A Heart's Bitterness.

Bx BERTHA M. CLAY,

Author of "For Anothor's Sin," "A Fair

Mystery," -_c,

CHAPTER XXXIV,

"I BOW TO MY _'ATK "

*' Why are yon here." cried Violot, angered and ashamed that any eye should witness her secret grief and battle.

" Do not be angry wilh me," said Helen, _\ sitting down by her, and taking her reluc tant hand. " I would like to comfort you. Do not mourn over a trilling quarrel; these things often happen, and aro next day forgotten." " What do yon moan ." said Violot. " I have not quarrelled. I never duarroi. I am not so " She stopped. "Not so ill-bred?" said Helen, with a mocking smile. "I beg your pardon. I forgot that I was speaking with one who has been nursod in the satin lap of nobility. I judged you by myself, and I havo the passions of my kind, and my 'manners have not that repose that marks tho rank of Vero de Vere.' " Violet tried to riso and go back to her home and her guests. Helen's words had stopped the current of wee and tears, not by consolation, but as a sharp frost stops the welling streams of tho spring-time. Don't go," said Helen, holding her fast, " I did not mean to offend you. My infer ence that you wero crying over a quarrel wafniost natural, aa I saw your husband going away from b_3 littlo lover's nook with a black cloud on hia face."

" My husband I Ho was not here." "Pardon mo; ho iras— I saw him. I could havo touched him." " But ho has gono out from breakfast on business."

" Oh I So ? Thon perhaps it wa3 not you with wham lie quarrelled, and jott did not cause the black cloud."

" You always puzzle mo," said Violet, fixing her ingenious eyoa on Helen's hand some, dork, bat seoret face. " I never know just what you moan." •' \*ou force me to bo vory plain," said Misa Hope, steadily. " I con sider that it is Miss Ambro-0 whom your husband mot, and with whom ho has quirreled. Ho haa had an infatua tion for her. I. hoard phe was here, and of course they wero mooting, and I came hero to warn you ; for, as I told you, I want to bo your Iriond. 1 think you tried to bo kind to me, and 1 am vory sorry for you." "If youi fooling ia ao kind," said Violot, "I thick your acta are very unfortunate. Surely you cannot make mo moro comfort able by coming to m. with talc, about Lord Leisrh. It there aro unpleaannt things, that I cannot hinder ; it wero much better that I had not known them, Ido not expect to bo happy, but I ehould like to bo at peaco." "And you would ignoie your husbaud's unfaithfulness V

" Huah I" said Violot, angrily. " You are now slandering. You aro merely Burmi.ing. hurmi-re gooJ, not evil, if you are a good woman I A man may surely renew an acquaintance without being accused of unfaithfulness."

"Bat what would you do if the accusa tion were true ?" cried Helen, holding her fast by both bauds. " I would endure in silence," said Violot,

firmly. '• What I for a man who does not love you, whom you do not love? When you might freo yourself by a divorce I" " Stop, wicked woman !Do you think for any cau3e I would make my name, my home, the line I bave entered, a cause for public scandal, tho talk of all England? When nothing else ia left me I can at least patiently endure." "When you mipht free yourself, and marry ono you love ?'' " Weak and foolish as I may bo," said Violet, rather to herself than to Helen, " I should never fall ao low aa to desecrate marriage in that way. What you suggest ia wicked, shameful." "Are you resolved nothing shall part you from Lord Leigh _ " Nothing but death.'' "And yet, there is ono whom—forgive me, but 1 bbw you together at Berne, and read your story in yonr faces —whom you love, and who adores you, and would gladly make you his " " Only in honour, and as God could Dies?, said Violet, white to the lips with tho agony ofherspirit. "I know whom you mean. Once we were engigod, but it is all over now. Understand me, there has not beo.i a word or a thought between us two that his mother does not know, cr that God would condemn, or .hat Lord Leigh could resent. My part ia taken. I am Lord Leigh's wife, and I ehall try to be a good, kind wife. If you ever lovod Mm, aa you cay, you should be glad of *that." "I am too much of a woman ever to be glad to see any woman sacrificed," cried Miss Hope. "You will die; I see it in your eyes ; you are pining away." " That does not frighten ma; lam glad of that." . . Helen began caressing and kissing her hands. " How noble and good you are I Forgive me; I was-only to3ting you. You are quito right, you are angelic. Oh, how I wish that Buch sweetness and faith could save Lord Leigh I They could, if ho loved you. But love was not in his view of marriage. The Lords of Leigh marry for money; and for heira. He haa the money ; and if ho had the heir you might dio, and ho would forget you in a month. You see, it ia a very natural ambition, that of those ancient families -to build up their riches and perpetuate their lino. All is to be sacrificed to that." These crafty words were exactly fitted to rouse the anger of poor Violot. Sho said indignantly: , _ __j "I cannot be expected to understand or approve setting up such an altar and making sacrifices on it. lam half of a city family, and I don't see why lords should be saved from bankruptcy any more than merchants; nor why the Lords of Loieh Ehould expect their line to be Immortal moro than Boggs, the blacksmith." " That is rank heresy," sneered Helen. "I tell you that women, hearts, loves, liv.es. are as nothing; they are to be sacrificed in h.e.t.mbs to this demand of a peer for money to waato and for a son to inherit his name. You call it arrant nonsense? You do not appreciate how much nobler it is to be the mother of earls than of clodhoppers, although the earls may be blacklegs and the clodhoppers decent, honest men 1" . _ " Oh, why will you come to me and talk so?" sobbed Violet,, in a flood'of tears. "You drive tne wild. Your' wicked thoughts hannt me like demons. Leave me ; never see me again ; for whatever yon say or make me think or feel, one thing lam resolved on—l will do my duty till I die. I admit that I am wretched ; but I tecognise the irrevocable vows that I have taken. I bow to my fate." .. j , t •_. " I bave not intended to hurt or vex you ' said Helejf. " I really meant to act aa a friend. We -See theso things differently. I truly think that where a pair are miserable toeether—wLere the husband is faithless, and the wife, if free, could make a marriage where ehe would be happy and good—then she had, better get free by process of law. Yon differ. Very good. That ends it. I only wanted tcraid you, and some one elee, to happiness." . "I think I had hatter never see you again," said Violet. 'I think your views and words dangerous and wicked." She turned away. Helen Hope stood, with folded arms, to watch her gliding, a Blendor white shape, through the green aiales of the park. Helen had, in tho mad ness of her revenge and passion tor Lord Lei _, come here to sow disunion, to goad Violet towards a divorce, or beguile hor to recklessnesathat might open to her husband the road to divorce. The purity and sim plicity of Edna and Violet, causing Edna to leave the vicinity of Leigh Towers, and Violet to scorn a happiness purchased-by what she considered the Bin of divorce, for the time defeated Helen's plana. Rebuffed for the present, she did not admit herself conquered, and made herself strong to wait and work—unhappily destined to bring a most awful tragedy on the line of Leigh. Violet meanwhile had had her thoughts diverted from her sorrow for Kenneth, the renuncia ion of his presence and friendahip. The woida of Helen had shown her that she stood in elippery places, and that danger waa near. At whatever cost, she must make an effort to save herself and Lord Leigh, and bring about better relations be tween them. As she resolved on this, she had looked up, and saw her husband sitting on a gar den chair, on a shaded side of the terrace, apparently reading, but with a black frown on hia faco. Tbe hour was ill-chosen for confidence, but in ber inexperience she did

not sco that. She went straight to him, and , seating horsolf by hia side, put her soft j hand on his arm. Almost any man would ; havo beon moved to tenderness by the sad appealing face, tho confiding, sensitive manner, tho dainty beauty of this young creature Loid Leigh, however, was ali absorbed in a mad memory of thoilluminous beauty of Edna. "Lord Keith and his mother left renewod good-by for you, Norman." " Yes ? I bad them good-by at breakfast. " I shall miss them," began Violet. " You havo company enough, madam, I should say. Tho house ia filled with your guosts," retorted Leigh. I "I should not want any guests, if wo ■ could only bo happy together, Norman," if sho said, softly. "If I only knew how to . make you happy— if you only would bo fond 5 of me " _ " What now ?" said Leigh, harshly; ! "don't you have all your own way? Aro I ysu not surrounded with splendour ? What new gewgaws will you havo? Shall I re build tho Towers?" "It i 3 not that, Norman," snid Violet, teara trembling on her long lashes. "Yon know I do not care for splendour ; what I want is sympathy, kindness, love, If you only " " Nonsense I" said Leigh, " what new whim ia thia ? You don't want splendour ? You want love in a cottage. I sup po.o " "I would rather havo lore in a cottage than a palace without love," said Violet. " We promised to love each othor, and_ we ought to try and do so. Wo are not trying, I'm afraid. Let ua strive and have more confidence—more love, that community of interest that we should havo." " I'm not up to the sentimental flights," retorted this man, who within a week had been pleading at Edna Ambrose's feet, that " love deaerved response,"

CHAPTER XXXV,

"HE LOVES, ..-tD HAS LOST I'

Violet li-rred her aad, reproached eyes on tho hard scowling face of Leigh. But sho would not bo rebuked ; sho might win him to hotter things. Sho said softly:

•' WII7 should" wo spend our lives estranged and lonely, when we might bo good, nnd happy, and helpful to each Othor? I sco you aro not happy; n'oithor am I. Lot us try and do bettor. Perhaps it was partly my fault; perhapa I did not try hard enough to ploaso you when wo wero lirst married, when wo were at Paris.''

" I romembor you did me the honour to say I married for your fortune," said Leigh, aarcastically. " Whatever I said that was wrong, for give mo. It is the misfortune of my life that I havo had a fortune ; it has made nio suspicious. Let us forget all unkind words."

But since Leigh had fallen back into such furious lovo for Edna, ho was as hard aa adamant to poor Violot. "When we wero married," he said, "1 thought thoro wore some appearances to keep up. But some women are always bound to find out all that they had better not know. You listened to some gabbler on your marriage day—to old Adam, when he camo from Homburg, and to that demon of a girl you took for embroidery teacher. Aa far as we two are concerned, the mask has fallen ; why put it on ngain!" "It is true," said Violet, deeply stung, "that I am wiser than I waa when I promised to marry you " "So? It is a new commont on the bliss of ignorance." "And that we are wretched, and likely to remain wretched."

'• Like Eve, you have eaten of the Tree of Knowledge, and your eyes have been opened more to evil than good. It remains for you. to bear the consequences,' said Leigh sharply. . Violet draw herself up, and a crimson flush covered her lovely, sorrowful face. She would not humble herself by further plead ing with thia hard man. His mocking laugh followed hor as she moved away. Leigh waa half-mad with shame, chagrin, love for Edna, and was desperate at her disappearance. The pent up bitterness of hia soul he choae to break on the first creature that camo in his way. Unluckily, the one destined to serve as con ductor to the lightning of hia rage waa his hapless wife. Had it been a groom or gardener, he would havo cursed, kicked, and dismissed him, and gone to dinner relieved in spiiit. As it was, the one who camo to greet him, unconscious aa Jophtha's daughter of tho dangers of precedence, was poor Violet, and tbe miserable broach was widened between them. As Violet went her to room, cruelly stabbed by her husband, in a fashion of which tho law takes no cognisance, tho laughter of Grace and Sir Tom, of Anna ancf Captain Gore, playing lawn tonnis, came to her. How bright life was to them I and for her, scarcely older than either of these girls, the sweetness and light were gone out of life.

Kate looked at tho haggard face and heavy eye 3 of hor little niiatroas and shook hor head.

"My o«n darling little lady, whatever is troubling you, you must not take it to heart so. Remember that all things good and evil go by, like sails upon the sea. Now I* shall bring your dresaing-gown and slippers, acd bathe your head, and brush your hair, and you must take heart of grace, my own little mistress. Nothing is so dark that light doesn't como after it; and think horv much you have that is good — thia charming weather, this grand castle, all the beautiful things you like; and whatever you wish for you have only to spoak. Now, yesterday I went for the houaekeepor to " And then, Kate, as she skilfully brushed the silken hair, with equal'skill of heart began to describe scenes of pathos and poverty, of content and joy, among the tenants of the estato; and the heart of Violet was bcguilod from itself to interest in others, and to littlo plans for othera' good. " You can get thia out of your life, my sweet Miss Violet," said Katie, " that you can help other people and make many happy with your money. It will cheer you up, my dear lady. Wo often find a deal of trouble looking clobo at ourselveß, md get oat of the worst of it when we reach out to other people. I mind my grandmother had a sort of parable, that if you wanted ahorse to thrive in pasture you did not tie him up with too short a-tether; and that centering our joy or sorrow in ourselves did not give us room to thrive; we must get out into other folks' lives. I express it badly, my dear Miss Violet, and please do not be angry with me for seeming to try to teach you." "You are a true friend, Kate," said Vio let, reaching up to pat the hand that tire lessly brushed her hair; " you do me good; I must try to Btop thinking at all of my self."

"You are the sweetest lady—" began Kate; but a knock at the door silenced her, and Mrs Ainslie entered. The good lady was flushed and worried, and so evidently wished for conversation with her niece that Kate discreetly went away to her sewing. '•' I think I must take the dear girls away, Violet," paid Mrs Ainslie. " I couldn't think of having Anna get engaged to Captain Gore, before she comes out even. With Keith it wouldrtave been different;, that would have been a-triump^. Buff-Gore ia getting too devoted. T consider it. cruel of you to let Keith go as you did.' Do hear those young folks on the lawn I Anna laughs and talks as if there was no other man than Captain Gore in the world." "Aunt," said Violet, earnestly, "put Lord Keith out of our mind. I tell you | assuredly, that Anna has no prospect there at all, and Gore is a fine fellow, with enough to livo on. Don't bring out a storo of worldly maxims to preach down your daughter's heart. You may make ber miserable, and misery is often wicked and reckless." - " Miserable !" cried Mra Ainelio, holdins. up both her plump, ringed handa—" miser able ! with title, money, and the first society in the land ? Nonsense I' . Violet was ailent. What uso to proclaim what her aunt was too blind to see, when it was so plain? Should she shout her misery from the house-top ? "Is Keith engaged I" her aunt de manded. " You would know from his mother." " No, not engaged; but, for some time at least, he will not think of loving anyone; he lovea, and has lost." " Some foreign person V said Mra Ainslie, eagerly. "Dead?" " Dead—-o him," added Violet, with a sob under her breath. "I only tell you, aunt, that you will drop him out of all your thoughts for Anna, and not stand in the way of an honest love. I see that Captain Gore likes her, and he is able to support her com fortably." "Oh, Violet, how coolly you can talk. It is not your girl, your oldest daughter, who is giving up all hope of a really splendid match, before her first season, even." ' " Those society speculations are as bad as _ a Circassian slave market," cried Violet. " You marry two who do not love, the man ' becomes a tyrant, the woman a trembling ' victim, their children, if there are any, are '

loveless and suspicious, end despiso their parents who havo been so evidently bought and sold, and yet, from the forco of example, thoy also go on, to bo sold and bought, ac much as ships, or etocks, or houses or horses I Ob, it is wicked ! wicked !" " Better poverty," cried Violet, passion ately, " hotter exile, better a convent coll, better a dungeon, hotter death, than marriage without love. Then, truly, women aro slaves."

"What haa come over you in threo or four months.'' said hor wondering aunt. " You usod to bo ao childlike, and you eoom now—woll, at timo. harder, oxcitablo, old a3 you say, such qnoor things. I don't understand you I" . Poor Violet 'understood hersolf. She only know that inwardly sho rebelled against her bitter fata, and outward y sho meant to submit to it, and like Dives, in tho torments of hades, she lifted up her eyes and wished to save hor brethren from her own fate. Mrs Ainalio looked down and pondered, thon said : " Well, Anna shall have hor choice in society before sho ia entangled with Cap tain Goro, or any other untitled man. I shall send her home to Lindonwcod to morrow or Saturday. Tho Towers scorns a great placo for match-making, Violot; Grace and Sir Tom havo eettlod their affair, and will be married at Christmas; and your cousin, Claro Mo.atrosaor, after her six usoless seasons, is evidontly going to take Colonol Hartington. I have soon Claro and tho colonol watching Lord Leigh. Clare says ho looks poorly. Thsy count on tho succession, Violet. I hope you'll have two or threo boys, and disappoint them ; for of all women I dialike your Cousin Clare, sho is co supercilious to mo. It ia not natural for a mother to wish to set hor child where no ono will daro look down on her, or vox hor by such haughty manners? 1 think Anna ia vory attractive. Don't you ? Such a colour I Such health ! Such a laugh ! Sho ia as I was when I waa young. Well, I shall not pine over Keith, for thero is tho Marquis of Allffold; ho is said to bo tho handaomoat young man in England, and ho will be a duko. .Vho knows ? Anna may eocuro him." In spito of hor sorrow, hor disgust, at such bold scheming, Violot could not for bear turning hor head away to laugh. Allwold I Destined to bocomo ono of tho firat peers of England I Allwold, in whoso voina flows tho moat ancient blood in the threo kingdoms. Alhvold's marriage plotted for in hor dressing-room I It seem simply amusing. Littlo did Violet think of what her sharo should bo iv Allwold'a marriage. "Anna shall go homo to-morrow," said Mrs Ainslie, firmly. Then Violet could not help laughing aloud.

( To In Continued.)

THE RITE OF JOHUR.

An Awful Sacrifice Mado toy Fanatical

Women in Old India,

(By a Hindoo in the "Pall Mall Gazette.")

Ia a Router's telegram of tho -let of October Ist wo road : " A repetition of tho Johur ordeal has occurred in a Brahmin village near Keomuch, in Bengal : tho object b.ing to avoid tho Tonk Durbar aes.samcn.. The two victim, calmly as cended the funeral pyre, and bravely met death. The villagers afterwards took thoir charred heads to Odoypore." Meemuch is a town nnd Britiah cantonment in the territory of G-.vjllor, and situated at a short distance from tbo boundary separating that tract of country from tho State of Odoy pore, in Rsjpootuna. It ia just whero ono would expect tho Johur to take place, if anywhere ; for it ia essentially a Rajpoot rito, like tho sacrifices of widows and infanta. Tho present case is a remarkable ono; for Johur, in past history, was nover used to avoid assessment, and the telegram doea not cay whether tho victims are male or female.

Jobur ia an awful rito. A wholo tiibo may become extinct by it, as ia soeu by several inatancos rocorclod in the history of the Rajpoot states. What it signifies is tho burning of ivomon to save their honour. The Rajpoot is profoundly jealous of the honour of his women, and to prevent their falling into tho hands of conquerors, thon to ba dealt with ns was often the caso in the wars with the Mahometans, ho has re course to the Johur—that ia to .ay, tho im molation of every fcmalo of tho family. And the Rajpoot woman gladly embraces such a refuge from pollution ; or evnn if sho were not in fear of boing forced away as a captive, she would prefer it to living on as a widow.

The loss of a battle or tho capturo of a city during the Mahometan invasions was usually the time when tho dreadful rite waa practised. At the end of the famed siogt of Cheetore, tha ancient capital of tbe Kana of Odeypore, by Ala-uddin, in 1303, tho Raj poot chief, aftor an arduous day, passed tho night in pondering the moana by which ho might save from the general destruction ono at least of his twelve boos. Eleven cf them fell during the noxt few days, and whon but one eon remained to tha Kana ho pro claimed the Johur. Tho funeral pyre was lighted within subterranean chambers where the sun's ray 3 had never entered, and the defenders of Cheetore behold tho queens, and their own wives and daughters to tha number of several thousands, pass in procession to the firo. The beautiful Pudmani, the consort of the Rana, who was belioved to be the chief ob ject of attraction for the conquering Tartar, came la3t in tho throng. The door of the caverns closed ; tho firea ragod within ; and the honour of theKajpoot women waa saved. When afterwards Ala-uddin entored the capital on tho death of the Rana and his surviving son, who fell in tho conflict, ho found it strewn with the bodiea of its de fenders, whilo smoke yet issued from tho recesses whero the women had perished.

Again during the second siege of Cheetore by Bahadood, Shah of Gujrat in 1530, when the bravest had fallen in defending tho breach caused by hia artillery (it was served by Portuguese adventurers) the Johur was proclaimed. There waa little time to build the pyre. Combustibles were heaped up in hurriedly-made hollows in the ground, and magazines were placed around them. The mother of the infant princeled the procession of willing victims to their doom, and 13,000 females were thus immolated at once.

In the Johur on the occasion of Firoz Shah's attack upon Jessulmir, some year 3 after the event above described, 16,000 females were destroyed

The Johur was practised not only when the foe was tho lusty and bloodthirsty Tartar ; there were also instances of it in the intertribal wars of the Rajpoots. Numerous inscriptionaon atone and on brass, according to the arcbreologiots, record aa the first token ot victory the captive wivea of the foe, and the law of Mahu' with regard to female captives in war is analogous to those of Moses and Mahomet on the samo point.

A New African River.

A Brussels correspondent writes to the " Voaaieche Zeitung" an account of the discovery of another great navigable tribut ary,to the,.Congo, .which it joins on the right ban--,'at a point on th 9 Obange aud tho Lincona. It ia called the Sekoli, and waa discovered by an expedition that, starting from Madiville, on the Qngone, proceeded in a north-northeasterly direction for four weeks, journeying with the greatest diffi culty through thick forests and jungle. In latitude 1 dog. 30 mm, north they come on a river which the natives called Sekoli, at a point, as they afterwards learned, a^out one degree south of its source. Proceeding further, they came into the district of the Jambis, who showed themselves so hos tile that the explorers considered it safer to return. They again struck tho Sekoli, which they determined to descond, but the natives refused to sell them boats, co thoy had to make soma small boats for them selves. The voyage down the river -occu pied six weeks, The river thoy found ia known by different names in different parts of its course. It flows at first in a direc tion from west to east, and then bends southward. About tbe equator it receives on its right bank a considerable tributary, the Ambili. The water is brackish at thia point; indeed,tho foil all around is impreg nated with salt, which is gathered by tho natives, and forms an article of trado for them. Tho country abounds in large game, wild oxen, antelopes, ele phants, hippopotami. Below the ecruator the southerly direction beoomes more de cided. The river is between 500 and 600 metres broad, and has many islands. In the lower portion of its course it flows through immense grass plains, which feeds ! vast numbers of T?ild cattle, antelopes and elephants. But the navigation is impeded by the hippopotami. The human popula sion is very thin. At last the expedition reached the Congo. At the confluence _thee is a great delta, almost opposite tho former station of Lonkokelo. The diecovery of Sekoli has added about 600 kilometres to the navigable network of the Upper Congo waters, . j

HER DEGREE.

A SKETCH. Wrltfon _cr tho "Star" Supplement,

nv Erica.

CHAPTER I,

Tut-: bright November moon was rising slowly, and ohodding its mellow light on tho quiet oarth ; Eumo soft rays had found their way into a littlo study, and worefalling gently about tho figure of a yirl sitting by tho table.

Presently sho ri.e.. from hoy coat, and with quick hurried movements, walks to wards tho window and throws it open. Aa oho stands there, with the clear light falling full ou her, it ia easy to soo that she is young ; but hor face is Hushed and tired looking, and the hand which ia resting on tho window-sill is trembling visibly. There _3 all that jaded air about her which betrays so plainly tho long hours spent " with blinded eye-sight poring over iniserablo booka;" her evory movement shows how much restraint alio is trying to put on hor solf to koop quiet.

To-inon-ow is tho first day of tho Uni versity examination, and Cecily Gilburn ia a candidate. It ia hor lirst year, and now thia night, when all her study ia over, when her booka aro put aside for the last timo, ehe feels as though sho novor can got through the houra "before morning. Cecily hua given up a great deal in ordor that she might study lor thia degree oxamiuation, sho has sacrilicod much to gratify hor in'onso lovo for knowledge. A suiilo plays tuv v moment round tha girl's 1103 aa she recalls what hor friends think about all tnis work. They havo told her that the sacrifices she has mado of health and happinesa are too great for the end alio would gain. Sho haa given up too much for thia ono thing, and now Cecily's faco grows tad aa sbu doos think of all that has boon given up to it. Thero aro many thing', but surely the end which may como will compensate her ; in al! but ono thing : will it repay hei fer that—will any amount ol succosa restore that, V Sho haa li>3t her plnco in hor homo through tilis study ; a groat dual of tho lovo which had boon hers socms to have died away. She ia novor consulted now about .ittlo matters of importance as alio usod to bo; oven tho children aro uot au fond of her aa they wore ; thoy seem at'niid of tho sister whom ycura of study havo altered so much. She ia tho ornament ot tho family now, not so much a happy mem ber. Yet all thia haa beon for her love of learn ing, not for thu lovo ofdistinotion. Surely it has been worth the sacrifice ; ia she not hotter off now, with tho increased know ledge which study has given to hor, than sho should have boon otherwise V But that sho could have hud both ; if she only could have kept her place in tho family circle, and havo beon able to study aa well. Vet aho has not been ablo to do it, and after all the study haa beon worth tho a.crili.o; perhaps whon her degree ia taken she may ba ablo to regain hur place When it ia won. What if oven still it lay beyond her ea<rer grasp ? oh, that tha exam wore over, instead of just beginning. Now, unable to keep still au> lunger, the girl hurriedly cloaca tho window, and begins walking up and down hor room with quick impatiout steps The examination was over; then camo too anxious months of waiting and linally iho anawor —Cecily learned it with a qulotuose sho had not thought herself capable of —aho had failed. It wa3 all ovor now; tho result had brought to hor tho knowledge that in spito of tho years of work, the long, long houra of day and night spent in study, she did not yet know oriough to tako hor degreo. She saw the quilety superior smilea which passed among hor frionda whon hor failure was spoken of ; but thoro woro very few who had a word of comfort for tho weary girl. It sorvod hor right. Perhaps now sho would soo tho fovco of thoir reasoning, and endeavour to modify her ambition. But Cocily could havo borno it, or rather h *vo made othora think she bore it all, indiffer ently ; for sho waa too proud to let tbotn sco how much sho folt her defeat; sho could pasa over all the remarks which people made on hor failure with that cold haughty mannor alio know so well how to assume Sho cared but little for them : they wero outsiders, and their opinion mattered no thing to her; but when it came nearer homo, and Cecily waa plainly told by sotno ono whose opinion sho did cue for tha. 6ho waa wasting hor timo and energies, and that instead ol loading the happy useful life laid out for her, c-ho waa endeavouring to gratify a passion for distinction, and lay ing up stores of misory for herself and others, it waa moro than tho girl could bear. Proud aa she had altvayß boon, und quick to resent any injustice, Cocily waa greatly hurt at tho cruol words, even though it was Wilfred Hamilton who spoko them, aud Bho replied eharply to hia angry re monetranco.

Unfortunately, Wilfred's temper was quick, and iv his annoyance ho made no allowances for the girl who waa worn out with long study. Ho said then, and bitterly regretted it too lato, that if sho meant to spend tho beat part of her lifo making others miserable through her studying, thon he thought the sooner their engagemont was broken off tho bolter for both; he considered that ho thould bo doing a foolish thing to bind himsolf to a girl who meant to give tho wholo of her timo to Study until sho had won a certain wretched degreo He said it, but ho nover meant C__ily to tako hia words aa sho did ; they had grown up aa boy and girl tcgetiicr, and often aud often had quurrclled before, but tho longest quarrel had never lasted mora than a day, aud now aa ho saw Cecily's face chance, and saw tho euddon haughtiness which camo into her manner, ho would havo given worlds to recall hia foolish speech.

But ehe only heard hia unkind words, and madly stung n 3 tho girl was, with a proud assumed indifference in her manner Hie told him that sho would nover hold him un willingly bound, and ho ehould be froo. And thus they who had grown up together, who had learned to cure for ono another with a far deop.r loto than that of mere companions, parted.

It seemed aa if matters must remain so, for Cecily waa too much hurt and too proud to unbend in the least towards him, and Wilfred took her cold manner to m"tin that she had ceased to care for him : and tho gulf between tho two widened, because each was too proud to tako the first step to wards reconciliation.

CHAPTER 11. Another year has passed ; it ia November again, and onca more the moon ia shedding it. silvery rays into the littlo study, whicli boams had lighted in tho self _mo way exactly a year ago. Thero ia no alteration, it might have been but a night after, every thing is so much tho samo. The light i_ gleaming on the boak gholves, filled with the works of ancient and modern writer. ; and it is making strange shadows ip tho corners of tho room. But it is falling brighteat on the figure of a girl whoso chair ia drawn up by the window full in it 3 light. There ia no difference in the cosy littlo room, or any of its surroundinga ; tho only attraction is in the owner. As she sits thero ao still and quiet, how different sho is from the Cecily Gilburn of a year ago. No flush is on her face now ; it ia vory pale ; tho hands are perfectly still; thoro ia no rest lessness in her manner, no bright eager look in the blue eyoa ; no quick turning of tho well-formed head to glance again aft tho rows of Jhooka beside hor. She does not seom in any haste for tha timo to pass, and yet to morrow is again tho first day of the University examination, and Cecily ia going up for it.

Hor eyes, which aro encircled with ahadov/y rings, aro fixed on tlio moonlit landscape beyond ; tho expression of tho palo fac. ia infinitely sad, but still very quier. For a long timo thero is no move ment on her part, aha remains perfectly still, and then, when at length sho does rise from her chair, and drawing down tho blind, move towards the tab'.o, thero ia nothing of the quick excited movement of a year ago,

Is Cecily moro confident of passing thi3 tima?

Again the examination is over, and tha months are passing on, it ia the ond ol February ; noxt month and Cecily will know the result of hor second trial.

At the cloae of a warm summer day, Cecily puts on her hat and wandera away from the house on tho cliffs. It haa been a glorioua day, and the sun U juat setting, throwing its rosy glow over Eky and aea Cecily sits down on the grassy slope, and then taking off her __at, bo that tho cooling breeze may blow on her aching head, she turns as if to look at tha glorious sosne stretched out before her. The round red ball of fire has just touched tho edge of tho water, far away on tho horizon ; above the aoft fleecy clouds are tinged with pink and gold ; those nearer the setting light are

glowing with a dcepor colour, and mat upon tho water ia tho dying reflection from tho sinking sun. Tho great cliffs have caught tho glow alao s they aro stand ing out bold and clear, although tho radiant light lias softened thoir rugged outlines. Near at hand tho waters of'tho incoming Udo aro rippling dreamily among the rounded stones and pebbles on the bright yellow sand, and sweeping in gontlo curves round the rocks. There _i« a warm softnosa in the ovoning air, and a light brcczo.is stiiring among tho leaves and graaa. Cecily's hoid is turned towards tho glowing sky, bat she ia not watching tho fading glorioa of the bright day ; her bluo oyea havo a frir ?-way look in thon, and the sad weary face shows no sympathy with nature's bright mood, She notoa nothing striking in tho eunaet, aa she would have dono_ at another time ; ehe only fools that thoro is a soothing calmness in tho air, and hero sho gcta what she has beon longing for all day— a littlo pcaco ia her troubled mind and quietness around her. It ia almost a yoar ago, ehe i_ tlueliing now, since tlio news of her failure camo, aud all but a year since sho and Wilfred quarrelled. Only a year ; it might havo beon threo from all sue seems to have gone through sinco then. Sho thinks of all she had lost by that year's study ; of the lovo which seemed to have died away In hor family from her, and of tho woary struggle she ha 3 had to win it back. She knows that hor family still think her foolish to work aa sho has been doing, but still sho haa won again, by her, gentleness and forbearance, that lovo which sho lout for so long. Her place in tho family is hors onco more, and she is novor told now that study ia her absorbing in terest. Her brothers and siators are learn ing to como to hor again in their troubles and difficulties, they do not keep away from her as thoy did, and, weary work aa the strngglo is at, limes to bo patient with them, sho is succ.o'-iug. Now if she takes her degreo this yoar sho will bo vory glad ; but, if sho does not, and with that her mind wanders back to last year's failure and_ tho bitter couso quonccs which followed it. Again sho seams to hear Wilfred o cruol hasty words, and tho thought of what followod them bring.-; tho burning ter.r_ to the gU'l's blue eyes. But with a proud gesture sho dashes them away, antl turns again to look in tho direction of tho fading sunlight, Once again hor face soften... anu tho lips quiver slightly, Cecily ia vory human and knows what heartache i., in spite of (ho cold indifferent mannor sho tries to wrap round herself. It Wilfred woro to como back now, would ho recall hia cruol word., and bcliovo that sho haa learned to combino tlio useful with the beautiful ? Ho had gono away ro:>n after their disagree ment, and they havo not scon each other since, but sho haa heard that ho is coming home again, and tint very soon, within a few days ; now wearily Cecily wi.hos she could loavo tho place whilst ho is in it. But such a thing ia impossible ; arid will she bo able to aat as if ho wero only an acquaint ance ? How fervently sho hopes that tho re membrance of tho happy days of childhood which they spent together will not over power her and make her falter when she first sees him again ? for Cecily ia vory, very proud still, and sho novor forgots that it was Wilfred who broke off thoir engage ment.

>'ow again hor thoughts turn to the ex amination', and sho wonders whether siio lias succood-d thia timo. tshe heraelf fee-!.. more euro this yoar, for sho linn studied moro deeply, and it seems to her that aho has gone through the priporn with greater _a.o. But suddenly her thoughts are re called from heraelf by a loud piorcing _ry, und aa Cecily hastily rises, and looka in the direction fiom which the sound came, ehe seo. a eii_ht which makes bor turn cold. Thero on the other part of tbo cliff, v/bich pr.rj .-eta beyond that which Ehe ia on, nnd which ia some distanco away, sho sees thai her wild littlo eister of ten years old has clambered down, and now from hor attitude looks ns if sho were nearly falling. Cecily starts at once far that part of tho cliff, but ehe is obliged to go by tho beach, i. ia tho only way sho can trot to Dora. Will sho never bo ablo (o roach tho cliff in timo to warn tho child of her danger in leaning over that lodgo so? What haa como over her that ebo cannot go moro quickly ; haa all thiri study taken away her power of r inning, (and sho used to bo so (loot-footed >» Cecily kno.va every inch of that did whore it is possible for anyone to climb, for timo upon timo has aho sealed it. She has gono steadily up, but wild littlo-Horn, her pot s-iater, what has possessed her to go there, with her careless way of Climbing nnd her unsure footing? Cecily hoofs hor eyes fixed on tha little girl, and her every moyo ment ia watched with intense anxiety. Why doea alio net try to keep still ? sho will bo over that ledge, down on the cruel tocka in a fo-.v moments, if she does not mind. Now, to Cecily's joy, tho child catches a glimpse of her, nnd at a gesture from hor alio ccass_ to move A minute moro, aud Cecily haa reached tho foot of the cliff; but hoiv to got bor'sistcrdow-i she hardly knows. She could onco climb that cliff herself, and it would bo nothing to hor to do it again, but how trhall aho get Dora down ? She daro not hevo to go for help, for alio kno.vs that onco left to herself, tho littlo girl will try tho descent, and with hor unsteady footing will bo sure to fall on tho rocks bcl'jiv. Tho only thing left for hor to do ia to go to D.rrra, and then try to get her up to tho top of tho cliff. A moment before she com mences tho n.c.nt. Cecily looks hurriedly round hor to sco if anyone ia iv sight who can rsndor help, but they are alone. It i_ no. lons b_ fora sho icichca hor sister's side, and after trying to soothe Iho terrified little i.-.i.elit-f, Cocily endeavours! to got her up tho cliff. With o cool hoad, steady handa

and feet, I his y..i;»hfc have b_cn done easily onough, for tlio cliff ia not very steep. But Dora is now too frightened to attempt, it, and in epito of hor sister's efforts to make her look up .he will koep her eyes down. At last Cecity gives it up in dospair. Thoro is only ono other way—the must tako her down Slowly they be;_'in tho dangeroua descent, C .oily going a fow steps in advance of her sister, keeping a firm hold en her hand, and cheering hor on with soothing words. Hero, a part of tho soil slips from bonea'h L'ora'a foot, for sho treads so much moro heavily than Cecily, and she slips, but thore ia a quick movement of hor sister's arm aud sho is aafe again. Now thoy aro pass in"- over the most dangeroua part of their perilous journey, end tho oldor girl talka cheerily to the child to prevent hor from noticing their danger A moment move and tho worst will be over, " Thoro, that is right Now Dara, put your foot lightly here." The child obeys, and the noxt minute ia standing safely by her sister's sido. Cecily pauses oil tho ledgo before com moicing the remainder of tho descent, and a sigh of relief escapes her as sho sees that the wot at. danger is past. Only a few feet moro, ond then they will reach tho beach ; slowly they move downwards, step by step ; neater t_nd nearer they como to tho boach, but suddenly, justna they are within a fow feot of jumping distance Dora _!ip3 and comes heavily against hsr sister. Cocily looses tier balanco, she struggles to regain it^^fehen aa she feels herself falling she claapa onfl arm firmly round Dora, and ■with her freehand trios to catch at some shrub. But everything giveaway, and with ono arm bonfc under her, Cecily falls, sti iking her head heavily against . smooth rounded rock. She hears a slight scream from Dora; thon.all grows dark around her. And Cecily's blue eyoa do not open again, when, some few minutes after, Dora, who ia quite unhurt, cornea back with tho first help sho has boon able to got, Cecily docs not hear her sister'a cry, when on returning, Dora still find? the heavy white lids closed ; nnd tho " Cocily, Cecily," which breaks with nlmoafc a groan from tho lips of her bearor, falls unheeded on liar oar, as he carries hor Blander, form in his strong anna towards the house.

j In a darkened room she l_y ; for weeks ( the girl's life waa despaired of, and.those to whom Sho had grown so dear during tho past year, thought she would die without a word, without oven a lonk of recog nition. Cecily had boon very badly hurt; the blow upon her hood had brought on con cussion of tho brain, and in falling her free arm had bent under hor and broken. Sho had'worn herself out with long study, apd now it was doubly hard to fight against her illness ; but sho wa3 young still, and there wa . much in lifo to livo for. So the days sped on. It was getting towards tho end of March, when thoso who watched over the girl saw with fervent thankfulness that there waa a slow but sura change for tha bettor. Then there waa glad cewa for Cecily. Her peopla had not dared to tell her whilst she waa so ill, but now that she was recovering thero waa no need to keep it from her any longer, and Cecily learned that tho degree which had cost hor co many years of toil, and which had had attendant on it so much pain and sorrow, was h _rs at last.

A few weeks have passed Cecily haa been out for short walks e-verat time., and then one day she wants to go to her old seat on the cliff. Dora, who has followed her about like her shadow ever since she haa been up, goes with her. But Cecily, who wants to bo quiet and by herself for a short time, sends Dora to play on the beach, and goes alone to her favourite seat on the cliff. Shedooa not me_|n to stay long, but she

doos want a littlo time to think quietly over everything. Sho haa taken hor degree. For a moment a smilo plays over the pale features, and the large blue eyes brighten, but the next it dies away, tearing en her usually resolute looking face tint. sad look which has boon there co of tor during the past year, when aho has beon alone. What weary work blio has had to gain this degroe. Now it ia bers at last, but tho ploisuro ia so mingled with pain that she hardly knows which ia the greater, Whon sho gained thia degree, Cecily meant to goftirthor, forlike all earnest students, she is unsatisfied with the know ledge she possessor.. It ia littlo to her that sho has p-;s..od brilliantly tfaio time, she wants to go on. But that ii impossible now, for the doctor has positively forbidden any further study, and Cecily is obliged to content herself.with her B.A. dogree. For a little while longer Cecily stays on the cliff, and then she thinks it is time to t _ back to Dora. She rises slowly and be gins the descent. Sho has not gone many yards when suddenly raising her eyes she seoa someono c.ming up the path. For a moment Cecily half stops. In the approach ing figure sho recognises at onco Wilfred Hamilton ; but the next sho throws back hor stately head, and drawing her slender form up to its full height, gooa on. bho must accept tho inevitable, Bho cannot help mooting him, for thoro ia only ono path down tho cliff; but why need her heart boat so, and hor hand tremble . Wilfred doee not eeo her at first, only just aa ho comoa noar her, he lifts hia eyes, thon "Cecily!" bursts from his lips. She bowa haughtily, an.. would havo passed on, but he stops, and inquires in a voico which strikes Cecily as being considerably moro eager and anxiouathan there is any necoseity for, how she is. She replies briefly, but then adds, 1 think, Mr Hamilton, I have to thank you tor your I_indnes3 on tho day of the acci dent " . ~ , . ~ , He starts slightly ana replies hurriedly. "It waa the least I could do. I only wish I could havo helped you more. And your arm, is it recovering? You broke it "It is, I thank you, Mr Hamilton. Good morning," sho replies, coldly. " Cocilv," and ho ia at hor sido again. "Cecily,"do not call mo that; remember if only for tho sake of tho happy days we spent together aa children, here on this vory cliff, that I am Wilfred still,' and aa ho speaks ho takos hor hand. Pcor Cecily, she ia vory weak and ill yet, and now sho ia trembling so violently that she ia obliged to lean against a treo for support. But with a great effort she recovers herself and says haughtily, " Havo tho goodness, Mr Hamilton, to release my hand ; and allow mo to pass. You have no right to detain me." Ho leta go her hand at once, saying hurriodly, " You have spoken truly, Miss .'ocily, I have no right to detain you. But oh ! Cecily, Cecily, for the eako of our childhood's lovo, cannot you forgivo me, and let mo wipe out the memory of my cruel hasty words ; If you could only bo liove how often, how deeply and bitterly thoy havo been repented I I must not, I will not detain you longer, only can you cay you have forgiven me?" he adds eagorlv. . Cecily does not answer him at onco. There i. a moment's pauso, then suddenly alio raises hor oyea, and sho sees that Wil fred's broA-n oyea are bont on her faco, with a look in thorn which it ia impossible for her to mistake. Sho trie" to answer him quiotly, but thoro is a tremor in hor voico, "If you think you need forgivenoS3 you have it, Wilfred." It is all she Bays, but Wilfred suddenly forgets his promiso not to detain her, and again ho has taken possession uf hor hand, and this time Cecily does not try to regain it, and she is trembling co that sho coos not try to resist him as ho gently leads hor to a Beat on a fallen teoo. What Wilfred says during the next half-hour do.s not matter in the least. Ho ia a lover, and Cecily, well, sho is a B.A-, but Bho is a woman alßo- . , _ , - Only Dora has growD tired ot plajmg at being a hermit in a cavo, and she wonders whatever Cocily is finding to think about all this timo.

A Man Who Never Told a Lie.

YKSTMIDAY, an old oil man, with crude petroleum dripping from bis clothes and his legs inclcsod in high boots, entered the " Derrick " office and aail :—" Want an item ? I'vo got tho biggest item you ever heard toll of. 1 struck an iie well on my loase Monday, an' alio flowed a stream of ilo 100 feot .light straight up for half an hour. Then sho kinder died down. One of my drillers was standing over tha hole, when sho Biiddenly spurted up again, and if it didn't take that driller right up with it. Tho Btroatn waa a powerful ono, you sec, an' ho went up a hundred fest. You've seen those little balls aa dance about on top of thoso littlo spur-in' fountains such aa^ they havo in the cities ? Yes, waal that's tho way this 'oro thing acted, an' there's that air-driller right up on top of that hundrod-^ fut column of crude ile, an' ho's dancin' about like chaff in a fannin'-mill. What do you think of that un ?" "How long hue ho been up there?" " About four days and four nights." "Ho must be very hungry by thi3 time. Doosnt he come down to oat something?" "Why we una juat put a pla'o of bash iv thio stream of i.c, and it takes it up to him, you eoa. An' it's migh'y handy, as he finds hia victuals already greased, an' lie doesn't need butter." Hia faco was as innocent of deceit aa a piece of tanned leathor, and whon ho askod to have hia name putdowu as a deadhead subscriber for information he had Riven, wo didn't have the heart to hurt hia feelings by refusing.—"Oil City Derrick."

A Smart Elopement.

Two lovers plotted an elopement in one of tho out sottlomonts a few days ago. Tho mother and brother of tho girl hastened to prevent tho consummation of the design, and thoy arrived on the ecene just in timo to catch the pair in a trap. An altercation at onca ensued between the brother and lover, and it ended in a pitched battle botweon them. Tho lover got the worst of this engagement, and unheroically offered twenty-live dollars to be allowed to carry out hia intention unopposed. Thia waa re fused, and the bid was raised to fifty dollars and then to 100 dollars. The mother, desiring to get her daughter once more beneath her own roof, craftily sug gested that thoy should all journey back to hor house and talk the matter over. The methers horse waa at onco placed at tho disposal of the lover, whilst she took a seat behind hor daughter in tho trap, and in thia way, the mother and daughter driving in front, and tho would be bridegroom bringing up tho rear, thoy journeyed to the* parental mansion. Arriving oppoa'.to the gate tho two mon dismounted, and tho mother alighted from tho vehicle. " Are you clear of the stop, mother, dear?" asked the daughter, and on being assured that sho was, the young lady Btruck tho trap-horse, whilst at the same timo tho swain jumped in, and they drovo with all haste through Now Ply mouth, and ou to Watara, where they caught a steamer on tho point of leaving, Tho saddle-horses being too much jaded by their double journey wero useless in the pursuit.

A Leap From Niagara Bridge.

Tiie latest American despatches brine; de tailed particulars of tbe leap by Lawrence M. Donovan from the new suspansion bridge at Niagara Falls, being a distance of 215 feet. At an early hour on the 7th inst. Donovan, having partaken of a light break, fast, was clad in shoes with zinc inaolea whicli woro charged with electricity. He pays, "When I jumped I closed my eyes, but I opened them again, but did not see anything. My olbows were close to my sides, aud my teot were cloee together. Whon I struck the wator it seemed as though I would buist to pieces, and a severe electric ehot-k passed through me. 1 sank abont 20 feot under water. I thought I would never rise to tho surface again, and when I did float I waa dazed- almost sense less." Donovan was immediately picked up after he rose by a boat waiting in readi ness, and quickly removed on shore, where he was attacked with a spitting of blcod, and was very weak. His physicians tstnte that hia third lib is displaced, and that he is likely to Buffer from pleurisy,- as one lung is injured. Donovan made a good deal of money over the leap. He states, he would not undertake the same jump again for a million of dollars. However, he un dertakes to swim the Niagara Rapids next summer, and wagers he will swim further , than Kendall dicf, I

DARING BANK FRAUD.

£SOO Obtained,

A low timo has elapsed since thero was chronicled such a daring and succeeeful bank fraud in Melbourne as one we have to record (says tho Melbourne "Telegraph ) afhavlnTbeen committedlon therational Bank, at the corner of Webb and bmitn streets F.tzroy, on Wednesday morning .a_r This branch of the National Bank wUoh ha' become celebrated in connection with criminal offences lntely-M tv more pretentious than many suburban banks, and the manager of it ia Mr Davis who is a _iated by several clerka. Amongst the bank's clients arc Messrs Boyd and Head, of the well known Shamrock Brew fry! at tho extreme end of Simpson a Koad, near tho Hawthorn Bridge, and i was by one of tho cheques of thia tottrtto fraud in question waa committed, and t.io sum of A in noto coolly pocketed by a youngish man, at present at largo, who seems to have "bluffed "tho bank olhciala 3th whom he dealt with mazing impu dence. Some features of the case are most PecuHar Between 10 and 11 o clock on Wednesday morning Mr Davis, the man-^ ager, had occasion to bo absent from the bank, and" it ia suspected that hia ab sence was noted. Whilst ho waa away a atrango man entered the bank, and in quired whether a Mr Harrison kept an account there, and a second stran ger then entered and pretended to writs out a pay slip, but did not transact any business. Thoro ore circumstances Which were rocollocted after the fraud, but did not at the time attract that attention which in theso days of banking frauds it might be expected thoy would. Soon after ] a j oungi.h man, whoso description haa been supplied, ontcred and presouted to the ledger keeper (Mr Toy lor) a cheque for X..OS, bearing the signature of Mr Hammond, tlio chief clork of Messra Boyd and Head. Mr Taylor waa dubious, aud did no_ lino tho appearance of tho cheque, co ho con sulted Mr Bagley, who was relioving in tho abaoneo of tho regular accountant, who had loft. The man who presented too cheque was actually kept in tha bank about half an hour, tbe officials thinking tho man ager would return, and whilßt ho was there tha man bohavod with complete nonchalance. Ho produced a card bearing the name cf Mr Joseph Cohen, formerly a pawnbroker in Elizabeth-street, and euid ho was em ployed by Mr Cohon, Ho also threatened to report tho delay to Mr Boyd, and ulti mately, only about ten minutes before tho manager returned, the officials decided to pay tho money, the fellow took it in £20 and £10 notes, and walked out composedly. It did not strike cither of tho officials to use tho telophono and mako inquiry about tho cheque, but tho moment Mr Davis returned he set the telephono to work, and hia suspi ciona were confirmed by Boyd and Head re pudiating a cheque for that amount. Tha detectivo police were immediately com municated with, and it waa ascertained that Boyd and Head had given a chequo for £3 8s to a man in payment for somo bottles, aud had received a receipt signed in sotno namo liko McFarron. Tho chequo, which had been made payable to a number, had been cleverly altered in the writing in the body and tho figures to mako it £308. Tho man doo3 not appear to have been previously known at Boyd and Head's, but the police aro following up a clue, and at least ono arrest may tako place at any hour. Tho bank, of course, ia responsible for the loaa of money.

Aristocracy in Trade.

Excuaxoi; and barter, profit and loss, the business of buying and selling, of catering in one or other of the many sided methods of trade for the needs of their fellow citizens aro matters which daily make larger de mands upon the thoughts, time, and occu pations of all mannerol people. Many fresh proofs are constantly forthcoming of tbia incontrovertible fact. Some are merely suspected, others aro posi ively known. Only a whisper has gone abroad of the great duko who is supposed to be the sleeping partner in one of tho most colossal of London shops; it i. not gonerally known that the princely revenues of another are largnly dependent on the salo ol healing waters, or that a third doe 3 a fino business aa a house agent and keepa several hotels. But all tho world can buy wine from one brother-in-law of a Koyal_ Princess, and employ another n_ their broker in stocks and shares. A m»rqnia now holding high office sella hia coals in the open market, and his w.rggOß. which bring the coal-sacks bear hia august named upon the shafts. An carl, whoso peerage dates from the reigns of the Plautagetie's boldly piinta hia coronet and initials on tli9 improved hansom c_bs which with much enterprise ho has put upon tho London streets. Ho haa found many imitators in cab-owning, although all do not run as straight or achieve the same success. Tho honourable scion of a noble house who figured in tho police court tho othor day, and who gave his address aa Belgravo Squaro, was no ornament to the cab rank, much loss to his family. It is not easy to foresee the lengths to which the new movement will go, or tho changea it will bring about. Tho crowding of all tho regular avenuea of professional employ mont has driven many to the byways, and blue-blooded aristocrats accept eerviee in positions which would have been thought quite infra dig. a generation or two ago, Wise people in tho uppor indigent ulaeaes, thohigh-born paupers who cannct make both ends meet on a thousand or two par annum, may bo expected to apprentice to aomo humblo calling tho sons they cannot provide for otherwise, or tho daughters for whom suitors still tarry. .The levelling proce3a ia at work at both ends, The old leaders, the grandees who stood aloof, aro coming down to tako their part in tho arena of daily life, it is but a step from coronatod cabs and coalcarts to billhoada and shop fio-its bearing historic names and ancestral coats of arms. At the othor end we havo the elevation of tha roturier to heights undreamt of by our grandfathers. A dressmaker's daughter ia presented at Court; a prosperous tradesman, who has dono good Eervico to tho Caaservative cause, is elected to one of tho most exclusive and aristocratic of political cluba. We must look for still moro startling sur prises from the growing universality of trade.

Didn't Want To Sell.

The other day a man walked into a har bor's shop, followed by a page, who de posited a portable table on tho floor, and took from a satchel a number of tonsorial ware 3 and arranged them on it with artistic care. " This is pomade," said the visitor. "I'm well supplied." "Thia \s bear's grease." " I've more bear's greas3 for a year." " Here is some fine bay rum." "It no doubt ia ; but I mako my own myself down in the cellar and put on foreign labels. No.one knows thodifference.and I sell lota of it for presenta." The visitor, not in tho least daunted, went on:—"Here is rosemary," " That is for remembrance," softly cooed tho tonsorial mower ; " but I don't want any in mine, nor pansies for thoughts, nor cabbage for reverie — Shakspeare with variations,' "Here _3 coametic for the moustacho." "I know it ia for the mous tache, and for tha goatee, the imparial, and the side whiskers, but I am bo thoroughly stocked and reeking with coamotic at pre sent that I am trying to uso it upon the cafe, which I frequently polish up like the bosom of a variety actor's Diamond." —Here is an electric brush, a triplox comb, a duplex elliptic bairdyo, an oxyhydrogan lavoudor water, and a thermocauter-.ed|face-powder." •' I don't want any of them." " I know you don't." " Thon why do you ask me to buy them?" "I don't ask you to buy them. Did I say anything to you about buying them ?" " Come to think of ib you did'nt." "You can just bofc I did'nt, for I didn't como in here to sell you anything. I camo in to lot you know that I possoss all the toilet articles that a gentleman needs. Now don't try to sell me anything, or praiso up your wares, and tell me that I ought to own a samplo of each ifl wish to be respected. I am stocked I stocked I I stocked I I ! Now give me an easy ehavo without interrogation points."

The Congo.

A recent number of the " Vernanlengon," of the Berlin Geographical Society (Vol. XIII., No. 6), contained two papers on the Congo region ; ono by Dr. Buttner on his journey from San Sa vador to the Quango and thence to Stanley Pool; the other by Lieutenant Kund, who, with Lieutenant Tappenbeck, waa sent out by the German African Society in 18S1. Their task was to explore the southern tributaries of tho Congo, and to study their navigablo qualities between X ranga and Kasa.ai. The length of the journey was, in all, about 3,500 miles, of which 1,600 miles were by water and 2,200 miles by land. They succeeded in finding, between Koango and Kaaaai, threo navigable rivers—the Warn bee, Saio, aud Kinlu; and they regard Lukenji, with its people, as practically a new discovery in the Congo basin.

SELECTED POETRY.

OUR FATHER.

From ■ Idylls of the King's Realm.

Br W. R. Wills. "Our Fatter," said tho Christ, ' Who art in Heaven. ■' Hallowed bo TII7 Namo, •' Our daily bread bo glv.n; ~_._.„ •• Thy Kingdom come, to Bain s .1 Ivine, " Thy will bo dono-and only Thine. " Our trespasses remembered not, "And sins of otoors be forgot, " t,cliver us from waat and green, - In tempting trials do not lord, '■ And thcou .li Eternity's long hour ._ " Be Thine, tho ((lory and the tower. , And who shaH add or take away The faith, when simple hearts s.ia.i Bay •• Our Father " 1 Father be to mo A beacon on the atormy sea; . B- " Father" when >he Waves are still, And I obedient to Thy will. " Thou art in heaven,"-Yet by my -Ho I know Thy love and grace abide. Thou art on earth-for flow'rs "P?"' 1 ™ To smile aid bless lheo as their King , Thou art iv honven-0 ! bitel divine, I To kn ;w '1 hy h_av.il may yet bo mine. - •• Thy namo ho hallowed," Thy namo above By cnorub praised la " love s.wee love. And through the earth in songi."'Vine „ Thy sainta shall prai.e '1 bee,• Abba Mine, Tay nam-i be bleat by martyrs moa'-. Ani hallowed when they reach Iny throne. ■' Give us thia day cur dally br. al." And at.ov.-or Thy mercies on each head, The •• living bread " of life <- iviDSJ. Tho manna from that -love" of Thine, Toy eitt whon troubled waters roll, Teat (Mint, and beautifl .s tho soul. " Thy kingdom comp," ay I lot us wait, And serve Thee Wittting: at Thy gate. Not oae sad aigh, whilst hero we stay. But onward to our heavenly woy; And on this march, when tongs resound To atamp Thy kingdom, holy ground. Thy will be done, on earth be'o w. Tnouß" hearts aro ront with Rri-f and woe. Toy will, not ours, help us to yx.y, •1 hoi roeat, J-^rd, our '.horny wuy ; Thy will ia not to grieve, but prove A heart that pantelh te _■ Thy love. , Oor treepsa.es forgive, denr Lord, Aa wo forgive by Thy eccord; Our tr_spaa.C3 remember cot, our .in, when -love "is all iorgo_, Th rt love that eiv<3 the tionbledro_t, And (olds tho wc-ary to Thy breast. An-1 load v. not but by that way . Whore beams one bn«hc eternal day. Ah ! lrad ne not where pleasarea stand Between our souls and Thy dear nana, And may ihat hand tor ever guide Our wayward feat, still near Thy side. And from all evil, stand our friend, A light to guide us to tho end. From sorrow,, safe, from sin set free , In trouble lot us cling to Theo. Deliver us from death's dark hour. And thine be glory, prats, aad power. Amen, the glorious orbs ring out, Anion, the r_.os_m'd ooul shall snout. Air err, the whirlwinds in their flight, _. men .ho wint-y wlr.i.s of night. Amen, from ■/. ph. 'S fio iting ny. And from a __n-.e_'s partitg sign. ,

GOD OR MAMMON.

A sweet, 10-v vole, a tender winning tone : "Th. hour of choic. hath come. Ohoo:c, dir!i,-,f., ,v_li. Whirnv shir life must lose it. N.t our own. We walk tills earth wh.r. good and tvil dwell. '• Dear hoart, the arrgela watch thee fromabove; Their c-yoa abort thee ceaseless vigils keep- The fannins of their soft-plumed wings, dear la r jund thes in thy waking and thy sleep. "Why wa-te on fl.otinf-joya thy youthful zest 1 Take nntby cr-o . Its weight all meekly bear. The Word Divinehath pleased theeendlessTest B.yoirdthe narrow rounds of earthly care. The fair face 'neith the lucent chain ot pearls Frown, darkly; lbt'otsliethe. ow-leJ Mods; With curve disdainful. See the red lipcurl3 - Avaunt, those whispers from the shadowy laids! She loves the sntii theen of tustlir.e robes ; fJhe hatea the glo.m o' dusky t.a'h-gs.rgc; The pleading t Dno a hidd .n h art ache proto ■, And in her e_r ia dreary as a dirge. Shnl! 003 or Mammon win the eager strife? They cannot -bare the throne. Reluctant soul, Mai'c haste ti concentrate thy ardent life To God. who claims of right from ihee the whole. The fweet. bewitchlrg m_!o/.i-3 nf earth, Th«ro_e_ and the jewels—ah! 'ti.true Tbe future mn_t hdvo houra of prim end dearth, But lor the preeen. who prefera the me ? Anrl vet the peace is hers who on hsr hrraat We"ir3 calm the b e-s,-d sj mbol of the cr. ss, And feverish aio ice dreatue and mjrred her Who choo-ea Mauimon and Its fle.ti-rg dress. -HAKPE-t'B Bazar,

ALLEGED WIT.

Poet: And you will print my poem?— Edilor: Yes, sir; in the puzzla depart ment. " Thia is a grate proapec.," aa the prisoner said in peeping out of his cell win dow. Unprecedented Trade Announcement. — Tho pig market was quiet Epistolary Rule.—Never cross your letters. Cress writing only causes cross reading. Fiv-o "words to the witty.—Never joke with stupid people. A bad marriage ia like an electric machine it makes you dance, and you can't let go- When a dog ia mad he generally travels at a very rabid rate. " Vory Hard Lines."—Reading " Brad shaw's " in a hurry unHer a ga?-lamp on a very windy night in tho street. Tho man who waa laid under an obligation was happily rescued bofore sustaining any material injury. " Anybody that l-nows a thing before it happsns ia called a reporter," was the definition oa tho elate of p.n eight-year-old schoolboy. A victim of eo-._ic_-.ne-S described bia scnaationa thus : -"Tho first hour I waa afraid I should die ; and the second hour I was afraid I shouldn't !" Thero ia a divinity that doth hedge a king, but four kings together don't need a hedge. Generally they can take care of themselves. Man'a happiness is said to hang upon a thread. Thia muat be the thread that is never at hand to sew on a shirt button that ia always off. Street Arab (pointing to a policeman and a notice aa to vaacination): " Uin, what's the use o' wacc'natin' them. They never catches nuffin." Very True.—Thomaa Carlyle says : "If you don't want a man to do a thing gab him to talk about it. The more .', jaw' the more certain it is that thoy never intend to do anything else." Joint-stock Sonp.—A young housewife wishes to know whether the conversion of paid up shares into stock is not an example of what is meant by cooking accounts. Dr. Case, a kind of quack doctor in the reign of Charle3 IL, made a fortune, and setting up his carriage amus3d tho town by his motto, '• The Case is altered." " ls ttoaclo good for a cough ?" inquired Jones, who had taken a slight cold, and was barking with considerable energy. "It ought to be," Baid Brown, "it is sold for consumption." ~ A collector of curiosities visited a dealer in antiquities, and, examining a relic of tho paat, said, " You guarantee the origin and genuineness of this article ?" "As if I had mado it myself." replied tfte unblushing dealer. A witty prelate was once asked if he did not think that such a ono followed his con science, "Yes," said his Grace, "I think he does follow it, as a man does a horse in a gig—ho drives it first." Tramp: Look 'ere these yero boiled potatoes ain't peeled I —Good Woman : Woll, my goodness, can't you do thatmuch ? —Tramp (with injured air): I didn't ax fur any work. When I get that low I'll tako to burglin'. A cigar merchant waited upon a lailor, and proposed to do him business upon the " mutual accommodation syatem." The latter assented upon the understanding that the tobacconist was to Gnd his own cloth. " Let's- be honost," he Baid, " cabbage for cabbage." ■ Digges, the celebrated player, having be como bankrupt, was, summoned to a meeting of "fits creditors, to give some re quisite information. Finding the" room crowded when he entered, he exclaimed, "iine full house, gentlemen—boxes all taken ?" To a fond mother, whose children were at the timo making themselves disagreeable, a gontloman observed—"l have a decided preference for bad children, madam." How strange—and, pray, for what reason »!' said she. " Because they are always sent out of the room." Mrs Nouveau (at an art. school): " And ia that large picture some of your work ." Pupil: "Mine? Oh, no, madam I That is | one of tho old masters." Mrs Nouveau, in an undertono to her companion : " I don't like to hear a young man spsak so . disre spectfully of his teachers." . _ * "Eugenia, didn't I tell yea an hour ago. to send that young man of yours home?" " Y.s, papa, dear." " But he went out just now—l heard him " " Yes, papa, doar; but he went the first timo, and then he found he'd taken your umbrella by mistake, and so he came to bring it back. Dear George is so conscientious.

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1387.

4



|3 ELIABLB -. -rrr";^_Stf-'r IMPORTANT ANNOUNO-adjJlll■ - QJTEWART T\AWBOH ill j Have opened their Grand New Esolish Watoh 3_y AT 91, QUEEN-BTKEE!r'' (Opposite Wyna___to. s tra 2 t) At whlrh they cor.Mally invite th.-Lh, .- -' Auckland and surroundingn_l_^Kt___^_-_H to call ana inspect , THEGRANnTS3TniBPLA.YO_.rn._7 ENGLISH LB-VICR WATC H plQ?a_» r i That has ever been exhit ited in aav JJ all Imported by S. D. ami Co, il_^SiHffl| FACTORY, LIVERPOOL, BNqS?*- ' The gigantio . uccests aud patroii.^, ii, to S. D. and Co.. '-iverpcol, tbcS e ?iJta: . whole length and hroadth of thJ'evnjWWs.-i' well as in every part of. AUBt_il_S_?r'«r.;v without precerieat in th(^ blttorygpitiHH making, and ia tho greatest proQl thatW I**1** '■' HIGH FINISH, GR._AT._ST DDRASn- TIMEKKEPING. AND VATm. '!- UNAI'I\KOACH__BI_E D* STEWART DAWSON &, Cd'-Sp World-famed English Watches I, aie no _^ STEWART DAWSON AND Co I GREAT ENGLISH WATCH -t_-fflß_r_Y_ W Is a Rendezvous for all movtai \_\___A~t ' having a few minutes to_pßSg THN THOUSAND WATCHES 10.000 OnEachSiao. M. ii H-onnlngtho Most Wonderfnl aria ibM,™ ■''■■■ Panoramic Scene of HiKh-clasa(l__H^S& EVK RY S Ty^ KRyaRAi Ey ESY^ First in Quality, First In Workmanship," M llrst as ItoekJ^^rS At prices that Defy all imitation and Oman. . In purchasing an English Lever Wtt_i_l 1 that it is not a Geneva Lever, hhSM^E-, doca not wind like a Gea6ta3«fi| STEWART DAWSON AND CO. Are abreast of the Urn^'Si THEY SELL THEIR WATC___B;JJh| Dlreot from the Manufactory,-^*" '■ ANB DEFY COMPETI|Ij^ SEE THEIR WATCHES ON _-jqfflS| LOOK AT THE PRlCEsl_f|f STERLING SILVER LEV-CRgi £2 15s, £3, £3 10s, £3 15s, £. .igftHL £g 15s, £6 10s, and £8 15s. ;- Not one of these winds like a GtauiyK KEYLESS LEVERS- I £5 10s, -£6 10s, £7 15s, £8 IBs, £liw__W 10s, and £12 10s. ■ OUR GOLD LEVERS I Ladles' itJOiK'' I £8 10s, £1110s, £12 10), and £l£M Not one cf these wind like a 6eneTi_lS OUR GOLD KEYLESS X-JT_M| £1410s, £16 10s, £18sl0«,£24l'l^ffi OUR STERLING SILVEB DBIUM WATCHES (AU Silver OhBH LADIES' AND GENTB1--,! ' £1 7fl 6d and £1 lit, ' 7 It may not be generally known that m kiti £ a staff of watchmakers working enJUSiW mUea, and watches of every dlMr!)K_i A no matter whom they were hroughtfrffia repaired and cleaned bF as aiJujalßM ordinary Kew Zealand prices. WMtPjjpf ouiring cleaning can be returned to CttmEj " nriperly cleaned within two.-ton-lr'lt.ttilHaß All repairs done on theprem(soß,»__lw_i!i|,g thip guaranteed. FOR THE CHRISTMAS SB'^ Just received per Walnora, ei'a*|iffl| from Liverpool, 2 Cases, containing .miS.:'-, brated Watches, end an assortment otje *__. of newest designs, shipped la LOBtjawH Call and see our Jubilee BrooohNfcnH gold and silver. Call and receive, gratis, a copy ilmMiti New Illustrated Watch anawtfnMl Pamnh.ct, and read full p_xtl_ll_»HQHra| wonderful testimonials. ''.«• p Other Colonial Branches at. Mplb^nWß n_y, and Dnnedia, ■■•■••' FOR REAL VALPI-,>|jjjjj v . STEWART DAWSON ftMB GREAT ENGLISH WATCHc^mfl 94, QU E E N-STB____T ; | (Opposite Wyndham-BtreeiJ, . I A VYTOaiIERFUL TMOTeji BEECHAM'S PfcJl \ . It- r- T TTfilT X*" t P<"n to •*-?_-_ |t_l DILLS. Ia! din _'f_S_ and all nervous and trembling seagßlßs . The llrst dose will give relief in SO ngja This Is no Action, for they have|_M. thousands ot cases. Every sufferer 15 MJJJC Invited to try one box at these -nflwßflW will be rcl-nowhrdgcd to bo A___m ' WORTH A GUINEA AWOjfflL For females of all ages these ■■■«H|»-*JJ valuable, as v few doses of them a"'fßJSm gross humours, open all obstructi-i-. Wag ; about all that is required. No fe™i.WJ_S ~ be without thorn. There 1= no maUJ-nigi found to equal BEECHAM'S Plbia»SMi lng any obstruction or irrm°lj^^S3_: . system. Tfteken according ta.m'jllf™ given with oach bo__, they ™:33SS_. lemales ofsll ases to sound and MMMBW~j For a «__ stomach. IrapD.-rM,j^js■B!,, aUdi. orders of :'ae liver, they act-ife^wßL . and a few dOB,-.- will be fotuia to *SSMj~ aron the most I_npo:tar.t organs J',s"j?vj machine. Thoy strenstben toe wnffljara*-* ■ system, restore the long-lost eomtfe-MftFrs back thr. keen edge ot a_petfte. BngSxragHia notion with tho KOSi-BCD of noalhefflß physical enerc-y of the human frame. -., AJwgrj.'t "FACTS" aomitted by thoaß_--i coW" all classes of society; and one "JHSif tjuaranteoa to tha nervona and nWHr Boecham'B Pills have tiro largest ___\ "f, patent medicino In the world. .-_q^^H Beechani's Hagic CougttlW& Aa a. remedy for Coughs in _renfH!|B i^lffloulty. in Brcathins, ShortaeM«fflß Tightncs3 and Opnreasion cf the Ones*JWJJ . Inj;. &c. these Pills Btand nnnvWHMJH myoue labouring under any of■■."jjKEjfi eomplatnta need only iry One.■agJJßfflSfc.i that they are the best ever "wataw^? ,, r.ubllo for Asthmatio and GonsnmpuniMlH Hoarseness and Oppression of ys.vygSl,^ spoenily remove t'oat sense o.' _l?__*_''____i__ dlfflculty of breathing which n_ISBW;*gJi:, the patient o£ rest. They BIvS,, BS-3-____f relief and comfort to those aml, <lt?^T*as above dlstreßSing and, when nBTOSfeS?*,: oils complaints. Lot any porton oleSiJj| any of the above caffiP--__ot3r_*BßHßr, i 001-qh Pn_LS a trial. ~, .'- "'SljHßlffi Themoßt violent Cough will |?^HO| Caution.—Tho public are reques'rf?*, that the words "Beecbaji's Pi ,SglMl are on the Govornment Stamp aBJ»L- Borsr of the Pills. If not OE.Uiey WjsiHEt- Prepared only and sold wholesaltaKHH by tho proprietor, T. ■_-teed_-M«grl{B____l Helena, Lancashire, England, in and 2a 8a each.—Soid by all Mb. Patent Medielss Dealers throngai/rj. •» MJ_i.—jruu direotions are Svea iri* .•* T7"B A TING'S TJ'gMr 1, : KEATTNG'S POWDER , ?ms£_\ KKATING'S POWDER V'___M HEATING'S POWD__R„„ Aim^m lrTT.Tjr; BUGS ::: This Powdib is Qxtttk H_gwig^a3w| malLife,but _.u__ri.-__U_d in.aesnwßSHSai biiRS, cockroaches, beetles, mo™B tSitSSfr'l every other species of insect. fi&SaSjßm ■ And this invaluable for destroyini. n«^^ j fIoRS, aa also ladies for their pot oofMBHI, : j Tuis Article has Found so wßßATyyjj|;H that it has tempted, others to veflMjlMß article iv imitation. The Public that tho tins of the rgenuine poivaor.iww.j aiitoBraphofTHOJIASKEATIMJ., , Sold in Tins by all Dmgslets.-.-^ KEATING'S WORM TABLETS • ■ KKATING'S WORM Tlgg^aHß KEATING'S WORM ?fl| A Pobki_t Vegetable Sw__BrMEAK"j""M ippearance and taste, furnishing a^.^fflSSl; lblo method of administering the onjisSgll remedy for INTESTINAL or^l^» WORMS. It is a perfectly safe aga! WJg., paration, and is especially adaptea MH Sold in Tins by all Chemists $>&^t_&B_m Proprietor iTHOM-VSgEA'CP.-f.l^g^ " At LOWEST Mabkbt Bi^'jf. Rosin, Pitch, and Tar . Kerosene. Paint, aud OUyoOUir & Champion's, Scott's, and Sw^B^H White Lead, in wood »JOB Muntz Metal and Nails .Sm_W Large Stock of Canvas. variOTJwffi||«| Wire Rope, from4_ InohtoilMgjgUHlH Bolt Rope, Hems, and Jamwa ""/aS FaterrtWindlaes(weed),WUs. W"1 jf*?},j Anchors, from 16 cwt to 10 Iba. iSSieins, from i inoh to 1 Inch. Colia and F-th Oil. * MM-STOB.i -■ lt '|&