UNKNOWN

Bir F. D. E. N. Sowrttwontit.

CHAPTER XVII.

AX EVIL SPIRIT'S FLIGHT. By many a deafh-bccl I have been, And many a sinner's parting soph, But never aught like this. Sir Walter Scott,

"I followed ray stiff conductress into a vast, gloomy chamber, dimly lighted, by one small wax candle in the clustered chan delier that hung from the centre of the ceiling, showing a huga, four-post bedstead. curtained with dark-brown maroon, which stood in the middle of the floor, and leaving the four walls of the room with its furniture lost in obscurity.

" The bed-curtains had been looped aside for air, and between them stood a tall negro woman, in a white turban and dark gown, Wiving a large palm-leaf fan. " Miaa Rowley stepped up to the bedside and bent over the invalid, ga/.ed at him for a moment, and then lifted her head, saying, loftily:

" Goneral Slaughter sleeps. Come here, my good man, and take this chair, and sit by him, until he awakes. Then rise and tell him that you wait his Older s. He knows you by sight, and having ordered your at tendance, ho will not be surprised to find you here, so that you will noed no intro duction.'

" Smiling eliihtly at the insolence of this lady, I bowed and took the indicated seat.

'' Miss Rowley beckoned the black nurse to follow her, and both withdrew.from the loom, leaving me alone with the old stricken man.

"He was lying on the bed, under a curiously embroidered silk coverlet, ■ pro bably the production of some lady of the manor who excelled and delighted in stioh cunning and beautiful needle-work. His Loud and shoulders were raised by several pillows. One arm was flung up over his head; the other hung listlessly down by the bedside. 1 raised that arm and laid it in its place, and then stooped to look upon tho face of my sleeping foe —the face I had nob seen for thirty years—the face, once hand some in its youth, if one might jvtflge from his portrait, bufc now seamed, scarred, dia bolical iii its record of a century's fierec, brutal and unbridled passions, and alto gether indescribable in its hideousness. " I shrank back into my chair, covered my eyes Avith my hand and waited. " Heated by the bedside, I soon felt a coll horror creeping into my spirit, such a3 I had never felt before, and failed to under stand then. I was overshadowed by the evil sphere of a death-bed haunted by re morse, deserted by hope. ;" So cold and still; so dark and deadly, so weird and unearthly was this iniiuen.ee that I welcomed the wild-beating .storm — the blazing lightning, the rolling thunder, the howling wind, and the rattling rain as things earthly, natural, familial1. " 1 had covered my eyes with my hand, to shut out any chance glimpse of "the sleeper's face ; yet some strange fascination drew me, from time to'time, to uncover my eyes and gaze at what I loathed to look

upon. " At length, inguchagaze, I encountered the open eyes of the dying man glaring upon me. "So—you've—come,'he faltered feebly. " I bowed, and drew my chair nearer to

" 'The cordial—quick !' he gasped,chahg ing colour. " I saw a bottle and a small wine-glass on a stand near tho bed. I poured out a litfcle ef the contents of the bottle into tho glass, nnd held it to his lips. He swallowed the cordial with difficulty, bub seemed revived by it; for as soen as I had replaced the glass on the stand and resumed my seat, he said to me : " I sent for you. And now,' he added, with a frightful oath, ' I do not know why I should have .sent for you, and I am very sorry I did it.' With this his face grew more hideous than it had been before, and he re lapsed into a silence that lasted so long I was obliged to interrupt it by saying : " ' 1 am told that you sent for me to hear a communication that you wished to make. I have come through this heavy storm tp hear it.' "' Oh ! Aye, I have something to i tell you. But,' lie growled, with another terrible imprecation1, ' Xdo not know why I should tell you.' ... "'You will be guided by ..your own judgment, General Slaughter,' I answered. "'I know that, you villain! I'll be guided by my own judgment and nothing else. If I tell you anything, it will be because my own judgement tells me that to do so may make things easier for me up there,' he said, raising his bony arm and pointing towards heaven. The next instant" his arm fell powerless upon the bed. He had exhausted himself, and remained quiet for a i few moments. •At length he resumed: " ' Now, if I tell you a secret, you scamp, it will not be for any liking I have for you ; for I have none ; but it will be out of re gard for my own soul. Are you attending to what I say, sirrah ?' "'Yes, General Slaughter,' I replied. " ' Lily Yam was your lawful wife !' " ' I know that perfectly well, sir.' I " ' Oh, yes, of course you know that per fectly well,, for you would have considered sonr run-away match lawful enough if the marriage ceremony had been performed by a magistrate or a blacksmith, instead of a regularly ordained minister of the gospel— That is not what I mean.' ".'What do you mean, if I may be allowed the question, sir ?' I inquired. "But again the-failing old man had •wearied himself, and lay exhausted. For the next few minutes nothing could be heard but the cannonading of the tempest upon the walls of the house. I poured out a glass of water, and .offered it to him. He drank it, and resumed his speech. <": What Ido mean is this: You knew that your runaway marriage was considered illegal by every one cancerqed in it—' "• Except myself and my wife,' I put in. "' And cmc other who knew better than either of you, yes. Bub it was considered a felony by every one else—by tho con stables who arrested you and your bride ; by che magistrate! who committed you to prison ; by the jury who convicted you of the abduction of a, minor"; by the judge who sentenced you to two years of imprisonment in the penitentiary. Yet, in spite of judge, jury, and law officers to the contrary, you had committed no. qffence against God or man, and your bride was. your lawful wife in the sight of heaven and earth.' " In the name of truth, and justice, ex plain yourself,' I breathed. He waved hie Land feebly, saying: " Wait. I have something else to tell you. Some months after her separation from you, your wife became the mother of o living child.' " Just Heaven ! this happened and you never told mo of it!' I exclaimed, over •whelmed by astonishment, indignation and grief, and scarcely able to restrain myself from tailing down ourses upon him, dying man though lie was. " Why should I have told you V he re mimed. ' '¥ou had frustrated me, and I hated you.' . " ' May fho Lord forgive you, Hiram Slaughter, for I fear I never can. Where ia my child ■' " ' Heaven knows !—I don't know,. She must be able to take care qf herself when ever she is, far she must be over thirty years old by this time.' " ' The qhjld was a girl, top ! thrown out, $ poor, motherless girl baby, on this bitter

world ! Thirty year? old. now and able to take care of herself, is she ? At what ape is an average woman able to take cave of herself in this -world ? What chai>ce do men give her to do so ? Hiram 81/iughter, beforo you tiare to leave this earth, I-.cha.rea you fcell me all you know of this miserable matter, that I may have bo .i>e clue by which to seek and find my lost daughter !' I solemnly adjured him. "'Not for your sake, you villain! not because yon ' charge' me, yon rascal, but because I have already resolved to clear my breast of it, 1 do so,' he faltered, glaring at n;e through sunken and inflamed eyes.

'' 1 bowed in piience.

"Then he asked me, or fathor ordered me, to give him another dose of the re storative on the stand.

. "I poured out a anali glass of the cordial and put it to his lips. " lie swallowed its contents with diffi culty, drew a laboured bi'eath, and then began to tell mo the terrible story, speaking at first clearly and coherently enough, bub gradually' growing weak and dis jointed and utterly inconsequent in his dis course.

"Yet from his disconnected narrative I gathered the fact which I must now tell you in my own words, for it would be next to impossible to give it to you in lusj. "This was what I learned from his in coherent utterance- It seems that when ittlo Lily Vale was orphaned by the loss of both her parents, who died of cholera within a few hours of each other, at their plantation in one of the islands of Chesa peake Bay, the grandfather, General Slaughter, was called as executor and guardian to settle up the estate and take charge of the infant heiress.' . " Lily was really seven years old when he bought her, a little stranger, to his own home here in West Virginia, but she was very small and shy for her ago ; so that when her guardian, for the sake of having a longer term of authority over her and her fortune, gave her out to be two years younger than she really W as, his statement was readily believed. "This deception was kepb up by her fraudulent guardian through all the grow ing years of Lily's life, and long after she ]iaa passed her majority ; so that when, by the cruel despotism of General Slaughter, she was so reluctantly driven from her home and forced to find refuge in a union with me, she was really over twenty-two years-old, instead of under twenty one, and therefore she was of full legal ago and quite capable of contracting lawful mar riage ; thus the marriage ceremony solem nised between us in the Old Colonial Episco pal Church, at Alexandria, was legal as it was sacred, and the little girl afterwards born of that marriage was the child of law as well as of love.

" But I am getting before my story. " While Lily was in his power, any at his mercy, he took her to New York, whore he deadened her sensibilities by the adminis tration of drugs, and while she was in a lethargic state ho would have married to another man the already wedded wife, whose husband his (General Slaughter's) false testimony had consigned to a prison.. " Fortunately, Captain Dulany, a man of the world, was acute enough to perceive her condition, and bold enough to inform her guardian that she needed a physican more than a husband.

'• This news, of course,, threw the tyrant into a furious rage, as has been already said, and he not only sent for a physican, but after having received the physican's report he hurried his ward off to London, aud concealed her in a private hospital, where, in clue time, she became the mother of a little girl. ! "This child he took away, and put out to nurse with a poor woman in the heart of London. He gave the woman twenty pounds for taking it, and promised to remit the same sum quarterly for its support; but he never gave his real name and address, and never afterwards sent any more money to the nurse, or heard any more news of the poor little forsaken child.

" As soon as possible after Lily's conval escence, he took her f :om the private hos pital and brought her back to this coun try. "He stopped with her at Richmond. Again, with potent drugs, he deadened her sensibilities, while, with diabolical false hood, he misled her mind, He persuaded her that her child and her husband were both dead. To her, indeed, they wen dead, since the husband was immured in a prison, and the child was lost in the wilderness of London.

" While she was in this apathy, physio ally produted by drugs, and mentally by despair, her old suitor, Captain Dudley, re-appeared, and with him General Slaugh ter had a talk and negotiated a marriage.

" Lily, half idiotic from the infernal arts practised upon her mind and frame, sub mitted to all that was arranged for her, and there is no doubt that she would really have been deluded into a marriage with Captain Dulaney had not General Slaughter, from the fear that, at tlie last moment, she might arouse herself and resist the marriage, given her an overdose of the deadly drug, and sent her into a lethargy that ended in death. " Thus he unintentionally murdered her body, and so released herself. Ah, 1 have already told you how swiftly she fled to me as soon as she was free ; how often she has come to me since !

" Oh, what a glorious freedom that must be of the newly delivered spirit, which no bolts nor bars can ever confine again, no time or space ever weary for evermore ! What a beautiful event for both spirit and flesh is the glorious new birth which we miscall death, for neither spirit nor flesh ever perishes ! The spirit, released from the weight of the flesh, rises to her higher, fuller, happier life. The poor flesh, freed from the wearying service of the spirit, rests in the bosom of its mother earth, and passes through the grand laboratory of Nature to other forms of life.

" With the murder of Lily the confession of Hiram Slaughter was completed. The effort of making it had greatly prostrated him.

" I was about to ring for his attendants, when he signed to me to give him another dose of the elixir. When he had drunk it he signed to me again that I should sit down and wait.

U I complied, and then he told me that Lily's daughter, if living, was, as his own great-grand-daughter and sole descendant, the heiress of Hill Top Hall, Wilde Lodge and Cave Court in West Virginia, and as the sole representative of the Vales of Stonylonesomei the heiress of Stonylone some Island and Manor on the Chesapeake. But to make all sure, ho said he had in tended to make a will and leave all his pos sessions to the daughter of Gabriel Haddon and his wife, Lily Vale, and to her heirs for ever. " After adding these words, which he uttered with the greatest difficulty, the dying man sank so fast that I arose and rang sharply for his attendants. "His lofty niece and his black nurse entered the room and hurried to his bed side, but they were only in time to receive his last breath.

" When all was over I left the house. " The storm was past, day was breaking, and I 6et out on my return home. ''The old man's story ends here, Ger trude. There is nothing now fop me to do but to go to London and seek for my lost daughter. She must, if living, be a grave matron by this time— a wife and mother, with many children, perhaps; or a widow, possibly. Or she may be— No ! Heaven of heavens ! I will not even think it! Whatever or wherever she may be, if she lives upon this earth I will find her." " Have you any satisfactory clue to seek her by, dear grand?" sympathetically in quired Gertrude. Ml have the name of the private hospital in whioh my Lily was concealed when her hchild wtts born, h was l)r- Brown's, Churc

street, Chelsea, London, W. I tovealso the address of the nurse—Jane Robinson, Clam Court, Drury Lane, London, E. "- As soon as General Slaughter's funeral is Over, I shall place the fe2*ry in charge of jny trusty John, and take you and start for London. You would like to go" abroad, Gertrude ?"

"Oh \ yes, dear grand, botte- than any thing in this world .'" said the young girl with a girl'B glee,, " I thought so. Then pack up just enough clothing to last us both on a two weeks' voyage in an ocean ' steamer. You need take nothing mol'c, fop I can give you a complete outfit aa soon as we reach Liverpool." As Gabriel Haddon spoke those words there came the eoutid of a horn, blown from the opposite ssido of the river, followed by a voice shouting t

"Boat!"

" It is the messenger returning with the undertaker. I must go and fetch them over," said the did ferry-mah, Maing and leaving the room. Gertrude sat where the old man had left her, her delicate chock resting on her hand, her dark eyes fixed on the floor. Not even her prospect of going to Eur6p& cOuld quite distract her thoughts from dwelling on the strange story she had heartl. She sat there, lout in roverie, until she was aroused by the re-entrance of her grandfather.

"Adams, the undertaker, from Wilde ville, has gone up to Hill Top Hall. The funeral is iixed for to-morrow. Adams and his mon will be going and coming all day long, I suppose," Said the old fcrry*man, as he sank down in his arm-chair.

Gertrude arose, and took her work, and brought it and aab down beside him to sew.

The old man's prediction proved true. The ferry-boat was in requisition all day long for solemn funeral duties, so that, at night, the ferry-man and his assisbahts went to bed well nigh worn out. The next day was busier still, for the ferry-boats were employed all the forenoon in bringing over carriages for the funeral. At noon, however, Gabriel Haddon left the ferry in charge of his assistant, John, and, accompanied by his granddaughter, Gertrude, went up to Hill Top Hall to attend the obsequies of General Slaughter. The venerable Mr Barnard, chaplain of Hill Top Manor Chapel, performed the funeral ceremonies, and pronounced a Eanegyric on the departed, which, it is to o hoped, was as sincere'as it was pro tracted ; after which the mOl'tftf remains of Hiram Slaughter were deposited in the family Vault under Hill Top Chapel, and the funeral guests separated and set out for their several homes.

Much wonder was expressed that no will had been found, and it seemed a moot point whether the estates of the late Hiram Slaughter would descend to his eldest niece, Miss Rowley, or to his grand-niece, Gerald me' Fitzgerald, who was already the wealthiest heiress in the country. The greater number of opinions were given in favour Of Miss Rowley, who was the oldest duughter of his deceased and only sister. CHAPTER XVII. THE TASSINC OF A rCKE SPIftlT. At peace with all tho world, dear Lord, and Thee, No fears my soul's unwavering faith c:'»n shake ;[ All's well, whichever side tho grave for mo The morning's light shall break. Anonymous.

" Peace be with you, Hiram Slaughter ! Peace be with you, restless and unhappy soul ! Peace be with you, insane spirit ! In that grave I bury, with your mortal remains, all memory of my own wrongs and resentments," murmured Gabriel Had don to himself, as with Gertrude on his arm he turned from the closed vault and left the chapel.

He" took' liis granddaughter back to the ferryhouse, where old Jess had supper ready aud waiting for them. He was very silent during the meal; and as soon aB it was over he arose and said he felt very tired and would go to bed.

He kissed and blessed his granddaughter and retired to his chamber. >

Gertrude remained below stairs "a little longer to settle up some household affairs, and also to satisfy the curiosity of old Jess, who, having remained at home alt day, had many questions to ask in regard to the funeral. ■••

At length, however, having got through with her work, Gertrude also retired to rest. She walked softly aoross the front passage, so as not to disturb her weary grand father.

When she reached his room door, which was on the first floor opposite the parlour, she paused and listened to hear whether he stirred or seemed to want anything. She heard him murmuring to himself, as it waa often his habit to do, some verse of a hymn.

These were the words that met her ear : "At peace, dear Lord, with all tho world and Thee, No fear my soul's unwavering faith can shake; All's well, whichever side the grave tot mo The morning's light may break."

" God bless him !" whispered Gertrude to herself, as she softly withdrew from the door, and went up stairs to her own room. The next morning Gertrude arose and dressed at her usual hour, and wont down to help old Jess to prepare breakfast. When it was ready, she waited a little while for her grandfather, who was always an early riser. Then,knowing that he was sleeping much later than customary, and fearing that he might be indisposed, she crossed the hall and rapped at his door. As there was no response she rapped louder; as there was still no answer, she turned the latch, opened tlie door a little way, and peeped in. Something in tho air and manner of the form that lay upon the bed drew her into the room. She crossed the floor, and, scarcely breathing, stooped over the form and gazed tlpon the marble mask of the face, in its halo of silver hair.

She saw the whole truth in an instant,

All was well with Gabriel Haddon. The " morning's light" had broken for- him, on other lands than ours.

The shock was a tremendous one to the bereaved child ; but . Gertrude never screamed or wept; her grief scarcely made itself felt as yet; when it did, it was too deep for tears or noisy demonstration. She turned very pale, stobped and kissed the cold lips, drew the sheet Over the grand old statuesque face, and went out quietly, and told old Jess what had happened. Jess set down the coffee pot that she had held in her hand, dropped into a chair, and stared at Gertrude a full minute before speaking. At length, however, she ex claimed :

"You tell me.gal, as you found ole marse dead in his bed ?"

Gertrude nodded with a tearless sob,

"Well, Lord, it's nothing moron I 'speted when I see what a shock he got gwine up there to Hill Top trough de storm to 'tend de death-bed o' that ole dyin' sinner. Well, it's what we must all come to. ' Gone to-day, and here to-morrow,' as de ole saying says. Chile, it's done took all my appetite for victuals away for this day. Couldn't eat a single mouthful of breakfast if 'twas to save qiy precious soul. Now, honey, we must send John hot-foot to Wildeville to fetch the doctor."

"The doctor can do no good, Jess," Bighed Gertrude.

"No, honey, nor likewise no harm neither —nor now he can't, you know. 'Sides which it's lawful for him to be sent for on such a 'caaion as this ; for, you see, dere'll have to be a'quest, and de doctor might give a sittffikit as we sent for him. ' Arter wit's better dan fore wit,' honey, as

deole saying says. Heap o' sense in ole sayings, honey."

Gertrude made no objections, and Jess threw a shawl over her head, and walked down to the boat-house to call John Brooks, the boatman, to tell him what had oc curred, and to send him to Wildeville to fetch the doctor.

The honest boatman set off at once on his errand, and must have spread the startling news right and left, for within an hour a crowd of inquisitive or kindly disposed country neighbours gathered at the house. Tho older and more experienced matrons among the visitors took charge of ailairs, and drossed and laid out the corpse. About noon John Brooks returned from Wildeville, bringing the doctor and the un dertaker.

Dr Bell, the medical practitioner of Wikleville, made an examination of the dead body, and gave a certificate that Gabriel Haddon had died from natural causes, and thus obviated the distressing necessity of a coroner's inquest. As soon as the doctor departed the under; taker took measures for his own part in the solemn pageantry of death. f

Later in the day arrived Rev. Dr. Good win, the aged Rector of the old Red Sand stone Church, and tho life-long friend of the lute ferry-man. Gertrude* met him with eagerness, as if in hirji, more than in all others, she hoped to find comfort and strength. He laid his hand in blessing on her head, and then sat down with her to have a talk.

" I am your guardian by your grand father's will,my child. Did you know it ?" he kindly inquired.

"No } I—l did not know—he had made a will," answered Gertrude, with an irrepressible sob.

f " Yes, J have a copy of it, and Lawyer Keyworth has the original. It may be pre mature to speak of this now, ray dear girl, and I only mention it that you may know you have a friend and guardian in me in whom you may trust as a child trusts in her father," said the old minister, affec tionately.

"Thanks-r-thanks, dear Dr. Goodwin. It is another proof of my beloved and honoured grandfather's wise affection for me that he should have given me such a guardian as yourself ; another proof of your own ' loving kindness and tender mercy,' that you should so willingly accept the troublesome trust," said Gertrude grate fully.

The minister pressed her hand, which he had retained within hia own while talking to her. Then telling her that he had as sumed the full direction of all affairs re lating tp the burial, and promising to see her again early the next morning, he arose and took, leave.

The funeral took place on the third day after the death, and was, perhaps, even more numerously attended than that of General Slaughter had been ; for the ferry man, notwithstanding the calumnies and persecutions that had darkened his early life, waß greatly beloved and respected in the neighbourhood.

Dr. Goodwin read the burial service of the Episcopal Church in an earnest and im pressive manner; but he pronounced no panegyric on the character of Gabriel Had don, nor did the grand old ferry-man need such a testimonial from his pastor or from any other man. His memory was green and fresh in the hearts of his neighbours, whom he had loved more than himself, and only less than he loved the Lord.

A long line of carriages followed the hearse that conveyed his remains along the river road leading to the old Red Sandstone churchyard, where they were finally laid beside those of his forefathers.

Dr Goodwin and Lawyer Keyworth ac companied Gertrude back to her now desolate home, for the purpose of reading Gabriel Haddon's last will and testament.

It was late in the afternoon when they arrived; but the sun had not yet gone down.

The little Household, consistingl of Ger trude Haddon, the orphan, Jessie Bell, the housekeeper, and John Brooks, the boat man, were called together in the parlour of the ferry-house, and directed to seat them selves around the table, where they sat in the following order—Dr Goodwin and Gertrude on one side; Jessie Bell and John Brooks on the other. The lawyer, Mr Key worth, stood up at the head of the table with the parchmont in his hand.

When all wa3 ready, he opened and com menced to read the will.

It was short, simple and clear. It was dated about a year previous to the sudden death of the testator, who, after leaving a legacy of five hundred dollars each to his faithhtl housekeeper, Jessie Bell, and hi 3 trusty boatman, John Brooks, bequeathed the whole residue of the testator's real and personal state, consisting of two hundred acres of land with dwelling-house, offices, boat-houses, boats and piers, collectively known as Haddon's Ferry, to his beloved and honoured friend Samuel Goodwin, Rector of Red Sandstone Parish, in trust for his, the testator's daughter, Gertrude, and her Heirs for ever. The will was regularly signed, sealed and witnessed. The wit nesses were Royal Greenfield, of Greenwood, and Luke Barbar, of Falling In.

These gentlemen being engaged in at tending court at Wildeville, were not present at the reading of the will, but were easily to be found it wanted, as Lawyer Keyworth explained. | Mr Keyworth then shook hands with the little heiress, telling her that he could sin cerely congratulate her on her inheritance of an estate yearly gaining in value, and some day to become a large fortune. Gertrude bowed in silence. She could not reply.

He then congratulated 'the two legatees on their late master's liberality and their own good fortune. John Brooks burst into tears and sobbed that he would rather have had his old master than all the money jn the world.

Jessie Bell chimed in with her inverted wisdom:

"'Wings'take riches and fly away,'as the ole saying says. Heap o' sense in them ole sayings."

" Gertrude, my dear, I must speak to you of your own affairs now. You know, my child, that I have only a sad widower a home to offer you at the Rectory. I have lived alone withput ladies' society in my house ever since my dear wife departed, and my daughters married and left me. I would gladly bring you home with me, but a girl of your tender age requires above all things the guidance of a wise, matronly gentle woman."

MI have never had it," murmured Gertrude. « No, nor ever wanted it while my dear grand lived," she added.

"No; Haddon was a man among a thousand men capable of filling the plttce of' both father and mother to you, my dearj I am not so. Therefore, you must live among ladies ; and I feel it to be my ditty, as your guardian, to provide you ■ with such a home. Have you any suggestions' to make, any preference to express as to your future home? If so, speak freely, my dear. I wish to consult your inclinations," said the old minister, kindly. '•I thank you very much, dear Dr. Goodwin, but all this has happened so suddenly I have had no time to think; and I am very, very loth to leave this place where I have lived with my dear grand all my life. Might I not continue to live here? Might not Jess keep house, and John wort tjhe ferry as before? Would these tyro faithful servants not be sufficient protection to me under your occasional supervision ?" pleaded Gertrude, lifting her soft brown eyes beseechingly to. his face.

The aged minister dropped his forehead upon his hand and reflected for a few moments: then, lifting his headj he replied:

" No, my child ; that will not do. The man and woman may indeed remain here—

the one to look after the house, the other to run the ferry; but you must not live here alone, with only servants for your com panions. You are just fifteen years old, my child, and could bear a few years of schooling. I have a plan, in view for you—" " Oh, dear Dr. Goodwin! don't send me away to boarding-school among total strangers. In losing my dear grand I have lost all. Bub let me stay here, where he lived, where everything still is so full of his presence that he seems to be not quite gone away. Let me stay here, if not in this house, yet in this neighbourhood. Don't send mo away !" prayed Gertrude, clasping her hands.

" My child, I have no intention of doing that, or of doing anything else objection able to you. I was about to say that I have a plan, subject to your own approval. After leaving you yesterday, I called at Greenwood to soe Miss Greenleaf. You know that lady VI

" Only from having seen her at the ferry a great many times. I have myself rowed her over the river on several occasions. But I have never seen her ab any other time or place, and I have never been to Greenwood. So, after all, I can scarcely be said to know her."

"She knows you, however, my dear child; and she esteems you highly. Well, to my plan : I called on her yesterday, as I said. She had, of course, heard Of your grandfather's departure, and she inquired very kindly about yourself; and when I told her of my position as yourguardian, and my embarrassment about finding a home for you, she promptly, I may say eagerly, proposed to receive you at Greenwood, as a sister to her young niece, Patricia. It seems that when Miss Patricia left boarding school, on the first of this month, for the midsummer holidays, it was decided that she should not return for the autumn and winter term, but should complete her education at home. Miss Greenleaf thinks that you would be a most desirable com panion for Patricia, and would have a most beneficial influence upon her. What do you think of the plan, my dear? I leave it all to yourself."

The heart of Gertrude really quailed within her. To go to Greenwood as the " sister "of Patricia Fitzgerald !—Pat Fitz gerald, or Pat Fitz, as she was often called ! —the fast girl of the neighbourhood !—the " tom-boy . —the "little rowdy !"—at whose name all well-conducted young ladies cast down their eyes, or turned up their noses : who was reputed to have been ex pelled from school for boxing the reverend principal's ears.

" Well, my dear child, what have you to say ?" inquired the rector, seeing that Ger trude continued silent and thoughtful. .

" My dear guardian, what do you advise ? If you will not decide for me, you will at least advise me," she answered, with a look of perplexity. " My child, I think the opening quite a providential one for yon. There is no more perfect gentlewoman in the country than Miss Susan Greenleaf. She is, perhaps, a little too romantic for a practical world like this?. That is all. .In all else, she is a per fect Christian lasy." " Miss Patricia—" Gertrude began, and then hesitated. She could not bring herself to utter one word reflecting on another. Her guardian finished the question for her. " Is reported to be very fast, you would say ? My child, a young girl like yourself, brought up in the school of Gabriel Haddon's philosophy, will never condemn a sister maiden upon common rnmonr.l have known Patricia Fitzgerald from infancy. She is by nature a wild, frank, brave, true-hearted little creature, with the promise of a very noble womanhood in her, which will be ful filled if she be well influenced. I expect great good from your association with her." " Guardian, I will ask you one more question : Do you think my dear grand, if he were living, would approve of my going to Greenwood?"

" My dear Gei'trude, I am sure that he does approve of it: Be practical in your faith, my. child. Remember that though his visible presence is no longer with ydu, he does live ; speak of him always as living," said the rector, cheerfully.

With this the two gentlemen took leave of their young hostess and departed. Gertrude dropped down into her grand father's old chajr, bowed her head upon her hands, and strove to bear the grief that seemed crushing her.

The storm gathered darkly over the scene ; the lightning flashed ; the thunder rolled; the wind raved ; and at length the rain came down like a deluge. Yet Gertrude sat there through all the storm, until aroused by the blast of the ferry-horn and the sonorous cry wafted across the water:

" Boat !"

The call was too familiar to Gertrude to arouse the least curiosity or interest, al though it awoke her to duty and action. Yet if she could have imagined how fraught witli fate to her that summons was !

But we never know when the hour of destiny strikes on the dial of our lives.

(To be Continued.)

A Word to the Medical Profession.

Itisnot generally known that Cocoa Essence i 9 mqre closely allied fomi.k than any other aninial or vegetable substance, and as it contains all the eleinenteindispensable for the growth and development of the body, and can always be presented in a fluid form, it is, next to milk, pre ferable to any other natural substance as an article for infant aliment. Owing to the great difficulty of obtaining fresh and uncontaminated milk in our large towns, this article should receive the careful attention of medical men. Considering also that a great proportion of the mixtures sold as Cocoa are adulterated with starches and other substances that lower their value as food, especially in their nitrogenous elements, it is important that the medical pro fession should only prcscribo those that can be safely relied on for their purity and careful pre paration. The following analyses are taken Irom the ' Food Journal ' :— Genuine Milk dried. Cadbury's _ , "' Cocoa Essence. Fat ... .... 24 .. 25J Casein.. ~ .. 35 3i| Sugar and Starch .. 37 .. 33a Theohromino ..0 ' 3 Ash 4 ;. ;; c IQO IQO Ask for Cadbury's Cocoa Essence and see that you «et it. ,

THE AUCJKMSD EVENING START WEDNESDAY, * JULY 20, 1887.

6



Attention is directed to Messrs Smith and Caughey's advertisement n clearance sale. At the end of each season this firm makes a point of clearing out all surplus stock rem nants and oddments at gt&My reduced rates. Economists will do wejl to take a note of this.-r-Adyt.



__ Hotels rj.;EOR : GE THOMPSON, PIER HOTEL, ALBERT STREET. • (Two minutes from Wharf or Railway Station) Thiß new Hotel, having a most central position and magnificent view of the Harbour, etc. has been recently fitted and furnished with every c^ c1 Ce' JP? bedrooms are large, airy, and ft" 1 outlook. Every accommodation for and sjfilte oarder«- Wfh bvWte of Wine _ . Hot and Cold Baths. BOaraand Lodßinpr 20a and 25a. pop week. Best Brands in Winos and' Spirits Close to water.



Medical. K EATING'S LOZEKGES. Oldest and Best Cough Remedy. TT EATING'S LOZENGES. • s\ Oldest and Best Cough Remedy. X EATING'S" LOZENGES. Oldest and Best Cough Remedy. K EATING'S LOZENGES. Oldest and Best Cough Remedy. K EATING'S LOZENGES. Oldest and Best Cough Remedy. K EATING'S LOZENGES. Oldest and Best Cough Remedy. K EATINGS LOZENGES. Oldest and Best Cough Remedy K EATING'S LOZENGES. Oldest and Best. Cough Remedy. XT EATING'S LOZENGES. ]&\_ Oldest and Best Cough Remedy. |> EATING'S LOZENGES. _Ol Oldest and Best Cough Remedy. K EATING'S LOZENGES. " Any Doctor will tell you ' there is no better Coui?h Mcdicino tlmn KEATING'S LOZENGES. One gives relief; if you suffer fropi cough try them but once ; they will cure and they viitl not injure your health ; they contain only the purest drugs, skilfully compounded. Sold everywhere in small tins. KEATING'S WORM TABLETS, A PURELY VEGETABLE SWEETMEET, both in appearance and taste, furnishing a most agreeable method of administering the only certain remedy for INTESTINAL or THREAD WORMS. It is a perfectly safe and mild pre paration, and is especially adapted for Children. —Sold ix tins by all Chemists. PfiOWUETOit, THOMAS KitATING, LONDON. Jtxport Chemist and Druggist. A WONDERFUL MEDICINE. BEECHAM'S PILLS \ Are admitted by 1» J& yfcV. thousnnds to be /^ «£^""*^"*^s/##\. worth a Guinea a ff^fs "*\. Box for bilious and Eijft/ \lP\ nervous disorders, s^if \ \,\ such as wind, and *'.\~/-^» « . i 1.... \-,"\ i pain in the stomach, I / E4TENT 1 I swk headache, gid- St/ 1! ~. L W I (lines!s' fulness and 11-3 1 PI I LSi \£4l sweilingafterineals, B«,\ IkjS dizziness fmd arovr- STO\ m-mttrn /tyg sincm, cokl ci-'.lls, «wA\_ J%3§ fiuahinra of heat, YON. y^Jl loss oi IIPP-etite» >>^{^S^_^«V<>^f shorlnc:;s of brcntu, fi^-^9^ costivencss, scurvj blotcheuonthnskin, MitK^ disturbed sleep, qfpjft ' frightful dreams, and all nervous nnd trembling sensations, kc. The flr.st <1030 will give relief in 20 minutes. This is no fiction, for they fraye dono it in thousands of cases, Every sniief cr in earnestly invited to try one box of tiifise Piiljii auii'they will be acknowledged to bo WORTH A GUINEA A BOX. For females of all ages these Pills are invaluable, as a few closes of them carry ofl all gross humours, open all o'retructions, and bring about nil that is required. 3fo females should be without them. There is no medicine to be found to equal BEECHAM'3 PIMjS for removing any obstruc tion or irregularity of the system. If taken according to the directions given with each box they will sooa restore females of all ages to sound and robust health. For a weak stomach, impaired digestion, and all disorders of the liver, they act like " MAGIC," and a few doses will be found to work wonders upon tho most important organs of the human machine. They strengthen the whole muscular system, re3tore the long lost complexion, bring back the keen edge of appetite and aronss into action with the RO32BUD of health the whole physical energy of the human frame. These are "FACTS'' a'lmittod by thousands embracing all classes of society; and one of the best guarantees to the nervous and debilitated ia, Beecham's Fills have tho largest sal? of mxy patent medicine in the world. BEECHAM'S MAGIC COUGH PILLS As a remedy for Coughs in general .Asthma, Diffi. culty in Breathing, Shortness of Breath, Tightness and Oppression of the Che3t, "Whaezing, &c, tuene Pills stand unrivalled; and anyone labouringunder nny of the above complaints need only try One Uox to prove that they are the best ever offered to the public f orAßthmatic and Consumptive Coughs, Hoarseness and Oppression of tho Chest, They speedily remove that sense of oppression and difH culty of breathing which nightly deprive the patient of reat. They give almost instant relief and comfort to those afflicted with the above distress ing and, when neglected, dangerous complaints. Let any person troubled with any of the übove complaints give Beecham's Cocgk Pills a trial. The most violent Cough will in a short time be removed. CautiosI .—The public are requested tp notice that the words " BEEcnA.ir'3 Pills, St. Helens," W3 on the Government Stamp affixed to each Box of the Pills. If not on they are a forgery. Prepared only and sold wholesale and retail by the proprietor, T. Beecham, Chemist, St. Helena Lancashire, England, in boxes at 13. lid. and 2s. B<i. each.—Sold by all Druggists and Paten* Medicine Dealers throughout the Colonies. K.B.—Pall directions are given with each box. T^TOTICE OF REMOVAL. MR. T. TRAFFORD, SURGEON DENTIST, Desires to inform his Patients and Friends that he has removed from Wakefleld-street to more central offices Queen - Street, over Mr, Wayte'e, Bookseller, opposite Wyndham-streefc Hours from nine a.in. till live p.m. Conveyances. mi M E ~T A B L~B JL DAVIESBROS. 'BUSSES DKVONPOHT TO TAKAPUNA, HURST MERE. LAKE BEACH, A.NI> SUHOULHOUSE. Telephone: Devonpokt Bureau. • Leaves Victoria Wpakf, Dkvonport — 8.20 a.m., 10/iO a.vi., 2 p.m., i p.m. Sundays— 10 a.m., 2.25 p.m. Fares, Is. Leaves Takapona. — 9,5 a.m., 11.15 a.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. Sundays—ll a.m., 4.30 p.ui' Special Trips can be arranged at Post-Office Devoupoit. Ladies' and Gent's SADDLE HORSES, BUGGIES, BREAKS WAGGONETTES, J3liE'^i>> and conveyances of every description at shortest notice, Expresses meet every boat to receive and for ward i uggage of all descriptions. E L L _S B I OS. CONVEYANCES ON HIRE. Office; Victoria Wharf. General Carters, Receiving and Forwarding Agents. Waggon for Furniture Removal. Coal, Coke, and Firewood Dealers, General Carters, Kc. Teleppqne Devokport Bureau. PATER SON AND CO., GRAIN MERCHANTS, LIVERY AND BAIT STABLES. Omnibuses, Brakes, Cabs, and Saddle Horses for Hire at lo west rates. Special arraugeuienia made with Evening and Picnic Parties. Stores and Stables:— Lome-street, Mb Roskill, and Avonaale, Auckland, N. 3. I)ATEESOFS 'BUSES , r . . START a rom Victoria-street to Mount Roskill—B, 8.45 U.io (via otoueyuurst), 10.30, ll.id (via Stoueyl hurst), v, 1 (via Stpnoyhurst), 1.46, 2.30 (via Btuneyhurao, 3.15, £TM (via Stoneyhurs ), 5 (via atoneynui-st), 5.15,5.3U (via Stoneyhurst StTOfvl^l^^ M 7 (viaStoneyiiurst IV ■> 8« U toueylmi'3W- Saturday —12.30, FroniMotin't ltoskill-7 (via Stoneyhurst). 7.20 ia,^? eyJmrst) '8125' «-is(viaStoneyiiurst)' y.dO, Ml.oO 1 via dtoneyhurst), li.io, 12.15 (via Btoneyliurst), 1 l.ia (via Stoneyhurst), km fflSS^' * iAb (via Stoneyhurst), 6.30 (via btoueylaurst), ti.15.7,9.15. Saturday- From Queen-street "(opposite Wyndham-street) to Mount Eden—B,B.3o, 9, 9.30, 10.15 11 11 30 W*>M 8-f^", tte? on, i 2AoMo', 4.10, i.30, 0,0.7 (omitted on Saturday), 5.80 6 5 y, 10. Saturday-1, 1.30. 7, 8.15. 9. 10. after Gpcrflu From Mount Eden-7.30, 8, 5.30,8.45, 9,9.30,10.15, iW 2'i '2' Llo> *' *A5 ' a-3°. *. 1-15, 5, 5.30 5.10, 7. a,30, baturddy—e, 8 9, 9.30. From Union Bank to Mount Albert and Avon dale-y.lo, 10.15,12,15.2 (omitted on Saturday), 6 (omitted on Saturday), 4.15 (omitted oil Saturday). 5.10, 0.15 (omitted on Saturday), 8 (Mount Albert only), 10.15 (omitted on Satur day). baturday-1.15, 2.30, 3.45. 9, 10.11. F^ I?i, AT(S dt}, Je ? nd Mount Albert-7,8,9,10.15, ll.rfO 1.30, d, 4, 5.30, 9 (Mount Albert only) Saturday—2.3o,s, (j. 30, From National Bank to Npw Lynn-10.30 (from Avondale only), 1.30, 5.30. Saturday—lo.3o. Sundays, weather permitting—lo.4s,6. From New Lynn—B.ls, 12.15 (from Avondalo 9 a}J'< %B? <? nHtted on Ss turday). Saturaay- -5.30. bundayß, weathor permitting~9 a.m., Special' Buses put on should sufilcientinduca men toller. FOR IMMEDIATE SALE in Alten ttoad, a good 7-rpomed House, with scul lery, wash-house, gas and water, etc., and large allotment, Price very low.—Apply to John Soppet.'Houge and Land Agent, 65 Queen-street /^RASS MANURE.—Freezing Co.'s. £7 VJT Ms, of rU merchants.



B"stnesg KoticeTT^ Rifles RiFtsg REVOLVERS ■ II].;VOLVER3 Shot, Caps, Cartridge, Wad ,. Wire Cartridges, Loading Apj^ "* AMMUNITION L Op Evert Pesor,^^ Fishing Tackle, Cutlery, Fireworks,*,' The best ana cheapest House in a • tho above isat Aucklan4f« D. EVITT'S, 254, Queek-str .' Repairs and every description of Pm, ttho lowest possible prW.Jf^J.m guaranteed.wu D. EVlTtTg^nmakkk QUEEN-STREET, AUo ;. T (Opposite tho MarkeUfoSJ ° PRICE LISTS SENT TO ANY ADDRes. MATHEMATICAL AND* KATITIPir NSTRUMJUNT MAKKIi! ALWAYS IN STOCK- Spectacles ami iliye-glasses oi every wli : accurate lit guaranteed * *Wfc:)to Opera Glasses or superior quality Telescopes, Binocular Fielu Ulasses ' n n m • scopes; powerful and cheap^ MioWl Theodolites, Mining Compasses, AbneyW i JU.raiuage Levels', Prismatic tonipasse'? Drawing Instruments, ScaleF, Parallel Ri,i«. bhips Logs, Sextants, Compasses BinnnSo? Barometers, Thermometers. Hvdroniot™» r; Electric Bells Bat-cries, an'dmning Betetß8etetß Magnetic and Galvanic Medical Machines Magic Lanterns and Slides. Hand MaeniflL Stereoscopes and Slides, Graphoscoura Steam G uages and Tubing sWomelers JUST RECEIVED- * Settlers' Telescopes— powerful, nortabu , cheap, us ,*T "*mg> *ni Settlers' Aneroid Barometers^-stronininfl Bn J 25s 6d ouu"BanQgooii Settler^ Miscroscopes, magnifying j^ Also, Steam and Electro Motor WoiMnpWn^«i and Steamers. frr? 7 0T9« INSTRUMENTS OB- EVERY KIND KEFAIEEa OPPOSITE THE POSTrOFFICE, BYAPPOIM> ■*«■*»* jipT w HIS EXCELLENCE THE GOVERNOR) rjHHAMES CARRIAGE . AND DRA^ A FACTOPwY, VICTORIA-STREET E^T HIGH-STREET. A U C X LA N D. Telephone, 308. ; JAMES MACKIE, CoACHBUttoa, MANAGER. Builder of every description of Vehicles, Repairs in allltho branches of the trade faithfully executed. Vehicles Bought and Sold on Commission. Coachbuilders' Requisites in Stock. The Trade Country Orders punctually attendedto. Cash Customers liberally dealt with. I^l SHE R " & C .0,. :■ WHOLESALE SHIPPING AND 5 FAMILY B U T Q H E R S , - ESTABLISHED' 1864. By Special Appointment to His Excellency tlia Governor, fclir W. F. Jervoia; Uis Excellency Sir James Ferguson; and H.R.H. the Duka of Edinburgh; also, Kosha Butchers to \l.s "qUEEN-STREET, AUCKLAND, N.Z, Families waited on in Town or Subttrba. POULTRY of all kinds, DRESSED to QPBRt Dealers in Game Home-cured Hams and Bacon Corned Beef in Large Quantity* Impprts of Sausage Casings '.■ < -J >#»■ The Trade Supply N.B.—Calves' Rennet?, US, Customers Supplied with Ice. - , , —; —— ; ■ .■. '„■■ ,-, —-, /rrt W. iTH/ BOOKBINDER, PAPER RULER, ACCOUNTBOOK MANUFACTURE* WYNDHAM-SiREET. ]VIERCHANTS 7ACCOUNT BOOKS, Insurance and Mining Register Books Specially Ruled and Wound. ,■. •'- Music, Magazines, Public Librariw, and School Books Well Bound- nnKa BAKERS' SPECIAL RULED jDAY BOQK4 Bibles, Prayer and Hymn Books BAND AND CHOIRMUSIC BOOKS RULED. '_ Drapery, Clothing. &«• j HOB3ON-ST. I \& VISIT, .& H CASH AND DEFERBED PAYIJ 8* TAILoSs, DRAP.g| *W ffl* and the great success of our.oflorte W^^ Superior Garments, £& K*£ttf, v iE rives»» UNEXCELLED in CUT and;j#\Mg the every confidence in respectfully Spu^f? favour of a visit. All Tweeds thorouTwTa^' KjSiBS niademp.and fitand workmanship guar^ The Deferred Payment found to be a great boon, by <^°™X in 'tM limited incomes to procure neceww easiest possible way. All Goods are marked in WW*^ Cash Customers receive o P.ey (one shilling in the pound sterling) on a' *"\ of 20s and upwards. INSPECTION INVITfia Tramcars pass the door. _______^ -.-— ---SUITS to Measure from 50s'. lli )l in l' Extra Pair of Trousers for hours.1 nofice,—J. H*. Paltos. *w°*« * street East