LILLIS; OR, THE Mystery of Langdon Abbey.

v, MISB SARAH PARR,

mii ThaSt. Ahorn Grace-cup." "Robbed inthorof Tfi°.?Mvl,atlr'3 Plot." "Madame °!»SK" ~ffi> Severed Lives," So.

CHAPXER XXIX. cossmvriNG lady melross. Tony Folger could do more than jKFol"blank look of surprise aftor Lillis's cast * fl ing figure, Lady Molross throw up ' vbrory *indow again> crying shavply : -ir i Mr Folger, where has Lillis

the lodge to spoak to Langdon," iled Tony , dy Melross once moro withdrew, and hastenod round to tho stables. ibis's fleet steps wero directed to the hnobuah b°wer' L reached it, discovered it empty, and Sh Z Tet about tho task that was to il!tn!hhaca Hough faithful or false. prfkCf showed the fragments of 2Tony had spoken- minute scraps of *b Lnar scattered far and wide by the "° PgSof wind that had caught and 9.&V5U- overtaking to Lthem, and one equally hopeless to P th Vfram them tho desired information. &pground'tho tin * il^. moat3> to" a r with the large space they covered, for* all ogninst her success. frstsho would not bo discouragod. ?lflT and rapidly aho collected tho 2jfl» nor handkerchief, and then re- Tfv Melross, still"at tho library window, jfher mount the terrace and wont out to ' "ihogW met her keen gaze with a bitter "Cd'my father lived," sho said, "the • «nd humiliations of this day would Sr have been mine !-He loved mo." With those tremulous yet proudly ac- X *°rdß' Bho avo[ ted r° r A °yf , and co to pa»s on, whon Lady Molross ll nPC moan to Bay," cried hor ladyship, Ac ff ith rare emotion—"you mean XIK I do not love you ? I who-" lillis shook her head drearily, and as a nulofteara blinded her sight, hurried on to the stairs- There ehe pwsed and looked back. ''Give me happiness, not gold, my oother!" she faltered. "I will give you happiness ana gold, my taghter," answered Lady Molross. And biding her pain at tho girl's evident donation under that retort sheturnod away, and Lillis ran upstairs. A lew minutes later tho dog-cart was driven round, and Hood strodo up at tho ame momont. Ho stopped to give an order to tho atable m and then went within doors. He hastened to the library. As he hoped, Lsdv Melross was there alone. "Vhy," she exclaimed, surprised, Mr Meet told me ho was to pick you up at the lodge. Or is it about Lillis ? What did •la sun t 1" Hood looked startled. "Oh, it is all right, explained Lady Mcl-

* She is in her room now- * BUPP°as she altered her mind, and did not go to the "^suppose so," nodded Hood, satisfied titli the knowledge that Lillis was safe. ■'lalteredmine,"adding,abruptly : "Have youaoen Rebecca Hough!" "No," "I thought not, and came back to tell yon that through her address and faithful lesalhave just intercepted a note from lillis to Solicitor Gibba." "To Solicitor Gibbs I"

Hood broke upon the astounded exclam ation with a brief and rapid account of rtathad taken place, and his own opinion oflM purpose. Lady Melrosa was crimson with wratli when he ceased. "Gibts !" she ejaculated. "To brave netoogh Gibb3! It was well I took your counsel and prevented her leaving the grcands! Doubtless it was her purpose to writs and mail the letter at the post office." "Doubtless ; but it does not matter," ntanedHood, eoothingly ; " I forgive this rcWHoM act as I forgive her foolish though shocking accusation." "You may well say shocking !" cried LadyMelross, with severity. "1 mother then she came in awhile ago, with the eagle purpose of expressing my deep dis jteaure, bat-" "Say nothing!—not a word, I beg ! iitopojed Bood. "It was only the rock techarge of a rebellious girl." "But that detective, Robert ? What if fc overheard? They are a dreadful set of ateb-ready to ban anybody for the sake of iche!" flood smiled, secure in his breathless observation of Linter. "The detective did not overhear," he did, "and," the smile deepening, " grant ing that he did, the charge would strike kirn as too utterly preposterous for a moment's consideration. And now let us nto to the point from which we havo wandered. See," holding tho letter written rt the lodge before her eyes. Lady Molroes read the indicated super icription slowly aloud : "'Theßevr. George May.' So you havo written'"

She glanced up a littlo uneasily. "Warned by Lillis's attempt, I havo ; nd with your kind permission, she shall bo made Countess of Langdon within an hour dim arrival."

,; He spoke with breathless joy; his dark feceglowed with indescribable delight. "His arrival^when ? At tho close of the week, of course ?"

"Atthe cloaeof twenty-nine hours to-mor row evening I"

CHAPTER XXX,

THE WAITING VISITOR. - Ure Miutosa flushed with an unoasy fane of shame nt the unseemly haste.

"Too soon, Robert," she answered. "Despite your limit of three days, I—" "Kay, pardon the interruption, and hear me out," cried Hood. ~ "Imust goto Paris, and atonce. Linter's |rat boa made the journey a clear duty. IMnmustgowithme. After this morning's faffis attempt I cannot leave her to the con i tingeacies of my absence. Besides, the toy that calls me away may prove an ex- Wediagly dangerous one. LilHs should be loured against the chance of my .death. Het future, and yours, are of vital moment "Be. As Lady Langdon she will be rich «M distinguished, whether I live or die, *Mle,her acceptance of that title will secure .'■ yw, as your ladyship knows, a proud in oeptodonce at once. Have I, then, your :\««Mnt? shall I post this letter ?" • Rapidly, excitedly as he had poured out toe words, Lady Melross had kept pace with M crafty arguments. # For the second time that morning sho had justified his faith in her ambition. _ "But," she cried, breaking upon'his ter n of gratitude, "you will be good to her, Kobert? I give her to you, confident that I »m making the best provision for her future wat is possible. Don't mako me curso the % that I yielded to your persuasions." Eer mother's heart was touched, and . ™spoke with a mother's anxious emotion. " . "Be good to her!" echoed Hood, in radiant vehemence. "She shall never how a grief that my hand can avert. I sillgaard her as the supreme joy and trea ,<«eof my life. But that iB Tony'a Btop. j»y no more. It is needless now to take torn Into our confidence." ... Lillia did not moke her appearance below *ws till summoned to dinner, which, "a accordance with the old earl's'custom, ■■■•»« served at the early hour of two". .oho found Lady Melross in the dining- Jj-om, and a email table drawn cosily near 'to fire, with covers for themselves only. Lady Melro3B noticed her look of surprise, *?f. ay ' determined to ignore all causes « diSbronoe, smiled pleasantly as they took . w«ir seats. 'We shall have to dine alone, Lillis. j™ carl has taken Mr Folger over to ."""Won, and will not be back until dusk. > v n(?' by way, Mr Folger left his good »J8 and kindest regards for you." Good-bye!" echoed Lillis, suddenly ■W»«d to interest. "Has he gono back to London 2" _"*¥««! something official, I believe— •JttathuiK abput an opening for him at St. 'S OTjburg. He was in a great hurry, and J*»[edeven faster than usual, so I did not vffT'tand him very olearly. Had he been ~™ hurried I would have sent for you." Swiliß clasped her hands on the edga of '■ mb .<ble and looked at hor ladyship in ■, Je8»«al silence. ■a ■•■.Oh," she thought, "if I had only •ski/,

known I Though trifling, heis good-natured, and my letter—"

" Lillis, child, Black is waiting ; let him givo you your soup," said Lady MelroßS. The girl roused herself, removed her hands, and exprossed tho astonishment sho really felt.

The ceremony of dinner then proceeded. At its closo thoy went to the library. There Lilhs, moved by a sudden impulse, cheeked her ladyship midway across tho room. She caught the wrinkled old hand 3 be tween her own, crying, tremulously : " Mamma, will it be worth while to tell you that Robort is a bad and thoroughly unscrupulous—" "It will not be worth while, my dear. Let us drop the subject. I want you to answer a few of tho muny letters that have been accumulating during the last fortnight. Come." •

She released herself, and walked with unrufiled patienco to ono of the small writing-desks, where a number of open lottors lay ready for tho girl's examination. " Make them short, my dear," continued her_ ladyship. "Wo can bo excused for saying much after paasing through the scenos wo have lately. I have pencilled thn portions I desire noticed."

But Lillis would not be silenced

Sho ilung her arms about her mother's nock. Sho pressed her soft lips to tho wrinkled check.

<; Oh, mamma ! mamma I" she falterod, tearfully. " do not givo yoursolf to the wicked projects of that bold, bad man! Do not raise a wall between us by trying to force me into a union with him, (Jive up this, mamma, and I will givo up Cyril—all thought, all hope, of over becoming his wife. I promise, mamma, I will give my lifo to you."

Lady Molrosa'a pation.ce was unassailable. She felt herself too near the completion of her ambitious schemes to bo onsily moved tt anger. Sho kissed tho girl aa sho might have kissed a foolish child.

" It is not tho sacritico of your young life to my old ago that I want," aho said. "It is to soo you rich and distinguished aa tho Countess of Langdon. Thero is not such another parti as Robort in all Groat Britain. Consequently I sustain him in his suit Now sit down, my dear ; and after tho letters are written, go and rost. This nervous excitement is telling upon you. " But," speaking in a lower tone to horself, " the strain will soon be over."

Tho girl caught tho words, and answerod them.

"Do not think it, mamma 1" sho ex claimed. "1 will die of starvation soonor than become that bad man's wifo !"

Lady Melross smiled indulgently, pGintedout tho letter she wanted answered first, and silenced tho girl by retiring to a distant seat.

Tho day wa3 closing whon Lillis loft the library .for her boudoir.

LJp to this hour sho had soon nothing of Rebecca Hough since thoir parting at tho box bush bower. But that tho woman had attended to her usual dutios was manifest in the fre3hly-swopt hearth and roplenishod tiro.

Lillis sat down on a footstool drawn to one end of tho rug, and asked herself, as sho had countless times that afternoon, whether sho should intrust hor mother with all she knew and suspected.

But two considerations weighed against it—tho sickening fear of becoming acces sory to Hood's death on the gallows, and a solemn sense of responsibility a3 regarded the dead earl's known wishes.

That Lady Molross would unwisoly im peril the latter sho was cortain.

She had just reached this sorrowful con clusion for tho last time when a knock at tho door announced Kebecca Hough's ap pearance with the lights. Lillis answered the knock, roso from her low seat, and stood watching the woman's approach with robuking oye. Tho gaze was loat upon its object. Re becca never took her own from tho candles. A respectful courtesy was tho only act that indicatod a consciousness of tho gin's pre sence.

The candles properly disposed on tho high mantel, she drew tho window curtains, and then, recalled to the firoplaco by a falling brand, seized tho tongs and procoodod to re build tho blazing structure.

At that moment Lillis spoko. Her sweet voice, cold and stern, she asked, abruptly: "Did you know you wero stealthily fol lowed to Langdon village this morning — that a man was close upon your stop soon aftor you left tho Abbey gates ?"

Tonga and brand crashed to tho fonder, and Rebecca straightoned.herself and faced tho girl with an aspect of such uncon trollable terror that Lillis's tender heart was touched.

For one brief instant she looked at tho girl in a wild, whito questioning. The next she stammered, failingly : " A man, Miss ! For Heaven's sake what kind of a man ?— Who ?-Can ho—" hor grating voice dropping to an inaudible whisper, " suspect."' Lillis spoko more gently. "That," she said, "I cannot tell you ; I only know tho fact. Desirous to loam whether you had decoived me in regard to the declared errand to Langdon villago, I went to one of tho upper windows that commands a partial view of the road.

"There, by means of a spy-glass, I found not only that you had spoken truth in that particular, but, also, that you wore followed. The man was of middle height, drossed in a dark grey suit, and wore a black slouch hat. Did you sco sucli a person ?"

An expression of intense relief swopt the woman's rigid face, and softened tho wild stare of her unfathomable eyes. Sho said quickly, and a littlo unovonly too : " You frightened mo, Miss. It's a lone some road, with its bit o' wood hero and there, and a cripple liko me might be murdered and nobody tho wisor. But it was only a poor foolish fellow you saw. I know-it by tho suit and hat. Ho came to me noar tho big grocer's, and wanted to know if he'd be like to get a place with his lordship, and asked a lot of questions about the duties and so on, which I cut short with short answers." She took up the tongs and plunged the blazing pine knot to a secure position. Lillis's pity vanished with Rebeccas alarm. "I have," she said, a more chilling stern ness gathering in her tones, "I have dis covered another thing." Rebecca half paused in tho act of re plenishing the fire, and then wont stolidly

"I have rend your black treachery in the gathered fragments of the note intrusted to your care, and basely delivered1 by you into your master's hand." An almost imperceptible start attested Rebecca's omotion at that charge. After an almost imporaeptible pause she answered. Not the slightest traco of feeling marking her harsh accents, she said, com posedly : , , r . " You shouldn't a' trusted mo, Miss, you ought to see I ain't no friend to you." At that remarkable reply Lillis stood un able to utter a word. , While she thus mutely regarded the woman, the latter muttered slowly, ab sently, as she began to swsep up the hearth: . ~, " The detective's back again in the lib ry.

"Who?— What was that you said? cried Lillis, starting into sudden life, and, with one breathless movement, reaching tho woman's aide. . Rebecca repeated the words, turning her swarthy face full upon the girl as she did

For a moment LilHs remained motionless, absolutely petrified by the gaze she met. " Mockery, warning, entreaty,,animosity —which is it ?" sho said to herself. Rebecca dropped her eyes and went on with her task, adding indifferently : " Ye?, he's there, waiting for his lordship, who oughtor be home now " . The words broke the spell that had tall6n upon the girl with the look. " Waiting I" sho breathed. And, unconscious of the strange, intent gaze that followed her, she ran headlong fl°As shY reached tho landing of tho last flrrht of stairs, Hood burst open the outer dcor, and striding rapidly forward, stopped at the foot and looked up. Her haste and excitement were too ap parent to pass unnoticed. ~_.«„ Dark suspicion and passionate admiration blending in his faceand votae, he spoke one word and then paused, checked by a ser vant's hurrying foot and exclamation : " It's you, my lord !" said the man. "AH light," interposed Hood, im -MlS^star^ffio^ ""LUHs^etf^-'opportunity and ran 'ZodtrnTto her with the suspended !DThe yservant nervously interposed again. "It's the gentleman, my lord, ho sam, rapidly, incoherently. "We thought" * was your lordship's knock andl he got m a'roost unbeknowest, and then, seeing

your lorsdhip hadn't give no orders since he was horo this morning, wo thought as it must bo all right." "The gentleman?" > echoed Hood, angrily. -'What—Hah 1" The last oxclamation broke from his lips as Lillis suddonly fled past him, and the sorvant's moaning burst upon his mind. Ordering the man off with a word, he sprang fiercely after the girl. As her hand soized the door knob, his i grazed her Bhoulder. He was too late, The door fell open. With white face and wild, burning eyes, Lillis rushod into tho room.

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE DETECTIVE IKI'EEPERES-BILSY'H ERIUND, The opening door showed the library ten anted not only by Detectivo Lintor, but Lady Melrosa also.

Tho detective had eagerly seized the op portunity to draw her ladyship into a minute description of the evonts of the night of the tragedy. But, at tho startling entry of Lillis and Hood, both rose involuntarily to thoir feet, staring dumbly. Lillis fled to Lintor. "For Heaven's sako," she cried, " tako it to Solicitor Gibbs !"

Speaking tho choking, breathless words, sho thrust a sealed envolopo into his hand.

Hood rushed upon them liko a whirl wind.

In a raomont ho had torn tho lottor from Lintor's hand.

" Givo it mo I" cried Lady Molross, palo, stern, and haughtily erect. "la my child insano '!"

Lillis burst into an anguished cry, Hood, too much onraged to notico tho command, Hung tho lottor into tho liro.

Drivon to uttor despair, Lillis turned passionately to Lintor. Sho cried, passion ately, pointing to Hood : "Ho is not the old earl's son ! Ho is not tho heir to the title and estatos of Langdon ! Cyril Chosnoy is tho hoir ! That man is Robort Rood, son of Lawrence Hood—"

Thoro Lady Molross suddonly burst into toars and caught the girl to her heart, " Oh, Iloavon pity mo!" sho wailed, brokenly. "My child is mad ! Oh, Lillis, Lillis ! Would Heavon I had died boforo this hour !"

" Yes, sho is mad," falterod Hood, with slow, ashy lips. "I will ring for Robocca Hough."

'■ I am hero, my lord," spoke Robocca's harsh voico at tho door. "I saw Miss running wild-liko down tho stairs and along the hall, and thought I'd bo wanted." "Tako hor to hor room," sobbed Lady Molross, in genuine grief. "Como, my lovo."

Lillis broko from her enfolding arm. Sho cried, despairingly, turning to tho dotoctivo :

"I am not mad. Bring Solicitor Gibbs horo, and I will prove lam not. I swoar it. - Cyril Chosnoy is tho Earl of Langdon ; and that man," pointing again at Hood, "knows it only too woll. Tell Solicitor Gibbs ! Toll Cyril Chosnoy and—" "For moroy's sako, hush!" breathed Rebecca Hough at hor ear. " He'll have you in a madhouse."

There was something in the unnoticed interruption that effectually checked the girl. A gonuino terror struck through tho woman's suppressed voice. With a dospairing gosturo and glanco at LintCr, sho submittod to Kobocca's impelling arm and turned to tho door, followed by the weeping Lady Melros?.

Lintor, roused from his astounded ailonco by the movement, started aftor them, cry ing, loudly, hurriedly : "Hold! I must spoak to that young lady. She is, I boliovo, perfectly e.ino." Luly Melross and Hood tu'nod upon him with ono consent.

" How dare you, sir, think to ineddio with my child ?" cried tho baronot's widow, hor eyes flashing wrathfully through hor tears. •• Mind your own business !" thundored Hood, intercepting him. " l?y lloavon, I've a groat mind to have you put out of door.*, neck and ticols ! Your impudonco is insullbrablo, and your audacity in returning to tho Abbey unexampled. What brought you, you mean cur? Speak, and spoak quick, or I'll have you kicked out yet."

Tho door closed upon tho furious throat, and tho two faced onch other alone.

Linter's largo oyes wero dangorously ablaze, but he answered tho question calmly.

" I came," ho said, " purposely to urgo your lordship to accompany mo immediately to Paris."

" I'll accompany you nowhere!" shouted Hood, besido himsolf. " I'll go to Paris mysolf. And now, sir, leave tho Abbey this instant, and send your bill to tho steward to-morrow. From this hour you aro out of my employ. liegono !"

His faco livid, hii hand shaking, ho. pom tod to the door.

Lintor gazed at him from under his heavy lids with steady coolness and composure, With tho same ho spoko. " You aro right, my lord. lam out of your employ, but by my oini will. Know, however, that my sleepless efforts to dis cover tho Earl of Langdon's murderor will ceaso only with tho murderer's arrest. Ibid you a good evening, Lord Langdon."

Ho bowod, withdrew, and, before a ser vant could respond to Hood's furious pull at tho boll, was out of tho houso.

Bilsy answered tho summons.

Hood, standing impatiently at tho open door of tho library, beckonel him into tho room with a faco of such livid passion that tho man stared in unconooalod astonish ment.

" You have scon tho stranger that just wont away?" hissed Hood, brcath lossly. "You would know him?" " I let him in, my lord. I'd lukhv him." "You aro not particular about tho way you mako inonoy ?" Uilsy understood tho terriblo moaning underlying tho hushed question. His eyes gleamed avariciously. "Not if it's a paying way, mylcrd. Not if I'm suro of a big sum," ho replied. " It will bo a sum largo enough to mako you an independent gentleman for life. Follow that man, deal him his doath-blow, and your fortune's made. But," as Bilay opened his mouth to answer, " not near the Abbey, remember. Tlioro is a wood close to the vil—"

Bilsy, impatient to be gono, interjocted rapidly : "I know, my lord, and I understand! But tho figger, my lord ? It's a bold deed and needs a square promise." Hood named tho sum, withfiercoomphasis, and eyes that flamed balefully. " He's a dead man !" said Bilsy, all the evil in his nature fired by the onormous amount of Hood's bribe.

Ho touched his forelock, took a stop toward the door, and then, chocked by a sudden thought, turned round again. "What if I'm balked?" he said. "Tho placo is a good placo enough, but it's early yet, and somobod/ might clianco along whon not wanted."

"Follow him !"

"To London?"

"To London! Hados ! Any whore ! Everywhere ! Only do it, and- do it coon ! Mind ! Soon ! Or it will be too late for you and me !" Doubly roused by tho fearful passion in Hood's faco and voico, the man answered, quickly, significantly : "It won't bo too late, my lord! He's a dead man !" Emphasising tho words with a blood curdling look, he loft the room. " And I a safe man !" brgathed Hood, as the large, powerfully-built form disappeared from his Satanic gaze. At the moment tho door closed upon Bilsy, Dotoctivo Linter dropped lightly from the balcony, where ho had beon a witness of the foregoing scene. " Some evil afoot!" ho thought. " Men's countenances have been, my study too long to leave me in doubt as to the nature of the colloquy just ended But what is it?—a plot against me or a plot against that beautiful girl? Ah, if I could only have caught a few words ! Still, it's a great deal to have seen. Those carelessly drawn curtains have proved useful.'' He stole away and made rapidly acrosß the turf for the gate from which LiHis bad been turned that morning by Bilsy. As he gained tho deeper gloom of the park ho paused, fancying he heard a suspi cious sound. He turned, and, standing in the shadow of a monstrous oak, strained his gaze through the gatheiing darkness. Ho listened attentively, even pressing his ear against the ground. Presently he went on reassured. "I'm afraid it's the young lady, he thought again, uneasily. "That woman whom I overhauled this morning in my grey suit was entirely too reticent. And— But, we'll see, my lord ! There's a double mvetery here to bo cleared up, I find ! Mies Melross is no more mad than I am; but she is in dead earnest! And—so am While he had stood listening, Bilsy, who had got upon his track with the keen in stinct of a blood-hound, stood in a breath less silence only a few rods distant. But no sooner did the detective move on, than, warned by tho halt, Bilsy changed bis course.

Turning quickly ho took a roundabout path to the village, that would keep him out of Linter's sight, and hearing till tho fatal momont of the attack.

By running at iull epetd ho effocted his purpose, gaining the cover of the wood designated by Hood just as Lintor came in view, and just as twilight had settled into tho darknoss of night. There he waited.

{To be Continued),

The Old Sailor's Yarn

When folks talk of cholora coming again— not that I think it will, for they've put a bit of a stop to it with sanitary idoas, I rather reckon, and it can't bo what it was in Chris tian countries again- but when it's talked of, my mind goes back to long, long ago, whon I was a young follow, with hair as black as coal, and thero wasn't a stoamor on tho ocean as yot. I was a sailor—only a boatswain aa yet—and I was married to tho prettiest girl that ovor set foot in shoe leather, Ask your grandfathor or your great-grandfather which was cholora year in those tiinos, and you'll got tho dato. I'd gone down to whoro I was born, to settle matters up for mother, who was a widow, and was fjoing West—Kentucky was West ! lion— to live with her daughter, Ann. The next neighbour bought tho place. Ho said he'd had nieo folks next him for years, and didn't want to run tho chance of getting tfio otlior kind And .tho day wo made the bargain I saw Sally. Sho came out into (lio barn-yard in 11 pink gingham, with a nhiie apron full of corn.

'■ Chick ! chick ! chick !'' 3113 calls, throw injj tho corn ono side, And " Chuck ! h::ck ! chuck I" says sly, and throws ie on ho other, And it. was just as if she ca'led my heart to her. Don't you ever go and icliove that those vereea in the valentine? iliout Cupid, and as how lie shoots arrows into you whon you'ro not looking, are all libs; which I suppose is what our chaplain meant when ho told us thoy were mytho logical. Something wont through my heart as I stood looking at that girl feeding tlio chickens. 1 felt it. And I heard a little

"To, ho!" up in tho tree over my head, which might have boon a bird, but might liavo been Cupid—d'you sco V—laughing at mo. Woll, from that moment all was up with mo.

Sally's father, by good fortuno, had a bottor opinion of mo than mayhap I dosorved, and ho was favourable. I courted Sally ; 1 t;ot her promise ; and wo wero married. 1 was only a boatswain, but 1 was likoly to rUo, as J. did, to bo captain. And her father bought us a little frame house, and hor mother furnished it, and we iolt as if wo wero a Icing and a queen. Now York was a quiotor pluco then than it U now, and where wo lived was quite among green lanes. The Battery was a fashionable park for ladios and gentlemen to walk in, and aristocracy lived around tho Bow ling Greon. Bless you 1 hew a city grows ! If only I'd been a landsman how happy wo would havo been ; but it is Jack's duty to bo off and nway from homo and truo lovo. And then the voyages woro longer than thoy are now.

Whon once wo woro off we'd not bo back for six months or moro, I know ; but I tokl Sally that whon I waa captain sho should ;il .vays sail with me, with a cabin of her own liko a parlour; and sho tried to keep up heart

Hut it wasn't only Sally that piped her oye tint day we sailed, standing on thequay ; '.hero was that big lubber, -Jack Robinson, lUoai'd that felt his eyes wot; and I was not ashamed of it cither.

Well, away wo sailed : weather now fair, dow foul ; lottors from homo uhoro wo stopped, and bad now 4at last in tlio papors wo got about tho cholera. Sally's lottor did not speak of it. bul it had got to New York. I wasn't usually norvous ; but I can toll you that that news mado mo shivor when I heard it.

It's a qucor thing, cholora ; travelling about as if it ha.l a mind of its own, and starting always from the placos wliuro tho Hindoos got together in great bands in what they consider religious meetings. I'vo scot) 'oin, tho heathen. Straight tho cholera cornea from thorn as if it was tho devil bogging pardon for mentioning him

But L wasn't one to worry over f.incios ; and 1 did my work, and began to feel sure (hat I should got on and bo captain somo day. Atid I bought a lot of presents for S illy in foreign ports, and waa wild with joy when wo wero really bound for home again.

It often U3od to'soem as if tlio ship wasn't fort enough for mo ; tv if 1 mv.4 jump ovorboard and swim. 1 wanted homo, and 1 wanted Sally, as a baby wants its mother. So you may judgo if 1 lost timo on getting ashore when onoo wo reached Now York None of us did, for that matter, but 1 reckon I was first. I had my bundles under my arm and my pay in my pocket. IV oilod my hair and 1 wore my ehoro clothes My hands woro aa brown as an Indian's, with sun and wind, and I guoss my fact was about tho same colour. But if 1 lookec aa I felt, I looked happy. With tho motion ot tho ship beneath my feet yot, I took my way toward my homo, looking out for Sallj all tho way, for if slio knew tho ship was ii shod surely come to meet mo. Not a sign of her did I see, though, and I camo to tho corner or my street—Norfolk was its name—with a queer little fear in my heart, that made mo pause and hardly daro to turn it—and then I took tho stop and saw v ilttlo crowd about the door ol my homo, and boforo it—Oh, good Iloaven ! a hoarso ! —black and awful, and a carriago boforo my house. " Yes, yes—but," says Ito my soif -" yes ; it might stand there, and not bo from there. Courage, Jack! C!od wouldn't do that to you. Not He. Have faith - havo trust ! Was thoro ever a night you didn't pray he'd bring you back safe to Sally, and do you think Ho won't answor you ? Courage, Jack !" And then I stag gored on and stood amongst tho people, and my door was open ; and a man—sorious, ole'ish, kind—took hold of my arm, and led mo aside.

" Who is dead ?" I asked. "I don't know," eaid ho. I took courage at that; for it was my Sally, surely hod know her— surely. - " It's a sailor's wife," ho added. l>Sho lived alono thero. Last night a woman camo and said, 'There's a case of cholera at Mo.—. I went. Folks aro apt to got frightened at nothing, but I went in a hurry. It was cholora. I did all I could for hor, but sho died. Tho neighbours do not know her name. Sho hasn't lived hore long ; did you know hor?" " God grant I didn't," said I; "but I left my wife living in that house : wo own it. I loft hor thoro when I sailed."

Ho looked at mo grivoly, "They say her husband is a sailor," he said. "Sho told them so."

We went into tho house There were all the things I knew so well. I rushed from room to room. I moaned and wept. "It can't be," I cried. "It can't be!" but I At last tho doctor got mo to got into the carriage. Wo drove to the grave-yard, God knows how. I saw the earth cover the coflin, and then I hoped I was dying ; but I came to again in tho carriage, and I stood at my own desolate door. Tho doctor had been kind, and ho had told mo all that must be done before tho place would bo iit to live in ; but I did not care for lifo ; I wanted to dio, and 1 turned faint again, and ho, good man, was loth h leavo mo; and so wo stood, neighbour? peeping at us through the shutters, us I know, when suddenly I saw a vision. I had just been to her funeral, but there stood Sally looking at mo. Sho was dressed in white, with a little blue bonnet on her head, and, spirit though I knew she must be, looked fresh and young and bright. I stared at her. The cry I gave rang through the street, and she (lew to me. Ghost or no ghost, I hold her fast She was warm and soft in my arms Sho kissed mo, and I kissed hor, and cried-: " If I'vo gone crazy, let me stay so, for Sally has come back to mo somehow." And for all that had come and gone, it was Sally, and not her ghost, either. If my life depended on it I couldn't tell you juat how ehe made me understand, or just how I made her understand—l guese the doctor did it—but this is what had happened: The cholera breaking out, Sally's old folks wouldn't let her Btay in the city, and took hor out with them ; and just at that time Sally hears of a young woman, mighty poor and mighty down-hearted, who was waiting for news of her husband's ship. So she says to her: "There's a house empty ; I want no rent; you're wel come until I need to live there again." And it was this poor soui that died there. As for her husband, his ship was lost, and all hands with it; so mayhap they mot in heaven, and it was best. At all events we're made so that we must think of our own first, and I was glad—the Lord only knows how glad—with Sally in my arms again. We're together yet j old folks now, but happy ones, with our children about us.

THE PENALTY OF POVERTY

Extraordinary Case In England,

The following roport of a case hoard at Dartford Potty Sessions, before Mr C. S. Umfrieville (in the chair), Captain Palliser, and Mr J. Flower Jackson, is taken from " Dartford Express " : —

George Field, a bricklayer, was summoned for non-payment of £1 2g, being arrears at the rate of Is per week, of an order of the Court mado against him, in common with his brothers, for the maintenance of his fathor, an inmato of the Dartford Union Workhouse

Mr McLood, tho rolioving-ollicer, stated that tho caso had boon adjourned two successive months, to cnablo the dofendant to pay. Defendant: Yon know very woll I have not the moans to pay ; I want it settled one way or tho other, and the sooner you send mo to Maidstono Gaol again tho bettor.

Tho Chairman ; If you go on in, this way you will very soon find yourself thero. Defendant: Why don't you send mo to gaol at onco ? Whon you havo taken all my traps and loft mo penniless, with a wife and nino childron, you could sond me thero for thirty-ono days. The Chairman : Can you keep yoursel quiet ? Dofendant: Wo aro all Englishmen, ain't wo ? And law is law. I havo been laid up for nine wooks, and can I bo quiot whon I havo had thirty-one days in Maidstone (laol for nothing ? Tho Chairman (emphatically): If you are not quiet I shall certainly commit you. Dofendant : If I don't open my mouth no one else will for me. Lot mo havo what I ought to have - justice.

Tho Chairman : Ifyou don't bo quiet you will havo to suffor for it.

Defendant: I havo suffered onco. and I can suff'or again. You wero all mombers of tho Board of Guardians who sat on the bench and sent mo to lha Maidstone Gaol for thirty ono days : prosecutors and judges too. Do you call that justice? I may as woll "do" six months for nothing as thiry-onc days for what I novor owed.

Mr McLood : Tho caso was adjourned in consequence of his boing out of work. Ho wont to work last Wodnosday woek, but his wifo would not toll mo whero. She sont mo 43, but I told hor I could not re ceive it, as tho cbec was in tho hands of the Court.

Defendant: She wont and borrowed 4a off her father to koop my fathor bocauso she thought I should go to Maidstono Gaol.

MrMcLood: lie has boon at work since last Wednesday bricklaying, but his wife would not toll mo what ho has bcon corn ing.

Dofomlant: I have mado 105 hours einco I was horo, a month ago to-day, and havo a wifo and nino childion to keop.

Tho Chairman : What doos ho earn ? Mr McLeod : lie is a bricklayer, and oarns 9d an hour.

Defendant : Whon I can pot it I can com mand fid an hour an a mechanic, but if I can't got work what am Itodo ? Thero aro thousand? of us starving. I would as lief be in Maids tone Oaol as out of it at tho pre sent time. Yaii have had tho cose boforo you times out of number, and when 1 had not got a chair to sit upon you sont me to Maidftono Gaol for thirty-one days, and loft my wifo and nino children penniless.

Tho Chairman : I havo looked upon your oaso and dealt with it most leniently. When you wero not ablo to pay it was ad journed for a month, then it was adjourned for a second month, and now you como hero ami bohnvo yourself in this manner. I toll you, you are a diagruco tn tho class to. which you belong. Defendant: 1 have £0 to pay for back rout. What am I to do? I may just as well go to gaol.

Tho Chairman : You behavo yoursolf in such a way that I will send you to Maid stone Gaol for a month's hard labour.

Tho Deputy-Clerk : Havo you any ques turns to ask tim relioving-ollicor?

Pofendant: I havo nothing more to say, only that I havo a wife and nine children.

The Chairman : You stand committed to Mnidstono Gaol for a month, and tho noxt time you como here I hopo you will know how to behavo yourself. You aro a dis grace to your follow men. Defendant: Why? Bcoauso 1 speak tho tluthV la that tho reason why I am a dis grace ?

Tho Chairman : Yes

Tho defendant was then lemoved in custody ; but somo timo alter he again camo boforo tho magistrates, and, addressing the chairman, said i—What am I committed for ? I havo a wifo and nine children, and suroly you aro not going to tako me away from them again ? Tho Chairman : You should havo thought ot that boforo, instead of bohaving like a madman. As I havo already told you, I havo tried what I could to bring you to reason, and what havo 1 got for it ?—tho qua dians abused, tho law abused, and evei v pors'on abusod. As you havo chosen to dv this, and bring it upon yourself by your misconduct, you must boar tho effect of it and go to prison. Defendant (in a beseeching tono): But what for ?

Tho Chairman : Nover mind that; you will go to Maidatono (Jaol for a month. If you had behaved reasonably you would not havo had to go. Dofondant : Aro my family to starvo for anothor thirtyono day* aftor all that wo havo suil'ered ?

Tho Chairman : I will liavo no moro talk with you ; you aro committed for a month. Defendant: And you call thia English justice ? The Court then rose, and tho defondant was removed in custody in tho presonco of his wifo and daughter, who wore crying bitterly. At the 'rising of the Court Field's wifo had secured sufficient money to prevent hor husband being taken to prison. Of courao this fact does not bru.-h asido tho cruel soverity of tho bench.

Tho Dartford Liboral Club liold a meeting, at which a resolution was pn.-fi il calling for his immediatereloaso.andnsirnilarresolution was passed at a public mooting, nt which a small subscription was got up for the destituto wifo and children.

Mr Chamberlain has forwarded £5 to the fund being laisodby tho public; for tho man named Goorgo Field, who was fined by tho Dartford magistrates for neglecting tho support of his father. In the letter accom panying the remittanco Mr Chamberlain says" ho has road with groat indignation the proceedings, and says ho cannot doubt that tho Home Secretary will at once take steps to repair tho injustice that has been done. In tho meantime ho encloses a choque towards tho support of his family.

Jealousy Afloat.

o>t tho boat going up tho rivor the othor day was a couplo of whom ovorybedy soon took notice. It was plain enough that they had had a row, and that tho wife was as mad aa a wot hen. When sho had taken a seat tho husband walked up and down and glowered at overybody, and Boomed to murmur throats of vengeance. On tho deck, sitting by himself, was a red-shifted, big-fisted giant of a chap about 40 years of age. l'resontly the woman gathered up her parcels and walked over and shook his hand and sat down beside him, and began a cheerful chat, explaining, honrovor :

" My husband is terribly jealous of mo, and I wantto bother him.'

" All right, mann," replied old Hercules. "Just chatter and chin to \er heart's contont, and I'll larf and larf and slap my leg where the applauso should come in." The bold action puzzled tho husband for a few minutos, but presently he walked up to the pair and paid to the man : " Are you an old acquaintance of hers ?"

" I should remark that I was, your Honour. Knowed her fur tho last thirty odd."

"H'm, who are you?''

" They call mo William tho Conkoror when they have time, when they don't they ctit it short to Bill the Conk, And what may yer own handle be ?" " Hump ! Mary, come with mo !" " I'm entirely comfortable," sho replied.

" Miry, I want you !"

"Which is to remark," said William as he rose up, " that when a lady puts herself under my protection^ and a fly gent comes around with his chin music, Bill the Conk, is in duty bound to pertcct her. Stranger, you skip I"

"Sir?"

" Which is to say that you will slfip or swim "

William reached out, but the husband retreated and Bat down at a safe distance, and for two long hours he must have suffered torture. Thewifochatted, William slapped his leg, and the pa?sengora winked; and, as the couple landed at one of the club houses, the man in the red shirt handed the lady ashore like a cavalier and called out:

"I tumbles to the object, me lady, and if William the Conkerer kin over be of assist ance again iist gin me a blast on your fog horn and I'll be thar till death."

Shooting Texan Desperadoes

A despatch from Gainesville (Texas) of Sep tember Sth says: This community was startled at daylight this morning by the announcement that the famous Leo brothers, tho terrors of Northern Texas/had actually beon killed, Tho first intimation of the kill ing waß the arrival of a farmer'.1! waggon about 1 o'clock this morning containing the dead bodies of the notorious outlaws Jim and Pink Lee. The story of their kill ing is brief. Ever since the brutal massacre of the two Roff brothers anrl their compan ions in Indian Territory, in April last, the authorities have been scouring tho country in search of Jim Leo, leader of the terrible Leo gang. Innumerable rewards have been oilered for the capture, dead or alive, of Jim and Pink Lee. Tho Govorner offered a largo reward, Cook county otl'ered 81,000, tho Roff iamily offered SI.OOO, and half a dozen neighbouring counties placod a price on thoir heads, until tho total amount of guaranteed reward reached §7,000, the heavest by far over offered in Texas. It remained for a Toxan named Heck Thomas of Fort Worth, to vanquish the out laws. Thomas learned through some un known means that the Lee Brothers were in the vicinity of Harris township, near tho villago of Dexter, living under assumed names. Taking with him two trusty and bravo companions named Jim Taylor and Jim Settles, both of Cook county, he started yostorday morning in poarch of his human game. Each ollicer carried ono sixteon repeating Winchester riilo, with an oxtra one slung on his saddle. Their side arms wero two 44-calibre Colts and a flask of whisky. The Leo brothers were woll known to each of the three officers. After riding about ten hours, visiting numerous ranchos and showing photographs of the Lees, tho officers finally loarned their extra location and reached John Washington's place at 4 o'clock in tho afternoon. Thomas soon spied tho two outlaws, who were engaged in cutting John Washington's pasture fence. The three officers rode up within fifty yards of tho outlaws boforo tho latter discovered them. They dismounted and Thomas called on Lee to surrender. Taken unawaros though they wero, tho out laws answered with thoir revolvers, whon tho detectives opened fire with their deadly Winchesters. As the detectives raised to fire both the Loes, by Jim's order, lay fiat on the ground. Pink Leo was struck at the first fire, and writhed on the ground, grjaning piteously until the next volley put an ond to his sufferings. As the ollicors lirod they kopt advancing, Jim Loe returning thoir fire vory rapidly, ulthough ho had a bullet in his neck. Aftor emptying his om revolver, Jim crawled to whore his doad brother lay, and grasping Pink's weapon omptied italso at tho officers About forty shots woro firod at Jim boforo ho coasod to move, but, strangely enough, only two shots took fatal offoct. Porhaps no band of criminals in tho United States* ovor did such bloody work in so brief a period as tho Leo gang, headed by Jim and Bill and Pink Loe. Within two years from the Ist of last May forty two human lives wore taken by this band of cattlo and horso thiovos. Thoir principal rendezvous was Delaware bend, in this county, just across from Indian Territory. They stolo thousands of cattle and drovo them into Indian Territory. Bill Loo was captured in May last with throe other mombors of tho gang, and has boon taken to Fort Smith, Ark, to stand trial for the murder of tho two Roll' brothers and a Deputy United States Marshal in tho Chickasaw Nation.

A Mormon Bishop in California.

Tun Mormon Church has its eyo on Cali fornia. At least, H.B. Claweon, one of tho thirtyono bishops who nreHido over the Mormon wards in Salt Lako City, is so much takon with the advantages of this State that ho is a confessed advocato of the migration thither of tho Utah followers of Brlgham Young's faith. Mr Clawson-—ho drops tho title of bishop in his everyday intercourse abroad —said that tho idea had occurred to him as ho was coining here through his State. His purpose in coming, he stated, was to attend to personal busi ness. Tlio removal of tho Mormons to iiomo pi co whoro they would bo more leniently treated than in Utah ha 3, how ovor, been seriously entertainod for some timo by tho dignitaries in tho Mormon Church. Mr Clawson said that Mexico was ono of tho soots looked favourably upon. Tho bishop" boing an authority in tho Church, and having as a matter of courso inside knowledge of any contem plated movements on tho part of tho Mor mons, his statements, suggestions and hints were accepted by his hearer as representing the opinions that tho Mormon rulors enter tain. The information that ho gave as to what was ictondod so far as California is concorued, followed his warm uttorances against what ho called tho persecution to winch adherents of tho Mormon creed are now subject by tho Federal officials in Utah. Ho conofomued tho policy now being pursued there to stamp out polygamy as a mistaken one.

"Politicians ought to see," he said, " that tho timo has come when a different courso should be pursued. California ought to extend a holping hand to us and invite us to come and locate hero. It would bo a good thing for this State. What it needs is now colonies of industrious, pcacoabla Bottlers. California should invito us to come hore."

" But why can you not como without an invitation?"

" And bo subjected to tho same treat ment as wo'ra rocoiving now '! No ; that would not do. Vi hat we aro looking for is to como with a promise that we will be dealt with fairly. Wo don't want to bo liablo after removing hero to bo hounded, pursued, and arrested aftor removing to California.

''. How is tho invitation to booxtended?"

' ■ By the Legislature or tho pooplo in some way. Wo will have more right in tho State than a Territory, as you are aware, and the migration of 150,000 intelligent, well-be haved people as the Mormons would go very far towards building up California." Tho feeling between the Gentiles and the Mormons, he stated, has been much inten sified by recent occurrences in Utah. They nover mingled together to any extont or had many interests in common, but now they are^at sword's point. Regarding the placing of the national flags at half-mast on the Fourth of July, he declared—

"No insult was intended to the flag. I say that positively, because I am in a posi tion to know. Noither was the Church responsible for tho lowering of tho flags. The flag was raised on the theatre in Salt Lake which I own, but the man in charge afterwards lowered it without my know ledge. When I heard of it I ordered it raised atonco. Still, that signifies nothing, as tho theatre) there is regarded as neutral ground, where nono of the bitterness and difference that exist in tho Territory is given expression. The roason of the half masting was that we felt we had nothing to rejoico over. Wo folt wo had cause for sorrow instead."

Mr Clawson went on, with an occasional burst of indignation, to demonstrate that by making the Edmunds law apply to Mormons who already have sevoral families, and compelling them to forswear all but tho first wife and her childron, the Government, instead of winning the rising generation from Mortconism, is increasing their hatred for the Gentiles. "If the system is wrong," he said, " it will dio out by itself. If it is not wrong, laws like that cannot wipo it out."

Mr Clavvson is now nndor indictment in Salt Lake City for polygamy, and saya that when ho is tried in Uctobor he will not fight the charge. President Taylor and ex- Delegate Cannon qre also to bo indicted when enough eyidenco against them is ob tained. "The idea," exclaimed Mr Claw son, "of arresting and prosecuting a man 80 years old, as Taylor is, for polygamy !" Bishop Clawson was one of the earliest Mormons, having settled in Salt Lake City in 1540.—" San Francisco Chronicle."

Variety of Food.— Simplicity of diet has been preached ; the prophet eating thelocust bean and wild honey-the Hindoo with his rice-nomad races living on cheese, milk, and goats-flesh, have been held up as ex amples worthy of all admiration. The poor, the uncivilised-, and those who would rend the body for the soul's faults, use from neces sity or choice, simpln diets; but as a rule when man can pet a complicated diet he eats it. A man in this climate to do what he has to do well requires to have at least twice a day a certain amount of complicated pabulum floating down the intestinal canal, and the amount must be a little in excess of what the body requires. The reason why the diet should be of a complex character is because if several kinds of albuminous matter are present and one fails to be digested another succeeds ; if several kinds of"iat are present, if one is unabsorbed another is taken up. And the reason why there should be an excess of nourishment taken is because the digestive organs are never perfect; there is always waste.— Leisure Hour.

DECLINE OF THE RUSSIAN NO BILITY.

Hopelessly Bankrupt and Steeped In All the Vices and in Petty Crime.

The little battle fought on the Afghan- Russian frontier on March 30th, which has marl? c 0 m uch noiso throughout tho world, has opened a series of imposing festivities in tho Czar's country. In all the cities and towns Russians have recently celebrated three jubilees.

AprillSth was the thousandth anniversary of the death ot St. Methody, ore of the two Slavonian Apostles. This religious Slavon ian millennial, writes a St. Petersburg cor respondent to the New Yoik "Sun, 1' was very opportune. In view of the dangbrous Anglo Russian conflict, which in the end might test the strength of the great North ern Empire, the national prayers to the Slavonian Apostles not only have strength ened, but even sanctitied the patriotiem of Russians. Over a thousand years ago two Slav brothers, missionaries from Byzantium, penetrated the dense primeval forests, thinly inhabited by the nomadic paean tribes, and preached to them the gospel in their owntonsjuo. Thon the two missionaries wont West, where they were wanted by some Slavonian kingdoms ; but they left behind them to the pagan tribes of their own race a procious gift, the Bible in Slavonian char acters. Thus they are identified in the Russian imagination with the religious unification of the country, and through that with general patriotism. Such brilliant roligious processions and such crowded public meotings as on this eccasion of the i^reat Slavonian anniversary have never before been witnessed here, and the biographies of St. Cyril and St. Methody have been scattered far and wide through out the country, like the leaves of the fall. Thus the military ardour of the war party is, as it wore, sanctioned by natural and even religious fcolinga. In his present excitement the Russian giant is a dangerous fellow to fight, dangerous even to John Bull.

Another jubilee was the centennial cele bration of the imperial charter, by which very important rights and privileges were granted to the Russian nobles, such as the possession of serfs and civil and military ad ministration. In fact, since Catharine 11. until the abolition of serfdom in 1861, the nobility was exclusively a ruling class in Russia. The Czar-Liberator, however, has taken away from the nobles all their special righte, so much so that to-day the peasant boy has as many chances of making a good career as has the heir of the most illustrious princuly family. It ia a general opinion of die beat observers horo that the Russian nobleman ia fast degenerating. He is bound r.n yield hia placo to a new blood. Public schools, collages and universities of to-day are preparing hero a new generation of boys vho boldly push to the front, not the least ashamed that their families are not inscribed in any " velvet book." No matter whether this homo novus is the son of a village priest or a country physician, or of a merchant, or of a tradesman, or of a peasant, or of a Government clerk: ho is bound to get his due by virtue of his education and personal ability and energy. In his rescript issued on the occasion of the nobles' jubilee (May 3), the Czar has virtually admitted that this title class of poople ie in a state of hopeless bankruptcy, and in order to save their lands from the hands ot speculators he has ordered the establishment of a special Nobles' Land Bank, by moans of which the Stato will be the sole creditor of the bank rupted nobles. Recently in a Moscow court there figured a certain Prince Qalitzin. Ho was tried and condemned for a petty crime. PrincoMostchcrpky, in his "Citizen," on that occasion said :

" I remember very well when this Prince Galitzin, a brilliant officer of the Imperial Guard, by marriage cama into relation with such families as Count Kueheloff s and Stro ganofi's. And now the same Prince is proved a common swindler. la ho an ex coption to the general rule? Not at all. Thero is a direct relation between the criminal and his own titled class. The high life of to-day is not what it used to be a quarter of a century ago. Formerly our nobles valued most noble principles, and now all prostrate themselves before the goldon calf. Honour, honesty, duty, every thing is pr1- on tho altar of that deity. They do not.mind borrowing money under worthless pledges. They are ready to dishonour their family name every day pro vided they will got by so doing money for women, champagne, horses, and similar dissipation." Such aro the Russian nobles of to-day ac cording to tho " Citizen," and yet the Czar urges them to see to it that the children of tho country at largo bo brought up in the rules of honour, honesty, and faith. The third jubilee waa tho centennial cele bration of the self-government of Russian cities. Czarina Catherine 11., on having granted certain righes and privileges to the different guilds, found it advisable to in trust to their hands the management of theii own afl'airs. Since then the industrial city has taken lead of the official city in Russia, In this and in other cities Russian trades men have arranged industrial exhibitions in aider to show the progress of Russian in lnstries. I visited the exhibition in this city sevoral times, and from that I have seen uiij heurd there I cannot help concluding that Russia still is a world in itself, separated from tho outer world. Her tradesmen work in their own obsolete styles. lam told that nine out of ten Russians eat to-day with wooden spoons from wooden plates and bowls, and drink water from wooden ladles.

" Could not you afford to make these things of galvanized iron ?" I asked a man ufacturer of woodenwarc

" Perhaps we could," ho answered, "but ?o far our people think of what to eat, and not of what to eat it from."

Slowly grows tho Russian giant. Poor fellow, though 1,000 years old, no is hardly iblo to foed himself,

Russian Town meetings

There is one striking and peculiar feature in tho political institutions of the Russian Empire. That is, that whilo the Czar's rule over all his people is an absolute despotism, in a large portion of Russia there exists a purely democratic local government. It is strange to see these two utterly different systems - a system of pure one-tnan power and a system of pure democratic rule—ex isting sido by side, We wonder when we hear that, in spite of the Czar's power, the peasants of a large part of Russia have almost as large a free dom of self-government as the cantons of Switzerland or tho towns of the United States. In a largo part of Central and Southern Russia in Europe, the local power resides in what we should call the " town meetings." In Central Russia this popular assemblage is called the "inir;" in Southern Russia, the "gromada." It comprises every adult male inomhor of fie commune, or village ; and within local limits, its authority is supreme. The ■' mir," however, can be summoned at any time by the poorest and most obscure resident of the commune; at his call it must assemble, debate and decide upon the measure which he wisho to have considered.

In the United States the_ town meeting assembles in the town hall, is presided over by a moderator, or chairman, chosen by the meeting, and its decisions are settled by the voto of a majority of the citizens pre sent.

In all those respects the Kussian " mir " differs from the American town meetings The mir is always bsld in the open air. Sometimes the villagers gather in front of the Mayor's house; sometimes in the mar ket house or public square; sometimes be fore the village tavern. No presiding officer is appointed. When the mir comes together, he who has sum moned it states the matter which he wishes considered. Thereupon thoro rises a deaf ening clamourof discordant tongues. Every body tries to speak and make himself heard He who has the strongest voioe has the best chance of getting tho floor. If the speaker pleases his hearers, he is allowed to go on. If not, his voice is drowned in a chorus of shouts and yells. " When the question is a burning one," says a recent Russian writer, •' the meeting grows warm, all speak at once, and nona listen. The assembly breaks up intogroups, each discussing the subject on its own ac count. Everybody Bhouts his arguments at the top of his voice ; shrieks and objurga tions, words of contumely and derision, are heard on every hand; and a wild uproar goes on, from which it does not seem possi ble that any good can result." No vote is taken in the Prussian mir on the questions it has to decide Every ques tion must be dstermined, not as with us, by a majority, but unanimously. Tho debate continues, until a proposal is made which commands the assent of every ono present. The utmost freedom and frankness of speech marks the meetings of the mira ; and decisions, whatever they are, mußt be implicity obeyed by every resident in the commune. There is no appeal from it, even to the Czar, or tho Czar'a officers.

Indeed, so free is speech that sometimes the peasents will speak in the mira of the Czar'a rule in a way which no one would

A Romantic Story.

daro to uttor abovo his breath jn a Russian city. Cases have been known in which the Mayor of a village has read aloud to the mir Nihilist proclamations which he had received by mail.

No one who studies the condition of the Russian Empire, and observes the wide spread discontent at tho harshness of the Czar's despotic rule, can fail to perceive in the aim a germ of democratic liberty, from which may in time bo developed a system of self-government throughout that vast and teeming nation. When the time comes for the Czar to give place to the rule of the people it is undoubtedly to the mir that the Russians will look as tho typo and model of their future political system. — " Youth's Companion."

Pawtucket (R. I.), September 24.—After twenty-live years, Thomas Garrity, who has wan a fortuno in the West, has found here hie two children, who were stolen from him in 1860, and whom he never expected to Boe again. Ilia story is a moat romantic one. Twenty-five years ago he was a Tesi dent of Pawtucket. His wifo died of con sumption, leaving two email children. In duo time Mr Gnrrity married again, and soon after, with his new wife and two children, removed to Boston. When out on the street oneday, walking with the children, the boy being 4 yeare and the girl 14 monthe, he mot a sister of his first wife. After a few words of eurpriao at seeing him, the woman asked permission to tako the children to a confectionery store to get them some candy. He went after them in ash art time, but they had disappeared. All search for them failed, although the police traced the aunt and the little ones to Paw tucket and afterward to Worcester. There all clues were lost. The disconsolate father reluctantly gave up the search and w(Snt Woat, where prosperity attended him. Last week he came to Boston a rich man, and with the aid of his wealth renewed his search for his stolen children. A skilled detective was employed, and as the result of his efforts Mr Garrity to day met at the Conant Thread Works a tall, handsome brunette of 27 yoara, who is unquestionably his daughter. She is highly esteemed, though poor, and is a singer at St. Mary's Church. The meeting between the girl and her father was most affecting. She told him that her brother Thomas is living at Natick, Mass. He is married, but the daughter is single. Their aunt told the children that their father.and mother wero both dead. Family troubles caused the abduction.

The Great Lessons of Co operation.

The representative working-men from all parta of England met at Oldhum for the 17th Annual Cooperative Congress. When the first of these assembles was held in Lon don, under the chairmanship of Mr Thomas Hughes, Q.C., in 18G9, the power and ex. tent of this movement >vere scarcely appreciated, even by its most enthusiastic supporters. In that year the whole trade of cooperative societies throughout the colonies did not exceed £7,353,363. It is now nearly four times that amount, while the two wholesale soci eties alone sold no less than £5,975,702. during 1884. By a happy coincidence the President of this Congreesis Mr Lloyd Jones, ajman now in hislOOthyear.who has devoted half a century of his life to the physical, social, and moral advancement of the work ing classes, and who is an original disciple of Robert Owen. The most important and difficult consideration likely to present it self before the Congress ia the question of what to do with the surplus capital in the hands of the great societies. The real secret of the success and force of this movement is the almost spontaneous way in which wealth has accumulated, both for the society and the individual. The £28 capital with which the Rochdale Equitable Pioneera started in 1844 had grown to £326,875 in 1883, and during the intervening 40 years . each member has almost unconsciously laid up money in proportion to tho amount spent by him at the Toad Lane stores, The so called co-operation familiar to Londoners is conducted on principles essentially dif ferent from those which prevail in the North. There the current prices of the locality ore charged ; but the profits are divided every quarter among the customers in proportion to amount of expenditure. Such customers being of necessity shareholders and joint proprietors of the concern, the economic results of this system are patent. At tho end of the year there is a nice little nest-egg unwittingly accumulated. In this way capital hasbeeninvostingandallowed to growin these societies, until they are almost unable to find profitable occupation for it. Some years ago a wholesale business was in augurated which for some time absorbed the superfluity, but the Wholesale society has proved an additional source of wealth, and only the more rapidly fosters the growth of .capital. It has nearly 900 customers, all of whom must be cooperative socie ties and who represent 433,151 members. 3ome idoa of the acceleration of its growth may be gathered from the statement that in 1882, when a separate tea and coffee depart ment was created, the sales were £190,022, whereas last year they had grown to £336,885. It purchases its provisions in foreign markets, having buyersin New York, Copen hagen, Hamburgh Rouen, and no less than five in Ireland ; whilo ita own steamers con i-oy the goods to English ports. Five great shoo factories have been established as well as soap works and biscuit bakeries, but still the cry is, "Find us employment for our capital." No doubt further development of distributive agency will take place, but the only real outlet is in productive indus try. And the moment this comes to be carried out on a large scale fresh difficulties arise. In proof of this we j need only point to a Jew figures of the Wholesale society. While upon sales to the extent of £36,000,000 it has made bad debts to the amount of £7,154 only, it lias lost no less than £60.000 by investments in shares or loans with cooperative produc tive societies, or with working-class joint jtock companies. For this reason, on finan sial grounds, it is doubtful whether the Congress will recommend tiny bold experi ments. But the ordinary customs of com merce have more than once been set aside by the innovators who have organised this gigantic and beneficent movement, and it is possible that a now nil most important ieparture may date from this Congress.

Some Curious Postal Addresses

While performing at Bolton in September, 1802, Hay, the comedian, received a letter from Charles Dibdin, which bore the fol lowing address :— " Postman, take this sheet away, And carry it to Mr Hay, And whether you ride mare or colt on. Stop at the Theatre, Bolton, Jf in which county you enquire, Merely mention Lancashire,"

Some curious examples were published in the " Chromo Lithograph" in 1863; these among others : — "Mr ——, travelling band, one of tho four playing in the street, Porshore, Wor cestershire Please to find him if possible." " This is for her that makes dresses for ladies, that lives at tother side of road to James Brocklip, Edensover, Chosterfield."

"This is for the young girl that wears npectacies, who minds two babies. 30, Sheriff Street, of Princa Edward Street, Liverpool." The wag who sent an epistle to "Tho biggest fool in tho world, Tunbridgo," had little thought, wo may bo sure, that it would thus bo endorsed: <;Tho Poatmastor Tunbridgo cannot decido to whom ho Bhould deliver this, as he does not know tho writer."

Two or three years ago a gentleman of Ayr received a letter, the envelope of which had theeo lines : — " Awa1 tao auld Scotland, and spier for John Grtenie, It's a wide direction, but a vreol kont name; In the New Toun o' Ayr, at the Auld Brig en. He sells a drap whusky—but the postman will ken; And if ye should fin' him, as I've nae doot you will. I'm certain hu'il no' grudge the postman a gill."

An old nostman of Chopstow, Monmouth shire, once delivered a lottor with this address :—

'• Postman, my hearty Use your utmost despatch In Ukins tnis letter " To the Inn Konny Thatch. John Kitchen, the landlord, A fine old .English hos:. Good cheer was his motto. Good nlo was his boast. " On Tut thill, near Chepstow, On the banks of the Wyo, You will find it with ■ ase. So, old fellow, god-bye."

We are further informed that an epistle having the following duly reached its destination ; — "Postman, thiemlsslvo which I tend Is for a tried and valued friend ; From Enßland 8 shores to Ireland's nation- Mark well the place of destination. The namo is Bird. ycu'li find the pair. And young oneB1 too, in Mountjoy Square, The number, seven, all snug and neat, You'll ?nd the nest in Kmmelfs S reei. to now to Dublin haste away. And find tho Birds without delay; They'll clap their winRS and sweetly smile A welcome to tho Emerald Isle."

An Anecdote of Beau Brummell.

" Your dinner, sir ! Why, here is the bill for that which, you see, with the wines, amounts to three pounds ten, and this you have handed me is only a shilling I"

"Yes, I see it's only a shilling," said Beau, looking curiously at the coin which the landlord held up to him between his thumb and finger, "but I can't help that. You told me I could havo a dinner for my money, and I assure you, on the honour of a gentleman, that little coin is all the money I possess. By some unaccountable accident it happens to bo only a shilling: I wish for your sake it was something elso."

A puzzled angry look camo over the face of the landlord fora moment, and then gave place to a broad grin, " Well! T. suppose this might bo called a joke, oh ? One of tho very good, if not very funny sort. Your name is—"

" Brummell, sir; Beau Brummoll, at your service."

"I thought so. Well, Mr Brummell, I assure you that, while appreciating tho joke, I am not so selfish as to want to monopolise the whole benefit, of it. I'll toll you what I'll do," and with a chuckle, he took Beau's arm, led him to the door, and pointed across the way to tho house of his rival.

"Do you soe that place on the corner there ?"

" Quite plainly," said Brummoll. "Well, I will give you a receipt in full for the dinner you have had and say no more about it, provided you will go tomorrow and play tho proprietor of that house the same trick."

■ Beau paused a, moment, as if in thought, then, drawing out his cardcaso and handing one to tho host, said : 11 You're a good fellow, and I should like to oblige you. There is my card. If you will furnish me with a list of proper estab lishments I will attend to them in thoir proper order; but with this fellow across the way I might have some difficulty. You see, I was there yesterday and ho Hsnt me hero !"

Pompeii.

Eighteen hundred years ago, lifo suddenly stopped in the streets of Pompeii. Many of the inhabitants escaped from th 6 showers of ashes and stones which Vesuvius dropped upon the doomed city, but they left behind them hundreds of things which illustrate thefamiliursaying, "There is nothingnews under the sun." Thoseold Pompeians were very modern. They had filding-doors and hot wator urns; thoy put gratings to their windows and made rockeries in their gar dens ; their Btecl-yards areoxactly liko those our own cheese dealer uses. Their children had toys liko ours—boars, lions, pigs, cats, dogs—made of clay, and sometimes serving as jugs also. People wrote on walls, and cut their names on seats, just as we do also. They kept birds in cages likewise. They gave tokens at the doir of their places of entertainment—the people in tho gallery had pigeons made of a sort of terra cotta. They put lamps inside of the hollow eyes of the masks that adorned their fountains. They oven mado grottoes of shells -vulgarity itself is ancient. Thoy ate sausages and hung up strings of onions. They had stands for public vehicles, and the school master used a birch to the dunces. Thoy put stepping-stones across the roads, that the dainty young patricians and the pursy senators might not soil thoir gilded sandals. It was never cold enough for thoir pipes to burst, but they turned their water on and off with taps, and their cookehops had marble counters. They clapped their offenders into the stocks—two gladiators were there for eighteen years. When their crockery was broke they riveted it. At Herculaneum there is a huge wine jar half buried in the earth. It bas been badly broken, but it was so neatly riveted with many rivets that it no doubt held tho wiuo kept aa well as ever. Those rivots have lasted eighteen hundred years. It is a strange thing to think about. What would the housewife have said if some one had told her that her cracked pot would outlast the Roman Empire ?

JOHN WESLEY AND HIS WIFE.

A Remonstrance from a Relative,

Mr Edward Vazeille Stocks, referring to the letter of John Wesley to hia wife, which we published a short time ago, objects that though it boars "many internal evidences of authenticity," yet the "remarks thereon cast an unfair, not to say falae, colouring on the character of the lady—a direct maternal ancestor of my own—whose memory is held in reverential respect by her descendants." Here is a portion of Mr Stocks's explanation:—There can be no doubt that the union of Mr Wesley with Mrs Vazeille wns ill-assorted and unhappy. That Mrs Vazoille was the widow of a gentle man whosedevotion to, and love (Jr, her were very warm, is made evident by the tone of an original letter from him to her in my possession, and now before me, in which he addresses her thua—"My dearest," and sayß . . . " 1 desire thee to make thyself easy ■' (during his tempo rary and unexpected absence), "and livo well and keep thyself well," and, after giv ing htr some general directions, concludes with these words, "I am, with sincerest and healthy {sic) affection, thy husband, Anthony Vazeille," being in strong contrast with 11ib liaid epistle published by you. Her firet man Inge had been full of happiness from the simple cause that it was a union of two loving, .sympathetic hearts, whereas thoie is abundant evidence to show that her subsequent weJding was the outcomo of motives which, under tho circumstances and peculiar conditions in which they both lived, could hardly have resulted otherwise than it did. Mr Wesley had scarcely re coverod from tho pangs of disappointed love. In a letter to Mr Thomas Bigg, of Newcastle, dated October 7, 1749, he writes :—" For ten years God has been pre paring a fellow labourer for me; by a wonderful train of Providence last year I was convinced of it. ... But wo soon after were torn asunder by a whirl wind. . . , The whole world fought against me. . . . Yesterday I saw my friend (that was), and him to whom she was sacrificed" (see "The Orphan House of Wesley," by W. W. Stamp, lato President of the Conference; John Mason Fins bury, p. 51) — yet in February, 1751, he was married to Mrs Vazoille. Absorbed by the work he had in hand, he failed to oner to his second love those demonstrations of affection to which she had been accustomed, and which alone mako matrimony desirable. She, on, the other hand, a highly educated and sensitive lady, enddwed with a consid erable fortune, accustomed as she had been to the most devoted attentions of an affec tionate husband, feeling tho neglect of his successor (whether that neglect was una voidable or not), and witnessing tho honour and warm expressions of friendship lavished upon him by his admirers of both Bexes, often riding with him in the carriage pur chased with her money while she was left alone, could hardly fail to feel neglected by him who had vowed to " love and comfort, to honour and keep her in sickness and in health," one does not wonder that marriage under such circumstances should turn out unhappily. What I wish to point out to your readers is that the fault was not solely on the side of the lady, as has been and still in, I fear, the fashion to aliirm in this case— at any rate, tho letter which you have pub lished does not evidence much of that " softness " which Mr W'esloy says is tho only influence by which "love can bo won," I am not aware that man's greatnoss tends to develop marital affection. Perhaps John Wesley was too great a man to culti vate such insignificant qualifications. There can be no doubt that tho marriage turned out unfortunately; in fact, it waa an instance of " marryingjn haste and re penting at leisure." Further, there is much better ground forbolieving£hat Mr Wesley's estrangement from his brother Charles wag due rathor to tho in±onded marriage with his first love than his consummated union with Mrs Vazeille.—" Pall Mall Gazette.1'

Captain Cook s Club

Here is a story by Barnum, worth read ing.—"When Ifirstopened my grcatinuseum in New York a newspaper reporter called on me, and was duly shown over and duly admired the exhibits, suggesting that the only thing required to" make my show com plete was the club with which the natives killed Captain Cook. Now, I had eoveral war clubs in my lumber-room at the time, and seizing the idea, I said that, curiously enough, I had secured the treasuro yester day, and would show it to him. I hurried up, procured a label, and placed the club in hw hands. He turned it over—he almost shed tears, I thought-and then ho spoko. ' Poor Cook,' ho eaid ; ' poor fellow ! I'm glad you've shown me this : but I expected it. I've been to all the smaller mueoums in the city, and they all had it, co I felt sure that a eigantic establishment liko this would not bo without it.'"

THE ATCKLAJSD , EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1885

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