ncssion of biown leather belts tvill be per mitted to wear thorn out till replaced. Ollii.'Ors desirous of providing tho full dress sash or pouch and bolts, _c., for levees or evening full dress, may do so, and will be permitted to wear them ; but the bolts, _c, arc on no pretence whatever to bo worn on any parade or duty. The Minister of Education has moved in tho South-Australian Assembly that, in oilier to encourage the breeding of horses in South Australia and their shipment from Port Darwin for the remount service in India, 09 years' leases of areas not exceed ing ,">,OOO square miles of land south of the 2(">th parallel of latitude, and 10,000 square miles north of that latitude, be granted to any company whose bona Jules should bo satisfactory to the Government. He ex plained that lately a number ot gentlemen had proposed to enter upon a scheme for breeding horses for India, and wrote to the Government upon tho matter. They in tended to form a company composed of Australians and Indians, that company to make direct overtures to the Indian Govern ment to secure the right of supplying at any rate the major portion of the remounts required for the Indian scivico. The pro posal underwent considerable discussion, but no decision was arrived at.

11l tho late Mr. Jcll'ory Samuel Pronder "ast, whose death took place on January 22nd, at his resideneo, Molvile, Blackrock, Country Dublin, the last Waterloo officer of the Brigade of Guards has passed away, Mr. Prendergnst, who was in the 87th year, was also the last of the gallant band of ( .lardsman who were present at theilofcnce of the building and orchard of Hougomont, that important position on the immediate right of tho British line, rendered, in tho words of Siborme, even memorable by the truly herioc and successful stand maintained throughout tho day by the troops allotted for its defence. Mr. 1 .'endergast was gazetted in February, 1814, to the 2nd Battalion 3rd Foot Guards, and retired as Lieutenant and Captain on June 15, 1825. He was senior in his regiment at Waterloo to the late Colonel Sir Haary Blanc and Lord Rokeby, the two junior ensigns of tho battalion of tlie Foot Guards whicli Colonel Hepburn commanded.

Oamaru v. Other Battalions.

Returns of the shooting in the match betweon the Oamaru and other battalions have beon received. From the scores it will be seen that the challengers have been vic torious in all tho matches, and thoy say ; " cock-adoodlo-do !" Oamaru.—Artilicry, 530 ; Rifles, Soil. Total, 1,0115, Invcroargill.—Artillery,,. I;Hiflos,s7o. Total. 1,071. Dunedin.—Artillery, lot!; Rillcs, _>l. Total, 1,020. Wellington.—Artillery, _7; Rifles, 187. Total, 1,011. The following shows tho position of the matches between Oamaru Artillery and the batteries of tho colony :— Oamaru Artillery (il(i Wellington do 11l- Port Chalmers do _il lnvercargill do 533 Christchurch do 330 Dunedin do 528 Timaru do 195 Mr Richard Quinn, late master of the Dunedin Benevolent Institute, died in Dunedin on March 22. When Mr Commis sioner Branigan organised the constabulary force for Otago, Mr Quinn was one of the pickod men brought from Otago, and occu pied the rank of sergeant for many years.

Launch of the Warspite.

The Warspite, 10, twin-screw armour plated barbette ship, which has been built at Chatham Dockyard, was floated out of dock on Tuosday afternoon, in the presence of some thousands of spectators. Tlie War

spite is one of a now class of fighting ships now being built, of which the following are tho principal dimensions :—Length between the perpendiculars, 315 ft.; extreme breadth 02 ft. ; depth of hold, 23 ft. !) in. ; load draught, forward, 24 ft. 5 in.; aft, 25 ft. Sin.; mean, 24 ft. 11 in. ; and load displacement, 7,505 tons. The armament of tho vessel will consist of 10 guns, comprising four 18-ton breech binding guns, which she will carry en barhellt ,antl six 6-in. breechloading guns which she will carry for broadside firing. In addition to these guns she will carry ten Noi'denfclt and four Gardner guns. She will have six ports for discharging torpe does, the vessel having been fitted with the Whitehead torpedoapparatus. Her armour plates arc the usual Cammel compound, tho hardened steel service being opposed to the enemy's fire, the plating on tho sides of the citadel being lOin. thick, on the ends of the citadel fiin., and on the barbettes Sin. She will bo fitted with inverted vertical com pound engines of 8,000 horse-power, which it is estimated will give her an average speed of IS knots per hour. Under ordinary circumstances she will carry 4'o tons of coal, but provision is made for her carrying a larger quantity, if necessary.

HUMOROUS CLIPPINGS.

"Mamma," said an interesting juvenile, "do sheep write?" "No, child." "Then why arc thoy provided with pens ?"

"I believe mine will be tho fate of Abel," said a devoted wifo to hor husband, one day. "How so?" roplicd her husband. "Because Abel was killed by a club, and your club will kill me, if you continue to go to it every night." A broken-hearted widower in Now Hamp shire has just placed over his wife's grave a tombstone, with the dubious inscription, "Tears cannot restore her; therefore I weep !" A missionary tolls a story of a Zulu chief who embraced Christianity at once when told it meant only one wife. The tawny gentleman was in search of peace. llnw doth the small defective Hue im prove each midnight hour, to show in surance companies its fell destructive power. How silently it sits aloft, in attic, or still higher, and in tho dead of night proclaims itself the fiend of lire. A school-teacher had a groat deal of trouble in making a boy understand his lesson, and when ho finally succeeded, ho drew a long breath and said, " Well, if it wasn't for mo, you'd bo tho biggest donkey in this town !"

Host, to very old friend—"Just another drap 'fore you go." Very old friend—" Na, na, all tak' nac mair ! I'm in a new lodging, ami I'm no vory weel acquainted with tho stairs."

Father, addressing his littlo boy, who has brought home a bad mark from school: "Now, Johnnie, what shall I do with this stick?" Johnnie: "Why. go for a walk, papa."

Why is coal the most extraordinary article known to commerce?— Because, when purchased, instead of going to the buyer, it goes to the cellar.

A little boy put a lighted match into a nearly empty powder keg to sec what would happen. He will not do so again, as his curiosity is satisfied : but the girl who sits next to him in school thinks ho looked bet ter with his nose on.

A Missouri lawyer, having lost his case, asked for a new trial, which tho judge denied, at the same time remarking : " The court and jury think tbe prisoner a knave and fool." The lawyer replied :" My client wishes me to say that he is perfectly satisfied, as he is now sure that ho has been Iriett by a ronrtand jury of hi* peers."

" .My son," said a stern father, " do you know the reason why lam going to whip you?" "Yes," replied the young hopeful, " I suppose it's because your bigger than I am."

" What is your father, my pretty maid ?" " Father's a miller, sir," she said. " Which is his mill, then, my pretty maid ?" " That over yonder, sir," she said, " Why, that is the treadmill, my pretty maid !" " Six months is his .sentence, sir," she said.

Not long since, a contemporary tells us, a gentleman was watching the process of packing sonic hundreds of wooden legs for exportation for the future benefit of the gallant soldiers of the Sultan. " Ah," quoth the moralise!', "these pieces of timber arc but so many eloquent protests asrainst the horrors of warfare!" "Ex actly," said a bystander, "stump speeches !" Effeminacy Rebuked. - The late Dr. Archer, of London,dining once at a friend's, mot there an effeminate stripling, who wore his hair in girlish length down upon his shoulders. On taking leave, the old doctor went up to Young Languish, and playfully tossing in his hand one of the youth's long locks, thus addressed him, laying a very strong emphasis on the first word : " Man wants but little here below. Nor wants that little long.' In a district of Forfarshire a young ploughman went courting. For two hours he sat in 'silent despair. At last John ex claimed, " Jenny, there's a feather on yer apron ! "I wadna ha wondered if there had been twa," replied Jenny, "for Ive been sittin' aside a goose a' night." Milk and Cream.—A smart little laddie was showing a gentleman round his master's farm, and, in expectation of a "tip," was very obliging and willing to give informa tion. Coming to the byres, the gentleman inquired, " How is it that this cow's three teats arc so large and one so small ?" " Oh," replied the boy, who was never at a loss for an answer, " throe are for the milk and the little ono for the cream."

English snob (at a party in London) — "Ah—it —aw—it must be very unpleasant for you Americans to be governed by people —aw—whom you wouldn't ask to dinner." American belle—"Well, not more so, per haps, than for you in England to be gover-' ned by people who wouldn't ask you to dinner."

A youth at school in Haddington who lacked musical talent, and whose voice consequently jarred during the singing lessons, was always allowed a holiday on singing days. His mother, failing to divine the cause of her son's forced absence, paid a visit to the school to inquire into the matter. In answer to her query as to why her son was sent home on such occasions, the teacher said, " Why, simply because lie has no ear !" " What!" she exclaimed. " Nae ear ? Did onybody ever hear the like o' that! Nae ear ? Why, he has a lug like asaucor, man !"

A bibulous person was introduced to a lady who had been represented to him as quite a talented artist. He greeted her by saying—" I understand, madam, that you paint." She started, blushed deeply, and, recovering herself after a few seconds, said, with as much solidity of tone and stylo as she could command—" Well, if I do paint, I don't make any mistake and put it on my nose."

A one-legged Welshman, named Jones, was pretty successful in bantering an Irish man, when the latter asked him, "How did you come to lose your leg?" "Well," said Jones, "on examining my pedigree and looking up my descent, I found that there was some Irish blood in me, and becoming convinced that it had settled in that left leg, I had it cut off at onco " "Be the powers," said Pat, "it would have been a better thing had it settled in your head."

A son of Hibernia entered a small barber's shop for the purpose of getting his hair cut. When the desired operation was performed, and his hair about to get the final brush, the publiofunctionary asked him if he would have " oil or cream." Paddy, thinking it an innovation in the barber's trade to give refreshments, said, " Well, sor, as I am not swate-mouthed, I'll have a little drop ov the oravtbur."

A gentleman dining at a hotel whoso servants were few and far between de spatched a lad among them for a cut of beef. After a long time the lad returned, and was asked by the faint and hungry gentleman, "Are you tho lad who took away my plate for this beef?" "Yes, sir." Bless me," resumed the hungry wit, " how you have grown !" Tiikkk Ei'iT.U'us.— Wandering over Southern Massachusetts, during a brief vacation, last summer, the writer^ came across sevoral curious epitaphs, which he thinks have never been in print. One day as follows: " Here lyeth the body of H T , Who passed away from this life August 3, 1813, at the age of 65. He was a much loved husband and father and respected neighbor. He died from eating green apples. Go thou and do likewise. A countryman was sowing his ground when two smart fellows riding by, one of them called out, with an insolent air, "Well, my good man; 'tis your business to sow, but we reap the fruits of your labour." The rustic replied, " 'Tis very like you may, for just now I am sowing hemp."

A district visitor was recently inducted into her duties by an old woman after tho following fashion : -" You are the new dis trict visitor, are you ? Do you know what your duty is to me ': I will tell you. First you sits down, then you reads a very short psalm, then you gives me a shilling, then you may go."

Umb was asked by a bore, "What sort of a crop of turnips do you think we shall have this year?" The wit replied," with imperturbable gravity, "It depends,l be. Hove, upon boiled legs of mutton."

" I'm on the sea ; I'm on the sea," roared a bad singer. " You're not," cried a musical punster in company. " You would be on the C if you sang in tune, but you are on the B flat, confound you !"

An Auld Kirk divine was one day walking along ono of the streets of the capital of the Orcades, when he met a well-known tinker. " Well, John, can you say the ' Lord's Prayer' yet?" "Och, man," said John, "every man tae his-trade. Can you mak' a tin pail ?"

A little three-year-old, whose father did not use a razor, was recently, while on a visit to an aunt, greatly intereoted in seeing her uncle shave. After watching him in tently for a few minutes, she said, "Uncle, what do you do that for ? Papa don't wash his face with a little broom, and wipe it with a knife."

"Do you ever gamble?" she asked, aa they sat together, her hand held in bis. He replied, " No; but, if I wanted to do so, now undoubtedly would be my time." " How so '!" " Because I hold a beautiful hand." The engagement is announced.

A bookkeeper walking through Charlotte St .are, in Edinburgh, the "medical quarter" of the city, and seeing "Dr." on every other house, remarked that it would look a little more regular if there was an occa-: nal "Cr."on the other side of the strei'.

An ingenious individual has hit upon a scheme whereby he expects to make a fortune. He will advertise largely. "For half-a-crown I will disclose a plan whereby halfpenny postage-stamps can be made to do the work of penny ones." His plan is perfectly simple, and cannot fail. " Use two of them."

Many ladies are now cultivating the lute —and the Creek harp ; while the organ has replaced the piano in some salons. Al together the fickleness and change of fashion are more annoying than gratifying ; it is of late scarcely ever an improvement.

A Novel Punishment for School boys.

John Mansi-ikli), the assistant master of theGreoncoat School, AVhitehall-street, was charged at tho Thames Police Court yester day (Jan. 2) with assaulting a scholar named Parry. The boy had been frequently punished for talking, and one day lately, in order to disgrace him, Mr Mansfield caused him to put out his tongue, which the master strapped and tied by a piece of string to a chair. There was no evidence that the boy was hurt; and some of his school-fellows said he laughed as he stood with his tongue fastened. The magistrate said in this case it did not seem that there had been any real punishment. The boy appeared to have been very much given to talking. Punishment had not done any good, and the master wished to degrade him, the same as by putting a fool's cap on n t boy's head, or tying the arms of a boy given to fighting. If the boy, however, had not put his tongue out voluntarily, no power on earth would get it out for the purpose of its being tied. The degradation of the boy was intended as an example to the school. The summons would bo dismissed.—From the " Pall Mall Gazette."

A Woman Kills Her Sister and Fatally wounds Her Nephew.

Oi'klika (Ala), March 11. — News has reached here of a terrible tragedy which occured a day or two ago in a remote district of Coll'eo country. Mrs Harvey and Mrs Hughes, twosisters, lived on adjoining farms. A few- days ago Mrs Harvey's cow did some damage in the garden of Mrs Hughes, where upon the latter drove the animal out, strik ing it across the back with a stick. When this incident came to the knowledge of Mrs Harvey she Hew into a rage and started out to the residence of her sister, armed with a sharp butcher-knife. When about fifty yards from the house Mrs Hughes met her and attempted an explanation. Mrs Harvey immediately made a lunge at her sister with the knife, sending it at one thrust through herheart. As the wounded woman fell, her non ran up with a stick and struck hir aunt with it on the head. The infuriated woman then turned upon her nephew and began cutting at him. Tho boy's screams attracted the attention of. some neighbors, who rushed up and stopped the progress of the bloody work, Mrs Harvey was taken to the Elva jail, where she will be held for trial. The boy is so badly wounded that his recovery is not probable,

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1884.

3