VELLA VERNELL: OR, AN AMAZING MARRIAGE.

r,_ Mrs Sumner Hayden,

,_.„, of "W't'o ao- die•" "Tho *mmm "Genldine." etc., etc.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

4 gOSSUIST HOME. ~T W WUe pitted spook in garnorodjrnil r- N ..Sogladteseoyoudown.Vella-delightcd, ! ...reuse mc, my dear, but I have Wo Jerry's way of speaking of 5' OU«7 _,_,_ nana! You'll mako bad ii Take caro, p _K> I" little Miss Starr interposed, laugh ff°rße«<My dear,' indeed ! If you're not 2 rt cautious Vella will bo,your cars." T N o! Now you wouldn't, my-M.ss V«n!,l wouldn't!" declared Volla, posi .. L ' <•! should dosorvo to-to be exiled," S a pretty, childish earnestness, "were liowgrateful." .. Are you not exiled now? put in Dr. 'rush of pink colour to the .Jdwpohoeks, ;;l meant from this-my dSo n?' hexclaimed old Ge.ald Starr. ..y 0 « do like us a little, don't yon, Vel "ftSSldol but notalittle-a great jeal!" she declared, earnestly. And .he monnt it. How devotedly and unreservedly good to _T__v had been, every soul of them, Si to wee Dick, she alone knew. As th_ had taken hor into thou- homo that «_1 September night for chanty s sake, toy took her into thoir hearts later for "KTwas tho first day she had loft hor am the little nest all azure and snowiness, ai 'come downstairs. Three days ago they bad urged her to make tho attempt. Start would carry hor, they had said. And Stuart himsolf had pleaded to be al __d to do so with cyos which spoke but no.' she had smiled and shaken her head She would not so far troublo Dr. lament. She would wait till sho grow a

little stronger. ....... ~ , Bnt far move emphatically than had her trade words did her heart negative tho nfonosal. Feel other arms than More's Jtonndher? Be to a stranger a debtor for mch aid ? No.no! Bnt to-day when the doctor and Mr Starr lad gone out, she had crept down with Geraldine's help; and the latter had pushed He parlour lounpe up to the hearth, heaped it with soft cushions, and made her lie down. How pleasant it was thero, to be sure— kow cheery, and homo-like and restful I lie long low-ceiled, old-fashioned room, with its cream and crimson carpet, its open coitage piano, its short-lagged and claw looted red damask furniture, its thick attains of the same hue, its big book-laden jtawre, its high mantel of stained oak, jlxne which Mr Starr's smooth-shaven, iiowy-beaded face beamed affectionately, lad below which in the brass-bared grato ito burned like a big bed of rubies— ho? unpretentious and comfortable it all nil

They must be very happy hero, Volla decided, looking around with oyes a great deal too large forthe small white face. The mom!, the furnishing thereof, the very atmosphere of the house, how different it all was from the huge, splendid, chilly minion ilia had called homo.

As her gaze returned from its slow in motion it met that of Geraldine Starr, who ntopposite, leaning her head against tho hack of her own particular chair, regarding taf gravely. Bath smiled.

"A penny for your thoughts?" queried Geraldine,

"I was just thinking how different evoiy thug looked here from—home," honestly. ",ftm> Do you like our house ?"

"telly. It is so sunshiny, and cheer [., andcoiy."

"Itought to be the former," laughing. Stuaftvsft let us close a blind or draw am 4J_da. Ho is an extremist on the

untied. Aatoits being cheerful and cozy, that ii lis but m ought to be, as we can -o{__r_#__%_nt. You know we are not stHHct-wl even what is called 'well 0ff";,,.;.

!"f would nevor have suspected it," i»decked with warmth. "I don't see Wymtr tooms could be prettier or more Stilfie iiyou were worth millions." taiihe spoke precisely as she thought, •Wring the while the simplicity with tra the girl had adverted to their Wlmed circumstances.

Thejrhad asked her very littlo about her ™h residence or her future purposes. 5% were not inquisitive concerning her Whes-indeed, they were not personal at jl The very fact that she was their guest, apittoton their care and courtesy, made wnensitivelv silent.

Wake was not communicative. She ™ tell them scarcely anything without pWag Voyle or herself, or both, in a false P: She could not toll them of that ■«™ marriage without mentioning tho WMtaiice of Voyle's being arrested at Wfime. Of course, ho was innocent. K knew that. But conviction is not W: Again, the very fact of the marriage ■<$ihock them. They could not be ox fWtocomprehend how imperative her jffl release from the indignity of im pwment seemed to her young, impulsive, Mate heart, and yet how inexpressibly pave the bondoge of whioh that free «m fas made the price. Mtfo could not tell them much, these B newfriendsof hers. Some day, What not now. jWiiere there is secrecy there is guilt," J**> adage, which should be labelled Serous!" Thore is no more flagrant H.wlwut secrecy than there is op- MSsecrecy without guiit. fMsm> from Gerald Starr down, read .PWtte-vreet, true face, and trusted i~j™»gly. If she chose to bo re- BBS-thatwas her affair. mm was in Chicago. She had been ■_,?___ TO!t aa old school-friend resid gj.rauadelphia. That was all she told

ffl§*. Dorothy ! From the moment """Hehad stumbled back to conscious- MP from tho border-land of death ™. the mazoa of delirium—after Marc, 3"Mghts had been of hor. She would "™wns to hoar from her. Sho must S ,*» her. And yet if it-the letter g «"1 into her uncle's hands, it would mm 'Whereabouts. And he would j^Wther and take her back —not |S» love of her, but because, next to ttiL _mone y>ne worshipped public \__mS_* P°ese-_cd a most inordinate __ « alB Ifc WM her knowledge on this point which had Xl . strangely at the time the fact iSIS^ V°yle arrested, even were terror of Claflin's ex- S.k -hßoOl>viction that through the 'ilff'. Btn, kin S through him, could *__ I. Ced tosurrender, had impelled Rl eh an extreme step. *ffi Mwon M she was able to Bit up 111-* *__*& h *° hold a pencil, she EBSUm i Dolly, telling her briofly the EHtJMdetention at this place, touch- HEg» goodness of tho Starrs. IE? with a note to an old IS.L . L aunt' e—a reduced gontlo- Ri__ _.former had known in her ■'£___ *t- n,ld-, he give the note en gfi Mf Vernell ? Please to deliver ' -%___,__ • sllo would not mention wtSffi™-1- t0 a"yo--e)she would Sijf? herß very t/uly, Vella if__. thu lett er. addressed to Mrs SS aSe °n Polk- Btreefc> Dr- Laurent _ tfc D _ 6d to SBt strong-she did so [l£, •_"_ coon, just to find out __%£_! * tosend him a line, or to -&&_!?-__ M? OWD. dear, foolish . S___*l blg Bl>aking you deserve Kl_i !" .Tothink that all this «fe_ ZmnmS her Claflin's wife I mm Ste_ "^--'sing. But surely he \*mT T _*met'and^9 latter had »__ _?2* whero waa v°yie ? How m £?**$ marriage ended ? When W __>.. m ° and V°y*e <«d Aunt '^m*_*_ ' a waa no wonder S***' fa* W nervous, in such an kjk, ...*«* and fever were heart and Maldine' liftin S her head, &%_*_ 6*?- Yes, I do, though. X»- n(* "actor's voice?" Qa*wl!. °'B>«* face came the l>> Bel 8 8ul?'I9ed it at his step «_S*-*-rfo_tr„ in lauKhing, with &'6fKl ShoUl _cr* Hestarted % .■ q' -Wonthol oungebythe

"Djwn with permission! Who helped you ? What a rebel of a patient I" "An impatient patient," Gerald Starr had exclaimed, jovially. And then he had welcomed her in tho words with which tho chapter opens.

Dr. Laurent drew a chair up to tho head of tho loungo and sat down. Ho was look ing singularly well. His eyes wore more alort than usual. His lips, too, had lost their meditative droop. Tho wind had blown a fresh colour into his sallow cheoks.

Ho began to toll Vella of a humorous incident which happoned in the neighbour hood. Ho talked well, almost brilliantly, and sho listened with amused interest.

But it looked nlmost like rudonoss tn Geraldine and hor lather, his apparent total oblivion of thoir pre-onco. Onco Volla, glancing up, caught Go mi dline's eyes fixed on hor with an odd expres sion new to them, half-dread, half-puin. Mooting the look, tho lattoi turned with a certain nervousness to Dick, standing liko a very small but; vory sturdy sentinel at the foot of tho sofa.

"Come to mo, Dick !" shourged. "Come and sco Jerry I" Hut that ungallant young gentleman, without- so much as turning his curly head, shook it very vigorously.

"No. Iso doiu'to 'tay with Vella." " Miss Volla! you scamp, you!" cor rected his father, turning his laughing face on him.

"1 won't!" declared Dick, with an un compromising sturdinoss. " Volla, tan't I say Volla ?"

Who could have resisted tho little rosy mouth's appeal? Certainly not Volla Ver nell.

" Of cour-io you may, my darling !" " Now, papa I" shouted triumphant Dick, ' I'll dive you a tiss, Vella .'"

And as ho rushed like a tiny cyclone to fulfil his amorous threat, Geraldine slipped unnoticed from the room.

CHAPTER XXXVIII,

A CONFIDENCE,

They say things cannot bo helped, dear, But then that is tho reason why. For if things could bo helped or altered Ono would nover sit down to cry. You long—aon't you dear! for tho Genii Who were slaves of lamps and of rings, And I—l am sometimes afraid, dear, I want as impossible things."

—A. PnocTon. " Is it cold out, dear J" querried Mre Starr, from hor invalid's chair, as Geraldino came hurriedly into tho room.

" Yes, indeed ! I have boon down to the office," kissing her mothor, and flinging off her cloth walking-jacket. "Whore is papa ?" " He and Stuart went over to tho Olivers. They will not be home till late." " Not back to supper ?" "I think not." Geraldine put one .lim foot on tho fendor as sho stood loaning against the mantel. " Did Stuart take Dick, mamma!" " No. I think ho is with Miss VernoU." Silence. Night croptup to the window and peeped in. The corners of tho room grew dim. "I think Dick is growing very fond of Vella, mamma, don't you ?" said a low voice from the fireside. " Yes, he has taken a fancy to her." Geraldine turned the sole of her English walking-boot biazoward, and waited. How quickly it was getting dark I Across tho room she could hardly see hor mother's face. Sho was vory patient. After awhile that which sho paused yet droaded, hated to hoar—came. "Do you know, Geraldine, I have some times thought of late—don't lough at me if tho idea is foolish I You know I can form surmises only from tho vertal driftwood which happens to float my way—but I have thought that dear as Vella is growing to i little Dick she is growing dearer still to Dick's father."

Thero was nevor a word from the dark figure in tho dull tireshine.

"Gerald haß been telling me trifles he noticed," wont on tho gentle, weary voice.

"And then whenover Stuart has come into soo mo lately ho has seemed co—so changed. You know tho abstracted air he has alwaya

had. Do you ovor notice it now? I don't. He seems to mo different from hia old self,

He is so alert—how often wo used to speak of him and ho would rouse himsolf from a revorie, almost as profound as sleep to answer. Has it struck you ?"

'"Yes." "What, dear? I must bo becoming deaf, or else you speak lowor overy day." " I said yes, mamma." Silence. "I wondored if I could havo imagined it," in a tone of satisfaction ; " and that day, too, that Mies Vernell first went down stairs—just four days ago, wasn't it? My door was ajar, and I could hear Stuart talking to hor. I remarked then how happy his voice sounded—what a new glad ring there was in it. And when he laughed out I declaro it startled me, it was so exactly the merry laugh of the lad I knew at school."

Again silence. And now, save for that llickoring fireehine, tho room was in total darkness.

" She seems to bo a very charming girl," went on Mrs Starr, picking up the relaxed thread of the romance she had been co smoothly knitting. " Sho is reserved, to be sure, but that she is not every inch a lady id would be impossible to doubt. Later, per haps, she will tell us moro about herself. It would be a very good thing if she and Stuart woro married—after his finding her, too, just think how nice and story-like it would all sound. Stuart is a thoroughly domestic fellow. He will not be happy till he again has a home of his own. Though I'm sure wo should miss him dreadfully. And then there's Dick. After this ho will need constant care. Certainly Stuart would havo a lovely wife. I don't think I ever saw a sweeter face. Don't you think tho whole idoa is famous, if it will only work ?"

Geraldine moved her foot suddenly. It touched the poker, which fell against the fender with a brazen rattle. She stooped and picked it up—replaced it. '• Sho ia just as sweet as she looks, too, mamma—just as lovable," in a soft, hurried voice. " You would think so did yon know her as well as I. Shall I light your lamp ?" She did so, then moved around the room, drawing down the shades and putting things in order, talking all the time in that quick, hushed way. " How rapidly it grows dark these even ings. I believe I make that remark every night, don't I? Eliza haa hot rolls for supper. Don't you smell them? She al ways leaves the kitchen door open an after noon sho bakes—just to make ub hungry, I believe. And now I must run down and see what else she is getting." " Give me my glasses first, dear, and I shall read for a while." '

And then when tho girl had brought her her spectacle, and got as far as the door, "Jerry !" "Yes, mamma." She paused, looked back. " Don't you think if Sebastian Rico's old house were repaired and a bay-window, say, thrown out on the south side, it would be just the thing for Stuart and Vella." "Rice's I" meditatively. "Thelocation is mar.hy. Does not papa say thore is malaria thore ?" "Of course ho does 1 What a head Ive got! It never would do, I must try and think up some other. Or they might build. My dear Jerry, do go down and hurry up Eliza. You ought to have a oup of hot tea at once. You should have _ worn your heavier cloak going out to-night. I am sure you got chilled. You are positively ghastly." , . , . _ , Glad of her reloaso, the girl went. But on the very first step of the stairs, "Jerry!" How much moro was she to endure — could sho ? She turned back to her mother's room. " You called me ?' " Yes. I've just been thinking about the Densy _ place. That's for rent." "But it is so badly arranged, mamma. One has to pass through the parlour to reach the kitchen. Here is the November Magazine by the way. I laid it down here with my satchel, and quite forgot it. Novembers ! Now why on earth couldn t you have said so, dear? Give it to me. And this time there was little danger ot another recall. .._._• Geraldino went slowly down the stairs. But she did not approach the kitchen. The " cup of hot tea," held for her but little attraction, and she was possessed by no irresistible desire to " hurry Eliza. As .ho passod the door of .ellasroom she had paused, and tried to summon up courage to enter. But no. Later she would go in and see her, she told herself nl_at yf wonderful castle-builder her mother was, to be sure. How she did evolve conclusions from possibilities. Truly one need only show her eggs, and the air would bo full of feathers. One missed her father and Stuart. The house seemed deso late without them. And Dick, why was he S°2_'she opened the door of the parlour and went in, aho discovered the reason. Stretched on the hearth-rug, m a position

more remarkable fcr ease than elegance, he lay, sound asleep. How warm the air of tho room was ! Savo for the lire in the grate, which, lite that in her mother's room above, burned low, the apartment was in shadow. But it was temptingly warm—warmer than ia the alcove whore stood Dick's littlo bed. Sho would bring^down his night-gown, and un dress him hore in tho hoat; then she would take him up. So she slipped upstairs and came down with a rod ilannol night-shirt on her arm. Sho drow a low rockor up to the hearth rug, sat down, and lifted the boy on her lap.

Ho cuddled his frowsy littlo head againsl her bosom.

"Dint undress me, Terry," he mur mur.!.

But ho was still too sleepy to resist. So sho succooded in removing the small gar ments and slipping on his rosy robe de nuii. Put inst as sho was about to stand up with him, preparatory to tucking him away safe and snug for ten or twelve hours, witli tho consistent contrariety of childron, he oponed ids oyes very wido indeed and looked up at her. " Now," ho commanded, as awake as an owl is suppoaod to bo at midnight,'" toll mo a 'tory !" She appealed. " When you'ro in bed, Dick." "No— now!" And this imporial edict she dare not disobey.

" What Bhall it ho about ?— "' A story About Johnny McQlory, And his liltlo red stocking!"' "No. About the big pig that went to market." "Oh!" Sho took his baro, rosy foot in her palm. "How told you is, Torry !" "Ami?" " Coon !" " Well, this big pig went to market, and this little pig staid at homo, and this little pig got broad and butter, and this little pig got nono. ' Weo—weo—woo I' said the little pig." And then the tiny toe was twoakod and shaken to expross the misory of tho dimintt tivo porcine, and the child laughed out in babyhood's sweet spontaneous way. His sleep had rosted him, and ho was fresh for a frolic. "Tell mo adon." "Well, you see that this groat—big—pig went to market, and -"

And hero sho broke down. " Terry, you're twyin' ! What for are you twyin', Terry ?"

" Sco here, Dick I Supposing thore was somothing you wanted more than anything else "

" A solder dolly ?" " No, not a soldier dolly—something yon wanted badly, however. And supposing you were sure you wore going to have it somo day, sure and certain, and all for your own self. Do you understand?" She had both her arms around him, and was rocking softly baokward and forward. " Ess," assented Dick, One must regard dubiously, however, his veracity on the point.

" Well, supposing some ono—ever bo nice, and good, and pretty—came and took right away, without caring to, or wanting it, just what you could not live without—don't you think that would bo hard?"

" When you try you wet my teeks, Terry. Tell mo about de 'ittle pids adon."

When, a fow minutes later, Geraldino had left tho room with her burden, Volla rose from tho lounge in tho corner, whero she had lain half asleep for tho last fow hours.

Through tho dark parlour up tho stairs to hor own room she hurried. There alio faced herself in tho mirror botwoon tho clustered wax-lights. Liko Russell's "Huldy" was she— Kinder smiloy round tho lips And teary round tho lashes." " Vella Vernell I" solemnly. " Aren't you ashamed of yourself ? I am— heartily I"

CHAPTER XXXIX,

FOR HEH SAKE,

'There will be parting and pain if wo moet; Better to leave you than grlovo you, my sweet! Ayo.it Is trno, assomo poots can tell, Love is boat proved by a silent farewell." —A_o_.

What a bat sho had been—what a nasty, blind, mischief-making littlo bat, sho told herself, scornfully. Why couldn't she havo seen how things wore going ? To any one eke it would have been plain—plain as the nose on one's face, as Aunt Dolly would have put it, in her homely and forciblo fashion. But she hadn't seen it. Of course not! There was that queer-looking doctor falling head over heels in lovo with her. Ye., ho was. A hundred words, looks, actions, unheeded at the timo, recurred to her now with overwhelming force, adding nssuronco to assurance. Yos, he imagined himself in lovo with hor. Sho hated to admit it to herself. How in sufferably conceited scorned even tho momentary harbouring of such a thought ! But now that it had been mado co cloar to hor, it would be sheer criminality to shut her eyes to tho fact. Sho must look the situation squarely in tho faco, and plan a way out. She didn't want him to caro for hor—sho had never droamod of such a thing. The idea of any manoxcopt Marc looking upon her with the oyeß of a lovor was abhorrent to hor.

And thero was doar littlo Geraldino breaking hor heart bocauso of his now in fatuation. Her voice, tears, whispered story, had been a rovelation. " Of all the girls for gotting into scrapos," avowed Vella, apoatrophising herself in tho glass, "you're tho worst." She drew up a chair to tho white and blue dressing-table, and sat down. Sho leaned forward, her face hidden in hor folded arms.

How was sho going to get out of it? Go away? That was tho first thought, of course. But if she spoke of leaving, Dr. Laurent would propose That he was only waiting for n chanco to do so eho knew now. Oh, why hadn't sho known be fore ? Sho could not rocall a day or hour of late without wondering at hor stupidity in not having noticed then his unfortunate fancy. Well, it was no uno dwelling on that now. That was not the question at all. Everything resolved itself into tho query, " What would she do ?" And if she Bpoko of leaving and he pro posed, Geraldino would know. No emotion, pleasurable or othorwiso, could he hido from those clear, quiet eyes. And she must not know—sho must novor know— that her secret had been discovered by her friend —must no\ or havo reason to suspect that her twilight confidence of half an hour before had been overheard.

He had been growing to love Geraldine, when fate, in tho shape of o collision, flung her between them. From tho girl's words she felt positive of that. Now, if sho wero only out of the way, all would como smooth and straight again. If sho could only go without letting any-one know—well, why couldn't she ? The vory suddennoss of tho idea took hor breath away. Why couldn't she? But thoy would think hor so ungraterul; and shecould not bear that tboyshould doom her that. But was it not tho only way to ensure the sanctity of her littlo friend's secret? If she wore out of sight, the heart sho had so unwittingly won would go back to the allegiance of her who valued its lovo so dearly. Yes, yeß, ehe must go ; thoro was no choice. Let them think hor cold and capri cious if they would, she could endure that knowledge better than that, through her presence, was wounded hourly hor patient, gentle nurse. She would go—but when? The sooner the better. To-night, then. Luggage would not trouble her. Though wearing lately only Jerry's wrappers, the clothes she had had on at the time of the accident hung in the closet. Her small satchel, too, which had been found wrapped in her have lock, was there. "Vella!" She sprang up at sound of the low voice and knock. She went swiftly to the door and opened it. "Ah, Geraldino! Been getting Dick to sleep? I thought I heard you singing "Yes; he was very wakeful, but he is safe in the land of Nod at last," smiling. " Tho dear little lad ! " Jerry slipped her arm through Vella's. "Come down to supper, dear. You and I will have old maids' tea to-night. Papa and Stuart are over at tho Olivers'." They went down together into the lamp lit dining-room. So bright it looked -as did indeed the whole house, with its walls papered in dull gold, its floor of plebeian pine oiled to glossiness, its drawn velour curtains, its buffet with a few pieces of rough silver and a row of wedgewood ware, its round tea-table, snowy-clothed, glass sparkling, china-shining, laden too with sweet and simple home-made dainties. All through the meal she sat thinking, plan ning.

There was a train at five-ten. She heard Mr Starr speak of it the other day—a train going East, The station, though—was it far from horo ? In as careless a manner as she could com mand she asked Jerry. "Tho station? Oh, it is quite near. I of ton go to the depot with papa." "But how far? 1' " Oli, not far. Three-quarters of a mile, perhaps. You hear the whistling at night, don't you ?" " Oh, yes. But I have never thought about it. In what direction is it ? " Jerry laughed ns sho pourod out the favourite souchong. " Are you thinking of seeing papa off in tho morning ? He will be hugely flattered." Volla coloured and laughed too. "If I could only say yes I But I was not aware ho was leaving home. Whore is ho going?"

"To Chicago." " He has business there?" " Yos. He frequently goes thore." And there tho matter dropped. _As they sat by the firo after supper, Vclla wished sho could kiss hor kind young hostess, and say good-byo in frank and grateful fashion. But sho must not. Geraldine would refuse to let hor go—not. in any case, till tho others returned. And then there would be inquiries mado in all good-hoartcdnoss, and explanations de manded. The former sho could not answer, nor the latter give. Worst of all, Jerry would suspect. And the mere suspicion that a soul know of hor unhappy love would be to her humiliation and misery unutter able. No, she must go, and she must go in silence. About half past eight she rose. As long as possible sho had put off the evil momont. "I think I will go to my room!" she said. Jorry looked up in sudden anxiety. " You are not feeling ill—" "No, no! I am quite well. Good night." " Shan't you & mo down again ?" "I—l think not to-night. "I am sure you are feeling weak, and you don't want to toll mo." _ Volla came up to hor chair and stood bo sido her. Sho smiled lovingly down on the pretty earnest faco. "Indeed, no—just a tritlo tired." In a

sudden glow of gratitude and atl'oction sho

bent hor golden hoad and kissed hor. "My good thoughtful, blessed littlo nurse, good-night I" And then sho was gono. In hor own room she closed and fastonod tho door, discardod Jerry's bluo drap d'ete wrapper, took down the blaok silk sho had donned that afternoon in tho Clifton Houso,

and put it on. Thon she wont up to tho littlo tier of oaken shelves whereon stood writing materials. Sho mado an impromptu de_k of a book on hor knee and bogon to write.

"My dearest, best friends "—and thero she stopped. What could aho say—how explain her flight? Sho hositatod, pon dered. This would nover do. To catch

the train alio must logo no timo, for sho could walk but slowly yet. So sho snatchod

up her pen and wroto on hastily : "I am Kolnpr away. Will you trust mo, as you have mo delicately done in tho past. Will you bolievo that could I wait to say farewells, I would novor write them nor leave In silence. Some day wo shall moot again—of tlds lam confident. And though I oun promise no ex planation oven then—as such would painfully, thoiiKh innocently, involvo one vory dear to mo

—I know you will not reproach me for keeping inviolate a secret not mine to impart. I cannot thank you. 1 am not goinß to try to do so. 1 can only say that 1 love you dearly, heartily, that this T hopo aonio (lay to pro vo, that cherished shall your momorios bo till death has stilled tho heart of " Vhi.la Vkrnkix."

" Jerry, darling, Kivo Dick, a klsa for mo." Sho hastily folded tlio shoot, laid it on tho dresslng-tablo, completed dressing, took up hersatchol, painod, listenod.

All still. Sho jwont qiiiotly out, closing the door behind her. Down tho back stairs, through a sido-door leading into tlio garden, down the stops and away. A hard cloar, cold night, with a rifting sky, through which tho moon boamod forth now and thon, white and shining, only to scurry back under vast black clouds nil edgod with lustre, and thero lie hid. As Volla went round the houso to reach the path to the road, sho posted tho parlour window. She glanced in. .lorry still sat by tlio tiro as . lio had left her lier hands lay listlessly in her lap. Her head was bent Vory palo and sad tho sweet faco, for all tho rosy Hush of tlio lireshiuo.

"God guard dor, ..id give her Ilis host gift !" ."ho murmured, and hurried on.

Down tho [Kith, out on tho road, toward tlio station. Sho did not harbour hor strength, and sho had not any to spare. She walked so rapidly at first sho was soon exhausted.

How quiet it was ! tlio shrubs by tho roadeido wero highwaymen in lurking. To a woman's natural nervojsness was addod tho debility of recant illness. Ahead sho could soo tlio lantern ovor tho de]>ot door, co far it looked liko a fallen star. Hark I voices ! Sho turned to tho i»ido of tho road and walkod on with footfalls that mado no pound and yot terrified her lest thoy should botrny her. The trend and tones of men. Thoy woro coming toward hor. And the moon was sailing out, too, into n big bluo spaco which held no scrconing black clouds. Hor heart beat furiously. So noar wore thoy now, sho could dis tinguish tho words tlioy spoke. "No, of courso I shall not look upnny ono, nor try to discover anything about hor,

ns sho evidently wishes to remain socludod, and her dosiros must 110 respected. I know thero is a Vornell in Chicago—'tho lucky colonel ' thoy call him, but sho may bo no relative. A thorough littlo lady, though !"

Thoro was an inarticulate murmur from tlio othor. Then thoy had passed on— Gerald Starr and Doctor Lauront, on their way homo from tlio Olivers'. [To /><■ Continued.)

Why She and Charles Quarrelled.

Two young ladies woro ovorhoard talking glibly and confidentially on a suburban train. "Now, Mary," said ono, " tell mo why Cbarlio and you qu.irrollol." " Bocaueo ho's n ninny : that's tlio roaßon. You know ho's beon coming to soo mo for two yoars, and I could sco just as plain as anybody olso that ho was head ovor hools in lovo with mo. But be didn't seem to havo any snap to him, and I got real impationt, jtißt ,151 any girl would havo done. A few nights boforo Christmas bo called to see mo, and boforo ho wont away I said : ' Charlie, I want to make you a Christmas prosont, but I want to be euro it will suit you. It is something roal nico, warm, useful, and ornamental, and will always stay with you.' 'A scarf?' ho said; ' No, not a scarf,' I said, 'though it might embrace you. It woigliß about a hun dred pounds, and I'vo heard you say you thought it vory precious. ' Oh, I know,' ho said, 'a bicycle !' By this timo I was nearly mad, but I mado ono moro effort. 'Not a bicycle,' I said, 'but it can walk, has a mouth, oyes, pretty bair, and is vory affec tionate' 'Now I know,' ho said, und what do you think the ninny guessed that timo ? A big Newfoundland dog ! I was nevor so disgusted in my lifo, and have not seen Chdrlio since. Ho's treated me roal mean, and now Leap-year is gono and I just hate him. Ob, thore ho is now, at tho other ond of tho car. Ain't bo sweet? I wish ho would come and talk to us."—" Hartford (Conn.) Times."

The Empress Eugenie's Flight from Paris.

"The Recollections of tho Siogo of Paris," by the Comto d'Horis-son, give a terrible picture of the Empress Eug.nio in the last hours of tho empire. Her courage had broken down under the military reverses and the hourly dread of an insurrection, and she had saturated herself with chloral. She fell into a state of somnambulism, and her, eyes took a fixed, staring expression. She neither saw what was passing around her nor understood what was said to her. Then sho had to drink coffee to cloar her head. She loft the Tuilorio. in such a hurry that she had not time to carry awoy with her a small travelling bag filled with under clothing which she had packed tho night before, and all she had was a little reticulo large enough for hor purse, pocketbook, and a few handkerchiefs. She had a cold, and wept bitterly on the journey. When she wanted a change of handkerchiefs Dr. Evans had to wash the soiled ones in a stream by the way, and dry them from the carriage window. When her wardrobes were ex amined the furs for autumn and night wear alone were valued at 120,000 dollars. There were fifty parasols in her bedroom, every one a chef d'eouvro. There was a separate room for shoes, another for hats and bonnets, and so on ; and there were several lay figures exactly her size, stuffed with bran ■ wnich were dressed every day experi mentally in the various costumes she in- I tended to wear.

The Converted Thief.

Is tho waiting-room of a small railway station, conspicuously displayed, was the placard— " BEWARE OP _ lOKrOOKETS."

A stout, well-dressed old gentleman, in every line of whoso face honesty and cre dulity wore depicted, read the warning, and turning to a good-looking young man who happened to be standing near by, romarked—

" How much rascality thoro is in tho world ! It is sad to think that it is neces sary to put up such notices ; but I suppose if such notices were not put up in public places hundreds of unsuspecting people wculd be plundered by tho light-fingered gentry." The young n.on in a somi-clorical garb, who was standing uour tho old gentleman, responded with a nigh-"It is sud indeed to think that there are such wicked people who resist all the missionary efforts that are I mado to reform them. It is sad, vory sud."

Just at this moment tho uignul was given to board tho train, w liich was about to leave. The elogantly-dressod old gentleman and the devout youth soiwd their portmanteaus, and in a fow moments woro ocoupying seats oppoaito each other on tho train in which there were vory few passengers, whore tho acquaintance which had begun in the wuit ing-room was kept up. Resuming the topic of conversation whore it had droppod, the old gentleman said— " When a man has once become accus tomed to a caroor of crimo it is a very diffi cult matter for him to reform and lead a new life."

"Ah ! my doar sir," said tho demure youth, shaking his head in a despairing sort of way, " I know from sad experionco how diilicult it is for a sinner to turn from his wickedness, for although I am, I trust, ono of the elect, and engagod in distributing tracts, yet thoro was a time when I, sir, was a professional thief." Tho old gontleman, who had boon listen ing attentively, started from his seat as if desirous of creating a groator distance between himself and tho converted sinner, and oxclaimod — "What, you?" " I do not wonder that you recoil in horror from mo," continued tho young man sadly ; "but it is impossible foryoutodotest mo half us much as Ido my former self. I

cheerfully accept your loathing for the solf confessod criminal, and oven ask for moro of tho samo sort, for 1 regard it as a part of tho penunce to openly acknowledge and confess my former sin, bofore 1 was snatched as a brand from tho burning."

" How did you coma to soo tho ovil of your fonnor ways?" asked the old man, looking dubiously at his new acquain tance "I was brought to a sonso of my utter unworthinoss by what might havo boon a foarful catastrophe. I shudder oven now when I think of how I walked through tho valloyand shadow of death. But it was all for tho best. But for my fearful ex perience, I might now bo littio bettor than an actual sinner." The young man buried his faco in his hands and Hhuddorod convulsively, while the old gontloman was so much affected that bo brushed away a tear. " Would you mind relating to mo tho I occurrence which caused you to abandon i your profossion as a " "Ah a thief. Speak right out. This is a part of my self-imposed penanco that I should bo reminded of my former unworthi noss. 1 was not only a thief, but 1 was also a social outcast. I smoked, played billiards, drank, and was rarely ever inside of a church. Although what I underwent is to mo a dreadful nigbtmaro, yet, as you seem to tako an interest in my atl'airs, 1 will givo you a faithful account of the dreadful catas trophe by which my eyes woro opened to my depraved condition, and tlio necessity for reform."

Every trace of suspicion had vinished from tho old gentleman's kindly counten ance, and he leaned forward anxiously to

! hear what his new ucquaintanco hud to say. " I was v thief from my car!io«t youth up. My [larents before i: • wero thioves. At liftoon years of ago I ..a; well and favour ably known to tlio jUico, lor 1 used to divide my spoils with lliun. 1 was an expert at almost any kind of stealing, and father used to predict tho*. sooner or later I would become v v member of (.'engross. My favourite pastime was abstracting tlio effect, of pax. elisors at the railroad stali in. One day 1 noticed a .nan, who, a.. 1 after wards learned, was tho agent for a monagerio, carrying an oblong kind of a wickor basket, on which ho bestowed a great deal of attention. Tho basket was .ecured by a small ropo. While ho was waiting for tho cars at tho railroad station I heard him toll another man. pointing at the samo to the basket, that it was worth at least a thousand dollars. 1 blush to acknowledge that I coveted that buskot, 1 waited patiently until tho owner of tho basket went to buy bis ticket. Then 1 grabbed tho covetod object and lied with it to a

park near by." Hero the young man hroko down com pletely, and with choking sobs said that whon ho recalled his former depravity, and how be bad been miraculously saved, it complololy unmanned him, " My dear young friond," .ail tlio old gentloman, kindly laying his bauds on tlio shouldor of tho repentant thiof, "do not give way to your feelings, although your sincere emotions elevate you in my osteom, I honour your manly tears. Thoro was more rejoicing over the ono !o . shoop that was found than ovor tlio ninoty and nine that wont not astray."

1 will continue my story," continued

tbo young man, wiping his oyos and swallowing a big lump in his throat. "It is part of my penance to rolato my humiliating oxporionco. I fled to a socludod portion ot tho park with tho captured basket, and with my sharp knifo cut tho ropo and oponod tho cover. Junt at that momonts 1 hoard footstep behind mo, and having some curiosity to know who it was, I looked around ; but it was only n pedestrian, who passod o. without seoing mo. I proceeded to invostigato what was in tlio basket. To my astonishment it waa ompty. Before I could collect my thoughts, 1 was seized around tlio body, and my right arm was

pinionod to my side. To my unspoakablo horror f found mysolf in the folds of a huge boa-constrictor. Boforo I could think what to do, another fold of tlio creature's body enveloped my neck. Gradually tho serpent tightened its folds, it still looking into my faco with a look of triumphal malignity. My sin bad found mo out. In a few momonts of time I reviewed my ontiro lifo. I remembered every crimo that I bad com-

mitted, every oath that I had uttered, every drink of liquid damnation that I had

inbibod. I was filled with the koonost ro morao for my past deeds, and wished I had stuck to picking pockets, which was my strong card. I made a solemn vow that if my lifo should be spared I would be a dif ferent man in tho future, and, abovo all, I would never steal, or drink, or smoke again." Tho old gentloman was overcome with horror at the doseriprion of this terriblo adventure, and at tho samo timo ho was filled with joy to think that such a wicked person had boon saved.

" How did you escape?" ho asked. " (Iradually the fold., tightened. I could hoar my ribs crack, but I was still conscious. Then I saw several men running towards mo. At tho head of thorn was tho owner of the stolon basket, Ho called out, ' Thoro is tho thiof that stole my snako. Hold him!

Don't let him go off with my sorpont.' Ho meant me, although 1 was vory far from going off with his precious snake. Ho eooii perceived my unfortunate condition, and how littlo danger thoro wan of my getting rid of my booty. He said, moreover, that tho only possible way to save me was to get a saucer of milk, of which eorpents are very fond. I imagined that the serpent slightly relaxed its grasp upon hearing tho word ' milk.' It seemed to me to be ages before the milk was procured. Tho saucer was placed on the ground, and the reptile slowly uncoiled himself. I be came unconscious, as is often the case with people who swoon away. When 1 came to my senses I was in an hospital. I had been out of my head for weeks with a raging fever, and had been talking wildly about snako3. I was not prosocuted, as the ngent for tho menagorio had gono away with his snake. Iremomberedmy vow, andalthough it was mado under duress while a great pressure was brought to bear on mo, I re solved to koep it. Ever since I havo been an altered man, I have not touched whisky or tobacco, and no profane or vulgar language has passed my lips. My only mission in life ia to do what I can to relieve suffering humanity." " Your experience," said the old man, "has indeed been terrible, but it has made another man of you. You should think of that and take courage. You must have suffered intensely from the pressure of the boa constrictor."

" My sufferings were beyond all descrip tion. I never was in such a tight place. You see the constrictor had one fold around my body," and the young man placed his

arm around the old gentleman's waist to enable him to understand the situation. "The socond fold extendod thuß across my breast and around my neck, while tho head of the hideous roptilo was only a fow inches from my lace." "Horrible! horrible!" ejaculated tho old man.

Just at that moment the train stopped,

" Good-by, my dear sir," said the young man, seizing his portmanteau, "I get off here. Many thanks for tho encouragement you havo givon me to keep in the straight and narrow path." "Good-by to yon, my young friend. Be steadfast in your now path," and having wiung the youth's hand, the old gentleman sank back in his scat, with a beatific smilo on his face.

Tho train was probably not moro than a quarter of a milo from the station when tho old gentleman sprang to his feet, and to the amazement of tho other passengers bawled out:—

"Stop the train! that hound has gone off with my watch, rmd my breast-pin is gone too. Lynch him ! Hang him ! Where is my porte-monnaio ? Lot mo out until I murder tho child of Satan !"—"Texas,"

A Looting Expedition in the Transvaal.

Prom "Home Among tho Boers," by Mrs

Carey-Hobson.)

Ilu had boon riding round to some of the out kraals one morning in company with

Klaas Roy, for tho latter still counted out tho shoep, when Jephtha was soen coming

towards thorn as rapidly as ho could, - gesticulating wildly as ho came, 1 "That's Mynheer Herbert's man," said Roy ;" there's something wrong." " Where's tho Sieur Carr?" said Jephtha, as ho came near enough to bo heard; and thon, recognising Jacobus with Roy, ho called out: " Ach, Baasij 'Cobus ! please and stop the i'oei'B. They havo killed the poor muster that Sieur Carr put on tho place, and driven tho wifo and children among tho thorn bushes ; and now they are doing just what they like in the house!" "And, oh! Sieur," said the man, as thoy reached tho liouso, and found Carr waiting for thorn on the stoop, "the Boers have driven off all tho cattlo, and tho sheop aro going away to-day, thoy say !" " When did tho cuttlo go, thon?" asked ('air. " And tho poor man ? Are you sure ho has boon killed .' " " Tho Boers brought all tho cattle up to tho kraals lust night, sir. That was tho first wo saw of them ; and when tho poor master wont out and talked to them, thoy shot him cloud. Tho poor missis and tho children ran away down thothorns toMr Walters, place; thon thoy all came in the houso, and boat tho maids till thoy mado them supper. " " Do you know any of tho Boors, Jophtha?" " No, master, thoy don't belong to this veldt; thoy como from far off." Jacobus, after a littlo conversation with tho man, camo to tho conclusion that the maruudors woro nono othor than old Nicholas and his band of bordor free-bootors; " and, if I am right," said he, romombering his cousin's adventure with tho old man, "perhaps tho sight of me may frighten him off, without moro ado. I can't tight against liim, but ho shall bo reported,"

Thoy took a hasty breakfast, and woro soon in the saddlo; and calling at

WolKclogcn, the Doctor accompanied thorn, Graham and Sinclair boing obliged to remain at homo, in order to bo in roadincss should old Nicholas see fit to pay them a visit.

Thoy wont at onco to Walters'., anxious to ascoitain tho safety of tho woman and hor children, as well as whothcr Walters and his store bad como off scot-free. When noaring the houso thoy woro alarmed at the absence of life about tho place. " I bopo nothing has happened te Walters," said Carr. "Ho surely wouldn't loavo tho women and children till somo of us enmo, or bo might bo gone to soo after tho murdered man,''' Thoy oil quickonod their horses into a sharp cantor, Jephtha keopingclosoto "tho Sieur Carr." Their oyos an thoy rodo wore lixed upon tho bouse, hoping to soo somo ono como to tlio door, which stood wido open, but not a sign of anyone could thoy too. Suddenly thoy hoard a shout — tho» another. " 1 think that's b Walters' voice I Thank Cod!" exclaimed Carr. "But whore is be':" Thoy shouted in roturn, aDd listened for n reply, for it was evident the call had not proceeded from the house Jephtha rodo off to ono sido, while Klaas and 'Cobus, following his example, divorged on tho other, but still going towards tho bouse. Jophtha wus tho first to discover the w hereabouts of Walters. Ho was bound tightly to a troo ; that much they saw as thoy galloped towards him. "My wife! my wifo ! Mr Carr, go to hor in the liouso," criod poor Walters, in an ugony of fear ; "Jephtha can looson me." Two of them stayed to undo the leathern thongs that fastened Walters, while Garr, Fall, and Jacobs ran quickly into the house. As wo have said, the door into tho voor-

Inn's, or largo ontraneo living roam, stood wide open, as also did that of the store, which opened on to tho front stoep. On

io right-hand sido of tho voorhuis thoro

was an inside ontraneo to tho store. Tho first objoct they saw as they ontorod was tho body of a coloured man lying across tho

threshold of this door. Tho Doctor wont towards him, but Carr, merely exclaiming, " Poor old Nouw Yaar I" ran on through tho voorhuis, and into the bedroom, calling to Mrs Walters. Ho. was about to loavo the room, not seeing her thero, whon ho

thought bo hoard a littlo moan closo to him. A largo quilt was hanging over the end of tho bed ; no threw this up, and thoro was the poor young wife, whom he had oome to seek, tiod to tho foot of tho iron bedstead. She had fainted from fear, and had

slipped down as far as tho cords would allow. Tho men had seemingly thrown the quilt ovor her, perhaps out of devilment, to make her husband think thoy had taken her away. In a tow moments Carr hnd cut tho Binall cords with his pookot knife, and lifted hor into an oasy chair by tho window. She bad been terribly frightened, but not otliorwigo hurt. As sho regained conscious ness, her first cry was for her husband. " Robert! oh, Bobort!" "Hero I am, darling,"answered Walters, who camo in at tho moment. "Speak cheerfully," said Carr, in a low tone. "She was only frightened on your account." " Como, pot wifo, choor up. lam all right, you soo; and nothing else matters, so lone as we have each other. Thoy've all gono, darling." She looked at him, with a faco as white as alabaster, and tried to smile, but after a, little struggle it ended in a flood of tears. " Sbo'll bo better now," said her husband, holding her firmly to his breast, with her head loaning on his shoulder.

" I will go now and find the others," said Carr. " And if I can get a cup of tea it would do her good."

The Doctor had found a simple restorative in VValters's medicine chost, and, preparing a littlo quickly, ho took it in, advising Walters to keop his wife in her own room for n timo.

Thoy had found the wife of the man who had boon murdered at tho other farm, and all hor children, locked up in one of the outer rooms. Sho, poor thing, was sitting on tho floor of tho empty room, with her two boys in her arms, and tho girls crouching behind her. The men had silenoed her by threatening to carry off hor boys, or kill them, if she made a noise. PoorNouw Yaarjhad been murdorod while trying to lock the inner door of tho store room, in order to prevent the men from en tering tho house by that way. It appeared that they had watched 1 Walters go to the sheep kraals in the morn-

ing, and had then broken into the store from the door on the stoop. Old Neuw Yaar was near tho back door, being the only man close to the house, and the cries of the women brought him in. The life of a black man is of no value in the eyos of these border free booters ; ho was therefore put out of the way of offering any opposition.

They had then completely looted the store of everything they could possibly carry off, tying Walters, upon his return from the kraals, to tho tree to prevent his molesting thorn while doing ao—laughing coarsely and jocringly when he entreated to be allowed to go to his wife and tho rest of the house hold.

HOW MINERS CAN DIE.

Calmly Writing Messages to Loved Ones while Death Creeps Upon Them.

Sceanton, January 25.—Sixteen years ago, there was a terrible colliery explosion in Saxony, by which a large number of miners 'ost their lives. Of that disaster, an old miner in this city has preserved a most remarkable record in a series of manuscript copies, translated into English, of messages written to their friends by such of the doomed Saxon miners as wero not

killed outright by tho explosion, but were preserved for tho no lees sure and moro terrible death by suffocation as the poißoned gases slowly de stroyed the pure air that remained in tho mine. Theso messages wore found in note books and on scraps of paper on the dead bodies of the poor men whon they wore at last recovered. The manuscript copies of these touching notes wero mado in Cornwall by a rolativo of tho old minor, and wero sent to him shortly after tho disaster. They aro interesting, outside of their pathos, as answering the frequently-asked question, How do mon feel when about to die ?---not after boing wasted and weakened by disease, or when tho blood is hoated by the strife of battle, but when they see inevitable death slowly but certainly approaching them, and know that in exactly so many minutes it will seize upon them ? Do they rage and struggle against their fate_, or do they meet it with calmness and resignation ? These messages show that tho poor miners I awaited the coming of death with singular calmness and resignation. Not ono word in the whole record revoals a feeling of bitterness against the fate they could not avert. j

There is a curious pathos in some of the lines scrawled by these death-besieged men in tho gloom of their narrow prison. A young man, Janets? by name, had pinned to his ooat a leaf from a notebook. On it woro

written his last words to his sweetheart

" Darling Rika : My last thought was of thee. Thy name will be the last word my lips shall speak. Farewell." The miner Iteiche, when his body was

found, clutched in his hand a scrap of paper. " Doar sister," it read, " Meyer, in the village, owes me ten thalers. It is yours. I hope my face wil'.not be distorted whon they find us. I might havo been hotter to you. Good-bye." iteiche, accord-

ing to the old Scranton miner, who seems to have the histories of all the unfortunate Saxon miners at his tongue's end, was a sevore man, and though just to his sister, who was hie only relative, gave her no

liberties. Tho thought that he had not done right evidently haunted him in his death hour.

The absence of all .elfishness, all repinings on account of themselves, is touchingly np. parent in all the messages. "My dear rela tions, " wrote the miner Schmidt, '' while see ing death before me I remember you. Fare well until wo meet again In happiness." Lying next to young Janetz, whose message to his Bwoetheart is quoted above, a miner named Moret. was found. On a paper in

his cap was written: "Janetz has just died. fiiche is dying, and says, ' Tell my family I leavo them with God.' Farewell, dear wife. Farewell, dear children. May

God keep you." The miners who died by suffocation had evidently been driven from ono place of refuge to another, according to tho following, found in the notebook of a miner named Bahr : " This is the last place where wo have taken refuge. I have given up all hope, bouauso the ventilation has been destroyed in three separate places. May God take myself and relatives and dear friends who must die with me, as well as our families, under His protection."

"Dear wife," writes Moller, "take good care of Mary. In a book in the bedroom you will find a thaler. Farewell, dear mother, till we meet again." Mary was tho miner's only child, who was blind. A miner named Jahne, or Jaehn, wrote to his brother, who was a miner, but had beon unable to work that day : " Thank

God for his goodness, brother I You are safe."

"No moro toil in darkness," wrote another.

The uniform spirit of piety that marked all tho messages of tho dying men was explained by the custodian of these touch ing rocords. Ho said the miners of Saxony are all roared in a strict religious school, and that on ontoring tho mines they all potition Heaven for protection through tho day, and on leaving the mines return thanks to God for guarding them and bringing them safely through the dangers of thoir toil. "I nevor read the simple messages of those poor men without moistened eyes," said tho old miner, and his oyes were cer tainly more than moist as he spoko. " I can picture to myself the scene of the rough handed but soft-hearted men, spending tho last moments not in wild crys for mercy and screams of remorse, nor in repinings against thoir cruel fate, but in sending those fare well messages to their loved ones, who wore even then bewailing them as dead. While my hoart bleeds over the picture, I thank God that, humble miners though they were, they showed the world how bravely and nobly they could die."

Big Fees for Lawyers.

In opposition to roform, Labouchere thinks tho lawyers vie with tho Lords. He calls attention to several instances where their

" pickings "—to be called by no harsher name—have been ridiculous and scandalous. Quoting from the report of the Select Com mittee on the Charity Commission ho gives some curious cases. "In St. Luke's Middlosox," for example, "thero is a charity with £13 a year. In 1879 the trustees thought fit to appoint a new trustee and in ISSO another, and the costs of these two appointments were £53, the clerk being the attorney. In a charity created as late as 1873 two solicitors were appointed trustee? of a sum of £6,000. They invested it in eleven different mortgages, two of them for under £100. Again, in 1874, £100,000 was given by willamonganumber of charities and the solicitors charged costs to the extent of £5,000, but tho Attorney-General boing invoked they were reduced to £2,000. Tho costs of a new scheme in a charity with £421 capital amounted to £475. As none of these things would cost more than a few shillings under the commission, it is no wonder that charity trustees are ad vised by their lawyers te have nothing to do with it." It is only doing justice to the law yers to say that charity trustees are in many cases quite as bad as the lawyers. Thore is a charity called Worrell's charity in St. Luke, part of the property of which con sists of a manor near Hastings, producing £41 a-year. The trustees yearly hold a manorial court. The said trustees, their solicitor and one other gentle man whose business is not "ap parent " went to Hastings to hold the court and Bpent the night there. Their hotel bill was £24 9* 4d ; travelling ex penses and "sundries," £12 Is ; total £36 10s 4d. In another case the bill of Charity Trustees for inspecting their property came to £100, of which the hotel bills were £70, for a week's travelling expenses of six to nine persons. Some of the pickings are even more substantial. In one case, for in stance, charity funds to the amount of £581 were deposited in a bank in which one of tho trustees was a partner. Tho bank broke and a large slice of the money went.

A Terrible Crime.

Tim conclusion of a remarkable trial at Catania is reported in Sicilian journals. Two years ago a great crime was commit ted at Cortentini. A priest named Failla on clearing out the pyx and consuming every particle, tasted something bitter. On the termination of the mass he was at tacked by severe pains in the bowels, and died in a few minutes in the sacristy. A post-mortem examination proved that the unfortunate priest had been poisoned with Btrychnine, and on examining the pyx minutely some particles of strychnine were discovered. Suspicion fell upon a caaon of tho church, Ganotono Limoli, who cherished a great hatred against the deceased—a feeling which had recently been much in creased by some promotion awarded to him by tho Archbishop of Syracuse. Limeli had a brother who was a druggist, by whom the shop was ofton left to tho care of the canon, who had thus the msons of supply ing himself with poison. Limeli was ar rested and consigned to the prison of Syra cuse, where he has remained for two years. Last week the case was brought before the Camera di Consiglio (equivalent to our grand jury) of the Court of Appeal of Catania, whon it was decided that for want of proof there was no ground for penal pro ceedings against the canon. " Meantime it is beyond a doubt, " says the Roma, "that the priest Failla died of poison mixed with the particles representing the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ."

MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS.

DISCIPLINE ON A YANKEE BARQUE,

(FROM OUR LONDON COEEESi'ONJ'E-ST.)

London, January 16th. An inquiry is at present being made into the circumstances attending a very horrible murder which, if tho prosecution aro right, took place on board an American vessel

called tho I. F. Chapman, a few months

ago whilst on a voyage from San Francisco to Liverpool. American merchant vessels have always had an unenviable reputation for cruel bullying on the part of captains and mates, and the following story certainly goes a long way towards justifying it. The prosecution aver that a Russian Finn named Junscn shipped as aMe seaman on board tho I. F. Chapman at San Francisco. Ho was in extromely bad health, as others often aro who sign articles becauso they have no money loft to enablo them to obtain lodging aud food ashore- It is also states that he was inefficient as a seaman, which really ought not to surprise anybody in the age when good English sailors are boing thrust aside that the cheap foreigner may find room in forecastles in which Britishsalts only should swing their hammocks. If the testi mony of members of the crew te to be be lieved, this unhappy Finn was made to Buffer cruelly and atrociously at the hands of the second mate and the boatswain. His inefficiency was, no doubt, severely felt by tiie second mate, in whose watch the Door fellow was, because it appoars that that watch had boon weakened by two men falling overboard from aloft; and most people know th&t ships nowadays do not go to sea so manned as to render the loss or disablement of two hands a matter of small consequence. Apparently the boatswain and the second mate wanted to get the work of the two lost men out of tho sick Finn. Be this as it may, it is alleged that because they did not find Jansen very active and nimble in consequence of a dis eased leg and illness in other respects, they kicked and beat him ; they put him to ply tho handle of a pump which needed the labour of two men ; they forced him on to his knees, and compelled him to empty a bucket of water by dipping a small pieoe of rag into it and squeezing it into another bucket; and, to limit a list of sickening particulars, they finally lashed hnn to the foresheets in tho manner thus explained by Arthur Evans, an able seaman. Iney lashed him around the body, but first put bags around the topsail sheets so that the chains should not hurt him. He was lashed with • his arms to his »ide, and he was hanging with his head drooping and his toeß just touching the deck. As the sheets worked he would bo lifted up and down." "The affair, the captain said in his evidence, "happened in thirty-nine degrees south latitude, when there was a strong breeze from the south, and tho temperature was fifty degrees. As might have been expected, the man died. He is declared to have been half dead when he was " seized " to the topeail sheets ; for Goorge Brown, a seaman, breaking off in his evidence abruptly, said, •• Did you ever sco a man trying to walk about half dead? That's how he was." When dead he was cut down, and the boatswain rubbed him ; but such tenderness on the part of the man who, it is alleged, lashed the Finn to the chains, came, if all this be true, too late ; the unhappy sailor was a corpse; and the cap tain said his body was consigned te the deep, the burial service being read over him as the plank was tilted. So far all this amounts merely to bo many allegations, and we heartily hope that the prisoners will be able to disprove the testimony given against them. Vet one feataro may legitimately be commented upon : the readiness with which a portion of the "crew came forward to relate the horrors which at the period they coolly tolerated and watched. Is the manhood of the sailor gone, that he can sneak into his forecastle or go on quietly with his work on deck or aloft whon, according to his evidence, a sick shipmate is at the time being brutally bullied or stand ing lashed and dying against the " served " topsail sheets, mercifully furnished with chafing gear that the iron of the links might not piorco the wretch's flesh, if it entered his soul ? Wo know that discipline on board ship becomes a great and often an in surmountable influence by sheer force of the powers wielded by a captain and by the traditionary moral awe which the quarter-deck inspires; we know that often the forecastle is as a house divided against itself; that one or moro who would act dare not do so because thoy are aware that there are coward-spirits who would make combina tion against brutal and murderous officers impossible. Wo also thoroughly under stand the, apathetic character of the sailor who, partly thinking of his wages, of the worry and difficulties of a demonstration that may end in mutiny, and partly in fluenced by his characteristic resolution te do his " bit" and not trouble about matters which do not concern him, will suffer tyranny and brutality to run their course, satisfied that tho voyage cannot last for ever, and with his mind mode up to leave the ship for good when port is entered and he has "taken up" his money. But is there no limit to the sailor's indifference to a shipmate's sufferings ? We should be vory sorry to say a word calculated to be in terpreted into an idea that mutinous pro ceedings are in any case justifiable. If, how over, there bo any truth in this story of the I. F. Chapman, surely not the " tautest hand" that ever walkod a quarter-deck, whether of the Navy or the Merchant Service, would condemn the crew of this American vessel had they refused to aid the second mate and boatswain in the dreadful punishments inflicted, upon tho Finn, or, better still, had they boldly gone aft, all of them, and given the captain and mates plainly to understand that, unless the Finn were kindly treated and suffered te lie by as a sick and helplesß man, they would refuse to work the ship. Some Buch determined atti tude would, we are sure, have been recog nised on all sides for their duty as humane and honest men; and we think it is impos sible to conceive of any ulterior judgment pronounced upon them that would not bo one of approval.

French Craze for Titles.—A Singu lar Fraud.

Some idea of the passion entertained by the French for decorations may be formed (says a London paper) from tho report of a case just brought before a Paris tribunal, and not yet decided, in which three gentle men of hazy antecedents are accused of hav ing fraudulently obtained money under pre tence of procuring for tlneir victims marks of distinction, such as the Cross of the Legion of Honour, the Order of the Christ of Portugal, and the Order of the Nizam. Thoy were ready, moreover, on payment of a good round sum, to obtain for suitable clients the title of baron. Of this curious firm one member was a bankrupt merchant, another a law student of many years' stand ing, and the third the editor of a wine journal, who had the honour, moreover, of being a " member of the Agricultural Asso ciation of Chili." Several of the persons allogod to have been defrauded were, from fear ot ridicule, unwilling to appear. But ono gentleman was not ashamed to say that he had paid the party a sum of money in the hope of obtaining a decoration from the Government of Venezuela. Tho most amus ing of the complainants was the Marquis d'Ure d'Amboiß, who had paid l,soofrancs in advance for the Legion of Honour, and, te qualify himself for receiving it, had boon induced by the prisoners to make a journey through Asia Minor and write a report on the condition of the country for presenta tion to the French Government. They had obtained from the Foreign Office letters of introduction to the French Consuls in Asia Minor. These, however, are given readily to all travellers of respectability.

The Arabs! as Fighting Men.

Wars are not mado with rose-water, and it is impossible to march troops into thafc " sepulchre of armies," the Soudan, with out apposing them to risk of casualties. Nevertheless} the decimation of the gallant little force with which Genoral Stewart is plunging across the desert to the Nile has

produced a very painful impression, which no description of the courago and heroism of our soldiers can entirely remove This is the second time that a Britisli square has been broken in the fcioudan, and although the sterling qualities of our men wero moro conclusively proved by the way in which they rallied after the Arabs woro in their midst than if thoy had never allowed them to penetrate their ranks, it is not right that British squares Bhould bo broken by Africans. The French could not do it at vVaterloo, and tho Sou danoso could not havo done it either afe Tamasi or at Abu Idea but for somo mis take—due, probably, in both cases to over eagornef.. At Tamasi tho front of the ad vancing squaro rushed forward too rapidly for its right flank to keep pace with it, and the Arabs, seizing their opportunity, swarmod into tho opening in the shoulder of the square. At Abu Klea, Lord Wolsoley soys that the squaro broke by sheer woight of numbers. Supposing 10,000 men in all attacked, if 5,000 of them concentrated tlieir rush upon the rear face, this would re present a weight of human Hash and blood of nearly 300 tons, a tolerably heavy body to be hurled with a momentum of ton miles an hour upon a thin lino of 500 men. But 5,000 men do not move togethor solid, and breech-loaders, to say nothing of the Gardner gun, ought to havo kept them off. The real reason is probably that given by the special correspondents. _ "The onsot was so rapid that tho skirmishers hud scarcely time to reach the square" before the enemy foil in force upon the heavy dragoons, who, instead of standing in line* "had broken forward in the endeavour to fire on the rebels." Whatever may have been the mistake, they paid for it dearly, and retrieved their fault by hardest fighting: against the greatest odds. No praise can be too high for the coolness with which the littlo handful of men maintained the honour of the English name against overwhelming numbers of one of the bravost races in the world. From General Stewart to the humblest private "groom fought like noble, squire like knight, as foarlessly and well," and the fanaticism of the dosert was shattered on the solid ranks of those who far off in the Bayuda Desert attested with their blood their allegiance to duty. • Nor can any Englishman refuse to pay a tribute of respect and admiration to those brave sons of the desert who charged upon the British square with a heroism recalling tho traditional valour of the Saracens, in whom ' our crusading ancestors found foes well ' worthy of their steel. We need not grudge them the glory of their fate in perishing before the irresistible hail of tho breech loaders of the infidel; but wo may venture to hope that such splendid material for » sepoy army will before long be moulded iDto a force which under our direction will establish an English peace from Dongola aud Suakim to the great equitorial lakes. The discovery that the Mahdi's men fight as bravely on tho west side of the Nile as they do on the hills before Suakim is a very unwelcome revelation of the difficulties with which we havo to contend. But if General Gordon, with nothing but his own indomit- • able and resourceful courage to aid him, - has succeeded in holding the Mahdi and all _ps hordes at bay at Khartoum, thoro ought to be no serious difficulty in making our way with such a force as that which Lord Wolsoley commands from one end of the continent to the other. Of. course, our difficulty is enormously* increased by the religious enthusiasm - of the Soudanese. A good fight ing faith for which you are not afraid to die, and for which all your neighbours are ready to die in heaps, is about the strongest thing in this world, and the nearest equivalent to Vril that tho mind can conceive. Before the Mahdi arose_ to fire these poor creatures with a burning faith in his divine mission, they .could be lorded over by the rabble of the delta. Now they shatter English squares, and still stand erect and defiant, daring the thunder bolts of our empire, unconquered, and it may be unconquerable.—From the "Pall.l Mall Gazette," January 22nd.

The Legal Status of Prince Albert Victor.

The law is singularly bare in its recognition of the second generation of the royal family, even in the case of its senior m'alo represent ative, when the first generation includes hie father. Hois not even entitled in strict ness to be called heir presumptive to tho Crown, because there can be no heir pre sumptive when there is an heir apparent, and his father's titles admit of no courtesy title borne by the heir apparent to them. ~

His plaoe in point of precedence is after his uncles, as was settled in 1760, when the Duke of York, in the lifetime of George 11., took his seat in the House of Lords. No thing remains except the: comparatively modern title of Prince, to which must be ' added the first Christian name, as in point of law the first Christian name is the only Christian name, no one being entitled to more than ono.

Even the position during minority of a son of the Prince of Wales is rather vaguely defined by the law. In 1718 it was decided by a majority of ten judges to two that the education and tho care of tho sovereign's grand-children belong to the sovereign during the lifetime of their father; but the decision of the majority has had doubts thrown upon it.

It has never been doubted that, at common law, the approval of the marriage of the sovereign's grandchildren belongs to the sovereign, and now, by statue, control is given to the Crown over the marriage of 111 the English descendants Of George 11. at is a popular error that a prince in the direct line of the throne comes of ago, in the sense of capacity for reigning, before he attains 21.

The fact is that tho heir to tho throne is always capable of reigning, as the sovereign is never a minor. In the case of sovereigns of tender years regents have beon appointed; but the age at which sovoroigns who woro '' minors began to act for themselves has varied from time to timo. Henry 111. and Edward 111. were considered of full oge to act as kings at 18; Richard 11. and Honry VI. not till 23; and by a statute of Henry -' VIII. hissuccessor, if a male, was to be under guardianship until 18, and it a fomalo until 10.

The modern practice has been to make 18 the full age of a sovereign, aB evidenced by tho statute in regard to the children of Frederick, Prince of Wales, in regard to the children of George 111., and in regard to tho children of her present Majesty and the late Prince Consort, in the event of that Prince surviving her Majesty, and the heir to the throne being under that ago. No age, however, is now fixed by law before attaining which the sovereign cannot reign without a Tegent.

The attainment by Prince Albert of Wales of the age of 21 has legally even less signifi cance than in the case of an ordinary sub ject. Although he is, liko others, no longer under pupilage, he, unlike them, is still not master of himself in regard te marriage.— From tho "London Law Journal/

Inaugurations of the President- Magnificent Preparations.

New York, February 10th.—A Washing ton special says of the inauguration pre parations : Some idea of tho Pension build ing, where the biggest inaugural ball ever given in this country will be held on March 4tb, may be got, from the fact that St. Peter's at Romo only holds about 54,000 Eersons, while tbo Pension building will old about 50,000. The decorations will be made of tho most expensive material. New York contractors havo insured tho decora tions for §50,000.. The balconies will bo hung with dark red velvet, spangled with gold. Each of the 144 pillars will bo hunr; with silk flags, while beneath the balconies will be a shield, embroidered with the coats of-arms of the different States and Territories, and hung with silk flogs. > The President will enter tho room by a door draped with crimson silk curtains. The entrances are really carriage-ways, bo their size may be imagined. The "Sun," which prints tho above, addß : President Cleveland will return to the custom of Washington and Jefferson, and stand on a dais during the ceremonies of tho ball

Tho Tammany Democracy aro going to the inauguration ceremonies 500 strong. Several of the loading braves have volun teered to pay §150 to §250. The expedition will go through in fine shape with a band of music of 100 pieces. The County Democracy will be similarly represented. . . .

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1885.

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Tho number of deaf mutes in the world is roughly calculated to be from 700,030 to 900,000, and of these 63 per cent, are said to be born deaf, the others losing their hear ing by different accidents. The number of deaf mutes in Great Britain is probably about 20,000. To meet tho educational wants of those there aro on tho face of the globe 397 institutions, containing 26,473 in j mates of both sexes, and employing over 2,000 teacher.. "ROUGH ON CORNS."-__ torW__»_"Ko__V on Com-." Quids »Uef, complete, iienuanent oure. Coma, v_*A t tunionj. * ,_*w. g-tapt-Qt-. ficiu- mOm. Xuati. Auckiwd. ,



CAUTION. Some unscrupulous firms are trying to force on the New Zealand people a Nostrum, under tho cloak that it is made In tho United States, WHICH IS NOT TRUE. Under this pretence thoy are trying to deceive the Publio and Incautious Purohosers into the boliot that they are the Genuine AMERICAN HOP BITTERS. Wo wish to warn all honest and unsuspecting people against this Deception, and to call the attention once more to the facts that the Gonuine American Co.'s HOP BITTERS Are put up in Square, Panelled, Amber-coloured Bottles, with White Label on one side, printed in Black Letters, and Green Hop Cluster; and, on the other side, Yellow Label, with Directions in Red Letters, in Knßllßh and German, and tha name of "Dr. Soule" blown in every Bottle. This is the only form in wkioh GENUINE AMERICAN HOP BITTERS are put up.



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