DONALD'S PLOT. A STORY OF An Unfaithful Guardian

By - BVLVANUS COBB, Jr.

CHAPTER XV

_ O , At p,NV« S TI,UTK S .-ATBLKOUAM. Rl has been at homo two weeks, and B . had his father spokon to him, in any *■£»»»", of Doris. In fact, he had 3C" Itlier to avoid the subject; but I it TOB not absent from his thoughts. bCSI", C in truth, the oro subjoct, next to II ffM' „f his proDerty, that ongrossed bis thOC, He studied it by day, and lie jSdrfiue night^ To see Rupert and nlhusband and wife was his chief a.m; Ihe did not think it would bo difficult to t,„,,t. Ho was not suro that it would _>rin___ aooui. to pass without his assistanco. fwTeure they liked one another; and ho H° furthermore sure that his son was *"' . I by no other attachment. 1T evening. Donald °"'en ontored his ■ f.nilicc where he found his secretary P T .lock -»P tho lar"'° Sa{° H, mt W? 8 tt into the brick wall next to tho main b°'ltv"?i Torboll, have you reached a final "il'Very newly, sir. At any rate, I don't iut i can do any moro. If you can -^1 value of the property Ralph Owen gt there, we shall have tho whole S'° .Vhatdoyoumakoitr" ,i Do you mean of real estate' n I moan everything. I want tho full rCi"\Vell sir," snid tho secretary, referring to, paper that lay on his desk," I think it Abounds to sot the real estate m Philadelphia ot a million and a half. You «v call it two millions, if you conclude to iderthe property in Richmond, which fimbcry offered to take. I saw him yes trtay. »"d h0 i 3 6tiU eaK°r t0 c tho "'"The Richmond estates are worth moro than that, Walter." '_' •'Perhaps they may bo; but I think, under tho circumstances— considering, too, L his Philadelphia property is located in relation to your own-1 would rather havo »You aro right. I shall take it. And bo .tho funds in bank." _ « Hore are the figures, sir. Donald took tho slip of paper which his -ecretary handed to him, and read—l «*1,8"0,000." . .„. „„ , , "Can't wo make it two millions? ho aiked, eagerly. ii y er y easily. Call in a fow of your rents in advance." ii q oo j | There can novor bo a bettor time for it. Do it, Tarholl. You know whom to apply to. Will yen attend to it ?" "I will, sir.'' "Allright. Remember—Mum s the word. Not a syllable of this to Report. Does ho ever ask you any questions about my busi -11 Never n breath, sir. No ono would think, from what I can see cf him, that ho had any interest in your estate." "That is as it should be. Still you micht heed die hint. If bo should nsk you, just give him to understand that you don't know," "I think, sir, I had bettor send him to jou. Ho is not a fool. Ho knows I am ' your confidential clerk ; and ho knows that ( you wouldn't keep me hero an hour if I I didn't know nil about it.

"Very woll; send him to me." "I will sir. But I don't think ho'll ask." Tarbell finished his work in tho ofiico, and having been informed that ho would bo wanted no moro that evening, ho left. As soon as the door had closed behind the retiring secretary, Donald Owen started across the narrow apartment—pacing to and fro, ond thinking aloud as he walked. "There 1 Tho iron is heated, and it is time to strike. I must havo this girl my son's wifo ns quickly as possiblo. Wenzell thinks Jack Clearstar inpiy turn up yet. He thinks ho caught sight of him in Navy Yard at Gosport. ! why didn't

hefinish him when he had the opportunity '.' However, with hor married to Rupert, all the Jacks in creation can do me no harm. And—that golden flumadiddlo that Ralph 'it behind him! What in the world was M-kemsl/ix, Jack said, f must get hold of Hat bauble somehow. I don't believo IVeforgotten my old tricks. According to wht Jack told me about it, it's too heavy for her to wear round her neck. It must be in some of her trunks or boxes. I'll find it, never fear. Just get her out of tho house for a few hours, and the job is done. "And now for Rupert. I hopo ho will bo reasonable. Ah !he don't know what I can be if lam crossed I don't want him to do it."

He pulled oat his watch, and found it past nine o'clock. Ho extinguished tho lights, and having securely bolted tho door opening into tho court, he wont out by tho other opening into the main dwelling ; and in tho library ho found his son engaged in writing a letter.

The old man walked several times to and fro whilo the young man wroto on. At length he said :

"Rupert, can you givo me a few minutes of your time!"

"Cortainly. As many as you liko. I n. only writing a line to ono of ray college lad army chums. It can wait."

The father took a seat by tho side of tho table, where ho could sit facing his son, and wmmenced as follows:

"Rupert, 1 have a serious matter to pre sent to you, and let mo say in tho outset, I hopeyou will give mo your heart, if you can. I won't beat about tho bush, There's no need. Look ye, my boy—you've had a sufficient opportunity to bocomo acquainted *ith your fair cousin. What do you think of her V

'I think," said iho youth calmly and soberly, "that she is a most estimable wnan, I believe her to be as good and true as sho is mild and beautiful."

"That is good. I like to hear you say .Rupert. I wish you would add to my «y by telling me that you would like to take her for jour wife."

What! Wife! / .'—marry with Doris!' , &ni why not ? I know you havo a pre Mice against the marriago of cousins ; but WW much of a cousin is this ? Tho cousin ™P geruaan was between grandfathers. Don't think of that."

'Indeed, father, the thought of relation al? never entered my mind. Doris is not H'irl to be courted by anybody yet a while. Wthsrhave a reasonable season of repose Wore you talk of hor marrying again. •™, further, make sure that sho cares to marry,"

Iluro was a calm, cool, off-hand iudopond ™co about the your.g man's manner that grated upon the parental nerves harshly. Rupert," choking back his feelings of Wor, for he felt them, " I would havo you ™? at this in a different light from that in "™o you seem inclined to consider it. Rc »*»ber,tam the girl's legal guardian. Ro bber, fuitlior, that sho is yet an infant, MCauje her mother urged her into a mar mse before sho was - Pshaw ! don't bo so EDBitive. If you think so much of her as "«i 1 don't sco why you should not marry ««■ at oneo. But, as I was saying, lam »« legal guardian, and she will do that _\ v [ rctluiro of her- : "•''•' that she T ho your wifo. Will you not try to !*;[>-» me in this?" ' Iki-T cr' 1 never Baw a prl or a lady ,'',/ would rather call my wifo than Doris, ■""i am not a marrying man. I will not y any woman to become my wifo until van . n g6t than lam at Present. Before _\\_ t0 mo of matrimony lot mo feel ■WM assurance, at least,, of health." uont be a fool, Rupert ! You are well D_T __*&&• h< k'ct, a wife liko tl W? Bld,* "k" r" '^'""d. in her loving ' ; mpaiuonship an? in iho light of her '___ i, i_ n" tne ,j"Rt-ors in tho world. u°« »Wk like that,! pray yam" to t.ii y' my dear f;lUl0r- l al" not anxious for nil i ° t n ° subJect in any way- once ai i" T m T ° say- here and now, for a year, _,_.. ■ will not thi"k of marrying °3 I(rt it rest at that, please." ~; t 't is a matter which cannot I tel , &,0P ! Listen to what I have to say. mult. v.° a. '" a" soberness, if you do no' »iIP 0"8 your wife- I canAot toll you how "you may ftnd yourself stripped of ex life ,"?," "triPPed of all that can make *o.H n • mn«--,nd oast out upon the and homeless." '•turovi T'" lookin S at him calmly and ttroni/"• ' " not that Putt»"K it rather word!"* to° Stron&' Uis true-every , ' Explain yourself. Do you moan to tell „}'f'*. yes!" gaspingly. lauet Z' iU. calmT y and soberly, " There ' lVlMwisit* w l.?,?"* Wronf-' wnewhevo. Douad iSu yOUto!lmo:'! ■ntlßtamn„ii°- n,startail nphoui his seat, eu»Ped h I3 foot upon tho floor with an

angry feeling which ho did not attempt to conceal. "Rupert! don't go too far !■ Remember I am your father. Something of respect is duo to mo, lot your opinions bo what thoy may. 1 havo wronged nobody. 1 wish to prevent a wrong, and your mai-ryiiirr with Doris will doit." " "Look hore, father: Let's understand ono another ; you say my marrying with Doris will prevent a great wrong. How will it accomplish it?" "No matter. I tell you the truth. I want you to believe mo. It is not pleasant, I ns-uro you, to bo doubted by ono's own child."

1 "My dear father, I don't want to doubt . yon. I want to boliovo you ; and to that ond I ask for a simple explanation. If it be -is you say, tho explanation must bo simple and easy to givo." The old man started across tho room, . walking with quick, angry steps, pacing to and fro sevoral times. At longth ho stopped, facing his son, his brow dark and lowering, and a threatening light in his sunken eyes. Hie lips wero compressed until bloodless, his hands clenched, and his whoio frame perceptibly quivering. "Rupert! Beware! Yon havo cast upon me a slight—a slur—that I do not liko. Don't repeat it. I approached you in good faith, with a desire for your highest good ; and I say to you again —I wish you to marry with Doris Owen. Don't answer mo now. Rest upon it—sleep upon it—at the samo timo remembering this : It will bo tho saving of morotroublo—moro direful calamity-than I can tell. It will savo all of us from trouble ; and I givo you my word, it will bo a blessing to Doris hersolf. " I'ou mean, you think so." "I mean no such thing. I know il." " I wish you would tell mo how." "You shall know in good timo. At present I ask you to oboy mo." " Suppose I could not." " You con." "But suppose tho case. You can do that. Supposo tho thing should prove ab solutory impossible, what then ?" '' Why, it would prove impossible through your own whimsical porversity, and then—l—l—might forget that you wero my son." "Well, well, I guess, father, we had hotter both of us sleep upon it. And I beg of you, when you ask of mo a thing that staggers mo, yon will, at least, givo mo a tangible reason." " I will givo you a reason for obodionco, never fear And lot mo givo you ono thing moro to sleep upon, nnd I would have you ponder it well. You have never yet dared my wrath. Don't do it now There. No moro to night. Go to your rest, and if you havo a caro for yourself—if you caro for your ftittiro—bewaro how you—" "Hold ! Don't threaten mo, fattier. You don't know mo. I have faced tho tiro .and fury of battle without blanchir" ; I shall not fear human threats while I feel in my heart that lam right. Think you of that os you go to your rost. Good night." " What ! Does ho bravo me?" muttered tho enraged parent, as tho door closed behind his departing son. " Will ho stand out ? If ho does —if ho persists—l'll crush - him. I'll turn him out upon tho world as Eonniless as when ho came into it ; and tho ord knows wo wero both of us pooronough then."

For three days not a word passed between father and son.

On tho morning of tho fourth day, at tho breakfast table, Donald said to the young man—and ho spoke as though thcro had never beon an ill-foeling between them :

" Rupert, I wish you would try my chest nuts softie time to-day. John shall hitch them to the ph.-eton ; and givo the girls a breath of fresh air, Wouldn't you like to go, Doris ?" " I should, vory much, eir." " You ought to ride more : and on wheels at that. Ido not beliovo tho motion of tho saddle is good for you. I noticed you carry ing your hand to your side after you came in yesterday." •' I think you aro right. I feel ,o pain in my loft side whenever I rido far, t on horse-, back."

"Then stick to tho carriage. There's tho light Goddord, the York waggon, and tho phaiton. They aro youri when you will. I scarcely ever uso them." Before, they left tho table, it had beon arranged that tho ride should come off as had been proposed. Tho weather was de lightful—warm; but a good breeze from tho mountains tempered the atmosphere to comfort.

" Suean and Leila shall go with us," said Rupert, as they were in tho act of rising. Doris had started to objoet, on tho ground that the company of tho two girls might not bo entirely agreeable

"If you wouldn't onjoy their companion ship—" '•0, /should liko it." " Then thoy shall go " "Good 1" exclaimed tho old man, as though tho words would not stay back. " Let tho poor girls enjoy themselves." And when tho girls had been told that thoy were to go, thoy wero very glad " Doris," said Rupert, after the order had been given to the groom to harness the che«tnuts, and hitch them to tho plm-ton, "will you trust mo with the key to your largor trunk for a fow moments, and allow mo to tako a peep insido ?" "Certainly," sho answered, smilingly. " I know of nothing there which you may not safely sco." ■ And sho took tho key from hor po-kot and gave it into bis hand Tho trunk was of firmly finished solo leather, built upon a skoloton framo of spring steel, with an English lock, strong and not oasilv picked. Rupert unlocked and opened it, and from bottom to top hu made arrangements of certain articles after a fancy of his own. This dono, ho reclo-cl and relocked it, and put tho key into his pocket. , . , " You will trust it in my kocping for a littlo timo," he said, as he arose to his foot. " I think I know what this ride moans. You havo tins crucifix on your person ?" "Yes. It has not left mo sinco I pro misor.l to keep it safely." ... '•That is right. If I am not mistaken, wo shall know to day whothor tho precau tion is needful." Tho phu-ton was brought to the door, and tho pleasure party drove off. Donald Owen, standing on tho piazza, watched them until thoy had disappeared from yi-w, after which ho retired to his own sleeping apartment, where, in an old oaken case of drawers,, he found a curious collection ot strange looking implements. There wore keys of all kinds and descriptions-long an(l short, largo and small—some of them stocky and strong, whilo others were the merest skeletons. Do selected a tew ot these latter, and threo or four pieces ot steel wire, and a pair of nippers, and a sharp tile, Thcso he put into his pocket, and then turned to the next item of pre paration. , Ho then removed his ordinary boots, and put bis feet into a pair of soft felting slip pers, after which ho noiselessly made his wiv to the chambor occupied by Don*. His first trial of a skill now long unusod was upon Doris's largor trunk. 110 looked to tho curtains of tho windows, and having seen them properly down, ho kneeled to his work. ~ . , i Ah iho had not forgotten, riot a key would fit tho lock, but with one of the simplest of skeletons, and a tiny bit of wire, ho threw back tho bolt, and the lid of tho trunk was raised. Tho contents wero not arranged with any particular care ; yet ho noted"the general situation, fixing it in bis mind before ho moved an article. As soon as ho had the arrangement in his mind, ho began to overhaul ; ho went from Uietepto tho bottom. He not only lifted every article but, he saw tho insido of everything which could possibly oontein within its compass tho thing ho sought. It was not in the trunk. . With the utmost caro and precision he re placed the article in exact order ns ho had removed them ; then he relocked the trnk, and turned to the next piece of baggage which ho proposed to overhaul. He spent almost two hours in the ehambev, as busy ns busy could bo, and without other results than that o (disappointment. "Cortainly, sho cannot havo it, ho said, as he stood looking into vacancy. _ " Won zoll must bo mistaken. If the thing is as large as he says, it must be far too heavy for her to wear it; so, of course, it is notm her possession: for I can swear that it is not in this chamber; and sho has no lug gaee any when else." ,_,... ■ g With this tho arch plotter left the cham ber, and m.-ide his way buck to his own apartment, where ho put away h.s quaint tools and resumed his boots, after which he made his away to his office, where ho found his secretary waiting for Mm. An hour or two later he excursionists returned. Rupert gave the team into tho charge of tho groom, and waited upon Don, to her apartment, where he sat down by a window and waited until Susan and Leila hnd withdrawn. ~ "Now, my sweet cousin," he said, after the door had closed behind tho retiring maids, " I propose, before giving you back your key, to take one more look into>o or Iruni.-. If we fined tho eont puts intafit-na ! loft them-1 .-hall be givatl-/ disappointed. Truly, I am sorry to say this of a uithoi ; b.ut Icannot help it."

With that ho knolt before tho trunk, and inserted the key into the lock, "Ah !" at first the key would not turn, The bolt was not cotnplotcly shot. He gavo it a turn to tho loft and snapped the bolt into placo, after which a turn lo tho right unlocked it. He spent perhaps ten minutes in looking over tho various articles which ho had systematically ai ranged, finding, in every case, his system turned topsy-turvy.

Ho arose, and gavo tho key back to Doris. His faco had turned a ehado paler, and his hands trembled.

" Alas !it is a3 I thought. lam sorry, But no harm has beon dono, for which I am very thankful. Doar cousin, you cannot be too careful of that crucifix. Its mystery shall bo ours ono of these days, I promiso you that." Before Doris couli reply tho door was un ceremoniously opened, and Leila entered with a tolcgrara for Rupert. " Is there an answor wanted ?" "No, sir." Ho oponed it, and caught his breath ; and boforo ho could hido it, Doris's quick cagor oyos had captured it. This is what they read : " In Camp, liox well's liap, 29th. "Cai-t. Rui-kkt Owns: Colonel Forsyth Ameilen severely wounded, and missing. Wo are BctirohinK, If found, you ehal1 know. Renwick." Doris uttered a low, agonised wail, and sank into a seat.

"0! my darling !is this tho ond 1 No ! no ! 0 ! ho cannot bo dead."

"Doris," said Ruport, laying a hand tenderly upon hor shoulder, "let us not give up. My word for it, ho is a prisonor."

" A prisoner of war ? Will thoy bo kind to him !"

"Thoy aro kind. They aro a gonerous people." A brief p.uiso, and thou, with sudden animation :

"Doris, as I livo, it may bo bettor so."

" 0 ! if I could go to him !"

" Hush ! A botlor thing may happen, Ho may be parollcd, and conio to you." "Rupert !"

"1 am serious. I mean what I say. I feel it in my heart that I shall not provo a false prophot."

CHAPTER XVI. X 110S1-IT.VL— AND WHAT OUtt IIKKO FOUND

Without especial effort on his part-in

fact, without thought to that end-our horo's military qualifications had very soon become manifest, and Rcnwick had beon quick to soo and appreciate. Whon tho brigado was being organisod Georgo was called upon to form and drill tho iuon in battalion, and In regiment; and when Tom Errington had been iH-omoted, ho had been made first a lieutenant, and thon captain of the first company. It was on tho occa sion of tho filling of his first commission that Kcnwick had suggosted to him that ho should drop tho old liamo, and make tiso of tho baptismal portion which had thus far been loft ontiroly out of Fight, And tho change of name had excited comment.

Tho Frst battlo in which tho command had been engaged had been short nnd sharp. They had unexpectedly fallon in with a wing of a considerable army of tho enemy, and were surrounded boforo thoy know it Their movement had been reported by falso friends,' and their coming waited for. Tho first onset occurred in front where rode

Rcnwit-k and hi? stall', two full regiments breaking covor directly boforo them, and instantly deploying and closing in on tho Hanks,

Col. Errington chanced at tho timo to b« away on detached service, and Major Oakland was on the sick list. Our horo rodo at tho head of his regiment, not fur behind his commander. He saw tho i»omy burst from tho adjacent woods ; and he saw that Renwick was in mortal peril. He turned in his saddle, and waving his sword abovo his head, ho called upon his men to follow him. Only six companies -about four hundred ami fifty men—were mounted ; but thoy thought not of flinching. Catch

ing the in-piration of their youthful leader, whom they had eomo to lovo and esteem, they sent forth a yell of defiance, and plunged after him.

George's dash was liko a thunderbolt. Thought of possiblo danger never occurred to him. Ho and his followers, as they drew around their chief, swept everything before them : and, almost before the dumb founded enemy could see how the thing had been done, tho. environed force had broken

through and escaped. They had taken a path' in which there could be no rafo pur suit.

This passai.'.i had placed tho young Englishman upon tho topmost round of popularity with the command. Gen. Ren wick publicly thanked him, not only for having saved his 1 fc, but tor having also saved tho eimmand : for only his quick thought and lightning liko dash had dono

t. It was clear to all that a 1 very fow icconds moro would havo been too bite.

A week later another sharp engagement :ook p'aco, in which Oeorgo (so wo will call urn when we can) bore a conspicuous part, pending a portion cf tho brigado upon a fortie, driving the enemy, capturing tivo .ims, and taking a number of prisoners. It had been during this battle that George's lamosako— t-'oorgc Bertram —hud beon mor tally wounded.

Ono night, near tho end of Fiimmor, our hero and lion. Hcnwiok sat olono in tent together. They were in a deep v.-ilc, in a dense forest, resting from a week of rapid marching and continual lighting. Georgo

had just become KcnWickV'chiof of staff. with rank of lieutenant-colonel. Thoy hnd just come in from Grand Rounds—a dark drizzly night—and a bottle and glasses wero between the ,r elbows.

"Colonel, why so thoughtful? Aro you thinking how you can add to your already brilliant record '.' Upon my word, you are to bo envied. Some might say fortune had favoured you ; but 1 know hotter. You

i.-ivo richly earned your renown. Toll mo, lo you never feel fear ?" '• Really. General, 1 can't tell you ; but, if do, I certainly don't stop to think of it."

A brief pausu, and a sip from his glass, and ho wont on :

" Renwick, I will toll you what I wouldn't toll to another living soul outside of my home. lam beginning to feel discontented —disheartened. My heart aches when I think of tho work on our hands. [Jo you know, I havo always thought of this country as blessed abovo all other nations of tho earth In boing Fkee and Independent— bound to no stated ruler—tho power of go vernmetit in the hands of tho poople—every man a monarch in his own birthright. And now, to eeo that country literally tearing itsolf into pieces—cutting its own throat— is a shock to mo. I cannot rid myself of the

feeling that this war is more than foolish ; it is suicidal. What can you expect iv tho result? Do you not see that.tho South has arouses! a spirit and a power in tho free North that cannot bo overcome? It is my firm opinion -and I think I know whereof I speak—l do really boliovo that if half Europo could bo induced to join in our aid, the North would conquer in tho end. Don't brcalho lliis outside. I speak to you as too biother."

Renwick'rt faco wore a look of sadness as ie replied, with a dubious shako of tho read :

"My dear boy, I daren't tell you all I feci; but I will tell you this : I thought succes sion a mistake in tho beginning, and I think so a thousandfold moro strongly now; but it, is too Into to look bunk : wo must light it out. Really, wo seem to bo getting the best of it now."

"Ah!" responded tho younger man, dubiously, "and there's the mischief Tho North is like n great bulky fellow I once saw set upon by a liery little popper-box of a pugilist, who was going to whip him out of hand. Tho giant took tho buffets and cull's and slaps until the hotheaded mad man had knocked himself out of breath, and then ho picked tho pigmy up and carried him and throw him into a horso pond. Mind you, 1 don't mean to apply that literally, but so far ns tho strength and onduranco of tho parties are conoernod, I think it, is just. Look at tho one item of money."

"Hush ! I see. You aro right. But— don't lot us think of it. Hero's to success, anyhow !" And tho young colonel took a sip from his glass in responso -to his com panion's call. A silence onsued,-which was broken by Renwick, ns before.

" Colonel, what now? How solomn you look !"

" General," Raid George, looking up -w-ifch a faint smile, " I must look as I feel. You will bear witness that I am net a croaker, nor proro to fancy evil. Yot, in spite of me, n sense of gloomy foreboding has settled down upon mo. I have never yot entered an engagement with any sense but that of eagerness for Iho fray; but now I shrink from it. Mind you —it is not fear. I do not shrink from duty, but I wish it did not lead me into tho next battle, for I know that I shall bo hit."

" Pshaw ! that is all fancy, dear follow."

"I know it, General ; but it is a fancy that has possessed my every thought and i'cclim:', and I cannot shako it, off. I ask you to promise mo this: Hhot.ll accident befall me—no matter what—you will, as

soon as possible, find the nearest telegraph, and flash a message to my wife-Doris You will promise? " With all my hoart. I don't bolieve in your fancy, dear boy ! but I'll send the telegram, bo sure. But I think I'll Bond It to hor cousin, Rupert—to Captain Owon. Wo know ho is hor devoted friend ; and I tell you, of my own knowledge, you may trust your very life in his good faith and honour."

"Right you aro, General. Let it bo to Rupert. And now to rest. Do you know which way you will noxt move !" " No. lam ordered to wait hero until I receive ordors from Lee. I expect thorn to morrow. Good-night, and may your dreams be pleasant." They wero burdened with no iron bed frames. Thoy spread their blankets on tho soft, mossy sward, and soon slept soundly.

On tho following morning, just at break of day, a horso camo dashing iuto camp, having upon his back a boy, black aa char coal, from twolvo to fourteen years of age. He saw General Renwick just emerging from his tent, drew up at his sido, and slipped to the ground. " You am dc gin'ril, sar?"

" What makes you think so?" " Kaso yer woko up bo easy; an' you's do man dat I wer' sent tor find—Gin'ril Ren wick. Dar aint nobody ol«o looks liko yor, I know—yah! go hero's a 'spatch for yor, mars'r."

From an old rent in tho sloeve in his shirt ho pulled forth a little roll of paper, looking for all the world liko a section of tho stem of a clay tobacco pipo. Renwick took it, opened it, ami road : "Gun. Renwick" : You will join Floyd as quickly as possible. Rosocrans is push ing him. You may trust the boaror of this to gttido you. (livo all tho help you can. 11. E. Lek."

Two hours later tho command was in motion, with nothing of personal baggage to hamper"it. " Woll, Colonel,'' said Renwick to his young chief of staff, as they rode side by sido at tho hoad of tho column, " I think you've got over your bluo spell of lost night." " Because I smile as usual, oh V No, no, Ooneral, the feeling is as deep and strong os cvor. 1 don't carry my inmost thoughts and fooling on tho surface." " Well, you must do your thinking now whilo you have opportunity, for bo sure you won't find timo for it after wo strike Rosocrans."

" I'll do my devoir, General. For the rest judge mo as you think I doaervo." "6, pshaw ! Enough of this snd music. Let's have a song to enliven tho march. Where's Beppo ?"

" lleah, sar."

" Get your minstrels, Bep, nnd givo us somo music. Wo want tho real old Planta tion Melodies. Como -quick's tho word !" And shortly thereafter a dozen black min strels wero sonding forth a molody of song that inspirited the whole column. Two,hours after daylight on tho morning of tbo noxt day Ronwick reported to Gen. Floyd ; nnd ho was just in timo. Scouts had come in that morning reporting tho Federal army not twenty miles away, and advancing rapidly. Arrangements had al ready beon mado for tho coming conflict, and Ronwick's command was assigned its placo on tho oxtrome right, tho goneral commanding having great confidence in his qualities of dash and bull dog pertinacity. At cloven o'clock word camo that the enemy were only ten miles away. Orders wore issued for tho men to get thoir dinners at onco and to bo tindor arms at tho hour of twelvo noon.

At two o'clock in tho afternoon thobattlo opened on the Confederate right. Tho enemy had planted a battery that com manded an enfilading position—a battery of six twolvo pound Napoloons—and it opened at short range, threatening to sweep Ren wick's brigade out of existenco "Colonel Amsden, you must capture that battery. Tako two regiments, and wipe it out." "Aye, nyc, sir." And in less than live minutes from that timo our hero was dashing away at tho hoad •f his column, up t'lo rise at tho summit of which the obnoxious battery had been stationed. With a 5 ell that split the welkin the infuriate Confederates—mado so by tho fearful havoc in their serried ranks-plunged on—struck the battery like an aviilnnc.be -divided —closed in —and the position was gained. But not to be long held. Scarcely had they trailed tho guns about to bear upon their late owners, whon liko a thunderbolt camo n counteracting force, and Iho victors of the moment waTored and fell back.

" No ! no ! no !'' shouted our horo, leap ing upon one of the guns and waving his sword above his head. " Don't givo them uu ' Stand,—Remember, llenxcitli and

cirtori/ !" Thoy wero his last, words. Ho saw his men beaten back, himself surrounded by strango uniforms, and in a momont moro ho felt a burning sonsation in his side. His sight failed him, his head swam—a sense of sinking — and that was tho last. The thunder and cra-di of battle for him was hushed, and upon his sense* had oouio the night of oblivion. When ho next opened his eyes ho found himself in a placo now and strange. Dap pcared, as ho ga/.od up at tho black rafters far above him, liko an old barn. Ho saw scaffolds on both hands, and ho thought ho saw cots up there, with men on them. He was on tho ground lloor, and there wero men lying all about him—somo on raised cot<, as was ho, and others on beds of straw upon the lloor. By and-by ho discovered that a man, with his loft arm in a sling, and a bandage about his head, eat by his side, as though watching him. Georgo felt no sharp pains. There was a sorcnoss about, tho loft shouldor and lowor down towards tho hip on tho samo sido ; also a sense of woakness throughout tho wholo system. All this ko realised a> ho I'iizoii upon tho man at his.sido—a man cer tainly nearer lifty than forty, tall and broad-shouldered, and strongly framed. A dense mass of yollowish, frowsly hair covered his woll shaped hoad, and his full beard was of the samo colour. His oyrs woro of a greyish bluo, kindly and truthful. In short, the wholo faco, though not what could by any possibility bo called hand some, was a faco to bo trusted. "Friend, will you tell mo where I am ?" " Ah! Good !" The face of tho watcher brightened with a gladness not to bo mis taken. " How do you fcol, mate ?" "Really, I don't know. I-I-nm vory weak, and I ache." " Aye, I should think you would -a bullet in your shouldor, and another in your side, and your clothing literally shot to piece*. But, tha lead's boon taken out, sir. There aint a particle of it left in you now. Easy ! Don't talk too much. Save a foyer if you can. You aro a prisoner in the hands of tho Unionists, as I am myself." At that momont a surgeon camo to the cot, and having examined the pationt, gavo directions to his steward for medicino and treatment, and peremptorily forbade furthor conversation.

Forty-eight hours later Georgo was able to riso to a sitting position. Whon tho hospital steward had bolstered him up, and given into his hands a bowl with nourishing broth, and ho had tcgan to eat, it with koen appetito, his watchor of tho yellow hair camo and sat down by his sido again. A fow questions wore asked and answered whilo ho ate, from which ho loomed that ho had been tho only prisoner captured at the battery. Tho others of his command had either beon shot down or had escaped, and tho Con iederate army had successfully retreated. " I," said our hero's informant, "belonged to Colonol Jenkins's cavalry—a body of free-lances of which you havo doubtloss hoard. 1 was knocked from my saddlo by a piece of shell—two pioces, 1 think—ono hitting my hoad nnd the other this arm. I was stunned, but not badly hurt "

Nothing more was said until George's bowl — empty — had been takon away. Then, however, tho face of the older man assumed an earnost eager look, and ho reached forward and laid a finger upon tho seal that Goorgo wore on his watch chain, ft, was a largo carnelian, of blood-red Colour, with the letters It. 0 engraved in monogram on its face, sot in a frame of gold.

"Will you tell me, sir, where you got that soal ?" Bo sure you fell into good hands, or you would not have had it now. How came you by it?" "Why do you ask! Did you over sec it before ?" "I think so. I wish you would answer my question. It is not an idlo curiosity that prompts me, I assure you." George -was startled Another look into the brave, honest faoo, and ho feared not to trust him. " Thank Heaven ! it is saved !" he ejacu lated, turning the seal between his thumb and linger. "It was once the property of my wife's father." "And his namo—" " Ralph Owen." "Is Doris your wife." "Yes." "You were married—where':" " In 0 dcutfa." " Whore N Mary O'.vcn ?" " Yon mean Doris's mother _ "Yes." | "bhe is dead. She died a year ago last I Juno."

" Was she—poor ?" Did Donald Owen ever send hor—money ?"

Georgo dropped the seal and looked his interlocutor in the face.

" Who—who—are you '.'"

" I am Jack Cloarstar."

'Mack CIKARSTak I O 1 thanks \ Thanks be to God. for that! You are Jack. You would not decoive mo I"

" I am tho Jack Clearstar who was Ralph Owon's trusted esquire in all his wander ings, from the day of his leaving his Ameri can homo to tho day of his death. I was the last man whom he trusted in lifo. Tefl mo : Do you know of Sydney Ashton ':" "I did "know of him, He, also, is dead. But for him Mary Owen aud hor daughter would have fared but ill."

" Do you know,' cried Jack, excitedly, " if Ashton gavo to Mrs Owon a golden cruci fix H hich was her husband's '!"

" Ho did : and Doris has it now,"

" Whore is sho 1"

"I loft hor at Owensvillo, with Donald, She is there now."

"Toll me—in Honven's name !-how you como to bo horo. I don't unuerstand it." " Ah ! thoreby hangs a talo."

"What is tho story 2"

" If I will toll you my story, will you tell me yours!" "Of courso I will. To think that wo should havo mot in this way 1 You and I wore brought in hore together. I camo to my souses first, and proved not to bo so badly hurt. I lay by your eido. When I bogan to look around, I saw tho surgeon and his steward at your cot. Thoy wore looking at your watch seal, and wondered who and what you were. Somebody had told the surgoon tdiat you wore a very demon on horsobaek in action ; but ho didn't think you looked liko it. When thoy had gone, I reached over and looked at the seal. Heavens ! how it startled mo 1 I know it the moment I saw it. I had seen my master uso it in sealing letters a hun dred times. That's the way I found you. Now, your story. I am—l wan going to say —dying to hear it." George took n swallow from a cup of cool ing drink that stood at bis sido, and then, afFer a littlo thought, began his story. He began at tho beginning ; told of his first acquaintance with Mrs Owon and Doris; his fathor's friendship for them ; the marriage of Mary Owen with Major Ashton, afterwords Colonol; of Ashton's death ;of tho widow's final sickness, aud hor charge to himsolf that ho should make Doris his wife, and go with hor to America, thereto ondoavourto regain tho rights which sho was sure had beon wrested from her. She had planned that tho marriage should tako place at her bedside ; but she had passod away too soon.

Then, after a brief season of roflootion, ho told of tho two uion who had so strangoly shodowod tho widow and her child. It had been ono man at, first, but a second had ap peared after a time. Ho told how they had frightened Doris at various times, and ol tho final abduction. Then he told of his marriage and his voyage, and of tho appear ance of Wonzell and llorter on tho way; of his arrival in Now York ; and of his

p.assago to Owensvillo; and, in conclusion, ho fold of his own impressment, closing with tho story of tho friendship of Kenwick and his companion ollicors, and how. they had served him, "Now, .lack," when ho had concluded, " you will remember—" Ho was stopped there by tho rpproach of tho surgeon, and, with him, a general ollicor— a man slightly past the middlo ago. wearing a faded blouso, with a singlo star on his shouldor.

" This is the man. General," tho surgeon said, stopping besido our hero's couch. Then, to tho invalid: "This is General Rosocrans." A camp-stool was placed by Goorge's eido, upon which tbo general seated himsolf. " Young man. 1 have been told that you are an Englishman. "1 am, sir." " A so, that jou were not in arms of your own ' rec-will," " ' hereby hangs a talo, General, which 1 wil' tell if you will listen." 1 1 camo for that purpose. Go on." The wounded soldier took a slight draught from his cup, and then, after a littlo thought, began his story. And boforo tho session was closed, the. general had not only heard tho story of the youth, but Jack Clcarstar's as well.

(I'o bt Conlinuid.)

THE CONQUEROR.

A SHOUT TALE

" Srcn a wedding! No bridesmaids, no musis, no brenkfiist, or recoption—-I declare I should not feel as if I had been married !"

oxclaimod Marion Willoughby, throwing herself down upon tho lowfautouilin horown olcgantly-nppoiutcd drawing-room, and drawing off the ik-H.-Uoly tinted gloves which served as a liui-li to the exquisite Parisian toilet. There was only ono other occupant of the room-a man, tall and handsome-, standing with one hand resting on tho back of hor chair. She did not glance up as sho spoke, or note that Chester Thorley's face had lost colour. "You aro speaking of Mi»s Marvmos wedding," he said. " riiero i.- onto essential to most marriages yon have not enumerated in your list of things lacking. Was love wanting?" . "Ohno ! 1 boliovo sho loves him. She certainly must do so to an almost absurd extent. ' Thoy aro to bo housekeeping in a small flat in an unfashionable locality up town, where ho must be away from early mornine until quito six o'clock. He occupies some salaried position—cl boliovo-and she might ha

body!" " Honost labour degrades _no man, Marion," 011110 the firm, quick answer. " Even a clerkship is not always found, and I would rather break stones in the street than live on monoy acquired dishonestly or doled nut of charity; though in such a caso I would ask no woman to «haro my lot.

"This looks liko brooking stones, docs it not?" she laughingly answered, letting her own jewelled lingers close over the man's hand where it rested-a hand whoso shape betokened its aristocracy, and which was soft and white as a woman's.

At hor light touch his strong arm quivored. He bent and let his lips rest an Instant caressingly on her hair, for tho girl bosido him was his alliancod wifo.

"It would bretik stones, though, dear ; and I don't'know but it would niako mo a better man. Suppose I lost my money, Marion? Suppose it wero all swept away from mo in an hour, and I had a position offored mo n position which would onable mo to livo humbly, very much as your friond is going to livo—toll mo what you would do .

" You aro only asking lo tty mo, Chostor, and I hato such questions, In tho firit place, it is entirely out of reason ; for oven wore it so, papa, you know, is very rich, and our homo could always bo with him."

" I havo said to you that I would rather Starve than cat the bread of charily. Therefore, putting this possibility asido.tell mo what you woiiljljjp :"

Her lingers released their grasp upon his' hand. Was thoro sig nificance in tho action ? Ho smiled bitterly as ho saw it. His face was vory palo now Except that ho stood still behind tho chair, sho must havo noticed it.

"You oro uttcrl) absurd this afternoon, Chester," sho said petulantly. "Have I not just told you that Edith Marviuo's wed ding was moro like a funeral than a wedding? And though I presume I shall ono day have to attend my own funeral, I will not, I assure you, bo a voluntary agent. Have you nothing moro ngreeablo that you can find to say to mo?"

Tho man shook off n cartain some-thing which seemed to envelop liiin in an almost invisible cloud, and ho answered with tho old courteous gnoo which suite. 1 him so woll, and mado his power with women almost a proverb. Money always seemed to bo'ong to him by an inherent right. It was so natural that ho phould bo rich. _o ono could have imagined Chester Thorloy poor. Ho knew so well how to oxpend his wealth. He gave it so generou'ly. yet without ostentation, Hint no man envied him.

Yot ho know half an horn- later, when ho left his forowelt kiss on Marion Willonghby's lips, that ik was a farewell to all hopes and hanpinooe. Tho blow hud already fallen. Ho was r_ ruined man, with scarce a shilling ho could call his own ; ho hod had no wish ungratlied money could procure in a 1 his thirty years of lifo. It hid falldn, too, through no fault of his own, and there was a feoble comfort in that. There was comfort, how ever, in the knowledge that he owed ro man, and that ho might start afresh in the world with no burden on his: broad shoulders or his oonscionco.

True, thoro was a deep wound in hi 3 heart. Ho had loved Marion so well that to rive hor up was to voluntarily renounce God's sunlight. Kef all hot- licc had been spent ami.l luxury. It was to hot- a neces sity, Deprived of it, she would droop and

fado : and better any lot than to see her struggle, and know that he had brought it upon hor. Besides, she had mado her choice.

To her a wedding meant flowers, music, friend?, the toilet of a bride. Tho future, the communion of two hearts, the solemn responsibilities incurred, wero butsocond&ry considerations.

"Good-byo, my darling," he said, as thoy parted; but when she added, " Until to-morrow,-' ho added noither yea nor nay.

"To-morrow" tho world know that Chester Thorley's ship had gone upon tho rocks. Many of his business associates would havo hold out to hira a helping hand, but firmly and kindly ho refused every offer.

Ho wroto Marion a few lines recalling to her mind the oonvereation of the day before, and released her from her vows to him.

"If any good fortune comei to mo," ho concluded, " you shall hoar of it. If lam silent, it is beeauso my lifo is wrapped in silonco and shadow. Bless you, darling, for tho light you have cast upon it. It will bo like looking back to heaven. I dare not sec you again—l tested my strength to its full oxtent yostorday. God grant that somo bettor man may win you ; to lovo you hotter is not within his power. Nor must you think that I blame you that you shrank from sharing tho now lifo upon which I outer. Flowers cannot livo without sun light. 1 only wanted to be sure that I made no mistake in interpreting tho boat course for your happiness."

And thon, with a few more warm,passion ate, loving words of farowell, tho lottor closed.

Two yoars passod, and tho little world which had known Choster Thorley so woll knew him no more. Ho had entirely dis appoared. It was as though tho soa had opened and swallowed hinj up. Marion Willoughby was Marion Willough by still. If she suffered she mado no sign ; but thoso who had Seen the ono sparkling stono which had beon tho p'.edga of her ongagoment to Chester Thorley, noticed that sho wore it still ; and others, yot more narrow watchers, observed that always when she ontored a crowded room, sho would tako a hasty glanco around as though expecting to find some ono not thoro. Sho was yot but twenty-two, a bello ond a beauty still. Tho third wintor of his absence sho loft homo to spend several weeks with an aunt. " I cannot spare you," her father had said when the invitation came.

But she, going close to him and laying hor hoad for a mjmont on his breast, said :

" I think, papa, it would be best." Thoy wore simple words, but ho inter preted them aright. Tho old wound would not coaso its Weeding. She wanted to go amid new scenes ; so ho only kissed her and bntio hor to remember that the old father awaited hor return.

"You havo nt)* been through tho Btoel works," some ono said to her ono day, "It is really a most interesting sight. AVill you join a party, if we make up ono to vjjsit them, Miss Willoughby?" " With pleasure," sho answored lightly. And her aunt, charmed with tho success of her beautiful nieco, smiled at Clay Cay lon's Humorous dovicos to ensnare Marion's society. Uo was tho great parti of tho plaoo. Sho had heard something of somo early dis appointment in early lifo. It would bo a splendid triumph thus to obliterate it. Tho morning appointed for the expedition dawned beautiful and bright. They soemed, indeed, liko drones, intruding upon some busy hive of workers, as they ontored tho great building and looked about thorn. Department after department thoy visited, watching with interest the delicate machin ery and its wonderful working.

Marion's cheoks flushed with interest, nnd Clay Clayton, noting, thought ho had never scon her look bo beautiful.

To-day ho determined ho must spoak, whon suddenly ho heard a littlo cry, and glancing up, saw hor standing quito apart from the group, her oyos ablazo, hoc lips quivering. At a littlo distanco from her, adjusting somo piece of machinery, was a man iv a working blouse. Her cry also attracted him, and ho looked up. Their eyes met. Itis face grow deadly pule, but ho gave no other sign of recogni tion. She wont straight towards him — oblivious of all—with hands outstretched.

"Chester," sho said, in a voice scarce louder than a whisper "at last."

110 bowed low in response, and took no notiro of her hand, but tho old dauntless piido was in the uplifted head and foarloss glance. "Did you know that I was horo!" sho questioned. '• No," ho roplied, "I am no longor in your world." " You will cotuo and see mo ?" " 1 cannot." Hero his voice broko a little. " Mr Clayton," sho said, " let mo present my friend, .Mr Thorley." Spito of tho innate breeding of tho man, some of tho instinctive surpriso at hearing a stcelworkor addressed by Miss Willough by ns a friend mado itsolf apparent in tho unmoor he yet strove to conceal.

Then the party passed on. Ho wondorod, huwovor, why Marion lingered a moment in the ollieo to address tho superin tendent somo questions as they camo into the air. Ho had meant, too, to ask hor on the way home tho question which all tho day and for many days had been trcifibling on his lips, but thcro was a new expression in hor eyes and mouth nhich instantly told him this was not tin timo to plead his cauco.

Had that follow insido, who bowod so liko a gentleman, beon othorwiso than a workman, he might have suspected him .is in some way responsible It was quite singular onough as it was that Miss Wil loughby should have addressed him as a friend. Doubtless somo man who had soon bettor days, and for whom sho folt womanly pity.

"Can I sco Mr Thorloy ?"

The mistress of tho humble little cottago in ono of the suburbs of the largo city looked up amazed at tho beautiful young lady who askod tho question.

"Indeed, I suppose you may. He's gono up to his room, whoro he spends all his evenings, and not a bit of suppor to night has ho touched. Shall I call him down 1

" No ; lot mo go to him." "It's tho first room to tho right of the stairs, miss. He is tho only lodger I have, and you aro his first visitor." But (ho girl heeded not tho words. A strange vision sho surely was as she stood an instant otitsido his door, clad in costly velvet and rich furs ; thon sho softly turned tho bandlo and ontored.

110 did not hear hor. Ho had thrown himself upon his sofa, and buried his head in i!s cushions. Ho was so still, so motionless she thought ho must bo sleeping.

Sho swiftly crossed tho room, and laying hor hand on his shouldor, called his name.

"My God!" ho cried, and would havo started to his feet, but she held him back, falling on her knees hesido him.

"Chester," sho pleaded, "you would not come to me. My pride is less than yours, my lovo greater. I hnvocometo you. Did you think my heart uttered tho unworthy words for which you havo punished mo all thoso years? I havo tried to find you so long—so long and so hopelessly."

And sho bowed her beautiful head and sobbed outright.

"Hush, dear, hush! You should not have oorao here, Marion. It might com p'omise you." "Compromisemo with my future husband? See, Chester," and she held up the hand on which gleamed tho ring, "I have never Ececptid my freedom."

"My own bravo girl," ho said, his voice softening even whilo ho girded himself up for tho strength of which ho stood in such need. "But tho heaven you open for me cannot bo lam foreman in tho works where you saw mo to-day, Marion. My knowledge and love of machinery stood mo in good stead. I .hoard of this opening, and

secured it. To-day I was adjusting somo difficult piece of work I dared not trust to any workman. lam in receipt of a liberal salary, which I am laying asirfo, dear, living as poorly as 1 can, hoping one day to buy an interest in tho business, One or two improvements I havo made are rapidly attaining me tho goal, but it is still far off. I cannot ask you to wait nor to forget the years of labour which have helped mo to reach it." "I have waited already too long, Chester," she whispered. " I'm ready now to becomo your wifo " ' His face gre«- deadly pale._ " Do not, tempt me," he said hoarsely. "Oil, Chester," sho said, "whon I have so much money, why aro you co cruel and proud ?" " I cannot go back to a life of ease and dependence," he answered, " even with you, dear love, to brighten it. Bless you for coming to me, Marion ! Bless you for showing mo al! a noblo woman can do ! The memory of this hour will lighten all " Chester, you do not understand mo," j ■'■:■ ■ cr=isted. " I will forget that T have a >.■/ , i-enny in tho world except win.t you i •:i'.i. inc. 1 will share whatever home you oiler me—even this. For better, for worse, I darling, wo pledge ourselves as sacredly as

though already we stood boforo God's_ altar. In God's sight lam your wife. I claim my right to share your dark days as well as those on which the sun of prosperity may shine."

He strove to answer, but his voice broke. She had conquered, but, woman-like, she gavo him the glory of her victory as she aobbed out her happiness upon his heart. A month later there was a quiet wedding, at which there were neither flowers, nor bridesmaids, nor music; but Marion Wil loughby missed nothing. It was only after the ceremony had boen performed that Chester showed her a document which had been his wedding-gift from the firm ho had served so faithfully, and which admitted him as a junior partner from that date. But sho smiled half sadly as sho looked at it through a mist of tears. "You said once, dear," she whispered, " that flowers, to live, needed sunlight. My darling, I had not then mode the won derful discovery that lovo made sunlight everywhere. With your heart, homo, be its outward adornments what they will, I onvy no king his palace or queen her throne.

QUEER STORY.

Why Mrs Vandolour Marriott Again.

Whkjt tho engagement of pretty little Clara Eversloigh to Captain Jack Vandeleur, late of the Hussars, was publicly announced, tho friends of the future bride with one consent hold up their hands in amazement and horror, while those of the bridegroom smiled significantly to each other, and hoped that it would bo all right; for tho Captain wns not precisely tho sort of parti ordinarily defined as eligible, or evon endurable, by parents and guardians. He was, in fact, a vory bad lot indeed -a notorious gambler, a man who lived both hard and high, and one whose name was continually getting mixed up in divorce cases and othor proceedings of a more than doubtful charactor. For some years past, over sinoe he had loft the Hussars, which ho did in a suspiciously sudden manner, Captain Vandeleur had lived entirely on hiß wits, for his private moans wero exceedingly small, his tastes oxpensive, and his _ family declined to have anything to do with him. Ho had acted as bear-leader to several guileless young gentlemen whose pockets wero much better furnished than their heads ; but such is the lamentable mis trustfulness of human nature that of late tho Captain had found pigeons of this kind deplorably scaroe and wary. He was getting much too well known, and had ho not chanced to captivate the schoolgirl affections of Miss Eversloigh, there is really no knowing to what inconvenient straits tho gallant Captain might not have been reduced. That young lady, unluckily for horself, was an orphan, and an heires.3 in a small way. Sho had, more over, a vory rich bachelor uncle, from whom hor expectations wore both definite and considerable, so when _ the Captain met her ono summor on the river, ho felt that tho timo had come for o last des perate effort before he quitted his native land for Boulogno, or some such congenial retreat. Miss Clara's guardian uncle waß not near to warn hor, while tho people with whom she was staying knew nothing of Vandelour's reputation, and rather encour ogod his attentions than otherwise, so in three weeks tho mischief was done. Van deleur was a fine-looking man who could make himsolf very agreeable whon he chose to tako the trouble, and a month's seclusion and comparative abstinence did wonders in tho way of eradicating traces of previous dissipation. MissEvorsloigh was little more than a romantic schoolgirl, and was, there fore, easily fascinated by the astute wastrel, with the rosult that she fell desporately in love with him, and williDgly promised to marry him. Having arrangod matters satis factorilysofar, Vandeleurrepairedto London to intorviow tho uncle, from whom he expoctod an exceedingly warm reception. In this ho was not disappointed, os old Eversloigh, diractly ho heard his mission, turned him out of his house, and rushed off to interview his nieco, fondly imagining that whon sho knew her future husband's real charactor she would at once break off the engagement. But he reckoned without his hostess. Tho young lady was immov ably obstinate ; sho was pefectly_ deter mined to marry Vandeleur, and said that sho know before sho engaged herself to him that his past lifo had not heon altogether etainloss. Mr Evorsleigh lost his temper, and stormod at hor, which, of course, made matters woreo. He then offerod tho Captain a largo sum of monoy to givo hor up; but that worthy, who rather expected some such proposition, refused it with vast scorn and contempt, for he expected to make a much hotter thing of his marriage, and; at thorn moment, really almost felt inclined to settle down nnd try respectability, just for achango. So Mr Ever-leigh, who had no power to prevent his nieco from marrying whom she liked, realised that matters were beyond his control, and that thoro was nothing for it but to give in. Accordingly, in a very few months tho couple wero married, for the Captain was not going to allow his bride timo to chango hor mind, and thoy departed for Paris amidst a chorus of dismal prophecies from their respective friends. Forsomotimenfter tho honeymoonltreally seomed as if Vandeleur had turned over a new leaf. His wife had about fifteen hun dred a year of hor own, and it was a distinct relief to him to wake up in tho morning and feel that ho was not bound to win a certain numbor of games at dcartd in order to pro vide for his dinner. Writs and judgment summonsos, too, booame almost unknown documents to him, and his wife adorod him with a dovotion -which nothing appeared likoly to change. Perhaps it was the last fact that was responsible for tho Captain's first deviations from the paths of matri mony, for to a man of his temperament variety was absolutely essential, and he gradually began to tire of Clara simply becauso ho was so certain of her affection. Naturally enough, Clara was nbcut the last person to hoar of her hus band's amiable weakness, but at length some kind female friend informed her that Jack had beon seen under highly suspicious circumstances with an ornament of the bur losquo stage, and there was a matrimonial scone, which terminated in hysterics on the one side and bad language on the other. After this opieodo the breach between husband and wifo widened daily. The Captain's instincts wero too strong for him, and he gradually reverted to his old way of lifo. Ho took to stopping out at night until unhallowed hours, and his hands became tremulous and his face blotchy from devotion to the brandy-bottle. Moreover, as Mrs Vandeleur's oyea began to open, she listened with less reluctance to tho steries which good-natured persons told her of her bus band's past. But not having, as yet, got o*or her old affection, Bhe did hor best to make him decont and respectable by ÜBing such feminine argument* as she could com mand. Thoy were, of course, principally tears and entreaties, which woaried and irritated him even more than hor caresses. For tho Captain was hopelessly on tho downward track. From merely swearing at his wife when sho remonstrated with him, he took to striking her in his drunken fits, which were by no means rare, and the poor little woman at length began to realise that sho had thrown away her lifo on a worthless reprobate. Still, sho bravely struggled on, enduring curses and blows, neglect and open infidelity, for the sake of avoiding a public i-candal, and the Captain foolishly thought that hor patience was limitless. From this belief, however, ho was somewhat abruptly awakened by receiving a letter from her on his return from ono of his periodical excur sions, saying that the informationehe had re ceived from a private detective had rendered her further stay in hia house impossible, that she had taken refuge with hor unclo, and also that, acting under tho advico of her solicitor and friends, she was about to institute proceedings for a divorce. Tho Captain raved and swore; but, in the absence of his wifo, his rage, being expended upon inanimate articles of furniture such as tablos and chairs, -was soon exhausted, and ho was compolled to confront tho melancholy situation. Think ing did not help him much, but the next day ho wroto a letter to his wife's solicitors in which he undertook not to dofend tho suit if she could be induced to allow him something to live upon. So the matter was arranged ; Mrs Vandeleur got her decreo nisi, which, in duo course, was made absolute, and, much to the sur prise of her friends. who could not find words strong enough to condemn her deplorable woakness, she insisted on allow ing tho erring Captain £600 a year. _ Van deleur oked out an exceedingly dissipated existence unon his allowance, and saw no moro of his*wronged partner for a season. Mrs Vandeleur lived with her uncle Ever sleigh, but sho-.ved no inclination to contract a second matrimonial alliance.

A couplo of years passed, and old Ever leigh was gathered to his fathers. His niece Clara, aa waa generally expected, in nerited the greater j.p.rt of hie money, the residue being left to old servants, poor re lations, and the Home for Lost Dogs. Van deleur, meanwhile, had suffered severely from intermittent attacks of D. T., rheu

matic gout, and general debility, which, oombined with the pressu» of circum stances, had made him a comparatively re formed character. Ho was, indeed, a mere wreck of his former self; his lungs wore gone, his liver had attained an abnormal development, and his constitution was finally shattered. But still, as his few friends remarked, he kept going, and was really a wonder, considering what ho had gone through. In due course the quondam husband and wifo met, for Vandeleur, reformed though rickety, was now more often seen on tho outskirts of decent society than he had been in his palmy days ; and, little by little, tho amazing news got bruited abroad that tho Captain had fascinated his wife for a second time-in short, that they were about to contract a second alliance.

"There is really no knowing^what fools women aro," remarked the strident Jaw kins, who Was notoriously sat upon in his own family circle. " Imagino a pretty woman with ten thou sand a year tying herself again to a wreck like that!" cried Splasher, justly indignant because Mrs Vandeleur had decisively re pulsed his own advances. "How can you bo bo mad—so wicked?" protosted Mrs V.'s dear friend, Lady Stalker ; but Clara simply smiled, and said the Captain had reformed now, and that sho meant to give him another chance.

In a very few months Mrs Vandeleur was reunited to her vagobond spouse. 9?he honeymoon number two waa brief; and after a month, the couple settled down in an exceedingly pretty house in Mayfair. Mrs Vandeleur—for her money was all settled on herself, and the Captain did not seem to have much to do with the household arrange ments—was evidently determined to enjoy herself, for Bhe bought several carriages, gave dinners and dances, and went pretty nearly everywhere. For some time this sort of life suited the ex-Hussar well enough. Ho had no trouble of any kind, everything was arranged for him—he was at liberty to come and go exactly as he pleased, and his wife had an admirable cook and a cellar be yond reproach. There were only two draw backs to his perfect felicity, and these were the state of his health and a certain un pleasant independence which his wife had developed during her separation from him. There was no denying the fact. She was not tho simple, loving little woman, by any means, that she had been three years ago. Sho did not, it was true, interfere with his movements; but, on the other hand, she permitted no interference with hers. When this discovery first dawned upon the Captain's mind, he treated it very lightly indeed. She had always been devoted to him, and he had not the smallest doubt that he could bring her back to her allegiance. Vandeleur's first effort to reassert his authority was made after this fashion.

They went to a ball together—Mrs Van deleur's appetite for dissipation had of late grown quite extraordinary, and this was the fourth successive entertainment to which she had dragged her unwilling spouse.

" For goodness' sake, don't stop here all night, Clara," he grumbled, as they moun-' ted a gorgeous staircoso. " Would not you like to go home, dear ?" she answered, sweetly. " You need not Bit up for mo." " No, thanks ; I'll stay," said tho Captain, for quite suddenly it occurred to him that sho might have had some reason or another for getting rid of his company. Needless to state, the Captain's health did not permit him to indulge in the excitement of dancing, for his doctor had recently warned him that his heart was weak. Moreover, the sort of people who went to balls were not precisely his set, and on this particular ovoning he felt very dull and low-spirited. His wifo, on the contrary, was all smiles and gaiety. Map positively mobbed her for dances, and for Hie first time in his life, Vandeleur began to fell a vague sensation singularly liko jealousy. This was heightened when he saw her dance several times with a certain Lord Roekerton ; so he decided he would take her home at once. Walking up to where she was seated, he remarked : " It's getting late, Clara ; don't you think we ought to be going home I" "I'm not at all tired, thanks," sho answered, languidly. "I suppose I'm a littlo out of sorts to night. Haven't you had enough of it yet ?" " Pray don't let me keep you up," she said, with a scarcely-veiled sneer ; " you're not looking well." Vandeleur began to lose his temper, for ho Baw that Roekerton was laughing at him. , " I shall order the carriage in half-an hour." At this moment Roekerton rose, making an excuse to escape from the discussion, and Mrs Vandeleur promptly followed him. " Will you come home ?" sparlod the Cap tain in her ear. " No !" she retorted, her black eyes flash ing viciously ; and, without another word, sho wont back to the ball-room. Vandeleur subsided into a chair, palo with fury and amazement. Excitement, he knew, was dangerous, so he tried hard to compose himself, but the situation nearly drove him frantic. Never had his wife looked more lovely in his eyes than when she defied bim, and for tho moment he did not know whether he admired or hated her more. The mixture of paßsions with which he watched her whirling round the room, her cheeks slightly flushed, her eyes spark ling, her bosom heaving with excitement, can more easily be imagined than described. He cursed his wasted youth, the loss of his old foscinition, and the breakdown of his health, biting his lips in impotent rage. But mad as ho was, he retained sufficient command over himself not to make an opon scandal, and determined to seek on explana tion later on. In a couplo of hours moro Clara announced that she was ready, ond husband and wifo departed together. Arrivod at home, Vandelurlost no time in coming to the point. " Why did you not come homo when I asked you ?" he demanded. "Because I had not the slightest in tention of doing 30," she answered, vory deliberately. " What doyoumoan, madam?" spluttered her husband. "I am afraid I don't quite follow you." "Oh, don't you! Then perhaps you will please to understand that I object to your keeping me half the night at a danco, and that I will not allow you to flirt in that outrogeous fashion with Roekerton !" " Really ?" drawled out his wife, with a curl on her lip. "When I Want your permission to stay out or to talk to anyone, I will let you know." This was too much for the Captain. He clutched her bare arm in his thin fingers, and raised his hand.

" D—n you, madam, do you mean " But at that moment Mrs Yandelour, pressed an electric-bell beside which she had been standing, and immediately the butler entered the room. " Whit do you want?' cried Vandelaur glancing savogoly at the man. " Will you get your master a brandy-and soda, Bimber ?" said Mrs Yandeleur, inter rupting, " and give him yoar arm upstairs. Ho is not vory well. Good night, dear." And she swept out of the room, while Yandeleur, feebly sinking into a chair, his heart palpitating at a most alarming rate, made a desporate effort to realise his altered position. Whon the pair met next day, Clara was so sweetly amiable that her husband felt almost inclined to believe that last night's events had been some horrible nightmare. "Are you going to ride this morning?" he presently asked. "Yes, I think so." " Would you not liko to drive instead—l rather want some fresh air ?" Riding was strictly prohibited to the Captain, on account of his numerous ailments. " Thanks, no ! but you can havo tho carriage," she answered, coldly. Vandeleur took out the carriage that morning, contrary to his usual custom, and was more irritated than surprised to find that his wife's attendant oovalier was the inevitable Roekerton. It was painfully evident that Clara was beyond his control, and how to revenge himself upon her ho could not quito ccc. To renew his old course was out of the quostion ; ho had neither health, strength, nor fascination left; moreover, ho felt certain that his wifo would not caro a straw for his proceed ings. During his solitary luncheon, which con sisted of about three parts alcoholic fluid and one part solid food, ho acquired a certain amonnt of spurious courage, and determined to vanquish his wife—if neces sary, by forco -to return to his stage-door oxistonce, aud to assort himself once more as the dashing, irresistible Jack Vandeleur: But the reaction came sure and swift, for by the time he had been conveyed home from his club in a hansom his valour had oozed away, and ho felt cowed, miserable, and despairing, ready to make almost any sacrifice for a quiet life. "Are you going out this evening, Clara ?" ho asked, quito meekly, at dinner. "Yes, dear," she answered. "Let mo sco, I havo two balls, an at-home, and a lato supper party." "Can't you stop at home for a single I night?" ho whined, querulously.

Sho lifted her eyobrows :'.i mild surr-- ■ "i don't sco why it should inconvenient^ you if Igo out," she said. "If you don't fool well, stay hero." "That is impossible," snarled the Cap tain. " I'll go with you." And ho went, and returned about ii n. :-i in a state of mental and physical collap c. So passed the Captain's existence through the long weary season. Except wi, i actually unablo to move, ho followed 1 ■■ ; wife about everywhere, for his j.'.doi: would not allow him to ra-.1. •>' .'. :' '' grew rapidly worse; but ho' wi-nid i- '; leave town, and ho lived principally 0:1 brandy. It was aftor an oxtra-lato evening thai: Captain Vandeleur mado a very singula'.' request indeed to his wifo._ liny hid j"-t como home, and tho Captain subsidtd it.to an easy chair, a truly miserable spectacle His wife eyed him us if he were sen ■: Etrange animal, and was about to leavo li.v room, whon he appoaled to her (0 -ay. " I want to speak to you," he said. "lam listening," sho replied, resuming hor old position beside the elect: i ■■_ boll. "For God's soke, givo up this life ! Can't you see it's killing me ?" But sho made no answer, and her face evinced not the smallest concern. "Let's go abroad 1" ho whined pitifully : "let's get away from horo. I. can't live, long; why won't you let mo dio in peace V I found a letter of Rockerton's to you yes terday. Give him up and I'll do anything I'll rolorm-I swear I will. I'll give u;> drink ; I'll bo devoted to you. Won't you give me another chance ?" And tho wretched man fell on lii.3 kr.c ; in abject entreaty. A very curious ond unpleasant sn.il played about Mrs Vandeleur's mouth fo-' a moment, and then disappeared, and Iki face becamo hard and mcrcilus-. £!;-. paused a moment, looking on tho juVcliv.'-j wretch with infinite contempt.

"No!" sho answered. "It i j nr,- turn now. You ruined my young life-. I. swon to be revenged on you. This 'n ny re venge."

The British Empire.

I passed many months in England, says ihe Rev. Joseph Cook, and looked into the fat. i of impressive audiences in all the towns of the British Islands ; but when 1 sailed away fromthewhite cliffs of Albion, I did not: ?c< p\ to have seen the British Empire. 1 floated through tho Mediterranean, with ninny thoughts of Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus, nr.il other British ports. I came to the gid'i and black and yellow plains of the pul>- - ing Nile, over which England has practicaliy a protectorate. I crossed tawny sands aloi.-g that silver ribbon of water which is cal'ui the Suez Canal. I sailed down the Red i ■:;; with Sinai on the right, the North Si:-r sinking behind theship, tho Southern Cl rising in front. I came to Aden, a twi i ii ■■.._ cinder of red rock, carved into military might—the Gibraltar of tho gate lo (hu Indies. I sailed into the Indian Oc an, ;.. d

looked back, and did not seem to havo

the British Empire. I gazed over my ship.: side, southward and westward, and lemt in hered the immense British posses-ions at. '■■.•■ Cape, and the British predominance in li v Soudan and in tho valley of tho Congo, In'; did not seem to have s.:en tho lliithh Empire. One tropical moining there res.) out of tho purple and azure seas, far io i In east, queenly Bombay, second city of tho British Empire, and I studied its proo-I fleets, its stately wharves and public build ings, its university and schools. I Closed crowded India, and saw tho Taj Mahal :;;:!; the Himalayas looking down on a land in which Britain rules twice as many people ;- ■

any Cajsar ever governed. I studied Cal cutta, the most cultured city of .\ ii : visited Madras on,her blistered sands, at.il so came to that rustling paradise of the tropics, Ceylon, with its palms and m-iugix: and bread-fruit trees, and tamarinds, an.l bamboos, and trailing vines, anil ninny coloured strange birds, afi'd troops i f elephants wild in the jungle; audi : ail. i away, and looked backward, but did not seem to havo seen the British Empire. 1 came to Singapore, at the foot of tho Malay peninsula, within eightymiles of the equate r and found a harbour alive with British licet s, and a city busy -frith the richest trade of the East Indies, "under the British flag; J sailed away to Hong-Kong, and found a mountainous island, with a beautiful city on a magnificent harbour full of British ships. I Bailod away to Japan and back to China, finding British quarters prominent in every seaport. I sailed southward through tho East Indies, and was almost never out of Bight of the British Hag -..Tim shadows began to fall southward at noon. The days gradually grew cool. Strange constellations grow out of tho sea. In Jit ly the blasts of a northern December rose up from tho icebergs ot the Southern Polo. There lifted itself at last from under tho ocean a continental island, slightly Icsh large than the whole territory of tho United States. I studied the pastures, tho forests, the mines, tho thriving and cul tured cities of Australia. I saw verdant Tasmania and green New Zealand, and sailed away, with the Fijis ovor the gun wale, towards tho sunset; and still I did not seem to have seen the British Empire. After many days the shadows fell northward again at noen. Tho Sandwich Islands rose to view and I remember that over them tho British flag onco floated for a day and an hour ; and I sailed away and looked bick ward, but even yet did not seem to havo seen the British Empire. It. was only when half-way between the Sandwich Island - and America I remembered that British posses sions stretch across this continent from sea to sea, and that our own land was once pre dominantly British ; it was only when, at last, my lonely eyes came to the sight cf America, and my thoughts wen'- back around the whole earth, that I suddenly obtained, by a combination of i.ll my memories, a conception of tho physical :ir:>[ political dignity of tho British Empire as a whole.

Traits of Character in Animal.

There is nothing more interesting than I i observe the peculiar traits of character iv some animals. I have before mentioned the pretty little blight-birds. Some pcopki seem certain that they destroy iho |.-e»i-h blossoms and prevent its maturing, but .1 have since heard it averred that, what tin-/ are in quest of is this comparatively new pest that destroys the blossom, anil I. i_ji.:_ t say I think it very much more likely to 1m the truth, as the bird is well known, and indeed has time and again been seen to devour tho apple blight, and the new in ci.-t would no doubt bo food for it as well, although it is not at all improbable thai i:i taking it a good many blossoms may be .'... -

troyed. In my own garden, whore there ore a great many aphides of one soil i•:■ another destroying .everything, the littlo birds swarm, and they certainly clear them off to a very great extent. They an.- .-■.

tame that I have known them to perch 0:1 the stilts of the plough .when the ploughuu ,

stood talking to another man hardly :, yard away, and the Maorics are in the habit i ; catching and taming- them, which is easily done, after which they remain with them a'.s pets. Another very favourite littlo bird in Xe-.v Zealand is the fantail. This .pretty lit lbs creaturo is very tame in its habit's, and easily becomes attached to certain localittc.p Like many other birds, it is much more local in its habits than is generally s-itiij . d, and is far more valuable than "any of .out imported birds in destroying insects i; large spread of tail giving it groat power of flirting rapidly, up and down to folluv tho similar flight in most insects, particularly those of order lopidoptera, our worst ene mies. Several years ago one of the children brought a little fantail to me iv his hand which he had caught and intended to. con fine in a cage, ■ a piece of cruelty which he was dissuaded from by a promise that the bird should bo turned 100.-v ra:.; allowed the range of a largo room wii: several French casements opening on ;.i a pleasant verandah. The little bird ___!__.■-. about, perching on the furniture and e_.., '. - ing flies, and as it seemed perfectly hai.i and amused tho children, the v.indo.i s. wi-i carefully kept close for afewduy.s, butahi. -- the third or fourth day it managed to .-.-.■:..• a visitor leaving the window open. And v thought there was an end of it, but it can back presently, and for a long time flew in and out, and mado the room its prim i- - i habitat. After about a month or six vvi'l - certain indications of its presence in i! .... room gave offence to some of .the ~_.;,. ■

members of the family, and tho bird w.-i excluded, but it came in whenever il ■ windows wore left open, and il was nln mately deported to a little bush two miie distant, from which, however, it returned 11 same day. It was then secretly sucun. and transported to a distance of seven mil. in the dark by a party going to an end; tainment. Next morning I was great! vexed at what had been" done, but Ihi window was open, and although it w.-isnul-, seven o'clock, the little dour came flutti-i-ii.t in, and perched on the breakfast table i: remained with ns the whole of i'le «ca«on indeed, as long as we continued to li-.-- < that farm, for no one had tho heart i. attempt any further trunspoi'tatii ■:■,.-. Komata in ".New Zealand i.'..i-.mj', iJee and Poultry Journal."

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1866.

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