LILLIS; OR, THE Mystery of Langdon Abbey.

B j JIIS3 SARAH PARR. <rvn<?t Ahorn Grace-cup." "Robbeci ~thorol'' TS°.?My bTdj's Plot." "Madame »jSK" "T^ Seared Livea," Ho.

CHAPTER XXXV. THE GOLDEN-HAIRED WOMAN". IS( ,alioarsoutteranceof his Maker's Hood ga?pod inarticulately: "UtattahrnßlpoOTristhis?" .in words left his lips tho woman in *„«, solemn, musical acconts, ropeated Iff^frillain, forbear. Tho end must c |» she cried. u-ith tho coasing of tho melodious veico, tflood loapod in ono second from foar to|tßvHeaven!" llo BllouteJ' "we " como , othß endofM«." He bounded to th« door. It ibut in his face. Ho toro it open and j..bed into tho corridor. " be disappeared in t4ie darknosa a xiack-cloaked figure sli PPod from tho wall. ■ n ,t which it had pressed, and into the

' n For Heaven's sako, huaU ! For Hoavon's vemo !" cried tho intrudor in wild, flatonea. "I came to savo ,/oh.'" Crastbesa"lo ravishing voice, and as .ksthroading cloak and hood were flung a ,' 1 back, they exposed the same beauti it and white robed form. " r who had followed Mood to tho 1 , with »despairing shriek for the fato of Sg «he ifflagined about t0 fall into • hands now uttered a cry of joy. Without another word she seized the hand and ran with all speed to it tho glittering hilt of Poniard caught the stranger's notice. ,if. paused long enough to snatck it up. "Take it I" sne Par>ted, hurriedly. jHea'fli knowa you may yet noed it I" jjjj obeyed, thrusting it into her belt as fcThiit and fastened the door The door secure, sho breathed rapidly. "Watch till I come back. Should he re store I, seek mo there." She pointed to tho dressing room, and to wt-Tmoment disappeared. Sbe ras to the secret ogress. "Shouldhe," she thought, "seem likely ij lores an entrance, I must, loth as I am Ldoso, share this knowledge with her." With rilent, rapid movemonts, she made rertMß preparations for a possible retreat X the closet, and then flew back to her j (jupaiion. lbs latter met ker at tho door. Pals and trembling, sho faltorod, hur ••HetooominK ! Hood'i thunderous hand and threatening [jice, calling upon Lillis, too truly verified id words. i! the girl stood in a momentary hesi titioo, there was a sudden heavy fall closo •itheiill without. [jlljj daapsd her hands under a now jijiror. "I itabbed him !" she gasped, looking itbucompanion with startling eyos. " Can Ikn killed him?" 811 flew to tho door.

But Wore she could do moro than touch aekey. too stranger caught hor away and her to the dresaing-rooni, breathing, alriehtenod tones: "For Heaven's pake, bewaro ! Ho is aping I I k»ow him better than you I" lifts gazed at the beautiful young fuce aiutant, and then cried, abruptly : "Too know him bettor than I ! Who 2IJW' Why aro you ho mystorioualy at isjdon Abbey ?" lm by th« faint firelight tho flush of iun9 that reddened the stranger's brow wplainly visible. Sbe covered her fano with both hands. h groaned, in stifled ncconts barely fldible: "lamibemo3t unhappy woman on earth. m-Aim/e/" "He wife I" lillißConld scarcely utter those amazed, ■doing words. Hi poor young croature forgot present isjers in a flood of anguished recollec m "Ha wife!" she pursued rnomingly, xsigher head, and fastening tho large M eyes, that contrasted so strangely istsofascinatingly with her fair skin and air, upon Lillis's face. "Ho married mo welly in Montreal, two yeara ago, aa Mert Exton, an Englishman, without ak or riches, and in soarch of lucrative aptoyment. "lam a Canadian, and, at tho time of :;hapleas marriage, waa companion to an $d lady, who died throo days later. My uiland immediately took mo to Toronto. fa two months I lived with him there in spnmest blie<. At the end of three he M tired of me. He then took mo to an a'jiaificiint villago in tho heart of the Mod States. The rery evoning of our nival at the mean tavorn it boasted, he rfd me boldly that he had destroyed all nob of our marriage, and would never Willie me as his wife. "To insure the perfect secrecy of the stirriew, be had taken me out upon the won which the villago stood. In my Jutie appeal 1 capsized the boat. He by ewimtning. I was hurled W the falls, and, ia the late eummor ■^ißKht,e*caped notice. It was supposed all lay dead in the deep poola at the a* of the falls. Really, I buoyed myself ■jmeansof an oar, and some miles distant 'arerened by a fisherman _"0l tho romantic story of my subsequent Mlneed not tell you, save that I came to '■gland, and, by a strangly providential ™», discovered my husband's rank Wtlefact that he meditated some evil jWkogdon Abbey. I gained accesa to a» Abbey. With skeleton keys in my ?*"tl could enter your room. I warned Wbyvolte and hand. Day aud night I "•wed over you, protecting you as far as NMe, and only praying that my own Wwyend peacefully with the end of my wifflpoaed duty." Herrising voice startled Lillis to a recollec *MHood's presence in tho boudoir. 'tobreathed hurriedly, laying a gentlo, training finger upon the pale, quivering

B'sh, hush I He does not Buspecfc you •'Mm He must not " "We tender, cautioning words spoken, 'I**l to the door and listened. '««breath not a sound was heard. Was she stood thus, something white, """gander the edge of tho door, led her "top down. * to be tho corner of a handker >drew it gently toward her. The next nY a sllrank away and ran to the fire. ««t tiogera bad touched somethihg wet ■* rocky. Jkey were red with blood " , misdying-maybe dead," sho ejacu r''emfied, and with the words tore open p"J'ara were, in a measure, confirmed. il *l »y insensible at her feet n,ii ensanguined handkerchief, knotted |,J'y about his wounded shoulder, ;™W close upon tho sill, and hid face ■ye impress of death. IT. bent over him in mute horror, and 2" l to whore her trembling com- shrank out of sight behind the

to/lT Oilll Rebßcoa Hough," she mur ii?'1? ""ed tones. 5,.,? tw' Igo -till lam safe," whispered s,°^ ''Wait a little, if possible, for '4iifTforwartJ. and, with shuddering, 'tiiaS i *°' BtePPed across Hood'a body, : >uhed in the dark corridor. 3,' "wment Lillis's gaze followed her *C ji curioaity- The next the her lonely vigil rushed over her *Jll!°° ke/ down at 'ha white face at C; anr L CoHnted tho minutes. j, *"nt by. %nl? e'llddenly Paußad in her task— !tiJV aiß J ed hei> head. and looked off With clasPed handa and 'Cllu'^aa Hough I" she whispered. ' W!>9n I can escape 1"

CHAPTER XXXVI,

ABWOLVE AND ITS RESULTS j^oher words with increasing ex '^ lis ran t0 her Messing-room, Unjjj c door, and was making a few 4),U for her escape, when w O9 6topp£d- Sbt !^h m lie th°r<> and die?" ehe 1 M»aderingly. " Would not his

blood be unon mv hnnri •; tt . . it would ! I must can t 6n ! e' pme ' purpose Fl stlcceed°d in her Tho woman soon camo out. eha tlJrl ■ T ontratlco. was sitting, ghastly polo, in tho girl's easy-chair. of her P 1 POM""". Ho was in front Semi*M f COa JlouS''behind. Do what sho might, sho was cortain to fall into tho Sptlir°rtheOther-

"I havo sacrificed myself for naught'" Sho thought miserably, as Hood started to HeHeOrSfe?btbttrXnthOthOUeht- : ''Seize her! Hold her fast!" nbm i « "^ uord3 Uob°cca's arms were about tho girl in a pinioning clasp so close wild tt tha,'« Llr could foel &• "X wild throbs of the heart proraod againat her

But thero waa no time for more than a Posing omotion of wonder on tho girl's

Hood was striding toward thorn. Lilhsa terror waa boundless. But sho turnod her gavo upon him in proud silence hho would not condescend to useless struggles and shroika.

Holding her breath, aho watched his ap proach. F

Even Rebecca Hough displayed a shade of feeling in hor sharpened respiration and trembling arms. But, instead of stopping, Hood passed on to tho door.

His purpose soon became ovidont. By the light of tho candlo Rebecca had aot down in the doorway, he proceeded to skilfully withdraw tho fragment of wire in troduced into tho lock at an oarlier hour. Hia task ondod, ho put the key outsido, and spoko, commanding Robecca, in tho same woak but ferocious acconts, to releaso tho girl and loavo he'- to hersolf. As the woman joined him in tho corridor, ho glanced back at Lillia.

"To-morrow morning," ho smilod, ox ultjngly, ovilly, "I shall bo masttr. I can wait till morning. I can wait, because—l lovo you ! And so, too, I can thank Heaven that I havo boon vanquished. Forgive my violence, and know that your lifo is forever saio. Wisdom and lovo aliko protect you. Rage mado mo insane, remember, Lillis sweet."

Tho door being closod and locked npon the _ shrinking but proudoyod girl, he motioned tho woman to follow him.

Ho had taken but a fow stops when ho turned abruptly, and said, abruptly : " That yellow-haired woman ! Have you anything noiv to report concerning her?" " Nothing, my lord. Sho went aa sho camo—a good or evil spirit." Kobecca shuddered as she answered. Hood went on abruptly as before : " You have not seen bor to-night, then?" "To-night?" grasped Rebecca, looking at him wildly. " Heaven save us ! When Miss Molross came a thumpin' and calling at my door to bring me to your lordship, sho said naught of—"

"Pooh! Why should sho ?'' intorjectcd Hood, starting on, well sntisfied with the result of his inquiries. "I was asking a

question, not stating a fact. But remombor that you are to lot mo know if this woman appears about tho Abbey again, And have no fears of hor. If aho'a hore at all, she,3 horo liring. Capturo hor socretly, should sho show horsolf, and you'll got a rich reward. And remember, too, that the ovents of tliH niirht havo nover occurred — that Miss Melross is out of hor mind."

" You may dopend on mo, my lord," ro turned the woman briefly, as Hood again stoppo-1 and looked at her.

Hood nodded and gavo her tho koy to Lillis's boudoir.

" Unlock it early," ho commanded. "As soon as tho other servants aro on tho alert, and boforo Lady Molross is up." \\ ith that dismissal ho entered his room, and Rebecca slowly returned to hor own.

Hnving mado a light, ho proceeded to recruit his strength by a copious druught of brandy, after which ho examinod his wound.

Though it had bled freely, and felt stiff ami soro, it proved comparatively slight.

Tho exhaustion that hud ovcrpoiverad him had been moreduo to tho|efi'ects of continuous excitement and loss of ros-t than anything elso.

A thorough cleansing of tho wound, with tho application of an oinollient p!a«U>r, left him at leisure to considor other mattors.

Tho first that prosontod itsolf hurried litn down to tho library.

Tliore ho read and destroyed the to^ogram ;hat had so startled the unfortunate do iective.

"Thank Heaven!" he muttered, as ho retraced his etope to his room. " Thank Heaven, I was saved tho folly of killing her

that I chall in a fow hours win tho sweetest bride the sun over shono upon. But —the other ! — F-lise ! Is this Satan's work fated to overthrow me? Ah !—if —l—could — find her I"

Tho last words were hissed out with a look around that might have befitted Satan himself.

But the murderous rage and hope in his oyes died out in uttordisappointment. Ho had already mado an exhaustive search for tho haploss Blsio, and, remombering ita futility, ho went on to his room, dotor minodto fnatch a littlo sleep from the fow hours that remained to him.

Lillis slept nono. Left by herself, she first poured out a tearful thanksgiving to Him who had saved her from <v terrible death.

She then repaired the fire, lighted froth candles, and sat down in watchful waiting for the morning. It was a dreary vigil that showed no ray of hope. A night escape that might havo proved possible by way of tho secret crypt and chapel, was rendered impossible by her lamentable failure to discover tho secret of ogress. While the crypt clowta would serve for a temporary refugo, they, unfor tunately, afforded no moans of flight. In tho review of her alarming position, and tho dangers threatening tho haploes young wife hidden somowhore about the Abboy, a new day broke. She had just let the first welcome boams of sunshine into tho boudoir, when Robocca Hough unlocked tho door and entered. Aethe woman camo in with her usual silent and respectful courtesy, Lillis passed out in haughty disregard of hor presenco, and hastened to Lady Molrosa's apart ments.

She ran through the gallery in a noryous dread of oncountoring Hood, but sustainod by a sudden, keen, rising anxioty for tho welfare of her mother. The thought that Hood's drugging might havo proved harmful, if not dangerous, to her lad}ship had all at onco presented itself with a shock that stirrod hor doep filial love to its inmost sourcos. She soon discovered her fears well founded.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

A KATEFUr, DRUOOINO

Laoy Melkoss was possessed of an iron will and a mighty ambition that denied Heaven, but she was only human. Neither will nor ambition was proof against tho action of drugs. She had fallen asleep a determined though sorrowing old woman. Her whole nervoua system unhinged, she awoko a feeblo, timorous, and depondont ""she was sitting up in bed when Lillis entered, and received tho girl with a burst ef weal; tears. The unnatural change was hoart-broaking toShe flw to her side. Sho folded her tender armß about t'lo thin form, and pillowed tho grey head against her loving breast. .„ , " Mamma ! deir, darling mamma ! sue oriod, brokenly, '" you are ill!" "xNo ! dear* t child, only strangely weak and shaky," sebbed Lady Molross. And then something like passion in her quiver ing tones : " My dea- imy dear ! you s'mll have your own way. I won't force you in to this marriage with Robert. This was to have been yoir wedding-day- At . 3ou shudder !I nd so do I. Such frightful dreams as viwed me last night. lhey haunt me yet; an 1 I promise, love, that all shall bo as yon wish. Only try not to think and say the terribly wild things you did list night, ard you will get over the

moibid fancios. Try, child, for mother's sako ! the poor old woman who needs your care.

Sho paused, clinging to tho girl in sob bing entreaty and distress. For a moment Lillis was mastered by her emotions. The noxt, sho said, caress ingly ;

I Have no fears, darling mamma ! I will think only of you ! 1 will say nothing to .worry you ! Trust me implicitly ! And now, mamma, let me help you prepare for break last. \ou will go down as usual ?" "1 must. Robert must be told. It's a dreadful thing to do; but it would be more dreadful to coerce you, as I inhumanly intended. Oh, child, forgive me 1" " I f°'Vet, mamma," smiled Lillis, with tearful eyes and joyoua accent. She kissed the hands Lady Melross had again clasped around her neck, and with all the deft aptitude of a maid, and the gentle tenderness of a daughter, assisted her to rise and make her toilet.

As it was finished sho again looked appealingly at tho girl. "You will go down with mo, Lillis?" she faltered.

" I will go to the world's end with you I" answered Lillis, passionately. ''You shall not ovon bo separated from me while I dross, Come to my boudoir." She drew tho trembling old hand to her arm, and they loft tho room. Tho boudoir was roached without moot ing any ono, and found empty. After making Lady Molroaa comfortable there, Lillis retired to her dressing room. Sho moved with olastic stop, and her heart bounded high with joy and hope. Still thero was an undor-curront of terrible anxiety.

Sho knew Hood to bo a reckless and desperato man. In what way would ho recoivo Lady Molross's chango of decision ?

That shuddering, boding question was speodily answered.

Refreshed by a caroful but rapid toilot, Lillis rojoinod her mother, and thoy im mediately descended to tho broakfast-room. Arrived thoro, Lady Melross suddenly checked tho girl in tho act of taking tho knob.

"I havo been thinking," sho whispered, nervously, tremulously," that wo must loavo the Abboy without unnecessary delay. But oh!"—as Lillia quickly assented--"I wish it were all over ! I really feel quito — quite fearful."

"Fear nothing, darling," returned Lillis, hor brown eyos aglow and palo choeka flush ing with proud courage.

Speaking tho words, sho throw open tho dooi.

As both expected, Robert waa in the room.

Ho was standing at ono of tho noaror win dows, olato with oxulting anticipation, and watchfully impatient for Lady Melross'a ap poarance.

His first thought as tho two entered was that LillU had buen won ovor : his firat im pulse to spring forward and joyoualy meet thorn.

But half way towarda them ho paused in ho involuntary aot.

Tho change in both was too apparent to bo anything less than startling. Tho fooblo, shrinking air of tho agod mother ; tho calra proud, hopoful courage of tho daughter. Hood's brow grow black as night. " How now ?" ho broathod. Tho words wero fow, but tho look was one to mako both Lady Melross and Lillis quail. For an inatant both stood ovorcomo by a sense of their helplessness, and the know ledgo that they wore at the man's mercy. Then, suddenly oncouraged by tho quick I pressure of Lillia's arm upon hor clinging hand, Lady Molross spoko. With a nervous timidity, strangely and affectillgly in contrast with hor ordinary manaor, sho said in her hurried tones : " Robert, I am sincerely grieved, but I cannot coorco ray child. It you wish to marry Lillis you must lirst win hor heart Do it if you can. I consent to that-but, i Robert, to that only." " )'ou consent !" flood utterod those two words with in do.«cribablo malignity of tono and asnti-r, uiul then slowly advanced.

" My good lady," he wont on, as ho fairly confronted hei, " your consent is nothing !

1 am master here ! With or without your parental blessing I marry Lillis. this morn ing. Lady Molross, if need bo, I shall lock you up till tho —"

" Lock mo up I" gaspod Lidy Metro."*, in shocked incredulity.

" Ooino sway, mamma dear !" murmured Lillis, gently. " You have- said all that is noCessary."

Hood roughly interposed upon both word and ant, seizing Lady Molroaa's other arm aud crying fiercely : " You stay till I bid you go ! T ady Mol rcss, knowing your ambi'ion, I did not anticipate thi j hour, but I have nono tho less

hold myself prepared for it! Thoro is not aiservant at tho Abbey that will refuso my bidding! Hoy, Black," glancing at the butler, who that moment entered, "my will is your law? You would even handcuff her ladyship if 1 should so command?" " I never hesitate at ordeiv, my lord," answered tho man, qulotly. And, with a grin, " ' all's fair in lovo an' war!'" " You soo I" cried Hood, turning again to Lady Melross, "You are in ray powor ! If you rofuso to continuo my pliant tool, I shall mako you my slave !" All tho haughty blood in Lady Molroas's veins camo tothoresci-o of hor feobleness.

Sho lost hor feare. Her oyes Ikshod lires of anger and astonishment. "You threaten me?" sho cried, even hor voico steadying itsolf under tho gross dis respect of his language "You daro to nay you will marry my child against MY will ?"

" Your will!" laughed Hood, mockingly. " You havo nono ! You havo plnced your self i.-i my power, and nover doubt I shall use it!"

Lady Molross's flash of spirit diod out in a rush of anguished fears for Lillis. Freeing herself from Hood'c grasp, sho cast hor arms about tho girl, pitcously :

"O!i my child ! my child ! May Heaven bo your protection !" " Heaven »'s my protection !" answered Lillis, with pallid lips, but swoot compo sure. " This man is as a grain of dust only in tho Almighty's hand I" Hood's dark faco grow livid with mingled awe and rago. " Wo shall soo I" ho burst out, and thon all at onco raised a swift, nttontivo hand, ami lookod towards tho hall.

A loud rap was soundjng from tho great bronzo knockor at the front entrance.

Ho lookod again at Lady Molross and Lillis.

Joy, triumph, expectation suddonly trans forming his countonanco and rinuing through his high tones, ho cried quickly, almost fiercely : " You hoar that ? It is tho crack of your doom, Lillis-tho wedding note of your exaltation to a countess's coronet ! That knock moans the appearance of tho Kov. (Soorgo May ! Lady Molross, in five min utes you will bo tho proud mother of tho Earl and Countess oi Langdon. Ho ! Black," turning tumultuounly to tho man, "callßomoof your follows! Wo'll have a merry though a hasty wodding, my trusty valot. You'll raiso a long loud ehoer for tho happiness of the bridegroom and brido, and wash it down in a dozen apiece of the choicest old vintage of tho collars. Q/iick I Knave, quick ! Hero is the parson !" Ho leaped to the hall dour. Black, with a smothored " hurrah !" van ithed on hid errand. Lillia, pressing closor within Lady Mel ross'a enfolding arms, buriod her oyes against her ladyship's breast. At tho same instant tho hall door fell open. Hood fell back. What could have brought the man before him to Langdon Abboy ?

(To be Continued.)

MARRIED IN HASTE.

A Romantic Sltetcb

Tuf. following story I had direct from a son of the clergyman who performed tho marriage coremony, who came from Eng land to this country, whore ho is now in good business.

On tho evening of a dark and lowering day in late autumn a closo carriage waa driven to the door of an inn in a manufac turing town of Derbyshire, from which alighted a female closely cloaked and veiled. She seemed to know that tho land lord was a kinl-hearted man, and one to bo trusted. Sho called him aside and said, without raising her veil, but in a voico of rare sweetness and evidontly that of a young person :

" I must trust you, good sir, with more, perhaps, than life. I wish you to servo mo without asking a question. lean give you my word, in tho outset, that no harm can come to you on my account in any legal way. I must bo married. I must bo a wifo within this hour : and you must find me a husband. I only 119k that you will find a man who can legally tako a wifo ; a man not a rascal; and a man who will take three hundred pounds and give his solemn pledgo never to seek mo nor to speak to me after tho final word of tho marriage coremony shall havo been pronunced. If you can iind such a man, and^ bring him hither, and then bring a willing clorgymai), you will do mo a great favour." " But tho liconso, mridnm ?' "I am provided. I liavo a spocial license, wanting only tho namo of tho bridogroom." Il took tho host joino littlo time to make up his mind that tho lady was in earnest, and that all else was right so far as tho law waa concernod. When ho was satisfied upon these points ho nodded and pleasantly smiled. Ju.^t the man required was in his employ. Mo went out into tho stables, where ho found Mark Conroy nt work ovor a favourito horse. Mark was a splondid specimen of physical and mental manhood. Noarly six foot tall, perfectly proportioned, with features regular and handsome*, an eye liko a woll of light, and a clustering mass of nut-brown curls netting ofl'his shapely head, ho was a man such as might win the love and esteem of any woman ; and tho only reason ivby he had not married or courted any one- of the many damsels who sought to attract him was that his lovo for his beautiful horses engrossed his whole heart.

Mark heard tho landlord's story, and went with him into tho private apartment where tho lady was, determined to havo tho request from her own lips; and sho mado it, though, when sho had seen him, standing so strong and so proud before hor, sho faltered considerably. But sho got through with it, claiming from him tho pledgo before mentioned. While ehospoko ho tried by every means in hia ponor to gain a glimpso of hor face, but in vain. Yet ho did not miss hor voico. It was vory hweot to hia oar. Ho loved music, and ho did not think ho should ovor forget tho rich, pure tones of that voice. It was to him an iudcx to her character. Novor a coarse woman with such breathing of music.

" My dear lady," ho said, with arospectful inclination of tho head, " 1 will accopt the monoy which you offer, becaufo I think I can mako a good use of it. Ordinarily I would not listen for a lnomont, but now threo hundred pounds may be tho woight in tho balanco that elftll mako my whole futuro ; and, added to this, I may servo you. Not for a hundred timos three thou sand pounds would I lond myself to a plot that could work harm to yourself."

"It will savo me, sir ! O ! it will save mo !"

'Thon I "m ready."

' And —I lmvo your proiniso—"

" 1 hiivo given my word. It was never yot brokon, and 1 do not think that to your harm 1 shall now mnko my lirst faUo Step "

Somohow tho lady scorned to bo raoro shy than t-ho had boon at first, and onco or twice sho moved away from Mark, as though sho was afraid of him, and crouched nuiirer to tho landlord.

Near at hand lived an accommodating rector. Flo camo in, fully understanding tho work ho WUB (o do, and ufter a fow words with tho ludy, ho signified his rcadi nosa to proceed. Tho namo of Mark Con roy waa tilled into tho license, after which tho work was quickly dono. "Must I sign tho register?" tho nowly mado wifo askod, uneasily.

'Tho clergyman insistod upon it. The law required it. Mark signed his nnmo in a bold, strong, round hand. Then tho lady took tho pon, and tremblingly wrote a name, ooyinc; i "That is not tho numo by which I am known, but I hnvo a sacred right to it."

Sho had written "Coiwkma Tkmi'LK." Sho gave to t'lo rector live ]>oimds— to tho host live moro ; and then sho counted out six cri«p, now fifty-pound notes to her husband. Mnrk took thorn, and put thorn into hU pocket, and then ho drew from his puri-o a half eovoioign of poll, and laying it upon tho post of a big oakon chair, he placed the origo of his pockot-knifo upon it, and with a 9inglo blow of a billot of wood he cut it into two equal parts, ono of which ho handed to his wife."

" Lidy.," ho said, "I noed not toll you that this, to mo, is, and must ovor bo whilol llvo, a serious matter. - Do not tremblo. You have my word !—But will you not tako this bit of gold, and keep it in remem brance of the man whoso name you can wear when you will, and must honccforth bo truo to you ?" Sho caught rho piece of gold with a spas modic clutch, and turned away, as though to hido an emotion which eho did not care to havo witnessed.

Ono stop, and Mark Conroy was by her side. Ho took her hand, and raised it to his lips "I do thi.' reverently," ho said, almost in n whisper. ''And now, lady," he added lifting his head proudly, and stopping back, " know that I shall bo true to the vows this nlsht taken upon myself. If, in tho timo to como, Mark Conroy can in any way servo you, you may command him without fear. Ho will novor intrude, and ho will novor and ho will nevor take advantage of any eoivice ho may happily rondor. Adieu ! May God and the good angols watch ovor you, and blcsa you ovor?" And with this ho turned away and was gono. Tho lady could not have .spoken if she would.

"I tuppose," said tho landlord, as tho lady was ready to depart, "thatyou would huvo this kopt a profound secret ?" "No ! no!" hlio cried, vohemontly. "If mon should bo upon my track—if thoy should trace mo to this place —toll thorn that lam married. Toll thorn exactly what you havo seen ; but, for HIS sake— my—my mrsßANi 's—do not givo his name. Will you promiso this?" Tno good Bouiface promised, and very shortly afterwards tho lady's carriage was whirling rapidly away into tho gloom to wards Cheshire

The clock in the towor of the old stone church was striking th 3 hour of nino aa tho strango woman drove away from tho Derby shire inn. Two hours later —as tho saruo bollhammor was pealing forth tho elovonth hour—another carriage was driven rapidly up, from which alighted two gontlemon — ono an oldorly man, with a hard, hawk-like faco, and the other younger, and evidently a debauchee. Mark Conroy hoard tho arri val, and camo to see. Tho gentlemen were oagor and breath less. Had anything been seen of a young lady, nppearing as tho old man described. Mark contrived to whisper into tho host's oar, to direct his questions. "How old was the lady?' asked tho publican. "Nineteen," answered tho old man.

"Was she handsome ?"

" Sho has tho naino—tho shameless vixen ! - of being the handsomest, girl in Stafford shire."

And then the host told his story—told it as it was, all savo that ho represented the husband a3 having gono in pursuit, not to molest tho lady, but to protoct her into Staffordshire, for he had determined to serve her if he could.

The younger man swore a big oath, and tho elder man swore a bigger. Their plans wore shattered, and they wero crestfallen and chagrined. Before they wont away, the younger man discovered our hero, who had remained respectfully in the background. " Hallo, Mark !Is that yourself ?" And ho advanced and extended a hand with perfect freedom of manner. " Yes, my lord. lam stopping horo just now." " Ah, say, Mark, '-id you see this girl wo havo been talking übout?" " Why, my lord, as for seeing her, I cannot say I did ; but I saw tho carriage, and saw a woman get into it and whisk away." " Well, old fellow, there weut the most dainty bit of womanhood in ihe kingdom. Egad! I supposed I had hor hard and !ntt. Sir John is her guardian, and had given her to mo ; but"—an oath - "t-he ha? given us the slip. Locks, and roltp, and iron bars have been of no use. j-*he's been honestly married, Sir John's guardian ship is at an end. But, say, Mark, I have a magnificent filly, which I wish you to

take in hand. She promises tremendous thinga."

Mark paid ho would give the filly a try, and shortly afterwards tho gentlemen took their leave. "Who waa that?" domandod the.host, as thoy drove away. " That," ropliod Mark, " was tho Earl of Bontley—Dick Tomplo." ■ And they all went their ways in life aa seemed to them best. Mark Conroy from that night became a new man. He borrowed books, and read and studied, and went at French and German. He had said that the threo hundred pounds might bo the making of him ; nor did ho mistake. Tho owner of a plooa near Derby—a raiser of thorough bred stock—was glad to sell him a half interest, and in a vory few years the horses from tho stables of Monkton and Conroy stood at the hoad of the list in England. Tho Earl of Bentley let hia favourite filly go to pay a betting dobt, and Mark bough: tho animal for twenty guineas. Four years later that filly was known and celebrated under the namo of "Lightfoot," and Mark Eold hor to tho Earl of Dorby for ten thousand pounds, and sho won the money back for hor noble owner in ono season.

This was but ono circumstanco of many. Mark Conroy had one great aim of life, and in that direction ho bont every onorgy. At tho age of two-and-thirty ho sold out all intorost in his Derby property, and his funds in tho hands of his bankors amounted to moro than eighty thousand pounds. He had made not ono mistake in all his von turos, and fortuno had literally smiled upon him. And through it all—by day, when businoss seemed to entirely engross him, and by night, in tho still, thoughtful watches, ono iniluonco waa never absent— tho music of that sweet voico ho had heard in tho old Derbyshire inn. 0! what Bhould como of it? At all ovents, the thought hokl him puro and truo, and led him to the station of a manhood that any man might covet, for it was sure, and truo, and olovated, and intellectual, and abovo all olso, robust in glowing glorious health. Eight years had elapsed since tho day on wlr ' '; ■ if Conray waa married, and ho had .roni fourand-twonty to two auu-Luuij, when ho took a notion to muko a tour on tho continent. Ho wont to Paris first, and thence into Germany. From city to city, rooking a pleasure ho did not readily llnd, until at longth ho found himself in tho quaint, old walled city of Ulin, on the Danube.

Ho was standing in tho quaintly con structed hall ot a quaintly constructed inn, with innumerable nooka and cornera nnd dim rocosscp, when ho was attracted by tho sound of a familiar voioo. It was the voico of tho Eail of Bentloy, and ho waa talking with his valot, a dark-visaged, powerful rascal, evidently ongaged because of hia physical strength and daring. " She will be alone in htr chamber ait hour after dark," said tho voico of tho oarl . " / have bought tip her maid. My bout hat the old landing. I must not be seen hare. Will you carry the lady to that boat ?"

Tho valet said ho would do it. He know just how to accomplish tho task. Ho would bear tho lady to the boat, and sho .•should mako no outcry !

" Once she Li in jjiy power." went on the earl, "all the is simple. We will prove her professed marriage all a sham, uml sho shall marry with me, or—" The rest of the sontenco was lost.

Conroy'a hoart beat hard and fast. He know very woll who was the lady alluded to. Ho inquired of the landlord, however, and was informed that tho occupant of the suite ho had designated waa an English lady, who had beoD with him sovoral wocka -Lady Isabel Cordelia, of Temploton. Sho was a beautiful woman, but evidently unhappy.

Mark Oonroy found tho suito of apart ments, and did not loco night of tho en trance. About an hour after dark ho saw tho mnid como out, and saw hor spoak with v man who was hiding in a recess?. Pro sently after that this man was joined by another, uhom ho hail called by a low vvhistlo, and <ho two entered tho chamber from which tho maid had come. A few moments, during which tho watcher's heart heat furiously, nnd then came tho sound of .■i smothered cry

With v bound ('onroy wan in thochambor, when ho miv a lady struggling in tho grasp of two men. With a blow of his fist that might have felled an ox, he sent tho vullet to tho door; then with a backward swoop ho knocked tho othor against tho wall; and then, winding his loft arm around the lady, ho hold her in snfoty, while with hid right lie drew a pistol and lovellod it.

"My—["exclaimed thn »»lloi, »nen ho liuil picked himself up and looked upon rlio man who had knocked him down, " it's tho horse tamer Conroy !"

" And you'll find him eomothing moro than that if you do not tako yoursolf out of this. (Jo tell your master that Mark Conroy knows nil, and that if ho is in Ulm to-morrow morning ho may culler for it!"

'i'lio two men slunk away, and thenConway leil the ludy to a coat, and would havo lot hor go, but sho clung to him. He was ablo to speak with comparative calmness because ho had carefully prepared himself for the meeting.

" Lady, I havo not forgotten my promieo I h&ve watched over you when you know it not. You may command me, oven yet." Sho lookod up into hia face, still clinging to his strong arm, and a varioty of emotions were shadowed upon hor surpassingly boaui ful faco.

"You aro Mark Conroy?" " I am." " I)j jou know who I am ?" "I do." "Do you know that you ovor saw me bef'jrc ■'"

■'I cannot cay that I know, but my heart tells mo that it is so,—it tolls mo that you havo the mato to this."

And ho drew from his bosom, whoro it had hung suspended from a silken cord about his neck, a tiny bag of chamois-skin, from which ho took a s-omi dis-k of gold.

A moment sho stood irresolute, and then, whilo a rich glow suffused hor cheeks, mounting to her temples and brow, and imparting to tho lustrous oyos a living light, sho drew from her own boeom, whore it had boen kopt in a velvet pouch, tho othor half of tho goldon half-sovereign.

Conroy could contain his great heart no longer. Grasping both tho lady's hands, and looking earnestly and frankly into her faco, ho said: " Lady, from that hour, of the other yoars—that hour in tho old Derbyshire inn— I havo kept tho faith thon pledged. Your voico botrayed to mo a pure and worthy woman, and I Imvo held tho swoet romotn brance in lovo and truo dovotion. I daro not, knowing who and what you aro, ask you to share my lot ; but 0 ! —if you—" She put out hor hand and stopped him. "Mark Conroy, from that same hour I have not lost fight of you. I know how you havo livod—how you havo thrived and prospored— " "But," ho cried, interrupting hor, "you do not know that tho ono thought of your self has been tho blessed spirit of my upris ing." " But— l have hoped it," sho eaid,

" Y rou—havo —hoped ?"

" O ! my husband ! if you can claim me for your wife, and lovo me always, I will be happy !" And so, after tho years of waiting, Mark Conroy found his reward ; and he was not prouder nor moro happy than was tho Lady Isabel Cordolia, heiress of tho vast estates of tho Earl of Tompleton. A distant cousin inherited the title, but tho wealth wan hors.

Lord Bontley, when he learned the truth, not only gave up hia striving and his persecution, but ho descended to bog that tho story of his fruitless endeavours might not be told in England.

But in England Mark Conroy and his wifo lived no tnoro. They found a pleaeantor homo on tho Rhine, whero were country men enough to mako it homelike, and whoro thoy woro estimated in society for tho grand qualities of head and hen.rt thut endeared them to all with whom thoy camo in social contact.

Big Guns. —An 80-ton gun was recently shipped nt Woolwich Arsenal for her Majesty's ironclad Inflexible at L'ortemonth. Tlio gun was'iftod into the hold of the War Department utenmer Earl Do Grey and Kipon by the 130 ton crane nt tJio iron pier, and tlio same ship will bring biick a gun of the fame class which has become unservice able by a crack in the steel lining. The armament of the Inflexible was to be com pleted as early as possible, in order that she may bo ready, in case of emergencies, to take'her place at the head of the LJiilisii fleet, of which .she ia the most powerful member. Her SO ton guns are the largest afloat, excepting those of 100 tons belong ing to Italy, and they are the only ones of the same size in commission. A full supply of ammunition has also been issued for tlio gimp, the most important of the projectiles being tl.o Palliser armour-picking shells, which weigh 1,7001b., and, fired with 4251b. of powder, develop an energy of 27,213 tons at the muzzle, equal to the penetration of 27.5 feet of iron plates at MO yards, or '20.4 feet at 1,000 yards. Thee shells are 10 inches in diameter to fit the bore, and are four feet in length.

THE MODEL "NEW CHUM."

A Story of Real Lifo

(By Awaka )

" What is the matter, George 1 why don't you get your tea, and not ait moping liko that till it gets cold ?"

" All right, Emily." " But it's not all right. I believe there ia something really the matter with you j you act so queerly. Are you ill ? What ia it?'1 "Well, Emily, if you must know, and I suppose you must sooner oi later, I have lost my place,"

'What !" " I havo lost my place." "Why?"

"I don't know why, any more than tho governor, when ho paid mo my salary, told mo he would not need my services after next Saturday." " But did he givo no reason ?" " Yes. Ho said times wore getting so dull, and business was falling oft. He promises mo a character, but of what use is that? I know it is only too true— times are hard and business is dull, .and my chanco of getting employment is slim enough, God knows." And thon they sat down aud talked it over George Hanoy had hid tea, but ho scarcely know it. Losing his position to him —a clerkship in a paper inorchant's office in the city road—meant an unknown quantity of trouble, and perhaps privation and want. During tho timo he had been in work, a period of some four and a half years, on a salary of £80 per year, ho had managed to save about £35, and this now represented all ho had in the world. He was a Good Templar, and a good worker in tho Order, but the Good Templars wore not a bonofit society, and from them ho had no hopo of help except good wishes. He had no relations who had any money to aharo if he got out, nor any who had in fluenco to get him any other position, and what to do ho was soroly troubled- The talk that night was long, and when mid night arrived the problem as to what thoy should do was still unsolved. Goorgo'e sloop- was restless and broken—dreams in which various hard possibilities of poverty wero prosented to him, and ho more than once woko up in distress only to find tho wuking gavo him littlo eolaco. Tho next week wont by, but he could hoar of no open ing for him, and Saturday night found him with a good character in his poekot, but out of employment. Another week went by, and although Georgohad hunted allheknew, the only roault was tho cry of hard times ; business men wore thinking of discharging their employees ralhor than having places for others, and their littlo saving was less by ono week's expenditure, aud bo passed two or threo more weeks, and matters grow no bettor, lie lmd answered ad vortisomenta till ho was tired. There woro hundreds of ap plications for overy chanco and vacancy; acoros with credentials as good as his. He found University men applying for common clerkbhip<of'2ssand3osporwoek. Tho world seoined to bo changing to him. Peoplo he had. previously mot now seemed to ratlior avoid him. He was "out of collar," and that oven in his walk of life told. He was inoro uinongst tho ranke of the needy than at all able to do others a good turn. Ho bogan to got disheartened, a littlo dis paring, and a, triflo reckless. Talked of " going to the devil " and tho Workhouse. Ouo Saturday night, lato in Novembor, ho accidentally picked up a sheot of tho "Christian World," which had corneas butter wrapping from the grocers, and hia oyo caught an article written by a corros pondont in Now Zoaland describing the country, otc , and speaking very hopefully of its future. Goorgo began to think, and then to talk. . " I boliol-e England in played out." " Why is it ?" said his wife. , " Oh, thore are bo many out of work, and things tronorally seem to be going to the . dogs ; at least so far ad tho poople ftro con corned." (Thoy wero no worno than they had boon for two or three years previously, only Jlanoy saw it clearer now ho was fusions; (lio ranks of tho miomployed.) " Nun- hero U an article I have been road ing in tho papor hero about Now Zealand, a placo I onco camo very near going to boforo wo woro marriod. I read a lot about it then —onouth to make <no feel like trying it; but somehow I did not got off, If I was not married " He broko off, for the inherent selti^hno^s of tho idea presented itself to his mind bpforo bofinishod his remarks, and ho added haltingly and disconnectedly-

"I uji'-lifa cob «'■-«■- tli«*w, '->«IJ I vuulU not leave you and tho boy, Emily," and he felt moan as ha said it, for he knew what ho had coma very noar blurting out.

His wife, lion-over, got an idea of his ho?i taii^g speech and what it. meant - that he half felt hor an incirabrance, but liko the girltlvit aha was, sho determined to provo to him he was mistaken.

"Georgo," sho paid, "go without mo. You havo money enough to get over, and when you havo saved enough you can send for us,''

"Yos, but how aro you to live mean while ?"

" Oh, I'll got along somehow. I'll tako in noodlowork, or do warning."

"No !no ! Emily. That is a little too tough for you, who have never been used to Buoh work, at loast to that extent. It's one tiling to waeh for a family like our selves', but it is a different thing when you have to pot bread and butter and ront by it. I never gave a thought to tho poor women who loso their husbands aud have to do it bofore now, and your words sound snmothing like retribution. As for needle work, I think thero is ovon Josa to be made at that, to say nothing of health, if 1 mny judge of tho sowing girls I have seen going into tho city. No Emily, wo will sink or swim together. Wo'll go togethor or stay together." Thoy then bogan to think and talk of whero thoy could borrow enough to make up monoy to take them over. Thoy had thirty pounds loft, and tho furo a'ouo was thirty-six. Their wit:", however, could not poK'o that six pounds and tho little added that would bo wanted on the other side. True, their household goods should fetch something, but celling one's furniture, they know, by auctions thoy had attended, meant too often giving them away, and thoy dared not risk it. During the next woek Haney paid to one or two frionds that ho would go to New Zoaland if he could borrow about ton or fifteen pounds, but could get no idea whero such a loon, on tho security of his word only, could bo got, and he ouly got moro moody aud hopolosa. Ho seemed hedged in, and thero was no way out. He had boen a good worker in hia lodge, and this Now Zealand idea struck one or two of tho moving spirits of the lodgo as a good means to give him a testi monial. A subscription paper was put quietly round tho membership in tho Hol loway district, and an ontertainmont, with a threoponny admission, was resolved on. Of tho object of this Hanoy was kopt in the dark. "Good of Ordor" was the roaeon givon to him. The entertainment came off, and George contributed by giving a couplo of readings from Sims's poems—" Billoy's Roso" and a "Last Interview." Haney was pleased with tho roception he got, and tho cheorlessneas of hia lifo was brightened by the cheers his readings were received with, but ho could not understand why ho was encored so loudly. Nor did he understand till tho next meeting of tho lodge, when, after tho ordinary business was ovor, the Chief Templar roso and eaid tha lodge hadalittlepleasingporsonalmatter ito come boforo it, and called on tho oldost member present to bring it forward. The oldest member happened to be an eldorly lady, and bha responded by rising and walk ing up to tho astonished Hanoy and putting into his hand a purse, amidst the cheors of tho wholo lodge, and staling tbatitcontaincd oightenn pounds, and was a testimonial from tho lodgo to him for his hard and faithful work in connection therewith. They knew he was out o£ employment, and had heard ho desirod to emigrate to Now Zealand, and needed only somo ton pounds) to make up tho amount necessary for the trip. Thoy regretted to loso him, but they believed his prospects were bettor in a new country liko Now Zealand than in overcrowded London. Haney was dazed. His face became red, and then turned whiro, as tho thought of what the gift meant flashed through his mind. He tried to speak-rose, faltered out something, but tho applaueo drowned it, and he sank back unheard. How it finished he scarcely remen'berer), nor did he remember much of what ho met on hi* way home. But when he laid tho purse down boforo his wife, and told her how it came to bo his, sho sat down and ebed tears of joy. line of the happiest honing in London that night was that of Georgo Hanoy. Such was the contract between his provious melancholy and his nowly obtained prospects. New Zoaland looked to him tho daystar of a future prosperity, and as ho and his wife sat dis cursing their plans, tho castle-building that makes a part of all lives at ono timo or another was begun. Haney wa« a new mnn. Next morning he early went out and bought a '" Tele.." and found a i-hip advertised in it to sail in the courpo of about ten days, just giving him time to dispose of his home effects. These

did not realise overmuch, and they caused many a pang in the parting with. Breaking up home sales to emigrate is very like the old slave sales of America. Our little be longings seem like part of ourselves, and wo part witn many a fond memento and littlo remembrancer never to Bee it moro.

The days slipped by, and one wet, drizzling, gloomy morn in Docember saw George Haney and his wife standing on tho deck of the steamer Waitaha, waving adieus to friends on shore, and outward bound for Auckland. One by one the old familiar faces slipped by. Gieenwich, with visions of the park and memories of black heath, Woolwich marshes, Tillbury Fort and Gravesend, all vanished in the cold dull air of the morning, and in a few short hours tho nor' lightship was abreast, dropped astern, and darkness came on. With it came a rolling sea and keen wind down the German Ocean, and thoughts of homo and friends left behind were made the more intense by the qualms of sea sick ness we all know so well.

The tdp was a fair one, excepting the channel and a gale in Biscay's troubled bay, and one bright summer day in early February the shores of New Zealand rose before them liko a land of promise. A little patient waiting and tho Auckland pilot was taken on beard, and the bejuty of the sea suburbs of our city was calling forth ex pressions of delight from every mouth. A couple of hours and the North Head was rounded, tho harbour entered, and the ship safely berthed at the wharf head. The Haneys had been anxious to see Auckland. Thoy felt repaid when they got their first glimpse, for from tho heights of Parnell, the city in the foreground, with the wind mill slowly turning in the faint summer breeze, to the verdure clad villas of Pon sonby, the picture seemed full of promise, and hope beat strong in their hearts. Tho necessity of employment was soon made apparent to George, however, and it came just in tho shape of a few days' bill for board, also in the price of rents. Ho had first got a room at ono of the four shilling per day boarding-houses, and next, after much hunting, had secured half an unfurnished houso in Newton. A very little furniture reduced his stock of money to six pounds, and then he began his search for work.

But, a stranger in a strange land, Haney found ho was met with unconcern. He looked out for advertisements, he tried the offices, but no opening. Ho advertised with no result. At the end of the month he was still unemployed, and about thirty shillings were all that was loft him. An other week went by, and again he was almost moneylosb—worse off than in London. As he began to think, the prospect seemed no better, and he began to be found amongst tho sad hearts so frequent around tho Free Library tables. At liome things began to look baro, and his wifo's eager look of anx ious expectancy began to give way to a weariness of disappointment and deferred hopo "Emily, we have spent our last shilling. Wo have a homo secured to us for five days, and broad for porhaps threo. After that— I don't know."

" Well, wo must hopo on to the last. We must not give way. But it does seem hard to have loft all our friends behind, and then to bo reduced to tho last loaf, without knowing where the next is to come from, in a country liko this. Then there seems no poverty hero like wo saw in London. It sooms to mo everybody is doing well but

"Ah ! that is where you aro mistaken. There aro hundreds of fellows who are hard up. The difference is that hero, when a man gets out of work, ho puts on his best clothes, smartens himself up, and walks about the streets. He is all the same to all intents and purposes labelled as 'out,'and might as well go around, as they did at Holloway, pinging 'I've got no work to do-o o.' Tho clothes aro not shabby, but wo cannot tell how the stomach U. I boliovo many an empty belly ia covered up with a good coat right hero in Auckland, in this land of promieo- When you get hungry you must not bog hero, or you'll get run in. Thoy consider it a crime to bo hungry horo. So it is, but tho criminal is not the follow who is hungry. Where ovorybody ia so well off, a. very little from each would start a place of some kind where ' now chums,' as they call us, could work at something, enough to get—enough to sustain ue, and yet a place we would all try to leave to get something better. The only place of the sort at all ia the Salvation Army Barracks. I'll give them credit for ono thing here -they are practical. They nro not all boisterous shoutings like we used

" Well, is thero no work you can get— none at all, of any sort?" "It doesn't seem so. When I first came, I thought, of courto, I'd get clerking, but I soon found out that ' amateur gentlemen's trades' were full to tho top, and that if I intonded to do aught at all I would not have to wait till I got a clerkehip, but go at any thing. I have been this morning trying to got a berth us a navvy, but when I asked they looked at mo, and neaily laughed in rty face. You see, Em., I don't look liko a navvy at all." " I should think not, indeed."

"Ah, Em. You must got over those ideas hero, We're not in England, and al though care does prevail to a certain oxtent even hero, yet the working man is tho most solid business man in tho colony. I only wish I'd a trado, if it wad only a tinker 8. I could mako money mending pots and kettlos, I believe, but I'm a clerk, with white soft hands, and working mon look down on me as being a ueeloss thing." " George, why can't you loam a trade?" " Why ? Because I'm too old to bo an apprentice, and jou must remember wo would need money to keep us during such an apprenticeship." "Then I'll toll you what I think ought to ba done, George. I don't believe much in workhouses, or those places where they give food away. You know how it is at home, but if the rich people of Auckland were to establish schools to teach men trades, men like you, williug to work, and wanting work, not charity, and farms where farm work could be taught in the same way, they would do the very thing needed." " You aro liko all the women. You gfow enthusiastic over an idea, although your idea is a good one if it could be carried out. But of its being practical I've a doubt."

" Well, anyway, I Buppose it cannot be carried out soon enough to help us. We need help now. What is that Young Men's Christian Association? Don't they holp to (jet men places there ?" " Well, I don't know. I Buppose they may, but I wont thero one day, and the man to whom I spoko about work seemed moro anxious to convert mo. He wanted to talk to me about my soul most of the timo. Now I'm not religious, and I'm not going to pretend to be to get work. I admire honest religion, but I cannot think much about my soul when I think you and the boy may soon be hungry." "Perhaps you mistake them. Try again." "Well, I may do bo, but anyway, I'm hungry now. I suppose we have a meal or two yet I" " Oh, yes, for a day or two, and then there is my watch—and yours-but I never thought it would come to that in New Zeal and."

Next morning Haney wont to the Young Men's Christian Association, but with very little heart. He sat down in the reading room and picked up the paper. He had been reading for about half an-hour, when the same man whom he had spoken of as wanting to talk religion came in, and look ing across at Haney, moved towards him. " Ah 1 here comes Bomo more goody-goody talk," thought Haney. " Did you not tell mo you were looking for work ?" " Yes, sir ; but it seems to be no use." " What kind of work do you want?" "Thekind of work that will feed my wife and child and myself." " You have a wife then ?" "Yes." Jf " Hum ! I thought you wevo single. I have been spoken to about a single man to go into the country. Can you milk ?" " No. I have lived the greater part of my lifo in London, and was a clerk there. But I'll do anything now." " Well, this place won't euit you. They want a man who can milk. But I'll bear you in mind. Call again. Give mo your name and address.- Stay, now. I suppose your wife would go into the country ?" " She'd go anywhere wheio we can get a living." " If she would, I think perhaps we can place you. Call hero at four o'clock to night, will you ?" "Yes, sir, and thank you for your interott in me," said Haney, considerably moro pre possessed in the stranger than he had been. "Meanwhile, look round, and in your spare moments hero is a little pamphlet you can read. Are you a Christian I" " Well, lam and Inm not. I was brought up to bo, but aa I grow up 1 lot it go " Well, don't let it go much longer. The risks aro too big, young man. Keligion is a good thing to live by a3 well as. to die by." " I'll read the trqet. But if we begin to talk religion it will take some time to con

vert me. To tell you the truth, I'm a bit of a Freethinker."

" I don't want to preach to you, but as you have thankod mo for my intorost in you, will you do me a favour?" "I'll try. What is it?" " Will you promiso me to read up on Christianity, and investigate it ? Not only read, but try to find out what it is, and whether there is any reality in it. Free thought in so far as it means infidelity, materialism, rationalism, or whatever name it may go under, believe me, is a mis take. You know it has been said 'The natural man recoiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; noither can ho know them, for they are spritually discerned.' Jesus said, "If any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of the teachings.' The mistake these Free-; thinkers make is in refusing to receive spiritual truths because they cannot be demonstrated to them in some sort of j mathematical manner. The intellect is one thing, the heart another. Love, kindli ness, charity are not matters .to argue about, but to be practised. You may dis pute from now till doomsday and not get religion, or love, or charity thereby. But I will not preach. Ab I said before, promise me you will carefully read and study ' Paley'B Evidences of Christianity' and 'Butler's Analogy,' and then when you have done that you will, I think, feel like reading more. And njw good morning."

" Good morningl, sir I'll read both as honestly as I'm able."

When Haney went home to dinner he told his wife of the conversation. "I felt almost liko apologising to him. Ho might almost have listened to what I said last night. I hope he'll get me something, anyway,"

Four o'clock found Haney at the Rooms again, and in about fifteen minutes his morning aquaintancc came in.

"Well, I've got you a position, such as it is. It's not a clerkship, but a pprter or general holp in warehouse in High street. Tho wages are twenty-five shillings for the first month, till you learn tho ways of the place and see if you suit, and after that you'll get increased, as you please them. Will you take it ?"

'' Why, certainly. I'll tako anything that will put bread and butter in the cupboard. I'm too poor to refuse offers."

" Well you are to begin next Monday, but I gave your-name, and if I were you I'd report tomorrow morning, just to say you'll be on hand on Monday."

" Thank you, I'll do so, and let ms again thank you for what you have do.io for me."

"That's all right. Kemember your promise about reading, and here, to start with, hero's a ticket for the library for three months. You can get one of the bookß out now, Tako Paloy, to begin."

Hapey took the advico, and reported next morning, and tho firm, pleased with his looks and manner, told him ho might as well begin at once. He did so, and did his duties so satisfactorily that he was retained on better wages. He continued with the firm for several years, and only left them to take tho management of another business in which he had an interest

George Honey now owns his own house and lot, and is a prosperous man. Pro bably most of the readers of the Star have met or seen him at one time or another. He has long ago recouped the Lodge in England its gift, and ho always remembers his own experiences when a new chum "wants work."

A Settler's Story.

Stranger to Canada, I thiuk you said? First visit to Ontario? Well, you're heartily welcome to Indian Creek. Take a chair on the piazza till dinner's ready— wo dine early in these now-world parts.

Fine form ? Wall, yes ; Indian Creek ia n nice place, if I do own it. All, aa far us you ctm soe—grass land, cam iiolds, woo is, and creeks—all belong to it. Stock too— they call it the best-stocked farm in Ontario, I beliove, and I dare say they're right. All mine; and yet I came to Canada, twelve yeai'B ago, without ovon the traditional half-crown in my trousers' pocket. You look surprised. Would you like to hear the story ? There's a goad half-hour to dinner time yet, and it's a story I never tire of tell ing, somehow I besjan Hf e a a the son of a village car penter in the south of England. You know that class pretty well, I dare say, and what a gulf was fixed botween me and the vicar of tu u paiwu. am yen-and yet-from the time she was seven years old, and I eleven and she fell down in the dusty roaa out side the carpenter's shop, and cried, and I picked her up and smoothed the little crumpled pinafore, and kissed the dust out of her golden curls, I loved but one girl in the world, and that was the vicar's daughter

Winny BranECome. s Madnesß, you say. Well, perhaps so, and yet a man is but a man, and a woman a woman ; and love comes, whatever one may do. There's no class distinction re cognised by childhood, and we were play mates and friends i ill she went to a boarding school. If Mies Winny had had a mother, no doubt things would have been very different; but we are alike in never having known a woman's care, and the old vicar was blind to everything but' his theological treatises.

But when she came back from her Lon don boarding-school, a beautiful young lady, all smiles, and laces, and little lovely 'vays -then I knew. I had tried my boat to study and work, and make myself more like the men she would meet; b t what can a lad in an English village do? I just had enough education to make every other lad in the place hate me ; and besides the uion of her would I suppose I cut rather an astonishing figure. Yet tha love of her was so beyond all eleo in me that, mad, hopeless as I felt it, I had no power over myself; and tho first time I caught her alone in the woods—she avoided me, I saw, and I had to watch my chinco — I told her the whole story, and waited for her answer. She grew scarlet —a rush of colour that dyed her fair, sweet face—then deathly white.

" Dick," she said, and she was trembling irom head to foot, " you know it can never, never be ; you know you are wrong even to dream of such a thing. Some girls would think it an insult; I know you better, but if my father heard of this he would say you had abused his kindness to you ;he would never forgive you. Forget your madnoss," and she ran from me. I let her go. I had seen the blush and the tremor, and I guessed that if I had been Mr Loftus, the young squire, instead of Dick Hawtry, the carpenter's son, her answer might have been different. A great resolve sprang up in my soul, and I took a solemn vow in those June woods. That very night I sold tho old shop (my father was dead, and I had taken to the business), and with the money I bought an outfit and started straight for Canada. It was pretty tough work at first, but I worked like a galley-slave—ftarved and pinched and saved, and never spent a penny on myself except for the books I sat up half the night to read and study. Well, in this country the man who works and doesn't drink is sure to get on ; and I had a mighty purpose in my head. By and-by I Bought some land dirt cheap, and sold it for three times what 1 gave for it— thon I began to make, money fast. I should call my luck wonderful if I believed in luck, and didn't prefer to think I was helped by a Power far abler than my own. At last, ten years to the very day after I set foot on Canadian soil, I bought Indian Creek farm and began to build this house. All the neighbours thought my good fortune had turned my brain, for I fitted it up and furnished it for a lady, down to a little rocking chair by my study table, and a work basket with a tiny gold thimble in it. And when all was finished I took tbo first ship for Liverpool. Ten years built a city ovor here. They don't mako such a change in a Devonshire village. The very gates were left off their hinges, as I left them, only tho people were a little older and a trifle moro stupid ; and there was a now vicur. Old Mr Bians come had been dead six months ; died very poor, they told mo; there wes nothing left for Miss Winny. My heart gave one great leap when I heard that. And Mis* Winny? Oh, she had gone governossing with eomo people who were jutt off to Canada, and the ship sailed to-morrow from Liverpool.

The Liverpool express never seemed to crawl co nlowly before. I got there, to find every berth taken on board tho Antarctic, and the captainragingntcho non-appearance of tivo of the crow. Without a second's pause I offered for one of the vacant places, i was ai Btro"g as a horso, >md active enough, and though tho captain eyed me rather askance—l had been to a Weet End tailor on my way through London—ho wastoo glad to getmeipaakany questions." Soleailedon tho ship with my girl, little aa she knew it. 1 caw her tho first day or two, looking co pale and thin that sho waa like, the ghost of her old eolf, and yet sweeter to my eyes than ever before. The. children ehe h»d charge of were troubjesomo little creatures, who worried and badgered her till \ longed to cuff them, well. But thoro \va.s a gentle ness and a patience a>o.ut her quite new to

my idea of Miss Winny, and 1 only loved her the more for it. After tho second day out the wind freshened, and I saw no more of her.

We had an awful passago. It was lato in Novomber—an early winter, and the cold was intense. It blow one continuous gale, and somo of our machinery was broken— the scrow damaged—and we could not keep our course. As we drew near the other side of the Atlantic, we got more and more out of our bearings, and ac last the fogs told us we were somewhere off the banks of Newfoundland. On the tonth night, just after midnight, the awful crash and shock took place—a sensation which no one who has not felt it can imagine in the least—and we knew that the Antartic had struck.

It's a fearful thing, if you come to think of it, a great steamer filled with living souls in the full flow of life and health, and in one moment the call coming to each of them to die. Bofore you could have struck a match the wholo chip was in a panic cries, terror, confusion, agony—oh, it was dreadful! 1 trust never to fcis euch a scene again. I made my way through it all as if I had noither eyes nor ears, and got to tho state room I had long ago found out was the ono which belonged to my girl. I knocked at the door with a heavy hand. Even at that awful moment a thrill ran through me at the thought of standing faco to face with her again.

"Winny !" I cried, "como out! make haste ! there is not a moment to lose I"

The door opened as I spoke, and she stood just within, ready dressed, oven to her little black cap

"Diek!"sho cried, "Oh, Dick, Dick!" and she fell forward in a dead faint on my Bhoulder.

All my senses came back then ; and I threw her over my arm and ran for the Jock. A great fur-lined cloak had been dropped by the door of tho ladies' cabin. There was no light, and I stumbled over it as I ran. I snatched it up and carried it with me.

Up above, all was in the wildest chaos ; the boats overfilled, and pushing off; the ship settling rapidly: peoplo shouting, crying, raving. One hears tales of calm ness and courage often enough at such times, which makes one's heart glow as one reads them ; but there was not much horoism shows in tho wreck of the Ant arctic. The captain behaved splondidly, and so did some of tho passengers, but tho majority of them and the crew wore mad with terror, and lost their heads altogether.

I saw there was not a chanco for the overcrowded boats in that sea, and I sprang for the rigging. I was not a second too soon; a score of others followed my example, and with my precious burden I should not have had a chanco two minutes later. As it was, I scrambled to the top mast, and got a firm hold there. Winny was jußt coming to hersolf. I had wrapped hor round like a baby in the fur cloak, and with my teeth I opened a knife to cut a rope which hung loose within reach. With thin I lashed her to me, and fastened us both to tho topmast. The chip sank gradually ; she did not heol ever, or I should not be tolling you the story now; sho settled down, just her deck above water, but the great seas washed over it every second, and swept it clean, Tho boats had gone I

How long was the longest night you evor knew ? Multiply that by a thousand, and you will have some idea of that night's length. The cold was awful. The epray froze on the shoots where it fell; the yards wee slippery with ice. I stamped on Winny's feet to keep them from freezing. Did you notice that I limp a little ? I shall walk lame as long aB 1 live. Sometimes there was a splash in the black water below, as some poor fellow's stiffened hold rolaxed and ho fell from his placo ih tho rigging. Thoro was not a breath of wind —nothing but tho bitter, bitter fog. How long could wo hold out? Where were wo? How long would tho ship be beforo sho broke up ? Would it bo by drowning or by freezing? Wo asked oursolves these ques tions again and again, but thcro was no answer. Death stared us in tho face ;wo seemed to live ages of agony in every minute. And yet (will you believe mo?) that all seemed little in comparison to the thought that, aftor all the struggles and the sorrows, after all those ten long, weary years, I held my girl in my arms at laßt,

Well, well! Why ehould I dwell on such horrors, except to thank the mercy that brought us through them nil? Day dawned at last; and there was the shore near by, and soon rockets were fired, and ropes secured, and one by one the half dead living were^drawn from their awful landed Bafe on shore. They had to take Winny and me together, juat as wo were, and even then they had hard work to undo the clasp of , my stiffened arms about her. I knew nothing then, nor for long aftor; and it is wonderful that Winny was tho first to recover, and that it was she who nursed me back to life and reason.

And how did I ask her to marry mo? Upon my word, now you ask, I can't re member that I ever did. That Beemod utterly unnecessary somehow. Cane dis tinctions look small enough when you liavo been staring death in the face fora few hours and words were not much needed after wo had been together in the rigging that night. Somehow I was glad it wub so ; glad my girl had taken mo, in my cap and jersey, for a common sailor, and yet loved the old Dick through it all; glad she never dreamed I was owner of Indian Creok Farm, and tho richest man in that end of Ontario, and had wealth and a position higher than Mr Loftus, tho young squiro at homo. Tho people she was with had all gone down on that awful nighft; sho had no one -in tho world but me. We were married at Mon treal—the captain of the Antaicticgavo her away-and then I brought her homo to Indian Creek.

There sho comes with her baby on her shoulder. Como into dinner, friend, and you shall see the sweetest wife in the now country or the old ; tho girl I won amid tho ocean's surges.

Marriage Whims.

The Romans were very suporstitioua about marrying in May and February. The 14th has always been considered in England peculiarly unlucky for brides. Why, tradition saith not. In tho Orkney leles the brido selects the evening for her wedding when there is a full moon and a flowing tide. In Scotland the last day of the year is considered lucky ; the bride's prospects in life are supposed to be bril liant. Sunday is a great favourite with brides in some parts of England and Ire land. The French demoiselle, however, thinks the first Friday in the month par ticuliarly fortunate for her nuptials. In Sweden the bride on her way back from church has pieces of bread in her pockets. These she throws away on her road to her home to insure her good luck. It is ill-fortune to tho one who picks up these crumbs. 15 the bride lose her slipper on her way from church she will lose all her troubles, and the one who picks it iip_ will gain riches. In every country it is an unhappy omen lor the wed ding to be put off when once the day has been fixed ; and in England it is believed great misfortunes will ensue if a bridegroom stand, if only for a moment, at the jnnction cf cross roads on Mb wedding morn. In England, also, it is thought a sign of bad luck if the brido fails to plied teara on her wedding day, or if she turns back to take a last look at herself in her wedding toilet. Among tho English, lassies it is b.d luck for a bride to look back or go back, when ehe has onco started for the church, or to marry dressed in green, or to let the ceremony go on while there is an open grave in tho church yard. When tho bridesmaid* undress tho bride they must be Euro to throw away all tho pins, to make sure of pond luck to themselves aa well as for her. If a cinglo pin be left in the bride's ruimont, woo unto her ; and if a bridesmaid should keep one of them tho will not be married boforo Whit suntide or the Faster following. Tnoreforo bridesmaids in England avo not given to preserving tho pins from tho bridal cos tume. If tho biHal party venture off tho land they must go up stream, and tho brido, to mako certain of good luck, must on that happy day wear "Somo tliing old and something new, something gold and something bluo." If H he Bees v strange cat that day tho will take it as an omen that she is to bo very happy • and ii: on the morning of her weddine day she stops fvom her bed on sumothing higher than the floor, and then on something higher still, she witt rise in tho world from tho time of her marriago. To make sure of this, tho maiden has a chair and a table at her bod side, and fteps from one to the other on rising from her slumbers on her wedding morn On leaving her home, and on start ing frnni the church to return, she is vory careful to Btep out with her right foot first, and eh.o is oareful not to address her hug band after they are wed without first call ing him by hia full name. Tho break of tho wedding ring is a sign that the Tcurer will toon be a widow

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1885

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The Bad and Worthless, ire never imitated or counterfiited. Thli la especially true of a family medicine, and It is positive proof that thoremndy imitated iaof the highest value. As Boon us it had been tested arid proved by the w.hole world that Hop Bitters was tho purest, best, and moat valuable family medicine on earth, many imitations sprung up, md began to steal tho notice* in which the Press sind the people of tho country had expressed the merits of H. 8., and in every way trying to Induce uufferinK Invalids to use their stuff Instead, expecting to make money on tho credit and food name of 1L B. Many others started nostrums put up in Biniilar 5t.710 to H. 8., with variously devised names, in which tho word "Hop or " Hops " were used in a way to induce people to believe they wero tho Bame as Hop Bitters. All such pretended remedies or ourea, jo matter what their style or name is, and especially thO3O with *ho word "Hop or " llopa " In their name, ur in any way connected with them or their namo, arc imitations or counterfeits. Bewaro of them. Touch none of ihom. Use nothing but RennUe American Hop Bitters, with a bunch or cluster of Kreun Hops nn tho white label, and Dr. Soule's li'amo blowu In tho glass. Trust nothing clso. Drugßirts ard fheinisU aro warned against dealing in Upitatinnu or. (-.ouiitorteita. At W u'.'t*. Ke|01l(toro( ., rrc », el 4 Co.. Aj«.U AocktaJ.